50 Best Italian Restaurants near Franconia

“Delicious food and the wait staff is fabulous!“

“All of my experiences at L’Ardente have been phenomenal. The food, the atmosphere, and the service are all top notch!!!“

“Our son recently moved to Arlington and he said this was the best Italian food that he ever had! Last night we went there for dinner and couldn't agree with him more. We had some initial issues with our service and seating , but the General Manager, Stefano and our waitress Shandra took care of us and the service that they gave us was outstanding; probably the best that I ever had at a restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious! We will be back every time that we visit our son. There are so many dishes that I cannot wait to try and the pasta is all homemade. Thanks for making our dinner so special. We love it here!“

“Our dinner was just amazing tonight! Everything was so fresh and delicious, and you were all so friendly, thank you so much.“

“on point!! don't shy away from the menu, everything we had was delicious.“

“This is probably the best pasta I’ve had in DC. I’ve been here twice for dinner now, and the pastas were all great. We got a few smaller portions - the alla norma, taglioni, rigatoni, and agnolotti - all were good. We also tried the sfincione [we are both Sicilian], which was OK but not really a sfincione. Good wine selection and great espresso martinis too. Will return.“

“This was some of the best food I’ve ever had. I would never normally choose Italian as a n “”out to eat” option but I’m so glad I did! I would eat here night after night if I could.“

“Absolutely the best Italian food I have ever tasted! Exceptional service! Old world Italian charm! Very romantic Valentine's day themed decor and ambiance.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“I recently dined at Modena DC and had an overall positive experience. The food was generally good, though some dishes stood out more than others. The crispy artichokes were absolutely delicious—crispy and flavorful, definitely a highlight of the meal. The butternut squash pasta was just okay, lacking a bit of depth in flavor, but the pesto gnocchi was quite good, with a nice balance of creamy texture and vibrant pesto.

For dessert, the crème brûlée was fantastic—rich, creamy, and perfectly caramelized on top. It was definitely a great way to end the meal.

While the food was decent, I did find the prices to be a bit on the higher side for what you get. Still, it wasn’t a bad experience overall.“

“Solid Italian restaurant in DC.

Easy to get reservations, I went on a Friday night with a friend. We got the three course set menu. A lot of food for the price. Great quality and great options. Recommend coming hungry or ordering off the a la cart menu. Garlic knots are a must.

Lots of servers that were very attentive. Be careful, they’ll scoop up your plate if you’re not paying attention.

Wine and beer list was extensive.

Fair pricing for quality of food and atmosphere.

Would definitely recommend to a friend. Would definitely visit again.

Parking: No parking lot, not a lot of street parking. Had to park a few blocks away.

Kid-friendliness: I probably wouldn’t bring kids here, didn’t have kid friendly food.“

“We were tired from touring all day and the clerk at Springhill Suites recommended an Italian place “just around the corner”. As we got closer, we could detect delicious smells in the air. As we entered, a cheery staff greeted us, and the cozy space was decorated with lots of photographs and traditional green and white checked tablecloths. We were offered fresh garlic bread while we looked over the menu. We both decided on the “individual” pizza, but let me tell you, us 2 ladies could’ve easily just split one! The veggie pizza was soooo fresh and yummy. If we’re ever in the area again, would definitely go back!“

“Great food, wines and service.“

“I don't leave many reviews, but Bozzelli's (specifically the Vermont Ave location) is worth it. I travel to DC semi-regularly, and I've been to Bozzelli's for a chicken parm sandwich and lemon cake three times...should tell you something, considering the many other food options in the area. Food's great, and service is about as friendly as I've experienced. If you're looking for something quick, affordable, and delicious around Dupont Circle, this is the place.“

“We have been going to La Tomate for years. Retired several years ago and moved away from DC. Every time we are in DC we always go to one of our favorite restaurant, La Tomate. I love the selection on the menu, always something new to try with the daily specials. La Tomate has great staff and an excellent location. Many thanks to Natalina for having a beautiful Restaurant and delicious food. Happy Anniversary!“

“Friendly staff, very creative menu, no too big just the way I like it. Highly recommended“

“Amazing meal. The food and service were top notch. Service friendly and professional. Beautiful restaurant. Excellent wine list. Host John insured that all went well. All 8 of us greatly enjoyed the experience!“

“We could not believe our luck finding this gem of a place, whilst on holiday from Scotland! The food? What can I say to make folk reach out to you? Just go and you’ll experience the most wonderful home cooked food and the greatest ambience! .. staff and management couldn’t make you feel more welcome! Keep the good work up and hopefully see you next visit! You’ll be our “ go to restaurant” Thank you PS - our town Dundee in Scotland is “twinned” ( sister) with yourselves .. who would have known eh??“

“Best Italian food I've ever had!“

“Friendly staff -great food !“

“Great service @ DC the seafood appetizer was delicious!“

“We had an early dinner which we did on purpose to have a quiet dining experience. But soon the other patrons started arriving and the space is pretty small so the noise level went up significantly. Our food came quickly and was very good albeit perhaps somewhat bland in flavor. We probably would have gotten dessert but our waiter just sort of disappeared so finally another staff came over, we settled the bill and left. For a 35th wedding anniversary occasion it was very nice.“

“One of the most delicious Italian dinners I have ever had. Everything was a Authentic and a Quality ingredient and well prepared.“

“Amazing restaurant located on the popular King street in Alexandria. The fried eggplant and gem salad were excellent. We ordered the angel hair pasta, rigatoni, and tagliatelle as entrées. All were great and full of flavor. Service was great as well.“

“So delicious and a wonderful atmosphere.“

“My wife and I had an absolutely amazing evening dining out here on a long weekend trip to DC for our Birthdays. The food was incredible I have not found one dish at this or the Chicago location that wasn’t great. Abagail was simply the best waitress we have EVER had. She was attentive, personable and really went out of the way to give us the best dining experience my wife and I have ever had from top to bottom. We had a great experience in Chicago but I have to say I think the food was a touch better here. I am comparing caviar to caviar here as both were great, but DC has the win here and certainly did with our waitress as well.“

“My husband and I had dinner at D’Roccos in Occoquan tonight. They are under new management and reviews were great, so we went. Our server, Yun, I believe she said she was an owner or related to the owner (🤦‍♀️).She was amazing as was all the staff. We were a bit hesitant as walked in along with a party of 14 and several smaller ones but it was all hands on deck, for wonderful food, with timely delivery! We had the calamari- cooked so perfectly you could cut it with a fork! The lasagna was very good with a tomato and bechamel sauce with veal and pork. I had the octopus with fingerling potatoes and zucchini… AMAZING! I’m an octopus junkie! Tiramisu was not a classic presentation though it was excellent! We loved it! Check it out! Let’s support our local small businesses!“

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

“Fantastic food cooked by award winning chef Roberto Donna. Welcoming owner and friendly atmosphere. Our seafood calamarata and shrimp rice risotto were outstanding.“

“I felt like I was in Italy... the best Italian restaurant in Virginia. The best food!“

“While enjoying lunch yesterday my friend and I were fortunate to be served by Richard. He was very accommodating and pleasant. I can’t say enough about what a nice person he was. Maggianos is lucky to have him as part of their staff.“

“Wonderful food & charming outdoor patio space . Cocktails yummy too!“

“Thank you so much to Martha, Tom, Jason, Sarah, and the entire team who made my gathering at Alta today so special!! Martha really went above and beyond by arranging to have the surprise decor, balloon bouquet, and party favors for my guests and me! I was so overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness.“

“Vegan pizza and garlic knots“

“Had dinner with family while visiting the DC area. The restaurant was perfect from the decor, the seats, the food, the servers. Patricia was amazing and I loved her little soft humming as she went along her way making guests feel welcome. The food was 10+. Highly recommend.“

“MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO THE ENTIRE STAFF AT MAGGIANO’s, SPRINGFIELD, VA! There are not enough word in the dictionary to describe my experience in Maggiano’s! From the time I make reservations through walking through the front door of the restaurant, the service, the managers, the chef, the food, to serving the BEST ITALIAN CUISINE SINCE ITALY, and cleanliness in the restrooms. Look, I live in Old Town Alexandria, VA, where there are some of the best Italian restaurants on the East Coast but those restaurants do not compare to my Maggiano’s. I seriously have to drive out of my way, Springfield, to get the Best Italian on the East Coast. It’s worth every second. The cuisine inside this Maggiano’s tastes exactly like my Italian grandparent’s cooked it. I frequent this restaurant at least once or twice a week. Thank you Mo, (manager), Jessie (server), and the rest of the staff at my Maggiano’s! Dana Neese, 12-23-2023.“

“Well deserving of the recognition by Michelin's star award. Arguably, the best restaurant in DC metro area with a commitment to excellence in food, service, and atmosphere. The wine list is among best with older, approachable vintages.

Great experience.“

“Checks all the boxes as they say, Beliseima! Mangiamo! Salute!“

“We had a party of 10, traveling from FL, CA, DE, and CT. Everything couldn't have been better! The food, the drinks, the service, and the fact they let us enjoy our time together without once urging us to leave, made for a dinner to remember. Thank you, Osteria de Nino!“

“Good food. Doesn’t matter what you get it’s all delicious.“

“Had a great evening catching up at this amazing Italian spot. Reservations are recommended, but we sat at the bar and had a fantastic time. Will definitely be back to try more of the delicious food. Amazing staff, always smiles, never made us feel rushed and gave us lots of laughs.“

“Said, I wanted to circle back and let you know that without a doubt, the food, and the entire dining experience at La Bettola Italiano was far and away the best we had on our trip to DC. I cannot thank you enough for setting it all up and for working so closely with them to sculpt the menu, arrange for the upstairs and deliver the hot and delicious food so swiftly upon our arrival – our pre-order menu worked perfectly, and you and your wait staff went above and beyond to be so accommodating. My teachers were stunned at the quality of the food and the ambiance and said it was their top ranked choice of all the places we ate. I am uncertain what the school’s plans are for next year, but if I or the school returns to the DC/VA area, I will certainly call upon you and return to La Bettola. Thank you, Said, for a wonderful dining experience for our students. It was the perfect way to begin our trip! Best regards, Danny“

“great sausage and pepper pizza!“

“This beat some of the NY style slices I had even in New York. Just the perfect ratio of crust to sauce to toppings. Perfectly sized pepperoni cups. A gorgeous toasty feeling to the freshly heated slice. Started with 3 slices between 2 people and essentially ended up eating a whole pie. Staff are amazing, so warm and friendly. Great brews on tap and a few salads and sides on the menu to go with the pies. Can’t wait to come back“

“Wonderful experience. Great neighborhod restaurant.Good service, great food, handicap accessable, lots of parking, fair prices.“

“My friend and I went here for her birthday; however we didn’t mention it was for any occasion. We were immediately greeted by the host and seated. Throughout the meal, we were checked in on by our waiter as well as the manager. Towards the end of our meal, the manager overheard it was a birthday dinner and gave us a free dessert. Overall, the service, food and ambiance was amazing!“

“Certo Restaurant is a delightful dining experience that I can't recommend enough! I recently visited for breakfast, and I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the food and the warm ambiance.

I ordered the omelette, and it was absolutely perfect—fluffy, flavorful, and packed with fresh ingredients. Each bite was a wonderful combination of textures and tastes. The fruit bowl was equally impressive, featuring a vibrant assortment of seasonal fruits that were both refreshing and beautifully presented.

The service was exceptional, with attentive staff who genuinely care about providing a great experience. The atmosphere is inviting and comfortable, making it a fantastic spot to enjoy a leisurely meal.

Overall, Certo Restaurant has quickly become one of my favorite places to dine. Whether you're looking for a hearty breakfast or a relaxing brunch, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit!“

“We had a lovely meal! The Fettucine Alfredo Vero and Penne alla Vodka with garlic, basil and creamy tomato sauce were both delicious, with fresh ingredients and flavorful sauces. To top it off, the Rich Decadent Chocolate Cake was the perfect way to end the meal—absolutely yummy!“

“Enjoyed the food immensely!“

“The food was amazing, the husband and I shared an order of spaghetti and sausage, fried zucchini, and garlic knots. Everything was very good but the garlic knots are out of this world.“