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!!!“

“Great ambiance, food and vibe“

“Ottimo , ci siamo sentiti a casa“

“Great visit for a first timer! Beautiful restaurant, fantastic food and amazing service!“

“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!“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“Great food, wines and service.“

“Great meal recently at Cucina Morini !!! The food, service and drinks were all on point !! See the photos for our recommendations !!! You can order half orders of pasta !! Perfect if you want to try different things.“

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

“Att Fabio! I’m here now and Maria is my server. She is the best! I started with the grilled calamari and asked about the vongole. She brought me a sample to try! She is well versed with your menu, it was a pleasure to dine here.“

“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.“

“Friendly staff -great food !“

“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.“

“I like pizza... a lot!
This place served a perfectly balanced pizza between toppings and amount of dough. The crust was just as I like it, a slight crunch but still chewy.

The only complaint was not the fault of the business, but random folks kept coming in and asking us for our pizza. I mean, that could just be a testament to the tasty pizza, everybody wants some.“

“Had such a lovely dinner- Michael, our server, was an absolute gem. So kind, warm, fun, and knowledgeable. He gave us the perfect recommendations- we especially enjoyed the garlic knots and rigatoni. Our night was made so special at Reveler’s Hour!“

“When we come up from Atlanta to visit family in Alexandria, Aldo’s is a must visit. The service and food are excellent. It is a must visit and multiple occasions for our family. Consistent excellence.“

“The most unique and delicious Italian dinners I’ve ever had.

Our server was a master at explaining each dish on the menu and guiding us in the right direction. Of the whole menu, the starter bites are an absolute MUST. 6 different bites from different parts of Italy which are absolutely delectable. An overall fantastic dining experience.“

“That’s legit Italian food 😋🍕“

“One of those rare spots that genuinely captures the feeling of being in Italy. The pasta is outstanding, with that fresh, simple approach where the ingredients are clearly the focus and every bite feels balanced rather than overworked. The arugula salad is just as memorable, crisp and peppery in a way that feels clean and intentional, not heavy or overly dressed.

What really stands out is how consistent everything is. The flavors are bright, fresh, and well balanced, and you can tell the kitchen cares about doing the basics really well instead of overcomplicating things. And the tiramisu lives up to the name, rich but not too heavy, with that classic finish that makes it feel like the perfect end to the meal. It is the kind of place that stays dependable every time you go, never disappointing and always leaving you thinking about when you can come back.

Grazie mille! Complimenti allo chef, era squisito.“

“My wife & I had a wonderful and delicious dinner while catching-up with our son & his girlfriend last evening. Fantastic meal & our server Michael was outstanding.“

“There were eight of us dining, and every single one of us had the most incredible food we have ever eaten. From the appetizers to the main dishes to their specialty drinks. We are a family who enjoys dinners out and by far this has been one of the best so far highly recommend ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Doesn't disappoint from walking in to finished meal. Classic Italian, top notch service, worth every dollar spent.“

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

“Thank you for such an amazing experience.

The owner, Tim, was incredibly kind. He came over to our table a few times, sat with us, and even shared the story behind the pasta. Learning that everything was made from scratch made the experience even more special.

Everyone was so warm and welcoming. I didn’t catch the name of our server, but she was an absolute sweetheart.

The atmosphere felt like home…like a neighborhood spot where you’re just eating with friends. Truly reminiscent of Italy.

Chef Nick even came out and brought a special dessert for my nephew, which meant so much, especially since we were celebrating his birthday. Out of all the places I could have chosen, I’m so happy I chose Ulivo. It genuinely felt meant to be. This will definitely be a place I come back to!“

“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“

“Vegan pizza and garlic knots“

“Came here recently Saturday night to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends. The restaurant is nice, and has an energetic vibe! The bar was packed too. Service was great—our server Mili was friendly and attentive.

We started off with the Nancy’s Caesar and Shaved Brussel Sprouts—the Caesar was disappointing, just a few pieces of lettuce and oddly presented. Pastas were delicious and flavorful but were relatively small portions—we enjoyed the Mafaldine, Rigatoni, and Linguine & Clams. The 24oz. Grilled Porcini-Rubbed Ribeye was huge—well flavored, tender and cooked perfect! Whole Branzino Alla Piastra was just okay—fish was soft but it lacked flavored, would have been better more seasoned or accompanied by a sauce. For sides, highly recommend the Sweet Potatoes! Roasted Cauliflower was good but it looked like broccoli since it was green, but tasted like a cauliflower.

For dessert, Mili brought out a birthday dessert (ice cream with cookie) and a lit candle for the celebration! We also tried the Tiramisu and Apple Crisp. Cocktails were on point and prices started off at $16-17 a drink. We had an awesome experience, would definitely come back!“

“Great Food and Service! The food at Pines of florence was delicious and of high quality. The atmosphere was peaceful, and the service was excellent. I had a wonderful experience and highly recommend �“

“First impression, fancy place yet accepting of my Washington Capitals hoodie. I thought for sure I was gonna get calamari but the waitress sweet talked me into getting chicken parmigiana. And wow am I glad she did. It’s like a pizza but with a chicken tender crust. Great work! And right when I didn’t think they could do any better, I got a free cookie!!! That is service.“

“If in Washington, D.C. or Arlington County, Virginia, the Italian Store is a cannot miss choice for great subs, sandwiches and pizza“

“Five stars are not enough for this amazing Italian restaurant. From the friendly greeting to the helpful and professional service (thank you Mike), Thompson’s Italian fires on all cylinders. The setting is attractive and relaxed and the menu sports a variety of Italian dishes. It’s the kitchen that’s the real star at this restaurant, turning out wonderfully creative dishes that are delicious and beautifully presented.
Thompson’s Italian is worth a trip to savor amazing Italian cuisine in a relaxed, yet romantic atmosphere. I cannot wait to return.“

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

“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??“

“Excellent cuisine. Conveniently loacted. Great service.“

“As part of the US Army, I was sustained in Italy many years ago. I have struggled until now to find quality, amazing tasting Italian food. Mamma's Kitchen in Alexandria surpassed all expectations. Every course of the meal was just what you would expect when dining in Italy. Thanks for the great experience and for the memories it brought back.“

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

“excellent food & service & wonderful pasta & wine.“

“I had their lobster linguini. And then a cappuccino afterwards. Which were great. Of course, it’s about more than just the food at Cafe Milano. It’s more of a social gathering type of place. The food is secondary to the social aspect of it. But my focus was more on the food. And the food is great. The service was even better. Top notch service.“

“Amazing food and service.“

“Shoulda had some dessert after the meal I ate.“

“Great, friendly service! Great food at a great price for the area!
I think they could use a few 2 person tables if they could make room to keep 1 person from sitting at their limited 4-6 person tables. This was the case when we first walked in and kept us from having a table, we almost left because it was too windy/cold outside... but fortunately a larger group left. Part of the intentional and friendly customer service was that one of the employees came outside to catch us and let us know the table was available.“

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

“love the food, great staff always making sure everything is good. our favorite pizza place. Come for food, leave as a friend 🧡“

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

“This restaurant Have great service , great food and very nice italian atmosphere- Food is served with attention to details 💯 recommended Went 3 times already and want to go again because is full of good surprises !“

“We love the food… we eat here often when in Alexandria. Spaghetti Carbonara is one of my favorites! And, my 7-year old grandson gives the kids spaghetti 2 thumbs up!“

“Great food and service! Will keep on going back.“

“An all-time favorite. The pizza is spectacular, and everything else is delicious too! So grateful y’all were open just 3 days after the snowstorm. We needed your food as a treat for clearing the walks. Thanks!“

“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.“