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“

“got a reservation last second in december so i could check out the holiday decorations after hearing of the restaurants history from a TikTok!! worth visiting for the vibes, and the free shots of amaretto!“

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

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“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.“

“Great food, wines and service.“

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

“Excellent food as always, delivery when ordered direct from their website offers a nice little discount (still delivered through DoorDash, & also as always timely and great communication). Very nice menu mix of classic favorites & unique originals, as well as veg & vegan options which is important for us. But most important: Everything is delicious!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Have dined at Reveler's Hour a few times over the years and it is excellent every time! The menu is always fresh and seasonal and they have the best wine list! Highlights are definitely the pastas and garlic knots. A good selection of NA beverages as well. Can't forget to highlight the outstanding staff and thoughtful service. We love taking out of town guests here!“

“Excellent restaurant from all angles, a new DC/ Georgetown favorite.

The decor brightened an otherwise gloomy and stormy day. The service was efficient and friendly. Menu labeled for dietary restrictions and can ask server for help. The food (brunch prix fixe with burrata (no bread) and steak eggs) had the right flavors to waken the palate and satisfy the soul and the stomach. Kudos to the right amount of salt on each dish to highlight all the deliciousness. Cantaloupe to Spain was a balanced cocktail with unique flavors and smooth to drink.

Overall a memorable brunch experience and I'll be recommending to friends in and out of DC. Look forward to coming back.“

“We dined for PIZZA NIGHT and while the food was exceptional, the service was above and beyond! We cannot say enough about how well cared for we felt thanks to Seth. He made us feel as if we were the only two people in the restaurant. Thanks as well to Josiah for his enthusiasm and helpful advice! Well done, all!“

“That’s legit Italian food 😋🍕“

“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.“

“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 ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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.“

“One of the best places in Dc and right on the water!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 �“

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

“Best Italian spot. Gorgeous decor, great amari + wine selection, and truly the best pasta you’ll get in Georgetown. Try the Carbonara and the Tagliatelle. Portions are small, but that’s great for sharing and trying different dishes. We’ve tried most pasta dishes there at this point and you can’t go wrong.“

“Cannot say enough about how good they do EVERYTHING. Always fresh and made with care, love, perfection, out of the best ingredients. Whenever we are in town, we go to breakfast, and sometimes lunch or dinner. Fantastic place to grab a delicious bite.“

“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“

“Amazing food and service.“

“First time to this area and figured we would try Andy’s. The three of us each had the 2 slices and a drink combo. The pizza was pretty good and had a lot of flavor. Enjoyed the ambiance of the establishment and the Western Market in general. However, they have a gnat problem as we continually had to wave them away from our table and food. Other than that was a good experience.“

“Vegan pizza and garlic knots“

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

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

“Delicious Food, Divine Wine, Lovely Evening! We shared appetizers, desserts & wine while we visited this wonderful restaurant!“

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

“Highly recommend Cafe Milano! First, the service was exceptional! We came with a large party for a birthday lunch and the staff was very friendly and attentive: had a birthday note, took care to meet dietary needs (vegetarian), and never left us waiting for anything (serving time was impeccable).
Second, the food was amazing! I know some reviewers said the food was meh, but I disagree. I think the subtle flavors of the food stood out without being overwhelming.
Third, we had a nice seat by the window. Good lighting and loved the airy feel of the restaurant. While I didn’t see a dress code for the restaurant (besides avoiding flip flops and crocs) I would say most patrons were dressed pretty well for lunchtime (dresses, polo and button-down shirts). Just mentioning as it’s hard getting kids out of their athletic wear these days. :).
Parking - street parking is hard to find, but you can try. There is a parking garage conveniently located right next to the restaurant. It is small and the height is 6’3” max.“

“The Buffalo Chicken pizza and Buffalo wings are delicious!“

“We had a fantastic dinner at Thompson Italian. There were four of us, and we shared a bottle of wine and a fresh, flavorful panzanella to start. I ordered the squid ink bucatini, and it was absolutely delicious. We also tried a couple of desserts, and every bite was excellent.

We arrived around 4:15 p.m., not realizing they didn’t open until 4:30, and we didn’t have a reservation. Around 4:20, a staff member noticed us waiting outside and kindly invited us in to wait, which was such a thoughtful gesture. The service throughout the meal was outstanding, and our waiter was wonderful.

Everything from the food to the hospitality was exceptional. I’ll definitely be back“

“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.“

“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??“

“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.“

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

“We were visiting from out of town and what a great choice to go to Primo Hogies!! The whole staff was incredible!! Food was great! If anyone is on the fence about what they want to eat, this is the place to go! Thank you guys!! Looking forward to coming back!!“