Osteria Morini has been one of our favorite weekend brunch and dinner spots for years. Whether…read morewe're catching up with friends who live around Capitol Hill or bringing the family, it always delivers. Between the handmade pasta, creative cocktails, beautiful waterfront views, and welcoming staff, it's become one of our regular OpenTable reservations. At this point, we've tried just about everything on the menu, from the bomboloni and fluffy Morini pancakes at brunch to many of the pastas at dinner. If it's your first visit, don't skip the gnudi--they're pillowy ricotta dumplings that are absolutely worth ordering. The pappardelle and cappelletti are also favorites, while the gnocchi and tagliatelle are always a hit with kids. The espresso martini is a great way to kick off a relaxing weekend, and what keeps us coming back isn't just the food. We've gotten to know the chefs, managers, and several servers over the years, and they consistently make us feel welcome. It's the kind of restaurant that remembers its regulars and creates an experience that's just as enjoyable as the meal itself. We're grateful to have Osteria Morini in our rotation and look forward to many more family brunches and dinners with friends.

Came here for brunch before heading to the Mystics game. I was shocked to see the restaurant pretty…read moreempty, but the bustle probably came after the Nats game. I ordered a little bit of everything and HAD to get the ricotta pancake which is plenty for two. Appetizers - Brussels sprouts were yummy which an orange flavored twist. Pasta - Ordered the rigatoni and cappelletti. This pasta is at a higher price point, but they make the pasta in house. I wish the food came out steaming hot, but I believe they delayed brining the pasta out so that the pancake could come out with it. Next time, I will ask them to bring out the food as it's ready. I enjoyed the rigatoni over the cappelletti, but I am more of a red sauce person. Both were yummy, but more flavor with the red sauce. Pancake - Went plain and simple here with the classic. Not sure if it's supposed to be that cooked outside (like burnt?...) but it's a generous portion (also a generous price at $15). A different take on the classic pancake as it's thicker and more moist. Drinks - Unfortunately, no bottomless drinks here so they have a pretty standard drink menu. I wanna come back for HH! Came on a very hot day where the A/C was not working well so be prepared with a fan! Our server was really attentive and friendly!

Cute, slightly fancy Italian spot with vegan options. The vegan options are not the most exciting…read morebut they are delicious and you can tell they prepare everything with care. Not only is it a good spot for dinner, but it's also nice for a matcha or espresso in the morning (I heard they even have vegan pastries typically but I didn't get to try those). Service was good, if over the top,

This review is for the coffee and café experience. The coffee here is fresh, additive-free, and…read morereasonably priced. My go-to drinks are the Americano and the iced cortado. They offer several dairy and non-dairy milk options, and I was delighted to see walnut milk on the menu. The syrups and milk alternatives are made fresh in-house. The honey is wild-harvested, which is a nice touch. There is seating available inside, as well as the option to order outside through the bay window--a very cute and convenient setup. The staff is friendly and attentive. However, service can be slower than expected at times, as there is only one espresso machine. Pros * Additive-free coffee * House-made syrups * Wild-harvested honey * Reasonable pricing * Outdoor ordering window for to-go orders * Friendly staff * Fresh pastries * Italian espresso machine * Filtered water **There's a Happy Hour M-Friday from 3pm-6pm. Hugo Spritiz is an option."

Great food Great service…read moreNice atmosphere My wife and I had dinner here at this cozy restaurant shortly after we moved here and loved this restaurant.

I loved Pacci's. We got a reservation and sat downstairs, which had a really interesting dark…read morefeeling. One thing I really appreciate is a waiter who can walk you through the menu. Our waiter did that. I asked for recommendations and he explained everything on the menu to us. Then I asked a specific question about a dish and he knew the answer immediately. He also gave us specials. I got the Orecchiette e Salsiccia -- Rapini shells with sausage. I loved it. Someone else my table got the special -- pasta with steak. The steak was cooked PERFECTLY and was wonderful. Overall, I loved Pacci's. It has a laid back family vibe yet the food is fantastic. One more thing: the neighborhood Pacci's is in is beautiful. Pacci's itself is in a very rustic nice building, right across from many beautifully painted rowhomes and brownstones.

I found this restaurant at the last minute and boy am I glad we did!…read more We arrived at around 7:45 and the place was packed. The hostess told us we likely wouldn't sit until 9:45 so I inquired about the bar and the manager quickly stepped in to put us on a waitlist. Since the restaurant is connected to a food hall of sorts, she recommended we grab a drink there while we wait. Shortly after we got our drink, we received notification of an opening and were seated by 8:15. We had the burrata appetizer, Ragú x 2, and the seafood fra diavolo. The burrata was one of the best I've had since they serve it with pesto, pine nuts, and garlic bread. It was truly divine! The Ragú was not far behind. Incredible flavor and a generous portion. The seafood dish had a nice kick and had plenty of seafood, which is not common as of late. All dishes were also priced reasonably for the quality you received. As we sat at the bar, we had pleasant conversation with the bartender and finished our meal with a small cannoli that really sealed the deal. If you're looking for excellent Italian food in DC without breaking the bank, look no further than Caruso's grocery! However, I'd recommend reserving ahead of time because it's certainly not a secret. LOL

I picked this place as my birthday dinner with some girlfriends. I was unsure of the vibe, food etc…read morebefore arriving. The place gives cozy speakeasy vibes. We we sat down the waitress was very friendly and welcoming. She knew alot about the menu items and such. As soon as she handed me the wine menu and saw Chianti as one of the wines, I didnt hesitate to get a bottle for the table (I love Chianti with a story behind it). We ordered the Creamy Burrata, with Grilled Bread and four cheese sauce and the calamari for the appitizers. All of the appetizers were amazing and Im a sucker for grilled crushy bread. For the main course i ordered the Trout Piccata. The fish was cooked to perfection and the veggies were well seasoned. My friends ordered the chicken piccata, Caruso Alfredo and baked Cavatelli. Everything was good. Next up we ordered the butterfinger sundae, Nutella cannoli and tiramisu. The sundae base is chocolate ice cream. If you are fan of chocolate ice cream you will love the sundae. Overall great experience and I will definitely return!

This is a great little place - probably the oldest of old school barracks row establishments…read more It's been 20 years since I've eaten here. After a bunch of times saying "we should go back to trattoria Alberto" we stopped by today we arrived about 1230 on a Monday and the streets were empty. We were seated immediately. Bread and water were complimentary, and the bread came with whipped butter, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. My wife had the chicken piccata and I had the chicken Parmesan. Both meals were tasty and super fresh. The service was the star of the show today. If you're looking for something different on 8th street check it out!

I've been going to Albertos for years and it's easily in my top 3 Italian restaurants in DC. The…read moreservice is always fantastic, delicious food, and generous portions. My favorite dish is the chicken piccata with pistachio cake for dessert. The dining room is nice and reservations aren't required to get a seat. These dishes also travel well if ordered for pickup/delivery.

What a gem!! My mom and I came here for lunch one Sunday and we were lucky to get a table without a…read morereservation. The space is small but popular, for good reason. We ordered the fried artichokes as an appetizer and they were delicious! But even better was the pizza - we got the La Bufalina, which was basically baked pizza dough topped with prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, and pesto. It was SO GOOD. The Italian couple who own the place were doing all the cooking themselves the entire time we were there, so you know it's authentic. My only note is that you do need to expect a bit of a wait - they're a busy place and the pizza oven is small. But just order a glass of wine while you're waiting!

This place is off of Eastern Market in a narrow, brick-lined space that feels almost New York-y…read more The style of pizza they do is based on a flour with wheat but also rice and soy. It is distinctive; the texture is lighter than wheat flour, and the flavor will seem off if you're not expecting it. There are supposed to be nutritional benefits to this, but it is an interesting gustatory experience, albeit not one that makes me want to replace all the regular pizzas out there. I also got some arancini, fried rice balls with cheese and a notable kick of black pepper. This turned out to be a lot of food for a reasonable price, so I took leftovers, and while the freshness waned they were still good reheated.

There are some nights you know you'll remember long after they're over. This was one of them…read more My wife and I chose L'Ardente to celebrate two of the most important days in our life together: her birthday and our wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrived, we felt like our celebration mattered to the people taking care of us. The food was incredible. We started with the Duck Hunt and Cesare salad, followed by the 40-Layer Lasagna, which absolutely deserves every bit of its reputation. Our cocktails, the Arancia Rossa Margarita and Negroni Fumo, were beautiful and delicious. We finished with the Gianduja S'Mores and Pesca Arrostita, and somehow each course just kept getting better. But as good as the food was, the people are what we'll remember most. Talya was incredible. She was attentive, warm, and genuinely kind, making us feel completely at ease from the moment we sat down until the very end of the night. She made wonderful recommendations, checked on us at all the right moments, and genuinely cared that we were enjoying our night. And then there was Robin, the Guest Relations Manager. She made us feel less like guests at a restaurant and more like people being welcomed into someone's home. She checked on us throughout the evening, celebrated with us, and made sure our night felt special from beginning to end. At the end of dinner, we were surprised with two complimentary chocolate cakes, one for our anniversary and one for my wife's birthday, along with cards celebrating each occasion. Those personal touches meant so much to us and were the perfect ending to an already beautiful night. When you're celebrating the person you love most, you hope the place you choose somehow rises to the occasion. L'Ardente did that and more. The food was exceptional, the atmosphere was beautiful, but the hospitality is what will bring us back. Thank you, Talya, Robin, and the entire L'Ardente team. You helped make a day that already means the world to us feel even more special. We won't forget it.

We came here for my birthday diner and it felt like a special destination without being…read moreexorbitantly over the top! There were so many seating options inside from the pizza counter to the main dining room, bar area and back restaurant area. We moved our spot three times but they were so accomodating. The food here was delicious. As so many have shared, the must order items are the duck hunt appetizer, which is truly one of the best dishes I've ever had. For the entree, make sure you order the 40 layer lasagna. This was my favorite of all that we ordered. And finally for dessert, we had a dessert buffet! We loved the Vanilla souffle, a dish my husband said was the best meal he had since living in France. Now that is a compliment!

The food, staff and environment is very professional. Highly recommend this spot if it ur first…read moretime in dc and need a awesome place eat

This was a cute place to eat at before heading to the concert…read more We did make a reservation prior so we were seated quickly. Servers gave us the option of indoor vs outdoor seating. I think outdoor seating looks prettier! Margherita pizza 7/10: Chewy crust. Perfect to share ! Warm. Wish there was more sauce. Italian soda 3/10: Just not what I was expecting. No sweetness to it. Very mild flavor. Lots of bubbles. Ravioli 8/10: I like lobster but I don't typically crave it. Lobster in the ravioli was DELICIOUS ! Would order again.

Victor was a great sever! I would likely stick with the pizza, however…read more BACON SLAB: this was my fave. A sweet drizzle on thick cut bacon TWO FARM EGGS: As described but needed pepper FINGERLING POTATOES: Not super crispy and a bit bland FRIED MOZZARELLA: Pretty solid, super cheesy

Great spot for happy hour. Can't beat a salad and pizza dinner and a walk along the water. It's the…read morekind of thin-crust, tasty pizza that makes you unconsciously raise your standard for pizza because it feels like how pizza should be. The Caesar is fresh and balanced, I love how it tastes as good as it looks. I'll have to try some of their specialty pizzas one day if I can stop focusing on the happy hour deal.

Came here for lunch. I think it was way early for the likes of Washington DC crowd, so for a while…read morewe had the whole place to ourselves. The decor is more of a mix of Italian Rustic and Heavy American classic giving the vibe of Italy with feel of Power typical for quite a few DC higher end restaurants. Food is top notch. Tagliere (Not quite Pizza but very close), Spaghetti alle Vongole, Hamachi Crudo, Octopus all delicious.... Lunch crowd started arriving around 12:30 which about what I was expecting and why not service is great although early lunch is a little lite on the crew but no misses, which is an excellent sign. Full bar with great cocktails and wine. I'd say visit if you get a chance.

Transforms you to a cute cafe in Europe!…read more Food- bright, fresh, and flavorful. Drinks- nice variety of cocktails and mocktails. Space- simple and classy decor. Service-Muhammad was friendly professional and attentive. Gave great suggestions.