Great experience! Our server was full of character and was very efficient. Loved the design of the place, felt rustic, welcoming, and warm. Noise level was lively, but you could hear across the table just fine. Strozzapreti we're delicious, spinach and strawberry salad was refreshing and light. The ribeye steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and went perfectly with the cherry tomatoes, arugula, and raddichio salad served alongside. Mushroom bucatini was delightful, could of used a bit more salt but that was resolved with some additional parmesan cheese. Very nice panna cotta and perfectly serviceable tiramisu. We'll definitely be back to try more house made pastas! read more

Wife and I ate there for the first time tonight. This is nothing like the Italian/Tuscan food we had in Rome or Florence. The Tuscan food that we know and love is simple and achieves remarkable heights by virtue of its simplicity and in using the very best ingredients. The food here was way over-done with sauces that have no place in this cuisine. The pasta sauces were too thick, sweet, and bloated. The steaks were covered in ridiculously rich sauces that did nothing for the meat and actually made it virtually impossible to actually taste the meat. There were no ingredients that stood out or that one could easily discern amidst the overwhelmingly thick sweetness they imposed on the pasta and meat. The deserts were ordinary. The salads were fine but tasted like what you would get at any 'fancy' American restaurant. The service was good and at least four different people stopped by to ask if everything was 'satisfactory.' We could honestly answer 'yes,' but they really didn't want to know. This was clearly just part of the ambient 'sell.' The wines were good, but terribly overpriced. We paid a ridiculous amount of money for a very mediocre meal and definitely would never go back. read more

My friends and I were pumped to see this place reopening but unfortunately it hasn't stayed up to par, at least on this first visit back. The biggest disappointment of the evening was my friend's pear cappelletti. 4 pieces of small cappelletti: $24. We were shocked. What a rip off! All of the portions were small but that one was beyond what is acceptable. Another frustration was that we ordered cocktails that were $16 on the menu and then magically turned into $18 on the bill. I didn't notice until later because otherwise I would have said something at the restaurant. Also, there's a 3.5% "lots of love" or something extra fee on the bill. The complimentary bread and olive oil helped redeem it somewhat, and the food was good, aside from some of the sizes, but I was highly underwhelmed. read more

See all

I think I'm addicted to this place - I've been coming here almost weekly since they reopened! Their pastas are incredible (personal favorite is the gnocchi) and so are the secondi. I recently tried the pasta tasting, which was also fun and excellent. read more

I can't recommend this until the noise level problem is addressed. No reason to have loud music playing when you have a full house. We had to scream at the rest of our party of 6. I could not wait to get out of there. They will depend on neighborhood repeat business. That will hard to come by with that kind of atmosphere. Food varies from delicious to mediocre. Cannelloni looked and tasted like Olive Garden. Affogato should be served with a little cookie. Drinks including wine are very stingy for the price. Go the extra mile! I want them to succeed but a bit more effort is needed. read more

Haven't eaten in DC for a while, but I've been to their locations in Annapolis and Florence, Italy. Great great food!

Wow. Just wow. I totally understand why this place is consistently popular because the food really is that good. We came for restaurant week which was a great intro to everything the restaurant had to offer. Normally I find RW desserts to be a little lackluster, but the chocolate hazelnut crunch bar was absolutely divine. The whole table fell silent as we each devoured it and practically licked the plates clean. The pasta was exceptional. We ordered a few and shared amongst ourselves and each bite was better than the last. I truly can't wait to come back here and eat the whole menu. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went as part of a private event here. I can't comment on the pricing, which I'm sure was pretty big, but the meal was very good. We had a private room for 20 people. There was a multi course set menu, with a good bread basket, and wine to go with it. I was really impressed with the quality of the meal. I was on a vegetarian kick during that meal and was happy with it, although I was drooling at the meat options that folks had. read more

See all

We visited their other restaurant in Florence and had to try the DC location. I wanted to be sure to keep an open mind considering they wouldn't have the same ingredients. We were pleasantly surprised. We did the tasting menu for the salad, pastas and steak. All of the salads were fresh and tasty. The portions were a bit small for 4 people to share but now we know next time to order two. The pastas that night we're all vegetarian. Three red, a risotto and a squash pasta. The vegetarian Bolognese had an odd flavor, that was our least favorite. The squash was tasty but a bit too sweet. Risotto was the best it had a pesto sauce. Next came the steaks. They were cooked just as we asked and came with the signature sauces. We finished our meal with the dessert platter. All were so delicious! Overall it was a good dinner. We loved the house wine in Florence, and wished they would have had the same option here. read more

4 stars for a spot with some tasty and interesting food. I stopped by Acqual Al 2, located on 7th Street across from Eastern Market, to grab some lunch (about a 5 minute walk from the Eastern Market metro). The venue is a well-known political hot spot that isn't super fancy, so I wanted to stop by and check it out. I walked in and grabbed a seat at the bar on the right. The place has a cute small Tuscan restaurant look. The bartender came up to me and asked if I wanted anything to drink. I decided to get a wine flight based on the cute sign of chalkboard wines on the wall to the left. The wines come out of those wine dispensing machines which is kind of fun. I like the Amarone wine the best. In terms of food, I decided to go with their lunch special option (salad, entree, and dessert for something like $20). The insalata came out pretty quickly and was your fairly standard salad. I then had to wait a little while for my entree, which was a blueberry steak (aka the real reason I wanted to try this spot), but it was mostly worth the wait. The entree wasn't as mind blowing I was hoping (mainly because the steak underneath was pretty tough to cut), but the blueberry steak combo was pretty tasty (and messy) and fun for the price. My meal ended with the Barretta di Gianduja dessert, which was beautifully designed and a tasty way to end my meal. Overall, Acqua Al 2 provided me with a nice little lunch. While it is a little out of the way for me, I wouldn't mind stopping by here again for lunch or dinner sometime. read more

See all

I brought le boyfriend here for a nice restaurant week meal after hearing such great things from a coworker. This is the second location in the states-the original one being in Italy. You can't get more authentic than that. My coworker raved about the filet with blueberry reduction sauce so since I don't eat meat, I had my boyfriend order that too. Although the filet was delicious according to him, he'd much prefer to try it with a more savory sauce since that was more to his liking. FIY-for restaurant week, you would need to pay additional $10 to get the filet. I ordered the fish that was on the menu which was so flaky and tasty. We also ordered potatoes and asparagus for the sides. Overall, I was happy with the service and the dishes we ordered and would definitely come back again. read more

See all

We ordered not one, but four bread baskets and they kept it coming without any side eye or judgement at all. When they brought our parmesan cheese to go with our olive oil, we dumped the whole thing in and they promptly refilled it. These are my kind of people! Acqua Al 2 is an Eastern Market staple with a true Italian feel. Wine bottles line the walls and the accented waiters come with a full moustache! How authentic is that? Also, the only other outpost of the restaurant is in Florence so there's that too!. I ordered the Cannelloni Mascarpone e Funghi (definitely had to copy and paste that right off the menu) and it was everyone's favorite thing on the menu. The sauce was richly flavored, the cheese was intense, and mmm those porcini mushrooms. I think I had an out-of-body-experience as I promptly scarfed the whole meal down. I probably won't eat today or tomorrow due to the amount of calories I consumed in one sitting last night but let me tell you it was well worth it! This restaurant is not exciting by any means but for an old world taste, this is a surefire bet! PS: Also looks to be good for group dining! read more

Acqua Al 2 is a really cozy, rustic restaurant in Eastern Market. They have truly outstanding service and a real Italian feel to the place. I ordered the salad tasting and the pasta tasting for my meal. I really enjoyed the salads that they made each with its own individual flavor and aspects. I wish I enjoyed the pasta tasting more, but I think I built up a lot of expectations for the experience. I only really thought 2 out of the 5 pastas were tasty and unique. (Sorry not all pastas were featured in my pictures) I felt that the other pastas that disappointed me were not well thought out in flavor or execution. read more

See all

LOVE this place and can't believe that I hadn't been before. A friend of mine was in town for a medical conference and ended up suggesting that we come here for dinner. She had previously been to the original one in Italy and loved it, so she insisted we come. And I'm so glad we did!! The atmosphere was great (good music, appropriate noise level, nice lighting that allowed for friends to see each other, while still providing a romantic environment for those looking for that.) I was impressed by the service, but ultimately what made this one of my new favorite restaurants was the food. It was simply amazing and it reminded me of the quality I found in small family restaurants in Italy. I Highly recommend!! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delicious Italian food at Capitol Hill! Their sister restaurant is in Florence, and they serve homemade pastas. We had a selection of salads, including an amazing burrata. I then had the steak filet with blueberry sauce, and it was magical. I never would've thought to do blueberries with steak, but they executed it very well. And to finish, I had a taste of their panna cotta, which was just sweet enough I'm excited to come back to try more of their menu! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Filet mignon with blueberry sauce - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Made a reservation on OpenTable about a week ago, heard really great things about this restaurant. First visit, food was fairly average, unlikely I return. Overall 2.5 stars. L'Antipasto Toscano 24 Assortment of cured Italian meats, 1 cheese, bruschetta, and crostini al ragú **Finocchiona, proscuitto, salame and I believe it was bresaola (4 slices each of the cured meats), 2 tiny and I mean tiny pieces of white truffled cheese, ONE bruschetta and ONE crostini al ragu and no bread served with the assortment. Really confused by the fact no bread or crackers came with it and I had to cut these really small crostinis in half so that we could split it. $24 for this was a terrible value! I also was hoping for mustard, quince paste, honey, something? I would not recommend getting this. I saw A LOT of people ordering burrata and it looked beautiful with the heirloom tomatoes. Rigatoni alle Melanzane 15 Tube shaped pasta with a tomato and eggplant sauce, mozzarella, and parmigiano **Rigatoni pasta tasted like it came out of a box, I don't think this particular pasta is homemade. The tubes were perfectly cut with no variance and it was much too al dente with a box finish. The tomato sauce and eggplant was delicious and honestly I would ask to substitute with a different pasta. The rigatoni doesn't grab the sauce so well. Tagliatelle al Ragú Toscano 22 House-made ribbon pasta tossed in a Tuscan beef ragú with parmigiano **Texture of the pasta was really great, egg-like noodle with a great chew, everything you want in a homemade pasta. So the beef ragu was fairly bland and honestly very muddled, as in you couldn't quite distinguish the type of meat that was used. Tiramisu 8 Ladyfingers soaked in espresso, layered with whipped mascarpone and dusted with cocoa powder **This was the star of the night. The tiramisu is everything that you want. Moist, creamy and delicious. read more

See all

Overall: good value for money and yummy food Ambience: we sat outside and it was a beautiful day to eat and have a nice glass of wine Service: waitress was very attentive. Food The spinach risotto balls were amazing! Nice consistency and the red sauce had a lot of flavor Complimentary Bread and olive oil both delicious Pasta tasting menu Highly recommend! Every dish was absolutely delicious...good mix of white sauce and red sauce Dessert tasting menu What a great way to end a meal...Cheesecake, tiramisu, panacotte, and chocolate cake read more

See all

Hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in DC! While RPM and Graffiato get the hype in Chinatown, Acqua Al 2 is the real hidden gem tucked away in Eastern Market. From the staff to the savory food, the experience is truly authentic. My experiences at Italian restaurants have been dismal with slim pickings for vegetarians pastas besides the token ravioli - marinara or sage brown butter, not the healthiest food with lots of carbs doused in sauce and loaded with cheese in a whopping entree, disappointing experiences at upscale restaurants like RPM and Graffiato that are overhyped, overpriced, and underwhelming with flavor. Acqua Al 2 proved me wrong across all fronts! As I'm going to Italy for my honeymoon and trying to expand my palette beyond basic Italian dishes, I wanted to sample some Italian dishes and came here for my anniversary. The vegetarian sampler was perfect! It was nice to try different types of pasta without having to commit to a particular dish. I was impressed by the variety of the 5 pastas and sauces that came in the sampler, luckily no raviolis were featured! Each dish was a healthy portion size, bursting with flavor, and best of all...cooked "al dente". A stellar deal for $16/person, 2 person minimum. Vegetarian pasta sampler includes: Fusilli with spinach in cream sauce, Fusilli with Eggplant Marinara (my favorite!), Butternut Squash Farfalle, Creamy Orecchiette with broccoli, and Penne in marinara sauce. I thoroughly enjoyed the Burrata, it was imported from Sicily. The turnips and pine nuts really elevated the flavor. Typically, I'm not a fan of a big glob of cheese, but the freshness, soft texture, and flavor was so impressive that I devoured it. My fiancee really enjoyed the steak sampler with blueberry reduction sauce. The only dishes I didn't care for was the eggplant parmesan and the dessert sampler. The eggplant parmesan had a weird flavor (it even looks funky from the pic), which the waiter kindly comped. The desserts were quite bland and not as rich as I had hoped for. The only dessert that I enjoyed was the creme brulee. I would skip the dessert and make more room for the pastas next time! The waiter, Anthony, was very attentive and friendly. He made great recommendations on red wine pairings with our meal, which further enhanced our dinner. After dropping over $200 on dinner, I had a great meal that was bursting with flavor and a delightful ambiance and outstanding service. Worth every penny. read more

See all

We went to Acqua Al 2 for restaurant week brunch. We were excited about trying their brunch. However, it turned out that restaurant week wasn't really the best time to try out brunch. They had a small restaurant week brunch menu and then offered the full dinner menu. It seemed to us that the should have had the restaurant weekend and then also served the full brunch menu so that we could get an understanding of what brunch is like. Our server was a sweetheart and helped us a ton. It seemed like he was working tons of tables all by himself today. My wife and I come to AA2 for 1 primary reason and that is for their Strozzapreti al Pomodoro appetizer it is ridiculously delicious. read more

My fiance and I went to Acqua Al 2 for our engagement celebration dinner with another couple. I liked the intimate feel of the restaurant--it definitely has a date-night feel. Having not eaten there before, our friends guided us through the menu and made recommendations. We ordered the Strozzapreti al Pomodoro, the salad special, and the Fagioli Marinati. I was so surprised at how big the appetizer portions were! You could easily order one of the appetizers as your main course if you wanted to. The marinated white beans were delicious and I highly recommend them. My fiance and friend ordered the vegetarian pasta sampler (of 5 types). I ordered the linguine with clams, since I can't really eat a lot of cheese. My dish was very good and a little bit spicy. There were a ton of clams and could not actually finish them all. I tried a few bites from the vegetarian sampler and they were all quite nice. My only complaint would be that the pastas were a little salty for my taste, but overall they were great. We also shared the tiramisu which was *chef's kiss.* Lastly! Our friend joked with the server about letting my fiance and I decorate one of the dinner plates that go on display all around the restaurant. At the end of the meal, she brought a plate and set of colored Sharpies for us to decorate one! Our friends were blown away, and it was super fun to decorate and know that it will potentially be displayed on the walls of Aqua Al 2. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Decorating a plate! - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have wanted to try Acqua Al 2 since I moved to Capitol Hill, and I was so happy to come for dinner a few weeks ago with a friend. The ambiance is perfect for a date night or a hangout with friends. Service was good throughout the meal, but the food was the real experience. Our meal started with a basket of complimentary bread and oil, and we each ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio ($10.50). After looking over the menu for quite some time, I finally settled on the Topini al Gorgonzola ($17), and my friend ordered the Orecchiette con Zuca di Stagione ($15). The gorgonzola gnocchi was superb, with the gnocchi as light pillows and a nice gorgonzola sauce. My friend's shell pasta came in a delicious sweet squash sauce and was really unique. Both meals were so inexpensive for the quality of the dishes, and the portions were a good size. We finished the meal by splitting a piece of Tiramisu ($9), which was a great end to the meal. I can't wait to return soon and try more of the menu. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Topini al Gorgonzola (Gorgonzola Gnocchi)... $17 - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I don't want to write a review about this place because it's my little secret :) Kidding! I tell everyone to come here. Honestly... there aren't many good Italian restaurants in DC, let alone affordable ones. Acqua al 2 has got you covered! There other location is in Florence if you need some convincing. Reasonable prices with bomb food options AND it is easy to get a reservation. If you want to bring someone on a special date night, this is certainly a hidden gem and you won't regret it. The blueberry filet is really unique and delicious. How could you not want meat covered in a blueberry sauce??? Want a pasta option? Well those are delicious too. The mozzarella and tomato appetizer is really fresh and extra good, and the tiramisu is so juicy/moist- both words sound weird but just order this for dessert. read more

Nestled in Capital Hill you will find a quiet and romantic spot perfect for an intimate dinner or cozy night out with your girlfriends. We loved the atmosphere and the theme of the personalized plates that surrounded the restaurant and created a unique decor, which makes for great conversation pieces. The food is authentic and although the menu is limited in its flexibility to change, you will still enjoy your selection and feel satisfied if you go with the waiter's recommendations. #fallynsfoodieexcursions #italianrestaurant #acquaaltwo #alwaysfunwithfriends read more

There are never too many good things that I can say about this place. We go at least twice a month! The freshest pasta I've ever had...yes, I've had AMAZING pastas! Our daughter is an EXTREMELY picky eater so trust me, if it lives up to her standards...it is AMAZING! It is officially HER favorite restaurant and she and her boyfriend are regulars there now! Another bonus? The bartender is NOT stingy with his "pours"! Go. You won't be disappointed! read more

Nice Italian place by the Eastern Market. Pasta is really good, I had the ricotta and spinach cannelloni. Portions are big (I couldn't finish my plate ;) ). We had our food at the outdoor sitting which was pretty nice. Service was excellent. I will come back next time I'm around this neighborhood. The four stars are to differentiate from other great Italian restaurants in DC. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Cozy and elegant Italian restaurant with wonderful service and delicious food! We surprised our girlfriend here for her 30th birthday and the staff was great about helping us with our cake and balloons, taking pictures, and making the whole evening a successful surprise. Food was amazing. I admit that I didn't completely enjoy everyone's entrees but I really loved my own and the appetizers! For apps, the burrata on toast w/ fig jam and prosciutto was so good. Same with the ricotta spinach balls. For my entree, I got the fusilli pasta with porcini mushrooms, mascarpone, and parmesan and it was so savory, delicious, and perfectly al dente! The drinks at the front bar were also quite nice! I would definitely come back again for date night. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Fusilli with porcini mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great hostess, good service. Lovely neighborhood spot. Trio of salads was a nice start, burrata with strawberries was a nice interesting combination. Ordered 2 seafood pastas, pasta was undercooked and uninteresting in flavours. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Burrata w/ shaved asparagus and strawberries - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Acqua in Florence is one of my favorite pasta restaurants. I crave it some much I made sure to have dinner here when I planned a DC trip - same owner as the one in Florence. The ambience is great and the service is outstanding. We had the pasta sampler (it was vegetarian - I wish there was a non-vegetarian option) and it was delicious. It was all delicious and filling. It was a little short onthe taste in Florence but I attribute it to different water, fruit, veggies from actual Florence. We also ordered the Florentino steak and pasta with mushrooms. Otherwise I felt like we were eating in Florence. So delicious. Can't wait to return. read more

See all

I had the spinach cannelloni and it was fantastic. There are so many delicious vegetarian options. The caprese was yummy and the eggplant parmesan was great. The spinach cannelloni was on point. The tomato sauce is exactly what I wanted. Portions are decent. The ambiance is great, the service is attentive and obviously other people know how great it is because the place was packed. We got a decent bottle of wine with dinner and had a really nice time. I will be back. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Acqua Al 2 is a solid yet affordable Italian spot in Capitol Hill. I came here for a friend's birthday dinner. The staff was so nice! They even helped to set up balloons. When we arrived, we ordered a few appetizers. We had the spinach and ricotta balls. Their tomato sauce was SO GOOD. Everyone continued to dip their bread into it after the balls ran out. It was sweet but not too sweet. We also ordered the burrata which was wrapped in prosciutto and had a fig base. This was everyone's favorite! The flavors mixed really well together. For dinner, most of opted for the pasta entree. I ordered the gnocchi but substituted vodka sauce. The gnocchi was super fresh and tender. The sauce was also flavorful. I tried the Orecchiette con Zucca di Stagione. This was even better then the gnocchi! I would come back just for that dish. The best part is that the food is high quality but you didn't need to sell both of your kidneys to pay for dinner. The pastas were a healthy serving and under $20. However, my friend ordered the blueberry steak which was around $35 and RAVED about how great it was. This is one of their most famous dishes so definitely try it. Food God even loves it (check him out on IG)! Overall, this was a great meal! We ordered plenty of food and wine. I will 100% be back as it was a nice atmosphere with even better food and company. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Gnocchi substituted with vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a wonderful dinner here while visiting DC. We arrived early and were able to be seated right away in a great booth by the window. Our group of 4 ordered the pasta sampler and the balsamic and blueberry filets to share. The first pasta dish was my absolute favorite- fusili lunghi al mascarpone e funghi. It was to die for. I would just order that for myself next time. We also got a pesto risotto, and three dishes in red sauce- a gnocchi, an orecchiette, and a rigatoni dish. All were very good. The filets were both cooked perfectly but the balsamic blew me away. It was amazing. The blueberry was very good too but the blueberry sauce didn't provide as much flavor as the balsamic. For dessert we shared a couple orders of the panna cotta which is served with a delicious passion fruit sauce. You can bring your own wine and pay a corkage fee which was what we ended up doing. It was $25 for each bottle. The service was excellent and management was very nice. They were able to get us in to the speakeasy upstairs for after dinner drinks even though we did not have a prior reservation. That is definitely worth checking out too. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Panna cotta - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Eating all my steaks with fruit compotes from now on!!! I was a bit skeptical about having fruit with my steak but hey, this is the most popular item on the menu for a reason, right? I'm not one to order steak at dinner usually but this was a must! Perfectly seasoned and cooked, the flavors of the blueberry and steak melded together perfectly! I also got the mushroom pasta and the parsley gnocchi. All were amazing! Def recommend this place! read more

See all

Higher end Italian place that has good food, drinks and ambiance. I order the lamb chops with potatoes. Enjoyed the taste, but I think they could have given more lamb. I tried my friends blueberry steak and that was really delicious and cooked well. If I come back here it will be to try the pasta which I haven't yet. read more

This place was absolutely amazing. I don't even think I can offer a good critique because I was blown away. I love the quaint feel of the interior and the food was spectacular. If you have not been you simply must go. I'll be stopping by anytime I'm in DC. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Cute little menus. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here for winter 2019 restaurant week: 1. The atmosphere is your typical, small, crowded Italian feel. There definitely could be more space 2. Menu gave a good variety past your typical Italian pasta dishes, which I loved as a GF-dieter 3. Service was decent, no complaints. Food: 1. Caprese salad: Mozzarella was amazing quality. Can't go wrong here 2. Branzino: came paired with Brussels and a pea sauce (so so yummy!!) 3. Panna Cotta: I don't have a huge sweet tooth, so dessert is never my favorite, but it was good! 4/5! Definitely would come again. Cute date spot and has a nice outdoor patio for summer! read more

See all

Food is amazing! I started with the burrata which was served atop raspberries and panzanella... best burrata I've ever had and the pairing with the raspberry with panzanella was divine! For my entree I did the pasta sampler which at first thought wouldn't be filling but don't be fooled with the small portion as you are getting 5 of pasta: 3 cream based and 2 tomato. All the pastas were truly delicious but I could have done without the corkscrew pasta dish only because the tomato sauce had a greater kick than I anticipated. They were very accommodating when I asked for none of the dishes to have bell peppers and my only complaint is that it was sometimes hard to wave down staff to ask for things. We finished the meal with their tiramisu which was just ok but with food that good who cares?! I look forward to coming back :-) read more

Acqua Al 2 - Burrata - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Literally, love Acqua Al 2! The food is simply amazing. I've been here so many times and have yet to be disappointed. The other night I had a reservation for my husband and me at 7:15 - we walked in and unfortunately had to wait a little longer because the table they were going to have for us had a few guests that we're leaving quickly at all. They felt really horrible so they got us a few glasses of wine on the house and said they were really sorry for the wait. We ended up sitting down a little while after and went on to have a wonderful dinner. My husband got this seafood dish, which included like a whole pound of clams... he loved it! I got the penne al vodka which was amazing as usual. I just always end up getting the vodka sauce because I'm addicted, it's so good. We split the pear salad with arugula, which ended up being the perfect amount of food. I'm very impressed with this place, not only because of the food but because of the management for doing the right thing when we couldn't sit down right away. Everyone from the hostesses to the servers to the busboys are always so helpful and genuinely kind, which always seems to make our times here even that much better! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Placemats! - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Being a contrarian is not fun, and I don't relish it, but I did not love this restaurant. Upon sitting down, my boyfriend and I appreciated its cozy, seemingly authentic atmosphere. The server was SUPER quiet, though, and I could barely hear him (not usually an issue for me...my sense of hearing is pretty dern good). The selection of wine by the glass seems paltry at first, but there are some good choices on there. My boyfriend liked his pasta. I ordered their famous filet without blueberry or balsamic sauce - I am not a picky eater but don't like either of those as an accompaniment. The waiter had to ask the chef if it was OK to sub in a mushroom sauce that's already used for another steak dish. Is it that serious guys?! The steak arrived, and despite the very low lighting, I could tell something was amiss. My medium steak seemed more medium-rare at best. I sent it back, and I always hate to do so, but it was definitely not medium. Of course, tracking down our waiter took a very long time, since he was barely around and (probably unwittingly!) avoided the gaze of most diners who needed his attention. Finally, the steak arrived. Is it cliche to say it melted in my mouth? Oh well, I will cliche away. This is a good date night spot, but I found it slightly overhyped for frustrating execution and service. read more

The only other place in the world you can experience this amazing restaurant is in Venice. I came here for a professional development program and they rented the upstairs private room. From the charcuterie board, salad, and down to the pasta dished were amazing. One of the best charcuterie boards I have ever had. The cured meats were to die for and packed with a smooth flavor. Our waiters were so nice and attentive. I really enjoyed the mushroom risotto and the ragu pasta with wild mushrooms! I have never loved mushrooms so much in my life. I usually never get mushrooms on my dish and this made me love mushrooms. The two pasta dishes were so creamy and had plenty of meat and mushrooms. They definitely were plentiful with the toppings. I must go back and it isn't far from an area I frequent. read more

Very cute Italian restaurant in Eastern market but service was terrible which ruined me enjoying this restaurant! decor of the restaurant was full of neat ways to decorate with cork and they had decorated plates all over the walls. Came for a dinner date with the BF on a Sunday. We were seated in the booth between other diners which is fine. They seemed pretty busy which made us think oh how great! the food must be amazing for the crowd! We sat and sat.. and waited for someone to greet us for drinks. We got the menus from the hostess and water from someone. It took awhile for us to get a drink menu, which when handed to us, we werent sure if they were our server or not because there was no greeting. We ended up skipping on getting drinks because it was taking forever for that server to come back, so we decided to just order our food when we guessed was the server came back. We ordered the cheese sampler, tuna tartare, ragu pasta for me and my bf ordered one of the steaks. Tuna tartare wouldve been tasty but it was over salted in a few places. so some bites were just salted enough and others were very salty. Cheese sampler - server didnt stop to explain what the four cheese were. Someone just dropped it off and left. ookay. but there was one that i really enjoyed because it was like a truffle flavored cheese, one seemed like a brie and we were unsure what the others were. it was served with pears and some jam. The steak came out first with a TON of peppercorn on the plate. Not sure if anyone would want that many peppercorns in each bite so my bf had to scrap a good amount off his steak. Thennn after waiting a little my pasta came out. we almost were questioning if they had forgotten the pasta. The ragu was good and the pasta was this hand rolled pasta that i enjoyed. but... is it normal to be at an italian restaurant and not be asked if i want cheese on top? that is almost my favorite part about going to eat italian! Since the service was so bad, we didnt even want to stay for dessert so we got our check and left. Unfortuantely, I probably wouldnt come back just because of the terrible service for decent tasting food. read more