We have been dining at Cafe Fiorello since they opened in Washington, D.C., and we keep returning because the food is always excellent. The Spaghetti & Meatballs--and frankly, all of their pastas--are outstanding, and their thin-crust pizzas are a regular, delicious favorite of ours. This past Saturday, we introduced two of our long term friends to the restaurant for their first visit, and they absolutely loved both the food and the service. The entire staff is professional and incredibly welcoming. A special thank you to Esther, Chris, and Kia for their wonderful hospitality, and to the management team for doing an incredible job ensuring we had a fantastic time. From the shareable appetizers to the entrees, desserts, wine list, and cocktail selection, everything was terrific. Hands down the best Italian restaurant in D.C.! read more

Really disappointed to see this restaurant is closing soon because I've had a lovely time every time I've visited- the service is excellent and everyone is so friendly. Cafe Fiorello's menu is extensive and the space inside is gorgeous! There's a really nice patio for outdoor dining as well. The location downtown is so convenient, right off Pennsylvania Ave close to Metro Center. I've tried the vodka sauce pizza (excellent, the crust is so thin and crispy it basically shatters in your mouth), the amarena cherry lemonade (delicious!), the meatballs (a bit salty but still very good and a substantial size), and the green salad (fresh with tons of parmesan, which I love). The first time I visited, a server brought around tiny, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies while we were dining, which was such a fun treat. I hope to see Cafe Fiorello return to DC! read more

Initially thought this was a coffee shop. It's an Italian restaurant! It's spacious with a cute bar. We came in for happy hour. They have great specials on drinks and food! Happy hour is from 3 -6 and only in the bar and on the patio. It was a warmer day so we did the bar. Service was great. I did a bourbon cocktail ("all chips are down"). It was really good. A few in our group got the espresso martini and seemed to like it. Can't wait to visit again and try one of their entrees. Yes, I'll be back! read more

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We just happened to stumble upon this restaurant on our way somewhere else. So glad we stopped for a few snacks. The salad and oysters were fresh and the pizza was delicious! Our server was friendly and the food came out quick. We even got fresh baked cookies at the end! It was a hot day in DC so stopping here for lunch in the air felt so nice! read more

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I'm sad to say I did not enjoy the pasta here because (although it was gluten free) all the pasta was disintegrated. Also, the gluten free pasta was mixed shapes and not a linguine for the linguine and clam pasta I ordered. The texture really threw me off and the sauce was really salty. I know it's because I've gotten gluten free but I've had way better gluten free pasta that doesn't disintegrate or feel like I was given crushed pasta at the bottom of the pasta box. My husband enjoyed his rigatoni for reference. The only reason why I gave this place 3 stars is because the service was great and the antipasti vegetables were really good, especially the EGGPLANT. I'm not sure if I'll come back here but I'm glad I tried. read more

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Went there for a quick bite after walking around & started to drizzled. I guess this place takes reservations. We didn't have reservations, but were offered seat at the bar for full service. Our order was good but I'm a bit disappointed to the size of the pasta. It was definitely good for one person. I guess I got used to the other Italian restaurants that I've been to where they serve large dish of pasta. Don't get me wrong, the food we ordered were good. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Prosciutto di parma & Arugula - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We popped by for a quick bite following some errands. The day happened to be great weather and the patio was open. It's great people watching and with the large umbrellas you don't feel the direct head of the sun. We grabbed some light bites--bruschetta, margarita, oysters. All were great, but I would probably order the bruschetta and oysters again. The wine and cocktail selection was also great. As an added, we we're served fresh baked, chocolate chip cookies on the way out. It was such a nice added touch. It was a busy day, so our server was not as present as I wanted, but overall service was good. Despite being in the tourist zone, this is actually a really good spot with great food. read more

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Elegant atmosphere. Extremely friendly and courteous wait staff that pay attention to your table. Food was good, but not anything I would write home about. I ordered the LASAGNA, which is a highly regarded item on their menu. Pasta was freshly made in house. It is not something that would bring me back. It was constructed non-conventionally. Instead of flat layers, they roll a sheet of pasta with ingredients inside and cut into circles where noodle is spiraled from outside in. So it is layered in a different sense. My daughter ordered the regular CARBONARA, but as gluten free. The carinara sauce was a little bland to me. I expected it to beore heavy and rich. read more

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Located within walking distance to the National Mall and many other D.C. institutions, Cade Fiorello DC is a spacious Italian restaurants. Popping in with a friend for lunch, it's clear it's a popular spot for high powered D.C. people and tourists alike. We ordered a variety of dishes from the bread loaf to the artichokes to the Caesar salad to the meatballs to the cannoli. Everything tasted good, but the winners were the meatballs, the eggplant parmesan, and the affogato. They also have a great wine and spritz list. Service is excellent- attentive and on point. read more

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Really wanted to like this place but it just didn't seem like there was much flavor! I enjoyed my veggie pizza, but wouldn't be back. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Veggie pizza - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

You can find many things among the monuments - a sense of history, weight of a democracy -- but what if you just want some Italian food. We felt lucky to find this place, as restaurants in this area are few and far between. Kudos for accommodating us quickly and without a reservation. Lasagna had a nice bechamel that was not too rich. Short rib meatballs were flavorful. Could the shrimp and crab cake use a little more acid? (Answer is yes). We felt well-attended by the friendly staff. Now we know, when we are pushing that last Smithsonian museum and hunger hits -- a charming cafe is steps away. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Spaghetti and short rib meatballs - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Beautiful interior and fun vibes - fresh antipasto bar that they're known for and great gluten free pizza ! Wonderful salads and an old School vibe esp when they bring the lemons on ice! The manager when I was there was the heartbeat of the place - he'd relocated from nyc and brought the vibe ! Check them out ! read more

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Amazing service and wonderful ambiance for lunch or just coffee. My Vanilla Latte was amazing!!!!! The bartender Denzel was phenomenal! read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place has potential but my group's first visit was a mixed experience. The place is lovely and the service was attentive. However, our server was a little bit overeager and I got really fed up with the constant attempts to upsell us on things we didn't want. Food results were mixed. Frittata: good Pizza: ok. Also be aware their pizza crust is yeastless and cracker thin. Not to everyone's taste Gluten free pizza: came out undercooked Salmon: good Eggplant: good Bread loaf: to our surprise actually is garlic bread. It's absolutely delicious Carbonara: had an odd flavor. Not the best Drinks: Spritz: loaded with excessive amounts of ice Frozen Bellini: AMAZING. Highly recommend Mimosa: $15 and my friend said the sparkling wine was flat and it tasted awful Negroni: good and large Wine: pricey and moderate sized pour I won't be rushing back but if I go back, I'll probably try the eggplant and definitely get the bread again. read more

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We walked in here on a whim and because of the cool lighting fixtures we could see from the street. It has a large bar and tons of plush seating. The interior is well done - well spaced out tables, but still cozy. The food was good - pasta al pomodoro and ravioli were good. I do wish I had bread with it though fare la scarpetta. The desserts were considerably generous in portions, which was absolutely great for sharing (double what I would have expected based on nearby Olio or Carmine's at the same price - let's hope they don't read this though). Service was very friendly and quick! They brought around hot oatmeal raisin cookies on a tray towards the end of the meal - no clue if that's a regular thing but it was quite fun. read more

I get the Washington, DC edition of "Eater" sent to my email. That's how I learned about Fiorello. After looking at their menu, we decided that it was well worth a try. Not sure as to how busy it would be, we made a reservation for an early Saturday dinner. When we got there, it was clear that a reservation at that time wasn't really necessary. The ambiance says "Old school Italian restaurant" complete with lots of dark wood and tiled floors. The background music was 40s and 50s tunes. We were taken to a four top table that had a window view. It's always interesting watching the street scene unfold. For starters, I ordered to drink, "A Cosmo of Beauty", which consists of: "Botanical vodka, rose & hibiscus syrup, cranberry, amaranth flowers". Not only was this an attractive looking drink, but a tasty one, too. My husband ordered a glass of "Chianti Classico" which he enjoyed. For a starter, we chose "Prosciutto and burrata" which proved to be just right in terms of portion size. Also, we ordered the "Fresh baked Italian loaf with garlic spread". The bread is house-made and the "whole loaf" is small (which was good). Here's when things went sideways --- A server came to our table to take our order, and screwed up our main course order. My husband ordered "Tagliatelle Bolognese". I had a question about the "Burrata Tordelli" as the description in the menu wasn't detailed----yes, it comes with tomato sauce. Shortly thereafter, a different server, Brian, came to our table. He said he knew our order was placed already. He turned out to be quite efficient, polite and friendly. A runner brought out our dinners. Instead of getting one of each entree we ordered, two portions of Tagliatelle Bolognese came out. I told the runner that I had ordered the Tordelli. The manager got wind of what happened and came to apologize to us. He also offered us a free veggie side dish. We chose the fried cauliflower which was quite good. As for the food --- My husband enjoyed his Tagliatelle and said he would have it again. We had never heard of Tordelli before coming here. I had looked it up. Traditionally, it's a half moon shaped pasta that is filled with meat. At Fiorello, it was more of a square piece that was filled with burrata. I did like this dish and thought the portion size was good. For dessert, our server talked up the Tiramisu. I was willing to share it with my husband but he thought it would be too much food. So, he suggested we each get the affogato with espresso. He really liked this dessert, while I didn't like it. The espresso was bitter and the vanilla affogato did little to take away any of the bitterness. He ate his portion and finished mine. As we were having our dessert, the manager came by with a tray of small freshly made chocolate chip cookies and was offering them to customers. These cookies were quite good, especially when served right out of the oven. Using Metro to get here was easy. We got off at Federal Triangle and had a short walk to the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and 10th Street, NW. And, yes, we would return. We were quite impressed as to how the manager handled our order screwup and we appreciated the attentive service from Brian. Restrooms are up the ramp located behind the mirrors near the bar (if you're sitting near the door on the ground floor). After going up the ramp, head toward the left back corner of the restaurant and make a left; follow the corridor past the wine fridge as far as you can. The rest rooms have unusual sink faucets: move the circular top left or right to start the water flowing). read more

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Lovely, upscale interior with attentive service. I got the pizza with sweet peppers and sausage and tiny bits of burrata. It was delicious. I didn't realize the crust would be super thin but for that reason, the pizza was ready within 10mins. I loved how the crust tasted like a well seasoned cracker and it went well with the toppings. I'd love to go back and try their other pizzas. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Sausage fennel and peppers pizza - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My colleagues and I stopped in yesterday for a team lunch and I was glad that I had a reservation because the restaurant was busy. We were seated when we got there and we were brought water in the menus. We took a minute to look over the menu before we ordered and everything looked very good. I ordered the prosciutto pizza which came with an arugula and fennel salad on top. The crust was perfectly thin and the pizza tasted very good. I will definitely be back to try out more items on the menu soon since this is so close to my office. If you're looking for a great work lunch or just a great restaurant in general, I am recommending café Fiorello. read more

Every dish I tried was delicious! The portions are huge and the service is amazing. The rigatoni alla vodka and veal chop parmigiana were amazing! Looking forward to coming back! read more

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I got the chicken parmigiana. It was huge!! It was good, but a lot of cheese and gets soggy as you're eating it. The service was not great. We were in the restaurant for over 2 1/2 hours, because how late we were getting approached (our appetizer, entree, dessert). We skipped on the dessert because it took the waitress about 20 minutes to come back just to check in if we had decided. We decided to not have any dessert. Because as soon as we said no and asked for our check, it took her another 20-25 minutes to give our receipt and another 15 mins to process it. Service is ridiculous. The ambiance was pretty. Giving it a 3 star because of service and how late everything arrived and was communicated. Our food took about 45+minutes. I wouldn't go again. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Chicken parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent service, food & drinks and ambiance at the newly opened NYC transplant, Cafe Fiorello. The staff was wonderful, came around offering complimentary mini cookies (we had many) and brought my friend a birthday treat and all sang him happy birthday. A must order is the chicken Parmesan, it is textbook. Super thin and crispy chicken loaded with sauce and melted cheese. We tried the vodka rigatoni which was a satisfying version. The garlic bread was fine, nothing super special. For drinks we tried the grand spritz (very good) and the espresso martini, which was tasty but not a contender for my favorite in the city. All the desserts sounded delicious and we opted for their signature chocolate mousse. Quite delicious and rich! Loved the free mouthwash in the bathroom too read more

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We came here for an event and the food didn't disappoint. From the crab cake, to the pasta, to the lobster tails. Everything was so good and full of flavor. Will definitely be back read more

Such a lovely place! We have frequented the NY location for years so when we found out it had opened in DC, we knew we had to try it. We made reservations for a Monday night. We had excellent service the entire meal from every staff member we encountered. Our pasta was delicious, best ever rigatoni alla vodka and a HUGE chicken Parmesan! After dinner we got a freshly baked cookie as a treat! Such a great addition to DC! read more

I had a great overall experience here and would definitely come back. The food was fantastic--everything we ordered was flavorful, well-prepared, and came out at a good pace. Service started off a bit shaky, with some small missteps and confusion from our servers, but they really found their rhythm as the meal went on. I appreciated the effort and attentiveness once things got going. The location is a huge plus--right in the heart of Downtown DC, making it an excellent spot for a business lunch or meeting. Convenient, lively, and easy to get to. All in all, a strong choice for both the food and the setting. With just a little more consistency in service, this place would be top-tier. read more

Stopped in for drinks after the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Esther was so sweet and she made me the most delicious Espresso Martini! It was perfect. She kept making sure we had everything we wanted and even gave us a few of their delicious chocolate chip cookies!! Esther was amazing! read more

I spontaneously took both my kids (5.5 and 2.5) to the museums today and needed a lunch spot in between American and natural history. I found cafe fiorello and couldn't have been more pleased. Catering to the kiddos with delicious pizza and me with an amazing (and huge) chicken parm, Caesar salad, and iced latte. Plus dessert of vanilla and chocolate gelato with house made cookies made into ice cream sandwiches. The server that we had was so friendly as were the rest of the staff. They made me feel comfortable with both kids and even helped me when I had to run one kid to the restroom. I will absolutely be back here. Such a nice way to break up a day at the museums. read more

Cannot say enough about our meal and server! Try the meatballs and lasagna! Chris took care of us so much we had to grab a photo! read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pretty terrible experience for a mid-week dinner. Very slow service at every stage of the meal, even though non-servers are hovering and taking and replacing plates and silverware every ten minutes. It took so long to get the first drink that our server admitted I should get it myself at the bar to have it with my entree. The restaurant itself is also VERY hot and humid. Two stars because the spaghetti was good, and hot, when I eventually received it. Never again. read more

We were on foot. We were hungry. Didn't know what to do. I looked up on yelp and this place is brand new no stars yet. Risk move however it was great. We were welcomed and had great service. Hard to decide what to get. I settled on eggplant Parm and it was delicious. I know they're new and getting legs, but I would recommend their delicious Italian food. Prices were mid to high, but not unexpected in the area. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Eggplant Parm - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Making advance dinner reservations, our party was seated promptly when we arrived. After studying the menu, we knew what to order to have a 'shareable' type of a situation - to start off, we had: +the Fresh Baked Whole Italian Loaf - served with a garlic spread +Sauteed Broccolini - with pine nuts, raisins, and calabrian peppers +Short Rib Meatballs - with Nonna's sauce and P arm +Roman Fried Artichokes alla Giudia - served with lemon aioli +and, the Tomato-Goat Cheese Bruschetta - with EVOO and basil For our mains, we ordered: +the Four Seasons Pizza - with mushrooms, artichoke, broccoli rabe, roasted peppers, and burrata mozzarella +Rigatoni Alla Vodka +Spaghetti Carbonara +Lobster Spaghetti Carbonara +Shrimp Scampi +and, the Linguine & Clams All the pasta dishes were generous in portions, well-presented, and prepared al dente. Service was attentive, and the restaurant itself is well-decorated and intimate, with the beautiful entryway, the tiles, and the dark wood finish. We'd be interested in checking out their brunch one day. +shareable items +attentive staff +reservations accepted read more

I had a good workout so I thought I deserved pizza. ;-) I stopped into Cafe Fiorello and ordered a Margherita pizza. It was well worth it! Delicious even after being carried four blocks on a pretty chilly day without being warmed up. I must return to try all the pizzas offered on the menu. The crust was thin and crispy to perfection. Everyone was so nice and welcoming even though I was dressed in gym attire. They were super accommodating. The bar service was very pleasant. Can't wait to go back. read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Margherita Pizza - to go - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I ordered the burrata ravioli and it was the best ravioli I've ever had. My 1 year old even loved it! It tasted like they used fresh ingredients. The margarita pizza was also a hit. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Super friendly service and unique pizza! I went for a weekday lunch and tried the carbonara and the vodka pizza. The carbonara was decent but a little bit on the bland side in my opinion, and is pretty expensive for what you get. I really enjoyed the super thin crust on the pizza - I thought it tasted great on its own as well and went well with the toppings. However, because it's so thin it definitely is not as filling as a regular pizza (I usually can only eat 2-3 slices before I get full, but I finished the whole pizza and still had room for dessert lol), so I think compared to other places it's not very bang for your buck. I also tried the chocolate mousse which was thick and creamy and paired well with the vanilla whipped cream. I also really liked that they give a little freshly baked chocolate chip cookie when you're done with your meal - it's a small detail but elevated the already friendly service a lot! Overall it's not a place I would go to for a casual lunch but is a good option near the White House for a nicer dinner! read more

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Excellent Italian food. Phenomenal vodka pizza and the Chicken Parmigiana was to die for! Service was very good only drawback was the relentless asking if we needed to go boxes. Felt like they wanted us to leave even though there wasn't a wait. read more

Best pasta dish my daughter has ever eaten! -Pasta carbonara. Really friendly service all around- from the bartender to the server and beyond. Reasonable prices as well. Find dining setting read more

Cafe Fiorello DC - Spaghetti and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Don't close restaurant while people are still eating. Didn't have wine selection and didn't co me back to inform until half way through the meal. When I questioned the bill and service, the waiter said the manager (assistant) didn't come over for a matter of exc Offered desert and I ordered Affagato to be told we can't serve that because we shut down the espresso machine. Manager was out the back door before and the staff went wild while guests were still present. read more

I went here because I was recommended it and had pretty high expectations since the reviews were so good. Unfortunately, this place was just okay. My friend and I made a reservation and arrived an hour early and they were super accommodating letting us in early. We ordered an appetizer and our entrees at the same time. The appetizer came out pretty quickly and was pretty solid. Tasted like how I expected calamari to taste, so no complaints there. It's just that it took like 30 minutes for the entrees to come out. At first, I thought they were waiting for us to finish the appetizer before they'd bring out the entree. But then after they took that away, it still was like 30 minutes to get our entrees. Honestly, it could have been longer, but I don't remember. When we finally got the food, we weren't that hungry anymore. My carbonara was okay, but I personally thought it was too peppery. I do know I don't like a lot of pepper so that could be a personal preference there. The chicken parmesan tasted good, but the breading was pretty soggy. They do give you a free cookie at the end, but the size is about a snack size. I feel like where we were seated cause them to forget about us. read more

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We saw this before we went into the FBI building. When we came out we this place and thought it was just a cafe. That's all we wanted. Coffee and some small smackerel of something to eat. When we got in we saw it was so much more. It is beautiful. Christopher was our waiter and was very attentive. Native to the DC area but spent enough time in South Carolina that when I said the tea was not sweet enough, he knew what I meant. We both started with the soup of the day. and garlic bread. I thought the soup was called stracciatella, but I don't think there was pasta in it. Mostly broth, chicken and spinach. It was perfect for a cold day in DC. We also had a crab cake with lemon aioli that set it off perfectly. That's all we had, but we will definitely be going back. read more

Love the food and bar tender service. Juan is a master at crafting unique cocktails. Give him a spirit and he will give you a delicious drink. He is very attentive when we sit at the bar. Great service. Staff also is very attentive. The food is solid. We usually get the lasagna and filet and are always pleased. Put this on your list of restaurants to enjoy. Happy to see Cafe Fiorello in downtown DC. read more

We love this restaurant in DC. The staff members are very friendly and professional. Both our meals were excellent. I love their eggplant made in a wood fired oven. My husband had the salmon and would definitely order again. Johana our waitress even remembered us from a previous visit. She is a terrific server. The cannoli shell is made of almonds. Very different and delicious! Can't wait to go back. read more