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    Cafe Fiorello DC

    4.1 (48 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Spaghetti and short rib meatballs
    John A.

    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.

    Dona P.

    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 !

    Meatballs appetizer
    Kelly M.

    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.

    Sausage fennel and peppers pizza
    Cindy C.

    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.

    Fried cauliflower
    Susan H.

    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).

    Margherita Pizza - to go
    Karrie G.

    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.

    Gloria M.

    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!

    Chicken parmigiana
    Maha S.

    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.

    Grand spritz, espresso martini
    Lily B.

    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

    Salad half eaten

    Stopped by after a tour and saw this place across the FBI building. Went in and had happy hour menu options. Ordered pizza spicy pepperoni/honey and half cheese. WOW what a fabulous combination of honey with the pepperoni and cheese. Also had a yummy salad. I almost forgot to take a picture because I was so hungry and it was great! Service was outstanding ! The hostess was most welcoming.

    Stacey S.

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

    vodka pizza
    Phoebe D.

    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!

    Spaghetti and meatballs
    lyf g.

    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

    Eggplant Parm

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    Food was excellent to the last bite. Bolognese and tiramisu was perfect. Service was good

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    Cafe Fiorello DC Reviews in Other Languages

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    Grazie Nonna - Green Goodness

    Grazie Nonna

    (760 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    This review is well overdue but has been word of mouthed to several people since coming here for my…read morebirthday in August. From the time I arrived they made me feel special and wasn't even wearing anything that said it was my birthday. I brought a cake with me and I was going to ask how much they charge for storage and they told me "Nothing, it's free of charge". They relieved me so much. Now for the atmosphere, it was so so elegant in there even thinking about it now makes me want to go back just to stare at those wax candles that creates mountains of dripped wax which is its own kind of art. Next, let's take about the mouthwatering and delicious food we had. I ordered the Vodka Sauce Pasta and it was the perfect amount of heat and flavor. I also got a side of garlic bread and it was so crispy, light, buttery, and garlicky, just like I like it. My husband ordered the Drunken Love Pizza and of course I had to try a slice and WOWWWW. That one slice of pizza had me drooling it was so yummy!! Everyone enjoyed their food and it was great time. Now, on to my cake, I'd brought candles, plates, and even a knife with me to cut the cake. To my surprise, they brought the cake out with lit candles and everyone sung Happy Birthday to me. They even cut and served the cake to us. Keep in mind, there was not a charge on the bill for this either. It truly made my birthday even more special. Grazie Nonna, you don't understand how happy you made me feel that day. Thank you so much for the love shown on my special day. I will forever tell people this story. Thank you!

    Tanta pimienta en una pizza!!!! Noooo Pedimos la clásica,…read morenos encanta el queso! Además que no nos gusta sobrecargar la comida, menos es más! Desafortunadamente, esa costumbre taaaan americana de agregar pimienta a todo es un NO absoluto para la pizza de queso El servicio es agradable y también el lugar, pero la comida es lo más importante en mi opinión y no nos gustó mucho

    Caruso's Grocery - Spicy Neapolitan Ragu

    Caruso's Grocery

    (338 reviews)

    $$

    Capitol Hill

    When my niece requested Italian for her birthday I knew just where to take her for her birthday…read more While it's hard to snag an early dinner reservation before 9PM, I've been there plenty times solo and was able to secure a single seat at the bar.That place is busy, welcoming & warm and well worth it! The hospitality and service is top tier. When celebrating a birthday they greet you from the host stand with a happy birthday! We started with the Roasted Garlic Caesar and the Garlic Bread Quattro Formaggi both super tasty and flavorful. For dinner went with the Spicy Neapolitan Ragu, my personal fav, which is hearty and full of flavor and the Caruso's Alfredo that's creamy with wild mushrooms and truffle butter. My picky 19yr old left with her heart and stomach full and impressed with Caruso's! It was my pleasure to introduce her and happy to add another fan gal!

    Love this place for some good old Italian! Chicken parm was absolutely ginormous and had a good…read morebalance of sauce and tomato. The ragu was perfection. The perfect mixture of umami and tang. They also used bucatini noodles and I feel like not many restaurants do that and I just love how it absorbs all the sauce. Bread was delicious as always, but the cheese was just okay. Honestly I feel like the bread tasted better with the ragu sauce. Potatoes were exactly what you would expect - herby and slightly cheesy. Vibes in there are perfect - like an old style Italian homey restaurant. Service took a little while but they were also busy.

    Osteria Al  Volo - Fettuccine Amatriciana

    Osteria Al Volo

    (599 reviews)

    $$

    Adams Morgan

    I've been coming to this lovely Italian gem for so many years. It is consistent and delicious and…read morefriendly and cozy. Their pastas are perfection. Their menu is simple and it works. We've taken out of town guests, we've taken our son, we've done takeout. One of my favorites is the bucatini with short rib ragu. I always ask for an extra side of buratta, which pair is so nicely with the hearty sauce.

    A cute little neighborhood spot. Was in the mood for pasta and decided to go on a whim on a…read moreSaturday night. It was crowded but there were still a few seats available. Found it to be a bit louder than I would've liked but I think it was because of the spacing between tables. Came toward the end of the night and got seated and welcomed right away. I ordered the polpette, meatballs to start. They were quite tasty, but the sauce was a bit watery. Think that's just because the meatballs themselves were pretty juicy. Heard the focaccia was a hit, so asked for some of that. I was told they didn't have any left. Which was weird, because then another server came and asked if I wanted bread. I'm glad I said yes because the focaccia is very fresh and was a great addition to the meal. For my main, I ordered the vodka pasta, which was very flavorful and very saucy. I love a good, thick vodka sauce and that's what you'll get here. The one part of the pasta I didn't really enjoy was the chicken inside the pasta. I think I would've preferred a grilled chicken option instead of the chicken that comes in the pasta. That being said, this place is a gem. The prices are great and the portions are hearty. The pasta is thick, you're really coming here for fresh noodles and ingredients. If you want to top your meal off just right, you'll get the chocolate lava cake. Very delicious! Service was good and staff was very attentive!

    Cucina Morini

    Cucina Morini

    (187 reviews)

    So this place is a go-to for pasta lovers- either in person or delivery. The large portion is a…read moremust! Even to have leftovers! One of my favorites pictured here is the squid ink pasta in a spicy sauce with blended shellfish. The bread crumbs on top, shellfish and pasta have the best texture combination. The red pepper perfectly compliments the dish. My other go- to is the gramigna- the white sauce with pepper and sausage is a very tasty dish. I truly appreciate their homemade pasta! For apps- can't go wrong with the burrata. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere chic casual.

    I was sold on the $7 martini happy hour alone - like how can you go wrong with that kind of deal,…read morein this economy? Cucina morini was great all around- we came for the happy hour of $7 martinis but stayed for dinner as well. The martini lounge is small but with great people watching in a beautiful space. The bar seating was all very vibey - the aesthetic of this whole place is elegant and cozy without feeling too stuffy. The Morini martini and the dirty martini were definitely our favorites, though the espresso martini was solid too. Now for dinner - we knew this spot was known for its appetizers so we started with the yellow tail crudi (ricciola), the focaccia with the side burrata, and the broccolini. Each appetizer complemented each other so well - the crudo was fresh with bright flavors, the bread was airy and light and was great with the small burrata, and the broccolini was the star of the show - spicy, charred, and exquisite. I could have easily ordered just more apps but we wanted to try some pastas as well. I appreciate that they have both small and large portions of pasta. We tried the small gramigna and the larger portion of the cappelletti. I am usually a fan of red sauces but both white sauce based pastas were some of the best I ever had. Forget some of the other Italian spots in the area, this pasta was hands down amazing. Light, easy, understandable - the flavors were there without doing too much. Both portions were fantastic and a good amount for the $$. No dessert for us - I think the apps and pastas were quite enough. Service was great, we both had a glass of wine with dinner which was tasty, and the vibes were great. Will definitely be back!

    Floriana - Muscovy Duck Breast

    Floriana

    (969 reviews)

    $$

    Dupont Circle

    Floriana is an Italian staple in the DuPont circle neighborhood! Located in a cozy row home, they…read morehave beautiful inside and outdoor options for seating. We love to go on Mondays/Tuesdays for their $55 three course dinner special - the portions are always very generous with enough to take home! They have a great wine list, and even offer half priced bottles on Wednesday/Sundays. The staff is very knowledgeable and attentive. Most recently we got their calamari (always a favorite), mussels in wine sauce, duck breast, and lamb gnocchi. The gnocchi had such a rich and decadent flavor. The duck breast was also delicious, and cooked perfectly.

    Went for restaurant week and would give 3.5 stars…read more First to note, parking in this area is not great. At all. Finding the restaurant was easy but walking into a foyer that looked like the back of a restaurant / server entrance with no staff to greet you was a little confusing. There are curtains sectioning off the dining area, but lots of questions when you first walk in. Also note that the dining room is verrrrry dark at night, and it can get very loud when crowded. Service was okay, but there were multiple times when we wondered where our server was. The bread, oil, and winter sangria were AMAZING. For food we had Brussels, calamari, and mussels to start (all delicious), tortellini mignon (underwhelming and sent back for the lobster linguine), scallop and shrimp risotto (okay, but I've had better), and branzino (good and cooked well) as entrees. I had the tiramisu for dessert which was good, but I did almost choke in the first bite from the amount of cinnamon. I would go back to try additional dishes, but a little underwhelmed for a first experience.

    Cafe Fiorello DC - italian - Updated May 2026

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