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    Centrolina

    3.8 (527 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Centrolina Photos

    CENTROLINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Centrolina

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    Menu
    Dona P.

    It's a strong 3.75, service and ambiance are lovely and food is fresh and flavorful. Truly small portions for what you're paying for so it is more of a treat. As a gluten free dairy free person they did a wonderful job accommodating but if I went very hungry I know I'd need to spend a good amount to feel full. My cosmo was .... So so. A little warm and a little too sweet even when I said not sweet. Passion fruit sorbet was amazing but the tiniest scoop ever. They should make it available to add to a glass of prosecco!

    Ribeye
    Allison C.

    Went here for our 5 year anniversary! I believe our servers name was Ali and he was amazing! All of the food was delicious. Wonderful date night spot.

    Tagliolini, Pistachio, White Bolognese, Sage, Parmigiano
    Ken S.

    KenScale: 8.0/10 Visits: August 2025 The restaurant business is absolutely brutal from an economic standpoint so it's not often you see a restaurant stay open for more than ten years. Centrolina in CityCenterDC, which is packed with premium luxury brand stores and tourist-friendly restaurants, is one of those stalwarts in the DC dining scene that seems to be around forever (I recently found out from the restaurant's review of Washington Post's Tom Sietsema that the restaurant opened in 2015). When a restaurant maintains that enviable level of longevity, there has to be some things it is doing right; I visited Centrolina with my wife Jun recently to find out the secret sauce behind Centrolina's continued success. Overall, our dinner was a pretty solid experience with one dish that was particularly memorable. The first part of our meal got off to a shaky start. Jun is pretty sensitive to the freshness of raw fish, and she was definitely not a fan of the Japanese yellowtail crudo. I thought the crudo was just fine although the tamari sauce (a type of sauce from Japan made from a byproduct of miso paste) somewhat overwhelmed the fish. On the other hand, panzanella salad with grilled octopus and heirloom tomato was fresh and delicious. Our consensus best dish of the night was from the tagliolini pasta with pistachio and white Bolognese sauce. I have to say it was one of the best pasta dishes that I had tasted at a DC restaurant. There was just something quite magically addictive about the rich white Bolognese sauce that Jun and I ended up taking the same sauce home from the store next door. The final savory dish, Iberico pork with roasted baby leek and blistered shishito pepper, was more than solid, with chewy texture of the pork meat that I enjoyed (although Jun thought it could've been a little softer). For dessert, we chose panna cotta based on crème de menthe (a mint-based alcoholic beverage) flavor with chocolate. I had no idea what crème de menthe is until I saw the greenish color of the panna cotta and mint is not my favorite flavor but somehow the dessert worked quite nicely and I found myself thinking about it after the dinner. Getting a reservation at Centrolina will not be particularly challenging so long as you book a few days in advance but the dining room was by no means empty, with a nice mix of locals and tourists. There is a full bar with Italian-based cocktails and wine list across diverse regions of the country. The dining room's atmosphere feels modern without being too touristy, and service was seamless as well. After the meal at the restaurant, I highly recommend checking out the aforementioned store that sells some of the same food items used in the menu. Centrolina is the type of restaurant that gets the job done when it comes to offering a satisfying dining experience. In today's age of turbulence and volatility in the restaurant world, its durability is a virtue worth celebrating for.

    Pane bread
    Jeff T.

    A 2025 James Beard nominee and for good reason. The Pane consisted of three different types of bread, two of which were fluffy and chewy. The Verde salad had great potential ingredients but we're just not huge fans of salads inspired by Cesar salads. The fettuccine was hand made and you could tell by the al dente nature, savory cream sauce. Service was cordial. The atmosphere on a summer day outside was charming.

    Lava cake
    Bradley L.

    The food here tasted delicious. The only problem I had here was the serving sizes were extremely small. It's a balance because it's in a hot area so naturally costs will be high, but at the same time I had bread, app, and a bowl of pasta and still felt I had to have a dessert in order to be satisfied. The uni pasta was delicious. Super well cooked pasta tossed in a sauce that reminded me of the ocean. The tuna with persimmon was an awesome unexpected combination. The tuna was so tender. Both desserts we tried, the lava cake and the pistachio cake tiramisu were amazing.

    Pappardelle  - I added black truffle extra $28 to the pasta
    Y K.

    We reserved the seat for dinner (Friday 2/21/2025 ) Our experience was underwhelmed this time. I ordered Pappardelle pasta and added black truffles. Pasta was oily in the base and was not Al dente, rather a little over cooked, and It was just warm and wasn't hot - often happened here in the past too but the temperature is important and I hope they'll fix the issue and bring over the dish right away after the chef done cooking. $28 extra to add for the black truffle was not worth it - It was not flavorful. I know black truffles well and had many times, but it was not even close to what I've had before. However, their grill of the day - grilled scallops were excellent, fresh and chewy, cooked to perfection. Wine we ordered was Barolo and Super Tuscan by the glass but both were also a big disappointment this time - not fresh or stored in the wrong temperature, and poor portion too. It costed $25 each glass and was not worth it either. We always ordered the same glass here and sometimes ordered bottle but they were much better before. As many reviewers commented their foods portion are small for the price - I know that's true here since before and I agree with them, though I wouldn't mind to pay the price if their quality is right and that was not the case this time. We always paid about $400~500 dinner for 2 that's average here. I cannot believe they charged so much for these quality include that wine especially this time. I'm sad to write this honest review - truly loved here until now and hoping the restaurant management would fix that. I know better homemade quality pasta and Italian Barolo and Super Tuscan at other Italian restaurants. Definitely here is not 4-5 stars level overall and 3 stars is for the grilled scallops. This Centrolina has been one of our favorite restaurants for years, but unfortunately we'd not come back here anytime soon.

    Gnocchi
    Akshitha I.

    Centrolina DC has super flavorful Italian dishes that truly stand out. The gnocchi I had was perfectly seasoned in stand out cheese and olive oil, and my friend's burrata ravioli was packed a punch of a flavor in a very simple dish. Both dishes truly reflected the quality of the ingredients. The flavors were rich and authentic, a nice touch of Italy in DC. However, the portions were on the smaller side for the price, and the service could've been better Overall, it's a great spot in dc for amazing Italian food.

    The picture does not do justice to the tastiness of the gazpacho with beets
    Bernie P.

    Centrolina offers continued reliability in service and cuisine. Chef Amy Brandwein frequently updates the menu keeping the menu interesting. We had a broad sampling of dishes. For the starters, we agreed both the galia melon with yogurt and cucumber AND the gazpacho are both welcomed for the summer. We also had the bluefin tuna and red snapper. While fresh, the flavor (for both dishes) was a little lacking and could have benefitted from a little more citrus or pepper to let the fish reach its full potential. The pastas are usually a winner and last night was predictably tasty. The pappardelle (crème fraiche, dandelions and cherry) was my favorite. It was a delicious surprise if you like the play of bitter and sweet. The pappardelle and crème fraiche kept everything on track. The spaghetti d'amore with the yellow tomatoes is a safer choice for the more timid palate but full of freshness and seasonality. For our main courses, the lamb and sea scallops were both delicious. I leaned more into preferring the lamb maybe because the rest of our meal was very seafood focused, but the scallops are of quality stock. I appreciated their full flavor with the simplicity of a little basil, lemon, and summer vegetables. We ate and drank grandly (as usual) :- O. Looking at the bill, for the four of us, we ate four starters, two pastas, two main courses, two desserts, and six glasses of wine. The total bill with 30% tip was $562. Reflecting on our visits since my last Yelp review, Centrolina is a fair value. Yet, it is not the same screaming value it used to be compared to some of our other regulars in this price tier. With that stated, Centrolina remains in our regular rotation and I believe you will have an enjoyable experience.

    Polpo
    Rebecca H.

    I had a great dinner here. The polpo dish with the octopus was great and I liked the flavors. The salmon was good and the pasta was delicious. I really liked the combination of the corn, ricotta and truffle butter in the pasta. The dessert was surprisingly good too. I liked the different textures and it was not too sweet. The service was good and I liked the modern ambiance.

    Funghi
    Felicia L.

    Came here in June 2022 for dinner during our trip to Washington DC and this was perhaps the most disappointing meal that we had all trip. We ordered two tagliolini pastas (sunchoke, basil pesto, parmigiano) and one funghi (parmesan crème brûlée, morel mushrooms, rosemary broth). Our biggest issue with this place was just how long we had to wait after ordering to get our food. We sat down at the restaurant at 7:10 PM, ordered by 7:15 PM, the funghi came out at 8:02 PM, and the tagliolini pastas came out at 8:20 PM. I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant that made me wait almost an hour to get any of my food. After waiting for so long, we were absolutely starving and we were done eating by around 8:30 PM. The check said 8:41 PM. We spent WAY more time sitting there bored, hungry, and waiting, than we did enjoying the food. The tagliolini pastas were $26 each, which was expensive but not the absolute worst. We were very surprised that the funghi was $22--we probably finished it in 2 bites. We would not have ordered it if we had known how tiny it would be (see picture). The service was fine, although a bit impersonal since they barely came by our table. But most importantly, we did not leave feeling full, even though we had spent $100+ on our meal for two people, and had to grab a quick bite elsewhere after. Centrolina just wasn't worth our time or money.

    Hannah K.

    Really, really amazing food. Portions are a little smaller than expected, especially for the cost, but delicious food! A great spot to treat your self :)

    Siobhan D.

    We had the BEST experience at Centrolina on Saturday night!! Our waiter was amazing- so knowledgable, attentive, and friendly. Our meal was out of this world, definitely one of the Top 5 meals I've ever eaten. Three of us shared 3 starters and two entrees. The Gnocchi Bolognase was so delicate and flavorful. The crispy honey-and-nut accented eggplant was the night's surprise favorite though! We thought we were not eggplant fans, but we just have not had it prepared so beautifully. It was awesome. We were planning to go down the street for gelato after our meal, so we didn't order dessert, but I definitely will next time! The waiter surprised me with an assortment of cookies as we were celebrating my birthday! The cookies were each unique and truly fantastic, especially the lemon-jam tartlette and the sprinkle-covered sugar cookie! And the pine nut one, oh my!! I wish I got our waiter's name!! He was so great. I will definitely return to Centrolina. It would be a perfect date-night spot, too. Very cool and romantic vibe going on there.

    Fettuccine with white bolognese.

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    Centrolina gave us possibly the best Thanksgiving dinner we've ever had... Thank you!

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    Ask the Community - Centrolina

    Is there a dress code?

    I have never observed a dress code. It tends to be overall casual but some people are business casual and some are really casual including shorts.

    Do they offer gluten free options?

    Yes

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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.

    Centrolina - italian - Updated May 2026

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