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Stopped by for their martini hour (all week!) $7 martinis are unbeatable. I enjoyed the espresso one and highly recommend. It is only available in their bar/lounge area, so don't expect a seat, but the vibes were great!
This is definitely my new favorite place! Coming from someone who doesn't like pasta, I enjoyed dining here. Their HH in the lounge was the perfect before dinner treat (and after). Bartenders were so lovely and fast! I enjoyed the espresso martini (on tap!) Dinner was nothing short but amazing. Customer service is amazing. Everyone is so knowledgeable about the menu and gave great recommendations. I loved the dining area, it was very dim which set the tone for the night. I recommend the Cala Rosa (HH drink), Gramigna pasta and the Torta D' Oliva (olive oil cake). 10/10 overall experience!
Martini Hour alert! First, I think that the martini hour is absolutely genius! It runs from 5-7pm and the selections of martinis were perfect. Ambiance: the restaurant is beautiful but note that martini hour takes place in a small bar area with limited seats. Nonetheless, you can grab a few friends and make this a moment as you enjoy those perfect martini selections. Bites: there weren't much to eat at martini hour so we moved to the general area afterwards to enjoy some food. Service: the staff was amazing and very accommodating. Shoutout to Nesto, the best bartender around! Martinis: Morini Martini: I absolutely love this drink. It was crisp, refreshing, and had a little bold flavors from the white pepper. I absolutely loved this drink and would get it again Sicilian Martini: another fav! Think summer time refreshing with a hint of sweet and citrus burst from the mandarin and lemon Espresso Martini: this drink was another great selection. Freshly brewed and perfectly prepared. I loved it Least favorite: Cala Rossa. I only disliked the drink because it was very sugary and I don't really enjoy sugary drinks. Food: Rigatoni: this dish was divine! And quick note, the smaller plates were perfect serving sizes. But back to the dish. The pasta was cooked al dente and the lamb ragu was soooooooooooooo good! No seriously, it was absolutely divine. Perfectly seasoned and rich in flavors. Other members of my party enjoyed their dishes: Cappelletti and Paccheri Alla Norma, both were described as absolutely perfect. Excellent evening, great service, incredible food and perfect drinks! What's not to love about this place?! I'll be back!
The food was really good here, overall the lamb ragu was my favorite dish. The cacio e peppe was also really good and cheesy. I was kindof underwhelmed by the shellfish squid ink fettuccine, I feel like it needed another flavor. Also loved the calamari and the focaccia bread! Overall good time with good service.
I was sold on the $7 martini happy hour alone - like how can you go wrong with that kind of deal, in 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!
This martini happy hour popped up on my IG, so a friend and I decided to check it out since it was such a beautiful Friday evening. After reading a few reviews, we learned the $7 martini special is only available in their "martini lounge," which is a small bar area right when you enter the restaurant. It was already standing room only by 6pm, so we opted to grab a table and have dinner instead. The restaurant was pretty busy, so it took a while for our drinks to come out. It looked like our waitress was covering a lot on her own, but thankfully other staff helped run food and drinks, which kept things moving. We ordered the bread and crispy zucchini and both came out hot and were really tasty (great recommendations from our waitress!). All of our cocktails were solid as well. I had the rigatoni and broccolini, and both were flavorful and satisfying. My friend has the ravioli which she said was ok just needed more seasoning. The space itself is really cute, with a mix of tourists and neighborhood locals. Overall, I'd come back, just earlier next time to beat the crowd and actually grab a martini in the lounge.
I was here last night for a private event and was pleasantly surprised. I do wish there better seating in the martini lounge. You either had to stand and eat or hold the plate on your lap or in your hands. Although there were a lot of us, the food came out quick. The food was amazing! I ordered the frutti di mar. The shellfish and branzino were cooked perfectly. I didn't eat the calamari though because I'm only a fan of fried calamari and they said they wouldn't take it off. I could also tell the pasta was homemade. I also ordered the focaccia, which was delicious! It was light and fluffy. The only thing I wasn't the biggest fan of was the cala rosa drink. It was okay, but way too sweet. It almost tasted like a melted popsicle. I will definitely be back for the food.
Amazing food & service! Don't skip out on appetizers. I would come back just for these apps alone: Broccolini: 10/10! Fried perfectly. The broccolini disintegrates in your mouth kind of like cotton candy. Cavolfiore: 10/10. Sweet and tangy. I licked the plate clean. You have to get this! Graminga: 9/10. The noodles are delicious and have a unique texture because they have a whole in the middle of them. I added crushed red pepper & black pepper to bring in a hint of heat. Rigatoni: 10/10. My man loved this!
Cucina Morini absolutely over-delivered. We came in to celebrate my job promotion and ended up having one of those "every single thing hits" dinners--simple dishes, executed with absurd precision. We started with the espresso martini. It's definitely on the sweeter side and doesn't lean into that strong, bitter coffee bite (which is usually my preferred espresso martini flavor profile). Still decent and smooth--just know it's more dessert-leaning than bracing. The focaccia is genuinely unique: crispy, almost crackly on the outside, but soft and light inside. The herbs really come through, and it's the kind of bread you keep tearing into "just one more piece" until it's gone. For pasta, the rigatoni lamb ragu was a standout. The lamb brings this deep richness that plays perfectly with the red sauce, and the pasta was perfectly al dente--firm, with real bite. Comforting, but still refined. The gnocchi was also excellent--small pieces, not gummy at all, and the sauce was beautifully balanced between sweet and acidic. It's a simple dish on paper, but that's exactly why the execution shines. Biggest surprise of the night: the gramigna. The subtle sweetness from the pork sausage, the sauce, and the egg yolk all come together in this really satisfying, silky way. It's almost like a carbonara vibe, but honestly better--again with that perfectly al dente, slightly firm pasta. Dessert was the affogato, and the portion is absolutely shareable. I love affogato and this one delivered--a must for affogato aficionados. And the cherry on top: our wonderful server Caesar brought out some house-made limoncello to celebrate my promotion. It was the best limoncello I've ever had--sweet with just a slight bitterness and insanely drinkable. If you like limoncello, you have to try it here. Overall: I was genuinely surprised by the quality. The dishes are simple in the best way, and the kitchen's execution turns that simplicity into a masterpiece. We'll be back.
We came here for an anniversary dinner on a Saturday night. Our server was excellent ! He had a kind enthusiasm but also gave us space to enjoy our evening. The menu is a good size and anything you pick will be delicious. We got Hugo Spritzes to start and they were some of the best I've had in the area. Our starters were perfectly sized - the broccolini is a MUST! The meatballs were also delicious and the sauce paired well with the focaccia we got. Our mains were the Gramigna (waiter's rec!) and Paccheri Allá Norma. Both were to die for and great portions! We opted to have dessert at home but the options were super tempting!! Knocked it down a star just because the tables were a little close to together, but all things considered would highly recommend.
Went early for reservation to martini happy hour. Loved the vibe at bar and it transferred to dining room shared a few half orders of pasta enjoyed the ravioli and seafood pasta.
My friends and I decided to try this restaurant because we usually visit its sister restaurant for pasta mondays and let me tell you, I was SO worth it. It also has a great martini HH special (at the front bar only). I highly recommend getting a reservation on a Monday or you will be short. We made a reservation for 2 but ended up with 3 and the restaurant wouldn't have a seat for us for 3 hours. We ended up sitting at the bar and giving our table to 2 ladies looking for space. I'm so glad we ended up at the bar because the bartender (with the glasses) was so nice and very attentive. I'd return just to sit at the bar in his area for guaranteed great service. I ordered the Ostriche (osyters), Rosamarino (cocktail), Broccoletti, and Taglioni Neri. Everything was divine! The oysters were 6 for $24 and came with a prosecco mignonette. Very tasty. By the time I finished the 6, I told myself I could've eaten 6 more. The broccoletti was very good. It had a slight kick to it which was so good. It was the perfect consistency of crispy and tender. The taglioni neri was, as the kids say, torch! This pasta was so good. It was a squid ink pasta with seafood in it. I am so glad I ordered the full portion because I cleaned the plate. I cannot wait until we go back to this place for dinner. I highly recommend.
We came to celebrate our wedding anniversary and we were lucky to have Carlos as our server. We came in February with some friends and that was the first time we had Carlos. For tonight he commended the entrees for our dinner. They were great suggestions and we enjoyed the meal. We look forward to returning and having Carlos help us choose something different to enjoy.
6 months ago
The ambience of this restaurant is nice - as long as you're closer to the front door (although it can get crowded at times and when it does, it does take away from the atmosphere). Closer to the door, it's more colorful, better lit, and scene-y. Further back, it's darker, subdued, and maybe a little too excluded from the rest of the restaurant - or so it feels. The food leans more Italian than Italian-American, and it's tasty too. Spaghetti tastes homemade, and was cooked al-dente. It was delicious and a bit on the eggy side, which isn't a bad thing. The salmerino dish consisting of fish was even better - perfectly crusty skin, flakey meat, and with the touch of smoky fennel took the flavors to another level that I haven't experienced before with this dish - the fennel was surprisingly the key. The burrata with eggplant caponata was good but it wasn't nearly as good as the corn velouté with shrimp which was quickly devoured. Desserts - espresso crème brûlée and the gelato were both just okay. The gelato came with chunks of olive oil cake which was nice. The crème brûlée was well made and thankfully not too chilled - so I felt they did well in the preparation of this one. But neither wowed us as much as the previous dishes. +corn velouté soup w/ shrimp +salmerino w/ fennel read more
I really enjoyed my experience here. Came here on a busy Friday. Chilled at the martini lounge for $7 martinis. Can't get a cheaper espresso martini deal in the city! The area is crowded and there's limited seating. The $7 special is Monday- Friday 5-10 pm at the lounge only. My friend and I were escorted to the dining room shortly after. Check in reservation process with the host was a breeze. We ordered half dozen oysters, spaghetti, taglioni Neri and sfincione. Wow everything was delicious and fresh. The foccocia reminded me of a Sicilian pizza. The squid ink pasta and spaghetti with mussels and clams are must orders. The restaurant has a nice dark intimate vibe. The noise level from the lounge to the main dining area can be loud. If you want minimal sound this is not the spot. Large party seating can be tight here. Highly recommend using the inkind dining app for some deals and making reservations prior. I was really impressed with the service and food quality. I will definitely be back to try their other seasonal specials. read more
2 years ago
Very tasty food but a bit overpriced and tiny plates. I tried the following SALMONE (salmon, salmoriglio, trout roe, caper, chive) It's okay but nothing stood out TONNO (yellowfin tuna, chili, castelvetrano olive, tonnato) It's good! Both the Salmone and Tonno had fresh fish options ,but not the best I've had or anything. MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA (caponata, fennel pollen-chili agrodolce, caper, mint, crostini) It's good! Wished I tasted the nuanced ingredients more... GRAMIGNA (pork sausage, green onion, black pepper, egg yolk) Rich and creamy, but surprisingly not greasy. I think this is a win! They give you option to do small plate or larger plate. I recommend just doing the large plate, and take leftovers home if you really need. Small plate is not worth the money unless you loaded up on Apps/small plates. Tried the desserts: OLIO D'OLIVA orange olive oil cake, blueberry conserva, honey yogurt crema, rosemary MY FAVE! Very rich and heavy on the olive oil, which not everyone likes CUCINA CRÈME BRÛLÉE coffee mascarpone custard, chocolate covered espresso bean, cocoa Delicious but the coffee overpowers the whole dessert . AFFOGATO SUNDAE vanilla & pistachio gelati, espresso, marsala, salted caramel sauce Great, but flavors don't stand out to me Service was okay, nothing outstanding and they were busy. I'm glad the waitstaff said something in the beginning of the dinner, as this set up the expectations. Ambiance is romantic and dark, great for dates. The bar atmosphere is also loud and fun! Overall, good food, but nothing that was outstanding. Service was fine, considering they were quite busy. But for the price and food, nothing stood out to me to draw me back sadly. Quality food however ! And excellent location. read more
Me and a friend came in for Morini Monday where they do half pastas for $10/full pastas for $20. The reservations were fully booked out until 930 but we came in around 6:20 PM and were able to seat ourselves at the full service bar. They have the full restaurant menu + drink menu + Morini Monday menu but the happy hour was not available (it's in the lounge area). The Monday pasta menu had a majority of the pastas that were on the regular menu except for the agnolotti and frutti di mare with the addition of a gnocchi that we didn't see on the regular menu. My friend got two 1/2 portions of the gnocchi and cappalletti- she said the cappalletti was great but her two half portions definitely did not add up to a full portion. I got the taglioni neri as a full portion which was a great serving size and was pretty good. We got the focaccia to share- the bread itself was delicious but neither of us enjoyed the olive oil dip. Overall would give It a 8/10 for Morini Mondays and if they continue to do them, we'll probably come back and order full servings with different apps. The service and ambiance is great though. read more
2 years ago
The best happy hour!! So genius to have a martini hour and the best part is that it lasts all day everyday at their lounge. So affordable at $7 per martini and you just order at the bar so service is super quick. The vibes are cool because it's in the lounge area although there isn't that much seating. There were people standing at the bar and it became a bit crowded but that's to be expected on a saturday night. The drinks themselves were great and even though we didn't get any food, it looked great and I'd love to come back and try some. read more
1 year ago
Cucina Morini is, without a doubt, my favorite restaurant in D.C.--and I've tried a lot. Every time we go, it's flawless. Chef Matt Adler is exceptionally talented...the flavors, the presentation, the consistency. SO GOOD. The Polpettine appetizer is our go-to, and the Capesante alla Capri is my favorite main. I can't give you a favorite dessert, though.... We've tried most of them and I'll continue to rotate because they've all been delish. The ambiance is warm and elevated without being stuffy, and the staff is professional and welcoming. If you love this spot (and you will), make sure to check out Caruso's Grocery and Osteria Morini too. Chef Matt's talent shines there too. read more
There is only one way to dine at Cucina Morini: arrive with friends, order everything, and share. If you were to limit yourself to the flavors presented on a single dish, you'll miss the entire breadth of experience. Frankly, I could have satiated my appetite with multiple orders of those meatballs that journeyed to our table in a little boat with sails of pagnotta - Chef Adler, keep me honest here, what kind of bread on my plate of polpettine caught the wind and turned every head, captured in a siren song of olfactory fascination??? For you main, you will be sorely missing out if you opt to not indulge in the signature dish, the Pesce Del Giorno. Again, do not limit yourself; order several plates of the handmade pasta. In all of my photos, we opted for the "main", however, in the spirit of the archetypal meal at Cucina Morini, by all means order the "primi" as long as you order them all. read more
2 years ago
The Morini Monday deals are the best thing to ever happen to Mondays. I think I've tried all the pastas at this point, and you can't go wrong with any. Four primi sized pastas is perfect for two people to share and leave feeling appropriately full! read more
This restaurant kept popping up in my IG feed for being known for their all day martini hour. While it is a great concept, the lounge area where the martinis are served was small and packed. We debated on staying for dinner but opted for somewhere else. read more
Stopped by with friends yesterday to try Martini Hour before going to dinner. The martinis we tried for the most part all tasted good and definitely worth the $7 price tag, except for one (I can't remember the name but it has the butterfly pea flower and crème de violette-- this one tasted medicinal). The bartender was friendly and worked to get our drinks out quickly. It can get packed really fast because the lounge space is small, but definitely a great place to grab a martini or two! read more
Love the vibe, nice staff, and the breakfast/ brunch was so good. I will definitely be back! I had a Pomodoro sandwich, which was so good. I think they add like a light dressing, which taste amazing with the grill bun. I also had the truffle omelet, which was good, but the prosciutto makes it a little too salty for my taste. Then I had a lavender latte, which was nice and strong! read more
I went here for Morini Monday with some friends and had a lovely dinner! Morini Monday is a deal they do in July and August for $10 pasta. Their website and social media said that it was all pasta, but in fact it's just a small selection that is eligible for the deal. I removed a star mainly for the false marketing, which I feel is a dishonest practice, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant. The cappeletti pasta was not part of the deal, but a friend and I split it and thought it was delicious! The ricotta and truffle-stuffed pasta was so decadent, and it was in a rich and creamy sauce with a bit of prosciutto. The chicory salad was good but didn't have nearly enough goat cheese or quite enough flavor throughout (I think a little citrus or vinegar would have picked it up nicely!). My friends really enjoyed their pasta as well, so I definitely thing it's worth returning for more dishes. Service was good and it's a cute, cozy space. I'd like to come back and try their bomboloni another time! read more
As someone who's been to countless Italian spots in DC and elsewhere, it takes a lot to wow me. This place is wow. Perfect service - attentive and funny but not overbearing. Cute vibe - check the cool sinks in the bathrooms! But the food is so so so so good. We had a lot of things - came in hungry! The salads were fresh and a great sized portion. The salmon and yellow tail crudos were incredible. The cauliflower small plate was savory and somehow also kind of sweet. The mozzarella came with a multitude of flavors that worked so well with the garlicky crostini. The kitchen sent out a complimentary octopus which was tasty as well! Someone in the kitchen is gifted with the fried capers! For our pasta selections we loved the lemony spaghetti with clams and mussels and the squid ink noodles with chilies and seafood. I'm looking forward to returning already! read more
We tried this place 2 times on summer and winter restaurant week and I was able to try everything on their RW menu. This is by far one of the best value for money RW Italian experiences we have had. The quality of food is top notch and they are so consistent with their flavors and cooking technique. Loved the ambiance both inside and out. The service was great and the server kept checking on us and made it a great experience overall. read more
2 years ago
I was told that THIS Italian spot has got good food!! I pulled up, I went in, and...peep the review!! Special shout out to my waiter!! EXCELLENT, SUPERB, customer service!! That's it!! . Where I am: @cucina.morini . Location Reviewed: 901 4th St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: *See Website* www.cucinamorini.com . Items Reviewed: Their Romana Salad (with romaine, cherry tomatoes, mollica, & garlic anchovy dressing $15). STAMP!! Simple, & not fishy!! Their House Baked Tomato Focaccia (with roasted garlic oil, tomato, wild oregano, & stracciatella-a cheesy mozzarella cream-$6 extra $10). STAMP!! Fluffy bread, tangy tomato sauce, & creamy cream!! Their Calamari (Rhode Island calamari pomodoro $18). STAMP!! Well cooked with a superb tangy marinara!! Their Polepettine (with prosciutto, & mortadella meatballs $15). STAMP!! Well blended meatballs, & flavorful!! Their Vignola Punch (with clarified milk punch, sakura gin, pineapple, lime $15). STAMP!! Strong, no bite back, sweet'ish!! Their Prickled Pink (with blue agave, spiritless tequila, prickly pear, pickled calabrian pepper $14). DELICIOUS!! Spicy!! I have to get use to spicy juice!! Their Overruled (with earl grey tea, butterfly pea, lavender, lime $12). LIKE THAT!! Lite, flowery, tasty!! Their Rigatoni (with lamb ragu, fennel rosemary, & pecorino $18). LIKE THAT!! Fragrant, meaty, thick!! Their Gramigna (with pork sausage, green onion, black pepper, & egg yolk $18). STAMP!! I could eat this everyday!! Their Cappelletti (truffle ricotta ravioli, & prosciutto $19). STAMP!! The tang from the meat, & the velvety truffle ricotta did it for men Their Spaghetti Alle Vongole (with manila clam, leek toasted garlic, & lemon $29). LIKE THAT!! Lemony, garlicky, tasty!! Their Zuppa Di Pesce (a classic Sicilian seafood soup with scallops, clam, mussel, shrimp fregola, shellfish broth, & crostini $65). DELICIOUS! Good...I know...but it was a HUGE POT!! . Customer Service: On Point!! . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: Rough. . Music: YouTube: Backyard Band 4-6-95 . Recommendations: Get what I STAMPED!! =STAMP =LIKE THAT =DELICIOUS =DECENT =PASS =NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more
3 years ago
One of best meals and experiences I've had in a while. I was lucky enough to grab a reservation the weekend before they officially reopened. It was a solo date and I appreciate the staff offered me the option to choose where I wanted to sit and didn't immediately offer me a seat at the bar. I had a nice seat in the corner which was great for people watching. The space is beautiful. They have a nice bar and lounge right as you enter. They have $7 martini specials if that's your thing. I started off with the cavolfiore and calamari fritti. Both were delicious! The calamari was nice and crispy and seasoned well. The cavolfiore was full of flavor. I loved it! They were both a great size where you enjoy with someone else or have a bit left over if you're solo. I had taglioni neri as my main dish. Since I had two apps, I decided to go with the smaller size of the pasta. It was very good! It wasn't too heavy on the butter and the seafood all tasted fresh. It had a nice little kick to it which I appreciated. I loved that they have two size options. It provides you with the opportunity to try different pastas if you'd like. For my drinks I had the Sustained and George's Ol Fashion. Both were good. The Sustajned included rye and rum. The Ol Fashion was my favorite. The smokiness was amazing! The staff was great! Everyone I interacted with from my arrival were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I appreciate the break down of the menu. My waiter even highlighted the favorite items from their sister restaurant Osteria Morini that were included on the menu. I was given great recommendations and I never had to search for my waiter. It was a bit more pricer than I anticipated but it was worth it. I'm definitely keeping this one on the list! I'll be back frequently. read more
Ambiance was nice here. Very lounge, chill vibes. Service was good. Waiter was attentive. Cleaned our table after our appetizer. Food was ok. The portion for the lobster ravioli was small even though it was entree size. The squid ink pasta was a good portion however the seafood in it was very minimal and it was a bit salty and very strong taste of lemons. Same goes for the ravioli, very strong taste of lemon. The meatball appetizer was the best meal. For the price of these meals as well as taste it wouldn't be my first choice restaurant here in DC. Maybe it will be a good apps and drinks kind of restaurant. read more
The power of social media brought me to this place as I had seen it on Instagram and was curious about this restaurant. First of all, they have a martini Happy hour all day in their lounge which is at an amazing price of $7 a glass. I could be here all night and enjoy the cute little bar area as soon as you walk in which Is on your left when you walk through the main door. There's a bar also in the main part of the restaurant where we sat. The review I'm giving is my experience on two separate occasions. We found parking on the street and just had to pay the meter, but we did have to drive around a couple of times. So, give yourself some time before you get to the restaurant. On to the food... - calamari - perfectly crispy and nicely fried plus very tasty - polpettine - hearty and tasty meafuballs; recommended by the bartender and so delicious - roma salad - love this salad, it doesn't have croutons, but the crispy breadcrumbs made up for this. this is THE salad if you're looking for a perfect Ceaser salad. - gramigna - the flavor or the sausage and pasta melded together was amazing - lobster ravioli - delicious and very flavorful; maybe not the best, but who doesn't love lobster. Overall, one of my favorite Italian spots in the ciity. The parking isn't as easy, but coming at 6:30pm certainly gives you more street parking. Bravo for an amazing meal, I'll definitley come back for a 3rd time! read more
Love the spaced. It was cozy night vibes with a great bar area for grabbing a drink. The service was attentive and had great recommendations. We split a few pasta dishes and not one of them let us down. Ordered the cappettelli, gramigna, and pansotti. Also, we started with the patate which was absolutely delicious. read more
1 year ago
Everything about this place is a 10/10! The service was absolutely amazing. Loved the overall vibes - it felt so warm and cozy. Everything we had was so good and perfectly portioned. They gave us complimentary champagne because it was our anniversary. I'd go back just for the service! read more
1 year ago
Great Mother's Day brunch. Loved having the full dinner menu available. The pasta and fish were the highlight, although everything was great. Pro tip: do order the cornetto. So good! read more
10 stars for us. Party of 4 Sunday night. Everyone was so kind & helpful. Outstanding service Oh the food....the tomato focaccia bread- yellowtail crudi - Zuppa di pesce (a must - that bread too!) - eggplant- and other fish dishes. Save room for dessert. The bombolini & olive oil cake...I am surprised I shared ! Incredible experience! read more
8 months ago
Great experience. Kind, patient, and funny staff. Food was delicious. Beautiful ambiance and cute location. read more
1 year ago
Hands down one of the best Italian spots in the city! I love their martini happy hour (insane deal) and the drinks never miss! I usually order the eggplant pasta. The staff is friendly and responsive. Customers for life! read more
Had dinner with some friends at Cucina Morini. Staff was friendly but a little slow. I really liked being able to order half portions in order to try more dishes. If you've got a smaller appetite, this would also be a great option, however, prices are still on the higher end for pasta for the amount that you get! The yellow tail crudo was surprisingly good considering the ingredients. I enjoyed the squid ink pasta but their was little seafood in it. Meatballs and oysters were good. I wasn't a fan of the the gramigna and cappellitti. read more
1 year ago
We ordered a lot of the same things as the prior reviewer and gotta say, she knew what she was writing about! The taglioni neri was earthy, chewy and had nice chunks of small squid. It was proceeded by a romana salad (liked the slightly creamy but not heavy garlic anchovy dressing). My partner and I also really liked the calamari. Most things have a bit of spicy kick. His Zuppa De Pecse was not too spicy for him and a really big portion (the restaurant helpfully provided leftover containers). The olio d'oliva cake was decent - I couldn't detect orange (or rosemary), but it wasn't too heavy on olive oil and the blueberry sauce was a nice touch. Overheard them telling another table they did not offer certain wines (having mainly southern italian varietals) but we didn't order drinks anyway. Slightly loud, but very good service. read more
2 years ago
Visited for Morini Monday (discounted pasta dishes!) Went to the lounge first for martini hour! Love how lowkey the lounge is and that you can take your martinis into the dining room straight to dinner. Espresso martini was solid! They're smaller but for $7 a good deal & more of a coffee-forward martini! Ambiance is nice in the dining room! Focaccia bread with the straciatella was delicious and perfect appetizer to share with the table. Rigatoni & Gnocchi pastas were really good and def a good spot for dinner with the girls or date night! Service was also fast and servers were friendly! read more
I am not usually WOWed by a lot of Italian places but this restaurant is delicious - I love that you can get half size portions so you can try different pastas or leave room fot dessert. The apps were delicious but our favorites were ofc the pastas! Al dente, so fresh&flavorful, and not too greasy/oily like a lot of places tend to be. We tried the cappelletti, gramigna, and tagliolini neri and they were all very yummy! read more
2 years ago
Visited today for $10 pasta special and enjoyed our time. Everything tasted grearm I have done the $7 martini special before at the bar and that's also great. Staff was super helpful and nice. The restaurant was not too busy tonight, good vibe. read more
I am a little conflicted about my review, as I will explain in a bit. Met my friends for dinner and a birthday celebration last night. The ambiance of the place is nice and cozy and we were greeted well and seated immediately. Given it was a Sunday night and close to 930 pm, the place was not super busy. Unfortunately our experience with our server was strange. He didn't show up for the longest time and left us in between visits for an extraordinarily long time. Given the place was not busy, this surprised us. There was also a language problem in my opinion and then the fact that the server had a chip on his shoulder/ bit of an attitude. Disappearing without listening to everything, not telling us specials, showing visible frustration when someone changed their mind about drinks, misunderstanding orders and then eye rolling when we pointed out it was inaccurate, showing frustration at being flagged down after he left us without water or drinks for more than 20 minutes. Eventually our friend got up and walked to the hostess stand to explain the situation. We were here to celebrate and if the restaurant felt they had too many people to handle fully, we'd be happy to pay our check and leave - we wanted the experience to be enjoyable and memorable. Anyway, they were super gracious and Ryan came to take care of us instead of our original server - 5 star experience for his service! He looks like a leaner, younger version of Justin Timberlake and was the sweetest. We started with the focaccia which was delicious, as was the goat cheese salad( Treviso) and the mozzarella cheese. The cheese was my favorite - the eggplant caponata totally made it. The potatoes were a little sad in my opinion and can be skipped. For entree, I got the cappeletti without the meat and it was very tasty. Definitely truffle forward and the pasta had a slight bite more than I would have liked but I finished it regardless. The lamb ragu was a huge hit, get the larger portion if you are hungry - the smaller portions really are more like appetizer size, which Ryan explained fully while ordering. The scallops and paccheri were also devoured quickly. I think all that pasta dishes were a tad bit under, but that may be just me. The kitchen made an error and gave us a larger portion on one of the lamb ragu orders but they didn't charge us extra for that. Ryan treated us to a glass of champagne each ( he was sweet to notice I wasn't drinking alcohol and brought me a non alcoholic version) and the ricotta doughnuts as a birthday treat. The flourless chocolate torta was a huge hit with the guys in our group. Overall, the food was 4 star and the initial service prior to Ryan was a 1 star. Hence my conflict while reviewing. Given Ryan's attentiveness and the restaurant's general attitude to ensure we had a good experience, I'm providing an overall rating of 4 stars. read more
1 year ago
More info about Cucina Morini
901 4th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
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(202) 697-6888
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https://www.cucinamorini.com
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Ask the Community - Cucina Morini
What time is their martini hour?
I believe it's all night, but it's only offered in the lounge.
