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Filomena Ristorante

4.2 (3.9k reviews)
Open • 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

About Filomena Ristorante

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FILOMENA RISTORANTE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Filomena Ristorante

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Lily H.

Haven't been to filomena since pre-pandemic. The restaurant was packed busy on a Tuesday night. Our server was very nice and professional but it took almost 10 minutes for someone to come address our table. We ordered an app and then a couple entrees to share. The taste was good across all dishes but both dishes came with pasta and the pasta was way overcooked. Disappointing for an Italian restaurant. The tiramisu was pretty decent, we ordered that to wrap up our meal.

AGNOLOTTI ALLA CARBONARA
Anna B.

WOW this place is delicious!! They have such a wide variety of things to choose from and you can tell it's fresh! If you want authentic Italian food this is it! The service was amazing as well! The atmosphere can seem a bit overwhelming at first but during your meal you'll definitely see something new every time you look around! This is an absolute must to visit in DC!

Jason T.

Filomena has been a Georgetown staple since 1983, and the history is everywhere. It's known as the restaurant that's dined presidents, celebrities, and just about everyone in between, with walls covered in photos to prove it. You can even watch the nonnas in the front window rolling fresh pasta by hand. I ordered the Linguini Cardinale, one of President Clinton's favorites and on the menu since 1983. Absolutely delicious. I also had the Vitello alla Marsala, and the portions are huge across the board. They start you off with three kinds of bread, hot and fresh, along with a pesto sauce that is incredible. To finish, they bring a choice between two different digestivos, a nice touch to end the meal. The atmosphere is dark with this pink lighting that gives the whole place a really cool feel. Service was exceptional from start to finish. This one is special, and worth seeking out when you're in DC.

April L.

We had such a wonderful anniversary dinner at Filomena in Georgetown! The food was absolutely delicious. I had the bone-in veal Parmesan, which was incredible, and we also shared the meatballs with ravioli -- everything was so flavorful and comforting. What really made the evening special were the little touches. We were treated to complimentary focaccia and sambuca to celebrate our anniversary, which was such a thoughtful surprise. The atmosphere, food, and hospitality made for a memorable night. We'll definitely be back!

Seafood Carbonara
Steven T.

This spot has been on my list for ages and finally got to take my girlfriend here to celebrate our anniversary. The inside is very well decorated but a bit dark. We started with the grilled octopus (which were alright) and the arancini that were amazing! The complimentary focaccia bread they give you is also great (pro tip - dip it in the red sauce that comes with the arancini). For our mains, we got their signature linguini cardinale and the recommended seafood carbonara. Both the pastas were cooked to perfect al dente and were very large portions with lots of seafood. The linguini cardinale deserves every single praise as each bite is rich and indulgent. We ended with the strawberry cheesecake which was good, but very standard. The space is a bit dark and can feel cramped but overall, I had a great time and enjoyed the food. Apps: Grilled Octopus and Arancini Entrees: Linguini Cardinale and Seafood Carbonara Dessert: Strawberry Cheesecake

Dhara L.

Everything about this restaurant was amazing! As soon as you arrive, you're greeted by the sight of a woman making fresh pasta by hand through a window--such a unique and memorable experience. Once you step inside, you're led downstairs into the dining area. The restaurant may appear small from the outside, but it's surprisingly spacious with a beautiful atmosphere inside. The menu has so many options that deciding what to order can be a challenge, especially since the dishes are on the pricier side. However, the quality and experience make it completely worth it. I would happily spend all my adult money here! The pasta was absolutely incredible, and the arancini balls were some of the best I've had. Even the bread and butter stood out--the bread was soft and warm with the perfect crunchy crust. From the handmade pasta to the welcoming atmosphere, this restaurant truly delivers an unforgettable Italian dining experience.

RAGU E PAPPARDELLE Di ANTIMO
Michael M.

The restaurant looks modest from the outside, but head downstairs and you'll find a bustling, lively dining room. One neat detail right off the bat: you can watch women making fresh pasta by hand through the upstairs window. The ambiance downstairs had plenty of decorations--not very traditional Italian, though I suspect they were just getting an early start on Halloween. The food itself was delicious and comes in massive, shareable portions. Luckily, our Lyft driver tipped us off about the sizes ahead of time, so my wife and I split the short ribs and a pasta dish along with a glass of wine each. Even with splitting entrees, the bill still came out to around $100, so expect higher prices. Service was the main downside. Our waiter, Vito, was purely transactional and completely devoid of personality--it felt like he really didn't want to be there. Worth a visit for the pasta and generous plates, but don't expect warm hospitality.

Little amaretto cordial.
Angie C.

I've heard about this place from several people and tonight a friend and I decided to take our chances with no reservation. The hostess apologized that we were on a two-hour waitlist without a reservation, but we were all in at this point so said go ahead and put us on it. Simultaneously we staked out the bar and, after about a half hour, scored two seats in the very small, 6 to 8 seat bar. They serve the full menu there and we really enjoyed the very kind, knowledgeable bartender, so decided to drop from the waitlist and stay put. As a vegetarian, my offerings here were a bit slim but there were a few. Three entrées were listed under pasta with vegetables, but one, the carbonara, does contain pancetta. The bartender said we could leave that out to make it vegetarian and it was the most popular choice so I went with it. It had spinach and ricotta ravioli, mushrooms and some peas. It was absolutely delicious. When we left we saw a sweet nonna making raviolis in the front window. Amazing. All the pasta is handmade. My friend got one of the specials which included lobster, scallops and pasta in a lobster sauce. The bartender described how they press the lobster for the sauce and my friend was out of her mind at how delicious it was. She's taking her leftovers on a flight home to Cleveland. The bartender mentioned he was a nondrinker like myself and was happy to put together a mocktail for me. It was orange, cranberry and pineapple juice with some soda and it was delicious, made even better with a garnish of a cherry and orange slice that made it feel intentional and special. We got tiramisu for dessert which is probably going to go down in my memory as one of the top tiramisus I have eaten anywhere. They have a dessert case in front that reminded me of a famous dessert case at Gullifty's, a restaurant from Pittsburgh's distant past. In one of the joys of sitting at a bar we struck up a conversation with two older gentlemen, one who was celebrating a birthday. The bartender brought over some Sambuca and amaretto and offered each of the gentlemen and my friend a cordial glass of either. Everyone chose the amaretto, and I was a bit sorry to no longer be drinking because I would have been all in on the Sambuca. That was a nice touch. This place goes all out on decorations, currently for America's 250th birthday, but my friend said last time it was like that for Halloween. This restaurant is a bit of an experience and I really enjoyed it. The only thing stopping it from being five stars was my disappointment in them not having a red sauce suitable for vegetarians. It's Sunday sauce or tomato sauce, both of which have a meat base. Even the eggplant lasagna has Sunday sauce which is an odd choice as this is something a lot of vegetarians might otherwise order. I've run into this a lot and know from my own kitchen it's not hard to make a marinara, which would be a lovely option to offer. A fun night out. With one drink each and a split dessert, plan on spending at least $100 a person here. My bill was just under 100 for vegetarian entrée, mocktail, half the dessert and tip.

Lisa H.

Filomena's delivers an authentic Italian experience from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with beautiful Italian-inspired decorations, soft comfortable lighting, and cozy tables, chairs, and booths that make you feel right at home. Our server, Nico, was outstanding! He offered excellent recommendations on both food and wine, and delivered service that was professional, prompt, and genuinely delightful. We arrived as strangers but left feeling like family -- that's the magic of Filomena's. I highly recommend Filomena's for truly authentic Italian cuisine. Be sure to stop by their store afterward to bring home fresh pasta and other wonderful Italian specialties. You won't regret it!

Richard H.

Located in Georgetown, the restaurant is actually in the lower level. The restaurant has very unique decoration creating an Italian vibe. The food is great! Amazing pasta dishes. Flavorful. Layers of flavors. I will highly recommend braise beef pasta and any seafood pasta. The dessert cakes are good. Service is great. Great for birthday party.

Eric E.

Insanely delicious. Expensive for Italian food, but the portions are so big it's totally worth it. Famous for a reason. Incredible staff. Efficient, friendly, knowledgeable. Very touristy, but who cares. Just great.

Mozzarella in carrozza
Adrienne W.

Did a lot of research about good eats in DC and this place was on all the lists. once inside I looked to my right and there was a lady you can see through a glass door hard at work on making pasta. It was different but neat to see. Once down the stairs we were seated in 5 minutes with a reservation. It was a lot going on in the restaurant. It has the ambience of an Italian restaurant with random decor that is not Italian like a Freddie Krueger head hanging from the ceiling or a gremlin on a shelf. Very Italian meets Halloween shop. Our waiter was very good at explaining the extensive menu. For our appetizer we got cheese sticks that was a very gooey cheese in the middle. Different but good. As I looked around I noticed how large the portions were. They were huge. I even asked my husband did he want to share an entree but we wanted two different things off the menu. I will say my linguini cardinale was delicious with lots of good flavor and so much lobster meat. It was a lot and had so much to take with me to go. I thought of dessert but really didn't want a big dessert to eat. All in all it's a good place to try at least once for the vibes and knowing it's a well known place but come with an appetite.

Manzon Ragu E Pappardellle
Jasmine W.

This was my first time at Filomena! The pasta was very tasty and fresh. I love that one plate is enough to share for 2-3 people. Not pictured is the vodka rigatoni, which was my favorite dish!

Veal Piccata

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Filomena Ristorante Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Filomena Ristorante

Do they have opera singing waitors?

No, just regular waiters.

Do they serve wine by the glass?

Yes, they do

Does Filomena serve cocktails or just beer and wine?

Yes, they have great drinks and actually a great selection of beer

Do they still serve complimentary after dinner drinks?

They did if you order one!

What's the noise level? Is it a quiet, romantic restaurant or an upbeat, energetic one?

This is a large restaurant that requires reservations due to its popularity. And because it is full at almost any time of day, it is vibrant and energetic. The romance is also prevalent due to the decor and the servers are well versed and attentive… 

Is this restaurant possible for someone with Celiac's?

They said, they do not have a gluten free menu, but they do have gluten free pasta. For additional information, call them at: 202 3388800

Is it good for a group birthday dinner?

It is about the best place you could do that. However, you will need to call ahead for reservations as it is difficult to show up with a large group without a sufficient amount of advance reservation.

What is appropriate dress for this restaurant?

No real dress code. I've seen people in shorts through suits.

On the website it says you can buy the dry pasta and sauces for delivery to make at home. But on caviar I don't see this option? Does anyone know how to get the dry pasta and sauces delivered??…

You have to call the restaurant.

Is it handicap accessible? I've been a few times but don't recall ever seeing a way for a person in a wheelchair to get to the ground floor.

It's not handicap accessible but I do know the employees will help you out to get to the ground and back out of the building

Do they have outdoor seating? If yes: are dogs allowed?

They do not

Is this restaurant appropriate kids?

It's a very fancy restaurant and the portions are huge. I've never seen a kids menu, so maybe make this a grown up dinner.

Is it possible to get smaller portions of the pasta (for one person)?

Yes - You may be able to find a few of the pasta options on the appetizer menu.

How far out should I make a reservation for two people?

I would do atleast 3-4 days before if u need a reservation on a weekend at the time of your choice.

How to make a reservation online?

You can use OpenTable app or website.

Do they have good amount of vegetarian options or are they able to make most dishes vegetarian upon request? Thanks

Yes there are a few vegetarian options. Their Cavatelli al Pesto is incredible. I'd imagine the… 

Is there parking at the restaurant?

No but across the street from the restaurant is a public parking gauge.

How is the ambiance? Is it casual, dressy?

I agree with other commenters - you can really go dressy or casual. When I went during the week, there were many large tables of business dinners -- so you'd fit in with standard business casual. Jeans and a nice shirt would also be just fine.

Is this restaurant good for kids? I am planing to go with my 6 month old

Probably not. The space is very crowded and popular at dinner time, and may scare your baby. Plus, I don't think this is a great place for a screaming, or crying baby. Get a baby sitter and enjoy this awesome eatery with another adult.

Would you recommend Filomena for a group of 8 who want to get to know each other/converse? I hear it's pretty loud. Thanks.

The place is loud. I think it depends upon the age of the group. If older no. It is a great restaurant. I would do it with four on each side or even better 3 and 3 with 2 at the head.

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Maison - Even the bathroom was elegant!

Maison

4.3(30 reviews)
1.6 mi•Adams Morgan

We've now visited Maison twice and have been beyond satisfied both times! In fact, so much so, that…read moreI'm planning to take my sister-in-law here for her birthday. From the vibes: moody wallpaper, a divine bathroom sink with wax-coated wine bottles serving as candle holders, to the service: Thomas was great!, to the cocktails and extensive wine list, everything was resplendent. There hasn't been a single dish we didn't enjoy, but I'm admittedly writing this after visit #2, so I'm focusing on that more as it's fresher in my mind. Both visits we tried the miso caesar salad, the heirloom tomato salad, the filet mignon carpaccio, the hiramasa crudo, and the stuffed chicken. They were just too good to skip on our second visit! My husband swears dessert is why he wanted to go back -- the choux bun dessert is TO DIE FOR! The menu had changed ever so slightly on our second visit, so we tried a few dishes that weren't present before: the tarama and the sea bass. The sea bass was my favorite bite of the night! Served over a bed of porridge and golden rice that is so sumptuously savory, the tender fish topped with katafi was just exquisite.

The main drawback of this place is the price. We really did enjoy everything we ate but it's small…read moreportions and pricy so it really depends on how much you're willing to spend. Definitely a nice occasion place. Drinks (4/5): nothing bad but nothing blew us away and we tried like 4 out of 6 drinks or something like that Bread (5/5): okay for something so simple, it's the best crusty bread and butter I've gotten from a restaurant, not to be like anyone can blow you away with super pillowy rolls but this was the kind of bread you get for free but the pinnacle of tastiness Carpaccio (5/5): I really enjoyed this and was afraid it was be heavy in some way but perfectly savory with it being light Eggplant (4/5) felt like too much sauce for the small amount of eggplant but tasty nonetheless Brioche stuffed chicken (4/5): everything was great but it's small Service (5/5): our server was great and didn't push food on us or rush us

Photos
Maison - Bathroom

Bathroom

Maison - Inside

Inside

Maison

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Retrobottega - Pappardelle Funghi

Retrobottega

4.4(338 reviews)
1.6 mi•Adams Morgan
•$$

Retrobottega just happened to be a hop, skip, and a jump from our hotel…read more A friend recommended it, and as soon as we sat down I understood why-everyone is so friendly and accommodating. A gentleman who worked there offered to take a photo of us, after watching us struggle with a selfie, the staff quickly grabbed an extra chair when we had a 5th guest, and our waitress was attentive, knowledgeable and sweet. While waiting for the rest of our party I tried two drinks. I can recommend both- retro passion and bourbon ginger beer concoction. We followed that with arancini and fried artichoke. Yes and yes. For the main meals, they generously let us slip large portions. I tried the short rib parpadelle, and although a tad under seasoned, everything was prepared properly and my pasta was perfectly al dente. Out of the 5 who visited 3 did not care for their meal, but I think we could all agree that the drinks, apps, and portions were on point. *So, we ended up grabbing dinner here two days after our initial visit- I can't say I recommend the octopus, and the beef carpaccio was "take it or leave it", but the gnocchi was pillowy perfection...just know that this is a heavy dish!

Finally a restaurant in Adam's Morgan that I would actually want to come back to!…read more Food exceeded our expectations- I had the ossobuco w veal shank - melted off the bone and the only bad part about the risotto is that there wasn't enough of it! The complimentary bread was absolutely divine. One of us got the bruschetta and it was beautiful (and delicious). The space is small but doesn't feel cramped. What really stood out though was the service. We were a little early on our Resi before the restaurant opened. Rather than have us wait in the rain, the staff let us in. They don't split checks, but they did it for us anyway. It's those kinds of little gestures that really make a difference. Bonus- great leychee martini.

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Retrobottega - Inside

Inside

Retrobottega - Getting started

Getting started

Retrobottega - Vino

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Vino

Reveler’s Hour - Rigatoni Alla Vodka

Reveler’s Hour

4.1(227 reviews)
1.7 mi•Adams Morgan
•$$$

Reveler's Hour may be a little dark on the inside with all the dark wood and…read morelow lighting but the service and the food bring a light to your meal. Firstly, I really have to commend the staff.  They were so attentive and thoughtful.  Our server, for example, brought an extra little light to our table when she saw we were struggling to read the menu in the low light. They were great about checking with us, keeping the water glasses filled and anticipating other needs such as a bag when we wanted to take some of our meal home.  Everyone was very kind and this added so much to our meal.  We enjoyed our progressive meal which reflecting the chef's heritage from both Italy and Brazil.  Our starting mocktails of the ploughman's surprise and the fermented peach soda were good.  The peach soda had a great amount of fizz but could have used a little more peach.  Maybe the nectar just sunk to the bottom and by the time we drank that far, the ice had diluted it.  We preferred the ploughman's surprise, which, coming with no ice (yah!) stayed flavorful to the very end.  Our app of grilled peaches and burrata was tasty but we actually preferred it eaten as its separate components rather than together where the burrata seemed to overpower the other flavors.  Special shout out to the sourdough crisp on top.  Super crunchy and delicious!  The bread was also a stand out in the panzanella.  This dish had a great kick from the jalapeno and was fresh and refreshing.  For our third dish - the bread also was really good.  This time it was garlic knots which everyone looked forward to the moment that garlic aroma arrived at our table.  The summer lasagna came with a very light and slightly sweet tomato sauce which only made us wish we had even more bread!  The main entrée was the picanha steak.  It was very well cooked and though not as hot temperature wise as we would have liked, it was really good even just warmed.  The oven roasted potatoes were just right and the chimichurri sauce was very good (anther longing for more bread - can you see a theme?...)  Dessert was a soft and custardy on the inside corn cake with  mascarpone and espresso dulce de leche.  Although I couldn't taste much of the coffee flavor, the dish was another example of Reveler's Hour comfort food wheelhouse.  The food and the service at Reveler's Hour are definitely worth coming back for.  Next time, we might try to sit towards the front where there is more light from the windows.  There is a small outdoor public lot a block away.

Reveler's Hour is dark, cozy, and intimate, the kind of restaurant that's great for date night or…read moredinner with friends. The front bar has a nice mix of high tops and booths if you're stopping in for drinks, while the dining room in the back is filled with smaller tables. The food absolutely lives up to the atmosphere. Absolutely start with the garlic knot. You can tell the pasta is homemade. The pappardelle is my favorite but you can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes! Between the warm ambiance, thoughtful service, and incredible food, Reveler's Hour is a great spot in Adams Morgan.

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Reveler’s Hour - Cod Croquettes

Cod Croquettes

Reveler’s Hour - Sweet Potato & Mascarpone Ravioli

Sweet Potato & Mascarpone Ravioli

Reveler’s Hour - Interior

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Interior

Tryst - Egg Sandwich

Tryst

4.0(1.9k reviews)
1.6 mi•Adams Morgan
•$$

Tryst kept me afloat. The lovely service I have always received, whether at the bar, a table, or a…read moresofa, has been consistent though a decade of visits, as has the engagement of this charming bijou of a cafe with the surrounding neighborhood. Although probably first established while Friends was still on the air, Tryst has kept up with the comings and goings of Adams Morgan, reiterating itself with changes in the local culture and the arts, which are often on display. The building itself has a narrative to it, but it's the centrality of this respite from 'everywhere else' that makes Tryst stand out, lets it occupy memories of comfort and hospitality in my mind, keeps pulling at me to visit time and again. If it wasn't for Tryst, I doubt professional and personal lows would have turned out so rosy, in the end, for me.

A lovely little cafe with super friendly staff and unbeatable vibes! Open until midnight Thursday…read morethrough Saturday (and until 10 PM every other night), Tryst is a sanctuary of peace in the heart of the otherwise lively -- and often chaotic -- Adams Morgan neighborhood. With their extended hours, expansive food and drink selection, and cozy vibes, you can easily hole up in Tryst for the entire day. Personally, I've visited Tryst more time than I can count, and at literally all time of the day. I've definitely taken full advantage of Tryst's extended hours to fuel many, many late-night study and work sessions. I love how cozy the space is, with their slightly worn but super comfy couches and armchairs, dim lighting, and ambient cafe music. The staff is super friendly; you can either order from the counter if you're taking your order to go or just snag a spot and wait for the servers to make their way to you.

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Tryst - Beer menu

Beer menu

Tryst
Tryst - Brown sugar chai tea latte

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Brown sugar chai tea latte

Le Mont Royal

Le Mont Royal

3.9(41 reviews)
1.7 mi•Adams Morgan

Love the ambiance of this place with the decor, live vinyl dj, and a pool table upstairs. They have…read morea pretty standard cocktail menu but a whole lot of wines to choose from. I enjoyed my drink and it was the perfect bar for catching up with a friend. I'll definitely think about trying the food next time however, like the drinks, it's very expensive for "bar food" and an automatic 20% fee is added to every check regardless of your party size. The music gets louder later into the night and the crowd seems to be more in the mood to dance so just keep that in mind when deciding on what time to go! Overall if you're in the area Le mont royal is worth stopping by.

History of Present Indulgence: We came for dinner in a group…read moreof 8 to celebrate our friend's birthday before heading out for a cabin weekend in West Virginia. I was very excited about the French-Canadian, always-changing menu. Physical Exam: Taste - The Prime Rib Sando was a preemo sandwich of balanced cheese and meat between two slices of toasty sourdough. The Cheeseburger Americain was a standard 3.5 out of 5 American cheeseburger that beats the average suburban chain restaurant burger with its double patty and sesame bun, but isn't gonna knock your socks off like a steakhouse burger. The poutine kept my socks on too (I was particularly excited about the poutine and ended up a tad underwhelmed). The biggest disappointment was the mozzarella sticks, which...... I'll just get to in the service part. Cocktails were mid. All interesting concepts, but most missed the mark. the Polar Express was a little too sweet, I forgot what the name of the riff on an old fashioned or Manhattan I had but that was okay, and the Fleur de Citron tasted like when you ask for a Sprite and they ask, "Is Sierra Mist (now Starry) okay?" and you reply, "yeah that's fine," but then what you get is actually a flat 7-Up. Ambiance - This place runs on vibes like America runs on Dunkin'. Live DJ, neon lights, feels like a place you wanna eat a little, dance a little, drink a little. Fun place. Tanked by the service. Skip to the Assessment/Plan if you don't want to read this novella retelling of our evening. Service - Relatively early for the dinner service, we were the largest and one of only a few tables in the restaurant. I counted 3 other tables seated (small parties of less than 4 each) and a few patrons at the bar. It took about 20 minutes before we first got our menus and the guy who handed them to us didn't say a word just dropped them off. Then it took another 20 minutes before he came back to get our drink orders, and 1) seemed like he was having a bad day, which... fine, but 2) was rolling his eyes when some of us were a little between some options and wanted a recommendation, which... alright my guy let's chill. We weren't talking loud, we weren't drinking before and being obnoxious, we just wanted to ask about what some of the drinks were like on a very cool menu of cocktails we haven't tried anywhere else. Upon returning with our drinks, he accidentally spilled a not insignificant amount on my friend sitting across from me, and while we reacted and started handing him extra napkins, he just glanced at him, finished giving out the drinks, and walked away. No "oops", "my bad", "oh let me get you some paper towels", nothing. So at this point, we're all staring at each other like "Did we do something? Do we smell?" Whatever, friend's birthday, we've been talking about this cabin weekend for several years and it's finally happening, let's just vibe. Now another 20 minutes went by and we were getting antsy because we wanted to order our food but it looked like there wasn't a lot of staff, and we didn't want to upset anyone by hurrying them. Another man came over who we thought was going to take our orders. Nope. He starts picking up our menus so I say, "Oh, hey we haven't ordered yet." To which he replies, "OK, but I need the menus." Alright cool, yeah, that makes sense if he needed them for other tables and can leave us with a few to share. Nope. He just took them and placed them back at the host stand. Awkward stares across the table again. Whatever, we had enough, I guess. Tick tock, tick tock. A third guy came over, and when he smiled and asked, "Hi are you all ready to order?" I was like "Oh finally a human being!" Food took another 20-ish minutes while we nursed our drinks and really had no interest in ordering another round (not that anyone asked us). We ate. We chatted. We had an okay time. We were super ready to get out of there. Oh right, the mozz sticks. Le Mont'zarella sticks. They had one order left of four sticks for $18. We were one of the first diners. You can imagine after all the above, that's just a major facepalm emoji. Assessment/Plan: Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for Le Mont Royal to improve their service, now and at the hour of ASAP, because the place has so much potential, and maybe it was just an off night, or the staff just finished arguing with each other in the back so they took it out on us, but dearly beloved Lord it was like we offended nine generations of their ancestry from the moment we walked in. With "a 22% service charge has been added for your convenience," I thought we were getting Punk'd. The always-changing French-Canadian menu is a cool and unique concept, but it's a lot of bark with very little bite. It didn't make the disappointing service worth it. "This life hasn't turned out quite the way I want it to be." -Rockstar, Nickelback

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Le Mont Royal
Le Mont Royal
Le Mont Royal

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Maxwell Park

Maxwell Park

4.4(151 reviews)
2.1 mi•Shaw, Downtown
•$$

Dear reader, Maxwell…read morePark is exactly the sort of charming little wine bar that makes an ordinary evening feel rather more sophisticated than it had any right to be. The wine list is enormous, with plenty of options whether you know exactly what you like or prefer to experiment a bit. During our visit, they were running a back-to-school theme with clever head-to-head comparisons of similar wines. You could order half glasses of each and taste them side by side, which made the whole experience feel fun, approachable, and slightly educational without becoming terribly serious about it. There is a good amount of seating inside, plus a lovely patio with fire pits that makes lingering especially tempting. The food menu is equally flexible, ranging from simple chips for snacking to a full burger for dinner, with more indulgent options like caviar and Champagne if the evening calls for a little grandeur. Everyone was incredibly nice, and we had such a relaxed, enjoyable time. A wonderful spot for wine, conversation, and a proper little hangout.

This place has been here forever, and I have walked by it so many times. A friend finally invited…read moreme out and it was such a blast! Every wine I tried was something totally new. They were on the tail end of their winter menu, and the sparkling wine that my friend was super excited about was phased out. But I just told the staff what kind of wine I was in the mood for and they chose something wonderful for me. I took pictures of the bottles, I'll track those down and post them later. I'm glad I managed to find red and white wines that I enjoyed. I also noticed that they had a crunchwrap on their menu and I had to try it. It was smaller than I thought, but the flavors going on?? Spectacular. There will also these dumplings... SWEET POTATO DUMPLINGS! And they had sage and candied walnuts. Ultimately they tasted more like a dessert, but I was obsessed with those and loved how unique they were. I'd return here, there's just too much good stuff to try! Can get pricey if you want to try a lot of wines, though.

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Maxwell Park
Maxwell Park - Bar seating

Bar seating

Maxwell Park

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Amelie - Mussels

Amelie

4.2(103 reviews)
1.7 mi•Logan Circle, Downtown

Amelie had been on my radar for some time and I finally stopped by on a recent Monday around 7:15…read morePM. The place was busy, but not packed, and I got a table without a reservation. I tried the Beef Tartare ($19) which came with a quail egg and sunchoke chips on top, a small side salad, and a large bread basket. The tartare was good and the bread was great. For an entree, the Trout à la Grenobloise ($33) was great. It came with mashed potatoes, green beans, almonds, and caper-lemon-brown butter sauce. It was a really nicely cooked piece of fish. The restaurant was larger and the decor more modern than I expected. I also didn't realize it was part of a small chain, with locations in NYC and SF. Service was a little slow at first, but then fine. Overall, a nice, classic French meal.

Vibey and French, un peu on the loud side. The waitstaff and hostess were very friendly and most…read moreseemed to be native-French speakers which added to the overall experience. Expansive wine selection--we went with the chilled Gamay and loved it. One of our party got an Alsatian beer which he enjoyed. The escargot with their puff-pastry hats were good but not astoundingly so. The French onion soup was very good with a generous cheese topping but slightly under flavored. Mushroom soup was yummy although bland to look at. Steak frites and roasted chicken were nice but the ravioles left me wanting something more. Would go back and have drinks, apps, and deserts but maybe skip the entrees!

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Amelie
Amelie - Goat cheese ball and baguette.

Goat cheese ball and baguette.

Amelie - Old fashioned

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Old fashioned

Filomena Ristorante - italian - Updated October 2026

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