Recently, we were treated to Sunday brunch buffet at Fratelli's by friends. We had actually been here a couple times previously, but that was a few years ago, so this review is based solely on this Sunday brunch. It was a very good experience. What stood out to me was the excellent service by the professionally dressed servers, especially with the water, champagne and coffee refills. The dishes were all well-prepared, even if the buffet isn't huge. And actually, there was a chicken in cream sauce that was ultra ultra delish. But I understand that Fratelli's rotates dishes in their buffet, so the chicken dish may or may not be in future buffets. The buffet included your typical waffle station. It also included a dessert table, which was cake and pie. Yeah, we'd come back to Fratelli's buffet again. read more

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Representing 2019 for letter F is F is for Fratelli. I went here one time on Monday, May 6, 2019 on a date. I had been a few dates with her in the late winter into spring, and this was our 2nd to last date. The date was pretty good, but the relationship didn't go anywhere ultimately. I lived in Wheaton, and she lived in Arlington, so that posed challenge of seeing each other that much. I got a girlfriend over 1.5 months later, which was good for a while. The food at Fratelli was excellent, best Italian I've had in northern VA except for Scafa's in Spotsylvania County, which is far from the true northern VA. I got some noodle, mushroom, some meat dish, which was excellent. Service was good too. I'd come back here if I was ever along the Van Dorn corridor, but the odds are low of ever being around here these days. In fact, I used to live over here walking distance to here but never ate here when I did, and I've never shown my girlfriend of 1 year 9 months that apartment as we just are never over here and live a bit closer to Baltimore than DC now. Ironically, we were in Alexandria just yesterday (Old Town) for a birthday party, but Alexandria in general is quite rare. read more

Fratelli - Yummy pasta dish - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I really love coming here. The staff is friendly, they were very attentive even though the restaurant was fairly busy. The aesthetic is quaint, it's filled with cute pictures and wine bottles on the wall. I enjoyed the food, fairly seasoned and moderate portions. read more

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Best Italian restaurant in the DMV!!! The service was so good and I felt part of the family! The food was delicious and so fresh! The restaurant was so beautiful and comfortable! read more

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This Italian restaurant is definitely as good as they say it is. My wife and I came here last night for a date night, and it had been a solid months since either of us had the opportunity to go out. She ordered the beef ravioli platter that included a side Greek salad. I had chicken parmesan. It tasted like both of our platters had the exact same sauce, however the portion of her meal was slightly larger. I thought the ambiance was very romantic, and the service was on par with that. We were greeted the second that we walked through the door, and then introduced to our server moments later. The restaurant wasn't as full as O would have expected for a Saturday night, and I think the less people enabled better service. The dinner was prepared in a reasonable amount of time, and the taste was authentic Italian. It was so good, we would love to come back in the near future. read more

Fratelli - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Drove by this place hundreds of times and never knew the great food within. Extensive Italian menu with the classics and then some. Food portions were good and flavor excellent. It was authentic and presented well. Warm bread with oil and parmigiana cheese awaits you. And deserts are great too! Service was friendly and attentive and professional. Owner came by to say hello. Interior clean and not too fancy but very nice. Can't wait to go back for another dish. read more

Great service. Lovely staff. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere makes you feel like you've been transported to Italy. There's such a warm and welcoming vibe that really sets this place apart. One of the highlights was an older lady on the staff who was incredibly sweet and attentive. While all the servers were kind and professional, she especially made the experience feel personal and comforting, like being at home. It's rare to find that kind of genuine hospitality. Overall, a wonderful dining experience with great service, a cozy ambiance, and people who truly care about making you feel welcome. we'll definitely be coming back. read more

This place is an absolute gem!! I live 45 minutes away just to come to this restaurant because I have concluded that this is by far the best brunch spot!.... hands down!! I've been coming here for quite some time now and to this day, I am still so impressed by the quality and care they put into their food, and impeccable service. The owner, the family, and their whole staff are really wonderful. So if you're looking for a cute Italian spot with a nice clean ambiance, exceptional homemade Italian food, and great service, definitely check this place out! ....... be sure to order the POLLO ALLA ANA. It's my favorite! Tell them Queen sent you. :) read more

All the great reviews are true, this is a great cozy and authentic Italian restaurant choice for dinner. I tried their calamari fritti, chicken fettuccini alfredo, side house salad (+$1 with pasta), lobster ravioli, and ice cream flight for dessert. All food tastes phenomenal. Very fresh/made in house and high quality. Felt like this is what authentic Italian should taste like. I'll be coming again! read more

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Really enjoyed trying this long-time local staple. The servers were attentive and kind, and the food was outstanding. The house-made salad dressing is a must-try, and $1 extra for a delicious side salad is a no-brainer. Everything we tried was delicious, especially the pistachio cake. There's not much to the ambiance, but this place has been around so long and has amazing food to prove it--anything else would be gilding the lily. read more

Fratelli - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I ordered through DoorDash and was excited to try this place given the pricing, which is on par with higher-end Italian restaurants. Unfortunately the food didn't quite meet expectations. I ordered the Red Chicken Alfredo, but the dish was closer to plain tomato sauce than any kind of Alfredo. The flavor was average, the pasta was overcooked rather than al dente, and the chicken was dry and under-seasoned. The calamari was cooked decently, but the breading lacked flavor and didn't really stand out. The other pasta dish, the rigatoni, was essentially pasta with a basic red sauce and chopped sausage -- nothing particularly special considering the price. I don't eat out often and was really looking forward to something memorable, especially at this price point, but overall the dishes felt more generic than elevated. read more

If I could give ten stars for the lobster ravioli I would. I could taste the lobster in the sauce, filling and pieces throughout the dish in general. The bread rolls were fresh and salad crisp. I definitely will return or order from them again. read more

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Today we had the most delicious meal at Fratelli's!! The Branzino & Flounder Combination were amazing, as was the thoughtful, efficient service of our waitress. This restaurant never disappoints. Thank you Chef and Staff! J. Frazier read more

I am revising my review. I would consider Fratelli okay for lunch or dinner. The weekend brunch buffet is an okay value (~35/pp) but the quality and eye appeal of the offerings are severely lacking. On our most recent visit, there was also a large party there, that probably should have been seated differently/elsewhere so as to not be disruptive to the rest of the main dining room. read more

This review is long overdue. I have eaten here several times over the years, although I have actually never eaten at the restaurant - I have only ordered in and done carryout. So, I cannot speak to what it's like to dine-in. I have never had any issues ordering my food, the people that have taken my order over the phone have all been pleasant and have never messed up my order. I have tried the lobster ravioli, the Seafood Veneziana (combination of shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels sauteed in cream sauce over fettuccini), Linguini alle Vongole in white sauce (clams in white sauce) and the Capellini Pescatore (scallops, shrimp, mussels, and clams in a tomato sauce over angel hair). The food here is EXCELLENT, everything is cooked well, well seasoned and delicious! I did not care for the Capellini Pescatore, I think it was the tomato sauce for me, but I don't knock the restaurant, it's just not my fave, I still ate it all though, LOL. The dishes all come with bread and for a dollar extra, you can get a side salad, all good. This spot is fantastic! The inside of the restaurant is a little dated, but I do look forward to dining in at some point soon. If you can't tell, I will definitely be back! read more

Went for the Sunday brunch which was really good and decided to come back and try dinner it was also very good and the staff is very attentive. I used to come here years ago when it was a friendly's restaurant and ice cream. read more

Visited January 2026. Ordered the lobster ravioli. My son ordered the steak. Both dishes plus the salad and bread were delicious. Serving sizes were perfect; not too little and not too much. Service was great. Definitely will return. Sadly, I've overlooked this place for years. read more

We have gone to Fratteli's twice and the first was much better than the second but averaging out the both. Overall, for the price, service and food, it is actually a pretty solid place to have a quick dinner. Started with the bread rolls, which are amazing, 10/10 so warm and soft with some olive oil even better. We got the calamari for an appetizer and what I love is they actually give you a good amount of marinara which other restaurants give you the tiniest cup. This was also amazing. The second time I got a cesar salad and that was the worst out of everything on both visit, do not recommend. Finally for the entres we did a pasta carbonara which wasn't a traditional carbonara, I could tell immediately due to how heavy the sauce was they used cream. The flavor was good though. Then the lobster ravioli was underwhelming, it honestly was good but we have had outstanding ravioli at other places so getting it here was average. For the price though and if you just want a lobster ravioli I recommend it as most restaurants the lobster ravioli is never less than $40. Overall, for the price and service it's a solid restaurant, not our favorite but if we want a cheaper Italian meal that's not Olive Garden it is a great choice. read more

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We took my husband here for his birthday dinner. You could smell the garlic as soon as you walked in the door, always a good sign at an Italian restaurant. Atmosphere - Dated. Clean. Well lit. Quaint. Customer Service - Attentive. Friendly. Quick. Accommodating. Food/Drinks - Fresh. Hot. Good, but not amazing. Traditional. Overall, I'd love to come back when they're doing their brunch buffet because that set up looked amazing. Save room for dessert! read more

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Fratelli is possibly West-End Alexandra's best kept secret, or maybe it was just me just finding out about it today. Having lunch at this little restaurant was a bright spot in my crazy and exhausting week. I know, you may say there are Italian restaurants any and everywhere, what makes Fratelli so special? The ambiance from the moment you step in captivates you. This spacious restaurant is a true gem and offers warmth and charm that so instantly entices your appetite for what will be a truly delicious meal. First, we were given a basket of fresh from the oven bread that would tempt the devil himself. The rolls were light and delicious with all the flavor of a Nonna's kitchen. The accompanied pepper and rosemary-infused olive oil, creamy butter and fresh parmesan added to every heavenly bite. It's just all too easy to get carried away with the bread so be careful! Continuing on, I enjoyed a small Caesar salad with anchovies and shared the mozzarella fritta to my immense delight. The salad was fresh and flavorful and the mozzarella fritta was absolutely delightful and satisfying without being too much. I enjoyed my entree of Pollo Terra Mare, a divine combination of chicken, ham, cheese and shrimp combined with mushrooms in a fresh lemon sauce. Every bite was a sensation of flavor hard to believe - how could I have missed out on this? Epic... Our server was more than attentive without hanging over us. We were asked about dessert and usually I pass but something said no, try a dessert. We were shown the dessert tray loaded with a beautiful assortment of sweet treats. All were tempting but I selected the chocolate cake and an absolutely wonderful cappuccino. The cake was rich but not over the top super sweet - definitely worth the splurge! I must admit the presentation of the dishes from start to finish was so impressive. Each dish was stunning with its own beautiful garnish and made the meal just a bit more elegant. I would so highly recommend anyone try Fratelli. It is first date, special occasion or a great dinner out with friends impressive in every way. read more

You know the saying don't judge a book by its cover? Well I feel like Fratellis is that book. A first look at the outside you wouldn't think much of this place. I felt the same as I walked into the restaurant. Very dated decor, the space was very open. I was pleasantly surprised with the fresh flowers that were on the table. Now let's get to the service and the food. As soon as I sat down, I was greeted by my server and informed of the daily specials. The specials all sounded amazing but I could not eat them because of a shellfish allergy. My server then brought me out rolls, oil and Parmesan cheese. The rolls were hot! Nice crunch on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I ordered the pollo parmigiana aka chicken parmigiana. You can upgrade and get a salad for $1.00. The portion of the chicken was huge! I had so much left over. The spaghetti noodles were delicious as well, not as big of a portion to match the chicken. The chicken and the spaghetti were hot! Who wants semi warm food? Sadly I did not safe room for dessert. I was really impressed with the quality of food and service. Now the entrees are going to be a little pricey as they all seemed to start off at least $20. I would definitely go back and check out some other menu items. read more

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In our second visit to Fratelli's, Martha was a skilled and knowledgeable server. She smoothly paced the unfolding of our drinks of Coffee & CocaCola, the Best Shrimp Cocktail, Side of warm Bread with oil, Parmesan and butter, culminating into the finale of a medium rare NY Steak, Veal Piccata and sides of deliciously steamed Veggies. We enjoyed it all very much, plan to come again and highly recommend this Italian treasure eatery. read more

Always an unbelievable experience at Fratelli's. Excellent service, delicious food, and welcoming ambiance. Thank you for another amazing dinner. Cheers! read more

Fratelli - Another amazing dinner! - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Don't judge a book by its cover. My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at Fratelli's on Van Dorn in Alexandria Virginia today. From the outside... yea it looks like a locally owned restaurant no special pomp and circumstance. Inside it's clean and nicely appointed. Then you get to the food and honestly this rivals some of Washington so-called best Italian restaurants which I will not name here, but if you're Washingtonian and you've been here a while you know them well and they're not as stellar as they used to be. The Chef owner Manuel greeted us as my husband ordered his second enteee for lunch Veal Parmesan after having a delectable nice size portion of Lasagna. Yes that right his second entree. He's a big eater. I had the chicken Parmesan. All three entrées were amazing pasta cooked to perfection.... the cuts of veal and chicken, amazing, and the sauce out of this world. They even make their own in-house dressing which we purchased a separate bottle of to go. If you're used to Washington's normal fair of Italian restaurants, and you really want something different and amazing, don't hesitate....just go! read more

Fratelli - My husband started eating the veal so fast it almost didn't make it to pictures. - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Went for Sunday brunch, which was a buffet. There was a decent selection of options, to include salad, steamed veggies, salmon, fried shrimp, fish, scrambled eggs, a couple of different pasta dishes, bacon, biscuits and gravy, prime rib, an omelette and waffle station, etc. There was also an assortment of pie and cake slices for dessert, as well as cantaloupe, watermelon and blackberries. The food was ok, but not that special. I was especially disappointed in how bland the salmon was. I didn't try the desserts, but the watermelon looked pale and didn't taste that great. The blackberries were sweet. Patrons can opt for brunch with 2 alcoholic drinks. The cost per person with the drinks is about $48. Without it's $36. I was with a large party and the restaurant could not (did not?) provide separate checks. So the birthday girl paid and everyone else Venmo'd her. A bit inconvenient, but we worked it out. 3 stars for the variety of food and everyone there was nice (especially the man at the omelette/waffle station), but that's about it. read more

BLUF: generally very good food and service, just a few small things kept it from 5 stars Went with 5 others on a sunday evening. Service was friendly and prompt. The brought out some awesome rolls to nosh on while waiting for our entrees to come out. Entrees don't come with any sides of any sort, but you can add a small house salad for $1. The salad was a pretty generous size bowl, but it was mostly iceberg lettuce with just a few pieces of cucumber, one piece of tomato and a sliver of carrot. The house dressing was delicious. The Agnolotti creme sauce was a bit too salty, which was a shame because other than that it was very good with nice fresh ingredients. I would have asked to return it but our group was on a timeline and I didn't want to delay us. The Trout with Almond sauce was good. Not great, but good. I've had better trout. The Grilled Salmon was very tasty, cooked just right, and a good size portion. Had a nice sear on it. Frute de Mar was very good as well, although could have used a few more pieces of seafood to be worth the price. We didn't try the desserts, but they did look very good, especially the tiramasu Overall I'd go back but I won't go out of my way to drive there. read more

Fratelli - Agnolotti, with an edible orchid on the side - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The family did Christmas Eve dinner at Fratelli the food was delicious and the service was excellent. We will be going back soon!Food is outstanding and great choices. read more

Great spot. Super friendly and thorough, seems authentic enough but I'm not familiar with northern Italy! Southern, yes. Not the north though. That being said I've never been a fan of lobster ravioli, it's always a clash of flavors, but these guys pulled it off perfectly. Some of the best I've ever had. My beef ravioli is a favorite go-to and they didn't disappoint. Great prices for the portions, and service was great. I forgot my phone on the seat next to me and one of the waiters ran outside to flag me down, not a lot of guys would've done that. Hidden gem in a neighborhood with not a ton of Italian options. read more

The clams casino were a treat- but I'd prefer the bacon unchopped, likewise the clams in that dish. The clams vongole were perfect. The Trout Almadine pairs better with a white-sauce spaghetti, but otherwise was excellent. House salad dressing was a treat/ Service was excellent; decor adequate. Cloth napkins are always a plus. This restaurant is acceptable for a first date. read more

My spouse and I went to try it for an early Valentines Day meal. We started with the calamari and the frut d'mare (clams casino, shrimp and stuffed mushrooms) All were fantastic! My spouse got the seafood Venezia and I got the veal parm. Again all were wonderful! The Caesar side salad was even good and the bread was hot when it came to the table. It was a truly outstanding meal and the service was phenomenal too. We will be back and have already recommended it to a few friends and at least one has gone as well. read more

One word. . . DELICIOSO!!! Goodbye Olive Garden, Hello Fratelli! I haven't had a good Italian meal in a very long time. Tonight, Fratelli hit the spot for me. Everything from the bread, appetizer, main entree and dessert was fresh and flavorful . Service was superb as well. Staff was friendly and attentive. My family will be back again! read more

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Hits the spot if your looking for quality no frills Italian food. Got pick up and the service was attentive. Chicken parm had the right amount of cheese and not overly breaded. Bread was warm, soft, and came with bread/oil. Lobster ravioli had a generous portion of lobster and tasted super fresh. Garlic bread was a bit too heavy on the parsley/basil/pesto. read more

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My husband and I have moved in and out of this area 3 times. We lived here in 2008, 2015, and just got back. We used to eat here all the time and they had a steak special that was really good. The special is gone but the food is still great. There is nothing fancy about this place. You are coming for amazing service and incredible food, that's it. Bread is always really hot, like you have to rip it in half and drop it on the plate because it's steaming hot. So good!! I ordered the lobster ravioli and my husband had the chicken parm. We also split a carafe of the house Chianti. We ended dinner with a cannoli. It was all amazing. We will always go back. read more

Fratelli - Lobster Raviolli - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I took my Mom for an early 4pm dinner at Fratelli's last Sunday, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. We shared Calamari Fritti, Lobster Ravioli and Veal Parmigiana, and all were delicious. We were also served by a very good (and kind) waiter. But if you are hoping that this is a great place for a special celebration or date night, and are at all concerned about atmosphere, or are traveling here based on good reviews (as did someone who drove from National Harbor in MD), this is NOT your place. We felt as if we'd walked into a time warp of an old restaurant from the 70s, and unfortunately, it actually smelled horrible (like sewage) when we first walked in the door. For that reason alone, I would have left, but we were in a hurry to eat dinner before heading to an event nearby, and since Fratelli's had been recommended to me by a good friend and I wasn't familiar with any other places in the neighborhood, we stayed. We were brought back into the far dining room that really looked like it hadn't changed since the 70s... with brown formica tables and old chairs, dark wood accents, and dated artwork. The restaurant was filled with old people at that hour, who must have been regulars having a good time, speaking so loud we heard full conversations from many tables all at once. I wish the restaurateurs well. They do a great job with their food. Now, they really need to put a little effort into the décor. If they did that, they'd truly have a homerun of a restaurant. read more

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Soooo Good! I had the seafood primavara and fried calamaei fritti. Everything was so good with the exception that my scallops were undercooked. I carried out so I took the scallops out and cooked them a little more at home. The calamari and accompanying sauce was delicious! The staff was very pleasant. I would definitely recommend this venue! read more

Fratelli - Calamari Fritti - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Ordered takeout from here over the weekend based on all the reviews I had seen. Really nice staff and my food was ready when I got there to pick it up. Ordered a few dishes including the fettuccini alfredo, linguini alle vongle, and calamari as an appetizer. The fettuccini was fine, a bit oily for me. The linguini had a ton of clams in it, which is a nice surprise to have a decent amount of protein. Ordered a side of garlic bread ($7?!), and it was meh. Wouldn't suggest anyone ordering the garlic bread, not worth the price point. Overall it's a decent Italian place - Seems a bit pricey, but the entrees are decent. read more

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This place is a GEM , family owned and operated. Food and ambiance is exceptional. Service is wonderful, they make you feel like your a part of the family. Can't find places like this anymore. Keep up the good work read more

Fratelli - Linguini w/baby clams in a red sauce absolutely delicious - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

A friend recommended Fratelli's to us and she was 100% correct. If you want high quality, housemade italian food at a reasonable price, go to Fratelli's! We had a great meal at this unpretentious family owned restaurant. Our appetizer (Calamari) and entrees (Veal Piccata and Lobster Ravioli) were all excellent, the service was great. Free parking right there and pricing for the wines was also very reasonable. We will definitely return! Thanks for a great experience. read more

Meatball Spaghetti's great and side fettuccini is also great. Never disappointed me for 3 years. I would highly recommend the restaurant to my friends and family. read more

The food was meh. The service was good and the atmosphere was alright. It was just an alright experience.