I would to say Thank You to Ms. Brittany for making my birthday weekend wonderful. This was my…read morefirst time at this place and I really enjoyed the food, and the service. Thank you for your smooth Bartending skills and my first espresso martini. If you want authentic Italian dish and for brunch this will be the spot to come to. Also saying thank you to the lady that forget to put on her glasses she gave me good history on the authentic of the food. I wish I would had taken out pictures. The only suggestions is to have the fried zucchini a little harder to give a crunch. I would still order it.

juliana was an amazing server and deserves the entire world. would come back here just for her!…read morehost (forgot his name!) also super sweet!

When there is hype around a restaurant you wonder if the buzz is real. We were able to get a…read morereservation and the hype is authentic. The pasta is outstanding and the service is better than expected. We really enjoyed the Caesar salad which had a crunchy dusting of croton particles. One of the best Caesar salads in the area. We finished the meal off with a slice of their famous olive oil cake. Very unique with slight salty taste accompanied by sweet raisins at the base of the slice. Looking forward to our next visit. Great restaurant and worth the hype.

It's a cute spot in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I came here on a Wednesday evening to celebrate…read moremy brother's birthday, and the place was definitely busy--the bar was full and most of the tables were occupied. They offer a solid menu with weekday specials and discounts, which is a plus. We started with appetizers: the Caesar salad was good, but the meatballs were a miss. They came in a white sauce instead of the traditional red, were very small, and lacked flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the rigatoni. It looked great and arrived hot, but the flavor just wasn't there. The pasta was slightly chewy and not quite al dente. I added cracked pepper and ate some, but ended up taking most of it home hoping it might improve with a little extra seasoning the next day. My brother had the chicken parmigiana, and my sister ordered the branzino--both said their meals were just okay. None of us were particularly impressed. That said, the restaurant has strong reviews, so this may have just been an off night. One last note: please turn up the lights. The dim, moody lighting might be trendy, but at 7 PM on a weekday--especially with a crowd that's largely over 40--it just felt too dark. When guests are using their phone flashlights to read the menu, it's a bit much. Overall, a decent experience, but not one that wowed us.

I am remiss that I never created a review for Aldo's Italian Kitchen, because this is one of my…read morefavorite hidden gems in the DMV area. Locked away in a comforting space within an office building, it always feels like I stepped into a mom and pop style restaurant. The hosts, servers, chefs, and owner are just incredible- super friendly, knowledgeable, and they really treat you like family here. Now the food. The food is so delicious here. Some of my s/o and my favorite dishes are the cheese pizza (you seriously cannot beat the price), and gnocchi, which is covered in a creamy tomato sauce with chunks of onion and warm tomatoes, and the chicken pesto pasta. Honestly, I've never had a bad meal here. Everything is portioned perfectly, and I swear you never leave hungry here. They also went viral for their chicken caesar wrap too, and I can attest that it's yummy! I'd ask for extra sauce on the side if possible though, but that's because I'm a caesar lover! I'd highly recommend everyone checking out Aldo's. The owner is the sweetest, most caring man and he really is so appreciative of all the customers. If you have a craving for some italian food, go here! And also, don't leave without trying their tiramisu or walk out with their rainbow cookies!

We visited on a Wednesday at lunch and the place was pretty crowded, but there was still plenty of…read moreparking in the area. We sat at the tables in the back room and were brought waters right away. We had a pretty big group and took up a few tables. I ordered the manicotti di casa. It was absolutely delicious. Everyone in our group said they loved their meals as well, no complaints and no incorrect orders. It took about 10-15 minutes or so for the meals to come out, so it was great for a lunch break. We will visit again.

Cannot wait to go back to this place! (I'll confess, I considered gatekeeping this one lol)…read more Everything is made freshly in-house, including the pasta! The staff is friendly and attentive; sort of felt like dining in the dining room at your Italian besties house lol Freshly grated parmesan cheese tops off a deliciously plated pasta dish. Fresh garlic bread accompanies your meal. & THE COCKTAILS (mocktails in my case) were PERFECT! Caio for now! But I'll be back soon for pasta, expresso martinis, and a cannoli.

We made quick reservation at this quaint Italian restaurant in the Del Rey area of Alexandria. Not…read moremany people on a Wednesday, but arrived in time to enjoy a few Happy Hour treats (330-630pm), the fried zucchini were tasty and crispy and the marinara dipping sauce was excellent. The wife enjoyed a nice soup and salad, and ravioli, My Piccata Chicken was pan seared, with capers, olives, spinach was delicious. To finish off a great meal the wife ordered the Spumoni that was chocolate dipped, strawberry, pistachio ice cream which was unbelievable great. Staff was super friendly as we enjoyed an intimate dinner.

Great authentic Italian restaurant that evokes a true Italian charm! The ambience is inviting and…read moremakes you feel like you stepped into Italy for great pasta lol Staff are accommodating and personable. The honey butter is tasty and please don't get me started on how delicious the pasta is...chef's kiss! I truly enjoyed the tortellini pasta. I'll be back for another round of pasta and win!

I want to begin by acknowledging that I chose to dine out on Mother's Day, fully aware that it is…read moreone of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. I expected longer wait times for seating and food, and I was prepared to be patient. However, what I did not anticipate was a complete breakdown in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Having worked in the restaurant industry, it was clear that the issues extended beyond the kitchen. A back-of-house "crash" of this magnitude is typically the result of broader operational failures, including front-of-house management. It appeared that reservations were significantly overbooked without adequate planning for the volume. On a day like Mother's Day, full capacity should be expected, and systems should be in place to manage that demand effectively. At a minimum, there should have been proactive communication with guests regarding delays, allowing them the option to adjust their plans. Additionally, basic service standards--such as keeping water glasses filled and bread baskets stocked--were not maintained. The serving staff seemed overwhelmed and unsupported, which ultimately reflects a lack of clear direction from management. During our visit, we even observed a large party leave due to the experience. I genuinely felt for our server, who appeared to be doing their best under difficult circumstances. Without directly requesting specific items and even ordering from the bar myself, the experience would have been significantly worse. Unfortunately, the food did not meet expectations either. The seafood pasta, in particular, was underwhelming in both quality and presentation--featuring minimal seafood and inconsistent preparation. At the price point, I would expect a much higher standard. The chicken Parmesan felt like cardboard and was just as thin. The cod with peas tasted exactly like the frozen cod I get from Costco. Calamari never came, which we had no idea about. No option to get anything else. If the restaurant does not have the infrastructure to handle high-volume days at a consistent level of quality, it may be worth reconsidering reservation limits or adjusting service expectations accordingly. While I understand the desire to maximize business on a busy holiday, the long-term impact of disappointed guests may outweigh the short-term gains. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as no guest should have the experience we did. And no we did not accept any free dessert, which I felt was a completely tone def to the experience we had.

I really loved Corso Italian and am so glad my friend and I stumbled upon it! We discovered it by…read morechance after catching a movie at the AMC nearby. Lucky for us, it was Macaroni Monday, where several of Corso's pastas are available for just $15. An excellent deal and we really liked what we got (the lobster ravioli and the white pesto rigatoni). One of the standout items for us, aside from the food being good and the atmosphere being nice, was the service. We were treated with a lot of warmth and kindness, and especially appreciated our server, Junior, for his incredible hospitality. That wonderful first experience is what made me return again recently. I once again had a great time. This time I got the white pesto rigatoni and the chicken fettucine alfredo. I'm pained to admit that I would actually recommend against the latter; it lacked flavor big time and it's not something I'd get again. But I enjoyed the rigatoni again, and loved the hazelnut chocolate cheesecake I got for dessert. I also really appreciated my waiter this time, Jose; I really appreciated his honest recommendations and I felt very well taken care of. I hope to be back sometime in the near future!

I visited Corso Italian for my birthday dinner and left with very mixed feelings. My partner noted…read moreon the reservation that it was my birthday, and upon arriving the hostess greeted me with a warm "happy birthday," which I appreciated. Unfortunately, that was the only acknowledgment I received for the rest of the evening, which was a little disappointing for a special occasion dinner. Since my birthday fell on a Wednesday, we decided to try their date night deal and added a few appetizers. The arancini was exactly what you want from a classic arancini. Crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and packed with flavor. Absolutely delicious. I ordered the Vodka Parm and honestly found it underwhelming. The sauce tasted much more like a standard marinara than a vodka sauce, and the spaghetti itself was completely lacking seasoning. Meanwhile, my partner ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, and his dish was fantastic. The meatballs were flavorful, the sauce had depth, and overall it was a much better execution. The standout dish of the entire night was easily the gamberi fritti. The shrimp was fried perfectly, and the sauce with the lemon, garlic, and aromatics was unbelievable. I would genuinely return for that dish alone. To end the night, we had the tiramisu and it was excellent. Drinks throughout the evening were also very well done. We tried a mix from both the seasonal and classic cocktail menus and enjoyed everything we ordered. Service overall was just okay. Beyond the initial greeting, no one really made me feel celebrated for my birthday. At one point I also asked to switch from tap water to bottled water, but the server never returned with it, so I just stuck to cocktails for the remainder of dinner. Despite the inconsistencies, there were enough highlights that I'd still be willing to come back and give Corso Italian another shot.

Was in the mood for some Italian so decided to check out Lena's…read more Decided to dine so got mozzarella sticks as an appetizer during Happy Hour and ordered the spaghetti bolognese as my entree. Both were delicious with spaghetti noodles being made there. The noodles were nice and chewy and thicker than average. I decided to get a pizza to go for dinner and ordered their margherita pie to go. At home, the pizza was delicious and crunchy. I was surprised they added big slices of tomatoes to the pie but it added a lot of flavor. Overall, very good Italian food and pizza. I'll stop by again for the freshly made noodles and pizza.

Initially went to second floor. Atmosphere was really cool (if you're going there on a date) …read more.. but host had a negative air about her. My friend and I ended up downstairs. Bartender on first floor was friendly. Food and drink was pretty good. Would be great if the chairs at the bar are updated or reupholstered.

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

Recently, we were treated to Sunday brunch buffet at Fratelli's by friends…read more 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.

Plenty of parking, this is located in Shirlington and there's both street and garage parking…read more Everyone was so pleasant and so nice and Nino was incredibly sweet and accommodating. He engaged us in conversation and showed us the big parmesan wheel and let us try it. He was so kind to us. The restaurant is quiet and I'm genuinely surprised at how quiet it was because the pasta here is the best pasta I've had since comong back from Tuscany. I got the special of the fettuccine pasta in the parm wheel tableside. My friends got gnocchi, the bolognese and carbonara. All delicious butbthe fettuccine was so good. I definitely plan on coming back, it was absolutely delicious.

The food and ambiance of this place is absolutely wonderful and they have a great happy hour with…read morewonderful food specials. We received some free focaccia and pesto on the side. I ordered the mushroom ravioli, which was wonderful and my friends ordered other varieties of pasta dishes. I would definitely come back for a happy hour at some point. The issue for this place was the service. Some of my friends who were sharing received their eggplant Parmesan quickly but then none of our food came out and they already finished their meal and we still didn't receive our food. There was little to no apology and we weren't even offered any extra bread even to compensate us. They did have a large party and places are understaffed, but we could have been checked up on, even for a minute. Overall, I'd come back for happy hour, but not for dinner.

4/4/26 The menu…read moreleans classic, with mixed execution. The Tortellini in Brodo, filled with veal and Parmesan, arrives in a traditional homemade chicken broth that feels comforting yet ultimately lands at an average note, lacking depth. In contrast, the Calamari Fritti is a standout--perfectly fried, delicately crisp, and notably tender. The Suprema di Pollo con Mozzarella offers pleasant flavors of butter, lemon, and chardonnay, though the chicken veers slightly overcooked. More successful is the Piccatine al Limone, where milk-fed veal is bright and balanced with citrus and wine. A special of linguine with scallops on the shell rounds things out nicely, delivering a satisfying, well-executed finish.

As local Old Town residents we've been walking to Landini's for years, oftentimes 3-4 times a week,…read morefor drop-in cocktails and dinners. It's always been our favorite spot, not just for us but also to recommend to visitors. However, in the last couple of months we've seen that many of our all-time favorites (Tammy and Tommy, most notably) have apparently been "let go" after years and years of loyal service. Not only are we heartbroken, but their loss is evident in the decline in service seen across the restaurant and bar. Truly, if Susan weren't still there I'm not sure we would have kept coming back in the last few months. Additionally, we've been bringing our now 10-month-old daughter to Landini's since she was born; she made her first visit at just 8 days old, and it was a celebration for us: our new daughter, our family, celebrating her arrival in our favorite spot in Old Town. However, we were told just the other night that we are no longer "allowed" to be at the bar with her--in her carrier, as an infant (and myself as a breast-feeding mother, no less)--due to new rules/policies implemented by the new management. Keep in mind that this is the same management who made the brilliant choice to fire many of the best people at Landini's (and also we have gathered that this new management was taken from the Cheesecake Factory...seriously???). No other restaurant in all of Old Town has this issue, and I think it's unlikely that we return to Landini's. By firing excellent and loyal staff, jacking up the price of entrees and drinks exorbitantly, and making it so that (local!) families no longer feel comfortable and welcome at a decades-old family-run establishment...needless to say, I hope it's worth it for those at the top of the pyramid and that they're happy with their Cheesecake Factory-level of service.