Worst Italian food I've ever had. Highly do not recommend ever going here. The food was cold. Service was absolutely miserable. Really really poorly run. read more

Starting with what was great: the effiency of ordering online, very smooth and fast. When picking up the food, everyone was kind, courteous, and quick. The bad: for nearly $20 for penne alla vodka, I expected so much more. More pasta for one, this is such a small amount. For that price I also expected at least some amount of chicken or other protein added in, I could've skipped the sad salad with a of a quarter tomato. As for the taste, it's disappointing. The red pepper flakes you see in the photo are my own, I felt I had to add red pepper flakes, salt, and garlic powder to the bland flavor. All in all, I will most likely not be ordering from here again. read more

Italian Cafe - Penne alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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Food is good and prices decent. The people nice too so a win-win. Very nice, quiet atmosphere.

Wow this place blows away expectations. First there is ample parking in the back which might not seem like a big deal but it is just one less thing to worry about. The pizza is amazing and is our new go to place to pick up pizza from. All the pasta is fresh and delicious. Our table had the lasagna and spaghetti with a meatball and even the toddler ate it all up. The service was even better than the food. We were celebrating a birthday and brought cupcakes. The server took them to the back and played each one, going above and beyond anything we expected. This is a nice cozy and friendly place and the prices are less than $20 most dishes. We will be back again and again. read more

Desperate for pizza in Falls Church after Orzo's mysteriously closed, so actually tried this place again. Pizza had to be frozen and perhaps hand tossed as advertised from the freezer. This place is so bad that I may try again just to punish myself. At least they didn't lose my credit card this time. read more

I have passed by this place for years and though I don't know how long it has been here exactly, I figured it had to be good! I was clearly disappointed. The menu has just about everything Italian and they do claim to make their own pasta (but the new waitress wasn't sure). I chose the lasagna and was treated to a few layers of pasta with a ton of mozzarella cheese and barely any meat/sauce. Bummer. The tortellini also seemed a bit naked with barely any sauce at all and a bit more al dente than I would prefer. The service was very friendly, the atmosphere reminiscent of the traditional Italian restaurant. I must admit that it was relatively busy, so it seems to be popular with some. Parking is in front of the restaurant and can be tight. read more

Where to start? The generous pours of an AMAZING house wine? Fantastic red sauce? Impeccable service? Highly recommend.

I was here for a private event and on a certain level it felt like I was stepping back in time. The decor is exactly as you see in photos and from the outside (looks dated) this isn't likely a place Id opt to go, but they were welcoming, attentive and the food was good. It was served buffet style with appetizers like antipasto, calamari, mozzarella sticks, salad, and pizza. We had cannolis for dessert that I'm told were smaller than a typical order, but were delicious. Don't make it to this part of VA very often, but definitely recommend this place. read more

I have been wanting to check this place out and it did not disappoint. I ordered chicken parm and it was FANTASTIC. I usually get chick parm only at The Palm but this one was just as god if not better. Perfectly cooked, the sauce was fantastic, 10 out of 10. It seemed like everyone knew each other, a very local place. Great service. I will be making my way back to try the rest of the menu. read more

We came in for a pizza after my wife's surgery. It was about 130 in the afternoon. An older man met us at the hostess desk. I assume he was the owner. He was very helpful. Suggested the pizza that we wanted to put the order in. I went back out to the car to wait with my wife. In 20 minutes with pizza was there. It was a good pizza. We will be back again if my wife ever has surgery and she has not eaten for 19 hours and really wants pizza. Thank you! read more

Very good food. Reasonable price. Nice atmosphere but slow service. We will come back at again.

Wow! I'm a life-long resident of the DC area and we've lost so many classic 1950s-60s family restaurants, so I've made it a point to seek out those classic restaurants that have been here for 40 years or more. The Italian Cafe is just such a restaurant. Call it Red Tablecloth Italian, call it a family or neighborhood hang-out, heck, call it old-fashioned. The home made pasta is incredible! The specials (Eggplant Rolatini, the fish) were very well made. The table next to us raved about the pizza. The canoli was perfect. It reminds me of the places my late parents took me in 1977, and reliving that experience is worth its weight in gold. I guarantee you that I will come back and back and back. read more

Still the best place for a relaxing dinner. Food is nicely prepared and a salad and bread are included with the reasonably prices entrees. Very convenient and highly recommended! read more

This is a nice old time Italian neighborhood place. Very friendly persons work there. The food is predictably tasty. The parking is a little awkward but we've never not found a spot. And it's very convenient from anywhere in Falls Church - even though it's a couple of blocks away from the main streets. read more

We were driving back to Roslynn, when we saw the Italian Cafe. We decided to stop and have dinner. This is a Family of Falls Church location. It seemed to us, everyone in the restaurant knew each other. The service staff was so friendly and helpful. The owner is so endearing and will make you feel like you are a long-lost friend, which is truly amazing. The menu changes and the food is really good. The wine list is simple and not overpriced. The restaurant is huge. When you enter you will see the Bar Dining Room and on your right another dining room. They also have a larger dining room for those large dinner parties. We love this place because they truly make you feel like you are a part of the Falls Church Community Family. read more

I like this place and the food. I'm vegetarian and they always have at least one vegetarian lunch special. Today I was returning from the restroom and asked the manager for an iced tea refill and he yelled at me. If he doesn't have time to wait on all of his customers he needs to hire a server. read more

When I walked in I immediately thought that this was going to be on an episode of "Kitchen Nightmares" because it had the exact vibe down. An older restaurant that was probably great in its prime is now in almost 2021 with very little updated changes. The booths were sunken in and everything, including the table top was sticky from years of lingering grease and oil stains. The owner, Bob, was jovial and it became clear that many of the older clientele were life time customers. While I didn't drink on this particular night, we were seated near the bar and I saw several of the employees pour extremely generous portions of wine. Like the entire glass was full. At one point a younger woman made the joke that she wanted a "normal, non-alcoholic size" of her vodka soda and laughed. No complaints here and I made the mental note to come here the next time I'm mourning the lost of my favorite character in the Korean drama I'm watching. I ordered the eggplant parm and my boyfriend ordered the zuppa di pesce (pasta with seafood-mussels) The food was a lot better than I was anticipating, although my portion was more on the modest side. The dish also came with a side of steam vegetable, which although strange, was fresh and didn't taste frozen. I did appreciate the fact that the eggplant wasn't greasy and swimming in batter or oil which a lot of places have. My boyfriend enjoyed his pasta for the most part but had a bad mussel that was pretty smelly. Since it was just one it wasn't a big deal. The salad was simple but I didn't care for the bread either which was just cold bread. I would come back here to give them another shot. It's clear that this restaurant has a huge loyal following. read more

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We absolutely love eating here. We keep trying new dishes and have never been disappointed. My Federal Employee group meets here for lunch twice a year and the do a super job for us. My wife and I keep going back as the most consistent and delicious Italian place we can find. It isn't close to us, but it is worth going a bit out of our way. read more

This is our go-to restaurant for many years. Management is like family. Food is always good. Great quality.

We had a very pleasing and lovely 1st time dinner at this place. The lady that assisted us was so accommodating and attentive, she was so quick to get the empty plates so we can have more room for the main dish. Food was also tasty and delicious the pizza is also great with hand made pizza that is freshly baked. They also serve a very good bread with 1 of the best butter Ive tasted, this is being serve while you are deciding what you would want to eat. The ambiance of the place is also nice its a bit crowded but a nice and clean place for a romantic dinner, specially beside the window. read more

Italian Cafe - Mussels marinara - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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This is an old school neighborhood Italian place that's been around since the 70s. No DC pretense here, just a friendly place with tasty food, okay prices, and seemingly lots of regular customers. I was here for dinner on a weeknight and they weren't too busy. They have a full bar menu so you can get beer, wine, or a mixed drink. I had the caprese salad (highly recommend) and the fried calamari (okay but not amazing) the capellini fileto (pasta in a light tomato sauce with prosciutto, sounded interesting to me and I highly recommend) and an adequate side salad. Portions are fairly large here so you won't leave hungry. It's walking distance from my house so I'll be back here for sure. One weird thing is they have lunch during the week but not on weekends so don't go here for weekend lunch. read more

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The food and service was excellent. Going back real soon. Try the lemon desert...I would go back just for that. read more

Menu attempts to be authentic Italian, however, much of it is bland or overcooked. The steamed veggie sides don't make it any more craveable but the service was decent. read more

This is the best Italian around. It's a family place and they make you feel like you're part of the family. Service is very good, efficient and friendly. The food is made on site and is fantastic. read more

Wonderful food. Decent service. Dated ambiance. Will return for food too good to miss out on. read more

Great, traditional, Italian food. Friendly, neighborhood restaurant with good service, and affordable prices. Excellent place to sit back and relax with a great meal and a beverage of your choice. Don't forget the Turamisu at the end! read more

I has a Restaurant.com coupon for this restaurant, and since it's close to my boyfriend's house, we thought we'd go there for date-night. My thoughts: Pros: The service is very good, the menu is extensive and offers specials, and the desserts are delicious. Cons: The tomato in their caprese salad was not ripe (pink instead of red), the "lobster sauce" in their seafood penne special just looked like a butter-garlic sauce, and they were out of several of their desserts as well as the wine we wanted. Bottom line: Pretty standard, middle-of-the-road Italian restaurant. I would certainly go back again, but my expectations would be kind of low. And I wouldn't go back without a coupon! read more

In the summer heat a Prosecco and salad plate followed by Calamari was just the meal. Service is homelike and the greeting at the door was h warm and friendly. read more

First time customer here, and we're big foodies. Very disappointed of this place. Ordered sirloin steak, tasted nothing like a good steak, no flavor at all and tough meat. Husband was very hungry so he ate it. I had a piece and indeed, meat was dry and tough, again completely flavorless. Chicken Cacciatore, no flavor, chicken was dry and tasted like defrosted chicken, dry and once again, no flavor! Tomatoe sauce flavorless too, tasted like straight from the can. I mean, Italian food is so flavorful so this was definitely not expected. Where's the oregano, basil, garlic, and all of those wonderful seasonings and amazing flavors that represent Italian food? Not in the food we ate today, unfortunately :( We gave this place one try because we like to try places we've never tried before and support local businesses. I hope this review helps them up their game and improve their food. I give two starts just because I feel bad to give them only one star but also have to note that the ladies that sat our table with plates and silverware made us feel welcomed. read more

We continue to order meals to go and since Covid is in the rear view mirror, we've eaten in the restaurant a few times as well. The food is delicious and my husband enjoys talking to the manager, Mr. Yuenis. He's a very friendly gentleman who greets everyone coming in the door! Give the Italian Cafe a try! read more

Nice little local spot who doesn't try to be something their not, with solid food and neighborly service. Ordered a pizza to-go, and remembered it being the best pizza I've had in a long time. Server was super friendly. Came here again and unfortunately it wasn't as good, but I still think the pizza was better than average in the area. Service is nice, people who work here are very friendly and prices are decent for an Italian restaurant. I have not tried any of their other entrees to review, but I think this place deserves more attention. read more

Great Pizza, appetizers and salads topped off by a fabulous wait staff! Will definitely be going back.

We get a bunch of their best dishes and shared them buffet style. The food was great, super flavorful, and had the something special - seasoned but not over seasoned. My favorite was the chicken francaise with linguini and just a hint of lemon. Overall everyone liked the the lasagna as it was moist and super cheesy. They have an outdoor patio, inside dining, carry out, and delivery. read more

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Sweet little local Italian. Wished I'd tried this place earlier. Great service, good food, nice atmostphere. It's obvious they have a lot of loyal regulars - the manager walked through the dining room talking to everyone, the vast majority of people he seemed to know by name. Pasta is fresh-made. I had spaghetti with Marinara sauce and italian sausage. Really decent plate of chow. For once, I was so absorbed chowing down I forgot what Wifey ate. Definitely will be back. read more

Ill rate this restaurant 3/5. I just looked for restaurants nearby and found this place. Was the first person for the lunch and the restaurant filled up pretty quick. The owner is welcoming. Looked like Im the only first timer. Owner recognized most of the customers. So this place has returning customers. Which tells the food is pretty consistent. I ordered Fettuccini Alfredo. It came with a side of salad. Dressing was lil grecey (has more oil). The pasta looked little dry. Tasted okay. Needs some seasoning. Ill go back to this place for a decent food and owners reception. He checked about the food twice. read more

Italian Cafe - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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A great little surprise. The food is great, service was ok but the decor is a bit dated. I had the mussels with an order of linguine. The mussels were cooked to perfection and the pasta was fresh and delicious. My neighbors and I have decided that this could be one of our monthly go to places. read more

My wife and I hadn't been here in a while, and I'm happy to report that nothing has changed. Great service, excellent food at very reasonable prices. When you walk into the place, you immediately feel at home. A very comfortable and unpretentious establishment. Love this place. read more

Old school Italian American joint full of nostalgia and regulars The owner knows everybody and greets them by name. Whatever the Italian word is for "Cheers" that should be this place's nickname. The menu is classic. The vibe is even better. If you want a traditional red sauce joint with some elevated culinary twists, this is your spot! read more

This is a solid neighborhood "red sauce" restaurant. They are proud of the work they have put in and give you great service and good food. I travel in and out of the area for work and this is a familiar place to return. I like it. read more

Definitely a place with tons of regulars. I would estimate their medium customer age at 59. It was a decent meal. The calamari is fresh, not frozen, which is a big deal for me. We got the lobster and crab ravioli in pesto sauce. You get four very large raviolis, with a bit of chopped tomato on top. The meal also came with hoSe salads. One thing I did notice is that the tomatoes appeared to be hot house tomatoes. They would do better with vine ripe tomatoes. We all agreed that Pistones is a better option option for the neighborhood and Italian food; Pistones lobster ravioli is the bomb! read more

Italian Cafe - Decor - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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