I give l'ardente 5 stars and the 3 g's: Gorgeous, glamorous , and glorious. I was solo dining and…read morefelt so well taken care of. The waitress I had was so sweet and their guest service coordinator constantly checked in with a warm attitude. I got the focaccia and was between the girasoli and spaghetti pomodoro. I am so glad I went with my waitresses recommendation and got the girasoli! It was unlike any pasta I've ever had. Similar to a ravioli, but has a veggie puree opposed to cheese on the inside. The leek and lettuce within the lemon butter sauce was to die for, and the girasoli itself was pleasant and unforgettable. The focaccia was also SO FLUFFY. The outer crust was not too crunchy and just right. The inside is so glamorous but also feels Italian. Very clean, nice and spread out, and overall a fabulous vibe. If I'm ever back in DC, this is on my list of restaurants to be coming back to!

I think I am in "my finally" season - trying all of the things I have been meaning to get to…read more Ever since L'Ardente opened in 2021, I've wanted to try it. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to while I lived in DC, because to be honest, I never got in an Italian mood. Now that I no longer reside in the DC area, I use every visit to eat my faves and occasionally a new spot. So, after another popular (and cheaper) Italian place closed before I could finish my delivery order, I spotted L'Ardente. I ordered the famous Lasagna - their 40-layer specialty - with short rib sugo, truffle mornay, and Sottocenere Cheese. The truffle mornay added a smooth, melty, creamy cheese sauce. It is good, but I am not sure if it is worth the hype at $40 lagnasa. I think the cost is built into the work but not the flavor profile. I think the meal is better without the sauce - it made it too salty with it.

New rating: FIVE STARS. After a weekend of "no good" when it came to the e-gift card not being…read moredelivered and a status message of "order is being Held for Review", today (during regular operating hours) I spoke to someone in management who not only took care of the situation and sent the gift card to recipient, but also really listened to my "user experience", apologized to me and the recipient, and - after receiving multiple complaints and issues such as mine - indicated Filomena will change policy to handle e-gift card purchases much better. This is top notch response and the right way to handle it.

We heard great things about this place...so on our last day in DC, we stopped in here for lunch…read more.. ...and WOW, the place was so Kitschy (with a capital K)! It was lit all pink with a ton of bunnies (Easter motif) throughout...even confetti garland. It was actually kinda funny, but it was fun-kitschy and welcoming at the same time. We started with the Fried Calamari...which was AMAZING! One of the best I've had?? Can't remember the exact names, but my husband ordered this Eggplant dish and I ordered a Rigatoni w/ Vodka dish (which came with chicken and these 2 big sausage links!). Again, we both devoured our plates! Everything was SO good!! Now I get why this is one of the landmark restaurants in DC. Bravo!

We went for happy hour this evening. Everything was excellent! Food, drinks, service...we had…read moreseveral appetizers including truffle fries, calamari, meatballs, and burrata, and all were so good! We ended we tiramisu which was perfection. Gabriele, was our server, and he was so attentive. 10/10!

What a great dining experience! Our server Ella was phenomenal, so kind and attentive to everything…read moreg we asked! First time at this restaurant and we will be back! Thank you!

Service is great! Wine is great! The carbonara not so good very bland the bruschetta was nothing…read moreelse than bread with tomato.

The food was excellent. Atmosphere was perfect. Ramon was our server and he was great. Will…read moredefinitely be back.

When my niece requested Italian for her birthday I knew just where to take her for her birthday…read more While it's hard to snag an early dinner reservation before 9PM, I've been there plenty times solo and was able to secure a single seat at the bar.That place is busy, welcoming & warm and well worth it! The hospitality and service is top tier. When celebrating a birthday they greet you from the host stand with a happy birthday! We started with the Roasted Garlic Caesar and the Garlic Bread Quattro Formaggi both super tasty and flavorful. For dinner went with the Spicy Neapolitan Ragu, my personal fav, which is hearty and full of flavor and the Caruso's Alfredo that's creamy with wild mushrooms and truffle butter. My picky 19yr old left with her heart and stomach full and impressed with Caruso's! It was my pleasure to introduce her and happy to add another fan gal!

Love this place for some good old Italian! Chicken parm was absolutely ginormous and had a good…read morebalance of sauce and tomato. The ragu was perfection. The perfect mixture of umami and tang. They also used bucatini noodles and I feel like not many restaurants do that and I just love how it absorbs all the sauce. Bread was delicious as always, but the cheese was just okay. Honestly I feel like the bread tasted better with the ragu sauce. Potatoes were exactly what you would expect - herby and slightly cheesy. Vibes in there are perfect - like an old style Italian homey restaurant. Service took a little while but they were also busy.

I've been coming to this lovely Italian gem for so many years. It is consistent and delicious and…read morefriendly and cozy. Their pastas are perfection. Their menu is simple and it works. We've taken out of town guests, we've taken our son, we've done takeout. One of my favorites is the bucatini with short rib ragu. I always ask for an extra side of buratta, which pair is so nicely with the hearty sauce.

A cute little neighborhood spot. Was in the mood for pasta and decided to go on a whim on a…read moreSaturday night. It was crowded but there were still a few seats available. Found it to be a bit louder than I would've liked but I think it was because of the spacing between tables. Came toward the end of the night and got seated and welcomed right away. I ordered the polpette, meatballs to start. They were quite tasty, but the sauce was a bit watery. Think that's just because the meatballs themselves were pretty juicy. Heard the focaccia was a hit, so asked for some of that. I was told they didn't have any left. Which was weird, because then another server came and asked if I wanted bread. I'm glad I said yes because the focaccia is very fresh and was a great addition to the meal. For my main, I ordered the vodka pasta, which was very flavorful and very saucy. I love a good, thick vodka sauce and that's what you'll get here. The one part of the pasta I didn't really enjoy was the chicken inside the pasta. I think I would've preferred a grilled chicken option instead of the chicken that comes in the pasta. That being said, this place is a gem. The prices are great and the portions are hearty. The pasta is thick, you're really coming here for fresh noodles and ingredients. If you want to top your meal off just right, you'll get the chocolate lava cake. Very delicious! Service was good and staff was very attentive!

Chicken Parm was delicious and loved the atmosphere. It was a little loud inside, so would make a…read morereservation to sit outside.

This review is well overdue but has been word of mouthed to several people since coming here for my…read morebirthday in August. From the time I arrived they made me feel special and wasn't even wearing anything that said it was my birthday. I brought a cake with me and I was going to ask how much they charge for storage and they told me "Nothing, it's free of charge". They relieved me so much. Now for the atmosphere, it was so so elegant in there even thinking about it now makes me want to go back just to stare at those wax candles that creates mountains of dripped wax which is its own kind of art. Next, let's take about the mouthwatering and delicious food we had. I ordered the Vodka Sauce Pasta and it was the perfect amount of heat and flavor. I also got a side of garlic bread and it was so crispy, light, buttery, and garlicky, just like I like it. My husband ordered the Drunken Love Pizza and of course I had to try a slice and WOWWWW. That one slice of pizza had me drooling it was so yummy!! Everyone enjoyed their food and it was great time. Now, on to my cake, I'd brought candles, plates, and even a knife with me to cut the cake. To my surprise, they brought the cake out with lit candles and everyone sung Happy Birthday to me. They even cut and served the cake to us. Keep in mind, there was not a charge on the bill for this either. It truly made my birthday even more special. Grazie Nonna, you don't understand how happy you made me feel that day. Thank you so much for the love shown on my special day. I will forever tell people this story. Thank you!

Every thing was excellent. Service was great…read more We will definitely go back to OSTERIA MOZZA

I don't like judging food due to cultural reasons and how I was brought up. I was taught to…read moreappreciate food even if it is not upto my standards. That said, being on this app and criticizing food is something of an oxymoron of me. I bring some of the most strict criticism to the fine dining experiences I part take in. Osteria Mozza has been on my list for sometime but getting a reservation was challenging till last year. I finally got to visit last night and honestly, I am impressed. This might be one of my top 20 dining experiences of all time. First of all I want to thank the staff for everything they did fr adjusting my reservation because I was running late, being kind when my guest accidentally dropped a glass and helping us clean. I really appreciate the kindness of the staff. Thank you so much. The place is beautiful. The aesthetic is a mix of old industrial ceilings with retro Italian architecture. Coming to the food. Nothing disappointed me even a tad bit. Everything was just amazing. Starting with the Mozzarella bar. The bread, the dips and the cheese. I was delighted tasting everything. I would just come here again alone for the Mozz Bar. Then the blue prawns were marinated and grilled to perfection. The presentation was 10/10 but the taste was 11/10. The oxtail pasta was delicious! I usually do not go for pasta but this honestly made me fall in love with pasta again. The whole branzino was seared to perfection. It was salty, the skin was crispy, the meat was flaky and cooked simply. There was a bed of herbs under the branzino that tasted out of this world. Last but not the least, the rosemary cake. I now know that one should only eat vanilla ice cream over olive oil. Out of this world! This is an experience worth every penny! 5/5 must go for special occasions!

They did not seat us on time when we had a reservation which was very inconvenient but the food was…read moregreat and the service could be better

One of my favorite restaurants in DC. Still like the vibe, music and decor in the bar and main…read morerestaurant area. Been here many times since my last review eight years ago. Their happy hour is really good, so if you are in the area during those times, I would definitely go to the bar area. For appetizers, I usually get their Wagyu Beef Carpaccio - it is one of the best ones I've had. Other standouts are their Shredded Brussel Sprouts - this dish made me actually like Brussel sprouts-lol. This has avocado, toasted breadcrumbs, and pickled peppers and the Truffled Garlic Bread - so good. For main dishes, my daughter just raves about their Maine Lobster Ravioli. She loves this dish so much. It's the only dish she orders. Actually, you can't go wrong with any of their pasta dishes - Spicy Dungeness Crab, Short Rib Bolognese and Mama DePandi's Bucatini. Other mains we really enjoy is their Prime Dry-Aged Bistecca Fiorentina - this can feed two people, and it's priced at $175, but I think it's worth it. Steak is really good. Also, I really liked their Mediterranean Branzino. Cocktails are great, especially their Old Fashioned. Service has always been top notch here. Can't wait until RPM Steak opens in downtown DC later this year!

Martini Hour alert!…read more First, I think that the martini hour is absolutely genius! It runs from 5-7pm and the selections of martinis were perfect. Ambiance: the restaurant is beautiful but note that martini hour takes place in a small bar area with limited seats. Nonetheless, you can grab a few friends and make this a moment as you enjoy those perfect martini selections. Bites: there weren't much to eat at martini hour so we moved to the general area afterwards to enjoy some food. Service: the staff was amazing and very accommodating. Shoutout to Nesto, the best bartender around! Martinis: Morini Martini: I absolutely love this drink. It was crisp, refreshing, and had a little bold flavors from the white pepper. I absolutely loved this drink and would get it again Sicilian Martini: another fav! Think summer time refreshing with a hint of sweet and citrus burst from the mandarin and lemon Espresso Martini: this drink was another great selection. Freshly brewed and perfectly prepared. I loved it Least favorite: Cala Rossa. I only disliked the drink because it was very sugary and I don't really enjoy sugary drinks. Food: Rigatoni: this dish was divine! And quick note, the smaller plates were perfect serving sizes. But back to the dish. The pasta was cooked al dente and the lamb ragu was soooooooooooooo good! No seriously, it was absolutely divine. Perfectly seasoned and rich in flavors. Other members of my party enjoyed their dishes: Cappelletti and Paccheri Alla Norma, both were described as absolutely perfect. Excellent evening, great service, incredible food and perfect drinks! What's not to love about this place?! I'll be back!

So this place is a go-to for pasta lovers- either in person or delivery. The large portion is a…read moremust! Even to have leftovers! One of my favorites pictured here is the squid ink pasta in a spicy sauce with blended shellfish. The bread crumbs on top, shellfish and pasta have the best texture combination. The red pepper perfectly compliments the dish. My other go- to is the gramigna- the white sauce with pepper and sausage is a very tasty dish. I truly appreciate their homemade pasta! For apps- can't go wrong with the burrata. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere chic casual.