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    Matera

    3.7 (161 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 11:00 AM, 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Calamari
    Margarita L.

    It's a small hotel restaurant, best visited for its convenience. The food is hit and miss. Breakfast was not memorable, but I loved the pasta with Italian sausage dish and the tiramisu was great. Full review at https://www.marga.org/foodblog/2025/02/dining-in-dc-matera/

    a woman sitting at a bar
    James R.

    Matera is a decent restaurant before going to the Kennedy Center because it is so close and something different from the usual suspects. The menu is not expensive but there is pasta along with some chicken and steak. I had the seafood pappardelle and the server gave me an option of three sauces. I chose the white sauce. The noodles were tender and the shrimp were fresh. Service was quick and there were no issues with making the show. Staff were friendly. It was not very crowded on my visit, but the ambiance is that of a smaller cafe and the noise level was minimal.

    Moscato
    Cheryl T.

    Chose this quaint, small, attractive space to meet a friend for dinner before a Kennedy Center performance. The KC is about 3 blocks away, so the location is convenient. The background music was on-point. However, once the place filled the combo of music and diners talking made the small restaurant extra loud. My dining companion and I had to raise our voices to hear each other speak. What is it with waiters not introducing themselves? I don't want to have to ask their name. Didn't feel like asking so I don't know who served us. Pleasant male appearing person w tats. Ordered a moscato and greek salad and added chicken. The standard greek salad was overpriced at $20. Adding chicken made it $28. Few salads are worth $28 unless it has sushi grade tuna or fresh salmon on it, maybe . The chicken was super dry and tough to the point of being difficult to cut and chew. In hindsight I should not have eaten it. And, because I didn't have the energy to do anything to address the problem, I gnawed the dry meat and gulped it down --which is atypical for me. The salad and a glass of wine came to $46 plus tip which took it over $54 dollars! I don't mind paying for a good meal and this cost too much for what it was. I would return for a drink when I'm the area. Wouldn't likely return to eat.

    a rose in a glass bowl on a table
    A E.

    This is a small hidden gem in this neighborhood. There are not many dining options within walking distance from Kennedy Center, and most are overpriced or low quality. The food here is amazing and the drinks are delicious. Since it is a small restaurant with a few staff members, services can feel slow at times, but they try their best to overcome this by hospitality. Definitely recommended.

    Cru-Driver
    Willie R.

    I came here with colleagues one night before seeing The Color Purple (which was awesome, btw) at the Kennedy Centre. Here is the rundown: -The appetizers were probably the highlight. The fried green tomatoes were nicely done, although the accompanying sauce was a little bland. The mac & cheese was good for non-southern mac and cheese, and I kept coming back to it. I would have liked for it to have had a crispy top, but you can't have everything. They have a nice selection of drinks, my favorite of which was the Cru-Driver. It's a relatively simple drink with rum, orange juice, and lemon juice, but it tasted more like a Jamaican rum punch...which is always a good thing! My duck a'lorange was OK. The duck was not done quite right for my taste and was a bit fattier than hoped for. The sweet potatoes and the wine reduction were good, however. Service was spotty like Spot the Dog. It was rather hit or miss to get anyone's attention, especially toward the end of the meal, when I specifically asked for the check 20 minutes early so that we could head to the theater, and it seemed that we were forgotten about. On the whole, Dish + Drinks is fine, but I will probably find another pre-theater restaurant next time around.

    Pasta
    Julia D.

    First of all, hats off to the waiter (an older, European gentleman). He was very knowledgeable about the menu, patient, and HILARIOUS. Another man, the manager, I presumed, was also great. They were a wonderful pair. The restaurant is within a hotel. It's pretty small, but the space was used well, and the decor was beautiful. I came with a party of 3 (which later became 4). We had calamari, duck eggrolls, grilled salmon, and the shrimp pasta. Every bite of all of the dishes were amazing, the portion sizes were large, and they were able to accommodate all of the substitutions we requested. They didn't have red sangria, but the manager was able to conjure up a wonderful substitute. All in all, it was a great visit. I'll definitely be back.

    Kenneth W.

    We regularly dine at Dish + Drinks prior to a performance at the Kennedy Center. We usually order the duck confit spring rolls and the Ahi tuna tartare appetizers. Photos of our favorite main dishes are attached. Pan seared branzino, topped with lump blue crab meat with rice, spinach, tomatoes; Rack of lamb with arugula salad and sweet potatoes with chorizo. Excellent service. Consistently reliable kitchen.

    Chicken springrolls
    Kevin L.

    It was ladies' night out on Friday, and I got to tag along with the girls to Dish, located just inside the entrance to The Water Inn. The hotel itself isn't challenging to find, but you need to be paying attention when going south on 25th Street, because the awning is a little obscured by overhanging tree branches. As other reviewers have already noted, this place is pretty intimate, but I really liked the space. It's very simple and modern, with lots of dark woods and glass and a little bar in the back. I'd guess that it seats around forty people, so definitely make reservations. Unfortunately, we had just missed their pre-theater fixed price meal at $35 for three courses and runs from 1700-1900 each night. Alas, I the earliest reservations they had for me on a Friday evening were for seating at 1900. I didn't realize the Inn's proximity to the Kennedy Center! I just kind of figured that maybe the university had some kind of arts or theater building in the area and that local residents liked to attend - someone was nice enough to point out that there's an actual professional performance center around the corner. Still, we were not deterred. Between the five of us, we ordered three appetizers: the chicken spring rolls with delicious spicy honey peanut(?) sauce; the crispy calamari with really great marinara and some kind of dip we thought might be an aioli; and the star of the show, the goat cheese tart. Wow - they really saved the best for last. Spiced walnuts and dried cranberries on a mesclun mix, all topped with a piece of pita and a glob of warm goat cheese sprinkled with chili powder. The combination of flavors, textures, and temperatures made for a foodgasmic experience. I think this may have been the highlight of the entire meal for me. The entrees came out shortly thereafter. I really liked how tender my lamb chops were. It was a really generous serving, because I shared one chop to each of my four other dining companions, and easily had another four or so for myself. The crisp light salad that came with my chops had a clean, fresh dressing on it that complimented the heaviness of the meat well. Other highlights were the roasted(?) sweet potatoes with the chicken dish that were ever-so-slightly charred to lend a little smokiness to them, the wild rice that came with the tilapia, and the crab cakes - 86% jumbo lump crab meat! Those things were flavorful and meaty and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I think if I came back, I'd probably order that. We went with the recommended dessert of seasonal cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It happened to be a mixed berry cobbler - we were told fresh raspberries, but it appeared that there were possibly other berries in it, as well as pear. Regardless, it was executed flawlessly. Overall, the food at Dish was superb. The service was a little questionable - although our server was very friendly and attentive, at some points she was a little too in-your-face. At one point, she stopped by our table to present us with a salad that was going to another table - I had no idea what to make of it. On the way out, we did encounter an astonishingly large roach that scampered out of the hotel. Maybe it wanted to come home with us! Potential food safety violations aside, I'd definitely come back to Dish, especially for that pre-theater meal!

    On the bottom is the pork chop.  Top is the tagliatelle with sausage.  Both were awesome!
    Nicole W.

    This review is long overdue. I had an amazing experience here last month. The restaurant is tiny and tucked inside the boutique foggy bottom hotel "river inn". You have to walk into the hotel lobby to get to the restaurant. The lobby is very welcoming and there is a cozy fireplace. We had 6pm reservations and were seated promptly. The restaurant is tiny... Only about a dozen or so tables... So I recommend reservations! Our servers were wonderful... We especially loved Keith who helped us make excellent wine selections to go with our meals. My friend and I started with the mixed green salad and the duck spring rolls. The duck didn't taste particularly fresh (possibly frozen) but the salad was crisp and tasty. Loved the candied walnuts and cranberries! For entrees my friend and I shared the roasted pork chop and the tagliatelle with Italian sausage. Both were delicious!!! The pork chop was tender, melt In your mouth, the pasta was fresh, the sauce was very flavorful. Unfortunately we had no room for dessert. I want to note that my friend was super disappointed that the price of the pre-theater menu went up... It's $40... But Yelp falsely says its $35. Overall awesome cozy spot for dinner! I recommend it!

    Rachel C.

    Ended up here because of its proximity to my Airbnb for dinner with my sister. They have a three course "theater goers" meal which was a great deal ($40 for appy, entree and dessert). I had calamari, salmon and we split the apple beignets and flourless chocolate cake. The food was delicious and beautiful but the service was even sweeter. Carlos took care of us from the moment we walked in. Our glasses were never empty, he let us sample a wine, and he was generous with his time and recommendations (which we solicited). He kept thanking us for being there- and he seemed sincere about it. All in all a lovely meal - highly recommend!

    Lamb Chops

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    8 years ago

    Love Dish & Drinks! The staff are welcoming and the food good. Plus, the small size makes for an intimate dining space.

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    Page 2 of 5

    Matera Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Matera

    Do they have gluten and dairy free options?

    Is this a good place to bring my grandchildren ages 22, 19 and 14?

    The food is delicious and the staff are very friendly. It is not as busy as some other places so the entertainment factor might be a little low, especially for the 14 year old, although I saw some young people (10-12yo) there while I was there.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    L'Ardente - 40-Layer Lasagna.

    L'Ardente

    4.5(1.6k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$$

    It's wonderful when a restaurant actually lives up to the hype. We went for the viral 40 layer…read moreshort rib lasagna and it was without a doubt the best tasting and highest level of execution lasagna I've ever had. The meat was melt in your mouth tender, pulled and thin so it worked with the thin layers of pasta and cheese. The truffle mornay was delicious. For apps we had the burrata and focaccia which were both flawless. Along with the arancini and polpette meatballs. I really liked the blend of beef and pork in the meatballs, they had a nice snap to them almost like a pork/beef blend hotdog. The pepperoni pizza was solid but nothing to really write home about. I'd recommend skipping pizza here to save room for the great apps and house made pastas. Service was amazing, our server was a tall guy who didn't rush us and offered multiple good recommendations. The decor is classy but not overstated. They do a good job of making you feel comfortable if you're in a suit or a tee shirt. Desserts were delicious as well, we got the strawberry pavlova and the blueberry panna cotta. I preferred the panna cotta myself but both were great.

    Went here for a lunch. Loved absolutely everything. We had…read moreCavolfiori, Whole Grilled Branzino, Americana pizza. As a desert we had Tiramisu Flambé and Crostata di Celiegie. Every single dish was perfect. Also great service and ambiance.

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    Filomena Ristorante - Pasta Mammas

    Filomena Ristorante

    4.2(3.9k reviews)
    0.5 miGeorgetown
    $$$
    Women-owned & operated
    Established in 1983

    This spot has been on my list for ages and finally got to take my girlfriend here to celebrate our…read moreanniversary. 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

    Everything about this restaurant was amazing! As soon as you arrive, you're greeted by the sight of…read morea 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.

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    Caruso's Grocery - Spicy Neapolitan Ragu

    Caruso's Grocery

    4.6(346 reviews)
    4.0 miCapitol Hill
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    I found this restaurant at the last minute and boy am I glad we did!…read more We arrived at around 7:45 and the place was packed. The hostess told us we likely wouldn't sit until 9:45 so I inquired about the bar and the manager quickly stepped in to put us on a waitlist. Since the restaurant is connected to a food hall of sorts, she recommended we grab a drink there while we wait. Shortly after we got our drink, we received notification of an opening and were seated by 8:15. We had the burrata appetizer, Ragú x 2, and the seafood fra diavolo. The burrata was one of the best I've had since they serve it with pesto, pine nuts, and garlic bread. It was truly divine! The Ragú was not far behind. Incredible flavor and a generous portion. The seafood dish had a nice kick and had plenty of seafood, which is not common as of late. All dishes were also priced reasonably for the quality you received. As we sat at the bar, we had pleasant conversation with the bartender and finished our meal with a small cannoli that really sealed the deal. If you're looking for excellent Italian food in DC without breaking the bank, look no further than Caruso's grocery! However, I'd recommend reserving ahead of time because it's certainly not a secret. LOL

    I picked this place as my birthday dinner with some girlfriends. I was unsure of the vibe, food etc…read morebefore arriving. The place gives cozy speakeasy vibes. We we sat down the waitress was very friendly and welcoming. She knew alot about the menu items and such. As soon as she handed me the wine menu and saw Chianti as one of the wines, I didnt hesitate to get a bottle for the table (I love Chianti with a story behind it). We ordered the Creamy Burrata, with Grilled Bread and four cheese sauce and the calamari for the appitizers. All of the appetizers were amazing and Im a sucker for grilled crushy bread. For the main course i ordered the Trout Piccata. The fish was cooked to perfection and the veggies were well seasoned. My friends ordered the chicken piccata, Caruso Alfredo and baked Cavatelli. Everything was good. Next up we ordered the butterfinger sundae, Nutella cannoli and tiramisu. The sundae base is chocolate ice cream. If you are fan of chocolate ice cream you will love the sundae. Overall great experience and I will definitely return!

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    Osteria Al  Volo - Fettuccine Amatriciana

    Osteria Al Volo

    4.5(601 reviews)
    1.6 miAdams Morgan
    $$

    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!

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    Grazie Nonna - Green Goodness

    Grazie Nonna

    4.2(800 reviews)
    1.0 miDowntown
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    Came here with a friend before going to see Alanis Morissette live - best experience ever!…read more Who knew the perfect pregame to live music with Grazie Nonna. Perfect ambience! perfect food! perfect location! The food was pretty good - I love an artisan pizza (brick oven in the back)! Calamari was good - nothing crazy! Overall cute place to grab a little Italian bite!

    I visited this restaurant on a Saturday evening with friends. The ambience was decent. However, it…read morewas so loud that I couldn't hear the people next to me, including the waitress. Which made for a very interesting experience. It felt like she would just come by and smile at us in the middle of our conversation conversations, and I don't know if she actually asked anything each time she came. The service in general could've been wayy better. We ordered pizza and then pasta and when we asked for a box, we were made to box up our own food and we were just given a huge pizza box that took up 80% of our table and the waitress walked away. I don't know if I was expected to just hold the pizza box while sitting at a small table and trying to eat my pasta, but there was absolutely zero consideration given to where I was supposed to put this large pizza box on this small table when we still had half of our meal coming to the table. The waiter also didn't pay attention to any dietary restrictions or allergies, and offered zero guidance on that. Also, we were told that there was a time limit for where we were sitting despite they're being several tables open the whole time we were there. For the food, I really enjoyed the food- Italian salad, pizza with the hot honey, and Alfredo pasta. But everything else really dampened the experience. If I were to go back, I would either order takeout, eat outside, or come another day when it wasn't so loud, and have a different waiter.

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    RPM Italian

    RPM Italian

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    We had a fantastic dinner at RPM Italian and I totally get why this spot is so popular for group…read moreoutings and celebratory dinners. The ambiance is sleek and modern, but still warm and inviting. great spot for coworkers or a fun night out. I kicked things off with an Espresso Martini (obviously!) perfectly shaken and had that ideal balance of coffee and cocktail. Definitely recommend sipping one to start the night. To share, we started with the Rosemary & Sea Salt Focaccia with whipped lardo. This was such a standout! The bread was soft yet had a nice crust, with just the right amount of rosemary and sea salt, and the whipped lardo was indulgent but not overwhelming, first time trying that! For mains, I went with the Rigatoni alla Vodka (Roasted Tomato, Calabrian Chili). It was creamy, with a little spicy kick, and the sauce clung to the perfectly cooked rigatoni. Super satisfying and comforting, I love a good vodka sauce. My coworkers ordered the Prosciutto Tortelloni (Rosemary, Parmesan Brodo), and the classic Spaghetti & Meatballs. Each dish was plated beautifully, portions were just right, and the flavors really let the fresh, high-quality ingredients shine. For dessert, we shared the Salted Caramel Meringata. That was an unforgettable experience!! tTey prepared it tableside and actually lit it on fire right in front of us. It was delicious and made for an amazingly dramatic dessert moment! Service was prompt, professional, and friendly! Our waitress was phenomenal. She had great menu recommendations and checked in just the right amount without hovering. I can't wait to come back next time i'm in town.

    classy and cute italian restaurant near the convention center -- my boyfriend and i came by for a…read morelate lunch while visiting the city. we were seated pretty much immediately in a spacious round booth and were introduced to our server -- tim deserves a special shoutout, super friendly and accommodating, and great at talking up the menu and each dish we chose. between the two of us, we ordered the whipped ricotta and wild blossom honey focaccia to start, with the prosciutto tortelloni and lobster fra diavolo as our mains. the focaccia was a perfect balance of lightly creamy and slightly sweet with the bread (not too dry or hard, and easy to spread). the pasta was advertised as made in house, and certainly was delicious and bouncy enough to be believed. sauces were balanced nicely and pleasantly complimented their pastas appropriately. we finished off with the pistachio gelato -- gelato is apparently made in house as well with a machine in the back, and was soft and creamy, paired with a strawberry that was nicely gelatinous and almost a highlight of the dessert. we definitely wish we could come back a lot more often if we lived in the area.

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    Cucina Morini

    Cucina Morini

    4.5(201 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Cucina Morini is a delightful dining experience that truly lives up to its reputation, especially…read moreduring martini hour. With $7 martinis available from Monday to Sunday in their cozy lounge, it's an ideal spot to unwind with friends. I sampled several cocktails and found each one to be exceptional, but the standout for me was the Cala Rossa a sweet yet refreshing delight. After enjoying our share of martinis, our appetites kicked in, prompting us to check for a table. The staff was incredibly accommodating, allowing us to sit at the bar. We indulged in their pasta offerings, opting for the Capelletti and Rigatoni, both of which were delicious and perfectly cooked. Cucina Morini combines great service, delicious food, and a vibrant atmosphere, making it a fun visit for anyone looking to enjoy a fantastic night out.

    Cucina Morini is an excellent place for solo dining. I secured a last minute reservation for a…read morespecial Memorial Day Morini Monday for myself. Not saying that dining companions are distracting, but I felt like I could fully experience the flavor of both the Taglioni Neri and Gnocchi, both half portions at $10 each, better on my own. When the dishes came, I saw that the sauces were both red and feared they would taste too similar. After one fork full of each, they are quite clearly distinct. The standout in the Neri were the shellfish for me. Even though they were small bits, the pieces tasted fresh. In the Gnocchi, the saltiness of the prosciutto, though not overwhelming, paired well with the basil sauce. I finished a little more than half of each plate before boxing it up for a small lunch the next day. The service was great and the tall ceiling and windowed dining room provided a nice atmosphere. It was a cloudy and rainy Memorial Day, but I wondered what the sunlight looked like shining through those high windows. How lovely a space they have created to enjoy fine Italian dining in.

    Photos
    Cucina Morini - Interior (deep end)

    Interior (deep end)

    Cucina Morini - Tomato Focaccia

    Tomato Focaccia

    Cucina Morini - MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA

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    MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA

    Matera - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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