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    Matera

    3.7 (159 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 10:30 AM, 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    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!

    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!

    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!

    Lamb Chops
    Jennifer P.

    The lamb chops were so good! I would definitely come back just for this dish. Excellent service too!

    Yummy desserts!!! Apple beignets w/ praline ice cream and pistachio creme brûlée

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    11 years ago

    Mediocre food, mediocre drinks, mediocre staff... disappointing.

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    9 years ago

    Caesar salad was meh, but Mac and cheese was fantastic. Cappuccino also delish. Service was great.

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    Eh...Food was okay. Nothing to write home about. Not going to rush to get back there..

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    Page 3 of 4

    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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    2.1 mi
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    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!

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    Filomena Ristorante - Pasta Mammas

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    4.2(3.8k reviews)
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    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!

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    4.6(340 reviews)
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    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.

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    Osteria Al  Volo - Fettuccine Amatriciana

    Osteria Al Volo

    4.5(600 reviews)
    1.6 miAdams Morgan
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    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(764 reviews)
    1.0 miDowntown
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    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!

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    Osteria Mozza

    Osteria Mozza

    4.1(274 reviews)
    0.7 miGeorgetown

    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!

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    RPM Italian

    RPM Italian

    4.0(1.9k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    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!

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    4.5(190 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    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.

    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 May 2026

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