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.

What a gem!! My mom and I came here for lunch one Sunday and we were lucky to get a table without a…read morereservation. The space is small but popular, for good reason. We ordered the fried artichokes as an appetizer and they were delicious! But even better was the pizza - we got the La Bufalina, which was basically baked pizza dough topped with prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, and pesto. It was SO GOOD. The Italian couple who own the place were doing all the cooking themselves the entire time we were there, so you know it's authentic. My only note is that you do need to expect a bit of a wait - they're a busy place and the pizza oven is small. But just order a glass of wine while you're waiting!

Mostly flatbreads/pizzas ace sandwiches for lunch. The food was fresh and made on the spot. I was…read morein Italy just a couple of months ago and B la casino is the closest I've gotten since then. I got the vegetarian sandwich, while delicious, I do wish there was cheese in it and a little less oil. The oil would gush down my face when taking a bite. Service was kind and friendly. We sat and talked for awhile and they did not rush us out. Instead, our waitress cleared our table and refreshed our waters!

This is a great little place - probably the oldest of old school barracks row establishments…read more It's been 20 years since I've eaten here. After a bunch of times saying "we should go back to trattoria Alberto" we stopped by today we arrived about 1230 on a Monday and the streets were empty. We were seated immediately. Bread and water were complimentary, and the bread came with whipped butter, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. My wife had the chicken piccata and I had the chicken Parmesan. Both meals were tasty and super fresh. The service was the star of the show today. If you're looking for something different on 8th street check it out!

I've been going to Albertos for years and it's easily in my top 3 Italian restaurants in DC. The…read moreservice is always fantastic, delicious food, and generous portions. My favorite dish is the chicken piccata with pistachio cake for dessert. The dining room is nice and reservations aren't required to get a seat. These dishes also travel well if ordered for pickup/delivery.

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.

Simple and lovely neighborhood spot. A great evening meal as a date. Families were eating there too.read more

I enjoyed the ambiance and the service. The server was attentive and gave me suggestions. The…read moreambiance and lighting were nice. It felt intimate without being super dark which is nice. Unfortunately for me the food was lack luster. The meatballs were good, really wished it would've come with at least 1 piece of bread. The Cesar salad was good, but needed more dressing. When you had the croutons I really could taste the dressing and it was really well made so it's a shame the flavor didn't a translate the rest of the salad. Lastly, I ordered the cacio e Pepe and my husband ordered the lamb bolognese. I had a bite of his and it was flavorful, although it lacked actual lamb. My pasta itself was yummy! However the sauce left me wanting more flavor-depth. It was a little bland for my taste profile. Overall, happy to have tried it, willing to go back since I live near there, but a little disappointed.

i wish we had this in california, BIG PORTIONS AND ABSOLUTELY IMPACTFUL!!…read more- a lot of sauce for the portion of noodles -flavorful -cheesy

Nostra is a nice and cozy neighborhood gem. Our family made same day reservations and they were…read morenice enough to accommodate us for dinner. We were off to a good start with the tangy and fresh Greek salad. My husband and shared the chicken marsala. It worked for us but wouldn't say it's a sharing portion. The Marsala sauce was smooth, little peppery and slightly sweet the way you would want. Slathering it all over made up for the chicken that could've been better. The Marsala was better than my daughter's piccata that had the same issue with little tough chicken and a too-sour sauce. The subtle sweet and citrusy flavor of the Lemonchello cake was so good. Had a little envy noticing other people's red sauce items like bolognese and chicken parm. These looked great and would be back to try. Service was friendly and the place is cute but no frills.

Rose's has been on my list for many many years. I happened to snag a reservation and we were also…read moreable to sit at the chefs table. First of all, service here is top notch. Plates cleared, drinks full, and anything else we could need was attended to promptly. The ambience is very chill yet upscale. You can wear jeans here or a nice dress. The food was incredible! The chef at P&P even brought us a special gnocchi and truffle dish which was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Some top dishes were the bread starter, Bloomin' green tomato, Raw "bbq" beef, tteokbokki pomodoro, and fried bread pudding. Ooo and that Strawberry Jam drink was delicious. Given the chance I'd certainly dine here again and highly recommend that you do.

This was my Birthday Dinner Surprise and it lived up to that and more…read more We sat facing the open kitchen and the "show" was mesmerizing & breathtakingly congenial. The dishes were extraordinary in depth & inventiveness; the cozy ambiance was perf; and the attention by Lindsay was Michelin! She took care of EVERYTHING without fuss, surprises abounded, birthday "gifts" were delicious & thoughtful. Oh, THE COQUITO!!!!! Lindsay was informative when asked about drinks' ingredients & made sure to check-in without being intrusive. Along with the rest of the service staff especially Eduardo, who made sure our water glasses were filled & was ubiquitous in clearing plates per serving! We were most impressed by the kitchen & their respect for the ingredients, skill, timeliness & sense of fun-unusual at any commercial kitchen where negative behavior is "the norm." Rose's kitchen team knows what they are doing is Michelin starred but also enjoyable, satisfying & gratifying. Take a moment to acknowledge them and all the plates they composed to make your dinner luscious, felicitous & charming! I did & will do again.

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.

Brand new restaurant in DC and this is hands down the best food on H Street. This is my first time…read morehaving Filipino-Italian fusion and Chef Mang Eton does not miss! I absolutely love the idea of ordering lumpia with my aperol spritz in one place. We started with some focaccia and lumpia. The lumpia was made to perfection with a nice crunch and a delicious sweet chili sauce to dip in. My brother and shared a pasta and an entree: Chicken Cannelloni With Cream Sauce and Lechon Porchetta With Peppercorn Sauce. The Cannelloni was rich in flavor and I can taste the Filipino influence in the sweet and savory combo of the chicken along with the cheese and cream sauce. The lechon was my absolute favorite. The meat melted in my mouth with a nice crunch from the fried skin. The rice had some flavoring on it that complimented with the lechon. Chef shared how he had 100+ people in line at his Annendale restaurant that morning waiting for his lechon so I was so ecstatic to experience it right here in DC. I mentioned it was my brother's birthday and Chef came out with a candle on our tiramisu. This was a traditional tiramisu and was soaked and delicious. Cannot wait to be back to try their happy hour and more items on their menu!

Filitali I recently opened at Hiraya's old location on H St as a Filipino-Italian restaurant. With…read morea wide range of options, you can order lumpia and lechon as well as pasta and cannolis. The service is great and the owner is friendly and personable, and each dish I've tried has done a great job of blending Italian and Filipino cuisine. The lechon porchetta and the chicken cannelloni were a couple of my favorites.