History of Present Indulgence 32 yo M presents with spouse and friend for pre-comedy show dinner at Italian establishment on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. No reservation and sat comfortably at the bar. Physical Examination Food - This place was absolutely delicious. We started with Arancini and Prosciutto e Polenta. The arancini was fried perfectly - crispy outside, warm risotto inside, and sitting in this savory-sweet tomato sauce that I could've honestly just eaten with a spoon (and basically did using the focaccia they give with your meal - which itself was delicious too). The arancini also has ground beef in the center, which adds to the flavor and depth of what is usually just fried risotto. The polenta fries with paprika aioli were fantastic too. My only complaint is that I wish there were more of the fries because there were only 3 to go along with the large plate of sliced prosciutto. The prosciutto itself was fine. Just standard quality prosciutto. For mains, we went family-style and shared three entrees: the pork ossobuco from the secondi menu, the tagliarini with shredded duck, and the cavatelli with rabbit and fava beans. The ossobuco was cooked well, though I wish the braise flavor went deeper into the pork. The truffle mushroom risotto underneath was incredible. Rich, creamy, and the fresh lemon and parsley gremolata on top cut through all that richness perfectly. The tagliarini was delicious, but my wife and I agreed that the duck flavor was a little lost in the rich marinara sauce. It didn't feel like I was eating duck, to be honest. You could've told me that was shredded short rib, and I might've believed you. The cavatelli was probably my favorite dish - those shell-shaped pasta pieces with rabbit and fava beans in a white wine sauce that had this unique flavor I haven't tasted anywhere else. There's a mild gaminess from the rabbit, but it was very subtle. Each time I had a fava bean, it was a fun change of pace in texture and taste as I was spooning this plate down my throat. It was so so good. Portions were generous too, which made the prices feel totally worth it. We left full and satisfied. My wife had a lambrusco spritz that was deliciously refreshing, and we shared some good wine throughout the meal. No complaints. Service - The bartender was really kind and attentive. Even though we weren't at a table, we didn't feel like we were getting second-tier service or anything. They checked on us regularly, made good recommendations, and kept everything moving smoothly. I also love a service that offers more table bread without needing to be asked. And their table bread was this fragrant focaccia, so I could've eaten all of whatever they brought. Ambiance - haven't been to a ton of Italian restaurants in DC, but I loved the vibe here. Intimate, cozy, dim lighting. The wine selection was great too - enough variety to be interesting without being one of those overwhelming 50-page wine lists. I think this would be a perfect date night spot. Assessment A high-quality Italian restaurant with creative takes on traditional dishes, generous portions, and an intimate atmosphere. A strong contender for the Adams Morgan dining scene, where restaurants are lined up right next to each other, and making a choice can be a bit difficult. Plan - Add to recommended restaurant list for DC visitors - Consider for future date nights or a solo wine and appetizer moment - Return to try more pasta dishes or enjoy a happy hour read more

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We had such a poor dining experience- not the staff or the ambiance but just the food. We had a rabbit pasta and there were not one, but two bones in the meat. We told one of the servers and he said noted, then never came back and it was never addressed. The ossobucco with the risotto rice was extremely undercooked, where we could see the white middles of each grain of rice. The ossobucco itself was delicious though! I reached out on their website to share that we were a bit disappointed as we were there with friends who claim this is one of their favorite Italian restaurants in the DMV, and having multiple bones in a dish is not acceptable. Not coming back and saying something is also unacceptable. No one reaching back out after I emailed them, is equally very unacceptable. read more

I tried regrobottega for a pre happy hour before heading out for a holiday party closeby. We sat at the bar and were quickly served. The place had plenty of seating and a lot of space at the bar for a Friday. They had 10 dollar deals on some food though my friends and I got the pastas, which were great. My friends got the vodka sauce with pasta, grilled calamari, burrata ravioli and short rib pasta. The pasta was wonderful, although my friends and I did not like the calamari. It wasn't well seasoned and was very chewy. If you're in the area and in the mood for Italian place, definitely come here!! read more

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We were in town for the Cherry Blossoms and came up to Adams Morgan to get dinner. We weren't sure what we wanted and stumbled upon Retrobottega. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was great. They have a nice whiskey selection, I had Redemption Rye, my wife had a Basil Gin & Tonic (very nice). She had the rigatoni bolognese, and I had two items off the all-day happy hour: Lamp Skewers and Arancini, all of which were delicious. The decor is cool, and it feels like the kind of place we'd frequent if we lived in DC. read more

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Service and ambience were great! Place was nice and clean. We split the fried artichokes and fried ricotta appetizers and they were pretty good! There were three of us and they made sure each of us had one item from the appetizers, which I really appreciate. Very classy! They also gave us bread, which is nice, but I didn't have any. I got the gnocchi and I was really excited about it, but it was a little disappointing. I think partly because there was very little broccolini and partly because the gnocchi wasn't crispy (that may be a personal preference). The gnocchi was very soft - almost soggy - which maybe would have been nice, but I don't think I was a fan of the sauce either. I think I'd go again, but would stick to appetizers or try something else. read more

Retrobottega is currently my favorite restaurant in DC. My wife and I went there for our anniversary dinner and were blown away by the entire experience. We're not big cocktail drinkers, but we really enjoyed the Penicillina and Retro Passion. Unlike most arancini appetizers, Retrobottega's version is packed with flavor--you can clearly taste the beef and cheese filling. My wife had the bucatini, and I had the pappardelle with beef short rib. We each took leftovers home for a couple more meals. I couldn't believe how perfectly the short rib was cooked--it was fork-tender. The pasta was delicious, and the sauces complemented both dishes beautifully. We finished with the tiramisu. read more

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Great little Italian spot in Adam's Morgan! The food was great! I ordered the fried seafood appetizer of shrimp, calamari and fish that came with a marinara and a garlic aoli. Delicious and fried to perfection! And I ordered the carbonara! Super good! Portion sizes were good and shareable. They even offered to split the pasta into 2 separate dishes for easy sharing. Good wine selection! Very cozy place! Can't wait to go back and try more dishes! read more

Retrobottega - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great spot with yummy food and drinks! My friend and I sat at the bar for Happy Hour where we had wonderful service! My friend and I had the cocktail of the day which was gin-based and sooo refreshing! We split the fried artichokes which comes with a delicious sauce. I had the ravioli which was also tasty! Would definitely come back! read more

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daydreaming of when im coming back here. I forget what the app is that I got (pictured) - but it was one of the most yummy thing's ive ever had in my entire life. holy crap. the pasta was great, the service was great, location and vibe is PEAK. mushroom pasta was good but ill try something different the next time -- but again THIS APP!!!!! WAS SO SO SO GOOD. read more

Retrobottega - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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It was ok. I should try a pasta with red sauce before my final decision. BUT had the bucatini carbonara-- a bit too watery. And the molten lava cake was way too sweet, and they needlessly added confectioner's sugar as a garnish. With literally a table spoon of ice cream. I first came when they opened. Maybe this is why I never returned in all these years? read more

What a treat to sit outdoors on a late summer evening at Retrobottega, watching the Adams Morgan nightlife go by. It turned out to be a great place to bring our out-of-town guests. Dinner started off well enough. The star drink of the table was the Retro Passion, a delicious cocktail of passion fruit liqueur, lime juice and tequila (mezcal is also possible). Fried artichokes were plump and luscious, delicious with a spritz of lemon. The mixed salad was perfectly dressed. Then the let down: the pastas were heavy with butter. Both the Seafood Chitarra and the Mushroom Pappardelle were sort of ruined because of it. Olive oil would have been much better, our table agreed. But by that time, we were in such a good mood, it did not get us down too much. Might give the restaurant a second try but would not order the same dishes next time. read more

Tasty appetizers and wonderful entrees. This was a great place to get a few different plates and share with a group! The artichokes were unreal- who knew that the vegetable could be made to be so good! read more

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This place was good but I honestly had higher expectations for the food. Service was soooo slow on a weekend night and sitting upstairs was okay, it was busy and cuter downstairs. The beef carpaccio was great. I tried the rigatoni bolognese which was yummy but didn't wow me. I also tried a bite of the short rib pappardelle which could have used more sauce but it was tasty enough. The meat was cooked well. I might be back to try other things but this isn't at the top of my list per se. read more

Phenomenal! I absolutely loved Retrobottega. Everything we had was top-notch and we genuinely loved each dish. The octopus was perfectly cooked, the burrata perfectly tasty and the carpaccio was amazing. Service was impeccable with very friendly wait staff and host staff. Ambience was great as well as it was the perfect blend of lively but intimate enough to have conversation at the table. I totally understand why this place is rated so well I would recommend it to anyone looking for good Italian, not only in Adams Morgan, but in DC in general. Next time I'm in the area I will definitely be making a stop at Retrobottega. read more

Retrobottega - Charred Octopus, Carpaccio Di Manzo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here to dine alone, the ambiance was great! I always walk by and have been wanting to try for awhile. I think I would enjoy it more with a friend, since they have a lot of shared plates and focaccia for the table! Would love to come back for their happy hour and a cocktail. I had a whiskey sour which was delicious. I ordered the short rib pappardelle, it was cooked and seasoned wonderfully. I finished my meal with an espresso, which had a gorgeous crema, I was very impressed and might stop by just for a cup. read more

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Little casual Italian spot in Admo! Very cute and cozy. They've got a $10 all-day cicchetti menu at the bar. Food and drinks are reasonably priced with cocktails around $14-16 and wine by the glass $11-16). Highlights were the fried artichokes, calamari, basil fusilli, and tiramisu-- so good! Service was also very friendly. I would definitely go back! read more

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I love it here! It's a bit pricy for pasta, but if you try it, you'll understand why! The restaurant is always busy and the service is great. I've had the bucatini, lasagna and fettuccine. A little about each dish: Bucatini: If you like carbonara, this ones for you! It's delicious. also, the pasta is thick and chewy. Lasagna: can't go wrong here. Lots of meat and huge portion. Fettuccini: My #1 fav here! It has shredded duck meat. Also, something about the tomato sauce is just so fresh. Bonus if you sub the pasta for bucatini. Bucatini pasta has a hole in the center. It's thicker than a fettuccine. read more

Retrobottega - Fettuccine - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Seriously one of the best value and tastiest meals I've had in DC so far. I had the duck Taglierini and my guest had the Pappardelle Stewed Short Rib. His meat was fall-off-the-bone and smelled delicious. Mine was similarly tasty and the serving sizes were more than generous. The total cost for these dishes after 20% tip was $70.20. Service was quick. We were seated without a reservation (Tuesday night around 6) quickly. The restaurant was fairly empty. It was just 10-12 minutes from our order to its delivery. Moderate noise from the street and other diners, but still quiet enough to have a private conversation. I would take a business meeting here again. read more

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This is a great spot, a perfect date night place. I went here to celebrate my first day on my new job. We ordered the rigatoni with bolognese and the burrata with pesto and cherry tomatoes. For drinks, we got the Falanghina, our favorite white wine from the Amalfi Coast. Our server was really sweet to allow us to try a few wines. We were divided on whether to go with a red or a white. But after having a sip of the Falanghina, we knew the white wine was the way to go. Our food came out FAST! I feel like it was out within minutes of ordering. This is one of the classier spots in Adams Morgan with an open kitchen in the upper level and a bar with some high top tables in the lower area. I loved the bar area, though the upper 2nd floor was cozy as well. Our server gave us some complimentary Amaro to sample at the end, which was amazing. We'll be back! read more

Food was amazing and you get great portions for the price. The bread they give you with olive oil is to die for. Service was great even though the place is small. Can't wait to return and try more dishes. read more

Retrobottega - Top (short rib) bottom rigatoni - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The restaurant was absolutely beautiful. We had a reservation, but we decided to go to the bar since there were $10 bar plates as well. We had a delicious passionfruit Mezcal cocktail. A few small bites. It's a very romantic and small location. The service was great. read more

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They left me wanting nothing! Amazing food!! Cute ambiance. Ambiance - It was small and intimate. They has outdoor seating, as well as a second floor where you could see the kitchen. Food - Some of the best Italian food I've ever had, to include NYC and Italy! For real!! GET THE PAPPARDELLE WITH SHORT RIBS!! The lasagna is also INSANE!! Service - Started off slow, but once we got flowing, it was good to go. Our water glasses stayed full, and we didn't wait long for the food. Overall, absolutely yes!! That's all I have to say. MIC DROP!! read more

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I went to culinary school. We ordered the arancini, bucatini and tagliarini. This restaurant is good at cooking their rice and pasta, but the dishes were all under seasoned. The focaccia was the by far the best part of the meal. It was cold and the crust was a little hard, but it had an amazing flavor, and I loved the touch of balsamic and spices in the olive oil. The arancini. 2/5 The rice was well cooked. Otherwise, it had a fairly soft crisp to it, two of the three had barely any cheese and beef (see pictures). One of them did, but the cheese and beef were separated. Personally I would have found it a lot more appetizing if the cheese and beef had been mixed together. The arancini had around 10% of the flavor I was looking for, the rice was incredibly bland. There's so much you can do to enhance the flavor of the base; garlic, shallots, white wine, add a parmesan rind, caramelized onion, herbs. Same thing for the marinara sauce. And please be consistent with your filling, your customers will not reorder a beef and cheese filled arancini if there's no beef and cheese. They also forgot about it and served it after the pasta. The bucatini. 3.5/5 I appreciate the use of egg yolk instead of cream, and the pasta was well cooked. However, I think the chef forgot to add black pepper. The guanciale was very well served, however they were incredibly tough and chewy. The dish was a little dry, I would have loved a little more sauce. The tagliarini. 2/5 First impression was that the pasta was drowning in sauce (see photo). The marinara was extremely basic. The duck felt soggy, given the fact that it was shredded and sitting in sauce. Service was friendly and professional. Just a note for the waiters, I paid with cash and the waiter immediately said thank you, assuming the rest was a tip (in this case it was). However, if a customer pays with cash, it is customary and polite to offer to return with their change, giving them the opportunity to accept or decline that offer. read more

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Came here for dinner Pros: - The bruschetta was delicious - loved the fresh pesto with the baby heirloom tomatoes on one and the sausage on the other (felt like I was eating two different dishes but they went well together) - I did not enjoy their version of the squid ink pasta (more watery than I'm used to) so didn't eat much of it but the staff noticed my untouched plate and comped the dish at the end - The sauce on the pappardelle ran watery but the flavor was on point - Molten lava cake was delicious Cons: - The tables are are seated very close to one another so not a lot of space - Ambiance was also a bit too loud to hear each other speak read more

Retrobottega - Chitarra - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very good bread and food and excellent service at the bar. The bartender was very friendly with customers and made drinks promptly. I would recommend this location for a solo diner. It was also a pleasant atmosphere. When I went they opened up the patio doors so guests could look outside even if they were not sitting in the outdoor area. The happy hour specials are just okay here, slightly discounted house wine and beer. They could do a little more to draw in that crowd because they do have a nice selection of wines, beers and italian cocktails available. read more

Retrobottega - Glass House Red - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was amazing. The Gnocchi and the insulata de la casa were top tier. Even the house wine was impressive. Ben was our bartender and he was out of this world. read more

Retrobottega - The house Sangiovese is delicious. Ben, our bartender was amazing. He made our dining experience wonderful. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So good! Great ambience with options for indoor or outdoor seating. The caprese salad was amazing and so is the house focaccia! Loved the papardelle and gnocchi too--homemade and very big portions. Service was also relaxed and not rushed at all. Great Italian food in DC! read more

WOW! This small AdMo restaurant absolutely blew me away. From start to finish, it was an easy 5-star meal. Let's start with the end. This restaurant has the BEST tiramisu I have ever tasted. Each bite was perfection. The flavors could not have been more expertly balanced. Wow! You can't miss this one. Our charcuterie board was heavenly. I loved the taleggio and blu di Capra, which went wonderfully with the accompaniments. Our entrees were stellar as well. The cavatelli was hearty perfection, the ideal pasta dish for a cold evening. I was in heaven! Service was prompt and friendly. The interior is also so cute! You may walk right past this restaurant, but I encourage you not to. You won't regret it! read more

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Passed by this restaurant but never thought to stop in. Amazing Italian food! We loved the pappardelle, prosciutto with melon, and caprese salad. Flavors were rich and yummy. Portions were big and we thought very fairly priced. The bread they brought out was delicious and such a surprise. The space isn't super accessible bathrooms are down steps and inside is high tables or bar seating. There is an upstairs but you must go upstairs. There is an outside patio. The restaurant got busy at 6:45! read more

Loved the food here. The complimentary focaccia was SO tasty and when warm even better! The olive oil won't balsamic vinegar had a unique spice with the addition of the red pepper flakes, LOVED it. And the scallop risotto was phenomenal. I also tried my friend's Bronzino and love the smokiness of the dish as well. Overall love how this spot is open late and it's perfect for a meal when out on the Adams Morgan strip. read more

Retrobottega - Bronzino - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Food was sooo delish! Absolutely 10/10! Place was a little small though, so tables are quite close to each other. Slightly limited seating and noisy but the food is well worth it! Great drinks here too! read more

Retrobottega - Ravioli Gnocchi - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Retrobottega was a gem. I went on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy so reservations would be best. I was able to get a seat at the bar with my friend otherwise we had about a 20 minute wait. The menu has some great options and they also serve great bread while you browse the menu and wait for your food. For my appetizer I got the charred octopus. It was pretty good cooked well so the octopus wasn't super chewy. For my entree I went with the squid ink pasta. A hefty portion of food and the seafood was very tasty. I also got an espresso martini and love the heart they make with cocoa powder. read more

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Such a great spot! Sat at the bar top. The bartender Jer was super helpful and provided some great recommendations. I ordered the squid salad and the squid ink pasta and omg. Both were so amazing!! I happened to be there during happy hour too and my wine glasses were only $8 a glass! Plenty of seating at the bar top and seats around the restaurant for dinner service. Felt very welcomed here and service was the best. If you're in the area, definitely stop by! Casual vibe and not too fancy feeling. read more

Retrobottega - Squid ink pasta - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I got the tomato and pork toast and it was actually amazing I really enjoyed it. Came for date night and my fiance got the ravioli. Really liked this place! Good service too and cool atmosphere. read more

Retrobottega - Inside area - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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RETROBOTTEGA 2435 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 I want to preface this review by saying my boyfriend & I are not picky eaters at all and this review isn't meant to bash a small business. The purpose of this review is just to be transparent! WHAT WE ORDERED Penicillina- 10/10! This is a drink with rye & ginger beer. Super refreshing and is not spirit forward. Arrosticini- 9/10. This was grilled lamb skewers. They were cooked perfectly and very flavorful without doing too much. Mushroom Pappardelle- 4/10. Very bland dish, though the mushrooms were flavorful. Scallop Risotto- 1/10. My boyfriend said the risotto was not good, though the scallops were cooked perfectly. (He sent this dish back, and he never sends back anything ) PARKING- 3/10. There are garages in the area and sparse street parking. It's in Adams's Morgan though so you can't expect much with parking. ATMOSPHERE- 7/10. Very cute aesthetic & thoughtfully decorated. Though, It was very loud in there it's like you have to yell to have a conversation. Also, the tables are tiny you can barely fit 2 dishes on them. CUSTOMER SERVICE- 9/10. Our server was great, though our food came out extremely slow. However our server was very apologetic and gave us complimentary tiramisu due to us sending back a dish and having slow service. read more

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With not much advance notice, Retrobottega created a table for a large group of us in the back, near the open kitchen. A perfect perch for the restauranteurs and chefs among our group to observe all the action. On a bustling Saturday night, the crowd veered to the 40 and below crowd, the decor playing homage to patterns and details trending on Instagram. I'm not complaining - the aesthetic felt welcoming and fresh. While the initial cocktail order was slow to arrive, when it finally arrived it was accompanied by our appetizers. The plates were flavorful and rustic, though the focaccia dough was overworked, and it was dense and chewy. I must have tried bites from a dozen different dishes. Everything was glorious, but then again, maybe it was the company. An impressive wine selection, attentive service, and plates of tiramisu on the house capped off what I hope was aa equally enjoyable of an evening for the staff as it was for us. Mille grazie!! read more

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Cute wine bar with tapas style menu, perfect for a date night. We stopped in while visiting DC. We had a light dinner at the bar. Everything was high quality, fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. Service was also good. I highly recommend the octopus. read more

Retrobottega - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited DC during cherry blossom season, and my friend made a reservation here because it's one of his favorite local spots. We sat outside on the covered patio and the food was delicious. Our Drinks came out relatively quickly, but meals took a second. The main con to note was that the bathrooms were clogged and there were some major plumbing issues. We had to go next door, which wasn't the most well-received by that manager. Hopefully the plumbing will be fixed soon because otherwise, a delicious restaurant. Reservations recommended. read more

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Really enjoyed everything about this place. The menu was awesome and had some really unique items. I wanted to try everything! I got the lasagna and the clam spaghetti. Reheated the next day and still wonderful. I will always have an infinite love as well for places that give free bread and have great service. He was very accommodating and really took time to explain the menu and make us feel comfortable. The only reason for the 4 stars is the meat in the lasagna I felt was a bit lacking in flavor. read more

Retrobottega - 0xtail Lasagna Clam spaghetti Pesto - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of the best meals that I have had in a really long time. Retrobottega is worth the visit! For our appetizer we got their charred octopus. Amazing! The octopus was very fresh and the greens complimented the dish very well. They brought out a basket of bread made in house. The bread was excellent! I got their house white wine. This paired really well with all the seafood that we ordered. For my main course I got the Chitarra. My husband ordered the Strozzapreti. OMG the Chitarra was to die for. This was my first time having a dish with squid ink pasta and it went so well with all the seafood that was in the dish. I am also really impressed with Retrobottega that they did not skimp out on the seafood! There was some much seafood you could barely see the pasta when the dish came out. This dish consisted of clams, mussels, squid, shrimp, and fish. Everything was so fresh and flavorful!! My husband's food was spectacular too. Super fresh and flavorful as well. He loved it so much that he used the bread to scoop up all the remaining sauce haha. Besides the food I loved the atmosphere. Great for a date night inside. They have muted lighting with exposed brick. They have an open kitchen so you can see the chefs hard at working making sure each dish comes out perfectly. You know the food standards are going to be much better at a place that chooses to have an open kitchen. They have outside seating as well. The music! Whoever was in charge of the playlist on Jan 1st was only playing bangers. Loved it! The staff were attentive and helpful. Thanks Retrobottega for the great time. I will recommend this place first to anyone who is searching for a good Italian restaurant. read more