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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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

Got there right at the 10pm and they said the kitchen closed at 10pm; the restaurant closes at 11pm. I also tried calling well before 10am but no one answered. These restaurants need to stop doing this; I drove all the way from VA. I solution may be for restaurants to post on their website if the kitchen closes earlier. The server did ask something hence my 3 stars. read more

Great vibe! Delicious food! Friendly servers. Our favorite restaurant while visiting Washington DC. read more

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

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One of the most underrated Italian restaurants in DC. I feel like I don't see it on people's lists that often. especially on Tiktok, but I really enjoyed the meals I've had here. The service is always warm. The pasta is excellent and served in generous portions. The pasta is also excellently priced. I just can't recommend this place enough. It's the kind of place I would bring out of towners for a great and filling meal. read more

Visited the restaurant for a birthday dinner last night, party of 13 I believe. We were sat upstairs next to the kitchen. Pretty cool to see the kitchen crank the food out for the entire restaurant. I didn't catch our servers name, he wasn't as attentive as you think a server would be for such a large party. Drink selection was ok, large bar if you don't see anything on the menu. Wine selection was good too. For dinner I chose the fish of the day which came with saffron risotto and a lemon butter sauce, the octopus, and the baccala (bacalao/cod fish) fritters. The server kept doing this cough and not covering his mouth which was off putting. Esp in these times. read more

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We went to this restaurant on a Monday night. The restaurant was not too busy, a couple tables were filled. Sat in the second floor where we had a view of the kitchen. The restaurant had dim lighting as well. We started with the complimentary bread and the olive oil dip. For appetizer we ordered the Arancini after seeing good reviews online. Crispy on the outside, and the filling was yummy as well. We then got two pastas: the Pappardelle Beef Short Rib pasta and the Taglierini pasta. The first few bites of the short rib were tender but later bites were a little more dry and tougher to chew, but overall the pasta was yummy. The Taglierini was also good overall - the pasta was more on the al dente side, and the sauce complimented the duck well. read more

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Really good Italian food in admo at a very reasonable price for dc. Service was very attentive and there was good music playing at a perfect volume. Beef short rib over pasta had great meat flavors. Pasta was super fresh. Gnocchi was also really good. Almost had a country gravy taste to it (in a great way). Portions were a good size for a trendy dc restaurant. read more

Wow! How in all the years of living near Adams Morgan did I miss going to Retrobottega? Such a cute, cozy Italian place. My sister was craving Italian, and while we would normally go to Al Volo Osteria around the corner, she specifically wanted a seafood pasta. Really glad we went here. I ordered the oxtail lasagna - hefty and satisfying. The tiramisu was pillowy soft. This is a great spot for a small group of friends or a date night. read more

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Everything was so delicious and fresh! Love the ambiance. Great for a date night. The servers were amazing, great bartender. read more

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

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Small classic fresh pasta restaurant. Service was pleasant and helpful. Pasta choices were delicious. Pappardelle with mushrooms was earthy and filled with delicious sauce and mixture of mushrooms. Fairly priced and good ambiance. read more

Stopped in randomly for a late night dinner after some holiday bar hopping and was pleasantly surprised by the food and staff! Both were really great and I plan on coming back here. We sat at the bar and it was perfect. We started with a couple of drinks and then each had a pasta dish so delish! read more

Retrobottega - Pappardelle with mushroom and Pappardelle with short rib. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here Thursday September 8, 2022 around the time it opened arrived around 5:45pm. The bar had a couple of guest seated. No one was seated outside. Sat at the bar and was greeted by Josh the bartender who provided me with the menu which you can view on your phone. Ordered the Amora Smash which wasn't my fave. To start I got the Polenta Fritta. The grits tasted like grits before you had the fixings to it to give it flavor. For the main course I ordered the Pappardelle Beef Short Rib which was recommended by the bartender. Authentic Italian and very meaty. Proportion size was more than enough. I even had enough to take home. I would suggest adding chili flakes and a little Parmesan. Street parking was available but if you hate DC parking like me consider downloading ParkWhiz. The ambience was fitting for date night or solo date. Pricing was reasonable for the proportion size and location. read more

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In the very heart of AdamsMorgan, this italian restaurant offers a nice glimpse of italian recipes and wine. The environment was cute, although, sitting upstairs in front of the kitchen, the athmosphere was sort of smoky despite the attempts at clearing the air with some venitilators as ceiling lamps. Service was welcoming and made sure we were doing ok with our orders, but we felt a lot of pressure to be done and leave, as they were a little too quick at clearing the table and bringing us the check, even if we weren't done with our wine, yet. I would definitely suggest finding some balance between the restaurant's need to clear space and the customers' need to enjoy their time while eating. Food was good, the selselection of plates is rather typical and authentic, although I would have appreciated daring a little more with the complexity of the flavors. :) I would probably come here again, but maybe for happy hour (only at the bar) and snacks, instead of a full dinner. read more

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I think I'd eat any form of cooked pasta (like if you use more than 3 ingredients I'm like WOW GORDON RAMSEY) but I think even I can point out this was quality Italian foood - the pasta was an al dente that perfectly chewy and thick - the collection of seafood in the lighter white wine sauce complimented the dense carb aspect of the meal - the bread they give you in the beginning is decent but using it to soak up the extra pasta sauce was elite - gin n tonic was pretty strong and average so I'd recommend hitting this place for food or whatever aperol spritz drink the woman the table over from me had - many many other appetizers and mains I want to try so yes I'll be back - outdoor seating was cute but on a hot day it wasn't exactly pleasant and the inside is small so a good seat (they dooo exist) not almost in the kitchen is rare even with a reservation so id say it's best to call to make a specific rezzy read more

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

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Wasn't bad wasn't great! Would definitely return to try other menu items. Service was great though! read more

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

The food was amazing and the service was top notch. Good lively environment with a younger crowd, but pasta hit on every cylinder. Had the shredded duck pasta, the bone in short rib pasta and a bottle of super Tuscan wine...yep, just checked every box and left really happy! read more

Best Italian restaurant in Adams Morgan!! I came here twice in one week because i couldn't get enough! The food is so delicious, fresh, and authentic! The staff is nice and attentive. The first time I came, the staff seemed to rush us a bit but it was a busy Saturday night. The second time I came was a Tuesday evening and our waiter was amazing! She was so patient which was appreciated since we were a big group. The first time i came I had the ravioli which was delicious! The portion sizes are decent and very filling! The second time i came i had the pappardelle and WOW! This dish blew me away! I loved it so much! The warm bread and olive oil to start was also very yummy and a perfect start to the meal! The restaurant is small and gives a very homey vibe. Cannot wait to come back and enjoy the rest of the menu! read more

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Retrobegga is a small restaurant in Adams Morgan. They have a great selection of pastas that are vegetarian friendly. The dinner starts off with delicious focaccia, which tasted amazing. Even during my meal, I kept snacking on it. My table got the mushroom pappardelle and the ravioli. The ravioli was amazing; the sauce was complex. The restaurant itself is fairly small in size. My table was upstairs (where the kitchen is), so it got a bit more warm than you would expect. The staff is amazing! It unexpectedly started downpouring as we were leaving. They recommended we sit at the bar and brought us water as we waited. I really appreciate them thinking of us even after the meal read more

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

Wow! I don't usually go for Italian restaurants because it can be very expensive for the high quality authentic stuff, but this place was incredible and all for a reasonable price. I got the burrata caprese and scallop risotto and they were the best I've had in recent memory. Not to mention the servers were very attentive and everything came out very quickly. The inside section is very small but has a classic and cool vibe. Overall, will definitely be coming back again read more

Came here for dinner with friends before a night out. I tried the Bucatini, Arancini, Arrostocini. My friends ordered the Spaghetti and Strozzapreti. The atmosphere inside is fun and lively. The kitchen is open on the second floor and we were seated by it. The food was good but not amazing. The Bucatini was decent, but the pasta was slightly overcooked and the dish was heavy and needed some acidity to balance it out and cut through the fattiness of the guanciale and creamy sauce. The Spaghetti was also good but not amazing-- the sauce was too mild in flavor and needed something to kick the dish up a notch. The Strozzapreti was the best pasta dish. It was cooked al dente and if I had to choose between the three pasta dishes ordered, I would go with this one again. The Arrostocini was the best prepared dish in my opinion. The lamb was perfectly cooked and the salad had a nice acidity to balance out the grilled meat. The Arancini was good too but it was missing something and a little bland. read more

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we had a wonderful dinner here! the vibe of the place is adorable and perfect for a date night. it's kind of small on the inside so i'd recommend making a reservation. we sat at the bar and our bartender was lovely! she was great to chat with and makes wonderful drinks. the Retro Spritz and Espresso Martini were my favorite! to eat we got the Bruschetta, one came with pesto and tomatoes and the other with sausage and cheese. both were great! we also got the Spaghetti (which came with clams and tomatoes) and the Ravioli (filled with cheese and topped with a vodka sauce). the Spaghetti was fantastic, the sauce was wonderful and came with like 10 clams. the Ravioli was also great, the vodka sauce was on the sweeter side but the cheese filling was really good! overall it's a super cute spot with really great food and service; i can't wait to go back! read more

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The hubby and I came here for our anniversary and would definitely come back again! It's in AdMo and could be easily overlooked. It's small but cute! We sat upstairs right next to the kitchen so it was cool seeing them in action! We were given some bread and olive oil to start with. The olive oil was of great quality. We ordered the Burrata Caprese, Carciofi (fried artichokes), Ravioli, and the Pappardelle. ALL of it was delicious. Their entire menu sounded good - it's just a matter of what you're in the mood for! The artichokes were probably my favorite. It only comes with 2 pieces so definitely plan on ordering more for a larger group! The only downside was how hot it was. We went around 7pm but it was 95 degrees out that day and it didn't help that we were upstairs. Will definitely come back in the fall!! read more

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The focaccia and ravioli were good, but they weren't great. The fried artichoke starter was really good. Probably won't go back.

Stopped in late on a Saturday night without a reservation. We were seated quickly and the food came fast. The menu is a little small compared to most restaurants but the pasta is delicious. Obviously fresh and authentic. The vibe of the restaurant is really cute for a couple of friends or a date. Will come back! read more

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

Fun Place Al Tiramisu and Retrobettaga have the best Italian Cuisine in Dc.................................................................................. read more

Pretty good pasta spot in Adams Morgan! We had a reservation for a large party on a Saturday and had no issues getting seated right away. The restaurant itself is pretty small, but we enjoyed the vibes, and the open air. Although we sat in the back, it didn't feel stuffy. Service was also pretty good. Started off with some complimentary focaccia bread and it was AMAZING. The bread and the olive oil - so so good! Ordered the taglierini and enjoyed how tender the duck was. Everyone loved their meal and the prices are pretty fair for a nicer Italian sit-down. read more

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

The good: the service. She was great, and recommended a wine we loved which was really appreciated. The bad (and soggy): the food. There are certain foods that if you don't make them on the spot you shouldn't even have them on the menu. The fried artichoke for example.... This tasted like it was microwaved, it was this awful soggy affair nothing like what it's supposed to feel like when you bite it. Same thing for the arancini. If Whole Foods has better arancini then you should not be serving that in your restaurant. The lasagna was an excuse to overload with cheese, it was difficult to taste anything else. I hear it has oxtail meat apparently. The ugly: the check. I expect better quality at this price point. read more

Retrobottega offers Italian fare, but they also host pop-up events, live music, and have HH specials. I had this place for a very long time, and I was excited to check this place out with a friend - we knew that they were popular for their apps, but we also ordered some entrees to share: +Bruschetta - a crostino with baby heirloom tomatoes, basil, and balsamic, and a crostino with homemade sausage and Taleggio; this was good, but kind of hard to share, as it's difficult to cut; will need to consume quickly, as the crostino can get soggy +Charred Octopus - with cannellini beans, grape tomatoes, and pistachio romesco; wasn't a fan of the cannellini beans, but the octopus was grilled well and was tender +Bucatini - with guanciale, sharp pecorino, black pepper, and egg yolk; definitely on the saltier end with the guacialo and the pecorino; pasta could have been more al dente +Ravioli - with a burrata filling and dressed in a vodka sauce; the vodka sauce was creamy; the filling could have been more inside the ravioli +Pappardelle Beef Short Rib - prepared with beef short ribs and beef stock; pasta was slightly gummy; the beef rib was large and it was definitely a presentation in its own right! Service was friendly, and the place was cute and cozy - I really liked the tile flooring. Limited street parking available in the area. +cute decor +friendly service +limited street parking available read more

The ambiance is romantic and classy, with a unique and chic interior design that is both unexpected and refreshing. The drinks were exceptional - we tried both the Aperol and Negroni, and they were both perfectly crafted. I ordered pappardelle beef short rib and the meat that was so tender, it literally melted off the bone. It was unbelievably good, and I can still taste it just thinking about it. The only downside to our experience was that the staff was a bit slow. It seemed like they were short-staffed, which resulted in some delays in service. However, this did not take away from the overall experience, and we still had a great time. Overall, I would highly recommend Retrobottega DC to anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable dining experience. Despite the slow service, the food, drinks, and ambiance make it the perfect spot for a romantic date or a night out with friends. I can't wait to return and try more dishes on the menu! read more

Retrobottega - a group of people at a bar - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of my fav italian spots in DC! The ravioli is so good and the service was awesome! the owner came out to say hi and was very sweet

I had a really solid meal at Retrobottega! The fried artichoke hearts were fantastic, and I would come back again for them and to order more of the cicchetti (the rosticciana looked great!). The sauce was great, the texture was perfect, and it was just lovely. I'm limited on what pasta I can have, but I really enjoyed the cavatelli, which is served with Fava beans (I wanted a lot more, actually!) and rabbit. Portions were generous and I was easily able to split the dish with a friend. I'd never had rabbit, and it was good but definitely not my favorite meat compared to other options. The broth it was served in was lovely and flavorful, but I would have liked something with a bit more texture so it could coat the cavatelli. The dish was very light and seemed great for spring! I would definitely come back to try more dishes. Service was great, and I appreciate any spot that still serves house bread. Definitely recommend checking them out, especially for the cicchetti. read more

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

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The food was good but overpriced, the staff was helpful if he doesn't know some information he went back to ask the chef how to prepare the dish and that helped me to decide which menu should I get. The duck was a little bit game. We have outdoor seat, we kind of shout to talk to each other it's pretty loud but not bad. read more

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

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One of the most amazing meals ever. Pretty laid back vibes with indoor and outdoor seating right on the main drag (18th) in admo. The menu is small but has some amazing options. The burata and bruschetta looked amazing on neighbor's plates, but we ended up going with the fried artichokes (carciofi). They were delish topped with lemon and and super yummy aioli. We ordered I totally wanna go back and reorder this and try the balsamic Glazed pork ribs too (rosticcana). For our entree we went with the manicotti and the oxtail lasagna. My first bite of the lasagna literally made me gasp - the meat was SO tender, flavorful, and plentiful. The manicotti were stuffed and satisfying. I am so excited I found this place. Service was great, food was amazing, and I already have my list of foods I didn't get to try but need to go back for! read more

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This Adams Morgan gem sports great service while delivering a high quality product that will resonate with Italian food lovers. The fried cheese wrapped in Proscuttio was a table favorite, while the appetizer Calamari was also quickly devoured. Fresh, in-restaurant baked bread arrived before the appetizers which provided great support for mopping up the delicious sauces under the Calamari and Fried Artichoke. For mains, our table did not shy away from the staples. The Gnocchi in a meat sauce was outstanding, and very filling. The Osso Buco was similarly plentiful, with the meat literally falling off the bone (and delectable). The Cavatelli, sporting fresh and tender rabbit was accompanied by a side of Fava beans which made for a terrific balance with the creamy delivery of meat & pasta in the white wine base. Not in a more traditional approach, the Ravioli came with a burrata cheese filling in a creamy vodka sauce. Finally, the seafood spotlight is Chitarra. The black squid ink pasta is based with a white wine sauce and chock full of clams, mussels, squid, shrimp and salmon. With all of these entries you will not leave hungry, nor will you be absent a wonderful taste from all of the flavors and textures. Celebrating a birthday, our server was not only kind enough to bring a Tiramisu treat (with candle) but also let us and the entire patio in a robust singing of the traditional ode to celebrate the day (Happy b-day). Not just excellent food and service, but a great atmosphere too! read more

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The food is good, and service is reasonably attentive...but seating in the upstairs section is LOUD. Very echoey and piercing. Recommend a downstairs or outside seat if at all possible read more

Excellent Italian food with traditional home style flavors. The staff and location are excellent.

3.5 The apps were delicious - burrata caprese with pesto, we also ordered arancini and carciofi (fried artichoke hearts), delicious but we dug in before I could snap a pic. The risotto was the best dish of the night. Two of us got the short rib pappardelle, the meat was tender and fell right off the bone. Pasta was cooked well-enough, but the sauce was very watery which kind of took away from the whole dish. The ambiance feels cozy, but it's a small place so it's quite loud. Service was good up until closing time - then we were a bit forgotten about as we tried to pay our tab, but the bartender quickly noticed and jumped in to take care of us. read more

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Such a joy. Six of us each had something wonderful--including one gluten-free vegetarian. My gnocchi was perfect. We sat in the covered space out by the street while it rained gently. The service was attentive, smooth, and masterful. read more

Retrobottega is a lovely addition to Admo where the quality dining places are slowly balancing out with the crazy bars. This is a great cozy Italian place where each dish has so much love and heart. The pastas - Taglierini and Cacio e Pepe (not necessarily on the menu but available if you ask) are filled with flavor in every bite. Some may complain that it's not a huge portion but I disagree, quite hearty indeed. As for the smaller dishes, the charcuterie and the bruschetta were great, but the pork ribs were a little too gamey for my taste. Better to still to the classics and go dishes that brings you back to Italy. The cocktails are excellent, as well as the bubblies. We were there for a special occasion, and they greeted us with a glass of prosecco which was absolutely delightful. read more

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