Osteria Morini has been one of our favorite weekend brunch and dinner spots for years. Whether…read morewe're catching up with friends who live around Capitol Hill or bringing the family, it always delivers. Between the handmade pasta, creative cocktails, beautiful waterfront views, and welcoming staff, it's become one of our regular OpenTable reservations. At this point, we've tried just about everything on the menu, from the bomboloni and fluffy Morini pancakes at brunch to many of the pastas at dinner. If it's your first visit, don't skip the gnudi--they're pillowy ricotta dumplings that are absolutely worth ordering. The pappardelle and cappelletti are also favorites, while the gnocchi and tagliatelle are always a hit with kids. The espresso martini is a great way to kick off a relaxing weekend, and what keeps us coming back isn't just the food. We've gotten to know the chefs, managers, and several servers over the years, and they consistently make us feel welcome. It's the kind of restaurant that remembers its regulars and creates an experience that's just as enjoyable as the meal itself. We're grateful to have Osteria Morini in our rotation and look forward to many more family brunches and dinners with friends.

Went to Osteria Morini for Restaurant Week and thought the restaurant itself was beautiful. I was…read morehonestly expecting a little more when it came to flavor, but the Restaurant Week deal was good and overall it was a nice experience. For starters, I got the crostini and it was absolutely delicious. The pear or apple paired so well with the cheese. My friend got the beet salad, which was definitely not our favorite, but if you love beets, you'd probably really enjoy it. For my entree, I got the gnocchi and unfortunately wasn't a fan. It tasted very doughy to me. My friend got the mushroom pasta and we felt the same way about hers. Service was decent, but it was also really busy so that was understandable. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I don't think I'd personally go back.

Cute, slightly fancy Italian spot with vegan options. The vegan options are not the most exciting…read morebut they are delicious and you can tell they prepare everything with care. Not only is it a good spot for dinner, but it's also nice for a matcha or espresso in the morning (I heard they even have vegan pastries typically but I didn't get to try those). Service was good, if over the top,

This review is for the coffee and café experience. The coffee here is fresh, additive-free, and…read morereasonably priced. My go-to drinks are the Americano and the iced cortado. They offer several dairy and non-dairy milk options, and I was delighted to see walnut milk on the menu. The syrups and milk alternatives are made fresh in-house. The honey is wild-harvested, which is a nice touch. There is seating available inside, as well as the option to order outside through the bay window--a very cute and convenient setup. The staff is friendly and attentive. However, service can be slower than expected at times, as there is only one espresso machine. Pros * Additive-free coffee * House-made syrups * Wild-harvested honey * Reasonable pricing * Outdoor ordering window for to-go orders * Friendly staff * Fresh pastries * Italian espresso machine * Filtered water **There's a Happy Hour M-Friday from 3pm-6pm. Hugo Spritiz is an option."

Excellent food and dessert. They were able to accommodate a last minute party of seven which I…read moreappreciated so much.

I loved Pacci's. We got a reservation and sat downstairs, which had a really interesting dark…read morefeeling. One thing I really appreciate is a waiter who can walk you through the menu. Our waiter did that. I asked for recommendations and he explained everything on the menu to us. Then I asked a specific question about a dish and he knew the answer immediately. He also gave us specials. I got the Orecchiette e Salsiccia -- Rapini shells with sausage. I loved it. Someone else my table got the special -- pasta with steak. The steak was cooked PERFECTLY and was wonderful. Overall, I loved Pacci's. It has a laid back family vibe yet the food is fantastic. One more thing: the neighborhood Pacci's is in is beautiful. Pacci's itself is in a very rustic nice building, right across from many beautifully painted rowhomes and brownstones.

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

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

Excellent service. Superb food. Elegant decor. The portions are huge. Treated myself to a sit down…read morelunch while on a work call. Except for a few regulars, I nearly had the place to myself. Definitely coming back. Perfect spot to impress a date. The multi-level, multi-room layout creates cozy little pocket-size dining rooms. It's nice.

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!

Today's experience was lacking- waited a long time for service after being asked to move tables…read more The beer from Dolomites was excellent. The bruschetta was terrible- porky greasy and not fresh . The bruschetta was soaked in grease. Will give it another chance since the other views were good. Although other people today were also complaining about poor service.

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!

The experience was definitely a success…read more Everyone must get the Duck Hunt--the flavor was immaculate. We almost ordered another one. Even the Polpette was extremely delicious, especially for something as simple as meatballs. Now for the main course, the 40-Layer Lasagna was amazing. I will say, though, that after a while, the flavor became so rich that it started to feel a little tiring. The Rigatoni alla Carbonara was also super good. I actually ended up switching with my partner so we could both enjoy the rest of each other's dishes. For dessert, we got the Crème Brûlée. I'd rate it a 4/5. The flavor was different from a traditional crème brûlée, but it was still delicious. Overall, everything was really good, and I would definitely come back to try some of the other dishes!

The decor and styling of L'Ardente is absolutely gorgeous. Just walking in for the first time, I…read morewas stunned. I came with a large party and we had a private area in the back to ourselves. They have many good options on their menu. There's a little something for everyone. From the antipasti menu, I enjoyed their Verde salad, the Carciofi, and the Hamachi Crudo. The hamachi was a highlight; it was so fresh and bright. For mains, we got the pomodoro and bolognese pastas. These were alright. The pasta itself was a little harder than al dente unfortunately. But the flavor of the sauces were yummy. I loved the dessert! We had the chocolate cake and the creme brulee. These were among the best bites of the night. Restrooms were large and mostly clean. Wasn't expecting them to be as ornate (or as dark inside) as they were. Downside is that the restrooms are right next to the kitchen area so wait staff were constantly moving and I was worried about tripping someone.

We ate at Lupo Marino for dinner before attending a concert. I was able to make a reservation in…read moreadvance with Google reservations. It's a small space, so reservations are highly encouraged. When we arrived at the restaurant for check-in, everyone in line already had a reservation. They also have some patio seating when the weather is nice. Once we were seated, the table had a carafe of water for self-service. I wasn't super hungry so I ordered the polpo al forno (charred octopus) appetizer and my friend ordered the cacio e pepe. The octopus was cooked correctly - it was tender and not chewy, but it was not the *most tender* that I've ever had. It was served with garlic confit potatoes, a variety of peppers, arugula, and a squid ink aioli. Everything had good flavor overall. Food was prepared quickly. Service was standard. They did all the basic checks but was nothing exceptional. The cacio e pepe came with a homemade tonnarelli. The tonnarelli had a good chewiness to it and stood up well to the melty cheese. It also held the heat well. It's a simple and classic dish that fit the bill. I would come here to try more dishes, but nothing immediately blew me away as a *must* return. The pizzas looked good. They have a wood fired oven, which is always a plus. For now, I'd rate Lupo Marino as 3.5 stars, but I'll round up for potential.

Incredibly mid Italian food in a spot that deserves more than that. The servers were kind, but it…read moredidn't really have the experience you want or the food you want. The owner's grandmother came up with this Lagans lasagna, but it was no better than my lasagna. The Caesar was fine but not exciting at all. The space is cute, but also feels haphazard.

This spot can get suuuuuper busy. It was packed when I stopped in, but we were lucky and waited…read moreabout 5 minutes for a spot at the bar to open up. Ended up splitting a pizza and the Brussels sprouts....and they were the best brussels sprouts I've ever had. The pizza is good but the sprouts imprinted on me. I don't even really like raisins but they were in there and little juicy golden morsels. They're rehydrated so not like a shriveled little thing and have this great lemony thing going on. Loved it, will be back just for the sprouts!! It's bustling, a little loud but a nice spot.

Victor was a great sever! I would likely stick with the pizza, however…read more BACON SLAB: this was my fave. A sweet drizzle on thick cut bacon TWO FARM EGGS: As described but needed pepper FINGERLING POTATOES: Not super crispy and a bit bland FRIED MOZZARELLA: Pretty solid, super cheesy

I decided to try something new for my birthday and was more than impressed with my experience! The…read morefood was great! Our waiter, Manuel, was a wonderful help and a pleasure to be around. I would surly recommend Olio e Piu!

Food and service was excellent. Come see Manuel!! He makes the best drinks in DC! I recommend the…read moreclam pasta.