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    Thompson Italian

    4.2 (146 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM

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    THOMPSON ITALIAN ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual
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    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Thompson Italian

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    Cyndi A.

    We had an exceptional evening dining here with friends. This was our first experience and won't be our last. The service is top notch, the food is fresh and delicious topped with the perfect ambiance! The Brussel sprouts and Branzino was EXCELLENT!!! We tried every dessert and all phenomenal!

    FOCACCIA
    Ryan G.

    TL;DR: Thompson's Italian is a chill cozy privately owned restaurant that is serving up fresh Italian and pasta dishes in the heart of old town. I would certainly take a date or family and friend out of town here. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and decided to try out Thompn's Italian and glad that we did. Don't let the slender outside and narrow bar area fool you, it opens to a modern beautiful space. Granted I have two dishes posted I only had mine which was the Ricotta Cavatelli and it was DELICIOUS! A dish comprised of pork sausage, peporonata, chiles, basil, and pecorino. If like a bit of heat this is the perfect hearty dish. I could've had 2-3 servings of it which unfortunately takes me to my very slight disappointment. This is where unfortunately a restaurant that doesn't skimp on freshness and integrity in this economy must take a hit, and that is the overall portion to price point. The dishes you see before you were $26. It was that good to where I wish I had just a bit more especially for that price. But please do not let that deter you from trying the restaurant out, just know the portion to price point may make you raise an eyebrow. The homemade focaccia was sooooooo good, I just wish it was served warm. It came to use room temp, and somewhat cold but it was still delicious, but they certainly need to warm the bread for customers that would take it to another level. The service was great, and they were very attentive not only to our needs but also understand the special occasion and even presented us with a complimentary dessert. It's these small things that makes me want to come back, and next time with enough budget for maybe two servings LOL.

    TAGLIATELLE
    Ailun H.

    Thompson Italian is located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria on King St with a lot of other restaurants, cafes, and storefronts around. I got dinner here last Tuesday with a few people, and it wasn't too bad of a walk (~15 minutes) from the King St metro station. The service was good and attentive, and our food didn't take too long to arrive after ordering. Pacing was also pretty good, and we spent a little less than two hours there. Between the four of us, we shared a couple appetizers, four pastas, and two desserts: ROASTED GARLIC BREAD - 13 + 6.50 for two extra pieces of garlic bread At first, I was skeptical about paying nearly 20 for 6 pieces of focaccia bread. However, it was phenomenal. It was very garlicky without being too acidic, and the seasoning provided the perfect amount of savoriness. The bread was nicely crispy. There was also some marinara? sauce on the side, but it was good with or without it. Still, it's pricy, but at least it was memorably good. BURRATA PUGLIESE - 18 The burrata sat on a bowl with olive oil and lightly seasoned with black pepper. It also came with 3 pieces of focaccia bread (plain, no garlic). While the burrata was creamy, I thought it lacked flavor and was overall pretty boring. I did enjoy some of it with the garlic bread we ordered which made it better, but would have been sad otherwise. TAGLIATELLE - 27 This ended up being my favorite pasta of four because I'm a sucker for anything mushroom and fresh tagliatelle is my top pasta choice. It was chewy and stringy, soaking up the very rich porcini crema, and each bite had a slice of mushroom that was so umami filled. This pasta has a strong mushroom flavor that really wowed me. If you love mushrooms, this one is for you. SQUID INK BUCATINI - 28 Squid ink pasta? Sign me up. This was an incredible seafood-forward pasta that doesn't skimp on quantity. There was shrimp, calamari rings, and more. This was a heavier pasta, and the texture of the bucatini definitely added to it. This was my second favorite, but was two of my friends' favorite due to the strong seafood flavors. GNOCCHI - 27 The gnocchi has a braised chicken ragu sauce and topped with pancetta, mushrooms, and maybe some vegetables. It was thick, reminiscent of a stew. Unfortunately, I thought this was incredibly heavy, more than I was prepared for this meal. I'm not the biggest fan of gnocchi either, and sadly, this one did not wow me. However, if you are looking for a dense pasta option with hearty, stew-like flavors, this is a good option. RIGATONI - 26 This is a beef bolognese rigatoni that I'd describe more as a staple -- there's no crazy twist or eccentricity, but the flavors are familiar and homey, a rich and deep meat sauce pasta that brings comfort. The rigatoni's texture was the perfect al dente, and the beef bolognese sauce was perfectly seasoned. This isn't going to blow anyone's mind, but it's a reliable option. CHOCOLATE AMARETTI TORTA - 15 This is my friend's favorite dessert and she claimed she could finish one on her own because it was that good. The chocolate ganache was rich, but not as heavy as I expected. However, it's still too heavy for my liking, but I understand why my friend enjoys it so much. BERRY TIRAMISU - 15 The berry tiramisu was more my kind of dessert -- it's much lighter and berry driven, with a light berry mousse and sponge cake layer. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it for those who are looking for a lighter dessert option after a heavy meal. Overall, very hearty but incredibly dense meal, a bit more than I would prefer. Flavors were good and every dish was different from the other and stood out. I'd recommend giving Thompson Italian a try.

    Anh N.

    Thompson Italian has a great aperitivo hour! $10 cocktails till 6pm! Can't beat that for Old Town Alexandria. They also have a great Monday night pasta & glass of wine special for $30. I usually find a bar seat if you come early enough but do recommend reservations just in case. Must-tries are their olive oil cake and their rigatoni. Highly recommend if you're in the Old Town Alexandria area and in the mood for Italian!

    Alex P.

    5/5 for food, dropped a star because the prices here are unreasonable for the portion sizes. $4 for a mini coke can. $27 for 6 cappelletti. $15 for a mason jar tiramisu. The service was great. The decor is beautiful, we came for a birthday but would also be great for a date. I personally didn't have a drink but they looked amazing. Unfortunately drinks were $16-$18 a piece. We really enjoyed the appetizers: lamb meatballs, arancini, and garlic bread. Their focaccia was delicious as well. Overall, I loved everything that I had, very flavorful and would highly recommend for food quality. I couldn't give it a full 5 star rating though because of the food quantity and prices. Especially considering there are other great Italian places in Downtown.

    Panna cotta
    Marivic L.

    Celebrated my friend's birthday here tonight. Note: we had 13 people and the restaurant made it clear that they could only take 6 cards when the reservation was made. Thankfully, many of us brought cash or venmo'd others. I'd been to the other location and this one is cute, cozy, but with lighting that tested my old eyes. Everyone was friendly, from the hostess to the server - all the way to the time we were leaving out the door. I started with the Caesar salad which was more than just romaine - little gems, I think it was called. Lettuce was fresh and the dressing was flavorful. Instead of croutons, I liked the little crunchy bits on top. It's a large salad and could probably be split if you want a side. The burrata was good and soft but not the most flavorful I've had. Another bit of a ding for the accompanying bread which was a tad bit too oily but had a great crunch. My main meal was rigatoni with bolognese which was delicious and a perfect portion. Pasta was nice and al dente. For dessert, I got the panna cotta though I usually never order it for dessert because it's normally just one note - and I need more flavor and texture. You get exactly that with Thompson's version. It was a great dinner with friends and I'd definitely come back.

    Esther P.

    very high quality, handmade pasta. the food menu is small, but it makes for easy decision making and great food. the interior is also great - i love seeing historic downtown transform their buildings into something modern. it is simple, dark, and cozy inside. the wait time for the server to get to us, for our orders to be taken, and for the food to come out was pretty long. though, the service we got was high in quality. you can really tell that all the employees carry themselves in a professional manner. there was never a dirty dish or utensil on the table. they cleared it almost immediately and brought us more - for the next course. i am unable to give high praises on the dishes as they personally did not match my palette. though, the quality is very good. we started with the roasted garlic bread, that was soft and deliciously seasoned. definitely worth the $13 price point. shown in the photos are the tagliatelle and the ricotta cavatelli. tagliantelle came with an overwhelming portion of mushrooms but was delicious. if you "just tolerate" mushrooms, this dish is not for you. all the spices in the ricotta cavatelli were well present and worked well in every bite. the cavatelli itself was cooked to perfection. overall, would return. will have to try some other dishes though.

    The outstanding lasagna
    Jennifer S.

    A quaint restaurant in Old Town Alexandria welcomes diners for the enjoyment of an upscale Italian menu. Thankfully we had no wait, as the DC summer is hot! We were quickly greeted by our server. I made a mistake in thinking the wine I ordered was a red, but it was a white. A change was made, but I was still embarrassed to my poor choice. The replacement wine was delicious! We then selected the peaches and plum salad, and I chose the Wednesday special of chicken parmigiana (lucky night for dining!). By bestie chose the gnocchi, but gluten-free (an easy substitution for a gluten-free pasta without issue. The salad was fresh and beautiful, and it was easily shared. Our main courses were delicious! The chicken was crispy without being oily. The fresh pasta was a perfect al dente. We ordered desserts, as well. I had the tapioca pudding minus the blueberry compote. My bestie ordered the chocolate torte (one of the two gluten-free options). Both desserts left us happy! I highly recommend Thompson Italian to anyone in Old Town Alexandria!!!

    Interior dining room
    Cassandra T.

    We made reservations and it filled up quickly after 6. Cozy and moody. Attentive staff. Food was amazing. We did family style and ordered a ton of things and they were all delicious. I missed pics of the first round of apps because they disappeared so fast! Interesting cocktails. The crispy eggplant was a favorite. And the fresh bread was soft, fluffy, and had a hint of salt. Dipped in olive oil was yummy. Will go again. Made a great dinner/drinks girls night

    Trene (new vegan special!)
    Tawnie G.

    Very good Italian restaurant offering vegan options as well. I've gotten the Trene (also seen them spelling Trenne) twice now. However, it's only on a specialty menu and I wish it would be a permanent item, as I'd come to eat here far more often. The brussel sprouts were delicious and savory, with pomegranates and tahini sauce. I'm obsessed with their table bread. The non alcoholic aperol spritz wasn't very good though, and I won't get it again. The Nero D'avola is definitely our favorite wine on the menu. Service has been average each time. Our server seemed like he had a bit of an attitude the whole meal actually, which kind of dampened the night, but overall, we keep coming back for the excellent food. We also love the atmosphere and darkened lighting of this restaurant-- perfect date night spot! Don't forget your reservation though!

    Chocolate budino
    Samantha H.

    I was so glad to finally visit the Alexandria location after frequenting the Falls Church one. The $50 restaurant week deal was excellent, I forget how generous the pasta portions are, and the summer 2025 menu had such a great selection that had me trying new items I'd never considered before. The bean salad was gorgeous and fresh and almost addictive, the acidity plus the pesto and nuts came together in the perfect bites. The capellini with rock shrimp and lemon was inspired; I am wary of a seafood pasta sometimes feeling too fishy or the texture is off because it is a thin sauce relying on showcasing chunky seafood but THIS was expertly done. I went again recently and was enchanted by a beet and burrata salad. My only only gripe with this location is that the restaurant layout makes it a little cramped and awkward when you arrive and wait to get seated with your party. Also the lighting is dim and I've seen people use their cell phone lights to read the menus lol.

    Coffee Gelato
    Juhi T.

    Solid Italian place in Old Town! The ambience is very nice - ample seating both at tables and the bar. Awesome and attentive service. No loud music. Romantic date night vibes or even great for a group of friends to catch up. The food was great. I LOVED the Caesar salad. The rigatoni was delicious as well - very saucy if you're into that (personally for me the ratio was off but that is just a preference). The gelato was small and single serving so probably not large enough to split between two people. I can't wait to come back here for one of their special pasta or lasagna nights.

    LAMB MEATBALLS
    Kristine P.

    romantic and lowly lit. delicious and rich pastas with the perfect aldente texture. the lamb meatballs are to DIE for!! service is great

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    14 days ago

    Very solid italian food with no frills. Drinks were unique, but not for me. Service was fine, not the fastest.

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    Didn't expect this place to go so hard. Had arancini, spaghetti and the spicy rigatoni and it was amazing. Can't recommend it enough.

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    Always a great ambiance, service is wonderful, and the food never disappoints. Such a cute spot for date night! We went for Valentine's Day.

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    Fantastic food as always, best valentines meal my wife and I have had in years. Customer service is always fantastic.

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    Aldo's Italian Kitchen - Shrimp scampi

    Aldo's Italian Kitchen

    4.6(421 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    I am remiss that I never created a review for Aldo's Italian Kitchen, because this is one of my…read morefavorite hidden gems in the DMV area. Locked away in a comforting space within an office building, it always feels like I stepped into a mom and pop style restaurant. The hosts, servers, chefs, and owner are just incredible- super friendly, knowledgeable, and they really treat you like family here. Now the food. The food is so delicious here. Some of my s/o and my favorite dishes are the cheese pizza (you seriously cannot beat the price), and gnocchi, which is covered in a creamy tomato sauce with chunks of onion and warm tomatoes, and the chicken pesto pasta. Honestly, I've never had a bad meal here. Everything is portioned perfectly, and I swear you never leave hungry here. They also went viral for their chicken caesar wrap too, and I can attest that it's yummy! I'd ask for extra sauce on the side if possible though, but that's because I'm a caesar lover! I'd highly recommend everyone checking out Aldo's. The owner is the sweetest, most caring man and he really is so appreciative of all the customers. If you have a craving for some italian food, go here! And also, don't leave without trying their tiramisu or walk out with their rainbow cookies!

    We visited on a Wednesday at lunch and the place was pretty crowded, but there was still plenty of…read moreparking in the area. We sat at the tables in the back room and were brought waters right away. We had a pretty big group and took up a few tables. I ordered the manicotti di casa. It was absolutely delicious. Everyone in our group said they loved their meals as well, no complaints and no incorrect orders. It took about 10-15 minutes or so for the meals to come out, so it was great for a lunch break. We will visit again.

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    Aldo's Italian Kitchen
    Aldo's Italian Kitchen - Black Forest Cake

    Black Forest Cake

    Aldo's Italian Kitchen - Cappuccino

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    IL Porto Ristorante

    IL Porto Ristorante

    3.8(718 reviews)
    0.5 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    Great authentic Italian restaurant that evokes a true Italian charm! The ambience is inviting and…read moremakes you feel like you stepped into Italy for great pasta lol Staff are accommodating and personable. The honey butter is tasty and please don't get me started on how delicious the pasta is...chef's kiss! I truly enjoyed the tortellini pasta. I'll be back for another round of pasta and win!

    I want to begin by acknowledging that I chose to dine out on Mother's Day, fully aware that it is…read moreone of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. I expected longer wait times for seating and food, and I was prepared to be patient. However, what I did not anticipate was a complete breakdown in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Having worked in the restaurant industry, it was clear that the issues extended beyond the kitchen. A back-of-house "crash" of this magnitude is typically the result of broader operational failures, including front-of-house management. It appeared that reservations were significantly overbooked without adequate planning for the volume. On a day like Mother's Day, full capacity should be expected, and systems should be in place to manage that demand effectively. At a minimum, there should have been proactive communication with guests regarding delays, allowing them the option to adjust their plans. Additionally, basic service standards--such as keeping water glasses filled and bread baskets stocked--were not maintained. The serving staff seemed overwhelmed and unsupported, which ultimately reflects a lack of clear direction from management. During our visit, we even observed a large party leave due to the experience. I genuinely felt for our server, who appeared to be doing their best under difficult circumstances. Without directly requesting specific items and even ordering from the bar myself, the experience would have been significantly worse. Unfortunately, the food did not meet expectations either. The seafood pasta, in particular, was underwhelming in both quality and presentation--featuring minimal seafood and inconsistent preparation. At the price point, I would expect a much higher standard. The chicken Parmesan felt like cardboard and was just as thin. The cod with peas tasted exactly like the frozen cod I get from Costco. Calamari never came, which we had no idea about. No option to get anything else. If the restaurant does not have the infrastructure to handle high-volume days at a consistent level of quality, it may be worth reconsidering reservation limits or adjusting service expectations accordingly. While I understand the desire to maximize business on a busy holiday, the long-term impact of disappointed guests may outweigh the short-term gains. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as no guest should have the experience we did. And no we did not accept any free dessert, which I felt was a completely tone def to the experience we had.

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    IL Porto Ristorante
    IL Porto Ristorante - Spaghetti & Meatballs

    Spaghetti & Meatballs

    IL Porto Ristorante - Patio dining

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    Corso Italian - Fettuccine Alla Carbonara

    Corso Italian

    4.2(179 reviews)
    3.1 miShirlington
    $$

    I really loved Corso Italian and am so glad my friend and I stumbled upon it! We discovered it by…read morechance after catching a movie at the AMC nearby. Lucky for us, it was Macaroni Monday, where several of Corso's pastas are available for just $15. An excellent deal and we really liked what we got (the lobster ravioli and the white pesto rigatoni). One of the standout items for us, aside from the food being good and the atmosphere being nice, was the service. We were treated with a lot of warmth and kindness, and especially appreciated our server, Junior, for his incredible hospitality. That wonderful first experience is what made me return again recently. I once again had a great time. This time I got the white pesto rigatoni and the chicken fettucine alfredo. I'm pained to admit that I would actually recommend against the latter; it lacked flavor big time and it's not something I'd get again. But I enjoyed the rigatoni again, and loved the hazelnut chocolate cheesecake I got for dessert. I also really appreciated my waiter this time, Jose; I really appreciated his honest recommendations and I felt very well taken care of. I hope to be back sometime in the near future!

    I visited Corso Italian for my birthday dinner and left with very mixed feelings. My partner noted…read moreon the reservation that it was my birthday, and upon arriving the hostess greeted me with a warm "happy birthday," which I appreciated. Unfortunately, that was the only acknowledgment I received for the rest of the evening, which was a little disappointing for a special occasion dinner. Since my birthday fell on a Wednesday, we decided to try their date night deal and added a few appetizers. The arancini was exactly what you want from a classic arancini. Crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and packed with flavor. Absolutely delicious. I ordered the Vodka Parm and honestly found it underwhelming. The sauce tasted much more like a standard marinara than a vodka sauce, and the spaghetti itself was completely lacking seasoning. Meanwhile, my partner ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, and his dish was fantastic. The meatballs were flavorful, the sauce had depth, and overall it was a much better execution. The standout dish of the entire night was easily the gamberi fritti. The shrimp was fried perfectly, and the sauce with the lemon, garlic, and aromatics was unbelievable. I would genuinely return for that dish alone. To end the night, we had the tiramisu and it was excellent. Drinks throughout the evening were also very well done. We tried a mix from both the seasonal and classic cocktail menus and enjoyed everything we ordered. Service overall was just okay. Beyond the initial greeting, no one really made me feel celebrated for my birthday. At one point I also asked to switch from tap water to bottled water, but the server never returned with it, so I just stuck to cocktails for the remainder of dinner. Despite the inconsistencies, there were enough highlights that I'd still be willing to come back and give Corso Italian another shot.

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    Corso Italian - Dining area

    Dining area

    Corso Italian - Meatballs

    Meatballs

    Corso Italian - Scallop Risotto

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    Scallop Risotto

    Osteria da Nino - Chickpea fritters

    Osteria da Nino

    4.0(585 reviews)
    3.1 miShirlington
    $$

    Plenty of parking, this is located in Shirlington and there's both street and garage parking…read more Everyone was so pleasant and so nice and Nino was incredibly sweet and accommodating. He engaged us in conversation and showed us the big parmesan wheel and let us try it. He was so kind to us. The restaurant is quiet and I'm genuinely surprised at how quiet it was because the pasta here is the best pasta I've had since comong back from Tuscany. I got the special of the fettuccine pasta in the parm wheel tableside. My friends got gnocchi, the bolognese and carbonara. All delicious butbthe fettuccine was so good. I definitely plan on coming back, it was absolutely delicious.

    The food and ambiance of this place is absolutely wonderful and they have a great happy hour with…read morewonderful food specials. We received some free focaccia and pesto on the side. I ordered the mushroom ravioli, which was wonderful and my friends ordered other varieties of pasta dishes. I would definitely come back for a happy hour at some point. The issue for this place was the service. Some of my friends who were sharing received their eggplant Parmesan quickly but then none of our food came out and they already finished their meal and we still didn't receive our food. There was little to no apology and we weren't even offered any extra bread even to compensate us. They did have a large party and places are understaffed, but we could have been checked up on, even for a minute. Overall, I'd come back for happy hour, but not for dinner.

    Photos
    Osteria da Nino - Most of our plates with the exception of our desserts. Bon appétit :)

    Most of our plates with the exception of our desserts. Bon appétit :)

    Osteria da Nino - Amazing!!!!

    Amazing!!!!

    Osteria da Nino - Delicious panna cota

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    Delicious panna cota

    Landini Brothers - Penne alla Romana

    Landini Brothers

    3.7(767 reviews)
    0.6 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$$

    4/4/26 The menu…read moreleans classic, with mixed execution. The Tortellini in Brodo, filled with veal and Parmesan, arrives in a traditional homemade chicken broth that feels comforting yet ultimately lands at an average note, lacking depth. In contrast, the Calamari Fritti is a standout--perfectly fried, delicately crisp, and notably tender. The Suprema di Pollo con Mozzarella offers pleasant flavors of butter, lemon, and chardonnay, though the chicken veers slightly overcooked. More successful is the Piccatine al Limone, where milk-fed veal is bright and balanced with citrus and wine. A special of linguine with scallops on the shell rounds things out nicely, delivering a satisfying, well-executed finish.

    As local Old Town residents we've been walking to Landini's for years, oftentimes 3-4 times a week,…read morefor drop-in cocktails and dinners. It's always been our favorite spot, not just for us but also to recommend to visitors. However, in the last couple of months we've seen that many of our all-time favorites (Tammy and Tommy, most notably) have apparently been "let go" after years and years of loyal service. Not only are we heartbroken, but their loss is evident in the decline in service seen across the restaurant and bar. Truly, if Susan weren't still there I'm not sure we would have kept coming back in the last few months. Additionally, we've been bringing our now 10-month-old daughter to Landini's since she was born; she made her first visit at just 8 days old, and it was a celebration for us: our new daughter, our family, celebrating her arrival in our favorite spot in Old Town. However, we were told just the other night that we are no longer "allowed" to be at the bar with her--in her carrier, as an infant (and myself as a breast-feeding mother, no less)--due to new rules/policies implemented by the new management. Keep in mind that this is the same management who made the brilliant choice to fire many of the best people at Landini's (and also we have gathered that this new management was taken from the Cheesecake Factory...seriously???). No other restaurant in all of Old Town has this issue, and I think it's unlikely that we return to Landini's. By firing excellent and loyal staff, jacking up the price of entrees and drinks exorbitantly, and making it so that (local!) families no longer feel comfortable and welcome at a decades-old family-run establishment...needless to say, I hope it's worth it for those at the top of the pyramid and that they're happy with their Cheesecake Factory-level of service.

    Photos
    Landini Brothers - Luca Room

    Luca Room

    Landini Brothers - Tortellini alla Panna

    Tortellini alla Panna

    Landini Brothers - L'APERITIVO under same section as being complimentary

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    L'APERITIVO under same section as being complimentary

    Thompson Italian - italian - Updated May 2026

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