When there is hype around a restaurant you wonder if the buzz is real. We were able to get a reservation and the hype is authentic. The pasta is outstanding and the service is better than expected. We really enjoyed the Caesar salad which had a crunchy dusting of croton particles. One of the best Caesar salads in the area. We finished the meal off with a slice of their famous olive oil cake. Very unique with slight salty taste accompanied by sweet raisins at the base of the slice. Looking forward to our next visit. Great restaurant and worth the hype. read more

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It's a cute spot in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I came here on a Wednesday evening to celebrate my brother's birthday, and the place was definitely busy--the bar was full and most of the tables were occupied. They offer a solid menu with weekday specials and discounts, which is a plus. We started with appetizers: the Caesar salad was good, but the meatballs were a miss. They came in a white sauce instead of the traditional red, were very small, and lacked flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the rigatoni. It looked great and arrived hot, but the flavor just wasn't there. The pasta was slightly chewy and not quite al dente. I added cracked pepper and ate some, but ended up taking most of it home hoping it might improve with a little extra seasoning the next day. My brother had the chicken parmigiana, and my sister ordered the branzino--both said their meals were just okay. None of us were particularly impressed. That said, the restaurant has strong reviews, so this may have just been an off night. One last note: please turn up the lights. The dim, moody lighting might be trendy, but at 7 PM on a weekday--especially with a crowd that's largely over 40--it just felt too dark. When guests are using their phone flashlights to read the menu, it's a bit much. Overall, a decent experience, but not one that wowed us. read more

Thompson Italian - RIGATONI - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Bar none the best Italian food in the area! Up front: This isn't Maggiano's or Carrabba's, you're not going to pay relatively little for three meals worth of food. What you are going get though is the best Italian you've had in a long, long time. I'm honestly not sure how I haven't reviewed Thompson before, it's been a staple in our rotation ever since it opened. We're always found the service to be understated but effective (most recently Daniel). Never had any issues, whether we had questions or already knew what we wanted and were ready to order from the moment we sat down. If you end up eating at the bar when it's busy though, just know that the bartender will be busy handling drinks so getting a check may take a couple minutes! Speaking of the bar, make sure you peruse the drinks menu and try something new. The bartenders here are constantly creating new cocktail options, and I've yet to not enjoy one that I've tried. At the moment they have a riff on an old fashioned that is served warm, and went down real smooth on a cold evening. As far as the food goes, this is higher end Italian at its best. The pasta is always made and cooked to perfection, and while there are a couple of standards that stick around, the menu evolves constantly (in a good way). Currently loving the braised chicken ragu gnocchi, which hits like chicken pot pie filling with gnocchi in all the right ways. Also a fan of anything they serve with pappardelle, like the cocoa braised wild boar, which included whole chunks of roasted apples for little hits of acid to offset the rich boar. Portion sizes aren't huge, but the food is rich and you're going to want to get an appetizer/salad and dessert, so it works out perfectly. Speaking of which, whatever you do make sure to save room for dessert! Olive Oil Cake is the staple for which they are rightfully well known, it's a real standout. I'll admit though that I'm partial to the riffs on tiramisu that they usually have. Everything from lemon in the spring/summer to pumpkin in the fall, and they're all delicious. They will often also have some sort of parfait and/or tapioca pudding, and the eggnog tapioca pudding they had for Christmas this year was beyond fantastic with just the right mix of eggnog spices, creaminess, chew from the tapioca, tartness from infused cranberries, and crispiness from some toasted rice cereal on top. Honestly one of the best desserts I've had in years. All of this takes place in a classic Old Town space: a dim but charming converted row-house, perfect for a romantic meal or getting together with family or friends (note that the main level only seats 2 and 4 tops, but there seems to be an upstairs space that can seat larger parties). Overall, highly, highly recommended for high-end Italian! read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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

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! read more

Thompson Italian - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Thompson Italian has all the ingredients of a solid restaurant -- romantic vibes, lots of carby and wine goodness, plus warm service. I am a fan of their Falls Church location and was happy to see them thriving in Old Town. I love their garlic bread -- it's so simple but they make it absolutely phenomenal. Gnocci is insane and their olive cake is a must. read more

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. read more

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We have been here a few times - for dinner, Monday night pasta specials, and wine tasting evenings. The entree menu changes often, which we like since there is always something new to try. The pasta entrees are on the smaller side so recommend ordering an extra entree or also an appetizer and a dessert. My favorite item on the menu is the olive oil cake. It is so special and hard to find on other Italian menus. I request it for my birthday! The service is always on point. We love the outdoor patio, and the new wine tasting events are a great way to attract new visitors. read more

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. read more

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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.

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. read more

Thompson Italian - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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!!! read more

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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 read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

Thompson Italian - Chocolate budino - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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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. read more

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

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Went here for drinks; was highly pleased. Excellent cocktails served by pleasant bar staff. Happy hour prices are great. Highly recommend read more

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After coming here once, I would come back but for cocktails specifically, not for food. We got the squid ink bucatini and rigatoni which were both great but not what I would come back for. They serve free bread which I love but the stars were the cocktails. They have a selection of unique house flavored cocktails: on Thursday it's $10 olive martinis which I enjoyed even though I'm usually gin over vodka. My husband got the breadwinner and it was smoky and fruity read more

I have been to Thompson Italian in Old Town many times now and love it every time. The ambiance there is great, and I love that they change their menu seasonally and keep things fresh - it keeps me coming back regularly. Great ambiance and amazing pasta. The rigatoni is a staple but I also really love the mushroom gnocchi. We went for restaurant week most recently and really enjoyed the fixed menu. The arancini were yummy and the whipped ricotta salad was so interesting and delicious. The drinks were different and refreshing and the olive oil cake literally took the cake, it was so delicious. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Best gluten free noodles I've ever had in a restaurant! Perfect texture! I substituted them in the Spaghetti Alla Chitara, it was fresh and robust with a hint of spice. Yum! Calm and vibey bar is the perfect place to unwind after a long day or get your evening started. Helpful and welcoming staff rounded out a wonderful experience. read more

Very cozy, warm, and dimly lit restaurant. You can tell from the start that it's going to be authentic - especially with some of the staff speaking Italian! We started with the spicy pork meatballs. For me, I would skip this one as it just tasted like normal spicy sausage you get at the store. The focaccia bread was SO pillowy and soft, and the olive oil you dip it in was so flavorful. For mains, we got the rigatoni bolognese and the ricotta cavatelli. The bolognese was amazing! Very authentic, unlike the American red sauce versions. The cavatelli was soft and fresh. Definitely plan on coming back to try more of their dishes. This is the authentic Italian food I've been looking for! read more

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Lovely restaurant however we ordered the special lasagna and we're up all night with gas and stomach issues. It look like it was previously frozen as the top was burnt. There was no cheese pull and way too much pasta. Also the service sucked being all the way on the top floor. We had to walk down to the front on the 1st floor to pay. $145 down the toilet read more

One of the best restaurants in Old Town! We've tried several of their entries and have enjoyed them all. They also have a great kids menu (it comes with pasta, French fries, and carrot sticks) and the staff are super nice and very accommodating to children. read more

One word: WOW. kind of a hidden spot and we decided to give it a try. Everything was SO good. all pasta was handmade. I got the mushroom gnocchi and it was so so fresh. Service was amazing, they were so patient and knew the menu like the back of their hand. We sat outside on the patio and it was a great atmosphere. I will be back! read more

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Great pasta and good service, but the portions are really small. The pasta is cooked perfectly, with a fantastic chew (no dried pasta here). We got the ricotta cavatelli and the rigotoni and the sauces for both were perfect. We also got the strawberry salad with straciatella, which sounded odd on paper but the flavors worked really well. It was all good, but if we hadn't had a German pretzel an hour before at a beer garden, we would've been absolutely starving. It's kinda of like, you couldn't have thrown in a few more leaves in the salad? I feel like its main competitors are Sfoglina, RPM Italian, and Caruso's Grocery and while the first two are not exactly known for big portions (we often order three pastas at Sfoglina), the apps are hefty, such that two apps (or even one) + two mains are enough food. Not so here (though foccacia bread is complimentary). I will say Caruso's Grocery reigns supreme--they don't skimp there even if prices are on par. read more

This was my first time and I had the pappardelle with beef. I didn't like it but the fried Brussel sprouts were the best I've had in a while and the Arancini was good. Also my friend raves about the chicken Parmesan and lasagna on Tuesday only so I will try it again. Atmosphere is great for date night. read more

Best handmade pasta I've had outside of Italy in a long long time. I could go on (the salads are amazing too), but the pastas are heaven. My family and I went there for Mother's Day brunch after reading some positive reviews. I went rogue and ordered a dinner pasta for brunch, and lemme tell ya that was the right call. My husband and I have been to tons of Michelin restaurants all throughout Italy and NYC, and this spot can stand proudly next to them, but has a local restaurant/ family favorite kind of vibe (and price structure). That's almost impossible to do. Bellisimo Thompson Italian. I'll be back. read more

Order the Cavatelli and the apple bread pudding. The sautéed leeks, crisp herbs, caramelized radicchio and hearty sausage in the dish was absolute perfection. Apple bread pudding was served with a flourish and had the dreamiest contrast of textures. The pecan whiskey gelato was a perfect accompaniment with giant pecan chunks and a nice bite from the alcohol. Salad was nice, but given how wonderful the execution was on that pasta, I do wish I had picked a more adventurous veggie dish. Service at the bar was prompt but somewhat unfriendly. Wait staff bringing out the food were great. To be fair I was 90 minutes before closing...but at Thompson's price point I shouldn't be having to flag folks down, someone should check in once during my meal and I should have been offered water. read more

Food was so good! And totally worth the trip as it is in the heart of Old Town. Got the burrata for the app and it was delicious. Only wished the focaccia was more crispy? Also got the Gemelli (braised osso bucco pasta ragu) paired with a Pinot Nero. The sauce was ragu -like , tomato based with shredded delicate osso bucco bites. Finished with a ton of fresh black pepper. Perhaps the best were between the warm slightly sweet olive oil cake, and nutty pistachio ice cream. I would 1000% come back! Service was also swift, prompt and attentive. The vibe was definitely more laid back and mature, but not unapproachable. They had a dinner promo where it was wine+pasta was around 30$ I think? Which is honestly a steal! read more

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Old Town is so lucky to have Thompson Italian on their food scene! Their bar is my absolute favorite place in Old Town Alexandria to come for dinner and drinks. Their menu changes seasonally- they usually have a fabulous rendition/combo of Burrata and a roasted vegetable. I like to start off with a couple of starters and then go for their seasonal Ragu (most recently it was lamb) and then their gnocchi! The raviolis we've tried have been incredible too. The spring 2024 fresh lemon ricotta one was noteworthy. Their starters are definitely the tastiest in old town for sure. Yes the garlic bread is going to cost you $6, but it's worth it for sure. (Sorry you aren't at the Olive Garden anymore :p) We love sitting with our favorite bartender, Kat! She is so knowledgeable with wine selections and also is so fun to talk to! read more

Thompson Italian - Ragu and gnocchi! Fall 2024 - Italian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Had a great time here! Came on a sunday night around 8pm and it was lively but not overcrowded. Food: split three pastas with my husband, which was perfect amount of food. Pasta portions are on smaller side because it is supposed to be higher quality homemade pasta. I liked everything we got. Drinks: olive oil martini was great. Very smooth going down that i think i got two. Vibe: it kind if has a farm to table vibe. The walls were painted a darker color. Seems like a good date spot or for girls night. Service: our server was attentive and knew a lot about the menu. read more

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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.

Attended a private event with a buffet of their go tos sort to speak. Amazing everything. Best Italian in DC area. Make a reservation early and just go. read more

Very nice cozy place Excellent prep and wait staff. It IS noisy, but food makes up for the noise. If you yearn for "quiet " eat in/at the bar. I have grown up in Alexandria and would rate it easily in the top three & the best Italian. read more

As an Italian, I can say the food was okay, nothing more: small portions, decent taste, and overpriced for what it was. Our visit overall was just average in terms of food and ambiance, but the way we were rushed out completely ruined the experience. We were told to leave because "someone was waiting for the table," even though the restaurant had several empty tables. We stepped outside and continued our conversation, and not a single person walked in to take the table we were supposedly holding up. If you want to call yourself an Italian restaurant, you should honor the culture you're representing. In Italy, we take pride in giving guests the best possible experience: never pushing them out while they're still enjoying their evening, especially when there is clearly no one waiting. This was disappointing and far from the hospitality we expected, particularly because the table wasn't needed at all. Never again. And honestly, after this experience, it became very clear why the restaurant was so empty. read more

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