Italian food is so popular in this country that pizza and lasagna are arguably just as American as apple pie. But beyond the traditional favorites, there is a world of challenging and inspiring Italian cuisine out there—from Tuscan white bean soups to Sicilian gelato. From the mountainous North to the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Italian cuisine has a range of regional flavors—and as the seasons change, so do the ingredients and the dishes. DC’s best Italian restaurants do just the same, and so within this narrow restaurant category, there is an immense range of flavors and styles. We invite you to sample them all!
MAESTRO 1700 Tysons Boulevard McLean, VA 22102 703-821-1515
Chef Fabio Trabocchi is the culinary maestro behind Tyson Corner’s Ritz-Carlton restaurant. He leads a staff of cooks (all equipped with headsets) that compose Maestro’s open kitchen—perhaps one of the most orderly, calming kitchens in the world. He is also the mastermind behind Maestro’s menu, which is divided into four themes: La Creazione (a tasting menu), La Tradizione (traditional fare), L'Evoluzione (a sort of adventurous fusion with European and Asian flavors) and I Colori dell'Orto (“the colors of the garden”). Sample from more than one section, or stick to what you know—but rest assured that you will leave Maestro delighted and sated. This elegant Italian dining room has won awards and star reviews from everyone who’s had the pleasure. You simply can’t go wrong.
Estimated cost per person: $100–150
TWO AMYS 3715 Macomb Street NW Washington, DC 20016 202-885-5700
There are a couple unpleasant things about 2 Amys, it must be said. They don’t take reservations, and it is often overrun with unruly children. But foodies can be parents too, and some things are worth waiting for. So suck it up, cause the pizzas that come out of this restaurant’s brick, wood-burning ovens are simply out of this world (metaphorically)… and from Naples (literally). 2 Amys serves “authentic” Neapolitan pizza—thin, puffy, light, fresh—that has been approved by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association, the Italian organization that protects and promotes traditional Neapolitan pizza. And while you can’t miss out on 2 Amys’ “pizzes,” the rest of the menu—which includes a fine selection of salads, cheeses, and desserts—is worth sampling as well.
Estimated cost per person: $15–20
RISTORANTE TOSCA 1112 F Street NW Washington, DC 20004 202-367-1990
Some might describe the décor of Ristorante Tosca as modern, sleek, upscale… I would describe it as beige. This is the perfect spot for a business lunch or a pre-theatre dinner—and not just because of its Penn Quarter location. With its stiff, high-backed chairs; tables placed a comfortable distance from each other; and lunch and pre-theatre tasting menus, Ristorante Tosca is the downtown, white tablecloth Italian restaurant. The ristorante is a relative newcomer to Washington, but Chef Cesare Lanfranconi (previously of Galileo) has won the town over with his adventurous Lombardian cuisine. The menu—which features organic, seasonal, Northern Italian ingredients—moves beyond grandma’s recipes, delighting patrons with handmade ravioli and decadent desserts. So often Tosca’s diners are in a rush to get back to the firm or on to the show, but this is food worth savoring.
Estimated cost per person: $40–50
IL PIZZICO 15209 Frederick Road Rockville, MD 20850 301-309-0610
I’ve tried to explain to more than one Rockville native where Il Pizzico is located, and repeatedly get confused expressions and “where?!”s. The truth is you’d hardly expect such high-quality Italian fare to come from dark suburban strip mall… and yet it does. Il Pizzico (meaning “the pinch”) offers traditional, reasonably priced dishes from all over Italy, although the chef and owner Enzo Livia is Sicilian. Simple and delicious entrées are served in a modest dining room with homey decorations—and the small dining space fills up quickly. The dinner menu is divided into La Pasta, Il Pesce, and La Carne, but Il Pizzico’s true strength is its pastas. Never mind if you believe you can make a mean tagliatelle at home; yours can’t be anywhere near as delicious.
Estimated cost per person: $25–35
NOTTI BIANCHE 824 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington, DC 20037 202-298-8085
This lovely Italian trattoria, which translates to “white nights,” is located in the George Washington University Inn. Situated so close to the Kennedy Center, it is a pre-symphony hotspot. Italian cinema posters hang on orange walls, and the smallish dining area is crowded with tables—each one adorned with a potted herb. The executive chef, Anthony Chittum, is a young and exciting cook, and is also the man behind Dish, George Washington University Inn’s American restaurant. On his honeymoon in Italy, Chittum also fell in love with the flavors of Italian cooking—and his wife Heather, the pastry chef at Notti Bianche, offers some of the best dolci in DC. Take a Roman escapade of you own in Washington’s West End.
Estimated cost per person: $35–45
OBELISK 2029 P Street NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 872-1180
Hours: Tues–Sat: 6pm–9:30 pm
Obelisk is all about quiet elegance. The narrow dining room seats fewer than 50, and you may have to wait up to a month to earn your spot. But once you arrive, count on head chef Peter Pastan to floor you with his seasonal, fresh, ever-changing five-course menu. Obelisk opened as a haven for unassuming, dressed-down foodies to enjoy haute cuisine in jeans. The dress code may have gone up over the years, but the staff is still unpretentious and polite, and the atmosphere remains quite cozy. In this Dupont Circle townhouse, you will find perhaps the finest Northern Italian cuisine DC has to offer.
Amici Miei, “my friends,” is the neighborhood eatery that every resident dreams of. Normally I’d be hard-pressed to put any Potomac restaurant on a best of list for Washington, DC—but then I had the ristorante’s Costolette d’Agnello alla Grilia: grilled lamb chops with a red wine and raisin sauce. Head chef Davide Megna, formerly from Chevy Chase’s Arucola, combines his knowledge of Piedmont cuisine with Sardinian Roberto Deias’ management savvy to create a family-friendly, top-notch restaurant. The atmosphere is casual and the food elegant, and Amici Miei succeeds in drawing locals and downtown visitors into suburban Potomac Woods Plaza for a fine Italian meal.
Estimated cost per person: $15–25
PIZZERIA PARADISO 2029 P Street NW Washington, DC 20036 202-223-1245
3282 M Street NW Washington, DC 20007 202-337-1245
In 1991, Pizzeria Paradiso introduced Washington, DC to gourmet pizza. Since then, it has had to rival 2 Amys for the best pie in town—but both serve superlative Neapolitan pizza. The Dupont Circle location of Pizzeria Paradiso is the original—comfortably located in a townhouse, often with lines coming out the door. Only 35 lucky patrons get to dine here at a time, and though it’s often crowded, keep in mind that you aren’t paying much for this spectacular meal. A stone, domed, wood-burning oven at the center of the restaurant makes the whole place warm and inviting, although those wanting a bit more room to stretch out may prefer the newer Georgetown location. In both neighborhoods, a thin yeasty crust and fresh ingredients are what makes these pizzas so memorable. Buon appetito!
Estimated cost per person: $10–15
SETTE OSTERIA 1666 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20009 202-483-3070
If you’re looking for the best late-night Italian, there’s no question: Sette Osteria is what you want. If you’re looking for the best place to chow down on pasta and pizza and people-watch, again there’s no question: Sette Osteria is what you’re after. The huge windows at this Italian trattoria look out onto the hubbub of Connecticut Avenue in Dupont Circle, and in warmer months, the patio opens up for patrons to dine al fresco. Opened by Franco Nuschese, the man behind the ritzy Café Milano in Georgetown, Sette Osteria is a bit more down-to-earth with its bare wood tables and classic décor. But this is certainly where the beautiful people come to dine. Sette, or “seven,” really is a lucky number.
Estimated cost per person: $15–25
TEATRO GOLDONI 1909 K Street NW Washington, DC 20006 202-955-9494
You’ve got to hand it to ‘em: it is dramatic. With striped and harlequin columns, chairs draped in rich fabric, and mesmerizing chandeliers, Teatro Goldoni’s décor is a feast for the eyes—even it isn’t quite your taste. This K Street restaurant is teeming with suits during the day, all taking advantage of its fabulous lunch-time deal, and at night in turns into a romantic hotspot for a special occasion. Chef Fabrizio Aielli offers fabulous Venetian cuisine, and the seafood is the highlight of this menu. Also worth mentioning is the wine list; not only is it extensive, but everything is available by the glass. By the end of a meal here, you’ll surely be feeling amorous.
The Top List of Best Italian - Washington, D.C.