D.C.: Please suggest a "classic" Italian restaurant (i.e., not "modern Italian")

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for a good, classic italian restaurant in D.C. or suburbs. By classic I mean traditional dishes and recipes. My searches show, it seems, mostly "modern" Italian cuisine -- I'm not looking for that. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

is mamma mia still open- in potomac? its strip mall but it was really good and classic italian dishes. try that?

[Anonymous]

The only traditional Italian restaurants in this area closed permanently. One was in McLean, and the other one in Reston.
Sorry I can’t recommend any place at this time.

[Anonymous]

Caruso's Grocery in Pike and Rose is what you are looking for.

https://www.carusosgrocery.com/pikeandrose

[Anonymous]

By traditional do you mean southern Italian like Neapolitan ? Thats the traditional red sauce Italian. Other styles are also traditional but maybe different regions.

I like sfogljna.
Filomena is another option. Or Carmines.

[Anonymous]

Il pizzico in rockville

[Anonymous]

You can turn your home kitchen into the best restaurant. Get fresh cod, octopus, olives, spinach, tomatoes, basil, thyme, parsley, lemon, white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and prepare a classic Mediterranean dish.

[Anonymous]

Pacci’s trattoria in silver spring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Caruso's Grocery in Pike and Rose is what you are looking for.

https://www.carusosgrocery.com/pikeandrose

Original Caruso's is in SE DC at the Roost -- I have not been to the one at Pike and Rose but can recommend the DC location. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw your thread title. Here's some backstory on it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifetyle/food/carusos-grocery-restaurant-review/2021/07/15/d243a4ec-dfdb-11eb-b507-697762d090dd_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pacci’s trattoria in silver spring

There is also a Pacci's on Lincoln Park in Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Not sure what you mean by “traditional”— are you saying Tosca doesn’t count? Maybe I’m Eddie Cano is what you are looking for?

[Anonymous]

Baltimore or Philly. Seriously, DC does not have good Italian restaurants. I am Italian and I just made my own when I lived there. But it was even hard to find the right ingredients to do that because the Italian market/deli/bakery scene was also disappointing. In any case, I always thought that Il Canale in Georgetown was decent.

[Anonymous]

Another possibility is Grazie Nonna. I haven’t had their pasta though as I always get the pizza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore or Philly. Seriously, DC does not have good Italian restaurants. I am Italian and I just made my own when I lived there. But it was even hard to find the right ingredients to do that because the Italian market/deli/bakery scene was also disappointing. In any case, I always thought that Il Canale in Georgetown was decent.

How long ago did you live in DC -- this used to be true but now DC has a number of excellent Italian restaurants including Caruso's and Pacci's. Is Lupo Verde still open on 14th? There was another good Italian place on 14th a few years back but I know it closed.

Anyway yes there are more great Italian places in Philly for sure because of the huge Italian American presence there and Baltimore has a few great classic spots but DC absolutely has some gems and I'm guessing OP has a practical reason for asking for DC as opposed to going to a city an hour or more away.

[Anonymous]

Little Italy in Baltimore. Any of the restaurants and Vaccaro’s for dessert. Only reason left to go to B-more.