Recommend your favorite Italian restaurant!

[Anonymous]

Il Canale in Georgetown is good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd is moving to NYC -- and she said she couldn't find a good Italian restaurant there...where did you go?

In Georgetown, we like Ristorante Piccolo and Paper Moon across the street. Both have good food. We also like I Ricchi in Dupont Circle. I don't know suburban restaurents here sorry.

Your daughter couldn't find a good Italian restaurant in NEW YORK CITY? Has she tried Little Italy, or Staten Island? Huge numbers of Italians there. We had dinner with Italian friends last summer in New York and they recommended Da Nico in Little Italy so that's where we went. It was delicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Despite the lackluster service, Al Dente (by crazy Roberto Donna) is very, very good.

+1. I forgot to mention Al Dente. The food is awesome. We've only had great service there (been there 3 times).

[Anonymous]

Cristina in Wheaton.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Al Dente. Chef Donna is just managing the kitchen now and not the business.

Dino's is great especially for kids since they have one of the best value kids menus, pay one dollar per year of child's age and pick three courses.

Haven't been to Tosca in a while since no occasion to get down there with kids now, but they also used to have a pre-theatre deal which was an exceptionally good value.

Haven't been yet, but Fabio Trabocchi formerly of Maestro in Tyson's Corner now has a new restaurant in Penn Quater which should be exceptional if even a fraction as good as Maestro was.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in Italy so quite picky, but Al Dente and Dino are good and I have heard great things about Fiola.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely love Filomena. I go there all the time. I also like Al Dente and have heard great things about Fiola like the PP. In Old Town, I love Landini Brothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd is moving to NYC -- and she said she couldn't find a good Italian restaurant there...where did you go?

In Georgetown, we like Ristorante Piccolo and Paper Moon across the street. Both have good food. We also like I Ricchi in Dupont Circle. I don't know suburban restaurents here sorry.

She can't find good Italian in NYC, and yet you think Piccolo and Paper Moon are good? I don't even know where to begin. Your perception of what is "good" Italian food is completely backwards. Piccolo and Paper Moon are horrific tourist-trap fleabags - perhaps the only worse Italian food in DC is found at the execrable Filomena's. Seriously, people, it's not 1995 anymore. (On a broader note, you can count the good restaurants in Georgetown on one hand, with fingers left over.)

OP, sadly, there's very little good Italian in DC. Dino's is fine, and I remember liking Notte Benne in Foggy Bottom years ago - don't know if it's still good. Palena is high-end and very good, Palena Cafe is casual and very good as well. And the newish Maple in Columbia Heights is good (though it has a small menu).

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Dino. I also like Maple (mentioned by one of the PPs). I liked Tosca that only time I went there (special occasion) but was seriously not impressed with I Ricci either time I went there.

I used to get lunch at Otello's on Connecticut just south of Dupont when I was feeling blue and like I needed to have carbs. I thought it was lovely and comforting, though I wouldn't call it haute cuisine and can't really speak to its authenticity.

[Anonymous]

Just took a look at the entry for Dino on Open Table. On dinner menu under Local Crab the first item listed is "Crap and Pork Meatball in Tuscan Bacon". Hahahaha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forgot to note that my friends from Italy/Sisley frequent:

Cafe Oggi (McLean)
Esposito's (Oakton)

I think the owner is the same (and from Italy). Esposito's is pretty good, so Oggi must be the same if not a little nicer.

That has to be because of the owner and their charm. The food is classic mediocre at Espositos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is moving to NYC -- and she said she couldn't find a good Italian restaurant there...where did you go?

In Georgetown, we like Ristorante Piccolo and Paper Moon across the street. Both have good food. We also like I Ricchi in Dupont Circle. I don't know suburban restaurents here sorry.

She can't find good Italian in NYC, and yet you think Piccolo and Paper Moon are good? I don't even know where to begin. Your perception of what is "good" Italian food is completely backwards. Piccolo and Paper Moon are horrific tourist-trap fleabags - perhaps the only worse Italian food in DC is found at the execrable Filomena's. Seriously, people, it's not 1995 anymore. (On a broader note, you can count the good restaurants in Georgetown on one hand, with fingers left over.)

OP, sadly, there's very little good Italian in DC. Dino's is fine, and I remember liking Notte Benne in Foggy Bottom years ago - don't know if it's still good. Palena is high-end and very good, Palena Cafe is casual and very good as well. And the newish Maple in Columbia Heights is good (though it has a small menu).

Agree wholeheartedly.

hopefully while in NYC your DD will learn what good Italian is!!

[Anonymous]

My favorite restaurant in all of DC is Acqua al 2. My grandma is from Florence and we went to the original one there the last time we visted her. The one in DC was just as good and I LOVE that they have real Florence style steaks. I have looked everywhere and I don't think there is another Italian restaurant in DC that serves them as authentically as at Acqua. I am making myself hungry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just spent a weekend in NYC, and ate in a very good Italian restaurant. So far we were not lucky with Italian food in DC area. Would you please recommend your favorite Italian restaurants in our area?
TIA!

What exactly are your standards for "very good Italian food"?

[Anonymous]

Ummm, my daughter and I aren't connected at the hip. She is moving to NYC, not me. I have no idea of what restaurants are there nor does she. That is why I asked OP which one she liked there.

Again, I'm not my DD. I like Ristorante Piccolo and Paper Moon and think Filomenas and Il Canale are terrible. That is my 2 cents. You may differ...it's a free country. But, don't assume someone's dd is just like them...we're not alike.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is moving to NYC -- and she said she couldn't find a good Italian restaurant there...where did you go?

In Georgetown, we like Ristorante Piccolo and Paper Moon across the street. Both have good food. We also like I Ricchi in Dupont Circle. I don't know suburban restaurents here sorry.

She can't find good Italian in NYC, and yet you think Piccolo and Paper Moon are good? I don't even know where to begin. Your perception of what is "good" Italian food is completely backwards. Piccolo and Paper Moon are horrific tourist-trap fleabags - perhaps the only worse Italian food in DC is found at the execrable Filomena's. Seriously, people, it's not 1995 anymore. (On a broader note, you can count the good restaurants in Georgetown on one hand, with fingers left over.)

OP, sadly, there's very little good Italian in DC. Dino's is fine, and I remember liking Notte Benne in Foggy Bottom years ago - don't know if it's still good. Palena is high-end and very good, Palena Cafe is casual and very good as well. And the newish Maple in Columbia Heights is good (though it has a small menu).