Best Italian?

[Anonymous]

Where is the best Italian in DC? Cost is not important. ambience is! Preferably no kids allowed! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Pines of Rome in Bethesda is the best Italian around but kids are certainly welcome. Don't know of a good one that won't allow children.

[Anonymous]

If you mean authentic, high quality, I give the nod to Tosca on F St downtown. Never seen a kid in there - doesn't mean they're not allowed of course, but it's not a location that is conducive to that. I would have said Gallileo a couple years ago but I haven't been impressed with the new one.

[Anonymous]

I am real high on the new Casa Nonna just south of Dupont Circle.

[Anonymous]

Obelisk! It is still open, right ...

[Anonymous]

Fiola - just opened downtown. Former Chef of Maestro.

[Anonymous]

I think Tosca is very good, but since you asked about ambience I would just warn you that the ambience is blah (I guess you could generously describe it as understated).

I have heard good things about Obelisk and (more recently) Bibiana but haven't tried either yet. A little lower down the price range, Dino's is very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am real high on the new Casa Nonna just south of Dupont Circle.

I agree. DH and I just went there on Saturday and we both thought it was really good. Classic Italian food and the garlic bread was to die for. Service was good, too.

[Anonymous]

Obelisk is excellent.

In general, every time we go out to eat there are kids around. We went to one of the nicest restaurants in DC and our meal was disrupted by children. We now ask to be seated away from children. (We explain nicely that we are out on a rare night without our own).

[Anonymous]

Classic Italian food and the garlic bread was to die for. S

Garlic bread is not actually classic in Italy. It's an American thing.

Is OP looking for authentic "best" Italian or does "best" mean the most flavorful, or something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Classic Italian food and the garlic bread was to die for. S

Garlic bread is not actually classic in Italy. It's an American thing.

Is OP looking for authentic "best" Italian or does "best" mean the most flavorful, or something else.

That's true - I stand corrected. It was still really good.

I would also add that Casa Nonna is not a fancy place and there were kids there when we went. But the food was REALLY good.

[Anonymous]

Fiola is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Tosca is very good, but since you asked about ambience I would just warn you that the ambience is blah (I guess you could generously describe it as understated).

I have heard good things about Obelisk and (more recently) Bibiana but haven't tried either yet. A little lower down the price range, Dino's is very good.

have been to bibiana 2x and have not been impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Tosca is very good, but since you asked about ambience I would just warn you that the ambience is blah (I guess you could generously describe it as understated).

I have heard good things about Obelisk and (more recently) Bibiana but haven't tried either yet. A little lower down the price range, Dino's is very good.

have been to bibiana 2x and have not been impressed.

Me neither.

[Anonymous]

Op here-thanks! I want authentic Italian. I have spent a lot of time in Italy and craving it like crazy. The only reason I don't want kids around is because I work with them. It seems everytime I am at dinner, it never fails to have one seated right next to me.