Recommend your favorite Italian restaurant!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

I am a local and I will defend DC a lot but not on the lack of good Italian food.

I second Acqua al 2. Been three times, always great. Pasta sampler is amazing as is the porter house special. I also like Assaggi in Bethesda and they have a real kids menu including pasta, fish, etc.

There are new few new Italian restaurants on 14th Street too.

[Anonymous]

+3 Acqua al 2.

Some of you guys have recommended some really crappy restaurants!

[Anonymous]

Also, Fiola is excellent but high end.

[Anonymous]

In NYC, Frank Restaurant in the East Village is pretty great: http://www.frankrestaurant.com/

[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).

Why is this the case? I am almost always disappointed when I eat out in Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Fiola and Dino are great. I also like tosca. Most other places are chicken parm crap. Might as well go to maggiano's!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

Why is this the case? I am almost always disappointed when I eat out in Georgetown.

Look at the people who hang out there. They don't know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

Why is this the case? I am almost always disappointed when I eat out in Georgetown.

Look at the people who hang out there. They don't know better.

I did look at them and then I wondered if they ever eat at all. I guess they just aren't into food? Just a glass of white wine and a nibble here or there.

A few more options would be nice for times when we need to eat there (before/after events).

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Dino. They have wonderful olives that we have searched high and low to buy.

[Anonymous]

Acqua al 2. Hands down.

[Anonymous]

DeCarlo's in AU Park
Assaggi in Bethesda
Amici Miei in Potomac

[Anonymous]

Acqua al 2 and Tosca.

[Anonymous]

Fiola is great but very expensive. New place near 11th and Penn called Elisir is also wonderful. The chef was formerly at Teatro Goldoni on K Street, which was decent, but Elisir is better. Agree with PP who said that most of the restaurants mentioned above are awful.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown is getting a Fiola

[Anonymous]

I like ottos and giano in the village