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

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.

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

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.

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 wrote:Pacci’s trattoria in silver spring

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

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

Pacci’s trattoria in silver spring

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.

Il pizzico in rockville

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.

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

https://www.carusosgrocery.com/pikeandrose

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.

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

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.