Olazzo or Lia’s. My kids are obsessed with the food at Lia’s and they have a very cute kids menu with fun kids desserts. They even have a dog menu for the patio.

I'm Eddie Cano -- the menu is divided between Italian-American dishes and Italian-Italian dishes (you know what I mean). The only thing is that I'm not sure you can reserve a table, so you'll want to go on the early side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a family coming into town with kids 7-11 age range. They like Italian food - where should I take them in the Bethesda/Nova (willing to travel) area where there is excellent food and has a good environment for kids.


So many Italian restaurants to choose from hence recommendations appreciated. Looking for good chicken parm for kids and Cesar salad.

Hate to be THAT poster: Chicken Parm and Caesar salad are not Italian dishes, so you can’t find a really good Italian restaurant that serves those. Old school trattoria/red sauce joint that is decent and family friendly, yeah.

Thank you. It’s my pet peeve that Americans don’t know what Italian food is.

We can add meatballs to that. My pet peeve is "Italians" talking about what is and what is not authentic Italian when nobody has stepped foot in Europe in several generations.

I'm first generation Italian-American and I've been travelling to Italy since I was 8 years old. I spend one to two months there a year now. Meatballs (polpette) are indeed a dish in Italy. Meatballs are believed to have originated in Persia (Kofta) and brought to the Roman Empire. You can find different types of polpette in Italy.

Now, spaghetti and meatballs is an Italian-American classic! Most cuisines evolve when immigrants transport them to new lands. Even in Italy, the food has evolved a lot in the last 20 years.

Anonymous wrote:I love sflogina but it’s pretty expensive if you are looking for chicken parm and Caesar salad (which I don’t even know that they have).

They have a Caesar, but no chicken parm. That it's expensive was my first thought too, and I'm not a penny-pincher. Whenever I go with my family it's always a little jarring to get the bill.

Heard good things about primi piati at wildwood in bethesda but haven’t been yet.

I love sflogina but it’s pretty expensive if you are looking for chicken parm and Caesar salad (which I don’t even know that they have).

I'm Eddie Cano or Sfoglina.

Olive Garden.

Anonymous wrote:I see lots of kids at Sfoglina, Van Ness.

I came here to say this. It’s nice so it’s not little kid vibes but I’d take a well behaved 6-7yo or older

Olazzo

Mamma Lucia.

They are very family friendly with decent food.

Stracci Pizza in Del Ray. Romantic but also very kid/baby-friendly. I am Italian American and can vouch it is really good food.

Anonymous wrote:Caruso’s Italian Grocery

Best red sauce, old school Italian food (slightly updated) I’ve had in DC. Nice atmosphere too and excellent service. Fun spot

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a family coming into town with kids 7-11 age range. They like Italian food - where should I take them in the Bethesda/Nova (willing to travel) area where there is excellent food and has a good environment for kids.


So many Italian restaurants to choose from hence recommendations appreciated. Looking for good chicken parm for kids and Cesar salad.

Hate to be THAT poster: Chicken Parm and Caesar salad are not Italian dishes, so you can’t find a really good Italian restaurant that serves those. Old school trattoria/red sauce joint that is decent and family friendly, yeah.

Thank you. It’s my pet peeve that Americans don’t know what Italian food is.

We can add meatballs to that. My pet peeve is "Italians" talking about what is and what is not authentic Italian when nobody has stepped foot in Europe in several generations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a family coming into town with kids 7-11 age range. They like Italian food - where should I take them in the Bethesda/Nova (willing to travel) area where there is excellent food and has a good environment for kids.


So many Italian restaurants to choose from hence recommendations appreciated. Looking for good chicken parm for kids and Cesar salad.

Hate to be THAT poster: Chicken Parm and Caesar salad are not Italian dishes, so you can’t find a really good Italian restaurant that serves those. Old school trattoria/red sauce joint that is decent and family friendly, yeah.

Thank you. It’s my pet peeve that Americans don’t know what Italian food is.