The D.C. area's best Italian food, according to local Italian Americans – The Washington Post
“Good quality of food and [good] relations — that’s what Italian culture is about, and the food reflects it,” she says.
As the weather cools, it’s tempting to cozy up with a bowl of good pasta or a hearty steak Florentine, and while Washington may not have a Little Italy, that doesn’t mean you can’t find delicious Italian cuisine in the area. I spoke to four Italian Americans living in the D.C. metro area for their recommendations on where to find the best fresh-sliced prosciutto, thin-crust pizza and more. Here are their picks.
1316 Ninth St. NW, sanlorenzodc.com
Recommended by: Mark Magliocchetti, member of Lido Civic Club.
Go for: Fresh-sliced prosciutto, branzino, steak Florentine, pappardelle pasta.
This intimate, rustic spot in downtown D.C. is a favorite for Tuscan food and meat lovers. For lunch, it offers its San’dwich Lorenzo menu with a selection of pasta and sandwiches, some made with prosciutto sliced right in front of you. For dinner, Magliocchetti says it’s hard to miss with any of the meat options.
Hours: Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Dinner: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
9917 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, theespositosfairfax.com
Recommended by: Magliocchetti.
Go for: Gnocchi, fried zucchini and pizza.
Founder Maria Esposito was born and raised in Naples and opened the Esposito’s Fairfax in 1982 to spread the love of her native cuisine. All of the restaurant’s dough and pasta varieties are housemade with that love, and Magliocchetti’s family are fans of most items on the menu.
Hours: 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday.
15209 Frederick Rd., Rockville, ilpizzico.com
Recommended by: Vincenzo Fragomeni, a member of Lido Civic Club.
Go for: The capriccio di mare (seafood stew).
Il Pizzico was born as an Italian-style deli, then owners Enzo and Sandra Livia expanded their humble family restaurant into a sit-down dining service, complete with a bar, in the early 1990s. The restaurant is a go-to for Fragomeni, who loves its capriccio di mare, a tomato-based stew full of scallops, shrimp, clams and mussels.
Hours: Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Dinner: 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
2014 P St. NW, altiramisu.com
Recommended by: Fragomeni, Magliocchetti and Francesca Krieg-Casazza, executive director of the Italian Cultural Society of D.C.
Al Tiramisu is by far the most-mentioned among our sources — all of them adore this spot. It was founded in 1996 and, since then, has served celebrities from George Clooney to Rosario Dawson to Magic Johnson to Hillary Clinton. Chef Luigi Diotaiuti originally hails from a tiny town in the Basilicata region in the south of Italy, where he has recently become a culinary ambassador. By all accounts, he’s an active participant in the community his restaurant has fostered, frequently coming around to tables and chatting with patrons. This is also a favorite spot of Tom Sietsema, The Post’s food critic.
Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Sunday; 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
115 King St., Alexandria, landinibrothers.com
Recommended by: Fragomeni.
Go for: The lamb; Fragomeni says it’s one of the best he’s ever had.
Landini Brothers is a King Street classic situated right on the Potomac Riverfront. It specializes in Tuscan food, which hails from northwestern Italy and traditionally relies more on butter and red meat than olive oil and fish — staples in the south. Fragomeni lives in Maryland but says that, for him, Landini Brothers’ rack of lamb is worth the journey to Northern Virginia.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
3050 K St. NW, fiolamaredc.com
Recommended by: Krieg-Casazza.
Go for: The Fiola Mare seafood tower.
Fiola Mare serves top-of-the-line seafood including caviar and oysters, pasta, fresh fish, and southern-Italian-style dishes in its open, airy Georgetown space. One of Krieg-Casazza’s favorite parts is the view of the water, which reminds her of growing up in Genoa, though she admits she doesn’t visit often due to the high price point. Fiola Mare is a special-occasion indulgence.
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Aperitivo Hour: 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
8008 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, pizzeriadamarco.net
Recommended by: Krieg-Casazza.
Go for: The pizza, of course.
Krieg-Casazza says the Italians she knows don’t tend to go out for homemade pasta — they can make that at home — so when they treat themselves to Italian food, they often go for a slice of pizza. Pizzeria da Marco is wallet-friendly and located near a bunch of office buildings in Bethesda (including the Italian Cultural Society).
Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner: 4 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday. Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
1112 F St. NW, toscadc.com
Recommended by: Krieg-Casazza.
Go for: The white truffle dishes, if you have a little extra money to spend.
Tosca has curated its reputation for ultra-high-end northern Italian dining with the option for a chef’s table. That chef is Fortunato Nicotra, who also oversees operations at Sfoglina, Fiola and Fiola Mare. Tosca offers exquisite and artistic presentation; its risotto is covered with pansies, and its gelato is served in perfect rounds.
Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.
3251 Prospect St. NW, cafemilano.com
Recommended by: Krieg-Casazza.
Go for: The ambiance and the cleverly named dishes.
This spot is equally (or possibly more) famous for being a political meeting room as it is for its cuisine, and for that, Cafe Milano is quintessential D.C. And it knows it, too — the restaurant’s website is decorated with vintage photos of high-society diners sitting at its tables. Its menu even boasts references to important figures in politics and fashion; try the “Linguine B. Johnson” for a taste of the White House or the “Pappardelle Prada” to elevate your style.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
1401 T St. NW, lupoverdedc.com
Recommended by: Krieg-Casazza.
Located at the corner of 14th and T streets NW in an old, mansion-like building fitted with rotundas and green awnings (hence Verde), Lupo Verde is best known for its soft cheeses and salumi, all of which are imported from Italy, as well as its wine list of 80-plus options.
Hours: 5 to 11:30 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
508 K St. NW; 399 Morse St. NE; 2800 S. Randolph St., Suite 130, Arlington; stellinapizzeria.com
Recommended by: Krieg-Casazza.
Don’t let the name fool you — Stellina specializes in pizza but serves panini, salads and pasta, plus wine and beer on tap. Its most recent restaurant in Union Market has been a hit in the District, especially for those looking for a lighter bite.
Mount Vernon (K Street): 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
Union Market and Shirlington: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, lardente.com
Recommended by: Faduma Ali, executive director of Casa Italiana Language School.
Go for: The fresh pasta and desserts.
This self-declared “glam Italian” restaurant is situated between Penn Quarter and NoMa, and Ali loves its pasta. Zucca, ravioli, spaghetti — you name it, L’Ardente’s is top-notch. She also raves about its dessert menu, which includes tiramisu flambé, ricotta cheesecake and l’arancia tarocco, or blood orange mousse with chocolate cream.
