Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Washington, D.C. Area

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Washington, D.C. Area? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Orofino Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (1736)

$30 and under

Italian

Fredericksburg

About the restaurant

Danilo Orofino was born in Palermo, Sicily, where he studied the culinary arts as well as restaurant and hotel management. He opened his first restaurant/coffee bar in Sicily at the age of 18. After 4 years of hard work, he closed the place with dreams of doing even more with his life.

Top review

Renee

Dined 2 days ago

Always a wonderful experience. It's the 'go to' restaurant for our girls night out dinner.

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4.9

4.9 (2263)

$31 to $50

Italian

Vienna

About the restaurant

A well-kept secret nestled in the heart of Vienna offering elegant dining within a warm and intimate setting. Our classic Italian cuisine has been ranked among the best in the Washington, D.C. area. Bar featuring new appetizer menu.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food and service every time I dine there. Love this restaurant

Caruso's Grocery - DC

4.8

4.8 (1172)

$31 to $50

Italian

Capitol Hill

About the restaurant

Please note that we are not offering Restaurant Week at our DC location.

Located at 914 14th Street SE in Washington, DC.

Caruso’s Grocery is modeled after the classic, Italian-American "red sauce" joint. You know the one: red banquettes, a killer chicken parmesan, Sinatra pouring through the speakers. If you’re looking for modern interpretations of a chef's take on the classics, you won’t find them here.

A joint venture from Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Partner Matthew Adler.

Top review

JimmyVIP

Dined 7 days ago

All the food was delicious. Great service and couldn’t believe how low prices were. Wine and cocktails $12-16 great value.

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Popular dish

Shrimp Scampi

Popular dish

Spicy Neapolitan Ragu

Popular dish

Carusos Alfredo

Dante Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (1428)

$30 and under

Italian

Great Falls

About the restaurant

Dante Restaurant offering delicious, authentic Italian cuisine, celebrates its 31st anniversary this year. Dante Restaurant is located just minutes from Tysons Corner and Reston Town Center, in the historic Leigh House in Great Falls, VA, a beautifully renovated Victorian mansion. It provides cozy fine dining experience in its seven private dining rooms and a lounge, A full bar and a selection of fine Italian and American wines with more are on hand. On-site free parking is available.

Top review

MelindaVIP

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Took my elderly mother here for lunch. Requested and waited for a table with ambiance. Food was excellent and very reasonable. Fried calamari, veal marsale, ravioli with veal and a tomato cream sauce, and a special squash ravioli. All very tasty, served hot and very well priced. The dining room is lovely and sophisticated, a rarity nowadays. No one in jeans or baseball hats. Our waiter was lovely

a Modo Mio

4.7

4.7 (271)

$30 and under

Italian

Falls Church

About the restaurant

At a Modo Mio, you’ll find that our menu is made up of homemade recipes straight from our family’s recipe book back in Italy. Indulge yourself with an authentic Neapolitan Pizza or a pasta made to order, and a glass or better, a bottle of wine carefully selected to pair with your food choices. We’ve created an authentic Italian dining experience right here in Arlington – no need to travel all the way to Italy!

We have been included in the 50 Best Pizza in the US in 2023.

Join us for some freshly made Italian food, 11am – 9:30pm Sunday-Thursday
11am - 10 pm Friday and Saturday

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined today

Great pizza. We are regulars and it never disappoints.

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Thursday All Day Happy Hour!

San Lorenzo

4.7

4.7 (310)

$31 to $50

Italian

Shaw

About the restaurant

Come in and feel transported to the streets of Italy.

Enjoy light, wholesome dishes - beautiful stucco walls and black and white photos of the chef/owner’s quaint hometown. Chef Massimo believes in creating dishes that honor the heritage and flavors of his native Tuscany. The magic of this cuisine is the exceptional preparation — fresh, simple ingredients paired with unique herbs and seasonings for a taste that’s anything but simple. With over 30 years of culinary training - Chef Massimo delivers homemade pastas, sauces, Florentine steak, veal, lamb, fresh fish and exceptional risotto.

Stay tuned for the not-to-be missed tasting menus offered nightly.

Also inquire about the unique communal wine lunch experiences on Saturday afternoons that can be booked only directly with management because they book up quickly. If you enjoy dining in Chef Massimo’s ‘San Lorenzo’ home - know he will also come to your home for special occasions or even travel with you within the US and Italy.

Top review

StevenVIP

Dined 7 days ago

This place is about food first. The service is also superb. The pasta and risioto are amazing and among the best you will ever taste. The food is lovely and beautifully made. The wine list is very extensive. Service is superb. We had one minor issue which was addressed promptly and thoroughly. This is not a white table restaurant. It’s a neighborhood gem. People are here having a good time, just as you would expect from a small place in Tuscany.

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La Vela Italian Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (566)

$31 to $50

Italian

Solomons

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Greg

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

We’ve been to La Vela many times, and it’s always outstanding. Fettuccine Bolognese, is excellent, and the roasted duck, with a few minor adaptations for my wife’s food sensitivities, is the best she’s ever had. The service is great. This time we were there for our anniversary, and we loved it.

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Manalu Italian Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1267)

$30 and under

Italian

Frederick

About the restaurant

Manalu is a new authentic Italian restaurant by Chef/Owner Marco Pontecorvo. The name was to combine all three of his family members names. MA for Marco, NA for Naomi, his daughter, and LU for Lucia, his wife. Manalu's goal is to bring a taste of Italy and a touch of Naples in the town, by serving authentic Italian cuisine and the original pizza Napoletana cooked in a brick oven. The atmosphere is very cozy and warm, perfect for family and friends. Manalu` also has a full bar and happy hour Mon-Fri from 4pm to 7pm. Happy hour also includes a food menu with delicious appetizers.

Top review

Andre

Dined 2 days ago

This is honestly the best Italian food around and the price was phenomenal. It’s a long reservation list and almost impossible to get a reservation on the weekend but it’s 100% worth it. Food was amazing, pricing was great, service was great, everything was great. Will be coming back

Pacci's

4.8

4.8 (169)

$31 to $50

Italian

Capitol Hill

About the restaurant

Influenced by the Neapolitan tradition and a passion for fine food, our philosophy is simple: to use fresh and high quality ingredients, to prepare our food as Nonna taught us, and to serve it with love. Our wood-fired pizza ovens are what make our hand-crafted pizzas come alive with flavor and bring inspiration to the rest of our menu. Pacci's Trattoria offers authentic Neapolitan pizza, home-made pastas, regional seafood and meat dishes and your favorite Italian sweets. Our beverage selection prides itself on hand-crafted cocktails, Italian and local beers and a wine list that features both Italian classics and new vintages. As a family owned restaurant, we want to bring our family to yours so we welcome you to spend a delicious meal with us!

**Requested tables not guaranteed**

Top review

RuthVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Delicious, large portions and yummy cocktails.

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