Where can you find the best Italian food in Washington? At these 16 top spots from our 100 Very Best Restaurants list, including the #1 dining room in Washington this year: Fiola Mare.
Casa Luca
“There’s a rigor and a passion that lift the place above a casual trattoria.”
1099 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
Masseria
“Whatever you opt for, make sure pasta plays a role.”
1340 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
Fiola
“Pastas are lovely across the board, whether delicate ravioli stuffed with lobster or pappardelle with deeply flavorful wild-boar ragu.”
601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, (entrance at 678 Indiana Ave.) Washington, DC 20004
Fiola Mare
“This is a luxury restaurant, and it’s extravagantly expensive. But the quality of the fish is extraordinary…and no restaurant in the area will spoil you more.”
3050 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20007
Bibiana
“[Chef Jake Addeo’s] kitchen shows deftness with crudos—try hamachi drizzled with fruity olive oil, preserved citrus, and pink peppercorns—and more robust dishes, such as dry-aged duck breast with Italian prunes…”
1100 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005
2Amys
“These are simple dishes that rely on top-quality ingredients and studious technique.”
3715 Macomb St., NW, Washington, DC 20016
Obelisk
“Linger over the antipasti…the generous wine pairings, and the pastas, such as house-made noodles with squid.”
2029 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20036
The Red Hen
“Yes, the pastas are both imaginative and fulfilling, but get a load of the wooden tables and chairs, the most handsome pieces of restaurant furniture in the area.”
1822 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20001
Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana
“What’s a three-star chef doing running a pizza joint in a Gaithersburg shopping plaza? Having a blast.”
12207 Darnestown Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Osteria Morini
“Morini possesses the spirit of a full-fledged neighborhood Italian joint.”
301 Water St., SE, Washington, DC 20003
Etto
“Your best move is to treat dinner as a snackfest of cured meats, cheeses, and small plates from the chalkboard menu.”
1541 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Ghibellina
“The secret is out about this darkly minimalist restaurant’s happy hour, which lasts from 4 to 6:30 weekdays and starts at 3 on weekends.”
1610 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009
Graffiato
“It’s prone to unevenness, and the prices can get up there in a hurry. But there are more than enough thrills to make it worth seeking out.”
Centrolina
974 Palmer Alley, NW, Washington, DC 20001
