Got A Craving for Pasta and Other Italian Classics? Here are The Top Italian Restaurants in Washington, DC to Try

Washington, DC is fast becoming a restaurant mecca – some of the best chefs who have a knack for preparing the greatest food have found a safe haven in the nation’s capital. This means that you’ll find incredible venues that cover the whole culinary space. Whether you want to feel the crunch of a well-cooked pizza crust, a delicious taste of pasta, or even a salty taste of fat-streaked prosciutto, there is something for everyone.

Several restaurants are focused on the constant variation of changing menu and seasonal ingredients brought out in simple yet flavorful dishes. Here are the top Italian restaurants in DC that will surely satisfy all your pasta cravings.

Dining out in Washington isn’t cheap, especially if you’re on a budget. If you’re planning on celebrating a special occasion in style, consider getting a GiftYa virtual gift card to help cover part of your budget. These cards are completely customizable and can be used on a couple of Italian restaurants in DC, including the ones featured in this list. You can also add a special message to the card before you send it!

Filomena Ristorante

‍1063 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 filomena.com

In-house-made pasta and other hearty Italian classics served in an upscale spot!

Located in the heart of Georgetown in D.C is an old-school spot that is downright famous for serving the best pasta in town. The most unique experience guests enjoy at Filomena is seeing a team of elderly Italian women preparing fresh pasta in the window. This spot serves up delicious and savory Italian dishes including the three types of ravioli as well as flawless arancini and flavorful appetizers.

The portions here are huge to guarantee a full belly and even have leftovers. Apart from their delicious pasta, they also serve delicious sides to go along with your main dish. Whole wheat or gluten-free options are also available with all sauces. If you’re in the mood for desserts, you will get plenty of them from Filomena Cannoli (classic home-made with a delicious shell) to mixed fruit cheesecake. The menu changes frequently so you can be assured you will get something fresh every time you come in. If you’re here for a holiday, expect colorfully themed decorations wall-to-wall.

RPM Italian

‍650 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001 rpmrestaurants.com

Spacious, elegant, celeb-owned spot serving authentic pasta, fish, steaks, and other Italian classics!

If you truly want to experience what it feels like to dine in a celebrity-owned Italian home, stop by the RPM Italian restaurant. Owned by a celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic, RPM serves a wide variety of menu choices from pasta, fish, steak, warm bread, to pizzas.

House-made pasta is the main draw here with options such as Pomodoro, Calabrian chili, parmesan brodo, carbonara, and more. There are plenty of steaks and chops including prime dry-aged bistecca, bone-in ribeye, filet mignon, and more. Seafood lovers will also find something to enjoy on the menu with a side of choice.

Each dish is made from scratch with high-quality ingredients to ensure guests enjoy the most authentic and traditional Italian food possible. Make sure you try their signature cocktails and wine list before leaving.

Obelisk

‍2029 P St NW, Washington, DC 20036 obeliskdc.com

Enjoy the taste of Italian cooking and varieties of wines presented in an informal townhouse setting!

How about an Italian spot that has been serving a 5-course Italian dinner, five nights every week since the summer of 1987? That’s what you get when you visit Obelisk. This Dupont Circle restaurant features a handwritten menu that is prepared moments before the evening, but you are sure to find a great selection such as tasty cheeses and the black bass with clams.

The seasonal Italian-themed cooking starts with a bang, with a variety of delicious antipasti that is quickly presented on the table. You can have a choice of burrata salt cod croquette with lemon tomato and crostini or the burrata agretti with lemon chickpea and pepper salad. Dishes here are simple, with delicious flavors and authentic ingredients to give guests the best experience of enjoying the freshest Italian cuisines. Other fun dishes such as lamb lasagna, eggplant caponata with pine nuts, panelle fries, and thinly sliced cured ham at their finest are also available to enjoy. Ensure you try out their signature cocktails and the extensive wine list as you enjoy your favorite meal.

The Red Hen

1822 1st St NW, Washington, DC 20001 theredhendc.com

Authentic Italian dishes and a creative wine list awaits you in a rustic spot rocking an open kitchen!

Craving some American cuisines with an Italian theme? Head down to the Red Hen, located in the Bloomingdale neighborhood. This trattoria has a seasonal Italian-American menu with huge portions that will leave satisfied. They use a wide variety of high-quality ingredients which results in interesting dishes with a unique flavor combination.

Get started for either lunch or dinner with a choice of the delicious things on the menu including pasta, antipasti, whipped ricotta crostini, pan-roasted Atlantic halibut, roasted maple panna cotta, and more. While the menu here is seasonal, chef Mike Friedman offers the best selections that make up the signature dishes of the house including Sicilian-style friend cauliflower, the popular burrata, and a huge serving of mezze rigatoni.

Go ahead and order one of their signature cocktails or draft beer to go along with your main course.

Fiola Mare

‍3100 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007 fiolamaredc.com

Experience the taste of sophisticated Italian seafood and signature cocktails in a luxe, modern setting!

There’s nothing better than a fancy night out in an Italian restaurant. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to take your date, then why not head down to Fiola Mare today! It a stylish, coastal Italian joint inspired by Fabio Tabocchi’s love for seafood. The menu here changes daily and seasonally to feature only the finest, freshest ingredients available. You will find delicious options such as seafood towers, wonderful Crudo, and a wide selection of whole fish that are changes daily.

Fiola Mare also serves beautifully made antipasti especially the strawberry gazpacho, burrata, colors of the garden, and dutch white asparagus. You will also find a wide variety of pasta, mouth-watering entrée such as strozzapreti and carbonara, raw bar classics served Mediterranean style, and a wide variety of fancy sides to accompany your meal.

You might also want to try Fiola Mare's signature cocktails and a super wine selection that is popular in the area. They are definitely worth it!

Floriana

1602 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 florianarestaurant.com

An intimate white-table-clothed restaurant serving lasagna and other Italian specialties!

Being among the top restaurants that serve Italian specialties, Floriana has a lot to offer. The menu is extensive with delicious dishes made with seasonal ingredients sourced from local producers.

Located in the Dupont Circle region, this bistro aim is to provide an incredible experience by offering the best of every dish on their menu. While the menu changes every day, their Burrata Ravioli is an absolute game-changer, especially for cheese lovers. Entrees such as pasta, fish, and meat will leave you satisfied unless you still want to try something else on the menu.  Other touches like lasagna, wild boar pappardelle, and pan-seared salmon are available for guests to enjoy.

Lavagna

‍539 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 lavagnadc.com

Enjoy the best of house-made pasta as well as other Italian eats at this laid-back spot!

The priority of every Italian restaurant is to serve the best in town, and that what Lavagna is all about. Being a neighborhood gathering place, this bistro specializes in delicious, simple, homemade eats that are always on point every time.

The menu here portrays the restaurant’s idea that food should be just like a chalkboard: simple, fresh, and innovative. No wonder the restaurant became synonymous with the “chalkboard” narrative. They make their pasta handmade from scratch with a gluten-free rigatoni option available. Entrees such as organic hormone-free bacon cranberry Brussel sprouts and their savory sides are great options to try when you come here.

Planning a birthday party, wedding, graduation, and group party, Lavagna is a great place to host your event in warm and inviting indoor and outdoor spaces.

Italian food is a great option for fancy dining out with friends, an event, or a casual take-out. No matter the occasion, an Italian meal should be on your list and it should be equally delicious. These Italian restaurants in D.C have something for everyone. So, choose your favorite eat and get ready to feast.

Is there an Italian restaurant in Washington that you would want to try? Let us know in the comments!