Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Washington DC by diners

Written by:
February 10, 2025
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Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Washington DC by diners

It's no surprise that, in most countries, traditional national cuisine is the most popular, according to a . But Italian food isn't just top-rated in Italy鈥攊t ranks as the second-most popular cuisine in Germany and France and takes the bronze spot in the U.K., Mexico, and India as well.

Of course, it's also among Americans' favorites鈥攁nd there's lots to love about it. Just thinking about dishes like chicken Parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs is enough to get your mouth watering, even though many of these world-famous dishes are actually more so than true Italian fare. Traditional Italian food embraces an assortment of sumptuous recipes that aren't dependent on fried breadcrumbs and red sauce鈥攖hink frittatas and focaccia, or carpaccio and panna cotta.

Italian immigrants have been weaving their cuisine into the fabric of the American food landscape for generations since they arrived in the United States nearly 150 years ago. And the cuisine, like the culture it hails from, tends to give off warm and fuzzy "family" feelings. For many people, the quintessential local Italian American restaurant鈥攃omplete with its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, pour bottles of olive oil, Parmesan cheese shakers, cute little jars of red pepper flakes, and wicker baskets of oven-fresh bread鈥攂rings back memories of special life moments, like first dates and milestone birthdays.

Luckily, today you don't need to be in a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles or an area with a large Italian or Italian American community to score top-notch buon cibo. You can find excellent Italian offerings in almost every city from coast to coast. To celebrate all things mozzarella and marinara, compiled a list of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Washington D.C. based on diners' reviews on as of January 2025.

Read on to see if your favorite is among the top-rated or to find a new spot in your neighborhood.

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#30. Obelisk

- Rating: 4.2/5 (376 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2029 P St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian
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#29. DC Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (262 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1103 19th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Gluten-Free, Italian
-

#28. Mangialardo

- Rating: 4.6/5 (381 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1317 Pennsylvania Ave. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian, Breakfast & Brunch
-

#27. Tonari

- Rating: 4.1/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 707 6th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Japanese, Pizza, Italian
-

#26. Fiola Mare

- Rating: 4.1/5 (1552 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 3050 K St. Northwest Ste 101 Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Seafood, Italian, Bars
-

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#25. Grazie Nonna

- Rating: 4.1/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1100 15th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
-

#24. Reveler's Hour

- Rating: 4.1/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1775 Columbia Road Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Tapas/Small Plates
-

#23. Fiola

- Rating: 4.2/5 (860 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 601 Pennsylvania Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian
-

#22. San Lorenzo

- Rating: 4.2/5 (214 reviews)
- Address: 1316 9th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Sandwiches
-

#21. Pupatella

- Rating: 4.2/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1801 18th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Salad, Pizza, Italian
-

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#20. Modena

- Rating: 4.2/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1199 H St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Desserts
-

#19. Filomena Ristorante

- Rating: 4.2/5 (3617 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1063 Wisconsin Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
-

#18. The Red Hen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1096 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1822 1st St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
-

#17. Tortino Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (863 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1228 11th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
-

#16. Bacio Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.3/5 (371 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 81 Seaton Place Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
-

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#15. Bozzelli's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1025 Vermont Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Delis
-

#14. Tartufo

- Rating: 4.3/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4910 Wisconsin Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian
-

#13. Tail Up Goat

- Rating: 4.3/5 (880 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1827 Adams Mill Road Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Italian
-

#12. il Canale

- Rating: 4.3/5 (4932 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1065 31st St. Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
-

#11. Little Coco's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3907 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Breakfast & Brunch
-

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#10. La Casina

- Rating: 4.4/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 327 7th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-

#9. Nostra Cucina

- Rating: 4.4/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 320 D St. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
-

#8. Cucina Morini

- Rating: 4.4/5 (103 reviews)
- Address: 901 4th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Seafood
-

#7. Retrobottega

- Rating: 4.4/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2435 18th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Italian
-

#6. Osteria Al Volo

- Rating: 4.4/5 (566 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1790 Columbia Road Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian
-

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#5. Rose's Luxury

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2386 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 717 8th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: New American, Italian, Tapas/Small Plates
-

#4. L'Ardente

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1286 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 200 Massachusetts Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian
-

#3. Capa Tosta

- Rating: 4.5/5 (136 reviews)
- Address: 2737 Sherman Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
-

#2. Olio e Pi霉

- Rating: 4.5/5 (145 reviews)
- Address: 699 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Cocktail Bars
-

#1. Caruso's Grocery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 914 14th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian
-

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 290 metros.

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