665886 Mon Nov 09 12:45:53 -0800 2009 6 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 5167783 Which Italian restaurants approach (or surpass) Batali in terms of the quality and variety of pasta dishes? Any place in DC that has a pasta tasting menu that's actually worth eating? Any recent experiences at Potenza? Tosca? If you were forced to eat 3 pastas in one sitting, where would you go? Mon Nov 09 12:45:53 -0800 2009 180506 Ericandblueboy 1 5168014 If I was forced for three pastas in one sitting I would go to Tosca (although I haven't been in a little while). They do half size pasta portions fyi. They used to have a rabbit parpadelle that isn't on the menu, which is a shame, but the boar ragu looks good, so does the tortellini. Anyway that is my choice. Mon Nov 09 13:52:11 -0800 2009 5167783 92426 ktmoomau 2 5168152 Two choices come to mind from recent experiences: Siroc and Dino. I don't know if either has a "tasting menu" but I'm sure you could create your own. Mon Nov 09 14:28:02 -0800 2009 5168014 78030 dcandohio 3 5168672 Palena and Proof for quality. Although red-sauce Italian and not upscale, I happen to love Olazzo... Mon Nov 09 17:28:11 -0800 2009 5168152 204182 chicken kabob 4 5169007 Uh, it looks like Proof has all of ONE menu item that is pasta on its dinner menu. Gnocchi. Mon Nov 09 19:58:18 -0800 2009 5168672 74330 hamster 1 5173603 Eric, for quality pasta in DC, based on repeat experiences, I like Tosca, Sorriso, and Al Tiramisu. I've had consistently good experiences with the pasta at all of these places. Al Tiramisu has what I consider to be the best gnocchi in the city (and as good, if not better than the gnocchi at Batali's Lupa, IMHO). I've also had excellent experience at Sorriso (rigatoni, linguini, etc.). Sorriso is a small, family-run place in Cleveland Park. I enjoy both the food and the atmosphere. And you really can't go wrong with Tosca, but it is does have a more formal atmosphere. Not as laidback as the other places I mentioned. Finally, I just had dinner at Potenza for the first time. I had an excellent spinach papardelle (although I didn't care for the veal ragu sauce). My dining companion had the ricotta-filled mezzalune, which were also good (but again, the sauce wasn't so great). Based on what we tried and I saw other patrons eating, I'd say that Potenza's pasta is quite good. You can read more about my experience at Potenza here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/623247 Wed Nov 11 13:33:10 -0800 2009 5167783 255446 Gigi007 1 5173677 I recently dined at Spezie for lunch and they have a decent amount of variety, they will let you split 2 different pastas as your entree. I enjoyed the lunch and I have enjoyed dinner their in the past as well, I think Spezie is slightly better then Siroc and Potenza. I am not a fan of Dino. If I had to rank them. I would do 1. Spezie. 2. Siroc (a close 2nd) 3. Potenza I cannot speak for Tosca, Al Tiramisu or Obelisk because I have never dined their before. I would go to Tosca or Obelisk though, I have heard wonderful things about them. Wed Nov 11 13:57:29 -0800 2009 5167783 1092408 Jeremy303