Authentic Italian in DC

[Tez]

Can anyone give me a great recomendation for Italian in down town DC.

[Bob W]

I really like Siroc. It's around the corner from my office, so it's one of my go-to spots when I have out-of-town lunch guests. The pasta (made in-house) always satisfies.

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Siroc Restaurant
915 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

[Elyssa]

It depends on your price range but I would check out Siroc, Dino, Al Tiramisu or Filomena depending on what you are looking for. Bibianna is also excellent, but I don't know if it's considered traditional Italian...it is authentic though with all the pastas made in house.

I hear good things about the high-end Tosca, but I've personally never been.

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Al Tiramisu
2014 P Street, Washington, DC 20036

Siroc Restaurant
915 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

[Steve]

SIroc or Bibiana. SIroc has more hearty pasta and Bibiana a bit more elegant. Both are excellent.

Againn, an Irish gastropub, is one of the best choices downtown. Zaytinya for pan-hellenic cuisine.

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Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Bibiana
1100 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005

[beauxgoris]

Al Tiramisu in Dupont is excellent.

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Al Tiramisu
2014 P Street, Washington, DC 20036

[Orbit]

La Tomate and Otello (both in Dupont Circle) seem to have pretty authentic Italian food. Each are kind of pricey, though. La Tomate is a little trendier, with more upscale food. Otello has the red checkered cloth, dimly lit, cramped rooms, like it's from the 60s/70s. Personally I prefer Otello.

Another option is Vace's Pizza (Cleveland Park), which has deliciousm high quality thin-crust pizza but nowhere to sit.

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Otello Restaurant
1329 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 2, Washington, DC 20036

La Tomate
1701 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

[daynasch]

second Otello's. That place has been around forever and has never disappointed.

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Otello Restaurant
1329 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 2, Washington, DC 20036

[alkapal]

does otello's still have that lovely & extensive antipasti table?

[ktmoomau]

Depends on your definition of downtown. Tosca fits the bill squarely. Obelisk is great too, but in Dupont area.

[Tez]

Thank you very much, We will be staying at the Mayflower Hotel. Are there any other restaurants you would reccomend relatively close by. Ethnic is great. We live in Los Cabos Mexico and outside of mexican there aren't any decent choices.

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Cabo Restaurant
2100 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

[ktmoomau]

I highly recommend the Bombay Club for Indian food. It's sister Rasika is a little hipper, but Bombay Club is really nice and about 2 blocks away. Make sure to get the crispy spinach appetizer.

Equinox across the street is another really nice place for seasonal foods, but more upscale.

For ethnic you might have to head a little further. There is good thai at Rice and Regent. Mai Thai isn't too bad though, and very close.

Also there is Penang Malasian Cuisine which isn't bad either, I haven't been to Malaysia Kopitam, but have heard good things, you might do a search on here. P st. has a lot of small sushi places, I forget the name of the place I always used to go... it might have been Sakana, it had a great sake list and Pesce which is pretty good for fish. Hank's Oyster Bar is further away, but it has good New England style seafood.

Also Vidalia isn't too far and has Southern food. It is more upscale definitely walkable.

If you are there during the weekday the Greek Deli at 19th and M is wonderful. It will have a line, but it moves fast. Also Zorba's has good, cheap greek food. Not great ambiance though.

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Pesce Restaurant
2016 P St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Bombay Club
815 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20006

Mai Thai
1200 19th St NW, Washington, DC

Greek Deli
1120 19th St NW Frnt 1, Washington, DC 20036

Zorba's
4710 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224

Hank's Oyster Bar
1026 King St Ste 1, Alexandria, VA 22314

Vidalia
1990 M Street, Washington, DC 20036