Craving Italian food?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Italian spots around Washington, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture when cravings strike.
1. Rose's Luxury
Topping the list is Rose's Luxury. While it's not your typically Italian restaurant, Rose's is a go-to for luxurious pasta dishes. Recent offerings have included rigatoni alla vodka with squid and Thai basil; and an herb pistou with spaghetti, jalapeños and pine nuts. The famous waits at this Capitol Hill favorite — located at 717 Eighth St. SE, between South I and South G streets — have been ameliorated somewhat by the new same-day reservation option, but it remains a hot ticket. It boasts 4.5 stars out of 1,775 reviews on Yelp.
2. Il Canale
Next up is Georgetown's il Canale, situated at 1065 31st St. NW (between North Canal Street and Blues Alley). It's known for its thin-crust, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas topped with ingredients like buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto and anchovies. Also find pasta, salads and classic desserts, like Sicilian cannoli and gelato. With four stars out of 2,299 reviews on Yelp, it has proven to be a local favorite.
3. The Red Hen
Ledroit Park's The Red Hen, located at 1822 First St. NW (between North Seaton Place and North T Street), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving it 4.5 stars out of 689 reviews. You won't find traditional Italian here but rather creative combinations, from appetizers like the crispy Brussels sprouts with yogurt crema, lemon, dill, scallion, za’atar and toasted sesame, to mains like grilled pork belly with red cabbage, smoked bacon, apple mostarda and roasted pork jus.
4. Filomena Ristorante
Filomena Ristorante, in Georgetown, is another high-traffic go-to, with four stars out of 2,151 Yelp reviews. The 35-year-old institution, by contrast, focuses on a revolving list of Old World recipes. Start with antipasti like calamari rings with black pepper, garlic white wine and capers. Move on to one of the many pasta or risotto dishes. Then fill up with ossobuco, veal marsala or a fresh "catch of the day." Head over to 1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW to see for yourself.
5. Tail Up Goat
Finally, over in Adams Morgan, check out Tail Up Goat, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 502 reviews on Yelp. It's another fusion spot, where you'll see traditional New World ingredients — like collard greens, pepitas and rutabaga —alongside pasta, ricotta and salami. Don't neglect the many house-designed cocktails, nor the interesting list of wines, beers and ciders. You can find it at 1827 Adams Mill Road NW.
