Acqua Al 2I really loved Aqua Al 2.I really loved Aqua Al 2. I went having no idea what to expect and everything there was amazing. We were never sitting too long without a server or someone there to help us but they were never buzzing over you. The food was amazing and their menu looked fantastic. The only bad thing was that I could not try everything on the menu. I plan on going back soon.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious!Acqua Al is the best Italian food I've had outside of Italy. The food is authtic and the wait staff is wonderful! I took guests from out of state here and everyone was so impressed. The parmagiana al forno is cooked to perfection and the topini (gnocchi) is melt in your mouth delicious! The semifreddo and dessert sampler are a must!! It's the place to go if you want a real Italian meal that will never disappoint.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful lunch!A group of 6 had lunch there on Saturday. We were seated immediately and service was prompt but not pushy throughout the meal. We had the salad sampler, cheese and meat sampler, and a variety of meals, including fish, pasta, the daily special, and the steak sampler from the main menu. Everyone thought their meal was excellent. We even sampled a dessert, one with caramel, though I don't recall the name, and it was delicious. The wine and mixed drinks and beer were all good. The service was outstanding. The waiter even placed some flowers in a jug with water for us, then in a plastic bag (they had come wrapped in newspaper) so they would remain fresh after we left. We had a delightful time!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat MenuSome sites have this as an expensive restaurant, but we were pleasantly surprised by the affordable prices and equally pleased by the variety on the menu, although it was a little "steak" heavy. We would go again when in DC.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMA walk down memory laneI ate at the one in Florence many years ago and always remembered how delicious the sampler menu was, especially the pasta -- this totally lived up to my memory.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome dining experience.Awesome dining experience. Would go again in a heart beat. Food was well prepared and served. Staff amazing. Great experience.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite place to dine with friendsAcqua Al 2 is an excellent choice for great food and conversation; we have taken many friends there and the chefs and staff have never failed to impress! We enjoy the atmosphere, the prompt and friendly service, the extremely clean wine glasses, and most of all the perfectly prepared meal. Lots of folks love the outside atmosphere, watching folks shopping in the Eastern Market area. We enjoy inside dining and always request the booth by the window when taking friends......go and enjoy!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary dinnerWhen we arrived, we were sat in a cute booth. I assumed it was saved it for us since I made sure to let the restaurant know it was our anniversary when I made my reservation. All of the food was very good, especially the gnocchi and the branzino. We also loved the cheesecake dessert.
Dinner would have been a great experience had it been a regular date night. However, it was our anniversary. I kept waiting it to be acknowledged, but that never happened. I read an open table review from last month, and the customer received a special dessert for their celebration, so it was disappointing the restaurant did not do the same for us.
I'd recommend Acqua al 2 for a regular dinner, but unfortunately I can't recommend it for a special occasion.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe mozzarella appetizer,The mozzarella appetizer, risotto, and three beef are all outstanding!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFlorence, Italy comes to Cap HillWonderful spot. Excellent, enthusiastic service. The place was fairly crowded for lunch and now I see why. I would return and recommend to friends.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was a fun place and theThis was a fun place and the food was high quality. The entrees' arrival was rather a long wait but was worth waiting for. The noise level really ramped up as the evening went on and I became aware of this loud percussion music/jazz playing in the background which added to the din. I think they could stop the music as the restaurant fills up since it's pretty noisy. Still, it was a great find and I expect to return.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWent on Sunday afternoon forWent on Sunday afternoon for lunch. It was fun to watch the dogs bark at each other in the Eastern Market flea market.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Italian foodAmazingly good food. Wonderful little gem in Eastern Market. Highly recommend4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAl Acqua 2 is one of thoseAl Acqua 2 is one of those rare restaurants that brings high-end Italian cuisine to the USA. It is not a stereotypical Italian-American restaurant (although there is nothing wrong with that), but genuine Florentine dining. When I eat there I feel like I am in Italy. The pricing is also rather similar to Italy, where people are willing to pay more for a good meal than we might be comfortable with, but for me it is worth every dime. For me Al Acqua 2 has the perfect blend of cuisine, friendly but efficient service, helpful management, and a great ambiance. I love this restaurant.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food and service.Fantastic food and service. Our group loved it and we will be back.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWould go here again, bestWould go here again, best risotto I have had in a long time. Everything was delicious from appetizer to salad to entree to dessert! Best restaurant I went to in DC! Also check out the Speak Easy above the restaurant for very unique drinks4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFlorence vs. DC locationAlmost if not equivalent to the Florence location!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was superb includingThe food was superb including an outstanding desert sampler4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfection.My father was in town for meetings on the hill and wanted to take my roommate and I out to dinner. I read the reviews on Acqua and wanted to give it a try. With an 8pm reservation we were seated by 8:20, but the food and friendly service was well worth the wait. I would definitely recommend Acqua Al 2 to anyone looking to charm visitors into liking DC. After biting into the spinach and feta meatballs, there is little left up for debate. EXCELLENT.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had the vegetarian tastinWe had the vegetarian tastin gmenu. Everything tasted the same, unfortunately. The tasting dessert tray, however, was fabulous.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMNot to be Missed in Capital HillIncredible food - truly the best Italian meal I've had outside of Italy. Wait - possibly the best MEAL I've had outside of Italy! My husband and I shared Chef's Specialite selections for all courses, and it was such a great dining option. A chance to taste 3 different salads, 5 different pastas, 3 different steaks (each one better than the one before), a vast selection of cheeses, and 4 different desserts. We were in heaven. We loved the family atmosphere in the restaurant. And while my fellow diners were a bit loud, still, I couldn't recommend this restaurant highly enough!!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, awesome serviceThe food is always excellent at Acqua Al 2. And the service was just outstanding. I went for my birthday and was not disappointed!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat waiter and wonderfulGreat waiter and wonderful food! I cleaned my plate!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Place a short Taxi rideGreat Place a short Taxi ride from the Washington Hilton.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAcqua Al 2 is a charming,Acqua Al 2 is a charming, rustic restaurant that has a very authentic feel. The staff are welcoming and the food has the meltingly fantastic taste of food in Venice...inventive dishes like fresh mozzarella with grapefruit, perfect for a muggy evening in D.C., and the rich gnocci with radicchio, intense with flavor make it easy for a vegetarian to feel pampered. It is pleasant to be able to order extraordinary wines by the glass. A bonus for footsore tourists is that the location is a short walk from the metro stop up a street filled with interesting shops and restaurants.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic!! Had fusilli theFantastic!! Had fusilli the fish, friend had penned with pink sauce and the steak with blueberry sauce.....all excellent!
Their cocktails are very good .....the more e fiori is to DIE!!
Very charming and hip place with excellent food and service.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFlorence on the HillAqua Al2 remains my favorite DC restaurant. Away from the downtown scene (and therefore more reasonably priced than others in its quality bracket), relaxed atmosphere and terrific food. Staff are always friendly and helpful without being intrusive. I try to have at least one dinner there whenever I am in DC.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful experience at Acqua Al 2.I absolutely loved going to Acqua Al 2. I have been to all three now. My first was Florence, then San Diego now D.C. The staff was wonderful, pasta superb and I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. Start with the Chef's choice of 5 pastas.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMMemories of FlorenceWe went to the original restaurant in Florence on our honeymoon some 18 years ago. The food at this DC outpost is spectacular; it certainly reminded me of the best of Italian cooking. I started with a pasta with swordfish and then went onto a filet with a balsamic reduction. Very tasty and a bit unusual too. My wife was also happy with her salad trio and fish dish. Service was also attentive. My only nit was that the food came out a little bit slowly, though it was well worth the wait. I really look forward to their gastro-pub that will be opening on 14th Street. I'm only sorry we live in upper NW DC so Acqua al 2 will have to be a destination restaurant for us.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for a Sunday afternoonWe went for a Sunday afternoon dinner and ordered the filet mignon w/ balsamic reduction, Chilean sea bass (special of the day) and grilled veal chop, plus all 3 of the optional sides. All dishes were prepared to perfection and the food was top quality. The restaurant was not busy, so it was quiet - from previous bar/lounge visits, it seems to get moderately noisy when busy. While the meal was great, what stands out is the excellent service from ALL of the various staff members that attended to us - all are knowledgeable and responsive. This is an excellent Italian restaurant, worthy of its heritage.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWe go to Acqua Al 2 all theWe go to Acqua Al 2 all the time and love pretty much anything we get. The vegetarian pastas are always wonderful and the chicken with the port wine sauce is delicious.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent; PortionsThe food was excellent; Portions just the right size, not too much and not too little. I asked to have the whole fish filled and they accommodated. If anything, the service was too quick, we felt a little rushed and noticed many people waiting for tables when we left.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was fantastic. Nice atmosphereFood was fantastic. Nice atmosphere, excellent service4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAll food was served promptlyAll food was served promptly & was very good. We received excellent service & an issue with my wife's selection was promptly remedied. Very friendly staff that was attentive, but not smothering.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Lunch DealThe food was good. The $20 pre fixe lunch was a great deal. The cuts of steak they give you are huge for that price. I recommend the steak with the balsamic reduction over the blueberry steak. The blueberry one is actually sweet, which I didn't love. The only thing that was odd was that they had awful coffee. Italian restaurants usually have the most wonderful, rich coffee, but the coffee here was sort of burnt and sour. The people who got cappuccinos seemed to really like those, though. Wish the steaks came with some sort of side, too. Cheesecake was unique and good - with ricotta cheese, I think. Flourless chocolate cake was good, but didn't love the white, sweet sauce they paired with it (fruit or unsweet cream maybe?)4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMHighly recommendedWe went to Aqua al 2 to celebrate our two year anniversary and had a wonderful time.
The bartender was entertaining us while we were waiting for our table.
The ambience is lovely. It is a perfect place to go for a romantic occasion or to dine with friends or to stop for a nice lunch during a work day.
The food was delicious. The chef surprised us with a decorated dessert for our occasion and we felt well taken care of.
I definitely want to go back to Aqua al 2.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOur family of four went hereOur family of four went here for Easter dinner and really enjoyed ourselves! The service and food were great!! Would definitely go back again!!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have fallen in love withWe have fallen in love with this restaurant. Service is always excellent and the food is spectacular. A must stop for us on every trip to DC.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing dinner experience!!!Amazing dinner experience!!! Will definitely return to this restaurant when we visit D.C.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a gem!!! Found in theWhat a gem!!! Found in the back capitol hill area. Yummy and surprising. Enjoy3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMThe pasta at Acqua al 2 isThe pasta at Acqua al 2 is average but the beef is sublime. Do not miss the tenderloin with the port/balsamic reduction. The waitstaff were friendly and very knowledgable about menu items. It can be a little noisy, depending where you are seated. We had the tasting menu for dessert and were hard pressed to say which extraordinary creation was best.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe used to live in FlorenceWe used to live in Florence and were happy to find Acqua al Due in DC. Food was very good and we were in and out quite quickly. Perfect for an evening out with our six year old.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe took our nine year oldWe took our nine year old twin boys and we all had a wonderful meal. The service was excellent and the entire evening was enjoyable. I recommend ordering the samplers (salad, pasta, meat and dessert) so that you can try many dishes. We enjoyed them all!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAs good as all the reviews saidEverything about this place is special. The staff, the service, the food, and the atmosphere, are second to none. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to have a great Italian meal in a setting that's warm, friendly, and memorable .3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMEveryone from the Host andEveryone from the Host and hostess to the severs and the runners were fantastic. We knoew going in it would be a little pricy and it was woth every penny!!
I would go back again in a minute3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe only negative part ofThe only negative part of our experience was that one of our party is in a wheelchair, and we assumed w/c accessible meant actually wheelchair accessible. There is a large step to get into the restaurant, so that was a bit frustrating. However, the staff were very accomodating and apologetic, and it was worth the extra effort to get inside for the dining experience!3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThe ambience was great. IThe ambience was great. I took my wife there to celebrate her birthday and it was the perfect for the occasion. The food and wait staff were equally excellent. Great restaurant all around.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you have been to the originalIf you have been to the original in Firenze this will not disappoint. Every plate was prepared with perfection. The service was attentive and seamless. Great cocktails. Only critique is that the wine menu did not offer many by the glass options.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMA real favorite -- alwaysA real favorite -- always good food, fabulous wine recommendations and attentive service. Comfortable and inviting. I send all of my friends and family and everyone has been pleased.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding food in everyOutstanding food in every way, equal to the food in Florence.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM