10 standout Italian restaurants in DC to book right now

Get elegant homemade pasta at Caruso’s Grocery. Credit: Caruso’s Grocery
A bowl of creamy pasta with mushrooms and garnishes with a fork holding a bite above the bowl at Caruso’s Grocery, one of the best Italian restaurants in DC, available on OpenTable.

In Washington DC, you’ll find over 20 MICHELIN-Starred restaurants, plus top-notch neighborhood spots serving cuisines—including Italian—from across the globe. Get everything from red sauce faithfuls like spaghetti and meatballs to elegant, multi-course feasts from award-winning chefs at the best Italian restaurants in DC.

Enjoy the ultimate special occasion meal at an old-school Italian favorite in Georgetown. Dig into ultra-luxe steak and seafood at a swanky celebrity favorite in Mount Vernon Square. Head to a Penn Quarter charmer for refined pastas from a James Beard-nominated chef.

Book a spot at one of the best Italian restaurants in DC on OpenTable today.

Read on for a guide to the top 10 Italian restaurants in DC.

For timeless Italian favorites at a DC institution: Filomena Ristorante (Georgetown)

A plate of homemade meatballs in red sauce topped with slices of parmesan cheese and garnishes at Filomena Ristorante in DC, available on OpenTable.
Filomena Ristorante is known for its hearty red sauce staples like spaghetti and meatballs. Credit: Filomena Ristorante

Open since 1983, Filomena Ristorante is one of the District’s most beloved landmarks and a go-to for special occasions. Regularly scoring a spot on Washingtonian’s list of the best Italian restaurants in the city, Filomena’s is a neighborhood staple for its attentive, tuxedo-clad servers and cozy, old-school vibe. Standout dishes include chicken parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, and a gnocchi, fettuccine, and eggplant lasagna. Visit in December for over-the-top holiday decor.


For nostalgic Italian dishes inspired by family recipes: Mia’s Italian Kitchen (Alexandria)

A plate of homemade pasta in red meat sauce with parmesan shavings and green garnishes on top, with another plate of mushroom pasta in the background at Mia’s Italian Kitchen in DC. Book on OpenTable.
Indulge in homemade pasta with flavorful sauces at Mia’s Italian Kitchen. Credit: Mia’s Italian Kitchen

Get classics just how nonna made them at Mia’s Italian Kitchen, thanks to owner Dave Nicholas’s Sicilian family recipes. Expect nostalgic dishes like hearty pastas and brick-oven pizzas served family-style. Sit in the downstairs dining room to watch staff sling pies in the oven. Or head upstairs for a front-row seat to the open kitchen. Either way, floor-to-ceiling windows, stained glass windows, and exposed brick walls create a cozy, living-room-like atmosphere.


For a family-style Southern Italian favorites straight from NYC: Carmine’s (Penn Quarter)

A bowl of fresh pasta with shrimp, crab, and mussels in red sauce with a basket of fresh bread in the background at Carmine’s - Washington DC, one of the best Italian restaurants in DC found on OpenTable.
Enjoy hits like seafood-topped pasta at NYC import Carmine’s. Credit: Carmine’s

Head to Carmine’s for the red sauce classics that made the original NYC location a cult favorite. Exterior red awnings and interior warm wooden furnishings create an old-school vibe, perfect for digging into massively portioned, family-style Southern Italian fare. Start with clams on the half shell or shrimp calamari from the raw bar before moving on to hits like veal parmesan and hearty portions of pasta—including vegetarian and gluten-free options.


For group-friendly dining in a stylish setting: RPM Italian (Mount Vernon Square)

A plate containing a skillet full of meatballs in red sauce, fresh basil leaves, and parmesan shavings on top at RPM Italian, a great Italian restaurant in DC. Available on OpenTable.
Share housemade pasta, premium seafood, and bread service at RPM Italian. Credit: RPM Italian

A Chicago import from celebrity duo Giuliana and Bill Rancic, RPM Italian is where you go for all-out Italian feasts in a swanky setting. Settle into one of the cozy leather banquettes to dig into made-for-sharing modern Italian hits like bread service (get the rosemary sea salt focaccia) before moving on to housemade pastas like braised veal gnocchi with truffles and ultra-fancy steaks like gorgonzola-cured wagyu. Bonus points for a deep, Italian-leaning wine list and frequent celeb sightings.


For knockout Italian food in an inviting setting: North Italia (Tysons Corner/McLean, Reston, and West End)

A table setting displaying three pizzas—one margherita with basil leaves on top, one with prosciutto and arugula, and one with vegetables, bacon, and an egg on top—at North Italia, one of the best Italian restaurants in DC found on OpenTable.
Housemade pizzas are the stars of North Italia’s extensive menu. Credit: North Italia

With three locations in the DC area, North Italia is where you go for top-notch pizzas and hearty pastas (including gluten-free options) served in a sleek and lively setting. The concept from James Beard Award semifinalist Sam Fox is also known for its meat and cheese boards, Italian-leaning wine list, and cocktails. Don’t miss the popular weekend brunch starring pizzas and pastas plus breakfast favorites like scrambles and toasts.


For a family-owned restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine at one of the best Italian restaurants in DC: Landini Brothers (Alexandria)

A plate of tortellini in cream sauce with fresh parsley garnish at Landini Brothers in DC, found on OpenTable.
Delight in a creamy pasta dish at Landini Brothers in Alexandria. Credit: Landini Brothers

Owned and operated by brothers Franco and Noe Landini, Landini Brothers is a local favorite for its traditional Tuscan dishes. Sit at the bar to sip a glass of Italian wine from the 400-plus bottle list and dig into small plates like clams Casino or grilled squid. Or post up in the cozy, brick-lined dining room or on romantic patio for a meal of signature dishes like veal scaloppini.


For nostalgic Italian dishes at an old-school DC favorite: Caruso’s Grocery (Capitol Hill)

A table setting with a plate of pasta bolognese topped with parmesan cheese and garnish in front of a red cushioned booth at Caruso’s Grocery - DC, on OpenTable.
Dig into old-school Italian faithfuls in an equally throwback setting at Caruso’s Grocery. Credit: Caruso’s Grocery

Book a table at Caruso’s Grocery for a peak old-school Italian meal.  The restaurant goes all in on throwback details—think classic red booths, Frank Sinatra crooning over the speakers, and classic Italian American comfort food. Start with the Caesar salad—one of the city’s best—before moving on to red sauce faithfuls like chicken parmesan and alfredo with mushrooms. No meal here is complete without a slice of blood orange creme brûlée.


For refined, seasonal Italian in a stylish setting: Centrolina (Penn Quarter)

A bowl containing a white soup with flower garnishes and a spoon sitting next to it at Centrolina, one of the best Italian restaurants in DC. Book on OpenTable.
Head to Centrolina for elegant, seasonal Italian dishes from acclaimed chef Amy Brandwein. Credit: Centrolina

Open since 2015, Centrolina is the brainchild of multi-James Beard-nominated chef Amy Brandwein, who continues to dazzle with her refined, housemade pastas that spotlight seasonal, mid-Atlantic ingredients. Add in a sleek space dressed in delicate pinks and blues, attentive service, and a pitch-perfect wine list, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the best Italian restaurants in DC.


For rustic Italian fare with MICHELIN Bib status: Lupo Verde (Logan Circle and Palisades North)

A dining room with table settings with sparkling wine glasses and flowers as well as white brick and wood and a wall of wood with a fireplace at Lupo Verde Osteria, one of the best Italian restaurants in DC on OpenTable.
The chic Palisades North space is the ideal setting for enjoying Lupo Verde’s rustic Italian fare. Credit: Lupo Verde Osteria

Lupo Verde is all about rustic Italian cuisine. Head to the charming 14th St location, with a lively first-floor bar decked with hand-painted Italian tiles and a second-floor space with floor-to-ceiling windows, to feast on classics like cacio e pepe and wild mushroom risotto with optional truffles. The rustic-chic Palisades location has a more concise menu than its big sibling—don’t leave either spot without trying the knockout tiramisu.


For creative, Italian-inspired cuisine with seasonal touches: Modena (Downtown)

A plate with smoked salmon surrounded by garnishes of fresh salad leaves, radishes, flowers, and more at Modena, one of the best Italian restaurants in DC found on OpenTable.
Expect creative takes on Italian classics at Modena. Credit: Modena

At this glam Downtown favorite, chef Joshua Hunt whips up modern seasonal dishes—think chicken liver sourdough with pickled apple salad and refined housemade pastas like butternut squash agnolotti and pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Come for weekday happy hour to enjoy shareable plates like fried calamari and scallop crudo and drink specials on classic cocktails like old fashioneds and martinis.

Feast on everything from red sauce classics to wood-fired pizzas and fancy steaks at the best Italian restaurants in DC. Whether you’re looking for a swanky celebration spot or a low-key neighborhood favorite, these top Italian restaurants in DC have you covered.

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