Centrolina
The market showcases a selection of imported Italian specialty items along with locally sourced meat, sustainable fish, and produce from local farms. The Centrolina kitchen produces daily hand crafted fresh pasta and sauces, antipasti and entrees available for takeaway. The Centrolina bakery offers a daily changing array of biscotti, crostata and cakes in addition to locally made bread from Bread Furst and a full service Barista bar featuring Vigilante coffee.
Safety precautions
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
The service was great and food delicious. I would return.
Amazing meals!!!
Excellent food and excellent service. We ste outside on nye and even though it was cold it was so worth it!
Had a great meal there. Food was excellent all around. They were well set up for outdoor dining, even on a night when the temperature was in the low 40's.
Food was outstanding! Outdoor dining was well spaced and in a cute area. Outdoor heaters worked well. Really enjoyed our experience.
Food was good, but appetizers and drinks were minuscule and overpriced.
Food was very very good. We had the mushroom and the crudo for appetizers and gnocchi, black cod and scallops for entrees. They were all excellent. Only very slight disappointment was the crudo, which for some reason was dry (as if it had been prepared ahead of time and sat in the fridge - I don’t know this to be the case, but that’s what it reminded me of). The flavors of the crudo were wonderful so we didn’t mind too much. We sat outdoors under heaters on either side of our table for four last week...somewhat chilly but worth it for the delicious meal.
After our first meal there, my friend and I agreed Centrolina's reputation as one of DC's top Italian restaurants is deserved. Pandemic-related allowances had to be made for the chilly (despite heat lamps), less-than-elegant outdoor setting, but the service and the food quality (a mushroom appetizer and a lamb shank were stand-outs) were reminiscent of fine European dining. Wine list mark-ups seemed excessive.
I was truly looking forward to a relaxing lunch on a chilly December day but I cut my stay short after just a bowl of soup and a drink. It was freezing and breezy inside and service was slow. I ate wearing my winter wool coat.
The reason it was "freezing and breezy" inside was because of the cold outdoor temperature and a malfunctioning front door that didn't close, letting cold air blast in and somehow through the dining space. Guests enter through a two-door air lock, but with the outside door stuck open much of the time, a lot of outside air blew through the dining room every time a guest or server entered or left. (Servers had to enter and exit because some guests dined outside.) I sat at the bar about 15 or 20 feet from the door. I never saw a guest or server manually shut the door that wouldn't close on its own.
Service was slow. It's true that I hoped for a relaxing meal, and told my server so, but one drink shouldn't mean it takes 70 minutes after being seated to be served a bowl of soup.
The bar stools lack back support, except for a 2-3 inch lip.
On the plus side, my server was very friendly, even though I think she could tell I was cutting my stay short. The staff seemed to be hustling, although that did not seem to speed up the delivery of my soup. And the mushroom soup itself tasted very good.
The restaurant wasn't too loud although in normal times a full house might be loud. And the ambiance, except for the unacceptable temperature, broken door, and indoor breeze, was attractive.
Lovely restaurant- only negative thing is it is a bit cold inside.
Our server very knowledgeable about food and wines. Gnocchi terrific.
Lovely Italian restaurant, with very attentive staff, and excellent variation in Italian cuisine. The white bolognese is delicious and truly unique!
You can tell the staff takes today's precautions seriously, whether dining in or outside.
The Black Cod was like butter. Once again, the chef did a great job of find unique ingredients.
Good and service were wonderful! The finest meal we have had in a long time.
Fantastic business dinner - service and delivery were exceptional, and the entire menu was prepared wonderfully with an exquisite attention to detail. Soup, pasta, pork, and seafood were perfect.
We had a great experience... the food was excellent, the timing ot he courses perfect (usually in the US they bring course one after the other! ). The recipes original and very tasty. Excellent findingns: a beatiful wine from Calabria, Ciro', Rabarbaro Zucca, e very creative cocktail (I mulled wine with limoncello and spices :).. I am vegetarian and there were tasty options for me as well.. All the recipes are cooked with local ingredients. Anyways, here a few pictures!
I will come back!!
The restaurant is contemporary and the food was great. The fungi appetizer was delicious and pork chops were very good.
This was our first indoor dining experience since the begin of the COVID pandemic. Not only was the food as spectacular as it was when we dined here prior, but we felt very safe.
We had a perfectly delicious anniversary dinner!
We went with the goal of trying the Neri pasta which was actually very good. I also had the gnocchi which was very greasy and the consistency of the gnocchi itself wasnt how I prefer it, it was too soft. Overall we had a good time. Server was very knowledgable!
Best food and service I’ve had in DC so far
Tim our waiter was amazing!!! It has become my go to pandemic outdoor restaurant.
Food is always delicious!!! Never disappointed!!!
This place is always good! Always thankful for the great meals over the years:)
Food was definitely unimpressive. As someone of Italian descent used to eat homemade Italian food, this was a washy, almost tasteless version of what real Italian food is
The food was delicious, and the service impeccable! We loved our server who recommended our drinks. The food was delicious - pasta perfectly al dente. The only thing is that the portions are quite small for the price. But given the nice ambience (we had a heat lamp to ourselves) and that it was quiet and sparse, I would recommend for a romantic dinner out.
Amazing food and service!!!
Looking forward to my next visit
Even in these dire COVID time, dining at Centrolina was a pleasurable experience, a way of enjoying some degree of normalcy
Had a great date night at Centrolina. It is one of my favorite spots because of the fresh ingredients!
Love the food and the service.
Wonderful service and excellent food! Patio with heaters.
Delicious food and excellent service.
Everything about Centrolina makes it worth a visit. We had outstanding service from Mossimo and excellent food. I highly recommend the octopus starter, but everything from appetizer to dessert will have us coming back. And a big shoutout to Chef Amy who always makes sure to come out and say hello.
Amazingggg food! Chef Amy Brandwein is a culinary genius. Very excited that I finally made it here for dinner. The service was absolutely incredible as well, I am so so pleased. You must eat here!
I had a great dinner at Centrolina last night. Everything was delicious as usual:)
Thank you for a great evening and services! My husband and I enjoyed celebrating his birthday at Centrolina on November 16.
I'm not a veggie person but I decided to try an all veggie menu - best decision that I've made when dining out! Service was terrific and CV/19 protocol clearly in place. Way to go Amy! Mario C
The recommended oyster soup was outstanding. The service always excels. The chef has to be the best on the East Coast. Beautiful decor, a true neighborhood gem!
Food and service was wonderful. Heaters were provided as promised. A beautiful evening overall. Would not hesitate a return.
Great date spot!
Bright and lively, modern Italian eatery located in the City Center section of DC features a wonderful range of Homemade pasta’s, salads, meats and seafood dishes.
Both the food and service were exceptional and I would highly recommend.
FAQs
You can order delivery directly from Centrolina using the Order Online button. Centrolina also offers delivery in partnership with Caviar. Centrolina also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 898-2426.
Centrolina is rated 4.8 stars by 1755 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. Due to local restrictions, this restaurant may not be accepting reservations at the moment.