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Our Signature Bucatini with Spicy Neapolitan Ragu - Caruso's Grocery - DC, Washington, DC
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Caruso's Grocery - DC

$31 to $50
Italian
1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003-3030

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 37 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Please note that we are not offering Restaurant Week at our DC location.

Located at 914 14th Street SE in Washington, DC.

Caruso’s Grocery is modeled after the classic, Italian-American "red sauce" joint. You know the one: red banquettes, a killer chicken parmesan, Sinatra pouring through the speakers. If you’re looking for modern interpretations of a chef's take on the classics, you won’t find them here.

A joint venture from Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Partner Matthew Adler.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Matt Adler

From the OpenTable editors: Named the best Italian-American restaurant in the city by the Washington Post, Caruso’s Grocery is a love letter to the Italian-American joints chef Matthew Adler grew up with, including one run by his father in upstate New York. The menu leans into classics like spaghetti and meatballs, alfredo and penne alla vodka—all served in a throwback dining room outfitted with big red booths and black-and-white photos. Pair your food with an "Antipasti" dirty martini and dig in.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Market Cuisine
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (202) 661-0148
  • Website
    http://www.carusosgrocery.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Location
    1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003-3030
  • Neighborhood
    Capitol Hill
  • Cross street
    14th and Pennsylvania Ave SE<br />(Entrance is on 14th Street)
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Potomac Avenue
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,319 people are saying

Caruso's Grocery - DC reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Washington, D.C. Area

    Italian

  • District of Columbia

    Best Value

  • District of Columbia

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Caruso's Grocery in DC offers an "amazing experience" with "incredible" service and "fantastic" Italian dishes. Guests praise the "friendly and attentive" staff and "cozy" ambiance. Highlights include the "best Italian" food in the area, featuring standout dishes like the "spicy Neapolitan ragu" and "Alfredo." Definitely a must-visit for Italian cuisine lovers.
1,319 Reviews

  1. Ryan VIP

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great service! One of the best restaurants in DC

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  2. Brandon

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible service. The vibe was very nice. The food was delicious and the drinks were, too! Would recommend the calamari.

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  3. Ashley

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We Loved this restaurant and we had excellent service!

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  4. Daniel

    Washington, D.C. Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Spicy ragu was delicious. The cannolis were fine but I expected more given the quality of the pasta and restaurant. I would definitely go back for dinner but may forego the dessert.

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  5. Allyson VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From F&B to service, Caruso's truly never misses.

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  6. Randy

    Washington, D.C. Area9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best restaurant in DC! Every dish is delicious. But, the Alfredo is perfection!

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  7. Glenn

    Washington, D.C. Area16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous restaurant. Best Italian I have had in a long time. The atmosphere is great -- it is a relatively small and intimate restaurant. Everything is appropriate -- the bar, the tables, service, and the food -- oh my. The meatballs are incredible and the chicken parm was like my grandmothers. Perfect. Will be going again.

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  8. Jasmine VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Undoubtedly one of the best Italian spots in the area. There were genuine smiles from the moment I walked into the establishment and was greeted by Yssis (sp?). Pedro made the best recommendations, from the extra spicy neapolitan ragu, to the drinks and tiramisu. Jordan and the other staff were also so kind, checking on me whenever they walked past. Great food, but an even greater experience because of the people on the team. 10/10 recommend.

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  9. Matt VIP

    New Orleans / Louisiana1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    It was good, homestyle Italian cooking. Pretty tasty. 180 for 1 app, 2 pasta dishes, 5 cocktails and tip

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  10. Aman

    Baltimore / Maryland3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great experience at Caruso's grocery! They all greeted us for our anniversary and brought complimentary champagne. We started with calamari and caesar salad, both of which were good. The calamari could have used a bit more salt/seasoning, but the lemon aioli made up for it. The real stars were the ricotta gnocchi and ragu. Both pasta dishes were well made and I kept wanting to switch back and forth, luckily we were sharing both. The oreo cheesecake to finish was a great way too end the night, nothing too fancy as expected, but tasted fresh with a soft texture rather than a cheesecake you can tell was frozen. Overall, service was super nice, just a bit slow at times but it was busy. But food came out quickly and overall no real complaints, definitely recommend!
    Caruso's Grocery - DCResponded on June 22, 2025
    Thank you so much for spending your anniversary with us—we’re honored to have been part of your celebration! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the pasta, especially the gnocchi and ragu (a favorite combo), and that the Oreo cheesecake hit the sweet spot to end the evening. We also appreciate your thoughtful notes—the feedback about the calamari seasoning and pacing is helpful and will be shared with the team. And we're so glad the warm welcome and bubbly helped kick off the night on a festive note. Hope we get to celebrate many more milestones with you in the future—cheers to you both!

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FAQs

Caruso's Grocery - DC offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 661-0148.

Caruso's Grocery - DC is rated 4.9 stars by 1319 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. District of Columbia
  5. Capitol Hill

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 37 times today
Google Map for Caruso's Grocery - DC

1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003-3030

Additional information

  • Cross street
    14th and Pennsylvania Ave SE<br />(Entrance is on 14th Street)
  • Neighborhood
    Capitol Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Market Cuisine
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Potomac Avenue
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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