Matera DC

Name: Matera DC
Address: 924 25th St NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20037-2152
Telephone: (202) 301-5401
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.2

4.2

44 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Top Tags:

Matera is a cozy, elegant Italian neighborhood restaurant set in historical Foggy Bottom neighborhood of D.C.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Oct 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Italian, American, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Daily 7:00 am–10:30 am Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(202) 301-5401
Website
http://www.materadc.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
924 25th St NW, Washington, DC 20037-2152
Neighborhood
Foggy Bottom
Parking details
None
Additional
Bar/Lounge

What 44 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.3Service
4.1Ambience
3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

44 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience4
Nice restaurant in hotel. Food was good and fairly priced. Small space but comfortable.
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SC
ShelleyC
Washington DC
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
As many people have mentioned, this is a great little find close to Kennedy Center, in a cute, residential area. A small restaurant, but great atmosphere; I’d say having a reservation is essential on the weekend. The Salmon and Tuscan Pappardelle were absolutely delicious, as were the specialty cocktails. Servers were attentive and friendly. Would definitely come here again pre- or post-theater.
Matera DCResponded on September 22, 2023
Hi Shelley, Thank you for sharing your review! It's wonderful to hear about your dining experience at Matera. We are glad that you had a fantastic time. We hope to host you again soon!
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CD
ConcernedDiner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 26, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience4
Service was horrible, one server was beyond rude. Food took way too long (the place wasn't even half full.
Matera DCResponded on August 28, 2023
Hi Concerned Diner, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent visit to Matera. We deeply apologize for the disappointing experience you had with our service. We are committed to providing great customer service and would like the opportunity to make this right. Please give us a call at (202) 301-5401 ext 2. Our sales manager Ryan will take care of this personally. We hope to find a solution as soon as possible. - MATERA Team
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l
lunchgirl
Washington DC
64 reviews
vip
4.0
64 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Enjoyed our dinner pre-theatre. Anderson was our server who was handling the orders of all of the patrons that night, but managed to keep smiling and checked to make sure all was well. We will be back.
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EO
EricO
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
great spot close to the Kennedy center for a pre-show dinner.
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J
Jerry
London
36 reviews
5.0
36 reviews
Dined on August 22, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Our meals were excellent, herb chicken, meatballs and linguine. And the Lemoncello was the perfect finish.
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IL
ILMDMAVA
Washington DC
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Service was great. Food was tasty but not amazing.
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h
hearty
Washington DC
45 reviews
4.0
45 reviews
Dined on August 15, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
The food was delicious and we really enjoyed our dinner, especially the chicken paillard. Warm bread and dipping oil to start was also a nice touch, and there are good wines available by the glass. It was moderately busy at 7pm, but not at all noisy. The ambiance was relaxing. Recessed lighting can be a little tricky if you get one of the tables where a light is harsh. I wonder what they can do about that... Our server, Anderson, was exceptionally attentive and helpful. He really was wonderful. We look forward to going back.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great meal for a group. I had the combination plate because I couldn’t make a decision. Service was kind and attentive.
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C
Channing
San Diego
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 10, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
Our service was great. Super efficient and friendly. The food was basic level quality for Italian. Nothing special. We ordered the NY PIzza. It was doughy and the sauce was extra sweet. It wasn’t good. They did remove from our bill without hesitation. The calamari was the only standout. It was perfectly made. Even our 11 year old liked it. Over all it’s overpriced for the quality of food.
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AA
AmyA
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent all around! Great if you are going to the Kennedy center
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MG
MortG
Washington DC
120 reviews
vip
5.0
120 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
After going to Dish + Drinks before performances at The Kennedy Center for years, we decided to try Matera, its replacement in The River Inn. We weren't disappointed. The interior of the restaurant is pretty much the same. Lots of 2- and 4-tops, with a "family table" easily seating 8 and space at the bar as well. The restaurant now has an Italian theme, and my wife and I found it appealing. We split a Tropic Salad to start. It was a decomposed salad with lots of fresh greens as a bedding, then topped with piles of avocado, hearts of palm, grape tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, a sectioned hard-boiled egg, and olives with a house vinaigrette on the side. For our entrees, my wife had the Herb Chicken, which she let me taste. The chicken was perfectly cooked and very tasty. It was accompanied by rice pilaf and sauteed vegetables. She finish the whole thing (which is rare for her). I had the Tuscan Pappardelle, which was delicious. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked. The pappardelle was also perfect. The accompanying cream sauce was perfect. I used the accompanying garlic bread, as well as the bread that was provided when we were seated, to soak up the sauce that remained in the dish after I finished the solids. The wine list isn't extensive, but there are lots of good choices. We went with a bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc that was on the "by the glass" section of the menu. It was reasonably priced and went well with our dishes. Our server, Anderson, was excellent, as was the rest of the waitstaff. Unfortunately, he told us he'd be leaving to go back into the Peace Corps in September. This is a small, out-of-the-way restaurant within walking distance from the Kennedy Center. If you're going to a performance there, or if you're in the neighborhood, you may want to try Matera for breakfast or dinner (they're closed for lunch).
Matera DCResponded on August 4, 2023
Dear MortG, We want to express our sincerest gratitude for taking the time to leave us a glowing five-star review. Your kind words and support mean the world to us. It brings us immense joy to know that you had a wonderful dining experience at Matera. Your review serves as a motivation for our entire team to continue striving for excellence and providing memorable experiences to each and every guest. Once again, thank you for choosing Matera and we hope to see you again soon !
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DR
DanielR
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience2
the stuff is friendly and nice, but place looks very small and outdated, also the food is very mediocre, nothing special at all at relatively high prices for the value
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Pre K Center dinner! Hidden gem Lovely space, small restaurant on quiet street, short walk to KC. Friendly helpful service. Had salmon which was done perfectly, as were fresh veggies, rice. Sauce on fish yummy. I do think everyone salts fish too much, but it didnt taste too salty. Nice cocktail and wine choices too.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Miami
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2023
overall2food1service4ambience3
The food was the most disappointing of all, pasta was overcooked and chopped into little pieces, horrible… the chicken had no flavor and the crust was extremely hard, asked for a second beer which was brought after the check was presented. Never again. WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE.
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CB
ChrisB
Baltimore
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on July 1, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience3
The restaurant is inside a hotel. We had made reservations, but our details were not confirmed when we showed up, so I wonder if there was really a need. The restaurant is very small, seating about 30-35(?), but the noise level was high, which I think was related to the acoustics of the room itself. I had read from several reviews that service was slow, so I made sure to allow plenty of time for the meal. The service was indeed slow, but the server was so apologetic I could not help but feel sorry for him; he said they were 1 person short. He was doing double duty as bar tender and food waiter. I ordered the lasagna, which was really good. The price for a main course meal for 2 of us (no appetizer, no salad, no desert) with a bottle of wine was $140, which isn't too bad for DC. The one disappointment was no bread served with the meal.
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F
Fishmom
Washington DC
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 1, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The food was delicious and Matera DC was so convenient to the Kennedy Center, where we were seeing a show. The service was a little slow, but we had plenty of time. It appeared that there were only three people working, and the restaurant was packed. We were a big group, which put more pressure on the server. Overall, we'll definitely go back.
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ND
NavyDoc
Washington DC
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on June 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Lovely evening - rapidly seated and presented with menus and water; service by Anderson professional, efficient and friendly; excellent wine selection; starters (bruschetta and caprese) and mains (shrimp florentine and eggplant) delicious (amazing flavors), nicely presented and more than satisfying! Tables somewhat small and close together (we recognize this is a small place), and ambient noise level quite high (until restaurant started to clear out). You have a great place with a great kitchen and restaurant team - we’ll be back!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, nice atmosphere , highly recommend
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DW
DanielW
Washington DC
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 29, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience4
First time there. Small-ish number of tables was appealing. Service was great. Food was just OK, drinks were good, and the location was very pleasant. I would eat there again. Good place to have a conversation with a friend.
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M
Mads
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on June 29, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience3
I will start with that the waiter was very nice, accommodated us when I called to let them know we would be 15 minutes late, and near the end of the meal it got busy, whereas we were the only ones there for almost an hour. Very nice atmosphere but food was very subpar for the price, basic and could make at home. We asked for extra peppers and onions in bolognese, and not only was there one piece of onion and pepper in it, when we asked which order had the extra as two people ordered the same thing, they said they both have peppers and onions. As well, we asked for garlic bread to have with our meal since we were all getting pasta. When our meals came, they already came with garlic bread and the waiter did not tell us it already came with it despite us explicitly saying we were ordering it for that reason. Felt like they were just trying to get extra money from us. Very disappointing experience.
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J
Jayvs
San Francisco
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 27, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience4
We were going to the theater, and a traffic maelstrom made us late for our reservation. We only had time for appetizers and a drink, so we really did not get the full dining experience at Matera DC. The drinks were pretty expensive, but the servers were excellent.
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NV
NolaVisitor
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 21, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience5
This is a lovely hotel restaurant. They set a good mood with soft lighting and a comfortable atmosphere. The night I had dinner there there were only a few other patrons and myself. I was greeted immediately and seated by a nice young man. He took my order and made me feel welcome. Two women were seated a few tables from me and basically sucked the air out of the room with their "planning meeting." They were loud and at one point one received a phone call and proceeded to shout very loudly, "Hey Baby" to a baby on the other end of a what was a Facetime call. She repeated "Hey Baby" five times. I counted. This is not the restaurant's fault and I just tried to tune them out. My dinner came quickly and I had ordered the garlic bread and the salad with arugula and a paneed chicken breast. Good dressing. Wilted arugula. The chicken breast was flavorless and not exactly what I'd call hot. I get the impression it might have been sitting more than a few minutes before it was plated and brought out to me. The garlic bread was okay, but not very hot and more chewy than crisp. I am pretty picky about my bread and wanted it to be more crispy than chewy, but this can usually be solved by buying the right french bread. I'm from New Orleans and I am probably a little biased, but I like what I like. However, with a little more seasoning and salt this meal could have been better. I give the meal a solid B+. The staff is excellent though. As for the banshee and her colleague shouting at the other table they finally packed it in and left before I was finished with my dinner. So, that was a relief.
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AF
AxelF
Washington DC
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Nice place. Great and courteous wait staff. Only issue is there is no parking.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience2
this place is one of my favorite places to go inside a hotel. the service was great and they had good drinks too.
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s
stever
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience1
4 slices of bread for 4 people. No bloody mary mix or tomato juice as a sub. No dinner salad with meal, only entree size.
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K
Kathy
Indiana
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience4
Good spot before a Kennedy Center event. Short walk to the Center.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience5
Food was meh. The restaurant that was there previously was so much better.
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SO
SusanO
Washington DC
7 reviews
2.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall2food1service2ambience2
Do not order the fish and chips; absolutely abysmal. Fish was clearly previously frozen -- breaded and frozen -- and tasted of the freezer. One piece was completely inedible. The burger wasn't much better; the two squared of what looked like Kraft Singles atop the patty weren't even melted. Items listed on the QR-code menu (e.g., crab cake sandwich and Reuben) were not listed on the physical menu and we were told that they were not available for dinner -- only as late-night bar snacks. Possibly the worst meal I have been served anywhere, any time, for any reason.
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CS
CharlesS
Baltimore
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
As one ages one learns the impact of certain decisions. Food choices is one of the areas that seems to get more restrictive. Phases are: whatever/I'll eat anything -to- I'm going to avoid red meat and stick to white meat or seafood/or seafood only -to- Vegetarianism -to- being a Vegan. These last two options are and becoming more mainstream. This restaurant offers three Vegetarian selections, one that can be made Vegan by removing cheese. I recommend that they offer a few Vegan Entrées, too. Having said that, our selections were delicious and the service accommodating.
1 person found this helpful
KB
KateB
Greater Boston
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on April 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were on a family vacation, it was a great place for our three generations. Good food and service, something on the menu for all. Fantastic atmosphere.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Coastal Georgia
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience2
Service was slow for it being almost empty. The server took a while to get our order and we had to constantly ask for our drinks because he forgot.
Matera DCResponded on April 7, 2023
Hi there, I am really sorry to hear that you had a subpar experience. We just had a soft opening and are still working on fixing some quirks including service and staffing. I would really appreciate if you can contact me at (202) 301 5401 ext 2 so that I can better address your concerns. Best Regards, Ryan
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JS
JohnS
Key West
6 reviews
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience3
Poor food once we got the correct order, wine mediocre, terribly understaffed
Matera DCResponded on April 7, 2023
Hi John, I am really sorry to hear that you had a subpar experience. I will do my best to follow up with the staff to address your concerns. However, please note that we just opened up and are still working on improving our service and the wine list. I would really appreciate if you can contact me at (202) 301 5401 ext 2 so that I can address your concerns. Best Regards, Ryan
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N
None
Hawaii
25 reviews
vip
3.0
25 reviews
Dined on March 25, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
We were hoping for an interesting menu. There were no specials selected by the chef the day we were there. It was a disappointing meal. Also, the service was slow.
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LL
LouLou23
Washington DC
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on March 21, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience3
Staff seemed inexperienced. Not knowledgeable at all. Very slow service considering there were only 6 people (including us) in the restaurant. Food was not very good. Maybe under new management? I don't know, but would not bother going there again.
Matera DCResponded on April 7, 2023
Hi Lou, I am really sorry to hear that you had a subpar experience. We just had a soft opening and are still working on fixing some quirks including service and staffing. I would really appreciate if you can contact me at (202) 301 5401 ext 2 so that I can better address your concerns. Best Regards, Ryan
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AD
ArlDCDiner
Washington DC
31 reviews
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Service was amazing. Such engaged and helpful waitstaff. Had the Limoncello cake for dessert and it's worth every calorie.
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M
Marseilles
Washington DC
52 reviews
vip
3.0
52 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience4
Good and waiter were fine. He, however, was tasked with waiting on all and there was no assistant to help in clearing tables. So, he got a bit overwhelmed when a number of parties appeared close in time.
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AE
AlisonE
Washington DC
79 reviews
5.0
79 reviews
Dined on March 15, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
Matera has great ambience and delicious food. Our server seemed a little under-trained or forgetful (we had to ask for a wine list, and we had to ask twice for bread). They told us that they had only been open for 4 weeks so I'm sure they're still working out the kinks.
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S
Sweetdee
Washington DC
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience4
The food was sub par and overpriced yet beautifully plated. I ordered the strip steak and received one spoonful (or less) vegetables and 4 slices of a small white potato. The staff were AMAZING.
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M
Marseilles
Washington DC
52 reviews
vip
4.0
52 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Matera has only been open for a couple of weeks. I decided to try a breakfast after a bike ride, for it's located behind my Foggy Bottom condo. The space has been nicely refurbished. Unfortunately, the morning chef had an emergency that prevented him from coming on duty, limiting the available menu options. However, I was able to order the French toast and bacon. The dish was nicely done with a side of fruit. The waiter was very attentive, too. I'll try a dinner sometime in the coming weeks.
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FAQs

Matera DC is rated 4.2 stars by 44 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Oct 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

924 25th St NW, Washington, DC 20037-2152

Additional information

Neighborhood
Foggy Bottom
Hours of operation
Daily 7:00 am–10:30 am Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Cuisines
Italian, American, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Additional
Bar/Lounge

Website
http://www.materadc.com/
Phone number
(202) 301-5401

Matera DC

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 44 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Matera DC restaurant rated?

Is Matera DC currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information