1120 Maine Ave SW

I really wanted to check out the Christmas decor over at the wharf but finding last minute reservations for dinner at our usual spots like La Vie was hard. Officina had plenty of open reservations. When we got here, the place seemed fairly empty, at least on the ground level. We were seated on level 2, which was somewhat busy but def not its full potential. Level 3 has a heated patio, but it was closed. The place has a dark and moody, yet inviting vibe. I really liked the cozy looking bar on level 2. Fairly open concept kitchens with very clean countertops. Started with the burrata and Ricotta crostini. Both were pretty well done dishes. I will say that the olive oil they used to drizzle on top of the burrata tasted stale, which is a shame - after all, there an Italian restaurant. For the main course, I had agnolotto di zucca ( veg), Lily had the risotto off their specials menu and Ragz opted for the branzino. I absolutely loved my agnolotto - very pretty looking, yes but also very delicious. Perfect buttery rich sauce, pillowy stuffed pasta and perfectly cooked veggies on top. The flavor was a great mix of soft fall flavors and a bit of a crunch from pumpkin seeds. Ragz loved his branzino - def hit at our table. I also enjoyed lily's Risotto but she felt it was more toothsome than she would have preferred. The flavors were delicious though - a light tangy sauce. We also shared the side of baby potatoes which while cooked well, seriously lacked seasoning and were sadly fairly forgetful. For desserts, I loved my panacotta and it was also a pretty big serving. Lily and Ragz being coffee lovers shared the tiramisu ( very well made) and Ragz also got the pistachio gelato - this was okay, not that great tbh. Overall good experience and I might come back!

We came here for lunch on the day before Thanksgiving. A quiet day as it was an off time. It's a two story restaurant, and thus, they sat us on the ground floor bar not the view terrace. The place has a clean industrial loft-like vibe. Service was fine. Food took a bit to get out, guessing it was a down time in the kitchen. Food was good. We had Italian Chop Salad, gnocchi, a hero sandwich, gazpacho, and bruschetta. It all was great if a bit overpriced. I think it reflected the view, which we did not get. They ought to have a discounted bar price.

My family and I planned to go to Officina's location at the wharf for my sister's birthday. Our hostess was super chatty and took the cake I brought right away, which made me feel welcomed immediately. We were seated on the top floor which is a closed off patio. The heaters kept us warm and we had a great view of the waterfront. I ordered the lobster roll and it's possible that my experience is slightly biased from a recent trip to Boston, but I didn't find the lobster roll that impressive. I was not expecting the lettuce and I felt that they did not offer a lot of lobster relative to the amount of sandwich bread. I also didn't love the sauce on the sandwich either. We were also charged an additional $7 on top of our bill+tip because we brought a cake from an outside establishment. So that's something to be mindful of as well!

I came in for a business dinner here a couple of days ago and had a decent time. Although they didn't have my favorite beer and the replacement beer wasn't very good - the service was decent and the salad, the main course, and dessert was tasty and well liked by almost everyone in the group. The other thing I liked is that the acoustics of this place are good and it does not get very loud when you have too many people around . I would be happy to come back again in the near future.

Our server was great. Food was fabulous and the atmosphere is very nice. They have outdoor seating but it was a bit chilly to sit out there in February despite being heated.

Looking for a no drink, Limited Brunch menu with individual items? This is the place for you. A sure sign would have been empty seats and tables (and bar), an we decided to stay. Although the meatballs were delicious, the avocado crostini was average. The charcuterie board options are limited and you almost pay per item you want on the board. This experience was nothing to brag about... although if you want drinks and a great outdoor space to lounge - go to the top floor. They have a full bar, and great view of the wharf and fisherman wharf. Not impressed with this brunch dining experience. I hear in September they will be having drag brunch... can't wait.

This experience was great - the food we chose were excellent with decent portions. I was unsure of how I would like the food based on more recent reviews, but our pasta dishes, wines and desserts were great. Our server was helpful and offered to let us taste two wines before choosing our glass. She also made great suggestions even though we didn't end up choosing any of them. Ambiance on the terrazza was wonderful. It was airy and sunny, but most of it is inside so in inclement weather you can still sit out there. It is really well done with plants and spacious seating. I want to come back to the terrazza for wine Wednesday!

A friend recommended we check out this location for happy hour, which included both drinks and small bites. There are 3 floors and happy hour is only available on the first floor. It was fairly empty for it to be HH on Friday, so the staff was able to move our reservation to the first floor. HH: The menu on the website has not been updated in a while as it differed what was actually served in the restaurant. I got the Ciao Bella drink and Steak skewers which were both really good!! My friends got the crab cake slider which was sooooooo small but they said it was good. I also ordered dinner, which the portion was very small as well but tasted good! We later decided to go the rooftop which is all table seating. It was a nice view from the rooftop! To finish off our time there, we got dessert which I got the Panna Cotta. Overall, I'm between a 3.5 and 4 I enjoyed my experience with good food and drinks just the prices did not match the quantity of food expected. I would definitely go back for HH mostly for drinks.

The team was so kind and welcoming. We went in for an early dinner. Warmly welcomed. Given table options and we chose to sit on 2nd floor and had a delightful wait staff. Ordered the calamari and the crostini with ricotta. Huge portions and delicious. Perfectly salted and seasoned. Dinner was bucatini and ravioli in a delicious brown butter with truffles. All the pasta was cooked perfectly and flavors were spot on. Definitely will be back soon!

Average experience for brunch. I tried the Officinia Burger. Although I understand that they didn't have BBQ sauce, it was still lacking something. Fries had some nice seasoning on them but came out somewhat cold. Service was OK. I definitely wouldn't drive across town but if you are on the Wharf looking for a bite, this is an ok option. Oh, the brunch menu outside is the only option while inside also has the full menu.

HAPPY HOUR REVIEW: Great happy hour until 7pm weekdays. Bar only. Based on the food we tried, I wouldn't come back and pay full price for dinner but for the deals we got, it was good. The server was super friendly and helpful.

My friend and I went to Officina for DC's restaurant week. Their brunch menu was $25 for 3 courses. When we got there, there were only a few tables seated but the staff looked so stressed out and chaotic. We tried to act overly calm to reassure our waitress the whole time because everytime she came to check in on us, she looked so worried! (the service was great) Food wise, my friend and I had their meatball with bread crumbs and a grits-like mashed potato. The dish was on the salty side and a little grainy, but the meatball was fresh and filled with flavor. I definitely enjoyed my steak more. The sauce complimented the dish so well & the potatoes were perfectly roasted and salted. My friend's carbonara was a little disappointing, unfortunately. The sauce was a little thick and the noodle choice was a little questionable (a little too thick). However, for $25, we really can't complain! To finish the meal off, we enjoyed their tiramisu and cannoli. Both desserts were solid...nothing exceptional, but tasty! You really can't beat a 3-course brunch for $25, especially nowadays. I was happy I got to experience Officina for my first time through their deal.

I always recommend Officina to friends for a perfect date night spot so I'm happy I finally got to experience it for summer restaurant week 2024. We say inside but the views from the balcony seemed really nice and romantic. The food was really tasty and came out quickly, probably because they were not offering their regular menu at the time. Service was great and our server (Jose?) was really knowledgeable. We did the wine pairing with our 3 course meal and a friend did the mocktail pairing which was a nice option for someone who doesn't drink alcohol. I'm still dreaming about that steak and tiramisu. My friends had the branzino and kept praising the sauce it came in. I will say it seems like some of the restaurant week menu items are not offered on the standard menu so be mindful of that when choosing to dine here. I would definitely come back to try out other options and check out the rooftop.

Food was decent. Nothing more and nothing less. Portion sizes are also not a fan favorite with the party of 5 I was with my last Officina trip. Service was pretty good although I asked for recommendations between two dishes and didn't get an answer at all. They just started listing off all the items on the entree menu. Ambiance is always nice. My espresso martini was delicious but TINY.

Stumbled into this restaurant on the wharf looking for somewhere with ac and a place to sit on a Saturday afternoon. Immediately noticed the Michelin sign on the wall and decided to grab a table, even though only the cafe area was open. Our waiter, Alex, was so nice, he explained the menu and gave his favorites. We each ordered something different but passed bites around the table for all to try. We were worried it would be a heavy meal for 4pm on a 90° day so we chose lighter dishes and drinks. I loved my Cacio é Pepe but the real star of the show was definitely the Ravioli. We all loved the tiramisu and the cannoli for dessert. Overall happy with our experience!

I would give this place ZERO stars if I could. The staff is very nice and drag was good. The food is TRASH. Worse than trash. We got "pizza" , it was so bad, god there is no comparison. They smother led red sauce and cheese, which was stuck like rubber and fell out. Just thick piece of cheap bread. Second, we got calamari, trash, the cheapest calamari pieces and cold. Ughh. I feel so bad eating this food.

We went for the Drag Brunch that Officina offers and it was such a wonderful experience! There is a reservation fee with the ticket, but this gets you a drink as you are being welcomed to your seat. What I LOVED about this experience is that it's really catered to each individual group. Each reservation is seated at a table are them and the staff are efficient in making sure you feel welcomed. The performers were amazing and fun. We just had the most amazing time! It's also a BEAUTIFUL spot at the wharf!

We came here for lunch and the restaurant was almost completely empty. When we walked in we were almost looked at like we were in the wrong place and got slightly confused as to where we were supposed to be. Once seated it took awhile to get menus, then another while for drinks, and then apps, and then for food. Overall a very long lunch for how empty the restaurant was. Drinks are... small and expensive. Servers are not attentive for what seems to be a high end restaurant. Food overall was mediocre. If I was at a low price restaurant I would be raving. This place is just not very good. Lobster roll had shell in it. Wish we would have read reviews before coming here. "of Michelin-star Masseria" my butt.

Came here after work and it was empty at first but got busy after an hour. They had a nice happy hour menu. I was amazed with how our server was able to memorize everyone's food and drink order when there were around 8 people the table. He also was very honest when I was going to get an app for myself and told me I should share it with my coworker who was ordering the same thing since it was a lot of food. The complimentary dip was spicy but tasty. I got the Bruschetta and it was very good but I liked dipping the chips in it more rather than the bread it came with, the bread was dry and hard to bite into. Besides that great spot, not too far from the metro.

Ofificina is located right when you enter the wharf and has a main level as well as a gorgeous upstairs that overlooks the water. We came here for restaurant week brunch which was $25 for 3 courses. We started off sharing the polpette which on their regular menu and was incredibly delicious. We also split the crostini which was good. We had the rigatoni carbonara which is not on their regular menu but showcased their house made pasta. Cannoli for dessert were delicious as well. The service was incredible and our waitress explained everything on the menu in great detail as well as offering additional information about the dishes and how they are made. Our water glasses were never empty and dirty dishes were cleared off quickly. Servers clearly work together as a team. Service fee of 20% and a 3.5% initiative 82 fee are included on your bill but both were listed on the menu. We will certainly be back!

Went for drag brunch yesterday. My review will focus on the food and ambiance. For the music the speaker in the northwest corner of the third level (by the bar) was blown out and did not hold up well. It spat out loud crackle that was perhaps louder than the music itself. The chicken burger was pretty good. The bloody Mary's were also quite nice. Service was a bit slow due to the crowd and the operating conditions: it isn't easy delivering food with performers also in the same space. Expect delays and difficulty communicating with the waitstaff when it's loud. Parking tip: park off the wharf at the portals; flat 15 on weekends instead of 10/hr

First time at Officina but not our last! We had an early reservation at 5:30 to make our 7pm show at the Anthem. The space had a cool, sophisticated vibe without being stuffy. Light, open and airy! We were seated promptly and our server, Dora came to greet us. She was fantastic, friendly, attentive! Couldn't have asked for a better server. We ordered some drinks first while we looked at the menu. Trying to watch what we eat so we decided to order some things to split and made it a tapas night for ourselves. We ordered the arancino which came with 2 large portions. Absolutely delicious, hot, and cooked perfectly. We ordered the Polpette which was 3 meatballs over polenta. So good! We did a charcuterie with 2 meats and 2 cheeses. Highly recommend the whipped ricotta! This was really enough for us but we had ordered the tagalatelle bolognese. We were delighted to see it was a small portion we could easily split. All of the food was delicious. We skipped dessert not only bc we were full, but we had a show to get to. We will definitely be back!

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. IF YOU DO VISIT -- do not order the pasta if you have a heart condition or are on a lower sodium diet. No modification will benefit you. I ordered cacio e Pepe which is going to be salt because of the cheese. It was completely inedible because it was so salty -- like ocean water salty! The manager had the kitchen prepare it again with no additional cheese on top. SALTY!! They made me oil and garlic - can't mess that up. SALTY!!!! I think (and the manager never came back) that tonight the kitchen had put whole bunch of salt into the pasta water and then they kept using the pasta water over and over, which would be the reason why the pasta was so salty. My husband and son also had pasta and it was salty, but not as salty as mine. For a very high end restaurant, I would never eat here again. As a resident of the area, my son will never eat here because Officina ruined a special meal. What I don't understand is why the manager didn't even provide an other remedy other than trying to make the dish taste less salty, which they never did. I bet if I ordered something else, like a seafood dish, without pasta, it may have been fine. However, the manager never came back and asked me, and the waiter seemed so clueless. He kept telling me he took it off the bill. We were never offered a complimentary dessert or anything. Lower end restaurants do that, but Offinina didn't seem to care. Now you know why they're not rated in the Michelin guide anymore. I'd also like to note that they were not busy at all. I'm a honest reviewer and I've never had to write something this bad in a long time.

I went to Officina and sat at the bar. I started with a glass of Sangiovese. I usually order a Cabernet Sauvignon, but I have to admit the glass of wine was really good! I had the Polpette, and it was okay. The polenta had a nice creamy texture, the meatballs had a very distinct taste, maybe veal, which was really nice, and the tomato sauce was okay. Something had too much salt; I'm not sure if it was the polenta, meatball, or tomato sauce. I ordered tiramisu for dessert, and it was okay. It wasn't the worst, but it wasn't the best I have had. The service at the bar had either very high points or very low points. It wasn't consistent until a new bartender showed up. She was on point and did a great job!

We ate here for the first time for brunch during restaurant week, and the entire experience was great. The service here was really a stand out. Our waitress walked us through the entire food and drink menu. Also our water glasses were always full. The staff was working hard, it definitely had an a very upscale vibe. The food that we had was incredible. They start you off with a free homemade bread basket that was so good, I should have asked for more. They also make their pasta fresh in house and you could tell. Since it was restaurant week, they had a three course brunch menu that we tried. We started with the polpette and crostini. I personally loved the polpette, the meatballs were delicious and the sauce on top was the perfect addition. I would go back just to eat the polpette. For the entree I had the rigatoni carbonara which was very good. I think I personally learned that I'm not a big carbonara fan but theirs was very good and the egg on top was a good enhancement to the dish. Finally I got a cannoli for dessert. The shell was crunchy and the ricotta was creamy and sweet, but it was so small. You got like two bites out of the cannoli. I also ordered the espresso martini to drink which was pricey but delicious. The had a huge cocktail menu, so you can find something you would like. This location is on the wharf and has a great view of the water. It looked like the outdoor seating was nice but it was too cold for that the day we visited. The inside seating was great though, it was very pretty inside.

All I can say is wow, to start off the host was very friendly, she brought us to the top floor for a nice rooftop stop which started our dinner off great, cute view of the river. Then we ordered a bottle of wine and some espresso martinis. Such a unique twist on the espresso martini as it used lavender and I was pleasantly surprised. For our meal I got the Bucatini all'Amatriciana with pancetta and red onion, it was easily one of the best pastas in DC. We also got the steak with kale and I am amazed by both, the kale specifically was super flavorful and crispy. Price point, we did get a lot of drinks and a bottle of wine with our meals so it was pricey but we knew it was going to be going into this, if you are ready to spend money you'll love it.

Had an epic dinner at Officina tonight. Was in town for travel and was told to check out this spot. I was lucky enough to have Aire be my server at the bar. She was so personable and had recommendations for all courses. It was my first time here so she was very helpful in pointing me in the right direction. They also have a great happy hour menu! Would come back in my travels. Aire was very knowledgeable as well with the wine and what would pair best with my dish!

IMPORTANT NOTE: 3.5% initiative 82 fee will be added to your bill. Tip at your discretion. Vibe: Fancy. Dark jeans. Button up shirt. Popped collar. Food: Flavourful, packs a taste bud punch. Bread and olive oil is well worth the $2.50. Value: Ya get what you pay for. Homemade noodles are worth it. Service: Great, attentive. My water glass was never empty.

Ate on the patio and had a wonderful experience! Our server was attentive and friendly, plus the food was amazing! I also had a cocktail that was magnificent. A little pricey, but worth it! Highly recommend - great vibes and delish food!

Don't bother. We were excited to go here for the view and the vibe. The chairs are comfy and it is a great date place. From the moment we got there we felt rushed. The chicken was not consistent ~ some bites were chewy and others dry. Servings were small so eat before you go. They can't make a Mai Tai even with all the ingredients. The ga that served us was kind of rude or very inexperienced. There's so many other options I wouldn't waste your money.

Awesome location, good service and decent food. My Caesar salad was great, we also tried some of the appetizers including the focaccia bread, calamari, arancini, and it was all good. I ordered the ravioli entree, and although everything was cooked and presented fine, wasn't to my taste; it wasn't bad just not what I expected; wish I'd ordered something different. There were a number of items in the Yelp reviews and pics that I wanted to try that looked really good, but they weren't on the menu, too bad.

Poor service and disappointing bread overshadow a nice ambiance and solid food, especially for its price point and expectations. --- A good friend and I came here on a Thursday night for Winter Restaurant Week. Masseria is still on my bucket list, but I was eager to try this offering on The Wharf by Chef Stefanelli. While I appreciate the relative financial value and deals during Restaurant Week, I also understand they are typically more crowded and service may be a bit slower than normal. The interior of the two-story restaurant is very nice, and the large interior windows allow you to look outside to the river for a scenic view while you eat on the second floor. The service, however, was very rough. While the greeting and seating was smooth, the rest of the night had several unfortunate incidents. Our server took our order for the 3-courses, and we each got a drink pairing (I went with the wine, my friends with the cocktails). The tl'dr is that although the restaurant was a bit busy, they were not understaffed. It just seemed like they were not well managed or good at remembering orders... I'll speak in detail to the service by course before getting to the food itself. For the first-course, all our food came out at separate times. The meatballs I ordered and our drinks came out first, and then shortly after the complimentary bread. I was given the wrong wine to pair with the meatball, but was fine as it technically paired with the bread my friend had ordered. After we had finished the meatballs the waitress asked if we had ordered all out food (we said no), and then had to ask us for our entire order again. She came back 15 minutes later to confirm it again. For the entrees, the food came out together and promptly. However, we did not get our drinks for at least 15 minutes. We couldn't grab out waitresses attention, but there were several employees hanging out at the bar, so we called one over and asked for our drinks. They then eventually came. Dessert course was fine, although drink pairing did come about 5 minutes after the food. Because I talked too much on service, I'll rapid fire on food: - The complimentary bread was dry and plain - very disappointing - The meatballs as an appetizer were good, although simple - The sourdough with ricotta was OK, again the bread seemed a bit plain - My entree of Rigatoni w/ Goat Rogu was good, although not out of this world. Certainly did not make up for the poor service. The wine pairing with it was OK - although not a must-have by any means. - The tiramisu was good, and paired well with the lambrusco to end the night. I was torn between giving this review a 2 or a 3. For the food and atmosphere this is likely a 3-4 range. But for the service, and the expectation that comes with the price-point this restaurant comes with (~$100+ per person), I decided to bump this to a 2. There are many great Italian restaurants in the area at lower price points where I don't feel compelled to come here again.

It was a HOT day and we stumbled into Officina in search of drinks, a/c, and some good food! They did not disappoint! The food was light and tasty, our server was attentive, and the cold drinks hit the spot!

This places has warm, industrial vibe to it. I was here for a group birthday dinner in a private dining room. It was reasonably priced as we paid ahead of time. It was family style which made serving easy, with a preset menus discussed beforehand. They were very organised and our server was good vibes. As out of towners, this was a great D.C. hangout. I highly recommend. It's also more upscale than casual so dress UP! It's good for dates as well!

We came for the half off pasta night on Wednesday and for the price it's honestly not bad! We had a res for 4 people and they seated us inside. There is an offer for a 1/2 carafe for $26 as well. It may be even better to try and go Wednesdays from 5-7pm to get both the half off pasta dishes and happy hour drink prices. I got the bucatini which was in a tomato sauce with pancetta and pecorino. It was pretty good and the portion was good. It was enough to finish in one sitting when full price the portion would be a little bigger. Overall it was good, but I think only worth it on Wednesdays when it's half off. I'd say 3/5 for food but service was good and it's in a great location at the wharf. Food came out pretty quick and waiters kept coming by to refill our waters.

I loved the appetizers, desserts, and extensive cocktail menu. The atmosphere is great, very open and inviting - right on The Warf. Service was fast and attentive. More on the pricey side, but a nice treat. Would visit again.

This place is a disaster. Went with a group of friends and had to wait forever for our orders. Many items on the menu weren't available and the food is overrated. Stay away.

Officina, a delight to the senses. An authentic Italian experience. The pasta was yummers and the prosciutto appetizer with hot honey was to die for. Was the wine overpriced? Sure. But who can carb without wine?

Girls night out and added officina to the agenda. Who doesn't love pasta on a Wednesday night?!! We arrived right during happy hour and grabbed bubbles from the limited happy hour menu. Beautiful space right at the wharf we sat in the bottom level near the cafe. I loved it this night that had soft R&B playing. I originally heard of this place because they use to do 1/2 off pasta dishes on Wednesday.... The waiter informed us that they no longer do .... Sad sad cause they should bring it back!!! They do have 1/2 off wine on Wednesdays if you are into that. The service was a bit slow. We ordered Calamari, spaghetti and the gnocchi. All tasted yummy with flavor but heavy on the sauce.

My friend and I attended the after party for the Hispanic Heritage Awards this past Thursday and came to Officina to celebrate. We were able to meet some of the individuals celebrated tonight and enjoy good music, lighting, a nice little snack bar and great vibes. Prices for drinks are definitely up there but given the location, it's your call! The service was great, the servers were kind and having a good time with us. The views from their outdoor decks offered some nice fresh air as well!

First tip: make reservations! They don't take walk ins after a certain hour or if they reach capacity. Went for pasta Wednesday, ordered the pappardelle and gnocchi. Both were delicious, gnocchi wasn't mind blowing but the cheese was flavorful and gnocchi had a good texture, but overall just tasted like marinara and similar to something I could have made at home. Can't put a finger on what parppadelle tasted like exactly or reminded me of but was very good and would get again. Not a ton of meat though. Both portions seemed like they could be filling but we were still hungry after! So keep that in mind. Neither meal was worth the normal $22+ but definitely $11-13. Would go again, just make sure i have a snack beforehand.

My friend recently invited me to join him on 1/2 price pasta Wednesday at Officina, so immediately my answer was: yes! Located at the Wharf, most are already familiar with the parking and traffic so I always arrive early enough to give myself a chance to find parking and walk. Officina is located at the "end" of the street, but it's easy to spot with the sign. Once I got inside, the downstairs almost had a large diner vibe, but was closed. There was a 1st floor host that checked us in, and then we headed upstairs where we met another host and were seated. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant and the fact that there was an open kitchen! Food: I wasn't overly impressed with my pasta. I opted for the Parppadelle off of the Pasta Wednesday menu. It was a smaller portion than I'm used to, but no complaints because between that and the starter bread I was full! I'd give it a 3.5/5 on taste, but I certainly finished my dish. However, my friends ordered the Cacio e pepe and the buccatini carbonara and didn't really enjoy or finish theirs. I'd say the food was decent, but far from the best pasta I've ever had. Service: Our waiter was great! Prompt and friendly with a side of jokes. I also appreciate the hosts accommodating our last minute group size change and the managers (?) ensuring the final bill was accurate and accounted for the pre-paid table deposits. Ambiance: While both floors had a totally different vibe and layout, I could easily appreciate dining in either space. Again, I love the layout upstairs including the open kitchen and the amazing views of the Wharf. Overall, I'd give Officina 4 stars for the experience combined with the food. I hope to visit again outside of pasta Wednesday (although that's a brilliant idea) and try some other menu items.

I had such an unexpectedly amazing time for my birthday! We sat at the bar just to do a little happy hour, but the bar staff was so amazing that they turned it into a birthday celebration with delicious appetizers, interesting drinks and even birthday cake with a candle! There were three friends working the bar together and they couldn't have been more fun - it was like having our own little show - lol! Thank you so much for making my Monday, November 28 birthday awesome. I wish I could mention you each by name, but I blame my husband for losing the receipt that we wrote them on. Lol! Warning - we will be back! :-)

The food here is okay, nothing special especially for the price it's at. The views are great and I did enjoy coming here for happy hour with my friends.

Tickets for an 8pm show at Arena Stage brought us to The Wharf for an early dinner. We had reservations for 5:45 at Officina and were seated promptly - it was the only expedient par of the entire experience. Our waitress was sweet and clearly still learning English. So we were patient with her as we gave and explained our drink orders and later our food selections. But everything arrived so slowly. When each item finally arrived, it was simply average. We skipped dessert because, after two hours, we simply didn't find a reason to be late for our show for what would likely be a disappointing final course. Would we go again? Probably not. Should others avoid? Also, probably not. It's likely we hit it on an off night.

There is something about a high-end chain that always sits different. It lacks the charm and personal feel of a "mom and pop", but still retains some amazing qualities that are worth exploring. Oficina hits this perfectly. Overall setting and view are incredible. In DC's wharf, it has incredible views of the Potomac. It is also very formulaic. It lacked individuality. The drinks were spectacular and food was great but not spectacular. The gelato (we had pistachio) made the evening for us. By the time we finished, the mercato closed and weather prevented us from exploring the roof deck. I will definitely come back and give this another try.

Ambience on the second floor was beautiful, especially around Christmastime. Very disappointed in the service and the food. When we arrived, the staff seemed visibly upset about our arrival. After they audibly disagreed with each other in front of us, we found out that they take turns seating people upstairs. The staffer seating us complained that it was not their turn as they were escorting us up the elevator. Very awkward. The meal itself was over salted and nothing special for the price tag. (Really delicious wine though.) When our waiter came back to ask us if we wanted anything else, we were told the kitchen had closed 15 minutes prior. We had planned to order more appetizers and dessert, so a heads up and opportunity to put that order in would have been nice. I would definitely not return. There's so many better options in DC, especially at the Wharf.

Friend and I went for DC restaurant week. The food and drinks were excellent, which is why I'm giving 4 stars. However, the service was subpar at best. Our waitress forgot our order halfway through the prix fixe even though she had written it down. Another waiter showed up with a second round of the same dishes at one point. And worst of all, we each got a drink pairing, but our drinks weren't even delivered until we were almost done with the matching course. The bad service was all confusing because they were not busy and there were tons of staff just standing around.

This Italian restaurant on the wharf is very attractive inside - traditional Italian themes made modern. We stopped there before attending a concert at the anthem which is all walkable from the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop. There is the option of casual/quick dining downstairs, or sit down upstairs. We opted for quick dining since we were in a bit of a rush. Less than pleased with the food, the flavors were off and not as tasty or filling as we had hoped. Service was slow even after we had stated we had limited time.