Aventino in Bethesda is a buzzing Italian spot serving Roman delights like homemade pasta and spritzes in a luxe, garden vibe—perfect for a lively meal out.
"Chef Mike Friedman introduced Bethesda diners to authentic Roman cuisine last year with the arrival of 130-seat Aventino. Highlights include pizza rossa (a traditional flatbread topped with tomato conserva, sea salt, and Sicilian oregano), tonnarelli cacio e pepe, and rigatoni carbonara. A $30 weekday lunch deal features pasta and a glass of wine. Right next door AP Pizza Shop, Friedman’s casual offshoot of D.C.’s All-Purpose, he pays tribute to the NY and New Jersey pizzerias of his youth. Find slices, signature pizzas (including a mix-and-match option made of individual slices), focaccia sandwiches, eggplant Parmesan, Italian-American antipasti, and chopped and Caesar salads." - Claudia Rosenbaum
"Chef Mike Friedman’s Roman destination will have several specials available à la carte, for those dining out on 2024’s last day. The New Year’s Eve specials include a festive prosecco cocktail, oysters, the return of Friedman’s popular caviar-adorned maritozzi, and more alongside Aventino’s full dinner spread. Reservations are available now via Resy." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"The crowd favorite “Bene al Limone” at Aventino is made with rye, Strega, limoncello, lemon, and peach bitters. Definitely worth a trip to Bethesda." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"Does a power lunch include two glasses of wine? Aventino, a new Italian addition to Bethesda, unveiled a lunchtime pasta special ($30) in July that includes a pair of pours from the Lazio region and any lunch pasta, including ricotta-filled ravioli, spaghetti with Calabrian chile and guanciale, and a classic cacio e pepe. The special extends through the weekend as well, only shutting down lunch on Mondays." - Emily Venezky
"The team behind D.C. mainstays the Red Hen, All-Purpose, and Boundary Stone brought Bethesda a pair of next-door Italian eateries in February. Chef Mike Friedman’s sit-down Aventino Cucina, a sprawling space with room for 135, specializes in Roman cuisine like antipasti, pasta, and homemade gelato, plus spritzes and Negronis stirred at its emerald and marble-clad bar. AP Pizza Shop, an ode to the New York and New Jersey pizzerias of Friedman’s youth, offers lunchtime slices, salads, and sandwiches. Dinner showcases All-Purpose’s popular lineup of pizzas and Italian-American starters like roasted garlic knots." - Tierney Plumb
