DuPont Italian Kitchen

There’s a kind of sacred honesty in simplicity. A refusal to bend to trends, to over-garnish, to gild the lily with foam or flamboyance. DuPont Italian Kitchen, tucked into the pulsing rhythm of Washington DC’s 17th Street corridor, doesn’t shout. It murmurs with the confidence of a place that knows exactly what it’s doing, and does it damn well. 🍝 **The Cacio e Pepe** Some dishes transport you. This one arrests you mid-thought and sits you down in a tiny Roman trattoria with chipped walls and wine-stained tables. The pasta is creamy, yes, but not heavy. The pepper sings, not screams. There's restraint, wisdom, and a kind of culinary modesty that only comes from respect for the form. It’s a plate that doesn’t beg you to return, it dares you not to. 🥗 **Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese** This isn't just a salad. It's contrast, conversation, balance. Bitter arugula playing jazz with the creamy tang of goat cheese. Each forkful feels like a purposeful collision, fresh, smart, and a perfect counterpoint to the Cacio e Pepe's velvet weight. Add a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio, and you could almost forgive the world’s sins. Almost. 🪟 **The Vibe** Think rustic warmth meeting urban candor. The staff’s got that practiced ease, welcoming without fawning, attentive without hovering. It's the kind of place locals defend with a territorial pride and travelers stumble into, only to wonder why it's not on every “Top 10 Hidden Gems” list. 👍 **Final Thought** DuPont Italian Kitchen doesn’t need to impress, it just needs to be. And in a city full of pretense and polished plating, it offers something harder to find: authenticity, wrapped in pasta and seasoned with soul.

Just went by myself for early dinner and a couple of Happy Hour beverages. It was not busy, but food took a while to come out. Once received it tasted very good and portion was good but maybe a little overpriced. Servers were fine, but a bit curt in our interactions. Bare bones decor, but good people watching out the front windows by which I was seated. I had a couple of $8 Happy Hour margaritas, they were good too.

Fastest service I have ever had while visiting DC! The food was amazing, the drinks were tasty, the ambiance for Pride was absolutely wonderful and tastefully done. Would 100% dine here again!

Came here yesterday night for karaoke. It seems this location is divided for guests who wish to dine (downstairs) and guests who would like to drink at the bar or sing karaoke (upstairs, dedicated stairs just south of diner entrance). Not sure *when* karaoke is or how regular it is but it was hosted by a DJ (funny guy and solid singer as well!) and I had a lot of fun! Beers are pretty fair pricing; not sure about the other alcoholic beverages. Sadly, I did not get to eat as the kitchen had closed when I intended to order food, but the food that did make its way to the bar looked quite appetizing! Overall, solid place and would come back for karaoke (and hopefully food!)

Was here for Pride. Obviously they were packed. Felt like our server did awesome! Considering how busy it was. Bathrooms will always be my complaint. But again it was Pride, so it was very busy. Food was decent. I don't know if I would go back but I definitely had a great time! I had the calamari ..it was bland. Chicken Cajun pasta was pretty good. overall great experience.

Loved the location. It was nice outside so we sat out there and it was great. The service was good. At first the server looked irritated but after we started chatting him up, he came around and was very nice. The food was mixed feelings. Half of us enjoyed and half didn’t. One of the pizzas was very bland and missing flavor. The chicken cesar salad was spicy and had a weird taste to it. The chicken francaise and cheese pizza were good.

Dupont italian kitchen has one of the best happy hours on 17th street. The atmosphere is so welcoming and friendly! It’s my favorite place to grab a drink after work and I highly recommend tasting the strawberry frose. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the pleasure of meeting Kelsey (my favorite bartender). She’s so personable and makes the best drinks. I can’t say enough good things! Check it out especially as the weather is getting warmer.

Based on good reviews we made a reservation during our stay in Washington DC. We ordered bruschetta en fried mozzarella as appetizer! Both appetizers were excellent. As main plate we ordered a spaghetti carbonara, a pasta seafood and a pasta calamares. The three plates were excellent. A few downsizes: no table clothes and a waiter who was not so polite and distant.

Last night marked our third visit, and we loved it just as much as the first! As always, the food and drinks were excellent--perfectly portioned and reasonably priced. The staff was fantastic, and the tiramisu, as usual, was simply divine. I had the Carbonara, my go-to dish, while my partner tried the Chicken Francaise over pasta for the first time--both were flawless! We used to have a favorite Italian spot closer to us that, unfortunately, closed down, but last night's visit may have just secured this as our new go-to! (I would love to share photos of our entrées, but we ate them too fast for me to take photos lol)

The food was amazing! My friend and I had the Cheese Tortellini Vodka Pasta and the Caprese Pizza. The tortellini was AMAZING, very filling and warm. The atmosphere of the restaurant was lively and cozy on what was a warm and windy Saturday in DC.

Solid food but nothing spectacular. Staff is extremely nice but the food is somewhat disappointing. A decent spot but quite experience for mediocre Italian food

We went for dinner with the party of eight and had an average experience. We got a bunch of starters and they were nothing to rave about and then the main courses are OK at best - for example, my salmon was extra dry and the vegetables were undercooked although I did hear decent things about the eggplant and chicken Parmesan and steak dishes that others in my party ordered. To summarize that we had an average non memorable experience

Dupont Italian Kitchen has been a staple on our list of local restaurants for a very long time. It never disappoints! Sometimes, the service can be spotty but, most often, it is very good. The food is solid, always tasty! And you can never complain about the size of the portions! This place serves a good purpose and I hope it continues to maintain its level of service and food quality. I do wish, however, that the kitchen and the bathroom situation could be a bit nicer. They never look quite clean enough. The floor is slippery with grease. And the bathroom is really sub-par for any place in our city. But to sit outside on a warm day, with the sun shining on my face, and a nice big bowl of pasta & meat sauce in front of me, is heavenly! I recommend Dupont Italian Kitchen for any casual meal when you just don't want to cook for yourself. It will suit you to a T!

Amazing drinks and food not to mention the fantastic service! Stop by and say hello to their sweet bartender, Kelsey! And try the mussels and Asia Daisy 10/10

The bartender was rude, the drinks were bad, and she let customers make their own drinks. She was not fair at all. Drinking as well Her name was Maria she needs to quits

I absolutely INHALED the chicken parm. SO good. Very charming neighborhood spot with great service. The caprese was small (and rather dry) and the garlic bread was underwhelming. Saddened to bring my 4 down to a 3. I reviewed too soon. For dessert, I ordered an espresso martini and received an absolutely undrinkable mix of Bailey's and Kahlua. This was the first time I have ever sent a drink back. The staff was very nice about it and took the drink off our check, but I was very disappointed.

Wow!!!! This was truly an experience, boyyy, the food here was straight out of Italy. The flavors, the seasoning, the portions. Everything hit! Brunch at DIK has become my new obsession. The drinks were truly unlimited and I was left very satisfied. Our server was really friendly and she made sure we had everything we needed.

Came here many many times over the years, cannot believe I am finally leaving a review for this place, and not earlier. Great, great atmosphere , friendly service like I always, food wise, it's not the best, also, depending on what you order. But they are not bad just do not expect fine dining. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CroZdczgmqY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Plenty outdoor seating area , very pet friendly, even the customers are super friendly every time we visited. The four-star is for the taste of the food , there is definitely room for improvement. Don't get me wrong. The taste of the food is aside from the ingredients used inside the food. The ingredients used were very good., especially the seafood is always fresh. Its the seasoning for some of the dishes can use some improvement. There is no parking just like the rest of DC, good luck to find a street parking.

Overall, a very solid experience. Bruschetta was tasty (if a little under-salted) and pastas were honestly delicious (if a little over-salted). I really enjoyed the chicken marsala. Service felt a bit rushed even though the restaurant wasn't full. Would probably be four stars if it wasn't so unexpectedly expensive! Mains were a good size, but cocktails and appetizers were small. It is Dupont, though...

Came to DIK bar with my kickball team for bottomless brunch and had a great time. The restaurant is spacious and accommodating for large groups. I wouldn't come here with high expectations, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself! If you find yourself here, the Bottomless White Sangria is my favorite. I recommend it over the other bottomless drink options. I tried the Tortellini Cardinali and was relatively happy with it. The flavors were good, but the pasta was overcooked. The Greek Pizza was surprisingly decent too, and a good and filling option for Sunday Funday. The garlic bread was average. I make better garlic bread at home. With that said, it's $4 so if that's what you're craving, eat your heart out!

I enjoyed DIK, as frequenters of the brunch scene, this was a very tasty experience. Our server was friendly and helpful, they have seating inside, outside and then space upstairs for performances. They also have lots of windows, so you can enjoy the views outside while dining.

Take out is really not great until it's truly fast food. I ordered this to go and was quite pleased! The pasta was cooked perfectly and seasoned really well! If you go, get the Chicken Francaise

The upstairs bar at Dupont Italian Kitchen (aka DIK Bar--hopefully that clues you into the fact that the target demographic is gay men) is one of my favorite bars in the Dupont/Logan Circle area. It has fun activities--like trivia, drag shows, and karaoke--a stellar happy hour (buy one get one free drinks) that goes all the way until 8PM, and cheap, strong drinks even outside of happy hour. This is generally the best place to get drinks on a budget. The bartenders and other staff are always super nice, friendly, and quick. The vibes are great and it always has just the right amount of people in it and clean bathrooms (which is a undervalued feature). If you're interested in the food: I've only had a few items, and they were all aggressively fine. Not bad, not great, but certainly better than your average bar food, and the kitchen stays open late. In terms of the downstairs restaurant, the patio is lovely but with relatively average service and food. My five stars goes to the bar, not the restaurant!

The food was spectacular and stellar. I had the chance to visit this restaurant when I was in Washington, DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival. I dined on the Chicken Francaise made with garlic and lemon. The flavors were outstanding. There was enough of the garlic to kiss you on the lips and the zing of the lemon added just enough acidity to make this a high quality dish. I definitely plan to visit here again during my next trip to DC. I'll have to check out the drag show the next time I visit here.

Everything was good and reasonably priced. They have a lot of outdoor seating which was nice. I would skip the garlic bread (it was just ok) but the rest was very good!

I came here for brunch with my friends during vacation and we came to our surprise they have a drag show here! Logan the host was amazing and the food was great with bottomless drinks included in your meal. I've never been a to a drag show but the ambiance was very energetic and the entertainers gave their all! Kiddos to this place for hosting this awesome event every other weekend!!

I usually stay away from making online reviews, but I feel this must be said. The food is good. Better than most food at the same price point. The staff on a whole are friendly, engaging, attentive, and helpful with food and drink suggestions and making sure that you are taken care of while you're there. But. The amount of turnover at this establishment is very concerning. Food and drink service does have a higher turnover rate than other industries, but this establishment exceeds even the highest limits. As a fairly regular return customer, I've seen more servers and bartenders come and go than at other places I frequent. It's way outside the norm for this type of business. It's a top-down issue. And it is troubling. Yes, come for the food and drinks. But don't expect your favorite member of staff to still be there when you come back.

Amazing food and service! Came in right before closing, for a late night bite and I must say it's been a while since I've had such a delicious tasting chicken Alfredo. It was perfectly creamy with the perfect amount of cheese garnished on top. I also enjoyed their garlic bread and bruschetta which is making me envious that I didn't take some to go. Our server was extremely kind, and the price point is not bad for the portions of the meal. They also have to-go options of paper bag or plastic bag if you need to take your dinner home. Will definitely be back.

I have been going to this place for years. The quality and the portions of their entrees have just gone way down hill. If you are ordering through a deliver service, do not bother. Your pasta will be DRY AND WILL LACK INGREDIENTS! Paid $36 for a small portion. GROSS! Inedible! DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE!! SAVE YOUR MONEY! CHEAP RESTAURANT OWNERS!

Went there this past week. On entering the place smelled horrible like they had a plumbing problem. The wine glasses smelled so bad I couldn't drink my wine and my guests stopped drinking theirs too. I didn't make a fuss but this was so embarrassing as I wanted to celebrate my nieces engagement with a nice meal. I should have left immediately but was concerned we wouldn't find another restaurant nearby without a reservation. The food was bland and basic. One guest didn't finish hers. I'm so surprised at the rave reviews. Perhaps I just hit it on an awful night.

I have been here several times this summer and my party and I have been very pleased with our visits. The frose for $11 a glass is absolutely perfect. It's delicious and surprisingly strong! Happy hour also goes until 7 PM with five dollar rail drinks. We have all liked the shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, eggplant Parmesan, and the pesto chicken burger. I'm going to come back as much as possible before frose season is over! Ample outdoor seating as well!

Bottle of Chianti, Mediterranean salad and Penne with vodka sauce, all wonderful. We enjoyed our evening and the server, Milton, was very attentive to our needs but not too attentive. First visit to DC and this was a great first night. This place is a great value for the experience. Thank you!

Came here during DC Pride celebrations when all of 17th St was closed for the citywide block party - it was noisy, hot, and crowded outside. We were a huge party of eight - with four toddlers. And yet, DIK managed to seat us at a large outdoor table under shade with high chairs almost immediately after arriving. They helped us put together meals and sides to please our picky eaters. They let us linger at the table even after finishing - on a very crowded, busy day - to watch the fun in the street. Could not have been happier with the service, the food, the atmosphere, and the hospitality. Great service to a large, difficult party on a very hot and busy day. We will be back.

Good effort on a highly competitive street. The outdoor seating is nice. Service was just ok but they were very busy (had to ask several times for drinks). Several dishes were tried and all were so, so (3 to 3.5*). I had the lasagna. It came out hot but a bit soupy for me. See attached pic. Good flavors, pasta, and meat. I've had their pizza before and would call it ok, 3* too. If it is a neighborhood option for you, you've got 2 Italian places within a block. Try them both and let me know which you like best!

The owners take tips from employees. Don't EVER leave credit card tips here. I've tried leaving $50+ tips here and several of the employees tell me that the owners don't let them keep it. This is what happens to the generous credit card tips: The owners force the staff to add drinks/food to the tab AFTER THE TAB HAS BEEN SETTLED which allows the bar/restaurant to steal the tips from the staff. The generous tips goes towards boosting food and liquor sales thereby benefiting the restaurant but d|€£ing over its employees. This is the most shady thing I've ever heard of. Seriously screw the owners of this place. Hey Tony! When I tip an employee I expect it to go to them. NOT YOU!

My favorite date spot in the Gayborhood. Can get kinda loud and obnoxious on the weekends when the queens come in for their bloody Mary's, but otherwise a really nice place. The fettuccine Alfredo is very cheesy, but the pesto may be could use a little improvement.

Food was good, service was lacking, he looked at me like a crazy person when I asked for black pepper for my Caesar salad. Ambiance great outside. Water was filled constantly which was nice. I would eat here again for take out

So I originally was trying to call pickup for Grazie Nonna but they didn't answer so I ordered Dupont Italian kitchen for delivery on GH. It exceeded my exceptions. It was quick, yummy and flavorful. I got the tortellini w cream sauce and a Caesar salad (w dressing on the side which was appreciated) and they gave me a complimentary nice piece of bread. They forgot the silverware and napkin, thankfully I was staying at a hotel. Overall hit the spot. TY DIK

Served my friend white wine that was bad...twice but they did fix it. Pizza was very disappointing...tasted like average microwave pizza. It is thick and doughy. Sauce is not great either. Garlic bread was good and prices are reasonable but overall the food just is not very good.

I went last night and although it was busy, the service was lacking. I wasn't greeted at all, there was no clear host available, and when I did speak to someone he walked away from me and left me there for maybe 10 minutes. Once we were seated, it took our server maybe 10-15 minutes to come to our table. She was pleasant. The food was bland, we had calamari as an appetizer and fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Francaise for entrees. There was hardly any flavor, and I felt I could've made it better myself. Other than it's location for the high heel race, I wouldn't return.

I've been to this establishment twice and I love it . Reasonable prices, outdoor seating, and a lot of great options to choose from. A hidden gem in the city. Highly recommend.

Very much mid. I would say a more accurate rating is 2.5. Not bad food at all but not the experience I'm looking for when I come to DC. The staff wasn't rude but wasn't welcoming. The taste wasn't bad but not flavorful.

Drag brunch!! Was so fun, food was great, this was the best deal for brunch. Recommend!

Come here for drag brunch on Saturdays... definitely come it's so much fun! Love the energy and got free drinks too!

The food was decent but the service was excellent! I come from NY so I think my expectation of Italian food is different. Great little spot and would definitely go back.

The happy hour prices listed on their website apparently are not what they charge you. Make sure to check your receipt as they add some sort of surcharge to every drink you order during their happy hour. That's not a good business practice to be "penny wise and pound foolish." My last time there.

The food was good! Restaurant service was nice, prompt, and considerate. But my friends and I mostly came for the karaoke vibe after the main restaurant closed. We had a great time that was made even better by the wonderful bartending staff (particularly Jonny), who went out of their way to ensure that we were having a great time. We felt very welcomed and appreciated in the space. As mentioned before, Jonny made a big impact on the time we had--he was kind, energetic, and showed incredible customer service throughout the evening. We would not have had as successful of a night without him. Definitely would recommend coming here for karaoke--as long as Jonny's working!

We had a very large party and the staff were very attentive. Super quick when we needed more of plates, cups, drink refills. Kind staff and understanding of how hectic it got. Also, super delicious food: great appetizers, penne vodka and pizza.

Excellent local eatery. Since the addition of various specials to the menu, this place deserves five stars.

This place is great in good weather for people watching from the sizable outside dining area. Food is pretty good, service good.

While the service was very fast and we were only in there for 30 minutes, it was by far some of the best Italian food we've ever had. The chicken fettuccine Alfredo and tortellini in the crème vodka sauce were to die for. Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys authentic Italian food.

I have been to DIK many times, but went for a dinner a few nights ago, so finally decided to review it. The pluses: the patio is great for people watching on a nice day and the food and drinks are priced well. They also have a fun karaoke night in the upstairs bar on Saturday nights. The service is generally fine, but I remember being rushed out one time at brunch when the two hour limit on mimosas was reached. The food is pretty average Italian-American staples. I have never had anything terrible, but nothing super memorable either, however the portions are generous so that's nice. I like the fried calamari and the pizzas are nice to split as an appetizer too. My favorite dishes are the chicken parmigiana and the penne with vodka sauce. One note, the downstairs seems to draw a big mix of people for meals, but the upstairs bar tends to be mostly regulars and the crowd skews on the older male gay side. That's obviously fine, but just something to be aware of if you don't normally go there.

Came here recently for a bite with my friend. The service is top tier from the moment I called to see about reservations to the moment we were seated & paid the bill. The prices are also good & we both did not have to spend an arm & a leg for the meal. However, the food was just okay. Nothing to rave about. The Italian bread for the oil was cold & my Alfredo was just so so. My friend had the seafood linguine and said the same. The mussles appetizer were also so so the broth was missing something.

Lovely little place in Dupont Circle. Great atmosphere and service. On the spectrum it is American Italian food - as opposed to authentic Italian food. BUT I had the pasta with vongole and it was superb, so there you go. Good prosecco and bread. I came here with my lady, and I can tell it is a good date place. We almost came back the next night. If in Dupont Circle and want Italian food, go here.

My friends and I came to Dupont on a rainy Wednesday night, and fortunately, this restaurant had an outdoor area that was covered with heaters. We decided to sit down and try it out, and we had a good time. I do love the fact that the space was very cozy and COVID-friendly, but the food was mediocre at best and the service was alright. I decided on the Arancini and the Carbonara - the Arancini was not bad (but I did feel like it was frozen rather than freshly made), but the Carbonara was watery and not good. I think the portion size is decent for the price you are paying, but I just did not enjoy the Carbonara - it honestly just felt like pasta with the bare minimum of cream with some bacon sprinkled in. In addition, we had to flag down our servers several times for water refills and because of a forgotten appetizer. All in all, it was an okay one-time experience, but I would not come back unless I really needed outdoor seating and was in the area.

DIK bar was so fun...while I was there the bartenders (who are phenomenal) Jon and Hope were able to take care of myself and friends... They are so professional and made me feel so welcome, others who did not on past nights while i was there...New restrictions have put a chilling effect on queer having fun in DC, we cant buy shots or drinks for the bartenders.. My friends and I enjoy the intimate relationship from customers and staff.. The bartenders were the best, those two would always make me feel welcomed and supported. They are the reason I want to come back to the bar...other staff were not so welcoming... my friends and I will go to other places if they aren't here to serve us!

We were sat right away on a Memorial Day weekend- Sunday afternoon. They let us bring our puppy on the patio, rather than tie him up on the other side of the gate, which I loved! Our server, Milton, was the sweetest. You could tell that he truly cared about our experience. I'll definitely ask for him if I am dining downstairs again. I ordered the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, but with the Milanese chicken. It was so good, and had sooo much chicken! You could do a bite of chicken with every bite of pasta! My wife ordered steak and eggs. The chef made a mistake and accidentally gave my wife scrambled instead of over easy eggs. We noticed but it's not a huge deal to us- before we could mention to the server, the server and the chef came out with the correct eggs and apologized to us! Totally unexpected and shows that every employee actually cares about the guest. We will be back, asking for Milton!