Osteria da Nino Italian Ristorante

I came specifically for the Winter Restaurant Week experience, which was a 3 course menu that was $40/pp. I got calamari for the appetizer and it was average. The batter was soggy and not light and crispy enough but I did enjoy the two sauces that were paired with it. Of the ones that our table got and sampled, the best appetizer was the Polpettine di Carne meatballs. For the main, I got the Fusilli Salsiccia. The pasta was slightly overcooked and the sauce was watery but overall I enjoyed how the flavor of the pork and sage complimented the pasta, but it wasn't anything to write home about. My friend got the carbonara which was unfortunately disappointing, as it was watery, overly salty and the opposite of what a good carbonara should be. In addition, the carbonara had what looked like pieces of cubed ham instead of pancetta or guanciale, which really downgraded the dish. Chocolate mousse was a good way to end the meal, I would've liked less whipped cream but it wasn't too sweet, which I preferred. Service wise, food came out within a reasonable but towards the end of the meal (and their closing time), they started turning off the lights in the dining area and it felt like we were being rushed and kicked out, which also lended to the lower review. Unfortunately, an overall disappointing restaurant week experience. I had really high expectations given the high reviews on both Google and Yelp, but I would not recommend coming back here (at least for Restaurant Week).

I had high hopes coming in here. The owner greeted us and was super friendly. Unfortunately the rest of the experience was underwhelming. Every single food item seemed like it was made nicely but lacked salt. Even my partner who is sensitive to salt had to add it to everything. I had the carbonara and it was just meh. So bland. I had one bite and decided not to have more. Our waitress never came back to check on us and my glass sat empty. My partner wanted another glass of wine but 🤷‍♀️. When we flagged her down for the check she noticed my plate, asked me if I wanted a box and when I said no, asked no further questions. Also we arrived early before it got crowded so that’s not an excuse.

We visited for valentines day! I loved the fresh bread with the delicious pesto. I could have eaten that for dinner and been so happy. The stars were: the wine from Italy, the pistachio dessert and their short ribs, they were so succulent and tasty!! The calamari was a little overcooked. Loved that the owner was very friendly and kind and was checking on all the patrons. Beautiful establishment with authentic Italian dishes! Thank you!

Overall this was a positive experience; however, some minor reservations with my dinner. I made reservations for dinner and got parked nearby. There’s plenty of free parking in several parking garages nearby, so a good way to start. We checked in and were immediately seated. The atmosphere was pleasant, and you could tell people were enjoying themselves. It took about 4 minutes before getting water, and about 10 minutes before getting menus. But I wanted a nice dinner with my wife and wasn’t going to let this sour things. When asked about water, I asked for tap and was given sparkling, which I don’t like. I also don’t appreciate getting charged $8 for water I didn’t order (or want). Again, not wanting to ruin the evening. The bread and dip was good, but think the focaccia would have been better if warm. My wife and son started with some oysters, which they enjoyed. For dinner, many dishes peaked my interest but I went for the eggplant Parmesan, which was solid. My wife had the spaghetti and meatballs, which is what she likes, although I think is boring. And my son had the veal piccata, which was so good. And to close out dinner we shared a tiramisu and cannolis. Again, overall positive but with a few moments.

We had dinner here at this restaurant on a Sunday a while back, and we loved the quality and taste of the food. It was delicious, and we especially enjoyed the desserts we ordered. The Tiramisu was melt-in-your-mouth! The service was attentive, and the classic ambiance was enjoyable, although some updating would further enhance the overall dining experience.

We try to go once a twice a year, for the good food and atmosphere. This time, we went for restaurant week and unfortunately the Calamari was chewy and difficult to eat. The food overall was smaller portion but higher on price. The main course of pasta was good, but nothing special. The dessert was grainy chocolate moose and bland canoli. Overall we were underwhelmed with our evening. The wine was the best part, but since we've had great experiences before we will try again some time down the road.

Atmosphere was nice and pleasant. I was reminded of Italy once I had the food ordered, family style. The Tiramisu was so authentic that it reminded me of being back in Italy! The prices are worth the satisfaction of the meal and experience! Recommended to call ahead for reservations. Eat and enjoy! 😎

We had a large group for dinner and the food was excellent and service great . Everything was delicious. Thank you all.

Great happy hour at the Bar. Bartender and wait staff excellent. Nino very attentive! Mussels and meatballs awesome... Spaghetti del mare, gnocchi, arugula salad, yummy!!! And lovely atmosphere!

The food and ambiance of this place is absolutely wonderful and they have a great happy hour with wonderful food specials. We received some free focaccia and pesto on the side. I ordered the mushroom ravioli, which was wonderful and my friends ordered other varieties of pasta dishes. I would definitely come back for a happy hour at some point. The issue for this place was the service. Some of my friends who were sharing received their eggplant Parmesan quickly but then none of our food came out and they already finished their meal and we still didn't receive our food. There was little to no apology and we weren't even offered any extra bread even to compensate us. They did have a large party and places are understaffed, but we could have been checked up on, even for a minute. Overall, I'd come back for happy hour, but not for dinner.

We went for Valentine's Day and was not impressed. We originally made the reservation for the cheese wheel which they then did not offer. The price was way too high for the courses. The burrata was fine but had so many beets would not get again. The dessert was not worth finishing. We had the tiramisu and chocolate mouse cake. The meals were also fine but not worth the $85!! We left disappointed and will not be going back. If the prices maybe reflected the food we would have had a fine time but don't expect to be impressed.

I came specifically for the Winter Restaurant Week experience, which was a 3 course menu that was $40/pp. I got calamari for the appetizer and it was average. The batter was soggy and not light and crispy enough but I did enjoy the two sauces that were paired with it. Of the ones that our table got and sampled, the best appetizer was the Polpettine di Carne meatballs. For the main, I got the Fusilli Salsiccia. The pasta was slightly overcooked and the sauce was watery but overall I enjoyed how the flavor of the pork and sage complimented the pasta, but it wasn't anything to write home about. My friend got the carbonara which was unfortunately disappointing, as it was watery, overly salty and the opposite of what a good carbonara should be. In addition, the carbonara had what looked like pieces of cubed ham instead of pancetta or guanciale, which really downgraded the dish. Chocolate mousse was a good way to end the meal, I would've liked less whipped cream but it wasn't too sweet, which I preferred. Service wise, food came out within a reasonable but towards the end of the meal (and their closing time), they started turning off the lights in the dining area and it felt like we were being rushed and kicked out, which also lended to the lower review. Unfortunately, an overall disappointing restaurant week experience. I had really high expectations given the high reviews on both Google and Yelp, but I would not recommend coming back here (at least for Restaurant Week).

I came here with my friends for restaurant week. Overall, I found the service was ok and staff were accommodating however the food was a bit mid. The biggest miss was the carbonara, which I didn't order but simply tasted. It didn't have much flavor and the pasta itself was very hard which was unexpected in a bad way. Not to mention, another dish (Vongle?) was also lacking flavor. However, on a positive note, my own entree was much better in comparison. The bread + pesto served was delicious, I could have had them all night . However my appetizer and dessert were also lacking and I found myself mainly going for the bread. The entire experience just felt a bit overpriced for the quality we received.

I am honestly so shocked and confused by the raving reviews. This was one of the most terrible restaurants I've been to in a while. We came in for Restaurant Week dinner, and I got the calamari, carbonara, and tiramisu, and needless to say, all three were horrendous. Calamari: 2/5 - It was stale, not breaded and crispy enough. Carbonara: 1/5 - The dish that made me decide to ultimately give this place this rating. The pasta was undercooked- I think they need to learn what a true al dente is. The sauce was runny and tasted like salt water with no other flavor, and the guanciale was... not guanciale. The overall taste and texture reminded me of something that shouldn't be served in a restaurant. Tiramisu: 2/5 - The consistency was more like a tres leches cake, but just in a bad way. It was like cake that was just dropped in water and the flavor was lacking. I usually don't like to do this, but I ultimately had to tell them that the carbonara was inedible and asked for another dish, which raised my rating from 1 to 2 stars. I also am not sure if the Restaurant Week price of $52 after taxes and tip was even good value. It seems like that's around what I would've paid regularly, and even if it was a deal, it definitely felt like I threw $52 down the drain. I will definitely not come back and would never recommend this place to anybody.

Our neighborhood Italian place that does not disappoint. The happy hour specials can't be beat (they still have $1 oysters when nobody else seems to). Mussels, meatballs, eggplant parm, and grilled brussels sprouts are menu standouts. The owner will meet you with a warm greeting at the door. It's not hard to get a table and there is dedicated parking across the street. A sweet little local standby with good food and no fuss; who doesn't want that?

Plenty of parking, this is located in Shirlington and there's both street and garage parking. Everyone was so pleasant and so nice and Nino was incredibly sweet and accommodating. He engaged us in conversation and showed us the big parmesan wheel and let us try it. He was so kind to us. The restaurant is quiet and I'm genuinely surprised at how quiet it was because the pasta here is the best pasta I've had since comong back from Tuscany. I got the special of the fettuccine pasta in the parm wheel tableside. My friends got gnocchi, the bolognese and carbonara. All delicious butbthe fettuccine was so good. I definitely plan on coming back, it was absolutely delicious.

Ambiance: (5/5) Great eating options (indoor, outdoor, and a private room for large parties). There was nice music playing and great decor. Price: (4/5) Prices are average for the area. Some things are a bit more expensive, but that is similar to most restaurants. Food: (4/5) We started with the bread bowls that had focaccia. They had this oil and pesto (maybe) dressing on the side. I could have used some salt and pepper in it. I had the fried calamari which was really crispy, but needed some additional seasoning. I really enjoyed the two sauces it came with. The portion size was really good. I had the ravioli as my main. It had an amazing short rib stuffing and a nice red sauce on top. I will say the portion was a bit smaller than I expected. I had the tiramisu which I highly recommend. it comes with an espresso gelato on top. I would love to try more of their desserts and main dishes. Service: (5/5) Food comes out really quick even with large parties.

We had a really great time! I made a reservation a day ahead for my partner and I, and we indulged in 3 courses and drinks. There was complimentary bread and oil for the table, and we ordered a charcuterie board and arancini to share. There wasn't much fanfare for the board, but the arancini was pleasant! It could have been crispier, but I liked that it wasn't just cheese and rice for a restaurant with this price tag. We both ordered pasta, the Garganelli Casarecci for me and the Fusilli al Ferretto for him. We both reaaally liked the fresh pasta touch, and both sauces were developed very well. For dessert, we got the pistachio creme brulee and I got a cappuccino, both of which hit the spot! My only criticism is the creme brulee could have stood to get another few seconds under the torch. The actual dining room is pretty, not too upscale but definitely nice. We had a table but I almost wish we got to sit at the pretty bar top. Service was attentive and we only needed to beg for a water refill once. I think we'll try to hit this place again to try a few other things on the menu, but it was a nice outing for sure.

This is my third time at Ninos! Wendy has taken very good care of me two time and is the reason I will be back. I loved the happy hour menu and when I'm feeling bold enough I'll try something new to me. The things i knew would be yummy were incredible! Come for the complimentary wine tasting i got lucky and came on a really fun night. 10/10.

The food, drinks, service, and Nino are always on point. My friends and I regularly go for their $1 oysters during happy hour and don't mind paying a $1.50 an oyster when it's not happy hour. We always have an awesome and enjoyable time when we go to Osteria da Nino...

Overall this was a positive experience; however, some minor reservations with my dinner. I made reservations for dinner and got parked nearby. There's plenty of free parking in several parking garages nearby, so a good way to start. We checked in and were immediately seated. The atmosphere was pleasant, and you could tell people were enjoying themselves. It took about 4 minutes before getting water, and about 10 minutes before getting menus. But I wanted a nice dinner with my wife and wasn't going to let this sour things. When asked about water, I asked for tap and was given sparkling, which I don't like. I also don't appreciate getting charged $8 for water I didn't order (or want). Again, not wanting to ruin the evening. The bread and dip was good, but think the focaccia would have been better if warm. My wife and son started with some oysters, which they enjoyed. For dinner, many dishes peaked my interest but I went for the eggplant Parmesan, which was solid. My wife had the spaghetti and meatballs, which is what she likes, although I think is boring. And my son had the veal piccata, which was so good. And to close out dinner we shared a tiramisu and cannolis. Again, overall positive but with a few moments.

A fantastic place for drinks, pasta, and cheese! I have stopped by Osteria before, mostly to sit at the bar and say hi to Nino's family, who I work with. However, I never had a meal there, which I resolved recently when a group of us met up for a post-work dinner on a Wednesday night. There I had one goal and one goal only: the cheese wheel. Whether it's melting a wheel of raclette or baking an entire wheel of brie- we all love a good cheese gimmick. At Osteria da Nino they offer up a Tagliatelle pasta dish that's finished inside a Parmigiano cheese wheel. When the server asked what I wanted for dinner I replied with two words, "cheese wheel." Nino, who can be found roaming the dining room glad-handing patrons, came over with a wheel of cheese on a cart and made a nice show of tossing the pasta inside the wheel. With maximum cheese exposure, my dish was nothing short of perfect. I highly recommend you stop by and take a spin on the wheel yourself! Pro-Tip: The cheese wheel is only offered Tuesday - Thursday.

This review is for our Happy Hour Experience This is the second time we came to the lovely Shirlington area for dining. Happy hour is from 4-630 everyday. They have a nice selection of food and drink. Plenty of bar seating, with friendly staff in a relaxing atmosphere. We started with the oysters and loved them especially at the HH prices. We had an excellent charcuterie plate, Brussels sprouts, meatballs, and green olives. Nice selection of wines, beers and cocktails. We loved the experience, highly recommended.

This is the third time coming here but the first time reviewing it. Always hesitant going to Italian restaurants in the DMV because disappointment seems to always happen. Surprisingly, this place can do Al dente with pasta. Which isn't a hard thing to do, but fairly elusive in the US. We had the arancini filled with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, squid ink pasta with mussels and calamari, ravioli with short rib, branzino, and spaghetti alle vongole (clams). All tasted perfectly except the branzino, lt lacked some seasoning. Service was fine.

Dinner, Saturday 1/25/25: We will never return to this restaurant. The owner is unprofessionally, inexcusably rude. Two of our party of 3 ordered the veal piccata. it was tough and dry, and nearly inedible--unquestionably the worst version of this dish we've encountered in 70 years. We were guests and didn't want to embarrass our host, so we didn't say anything until our plates were cleared. We did not ask for--nor even hint--that we expected the meals to be comped. As we were explaining to the server that the veal was unsatisfactory a gentleman at the next table came over to voice exactly the same complaint. The server brought the owner over and, instead of an apology, he proceeded to insult all of us in an arrogant manner. He clearly didn't care that his chef produced third-rate entrees. A word to the wise--don't order the veal. Better yet, don't give this owner your business.

If you've ever given your ex the benefit of the doubt and then are inevitably disappointed, you're going to have some major deja vu here. Instead of coming here, consider going to Costco instead because their frozen jumbo meatballs were much better than the ones they served here. The arancini tasted reheated instead of fried fresh. I really enjoyed the fresh pasta however the lamb pasta was swimming in oil. If the lamb was alive itd drown. I do have to say the seafood pasta was great along with the complimentary bread and basil oil. For the service, our waiter was pleasant but I had to constantly track someone down to refill my water. Additionally, the owner/manager/? greeted each table at the end of the meal to ask how dinner was but by the end of our meal, he never stopped by but continued to meet with other tables.... Sus. The restaurant ambience and mood lighting made it seem like it would be a 5 star meal, but just like your ex, everything looks better in the dark. Key takeaways. Dont give your ex a second chance, stick to to the pasta, and don't order the meatballs from here.

Cool spot and a little different than your usual Italian restaurant. The ink seafood pasta had totally different flavors that I never have had before. I probably would only get it once in a blue moon. Make sure someone in your party orders something that comes with the cheese wheel! That dish will be SUPER cheesy. You get some big pieces of cheese with it and wow that's something you absolutely want to try. Our waitress seemed to be new so be ready to be patience with the staff. The owner is very friendly and trying his best to train them up to speed.

Saturday night dinner with friends. After hearing the specials decided on the fried artichokes and the butternut squash ravioli. I haven't had fried artichokes since my trip to Rome and these were just as good and succeeded in tapping on my Rome memories. The ravioli was delish, sweet and savory at the same time. Everyone enjoyed their food selection. And we did not feel rushed at all. The restaurant is large, but tables are arranged in a way that you can hear everyone at your table and no one from other tables. Service was good. Would return.

The experience was disappointing. The staff were unfriendly. The food was terrible. We ordered calamari to start, it was extremely rubbery we couldn't even eat it. We ordered the branzino, the fish was small, dry, and overcooked with no flavor. I would not return.

I decided to try this place because their homemade pasta sounded really good. I got the gnocchi cacio pepe and was extremely disappointed with how my dish came out. Firstly, the pasta was very soft- too soft. Mushy. Maybe I'm not used to homemade pasta but these gnocchis seemed over cooked. Secondly, the dish was very liquidy and there was no cheese! Cacio e Pepe literally means "cheese and pepper", so I was very surprised when neither of those things were in the dish. The pasta should have been creamy, not soupy :/ Overall the dish was bland and boring Although this was a disappointing experience, I would be willing to give them another try considering their happy hour deals look pretty good. I just won't be getting this abomination of a Cacio e Pepe again

Hidden, slightly upscale, Italian spot with a very friendly owner The food here is pretty solid, but the service was terrible. It took forever for them to bring or food to us, and they did not check on us at all throughout our meal Worst of all, we informed the restaurant that we were celebrating a birthday, but they didn't even acknowledge it! They even brought out a piece of cake for the table next to us (who was also celebrating a birthday), but did not do the same for us! So rude...

My friend and I decided on an impromptu dinner and wanted something close to both of us. We ended up choosing Osteria da Nino for its location, easy parking, and the reviews. When I arrived, there was no hostess, I waited 5-10 minutes for someone to come over. The waitress we had was friendly and checked in several times. There was a busboy who picked up our plates promptly after dinner but it was a bit weird tbh since everything was taken from the table and we were still chatting and haven't gotten a check or looked at the dessert menu yet. Food wise, neither my friend or I were impressed. I had the squid ink spaghetti which was slightly undercooked. The sauce was very bland and some of my mussels were just empty shells. My friend's gnocchi was also bland but the meatballs gave it a little more flavor. The candied orange slices on the cannoli didn't go well with it. Complimentary bread was salty but the sauce was decent.

I've had this place on my list to try for a while! First, the staff is awesome and so friendly! When we walked in we were greeted by the owner who seated us and then he chatted with us for a while before our waitress came. We started with the Brussels sprouts which were different but delicious. They had a beet purée underneath which was surprisingly good! The brussels had cheese on them, which we didn't know when we ordered. My fiancé is allergic, but we just picked around it. They brought out a basket of tasty crusty bread with a side dish of pesto. The bread was so good we asked for more. My fiancé ordered the squid ink pasta and he liked his meal. It looked like a nice portion. I had a cream based pasta with Italian sausage. It was just ok, it was missing something but I'm not sure what. I would come back to try some other menu items!

I have been here before, but this is my first review. I think it's a great place, but just based on tonight the service was lacking. Food still good, and you should come, but we waited a long time for our meals -- I think the waitress maybe forgot to put them in -- and really she never came over. We had to ask to get more water, more drinks, more bread, our meals... The owner has always been there when I've come and he's delightful, charming and attentive. I will come back. We started with calamari and tuna tartare. My friends said the tuna tartare was the best, but my unpopular opinion was that it's not. I've had better, but I do prefer more of an aioli or soy sauce base on mine. Maybe that's the difference. The calamari was five stars though!!! Fantastic! My friends also had the mussels, and they loved them. I had the Caesar salad, which was very good as well. More cheese than I personally need, but the dressing and croutons were on point. For entrees I had the Chicken Parm, which needed a little salt, but once I added it it was terrific. Better to have less salt than too much so no problem there. My friends enjoyed the Branzino and the Pesto Pasta with shrimp. All very good! The Lemon Drop martinis were yummy, and the bottle of wine was outstanding! I will definitely be buying that in the store. A wonderful wine that goes with everything! Dessert for me was the chocolate moose, and my friend had the olive oil cake with lemon curd. The cake won hands down, although personally I don't love lemon so for me that wasn't necessary, but the cake outdid my mousse. All in all a fun evening with a few snafus, but it won't deter us from coming back again, and I will update if we do! Ciao!

About a 1-1.5: Osteria da Nino is a local Italian restaurant that offers dinner options, desserts, wine, Happy Hours, and even various in-restaurant events, such as tastings, cooking series, and wine dinners. The hubs and I came here for a Valentine's Day dinner, and we were greeted and welcomed warmly by the host. As we had made reservations, we were able to be seated promptly. From the special holiday 3-course menu, we ordered the Barbabietole (sliced cold roasted beets, pistachios, arugula, crumbled goat cheese, topped with a mustard vinaigrette) and the Tartare di Tuna (ahi tuna with fried capers, sesame seeds, olives, shallots, and topped with housemade chips). The portions were definitely generous, and while the tuna was fresh, this was an extremely salty dish. For the entrees, we ordered the Tagliarini Bolognese (ribbon pasta with ground beef, pork, and veal ragu, and Parm) and the Ravioli di Aragosta (lobster ravioli topped with lobster cream sauce and chives). We couldn't continue after a couple of bites, as the bolognese was watery and super bland, and the ribbon pasta was overcooked. The ravioli's filling tasted extremely fishy and had a canned tuna-like texture. We shared with our server that we just were not fans of the dishes, and we were able to substitute one of the entrees with another entree - the Beet Rigatoni was chosen (topped with shrimp and cream sauce). This dish was slightly better, as it had large shrimp, but it seemed to have used a similar cream-based sauce. For desserts, we opted for the Tiramisu (made with marsala, lady fingers, espresso, mascarpone, with espresso gelato) and the Chocolate Hazelnut Crema Catalana (which was a chocolate hazelnut crème brûlée). The tiramisu was extremely potent for us, but that may just be a preference of taste, and the crème brûlée tasted like chocolate pudding, topped with a crystalized sugar topping. I did enjoy the latter - ha! We did enjoy the complimentary focaccia bread, but it seemed as if we tried filling up on these to make up for the lackluster meal. While our server was nice, it seemed like a hide-and-seek game, as we were never able to find him or grab his attention; we weren't checked in, so we did have to wait for a bit to have him make some miraculous reappearance to let him know about the entrees. The restaurant seems to have a loyal following, and I wish we had the same delicious experience as others have had! I'm glad I was able to finally try Osteria da Nino out, but wouldn't return. There are some limited parking in the lot around the building after hours, and there is free garage parking behind the complex the restaurant sits. +parking garage located behind complex

Love their happy hour. Good Lambrusco and complimentary bread. Will be back for their $1 oysters when I visit :)

Excellent food! Great service! This was the perfect restaurant for our anniversary dinner. The spaghetti de mare was fantastic, and my pasta was amazing as well, but the true highlight of the dinner was the dessert the staff recommended. Everything we had off the menu was delicious, and we will absolutely be back for more!

Real Italian food because Italians own it and are always there and working hard. Service at the bar can be spotty as the bartenders are always busy. A+ Happy Hour. The owner brings the ambiance.

Came here for restaurant week and would say was a good deal for three courses for $40. Food was alright, but did think the dessert was nice, especially the tiramisu! The calamari was surprisingly a lot and it's your usual calamari. But having that much calamari helped with the pasta portion, which is a little smaller. The pasta itself was okay, I think the seasoning and flavour was good but at the same time, the pasta itself just seemed a little bland. A bit contradictory I know, but that's how it tasted to me. The cannoli I got was good , but I thought the tiramisu was great - soft, fluffy, and moist. The staff were attentive too but weren't necessarily friendly or welcoming.

Been wanting to come here for a while and we're so glad we came in for our weekly "date night ". We were greeted by a friendly host where we were then escorted to our table. If you want happy hour they only honor this at the bar area, so get there early because it fills up fast. Food was tasty and we will be back, so glad it's in our neighborhood!

A place that actually offers good value, variety, and taste for happy hour specials. I love it.! Happy hour is only available at the bar. There were a lot of food and drink options and me and my partner tried several things. $1 raw oysters were good as well as the crispy arancini with flavorful filling. The pizza was delicious and really could have been enough as a meal for me solo. Fries and meatballs were good as well. Only thing that was lacking was the charcuterie plate, it was nothing to write home about. The drinks we ordered were delicious. Love the availability of a $7 aperol spritz! I also tried the $6 house martini. Good and nice size cocktail. The service at the bar was a little slow at times but it was a bit busy and there was a very large party that was in the restaurant as well. The place has an intimate feel and would be great for a date night or evening with friends. Looking forward to coming back to try their other regular dinner menu items.

This was our first time at this local Italian restaurant. What a neighborhood gem! I can't believe it took us so long to come here. We arrived just in time to try their very impressive happy hour - Bar only (4:00 - 6:30) . We tried a variety of drinks & snacks including the Negroni, Aperol Spritz, Mussels, fries, pizza and Brussels. Everything was excellent! The Mussels were huge and filling. The pizza with fresh basil was really good. The Brussels with the beer purée we're probably my fav thing! In addition to fresh and tasty food, the staff were also refreshingly friendly and accommodating. This place was very busy on a Friday night, and I can see why it's so popular. I can't wait to return for dinner! We didn't get anything from the dinner or dessert menus but the options on both menus looks delicious! I will be back soon!

This is one of my favorite Italian spots in the DMV. Authentic Italian food brought to you by Nino himself! I've eaten here probably dozens of times and will continue to be a regular patron. I'm usually not a big fan of carbonara, but it's excellent here and is one of my go-to dishes. I also enjoy the classic bolognese. The arancini are my favorite appetizer and the cannoli and tiramisu are my favorite desserts. I've also enjoyed the salad appetizers. The soups weren't really to my taste, but there's so much else to order anyway. And don't miss out on the focaccia with dipping oil. The restaurant has a cute little patio that is dog friendly. There are only a few tables. Otherwise I usually do carry out, which is a breeze. The location is just off the main drag in Shirlington, so it's a bit quieter outside than other spots. But don't be fooled by the humble exterior, this is a great restaurant that is perfect for date night or a weeknight pickup when you want a little treat.

If you're in NOVA, do not go over the river for fresh pasta... this place is delicious. The service is quick and friendly and the food is amazing. Prices are also very reasonable. I wish I was in town another night.

I've been here twice and I doubt I'll come back. Staff is attentive and hustles and the owner is as charming as anything, but I went for the plainest of the plain Italian dishes tonight and it was a total flop. Gnocchi with meatballs was soggy potato cubes with the most tasteless meatballs and sauce I've ever had. Really disappointing, and surprising. It's a basic dish I figured they'd have in the bag. The first time I was here, months ago, the tagliatelle bolognese wasn't bad, but nothing to write home about. People who are raving about this place being the most authentic Italian food they've had either just got out of prison, hammered, or unable to taste due to Covid. Really expected more, especially for the price.

Ordered the eggplant parm. Unrecognizable and inedible. It game as a dry, breaded, perfectly shaped square, that was burnt on the edges. Obviously a frozen mass produced product from an outside vendor. Inside the "brick" was a little bit of eggplant that was a tasteless mush. There was no tomato sauce on it! Strange. I wish I had taken a picture The waiter, after taking our orders, came back 4 times to ask about our orders. A veal dish came out instead of chicken. He may have been new so I give him some grace. Their pasta is certainly not in house made and their red sauces have an unusual herb in them. I will never go back.

Been here a few times, always spur of the moment but was always able to be served at the bar. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Italian places. With a food order, you get bread with amazingly fragrant pesto. After my arugula salad which was beautifully seasoned and the linguine alle vongole which was spectacular, I was left yearning for more. Also, $8 for a glass of wine from Chieti is the icing on the cake. Will be back again soon.

Stopped by here for a family dinner on a Friday night, and we all agreed Osteria da Nino has some of the best, if not the best, Italian food in the DC area! Not only was the food phenomenal - the owner was seen checking on every table throughout the evening. Definitely order their handmade pastas. Could not recommend more!

OMG... this place ROCKS!..Nino and his staff are incredible. The chef is amazing. Her creations are spectacular, so very tasty. Ask for Giovanna as your server as she knows how to serve.

We had a delicious dinner tonight and great service for our large table. The ambiance was cozy, and the restaurant was not too loud. Thank you!

Not coming ever again. Came here weekday evening. Food: pasta was good. My husband got the cheese wheel which he liked but for me it was ok. They gave us a bread but there was barely in a basket. Got 2 medium size bread and 3 small and dry. Calamari is bland and not crispy enough. Service: started out great while it was slow. Good thing we got there a little early. But we barely see our waitress and if we do she was busy. The owner gave me bad vibes. He seems like he's very friendly at first BUT he seems like he only handpicks people he checks on. He passed through us a multiple times but all I got was a side eye and felt like judged. At the end of our dinner we couldn't find our waitress and took us around 15-20mins to ask for the bill. Once we saw her she said she'll print out the bill. So we waited again. And then once she gave us the bill she left and we waited again for her to bring her little machine to swipe the card. When it was time to pay with their little machine to swipe the card and she just told me to sign in the bottom(It's crazy how it's now 20/22/25% for tip). The 25% is the automatic pick for the machine so I tried to take the machine from her so i can change my tip but she held the machine super tight and got not much choice. Eat somewhere else.

Mom and I wanted to get some pre-show dinner and settled on Italian. I didn't really have anywhere specific in mind, so did a little search and came across Osteria da Nino and decided to give it a try. We were greeted by the maybe possible owner? Anyway, he was very welcoming and a pleasure to talk to while he was seating us. We ordered cocktails to start: limoncello martini for me and a chocolate espresso martini for her. I enjoyed my limoncello martini as I didn't find it to be too sweet and was well balanced. As for food, I couldn't decide between the carbonara or the bolognese. I asked the waiter which he recommends and he quickly replied with the bolognese, so I went with that. Glad I did because it was absolutely delicious. Mom got the pesto with burrata and ate the whole thing, which is high praise to the chef because I can tell you my mom always takes home half her meal. We aren't really dessert people, but couldn't say no to a mini cannoli to finish up the meal, and make Godfather movie quotes about cannolis. Would recommend.

Wonderful HH menu but stayed for dinner and was so let down by the pasta/entrees. Service is friendly and has a great atmosphere, but how can you fudge pasta with hardly any sauce, at an Italian restaurant? I had the carbonara, just don't, I hate to say this but it was gross, no sauce, no flavor and my friend had the squid ink and was quickly underwhelmed again, where is the sauce?! In short: don't get their entrees but hangout for their HH specials.

Best pasta in the area including DC! Been to so many different Italian places but none as good as Ninos!

Where do I begin? Being welcomed and seated by the owner himself. Everybody was extremely kind and seeing those smiles really warmed my heart. There is outdoor seating but the ambiance inside the restaurant was a 10. The wine- Pinot Grigio. I had 2 glasses. The appetizer- caprese salad was amazing. Entree- spaghetti carbonara. It was EVERYTHING and I got grated parm on it but it didn't need a thing. Just DELICIOUS. Dessert- Tiramisu. I wish I had an entire pan. Let's just say, I will be returning very soon for Happy Hour next time I'm working in Shirlington. Yes, they have happy hour. Sorry no pics posted. I didn't use my phone the entire time I was there and it was great.

Very slow and didn't seem too crowded. In any event, the owner is just schmoozing tables instead of getting his hands dirty and helping. I was dying of thirst for my entire meal because I was sitting at the bar, and bartenders seemed to be serving many tables, and were prioritizing other tasks over refilling drinks. I kinda wondered if the owner had trained them to keep everything clean before checking on customers. Food was very expensive for what you get, I know it's typical around here to pay a premium for absolutely nothing in return, but I miss the days in America when Italian was synonymous with food made and delivered with love, and not skimpy dishes that take over an hour to arrive. I was very disappointed and upset by the quality of service and food after a long exhausting day of work. Pretty much ruined my day. I eat out a lot, and really try to look on the bright side and find the silver lining, but this was very deflating. This place was smoke and mirrors that faded fast. I say save your money and find some good Italian for the soul.

Had a large group of family and friends for a post Christmas dinner, and really enjoyed the food personally done by Jinder, and the hospitality and attentiveness of Nino himself. The staff was great, the place was hopping and we were glad to be at this neighborhood gem. Thank you.