Rosemarino D'Italia I Alexandria

@rosemarinoitalia This quaint Italian restaurant is Michelin recognized for a reason! With 2 adorably aesthetic locations, this is a place that you cannot go wrong with visiting. 🍸 Brazilian persuasion: If you're a passionfruit fan this is a must! Balanced and refreshing. ✨️ Bruschetta: A staple of crusty bread bites and perfectly seasoned tomato and herbs. ✨️ Calamari: Another classic that's super shareble, fried perfectly! ✨️ Saltimbocca: Chicken on a bed of sautéed spinach and mashed potatoes. The best comfort meal and great portion! ✨️ Amatriciana: A great pasta dish with classic tomato sauce. ✨️ Profiteroles: Another dessert that I absolutely love! Puffs with vanilla creme and chocolate drizzled on top. Overall, a truly fantastic restaurant that needs to be on your list. - IG @ SpicyAivy

Rosemarino D'Italia isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience. From the moment you step inside, you're enveloped in an ambiance that whispers of cozy Italian evenings. The soft lighting, the gentle murmur of conversation, and the subtle aroma of herbs and simmering sauces create an atmosphere that's both elegant and welcoming. The star of the show: the food. Each dish is a masterpiece, crafted with an obvious passion for authentic Italian flavors. During my recent visit, the homemade pasta was cooked to absolute perfection – al dente with a delightful chew. The sauce, rich and vibrant with fresh tomatoes and fragrant basil, tasted like it had been simmering for hours. And then there's the service. Attentive without being intrusive, our server was knowledgeable about the menu and offered thoughtful recommendations. They anticipated our needs with grace and made us feel like valued guests. It's the kind of service that elevates a good meal to a truly memorable occasion. Rosemarino D'Italia manages to strike that perfect balance – exceptional food, warm and inviting ambiance, and impeccable service. It's a true gem and a must-visit for anyone craving an authentic and delightful Italian dining experience. I left feeling completely satisfied and already looking forward to my next visit.

We randomly picked the restaurant and the food quality was really good! Servers were friendly. We are going to be their regular customers! The seafood pasta with white wine sauce was great! I can’t wait to try different food. But tiramisu was a little sweet. Wish they put more coco powder on top instead of chocolate drizzle.

We have driven by many times, finally decided to try and glad we did. Cute little neighborhood restaurant. The menu is a perfect size, something for everyone. The calamari was lightly breaded and fried, not greasy. The spicy marinara was perfect. We had the mixed seafood and the Rosemarino pasta dishes .portions are a nice size, lots of seafood, and fresh pasta. Delicious. Tiramisu topped off a nice dinner. There are lot of hard surfaces so it can be loud. Looking forward to another visit, maybe on their outdoor patio when it’s warmer.

The host were great. The restaurant is cute and has new fresh modern vibe. Very sweet how they’ve updated it for a tiny neighborhood restaurant. The menu is small which makes me hope the food is all fresh. We ordered the mushrooms for starters which was delicious followed by the shrimp and scallop risotto and bolognese gnocchi. The gnocchi was great, but it was drowned in the sauce. The cocktails were also tasty. We would dine here again.

We had a very nice meal for two. We shared an escargot special and each got our own entrées. The pasta special was very good, half of the grilled shrimp were a bit overcooked but the size and flavor of the dish were spot on. The same is true for the Veal saltimboca that we got, really good flavor but the Veal should have been pounded out longer as it was a bit over and slightly tough. Our server Rosio was great, delightful and friendly and hustled! The atmosphere on our night was a bit rowdy. I was surprised at the 3 or 4 bar patrons who were having too good of a time with the bartender as they were yelling and shouting their pleasure so much that it made it hard to hear our own conversations from the other side of the room in the front of the restaurant. We ordered a nice Chianti bottle which was also very good.

Great little place in the Avenue. Friendly and good service. Food is always hot and out quickly. The menu has something for everyone. Traditional Italian and some innovative dishes. Good bar!

Our first time in since it re-opened and we're happy we did! The Ceasar salad was LITERALLY perfect. Liked the bruscetta though the sauce was a little sweet. Minestrone soup was very tasty. For mains the chicken parm was delicious and the Rosemarino was nice. We weren't planning on dessert but when they heard it was partner's birthday, they brought out a lovely piece of cheesecake and a candle. Overall excellent service too! Will be back!

Such a great spot! Celebrated my birthday with a dinner here recently and really enjoyed it. The cocktails were delicious as was the homemade pasta. I had the Pisco-Licious cocktail and Rosemarino pasta, my boyfriend had an espresso martini and the Bolognese with gnocchi. The sauce on the Rosemarino pasta was delicious and the gnocchi was really light a fluffy. They have a fairly small dining room but recently added patio seating outside. Wasn't hard to get a reservation for a Friday night but the dining room was full.

We made quick reservation at this quaint Italian restaurant in the Del Rey area of Alexandria. Not many people on a Wednesday, but arrived in time to enjoy a few Happy Hour treats (330-630pm), the fried zucchini were tasty and crispy and the marinara dipping sauce was excellent. The wife enjoyed a nice soup and salad, and ravioli, My Piccata Chicken was pan seared, with capers, olives, spinach was delicious. To finish off a great meal the wife ordered the Spumoni that was chocolate dipped, strawberry, pistachio ice cream which was unbelievable great. Staff was super friendly as we enjoyed an intimate dinner.

The food is delicious. The servers are nice. The ambience is better than most Del Ray places. This was our second visit since they remodeled (or changed owners) and while the food remains delicious and their wait staff is friendly, this particular visit was peculiar, strange and off-putting. The restaurant was EMPTY. We were the first diners there and this guy, who seemed to be in charge, told the hostess that if we didn't have reservations (which we didn't), only one table was available to our party of 3...the one literally adjacent to their front door. I mean, literally as you walk in, you would have no choice but to bump right into this table. A table that really should not have been set up in the first place (BECAUSE IT'S SO OBVIOUSLY IN THE WAY)....and THAT'S where WE belonged! To their credit, they allowed us to move to another table, but not without a few evil eyes. By the time we left, two more tables were occupied, for a total of 3 tables filled with people. The episode was of no real consequence and we had a great meal, but it way so off-putting that the restaurant is off our favorites list for now.

We had a nice little date night here. Great service, tasty dishes - I got a pasta dish and my significant other did not but we both enjoyed. Nice ambiance too.

Absolutely loved it! The food was perfectly cooked and was great portion sizes (we split a meal, and it was enough with appetizers and all). The service was friendly and seemed caring about our experience. The restaurant itself is a small little spot but the ambiance was perfect for the food type and experience. The only thing that was not as perfect, and I'm being critical, was the limoncello seemed not fresh.. as it was store bought and was just ok.. fresh limoncello at a nice Italian spot is a must! The wine selection was small-ish as well. Otherwise great cocktails! Will definitely be going back and definitely recommend it!

Such a cute little date night restaurant! Service was really great, our waiter was friendly and attentive. The food was really good. The seafood risotto was my favorite and the drinks were delicious.

Two dollar card charge and wasn't told that before coming in. Drinks are very expensive and very small. Food is also very expensive and very small portions.

Had high hopes, but was a major disappointment. Food is mediocre at best, seating is very tight and no Italian theme set (decor and lack of music), server was kind, but not very knowledgeable on the cuisine (if we want to call it that).

Last night my family took me to your restaurant for my 65th birthday. I knew this was going to be a treat as soon as we walked through the door. The aroma was heavenly! The place is really nice, the waitstaff's very friendly, the food delicious. The only issue I had was the table across from us. Four people were so loud, we couldn't have a conversation amongst us. I'm surprised the Manager did not speak to these customers to lower their volume.

What a cute vibey Italian spot in del ray! So glad and lucky we found this place. We didn't need any reservations on a weekend and were seated right away. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices of the food - all very reasonable ($20 for a plate of pasta), when the places are $25-30! I ordered calamari for an appetizer which came with a delicious spicy marinara, and the carbonara pasta for my entree. The pasta was so creamy, flavorful, but did not leave me feeling bloated afterwards. It was the perfect amount of savory. They also had a really good selection of drinks and cocktails, and I got the peach bourbon. Absolutely wonderful meal and experience here! Will be back for affordable Italian :)

A pasta place that we wanted to love but left desiring more. We had the mushroom appetizer to start. It was cooked perfectly with a nice pan sauce. The entrees really missed the mark for the neighborhood, even a pizza by the slice joint could have done better. The chicken Parmesan was over-broiled. No one want likes tough chicken devoid of juice. It's like someone cooked it for the first time with 2 spoons of marinara on top. Dry is an understatement. The spaghetti was cooked al dente and had a bite, which was its only saving grace. The love had the risotto but they used cream. Basically boiled rice that was tossed in cream sauce. Cheese depth was limited. Flavor was just salted heavy cream. This place I may try again but doubtful.

This missed restaurant was gone for a while then came back with a renovation and new menu. Unfortunately, the menu and portions had changed from what made this place better than other bland establishments in Del Ray. Keep the new decor but please bring back the previous menu choices and larger portion size.

Re-opened with a totally revamped vibe, Rosemarino brings solid Italian food to the Avenue with exceptional service. Nestled right along Del Ray's Mt Vernon Ave, Rosemarino is now open again following a brief closure for COVID. The newly renovated interior is fresh and welcoming, offering an opened up space that brings a flavor of DC modern dining to this true-to-the-neighborhood property. Definitely get the fried mozz to start, and any of their pasta dishes. I'm a sucker for their gnocci. And their bar and libations offerings pair well with the food. For a great Italian dinner with a hometown feel (but still a clean, upscale dining room), check out Rosemarino's for your next dining out!

Business dinner for 10. Mid week. Everything excellent. Hope to come back soon. I had the veal. So good.

Was pleasantly surprised. Food was better than average, service was good, and atmosphere was cozy. My only complaint would be that Affogato should ALWAYS be served with one scoop of gelato and one espresso on the side . The guest will then pour the espresso over the gelato. .there is no other way. The restaurant and/or server should never bring it to you already mixed...if they do send it back. I would come back bc the food has a lot of potential and I want this place to be successful.

We were looking for a nice Italian restaurant before our flight out of DCA (11 min drive away). Read the reviews and it was as good as promised. Wonderful atmosphere, food was fantastic and the server was great as she knew we had to catch a flight. Calamari and fried mozzarella was amazing as were the main dishes with the fresh pasta. Thought the portions were right on. We will be back!

We have been back to Rosemarino a couple of times since it has re-opened and it is as good, actually even better than it used to be. A bar has been added and even though we have not sat there yet, we have enjoyed the delicious cocktails that are now available. The pasta dishes are very good with the pasta (home made) cooked al dente as it should be. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation and sit outside on a beautiful Spring evening. Welcome back, Rosemarino!

Sadly really underwhelmed. Cacio pepe with homemade fettuccini tasted more like egg noodles in alfredo sauce. Bread for the bruschetta was barely toasted making the overall dish a bit soggy and unappetizing. My parter got a rigatoni with a meat and sauce and was underwhelmed as well for the $22 price. The mushroom appetizer was very good, as well as the cocktails. Maybe we will try again sometime, but for now this spot wont be on our rotation.

I'm thrilled that this place has reopened after being temporarily closed due to COVID. The atmosphere is great, the service is nice, and the pasta is delicious. Personally, I'm a fan of the Amatriciana, which is pancetta, onion, garlic, basil pesto, hand-crushed tomato, and homemade rigatoni. A must try, especially if you live in Del Ray or Old Town

The best place to get Italian food in Northern VA - great food, ambiance, service, and location! This lovely restaurant is loved in Del Ray, Alexandria, and is in an area where parking isn't too difficult to find. The restaurant is a quaint and cozy place. In light of COVID, I think the restaurant does a great job social distancing. There is also outdoor seating with streaming lights, so would highly recommend outside too! It was raining the night I went with my family, so we opted for indoors. On a side note, this would be a perfect place for a private party. The food is delicious! They make homemade pasta too! What I really appreciate is how they have both single and family orders. I came here with my husband and parents, so we went family style to taste a bit of everything. For appetizers, we ordered the bruschetta, which was topped with a sizable portion of sun-dried tomatoes, regular tomatoes, basil, garlic, parmesan, and other herbs. Delicious! For our salad, we ordered the arugula salad, which includes cherry tomatoes and red onions, with their homemade lemon thyme vinaigrette. The family size was quite generous, and we all felt content with the salad. Now onto the main course. We shared the Scallops and Mushroom Risotto, and mixed seafood linguine pasta with white wine sauce. We ordered family size for both orders, and it was a very large portion size. Apparently family size is for two people, but I think it can feed at least three. The mixed seafood contained mussels, clams, shrimp and calamari, which was very good. But my favorite was the risotto - the risotto was cooked perfectly and you could taste the mushroom flavors in the rice. The service, as mentioned earlier, is wonderful! All the servers are extremely helpful and friendly! I will definitely be visiting more often!

The restaurant was allowing dine-ins, so I took mah boo to celebrate his bday. Setting is really cute and cozy. The service was great as well. Very attentive to our orders and refilling water/bread We ordered Bolognese, Shrimp Piccata and I thought the dishes were really delicious! A little oily on the Bolognese. But I really enjoyed the meal and the time I experienced here. I highly suggest trying this place if you're craving for some great Italian food.

I flew in to visit a friend and this was our first stop for dinner, it was 10/10 and a perfect introduction to the city. The menu was perfect and I had a hard time deciding was to get! I got a seafood pasta dish, I can't remember the name but it was delicious! The service was quick and everyone was so friendly! I would love to come back to Alexandria and go here again!

The food is good but pricey. If you eat in the restaurant and there are other people eating there also, it's extremely loud and not enjoyable. I give the food 4 stars but the ambiance of the restaurant 1 star. The decibel level made the meal not enjoyable. Sorry to say this used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Del Ray before they renovated and increased the prices. Since I don't order much take out these days, sad to say there are much nicer and quieter restaurants to spend your money at.

I enjoyed this restaurant very much. I ordered a Chicken Frances. I love the lemony flavor of their creamy sauce sauce. I also ordered their Espresso Martini, I like that they actually use an espresso machine for this drink. The decoration is very nice & pleasing to the eyes. Hopefully next time I get to dine on their outside patio !

The food was awesome. I has the chicken francese and it was really good. Great wine too. Eddie was super fun to hang out with at the bar, since I was dining solo. Will definitely be back.

Solid experience! Food was outstanding as was the service. I highly recommend this Italian restaurant!!

Stopped in tonight for dinner and everything was great! Eggplant parm, pesto pasta and chicken marsala/francese were perfect. Would come again!

Not as good as it was originally... despite the renovation... They changed menu, changed staff (slow) & raised prices!

We've already been twice since they reopened and the food, atmosphere and service were amazing both times!

4 stars people, really? Mamma mia, no. I think 2 is generous. We ordered delivery and the pastas were terrible. "Cacio e pepe" it is not. More like a poorly made Alfredo with pastey overcooked pasta, congealed sauce and hardly any flavor. Meat ravioli were ok. Filling was kinda grainy. Chicken francese was more like picatta. Sauce was super lose and watery, chicken was dry, overcooked and flavorless, pasta (you guessed it) was over cooked. Disappointing.

We really wanted to like this place. We're new to the neighborhood and was excited to try the only Italian place in Del Ray. Positives: - Portions are very generous. - Carbonara was pretty good. There is pesto in it so it wasn't what I was looking for. It was a tasty pasta dish, I just wouldn't call it Carbonara. Negatives: - Fried mozzarella tasted like rubber. I don't think the mozzarella was fresh. Marinara sauce was watery and bland. - Cacio e pepe was very watery and oily. Food was not worth the price.

Loved everything about Rosemarinos, I got the bolognese pasta and a rossini and it was spectacular the bread is delicious but overall customer service was great!

Three stars but really more two and a half. I live nearby and wanted to try this place for a long time. I decided to order take out and got a few things off of the kids menu so I could try multiple items (the sauces and pasta are the same for both adults and kids). I really wanted to like it but the food didn't quite cut it. Let's start with the good: Even though I ordered take out, the restaurant is cute and would be a good place to dine in if there wasn't COVID. They made the food quickly and it was super hot and fresh when I got there. The meat ravioli in tomato cream sauce was really good. The pastas (both ravioli and penne) were cooked well. Now for the bad: The bread that came with the meal was huge but somewhat under baked and had an odd flavor. The garlic bread and pesto pasta sauce were really not very good, though the garlic bread was better dipped in the tomato cream sauce. The meat ravioli was drowning in sauce, which is typical of Italian-American restaurants but isn't a great thing in my opinion. I hope there are more items on the menu like the meat ravioli (minus the excessive sauce), but I don't know if I'm willing to try it out again.

For starters, when I entered there was nobody there to greet me and I didn't see anyone who worked there.a few minutes later I see 2 servers bringing out food. They BOTH walked right pass me twice without saying a word. I had to eventually ask do I seat myself or wait. Please be aware that there is no distancing at this restaurant at all. It is really small so maybe they can't afford to but to be seated so closely to someone else was uncomfortable. Me and my daughter had to practically whisper unless we wanted the man next to us to join the convo. The service was super slow with only 2 people working the floor. After being there for a hour, I asked for my food that I had yet to receive to be to go because I was over my visit. There was also a very racist vibe from a few patrons. And I even noticed that me and my daughter had different water glasses than the others. Theirs more fancy and ours the standard. Let me note that I am a black woman and 90% of the other guests were white. Two guys immediately left after being seated next to us and the family next to them left shortly after. I carry myself very well so I'm not sure what the issue was but the energy was definitely disturbing and unwelcoming. Ultimately, the food was ok. The bread and oil was really good. My Caesar salad was sub par (also noticed the other patrons salads were piled high and beautiful). The Mozzarella sticks was extremely thick rich cheese. While they were good in taste, they were annoying to eat because of all the chewing of the tough cheese. My daughter almost chocked twice and gave up. My daughter got the meat ravioli in red sauce and it was edible but nothing to call home about. My chicken parm was good going in but had me up all night in the restroom. I knew while I was there that I wouldn't be back to eat in for sure and I was considering take out but then I got sick from my food so no thank you!

Rosemarino makes pasta, but my experience was not the best. The staff were friendly, but my pasta was very watery. It was close to closing time so maybe I just did not receive their best effort. I do not believe I would return.

I really wanted to like this place but it sadly fell very short. We ordered appetizers and main courses, but they brought the mains first and extremely quickly, which felt a bit sloppy and disorganized, especially because one of the mains was not what was ordered (asked for chicken but they brought veal). In addition to the service issues, the food itself was pretty mediocre, especially for the price. All in all, would not go back and would not recommend.

Happy that this neighborhood restaurant is back - and with a much improved decor. Food and service is fantastic.

This review is based only on delivery. Overall, I thought the food was "A-OK", but nothing to write home about (just to write Yelp about). After a long weekend at a convention, I decided to skip the final dinner with coworkers and just order comfort food in my hotel and fall into a food coma before my early flight. I had pasta on my mind, and torn on what exactly I wanted, so decided to order 2 options and have a little of each, figuring I could take the leftovers with me the next day (as annoying as that must be to airport security). I tried the gnocci and the shrimp and scallops in saffron cream. The gnocchi had a really nice texture, which is important in a gnocchi. The sauce was just ok, though. I also found the shrimp and scallops in saffron cream to be just ok. I liked that they gave little packets of Parmesan cheese, but fresh in a plastic container would have been better. The food was solid, but I don't indulge in pasta often, and when I do I want it to be really good. Maybe the delivery affected this and it would have been better in-restaurant, but my experience was middling.

This is a small, pricy place but makes homemade pasta along the quaint Mt. Vernon Avenue. This review is based on a pick-up order I made via a third-party app that was running a promo discount. Location: It's nearing the end of the line of locally-owned shops and restaurant on Mt. Vernon Avenue. Somehow, it's always easy to find street parking in this area, especially now during the pandemic. It's a small cozy place, dim-ly lit, with somewhat of an outdated decor and furniture, but most good Italian restaurants seem to share this. Customer service: I didn't run across anyone because my food was just at the first table from the door. There were no signs where pick-up would be, and there was just no one there. My food was ready earlier than expected, though. (I received the text.) Food: I had a solo Gamberi con Funghi. First of all, I love that they offer solo and family size. My solo order was well portioned with the pasta, shrimp, and mushrooms. That said, I would not recommend this if you're not into or on the fence with mushrooms. It has A LOT of mushrooms. It was also really oily, and the pasta itself was alright. The piece of bread that came with the pasta was too dense as a side to the pasta. Altogether though, I would still recommend it. It's delicious, but I just wish it was less oily. I would be interested in returning and ordering from here again. Service was fast, and the food was decent. I think it's worth another go.

Came in today with my girlfriend and a friend had an amazing experience. We ended up getting Solo Fried Breaded Mozzarella and Solo Fried Calamari for the table , both apps were delicious. The mozzarella didn't come out soggy like most Italian restaurants and the marinara for the calamari complemented the dish. If you're looking for great espresso martini this is the he perfect spot to go to for sure from what i seen the espresso looks fresh , crazy they had other cocktails the sounded amazing , definitely going to go back for more . My server Chris was super attentive with my table. Overall great ambiance and music would recommend. Del Ray has a New and well established Italian restaurant in town.

So cute! Been here multiple times for takeout and once for sit down. Their pasta is so good. Their bruschetta is also delish. Eddie was our waiter and he was awesome!

When I am craving Italian, this is where I come to in my area. Their service is always on point. The complimentary bread they bring to you is moist and warm. I like that it has a slightly crunchy crust. It's perfect with their seasoned olive oil. I really like their Fried Mozzarella Cheese. Their Mozzarella Avocado Tomato Salad is a pleasant surprise. The Gnocchi Bologna is just right. Their portions are also very reasonable. I like that their marinara is slightly sour and not sweet, maybe they add a little wine. Whenever I go here, somehow I always end up taking some leftovers home.

This is a great spot! They make a lot of their own pasta and everything is delicious. Layer on affordable prices and friendly staff and you have one of the best neighborhood restaurants in Del Ray!

Food and service were great. We enjoyed a seafood pasta w/ marinara. No complaints. Also had an interesting take on veal saltimboca over mash and spinach which felt decidedly French, but was very well done. My only qualm was that it was quite hot outside/thus a little warm inside. Coupled with slightly more tight and intimate quarters seated next to us, I just can't muster a full 5. Would return if nearby and craving Italian.

I got the mixed seafood linguini with garlic white wine, which was good but a bit too salty and not "top-notch quality." The white wine sauce was really quite salty, though I still liked it (better salty than too bland!). The portion of seafood was very generous - lots of calamari and mussels! The shrimp was huge but tasteless, and I had to douse them heavily in the wine sauce to get some flavor. I like the bread, which tasted clean and soft, although the crust was a bit too hard/crispy. Overall, the food was pretty good -- very solid -- and the prices were reasonable, but the food is no high-quality stuff, if that's what you're looking for. A friend and I came on a Monday night, and the place was completely empty (two other people came in when we were nearly finished with our dinner). Service was good and attentive.

Just discovered this gem of a restaurant and we look forward to returning to try other entrees. The calamari appetizer was crisp and the marinara was delicious. Our large family platter of osso bucco was tender and flavorful. We ordered the side of pasta in a white wine lemon sauce and it was amazing! The veal parmesan with pasta was also delicious. Topped the meal off with one of the best tiramisu we have ever had. Truly a memorable meal!

*3.5 STARS Neighborhood Italian eatery that resembles an old school trattoria rather than a ristorante. I hate to throw in a little bias since when I found out the owner was Bolivian it seemed to make sense since flavors and execution were close but slightly off the mark. In other words, pretty sure this place would not be able to compete in any metropolitan Italian neighborhood, but it sure beats an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grille on authenticity by a longshot. Here is the play-by-play of our meal. The complimentary bread that is given at the start was akin to a stale foccacia and lacking any flavor with a dense pound-cake consistency, even a drizzle of olive oil or pat of butter does little to salvage these empty calories. The Italian wedding soup was flavorful with small meatballs that were juicy explosions of umami accompanied by bits of orzo and spinach. I don't know of a better way to describe it, but it had a premade-quality to it since each meatball tasted identical, the spinach seemed to be of the frozen-variety, and the pasta was overcooked in the same way that the noodles would be in a canned soup. I described it to my dining companions as though it were a premium line of Campbell's soup, which could be a compliment or an insult (or a complisult) depending on your point of view. The main courses presented at our table included spinach ravioli with marinara, mixed seafood served atop linguine with a white wine garlic sauce, and eggplant parmesan with a side of spaghetti, a decent cross-section of their offerings. In terms of visual presentation, the tomato based offerings are a bit over-sauced creating a soupy quality that gives off the illusion that the portions are skimpy when in reality they are actually quite reasonable (see other Yelp photos). Probably the same for the seafood linguine but more permissible since each successive bite of pasta became more flavorful as the broth was allowed to absorb into the pasta and far less noticeable since it was submerged underneath the generous pile of mussels, clams, and shrimp. The high point was the homemade pasta since it maintained a firm al dente-like quality that is vastly superior versus over-cooked dry pasta, but texture aside, I've definitely had better. I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt for the eggplant parm for being set out too long before being brought to the table since the cheese was a bit rubbery and overcooked and the breading was a bit soggy underneath (there's that soupy over-sauced issue again). Service was very friendly and the ambiance could be regarded as homey or kitschy but it works for the Del Ray neighborhood, which has a lot of young families with kids so it's a great place to go out to eat without venturing into DC. I had debated rating this place between 3-4 stars but since the composite rating is a solid 4, I feel less guilty underrating rather than overrating.

Ordered the Saltimboca with veal. This is literally the worst pasta dish I've ever had. The veal was tough and overcooked, thin and tasteless. The pasta was spaghetti, broken into small pieces, and then doused in lemon juice. That's it. Just lemon from what I can tell. I have no idea how this restaurant has 4 stars.

My wife had 86'd this place 4-5 years ago (before we married). I pushed her to give it another try as it's the closest Italian to our house. IT WAS DELICIOUSNESS!!! The staff was incredibly friendly & very knowledgable about the menu & ingredients. The appetizer calamari was perfectly cooked!! A VERY rare find. Most calamari is over battered or over fried. This was light, perfectly crunchy & very tender. Dipping marinara was crazy good! Main course was spicy sausage linguine & did not disappoint. The balance of flavor with amount of sausage to sauce to pasta was perfect. The flavor depth was impressive. Light earthy tones with herbs, tomato & sausage & bell pepper was exquisite. My wife had gnocchi bolognese & it was delightful. Rich meat sauce perfectly complemented the full flavor of the gnocchi. Another dish difficult to do well. Not doughy, not standard sauce. Full of Italian flavor. I got a side of meatballs to try for next time. They were again- a shocking success!! Can this place do no wrong??????