Tartufo Italian Restaurant

This is a neighborhood family restaurant that really is a hidden gem. It’s tucked away in an unassuming block on Wisconsin Ave. the service was very attentive. Food was delicious and beyond expectation for our first experience. The mushroom ravioli is simple but yet rich. It’s a must try. The price is very reasonable for DC. We tried several dishes from a modest menu and every dish was fantastic. We were told that they don’t always have certain items on the menu because they don’t want to store/freeze their ingredients. We were informed that if you want fresh fish or fillet mignon, to let them know a day ahead of time. What a service. Since the restaurant is only about 10 min walk, we will be frequenting this establishment. Two thumbs up!

The food was delicious and rich with good prices compared to other Italian restaurants in the area. The restaurant is very under staffed and was missing some items on the menu but the experience was still great. The owner waits all the tables in the restaurant and is very kind so be patient! I will definitely be returning.

My parents and I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday night dinner. The gentleman serving was by himself, but he was so organized and helpful, the food delicious, the serving sizes very appropriate, the restaurant atmosphere was inviting. Definitely recommend Tartufo.

This place is a gastronomic gem with an owner who cooks and waits tables. He is a fantastic chef with a glorious menu. Be patient, sit back, and enjoy.

This place is a hidden gem. Simple and looks in need of a spruce-up but WOW the food!! Exceptional! The service is possibly understaffed but v attentive and cordial. Great value for money and did I say how good the food was?? Two thumbs up!!

Absolutely delightful! My whole experience was amazing. I'm driving home craving Italian so I take a chance and look up Italian Restaurants near me. Looking at their menu the Cabonara caught my eye so I called to order. The man who answered the phone was very helpful and recommended the arugula salad and cheesecake. Everything was amazing and can't wait to come back.

One of the undiscovered gems of Tenleytown! The food was excellent and I do not believe I have ever been in the restaurant when the owner is not present. The attention and love comes through in the food and genuine care felt.

Tartufo is a great place of you’re looking to go out for an intimate date night! My spouse and I went there last night for the first time, and the food, service, and prices were all excellent! We really enjoyed their spinach and artichoke ravioli special, and we highly recommend supporting this family-owned business.

As many have said - this place is a hidden gem. The food is seriously delicious. You will have to be patient as it is a one-man show (except for cooking the owner does it all). The wait is worth it. Perfectly seasoned food and great portions. I had the vitello and it was so good I almost licked the plate. The people behind us were raving about the carbonara so I'd like to come back to try it. It's super quiet and relaxed inside - no real vibe but a nice spot for good food.

Took my wife here for an early Valentines Dinner this past Super Bowl Sunday, February 11th. A gentleman who turned out to be the Owner greeted us at the front door and immediately sat us at our table. Turns out he was working by himself. The service he provided was absolutely outstanding. My wife and I were pretty sure he not only was serving the tables, but he also was cooking the food! My guess is he gave everyone off for the Big Game. We thanked him towards the end of our visit. And when we told him we drove from Annapolis, he immediately offered us a free dessert!! I have attached photos of our delicious meal.

I have been hearing about this from moms in the PTSO, so I decided to stop by Tartufo for a quick dinner with my son after a late event at school - he wanted Italian. We walked in to a cozy, very well laid out restaurant with just a couple of tables. After waiting for a host to materialize for a few moments, a man who identified himself as the cook came out of the kitchen. He told us that he was alone and was cooking everything himself and it would take some time. I appreciated his honesty, but it was a school night, so we didn't wait. However, I was very impressed with him and, since we arrived so late (@8:15) figured they'd been slow enough that everyone got cut. I am determined to go back with my husband to enjoy the long wait with good conversation with my husband. Let's support our neighborhood restaurants guys! If they can't get people in, they can't keep hiring and I'd wager 10-1 the food beats that chain spot up the road hands down! I encourage you to try them out. I know I will be. And I cannot wait to update my review!

We were in the neighborhood staying at an Airbnb. Turns out many nicer restaurants are not open on Monday. Tartufo has decided to buck the trend and open up. Today was their Monday #2. We were greeted, served, and our meal prepared, by the owner, Abdi. He made our experience extra special. What a good guy and he runs a very credible operation. We had a caesar salad, veal with mushrooms and carbonara on the side, shrimp and pasta, tiramisu, and a couple glasses of red. Everything was stellar not a negative comment to be made. Abdi has huge experience in DC restaurants and it shows. Great to see he came out of Covid intact. Give Tartufo a go, you won't be sorry.

Food was fantastic. I had the Carbonara. Service was great. This place is a gem. I will definitely be going back.

Had a lovely dinner at Tartufo. Started with antipasto, followed by mushroom ravioli and lemon chicken and topped off with chocolate mousse. The mushroom ravioli, served with a light cream sauce, was excellent. The lemon chicken had three thin chicken strips topped with mushrooms and artichokes. It needed more artichokes and maybe another piece of chicken. The chocolate mousse completed the dinner and satisfied our chocolate craving. The service was slow but attentive. When we return, we will order the mushroom ravioli again. It was that good!

Delicious!! We went in craving Italian food and we came out most satisfied!! Thank you for a wonderful dinner.

The owner is extremely nice, and often comes out to your table to greet you! The restaurant has a lovely feel to it, from the lovely relaxing Italian music to the paintings on the walls! And the food is also wonderful, I highly recommend the mushroom ravioli with truffle oil! Truly incredible!

Tartufo is truly a gem of a restaurant. When my partner and I lived in DC, we went every single week. The food is thoughtful and consistently delicious. The ambiance is relaxing and romantic at the same time. Our go to dish is the mushroom ravioli. It's creamy and delicious without making you feel too stuffed after. The desserts are also some of the best in dc. I love the tiramisu and ricotta cheesecake. We went here so often that we got to know the owner, Abdi, who really makes Tartufo special. He genuinely cares about his customers and personally makes sure the food is delicious and to your liking. He also single-handedly runs the place and his love for what is does is palpable. When I moved to CA, he gave us a handful of dishes on the house and made my last night in DC so special. Overall, Tartufo is one of a kind. I could not recommend it more.

This was some of the best Italian food I have had in a very long time. I was absolutely amazed because I usually don't expect incredible Italian food in the dmv, but Tartufo proved me wrong. I'd like to thank our waiter first - everyone called in sick so he was the only one working and he was so pleasant, attentive, and caring. This alone, made the experience better. I'd recommend anything and everything on this menu, but have to say that the ravioli (Al Carciofo), garlic bread, Insalata Caprese, and the Tartufata were absolutely delicious. We stumbled upon this place after attending an event close by, and it turned out to be one of the best things ever. I would love to come back!

What a neighborhood gem. The owner/chef and the food are superb! The mushroom ravioli, carbanara and veal piccata were all equally fresh and delicious! He's understaffed given the roller coaster of the last few years, but his dedication to his craft and customer service is unmatched. Go when you have time to sit back and enjoy the good food and good company. It also seems to be a great option for takeout. What a lovely spot!

Dined in this evening. Good to reopened for in-person dining. Had an excellent Vitello al Caperi and tiramisu. Excellent presentation and it tasted even better!

I discovered Tartufo last weekend, although I know it has been around for a long time, and now it has become my favorite restaurant. The chef is a pro; everything is prepared perfectly, properly seasoned, and delicious. The facade in the front leaves a lot to be desired, which is why I think I never thought to go in. But the facade belies what is inside: a very charming little restaurant! The service is impeccable. Our waiter was a real professional, attentive and gracious in an understated way, so his presence felt very unobtrusive. It's hard to find that quality of service these days.

The food was delicious and the service was spectacular. The pollo limone was amazing. I would recommend to anyone. Ambiance was very nice.

Walked in and waited three minutes JUST to be greeted. The owner watched us wait from behind the bar. Eventually greeted by a waitress who acted like she working in a time warp and hated being there. The service was extremely slow and two other tables who walked in after us were served before us. Food wasn't even good, way overpriced, and the portions were small for what you pay. Frankly would've rather gone to the Cheesecake Factory. Would not recommend- at all.

Overall a somewhat frustrating and disappointing experience. On the downside, food takes a surprisingly long amount of time to arrive. I think there must only be one cook in the kitchen. But most surprisingly are the extremely small portions for the price. A four dollar side of spinach was literally less than two forkfuls. The $17 ragu pasta was not enough to fill up this diner, who needed to raid the fridge upon return home. Service by the single waitress and maître d' was both attentive and presentable. No complaints there. The taste of the food was enjoyable. A shrimp in garlic appetizer hit the mark. A very modest spinach salad with crumbled cheese was also happily consumed. The measly two forkfuls of side order of spinach with garlic were also tasty. However, none of this was overwhelming or memorable. If you are looking for a fantastic Italian meal in the neighborhood, I would recommend going elsewhere. There are many good options. My experience clearly is at odds with many of the other reviews on yelp so maybe I just had a one time bad experience. However, the management needs to do something about portion size control. Adding more spinach or pasta to your courses costs you nothing but means a lot to hungry diners.

I was in town visiting for work and heard about Tartufo from friends. I have to say that Abdi has created an amazing place with great ambience, tasty food, and fantastic clientele. The authentic and curated Italian cuisine was wonderful and I left a full - and sleepy - camper. Abdi knows what to order and what wine will match with definite expertise. I'll be telling my DC friends to visit and will come back the next time I'm in town!

Tartufo in Friendship Heights is a hidden gem in our community! Delicious Italian food at reasonable prices with a lovely atmosphere. Abdi, the owner / manager is delightful and always welcoming. The restaurant is also available for take out and private functions. I had a private party there and it was wonderful. We had 30 guests and had the entire restaurant for our party. During this crazy Covid time we're in it was great to have a special private party with friends we hadn't seen in so very long in a safe space. You can't beat the price either! Much more affordable than any other venues in the area. Go to Tartufo and support Abdi! You won't be disappointed!!

Abi is great! There was some confusion with our reservation and he went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make it right. The food was absolutely delicious and I HIGHLY recommend!

Everything was phenomenal. Then we got the dessert, which was absolutely exceptional! The service was fabulous too. We will be returning as soon as possible. We especially loved the meatball appetizer, the ambience, and the amazing tiramisu!

Tartufo is a cute little Italian restaurant. It kind of has a romantic feel to it. We all went with pasta. I had the Salmone Pescatore, which was salmon baked in a wine sauce with mussels, clams, and shrimp and came with a side of pasta. I really enjoyed this dish. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the sauce was not too heavy. We shared a key lime cheesecake. It was very light and creamy. Service was good. Our server was attentive and helpful.

I was craving Italian food and the menu looked good so I got food to go. I didn't realize until I arrived that they're only doing take out and at dinner time on a weekend for it to be dead concerned me. Although most people would be excited to discover the garlic bread they ordered was actually cheese garlic bread, I hate cheese bread, so that was a waste of money and food. Also small portion size. I also got chicken in a wine sauce and it was the most bland thing I've ever tasted. It might as well have been boiled chicken and was only a couple steps up from hospital food. I won't ever come back.

We got takeout, and the food traveled quite well. In my opinion, the mushroom ravioli was the star of the show, but I might be biased because that was my dinner. My partner got the carbonara, which was fine but not outstanding - perfectly acceptable if you want a carbonara. His dad got the spaghetti with sausage and peppers, which was pretty good, and his mom got the shrimp appetiser and rucola salad, both of which she enjoyed (although my partner and I got the rucola salad as well, and I didn't like it very much.) We got the calamari to share, and it was nice but again, not incredible. The bread was nice once we reheated it. Overall, this is a nice Italian restaurant, and I'm pretty sure we'll be back.

Three of us just had dinner here, and were very pleased, not just with the quiet ambiance, and the attentive service, but with the very good Italian food! Since it was our first time, I tried the Pollo Tartufo, and it was flavorful and moist, and the spaghetti served with it was perfectly seasoned with olive oil and garlic. Arugula salad was lovely, with just a hint of lemon and orange, and dessert of raspberry cream on lemon cake was light and sweet and a perfect ending. I can't drink coffee at night but the others raved about it, so I had a little taste, and they were right, it is excellent! Also, although I only tried one piece of my husband's calamari appetizer, I have to say it was as good as any I have ever eaten. Tender, and perfectly crusted, with marinara sauce for dipping.

I really enjoyed the family dinner we had there. The ambiance was elegant but not pretentious and i loved that. We had the calamari which was delicious and my mother in law said it was the best she'd ever had. The branzino, carbonara and mushroom ravioli were delicious and the tiramisu and tartufo dessert were perfect. It was a great meal. We're lucky will live right around the corner!

Wonderful Italian restaurant with the basic menu items you expect and flavor that exceeds expectations. Priced right and good portions. This restaurant is definitely a classic with a family and romantic setting. We had a party of eight and we all enjoyed our visit. Staff is very attentive, quick, and friendly. Menu is single page and has all the favorites. Wine list has very good selections for all entrees and tastes. You will not regret visiting this DC gem.

BLUF: If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant, go elsewhere, or just buy pasta, meatballs and canned white clam sauce from Giant to make better food at half the price. Pros: Friendly service, frequent water refills. Cons: You could make this food at home, probably better tasting too... We ordered the meatballs appetizer and the clam vongole. The meatball had a homogeneous, machine made texture to it and tasted like chef boyardee, or at best, a vacuum pack of meatballs from the costco fridge. The clam vongole was made with spaghetti identical to the 85cent dried pasta you get at Giant, tossed with some clams with meat the size of my pointer finger-nail. The supermarket pasta was perhaps tossed with a little butter. I was missing the clammy, savory, sweet, spicy oil/butter that a proper vongole is supposed to be made with. The garlic bread appetizer was basically a package of "texas toast" from costco. It had a layer of melted cheese, which is more texas toast than italian garlic bread. The regular bread was also served cold and tasted a bit stale.

The food here is amazing. If you're looking for a calm date night or family night dinner place this is it. I had the chicken parmesano and before I tried Tartufo I thought my mom made the best Parm (sorry mom). Great food, great atmosphere. I wish I could give it more then 5 stars

Excellent, we ate everything on the plate. The restaurant has very nice classical music at the background. The waitress was very hospitality.

Delicious meal in #DC Vongole Clams & Pasta, Lobster Ravioli, Broiled Salmon with notable couscous. Started with a sophisticated Caesar salad complimented with fresh, Italian Bread and Savory extra virgin Olive Oil. Topped off with a slice of Black Forest Cake and Coffee. Gracious service by owner Abdi; welcomes us to his restaurant as if it's his home. Hearing your companion a plus! #DestinationDC

After being away from Washington, DC for 6 1/2 months, we made sure that we had our first official dinner at Tartufo. (Tartufo is in walking distance of our home, so we have had many many meals over the years. We consider the restaurant our favorite neighborhood special place to go to.) Once again, our carry out order was ALL cooked to perfection. The Chef at Tartufo is extraordinarily consistent with preparing all of the dishes that we have chosen over the years at the restaurant. My family always has the same meal when we return to DC. (Pasta Alla Norma - sicilian pasta with eggplant, Vitello Al Capperi, veal with lemon sauce and capers, Pasta Alla Salsiccia - spaghetti with sauteed italian sausage, peppers, onions and garlic, Calamari Fritti - fried calamari with marinara, and the Classic Caesar Salad.) I can't say enough how delicious these dishes are. The pasta is cooked to perfection, the calamari is a treat, and our main dishes are always a reminder of why we love Tartufo so much! (The meals are cooked with care, balance, and a sense of wonderful proportions!) The Chef cooked our first dinner home as beautifully as the last meal we had before we left DC for 6 months. My family would also like to say that we have ordered from Tartufo for pick up all throughout the two-year pandemic (Covid-19). It has been a real treat to have such delicious dinners from a restaurant we adore. ALL of our dinners that we have ordered to bring home during the pandemic have been superb! We feel very lucky to have Tartufo in our neighborhood! The owner is an extremely kind man and very gracious. Sincerely, Rob/Sara/and Penny

This restaurant has its ups and downs. First, the calamari was delicious! The lightly breaded calamari was crispy and wasn't soggy with grease. But unfortunately, the spaghetti alle vongole wasn't nearly as good. Instead, the spaghetti was saturated with grease and tasted mostly of garlic. In fact, while there was a good number of clams, the clam flavor was mostly drowned out by the garlic. Service here is pretty fast and very attentive, which is good because this place is somewhat tacky, so the faster the service, the less tackiness you have to experience! For example, instead of having fresh tablecloths, they use paper tabletop sheets. The tablecloths they do have below the paper are dirty and stained. Stains can also be found on the paper menus.

Came here for a graduation dinner for the first time and would hesitate to recommend. Main complaint was the service. Everyone was very friendly but it took forever to get our meal, plus it was so hot! The food was ok. Not a terrible experience but probably won't return.

Tartufo's chef and owner has figured out how to consistently deliver many five star dishes, including a fabulous presentation of of clams, mussels, shrimp and squid over pasta, a veal picatta, a linguini with eggplant, appetizer meatballs, excellent fresh salads vegetables and fab Italian desserts -- all served in a place where you can hear your dinner partners. Plus a changing collection of local art on the walls. Good vibes. We go back all the time!

The food was amazing. Traditional Italian food with great presentation and flavors. The meatballs are a must. The desert is terrific and I recommend the chocolate cake. The staff was very friendly. Great prices too! Bring everyone you know to this all around wonderful place.

We came for a late lunch. The restaurant was basically empty with just one waiter/bartender/host. Service was pretty slow. The food was great. I got the carbonara and it was yummy. My mom loved her rucola salad and carpaccio. my sister loved her arrabiatta. it had the perfect level of spice. it's quiet in here. It was my sisters bday and they brought out a chocolate mousse cake as a surprise. there was really bad art on the walls.

Went here for my girlfriends birhtday, her choice. It is a pleasant place The service was good and meals reasonably price I had spaghetti a la vongole and found it tastless, it was very ordinary and forgetable.

Tartufo is awesome and they have a delicious clam dish. I am a clam fanatic (cooked clams only, thanks). I will automatically order any clam and pasta dish on the menu and I am a tough critic when it comes to these dishes. I throughly enjoyed it. They also have a wonderful wine selection. I usually go straight for the Cabernet, but I actually had to think for a while here. The service was really great and everyone was kind and attentive for the duration of our visit. The seating was pretty close together, but not in an uncomfortable way. I actually enjoyed it. It made the dining experience more familial in a way...even though I don't know any of the people who were sitting around me. It was nice. I'll definitely visit again.

I live in CT, but visit Washington DC frequently. I always enjoy visiting Tartufo when I am in town, and I love their food as well as the staff. I was surprised by Julie M.'s comment about a server there, Leslie, and think her review was off-base, not to mention mean-spirited. Leslie has always been a warm, welcoming and accommodating server (and I'm a woman!). Maybe the problem wasn't so much with Leslie as it was with the reviewer; perhaps this was more a difficult guest issue - as we've all seen in restaurants before! Not to mention the fact that trying to get someone fired from a Yelp review is petty and small. Do not hesitate to visit this restaurant and highly suggest you request Leslie as your server.

I really like this place every one is friendly and nice and I like going here whenever am around that area and the food is great and nice for a evening after a hard day :)

Food was pretty good. I don't have any real complaints other than it was just ok. Not the best I've ever had but definitely not the worse. Service was a little slow and it wasn't very busy.

Not sure about the four star average, it's a solid three. Food was ok, portions not huge for an Italian restaurant. HVAC needs serious work. Front had not heat except for two small underperforming space heaters, which indicates it's been out for a while. Plus heat failed in large room while we were there. Bring a contractor in and fix now.

Quaint but very nice. I ordered the market special, a branzino, and it was very tasty. My date ordered pasta and commented that it tasted homemade. The servers were top notch. Very attentive, very discreet. The place was packed on a Friday night but we were able to get a very nice table with no reservations. Nothing too amazing bit a solid choice all around . Tiramisu was a little disappointing; lacked flavor.

This is a little gem in Tenleytown. Owner Abdi is the consummate host, the dining room is elegant yet friendly, and the food is delectable. Try the Diane Rehm salad with salmon instead of the shrimp (the shrimp is great too, but with salmon it is my favorite salad EVER.). Actually, you can't go wrong, from the tasty appetizers to the delicious delicate home made soups, to the scrumptious pastas and entrees. If you live in the neighborhood, I envy you--I'd be over here every week! I come over from Takoma Park whenever I have business in NW DC, and I've never been disappointed!

Had a lovely dinner when family came in to town. Husband had the Zuppe Seafood and loved it. I had the Lemone Chicken. Niece had the ravioli. All were delicious. Service was so so. Dessert was a disappointment. We will go back soon.

I was not impressed. I was ready for DC prices, so that didn't bother me. For a weeknight you would think the pressure would be off this little neighborhood place but the execution was just meh. We literally stood at the hostess desk for at least five minutes. Not wait for a table, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME OUT TO A KNOWLEDGE OUR PRESENCE. That's like a phone ringing for five minutes. Service was kind polite and VERY SLOW. Every course took at least 15-20 minutes to arrive. Thankfully, my company was wonderful. Both the mussels appetizer and the clams with pasta had shellfish with grit, that was disappointing. I guess you can't always prevent that. Portions were small. I don't want to be stuffed like a I went to the Olive Garden; portions were small. Even the bread for the table was portioned out like each slice had to be handmade individually. Cute little restaurant. "It's our little secret" kind of atmosphere, I don't know how they've collected all those stars

Let me say this is a great addition to the Tenleytown dining circuit. Tarufo's food is simple, clean, and above all tasty. Many of you Yelpers tend to be overly wordy with your reviews not necessary here my friends. If you're looking for a good meal with good service and you are sick of the strip mall Italian food you eat 2x per week, Tartufo has a dish for you. I got the special-crab ravioli with marinara sauce. Simple but good. My boyfriend got the Tagliatelle with veal ragu which was light but delicious. The owner Abdi is very kind and made sure our dining experience was excellent. Parking is easy and the restaurant Is two blocks from the metro. Side note-the sidewalk is high so watch it when you open the door. Learned the hard way. Thanks mi cielo.

I had been here in Feb 2017 and loved everything-the atmosphere, the food, the décor--all wonderful. In late September 2017 a friend took me back and I had a lovely dinner for my birthday. Abdi and the staff could not have been nicer. I have been referring people every since my first visit. Sadly the friend who went with me in September, said she took a friend over there for dinner after Thanksgiving day--and it was closed with no reason as to why. Everyone was disappointed. What happened???? We NEED a restaurant like this---so very sad. I just tried calling and no one answered....please come back Abdi! If anyone knows what has happened please advise here on the forum. Many thanks!

Cozy and comfortable,staff was attentive and efficient. Beautiful menu featured many of my favorites . Party of 4 everyone had a different entree and everyone was happy. Excellent Martini We will be back

Finally tried Tartufo and it was great. Tried to have dinner on a Friday evening but it was booked solid . Had a great lunch, today. Tried the Carbonara and the Rucola salad. Generous portions and quality ingredients. Carbonara was packed with pancetta. The Rucola salad came with delicious grilled shrimp, oranges and pignoli served with a cup of soup. Service was friendly and professional. The owner brought us a wonderful lemon tart. So good. This will be on our list of regulars.