Fantastic express lunch - it's a sleeper! Fish, pasta, soup salad dessert - best Italian in dc
Paul Machicao
Family and I came here for Sunday night last week. The food was delicious, however the experience was spoiled due to a lack of proper service. Anytime we needed anything server was never to be found. In addition she had a pretty "IDC" attitude the whole time. We began to say how we were excited about the Cherry Blossoms and immediately mid statement walked away. Unfortunately, this was a common occurrence throughout the night for any and all human interactions. Would consider taking friends or family again but can't stomach another piss poor server.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Nicholas Ehlert
Always a solid meal, but the service is even more incredible. A very fine option for a nice dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wilberta Moring
The food was so delicious some of the best food I've ever had beautiful environment customer service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
random reviews
Party of 2 on the early side of dinner.We were there celebrating and hoped for a relaxing dinner experience. We first ordered drinks, then a burrata appetizer. The burrata arrived before our drinks, and we began to enjoy. The waitress then asked us about our entree choice so we ordered. Less than 5 minutes later, our entrees were shoved onto the table despite not being any room for more plates. We had barely begun to eat our appetizer! At that point, it became clear they do not care about the experience, despite being a higher-end restaurant, and they are focused on turning over the tables. For a restaurant as "nice" as this, I would expect there to be pacing rather than feeling like food is being shoved down your throat without being able to enjoy it. We even tried to pace it ourselves by waiting until we had our appetizer on the table to order our entrees.Not a do-over.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Anthony Peralta
We have been a few times over the years the experience is always great. The staff are always very helpful and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is great. The food is delicious, we have always enjoyed our meals. Take your time and take it in. We always like to just slow things down a bit and enjoy when we visit. It will be on the more expensive side but worth the cost.Parking: Paid parking but Validated up to 2 hours. Small garage underneath/near the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sicilian Cannoli Cake
Mickey P.
This place was beautiful. Great first date. The service was somewhat over zealous but they were definitely attentive. Pasta was homemade to perfection. Such a treat! Recommend the goat cheese ravioli!
Agnes L.
Several months ago, a friend had a hankering for shrimp scampi, so we went here for dinner. We had appetizers and a nice bottle of red wine. The only scampi on the menu was an appetizer. However, they told her that for an extra charge, they could bring her a larger sized version. It was not served with pasta and she badly wanted scampi on pasta, so she ordered a side of pasta. The waiter brought one exact cup of pasta. We even joked about the tiny size of it, and how the restaurant was apparently and surprisingly worried about our carb count. When the bill came, they charged us for the child's pasta at $14. We couldn't believe it. Our waiter was pleasant and competent, so we tipped her very generously, but won't ever go back. It's expensive enough to eat out in restaurants these days among the outrageous food prices, the added service fee for the kitchen, DC's insane restaurant tax rate, the ballz-out mark-up on alcohol and wine, and the obligatory at least 20% tip for decent service. Some places even surcharge if you use a credit card versus paying in cash. Enough already. Extra price-gouging like this will not be tolerated. Never again.
Kathryn Romano
My husband and I were in town for our anniversary We highly recommend this restaurant. This restaurant is very high end and classy. The staff was super accommodating, even though they didn’t have any open tables, they did have the chef stable available and it was so neat watching the chefs at work. You can tell that they are really dedicated to the craft of Italian cuisine and everything looked so clean. The staff members always cleaned up after their stations, and all of their uniforms were kept clean, even working with pasta sauce! There is even a spot where you can watch them make the pasta. On our second visit, the manager even greeted us and chatted with us, since he recognized us from the first evening. We had the provolone garlic bread, The Cannoli Cake, Piemontese Gianduja, and the orange and vanilla gelato swirl. All of it was so excellent!!. For brunch we had the Smoked Salmon Benedict and my friend had the pancakes with a side of eggs. All of it still excellent!!
I had a very good pasta dish from sfogelina, and despite it being a little bit pricy, I liked the ambiance.
Miles B.
My first visit, I had the Express Lunch special, consisting of The 'Mixed Greens, Mafalde, 'Cookie Bag...the Soft Serve was on the house. First of all, I thank God for any and all food that I am able to consume on this earth. However, you want to read a review. The mixed greens contained a lot of healthy spinach greens but some of the romaine was wilted. The Mafalde pasta was hot and well oiled, but could have been more robust in flavour--both the pasta and the pesto. The Soft serve was cool, pleasant, not too sweet, yet the flavour could have been more outstanding. Both cookies, one accompanying the Soft Serve, were not as fresh as they could have been. The waitstaff was very attentive and polite, yet I had two servers because I asked my first server to come back later whilst I decided my order, twice. The lunch was timely but not rushed. The waiter also had my cookie order wrong but I was accepting of the change. With a quaint, homebred business, parlour theme, I liked the handsome wood flooring the table lighting was adequate. I don't like to see distressed furnishing and finishes in any restaurant unless it is beach themed. I thought the loveseat sized seating was adorable.
Jill Bruno
Love love this restaurant- both the food and the ambiance. Perfect place for date nite or family night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pat G.
The food is always outstanding and just perfectly served. The wait staff could not be any more pleasant and spot on! The service, the smile, the personal touch is always just what you can expect. Just a fabulous atmosphere, romantic, quiet, and perfect for a special occasion. The reservation system is easy to use. Reservation is highly recommended. The wine list is excellent. The food from the appetizer, to the main meal, and desserts are just delicious and so well presented. Just one of our favorite places to celebrate.
Stephanie M.
Tried to go here for an early dinner - despite an empty restaurant, got sat at a table on the sidewalk, in the far outer reaches of their "covered patio". Heaters or no heaters, it was January. No one should be sitting outside when there is a whole restaurant full of empty tables. The food wasn't even all that good, either - small portions of pedestrian Italian standards, overpriced even in a city less full of exceptional restaurants than DC.
Fantastic express lunch - it's a sleeper! Fish, pasta, soup salad dessert - best Italian in dc
Family and I came here for Sunday night last week. The food was delicious, however the experience was spoiled due to a lack of proper service. Anytime we needed anything server was never to be found. In addition she had a pretty "IDC" attitude the whole time. We began to say how we were excited about the Cherry Blossoms and immediately mid statement walked away. Unfortunately, this was a common occurrence throughout the night for any and all human interactions. Would consider taking friends or family again but can't stomach another piss poor server.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Always a solid meal, but the service is even more incredible. A very fine option for a nice dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was so delicious some of the best food I've ever had beautiful environment customer service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Party of 2 on the early side of dinner.We were there celebrating and hoped for a relaxing dinner experience. We first ordered drinks, then a burrata appetizer. The burrata arrived before our drinks, and we began to enjoy. The waitress then asked us about our entree choice so we ordered. Less than 5 minutes later, our entrees were shoved onto the table despite not being any room for more plates. We had barely begun to eat our appetizer! At that point, it became clear they do not care about the experience, despite being a higher-end restaurant, and they are focused on turning over the tables. For a restaurant as "nice" as this, I would expect there to be pacing rather than feeling like food is being shoved down your throat without being able to enjoy it. We even tried to pace it ourselves by waiting until we had our appetizer on the table to order our entrees.Not a do-over.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
We have been a few times over the years the experience is always great. The staff are always very helpful and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is great. The food is delicious, we have always enjoyed our meals. Take your time and take it in. We always like to just slow things down a bit and enjoy when we visit. It will be on the more expensive side but worth the cost.Parking: Paid parking but Validated up to 2 hours. Small garage underneath/near the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sicilian Cannoli Cake
This place was beautiful. Great first date. The service was somewhat over zealous but they were definitely attentive. Pasta was homemade to perfection. Such a treat! Recommend the goat cheese ravioli!
Several months ago, a friend had a hankering for shrimp scampi, so we went here for dinner. We had appetizers and a nice bottle of red wine. The only scampi on the menu was an appetizer. However, they told her that for an extra charge, they could bring her a larger sized version. It was not served with pasta and she badly wanted scampi on pasta, so she ordered a side of pasta. The waiter brought one exact cup of pasta. We even joked about the tiny size of it, and how the restaurant was apparently and surprisingly worried about our carb count. When the bill came, they charged us for the child's pasta at $14. We couldn't believe it. Our waiter was pleasant and competent, so we tipped her very generously, but won't ever go back. It's expensive enough to eat out in restaurants these days among the outrageous food prices, the added service fee for the kitchen, DC's insane restaurant tax rate, the ballz-out mark-up on alcohol and wine, and the obligatory at least 20% tip for decent service. Some places even surcharge if you use a credit card versus paying in cash. Enough already. Extra price-gouging like this will not be tolerated. Never again.
My husband and I were in town for our anniversary We highly recommend this restaurant. This restaurant is very high end and classy. The staff was super accommodating, even though they didn’t have any open tables, they did have the chef stable available and it was so neat watching the chefs at work. You can tell that they are really dedicated to the craft of Italian cuisine and everything looked so clean. The staff members always cleaned up after their stations, and all of their uniforms were kept clean, even working with pasta sauce! There is even a spot where you can watch them make the pasta. On our second visit, the manager even greeted us and chatted with us, since he recognized us from the first evening. We had the provolone garlic bread, The Cannoli Cake, Piemontese Gianduja, and the orange and vanilla gelato swirl. All of it was so excellent!!. For brunch we had the Smoked Salmon Benedict and my friend had the pancakes with a side of eggs. All of it still excellent!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Provolone Garlic Bread, Piemontese Chocolate Gianduja Cake
Food is delicious! Service is outstanding. Worth a visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Potato Gnocchi
Restaurantji Recommends
I had a very good pasta dish from sfogelina, and despite it being a little bit pricy, I liked the ambiance.
My first visit, I had the Express Lunch special, consisting of The 'Mixed Greens, Mafalde, 'Cookie Bag...the Soft Serve was on the house. First of all, I thank God for any and all food that I am able to consume on this earth. However, you want to read a review. The mixed greens contained a lot of healthy spinach greens but some of the romaine was wilted. The Mafalde pasta was hot and well oiled, but could have been more robust in flavour--both the pasta and the pesto. The Soft serve was cool, pleasant, not too sweet, yet the flavour could have been more outstanding. Both cookies, one accompanying the Soft Serve, were not as fresh as they could have been. The waitstaff was very attentive and polite, yet I had two servers because I asked my first server to come back later whilst I decided my order, twice. The lunch was timely but not rushed. The waiter also had my cookie order wrong but I was accepting of the change. With a quaint, homebred business, parlour theme, I liked the handsome wood flooring the table lighting was adequate. I don't like to see distressed furnishing and finishes in any restaurant unless it is beach themed. I thought the loveseat sized seating was adorable.
Love love this restaurant- both the food and the ambiance. Perfect place for date nite or family night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is always outstanding and just perfectly served. The wait staff could not be any more pleasant and spot on! The service, the smile, the personal touch is always just what you can expect. Just a fabulous atmosphere, romantic, quiet, and perfect for a special occasion. The reservation system is easy to use. Reservation is highly recommended. The wine list is excellent. The food from the appetizer, to the main meal, and desserts are just delicious and so well presented. Just one of our favorite places to celebrate.
Tried to go here for an early dinner - despite an empty restaurant, got sat at a table on the sidewalk, in the far outer reaches of their "covered patio". Heaters or no heaters, it was January. No one should be sitting outside when there is a whole restaurant full of empty tables. The food wasn't even all that good, either - small portions of pedestrian Italian standards, overpriced even in a city less full of exceptional restaurants than DC.