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EXPLORE D.C. | | | | | | | 2014 P St NW
Washington,
DC
20036
202-467-4466 | | | | | Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. This festive eatery ripples with laughter and conversation, drawing celebrities and politicians to its doors. Al Tiramisu offers classy Italian cuisine in a pleasant environment and is great for a romantic night out or dinner with a group of friends. Seafood is the specialty, especially when it's grilled and served with olive oil and lemon. Veal, beef, and duck draw rave reviews, too, as do pastas, which include spinach-ricotta agnolotti and lobster-topped linguine with cherry tomatoes. Reservations required for dinner. METRO: Dupont Circle
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| 4871 Cordell Ave
Bethesda,
MD
20814
301-654-8333 | | | | | Description: BETHESDA. A graceful succession of arches distinguishes this well-received restaurant where chef-owner Francesco Ricchi creates authentic Tuscan dishes. Just a taste evokes the beautiful city of Florence, and the aroma of bread baking adds a welcoming touch. Osso buco is a perennial favorite, as are baby octopus salad, rabbit stew, and spinach pappardelle. A range of wines complements any meal, and you can't leave without sampling the chef's homemade tiramisu. You'll diet later. Business casual attire. METRO: Bethesda
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| Faccia Luna Trattoria Alexandria823 S Washington St
Alexandria,
VA
22314
703-838-5998 | | | | | Description: OLD TOWN. Faccia Luna Trattoria makes eating pizza an upscale experience rather than just a quickie meal. Surroundings are sophisticated yet casual, and the menu includes homemade pastas, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, and a variety of appetizers, along with the specialty wood-fired pizzas. Create your own pie, or order from the menu's established options. Drinks include bottled Italian wines and a collection of domestic microbrews. Outdoor dining available. Smart casual dress.
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| 115 King St
Alexandria,
VA
22314
703-836-8404 | | | | | Description: ALEXANDRIA. Tourists flock to this low-key Old Town bar and restaurant for good reason it offers excellent Italian dishes in a low-lit, comfortable atmosphere. Traditional favorites include linguini with clam sauce and terrific seafood and shrimp dishes. The chef has a way with veal, from marsala to piccata, and pastas come topped with hearty homemade sauces, fresh vegetables, hearty sausages, and flavorful cheeses. The award-winning wine list promises options from Italy and around the world. Casual attire.
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| 2029 P St NW
Washington,
DC
20036
202-872-1180 | | | | | Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Tucked into a brick townhouse, this intimate restaurant thrives on simplicity. Its environment is clean-lined; its food, unadulterated; its menu, uncluttered. Based on what's fresh and seasonal, the prix fixe menu changes daily and offers just a few well-developed selections. As a result, rich, satisfying courses keep patrons coming back for more. Italian-inspired meals might begin with bread or antipasto, then move to a roast squab entrée, and end with a homemade ice cream dessert. Reservations strongly recommended. METRO: Dupont Circle
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| 1600 K St NW
Washington,
DC
20005
202-452-1866 | | | | | Description: DOWNTOWN. This appealing eatery serves a host of Mediterranean-inspired entrees from its open kitchen, and a wide, airy dining room washed in earth tones provides an authentic Italian feel. Managed by chef-owner Todd English, the place produces artfully created dishes, including spinach-green Israeli couscous carbonara and truffled ricotta ravioli. Homemade pastas, especially the signature butternut squash-stuffed tortelli, make choosing difficult, and you'll also want to try slow-roasted duckling, pan-seared venison, and bacon-wrapped scallops. Business dressy attire.
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| 1790 Columbia Rd NW
Washington,
DC
20008
202-328-9114 | | | | | Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. If you can imagine no better meal than a bowl of pasta, you'll be overjoyed to find this place. Pasta is all they do, and it comes just like it says on the menu no substitutions. Of course, there's no reason to alter this light, homemade delicacy in all its varieties and sauces. Mixed with ingredients like olives, broccoli, Italian sausage, roasted garlic and fresh herbs, all the dishes are sublime. A glass of red wine and a loaf of crusty bread will be enough for you to achieve nirvana. Do be prepared to wait, for both a table and your order. Their reputation is exceptional, and everything's made to order.
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| 1220 19th St NW
Washington,
DC
20036
202-835-0459 | | | | | Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Spacious, glass-enclosed rooms, laced with trailing greenery, provide terrific views of downtown DC. With a focus on rustic Italian cuisine, the Tuscan-inspired menu features grilled meats and baked entrees from the wood-burning grill. An array of pastas and risottos tempts diners, and succulent pork, beef, and seafood dishes have a rich, smoky flavor. The open kitchen also serves thick soups, crusty breads, homemade sausages, and the signature Tortelloni al Burro e Salvia, a pasta with ricotta and spinach, tossed in a butter-sage sauce. Business casual attire. Reservations recommended. METRO: Dupont Circle
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| 1909 K St NW
Washington,
DC
20006
202-955-9494 | | | | | Description: DOWNTOWN. A carnival atmosphere pervades this theatrical restaurant, named after one of Venice's most famous playwrights and epicures. Goldoni would be proud of the exuberant place, filled with commedia dell'arte masks and harlequin motifs. Awash in color and imagination, the interior is in perfect synch with the food. Both open themselves to a variety of influences and fuse the components into something fresh and exciting. The menu places a premium on fresh seafood and pastas; a perennial favorite is lobster risotto with sun-dried tomatoes. Osso bucco also draws raves, as does crab-encrusted mahi mahi. Dessert runs the gamut from sorbets to pecan tarts. METRO: Farragut North or Farragut West
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| 1112 F St NW
Washington,
DC
20004
202-367-1990 | | | | | Description: DOWNTOWN. Tosca's menu focuses on the foods of Italy's Lake Como district, the home region of chef Cesare Lanfranconi. Dishes created in his kitchen honor his heritage and are consistently well-presented. Among them are eggplant gnocchi with shrimp, roasted rack of lamb, and veal filet. Quiet conversation is easy, given the restaurant's thick carpeting and drapes, and the place is a good choice for important business meetings or special nights out. Reservations suggested. METRO: Metro Center
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