Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Bebo Trattoria da Roberto Donna, web site, 2250-B Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA (Crystal City), 703-412-5076 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | WETA | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]

Where Oyamel used to be. It offers Italian home cooking, with varying qualities of food and service – until Galileo is renovated – it is being overseen by Roberto Donna. He is best when he is not trying too hard. Relatively inexpensive, and get the simple dishes. As a bonus they are open Saturday lunch. Lots of people claim they've had very bad service here. I would call it risky and leave it at that.

Pasta Mia, 1790 Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC, 202-328-9114, 6:30 to 10, Tuesday through Saturday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]

This place is now all the rage. Every night there is a line at opening and they don't take reservations. It is supposed to be cheap and excellent pasta, of exactly the kind we usually don't have in this area. Cash only, and waiting in line can take up to an hour.

I Ricchi, has become ordinary by now. I find Galileo overpriced, inconsistent, and offering poor service, though occasionally wonderful. Obelisk is good but a bit boring for my taste. None of them beat what you can eat for $10 ($5, once they bring the lira back) in a good Trattoria in Parma or Torino.

I Ricchi, web site, 1220 19th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-835-0459 [Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Many people like Tosca, web site, 1112 F Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-367-1990, no weekend lunch. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

For suburban areas, I find both Marco Polo and Bonaroti's of Vienna to be satisfying; I like the buffet at the former and the lasagna at the latter.

Marco Polo, 245 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA, 703-281-3922 [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

Ristorante Bonaroti, web site, 428 E. Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703-281-7550 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Joe's Pizza and Pasta, web site, scattered branches, is tasty and cheap, but go with low expectations. [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

See also Tutto Bene, under Bolivian, and Cafe Tirolo, under Austrian, their pasta is good.

Il Pinito, 5071 Nicholson Lane, Rockville, MD, 301-881-0085 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Definitely recommended, the sort of place you are convinced this area does not have. Cheap, tasty, fresh Italian food. Nothing shocking, but delivers all around in a way that few Italian places here do.

Pines of Naples, 3205 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-521-5039 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp]

Quasi-Italian food, cooked by Pakistani and Brazilian owners. Not for everyone, but draws a steady crowd of regulars.

Pistone's Italian Inn, web site, right at Seven Corners, 6320 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA, 703-533-1885 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | food-plan | openlist]

Looks like it is still in the 1950s in here. Not a perfect place in every way, but their salad bar is quite good and the rest is certainly acceptable. Some really like it, but I only went once.

Elena’s Oven, 9542-B Arlington Blvd., Fairfax Circle Plaza, Fairfax, VA, 703-352-0917, not always open for dinner. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [barrio flores | Citysearch]

Mostly Bolivian, but the Italian dishes and pizza are above average. Good prices too.

See separate review under Bolivian.

That's Amore, web site, 150 Branch Road SE, Vienna, VA, 703-281-7777, usually open except for weekend lunch (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Multiple locations.

If the name doesn't scare you off, the people walking through the front door will. But this is a fun place, and the food is not bad. Beware the non-convex set: portions feed several and cost much, so it is uneconomical to go alone or with a single companion.

A La Lucia, web site, 315 Madison Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-836-5123 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | Washington Times | City Paper | Don Rockwell]

Highly recommended by Washingtonian magazine, I have yet to go.

Esposito’s, 9917 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA, 703-385-59, 12Rt. 50, just west of Fairfax Circle, on the south side of the street. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

The kind of Italian place you would expect in New Jersey. Indeed, the owners are from New Jersey. Some of the best pizza in the area, plus very good pasta. Exactly the sort of place you would think that northern Virginia shouldn’t have.

Savio's, web site, 516 E & F Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-212-9651, slightly funny hours, I think. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

Savio's is in one of Northern Virginia's premier strip malls for food: Van Dorn Station. Has excellent Thai, Japanese, Peruvian, Italian, and some good ethnic groceries. Just south of Edsall, and a bit north of the Beltway ramps on van Dorn. Despite the competition, Savio's will sometimes win out when I am in this mall. I like the pastas here, especially the Rigatoni Carbonara, or the ones with spicy sausage. The cook is from Tunisia, and does everything just a bit differently.

Savio's Italian

Rigatoni Carbonara

Pizza Margherita

Calamari Fritti

Tiramisu

Argia’s, web site, 124 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA, 703-534-1033 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

It looks artificial, but the food here is surprisingly good, a bit like what you would find in a good New Jersey Italian restaurant. Recommended, one of the best in a poor lot.

Maestro, web site, 1700 Tysons Blvd., Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Tysons Corner, McLean, VA, 703-917-5498 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Mobil | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Super expensive, very fine, very yummy. They don’t quite have enough different flavors to justify the nine-course option, but this is one of the very best places around. Northern Italian, but eclectically so. Fine meats.