Al Crostino, Washington, District of Columbia Restaurant Details

Food:

Coming from northern New Jersey and exposure to traditional italian pasta dishes, I don't believe there is a ton of good italian in the DC area, even at high-priced establishments that get good publicity. This small but comfortable kitchen makes quite wonderful, authentic pasta dishes that don't try to wow you with a hundred flavors going on...they trust the simple flavors of their ingredients and completely nail the rustic tastes they are presenting. I've only had the pastas, but they are fantastic with just the right size portions. I tell everyone I know to go here, and everyone I've brought has loved it.

Food:

Just like home... If u want to experience real Italian food and ambiance look no more!

Food:

The service really is like no other in the neighborhood. It's a comfortable place to eat with fantastic food. The weekday specials can't be beat. Once you've been you'll want to come back to try something new.

Food:

We were referred to Al Crostino, run by a mother-daughter team, by it's sister restaurant. As soon as you walk through the door, you feel like you're entering someone's home.

They were very accommodating for my friend's birthday and allowed us to stay well after closing. About six people, including management, would check in on us to make sure we were doing well.

The food was a little disappointing, particularly the skewers, and there wasn't a wide selection to pick from. One of the owners came to the table to offer Parmesan cheese to those who ordered pasta dishes, but when I ask for some (I ordered a delicious chicken entree) I was told "oh no honey, we are Italian we don't mess with our food" and was instructed to place the Parmesan cheese on the side until she left, before I could add it to my food.

We found this to be really amusing--their sense of pride and commitment to being a truly Italian restaurant was charming. This is a great and convenient place to eat before hitting the party scene on U Street.

Food:

The mother and daughter who run Al Crostino are warm and welcoming. The pasta is fantastic and the gnocci is out of this world. The Barbera is my favorite. We've had several wonderful meals here -- both romantic evenings and family gatherings alike. Everyone leaves happy and satisfied. But shhh -- Al Crostino is one of the best kept secrets in town.