Café Fiorello DC

4.7 (357)

$30 and under

Italian

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004-2505

Make a booking

Café Fiorello DC

4.7

$30 and under

Italian

Penn Quarter

Make a booking

2 people

6 Oct 2026

7:00 pm

Booked 37 times today

About this restaurant

Good for business meals
Charming
Good for special occasions

Our outdoor cafe is first come, first served. We do not take reservations for our outdoor cafe.

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After 50 years across the street from New York's Lincoln Center, Café Fiorello is now in Washington, D.C.

The menu features culinary staples that have made the restaurant an iconic dining destination from its vegetable antipasto bar to its trademark thin-crust pizza.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, Breakfast, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of Operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30 Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00–15:00 Dinner Mon, Tue 17:00–21:00 Wed–Sat 17:00–22:00 Sun 16:00–20:00
Phone number
(202) 871-8200
Website
https://www.cafefiorellodc.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004-2505
Area
Penn Quarter
Parking Details
None
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Café Fiorello DC.

4.7

(357)

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

District of Columbia
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Café Fiorello DC is a celebrated dining spot known for its "exceptional service" and "delicious food." Guests rave about the unique lasagna presentation, delightful thin-crust pizza, and "amazing happy hour" offerings. The welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff make it ideal for both casual outings and special occasions, ensuring a memorable experience.

357 Reviews

S
Shana Gold
Washington, D.C. Area7 reviews
3.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
First time at Cafe Fiorello and the service was disappointing. Party of 2 (with a reservation). We were seated quickly, but were not greeted by a server for about 10 minutes. The servers seemed to operate in a team structure because multiple servers addressed our table -- not having known who last visited our table or what the prior server had done. Service was very slow and we had reserved our table in plenty of time for a show at National Theater but were still rushed due to slow service.
Café Fiorello DCResponded 1 day ago
Thank you for sharing your feedback following your first visit to Cafe Fiorello; while we are glad you were seated promptly, we are truly sorry for the initial wait and the breakdown in our team's service coordination. We know how critical timing is before a show, and your comments regarding service pacing and table handoffs have been shared directly with our floor management team to ensure a smoother experience for our guests. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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L
Lamont
Philadelphia County4 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful place with indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside on a very nice Saturday night in October - some light drizzle but we were covered by the strategically placed umbrellas. My wife had the lasagna and I had the special (steak frites) with a side of broccolini. Everything was cooked to perfection and was very tasty. And we only had water, but were really tempted by the cocktails! And the service was wonderful.
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C
Catherine Gold
Austin27 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Comfortable, private dining in spacious restaurant. Old fashioned white tablecloth low lighting atmosphere. Attentive service, family friendly menu, large portions. Private dining room for 8 available in the back. There is a raw bar available. I enjoyed my chicken parm lunch entree
Café Fiorello DCResponded 1 day ago
We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your chicken parm lunch! It is wonderful to know that you appreciated our spacious, classic atmosphere, attentive service, and family-friendly options, as well as the callouts for our raw bar and private dining space. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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T
Tim Gold
San Francisco Bay Area92 reviews
5.0
Dined on 27 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our first visit to this restaurant for a business meal. We asked to sit at the bar because it looked cozy and it was. The drinks were very good and their pasta sauces were excellent.
Café Fiorello DCResponded 5 days ago
We are glad to hear your first visit for a business meal was such a success. It is wonderful that you enjoyed the cozy atmosphere at the bar, along with the drinks and excellent pasta sauces. We look forward to welcoming you and your colleagues back again soon. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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M
Michael
Las Vegas2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 26 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was top notch. From the moment you checked in made you feel at home.
Café Fiorello DCResponded 7 days ago
We are thrilled to hear that you experienced top-notch service and felt right at home from the moment you checked in. Providing warm, welcoming hospitality is always our top priority, and we hope to welcome you back again soon! Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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R
Robin Gold
Washington, D.C. Area96 reviews
5.0
Dined on 26 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Terrific place for pre-theatre dining. Exceptionally tasty thin crust pizza, perfect for sharing. Delicious house salad. Attentive service and pleasant atmosphere. This was a place we'll come back to.
Café Fiorello DCResponded on 28 September 2026
It is wonderful to hear that you had such a great pre-theatre dining experience! We are delighted that you enjoyed the thin crust pizza, house salad, and pleasant atmosphere, along with the attentive service from our team. Highlights like these mean a lot to us. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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A
Angela
Atlanta4 reviews
5.0
Dined on 25 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cafe Fiorello ..wow… wonderful food, excellent service and nice atmosphere. I ordered the Fiorello lasagna. It was presented in a pinwheel formation, with a hearty meat and tomato sauce. Actually one of the best lasagna dishes I’ve ever experienced. My husband ordered the eggplant parmesan, which was excellent as well. After dinner we ordered cannoli for desert and it did not disappoint. The restaurant hasn’t been open that long, but do yourself a favor and just go. You won’t regret it.
Café Fiorello DCResponded on 28 September 2026
It is fantastic to hear that both the pinwheel lasagna and the eggplant parmesan exceeded expectations, and that the cannoli brought your dinner to such a sweet finish. We truly appreciate you highlighting our team's service and atmosphere, and we appreciate your visit to Cafe Fiorello. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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N
Nancy
Minneapolis - St. Paul3 reviews
5.0
Dined on 24 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Outstanding food and atmosphere! Beat cannoli I have ever had!
Café Fiorello DCResponded on 25 September 2026
We are thrilled to hear you loved the food and atmosphere, and we're especially proud to hear we served the best cannoli you've ever had! We hope to welcome you back in the future. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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p
phyllis Gold
New York City27 reviews
1.0
Dined on 24 September 2026
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Unfortunately, this was a very disappointing experience, especially for a restaurant presenting itself as Italian. We had a reservation and arrived early, and they were kind enough to seat us right away. Unfortunately, that was about where the positive experience ended. The table was extremely small. Once our plates were placed down, there was barely enough room for a drink and a glass of water. Even stranger, there seemed to be some type of cushion or padding underneath the tablecloth, which made our glasses wobble whenever we set them down. The food was the biggest disappointment. Much of it tasted overcooked and reheated rather than freshly prepared. Nearly everything—the bread, pasta, and eggplant parm—was absolutely saturated with what tasted like store-bought grated Parmesan cheese. It completely overwhelmed the food rather than complementing it. The carbonara was especially disappointing. Instead of being silky and creamy, the sauce was thick and pasty. The pasta seemed as though it had been parboiled and then finished in a frying pan with the sauce ingredients. It was so sticky that the pasta actually clung to the fork, and then it was covered with even more Parmesan. The eggplant parm was also unlike any traditional eggplant parm I’ve had. The eggplant wasn’t properly coated and had a very soft, mushy texture. Even the bread brought to the table—which cost $10—seemed undercooked and, once again, was covered in Parmesan cheese. Good Italian cooking doesn’t need to hide everything underneath a mountain of grated cheese. Pasta should be properly cooked, sauces should taste freshly prepared, and the individual ingredients should be allowed to shine. For us, this did not resemble the fresh, traditional Italian food we were expecting. It felt much more like an overpriced, glorified Olive Garden experience than an Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, we would not return.
Café Fiorello DCResponded on 25 September 2026
We're very sorry to hear that your experience fell short of expectations. Our goal is to provide a fresh, authentic Italian dining experience, and we appreciate you letting us know how we can improve. We take your points about our prep, table settings, and dish execution very seriously and will address them directly with our kitchen and floor managers to make necessary improvements. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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M
Mohammed
Washington, D.C. Area20 reviews
5.0
Dined on 24 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic experience! The food was delicious, and the pizza was outstanding—thick-crusted, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The seafood was impeccable as well. The service was exceptional, with the entire crew paying great attention to every detail. Corey was spectacular and made the experience even better. This was my first time dining in DC, after many visits to NYC, and I’ll definitely be coming back again. Highly recommended!
Café Fiorello DCResponded on 28 September 2026
It is fantastic to hear that your dining experience in DC was so outstanding! We are thrilled to hear that the thick-crusted pizza, impeccable seafood, and detailed service exceeded your expectations, and that Corey took such spectacular care of you throughout your meal. Your high recommendation means the world to our team. Stephanie Holmes Director of Guest Experience, The Fireman Hospitality Group
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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, Breakfast, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of Operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30 Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00–15:00 Dinner Mon, Tue 17:00–21:00 Wed–Sat 17:00–22:00 Sun 16:00–20:00
Phone number
(202) 871-8200
Website
https://www.cafefiorellodc.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004-2505
Area
Penn Quarter
Parking Details
None
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Make a booking

Café Fiorello DC

4.7

$30 and under

Italian

Penn Quarter

Make a booking

2 people

6 Oct 2026

7:00 pm

Booked 37 times today