Best Contemporary Italian Restaurants in Van Ness

What a cozy little place. Our food was surprisingly delicious! The broccolini had a citrusy zest and the paparadelle was amazing with a buttery rabbit ragu. Warm and cozy inside with no hint of Skimping on fresh ingredients. The star of the show was a light and fresh calamari salad with sweet pickled onions that added a little extra flavor. Great meal.

Best dinner we’ve had in awhile, truly delicious. Everything was amazing (fried artichokes, anchovies, short rib, ragu pasta) and the service was attentive and friendly. We can’t wait to go back!

Lunch in the week of New Year's is a very quiet time, so this was a perfect quiet experience--the maitre d'h said next week will be busy again. You can go a la carte or take the Pranzo Esecutivo (prix fixe) two course lunch for $30, which looked like a good deal. But we opted for lighter with one course and Whole Wheat Focaccia with garlic oil, parmesan, and rosemary dipped in oil--not your typical focaccia we get here. The Gnocchi Pesto with basil & mint pesto, toasted pinenuts, zucchini, preserved lemon, and whipped ricotta was very tasty and filling. It had lots more pesto than a lot of places provide but this was definitely creamy. The Tagliatelle Bolognese was made with lamb and porcini with tomatoes and parmesan and was nicely sauced. A light dessert of poached pears topped it off. The restaurant includes a 20% service charge and clearly states that tips are not required but appreciated. The waiter was super attentive, but of course there was no one else there for most of the lunch. My one surprise was that he accepted my offer to pay for a full glass of wine that I accidentally spilled, when usually a restaurant will "comp" something like that--but I did offer. I had intended to tip the waiter with the cost of the wine but chose not to do so as a result. All in all, a great Italian meal, quiet enough for two old friends to meet and talk.

I knew the portions would be large for 2-3 people but it was larger than expected! I went with a party of 3 and we all had leftovers. We got one appetizer, one pasta, and one shrimp dish. The complimentary bread was great too! Everything was very good! We ordered portobello parmigiana, penne alla vodka, and shrimp diavolo. Everything was very flavorful.

Very nice ambiance, cozy for date night or very comfortable for a family dinner or group. Food is excellent, menu has something for everyone.