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Arucola Osteria Reviews List
Arucola Osteria
Arucola, a rustic Italian restaurant which is nestled in the heart of Chevy Chase , DC has become a neighborhood favorite. Offering an authentic Italian experience to patrons on every visit, from the homemade pasta and breads to the wood burning pizza oven, and even the décor, you will feel as if you have just traveled to Italy . The menu changes daily, offering diners a fresh selection of pastas, meat and fish. Arucola also offers a selection of wood burning oven pizzas, variety of salads including our namesake Arucola, and an array of daily appetizers which include a selection from the marinated antipasto trolley, to daily creations.
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68 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Rating Breakdown 68 reviews
5 stars
(18)
4 stars
(37)
3 stars
(9)
2 stars
(3)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(43)
- fit for foodies(21)
- great for outdoor dining(17)
- special occasion(8)
- good for groups(6)
- kid-friendly(6)
Arucola Osteria Reviews List
Review 1 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"consistently a friendly neighborhood restaurant with good food and ambience."
Dined on 5/23/2013
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Review 2 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Never disappointed. Of course, I usually order the same thing [grilled fish] and watercress/pear/blue cheese salad and I love it. I have ordered other menu items from time to time but always look forward to this meal."
Dined on 5/19/2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 3 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
great food and service
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"We hadn't been to this restaurant for a long time but were happy that the food and service were still excellent. Great wine list."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 4 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Disappointing
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Overrated. Not much "Italian" about it."
Dined on 04/08/2013
2011
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Review 5 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We love the salads here and
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We love the salads here and the fresh pastas. The service is always friendly and welcoming."
Dined on 04/26/2013
2004
Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
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Review 6 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The sausage pizza was good.
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The sausage pizza was good. The pear/gorgonzola salad with fig dressing that I ordered came without lettuce. The waiter said many people recommended it be served with lettuce and I could have some arugula at a price. I think they should just serve the salad with lettuce and raise the price."
Dined on 04/22/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 7 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Another fun, excellent evening
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Another fun, excellent evening at Arucola. Always very good.---Fred and Anne Woodworth"
Dined on 04/22/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 8 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Had a delightful evening.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Had a delightful evening. Waiter excellent."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 9 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
A really nice birthday dinner.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A really nice birthday dinner. The restaurant was a bit stressed at 7:30 on a Saturday night, with all tables filled, service a bit slow and a shortage of menus. But they quickly recovered and delivered a really good, reasonably priced meal with good service."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2005
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Review 10 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Always reliable, great service,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Always reliable, great service, excellent pizzas, salads, and roasted chicken. A great addition to the neighborhood. I've been going there for years."
Dined on 03/25/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 11 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Too bad about Arucola
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Hate to say it, really not good. We returned one bacon spinach salad. It was totally greasy and the bacon limp and cold like something left over from that morning's breakfast. I ordered scallops, and they were tough and chewy. Ewwwwwww. And biscotti for dessert were tooth-breakingly hard, with a gloppy, tasteless dipping sauce. What a long downhill slide. Nice server was gracious and apologetic, tho."
Dined on 03/19/2013
2006
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Review 12 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Simply one of my favorite
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Simply one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants in DC."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2003
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 13 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Octopus, Sardines, Veal stew,
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Octopus, Sardines, Veal stew, Branzino all great, as well as the friendly and efficient service."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 14 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Relaxed Italian dining
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Delicious food, attentive service. We go there frequently. When I'm dieting, I can stick to healthy choices, even fresh fruit for dessert. When I'm cheating there are wonderful desserts and killer risottos. It's a special occasion just to have lunch."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 15 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Arucola is a favorite of mine
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Arucola is a favorite of mine for liunch, but Friday night dinner was very crowded and waiter was very busy and forgot that we (party of 6) were interested in a second bottle of wine and dessert. One of the entrees was not edible but the replacement was OK. It is much better when not so busy. I would stick to lunch or dinner at 5PM!"
Dined on 03/08/2013
2011
Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 16 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Comfy; very good, homey Italian
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Comfy; very good, homey Italian dishes; exceptionally accommodating staff."
Dined on 03/08/2013
2007
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 17 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We always enjoy Arucola but
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"We always enjoy Arucola but forget that we should go on Monday's and Wednesday's when the wine is half proced!"
Dined on 03/07/2013
2011
Special Features: great for outdoor dining
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Review 18 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Can't come often enough
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We visit DC occasionally to see family. We never miss a chance to dine at Arucola while there. Food is always consistently good and the service excellent - fast but not pushy! So glad we can make reservations on-line now. Keep up the good work."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 19 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
A reliable place for half-price
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A reliable place for half-price wine nights (Mon and Wed). Good food, nice service. Not a special evening out but a good neighborhood spot for dinner."
Dined on 02/13/2013
2000
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Review 20 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Still dumpy after all these years
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Its hard to overlook the fact that the food was bland with little seasoning. The bread basket was our salvation!"
Dined on 02/09/2013
2005
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Review 21 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
A reliable with very good
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A reliable with very good food and friendly efficient service."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2002
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 22 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Been there twice now and the
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Been there twice now and the food has been really good both times. Don't miss the arugula salad and the fish soup is terrific."
Dined on 02/05/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 23 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
This is a gem of a neighborhood
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"This is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant. Wonderful food and always busy. Try to steer clear of the rear tables however, as the kitchen fluorescent lighting is glaring if you are facing it and all ambiance that the rest of the seating areas offer is totally lost in the rear."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 24 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
High-end Italian, Happily Casual
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Love that Arucola is open Sundays late AM as alternative to a typical brunch. Brunch is the dinner menu (no pancakes or egg dishes). If you don't want a full entree there are plenty of small plates to choose. What could be better than Sunday DINNER for a late breakfast? There're a score of thin crust personal pizzas to choose or top your own, of course, and wonderful seafood, fish, HOMEMADE pastas and veggies. Even RED MEAT. The roast chicken hiding on the pizza menu is a deal! My veggie sister-in-law from out of town loved she had choices other than pasta or pizza. And if you like Italian pastry and other desserts and espresso they have those too. Don't want that spinach with that fish? Ask for a suggested subsitute!"
Dined on 01/27/2013
2005
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 25 for Arucola Osteria
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Wonderful food
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We were so pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The pasta with mushrooms and veal short ribs were among the best meals truly I have ever eaten and I am a cook!"
Dined on 01/25/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Arucola Osteria
Based on the average of (43) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
5 out of 5 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic