The restaurant of choice of many distinguished diners and restaurant critics, Ristorante La Perla of Washington, located near Georgetown at the tail-end of the historic Pennsylvania Avenue, takes its diners on a culinary journey through Italy with elegant decor surpassed only by authentic mouth-watering Italian masterpieces. During Lunch and Dinner hours, pastas and flavorful sauces simmer while prime meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables roast to treat diners to a little bit of heaven, with a long lasting memory for your taste buds, thanks to the vision of famous chef Vittorio Testa, who has kept alive the Italian culinary tradition for over three decades.
Chef-Owner Vittorio Testa will make you feel like you're dining in his house. The waiters exceed expectations, and the space is garnished with painted tiles and Venetian glass to make every dining occasion a memorable one. There's also Private dining and Outdoor seating when the weather permits.
"Awesome dinning experience. The chief came out and assisted us with our order and then came to be sure we liked it. Incredible food and amazing personal attention."
Dined on 6/06/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Some of the patrons were too loud and distracting. I wish someone would have told them to shut up. But for that this is one fine place. Chef Testa personally comes out to check on your dinner. It makes everyone feel special. The overall service is first rate. The food is wonderful."
Dined on 5/31/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Such a great place. The service is great, everyone treats you like royalty :) The food is fantastic. Being Italian, I know how things are suppose to taste and the chef Vittorio gets it on the mark every time! Everything that everyone ordered was great- there were 5 of us and not one complaint."
Dined on 5/31/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, romantic, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, special occasion, kid-friendly
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"La Perla is some of, if not THE, best Italian food in DC. The food is exquisite, the service wonderful, and the atmosphere intimate. Definitely would recommend La Perla to anyone!"
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Food was very good but service was terrible. We only ordered entrees and that took 2 hours. After we finished eating, they cleared the table and ignored us for 20 minutes until I asked the host if our waiter had gone home. It's unfortunate because the food was very good."
Dined on 5/17/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We were looking for an Italian restaurant in the DC area and came across La Perla. We were very happy to find this neighborhood gem. The food was great and the service excellent. We would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone."
Dined on 5/15/2013
Special Features: romantic, scenic view, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"This is "old school" Italian for sure, right down to the "elder statesmen" serving as waiters. You'll find all of the traditional Italian fare here, ranging from Veal Marsala to Spaghetti Carbonara, all done very well and served direct from the kitchen."
Dined on 4/09/2013
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I passed by La Perla completely by chance with a few friends and ended up going with my dad. He absolutely loved it (as did I). Everyone is very friendly, including the chef. The pastas are all freshly made and the bread is phenomenal. I have been there more than once now and I would recommend it to my friends."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, late-night find
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The reservation staff adjusted twice on short notice for our group of 7, Owner/Chef couldn't have been more accommodating including an off-the-menu entre selection, wait staff were helpful and timely, food was excellent, hard-to-find quality on the Gibson Martinis, surprise on the house lemoncellos and anniversary dessert."
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The owner stops and talks with everyone, having just come from preparing or overseeing the preparation of your amazing meal!!! The food is MARVELOUS. Fresh, flavorful, unique. Even the desserts are made in house. The room is packed yet you do not feel claustrophobic. You have your own space. You can hear to talk with your party...the noise is not prohibitive. The ambience is great...many priceless treasures throughout including the chandeliers that were brought back from Italy. We don't go often enough."
Dined on 4/30/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, scenic view, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Always a great choice for a birthday or anniversary. Food is wonderful, ambiance perfect, and you never know who you will be sitting next to - a Senator, Congressman, Diplomat. Great restaurant."
Dined on 04/26/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Everything was perfect. They even greeted me by name when I entered. There were so many wonderful choices it was hard to decide. Fresh, fabulous, delicious. They even gave my friend a bday desert with candle without me reminding them. Oh, did I mention the pasta.Go."
Dined on 04/25/2013
2003
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Unfortunately, it seems that the service was off on the night that we visited. We waited 40 minutes before calling someone over to take our drinks order. And another 10 before we received the menus to review. There was also a long wait between the courses."
Dined on 04/15/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Absolutely outstanding meal and evening. We had reserved a table for four at 7 PM. Seated promptly. Tables nicely spaced. The four of us had gnocchi, cannelloni, trout with crabmeat. and a daily special langoustine and pasta as our main courses. Delicious. Service was gentle and non-rushed and appropriately in the background instead of in your face. Kiss of Naples desert (ice cream covered in chocolate and chocolate sauce) makes my all-time list of great deserts. Ambiance was superb. Noise letter was perfect--- nice hum and hubbub of indistinguishable conversations giving the room a warm glow, yet we were all able to converse without leaning in or raisin our voice. One of the nicest evenings out for dinner I have had in a very long time."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Despite the somewhat old-fashioned feel to the place, the food was excellent. It's like having a great family dinner at your Italian grandmother's house."
Dined on 04/10/2013
2004
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The service was helpful at the beginning and then became not helpful at all. He got very rude towards the end. The food was excellent. The chef came out and talked to us. This place has a great location and is a really relaxing venue."
Dined on 04/09/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The waiter offered a great Moscato. The food was GREAT, prepared to everyones liking, and the service was excellent. There were 7 of us and everyone had the feeling we chose a great restaurant. We had a wonderful time."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2007
Special Features: good for groups, notable wine list, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Soup was good but pasta was overcooked--far from al dente. Service was adequate but rather curt and certainly didn't seem more than just basic in terms of attitude."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"This is a beautiful restaurant with old world Italian charm. The decorations, from light fixtures to knick knacks remind me of an Italian grandmother's home. The food is amazing, and everything tastes homemade with love. The pastas are fresh, and run the gamut from basic to nouvelle cuisine. The veal is outstanding. My only complaint was the service. Our waiter was not attentive, and we had to search him out for more water, and even the bill. For the price we paid, I expected a more attentive wait staff."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2002
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"First time there, probably won't go back. Food was generally good, but overpriced. Fried calamari was very disappointing, For $15 I expected a more visually appealing plate, and more than the handful of plain looking and tasting calamari pieces. Be careful of the mixed drinks. They charge $20 for a Manhattan."
Dined on 03/26/2013
2012
Special Features: special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Service was very prompt and polite, the food was outstanding with the exception of the calamari which we ordered as an appetizer. It was not bad but not as unique or of the caliber of the rest of the meal. Excellent wine selection, ambiance was nice not too loud to have a conversation. I would definitely go back."
Dined on 03/23/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Attentive service without hovering. Precisely the kind of great Italian restaurant I was seeking. The chef/owner, Vitorrio was gracious and added to our dining experience. We had a terrific table!"
Dined on 03/16/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"This was my first time visiting Ristorante La Perla. Food was slow to arrive, which -- to be fair -- can happen on a busy Saturday night. But with the exception of one dish, the food for our party of four was disappointing. A fish special with spinach was well-prepared and tasty, but sauces for pasta dishes were bland, and a veal entree was swimming in an oil/lemon/butter sauce that lacked flavor. La Perla is in an attractive space with a nice view of Pennylvania Avenue, but the food is not up to par for what you'd expect for that price in that location."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2008
Special Features: scenic view
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"La Perla is the place to go when you want to treat yourself well. The calamari or the clams or the coconut shrimp to start present a difficult choice. The veal chop or the trout majextic are staples. One is always well served to select something off the daily specials page. It is important to leave room for a kiss of Naples to top it off. The food is made even better by the good service and a table-side visit from Chef Testa."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Ratings-Only Reviews for Ristorante La Perla of Washington