Fiola Review

Food was as you would expect: correctly made pasta, nice wine. Nothing to write home about, and definitely not worth the expense. If you're in DC and getting Italian, you're doing it wrong.

The decor and food is outdated. There are only two dining experiences: prix fixed or create your own 3-5 course meal. This means you ll spend no less than $95 per person. The portions are small and the recipes could use some upgrading; it s not remotely worth the price, especially when their sister property in Georgetown is so much better. I give it three stars because the service was great and the food was at least edible, but don t waste your time or money.

This place was excellent. I went here with a few friends and we had a blast. Location was excellent. There are lots of parking garages but if you circle around you're bound to find street parking (I did). The ambiance was mellow. Atmosphere was high end. We didn't have to wait at all, we were seated immediately. There was a total of 6 of us. This restaurant is a bit pricey but worth every penny. Food was so delicious (and I was having such a good time) that I actually forgot to take pictures for this review. I will definitely be back to this spot to try out other options on the menu.

Excellent food and service! Deserving of their Michelin star.

Had higher expectations about the food. Decor was fancy, but the food left more to be desired.

We needed a simple place to eat that was within walking distance of our hotel. Checked reviews and this came up a lot, so we tried it. As the overall rating says, it was average, it was within walking distance, it had cold beer and average food.

This place...flat out Kills it! ( (((mic drop))). The bartender Jacob is extremely knowledgeable on bourbons and other fine distilled spirits. Food...is to die for.

My Fiola Experience
It was an Unforgettable Contemporary four course Italian meal experience!!! Best Fine dining restaurant I ve been to in D.C.
Fine Dining
Culinary Elegance
Excellent Food
Good service
Fine Wine
Food Presentation
Lovely Ambiance
Very Friendly and Courteous Staff
Highly Recommend

loved it , great food , great management , topnotch bartenders , even Van Gogh . try it you won't be disappointed

Great experience at Fiola's the other week. Definitely an upscale restaurant with an incredible staff that creates an amazing experience.

We did the a-la-carte side of the restaurant (be sure to specify this when making a reservation). The food was excellent with each dish getting it's own presentation and detailed description. The cocktail I had was their take on a Negroni and had it's own sampling of three different amaros to add to the gin.

The dress code is listed as "upscale", jacket is NOT required, but I did wear a button up with a tie. Women are good with a dress or professional wear.

Awesome Italian. A bit less showy and see to be seen than their other spot (fiola mare). Great space and location.

Absurdly overpriced (you can get food just as good or better for a fraction of the cost elsewhere), the sommelier was unnecessarily pretentious, and one of my dishes was brought out room temperature (it was supposed to be fresh pasta). You're paying for service, setting, and attempts at unique creations, but you're definitely overpaying for them.

This is probably the best restaurant in DC and one of the best anywhere. I have eaten there about 30 times of which about 5 or 6 were for dinner. The food is exemplary and the wines by the glass excellent, but very pricey. The only quibble is that a few years ago, I had a wine pairing with a tasting menu and neither the selection of wines nor the pours was very good.

Dear GOD. This was my second time here. I took my boyfriend for a birthday/promotion celebration dinner. I have been to my fair share of Michelin one two and three star restaurants in Europe and dc. I m not sure why this restaurant only More

My wife and I thought it was overpriced. We had the steak which was prepared very well but the corn and lettuce with sauce that came with it was the only vegetable side order provided. Most of the menu was in Italian, which we did not understand. They have valet parking for $8; however after 6:30pm or so parking is free on the street - so it is a good idea to look for a parking place. The gelato dessert was excellent and chocolate type cake was excellent. Cost for the two of us was $110 (we did not have any wine). The recommended tip included a percent of the DC tax which I don't think the waiter should get credit for. They did do a good job of filling up our glasses with water throughout the evening. The place was crowded on Saturday night; however we won't be going back.

Pay for dinner + tip +sanitation fee + tax in advance? NO. That's not how restaurants work. Are your guests leaving without paying lately? Not going based on lack of culture and class.

My wife and I booked the table last Thursday evening, 8/30/2018 to treat our friend who visited us from Europe. While we are dining, our friend found a metal wire in one of his dish, which may come from a steel ball for dish cleaning.

We lost all the appetite and left the dinner even before the main dishes were served. This was unacceptable!!! It was also so embarrassing for us since the wire was in our guest s dish!

The floor manager gave me your business card of Corporate Guest Relations Manager. I sent an e-mail complaint to him. However there's no reply at all. Looks like they don't even care.

This place is amazing - been twice. Today tried to octopus appetizer - perhaps my favorite because of the amazing flavor combos and textures. The duck pasta was awesome. Also the best tiramisu I ve ever had - custard like in the middle and so light and balanced. The service is top notch also. I can t wait to go again.

What a great place to chill out. This is a wonderful house with it's own pool. We lacked for nothing. Thanks to Clark the manager who made us most welcome.

I had dinner here with my boyfriend one night. It's a top-rated restaurant and I love Italian food, so I was excited to try this restaurant.

Our reservation wasn't until 6 and we had arrived a little earlier, so we sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. I had "It's Expected, I'm Gone," which is Green Hat gin, grapefruit juice, honey syrup, and burlesque bitters. Really good, light cocktail.

We also ordered an appetizer of salumi e formaggi, a taligere of Italian cheeses and salumi, salad, and grilled country bread. The salumi and cheeses were all very tasty. Around this time, our table was ready.

I ordered the Fiola Maine lobster ravioli with ginger and chives. Absolutely phenomenal. I got a substantial amount of lobster and together with the ravioli and sauce, it was really delicious. It's a bit on the small size in terms of portion size, but I thought it was enough for me.

For dessert, my boyfriend and I split the La Zuppa Inglese (mascarpone custard, limoncello granita, and macerated blood orange-rhubards). The waiter also brought two macarons for us to share. I wasn't that impressed with the dessert. The combination of the custard, granita, and blood orange-rhubards was a bit strange for my taste buds. Looking at pictures of Zuppa Inglese online, the traditional Italian dessert is made with ladyfingers dipped in an Italian herb liqueur and alternated with layers of a homemade egg custard, and there is often a layer of dark chocolate cream. Fiola's take on Zuppa Inglese was different, having the custard, granita, and blood orange-rhubards layered in a cup. The custard was pretty good; I just think the blood orange-rhubards tasted off with the rest of the dessert.

Overall, a great experience at Fiola. Our waiter was very courteous and helpful. The lobster ravioli was fantastic and I was pleasantly surprised at the big chunks of lobster I got. Along with the homemade fresh ravioli and the flavor of the dish, my stomach was very happy.

Overall amazing experience. Great food, attentive service, and intimate & relaxing atmosphere

Visited many times. Food is impeccable. Service first rate

Great food, service, and (for this dinner) whisky! Dishes very well prepared and matched with a guest distiller's selections.

It's simply wauw. A dining expierience out of the ordinary.

Took my girlfriend and her mom here (2 fussy white ladies) and for once they had no complaints. Food's great - pretty sure the pastas homemade. Breads homemade. Service - top notch. Laundromat next door - very interesting. Love it. Great dessert. Highly recommend.

Wonderful Italian! It's pricey, and maybe more for a special occasion, but the crowd was lively, and the food was incredible. Pasta with rabbit ragut was spectacular, as was the lamb saddle. Wine list runs expensive. Grand dames, graduation dinners, and yuppy couples on a night out, this is a stylish experience with great food.

Well stocked bar with interesting (and tasty) cocktails

I tried maria menu plus tiramisou. It was a decent and cheap meal but the tiramisou it was just ok.

Visited during Restaurant week. Warning: Fiola doesn't participate, but they offer a special Maria Menu that is slightly higher than the restaurant week price. Where do I begin. It is a dining experience beyond anything you can imagine. The restaurant is beautiful and inviting and the staff is so attentive and every detail is meticulously executed. I ordered atlantic char for my main course and it was amazing - perfectly cooked and so fresh and seasoned perfectly. Each course is timed to give you time to digest and enjoy your food. For dessert, I had the panacotta and it was so light and beautifully prepared. One last thing, be prepared to spend 2 hours here --it is truly a memorable dining experience.

We ate here while visiting the museums in D.C. and felt is was very overpriced as compared to the quality of the food. Nothing to rave about and also we could not find a street parking space and ended up having to pay a pretty steep fee to park in a garage.

Food: The tuna appetizer is fantastic. Others had the watermelon salad and enjoyed it. I had the lobster ravioli which had a lot of lobster, but the sauce was tasteless (frankly, I prefer little sauce with fresh seafood but if you are going to do a creamy sauce, it should have flavor). The pasta is all fresh which is a plus.
Service: Our waiter was good but a bit too pushy for me and too aggressive it was off putting (especially given that we were there for lunch and everyone ordered an appetizer and entree NOT from the lunch special or pre-fixe so we were clearly spending $).
Decor: Frankly, all DC restaurants in this area look the same to me.
Overall: I'd return next time I'm back in DC.

This restaurant is seriously good. I went to Fiola with a friend and I have found that food always tastes better with good company however everything about this restaurant impressed. The bar has a pleasant vibe, the service was pleasant but not overwhelming and every choice off the menu exceeded expectations. Even the wine was served at exactly the right temperature. Not the economy choice but a definite recommendation.

Food is sometimes good and sometimes mediocre. Very bad waitstaff that will actually bump into you repeatedly while you are dining. Not first class service.

A friend and I enjoyed lunch during Restaurant Week. Rather empty when we were seated at our 2 person table at noon, the place was completely packed with folks reporting a 25 minute wait to be seated for their 1 pm reservation. Although everyone was talking, the noise level was low enough to hear the people with whom you were dining.
For starters we sampled both options: a mozzarella salad and a bowl of Tuscan tomato soup, poured at the table into a shallow bowl with mini smoked salmon crostini in the center, see photos. For entrees we enjoyed two pasta dishes: black rigatoni and a cheese risotto topped with a cheese foam, see photos. Truly melt in your mouth savory sensations. For dessert we indulged in a coffee based tiramisu and a panna cota topped with huckleberries, see photos.
A meal to remember, though the portions were not large, the presentation was flawless.

We were looking for somewhere to stop to eat heading north out of Las Vegas and were lucky enough to find Viva Zapatas. The food was amazing, great service and an amazing selection of toquilla. We definitely go back when in the area.

A foodie's de light. Our waiter Elver added greatly to our enjoyment!

I don't mind expensive tabs if the service is amazing ... and at Fiola's ... all was amazing, tastey and presentation was off the charts. Our server Zoe is very knowledgeable about menu and tastes ... two thumbs up to Zoe

Great service...good food..

Fun event

Hands down the best meal I have ever eaten. The service was amazing.

I have only been here once but I am dying to return! SO GOOD!! The staff is so friendly and the food is amazing, not to mention the great atmosphere!

The service is impeccable. I've never had so many different people attending to my every need. I wish the food was as good.

It's not as if you won't be dazzled with the exotic ingredients and the impressive plating. But with a few exceptions, the the food is dull, err, delicate.

Conversly, my wife absolutely loved everything. Which was the most important factor and not to be understated.

I would return to make her happy, but for good Italian fare, there's far better options in DC-- for considerably less money.

We went there for dinner and it was an amazing experience. The service was perfect; friendly, polite, and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. The food was just great. We had oysters, lobster ravioli, lobster bisque, halibut and More

Took my wife here for her birthday and we had an excellent evening. The service was tremendous, but there are not many superlative words to describe the food. It was simply amazing.

There are no words. This place is worth every penny that was spent. A special occasion magnet where the cocktails and several courses certainly did not disappoint. Portions were perfect!

Great service and great food! The soups was on the House! And we only ordered one dessert and the chef gave us a smaller version so that we both have desserts! Will definitely go back :D

Incredible space, amazing food, outstanding service

Best restaurant visited on our trip from England. Wonderful food, great attentive service, excellent sommelier, great wine, spectacular evening, please open in London

My experience was truly wonderful. My husband and I both enjoyed it so much. The food was absolutely delicious. I would do anything to go back

I can not describe the flavors that I felt when eating the works of art portrayed in these pictures.

Do yourself a favor and experience this gift.

One of THE BEST restaurants in DMV! Superb, Exquisite & to-die-for Delicious w/ detail oriented services from everyone ! We really enjoyed ourselves & had great time! Our highest recommendation & Two Thumbs Up!

I've been here for lunch. They have some of the best calamari around.

Everything they served was amazing. Service was also impeccable.

My husband and I had a private civil ceremony and came here afterwards to celebrate. He is Italian and has discerning tastes, but he was very excited to try Fiola DC. When we were seated, the staff asked if there was a special occasion and then really went above and beyond for us. They even had congratulatory cards! The food was divine, but the service is what really stood out. This is what fine dining should always be. I want to thank Fiola DC for making our night so memorable!

The cocktails were the best part. Food was good, don't get me wrong, but to say that this was an amazing meal I want to go back for, no.

While I think the food was amazing, I think there was a little lacking in the front of the house. I think I had a killer server, but there was some misses in the dinning room. However this should not prevent you from trying it!

Great staff and Ambience. Great great speed of deevic yet at no time did we feel neglect

Great experience start to finish. 4-course tasting menu was excellent. Our server, Joe, was incredibly knowledgeable about each delicious dish and each perfect wine pairing. A really easy, enjoyable evening.

This restaurant was highly recommended. I don't think it lived up to its hype. I asked for salad without dressing but was encouraged by the waitress to have the dressing as it was infused. The salad was drenched in the dressing. The half order of pasta was more like a cup of pasta. After ouir meal, we were asked to go to the bar because people were waiting for the table. Good thing I don't live here because I would not be coming back.

Marcel's is if nothing else consistent. It is consistently outstanding in every respect! The tasting menu gives you a great opportunity to try a variety of offerings without going totally overboard. The service staff is truly exceptional and has always impressed me with their quality over the years.

The branzino was crazy good!

We where a party of 2 and got the uni pasta, and the branzino.

Amazing service too, will be back!

Omg probably the best restaurant experience in life...dont take my word for it please try it out...the bartender is next level!!!

It was an awesome 3 course meal. Chef made us a salad instead of keeping us waiting since the item we ordered was going to take some time to be made. Dessert was awesome.. we ordered tiramisu.. excellent ambience & service

Fish 5/5, other 2/5
The first two services of the tasting menu were really excellent and subsequently correct. However, the ribeye steak is the worst piece of meat I have tasted in my life. The service was up to a restaurant of this quality. The experience is disappointing for a price exceeding 650$ (tasting menu and pairing wine for two)

Ugh. Expensive and food was disappointing. People were nice but their personalities couldn t prop up the fare. We had to return a main dish. Not a good sign. Moving on my people.

Love this place! Every dish is perfect. Crab risotto was amazing

Great place for a fine meal. Although the high price for dishes, it worth every cent I spend. They have great service and nice platting. Great pasta and waygu beef for main course. Complimentary cookies and hand made jam is provided at the end of the service. Highly recommend for dating or you are looking for a fine place to have a decent meal.

I give this restautant 5 stars because you can't give 6!! That said, where food, service and ambience are so perfect that it's art! Thank you Fiola for always making us come back.

Another win from Fabio Trabocchi! The tuna tartare amuse-bouche was a very nice touch.

Had lunch at Fiola. Lovely. Great service and great food. I definitely will return for an extended dinner

Food. Service. Atmosphere. Top shelf. Its an experience.