Fiola Reviews

This is probably one of the classiest restaurant I've ever dined at. My friend works for the supplier of Fiola and told me how all their ingredients are freshly imported from Italy and other European countries. This place has Michelin star rating and it shows in the service, ambience, and food. Be prepared to spend a few hours (~4 or 5 hours) and some serious cash here as it is indeed pricey, but worth it for that special occasion. The service is nothing short of impeccable. Waiters and staff are dressed to the nines in suits and are incredibly attentive and professional. There are always a group of waiters bringing your dishes all together at the same time and taking your plates away at the same time in sync. They are very thorough in explaining the menu items and where their ingredients come from. Throughout the night, we had a few complimentary "taste bud jumpstarters" and palate cleanser dishes sprinkled in between each dish, like the jumbo lump crab drizzled with green tomato gazpacho and taragai (a type of giant shellfish). It was a delightful treat. Every dish was rich and flavorful. Overall, an amazing dining experience and a great place for special celebrations!

This truly is a five star dinning experience from the moment you walk in the door and check your coat till you order that first glass of wine, you will be so happy you chose this restaurant to dine in. One of a kind fine Italian food that will explode your taste buds and you will truly savor every bite down to the dessert and cappuccino.

This is the best Italian restaurant in DC. The bar team is responsive and the conversation is good for talking.

Hands down the best steak ever. Aged bone in filet....It was perfect. Everything we had was perfect. The poached lobster was to die for. Service was exceptional!!!

Its a beautiful restaurant with an attentive staff! The elk was delicious and would definately have it again! Fabulous restaurant for any occasion!

VERY nice. Outstanding servi e. The food was exceptional

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.

Fiola will forever have a special place in my heart. This is the place where I proposed to the love of my life. I worked with Sarah Bingston to set up the proposal. She was FANTASTIC to work with. I reserved a private room (in the photos) to propose. Sarah had the room ready with champagne and rose pedals. We walked in and I proposed! After that was over, the restaurant really showed us how great it was. The chef came out and greeted us and gave us personal suggestions, the waitstaff catered to everything we needed, about 4 different staff people checked on us to see who the night was going. They even took our phones to an office to charge them because they died responding to congratulatory messages LOL! We got a free dessert and glass of wine and just an overall AMAZING experience. We did the 4 courses for dinner and it was amazing. I had a ribeye which was cooked to perfection. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an awesome experience!

The food is always fresh and delicious, staff members hands out great customer service. I really like how clean it is and character. Would recommend to others.

This is a beautiful restaurant and the food is amazing. Every dish was delicate and lovely. We don't eat shellfish and many of the dishes had some element of seafood in it. The chef made specially made dishes for us to enjoy. We did not miss anything. The wait staff was the icing on the cake. Very attentive and accommodating. I would make this my go to romantic spot.

Just fabulous. We enjoyed the tasting menu along with a wine pairing. The selected wines for the wine pairing were quite good. We had exceptional service, delicious food, and a wonderful evening.

Armani our table captain was awesome!!! The food was oustanding as was the service.
We will defiantly refer friends and return on our next visit. Angi

Went for an anniversary dinner. Both food and service were exceptional. Staff and chef went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed the experience down to custom printed menus and a card. Can't recommend enough.

My wife and I had dinner on a Saturday evening and we couldn't have been happier with the food, ambience, and particularly the service. It was an uncrowded evening so had ample opportunity to discuss specifics of the menu with the staff. Particular attention was given to my allergy and intolerance and we will definitely be back.

One of the best meals I've ever eaten . Service is great. Expect minimum $250 for two people.

Best pasta I've had so far in town (better than Fiola Mare), although you'll pay for it. Love the presto lunch option (pappardelle carbonara). Bartenders are savvy and friendly. Great experience.

This is the most disappointing fine dining I ever experienced in a Michelin star restaurant. We went here for our anniversary and spent around $350, including 20% tip.

We were given a limited menu so my partner asked the server for a full menu. The server said that we must be just used to American-Italian food and emphasized that this was authentic Italian. Little did he know that my partner lived in Italy for one year and we just returned from Italy three months before hand: he was condescending in the manner he imparted this information. After she revealed her background, he quickly said that he didn t meant to be pedantic which was his way of apologizing, but it missed the mark. He further advised us that the chef and majority of people in the kitchen were Italian. We don t care what nationalities are represented in the kitchen so long as they prepare a dish worthy of a fine dining meal.

I'm not a food critic but I do cook at home a lot and dine out internationally (we traveled to 9 countries just this year). The food is 1 out of 5 stars (we felt suspicious that what we had was frozen and not fresh). I suspect they only cook fresh when they feel someone could be a Michelin star representative.

The first two dishes served were the Alaskan King Crab Salad and the Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio. The crab salad had mismatched flavors and the crab was chewy. The yellowfin tuna was bland. They served us 1 tiny piece of bread each with insufficient olive oil poured in our bowl. Two dips and the bread absorbed all the olive oil. Jesus broke a bigger piece of bread than what was on our place.

The beef cheek tortellini was a disaster. The tortellini tasted chewy, doughy and frozen.
The Soppressata Veiled Monk Fish had no flavor and tasted frozen. The Squab Saltimbocca was tough, chewy, dry and tasted like a rubber Michelin tire. If Gordon were to visit this place, he would immediately shut it down. The dinner was a complete nightmare. I recommend against going here

Amazing food and great service. Presentation of dishes was spot on.

What an amazing experience! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was welcoming. Our service was without a doubt the best that I have ever experienced in my life. Our waiter, Armando, truly made our evening exceptional and even though this was our first time dining there, he made us feel comfortable and at ease. He was also knowledgeable about the menu and attentive throughout the entire evening. I would recommend this to anyone visiting DC and look forward to dining there again in the future.

This Michelin-starred restaurant has fantastic service, great food, and a wonderful sommelier. Though they are known for their pastas, I find their pastas to be the weakest items on the menu, especially when placed next to their other dishes.

Visited July 23, 2016. I've been to fancy restaurants across the country. The food and service here were second to none. The flavors were awesome in every dish served. This was my first time and immediately it's in my top 3.

We have been to Marcel's on many occasions. It was wonderful, as always, on this occasion.

Definitely one of the best restaurant at DC, fit for any kinds of events. Staff are friendly and professional, food are prefect.
And, most importantly, they sell cigars at bar.!!!!!

This rating is just for the zuppa inglese- too bad it's gone :(
PLEASE bring it back!!!

Fiola is definitely posh, but still a great deal at lunch and happy hour for the amazing quality. I went the first time to use an Open Table gift certificate and had the most stunning lunch ever. The cocktails were unique and seasonal and More

Great place to order lots and share. Delicious food. Portions are small. Wait staff is attentive and friendly. They made excellent recommendations and the meal was awesome.

wow! love it! go often! best bar! best wine! best, imaginative pasta! best foie gras!

I've never experienced such a friendly service at any restaurant in DC so far. The food and everything was great, but I specially want to focus this review on the quick response, courtesy and the treatment each and every customer was getting there. Irrespective for the look or clothes, everyone got happy smiles and hot food.

Well this place was okay but the McDonald's in Chadbourn NC was way better

What an amazing experience. My wife and I had dinner on Christmas Eve here and the food was deserving of the Michelin star the restaurant has, but the real prize at this establishment is the service. We were afraid we were going to be late for the service at the national cathedral so we tried to subtlety request the check from the server when our 3rd course came out. Before we knew it our server was extremely apologetic and was there with the check and dessert was brought out quickly as well. The restaurant had opted to pay for our wine and packed us pastries and treats to go in case we didn't have time to enjoy our dessert. Hats off to Paison and Richard! You guys made our Christmas Eve experience at Fiola wonderful. .

Stupidly expensive but beautiful experience, service, and food. The price fix menu with paired wine is a real treat for a very special meal.

Loved the experience and the service was great! This restaraunt is for those who want to experience diverse plates. All my dishes were fantastic expect the pork, all it tasted like was burnt. For the price, I felt like each dish should have been at least good, and the pork was simply not.

My experience here was amazing. I never went to a place where the service was brillant and lovely. The food is delicious. The setting is beautiful. My waitress was the best. The managers treated me with so much respect and were very interpersonal. I cannot wait for my next visit to Fiola.

I took my best friend here for her 30th birthday dinner and we were blown away by everything. Exceptional service, phenomenal food, and a beautiful restaurant. The Assistant general manager, Katie was especially amazing. She made us feel so comfortable, answered all of our questions, took a general interest and more. We definitely plan on coming again and I highly suggest taking the time to check it out.

We have eaten here several times and have never been disappointed. The service is very good. Dinner is a choice of 2, 3 or 4 courses with dessert. Lobster ravioli is one of their signature dishes and is amazing. The tuna and Hamachi crudo is also great. Two of us had a first course with wild mushrooms, a poached egg and truffles. I was between the lobster ravioli (did I say it's amazing?) and this dish. Thee waiter said I should get the mushrooms because they were sourced from a farm in NY and were seasonal and amazing. He was right.

The one thing I would improve is the wine list. While quite extensive, there are more choices at a higher price range and few under $100.

We had dinner here with 2 other couples and celebrated some birthdays. They handle dietary restrictions and preferences well. Some of us swapped the dessert course for a dessert beverage and they were ok with that too.

Happy hour at the bar is also nice - they have good prices on some small plates and wines. Give one of their cocktails a try because they are wonderful.

The service was fantastic. I can't possibly cover the entire meal I had; it was excellent to say the least. Two parts stood out however. First: the cucumber watermelon gazpacho with prosecco foam was a hit I never saw coming. Mostly because it wasn't even listed on the menu and was brought out as a complimentary treat between courses. The gazpacho and foam together made for an ephemeral combination that left me constantly wanting more.

The desert, pictured below was something otherworldly. Deep blueberry sorbet, with more whole blueberries on the side. Served with caramel-coated popcorn, a piece of baby corn that had been candied and then lightly toasted with a blowtorch, a...buttered popcorn mousse(?) that was just salty enough. All of which was on top of a bed of toasted cornbread crumbs.

Whoever created it must reside in a higher plane of existence because it knocked the socks off of my mortal culinary mind. For someone who just does meal prep on the weekends, this was like eating the Mona Lisa. I wanted to cry with joy, but I would have been betraying the fact that I was also in pain by that point.

Seriously, everything was so incredible that I didn't just eat until I was stuffed--I promptly threw up in a trashcan right outside of the restaurant, and I have no reservations about visiting again if I have the chance.

Good food but quantity is very little for the price. They spend money on ironing the table cloths, instead invest in quantity of food the customer is coming for in the restaurant. Also 2 people to serve each dish why? Won t recommend!!!!

And wonderful dining experience. Exceptional service.

A one star Michelin restaurant. The service was good, but their food was ok. They charge supplemntal fees, which raised up the price overall. We paid $70 extra. I was suprised when I saw my bill. Wouldn't revisit this resturant again. Don't recommend it. You can try if you want to go for Michelin vibe...

Always stellar service and amazing food. Can't go wrong!

Outstanding! One of the better meals and dining experiences my wife and I have had in recent memory.

Not to be missed.

Not strictly Italian - had a great lunch, well worth the price if you are on a splurge. I particularly liked the oysters and lobster ravioli.

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.

Great food, great wine, great service, great ambiance.

Great atmosphere. They accommodated our big and noisy group. Excellent food. Try anything on the menu. Very attentive service.

Fiola is by far a stand out in the DC dining scene. Fabio and maria Trabocchi are all about quality and experience. There is not a product used in this restaurant that has not passed the test of being just the very best. The food is prepared exceptionally well and their chefs are meticulous about everything they do. They not only deserved their one Michelin star and should have gotten two! A feather in their cap is their over the top pastry chef, Chef Brandon Malzahn has made the dessert course the most highly anticipated event in Washington DC. I will always be a fan.

This was a fantastic experience. Everything we had was extremely unique and delicious. We ordered the five course meal but they brought out a lot more than just the five courses. They just kept on bringing more food and some special drinks. This was a very special occasion since it was so pricey but we both felt it was well worth it.

Delicious food and excellent staff. Be aware though, very expensive!

Perfect food. Great lunch menu! Professional service! I highly and definitely recommend.

This restaurant is traditional DC. The ambiance is older, the staff very friendly and professional. It's not a place you casually walk into and eat a dinner. I came here with my wife for our anniversary dinner and left feeling extremely full. We did the set menu and the best way to describe the food was just...heavy. It's fancy food and creative but lacks a pop. I wouldn't come back to this restaurant, buts it's only because I prefer lighter courses.

After numerous visits, I believe I can confidently say that this is the best Michelin Star restaurant in D.C. They are consistent in serving decadent and well executed dishes and cocktails, and in providing excellent service that goes above and beyond to cater to their patrons.

Food and service was exceptional! The first picture is of my salad. The flavors mixed perfectly, the flowers with a beet vinaigrette, goat cheese and chopped almonds. The second picture is my husband's appetizer oysters, with a patte and caviar.

An amazing experience! They personalized the menu for my birthday and made everything feel special. They even made off menu stuff for my little girl. Worth every penny.

The bottom line: I don't mind paying $600 for dinner for two, but it should be an amazing experience. This wasn't it. As a rule, if there's gold leaf on your food, you are paying too much for it.

First of all, I was unhappy with the table -- that half bench scheme where you are shoulder-to-shoulder with the people at the next table. Not my kind of cozy.
Tasting menu was $150pp. No problem. But wine pairing? $125, and this was the basic pairing -- for $210 there's a "premier" version! Already I know I'm overpaying, but perhaps the sommelier will have some personality. Nope. She rattled off some info on the wine (while looking at my tablemate), poured a tiny amount, and took off. Pairing choices were ok but that's a bare minimum requirement at this level.
Food was good, but definitely short of amazing. If it was half the price, I'd think about going back. However, with so many other amazing options within a block or two from here, I cannot recommend it.

Eat full portion. Half portion doesn't fill you up at all.
Of course, this is classy, small plate serving restaurant.
Expect to see expensive price tags, and dress up properly.

You will not get better service and quality ingredients in DC. This local couple has thrived in their restaurants, and yes, you will pay a hefty check at the end of your experience, but it is well worth it for special occasions - and, there is a pretty good pre-fixed lunch menu! I went in on my lunch break when I was on Jury Duty! It made the day so much better.

The food are superb and amazing with great customer service. I was impressed by how they presented menu, I like most their desserts most their signature cheesecake.

Variety of seafood which I loved. Very high end. A bit pricey. They use fresh lemons for their martini that I tried I can t remember the bartender she was great!

I dined here this evening and while the food was excellent, I was very disappointed in the service with regards to food allergies. I let the waiter know when I arrived that I have a milk allergy and asked him to check what I could order. I ordered the salad and porchetta and the waiter told me that would be fine. They brought out initial courses for the table and brought me something special that did not have milk. When the salad came, the waiter explained what was in it, including heart of palm. There was something white in the salad, but I figured it was heart of palm and went ahead and ate a bite before realizing that it was cheese. When the waiter returned, I told him that there was cheese in my salad and he non-chalantly said that it seemed there was cheese in it and he was sorry. I later got up from the table to find him and told him that I was quite upset to have eaten the cheese in the salad and that it would have consequences for me. He said he would make sure there wasn t milk in the rest of my food and apologized without making eye contact. I ate the porchetta which he assured me did not have any dairy, but I was unable to enjoy the chocolate sorbet that I ordered for dessert because I wasn t able to trust him and the kitchen that it contained no dairy. I am thankful that my allergy is not life-threatening, but I expect better, particularly from a high-end restaurant like this. I think the entire staff needs to be trained on food allergies. I don t think it is too much to expect that the waiter and staff know what is in the food that they are serving. I also expected that the staff would take their mistake seriously and talk to me about it and was disappointed by the lack of concern.

My wife and I dined with Fiola and were extremely satisfied with the overall experience. The tortellini and lobster ravioli were especially delicious as were all other selections. We enjoyed our waiter who worked to make the night special. You won't be over dressed in a suit & tie but it's not required. And, you certainly won't be disappointed.

Tried both seasonal and regular menu, all the food were great.

Always a fantastic experience. Delicious food and impeccable service.

What an amazing dining experience! The decor and atmosphere is great for business, romance, or happy hour. They are fine dining without strict policies for attire. Their service was some of the best I have experienced. You are required to order all courses at once, which was my only complaint. They have amazing cocktails that immerse all the senses including adding smoke to the affair. Their food is to die for! They made special accomodations for my dairy allergy, including a unique green apple desert not listed on the menu. The menu changes frequently, but their oysters were the best I ve ever had and their gnocchi, oh god. Sharing the branzino gives you more food and is absolutely delicious!

Complete disappointment. The service was awful. We had a group of 8 that dined there the evening of Sept 2. If you have dined here (or not), you know we spent A LOT of money including two bottles of wine. I don't mind spending money for quality food and service but, we never felt welcome and our server seemed put off to actually have to wait on us. Like we were an inconvenience. I would have zeroed out the tip if I could have. We had to ask 3 times for the sommelier to come over so we could order our second bottle of wine. I will never return to Fiola and would suggest others spend their money elsewhere. The food was good but the poor service outweighed that positive part.

Fiola is EXTREMELY expensive. If you are not really, really into fine dining, skip it. However, if you are and you're willing to drop a lot of money on one meal, Fiola is a great place to go. First of all the decor is really beautiful. It reminded us of fine dining in New York City from decades ago. The decor is elegant but not ostentatious. It feels comfortable and decadent at the same time, which is hard to achieve.
The food is excellent. We had the 3 course menu, which of course comes with lots of extra small tastings and dessert. That was more than enough food for the both of us. They also offer a four course menu. There is no a la carte.
Parking there is easy if you're willing to pay for a garage. Otherwise you'll find it difficult. The service was wonderful. Our waiter was very attentive without being fussy. He was knowledgeable and helpful and made some really great wine recommendations to go with our food. Overall a really lovely experience and a worthwhile one, though it was a huge splurge.

My wife and I went to Fiola for our anniversary this past April, and my disappointment stems partly from my heightened expectation after reading the Washingtonian Magazine's review of the place in which it claimed that Fiona was "perhaps the best Italian Restaurant in Washington DC if not in the entire country." Laughable claims at best. In summary, Fiona strikes me as a standard hyped up trendy corporate restaurant catering toward lobbyists and other wealthy people of questionable taste who value modern restaurant interiors and foodie trends more than the quality and authenticity of a well considered and prepared meal. Specifics: the fois gras came as a massive portion that was slightly revolting in texture and cold in its center, as if the person who was responsible for preparing it hadn't bothered to keep it in the microwave long enough. Pumpkin or some such soup was pretty and tasteless. I can't remember the entres but one was forgettable, the other, a nicely done piece of Tuna. For dessert we were given a piece of anniversary cake, specially presented for the occasion. I have had better cake at office parties. But in addition to disappointing food, we were bombarded throughout the meal by obsequious wait staff who peppered us every three to five minutes about "how is everything" but were harder to be found when needed. And for this we paid $275 including wine. Needless to say, I will never come back.

This is one of the top restaurants in DC. I was a big fan of Fabio Trabocchi back when he ran Maestro in Tyson's Corner. Fiola and Fiola Mare are just as good. The food at both can be extremely rich, so be careful. The burrata is always good.

The service is, of course, very professional and courteous. The restaurant is suitable for small groups or romantic dinners.

Extraordinary cuisine with exceptional service, Fabio Trabocchi's flagship restaurant surpassed our expectations. Bravo Mario & Maria !

The experience was amazing. The wait staff was proactive in anticipating my needs

Thanksgiving dinner was fantastic, service was flawless, can't go wrong here!

My husband an I were totally flabbergasted by the fantastic and multifaceted meal we had at Fiola last night. Everything was perfect, original and pleasing to the eye as well as to the taste buds. The service was professional but not standoffish, the ambiance quietly elegant. Any discerning gourmet would classify this restaurant as extraordinary.

This place is delicious. We were a bit underdressed, no one really minded. The hardest part was deciding what to order, everything sounded amazing. I'd recommend ordering a variety of stuff and sharing a bit with your date to try as much as you can.

All around a great experience! I really felt like I was in Italy. This is a great place for a first date, if you want to spice things up and really show her your romantic side.

Great place!! The food was fantastic...
We enjoyed everything.

Execelent appetizer, pasta and service. Ok seafood. Space is a bit cramp.

When I want a fancy night out, Fiola is my go to for incredible food and impeccable service.

Loved the food! The round tables and the walls are just magnificent. What a great experience!