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“Wonderful Setting for Birthday Party ”
Review of Italian Cafe

Italian Cafe
Ranked #35 of 361 Restaurants in Falls Church
Cuisines: Italian
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Dining options: Reservations
Description: Great family restaurant in existence for more than 30 years.
Reviewed 25 June 2018 via mobile

We held a dinner to celebrate my wife's birthday in the Italian Cafe's private room. We had 22 people in total.

The manager gave me useful advice in planning the event. We used a set menu with fish, chicken, and pasta options that also included appetizers, salads, dessert (a tasty almond cake), and coffee and tea. We also added carafes of wine, and it was of excellent quality for house wine.

The well prepared food was served on a timely basis, and the servers were pleasant and as helpful as could be. We had used the private room with a set menu several years ago and were pleased. We were definitely pleased this time, even more so than the first. I would highly recommend Italian Cafe for a larger party.

Date of visit: June 2018
1  Thank DougH286
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviews (63)
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12 - 16 of 63 reviews

Reviewed 13 March 2018

Dinner here three time over 4-5 months. Food uneven. Had a fantastic lamb special. Invited several folks to join me the next time and specials were uninspired. Came back again for ravioli stuffed with marrow. Pasta was thick, filling was tasteless. I will try the pizza to see if that can draw me back and if not I'm finished. A shame; I live close by and would love for this to be my local haunt.

Date of visit: February 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
1  Thank DollysBaby
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 February 2018

We hosted a large family reunion at their private room and were delighted with everything. We've done the same at other venues (i.e. Maggianos) and the Italian Cafe's service, food quality and especially, cost were far better than other places. The owner carefully selected a choice of three delicious and hearty entrees with complete accompaniments (bread, salad and a yummy tiramisu dessert) at an exceptionally reasonable cost. Our guest raved about the food and we, the hosts, loved how easy the planning was. We're so appreciative to Younes (the owner) the efficient and gracious waitstaff and the talented chef for the wonderful care they provided our family.

Date of visit: February 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
Thank PVTraveler2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 28 January 2018 via mobile

Came in tonight for an impromptu family dinner. Sat in the bar section, party of 7. Expectations were set in the middle as this was the first time for some of us.

Got our menus, with most of us having to bust out our phones for the flashlights and/or magnifiers (curse getting older.) The options were all pretty decent. The table started with appetizers, calamari, mussels, and buffalo wings. We ordered our meals. And waited. It was nice to be able to just sit and catch up.

As the appetizers started to come out, they didn’t all come out at the same time. We had finished the mussels and calamari and were still waiting for the wings. We had also received our salads and were finished with those before the wings arrived. At one point our server cane to the table to first ask if we still wanted the wings and then said they Le be like 3 mins more. Finally they came out, and not much time went by when our entrees arrived. Those in itself, were staggered, between the seven of us, five of us got our meals at the same time, two were still waiting. It just kind of puzzled me that not all of the meals would be fired and delivered relatively at the same time? Oh well, I guess taking in the fact that both sides of the restaurant were filling up, so to speak.

The Food-

Appetizers-

Calamari: Wasn’t bad, evenly coated, suspect it might come from a bag, but could be surprised that it was breaded there.

Mussels: They were “okay.” Mussels go better with in a good Fisherman’s Stew.

Buffalo Wings: Yeah there had to be a reason these took as little by as they did and shouldn’t have. One of us got one that was cold in the center. Which led us to believe that they forgot to make them or put the order in for them. A cold wing just isn’t appetizing.

Salads: were just “meh.” You could put together a better side salad.

Entrees-

Rigatoni Fra Diavolo: It was “good.” I guess nothing was really jumping out at me when making a selection. The tomatoes tasted fresh. The pasta was cooked very well, there just wasn’t anything that wowed me.

Rockfish (Specials Menu Item): It was good, already scaled and a good size. This was one of the two that we still had to wait for, thought fish would be a quicker order to fire up and plate?

Didn’t try anyone else’s meals, but heard that they were “good.”

Dessert-

Tiramisu: this was quite good, full of flavor and just enough to share.

Ordered Decaf coffee, but again, had to wait and then while waiting, was asked if we still wanted it, because as it goes with most restaurants, it might be on the menu, but unless you’re at a diner or a breakfast spot, Decaf is just on the menu but really not something the server is hoping you order. We still wanted it, so we waited. When finished, we probably should’ve taken another cup as they had to brew it will most likely toss it.

All in all it was decent. The server needed to be more familiarized with what’s on the menu and how each item is pronounced. I guess hearing the server say ‘here’s your N-Y steak’ I just wanted to tell her that you still call it a “New York Strip.” I’m not sure that this place will be on my radar for a return visit, as I’d have to consider other options for Italian fare.

Date of visit: January 2018
1  Thank SoCalGeekinVA
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 September 2017

Front door handicapped parking-cheerful greeting and a sense that as a diner "your" special. Tired after experiencing traffic( I 66) just needed to "BEE" waited on and Alina exceeded expectations. The antipasto which my wife and I split provides positive memories - best locally anywhere near DC. Instantly, iced water is poured and fresh bread arrives - this Cafe setting is relaxing.- known and treasured by locals, my shrimp dish with pasta -superb. Chicken Cacciatore, is always the choice of my wife. Many choices- reasonably priced. A sense of well being and being cared for keeps drawing us back to splitting our antipasto.

Date of visit: September 2017
Thank Edward B
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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