Restaurant Finder

Al Tiramisu

Cuisine: Italian Neighborhood: Dupont Circle

Based on 14 reviews.

Address	2014 P St., Washington, DC 20036
Phone	(202) 467-4466

City Paper Review

Mediocre Italian restaurants are so prevalent that they tend to dull the palate, but every once in a while something comes along to jolt it with a reminder of just how good Italian food can taste. At Al Tiramisu, it starts with fresh, high-quality, uncomplicated ingredients, some of which can be seen tableside when the servers display the catches of the day without a trace of pretense. The grilled calamari—whole mantles flaked with breading—remains as soft as sashimi and tastes of char and the ocean. A meaty portobello cap, crisped on the outside, is perfectly complemented by a dollop of goat cheese. The Parma-ham-and-homemade-mozzarella appetizer doesn‘t disappoint. With its cozy light and exposed beams, the garden-level dining room recalls a wine cellar and is comfortable and effortlessly classy. The servers are effective, attentive, and won‘t lead you astray when asked for guidance, not that there are many landmines. Surf-and-turf selections—from the juicy beef tenderloin to the tuna steak with balsamic vinegar reduction, pine nuts, and raisins—are handled with equal facility. Raviolis stuffed with ricotta and spinach wade in a buttery but buoyant sage sauce, and the risotto is toothsome and creamy, though it can be a bit salty. The restaurant‘s namesake anchors the dessert menu, served beside a pinwheel of sauces that‘s almost too pretty to disturb. Rich chocolate "salami" with ganache and walnuts is accompanied by a miniature helping of vanilla ice cream. But the best is the mixed-berry custard. Cool, smooth, and not too rich, it will make even the most polite dessert sharer angle for the last bite.
—Huan Hsu, August 18, 2006

Rater Comments

These comments express the opinions of individual Restaurant Raters, not those of Washington City Paper.

Review by Butternut on April 3, 2008

Al Tiramisu is a delightful Italian restaurant. It is small, but in the cozy and welcoming way. Service was amazing, from the very friendly hostess to our very Italian server (thick accent, very friendly and talkative). The gnocchi was light and fluffy - the best I have ever had. The wine list was extensive and our server offered us a discount. Tiramisu for dessert was an obvious and delicious decision. It is a pricey restaurant, but I found it to be well worth it. I have never left a restaurant happier (though the wine and charm of my server may have influenced the euphoria). Great location for a special date (it is an intimate space with romantic lighting, so I wouldn't recommend for non-date scenarios).

Review by Sue on October 22, 2007

Al Tiramisu seemed to have all the right ingredients to rescue us from the dearth of good, authentic Italian food in this area (especially compared to my hometown of Philadelphia): it is a cozy, tucked away neighborhood place; it is small and dim; everyone there is Italian, and the menu is a nice happy medium between traditional and creative/modern. Too bad our table had a strange corner jutting out at chest level in our space; the waiter was curt and flavorless; the potatoes served with my husband's branzino had black spots in them and were dried out; and while the sauce on my pasta was delicious, the gnocci themselves were bland, tasteless, and textureless. And, like other reviews mentioned, while the prices on the menu are reasonable, beware of the specials, which are many times more expensive. All in all, I'm not sure I'd shell out the dough to make this place a regular habit, but I must say, the namesake Tiramisu was among the best I've ever had.

Review by skrelnick23 on July 21, 2006

This was perhaps my third visit, since it was my birthday, I went to my fave place thus far in DC. The reason why I go to Tiramisu is the service and the beef carpaccio. Not to mention, food is way better than any place I've been to in Little Italy in NY. Cozy, warm and food always excellent (though, the special of tagliarini with porcini mushrooms and white truffle oil that I ordered came with oil that actually had no white truffle in it, only an essence). The staff as well as the lovely chef who always hosts are warm and funny, they brought out a tiramisu hearing it was my birthday though I really could not fit dessert into my belly. I can come here to eat the carpaccio everyday!!

Review by m24679 on November 19, 2005

We went to Al Tiramisu when my boyfriend's mother came to visit, and we enjoyed the place. However, not as much as we expected based on the rave reviews Al Tiramisu has received! The service was cooly cordial, at best. We were stuck at a table right next to the drink station and kitchen door, and were mostly ignored once we dared to order wine by the glass instead of an expensive bottle. Food was good but the place was not the best value.

Review by andersna on August 1, 2005

Dishes are simple, but well put together and flavorful. I wasn't bowled over by anything, but everything from the portabella mushroom appetizer through two pastas and into the namesake tiramisu for dessert was very good. The atmosphere is nice and cozy as well, and the service was decent. All-in-all, a nice place for a relaxing and well-prepared Italian meal, with many better-than-average vegetarian selections thrown in.

Review by mspatterson on March 22, 2005

The owner, Luigi, was behind the bar that night and is such a delight. His infectious charm definitely made the meal. Of course, the food was quite good, too. The tuna steak with onions, raisins, and pine nuts was delicious. The dessert, a chocolate creme caramel, was good, too. The coffee was some of the best I've had. The wine list doesn't have any offerings by the glass, but pinot grigio suggested by Luigi was very good. The prices of the appetizers and desserts are too high, but are more than compensated for by the prices for the entrees. The atmosphere is cozy and cheerful, though the music was often drowned out by the sound of the TV. Almost a perfect meal.

Review by food4fun on February 16, 2005

It was my birthday! Really, it takes alot to diminish my foodie, gift-giving, red wine swilling, chattering friends' enthusiasm. And no need to be concerned here about diminishing anything. The staff accomodated my party of 9, and even a surprise late-comer. (a friend who had just flown in from a 4 mo. trip in Spain) The hospitality was gracious. The 1st courses were tasty. Excellent mozzarella and fresh tomatoes, one friend, who had the portabello mushroom claims it was the best she'd ever had. Our waiter was gracious, timely (a little too timely with the bottled bubbly water, which I had to specifically ask to quit service on) and informative (however, he missed telling us the cost of one of the pasta dishes with morel mushrooms, causing quite a shocking surprise to my friend who ordered it - some $42 later). I had the lobster linguini - a little quiet on flavor. The lobster a little overcooked. My boyfriend had the red-snapper, Fabulous! I finished with the tiramisu for dessert, so good, I could've eaten 3 more if I hadn't had plans to go out dancing after. We had the corner round table, by the fireplace, which was super-cozy and the most out of the way spot in the dining room. I had a great time and would go back for the Italian spirited dishes, ambiance and service. All in all a restaurant to remember!

Review by Zendigestion on August 1, 2004

The ambience may have receievd a higher score except for the awkward closeness of the diners next to us. I had to summon the 'force' just to block out the very audible conversations on my right and left. Otherwise, an exceptional dining experience for the price. We didn't have reservations, but would recommend on a Saturday night.

Review by hahn74 on July 7, 2004

fresh made pasta. dark cozy setting.

Review by Eric the bastard on June 24, 2004

Having heard both good and bad things about this restaurant I tossed the dice and headed there for a first date. The relationship went nowhere but the food was fantastic. Contrary to some reviews, the service was great. The ambience wasn't the best due to the fact that many of the tables are very close together and thus made it difficult to hear. The wine and the entree was on the expensive side, entree typically 25+ and few wines below $40. Overall..thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to going there again.

Review by shann346 on May 23, 2004

Ten women aged 25 - 35 out to have a great dinner together: sharing appetizers, wine, stories and a few good, loud laughs. Al Tiramisu is not place you go to if this is the type of evening you have planned...as my girlfriends and I discovered.

However, if you are looking for a quiet, romantic evening with your significant other: you might want to consider Al Tiramisu.

Review by mfm76 on May 18, 2004

Man, I can't get this place out of my head. It's like a Kylie Minogue song, but without the dirty feeling. I had one of the simplest dishes I could imagine ordering - wide flat pasta, olive oil, garlic, and a few mushrooms - and it was honestly one of the greatest things I've ever tasted. Fresh, cooked just right, delicate flavors. Yeah, this place was great. One piece of advice: if you like the sound of a special, make sure you ask how much it is.

Review by bozziegirle on February 12, 2004

Review by schellhm on December 25, 2003

Our waiter's pretentious arrogance ruined the meal. When listing the specials, he didn't bother to mention that they cost 2 to 4 times ($45-$85) more than the regular entrees ($18-22). I had to prompt him two times before he would reveal the prices of the specials. He retaliated by observing (this is a paraphrase) that anyone who needed to be concerned about the price shouldn't even be dining at Al Tiramisu. Later, when the entrees were delivered, the tuna in vinegar sauce was truly horrible. The odor of the vinegar was so strong that even having the plate near me was somewhat naseauting. I've had this dish at other restaurants, such as Lavandou, and found it surprisingly delicate. When the waiter stopped by to ask about the food, I told him that something might be wrong with the sauce. He responded with immediate, defensive hostility that the sauce was just fine and that it only seemed strong to me because I had had a mild appetizer. He added that the sauce is made with balsamic vinegar, which, in case I hadn't realized, just naturally *has* a strong flavor. He said that, if I insisted, he would mention to the cook that I didn't care for the dish. He was so offended that I found actually myself apologizing for upsetting him! Yuck.