Restaurant Finder

Sorriso

Cuisines: Pizza Italian Neighborhood: Cleveland Park

Based on 19 reviews.

Address	3518 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC 20008
Phone	(202) 537-4800
Fax	(202) 537-0145

Rater Comments

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

Review by jrachlin on July 19, 2009

Sorriso had a few hits - outdoor dining on the rooftop veranda (two 2-tops upstairs) can feel like your own private restaurant; generous pours of very good house cabernet; attentive service; gnocchi that was very well-executed.

Also a few misses - bread that tasted like somewhat old supermarket bakery product; pizza that was heavy on the grease and light on the taste; appetizers that stray towards the more expensive side.

If you're looking for nice outdoor dining that isn't going to break the bank, Sorriso will be a fine choice. Stick to pasta and you'll be fine. The service was good, you have to love the story of the family-owned restaurant just trying to stay afloat, and if you manage to land one of the tables on the rooftop veranda, you'll have one of the best perches to view foot traffic along Connecticut Avenue.

Review by GoodEatsPioneer on May 26, 2006

Open the front door of Sorriso and you will immediately see that the chef has a "Master's of Pizza" degree from somewhere in Italy. It says it again on the menu. This may be the case, but I suspect that he must have gotten all D's in his classes. I am a pizza fanatic. I recently flew to Naples with the sole purpose of eating pizza 3 times a day for a week straight. What they are doing at Sorriso doesn't even come close to approximating any pizza I ever ate in Italy. The oven is wrong, the dough is wrong, the cheese is wrong, the sauce is wrong- I don’t get it!! Its not that this is terrible pizza. It’s just mediocre, and that’s not what I feel like I deserve from someone who is going to toot their own horn quite that much. Sooo what's it actually like? The center of the crust was thin. Not as thin as the crust at Sette perhaps, but quite thin. There was practically no cornichone, or outer puffed lip of crust. The flavor of the dough is poorly developed- tasteless white bread, and could benefit from a bit more salt. It had a light char, but this didn't improve the situation much. The sauce is completely unremarkable, and there's not much on there. If I had to guess, I'd venture that they might be using pre-grated Grande whole milk mozzarella - Not a bad choice for a NY slice, but it only sort of works on a pizza that claims to have a pizzaiola trained in Italy behind the counter. And the oven- this really confused me. I've poked my head in close to 40 pizza ovens in various parts of Italy. They are almost without fail, low-domed beehive ovens. And with good reason- they simply work the best. Heat is radiated more evenly, and the temperature throughout the oven is much more even than a rectangular configuration. Sure, you can make great pizza in a rectangular oven- John's and Grimaldi's in NY have handily proved that, but those ovens were originally built for baking bread, and it takes compensation on the part of the pizzaiola to work with those ovens. The oven at Sorriso is rectangular, but tries to compensate for cold spots in the oven by having a constantly spinning section of rotating hearth on the side opposite the wood fire. Trust me folks, it doesn’t work. Even with top notch dough, great sauce, and better cheese, I don’t know if he could turn out a pizza worth bragging about his advanced pizza degree in that ridiculous oven if his life depended on it.

Review by reissd on April 24, 2006

I went there with a couple of friends and ordered basic stuff; a couple of pizzas, a couple of salads, an appetizer, and a coke. The waitress was seen twice; once when she took our order and then when she brought the food. She never came to check up on us or refill our glasses. In all fairness, she was the only server handling about 10 tables.

One of the managers was helping her out, but never came by to check on us either. At one point, my water glass was empty for about 10 minutes so I finally went up to the server station and got my own water. After a little while when it was empty again, he came by and filled up my friend’s glass, but left mine empty. No one ever asked if my other friend wanted another coke. They never offered dessert. When we finally asked the upstairs manager for our check (since our waitress wasn’t stopping at our table and was always running by), he just pointed to our waitress. We waited another 10 minutes before finally stopping our waitress.

When we brought this bad service and severely understaffed dining area to the attention of the manager, he had us go see him in the kitchen where he continued to bark out orders to people while my friend and I were trying to talk to him. When we finally got his attention, his response was “So what’s the problem? No water….no coke…that’s not a problem. No wine…then there would be a problem!” and laughed about it. I had to keep pointing out the other issues with the service that night…he could not have been more disinterested in what was going on in his place or what his customers thought of it.

I used to go there from time to time because the food is okay (but not great), but after being treated like that, I will never go back there and strongly suggest that no one spend their money at a place that seems to place so little value on their customers. If I owned that restaurant, I would fire that manager in a heartbeat.

Review by switchboard on March 11, 2006

My carryout order was ready in 10 minutes, on a busy night when patrons were faithfully lined from the bar to the door to get dinner. Very friendly staff!

Review by leopardo on February 6, 2006

I`M FROM ITALY AND WHEN I WANT PIZZA I GO TO SORRISO.
TWO AMY`S IS OK BUT NOT AS GOOD.
WARM WELCOME FROM THE OWNER.
GREAT ADDITION TO CLEVELAND PARK.

Review by BrainEaters on November 29, 2005

I have to say Sorriso was a bit of a letdown after good reviews I got from other people and read, and especially after learning of the amount of training the pizza chef had received (he has a Masters degree in pizza!). The fact that we were VERY hungry before getting our dinner I though would ensure the food was good, food always to taste better when I’m starving. However, the starters we got were a bit lack luster. The bean soup though having a nice consistency, was a bit bland and required salt, and probably more, but we only had salt on the table. I ordered the sliced tuna with capers and onions, which came to my table freezing cold and bland. I presume you need to freeze the tuna to slice it into paper thin sheets, but I think at room temperature it would have been more enjoyable. I ordered a special, veal ravioli in a mushroom sauce. It actually turned out to be a decent dish if not a little on the bland side though the veal filling was of a nice consistency. OK, the pizza, I was looking forward to some good wood oven fired pizza. What we got was a super thin crispy crust covered with too much cheese and too much garlic (and dried, not fresh, oregano). At places like this I don’t expect to be able to lift up my slice and watch glistening drops of oil fall off the slice. Actually if we only ate the ring between the crust and the over cheesy middle it would have been good, well at least better. At least the bread and oil before dinner was tasty. Though Sorriso may shine with some of its dishes, my experience was only with some of their more disappointing offerings.

Review by deeps on August 2, 2005

It surprises me that pizza of such mediocrity can have a stage at such a prime location. I made better pizza in elementary school using white bread, American cheese and spaghetti sauce. should've stuck with 2 Amy's! The wine by the glass was also highly acrid.

Review by bryndolan on July 26, 2005

I do like the idea of Sorriso. It got a best Cheap Eats award, and DC definitely needs more moderately priced, dinner-on-a-Tuesday type places. We got pizza, which was soggy and not very good. Stick with Two Amy's or Pizzeria Paradiso for a good pie. The ambience and service are both good.

Review by crabdada on March 21, 2005

I am biased. The owner, Pietro, made a special dessert pizza for me for my birthday last year. On the other hand, special treatment is what almost all guests can get at this family owned and run restaurant. Although there are many very good restaurants on the Cleveland Park strip, none of them come close for friendly ambiance. It is possible to slip by the owner and not get perfect service, but this is a restaurant for people who want a neighborhood place.

The pizza from the only rotating wood burning oven I have ever seen is fantastic, crunchy thin crust, delicious toppings that accent not weigh down the pizza. It is the perfect shared appetizer for two to four, before the main course. The main courses range from good to excellent. But unlike restaurants with dozens of the same choices everytime, the menu varies and you get to be a taster.

This night we shared crispy calamari, a very good Osso Buco, a couple fresh pasta dishes and a couple pizzas, wine and private label grappa. Please let them know how they did, this restaurant actually appreciates comments. We stood around the bar (no smoking) sharing the dishes. The squid was delicious, the sauce standard. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the sauce complementing it well. In the past, the pasta dishes vary in quality, but always are competent.

The wine list is reasonable and includes choices from the owner's own vineyard in Italy.

Again, this is a place to meet for a romantic dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant or a small party where the owner sits with you and makes you feel at home. No cookie cutter meals (I once had a Lemon Semi Fredo made by a visiting pastry chef that was heavenly and better than any mousse or gelato I had ever had) and the warm personality of an owner who greet you at the door.

Review by typer on January 28, 2005

Sorriso served the worst pizza I have ever had in Washington! The Pizza Bosco, while large enough for two, came with paltry toppings, what seemed like frozen spinach, a few measley mushrooms and onions chopped with a meat cleaver. It was tasteless. If you want good pizza in Cleveland Park, go to Two Amys or walk across the street and get a slice at Vace. Even the arugula and parmesan salad I had to start was mediocre at best. Sorriso is easily the worst restaurant in Cleveland Park.

Review by mkrisetya on October 27, 2004

Sorisso is an Italian restaurant trying too hard to be traditional and upscale at the same time.

Before we even sat down we were scolded by the hostess who saw our toddler playing with the salt and pepper dispensers. She informed us--in not too friendly manner--that she would not want them to break on her tile floors. The table was adorned by paper place mats and cheap looking silverware which lacked the sophistication that the hostess who hovered around in her high heels and big jewelry seemed to by trying to project. Anyone with kids at Sorriso might feel a little uncomfortable dining there.

At the same time the traditional family friendly side of the Italian dining experience fumbled in its execution. The pizza we ordered came unsliced and was explained to us as the traditional Italian way of serving pizza. Faced with the daunting task of cutting hot pizza with dull knives on china we could not help but to laugh as we politely asked the waitress to cut it for us. Some traditions--if it was the case--need to make room for being practical.

In general the food was not bad. Sorriso's lack of identity was what I remembered the most. Once Sorriso decides if it is family-style or high-end, we will know if we should return with our child or hire a baby-sitter.

Review by cher on August 20, 2004

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone. The brick oven pizzas were excellent. The wine came from the owners vineyard in Italy and was great. The dessert was to die for. The owners were there making sure that everyone was satisfied and happy with their dining experience at Sorriso. It is a fabulous restaurant.

Review by shauie on June 30, 2004

This is a fairly new Italian restaurant in Cleveland Park. The ambiance is great. They have romantic seating on the small balcony on the 2nd floor. The service was great but the food was just average and I found it a bit pricey. The pizza's are not bad though.

Review by Spyboy on June 26, 2004

Sorriso's pizza oven makes for a nice crust. If you are with a group of 4 or more, try the fruit pizza for dessert. Doc Atkins will never know!

Review by sarahimber on May 26, 2004

Not another overpriced Italian joint! A shared appetizer salad and two entrees, with a bad glass of red wine, shouldn't cost $60! The food was bland and the service was mediocre;- the bus boys kept trying to take away our dishes while we were eating. Even though it's super convenient to the metro, I'll never ever go there again.

Review by lbgeho on May 6, 2004

The atmosphere is cozy, in a claustrophobic sort of way, the service is efficient, though it verges on utter snobbery, and the prices are a bit high, BUT the food is why I will be a repeat customer. While 14 dollars may seem steep for a calzone, the portion is enough to last 3 meals. It is packed with fresh, tasty ingredients. My friend sampled the crepe lasagna and nearly licked his plate clean. You can pair your food with a reasonably priced Italian wine, cuddle in a cozy nook, and ignore your snobby server...you just had a wonderful meal!

Review by badger on April 23, 2004

Sorisso opened recently in Cleveland Park, which has no shortage of good restaurant choices. Unfortunately, it does not live up to its neighbors along the two block strip on Connecticut Ave. The $16, 12 inch pizza with eggplant and mushrooms had 3 pieces of eggplant and a few scattered mushrooms. The rissoto with zuccini and shrimp was tasty but a little too fishy. I think this was due to the baby shrimp in the dish. They would have been fine for shrimp salad in a deli, but not for risotto. This is my second time at Sorisso, and both times I have seen potential (it is a very cute space and the retired Italian banker turned restauranteur is clearly trying very hard) but after being open for a number of months, I expect more from a restaurant in a neighborhood that has so many better options.

Review by chevalmf on April 22, 2004

Sorriso is a fantastic Italian restaurant that serves gourmet thin-crust pizzas and dinner. The owner is super-friendly and makes it a point to talk to every customer in the restaurant. The ambience is slightly trendy, but not overly so, and the food is fantastic. Each person can eat an entire thin-crust pizza to him or herself and the cheese melts in your mouth. They have a few excellent Italian wines and beers as well.

Review by Rach950 on January 29, 2004

Sorriso is a great new addition to the Cleveland Park community. If you are looking for an two story Italian pizzeria on Connecticut Avenue you found it, at Sorriso!

Sorriso's great location at the Cleveland Park metro on the east side exit allows for easy access for after work or even during a bad snow strom.

Sorriso has a great ambiance and gives a warm and cozy feeling while you wait for your pizza or pasta. The Mediterranean art work and bright yellow walls with blue ceilings help accomplish the Italian village ristorante feel. This feel allows for a romantic evening for two or for a casual evening meeting friends for drinks and appetizers at the bar.

Portion size is excellent! But note that the pizza is not large enought to share, but once you taste the flavor you will not want to share!
I would recommend Sorriso for those who want to enjoy a reasonable priced meal before attending a movie at the Uptown, or if you are looking for a new romantic spot for dinner, Sorriso should be on your list of new restaurants to try in the Cleveland Park area.

I give Sorriso two thumbs up and I will be back for another gourmet pizza!