| Address | 5534 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC 20015 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (202) 244-1555 |
| Fax | (202) 237-8961 |
Arucola’s niche is halfway between a neighborhood trattoria and a date-night destination. It was empty when I arrived on a Friday and packed solid when I left. Even the patio was full, with most people dressed better than me. I got to know some of them, since the tables are right next to each other. The Hispanic waiters knew all the Italian dishes on the menu, which is heavy on appetizers and pizzas and a bit thin elsewhere; there are not so many pasta dishes or entrées. The fried octopus appetizer came with only two small octopi, and squid stuffed with mushrooms on a red pepper coulis came with only three small squid. At ten and nine dollars, respectively, we felt a bit shortchanged. Perhaps better to start with a plate of various antipasti, taken straight from the antipasti cart that’s parked in the dinning room, holding various vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Pizza with canonical Italian toppings makes a good starter, most priced from $7-9. Or design your own pizza. They are Italian-sized (four slices) and the crust is Italian-thin. The spinach with mozzarella and ricotta came with just a bit too much cheese and too little spinach, but the potato and ham pizza was a hit. Moving on, the unicolor gnocchi with gorgonzola was visually unexciting, needing perhaps a few basil leaves sprinkled on top, but tasted better than it looked. The potato flavor comes through but doesn’t dominate; neither does the gorgonzola. Nice balance. Two inexpensive entrée options are the mussels steamed in white wine and the roast chicken. The mussels’ broth makes great dipping for the foccocia bread basket, and the huge roast chicken, at nine dollars, may be the best bargain on the menu. The desserts seem small in size but are worth trying, both for the quality and for the licquor-flavored cream that seems to be scooped onto everything. Try a spoonful of that in your after-dinner coffee along with a peach tart, or a ricotta cheesecake, or the ubiquitous tiramisu. Dessert wines come by the glass, and there is a good selection of inexpensive wines for dinner as well.
The atmosphere, service, and food at this restaurant were exceptional. And I say that as a vegetarian who had a bit of a difficult time finding a vegetarian meal. To begin with, the atmosphere is cozy and old world. You feel like you're in what an Italian restaurant should be - wood floors, not too bright, etc. The service was great, too. The waiter was friendly and seemed to enjoy his job and enjoy meeting people. The food topped off the evening. I found the bread, namely the foccaccia to be perfect; the olive oil was exceptionally flavorful. My friend and I both ordered a vegetarian ravioli that left you wanting more. For dessert, the tiramisu was my obvious choice. It had a bit too much chocolate powder for my taste, but it was still very light, creamy, and flavorful.
I'd definitely recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a small, neighborhoody place for great Italian food.
While the first taste of the bread basket gave us a second thought about this place being really good... the food surpassed our expectations. They really do need a good bread baker as it was cold and a bit dry - with tasteless olive oil. The ravioli entree was EXCELLENT. Supurb handmade pasta and sauce with yummy cheese and parsley. The pizza crust was very good as well. Basic salad dressing was good too! Dessert was the highlight though. Tiramisu was excellent - with extra cream! Not dry, perfectly marinated in alcohol. I would recommend this place to anyone! (just don't fill up on that bread!)
I hadn't heard anything overwhelmingly great about Arucola before going there. The typical complaints were: cramped quarters, rude service, and average food. The one positive thing I heard was that the desserts were excellent. However, my experience was anything but negative. The outdoor seating, although a little tight, was anything but uncomfortable, and offered an excellent vantage point for people watching. The host was young, eager and enthusiastic, and our server was by far one of the most gracious servers I've had in DC. He was polite, helpful and friendly, arriving when we needed him and disappearing when we didn't. My date had a bottle of Peroni beer to start. We didn't think we were all that hungry until we found ourselves at the bottom of the bread basket, previously filled with warm, yeasty bread and accompanied by extra virgin olive oil. Our appetizer of grilled octopus was a surprise. Instead of a petite little octopus like what is served at most Italian restaurants, we were presented with at least a half-pound octopus on a bed of shredded arugola. Lightly seasonsed with lemon, salt & pepper, the slightly charred and tender octopus against the bitter arugola was delicious. Looking at other diners' plates, I was instantly depressed that I had not ordered anything with polenta. I was likewise envious of a plate of soft shelled crabs that went by. My dish, however, turned out to be well chosen. Handmade fettucine was paper thin and delicate with a very light cream sauce, and topped with fava beans, proscuitto and feta cheese. My date's pizza topped with ham, proscuitto, tomatoes, red peppers, artichokes and black olives was, reportedly, so-so. It was pizza. The desserts we had to seek out -- turns out the dessert cart is too big to make it to most of the tables, so we had to walk through the restaurant to check it out. Out of several typical traditional offerings such as tiramisu and fresh berries, we decided on a coconut, chocolate and pistachio tart and a lemon cheesecake, both served with zaglione sauce (a creamy egg, sugar and marsala wine sauce). Both were good. Neither was great. I would have preferred a dessert from across the street at the Marvelous Market.
All in all, Arucola was much better than I had expected. I would go back for the food, the friendly service and the outdoor seating, but skip the dessert.
The service was very good if a bit harried (they were super-packed). One in my party got a shard of glass on her glass of wine. It was whisked off and a fresh glass was given, although we had to ask that her glass of wine which had been in the glass be comped.
This is one of kind neighborhood restaurant. Good pizza, italian dishes without emptying your pocket. Fresh cheese, sauce and other ingredients.
Good desserts at good price.Try it. you won't regret.
An odd combination of rustic Tuscany and a bar with the TV on in one restaurant; not a very wide selection of vegetarian options, which is odd for an Italian restaurant; and nothing that made it really exceptional. The gnocci with gorgonzola sauce was delicious, but too monotonously cheesy. Service was not very attentive (the water refill came after we were done eating), but the waiters seemed authentically Italian. If I lived in the neighborhood, I might stop by now and then, as it has a homey feel, but it's not worth a special trip. The dessert tray is impressive, though.
This dining experience was truly a pleasure. Our waiter was personable yet professional, and, being from Italy (although speaking perfect English), definitely added to the authentic feel of the small, quaint, yet well kept restaurant. The open kitchen was another part of the inviting ambiance, and the tasteful christmas lights and candles created an romantic flare that was subtle and not overdone.
The menu was varied, and in the style of classy Italian restaurants, offered a variety of options aside from the usual pizza and pasta, without forgetting these classics.
The food itself was exceptional, with noticeably fresh ingredients and loyalty to the way food is prepared in Italy.
The prices were on par with other upper middle class Italian restaurants, and even though our total was for two seafood dishes but no appetizers, desserts, or beverages other than water, it was definitely worth it.
Arucola takes the neighborhood restaurant to a new level. The menu is a family and crowd pleaser- pasta, pizza, fish, etc.- but the details are where this osteria excels. Pasta is made fresh on the premises and prepared in the simple and authentic Italian style. An example would be beef ravioli in a red wine reduction sauce, or cheese ravioli in butter and sage. Seasonal ingredients are favored. The pizzas likewise are special, cooked in a wood oven. I think this is one of the most underrated restaurants in Washington. On my most recent visit I dined alone at the bar. For my entree, I had fresh papardelle with porcini mushrooms and a glass of gavi. Desserts are all homemade and worth saving room for. All told, the entree, dessert and wine plus tax and tip totalled less than $30. The owner is very hands on (usually a good indicator of quality), serving as hostess and watching the place like a friendly hawk. The wait staff is diligent and mostly Italian, adding a nice touch to the experience.
