Corso Italian — Restaurant in Bailey's Crossroads

My recent visit to Corso Italian Restaurant in Shirlington, VA, was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment my group arrived, we were warmly welcomed by JR, who set the tone for the experience with an exquisite wine tasting and cheese pairing. The Robiola Bosina cheese was my personal favorite—its creamy texture and rich flavor were divine—though the truffle cheddar was also a standout. The Avoglia Fiano white wine was light, crisp, and perfect for a spring or summer evening, while the Avoglia Primitivo red wine was smooth and paired beautifully with our Oxtail Ravioli entrée.

Before being seated, we were treated to a selection of spritzers, including the Shagliato, Hugo, Aperol, and Lambrusco Spritz. While each was visually stunning, my personal favorite was the Hugo Spritz, thanks to its delightful Elderflower liqueur touch.

For starters, we enjoyed a generous spread: Gamberi Fritti, Seared Tuna Crudo, Whipped Ricotta, Little Gem Caesar, and Burrata Caprese. As a self-proclaimed “cheesaholic,” I gravitated toward the Burrata Caprese, which featured fresh, juicy tomatoes and a light balsamic dressing—a simple yet flavorful dish that I absolutely loved.

Our entrée selection was equally impressive, with dishes like Oxtail Ravioli, Lobster Ravioli, Orecchiette with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe, and Pan-Seared Scallops with Mushroom Risotto. The unanimous favorite? The Pan-Seared Scallops with Mushroom Risotto—perfectly cooked scallops over a rich, creamy risotto that left everyone at the table raving.

Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, we indulged in an array of desserts: Mascarpone Cheesecake, Hazelnut Chocolate Cheesecake, Fig Leaf Panna Cotta, and the Circus Maximus Sundae. Somehow, we found room to savor every bite, and the Circus Maximus Sundae stole the show! We wrapped up our lunch with Espresso, Frangelico, and Espresso Martinis, the perfect way to end an incredible meal.

Corso Italian Restaurant offers a gastronomic experience that is both refined and welcoming, making it an ideal spot to enjoy delicious food and drinks while catching up with friends. Its prime location in the heart of Shirlington makes it a must-visit. I will definitely be...

Corso Italian Restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat brunch on Sundays for $29, which is a very reasonable price for the DMV area—perfect for those who enjoy variety and unlimited dining. Overall, I’d rate the food a 3 out of 5.

Focaccia Rosemary Bread – Amazing! Highly recommend starting with just one serving since leftovers cannot be taken home.

Salads (Caesar & Italian) – Both were overdressed. I would recommend using less dressing initially and offering extra on the side so guests can adjust to their preference.

Berry Bowl with Mascarpone – Delicious, but it felt more like a dessert than a fruit bowl since it was mascarpone-heavy with just a touch of berries. I’d suggest moving this item to the dessert section.

Pancakes – Excellent! Fluffy, flavorful, and one of my top picks—I would easily order this as a main entrée.

Eggs Benedict with Pork Belly – I don’t eat meat, so I couldn’t fully enjoy the dish, but after adding salt, black pepper, and pepper flakes, it was well-balanced and tasty.

American Breakfast with Bacon – A solid choice and cooked well.

Italian Sandwich with Fries – The sandwich was good, though it would be better with a thinner bread or more meat. The fries that came with it were outstanding—a 10/10 recommendation. (Note: Fries ordered separately are good, but not quite the same as the ones paired with the sandwich.)

Spaghetti al Pesto – Tasted freshly made and flavorful.

Cannoli – A good, classic finish to the meal.

Drink (Strawberry Rossini) – Personally, not a fan.

Overall: The brunch offers great value, especially for the price. Some dishes shine (pancakes, focaccia, fries, pesto pasta), while others could be improved with adjustments (salads, sandwich, fruit/mascarpone bowl). Service was good our server wqs attentive and the Decor was...

Update: I visited again with my dad and uncle and I noticed mold growing around the rims of the water bottle caps. Service to get water/ take orders took 15+ minutes after being seated. The place has great pasta though. Atmosphere is okay but dear lord service has significantly gone down.

I made a reservation for Valentine’s Day. Then they cancelled it without any notification and the manager showed no remorse. Reservation made on feb 5 at 4:14pm. Awful customer service. Extreme Unprofessionalism. No compensation given.

Response edit: Jill- I understand Valentine’s Day would be busy, hence why I called your restaurant and made a reservation almost 2 weeks in advance. Your manager confirmed that there was no host on duty at the time of my call and therefore somebody else (a bartender or waitress) must have taken our reservation. It seems your staff is not trained well enough to take down reservations because your manager also confirmed you guys just cancelled all reservations without a CC hold. I was not able to know this of course because I was not notified, nor was my CC info taken at the time of the call. If you had a list why didn’t you make the effort to call everybody who made a reservation whether or not they had a CC on file? It seems like poor management. Taking accountability, Jill, would have been much appreciated and perhaps I could have changed my review.

Picture this: you and your date are all glammed out ready to have a lovely and fantastically romantic dinner at the spot where you had your first date two years ago. Only to be turned away due to a mistake made by your restaurant. Maybe show some remorse? Maybe show...