North Italia — Restaurant in Reston

I had a standard experience that immediately went sour Towards the end of my time Here.

I had a great time with friends, enjoying my drinks, which were strong and the food, which tasted fine. Nothing to brag about, nothing to Rave about. Would I come back here?. Probably not, but it was just an easy place to meet up with friends.

I likely wouldn't have even left a review for this place had it not been for the behavior I observed by the kitchen staff.

I had a front row seat to some of the most ridiculous Antics I've seen From Kitchen staff. I'm going to be descriptive. And it's only because I don't know how to properly identify people, but I want to be clear about who I was referring to in hopes that this person is at a minimum fired and at a maximum The rest of the kitchen staff is put on notoce that theyre literally being watched.

So, the man in question was a tall and slender, Southeast Asian, or possibly Guyanese, Caribbean man. He was on the taller and slender side and wore a black button ip witha pront of some sort.

I tried to identify him with the name tag or anything like that, but it was hard to identify the kitchen staff as none of them had name tags.

The first thing that gave me pause was it seemed like there was plated food that was going to go out to customers sitting and ready to go. I watched him pick Some lettuce off of a plate and plop them into his mouth and lick his fingers. I watched as some of the Kitchen staff that was behind the stove, looked at him with disgust. One man visibly shook his head and the tall slender Man's response was to shrug and laugh.

I was a little bit confused at first, because I thought maybe this was a kitchen meal or a house meal that he intended to eat, but I wanted to wait and see where the meal would go. Sure enough, the meal went out onto the floor and was served to a table that I was out of my view Immediately. I wanted to throw up the food that I had eaten.

Not, but five minutes later, I watched as another man brought out a tub full of what I think were hamburger buns. At which point the same man opened it up took out a bun split it in half, gave it a sniff in his nose Shrugged, as though to say it smells fine to me, and then put it back into The bin.

Again, this man took with his raw hands that he had already put in his mouth from eating five minutes earlier And put A bun that he had put up to his face and sniffed back into the bin. The reaction from his colleague was one of disgust.

I couldn't really make out what was being said, but it was clear that the man was, like, "bro. You can't do that. You got to get that out of there."

the damage was done. The man reached into a container with his raw hands that again five minutes earlier. I watched him place into his mouth and pull out the same bun he just sniffed.

Shortly after that A white woman who looked like she was more on the managerial end came over to him and said something, at which point I averted my attention and regained focus on the conversation I had at hand. I don't know what was said, and I don't know What was done, but I didn't get the impression that she realized what he had done because shortly after that he was back in the kitchen Pretending to look busy Laughing and joking while everyone around him worked hard to actually prepare meals.

Now, you may wonder, why didn't you say anything? Well, at that point, the damage was done. I was about to get the check from my meal And didn't really have a need to say anything. I didn't want Cause a scene, and I was with A large group of friends, so I didn't want to Ruin the Night's Vibe, But I have never rushed to write a...

🤝 Service – Professional, Warm, and Attentive North Italia’s service remains one of its strongest points. From greeting to goodbye, the team makes you feel welcome without overstepping. Staff members are knowledgeable about the menu, confident in making recommendations, and attentive without hovering. Drinks arrive promptly, and the pacing between courses is well-managed, allowing you to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed.

✨ Ambience – A Blend of Modern Chic and Relaxed Comfort The atmosphere is inviting, with a design that feels polished yet comfortable. Lighting is well-balanced — enough to create an intimate mood while still allowing you to see your plate. The space has an energy that works equally well for a lively night out with friends or a quieter dinner for two. Tables are spaced well enough to maintain some privacy, and the music complements the overall vibe without competing with conversation.

🍷 Drinks – Crafted With Care The bar program is still a highlight. Cocktails are creative but not gimmicky, with thoughtful combinations and balanced flavors. The wine list offers a range that works for both casual sipping and pairing with food. The beer list, while smaller, includes quality choices that pair well with the menu. It’s the kind of place where you could come just for a drink at the bar and feel like you had a complete experience.

🍕 Food – Visually Appealing, But Lacking Freshness and Bold Flavor I’ve been going to North Italia for years, and while the presentation still impresses — with beautifully plated dishes that look like they belong in a food magazine — the flavors no longer match the visuals. The pizza remains the star, with a crisp crust, good chew, and quality toppings. However, much of the rest of the menu feels “safe” and lacks that fresh, vibrant, and bold taste you hope for in Italian cooking. Several dishes gave the impression of being prepared in advance and reheated, rather than freshly made to order. The pasta and entrées, while serviceable, miss the depth, seasoning, and just-cooked vibrancy that once made them special.

⚖️ Expectations vs. Reality In the past, North Italia delivered a balance of style and substance, but lately, the food quality seems to have slipped. The ambience, drinks, and service still shine, yet the flavors feel more muted and the freshness less evident.

⭐ Overall – Great Atmosphere and Drinks, But Food Quality Has Declined If you’re coming for attentive service, a stylish setting, and a well-made cocktail or pizza, you’ll enjoy your visit. But if you’re expecting the same level of freshness and bold Italian flavors from years past, you might leave wishing the kitchen’s execution matched the beauty of...

I walked into this restaurant to have a nice meal by myself, but it honestly felt like I was bothering the staff with my presence. After walking in and standing by the door awkwardly, I was eventually able to make eye contact with the hostess, who just sort of stared at me… no greeting or anything. It was super weird. Eventually I said, “Hi, I’d like to dine in please,” and she sat me at a table right behind the host stand/computer setup where the staff would print the checks. I sat there for about five minutes waiting for a member of the waitstaff to come to my table. Finally someone did, but again, it felt like I was bothering him by being there. He handed me a menu without really saying anything to me (no greeting or pleasantries), I quickly told him my order and then he walked away. Not sure if he even said more than five words to me in the whole exchange. A few seconds later he came back, placed a cup of water and set of silverware on the table and walked away, again without really saying anything! I don’t know how to describe it other than to say it was weird. I’ve never had this experience before. It was the same thing when he brought my food — he just set down the food and walked away without saying a word. The food was fine, but definitely not worth the discomfort I felt as a patron. Since I was seated right behind the host stand/computers I was subjected to all of the side conversations between the staff, which involved cussing and a lot of yelling to each other, which felt pretty unprofessional and just was not a great customer experience.

**Adding a note to say I’m pretty sure my server was actually the bartender, so maybe that explains why he was preoccupied? He eventually did come back at one point and asked how my food was, but that was the extent of our interactions. I even had to flag down a different server later to bring my check because my guy...