Ciao Osteria — Restaurant in Virginia

My recent sojourn to Ciao Osteria warrants an all-encompassing analysis, further enriched by the inclusion of the culinary revelation that was the restaurant's fresh baked bread. Evidently, this establishment imparts an experience that encompasses both the sublime and the mundane.

Commencing with the appetitive overture, we elected to partake in the octopus starter. Regrettably, this initial foray proved to be somewhat of an incongruous misstep, characterized by an undue modesty in portion size and an unforeseen undercurrent of pronounced sourness that disrupted the harmonious balance.

However, the subsequent culinary opus, the lasagna, left an indelible impression that reverberates with profound admiration. The artistry that underpins this dish is nothing short of extraordinary, the symphony of flavors and the intricate interplay of textures rendering it a transcendent experience. Unquestionably, it stands as the pinnacle of its genre, an exemplar that establishes an elevated paradigm for lasagna that is destined to endure.

The gastronomic voyage continued with the Misto, an ensemble that undeniably justifies its nomenclature. The meticulous fusion of diverse components orchestrated an ensemble of flavors that resided in resonant equilibrium. The manicotti, while commendable, assumed a more subdued position when juxtaposed against its illustrious counterparts.

The restaurant's ambiance was decidedly appealing, exuding an aura of intimacy and conviviality. This spatial orchestration, complemented by discreet aesthetic elements, coalesced to cultivate an atmosphere amenable to both intimate gatherings and sociable convocations. Regrettably, the service, though efficient, remained ensconced within the realm of the unremarkable. The staff's competence was unassailable, yet their demeanor seldom transcended the boundary of functional formality.

An enigmatic anomaly surfaced during our endeavor to secure leftovers for subsequent indulgence. Our server, in a departure from the conventional, delegated the task of packaging remnants to our own volition. This curious aberration stood in stark contrast to the observed practices of other servers, who executed this task on behalf of the clientele. This dissonance, while minor, cast a faint shadow over an otherwise agreeable experience.

Concluding with a financial reckoning, the aggregate expenditure amounted to $130, encompassing the repast for a triumvirate and the indulgence of a solitary beer. While ostensibly a substantial sum, the outlay harmoniously aligns with the caliber of the epicurean voyage undertaken. This fiscal evaluation reflects a symbiotic parity with the exceptional quality of the gastronomic encounters.

In summative exposition, Ciao Osteria encapsulates a gastronomic odyssey punctuated by moments of brilliance and understated refinement. The initial disillusionment stemming from the octopus starter is overshadowed by the culinary zenith that is the lasagna. The Misto emerges as a harmonious symphony, while the manicotti occupies a more unassuming role. The ambiance fosters an inviting milieu, and service, while competent, remains within the confines of conventionality. The enigmatic deviation in the handling of leftovers injects a minor quirk into the overall experience. Financially, the cost is considerable, yet indisputably proportionate to the epicurean splendors encountered. Incontestably, Ciao Osteria beckons as a domain deserving of recurrent exploration. Notably, the excellence of the fresh baked bread further enriches the journey, serving as a fitting emblem of the establishment's culinary...

Nice restaurant with back rooms. Very crowded when we went and also when I called to make reservations on Thursday! (You have to call directly if you want the earlier times than those listed on Open Table.) Hostesses were really great. I had the limone chicken, and it was yummy, but it was $27 for a chicken piccata with a side of spaghetti. Nothing else comes with it. To order a basic dinner salad, its an extra $8. If you want a side of other veggies, that's also $8. We wanted bottled sparkling water, but it's not available. This is the first Italian restaurant I've been to that didn't offer that. Friend wanted herbal tea. They didn't have that, either. I wanted to start out with a bowl of minestrone, they didn't have that. "We don't do soups," said the waiter. Just three pretty normal things to get at an Italian restaurant, I thought. We don't drink, so didn't see the wine list, but I didn't see much offered for non-drinkers. We were not offered bread, so didn't know there was bread available either (for $1 apparently.) Maybe I missed it on the menu but still feel that's a normal enough thing at an Italian restaurant for the waiter or waitress to offer. Our waiter wasn't all that friendly, seemed annoyed that we existed, spit out "you can have soda water" with derision, but he got the job done. Food was delivered as salad bowls were still sitting on the table, so we had to clear stuff to make space for the entrees, guy asked us to hand everything to him. No salt, pepper or cheese offered for salads. Gelato ("ask about flavors!" said the menu -- spoiler: chocolate and vanilla.) The restaurant is passing their credit card fees off to you by charging a 3.5% fee if you use a credit card to pay. Businesses are not allowed by law to profit from surcharging -- I usually see fees like this (and avoid those places) capped at about 3%, but whatever. I paid with a debit card which I keep just for these situations. Of course, I have to give up any rewards or protections from my credit card to do this. We're pretty tired of restaurant fees and being nickeled and dimed to death so have mostly just stopped going out. We had to go to this one. By the way, Google lists this restaurant at $$ but it is most certainly $$$ as most entrees start at $25+ and that price doesn't include the a la carte factor of their business model. It was an OK restaurant, I don't think worth the 5-star reviews (but hey, perhaps some people aren't bothered by not getting minestrone or sparkling water or bread or paying cc fees) but won't be going back, because those are all things we like, and this place...

I was really wanting to love this place. This place was highly recommended by a buddy and we were greatly looking forward to coming here.

The drive was going to be more than an hour but the place came with high recommendation and I wanted to treat my wife!

The food was phenomenal!! I had grilled Calamari and Il Misto. LOVED IT!! My wife had Gluten Free Bruschetta and Caesar's Salad.

They were out of Gluten Free Noodles. That's the first problem we had. I called ahead before I made reservations to ask about Gluten Free noodles. The person that took the call was friendly and told me that they could convert, except for a few select pasta dishes, into Gluten Free. I was really excited to take my wife to a place where she would have good selection. A little bit bummed that they were out of GF noodles.

The main issue was our waiter. She did not introduce herself for starters, and wasn't very helpful. I took the time to reflect on how to put down an honest review rather than just firing one off the cuff. Essentially, she did what she was supposed to, she checked in on us after the appetizers were served and when the entrees were delivered, and she also apologized for not having GF noodles. However, she wasn't very attentive, and walked away while I was trying to place my order. This stood out the most because the rest of the wait staff was super attentive to their tables, they introduced themselves, asked good questions to help their table, followed up with suggestions on their table like "would you like cheese on that, " apologized for what sounded like a minor mistake and definitely gave the impression that people were welcome there.

In contrast, I had to get my waitress attention after walking by us several times. I was already perturbed because she had walked away while I was trying to talk to her. Finally, she took the check while I was still sitting on the table. They weren't busy but it made us feel less welcome.

Honestly, if the waitress had been in Olive Garden or Outback she would have done a good job. However, I was expecting better service from a restaurant that's top 100 in the US and Top 5 in the VA and DC area.

So amazing food, not as much of GF food as stated, and while the general wait staff seemed great, we got one that wasn't, which definitely affected...