LA GROTTA DC — Restaurant in Washington

During the 2025 AGT Conference in Washington D.C., my coworker and I stumbled upon this charming little restaurant, a true hidden gem just a short stroll from the Washington Hilton Hotel. The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted with a warm welcome.

For my appetizer, I chose the crispy mozzarella sticks, which arrived golden brown and perfectly melted on the inside. Their gooey texture paired wonderfully with a rich marinara sauce for dipping. As a main course, I opted for an Italian hoagie, thoughtfully prepared without meat, showcasing layers of fresh vegetables and a generous amount of flavorful provolone cheese. I also had a hearty bowl of lentil soup, which was both comforting and packed with spices that warmed me from the inside out.

To our delight, the food exceeded our expectations, with each dish featuring generous portions that left us quite satisfied. The cozy atmosphere was enhanced by the delightful music, which added to the overall experience without overwhelming conversation.

The customer service throughout our visit was exemplary—from the friendly welcome at the door to the attentive staff who made sure our needs were met. We were made to feel valued and appreciated, which truly enhanced our dining experience.

We are already looking forward to returning to this delightful restaurant next year, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable meal in the heart of D.C. Don't let appearances deter you from a wonderful dining...

Located in Adams Morgan is a small Italian restaurant that serves halal chicken and beef. I went with my wife at 9:30 pm on a Friday night, and there was only one other couple there. To start, we ordered the meatballs. The sauce and meatballs themselves were both home recipes. The meatballs were good, nothing astounding/mind-blowing. For entrées, we had the shrimp diavolo and chicken parmigiana. The shrimp dish was nice and had a little kick to it. We like to eat spicy, so we added some complementary crushed red peppers. As we finished more of the dish, we noticed quite a bit of oil (probably chili oil finisher) had drained to the bottom. I get the flavor and spice that was added, but seeing a little puddle at the bottom was a little off-putting. The chicken parmigiana was great. The chicken has a nice crispy coat, and the cheese and sauce complemented it wonderfully. I have no complaints about this dish. The place had just opened a month before, so there was no background music or any sort of ambiance. The owner mentioned that they were working on a speaker system. He also said that they were getting tablecloths, so that'll help. The chicken and beef were halal, but they do serve alcohol, which doesn't surprise me when I consider the street it's on. Overall, this is not a place I'll go out of my way to visit, but if I'm ever in the area, I'll definitely...

My new go to Pizza spot, as a multi-year Admo Resident, who has been on the hunt for a go-to spot for 3-4 years.

I have only had the Pizza here, but they knocked it out of the park! Not to be that guy, but Im from the tri-state area and have found it really hard to find quality pizza in DC (just my opinion).

This is one of the best slices in town. the owner came out and talked to us during our meal. Clearly doing things the right way (also a NY guy). Really excited to try the rest of their food, cause good causal Italian food is tough to find down here. I had the eggplant Rollatini Pizza, which is something i've only seen on menus in NY/NJ, and it was great, so you know they are the real deal.

Only problem is 18th street is so croweded you might not even know about this place. Also their menu is too big, trying to do too much, but i promise the pizza stands up.

Food is very reasonabley priced, drinks as well. Definitely, give this place a try if you've read this far. Hidden Gem for sure, but gotta get...