Tortino Restaurant — Restaurant in Washington

I brought a group of friends to the restaurant and we had a great time, the food was amazing but when it came to paying the bill we were charged +22$ for a 6 group of people when we were served 5 ( our friend from abroad joined us for a talk for 30min but did not order anything and the tables were set up for 5), we were charged 20% tip for the waitress without being asked how much we would like to tip which seemed extremely sketchy. When speaking to a manager we were treated like kids and got told that “waitress don’t get a pay”, him included and about American tiping culture and percentages, he offered to take out 22$ but we must leave 20% for the waitress, we were shocked and asked to discuss it between the table but he didn’t give us a choice. We were treated like some criminals and were not let out of sight, it was never our intention to not tip or tip less but the whole situation made us feel like it was pur intention to leave without paying or tiping which was not the case at all, it was extremely just rude. As we wanted to leave the manager came to the table and didn’t let us leave before counting the cash and tips, I work myself as a server and If I did this I would get fired in an hour, we don’t go after people who leave less tips or no tips and we were treated extremely badly when we would’ve left 18% tips anyway. I believe they wanted overcharge and make the bill as big as possible, the manager never appoligized for charging 22$ for 6 people when we were 5 people and kept insisting we pay 20% tips when it’s our choice how much we tip, we were told it’s not possible to put less than 20% in a computer and stuff like that which I know is a lie. Completely waste of time, especially when we wanted to treat ourselves and paid a lot for a great cuisine but left feeling like some criminals or runaways. I traveled all across Europe and US and been to many Italian restaurants and was never treated this way. Extremely dissapointed and feeling ashamed for bringing my...

From the moment I walked in, I was enveloped in the enticing aroma of fresh herbs and spices emanating from the kitchen. It felt as though I were an honored guest at Nonna's for a traditional Sunday dinner. We were warmly greeted with smiles and promptly seated in the cozy dining area tucked away in the lower level of a neighborhood row house. The intimate and inviting ambiance set the perfect tone for a romantic evening or a first date.

Shortly after being seated, our friendly server approached us and introduced himself, though his name escapes me now. We placed our drink orders and perused the menu while indulging in a basket of freshly baked bread accompanied by a fragrant olive oil for dipping. As our drinks arrived, the server enthusiastically informed us of the night's specials, providing us with insightful recommendations.

For starters, I opted for the grilled calamari, served with a unique chickpea mash and a delightful sauce that boasted a mild, spicy, sweet, and tangy flavor resembling a scotch bonnet pepper puree. The blend of flavors was intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable. Following this appetizing dish, my crab ravioli was presented, and I was overjoyed by its exceptional taste and quality. I am already looking forward to returning for another serving.

Meanwhile, my dining companion savored a delectable steak accompanied by perfectly cooked potatoes and sautéed spinach. I couldn't resist sampling their dish and found each component to be equally delicious and satisfying. The attention to detail in every aspect of the dining experience truly impressed me and earned an A+ in my book. It was my first visit, but it certainly...

Tortino staff racially profiled my friend and I after we came in for a reservation. We decided to eat somewhere else after we noticed how tight the space was, however, we used their bathroom and told the hostess we would possibly come back. We ended up dining at Alta Strada, and during our dinner I received a phone call from one of the employees and he began yelling at us over the phone and accusing us of stealing $200 worth of food, and he “had us on camera”. I was extremely confused and I could not hear him well, so I hung up and called back 3 minutes later for clarity. The same man answered the phone and gave the phone to the hostess, he said we dined in and walked out after being served and needed to come back to the restaurant and police were there for us. I immediately realized they confused my friend and I with other black guests, and told the hostess that we came in to use the restroom and they seen two black women walking in and assumed we were the robbers that stole $200 worth of food. The hostess immediately recognized who we were and started apologizing and saying the other employee confused us with other black women and I was beyond upset. The staff needs to have an intense reevaluation and I do not recommend this restaurant for people of color at all. They completely ruined my outing. Thank God we talked to the hostess when we arrived to Tortino or else the entire staff would have been set on the idea that we were the two black women that walked out with $200 worth of food. I will be making sure that employee has...