"Eating at Filomena is one of the most old-school Italian dining experiences you can have in the city. The dining room is dark, loud, and complete with an area where you can watch Pasta Mamma (that’s her nickname) stuffing huge ravioli in the window—which you should definitely order. The waiters in tuxedos and the knit placemats help create a mix of upscale and homey, making it great for birthdays, date nights, or simple family dinners." - joe brantlinger, tristiana hinton, omnia saed, madeline weinfield, allison robicelli
"This decades-old underground gem is known for its homemade pastas, hearty entrees, and over-the-top decor for each holiday. Other prime Italian picks nearby include Neapolitan pies at Il Canale and ricotta gnocchi at Flavio." - Tierney Plumb
"Filomena Ristorante has been serving DC pasta for 40 years, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a spot that does a better job. Which is probably why the Georgetown basement eatery is packed day and night, as folks turn everything from a simple weeknight dinner to a milestone birthday into an experience as big as Filomena’s chicken parmesan. The waiters are fresh to death in their tuxedos, while you try—and fail—to avoid dripping red sauce onto the white knit placemat under your ravioli. That mix of fancy and homey is what continues to make Filomena a spot where everyone comes to celebrate big moments, share fun nights with friends, or test their new elastic waist pants trying to down an entire plate of Pasta Mamma-made ravioli in one sitting." - omnia saed, allison robicelli, mekita rivas
"Filomena's Ristorante is a loud basement Italian spot in Georgetown that has been hosting family dinners (among other things) for 40 years. It’s the definition of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” thanks to delicious classics like the salsicce di casa, a juicy homemade sweet Italian sausage, and the ravioli alla matrimonia served alongside giant meatballs. Not only is the food some of the best Italian in DC, but it’s a mix of tuxedoed waiters and white knit placemats, making it fancy enough to tell your parents you got a huge promotion and casual enough to tell them you’re moving back home (or both, we're not judging)." - omnia saed
"This Georgetown restaurant has been serving DC pasta for over 40 years, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a spot that does a better job. The underground dining room is packed day and night, as folks turn everything from simple weeknight dinners to birthdays into an experience as big as Filomena’s chicken parm. There’s a homey feel to the place, filled with antique knickknacks that look like they’ve been acquired throughout the last century. And that coziness, combined with the giant plates, is what keeps huge groups coming back night in and night out." - omnia saed, tristiana hinton