San Matteo | Authentic Italian Dining & Warm Hospitality in Washington, DC

I stopped by this restaurant with two coworkers after a long, exhausting day, and it became the highlight of our week... The restaurant was completely packed, and we arrived without a reservation... we were honestly prepared to leave. But the manager greeted us warmly, assured us he would take care of us, and within minutes he found us a great table. Even with the place buzzing and every seat taken, he remained incredibly attentive the entire night, checking on us often and making sure everything was perfect. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the kind of place where you instantly feel comfortable. The entire team was extremely friendly, always smiling and making us feel welcome. I ordered the lasagna, and I can’t recommend it enough. It was unbelievably delicious, perfectly layered, comforting, rich, and easily the best lasagna I’ve had in years. If you visit, you must try it. My coworkers loved their dishes as well. Despite the full house, the service was impressive, and the manager’s kindness made the experience even more special. If you’re looking for delicious Italian food, amazing service, and a cozy place to unwind, this spot is a must. We left happy, impressed, and already planning our next visit. Five stars without hesitation!

While visiting the city, I decided to explore some local restaurants and stumbled upon this gem. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed — the atmosphere was cozy and inviting, and the staff greeted me like an old friend. As someone who loves Italian food, I was thrilled by the menu. Every dish I tried was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The drinks were fantastic too, and the manager kindly offered recommendations that made the experience even better. It felt like finding a little slice of Italy away from home. I left extremely happy and can’t wait to return on my next trip. Highly recommended for any traveler who enjoys authentic Italian cuisine!!!

Only came here late for wine , cappuccino & dessert — but given that I searched the reviews for recommendations and wasn’t finding anything, wanted to leave a review: I had a chocolate tooth - and the chocolate lava cake was hands down the best I’ve ever had - I’ve had far too many in my life that were let downs, but nope, I am SO glad I got it. The cake itself melted in my mouth and was overflowing with a delicious ganache filling - and was the perfect level of sweetness. It was on the smaller side and came with a small scoop of gelato. Our group also got the crostata di mele — definitely a unique variation of this based on my expectation from google images. It is fried and a is croissant like pastry with a fresh apple filling interspersed within it — you can see the crispy croissant texture in my pictures — and it had a fried oily flavor to it that I was not expecting, and quite honestly took away from the flavor from the apples some. My partner really enjoyed it, though. I just wasn’t expecting the heavy fried flavor — not for me, so wanted to make others aware. My espresso drink (cappuccino) was great and they were able to make it with skim milk. Our wait staff didn’t realize we weren’t eating a late dinner at first and had brought out bread btw, as well as a mixture of olive oil, vinegar and spices. I ended up eating it anyway and it was delicious. Bread was warm and so soft and fresh. Service was great - waitress was friendly and attentive. The back patio / greenhouse like room is very big, echoey and loud, just FYI. If you’re looking for a more quiet, intimate or romantic place for a date, for example, would be more apt to recommend the main/front dining room or the bar in that main/front dining room. I def look forward to coming back here for dinner soon!!

Coming to San Matteo truly brought back childhood memories, when I loved my grandmother's specialty: cooking pasta for the family. It's such a warm and beautiful place—if you haven't tried it, you don't know what you're missing! The Purple Mamba and Madonna cocktails are my top recommendations; they're bursting with flavor! For appetizers, we ordered Fritto Misto and meatballs with polenta, and for pasta, we enjoyed the pesto pasta and the wild boar pasta. Our waiter, Jhordan, guided us perfectly, making our experience truly unique! He lived up to his promise: "I'll make sure you experience San Matteo!" And you know what? It exceeded our expectations! We loved everything! We'll definitely try to be regular visitors. San Matteo Restaurant is my new favorite place in Washington, D.C.

A friend suggested I try this restaurant, so I decided to visit on a Saturday night. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere felt lively yet cozy, perfect for an evening out. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel comfortable immediately. I am allergic to gluten, and I was pleasantly surprised by how accommodating the restaurant was. They carefully explained the menu options and suggested dishes that were completely safe for me to enjoy. Every dish I tried was full of flavor, fresh, and beautifully presented. The drinks menu was also impressive, and the manager personally stopped by to offer excellent recommendations. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared and genuinely delicious. I had such a wonderful experience that I’m already planning my next visit. If you’re looking for authentic Italian food with excellent service — even if you have dietary restrictions like gluten allergies — this place is a must!

As someone who truly loves Italian food, I stumbled upon this restaurant while exploring the neighborhood and decided to stop in. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt welcomed. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, answering all my questions about the menu and offering excellent recommendations. The food was fantastic — every dish I tried was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully prepared. The drinks were equally impressive, with a great selection that complemented the meals perfectly. The manager also stopped by to check on me and made the experience even more personal and enjoyable. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience. I can’t wait to come back and try more of their menu. Highly recommended for anyone who loves authentic Italian cuisine!

Three of us dropped in late on a Monday, not many patrons. 10/10. Very solid wine recommendations and the food was stellar. Octopus was perfect. Meatballs/polenta were delicious. The main plates,new york, butternut carbonara, etc. were each really tasty. Our waitress doubled as the bartender (caro I think was her name), which led to some nice limoncello. One of the best italian spots in the city and no one knows about it!