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DeCarlo's Restaurant, Washington, DC

DeCarlo's Restaurant

4.7
4.7
635 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian
4000 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Lucy DeCarlo created DeCarlo’s Restaurant 40 years ago bringing the warmth and love of the Italian tradition to her restaurant. DeCarlo’s aims to be your home away from home and is a wonderful retreat from the demands of the city!

DeCarlo’s Italian Restaurant is the ultimate expression of a charming neighborhood restaurant! It is considered a local secret, where you can almost always hear Sinatra or Bocelli playing in the background. DeCarlo’s represents a dining experience where you can relax, talk, and enjoy a wonderful meal. The ambiance is a timeless feel of elegance – yet casual. DeCarlo’s is devoted to providing you personal attention with the highest standards of quality.

Join us in the main dinning room, Terrace Room, or alfresco on our patio. DeCarlo’s is the perfect setting to join friends and family. The menu features a diverse selection of Italian favorites and daily specials. DeCarlo’s feeds the body and soul!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Melvin Orellana
  • Catering
    We offer a variety of menus for on-property and off-property catering events! Please contact Susan DeCarlo at decarlosrestaurant@outlook.com.
  • Private party facilities
    DeCarlo’s Restaurant would be honored to host your next event! We offer private and semi-private spaces for up to 50 guests. Working with our team, you’ll be able to help create a memorable experience for family, friends and/or coworkers to enjoy. Buon cibo, buon vino & buoni amici!
  • Neighborhood
    Tenleytown
  • Cross street
    In The Westchester Building. Third Entrance on Right. Flag Pole in front.
  • Parking details
    Off-Street Parking <br />Complimentary Garage Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

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What 635 people are saying

DeCarlo's Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
DeCarlo's Restaurant offers "old world charm" and well-spaced tables for "easy conversation." Frequent visitors praise it as their "go to place" with a "quiet atmosphere" and "excellent food and service." While the "new menu is great," some find the main courses lacking in portion size and flavor.

635 Reviews
  1. Byron VIP

    Washington DC18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The new menu is really great. I am slowly ordering each dish and it doesn't disappoint. We have a standing reservation there every Tuesday evening.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Judith

    Washington DC11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Gracious dining room, friendly wait staff, good food, and reasonable prices. Definitely a great value.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Byron VIP

    Washington DC18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is my go to place to dine. I really like the new menu. It's always a good experience.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Charles VIP

    Washington DC11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 7, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    A mixed experience. Nice ambience, attentive and pleasant owner, but the food and service were disappointing. The surly waiter -- he's always that way, I was told -- failed to deliver my grilled shrimp salad with the dressing on the side, despite my asking him twice for it that way. They did promptly remove and replace the dish with a correct version. Two pieces of shrimp had sections of hard, inedible shell on them, and two pieces of bread were stale. Overall, an okay experience, but I'll consider the place a convenience (I live in the building) rather than a go-to destination.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Byron VIP

    Washington DC18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We alway have a great experience here. The new menu is great.

    Is this helpful?

  6. merrill

    Washington DC5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a warm and pleasant server and the ambiance, as always, was calm and quiet. But at least one of our meals was a disappointment. The penne with Vodka sauce, shrimp and spinach was bland, under-heated, and the shrimp seemed every so slightly un-fresh. In general, I find the salads at DeCarlo's to be consistently excellent, but the entrees could benefit from a bit more zippiness.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Annette VIP

    Washington DC13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Located on the ground floor of an elegant old apartment complex, DeCarlo’s exudes old world charm. One of the few DC restaurants with well-spaced tables so as to enjoy easy conversation. The food is consistently good and the service matches the old world charm. Always a wonderful experience!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Byron VIP

    Washington DC18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    DeCarlos is our go to place. The staff are great and the food is always very good. We have been coming here for years.

    Is this helpful?

  9. lynn VIP

    Washington DC36 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    When one can not eat the main course does anything else matter?? Had to ask for bread or bread sticks. Place was not crowded Lynn Rhomberg

    Is this helpful?

  10. Thomas VIP

    San Francisco5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and had our belated Valentine's Day dinner. It was our first time visiting the new location. Food, ambiance and service did not disappoint. Highly recommended to anyone who seeks classic Italian cuisine in a restaurant that celebrates old school service and charm

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

DeCarlo's Restaurant does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. DeCarlo's Restaurant also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 363-4220.

DeCarlo's Restaurant is rated 4.7 stars by 635 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. District of Columbia
  5. Tenleytown

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Google Map for DeCarlo's Restaurant

4000 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

Additional information

  • Cross street
    In The Westchester Building. Third Entrance on Right. Flag Pole in front.
  • Neighborhood
    Tenleytown
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Off-Street Parking <br />Complimentary Garage Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Melvin Orellana
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    We offer a variety of menus for on-property and off-property catering events! Please contact Susan DeCarlo at decarlosrestaurant@outlook.com.
  • Private party facilities
    DeCarlo’s Restaurant would be honored to host your next event! We offer private and semi-private spaces for up to 50 guests. Working with our team, you’ll be able to help create a memorable experience for family, friends and/or coworkers to enjoy. Buon cibo, buon vino & buoni amici!
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