Hello all,

I am having trouble remembering a particular old Italian Restaurant in DC. In February, I am taking my wife and we are meeting another couple for a long weekend. I would love to take our friends to this particular restaurant, but I can't figure out it's name or location from memory.

I have been to this Italian restaurant on at least two (2) occasions, but cannot for the life of me remember the name of it. Here's what I remember about it, in the event that anyone knows what I'm talking about!:

1. It was a restaurant which is frequented almost exclusively by locals (that knocks out MOST of them, doesn't it!) and not tourists.

2. I remember it was downtown, and not in Adams/Morgan or Georgetown.

3. I remember that it had been around for over 50 years. (That should knock out a few others.)

4. Seems like it was in the middle of a city block, with a covered outdoor seating/patio seating, and then seats, of course, inside as well.

5. It was NOT an expensive restaurant, but it wasn't a cheap pizza joint either.

Does this ring a bell with any DC local out there? Thanks if it does!!!

dfotravels

AV Ristorante

Thanks, MikeT! That's it! Happy New Year to you and your family!

Glad I could help. It's an infamous place. Allegedly, Antonin Scalia eats there a couple of times a week. Very old school Italian.

Whoa, MikeT, great call! I remember eating at AV's with my parents as a kid. After college it was one of the few downtown places I could actually afford. Haven't been there in years but have lots of great memories of the place!

The original poster actually described it pretty well.

I have to say that I have found the food at AV to be not very good. There are a number of other choices around town that are much better, such as Faccia Luna, Pasta Mia, and Il Raddichio.

I think the food at AV is pretty average, but it is definitely more "old school" than the ones you mentioned.

That neighborhood is on the verge of a major change, now that the new Convenion Center is dominating everything. A number of the businesses on that block have sold out.

Funny thing!!! I guess we all read the OP and thought AV.

He did describe it pretty well and many of us enjoyed dinners there.

It actually has GOOD pizza!!

Agree with previous posters that AV is great for the atmosphere, if not so great for the food.

Speaking of the changing neighborhood, I have heard that AV has sold and is closing. This may be a rumor, but I have heard it from more than one person. A shame if it's true.