Reviews Centrolina Mercato E Osteria

One of my favorite restaurants and always rated as one of DC's top places to eat. Exceptional service and excellent food. A good selection of seafood dishes and, always, delicious pasta entrees. All seasonal and fresh. The service is excellent, beginning the very moment you enter. There is a small market for pastries and Italian products. Centrolina is in Palmer Alley in Center City DC. Always a relaxing walk through for about 3-4 blocks. Usually gaily decorated and well lit. Reservations highly recommended.

Great food, really rich and perfectly done. Well balanced. Service could have been a bit less overbearing. But that's mostly because it was right as they opened for dinner service. Lived up to the reputation and the awards. Easily one of the best Italian restaurants in DC.

Fresh, seafood that speaks for itself. Well prepared in a way that enhances the food while still letting you appreciate the quality ingredients. The Mare dish octopus, fish, shrimp, everything was cooked exquisitely, seasoned delicately and grilled to perfection. The menu rotates and is limited, so you know they are using creativity and seasonal ingredients as well as making sure each dish is crafted with purpose. On the expensive side, so definitely make it a special occasion and save room in your stomach and wallet for a glass of wine or one of their fabulous looking cocktails. If you’re reading this far, and are looking for a *special* date night in the City Center (along with your bougie ootd in the beautiful pass through), this is the place! Follow it up with a $10 latte at Dolcezza and some people watching and you have a romantic evening not to disappoint.

The environment and service are impeccable, no complain at all. But I think we have been deceived a little by the rave reviews here on Google Maps about this restaurant. Foods are not up to the mark of price, hype and ambiance. We were very hungry and jet-lagged, probably we did not ordered the "right thing," but a restaurant of this price range should offer perfect meals throughout the entire menu, and there shouldn't be any "wrong order." That was not the case here.

Really great service. Everyone who works there seems happy, and they smile. We sat at the chefs table, and had a great view of the efficient kitchen. The food is amazing of course, except for the blueberry muffin dessert..just kidding. Everything is wonderful. Their menu changes all the time, and they use fresh local ingredients.

As a general rule, D.C.'s City Center is low on great food, BUT if there's one place you should visit it's Centrolina. It's an Italian restaurant open for lunch and dinner with a market. After meeting a friend for a Friday lunch, here's my experience: 1) Food: The restaurant sources local ingredients. (There's a list of where on the back of the menu.) My friend and I split a salad, bread basket and both had the tagliolini with a fried egg on top. Each dish was well prepared and worth the money. The bread basket comes with thin bread sticks, white bread and cheese focaccia. 2) Drinks: We each had two glasses of refreshing prosecco. They have a full wine list too! 3) Service: It's a it more fancy so the service is on point and very polite. Our server also did a great job of upselling us. Originally, my friend ordered a salad and I the bread basket. He convinced us to split both adding to our bill's total. He also suggested prosecco, which wasn't on our radar. 4) Space: It's simple elegant with minimalist design, but striking. With big windows, the light pours into the space. Two uni-sex bathrooms are in the back near a private room for group dining. A bar is in the center of the restaurant. 5) Price: The only complaint is the price point, but that's to be expected in City Center. Splitting bread, a salad and each ordering two glasses of prosecco and the tagliolini, our bill was $180+ with a 20% tip.

Very nice for special occasions and very elegant. Little pricey, but worth the quality, location and atmosphere. Better to make reservation in advance as it is very crowded and you can wait up to 1.5 unless you go really early. Our waitress was so very friendly and knowledgeable. Loved it! Went back there again 3 times in different special occasions, every time is loving it more :)