Dump Review -- Sofie Scarlett

Kimilla and I went to Bistro Italiano for dinner. Bistro Italiano is located at 320 D St. NE, a few blocks from the Union Station metro stop. We had gotten lost trying to find it because it didn't really stand out. It was in the middle of a bunch of condos and it almost looked like one of them. We didn't really notice the sign because it wasn't lit up or eye catching. It was very simple. When we went inside, we noticed how small it was. We were very shocked at the size when we first entered. They didn't have an official host/hostess. Instead, the waitress seated us. There was only one waiter and one waitress but it seemed like the waiter did most of the work. Once we were seated, I noticed how crowded it was. We were sitting at the only available table. The size was perfect and made it seem like an actual Italian bistro. However, there were far too many people for the small place. This made it very hard to have a conversation without shouting. However, most of the people had left soon after we ordered. The walls were decorated with paintings and photographs of Italy. The lighting was dim for intimate dining. Since it was so small, the kitchen wasn't far from the dining area and we could smell the food cooking. Our waiter had come to take our order soon after we were seated, which was amazing considering how many people were there. For our appetizers, we ordered mozzarella sticks and garlic bread with cheese. Both were amazing. The mozzarella sticks were crispy on the outside and soft and melty on the inside. The garlic bread was crispy and crunchy. I was worried it would have too much of a garlic taste, but it was perfect! The mozzarella that was melted on top lessened the garlic flavor. The garlic bread was made with fresh bread that they make daily. Soon after finishing our appetizers, our entrees were served. It was perfect timing! I had baked ziti and Kamilla had spaghetti marinara with mushrooms. The baked ziti was served hot and remained hot the entire time I was eating it. It was made with ricotta and mozzarella baked on top. The pasta was cooked perfectly. They were tender but not too soft. The sauce was very mild and didn't over power the ricotta or mozzarella. Upon serving, the waiter asked if we wanted parmesan cheese and brought it out to us right away. The portions were a good size and were served in a dish almost resembling a gondola. Throughout the meal, the waiter was very good about refilling my water. He actually apologized for not refilling it right away. I hadn't thought it was a problem but it was nice to hear an apology. Once finished, the waiter asked if we wanted coffee or dessert. We asked him for a dessert menu which they didn't have. Instead, he told us what they had for dessert. I ordered cheesecake and Kamilla had tiramisu. The cheesecake was delicious. The crust was a crumbly graham cracker crust. The cheesecake was very plain and mild tasting but it was still good. The texture was very thick and creamy. Overall, I thought the food was amazing and had a great price. The total for both of our meals came out to be $30.86 plus a $5 tip. The restaurant was very clean and the service was amazing. The only problem was that there should have been more staff. It seemed like our waiter was the only one working. Towards the end, there was only one other table so it was fine. But when it picked up, the waiter would most likely have been in over his head. He was a great waiter and he was very friendly. The only problem was that at one point, he completely stopped what he was doing to go talk to his friend outside. I thoroughly enjoyed Bistro Italiano and I would go back in a heart beat. I would recommend this restaurant to all my friends!