Nostra Cucina

Terrific pizza. Amazing red sauce. Cozy, intimate surroundings. Eat in or pick up. Either way, it is a treat!

The food was decent. No real complaints. The service was terrible. My fiance and I arrived for our reservation and the table wasn't ready. No big deal. We were finally seated. Then, two other parties were seated AFTER us. One next to us and the other behind us. Mind you, we're a Black couple. Everyone else in this tiny restaurant was White or at least no Black, with the exception of a Black man at the bar. Not sure this is why our service was bad, but I can't help but wonder. A party of 3 seated next to us was greeted not long after being seated with water and then drink orders right away. Our table, which was seated before them, hadn't even been given water. It took 15 minutes. And we waited another 15-20 minutes before someone came over to get our food and drink orders. We waited another 15-20 minutes to get a glass of wine and a coke. I eventually asked a server who wasn't our server about drinks. Then our drinks and food finally came. The table of 3 next to us who was seated after us was leaving by the time we got our food. Mind you, there were only 5 or 6 tables in the restaurant. There were 3 different servers. Why was OUR service so bad? I think I would have been less upset if the service for the night wasn't good for anyone. But we were a table that was largely ignored in a restaurant that is no bigger than an oversized living room. There was no excuse. Why were we largely invisible.Never again.

The best part of this restaurant is the service. My family came here starving after our flight to DC from Seattle so we were all a little hangry. We were seated immediately and our server was friendly and attentive. Our drinks and food came out pretty quickly after we ordered which we appreciated.The Caesar salad was large, but only had about ten croutons grouped together on one side of the salad like it hadn't been tossed. Because we are a family of four, it was definitely a battle to get croutons. My mom was happy the salad dressing was on the side, but my sister thought it was a little too acidic tasting.The pizza was definitely my favourite. I've always been someone to save the best part of the food for last which usually means eating my pizza crusts first, but I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the pizza crust was. The toppings were generous and everyone in my family thought the pizza was a hit.My sister wanted butter pasta and salmon and she loved it. The salmon was breaded perfectly and when I tried a bite, I enjoyed the creamy pasta sauce and perfectly dense noodles.The tiramisu was probably our biggest disappointment. My parents love tiramisu and my dad especially was really looking forward to it. While the dessert they served us was good, it definitely was not tiramisu, but rather layered yellow cake. It's strange that an Italian restaurant would serve fake tiramisu.Overall we had a great time. The restaurant thankfully wasn't too busy because my sister complained multiple times about it being too small. Definitely great for a date because of the cozy atmosphere and chill vibes.

The food was delicious. The service was amazing. But I would not go back for the whole reason of the atmosphere. It is way too small! I could literally hear every single conversation at the neighboring tables because we were crammed in there like sardines. It is way too small to have indoor seating there. Get takeout! Highly recommend the fettuccine Alfredo with broccoli!

Such a wonderful family owned restaurant with fresh made dishes that are absolutely delicious! The restaurant itself is cozy and the service was perfect. I had the spaghetti bolognese which was made to perfection and fresh made meatballs on the side and a glass of Montepulciano. Perfect dinner. Simple. Phenomenal. The owners are superb people. I would highly recommend making a reservation.

Small, neighborhood spot worth checking out.I stopped in here after a long day hoping to grab a seat at the bar and enjoy a beer and order food to-go. Unfortunately the bar only has 3 seats. I grabbed the third and felt like I was actually on the date WITH the couple next to me - it was cramped. There was a reservation book or something in the bar in front of me so I was left with virtually no bar too space, but since I was ordering to go, I just went with it.I chatted with the bartender and he recommended their seasonal beer for me, which was excellent. It doesn't appear they have beer on tap, though. My food came out before I finished the beer. I brought the pasta home and it was pretty good. It had a great amount of shrimp and tasted fresh, but it wasn't out-of-this world by any means. I may come back to dine-in and try something else, as I did enjoy the food and the staff were nice!

Nostra Cucina is a Capitol Hill neighborhood gem. Although a small restaurant by seating capacity, their food packs a hefty punch of flavor. You'll immediately feel welcome by their friendly staff, usually including the owner and manager. The ordering experience is a conversation - you'll talk about your preferences and experiences with Italian food and the waiter will advise you. I recommend starting with the fried calamari appetizer, featuring a delectable homemade marinara sauce, followed by chicken parm, eggplant parm, or chicken piccata. The chicken and eggplant parms comes with freshmade pasta, of which I recommend the spaghetti. As a NE DC resident, I've tried most of the menu and can say confidently that everything hits at Nostra Cucina - except some of the pizzas. If you're looking for a casual, no frills, Italian restaurant in DC, Nostra Cucina should absolutely be at the top of your list.

It's a small location with several small tables and a couple large tables. They also had a few tables outside. It seems like takeout is very popular here. Our food took quite awhile to come out and they forgot the drink we ordered but the food was wonderful! We ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese and the Fettuccini Alfredo. The noodles were a softer Al dente and the bolognese was full of beef and flavor. The Alfredo came with plenty of sauce and was very think and creamy. It didn't have a super distinct taste like garlic or anything but it did not taste bland or plain like other disappointing Alfredo's. My husband said they were this was the best of both dishes he has found! Overall it makes for a great date night!

Very small place, but the food was bomb. We dined outdoors on the sidewalk and thankfully the weather cooperated though looked menacing as there were no umbrellas. I got the grilled chicken fettuccine Alfredo and my partner got the chicken parm sandwich & fries. We tried a cup of the soup as well. I got the wedding and him the minestrone. Both good (we sampled each other's). The Alfredo was super rich and filling and hit all the right notes for me. I wanted comfort food that night and I definitely got it. The pasta was light and delicate. I swear they used a whole quart of cream on the sauce. We had enough food leftover to take back to the hotel with us. Service was a little slow, but they were packed that night so it was to be expected, but other than that I recommend giving it a go.

We loved this local spot. The Caesar salad was delish and large enough to share with several people. I had spaghetti and meatballs with homemade pasta. It was pure comfort food! My husband love the pizza!