I Had An Amazing Dinner Last Night At Filomena In Washington D.C. With My Godson

Filomena is like that rare D.C. classic that feels historic, charming, and somehow still like a warm secret that, apparently, everyone is well aware of. 

A couple of years ago my business partner Bobby asked me, out of nowhere, if I knew anybody who could get him in while he was in D.C. for business. I didn’t. So I did what any normal person see-sawing between pride and curiosity would do, I looked it up and fell in love before I ever stepped foot inside.

And here's why 

The Pasta Mamma’s, aka the “pasta grandmothers”. The secret weapon of this place.

More on these saints in a little bit.

As I came to learn, Filomena has been overseeing Georgetown’s historic C&O Canal since 1983, built on JoAnna Filomena’s mission to recreate the kind of night where dinner is the center of family life, not just a quick meal. (Fun fact- she opened the first female owned restaurant in the history of D.C. which is a pretty crazy fact)

She literally framed it around the memories of Mother Filomena’s table and the idea of making people feel like “company” in your home.

Filomena doesn’t just say things on their menu are "handmade", expect you to take their word for it, and call it a day. The menu spells it out- pasta sheets made by the Pasta Mamma’s, ravioli that’s theirs, gnocchi that’s “Della Mamma.” And they have the actual old nonnas in the place pumping out sheets and sheets of pasta for all to see. 

I mean look at this.

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That comes off like a flex because it is. 

As big of a flex as you can have if we're being honest.

I finally had a great excuse to go because I asked my Godson, Aidan, last month what he wanted for Christmas. 

He's been on a big sneaker kick the last few years, so I expected him to drop some pair of impossible to find Jordans or dunks on me. But I was really caught off guard when he said he wanted to go to a nice dinner somewhere he hasn't been before. 

I threw out a couple of suggestions I've kept on my running list (I keep a list of places listed by city in my notes app on my phone), and secretly hoped he picked Filomena. 

He did, and I didn't hesitate to find the soonest reservation I could make for after New Years, when I could fly in to D.C. to take him.

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When we walked in, I couldn't believe how decked out the place was, floor to ceiling, in Christmas regalia. It must take days and hundreds of man hours to decorate the place like they do. 

You know you came to the right place from the second you walk in and descend down the stairs.

The place was absolutely slammed. Entire dining room and bar area were beyond slammed. You're greeted by a host team who are decked out in tuxedos, and are oozing class.

When you're walked to your table, and sit down, they almost immediately drop a basket of warm bread on your table and aside from Craig's in LA, I have to say, it might be the bread service I've had anywhere. 

Look at this - 

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Our server, Vito, was a machine in the best way. He guided the whole experience with suggestions that actually elevated the meal, not just padded the check. 

He told me what we needed to start with, and he was dead on. The carpaccio (silky, simple, and clean), laobster arancini (crispy and rich). Caesar, (fresh and not overdone), the Chilean seabass (buttery and effortless). 

The Linguine and clams- which is actually off menu, but I asked for a slight tweak from Filomena’s famously Bill Clinton-loved linguine on the menu for my godson, because it's his favorite dish. 

(Here’s the Clinton dish)

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Then came the closer- the famous ravioli and meatballs, pillow-like, sauce-forward, so damn good it felt unfair. The ravioli tasted way better than they looked. Not that they didn't look good, but usually when you see the discs packed that full they look like they're gonna explode, they almost always let you down. Undercooked, cold in the middle, or overcooked to the point they fall apart. 

Not at Filomena.

These babies were PERFECT.

And I am still fucking stunned by how good the meatballs were. 

Fried, with a nice crisp Maillardization on the outside, and perfectly tender on the inside. They were unreal. 

The Washington Post. Getty Images.

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And we weren’t done there. The “Past meets Present” cannoli absolutely lived up to the hype, and the hazelnut daquoise was pure decadent, nutella bliss.

(Yes, I know this was an obnoxious amount of food for one adult and his 12-year-old Godson, but when I go out with the intention of trying a place's best, I try to sample as much of "the hits" as I can.)

I still can’t believe how universally beloved this place is. Usually I post one dinner pic and the self-proclaimed foodies sprint out of the woodwork to crucify me. Not with Filomena. People were basically cheering for my godson like he discovered fire. I didn't even plan on blogging this, but the overwhelming response I've had all day- to the tweet and people reaching out messaging me about memorable meals they've had here, and dishes I need to try when I return (the osso bucco, Sunday Sauce, and "the Bill Clinton dish") made me realize I was ignoring a lay up. I had no idea Washington D.C. had an Italian restaurant this good. I can't wait to come back and visit again.