Landini Brothers

Went here this past Saturday night. The service is awesome, but the food definitely could use improvement. It feels like the menu or chef hasn’t changed in 30 years! The veal I got was pretty dry and not very tender. I did enjoy the wine and the appetizer my boyfriend and I ordered (tomatoes and mozzarella). We would go back and try it again since we enjoyed a lot of the experience.

Service is wonderful. Ambiance is great (I prefer the main room downstairs). Can accommodate just about any request. Only drawback is that it can be difficult to get a drink at the bar before dinner because there are so many locals that are regulars. Recommended items: veal (best I have had in DC), steaks, clams, lobster pasta, and Ceasar salad (super fresh). Do not recommend: nothing. Everything we have had is good.

Go there all the time, GREAT FOOD !!!

No idea why this place is not rated higher on Unilocal… The food was delicious, the service was warm and attentive and the atmosphere was inviting… We ordered a variety of dishes, and all were extremely well prepared. I can’t wait to return…

Went with a group and ordered varied pasta dishes, none of which were memorable in my opinion. We had tortellini, penne alla romana, linguini a la pescatora, and the mussels and clams in white wine. The mussels and clams were a plentiful serving and the white wine sauce was done well, so this was the standout for the entrees. But the pastas lacked flavor and were, as a whole, forgettable.
The most notable were the appetizers. The grilled squid was executed well and had a nice grilled flavor, but the real winner was the white truffle risotto. Though the price tag of the truffles makes this a decadence, it definitely did not disappoint. Amazing dish.
The service was very attentive and polite, definitely professionally done and I have no complaints there. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the pastas to be worth the price point though the rest of the group enjoyed their dishes. For that, I really considered rating the food as a three, but the service and risotto saved the day and would definitely have me returning.

Two stars: one for drinks and one for food. Waite staff seemed condescending and very selective of the clientele they allow into their establishment and, it appeared, they had their little inside jokes about the patrons. This made us uncomfortable and spoiled the ‘ambiance’ for us. We will not be going back.

My wife & I celebrated the birth of our daughter here this evening. The ambiance, service and quality of food /​wine far surpassed our expectations. My main entrée, the rack of lamb, is the finest I’ve ever had, surpassing even some of Santa Fe’s finest restaurants. In short, Landini’s will be our go to place for evening dinner excursions. :)
Thank you to the staff, servers and chefs for making our dinner such a wonderful & memorable experience.

Yes, its expensive. But the food is worth the price, service, and experience. If the weather is warm ask to sit outside. Also, they can customize your menu to your liking. You can get half of a plate instead of the larger version and have room for other dishes and sides. And even the sides are really really fresh and well prepared.

Had our company Christmas party here and the food and service were excellent! We got to try a trio of their pastas as an appetizer — the penne with Italian sausage and tomato sauce, tortellini in a light cream sauce, and ravioli with spinach and cheese in a butter sauce — all were amazing. I’d easily order the penne or tortellini next time around as an entrée.
Our entrees of steak with fries, eggplant parmesan, and dessert of tiramisu were great. No complaints, but our pasta appetizer was definitely the best part of the meal! The staff was wonderful and kept our wine glasses full. Would come again for the food and romantic ambiance. Valet on Friday and Saturday evenings (for $ 5 I believe) if you can find the guy!

Went to Landini last night and it was unreal.
Our food came to us literally within 15 minutes or so. Our server Alex made sure or cups were full the entire time.
If you wasn’t the experience the food and the eloquence. Landon is your place!

On behalf of my parents, I am writing this review. They recently ate here and ordered two meals on special. They asked the price before ordering and confirmed with the waiter. When the check came both meals were more than $ 10 higher than quoted. They asked the waiter and he acknowledged he made a mistake on one and my parents misheard the second. My parents both heard and confirmed the prices they heard and it was not what was on the bill. They followed up with the manager once home who said only inquired about who the waiter was and no sorry or amends. My dad gave him the details and no response. Terrible experience.

This place is way to dark especially if you have a lunch date which I did. I used my cell phone light to see my food. The mixed fish dish my date said was way to salty. I had the rockfish and liked it. Overall it just wasn’t a place we’ll return to.

Superb food, good service, and a solid gluten-​free menu. The persimmon salad was delicious, and the wine by the glass generous. If you’re staying in National Harbor I recommend taking a (water) taxi over to Alexandria for dinners rather than suffering from the dearth of options by the Gaylord Hotel.

Do you want to transport yourself to a little town in Italy simply by walking through a front door? Landini brothers is your spot then! When you step inside it has a romantic and rustic feel with the stone on the walls. Whenever you go here you can always expect good quality food, attentive service, and a great atmosphere. I have never been to Landini Brothers and it not be packed. It is in the perfect location on King St. in Alexandria if you are feeling like a night out at some of the local bars after you overload on carbs!
Now, let’s talk food. I have loved everything I have ever ordered from this restaurant. Their basket of fresh and warm bread is never ending and amazing. I highly suggest ordering one of their scallopini dishes, my personal favorite, the veal. Their pasta is cooked to perfection and the fettuccini Alfredo (yes, so typical) is outstanding. For appetizers, my boyfriend and I always seem to order the Carpaccio a la Italiana that will not disappoint. Even if you aren’t into raw meat, it is an amazing dish.
Landini brothers is great for a date night because it has a little of a romantic touch. If you are in Alexandria I highly suggest checking this spot out!

It’s funny, each time I end up at Landini Brothers, I leave asking myself how long it would take until things go south for this longtime picturesque fixture on the lovely King Street corridor, however much to my surprise things are stronger than ever there. This is a prime date spot with a straightforward (albeit dated) menu and cozy warm, rustic, and romantic interiors right out of the old country.
The food is a safe bet as you will find hardy Italian favorites throughout — no organs, no weird seafood, and no innovative Italian trends. Sure it can bore people to death but the plain-​Jane (slightly anachronistic) menu is riddled with excellent quality items including one of my favorites — the Veal Scallopini. This old-​school iteration is a generous portion of pan fried veal with breadcrumbs, white wine, garlic, olive oil, and black pepper and then smothered in mozzarella (you can also get ham if you want). But my favorite dish at Landini Brothers that they always get right is the Lobster Linguini — a good size whole lobster steamed and then split in half with a delectable swivel of fresh house-​made linguini at center stage. For appetizer, the stuffed grilled squid is solid choice — a rather aromatic dish with that strong oceanic flavor of squid ink in the center. For some of the more subdued appetizers, try the grilled portabella mushrooms, Caesar salad with a decadent dressing and fresh anchovies, and while you’re here you may as well have some Caprese salad — a refreshing appetizer of juicy tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil.
The atmosphere at Landini Brothers varies — it’s got the charm and character of any redoubtable DC-​area establishment but is highly accessible to everyone which means that you can expect many tourists sitting among you effectively giving it a family-​oriented touristy destination since it’s very close the water. Landini Brothers is located in a historic building — more than 200 years old much in evidence to the stone masonry which is tastefully exposed on the inside and outside — only the mortar has been updated. It’s well maintained and boasts a tasteful variety of neoclassical art and music to set the mood. The evening hours are more palatable for a date-​night option — only beware, the deserts can be hit-​or-​miss. My tiramisu was on the dry side and it is my understanding that it’s usually spot on. Prices are what you can expect in these parts — expensive so keep it real. Otherwise a highly desirable Italian spot.

I had dinner tonight in Old Town while in Alexandria. I ordered Caprese Salad, Risotto Special and added Scallops, and a Prosecco… or two.
Overall, it’s a decent establishment. Seating on the first or second floor and outside. You can even sit at the small bar.
Having dinner in the old home turned restaurant is dark and moody. A lot of ambient light makes any lady look like a goddess! Girls ask your date to bring you here.
The staff was fast, attentive, and friendly. It was maybe 50% busy or three quarters. So, I can’t vouch for what it is like on a night other than Tuesday.
The Caprese was good. The mozzarella was nice, but the tomatoes were just okay. The Scallops were cooked to perfection and the truffle risotto was dang good. The Prosecco was typical.
I’m full. I’m happy. I’m ready for a walk around Old Town.

Summary: The food was good. The service and atmosphere did not meet expectations. At this price point I expect much better.
We entered and were seated. After sitting without service for too long, we were approached by a waiter. He did not offer us water or drinks, but instead launched into a long listing of specials. He clearly enjoyed listening to himself speak very much, as there was far too much detail and pomp. I just wanted water/​wine — it was a hot day. We would not get water for another 5 minutes or so.
My wife ordered a meat item (chicken parm or something similar). She asked for it with pasta (it is a fancy Italian restaurant after all). The waiter was baffled by the idea of serving on a bed of pasta and told her she could only get a plate of plain spaghetti on the side.
The food (brought out by kitchen staff) was very good. This was lucky, because the waiter did not come back to check. He was too busy presiding over another table with his verbose specials description (it was like a 5+ minute speech). Afterward, we waited for a long time to get the bill as the waiter spent all his time putting on a performance for other tables and never came back. We probably went 40 minutes between him taking our order and speaking with him again.
The atmosphere is so-​so. The historic building is nice, but the low ceilings and cramped table placement made me feel like I was eating in a small, noisy, cave.

We sat outside and immediately were brought glasses of ice cold water that was perfect in this heat wave. The water was quickly followed up by a basket of fresh warm bread. The waitstaff were incredibly attentive and continuously filled our water glasses and kept checking in on us. It did take a little while for our entrees to come out which was the only complaint I would have. I ordered the caprese salad and the grilled portobello mushrooms as my dinner because it was so hot out and I wasn’t extremely hungry. The caprese salad was fresh and very tasty with lots of mozzarella on top and perfect for a warm summer day. The mushrooms were good as well, 3 came on the plate. The only downside was that they were a little oily.
Our waiter gave us tiramisu because he wanted to apologize for the bumpy beginning. The tiramisu was delicious and very moist and spongey. I’m glad we had a chance to try it as it was a nice way to end the meal. What was even better was that we really didn’t have an issue with the service at all. Our waiter seemed a little shy but he was very attentive and we didn’t have any problems with his service so we appreciated the gesture of the tiramisu.

I’ve been debating for a while on the best way to review Landini Brothers after my recent experience dining here as part of a large party for my friend’s bachelorette party. First off, the food was very good. The restaurant has both a bustling ambiance (downstairs) as well as a more intimate one (upstairs), and it’s actually humongous, with the upstairs area including a couple of private rooms.
I started with a caesar salad, which was delicious, and then got the special — a langostine lobster pasta. My pasta was delicious, as was my sister’s, which I tried. In fact, almost everyone at the table got pasta, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Which brings me to the less stellar part of the evening — it took FOREVER!
I know that this is a nicer establishment (with prices to match), so it’s understandable that we wouldn’t be in and out in a flash. And we also had a group of about 12 girls, so it’s a larger party. That said, our entrees took almost an HOUR to come out, and, as mentioned, almost everyone at the table got pasta dishes. That is a long time to wait for your food.
Equally long was the time between getting our drinks refreshed and waters refilled. There’s apparently no cocktail menu at Landini Brothers, just an open bar, so we all ordered either wines or standard cocktails (vodka sodas and the like), but I wasn’t 100% sure which servers were assigned to us at any given time, and we sometimes went quite a while without drink attention.
The last thing that put a little dent in the evening was the check situation. With a large party, gratuity was included (no big thing), and we opted to split the bill evenly amongst ourselves. One girl paid with cash, which we asked to have taken off the bill, and then the rest of it split evenly amongst our credit cards.
Well, apparently the server thought this meant that the cash was an additional tip (like I said, gratuity was already included), and took the cash as tip and then split the whole bill on our cards. We clarified the situation with the manager, who ended up just giving us the cash back, but it was still kind of awkward and definitely not what we had asked for when paying the check in the first place.
Anyway, I would definitely return to Landini Brothers if I was in the mood for some solid Italian with a more date-​night-​ish atmosphere, but based on my experience, might be hesitant to bring a large party here.

I decided to take my out of town friends to this place for some Italian food. I will say the ambiance and service is exceptional. The dimly lit interior seems to give you a quintessential old town Alexandria feel. The food was decent the Fettuccine Alfredo could have use more garlic in the sauce and the grilled squid could have looked and tasted more like it was grilled instead of baked. Also be advised, they serve soft drinks by the can, so if you like free refills this isn’t a good choice for you.