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D.C.’s First North Italia Location Is a Sleek Paradise for Pasta Lovers

The nationwide Italian chain arrives on Wednesday, February 27

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Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
Tierney Plumb is the editor of Eater DC, covering all things food and drink around the nation's capital.

Foggy Bottom’s law firm and lobbyist corridor will have a new option for house-made pastas, pizzas, and tiramisu this week when coast-to-coast chain North Italia opens its first D.C. location.

The latest sit-down outpost from the brand is scheduled to open at 2112 Pennsylvania Avenue NW tomorrow, importing a menu full of beef carpaccio, meat and cheese boards, and chicken Parmesan to the neighborhood full of expense-account diners and George Washington University students. Guests at the new candle-lit venue can catch a glimpse of the kitchen staff making pasta through glass windows into an expansive open kitchen.

The dark wood-lined bar, outfitted with leafy plants in copper pots and vintage prints, will hold 11 whites and 18 reds by the glass, terzo (8-ounce pour), or bottle. Waiters donning leather-strapped aprons will recommend wines from their same regions as certain dishes — think Tuscan chianti with bolognese. Along with large-format cocktails, bubbly, and sangria, drinks will feature lots of Kettle One vodka and apple-soaked Redemption bourbon. The beer list, starring Italy’s iconic Peroni, is also big on local breweries.

North Italia comes from prolific hospitality group Fox Restaurant Concepts, which now has 16 locations across six states. James Beard Award semifinalist Sam Fox plans to sprinkle the D.C. area with more North Italia locations this year in Tysons Corner and Reston.

The city’s first North Italia boasts an exposed white ceiling and Edison bulb black sconces. It will open with lunch, dinner, happy hour, and brunch service out of the gate.

Scroll on for a look inside the sleek new space:

Vintage mirrors lined with greenery frame a wall of booths. Smooth wood tables are dotted with gold salt-and-pepper shakers, candles, and cheery blooms.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
The sprawling 6,000-square-foot restaurant sits on the same block as its fast-casual sister salad spot, Flower Child.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
The dining room at North Italia
An adjoining bar area boasts glowing glass orbs, high-top marble communal seating, and lots of wine bottles.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
Vintage prints and intimate study lamps accent the dimly-lit bar at North Italia.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
North Italia’s iconic red, black, and white color scheme is also found at its sister restaurants.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
North Italia shares the same building with international law firm Cleary Gottlieb.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography
James Beard Award semifinalist Sam Fox, a prolific restaurateur with 13 brands, plans to sprinkle the D.C. area with more North Italia locations this year in Tysons Corner and Reston.
Clarissa Villondo/Karlin Villondo Photography

Lunch is served weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by daily dinner service from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday. Dinner runs an hour later from Thursday to Saturday. Happy hour is Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Brunch, served 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, brings on lemon doughnuts, baked French toast drizzled in vanilla maple syrup, rib hash, and egg scrambles. Here’s a look of what to expect starting Saturday, March 2:

North Italia

2159 Green Hills Village Drive, , TN 37215 (615) 622-7423 Visit Website