From Franco Nuschese of Cafe Milano and Sette Osteria, this restaurant offers a raw bar in addition to cuisine from across Italy.
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Probably the best place in Clarendon for happy hour!! And people watching too...
Sette Bello is hit or miss. Unfortunately it usually misses. Why go back? It is moderately priced, you can sit outside, they make amazing tiramisu, and every once in a while the food is good. We started with the antipasti platter which was fine but not exceptional. I ordered my usual entree--basil fettuccini with tomatoes, eggplant and smoked mozzarella. The flavors were delicious, however the pasta was about 5 minutes past al dented. My husband's dish, penne with salmon in a vodka sauce, was terrible. The pasta was cooked correctly, however the sauce was completely under seasoned. The salt on the table helped a bit, but it couldn't completely mask the lack of flavor. Thankfully, the tiramisu did not disappoint.
Why is this place so popular? Surely it can't be the small, overpriced portions of really very average food. Service is slow. Wine choices are limited, and not very good. Yet it was crowded on a Saturday night. I'm stumped. I ordered the special of Sea Scallops and Shrimp with Broccoli Rabe -- I received 3 head-on medium size shrimp, two scallops, and a small ice cream scoop size mound of broccoli - for $21!!! I realize the economy is bad, but come on! I was still hungry after dinner. This is the third, and last, time I'll go to this place.
I am Italian and I rarely dine at Italian restaurants because I am always disappointed. And yet, I really enjoyed this! Aside from the place itself, which is quite nice, the food is excellent and genuinely Italian. I had burrata with truffles, homemade lobster cappellacci and a wonderful branzino del Mediterraneo, artfully baked on a bed of herbs and vegetables. The wine selection was excellent, too (I opted for a quite fruity Pinot Grigio.) My daughter tried the pizza and it was great, crispy and soft at the same time, right out of a fiery wood-burning oven. The service was good and the atmosfere very pleasant. I would definitely recommend Settebello to food lovers, including picky Italians like myself!
Never before have I tasted food in a restaurant in the Washington area that is so genuinely Italian. If you want spaghetti and meatballs this is not your place. Every dish at Sette Bello is stunningly true to the version prepared in Italy (lived there). I loved everything I tried: the divine pastas (especially cavatelli pugliesi); the salmone alla siciliana; chicken al limone; the wine list and the delicious desserts. The place exudes style and comfort. The service is polished and professional. Sette Bello is the first name I go to for classic Italian dining!
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