Thousands of people every day drive by this modest place south of the Connecticut Avenue entrance to the Beltway, but few give it much notice. Next time you drive by, consider taking the alley next to Starbucks in the tiny strip shopping center, parking in the rear, and trying the simple food. Because the mozzarella is house-made and the tomatoes carefully selected, it's a good idea to begin with the caponata or the caprese, two carefully prepared salads. Pastas are made to order. Whether you choose the long pastas, the gnocchi, or the spinach agnolotti, they are cooked correctly.
Good sauces are pesto, walnut, amatriciana, and tomato.
Other treats are pappardelle with rabbit sauce, eggplant parmigiana, and linguine with white clam sauce. Pizzas are another strength. The crust is nicely chewy and slightly charred, and the toppings are first-rate. Desserts are the old-fashioned favorites, including spumoni, cannoli, and flaky sfogliatelle. Beer offerings include a couple of Italian brands, and a few simple wines are available by the glass or carafe.