Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Terrace views, serious seafood, lunch value.
One of Washington D.C.'s strongest cases for a $$$$ celebration meal, Fiola Mare pairs a Potomac waterfront terrace with an Italian seafood kitchen ranked #216 in North America by Opinionated About Dining (2025). Weekend brunch and lunch offer the best value ratio. Book the terrace three to four weeks out — it goes fast.
The terrace seats at Fiola Mare are among the hardest reservations to secure in Washington, D.C. — and for weekend brunch, the window is even narrower. If you want a table with an unobstructed view of the Potomac on a Saturday or Sunday, book at least three to four weeks out. The outdoor spots go first. That scarcity is not accidental: this is one of the few $$$$ Italian seafood restaurants in the city where the setting, the service infrastructure, and the kitchen all operate at the same level. If you are planning a celebration meal, an anniversary, or a business lunch where the room needs to do some of the work for you, Fiola Mare is the right call.
Fiola Mare opens for lunch Tuesday through Friday starting at 11:30 am, and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) doors open at 11 am. Dinner is where the check climbs into territory that requires real commitment — the cuisine pricing is listed at $$$, meaning a typical two-course meal runs $66 or more before wine, and dinner adds up faster. Brunch and lunch, by contrast, offer the leading value ratio at this address. You get the same kitchen, the same Potomac terrace, and the same service team at a lower spend per head than a Saturday night table. For a special occasion that does not need to end in a four-figure bill, weekend lunch is the format to book.
The terrace is the critical variable. Those who know to request it specifically when booking will have a fundamentally different experience from those who end up inside. The interior is well-designed, but the outdoor seating along the Georgetown waterfront is the reason Fiola Mare appears in Washington dining conversations at all. On a clear afternoon, it is difficult to find a comparable setting in the city. Book for late morning on a Saturday when the light is favorable and the terrace is not yet at full capacity.
Executive Chef Matteo Limoli runs an Italian-influenced seafood program built around sourcing quality rather than technique showmanship. Verified highlights from the Opinionated About Dining record include a Capital oyster prepared in a prosecco zabaglione, a liquid cacio e pepe with escarole, feta, and roasted peppercorns, and Calvisius caviar served with warm tigelle modenese and whipped ricotta. These are precise, considered dishes , the kind that reward attention rather than volume ordering. If you are coming for a celebration, build the meal around two or three of the kitchen's more technically detailed preparations rather than defaulting to simply grilled fish, which the menu also carries for those who prefer a lighter hand.
The wine list is substantial: 1,400 selections, a cellar inventory of 9,540 bottles, and pricing at the $$$ tier (expect many bottles above $100). Strengths run through Tuscany, Piedmont, Burgundy, and California. Wine Director Casper Rice oversees a team that includes three additional sommeliers, which means you will have attentive, knowledgeable support throughout the meal. Corkage is $75 if you bring your own. For a celebration with a specific bottle in mind, the corkage fee is worth calculating against the list price before you decide.
Fiola Mare earned a Michelin Plate in 2024 and has appeared on the Opinionated About Dining Leading Restaurants in North America list three consecutive years, ranking #256 in 2024 and improving to #216 in 2025. That upward movement in the OAD rankings is a meaningful signal: the kitchen is getting tighter, not coasting. The Google rating sits at 4.5 across 2,271 reviews, which at that review volume is a reliable indicator of consistent execution rather than a spike from a single good season.
Fiola Mare works leading for parties of two to four who are marking something specific: a birthday, an anniversary, a client dinner where the visual impact of the setting matters. The terrace handles the atmospheric work so you do not need to engineer the occasion yourself. Solo diners and larger groups will find the format less natural , this is not a counter-seat restaurant and it is not built for big tables. For a group of six or more, [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) or [Bresca](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bresca) may offer a more accommodating format at a comparable price tier.
If Italian seafood as a format interests you beyond Washington, the reference points worth knowing are [Antica Osteria Cera in Lughetto](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/antica-osteria-cera-lughetto-restaurant) and [Il Marin in Genoa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/il-marin-genoa-restaurant) , both operating in the Italian tradition that Fiola Mare draws from. Domestically, the closest comparison in ambition and price tier for seafood-forward tasting formats would be [Le Bernardin in New York City](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/le-bernardin), though the formats differ significantly.
For broader context on where Fiola Mare sits in the Washington dining scene, see our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide. If you are planning a full trip around the meal, our Washington, D.C. hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the surrounding territory.
| Detail | Fiola Mare | Bresca | Gravitas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisine | Italian Seafood | Modern French | New American |
| Price tier | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ |
| Lunch/Brunch service | Yes (Tue–Sun) | Limited | Limited |
| Booking difficulty | Hard (terrace: very hard) | Hard | Hard |
| Wine list depth | 1,400 selections | Curated | Curated |
| Setting advantage | Potomac waterfront terrace | Indoor, intimate | Indoor, intimate |
| OAD 2025 ranking | #216 North America | Not listed | Not listed |
Yes, at the right format. Lunch and weekend brunch offer the leading value , you get the Potomac terrace, the full kitchen, and a sommelier team without the dinner-sized check. At dinner, the two-course baseline is $66+ before wine and the bill climbs fast. If you are comparing $$$$ Italian seafood in D.C., Fiola Mare has the strongest setting argument and a more accomplished wine program than most peers. The OAD #216 North America ranking in 2025 and a Michelin Plate confirm the kitchen is operating at a level that justifies the spend for the right occasion.
Verified standouts from the OAD record include the Capital oyster in prosecco zabaglione, the liquid cacio e pepe with escarole and feta, and the Calvisius caviar with tigelle modenese and whipped ricotta. Beyond these, the menu carries simply grilled seafood selections for those who prefer a cleaner plate. The kitchen under Chef Matteo Limoli is Italian-influenced and seafood-focused , lean into the more technically constructed dishes rather than defaulting to grilled fish if you want to see what the kitchen can do. Ask your sommelier to pair by the glass across courses; the team has enough depth to make it worthwhile.
The database does not confirm a dedicated tasting menu format at Fiola Mare, so we cannot advise on it specifically. What the record does confirm is à la carte pricing at the $$$ cuisine tier ($66+ for a typical two-course) and a kitchen with OAD Top 216 credentials in North America. If a multi-course tasting experience is the priority, [Jônt](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/jont) or [minibar by José Andrés](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/minibar-by-jos%C3%A9-andr%C3%A9s) in D.C. are explicitly tasting-menu-only formats with strong track records. Fiola Mare's case is stronger when you are after a well-paced à la carte lunch or dinner with serious wine.
For $$$$ dining in D.C., the relevant comparisons depend on what you are optimising for. Bresca (Modern French, $$$$) is the closest in ambition and execution but operates without the outdoor waterfront setting. Gravitas (New American, $$$$) delivers tasting-menu depth in a more intimate room. Albi (Middle Eastern, $$$$) is the better choice for groups and for a format that feels less formal. If you want to spend less without dropping much on food quality, Oyster Oyster ($$$, New American/Vegetarian) is the value-conscious alternative, though the format and cuisine are entirely different. For Peruvian at the same price tier, Causa ($$$$) is worth considering.
No dress code is confirmed in the database, but the price tier, OAD ranking, and Georgetown waterfront address all point toward smart casual at minimum and business casual or above for dinner. Showing up in shorts and trainers is a mismatch with the room and the service register. For a weekend brunch reservation on the terrace, treat it like a polished Sunday lunch , you will not be out of place in a dress or a collared shirt.
The database does not include specific dietary accommodation information for Fiola Mare. Given the Italian seafood focus, guests with shellfish allergies or strict vegetarian requirements should contact the restaurant directly before booking , the menu is structured around seafood and the kitchen's identity is not easily reoriented. Phone and website details are not listed in our current data; check the restaurant's reservation platform when booking to flag requirements in advance, or call the Georgetown address directly.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiola Mare | Italian Seafood, Seafood | $$$$ | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #216 (2025); Hugging the Potomac River with unparalleled views, it may be difficult to find a more beautiful setting in town (those in the know make a move for the terrace). Of course, those lovely sights come at a price, and while the dinner check can climb, lunch offers great value. The service team is one well-orchestrated machine, and Executive Chef Matteo Limoli focuses on Italian-influenced seafood of absolute top quality. A plump Capital oyster swims in a zabaglione of prosecco; while liquid cacio e pepe with escarole, feta cheese and roasted peppercorns is an unexpected thrill. Other crowd-pleasers may include Calvisius caviar with warm tigelle modenese and whipped ricotta, or a selection of simply grilled seafood.; WINE: Wine Strengths: Tuscany, Piedmont, Italy, California, Burgundy, France Pricing: $$$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Corkage Fee: $75 Selections: 1,400 Inventory: 9,540 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: Italian, Seafood Pricing: $$$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Lunch and Dinner STAFF: People Casper Rice:Wine Director Wine Director: Casper Rice Sommelier: Megumi Awaya, Will Moriarity, Luca Pasquinelli Chef: Matteo Limoli General Manager: Docho Dochev Owner: Fabio Trabocchi; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #256 (2024); Michelin Plate (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended (2023) | Hard | — |
| Albi | United States, Middle Eastern | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Causa | Peruvian | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Oyster Oyster | New American, Vegetarian, Vegetarian (Sustainable) | $$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Bresca | Modern French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Gravitas | New American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
A quick look at how Fiola Mare measures up.
At dinner, yes — but only if the occasion justifies $$$$. The combination of Opinionated About Dining's Top 216 ranking in North America (2025) and Executive Chef Matteo Limoli's sourcing-focused Italian seafood program backs the price tag. For better value, lunch and weekend brunch at 11 am are where the same kitchen and Potomac terrace setting cost meaningfully less. If you're paying full dinner prices without a terrace seat, the calculus gets harder.
The OAD guide specifically calls out the Capital oyster in prosecco zabaglione, liquid cacio e pepe with escarole and feta, and Calvisius caviar with warm tigelle modenese and whipped ricotta as crowd-pleasers. Grilled seafood is also cited as a reliable choice. Beyond that, the kitchen's focus is on Italian-influenced seafood using top-quality sourcing, so sticking to the seafood-forward items is the safer move.
The venue data doesn't confirm a tasting menu format, so this is a question worth checking when you book. The typical two-course meal pricing lands at $66+ per person before wine, which sits at the upper end of D.C. dining. Given the wine list runs 1,400 selections with many $100+ bottles and a $75 corkage fee, the full spend can climb fast — factor that in when deciding whether to go full prix-fixe or order à la carte.
Bresca is the strongest alternative if you want creative, high-commitment cooking at a similar price point without the waterfront setting. Oyster Oyster offers serious seafood focus in a more casual, lower-cost format — better for groups where not everyone wants a four-figure dinner. Albi is worth considering for a completely different flavour direction (Arabic-influenced fire cooking) at comparable ambition. Causa and Gravitas both run tighter, more intimate formats that suit couples over large groups.
Fiola Mare operates at the $$$$ price tier with Michelin Plate recognition and a formal service team described as 'well-orchestrated' — dress accordingly. Business casual at minimum; smart dress or a blazer is appropriate for dinner. The terrace setting in summer is slightly more relaxed, but this is not a venue where shorts and trainers will feel comfortable or go unnoticed.
The kitchen's core focus is Italian-influenced seafood, so pescatarians are well-served, but confirmed details on dietary accommodation aren't in the public record. check the venue's official channels before booking if you have specific requirements — at $$$$ per head with a reservations-essential format, it's worth confirming rather than assuming on the night.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
