Regulars at DC’s newly opened Retrobottega suggest you start off your meal with one of the kitchen’s popular cheese and charcuterie boards, which typically include a few familiar favorites, alongside some more unusual imports to expand your palate. From there you can move into a tapas-style meal for the whole table to share, or you can go for traditional entrees. If you decide on the tapas route, you’ll be able to mix and match delectable small plates like traditional beef meatballs served in red sauce, fried polenta, calamari, and crispy golden mozzarella bites. If you choose a traditional entree, Retrobottega co-owner Rolando Frias suggests you order the kitchen’s signature rabbit cacciatora, topped with tomatoes, mushrooms, and tangy green olives, with roasted potatoes on the side. Whatever you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy it with a hand-crafted cocktail from the bar in the restaurant’s chic and modern dining room.
Reservations are strongly recommended, so be sure to call ahead before heading over from your pet-friendly apartment in DC.