Dino - Calumet-Norvelt

Glad to see this restaurant added to Washingtonian’s top 100. Some really delicious and interesting Italian food. Great cocktails and affordable wine list too. I enjoyed a delicious starter which was a homemade duck sausage in a “duck neck skin” skin, sliced and grilled in a very tasty but light sauce. For my entree I had the papperdelle ai granchi – fresh king crab on pasta with a cream-crab sauce. The crab was delicate, the pasta cooked perfectly and just enough sauce to enhance it. Did not order the whole orata fish but was very glad to have tried it – grilled and served simply with some capers. Delicate and delicious! For dessert be sure to try their homemade gelato. The flavors were so vibrant! This evening they had vanilla (served affogato style with espresso), chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla white pepper. They have some prix fixe dinner specials Sun-Thurs. Great casual atmosphere and child friendly. Service is excellent too. Parking can be a challenge so be sure to allow time for that.

Sitting outside on Dino’s outdoor patio, along Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, on a sunny warm Saturday a few weeks ago, my husband and I enjoyed the evening in the best way possible – sipping a fabulous Pinot Noir and eating excellent fresh seasonal Italian fare. Dino offers several menu options including their “Restaurant Week” menu of three courses of select menu items for $39. The “Menu della Sera” also offers 3 courses for just $25! One caveat – orders must be placed by 7 p.m. Diners may choose from a selection of antipasti, selected pasta entrees dolci. Still a great deal, especially in today’s economy. We really enjoyed our dinner at Dino and can’t wait to go back! The service was excellent and I will never forget that it was because of our waitor that recommended the Adelsheim Vineyards Pinot Noir from the Williamette Valley, Orgeon that now I have a favorite Pinot Noir! Dean Gold and Kay Zimmerman have done a superb job keeping the menu authentic with very good quality ingredients. If you don’t already subscribe to the e-newsletter, you should! I look forward to hearing about his travels, mostly to Italy and all of the new seasonal dishes that they are trying out on the menu.

Dino’s Italian dishes are home-made and delicious. I came with two other people, so I was able to sample many dishes, and all were impressive. The menu is extensive, including a variety of antipasti, salad and soup, cheeses, pasta, meat and fish, dessert, and wine. The portions are reasonable, though pricey, but certainly worth the money. Not only is the food at Dino exceptional, so too is the waitstaff. This is partly what sold me. I came early on a Sunday night, so the restaurant was fairly quiet. However, after my experience, I am sure the waiters are as attentive all the time. My server was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu: was able to answer our questions about specific dishes, offer wine recommendations appropriate to the entree choices, etc. He checked up on my group sporadically to make sure we were satisfied. This was all-around an excellent meal.

Thank God for Dino. It’s exactly the kind of restaurant that the District needs right now, in the midst of encroaching concept restaurants and celebrity chefs. Dino’s approach is sincere and classic: good food, fantastic wine list (with bargains aplenty), and thoughtful service. Go now, go often.