The Red Hen

Ambiance – 5/5 Red Hen has such a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a date night or an evening out with friends. Sitting at the bar is an experience in itself—you get a front-row view of the staff preparing everything to order, which adds an exciting, behind-the-scenes feel to the night. The energy is vibrant without being overwhelming, striking just the right balance for an enjoyable evening. Service – 5/5 On my first visit, I sat at the bar and had such a great experience with our bartender, Sara (apologies if I’m misspelling). She was superb—knowledgeable, informative, and refreshingly honest with her recommendations. I enjoyed it so much that I brought my fiancé back two days later just to sit on the same side of the bar to have Sara again. The entire staff radiates professionalism and care, but Sara’s attentive service really elevated our experience. Food – 5/5 Every dish at Red Hen is beautifully crafted and bursting with flavor. We started with the Grilled Crostini Bread and Charred Broccolini—the whipped butter was absolute perfection, and the toasted hazelnuts with golden raisins gave the broccolini a radiant mix of textures and flavors, good to the very last bite. For entrées, we had the Spaghetti Pomodora and the Gnocchetti—both meatless options that didn’t miss a beat. The spaghetti, made with golden tomatoes, offered a lighter, creamy twist on a traditional red sauce, while the Gnocchetti highlighted a perfect balance of flavors with just the right richness. Dessert was the ultimate finish. The Roasted Maple Panna Cotta was silky smooth, with the hazelnut crumble adding the perfect textural contrast. The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart, on the other hand, was a true chocolate lover’s dream—rich, decadent, and deeply satisfying.

Wooweeeee you know it’s bomb when the leftovers are good the next day! I felt lucky that I was able to land a 6:30 for 2 for my wife’s bday… was a little worried about the service bc of some of the reviews but our server was chill, easy and checked up on us at all the right times. Let’s talk about the food… fire and flavorful. Overall great experience and praying the foodie gods will give me another reservation one day.

I had a wonderful dining experience at Red Hen Restaurant. The Mezzi Rigatoni was absolutely incredible rich in flavor and perfectly cooked. What made the visit even better was the attentive and kind service; our waitress was friendly and made sure we were well taken care of the entire evening. The ambiance was cozy and elegant, making it a great place to enjoy a relaxing dinner. I’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for great Italian cuisine.

After years of waiting I finally got into The Red Hand, and it was worth it. The Irish chef/owner puts his heart into Italian cooking—no pizza here, just amazing pasta, rich flavors, and desserts you can’t miss. A truly unique dining experience!”

Amazing Italian restaurant! Without bar seating at would have had to wait 1.5 hours but thankfully 2 seats were open. The recommendations were spot on. Definitely going to come back. If ordering too many things, it can get a bit pricey. The four gras and jam with toast was absolutely amazing! Definitely recommend.

We went for apertivo and got the ricotta crostini, arancini primavera, and the marinated olives and salumi. All were very tasty. The service was great, and even with many customers, the bartenders were friendly and helpful. Plus, the acoustics are the bar are good and make for easy conversation.

The Red Hen is a pasta dream come true in DC! I ordered a pasta rigatoni which was very well served, I went with a friend and could barely finish it between the two of us. And we ordered a chocolate hazelnut cake, this was the most extraordinary dessert, never in all the us I had tried a dessert so fulfilling but so light and soft and creamy all at the same time. This was a wonderful experience, I went as a walk in just 30 min after they opened, unknowing the red hen was a loved and demanded restaurant. I’ll recommend you to make a reservation prior to your visit, or if as a walking accept to wait between 1 hour and 2 hours to be seated. I would definitely come back again, congratulations to the team that is hosting the restaurant, all the servers and of course the kitchen staff.

Red Hen is one of those rare hidden gems in DC that truly lives up to the hype—especially if you're a pasta lover. Having dined at most of the top-rated pasta spots around the city, I keep coming back to Red Hen. It consistently delivers some of the best pasta dishes you’ll find anywhere in the area. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with a warm, rustic charm that makes it perfect for date nights or relaxed evenings with friends. While parking in the area can be tricky (we typically opt for an Uber), it’s well worth the minor hassle. I’ve never made a reservation but have always found a spot at the bar, which I actually prefer. The bartenders are friendly, attentive, and make the overall experience even better with great service and solid recommendations. The standout dish for me is the squid ink linguine with calamari—rich, briny, and perfectly balanced. I also can’t visit without ordering the whipped ricotta crostini. It’s simple but exceptional, with creamy ricotta and just the right amount of seasoning on toasted bread. If you’re looking for a top-tier pasta experience in DC without the pretension, Red Hen is the place. It’s a spot I recommend time and again, and it never disappoints.