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- Nearest Transit:
-
Clarendon Metrorail Station (Orange)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
89 reviews for Sette Bello
Review Highlights
"GREAT happy hour place, if you sit at the bar."
(in 14 reviews)
"A welcome addition to the Clarendon scene."
(in 15 reviews)
"...without the snooty air that sometimes pervades Cafe Milano."
(in 5 reviews)
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89 reviews in English
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Review from Sheri G.
11/19/2010
It's closing tomorrow!
http://www.arlnow.com/...
Every time I've eaten here the food has been good. This sports bar better be worth it! -
Review from Angel W.
7/6/2010
Sette Bello is conveniently located across from the Wilson Blvd/Highland St public garage which makes it really easy to get to. They always have seating without reservations. The place is massive so it's also good for groups. There is a huge wooden table behind the door which can seat maybe 8-10, and that way you can avoid the taller seating or large-dining-area seating if you want more privacy. They also have an outdoor seating area, bar seating and couch seating.
Sette Bello offers decent happy hour specials. Wine is $4 for house wine which tastes pretty good. I've been here several times but I always get the same thing which is the Capanata ( tomato salad with basil, red onion, oregano, cucumber and crunchy bread). I have dined with large groups here and everyone has been satisfied with their food. The complimentary bread and olive oil leave much to be desired. Pretty bland.
The service is terrible. The servers are verrrry slow moving. They also don't know much about their menu (this assessment based on three visits and three different servers).
Regardless, I am still fond of Sette Bello as a go-to place when the rest of Clarendon is a cluster and you need to breathe!!!! -
Review from Erica Y.
Rockville, MD
7/22/2010
This restaurant needs to understand they are in the hospitality business, meaning you want to make your customers happy, then they will come back. Until they do, they are at best a 1 and 1/2 star place. I am giving them 2 as I am feeling generous today.
Every other request we made the waitress replied with "well, restaurant policy is...." They won't serve you bread until you place all your food and drink orders and the menus are off the table. They won't serve you a kind of wine that they may have at the bar side but not the dining room side. I can go on and on, again, all restaurant policies. Now if you have amazing food to back it up, maybe I will suck it up and come back for the food and follow all your policies. But considering we can barely keep down your spaghetti and meatball (and again, who screws up that dish at an Italian restaurant!), I don't think we will be back...ever! -
Review from Mike Y.
11/20/2010
Came here with huge group of people for a friends Birthday Dinner. We must've had at least 20 people spread out over 2 large tables. It was a saturday night so obviously the joint was bustling. Our server was good especially dealing with such a large crowd. The food however left me feeling like I just left Olive Garden. It's always a bad sign when I look back on the meal and the best thing I had was actually the bread and olive oil....
Don't get me wrong though, nothing was bad. Nothing was good either. We just got a smattering of dishes to share among us. Calamari, Veal Chops, Fettuccine Alfredo, and pizza. Meh... I wasn't shocked about the quality, but I just expected more. I do have to say though, the decor and space is very nice. I would probably hit it up again for drinks and a quick snack over a full blown meal. -
Review from Evelyn C.
Alexandria, VA
9/29/2010
Met up with a friend for dinner here last night. Our server was wonderfully patient with us while we neglected the menu to chat and catch up. When my friend wanted to try a little of the pinot grigio before committing to a glass, he also brought out the chardonnay to compare. Very thoughtful...Excellent customer service!
We split the caponata salad which was fresh and delicious. My friend ordered the fettuccine alfredo and I got the ravioli stuffed with braised veal in a mushroom sauce. I finished all of my flavorful but delicate ravioli, but my friend definitely had to ask for a to-go bag for her huge serving of pasta.
The atmosphere was intimate and romantic. Would love to go back again! -
Review from James D.
Washington, DC
9/24/2010
I felt like I was having dinner inside the Air & Space Museum out in Dulles. This place is HUGE! Too big to be honest. Not only that, but there were literally about 12 people in the entire restaurant and everyone was all spread out. That can't be fun for the servers. Joy! You get to serve table 98 on the West Wing and table 2 on the East Wing because that's your territory for tonight - put your Nike Free on. Anyhow, I live in the area and walk by, run by, and drive by this place daily, so I see it all the time and while it always looks empty...I decided to give it a go.
Okay, onward and...downward. The service was okay. They basically had 1000 servers for the 999 tables that they have - 991 of which were open. So, not sure why it took 20 minutes to get our drinks, but I've waited tables in the past and know that things do happen and as long as my drink is good, I'm good. So, once we received our drinks, which were fine, it was time to order the appetizer.
For starters we went with the 'ol standby - Bruschetta. Oh, btw - it's pronounced BRU - SKET - AH. It's NOT pronounced BRU - SHHHHHHHHHHET - AH. Yeah, whatever, I know, I know...it's like putting the lisp on Ibiza, right?! Anyhow, the bruschetta was...well...boring. It's hard to screw up bruschetta (IMO), but it's not hard to make it good. Regardless, it's one of those things that you expect to be good and when it's not, your expectations for the main dish go straight to hell. By no means am I Top Chef, but come on...if you're going to serve something FIRST, make sure it's appealing, good and leaves the patron excited for the main course. That did not happen. What happened was me wanting to eat my lime out of my gin & tonic because it looked more appealing than the bruschetta.
Main dish time. I went with the gnocchi. (Sigh) I think my taste buds hate me now. Not only that, but I'm pretty sure i sounded like a 90 year old man with no teeth eating it. GUMS McGee, here! It had so much dough in it that my gums were sore from smacking. I think my fiancée and her friend needed ear plugs. The gnocchi itself was seasoned okay. The sauce wasn't too bad actually, but I didn't come for JUST the sauce. I came for some good food and that did not happen.
In a nutshell, the place might be okay to have a few drinks at if seated at the bar. The bar actually looked nice, cozy and had enough people around it to do decent business. However, don't venture beyond the bar. 1) You might get lost and end up in Sterling, VA before you find your way back (place is huge) and 2) There's no reason to order anything that's not in liquid form because it's just not good. -
Review from Barrie C.
San Antonio, TX
8/24/2007
I went here for lunch today with some coworkers. I had never heard of it at all despite the fact that I live and work in Clarendon (maybe I should get out more...). The space itself is very nice. It's open with plenty of tables, a few booths, and it curves around to the back of the building nicely.
The menu seemed pretty standard Italian. Nothing too adventurous. They had a lunch special for $13 where you get a drink, one of three pretty mundane pasta dishes or a margherita pizza, and then either a salad or a side of fries. Fries with your pasta? Really? That kind of baffled me. If I wanted fries I'd get them at Whitlow's or Hard Times, I wouldn't get them with pasta, and I wouldn't pay that much for them. Except at Poste. I'd pay good money for their Truffle Fries any time, with any other kind of food.
The waitress had a bit of an attitude from the start, and she ended up getting two out of the four orders wrong. Batting .500 might be good for baseball, but not so great when waiting on a table of four. This included bringing a pasta with meat sauce dish for my coworker, who is severely allergic to red meat and who had specifically made sure to order a non-meat dish, as she always does. She didn't have her epinephrine pen with her, so thank God she recognized that it had meat in time. We alerted the waitress, who was not apologetic at all, and then my friend had to wait an extra 15 minutes to get her original order, while the rest of us ate.
So why did I give Sette Bello three stars? First, my chicken sandwich was really good. Second, they gave us the two orders they messed up for free without our asking, which was nice. Damn, why couldn't they have f'ed up my order so I could get it for free?
The verdict on this one is a hung jury. I'll have to go there for dinner to see how it is when it's busy, and next time I'll actually order pasta. But overall it was okay.Listed in: Clarendon/Courthouse From Best…
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Review from Audra K.
Washington, DC
3/2/2008
Spacious and delightful atmosphere! Wait staff is polite and attentive. Calamari is served with lemon wrapped in cloth and a good marinara... better than Guarapo's and much better than Eleventh Street Lounge (all within 4 blocks). The taste was mild and the texture tender. The bread is so crisp that it made a horrible mess all over the table and menus (a good sign in my book)! Soft and doughy on the inside. The pastas ($11) receive high marks from my Italian friends. I had the 4 Stagione pizza ($9), which was delicious. This is not a canned mushroom topping kind of restaurant! The fresh artichokes were huge and the porchetta ham was delicate and tasty.
Chocolate lovers should try Torta al Cioccolato Scuro ($6.50)! It is like someone scooped out the truffle insides from individual chocolates and molded it into a giant pyramid, alongside an almond ice cream. Though the description says, "rich dark chocolate cake" it is not cake. The description is misleading. It appears modest in size, but if you don't share it you will hurt yourself. My friend ordered the warm upside down apple tart with vanilla ice cream. He devoured it. Our espressos and cappuccinos were perfect.
The is a great spot to relax over a mid-Sunday meal with a bunch of friends. The windows are huge, letting cheery sunshine stream in. It is exceptionally convenient for those riding Metro orange line. It couldn't be more convenient to the Clarendon station. In fact they ought to rename the metro stop Sette Bello. (Maybe then I finally wouldn't confuse Courthouse for Clarendon anymore)
One final note: most people overeat when they come here. Just a plain and simple fact! I dare you to defy it. The food is really good and dessert will likely put you over the top. -
Review from Laura V.
Alexandria, VA
3/14/2008
Where should 7 talkative girls go for their monthly dinner gathering? Somewhere fun, somewhere tasty, somewhere in a good location. Enter Sette Bello. This place was a great choice for our group!
Upon entering (after struggling with the freakin' heavy door), we were greeted by some of the happiest hostesses this side of the Mississippi. Even though we were not the ones who had made the reservation, and we were a little early, the happy hostesses seated us right away. We had a great table right in the middle of the restaurant. Within seconds of sitting down, our server was over to see if we wanted drinks while we waited for the rest of our group. The quality service continued throughout our meal.
Sette Bello is a really neat place. I loved how it felt like we were outside, but indoors. The bar was quite large and they had an impressive wine list. There were a few very expensive bottles on that list too. Who drinks $200 bottles of wine? I digress...
Once the rest of our crew arrived, fresh bread and olive oil were brought to the table. Bread was awesome! I think had more than my fair share. For dinner, most of us ended up having the same two meals - the Cavatelli with italian sausage and cream and the Scialatelli with eggplant (I had this one). One of the girls had the pumpkin ravioli. My Scialatelli was divine. It was a wheat pasta with basil folded in, topped with tomatoes, eggplant and mozzarella. There were also rave reviews about the Cavatelli and the ravioli. There was a ton of food and none of us went away hungry.
I enjoyed my dinner here. The staff was top notch. The service for our large group was excellent. We were able to chat and catch up - as girls are wont to do - without being hassled for being noisy. The food was good and the atmosphere was welcoming. I would definitely return for another meal here.
Interesting info: Sette Bello makes two of their pastas in house daily - the Cavatelli and the Scialatelli. They were definitely fresh and delicious. The other pastas, while fresh, are not made in house. -
Review from Diana K.
Arlington, VA
8/3/2007
I've had two v. different dinners at Sette Bello and was really happy with both of them. The restaurant has a chic feel to it with a cute outdoor area, but on a quieter night it might feel a little too big.
The first was a big meal with wine flowing and a friend who could expense it all. A free meal is my favorite kind of meal, but I certainly would've been happy to pay for this one. We started with the carpaccio and the mini meatballs, which were both great, though we were surprised by the enormous pile of greens that came atop the carpaccio. He was pleased with his fish entree, my scallops were great. The wines suggested for our entrees were quite good. Dessert was a little disappointing, but we probably could've picked better - we shared the assorted gelato and the assorted sorbet. Having gone to Italy since, I've gotta say that their gelato was nothing to write home about.
The second dinner was a big 14 person birthday celebration. In this case, I was glad the space was so large bc our table didn't feel crowded and I didn't feel like we were overwhelming any other tables. We were seated near large windows which was nice as well. Everyone was thrilled with their order, which is rare in a large party. I had the Quattro Stagione pizza which was delicious. I tasted a great penne with salmon in vodka sauce and an amazing mushroom risotto. It was described as "grownup Mac&Cheese" and meant in a good way - one couple returned the next night and ordered it again. The birthday girl passed around her Chocolate Tart & Port Wine Sorbet and it was a much better dessert choice - I might not have been as generous.
Sette Bello is not too pricey either, and I look forward to going back, even without the expense account. -
Review from alexis g.
Falls Church, VA
11/13/2006
I have mixed feelings about Sette Bello. I came here for a birthday celebration on a Friday evening, and was happy there were large tables available for everyone. But the waitress got sassy with me for no reason, and of course I had to give it right back to her. (Hopefully, this isn't the sort of place that "gets back" at unruly customers like in that Ryan Reynolds movie.)
The pizza was wonderful, however, and I really do like how it's a large, open space inside with lots of windows. It was a rainy day, so it was fun to watch all the people running around outside with umbrellas and newspapers over their heads. After a few hours, Sette Bello turned into half restaurant, half bar, with a distinct line drawn to separate the two types of crowds. I thought that was interesting. The bartenders had the same nonchalant attitude as the mean waitress. -
Review from Tom D.
Washington, DC
2/4/2007
The best of the trio (Milano's, Sette), Sette Bello is a really nice place -- nice bar and great atmosphere. The food and service were very well orchestrated -- high marks for their extensive menu and attentive service. All the pasta dishes were wonderful as well as the seafood.
The prices are quite reasonable and I was moderately impressed with the wine list -- especially the offering by the glass. They do pour more generous glasses in the dining room than the bar....the bar is a bit of a scene but nothing like the scene at Milano's.
Will return. -
Review from Jalyn H.
Alexandria, VA
9/1/2006
So, what's the big deal? I've always seen limos with beautiful people lined up outside of this fairly recent addition to the Clarendon area. Per que? Does Sette Bello line their food with diamonds? The lighting is moody and the music is trippy, which is a true sign of a trendy eatery. I'm not drinking the kool aid.
The prices are not outrageous, but I am of the belief that one should not pay a lot for Italian cuisine. The food is good here, especially the gnocchi. The wine selection is ample and the servers are molto helpful. But really, why all the fuss? -
Review from Katie T.
Mountain View, CA
11/7/2006
Pumpkin ravioli with sage butter sauce! Some at our table thought it tasted more like a dessert than an entree, but the sage made it savory enough, and it was, naturally enough for something swimming in butter, very appealing. I mopped up the extra sauce with table bread, which was surprisingly good--chewy and dense, with a crispy crust. More like French bread, I would have though.
The 4-cheese pizza has blue cheese and no red sauce; it's big enough for one person, with maybe a piece or two left over.
After all that, I had no room at all for dessert, but friends liked the tiramisu. I enjoyed my passionfruit green tea (there's a selection to choose from).
It's a dressy place, and the crowd was fairly young and trendy. Good for people watching. The bathroom was surprisingly not that nice, considering the rest of the restaurant, though it did feature, oddly, a flat-screen television high up on one wall. -
Review from Sam R.
Ashburn, VA
2/21/2007
Good food, good atmosphere, good service.
We sampled the pizzas here the other night . The margherita was good, not great. I actually preferred my date's burina pizza -- that was tasty. Sausage and mushrooms, what's not to love? Good crust to boot.
Nice bar area with plenty of seating and tables to mingle. Typical mixed drink prices (GG and club soda - thank you for your $9 contribution). I won't say they skimp on the pours, but the bartenders don't have heavy hands either. Then again, this place probably doesn't target the "let's get shit faced!" college crowd. Well, maybe the trust fund "let's get shit faced!" kids ...
They also had a nice selection of wines. Of course, I'm probably the furthest from an oenophile, but the bottle of Nebbilo we got was very good. -
Review from Michael S.
Silver Spring, MD
Updated - 2/16/2009
Loves it. Did I say LOVES IT?
Why is their ravioli, whether it's a special or the one they always have in the menu, always perfect? Why is everything so good here?
I'll stop wondering. I've reviewed this place three times already, each time with 5 stars. That must mean something...Listed in: My Gourmandise In Action!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/21/2009
I. Love. This. Place.
Their specials of the day are always, ALWAYS great. You can never go wrong with… Read more »
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Review from Meredith V.
Suffolk, VA
9/2/2008
I've never eaten here, only came here for drinks.
First thing i noticed is they have wine ON TAP. I'm IN. But they also have a really nice selection of liquors and cocktails available. I came here also trying to find Limoncello (which is IMPOSSIBLE to find) but fortunately they had it. I had never tried it (only heard good things) and wasnt sure if you could only drink it straight up or if you blended it. The bartender was courteous and let me try it straight up and when that wound up being too strong, he put it into a blended cocktail for me. But then that was also not too great because it was blended with this cough-syrupy liquor so he nixed that too and let me pick another drink (all without charging me, which can be rare at some places). I ended up going with the peach bellini and my bf had the mojito, both were excellent and fresh. The bartender was very attentive throughout the night, which is hard to come by.
The inside decor was very impressive and the lounge area was comfortable and perfectly lit. I would like to return here to eat one day. -
Review from Carolyne W.
Washington, DC
1/27/2009
Dependably good food. Especially the butternut squash ravioli! Great brunch as well. Good wine selection.
The bar decor is trying a bit, but isn't much of an aggravation with the restaurant layout. Service has always been decent.
A plus when I went there was they allowed smoking in their psuedo-lounge area. Made for a wonderfully relaxed meal with wine and good company. Don't know if they've been overtaken yet by righteous non-smokers yet. -
Review from Deanna J.
7/9/2010
Sette Bello is your typical orange line restaurant-beautiful decor but not much for your buck. I'm not a city person that gets swept up in fancy places that charge $10 for a glass of wine I swear taste the same as the $3.29 Tarder Joes brand.
I had the ravioli della nonna, which is ricotta cheese and spinach stuffed ravioli. For $14 it was probably 7 pieces of ravioli and not much flavor, and I was still hungry. I also tried the vegetariana pizza-just okay.
Service was... in the middle. -
Review from Sean C.
Arlington, VA
8/24/2007
My wife and I went here for cocktails after dinner. We didn't have the food. The bar was nice. I did like the slight curve. The music was moody and trendy. It wasn't too busy for 9:30 on a Friday. The bartender was appropriately attentive, but didn't know how to make a Pimm's Cup. Not a common drink, but not out of the ordinary either. He made it after I told him how. The martinis were good.
I have to say I expected a little more from the owners of Cafe Milano, but I can't say there was really anything to complain about. It just didn't have the polish of one of the more upscale restaurants in D.C., say Oya for example, where we had dinner.
I will update when we eat the food.Listed in: Courthouse/Clarendon
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Review from Linda K.
Arlington, VA
11/10/2009
Giving this place a 2.5 stars.
Every time I'm in Clarendon, I always see this place packed and keep reminding myself to try it out. I finally did this past week and had mixed feelings about the place.
Without a doubt, I loved the decor and the atmosphere. Sadly, I came in with a little too high of an expectation. I definitely judged this place based on its cover and left with a not-so-good taste in my mouth.
Overall, the service was fine, not as friendly as some restaurants, and not as not-so-friendly as others. However, it was the food that disappointed me the most.
I had the risotto alla pescatora (risotto with seafood & tomatoes), while my friend got a salad and the scallops dinner special.
My friend's Caesar salad looked enormous next to her scallops dish, but she enjoyed her food. I, on the other hand could barely find the seafood, and found the risotto to be undercooked.
Sette Bello is a place I want to eat at again, since it may be that I ordered the wrong dish to try. -
Review from Alex S.
Baltimore, MD
2/4/2007
Food is great. On the pricey side but not over the top. Really cool decor and atmosphere in a convenient location. Bar area is also pretty nice if you're in the neighborhood and need a quieter place with no sort of cover where you can talk.
Same comment as Alexis about the waitresses, but usually the attitude is directed towards women. -
Review from Bassey E.
Arlington, VA
2/16/2009
The chic mediterranean decor is a bit intense, but it still doesn't mask the immaturity of their pasta. I've been to Sette on several occassions and while the service is impeccable, the food is a hit or a miss. Sometimes it comes out piping hot, sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's perfectly seasoned, sometimes it's overseasoned or completely bland.
I highly recommend just sticking to the bar area and ordering appetizers or desserts. The bartenders are talkative and the manager likes to walk around and flirt like Rocco Dispirito . . . in a good way. -
Review from Gregg C.
Washington, DC
2/19/2009
Great Italian food in Arlington.
Sette Bello's menu offers a wide range of options. For an appetizer, the mussels are fresh and tasty; the salumiere is a classic collection of Italian meats and cheeses. The entrees are very good, too -- at least the pastas (we didn't have any meat) -- they're fresh and well-prepared. Good wine list, too, and a good dessert selection.
I'm docking it one star for the service. It's fast and friendly, but also very pushy: they asked if we wanted more wine, or champagne, or after-dinner drinks at least a half-dozen times. Hard times, I guess - booze is heavily marked up.
Still, an excellent choice for Italian food. The location's great, too - across the street from the Clarendon Metro stop, and near ample street and garage parking. -
Review from Rocky A.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2006
A welcome addition to the Clarendon scene. Sette Bello is a trendy Italian restaurant by the owners of Cafe Milano in Georgetown and Sette Osteria in Dupont Circle. There is a huge bar area and some outdoor seating.
Sette Bello has a large number of wines by the glass (many Italian). The pizzas are among the best in the area, though not as good as Two Amy's or Pizzeria Paradiso.
In terms of ambience and food quality, it ranks up with Harry's and Tandoori Nights as one of the nicer places in Clarendon. Definitely a good place for a first date.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Dian C.
Arlington, VA
5/31/2009
I had a great dinner at Sette Bello on a recent sunny afternoon. Why? Delightful wine, great company, and a great seat outside. If not for these, Sette Bello would only come away with 3 stars.
We started off with 2 piattinis (tapas), which were both rather forgettable. Now, why are there so many words to describe a plate with itty bitty portions?
Pastas and pizzas were all decent. I had the seafood risotto, which was a big plate full of clams, mussels, and shrimp. Unfortunately, the shellfish were wimpy and not of good quality, but the bits of shrimp in the risotto made up for it.
The wines are marked up quite a bit, so I would suggest coming on a weekday during their happy hour. -
Review from Hannah B.
5/2/2010
What a disappointing Happy Hour!
When I arrived at the bar I was so excited to see the assortment of dishes for $3 - $5 - bruschetta, foccacia, calamari, fried rice balls, etc. There is a reason they are that cheap, folks! They are tiny, like a fistful of each. So you are not really getting a deal.
The only saving grace is that every draft beer is $2.50. The selection is fairly good - peroni, stella, blue moon, yeungyling and miller lite.
I am not sure where the $7 pizza is that everyone speaks of because the bartender tried to tell us that the foccacia sandwiches were like pizza. wrong! It's a sandwich cut in to 4 little itty bitty squares. Tasty but not worth $5.
Good thing they are surrounded by 20 other bars so we were able to hop on over to La Tasca, which has HH until 8pm and slightly better portions for the price of $3.50. -
Review from Evelyn K.
San Francisco, CA
9/16/2008
While back in NoVA/DC, I planned a Happy Hour get together with some friends. Their half-priced beer and wine up until 7 pm at the bar was a pretty decent deal, especially for the Syrah that was on the menu, which was simultaneously smooth and spicy. I indulged in 2 glasses of it during the course of the evening.
For a little something to whet our appetite, a friend and I ordered up the Caprese Della Costiera salad, which is a simple combination of flavors (with tomato, mozzarella, basil and oregano), but with fresh ingredients like we were served, it ends up being an absolute refreshing delight of the senses!
When more people arrived, we moved the group outside to the patio since it was such a fabulously warm, yet breezy night. We picked a couple of pizzas off the menu, since I had heard that they were really tasty. I'm a huge fan of the Pomodorini, which was topped with mozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and shaved parmesan cheese. With some ground pepper, the flavor totally pops in your mouth. The crust was light and unassuming, and reminded me of the lovely pizza that I had in Italy last year. Yummy yummy for my tummy! -
Review from Daniel S.
Fairfax, VA
11/20/2009
Sette Bello is a decent restaurant. But it's not terribly memorable imho. I've eaten here for dinner twice and both times I left satisfied but not inclined to go again.
During our last visit on a weeknight, the restaurant was probably half empty but still looked gorgeous both near the bar and in the dining room. It's not as impressive a place to visit during the winter when compared to summer though, since the patio tables are all missing and the restaurant feels a bit "colder" in atmosphere.
Appetizer-wise, we recently tried the calamari (very good), mini meat balls (meh), and special bean soup (okay, but nothing to write home about). For our main courses, we sampled a variety of their risotto dishes as well as their cavatelli, and eggplant parmigiana. I think Sette Bello really begins to shine in the entrees and all of them tasted very good (the eggplant dish was also huge). And for dessert, our table shared the tiramisu (good), dark chocolate cake (very rich and tasty), and apple tart (good).
Service was good although it seemed a little rushed at times (not overly so; but just enough to be mildly distracting). We also found the prices to be fair all things being considered.
I think a patio dinner at Sette Bello during a breezy summer night could be fun. But as a standalone choice in winter, I think DC has more to offer. -
Review from Paul F.
Washington, DC
12/20/2008
We had our company Holiday party here. I was really looking forward to it since I had not been here before, and had heard great things. The staff was absolutely amazing to us. The food never stopped coming, and it was consistently top quality. The main course was a couple pasta dishes, a chicken dish, and a monk fish dish. The monk fish was done absolutely perfectly, and I loved it. The desserts were ridiculously good.
The only thing keeping me from giving this place 5 stars is that they were really mixing the drinks pretty weak, especially towards the end of the night. It seemed like they were trying to go through as little booze as possible. This was pretty disappointing.
All in all, it was a great experience and they really treated us well. I'd like to go again and order from the menu. -
Review from Jessica R.
Arlington, VA
10/30/2008
Fresh and Delicious Food.
Good Ambiance - Total Date Spot.
Service Could Be Better.
I went here with my boyfriend for a casual Friday night dinner. I made a reservation 2 hours before we showed up, which was an excellent idea because the no-reservation folks were waiting 40 minutes. Ask for Sunny the waitress, she's great!
We started out with the Campagnola salad. It was incredible - very fresh with a little bit of spicy kick - the shaved pecorino campano cheese added a really great touch. We also got the Caprese Della Costiera which was yummy -tomatoes were juicy and mozzarella was good.
My wine pairing: Lagaria Chardonnay, very tasty, would recommend.
The two pizzas we got were both very delicious - Margherita and 4 Stagioni. We did not finish them until the day after. Very authentic looking and tasting.
I will definitely go back to Sette Bello for an affordable, delicious meal at a trendy neighborhood restaurant. -
Review from Audra E.
Orange County, CA
1/19/2009
Great atmosphere for a group dinner in the dining area, with plenty of conversation and laughter. Feels like an Italian ristorante in the middle of Arlington.
My friends and I enjoyed the calamari, scallop, and baby octopus appetizer with spicy marinara, as well as the prosciutto with fresh mozzarella and tomato. They bring out a nice basket of freshly baked crusty bread and pour you a plate of excellent extra virgin olive oil. The decor is rustic and unpretentious, including wooden chairs with twine seats.
For dinner, anything with seafood is delicious. I had risotto alla pescatora, which included a tasty selection of clams, shrimp, mussels, and calamari in a zesty cream tomato sauce. I believe the pasta was homemade -- my friend had fettuccine alla boscaiola, which included chicken, mushrooms, and fresh asparagus. Another had the Chilean sea bass special, which had a good sized fish portion.
They have an excellent wine selection -- trust the wine accompaniment recommendations! My friend had a nice chardonnay and I enjoyed the "Italian surfer" drink from their cocktail menu (it's a grapefruity combo of pineapple juice, Campari, and lemoncello). As expected, the desserts did not disappoint. The apple tart with almond ice cream was scrumptious and had a lovely hint of nutmeg, and the tiramisu was quite good as well.
Overall this is a great place to come with friends or family and have an evening of good food and a warm atmosphere. The food is made with care and is not overseasoned. Nice portion sizes, too. It's more upscale than a neighborhood joint, but not a fancy ristorante -- think of it as a balance between the two. -
Review from Michelle L.
Arlington, VA
4/16/2009
I've been here 3 times. 2 out of 3 times I've left angry because my food sucked. :-( I really want to love this place b/c it's my boyfriend's favorite spot.
I like their wine menu and their appetizers but have yet to be impressed with your main dishes. Perhaps I just need to love Italian food more but this place is not mind blowing. I want to give it 2 stars but the truth is there is only 1 other Italian place (La Perla) which rocks my socks off and the price ratio to these two places makes it hard to compare to one another. I like the atmosphere and decor and my parents seemed to like it.
Average experience. -
Review from Anna R.
8/18/2007
Food is OK. We returned from Bosnia last year, which is near the Croatian coast. Restaurants on the coast make the same things Sette Bello does but better.
The rating is for the service, not the waiter but the maitre d'. We went for my Mother's Day dinner. Great night but windy. They seated us at a table in direct line of the gusting wind and refused to move us, despite the fact that the restaurant was only half full. They ended up seating us in the bar area. I made a reservation for this?!
I don't know what people are smoking. I live in the area so this local won't be hanging out here. No more of my dollars.... -
Review from Collin W.
9/5/2009
I hate half-assing a review of a place but I also hate withholding credit when props are due. If I end up going here for an actual meal, I will updated.
I've only been here for happy hour, and a very good one it is. Beers were $2.50 and glasses of wine were $3-4. Margherita pizzas for $6 and a very generous plate of cured meats (salami, mortadella, prosciutto, something else...this topic is not one of my culinary strong points), cheese, bread, and olives for $7.
The setting was very nice and seating at the bar was generous. Very nice, attentive staff.
The kicker was that this was at 6 PM...on a Saturday. Happy hour is a lot more fun when you don't have to rush to it straight from work. -
Review from Laura H.
Washington, DC
8/4/2008
Fresh, al dente pasta and a huge patio.
Excellent place to go for a relaxing Southern Italian dinner. I was mildly impressed they had appetizers such as prosciutto wrapped melone and prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Certainly a step up from Olive Garden or the like.
I had the cavatelli with mushrooms and sausage and my friend had the linguine with clams and mussels. Everything was fresh and tasty. I am excited to come back a little closer to fall to get my pumpkin ravioli fix. -
Review from Carolina V.
Washington, DC
12/13/2009
It is a 3.5. I am very picky about Italian food so I tend to be harsher on Italian restaurants. I have yet to find a place in the DC metro area that has really good quality italian food and does not have unacceptable prices for pasta or rice!
Having said that, the food at Sette Bello is ok, probably above most other italian places in the area.
The ambiance is fun and the service is good- nothing out of the ordinary but good. I will not make a trip to eat here, but if I am in the area I will be happy to visit again. -
Review from Mindy D.
Washington, DC
2/1/2009
Great for a wine drinking happy hour - with their half price wines by the glass list. Too bad they don't have any food discounts during happy hour.
The food is great though. We had the tomato salad and the Italian meat and cheese platter. The location in Clarendon is perfect. It's right next to the metro and across from the free parking garage. The ambiance is casual but classy and the service is attentive. -
Review from Jessica G.
Arlington, VA
5/19/2009
This review is based on happy hour experiences only.
I am beginning to love Sette Bello for its selection of quality, affordable wine during happy hour, as well as the great food specials offered until 7 pm.
The atmosphere is peaceful, but not 'dead' and allows for sitting and talking with friends over good drinks and nibbles.
The pizza margherita is only $6 during happy hour, and other treats include bruschetta, calamari, olives, and more! -
Review from Paul W.
Arlington, VA
4/30/2010
This place has potential, but due to a low number of clientele and the onslaught of daily happy hour goers, this place never became a great restaurant. Their dishes have heart, but I find this place inconsistent and undependable. I ordered the pricey oso bucco and it was not prepared properly at all.... it tasted... old. But what kind of turnover on food do you expect with the Clarendon crowd... most people are eating at Whitlows.
