Ristorante Murali
1201 S Joyce St, Arlington, VA, 22202
Ristorante Murali Menu
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Address :
1201 S Joyce St
Arlington, VA, 22202 - Phone (703) 415-0411
- Website https://www.muraliva.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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T M.
I have been thinking about going here every time I travel to DC over the last few years, but the reviews always made me go elsewhere...now I know why. The atmosphere and staff was good, probably a 3 star (even though MSNBC was on the TV despite the ALCS being on) but the food was not good. I sat at the bar, which I usually do when dining alone and the house salad was good but then I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana....the chicken was terrible. Had been frozen too long or cooked too long, very chewy, basically just bad especially for the price they charge. I would not recommend and will not return.
(2)Cory X.
Came here on a groupon and not worth it even with the discount. Food was very bland and nothing special. Should definitely go to other Italian restaurants if you can.
(2)Cameron R.
I had the spinach raviolis. I really enjoyed them. Nice little place. Wouldn't mind going back the next time I'm on the East Coast
(4)Elizabeth S.
If a Italian restaurant can't even get the bread to taste right then they shouldn't be in business. We went here because it was close to where we lived and wanted some quick food. Our food was below average and cold. The bread was STALE: you would think they would keep track of when things expire and would go stale. Our waitress could have been more attentive but i guess they couldn't get that right either. Overall, do not go here. I DONT recommend this place.
(1)Jessica D.
We used a Groupon here last night, so we were able to try a few different dishes. The salad, fried calamari, and bread were just okay. The salad was fresh enough, but the presentation could have been better. The calamari was prepared well, but was pretty tasteless on its own. However, the homemade spinach manicotti was fabulous. I would definitely go back to try some of their other homemade pasta selections. We also ordered a pizza, which was good, not great. The decor is nice and they have the makings of a great menu; service was okay. They just need to touch up a few details to make it worth the price.
(3)Courtney W.
I enjoyed this place a lot. I came around 6pm on a Saturday, they were almost empty. We were seated quickly and our waiter gave us an overview on some of their most popular dishes. He was very polite and raved about the food. I ordered the chicken parm. The free bread that came with the meal was hot and cripsy, and there's olive oil on the table as well for dipping. It may have been a little better if there were some herbs and seasonings for the oil, but it was alright. Our entrees took longer than normal to arrive but when they did, they looked awesome. My chicken parm was served with penne in a marinara sauce which tasted fresh and house made, not from a can or jar. The chicken was obviously freshly breaded and fried from what I could tell, I didn't get the impression at all that it was previously frozen or pre-cooked. The chicken was thin and had the perfect ratio of sauce and cheese on top. The time it took it get our meals made sense, because they tasted as if they were made fresh to order. After we ate, it took us a while to get our check. The waiters apparently really like you to take your time. It wasn't a big deal for us as we were deep in conversation, but it did come to a point where we were ready to go and still hadn't gotten a check yet. That was really the only downside. All in all, it was an awesome meal, but don't come here if you're in a rush. If you're looking for a good Italian meal with big portions and some time to sit down and relax after shopping, this is your place. I'd definitely come back again!
(5)Sonia M.
My girlfriend and I decided we were hungry one day and on a whim decided to check out this place on a deal through Living Social. When we got there, the place was empty save for a mother and her two sons. We were served some bread which was actually pretty good. It seemed to have some butter baked into it. We sat down and ordered the caprese and the crab stuffed mushrooms. Both came out pretty quickly and they both tasted pretty average. My girlfriend said the crabs still had some of the soft shell still on them which she had to keep picking out of her mouth. We ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken to share. My girlfriend didn't really care for the dish. I thought it was decent. During our meal we ordered two mixed drinks. Neither was properly prepared. Our waiter even indicated that the person who made one of them didn't even know how to make it before it was sent out. Add to it that it felt like we were being watched every time we finished a plate and it just felt like they were hovering. We would have been ok with leaving the restaurant with our Living Social deal and chalking it up to a place we might come back to because the prices are decent but they said they no longer honored them which cemented it for us. We had just bought the deal before walking in. The manager didn't even bat an eyelash and walked away. What horrible customer service. Not going back.
(1)Jayden D.
Service was great..thank you Maher.... Wine list was also a great selection. Chicken piccata had a wonder flavor and was tender. Store bought noodles could have used another minute. The plate also could use some presentation. Piccata can be a beautiful plate. My husband had chicken Alfredo and thought it was bland. The sauce was milky. Lacked flavor and texture. We also had the special Bruschetta and it was wonderful. Averaged the meal stars so be thankful for good service and wine. Oh....invest in seat cushions it's time for an upgrade.
(3)Laura H.
Despite the average two and a half star rating here, I really enjoyed the pizza I ordered last night. My boyfriend and I came here as a quick option after unpacking all day around 8:30. There was one other table outside and two inside- not what I'd expect on a Friday night. Our server was friendly, immediately brought us waters and menus. He also brought out bread, which unlike others experience, was not stale but just ok. I like that they leave the olive oil on the table for your dipping pleasure. We decided not to do drinks and get them after dinner instead so our bill was extremely reasonable at $31.00. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna al forno and easily finished it despite the generous portion. I was in the mood for pizza and went with the prosciutto E arugula with shaved parmigiano. It was generous at five large cuts and I had a couple slices left over for lunch today. The ratio of prosciutto to arugula to cheese was perfect! The arugula was very fresh and I loved the slight saltiness of the prosciutto. Due to our personal experience, which was good, I think we will return here in the future.
(4)Hing S.
The sangria it's horrible the stuff musrhrom was good, the penne with smoke salmon was little dry and salty the service was fast since was only 3 table almost empty on a Thursday nigth the place it's nice but for the quality of the food it's too expensive
(3)Curtis H.
Meh. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. I went in here to order the Pizza Puttanesca, which was listed on both the sample lunch and dinner menus next to the door (although to be fair it was penciled in on the dinner menu and it was dinner time). I was very disappointed when the server said they did not do it at night but pointed out that I could do the "build your own pizza" option on the menu and maybe come up with something that way. Why not just ask the chef to make what I requested instead of leaving to me to try to figure out how they would do it otherwise? I had the Pasta Bolognese instead. Like I said it was just OK. Mine that I make at home is way better in terms of flavor and texture. Probably will not bother with this place again.
(2)Sara R.
Came here for a lunch after the holidays. Unfortunately didn't read the reviews first - food was pretty mediocre (had the grilled chicken arugula salad) and it took forever to get the check. Don't come here expecting a quick lunch - set aside at least 1.5 hours (i kid you not). I have to say that the bruschetta appetizer was quite delicious but not enough to make me want to come back when there are so many other options in the area.
(2)Brian M.
I had the penne with smoked salmon which was good. My wife had the penne with lamb sausage which was ok. The appetizer was good. The sangria was nothing special, and the lemon drop martini wasn't that good either. We went in May, it was uncomfortably warm in the restaurant. It was so warm, we couldn't enjoy our food. We mentioned it to the waiter, but they didn't do anything. One problem is the afternoon sun comes right through the front Windows and the blinds do little to block it. Another problem is the restaurant leaving the front doors propped open so the A/C never had a chance to cool the place down. We'll never go back.
(2)Crystal F.
This place has a wonderful patio and view of nearby green area. I enjoyed sitting there for lunch. One star. My server was attentive, pleasant and efficient. One star. I was in the mood for a lazy lunch over delicious Italian food on a gorgeous patio. 2 out of 3 normally ain't bad, but in this case... I ordered the spinach almond and goat cheese salad. Plenty of goat cheese, just enough almonds and a good portion of spinach. Unfortunately, the red onions and tomatoes had been previously cut and stored in the refrigerator for a while. The onions were limp and like the tomatoes they had a soggy exterior. The balsamic dressing was commercial and average. My server dutifully offered to bring me cracked pepper for my salad. There wasn't any bread served prior to or with the salad, but there was olive oil on the table. Regular table salt and pepper were also present, but no sea salt or fresh cracked pepper. Hmmmmmm..... For the entree, I took the server's recommendation and ordered the spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce. The portion size was good and the pasta was al dente. The sauce was orange-ish and not what is typically expected in terms of marinara taste. It seemed to be a commercial sauce that was doctored up with canned chopped tomatoes and chopped onions --- much like I would do at home. The meatballs were small frozen commercial meatballs that had that familiar but confusing spongy consistency. One is never quite sure if those are made of real meat. My server offered me "fresh parmesan," which she spooned onto my pasta. The parmesan had a decidedly Kraft Grated Parmesan look and taste. I don't even use that stuff at home. I ate one meatball, but couldn't convince myself to eat more. As for the pasta, I had three bites but just couldn't continue as I couldn't see the point in wasting calories on something that was average to mediocre. I asked for a to-go box because I didn't want to embarrass my server and I don't like to waste food. My server brought the dessert tray and everything on it looked just pitiful. Each item looked like it had been sitting in the fridge uncovered for weeks. I passed. Truth be told, anyone can make a better salad dressing, pasta sauce and meatballs at home than what was served to me. My bill was $18 plus tip. The food was edible. It was the correct temperature. It just wasn't great Italian food or worth $18, and I could have made the same or better at home. I REALLY wanted to like this place. The patio is wonderful, the restaurant is pretty inside, the bathroom was clean, service was fast and my server was great, but the food.... It's not even as good as Olive Garden. If the food changed, this place could kill it. I wish they'd call me to revamp their menu and train their cooks...
(2)Elaine S.
I wouldn't go back unfortunately. The reviews really did mount up to the quality of the Restaurant. I got a pizza with salami, spinach and sundried tomatoes.... It just wasn't good :/ I would have been better off ordering the same thing from Pizza Hut, or Dominoes. I did go with an open mind spite the reviews. Positives: I thought the bread was great, and the olive oil went nicely with it. Our waiter was pleasant. But sorry guys. First and last time there.
(1)Pegah Y.
Mediocre food, decent enough service, but doesn't stand out from other Italian restaurants. I recently visited Ristorante Murali for an early dinner with a friend at 6pm, despite the overall 2.5-star average the restaurant received on Yelp. I went in a bit wary and actually was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as awful as everyone else has been saying it is. The bread they bring out at the beginning is a bit stale, to be honest, but the entree I ordered was pretty delicious. I ordered the pumpkin ravioli, in keeping with the autumn season, and enjoyed it. It wasn't the most generous of portions, but the dish was delicious and well-prepared. Our service was alright - decent, but nothing I'd write home about. At the end of our meal, the server brought out a tray of ready-made desserts to try to get us to buy one of them. The desserts on the tray seemed a bit old and tough, so we opted to not go with dessert. Overall, I don't think I'll be a regular at Ristorante Murali, but I won't run for the hills either and I could very well decide to dine there again in the future.
(3)Ray C.
Well I should of left when they gave me a beer that was almost lukewarm. Then they gave me 2 slices of bread with no butter??? I ordered a chicken parm, it wasn't by any means horrible, but def would never go back to order again. I tried the bread with the sauce, it was pretty poor. I'm not a huge italian food fan but this place left much to be desired. The Olive Garden has way better food than this place.
(1)Mary Kate M.
We had seen the menu for this restaurant while strolling out a few nights before we came here. It really intrigued us, so we came out Wednesday evening to enjoy some Italian food here. This is definitely a nice business casual Italian restaurant. Everyone was looking really nice, enjoying wine and some fine dining. When my boyfriend and I arrived, we decided to simply get a couple of entrees and pass on the appetizers and boozes. I ordered the pumpkin ravioli and my boyfriend ordered the chicken marsala... He destroyed his meal and enjoyed every last bit of it. For the couple of tastes I had of his, it was really good! No complaints from him. For me, the pumpkin ravioli was good, however, I think this would be better as an appetizer simply because the flavor gets old after a few bites. It wasn't bland or anything. It's just one of those dishes you have to be in the mood to eat, and not always more is better. I ended up eating half of my portion and saving the rest for later. When I had the left overs, it wasn't at all as good as the first go. Service was excellent! Our server was prompt and really on top of his game. When we needed water, he got it. When we wanted some more bread, he got it. Let me point out the shredded fresh parmesan was so good too. He grated it for us right over our plates. Everything totaled out to be $36 with tax. This was, in fact, a very nice meal. I would absolutely go back for sure.
(4)Q. W.
Very average. Fettuccine Alfredo was bland. I had higher expectations. Workers were pleasant. Overall I was disappointed.
(2)Candy C.
Linguine with Clams, white wine, basil, and dice garlic. The claims is fresh, wirh fresh summer tomatoes. It balances nicely in my mouth. This one was awesome with a white garlic sauce and fresh tomatoes. Also a Gamberi, corkscrew pasta with Jumbo Shrimp, sun-Dried tomatoes and pesto sauce. Oh my god, this one is horribly scary. The pesto sauce was bland and oily. It didn't taste like basil and I'm pretty certain that no pine nuts were harmed in the making of this sauce. We had to send that one back and replaced it with a prucitto arugula pizza. The pizza was better than the shrimp. The quality of toping is good, but the crust needs some improvement. For pizza, I would rather go to naked pizza in the corner.
(3)Tina B.
My family has eaten at Murali's many times and always enjoyed our experience. The service has always been very attentive and the food wonderful.
(5)Mark D.
Went two nights ago. Wished I hadn't. Calamari was ok. Waiter said they had oso bucco on the menu. He then pointed to lambshank. I tried it. Lamb was ok but a very small portion. Risotto was not given enough liquid during cooking. My companions both said the scallops were cold and tough. Wine list was only fair. Very underwhelmed. The only Italian place in a small restaurant group should be ready to impress. This did not. Not going back
(1)Rachel W.
Ugh - fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me! Oh, the shame. After a terrible dining experience which I've already documented, my boyfriend and I made the mistake of having dessert here (we had an excellent dinner at BlackSalt but unfortunately, my lactose intolerant boyfriend could not indulge in many of their dessert offerings). We were greeted, rather inhospitably by the hostess. We ordered two desserts and coffee. She did not know what espresso con panna was (which is an Italian phrase for "espresso with cream") which surprised me since we were in an Italian restaurant - Starbucks employees know what it is...She slightly scoffed when I explained what I wanted, as if it was so alien I have no business ordering it. I'll give her a pass, since my request may have made her feel clueless. My boyfriend's coffee came with two of those individual servings of half/half (come on, invest in a milk pourer that is nicer than what you would find at a diner) - the sugar came late. The tiramisu was lackluster and tasteless. If not for the espresso cream it sat in on the plate it would have been inedible. My boyfriend's chocolate cake was probably carved from something store bought, it looked uninspired, as did our server's facial expressions. Half way through, we realized we had no napkins. At $25 for desserts and drinks, I expected something a bit more memorable. Then again, I've dined here before and I should know better. I said I wouldn't be back the first time, and this time I mean it.
(1)Debra T.
Ugh, this place can suck you know what. I ordered the Risotto al Mare - Italian Arborio rice with saffron, shrimps, scallops, mussels, red peppers and green peas and the entire dish was completely underwhelming. I felt that the mussels, red peppers and green peas took over my plate and the proportions weren't balanced well. It was just a let down, especially since I paid $24.95 for it! I also ordered the Tiramisu to share with a friend and that was good at least. Otherwise, I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Samantha R.
I am more than happy and excited to talk about my experience at Murali restaurant . I have been coming for the past 5 years religiously . Not only I do adore the Art Deco , from what the owner told me everything being brought from Italy . I also fall in love with the dishes that I can't seem to have enough . My favorite dishes , honestly I don't have any , I love all of them . I have tried everything in the menu. I just had lunch with a friend on Monday who came for the first time and not his last for sure. Today we had for the appetizers bruschetta with prosciutto covered with tomatoes underneath fresh mozzarella .. I was soooo pleased with it !!! Usually you have it for dinner but since I come all the time the owner recognize it and he made an exception to let us have it for lunch!!! my friend had calamari alla griglia salad , oh lord !! I asked Monica who was our lovely server and who suggested my friend to get this dish , that the calamari were marinated 24 hours and grilled to the perfection and the salad was tasteful with lemon and olive oil dressing! You can not go wrong with olive oil . Our next course was the baked tilapia , with tomatoes, black olives , ma favorite, potatoes and sparkled with capers in a white wine sauce , at that point I closed my eyes and left my imagination take me right in the Mediterranean , the combination of all the ingredients worked marvelously ! It's light and at the same time you get full . My friend went bolder , he had the lamb shank with saffron risotto . The meat was so tender and the risotto was a great combination and the dish wasn't overwhelming with the sauce ! At the end we couldn't have desert but usually I do have the creme brûlée , oh well it would be to my next visit! I do recommend this place if you are looking for fresh and elaborated without pretension meals . The staff is awesome . Particularly Monica who does pay attention of what you like and remember it . She never failed me and always suggest me what I should take . I don't even need to choice anymore when I go there . She knows what I like and she just bring me and surprise me with a dish that of course I love . My conclusion: food :great Service : fantastic Atmosphere: relaxed I will post more of my experience next week .
(5)Art J.
We had an office farewell luncheon here. The service was horrible. Some of the members of our party said that their good was good and I will have to take their word for it. My food the spinach ravioli came out cold. After sending it back it was returned lukewarm with warmed up alfredo sauce poured on top. Horrible. The wait staff had an I don't care attitude and completely disregarded complaints or issues brought to their attention. I have to say that the best service I received was from the bus person responsible for collecting the plates. One person in our party waited for An hour to get a pizza! A pizza!! She ended up leaving without eating because it took so long that she was just fed up. The waitress just disregarded that she left and had this attitude like oh well tough! Well let's just say that this place was pretty bad I would definitely not recommend this place to anyone. I am making it a point to tell everyone in my organization and it's a pretty large one in the area. With quite a few offices across the freeway there to not frequent this establishment as it is not at all interested in treating customers the right way. Oh and we had to wait over an hour for our food. And they would not break up the check. There was over thirty people there. Most of which pay with credit or debit cards. This was quite the fiasco.
(1)Sarah D.
I was in the DC area for work and decided to try RIstorante Murali on Pentagon Row. A co-worker and I went together. I ordered a glass of their homemade sangria and it was very much watered down. They stored it in this big pitcher full of ice at the bar and i the pitcher looked like all the ice was melting in it. I then ordered a glass of chardonnay and it was much better. I ordered the pork loin special that came with fettucine alfredo. The dish was ok but nothing spectacular. That being said I had plenty of room for dessert. I loved how they had all of their desserts on one tray for display so you could see what everything looked at. When the waitress came over she let us know that only the tiramisu and creme brulee were made in house. I should have known that ordering the carrot cake that looked amazing on the tray was going to be a bad decision but I went out on a limb and ordered it. The cake was so dry and stale i spit it back out on my plate and returned it. I am sure that cake was sitting out uncovered for more than a few days and shouldn't be served to customers especially at the price they were charging. Lucky for me, my co-worker ordered the creme brulee which was really good and split it with me. At the end of the meal I ordered an espresso and that was just as expected. Not sure if i would give this place another shot given this experience.
(2)Chris S.
Good Italian food, although I'm not sure all of the pasta dishes (especially lasagna) are made to order. Courteous and efficient service. Limited wine list. Prices are okay, but not a great deal.
(3)Ken S.
Our first visit to this restaurant and we decided to order pizza. The toppings and sauce were tasty but the crust was awful, reminding me of the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. I'll leave it to other reviewers to comment on different menu selections but don't bother coming here for pizza. My rating of two stars is based on one for the food and a second for atmosphere and service. There are many other better options so we won't be back.
(2)Aaron G.
I'm not even going to bother with a witty comment, that's how not worth your time this place is. There is literally no reason to eat here. You can get better food at a cheaper price at almost any other restaurant in the vicinity. They do have outdoor seating.
(2)Brandy S.
The food here was excellent. Everything tasted fresh and homemade. The cheese ravioli was amazing. Tiramisu was the best ever. Service was fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try something else!
(5)Jay B.
The only thing that deserve a star is the location. The food is absolutely terrible!!! I ordered a pasta dish and it was the worse thing I ever tasted. I ended up regretting not sticking with my initial idea of going to Noodles & Co next door. Do not mess with this place unless you want to be disappointed.
(1)Juliet K.
Pleasantly surprised... this is probably the only restaurant that I hadnt tried yet at pentagon row. i have a coupon so we decided to try it out, and im so glad we did. ordered: appetizer - mussels - delicious.. entree - crab meat ravioli and pumpkin ravioli - both couldve been cooked a little bit longer. i felt like the noodles were TOO al dente. but otherwise, tasted good. the crab meat was a bit skimp on the crab meat itself. so between these two, i actually liked the pumpkin one better because it was more unique is flavor. and the pumpkin taste was great and slightly sweet. also ordered linguine pescatore and i thought i fell into heaven. this dish was spectacular. shirmp, scallops, calamari, and clams all cooked great with homemade noodles and sauce with just a big of spice. i added crushed red peppers for more kick and it was perfect. totally reminded me of italy and made me want to go back. service was great. i'd definitely go back to try more pasta. drool.
(4)Steve M.
What a poorly run business. I had made reservations at a top Italian restaurant for Valentines day. When my wife got home we had a few glasses of wine and decided we were not in the mood to sit at a crowded restaurant. Opting for Italian takeout and some quiet time at home. We ordered food from Murali and noticed that the prices on the menu were different than the the prices on the online order function. Should have been our first clue. We never see anybody in this place when we walk by and the fact that they dropped prices 30-40% shows poor quality and no customer base! We ordered lasagna and chicken parm. $23 total. The online order tool does not give you a time to pick up your order so we called in. When they finally answered the phone, the very rude owner replied "anything online 45 minutes..." not once confirming the order. Now I'm not an asshole but come on, its your restaurant at least have some idea what time our meal will be done. 40 minutes go by and we call on our way over to the restaurant to make sure our food was ready. Anticipating that, hey it's Valentines Day if it's not ready, we will wait and grab a glass of wine. Again the rude owner picks up, confused about the order and replies "yea it's done (sharply) and it's been waiting in the back for 20 minutes..." Business 101 bud, not the smartest reply! Thankfully we did not prepay for what would have been cold Italian food. 1.) get a new ordering system 2.) if food finishes early, could you maybe call the person? 3.) don't quit your day job... This place will be out of business in 6 months to a year max! Needless to say, with all the better options in Pentagon Row, we will not try this place again.
(1)Hans B.
Overlooked lumpy linguini. Bad bread. Mediocre service. And.. Stomachache. Never again....
(1)Jason S.
Another "average" Pentagon City restaurant amongst a sea of mediocre PC places. This is an Italian Restaurant operated by Russians....must be indentured ones at that. Food is so so. Service is okay. I wish they would get a Clyde's at PC. Don't waste your time with this place
(3)Megs T.
The first time we ate here it left a good enough impression on me to want to come back so tried it again today for lunch and left MORE impressed this time with the place, the people and the fantastically flavorful food! Murali is tucked into the Pentagon Row shops and the menu (great selection of Italian offerings) and reasonable lunch prices drew me, husband, kindergartner and toddler in. We were greeted promptly by a hostess and our server who gave us a warm, genuine, "So nice to have you here with us..." Lemme tell you. Those words are HUGE in my world. And fitting for this place that to me looks like it could be a big, chic, upscale but warm dining room in someone's home. I write that to say that beyond the food, this place FEELS good. The people are genuinely...nice. They picked up and rinsed my 1-year-old's bottle and pacifier more than once. That is going way beyond in my book. But the food is why we're here, so let's talk food. OH, the food! Upon arrival, a basket of bread was brought promptly. Bread was nothing special but olive oil and parmesan was provided for dipping which=bonus points with the hubby. Bonus point with me for bringing bread quickly when 2 hungry children at table. Appetizers: we had the sausage stuffed mushrooms and a bruschetta trio (sauteed shrooms, tomato, avocado) that was a chef's special Both were delicious. I had a basic side salad with tomato and balsamic that was remarkably fresh and yummy..AND a big size for the $3.95 pricetag. For lunch I had the seafood mixed grill. This consists of a piece of salmon, 2 large scallops and 3 large shrimp, penne tossed in some of the most flavorful, memorable garlic/oil/lemon-ness I have had. All of that delish for $13.95. I mean, this dish is so good that I found myself intentionally eating slow and cutting off tiny pieces to savor the flavor of it all. I ate half and brought the rest home to enjoy later. Hubby had the shrimp scampi with linguine and commented it was one of the best scampi dishes he 'd ever had! I will say that in my world, we like flavor and seasoning to our food. I hate when restaurants hold back and are too conservative in this arena. Murali doesn't hold back! I see a debate going here on whether the food is "authentic Italian" or not. I've not been to Italy, but having eaten my share of Italian I'd say it at least comes close. And if not, who really freaking cares. The food is really, really good. No denying that. I
(4)Dora H.
We met up here with the boyfriend's mom for dinner. The menu looked nice and we each got a different salad. She and I split a pizza and the boy got ravioli. We are now all sitting in pain. I threw up at the restaurant itself, outside the metro and barely made it home before doing it again. The boy barely made it home before he too let loose. The food was all mediocre and salty and, oh yeah, it made us SICK. I'd rather go hungry than go there again.
(1)Linda K.
Murali has a nice atmosphere. The place is very large. They have outdoor seating as well. Service is good. The location is nice, and it is the only Italian restaurant in Pentagon Row. They have a nice wine selection. The spinach salad is decent, as is the pumpkin ravioli. The food is fine, but there are better Italian places. It is a little pricey and portions are smaller than most Italian restaurants. Overall, a decent place but nothing extraordinary.
(3)Greg G.
Three or four stars? That was the question I struggled with, but eventually went with three...here's why: I don't frequent this area of town, especially for dinner, but I found myself at Pentagon Row on an early Tuesday evening. I had a decent meal at Ristorante Murali (RM) several years ago, so I thought I'd check them out again. The interior is tasteful, but nothing too over-the-top. I sat at the bar, had a beer, and pursued their menu. Their beer selection is pretty limited, but RM isn't a "beer bar" so I won't fault them too much. They have a fairly extensive menu with all the usual Italian contenders. I went with one of the daily specials...."Seafood Cioppino Soup". I should mention that Cioppino is one of my absolute favorite dishes. I've had it dozens and dozens of times and I have never seen it appear on a menu with "Seafood" or "soup" descriptors -- as many of you know, the whole concept of the dish is that it's seafood stew. By labeling it "soup", I expected it to come out "soupier" than normal. I asked the bartender (my server) how it compared with how cioppino is usually prepared. Unfortunately, the bartender wasn't able to provide any useful information. Even though I wasn't sure what to expect, I ordered the "Seafood Cioppino Soup." While waiting for my entree, I was served a few pieces of bruschetta. The bruschetta wasn't anything special, but it was fresh and decent enough. My entree arrived and was quite large! It had all of the seafood I expect to see in cioppino: squid, mussels, white fish, shrimp, and scallops. The quantity of seafood was quite generous. All of the seafood was cooked about right, with the exception of the mussels, which were overcooked. However, seafood is tricky to cook in cioppino because it continues to cook in the broth as you eat it. Since the amount of broth was pretty much like every other cioppino I've had, I'm not sure why they called it "soup" on the menu. The broth had nice flavor, but it had a bit too much oregano. One of the best things about cioppino is being about to sop up the broth with good bread (or maybe garlic bread). RM served my cioppino with garlic toast -- and it was quite toasted, so my ability to properly sop up the broth was hindered. I would have preferred good crusty bread. I doubt anyone would mistake RM for a fine, classical, Italian restaurant. I can't comment on their pasta, pizza, or sauces...but I was reasonably pleased with my cioppino. It certainly wasn't among the best I've had, but it was reasonably well prepared, generously sized, and fairly priced ($25).
(3)mary b.
We went on a Friday night...pretty slow. First hint of things to come. The restaurant itself is nice, not too fancy or intimate, good for groups or families. Here's a pet peeve I have - too many waiters standing around doing nothing, especially when it takes forever to get the food. Pretend to do something! Another hint - an Italian place with mediocre bread. Our orders: crab ravioli - slightly cold and under cooked - a big no-no with seafood spaghetti with meat sauce - simple but done perfectly lasagna - my friend said it was really good but I didn't taste it. Our waitress was nice, but we felt she was overdoing it with the upselling. Her face would visibly fall every time we said no to dessert or wine. I felt a little bit sorry for her. So, def not the worst food I've ever had, but there are lots of areas for improvement before I'd go back. There are plenty of other options in the area.
(2)David H.
I have been here twice so my review is based on those two experiences combined. Experience #1 4 Stars I had the chicken cacciatore which was braised chicken, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms in a light tomato sauce over pasta. I was pretty hungry and the meal more than filled me up. Everything tasted fresh, the staff is very friendly and I was about to give this place a great review. Then I went back a second time yesterday.... Experience #2 2 Stars Staff was still very friendly, meal was a decided step in the wrong direction, however. I ordered the chicken Parmesan, which to me is one of the most basic of Italian foods. It was very mediocre and somewhat flavorless. Also some of the pasta was cold, not all of it, but some of the noodles were ice cold while others were warm. I found that to be quite strange. I almost thought maybe they had run out of chicken and gone to Olive Garden to get my meal. My wife, who is Italian, tried some and asked me whether they accidentally gave me veal...no on closer inspection it turns out the chicken was pounded into the thickness level of a sheet of notebook paper. If this had been my first time there I would have been somewhat reluctant to go back. I want to give this place a great review...but I just can't do it. I have to give this place three stars and say it's officially hit or miss (especially for the prices because this place isn't cheap). If you are in the area and are okay with a meal that will be somewhere between average and very good stop by, but if you want a sure fire great Italian meal I have to recommend you take the Metro up to Luigi's in Dupont Instead.
(3)Andrew G.
No offense intended at all in this review, but my service at this restaurant was mediocre. The food was average, bread blah, and the service was ok. They do get a point for constantly refilling the bread and water, but still...meh. On top of that, they didn't even offer a mall employee discount, unlike surrounding restaurants in the area. Not going again, and not recommended.
(2)Ken E.
Decent eats, wine selection and ambiance. Nice location in Pentagon Row. One of the better options after Lebanese Taverna. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
(3)Jim B.
We were in from out of town and was recommended to come here by our hotel. The first night, we went, we had a group of about 8 of us. The service was incredible and friendly. Food was great and no complaints. We went back the next night with about 25 of us and the service was as good as it could get. You alway expect hiccups with a group that size, but this wasn't the case. Service was incredible once again. I would highly recommend coming here and I will be back if I am in the area.
(5)C H.
Today we ate a Murali's with a very large group. The appetizer was good and the main dish was even better, I would have given them 4 stars however, I asked for my two desserts to go (the person sitting next to me gave me there dessert). When I got back to the office, I realized they provided desserts that were half the size of those that were served at the restaurant. It was very disappointing, they lost my business and I will share the news with others. For the $26++ we paid, I expected more from Muralis.
(2)Harry R.
Food was good - service was a bit too businesslike. People aren't a commodity, and there is a bit of an art to service. If a party is talking upon arrival, it is probably not the best move to make four visits in 10-minutes to solicit an entree order. So. Overly attentive? Unable to decipher social cues? In a hurry to turn a table in an otherwise empty restaurant? I understand the equation from the establishment perspective: we sit + we order + we pay + we leave = successful visit. But allow for a bit of enjoyment in the midst of the quantitative. On the good side - the mussels were a nice appetizer, bread had a good crumb, the calamari while small were well cooked, crab ravioli were passable, grilled shrimp were amazing, linguine and clam sauce was consumed entirely by a seven year old, ricotta gnocchi were wrapped in a tasty bolognese, and caesar salad had a balanced dressing and big slices of creamy parm. reg. Dessert was out of a box. Ice cream was doled out like it was laced with gold (the $1,546 per ounce kind). Good if you are in Pentagon City, but worth the trip?
(3)Louise H.
We held a wedding rehearsal dinner for 85 people here on Jan 3, 2014. The ambience, food and service were wonderful. My son, the groom, who is usually not impressed by much was so pleased with the experience. I would recommend working with this restaurant for another dinner party.
(5)Steffany H.
Although the service was PHENOMENAL, if you blindfolded me with my dish from here and a dish from olive garden I may not have selected theirs.... I had the house salad and the crab ravioli - the salad ok - loved the dressing but hated the fact that it was mixed greens - with NOTHING else. ehhh... The crab meat ravioli was ok but nothing to brag about. The portions were ok, but not of Italian proportions. Generally if I'm having Italian for lunch, I know I'll have enough for dinner. I was starving so i was excited to see bread coming to our table but it was kinda gross - and so was the olive oil. MAYBE I'd come back if I lived in the area (which I don't) or lived close (which I don't) so I probably won't be making another trip here anytime soon.
(3)Alex L.
The waitresses and hostesses have always been pleasant the times I have visited. Although they are from Eastern Europe and speak minimal english they are very attentive. The atmosphere is warm and wecolming. During the recent Blizzard of 2010 Murali's was kind enough to allow me to charge my iPhone and computer. As far as the food, the seafood pizza is exceptional. Thin crusted, with a cream sauce, with plenty of scallops shirmp and fish. Although it may not sound very apetising, the combination delights the taste buds. I have also tried the seafood linguine. Once again abundant with seafood, and certainly not cheapening on the amount of meat. Although not reccomended for people who do not enjoy spiecy dishes. The grilled calamari was up to par with my experiences in South Africa and Italy. Though like another reviewer said it is difficult to go wrong with grilled calamari, the seasoning that they used on the particular night that I ordered it over greens was quite ddelightful. The combination of calamari, greens, nuts, and cranberries was an unexpected workable combination. All in all, much better than some reviewers, who may be looking for Americanized Italian fod, make it out to be and one that you should certainly give a try if looking for Italian in Pentagon City.
(4)Mandi H.
The food here was average, but the service was stellar! Our server was passionate in telling us about their freshly made pastas and sauces. We had the crabmeat ravioli, which was quite tasty, but the salad left much to be desired. A previous rater said the bread was no good, but today it was fresh and soft with just a bit of crust - exactly what you would expect at an Italian restaurant. It was not over priced, and we will definitely go there again.
(4)Jill Y.
We decided to try this restaurant from getting a restaurant.com certificate for it. Now, I do realize there are at least 30 dining choices within walking distance, but I am very glad we ate here! I am Italian, so I am very particular about the difference between mass made food and homemade food. I found everything to be well seasoned and artfully prepared. I started with the carpaccio and found the meat to be delicious and topped with arugula and freshly shaved parmesean (not cheap pre grated) balanced the flavors. For an entree I had the pumpkin ravioli and it was melt in your mouth good. My husband had the veal parm, and I loved their red sauce. It was chunky and full of good herbs/spices. We have a well behaved 4 year old and even though there is no children's menu, the restaurant provided her with a smaller portion of spagetti with butter and cheese (her request!) at a reasonable price. Service was good, our server was very pleasant and accommodating, and our food came out very quickly! Prices are fair in my opinion. We were there on a Thursday night and by 7 pm it was about 60% full.
(5)Lee Ann M.
Went here on a Friday night...the outside seating area was packed, (it was a beautiful, rare, non-humid July evening in Virginia) and the inside was almost empty. We were seated at a nice table immediately. I do see what people are saying about the wait staff is a little business like. They were not very personable or cheery, which should be part of the package at a restaurant like this. I had the goat cheese, gorgonzola cheese salad and caprese salad for appetizers, and I thought the flavors in both were very good. The vinagrette on the salad was one of the most flavorful I've had. For my entree I had the pumpkin ravioli and I thought they were fantastic, very well made and full of flavor. For dessert we chose the lemon cake and it was very light and had just the right amount of lemon and sweet. Great food, I'd go back again!
(4)Felecia M.
I never knew this place existed. A must try....very inexpensive for the value of food. The shrimp alfreda was awesome and quite fresh. My girlfriend had the pizza and it wasn't the normal everyday pizza. It was very good as well. I will definitely be back.
(5)Stacy J.
I tend to not be a fan of Italian food. I consider pasta far too easy to make at home to have to go out and pay restaurant prices to eat, but this place is excellent. Their seafood pastas (all variations of them) are amazing and chock full of yummy seafood. Loved their stuffed mushroom appetizer but would skip on their bruschetta. Awesome selection of wine. My aunt and I had a hard time choosing and our waitress was very helpful in identifying one she thought we'd like. Her first recommendation didn't hit the spot, but the second one was perfect! Would go again. Love the ambiance!
(4)Caitlin H.
If you want real, true, stick-to-your-ribs, make-yo-mama-cry Italian, this is not your jam. If you want a quick bite because you're starving and you and your friends just sat in damn near two hours of traffic coming from the District right after a huge storm, then you could do worse. The bread was tough and totally industrial. Though I think the nice finishing touch for the bread course came when some faceless minion (we didn't see him before or after) swung by and literally threw it down on the table without looking at us. And when I say he threw it on the table, I mean he threw it on my friend's water glass first, where it then bounced off and landed gracefully on the table, which gave him 3 extra style points. I did feel badly for our server. The place is kind of cavernous, and from only what I could see, she had at least 7 tables. Besides her I counted about half a dozen staff (I had plenty of time to do all this counting while we sat around waiting - service was less than speedy.), and they all looked harried as they zipped around the dining room. I had the pumpkin ravioli. It was okay. The filling was so sweet (yet tasty) as to be almost dessert-like. The sauce it came in was a bit weird. Some kind of 'butter wine sauce', allegedly. But I'm guessing it was butter, wine, broth, and a few liberal shakes of the giant, generic Italian Seasoning jar. Way too heavy on the oregano for an Italian joint. I spent the whole dish trying to figure out if I liked it, and then it was gone. My friends' dishes were much the same. Not terrible, but not that great. One of my pals had the lasagna and it was chilly. I've never encountered a lasagna in a restaurant that didn't burn the roof of my mouth. So, gold star for being the first on that, Murali. On the plus side, we were so starved from our wretched traffic experience (thanks mini-hurricane, 2010), that we were like Zombies eating brains - we knew it didn't really matter what the food tasted like. Mm, brains. If I'd been there expecting a real meal and a good experience, this might well have been 1 star. Good on ya, Murali. Sliding right on in under the radar. Fitting, really. I think it's your style.
(2)Carol S.
I would give this place 4 stars for the food, but 3 for service. So, I went with 3 overall. I finally went here this past Friday. I have lived in Pentagon City for 2 years and never tried the place. The pumpkin ravioli was delicious and the malbec was great. The waitress was slow and inattentive. But, I will probably go back.
(3)Tara G.
Loved it! Fabulous service, delicious food, and very tasteful decor! We shared the fetta and spinach wrapped up in eggplant for an appetizer - delicous! I had the pumpkin ravioli with a butter white wine sause which wasn't the best in my life...but still VERY GOOD! My friend had the penne with smoked salmon and a cream sauce which was also VERY TASTY! You could really tasted the smoked salmon with a nice bold flavor. The bread was nothing exciting... maybe they will read this and amp it up a little? Add some herbs, and warm it for serving? Also, fresh ground pepper or vinegar offered in the plate of plain olive oil would be nice. We had a very nice experience and hope to come back!
(4)REBEKAH H.
I really liked the food here. They had a few dishes that I rarely or have never seen at any other places. The outdoor seating was great too. The waitstaff although polite was very business like.
(4)Melissa F.
Ristorante Murali is, as others have suggested, just okay. I was looking for a last-minute NYE reservation for a party of 5, and this place fit the bill since I'm in Arlington and it's close by. My friends ordered the crabmeat ravioli that folks have mentioned, and they loved that. My portobello ravioli was not remarkable. As a vegetarian, I ordered that instead of the eggplant ravioli based on the lackluster reviews I read here. After my experience with the portabello version, I'm not convinced there's much here in the way of a tasty substantial meal for a vegetarian. We shared creme brulee for dessert, and let me start by saying that there was no sugar to crack! How disappointing. Overall it was okay. Also the service was rather slow - we waited almost an hour for our main course to arrive. This could be because it was New Year's, but the place wasn't all that full, considering. The fact that the bread is uninteresting (just regular white bread from what I could tell) didn't really help tide us over, either. On the bright side, the atmosphere was welcoming with plenty of space - this is not a place where you'll feel cramped.
(2)Penelope S.
As a tourist in the DC area, and an avid shopper at the Fashion Mall at Pentagon Square, I was very happy to learn that this restaurant was still open and serving dinner at 9:30PM on a Thursday. Our waitress was extremely respectful, yet forthcoming (asking me if I'd like another wine when I was almost at the bottom of mine, yet not rushing us to make a decision, or keep ordering and drinking). Although they were sold out of one of the daily special appetizers (a forgivable offense so late at night!!!), they did have the grilled calamari appetizer-- a Jenny-Craig-like portion, but DELICIOUS!!!!! And expertly cooked. No rubber bands here! Both the chicken cannelloni and crab meat ravioli main dishes were delicious. Again, very "polite" portions (if you're looking to get stuffed, don't come here), but rich, and tasty. I wouldn't order the crab meat again, as, in my opinion, crab meat is simply not meant to be paired with tomato vodka sauce. But as far as fresh ingredients, effort to be creative, and impeccably professional and natural service, I highly recommend this place. *Please note: I came armed with a $40 Groupon, and a slightly reduced appetite to this particular dinner.
(4)Meghan R.
Horrible. One of the most blasé meals I have ever had. Service is mediocre and the cuisine is bland. Save yourself the trouble and head a few blocks down to Portofino and enjoy some real Italian fare.
(1)Paige T.
If you listen to what I'm about to say it will save you around $40: Go to Olive Garden. Olive Garden is better--and Olive Garden is not exactly the cream of the crop in Italian dining. Well, neither is Ristorante Murali. The food here is not BAD (although it was CERTAINLY not worth the $70+ price tag)...it didn't taste fresh (i.e. everything tasted like it had been frozen at one point). The calamari was chewy and tasteless, the Crabmeat Ravioli tasted like it was frozen at one point and so did the Linguine Pescatore. It was all...blah.
(2)Anjaly P.
Ristorante Murali has a great location because they have floor to ceiling windows. For service, they get a full four stars, an extra half star for the euro accents from all of the wait staff. On a rainy Wednesday evening, they were really quiet and I got a table for two while I waited on my old coworker to arrive. Once she arrived we quickly knew what we wanted to eat (bruschetta for appetizer, spinach ravlioli and chicken fettucine alfredo for dinner) and placed our orders so we could catch up. The atmosphere is not stuffy but the decor feels very old fashioned. Our appetizer came out quickly but to my disappointment it was a mere three pieces. The tomato mixture on top was delicious, so I was left wishing for more. But, our entrees arrived quickly after that plate was empty and we dug into our carb rich cream sauce covered pastas. There wasn't much to such basic dishes so I will say you can't really go wrong with them. (I also must recommend their crab ravioli!) We sat there for a while talking and eating and took our time. Our server came over to check on us periodically and refill glasses. The rain wasn't letting up so we stayed there for a while and no one bothered us even though they started filling a once empty restaurant with pockets of couples and four tops around the large room. This place has been a hit and a miss for me in the past, so proceed with caution and you shouldn't be disappointed.
(3)Laura G.
The service was decent. The food- not so much. I had the crab meat ravioli-Bland and cold. Will not be returning.
(2)Nicole j.
Lunch... the caprese salad was dry and tasteless...chicken fettuccine Alfredo was bland, not even garlic flavor. The Parmesan cheese they added was the fake bottled kind...not fresh...skip this place!
(2)Lottie Y.
Nice place. Quiet. Food is average. Nothing very special.
(3)L C.
There are a lot of great Italian restaurants in the DC area, and this certainly isn't the best of them. But we're talking Pentagon Row here, and Ristorante Murali is surprisingly tasty, affordable, and conveniently located next to a lot of shopping and the metro. I had the pumpkin ravioli which was a little sweet, but otherwise pretty delicious. I also enjoyed the bread and salad. The staff was wonderfully attentive and the place actually has some nice ambiance. We also had some amazing chocolate concoction that we picked off a dessert plate. My husband and I usually pass on dessert, but when they brought the tray around it was pretty hard to turn down... grrr. I suppose the bottom line is: for where and what it is, it's a great option during a day of shopping or if you're in the area.
(4)Alessandro F.
I don't understand the bad reviews. I liked my food. Decor was nice and location is great on Pentagon Row. It was cozy on a cold day.
(4)Erica O.
Two of my friends recommended this place as "good, authentic Italian food." I've been to Italy. No, it isn't "authentic". It is average Italian-American food, as it wasn't very filling. I'm 5'7" and I weigh 135 lbs. I don't eat much. We went in on Monday night and, after a $7 salad, a $15 ravioli entree and some bread (which also wasn't anywhere near authentic Italian bread), I was still hungry. I shared a dessert, just to fully experience the menu before passing judgment. The food was average to sub-par, with the bread being the worst of it. We were given plenty of soft bread and oil... but no balsamic vinegar or cracked black pepper (the latter of the two being the proper Italian way to eat real, crisp Italian bread). But, when out salads and entrees came, there they were with the black pepper mills. So, they have them, but all they offer with the bread is common table pepper, which was gross. In the end, they tacked on 18% gratuity for our table of 6, which I realize is standard operating procedure, but if it was my choice, I wouldn't have given 18% for the service, either. If I have my way, I'm not ever going back.
(2)Matt G.
This is the worst food I have encountered in the DC metro area. I don't know if our server was really an Italian, he said "Bona Sera" and "Nice to have you" every time he came over and left our table. If the owner really is from Italy and our server was from there, I am going to call a consulate to have his Nationality taken away. NO ITALIAN would have served the food we were served. My "Bistecca Gorgonzola" was supposed to be carved NY Strip Steak over Polenta with Gorgonzola and mushrooms. Sounded like a nice dish on their "Specials" menu. A mere $25.99 (LOL!!!!!!!!!!!, Im the sucker) . I ordered it medium rare. It came out cold and tough. Let me tell you about the "bistecca" It was FAJITA strips grilled to their death. If that meat cost them more than $0.30 I would be surprised. Honestly, I am contacting the Italian embassy, being an Italian American I am appalled that I was served this food when I could take 5 minutes and whip up a better meal in my own kitchen. Serves me right. Dont ever eat here, I wont even start on the chicken rolatini which was supposed to be "excellent" or my wine which was "superb" (i.e. disgusting) Jesus, someone played a joke on me last night, puke. Never Again, dont even think about it. Never
(1)Catherine T.
I just ordered this off Foodler--I got the Pumpkin Ravioli. It has so much vinegar in it that it is almost inedible. Very disappointed
(2)Farida A.
Murali is expensive, but the food is good. I can only afford to eat here at lunch so that's what I did. I got some seafood dish that was really tasty and flavorful (garlic and oil and whatnot). If you're going to try this place, do the lunch thing, since those prices are more reasonable. The atmosphere inside is nice, and frankly it's the only restaurant on Pentagon Row with half decent food.
(3)Lizzy Z.
It's the only Italian place in the Pentagon Row/Pentagon City Mall area, so that's definitely in its favor. The only problem is that nothing is really that spectacular. I mean, when you get right down to it, how hard is pasta? The staff is fine and the service is okay. It's just not that great.
(3)Stephen A.
I ate here with my girlfriend as we are searching for a new favorite Italian restaurant in Northern VA after Extra Virgin in Shirlington closed. Aside from good food, I did not like the restaurant much. I grew up in New York and am very particular about restaurants, especially hospitality (yes, it is big in NY restaurants). I love reservations and liked that I could make online reservations with Murali. I don't like how most restaurants sacrifice customers time and not have reservations, just to make more money. Well, upon entering the restaurant, the "host" appeared to be a patron until he seated us. I guess he was the manager. We were handed two disheveled menus, one with paint stains. Although the night's specials were inside the menu, the host did not inform us that one was unavailable that evening. The table rocked and the manager fixed it. The napkins were very wrinkled. The waitress was quiet but polite. When bread was brought, the bus buy shoved the basket onto the table by moving our water glasses with the basket. He never said a word, just shoved it on to the table and walked away. No butter was served -- I had to ask for it -- and no oil was poured to have with the bread. Our entrees came in a timely fashion but the sauce on the outer rim of the plate was cold. My girlfriend ordered the lasagna and I had to chicken parm. I had my heart set on the chicken cacciatore special but it was unavailable. The food was good, not excellent. The waitress did not ask how our food was shortly after serving. When I got the check, it was the wrong check. I used the bathroom to find out that it was single use. The restaurant isn't small so it should not have a small bathroom. I dislike them because I have to listen to someone pulling on the door while I am you know, doing my business. Overall, I do not like this restaurant and do not plan on eating here again or recommending it. The food here isn't bad, there are just problems with the service and amenities. The staff needs training for proper service. The napkins should be ironed, the tables should not rock and the menus should look classy, not like a dive bar's.
(2)Tonya H.
First way to tell if an Italian restaurant is worth it's salt: olive oil. If it's rancid, don't go. Case in point. Additionally, on the menu they advertise to have whole wheat pasta! What they mean is whole wheat spaghetti. While I agreed to substitute wwspaghetti for the fettucini, I was still served fettucini. Guess the customer isn't right, after all. Duck was dry, pinot noir was watery, and the apple pie had some sort of spongy crust. All in all, not a place I would go again. I will say the pear and arugula salad was tasty with the exact right amount of balsamic vinegar! And I had a very nice waitress.
(2)Jamie M.
This was the first place we had dinner after moving to D.C. While it was good, we haven't felt the need to go back because there are so many other places that are better. I had some ravioli and my boyfriend had a pork dish. Both were cooked well but nothing memorable. The one thing I do remember about the place was that the service was really good. Very polite, constantly had a filled water glass, the manager popped by to ask how the dinner was, etc etc. Just the sort of thing you'd expect at a restaurant but that very few places actually do. It's handy if you're in Pentagon City and want Italian but if we're planning ahead for dinner there are at least five other Italian places we'd prefer to go.
(3)Sajji J.
I've always wanted to eat here. I take my girls to Noodles & Co., right next door. I've noticed that it's always kind of empty - but it's been in business for years! It's a pretty high rent district, so if a business can hang in there for over a year, it's got to be good. Plus it's Zagat rated! Let me start by saying that I don't want to give them a bad review. The service was excellent. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. So was the rest of the staff. My daughters got spaghetti and pizza to share. The spaghetti wasn't too bad, just not very flavorful. The pizza was horrible. It tasted like a frozen pizza. I could not believe it! In fact, I think most frozen pizzas taste better. My daughters and I each had 1 slice, nobody went back for more. My wife got eggplant ravioli - but she said she couldn't taste any eggplant. Very bland and flavorless. I got lasagna. Now I'm a huge lasagna fan, and I like to try it everywhere. When it came out, it looked awesome! The only problem was that it was room temperature and the sauce surrounding it was cold. We were the first customers for the evening, so I expected much better. It was pretty clear to me that they had simply taken a pre-made lasagna and heated it - but they couldn't even get that right. I had to send it back to the kitchen. The waiter was visibly saddened. When he brought the dish back a few minutes later, it was just a bit warmer. I was sad and couldn't punish our nice waiter again. So I ate one slice of the frozen pizza. They had Zagat rated stickers for 2007 and 2008. I wonder why they didn't have anything for 2009? The food was horrible - I think Olive Garden has better food. We spent $100+ for the four of us. My wife wanted me to show my dissatisfaction by leaving a small tip - but I couldn't punish my waiter - he was great! It's the food that was horrible, not the service. If you're in Pentagon Row, there are better options. Noodles and Co., has better pasta at fast-food prices. And their service is great too!
(1)John-Michael S.
A Reason to go to Murali: Quite honestly - Pentagon Row doesn't overwhelm me with the most amazing food options. I mean - it's above average and I won't starve, I also won't grumble overly much. But I wouldn't normally jump up and down over anything I ate here. I like the crepe place - it's good for what it is - it could be better. I could probably rewrite their menu and honestly I might take a shot at it in fact. But back to Murali... For the first time, Murali produced something that makes it onto my top 25 things to eat list.... Filet Mignon Ravioli in a Demi Glace sauce... Seriously. That's enough to say. That one dish makes me want to go there more frequently and even bring others to the place. The staff is very nice although very stern. Russians are very stern in DC the better part of the time...but still - very nice. The owner is excellent and willing to have a conversation when it's not too busy. They put some care into the food which makes me happy. But... Filet Mignon Ravioli...this was so good in fact that I started cutting up my bites much smaller just to draw out the experience. I dragged it out by eating more fo the bread, downing more of my OJ/Soda water Aranciatta like mixture... There's still some road to travel for innovative dishes and I think they just might have the willingness to travel it. Check them out before the ravioli is gone...ask for it in advance...send them notes...seriously - they need to add this to their regular menu.
(4)Dan F.
Well, let's see... I passed this place a bunch of times, and it looked a bit fancy/pricey for me. It turns out it was a bit pricey, but I got my sis to take me there for my graduation, so it was all good. :) We started with some Prosecco (sparkling Italian wine), and while I'm no connoisseur, I thought it was very nice. All three of us were carded, which I thought was weird, as my sister is 28. In any case, we ordered some fried calamari, which I think was actually a relatively small portion, but it was fine for us. The bread was decent but definitely not home-made. It did, however, come in handy after I finished my meal, which was... A spectacular crab meat ravioli with a vodka sauce. Spectacular, and no question that it's home-made. There were about 5 ravioli, which didn't quite sate my appetite, but there was a ton of sauce, so the bread helped. For dessert, I couldn't pass up a piece of their peanut-butter pie, which was also amazing and awesome. It had peanut butter and chocolate and was a nice end to the meal. The service was pretty good, the ambiance was nice, and the whole thing was overall a good experience. I'm looking forward to going back to try some more of their dishes (once I have more money, that is!)
(4)Russell M.
Further confirms that Italian restaurants are to be avoided when I can make it better at home.
(2)Evi D.
Came here for lunch with my other-half, and got to sit outside. It was about 1ish on a Sunday, not that many tables were taken. The staff was really great about filling up water, no complaints there. The food was decent, although I don't think Italian is the most ooo-aahh place to eat, everything is pretty standard. The bread was ok, definitely some butter on it. We got the the calamari as a started--yummy! The sauces were great. I got the pasta with seafood and my BF got tuna (rare) both were well done and great to eat. Portions were really large. They asked if we wanted some dessert afterwards, but we were both full, so we didn't try any.
(3)E E.
*1.5* I only go here when I am "dragged" with cohorts. I don't want to appear to be a "food snob" as some have lovingly (or unlovingly) named me. The only thing I ever order here is the grilled calamari appetizer. I love grilled calamari and no matter how poor it may taste, I am willing to eat it. Surprisingly, they have a Silver Oak on the wine menu. Who drinks Silver Oak here??? (Well, I guess have too, but only bc someone else ordered it.) If you can avoid it, don't go. You can do so much better elsewhere. The only reason why I even gave them more than one star is because they have a nice patio and it is walking distance from my apartment.
(2)SAN N.
My fiance had a Groupon, so we tried this place last night. We rarely choose Italian when going to restaurants, because it seems that the food often isn't any different/better than we could make at home, and this place was no exception. The bread was sort of Wonder Bread-ish - not real crusty Italian bread. We ordered the fried calamari appetizer, and instead of being crispy, it was soggy and tasteless. We shared the eggplant ravioli, which was okay, but somehow not very flavorful. We also shared the tuna carpaccio salad, which was good - that was probably the best part. And the creme brulee was pretty tasty, but then again, isn't it hard to mess up creme brulee? All in all, I thought the place was mediocre at best and way over-priced for the quality of the food.
(2)Tate P.
After working some seriously long retail hours for days on end to serve the Inauguration throngs we stopped mid-day for some pasta and drinks. I have often passed by this place and never stopped because I thought the pricing would be higher then average. I was wrong about the pricing. I thought their prices were fair however their fare was in-line with their pricing. Nothing noteable or memorable and the staff was not Italian in the least. I ordered a basic dish of pasta ailo and had to explain what it was! Given they did not know how to make ailo they did a fair job of it. I would return given price and now knowing the expectations, but given the decor and ambience I expected much, much more. Overall the group enjoyed the meal and I would return out of convenience.,
(2)Sherrie M.
I was disappointed. I was looking forward to going to Ristorante Murali after getting the LivingSocial deal. I don't often go to Pentagon Row and figured, eh give it a try! We sat on the patio - which was packed, but the rest of the restaurant was completely empty. I thought overall the restaurant had an okay atmosphere and the service was pretty good. Our waitress could have been a bit more attentive, but overall okay. What I really liked about her was that she didn't charge us for the creme brule (which was terrible. Definitely DO NOT order it. I love creme brule, and I'm not super picky about it, but this was definitely the worst I've ever had). I got the crab ravioli. I wish I had read the review that said it was bland before going. It was definitely bland - absolutely no flavor (okay that's a lie, it just had a fishy flavor). My friend got the pumpkin ravioli. It was pretty good, but just for one or two raviolis. It was way to sweet as a main course. Even their chardonnay was a disappointment. Overall, I would definitely not recommend this restaurant to a friend - and won't be going back in the future.
(1)Amanda B.
Yum! I had a Groupon for this place in Pentagon Row and really enjoyed the experience! The service was very professional and friendly. My water glass was never empty and my food was delicious. They give bread and olive oil dipping while you wait, then I ordered one of their daily specials of Rigatoni in a Gorgonzola cream sauce... very tasty and a large portion. I also love sitting in their outside section of Pentagon Row and all the people watching opportunities! I will be back!
(5)Keith H.
Any restaurant that leaves their unsolicited litter under my door automatically gets blacklisted and a 1-star review. Based on the reviews of the place it looks like I'm not going to be missing anything anyway. Please help stop this annoying and wasteful practice of unsolicited menus under doors.
(1)Yumi W.
scallops were way over cooked rubbery and bitter on outside and no flavor on inside. Pepper sauce was worst I ever had. Bread wasn't even Italian. Veal was better but not going back again. Nothing tasted good. Bad food!
(1)Jesse H.
very cordial staff (cool accents are included at no additional charge) and clean restaurant. the food has always been good for lunch or dinner. this is a good place for a casual first date or date night with the family and friends. I will continue to go here for lunch and dinner when it is convenient.
(4)J. M.
I recently ordered take out using a Living Social coupon and will certainly never pay full price to visit this restaurant again. I placed the order online stating I would be there at 5:30 to pick up the order, I arrived at exactly 5:30 but was told " your order will be a few minutes we wanted to wait for you to arrive before we get the order ready" Why would I place an order for a specific time if I didn't plan to be there at that time?! He asked what flavor wings I ordered after specifying online I wanted buffalo so I repeated to him twice I wanted buffalo and after waiting 15 minutes at the restaurant and getting home another 15 minutes after that I sit down (starving) to realize my wings are BBQ. Very disappointing!
(1)Daniel B.
Bit overly priced? Check, Hot girls walking around if eating outside? Check, Food tastes good even though portions aren't huge? Check, Great Service? Check! They are very attentive at this place, and it makes up for the portion size. Nice place to go amid the chains surrounding it.
(3)Karol U.
Ya know....I like this joint. Always good food. Really excellent fresh salads. Fresh soups....I am not a pasta fan and I always find loads to eat here. The service is always consistent and the atmosphere does feel as if you will be paying more than you do. One of the better restaurants in Pentagon Row.
(3)Jessica R.
Food was good (especially the pasta - which was very fresh and tasty), service was a bit lacking (although they had a big party in the back and seemed a bit under-staffed that night). Overall, good meal, but the restaurant was not all that memorable.
(3)Pita B.
I give this place 3 stars due to the service being very very good. The food would be 2 stars. The atmosphere is nice inside. The food was very hit or miss. I had the grilled calamari and I hated it. However, I loved the stuffed mushrooms. My dinner of salmon wrapped in a potato layer was not impressive. If I had to go just for drinks and service (and those mushrooms), I would go back. My fiance did not like his meal at all. I would recommend to keep looking.
(3)Burger B.
Owned by the same folks that own Tapeo. While better than Tapeo, my dining experience at Murali wasn't terrible--just not particularly memorable. The menu had quite a few innovative selections such as pumpkin ravioli. They seem to cater well to large groups. Similar to Tapeo, the waitstaff all appear to be here on work visas from other countries. The waitstaff was very friendly, though service could be a tad slow at times.
(3)Lindsey S.
Like others here have said, it's decent but there is better to be found in the area. Location is great, but the food was just alright. The calamari was the high point of the meal. The linguine with white clam sauce had a lot of clams but the sauce lacked seasoning and the pasta wasn't anything special. Chicken marsala was overcooked though seasoned well. Service was also not particularly good. I don't think I'd go back here since Crystal City is within walking distance and has better options for Italian.
(3)PC W.
I've been here once and have never been inclined to return. Quality is subpar.
(2)Kristen J.
The food has never been bad, the service is good, and the decor is very nice. I never really find myself craving this though because it's nothing special and you can get similar dishes for less elsewhere.
(3)M P.
I would not rush there at all, in fact I wouldn't even recommend that you go there. I went there last week for my birthday and was quite disappointed. I picked this restaurant bc the menu online was plentiful and had a ton of choices. My boyfriend loves risotto and they had a couple selections of risotto on their online menu. When we arrived, the menu was about a quarter of what is displayed online. The food is nothing special and my entree was cold when it arrived. I will not be returning!
(1)Lori S.
It is good; not great but good. It is the only Italian restaurant right near Pentagon City which definitely works to their advantage. The food is fine. I had the pumpkin ravoli, cheese garlic bread, grilled vegetables (that was really good) and the portabello mushroom. Everything was fine. I'll be back since it is close to the mall.
(3)