4/5 stars

Located by the waterfront on K and 31st streets, Fiola Mare provides an elegant and relaxing dining experience that highlights seafood through its simple and flavorful dishes. The combination of the fresh food with the convenient location and relaxing ambiance makes Fiola a great restaurant for visitors to the Georgetown area. The window seats overlooking the Potomac River mean that the view is equally as good as the food. With its dim lighting and open layout, Fiola Mare seems like a great place for special occasions. While the food is on the pricey side, the freshness of the seafood and unique flavor combinations make it well worth it.

The dinner menu is full of exciting dishes and we settled on the Ahi tuna carpaccio ($18), smoked potato gnocchi ($28) and a side of sautéed spinach with Meyer lemon ($8). Top contenders included the bucatini with red king prawns and sea urchins ($32) and Gragnano spaghetti with Manila clams ($28). The servers checked up on us several times throughout the meal and were all very attentive and polite. While we were waiting for our food, a waiter came around with a breadbasket with warm olive bread rolls and mini French baguettes. The wait for the food was shorter than expected, and we were pleasantly surprised by its quick arrival.

The carpaccio included blood orange, arugula and herbed mascarpone served on flaky pastry bread. The sweet citrus from the blood orange complemented the fresh tuna, while the herbed mascarpone tied all the flavors together. The gnocchi was soft and slightly chewy, served with peas, fava beans, almonds and golden trout. The dish had a slight smoky flavor that was definitely unique. The trout, served on top of the gnocchi, was cooked perfectly. Perfect in its simplicity, the lemon complemented the spinach side well. Made with all fresh ingredients, the flavors were not overpowered by seasoning as they were left to stand on their own. Any ingredient listed on the menu could be clearly tasted in the dish.

Both the dinner and the lunch menu have a wide variety of different seafood dishes, primarily featuring Italian and Mediterranean ones. In the spirit of the D.C. brunch culture, Fiola also has a separate brunch menu. The menu changes daily and seasonally to incorporate the freshest ingredients, but it also includes some staple dishes. Fiola has an extensive wine list, and the establishment received the Wine Spectator’s 2013 Best Award of Excellence. Fiola’s cocktails ($12 to $14) feature unique flavor combinations much like the entrees that they accompany. For sweet tooths,  Fiola’s dessert dishes include burnt honey gelato and lemon curd with coconut sorbet ($12). Fabio Trabocchi, chef and owner of Fiola Mare, has earned several culinary awards, including Food & Wine’s Best New Chef. He opened Fiola Mare in 2011, his first restaurant, and it has quickly grown in popularity and reputation in the culinary world. Fiola won Best New Restaurant of the Year from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

I would highly recommend Fiola Mare for a relaxing dining experience and fresh seafood. With perfect flavors and extensive options, it’s sure to be a successful dining experience. Take note for when your parents come in town.