North Italia at Town Center

I Went, I Ate, I Conquered (the Menu)

by Phantom Foodie

North Italia is nestled by Mercurt Fountain at Town Center. Photo by Isadora Guerreiro.

Reston Town Center’s North Italia seamlessly blends traditional Italian flavors with a modern dining experience. It has long been a favorite gathering spot, particularly for happy hour and hearty appetizers—both among Town Center residents and, of course, the Phantom.

One standout is the $42 Bottle & Board Happy Hour Special, which includes a bottle of the house-featured, easy-drinking red or white wine, along with your choice of a Margherita or Naples White pizza and either the Chef’s Board or Farmers Market Board. It’s the perfect shareable option for a special someone or a good friend. The Phantom’s special someone, in particular, enjoys the charcuterie board’s assortment of spreads, meats, cheeses, and breads. Also worth mentioning from the happy hour menu are the Italian Meatballs and the ever-popular bruschetta.

On this visit, it was time to experience the dining room. The spacious restaurant wraps around a lively open kitchen, creating an ambiance that’s both chic and comfortable—although notably noisy. Fortunately, after requesting a quieter table, we were seated toward the back, where the volume was slightly more manageable.

The dinner menu offers a variety of enticing appetizers, small plates, and entrées. We started with the calamari, which was exactly as one would expect. For the main course, I opted for the Chicken Parmesan, served with a side of Parmesan rigatoni pasta. It was a satisfying dish, featuring a crispy exterior and juicy interior. Ms. Foodie chose the Italian Meatballs appetizer along with the Squid Ink Tonnarelli—tiger shrimp, wild fennel pollen, and mint in a spicy tomato sauce. Naturally, I had to sample it myself. The flavors were well-balanced with just the right spicy kick, and the portion was generous enough for a leftover lunch at the [home] office the next day—paired with water, of course, not the Edna Valley Chardonnay we enjoyed at the restaurant.

North Italia also boasts a robust beverage menu featuring local craft beers, creative cocktails, a diverse wine selection, as well as zero-proof mocktails and 0.0 Peroni beer.

Service was a mixed bag. Our server was polite and professional, and the food arrived almost too quickly. However, as the meal progressed, empty plates began stacking up, and it became apparent that our server had been triple- or quadruple-sat, leading to a noticeable drop in attention toward the end.

No meal at North Italia is complete without dessert. We shared the Dark Chocolate Budino—whipped crème fraîche, chocolate pearls, Amarena cherries, pine nuts, and a nut wedding cookie—along with the Seasonal Butter Cake, which promises to be “sometimes sweet, maybe tart, for sure delicious!”

Portion sizes are generous, so be prepared to leave both satisfied and possibly with a to-go box.

While we enjoyed the dining experience, the noise level will likely send us back to the bar area next time.

Gift cards, group dining, takeout, and delivery are available.

Here’s to good eating in 2025!

North Italia

11898 Market St. Reston, VA 20190

571.325.0823

Brunch Sat - Sun 11am - 4pm

Lunch Mon - Fri 11am - 4pm

Dinner Sun - Thu 4pm - 10pm Fri - Sat 4pm - 11pm

We have never been and will never be reimbursed for our restaurant reviews, nor do the restaurants our staff review know that they are writing about their food and experience beforehand.