Not worth the wait
About a week ago I visited this neighborhood favorite. I have lived in the neighborhood for about 3 years and had never visited Banducci's in NE Washington, DC, although some in the neighborhood have raved about it in the past. I had always wondered, why didn't I try this neighborhood favorite.

Our experience (myself and 3 others) was poor from the start, with an obvious newbie in the waiter department. The dishes were reasonably priced as was the wine and beer consumed that evening. Aside from the obvious and constant shortcomings of our newbie, Banducci's may not be what it had promised to be.

I ordered (from the menu) the spinach and cheese ravioli. What I received was not ravioli. I received what seemed to be tortelini. Anyone who loves food as much as I do would be upset with this. Not getting what you ordered is nothing less than unacceptable. Not to mention that I didn't even see the tortelini on the menu (it may acutally be there, I just didn't see it) - regardless, I would not have ordered it.

Upon taking this matter up with the newbie, he promptly returned the dish inside to speak with the head chef and owner of the restaurant about this obvious error. He quickly returned with the same dish, placed it in front of me and assured me that this was ravioli. After a quick back and forth of exchanges about what the differences in ravioli and tortelini are, he stated the final blow, or next to final blow. The newbie was instructed to advise me that the combination of noodles, spinach and cheese were the same no matter what form the actual pasta took, ravioli or tortelini. Dumbfounded I asked as a consumer that they seriously think about changing thier menu to reflect, in an accurate fashion, what they serve thier customers. It was unacceptable - period - that this be served under the guise of "ravioli."

After going ahead and eating a dish that I could have made at home for myself - using the Barilla packages that you can find in any grocery store for $2.99 - my girlfriend went to pay the bill. The head chef and owner of Banducci's was there and she explained to him my genuine unhappiness of the dinner situation that had just unfolded.

The final blow: the head chef and owner of this Italian neighborhood restaurant, uttered the words that I thought I'd never hear an Italian chef say. Paraphrasing: "All pastas taste the same."

Unbelievable.

Now I can safely walk by the restaurant day in and day out on my way to and from work, and never have to think about why I don't go there. This neighborhood favorite is nothing but a neigborhood forgotten memory to me. I have to wonder how many others have had a similar experience to mine.    [07 Jul 2003 13:16:01]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Nothing - go to a better establishment

     ­Michael J. Parker   mj_parker at juno dot com

Great for lunch, if you have time
I've never been there for dinner, but I work right across from it. Everything at lunch time that I have had is good, not outstanding, but well worth the cash. The wait can be a killer, though.    [21 Aug 2003 18:51:01]

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Recommended Dishes: Pizza, Three-Salad combo

     ­John Kresge   

Great Food: Terrible Service
I used to go to Banducci's for their salad trio. The food is reasonably priced and very good. However, after many problems with orders being wrong and the owner being excessively rude, my coworkers and I stopped going.    [17 Sep 2003 09:50:44]

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     ­Anonymous   

Very rude service
My wife and I also live nearby. We have been there three times. The cook/owner is very rude each time.

The last time, I called for takeout we weren't sure what to order and didn't have a menu. I asked the owner what he suggested and he responded, "I don't know man, just friggin order".

Needless to say, that was the last time.    [28 Apr 2005 18:29:41]

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     ­Anonymous   

Shines at Lunch, Glows at Dinner
Banducci's shines at Lunch, glows at Dinner. It is a quirky place, to be sure - and not for everyone. Service, you will have gathered from other reviews, can be unique. During lunch, with an incredibly long line, the no-nonsense, "Soup-Nazi-Light" attitude is part of the charm for some and cause for grieve for a few others. What works for lunch, however, does not always work for dinner and what is quirky at 1.30pm, can become obnoxious at 8.00pm.

The pizza is simply the best NY-Style pizza outside of New York. It's a gamble as to whether he's got any if you stop by late and if the proprietor doesn't have any left, he's more likely to get smart than run downstairs an make more (in his defense, it does take a while to prepare the dough [it IS all fresh] and he can't abandon the counter) but if you do get it, white or regular, it will be worth the pittance of $1.50 per slice.

The ratings for this place could be all over the place. Depending on whether the type of place/atmosphere suits you, you'll love it or hate it. Dinner can be of variant quality, lunch is a knock-out!    [10 Jun 2005 16:59:13]

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Recommended Dishes: Pizza, Salads, basic Pasta dishes

     ­Anonymous   runenaljoss at freenet dot de

Food is pretty good, service is terrible
Banducci's has a lot going for it: the food is good and prices reasonable. It has a distinctly non-chain, neighborhood-y feel, which is very welcome. I've tried a variety of stuff on the menu, and it's all very good.

The service is something else though. The owner can be pretty obnoxious and rude, without any sort of provocation on your part. Depending on how you respond to this sort of thing it may not be worth the trip, despite how good the food is. Which is a shame because this place could really be good.    [07 Nov 2006 14:25:55]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: pizza

     ­Anonymous