Fiola Mare

Fiola Mare is the seafood restaurant of chef Fabio Trabocchi, a Michelin-starred chef who runs several Italian restaurants in Washington. It is on the Georgetown Waterfront at 3050 K Street NW, overlooking the Potomac, and the entrance is at 31st Street and the waterfront. The setting is a large part of the appeal, especially on a clear evening.

The menu is Italian and centred on fish and shellfish. There are separate menus for lunch, brunch and dinner, so check which is being served at the time you plan to visit. It is one of the more expensive choices in this guide, and it suits a special occasion more than a casual meal.

The opening hours are generous. On Monday the restaurant opens from 3pm to 9:30pm. From Tuesday to Thursday it is open from 11:30am to 10pm, on Friday until 10:30pm, on Saturday from 11am to 10:30pm and on Sunday from 11am to 9:30pm. That makes a long lunch on the water a good option if dinner is fully booked.

Reservations are taken through Resy and are recommended, especially for dinner at weekends and for tables with a view. Note that the restaurant adds a 3 per cent surcharge to all bills to cover rising costs; it is not a tip and does not go directly to staff, so tip as you normally would.

Fiola Mare suits couples, celebration dinners and business meals. It is less suited to young children or a quick bite. Allow around two hours for dinner. If you want a lighter introduction, weekend brunch or weekday lunch is a more relaxed way to try the kitchen. If a view of the river matters to you, ask for a window table when you book and arrive on time to hold it. Smart casual clothes are a safe choice for dinner.

The Georgetown Waterfront is a pleasant place to walk before or after a meal. Georgetown's main shopping streets, M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, are a few minutes away on foot, and the historic Martin's Tavern is further up Wisconsin Avenue for a drink. Georgetown has no Metro station of its own, so most visitors arrive by taxi or ride share.