Capitol Hill's Ristorante Machiavelli

I’ve been to Capitol Hill’s Ristorante Machiavelli a few times. It’s a long-time neighborhood Italian restaurant. The few times I’ve been there, it’s always been very busy. There’s a main restaurant area and a small bar area with some small tables. I always sit in the bar area, usually at one of the stools near the window.

I like going there. I wouldn’t say the food is incredible. I’ve had better Italian food on Capitol Hill, but at a much higher price. Machiavelli isn’t cheap, but when you factor in rent, labor, and food, it’s reasonable. I ordered the spaghetti, garlic, and olive oil. It came with an order of bread. I also had a Moretti. I forgot to check the total, but I think that set me back about $20, not including tip.

Former Stranger writer Tobias Coughlin-Bogue wrote a great review of the restaurant in 2017 that covers things really well. I also think it’s a great example of food writing. I gathered later on that Coughlin-Bogue didn’t enjoy writing about food, at least not as reviews for a weekly. I thought he did it really well. Fun fact – my grandmather was a Coughlin. I need to double check that.