Caruso’s Grocery has landed on Eater DC’s newly released list of the “Best Pasta Places Around DC,” and it stands alone as the only restaurant in Maryland to earn a spot. The first Caruso’s Grocery, which still operates, opened in May 2021 inside The Roost on Capitol Hill in DC.
The recognition places the Pike & Rose restaurant among the region’s top destinations for pasta, in a list otherwise dominated by DC-based establishments. Eater DC highlighted Caruso’s for its unapologetically traditional approach, writing, “Matt Adler’s decidedly unmodern tribute to classic red sauce joints delivers dishes heavy on nostalgia, quality ingredients, and technique, all served in a red banquette, vintage photo-laden dining room.”
Caruso’s Grocery operates at 11820 Trade Street in Pike & Rose, where it debuted in late 2023. The Italian-American concept focuses on time-tested dishes rather than modern reinventions, leaning into the flavors and atmosphere of classic red sauce joints. The menu features familiar favorites executed with precision, including Penne alla Vodka, Chicken Parmesan, Sole Francaise, Mozzarella en Carozza, and Garlic Bread with Four Cheese Sauce.
Caruso’s was also recently named one of OpenTable’s “2025 Top 100 Restaurants” in the United States, making it the only Maryland (and DC) restaurant to appear on that list as well.
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