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Judging Restaurants – Potenza
Potenza is located at 1430 H Street, NW. The picture doesn’t really do it justice, the space is quite large taking up the corner of 15th and H. Their Web site says:
“An in house bakery prepares breads, pastas and desserts daily alongside a salumi counter and raw bar to allow for a more cosmopolitan experience when time is of the essence. A 6000 pound pizza oven has been installed alongside the extensive main line to offer a robust and dynamic menu.”
In addition to a restaurant there is also bakery and I’m now kicking myself for not picking up any canolis… Any fans out there?
Category: Downtown, Restaurants
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i'm guessing they put in some good sound buffering windows? fl ave is LOUD. 
11:06pm
^yes. The only danger at this location is being run over by a motorist from Maryland.
11:05pm
Faison's writeups make me crazy. And not in a good "I'm crazy for buying this house!" way.
The Dancing Crab's commercials have to be the worst I've ever seen. The owners saying,...
God you people are boring. Why not more chatter about their footwears?
I love their salami counter. Every restaurant should have one.
My boyfriend and I had dinner there a few months back.
Pros: The food was pretty good, and their waitstaff was more than happy to answer questions about their menu.
Cons: Their wine glasses are sad-looking and trying-too-hard-to-be-modern. It took us forever to get our check, and we could barely have a conversation because the dining room was so loud!
Overall, I’d give it a B-
My boyfriend and I had dinner there a few months back.
Pros: The food was pretty good, and their waitstaff was more than happy to answer questions about their menu.
Cons: Their wine glasses are sad-looking and trying-too-hard-to-be-modern. It took us forever to get our check, and we could barely have a conversation because the dining room was so loud!
Overall, I’d give it a B-.
Sat at the bar to eat one night. They were in no way, shape or form busy and the service was horrible, absolutely the worst bar service I have ever had (when trying to eat at a bar). The antipasta was just meh…
Stunningly mediocre.
The Pizza was OK. The service at the bar where I was eating was terrible.
Wasn’t amazing tbh.
Impotenza
Clearly none of you have spent a significant amount of time in Italy. As someone who personally sticks to my own homemade pasta I think this place is great(homemade pasta and bread fresh daily). Italian food is meant to be simple, with delicious fresh ingredients. This place delivers.
Kristina, way to sound stuck up. I’ve been to Potenza three times, and every time I went I was unimpressed with everything besides the bar. I know Italian food is meant to be simple but it has to taste good first and foremost. Many of my dishes have been under seasoned, not warm enough and just plain bland. The pizza… medicore, the pasta… flavorless, the service… pretty good.
This place is all hype, if it wasn’t for the bar and the location, this place might as well be an Olive Garden.
My one experience was not memorable. Calamari appetizer was 75% breading and 25% calamari. The pizza was good but the pasta was mediocre to downright bad. Perhaps I will give it another try at some point. It’s a great space and it would be a shame if it doesn’t turn out to be successful.
@Kristina–I love it when people have spent some time in a country and then like to talk down to others about it…
As a first-generation Italian-American, who can and does make my own pasta, I have to agree with the bulk of the previous posters…the food was bland (simple and bland are not the same thing) and the service was less than attentive (which as an I-talian, that should not surprise me).
Clearly none of you have a palate sophisticated enough to truly appreciate a great salami counter. Marco will stand there all night, slicing off delicious, savory bits of cured Italian meats for you, all the while educating your senses.
A good salami counter alone does not make up for the other sins of the establishment
I love the bakery – the bread and pastries are really good, and the staff are very friendly. I’ve never eaten in the restaurant, but the sandwiches at the deli are great.
boring. coppi’s beats the crap out of them for pasta, and there are a dozen better pizza places in DC.
No, this place is way better than Coppi’s. For one, the pasta is freshly made. I’ve been once for dinner and once for lunch and was impressed both times. I think it’s a solid addition to a city with a limited authentic Italian restaurant selection. From what others have said though, it sounds like they need to work on a few items. Hope they see this and improve!
When it comes to there food, it’s more like “Pre”tenza.
What everyone (or most everyone) else said – it’s only ok. The tomato sauce on my pasta dish had the exact taste and texture of Campbell’s tomato soup. The bakery was closing as I got there, but it seemed to be mainly breads and sandwiches, with a small variety of pastries. Maybe there are more during the day, but I was hoping for a whole case full of different types of butter cookies.
I had the ziti with short ribs ragu (something like that). I was happy. I recall liking the cheese & meat appetizers too. Service was good.
I have only frequented the bar. The beer is cold and wet. Beyond that, all I know is that I’ve never been in there without seeing a few whitehouse folks. Seems to be a popular destination to unwind for them.
Cafe is nice but not cheap. Around $4 for a double espresso or cappucino. Haven’t been in the restaurant. Heard mixed reviews.
The food was pretty pricey and just so-so. Really nice attentive waiter, but that didn’t make up for the bland sauces and grissly sausage.