Red Sauce Rules at Caruso’s Grocery, But Don’t Forget the Lemony Dishes

Casual red-sauce Italian joints are a dime a dozen around New York and Philadelphia, but D.C. has struggled to do them right. That’s why Caruso’s Grocery felt like a breath of fresh air when it opened on Capitol Hill in 2021. Now, Matt Adler and his team are still dishing out comforting classics like penne a la vodka, affordable cocktails, and damn good cannoli, with a second location now in Maryland.

Meat surrounded with tomato sauce.

A meaty main at Caruso’s Grocery. Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Garlic bread on a white plate.

Generously portioned garlic bread. Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Follow Adler on Instagram to get a window into off-menu dishes. Chicken parmigiana with vodka sauce started as an off-menu hack but graduated to a regular special. He’s now playing around with homemade mozzarella sticks, and they’re worth ordering (though the garlic bread wins for best cheesy starter).