i Ricchi Restaurant

We at i Ricchi have a vision to offer our community more than just great food. We specifically create events to impact how we live and provide opportunities to give back, especially to those in our local area. Usher in Spring with us by gaining a new perspective with these two impactful events.

• Need a fresh look for Spring and Summer? Stop by Thursday, April 5 during lunch (11:30 am-2:30 pm) or dinner (5-8 pm) to Shop for India Hicks apparel and jewelry, and impact local teachers and their students through GrantED! This great local organization funds classroom expenses for teachers primarily in Wards 7 and 8. They use a “30-day micro-grant cycle” with an easy request option they can access on their cell phones. Complimentary Prosecco and hors d’oeuvres will be served starting at 5 pm for those who are supporting the cause.
• If your life feels like a whirlwind, and you would like to stop and smell the cherry blossoms, we can help! Plan now to attend our Need to Know Dinner with Laurie Cameron, author of The Mindful Day (just released by National Geographic) on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 pm. Take an interactive, sensory journey through this 4-course, rustic meal crafted by Chef Ricchi with “fram to table” recipes she learned from the local Italian “mammas” while living in Tuscany. Laurie will also provide practical tips on how you can focus and find more joy in your everyday life while influencing others around you to do the same. $89 (exclusive tax and tip). See the menu and get tickets now!

After a long Winter, we are looking forward to March ushering in Spring! We are celebrating women, reclaiming St. Patty’s Day, featuring special menus throughout March and practicing mindfulness. Stop by to take part in these special days with us!

• On Italy’s Festa della Donna otherwise known as International Women’s Day, women receive beautiful bunches of yellow mimosa considered a symbol of strength and femininity. To celebrate, we will pay homage to the beautiful flowering branches (and to the women who receive them) by featuring this glowing Mimosa cake, Thursday, March 8.
• Everyone loves meatballs . . . and everyone thinks theirs is the best recipe. We do too. So why not come Friday, March 9 on National Meatball Day and compare. A plateful featured at the Bar for only $10.
• Go green with us on Saturday, March 17 from 5-10 pm by enjoying our Italians Reclaim St. Patrick’s Day menu and drink specials.
• Honor St. Joseph, the patron saint of Italy, with us during Festa di San Giuseppe, Monday, March 19, and taste our complimentary delicious “fritelle di riso” – rice fritters at the Bar.
• The Cherry Blossom Festival is coming soon, and we are highlighting the arrival of Spring with our Cherry Picks Menu, available from Tuesday, March 20 until Saturday, April 14. More info to come. Post your best cherry blossom picture on our Facebook page, and if yours is our favorite, you could win a dinner for two!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS . . . We are very excited to announce an extraordinary evening of Italian opera and food with Soprano, Performer, Diva and Chef, Denyce Graves. Join us on Tuesday, May 8 for our Guest Chef Night – If Music Be The Food Of Love, to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington.

As we kick off Women’s History month, we are excited that we will soon be celebrating 30 years as a woman-owned business.  We’ve had the great pleasure of being interviewed and recognized in the last year by multiple outlets; a round-up is below.  We hope you’ll check out the articles and interviews to learn more about our roots…and what’s coming soon.

• We were thrilled to be included as 1 of 21 restaurants in the U.S. out of 120 restaurants worldwide (excluding Italy) that provide traditional excellence in Italian food in the 2017 Le Buone Tavole della Tradizione of the Academia Italiana della Cucina.
• Chef Ricchi had the opportunity to provide a chef demo at Farragut Fridays on September 15, 2017. The Golden Triangle featured a Q&A about her background and the importance of building community with Italian food.
• John Mariani recently featured the restaurant in his Huffington Post article “Dining Out in DC” November 20, 2017.

Check out our Press Page for more articles and radio interviews.

“L’amore e nel vostro cuore, non di rimanere, ma per essere condivisa” – Love is in your heart, not to stay, but to be shared.

This thought easily could have been taken from Tim Shriver’s remarks at our Need To Know dinner last week. He asked us to open our hearts and to see life through a different lens. He spoke of breaking down boundaries and healing where there are divisions – that we find our best selves when we are bridging gaps. For those of you who couldn’t come to our sold out evening with Tim Shriver, here is the video of his talk.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re reminded everywhere to celebrate those we love. I believe Valentine’s Day is not just for lovers, though. For me, it has always been a time to pause and celebrate ALL the people we love. One of my fondest childhood memories is waiting for Dad at the Long Island Railroad station as he returned from work every day. But Valentine’s Day was special. As the train passed, he would appear with arms full of flowers and chocolates – the big bouquet for Mom and the little one for me. Funny how I can still feel the warmth of his love in this simple memory.

Of course this Valentine’s Day the restaurant will be filled with couples in love treating themselves to a romantic candlelit experience. But wouldn’t it be special if we used this holiday to reach out to all the people we love to break bread and create a lasting memory? What little girl wouldn’t love to have a special dinner with her Daddy, or what Mother wouldn’t cherish an invitation to dine with her son? Or maybe it’s just a group of friends who can rarely find the time to meet, coming together to enjoy some great food and wine.

Our San Valentino menu is a four-course feast featuring many of our customer’s favorites. But to ensure our offerings are family friendly, we are also offering our a la carte menu as well. Reservations can be made for Wednesday, February 14 from 5-10 pm by calling (202) 835-0459.

To continue another i Ricchi tradition for all those ladies out there – grab a pal and come to our “Gal-entine’s” Squeeze, Friday, February 16 from 5-8 pm. We’ll be featuring some fun cocktails like Girls Just Want to Have Fun with complimentary hot hors d’oeuvres.

Find details here about our Mardi Gras special and “New” Olive Oil Dinner later this month.