Welcome to Thompson Italian!

Our family restaurants are a true labor of love that have been a lifetime in the making.

They’re a place to share a bowl of pasta and great conversation with your partner, spend a festive night sipping martinis with your best friends, and make long-lasting memories around a table filled with your family’s Italian favorites.

Our journey together began in 2007 when we met while working as part of the opening team at West Village’s Dell’anima restaurant. After honing our culinary skills at some of New York City’s top-rated restaurants like Per Se, Le Bernardin, and Del Posto, we went on to become chef-owners at three more popular Italian spots in Manhattan — L’Artusi, Anfora, and L’Apicio — as well as co-authors of the cookbook “Downtown Italian.”

In 2015, we relocated with our two children to Northern Virginia to be closer to family and create the neighborhood restaurant we’d always envisioned, where people can gather for a great meal in a warm and welcoming place.

After searching for the perfect spot to open our namesake restaurant, we realized there’s no better place for that than our own backyard. So, in 2019, we opened the first location of Thompson Italian in Falls Church and over the past three years we’ve grown roots in our community — creating relationships with local farmers, feeding families, and sharing thousands of meals with cherished regulars.

We picked up a few accolades along the way, too, including spots on the Washington Post, Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine Best Restaurant lists, and a James Beard nomination for Katherine for Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year. 

Now we’re excited to open the doors to our second location, just across the river in Alexandria. You’ll find some familiar favorites at our new spot on King Street — like our famous garlic bread, meatballs and olive oil cake — plus an expanded selection of handmade pastas and fresh seafood. 

We designed Thompson Italian to be a casual spot where anyone can stop in for a great meal and a glass of wine without fuss and pretense. We’ll make sure you can get delicious food and a fun night out with the family in one place, so bring the kids!

Cheers,

Gabe & Katherine Thompson