RPM Italian

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

The People Behind the Restaurant

RPM Italian Washington DC is part of a restaurant group created by celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic alongside siblings R.J., Jerrod, and Molly Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. The concept is built on a straightforward premise: source the finest possible ingredients and deliver exceptional service. That combination has earned the Washington location a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — recognition that reflects the seriousness of the wine program as much as the food.

Steering the kitchen in DC is Executive Chef Massimo Vicidomini, whose connection to Italian cuisine runs deep. He began cooking in Italy, worked along the Amalfi coast, and contributed to Michelin-starred kitchens — including L'Olivo in Capri — before moving to Washington and eventually taking the helm at RPM Italian. His cooking is shaped by years of travel and a genuine attachment to the flavors of his home country.

The wine program across RPM restaurants is guided by Partner Richard Hanauer, who joined RPM Italian in 2014 and helped open the Washington DC location. Hanauer has been named Sommelier of the Year and is a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker — credentials that explain why the cellar here draws serious attention.

What Arrives at the Table

The kitchen's commitment to Italian cuisine starts with the raw materials. The team makes over a dozen different pasta dishes daily using Molino Paolo Mariani flour, imported from Italy and valued for its hydration properties. The handmade pastas are shaped using bronze dies, gnocchi boards, pasta wheels, and groove cutters — tools that reflect a genuine craft approach rather than a shortcut.

Olive oil comes from the Giachi family farm in the Chianti Classico hills of Florence, pressed from hand-picked olives harvested at peak ripeness. Balsamic vinegar is sourced from Acetaia San Giacomo in Reggio Emilia, where Andrea Bezzecchi ages cooked grape must in traditional wooden barrels using methods passed down through generations. These are not decorative details — they shape what ends up on the plate.

The Room and the Experience

RPM Italian DC sits in the Mount Vernon district at 650 K Street NW, with valet parking available. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner through the week, with private party and catering options for larger gatherings. The wine list, shaped by a team with deep sommelier credentials and recognized by Wine Spectator, makes this a natural destination for guests who treat the glass as seriously as the plate.