Rafagino is a true hidden gem and one of the best restaurants in Burke, VA. It’s a very small restaurant, with only about a dozen tables in a single room.
They specialize in fresh Italian cuisine and a substantial wine list. It’s an especially great destination for a special occasion or a romantic dinner.
My family discovered this restaurant about 10 years ago, and it’s one of our favorite places to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions. They’ve been around for over 30 years, which just shows that they’re definitely doing something right!
Rafagino Review
Rafagino Overview
| Great For: Romantic Dinners, Fresh Italian Dishes, and a Large Wine List Location: 9570 Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA 22015 Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 5pm to 9pm; Monday: Closed Dress Code: Casual to Fancy Price: Entrees range from $18 to $36 Menu: Italian Reservations: Reservations can be made by phone: (703) 455-3095 |
Menu Overview
Rafagino specializes in homemade Italian food with unique and inventive twists.
My personal favorite appetizer (I order it every time!) is the Insalata di Spinaci, with gorgonzola cheese, roasted walnuts, and cranberry raisins. It’s a perfect combination of tart and sweet.
There is an extensive list of additional salads and appetizers, including the Italian favorite Calamari, Fresh P.E.I. Mussels sautéed with white wine and cilantro, Caprese Salad, and Caesar Salad.
My favorite main course is sadly no longer on the menu (it was a penne with crab meat and a vodka tomato cream sauce.) But there are plenty of other dishes that won’t disappoint!
One of my favorite pasta dishes is the Tortellini Bolognese, with four-cheese tortellini and meat sauce. They also have a fabulous Paella Spagnola that is a favorite in my family!
If you’re in the mood for fish, some excellent options include the Broiled Atlantic Salmon in a creamy seafood based, lemon, and butter; and Mediterranean Bass sautéed with red & orange bell peppers, onions, chorizo sausage, and garlic.
Meat dishes include the always popular Italian staples: Chicken Parmesan, Eggplant Parmesan, and Chicken or Veal Saltimbocca. You can also order Filet Mignon in a creamy Gorgonzola cheese sauce for those extra special occasions!
My family has ordered many of these dishes and never had a bad meal! It’s why we keep coming back year after year!
As you can see, Rafagino specializes in classic Italian dishes, but it often puts its own unique and flavorful twist on those dishes (like the Filet Mignon with the gorgonzola sauce!)
Their desserts are incredible too. The servers come around with a platter of all the dessert choices, which naturally makes me just want to eat them all! I usually choose either the delicious Tiramisu or the decadently rich Chocolate Cake.
They have a large selection to choose from, including Bread Pudding, Cheesecake, Limoncello Cake, Cannoli, Toasted Almond Cream Cake, and Gelato. So you can see what I mean about it being hard to just choose one!
Ambiance and Atmosphere
As I mentioned, Rafagino is very small in size. It is located in the back corner of a shopping center in Burke, almost hard to find! The interior is a single dining room with about a dozen or so tables, all of which are placed a modest distance from each other.
There is enough space between each table to give you privacy for your group, but because of the single space, it can get a little loud when most of the tables are full, and everyone is talking. We’ve never had too much of an issue, though.
The tables range in size from smaller two-person tables to larger tables that can fit four people or more (for larger groups). There is also a small bar at the back of the restaurant near the kitchen.
Because of its small size, Rafagino is very intimate, which makes it a great spot for a romantic dinner. It features low lighting and speakers in the corner that play Italian-flavored songs, including opera arias, and Italian jazz pieces. I find the music to be just the right amount to add some flavor and energy to the ambiance, without being overwhelming or distracting.
Location and Accessibility
Rafagino doesn’t have the most glamorous location. It’s situated in a shopping center, tucked away in the back corner and almost hard to spot next to a CVS and Safeway.
It has a large parking lot in front, but the lot does tend to get crowded. You won’t have an issue getting a spot, but you may have to park a little further from the restaurant.
The restaurant is right off Old Keene Mill Rd, which is one of the major roads that runs through Springfield and Burke in the northern Virginia suburbs.
Because of its small size, the restaurant is easily accessible with no steps to navigate. It has two manual doors at the front entrance, which lead directly into the main (small) dining area.
Service Quality
The service at Rafagino has always been excellent. Because of its small size, you will get attentive service to help make you feel special.
I have often known the owner to walk around and greet each table. He even greets guests by name. Generally, our orders have been taken quickly and the food arrives at a good pace.
If you have reservations, you will likely be seated almost immediately.
Special Events
Rafagino regularly features special events, many of which are centered around wine and Italy. For instance, they have hosted a five-course Milan Wine Dinner, with wine-pairings from Milan and Lombardy.
Other special events have included a Genoa Wine Dinner and a Spain Wine Pairing Dinner. Each of the special events features the dishes and wines from the specific locations. This can be a fun event for wine lovers to take a mini-vacation to Europe without a plane ticket!
You can find out about these events in advance by joining their email list on their website.
Final Verdict
As you can see, Rafagino is a special hidden gem in Burke, VA, particularly for those who love delicious, fresh Italian food and amazing fines!
The restaurant may be small in size, but it features a large menu of pasta, fish, and meat dishes that are creatively prepared, plus an enormous wine list that will guarantee you find the perfect pairing for your next meal!
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