Stephanie Spear 
Many Arlingtonians are familiar with Il Radicchio, the cozy pasta house that, until this summer, was located between Courthouse + Rosslyn. The longtime neighborhood favorite has relocated to 2909 Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon, as its former building is slated for redevelopment. The Fairfax Girl chatted with owner Rishi Nagpal about growing up at Il Radicchio and what this next chapter will look like for the restaurant. Read on for more about Il Radicchio’s next act.
About Il Radicchio
Il Radicchio opened in 1994 at 1801 Clarendon Boulevard. The restaurant began with a straightforward concept: a pasta house where customers could customize their meals, choosing from sauces made in-house. According to Rishi, that emphasis on pasta and Italian comfort food has remained central to the business, even as the restaurant has evolved.
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In 2023, the building where Il Radicchio was located was sold to a developer, who later announced plans for a mixed-use building on the site. While the Il Radicchio team knew it had to make plans for its next chapter, they wanted to operate in the same location for as long as possible. “We were month to month for a while,” Rishi said. “But still looking for a space and trying to make plans.” Meanwhile, Rishi’s father was dealing with health issues and wanted to step back from the restaurant operations.
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Rishi took over ownership of the restaurant and the future started to take shape. In June 2026, Il Radicchio closed its Courthouse location and made plans to move to Clarendon. “It all happened quickly,” Rishi said. “We found out that the Mazaro space would be available, and it was a perfect fit.” Throughout the summer, the team worked on moving into the new space and making necessary upgrades.
“We wanted to stay local and serve all of our customers,” Rishi said of the move to Clarendon. “I’m looking forward to seeing all the familiar faces that I saw when I was 16 years old, coming back over the years, seeing everyone. And I’m looking forward to a new crowd as well, and seeing what this neighborhood can offer.”
What to Expect
The Clarendon space is much bigger than the original location: it has a long bar, a bigger dining room, and outdoor seating. Part of the restaurant facing Wilson Boulevard has a louvered window that can be opened fully. But the menu and overall atmosphere are the same. “We just want to give you good Italian comfort food at a reasonable price,” Rishi said. “We want to give you a fine dining experience, but in a casual environment,” he said.
Pasta remains at the center of Il Radicchio’s menu. The build-your-own format lets diners choose their pasta, including gluten-free options, plus sauces and toppings, while the menu also includes prepared combinations, pizzas, and Italian entrees.
Rishi’s personal favorite is the Penne Salmone, which combines salmon, asparagus, tomatoes, olives, and a cream sauce with penne. He described the dish as rich, comforting, and warming. Rishi’s pick for an underrated order is the chicken Milanese, listed as Milanese di Pollo: breaded, herbed chicken accompanied by salad and grilled asparagus.
“We import a lot of our meats and cheeses from Italy,” Rishi said. “Such as the sausage and pepperoni.” The kitchen in the new space is larger, which means the team can experiment with new menu items.
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The pizza oven at the new space is gas-powered rather than wood, which Rishi says is a bit easier to manage from a practical perspective. “It’s easier to maintain the temperature, and we can cook more pizzas,” he said. “The team is figuring it out; maybe there’s a way to use wood in other ways.”
The beverage program is another area of change. While the old restaurant served beer and wine, the new space has a full bar. At the time of our visit, the team was still working on finalizing its liquor license. Rishi said he is developing a cocktail selection with a focus on Italian classics such as Aperol spritzes, along with limoncello and Italian wines.
There is also more room to gather. Rishi said the new location can accommodate more private parties. One tradition he hopes to expand is welcoming Marine Corps Marathon runners for pre-race dinners. Il Radicchio has hosted runners in past years, and the new space gives the team the ability to seat more people for those meals. “They come in here to carb-load,” he said. “It’s just a lot of pasta!”
Il Radicchio is located at 2909 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. It is open 4:30PM to 9:30PM Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays + Sundays; 4:30PM to 10PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed Mondays.
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