Tonari

Pasta and pizza were amazing. Service was great. Loved the idea of sitting without shoes on.

Great new place with interesting Wafu food. They make it very clear that this is not fusion, but rather a unique type of cuisine, and it shows in the dishes. The pasta dishes are lovely, with wonderful rice noodles and sauces that are reminiscent of Italian food. The Wafu pizza is good, and the crust is the real winner - light and spongy I would eat this alone! Overall an interesting choice if you are craving Italian food with a twist.

I really enjoyed eating here. We got there ricotta and edamame to start. (It didn't have much flavor, but the rest of the meal made up for it.) Then we ate the pappardelle pasta, I forget the name, but it had mushrooms and was vegetarian. There pasta was great, very flavorful. Then we got the corn pizza. It was a strange combination, but it worked well. The sweetness of the corn, there fluff of the dough, it was great.

The service was okay, not great. Our waitress felt a little scripted, but I'm sure that within a couple weeks, she'll be more comfortable (I think the restaurant opened able a week ago).

My only real complaints is that there are no baby changing tables in the bathroom.

Tonari is a great addition to Chinatown and perfect before something at the Verizon Center. Drinks are $12 with a mix of classics (cosmo, old fashioned) and more Asian inspired options. The bar is first come first served and offers the full menu. I highly recommend the tofu (made in house), the corn pizza, and no matter what, get the Uni pasta.

What a wonderful experience. The food is absolutely amazing. Don’t be fooled. This is not a pizza joint. Wafu is an amazing dining experience.