When my boyfriend and I met friends of ours for dinner at Piola before catching a show at Rosslyn Spectrum the other night, I had no idea we were hitting the restaurant on its most special evening of the month…gnocchi night!
On the 29th of each month, the Rosslyn-based branch of the European chain offers All You Can Eat Gnocchi for something around $10 a plate.
The question is…how much gnocchi can a person actually eat?
The answer? Probably more than one should. Piola lets you choose from any of its menu’s varieties (the night I went, it was tomato basil, four cheese, and ham/eggplant marinara – friends have raved about the pumpkin variety on other evenings), as well as mix and match when it comes time for a refill. It’s impossible not to leave the place bursting.
The gnocchi itself is decent, if not a revelation. The pasta is heavy but homey – the marinara-laced varieties definitely benefit from a little Parmesan cheese, while the four cheese is almost overwhelmingly rich, though the gorgonzola adds a much-needed bite. My favorite of the three definitely was the ham and eggplant, which were both delicious accents to the doughy pasta.
I’ve had Piola’s pizza before, and liked it without being blown away; the place boasts tasty salads and fun treats like Bellinis as well. Whether the restaurant is a destination spot, either on the 29th or otherwise, can be debated, but they sure are generous with their gnocchi.
Piola
1550 Wilson blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
P: 703-528.1502