OUR STORY

Officina – Italian for “workshop” – is the result of Chef Nicholas Stefanelli’s lifelong dream to bring the best of Italian gastronomy to Washington, D.C. in its various forms. Each location offers guests the option to embark on their own journey into the best Italy has to offer, whether it be shopping from a curated selection of imported specialty products in a Mercato, having a lively dinner with friends in a Trattoria, or sipping on a rare amaro within the Wharf location’s intimate Salotto. 

The first and flagship location of Officina opened with much anticipation in 2018 at the buzzing new District Wharf development. The expansive three-story culinary emporium has been warmly received by D.C.’s discerning diners and is home to a Mercato, all-day Café, Trattoria, Amaro Library, and expansive rooftop Terrazza.

Officina Café – debuted in late 2021 in the heart of  Downtown, and offers a convivial atmosphere to gather for work lunches, happy hours, and everything in between. 

While each Officina outpost is unique in its size and array of offerings, what remains the same is Chef Stefanelli’s deep commitment to Italian gastronomy, and passion for sharing his unique, stylish brand of hospitality in the Nation’s Capital.  

Nicholas Stefanelli is the chef and owner of three restaurant concepts in Washington, DC: the Michelin-starred Masseria in DC’s Union Market district; Officina, an Italian-inspired culinary collective with three locations in the nation’s capital; and Philotimo, a Greek restaurant and Mezza bar featuring the diverse flavors of Greece.

A Maryland native, Stefanelli graduated from L’Académie de Cuisine and cooked under culinary legends Roberto Donna (Galileo and Laboratorio del Galileo, Fabio Trabocch (Maestro and Fiamma), Thomas Keller (French Laundry), and one of the region’s most important restaurateurs, Ashok Bajaj, where Stefanelli helmed Bibiana.

Under Stefanelli’s tenure, Bibiana was named a “Best New Restaurant” by Esquire. Stefanelli was named the 2010 Rising Star by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and was included as a nominee for the Rising Star Award by the James Beard Foundation. In 2016, Masseria was prominently featured in The Wall Street Journal, and earned a RAMW nomination for “New Restaurant of the Year.”

Officina owes its success to a close-knit team of gifted, dedicated professionals. In terms of both cuisine and service, our standards are high – and so are those of our guests.