Our Story
Northern Italian,
Made for the Neighborhood
The Beginning
A corner with history
The corner of 2737 Sherman Ave NW has been home to restaurants for years. First Napoli Pasta Bar, then Capa Tosta. When Tim Monaghan saw the space, he saw something different: a neighborhood Italian restaurant that could actually become part of the neighborhood.
Tim spent years in finance before making the leap. As a DC public school parent rooted in the community, he had a simple idea: build a spot where the food is great, the prices are fair, and you never need a reservation. Just walk in. There's always room.
Ulivo opened its doors on February 26, 2026.
The Owner
Tim Monaghan
Tim traded a career in finance for the restaurant world. Not on a whim, but because he kept coming back to the same idea: a place in his neighborhood where you could eat well, drink well, and not think twice about walking in on a Tuesday.
As a DC public school parent, Tim is woven into the fabric of Columbia Heights and Park View. Ulivo reflects that. The pricing is intentional (nothing over $30), the walk-in-only policy is philosophical, and the room is designed to feel like it belongs to the block.
The walk-in-only policy isn't a limitation. It's the whole point. Ulivo is in the business of finding seats for everyone. There's always room.
The Chef
Nick Perkins
Chef Nick brings a Piedmont-trained eye to everything on the menu. Seasonal ingredients, handmade pasta, simple dishes done really well. Nothing fussy. Nothing over $30.
The menu changes with the seasons because that's how cooking should work. Expect house-made pastas, honest antipasti, and mains that make you want to come back next week.
The Space
80+ seats. Candles on every table.
Indoor and patio seating. Warm lighting, vintage Italian photos on the walls, and the kind of room where two hours go by and you didn't notice. The upstairs seats about 30 for group dinners, birthdays, and whatever else you need a big table for.
