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Girasole Italian Cuisine - The Plains, VA

Girasole

Authentic Regional Italian Cusine

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Di Lenardo Friuli Wine Dinner

Wednesday, June 19th, 6:30pm
Hosted by Vittorio di Lenardo, sixth generation of the di Lenardo family
5 courses with wine pairings by di Lenardo, $165 per person, excludes tax and gratuity
Reservations required. Call to reserve, 540-253-5501. A credit card is required with your reservation.

We invite you to join us as Chef Lou and Lydia continue to celebrate 20 years of being at Girasole, and over 30 years of being restauranteurs! Since 1991, with their first restaurant Panino located in Manassas, they have proudly served authentic Italian food as a fully chef-owned and operated business. We began New Year’s Eve with a special fixed priced menu, we continued into 2024 with a series of cooking demonstrations led by Chef Lou, and we continue to celebrate our 20 years by bringing the best of Italy to our small village of The Plains.

On Wednesday, June 19th at 6:30pm, we invite you to help us celebrate the unique wines of di Lenardo accompanied by rustic dishes of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Each of the five courses have been thoughtfully created by Chef Lou to compliment the wines of di Lenardo, and to celebrate over three decades of friendship with the di Lenardo family. Vittorio di Lenardo, sixth generation of di Lenardo, will be presenting his family’s wines at the dinner. Please call to reserve, 540-253-5501. A credit card is required with your reservation.

Three generations of the Di Lenardo men, including our host Vittorio di Lenardo
Three generations of the di Lenardo family

Antipasto di Benvenuto
Welcome appetizer
Friulano ‘Toh!’ DOC 2022
      ~       
Funghi Fritti
Local and foraged mushrooms lightly fried tempura style,
thinly sliced prosciutto di San Daniele ‘Black Label’

Refosco IGT 2021
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Blecs con Ragù d’Anatra
A hand cut, thin buckwheat pasta served with a duck ragù
Merlot ‘Just Me’ IGT 2020
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Capesante Gratinate
Diver scallops baked with herbs and breadcrumbs
Pinot Grigio Ramato ‘Gossip’ DOC 2022
~
Presnitz
A rolled pastry filled with nuts, dried fruit, citrus, and spices
Verduzzo ‘Pass the Cookies’ 2022

*Menu and pairings subject to change based on availability

About di Lenardo

Located just outside Udine and not far from the Slovenian border, the di Lenardo family has been cultivating grapes in the village of Ontagnano since the 1800s. But it was not until the mid 1980’s, under Massimo di Lenardo, that the winery’s quality took a great leap forward. Motivated by the desire to create outstanding wines full of character and to place emphasis on the pure fruitiness and acidity of the grape by eliminating the masking effect caused by final maturation in oak barrels, Massimo made drastic changes in the vineyards and in the cellar. Hand harvesting grapes farmed only on the family’s vineyards flanked by the planting of new specially selected varieties helped realize Massimo’s vision for his family’s winery. Combined with the employment of modern technologies and refined methods of vinification used in the cellar, di Lenardo produces wines that are in no way inferior to the beauty of the gorgeous landscape of Grave del Friuli.

Today, di Lenardo produces some of the most consistent and expressive wines of the Friuli DOC area, and di Lenardo is in no way standing still, as Massimo is constantly searching for ways to improve in the vineyards and in the cellar.

Opening a bottle of Di Lenardo pinot grigio

“The vineyards are located in the famous area Friuli DOC . However, I love to joke and say we are located on the moon, as our wines are rather exceptional, thanks to their unique tastes and aromas, which are by no means typical of this area, but are essentially our hallmark!”

Massimo di Lenardo

Bio taken from www.dilenardo.it

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Apr 1

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A taste of what’s to come this Easter Sunday! Roasted heritage breed rabbit loin stuffed with a mushroom duxel served with rabbit ravioli, and braised lamb shank over spaetzle. Just two of many seasonal dishes offered on this Sunday's featured specials. Have you made your Easter reservation yet?! As always, call to reserve, 540-253-5501. 

Sunday, April 5 with reservations available from 12:00-4:30, with our regular dinner menu and seasonal chef's specials available.
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Mar 26

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Soft shells and Shad roe🥰 Spring has officially sprung at Girasole! Available tonight💫
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Mar 18

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Pizza rustica season is upon us! A rustic, savory torte made with egg, fresh and cured cheeses, and mixed cured meats including spicy salami and prosciutto, all wrapped in a flaky, buttery pastry crust and baked. It’s a Girasole tradition that stems from Chef Lou’s own family and is meant to celebrate the end of Lent. Find pizza rustica on our specials, or order your own pie to enjoy over the Easter holiday with friends and family.

Discover more about the origins of pizza rustica, and Chef Lou's slightly modified family recipe at the link in our story.
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Mar 4

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Rich and creamy butterscotch, topped with salted caramel and freshly whipped cream. Our butterscotch budino is officially back on our dessert tray, but may not be around much longer if temperatures heat up!
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Feb 19

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POSTPONED! To next Sunday, March 1. If you had a reservation, we have already contacted you. If you were unable to make it for its original date of tomorrow, we would love to see you next Sunday, March 1! Just give us a call to reserve, 540-253-5501.
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This Sunday's cooking class is a family affair! Hosted by Chef Lou AND Lydia and featuring dishes from their childhoods, and their travels in Italy over the years.

Discover more at the link in our bio, and as always, call to reserve 540-253-5501. Can the kitchen contain them both?! We will find out Sunday😂
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Jan 28

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Soup for you, and you, and you, AND YOU! Soup with lentils, soup with Tuscan beans and pasta, soup with little tiny tortellini, and soup with whisked egg and parmigiano! These are the soups of Girasole, welcoming you back from a frigid and snow-filled week.

We are open for our regular dinner service tonight and throughout the rest of the week. We hope to see you!
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Jan 14

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Our persimmon tiramisu is really something to talk about. 

At first bite a bit odd, like you're not really understanding what your tasting. The texture is smooth with complex flavors of honey and spice, rich but at the same time delicate. By the end of the first bite, you are in love. 

Available on our dessert tray for only a little while longer as the season for persimmons is finally coming to an end.
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Jan 7

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Rolling into 2026 like...

From cooking classes to our monthly wine tastings to weekly featured cocktail and mocktail specials, 2026 has just arrived and we are not slowing down! Find all the details in our monthly newsletter linked in our story.

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#girasoleva #theplainsva #smallbusiness #familyownedandoperated #22yearsandcounting
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Dec 27

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A taste of what's to come this New Year's Eve on our fixed-price, four course menu! Find the full menu at the link in our bio. Call to reserve your table with us to ring in the New Year, 540-253-5501!
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📸: Swordfish with a puttanesca sauce

📸: Local veal tenderloin pan sautéed with shallots, capers, and white wine

📸: Celery root ravioli served in a sage butter drizzled with aged balsamic from Modena, roasted walnuts
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Dec 18

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From the hills of western Pennsylvania to our village of The Plains, VA! Lydia has outdone herself with this year's 18 ft tree glowing bright on our patio. 

Just one of many trees decorated throughout the restaurant, spreading joy and cheer and that warm holiday feeling to accompany Chef Lou's inspired, seasonal dishes!
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Dec 2

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IT'S ALL HAPPENING THIS SUNDAY! 

A Holiday Wine Tasting featuring champagnes & rare & exceptional bottles from France, our Annual Holiday Art, Wine, & Gift Sale featuring works by internationally renowned printmaker, draftsman and painter (and Chef Lou’s brother) @robert_patierno, and the restaurant will be decorated from head to toe with great big bows, twinkling lights, gorgeous garlands, singing cherubs, and a towering tree on our patio!

Discover more at the links in our bio.
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Nov 13

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Preserving Summer!

Risotto with tomato passata, a concentrated tomato paste or puree made from the last of Chef Lou's heirloom tomatoes from his garden. On our featured specials tonight.
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Girasole Italian Cuisine - The Plains, VA

(540) 253-5501
4244 Loudoun Avenue
The Plains, VA 20198
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Hours

Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday – Sunday: 4:30pm with the last seating at 8:30pm

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