Caruso's Grocery - Pike & Rose

I have been wanting to come here for a long time, but the timing or reservation availability had never lined up before. I had been to the front bar area for HH before, which was nice. The decor of the dining room in the back is very cute! Really nice atmosphere. The booths that aren’t half booths are a bit tight, just fyi, but after we got settled we were fine. Our waitress, Pascal, was very sweet, knowledgable and attentive! I wasn’t going to get the gnocchi but after she recommended we try all three restaurant week entrees, I did and I think it was the best dish of them all! It reminded me of my late father’s homemade Italian dishes and it was really enjoyable. The famous garlic bread was also amazing, and my husband thoroughly enjoyed the chicken parm. We agreed the penne alla vodka could’ve been a bit better and less salty, but it was still enjoyable, and my group absolutely loved the crème brûlée. The restaurant also recognized that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary with complimentary champagne and a card for a complimentary mimosa when we return for brunch. I really want to try their famous tiramisu! The service overall was just 5 star - from being greeted/seated, to Pascal and I assume some of the management team who came by the table to ask how things were. Overall we had a wonderful evening & look forward to trying more menu items.

Came here for dinner and had an amazing experience. I was initially seated inside but moved outside per my request with the amazing weather. At night the lights turned on and the cool weather made the atmosphere a perfect place to catch up. My favorite dish was the Alfredo and the strawberry basil lemonade is a must try! I ended with cannolis for dessert which are perfect too share. Made a reservation and was seated immediately and the waiter Methu was very attentive and gave great recommendations

I went there for Sunday brunch. The sharing plates were good but the main food wasn’t that great. The service was not good: spilling water on guest, making order mistakes, try to get the dish out while we are still working on it, hanging out with other guest (seemed like they were friends).

I had been seeing Caruso’s all over social media, so I was excited to finally stop in for lunch. The food absolutely lived up to the hype, but unfortunately the service made the experience a bit uncomfortable. When we walked in, the woman at the host stand was eating her lunch right at the front. She didn’t greet us—we stood there awkwardly until I finally said hello. She eventually told us we could sit at the bar, which was fine, but the interaction already felt a bit off. Once at the bar, she handed us menus labeled “Owens,” which immediately made me think we had walked into the wrong restaurant. When I asked if this was also Caruso’s, I noticed a Caruso’s menu behind the bar and asked if we could order from it. Instead of clearing things up or simply offering both menus, she responded with, “Well, you said you wanted to sit at the bar, so I didn’t think you wanted it.” The tone was surprisingly sharp, and it genuinely made us consider leaving. Thankfully, another woman—blonde, very friendly—started helping us, and that experience was much better. But even then, our food arrived and we sat for several minutes with no silverware. We eventually asked for roll-ups, and although the bartender apologized, she ended up stopping to have a full conversation with someone else before bringing them over. The food itself? Fantastic. Everything we ordered was delicious, and I genuinely want to go back for the dishes alone. But the interactions with the first woman—unapproachable, curt, and noticeably polite to every guest except us—were uncomfortable. When I paid, she set my card and receipt down without a single word. No thank you, no goodbye, nothing, even though I had heard her warmly thank multiple other guests. Overall, the food is wonderful, but the hospitality really detracted from the experience. I’ll absolutely order carry-out in the future, but I’m not sure I would dine in again.

While a nice addition to Pike & Rose and the growing set of Rockville eateries, Caruso's lacked the polished and more engaged service of its original DC restaurant, and the food classics were a bit uneven in quality. The old school ambience was a welcome shift from modern Italian restaurants. The penne alla vodka was pretty good, but unremarkable and didn't distinguish itself from other versions. The veal parmesan I ordered was quite good, the veal was quite tender and the tomato sauce was hearty and added robust flavor to the dish. My cocktail was amateurishly made, so I wouldn't waste your time on one of those selections. Service as mentioned was basic, uninspired and not engaged. Sadly typical for most Pike & Rose spots to be fair.

We decided to check out Caruso's Grocery in Pike and Rose as my wife will be working close by in the near future. We heard that it was excellent, and love Italian food, so decided to give it a try. We made a reservation, which was a great idea because they were very busy. After walking through the bar area, we were taken to our seat. Very nicely greeted by the hostess, and we were on our way. We were seated at a four-top which was excellent given the size of the portions, etc. and this gave us plenty of room for the two of us. Very cozy restaurant, that is well decorated and gives you the feel of the classic Italian restaurant. There is a group room in the back that can be seperated off from the main dining area, so a great place for parties and group events. For dinner we had the Tomato and Basil Caprese.. Delicious, but this dish is one of my favorites and I will always order it if you serve it. One of the better caprese dishes I have had. For main courses we had the Chicken Parmigiana and the Veal Francaise. The Chicken Parm came with a side of spaghetti with Marinara sauce. The Veal came with vegetables. Both were large portions and we ended up sharing both. To close we had the Classic Tiramisu and the Crema Bruciata. The Crema Bruciata is a Creme Brulee with Orange infusion. Delicious, and I highly recommend it. We did have a bottle of Pinot Grigio which tends to drive the costs of the meal higher. Our server was Nicholas P. and he was excellent. Stopped by frequently to make sure we were enjoyng ourselves and had a great understanding of the menu to help us make choices beyond my standard fare. Overall a good meal. Make a reservation and stop on by.

I came to Caruso’s after hearing so much about it with a couple of my friends and we were not disappointed! The food was great and they were accommodating of dietary restrictions which was nice. The burrata was absolutely delicious and definitely a menu highlight. The gnocchi a la genovese and the penne alla vodka were great dishes overall. Our drinks were pretty good as well and the tiramisu was decent. Ordered espresso at the end and had to ask a couple of times for it because it seemed as though they were a little understaffed. Coffee was delicious though.

Awesome food & awesome service! Our waitress was Agu and she was the sweetest and very attentive. Can’t wait to come back!

If you like Italian food, book a table at Caruso's Grocery. Living near their Hill East location in D.C., that's my go to. However, a friend had her wedding celebration at the location at Pike & Rose. Here's our experience. 1) Food: The menu included appetizers like shrimp, antipasti, and meatball sliders. The sit-down dinner had Caesar salad, pastas, chicken parmesan, cheesecake, and tiramisu. Everything was flavored well and very good. It's nothing fancy, but rather soulful Italian food. It's excellent. 2) Drinks: They served wine, beer, and two cocktails- an amaro old fashioned and a Limoncellotini with house basil gin, limoncello, and lemon. For a more sweet and sour drink, get the latter. 3) Space: It's a large restaurant, but we were in the back room by the kitchen. For a 50-person event, it didn't feel too crowed. 4) Service: It's always excellent. Staff were friendly and helpful. 5) Area: There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in Pike & Rose. The parking garage nearby was inexpensive.

Isn't like it used to. Unacceptable. I ordered the penne alla vodka with meatballs. The pasta was NOT al dente. It was soft. The meatballs were dry. I told the waiter and he came back saying the chef said this pasta is premade so it can't be made al dente. I make box penne at home al dente. Neither the waiter nor chef appear to know anything about "Italian" or basic pasta. The waiter did not understand al dente when I first said it. This is disappointing!!! Ive been to this and the dc location and loved it a few years ago.

Caruso's Grocery was the last restaurant I needed to try at Pike and Rose! I'm so glad I finally got to dine here. The restaurant is secretly HUGE. My group ordered their chicken and veel parms, spaghetti and meatballs, and mussels. The chicken and veel portions were huge but delicious! The meats are pounded into a thin layer, which made the bread crumb coatings and cheese layer feel ...healthy? . The portions of all the entrees were plentiful. I wish they had a few more white gravy or sausage entree options, but I really enjoyed my experience here!

We came on a Saturday about 5/530 and were seated in the bar area. Service was good and our drinks came quickly! They were quite yummy We had the amazing garlic bread and finished the loaf! My friend had the pesto gnocchi and I had spicy pasta with ricotta! It was delicious! Will definitely come back!

This Italian spot is said to have the BEST Italian food in the D.C. area!! Nuff said...let's go find out!! . Where I am: @carusosgrocery . Location Reviewed: 11820 Trade St., North Bethesda M.D. . Menu Includes: *See Website* https://www.carusosgrocery.com/pikeandrose . Items Reviewed: Their Spicy Pepperoni Garlic Bread Pizza (with pizza spice, & chili oil $17.50). STAMP!! Thick soft garlicky, buttery bread with perfect pepperoni & marinara!! Their Tomato Braised Meatballs (Pork Meatballs topped with Parmesan $13.75). STAMP!! Meaty, saucy, DELICIOUSNESS!! Their Chicken Alfredo(with wild mushrooms, Parmesan, & truffle butter $24.75). STAMP!! Not a huge fan of a lot of mushrooms, BUT this dish is delectable!! Their Shrimp Scampi (with garlic, chiles, & House made Limoncella $26.25). STAMP!! The tanginess of the Limoncella, & well seasoned shrimp...GET THIS!! Their Veal Francaise (Egg & Parmesan Battered cutlets with lemon butter sauce, & veggies $30.50). STAMP!! Super tender Veal, all these ingredients blended perfectly together!! Their Semolina Dusted Calamari (with marinara, & lemon caper aioli $17.75). STAMP!! I'm not a huge fan of calamari...THIS is the exception!! Their Mozzarella in Carrozza lightly battered, & fried mozzarella in a tomato basil sauce $13.50). LIKE THAT!! Better than your average mozzarella stick!! Plentiful, & super cheesy!! Their Caesar Salad (with Parmesan croutons $14.50). STAMP!! It's a salad, but this jont was FRESH FRESH!! Their Spaghetti with Meatballs (with pork meatballs, Parmesan, & basil). STAMP!! Again savory well seasoned protein, over perfectly cooked noodles in sauce!! Their Chicken Parmesan (served with a side of spaghetti $25.75). STAMP!! That flattened, breaded,& fried chicken breast marinating in that marinara...GET THIS!! Their Mojito Mocktail ($7). STAMP!! Refreshing!! Their Pomegranate Mocktail ($7). STAMP!! Palate cleansing!! Their Limoncellotini ($12). STAMP!! Tart & Strong!! Their Tiramisu ($12.25). STAMP!! A soft sweet coffee & chocolate blend!! Their Cheesecake ($11.50). STAMP!! Sweet, creamy deliciousness!! . Online Navigation: Easy . Customer Service: On Point!! . Parking: DECENT!! . Recommendations: EVERYTHING STAMPED!! . Music:YouTube-Backyard Band Sauce Solo 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

Carusos and Sfoglina are my favorite pasta in the dmv thus far .... For someone who usually will order gf, the quality of the flour and semolina they're clearly importing and using- is superior! Tender / light / airy / flavorsome / fresh. Started with the calamari and it's a MUST!! Delicious coating of semolina on fresh calamari - with a delightful side of marinara and smaller side of tartar sauce, amazing. We also ordered the bread with cheese sauce & the Tuscan salad. The salad was phenomenal! We ordered the Fettuccini Alfredo, the Spicy Neapolitan Ragu, the tagliatelle diavolo, & the special Orichetti. All were flavorsome and perfectly cooked. You can just tell the ingredients are high quality. The ambiance is cute with candles and warm wooden tones, here but I think the DC location is much more charming. Our server was excellent - we'll go back!

My parents and I stopped by last Friday evening for dinner since we were able to snag a last minute reservation the night before. Caruso's Grocery is inside another restaurant that's more like a pub/pizza place with a darker ambiance. However, when you walk towards the back where Caruso's Grocery is, it's brighter with an old-school Italian restaurant vibe with its red interior and choice of artworks/pictures. The restaurant was reasonably packed, but the service was still responsive and helpful. We decided to share two appetizers and two entrees. ROASTED GARLIC CAESAR - 14.50 This was a great option to share because it's pretty sizable! My parents and I loved the Caesar salad here because of its creamy and super yummy dressing (less of a runny dressing, more thick and clotted like cottage cheese texture). The croutons were also a savory flavor bomb and super crispy. Fresh lettuce. Never thought a Caesar salad could be this good, but it's gotta be one of our favorites. CREAMY BURRATA - 16.50 There is a generous blob of burrata which sits on top of a bed of basil pesto and pine nuts. There's two small pieces of toasted garlic bread you can enjoy the burrata and pesto with. The burrata was so creamy and light (like a stronger mozzarella if you've never had this before) and it was only enhanced by the basil pesto, which was well seasoned and fresh. We did not care and practically licked the whole plate clean. Nothing wasted here. CARUSO'S ALFREDO - 24.75 +6 for chicken The portion size is small, but you will not be hungry after. The mafaldine was the perfect al dente texture which soaked up the creamy alfredo sauce nicely. It was topped with a generous amount of mushrooms and parmesan. It was a delicious entree and the first few bites were heavenly for the taste buds. However, it was much too rich and heavy for me, and it's hard for all that sauce (made with rich ingredients like truffle butter and lots of cream) to go down well and I had to take a lot of breaks. If you're good with rich/heavy foods, this will be a great dish for you. It's one of their most popular pastas. SPICY NEAPOLITAN RAGU - 25.50 Similarly, the flavor profile was fantastic but much too dense for me after a few bites. The sauce was on the lighter side, but it's the thick blob of whipped ricotta that made it extra heavy. It's not that spicy, and the bits of beef and pork ragu were hard to find. The bucatini pasta was perfect, and I can see why people enjoy this pasta. Overall, amazing appetizers and tasty (but very heavy) pastas. I can understand why it's a favorite among DMV locals.

Wonderful! The food and ambiance is just really nice! It's not too loud but perfect for date night or a birthday dinner that the table next to us had. We were seated promptly and it did take a bit for us to get the bread and dipping oil. The Alfredo we ordered was not delivered with the shrimp we wanted, but the waiter was able to get the shrimp for us quickly. Our waiter was great in being cognizant of our dietary needs. This aside, the pasta was incredible! It felt like we had al dente pasta like you would get in Italy. It was creamy and delicious! I plan on being back!

Caruso's Grocery is a fun place to just look around.  The walls are completely full of all sorts of photos and knickknacks.  The menu is pretty straightforward and offers a lot of the classics.   Fresh bread, olive oil, herbs and balsamic vinegar brought to your table soon after you sit is always a great way to start a meal.  And, when we gobbled up all that bread, the staff was very gracious about bringing more.  We were a little disappointed in the garlic bread appetizer as it didn't seem to have that much garlic or butter.  We actually almost forgot it was garlic bread and just thought it was regular bread with cheese and cheese sauce.  The meatballs were tasty though maybe a bit smaller than we had imagined.  The gnocchi all Genovese had a wonderful smooth texture and you had to smile at the springlike green color.  We also enjoyed the penne alla vodka. Everything was tasty but not necessarily very bold in flavor.  That just might be our preference - to have more herbs, spices or heat to a dish.  For dessert we had the Nutella cannolis and the butterfinger sundae.  The sundae was pretty big and the cannolis came three to an order.   The staff was very friendly and helpful and we could see all the happy families around us enjoying their dinners together. Be careful when you enter as the bar area and hallway are quite dark and may present issues for someone with vision difficulties.

I particularly enjoyed the homey aspect of the restaurant and found our server to be incredibly nice and helpful. While the food was okay overall, I wasn't a huge fan of the gnocchi due to the excessive oiliness, which made it a bit tiresome to eat. However, the other dish was much tastier in my opinion. I was a bit disappointed with the tiramisu as well; the wine mixed in didn't quite suit my taste.

A group of us came here for lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. The restaurant was spacious and wasn't too crowded which was nice. Everyone in our group got the pre fix lunch menu with three courses of salad, entree and mini Nutella cannoli. The portions were large so this option is perfect for lunch and we tasted each others dish. We also ordered 2 appetizers of meatballs and calamari. Our experience was wonderful, and would definitely suggest it to others. I am glad they have this location in addition to DC as this place is in many lists of top restaurants to eat in the area.

I was hoping for better with Carusos but I thought that the experience was slightly underwhelming. The service was pretty slow and then the waiter brought our check before we could even give him our dessert order so I felt slightly rushed out. And the pasta sauces are very thick and oily so it was a heavy meal. I still enjoyed the meal but the service definitely made it worse. The best thing of the night was definitely tiramisu!

Came here for an early dinner with a friend after seeing reviews on Instagram. I got the cesar salad, shrimp scampi and their pomegranate lemonade. My friend got their meatball appetizer and the eggplant parmesan. The salad was really good & large! Definitely can be shared. My friend enjoyed the meatballs. The scampi was good also. My friend liked their eggplant, the pasta that came with it seemed very dry. The waiter came with fresh grated cheese and they added a lot to their pasta to help it out. Luckily the parmesan was saucy which balanced out the lack of sauce in the pasta. The bread was fresh and warm. Service was good. We sat in a room in the back area very cozy. Definitely a nice spot for cozy Italian food.

For a restaurant to be this booked in advance, and with the word-of-mouth hype to match, it must be pretty good, right? Caruso's Grocery is a solid "meh" in my book. Two weeks out the best reservation time for a party of three was either 5PM or 8PM. OK, not a big deal. Walking in at just before 8PM on March 16, the place was packed. Many large parties. But the noise level was like a tsunami. Sound level was bouncing between 75-80 db. This is lean over the table to hear your dinner partner loud. Service was vacuous. Just drop the menus off, ask for drink orders and disappear. No attempt at personality, but we didn't come for that. Let's touch on why we DID come and that was the food. A single small bread basket was presented before the meal to go with the antipasto appetizer. Enough for two. Penne ala Vodka which is a mainstay of Italian restaurants, nicely done and flavorful. I had the Cavatelli special with sausage and Asiago. On first taste I was overwhelmed with a lemon flavor. Likely to cut against the massive amounts of garlic. It tasted more like a thin lemon soup. It did drown out the more subtle flavorings of the sausage. Looking in on the kitchen, with rows upon rows of orders stacked up, I see this was a kitchen seemingly overwhelmed. Overall, this could have been a sports bar, but I wanted to enjoy a leisurely low-key Italian meal. However, my party really couldn't wait to leave the cacophony that is how I'll remember my experience at Caruso's on a Saturday night.

Caruso's Grocery has been on my bucket list for a while and I finally decided to book a reservation for a Christmas Eve dinner for myself. The DC location was fully booked long before so I opted for their Pike & Rose location, which is newer and has more availability. The front of the restaurant looks like a sports bar but the dining room is really cozy with family pictures all over the wall. I got the Mulberry St. Cosmo as my drink - it was okay, not very flavorful or memorable. I had to order the Caesar salad after hearing about all the hype and it did not disappoint. So flavorful and refreshing, the crunchy lettuce and bread crumbs were dressed to the perfect extent. I'd probably have to join the crowd and say it's the best Caesar salad I've ever had. I was choosing between a few pasta options and my server recommended the Alfredo as her favorite. It was an amazing alfredo, creamy but not overly greasy, wonderful addition of mushrooms and truffle, with the perfect pasta shape to grab onto the sauce. Nothing to complain about. My only regret was I got too full to order dessert so tiramisu next time! Overall, very solid Italian American spot, with all the classics you'd crave. Nothing super fancy to wow you, just classics done to perfection.

I get the Spicy Neapolitan Ragu a couple times a week here. It's by far one of my favorite Italian restaurant in this area. Right in the middle of Pike and Rose. They have outdoor seating as well but I prefer to dine in their dining room. Service has definitely gotten better recently. I do believe there is new management from what the server was telling me. I look forward to my next visit!!

Food here was delicious and their outdoor dining space is quite quaint. I was pleasantly surprised in how well they handled a non scheduled 34 top table. My coworkers and I stopped by unannounced after our conference in DC and we were very hungry. With that big of a table you almost expect the food to be cold or come out late but all those misconceptions were proven wrong but the Caruso's Grocery staff. I would happily bring my family back here again if I am in the area.

Winter restaurant week may have been my entry to Caruso's Grocery, it will not be my last visit. From the service to the food, everything was on point. The garlic bread with the cheese sauce is a must. I ordered the chicken parm and the portion alone made me smile. There was more food ordered than pictured, just know you won't be disappointed with anything you order.

Late review as we checked this restaurant out during Summer Restaurant Week, but we were so excited to see a Caruso's Grocery had opened up in Maryland after hearing about the one in DC. We reserved a table on a weeknight (didn't seem to be necessary that day as it was not that crowded) and were seated immediately by the host. We loved the old school Italian vibe of the dining room. The servers seemed to be training but were very nice and attentive. We got the restaurant week menu, starting with the garlic bread and Caesar salad for apps. First, the portions were HUGE! One app would have definitely been enough for the two of us. The Caesar salad was delicious! The bread was OK but the sauce that came with it was great. We each enjoyed our entrees (again, very large portions) - the chicken parmigiana was thin and tender, and the Caruso's Alfredo was so rich. Desserts were also very good! I loved my butterfinger sundae, and my husband enjoyed the cannoli, but I would definitely recommend the sundae. Overall, a very well-done classic Italian restaurant. We love having this spot nearby!

We tried Caruso's on a Saturday evening with a reservation (recommend having one!). The food was wonderful (tried specials and regular items on the menu and we were impressed with everything). Chicken parm is their signature dish - it was so flavorful and the portion was generous. We also tried a few apps - also all fantastic. The ambiance of the restaurant is perfect for a date night or to celebrate something with a yummy dinner. We had great service. This is located within the Pike & Rose area so plan to park in a garage.

I came to Caruso's Grocery on a Sunday evening with a large party, 6 adults, 2 kids and 1 toddler. We made reservations ahead of time and were seated upon arrival. The restaurant is surprisingly large with multiple seating areas, it is great for larger parties. We ordered multiple appetizers to share as a table, portions were good and came out quickly. - Creamy Burrata - This comes with Basil Pesto, Toasted Pine Nuts and Garlic Bread. I really liked the flavors in the pesto sauce, I would definitely order this again. - Mozzarella in Carrozza - This comes with layers of Mozzarella and Bread, lightly battered and served over fresh Tomato Basil Sauce. The presentation of this dish was unique, I haven't seen Mozzarella served this way. It was a little hard to share as a table, it would have been better if it was pre-cut just to make it easier to share as an appetizer. I ordered the Linguini in White Clam Sauce which comes with Garlic & Chopped Parsley. This is my usual go to at most Italian restaurants. The dish was well done here, enough portion ratio of clam to pasta. Overall, the staff was great, even taking the time to talk and joke with the kids to make dinner that much more fun and enjoyable for them. I would definitely come back here and would recommend to anyone craving Italian food :)

New manager really trying to pull the staff together. The food is consistently good. Will be back. Definitely a different vibe from a couple months ago.

6.9.23 You know how some restaurants dim the light to create the perfect ambience, well yesterday evening there were no lights and we ate in the dark. lol. Apparently lightning hit the block's generator so several businesses were affected. My friend came from VA to have dinner to celebrate her belated birthday. I am sure this dining experience will be one of the most memorable for her. Fortunately we placed our order right before the power went out so it was just in time for our meals to be prepared. To start, we were given complimentary bread and oil. I asked our server if I could sample the Spicy Neapolitan Ragu. He asked the chef and came out with the sample, which I wasn't sure if they would do. I learned a valuable lesson that it never hurts to ask. The worse that can happen is you get a no response. The ragu wasn't spicy so I ordered it. I have never had Bugatini pasta and enjoyed that it was thicker than regular pasta. I was expecting chunks of pork sausage, but it was fine or more ground. I am a carnivore so I like to see my meat. The sauce didn't have as much flavor as I was expecting. Unfortunately it was just average to me. My friend ordered a salad and the Spicy Neapolitan Ragu without Ricotta. She loved everything! I wanted dessert, but the kitchen was down at that time and could not prepare anything. Bummer! Although the food was average, the staff is super friendly and helpful. We had multiple staff come by to see if we needed anything and to check to see how everything was. The restaurant is much larger than I thought. There is patio seating and an outdoor bar, which I haven't seen before. What a cool concept.

I HAVE to say. I'm obligated to say. I really gotta say. I WANT to say. I'm just tellin' it like it is Actually saying it like it is. I REALLY enjoyed my brunch at Caruso's Grocery. First off, let's get out of the way that Caruso's Grocery has two locations. One in North Bethesda (this one). And one in downtown DC, the one I don't want to travel to from Gaithersburg. The one in DC has been there for longer, I'm pretty sure, and I think it's rated one of the best brunches in DC by some authority who has enough notariety to make that judgement. And after eating at the North Bethesda location, I can say that I will still put my trust in that authority. Ugh, I know - a Mike B review so much pomp... but where is the circumstance. Ok, let's get into it. The garlic bread is a must order. This is one of those things where they reinvented garlic bread, and this new version, is the only type of garlic bread that should be eaten. It is a perfectly toasted, perfectly garlicky, and super buttery garlic bread - but here's the kicker! It's served with a cheesy bechamel ... well cheese sauce that apparently has four types of cheese in it. I know... everything is made better by pouring a cheese sauce on it - but the symbiosis in this dish is something quite extraordinary. I got to taste both the gnocchi and the ragu. Both were excellent versions of the Italian classics. The flavors clean, the dishes remarkably fresh, the depth impressive. I personally ordered the greek salad with added chicken. A nice size salad, the dressings tasted as if made in house. The lemon ricotta donuts were more so donut holes, and we're quite tasty. Me and my partner found that the lemon and ricotta shone more without the accompanying fruit sauce. Service was on point. Prices were good. The fact that this place was not more crowded on a Sunday brunch day is both worrisome and criminal. It's clear that people don't understand how good this restaurant hidden in Owen's Ordinary is. An injustice that I'm trying to correct right now.

Such an incredible Italian eatery, with creative takes on the food but a great job doing the classics, as well! The ambiance is really nice for both date nights and families. The service is generally polite, though there has been the occasional miss. But the food makes up for all of it. The cheesy bread appetizer is divine, the spaghetti and meatballs are really well done. The gnocchi is butter soft and phenomenal. And the desserts are great too. I always finish off a meal here with a coffee and it always comes out perfect. Highly recommend!

Came here on Saturday for a date night and it was a nice night to come out and check this place out. It's located within the Pike n Rose area in North Bethesda, so parking was not an issue (there is a lot outside across from this restaurant for convenience). Now, when I entered into the restaurant I was thrown off at first, as it looks like a sports bar. Now keep in mind I was dressed DOWN to the nine lol so I felt overdressed. But then the host brought us in the back and there it's a bit more formalized where the dining happens, so just a heads up! So my boyfriend and I sat down and noticed immediately how busy and loud it was. Saturday seems to be one of their prime days because every table/seat was filled. I mention this so that you have context. We ordered 2 plates of tomatoes and mozzarella, and prior to us making that order we were told that house bread would be coming over. Our reservation was at 8pm. The waiter came around again at ~8:30/8:40 asking us what we would like to order AGAIN, after we had just put in the order of the tomato/mozzarella, which confirmed that he had forgotten he already took our order. We did not receive anything until 9pm....and at 9pm was when we received 1 plate of what we ordered. We told the waiter and it was rectified but clearly it was so busy with the long wait time and the order discrepancies. As for the main dish, my man got the shrimp scampi which he was satisfied with, and I got the Caruso Alfredo. Very rich, filling, and delicious. I ordered chicken to be added in for protein. I was so full I didn't bother with dessert. All in all it was okay. The food was good and it had nice ambiance to it to provide a nice date night, but I'm not sure it had enough wow factor to be a repeat restaurant.

Food was very good. Service could be better but nothing crazy. The ambiance was Bernice cozy environment. Will definitely be coming back!

(4) ~ very good overall food & service MENU: ** Spring Greens Salad (special) = (4.25) Very tasty Truffle dressing ** Bread & Vinegar & Olive Oil = (4) very good, b/c it's warm ** Homemade Baccelli = (4) very good, comes with Shrimp & Fennel Sausage. Added Chicken (diced) & Market Vegetables (side). ** Oreo Cheesecake = (4) very good * Butterfinger Sundae = (3.75) Good, BUT, would be better with Vanilla ice cream vs. Chocolate, which was overpowering the other ingredients. It also needed more Butterfingers. *** Shrimp Scampi = Next Time...

I had the trout piccata. It was cooked to perfection. I paired it with a lemonniccinnii(sp) drink that was not what I expected. I also had the Parmesan potatoes - these were good on top but way too much oil in the bottom. The restaurant was loud and slow.

I hesitate to only leave three stars mostly because I LOVE the DC location. This was the first time visiting the Rockville outpost and I've been to the original DC location several times. The vibe is very different. While DC is cozy and intimate, Rockville is super spacious and more chain restaurant like. This outpost is definitely for families more than DC. I also thought the marinara was a little less flavorful. The Caesar salad and the antipasti martini was still great. One of my favorite drinks ever. My husband got the limontini and it was lovely. Bottom line, happy they are expanding. Staff was very friendly and attentive.

I had a lovely dinner at Caruso's recently. I heard rave reviews of the original location in Washington, DC and thought I'd jump on the greater availability of reservations at the Rockville location before it became insanely popular. We started with the caesar salad and burrata. The caesar was excellent, sticking to it's classic ingredients but full of flavor and crispy textures. The burrata was creamy and I loved the pesto and pine nuts that came with it (and in this economy- pine nuts are sooo expensive). The burrata only came with two pieces of garlic bread which was a little disappointing. We ended up using the bread they give every table to scoop up the leftover pesto. For my entree I got the Alfredo. It is not as sickenly rich as a typical Alfredo, which I appreciated. I also loved the mushrooms in it. For dessert, I got an espresso martini. It has a nice punch of flavor without being bitter. It's also only $10, which is a steal in the DMV area.

We came to Caruso's Grocery to celebrate a birthday. They honored our reservation for a party of 10 and thru the bar area opens up into an amazing Old school Italian themed dinning area complete with family photos and old style posters. Our server was amazing making sure everyone had their prefers correctly, drinks were filled, and dessert was served. But all the amazing drinks, and vibes cannot hold a torch to the FOOD! When the dishes came out everything was so amazing. Fresh incidents, each bite packed with flavors. Fresh Parmesan cheese sprinkled on your dish at your request. The calamari (sorry not pictured) was amazing and perfectly fried. The meatballs while small had a burst of flavor accompanied by a home style tomato sauce that pairs perfectly with bread. Both pasta dishes were the perfect portion and tasted great leading to a dinner time debate of who ordered the best dish! I can't wait for our next dinner gathering and Caruso's is the perfect place to host it.

I recently dined here for brunch with friends and enjoyed the food here. I can't really do cheese or cream, and don't eat beef or pork, so I wasn't sure how that was a bit unsure about what to order. I honestly just wanted some basic breakfast food. The waffles on the menu didn't appeal to me because the waiter (who was great) mentioned that it's three layers, which would be too much dough for me. So I called myself ordering a waffle from the Kids menu (lol) and a side of 2 scrambled eggs. The eggs were nice and fluffy (and hot). The waffle was lukewarm m, but they quickly sent a fresh, hot waffle once I brought this to their attention. I'd definitely go back to check them out for dinner.

What a great experience. First time visiting. A Tuesday evening with the family. Cage gave the best service. Hands down.

Came to visit this spot for restaurant week because I've been wanting to come for a while! Making a reservation was easy, parking was accessible and we were greeted and seated as soon as we walked in. It was pretty busy for a Wednesday night, but there was a lot of room in the restaurant and was very cozy. Our server immediately gave us menus and bread for the table which was nice! I'm not sure of the young man's name but he was an amazing server! We both got the Caesar salad for an app which was absolutely delicious! I got the Alfredo and my mom got the chicken parmigiana for our mains. I asked for chicken in my Alfredo but I guess the kitchen forgot to add it on. Regardless, it was pretty good! Not your regular Alfredo but i enjoyed it. For the chicken parmigiana, the portion was HUGE, but I think the sauce could use some sugar to cut down the acidity of the tomato. It was okay! Desserts were great too! Overall I had a good experience here.

It is always exciting when DC restaurants make it to the burbs! I dined in on a Wednesday and was able to sample a large portion of the menu! I will rank the items based on my preferences 1) Limoncellotini 2) Burrata 3) Garlic Bread and Cheese 4) Chicken Parm 5) Blood Orange Creme Brûlée 6) Calamari 7) Veal 8) Caruso's Alfredo 9) NY Cheesecake 10) Shrimp Scampi 11) Italian Margarita 12) Caesar Salad The service was good and would like to dine again with my husband!

I had eaten outside before (which was a great experience) but decided to try inside this time. We were seated in the back area and really enjoyed the retro Italian vibe the room was giving off. Our server was top notch and really polite. We tried the Spaghetti and Meatballs and the Chicken Parmesan. The portions were really big, especially the chicken! I had to help finish it! We joked with the server about how large the slab of chicken was and he laughed and said that is a common reaction. The food was excellent and priced really well for what you get. I would say this place exceeded the Italian food I have tried in Old Town Alexandria, which also has several great spots. If you are in North Bethesda and are craving Italian, give this place a try!

Is this considered hidden gem because it's hidden in owens ordinary? Little confused as to how there's a restaurant within a restaurant. But pleasantly happy with this Italian restaurant! We made reservations just in case but they had a lot of space. It's a really big restaurant! Ordered: Calamari - yummy fried calamari with delicious lemon aioli Garlic bread - served with a delicious four cheese sauce Caruso's Alfredo - mushroom with truffle butter Alfredo. I really looove truffle flavor but was disappointed that I barely tasted truffle in it. Y'all sure you added truffle?? It was still a delicious Alfredo pasta though! Thought it was a little salty too. Spicy Neapolitan ragu - delicious pasta with whipped ricotta on top. We ordered it extra spicy and didn't think it was extremely spicy. Had a good kick! As someone who doesn't tolerate spice well, I thought it wasn't very spicy and probably could eat the dish at the normal spice level. I wouldn't be able to eat the whole dish at the extra spicy level though! Also thought this dish was a little salty. We were too full to get dessert but definitely coming back for it!! Server was great, they had a few large parties when we were finishing up, so it took them a little while to grab us to go boxes and our check, but Paul, the manager, popped by to help out and was very friendly.

So overrated :( and I'm sad about it. I really wanted to love it! First of all, I felt extremely rushed, every five seconds the waitstaff was asking if they could take our order. The food came out at lightening speed. We didn't have the opportunity to finish our bottle of wine, quickly chugging at the end. The food was just good. It's like going to a bakery where everything looks unreal in the case, but once you actually taste it, you are sad you chose to waste calories on it. Very underwhelmed. We probably won't be back. Everything looks amazing, but tasted just good/ ok.

I booked this place for New Years Eve dinner. 8pm reservation. It started getting filled when I arrived. Tables are spread apart with good spacing for those worried about Covid. The ambiance was classic and modern old school Italian. Reminded me of many of the trendy Otalian Restaurants from NYC. Music was low and suttle so you can still hear it but not overbearing. Upon arrival I was seated right away. Upon entering you cross thru owens tavern to make it into the actual restaurant. I'm not sure if there is another entrance directly in. I think this was the only way. Ordered the fried calamari and burrata with an order of their garlic bread to start. Delish both plates. For entree I had the veal Francese. It melted in my mouth like butttteerrr. I had a few margaritas with casamigos which were amazing. As the closer I endulged in tiramisu. It was delicious but for those lactose folks, keep in mind it was dangerous. My tummy was not happy several hrs later. This is consistent when I have anything with heavy dairy, creams etc. but hey! I enjoyed every freaking spoon of it! I will do it again too. Haha Parking more than likely at the private garages as street parking is virtually impossible! Definitely an amazing date night spot to impress the ladies. Make sure to have reservation. Go to owens for after dinner drinks after.

I've heard a lot about Caruso's, specifically, their DC location. Luckily they opened one tucked away inside Owen's Ordinary at Pike & Rose! I came here at 5pm on a Friday night and my boyfriend and I were the first people to dine in for dinner! The space was nice and reminded me of your typical cozy Italian restaurant. There were so many items to choose from, but my boyfriend and I decided to stick with the basics! We ordered the Garlic Caesar Salad (asked for light dressing) and you probably already know what that tasted like... delicious! The Semolina Calamari was cooked to perfection and was extremely tender (a tad bit on the saltier side). The garlic bread was chef's kiss, especially dipped in the cheese sauce. Spaghetti and Meatballs were also delicious and the pasta was cooked perfectly Al Dente. I have to mention that our server was fantastic and even asked if we wanted to split the Caesar Salad and Spaghetti & Meatballs in half (I noticed the table next to us asked to do the same exact thing after listening in!). Portions were definitely great for two people and everything came out piping hot! I would def come back again to try everything else.

Great food - they do the classics well, and I mean very well. Everything we ate exceeded our expectations. 5/5 for food Service, however, was not great. It wasn't like the server was unfriendly or anything, he was just absent most of the night. We couldn't get water refills, couldn't order more drinks, and waited probably 20 full minutes with empty plates on our table for the server to offer dessert, and then another 20 after we finished our dessert before I actually had to get up from our table, find the manager, and ask for our check. The whole meal took almost 2.5 hours which is absurd. Such slow service that I actually had to pay for parking at pike and rose, which I've never had to do for dinner before. Overall I'd say 3.5 stars, but if they got the service in order it could easily be 5. There's no need for service to be that slow.

I came here with my daughter for lunch. We had calamari and mushrooms alfredo pasta (can't remember the name), just see photo. The point is, the calamari was yummy, cooked right. The pasta was delicious!!! This is my second time here, and will come back!!

I went for dinner on a Saturday night. Most everything was fine except that one of the servers spilled wine on my white sweater while grating cheese on my pasta and after it happened, all they gave me were some napkins. This was almost certainly due to the fact that the tables are too small and close together, so there was not enough space to get between them without disturbing the table next to us. I was disappointed about how this was handled and would have appreciated another glass of wine at the very least. Their customer service was excellent. I emailed them about the wine incident the following day, and they responded almost immediately. They offered to pay for my dry cleaning and gave me a gift card. I really appreciated their dedication to fixing this and making it right. Now importantly, the food was mostly good. We ordered the roasted garlic Caesar (it was a solid salad but didn't have much roasted garlic flavor), the burrata appetizer (nice buttery burrata, could have had more pesto), and I ordered the Neapolitan ragu (stand out dish, highly recommend) and my friend got the shrimp scampi (more mild in flavor). I know they're a new restaurant and still trying to work out the kinks so looking forward to checking them out again in the future.

I was excited to try this restaurant out because I have heard so much about it. It's clean and decorated nicely. The hostess was very sweet and welcoming. However, I think the service was not what I was expecting it to be. I think our waiter may have just been tired because it was closer to the end of the night. But it was hard to get his attention for anything, there would be significant gaps of time where we wouldn't see him, and he didn't really pay much attention to our table. it took ages for us to get the bread, and it was cold when it got to our table. We ordered the tricolor salad, alfredo, and chicken tagliatelle. The salad was a bit bland and not as good as we were expecting it to be. But the pastas were absolutely delicious and I would come back again just for those. I would get both of those pastas again and want to try their other pastas. There is a fee on the check which is a kitchen staff recognition fee or something like that of 3% which I thought was interesting. So overall this is a place I recommend going to, the food is delicious, but the service is not up to par.

Saw hype online and yummy looking pics. Sadly, we were surprised with how mediocre it all was, and sad to pay such an expensive price for disappointing food. The "spicy" ragu had zero spice and truly all I could taste was garlic and grease. The ricotta was not creamy and rich as I hoped; it was more like an odd bland foam. Gnocchi was gluey and unpleasant. The "complimentary" bread, a sad cold chunk, only came until we asked halfway through our meal. The waiters kept changing and they seemed confused with most everyone's orders. Also note: "3% To Each Check To Recognize The Efforts And Work Of Our Back-Of-House Staff And Their Contribution To The Dining Experience"

Located in Pike Rose, MD, I went here to celebrate a belated birthday with my family. The food had me quite puzzled. We started off with their garlic bread, which, to me, honestly, did not really taste like garlic bread. After, we ordered the Mozzarella in Carozza. It was acceptable, considering the tomato sauce was overly sweetened. Would I eat it if I had to? Definitely. Would I eat it again by choice? No. Me and other family members shared different dishes, and the tricolore salad was highly satisfactory. The pistachios and the bright vinaigrette perfectly complemented the chicken and many vegetables within this salad. The Gnocchi alla Genovese was a bit too salty for my taste, especially since the sauce was pesto-based. The Tagliatelle, however, was amazing. The service was quick, with our excellent waiter always addressing our needs. The ambiance was quite pleasant and low-energy (in benign means, of course). Dim, golden-yellow lighting pooled over the many tables inside the restaurant. The noise was average, not too loud, not too quiet. However, I personally feel that our purpose of arrival did not match their energy (birthday vs. dim-lit, mellow vibe? Eh.). However, I personally feel that this place easily deserves of great ratings and I would definitely come back soon if possible. My personal score? 87/100

My wife and I ate here before going to a performance at the nearby Jewish Community Center. We made a reservation that same day and were able to get in because we were eating early; by the time we left at about 6:15 the place was jammed. The beer list was nice. Dinner came with bread and a small plate with sprinkled pepper and herbs, into which our waiter poured a dollop of olive oil -- nice. I ordered the baked cavatelli and my wife and our friend Lee shared the eggplant rollatini. Two main dishes were easily enough for the three of use. I had mentioned that we had to leave for an early curtain and the waiter said he would put our order right in - in fact, the food came only a few minutes after we had ordered it, which suggests to me that it was not cooked to order, but pre-cooked and run under a microwave. I noticed the 3% add-in for the waitstaff but was ready for that given the review from Phoebe D. I didn't bother me but personally I think they should just increase price on the menu instead of playing games with extra fees

This is a great place to enjoy with friends. Our food was very good, the drinks were strong, and the atmosphere was lively. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. I'm not a pasta person but I LOVE their Chicken Alfredo. I'll definitely be back!

My friend and I tried this spot during Winter 2024 Restaurant Week because we've been looking for a local Italian place. Overall impression was just MEH. I think the main issue comes down to space. We were seated at a 2-top that felt like it was part of the two 4-tops that were INCHES from our own. Plus, the table was TINY for our water, champagne flutes, bread basket, bread plates, oil/vinegar, dipping bowl, etc. We ordered a bottle of sparkling wine that our very young and inexperienced waiter couldn't pour for us and then they just left it on the table as well. No chiller, no towel. Just a cold bottle of wine. They did manage to find a chilling bucket -- but wanted to add that to our tabletop. David (Dave?), the manager, finally came the rescue with a chilling stand. Bottom line? Caruso's Grocery was decent, but we're not planning a return trip at non-restaurant week prices.