Il Pizzico

There is a reason that Il Pizzico has won the best restaurant award in Montgomery County for years. It is like a fine wine that only gets better with age. The service is spectacular. You are welcomed and appreciated from the moment you walk in the door. This is not a dinner that you rush through, it is an experience to be savored and enjoyed. The ambiance is beautiful. The warm rich tones, the comfortable chairs, the beautiful decorations, all add to your dining pleasure. This is one restaurant that I am happy to taste new menu items. One this occasion I tried the tuna and avocado tartar. It was delicious. The umami flavor of the tuna was enhanced with the creamy avocado. I would order it again in a heartbeat. Next, I enjoyed the fish poached in a butter- lemon sauce. The fish melted in your mouth. The addition of the capers added the acid to cut through the richness. It was wonderful. For dessert, I ordered the tiramisu. It was creamy, with coffee tones, and a delicate layer of flavor in each bite. My friend got the pasta with lamb sauce. She loved it. And, ended up taking some home with her, due to the generous portion size. Another friend ordered the most fantastic dessert. I am embarrassed to say I forgot the name of it. I just remember the depth of flavor and enticing taste. I know that if it is ever on the menu, it will be my first choice. He also got a spinach salad with his meal and really liked it. Il Pizzaco is a favorite restaurant in my family and I always adore my meals there. Be sure and make a reservation, because they are always busy.

Uppn entry, the greeter/host was so nice! The place was very busy and well managed! Waiting staff knew answers to all of our questions and they made an accommodation to my allergy. They were swift and very efficient. The ambiance was buzzing but still cozy. They have a smart casual dress code whiwasI was glad about. The lighting was subdued and gentle and created a relaxed mood. The place is small/medium size but accommodates a large swell of customers really well. The food was AMAZING. I can see why they were awarded a Forchetta by Gambero Rosso. The foccacia, though not the Kind I was looking for, was homemade and really good, especially with the olive tapenade. We had the Risotto of the day which had mushrooms and microgreens, the arancini for appetizers. Loved both but the risotto was something that's going to have me coming back for it. For our entrees we ordered the Spaghetti allo Scoglio and Ravioli Di Funghi Al Pistacchio. The pistacchio sauce was superb. The noodles for the spaghetti were perfectly al dente. We also offered the sparkling rose and tirimisu. Honest to God I'm going back and ordering everything on the menu just to try it all at some point. Please go. So worth it.

Food was excellent. Prices are extremely reasonable. The service was very good. The biggest issue is the restaurant is very noisy.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants. I came here for my birthday about 8 years ago and I came back this year...nothing has changed - it's still the best - customer service, people, and food!

Overall, great experience here! Our server was very nice and quick. The pastas were delicious, especially the bucatini one. The calamari is not fried, but has a wonderful taste. We also got the espresso martini which was very smooth and sweet. I would recommend trying this restaurant.

Excellent food. Service is superb. Location in a strip mall. is weird for such a nice place but once inside it's lovely- if a tad cozy. One of our family favorites.

The food, service and Ambience is fabulous! I always enjoy the entire experience! It is one of the best restaurants in Montgomery County, MD.

Bellissimo! Bravo! That is all that really needs to be said. This is a little yet lovely and upscale italian restaurant that will surly make a memorable dining experience. I would highly recommend!! The Mitra de was wonderful and accommodating (we did not make reservations- I recommend that you do). The staff were superb and very knowledgeable. Great recommendations! A pleasant gem to have in this area.

Went for their Valentine's Day pre-fixe 4 course meal. The menu says no substitutions or changes but then they run out of everything in the first course except for the burrata. For a restaurant that I thought was high quality, they didn't have any options or any sort of compensation for the fact that they ran out of 2 out of 3 options for their first course. I expected better. The food overall is good, but I would say nothing spectacular. I found a shrimp shell in my squid ink pasta and I just expected a level of care that was missing in my experience.

Il Pizzico means 'The Pinch,' and is owned by Enzo Livia. This small, unassuming Italian restaurant is located off of Frederick, in a retro-looking mini strip plaza. With just a blink, you may miss it! They have both a lunch and a dinner menu, offering dishes with housemade pastas as well as daily specials. Some tips: +avoid the Salumi Board - doesn't include cornichons/pickled veggies, jellies, and a selection of cheeses to accompany the meats. +the Ravioli di Funghi al Pistacchio (ravioli filled with mushrooms and ricotta, all covered with a pistachio-cream sauce) is a favorite amongst the locals +avoid the Gnocchi di Ricotta alla Gorgonzola Tartufata (ricotta dumpling pasta with a mild gorgonzola sauce drizzled with truffle oil) - slightly gummy and dry +request only the sun-dried tomato bread in the complimentary bread basket; tapenade is just okay Service is friendly. +friendly service +small lot for your car

This is my go-to local Italian spot. They never miss! Consistently great service and delicious food. What more can you ask for? It's the perfect place for a date night or birthday celebration.

We've went here twice- This is the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to. Definitely the best in Rockville. I personally enjoyed it more than Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown for context. Reservation only *Ambiance is very relaxing and classy. Service is extremely professional. *They make the majority of pastas (which is clarified on menu) from scratch!! *Cocktails are delicious. I hate Aperol- and their limoncello spritz was a much better version of this drink. Bucatini was great. Specials are spot on- rockfish was phenomenal. Lemon Butter Cod was just about as great as Cod can be!! Tuna tartare had the perfect amount of acid and fat ratio. I may just continue trying new things on the special menu because it's been great every time. *dessert- I would recommend the Tiramisu! Creme Brûlée's texture was off for me- but the tiramisu was phenomenal! *Owner(?) of the place, who I believe is the person hosting is very polite, hospitable & welcoming. We had a misunderstanding if I could bring our drinks to the table (which I had purchased from the bar) & he apologized several times. However, as someone in the industry- it was extremely respectable that he wanted to make sure the bartender got his share for his hard work. I simply do not come back to restaurant's that do not treat their staff well & this made me feel like this place has a great foundation. *Bartender was really attentive & hospitable. We were both very passionate about cocktail quality & craft. I would return with my boyfriend to grab a drink & chat with him again. The restaurant was slammed (we were at the bar waiting for our table) & he did not skip a beat working the service bar and ensuring we had a great experience simultaneously. *overall this place is a hidden gem. Seriously, the outside looks absolutely nothing like the inside. We were limited because my boyfriend has a nut allergy but I'd like to return with some friends and try all the other wonderful dishes they have to offer & add to the review!

Update: Ate at Il Pizzico again for birthday celebration. We had involtino di melanzane (grilled eggplant bundles), gamberi e capesante alla Kiara (again), a delicious daily special involving a fish I was unfamiliar with and can't recall, not bream or branzino (persico?), and a dessert. Everything was outstanding, and I'm upgrading my rating to my highest yet -- 94 (food 72/75, ambiance 7/10, service 15/15). The service was perfect. I watched the staff and I think they were anticipating what each customer might want, kind of like what Carmy wanted Richie to do in "The Bear." The timing was like a symphony. I think this place is going to get more accolades -- it's already the only restaurant in Maryland to get a 'forchette' from Italy's Gambero Rosso magazine -- and it's going to get harder to make a reservation.

II Pizzico is probably one of the few nicer Italian restaurants in Rockville. With that, they have less pressure to keep up an authentic italian cuisine. Upon arrival, we were seated 10 minutes after our reservation. Initial thoughts: it's pretty dark and chaotic. They give bread to start with tapenade, both were delightful. Food was brought out promptly and plated well. The serving size is not all that great for their prices. The pasta itself was overall an 8/10. It didn't wow me but it also didn't disappoint. It was flavored well, but for an Italian place they don't have alfredo on their menu and it was mainly comprised of tomato based pastas. As for dessert, this hit the ballpark. The crème brulee was light and airy with just enough sweetness. The carmelized sugar was delicious. The chocolate mousse was beautiful as well. Creamy and soft with the perfect chocolate flavor. My only drawbacks from this place is: ⁃ It's really loud inside, the tables are very close together. ⁃ They don't give complimentary dessert for birthdays. - Parking is a bit limited, but there's at least additional parking in the back.

Il Pizzico is a hidden gem in Rockville. It has a traditional vibe, excellent service, and an extensive wine menu with great drink options. I ordered the Bucatini con pancetta e pomodoro, and it was absolutely delicious!

seasoned pros running this place. delicious dishes on the menu. one of the best restaurants around.

Superb food and service. Sat at the bar because we were walk-ins, bartender was super-attentive without being intrusive. Explained the menu, specials, and answered our questions about choices. We had a delicious trout appetizer, I had the Salsiccia (sp?) with homemade rigatoni. Outstanding dish. Atmosphere was wonderful. I love places like this. Will certainly return when I am back in the area.

I'm very biased in my review. My daughter is Assistant Manger here. Since I was alone, I sat at the bar for my meal. The Bartender and the rest of the staff were very attentive. The Arancini was on point. The service was fantastic. It was fun sitting at the bar. You feel like you're with family. If you're dining alone, it a great place to go.

Amazing place!! The best food and service!! They remembered my husbands 30th and made it so special! I got the mushroom ravioli and it was heavenly!! The pistachio cream sauce was amazing and my husband got the eggplant parmigiana which was great!

The Olive Spread they serve with the bread is unique & delicious! Involtino di melanzane (grilled eggplant bundles) are so good, I could order a whole apple just for myself. Ravioli di funghi al pistacchio is my favorite and I'm not even a big mushroom person. Flavor is amazing and the portion size is just right. Great spot for just about anything. Quaint spot & attentive service. Celebrated our 20th anniversary here!

Best Italian restaurant in Montgomery county Service is great I love the eggplant parmigiana

Wonderful food, and always has some specials. Friendly staff. And they now take reservations. Hard for new people to find, but definitely worth the visit.

This was our first time dining here after years of reading about it and knowing friends who have dined here and personally recommended. Reservations are recommended as this is a relatively small restaurant with a separate bar area that you can dine as optional seating choice. Upon entering, we were greeted by the Maitre D who graciously brought us to our table. The atmosphere is elegantly classy with white tablecloths and these adorable lit wands at each table which provided ample lighting without being overbearing on the table. A nice alternative to candles. Our waiter came over right away as we were first reservation upon opening for dinner. Daniel introduced himself, offered to answer any questions, inquired if we preferred bottle or tap water and asked if we wanted wine or cocktail menus. We declined but were not asked if we wanted to order drinks, which we had to take the initiative to do so when we ordered Dinner. We were given ample time to review the menu and only until we set our menu aside did Daniel return to the table. Wonderful bread slices and an amazing olive tamponade were delivered. Luckily I knew what it was, but if you didn't, no one mentioned what it was. Did I say it was DELICIOUS? We both could have eaten it by the spoonful. Menu is ala carte and I'd suggest if you have a larger appetite, order accordingly as we felt portion size was of the small nature. I ordered the Spinaci salad to start which was delicious and a nice pre-dinner sized salad. Our waiter said it was shareable but it truly was what I would consider a starter sized portion for one. I did share with my husband and Daniel provided a separate plate. He enjoyed and didn't order any additional vegetables with his entree. Our main courses were Scaloppini alla Sandra (Veal) and Paccheri (garlic shrimp with Rigatoni). Both beautifully presented. Pasta dish was filling, 4 small butterfly shrimp (tails on) served on top of a nice portion of rigatoni. The dish mentioned anchovies which my husband was not a fan of unless minced, so he asked how they are prepared, which Daniel said chopped, and offered to hold them out if preferred. My husband enjoyed. I did sample the pasta and I am not a fan of mixing pasta and seafood, so I'm not the best to judge this dish; however, I was turned off by the fishy flavor and not necessarily garlicky as I expected instead (and I LOVE garlic). My husband did comment that he was surprised by the fishy taste though he didn't have any expectations and mentioned there was some heat to the meal. My dish of veal was VERY good. The sauce and mix of pine nuts & raisins made for a very flavorful combination I enjoyed. Only issue I would mention is the portion size with 3 very small pieces of veal, They were tender, tasty and the sauce was delectable. I even used a slice of bread to soak up the flavorful sauce. Dessert, of course, we both had room and I cannot pass up trying Tiramisu at any Italian restaurant, with high expectations. It was enjoyable but I wouldn't say it was the best I've ever had, but very good. My husband had the chocolate mousse, which looked gorgeous in presentation and the richness of the chocolate matched or surpassed its presentation. And the surprise of it was the rice crispy chocolate wafer at the bottom, just like the crackle bar. The mousse was very rich, definitely a chocolate lovers dream dessert and nice portion for the price. I would say the tiramisu was a bit pricey for the serving size. But you don't know until you buy & try. Overall a fantastic dining experience with impressive service and ambiance. S great spot for a date to impress your partner or for special occasions. If you have picky eaters, you may want to preview the menu. Lunch has a few different options than dinner as we noticed NO chicken available for dinner but one dish is on the lunch menu. If you have issues with beef or pork, as my husband does, the other options limit you. There are many seafood options and pasta with and without. I did notice many patrons that appeared to be regulars and again, strongly recommend reservations. The one thing that made us uncomfortable was the hovering of service personnel in the dining room. Because the restaurant was not fully seated, seemed like the staff stood at the open tables which were right behind and beside us. Granted it allows for quick response to any of your needs such as refilling your water, removing finished plates or quickly coming to your table if you request something; however has to be a better place for them to stand. Again, service was impeccable. As I'm keeping eye on service charges or different pricing for cash vs credit, glad to report neither applicable here. BUT Discover card is not accepted.

The food is absolutely delicious. Loved all the pastas but the short rib polenta was phenomenal! So so tender and flavorful. Our server Danny was very nice and patient while we made our food choices.

Fabulous place- wonderful mushroom ravioli in pistachio cream sauce. Once with eine dinner for 4 spent $140 here have to say though very much worth it. I have never ate anything here that was bad or needed to be sent back to the kitchen

Can I tell you this restaurant never gets old. It really should get a Michelin star for the quality of the food. We ordered the pistachio ravioli dinner for starters as an appetizer, and they were great to divide into two dishes it so that we could share among the table. The cheese and meat, charcuterie board was filled with amazing very flavorful meats. For entrees If you eat veal, the veal with raisins, was seasoned well cooked beautifully and our guest enjoyed. The fluke fish was out of this world for someone who normally doesn't eat fish. It was one of the best items entrées I've had in a long time it was tender, flaky great accompaniment, my other friends got the pasta dishes and enjoyed them. If you want to bring your own wines, they have a corkage fee, but it adds for fun. They celebrated our friends and loved the desserts from the ice cream gelato and the cannolis. The owner Enzo and his wife are wonderful!!! They greet you to make you feel very welcome which is special. It's just a great place to go for a regular dinner, a celebratory dinner or for fun. I highly recommend and the ambiance has a great vibe !! This place is first rate.

This is one of the rare times I wish there was an extra star to give a resturant!! The food at Il Pizzico was absolutely devine! There were lots of highlights with my dining experience, but if I had to whittle it down to just a few: * The intimate setting of the restaurant and the individual lighting with each table really set a great atmosphere. * The service was 10/10!! Our server was very knowledgeable not only of the menu, but also the specials for the day. * Really expansive wine menu - which has me ready to go back and try more of their sommelier's options. * Without a doubt, their pasta is freshly made... Which of course is a must with a fine dining Italian restaurant & the portion sizes are spot on - not too big, to leave you feeling overwhelmed, or too small that you're hungry after your entrée!!

Just based on location alone, this is a hidden gem. I have been looking for a good Italian restaurant in the MD burbs and saw so many stellar reviews about Il Pizzico that I figured why not come for my birthday dinner? It was an excellent choice on my end. The restaurant has a nice, old-school, classic vibe with nice mood lighting. They do have a sign that says "smart causal" as the dress code and people stick with it, so use it as an excuse to dress up! The service was impeccable, after we checked in, our server brought the menus and asked us almost instantaneously if we wanted wine or cocktails. I ordered a glass of sangiovese which was a great pairing. The server also brought a generous portion of soft, fresh Italian bread and olive tapenade. We ordered the prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella and the beef carpaccio to start. The prosciutto was on the small side and could have used more cheese. It was a fine portion for two people but if there are more at your table, consider ordering two. The beef carpaccio was deliciously seasoned and the arugula parmesan salad really made the dish. For my main, I ordered the tagliatelle a'l ragu. It was absolutely incredible and not too large of a portion. Considering I had spent most of the day snacking, eating cake, and drinking, I thought it was the perfect amount of food. I can't wait to try more of their dishes, especially the short rib!

Il Pizzico sits in the strip along Rockville Pike and Gude Drive, like any number of restaurants, next to a Chinese restaurant and an unfinished furniture store. It is not a location that screams, "I'm about to get awesome upscale Italian food," and if I'm being honest, the name doesn't help. To me, it reads like an attempt at "The Pizza Company," and my expectation of an Italian restaurant that centres around pizza are not high. But, shelf these expectations, because you're about to go on a very different journey. Stepping into the restaurant, you really want to step back out and look again. The atmosphere is very intimate, romantic, and upscale. It is also very Italian -- the art on the walls, the music, everything in it just makes you feel like you've been transported to Naples. Their menu is fantastic, with a wide selection of drinks appetizers, pastas, and main courses. The main drink menu was a little odd, as they appeared to have a lot of house cocktails without descriptions. The wine selection was very broad, mostly Italian (obviously), and fantastic. I ordered a prosciutto and mozzarella appetizer. It was good, though I honestly felt the potions were a little light (there were only two very small slices of mozzarella, and three slices of prosciutto). The carpaccio appetizer was a little more generous, and fantastic. The pasta dish was delicious, and perfectly cooked. Like the appetizers, I felt it was a little small in portion, but not badly so, and with the appetizers, it was enough food without being overmuch. Overall, a great dining experience, and one I'll try to repeat soon! Few pro-tips: -- The restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside, it's very upscale. They've got a dress code of "smart casual," and if you go in with jeans and a t-shirt, you're going to feel underdressed. Ask me how I know. :) -- Parking in the front is very limited. There's lots and lots of parking behind, but be cautious, it's a little tight.

Another favourite strip mall restaurant that takes the cake in Italian cuisine! It is a yearly birthday ritual we have and these guys never disappoint! We had two seafood dishes and wow! Mine was a Fruti di mare combo - shrimp, calamari, fish and scallops. The red sauce was delicious! Our second dish was scallops in a luscious white sauce! Yummy!! The service was great, never ask for them to take a picture - blurry is an understatement! The ambience is great - cute little Italian hole in the wall and it is very simple. The experience is great the food is excellent and everyone should check out this local gem next to a muffler shop!

If you're looking for a classy authentic Italian restaurant, this is it! I came here for a date night and it was a very nice experience. The service was wonderful and the pasta was delicious. The pasta plates were on the smaller side but still very much satisfying.

This was such a great place to eat! A hidden gem for sure! From the tapenade to my perfectly made espresso martini. We tried our best to save room for dessert, next time! We saw the owner but hopefully next time we can meet him. We really appreciated the ambiance, the liveliness, and amazing service. Thank you! Couldn't imagine anything less than 5 stars.

While the food is good, the attitude of management is poor and the restaurant is very noisy, As I was leaving the restaurant recently, I suggested to a gentleman standing at the front door (I'm not sure if he was the manager, owner, or host) that they shouldn't be charging $3.75 for a 1 1/2 ounce container of olive oil for the bread. As I opened the door to leave, he came after me as if I had just called him a dirty name. He was angry and challenged my comment. I then told him that charging for olive oil is not good business. He said it was fine business and wanted to continue the conversation. Instead, I just left. I don't need that kind of interaction when I go out to have a nice meal. There are better restaurants to visit for your business.

Mike B shares in his review: You should use any excuse to go there. My friends and I - our excuse is that when the word "celebration" is brought up in any conversation, the only location we come to is HERE. What I love since our last visit: THEY NOW TAKE RESERVATIONS...although we never experienced any issues in the years, they didn't accept them. Still cool though. One of my friends was celebrating a big day and of course, like clockwork, we were back at our favorite spot again. Visited April 2022. I started off with the Cosa Nostra, which is what I usually get every now and then. A mix of Citrus Vodka, Cranberry, and Orange Liqueur. Once you have had that drink, it may become a favorite. Have a taste and I have a feeling you will agree with me. The patron sitting next to me at the bar area agreed as well. I decided to change things up a bit for my appetizer and get something I would not usually order. Taking a chance on food. Why not? Right? I ordered the Tuna Tartar special. I loved the way it was served as it made it much easier for me to eat it (I have never tried Tuna Tartar before. At least I don't think I have). They had it in these mini cones which had a very light crunch - about 4 of them in its own serving tray. That was so good - I would eat that again. It was more manageable for sure. I did stick to something I know...for the entrée and got the Beef Short Ribs served on a bed of polenta. On the menu, the name is "Stracotto di manzo e polenta". You can never go wrong with that dish. Lastly, I got dessert. We made sure to inform our waiter that we were planning on getting dessert - this was shared when they were reading off the specials to us before taking our meal orders. More like an advanced warning, in a good way, of course. Can I say that the dessert I had on this visit was not only appealing in true view form, but also one of the best. It was called Chocolate - Amaretto Bonet. See for yourself (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/il-pizzico-rockville?select=_SRkWnmVFVvqPsluOHMVyQ) - wouldn't you want to eat that too. Wow...Wow...Wow! I am not big on chocolate desserts overall, but when they are done in a way that it is hard to resist, that thought goes out the door. I enjoyed every bit of that dessert - chocolate, so smooth and so soft...mmm.

We have not been back to Il Pizzico for more than 10 years. One reason was because it did not use to take reservations. However that has changed since the pandemic. So we made a reservation for six for dinner right before Thanksgiving this year. As you know, the restaurant is located in a nondescript small shopping plaza. But when you open its door, you enter into excellent service and food. It's one of the best Italian restaurants in the region. And the prices in the regular menu are reasonable compared to some in DC. Our table did splurge on their special - Pasta Al Tartufo. The chef generously shaved the white truffles at table side - magnificent! The pork tenderloin was superbly prepared, moist and flavorful. And of course the house made gelato is wonderfully creamy. Il pizzico probably does not need much introduction or review anymore. But because I had such a wonderful experience I don't mind adding another feather to their cap

An absolutely GREAT spot! Excellent food of the Highest Quality and Great service. The team here really knows how to take care of it's customers. I have been coming here for the past 10 years and never had a bad plate of food. They treat you like family! I highly recommend this spot for any bonafied foodie or those who just love good food. It's not just pasta here, you can get a great steak and the seafood is excellent. Enzo takes great care in providing great food and service to make sure his customers are thoroughly satisfied! When you stop by, tell them Bill sent you! :) Thank you Enzo!

After starting yelping with two really bad 1-star reviews, I decided I needed to balance things by reviewing our favorite places - the ones that are utterly fine and utterly reliable without breaking the bank, the ones that don't stick you by the swinging kitchen door if you don't look like you're a rich lawyer or lobbyist. Il Pizzico doesn't really need my glowing review, but here it is anyway. Lurking in an unassuming shopping strip, it churns out consistently high-quality Northern Italian cuisine, including many house-made pasta options, in pleasant, upholstered surroundings, with decent service and usually not too much noise so you can hold a conversation, at entirely reasonable prices - charging less for ravioli (for ex.) than many far less wonderful eateries. LOVE the ravioli and the tiramisu is also excellent. Used to be, they didn't take reservations and if you got there after 5 pm you'd have to stand around watching other people enjoying their meals. But since the pandemic, reservations are required - SO much better! My sole complaint is how far it is from us! But the lucky folks in upper NW MoCo can easily get there.

Very unexpectedly nice Italian restaurant for the shopping center that they are located in! My parents have raved about this spot for a few years now and I finally got to try. Inside is dimly lit and has a warm feel, with white tablecloths and a refined Italian aesthetic. We started off with some wine, and they serve bread and olive oil. For food we got: - Ravioli di funghi al pistacchio: star of the show, and definitely my favorite dish. The sauce is cream based with a cheese filling. - Campanelle al sugo di agnello: good dish, I enjoyed the lamb and a light red sauce - Halibut: my dad loved this but the flavoring wasn't my favorite, not enough spice in my opinion Great spot for an elevated Italian experience!

So I had never heard of this spot before I was surprised with a nice date night out... but wow, what a gem. First of all, apparently I'm the only one who hadn't been here as the place was packed with regulars and happy patrons. It's not much from the outside but once you walk through those doors you're brought into "a pinch" of an Italian family kitchen. The food was outstanding- we had the carpaccio, then two half orders of different pastas (totally recommend the half order so you can try more!), then the rockfish special, and finished with the creme brûlée. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and kept bringing new plates and silverware. All our food came at perfect intervals of keeping us fed but not overloading the table with plates. We completed the evening at the bar with Brad, the best bartender the DMV has to offer. He was mixing and shaking the most amazing cocktails and seemed to know every face (and drink order) that walked by. We can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!!!

Special birthday celebration for my husband! We were a party of 3 with a reservation made 2 weeks prior. Our table was ready when we arrived. The service was efficient and courteous The space was smallish so on a busy Saturday night, the noise level was a bit loud. Our appetizers arrived quickly and our empty/dirty dishes were removed promptly. Soon after, our dinners arrived-well presented and hot. Each dish was flavorful with the branzino being my favorite (melt in your mouth fillet with roasted vegetables). Portions were on the smaller side as you are meant to choose from each course as is typical in Italian fine dining. This is a nice special occasion restaurant for families with older children and adults. Smart casual attire

I can't recommend this establishment enough. The ambiance, service, and dishes are better than many places downtown. They definitely stick to a very traditional Italian cuisine. I would definitely make a reservation in order to secure a table for dinner. They are very very popular and for a very good reason. A must try and keep trying

It's fine, best I can give this place. Kept reading the reviews and finally gave it a shot. There was a line out the door right at 5pm when they opened, one after the other wanting to be the one who got the door to open when they tugged on it a mere second after the other person did. We were seated right away, noticed a sign saying there was a "smart casual dress code" however I guess cargo shorts, Wrangler jeans, T-shirts, sweatpants and the such pass at this place. Some of us took the time to get dressed, guess it doesn't matter for the rest of the Rockville crowd. Service was fast, the food came out very quickly from the kitchen, all together very impressive. However the food was bleh. My dish tasted like dish soap, from the shrimp all the way to the otherwise tasteless spaghetti. Only thing I found that was tasty was the bread. The prices are stupid, especially the water they don't tell you the price of. $10 a bottle for flat or sparkling, they don't even offer tap (it's available you have to ask). Nothing spectacular you couldn't make at home with some fresh pasta and sauce, save yourself the trip. I wouldn't rate this best restaurant in MoCo by a long shot.

Best Italian in Rockvile. A family own restaurant. Where everything is fresh. No other restaurant serves carpaccio, there you can find the best one! The pasta is amazing too! If you have someone special and you want to "impress" that person with a great food, this is the place!

Beautiful & romantic ambiance complete with a very nice meal! I would recommend a 3 course option here as their serving sizes are smaller. I enjoyed their Swordfish for an entree and their tiramisu for dessert. Their wine list was quite nice

The food is excellent here. Miles better than other places nearby. The portions are small. They aren't "European" portions either - they're smaller than portions in Italy. Regardless, the service, ambiance, and food here is outstanding.

A bit pretentious---pretty surprising for the location. For example -- we were forbidden to order appetizers without ordering dinner at the same time. We were also forbidden to order appetizers and drinks while we waited for our friend to arrive. Everything must be order together, they say. Interesting on how limited the kitchen staff is in managing orders. Also, the waiter and hostess never smiled. Though the rest of the staff were very friendly as we were leaving. Again strange. If it is supposed to be a traditional Italian restaurant, culturally they missed the mark. Food was great all around. The clientele were culturally uniform, again surprising, as this is a pretty diverse area. It may be the only good Italian place outside of the DC. But based on the service and ambience, I am happy to go into DC for Italian.

I like the restaurant. The quality of the dishes is hit or miss (as many other reviewers have mentioned). It does have an old world charm, without doubt. However, please correct the $$ rating shown on Yelp. It should be $$$ - especially given the portion size. If the portions were enough to save for a later meal, it would definitely be $$. If you are searching based on price, this is very misleading, If you don't mind paying a bit more This is a very good restaurant. I especially liked the slower pace.

The ambiance here is very nice - a pleasant surprise based on its location. I think my expectations were too high based on the reviews, but ultimately the food was good but nothing that blew me away. It did feel like the restaurant caters a little to their regulars because we were sometimes forgotten about - for example, we ordered the burrata and had to ask twice for the complimentary bread because nobody came by with it. I ordered the seafood pasta - they gave a lot of seafood in it which was appreciated. The parking situation here is also a nightmare if you come on a busy night - so be prepared.

Absolutely fabulous...the service was excellent. Had the rigatoni with a light cream sauce and sausage....yum!!! Wife had the short rib and polenta... highly recommend