Sotto Sopra

The highlight was definitely their pumpkin soup, it was delicious though we both thought the balsamic glaze was over powering. Would highly suggest less of it so people can enjoy the flavor of the soup. I also really liked the whiskey cocktail! It was delicious. I ordered the lamb chops for my entree and was sadly disappointed with it. I asked for medium and it came out well done. The waiter took it back and the next one came out medium rare. It was overly salty and the lobster mashed potatoes were very dry. My partner said his squid ink pasta was good. We both really enjoyed their pistachio tiramisu.

Absolutely delicious food “fancy homemade food” served very well! We went during an extended Restaurant Week special (need to make advance reservations) and were blown away by the truly incredible food at a very reasonable price! The cocktails were not on the special menu but absolutely delicious start to the entire meal. Three of us shared 3 appetizers, 3 main courses, and 3 desserts. The portions were all the generous size normal price items - quite a pleasant surprise. Had to pack leftovers including two desserts uneaten as we were stuffed as there was plenty extra! One of the best Italian meals we’ve had outside of Italy! Will definitely be back

I had an incredible dining experience at Sotto Sopra in Baltimore! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm hospitality and a beautiful, cozy atmosphere that made us feel right at home. The food was absolutely phenomenal. We started with the calamari, and it was easily some of the best I’ve ever had perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with just the right seasoning and dipping sauce to complement it. For the main course, I ordered the seafood risotto, and it was nothing short of amazing. The rice was cooked to perfection, creamy and flavorful, and the seafood was fresh, generously portioned, and beautifully balanced throughout the dish. Every bite was rich and satisfying. What truly made the experience unforgettable, though, was the outstanding service from Jose. He was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made excellent recommendations. His warm personality and genuine care made our night feel extra special. Sotto Sopra is a must-visit if you're in Baltimore and craving authentic Italian cuisine with exceptional service. I’m already looking forward to my next visit.

Had dinner at Sotto Sopra before a show at the Hippodrome and it hit all the marks. Valet made arriving easy and we grabbed seats at the bar. Cocktail's were excellent, the rack of lamb was spot-on, and easily one of the best cappuccino's I've had in awhile. Diego behind the bar took great care of us. We'll be back.

Very beautiful space and friendly server/host. However I wrote in my reservation that it was my best friends birthday, told the host about it and then later the server and nothing came out for her at all. When we were sat it took them ten minutes just to give us some water. We did not get any bread service. I’m really disappointed in our experience. We were also sat at a 4-top when there were open 2-tops adjacent to us. The cheesecake was so sweet and came garnished with fruit that looked less than appetizing. Hope this place can work out the kinks because dinner menu was very yummy.

My first time at Sotto Sopra was great. Decided to do a solo date and visit during Baltimore Restaurant Week after looking over the menu & seeing the selection. Overall the experience as 10/10 from service, to food, to ambiance. I sat at the bar and was waited on within the first 5 mins of me arriving. I ordered a mango margarita, calamari as an appetizer, seafood risotto as an entree, and for dessert mascarpone cheesecake. Everything was so good! Presentation was nice & food was well seasoned and taste fresh. I highly recommend the calamari and the seafood risotto! I will definitely be back.

Great service and food was delicious. No specific kids menu but they are able to provide a "kids" meal. Our granddaughter had spaghetti with marinara...she loved it.

This place was AMAZING! Service was elevated, vibes were off the charts, and the food - I haven’t had a meal that good in a long time. The stuffed figs, streak frites, and seafood risotto were the stars of the show for me.

I decided to come here a few times with two of my girlfriends because they were running the restaurant week specials. This made it easy to come. Try out Sotto because we've never been to it before. So let's start with the atmosphere and the restaurant floor. It's very cozy, very inviting and the candles that they have that are real candles. Create this air of just ease and relaxation. There isn't a set dress code, but it's very clear when you go in that you should be at least business casual and that goes with the vibe of the restaurant. We tried out various different dishes that were on restaurant week, including the calamari, the gnocchi and pretty much everything we could because three courses for $45 is an amazing deal. The rosé is probably my favorite wine that they have there and the cocktails are very good including the espresso martinis. My first date got the gnocchi and they don't usually like gnocchi but it was amazing and very tasty. Very light different than sometimes regular gnocchi that's very heavy. The calamari was delicious and I enjoyed the lemon slices that they had in there that they also fried. We need to go back so that we can try out the different desserts and maybe just go in and try out some of the different options that they have at Sotto. The tables were clean and if we dropped any forks we got new ones immediately. The service was quick and fast but we did not feel rushed in any way shape or form. The focaccia that they provide with the little bread basket when you first sit is amazing and goes very well with wine or drinks. I also enjoy that they have options for you to choose out their event experiences with operas, so we plan to check that out one time. For those that don't drink, they also have mocktails. Their mocktails are quite tasty, very refreshing, nothing too heavy. You can get different options of wine, champagne, dessert, drinks while you're there. The tiramisu was great and I did enjoy the cheesecake.

We ate there last night with our daughter and some friends. The food was great and the service was impeccable. We had the ravioli, rack of lambs, calamari, and the branzino. All were made to perfection. I honestly loved the lobster infused mashed potatoes and the broccoli was not overcooked. The ambiance was really nice. It would be great for a date night as it was dimly lit and had light music in the background. It's not too large of a restaurant and had plenty of spacing between tables. Would definitely come back next time we are in town.

The inside is beautiful. High ceilings with large paintings and mirrors. The service provided by everyone here was wonderful. We ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio to start. They brought out complimentary focaccia bread with an olive oil and balsamic dip that was quite good. It was Baltimore Restaurant Week recently and Sotto Sopra had extended their 3 course menu which we ordered off of. Between us, we shared the Watermelon Salad and Maryland Style Mussels for appetizers, Pan-Seared Atlantic King Salmon and Short Rib Risotto entrees, and Crème Brûlée and Almond Cake for dessert. Everything was delicious. The watermelon was fresh and the feta cheese and crumbled pistachio paired great with it. I loved the coconut broth from the mussels. The citrus and lobster infused mashed potatoes with the salmon was divine. The short rib with risotto was seasoned well and quite filling. Both the desserts were delicious as well. No complaints on anything. It was all so good! Cannot wait to dine here again.

Very cute for date night or a birthday dinner. The pasta is homemade and I could really taste the difference. My partner had some dietary restrictions and our server was able to talk us through the menu and make some good recommendations. We ended or ordering a little off menu, but the uncharge was minimal, which was nice.

This was a phenomenal dining experience. The only negative part of the experience was that the dining room was too dark - it was hard to read the menu. Other than that, everything was exquisite. The service was attentive but not overbearing, the decor and vibe were intimate, and the food was so good we could not pick a favorite dish. We ate: Feta & Watermelon Salad - This was elevated with crushed pistachios, honey, and super salty feta. Caprese - Made with perfectly ripe heirloom tomatoes, burrata, and shaved fennel for a little surprise crunch. It is a classic, and was executed perfectly. Lamb Chops - These were truly outstanding. They had a salty, herbed crust and were cooked perfectly to our preferred temperature. The lobster mashed potatoes were also very unexpected. Bolognese - This was a very chunky, hearty, savory sauce, where you could still taste a bit of the red wine. The pappardelle was cooked perfectly. Cappuccino - literally the best one I've ver had. We came here for restaurant week and the dining experience was significantly better than expected. I can't wait to go back.

Place looks great and has great ambience. We loved the watermelon salad and we ordered Non alcoholic drinks which tasted great. We ordered Penne Pasta for our son and Ravioli for ourselves and everything was delicious. Must go place.

3.5 Food: for apps, we tried the Caesar salad (good), bruschetta (ok), calamari (good), the entrees were unfortunately disappointing across the board - bolognese (hamburger helper vibes), shrimp fra diavola (good flavor but not enough pasta), steak (by far the most expensive item and a very fatty cut). The pistachio tiramisu was delicious. Ambiance: dimly lit and moody vibe, Andrea bocelli playing at a pleasant volume. Service: outstanding - Darrick was lovely, attentive, friendly.

I ordered a glass of white wine, the pumpkin pasta with Italian sausage, and the pistachio tiramisu--wasn't wowed by anything, also wasn't disappointed by anything (other than the service, which was sloooooow). This place gets points for being just steps away from my downtown hotel. Cute little unsuspecting place inside--just didn't love the (faux?) plant that's branches basically became part of my hair.

This is probably on your list of places to go for date night. Stop waiting, go! The ambiance is beautiful and vintage classic. The lighting is dim so perfect for a romantic night with your primary or secondary partner. The food was exquisite. The sauces are delicious, the meats are perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the salads are creative. The one negative to share was the "pound cake" with "sauce" that was passed off as tres leches cake.

When a restaurant gets it right, the customer is the winner. Sotto Sopra gets it right! Riccardo, the owner, is always looking for creative ways to enhance the dining experience for his customers. Summer Camp Specials are available from Monday thru Thursday until August 31, 2025 - each night he is offering something special. We came on a Tuesday for "Tuesday with Morrie." What a delicious idea - any pasta on the menu and a glass of red or white wine for $25.00! We could not wait to give it a try. We made a reservation for 4 of us at 6:30 PM. We were warmly greeted and seated at our favorite table. Jason, our server, came over right away to get us started with drinks. He was very friendly and attentive to our every need. Our friend decided to have a Tito's on the rocks. We did start with an Antipasto Misto, which was a beautifully plated assortment of meats, cheeses, olives, crostini, marinated vegetables, salad greens and so much more. It was so delicious and more than enough for the four of us. We enjoyed two glasses of a very crisp Pinot Grigio and two glasses of a robust Montepulciano wine. Our friends had the Creamy Carbonara alla Sotto Sopra - a spaghetti with smoked bacon, egg, cream and parmesan, and the Pappardelle Fra Diavolo - homemade pappardelle, fresh tomato sauce, shrimp, red pepper flakes and parmesan. Both were thrilled with their pasta - the Fra Diavolo (Devil Pasta) had a little kick to it. My husband had the Shortrib Ravioli - shortrib stuffed ravioli, shiitake mushroom, pancetta, sage, butter sauce. I asked them to make for me Pasta alla Gregorio -spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, spinach, tomatoes, basil, and shaved parmesan. Our dishes were heavenly. We could not have been more pleased with our dinners, the service, and the wines. "Tuesday with Morrie" is definitely a winner. If you have never been to Sotto Sopra, you are missing out on a wonderful dining experience. Now with these Summer Camp Specials, you can't miss this opportunity to give them a try.

I came here for the March 2025 opera night with a group of friends, and we all had an amazing time. Every dish was magnificent! Opera night comes with a pre-set menu for each course, but you can ask for substitutions if any party member has dietary restrictions or allergies. The pre-set menu (and any substitutions) come at a pre-set cost, and drinks (cafe/espresso, alcohol, mocktails) are an additional charge. I stuck with the original menu (no changes), and every single dish was very tasty! Opera night is amazing, and so much fun! The opera singers walk between tables and take song requests. They sing between courses while the kitchen works on the next dish, and one person coordinates timing with the kitchen so they finish a new song right as the food is ready to come out. The entire experience is very unique, and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! You definitely need to try this at least once if you're in the area! I highly recommend it!

I visited Sotto Sopra for Restaurant Week, having driven past it countless times--so glad I did. I kicked things off with the Tomato Caprese (burrata, arugula, fennel, fresh tomatoes, gold balsamic) and and calamari, they were both balanced and so delicious. This was the best seasoned calamari I've had in baltimore. For the main, the Creamy Carbonara alla Sotto Sopra (smoked bacon, cream, egg, parmesan) was rich and comforting; it paired nicely with the menu's upscale vibe. Dessert brought two standouts: the pistachio tiramisu was absolutely delicious smooth, nutty, and indulgent--and the pistachio crème brûlée with its passion-fruit twist was.. an interesting flavor. The classic version is more my taste but I appreciate the creativity. My espresso martini was divine, and our server was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive throughout. The ambiance felt ideal for a date night, classy yet warm. Plus, I noticed they offer opera-themed evenings with preset menus, which sounds like a wonderful special-occasion treat. Overall, Restaurant Week was a killer deal, and Sotto Sopra delivered on flavor, service, and atmosphere.

Restaurant Week Review 01/2025 (3 courses for $45): SERVICE: I came here with a group of seven and the service was outstanding. Despite all the orders we made. the servers gave us the right dishes, without messing up. FOOD: I had the Duck Confit, which was incredibly flavorful and tender. The wild mushroom risotto underneath was the perfect pairing to the meatiness of the duck. For the appetizer, I had the Italian sausage, which I was not too fond of. It was only one Italian sausage cut in half, on top of a bed of polenta and onions and peppers. In my opinion, it was a boring dish in terms of execution. For dessert, I had the vanilla crème brûlée. The menu said that there would be a strawberry and raspberry garnish. I got no strawberries and instead only two raspberries. It's not a big deal, but the menu did say strawberries. DRINKS: Our bartender, Terrance, was very kind and knowledgeable on the cocktail menus. I got the Spezialo ($14), which is a rum based cocktail. It was the perfect balance between sweetness from the rose syrup and elderflower and the tanginess from the lemon. Each component worked so well together without any of the flavors being overpowering this is a cocktail. I highly recommend. AMBIANCE: For a Monday night, it was pretty busy. Everything looked immaculate, including the bathrooms. The restaurant was giving upscale vibes without overly expensive prices.

Went to Sotto Sopra for a business meal and it proved why it has been a Baltimore mainstay for years. The dining room filled up throughout the night, even in the middle of the night. We requested a quieter table and were seated near the door. The service was prompt and they team was thoughtful about letting us sit for the business meal without interruption. The food was absolutely delicious! I'll definitely be back!

11.8.24 My hubby and I came to celebrate our nine year anniversary and our server, Derick V. went above and beyond for us. We received a complimentary bread basket, flutes of champagne, and gelato with a sparkling candle which made it festive. Everything was delicious with the exception of the tiramisu which was too mushy. Ambiance is beautiful and romantic. Perfect for any celebratory occasion. Valet is available for $15 and they have opera night. Highly recommend! Top notch food, service and ambiance.

1st the old spot is always a dear favorite, thought it would be a great spot for out of state friend & mom. The ambience, the mural and the lighting always set the tone of elegance, professional, romantic, and intimate. The meal started with fresh baked hot bread w/oil, lemon, & balsamic vinegar; then nosta salad w fresh greens and arugula, then ordered carrots pappardella pasta cream sauce; then short rib pasta cream sauce was wickedly good. But the star for me was the pistachio tiramisu. Definitely a place to visit and get your Italian on!

One of my favorite restaurants and I love that they participate in restaurant week! The ambience is beautiful as well.

Lovely spot for a date night or celebratory meal! They have valet parking which is a nice feature because it's tough to park around the restaurant. The sauce itself has high ceilings and curtains everywhere resembling a theatre, it's a lovely vibe. I would say it's on the upscale end of the spectrum so opt for an outfit that's a bit more elevated (avoid sweatshirts and sneakers). The service was great. We were seated quickly and the wait staff was very attentive. We ordered a bottle of wine and our glasses were never less than half full! We had the cauliflower soup (delicious, hearty, not too creamy) and the Caesar salad for appetizers. I ordered a raviolo dish from the specials, which was just okay. My boyfriend ordered the fettuccine Bolognese which was definitely the hit of the night! We were too full for dessert but the spread looked lovely. Hope to come back and try them!

Delicious Italian in Mount Vernon! The vibe inside was amazing. It feels romantic and regal. There's a lot of space. The server was funny and kind and ensured we were taken care of! Got the burrata to share, which was great! (Can never go wrong). There were several vegetarian pastas, and I got the ravioli which I would recommend! Overall, delicious place.

Amazing date night on Charles st! My wife and I celebrated our montheversary at sotto sopra, an elegant low lighting restaurant with high ceilings, red drapes and artistic murals. Upon walking in the door was opened for us and we were escorted to our seat. Our waiter came momentarily and welcomed us to the establishment as he explained the specials. I was very pleased when he shared that pasta can be ordered in half portions so I decided to splurge. I ordered the fruitti de mare and ricotta gnocchi. The seafood pasta was absolutely amazing and well seasoned the squid ink pasta blended well and did not have a weird aftertaste. The squid shrimp and octopus was fresh and had an amazing texture as well. The gnocchi was a bit lackluster and I was a bit disappointed. I am a fan of pesto however this one was more on the soup side and didn't really have a flavor to It. I ended up putting the ricotta in my seafood pasta and just eating the gnocchi on its own. Lastly the mascarpone cheesecake was okay. The star was the raspberry gelato that was on top. So refreshing and delicious Overall I would come back again just for the seafood pasta Alone

A hole in the wall but the food and interior are divine. Best Italian I've had in a long time. 20/20. Customer service was immaculate. Ambiance and wall art is beautiful. Ever single food item brought to the table was amazing. Drank: Dolci Fratelli - strong yet refreshing Appetizer: Calamari fritti - both sauces are good, taste better together. Fried veggies were pleasant. not overly battered, done just right. Entree: Short rib ravioli without pancetta - left me speechless. No pancetta because I don't eat pork. Al dente. Dessert: Mascarpone cheesecake - the gelato was so pure. I've never had a cheesecake like this before and I honestly don't want another one if it's not like this. I will be returning.

This is such a hidden gem! You wouldn't expect such decadence when passing by. I've passed this place plenty of times over the years and never thought to enter. Because it's restaurant week, and the menu options seemed plentiful, I decided to try it. Glad I did! Upon entering, this place is simply GORGEOUS! Unique, classic... classy... quiet. Oh man... I was in love. The customer service is exceptional. Beautiful people... good food... good drinks. I loved it. The only things were the food needed a little bit of seasoning also, they have a different price for paying with cash or with card. I paid with cash to get the discount, and they kept my extra $4, so I really didn't get a discount. I'm sure this was a lack of attentiveness of the waitress, but please... if you're going to give a discount, honor it! I didn't realize it until I got home and did the math! didn't like that! Parking - you may have to loop around once or twice, but I found street parking on the same block- free after 8pm.

9.5/10. From the ambiance to the service and food quality, everything was great!! Me and 3 friends went for restaurant week and the menu offerings alone were better than most! $45/pp for app/entree/dessert. Drinks were perfectly balanced as well. I've been before and will return again! Great spot for celebration dinner or date night

Got my birthday dinner at Sotta Sopra in Mount Vernon last week! A truly unparalleled Italian dining experience, complete with their famous handmade pasta. For appetizers, I got the Caesar salad, which was unique for the oven roasted tomatoes; my partner enjoyed the melt-in-your-mouth snail polenta. He is usually gluten-free but will sometimes risk it, and the polenta gave him no issues! For the main course, I went with the Fruti di Mare, a squid ink spaghetti in lobster broth with shrimp and the best calamari I've ever had. I don't normally go for seafood, but this striking dish was the highlight of my birthday!! My partner ordered the Seafood Risotto, which was similar to my dish but came with clams and mussels. For drinks, we got the Passione Amore - a sweet concoction from their Valentine's menu - and a rum-based specialty cocktail (whose name I don't recall). We split a mascarpone cheesecake for dessert, but I can't give much of a review because we were so full by the time dessert came out! I'm sure it was delicious and I just couldn't process it haha. Finally, the waiter brought out a sparkler-topped scoop of raspberry sorbet for a birthday treat. The restaurant had the tallest ceilings I've ever seen in a converted rowhome, and the low lighting and high mirror-paneled walls created an intimate date night vibe. All in all, a bougie dinner that I recommend when you're willing to splurge!

Nestled on Charles street, I was excited to try this location because of the fresh pasta and experience nights they host. It was a quick reservation - I wasn't expecting it to affect the night. Food was very good - service was ok. Wish our server was a little warmer but I guess it was a long night. Bread service came long after appetizers. The food was truly the lifesaver of this night. Appetizer: Smoked Tomato Soup & Caesar Salad Main: House Carbonara $ Gnocchi with Risotto Dessert: Gelato Music was good too - we will come back to see if it was just an off night.

Sotto Sopra had been on my to visit list for a long time, but I finally made it for dinner this past weekend. I shared their Caesar salad with my husband, which was a classic, a great way to start the meal. My husband had the veal agnolotti (veal stuffed pasta with smoked bacon, spinach, and veal demi-glace), which was a little rich for me, but he enjoyed. I had the frutti di mare (squid ink spaghetti, shrimp, calamari, cherry tomato, and lobster broth), which I liked (but I thought it could have been a little saucier/brothier. We enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and cocktails as well. But as much as we enjoyed the food and drinks, a lot of what makes Sotto Sopra such a Baltimore classic relates to service and ambiance. The restaurant feels old school in the best way (moody, a little dark, decorated beautifully - especially for the holidays), and the service is top notch. Sotto Sopra hosts Opera Nights, when they serve a fixed menu and opera arias are sung between courses. I think they do that once a month, and they post the dates on their website. After a pretty great meal at Sotto Sopra this past weekend, I'm really looking forward to returning for an opera night!

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Sotto Sopra maintained its quality and the service was improved since my last visit several years ago. Previously, I did not like when the wait staff rushed me, and it was not my experience this time at all! Pork Osobucco was absolutely delicious and was our favorite dish of the night. Pumpkin Ravioloni was also good. The appetizers (mussels & calamari) could have been better, but the desserts (tiramisu & creme brulee) were terrific. We also got great wine recommendations from our waitress. Recommended to anyone looking for good Italian food in Bmore!

Lemme tell y'all about the pork osso-buco. It was AH-MAZINGLY DELICIOUS. See picture captions for feedback on the dishes. Fantastic experience, beautiful restaurant, great vibes, loved the music and for those reasons will be back just to hang out at the bar and experience special moments with their special cocktails. Sorry, didn't get pics of the drinks.

I've eaten here three times now and I can't get enough of this place. I highly recommend this place on special occasions. The ambiance is perfect for Anniversaries. The service is perfect and the food is amazing.

Me and my wife were looking for a nice restaurant to go to before a Candlelight Concert we were attending at the Grand Baltimore later in the evening. I must say we made an excellent choice with great food and great service. We were in Italy this past summer and this restaurant definitely took us back. We will be back for sure

We had an amazing experience here. The food & service was phenomenal. Super cozy spot. Will be back. Don't wait as long as we did to try!!

My friend and I met for a girls dinner and the food was amazing. The menu is authentically Italian and very eclectic. This place is a foodies' dream! The rainy evening was quickly transformed into warm and a candle lit ambiance that instantly relaxed you as you were immediately sat down. She and I made reservations a few days before bc this place gets packed! Our waitress was so busy but super attentive and helped us understand the menu options/substitutions. We started with soft pillowy ricotta filled Gnocchi and Maryland style mussels, a bottle of wine and the rest is a blur. The food was excellent and so was the Panna Cotta dessert were both got. I wish I would have taken more pictures! You can't go wrong!

Server was fun and attentive and all three courses of food exceeded our expectations! The lemon dessert was our favorite but we also noted the fried artichokes appetizer and far diavolo were delicious. We immediately called some friends in Baltimore to tell them to eat here as soon as they could.

When you first arrive, the hostess seated us right away because we had reservations. We had a waiter that was not very attentive. The food was not that good we asked for drinks we waited 15 minutes ,When I're food came we asked for cheese .By time he got back. my daughter had eaten all her food and we didn't need the cheese We never received bread we had to ask for it came after our meal was done.The only thing that was great about the whole experience. Was the ambience absolutely beautiful place.

Came in for restaurant week, and even at our reservations at 8:30, the place was completely full. It was a dimly lit, intimate restaurant. We started with wine that was pretty good. Then for the 3 course, I got the caesar salad, which honestly was below average - the lettuce was warm which I really don't like. My Fiancé got the polenta, and he liked it a lot. For main courses, I got the Veal Agnolotti and he got the salmon. The salmon was definitely the better of the two, it was a very delicious dish and I highly recommend it. Finally for dessert, we got tiramisu and crème brûlée, both of which were very standard but still quite good.

Great service, great food. We arrived late for our reservation (traffic) and because of that we were cutting it tight to eat dinner before a show. They proactively asked if we were trying to get to the show and said they'd tell the chefs we were in a rush. Then they provided attentive and efficient service to help us get thru a three course meal quickly. And the food was fantastic. Recommend at least someone in the party get a pasta dish, but all of it was incredible. Also fwiw they had an off menu pasta option for my vegetarian kid, so worth asking if you have restrictions.

I ordered take out which is something you shouldn't judge a restaurant by but Sotto delivered the tastiest chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli in the coolest tv dinner tray!

I did enjoy my time at Sotto Sopra mostly because the restaurant itself is really interesting, visually, and the wait staff were super nice. My boyfriend and I came here during restaurant week and enjoyed the dishes enough, but not THAT much... we got: - calamari which was good (but I love all calamari) - honey lavender salmon which tasted good but was kind of a small piece of salmon in my opinion - fruti di mare which I enjoyed! - sorbet, which was really just alright, we didn't even finish it which is VERY abnormal for me (there was no wasting of food in my house growing up) - chocolate mousse which literally tasted like bad frosting, couldn't even eat it

I don't know how its taken me so long to write a review for this place! Every time I come here I feel like its a special occasion, even if its just for a mid week lunch. No matter the time of visit the staff are always really attentive, almost overly so. One visit someone literally took the cup from my mouth to refill it with water lol. They also have Opera nights, I haven't been to one yet but they seem pretty nice! Food wise, its an amazing experience! I have never had a bad meal. I love pasta and they do it really well, The carbonara has always been one of my favs and they do it so well so if you are on the fence on what to order, get the carbonara, its delicious.

Dined at Sotto Sopra with my family during Restaurant Week Jan. 2024 after wanting to try it out for a long time. Overall, a really good experience! Food was stellar - the standouts of the meal were the Maryland Mussels, Carbonara and Cioppino. The atmosphere of the restaurant can't be beat. The dim lighting and upscale decor really stood out amongst other Italian restaurants in the area. Taking 1 star off for service. Our server was not super attentive and definitely not friendly. Would likely come back again!

Fairly tasty food but questionable if it's worth the price. Caesar salad was decent nothing special. Veal was touted as having been on the menu since the beginning which would have you think it's crazy good but the veal itself had not much flavor and the tuna sauce just tasted like tuna mayo. Caperberries were something new though and were actually really good. Short rib ravioli were cooked well and the mushrooms on top were very tasty as was the flavor of the filling, just the ratio of pasta to filling was way too low. Duck confit was really great, crispy skin super soft and tender meat. Risotto was ok, texture was fine but the truffle oil was too much. Overall good place but overpriced.

Sotto Sopra was an incredible restaurant week experience, only leaving me wanting more! My friend and I came for Baltimore Restaurant Week and had a great experience. It is street parking but free after 6pm. Didn't take long to find a spot for either of us! We each got 3 different things, for $45 I thought it was a good deal, I actually had leftovers. My friend is vegetarian and they had a ton of options for her. For myself, I did the Maryland mussels which were actually great and plentiful for an appetizer. They're in a cream sauce with old bay, if you love mussels, I thought these were delish. My friend got the goat cheese salad which actually had goat cheese fritters and it was pretty good! For my entree, I got the short rib ravioli which were dynamite, and had mushrooms and a truffle sauce. These are a must get. She had the fettuccine alla toscana and the pasta was very savory, this is a great dish for vegetarians but I would even order it myself. Sotto Sopra loses a star for the meh desserts and a disappointing cocktail. I got tiramisu and my friend got bread pudding, both were only ok. Tiramisu seemed old and a bit dry, a little disappointing for an Italian restaurant. Bread pudding I thought was good but still just ok. My friend's cocktail was $15 and about 80% ice. The ambience was nice, with candles at every table. The restaurant is a bit snug and may be challenging for those with mobility issues - if you need accessibility assistance, I suggest calling ahead. Overall, we had a lovely time and will definitely be back to try more!

ORIGIN: Executive Chef and owner Ricardo Bosio opened Sotto Sopra in 1996. The name means "upside down", suggesting a chaotic situation. LOCATION: The restaurant feels like a peaceful oasis, rather than a chaotic situation. Sotto Sopra is located on the ground floor of a 19th century building in the quiet Mount Vernon neighborhood, characteristically defined by its large casement window and high ceiling. CONCEPT: Chef Bosio serves Northern Italian cuisine that integrates Mid-Atlantic ingredients, which has been described as "Northern Italian with a Maryland Accent". EXPERIENCE: During my first visit I arrived at dinner opening hour, when the summer sunlight was still brightly streaming through the west-facing casement window. The main dining room is decorated in yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and red... colors that were popular interior design choices when the restaurant opened, but also reminiscent of Italian fresco palette. The colors are warm and the setting soothing after a full day at a convention center conference. After being seated by the hostess, I was guided by the extremely professional service enacted by David. David confirmed that the short rib ravioli dish described by veteran Long Island YES member, Bill, was a customer and personal favorite. However, it was not on the 2023 summer menu, and it was suggested that I order Raviolini di Zucca con Salsiccia as an alternate -- pumpkin raviolini in cream sauce and topped with crumbled sausage and amaretti. A type of red wine with which I had no familiarity, 2018 Casalbordino Sinello Montepulciano Riserva, was suggested to accompany this creamy dish. The pale Tang powder colored, beautifully formed raviolini made for a stunning appearance, and the luscious texture contrast they offered against chewy sausage and crunchy amaretti was heavenly. The recommended glass of wine proved to indeed be ideal accompaniment. Following Bill's lead, I capped the evening with Mascarpone cheesecake with espresso. The sequence, coupled with the thoughtful service and elegant surroundings, proved to be one of those rare perfect dining experiences -- particularly when on professional travel. I made note of the evening choices, but felt compelled on a second night to try other items on the June 2023 menu before I left the city. For the main I experienced Veal Agnolotti -- veal stuffed pasta, with spinach, crumbles of smoked bacon surrounded by veal demi glaze. This was good, but wasn't as stunning in appearance as my initial choice and the textural contrasts were not as complex. For dessert I ventured to try the Tiramisu as I was curious about their take on this classic dish. TIPS: I was told that the executive chef periodically takes cherished items off the menu, and that long-standing customers will sometimes call in advance to check the status of a favorite dish before reserving. Looking at the menu on the website a few months later, I see that the short rib ravioli have returned, and the pumpkin raviolini I came to love are absent. Check website in advance if you are looking to order a specific dish. Consider reserving during one of the periodic "Opera Nights", with a multi-course prix fix menu. Check restaurant website for dates.

I came for my birthday dinner and it was such a wonderful experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a comforting ambience - really reminded me of an opera/concert hall (which is fitting considering they do host opera singers). Our server was attentive and had spot-on recommendations for what we were craving. The food was also incredible but on the pricier side - definitely a more upscale restaurant. They also have a great variety of wine to choose from. We ordered way too much for a party of two (everything on the menu looked so good!) and thought the portion sizes were going to be smaller than they actually were. We started off with the complimentary bread which was fluffy and flavorful. For appetizers, we got the calamari fritti and tomato caprese. The garlic aioli balanced the fried calamari perfectly with acidity and flavor. For entrees, we got the ravioloni di zucca con salsiccia and fettuccine all toscana. The pasta and the filling for the ravioloni were made of pumpkin and the pumpkin flavor was super strong, perfect for the beginning of fall. The fettuccine was incredibly creamy and the pasta was perfectly cooked. For dessert, we had a pistachio creme brulee and complimentary butterscotch gelato which they put a sparkler in for my birthday. The gelato was so smooth and creamy. I wasn't the biggest fan of the pistachi flavoring for the creme brulee but it was still good. I'm literally salivating while typing this so will definitely be coming back to try the many other items on the menu!

This review is hard for me because I'm very conflicted. The wait staff was extremely attentive, my water glass was never empty, and the noodles are so fresh it's incredible, but some of the dishes lacked flavor. The Caesar salad was a very light and salty Caesar, not the thick, homemade, dressing I anticipated with anchovies. The spaghetti sauce was more of a bruschetta, so that threw me off a little, only because I was expecting an authentic marinara or pomodoro. The carbonara was great, as was the pesto gnocci that melted in your mouth. One fun thing you can do is half portions of the pasta, so we enjoyed that!! The inside is dim, with giant murals, mirrors, and theater curtains. For the price point, it's not the first place I would go for Italian in Baltimore, but I would go back! What we ordered: - Mussels - Caesar Salad - Spaghetti and Meatballs - Fettuccine Toscana (MUST HAVE) - Gnocchi De Ricotta - Carbonara

I was in Baltimore on a quick trip and was advised by the hotel to stop in for a meal at Sotto. I was a single seat, but they treated me like a group and had a wonderful seat by the window. The owner stopped by my table and we had a wonderful conversation. Ricardo is a very colorful person with amazing stories of his life and food. You can tell that Ricardo cares about how the food is prepared because he stops by every table to check on the customer. Not only does Ricardo care about his food, but he also cares deeply about his establishment and how the customers are treated. I had calamari, gnocchi and pistachio tiramisu. I was not disappointed at all! I will give one warning. It is very hard to choose from the choices on the menu. Jackie (from California)

Went here for dinner before attending a play. It was in all a good experience considering we arrived an hour after our initial reservation. I ordered the short rib stuffed ravioli and my girlfriend ordered the branzino filet (which had bones in it) and we each ordered cocktails as well. Service was solid and this was also Valentines day weekend so the place was packed as to be expected. The place is dimly lit which sets a a nice romantic tone for a date night. It's not a large venue so seating was fairly tight. Sitting towards the front of the restaraunt will leave you by the door where sitting toward the back has you towards the bathroom. Ideally you'd want to be in the middle. I would like to visit again when less crowded.

On of my favorite places to eat. Service is outstanding very friendly and accommodating. Food is awesome they need to fix the bread they serve. The atmosphere is great real romantic. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Great Italian place! Stopped in with some friends for dinner and drinks after exploring the museums in the area. Server was very attentive and the food was fantastic. Ambiance was lovely as well.