We had a great experience at Benny's. The service here was prompt and friendly. The eggplant meatballs with polenta are a fantastic vegetarian option. Nice flavor and good portions. My friends got the lemon bar for dessert and they highly recommend it. I'd happily return if I'm ever back in the area! read more

Benny’s - Eggplants Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I had an incredible experience at Benny's this weekend. We had a party of 9 for a birthday dinner and my wife wanted to go to a Mexican restaurant nearby that didn't take reservations. I went an hour early before everyone else was supposed to be there to get on the waitlist, but the wait was until 10 pm!! So I quickly switched gears and called Benny's because I've heard great things about them. The gentlemen who answered the phone was so kind, and was able to squeeze us in on the fly on a Saturday night, and they weren't slow. Got there super early because I was already in the area, and my wife and I decided to have an old fashioned and an espresso martini at the bar while we waited and they were excellent. The ambiance was upscale but still managed to be relaxed and comfortable. We had a lovely dinner, the waiter was busy but was still attentive and patient. Our whole experience was awesome, so we were already going back in the future. Yesterday I realized a mistake on my bank account from the bar charge, so I called around 6 pm and spoke to the same gentlemen as before. He got all my info and promised he'd call back in 5 minutes. I didn't really expect 5 minutes because I know how crazy the dinner rush would be at an Italian restaurant with a Wednesday wine special. Not even 3 minutes later he called back, and explained what happened, fixed it and I got a follow up text immediately letting us know the refund was already in process. Now, I've been in the service industry and I was a bartender, so I understand that I'm going to be a little biased here but from beginning to end Benny's went above and beyond. They clearly appreciate their customers and love their work, it shows. read more

I made a last minute reservation for Valentine's Day dinner on a whim, but am glad I came, and will definitely return! Service was speedy despite how busy they were. They're known for the meatballs so we ordered them to share as a starter. They were pretty good!! I liked the sauce too, but the bread could have been warmer, and it was a touch stale. For my main, I got the lobster ravioli served in a vodka sauce. It's seasonal, but I wish it were there year round. It was so good! Creamy, and they actually gave a decent portion where I was full when I finished it. It also had some decent spice to it which was great. The drink menu is really unique too. They have a pepperoncini martini, which wasn't for me, and some other twists on standard drinks. They have great happy hour specials too, and would love to check them out if I could make it to Baltimore during a weekday. Overall, solid menu, service, quality, and the prices are very fair! read more

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Possibly as advertised with truly the "best balls on the block" (keeping in mind the size of the block). This place had excellent energy on a Friday night with live music and sports playing at the bar. Very friendly service, and overall efficient despite being pretty busy. We weren't blown away by the food but enjoyed the generous portions. The rigatoni al pistachio and "best balls on the block" (meatball appetizer) were solid; the chicken parm was okay. Plenty of leftovers after an already filling meal. read more

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I don't know why my last review was 4 stars, it should have been 5! Since I left my first review, we've been back a few times and have loved it more and more. We've come in for dinner, an afternoon drink and snack, and most recently, we walked over for a late dinner after visiting the Christmas Village in the Inner Harbor. The service is great, the food is impeccable, the drinks are delicious, and the vibes are so friendly, exactly how a neighborhood bar should be. Love ya, Benny's! read more

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Amazing experience at Benny's. Sat at the bar. Excellent service. Nice vibe. The eggplant meatballs over polenta was one of the best vegetarian meals I've ever had. Will be back! read more

Benny’s - Eggplant meatballs over polenta. - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Screwed up our meal significantly. Took 50 minutes for us to get any food with no explanation or apology. Ordered eggplant balls. Got meatballs. Asked for pasta without fennel. Pasta came covered in fennel. Manager was belatedly nice and gave us half off our bill, but with all the options in little Italy, no reason to come back here. read more

In Baltimore for a conference and walked over from my hotel. Sat at the bar and had a braciole messinesi to start. The mozzarella's flavor was a little stronger than the meat. But I liked the cheese. The Puttensca Alla Norma was the star of the show. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was delicious and the chunks of eggplant, olives and tomatoes were terrific. I came back again later in the week and had some meatballs and a salad for a 'lighter' dinner. read more

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Excited to try Benny's in Little Italy. I had been to a the previous location a few years back and was so happy to see the new location. We didn't have a reservation but we're able to eat at the bar. The bar wasn't crowded at all. The menu out front was completely different to what we were given and were told it just changed this week and those items were no longer available. The new menu was fine and we were able to find things we wanted to try. I got the Chesapeake linguine and my husband tried the Pistachio Rigatoni. I also got the stiff coke to drink. The dishes took a little time to come out, I wish there was some bread before - I didn't see it on the menu to order. My dish was tasty but once I ate the shrimp I was completely turned off. The shrimp was terribly over cooked. I flagged the waitress and she immediately took my dish and shortly returned with new shrimp on top of my pasta. While handled quickly I wish they had replaced the whole dish as it felt like it sat for some time. The rigatoni was a great dish and the fennel gave it a lot of flavor. The coke cocktail was unique and I really liked it. Overall a nice experience - great atmosphere! I just wish the shrimp dish was better prepared. read more

Benny’s - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I stopped in for a late lunch on a day trip to Baltimore and had a great time at Benny's! I sat at the bar and the vibes were very chill on a Saturday afternoon. I ordered the famous rigatoni al pistachio and it was solid! Pretty mild flavor compared to a regular pesto but it was really nice with the fennel sausage. I didn't get a chance to try the famous meatballs but that will be for next trip! read more

Benny’s - Pistachio pasta - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A great experience all around! We were warmly greeted by the host and seated promptly. The service was fast and very friendly. We started off with a couple orders of the "best balls on the block" and it did not disappoint! I opted for Liam's Big Chicken Dinner (essentially Chicken Parm) and it was delicious! The sauce was a little absent, but glad we had the sauce left over from the meatballs to add on top. A fun neighborhood spot that we would love to return for more! Enjoy! read more

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I love Benny's and could write an entire review just on their focaccia pizza (currently only available for lunch on weekends). Make a reservation but if you're not able to they have several spots at the front and bar for walk ups. They have great drinks; I especially love the sangria. Tons of yummy foods and the veggie balls were great. Can't wait to go again! read more

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A restaurant with great charm in Little Italy. Owner, servers and bar staff seem to treat all customers like family.. your first experience there will make you feel like a regular. Besides the service, the food will bring you back. House made pasta and sauces, along with Focaccia Pizzas, and meatballs (vegetarian options too.) I highly recommend getting their focaccia pizzas, any of the pastas with their delicious pesto sauce and try the eggplant meatballs! read more

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I have a new Little Italy favorite. Small space. Great balls (meatball/eggplant) . Friendly space with personal service and a desire to please. read more

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Glad I gave Benny's a second shot. This experience was much improved from the first. Our server was friendly and efficient, I finally got to try the meatballs, and the pistachio pasta was unexpected and delicious! read more

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5 stars every time food and service is great , friendly and attentive . Best balls in town , Lasagna , Liams chicken cutlet "parm" style, and calamari are some of my favorites . Cocktails are well crafted with quality ingredients including a nice whisky selection . I recommend reservations for parties of 3 or more for weekends and busy times ,there is nice seating in the front bar area and also separate dining room in the back . It is very nice inside low lighting, couple tv's at the bar to watch the O's . read more

Benny’s - Liams chicken dinner "parm" style - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I love Bennys! I used go here when it was Joe Bennys with the pizzas and I'm so glad it's back! The dining room in the back is very cute and a nice place for a more fancy night but love the bar up front for more casual evenings and watching the Os! The espresso martinis might be some of my fave in Baltimore because of the pistachio! They have happy hour during the weekdays! I always get the eggplant meatballs w polenta, a focaccia and then the pistachio pasta! I love Bennys - they treat you so nicely and like family! read more

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Great but we have notes ... Overall a great experience. Great food, creative drink menu and impeccable service. Minor observations for improvement. Drinks: Excellent wine offerings. We leaned into the Italian vino selections but it's an Italian restaurant in little Italy! I reached for something new for a starter cocktail and had a "Stiff Coke". It was as advertised just really sweet. My issue ... not theirs! Food Apps: Meatballs and Polenta were EXCELLENT. Making a great meatball is NOT easy. The Braciole was disappointing. It was a spin on standard wrapped beef but it was overcooked slightly. Good effort ... modest execution. Caesar was good... but an Italian restaurant without anchovies... what? Entree: Ravioli was EXCELLENT! Pasta all around was home made and first rate! All red sauces were great. Desserts: Cream Puff. Run, do not walk to get the Cream Puff. Service: Attentive, knowledgeable and helpful. One thing was delayed and they were all over it. Stuff happens in a busy kitchen. It's cool.. own it and fix it. They did both. A+ read more

Wonderful family dinner. We were pleasantly greeted at the door, and the entire staff was perfectly attentive throughout our entire meal. The space has been renovated, is clean, and feels like modern Italian should. Our server, Jordan, was amazing. She was confident in her familiarity with the menu and helped us navigate an allergy and selections for the kids. We started with arancini and meatballs. Both terrific with lots of flavor. One of us had the seasonal salad and couldn't have enjoyed it more. We had a range of pasta dishes, with the tagliatelle bolognese really hitting the mark on a cold night. The ragu was meaty and comforting. Star of the night was absolutely the short rib with creamy polenta base. Crazy decadent! We will be back! read more

I love the vibe of the new (really no longer new) location of Benny's. It maintains the warmth of the old location but with increased space for tables and patrons with an elevated atmosphere. The food is still amazing and the highest quality, the tagline holds true. Benny's does have 'the best balls on the block' (really in all of Baltimore I'd argue). The prices have increased with the new location but that's likely a sign of the times. Oh, and the Sicilian Stack is 'chef's kiss' perfection! Truly lucky to have such a gem in Baltimore's Little Italy. read more

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Incredible doesn't even begin to describe how delicious the food at Benny's is. My friend and I decided to try Benny's new place. We used to frequent Joe Benny's before he closed so we knew it was going to be good. Benny's did not disappoint. We split the blackened chicken Caesar wings. They were so juicy, perfectly cooked, and the flavor was amazing. I had the pistachio cream rigatoni. Again, the flavor is just amazing. You get a very large portion. My friend got the caprese sub. It definitely was a big ass sub. Per my friend, it could have used a protein like chicken, prosciutto or maybe salami. For dessert, we split the tiramisu panna cotta. Great flavor and texture. Big portion. Overall, amazing food, incredible service. Tony, our server, was friendly, attentive, and provided great recommendations. I will definitely be coming back to try more!! read more

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My wife and i visited last night and had a great night there. The meatballs were amazing and melt in your mouth and very filling. The drinks were well made as well. The service was unbelievable, the bartender/waitress named Bry is awesome! She can give you the best recommendations and make you feel at home. Definitely vibe late night sitting at the bar. We will be back asap! read more

Benny’s - Pasta Pistachio - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The homemade juicy meatballs and fresh warm bread rolls are amazing with the homemade tomato sauce with burrata! You can get any better than this!! Also tried to mushroom bruschetta with steak!! If you love mushrooms with perfectly cooked steak on a crispy crostini this is perfection!! The calamari is crispy and perfectly cooked with a side of the drinkable tomatoe sauce!! Those 3 items are all you need to be stuff with a glass of red wine! Service was very attentive! Would definitely return!! Omg I forgot to mention the desserts! We got the bread pudding and the cream puff!! To die for!!! Especially with a cappuccino!!! read more

It was a really good parm style chicken cutlet. The calamari was really good i liked the fried jalapeño slices, daughter got a plain cheese pizza it was really good too. The meatballs were good but being from around Morgantown, I can say they just dont compete with Muriales in Fairmont but thats a pretty high bar to meet. They suffice. You wont be upset with the dining experience. read more

Fun neighborhood spot! The meatballs really are some of the best I've had and all of the dishes were great. read more

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Four of us made reservations at Benny's for Easter brunch. We needed a late brunch and Benny's was the only one to serve until 3pm. The staff couldn't have been nicer, especially Rob K. Food was plentiful and delicious. They didn't rush us even though we were the last ones to leave. Don't know why we don't come to Benny's more often. We are definitely coming back with our friends for jazz nights. read more

Unprofessional, Disrespectful Management - Benny's I was served the wrong dish four times, despite giving clear instructions. I had nothing to eat that night, my birthday celebration. Service so bad we were late for our concert. I later learned the manager on duty, Joe, was aware--but too busy schmoozing with celeb diners to address it. When I followed up, Joe gave excuses, no resloution, said he'd investigate and get back to me. Instead, he ended the chat and blocked me with no explanation.. proof is in the screenshots.. I later spoke with the business manager, who apologized and promised to follow up after speaking with staff and Joe. A week later, I called back. Joe answered, sounded intoxicated, refused to let me speak with anyone else, and yelled at me for posting an honest, accurate review. This was beyond bad service--it was blatant disrespect. I strongly recommend others stay away. read more

Benny’s - owner took no responsibility and offered no resolution. He said he would get back to me, instead I was blocked from contact - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Benny's really came back with a bang!! Shared a bunch of apps and food with some friends and everything was DELISH! Best part was the half off wines! The focaccia pizza was amazing, the eggplant meatballs were so juicy and tender, the stuffed peppers were DIVINE (that pink sauce!!!) and the salad was so fresh! The service was great - food came out so quickly! They were out of the tiramisu so we got the cream puffs and they were yummy! Need to come back to try more!! read more

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The new restaurant has retained the charm - and tastiness - of the old Joe Bennys, but in a more upscale environment, and with an expanded menu. The focaccia was excellent, as always - dense and packed with flavor, and the meatballs are still the best on the block (or possibly any block). They also have a vegetarian version made of eggplant, which were very enjoyable. A new favorite is the pistachio pasta, which was unique and creamy without being heavy or overwhelming. This is a great addition to the neighborhood and a true gem of a dining experience. read more

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Amazing service, fantastic food, fun vibe! The staff welcomed our group and was very accommodating of our very young daughter. She went through about 15 straws, made a bit of a mess, but had a blast and so did we, thanks to how kindly the staff treated us. We expected the food to be excellent, and it was. The pistachio cream rigatoni is one of a kind. The focaccia pizza is reminiscent of the legendary Joe Benny's focaccia. We are so glad Joe has created this new concept as it is a perfect addition to the neighborhood. read more

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From the time we were greeted on the sidewalk by Tony it was a great experience! The food was amazing. The bruschetta with lump crab meat was Devine and so fresh. We went with the Benny's Special with the ribeye and the steak was so buttery and tender you could cut it with a butter knife. So glad Tony waved us in when he passed by!!! Would recommend this -5 stars!!! read more

Benny’s - Calamari and Crab Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Our first time at the new Benny's and it was great. Good food, nice ambiance, and helpful wait staff. A nice 70th birthday dinner. We will definitely return. read more

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Had an excellent meal at the new Benny's. I totally almost went to the old location so make note that they've moved into a bigger building! I sat at the bar and might recommend it if you don't mind the noise. There were lots of menu options and got the meatballs, a salad and a pizza for two people. We were both stuffed. The focaccia is absolutely amazing and it makes everything taste so much better! I don't often order meatballs but these were delicious. read more

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Food: 5 Service: 5 Ambiance: 4 They're not lying when they say "best balls on the block". Probably the best meatballs I've ever had- juicy and flavorful with some really good marinara and cheese. The pistachio rigatoni was creamy, nutty, perfectly al dente just chef's kiss! Never had pistachio pasta before but now I'll always be looking for that on a menu. Excited to try their focaccia next time (they were all sold out on a Sunday night). Servers were very attentive and always topped off our waters despite it being a pretty busy dinner time. They checked in on us a good amount. We sat in the bar area because the dining room was packed so it definitely was not your typical Italian restaurant vibes. But, it was still cozy and felt like familial neighborhood bar. read more

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Great homemade Italian food. Josh, Joe and entire staff are professional, friendly and dedicated to making your dining experience positive. Josh and Joe make you feel like family with their personal attention during your visit to Benny's. read more

Wowed!!! Visiting Baltimore from Northern California and first time to visit bennys in Baltimore. What a Special meal!! Joe gets it right for sure from the calamari to pistachio crème puffs. We enjoyed: Calamari, Balls and Caesar salad & the Pistachio cream rigatoni and crème puffs. We also took home some jarred marinara Tony our server and Joe Benny went out of their way to make it special for us!! Everything was delish and the service was impeccable. read more

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Food wasn't very good for the price. My boyfriend and I stopped here for a late lunch, and for just two meals -- no drinks or extras -- it came out to about $50. The portion sizes were okay, but the food itself wasn't very flavorful and didn't feel worth the cost. read more

So happy to see Joe back in a restaurant! Love to see more restaurants opening in Little Italy! Benny's is great new spot with fresh new takes on Italian food! Love the chill but well designed atmosphere. Outdoor seating is also available. Nice place to have a bday dinner or sit at the bar and watch an O's game. The staff as expected was fantastic. Really feels warm and welcoming due to the great staff! Now the food...It goes without saying the food was delicious. We got the bread service which was fresh and warm. The plum and burrata is sweet and creamy. The Orecchiette e Granchie had tomatoes, corn, crab, and I think pancetta. Everything was so good!! We will be back again and again. Benny's is doing it right! read more

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I always love it here! The owners are so fun and welcome and really make you feel like part of the family!!! Good drinks and good wine always! The menu is small but the food is GOOD. read more

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We were welcomed when we arrived and shown to a table just perfect for the toddler and 38wk pregnant mom in our party. We wanted to sample some good food and EVERYTHING we ordered was fantastic! Meatballs, calamari, braciole, focaccia, seafood linguine. Too much to finish but it's still good when reheated. The service at home is less attentive than in the restaurant though. I can't wait to come back and try some more food... and reunite with my family from another mother. read more

Benny’s - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland