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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Stopped in specifically for this dessert and beverage after a dinner meal elsewhere. From the moment we walked in we were greeted warmly and genuinely. This level of customer interaction continued throughout, a wonderful experience feeling welcome. The dessert was luxurious, soft, rich, and the candy coated pistachios were just to die for. Can't wait to go back for dinner! read more

Benny’s - Pistachio Cream Creampuffs - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

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

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

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

See all

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

This restaurant was excellent. Jordan our server was excellent. We will be back again. We ordered a dish (not on the menu) and the chef blew this out of the park. Dinner was excellent and service was superb Thank you for a nice dinner! We will be back from NOVA. read more

Lived up to the hype. Their meatballs are amazing. Great vibes too. Will be back to try their pasta next time. read more

See all

Located near the heart of Little Italy, Benny's seems to be a local Italian favorite and it certainly has the look and feel of one. I never made it past the bar so I can't speak for the rest of the interior, but the patrons at the bar certainly seemed like locals and reggies (regulars) - they were talkative with the staff and with each other. The bar scene is friendly and boisterous without being too loud. Tried and hungry, I just wanted to enjoy some good Italian food while having a glass of wine and watching the game. I kick myself for not trying the meatballs given everyone else's review, but sometimes my head overpowers my stomach. I wanted meatballs, but my head was telling me to try something unique that I couldn't try too many other places. So, I opted for the pistachio cream pasta. This dish may go over better with someone who likes creamy pastas and onions - I am not one of those. For me, it felt heavy. I appreciated the unique offering, but if I came back, I'd try the meatballs. The Caesar salad was fine as a starter, but nothing to write home about. If you're staying near the Inner Harbor, Benny's is a fine option if you're looking for a local, friendly scene with some quality Italian food. read more

As others have said, I am NOT one that takes effort to write reviews. Most get a simple word of mouth basic recommendation. This review has been long in coming and well deserved. Benny's has become our go to place for great eating...and entertainment. It is a very professional presentation as soon as you walk in the door but still remains light hearted. Joe Benny or one of the other teammates will great you as soon as you walk in. We have NEVER had to wait. The food goes without saying is beyond exceptional...they have a little story behind each thing on the menu. They proudly say they import as much as they can. YES! They are known for their BALLS...these cannot be out done...they MELT in your mouth! They are always adding new twist to the menus so you rarely are coming back for just the same 'ole thing. The People...A+++ service, they are there to make your experience unforgettable but don't over burden you. My favorite is to get Joe Benny going on story telling! Tony gives the best of recommendations...he knows that damn menu. I go in wanting one thing and usually end up getting something else and always leave with at least two things to try in the future. We WILL be back! Jimmy K. read more

Yum yum yum! Great food. Great ambience (we sat outside) and great service. Meatballs were by far the favorite dish of the night. Out of the 2 of us we had different favorites on the pistachio and salmon pasta. The meatballs were a lot of food for 2 people so we could have had one pasta so that maybe we could have made it for dessert. Great stop on our Baltimore visit! I recommend and I recommend sitting outside if it's nice. The Pinot Noir was not my favorite but the expresso martini was delicious read more

See all

The food was just okay. Cheese pizza looked delicious, but the taste was just okay. I guess I was expecting the sauce to have flavor and pizza to come out hot in temperature. I tried the puff balls, which was also okay. I wouldn't order these items again. However, I would like to note that the owner seems very nice and welcoming. It is very small inside and pretty loud... so much chatter on a high volume that it is a challenge hearing the person in front of you. Waiter even had a hard time hearing me. read more

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

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

A very good experience. From the moment we walked in, the customer service was amazing. We brought our seven month old (for those of you who know, can be a stressful experience haha) but the staff made it enjoyable! The food was also GREAT. We shared the meatballs and they were very delicious with a yummy red sauce. They had a ribeye on special that was cooked wonderfully as well. Overall a nice experience and I say GO! You won't regret it. read more

Run, don't walk to this place. Really good food. The meatballs with polenta is really, really good. Good sauce. The calamari is perfect and pasta is real al dente. read more

We wanted Italian food and landed at Benny's in Little Italy. The menu was small, dining is intimate. I ordered the fish of the day. It was cod with potatoes, capers and olives in a stew sauce served with bread. My friend got chicken Parmesan. I really enjoyed the fish. The fish was flaky and flavorful. My friend thought the chicken parm was good but the rigatoni was too al dente. Overall we had a good dining experience. read more

Benny’s - Fish of the day- cod w/potatoes, capers and olives - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

Love Benny's!!! They have done an amazing job upgrading the restaurant from what it formerly was. The food is beyond! The Pasta, the Ball's, the focaccia, the octopus, Liam's chicken tenders like no other, and the cream puff's are heavenly. Even better than the food is the service. We always feel like part of the family at Benny's. Love each and every one of them. If you are in the area, or not in the area, you can't pass up an opportunity to tantalize your tastebuds. read more

Benny’s - Pistachio cream puffs - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Bennys is back and life is good again ! Best balls on the block is better than ever now that they've added polenta! Same amazing focaccia but now with waistline-friendly options as well read more

Stopped by on a week night for dinner. They have great happy hour deals that I recommend taking advantage of. I tried the Spaghetti and Meatballs and the meatballs lived up to the hype. They were fantastic. The service was very friendly and they have a comfortable neighborhood feel. read more

We recently enjoyed a fantastic meal at Benny's and couldn't be happier to see Chef Joe Gardella return to Baltimore's Little Italy. As longtime fans of his previous restaurant, Joe Benny's, we were thrilled to find many of its beloved charms and flavors at Benny's. Walking into the restaurant we were greeted by the familiar Sicilian Trinacria, and handwritten signs informing diners to expect to be treated like family. There's a spacious bar area with high tops at the edges of the room. The bar has TVs tuned to sports and the room gets loud pretty quickly. In the back there's a cozy dining room. The new location, just a block up from where Joe Benny's was, currently has about double the space along with outdoor tables. It also looked like they may eventually open an upstairs dining room. The menu features both updated classics and new delights. The Sloppy Meatballs now has their famous meatballs and burrata atop delicious polenta. My favorites were the Octopus Carpaccio which was delicately prepared and bursting with flavor; the Rigatoni with Sausage and Pistachio Pesto was rich and comforting; and the Chicken and Lentils was well-composed and had an intense depth of flavor. I'm also happy to report the Meatballs are still the best we've ever had! While Joe Benny's was known as a focacciaria, Benny's now offers only three focaccia pizzas, sold by the slice, but each "slice" is a massive portion cut into four pieces. Every dish felt like elevated Sicilian comfort food, perfectly executed and deeply satisfying. Benny's doesn't have a website or phone number, but it feels like it's only a matter of time before it becomes a hotspot. We're excited to return to try the 16 oz. Ribeye and Monkfish Osso Bucco. read more

Stopped by this gem last night. My husband and I were eating out way thru Baltimore. We ordered meatballs, amazballs!!!! Our waiter was great, the vibe was cool! We got pistacio donuts, also incredible! We will be back!! read more

See all

So happy this place has reopened! The freaking meatballs are out of this world I could eat three bowls of them. Very good cocktails and the pizza was out of this world get the one with the goat cheese you won't be disappointed. And the servers are incredibly kind, funny and attentive. We love this place and wish we lived closer. read more

Food was amazing and service was impeccable. The staff made you feel like you were at a family members home. Cannot recommend this place enough! Everything was simply delicious! read more

Me and my boyfriend came to Baltimore from PA for the weekend to spend Valentine's Day. After looking up many restaurants in Little Italy he decided on Benny's. I'm so glad he did. We arrived 30 minutes early thinking we would grab a drink at the bar before our 4:00 reservation. Nope not a seat available. I apologized to the owner for being early who greeted us and he told us no problem! He just needed to find us server. It was in between shift change. We said over and over it was fine we would just wait or come back. He wasn't having it! He made it work. He was great! Got us to our table and we were able to sit down. Our server Jordon, I'm pretty sure that was her name, was amazing! She had to walk up and down those stairs just for one table. The rest of her section was downstairs. But she was so accommodating and friendly with each step. Now onto the food. Amazing. The meatballs. Delicious! And I'm picky. I'm an Italian who makes her own meatballs and gravy on Sundays. But these were so good! Lobster ravioli were to die for. My boyfriend had the Rigatoni Al Pistachio. So good. Now for dessert. The strawberry cream puffs were out of this world! Best dessert I've ever had! When I visit other cities I like to try different Italian restaurants and each time we go back we try a new one. But we won't next time. We will just be going back to Benny's! Thank you! read more

Great as the Old Joe Benny's!! Had famous Joes Sloppy Balls first. I do have to say it is very small as the other restaurant was, but this one is a lot more expensive. read more

Great atmosphere! Great service! The sloppy meatballs are phenomenal!! I'll be back for sure. Thank you.

Wow - this place is a total gem! The staff are wonderful and the food is even better. We had the calamari and bread assortment appetizers. For drinks, I had the recommended Lemon Drop Martini - delish. There were so many great dinner options (tried the squid ink pasta) I'm def going back to try the others. For dessert, we couldn't decide - so we had both options - it couldn't have been better. I highly recommend this wonderful place. read more

See all

We stopped in for a late lunch Sunday afternoon; food was yummy. I ordered the rigatoni in pistachio pesto--very tasty. My husband ordered pasta with meatballs--he said it was also very good. Host and waiter were friendly and outgoing; we'd definitely go back if we were in the area. read more

We could't resist the ballsy advertising. Joe and his team provided impeccable service. We started with a perfect and large martini, then had the Best Balls! A passable Caesar salad and an absolutely superb cod special cooked in a tomato, olive caper and potato sauce...I mean it...SUPERB! Topped off with the pistachio mousse cream puffs and espresso. Tony is a friendly and professional waiter offering great suggestions ( menu and Baltimore), while Joe showed his warm hospitality full of heart. Don't miss this! read more

Bennys is so back! We had a wonderful dinner at Bennys on a random Wednesday night and with our luck, it was half-off bottles of wine. We sat at the bar, but this place has much more seating than the last place. We started with the seasonal bruschetta because we're both obsessed with figs, so much so that I didn't notice that it came with olives, which I don't like. It was so incredibly fresh and delicious, I ate it, olives and all! It was such a nice balance of sweet and a little salty, I would highly recommend it! For our main course, we had the spaghetti all chitarra and the fiesty Sicilian pizza. Bennys does not lie when they say they have the best balls on the block! The meatballs were just as a good as I remembered, but they only give you 2 with the dish and I think one more would've been perfect. The Feisty Sicilian was exactly that! It was spicy but so tasty and you can't beat pizza on focaccia bread. I do wish there was a bit more sauce, only because it was so flavorful and I love a good sauce. Overall, can't wait to go back and try more items! read more

See all

I live in little Italy, and this is by far the best spot here. In my 59 years on the planet, this is the single friendliest restaurant I have ever been in, and it's not close. I go at least once a week or more...go for the feeling of family they give, but stay for the food. I love restaurants that keep the size of the menu under control, but make every single thing that they serve well, and that is this place. I have literally never had a bad bite of food here, everything on the menu is good. They are known for their meatballs, but in my opinion also the best chicken parm I have ever had. All the pastas are cooked to a perfect al dente every time(no small feat in little Italy these days), Caesar salad is delicious, really you can't go wrong with anything. And best of all, even though they keep the menu fairly small, they are constantly tweaking and changing it with seasonal additions and daily specials. If you remember the tv show "Cheers", this place is the restaurant version of that. Genuinely great people and awesome food, I'd give it 100 stars if I could! Best balls on the block! read more

Super nice folks. Just a beer and some meatball focaccia pizza at the bar on way home from Orioles game. Food was very good and the get bonus points from me for making sure some of their regular female patrons were escorted to their cars. New local place that seems to care about their business and customers read more

I worked in the culinary and hospitality industry for years and I had the single best front of house server I've ever had, was a little bit before dinner rush and not busy yet and instead of doing nothing this gentleman went on to the street and talked us into having a meal and a drink I think it was the best work ethic I've seen food was great service from there during the meal was perfect just wanted to relay this experience wish the restaurant the best think it's a great place but it was difficult to find online and hope they do great read more

1st time ever. The food and service was outstanding! The stop by to talk. Well worth the visit!

Super fun place with amazing meatballs. Everyone was super friendly with lots of regulars who all the staff seemed to know by name.

I have tried for 4 days to make a reservation - they never answer the phone when they are open and when it goes into voice mail, it is full! They obviously don't want more business Bev Rosen read more

Best meatballs, steak, and roasted chicken. Attentive and jolly crew, great neighborhood vibe. Bennys will give the other boring no passion Italian restaurants around them (you know who you are) in Little Italy a run for their money. Glad that you decided to reopen and do this amazing collaboration! Buona fortuna! read more