For a minute I thought I was in Manhattan. The food was amazing and the staff was professional and…read moresuggested different dishes. Go to meet the owner and was very nice and proud of his establishment. I plan to go back when I come into town.

It's been years since I've been to Manalu. It's first and foremost a red-sauce pasta place, with…read moretypical Italian meat options (chicken, veal, picatta, milanese, etc). Ambiance is good - and on a Monday night the place was absolutely PACKED. Lots of good vibes by a crowd that looked like they treated it as their go-to place. I was there with a group, so I browsed the online menu before I got there to make ordering more efficient. Our server did a nice job taking drink orders (really nice wine selection and you can BYOB for a nominal corkage fee), explaining the extensive sauce selections, and helping folks pick from an equally extensive past list (Rigatoni, Ziti, Penne, Spaghetti, Fusilli, Fettuccine, Linguine, Capellini, Mini Shells, Paccheri, and a "pasta of the day"). I chose the Casalinga: veal cubes cooked in caramelized onions, carrots and green peas in a tomato sauce with a touch of cream. I asked him to pick a pasta for me, thinking I would get one from the standard offerings. He upsold me the pasta of the day for $7.25, which looked suspiciously like the rigatoni I could have enjoyed for free. My bad, but still - would have been nice to have been asked. The sauce was OK, with good chunks of veal, but I did not see or taste any carrots, and saw just a few peas. Not what I was expecting. Prices were reasonable, and service (other that the unremarked upsell) was very good. I still prefer Fratelli's in Middletown (or better yet, my own sauce cooked in my own kitchen with some nice homemade sausage, meatballs, and bracciole. Sunday gravy, shared with the fam around our loaded dining room table.) But not bad overall.

We met a friend here, each driving an hour and 15 minutes each, a midpoint between us. What a find…read more A Saturday afternoon found Pistarro's busy, but not overly so. It's retro with exposed brick walls and large screen televisions. Our server was very sweet, personable and professional. (I'm so sorry, I forgot her name.) We shared appetizers, calamari, fried perfectly along with eggplant Parmesan. Both winners. For entrees, I had the meatball hero, stuffed with well seasoned and sauced balls of deliciousness. My wife had the gyro served in three pieces of pita (on a taco stand). Not only spiced well, but NOT the usual mess with tzatziki sauce and cut chopped tomatoes spilling everywhere. Our friend had the salmon and he was impressed. For dessert it was gelato for two and I had the affogato. Sinful, the whipped cream seemed to have a little more sugar than normal, but it made the dessert that much more decadent. If you live in Frederick or are just passing through...recommended.

Came here on a Saturday night without a reservation. We were sat at the pizza bar in plain view of…read morethe pizza making operations. Oddest part was while we sat there - there was a 2 top table free almost the whole time we were eating. So - we could have easily been waited on in a normal setting. Nice place overall - different areas to sit, outside dining, etc etc. Service however was atrocious. It may be the fact they don't have enough people in the wait staff, but our waitress was as absent as it gets. Asked for a refill, took forever - after ordering appetizer it would have been good to then put in our entree order - but wasn't until the pizza came out 25 min later that we could do that. Asked for bread, she remembered after our entrees came out 45min after ordered - 4 small cubes. You would think when you're struggling at waiting on a table, you'd try and make up for it. Pizza was good. We got a Margherita pizza - standard and fresh as we watched them make it. For my entree I got the penne vodka and added a meatball. Lol. No sauce on that meatball and it was cold. Flavor was good on entree. The next time the waitress came back I begged for the check - to which we paid and got out of there as "quick" as we could. Food 4/5 Service 1/5

We were in Frederick to see the Carroll Creek Lighted Sailboats and stumbled upon Massi through…read moreGoogle--what a perfect find. The moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcome. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. The restaurant itself feels like an old house converted into a cozy dining space, giving it a relaxed, family-dinner vibe that's hard to find these days. The food? Incredible. They had fried calamari on the menu, but we asked if they could grill it instead--and they happily did. It came out perfectly tender and delicious. The linguini with white clam sauce tasted exactly like something an Italian grandma would make--simple, comforting, and deeply authentic. And the Veal Massi with fresh mozzarella? Absolutely out of this world. Rich, flavorful, and unforgettable. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Highly recommend this gem in Frederick!

Saturday evening dinner while in the area. Parked the next block over and walked in. We don't have…read morereservations but we were given a tip to come around 6:30pm for a table of 2. We took a table in the rear enclosed patio area near the bar. To start we ordered the meatball sliders. Two come with an order and they were good. I liked the toasted slider rolls, the tangy sauce and the spiciness of the meatball. Recommend cutting it in half to eat it without it flying out of the roll. Overall a good start. I ordered the gnocchi primavera which really wasn't in the traditional sense - as the vegetables were puréed together into an orange sauce. Had a good flavor and was served with burrata. Starters and entrees came out very close to each other which wasn't a bad thing. We also added a margherita pizza to share which looked weird - but tasted great. Nice crisp to the crust and thin. I usually think of a doughier crust with this kind of pizza but still good. Dessert was the fudge cake - rich in flavor, adding a coffee. Overall - would have loved to sit inside and get that experience but still good considering we didn't have a reservation. Our waiter - younger guy out back we good, though at times we leaned on the other bartender to help get refills.

We had 10 people for my daughter's 40th . First of all food was excellent! Our waiter was very…read moregood. The only issue we had was the atmosphere. We were put at several tables pushed together on the right side of a very narrow part of the restaurant. On the left side was another large party with the same configuration we had. It was very loud and difficult to hear our conversation. It was so narrow that it was almost impossible to get out of your chair and make it down the aisle without squeezing past someone, running into the servers, backing into people at the other table. The people seated against the wall felt squished, and had a lot of trouble getting their seats to go to the restroom. As I stated at the beginning, the food was excellent, but with good food at high cost, the expectation is a all-around great experience. This includes the atmosphere.

Uh oh! I have found another restaurant that my body will crave and want to come back again and…read moreagain - the fluffy long, soft rolls and wonderful house salad served in a bowl, house made fresh pasta, and delicious cocktails. I really appreciated how far apart the tables are to allow for conversations you can hear and more space in the cold/flu season. I had a Chocolate Martini and my husband ordered a Lemondrop Martini (not on the menu) but was definitely good. The basket of the fluffy, soft, warm rolls were incredible and something I will come back for. I got the Mediterranean bruschetta special which came with feta, crabmeat, tomatoes, balsamic glaze and lots of other yummy things on four pieces of bruschetta. It was delicious. The shrimp scampi over the thin fresh noodles was a pleasure - really loved how big the shrimp were and the large helping of pasta. My husband got the lasagna which was good although they used some different cheeses which made it taste a little different but still good. Amanda our waitress was quick, pleasant, and took good care of us. Fratelli's is a Resy restaurant. Make reservations ahead of time, since on Saturdays even at 4:00 pm, all the reservations are already booked for the night. I have returned to Fratelli's for a work group lunch. Kendra was excellent, taking care of our large group with professionalism, efficiency, and a warm smile and manner. I got the !4" pizza which is a deep dish pizza - just perfect - not too buttery. I got sausage which had the long slices of sausage on it, not spicy. You can only eat one or two pieces out of the thick eight slices, the pizza is thick so expect to share or take it home for several more lunches.

This was my second time visiting Il Porto, and I'm really glad I decided to give it another try…read more The first time I came, I honestly wasn't impressed and didn't think I'd return. But after hearing good things, I figured it deserved a second chance -- and this time it delivered. I ordered an apple martini, which was really tasty, and the fettuccine Alfredo with added chicken and shrimp. The dish initially came out with just shrimp, but when I mentioned the missing chicken, they handled it kindly and quickly. They let me keep my pasta and brought out a nicely grilled piece of chicken topped with Alfredo sauce. It ended up being very flavorful and satisfying. My friend ordered a sausage pasta dish and thoroughly enjoyed it -- he said it was very tasty. He also had two smoked old fashioneds and really liked them. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, but it still had a cozy atmosphere. The only downside was that staff members were having a very loud conversation in the dining area, playing music, and even watching something on a phone at one point. Since there weren't many customers yet, it stood out more. I'd suggest maybe keeping that to a back area or lowering the volume while guests are dining. Overall though, this visit changed my mind. I would absolutely go back.

My girlfriend and I stopped in on a Saturday night before going to sample the many beverages of…read moredowntown Frederick. The service wasn't bad and we were one of 3 tables at the time. A majority of the stuff was huddled at the bar on their cell phones watching videos and showing each other while the bartender was eating olives out of the jar. The bread was ice cold with packs of individual butter, which left a lot to be desired. The food was very average at best. The bolognese was really just ground beef and sauce and not a traditional bolognese. The spaghetti and meatballs wasn't bad but was just covered in too much sauce. The tiramisu was good but it doesn't taste like a traditional one. It has a lot of cinnamon and was covered in a lot of cocoa powder. Overall, the experience wasn't anything great.

Our first time here. Came for an early dinner with no reservations. Gave us a table on the covered…read morepatio. The food and the service were great. The table was not. It was a warm day out and the patio area was stuffy and kinda hot. And the table was on a 10% slope to one side. I measured it. We asked for another table and they said their only alternate table was in an area that was just as warm. The food was good...

The Ricci is easily one of my favorite date night restaurants…read more I have had mixed results with getting the correct food sent out first-time but overall dishes are as described and good quality. Always delicious, and delivered fast (maybe too fast?). My biggest compliments are to the waitstaff and management. After three visits I have always been respected and treated well by the staff. However, the restaurant is fairly cramped due to its size. And on a busy night you can receive uncomfortable corner tables or be inches away from the table behind you. Its saving grace is its beautiful bar seating (next to their giant pizza oven) and outdoor patio.

Such a gem, this place! I've driven by this corner leaving downtown MANY times and we finally had a…read moremoment to grab a meal. At Tempo Di Pasta, the food and staff were just amazing. Their pasta is made in house and it's deliciously fresh. Perfectly cooked. The ambiance was just a cool vibe. Food Pictured: Ravioli di Funghi (wild mushroom ravioli, tomatoes, fontina sauce, parmigiano (v)) Arrabbiata with Campanelle pasta (shrimp, spicy Pomodoro sauce, scallions, lemon bread crumbs) Bucatini Nero with squid ink (bucatini, calamari, octopus, shrimp, pomodoro sauce, calabrian peperoncino)...I ate it ALL and I'm still full. Bread to grab that sauce

Fantastic and authentic. Tiny restaurant with limited hours -- This is probably the best Italian…read morefood in the area. The ingredients are fresh, the service is friendly and gregarious, the food is delicious and exceptional. I have enjoyed several different dishes on multiple occasions now and can say without question that this food is exceptional and rare outside Italy. Everything in this space is authentic, from the relatively short menu to the service it is a treat to have such an excellent meal for what amounts to a very good price. No question, in Frederick this is consistently the best Italian food served with care and pleasure. I have not had a single issue with anything over perhaps 6 dining experiences here. It is an absolute pleasure to enjoy a lovey glass of wine with the outstanding pasta dishes! If Fredrick needs anything, it is more small and outstanding restaurants like this where quality and value are in harmony.

Visiting family and they said I'd love this place. We decided to order in and were told about a…read morehour wait for delivery. I was pleasantly surprised that the food came in about 30 minutes. Pizza was amazing, nice sized slices and I LOVED their pepperonis. Also ordered a Philly & enjoyed it. Full of flavor, great portion. We ordered 5 fries and were cracking up at them being placed in a pizza box. Work smarter not harder, am I right? LOL Overall a great experience. Would definitely eat here again!

Italian sub was good, but please consider offeing the choice of a HOT Italian sub to serve two…read moredifferent preferences. My ham+pineapple calzone was good, but better quality ham is much needed! Raise the price a few cents and it is a win-win. It is a pizza joint, but a brighter atmosphere would go a long way. Refresh the dessert sign and you will get my order for a family party! Service was fine and wait was minimal. I like this place, but a few tweaks will make it better.

Honestly super underwhelming. Agree with the others that have rated the place as mid. It's hidden…read morein urbana that's before all the new developments. Cute outdoor patio and that could be a nice space. The inside is normally decorated restaurant space. The service wasn't too bad, attentive at first and then she disappeared for 10 min and then took our orders. Afterward she didn't even bother to ask how the food was, if she did I would've told her how disappointed I was with the dish that was recommended as, "oh you can't go wrong with eggplant parm! It's great!" Needless to say that it was an overpriced mush of a dish. There was no texture to the dish. At first sight it looked like a generous helping of food, about 6 pieces of eggplant with spaghetti. However, there was no texture to the deep fried eggplant, no crunch, no flavor, disappointing. Spaghetti was normal, nothing special. The pizza. Not shown, was also disappointing. There's so many other better options close by, prob won't come back.

This places has such mixed reviews that we thought we would give it a try…read more The verdict: Overpriced mediocre Italian and overall, an underwhelming experience. This was the most I have ever paid for eggplant parm ($25) and I've have only not taken the leftovers one other time in my life. The pasta that was served with it was spaghetti ...and did not taste freshly made (but maybe others were referring to a pasta of the day?) Go about eight minutes more north to Manalu's. This place was depressing on all accounts.

I had a great first experience at Laurienzo Brick Oven Cafe. From the moment we walked in, we were…read moreinstantly greeted by the staff, which made us feel very welcome! The place itself has a really cozy vibe--dim lighting, colorful décor, and everything was clean and well put together. We ordered a medium pizza, half pepperoni and half cheese, along with wings, all for a very reasonable price--and it was absolutely worth it. The pizza quality was outstanding: crispy crust with a slight char from the wood-fired oven that really elevated the flavor and it just tasted really fresh compared to a lot of other places I've tried. During our visit, Linda came by while we were eating and was incredibly friendly, polite, and charismatic. She made sure we had everything we needed and created a very warm, welcoming experience. You could tell she cares about the customers and the people she works with! Overall, everything--from the food to the atmosphere to the people--was excellent. I'll definitely be coming back again!

A new find for us as we explore the area of our new home near Clarksburg. This place is in a small…read morestrip mall near some local farms. When we walked in we were immediately greeted and were able to choose our seat. We opted for a custom pizza with mushroom, caramelized onions, and sausage. The crust was thin and super crispy, just how a like it albeit a tad burnt in some spots (but I think that's unavoidable with brick oven places). The caramelized onions gave the pizza an interesting sweetness and the cheese to pizza ratio was spot on. We also got a Hot Pastrami sub, which, if you don't like horseradish then this isn't for you. Horseradish flavor is definitely strong but also they did not skimp on the pastrami. Part of the bread was also burnt but the texture was still that nice combo of crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. We did bus our own tables but the service staff behind the ordering counter was really nice and offered to walk us through the menu. I saw pics of the baked ziti which looked amazing but unfortunately they no longer serve due to not enough orders. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the area and craving pizza!