Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of treating my son, mother, and myself to one of the best…read moreValentine's Day dinners I have had. I have to share our experience from the beginning. So we drove a good 30mins to get here, with anticipation from seeing this restaurant on a travel channel, but the original location is in NY. We get there, and its plenty of free parking. We ask for seating for 3 and we are told they are only seating individuals who booked a reservation. Totally understandable considering its Valentine's day. I dropped the ball folks. I didn't make a reservation. So I noticed a bar lounge which we were told we could wait for a seat to open up. As we were waiting a coupled jumped in front us and took a seat. The manager Claudia came to the rescue like the dark knight but with more grace. She mentioned she was willing to put us on the list for a table in the main dining area. I accepted her kind gesture and continued to wait for bar lounge seating to open up. A couple was kind enough to come over to us and ask if we were waiting for bar lounge seating. They offered their table to us as they were ending their night. There was a 2 man band playing in the lounge area that was very soothing to the ear. As I tried to help my mother get comfortable at the hightop table, I noticed she was having a difficult time getting seated in such a high chair. Guess who came to the rescue, you guessed, Claudia! She's the best, 100 grand, made me a real fan. So she came over and said our table was ready if we wanted a booth seating and we all know that's the best seats in the house. All I could think is look at God. The wait wasn't even long either. 10 out of 10 for saving the day. In addition our waitress was such a sweetheart. I mentioned a white malbec I saw on the menu that I was astonish to see b/c I never knew of such a thing. She bought me a small glass to taste and my God, I am a true believer Jesus turned water into wine. Its so clear like water but the taste is amazing. The food is so delicious. The restaurant is very clean. The staff is very personalable. Everyone cartered to us. You would have thought we were the Obamas or something. As we were stuffing our faces, Claudia comes around handing out roses to the men/boys to give to their dates. Complimenting my son and his daper outfit she hands him a rose and tells him to give it your mommy. At the moment he lights up with a big smile as if he paid for the rose himself. I can tell he felt like a gentleman and good that he could give his mother a red rose on Valentine's day. That small gesture was very thoughtful and appreciated. I apologize for my essay, but they desired it. I love the service, the ambiance, the food, and service. I haven't seen my mother smile so much in a while. So it bought me great joy to give my mother this experience on Valentine's day. I thank Nonna Angela's staff for such a wonderful experience.

Fresh and delicious! Menu has typicall Italian offerings, but the actual dishes are superb!…read more Great service in an Italian setting. Nice restaurant.

So: I passionately enjoyed my dinner at Mamma Roma. The reason that this is unusual is because I'm…read morenot big on going out for Italian food much at restaurants - other than on holidays - since I eat so much Italian food at home. I can make an exception for more casual Italian meals at only a handful of Italian restaurants, and Mamma Roma's is now one. Growing up partially Italian, and a mix of other ethnicities, my family cooks Italian better, of course, than at any restaurant. No one made better Italian dinners than my Na-na (grandmother). But Momma Roma's hummus cream rigatoni could definitely keep me coming back for more. No one made better meatballs than my Mom but the meatballs at Mamma Roma's are flavorful enough. No one made better sauce than my Aunt #1 but the sauce on Momma Roma's ravioli was good and so fresh. And no one made better cookies than my Aunt #2, but Momma Roma's cannolis and rum cookies are tasty. There are a lot of Italian restaurants in the area and I've read that Mamma Roma's is one of, if not, the best. I can only say that while my first visit here a decade ago was fine, this visit goes into my memory as "need to get back there, eventually, if not sooner," after delighting in their new menu item: a creamy hummus rigatoni with sausage. I love hummus, though wasn't really sure if the texture of hummus sauce would be too gritty. It was not. It had a lovely, substantial flavor and silky texture that was balanced well by the impeccably-cooked al dente rigatoni. Add to that the garlic, cream, sausage and herbs in this dish and you've got a winner. I highly recommend this rigatoni, of the 3 rigatoni entrees on Mamma Roma's menu. I haven't even tried the other rigatoni dishes, but still ... don't miss this creamy, garlicky hummus dinner. And the portions of rigatoni in this dish were very generous. The presentation of the lasagna was impressive, in layering and shape. I only had a bite. It had a nice flavor, but I would have needed more bites to give a better description. And since it wasn't my order, I could not indulge. The portion was generous. Also, I would never order lasagna from any restaurant given the reasons cited earlier, but this one was good. I hope someone is laughing because anyone who has grown up in a subcultural group in the US usually sounds exactly like me about the home-cooking they grew up on. Another of Mamma Roma's menu items I'd like to try is their corn and arugula white pizza. I've only found one lovely corn pizza ever at Zelo's in an LA suburb, so now that I have seen this on their menu my curiosity is piqued. Love love love the variety of the dessert menu options. It's not just the desserts in the case on display that you can order. While there are gorgeous cookies on display, the dessert menu has a long, lovely list of all kinds of variations of cheesecakes and cakes. I would like to try the lemon cake on a return visit. And more of the cookie flavors! When I asked the barista what the top desserts were, he was quick to name the cannoli as a first. You'd probably be surprised to find out that this is a counter service approach: you order and pay up at the front and the waiter brings you your food and whatever else you need. You get your own fountain drinks or tea with ice. You can tip in advance, in good faith, when you order in the beginning or you can leave cash on the table at the end of the meal, having already paid your bill in the beginning. There is also the charming dessert counter/bar and espresso area that I mentioned earlier. So, when you are finished with your lunch or dinner, you can go to the barista's counter and order dessert and cappuccino. I love that if you order cake or a cannoli, a cappuccino is only $2. This is an awesome value especially for the evening crowd. For old school Anne Arundel county and Annapolis locals, Mamma Roma's is better than the original Squisito's pizza -- and higher in quality -- but it is a bit reminiscent of that restaurant in terms of popularity and a family feel. Plus, I have never tried the pizza here, but I'm guessing it's good given the quality of the ingredients and preparations we experienced with the pasta dishes. One thing that also really stands out about Mamma Roma's is that they are the only Italian restaurant that is nestled back in the suburban Piney Orchard division of Gambrills. In other words, it's more neighborly there vs. other restaurants along the majorly-trafficked Route 3 corridor. The restaurants along Route 3 have many more transients coming in, given the ease of access, so they are naturally less neighborly. Finally, when we brought our leftovers from dinner home I set them on the kitchen table and left them for a bit. When I came back into our kitchen, it was filled with such delicious aromas! Friends, this is just how fresh the food at Mamma Roma's is. For a casual, counter service suburban, it is quite bellissima!

Mamma Roma's is the best italian food you're going to find in the area. All of their menu items are…read morefantastic (shoutout to the Pollo Paprika). I haven't tried their pizza, but it looks great. Their service is always top notch, along with very fair pricing and great portions. They have online ordering, which helps me out alot as I work nearby. I haven't actually dined inside yet, I live about an hour away, but I can imagine the service will be just as good. They have some outdoor seating and plenty of indoor seating with a bar and lots of wine options. Please check them out if you're in the area,

Super delicious and super nice! The whole family is happy. The bread to the sandwiches was amazing…read moreand really well done. Great sized chicken tenders. And last but not least the pizza was delectable!

We ordered pizza and wings, and I was pleasantly surprised. I will return very soon to grab some…read moregood eats.

I give l'ardente 5 stars and the 3 g's: Gorgeous, glamorous , and glorious. I was solo dining and…read morefelt so well taken care of. The waitress I had was so sweet and their guest service coordinator constantly checked in with a warm attitude. I got the focaccia and was between the girasoli and spaghetti pomodoro. I am so glad I went with my waitresses recommendation and got the girasoli! It was unlike any pasta I've ever had. Similar to a ravioli, but has a veggie puree opposed to cheese on the inside. The leek and lettuce within the lemon butter sauce was to die for, and the girasoli itself was pleasant and unforgettable. The focaccia was also SO FLUFFY. The outer crust was not too crunchy and just right. The inside is so glamorous but also feels Italian. Very clean, nice and spread out, and overall a fabulous vibe. If I'm ever back in DC, this is on my list of restaurants to be coming back to!

I think I am in "my finally" season - trying all of the things I have been meaning to get to…read more Ever since L'Ardente opened in 2021, I've wanted to try it. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to while I lived in DC, because to be honest, I never got in an Italian mood. Now that I no longer reside in the DC area, I use every visit to eat my faves and occasionally a new spot. So, after another popular (and cheaper) Italian place closed before I could finish my delivery order, I spotted L'Ardente. I ordered the famous Lasagna - their 40-layer specialty - with short rib sugo, truffle mornay, and Sottocenere Cheese. The truffle mornay added a smooth, melty, creamy cheese sauce. It is good, but I am not sure if it is worth the hype at $40 lagnasa. I think the cost is built into the work but not the flavor profile. I think the meal is better without the sauce - it made it too salty with it.

This lovely restaurant is a gem in the area with its upscale ambiance and welcoming staff. Because…read moreI'm allergic to cream and milk, the chef offered to whip up a white wine, lemon butter sauce to go with my linguine instead. The sauce was absolutely delicious! Oh, I can't forget the addictive pomegranate and ginger cocktail my server, Dave, suggested that'll be my summer go-to if the world doesn't fall apart before then. Lol! Overall, this was a delightful experience --I'll definitely be back for more.

My wife and I came here for our anniversary lunch after her coworker recommended it the day…read morebefore--and as soon as I checked out the menu, I already knew we had to go. From the moment we walked in, the service was amazing. Maria (I believe that was her name) was our waitress, and she was incredible--so warm, attentive, and professional. She even took our anniversary photo for us, which I really appreciated. Another staff member was just as great, constantly clearing our table, removing empty dishes, and refilling our water without us even having to ask. The young lady who brought out our food had the sweetest smile and greeted us so kindly. When I mentioned I didn't really care for the rice balls, they immediately took them back and removed them from our bill--no hesitation. That level of customer care definitely stood out. The space itself is beautiful--very spacious with a great vibe. I loved the ambiance and would absolutely come back. I believe they also have outdoor seating, which I'd love to try next time. Now let's talk about the food: * Grilled octopus: 100000/10 * Truffle fries: 10/10 * Wild mushroom risotto: 10000000000/10 * Seafood fettuccine (can't remember the exact name): 1000000/10 Everything was so good that we filled up on appetizers and had to take most of our entrees home--but honestly, no complaints there! Overall, such a great experience. Highly recommend for a date, celebration, or just a really good meal.

They have everything Italian, from pizza slices to sandwiches and salads to pasta dinners. Friendly…read morestaff, I walked in and ordered a to go meal. Plenty of seating on both sides of the restaurant. Some of the booths looked tight on space. Sandwich was hot, with excellent crusty bread.

Wonderful place off campus. The staff is very accommodating and pleasant. A great place to share a…read moremeal and enjoy great company. Casual atmosphere. Food was wonderful. Lasagna was superb. Ravioli rose with chicken was divine. Penne a la vodka with sausages and chicken parmigiana were both delicious. We will be back.

They did not seat us on time when we had a reservation which was very inconvenient but the food was…read moregreat and the service could be better

One of my favorite restaurants in DC. Still like the vibe, music and decor in the bar and main…read morerestaurant area. Been here many times since my last review eight years ago. Their happy hour is really good, so if you are in the area during those times, I would definitely go to the bar area. For appetizers, I usually get their Wagyu Beef Carpaccio - it is one of the best ones I've had. Other standouts are their Shredded Brussel Sprouts - this dish made me actually like Brussel sprouts-lol. This has avocado, toasted breadcrumbs, and pickled peppers and the Truffled Garlic Bread - so good. For main dishes, my daughter just raves about their Maine Lobster Ravioli. She loves this dish so much. It's the only dish she orders. Actually, you can't go wrong with any of their pasta dishes - Spicy Dungeness Crab, Short Rib Bolognese and Mama DePandi's Bucatini. Other mains we really enjoy is their Prime Dry-Aged Bistecca Fiorentina - this can feed two people, and it's priced at $175, but I think it's worth it. Steak is really good. Also, I really liked their Mediterranean Branzino. Cocktails are great, especially their Old Fashioned. Service has always been top notch here. Can't wait until RPM Steak opens in downtown DC later this year!

Food was amazing. Good vibe and great service. I got the shrimp fettuccine with a glass of sweet…read morered wine

I did a pickup order to take advantage of my rewards on a rainy afternoon and fought the urge to…read moredine in since it would be a long drive back home. Tip: If you have multiple rewards and want to place a to go order, call it in so you can use multiple at one time! I ordered an old favorite, the Spiedino di Mare with shrimp and scallops. It came out cold along with my mashed potatoes . . . I went in to pick up, and it wasn't ready just yet so I thought it would be hot but nope. I was greeted when I first walked in and two other times, so the front of the house was definitely customer centered. Check out was good as well.

Came here for dinner tonight and shared a beet salad (antipasti), El padrino (pizza), and pistachio…read moregnocchi (pasta), and tiramisu + one scoop of pistachio gelato (dessert). The beet salad was amazing although a little light on beets. The buffalo mozzarella on top was delicious and we spread it over the salad like a poached egg which had a nice contrast to the bitterness of the fresh arugula base. The pizza was our favorite dish. The crust was amazing and the fresh basil really put it over the top. The gnocchi pasta was great in itself), I would have liked something to cut the cheesy/pistachio sauce/flavor a bit. Maybe a touch of tomato sauce. The tiramisu was certainly made fresh in-house (as confirmed by the server) but we actually thought the pistachio gelato (also made in the house) was the better of the two desserts. Will definitely come back here to try more items on the menu.

Everything I've ordered has been good, only done lunch, never dinner, but the menus are similar,…read moremore offerings at dinner. I've got friends who are longtime Cap Hill residents and this has become a favorite spot to meet up. Been coming here for about 2 years. The Pacci's salad is lovely; spinach and pear mingle together, making it memorable. I find the calamari to be tasty and crispy. The cheese tortellini grows on you; subtle woodsy flavors emerge in the sauce due to a light touch of mushrooms and artichokes. For desserts, their limoncello cake is fab. The coffee is average, and I wish it was more than that to complement the desserts. Service is friendly, lingering is encouraged. It's a relaxing environment, can unwind easily here. Unfortunately, my experience with reservations on-line has been terrible, that needs attention.