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LIA'S

3.8 (572 reviews)
ModerateItalian, American, Bars
Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Order LIA'S Takeout or Delivery

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LIA'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - LIA'S

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Me the only one without a drink
Shawn B.

I am writing to formally report an extremely troubling experience I had at Lia's on the evening of April 27, 2026, around 7:45 PM. I was visiting with a group while staying in Chevy Chase for training, and what should have been an enjoyable evening instead left me feeling degraded, singled out, and deeply unwelcome. Upon entering the establishment, I placed a closed water bottle on the counter while attempting to order a cocktail. Without any explanation, the waiter behind the bar approached me and attempted to confiscate the bottle. At no point prior to this interaction was I informed of any policy regarding outside containers. It was only after I specifically requested to speak with a manager, Teresa, that this policy was mentioned. I find it unacceptable that I had to initiate that conversation myself, rather than being treated with basic courtesy and clear communication from the outset. Shortly after, the same waiter attempted to move my entire part (who are all people of color) outside to the patio. While my group was escorted out, I remained inside briefly to complete my order and speak with Teresa. This sequence of events raised immediate concerns about how we were being treated and why. Once outside, my party was seated in a far corner of the patio and left unattended for over 10 minutes. No one came to serve us. I eventually went back inside to inquire, at which point the same waiter returned and began taking orders. His demeanor toward me was noticeably dismissive. When I ordered the same drink I had just purchased inside, I was told I would be charged differently, with no clear explanation. Despite taking my order, he served everyone else at the table and deliberately excluded me. When I followed up about my drink, I was informed that he and management had decided not to serve me. This decision was never communicated to me directly, nor was any justification provided. Once again, I was forced to ask what was happening, which only compounded the confusion and frustration. The entire experience felt isolating and punitive, as though I was being singled out rather than treated as a valued guest. When Teresa came to the table, she was unable to provide clear answers as to why I was refused service or why no alternative server was assigned if there had truly been an issue. Her lack of accountability and dismissive response only reinforced the impression that this treatment was acceptable within your establishment. I want to be very clear: I have never felt as isolated, disrespected, and berated in a restaurant setting as I did that evening. The handling of this situation, from the waiter's conduct to the manager's failure to address it appropriately, was deeply unprofessional and unacceptable. I expect this matter to be taken seriously. There was a clear breakdown in communication, professionalism, and basic hospitality. I am requesting that this incident be thoroughly reviewed and addressed, including appropriate accountability for both the staff member involved and the manager on duty. I look forward to your response.

Chicken Milanese with white wine
Toya J.

Lia's is a wonderful spot in Chevy Chase with indoor and patio seating. They have happy hour every day and an amazing wine list. They serve fresh & tasty Italian-American cuisine. My favorite dish is the Chicken Milanese with arugula and shaved parmesan on top of the cutlet. The wings are also very good bone in and seasoned perfectly. If you love no chain small chain restaurants with great food this is it!

Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Carla M.

This place has it all. Great happy hour, food, drinks, the hospitality. Great date night spot or to hang out. I came with my girlfriends for girls night and everything was delicious. We got the Sea bass, Brussels sprouts, pasta, calamari, goats dip. I will be coming back for more! Andddd if you enjoy a cold beer they have super mugs!

Jeff who?
Nan P.

While this is an Italian restaurant they also have a terrific happy hour which includes discount on their burgers. When the lamb burger is on the menu, go for it! Otherwise the original burger is delicious.

Outdoor seating
Erika E.

I had a great time during happy hour with Noonie who was my server. She was super sweet and patient. I WILL BE BACK ! Drinks were delicious, food came out fresh, and location is beautiful and clean. Easy access must try! They even have a Dog menu !!!!!

Mediterranean Sea Bass
Randy B.

Food is good, service is great, ambiance is smart casual. Lots of locals living in the immediate area gather here to unwind and catchup with one another. Great for groups--my party of five were well taken care of. I found it to be a great choice for mid-week get together. Parking available at the adjacent Colonial parking garage, and restaurant validates parking.

The Wagyu Burger
Russell J.

Great neighborhood bistro, but for a Geoff Tracy establishment, would you expect anything less? Made a reservation for Friday night. Reservations are def recommended bc it gets busy on the weekends. The place is classy and cozy. We showed up on the tail end of restaurant week. Order was waygu burger, truffle mushroom ravioli, calimari, and octopus. Everything was fresh and delicious. My octopus had a little too much crust on it, but was otherwise fine. Service was great too! Another great Chef Geoff establishment!

Kenneth A.

Although I didn't order an entree, I was thoroughly satisfied by the calamari appetizer, which was served in a lavish helping and reasonably priced. It was so substantial and delicious that it alone was enough to make me feel pleasantly full! The drinks were definitely "on point" - nicely mixed and perfectly complementing the appetizer. The service was absolutely impeccable. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, consistently checking on us to ensure we were having a good time and had everything we needed. Beyond the food and service, the restaurant itself had a truly great vibe, from the bustling energy of the bar to the comfortable ambiance at our table.

Classic Tiramisu by Lia's
Christina H.

Fantastic food, ambiance and service. We come here on an irregular basis and then ask ourselves why don't we come here more often. The appetizers and entrees are tremendous. We ordered the meatballs and the burrata appetizers. We loved the short rib bolognese sauce with pasta, the Chicken Milanese and the Chicken Parmigiana. Our server Julani took very good care of us. Look forward to going back to enjoy the menu.

Dyonna B.

We are always so excited to try new places during restaurant week. My husband's favorite cuisine is Italian so we found a place to make reservations nearby. Loved that we didn't have to do deep into DC to enjoy the offers. Reservations were quick and easy to make and there was a parking garage attached to the building. Also Lia's offered validated parking. Sweet! A girl loves some free parking...especially in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area. Upon entered, we were greeted by the friendly host who took us right away to our seats. Shortly after we were greeted by our server for the evening. I must say the ambiance was great for a date night. Low lights and little light lanterns at each table created the perfect atmosphere. Our server was great. He helped us switch out some lipped stained glasses and dirty forks at our table and then gave up the best treatment. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and did let us know of some items that they were sold out of. I ordered a pomegranate gin martini to start with. I love that for restaurant week, you can choose from the entire menu...unlike many other places that allows you to choose from a small, crafted menu or like 3 apps, 3 entrees and 3 desserts. For my appetizer, i ordered the Burrata made with peppercorn honey, pistachio pesto, red wine glaze and parmesan biscotti on the side. It was delicious. Just wished there were a few more biscotti to come with it. For my entree, I had the dry aged short rib bolognese with mafaldine pasta, parmesan foam and fresh herbs. It was soooo yummy. I purposefully only took a few bites just so i can have it again for lunch the next day. And the portions were decent so really i made 2 meals out of the pasta dish. For dessert, I think they ran out of something, so I ended up getting the cannolis which I wasn't able to finish and took those home as well. They were delicious. I also liked that instead of getting a dessert you could have the option for a glass of wine. You def dont see that often. Loved all the options and flexibility here. Overall, this was a great experience for our first time visiting and will certainly need to visit again to check out other options.

Chef Geoff's Rosé is delicious!
Daniel B.

Restaurant Week is always a great way to try places that may be new to you for a little less than their regular pricing. I am so glad my wife and I decided to have dinner at Lia's! We had a great time, and really enjoyed our experience overall. The restaurant is a short walk away from a nearby parking garage. The lighting is set low which adds to the romantic or intimate vibe. The team here were all very helpful! We had slight issues with a glass and fork, but the team quickly got us replacements and took great care of us from that point forward. I believe our waiter's name was Javar. He was down to earth, funny, and he made really helpful suggestions of things to try from the Restaurant Week menu. I had the Chicken Parmesan with rigatoni pasta instead of spaghetti pasta per Javar's suggestion. He was right! The change in pasta made the dish better and easier to eat. I mean, I know how to eat spaghetti noodles (twirl on a spoon with your fork, lol). But the rigatoni is the way to go and didn't change the flavors at all. BTW, the flavors are excellent!! The chicken was juicy and tasty, the sauce was delicious and the noodles were just right! I paired the meal with a glass of Chef Geoff's Rosé and really enjoyed the two together. For dessert I had the Cheesecake option and, man, it is good! We will definitely be back as my wife enjoyed her meal and the experience as well. You'll have to read her review for her experience as I don't want to steal her thunder. Lol! We will definitely be back because there are so many things on the full menu that we would love to try!

just came here to say i ordered for the first time won't be again sadly. i loved the taste but the pizza was just cheese and bread... i ordered extra sauce on the pizza FOR AN EXTRA COST MIGHT I ADD here's the photo decided to order again since the owners response was very kind i think they have a chef problem this is the second order no sauce again (got extra sauce)

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10 months ago

Very good and timely service by Emilson! Free parking in the building is also convenient.

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Geoff T.

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2 years ago

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11 months ago

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11 months ago

Just has a great dinner at Lia's. Food was delicious and our server, Sebastian, was the best! Can't wait to go back!

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Geoff T.

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1 year ago

WE LOVED our FOOD, fantastic excellent SERVICE! WE especially loved Morgan in the bar!!

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Geoff T.

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Morgan is delightful!! Service was excellent!! She was timely and checked in with to ensure that I was satisfied

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Geoff T.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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11 months ago

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Good quality food that is well prepared, friendly service, relaxing atmosphere. These are consistent with each visit.

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Excellent! Food was great (Mushroom ravioli) and great service provided by Marlana!

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Geoff T.

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Food was outstanding and service was even better. Sam was one of the best servers I've ever had. Everyone at our table of seven agreed!!!

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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1 year ago

quick and friendly service, as well as a beer deal. will definitely be back, thanks a lot

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2 years ago

Food wasn't anything special and I probably wouldn't go again. Service wasn't bad but food didn't wow me.

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Page 3 of 15

LIA'S Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - LIA'S

Did you change the recipe for the cauliflower steak since last august? It tasted different when I ate it today!

Yes, we did! We added herb risotto to the dish and made sure to change all of the ingredients to ensure that it is completely vegan. Our hope was that it would be a substantial, above average vegan option for our guests. I hope you enjoyed it! Any… Read more

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The Capital Grille

4.2(465 reviews)
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Still one of my favorite steakhouses in Bethesda/Chevy Chase area. My favorite appetizers are the…read moreclam chowder, lobster crab cakes, Wedge Salad and the Cold shellfish platter. For the Cold shellfish platter, they serve you shrimp cocktail, oysters, lobster claws and lobster tails. For steaks, my go to is the Kona crusted NY Strip and the Porcini-Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye. They are so good. Order them medium-rare. It's so tender and flavorful. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their steaks. You can also add the Kona crust or porcini rub to any of their steaks as well. I actually had their Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Miso Butter last night for dinner (4/24/2026). Let me tell you, this was one of the best fish I've had. The fish was so good - melt in your mouth goodness. The miso sauce complements this dish so well. For sides, the creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and Au Gratin Potatoes are my favorites. For dessert, the Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake is the one to get. They do have a kid's menu and for larger parties they do require a private dining room. They validate up to three hours in the parking garage, so parking is free. Service has always been top-notch. They make a great Old Fashioned.

Beautifully designed restaurant space with dark wood tones, warm lighting and oil paintings…read more Evokes a traditional American and steakhouse vibe. We were seated right away in a booth near the bar area. We were there to take advantage of a promotion, wagyu and wines event. One could order a Wagyu burger platter (3 different varieties) that came with sea salt fries. Cost would be $35 with the wine, $10 less without the wine. The burger would be paired with Orin Swift red wines (4 different kinds). The waitstaff also provided a happy hour as well as regular dinner menu for those who want options. We got the Wagyu. I ordered the bleu cheese and truffle burger with the Cabernet Sauvignon. We also added the mushroom truffle arancini appetizer from the happy hour menu. Minutes after ordering we got the complimentary bread basket. It was warm and covered by a white napkin. It included crisp flatbread, 2 pieces of onion focaccia, 2 poppyseed rolls and 2 pieces of brown bread with raisins. Bread was tender on the inside and slightly chewy on the outside, very fresh. Every type was delicious. The arancini were gold ball sized (5) and topped with Parmesan sitting on a thick rich sauce. The interior had creamy risotto and black mushroom. A great starter and not too heavy. The burgers were thick patties (cooked medium) with a perfect outside char. Inside was lightly pink and very juicy. It was topped by blue cheese, truffle, Bibb lettuce, tomato and pickles, topped by a poppyseed brioche bun. Was rich and yummy, everything went well together. Fries were crisp. My companion had the mushroom Swiss burger and enjoyed. Wine was smooth, fruity and had great depth, with no bitterness. It shone almost as much as the Wagyu. Service was excellent and gracious. Though the dining area got full it never got noisy. A great place for a romantic dinner or drinks with colleagues.

Photos
The Capital Grille - Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese – Made with freshly poached lobster and topped with a Grana Padano crust.

Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese – Made with freshly poached lobster and topped with a Grana Padano crust.

The Capital Grille - Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail served with housemade mustard sauce.

Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail served with housemade mustard sauce.

The Capital Grille - 14 oz Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre finished with our housemade Courvoisier Cream for a decadent finish.

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14 oz Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre finished with our housemade Courvoisier Cream for a decadent finish.

LIA'S - italian - Updated May 2026

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