What an amazing lunch! I'll start by saying I have been to Olazzo before, but today's lunch was special. I was introducing my girlfriend and my mom to each other. The host was so friendly and helped get us seated in a booth, and very shortly after seating we were greeted by our server Josh. Josh was very polite, and I felt good vibes before the food ever hit the table. He recommended their special, a trout on pasta dish. The entree had a very generous portion of fish, and our server made sure to drop off everything we needed to accompany our food, extra cheese, water refills, he was attentive and took great care of us. Next time I dine at Olazzo, I'm going to be looking for Josh! read more

Sunday February 15th 4:00pm I normally don't include personal feelings when reviewing. This is an exception. We were in the area and decided to try this spot. Hostess, gentleman who seated us, and our server were wonderful. The food wasn't the best ever but it was good. We decided to give it a shot despite low customer ratings. We are Black Americans. When we walked in I picked up on a negative vibe but dismissed it. When you walk into a small establishment and it get's quiet or you get the looks turn and no one speaks turn around and leave. There were a few people at the bar chatting up staff (regulars). As we walked by the bar headed to the table I glanced over to the what clearly was the person in charge. I smiled no response. We eat, I head to the ladies restroom. I passed the same gentleman who, again looked directly at me, I smiled and he turned his head. I passed by him on the way back to the table. I specifically looked him the face and smiled. He looked at me and again turned his head blatantly. We are aware of prejudice so I didn't let him get under my skin. I smile and speak to anyone and am happy to do so whether it is reciprocated. It takes negative energy to be mean spirited. Willing to take our money but refuse to acknowledge us as paying customers. We spent quite a bit for two people. I will not recommend this place if it was the last Italian restaurant. To the owners- I could not tell if you were the person I encountered today or a manager. Either way- Just Wow. read more

I've been coming to Olazzo for a long time and it's truly one of my go-to spots. I love the shrimp pesto, and their drinks are always great. The atmosphere and consistency are big reasons I keep coming back. That said, my most recent takeout order was disappointing. I ordered the chicken Alfredo to go, and unfortunately the quality of the chicken just wasn't good. It was very chewy and had a strange texture and shape that made it hard to enjoy. I actually couldn't eat it. I'm hoping this was just an off night because I've had so many great experiences here. I'll definitely be back for my usual favorites, but wanted to share the feedback in case it helps with quality control. read more

Tried this place out on Mother's Day. I ordered two Alfredo's, Lasagna and a side Caesar via Uber Eats. The Alfredo's were dry and flavorless and the lasagna was beautiful on the outside but had over cooked noodles, little to no beef in it and drops of sauce. This was an embarrassment to bring over to my families house. I spent $80 on the order and I really should've disputed it with uber. The food sucked. That's what I get for giving a new place a try especially using Uber Eats, restaurants ALWAYS give you the worst food when you order to go. It's no way I paid $17 for noodles and two drops of sauce. I had to add my own sauce and seasoning to atleast try to eat the lasagna. I did all of that and STILL trashed it. The noodles were MUSH. The food was pitiful. Despite the reviews I decided to give this place a try and I now see why customers said the things they've said. read more

I went to Olazzo last night for take out and we ordered the mozzarella garlic bread, lasagna bolognese, and the crab and shrimp pasta. Everything was flavorful and it was ready quite quickly. The food was nice and hot when I picked it up. I was surprised how yummy everything was. We paid a little over $70 which I think is a bit much for Italian but it's on par for the area. I would definitely comeback. read more

Olazzo - Lasagna Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

The chicken Milanese here is delicious. The pesto pasta is alright. On the pricier side but one of the better Italian restaurants I've been to read more

Ordered takeout for lunch the other day and thoroughly enjoyed the Shrimp Pesto pasta. The dish exceeded expectations for takeout in all the right ways. The pesto sauce is homemade, was very tasty, and spot-on flavor-wise - it was the perfect level of saltiness and sauciness, and each bite was well thought out and consistent. The penne pasta was cooked perfectly al dente with just the right amount of firmness. The dish came with 5 decently sized shrimp, which were tender and well-integrated into the dish, complementing the pesto. Because there isn't a separate lunch menu, the portion comes as a full dinner size, I ended up saving half and having it later for dinner. Even after reheating, the pasta held its firm texture and did not become soft or mushy despite sitting in the pesto sauce for hours between lunch and dinner. Altogether, this takeout experience makes me want to dine in. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal from first bite to last. read more

Olazzo - Shrimp Pesto (subbed linguine for penne) - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Olazzo is a local favorite, known for its homey atmosphere. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, which I've actually come to appreciate over the years; while many of the other popular restaurants in the area get booked out quickly on the weekends, Olazzo remains a reliable option whenever I'm craving pasta. The chicken cardinale has been my go-to dish for years. It never disappoints. Other crowd favorites include the shrimp pesto, shrimp & crab rosé, calamari and Greek salad. Note: you can swap out the pasta with your preferred type--just ask! read more

Been here a few times and have really enjoyed it each time. I believe the first time I got the Sausage and Peppers. Very tasty and made me want to keep coming back. This last time I shared the Seafood Mediterranean special, the Ravioli Rose, and the Wild Mushroom Gnocchi. The Seafood Mediterranean was awesome and something I would get every time I'm here if it's available. The ravioli was delicious but very rich. The gnocchi was good, but I will try the bolognese version next time. Service is always very friendly here and I like the chill vibe. Tons of open tables at 5:30 when I showed up on a Friday night, but it was hopping when we left. read more

After picking a teen up from camp at Imagination Stage, we walked here for dinner. We were told the wait would be about 20 minutes, but in less time than that we were seated. I had the fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken and it was excellent. The serving was enough for 2 meals, and the leftovers were just as good the next day. Great place! read more

Olazzo - Fettucine Alfredo w/ Grilled Chicken - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I ordered the prosciutto-wrapped dates for an appetizer and chicken parmigiana with pasta for the main. Overall the presentation was very nice and the service was great. The dates had some nice flavor, nothing too exciting. The chicken parm was fairly flavorless, and as it was pounded quite thin, wasn't a very filling meal. Not bad, but nothing special and missing any real significant flavor of any kind--even the cheese wasn't exciting. The pasta, apparently not made in house, tasted as good as anything you could buy in the supermarket and make at home. Very nice ambiance, service and presentation. Mediocre food. read more

Service was slow. Food was just ok. Drinks were fine. Portions were generous. May be a problem if you have kids because most of the seating is bar height. read more

See all

Had a good lunch here. Nice pasta dishes. We were sitting outside in the sun on the sidewalk. Nice for people watching. We will come back for dinner. read more

Olazzo - Penne with pesto (Kids Portion) - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

All around, a solid italian restaurant in Bethesda, friendly staff and attentive. Pretty good location with plenty of parking nearby. The patio sitting can be a bit loud, so for the best atmosphere, I would go inside next time Overall the food was great, the ravioli was well made and perfectly cooked and the arancini was delicious. We also ordered the Chicken Cardinalle with the milanese, and the chicken was pretty dry and soggy, which was a shame. Pasta was cooked perfectly, though. All around, everything was tasty, and we will be coming back. read more

See all

The place was quiet when we arrived around 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon. By the time we left, around 5:45 or so, it was definitely bustling. People would be well advised to make a reservation for any meal eaten at a more normal hour. My crab and shrimp rose pasta was tasty (a bit salty) and my partner enjoyed his pasta entree as well. The Italian bread that they bring warm to the table was delicious. Our server was reasonably attentive and offered decent (not excellent but perfectly acceptable) service. read more

This place is a solid 4 stars. We got the lasagna and mushroom gnocchi and both were very good. The bread served before our meals was tasty as well but something is up with the olive oil. I noticed someone in another review mentioning it and paid it no mind. Don't make that mistake a pass. It honestly tastes rancid. Otherwise a very lovely restaurant with fantastic service. read more

Olazzo management if you're reading this: WHY did you change the fettuccine alfredo recipe????? The old recipe was one of my favorite dishes in the area. I went to Olazzo for my birthday dinner last year! And then I ordered it this week and it was all wrong. The OG version was American-style (heavy, creamy) and the one I had yesterday was very authentic Italian (no cream, filled with big grains of parmesan). I guess I understand trying for authenticity but! I miss the old version. Maybe it was a one-off change...... I can hope. read more

This was a rustic looking spot with outdoor seating. The menu had mostly pasta options along with a few salads and one fish dish. The service was okay while the food came out very quickly. They start the meal off with some ciabatta bread. This was served with an oil and vinegar combination. The bread came out warm and the oil/vinegar combination was different, but pleasant. For an entrée, I went with the ravioli rose ($15) with two sausage links ($8). There were five or six large homemade raviolis with multiple cheeses present in a tomato-cream sauce. The ravioli was great as it was light with plenty of cheese filing. I believe it was definitely fresh just based on the texture. The sauce was simple and done right while the sausage was cooked to my liking with plenty of flavor. Will I go back? Definitely. read more

Olazzo - Ravioli Rose with Sausage Links - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I thought I had updated this long ago shortly after I posted the review, but the Manager saw the original negroni I was served and brought me a brand new one that was more befitting the price tag. Tonight I ordered a negroni again, and I am very satisfied with the serving I received. In terms of ambiance, this place is fantastic - homey and welcoming, and on a beautiful fall evening, a great place to dine outside. read more

See all

This place is always so yummy. We have never ordered a pasta we don't like. Great vibes for sure!

Cozy atmosphere and bread was very good. Food came out fast. The gnocchi was lukewarm and salty. Salad did not come dressed with oil and balsamic like I had requested. Did not get silverware until I asked. I know this is a Bethesda institution but I give it a meh across the board. read more

Can't speak to the service ordered online. The chicken parm was fine but the chicken cardinale is out of this world! 4/5 read more

this charming cozy Italian restaurant is our favorite place to eat in Bethesda. The food is delicious and served in large portions. The price is reasonable and the service is great. Manager Evan runs a great operation and he is always on the floor and accessible. Five Stars every time. read more

We got 4 orders to go.Everyones food was good except the Gnocchi with beef ragu. Portion was small and lacking great flavor.Was not worth $20.00 read more

Been here a few times and have always enjoyed the food and service :) My friend and I sat in a cozy booth by the bar. It was great that we came just before happy hour eneded. Our signature cocktails were $2 off as well as our bruschetta appetizer. I had the special which was delicious. Picture blackened chicken with butternut squash ravioli with tomatoes and spinach.. can you picture it? No. Don't worry, check out the pic ;) My friend had the pasta primavera which she enjoyed. My friend got the tiramisu and she didn't leave any leftovers! Our drinks were lovely, I had the Brooklyn and my friend got the espresso martini. I'll be back! read more

See all

They took very good care of me. I stayed for the brunch and all of the staff were incredibly kind and warm. I am not sure I remember all of their names, but I stayed for a few hours and they treated me very kindly and all the drinks were delicious. The food was great and I loved the ambiance it was incredibly comfortable and I felt very welcome. read more

See all

Cute spot in Bethesda with nice servers and good ambiance. The eggs Benedict that I got was good but not anything too special. I'd go back and try it again but get non-brunch food! read more

Olazzo - Eggs Benedict (their Italian version) - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Went with my family over Labor Day weekend as I was starving for Italian I could trust. I've been to the old Silver Spring and Bethesda location multiple times and it was always solid. Unfortunately, this chain is no longer what it used to be and it's a shame. For starters, my mocktail didn't even have a zero proof sprit and they had the nerve to charge $14.. it was a sour start to an unsavory meal. I ordered an app, arancini and it had no rice in it, it was just a ball of cheese ..fyi the added beef bolognese (which I never got) is just the dipping sauce, it's not inside if you were wondering. Anyway, the disappointment continued once I got my lasagna which had over cooked pasta that made it completely inedible. Service was painfully slow and dismissive as well..I wanted to order the seafood rose pasta instead but the waitress took way too long to ask how the food was. I left hungry. All in all would NOT recommend. read more

A delicious, no-frills restaurant in Bethesda! While the other Italian restaurants in this area are certainly well known, this unassuming restaurant is great! We loved our pasta and ravioli entrees. The ravioli was swimming in a delicious sauce, and the pasta had a wonderful smokiness from the chicken. Service was prompt, and the outdoor seating was nice--although this is not always the best area to be outside in... All in all, a great experience! read more

Olazzo - Chicken Cardinale - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Visiting my daughter who lives around corner from Olazzo. Hot day so we dined inside. Place was busy, but not full on a Saturday night around 7 pm. Started w done calamari and arancini meatballs. Both were excellent, but the marinara sauce was kind if cold. Daughter had lasagna w spicy ground beef. Wife had a goat cheese and walnut salad, but swapped the goat cheese for mozzarella and I had linguini with clams in white sauce. Salad was excellent. Lasagna looked and was a bit dry. Could have used more sauce after oven. Great service. read more

See all

Delish, got it to go. Highly recommend the chicken penne rose soooooooo freaking delish

Super quick to seat a large group of us! I got the gnocchi bolognese and it was amazing. Free bread and oil which was great! Some great wine choice as well. read more

I've been coming to this family owned business for years now and they never let me down. If you like Italian food and are in the Silver Spring or Bethesda area I would highly recommend, both locations are phenomenal. My favorite dish to get is the sausage and peppers, but you can't go wrong with anything. They have great drinks too! read more

See all

Several girlfriends and I met up for dinner a couple of weeks ago. They had the windows open but very little ventilation / fans and was uncomfortably warm. We started with calamari - it was good, hot and a large portion. I probably would try and different appetizer next time though. I had the fettuccini Alfredo with chicken Milanese, which was delicious. Tiramisu was traditional and excellent, and would come here just for the tiramisu (got it to go, so no picture) read more

See all

Food came out fast and hot. Tony our server was great. Would definitely back for the warm ambiance, lovely wine and the food!

Crab pasta and bread was good. Also had the grilled chicken Alfredo and sausage and Peppers penne. No complaints! Again, the crab pasta was delicious! Ordered through a delivery service. My complaint with this is that only one dish has suran wrap around the container. For food delivery, every container needs to be sealed with plastic wrap to help avoid possible tampering. read more

We've eaten there three times so far, ordering something different each time, and each time it has been excellent. The service is very good, and it's a nice and cozy atmosphere. read more

Olazzo is a nice little Italian restaurant right in the heart of Bethesda. With free parking garage and the street blocked off it easily accessible. The food was great as well. Although I prefer string spaghetti pasta opposed to penne the dish still tasted great. read more

Olazzo - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Kind of a crazy hectic place but fun and the food is great. Terrific new independent bookstore right across the street to visit while waiting because they don't take reservations and you definitely won't get seated right away. read more

My friend and I came here for dinner on a Tuesday. Since we got there around 4 PM, they were offering $2 off their wines, so I got a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon paired with the Penne Alla Checca. While it was pouring rain outside, there were some guests in the restaurant. They were also taking orders over the phone as well. We were able go be seated right away and also received fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. While the server initially got my order placed wrong, they were quick to correct it and I received the Penne Alla Checca which was topped with roma tomatoes, fresh basil and olive oil with hints of garlic and salt. While a simple dish, it was tasty and a nice restaurant to get a casual bite. The atmosphere was cozy and I had a nice time catching up with my friend! read more

Olazzo - Penna Pasta Alla Checca - Italian Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland