Looked for a good restaurant in Front Royal on the way to Davis and this spot came up. It was so small that you could drive right past it before you realized it. But:::Wow. What a great meal. Caprese, minestrone, mussels, homemade pasta, and finished with an affogato. Fantastic little restaurant. Now a must-do en route to Davis/Timberline/Dolly Sods. read more

We were visiting from outside of town. Immediately when we entered the restaurant we received condescending looks from the guests and wait staff because we were not dressed up, but there was no dress code posted at the restaurant. There was no warm welcome and we wait several minutes to even be serviced. Overall the food for the price we paid was abysmal. The lasagna looked grotesque with pasta slices slapped with ground beef and crushed tomatoes from a can with no salt, no garlic and no taste. The pizza I had ordered the crust wasnt even cooked all the way through. I ordered the beet salad and it was pathetic looking for $12. Our waitress seemed preoccupied with other tables and it seemed we were given poor service because we weren't locals or werent dressed in our Sunday best.. I would not recommend this place due to poor service and low quality food. read more

Delightful dinner tonight! One that took us back to Italy! We drive down this way often, and lately pit of the corner of my eye, I've seen couples sharing meals in a nice hole in the wall restaurant. Today, I finally decided we had to try it out. So so glad we did because we were really impressed. The price is right, the portions are plentiful, and the quality was great. We started with some wine and Italian beer! We had the exact same brand in Venice. We ordered the mussel appetizer and it paired delightfully with my Sauvignon blanc. Our entrees were perfect. The vodka pasta was gone almost as fast as it hit the table and my husband loved his pizza. He asked for the burrata on top, just like we had it in Rome. The dessert was delish and the affogato was splendid! I cannot wait to return! read more

See all

Magnificent Italian food in Front Royal! With approximately 30 minutes to closing time we got to Osteria Maria and we greeted with smiles and pleasantly seated by a lovely and hospitable waitress. The dining area is very rustic and old world Italian like nonna's apartment in Brooklyn NY. The food is outstanding! I had the bucatini with guanciale and I couldn't stop eating! The fresh pasta is phenomenal and coupled with the crispy bread it was just fantastic. My girlfriend had the fettuccini in mushroom cream sauce and I tried it and found that dish so flavorful I wanted to eat her dinner too. We stumbled on this place rolling in late and were treated like family. This one is a must visit in Front Royal. read more

Osteria Maria - Bucatini with guanciale - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

See all

10/10 experience here. The owners mother greeted us at bar, introducing herself. We chopped it up over 2 hours with her and other bar guests. Food came out amazing. Drinks flowed. Informal and cozy, with small authentic touches everywhere read more

See all

I don't know where Allison B. was dining at in early July but it couldn't have been this place. Osteria Maria is exquisite in their service and food prep. This place is simply amazing! read more

Good food, with nice and friendly staff. Has an authentic Italian feel. Had Chicken Parm, Seafood linguine, and pasta alla vodka-esque dish. read more

Osteria Maria - Mussels - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

We came here early on a Saturday evening, driving up from Sperryville. The drive itself is a treat, winding through the lush Virginia countryside, with the Blue Ridge Mountains providing a scenic backdrop to the west. You almost expect JEB Stuart and the boys to come riding over the ridge any minute. One of the most beautiful places on earth. Arriving at the restaurant, we were struck by its modest size and authentic appearance. The interior is covered in maps and scenes of Italy--attractice and informative. We were greeted immediately and seated promptly by servers who seemed genuinely happy we were there. Not sure why that is surprising these days..... We ordered a bottle of italian wine, which we loved--check out the pictures for the label. We split 2 appetizers between the four of us--the stuffed mushroom caps and the meatballs. Both delicious. Then we split 2 caprese salads between us and each had just the right amount. For mains, we tried the cacio e pepe, lasagna, pappardelle al ragu and branzino. All were very very good. The thing that really stood out to me was all the food seemed lovingly prepared. It felt like the chefs truly cared that the food looked and tasted fantastic. It was obvious they had put great care into their work and it translated into artistic dishes with great flavor. I cannot remember the last time this much culinary artistry came through to me as a diner. If you don't go, you will be missing a wonderful experience. read more

Osteria Maria - A white wine with didtinctive character - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

We have been to Osteria Maria several times, but hadn't been there for a couple of years. We were driving through Front Royal at dinner time and decided to stop at Osteria Maria. The food and service were excellent as always. Can't wait to go back. Highly recommended! read more

I had octopus appetizer, arugula salad and Supertuscan wine. Food was 3/5- octopus was Ok and focaccia bread was dry and tasteless. Service was 2/5- for no water refill, no balsamic/olive oil to dip the bread, which it desperately needed and no offer of another glass of wine. read more

Osteria Maria - Octopus appetizer and focaccia bread - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Excellent food that you can tell is prepared for you! Friendly service and an easy location to access. Family of 4, and all enjoyed! Splurge for a dessert to share and cap it off right. read more

We came here for a retirement party. It's almost an hour and a half from DC, so it had to be special to get a good rating. This is totally authentic Italian. The food was just amazing. From the prosciutto, the meatballs, the pasta, the rockfish, and the chicken was just amazing. The desert was also spectacular (have no idea what it's called but just great). The service was great as this is a family so mom was managing the bar, son was the chef and granddaughter was the waitress. As we were at a party with a prefix menu I could not see the full menu, but I do not suspect they do much in terms of gluten-free. The decor is okay. So the story here is really all about the food. But if you are gluten-free, you may want to call and check what options they may have. read more

Osteria Maria - a group of people in a restaurant - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Sweet little place, reservations recommended. Good menu, reasonable service and okay pricing. Having visited a number of times, the Italian dishes are not as consistent as we would hope. Lasagna had spots of heavy nutmeg that made it inedible, Casio de Pepe was tasteless and pizza oven down. Caesar salad changed last month with different cheese and the dressing poured on top rather than tossed in the kitchen. We want to love this place but are accustomed much better service and oversight in the kitchen. It's just not living up to its price point. We do recommend you try it, you may feel differently about this Front Royal spot. read more

First off - the food is amazing. No complaints there at all. Gorgeous Italian food that I was very happy to eat. But the service was perfunctory at best. We (4) arrived when they opened but were told, with an empty restaurant, that every table was booked. By the time we left, several tables still hadn't been sat. We happily accepted the offered bar seats. The servers seemed put out by our presence there. Food was delivered promptly but without any friendliness. Asking for anything (like a water refill) felt like a grand inconvenience. I'd give it another chance but this might be better as a take-out spot. Particularly with the price of the menu, I don't want to be treated as an inconvenience. read more

I always come here when I am in town to hike in Shenandoah, so this review is a bit overdue. As a native NYer and seasoned traveler who now lives in the DC area, I have been missing pizza, and am also very picky when it comes to my favorite food. While it is not a Napoli pizza, Osteria Maria gets it pretty close. They understand the crust. I appreciate this place. It is a slice of an ever shrinking Italian American landscape. read more

Osteria Maria - Margherita Pizza - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

So so good!! Went later (8 pm) this past Saturday night and there was a nice buzz in the restaurant, but no big wait! We tried several appetizers, but the mussels were my favorite -- especially soaking up the white white wine sauce with the focaccia when all of the mussels were gone. I had the bucatini all'amatriciana - so good! A nice spicy oil tomato sauce atop the homemade pasta - amazing. We finished with a salted caramel gelato that was Great atmosphere, beautiful locally harvested/made wood tables, delicious food with a huge focus on authentic Italian ingredients and hand making in house - I will be back! read more

so I've been to this establishment 3 times now and they do not disappoint. absolutely phenomenal food, service, and atmosphere. small quaint place. and fresh authentic Italian food made to order. Soo sooo yummy. I've had the branzino (sea bass) on my first trip just had something I cannot pronounce, it was linguine pescatore. holy cow was that good. pasta in a light tomato sauce, with mussels, shrimp. scallops. and octopus. crazy good. the octopus appetizer with the stupid good taters is just such a teaser to semi prepare you for a wonderful Italian experience. this place is true Italian. from the food. the wine. the desserts. everything. can't wait to go back. best thing is they're a local, small business and they care. wonderful restaurant. read more

Very lovely aesthetic, delicious food, very polite servers, and a cool, stylistic menu. 5/5 for sure.

The evening started out good. It was crowded and we could not find parking so they suggested we park up front by the door. I was pleased with the offer. The wine and beer were good. our order was taken, we received bread & oil and placed our food order. We had just finished our appetizers when our meal came out (appetizer dishes had not been cleared). The Branzino was good, the pizza lacked flavor and skimpy on toppings. Our server never came back to the table after we were served our appetizers! We had to flag her down to get a box and the check! The server was visiting other tables 4-5 times but NO ONE came to our table to ask how everything was or if we needed anything. We were completely ignored after we got our appetizers (Another person brought out our dinner and took away the appetizer plates) That was the last we had anyone come to our table. There were other people working and talking to guests but we were Ignored! We were Very disappointed and we will not be dining there again. read more

The service is great, the atmosphere is great, the food is very good, and the prices are high. Now I don't mind paying allot of money for a good meal, but this resteraunt has one major problem; the portions are so small they leave you feeling zipped and hungry when you leave. The business model here is structured perfectly, but the portions are way to " SMALL " !!!!. It's to bad...... read more

Their ricotta gnocchi is amazing! It is so light and delicate, but still filling. Speaking of delicate: their tiramisu is unique. The mascarpone is whipped almost to a meringue, and that helps avoid using too much cake or sugar. Ingenious. read more

A family-owned restaurant where every dish is incredibly fresh and made with care. The best lasagna I ever had!! This place is a true hidden gem. And if you're lucky enough to have Elizabeth as your server, then you're going to be in great hands because she's absolutely wonderful! read more

This is a surprising gem. Service is prompt with delicious fresh focaccia bread to start. The food is carefully prepared with quality ingredients and very tasty and fresh. Some homemade pasta as well as specials. Definitely try the Papparadelle with meat sauce. Ambiance is old world. It is a pleasant and delicious lunch or dinner. read more

Everything was so amazing! This was my first time here and was definitely a 10/10 experience. It was very authentic Italian food so my friends and I had a lot of questions, the waitresses were very patient with us. The food was absolutely amazing. Definitely will be returning!! Like just look at how delicious that looks. read more

Osteria Maria - Vodka Sauce Special. - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Family owned and operated with attention to food sources and preparation techniques. The owner/chef has a culinary history rooted 20 miles away in Rappahannock county. The Inn at Little Washington VA graduates three star chefs including the Oseteria's. A small dining room allows the staff to give attention to guests without being intrusive nor absent. read more

What an amazing find during our stay in Front Royal. Food was terrific! Homemade gnocchi and the pizza may have been the best I've ever had. Thin ish crust light sauce and great toppings. Reservations suggested as it is a local Favorite! read more

Cute little place where a lot of locals go! Service can be quite slow but that's ok. Tried the Caesar salad which was simple and okay and the mussels which were yummy and perfectly garlicky. Also shared the mushroom and cream pasta - absolutely delicious and sooo filling! Perfect for a chilly night. I loved the rich flavor of the sauce mixed with the mushrooms. Also tried the chicken parm which was really crunchy and crispy and still juicy in the inside. Excellent dish and the only thing I would change is adding more pasta with this dish! read more

Such an unexpected gem in Front Royal! Hands down the best meal of our trip and one of the better Italian meals I've had in recent years. Hoping this small biz has all the success and is around for many years to come read more

Had gnocchi that was sublime - little clouds in superb red sauce. Also had cacio e pepe that was lovely. Food took a while, but absolutely worth it. read more

Delicious, Excellent food and service. Hope to come here again as we have 2 hours drive. Prices are reasonable. Ambience and decos are beautiful as well as nice Italian music. read more

See all

Our friends keep raving about this place, so we came in for an early dinner. Unfortunately, we don't see what all the hype is about. The bread was really good, but all of our main dishes were just okay. The seafood pasta had a very thin sauce that didn't stay on the pasta. The lasagna wasn't flavorful. The pappardelle was average. The service was very friendly. But the wait was super super long even though it wasn't very busy, and the server didn't say anything about it. We decided to skip dessert because we didn't have the patience to wait any longer. We might give it another shot but our expectations are low. read more

Took hiking trip to Shenandoah and I was starving after my day was done. I found this place very quickly next to the exit and let me tell you what a gem. The place itself is a small boutique restaurant but it has a nice atmosphere. All of the employees were very kind and helpful. However, the most important thing was the food. 10/10 everything from food to drinks to the bread they give. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for good Italian food. Thank you! read more

Amazing! Most authentic pasta I've ever had. Make sure you try the Vodka pasta. The service is attentive and the interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting. read more

Got a last minute reservation on a trip through the area from New York. The food was exceptional. The sea bass (Branzino) was broiled to perfection. The Caprese salad fresh and lightly dressed, and the double chocolate gelato was heavenly. But, great food doesn't make for a great dining experience without exceptional service. Our server, Elizabeth, provided exactly the quality of service that makes a meal memorable. She was attentive without being intrusive, was delightfully charming and pleasant, and never seemed hurried, though the very busy. Osteria Maria provided the great combination of great food and excellent service. I would go out of my way to dine there again. read more

The food was tasty! A bit overpriced for what we ordered. We had two orders of Chicken parm with side of pasta. Given that there were no veggies, we expected a little more pasta. Also while chicken cutlets were hot, pasta was just warm. We requested extra sauce as pasta portions were a little light. Our teenage grandson order meatballs and he enjoyed them. He usually orders whatever is in cream sauce but the menu is not extensive. The environment was very cozy and comfortable. We were seated at the bar as we didn't make reservations. The bar was comfortable. They provided warm bread and light olive oil to start. read more

Osteria Maria - Meatballs in pasta - Wine Bars Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

See all

We had an amazing experience!! Pasta is homemade and we had the fettuccine which was fantastic. Service was amazing too! We will be back.

It's always a pleasure to find an excellent restaurant but particularly in a small town. Service was attentive and the food was on point. Grilled octopus and branzino were both 5/5. Pizza was 4.5/5 my only small deduction being the crust could have been a touch crisper. Would definitely go back - check it out you won't be disappointed. read more

Wonderful food, homemade, they have a brick oven for homemade pizza, lasagna was wonderful, and the meatballs are almost as good as mine definitely finer dinning then a local pizzeria. The owners are wonderful stuart's of the community. A new business that did not hesitate to support Warren County Habitat for Humanity both years. read more

Oh my goodness this restaurant is amazing. I am drooling just thinking about the mushroom pasta. Did I mention the chef used to work in a 3 Michelin star restaurant? The food clearly speaks to this experience. Plus the service was *chefs kiss* In fact, everything was so good we are bringing our parents and grandparents back later this week to experience the amazingness that is the restaurant. Worth coming when you're here and worth coming even if it's out of the way! read more

What a great find while hiking around the area. I grew up with homemade Italian food and am a bit picky...we had the arugula salad, homemade gnocchi and margarita pizza. All molto bene! read more