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,

This place is the hidden gem that I wish I lived next to. The food is so consistent as my eggs,…read morescrapple, hash rows and biscuit came out hot and just melted in my mouth. And the service is always quick and super cordial and pleasant! Ambiance is always chill no matter how busy they get. I always love coming here for a quick breakfast bite. And they are one of the few places in the area that has scrapple on the menu! I highly recommend!

I absolutely love it here! Everyone who works at this café is incredibly sweet and thoughtful, and…read morethey make you feel like part of the family the moment you walk in. The whole place gives off those cozy small town diner vibes that make you want to linger over your meal and refill your coffee just one more time. My kids and I come here all the time. It's become our go to spot for breakfast or a relaxed weekend brunch. I always have to get the French toast (seriously, it's perfection), while my kids are obsessed with the waffle breakfast plate. And the fan favorite in our family is definitely the grilled turkey melt with fries ... crispy, melty, and just so comforting. The coffee is amazing too ... smooth, rich, and always fresh. It's the kind of place where you can unwind, chat, and just enjoy being together. Nothing fancy, just genuine warmth, good food, and great people. If you're looking for a chill, welcoming café that feels like home, this is it.

There are different business hours for the winter and summer!…read moreWe got the pit beef sandwich and 1/2 rack meal that comes with 2 small sides. We got the pit beef medium with barbecue sauce and horseradish. The meat was kind of bland in the middle so definitely grab some extra BBQ sauce. The 1/2 rack was moist and easily came off the bone. The mac and cheese kind of reminded me of KFC mac and cheese. The potato salad was slightly sweet. The employees were friendly. The food was good and the price seemed fair.

Been to Baltimore/MD many times in the past. Somehow, I've never had pit beef. During this visit,…read morewe're staying in Odenton and ended up seeing Expressway Pit Beef on the way to our accommodations. We figured we might as well stop and try it. You place your order at the takeout window and they have several tables with umbrellas up front. The order taker asked me what I wanted on it. Told him it was my first pit beef so I want the works. He suggested onions and mayo. Ok... Then he gave me the expectation that my beef would come medium-rare. Perfect! I also ordered a side of fried shrooms. When I got my sandwich, it looked pretty hefty - a good amount of beef for $10! But it looked more well done - far from medium rare. Took a couple of bites and was underwhelmed. It was bland and under seasoned. I had to go up to the condiment bar to mix myself up some horsey sauce - mayo + horseradish. It helped, but was still disappointed that the beef itself was so bland. Fries were good, shrooms were good. Just not sure that I'm enticed to come back again.

This is my local Five Guys and I can't even lie, I can't find a single negative critique. Every…read moresingle time I'm here, my food comes out in a timely fashion, my fries and burgers are always top tier, and the restaurant is always clean. Cashiers are polite, the soda machine is never flat, and the condiment station is always stocked and clean. 5 stars.

The best burgers around. Fresh patties, made to order! You can't get no better than that.read more