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,

If I'm in the area i would definitely go again. Place is no frills, but clean. The pizza was…read moregreasy, but the flavors were great. I called and placed an order and while the owner wasn't the friendliest on the phone (I may have caught him at a bad time), his wife's kind smile made up for it when I arrived to pick up my order. Everything was fresh, and piping hot when I arrived.

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

I came into the DC area two weeks ago and will be here for the next 11 months. This restaurant…read morewas recommended to me by a colleague so I decided to make the walk from where I am currently staying. Let me start by saying that the atmosphere in this restaurant is one that is so welcoming the minute you arrive. I approached the hostess stand to inquire if there was bar seating available to which the polite hostesses provided a gentle hand gesture and oral direction to the bar. While walking to the bar area, I encountered what I presume to have been a server who was likely standing watch from a distance over his service area, who apologized as our paths met. (There was no reason to apologize, very polite nonetheless) I found a seat at the bar and was greeted by Paul. Paul was an exceptionally pleasant and answered all my immediate questions while preparing my initial cocktail during happy hour. We discussed the menu and he provided great insight which helped finalize my decision for the evening . In the meantime, bar manager Laura stopped by to ensure that I was taken care of to which I informed her that Paul and I spoke and he is making a beverage for me. For the food...the Caesar Salad is #1. I am a food snob and this salad HITS!! While enjoying my salad I inquired about their cast bourbon selection. The staff was very knowledgeable and provided a price list to coincide with their higher end selections. My 40 layer lasagna arrived some time in the midst of the conversation where Paul extended a courtesy sampling of a wine that he recommended that pairs nicely with my meal. It was perfect. I closed out my meal with an espresso type martini, at which time Paul and Laura further extended and offered me a sampling of one of the bourbons I was looking at. I cannot say enough about this establishment. I can't wait to go back and have already recommended via phone conversations to three people and I just left. The evening and encounter was more than just pleasantries with a customer, rather I felt as if I was the only one. If the owner or manager is reading this, Paul and Laura are 10+ and I will be back. Thank you so much for the best meal I have had in DC over the last 2 weeks. Can't wait to do it again!!!

L'Ardente was incredible! The 40-layer lasagna was unforgettable, and every dish we tried was…read morebeautifully prepared. A must-visit in DC.

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.

This is definitely a hidden jam. We went here to celebrate Mother's Day, and the food was very…read moredelicious. We ordered the mussels in the wine sauce and the Parmesan fries as an appetizer. I also had a delicious martini. We sat in the bar area and the ambience is very nice. The decor of the restaurant put you in the mindset of an Italian café. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and always came around to check on us and make sure we were OK.

On my way to the grocery, didn't want to do that hungry. Terrapin Station, where I had planned to…read morehave a burger, was still "closed for renovation" but I didn't see any permits in the window. Probably dead as a dinosaur. So I went next door. I stupidly didn't read my own previous review. Disclaimer first: I have been to Italy several times, and am a big fan of Lidia and Mary Ann on PBS. Garlic toast was dry and tough, Texas toast rather than pan francese. The dipping sauce was decent, evoo and cheese with some seasoning. Salad was nice and fresh, with a variety of veggies. Chicken parm was the worst I've ever had, dry, tough, no crunch to the outside, no slice of prosciutto. I have had better frozen. After dousing it with table cheese and the remaining bread dip, I was able to choke it down. It was served on top of spaghetti. In real Italian cucina, pasts is a separate course. Cooked through, not al dente, Very simple tomato sauce. Very cordial service, and I did leave full enough to avoid temptation at Lidl. But that food wasn't even good italian-american much less real italian. Meh. Chin flick.

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.

A little taste of Italy right in the heart of Washington, DC…read more RPM Italian was absolutely delicious! From the fresh, authentic Italian cuisine to the beautiful outdoor seating, every detail made for a wonderful dining experience. The pasta was incredible, the service was exceptional, and the atmosphere was perfect for enjoying a summer evening in the city. If you're visiting DC and looking for a memorable meal, RPM Italian is a must-visit. We will definitely be back on our next trip to our nation's capital! #RPMItalian #WashingtonDC #ItalianFood #DCDining #FoodieFinds #TravelEats #RealtorsOnTheRoad

After a long few days at a conference, I set up a reservation and headed to RPM Italian, which was…read morejust around the corner from our hotel. We wanted to start out with the bread with the honey whipped ricotta, but some large party was rude and hogged it all for themselves (insert sad face here) However! We ended up getting the Truffled Garlic Bread instead, and, y'all..... I've thought about this bread several times since. It was perfection. It wasn't too crunchy, but crunchy enough, perfectly chewy, and the butter on it was perfectly toasted. My mouth is watering as I relive the experience. Now, keep in mind I had been on the whole 30 and hadn't had bread in over 30 days, but am so glad this is how I broke my break and carbs fast. Two folks got the Mafaldine Cacio e Pepe and really enjoyed it. After some hemming and hawing, I settled on the Rigatoni alla Vodka. It was alright... I mean, it was good enough that I finished the WHOLE plate (again... no pasta for 30 days), but I found the sauce to be missing flavor and depth as it just tasted like a simple creamy tomato sauce that had little seasoning. Would I go back? Yep... even if only for the bread, but I would definitely try a different main course.

Its Sunday, and the place has no lines waiting . That was unusual but the manager told me call ins…read morenow fill in a lot now. I got pasta but after the world famous sausage soup and the bread and dipping sauce with it l was done. So took it home, had it the next day it was still good. Service was excellent, the restaurant was clean and inviting. Always one of my goto spot for chain Italian Food. Yea l prefer the mom and pop places but they are in short supply in this county 4/5

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.