Recently I was planning my offices' holiday outing for 2019. I'd previously visited under the former name (Ciao Bella) but, thought why not go back?! They did not fail to disappointed again. Deb graciously assisted us each step of the way in locking down our location and other logistics. Together we were able to come up with a 25.00 per person pre-fixe menu for my group of 13. While here we dined on Garlic Wine Pasta with our choice of chicken or shrimp protein, side salad and fresh bread with garlic olive oil dipping. I'd say it was a success and delicious because everyone cleaned their plates. If you are every looking to host a lunch/dinner for your family or job, you should definitely consider Lew Gambino's. Ps. The sports memorabilia and other updates work for the new look! read more

Lew Gambino's - Garlic Wine Pasta with Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'm a regular Groupon visitor here. Service is cheery, prompt, and professional. The restaurant seems set for a more formal, fancy meal, so they advertise that causal attire is welcome. The carbonara was great after some ground pepper and 2 spoonfuls of Parmesan for the saltiness and kick. The cream sauce was originally bland, but it became DELICIOUS after the Parmesan and pepper. I subbed out the original capellini for angel hair, which made the dish much more enjoyable, but made the mushrooms seem a tad large. In the past, I've also liked the gnocchi, which also leans towards the simple side. Note: if you order ravioli, you get about 5 large squares. They are large ravioli, not small ones. read more

Lew Gambino's - "Capellini carbonara" but with angel hair subbed in. Highly recommend. - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I have been here twice and both times, the service was great. To be honest, I was a little nervous to come here because their ratings are not that impressive, but I was pleasantly surprised with my experience (mainly due to the good service) and decided to come back. The restaurant itself is bigger than most in Little Italy, making it a good place to gather with friends/family. The meal started off with some complimentary bread, which was nice and soft and perfectly crunchy on the edges. Our table also split an order of calamari; it was nice and crispy, served with delicious marinara sauce. I ordered the eggplant parm, which comes with a bowl of pasta with marinara sauce, and I tried a bite of my sister's chicken parm. Both were yummy, but I think I actually prefer the eggplant to the chicken, in terms of flavor. I also took a bite of my friend's chicken fettucine alfredo, which in my opinion was pretty bland; wouldn't really recommend this dish. Overall, we still had a great time and had a wonderful experience here! read more

Lew Gambino's - Eggplant Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The shrimp oregano was disappointing and actually pretty disgusting. All you taste is oregano throughout the whole dish the shrimp got lost in the overbearing almost raw flavor. I swapped the shrimp for a regular Caesar salad which was good enough for me. On the other hand the chicken parmigiana with the penne pasta combined with the feel and ambiance of the place was the only reason this review gets 4 stars. It's also a rare sight that you actually see the owner of the establishment serve guest and make sure that everyone is taken care of, it makes the customer feel appreciated. All in all I had a good experience at Ciao Bella and hope for an even better one the next time I am in the harbor! P.S. - watch out for their obnoxious sized menus. read more

See all

My wife and I stopped in for a quick drink and left three hours later will full stomach and a sweet cravings filled. When we first got in there was a group of four at the bar chatting it up with the bartender, and no other customers in the place. Only the bartender (soon found out that she is also the owner) and a couple waiters/waitresses were around. The atmosphere was enjoyable, almost like a local hole in the wall, neighborhood bar -- a mix between classy and down-to-earth. All the staff was extremely friendly, like welcoming in old friends to their home. Made perfect recommendations for my wife and I -- we will absolutely be visiting Little Italy for this little gem of a restaurant again soon. As we were heading out for the night, it was starting to get busier as couple and groups began filling in for dinner before their NYE plans. We started with drinks (Sangria Martini), and for the entree, my wife had the Seafood Tetrazzini, which was phenomenal (though I did not get to try too much of it. I took the recommendation of the staff to try the Shrimp Ricardo, instead of my normal Italian food, lasagna. Another recommendation that we took from the staff was the Chocolate Lava Cake (before dinner) and took home a large slice of Tiramisu. We walked out feeling perfectly satisfied, but not overfull like my normal trips to Italian restaurants. if you are ever in the area and looking for great food from a family-owned place, this is the one to visit. Depending on the time of day, it may be a little busy or it may be empty -- either way, you will not be disappointed that you stopped in. read more

See all

This place was nice. Classic Italian-American food, done pretty well. Located in Baltimore's Little Italy section, they offer a decent seledtion of the classics of that genre. The puttanesca sauce was fresh and tasty. They start you with really good fresh bread, served with a delicious olive oil blend. The decor was fine as well, again about what one would expect in this setting. The wine list was fairly limited, with nothing remarkable, especially considering the lowest-priced Italian bottle was $39, which seemed a bit much. We had an early dinner before an Orioles game, and enjoyed it. It didn't blow me away, I've had similar meals countless times, and nothing stood out either way, thus the 3 star rating. read more

See all

Cozy Italian place in the heart of Little Italy. Lots of tables with two dining rooms and bar area. The bar has a full stock for mixed drinks, wine and beer. The sangria was very tasty and I would recommend. I was only there for drinks and happy hour but the food smelled really good. I'd definitely come back and try this place with food. It seems to fill up quickly especially around dinner time so make sure you plan ahead. read more

Lew Gambino's - The outside at night - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I randomly saw this restaurant on my way to another, and it had a great menu and clean, open space so decided to check it out for dinner! I was with a friend and we had two toddlers in tow and they each wanted pizza and pasta, and this restaurant had it all! This place is super family friendly and the food is great. They have a kids menu for $5 which includes milk or juice and an entree. Also, we ordered their tortellini with vodka sauce (we changed the sauce), and their pizza and I must say, this was the best tortellini I've had! Soft, pillowy and delicious, with the best creamy tomato sauce. They were like little pillows of heaven! And the pizza was pretty good too- the margherita didn't have any tomato sauce which was unusual but the cheese and flavors on top were great. read more

Pros: the customer service was great. We really enjoyed our waiter as he was friendly and relatively quick. Also, the food was absolutely amazing (tip: order the seafood tetrazzini--you won't be disappointed!). You'll enjoy the bread with oil as well. We felt pleasantly satisfied at our experience until the end. Con: the menu lists the chicken Gabriella as $21. When we got the bill, we were charged $30 for it. There is no way chicken should cost $30, which was the exact same price as my seafood pasta. Why did they grossly overcharge us? The world may never know. For this reason, I don't think we'll be coming back. What a bummer. read more

Lew Gambino's - Chicken gabriella - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

I came here for lunch on a weekday with a groupon worth $40 (paid $18). The restaurant interior was far from impressive. The decor seemed a bit cheap, furniture seemed a bit rundown, the air smelled a bit stale. Although there was a ton of space and amble seating, The restaurant itself wasn't too packed. While we were offered seats immediately, no one came to get our orders and greet us until about 15-20min after sitting down. I only noticed one waiter and when he eventually approached us, he seemed a bit frazzled but he was very sweet and nice. We ordered escargot for appetizer, penne bacon carbonara, and the mussel marinara. I read from prior reviews that the bread with olive oil was delicious, but we didn't get anything for the first 25 min. But once it did come out, man oh man was it glorious. The bread came steaming out with a super crunchy crust and soft, warm interior. The escargot soon followed next. I thought it was awesome, de-shelled, served with garlic and parsley seasoning. The juices were perfect for dipping our bread into. My girlfriend has a bit milder taste bud, so she thought the dish was too salty... she's odd. The mussel marinara was 'pretty good' with a home made taste. The mussels were large but not too fresh, sauce was on the milder side, and the noodles were firm. The carbonara was creamy, peppered, with huge chunks of bacon and mushrooms. Everything was solid, but not mind blowing. Overall, I enjoyed my lunch at Ciao Bella. The food was good, but would I come back and pay full price for the exact same meal? Probably not. But was it worth the $18 that I paid for the Groupon? Definitely. read more

Lew Gambino's - Mussel marinara (top), penne bacon carbonara (bottom) - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place is amazing. The staff is friendly, food is 11/10. Tony Gambino is lit. Order the eggplant parmesan, it's life changing. Amazing customer service~ We left something there and one of the waiters ran after us to return it. read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This was one awesome experience from start to finish. I got lucky and was able to park steps away from the business. I was greeted as soon as I entered. I was about to be seated when the a man told the waiter I could be seated on the side of the bar. At the time I had no idea whom he was but, I simply figured that he was in charge. My photos will show you everything I ordered while I was there. But, let me tell you now the only thing I consumed while there was a glass of Montepulciano d' abruzzo wine, Ciao bella Bruschetta, The delicious warm bread and dipping sauce, a glass of sangria and just a little of my Shrimp Fra Diavolo. I was full and pleased. I ordered the lobster ravioli to take home. Forgive me for not remembering my waiter's name because he was simply awesome. He suggested I have the Montepulciano which at the time I had never heard of nor could I pronounce. But, before I left the restaurant I did ask him to write the name of it down for me. By the time I left I could pronounce it myself. LOL. While dining another lady entered the restaurant and sat at the bar. She began to talk to the man at the bar as she dined. I heard her call him Tony. It was then that I realized he was the owner. I had a window seat. I had a rough day and I was just looking for a little bit of peace. I surely received it as I dined. I overheard the lady speaking of how good the sangria was and that was what made me try the sangria. I thank the waiter for great service and also before I left, I let Tony know that this was my first time dining here and it was a great experience. Everything was delicious from start to finish. Tony just gained a new customer. I can't wait to return. Thumbs all the way up to Ciao Bella Restaurants owner Tony and his staff. This place rocks. read more

See all

I have gone to this spot twice within the last month and a half and the first experience was wayyy better than the last. Initially, I came in June to celebrate my anniversary. We found out about Ciao Bella thru Groupon so we decided to give it a go. It was a hot June day and by the time we arrived in Little Italy the sun was easing up so we decided to sit outside. It was sooooo nice. Good food, great service, and people watching. What can be better? I had the shrimp scampi over linguine, he had he stuffed tortellini. Both were delicious. I wasn't a fan of the wine list so I asked the waiter(he was great!) for a cocktail. He brought me back a cosmo (definitely recommend!) and made sure we never felt like we were outcasts since we were the only ones eating outside. Ahhhh but this past weekend.....not so great. We had to dine inside due to the rain. We were seated and told our waiter would be with us. The waiter never came so we dealt with the hostess and in between asked our waiter from the first time for help)drink recommendations, for our bread, etc. )Then, former Ravens player, Ray Lewis comes in. After us. All hands on deck!!!! I suppose. We waited longer than usual for everything. Bread. Appetizer. Entree, the portions were significantly less than our initial visit. And then Mr. Lewis left. Before us. Interesting. ....We were still waiting for the entree. Ohhhhhh to be famous. The experience just didn't sit well with me. Hence, the rating. I mean we paid for our meal. I'm sure a certain someone didn't. I'm. Just. Saying. read more

See all

Ordered takeout and the food was delicious. Felt like eating your topical moms Italian food. Wished the portions were a bit bigger though. read more

See all

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful meal here on our last night visiting Baltimore. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the owner treated us like family. I had the seafood tetrazzini and my boyfriend had the chicken Alfredo. Both dishes came quickly and tasted delicious, as was the gratis bread we shared while we waited. We also had a tasty piece of tiramisu to end the meal. Honestly I am surprised there wasn't a wait for a table. This place is a gem. Overall, five stars earned well by a very hospitable man and his business. We will definitely visit again! read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

There is just nothing to recommend this restaurant in our opinion. First the Food...we tried the Veal Parmesan, the Lasagna and the Ravioli Marinara, as well as the Caesar salad to start. First off, both the Lasagna and the Veal had a red sauce that tasted like, I can't believe I'm going to say this, Spaghetti-O's!! No Lie....SPAGHETTI-O'S!!!!!! The Veal was over fried and looked grey...yuck! The Rav's could've been from a box. The Ambiance....1980's run down and DIRTY, not to mention the smell...old basement...yuck! The Service was adequate, but considering there was no one else in the restaurant (to be fair it was 3 o'clock in the afternoon) it wasn't very friendly. All in all, with so many other choices in Baltimore's little Italy, we would avoid this one. read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place exudes old time Italian charm, and Tony is the master showman. He brings a slice of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to everyone's table. It is just like something out of the Sapranos, except no one is getting whacked. The atmosphere is matchless here, and this place is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner, family get-together, or an amazing wedding reception. My friend had her rehearsal dinner here, and she said that Tony and the staff made her feel like a queen. The only thing that could top the atmosphere at Ciao Bella is its authentic Italian cuisine. Delicious pasta in rich red gravy and mussels in cream sauce were the highlight of our evening; however, the meatballs in marinara sauce are just like Grandma used to make, providing your grandmother is or was culinary matriarch from somewhere in the heart of Italy. So, if you want to treat yourself to meal that is straight out of the Old Country, I'd stop by Ciao Bella today, foodies. read more

My friend invited me out since she got a Groupon to this spot. Personally I don't really eat at. Italian restaurants often because I do try to stay away from all the carbs but I'm always down for a dinner invite. We came in on a Sunday about 8:30. I felt bad for coming in so close up closing time also I know food and service tend to lack when you go in so close to closing time but it was the only time she could go. When we got there we were greeted right away and taken to our seat. When I put my coat down the hood got hooked on the straw in my water and knocked water everywhere.....oppsies! The servers were very polite and just moved us to another table. Our server was extremely sweet and attentive. He made excellent recommendations and we were in and out without feeling rushed even though it was so close to closing time. I got the chicken piccata and my friend got the chicken marsala both were great! I really appreciated the server took the time out to tell us about the chef and how he previously was a chef in France and how he prepared all the sauces. The entire experience was awesome and I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

MUST READ: Absolute WORST service we've EVER experienced at a restaurant.... good food though! Hash. Soho... this weekend was our first trip ever to Baltimore. It was recommended to us to try some food in the section of the city known as "little Italy." Sounded great to me because I love Italian food and the trip to this area was only about a 3 minute drive from our hotel and free parking! We bought a group on for Ciao Bella ($20 dollars for $45 worth of food, I believe). When purchasing the Group on, you have to make a reservation in order to us it. We called and asked for a 9 PM. reservation, which was not a problem to fit in. We got there at exactly 9 PM., had to wait about 5 minutes and were seated at a table for four, right behind a party of nearly 20. Ciao Bella was very loud due to the multiple large parties, which was not a problem. Our waiter came over within a few minutes and took our drink orders. He told us he would be right back with our drinks and some bread. We continued to look at the menus and loudly shouted across the table to discuss what we would be ordering. 5 minutes pass.... 10 minutes pass... (I wish I were kidding but I'm not...) 15 minutes.... Our waiter shows back up into the room, doesn't acknowledge us, but brings the table of 20 their checks... SEPARATE! He handed out each bill one by one and exited the room right away. Having a good sense of humor, we laughed it off making comments about whether or not we were dressed nice enough to be there and maybe that was why we were not getting any service. We talked together and said if we did not receive our drinks within 5 minutes we were leaving. 10 minutes pass and another waiter brings us our drinks that were completely watered down from sitting out for so long. The ice was melted completely in each drink. Our waited came back into the room and we flagged him over. He immediately stated "I'll bring you more bread" and stormed out. Wait... we never got bread yet.......... He comes back in the room and starts to collect each bill which he still had to ring up. Why haven't we left yet you ask? It was nearly 10:15 and we didn't know if anything else was opened on a Friday night! Little did we know that we were in an area filled with restaurants, we would of been out of there a half hour before, screw the groupon! The waiter comes over at least 10 minutes later, no bread, and asks if we've ready to order. We didn't freak out at him because point blank, we didn't want our food spit in, but we did let him know we were truly annoyed. I forgot to mention that another couple and their baby were seated about 10 minutes after us, had their orders in, fresh drinks and bread, and were on their second round of bread when our order was FINALLY placed. Once our order was in, the food took about 25 minutes. Fortunately, our food was amazing but the disrespect and wait time was not worth it, nor was our groupon. We wouldn't have cared about the wait had our waiter come over once or twice to apologize and say hey I have a huge table and it's gonna be a while. He could have also passed us to another waiter. With so many restaurants near by, especially Italian ones, skip this place! I only gave 2 stars because of the food. It would get zero if possible and I never ever say that!! read more

Lew Gambino's - Fettucini Alfredo - delicious if it could be served to you without the wait time in between your seating and eating being hours! - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

Incredible service. We walked in early for a lunch reservation and the owner was there to greet us. He made us feel so comfortable and at home. I don't even believe they were open yet when we came in. It was very hot outside the day we went, so it was nice they allowed us to come in early. Most places would just say "sorry we aren't open yet" but this place treats you like family. Additionally the wait staff made us feel like we were regulars even though it was our first time there. The food was all very good. Everything was prepared fresh, and made to order. I had a few special requests and they accommodated them with no problem. There are many restaurants in Baltimore, many of them are horrible. This one is not, I would definitely go back. If you are reading this, and contemplating going here, then try it out this little place is a fabulous find! read more

We took a chance on using our Groupon for Ciao Bella tonight and I admit to being hesitant because of the many mixed reviews that I read on many sites. So glad that we took the chance and tried it out. Ciao Bella is decorated in a Mediterranean style, much like you would see in many of the homes of the Baltimore Little Italy. Oil paintings adorn the walls and the windows all have beautiful window treatments that complement the style. For those who are looking for chic and minimalistic furnishings, this may not be for you. I'm not sure how the style of a restaurant affects the dining experience to begin with. I care about the presentation and taste of the dishes that I order. Besides, many of these places in Little Italy were someone's home at one time and that's what makes them special. It's almost like you are being warmly welcomed into someone's home. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the host and promptly showed to a table for two facing the sidewalk. We were brought ice water, bread and a saucer of olive oil dip with a spicy seasoning very promptly. LOVED the olive oil dip....much better than butter! Our server who was very personable, not to mention attentive throughout the whole meal explained the specials and gave us some time to figure out what we wanted to dine on. We finally decided on Shrimp Oreganato as an appetizer, two house salads because of the positive reviews about the house dressing and two orders of Veal Saltimbocca. To drink, we started with iced tea and with dinner we had a Pinot Noir. The Shrimp Oreganato was delicious. For eleven dollars, a few more than three shrimp would have been nice, but they were a fair size and very tasty. It was garnished with some fresh greens (looked to be arugula) and a light sauce. Four shrimp would have been a better number here, but other than that, they were fantastic! On to the house salad. In a word, wow! Salad was very fresh, nice, crisp and cold and a decent size. The house dressing was very tasty and did not overwhelm the salad. It was a mix of lettuces and better than the tired iceberg lettuce salads that we have experienced elsewhere. We both ordered the Veal Saltimbocca which was accompanied by a small saucer of linguine and a fresh tomato based sauce. Server brought a surprise of Romano cheese, rather than the normal offering of Parmesan which added extra flavor, not that it needed it. The veal did not disappoint. It was tender and flavorful and the sauce was a perfect accompaniment. Even though it was a lighter meat, we selected the house Pinot Noir to have with it. While it would have tasted much better out of my Riedel crystal, it had a nice bouquet and for six dollar a glass, a fair sized pour. Probably the only thing I would have changed is the pasta sauce....while it was very tasty, the red sauce did not lend itself very well to the delicate sauce of the veal. An offering of risotto would be a better choice here. Just the opinion of an amateur gourmet chef. We were offered dessert which we declined as our favorite place is Vaccaros, however I have to say the homemade Limoncello was very tempting....maybe next visit! We were very happy with our service and the friendliness of the establishment. The prices for Little Italy are pretty standard. We did notice upon leaving that there were people waiting to be seated with many empty tables and not sure why that is, but it looks like they might be trying to spread people out for the servers to keep it fair. All in all though a good experience....we would definitely dine there again. read more

I come here at least once whenever I'm in town - some of the best food in the city. It's a smaller restaurant, good ambiance, but the real reason to come is the food. I've been through most of the menu over the years, but so far the seafood tetrazzini is my absolute favorite (I also got the crab toast, which is superb and small enough to actually whet the appetite instead of being overwhelming). Shrimp and crab with a lobster cream sauce with linguini is one of the most comforting things I've ever eaten. It's the food equivalent of a toasty fire during a snowstorm. The staff can be a little awkward (I think I got asked six times if everything was okay), but they're earnest and friendly and I can't hold it against them. The owner (who regularly interacts with the customers) is clearly passionate about serving great food and wine. You should absolutely eat here (more than once) if you're nearby. You should consider traveling to eat here - it's that good. read more

Good, but not amazing. My husband surprised me with dinner here. I had gnocchi and my husband had the carbonara with added chicken. The menus are ridiculously oversized. They take up more than half of the table. I couldn't help but laugh! The place is small but slightly romantic. Overall, not my first choice in Little Itally. The food is tasty, but nothing to write home about. read more

See all

First of all the service was top notch. As is the food! I usually do not leave reviews but I feel this is warranted as I had some of the best service and food I have had in the past 2 months since I moved to Baltimore. I will 100% be back and Ciao Bella will be my go to for important dinners and lunches. I ordered the clam dish with pasta in a white sauce. I can not recommend it enough based on the flavor and size of the dish. Thank you -Josh read more

Supposedly the food is fresh and made to order. Servers are professional. Nothing to write home about, but it is top notch. The ravioli seems to be a hot entree. There was a fruit fly in my water so I just ordered another beverage. Visit this place at 7 for dinner because when I went, it was a quiet as a ghost town. read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

We stopped in before for a few drinks (the sangria was amazing!) and we promised ourselves we'd come back. Today we came for lunch and had an amazing meal. The bruschetta was delicious and the olives in it were a nice touch. My veal saltimbocca was phenomenal and the portion size was huge! My boyfriend got the eggplant which must've been equally as delicious because he ate it so fast that I didn't even get a bite! The red sauce on his pasta was good, though. The meals and the drinks are reasonably priced and the service was courteous and attentive. Def a must try! read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Wonderful restaurant. The service was amazing and the food was best I've had in a while. The fried calamari was light not oily and the chunky marinara was the best. I had chicken parm had to bring half of it home. Nicely breaded. Wife had chicken marsala and was very nice. read more

See all

My Penne Carbonara was delightful, extremely rich and full of bacon goodness. Definitely couldn't finish it all because of how creamy it was (which I love). Best part of the meal though was the bread!!! read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Aesthetic Appeal & Atmosphere: The atmosphere is bright, chic, and maintains a good sense of where the restaurant came from with the family pictures adorning the walls. The restaurant was created by the current proprietor's father and he has some fine stories about the restaurant over the years. Service: First of all, we walked in and asked to view the menu. The owner came over to us and sold us on the place without too much effort. Our waiter service was very good and attentive. Meal Quality: First there was bread & olive oil placed on our table. It was a winner! Our entrees of Tortellini alla Romano and Gnocchi all Vodka were then placed on our table. Again, both were winners! Everything was prepared perfectly and the sauces were perfect! An Italian friend once told me that the sauce is everything and they have it down right! I'll definitely be coming back here again. Aesthetic Appeal & Atmosphere: 5 of 5 Service: 5 of 5 Meal & Drinks Quality: 5 of 5 read more

I came here on a Friday evening around 6:00 pm and it was verrrrry quiet, which should've been my first hint that something was up. The menu claims that all of the seafood is fresh, but I sincerely doubt that. I ordered the linguine with clam sauce (recommended by my server) and it was just plain weak. It came out within five minutes. Sauce was very watery, clams appeared to be from the can (they were chopped up, usually a dead giveaway. Fresh clams are often served in the shell...that's how your know they're fresh). My friend got the chicken parmesan. It was pounded to hell and not seasoned at all. You can understand why I'd have a problem with this if you look at their menu prices; both entrees cost close to $20. I love good Italian food, and I'm willing to pay top dollar for it, but this was some cafeteria level food. Maybe I caught them on an off day? Glad we have a coupon, because there is no way I would've paid full price. Another thing: my server was a very nice guy. But the manager (or who I assume was the manager) was lecturing one of the employees right in the hallway where we could hear! It was so quiet in there, and listening to this guy berate someone was very awkward and distracting. All in all, the meal was a complete disappointment. We definitely won't be back. read more

My friend and I went here to use a gift certificate I had purchase some time ago. We came in with running clothes on, I felt a bit underdressed but we were treated with respect and not made to feel out of place. Our drink order was taken and we were brought fresh bread and oil with garlic and red pepper flakes. She order the house salad ($6.00) in which they make their own creamy Italian dressing. She said that the dressing was amazing and I'd need to agree as I stole a cucumber off her plate and dipped it. This dressing is beyond anything I've ever purchased in a store or made myself. I order the escargot to start ($9.00). It was well cooked, perhaps a bit under seasoned. I'm a bit picky about my escargot, but who wouldn't be when eating snails as a delicacy? I prefer my escargot with more garlic and parmesan encrusted topping. My friend ordered the lasagna ($18.00) and she ate ever bit of it. The sauce was one similar to that I make at home from scratch (I was taught from an Italian's family recipe) I'd say that it was spot on. My starter was shrimp and linguini ($19.00) with a creamy garlic butter sauce. They must have used a sour bit of wine (or the last of the bottle) in it because it was overflowing with a crisp lemon very citrus flavor which really over powered the dish. The sauce had separated when it was delivered to me by the waiter. I'd order it again, if not to see it this was a fluke or if this dish needs some adjusting. The service: Our waiter was ok. He was attentive. He brought us our food and drinks in a timely manner. He was a funny character and made us feel welcomed although we sat in their dining room in our work out clothes durning evening meal. The decor: Needs to be updated or redone. The art is perfect for this type of a place, however the ceiling tiles could use a coat of spray paint and the wallpaper looked as if it was bubbling. Overall: I'd return in a heart beat. read more

See all

It's a great date spot, I am not sure how child friendly it is but it's nice, the food is good, and the price is right! It's worth trying out. Everything we had was good and the service was good. I'm not sure why it was so slow. read more

See all

The best family style / date night location with authentic Italian dishes . Watch the game at the bar ,or cozy up at the table. Plan a party, business reception, or bring a group .The friendly staff is always ready to accommodate!! Delicious food , a real jewel in Baltimore's Little Italy !! Enjoy read more

Found this place through Groupon. Made a reservation for the Saturday night after Valentines Day with a very personable employee. Place is a bit small for the size of the crowd it attracts. Menu was large in size but with somewhat minimal choices though they were well spread amongst seafood, meat & pasta. Chicken Marsala was very tasty. Husband enjoyed the Eggplant Parmigiana . Portions were generous and staff was efficient and pleasant. read more

See all

This was my first time but it will not be the last. The service and food were great. It was great for our date night but when we come back we coming with the whole family. The food was hot and so flavorful. read more

Lew Gambino's - Seafood Terrazzino was absolutely amazing!!! - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

I've been going to Baltimore's Little Italy for well over 30 years. I've seen it change but really not that much and we are happy with that. As a kid I remember the fond memories of having dinner with the family at Vellegia's, Da Mimmo's and Sabatino's staples in the neighborhood. Little Italy is one of the greatest gems in Baltimore City. Had a business dinner at Sabatino's with my director his wide and met with my producer after dinner this past Friday. We were going to get a drink at Germano's when I decided to walk us into a newerer bar restaurant in the center of Little Italy. LewGambino's. A very nice place with a well spaced out bar sporting more of a modern look. It would be nice if it was themed more like the traditional italian look like some of the other spots in the neighborhood but then again my crew we're all traditionalists and that's what we favor. If the lightijg could be more moody to give it that impressive Italian flare especially with a name like Gambino :) The spot use to be an old restaurant called Ciao Bella which I use to goto back in the day. Drink prices are fair, the host and bartenders were nice, presentable and hospitable. It's an impressive bar restaurant but what would really add to the ambiance is traditional Italian music favorites from Sinatra, Martin, Davis jr., Louis Prima, mobster hits. If management did all this it will become a favorite spot for couple and the place for after dinner drinks. Definitely worth checking out. We ll see you again. read more

Lew Gambino's - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

First visit to Little Italy in Baltimore. Out of all of the Italian restaurants we picked "Ciao Bella" boy was that a mistake this place is a disgrace to Italian cuisine. The wait staff were friendly but uninformed, service was very slow, the food was rubbish the only good thing I can say the bread rolls were ok. Avoid this place. read more

As soon as we walked in the owner greeted us and sat us at a table. The waiter was nice, but seemed new to the job. We ordered the mozzarella and tomato salad with veal saltimbocca and eggplant Parmesan and tiramisu. The salad was delicious and so we're the entrees. They also came with side dishes of spaghetti with red sauce, which was just okay. The dessert was pretty good but sooooo creamy and heavy! But it was a great atmosphere and experience and I would come again! read more

See all

Came here with my family and was not impressed. We started with the bruschetta which was unlike any we have ever had before. The bread was not toasted, was slathered with balsamic vinegar and completely overwhelmed by Parmesan cheese. It was in edible. My wife ordered a margarita pizza which basically came out tasting like a Ritz cracker with melted cheese and incredibly thin sliced tomato. It was not pizza that we would ever identify. My son got the lasagna and the sauce was heavily sugared. I got the fuite de mar. The shrimp and the scallops were overcooked, they were no fresh clams or muscles and instead just had what appeared to be canned clams tossed in with the pasta. And the pasta itself was mealy and overcooked. The environment and the staff are nice. Too bad the food is nothing to return for. read more

Ciao is bella is standard Italian food. The olive oil medley to dip your bread in is fantastic. The rest of the meal was a little dry, expensive, and not otherwise noteworthy. The pasta and ravioli we had lacked flavor. The tiramisu is pretty good though. read more

See all