LIA'S gives off this little hole in the wall vibe. Sitting across from the Chevy chase Whole Foods. I was on my way to get groceries and thought why not?!?! It's restaurant week in DC and honestly I've been so busy I almost forgot. They had a 22$ special going on app, entree and dessert included. I opted for the bottomless mimosa special for an additional 16$. (Yes, they have that price every weekend!) I was happy to see they had a variety of options for mimosas including peach, pear, grapefruit, and traditional orange. My server Daniel was fantastic and guided me through the gluten free options they offered. Having Celiacs I truly appreciate his attention to detail on menu. I decided on the mussels, lobster frittata and ice cream for dessert. Everything was delicious the dressing on the salad with the lobster frittata paired perfectly with the flavors on the lobster meat and asparagus. The mussels were in a light white wine garlic sauce traditional Italian but fresh and delicious on the patio this summer day. I was happy with the ice cream as well in the DC summer heat. This was my first time, I will be back again soon, and I will be telling all my friends that LIA's is surprisingly good. Ask for Daniel when you go he truly made the experience. read more

LIA'S - Mussels, lobster frittata, San. Pellegrino, grapefruit mimosa. - Italian Near Me - Chevy Chase, Maryland

I just got back in the country and am a bit poor from all of my travels, so I was excited to find out that it was Bethesda/Chevy Chase restaurant week. I was happy to see that Lia's actually posted their RW menu and it looked good. My boyfriend and I decided to hang out in Friendship Heights during the day. I however comma didn't realize that meant we weren't going back home to change. I was a bit nervous about my very casual attire so we went to the restaurant early to talk to the maître d' and see what was up. She definitely said I was too casual so we spent most of the afternoon shopping and looking for a new outfit. We show up for our 6:45 reservation and there are more than a handful of people in jeans and t-shirts. Whatever, I was cute and had a new outfit. Now for the good news. My dinner was great. My boyfriend always says I pick the better dishes and he agreed here too. We decided with some olives and cheese for the make your own appetizer, then I had the Citrus Cured Salmon "Taquitos which were sooooooo good. I could have had a whole plate of those for dinner. So much flavor and yumminess. The boy had Risotto Balls with Fontina which were ok. They were really heavy and a bit bland. For our main course I had the Day Boat Scallops with Risotto which was also so full of flavor and amazing. The mushrooms and scallops were just so succulent that my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The boy had Roasted Corn Risotto with Aged Goat Cheese which was good, but also heavy. For dessert we went with the mango sorbet and fresh berries. All in all, it was a good dinner. I would hesitate though about paying full price considering half of our dishes ranged from mediocre to not so great. read more

We took a 2 relatives to LIA'S because of wonderful remembrances of past visits. Yesterday, in mid afternoon we were the only group in our room. Service was slow and lacking in attention. Price was expected for the area, however, food was mediocre and presentation was just ok. read more

LIA's is a standard Italian restaurant that is literally 1 block away from my cousin's apartment complex. We (my aunt, grandma and I) were visiting my 8 months pregnant cousin for her baby shower that weekend. It was very cold so I was grateful for the proximity of a hot meal. I remember loving the layout of the restaurant with its fall themed (we went during November) entrance of corn stalks and pumpkins everywhere. Honestly though I cannot tell you what I ordered at that place... The meal was good but not great and nothing sticks out in my memory. I hope to visit again soon before my cousin moves so I can give a more accurate description of the food here. In the mean time, I would suggest trying it. There's lots of options on the menu especially of Italian cheese which I found interesting. I'd also want to come back to have their happy hour as their sign in the front seemed pretty appetizing. All in all, I feel like I need to come here one more time to get a good feel of this place since I obviously did not get it the first time I was there... read more

Lia's is a reliably good neighborhood restaurant. We love the bleu cheese burger, but dishes like salmon and others are very good as well. Go early for the specials. Do be sure to try the house made sorbets. This is dessert you won't want to pass up. The outdoor dining season is long in Chevy Chase, MD, and Lia's has an excellent area for it. You'll have to get there early since outdoor dining at Lia's is popular. The wait staff is always fantastic and helpful. You can dress up a little at Lia's or go casual. read more

It's always fun to go LIA'S. Food and atmosphere are good. And the best is the welcome and wonderful service from Desiree. She makes extra effort to help you have a good time. We will be back soon read more

This place is Great! I ate there last Sunday with Daddy. I had some stuffed steak that was excellent and the Tira Misu for dessert. I love this place. I think that everyone should come here and eat. read more

The brunch was delicious. The lemon bread they serve at brunch is to die for. Service in the restaurant side (vs the bar) was excellent. Table of 6, and we all enjoyed the fixed price lunch that was cheaper than ordering ala carte. Highly recommend the brunch! read more

I get SO annoyed when friends suggest Lia's... the bill adds up... appetizer, salad, glass of wine for $50/person for just OK food and spotty service? No thanks. I'd rather go across the street to Capital Grille. Best burger in town! read more

While they might be known for Happy Hours, they do not make planning a Happy Hour a very Happy experience. Quite the opposite in fact! Given that there are very few options in the Chevy Chase area for after work gatherings, we were looking to go out after work to celebrate two works anniversaries which also happened to be on Cinco de Mayo. We were trying to secure a space for a Happy Hour for 25 people for drinks and light appetizers - should be no big deal for most places much less one that is known for Happy Hours. Lia's policy is that anything over 12 ppl requires a contract and a $1000 minimum in food and bev. Seriously? Well, we begrudging booked it only to find out after that cash bar sales don't apply to the minimum, they can't/wouldn't serve guacamole and salsa as an accommodation for Cinco de Mayo, no margaritas offered, and the worst kicker of all after much pain in the 48 hours leading up to the "Happy Hour" was when the bill came - clearly printed at the bottom of the check - 'gratuity is included'. The fact that we did not even come close to the minimum, I was feeling better that at least the gratuity was included, only to have the manager remove it from the bottom of the check! When I called her on it she said it was an error in their system and should not have printed on the check. Are you kidding me? After a very strong conversation, she agreed she would include it and committed to me that the staff would be taken care of. Given everything that happened leading up to the event, I must say the staff for our party was great - they even boxed up the leftover appetizers and made sure everyone was well served. I truly hope that the management honored their word and made sure that the staff received their gratuity for the party. My company has had many events at Lia's over the years - I find it incredibly insulting that there was no room for consideration or accommodation for a small but special Happy Hour. If it is within my control, I will NEVER book another event at Lia's. read more

After a few more visits, Lia's has been winning me over. The fries and hand made potato chips were excellent as well as the sandwiches. My next target is the Burger specials on Mondays and Wednesdays for lunch. read more

Flavor explosion in my mouth! This was such a tasty dinner. Great service. I knew it was good because my daughter NEVER finishes her food. She ate everything plus dessert. Lia's surpassed my expectations and showed me what dinner should be. read more

NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE SERVICE OR FOOD. The salmon cakes very salty we could not finish them. The waiter disappeared after we got our menus. He also forgot my granddaughters salad we had to remind him. FOOD NOTHING TO RAVE ABOUT WOULD NOT RECOMMEND! read more

Brunch here was a great experience! I love the atmosphere and friendly service. They give you SO much food - each brunch entree comes with fruit and little muffin-like pastries. I got the "eggs your way," which is 3 eggs, bacon, sausage, yukon hash, and a bagel. My scrambled eggs were a bit bland but still okay. The crepelle was also good, but not something I personally would order an entire entree of. The waffle looked okay, but not really worth the price. Overall, lovely place that I would come back to. read more

Very impressed! The food was great, the atmosphere was very nice, and the wait staff was good. We started out with the risotto fritters, which were a little disappointing, but our entrees definitely made up for it! I got the pupmkin ravioli speciat - it was soooo good and the butter sauce that they use was just perfect! My boyfriend got the spagehetti and meatballs with ricotta, which he really enjoyed, and of course I had a bite - I love what the ricotta adds! I got the espresso tart with the pistachio icecream, it was delicious!! I also got the pear mixed drink, which I really didnt enjoy too much either - but the pasta was so delicious that I will definitley be back for more! read more

Food is pretty expensive, so I just ordered pizza. It wasn't bad, but looked weird since my topics just slid off the crusts. Good wine selection though. I wonder if they have happy hour, but probably not since it is in Friendship Heights. read more

Lia's is one of my favorite spots to visit for lunch or after work hours. The food is awesome but what makes this place extra special is Jason, the bartender. He is very attentive and makes excellent food and drink recommendations. read more

I think Lia's is a step up from Chef Geoff''s, which never has impressed me much. The menu is not that impressive, but I've always found the food to be well prepared and tasty. It's also a fairly pleasant atmosphere inside, despite the fact it's in a nasty looking office building. read more

I've been here twice. Both times were business lunches. The first time I had a swordfish sandwich that was amazing and alone would have gotten 4 stars. Came back the second time and it was gone from the menu. I ordered a hamburger (medium rare...yes I'm a wild man) and they brought me a hockey puck. That burger was not worth the price by far. All of that said the ambiance is wonderful from the fireplace when you walk in to the quiet seating which allows for simple conversations to take place (yet again very good for business lunches.) read more

One of the best rotating happy hours in town for both food and drink. The Lia burger, truffle fries and rib appetizer are incredibly delish!! read more

Not a fan of their dinner but it's a great place to go for HH. They even have HH on the wkds and you can sit outside! Love their beer and pizza for HH. read more

Listen, Friendship Heights is somewhat lacking in great dining choices. If Lia's were located in say, Logan Circle, I probably would give it 3 stars, because in terms of food, value, and service, it's just slightly above-average. But there is no better place to meet someone for a casual drink or bite to eat in this area. Plus, there are some very good dishes on the menu. The gnocchi with cherry tomatoes is a favorite of mine. I wouldn't call the prices here "reasonable" but they're not insane either. Overall, this is a pretty solid spot. read more

I don't believe they have the $5 burgers anymore, but they still have the $5 bar snacks during happy hour. I work right around the corner, and I can always depends on great cocktail at Lia's after a long day at work. You can hang out at the bar for hours and there's never any pressure to leave. I like the crab and spinach dip, but after having it a few times, it gets too creamy. read more

Absolutely LOVE this place! The food was amazing and prices are just right for the quality and portions. I gave it 4 out of 5 starts because the service is not that great. If you are looking for a great Italian meal, this is the place to go. Try their mozzarella balls, ravioli, scallops, and the donuts for dessert! read more

This place gets 4 starts due to its BRUNCH. It is fantastic. The eggs Chesapeake is ridiculous. The poached eggs are the most perfect poached eggs you've ever had, topped with a light hollandaise sauce and loaded with chunks of crabmeat. That dish right there does it all. Also, the bartender mixes a fabulously spicy and fresh Bloody Mary that is tops. If you go for brunch, sit in tables at the bar area, where you can watch some football (if you're into that). It's the nicest place with the best food where you can still watch football. As other reviewers have mentioned, it is a great happy hour spot with nice food specials. It is quality happy hour food. We've been here two or three times for dinner, and it's ok. I'd give it 3 stars in that respect, but it's definitely an option for Friendship Heights. I really like the ambiance - nice place you can dress up or down for. read more

I've been going there as my to-go-to place when I see my cute friend who lives a block away. So far, I've tried 3 out of the 10 types of pizzas they have and both burgers on their happy hour menu. And, that's precisely why we go there... the happy hour! The specials aren't exactly cheap, but it's nonetheless a good deal. Beer on tap is cold, flavorful and full of carbonation. The service is sort of slow, only in the sense they don't come check on you very often. You sort of have to hail someone down or catch their attention when they come to a table near you, but when they do see you, they come right away and get what you need quickly. Anyways, I'll be going at least 7 more times to try the other flavors of pizza, you should check it out if you're in the area. :) read more

Service was terrible. Did not even receive utensils, water, or bread upon getting our table. The restaurant was not even busy.

I cannot speak for any other meal, I met a friend there for brunch. I was NOT at all impressed. I was looking forward to a really nice brunch. The food was to "fussy" or as the one review said pretentious. While I was certainly not looking for just fried or scrambled eggs, the menu really did not have a lot that I found appetizing and it was pricey! Service was quite good. Perhaps it is great for another type of meal but I won't be returning for brunch. read more

This place is tempting... Nice outdoor area, best happy hour (so they claim) , and for us it's across the street. But every time we go we are disappointed. The food is overpriced and is nothing special. It is also very oily. My husband is not as kind, he thinks that it is disgusting... We got the chicken milanese and you could still see the oil on it, the same goes to for the calamari. The sandwiches are also dripping in oil.. Unless you had a salad you are bound to feel like you just ate McDonalds or KFC.. One time we went and the sangria tasted like a watered down screwdriver. The waiter dismissed it until we finally got him to get us a new drink. Then he ignored us for the rest of the night. After tonight we vowed to never go back..we will take the trip to Black Salt. read more

UGHHH... I have been going to Lia's for a longgg time and have pretty much loved the food. However, as of late, I seemed to notice things sliding as others on here have pointed out. The dish I ordered was basically pasta smothered in evoo and a few tomatoes and cheese thrown on top. I could have made this at home and it was fairly bland. However, this was not the reason for my low rating.... as many women can imagine when you are about to get your monthly visitor you can get extremely hungry. On top of that, I realize I may be the fastest eater this side of the Mississippi; however, I do not appreciate my waitress pointing out to me on TWO seperate occasions "WOW you ate that so fast!! Gee... thanks for reminding me AGAIN what a huge glutton fat pig I am. Also, thanks for pointing out that I am a big loser and dining all by myself on a Saturday night because I have NO friends in this dam city :( Am I being overly sensitive here????? Maybe if it had not been the disgusted look on her face when she said it , I could have laughed it off... and TWICE! Really?! Now I am glad I had dined alone... how embarrassing! Don't know if I will show my face there again...at least for awhile .... at least while I am not extremely hormonal and starving! read more

Lia's has some of the best PIZZA of all times! I am in love with this place! For those who are looking for a nice casual place to dine, Lia's the place. read more

Lia's is a very nice neighborhood friendly restaurant which has a bar lounge area as well, and an outdoor seating area located by the main entrance off of the street. They do a very good job with their menu, with a nice variety of dishes. The portions are generous, nice fresh ingredients, good preparation, and cooked right. The service is decent, the ambiance is very nice, comfortable dining room, good lighting, decent looking decorum, a very nice enjoyable neighborhood friendly eating environment. I have had many good meals here, the appetizers, salads, soup, main entrees, and deserts have all been very consistent, and enjoyable. This is a very nice local neighborhood eatery which lives up to the expectations you might have of an eatery located in upscale Chevy Chase. read more

Shrimp burger as good as any as any crab cake... delicious!!!! service perfect. Thank you Timothy. Drinks great. Salmon great. Atmosphere great. Very happy. read more

I have eaten at this restaurant several times. It has never met expectations. It is the only "good" italian restaurant in the area. Unfortunately it is not very good. Tonight were not only subject to poor food, but to service that was so inept that I can scarcely believe that, in the current market, any owner would tolerate., Perhaps Cheof Jeff is really too busy to know what is happening in his restaurant. After traveling in Emilia-Romanga and though out Italy, I found the veal milanese is an insult, but even the most uneduated palate would recognize how nasty the product is at Lia's. The chef insults his wife whose name the restaurant bears by serving such an inferior product. The worst is the fact that such an abominatiuon is served without appology. read more

For an easy, close to the metro choice for a quick bite or a fairly cheap happy hour, this is your place. Nothing on the menu was overly amazing, but the drink prices were quite good. Glasses of sparkling wine and big beers for a very reasonable price. I was slightly hungry and did not want to wait until our 5:30 dinner in Adams Morgan, but did not want to stuff myself. So I ended up ordering some sausage stuffed peppers. The description sounded enjoyable, and they were not bad, but they were supposed to be drizzled with olive oil and stuffed with sausage. When they came out they were DRENCHED in olive oil and stuffed with TONS of cubed cheese with a little bit of sausage. The description said NOTHING of cheese, and I, being allergic, ended up taking all of the cheese out of the peppers, tipping the peppers upside to let the pint of olive oil run out, and so I ended up consuming olive oil drenched peppers with a little bit of sausage and a pound of cheese on my plate. Maybe that would have been a perfect meal for someone else, but for me, it was quite disappointing. They should most definitely have CHEESE in the description of the dish. That was the only food we ordered, but we did enjoy sitting outside and sipping our cheap-ish drinks. Our waitress was nice and the atmosphere was enjoyable....just don't order the peppers...unless that's your thing. read more

This is a local for us, & I usually enjoy the friendly staff & laid back atmosphere. This time we ate in the bar section which was mostly empty. We ordered the usually great wild mushroom pizza, except this time it wasn't...stodgy cheese & hardly a mushroom in sight. I politely pointed this out to our waitress, stressing that I knew she didn't make the pizza & it wasn't a complaint about her. Two minutes later she was back saying, "the chef says sorry"' & presenting our bill ( that hadn't been requested, or adjusted). Shoddy service for a place I know can, & does, do a lot better. read more

The first time mussels weren't fresh. The waiter wasn't apologetic until we pushed. The second time the burger was not warm and steak and fries looked like cooked the night before. It was pricier than other restaurants offering similar things We won't visit the place again. read more

I have been to Lia's many times for drinks after work and this is the first time that I've been inspired to write a review. Not to sound cliché, but, what the f#$k happened? It had been over a month since my last visit but in the short amount of time there was a complete overhaul of the bartenders and servers in the bar. What was a pleasant place to grab great bar food and drink after work has turned into an exercise in tolerance. First, the server (white girl) was rude and slow, really slow. Second, the customers were an exceptionally white, loud, and painfully boring group of people. Of course, the restaurant has very little control over who comes through the door, but I think the clientele speaks volumes about what type of environment they are creating. In short, despite its convenient location, I don't think I'll be back. read more

After a 10-minute wait on the deserted patio for someone to bring menus to my husband and me, a Lia's staff member came out and made a cursory swipe at cleaning our sticky table. But the stickiness remained, so we asked him to try again. It remained sticky, so we asked again. Finally he said, "Why don't you just go inside if you don't like this?"--and stomped away. Looking through the front window, we recognized the manager from the last time we were there; that night she had come over to apologize for how slow the service was. When I went inside to complain, the surly staffer was standing beside her saying, "I don't have to wipe the table a million times." No, he doesn't. If he could just clean it on the first try, we'd get on with dinner and everyone would be happier. The manager followed me out, apologizing profusely and saying she didn't know what was wrong with that staffer. Wouldn't we choose another spot on the patio and stay anyway? But by that time we had completely lost our appetites. And I was so irritated I came home to write my first-ever Yelp review. Lia's has a large patio that's pleasant on warm nights, and the food is acceptable. Yes, as the other Yelp reviews note, and even the manager can see, the service is often inattentive. But now it has slipped into being inattentive AND insulting. It's a losing combination for us and the Chef Geoff's brand. read more

Horrible customer service. Shuffled around from one area to another with a party of over ten people. The hostess leaves much to be desired. We were here to celebrate a great night with our medical practice but we will not be back. read more