My meal from Hell. They apparently forgot to put in our order, because it took forever to arrive. They seated us at a tiny little table. When the pizza finally did arrive, we knocked it over trying to eat our slices, because our plates were literally under the pizza (The table was THAT small). The waiter said this happens all the time, but they complained about cooking a new pizza. When we finally got the bill, they had charged us for two pizzas. It wasn't our fault they seated us at a comically small table. They finally agreed to not charge us for the second pizza, but this was just a very frustrating day. We were in the restaurant for a total of 146 minutes (I counted), waiting for our pizzas in a virtually empty restaurant. I suspect the guy making the pizzas was in the back drinking or something. This was horrible service and a horrible location. Also, they used canned mushrooms! If you're going to charge $25 for a pizza, at least use fresh mushrooms! I wouldn't let my dog eat here!
(1)
Matt M.
When they had one restaurant in Rockville the food was awesome. They have slipped a long way since then. My most recent experience at this location was dreadful. The service was slow (and they were NOT busy), the food was also slow in coming (kitchen vs. wait staff), and some of the food was tasteless. Even the pizza (originally some of the best in the area) was chewy and salty. The manager tried to make it right, but he could only do so much. He couldn't make the food come faster after the fact, and while he did offer to give us something else, it was already late (after having to wait so long for everything). To add insult to injury, they now have these "TVs" in the restaurant that play constant commercial advertising. As if anyone wants to sit in a restaurant and watch annoying commercials. Truly outrageous! I'd rather sit in MacDonald's than this place now. Mama Lucia's used to be a great standby with consistently good quality and staff. It's certainly off that list for me.
(1)
Scarlette T.
i wasn't very impressed with their pizza but they are pretty quick with delivery (mind you i live two blocks away). yes i know you're judging but when i'm cozy at home in my pjs after a long day, i don't feel like getting dressed again and walking out the door. true for the bethesda and north bethesda/rockville locations (not gaithersburg): the gamberetti alla montese is pucker-kiss-fingers-to-lips-perfection. the shrimp are chunky and meaty, i taste the crab flavor (the meat has disintegrated but that's ok). flavor is pretty good too. yum!!!! yes it's expensive but when i've had a crapola day, i look forward to a hot bowl of this delivered with some of their great garlic bread.
(4)
Lauren Y.
one of my favorite homestyle Italian restaurants in the MD area. My first experience was last October at the Silver Springs location, where my bf and friends had to carbo-load before the Marine Corps Marathon. That's when I fell in love with their garlic bread, cheesy garlic oil dip and the Veal Bolongnese.. mmm. The pasta always comes piping hot and HUGE portion. I couldn't finish it all, but it was yums. The garden salad was a let down though. TOO oily and way too much vinegar in the vinegrette. The leaves were all soggy. Thumbs up: Pastas. Everyone enjoyed theirs Thumbs down: oily salads
(3)
Aaron M.
My family talked this place up so much, so I was expecting the best. However, I was very, very unimpressed. First of all, when we came, there was a huge party there, making everything noisy. I'm not talking pleasant noisy; I'm talking "I can't hear myself think" noisy. Think lots of screaming kids, with parents that drank WAY too much wine to be able to discipline their screaming brats. They did offer to reseat us, an offer that we took them up on, but it did little for the noise. Next, the food. I ordered some king of dish that had crab, shrimp, and lobster in it. For $23.95, I expected it to be delicious. WRONG! The seafood definitely wasn't fresh, the sauce tasted like it came out of a can, and the flavors just didn't go well together. It was a huge disappointment, and considering the price that was paid, a rip off as well. The service wasn't bad, per se, but there was nothing remarkable about it. I've heard this place has amazing pizza; I've never tried it, but the atmosphere would keep me away for sure. Go to Vace if you want none of the BS, just straight up good food.
(1)
C P.
Great pizza. The crust is nice and flaky. Much better than all the other delivery places in Bethesda.
(4)
Evan H.
If you are looking for an Authentic Italian meal like the one your grandmother would make, this isn't the place for you. If you are looking for pretty good Italian-American cuisine and at a reasonable price, this is the place for you. I've been eating at the Rockville location since there was only a rockville location. It has always been pretty decent, though I can agree with some other reviews here saying that the service at this location, Bethesda, is lack luster. While I have had mediocre experiences in the past, this review is a culmination of those meals, plus take-out last night. Sometimes I feel silly ordering take-out from an Italian restaurant which I could probably replicate most of the meals at home, but my parents and I were feeling Italian and so I brought food over to their house. One thing about ML is that their portions are HUGE. I mean huge. Even when you get take-out, you have two meals with every order (dinner and lunch the next day). This meal was no different. As far as I'm concerned, the food here is pretty good. There are plenty of better Italian places to eat in the DMV, some of which are around the same price (like Luigi's in Dupont), but ML is still decent. Overall, Id give this place 3 stars for their huge portions, decent Italian-American food and average service. I still prefer their flagship location in Rockville, but this place has its benefits.
(3)
Heather J.
I have been to other Mama Lucia locations and have enjoyed the food, but this location is sub-par. I went this time for lunch with my mom and neither of us was impressed. She got a salad and asked for the dressing on the side, and it came covered in dressing. I got a chicken parmesan sub, and the breading on the chicken was soggy and flavorless. The cheese was melted on the outside of the sandwich, so I had to peel it off and put it back on so I could actually get some cheese with each bite of the sandwich. It came with fries, which I'm almost positive were just grocery store frozen fries. And I saw the pasta entrees the people at the table next to us were eating, and they looked awful. It's not good when you can tell the pasta is overcooked just by looking at it. The service was fine, but not super friendly. The only positive, really, was the bread - it comes with a tomato sauce on it and a seasoned olive oil that are both really good. I wouldn't return to this Mamma Lucia location.
(2)
Alicia G.
Mamma Lucia's has never been a part of my regular lunch rotation but it has potential. The lunch rush had clearly subsided as Kevin and I were seated and had menu in hand within a minute of stepping in. This is the benefit of having a late lunch. Kevin ordered a pasta dish with sausage and I opted for the chicken francese that came with a side of penne. We happily snacked on the toasted bread that came with a dish of olive oil and fresh garlic for dipping. If you know us both, you know how chatty we are. Given that we hadn't seen each other in over a week, you can only imagine the volume of things discussed as well as the speed at which we are able to talk. I supposed I didn't notice that it took a bit for our food to arrive because we were talking - but had we been in more of a hurry, this might have really annoyed me. The food was enjoyable but I wasn't necessarily impressed. My chicken was drowning in sauce - thankfully it wasn't a heavy sauce. My pasta was served in a tomato sauce with chunks of tomato. It was good but I definitely ran out of room and only ate about half of it. Kevin devoured his pasta dish and seemed pretty pleased with his choice. Mamma Lucia hasn't quite made its way onto my usual lunch rotation but perhaps after a return trip to try their pizza by the slice, this could very well change.
(3)
Mitchell M.
Always a trustworthy, great local family restaurant with great pizza (NY style) and fantastic Veal Saltimbocca. Spent Christmas Eve - special menu - Feast of the Seven Fishes made for a special night with our family. Highly encourage people to make it an annual tradition. David Kottler is a great addition as the manager and host. Feel like I am back in the North End in Boston.
(5)
Phi N.
I just ordered pizza here; not even sure if they offer anything else. It was thin slice, not too big a fan of that. I had one slice with sausage and pepperoni, the other was a slice of white pizza. The white pizza was better but I thought they were both pretty good. 4 slices, and 2 drinks for $18. Probably better off going to pizza hut, getting a whole pizza, wings, and a 2 liter bottle... Oh well, gotta try things to see if you like it yourself. By the way, I think they sit and serve you at dinner, but for lunch you order up front and sit yourself.
(3)
Katherine K.
Mrs. Lucia may be rolling in her grave. The pizza was fine and dandy. Very tasty and pleasing to the olfactory senses. Price was little steep though, it's just dough, tomato sauce, and cheese right? Anywho, the food is pretty good here, and maybe the place is just following Bethesda convention and over pricing everything. My only issues with the place, and this is a big issue! They have these breads slices they give with your meal. Dont know what is going on with them, but they looked like stale oily bread which they give you with a tub of olive oil and garlic to dip into. I felt a little greasier just looking at it. Now did good ole Mamma really serve stale oily bread to her family? If so I am glad she is not my Mamma!
(3)
Jonny V.
The service is fine and the food is good; the ambience, however, leaves much to be desired. It's right in between an intimate Italian restaurant and pizza parlor in terms of decor, and the volume of the music seems to increase as the night goes on. It looks like a great place for high schoolers to find other high schoolers who want to hang out at the Regal 10. As for Bethesda Row Cinema, not so much.
(3)
Brett M.
Sauces are too sweet. Food is bland. There are many other Italian restaurants in DC. Skip Mamma Lucia if you can.
(2)
Omeed S.
gross food + stomach ache The title says it all. The food is gross, covered in oil and cheese, low quality meats and pasta, and you'll end up with a killer stomach ache all night. Save your $20 per entree (RIDIC FOR SUCH CRAPPY ITALIAN) and eat elsewhere!
(1)
Olivia L.
Man, I can cook better pasta. Seriously. First, you have to drain all the water using a collander or sieve, then you have to put the cooked pasta in a pan with the sauce and cook it for a few more minutes to marry the flavors and starches. What you do NOT do is take pasta from a giant vat, dump it on a plate and add some watery sauce and call it a $13-20 dish. My order of mussels in red sauce came with so much liquid that it spilled out of the pasta bowl, onto the table, and down the table to the sidewalk (the sidewalk slants, hence all the tables slant) and then onto my shoes. Good thing the new purse was on the other side of my feet. Also, don't ignore your tables just because it's late. If I have to ask the busboy for everything, and you've only got two tables, don't expect a nice tip m'kay?
(1)
Kate A.
If you like Italian food and want to have leftovers, this is the place to go! The pizzas are HUGE, and the pasta dishes also can made into at least 2, if not 3, meals. The atmosphere is definitely more of a family place; NOT a good venue for a romantic date.
(3)
Nick S.
In the future, I will avoid this restaurant. For a family of four, including two kids meals, the $100 price tag was way too steep for the quality of the food. There are many better options in Bethesda. Our meal started with stale sliced white bread with a strange orange oil spread on it. They also provided a tasteless garlic and oil dipping sauce, both were kind of gross. The clams and white wine sauce (21.50) was tasteless, cold and watery. One would think that they could cook pasta properly, but what was served was overlooked and mushy. We should have sent it back right away, which was our fault for not doing. The pizza was also very expensive and flavorless. It tasted like greasy cardboard. There are many better alternatives for pizza in Bethesda, and I would suggest one go elsewhere. The kids pasta and meatballs ($7) were okay, and the meatball was actually tasty. I had the puttanesca linguini, which was marginal at best. The pasta was mushy with this dish too.
(1)
Chris F.
Solid pizza the guys who works the lunch counter is great and a hilarious Italian dude
(4)
Izzat A.
I've been here two more times and this place is very average.
(3)
Danae M.
Amazingly mediocre.
(1)
C. B.
I dined here for lunch on a Saturday. I came in with a party of 6 shortly after 1 p.m. The salad course was wonderful. My one complaint about this part of the meal is that vinaigrette salad dressing that had separated was served in a tiny plastic cup. Some of my salad was coated in olive oil while other leaves were flavored with straight vinegar. The pizza by the slice was served cold and rather rubbery. The flavor was unexceptional. The lasagna was watery. Spaghetti was also served cold. The table service was ok. The wait staff was happy to warm up the cold pasta. Yet, pizza arrived seconds after the salad course with the table cluttered with plates. The two non-pizza entrees were then quite delayed in reaching the table. I don't think I would have been quite as disappointed if this was a cheap, order-at-the-counter kind of place. I just felt like my party spent too much money for lukewarm, bland food in a cold atmosphere.
(2)
Becca L.
I wouldn't go here. My friends and I were in downtown Bethesda and one of my friends chose this place. I didn't even know it was a chain, so I can't comment on how this location compares to others. I will say, though, that I will probably never find out, and that is A-OK with me. 1. Decor--WTH with this decor??? I am the least visually oriented person on Earth, so if I'm noticing a problem with your interior design, you have a REAL problem. The lighting is really bright and weird, they have cheap, plastic blue chairs, blue booths, two TVs showing sports (Saturday night) and easy listening playing in the background. Ummm....AND you're charging 18-30 for entrees? The place looks like a cheap sandwich shop with an identity crisis. 2. Wait, what did you just place on my table? Over-sized slices of wonder bread with orange smears on them and a bowl of oil? Interesting choice. 3. Salad that came with the meals? Bad. Lettuce. Huge chunks of green pepper. A few tomatoes and cucs. All in an oily, bland, generic balsamic. I make WAY better salads at home. 4. The pasta is meh. And everything is pretty much served on a huge bed of pasta. So, everything is served on a huge bed of meh. 5. I ordered a chicken dish. The sauce tasted okay, but the chicken was low-quality meat. Ick. Some of my friends' dishes again had okay sauce, but it was nothing spectacular. CERTAINLY not worth the price. I don't complain much about over-pricing, but this is clearly a restaurant skating by on people's willingness to pay, and they're NOT EVEN TRYING to make quality products. The service was fine, but overall the dining experience was not an experience at all. It was a time of confusion, disappointment, and consternation (when the bill came). It's really too bad considering all the options around here that offer far better.
(1)
M H.
I don't know what ANY of these people are talking about. I go here for lunch 2-3 times a week and it's awesome. The guy that runs the joint, Chris, is awesome. He remembers the regulars, remembers your preferred beverage and slings pizza like it's his job (well it is, but you know what I mean). Never tried their fancy dinner entrees or anything, but for a lunch spot in Bethesda, you can't go wrong.
(5)
John D.
Mamma Luccia's Bethesda location is by far the best! I've gotten to know a few of the staff so that definitely helps the quality of service I've received there. Plus the servers are also the ones serving as interim bartender most nights, which greatly increases the generous portions of boozing while dining. They are a keeper in my book, way better pizza than most places in Maryland no doubt!
(4)
Deanna R.
I was so disappointed in this restaurant. The pasta sauce was bland and the brushetta was awful. There are too many good Italian restaurants to go to this one.
(1)
Katie P.
Overall, best pizza I've tasted in the area. A little too far from my home in Germantown for take out, but I order here at work from time to time. Slices are tasty, but can be very greasy if you order anything with meat on it. Pizza is thin and can be soggy. I recommend getting the spinach and ricotta pizza or pepperoni (despite some sopping up of the grease with a paper towel, it hits the spot!). A bit expensive... a large cheese will run you an easy $20. Two slices with toppings and a soda will run you about $10.50. Staff is always nice. They have TVs too if you want to catch a game. I've had their chicken parm sub-- it was ok. Nothing to write home about. I have definitely had worse (and better). Linguini with clams is their only pasta dish I've tried. Honestly, I make it better! Overall a solid choice in the Bethesda area. Compared to other restaurants around, they are actually reasonable!
(3)
Kevin L.
The lunch pastas at nine bucks a pop are supremely filling. I picked the Spaghetti con Salsicce because I was craving something with a little bit of kick, and whatever kind of sausage they used in this dish delivered. I'm guessing that they make the pasta to order, because it definitely took a good couple of minutes for our food to come out. Using cooked pasta nuked to reheat it definitely would have taken a shorter amount of time. Given how light the late lunch load at around 1400 hours was, it wasn't from the kitchen traffic load based on customer demand. Service was super polite and accessible. Again, this could have been a function of the fact that we were one of three tables seated while we were here. I'd like to think that they're just on the ball. It may be wise to validate that your server understands what you order because 1) ours spoke with a heavy accent and 2) I'm clueless on how to properly pronounce "Spaghetti con Salsicce" and would rather not end up with some obscure mystery meat in my grub. I wouldn't necessarily qualify this joint as cheap eats, but it's quite affordable, considering the volume of food offered. Again, we've discussed my gluttonous behavior. If I were a little more conservative, I'd definitely have packed half of my meal for home. Well, consider this my little attempt at keeping gyms and personal trainers from sinking into the fiscal quagmire of our current economic times.
(3)
Martin B.
Not the best place I've been to. Inside it's clean, and the service is really quite friendly. However, the food was not worth the price of admission. My girlfriend and I ordered a 14" white pizza, with pepperoni. It was a cold wintry day outside and we thought pizza would be a comforting meal. The pie itself is pretty big, with six large slices (it filled us up for many many hours); but it did not taste very great to me. In fact, it lacked much flavor at all. Maybe my taste buds were just outta wack because of the cold outside, but it simply didn't have the kick of a white pizza at, say, Kavanagh's (which is where I usually order white pizzas). If the pizza had cost $13 or $14 it would have been a fair deal, but instead we paid $18 before tip. If you've got money to burn then this place wouldn't be bad. And if the entrees are as big as the pizza (relatively speaking) then it might not be such a bad deal. But if you want pizza, look elsewhere.
(3)
Christine L.
My friend and I went to Mamma Lucia for the pasta. When I looked at the menu, all the pastas only had 2-3 other ingredients and many of the pastas were overpriced. I ordered a spicy penne. The noodles were overcooked and just tasted mediocre.
(2)
lindsay b.
Despite the preponderance of negative reviews, I like this place. It is a little pricey for pizza and pasta, so it's the kind of place I only go when a friend or family is in town (then again, what isn't overpriced in Bethesda?) But for the price you do get pretty delicious food. I love the bread and olive oil they give you to start off with. I've also tried several of the vegetarian friendly pasta dishes,including the eggplant parm and the ravioli. The cream sauce is especially good. The pizza was also good, as I remember, though not anything really exceptional. The drinks, while also a bit pricey, are nice and strong, so you really won't need more than one. I've been here 4 times now, and every time I've come away stuffed, happy, and pleasantly buzzed. I call that a success.
(4)
Laura W.
Compared to the Mamma Lucia's in Silver Spring, this place is just not as good - in terms of the ambiance and the service. I'm surprised at reading all the glowing reviews of service here. Both times I have been here, the waitresses have been pretty surly, to the point of food being literally thrown down on my table in a rush. The first time I went to this location, the bf and I might have been the only people in there, so there was definitely no need for the hurry. Sunday nights, as I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing, aren't great nights to come here. I took my parents here - they loved the Silver Spring location, and they love generic Italian food - so this was perfect. Except that it wasn't. We got seated at a dimly lit table stuck awkwardly in between the dining room and the pizza counter. My parents are both getting on in their years, so it seemed inconsiderate of the hostess to seat older people there where it was hard to see the menu. I mean, they actually had to use a pocket flashlight to be able to see the menu. Even worse, on this Sunday evening, there was a big birthday party for a gaggle of screaming, very poorly behaved 7 year olds who were running all around the restaurant. If there was ever a reason not to reproduce, this would be it. Parents, if nothing else, this is a great place to take your horny pubescent teenagers to and have the sex talk with them. So, do yourself a favor, and avoid this place at busy times, when the clientele and the servers are at their obnoxious peak.
(2)
N B.
Slow service and overpriced food. We were tossed around by 2 or 3 other servers and when we finally ordered the pizza, it was really disappointing. Hardly any sauce, way to much cheese. Peppers could be hardly seen and mushrooms that definitely came from a can. A $25 pizza that I could have made myself for much, much less. If you're in the area, Haven is a simply a better choice.
(1)
Manasi K.
If I can give them 0 stars, I would. Bad food, bad service, pricey for no reason. First they messed up our order, and then charged us more than what we had expected when we ordered. The waitress didn't mention replacing some toppings will add extra price. The bread was not good and you had to look for the pizza toppings. You got the point, right?
(1)
Elena P.
I can't understand how anyone could give this place less than 5 stars - let alone 1 or 2! I think they're just haters. Let me begin by stating why I'm qualified to write this review: I'm from NY and I come from an island where people do not eat anything but Italian food. I used to eat pizza and pasta 4 times a week. That being said, this place was rockin'! Let's start with the wine: kick-ass. I got the chianti and it came in a HUGE glass and was MORE than half full. If the owners read this, I'm sure they'd be pissed because the staff is practically giving the stuff away! I love it. Next up: Bread. Now, I saw some people below call it 'garlic bread' - and they were disappointed. Well, that's because unless they ordered 'garlic bread' it wasn't garlic bread; it's just *bread* ... and I must say it was also amazing. It's shaped like regular toast but it has some wonderful hints of tomato and Italian spices. Dip that in the yummy cheese/oil goodness that they give it to you with and you'd understand why me and my friend got another basket once we devoured the whole thing. Entree: Fettucine Alfredo. I'm still dreaming of this yummy goodness. The sauce wasn't so thick that I felt ill afterwards. In fact, I took a break and was *almost* able to eat the whole plate! (Trust me - no small feat. The fettucine might as well have been falling off the sides). It was the perfect balance of fettucine and alfredo and I enjoyed every tasty bite and wish it wasn't 800 calories so I could go back there today and eat it every day for a week. My friend and I skipped the dessert to catch our movie and we didn't have any problem with the service. It wasn't terribly crowded, it wasn't loud and everything tasted delicious, satisfying and not sick-to-your stomach overwhelming ... a recipe for Italian success in my book. I hope you can all go there and enjoy it just as much as I did (PS - it was a Friday night around 8pm)
(5)
Allison A.
Went here last night when the restaurant we had originally planned on going to had too long of a wait. Cons: -lots and lots of kids running around -we sat by the floor to ceiling windows and it was breezy over there -food was very basic and a generic pasta dish was $13 Pros: -our waitress was great and VERY attentive -our wine was good -we didn't feel rushed -the bread brought out before our meal was delicious -did I mention our waitress was great? Overall, the experience was not bad, but I feel like the prices on the food need to be lowered.
(3)
Jack J.
How hard is it to deliver pizza? Waited almost 2 hours for a cold, overpriced pizza. Thanks for nothing.
(1)
Angela M.
Hubby and I had a hankering for Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe, but we went at 9pm on a Friday without reservations - denied. I'm sure I would have had to have been peeled off the floor to be taken to my table after the hour long wait due to the fact that we showed up starving. We decided to walk around and see what looked good, smelled good or most importantly, didn't have a line outside; lo and behold, Mamma Lucia's. The interior really wasn't too extravagant. It had simple sky blue walls and some cool lamps that looked like a bunch of red blood cells floating in a sea of unoxygenated blood; well, that's what came to mind, anyway. There was a HUGE bridal party there doing their rehearsal thing and it was a ripe 80 degrees inside. Don't know why they thought that turning the AC off and opening the doors was a good idea, but I was thankful we were close to the doors. The garlic bread and dipping sauce they serve you is decent, but not something I need again. The basic salad you get with your meal isn't too tasty unless you love the taste of green. The dressing helped, but to me, it was just ok and I love green. Hubbs wouldn't dig in to his, so this hostess with the mostest (who was actually nicer and more helpful than our waiter) offered other salad options. He chose Mamma's Insalata Especiale....aka Mamma's Special Salad and oooh is it. This salad is utterly amazing: field greens, bleu cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, covered in a raspberry vinaigrette. When I go back, I'm getting that salad and adding chicken to it. It's gonna be good! The spaghetti carbonara (he substituted angel hair pasta in) was very good. It had a nice creamy sauce with maple-flavored bacon in it. My chicken fettuccine alfredo was good; I liked the extra cheese added into it, but the chicken tasted like Chinese food chicken. I can't explain. We also had "tiramisu" and it's in quotes, because it wasn't tiramisu in my opinion. It had the espresso-soaked lady fingers, mascarpone cheese, but no chocolate shavings as advertised and they put plain whip cream on top (a good tiramisu will have Kahlua in the whip cream) and they covered in it chocolate syrup. It was ok, but I would call it Knock-off Tiramisu instead, just to be fair. We enjoyed our meal at Mamma Lucia's, and now know what to get when we return. It turned out to be a nice evening that we'd like to do again when the AC is on.
(4)
Mike B.
We knew we should have got up and left from the first moment that the basket of stale toast was placed on the table. The food ranged from atrocious to below average. My 7 year old nephew could cook better with his eyes closed. It's comical how bad some of the dishes were. It reminded me of the National Lampoon's European vacation movie when they go to the restaurant and the cook is in back cooking microwave dinners and putting them on a nice plate. We had to send back the Pasta Siciliano because the pasta was completely overcooked, the sauce was bland and each bite tasted somewhat rancid. The calimari was bland, the pizza tasted like cardboard, the caprese salad was disappointing. Oh and the "dipping sauce" for the stale garlic-y toast was so greasy, it makes me want to wash my hands just thinking about it! Save yourself the time, money and heart-burn and just pick up something from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store, you will do infinitly better.
(1)
Matt O.
Pepperoni and chicken parmigiana on a pie = good times. This review is limited to pizza offerings -- firm lunch meetings usually involve a big order from Mamma's -- but what I've eaten is almost good enough to bring me up to Bethesda outside of the work week for a sit-down meal here. Almost. The pie is that generic middle-America pizza, heavy cheese, heavy dough. What distinguishes this place from its brethren, though, is that Mamma's uses good ingredients. Cheese, sauce, toppings (even the green peppers) all are fresh, and I don't get the sense these guys are playing around with any high fructose corn syrup behind closed doors. Tried to get a square slice once, but it was well after the lunch rush and they were all out. Their round certainly isn't my preferred style of pizza, but they do it quite well. I'd like to drop in after work and try the pasta sometime. Might not be worth a dedicated trip out to the 'burbs, but that's the case with most restaurants.
(3)
Tom D.
We went here for a group lunch. The ambience is a bit chilly and the thermostat set a bit too warm. Seemed as though the food was a bit uneven, but the pizzas were quite good. The Mama's Special White pizza with artichokes, roasted red peppers and mushrooms was very good. They do a pizza special on Tuesday nights that might be worth checking out -- and I would opt for a seat outside if available.
(3)
Debbie S.
What a terrible place. The pizza was soggy and undercooked, the grilled chicken that came on the salad was so dry that I did not even eat it, and the pasta made me think Chef Boyardee was in the kitchen. The bread was burnt on one side (after we had to REQUEST it), The meatballs were not firm, which means they had more fillers than meat, and the taste was so unremarkable that the kids even commented on the lack of taste. DON'T GO ... in this economy, they need to make it worth it to hand over $60. It was not just mediocre; it was BAD.
(1)
Roberts G.
Very good pizza, very mediocre pasta (comically huge portions, drenched in uninteresting sauce). Very slow service was mitigated by two comped glasses of wine. Agree with the comments about the bread.
(2)
J C.
I was really disappointed. The service was great, but the food was not. I got the penne with eggplant (siciliana) and it was terrible...the tomato sauce had no taste other than from the massive chunks of garlic mixed in. I definitely could have made it better at home. My husband got the spaghetti with sausage (salsicce) and it was much better, but still not great. If you want good pasta at reasonable prices in Bethesda, I would recommend Red Tomato or Pines of Rome (although the latter can get very crowded). But, the other dishes here may be better...it's got so many locations, it must be doing something right.
(2)
Eugene H.
Tried out this place for lunch. I heard the pizza was good but my co-workers and I ended up getting a pasta, sandwich, and lasagna. The end result was pretty much average for this area. The service was pretty good when we went, but the food was nothing to shout about.
(3)
Maria A.
Mamma Lucia is definitively my favorite place to go have a home style (Italian style) pizza. None of the yucky too thick crust stuff, and none of over done toppings that leak oil from sid This pizza is almost perfect. Yes, I said almost, because depending on the day, and who makes it, the pizza can go from 95% perfection to WOW. I am picky when it comes to pizza. Growing up in Italy, definitive trained my palate to the original stuff. I must say I can eat Pizza Hut if I am hungry, and I do like it. But if I want something special Mamma Lucia is the place to go. My roomie who is half Italian and grew up in the New York City area and whose favorite food is a well made pizza, Loves this place. After relocating from the NYC area she and I went on a quest on finding great pizza, one day hungry out of our minds we ate at a stand at a home Expo. It was glorious and since that day we have been hooked. I must say I have visited all the stores of Mamma Lucia, and never incurring a bad experience. The stores in suburbs of Maryland tend to be a bit nicer in the decor and the food always formidable. Pizza is not just their only specialty, is my number one dish I prefer here, but I have tried their pasta and meat dishes and they are always delicious. My frequent visit stores are the Bethesda Elm St location, which about a year ago expanded. Their pizza is definitively the best ones of all stores. For some reason is just thin enough and has the perfect amount of toppings. Delicious! This location has a large bar area with a vast choice of liquor. The area is equipped with nice big plasma TVs to watch the game at. During cool summer days, outside sitting is also offered. The College Park location, my other frequent visited location, offers delicious pizza and is definitive larger than the Bethesda location. It is a 2 minute drive from Ikea, so perfect for those shopping days. Unfortunately they carry 2 types of wine, a red Luna Merlot and a white Luna Chardonnay. Nothing fancy but both wines are very adaptable to the Italian cuisine. During lunch time the Bethesda and College park location are waiter less, so its a come in, order, sit chit chat and peel your eye for when the food comes out, so that you can go pick it up. In the evening this changes and the white cloth comes out at full force with an always friendly servers. Overall rating= 9.25 (I wished they carry more wine choices at my favorite locations.) This is the place to take your family for a low key evening.
(4)
Chelsea M.
I've been eating here for over 4 years at this particular location. I love their greek salad because they are not stingy with the fetta cheese. I absolutely love their Salmon Rosa pasta. You are served hefty portions and I love it. Their chocolate chip cannolis aren't bad either. The ambience is chill and family oriented. If you want luxury this is not the place. They specialize in great food not great interior designs,lol.
(4)
Jon H.
First, let me say that the best pizza in DC is by far at Pizzeria Paradiso. However, if you are from NYC or Boston and are craving a slice like you have at home, this is a pretty good substitute. I have never had anything else on their menu and judging by the reviews below, I probably never will. But I can honestly say that their regular and Sicilian pies are great. Good sauce, the right amount of cheese, perfect crispness to the crust, and just enough grease to make you feel like you're at home. I know it's a chain, but in a city with very few pizza joints that do it right, this place has pizza by the slice perfected.
(4)
Kyle U.
If you appreciate good food - DO NOT GO HERE. This place is a travesty - and an offense against all decent Italian food everywhere. In a fatuous attempt to compensate for a lack in food quality, they dress this place up to be unfoundedly pretentious and glossy and just overtly and disgustingly tacky in regard to the entire dining experience. What you have here is a place where a bunch of soccer moms and freaks end up overpaying for crappy food and thinking they are hip or something. Idiots continously flock inside at night to drink and eat the crap and are totally fine about it. If only they knew what they were doing... this is a perfect parallel to modern American society in general in which you have a bunch of people paying for something they don't want or need (war, killing for profit) and may not even be aware of or questioning it. Totally tacky. If you can't even get pizza right, how the hell do you think you're going to be able to do anything more culinarily complex adaquetly? The "pizza" is like no flavor tomato paste and low quality cheese on a dried out saltine cracker. Imagine the most dried out bread where it hurts your teeth to eat and that pretty much sums up all of their crusts - even the sicilian. If you can't make sicilian, don't even try. This is an outrage. The stromboli was garbage here. Forget about it. The salad was weak as well. They cut up the vegetables awkwardly. The meat and cheese tasted like they used oscar meyer bologna or even the generic Safeway brand stuff. This is unfair and an act of flagrant disrespect. If they only had a clue. I ate there probably 8 or 9 times before I heard something that made me physically sick and forced me to stop going forever. Two unrelated and trustworthy sources confirmed a story about a disgruntled employee who was observed to be masturbating in the back of the establishment a number of times. Management eventually found out and terminated the problem worker. This person remains unprosecuted by the law. A one star rating is the lowest rating possible to be awarded to an establishmet. I will only give this rating to places in which a potential diner or food enthusiast will be severely dissapointed and when personal safety and food service laws and standards are or are in danger of being violated. This place should be watched under close scrutiny until it improves. This and other "negative" reviews of this restaurant give this establishment an opportunity to improve and regain its status as being dinable. I have made note of the problems of this place using specific details so that the owner or manager may address each problem and conquer it. In conclusion, only you, the diner has the correct amount of chromosomes, education, and experience to make a succesful decision concerning what and where to eat. Knowing what you know now about this establishment and other 1 star places, how will you excersise your freedom to dine with confidence?
(1)
Terry S.
Best pizza in Bethesda! And a large pizza means a large pizza.
(4)
Hannah C.
eh -- that's all i can really say about this place because they really skimp out on their cheese. but this is truly a biased review since all i had was beer and two slices of white pizza. the crust was at least 1.5 inches...leaving my friends to ask for some marinara sauce on the side so we could all dip our crusts. however, the sauce tasted funny (and we all know that the sauce makes the pizza), and i realized that it's probably made from canned tomatoes. nothing against canned tomatoes...it's just not fresh, and you can totally taste the aluminum taste that's absorbed into the porous tomatoes. but i will give them half a star more for the bread and olive oil they serve you in the beginning. all that flavor of both the garlic and oil, combined with the bread was so delicious that i would go back here just for that.
(3)
Cat B.
I've been on many an awkward date at Mamma Lucia's in Bethesda. Yet I still love the place, and that's saying something. Perhaps it has something to do with the extensive wine menu... This place has a beautiful set-up, good (albeit a little cliche`) music, and a large pizza that'll feed you for days! Apparently, the ambiance is a lot more tony than some of the other Mamma Lucia locations around the DMV, so maybe put on the clean t-shirt before you head out to Mamma's. Not required, of course. Afterall, it is Bethesda, the home of the Crocs and socks look. Lookin' for some good pizza pie or maybe a good serving of gnocchi (like your nonna used to make)? Stop in to Mamma Lucia's ASAP... and make sure to leave the belt at home. You won't be needing that after dinner.
(4)
Bruno C.
This place is good for families, I would not take a date there nor would I eat there by myself. The place is always packed with kids. Pizza is good, but not great. Prices are reasonable. There's not much more to it than that.
(3)
John W.
While not a raving fan of the Mama Lucia's chain, in general I think they're ok, and I happily return to the Mama Lucia's on Rockville Pike once every month or two. However, one dining experience was more than enough when it came to the Mama Lucia's in Bethesda. Right away, I knew something was different about this Mama Lucia's. While the Rockville location is downright homey and plain in its interior, the Bethesda location is bordering on swank. Unfortunately, that was the one and only pleasant surprise of the evening. In chronological order of blunders: * We were told it would take about 5 minutes to be seated. 25 minutes later, we finally received a table. While guesstimating seating time is an imperfect art, this wasn't an excusable margin of error. If nothing else, it should have at least led to offering us free drinks and/or something to nibble on. * We received a table--joy! 10 minutes go by, and no waiter shows up to take an order. Not even a glass of water. At this point, I manage to flag down the maitre d' to inquire if we might have a waiter to go with the table. To her credit, she apologizes and, after failing to sort the problem out immediately, takes our order directly. * Our waiter shows up and apologizes for the confusion, blamed on a shift change. (Note: shift changes aren't a novel challenge for restaurants--this isn't an excuse, it's a flat out blunder.) * Neither the Maitre D' nor the waiter think to make sure that we get our bread and olive oil while waiting (we know to expect this from eating at other Mama Lucia locations, and because our dining neighbors haven't been similarly stiffed). We eventually convince another help staff member to bring us some bread. * The food is ok, certainly no better than other Mama Lucia locations. Stay away from the veal--it certainly didn't justify the ethical quandaries over whether or not the beasties are humanely raised. * Getting refills on our drinks is a challenge. At this point in the evening there are two competing theories to explain our waitresses consistent absence. Theory X: She is a heroine addict and, in the midst of a bad trip, is instead serving invisible patrons in an abandoned building nearby. Theory Y: She is a stealth ninja... who sucks at being a waitress. * When the bill finally arrives, not only was nothing taken off to compensate for the service foul ups, but we were actually double charged for one of our drinks. True to form, after our ninja junky waitress dropped off the bill, she was no where to be found. The maitre d' was also mia at this point. And eventually another waiter, who must have sensed our misery, just offered to take my credit card and correct the bill. In short: lackluster food, horrific service, and the first 1-star review I've given on Yelp.
(1)
Andy T.
I have eaten at Mama Lucia in downtown Bethesda twice. A few months ago I had pasta with great calamari app. And last week had some of the best pizza I have come across in DC. The atmosphere is a tad spartan relative to the more homey decor of many Italian restaurants, but the service is good and they do not rush you out the door, which I appreciate. The pizza and its fun location will definitely keep me coming back.
(4)
Jenny R.
What a disaster. They put us at a teeny tiny table. Then it took an hour for them to make our pizza. They put it on the table where it was literally on top of our plates. As soon as I picked up the slice from my plate, it knocked over the pizza pedestal, knocking over our glasses of water and getting ice all over both our slices and the table and causing the pizza to literally land on top of my purse sitting on the floor under the table, covering it with pizza sauce. It was embarrassing, but the waitress said it happens several times a week (likely due to the tiny tables and the rickety pizza stands). They came and said they would make another pizza to replace our pizza but would only make a smaller one because we already had two slices, despite the fact they both slices were literally covered in ice. Then we waited another hour and asked about the pizza. They announced that it was almost ready and proceeded to bring out a pizza that had the wrong toppings. I would have just accepted it because we had already been there for two hours if my table mate weren't vegetarian. They said they would pick off the meat and add the toppings we had ordered, but my table mate didn't want to eat something that had touched animal products. Anyway, I just asked them to change the order to go, so they brought us a pizza twenty minutes later to go. We went home and I opened the pizza box only to find that they hadn't even cooked the toppings into the pizza. They literally took a cheese pizza and dumped raw canned mushrooms and other raw toppings onto the pizza, which all slid right off the pizza revealing a plain cheese pizza. I couldn't even take a bite of it because it was watery (from the canned mushrooms) and gross looking. I threw it in the trash and ordered zpizza. Grossest dining experience of my life, slowest service ever (three hours of my life wasted), and an obnoxious manager, although everyone else was very nice. I will never ever ever ever EVER be back!!!!! Absolutely disgusting! Plus, I spent $36 on a pizza that was indelible! Only eat here if you enjoy puking!
(1)
Natalie F.
Hands down best Calamari and Marinara sauce. So flavorful and Delicious! I love the bread and garlic butter sauce, it's so dangerous. The pizza is so fresh and hearty too. I love the dough, it's not like some pizza that can be really airy and bland. Everything I have every ordered has been incredible. The staff and owner are so nice too! I work down the street so I eat here frequently. Whenever I stop by after getting off work to grab a slice they are so nice and always give me a good sized slice. They are so nice:)
(4)
Jason J.
Wildly over-priced: $20 for a large pizza and $20 for a linguine with clams pasta. All of which might be worth it, if we were talking about gourmet pizza and pasta. But this is run-of-the-mill food of the Dominoes, Pizza Hut variety. To be fair, the crust is fresh-made and much better than Pizza Hut. But this is about all you need to know about the quality: The mushrooms on the pizza are from a can. On the plus side, on Tuesday's they give you a second large pizza for $3.
(2)
Cor K.
Ahh Mama Lucia's....The love/hate relationship I have with this restaurant is nauseating. I suppose I am still stuck on the Rockville location, and have transfered my emotions from Rockville to Bethesda. I've been there before with a huge group of friends to split a pizza and that was nice. But last night when I got the pasta carbonara I was very upset. They used huge chunks of bacon, not pancetta, and my sauce separated into an oily mess. My friend and I sat there for a good twenty minutes with our menus closed, purposefully not talking, waiting for our waiter to stop by and take our order. We even made eye contact with the guy as he walked towards us with nothing else in his hands, but he still brushed us off. Finally, we got another girl to take our order, I saw her yelling at our waiter later. After that he was quick and got everything to us promptly, only messing up my order of dressing on the side for my salad, which could have been the fault of our original order taker. All of their pastas are simple, and are boxed and dry, which is why I was so surprised to see a simple tomato sauce to be $ 13. Also the air conditioning was broken and it was over 90 degrees outside. The only reason I gave this place three stars is because Of the rockville location, and the decent pizza. Get it to go and avoid the terrible wait staff.
I used to love this place. It used to be packed. It's not the same anymore. The food quality has gone down, and the pizza has lost a lot of taste. They also over-cook pizzas a lot of the time. It's NY style and not bad. When it was good--- it was great. It's just average now and I am always disappointed because it used to be so much better. I would rather eat Ledos. I am a pizza snob and connoisseur.
(2)
Ebie B.
Not sure why all the hate towards this place. Mamma Lucia's has been a Bethesda staple for years. I went here in High School and I go here now as an adult(ish). I love that they deliver although I wish they did a better job of keeping the food warm during delivery as the pizza sometimes arrives cold. But it's still delicious. The sauces they use are flavorful and fresh and the veggies are always perfectly cooked. If you haven't already, DEF check out their white pizza with broccoli. Now if they could only find a way to improve the crust (which admittedly is not very good) it would be perfection in pizza form. They offer a number of great specials such as half-price bottled wine night on Wednesday and buy an entree and get a second pasta dish for $3.99 on Mondays. It's a great place to go with a group of friends or family as you'll save a considerable amount of money. And for everyone complaining about the amount of children there- its family-friendly vibe helps add to its charm. Yes screaming children are annoying, no you can't hold that against a restaurant. There's too much to love about their food to nitpick these sort of things. And you always have the option to eat outside during the summer. All in all a solid place, good salads, pasta and pizza. If they continue to make quality food, I will continue to frequent this place.
(4)
Vicki R.
I've been to Mama Lucias on many occasions but yesterday was my first dinner experience. Let me begin by saying the service was exceptional from the host to our waiter Javier. My coworker and I were seated as soon as we arrived and hot bread and water was brought out soon after. The bread was served with an olive oil mix which was absolutely delicious. The menu was very extensive. That caused my coworker to take a while making her selection. She finally decided on a shrimp pasta dish and I of course had the combination pizza. We shared a bottle of Chardonnay while we waited. *They offer 1/2 off bottles of wine on Wednesday. This was a nice surprise. When Our food arrived we dug right in. Everything was delicious. The only downside was the number of children in the restaurant. The restaurant had a daycare vibe and took away from the relaxing after work experience we were looking for. With that said, it's an excellent place for families.
(4)
Max S.
Where do I begin....HORRIBLE! The service was slow, the food came out late, and my order was incorrect, but I can live with these imperfections on a busy Saturday night. It was food quality and management's attitude that rubbed me the wrong way. After consuming the below-average frozen calamari appetizer, some type of orange toast, and salad soaked in poor quality balsamic vinegar, I ordered veal parm and specifically asked for all of the sauce on the side. I like veal crispy so I usually request this to avoid eating a piece of soggy meat drenched in sauce. After 3 visits to our table apologizing for the slowness of the service, and the fact that the fire alarm was ringing for 30 minutes, the owner/manager returned for his 4th visit, and yanked the plates with our meals out of the server's hands; clearly an effort to demonstrate his authority and displeasure. He set them down in front of us for that personal touch. My veal and pasta were saturated with sauce! When I politely reminded The Boss that I asked for all of the sauce on the side, he asked if I would like another plate. I declined, as I was in no mood to watch my buddies ravenously consume their meals as I waited for an undisclosed amount of time. So, I dug in.... The sauce was so acidic that I wondered if it could dissolve the paint on my plate. Also, the veal was burned, which could possibly have been the source of the fire alarm. Again, I could live with slow service and messing up my order; however the food was so bad and the manager's 5th visit to our table really got to me. He said: "What can I do to make this right?" At this point I just wanted him to go away and leave us alone, so, with an apparent look of annoyance I shrugged and said: "Don't worry about it." Now, I guess you're thinking, why didn't you just tell him the meal sucked and you didn't want to pay for it? To be honest, I just wanted him out of my face and no confrontation. I also felt that my displeasure was so apparent that his question was rhetorical (a sensible owner would compensate the table in an appropriate manner). Withing a few short moments after his departure, I could feel my ears getting warm, my blood pressure rising; the audacity of the owner asking me that question. It felt like I was being manipulated into begging for compensation! Even if I did request a comp, it is my opinion (based on observing the owner's behavior), that he would have declined, got defensive, or offered an insignificant token like a free cannoli. Sorry chief, not going to happen, and not going back....E V E R!!!!
(1)
Mitchell B.
They gave us a reason to always come back. We were there with our 2 girls and David and the staff made them feel like princesses. A great family restaurant!!!!
(5)
Elaine B.
I have been frequenting Mama Lucia's for over a decade and enjoy every item on the menu from their yummy pizza to the calamari, subs and pasta!
(5)
Deby G.
I love this place! They are so kid friendly and patient! The food is great and the manager is amazing and very community oriented. We are there all the time!
(5)
Maggie B.
Okay, so let me start this review by saying I know nothing about Italian food. That being said, the service is always great, the pizza is fresh and delicious, and it's a great atmosphere. They have great deals (half price wine on Wednesdays, deals on pasta on Mondays, and pizza deals on Tuesdays), and they always go out of their way to ensure your meal is just what you want. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Loring P.
What's not to love about eating fresh baked flat bread with a gazillion toppings and the occasional anchovy while listening to the Rat Pack croon away? Bethesda's Mama Lucia is a hidden gem on the side of Bethesda Row. Ample wine bar. Fantastic pasta selection! Be prepared to slap the feedbag on here, cause the place rocks on all cylinders. I love this restaurant.
(5)
Steven S.
As a New York pizza/italian snob, this place makes great pizza and great veal dishes and meatballs. Great sauces and pasta dishes too. Highly recommend!
(5)
Kate C.
So bad. The only redeeming quality is that I can sit outside with my dog and they bring him water. The pizza is horrendous, the pasta was gross, and the atmosphere inside left a lot to be desired. You want Italian? Go to Pizzeria Paradiso or 2Amys.
(2)
Sonia E.
This place was great, it was clean and very reasonable. Service was great and who I believe to either be the manager or owner was so friendly and he sold us on Monday Pasta Night. Had we not ordered wine my company of three could have eaten a delicious dinner for about $11/person. Their Penne Siciliano- perfect! Their portions were so big, I now have leftovers for tomorrow's dinner. Excellent service, amazing food, and the right price. Highly recommend!
The pizza here is the closest to NY style that I have had since moving to the area. The outdoor seating is perfect for a breezy Spring/Summer day, and the area of the Bethesda is top notch. We look forward to visiting Mamma Lucia's again in the near future.
(4)
John L.
We were visiting from out of town for a week and found this Italian restaurant. I'm thinking that in contrast to others who disparaged this restaurant, I would certainly not have returned on two additional evenings if I was unhappy. The service was excellent on every occasion; the food was very good and the management was concerned and appreciative. The servings were so robust that after the first evening we decided to split the entree. The server was very accommodating and split the entree on separate plates for us. Trust me, it was a challenge to finish half a serving. The salads we ordered were excellent as well - perfectly dressed and fresh. I feel very confident in recommending this restaurant regardless of the negative reviews. BTW, I am not that easy to impress.
(5)
Travis C.
Subpar food. Pasta was ok but not for an Italian restaurant. Pizza was not good and they used cheap ingredients, don't order that. Staff was friendly. So food was just ok, but pricey for just ok.
(3)
Julie G.
Oh Mamma!! I just don't get how this place can stay in business. The decor is horrendous...dated, dingy and dirty. I'm a foodie but realize I can't eat like that with my 3 kids so decided to take them here for pizza. The pizza and meatballs were fine. Nothing great, but good enough for the price. But the atmosphere and service left a LOT to be desired!! The menus all felt grimy, the pizza holder that they put down was dirty. Everything had a "not clean" feel, and I had to stop myself from looking too closely at anything. Even one of the plates, although not dirty, was so old it just looked dirty and totally unappetizing. YUCK! I would only come back here to eat outside with my kids...for pizza only. Oh, and the bread they lay down on the table...what is that? Toasted, thin slices of bread rubbed with tomato and hot pepper?? Not tasty. The server was polite but then vanished. We kept looking for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Never checked in on us. Wish they would clean up their act so I could take my kids here more often!
(1)
Amy W.
We were pretty disappointed with both the food and service at Mamma Lucia's. It was a busy night and while we were seated promptly, we waited 10 minutes for someone to bring us bread and 15-20 for the waiter. When he arrived at our table he just looked at us like we were some kind of zoo animals. No introduction. No "thank you for waiting". No "can I take your order". Just staring. Finally I asked my husband if he was ready to order and the waiter said "I'm ready when you are". Seriously?! We ordered dinner and wine. And were promptly brought our $10/ glass wine in water glasses. It's an Italian restaurant and they ran out of wine glasses. Come on. Waited another 30 minutes for dinner to come out. My chicken and pasta were bland. Not in any way worth $20 a plate. Then we waited another 20 minutes for the waiter to stop flirting with the high school girls next to us so he could bring us our check. At the end of the night, there was no "thank you" or "sorry for the wait". Just a check for an over priced and disappointing evening. Could it have just been an off night, too busy for the staff and we fell through the cracks? Maybe. Too bad for Mamma Lucia, we won't be coming back.
(2)
B N' B 1.
Easy pizza and wine, mgr refilled wine glass on house Tried the: Pizza Wine 4/5
(4)
Kealoha2u M.
I liked the place... Atmosphere was lively...all of the staff was friendly and courteous...the Owner David greeted us at the sidewalk and showed us to the hostess, who seated us at a corner table...as soon as we were seated the wait staff brought out warm toasted garlic bread and filled our water goblets...immediately after that the waiter arrived and took our beverage order...we ordered a bottle of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay '12...within 3 minutes he was back with the bottle, glasses and a bucket of ice...he offered me to try the wine, the wine was good but my company was/is way better ;-), he then asked if we would care to start with an appetizer and recommend the Cozze Verdicchio (mussels in white wine, garlic and lemon) btw an excellent choice, as we tore into the mussels he returned about 5 minutes later to see if our appetizer was to our liking and asked if we had any questions he might be able to answer, he recommended the veal Vitello Sorrentina (eggplant, prosciutto, mozzarella in a Marsala wine sauce) it was an excellent choice too! The sauce was mild and the mozzarella was thick and it came with a healthy side of spaghetti in a light marinara sauce.. but I get ahead of myself...after the mussels I had the Italian Wedding Soup and the wife had the Caesars Salad, the Zuppa was excellent! Mild broth with macaroni, kale, Italian Sausage Meatballs and more mozzarella... Everything that came from the kitchen was steaming hot!! Both of our Entrees were pretty good, the wife had a Penne Pasta with Sausage and Peppers in a cream sauce dish, good amount of seasoning (though I like a lot of garlic when I make Italian dishes), so good that we pretty much just kept passing our plates back and forth:D after the entrees I ordered a double espresso ( I am the DD ) really good espresso, not burnt tasting like Starbcks, and we shared an order of Tiramisu (needs more Marscapone and Espresso) while the Lady finished the wine....all in all it was a good meal with excellent service in a friendly fun place, not too sure where some of the other 1 star Yelps have had Italian food before but I have worked with some top chefs from NYC to DC, SF, Honolulu and have tried a lot of restaurants over my 53 years of living and traveling/moving across the country (4x west to east coast and back) with a couple times to Hawaii and Europe and let me tell you there are some really bad Italian joints out there but Mama Lucias isn't one of those... Elm Street in Bethesda is pretty lively so try to get a table along the sidewalk... you won't regret it. Our waiter was excellent and impeccable in his service and (timing is everything) was spot on! Ask for Arturo, he'll take good care of you.. spent about $125 with the tip...5 course meal with a bottle of wine in Bethesda? I know I got off cheap lol...
(4)
Steven S.
I dont know why this place is rated 2.5 stars, we have gone out of our way to come back here because the food & service have been outstanding. And I'm very picky about my Italian food. The owner makes it a point to visit every table to make sure everyone is satisfied. If ur in the area, give it a chance, u won't be disappointed!
(5)
Michelle A.
The food was absolutely delicious! The garlic bread was thin, crispy and flavorful. And the dipping sauce was so yummy. The Manager, David, was by far one of the best restaurant managers I've ever met! He pulled the table out for me to get into a tight spot and brought my son a smorgasbord if pastas to try! Amazing customer service! An all around delightful dining experience and I can't wait to go back next time I'm on vacation!!
(5)
Matt L.
There's two types of Italian restaurants. The first being the family minded, passionate, love put into every bite establishment. Then there is the here's your food, eat and get out type of establishment. Unfortunately this Mama Lucia's location falls into the latter category. A younger wait staff, and no evident presence of management appear to be the cause of this. Friday nights around 9 PM may just not be a good time to go, which is a shame as that is money making time on the Row. The food quality was solid. Bread service was uneven (Some burnt) but complimentary. The Cheese Ravioli red sauce was excellent and had a tad of kick. The Spaghetti Carbonara is heavy on the cream side, but the bacon is cooked perfectly as was the pasta. Entrees are priced nicely, and are generous servings that leave enough for a box. Management here needs a greater commitment to excellence in terms of service and customer experience, but the food quality is there. Hopefully this was just a bad night for the staff
(2)
Kathy P.
We stopped in this afternoon for a early dinner and were treated to a wonderful meal. Everything we had was served hot and fresh, and the portion sizes were large. The best was saved for last; we both ordered Canolli's and they were off the chart awesome!! I would highly recommend this restaurant for almost any event, big or small. We will certainly be back the next time we're in the Bethesda area!
(5)
Hans O.
If you want and like good Italian food, don't go here. Please don't. This is maybe a step above Olive Garden in quality, but much more expensive. If 5 people order 5 different dinners and none are worthy of praise, that says a lot. All the pastas were overcooked, the meatballs were bland and even the spicy tomato sauce was tasteless. It all tasted like Spaghetti O's out of can. I had halibut and my wife had chicken cacciatore. Both were dry and tasteless, even with their respective sauces. The service however, was excellent. But, we go out to dinner for the food. And this meal was a complete waste of money. Our mistake, not reading the Yelp reviews first! I just hope potential diners read this one before wasting their hard-earned dollars at Mamma Lucia.
Went here for lunch on my 17th wedding anniversary with hubby and two out of my four wee ones and had a really nice lunch. From the time we walked in until the time we left, the server and the manager/owner(?) were very attentive and nice. It wasn't overbearing and phony like some places when you feel them trying too hard either. We ordered calamari and a large cheese pizza and of course, had some of the free seasoned bread slices with olive oil for dipping. I love the olive oil and wish they would bottle it and sell it. It's garlicky and cheesy and just plain yummy. The calamari wasn't just the rings but included the tentacles which are my favorite. I think our waitress even asked them to throw in a decent amount along with the rings. The only thing that perplexes me is why most places don't seem to salt their calamari. I mean I can certainly do it myself and I did but it would be nice if they seasoned them in the back. We also tried dipping them in the olive oil mix and it was actually really good. I told you I loved the stuff. The pizza was hot, great crust, great flavor and we didn't leave any to take home. I have tried the pasta here in the past and I really enjoy it. This is one of only two places that I will order pasta when I eat out. It's so easy and inexpensive to make a home that I just can't usually bring myself to order it when dining out but the Pasta Carbonara here is soooo worth it. Rich, heavy and full of guilty pleasure. I also had one with salmon and a vodka cream sauce before but didn't check to see if it was still on the menu. I do wish they would update the place a little. It felt a tad bit old and dingy and had a bleachy cleaner smell when I sat down at the table but the open air probably keeps it aired out. Mamma Lucia is a tried and true place and this location seems to be consistent in the kitchen and consistent with service. Now if they would just season that calamari.
(4)
Chris S.
Love this place. Amazing service, really good food! Just honest people. I owned an Italian restaurant before and I'm Italian, and this place is the bees knees. Would highly recommend this place.
(5)
Mark S.
Don't ever order the delivery. For $35 I got a silver dollar size piece of salmon a little bit of spinach, and maybe a decent salad, but who knows, they didn't include a knife or fork. Then if you call them for some help you get the runaround.
(1)
Zachary M.
We ordered a veggie pizza and a ham pizza from them. The toppings on the veggie were plentiful, but those on the ham were pretty sparse. The cheese and sauce were average - not good, not bad. The worst part, though, was the crust. It was so tough you actually had to hold the crust with your teeth and pull the slice with a fair amount of force to rend it apart. Not appetizing - they really need to work the dough less, or try to make it lighter somehow, because this was worse than national chain pizza.
(2)
Kathy M.
Mamma Lucia has GREAT food. Their have a bacon & kale dish that is delicious! In addition to serving pizza, which is quite popular, they also have good salads. FYI: they can get very crowded and a bit noisy depending on when you go, but the food is worthwhile.
(5)
Laura L.
I've been a regular at Mamma Lucia's for many years, and I've always been happy with the food and service. But on my most recent visit, I became a raving fan!! My kids and husband love the pizza, but since I can't eat sugar, gluten or dairy, I prepared myself for a salad with dry chicken and balsamic dressing. What I hadn't accounted for was how accommodating David and his staff would be. I told him about my restrictions, and he produced the most beautiful, delicious Italian meal that completely exceeded my expectations: grilled chicken on a bed of spinach with mushrooms and garlic and marinara sauce: oh heaven!!! I was floored. No sugar, no dairy, no gluten. But insane taste? Check!! No easy task, let me tell you. I am a forever fan of Mamma's now! Thank you David and staff for incredible customer service and (let's not forget) fabulous food!!!!
(5)
Dawn D.
We showed up thirteen strong... six adults and twelve children. The staff rolled with the punches and we had a smooth and relaxing evening. Our server moved seamlessly through taking orders and keeping everyone happy. When I saw him bending on one knee to take an order directly from our youngest table mate, I was sold. Our drinks were well made, the food was good, and the children were happy. Four stars for smooth, speedy service and well prepared food. My husband is a Johnson and Wales trained chef and enjoyed his dish. He inquired about and was told that the meatballs are handmade - a must for a fresh Italian dish. Whoever compared this place to the Olive Garden... well, they eat at the Olive Garden, so take that review with a grain. This is one of the only chain restaurants we eat at so can't compare it to other chains. We only know we had a great time. One removed star because they don't have enough restroom space for the restaurant size, and the restrooms needed some attention. Bonus: the manager is an Alabama fan. All Bama fans should eat at Mama Lucia's! Roll Tide Roll!
First, the pizza was solid. Not great but not bad. Ordered half the Mama Special (good) and the other half we had the meat part of the special taken off. Got the bill and they charged for the entire special, plus for the veggie toppings on the other half. Doesn't make sense to me. A $31 pizza definitely doesn't make sense when it's just as good as any other chain restaurant around town. Other things I didn't like was how one tv showed ads the entire time, the bathroom was really dirty, and how they shoved our leftovers into a smaller pizza box (this included folding half of the pieces just to get it in there). Needless to say I will never come here again. On another note I have frequented the Rockville location numerous times and have always loved the food and service there. Lastly the pizza at the Rockville location was ten times better than this place in Bethesda.
(2)
Bryan W.
I can't believe the reviews are all over the place. I had a wonderful dinner this evening and the service was top notch. The lasagne was one of the best i've ever had. I'd eat here again...and again...and again...
(5)
Endrias L.
The service was great hear but the food was not. The pasta was over cooked and the Alfredo sauce tasted like it was out of a can.
(2)
Steven L.
This restaurant did a tremendous service. They allow my veteran's organization to hold our weekly Bethesda post run socials here. What better place can you ask for? The beer and wine discounts on Wednesdays are great as well. The manager Dave was friendly and polite. This week they gave us our own room. You guys rock! See you next week!
(5)
Michelle G.
Very disappointed. Nothing seemed like it was cooked fresh. Everything was a reheat from frozen. I buy better ravioli at Costco. And it's a much better price.
(1)
Dan Y.
Ordered a stuffed shell at Mama Lucia, waited 30 min and got served ravioli. I told the waiter that he got the wrong order but was old that it was 'stuffed shell ravioli'. Right when I started eating the ravioli, the waiter snatched the dish from my fork lightning fast and gave it to a table down the isle, and gave me the shell I ordered. I called the manager and told him it was disgusting that they served the dish that I was already eating to another table and he told me to mind my own business. I think two kids end up eating those ravioli.
(1)
Nick C.
Ok pizza. Pasta dishes are just over cooked and sauce is just ok. I do continue to eat here because co workers insist. Only thing worth ordering in pizza. Pizza here in ok but there are much better dining choices in the immediate area. Did order delivery once and got lunch size tortellini. Received a smaller than kids size tortellini. Stick with the pizza if you must go . I think they serve Viccaro cannoli which is good. So to recap pizza - marginal and cannoli - good. Stay away from all pasta dishes.
(2)
Charles M.
Really bland food. The worst italian food we've had in years. We had four dishes and they were all poor to mediocre. The worst restaurant on bethesda row.
(2)
Jennifer F.
The pizza is always fresh and delicious! The service is quick and the orders are always accurate. The owner / manager (?) and staff always makes sure things are running smoothly and they even give pizza crusts to your dog while waiting outside! Very welcoming and good food.
(5)
Mark S.
I've ordered the Linguine Putanesca four times now. Twice it was wonderful, a delicate balance between the tomatoes and the anchovies and olives. Really world class. The other two times it was either bland and uninspiring or utterly overwhelming. I get it that it is difficult to hit the heights every time and I get it too that there are different cooks. But, it shouldn't be like rolling dice when ordering a dish either. They can do better than that. I'm disappointed and won't order it again if I return. The salad was wonderful.
(2)
Jacob M.
Tasty, well prepared food at a reasonable price, friendly and efficient staff, comfortable setting -- Mama Lucia's is an excellent choice for comfort food and an informal dinner with friends.. When we were there, despite having 3 very large groups, the kitchen and wait staff performed flawlessly.
(4)
Margaret N.
Family style restaurant... Service is a bit slow and food is okay, nothing mediocre... Would recommend if you're going with a large group!
(2)
Marc L.
Traditional Italian without pretense We stopped by Mama Lucia's on a week night when hungry and without the energy to cook. We're glad we did. Mama Lucia is a throw-back to old-school Italian food before it got all foodie and pretentious. All the old favorites are on the (huge) menu: ravioli, lasagna, minestrone, you name it. And they're all very well prepared: the pasta is al dente but not hard. The spices are restrained, but evident. The portions are huge: we took home a lot of food. The ambience is mid-level traditional. (Red checked table cloths would have been a nice touch, if maybe old-school over-the-top...) The service is efficient if not overly friendly. We loved the outdoor seating in the newly warm Bethesda spring weather. We were there early, so the place was full of young children, but not so loud we couldn't talk. One item to note is that the manager or owner is much in evidence. When the bartender didn't know how to make the drink I ordered (a Negroni), the manager came over, noted the ingredients, and made a great one himself. He chatted in a friendly but not overbearing way with almost every table, making sure everyone's experience was a good one. Management oversight like this goes a "long* way to ensure customer satisfaction. In our case it sure did. In short, Mama Lucia is a great traditional Italian place to take the kids or mom and dad, or for an after-work pleasant dinner.
(4)
Hayes W.
Let me start by saying our service was top-notch. Our server Kalen (sp) was nothing short of professional, especially for (allegedly) being two weeks on the job. Keep him around, that was the best of the experience. 5 stars for our server. We ordered the following: -Calamari appetizer -House salad -Filet special (can't remember the exact name) All were mundane and boring. The calamari was most definitely frozen for at least a few days before being luke-warmed up and served to us. The salad wasn't bad, but if you mess up a house salad I'm leaving your place and never coming back. The special was brought out and looked delicious enough, until I wrapped my fork in the spaghetti. It was rubbery, plain, and lacked any sort of flavor. I had to literally cover every bite in pepper just so I could taste something. The filet came out presented nicely, but we were never asked how we wanted our filet done. If I'm paying 30 dollars for a piece of meat and some lame pasta, I want the steak done my way. The one redeeming quality about the dining experience was half-off bottles of wine (every Wednesday), just enough so that we could drink away the lame taste of pasta. Won't be making a trip back here any time soon, only reason it doesn't get one star is for service.
(2)
Erica R.
I am surprised by the negative reviews of mamma Lucia's. Their pizza is excellent!! NY style, try the mamma's white with artichokes and roasted red peppers. The penne vodka is also mine and my husband's favorite. I seem to remember the pasta bolognese being tasty as well. I've always had a solid experience here, and will keep coming back
(4)
Jennifer P.
I am surprised by the truly negative reviews. Honestly surprised. I am originally from New York and pretty demanding when it comes to both Italian food and dining out. In the 12 years we have lived in Bethesda Mamma Lucia has been a reliable staple in our lives. The food is always delicious and the price point cannot be beat. Even if they are having an occasional off night in terms of service or timing (which happens everywhere), the food is always good. We often eat there with large groups of friends or if family is visiting from out of town - there is something for everyone. Though not inexpensive the pizza is terrific. I have never had a bad pasta dish there. The salads are fresh and the garlic bread and dipping oil are wonderful. The garlic knots are a must. We take advantage of the Monday night pasta special (buy one pasta and get the second one for $3.99) almost every week, and the similar pizza deal on Tuesday nights. We love the chicken francese, the pasta in pesto and the whole wheat pasta option. I highly recommend trying it - you won't be sorry.
(4)
Melissa M.
During a recent stay in Bethesda and being in the mood for pizza, I saw the Domino's in downtown Bethesda but wanted only a slice and didn't want anything from a chain. Using Yelp, my bf and I found Mamma Lucia and decided to give it a try. We ordered 3 slices. The guy behind the counter was very nice. We took the slices back to our hotel to eat and they were delicious! Comparable to any NY mom and pop shop pizzeria. I'd def return to order pizza the next time I'm in town and in the mood for pizza. I also saw diners eating Italian food that looked delicious!
(3)
LaToya E.
Great service and great pizza.. What more do you need?? I went out for a pizza dinner night with my sister and her kids and the staff was amazing... Making sure we're taken care of and satisfied and the pizza never disappoints in my opinion..
(4)
Peter Y.
I went here the other day and had a very strange and unique experience. We all wanted to go out for pizza and we wanted something more high end than a typical Dominos pizza so we chose Mamma Lucia's. When we arrived, we noticed it was half off bottle's of wine on Wednesday nights. We obviously took up the opportunity and ordered a bottle of wine. The waitress comes back apologizing that they did not have the bottle of wine we had chosen unopened. As she was explaining this to us, the manager came up behind one of us and whispered in his ear, "Give her a hard time." So jokingly he did give her a hard time, as a mere joke though. Right after telling him to give the nice waitress a hard time he began to think that we were seriously upset that the bottle of wine was unopened and we were unable to get our choice at half price. He began to get very defensive and cause somewhat of a scene outside where we were sitting by raising his voice. This was all very strange to us because we were first of all joking when we said why don't you have the bottle we want and secondly the manager was in on the joke?? We are still confused about it but it made all of us uncomfortable and made other guests view us. Anyways, we ordered our pizza and were given 2 unopened bottles of wine about half full each for the price of half of one bottle. This was pretty nice of him. Overall, the pizza was great but it was honestly was a bit dry, a little grease would have been nice. The place is very nice but the service that we experienced was definitely a spectacle.
(1)
I A M.
we were eagerly anticipating a early dinner of delicious pasta on Labor Day, only to find that the Mamma Lucia of Bethesda was not nearly as good as its Silver Spring counterpart. E.g., pathetic linguini in an adequate white clam sauce (the clams were fresh and tasty, however), overly sauced capellini in pesto and sausage was better, and the salad was decent. a side order of sauteed spinach was disappointing; bitter and un-inspring. There is no excuse for mediocre food in downtown Bethesda. save your money and go to Tragara or one of the independent italian restaurants. If it has to be Mamma Lucias, the one in Silver Spring is better, and it has gelato!
(2)
Jen F.
I was not impressed by this Mama Lucia. I've been to other locations and the food here was just not up to par- not even to the College Park location. The service was shabby. The food, also shabby. I got spicy penne with marinara and if it wasn't for the parmesan cheese, the pasta would have been a struggle to eat. The penne a la vodka was the same situation. I want to come in and teach this place what real Italian food is supposed to taste like. The crowd here is equally as bad as the food. Milfs, teenage girls, and every annoying societal group in between. No. Just no.
(1)
Mark T.
I definitely should have yelped this place before. The reviews are spot on. It is without a doubt the worst Italian food I have ever had. Clearly frozen meatballs that taste like dog food. The pasta is not fresh and the sauce is watery has no fresh herbs and definitely comes from a can. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!
(1)
Carley M.
My job tends to order from here a lot. and one of the reasons is it gives us variety since i am gluten free. and they advertise that they are gluten free with some of their options. i dont agree. the owner is nice but his staff is silly. they gave me gluten free pasta once with bread for a side. lucky i asked prior to eating it because it was not gf bread. then, twice they had to bring me a new meal because they brought me fettuccine which i know from going there often is not gluten free there. only the penne is. lucky i didnt eat it and get sick. another time they forgot my order entirely. this gets really annoying and i dont recommend it to anyone who has a wheat or gluten allergy because i feel like they falsely advertise the GF options. (they dont even have it on the online order you have to add it in the notes)-- while everyone else in my office is eating pasta and pizza, I am eating chips. yum.....
(1)
Ellen V.
Perhaps the worst restaurant meal we have ever had. Greek salad, covered in balsamic vinegar with no oil. So strong we could not eat it. Bread coated with some red goop that looked spicy and in fact had no flavor at all. Pizza with almost no tomato sauce and cheese so bland you could not tell where it ended and the soggy crust began. Ham so bland it tasted like plastic. Words cannot begin to describe how terrible the food is. One star is too many for this place. We ate so little and were still so hungry that we went to another restaurant afterwards for actual food.
(1)
Joshua H.
We were visiting from out of town and meeting friends at the nearby park. With two toddlers and two preschoolers, pasta places are always a good bet. And, for the kids, this place was fine. Little kids don't mind poorly cooked pasta, thin and flavorless sauce, and bland cheese. Little kids are happy to chow down on touch pieces of toast, painted in bright orange oil. Little a kids already know to avoid the cheap olive oil and raw garlic provided for dipping. And little kids are happy to chow down on plain, overcooked broccoli. If I were rating this place based on food for the price I'd have to give it one star. Sure, no one got sick, but for these prices I'd expect them to know how to prepare pasta and cook a basic ragu. But we got to sit outside and it's hard to be unhappy with 70 degrees on a March evening. Plus the service really was good - they got food in front of the kids within 10 minutes of sitting down and they responded promptly to every other request. Also, I stole a few bites of a 2 year old's pizza and that was really good. If we come back, that's what I'd get.
(2)
Mike U.
My family and I have been big fans of the Mamma Lucia restaurants for ten years. We have been regulars at both the Frederick and Sliver Spring locations until we moved to VA in 2011. We were in MD and decided to go out of our way and eat here and I sorry to say that we were disappointed. This location did not come close to the level of quality we had grown used to at the other locations. The other places made us feel welcome but this location felt like a take-out window masquerading as a restaurant. The place was pretty empty compared to the other restaurants and now we know why the locals would rather wait in line and in some cases sit outside and wait than eat here. The pasta was greasy. Not oily, not watery but greasy. The tomatoes tasted like cardboard, the raviolis and meatballs were bland and the sausage tasted like hot dogs. I've been to a lot of Italian restaurants and I can't recall a pasta dish being greasy. The only reason we gave it one star was because of the bowl of bread. For the price point, the customer deserves better. ps- I submit this with a heavy heart because we really liked Mamma Lucia's. It was the first restaurant our daughters ate at (with their hands of course) and where my wife chose to celebrate her birthday and a few of our anniversaries.
(1)
Sarah A.
Slow and poor service on a Saturday night, mediocre over-priced food. Regret.
(1)
Serafina B.
The pizza itself is one of the better tasting delivery options in the immediate area. However I recently placed a $300 catering order (all pizza) and it arrived twenty-five minutes ahead of when I'd requested it be delivered. I understand that it's better to be early than late, but I'd already factored in a small buffer so the additional twenty-five minutes meant we were all eating cold pizza for lunch.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Jenny J.
My meal from Hell. They apparently forgot to put in our order, because it took forever to arrive. They seated us at a tiny little table. When the pizza finally did arrive, we knocked it over trying to eat our slices, because our plates were literally under the pizza (The table was THAT small). The waiter said this happens all the time, but they complained about cooking a new pizza. When we finally got the bill, they had charged us for two pizzas. It wasn't our fault they seated us at a comically small table. They finally agreed to not charge us for the second pizza, but this was just a very frustrating day. We were in the restaurant for a total of 146 minutes (I counted), waiting for our pizzas in a virtually empty restaurant. I suspect the guy making the pizzas was in the back drinking or something. This was horrible service and a horrible location. Also, they used canned mushrooms! If you're going to charge $25 for a pizza, at least use fresh mushrooms! I wouldn't let my dog eat here!
(1)Matt M.
When they had one restaurant in Rockville the food was awesome. They have slipped a long way since then. My most recent experience at this location was dreadful. The service was slow (and they were NOT busy), the food was also slow in coming (kitchen vs. wait staff), and some of the food was tasteless. Even the pizza (originally some of the best in the area) was chewy and salty. The manager tried to make it right, but he could only do so much. He couldn't make the food come faster after the fact, and while he did offer to give us something else, it was already late (after having to wait so long for everything). To add insult to injury, they now have these "TVs" in the restaurant that play constant commercial advertising. As if anyone wants to sit in a restaurant and watch annoying commercials. Truly outrageous! I'd rather sit in MacDonald's than this place now. Mama Lucia's used to be a great standby with consistently good quality and staff. It's certainly off that list for me.
(1)Scarlette T.
i wasn't very impressed with their pizza but they are pretty quick with delivery (mind you i live two blocks away). yes i know you're judging but when i'm cozy at home in my pjs after a long day, i don't feel like getting dressed again and walking out the door. true for the bethesda and north bethesda/rockville locations (not gaithersburg): the gamberetti alla montese is pucker-kiss-fingers-to-lips-perfection. the shrimp are chunky and meaty, i taste the crab flavor (the meat has disintegrated but that's ok). flavor is pretty good too. yum!!!! yes it's expensive but when i've had a crapola day, i look forward to a hot bowl of this delivered with some of their great garlic bread.
(4)Lauren Y.
one of my favorite homestyle Italian restaurants in the MD area. My first experience was last October at the Silver Springs location, where my bf and friends had to carbo-load before the Marine Corps Marathon. That's when I fell in love with their garlic bread, cheesy garlic oil dip and the Veal Bolongnese.. mmm. The pasta always comes piping hot and HUGE portion. I couldn't finish it all, but it was yums. The garden salad was a let down though. TOO oily and way too much vinegar in the vinegrette. The leaves were all soggy. Thumbs up: Pastas. Everyone enjoyed theirs Thumbs down: oily salads
(3)Aaron M.
My family talked this place up so much, so I was expecting the best. However, I was very, very unimpressed. First of all, when we came, there was a huge party there, making everything noisy. I'm not talking pleasant noisy; I'm talking "I can't hear myself think" noisy. Think lots of screaming kids, with parents that drank WAY too much wine to be able to discipline their screaming brats. They did offer to reseat us, an offer that we took them up on, but it did little for the noise. Next, the food. I ordered some king of dish that had crab, shrimp, and lobster in it. For $23.95, I expected it to be delicious. WRONG! The seafood definitely wasn't fresh, the sauce tasted like it came out of a can, and the flavors just didn't go well together. It was a huge disappointment, and considering the price that was paid, a rip off as well. The service wasn't bad, per se, but there was nothing remarkable about it. I've heard this place has amazing pizza; I've never tried it, but the atmosphere would keep me away for sure. Go to Vace if you want none of the BS, just straight up good food.
(1)C P.
Great pizza. The crust is nice and flaky. Much better than all the other delivery places in Bethesda.
(4)Evan H.
If you are looking for an Authentic Italian meal like the one your grandmother would make, this isn't the place for you. If you are looking for pretty good Italian-American cuisine and at a reasonable price, this is the place for you. I've been eating at the Rockville location since there was only a rockville location. It has always been pretty decent, though I can agree with some other reviews here saying that the service at this location, Bethesda, is lack luster. While I have had mediocre experiences in the past, this review is a culmination of those meals, plus take-out last night. Sometimes I feel silly ordering take-out from an Italian restaurant which I could probably replicate most of the meals at home, but my parents and I were feeling Italian and so I brought food over to their house. One thing about ML is that their portions are HUGE. I mean huge. Even when you get take-out, you have two meals with every order (dinner and lunch the next day). This meal was no different. As far as I'm concerned, the food here is pretty good. There are plenty of better Italian places to eat in the DMV, some of which are around the same price (like Luigi's in Dupont), but ML is still decent. Overall, Id give this place 3 stars for their huge portions, decent Italian-American food and average service. I still prefer their flagship location in Rockville, but this place has its benefits.
(3)Heather J.
I have been to other Mama Lucia locations and have enjoyed the food, but this location is sub-par. I went this time for lunch with my mom and neither of us was impressed. She got a salad and asked for the dressing on the side, and it came covered in dressing. I got a chicken parmesan sub, and the breading on the chicken was soggy and flavorless. The cheese was melted on the outside of the sandwich, so I had to peel it off and put it back on so I could actually get some cheese with each bite of the sandwich. It came with fries, which I'm almost positive were just grocery store frozen fries. And I saw the pasta entrees the people at the table next to us were eating, and they looked awful. It's not good when you can tell the pasta is overcooked just by looking at it. The service was fine, but not super friendly. The only positive, really, was the bread - it comes with a tomato sauce on it and a seasoned olive oil that are both really good. I wouldn't return to this Mamma Lucia location.
(2)Alicia G.
Mamma Lucia's has never been a part of my regular lunch rotation but it has potential. The lunch rush had clearly subsided as Kevin and I were seated and had menu in hand within a minute of stepping in. This is the benefit of having a late lunch. Kevin ordered a pasta dish with sausage and I opted for the chicken francese that came with a side of penne. We happily snacked on the toasted bread that came with a dish of olive oil and fresh garlic for dipping. If you know us both, you know how chatty we are. Given that we hadn't seen each other in over a week, you can only imagine the volume of things discussed as well as the speed at which we are able to talk. I supposed I didn't notice that it took a bit for our food to arrive because we were talking - but had we been in more of a hurry, this might have really annoyed me. The food was enjoyable but I wasn't necessarily impressed. My chicken was drowning in sauce - thankfully it wasn't a heavy sauce. My pasta was served in a tomato sauce with chunks of tomato. It was good but I definitely ran out of room and only ate about half of it. Kevin devoured his pasta dish and seemed pretty pleased with his choice. Mamma Lucia hasn't quite made its way onto my usual lunch rotation but perhaps after a return trip to try their pizza by the slice, this could very well change.
(3)Mitchell M.
Always a trustworthy, great local family restaurant with great pizza (NY style) and fantastic Veal Saltimbocca. Spent Christmas Eve - special menu - Feast of the Seven Fishes made for a special night with our family. Highly encourage people to make it an annual tradition. David Kottler is a great addition as the manager and host. Feel like I am back in the North End in Boston.
(5)Phi N.
I just ordered pizza here; not even sure if they offer anything else. It was thin slice, not too big a fan of that. I had one slice with sausage and pepperoni, the other was a slice of white pizza. The white pizza was better but I thought they were both pretty good. 4 slices, and 2 drinks for $18. Probably better off going to pizza hut, getting a whole pizza, wings, and a 2 liter bottle... Oh well, gotta try things to see if you like it yourself. By the way, I think they sit and serve you at dinner, but for lunch you order up front and sit yourself.
(3)Katherine K.
Mrs. Lucia may be rolling in her grave. The pizza was fine and dandy. Very tasty and pleasing to the olfactory senses. Price was little steep though, it's just dough, tomato sauce, and cheese right? Anywho, the food is pretty good here, and maybe the place is just following Bethesda convention and over pricing everything. My only issues with the place, and this is a big issue! They have these breads slices they give with your meal. Dont know what is going on with them, but they looked like stale oily bread which they give you with a tub of olive oil and garlic to dip into. I felt a little greasier just looking at it. Now did good ole Mamma really serve stale oily bread to her family? If so I am glad she is not my Mamma!
(3)Jonny V.
The service is fine and the food is good; the ambience, however, leaves much to be desired. It's right in between an intimate Italian restaurant and pizza parlor in terms of decor, and the volume of the music seems to increase as the night goes on. It looks like a great place for high schoolers to find other high schoolers who want to hang out at the Regal 10. As for Bethesda Row Cinema, not so much.
(3)Brett M.
Sauces are too sweet. Food is bland. There are many other Italian restaurants in DC. Skip Mamma Lucia if you can.
(2)Omeed S.
gross food + stomach ache The title says it all. The food is gross, covered in oil and cheese, low quality meats and pasta, and you'll end up with a killer stomach ache all night. Save your $20 per entree (RIDIC FOR SUCH CRAPPY ITALIAN) and eat elsewhere!
(1)Olivia L.
Man, I can cook better pasta. Seriously. First, you have to drain all the water using a collander or sieve, then you have to put the cooked pasta in a pan with the sauce and cook it for a few more minutes to marry the flavors and starches. What you do NOT do is take pasta from a giant vat, dump it on a plate and add some watery sauce and call it a $13-20 dish. My order of mussels in red sauce came with so much liquid that it spilled out of the pasta bowl, onto the table, and down the table to the sidewalk (the sidewalk slants, hence all the tables slant) and then onto my shoes. Good thing the new purse was on the other side of my feet. Also, don't ignore your tables just because it's late. If I have to ask the busboy for everything, and you've only got two tables, don't expect a nice tip m'kay?
(1)Kate A.
If you like Italian food and want to have leftovers, this is the place to go! The pizzas are HUGE, and the pasta dishes also can made into at least 2, if not 3, meals. The atmosphere is definitely more of a family place; NOT a good venue for a romantic date.
(3)Nick S.
In the future, I will avoid this restaurant. For a family of four, including two kids meals, the $100 price tag was way too steep for the quality of the food. There are many better options in Bethesda. Our meal started with stale sliced white bread with a strange orange oil spread on it. They also provided a tasteless garlic and oil dipping sauce, both were kind of gross. The clams and white wine sauce (21.50) was tasteless, cold and watery. One would think that they could cook pasta properly, but what was served was overlooked and mushy. We should have sent it back right away, which was our fault for not doing. The pizza was also very expensive and flavorless. It tasted like greasy cardboard. There are many better alternatives for pizza in Bethesda, and I would suggest one go elsewhere. The kids pasta and meatballs ($7) were okay, and the meatball was actually tasty. I had the puttanesca linguini, which was marginal at best. The pasta was mushy with this dish too.
(1)Chris F.
Solid pizza the guys who works the lunch counter is great and a hilarious Italian dude
(4)Izzat A.
I've been here two more times and this place is very average.
(3)Danae M.
Amazingly mediocre.
(1)C. B.
I dined here for lunch on a Saturday. I came in with a party of 6 shortly after 1 p.m. The salad course was wonderful. My one complaint about this part of the meal is that vinaigrette salad dressing that had separated was served in a tiny plastic cup. Some of my salad was coated in olive oil while other leaves were flavored with straight vinegar. The pizza by the slice was served cold and rather rubbery. The flavor was unexceptional. The lasagna was watery. Spaghetti was also served cold. The table service was ok. The wait staff was happy to warm up the cold pasta. Yet, pizza arrived seconds after the salad course with the table cluttered with plates. The two non-pizza entrees were then quite delayed in reaching the table. I don't think I would have been quite as disappointed if this was a cheap, order-at-the-counter kind of place. I just felt like my party spent too much money for lukewarm, bland food in a cold atmosphere.
(2)Becca L.
I wouldn't go here. My friends and I were in downtown Bethesda and one of my friends chose this place. I didn't even know it was a chain, so I can't comment on how this location compares to others. I will say, though, that I will probably never find out, and that is A-OK with me. 1. Decor--WTH with this decor??? I am the least visually oriented person on Earth, so if I'm noticing a problem with your interior design, you have a REAL problem. The lighting is really bright and weird, they have cheap, plastic blue chairs, blue booths, two TVs showing sports (Saturday night) and easy listening playing in the background. Ummm....AND you're charging 18-30 for entrees? The place looks like a cheap sandwich shop with an identity crisis. 2. Wait, what did you just place on my table? Over-sized slices of wonder bread with orange smears on them and a bowl of oil? Interesting choice. 3. Salad that came with the meals? Bad. Lettuce. Huge chunks of green pepper. A few tomatoes and cucs. All in an oily, bland, generic balsamic. I make WAY better salads at home. 4. The pasta is meh. And everything is pretty much served on a huge bed of pasta. So, everything is served on a huge bed of meh. 5. I ordered a chicken dish. The sauce tasted okay, but the chicken was low-quality meat. Ick. Some of my friends' dishes again had okay sauce, but it was nothing spectacular. CERTAINLY not worth the price. I don't complain much about over-pricing, but this is clearly a restaurant skating by on people's willingness to pay, and they're NOT EVEN TRYING to make quality products. The service was fine, but overall the dining experience was not an experience at all. It was a time of confusion, disappointment, and consternation (when the bill came). It's really too bad considering all the options around here that offer far better.
(1)M H.
I don't know what ANY of these people are talking about. I go here for lunch 2-3 times a week and it's awesome. The guy that runs the joint, Chris, is awesome. He remembers the regulars, remembers your preferred beverage and slings pizza like it's his job (well it is, but you know what I mean). Never tried their fancy dinner entrees or anything, but for a lunch spot in Bethesda, you can't go wrong.
(5)John D.
Mamma Luccia's Bethesda location is by far the best! I've gotten to know a few of the staff so that definitely helps the quality of service I've received there. Plus the servers are also the ones serving as interim bartender most nights, which greatly increases the generous portions of boozing while dining. They are a keeper in my book, way better pizza than most places in Maryland no doubt!
(4)Deanna R.
I was so disappointed in this restaurant. The pasta sauce was bland and the brushetta was awful. There are too many good Italian restaurants to go to this one.
(1)Katie P.
Overall, best pizza I've tasted in the area. A little too far from my home in Germantown for take out, but I order here at work from time to time. Slices are tasty, but can be very greasy if you order anything with meat on it. Pizza is thin and can be soggy. I recommend getting the spinach and ricotta pizza or pepperoni (despite some sopping up of the grease with a paper towel, it hits the spot!). A bit expensive... a large cheese will run you an easy $20. Two slices with toppings and a soda will run you about $10.50. Staff is always nice. They have TVs too if you want to catch a game. I've had their chicken parm sub-- it was ok. Nothing to write home about. I have definitely had worse (and better). Linguini with clams is their only pasta dish I've tried. Honestly, I make it better! Overall a solid choice in the Bethesda area. Compared to other restaurants around, they are actually reasonable!
(3)Kevin L.
The lunch pastas at nine bucks a pop are supremely filling. I picked the Spaghetti con Salsicce because I was craving something with a little bit of kick, and whatever kind of sausage they used in this dish delivered. I'm guessing that they make the pasta to order, because it definitely took a good couple of minutes for our food to come out. Using cooked pasta nuked to reheat it definitely would have taken a shorter amount of time. Given how light the late lunch load at around 1400 hours was, it wasn't from the kitchen traffic load based on customer demand. Service was super polite and accessible. Again, this could have been a function of the fact that we were one of three tables seated while we were here. I'd like to think that they're just on the ball. It may be wise to validate that your server understands what you order because 1) ours spoke with a heavy accent and 2) I'm clueless on how to properly pronounce "Spaghetti con Salsicce" and would rather not end up with some obscure mystery meat in my grub. I wouldn't necessarily qualify this joint as cheap eats, but it's quite affordable, considering the volume of food offered. Again, we've discussed my gluttonous behavior. If I were a little more conservative, I'd definitely have packed half of my meal for home. Well, consider this my little attempt at keeping gyms and personal trainers from sinking into the fiscal quagmire of our current economic times.
(3)Martin B.
Not the best place I've been to. Inside it's clean, and the service is really quite friendly. However, the food was not worth the price of admission. My girlfriend and I ordered a 14" white pizza, with pepperoni. It was a cold wintry day outside and we thought pizza would be a comforting meal. The pie itself is pretty big, with six large slices (it filled us up for many many hours); but it did not taste very great to me. In fact, it lacked much flavor at all. Maybe my taste buds were just outta wack because of the cold outside, but it simply didn't have the kick of a white pizza at, say, Kavanagh's (which is where I usually order white pizzas). If the pizza had cost $13 or $14 it would have been a fair deal, but instead we paid $18 before tip. If you've got money to burn then this place wouldn't be bad. And if the entrees are as big as the pizza (relatively speaking) then it might not be such a bad deal. But if you want pizza, look elsewhere.
(3)Christine L.
My friend and I went to Mamma Lucia for the pasta. When I looked at the menu, all the pastas only had 2-3 other ingredients and many of the pastas were overpriced. I ordered a spicy penne. The noodles were overcooked and just tasted mediocre.
(2)lindsay b.
Despite the preponderance of negative reviews, I like this place. It is a little pricey for pizza and pasta, so it's the kind of place I only go when a friend or family is in town (then again, what isn't overpriced in Bethesda?) But for the price you do get pretty delicious food. I love the bread and olive oil they give you to start off with. I've also tried several of the vegetarian friendly pasta dishes,including the eggplant parm and the ravioli. The cream sauce is especially good. The pizza was also good, as I remember, though not anything really exceptional. The drinks, while also a bit pricey, are nice and strong, so you really won't need more than one. I've been here 4 times now, and every time I've come away stuffed, happy, and pleasantly buzzed. I call that a success.
(4)Laura W.
Compared to the Mamma Lucia's in Silver Spring, this place is just not as good - in terms of the ambiance and the service. I'm surprised at reading all the glowing reviews of service here. Both times I have been here, the waitresses have been pretty surly, to the point of food being literally thrown down on my table in a rush. The first time I went to this location, the bf and I might have been the only people in there, so there was definitely no need for the hurry. Sunday nights, as I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing, aren't great nights to come here. I took my parents here - they loved the Silver Spring location, and they love generic Italian food - so this was perfect. Except that it wasn't. We got seated at a dimly lit table stuck awkwardly in between the dining room and the pizza counter. My parents are both getting on in their years, so it seemed inconsiderate of the hostess to seat older people there where it was hard to see the menu. I mean, they actually had to use a pocket flashlight to be able to see the menu. Even worse, on this Sunday evening, there was a big birthday party for a gaggle of screaming, very poorly behaved 7 year olds who were running all around the restaurant. If there was ever a reason not to reproduce, this would be it. Parents, if nothing else, this is a great place to take your horny pubescent teenagers to and have the sex talk with them. So, do yourself a favor, and avoid this place at busy times, when the clientele and the servers are at their obnoxious peak.
(2)N B.
Slow service and overpriced food. We were tossed around by 2 or 3 other servers and when we finally ordered the pizza, it was really disappointing. Hardly any sauce, way to much cheese. Peppers could be hardly seen and mushrooms that definitely came from a can. A $25 pizza that I could have made myself for much, much less. If you're in the area, Haven is a simply a better choice.
(1)Manasi K.
If I can give them 0 stars, I would. Bad food, bad service, pricey for no reason. First they messed up our order, and then charged us more than what we had expected when we ordered. The waitress didn't mention replacing some toppings will add extra price. The bread was not good and you had to look for the pizza toppings. You got the point, right?
(1)Elena P.
I can't understand how anyone could give this place less than 5 stars - let alone 1 or 2! I think they're just haters. Let me begin by stating why I'm qualified to write this review: I'm from NY and I come from an island where people do not eat anything but Italian food. I used to eat pizza and pasta 4 times a week. That being said, this place was rockin'! Let's start with the wine: kick-ass. I got the chianti and it came in a HUGE glass and was MORE than half full. If the owners read this, I'm sure they'd be pissed because the staff is practically giving the stuff away! I love it. Next up: Bread. Now, I saw some people below call it 'garlic bread' - and they were disappointed. Well, that's because unless they ordered 'garlic bread' it wasn't garlic bread; it's just *bread* ... and I must say it was also amazing. It's shaped like regular toast but it has some wonderful hints of tomato and Italian spices. Dip that in the yummy cheese/oil goodness that they give it to you with and you'd understand why me and my friend got another basket once we devoured the whole thing. Entree: Fettucine Alfredo. I'm still dreaming of this yummy goodness. The sauce wasn't so thick that I felt ill afterwards. In fact, I took a break and was *almost* able to eat the whole plate! (Trust me - no small feat. The fettucine might as well have been falling off the sides). It was the perfect balance of fettucine and alfredo and I enjoyed every tasty bite and wish it wasn't 800 calories so I could go back there today and eat it every day for a week. My friend and I skipped the dessert to catch our movie and we didn't have any problem with the service. It wasn't terribly crowded, it wasn't loud and everything tasted delicious, satisfying and not sick-to-your stomach overwhelming ... a recipe for Italian success in my book. I hope you can all go there and enjoy it just as much as I did (PS - it was a Friday night around 8pm)
(5)Allison A.
Went here last night when the restaurant we had originally planned on going to had too long of a wait. Cons: -lots and lots of kids running around -we sat by the floor to ceiling windows and it was breezy over there -food was very basic and a generic pasta dish was $13 Pros: -our waitress was great and VERY attentive -our wine was good -we didn't feel rushed -the bread brought out before our meal was delicious -did I mention our waitress was great? Overall, the experience was not bad, but I feel like the prices on the food need to be lowered.
(3)Jack J.
How hard is it to deliver pizza? Waited almost 2 hours for a cold, overpriced pizza. Thanks for nothing.
(1)Angela M.
Hubby and I had a hankering for Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe, but we went at 9pm on a Friday without reservations - denied. I'm sure I would have had to have been peeled off the floor to be taken to my table after the hour long wait due to the fact that we showed up starving. We decided to walk around and see what looked good, smelled good or most importantly, didn't have a line outside; lo and behold, Mamma Lucia's. The interior really wasn't too extravagant. It had simple sky blue walls and some cool lamps that looked like a bunch of red blood cells floating in a sea of unoxygenated blood; well, that's what came to mind, anyway. There was a HUGE bridal party there doing their rehearsal thing and it was a ripe 80 degrees inside. Don't know why they thought that turning the AC off and opening the doors was a good idea, but I was thankful we were close to the doors. The garlic bread and dipping sauce they serve you is decent, but not something I need again. The basic salad you get with your meal isn't too tasty unless you love the taste of green. The dressing helped, but to me, it was just ok and I love green. Hubbs wouldn't dig in to his, so this hostess with the mostest (who was actually nicer and more helpful than our waiter) offered other salad options. He chose Mamma's Insalata Especiale....aka Mamma's Special Salad and oooh is it. This salad is utterly amazing: field greens, bleu cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, covered in a raspberry vinaigrette. When I go back, I'm getting that salad and adding chicken to it. It's gonna be good! The spaghetti carbonara (he substituted angel hair pasta in) was very good. It had a nice creamy sauce with maple-flavored bacon in it. My chicken fettuccine alfredo was good; I liked the extra cheese added into it, but the chicken tasted like Chinese food chicken. I can't explain. We also had "tiramisu" and it's in quotes, because it wasn't tiramisu in my opinion. It had the espresso-soaked lady fingers, mascarpone cheese, but no chocolate shavings as advertised and they put plain whip cream on top (a good tiramisu will have Kahlua in the whip cream) and they covered in it chocolate syrup. It was ok, but I would call it Knock-off Tiramisu instead, just to be fair. We enjoyed our meal at Mamma Lucia's, and now know what to get when we return. It turned out to be a nice evening that we'd like to do again when the AC is on.
(4)Mike B.
We knew we should have got up and left from the first moment that the basket of stale toast was placed on the table. The food ranged from atrocious to below average. My 7 year old nephew could cook better with his eyes closed. It's comical how bad some of the dishes were. It reminded me of the National Lampoon's European vacation movie when they go to the restaurant and the cook is in back cooking microwave dinners and putting them on a nice plate. We had to send back the Pasta Siciliano because the pasta was completely overcooked, the sauce was bland and each bite tasted somewhat rancid. The calimari was bland, the pizza tasted like cardboard, the caprese salad was disappointing. Oh and the "dipping sauce" for the stale garlic-y toast was so greasy, it makes me want to wash my hands just thinking about it! Save yourself the time, money and heart-burn and just pick up something from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store, you will do infinitly better.
(1)Matt O.
Pepperoni and chicken parmigiana on a pie = good times. This review is limited to pizza offerings -- firm lunch meetings usually involve a big order from Mamma's -- but what I've eaten is almost good enough to bring me up to Bethesda outside of the work week for a sit-down meal here. Almost. The pie is that generic middle-America pizza, heavy cheese, heavy dough. What distinguishes this place from its brethren, though, is that Mamma's uses good ingredients. Cheese, sauce, toppings (even the green peppers) all are fresh, and I don't get the sense these guys are playing around with any high fructose corn syrup behind closed doors. Tried to get a square slice once, but it was well after the lunch rush and they were all out. Their round certainly isn't my preferred style of pizza, but they do it quite well. I'd like to drop in after work and try the pasta sometime. Might not be worth a dedicated trip out to the 'burbs, but that's the case with most restaurants.
(3)Tom D.
We went here for a group lunch. The ambience is a bit chilly and the thermostat set a bit too warm. Seemed as though the food was a bit uneven, but the pizzas were quite good. The Mama's Special White pizza with artichokes, roasted red peppers and mushrooms was very good. They do a pizza special on Tuesday nights that might be worth checking out -- and I would opt for a seat outside if available.
(3)Debbie S.
What a terrible place. The pizza was soggy and undercooked, the grilled chicken that came on the salad was so dry that I did not even eat it, and the pasta made me think Chef Boyardee was in the kitchen. The bread was burnt on one side (after we had to REQUEST it), The meatballs were not firm, which means they had more fillers than meat, and the taste was so unremarkable that the kids even commented on the lack of taste. DON'T GO ... in this economy, they need to make it worth it to hand over $60. It was not just mediocre; it was BAD.
(1)Roberts G.
Very good pizza, very mediocre pasta (comically huge portions, drenched in uninteresting sauce). Very slow service was mitigated by two comped glasses of wine. Agree with the comments about the bread.
(2)J C.
I was really disappointed. The service was great, but the food was not. I got the penne with eggplant (siciliana) and it was terrible...the tomato sauce had no taste other than from the massive chunks of garlic mixed in. I definitely could have made it better at home. My husband got the spaghetti with sausage (salsicce) and it was much better, but still not great. If you want good pasta at reasonable prices in Bethesda, I would recommend Red Tomato or Pines of Rome (although the latter can get very crowded). But, the other dishes here may be better...it's got so many locations, it must be doing something right.
(2)Eugene H.
Tried out this place for lunch. I heard the pizza was good but my co-workers and I ended up getting a pasta, sandwich, and lasagna. The end result was pretty much average for this area. The service was pretty good when we went, but the food was nothing to shout about.
(3)Maria A.
Mamma Lucia is definitively my favorite place to go have a home style (Italian style) pizza. None of the yucky too thick crust stuff, and none of over done toppings that leak oil from sid This pizza is almost perfect. Yes, I said almost, because depending on the day, and who makes it, the pizza can go from 95% perfection to WOW. I am picky when it comes to pizza. Growing up in Italy, definitive trained my palate to the original stuff. I must say I can eat Pizza Hut if I am hungry, and I do like it. But if I want something special Mamma Lucia is the place to go. My roomie who is half Italian and grew up in the New York City area and whose favorite food is a well made pizza, Loves this place. After relocating from the NYC area she and I went on a quest on finding great pizza, one day hungry out of our minds we ate at a stand at a home Expo. It was glorious and since that day we have been hooked. I must say I have visited all the stores of Mamma Lucia, and never incurring a bad experience. The stores in suburbs of Maryland tend to be a bit nicer in the decor and the food always formidable. Pizza is not just their only specialty, is my number one dish I prefer here, but I have tried their pasta and meat dishes and they are always delicious. My frequent visit stores are the Bethesda Elm St location, which about a year ago expanded. Their pizza is definitively the best ones of all stores. For some reason is just thin enough and has the perfect amount of toppings. Delicious! This location has a large bar area with a vast choice of liquor. The area is equipped with nice big plasma TVs to watch the game at. During cool summer days, outside sitting is also offered. The College Park location, my other frequent visited location, offers delicious pizza and is definitive larger than the Bethesda location. It is a 2 minute drive from Ikea, so perfect for those shopping days. Unfortunately they carry 2 types of wine, a red Luna Merlot and a white Luna Chardonnay. Nothing fancy but both wines are very adaptable to the Italian cuisine. During lunch time the Bethesda and College park location are waiter less, so its a come in, order, sit chit chat and peel your eye for when the food comes out, so that you can go pick it up. In the evening this changes and the white cloth comes out at full force with an always friendly servers. Overall rating= 9.25 (I wished they carry more wine choices at my favorite locations.) This is the place to take your family for a low key evening.
(4)Chelsea M.
I've been eating here for over 4 years at this particular location. I love their greek salad because they are not stingy with the fetta cheese. I absolutely love their Salmon Rosa pasta. You are served hefty portions and I love it. Their chocolate chip cannolis aren't bad either. The ambience is chill and family oriented. If you want luxury this is not the place. They specialize in great food not great interior designs,lol.
(4)Jon H.
First, let me say that the best pizza in DC is by far at Pizzeria Paradiso. However, if you are from NYC or Boston and are craving a slice like you have at home, this is a pretty good substitute. I have never had anything else on their menu and judging by the reviews below, I probably never will. But I can honestly say that their regular and Sicilian pies are great. Good sauce, the right amount of cheese, perfect crispness to the crust, and just enough grease to make you feel like you're at home. I know it's a chain, but in a city with very few pizza joints that do it right, this place has pizza by the slice perfected.
(4)Kyle U.
If you appreciate good food - DO NOT GO HERE. This place is a travesty - and an offense against all decent Italian food everywhere. In a fatuous attempt to compensate for a lack in food quality, they dress this place up to be unfoundedly pretentious and glossy and just overtly and disgustingly tacky in regard to the entire dining experience. What you have here is a place where a bunch of soccer moms and freaks end up overpaying for crappy food and thinking they are hip or something. Idiots continously flock inside at night to drink and eat the crap and are totally fine about it. If only they knew what they were doing... this is a perfect parallel to modern American society in general in which you have a bunch of people paying for something they don't want or need (war, killing for profit) and may not even be aware of or questioning it. Totally tacky. If you can't even get pizza right, how the hell do you think you're going to be able to do anything more culinarily complex adaquetly? The "pizza" is like no flavor tomato paste and low quality cheese on a dried out saltine cracker. Imagine the most dried out bread where it hurts your teeth to eat and that pretty much sums up all of their crusts - even the sicilian. If you can't make sicilian, don't even try. This is an outrage. The stromboli was garbage here. Forget about it. The salad was weak as well. They cut up the vegetables awkwardly. The meat and cheese tasted like they used oscar meyer bologna or even the generic Safeway brand stuff. This is unfair and an act of flagrant disrespect. If they only had a clue. I ate there probably 8 or 9 times before I heard something that made me physically sick and forced me to stop going forever. Two unrelated and trustworthy sources confirmed a story about a disgruntled employee who was observed to be masturbating in the back of the establishment a number of times. Management eventually found out and terminated the problem worker. This person remains unprosecuted by the law. A one star rating is the lowest rating possible to be awarded to an establishmet. I will only give this rating to places in which a potential diner or food enthusiast will be severely dissapointed and when personal safety and food service laws and standards are or are in danger of being violated. This place should be watched under close scrutiny until it improves. This and other "negative" reviews of this restaurant give this establishment an opportunity to improve and regain its status as being dinable. I have made note of the problems of this place using specific details so that the owner or manager may address each problem and conquer it. In conclusion, only you, the diner has the correct amount of chromosomes, education, and experience to make a succesful decision concerning what and where to eat. Knowing what you know now about this establishment and other 1 star places, how will you excersise your freedom to dine with confidence?
(1)Terry S.
Best pizza in Bethesda! And a large pizza means a large pizza.
(4)Hannah C.
eh -- that's all i can really say about this place because they really skimp out on their cheese. but this is truly a biased review since all i had was beer and two slices of white pizza. the crust was at least 1.5 inches...leaving my friends to ask for some marinara sauce on the side so we could all dip our crusts. however, the sauce tasted funny (and we all know that the sauce makes the pizza), and i realized that it's probably made from canned tomatoes. nothing against canned tomatoes...it's just not fresh, and you can totally taste the aluminum taste that's absorbed into the porous tomatoes. but i will give them half a star more for the bread and olive oil they serve you in the beginning. all that flavor of both the garlic and oil, combined with the bread was so delicious that i would go back here just for that.
(3)Cat B.
I've been on many an awkward date at Mamma Lucia's in Bethesda. Yet I still love the place, and that's saying something. Perhaps it has something to do with the extensive wine menu... This place has a beautiful set-up, good (albeit a little cliche`) music, and a large pizza that'll feed you for days! Apparently, the ambiance is a lot more tony than some of the other Mamma Lucia locations around the DMV, so maybe put on the clean t-shirt before you head out to Mamma's. Not required, of course. Afterall, it is Bethesda, the home of the Crocs and socks look. Lookin' for some good pizza pie or maybe a good serving of gnocchi (like your nonna used to make)? Stop in to Mamma Lucia's ASAP... and make sure to leave the belt at home. You won't be needing that after dinner.
(4)Bruno C.
This place is good for families, I would not take a date there nor would I eat there by myself. The place is always packed with kids. Pizza is good, but not great. Prices are reasonable. There's not much more to it than that.
(3)John W.
While not a raving fan of the Mama Lucia's chain, in general I think they're ok, and I happily return to the Mama Lucia's on Rockville Pike once every month or two. However, one dining experience was more than enough when it came to the Mama Lucia's in Bethesda. Right away, I knew something was different about this Mama Lucia's. While the Rockville location is downright homey and plain in its interior, the Bethesda location is bordering on swank. Unfortunately, that was the one and only pleasant surprise of the evening. In chronological order of blunders: * We were told it would take about 5 minutes to be seated. 25 minutes later, we finally received a table. While guesstimating seating time is an imperfect art, this wasn't an excusable margin of error. If nothing else, it should have at least led to offering us free drinks and/or something to nibble on. * We received a table--joy! 10 minutes go by, and no waiter shows up to take an order. Not even a glass of water. At this point, I manage to flag down the maitre d' to inquire if we might have a waiter to go with the table. To her credit, she apologizes and, after failing to sort the problem out immediately, takes our order directly. * Our waiter shows up and apologizes for the confusion, blamed on a shift change. (Note: shift changes aren't a novel challenge for restaurants--this isn't an excuse, it's a flat out blunder.) * Neither the Maitre D' nor the waiter think to make sure that we get our bread and olive oil while waiting (we know to expect this from eating at other Mama Lucia locations, and because our dining neighbors haven't been similarly stiffed). We eventually convince another help staff member to bring us some bread. * The food is ok, certainly no better than other Mama Lucia locations. Stay away from the veal--it certainly didn't justify the ethical quandaries over whether or not the beasties are humanely raised. * Getting refills on our drinks is a challenge. At this point in the evening there are two competing theories to explain our waitresses consistent absence. Theory X: She is a heroine addict and, in the midst of a bad trip, is instead serving invisible patrons in an abandoned building nearby. Theory Y: She is a stealth ninja... who sucks at being a waitress. * When the bill finally arrives, not only was nothing taken off to compensate for the service foul ups, but we were actually double charged for one of our drinks. True to form, after our ninja junky waitress dropped off the bill, she was no where to be found. The maitre d' was also mia at this point. And eventually another waiter, who must have sensed our misery, just offered to take my credit card and correct the bill. In short: lackluster food, horrific service, and the first 1-star review I've given on Yelp.
(1)Andy T.
I have eaten at Mama Lucia in downtown Bethesda twice. A few months ago I had pasta with great calamari app. And last week had some of the best pizza I have come across in DC. The atmosphere is a tad spartan relative to the more homey decor of many Italian restaurants, but the service is good and they do not rush you out the door, which I appreciate. The pizza and its fun location will definitely keep me coming back.
(4)Jenny R.
What a disaster. They put us at a teeny tiny table. Then it took an hour for them to make our pizza. They put it on the table where it was literally on top of our plates. As soon as I picked up the slice from my plate, it knocked over the pizza pedestal, knocking over our glasses of water and getting ice all over both our slices and the table and causing the pizza to literally land on top of my purse sitting on the floor under the table, covering it with pizza sauce. It was embarrassing, but the waitress said it happens several times a week (likely due to the tiny tables and the rickety pizza stands). They came and said they would make another pizza to replace our pizza but would only make a smaller one because we already had two slices, despite the fact they both slices were literally covered in ice. Then we waited another hour and asked about the pizza. They announced that it was almost ready and proceeded to bring out a pizza that had the wrong toppings. I would have just accepted it because we had already been there for two hours if my table mate weren't vegetarian. They said they would pick off the meat and add the toppings we had ordered, but my table mate didn't want to eat something that had touched animal products. Anyway, I just asked them to change the order to go, so they brought us a pizza twenty minutes later to go. We went home and I opened the pizza box only to find that they hadn't even cooked the toppings into the pizza. They literally took a cheese pizza and dumped raw canned mushrooms and other raw toppings onto the pizza, which all slid right off the pizza revealing a plain cheese pizza. I couldn't even take a bite of it because it was watery (from the canned mushrooms) and gross looking. I threw it in the trash and ordered zpizza. Grossest dining experience of my life, slowest service ever (three hours of my life wasted), and an obnoxious manager, although everyone else was very nice. I will never ever ever ever EVER be back!!!!! Absolutely disgusting! Plus, I spent $36 on a pizza that was indelible! Only eat here if you enjoy puking!
(1)Natalie F.
Hands down best Calamari and Marinara sauce. So flavorful and Delicious! I love the bread and garlic butter sauce, it's so dangerous. The pizza is so fresh and hearty too. I love the dough, it's not like some pizza that can be really airy and bland. Everything I have every ordered has been incredible. The staff and owner are so nice too! I work down the street so I eat here frequently. Whenever I stop by after getting off work to grab a slice they are so nice and always give me a good sized slice. They are so nice:)
(4)Jason J.
Wildly over-priced: $20 for a large pizza and $20 for a linguine with clams pasta. All of which might be worth it, if we were talking about gourmet pizza and pasta. But this is run-of-the-mill food of the Dominoes, Pizza Hut variety. To be fair, the crust is fresh-made and much better than Pizza Hut. But this is about all you need to know about the quality: The mushrooms on the pizza are from a can. On the plus side, on Tuesday's they give you a second large pizza for $3.
(2)Cor K.
Ahh Mama Lucia's....The love/hate relationship I have with this restaurant is nauseating. I suppose I am still stuck on the Rockville location, and have transfered my emotions from Rockville to Bethesda. I've been there before with a huge group of friends to split a pizza and that was nice. But last night when I got the pasta carbonara I was very upset. They used huge chunks of bacon, not pancetta, and my sauce separated into an oily mess. My friend and I sat there for a good twenty minutes with our menus closed, purposefully not talking, waiting for our waiter to stop by and take our order. We even made eye contact with the guy as he walked towards us with nothing else in his hands, but he still brushed us off. Finally, we got another girl to take our order, I saw her yelling at our waiter later. After that he was quick and got everything to us promptly, only messing up my order of dressing on the side for my salad, which could have been the fault of our original order taker. All of their pastas are simple, and are boxed and dry, which is why I was so surprised to see a simple tomato sauce to be $ 13. Also the air conditioning was broken and it was over 90 degrees outside. The only reason I gave this place three stars is because Of the rockville location, and the decent pizza. Get it to go and avoid the terrible wait staff.
(3)matt L.
the best thing about this place is the service. they treat u really well hear , and make you always feel welcomed. the staff are always willing to help you with anything. the food is crap though. none of the entrées have flavor, and the pizza is cardboard.
(3)Jonathan E.
I used to love this place. It used to be packed. It's not the same anymore. The food quality has gone down, and the pizza has lost a lot of taste. They also over-cook pizzas a lot of the time. It's NY style and not bad. When it was good--- it was great. It's just average now and I am always disappointed because it used to be so much better. I would rather eat Ledos. I am a pizza snob and connoisseur.
(2)Ebie B.
Not sure why all the hate towards this place. Mamma Lucia's has been a Bethesda staple for years. I went here in High School and I go here now as an adult(ish). I love that they deliver although I wish they did a better job of keeping the food warm during delivery as the pizza sometimes arrives cold. But it's still delicious. The sauces they use are flavorful and fresh and the veggies are always perfectly cooked. If you haven't already, DEF check out their white pizza with broccoli. Now if they could only find a way to improve the crust (which admittedly is not very good) it would be perfection in pizza form. They offer a number of great specials such as half-price bottled wine night on Wednesday and buy an entree and get a second pasta dish for $3.99 on Mondays. It's a great place to go with a group of friends or family as you'll save a considerable amount of money. And for everyone complaining about the amount of children there- its family-friendly vibe helps add to its charm. Yes screaming children are annoying, no you can't hold that against a restaurant. There's too much to love about their food to nitpick these sort of things. And you always have the option to eat outside during the summer. All in all a solid place, good salads, pasta and pizza. If they continue to make quality food, I will continue to frequent this place.
(4)Vicki R.
I've been to Mama Lucias on many occasions but yesterday was my first dinner experience. Let me begin by saying the service was exceptional from the host to our waiter Javier. My coworker and I were seated as soon as we arrived and hot bread and water was brought out soon after. The bread was served with an olive oil mix which was absolutely delicious. The menu was very extensive. That caused my coworker to take a while making her selection. She finally decided on a shrimp pasta dish and I of course had the combination pizza. We shared a bottle of Chardonnay while we waited. *They offer 1/2 off bottles of wine on Wednesday. This was a nice surprise. When Our food arrived we dug right in. Everything was delicious. The only downside was the number of children in the restaurant. The restaurant had a daycare vibe and took away from the relaxing after work experience we were looking for. With that said, it's an excellent place for families.
(4)Max S.
Where do I begin....HORRIBLE! The service was slow, the food came out late, and my order was incorrect, but I can live with these imperfections on a busy Saturday night. It was food quality and management's attitude that rubbed me the wrong way. After consuming the below-average frozen calamari appetizer, some type of orange toast, and salad soaked in poor quality balsamic vinegar, I ordered veal parm and specifically asked for all of the sauce on the side. I like veal crispy so I usually request this to avoid eating a piece of soggy meat drenched in sauce. After 3 visits to our table apologizing for the slowness of the service, and the fact that the fire alarm was ringing for 30 minutes, the owner/manager returned for his 4th visit, and yanked the plates with our meals out of the server's hands; clearly an effort to demonstrate his authority and displeasure. He set them down in front of us for that personal touch. My veal and pasta were saturated with sauce! When I politely reminded The Boss that I asked for all of the sauce on the side, he asked if I would like another plate. I declined, as I was in no mood to watch my buddies ravenously consume their meals as I waited for an undisclosed amount of time. So, I dug in.... The sauce was so acidic that I wondered if it could dissolve the paint on my plate. Also, the veal was burned, which could possibly have been the source of the fire alarm. Again, I could live with slow service and messing up my order; however the food was so bad and the manager's 5th visit to our table really got to me. He said: "What can I do to make this right?" At this point I just wanted him to go away and leave us alone, so, with an apparent look of annoyance I shrugged and said: "Don't worry about it." Now, I guess you're thinking, why didn't you just tell him the meal sucked and you didn't want to pay for it? To be honest, I just wanted him out of my face and no confrontation. I also felt that my displeasure was so apparent that his question was rhetorical (a sensible owner would compensate the table in an appropriate manner). Withing a few short moments after his departure, I could feel my ears getting warm, my blood pressure rising; the audacity of the owner asking me that question. It felt like I was being manipulated into begging for compensation! Even if I did request a comp, it is my opinion (based on observing the owner's behavior), that he would have declined, got defensive, or offered an insignificant token like a free cannoli. Sorry chief, not going to happen, and not going back....E V E R!!!!
(1)Mitchell B.
They gave us a reason to always come back. We were there with our 2 girls and David and the staff made them feel like princesses. A great family restaurant!!!!
(5)Elaine B.
I have been frequenting Mama Lucia's for over a decade and enjoy every item on the menu from their yummy pizza to the calamari, subs and pasta!
(5)Deby G.
I love this place! They are so kid friendly and patient! The food is great and the manager is amazing and very community oriented. We are there all the time!
(5)Maggie B.
Okay, so let me start this review by saying I know nothing about Italian food. That being said, the service is always great, the pizza is fresh and delicious, and it's a great atmosphere. They have great deals (half price wine on Wednesdays, deals on pasta on Mondays, and pizza deals on Tuesdays), and they always go out of their way to ensure your meal is just what you want. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Loring P.
What's not to love about eating fresh baked flat bread with a gazillion toppings and the occasional anchovy while listening to the Rat Pack croon away? Bethesda's Mama Lucia is a hidden gem on the side of Bethesda Row. Ample wine bar. Fantastic pasta selection! Be prepared to slap the feedbag on here, cause the place rocks on all cylinders. I love this restaurant.
(5)Steven S.
As a New York pizza/italian snob, this place makes great pizza and great veal dishes and meatballs. Great sauces and pasta dishes too. Highly recommend!
(5)Kate C.
So bad. The only redeeming quality is that I can sit outside with my dog and they bring him water. The pizza is horrendous, the pasta was gross, and the atmosphere inside left a lot to be desired. You want Italian? Go to Pizzeria Paradiso or 2Amys.
(2)Sonia E.
This place was great, it was clean and very reasonable. Service was great and who I believe to either be the manager or owner was so friendly and he sold us on Monday Pasta Night. Had we not ordered wine my company of three could have eaten a delicious dinner for about $11/person. Their Penne Siciliano- perfect! Their portions were so big, I now have leftovers for tomorrow's dinner. Excellent service, amazing food, and the right price. Highly recommend!
(4)Michael H.
The food was good.
(3)Christine N.
This restaurant is my fiancé and I's favorite spot in all of Bethesda. Their thin crust pizza is to die for. Also, the chicken piccata with lemon pasta superb! The staff is friendly and the manager is always outside greeting people. Don't let these other reviewers fool you- Mamma Lucia is a win-win!
(5)Charlie B.
The pizza here is the closest to NY style that I have had since moving to the area. The outdoor seating is perfect for a breezy Spring/Summer day, and the area of the Bethesda is top notch. We look forward to visiting Mamma Lucia's again in the near future.
(4)John L.
We were visiting from out of town for a week and found this Italian restaurant. I'm thinking that in contrast to others who disparaged this restaurant, I would certainly not have returned on two additional evenings if I was unhappy. The service was excellent on every occasion; the food was very good and the management was concerned and appreciative. The servings were so robust that after the first evening we decided to split the entree. The server was very accommodating and split the entree on separate plates for us. Trust me, it was a challenge to finish half a serving. The salads we ordered were excellent as well - perfectly dressed and fresh. I feel very confident in recommending this restaurant regardless of the negative reviews. BTW, I am not that easy to impress.
(5)Travis C.
Subpar food. Pasta was ok but not for an Italian restaurant. Pizza was not good and they used cheap ingredients, don't order that. Staff was friendly. So food was just ok, but pricey for just ok.
(3)Julie G.
Oh Mamma!! I just don't get how this place can stay in business. The decor is horrendous...dated, dingy and dirty. I'm a foodie but realize I can't eat like that with my 3 kids so decided to take them here for pizza. The pizza and meatballs were fine. Nothing great, but good enough for the price. But the atmosphere and service left a LOT to be desired!! The menus all felt grimy, the pizza holder that they put down was dirty. Everything had a "not clean" feel, and I had to stop myself from looking too closely at anything. Even one of the plates, although not dirty, was so old it just looked dirty and totally unappetizing. YUCK! I would only come back here to eat outside with my kids...for pizza only. Oh, and the bread they lay down on the table...what is that? Toasted, thin slices of bread rubbed with tomato and hot pepper?? Not tasty. The server was polite but then vanished. We kept looking for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Never checked in on us. Wish they would clean up their act so I could take my kids here more often!
(1)Amy W.
We were pretty disappointed with both the food and service at Mamma Lucia's. It was a busy night and while we were seated promptly, we waited 10 minutes for someone to bring us bread and 15-20 for the waiter. When he arrived at our table he just looked at us like we were some kind of zoo animals. No introduction. No "thank you for waiting". No "can I take your order". Just staring. Finally I asked my husband if he was ready to order and the waiter said "I'm ready when you are". Seriously?! We ordered dinner and wine. And were promptly brought our $10/ glass wine in water glasses. It's an Italian restaurant and they ran out of wine glasses. Come on. Waited another 30 minutes for dinner to come out. My chicken and pasta were bland. Not in any way worth $20 a plate. Then we waited another 20 minutes for the waiter to stop flirting with the high school girls next to us so he could bring us our check. At the end of the night, there was no "thank you" or "sorry for the wait". Just a check for an over priced and disappointing evening. Could it have just been an off night, too busy for the staff and we fell through the cracks? Maybe. Too bad for Mamma Lucia, we won't be coming back.
(2)B N' B 1.
Easy pizza and wine, mgr refilled wine glass on house Tried the: Pizza Wine 4/5
(4)Kealoha2u M.
I liked the place... Atmosphere was lively...all of the staff was friendly and courteous...the Owner David greeted us at the sidewalk and showed us to the hostess, who seated us at a corner table...as soon as we were seated the wait staff brought out warm toasted garlic bread and filled our water goblets...immediately after that the waiter arrived and took our beverage order...we ordered a bottle of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay '12...within 3 minutes he was back with the bottle, glasses and a bucket of ice...he offered me to try the wine, the wine was good but my company was/is way better ;-), he then asked if we would care to start with an appetizer and recommend the Cozze Verdicchio (mussels in white wine, garlic and lemon) btw an excellent choice, as we tore into the mussels he returned about 5 minutes later to see if our appetizer was to our liking and asked if we had any questions he might be able to answer, he recommended the veal Vitello Sorrentina (eggplant, prosciutto, mozzarella in a Marsala wine sauce) it was an excellent choice too! The sauce was mild and the mozzarella was thick and it came with a healthy side of spaghetti in a light marinara sauce.. but I get ahead of myself...after the mussels I had the Italian Wedding Soup and the wife had the Caesars Salad, the Zuppa was excellent! Mild broth with macaroni, kale, Italian Sausage Meatballs and more mozzarella... Everything that came from the kitchen was steaming hot!! Both of our Entrees were pretty good, the wife had a Penne Pasta with Sausage and Peppers in a cream sauce dish, good amount of seasoning (though I like a lot of garlic when I make Italian dishes), so good that we pretty much just kept passing our plates back and forth:D after the entrees I ordered a double espresso ( I am the DD ) really good espresso, not burnt tasting like Starbcks, and we shared an order of Tiramisu (needs more Marscapone and Espresso) while the Lady finished the wine....all in all it was a good meal with excellent service in a friendly fun place, not too sure where some of the other 1 star Yelps have had Italian food before but I have worked with some top chefs from NYC to DC, SF, Honolulu and have tried a lot of restaurants over my 53 years of living and traveling/moving across the country (4x west to east coast and back) with a couple times to Hawaii and Europe and let me tell you there are some really bad Italian joints out there but Mama Lucias isn't one of those... Elm Street in Bethesda is pretty lively so try to get a table along the sidewalk... you won't regret it. Our waiter was excellent and impeccable in his service and (timing is everything) was spot on! Ask for Arturo, he'll take good care of you.. spent about $125 with the tip...5 course meal with a bottle of wine in Bethesda? I know I got off cheap lol...
(4)Steven S.
I dont know why this place is rated 2.5 stars, we have gone out of our way to come back here because the food & service have been outstanding. And I'm very picky about my Italian food. The owner makes it a point to visit every table to make sure everyone is satisfied. If ur in the area, give it a chance, u won't be disappointed!
(5)Michelle A.
The food was absolutely delicious! The garlic bread was thin, crispy and flavorful. And the dipping sauce was so yummy. The Manager, David, was by far one of the best restaurant managers I've ever met! He pulled the table out for me to get into a tight spot and brought my son a smorgasbord if pastas to try! Amazing customer service! An all around delightful dining experience and I can't wait to go back next time I'm on vacation!!
(5)Matt L.
There's two types of Italian restaurants. The first being the family minded, passionate, love put into every bite establishment. Then there is the here's your food, eat and get out type of establishment. Unfortunately this Mama Lucia's location falls into the latter category. A younger wait staff, and no evident presence of management appear to be the cause of this. Friday nights around 9 PM may just not be a good time to go, which is a shame as that is money making time on the Row. The food quality was solid. Bread service was uneven (Some burnt) but complimentary. The Cheese Ravioli red sauce was excellent and had a tad of kick. The Spaghetti Carbonara is heavy on the cream side, but the bacon is cooked perfectly as was the pasta. Entrees are priced nicely, and are generous servings that leave enough for a box. Management here needs a greater commitment to excellence in terms of service and customer experience, but the food quality is there. Hopefully this was just a bad night for the staff
(2)Kathy P.
We stopped in this afternoon for a early dinner and were treated to a wonderful meal. Everything we had was served hot and fresh, and the portion sizes were large. The best was saved for last; we both ordered Canolli's and they were off the chart awesome!! I would highly recommend this restaurant for almost any event, big or small. We will certainly be back the next time we're in the Bethesda area!
(5)Hans O.
If you want and like good Italian food, don't go here. Please don't. This is maybe a step above Olive Garden in quality, but much more expensive. If 5 people order 5 different dinners and none are worthy of praise, that says a lot. All the pastas were overcooked, the meatballs were bland and even the spicy tomato sauce was tasteless. It all tasted like Spaghetti O's out of can. I had halibut and my wife had chicken cacciatore. Both were dry and tasteless, even with their respective sauces. The service however, was excellent. But, we go out to dinner for the food. And this meal was a complete waste of money. Our mistake, not reading the Yelp reviews first! I just hope potential diners read this one before wasting their hard-earned dollars at Mamma Lucia.
(1)Mike C.
My first impression was this restaurant looks cleaned, lots of tables and the food served looked delicious. I walked into the restaurant to the host. But the staff (host, bar and waiters) were all standing around watching TV. It took about 10 seconds and after I made a noise for someone to recognized me. The host sat me at a table and waited for service. The waitress was very prompt and explained the menu items. I was given some bread with garlic oil. It was delicious. I ordered the Chicken Milano entrée. The entrée comes with a house salad. The lettuce in the salad looked old and dry. Not very appetizing. The entrée came with two chicken breast (thin slices), spaghetti and sautéed green leafy vegetables. The chicken was bland with no flavor and the spaghetti was bland but had red pepper flakes. I felt that they used the red pepper flakes from the pizza to add flavor. Not very good. The waitress was attentive and refilled by soda without asking. Overall, this place is good to bring kids as they serve pizza and pasta. If you want a gourmet Italian meal then you may want to skip this place.
(3)Angela A.
Went here for lunch on my 17th wedding anniversary with hubby and two out of my four wee ones and had a really nice lunch. From the time we walked in until the time we left, the server and the manager/owner(?) were very attentive and nice. It wasn't overbearing and phony like some places when you feel them trying too hard either. We ordered calamari and a large cheese pizza and of course, had some of the free seasoned bread slices with olive oil for dipping. I love the olive oil and wish they would bottle it and sell it. It's garlicky and cheesy and just plain yummy. The calamari wasn't just the rings but included the tentacles which are my favorite. I think our waitress even asked them to throw in a decent amount along with the rings. The only thing that perplexes me is why most places don't seem to salt their calamari. I mean I can certainly do it myself and I did but it would be nice if they seasoned them in the back. We also tried dipping them in the olive oil mix and it was actually really good. I told you I loved the stuff. The pizza was hot, great crust, great flavor and we didn't leave any to take home. I have tried the pasta here in the past and I really enjoy it. This is one of only two places that I will order pasta when I eat out. It's so easy and inexpensive to make a home that I just can't usually bring myself to order it when dining out but the Pasta Carbonara here is soooo worth it. Rich, heavy and full of guilty pleasure. I also had one with salmon and a vodka cream sauce before but didn't check to see if it was still on the menu. I do wish they would update the place a little. It felt a tad bit old and dingy and had a bleachy cleaner smell when I sat down at the table but the open air probably keeps it aired out. Mamma Lucia is a tried and true place and this location seems to be consistent in the kitchen and consistent with service. Now if they would just season that calamari.
(4)Chris S.
Love this place. Amazing service, really good food! Just honest people. I owned an Italian restaurant before and I'm Italian, and this place is the bees knees. Would highly recommend this place.
(5)Mark S.
Don't ever order the delivery. For $35 I got a silver dollar size piece of salmon a little bit of spinach, and maybe a decent salad, but who knows, they didn't include a knife or fork. Then if you call them for some help you get the runaround.
(1)Zachary M.
We ordered a veggie pizza and a ham pizza from them. The toppings on the veggie were plentiful, but those on the ham were pretty sparse. The cheese and sauce were average - not good, not bad. The worst part, though, was the crust. It was so tough you actually had to hold the crust with your teeth and pull the slice with a fair amount of force to rend it apart. Not appetizing - they really need to work the dough less, or try to make it lighter somehow, because this was worse than national chain pizza.
(2)Kathy M.
Mamma Lucia has GREAT food. Their have a bacon & kale dish that is delicious! In addition to serving pizza, which is quite popular, they also have good salads. FYI: they can get very crowded and a bit noisy depending on when you go, but the food is worthwhile.
(5)Laura L.
I've been a regular at Mamma Lucia's for many years, and I've always been happy with the food and service. But on my most recent visit, I became a raving fan!! My kids and husband love the pizza, but since I can't eat sugar, gluten or dairy, I prepared myself for a salad with dry chicken and balsamic dressing. What I hadn't accounted for was how accommodating David and his staff would be. I told him about my restrictions, and he produced the most beautiful, delicious Italian meal that completely exceeded my expectations: grilled chicken on a bed of spinach with mushrooms and garlic and marinara sauce: oh heaven!!! I was floored. No sugar, no dairy, no gluten. But insane taste? Check!! No easy task, let me tell you. I am a forever fan of Mamma's now! Thank you David and staff for incredible customer service and (let's not forget) fabulous food!!!!
(5)Dawn D.
We showed up thirteen strong... six adults and twelve children. The staff rolled with the punches and we had a smooth and relaxing evening. Our server moved seamlessly through taking orders and keeping everyone happy. When I saw him bending on one knee to take an order directly from our youngest table mate, I was sold. Our drinks were well made, the food was good, and the children were happy. Four stars for smooth, speedy service and well prepared food. My husband is a Johnson and Wales trained chef and enjoyed his dish. He inquired about and was told that the meatballs are handmade - a must for a fresh Italian dish. Whoever compared this place to the Olive Garden... well, they eat at the Olive Garden, so take that review with a grain. This is one of the only chain restaurants we eat at so can't compare it to other chains. We only know we had a great time. One removed star because they don't have enough restroom space for the restaurant size, and the restrooms needed some attention. Bonus: the manager is an Alabama fan. All Bama fans should eat at Mama Lucia's! Roll Tide Roll!
(4)laz b.
Eggplant parm hero was delicious. But I got sautéed broccoli and it was gross and sad! It had a weird taste like some chemicals from the pan melted onto it and there seemed to be no effort with the seasoning. For $5 they could have dressed it up with garlic, olive oil, salt, red pepper, and lemon.
(2)Dominic L.
First, the pizza was solid. Not great but not bad. Ordered half the Mama Special (good) and the other half we had the meat part of the special taken off. Got the bill and they charged for the entire special, plus for the veggie toppings on the other half. Doesn't make sense to me. A $31 pizza definitely doesn't make sense when it's just as good as any other chain restaurant around town. Other things I didn't like was how one tv showed ads the entire time, the bathroom was really dirty, and how they shoved our leftovers into a smaller pizza box (this included folding half of the pieces just to get it in there). Needless to say I will never come here again. On another note I have frequented the Rockville location numerous times and have always loved the food and service there. Lastly the pizza at the Rockville location was ten times better than this place in Bethesda.
(2)Bryan W.
I can't believe the reviews are all over the place. I had a wonderful dinner this evening and the service was top notch. The lasagne was one of the best i've ever had. I'd eat here again...and again...and again...
(5)Endrias L.
The service was great hear but the food was not. The pasta was over cooked and the Alfredo sauce tasted like it was out of a can.
(2)Steven L.
This restaurant did a tremendous service. They allow my veteran's organization to hold our weekly Bethesda post run socials here. What better place can you ask for? The beer and wine discounts on Wednesdays are great as well. The manager Dave was friendly and polite. This week they gave us our own room. You guys rock! See you next week!
(5)Michelle G.
Very disappointed. Nothing seemed like it was cooked fresh. Everything was a reheat from frozen. I buy better ravioli at Costco. And it's a much better price.
(1)Dan Y.
Ordered a stuffed shell at Mama Lucia, waited 30 min and got served ravioli. I told the waiter that he got the wrong order but was old that it was 'stuffed shell ravioli'. Right when I started eating the ravioli, the waiter snatched the dish from my fork lightning fast and gave it to a table down the isle, and gave me the shell I ordered. I called the manager and told him it was disgusting that they served the dish that I was already eating to another table and he told me to mind my own business. I think two kids end up eating those ravioli.
(1)Nick C.
Ok pizza. Pasta dishes are just over cooked and sauce is just ok. I do continue to eat here because co workers insist. Only thing worth ordering in pizza. Pizza here in ok but there are much better dining choices in the immediate area. Did order delivery once and got lunch size tortellini. Received a smaller than kids size tortellini. Stick with the pizza if you must go . I think they serve Viccaro cannoli which is good. So to recap pizza - marginal and cannoli - good. Stay away from all pasta dishes.
(2)Charles M.
Really bland food. The worst italian food we've had in years. We had four dishes and they were all poor to mediocre. The worst restaurant on bethesda row.
(2)Jennifer F.
The pizza is always fresh and delicious! The service is quick and the orders are always accurate. The owner / manager (?) and staff always makes sure things are running smoothly and they even give pizza crusts to your dog while waiting outside! Very welcoming and good food.
(5)Mark S.
I've ordered the Linguine Putanesca four times now. Twice it was wonderful, a delicate balance between the tomatoes and the anchovies and olives. Really world class. The other two times it was either bland and uninspiring or utterly overwhelming. I get it that it is difficult to hit the heights every time and I get it too that there are different cooks. But, it shouldn't be like rolling dice when ordering a dish either. They can do better than that. I'm disappointed and won't order it again if I return. The salad was wonderful.
(2)Jacob M.
Tasty, well prepared food at a reasonable price, friendly and efficient staff, comfortable setting -- Mama Lucia's is an excellent choice for comfort food and an informal dinner with friends.. When we were there, despite having 3 very large groups, the kitchen and wait staff performed flawlessly.
(4)Margaret N.
Family style restaurant... Service is a bit slow and food is okay, nothing mediocre... Would recommend if you're going with a large group!
(2)Marc L.
Traditional Italian without pretense We stopped by Mama Lucia's on a week night when hungry and without the energy to cook. We're glad we did. Mama Lucia is a throw-back to old-school Italian food before it got all foodie and pretentious. All the old favorites are on the (huge) menu: ravioli, lasagna, minestrone, you name it. And they're all very well prepared: the pasta is al dente but not hard. The spices are restrained, but evident. The portions are huge: we took home a lot of food. The ambience is mid-level traditional. (Red checked table cloths would have been a nice touch, if maybe old-school over-the-top...) The service is efficient if not overly friendly. We loved the outdoor seating in the newly warm Bethesda spring weather. We were there early, so the place was full of young children, but not so loud we couldn't talk. One item to note is that the manager or owner is much in evidence. When the bartender didn't know how to make the drink I ordered (a Negroni), the manager came over, noted the ingredients, and made a great one himself. He chatted in a friendly but not overbearing way with almost every table, making sure everyone's experience was a good one. Management oversight like this goes a "long* way to ensure customer satisfaction. In our case it sure did. In short, Mama Lucia is a great traditional Italian place to take the kids or mom and dad, or for an after-work pleasant dinner.
(4)Hayes W.
Let me start by saying our service was top-notch. Our server Kalen (sp) was nothing short of professional, especially for (allegedly) being two weeks on the job. Keep him around, that was the best of the experience. 5 stars for our server. We ordered the following: -Calamari appetizer -House salad -Filet special (can't remember the exact name) All were mundane and boring. The calamari was most definitely frozen for at least a few days before being luke-warmed up and served to us. The salad wasn't bad, but if you mess up a house salad I'm leaving your place and never coming back. The special was brought out and looked delicious enough, until I wrapped my fork in the spaghetti. It was rubbery, plain, and lacked any sort of flavor. I had to literally cover every bite in pepper just so I could taste something. The filet came out presented nicely, but we were never asked how we wanted our filet done. If I'm paying 30 dollars for a piece of meat and some lame pasta, I want the steak done my way. The one redeeming quality about the dining experience was half-off bottles of wine (every Wednesday), just enough so that we could drink away the lame taste of pasta. Won't be making a trip back here any time soon, only reason it doesn't get one star is for service.
(2)Erica R.
I am surprised by the negative reviews of mamma Lucia's. Their pizza is excellent!! NY style, try the mamma's white with artichokes and roasted red peppers. The penne vodka is also mine and my husband's favorite. I seem to remember the pasta bolognese being tasty as well. I've always had a solid experience here, and will keep coming back
(4)Jennifer P.
I am surprised by the truly negative reviews. Honestly surprised. I am originally from New York and pretty demanding when it comes to both Italian food and dining out. In the 12 years we have lived in Bethesda Mamma Lucia has been a reliable staple in our lives. The food is always delicious and the price point cannot be beat. Even if they are having an occasional off night in terms of service or timing (which happens everywhere), the food is always good. We often eat there with large groups of friends or if family is visiting from out of town - there is something for everyone. Though not inexpensive the pizza is terrific. I have never had a bad pasta dish there. The salads are fresh and the garlic bread and dipping oil are wonderful. The garlic knots are a must. We take advantage of the Monday night pasta special (buy one pasta and get the second one for $3.99) almost every week, and the similar pizza deal on Tuesday nights. We love the chicken francese, the pasta in pesto and the whole wheat pasta option. I highly recommend trying it - you won't be sorry.
(4)Melissa M.
During a recent stay in Bethesda and being in the mood for pizza, I saw the Domino's in downtown Bethesda but wanted only a slice and didn't want anything from a chain. Using Yelp, my bf and I found Mamma Lucia and decided to give it a try. We ordered 3 slices. The guy behind the counter was very nice. We took the slices back to our hotel to eat and they were delicious! Comparable to any NY mom and pop shop pizzeria. I'd def return to order pizza the next time I'm in town and in the mood for pizza. I also saw diners eating Italian food that looked delicious!
(3)LaToya E.
Great service and great pizza.. What more do you need?? I went out for a pizza dinner night with my sister and her kids and the staff was amazing... Making sure we're taken care of and satisfied and the pizza never disappoints in my opinion..
(4)Peter Y.
I went here the other day and had a very strange and unique experience. We all wanted to go out for pizza and we wanted something more high end than a typical Dominos pizza so we chose Mamma Lucia's. When we arrived, we noticed it was half off bottle's of wine on Wednesday nights. We obviously took up the opportunity and ordered a bottle of wine. The waitress comes back apologizing that they did not have the bottle of wine we had chosen unopened. As she was explaining this to us, the manager came up behind one of us and whispered in his ear, "Give her a hard time." So jokingly he did give her a hard time, as a mere joke though. Right after telling him to give the nice waitress a hard time he began to think that we were seriously upset that the bottle of wine was unopened and we were unable to get our choice at half price. He began to get very defensive and cause somewhat of a scene outside where we were sitting by raising his voice. This was all very strange to us because we were first of all joking when we said why don't you have the bottle we want and secondly the manager was in on the joke?? We are still confused about it but it made all of us uncomfortable and made other guests view us. Anyways, we ordered our pizza and were given 2 unopened bottles of wine about half full each for the price of half of one bottle. This was pretty nice of him. Overall, the pizza was great but it was honestly was a bit dry, a little grease would have been nice. The place is very nice but the service that we experienced was definitely a spectacle.
(1)I A M.
we were eagerly anticipating a early dinner of delicious pasta on Labor Day, only to find that the Mamma Lucia of Bethesda was not nearly as good as its Silver Spring counterpart. E.g., pathetic linguini in an adequate white clam sauce (the clams were fresh and tasty, however), overly sauced capellini in pesto and sausage was better, and the salad was decent. a side order of sauteed spinach was disappointing; bitter and un-inspring. There is no excuse for mediocre food in downtown Bethesda. save your money and go to Tragara or one of the independent italian restaurants. If it has to be Mamma Lucias, the one in Silver Spring is better, and it has gelato!
(2)Jen F.
I was not impressed by this Mama Lucia. I've been to other locations and the food here was just not up to par- not even to the College Park location. The service was shabby. The food, also shabby. I got spicy penne with marinara and if it wasn't for the parmesan cheese, the pasta would have been a struggle to eat. The penne a la vodka was the same situation. I want to come in and teach this place what real Italian food is supposed to taste like. The crowd here is equally as bad as the food. Milfs, teenage girls, and every annoying societal group in between. No. Just no.
(1)Mark T.
I definitely should have yelped this place before. The reviews are spot on. It is without a doubt the worst Italian food I have ever had. Clearly frozen meatballs that taste like dog food. The pasta is not fresh and the sauce is watery has no fresh herbs and definitely comes from a can. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!
(1)Carley M.
My job tends to order from here a lot. and one of the reasons is it gives us variety since i am gluten free. and they advertise that they are gluten free with some of their options. i dont agree. the owner is nice but his staff is silly. they gave me gluten free pasta once with bread for a side. lucky i asked prior to eating it because it was not gf bread. then, twice they had to bring me a new meal because they brought me fettuccine which i know from going there often is not gluten free there. only the penne is. lucky i didnt eat it and get sick. another time they forgot my order entirely. this gets really annoying and i dont recommend it to anyone who has a wheat or gluten allergy because i feel like they falsely advertise the GF options. (they dont even have it on the online order you have to add it in the notes)-- while everyone else in my office is eating pasta and pizza, I am eating chips. yum.....
(1)Ellen V.
Perhaps the worst restaurant meal we have ever had. Greek salad, covered in balsamic vinegar with no oil. So strong we could not eat it. Bread coated with some red goop that looked spicy and in fact had no flavor at all. Pizza with almost no tomato sauce and cheese so bland you could not tell where it ended and the soggy crust began. Ham so bland it tasted like plastic. Words cannot begin to describe how terrible the food is. One star is too many for this place. We ate so little and were still so hungry that we went to another restaurant afterwards for actual food.
(1)Joshua H.
We were visiting from out of town and meeting friends at the nearby park. With two toddlers and two preschoolers, pasta places are always a good bet. And, for the kids, this place was fine. Little kids don't mind poorly cooked pasta, thin and flavorless sauce, and bland cheese. Little kids are happy to chow down on touch pieces of toast, painted in bright orange oil. Little a kids already know to avoid the cheap olive oil and raw garlic provided for dipping. And little kids are happy to chow down on plain, overcooked broccoli. If I were rating this place based on food for the price I'd have to give it one star. Sure, no one got sick, but for these prices I'd expect them to know how to prepare pasta and cook a basic ragu. But we got to sit outside and it's hard to be unhappy with 70 degrees on a March evening. Plus the service really was good - they got food in front of the kids within 10 minutes of sitting down and they responded promptly to every other request. Also, I stole a few bites of a 2 year old's pizza and that was really good. If we come back, that's what I'd get.
(2)Mike U.
My family and I have been big fans of the Mamma Lucia restaurants for ten years. We have been regulars at both the Frederick and Sliver Spring locations until we moved to VA in 2011. We were in MD and decided to go out of our way and eat here and I sorry to say that we were disappointed. This location did not come close to the level of quality we had grown used to at the other locations. The other places made us feel welcome but this location felt like a take-out window masquerading as a restaurant. The place was pretty empty compared to the other restaurants and now we know why the locals would rather wait in line and in some cases sit outside and wait than eat here. The pasta was greasy. Not oily, not watery but greasy. The tomatoes tasted like cardboard, the raviolis and meatballs were bland and the sausage tasted like hot dogs. I've been to a lot of Italian restaurants and I can't recall a pasta dish being greasy. The only reason we gave it one star was because of the bowl of bread. For the price point, the customer deserves better. ps- I submit this with a heavy heart because we really liked Mamma Lucia's. It was the first restaurant our daughters ate at (with their hands of course) and where my wife chose to celebrate her birthday and a few of our anniversaries.
(1)Sarah A.
Slow and poor service on a Saturday night, mediocre over-priced food. Regret.
(1)Serafina B.
The pizza itself is one of the better tasting delivery options in the immediate area. However I recently placed a $300 catering order (all pizza) and it arrived twenty-five minutes ahead of when I'd requested it be delivered. I understand that it's better to be early than late, but I'd already factored in a small buffer so the additional twenty-five minutes meant we were all eating cold pizza for lunch.
(2)