Visited for first time Wednesday and found the ambiance charming,especially in light of it's strip mall location. Service was to my liking with a typical neighborhood Italian menu. The prices seemed reasonable with an half carafe of Chianti $14 and a house salad around $4. The mussels in white wine had a nice garlicky taste and were under $10. My wife and I each finished with a pasta and both were outstanding. We'll be back soon and if it maintains this level place it in our regular rotation
(5)
Charles G.
This place does not follow the cardinal rule of "location is everything" what with it being in a strip mall but the food, service, and prices are excellent. I have been there twice. The first time was with three friends and most recently with another friend. The comments from all were universally good. One friend called it some of the best Italian food he'd ever eaten. An out-of-town guest stopped in the middle of our fairly intense conversation and stated, "This is really good! Exceptional!" That was the salmon and pasta dish. I am very impressed with Biscotti. It is a small, intimate place with very reasonable furnishings. The service was excellent. The server knew the menu in detail and offered suggestions for dinner and even knew the wine list in detail. Prices are very good and portions are appropriate. I recommend this as a nice, reliable, intimate place that should be a regular on your list.
(4)
Mary C.
I was looking for a place to go to when visiting family in Gaithersburg that wasn't fast food or sandwiches. A simple meal of protein and vegetables that was healthy and not a wallet breaker. Wow, this place has fantastic food. So well hidden in the plainest of strip malls. The chef here is fantastic, the servers are efficient, friendly but not intrusive. Highlights: -Tilapia, not previously frozen, lightly lemoned and I'd guess pan-fried because of the delicious slightly-crunchy edge of lemon. -Manicotti, perfectly executed with a sauce and filling that was light and flavorful. I don't make my own pasta, but I do believe they do. -Chicken parmesan, juicy and crunchy and wonderful topping. -Olive tapenade spread for the bread The 10 year old child with us seems to subsist on candy. Imagine our surprise to see her eagerly finish a dish of Tilapia and a bowl of minestrone.
(5)
Howard C.
Great food - Excellent service - don't use yelp to get directions it send you into a townhouse community. The place is next to the CVS on Muncaster Mill rd. Great place we will be back.
(4)
Mary L.
ITALIAN!!! I love a good Italian restaurant with fresh pasta and yummy sauce. Unfortunately, I don't live in Italy or near any Little Italy so my love of pasta has only been satisfied by the indulgence of Mama Lucia's and such places. Luckily, I found this place and thought, what's the worst that could happen? Boy am I glad I tried it! Located in a shopping center with a McDonald's, one doesn't suspect that good Italian food lie waiting in this small restaurant. I have been here a couple of times down and have been able to try a couple of the dishes. The Crostini alla Checca was really good. Very flavorful and a good serving size. I would recommend eating this at the restaurant though since the bread tends to get a bit soggy when you get it to go. The Ravioli Di Funghi was delicious. Creamy pistachio sauce and flavorful, fresh ravioli. So good! The Agnolotti Rosa was really good too. Lots of flavor and again, fresh pasta. You only get four pieces of pasta with these two dishes but granted they are pretty BIG pieces and extremely flavorful. The Chicken Marsala was really good too and the grilled carrots and zucchini that came with it were extremely good too. The Lasagna Della Cassa wasn't bad. It was a pretty good serving. I thought the meat mixture was a little too sweet for my taste. My friend got the Penne Alla Vodka with chicken instead of salmon and it wasn't bad. The sauce was a little thin for my taste but again, it had a nice flavor. The Tortellini Di Carne was pretty good as well but it did not stand out as much as some of the other dishes. My friend and I got a Tiramisu and Budino Di Pane to try as well. They were okay but I thought the tiramisu could do with more of a coffee flavor. The budino was served warm though which was nice. Even the bread was really good, especially when paired with the Olive Tempenade that comes with it. Tuesdays are half priced wine night as well! The staff was really nice too, not rushing my friend and I at all. Overall: great, fresh pasta, yummylicious sauce + really friendly staff + located closer to me than Italy = I have FINALLY found a great pasta place in MoCo!!
(5)
Amanda N.
Wasn't horrible, but wasn't great. The salmon in the penne al vodka was overpowered by the very rich sauce. It would have been better with about half the sauce. The muscles were fishy with a very buttery sauce. I had high hopes after reading reviews, but I won't be returning.
(2)
Jessica B.
I moved around the corner from this place and decided to check it out for my birthday dinner with my dear friend. We were both so impressed with the food! We both got eggplant parm, but I got Fettuccine Alfredo (sans chicken) instead of spaghetti. The entire meal was delicious! The sauce was on point. Above and beyond any expectations I might have had. The one star deduction is for two reasons: first, my friend thought the service wasn't friendly enough. I actually liked that they kept it brief and to the point (she enjoys to engage in menial chitchat more than I do). Secondly, I would have enjoyed a smoothie, but would have taken Dr. Pepper as a close second. Maybe a strawberry lemonade. No go. They have plenty of beer and wine, but not much else. I ended up having water, but a fun drink would have made my visit a perfect one. We enjoyed their unique spread that came with the bread. It consisted of crushed olives, with garlic and parm cheese. We also requested olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette to dip it in. Fantastic! The best part of all was the dessert. I had the bomba, a yummy sorbet with white chocolate. My friend loved her bread pudding. I plan on returning!
(4)
John G.
This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in the DC metropolitan area. It is small, in a strip mall in Derwood, but very attractive witjh white tablecloths and nice Italian music. I have had lunch there on three occasions and dinner with my wife last night. The sauces are excellent. The Vodka sauce is "to die for". The tiramisu is outstanding! Have had it twice and it was great both times. I have had their chicken Parmesan, lasagna and a penne pasta with salmon, spinach and vodka sauce. All were good and the latter was absolutely delicious. I will take out of town guests there next week and would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant. It is my go to choice for Italian food.
(5)
Brian S.
Another example of why yelp needs to add the .5 option. Definitely better than a 3, but not quite a 4. The lobster ravioli was good, I absolutely loved the sauce they used with it. The SALTIMBOCA ROMANA was good. Not the best veal saltimboca that I've had, but still pretty solid. Ended with the tiramisu which was also great. The chicken marsala was okay. Overall a really solid place, and I feel bad giving it a 3, as it is definitely better than that, just couldn't justify the 4. Absolutely worth a visit though!
(3)
Mel A.
Now that I've discovered this little gem of an Italian restaurant hidden in a strip mall that's under construction in Derwood, I learned that it's closing - after nine years - on August 24 because of leasing issues. The service and food were very good. We had the calamari fritti, eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti Bolognese, and salmone guarnito. The desserts that we enjoyed, tiramisu and budino di pane were legit. Many who were leaving inquired when and where they will re-open. Hopefully they'll find a place soon. It's pretty apparent that Biscotti's is loved by the locals. 4.5 stars!
(4)
Janet C.
My family and I have been coming here for years. The food is consistently good and the service is friendly and efficient. Some of our favorites: - Biscotti Salad: fresh with a really good balsamic vinaigrette - Spaghetti with meatballs: my daughter loves this dish and orders it every time. If we ever have Italian outside of the area, she will order the standard and say 'good but not as good as Biscotti's'. - Penne Alla Vodka: succulent chunks of salmon with spinach, tomatoes, creamy vodka over tender penne pasta. Really tasty! - Linguini Pescatore: shrimp, mussels, and calamari with marinara over linguine. Seafood is cooked perfectly and goes well with their awesome marinara. - Daily Specials: always good, especially the seafood specials. Fish is always done just right, usually with a nice sauce and vegetables that are cooked perfectly (not over cooked) - Tiramisu: excellent ending to the meal if you have room If you come in before 6 pm, they have early bird specials that comes with a salad and a bargain dessert and coffee add-on option.
(5)
Ashley M.
So disappointed with the food. I thought it would taste amazing but my pasta ended up tasting like it was microwaved. The bread was awful as well.
(2)
Mike B.
On the recommendation of another fabulous Yelper, I found myself at the quaint little Italian restaurant known as Biscotti Ristorante. Actually, I found myself standing outside because the hours are very unique ( check them out before you go). But, once I got in - I decided to indulge in a grab and go of one of my favorite Italian classics: Penne Alla Vodka. That's right; I like the sauce in my sauce. Man did that baby perfume my car on the way home. I got home to find a large portion of pasta with what looked to be salmon chunks. I don't know if I've ever seen salmon prepared that way, but after one bite, I was not complaining. The salmon was tender flaky and perfectly cooked. The sauce was rich and the whole balance of the dish was Italian perfection. I wouldn't hesitate a second to go back to that unassuming strip mall. I guarantee you- if it were not for that review on Yelp, I would not have eaten there. It's one of those classic, " Don't judge a book by it's cover" moments. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes. They have an early bird menu ( which is dine-in only), and wine night on Tuesdays. Heeeyyyyy!
(5)
Zara K.
I can't believe I haven't given this place a reveiw! I came here two years ago when I had just gotten here and was new to area! Biscotti back then was ur second alternative to il pizzico if u were going crazy to have some pistachio ravioli ! The first two times it was actually pretty nice and almost better than il pizzicos apart from the crunch factor that il pizzico has! Everything was good we tried a number of dishes some good some bad but the service was always up and down. It seemed like they had too much of their own troubles to keep up with the service . The last time my husband insisted we go here and oh what a disaster! Pistachio sauce ravioli tasted disgusting , old and just like it was a few days old and had canned ingredients Had a spinach and red sauce kind of ravioli which was a huge disaster I could taste the metallic canned tomato taste and I returned it Then we tried the salmon penne in rose sauce (I think ) they didn't bother draining the penne and so the salmon was terrible and the pasta was sickening No wonder they closed down !
(2)
M L.
Biscotti is a neighborhood treat. Tucked away into the Red Mill Shopping Center, it offers extremely reasonable and quality Italian food. I would recommend any of the chicken dishes or pastas, especially the Chicken Alfredo. - Consistently delicious food, well portioned - Excellent service (Elizabeth & Z are extremely attentive and kind) - Quiet, quaint atmosphere -- nice for a quick meal with good company I have been coming here for several years and hope others will support this establishment and the wonderful Derwood community.
(4)
Jenny M.
First time here after visiting the other restaurants in the same shopping center over the past month. The fried calamari was just ok as was the caesar salad, but the chicken parmigiana made up for both. I ordered it with meat sauce and it was delicious. A huge portion served over pasta and plenty to take home and enjoy tomorrow. Husband really enjoyed the veal marsala and dessert...both were fantastic. He had the Bomba and I had the tiramasu. It had a slight taste of almond in it which I really loved. The place was busy on a Friday night. Families, retirees, single diners. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the owner seemed to know many of the patrons and their personal stories. A nice find. We'll be back.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No 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.
Jim V.
Visited for first time Wednesday and found the ambiance charming,especially in light of it's strip mall location. Service was to my liking with a typical neighborhood Italian menu. The prices seemed reasonable with an half carafe of Chianti $14 and a house salad around $4. The mussels in white wine had a nice garlicky taste and were under $10. My wife and I each finished with a pasta and both were outstanding. We'll be back soon and if it maintains this level place it in our regular rotation
(5)Charles G.
This place does not follow the cardinal rule of "location is everything" what with it being in a strip mall but the food, service, and prices are excellent. I have been there twice. The first time was with three friends and most recently with another friend. The comments from all were universally good. One friend called it some of the best Italian food he'd ever eaten. An out-of-town guest stopped in the middle of our fairly intense conversation and stated, "This is really good! Exceptional!" That was the salmon and pasta dish. I am very impressed with Biscotti. It is a small, intimate place with very reasonable furnishings. The service was excellent. The server knew the menu in detail and offered suggestions for dinner and even knew the wine list in detail. Prices are very good and portions are appropriate. I recommend this as a nice, reliable, intimate place that should be a regular on your list.
(4)Mary C.
I was looking for a place to go to when visiting family in Gaithersburg that wasn't fast food or sandwiches. A simple meal of protein and vegetables that was healthy and not a wallet breaker. Wow, this place has fantastic food. So well hidden in the plainest of strip malls. The chef here is fantastic, the servers are efficient, friendly but not intrusive. Highlights: -Tilapia, not previously frozen, lightly lemoned and I'd guess pan-fried because of the delicious slightly-crunchy edge of lemon. -Manicotti, perfectly executed with a sauce and filling that was light and flavorful. I don't make my own pasta, but I do believe they do. -Chicken parmesan, juicy and crunchy and wonderful topping. -Olive tapenade spread for the bread The 10 year old child with us seems to subsist on candy. Imagine our surprise to see her eagerly finish a dish of Tilapia and a bowl of minestrone.
(5)Howard C.
Great food - Excellent service - don't use yelp to get directions it send you into a townhouse community. The place is next to the CVS on Muncaster Mill rd. Great place we will be back.
(4)Mary L.
ITALIAN!!! I love a good Italian restaurant with fresh pasta and yummy sauce. Unfortunately, I don't live in Italy or near any Little Italy so my love of pasta has only been satisfied by the indulgence of Mama Lucia's and such places. Luckily, I found this place and thought, what's the worst that could happen? Boy am I glad I tried it! Located in a shopping center with a McDonald's, one doesn't suspect that good Italian food lie waiting in this small restaurant. I have been here a couple of times down and have been able to try a couple of the dishes. The Crostini alla Checca was really good. Very flavorful and a good serving size. I would recommend eating this at the restaurant though since the bread tends to get a bit soggy when you get it to go. The Ravioli Di Funghi was delicious. Creamy pistachio sauce and flavorful, fresh ravioli. So good! The Agnolotti Rosa was really good too. Lots of flavor and again, fresh pasta. You only get four pieces of pasta with these two dishes but granted they are pretty BIG pieces and extremely flavorful. The Chicken Marsala was really good too and the grilled carrots and zucchini that came with it were extremely good too. The Lasagna Della Cassa wasn't bad. It was a pretty good serving. I thought the meat mixture was a little too sweet for my taste. My friend got the Penne Alla Vodka with chicken instead of salmon and it wasn't bad. The sauce was a little thin for my taste but again, it had a nice flavor. The Tortellini Di Carne was pretty good as well but it did not stand out as much as some of the other dishes. My friend and I got a Tiramisu and Budino Di Pane to try as well. They were okay but I thought the tiramisu could do with more of a coffee flavor. The budino was served warm though which was nice. Even the bread was really good, especially when paired with the Olive Tempenade that comes with it. Tuesdays are half priced wine night as well! The staff was really nice too, not rushing my friend and I at all. Overall: great, fresh pasta, yummylicious sauce + really friendly staff + located closer to me than Italy = I have FINALLY found a great pasta place in MoCo!!
(5)Amanda N.
Wasn't horrible, but wasn't great. The salmon in the penne al vodka was overpowered by the very rich sauce. It would have been better with about half the sauce. The muscles were fishy with a very buttery sauce. I had high hopes after reading reviews, but I won't be returning.
(2)Jessica B.
I moved around the corner from this place and decided to check it out for my birthday dinner with my dear friend. We were both so impressed with the food! We both got eggplant parm, but I got Fettuccine Alfredo (sans chicken) instead of spaghetti. The entire meal was delicious! The sauce was on point. Above and beyond any expectations I might have had. The one star deduction is for two reasons: first, my friend thought the service wasn't friendly enough. I actually liked that they kept it brief and to the point (she enjoys to engage in menial chitchat more than I do). Secondly, I would have enjoyed a smoothie, but would have taken Dr. Pepper as a close second. Maybe a strawberry lemonade. No go. They have plenty of beer and wine, but not much else. I ended up having water, but a fun drink would have made my visit a perfect one. We enjoyed their unique spread that came with the bread. It consisted of crushed olives, with garlic and parm cheese. We also requested olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette to dip it in. Fantastic! The best part of all was the dessert. I had the bomba, a yummy sorbet with white chocolate. My friend loved her bread pudding. I plan on returning!
(4)John G.
This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in the DC metropolitan area. It is small, in a strip mall in Derwood, but very attractive witjh white tablecloths and nice Italian music. I have had lunch there on three occasions and dinner with my wife last night. The sauces are excellent. The Vodka sauce is "to die for". The tiramisu is outstanding! Have had it twice and it was great both times. I have had their chicken Parmesan, lasagna and a penne pasta with salmon, spinach and vodka sauce. All were good and the latter was absolutely delicious. I will take out of town guests there next week and would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant. It is my go to choice for Italian food.
(5)Brian S.
Another example of why yelp needs to add the .5 option. Definitely better than a 3, but not quite a 4. The lobster ravioli was good, I absolutely loved the sauce they used with it. The SALTIMBOCA ROMANA was good. Not the best veal saltimboca that I've had, but still pretty solid. Ended with the tiramisu which was also great. The chicken marsala was okay. Overall a really solid place, and I feel bad giving it a 3, as it is definitely better than that, just couldn't justify the 4. Absolutely worth a visit though!
(3)Mel A.
Now that I've discovered this little gem of an Italian restaurant hidden in a strip mall that's under construction in Derwood, I learned that it's closing - after nine years - on August 24 because of leasing issues. The service and food were very good. We had the calamari fritti, eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti Bolognese, and salmone guarnito. The desserts that we enjoyed, tiramisu and budino di pane were legit. Many who were leaving inquired when and where they will re-open. Hopefully they'll find a place soon. It's pretty apparent that Biscotti's is loved by the locals. 4.5 stars!
(4)Janet C.
My family and I have been coming here for years. The food is consistently good and the service is friendly and efficient. Some of our favorites: - Biscotti Salad: fresh with a really good balsamic vinaigrette - Spaghetti with meatballs: my daughter loves this dish and orders it every time. If we ever have Italian outside of the area, she will order the standard and say 'good but not as good as Biscotti's'. - Penne Alla Vodka: succulent chunks of salmon with spinach, tomatoes, creamy vodka over tender penne pasta. Really tasty! - Linguini Pescatore: shrimp, mussels, and calamari with marinara over linguine. Seafood is cooked perfectly and goes well with their awesome marinara. - Daily Specials: always good, especially the seafood specials. Fish is always done just right, usually with a nice sauce and vegetables that are cooked perfectly (not over cooked) - Tiramisu: excellent ending to the meal if you have room If you come in before 6 pm, they have early bird specials that comes with a salad and a bargain dessert and coffee add-on option.
(5)Ashley M.
So disappointed with the food. I thought it would taste amazing but my pasta ended up tasting like it was microwaved. The bread was awful as well.
(2)Mike B.
On the recommendation of another fabulous Yelper, I found myself at the quaint little Italian restaurant known as Biscotti Ristorante. Actually, I found myself standing outside because the hours are very unique ( check them out before you go). But, once I got in - I decided to indulge in a grab and go of one of my favorite Italian classics: Penne Alla Vodka. That's right; I like the sauce in my sauce. Man did that baby perfume my car on the way home. I got home to find a large portion of pasta with what looked to be salmon chunks. I don't know if I've ever seen salmon prepared that way, but after one bite, I was not complaining. The salmon was tender flaky and perfectly cooked. The sauce was rich and the whole balance of the dish was Italian perfection. I wouldn't hesitate a second to go back to that unassuming strip mall. I guarantee you- if it were not for that review on Yelp, I would not have eaten there. It's one of those classic, " Don't judge a book by it's cover" moments. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes. They have an early bird menu ( which is dine-in only), and wine night on Tuesdays. Heeeyyyyy!
(5)Zara K.
I can't believe I haven't given this place a reveiw! I came here two years ago when I had just gotten here and was new to area! Biscotti back then was ur second alternative to il pizzico if u were going crazy to have some pistachio ravioli ! The first two times it was actually pretty nice and almost better than il pizzicos apart from the crunch factor that il pizzico has! Everything was good we tried a number of dishes some good some bad but the service was always up and down. It seemed like they had too much of their own troubles to keep up with the service . The last time my husband insisted we go here and oh what a disaster! Pistachio sauce ravioli tasted disgusting , old and just like it was a few days old and had canned ingredients Had a spinach and red sauce kind of ravioli which was a huge disaster I could taste the metallic canned tomato taste and I returned it Then we tried the salmon penne in rose sauce (I think ) they didn't bother draining the penne and so the salmon was terrible and the pasta was sickening No wonder they closed down !
(2)M L.
Biscotti is a neighborhood treat. Tucked away into the Red Mill Shopping Center, it offers extremely reasonable and quality Italian food. I would recommend any of the chicken dishes or pastas, especially the Chicken Alfredo. - Consistently delicious food, well portioned - Excellent service (Elizabeth & Z are extremely attentive and kind) - Quiet, quaint atmosphere -- nice for a quick meal with good company I have been coming here for several years and hope others will support this establishment and the wonderful Derwood community.
(4)Jenny M.
First time here after visiting the other restaurants in the same shopping center over the past month. The fried calamari was just ok as was the caesar salad, but the chicken parmigiana made up for both. I ordered it with meat sauce and it was delicious. A huge portion served over pasta and plenty to take home and enjoy tomorrow. Husband really enjoyed the veal marsala and dessert...both were fantastic. He had the Bomba and I had the tiramasu. It had a slight taste of almond in it which I really loved. The place was busy on a Friday night. Families, retirees, single diners. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the owner seemed to know many of the patrons and their personal stories. A nice find. We'll be back.
(4)