Had dinner with my wife. Service was great and atmosphere is really nice. Smaller more intimate place. Server recommended the fritters. We also ordered clams. Clams were great fritters were so so. Dinner was good. Normal Italian items. Now the dessert was really good. The owner came over to present our options. She told us he hand makes everything. We ordered a chocolate cake item that came hot. It was really good. The check came and I looked it over and moot or they took the fritters off. I did not even say anything but that they were ok and we did not eat them. I asked to have them put back on the Check but they insisted. I thought that was a really customer oriented move. We will Bw back for sure.
(5)
Kathy Wells Y.
Dinner tonight was awesome! From accommodating us ( we wanted to sit outside, they only had one server working and she warned us it might be a leisurely meal outside) which we didn't mind at all...apps, wine, entrees, desserts! All very good and we cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Steve H.
Just thought I'd update my last review, as we hadn't been to Al Sospiro for a while and went again last night. We were hoping it was good as it had been in the past and it did not disappoint. Also nice to see a good crowd - we don't want this restaurant to go anywhere. Highly recommend.
(5)
Anthony M.
Really excellent meal and good service. It was a quiet evening (4 tables) so that definitely helped. But the food is very good and as others have said there is a void of good higher end restaurants in Olney. My lamb was ok but perhaps overpriced at $26, friends had grilled shrimp on polenta which was excellent, a pasta which was fine, and sausage stuffed in quail which was the best of the four - truly excellent. Will definitely go again.
(4)
Genevieve R.
Al Sospiro is great. Whenever we have family come visit from out of town we take them here because it is the nicest restaurant in Olney. The food is delicious and is authentic Italian. The Potato Gnocchi with tomato veal is always an excellent choice if you are in the mood for pasta. My favorite dish is the Linguine ai frutti di mare with different seafood in the pasta. The Wild Atlantic Cod poached in white wine is soooo good! My Dad gets it every time! Don't skip dessert! Best part of the meal! They are all homemade by the Chefs wife and never disappoint. (She also painted the whole restaurant)
(5)
Roger C.
This restaurant is probably the best in the area with the nice atmosphere and very good food at somewhat reasonable prices. You should not be disappointed with your meal at this restaurant- I highly recommend.
(5)
Rose M.
I gave it only 2 stars because of the service or lack of it! The food is wonderful but our dining experience left us leaving feeling that we were not a priority. We made reservations for 5:30 on a Sunday for a small group of 5 asking for a quiet table out of traffic . When we arrived our table wasn't set up and they gave us a table completely opposite as requested! We ordered a bottle of wine and 2 appetizers. The appetizer order was incorrect, the wine was never brought to the table so we asked about it. "Yes, it will be right there" we finished our appetizers and dinner was being served! Again, an order was incorrect and taken back so 4 people were eating while the 5th nibbled on others...the waitress apologized and said they were not charging us. Again we asked the woman who does the baking about the wine and was told it's on the way! We watched as many tables who were seated after us were served drinks and wine. Their service seemed very attentive. We even began wondering aloud was the deal was???! We ended up being told they didn't have the wine we ordered and the chef suggested 2 choices. We finally were poured wine and did enjoy the food. The dishes were great as well as the desserts. It was almost laughable but the we ordered coffee and again it didn't show up, we asked 3 wait staff and finally it came to table when desserts were more than 1/2 finished! I would love to give it 4-5 stars for food but to be honest 1 star for service would be generous, hence the 2 stars. This was supposed to be a special dinner that we had planned as a gift for friends and we were embarrassed and annoyed about the service. We left still wondering what just happened!
(2)
V N.
We live in Olney and had heard positive reviews and decided to try it out. The warm bread and olive oil was a great start along with a side salad with grilled tomatoes. The beef tenderloin was delicious. It was served with potatoes which left something to be desired. My husband enjoyed the sausage stuffed quail and my son devoured the baby octopus appetizer. Next time we'll pass on the side salads. Lucky for us, our 4 year old prefers octopus to the usual kid's menu fare...otherwise this wouldn't have been a kid friendly place.
(4)
Jennifer L.
My mom and I went there for lunch on a weekday. The dinning room is actually down the flight of stairs so it is not very handicap accessible. When I was walking down I thought I was entering a dungeon because it was also dark and it was cement floors. The bread was warm, so that is a plus but I wish it came with butter instead of olive oil ( I think). My mom was like "are we drinking oil now?" There were 2 other pairs there with one lady as the only server. She would disappear for long times, but I guess she was helping in the kitchen. The food took a while to come out and the portions were really small. My mom got the pasta shells with spicy sausage. We struggled to finish it because it did not taste that great. The shells were hard (ha ha). Sausage was blah. I got the beef tenderloin with home fries. The beef was very delicious except for the fact that it was a bit bloody inside ( I like my beef medium well). The hostess forgot to ask me how I would like it and I forgot to mention it to her, so I guess that just took a stab at it. The home fries were VERY oily and crispy. Check out the pictures :)
(2)
Bob N.
The food in this obscurely located restaurant is good. The interior is small, not very attractive, and compresses sound (not too bad on our visit, as it was not full on Thursday, but would be worse on a busy nite). Grilled greens were a good starter. Portions are good; quality is "OK" -- not what the prices would lead one to expect. Good wine selection. Desert was pleasant. We expect a lot of an Italian restaurant, based on experiences in other areas, and in Northern Italy, and this one left much to be desired.
(3)
Brandon S.
My wife and I tried this place with a Groupon-like discount from the local Olney paper. We were very impressed! It easily became one of our favorite places to dine for a fancy meal or a birthday. We've come here several times, and we've enjoyed it every time. The bread is fantastic, and served with garlic and herb-infused olive oil. We always order the crostini, which practically tastes like a head of garlic and has a wonderful Romano cheese slice on it. To die for! My wife loves the "Linguine ai frutti di mare" (I had to look it up!) which is seafood with linguini. I personally love the pork chop or the beef tenderloin, depending on my mood. The wine selection is excellent, and you feel as though you are dining in a wine cellar. It's really a great ambiance. My only complaint is that it's nearly impossible to get out of there for under $80 for two, unless you have a coupon.
(4)
John M.
Blah. Service ok, but food was below average. Ordered orichetti with mushrooms. Absolutely tasteless. Didn't even salt the water the pasta was cooked in.
(1)
Guido A.
Olney is about the last place you would expect very good Italian food. Roman style cuisine with a nice variety of selections and everything is made carefully just as it is ordered. My wife and I eat out a lot and this is one of our favorites, especially since we are both of Italian extraction and spend several weeks a year in Italy. Not a spaghetti and meatballs joint, Al Sospiro will give you a reliable, affordable, authentic Italian meal. Am not sure why the other reviewers don't agree with my assessment, since we have never had a bad meal here.
(5)
John B.
I'll keep this brief as it is not deserving of any more of my valuable time. Came in here with the old lady to eat on a Tuesday night. We were seated fairly promptly and given a good amount of a time to get settled in and scan the menu. Now, here is where Al Sospiro went down the pooper. When my girlfriend informed the waiter that she was going to be having a Diet Coke with her meal, his face immediately grimaced. It grimaced, he became less enthusiastic, he stopped helping, he stopped caring. Because we wanted soft drinks. Assistance with the menu became a task, sharing his thoughts on the food was tiresome, everything just become a God-damned chore. Understand, we haven't even ordered yet. The food bordered on decent. The lady ordered gnocchi and I ordered...something. Honestly, it made no impression on me. I can't even remember it. You will not get anything here that you cannot get up the road at the pizza joint except for the attitude. So from this moment on in the meal, the waiter never checked in on us again. I had to ask for a refill even after he walked by 4-5 times and saw my empty glass. He didn't even bring us our bill until we had to almost physically stop him from practically fellating another party one by one as they ordered off the wine list. The best part of all of this was when we were trying to pay our bill of like $14.00 (Groupon) with a $50, he was stunned we wanted change! There are only two certainties with this place. The food is mediocre and this particular waiter was a clown. Dine at your own risk!
(1)
Kevin D.
I've been here a number of times, and I'll try to keep this brief: For appetizers: Get: sausage in white wine sauce (really good, I think it's made in-house); fresh mozzarella, fennel and arugula salad; the bruschetta/panzanella. Avoid: baby octopus; tasted fine but were exceptionally rubbery For entrees: Get: Cod poached in white wine (top recommendation, incredibly flavorful), shrimp with polenta, grilled vegetable platter (really very good; if that sounds good to you, definitely get it, you won't be disappointed), pork sausages with cannellini beans Avoid: Pasta (excluding gnocchi): none of the pasta is homemade according to the servers, and the dishes are really uninspired compared to the other entrees. Also, maybe avoid dishes that could easily overcook; when I had the quail it was rather dry, same with the pork with peas. For dessert: Do not skip dessert, plan to have it there. The chocolate budino is fantastic, maybe a cross between a chocolate souffle and a lava cake, just gorgeous and packed with rich chocolate flavor. Other desserts are good too (tiramisu and the almond cheesecake), but this one stands above the others. Service: Service can definitely be slow/inattentive when the dining room is full. It's not the end of the world but it can be a little annoying.
(4)
Denny S.
This was my first time here based on a recommendation from a client. Great service and really good food. I would bring friends here for a great meal. The building is a little hard to find but well worth the effort.
(5)
Allison L.
My parents love this place and go pretty often but this past weekend was the first time I went. It was really good! The restaurant is tiny inside and out, and basically if you blink driving down Georgia Avenue, you'll miss it. Once inside, there's a small wine bar on the top level (they have wine tastings every so often), and the main dining area is downstairs. There's also a small outside seating area. The restaurant is incredibly cute, much of it handpainted by the owners wife (who I believe also make the desserts). Even the bathroom was incredibly cute, and also impeccably clean. The food is much lighter Italian food (aka not heavy with creamy sauces and lots of cheese... yeah, that's my favorite, too) so if you're looking for like lasagna or something similar, you probably won't find it here. What they do have is incredibly fresh, but somewhat lighter, fish, meat, pasta, and desserts. For appetizers, the garlic bread and panzanella are both really good choices. Instead of an entree, I got the salt cod appetizer and roasted potatoes (both reeeeeally, really good). I tried some of my dad's halibut (one of the specials that day) and kind of wanted that as well. The appetizers for dinner are about $8, entrees about $15-$30, sides $6... everything is slightly cheaper at lunch. Definitely one of the better choices in Olney.
(4)
Peter M.
Great food and atmosphere. Best Italian dining in Olney.
(4)
Kathleen K.
Took my mom for her birthday. Waiter was inattentive (I actually had to hail him down for every drink order we got), not accomodating (mom got minestrone and it looked like pesto broth - even if it were in every way a classic minestrone, when the customer expresses concern/dissatisfaction with it, the waiter needs to offer something else up or take it off the menu - ours just said "that's the way it is" & walked away), It was OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive (of the 6 of us there, two had plain pasta with tomato sauce - not special at all-, one had plain pasta with butter - a child - one was pasta with butter, garlic, and broccoli, mom had soup (see above!), and I had pork - very blah, not seasoned, not tender;, no one had anything to drink but water except for me - I had an iced tea). Our grand total was $180!! HOLY COW!! Food was really subpar. Ambiance was nice but for that kind of price, I'd expect an attentive waiter and delicious food. Oh, and although our bread was nice and warm, it came out completely smashed - smashed like it had been sitting under a brick! What's up with that? What waiter would serve us that? Ridiculou! Save your money and go to Riccuiti's next door - decent food and far better prices! Oh, and despite the fact that no one mentioned it to us and none of us saw it on the menu, the lovely waiter (who really HAD to be the son of the owner, no other explanation) added a 20% gratuity because of our size!! EGAD!!!
(1)
Carol B.
Rosemary potatoes were amazing and I really appreciate the egg-less pasta. Very nice ambiance; like dining in a huge wine cellar. I'll definitely go back.
(4)
Ashley D.
This is a nice little place to come for a bottle of wine and Italian food. They have some interesting menu items you don't see often, like grilled tomato salad and sausage-stuffed quail. While there wasn't a dish that particularly stood out to me as really remarkable (other than the quail, remarkable primarily because it's a novelty), I thought the food was solid. Our service was very good. Our waiter didn't seem at all put off that we were dining with our infant (a situation that admittedly isn't ideal for a wine bar), and he was quick and attentive. Considering the dining room is downstairs in a basement and there isn't much natural light to brighten the place up, they have done a decent job with the atmosphere. While Olney is a bit out of the way for me and I don't think this restaurant is necessarily worth a special trip, I'd stop by again if I happened to be in the neighborhood and in the mood for Italian food.
(3)
Gabrielle H.
We still love this place from start to finish - can't get out of there without ordering every course. The eggplant and mozzarella appetizer is perfectly smoky and creamy, the arugula is always fresh and bright with lemon and fennel. The grilled veal with horseradish is a particular favorite, and chef's wife Tara makes all of the spectacular desserts. The wine selection is good - mixed drinks are also well done. Espresso is strong and hot - so many places can't get it right! The food at Al Sospiro (along with the chef) is authentic Italian - don't be expecting the typical Italian-American repertoire. A special spot worth the visit.
(5)
Johnny B.
As a long time resident in Olney, MD, I remember when the building Al Sospiro is located in was once the Famous FinneyFrocks maintenance and repair shop. It had been a staple of Olney for well over 50 years I believe. Anyhow, I think that is what I like most about this place. The unique atmosphere and nostalgia is what makes this Trattoria a pleasure to visit. They have a nice wine bar upstairs to indulge; if that is all you would like to do, or they have a quaint dining area downstairs that offers Italian dishes that have a unique twist on traditional cuisine. Since the restaurant is situated in what used to be a garage, the noise in the restaurant tends to be quite loud. The food is a little over priced for what you get, but it is not too bad. If the prices were a little less, I might go here more often. RIght now, its on an annual rotation in my frequenting of restaurants. There are just cheaper alternatives in the area.
(3)
M K.
Atmosphere was nice. Felt like we found a quaint restaurant in Italy. Food was delicious, if a bit salty. My only complaint would be about the staff, which did not come across as friendly at all, from the waiter to the greeter. We ended up being the ones smiling, saying thank you and please. Oh, and gratuity of 20% was automatically added to bill, which we assumed was part of the coupon deal, but verified later that it was not.
(3)
Karen S.
Food: I had some of their specials the night we went - a grilled eggplant and mozzarella stacked appetizer that had wonderful flavor and a nice immediate presentation, but after a few cuts into the mozz, the entire dish got runny with its moisture. Still, a great start for an eggplant lover. My entree was a classic seafood in white wine and garlic sauce atop spaghetti. The shrimp, calamari and scallops were perfectly cooked, particularly the calamari. The only regret was that the menu didn't mention that it had tomatoes, which my stomach is a little sensitive to. Our of the two meals, mine beat my husbands, which was a rather simple green salad with balsamic and a forgettable pepper crusted tuna steak. Nice wine selection, but not so knowledgeable young woman working the bar. She carried a bartending book with her. I'm all for learning on the job, but let's not be too obvious about it. Overall, a great little find in Olney. It put a healthy dent in our wallets (over $100 for two) for what was supposed to be a simple night out, but we'll go back. Ambiance: We lowered the average age a few notches. Not a place I'd bring kids to. Tiny upstairs wine bar; head downstairs for a cozy dinner. Location: On the east side of GA Ave. Other posters are right - it's itty bitty. Look for a Domino's pizza sign - it's right next door. If you can't get parking in the front lot, duck into the lot behind it. Technically, it might belong to another business, but we didn't have a problem at night.
(3)
Sarah H.
I love this place. We went with a large group for a family celebration. It's very small and can get noisy when busy, but I personally like the small feel. Everyone enjoyed their meals, no complaints at all. The waiter was very helpful in recommending wines. Will be coming back for a date night!
(4)
Kelly M.
A Groupon brought me to Al Sospiro. My roommate had also been there previously with her family, and had some great reviews. The atmosphere was great, very true to the Italian cuisine, very intimate and antiquated. The waiter was fine, attentive enough, but it was a very slow night (~5:30 on a Tuesday). I had high expectations for the food, considering that the venue was so quaint, however we were sorely mistaken. We ordered the grilled eggplant and mozerella and the potatoes with thyme for an appetizer, I ordered gnocci with marinara, and my boyfriend had gnocci with veal sauce. The chef didn't seem to understand the importance of seasoning, we were pouring salt and pepper on everything. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the food was flavorless, as well as covered in olive oil. The marinara was nothing more than warmed tomatoes, and the gnocci was incredibly bland. There was nothing remarkable about our experience at Al Sospiro, and we unfortunately won't be returning.
(2)
Lucy B.
The service was wonderful here but I feel like the food was lacking. Nothing we had was really all that memorable.
(3)
Bahia S.
So so. This place seemed like a cute little hole in the wall that looked promising, and overall their food was pretty good, but nothing too special. There was nothing to complain about, but the good didn't make me go "wow". The decor is a little bland, and the service was mediocre. The waiter kept forgetting about us, even though the place is very small and there were 3 servers for the 10 tables.
(3)
Bev N.
WE LOVE this restaurant!! We used to live in Ashton and went there. Now, even tho we live in Gaithersburg, it is VERY worth the trip for us. Last night, I had the garlic bread as an appetizer and it was, hands down, the BEST I ever ate. Both of our dinners were fabulous! And the owners are very special people besides being great chefs! The most charming place around -- you really feel like you are in Italy. Very worth it for a special occasion, or anytime you want a delicious meal. Highly recommend it. Bev N. Gaithersburg, MD
(5)
Rich Z.
Disappointing! We had a nice coupon from Gazette.net and still were charged $40 including tip. The presentation of the food was nice but it lacked taste -- nothing special! Service the same. Ambience was quite nice.
(2)
Nina A.
Nice atmosphere, friendly waitress. Food was okay but not great. They don't make their own pasta, disappointing for a high end italian restaurant. We'll probably go back some day but I wasn't blown away.
(3)
Thecla M.
Great little place- good food and attentive waitstaff. We first visited shortly after they opened and were not impressed - happy to say I have returned with friends and it is now a favorite in Olney. Food is good and fresh - wine reasonable.
(4)
thomas p.
Authentic trattoria from Rome. The veal ragu is fantastic. I had a special of quail with sausage that was cooked perfect. Do not expect pasta and meatballs. Food is cooked to order so not a place for a quick in and out. Service is fine. Simple well made food This would be called a neighborhood restaurant in any part of Rome that your hotel would direct you to if you asked for local fare.
(4)
Allyson S.
According to my parents, this place used to be a greasy lawnmower repairshop - talk about a complete 180. It is TINY, but very nice. The downstairs dining area got a little loud at times. I really really liked the food - I ordered the fetuccine pesto (on special) which was delicious but I liked my dad's swordfish (also a special) even more. Don't leave without dessert!! The apple crisp and chocolate bundino were amazing. An excellent new addition to Olney.
(4)
Y C.
Best restaurant in Olney, hands down. Great atmosphere, wonderful service and fantastic food.
(5)
Bettie P.
I wish I could eat here more- the food is great- but it's pretty pricey. The service is mediocre and because of the small space, it can feel cramped.
(3)
dave h.
This place just opened in the small town of Olney, and it has received great word of mouth around town. A chef friend of mine from the Belgium place across the street raved about this little Italian place so I had to try it. Over all opinion...very interesting. It has a little wine bar with some couches upstairs and a quaint little dining area downstairs. They have a pretty good Italian wine list and some south American wines also. The wife ordered the arribiata pasta, which was excellent; not too spicy but still had a great arribiate kick. And the noodles were done perfectly. I ordered the Italian sausage with white beans, to try something different. It was okay, the beans were like a soup and the sausage was a little rubbery. I don't think it was b/c it was cooked too long, i think it was the type of pork it was. I am excited to try something else there. The services was good, the staff of young wait staff did a good job of timing the food, cleaning the tables, filling waters, and not being a pest. Overall i would add this to my list of good places in O-town.
(4)
C J.
This is a tough one. I've been here s few times over the years. Is it expensive. Is it pretentious. Is it in s weird location. Yes. But not is the food a number one. Every time. And the wine list. Im picky of Italian food because I grew up with fresh my whole life. The pasta here is second to no one.
(4)
Lauren M.
Olney has lots of places to eat, some better than others. This is my favorite restaurant in Olney, and it is a gem. Every meal we've had here has been fantastic and the pacing and wait staff are always great. Favorites are the grilled romaine wedge salad with sun-dried tomatoes and blue cheese, the arugula salad, pasta e. fagioli, the gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce, and the sea bass special. I don't even like fish all that much and always try it when my husband orders it.
(5)
Shira S.
I came here with my family on Sunday night to celebrate my brother's birthday. My parents had been here previously and have consistently enjoyed it so they suggested it for dinner. We started off with the grilled tomato salad which was delicious! The gnocchi themselves were delicious (I'm just not a fan of gorgonzola cheese) and others enjoyed the fettuccino al ragu. While none of their entrees were calling my name, a bunch of their appetizers were. So in classic fashion, I ordered two appetizers for dinner. The mussels were delicious and the lightest white wine sauce I have enjoyed. The cariciofini alla griglia was also super yum, with four delicious pieces of artichoke atop mixed greens. I can't remember what everyone else ordered, but all were happy! The service was friendly without being overbearing or intrusive, which is always a plus!
(4)
Kristi F.
Definitely a very hidden gem! One of the best Italian restaurants. The food is always amazing. I've never had a bad meal. And there are so many options. I think the bread in the beginning is the only thing I've heard people not 100% happy with but the rest of the food makes you look past it. I could start listing all the dishes you should try but I'd end up listing the entire menu. The location makes it hard to find and it doesn't even look like a restaurant, but that just adds to its uniqueness. The walls are beautifully painted and there's a very special rustic feel when you're there. If you're looking for a simply amazing Italian meal then this is the place to go.
(5)
Matt S.
Al Sospiro Trattoria is THE gem of Olney. In a little tucked away basement in a random building next to Dominos, this unassuming spot puts together some quality Italian dishes. I've gone here multiple times with family and it's a shame that more people don't know about it, because it's worth a visit. I've tried pasta dishes along with main course entrees, all of which have been good. The wine selection also provides some amount of quality to the meal. The last time that I was there I started out with the grilled romaine salad, an excellent starter. As an entree, I went with the chicken breast. The chicken along with peppers and potatoes wasn't the best, but it's what I get for trying to be low carb. I've had the gnocchi before, and it was an excellent dish, along with their swordfish. If there's anyone within the Olney area looking for something new instead of mass produced fast food, for a higher price, you'll get a much higher quality meal.
(4)
Demetria L.
This Italian gem is a bit hidden but worth the search. The food is outstanding and the Desserts are Phenomenal!! Owner is a pastry chef and if desserts were cars the after-dinner fare is the Foodie Ferrari!
(5)
Tony N.
Al Sospiro is a great option for date night with your wife! Not a "GREAT" restaurant, but a really good neighborhood option. I had the seafood pasta which was loaded with plenty of sea yummies. We started with a very good mussels in wine sauce appetizer. The small cozy basement level room added to the experience, however if I were to come at peak time, I'd might want to make a reservation. My one criticism: the deserts were O.K. but ordinary. My advice, skip it and put the calories in a second app.
(4)
Cris C.
All i have to say is that i did not like any of the disshes we had. When the waitress brought my daughter's pasta pomodoro neither one of us liked the blend tomato sauce. she told the waitress it did not taste good at all and she asked for a fettuccini alfredo...to my surprise, they charged me for both dishes. My scallop was blen and the polenta was tateless in every aspect of the way. The food is extremelly overpriced. I would not have a problem with the value if the taste and quality were met for that price. We will not retun.
(2)
P D.
Great restaurant. We all enjoyed are our meal. Best Italian restaurant we have ever eaten at. Highly recommend.
(5)
Bryanna M.
After reading the reviews, we were expecting something amazing or at least good. As an example of the quality of the food, I ordered the beet special which consisted of five slices of canned beets with a giant handful of oily baby spinach on top. The olive oil served with the bread tasted like cheap vegetable oil. The decor seems like it was bought at an Olive Garden clearance sale and the actual restaurant is in the basement of the building. The food is mediocre at best but the prices are super expensive. For the amount of money we spent for an early dinner, we could have gone to one of the DC area's best restaurants. I am not sure if this place used to be good and went downhill or what the situation is, but I do not recommend it.
(2)
Mitchell Y.
Ate there last night. A signature of a tasty, good Italian restaurant is they're bread. This bread tasted a day old. It was like a small rye bread served with a monkey dish of pure olive oil. No cheese in the oil, no rosemary, nothing. Not even a side of butter. Horrible. The mussel appetizer was small and way salty with almost no wine in it. The piece of sword fish seemed frozen and the side dish had 4 pieces of zucchini. the sauce on my pasta dish was tasteless. I grew up on Italian food from up north, but for a $100.00 tab, which included a little wine, this place does not impress whatsoever. I wanted this place to be wonderful because I just moved in to the area. Disappointing for a Saturday night, when every restaurant should be on they're AA game. Too expensive and tasteless food.
(1)
Brian S.
I really want to give this 4 stars but I just can't give an Italian resturaunt who doesn't make their own pasta and gnocchi 4....so 3.75 for my rating. Started off with the spicy sausage in white balsamic with onions..overall a very well balanced dish, and was probably my favorite of the night. Split the gnocchi with veal ragu...pretty good. Gnocchi was a little mushy. Could have used bigger pieces of veal. I ordered the sausage stuffed quail. Same sausage from the appetizer. Quail was slightly over cooked but itd be hard to properly cook a quail stuffed with sausage. Desert was the red velvet parfait...it was okay. Overall nothing really wowed me, but nothing was bad either. Service was alright. There was a party of 8 just before us so that slowed down service a little.
This is by far the best restaurant in the area. The service, ambiance and food were fantastic and we really enjoyed our dinner. We started off with a charred romaine salad and the bruscetta, both were delicious. For our main courses we ordered the marinated shrimp and the seafood pasta. My husband even tweaked the seafood pasta a little to change the sauce and exclude the clams and the staff was happy to help with the substitution. Also, we were looking for a wine recommendation and again the servers were happy to help us select something we would like. We're so pleased to find such a good restaurant so close to home and we will definately be back soon!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Matt P.
Had dinner with my wife. Service was great and atmosphere is really nice. Smaller more intimate place. Server recommended the fritters. We also ordered clams. Clams were great fritters were so so. Dinner was good. Normal Italian items. Now the dessert was really good. The owner came over to present our options. She told us he hand makes everything. We ordered a chocolate cake item that came hot. It was really good. The check came and I looked it over and moot or they took the fritters off. I did not even say anything but that they were ok and we did not eat them. I asked to have them put back on the Check but they insisted. I thought that was a really customer oriented move. We will Bw back for sure.
(5)Kathy Wells Y.
Dinner tonight was awesome! From accommodating us ( we wanted to sit outside, they only had one server working and she warned us it might be a leisurely meal outside) which we didn't mind at all...apps, wine, entrees, desserts! All very good and we cannot wait to go back!
(5)Steve H.
Just thought I'd update my last review, as we hadn't been to Al Sospiro for a while and went again last night. We were hoping it was good as it had been in the past and it did not disappoint. Also nice to see a good crowd - we don't want this restaurant to go anywhere. Highly recommend.
(5)Anthony M.
Really excellent meal and good service. It was a quiet evening (4 tables) so that definitely helped. But the food is very good and as others have said there is a void of good higher end restaurants in Olney. My lamb was ok but perhaps overpriced at $26, friends had grilled shrimp on polenta which was excellent, a pasta which was fine, and sausage stuffed in quail which was the best of the four - truly excellent. Will definitely go again.
(4)Genevieve R.
Al Sospiro is great. Whenever we have family come visit from out of town we take them here because it is the nicest restaurant in Olney. The food is delicious and is authentic Italian. The Potato Gnocchi with tomato veal is always an excellent choice if you are in the mood for pasta. My favorite dish is the Linguine ai frutti di mare with different seafood in the pasta. The Wild Atlantic Cod poached in white wine is soooo good! My Dad gets it every time! Don't skip dessert! Best part of the meal! They are all homemade by the Chefs wife and never disappoint. (She also painted the whole restaurant)
(5)Roger C.
This restaurant is probably the best in the area with the nice atmosphere and very good food at somewhat reasonable prices. You should not be disappointed with your meal at this restaurant- I highly recommend.
(5)Rose M.
I gave it only 2 stars because of the service or lack of it! The food is wonderful but our dining experience left us leaving feeling that we were not a priority. We made reservations for 5:30 on a Sunday for a small group of 5 asking for a quiet table out of traffic . When we arrived our table wasn't set up and they gave us a table completely opposite as requested! We ordered a bottle of wine and 2 appetizers. The appetizer order was incorrect, the wine was never brought to the table so we asked about it. "Yes, it will be right there" we finished our appetizers and dinner was being served! Again, an order was incorrect and taken back so 4 people were eating while the 5th nibbled on others...the waitress apologized and said they were not charging us. Again we asked the woman who does the baking about the wine and was told it's on the way! We watched as many tables who were seated after us were served drinks and wine. Their service seemed very attentive. We even began wondering aloud was the deal was???! We ended up being told they didn't have the wine we ordered and the chef suggested 2 choices. We finally were poured wine and did enjoy the food. The dishes were great as well as the desserts. It was almost laughable but the we ordered coffee and again it didn't show up, we asked 3 wait staff and finally it came to table when desserts were more than 1/2 finished! I would love to give it 4-5 stars for food but to be honest 1 star for service would be generous, hence the 2 stars. This was supposed to be a special dinner that we had planned as a gift for friends and we were embarrassed and annoyed about the service. We left still wondering what just happened!
(2)V N.
We live in Olney and had heard positive reviews and decided to try it out. The warm bread and olive oil was a great start along with a side salad with grilled tomatoes. The beef tenderloin was delicious. It was served with potatoes which left something to be desired. My husband enjoyed the sausage stuffed quail and my son devoured the baby octopus appetizer. Next time we'll pass on the side salads. Lucky for us, our 4 year old prefers octopus to the usual kid's menu fare...otherwise this wouldn't have been a kid friendly place.
(4)Jennifer L.
My mom and I went there for lunch on a weekday. The dinning room is actually down the flight of stairs so it is not very handicap accessible. When I was walking down I thought I was entering a dungeon because it was also dark and it was cement floors. The bread was warm, so that is a plus but I wish it came with butter instead of olive oil ( I think). My mom was like "are we drinking oil now?" There were 2 other pairs there with one lady as the only server. She would disappear for long times, but I guess she was helping in the kitchen. The food took a while to come out and the portions were really small. My mom got the pasta shells with spicy sausage. We struggled to finish it because it did not taste that great. The shells were hard (ha ha). Sausage was blah. I got the beef tenderloin with home fries. The beef was very delicious except for the fact that it was a bit bloody inside ( I like my beef medium well). The hostess forgot to ask me how I would like it and I forgot to mention it to her, so I guess that just took a stab at it. The home fries were VERY oily and crispy. Check out the pictures :)
(2)Bob N.
The food in this obscurely located restaurant is good. The interior is small, not very attractive, and compresses sound (not too bad on our visit, as it was not full on Thursday, but would be worse on a busy nite). Grilled greens were a good starter. Portions are good; quality is "OK" -- not what the prices would lead one to expect. Good wine selection. Desert was pleasant. We expect a lot of an Italian restaurant, based on experiences in other areas, and in Northern Italy, and this one left much to be desired.
(3)Brandon S.
My wife and I tried this place with a Groupon-like discount from the local Olney paper. We were very impressed! It easily became one of our favorite places to dine for a fancy meal or a birthday. We've come here several times, and we've enjoyed it every time. The bread is fantastic, and served with garlic and herb-infused olive oil. We always order the crostini, which practically tastes like a head of garlic and has a wonderful Romano cheese slice on it. To die for! My wife loves the "Linguine ai frutti di mare" (I had to look it up!) which is seafood with linguini. I personally love the pork chop or the beef tenderloin, depending on my mood. The wine selection is excellent, and you feel as though you are dining in a wine cellar. It's really a great ambiance. My only complaint is that it's nearly impossible to get out of there for under $80 for two, unless you have a coupon.
(4)John M.
Blah. Service ok, but food was below average. Ordered orichetti with mushrooms. Absolutely tasteless. Didn't even salt the water the pasta was cooked in.
(1)Guido A.
Olney is about the last place you would expect very good Italian food. Roman style cuisine with a nice variety of selections and everything is made carefully just as it is ordered. My wife and I eat out a lot and this is one of our favorites, especially since we are both of Italian extraction and spend several weeks a year in Italy. Not a spaghetti and meatballs joint, Al Sospiro will give you a reliable, affordable, authentic Italian meal. Am not sure why the other reviewers don't agree with my assessment, since we have never had a bad meal here.
(5)John B.
I'll keep this brief as it is not deserving of any more of my valuable time. Came in here with the old lady to eat on a Tuesday night. We were seated fairly promptly and given a good amount of a time to get settled in and scan the menu. Now, here is where Al Sospiro went down the pooper. When my girlfriend informed the waiter that she was going to be having a Diet Coke with her meal, his face immediately grimaced. It grimaced, he became less enthusiastic, he stopped helping, he stopped caring. Because we wanted soft drinks. Assistance with the menu became a task, sharing his thoughts on the food was tiresome, everything just become a God-damned chore. Understand, we haven't even ordered yet. The food bordered on decent. The lady ordered gnocchi and I ordered...something. Honestly, it made no impression on me. I can't even remember it. You will not get anything here that you cannot get up the road at the pizza joint except for the attitude. So from this moment on in the meal, the waiter never checked in on us again. I had to ask for a refill even after he walked by 4-5 times and saw my empty glass. He didn't even bring us our bill until we had to almost physically stop him from practically fellating another party one by one as they ordered off the wine list. The best part of all of this was when we were trying to pay our bill of like $14.00 (Groupon) with a $50, he was stunned we wanted change! There are only two certainties with this place. The food is mediocre and this particular waiter was a clown. Dine at your own risk!
(1)Kevin D.
I've been here a number of times, and I'll try to keep this brief: For appetizers: Get: sausage in white wine sauce (really good, I think it's made in-house); fresh mozzarella, fennel and arugula salad; the bruschetta/panzanella. Avoid: baby octopus; tasted fine but were exceptionally rubbery For entrees: Get: Cod poached in white wine (top recommendation, incredibly flavorful), shrimp with polenta, grilled vegetable platter (really very good; if that sounds good to you, definitely get it, you won't be disappointed), pork sausages with cannellini beans Avoid: Pasta (excluding gnocchi): none of the pasta is homemade according to the servers, and the dishes are really uninspired compared to the other entrees. Also, maybe avoid dishes that could easily overcook; when I had the quail it was rather dry, same with the pork with peas. For dessert: Do not skip dessert, plan to have it there. The chocolate budino is fantastic, maybe a cross between a chocolate souffle and a lava cake, just gorgeous and packed with rich chocolate flavor. Other desserts are good too (tiramisu and the almond cheesecake), but this one stands above the others. Service: Service can definitely be slow/inattentive when the dining room is full. It's not the end of the world but it can be a little annoying.
(4)Denny S.
This was my first time here based on a recommendation from a client. Great service and really good food. I would bring friends here for a great meal. The building is a little hard to find but well worth the effort.
(5)Allison L.
My parents love this place and go pretty often but this past weekend was the first time I went. It was really good! The restaurant is tiny inside and out, and basically if you blink driving down Georgia Avenue, you'll miss it. Once inside, there's a small wine bar on the top level (they have wine tastings every so often), and the main dining area is downstairs. There's also a small outside seating area. The restaurant is incredibly cute, much of it handpainted by the owners wife (who I believe also make the desserts). Even the bathroom was incredibly cute, and also impeccably clean. The food is much lighter Italian food (aka not heavy with creamy sauces and lots of cheese... yeah, that's my favorite, too) so if you're looking for like lasagna or something similar, you probably won't find it here. What they do have is incredibly fresh, but somewhat lighter, fish, meat, pasta, and desserts. For appetizers, the garlic bread and panzanella are both really good choices. Instead of an entree, I got the salt cod appetizer and roasted potatoes (both reeeeeally, really good). I tried some of my dad's halibut (one of the specials that day) and kind of wanted that as well. The appetizers for dinner are about $8, entrees about $15-$30, sides $6... everything is slightly cheaper at lunch. Definitely one of the better choices in Olney.
(4)Peter M.
Great food and atmosphere. Best Italian dining in Olney.
(4)Kathleen K.
Took my mom for her birthday. Waiter was inattentive (I actually had to hail him down for every drink order we got), not accomodating (mom got minestrone and it looked like pesto broth - even if it were in every way a classic minestrone, when the customer expresses concern/dissatisfaction with it, the waiter needs to offer something else up or take it off the menu - ours just said "that's the way it is" & walked away), It was OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive (of the 6 of us there, two had plain pasta with tomato sauce - not special at all-, one had plain pasta with butter - a child - one was pasta with butter, garlic, and broccoli, mom had soup (see above!), and I had pork - very blah, not seasoned, not tender;, no one had anything to drink but water except for me - I had an iced tea). Our grand total was $180!! HOLY COW!! Food was really subpar. Ambiance was nice but for that kind of price, I'd expect an attentive waiter and delicious food. Oh, and although our bread was nice and warm, it came out completely smashed - smashed like it had been sitting under a brick! What's up with that? What waiter would serve us that? Ridiculou! Save your money and go to Riccuiti's next door - decent food and far better prices! Oh, and despite the fact that no one mentioned it to us and none of us saw it on the menu, the lovely waiter (who really HAD to be the son of the owner, no other explanation) added a 20% gratuity because of our size!! EGAD!!!
(1)Carol B.
Rosemary potatoes were amazing and I really appreciate the egg-less pasta. Very nice ambiance; like dining in a huge wine cellar. I'll definitely go back.
(4)Ashley D.
This is a nice little place to come for a bottle of wine and Italian food. They have some interesting menu items you don't see often, like grilled tomato salad and sausage-stuffed quail. While there wasn't a dish that particularly stood out to me as really remarkable (other than the quail, remarkable primarily because it's a novelty), I thought the food was solid. Our service was very good. Our waiter didn't seem at all put off that we were dining with our infant (a situation that admittedly isn't ideal for a wine bar), and he was quick and attentive. Considering the dining room is downstairs in a basement and there isn't much natural light to brighten the place up, they have done a decent job with the atmosphere. While Olney is a bit out of the way for me and I don't think this restaurant is necessarily worth a special trip, I'd stop by again if I happened to be in the neighborhood and in the mood for Italian food.
(3)Gabrielle H.
We still love this place from start to finish - can't get out of there without ordering every course. The eggplant and mozzarella appetizer is perfectly smoky and creamy, the arugula is always fresh and bright with lemon and fennel. The grilled veal with horseradish is a particular favorite, and chef's wife Tara makes all of the spectacular desserts. The wine selection is good - mixed drinks are also well done. Espresso is strong and hot - so many places can't get it right! The food at Al Sospiro (along with the chef) is authentic Italian - don't be expecting the typical Italian-American repertoire. A special spot worth the visit.
(5)Johnny B.
As a long time resident in Olney, MD, I remember when the building Al Sospiro is located in was once the Famous FinneyFrocks maintenance and repair shop. It had been a staple of Olney for well over 50 years I believe. Anyhow, I think that is what I like most about this place. The unique atmosphere and nostalgia is what makes this Trattoria a pleasure to visit. They have a nice wine bar upstairs to indulge; if that is all you would like to do, or they have a quaint dining area downstairs that offers Italian dishes that have a unique twist on traditional cuisine. Since the restaurant is situated in what used to be a garage, the noise in the restaurant tends to be quite loud. The food is a little over priced for what you get, but it is not too bad. If the prices were a little less, I might go here more often. RIght now, its on an annual rotation in my frequenting of restaurants. There are just cheaper alternatives in the area.
(3)M K.
Atmosphere was nice. Felt like we found a quaint restaurant in Italy. Food was delicious, if a bit salty. My only complaint would be about the staff, which did not come across as friendly at all, from the waiter to the greeter. We ended up being the ones smiling, saying thank you and please. Oh, and gratuity of 20% was automatically added to bill, which we assumed was part of the coupon deal, but verified later that it was not.
(3)Karen S.
Food: I had some of their specials the night we went - a grilled eggplant and mozzarella stacked appetizer that had wonderful flavor and a nice immediate presentation, but after a few cuts into the mozz, the entire dish got runny with its moisture. Still, a great start for an eggplant lover. My entree was a classic seafood in white wine and garlic sauce atop spaghetti. The shrimp, calamari and scallops were perfectly cooked, particularly the calamari. The only regret was that the menu didn't mention that it had tomatoes, which my stomach is a little sensitive to. Our of the two meals, mine beat my husbands, which was a rather simple green salad with balsamic and a forgettable pepper crusted tuna steak. Nice wine selection, but not so knowledgeable young woman working the bar. She carried a bartending book with her. I'm all for learning on the job, but let's not be too obvious about it. Overall, a great little find in Olney. It put a healthy dent in our wallets (over $100 for two) for what was supposed to be a simple night out, but we'll go back. Ambiance: We lowered the average age a few notches. Not a place I'd bring kids to. Tiny upstairs wine bar; head downstairs for a cozy dinner. Location: On the east side of GA Ave. Other posters are right - it's itty bitty. Look for a Domino's pizza sign - it's right next door. If you can't get parking in the front lot, duck into the lot behind it. Technically, it might belong to another business, but we didn't have a problem at night.
(3)Sarah H.
I love this place. We went with a large group for a family celebration. It's very small and can get noisy when busy, but I personally like the small feel. Everyone enjoyed their meals, no complaints at all. The waiter was very helpful in recommending wines. Will be coming back for a date night!
(4)Kelly M.
A Groupon brought me to Al Sospiro. My roommate had also been there previously with her family, and had some great reviews. The atmosphere was great, very true to the Italian cuisine, very intimate and antiquated. The waiter was fine, attentive enough, but it was a very slow night (~5:30 on a Tuesday). I had high expectations for the food, considering that the venue was so quaint, however we were sorely mistaken. We ordered the grilled eggplant and mozerella and the potatoes with thyme for an appetizer, I ordered gnocci with marinara, and my boyfriend had gnocci with veal sauce. The chef didn't seem to understand the importance of seasoning, we were pouring salt and pepper on everything. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the food was flavorless, as well as covered in olive oil. The marinara was nothing more than warmed tomatoes, and the gnocci was incredibly bland. There was nothing remarkable about our experience at Al Sospiro, and we unfortunately won't be returning.
(2)Lucy B.
The service was wonderful here but I feel like the food was lacking. Nothing we had was really all that memorable.
(3)Bahia S.
So so. This place seemed like a cute little hole in the wall that looked promising, and overall their food was pretty good, but nothing too special. There was nothing to complain about, but the good didn't make me go "wow". The decor is a little bland, and the service was mediocre. The waiter kept forgetting about us, even though the place is very small and there were 3 servers for the 10 tables.
(3)Bev N.
WE LOVE this restaurant!! We used to live in Ashton and went there. Now, even tho we live in Gaithersburg, it is VERY worth the trip for us. Last night, I had the garlic bread as an appetizer and it was, hands down, the BEST I ever ate. Both of our dinners were fabulous! And the owners are very special people besides being great chefs! The most charming place around -- you really feel like you are in Italy. Very worth it for a special occasion, or anytime you want a delicious meal. Highly recommend it. Bev N. Gaithersburg, MD
(5)Rich Z.
Disappointing! We had a nice coupon from Gazette.net and still were charged $40 including tip. The presentation of the food was nice but it lacked taste -- nothing special! Service the same. Ambience was quite nice.
(2)Nina A.
Nice atmosphere, friendly waitress. Food was okay but not great. They don't make their own pasta, disappointing for a high end italian restaurant. We'll probably go back some day but I wasn't blown away.
(3)Thecla M.
Great little place- good food and attentive waitstaff. We first visited shortly after they opened and were not impressed - happy to say I have returned with friends and it is now a favorite in Olney. Food is good and fresh - wine reasonable.
(4)thomas p.
Authentic trattoria from Rome. The veal ragu is fantastic. I had a special of quail with sausage that was cooked perfect. Do not expect pasta and meatballs. Food is cooked to order so not a place for a quick in and out. Service is fine. Simple well made food This would be called a neighborhood restaurant in any part of Rome that your hotel would direct you to if you asked for local fare.
(4)Allyson S.
According to my parents, this place used to be a greasy lawnmower repairshop - talk about a complete 180. It is TINY, but very nice. The downstairs dining area got a little loud at times. I really really liked the food - I ordered the fetuccine pesto (on special) which was delicious but I liked my dad's swordfish (also a special) even more. Don't leave without dessert!! The apple crisp and chocolate bundino were amazing. An excellent new addition to Olney.
(4)Y C.
Best restaurant in Olney, hands down. Great atmosphere, wonderful service and fantastic food.
(5)Bettie P.
I wish I could eat here more- the food is great- but it's pretty pricey. The service is mediocre and because of the small space, it can feel cramped.
(3)dave h.
This place just opened in the small town of Olney, and it has received great word of mouth around town. A chef friend of mine from the Belgium place across the street raved about this little Italian place so I had to try it. Over all opinion...very interesting. It has a little wine bar with some couches upstairs and a quaint little dining area downstairs. They have a pretty good Italian wine list and some south American wines also. The wife ordered the arribiata pasta, which was excellent; not too spicy but still had a great arribiate kick. And the noodles were done perfectly. I ordered the Italian sausage with white beans, to try something different. It was okay, the beans were like a soup and the sausage was a little rubbery. I don't think it was b/c it was cooked too long, i think it was the type of pork it was. I am excited to try something else there. The services was good, the staff of young wait staff did a good job of timing the food, cleaning the tables, filling waters, and not being a pest. Overall i would add this to my list of good places in O-town.
(4)C J.
This is a tough one. I've been here s few times over the years. Is it expensive. Is it pretentious. Is it in s weird location. Yes. But not is the food a number one. Every time. And the wine list. Im picky of Italian food because I grew up with fresh my whole life. The pasta here is second to no one.
(4)Lauren M.
Olney has lots of places to eat, some better than others. This is my favorite restaurant in Olney, and it is a gem. Every meal we've had here has been fantastic and the pacing and wait staff are always great. Favorites are the grilled romaine wedge salad with sun-dried tomatoes and blue cheese, the arugula salad, pasta e. fagioli, the gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce, and the sea bass special. I don't even like fish all that much and always try it when my husband orders it.
(5)Shira S.
I came here with my family on Sunday night to celebrate my brother's birthday. My parents had been here previously and have consistently enjoyed it so they suggested it for dinner. We started off with the grilled tomato salad which was delicious! The gnocchi themselves were delicious (I'm just not a fan of gorgonzola cheese) and others enjoyed the fettuccino al ragu. While none of their entrees were calling my name, a bunch of their appetizers were. So in classic fashion, I ordered two appetizers for dinner. The mussels were delicious and the lightest white wine sauce I have enjoyed. The cariciofini alla griglia was also super yum, with four delicious pieces of artichoke atop mixed greens. I can't remember what everyone else ordered, but all were happy! The service was friendly without being overbearing or intrusive, which is always a plus!
(4)Kristi F.
Definitely a very hidden gem! One of the best Italian restaurants. The food is always amazing. I've never had a bad meal. And there are so many options. I think the bread in the beginning is the only thing I've heard people not 100% happy with but the rest of the food makes you look past it. I could start listing all the dishes you should try but I'd end up listing the entire menu. The location makes it hard to find and it doesn't even look like a restaurant, but that just adds to its uniqueness. The walls are beautifully painted and there's a very special rustic feel when you're there. If you're looking for a simply amazing Italian meal then this is the place to go.
(5)Matt S.
Al Sospiro Trattoria is THE gem of Olney. In a little tucked away basement in a random building next to Dominos, this unassuming spot puts together some quality Italian dishes. I've gone here multiple times with family and it's a shame that more people don't know about it, because it's worth a visit. I've tried pasta dishes along with main course entrees, all of which have been good. The wine selection also provides some amount of quality to the meal. The last time that I was there I started out with the grilled romaine salad, an excellent starter. As an entree, I went with the chicken breast. The chicken along with peppers and potatoes wasn't the best, but it's what I get for trying to be low carb. I've had the gnocchi before, and it was an excellent dish, along with their swordfish. If there's anyone within the Olney area looking for something new instead of mass produced fast food, for a higher price, you'll get a much higher quality meal.
(4)Demetria L.
This Italian gem is a bit hidden but worth the search. The food is outstanding and the Desserts are Phenomenal!! Owner is a pastry chef and if desserts were cars the after-dinner fare is the Foodie Ferrari!
(5)Tony N.
Al Sospiro is a great option for date night with your wife! Not a "GREAT" restaurant, but a really good neighborhood option. I had the seafood pasta which was loaded with plenty of sea yummies. We started with a very good mussels in wine sauce appetizer. The small cozy basement level room added to the experience, however if I were to come at peak time, I'd might want to make a reservation. My one criticism: the deserts were O.K. but ordinary. My advice, skip it and put the calories in a second app.
(4)Cris C.
All i have to say is that i did not like any of the disshes we had. When the waitress brought my daughter's pasta pomodoro neither one of us liked the blend tomato sauce. she told the waitress it did not taste good at all and she asked for a fettuccini alfredo...to my surprise, they charged me for both dishes. My scallop was blen and the polenta was tateless in every aspect of the way. The food is extremelly overpriced. I would not have a problem with the value if the taste and quality were met for that price. We will not retun.
(2)P D.
Great restaurant. We all enjoyed are our meal. Best Italian restaurant we have ever eaten at. Highly recommend.
(5)Bryanna M.
After reading the reviews, we were expecting something amazing or at least good. As an example of the quality of the food, I ordered the beet special which consisted of five slices of canned beets with a giant handful of oily baby spinach on top. The olive oil served with the bread tasted like cheap vegetable oil. The decor seems like it was bought at an Olive Garden clearance sale and the actual restaurant is in the basement of the building. The food is mediocre at best but the prices are super expensive. For the amount of money we spent for an early dinner, we could have gone to one of the DC area's best restaurants. I am not sure if this place used to be good and went downhill or what the situation is, but I do not recommend it.
(2)Mitchell Y.
Ate there last night. A signature of a tasty, good Italian restaurant is they're bread. This bread tasted a day old. It was like a small rye bread served with a monkey dish of pure olive oil. No cheese in the oil, no rosemary, nothing. Not even a side of butter. Horrible. The mussel appetizer was small and way salty with almost no wine in it. The piece of sword fish seemed frozen and the side dish had 4 pieces of zucchini. the sauce on my pasta dish was tasteless. I grew up on Italian food from up north, but for a $100.00 tab, which included a little wine, this place does not impress whatsoever. I wanted this place to be wonderful because I just moved in to the area. Disappointing for a Saturday night, when every restaurant should be on they're AA game. Too expensive and tasteless food.
(1)Brian S.
I really want to give this 4 stars but I just can't give an Italian resturaunt who doesn't make their own pasta and gnocchi 4....so 3.75 for my rating. Started off with the spicy sausage in white balsamic with onions..overall a very well balanced dish, and was probably my favorite of the night. Split the gnocchi with veal ragu...pretty good. Gnocchi was a little mushy. Could have used bigger pieces of veal. I ordered the sausage stuffed quail. Same sausage from the appetizer. Quail was slightly over cooked but itd be hard to properly cook a quail stuffed with sausage. Desert was the red velvet parfait...it was okay. Overall nothing really wowed me, but nothing was bad either. Service was alright. There was a party of 8 just before us so that slowed down service a little.
(3)David D.
Maybe it has new owners? Average to poor food and poor service. Many other places are a better value. We went on a Friday evening. We chose to dine outside because the weather was wonderful. Outside is fine when there's daylight, but the lighting is very poor in the dark. We decided to order the whole deal - appetizers salad soup entrée pasta and intended dessert. I mentioned to the waitress we would have a long dinner, the restaurant was busy but not slammed -- it was 30 minutes between times when she would come out to check on drinks bread or meal. No one would check up with us and we were often sitting waiting - not acceptable for a somewhat expensive restaurant. After two hours we just gotten our entrée, and unfortunately did not want then to stay for dessert. Mixed drinks and glasses of wine are about $10 apiece which can get pricey. Salads were fine. The pasta efagiloi was just beans salty tomato broth and chopped spaghetti? Really not very good, apparently the chef puts in whatever pasta he feels like that evening was what the waitress said. Not like mama made. My sons entrée of cod smelled bad - we asked to make sure it was fully cooked, and in the end it still smelled fishy - fresh fish should not smell fishy. I had stuffed quail and it was fine but overdone. Overall food quality was average, service not good and the $120 bill for two was unfortunately not worth the price. I hope they improve.
(2)Christie M.
This is by far the best restaurant in the area. The service, ambiance and food were fantastic and we really enjoyed our dinner. We started off with a charred romaine salad and the bruscetta, both were delicious. For our main courses we ordered the marinated shrimp and the seafood pasta. My husband even tweaked the seafood pasta a little to change the sauce and exclude the clams and the staff was happy to help with the substitution. Also, we were looking for a wine recommendation and again the servers were happy to help us select something we would like. We're so pleased to find such a good restaurant so close to home and we will definately be back soon!
(5)