Finally got to hit up the Tuesday carry-out pizza specials (buy one large get another for $2.99). At an average price of $20 for a large, this deal makes this value to par with the other take-outs. While the pizzas are indeed large, the quality is mediocre to satisfactory at best. While I admire them for offering toppings like artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers, the quality of toppings overall are mediocre and the pizza options are very limited. Overall deal is alright at best, but with the limited options and mediocre toppings I won't go out of my way for their pizza. If you want a deal stick with their pasta Mondays.
(3)
Eugene H.
eh the food here just isn't that good. I tried a dinner entree which was a let down then decided to come back here to try the pizza. Double screwed on the price and quality.....try somewhere else!
(2)
Madison S.
Not a fan. My pasta was over cooked, and had so much tomato sauce that made it more like a soup dish.
(2)
N S.
The pizza at this location seems to be better than the College Park and Silver Spring locations meaning it is decent. However, the prices are ridiculous. Way overpriced, and I don't understand people that actually come to spend over $10 on pasta dishes here. They're pretty lackluster. They better hope I don't win the lottery because the first thing I will do is bring quality pizza to the area at regular NY $1.50 a slice prices. Ciao.
(3)
Brittainy C.
Food and service is consistently good. Have yet to try anything other than their pie, but I don't generally eat out for Italian. It's no NY slice, but hey! It's Maryland! :)
(4)
Niket R.
Decent NY-ish slices in Federal Plaza. I stopped by here today to pick up a couple pepperoni slices. They were a bit too thick to be considered NY-style and there was a bit too much cheese relative to the amount of sauce. That being said, the pizza was decent. It was a bit overpriced, though. Two slices came out to almost 7 bucks. *gasp*
(3)
Catherine H.
Somewhere in between Eek and Meh. Have you ever had lasagna sans noodles? It looked like someone cut a teenie tiny piece of lasgna in half and put a big puddle of sauce, cheese, and meat mixture in between those two pieces. The noodles (the 2 that there were) were brown and burnt. Gross...and who burns noodles? And the ricotta cheese resembled rubber. My boyfriend got the baked ziti and that was alright. And the only reason my review got 2 stars.
(2)
Kerri S.
If I could give zero stars here I would. Two days after Thanksgiving--a time you would expect a little holiday cheer to be in the air--I made reservations at the Mama Lucia Rockville location. The reservation was for a table of 5 and was made 45 minutes prior to the reservation time. Let me also note that I was driving here from Virginia and it took me at least a half an hour to get there. When my party arrived at the restaurant, we went in and presented the name to the male host who then informed us that he was never informed of such a reservation. I was once a hostess at a restaurant of about the same size and know that 99% of the time, the host or hostess is the one answering the phone. He also sounded very similar to the male I spoke with on the phone, but I digress... I patiently asked what he could do about it or if he could please check with the other staff. He refused and said sorry sarcastically. He did not offer me a wait time or any other solution to the dilemma, only stood there with a fake smile and quickly moved on to smaller walk-in parties without reservations, then walked away. I waited and when he came back asked the wait time. He told me 20 minutes. Meanwhile, there were EMPTY 2-top tables that could have easily been pushed together to create a small table for my group. I'm not sure what business model suggests that a famished party of 5 people ready to spend a decent amount of money on dinner and drinks after a long day, but this restaurant must be an exception! As I said "No thanks" to the 20 minute wait time and turned to walk out, he put his finger up to his eye and drew a fake tear and said "Oh no, I'm so sad," then proceeded to give an over-exaggertaed sad face yell "Oh no! no no! Don't go!" in a mocking, sarcastic way. My father asked "This is how you treat your customers?" and the host continued to mock me and then my father as well. We left immediately, but I was so infuriated I went back in to ask his name. I asked a redheaded hostess to please provide her coworker's name and she said it was Jimmy. I asked for his last name and she said she didn't know but that he was coming back and I could ask him myself. I asked him and he laughed, "Oh it's uh...Jose!" I told him there was clearly a discrepancy as she had just told me it was Jimmy. He turned to her and yelled, "You never give the real name!! What were you thinking?" I'm not sure if that was also sarcastic or not or if either name is correct, but this character has turned me off to the entire chain of Mama Lucia restaurants. Any place that puts up with an employee with such disrespect towards customers is clearly stating they do not care about their customers. A man outside the resturant that witnessed the altercation asked me what happened, and when I explained, said "What a shame. He must just be a bad apple because the owners are really nice people." If that is the case, I really hope this complaint is taken seriously so that all other customers are spared the disrespect and rude attitude I was unjustly treated with on Saturday evening.
(1)
Shannon A.
This place is amazingly good!!!! By far the best pizza in the DMV!!! Their pizza sauce is well seasoned and they use fresh ingredients. I used to stop in and grab just a slice or two to go along with these little garlic parmesan dough balls (they give your like 10 of them for a $1) to go until one day my wife was in the mood for pizza; so I thought we would just dine there. BEST decision ever!!!! They bring out this toasted garlic, crushed red pepper bread as a free appetizer while you wait with this parmesan, red pepper flake and garlic infused oil:-D I could make a meal out of that, which we usually do, and then we just take the pizza home with us for later.
(5)
Danielle L.
Wow... do not go here for a whole meal. For a slice of pizza at lunch, fine. Decent, affordable, fast. But dinner? Slow. Inattentive service. (Should be kid-friendly, but the waiter completely ignored us in favor of the tables or adults/teens nearby.) Mushy, overcooked pasta (at all hours) - and tough overcooked chicken. I had the gnocchi special recently and it was disasterous: out of a box, HARD/undercooked, and just smothered in sauce and cheese. And dinner entrees priced at $20 or so? Totally inappropriate for the quality of the food and experience. After my last visit, prompting this review, I'm not likely to return. (Writing this for the Rockville Pike location, near Trader Joe's. It's possible that the other locations are fine; I haven't tried them.)
(2)
Marie Z.
I have to agree with David S. the place is going down hill. I use to love this place but they are skimping. I still like there calzones but they just get smaller and greaser.
(3)
Ina C.
I'm caught between 3-4 stars. If it was just for the food and service, I'd give them four stars for sure. Our penne vodka sauce ($14) was perfectly seasoned with chunks of garlic and proscuitto that were just right. The alfredo and spaghetti ($12-14?) were really delicious, and the complimentary bread and olive oil/garlic/herb dipping sauce were divine!! And the service was just what we needed. They were cool about one of us bringing in some leftovers from Yogiberry next door, and were even obliging enough to fulfill someone's request to turn the heat up (it was pretty cold in there...). My only gripe about this place is their way of making money, which brings my rating to 3.5 stars. First of all, some of these meat and seafood dishes were $20 and over! For a place that's known to be cheap, that's pretty expensive. But here's the real kicker: a friend and I ordered a dish to share, but our server responded with, "Just to let you know, there's a $3 splitting fee." Do I even need to explain how ridiculous that is? I usually don't do this, but I responded by saying, "Really? ...Why?" She wasn't able to come up with an answer, so she replied by saying, "I'll just put in a single order and then bring out an extra dish for you." We thanked her and went on with our evening. Though I do question some things at this restaurant, I like it overall, and I'll most definitely be back (the food was goooood!). *Tip: Skip dessert at the restaurant and go a few doors down to get some froyo at Yogiberry!
(3)
Dan G.
Fenny L, we had a smiliar experience. Folks, watch out for that lady behind the counter. She's just...not very nice. It's one thing to have that NY attitude, hell it even makes the experience more authentic. It's another to be just plain mean for no reason. Our pizza was good, but they messed up the toppings we ordered, and charged us more than what the menu stated. And really guys? CANNED mushrooms and pineapple??
(3)
marsha s.
This place is OK if you want cheap and easy Italian. It's nothing special, but it's not bad. Kind of annoyingly boring bread for an Italian place, though. Yes, the olive oil is served with it, but the prepared garlic bread is often stale-ish and the rolls are sub par ( read American white rolls.) I've been reasonably satisfied with service. I like the balsamic dressing on the OK salad. I think OK sums it up. It's a family place.
(3)
Arthur K.
I have heard that this is the original Mama Lucia's. As such, it is smaller than its descendants spread across the DC metropolitan area. It lies in one of the many shopping hubs that line Rockville Pike. (By the way Mama Lucia's website spells Mama as "Mamma". I will use "Mama" just to match what's on Yelp). I've been to other Mama Lucia's before and every time I am amazed by how greasy the food is. They have no apologies for the heaviness of the food. To Ma Lucia its down-home cooking. This trip was no exception. I ordered the Calamari alla Marinara. It was greasy. I don't want to repeat that line for every dish, suffice to say every dish mentioned hereforth is really greasy. It was good though. The noodles were just a little soft, but it was actually better that way accompanying the chewy calamari (not breaded). We did have the breaded calamari appetizer as well. Which was really good. Lightly breaded, crunchy, and buttery in flavor. i tried my friend's Gamberetti Scampi, which was also buttery, but a lacked flavor a bit. Another friend had Mostaccioli alla Matriciana which has bacon in it, and was extra greasy. I strongly recommend staying away from anything with bacon or cream sauce, unless you like your food extra extra heavy. The food itself was about a 3-star quality. I was very pleased with the service though. We reserved a table for a large party. When we got there, we changed our reservation number, but our table was ready for us in minutes. the server was a bit "awkward" though, as another Yelper has described it. But only at first. She warmed up eventually. Our food was served a little slower than expected. Refills were prompt. 2 upper level workers (managers or owners) stopped by our table to check on us. They were both friendly. And one in particular was very friendly and seemed genuine in his care for the customer experience. On top of that he found out we were dining for two of our friends birthdays and gave them 2 glasses of Zinfandel on the house. The service was so good and genuine I had to up them to 4 stars. Yes I will need to run extra miles at the gym after eating at Mama's, but I am looking forward to dining here again.
(4)
Jamie B.
I've gone to this Mama Lucia's numerous times but just can't bring myself to like it. My coworkers enjoy it mainly for the ability to get in, order pizza by the slice, eat and exit quickly. They do have a small outdoor area which is nice when the weather is good but this location is small overall, so dining in is not guarenteed. The food just doesn't do it for me, though. Seems bland, and any time I get a chicken dish I regret it, as the chicken somehow always manages to be very dry. The meatballs aren't bad but they're a little stingier with them than I think they should be for the price. The crunchy garlic bread is just something I can't see how anyone likes, as it's often baked to the consistency of a brick. The pizza is alright but nothing exciting. I hear they put on some nice atmosphere in the evening, but I've not been tempted to check it out.
(2)
Jinshil L.
It's a unique experience...with its chaotic lunch hour. The food is okay, but way overpriced! Only go here for convenience...
(3)
Valentina P.
this little eatery is not as tasteful as it's food. the first time we went there i ordered the vitello alla sorrentina & the bf ordered gamberetti alla montesse. mine was ok. now the bf's entree was orgasmic! the house salad accompanied the dish--very fresh balsamic vinaigrette. there was also complimentary garlic bread that was grilled with tomato paste. omg, you can really get full on this bread! since our first visit, we have only ordered the gamberetti alla montesse. we usually like to come on wednesdays- half off bottled wines! their desserts aren't bad.. however my tiramisu cake was not consistent. the last time, the cake was not dipped in rum. what a sin! service is stellar and the manager is always cheerful! :) one of our fav italian restaurants!
(4)
i w.
i want to give it 5 stars just for the lasagna pizza, the regulars are good too. The pasta is good too. Chicken fancese i like. Its expensive kinda. I would love to take a date here. Its good food, wine bottles are all over, and its not fancy at all inside. The quality seems to differ between locations. This is my favorite location. Go around noon for fresh slices!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee screw it 5 stars!
(5)
Tasha C.
This location is extremely convenient to our apartment, so we find ourselves getting take-out pizza here from time to time. The pizza is always tasty, but sometimes a little greasier than my liking. Because we do take-out, we don't have to interact too much with the staff here, but every time we go there, whether the small dining area is full or not, the staff seems brash and frazzled, similar to what others have observed. They have a pasta deal during Monday dinners, buy one entree get another for $3.99 or something, which is the only time I consider trying to pasta is it seems overpriced.
(3)
Mary P.
Yumm! A co-worker and I had to grab a quick lunch here, so ordered 2 slices and side salads at the counter. The lazagna bolognese pizza was amazing. One slice each with the salad ended up being enough for us both. The crust was perfect (crispy, not soggy, not too thick), good sauce, just the right amount of toppings. Salad was pretty simple, but had a good vinaigrette.
(4)
Leila T.
My boyfriend just helped me move so I wanted to order in, my treat. I didn't want to go the Papa Johns/Domino's route, and even though Mama Lucia's is a chain, they're a local chain. They don't deliver, but I was willing to shell out a few extra bucks to do waiter on the way (I think it's $3.99 + 5% of the order) because I wanted something special. Severely disappointed. We asked for cheesy garlic bread and they sent us burnt yet soggy garlic bread (inedible) with a side of grated parm. The pizza is New York style (thin and light on the sauce). Ordered pizza w/mushrooms, green peppers, and onions. Biggest disappointment, especially because I LOVE mushrooms, the mushrooms are from a can!!! They are yellow, rubbery, and tasteless. For some reason they cut the green peppers into big cubes, and they didn't even break apart the onions so there were these big chunks of onions. Didn't really think it was worth the $35...
(2)
Michael W.
Mamma Lucia is a local chain of Italian Restaurants. There are stores in Silver Spring, Rockville, Olney, College Park, Freederick, Columbia, Reston and Bethesda. The place is a decent option for unpretentious Italian food. The pizza is sold by the slice on lunch time and one slice is usually enough for me (~US$5.0/slice). The menu also includes pasta, calzones and a few entrees (prices change if it is lunch or dinner time). In general all entrees cost around $12-15 and the portions are big (they are probably good for two but this restaurant has the annoying habit of charging extra if you want to split the plate). The reasons why I give it two stars are: service is not excellent (actually the lady that takes your orders during lunch time is kindda rude and is not very efficient - last time I went there she left me waiting a couple of minutes just because she was chatting with a guy from the kitchen), price is high for what they serve (hey, US$12 for a plate of pasta!), the food is not specially good and sometimes I feel like they are cheap (I ordered the Shrimp special and the plate came with only 2 shrimps!), last, the delivery service was awful and I felt like I wasn't treated well on the phone while making my order. In conclusion, if you just want to stop by and eat a nice pizza slice this is a good place. If you want something else, I would suggest going to Silver Diner or Ambrosia (a greek diner just a block away). At least you will get a much better service and food for the same price. Update: I decided to demote one star from this joint. After a long time without going on Mamma Lucia, on my wife's insistence, I went back there with my 9 month pregnant wife and my sleeping 3 year old daughter on my lap. After 15 minutes waiting for a table, the hostess passed a young couple in front of us and gave them the booth we were waiting for. We decided to leave. No further comments should be necessary.
(1)
Lydia H.
Pasta-bleck. Pizza-yay!
(4)
John W.
The food isn't stellar, but most entrees are tasty enough. While this is a chain, there's a lot of variation between the restaurants. The Rockville Mama Lucia has a low-key, homey ambiance. I've had nothing but good experiences service-wise there. Parking is a breeze in the evening, since most stores in the shopping center it's attached to are closing up by dinner time. Note: this is *very* different from my experience at the Bethesda Mama Lucia, where the service was horrific. Really, I mean that... horrific.
(3)
jenn h.
Down Home Italian Cooking! That's their motto. They've got good food, with several locations throughout Maryland. It's not spectacular, but you'll get a good, hearty meal; and if you visit on a Monday or Tuesday, you can take advantage of their specials: * MONDAY is PASTA NIGHT - Order one Pasta Entree and get a second for $3.99. Valid 5-10pm. (Dine In or Carry out) * TUESDAY is PIZZA NIGHT - Order one large pizza and get a second large for $1.99. Valid 3-10pm. (Carry out ONLY)
(3)
Vic M.
I've given this place three chances. They're out! Out of my list of acceptable places to dine. It looks nice and it's in a decent location, but the food and service don't match. You have to wait forever for service and the services is awkward and not warm (except once). The food is overpriced for what you get- weakly flavored food. When an item says that it is spicy, it should be spicy. I shouldn't have to shake peppers from the pepper shaker onto the food to get it spicy. They add way too much oil and way too much garlic to their food. Stay away from the pesto gnocchi, it's awful.
(1)
Jen L.
The food was pretty good and in my opinion, decent. The portion sizes were pretty large, but the prices were also high, so the portion and price seemed to match. The setting was very small and cozy with a homey informal feel to it. The service was good. $$
(2)
D S.
very good. a little weird to be in a strip mall, and inside, the tables are a little too close to each other. that said, very good food, reasonable price. nice interior, not too noisy except for the table closeness. can be difficult to have a conversation when you feel like the people right next to you can hear everything. four stars for the food, three for the place.
(4)
Cynthia L.
So, I can't say you'll say that this is the most amazing Italian you'll ever have, but for a chain, hubs and I have sentimentals attached to this place, so we love this place. We haven't been here for years...they've added some new items to their menu along with the standard items (I really enjoyed their fried risotto balls- meat encased in risotto fried with cheese and panko crumbs- served hot and delicious!). The waiter noticed I didn't touch my bruschetta because I wasn't feeling too hot, but (without me asking) took it off the bill. The manager even came by to offer to make it differently. I thought that was really above and beyond what they had to do and it made me appreciate the customer service at this place. Clean place, fast & friendly service. Thank you ML!
(4)
Bill S.
I have been going to Mam Lucia in Rockville and Bethesda for years. The only bad thing I can say is that I have gained a lot of weight as a result. The food and pizza are very good, the prices are fair and the portions are huge. I have always had good service and will be a a continued customer. I do suggest that that sharing an entree is is alwasy an option becasue of the portion sizes.
(4)
A C.
Had lunch today with 3 other ladies and it was great. The antipasto salad was yummy. The beverages were refilled often. One thing that stood out- the manager offered us free desserts when he found out we had been shopping for a wedding gown at David's bridal. Although we passed, it was a very nice gesture and we will be back to this location of Mamma Lucia. The total bill was about $40 for 4 people. Very reasonable.
(4)
Jane T.
Wanted to pick up pizza for us and parents. Internet ordering was not functional: would only accept an order for next day, and banner on webpage said they answer phones in store M-F. Well, not true. Went there to order and had to wait, while people who didn't bother to try the website just walked in and got their orders. Response from staff: "Really....?that's not true. oh its an internet thing". got a veggie pizza without cheese. It was just awful- soggy and tasteless. I don't say that lightly- I hate posting bad reviews, but this pizza was the absolute worst pizza restaurant pizza I have ever had, and my husband told me the same. In comparison, a cheese-less veggie pizza from Fontina Grille is to die for- soooo good- crisp, savory, great. (Mom liked the cheese pizza though) Staff were indifferent. When we walked in, no one to greet or direct at first, staff going here and there but not paying attention to customers. Awful set up for carry out- need some signs or something so that customers know where they should stand and wait so they don't feel in the way. While waiting to order, at one point I noted to my husband that there were 6 staff members within 10 feet of us and not one making eye contact. I didn't see anyone there who appeared to be a manager- certainly no one addressed our comments about the internet snafu with anything but bored dismissal. I did get a call the next day thanking me for posting feedback on line about the internet problem and offering a gift certificate but I declined. The person who called didn't seem interested in my comments abut the pizza or the staff, so I have no expectation that anything will change. I won't go back there unless Mom wants another cheese pizza.
(2)
Ingrid L.
Fantástic food, huge portions and what adds to the four starts is how great, welcoming and attentive the staff is! I have been to other mama Lucia's through out the DMV and although this one is a small one it is my abs favorite this far! Keep it up please! Great food with awesome service!!
(4)
Anne D.
This place is wayyy better than the one in shady grove. It was a beautiful day so my friends and I sat outside. I got calamari as the appetizer and lasagna for the entree. The Caesar salad that came with the lasagna was also very good just enough dressing on it not too little not too much. The staffs were awesome also. Overall always satisfied with this place :)
(4)
Tom J.
We ordered Penny Ala vodka and a Caesar salad to go. Walked in and was greeted by nice older gentleman and told to go to register and pick up my togo order. Went over where 2 people were standing and one on phone and one looking at the floor and never made eye contact while asking if I was picking up. I said yes and asked for extra dressing for salad and got a look that could kill and then he screamed for extra dressing. Went back to the room and had no silverware no salt and pepper. My bread was hard as a rock. Croutons were inedible as in rock hard- there was no bacon/prosciutto in my pasta instead it was chunks of ham ( YES HAM in place of bacon). There were spaghetti pieces and fettuccine pieces in my Penne pasta entree which is not acceptable to and lazy on there part . All in all ... Very disappointed.
(1)
Mari K.
I LOVE Italian food. My husband and I decided to try this restaurant out because we've always passed by it but never tried it. It's a small little restaurant with a nice and comfortable atmosphere. I ordered a baked ziti and my husband ordered a fettuccine alfredo. When we received both of our food, the portions were HUGE. Definitely worth the price because I could only finish half of it and had to take the rest home. Both of our foods were good. The reason why I'm giving this place three stars is because I think I got food poisoning right after that. My husband felt a little sick too which worried me a little bit. I'm going to try this place out again because the food was good... but hopefully next time it won't make me and my husband sick.
(3)
Robin G.
This pizza is amazing!!! Very fresh and hearty and the service is good as well. I am also a fan if the bread and the eggplant parmigiana. It can get crowded so it's good to call ahead with your order.
(5)
George O.
I thought the food there was all food service low quality
(1)
Tommy N.
Ordered a Large 18" NY style pizza for delivery with 2 toppings. Cost me $22.50 not including the $5 delivery fee. That's a bit more expensive than a fairly popular pizza chain. That's my first gripe. My second complaint about the place is the pizza itself. The pizza was chewy to the point where I had to play a little tug of war. If anything, I should write a thank you card to my dentist for a job well done. The dish itself is, in my opinion, horrible. However, I don't want to rate a restaurant 1 star due to a single bad experience so I'll leave it at two for now. Maybe the other dishes are good enough to warrant another visit, but someone's going to have to pay for my meal next time to get me to go.
(2)
Kim A.
I somehow managed to coast along, sort of forgetting about Mamma Lucia's for quite a while. They're always tucked away somewhere not on my usual route. Finally after racking my brain, trying to figure out where I could get a decent slice of pizza, it hit me. I have no idea how I'd forgotten just how incredible this pizza is, but I can honestly say it's my favorite in the area. The crust is perfectly crispy, and thin, but not too thin. The cheese is really flavorful, and the sauce isn't overdone. I can't get enough. I've been getting meals to go lately, but have dined in before, and everything always incredible then too. Aside from their pizza, I've always been partial to their spaghetti and meatballs. So good. When you dine in you also get some bread and seasoned oil, which is one of my favorite appetizers. I'd also recommend their standard side salads.
(5)
Rob S.
Great Food and Great Service. From the moment we were greeted by Morgan the hostess to the delivery of our wine and bread by PJ out server, the staff was attentive and friendly. Our food was served quickly and tasted delicious. The Chicken Brunello sauce should be packaged for individual sale. And my daughters ravioli was done just right.
(5)
Nick S.
Took my family here on a stormy summer evening. We were having a nice time till it began to rain. Why is that important you ask? Well, as we sipped our wine, the roof directly above our table began to leak water all over us, and our dinner! No one noticed untill i called our waiter over, who proptly apologized, then.... HANDED ME THE CHECK! "Please, bring the manager.", I say. Manager comes over and tells me a long story about their problems with hiring contractors to fix the leaky roof, then asks me if i want a free dessert (while water drips from my hair onto my face). "No sir, that will not do", (now we are standing while the entire place is looking at us). Anyhow, the guy comes back with a check minus $13 bucks on a $60 bill.... i was not happy! This genius knew where the roof was leaking, but allows people to sit there anyway! I wonder if it leaks in the kitchen? This place is unsanitary, and poorly ran. I AM CALLING THE BOARD OF HEALTH TOMORROW!
(1)
M C.
I'll make this easy - go to Brio in White Flint instead. You'll be just a mile away, with FAR better service/quality/prices/variety/taste/decor/etc! My husband & I tried Mamma Lucia's on an early Tuesday date night (5:30p), after hearing some of my neighbors mention the place for a while. Now I realize that the compliments were several years old. The dining room is cozy enough, by which I mean that the high school girl in sweatpants "hostess" sat us right next to a family with loud (literally screaming) young children, so we immediately asked for a table further away. Our waiter was nice once he finally took notice of us, but his service took forever. Might be excusable in a busy spot, but I could hear him order our food from the kitchen AFTER we asked where our entrees were. The food was overpriced and sooooooo very bland. The free bread was probably stale wonder bread slices smeared with un-taste-able but red-colored "seasoning." Everything was greasy, even the house salad, somehow... The dishes were huge, but too much of a bad thing doesn't make you want to eat it any more. I definitely do not recommend.
(1)
Jose A.
The only issue I had it was the cleanliness. We hesitated to go inside because the outside looked terrible. Mamma Lucia looks like an old building, we saw dirty windows and grease stains around the entrance door. My wife was hungry so we decided to go inside anyway. I have to say Food was good, my wife got Fettuccini Alfredo and I got the Pollo Arezzo. They also have great employees, all of them were very friendly and polite. Hope they can fix the exterior soon.
(3)
Jessica H.
This review is only for the pizza. The kids and I stopped in for some slices at lunchtime. Service was quick and the pizza was hot, fresh, and delicious. We tried the white pizza, sausage pizza, and cheese pizza. It was all good, but the plain cheese was really fantastic. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Braden W.
Ordered the lasagna, it was Monday so got an additional pasta for $3.99 extra - I chose the cheese ravioli in marinara. Mama lucias was very busy but was making the orders plenty fast and still provided great service. Andy was working the register and coordinating the kitchen extremely well and his friendly nature stood out above other places I have been recently. Lasagna - it was cooked just right and had a great flavor. It also came with buttered bread to dip in the extra marinara which was a great mix. I did wish there was more sauce to dip the bread in, but it still was great. Cheese ravioli - I enjoyed the ravioli but would order one of their other dishes first. It had a fairly good flavor though is not enough alone to fill me up - the lasagna alone would be. I was too full to try the side salad after the above, but it looks good and I'm looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow!
(5)
David R.
Picked up carry out on 4/2. Pizza was great as I remember.1/2 cheese 1/2 veggie. Lots of veggies, good thin crust. Also ordered the salad with goat cheese and field greens and pasta with Bolognese sauce and pasta Puttanesca. Asked for bread and received it. Pastas came with salad. Wouldn't have ordered another salad if I had known that. Would have been nice if person who took my order had told me that. Salad greens a bit wilted. Puttanesca very little flavor. No capers, no chunks of tomato, no red pepper flake spiciness. Bolognese, not flavorful, not meaty, not enough sauce. The bread; no texture, no flavor. Have never understood the bread at Mama Lucia. Is it supposed to be garlic bread? Disappointed for $60. Like a lot of Rockville restaurants, food looks the way it's supposed to look but has little flavor. Overall felt like there needed to be more effort in the cooking.
(1)
Mary Lynn P.
I love good, Italian food and Mamma Lucia's did not disappoint! We started with the calamari appetizer - delicious! Large portion with a light breading. For dinner we had the eggplant and pizza. Both arrived hot - were delicious - and there was enough for leftovers! Michael was our server. He was amazing - attentive and very hard working! We will be back!
(5)
Jen D.
I love Mama Lucia. I've been coming here for years. The food is delicious and the waiter/waitress are very nice. Highly recommend the Gamberetti alla Montese. Their price is good too, not expensive. Eat in our take out!
(5)
Corey C.
I have been going to Mama Lucia for 3.5 years and the food quality has severely declined over the past 9 months. Pizza has went from a top-notched, NY-esque Pizza to a chewy, doughy mouthful. As food quality has declined, prices have increased. Until the lower prices and quality of food increases, my wife and I won't be returning. Not worth the value to go here anymore.
(2)
Anthony R.
When we want Awesome Italian at a fair price, this is our go to. My family and I absolutely adores this place. Wait staff is always nice and courteous.
(4)
Jason B.
I have a confession: I like eating their food (even though I never frequent the restaurant). OK - not actually Never. I very very VERY rarely dine in. Parking is incredibly insane at Federal Plaza (which is actually our #1 reason for not dining in...the fear of door dings is greater than the fear of starving). That said, let me get something out of the way: the people that take our order on the phone and the delivery folks are INCREDIBLY NICE. We almost always order the exact same thing and nearly without fail, the person taking our order is attentive, energetic, polite and most importantly: they accurately capture our selection. The delivery people must have space ships because even though they are only a mile or so from home...traffic in this neck of the woods can be horrendous (especially on Friday nights). I am literally addicted to their pizza. If it were not for Household Commander's superb and healthy cooking skills...I could easily find myself needing to buy bigger pants. The sauce is fresh, the crust has that excellent tooth and when it arrives (very quickly), you can totally scratch that pizza itch. We also love the calamari because their tempura batter is always so light and they do NOT over-season it. In fact, we have found that truffle salt makes for an incredibly decadent "home kitchen mod." Seriously folks...don't knock it until you try it.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
Went in during a snow storm as my bf was craving good NY pizza and ML's got really good reviews. The pizza was pretty close to true NY-style and the bread is really good. What will have us going back is the service and the manager, Brian. Since snow plows were going to be out, he was trying to figure out how to get pizza to the plow drivers - just an all around stand-up guy. Our waiter was attentive without hovering and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Have been back since with the kids, who also loved it. For a local chain, the staff are genuine and caring - hard to find!!
(4)
Jared K.
I used to think their sauce was good. Maybe they changed the recipe but now it tastes like a mixture of ketchup and Chef Boyardee. Also, I ordered two portions of spaghetti and meatballs and they gave me two kids size pastas. I asked for them to rectify the problem as i came in to take advantage of Pasta Monday (4 dollar pasta for your second order). The waiter refused and blamed the mishap on me. Last time I go to Mama Lucia's. I suggest you go to Gregorio's down the street instead.
(1)
Jane A.
The food was good. It was a little expensive for what you got and the service that you received. The place is smaller, but just a little too small. We didn't expect gourmet service, but it was a little pricey. My boyfriend had a 14" Mammas Special pizza and enjoyed it, but it was $22 and change. It was three meals worth of food which was just excessive. I had the gluten free 'fettuccine' alfredo with chicken. It came out as penne alfredo with chicken, which was fine. The chicken was cooked well. The sauce wasn't exactly what I'd imaged and it was very rich. It was good, but you really couldn't finish a lot of it. Mine also came with the house salad. It was fresh, but salty for some reason. If you're looking for gluten free options, this place does have quite a few. They can make gluten free pizza as well as pasta. The owner was nice. He's clearly trying to make the place better than it is, but the overall service is lacking here.
(4)
Sweetie P.
This is the closest we've come to finding New York style pizza in the Rockville-Bethesda area. We've eaten-in at the other downtown Bethesda location a few times (love the back corner booth). We regularly order take-out or delivery from this location - at Rockville Federal Plaza. It's expensive pizza. One large pizza with half mushrooms and half pepperoni is about $27-ish plus tip for delivery. (About $22 for take-out if you pick it up). Delivery can take an hour during busy times. The large is big enough for four people. Or, for two people to have two meals each (dinner plus leftovers late night or for lunch). But it's good and worth the price. The sauce is tasty (a bit sweet) and the cheese is a proper melty consistency. The mushrooms are fresh sliced, not canned. Even the crusts are good.
(4)
Bogie B.
I have eaten here a number of times and ordered pizza to take home numerous times. The food is usually not bad though a little expensive. Having spent a lot of time in Manhattan I am used to NY style pizza which is one of the main reasons I buy it from here. It had been the closest thing to NY pizza you could get around here. However, the last two time I came, which were the last two Tuesdays because of Pizza Night, the pizza seemed to have lost its taste. One thing I noticed is that there was not enough pizza sauce which might have been what did it. I have always told them not to make a large sauce free crust so perhaps i am going to have to make sure I tell them to use extra sauce. It that works, i will revise my review accordingly.
(3)
Jaslyn C.
The place has really gone downhill. We have been dining here ever since i've moved here in 2012. We usually only come here for pizza, but since last winter we've been coming for the rest pasta, salads, desserts etc. In mid july we came for dinner and got the new chicken pesto raviolis, and let me tell you it was soaked in OIL. you couldn't tilt the plate without spilling oil, and was a deep ugly green color. I know there is a few ways you can make pesto, but before this time we came for dinner and ordered the same thing it was amazing pesto light green with a creamier texture no fatty parts of the chicken in the raviolis, and the salads came out with dressing on the side - like we had asked. I ordered the rose raviolis which were yummy, and have you stuffed, the rose raviolis didnt have chicken just ricotta cheese and a tomatoey sauce. So then after that, we decided to give it ONE MORE TRY, thinking hey, they just had a bad batch or maybe the cook is new. NOPE, we went this past weekend and again the raviolis are swimming in green oil and with a pound of parm on top. I even asked the waiter is there was a new cook. But poor guy already knew we were not finishing our plates after that one. Without risking a bad stomach ache we ordered a pizza, which is awesome, too bad the ravioli which WERE our favorite dishes have been altered. The desserts are alright, your regular cheesecake or cannoli huge portions - so make room if you tend to get dessert after. The cannoli is sweet and crunchy and the cheesecake is nothing groundbreaking but good. We've had all the waiters there and they're great very friendly. By the way parking is horrible here.
(2)
Hannah P.
Get delivery from here if you enjoy $10+ in hidden fees and a side of food poisoning.
(1)
Dawn R.
I stopped in for a quick lunch on a weekday while out making some rounds for work, as I realized that it was getting into the afternoon and my stomach was letting me know I'd been neglecting it. Since it was well past the usual lunch time, I didn't run into much of a crowd and was able to go right up to the counter and order. I will say I was a little confused, as when you walk in there's a counter with all the pizzas, fountain drinks at the end of the row, but no cash register. It was then that I realized there is a dining area with actual wait staff. So not knowing what i was supposed to do, I waited for direction, which was quickly given and I seated myself to wait for my pizza. I did look over their menu, and if I'd seen this before I ordered the pizza I would have had something different, but as pizza was what i saw when I walked in, pizza is what I had. And I will say it was pretty good.....New York style thin crust with lots of greasy drippy cheese, just the way I like it. Two big slices and a soft drink came to just under $10, so not too bad. I was able to find parking right outside their door too, probably because I'd missed the lunch crowd. But they're located in a big shopping center, so there is plenty of free parking to go around, even if you may have to walk a few extra steps. Definitely worth a try if you find yourself in the area.
(4)
Chris B.
Host was very freinedly, server was very informative about the dishes and specials. Food was delicious and came out of the kitchen in a reasonable time. The very tall manager that checked on us during our meal, believe his name was Brian, was extremly friendly and genuinely cared how our experience was coming along. Great food brings customers in but great staff bring them back again. Thank you for the excellent service and delicious dinner.
(5)
Andrew H.
Have loved this place for years. Pizza is excellent and pasta a delight. The ambience could be better but this is fundamentally a place for a quick lunch or an early dinner so I don't mind the lack of frills.
(4)
Icaria J.
The staff is amazing. The food... Not so much. We had chicken Alfredo & chicken arezzo. Both were really bland, not a lot of flavor. The garlic bread however was yummy!
(2)
Henry L.
Great food & outstanding customer service! Do not bypass except for cholesterol reasons...
(5)
Daniel A.
"Tuesday is Pizza Night!" At least according to Mamma Lucia and I would tend to agree. It's buy one large get another for $3. And when they say large, they mean 18 inch New York style pizza. We went with the BBQ Chicken pizza, which for some reason I feel ashamed of admitting, but there is no denying it was good. Next my friend and I went for a custom topping of our favorite combination: pepperoni, black olives and green peppers. We're friends because we are the only people we've encountered that don't make a disgusted face when presented with that combination.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
We have loved evertime and try different things. The price is spot on good for this area. We all have seen how some restaurants charge extra because of the high rent or something... This will be a a frequent restaurant, meaning about 1 time every 6 weeks.. Jb
(5)
DJ C.
What is wrong all their taste buds? Seeing the many mediocre debbie-downer reviews here is confounding... where else can you go, really? I'm loving this place, time and time and time again! It's my gold standard for Italian cuisine at a decent price, and I have to say this is better than many of those higher-end high-dollar Italian places I've been to. I used to live in Bethesda, up 'til 2007, and we'd do our best to get here or one of the other Mamma Lucia's around, at least once a month. Never disappointed, unlike the other yelpers. Now I live in California, and this destination is always on my short-list as a must-go dining out extravaganza! We love the bruchetta, and an extra serving free for the asking, or sometimes even without the asking. We love the salad, a great mix of veggies, and the oil + balsamic vinegar combo is magically distinctly special for some reason, we just enjoy it so much. Oh, and like others have mentioned it, portion sizes are big. More yumminess. And then the pasta, we stick with the pasta menu most of the time. No point veering off a winner and stumbling onto something that's not so much. My favorite is the bolognese, sometimes I'll venture over and do the vodka sauce or the sausage penne whatever that's called. Last time I was there in August 2012, had the Arezzo Vitello -- my photo was blurry and that doesn't do it justice yelp.com/biz_photos/YOZl… -- and boy was it yummy!! So, my point is, stick to the pasta. I'm not much into Italian for meat dishes. And when I want pizza, I go to a pizza specialty place. That's how I make it all work in my favor.
(5)
Mindy F.
Cute place, nice decor. Bread, salad were good. Entree wasn't very good - sent it back. Wasn't what I expected based on the description. Manager came to table to explain the recipe and was happy to take it back and not charge me for it. Will try again - but will pick a different item on the menu.
(3)
John B.
Very good pizza and pasta. Small place that fills up very easily. It's not as easy to find decent pizza as one might hope in Maryland. You get a lot of food for your money. Mamma Lucia is a reliable choice when you don't know what you want.
(4)
Hossein N.
For full disclosure, I have only has the pizza and salad. If you love New York style pizza and/or Sicilian, and only want to get by the slice, this is as good as it gets in Rockville. Personally for best pizza in Rockville try Pizza CS just about the street but totally different style. Big plus for this place - being able to buy by the slice. Not sure why every place in DC doesn't offer this (rhetorical question I know why) All and all a more than passable pizza (crust is crusty and not chewy, they use a quality cheese, and the tomato sauce is not overly sweet)
(4)
Jennifer A.
I can't say I'm impressed. I've gone a few times and expensive and greasy would be the best description. The wait staff is good but on a lot of popular dining out evenings, the wait is ridiculous. This definitely isn't a healthy place. Sometimes my food tasted Okay and other times it tasted barely thawed. I seem to come here seldom, just long enough to forget I wasn't crazy about it. The portions are huge but too pricy and the food quality is mediocre at best. I think the pizza is what they're known for.
(2)
Richie T.
I've been a long time resident of Maryland and now live in DC and try to get to Mama Lucia whenever I have the chance. While the food is still ok, the place has definitely gone downhill in recent years. The prices are now astronomical (for Italian) while the quality and portion size has decreased. On my most recent trip I had the worst salad I can remember from Mama Lucia's. While the lettuce was fresh, the entire salad was drowned in olive oil. One thing Mama Lucia's has always lacked and is sorely needed is a better wine list. The veal marsala and lasagna were good, but the service was horrible. Waitress never checked up on my table, took forever to get the check and to get my card back. Worst of all was during my entire meal, the hostess and a waiter were having a non-stop conversation that was audible throughout the first half of the restaurant. If you're that over staffed and not busy, at least do something in the back, not chat about how the hostess did so poorly in high school. Best bet is to go for lunch when you order at the counter or carry out. Otherwise if you want to dine in for Italian, give some of the better DC options a shot (Bibiana, Tosca).
(2)
Marty S.
The service was outstanding, however the food was average, at best, and grossly overpriced! We will NOT return.
(2)
Adam F.
Still the closest thing to NY style pizza in MoCo. Note I wrote closest. It's NOT as good as NY but hey, this is Maryland. Crab cakes suck in NY! BTW, don't bother trying Crust, the new supposedly NY style pizza place that opened recently in the back of the tiny shopping center where Gillys is. The pies looked awful so I skipped them. Read my review and all the others and you'll see that Crust won't be in business very long.
(3)
Samuel N.
Love Mamma Lucia. Pizza and pasta are excellent. Love the rose and creamy pesto sauces. Also the feta/spinach/strawberry salad is wonderful.
(4)
Caroline G.
The only time I want to come here is when I'm craving some spaghetti with meat sauce...and for some reason, i keep going back for punishment. It's pretty greasy, and lots of oil. In my mind, the food is like italian fast food, much like mcdonalds is our fast food burger joint. The appetizer bread could crack someone's skull if you threw it, and by the time i could break it in half, the residual grease was all over my fingers. Not exactly fine dining, but I don't expect that here. Stay away from their fried zucchini as well, they make it differently here, but there is way too much breading on it, and again, too tough to bite into.
(2)
M K.
Crowd reviewing works--Mamma Lucia's is a 3 (maybe 2.5) star restaurant. This place is a great example of the difficulty of finding great food in Rockville. We went on a Saturday night and the place was packed. Good sign. We had to wait a few minutes in line, and to ease our pain, the manager brought us two glasses of wine. That certainly helped us stick it out. Sadly, the meal did not live up to service. The menu was huge, so it was hard to know the specialities. My pollo di Mamma's (chicken with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes), which I ordered because there weren't a lot of menu options with vegetables, was kind of sad. There was a good meal somewhere in that description, but not on my plate. It tasted like they had simply dumped the jars of artichokes and tomatoes onto the pasta, which somehow managed to absorb no taste. I could easily have made that dish better at home--and I'm no chef. Chicken pesto ravioli was okay, but gummy. Once you got over the initial hit of pesto, there was nothing. Also, ditto to those who said the place was overpriced. $20 for 6 ravioli of mediocre quality? God no, there are much better places for less on Rockville Pike. I can't believe so many people were eating there--I guess Rockville doesn't have many ways of educating palates.
(3)
Tariq A.
Always have amazing pizza
(4)
Amy Y.
I went in last night and ordered the pollo brunello for takeout. I didn't mind the 20 minute wait since I didn't call in advance so I patiently waited for my order. When it was finally ready, the cashier said something to me that I could not hear clearly since all of the cooks and waitresses were gathered there chatting. The cashier just stared at me in a condescending way. I said that I couldn't hear her, where she just impatiently asked "Caesar or regular?" I answered Caesar and she pretends she didn't hear me and made me repeat myself. For nearly 20 bucks for one meal, the least you can do is provide courteous service. Definitely not worth the grief. I would much rather take my business elsewhere. Their Bethesda location does not appear to have this issue.
(1)
Evan H.
I remember the days when this was the only location...It was great then and is still a great 'fail safe' Italian restaurant. I've been countless times and its always good. The bread they bring you to start isn't your standard rolls, its hot garlic bread. So good. The food isn't going to blow you away, but pricewise, its pretty reasonable. I love the Salsicce alla Napoletana and standards like Fettuccine alla Bolognese. The house salad that comes with the meal has a really subtle, but tasty house dressing. The fried calimari are also excellent, though I normally dont need it with the bread and salad. Ill keep coming back.
(4)
Fenny L.
I'm a little sad that I have to write this review the way it is. I have been a long time fan of the Rockville Mama Lucia's. If I remember correctly, this was the very first Mama L's, and in my opinion it was the best. Wonderful food. Friendly service. A warm and cozy dining room. It was one of my favorite Italian restaurants, outside of Little Italy. Then both my home and my job took me away Rockville, and it's been easily 2 years since I've been to Mama L's. So imagine my delight when a couple girlfriends were surprisingly free for lunch this past Saturday. We headed straight to Mama Lucia's (as a completely irrelevant sidenote...there is now a Yogiberry 3 doors down! WOOHOO!). I arrived before the girls, and noticing that the interior has been redone, I asked the lady at the register could I still just sit anywhere. The lady barks out "you gotta order here". I tell her that I'm waiting for the rest of my party first. Glaring at me, she says "fine. Sit. But you gotta order here." Um, right on. I understood you the first time. But it wasn't really enough to dampen my mood, and if nothing else happened for the rest of my meal, I probably wouldn't have even remembered this little dialogue. My girlfriends finally arrive, and one of them brought her one year old little girl. We grab a booth in the back (as not to disturb anyone), and had to go through three or four highchairs before we found one that wasn't broken. Highchairs probably have a very high breakage rate, as small children and frazzled parents are using them, however out of stack of 7 chairs, half of them were broken. I don't know why, but that's just a little disturbing to me. We get up to the counter to order our food, and the chef was both funny and flirty. We order our meals, per his recommendations, and get up to the register to pay. We wanted to put half of the bill on a credit card, and the other half in cash (two of us were treating). She couldn't figure out how to split a $30.60 bill. Not even after we did the math for her ($15.30 on each). After trying to explain what we wanted to have done for 5 minutes, we just ended up putting it all on a credit card, and the game of Russian Roulette Change went on between us. Still, we were having fun, and enjoying the day - and again up to this point, this would have been a 4 star review. We had ordered 2 slices of pizza, the baked ziti, and the sausage napolense. One slice of pizza, the ziki and the sausage napolense was served in rapid order by a server who practically threw our food down on our table. She came by and tossed the food onto the table. She put the piping hot baked ziti dish in front of the 1 year old (seriously?!?), which we quickly moved out of the way. She didn't tell us what she was serving (the ziti and the sausage napolense were very similar at first glance) and walked away. We sort of looked at each other dumbfounded, wondering what did we ever do to piss her off. About this point we started to look around. There was one other server that was working the dining room area - and she seemed *marginally* nicer then ours were - but both of them were slamming down food, and snapping at the customers. We started eating, and realized that we were missing one slice of pizza. We flagged the server down, and she snarls out a "yeah?". We tell her that we are still missing a slice of pizza, and without a word, she walks off. We weren't sure if she was going to check up on it, or if she was ignoring us, but we figured that we would give her a few minutes, before the situation needed to be escalated. A few minutes later, we needed refills, and wanted to know if they were free. We flag down the server again - and before we could ask her, the server practically snaps our heads off with "the pizza is coming!!!" Uh, that wasn't what we needed, although that was nice to know. Perhaps it was due to the attitude that we got, but the food didn't taste that great to me. The sausage napolenese was a little bland, even the slices of sausage didn't have any of the sizzle I seem to remember. The pizza slices were fairly large, but it had a very oily sheen to it. The ziti was OK, but it tasted remarkably like the sausage napolense (or I should say, the sausage napolense tasted a lot like the ziti). A little bland and uninspiring, however, the service left such a sour taste in my mouth that it may be one of those instances where the bad service is coloring my perception of the food. This was definitely not the Mama Lucia's that I remember. I don't know if it was just a bad day, or if the quality of service has really deteriorated so dramatically, but I must say, I'm very saddened that my friends and I had such an experience at one of our favorite restaurants. I will definitely give Mama Lucia's another shot, and I'm hoping that this was a fluke and I can update this review with a glowing and shining 4 or 5 stars.
(2)
Sarah C.
3.5 because sometimes this place becomes a habit. Can't go wrong w/quick simple easy Italian. Also great to devour before jogging..... mmmm I heart cooked lycopene. I've stationed my rump, many times at ML, since the late 90's and introduced this casual stop to my hubs around 2003-ish. BTW, these good people are timely with the carry-out orders. We've used that convenient option many times during the years. The grub isn't spectacular - just familiar in taste. And I'm always taking home extras for either breakfast or lunch. Hey, there are no rules to pasta..... never!!! hehe. Our orders are pretty basic. We heart squid so the Calamari Fritti is a regular choice. No frills. $10 Fried squid with red sauce (marinara). I've had every pasta and pollo dishes yet none of them made my knees shake but they were satisfying for that moment. I favor the tomato or marinara sauce entrees (spicy or light). Almost always, these are my normal dinner selections - creature of habit: -Mostaccioli alla Matriciana $13 Penne pasta with Italian ground bacon in a spicy marinara sauce w/o parmigiano -Spaghetti con Salsicce $13 Spaghetti with sausages and tomato sauce w/o parmigiano -Pollo alla Valdostana $17 Fresh chicken breast topped with prosciutto (ham) and mozzarella in a light marinara sauce w/o parmigiano -Gamberetti alla Fra Diavolo $20 Fresh shrimp in a spicy marinara sauce over linguine -Homemade Lasagna w/o parmigiano topping $13 -Baked Ziti w/o parmigiano topping $13 All dinner entrees are served w/a side salad. Mini versions of their garden salad - romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, hot and green peppers, onions and black olives. If they served normal portions, these would definitely be cheap eats. But I guess 'normal' is all relative. Granted, I'm a piggie but their meal size makes me feel like a beached whale after I scoff half the dish. Nevertheless, I'm content overall. Please keep in mind that their prices differ depending on which menu is viewed. They offer lunch, dinner, carry-out and catering menus. Try them for the everyday hearty taste of Italian.
(3)
Michael C.
Either I like or dislike the pizza. Mama Lucia's used to be very good back in early 2000's. They've seemed to have decided on shortcutting their ingredients. Meaning they would seem to pick cheaper ingredients over quality ones.
(1)
Semra E.
The chick always gives me bread when I come to eat there, which is awesome. The folks know me now because I'm there at least every other week since I work around the corner. It's quick, it's great and this location rocks.
(4)
Melissa E.
I went here for takeout today. I am thoroughly repulsed by this place. And so it began two weeks ago- when having been in love with the Falls Grove location- I decided to try Mama Lucia on Rockville Pike because it is near my office. My first experience involved the RUDE brunette at the counter who paid no attention that she had customers waiting in line. At lunch. Today, I decided to give this place another shot... I walked in, again, waited for the the "Busy" Brunette to show some courtesy or act as though she had some/any experience in customer service. Another male ended up helping me. I scooted over to be rung up at the cash register to notice the Brunette with her hand in her mouth (while assisting in food preparation) showing off her new tooth or cavity or something? If this wasn't enough, the waitress was behind the counter eating and serving tables. I saw no hand washing, eating of their lunch in private, or any sanitation on behalf of their staff. To make matters worse, the friendliest guy who took my order was wearing sandals and serving food. I am pretty sure this is a violation of Maryland Health Department Restaurant Code. Clearly this is a violation of my own standards. Maryland Health Department BEWARE. If the individuals working in this establishment don't know how at least hide their unsanitary work habits- I can only wonder how cleanly their establishment and food is. I will NEVER NEVER frequent this place again.
(1)
Sung I.
Food was edible the three times I've been here but the service was always less than desirable. I get the feeling from older woman behind the counter that she favors repeat customers and resents new ones. Like everything I ordered was a hassle or something. Food is not worth the service. Much better options for pizza close by, e.g., pizza CS. Will not be returning anytime soon.
(1)
Aaron W.
Utterly passable Italian food at very reasonable prices. The key to going there, in my experience, is to SPLIT a dish. The portions are HUGE, so for $3 they let you split a dish. We've never had a bad meal here, but we've also never had a really good one. Don't expect fireworks, but if rustic (I call it sloppy) Italian makes you happy, this place will do the trick.
(3)
Marc S.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in the DC area. My family and I have been coming here for years, and Mamma Lucia almost never disappoints. Although the chain has expanded over the past decade, it has stuck to its roots in authentic, Italian-American cuisine. I've yet to stumble on an entree that I've considered bad, and it far surpasses a lot of the area restaurants that masquerade as Italian (Joe's? please). It's certainly not the cheapest, but I'd say it's worth every penny. I'll describe a couple of my favorites: The meatballs here are some of the best you will find. It may the only place I'd put even close to those my nonna makes. For extra credit, throw them on a pizza. Mamma Lucia makes excellent rose and vodka sauce. Their ravioli in either of those is fantastic. The seafood risotto special (not always on the menu) is a great balance for people who aren't huge on spice. If you're in the mood for chicken, you can't go wrong with the Saltimbocca or the Valdostana. The garlic bread (comes with every meal) has a delightful kick and is even better with the seasoned olive oil.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : 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.
Sina M.
Always have a great experience at this place
(5)Chris L.
Pizza was not that good. Chicken wings ok.
(2)Tu-van L.
Finally got to hit up the Tuesday carry-out pizza specials (buy one large get another for $2.99). At an average price of $20 for a large, this deal makes this value to par with the other take-outs. While the pizzas are indeed large, the quality is mediocre to satisfactory at best. While I admire them for offering toppings like artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers, the quality of toppings overall are mediocre and the pizza options are very limited. Overall deal is alright at best, but with the limited options and mediocre toppings I won't go out of my way for their pizza. If you want a deal stick with their pasta Mondays.
(3)Eugene H.
eh the food here just isn't that good. I tried a dinner entree which was a let down then decided to come back here to try the pizza. Double screwed on the price and quality.....try somewhere else!
(2)Madison S.
Not a fan. My pasta was over cooked, and had so much tomato sauce that made it more like a soup dish.
(2)N S.
The pizza at this location seems to be better than the College Park and Silver Spring locations meaning it is decent. However, the prices are ridiculous. Way overpriced, and I don't understand people that actually come to spend over $10 on pasta dishes here. They're pretty lackluster. They better hope I don't win the lottery because the first thing I will do is bring quality pizza to the area at regular NY $1.50 a slice prices. Ciao.
(3)Brittainy C.
Food and service is consistently good. Have yet to try anything other than their pie, but I don't generally eat out for Italian. It's no NY slice, but hey! It's Maryland! :)
(4)Niket R.
Decent NY-ish slices in Federal Plaza. I stopped by here today to pick up a couple pepperoni slices. They were a bit too thick to be considered NY-style and there was a bit too much cheese relative to the amount of sauce. That being said, the pizza was decent. It was a bit overpriced, though. Two slices came out to almost 7 bucks. *gasp*
(3)Catherine H.
Somewhere in between Eek and Meh. Have you ever had lasagna sans noodles? It looked like someone cut a teenie tiny piece of lasgna in half and put a big puddle of sauce, cheese, and meat mixture in between those two pieces. The noodles (the 2 that there were) were brown and burnt. Gross...and who burns noodles? And the ricotta cheese resembled rubber. My boyfriend got the baked ziti and that was alright. And the only reason my review got 2 stars.
(2)Kerri S.
If I could give zero stars here I would. Two days after Thanksgiving--a time you would expect a little holiday cheer to be in the air--I made reservations at the Mama Lucia Rockville location. The reservation was for a table of 5 and was made 45 minutes prior to the reservation time. Let me also note that I was driving here from Virginia and it took me at least a half an hour to get there. When my party arrived at the restaurant, we went in and presented the name to the male host who then informed us that he was never informed of such a reservation. I was once a hostess at a restaurant of about the same size and know that 99% of the time, the host or hostess is the one answering the phone. He also sounded very similar to the male I spoke with on the phone, but I digress... I patiently asked what he could do about it or if he could please check with the other staff. He refused and said sorry sarcastically. He did not offer me a wait time or any other solution to the dilemma, only stood there with a fake smile and quickly moved on to smaller walk-in parties without reservations, then walked away. I waited and when he came back asked the wait time. He told me 20 minutes. Meanwhile, there were EMPTY 2-top tables that could have easily been pushed together to create a small table for my group. I'm not sure what business model suggests that a famished party of 5 people ready to spend a decent amount of money on dinner and drinks after a long day, but this restaurant must be an exception! As I said "No thanks" to the 20 minute wait time and turned to walk out, he put his finger up to his eye and drew a fake tear and said "Oh no, I'm so sad," then proceeded to give an over-exaggertaed sad face yell "Oh no! no no! Don't go!" in a mocking, sarcastic way. My father asked "This is how you treat your customers?" and the host continued to mock me and then my father as well. We left immediately, but I was so infuriated I went back in to ask his name. I asked a redheaded hostess to please provide her coworker's name and she said it was Jimmy. I asked for his last name and she said she didn't know but that he was coming back and I could ask him myself. I asked him and he laughed, "Oh it's uh...Jose!" I told him there was clearly a discrepancy as she had just told me it was Jimmy. He turned to her and yelled, "You never give the real name!! What were you thinking?" I'm not sure if that was also sarcastic or not or if either name is correct, but this character has turned me off to the entire chain of Mama Lucia restaurants. Any place that puts up with an employee with such disrespect towards customers is clearly stating they do not care about their customers. A man outside the resturant that witnessed the altercation asked me what happened, and when I explained, said "What a shame. He must just be a bad apple because the owners are really nice people." If that is the case, I really hope this complaint is taken seriously so that all other customers are spared the disrespect and rude attitude I was unjustly treated with on Saturday evening.
(1)Shannon A.
This place is amazingly good!!!! By far the best pizza in the DMV!!! Their pizza sauce is well seasoned and they use fresh ingredients. I used to stop in and grab just a slice or two to go along with these little garlic parmesan dough balls (they give your like 10 of them for a $1) to go until one day my wife was in the mood for pizza; so I thought we would just dine there. BEST decision ever!!!! They bring out this toasted garlic, crushed red pepper bread as a free appetizer while you wait with this parmesan, red pepper flake and garlic infused oil:-D I could make a meal out of that, which we usually do, and then we just take the pizza home with us for later.
(5)Danielle L.
Wow... do not go here for a whole meal. For a slice of pizza at lunch, fine. Decent, affordable, fast. But dinner? Slow. Inattentive service. (Should be kid-friendly, but the waiter completely ignored us in favor of the tables or adults/teens nearby.) Mushy, overcooked pasta (at all hours) - and tough overcooked chicken. I had the gnocchi special recently and it was disasterous: out of a box, HARD/undercooked, and just smothered in sauce and cheese. And dinner entrees priced at $20 or so? Totally inappropriate for the quality of the food and experience. After my last visit, prompting this review, I'm not likely to return. (Writing this for the Rockville Pike location, near Trader Joe's. It's possible that the other locations are fine; I haven't tried them.)
(2)Marie Z.
I have to agree with David S. the place is going down hill. I use to love this place but they are skimping. I still like there calzones but they just get smaller and greaser.
(3)Ina C.
I'm caught between 3-4 stars. If it was just for the food and service, I'd give them four stars for sure. Our penne vodka sauce ($14) was perfectly seasoned with chunks of garlic and proscuitto that were just right. The alfredo and spaghetti ($12-14?) were really delicious, and the complimentary bread and olive oil/garlic/herb dipping sauce were divine!! And the service was just what we needed. They were cool about one of us bringing in some leftovers from Yogiberry next door, and were even obliging enough to fulfill someone's request to turn the heat up (it was pretty cold in there...). My only gripe about this place is their way of making money, which brings my rating to 3.5 stars. First of all, some of these meat and seafood dishes were $20 and over! For a place that's known to be cheap, that's pretty expensive. But here's the real kicker: a friend and I ordered a dish to share, but our server responded with, "Just to let you know, there's a $3 splitting fee." Do I even need to explain how ridiculous that is? I usually don't do this, but I responded by saying, "Really? ...Why?" She wasn't able to come up with an answer, so she replied by saying, "I'll just put in a single order and then bring out an extra dish for you." We thanked her and went on with our evening. Though I do question some things at this restaurant, I like it overall, and I'll most definitely be back (the food was goooood!). *Tip: Skip dessert at the restaurant and go a few doors down to get some froyo at Yogiberry!
(3)Dan G.
Fenny L, we had a smiliar experience. Folks, watch out for that lady behind the counter. She's just...not very nice. It's one thing to have that NY attitude, hell it even makes the experience more authentic. It's another to be just plain mean for no reason. Our pizza was good, but they messed up the toppings we ordered, and charged us more than what the menu stated. And really guys? CANNED mushrooms and pineapple??
(3)marsha s.
This place is OK if you want cheap and easy Italian. It's nothing special, but it's not bad. Kind of annoyingly boring bread for an Italian place, though. Yes, the olive oil is served with it, but the prepared garlic bread is often stale-ish and the rolls are sub par ( read American white rolls.) I've been reasonably satisfied with service. I like the balsamic dressing on the OK salad. I think OK sums it up. It's a family place.
(3)Arthur K.
I have heard that this is the original Mama Lucia's. As such, it is smaller than its descendants spread across the DC metropolitan area. It lies in one of the many shopping hubs that line Rockville Pike. (By the way Mama Lucia's website spells Mama as "Mamma". I will use "Mama" just to match what's on Yelp). I've been to other Mama Lucia's before and every time I am amazed by how greasy the food is. They have no apologies for the heaviness of the food. To Ma Lucia its down-home cooking. This trip was no exception. I ordered the Calamari alla Marinara. It was greasy. I don't want to repeat that line for every dish, suffice to say every dish mentioned hereforth is really greasy. It was good though. The noodles were just a little soft, but it was actually better that way accompanying the chewy calamari (not breaded). We did have the breaded calamari appetizer as well. Which was really good. Lightly breaded, crunchy, and buttery in flavor. i tried my friend's Gamberetti Scampi, which was also buttery, but a lacked flavor a bit. Another friend had Mostaccioli alla Matriciana which has bacon in it, and was extra greasy. I strongly recommend staying away from anything with bacon or cream sauce, unless you like your food extra extra heavy. The food itself was about a 3-star quality. I was very pleased with the service though. We reserved a table for a large party. When we got there, we changed our reservation number, but our table was ready for us in minutes. the server was a bit "awkward" though, as another Yelper has described it. But only at first. She warmed up eventually. Our food was served a little slower than expected. Refills were prompt. 2 upper level workers (managers or owners) stopped by our table to check on us. They were both friendly. And one in particular was very friendly and seemed genuine in his care for the customer experience. On top of that he found out we were dining for two of our friends birthdays and gave them 2 glasses of Zinfandel on the house. The service was so good and genuine I had to up them to 4 stars. Yes I will need to run extra miles at the gym after eating at Mama's, but I am looking forward to dining here again.
(4)Jamie B.
I've gone to this Mama Lucia's numerous times but just can't bring myself to like it. My coworkers enjoy it mainly for the ability to get in, order pizza by the slice, eat and exit quickly. They do have a small outdoor area which is nice when the weather is good but this location is small overall, so dining in is not guarenteed. The food just doesn't do it for me, though. Seems bland, and any time I get a chicken dish I regret it, as the chicken somehow always manages to be very dry. The meatballs aren't bad but they're a little stingier with them than I think they should be for the price. The crunchy garlic bread is just something I can't see how anyone likes, as it's often baked to the consistency of a brick. The pizza is alright but nothing exciting. I hear they put on some nice atmosphere in the evening, but I've not been tempted to check it out.
(2)Jinshil L.
It's a unique experience...with its chaotic lunch hour. The food is okay, but way overpriced! Only go here for convenience...
(3)Valentina P.
this little eatery is not as tasteful as it's food. the first time we went there i ordered the vitello alla sorrentina & the bf ordered gamberetti alla montesse. mine was ok. now the bf's entree was orgasmic! the house salad accompanied the dish--very fresh balsamic vinaigrette. there was also complimentary garlic bread that was grilled with tomato paste. omg, you can really get full on this bread! since our first visit, we have only ordered the gamberetti alla montesse. we usually like to come on wednesdays- half off bottled wines! their desserts aren't bad.. however my tiramisu cake was not consistent. the last time, the cake was not dipped in rum. what a sin! service is stellar and the manager is always cheerful! :) one of our fav italian restaurants!
(4)i w.
i want to give it 5 stars just for the lasagna pizza, the regulars are good too. The pasta is good too. Chicken fancese i like. Its expensive kinda. I would love to take a date here. Its good food, wine bottles are all over, and its not fancy at all inside. The quality seems to differ between locations. This is my favorite location. Go around noon for fresh slices!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee screw it 5 stars!
(5)Tasha C.
This location is extremely convenient to our apartment, so we find ourselves getting take-out pizza here from time to time. The pizza is always tasty, but sometimes a little greasier than my liking. Because we do take-out, we don't have to interact too much with the staff here, but every time we go there, whether the small dining area is full or not, the staff seems brash and frazzled, similar to what others have observed. They have a pasta deal during Monday dinners, buy one entree get another for $3.99 or something, which is the only time I consider trying to pasta is it seems overpriced.
(3)Mary P.
Yumm! A co-worker and I had to grab a quick lunch here, so ordered 2 slices and side salads at the counter. The lazagna bolognese pizza was amazing. One slice each with the salad ended up being enough for us both. The crust was perfect (crispy, not soggy, not too thick), good sauce, just the right amount of toppings. Salad was pretty simple, but had a good vinaigrette.
(4)Leila T.
My boyfriend just helped me move so I wanted to order in, my treat. I didn't want to go the Papa Johns/Domino's route, and even though Mama Lucia's is a chain, they're a local chain. They don't deliver, but I was willing to shell out a few extra bucks to do waiter on the way (I think it's $3.99 + 5% of the order) because I wanted something special. Severely disappointed. We asked for cheesy garlic bread and they sent us burnt yet soggy garlic bread (inedible) with a side of grated parm. The pizza is New York style (thin and light on the sauce). Ordered pizza w/mushrooms, green peppers, and onions. Biggest disappointment, especially because I LOVE mushrooms, the mushrooms are from a can!!! They are yellow, rubbery, and tasteless. For some reason they cut the green peppers into big cubes, and they didn't even break apart the onions so there were these big chunks of onions. Didn't really think it was worth the $35...
(2)Michael W.
Mamma Lucia is a local chain of Italian Restaurants. There are stores in Silver Spring, Rockville, Olney, College Park, Freederick, Columbia, Reston and Bethesda. The place is a decent option for unpretentious Italian food. The pizza is sold by the slice on lunch time and one slice is usually enough for me (~US$5.0/slice). The menu also includes pasta, calzones and a few entrees (prices change if it is lunch or dinner time). In general all entrees cost around $12-15 and the portions are big (they are probably good for two but this restaurant has the annoying habit of charging extra if you want to split the plate). The reasons why I give it two stars are: service is not excellent (actually the lady that takes your orders during lunch time is kindda rude and is not very efficient - last time I went there she left me waiting a couple of minutes just because she was chatting with a guy from the kitchen), price is high for what they serve (hey, US$12 for a plate of pasta!), the food is not specially good and sometimes I feel like they are cheap (I ordered the Shrimp special and the plate came with only 2 shrimps!), last, the delivery service was awful and I felt like I wasn't treated well on the phone while making my order. In conclusion, if you just want to stop by and eat a nice pizza slice this is a good place. If you want something else, I would suggest going to Silver Diner or Ambrosia (a greek diner just a block away). At least you will get a much better service and food for the same price. Update: I decided to demote one star from this joint. After a long time without going on Mamma Lucia, on my wife's insistence, I went back there with my 9 month pregnant wife and my sleeping 3 year old daughter on my lap. After 15 minutes waiting for a table, the hostess passed a young couple in front of us and gave them the booth we were waiting for. We decided to leave. No further comments should be necessary.
(1)Lydia H.
Pasta-bleck. Pizza-yay!
(4)John W.
The food isn't stellar, but most entrees are tasty enough. While this is a chain, there's a lot of variation between the restaurants. The Rockville Mama Lucia has a low-key, homey ambiance. I've had nothing but good experiences service-wise there. Parking is a breeze in the evening, since most stores in the shopping center it's attached to are closing up by dinner time. Note: this is *very* different from my experience at the Bethesda Mama Lucia, where the service was horrific. Really, I mean that... horrific.
(3)jenn h.
Down Home Italian Cooking! That's their motto. They've got good food, with several locations throughout Maryland. It's not spectacular, but you'll get a good, hearty meal; and if you visit on a Monday or Tuesday, you can take advantage of their specials: * MONDAY is PASTA NIGHT - Order one Pasta Entree and get a second for $3.99. Valid 5-10pm. (Dine In or Carry out) * TUESDAY is PIZZA NIGHT - Order one large pizza and get a second large for $1.99. Valid 3-10pm. (Carry out ONLY)
(3)Vic M.
I've given this place three chances. They're out! Out of my list of acceptable places to dine. It looks nice and it's in a decent location, but the food and service don't match. You have to wait forever for service and the services is awkward and not warm (except once). The food is overpriced for what you get- weakly flavored food. When an item says that it is spicy, it should be spicy. I shouldn't have to shake peppers from the pepper shaker onto the food to get it spicy. They add way too much oil and way too much garlic to their food. Stay away from the pesto gnocchi, it's awful.
(1)Jen L.
The food was pretty good and in my opinion, decent. The portion sizes were pretty large, but the prices were also high, so the portion and price seemed to match. The setting was very small and cozy with a homey informal feel to it. The service was good. $$
(2)D S.
very good. a little weird to be in a strip mall, and inside, the tables are a little too close to each other. that said, very good food, reasonable price. nice interior, not too noisy except for the table closeness. can be difficult to have a conversation when you feel like the people right next to you can hear everything. four stars for the food, three for the place.
(4)Cynthia L.
So, I can't say you'll say that this is the most amazing Italian you'll ever have, but for a chain, hubs and I have sentimentals attached to this place, so we love this place. We haven't been here for years...they've added some new items to their menu along with the standard items (I really enjoyed their fried risotto balls- meat encased in risotto fried with cheese and panko crumbs- served hot and delicious!). The waiter noticed I didn't touch my bruschetta because I wasn't feeling too hot, but (without me asking) took it off the bill. The manager even came by to offer to make it differently. I thought that was really above and beyond what they had to do and it made me appreciate the customer service at this place. Clean place, fast & friendly service. Thank you ML!
(4)Bill S.
I have been going to Mam Lucia in Rockville and Bethesda for years. The only bad thing I can say is that I have gained a lot of weight as a result. The food and pizza are very good, the prices are fair and the portions are huge. I have always had good service and will be a a continued customer. I do suggest that that sharing an entree is is alwasy an option becasue of the portion sizes.
(4)A C.
Had lunch today with 3 other ladies and it was great. The antipasto salad was yummy. The beverages were refilled often. One thing that stood out- the manager offered us free desserts when he found out we had been shopping for a wedding gown at David's bridal. Although we passed, it was a very nice gesture and we will be back to this location of Mamma Lucia. The total bill was about $40 for 4 people. Very reasonable.
(4)Jane T.
Wanted to pick up pizza for us and parents. Internet ordering was not functional: would only accept an order for next day, and banner on webpage said they answer phones in store M-F. Well, not true. Went there to order and had to wait, while people who didn't bother to try the website just walked in and got their orders. Response from staff: "Really....?that's not true. oh its an internet thing". got a veggie pizza without cheese. It was just awful- soggy and tasteless. I don't say that lightly- I hate posting bad reviews, but this pizza was the absolute worst pizza restaurant pizza I have ever had, and my husband told me the same. In comparison, a cheese-less veggie pizza from Fontina Grille is to die for- soooo good- crisp, savory, great. (Mom liked the cheese pizza though) Staff were indifferent. When we walked in, no one to greet or direct at first, staff going here and there but not paying attention to customers. Awful set up for carry out- need some signs or something so that customers know where they should stand and wait so they don't feel in the way. While waiting to order, at one point I noted to my husband that there were 6 staff members within 10 feet of us and not one making eye contact. I didn't see anyone there who appeared to be a manager- certainly no one addressed our comments about the internet snafu with anything but bored dismissal. I did get a call the next day thanking me for posting feedback on line about the internet problem and offering a gift certificate but I declined. The person who called didn't seem interested in my comments abut the pizza or the staff, so I have no expectation that anything will change. I won't go back there unless Mom wants another cheese pizza.
(2)Ingrid L.
Fantástic food, huge portions and what adds to the four starts is how great, welcoming and attentive the staff is! I have been to other mama Lucia's through out the DMV and although this one is a small one it is my abs favorite this far! Keep it up please! Great food with awesome service!!
(4)Anne D.
This place is wayyy better than the one in shady grove. It was a beautiful day so my friends and I sat outside. I got calamari as the appetizer and lasagna for the entree. The Caesar salad that came with the lasagna was also very good just enough dressing on it not too little not too much. The staffs were awesome also. Overall always satisfied with this place :)
(4)Tom J.
We ordered Penny Ala vodka and a Caesar salad to go. Walked in and was greeted by nice older gentleman and told to go to register and pick up my togo order. Went over where 2 people were standing and one on phone and one looking at the floor and never made eye contact while asking if I was picking up. I said yes and asked for extra dressing for salad and got a look that could kill and then he screamed for extra dressing. Went back to the room and had no silverware no salt and pepper. My bread was hard as a rock. Croutons were inedible as in rock hard- there was no bacon/prosciutto in my pasta instead it was chunks of ham ( YES HAM in place of bacon). There were spaghetti pieces and fettuccine pieces in my Penne pasta entree which is not acceptable to and lazy on there part . All in all ... Very disappointed.
(1)Mari K.
I LOVE Italian food. My husband and I decided to try this restaurant out because we've always passed by it but never tried it. It's a small little restaurant with a nice and comfortable atmosphere. I ordered a baked ziti and my husband ordered a fettuccine alfredo. When we received both of our food, the portions were HUGE. Definitely worth the price because I could only finish half of it and had to take the rest home. Both of our foods were good. The reason why I'm giving this place three stars is because I think I got food poisoning right after that. My husband felt a little sick too which worried me a little bit. I'm going to try this place out again because the food was good... but hopefully next time it won't make me and my husband sick.
(3)Robin G.
This pizza is amazing!!! Very fresh and hearty and the service is good as well. I am also a fan if the bread and the eggplant parmigiana. It can get crowded so it's good to call ahead with your order.
(5)George O.
I thought the food there was all food service low quality
(1)Tommy N.
Ordered a Large 18" NY style pizza for delivery with 2 toppings. Cost me $22.50 not including the $5 delivery fee. That's a bit more expensive than a fairly popular pizza chain. That's my first gripe. My second complaint about the place is the pizza itself. The pizza was chewy to the point where I had to play a little tug of war. If anything, I should write a thank you card to my dentist for a job well done. The dish itself is, in my opinion, horrible. However, I don't want to rate a restaurant 1 star due to a single bad experience so I'll leave it at two for now. Maybe the other dishes are good enough to warrant another visit, but someone's going to have to pay for my meal next time to get me to go.
(2)Kim A.
I somehow managed to coast along, sort of forgetting about Mamma Lucia's for quite a while. They're always tucked away somewhere not on my usual route. Finally after racking my brain, trying to figure out where I could get a decent slice of pizza, it hit me. I have no idea how I'd forgotten just how incredible this pizza is, but I can honestly say it's my favorite in the area. The crust is perfectly crispy, and thin, but not too thin. The cheese is really flavorful, and the sauce isn't overdone. I can't get enough. I've been getting meals to go lately, but have dined in before, and everything always incredible then too. Aside from their pizza, I've always been partial to their spaghetti and meatballs. So good. When you dine in you also get some bread and seasoned oil, which is one of my favorite appetizers. I'd also recommend their standard side salads.
(5)Rob S.
Great Food and Great Service. From the moment we were greeted by Morgan the hostess to the delivery of our wine and bread by PJ out server, the staff was attentive and friendly. Our food was served quickly and tasted delicious. The Chicken Brunello sauce should be packaged for individual sale. And my daughters ravioli was done just right.
(5)Nick S.
Took my family here on a stormy summer evening. We were having a nice time till it began to rain. Why is that important you ask? Well, as we sipped our wine, the roof directly above our table began to leak water all over us, and our dinner! No one noticed untill i called our waiter over, who proptly apologized, then.... HANDED ME THE CHECK! "Please, bring the manager.", I say. Manager comes over and tells me a long story about their problems with hiring contractors to fix the leaky roof, then asks me if i want a free dessert (while water drips from my hair onto my face). "No sir, that will not do", (now we are standing while the entire place is looking at us). Anyhow, the guy comes back with a check minus $13 bucks on a $60 bill.... i was not happy! This genius knew where the roof was leaking, but allows people to sit there anyway! I wonder if it leaks in the kitchen? This place is unsanitary, and poorly ran. I AM CALLING THE BOARD OF HEALTH TOMORROW!
(1)M C.
I'll make this easy - go to Brio in White Flint instead. You'll be just a mile away, with FAR better service/quality/prices/variety/taste/decor/etc! My husband & I tried Mamma Lucia's on an early Tuesday date night (5:30p), after hearing some of my neighbors mention the place for a while. Now I realize that the compliments were several years old. The dining room is cozy enough, by which I mean that the high school girl in sweatpants "hostess" sat us right next to a family with loud (literally screaming) young children, so we immediately asked for a table further away. Our waiter was nice once he finally took notice of us, but his service took forever. Might be excusable in a busy spot, but I could hear him order our food from the kitchen AFTER we asked where our entrees were. The food was overpriced and sooooooo very bland. The free bread was probably stale wonder bread slices smeared with un-taste-able but red-colored "seasoning." Everything was greasy, even the house salad, somehow... The dishes were huge, but too much of a bad thing doesn't make you want to eat it any more. I definitely do not recommend.
(1)Jose A.
The only issue I had it was the cleanliness. We hesitated to go inside because the outside looked terrible. Mamma Lucia looks like an old building, we saw dirty windows and grease stains around the entrance door. My wife was hungry so we decided to go inside anyway. I have to say Food was good, my wife got Fettuccini Alfredo and I got the Pollo Arezzo. They also have great employees, all of them were very friendly and polite. Hope they can fix the exterior soon.
(3)Jessica H.
This review is only for the pizza. The kids and I stopped in for some slices at lunchtime. Service was quick and the pizza was hot, fresh, and delicious. We tried the white pizza, sausage pizza, and cheese pizza. It was all good, but the plain cheese was really fantastic. I will definitely be back!
(5)Braden W.
Ordered the lasagna, it was Monday so got an additional pasta for $3.99 extra - I chose the cheese ravioli in marinara. Mama lucias was very busy but was making the orders plenty fast and still provided great service. Andy was working the register and coordinating the kitchen extremely well and his friendly nature stood out above other places I have been recently. Lasagna - it was cooked just right and had a great flavor. It also came with buttered bread to dip in the extra marinara which was a great mix. I did wish there was more sauce to dip the bread in, but it still was great. Cheese ravioli - I enjoyed the ravioli but would order one of their other dishes first. It had a fairly good flavor though is not enough alone to fill me up - the lasagna alone would be. I was too full to try the side salad after the above, but it looks good and I'm looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow!
(5)David R.
Picked up carry out on 4/2. Pizza was great as I remember.1/2 cheese 1/2 veggie. Lots of veggies, good thin crust. Also ordered the salad with goat cheese and field greens and pasta with Bolognese sauce and pasta Puttanesca. Asked for bread and received it. Pastas came with salad. Wouldn't have ordered another salad if I had known that. Would have been nice if person who took my order had told me that. Salad greens a bit wilted. Puttanesca very little flavor. No capers, no chunks of tomato, no red pepper flake spiciness. Bolognese, not flavorful, not meaty, not enough sauce. The bread; no texture, no flavor. Have never understood the bread at Mama Lucia. Is it supposed to be garlic bread? Disappointed for $60. Like a lot of Rockville restaurants, food looks the way it's supposed to look but has little flavor. Overall felt like there needed to be more effort in the cooking.
(1)Mary Lynn P.
I love good, Italian food and Mamma Lucia's did not disappoint! We started with the calamari appetizer - delicious! Large portion with a light breading. For dinner we had the eggplant and pizza. Both arrived hot - were delicious - and there was enough for leftovers! Michael was our server. He was amazing - attentive and very hard working! We will be back!
(5)Jen D.
I love Mama Lucia. I've been coming here for years. The food is delicious and the waiter/waitress are very nice. Highly recommend the Gamberetti alla Montese. Their price is good too, not expensive. Eat in our take out!
(5)Corey C.
I have been going to Mama Lucia for 3.5 years and the food quality has severely declined over the past 9 months. Pizza has went from a top-notched, NY-esque Pizza to a chewy, doughy mouthful. As food quality has declined, prices have increased. Until the lower prices and quality of food increases, my wife and I won't be returning. Not worth the value to go here anymore.
(2)Anthony R.
When we want Awesome Italian at a fair price, this is our go to. My family and I absolutely adores this place. Wait staff is always nice and courteous.
(4)Jason B.
I have a confession: I like eating their food (even though I never frequent the restaurant). OK - not actually Never. I very very VERY rarely dine in. Parking is incredibly insane at Federal Plaza (which is actually our #1 reason for not dining in...the fear of door dings is greater than the fear of starving). That said, let me get something out of the way: the people that take our order on the phone and the delivery folks are INCREDIBLY NICE. We almost always order the exact same thing and nearly without fail, the person taking our order is attentive, energetic, polite and most importantly: they accurately capture our selection. The delivery people must have space ships because even though they are only a mile or so from home...traffic in this neck of the woods can be horrendous (especially on Friday nights). I am literally addicted to their pizza. If it were not for Household Commander's superb and healthy cooking skills...I could easily find myself needing to buy bigger pants. The sauce is fresh, the crust has that excellent tooth and when it arrives (very quickly), you can totally scratch that pizza itch. We also love the calamari because their tempura batter is always so light and they do NOT over-season it. In fact, we have found that truffle salt makes for an incredibly decadent "home kitchen mod." Seriously folks...don't knock it until you try it.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Went in during a snow storm as my bf was craving good NY pizza and ML's got really good reviews. The pizza was pretty close to true NY-style and the bread is really good. What will have us going back is the service and the manager, Brian. Since snow plows were going to be out, he was trying to figure out how to get pizza to the plow drivers - just an all around stand-up guy. Our waiter was attentive without hovering and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Have been back since with the kids, who also loved it. For a local chain, the staff are genuine and caring - hard to find!!
(4)Jared K.
I used to think their sauce was good. Maybe they changed the recipe but now it tastes like a mixture of ketchup and Chef Boyardee. Also, I ordered two portions of spaghetti and meatballs and they gave me two kids size pastas. I asked for them to rectify the problem as i came in to take advantage of Pasta Monday (4 dollar pasta for your second order). The waiter refused and blamed the mishap on me. Last time I go to Mama Lucia's. I suggest you go to Gregorio's down the street instead.
(1)Jane A.
The food was good. It was a little expensive for what you got and the service that you received. The place is smaller, but just a little too small. We didn't expect gourmet service, but it was a little pricey. My boyfriend had a 14" Mammas Special pizza and enjoyed it, but it was $22 and change. It was three meals worth of food which was just excessive. I had the gluten free 'fettuccine' alfredo with chicken. It came out as penne alfredo with chicken, which was fine. The chicken was cooked well. The sauce wasn't exactly what I'd imaged and it was very rich. It was good, but you really couldn't finish a lot of it. Mine also came with the house salad. It was fresh, but salty for some reason. If you're looking for gluten free options, this place does have quite a few. They can make gluten free pizza as well as pasta. The owner was nice. He's clearly trying to make the place better than it is, but the overall service is lacking here.
(4)Sweetie P.
This is the closest we've come to finding New York style pizza in the Rockville-Bethesda area. We've eaten-in at the other downtown Bethesda location a few times (love the back corner booth). We regularly order take-out or delivery from this location - at Rockville Federal Plaza. It's expensive pizza. One large pizza with half mushrooms and half pepperoni is about $27-ish plus tip for delivery. (About $22 for take-out if you pick it up). Delivery can take an hour during busy times. The large is big enough for four people. Or, for two people to have two meals each (dinner plus leftovers late night or for lunch). But it's good and worth the price. The sauce is tasty (a bit sweet) and the cheese is a proper melty consistency. The mushrooms are fresh sliced, not canned. Even the crusts are good.
(4)Bogie B.
I have eaten here a number of times and ordered pizza to take home numerous times. The food is usually not bad though a little expensive. Having spent a lot of time in Manhattan I am used to NY style pizza which is one of the main reasons I buy it from here. It had been the closest thing to NY pizza you could get around here. However, the last two time I came, which were the last two Tuesdays because of Pizza Night, the pizza seemed to have lost its taste. One thing I noticed is that there was not enough pizza sauce which might have been what did it. I have always told them not to make a large sauce free crust so perhaps i am going to have to make sure I tell them to use extra sauce. It that works, i will revise my review accordingly.
(3)Jaslyn C.
The place has really gone downhill. We have been dining here ever since i've moved here in 2012. We usually only come here for pizza, but since last winter we've been coming for the rest pasta, salads, desserts etc. In mid july we came for dinner and got the new chicken pesto raviolis, and let me tell you it was soaked in OIL. you couldn't tilt the plate without spilling oil, and was a deep ugly green color. I know there is a few ways you can make pesto, but before this time we came for dinner and ordered the same thing it was amazing pesto light green with a creamier texture no fatty parts of the chicken in the raviolis, and the salads came out with dressing on the side - like we had asked. I ordered the rose raviolis which were yummy, and have you stuffed, the rose raviolis didnt have chicken just ricotta cheese and a tomatoey sauce. So then after that, we decided to give it ONE MORE TRY, thinking hey, they just had a bad batch or maybe the cook is new. NOPE, we went this past weekend and again the raviolis are swimming in green oil and with a pound of parm on top. I even asked the waiter is there was a new cook. But poor guy already knew we were not finishing our plates after that one. Without risking a bad stomach ache we ordered a pizza, which is awesome, too bad the ravioli which WERE our favorite dishes have been altered. The desserts are alright, your regular cheesecake or cannoli huge portions - so make room if you tend to get dessert after. The cannoli is sweet and crunchy and the cheesecake is nothing groundbreaking but good. We've had all the waiters there and they're great very friendly. By the way parking is horrible here.
(2)Hannah P.
Get delivery from here if you enjoy $10+ in hidden fees and a side of food poisoning.
(1)Dawn R.
I stopped in for a quick lunch on a weekday while out making some rounds for work, as I realized that it was getting into the afternoon and my stomach was letting me know I'd been neglecting it. Since it was well past the usual lunch time, I didn't run into much of a crowd and was able to go right up to the counter and order. I will say I was a little confused, as when you walk in there's a counter with all the pizzas, fountain drinks at the end of the row, but no cash register. It was then that I realized there is a dining area with actual wait staff. So not knowing what i was supposed to do, I waited for direction, which was quickly given and I seated myself to wait for my pizza. I did look over their menu, and if I'd seen this before I ordered the pizza I would have had something different, but as pizza was what i saw when I walked in, pizza is what I had. And I will say it was pretty good.....New York style thin crust with lots of greasy drippy cheese, just the way I like it. Two big slices and a soft drink came to just under $10, so not too bad. I was able to find parking right outside their door too, probably because I'd missed the lunch crowd. But they're located in a big shopping center, so there is plenty of free parking to go around, even if you may have to walk a few extra steps. Definitely worth a try if you find yourself in the area.
(4)Chris B.
Host was very freinedly, server was very informative about the dishes and specials. Food was delicious and came out of the kitchen in a reasonable time. The very tall manager that checked on us during our meal, believe his name was Brian, was extremly friendly and genuinely cared how our experience was coming along. Great food brings customers in but great staff bring them back again. Thank you for the excellent service and delicious dinner.
(5)Andrew H.
Have loved this place for years. Pizza is excellent and pasta a delight. The ambience could be better but this is fundamentally a place for a quick lunch or an early dinner so I don't mind the lack of frills.
(4)Icaria J.
The staff is amazing. The food... Not so much. We had chicken Alfredo & chicken arezzo. Both were really bland, not a lot of flavor. The garlic bread however was yummy!
(2)Henry L.
Great food & outstanding customer service! Do not bypass except for cholesterol reasons...
(5)Daniel A.
"Tuesday is Pizza Night!" At least according to Mamma Lucia and I would tend to agree. It's buy one large get another for $3. And when they say large, they mean 18 inch New York style pizza. We went with the BBQ Chicken pizza, which for some reason I feel ashamed of admitting, but there is no denying it was good. Next my friend and I went for a custom topping of our favorite combination: pepperoni, black olives and green peppers. We're friends because we are the only people we've encountered that don't make a disgusted face when presented with that combination.
(4)Jeffrey B.
We have loved evertime and try different things. The price is spot on good for this area. We all have seen how some restaurants charge extra because of the high rent or something... This will be a a frequent restaurant, meaning about 1 time every 6 weeks.. Jb
(5)DJ C.
What is wrong all their taste buds? Seeing the many mediocre debbie-downer reviews here is confounding... where else can you go, really? I'm loving this place, time and time and time again! It's my gold standard for Italian cuisine at a decent price, and I have to say this is better than many of those higher-end high-dollar Italian places I've been to. I used to live in Bethesda, up 'til 2007, and we'd do our best to get here or one of the other Mamma Lucia's around, at least once a month. Never disappointed, unlike the other yelpers. Now I live in California, and this destination is always on my short-list as a must-go dining out extravaganza! We love the bruchetta, and an extra serving free for the asking, or sometimes even without the asking. We love the salad, a great mix of veggies, and the oil + balsamic vinegar combo is magically distinctly special for some reason, we just enjoy it so much. Oh, and like others have mentioned it, portion sizes are big. More yumminess. And then the pasta, we stick with the pasta menu most of the time. No point veering off a winner and stumbling onto something that's not so much. My favorite is the bolognese, sometimes I'll venture over and do the vodka sauce or the sausage penne whatever that's called. Last time I was there in August 2012, had the Arezzo Vitello -- my photo was blurry and that doesn't do it justice yelp.com/biz_photos/YOZl… -- and boy was it yummy!! So, my point is, stick to the pasta. I'm not much into Italian for meat dishes. And when I want pizza, I go to a pizza specialty place. That's how I make it all work in my favor.
(5)Mindy F.
Cute place, nice decor. Bread, salad were good. Entree wasn't very good - sent it back. Wasn't what I expected based on the description. Manager came to table to explain the recipe and was happy to take it back and not charge me for it. Will try again - but will pick a different item on the menu.
(3)John B.
Very good pizza and pasta. Small place that fills up very easily. It's not as easy to find decent pizza as one might hope in Maryland. You get a lot of food for your money. Mamma Lucia is a reliable choice when you don't know what you want.
(4)Hossein N.
For full disclosure, I have only has the pizza and salad. If you love New York style pizza and/or Sicilian, and only want to get by the slice, this is as good as it gets in Rockville. Personally for best pizza in Rockville try Pizza CS just about the street but totally different style. Big plus for this place - being able to buy by the slice. Not sure why every place in DC doesn't offer this (rhetorical question I know why) All and all a more than passable pizza (crust is crusty and not chewy, they use a quality cheese, and the tomato sauce is not overly sweet)
(4)Jennifer A.
I can't say I'm impressed. I've gone a few times and expensive and greasy would be the best description. The wait staff is good but on a lot of popular dining out evenings, the wait is ridiculous. This definitely isn't a healthy place. Sometimes my food tasted Okay and other times it tasted barely thawed. I seem to come here seldom, just long enough to forget I wasn't crazy about it. The portions are huge but too pricy and the food quality is mediocre at best. I think the pizza is what they're known for.
(2)Richie T.
I've been a long time resident of Maryland and now live in DC and try to get to Mama Lucia whenever I have the chance. While the food is still ok, the place has definitely gone downhill in recent years. The prices are now astronomical (for Italian) while the quality and portion size has decreased. On my most recent trip I had the worst salad I can remember from Mama Lucia's. While the lettuce was fresh, the entire salad was drowned in olive oil. One thing Mama Lucia's has always lacked and is sorely needed is a better wine list. The veal marsala and lasagna were good, but the service was horrible. Waitress never checked up on my table, took forever to get the check and to get my card back. Worst of all was during my entire meal, the hostess and a waiter were having a non-stop conversation that was audible throughout the first half of the restaurant. If you're that over staffed and not busy, at least do something in the back, not chat about how the hostess did so poorly in high school. Best bet is to go for lunch when you order at the counter or carry out. Otherwise if you want to dine in for Italian, give some of the better DC options a shot (Bibiana, Tosca).
(2)Marty S.
The service was outstanding, however the food was average, at best, and grossly overpriced! We will NOT return.
(2)Adam F.
Still the closest thing to NY style pizza in MoCo. Note I wrote closest. It's NOT as good as NY but hey, this is Maryland. Crab cakes suck in NY! BTW, don't bother trying Crust, the new supposedly NY style pizza place that opened recently in the back of the tiny shopping center where Gillys is. The pies looked awful so I skipped them. Read my review and all the others and you'll see that Crust won't be in business very long.
(3)Samuel N.
Love Mamma Lucia. Pizza and pasta are excellent. Love the rose and creamy pesto sauces. Also the feta/spinach/strawberry salad is wonderful.
(4)Caroline G.
The only time I want to come here is when I'm craving some spaghetti with meat sauce...and for some reason, i keep going back for punishment. It's pretty greasy, and lots of oil. In my mind, the food is like italian fast food, much like mcdonalds is our fast food burger joint. The appetizer bread could crack someone's skull if you threw it, and by the time i could break it in half, the residual grease was all over my fingers. Not exactly fine dining, but I don't expect that here. Stay away from their fried zucchini as well, they make it differently here, but there is way too much breading on it, and again, too tough to bite into.
(2)M K.
Crowd reviewing works--Mamma Lucia's is a 3 (maybe 2.5) star restaurant. This place is a great example of the difficulty of finding great food in Rockville. We went on a Saturday night and the place was packed. Good sign. We had to wait a few minutes in line, and to ease our pain, the manager brought us two glasses of wine. That certainly helped us stick it out. Sadly, the meal did not live up to service. The menu was huge, so it was hard to know the specialities. My pollo di Mamma's (chicken with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes), which I ordered because there weren't a lot of menu options with vegetables, was kind of sad. There was a good meal somewhere in that description, but not on my plate. It tasted like they had simply dumped the jars of artichokes and tomatoes onto the pasta, which somehow managed to absorb no taste. I could easily have made that dish better at home--and I'm no chef. Chicken pesto ravioli was okay, but gummy. Once you got over the initial hit of pesto, there was nothing. Also, ditto to those who said the place was overpriced. $20 for 6 ravioli of mediocre quality? God no, there are much better places for less on Rockville Pike. I can't believe so many people were eating there--I guess Rockville doesn't have many ways of educating palates.
(3)Tariq A.
Always have amazing pizza
(4)Amy Y.
I went in last night and ordered the pollo brunello for takeout. I didn't mind the 20 minute wait since I didn't call in advance so I patiently waited for my order. When it was finally ready, the cashier said something to me that I could not hear clearly since all of the cooks and waitresses were gathered there chatting. The cashier just stared at me in a condescending way. I said that I couldn't hear her, where she just impatiently asked "Caesar or regular?" I answered Caesar and she pretends she didn't hear me and made me repeat myself. For nearly 20 bucks for one meal, the least you can do is provide courteous service. Definitely not worth the grief. I would much rather take my business elsewhere. Their Bethesda location does not appear to have this issue.
(1)Evan H.
I remember the days when this was the only location...It was great then and is still a great 'fail safe' Italian restaurant. I've been countless times and its always good. The bread they bring you to start isn't your standard rolls, its hot garlic bread. So good. The food isn't going to blow you away, but pricewise, its pretty reasonable. I love the Salsicce alla Napoletana and standards like Fettuccine alla Bolognese. The house salad that comes with the meal has a really subtle, but tasty house dressing. The fried calimari are also excellent, though I normally dont need it with the bread and salad. Ill keep coming back.
(4)Fenny L.
I'm a little sad that I have to write this review the way it is. I have been a long time fan of the Rockville Mama Lucia's. If I remember correctly, this was the very first Mama L's, and in my opinion it was the best. Wonderful food. Friendly service. A warm and cozy dining room. It was one of my favorite Italian restaurants, outside of Little Italy. Then both my home and my job took me away Rockville, and it's been easily 2 years since I've been to Mama L's. So imagine my delight when a couple girlfriends were surprisingly free for lunch this past Saturday. We headed straight to Mama Lucia's (as a completely irrelevant sidenote...there is now a Yogiberry 3 doors down! WOOHOO!). I arrived before the girls, and noticing that the interior has been redone, I asked the lady at the register could I still just sit anywhere. The lady barks out "you gotta order here". I tell her that I'm waiting for the rest of my party first. Glaring at me, she says "fine. Sit. But you gotta order here." Um, right on. I understood you the first time. But it wasn't really enough to dampen my mood, and if nothing else happened for the rest of my meal, I probably wouldn't have even remembered this little dialogue. My girlfriends finally arrive, and one of them brought her one year old little girl. We grab a booth in the back (as not to disturb anyone), and had to go through three or four highchairs before we found one that wasn't broken. Highchairs probably have a very high breakage rate, as small children and frazzled parents are using them, however out of stack of 7 chairs, half of them were broken. I don't know why, but that's just a little disturbing to me. We get up to the counter to order our food, and the chef was both funny and flirty. We order our meals, per his recommendations, and get up to the register to pay. We wanted to put half of the bill on a credit card, and the other half in cash (two of us were treating). She couldn't figure out how to split a $30.60 bill. Not even after we did the math for her ($15.30 on each). After trying to explain what we wanted to have done for 5 minutes, we just ended up putting it all on a credit card, and the game of Russian Roulette Change went on between us. Still, we were having fun, and enjoying the day - and again up to this point, this would have been a 4 star review. We had ordered 2 slices of pizza, the baked ziti, and the sausage napolense. One slice of pizza, the ziki and the sausage napolense was served in rapid order by a server who practically threw our food down on our table. She came by and tossed the food onto the table. She put the piping hot baked ziti dish in front of the 1 year old (seriously?!?), which we quickly moved out of the way. She didn't tell us what she was serving (the ziti and the sausage napolense were very similar at first glance) and walked away. We sort of looked at each other dumbfounded, wondering what did we ever do to piss her off. About this point we started to look around. There was one other server that was working the dining room area - and she seemed *marginally* nicer then ours were - but both of them were slamming down food, and snapping at the customers. We started eating, and realized that we were missing one slice of pizza. We flagged the server down, and she snarls out a "yeah?". We tell her that we are still missing a slice of pizza, and without a word, she walks off. We weren't sure if she was going to check up on it, or if she was ignoring us, but we figured that we would give her a few minutes, before the situation needed to be escalated. A few minutes later, we needed refills, and wanted to know if they were free. We flag down the server again - and before we could ask her, the server practically snaps our heads off with "the pizza is coming!!!" Uh, that wasn't what we needed, although that was nice to know. Perhaps it was due to the attitude that we got, but the food didn't taste that great to me. The sausage napolenese was a little bland, even the slices of sausage didn't have any of the sizzle I seem to remember. The pizza slices were fairly large, but it had a very oily sheen to it. The ziti was OK, but it tasted remarkably like the sausage napolense (or I should say, the sausage napolense tasted a lot like the ziti). A little bland and uninspiring, however, the service left such a sour taste in my mouth that it may be one of those instances where the bad service is coloring my perception of the food. This was definitely not the Mama Lucia's that I remember. I don't know if it was just a bad day, or if the quality of service has really deteriorated so dramatically, but I must say, I'm very saddened that my friends and I had such an experience at one of our favorite restaurants. I will definitely give Mama Lucia's another shot, and I'm hoping that this was a fluke and I can update this review with a glowing and shining 4 or 5 stars.
(2)Sarah C.
3.5 because sometimes this place becomes a habit. Can't go wrong w/quick simple easy Italian. Also great to devour before jogging..... mmmm I heart cooked lycopene. I've stationed my rump, many times at ML, since the late 90's and introduced this casual stop to my hubs around 2003-ish. BTW, these good people are timely with the carry-out orders. We've used that convenient option many times during the years. The grub isn't spectacular - just familiar in taste. And I'm always taking home extras for either breakfast or lunch. Hey, there are no rules to pasta..... never!!! hehe. Our orders are pretty basic. We heart squid so the Calamari Fritti is a regular choice. No frills. $10 Fried squid with red sauce (marinara). I've had every pasta and pollo dishes yet none of them made my knees shake but they were satisfying for that moment. I favor the tomato or marinara sauce entrees (spicy or light). Almost always, these are my normal dinner selections - creature of habit: -Mostaccioli alla Matriciana $13 Penne pasta with Italian ground bacon in a spicy marinara sauce w/o parmigiano -Spaghetti con Salsicce $13 Spaghetti with sausages and tomato sauce w/o parmigiano -Pollo alla Valdostana $17 Fresh chicken breast topped with prosciutto (ham) and mozzarella in a light marinara sauce w/o parmigiano -Gamberetti alla Fra Diavolo $20 Fresh shrimp in a spicy marinara sauce over linguine -Homemade Lasagna w/o parmigiano topping $13 -Baked Ziti w/o parmigiano topping $13 All dinner entrees are served w/a side salad. Mini versions of their garden salad - romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, hot and green peppers, onions and black olives. If they served normal portions, these would definitely be cheap eats. But I guess 'normal' is all relative. Granted, I'm a piggie but their meal size makes me feel like a beached whale after I scoff half the dish. Nevertheless, I'm content overall. Please keep in mind that their prices differ depending on which menu is viewed. They offer lunch, dinner, carry-out and catering menus. Try them for the everyday hearty taste of Italian.
(3)Michael C.
Either I like or dislike the pizza. Mama Lucia's used to be very good back in early 2000's. They've seemed to have decided on shortcutting their ingredients. Meaning they would seem to pick cheaper ingredients over quality ones.
(1)Semra E.
The chick always gives me bread when I come to eat there, which is awesome. The folks know me now because I'm there at least every other week since I work around the corner. It's quick, it's great and this location rocks.
(4)Melissa E.
I went here for takeout today. I am thoroughly repulsed by this place. And so it began two weeks ago- when having been in love with the Falls Grove location- I decided to try Mama Lucia on Rockville Pike because it is near my office. My first experience involved the RUDE brunette at the counter who paid no attention that she had customers waiting in line. At lunch. Today, I decided to give this place another shot... I walked in, again, waited for the the "Busy" Brunette to show some courtesy or act as though she had some/any experience in customer service. Another male ended up helping me. I scooted over to be rung up at the cash register to notice the Brunette with her hand in her mouth (while assisting in food preparation) showing off her new tooth or cavity or something? If this wasn't enough, the waitress was behind the counter eating and serving tables. I saw no hand washing, eating of their lunch in private, or any sanitation on behalf of their staff. To make matters worse, the friendliest guy who took my order was wearing sandals and serving food. I am pretty sure this is a violation of Maryland Health Department Restaurant Code. Clearly this is a violation of my own standards. Maryland Health Department BEWARE. If the individuals working in this establishment don't know how at least hide their unsanitary work habits- I can only wonder how cleanly their establishment and food is. I will NEVER NEVER frequent this place again.
(1)Sung I.
Food was edible the three times I've been here but the service was always less than desirable. I get the feeling from older woman behind the counter that she favors repeat customers and resents new ones. Like everything I ordered was a hassle or something. Food is not worth the service. Much better options for pizza close by, e.g., pizza CS. Will not be returning anytime soon.
(1)Aaron W.
Utterly passable Italian food at very reasonable prices. The key to going there, in my experience, is to SPLIT a dish. The portions are HUGE, so for $3 they let you split a dish. We've never had a bad meal here, but we've also never had a really good one. Don't expect fireworks, but if rustic (I call it sloppy) Italian makes you happy, this place will do the trick.
(3)Marc S.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in the DC area. My family and I have been coming here for years, and Mamma Lucia almost never disappoints. Although the chain has expanded over the past decade, it has stuck to its roots in authentic, Italian-American cuisine. I've yet to stumble on an entree that I've considered bad, and it far surpasses a lot of the area restaurants that masquerade as Italian (Joe's? please). It's certainly not the cheapest, but I'd say it's worth every penny. I'll describe a couple of my favorites: The meatballs here are some of the best you will find. It may the only place I'd put even close to those my nonna makes. For extra credit, throw them on a pizza. Mamma Lucia makes excellent rose and vodka sauce. Their ravioli in either of those is fantastic. The seafood risotto special (not always on the menu) is a great balance for people who aren't huge on spice. If you're in the mood for chicken, you can't go wrong with the Saltimbocca or the Valdostana. The garlic bread (comes with every meal) has a delightful kick and is even better with the seasoned olive oil.
(5)