Olazzo
8235 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
Olazzo Menu
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Antipasti
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Insalati
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Entrees
Healthy Meal suggestions for Olazzo
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Antipasti
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Insalati
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Entrees
Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8235 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD, 20910 - Phone (301) 588-2540
- Website https://www.olazzo.com/locations/silver-spring/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:30 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Andrew G.
I've came to this location once a year since 2013. Every year, the experience has been pleasant. This year wasn't any different; I enjoyed the service and the meal. I ordered fettuccine alfredo with chicken (which was VERY good), and a free small salad with free bread/olive oil and balsamic was offered. Overall, I was as impressed as I was the last two years. My only (minor) complaint is that the alfredo/chicken was a bit small in size, especially for $16, but the quality was excellent, so it wasn't a big deal. Recommended? In a heartbeat. :)
(4)Phi N.
Found some items I really liked here on their menu. We started with the calamari. Pieces were large and there was a fair amount of breading. Solid calamari dish. I went with the spinach and roasted garlic tortellini. I'm not huge about the dates mixed in, but it was still magnificent. Great recommendation by the waitress. My friend went with the shrimp and crab rose-- also a very tasty dish. I preferred mine though. I tend to shy away from tomato based sauces. Our waitress gave us great advice, and was very quick with our drinks. Olazzo is also nice because it has a few tables for outdoor seating on beautiful days.
(4)Donna W.
We stumbled upon this place after leaving a few other places in SS.. all I can say that this place is Grown and Sexxy! Although its low key it was the best place we visited on Georgia Avenue.. the Host was pleasant or server was quick and the bartender made one of the best martini's I ever had.. (besides my own lol) I had the Risotto with duck bolognese very very tasty I will return again especially for the happy hour!
(5)Nikki B.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Olazzo, how I love thee. I was on my way to another restaurant and saw the Olazzo awning and parked immediately. I usually frequent the Bethesda location. I had no idea there was one in Silver Spring. God loves me! LOL Small, quaint, and romantic restaurant, just like its sister location. I ordered the special, stuffed shrimp w/lump crab over sundried tomato spaghettini. Nom nom nom! Just as delicious. Nice sized portions. Great friendly service. Reasonable prices. You won't be disappointed. Eat up! Cheers!
(5)Christin N.
Some of the best Italian in the area and probably one of the few places I'd give a 5 in Silver Spring. The lasagna and the gnocchi are to die for! Great for dates, small events, and they are willing to help you if you'd like to have a private party there.
(5)Michelle W.
Absolutely loved this small, family/neighborhood oriented restaurant. The service was great, beginning with the complimentary warm bread with oil and balsamic for dipping. The food was delicious (appetizer: pancetta covered dates filled with ricotta and a chianti reduction, entree: shrimp and lump crab penne with a tomato-cream sauce). And the drinks were strong! I have zero complaints. I've been looking for a no frills, comfortable and quality Italian restaurant and was super surprised to find it in Silver Spring, MD. I can't wait to come back! Keep in mind that the restaurant is small so seating is limited.
(5)Rhianna B.
I finally got around to trying Olazzo after reading Yelp reviews raving about it and it did not disappoint! Tip: definitely make a reservation if you're coming on a weekend night. My boyfriend and I came on a Saturday around 630 and had to wait about 45 minutes. The restaurant is fairly small, but the hostesses are great and they can even take your phone number and call you when they're ready so you can check out downtown Silver Spring while you wait. Olazzo is known for their Martinis and I enjoyed mine! They're a bit pricey but STRONG so you really don't need more than one or two. Sit at the bar while you wait for your table and order some drinks. I had the Brooklyn then the Olazzo which were great. As soon as you're seated, they bring out ciabatta and olive oil with balsamic vinegar but definitely spring for the arancini. They were deliciously crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, plus the marinara dipping sauce is great. For entrees, I had the chicken cardinale and my boyfriend had crab and lobster rose. As far as the chicken cardinale, I thought the chicken would have been better as a breaded breast instead of cubed because it was a bit chewy and difficult to find. But otherwise, the sauce was delicious and the pasta was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend loved his dish, saying the shrimp and crab proportions were substantial and the sauce was creamy and delicious. Service was excellent and the atmosphere is wonderful. The front room seemed a bit louder and crowded but the back room is prime date night material. Olazzo, I'll definitely be back.
(5)Har D.
This is what happened. I ordered the Spaghatenni Al Cecca and ask wait staff to add wild mushroom. When it came even although I was half way through noticed it did not have wild mushroom without hesitation they made me another and it was Italy delicioso 5/5. The Rose Ravioli was loved 4/5 by my partner who likened it to something she had in a great Italian restaurant. The appetizer Arancini is really delicious 5\5. Overall a great restaurant.
(5)Bruce K.
Booked on Open Table and I was pleased to be shown to a table right when I arrived even though the traffic was lighter than expected and so I was early. Tip: The Wayne Avenue Garage isn't far away if you can't find a spot on the street. A few beers on tap, I started with the Moretti La Rossa and switched to a 312 later in my meal. I opted not to have a starter today since the bread was good and the entree came with a salad. Big bowl overfilled with olive oil and a bit of balsamic for dipping. (Why so much?) My entree arrived - the lasagna bolognaise with a meatball on the side. (I've been craving meatballs lately.) The meatball was cold as was the marinara sauce. Maybe that was the intent? Either way, it was deliciously tasty. The lasagna on the other hand was piping hot. A good portion in a metal skillet with plenty of pasta, cheese, meat and sausage. Quite tasty once it cooled down enough to enjoy. My waitress was friendly enough and she had the sincere smile down pat but she had way too many tables to juggle. A couple inside and a couple outside. This made the service a little scattered, such as when a helper brought me a second beer which was not the one I had ordered. Oh, well. A weeknight in a busy restaurant, I guess that's okay.
(3)F W.
Lovely small non-chain restaurant, great to see these thrive in the neighborhoods; food above average for price, Ravioli was superb, but house salad should either be cheaper or a lot bigger, (tiny bowl of greens for $9 is a bit steep). Caprese salad starter had amazing tomatos with oozes of flavor and fabulous light tasty dressing, service efficient and friendly, we'll be back.
(4)Andrew K.
I've been here twice and service has always been great. I really like their complimentary bread, PEI mussels and calamari. My favorite entrees are the salmon special with capers, tortellini, veal pamersan, and olazzo salad. I thought their chicken cardinale with penne pasta, shrimp and crab rose and house gnocchi was just ok.
(4)David T.
Very, very, very cute place out in Silver Spring. It was our anniversary and we wanted to celebrate by doing something low-key but with a little class. We busted out our handy dandy yelp app and found this place, read the reviews and decided to take a chance on it. Now if you want a date night atmosphere, have them sit you in the back which has been set up like an old rustic, winery out of Tuscany. Very nice and it doesn't feel like you're sitting in a relatively small dining room. We were actually there by ourselves because we arrived as dinner service was starting and so we were pampered by a good number of servers waiting for the place to fill up. Ordered a glass of wine (not bad!) and the fiancee ordered some exotic cocktail (not bad either). The food was damn good! I ordered carbonara and it packed with flavor and creamy goodness. I don't remember what my fiancee ordered but I remember she left satisfied. Overall, good experience!
(4)Zachariah G.
Look, if you want solid good Italian food, great service, good drinks, a wonderful atmosphere, and an overall good dining experience, come to Olazzo's. I've had 90% of the menu and have never been disappointed. I tend to come back to the crab and shrimp rose for the most part, with the sliders as a great mouth-watering appetizer, but you can't go wrong with anything else on the menu. Their meatballs are bigger than softballs. Just go...enjoy it. You might not think it's 5 star worthy like I do, but you will enjoy yourself and your experience, guaran-damn-teed.
(5)Racquel C.
Really good Italian restaurant. Top choice in the silver spring area. Very friendly and accommodating to my specific food requests.
(4)Joshua S.
Good food as always. Service was generally good. Only glitch was bringing our main dishes while we were still eating salad.
(4)Nora W.
First of all this restaurant exemplifies old fashioned customer service. How refreshing at a time when so many places don't care to make sure the customer has everything they want. From The greeter Kara (sorry didn't get spelling) to the waitress to the bus servers. The bread always is a sign the food will he good and this was yummy warm And crisp. The eggplant Parmesan served with plenty of penne and then graciously brought more tomatoes sauce. Simple in every way including old movie projected on Screen. Would be so nice to see more places like this.
(4)Lauren Y.
If you love pasta this is definitely the place you need to eat at! Decided to try out this place after reading all the wonderful reviews and our group of 4 was not disappointed! We all loved everything!!!! We started with a few drinks and the Olazzo was delicious! We enjoyed some calamari and white wine mussels which was perfectly seasoned. The shrimp and crab rose pasta was so scrumptious and flavorful that I'm drooling just writing this post. Lastly, the tiramisu here was the best I ever had! There was so much flavor and had the perfect consistency! I can't wait to go back and try all the other dishes :)
(5)Shelly T.
Cozy dinner date spot but quite a walk from the Takoma metro station but maybe silver spring would be closer. We don't know the area well but this spot is pretty neat. Like a bar that can serve up some good food. If u like your mixed drinks strong this is your place too. I had 1 side car and I was feeling it. Calamari was pretty good and I wanted pasta that night. The crab and shrimp rose was delish. The clam linguini...well I think it was missing something but still decent. You can sit outside or inside. The muscles came in a deep mini pot so you would have to tilt it to get the juice from the bottom. Nice list of wine. Overall great dinner and I would come back.
(4)Nicoleen R.
Its very cozy clean and quaint. Martinis 6 bucks. The food is awesom the bartender Maddie fantastic. Had the house salad fresh vegetables perfect salad dressing. Had the bean and kale soup it was a special. Entree had the blackend salmon with pasta with sundried tomatoe ordered it spicy. AWESOME !!!! Will be back
(5)Eugene C.
Made a reservation at Olazzo and requested to be seated at the back per one of the Yelp reviews I came across and boy was this place a treat. Ambiance was great, food was great and the service was up to par. It's a small storefront so it fills up quickly. Ordered Fried Calamari for appetizers and it was very surprisingly. In the past when I've ordered calamari at restaurants, the breading would always be flavorful, but when it came to the actual calamari part, it would be generally bland or flavorless. At Olazzo, it was very flavorful and it was quite the treat. They have specials every single day so be sure to ask for them. I ended up ordering the special of the day which was called "The Mediterranean." It was shrimps, scallops and crab meat over angel hair pasta and rose sauce. 5 jumbo shrimps, 4 pretty big pieces of scallops and an abundance of crab meat littered all over the dish. It was probably one of the best seafood Italian dishes I've had in years. My friend ordered the ravioli which was quite exquisite as well. It was filled with ricotta cheese and finished with a slightly different but tasty rose sauce. Will be returning to this location and probably trying out the Bethesda one as well! Definitely a gem in downtown Silver Spring.
(5)Ellen L.
Second time here and once again they did not disappoint! The Merlot was once again delicious, the food was delicious and our server Claire was very helpful with suggestions!
(5)Lillian C.
I returned after over a year to give Olazzo another chance and because it was one of two semi-decent places walking distance from the AFI Silver theater that was open past 10. As mentioned beforehand, booze is great. I tried the fried calamari which they gave you a lot of, but was a bit too soggy for my taste- breading slipped right off. This time around I tried the Chicken Cardinale which really surprised me! In the pictures online it looks like vomit. Sorry for the gross mental image, but pepto bismol pink sauce with chunks of chicken over spaghetti sounds like it can only go one of two ways - really good, or really bad. I wasn't feeling like lasagna, sausage, meatballs, or boring old red sauce so Chicken Cardinale it was. It packs a lot of good tomato flavor and the sun-dried tomatoes were a pleasant surprise as well. There was a decent amount of chicken and the portion was large- I ended up having most of it for lunch (I filled up on the bread basket and app before hand, my bad!)
(4)Natalie M.
I went here on the recommendation of a friend who said that this restaurant served great Italian food. The restaurant was fairly empty at 8pm on a Thursday night, which meant that my friend and I had our choice of seats. We decided to grab one of the tables outside since it was a nice day and we didn't feel like sitting inside the dimly lit restaurant. We were immediately greeted by a friendly server who took our orders. My friend and I ordered the: +Calamari, which was deep-fried and heavily breaded. I was only able to stomach a few bites. +Meatball sliders which were accompanied by marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. The meatballs were huge, but the flavor was muted by the heavy sauce and cheese. +Chicken cardinale, which consisted of roasted chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in a tomato-cream sauce with penne pasta. The flavors in this dish were wonderful; unfortunately, the chicken was overcooked and tough so I couldn't completely enjoy the entree. The restaurant was running a special on sangria, but the drink tasted more like sweetened grape juice, so my friend and I passed on it. I was pleased with the atmosphere and service at this restaurant; however, I was disappointed by the food.
(3)Denise K.
Bread- warm and yummy Salad- fresh Shrimp pesto- delicious Brownie with salted caramel gelato- decadent Waitress- very pleasant.
(5)Karen M.
Olazzo was "the best Italian food ever" my sister said to our host! It was piping hot, which we love. Even the fresh bread was steaming. We had arancini as a starter which was outstanding. My sister had chicken penne and I had rose ravioli as entrees. And for dessert she had tiramisu and I had a cannoli and it was perfetto!! Delicioso! Highly recommend!!
(5)Jenna E.
My go-to date night restaurant. I've never had any bad food here; it's all allllways amazing. It can be a little loud but that just requires close talking. Ambiance is romantic. I'd highly recommend!!! A MUST for dining in Silver Spring.
(5)Jess Y.
The food here is pretty good, but lacks communication and service from the staff. My tip on 9/20/14 I came in 2/0 minutes for my pick up order like I was told... It's been 20 extra minutes that I have been awkwardly standing in the doorway, and still nothing. So a total of 40 minutes. A little ridiculous. What was the point of placing a pick up order over the phone? No one has offered to check on the order either. As much as I'd like to come back to get my chicken cardinale, I think I will pass due to the lack of care and service.
(3)Pierce R.
I would say Olazzo is the best Italian restaurant in the Silver Spring area. The space is intimate and romantic (although I *personally* don't care for the TV's over the bar, I understand the people that do), and the wait staff handle the service as such. The appetizers are the best part of the menu, in my opinion. The calamari is a huge portion! The pasta selection is great, but failed to "wow" me. Basically, the plates of pasta are simply a permutation of the possible combinations of (1) pasta shape, (2) sauce, and (3) protein. That being said, the sauces have always had good flavor. I personally recommend the rosé sauce with any pasta. Overall, good local spot. Although I may not have a strong craving to go back, I probably will, simply because the Silver Spring restaurant scene is still getting on it's feet. It's definitely a place you want to try at least once.
(4)Jason P.
I'm not that easy to impress, but this place is spot on. Amazing food, drinks and service and the best atmosphere I've seen in a restaurant in Silver Spring. I'm ashamed that it took me a year to find this place.
(5)Jill P.
I love the cozy feel of Olazzo as well as the friendly service. Favorite dishes are the Baked Penne and Ravioli Rose, both were excellent!
(4)Michael S.
Let me start by saying I'm not a huge pasta fan, but from time to time it "hits the spot". On the particular night I went to Olazzo, I wasn't really in the mood for Italian. One bite into the Bruschetta and my mind was changed. So refreshing. I had to force myself to stop eating it so I had room for the rest of my meal. And I'm glad I did because it was even better than the appetizer. The atmosphere is a bit formal/fancy for my taste, but that's not a criticism. Just my preference. It's very clean and well decorated and does a good job at having Italian-inspired decor without being over-the-top and cheesy about it (think Olive Garden). The bar area in the front gets kinda busy but there is a large section in the back that is quiet. Perfect for nice dinner with a small group or a date night.
(4)L H.
Came here as part of our first anniversary taste-cation. We went for lunch and it was clear that people like to go here. I think I had a shrimp dish and hubby had chicken. I remember his veggies being really good. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. The bread was also really good too. Might need to go for dinner to get a better idea of the place.
(4)Elisabeth W.
I've been here a few times. Olazzo has a nice selection of entrees - in the past I've tried their chicken, eggplant parmesan and shrimp pesto but favorite is their tortellini with dates. The calamari is consistently good and every piece is battered to a yummy golden brown. I've had nice service every time and I really love the ambiance - cozy, nice lighting and seemingly small but there is an unexpected back area that makes the space feel intimate. Most of the time I've sat in their high booths in the front. The decibel level on a Friday night is medium-high but you don't need to raise your voice to talk. My only complaint is I've noticed the pasta dishes can be oily. I notice this mainly at the end of the meal when I look down at the plate and see olive oil collecting..if you could blot pasta I might do it here. Overall I enjoy Olazzo and will continue to dine here when the occasion sees fit.
(4)Lashawn G.
Been here about 4-5xs now love Tuesdays $6 Martinis!! Can't beat that! Love to eat there gnocchi it's the bomb! Great service and the gelato caramel salted is the bomb!!
(5)Erica K.
The warm bread served with balsamic and olive oil was a great way to start off the meal! The ambiance had a classy bar/romantic feel to it. For appetizers we had the tomato bruschetta as well as the mozzarella and garlic bruschetta and the mussels in white wine sauce--all of which were pretty good, although I wouldn't venture to say the best that I've had. The bread at this restaurant is pretty great to say the least; they all have a crisp crust, yet a soft and warm inside. For dinner I ordered the wild mushroom gnocchi, which was also good, but not amazing. The gnocchi was so dense that eating it almost became a chore by the end of the dish, although the truffle oil sauce and the mushrooms themselves were very tasty. Overall it was a great experience, the food was delicious and satisfying. I would definitely return, but it is not the type of place I would make a special trip for.
(3)Nina G.
Great food and drinks! The upside pineapple martini is my favorite. The service is good and the ambiance is romantic and intimate.
(5)Tammy S.
Had dinner at Olazzo. The mussels in white wine sauce was delicious. Made sure to eat every last bit of the sauce with our bread. I had the chicken cardinale for my entree. The rose sauce was fantastic (highly recommended by the waiter and I wasn't let down). The chicken was a little over cooked and dry but otherwise good choice, especially for the sauce. Our waiter was attentive and nice as well. Highly recommend Olazzo. Only issue is that it is a very small space. We went early to have drinks at the bar but there was no place to sit or stand.
(4)David H.
Best Italian I've had in the DMV. Everything from the lasagna to the crab and the cannolis to the tiramisu. Delicious. The House Old Fashioned was also great. Would recommend to family and friends. Atmosphere, ambiance, and service is also on point.
(5)Elle F.
Olazzo is romantic and very kid-friendly, though the two do not always combine very well. After moving into our new apartment, my husband and I hit the town looking for a nice place to have an excellent meal. Craving Italian, we were drawn to Olazzo because of the daily special (salmon topped with crab and linguine with olive oil, spinach, and sun dried tomatoes). We went on a Sunday and we were surprised at how reasonable everything on the menu was. We loved our chianti ($24) too. My pesto dish with shrimp ($17) was spectacular. So flavorful! The special ($22) was a hit and I will admit that I liked the special much better than mine. Candlelit environment was nice. Westerns playing - and we could not quite figure that out. Went on a Sunday and after about 6pm, the families started showing up with kids. We thought it was awesome to go out with infants, toddlers, and small children still in the screaming age - but it killed the vibe! We do not have kids yet, but were happy to make a mental note that when we do, we will be at Olazzo one day too. Next time, we're planning on sitting in the front of the restaurant to see if we get a different vibe. We liked the back because it was quieter, darker, and set a romantic tone but yeah...in retrospect that's where all the kids were (about 6 of varying ages).
(4)Rayan A.
It is really good place to eat and drink. I was there for dinner and I got garlic bread as an appetizer and fettuccine withe shrimp as a main course and it comes with a free small plate of salad which was sour and delicious. The restaurant is a little bit small and narrow but the atmosphere in general is good and the service is great. I like this place and I recommend it for who needs to eat Italian food.
(5)Clinton S.
Wonderful setting for an Italian restaurant - relatively small, great music, and superb service. As others have noted the bread is warm and served with an olive oil/Balsamic vinegar - yummy! I had a side salad to start (a little on the small side) and the gnocchi with bolognese sauce, which was good and possessed a certain depth of flavor that led me to eat every bite! I finished with a piece of their tiramisu and Cafe Americano. Overall a delightful experience and one that I would recommend.
(4)Shevenie c.
Food is great staff is great! Drinks are just ok, stick to either wine or beer. Meatball sliders are pretty good. I got the shrimp and crab rose and it was extremely good and very fresh. Calamari is ok could have had a little more flavor. My mom and sis had the chicken Cardinal and they really enjoyed it. Great place for like a first date or to catch up with friends it's a very intimate setting.
(4)Fenny L.
How could I have forgotten my love for Olazzo? My in-laws were in town, and my husband (to save me from killing his family***), gave the task of finding a place for dinner to my sister-in-law. I had my fingers crossed that we wouldn't end up at a pizza joint or a pub...and voila, like magic, an email comes across, telling me that she made reservations for Olazzo (she noticed the great Yelp reviews!). It was like the angels parted the rain-clouds and blew triumpant horns of delight. It had been a while since I have been to Olazzo, and like my previous visits, they do not disappoint. The service is always fun and fast, and the food is wonderful. The fried calamari was crispy on the outside, and tenderly moist on the inside. No rubbery mess - just delightful fried squid. My pasta was al-dente, and my martinis were cold and delicious. My in-laws aren't super adventurous eaters, but the menu enticed them into trying to gnocchi (neither my mother in law, nor my sister in law has ever had gnocchi before) which was wonderful! I was so excited that they got to try something new (and that they loved it), that I was doing a little happy dance in my seat the entire time! YAY! Now, I know that I'm getting at least one person raising an eyebrow for my praise. Look, Olazzo isn't super authentic, so if you've just come back from Italy, don't expect this to be the little out of the way cafe where you had the best pasta in your life. However, if you're looking for solid Italian food that's more than soft meatballs and mushy lasagna, Olazzo is definitely a good spot. It's a nice meal, in a nice place, at a nice price. ***Just a point of clarity: I actually love my in-laws. They are quite delightful and I love spending time with them. However, feeding them makes my heart *hurt*. Case in point: for my husband's birthday two years ago, I had planned a nice dinner at one of our favorite places, Black Market Bistro. They thought it was too fancy and upscale, so I made reservations at another favorite, Bangkok Garden. But they weren't "sure" about Thai food. Somehow, the end result was that we ended up at *Rock Bottom*. Yes, the brewery in Bethesda. Uuuugh. I love them, but like I said, planning dinners out for them make my heart hurt SO SO SO MUCH.
(4)C. M.
Great management and excellent bar tenders!
(5)Kevin M.
My girlfriend and I went here for Valentines Day and we both really liked the place! The food was good, and it has a cozy, but elegant feel to it that made it perfect for a special night out. It has the ambiance and food of a top notch restaurant without breaking the bank. And I highly recommend their canolis!
(5)Tony N.
All around great meal on Father's Day! The calamari appetizer had nice bold flavor and texture. The gazpacho topped with crab was also a hit; thick, flavorful. All the meals at our party of 6 were very good from seafood to meatballs to gnocchi. You know how some places the cheese filling in their cannoli is soooo dry and even sometimes a bit pasty? NOT the case here. The cannoli was a nice finish. They also offer a tiramisu made with nutella! Their side salad was a little boring and plain and I wish the wine list was more extensive. But at the end of the day, this is now one of my favorite Italian restaurants. Way better than Mamma Lucia's and all the chains. Like the man says, "I'll be back"!
(4)AJ G.
Went here for the first time last weekend with my girlfriend and we both enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the food. We started with the garlic bread which was pretty good, nothing breathtaking but it was still good paired with the marinara. The marinara itself was pretty good though, came out hot and tasted pretty fresh. Nothing worse than cold marinara sauce. She had the Penne w/ meatballs, I had the shrimp & crab rose. I thought my food was amazing, she was more reserved about her's but she can be picky sometimes. Plus there were a lot of better sounding meals, but anyways. The shrimp & the crab tasted great, only negative was the shrimp came with the tails on it. Kind of weird for a pasta, but of course I just cut them off and didn't let it stop me from throwing down. The salad that comes with it though, we both agreed was amazing! It was so good I had to ask our waitress what kind of dressing they used on it, the dressing was a vinaigrette based in red wine. Delicious!! Also the salad had parmesan cheese crumbles on it, very nice combination! She ordered one of the martinis and I had a blue motorcycle. I told the waitress to make it strong, and there was no breakdown in communication! The first one packed a nice punch and the second one had a few haymakers in there! Just the way I like my drinks! So I was impressed & delighted with the alcohol content, it's annoying to pay for bar drinks and get wine coolers in return. We had a great time at Olazzo's and it was nice to sit upstairs in a somewhat secluded, non-crowded area. Very nice setting for a date. I would definitely recommend this hidden gem.
(4)JP S.
Always exceptional. We have gone to one of the two restaurants, Bethesda and Silver Spring. Always very good. Fast, good portions and delicious. Keep it up.
(5)MJ W.
Have never had a bad meal here - huge fan of the Salmon Sandwich, and any of the pastas. If martinis are your thing, the menu here is hard to rival in the area, and the beer/booze selection hits all the right needs. Service is good, and restaurant usually has pleasant, soft music so good spot to talk and eat - hard to find these days.
(5)Shivani M.
Tried the mozzarella garlic bread during happy hour! 5 bucks for a lot of prices (not bad) !! also had the ravioli deliciousssss! Must come again during happy hour ;))) my friends got lasagna and a salad ! Yummmmmmmmmm
(4)Diana J.
This little spot is a frequent date night spot for me and the hubby. Service is always great. The girls are so friendly. Especially in the bar area. They have lots of affordable options for wine by the glass and bottle. We found an extremely affordable Shiraz for $25 and it was really recent. Been coming here for years and I have never had a bad food experience. Lasagna, gnocchi, Alfredo, all yummy. The calamari appetizer is the best. Huge Portion. However they seem to offer the same "specials" all the time.
(5)Karen G.
Reservation made but still a 30-minute wait??? How is that acceptable? Host was apologetic saying "I know you have a reservation, but we just got slammed" response: "That is why we made a reservation!" I would have accepted a wait while our table was cleared and set up, but no table? Substantial time management issue of the restaurant management. Very disappointing. We ended up going to another local favorite near by and were able to salvage the evening.
(1)P T.
Food, place and staff were all good but based on the reviews I expected more. IMO was not better (or worse) than other Italian places like let's say maggiano's.
(4)Drea G.
Went here for drinks only. Tuesdays are $5 martini night and ALL the martinis on the menus are $5 ALL night! Paul was our bartender and he's a fun, cool and sweet guy. I tried the following two martinis: Azzurri - blueberry vodka, chambord, sour, fresh lemon, mint. Not that sweet - strong and the mint adds a freshness to it. Whiskey Rebel - Jameson, ginger ale, fresh lemon, lime. The ginger ale quiets the jameson but it is a delicious cocktail. 3/3.5 stars for $5 martinis. Great price to deliciousness ratio. Next time I'm in SS will definitely come here again and try the food. Great neighborhood bar/tavern, dimly lit, and pretty busy for a Tuesday night.
(3)Local F.
Good lasagna...marinara sauce was a bit sweeter than I'm used to though. I ordered the food as takeout and it was steaming hot when I arrived! I kind of want to go back and eat in, but it was hard to find parking to pick up meal....not sure how easy it would be to head that way for a planned dinner. I'd definitely stop in and give it a try if in the area though.
(3)Danielle P.
This place deserves four or five stars, but the service is so hit and miss that I have to give it two. But Danielle, you say, you actually gave this restaurant three stars. Wait, I will explain later. Tuesdays is $5 Martini night, and Olazzo features a long list of delicious $5 martinis. Amazing. But getting the attention of your server is too ridiculous for words. It may be that they do not have enough servers to accommodate their restaurant. OR (and I think it is this one) that when they are not waiting on tables, that are taking a nap in the alley behind the restaurant. During some visits, my server has been amazing, refilling water and allowing us to order a new martini before we have finished the one in front of us. Other times, it is hard to order at all, and my entire group sits without water, bread, and food. And then sometimes, your entree comes with a salad and other times it does not. And sometimes your table gets bread and other times it does not. I am not sure what to think. The restaurant earns one star (one whole star) for the delicious food. The food, when you can actually order it and when it comes, it phenomenal. The meatballs, the bread, the creamy rose sauce... perfection. And I think it is the food that keeps people coming back. Every time I am in the restaurant it if full! Just imagine how it could be if they could get their serving act together.
(3)Eric C.
I came to Olazzo a couple weeks ago on a Thursday evening to explore what Georgia Avenue had to offer. Upon initial visit, I'm willing to say that Olazzo fits as a great after-work spot to watch some TV, enjoy food and drinks, and relax in the Olazzo atmosphere. The first drink that I tried here was the Olazzo, combining Raspberry Vodka, red wine, cranberry, and pineapple ingredients. Thanks to my bartender/waitress Natalie, this martini will be an option for future visits. I also tried the Whiskey Rebel, which includes Jameson, Ginger ale, fresh lemon, and lime. While the Whiskey Rebel had a strong taste, I would take the aforementioned Olazzo drink as a primary choice. As far as food is concerned, I'll start off with the Ciabatta, which came with olive oil. Honestly, I thought the Ciabatta was decent, but not memorable. The bread was hard around the edges, but chewy on the inside. For the main course, I ordered the Penne Pasta with Meatballs, which came with salad as a side dish. The salad was prepared well and tasted even better. The pasta came with two huge meatballs on the side. Within the pasta, there was also broccoli, mushrooms, green and yellow peppers scattered in the dish. The main course turned out excellent overall and I was able to finish the plate with ease. The bar area in the front did not get busy until around 6 PM, while the back area was starting to fill. If you ever sit by the bar, hopefully you'll have Natalie as your server, as she was attentive and friendly throughout. Also to note, Happy Hour is from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, Wednesday through Friday.
(4)Marlene W.
I'm so please I was recommend to eat at this charming and warm restaurant ! Everything from the bread, salad, calamari ,pasta and salmon top with crab meat was delicious. The service was very attentive even the manager Ryan took time to come by and chat with us. I can't wait to go back to try some of the other dishes and I surely will come back with friends . Silver Spring has a wonderful Italian Restaurant..
(5)Brandon M.
This place has a great atmosphere, excellent food and great service. Highly recommend it.
(5)Chandra O.
They are still doing $5.00 martini night on Tuesdays which I enjoy. The warm freshly made bread is served with a saucer of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. All entrees come with a salad which is a mix of fresh greens, red onion, English cucumbers. Delish! My fav is the penne primavera. We came at dinner time and my sister wanted a Greek salad. Although not on dinner menu the chef made one for her. Great service, great food, great martinis.
(5)Robert C.
Honestly, I was kinda disappointed with this place. I had such a high expectation coming in but it turned out that the food's just ok. Stuffed Dates ($9) - Broiled Medjool Dates stuffed with Goat Cheese & wrapped in Pancetta, served w/ Chianti Reduction. This appetizer's highly recommended by our waitress, but it's nothing special. The flavor's interesting, but just ok... Arancini ($8) - Fried Saffron Risotto Balls stuffed w/ Mozzarella, served w/ Marinara. Once again, nothing special; I've had better. However, I do prefer this over the stuffed dates. Chicken Cardinale ($15) - Roasted Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomatoes sautéed in homemade Tomato-Cream Sauce w/ Penne Pasta. The chicken & sauce are decently good, however the pasta's just ok. It's a decently good dish, but I was expecting more from the pasta!
(3)Hand T.
My husband and I ate here for the first time tonight, a Wednesday at about 7:30 PM. First impression, a nice space, cozy and warm with lots of exposed brickwork. The hostess immediately offered and we happily accepted a table in the front bar area. Several flat panel TVs showed sports events and one had a classic Clark Gable - Sophia Lauren movie playing. We requested Chianti to acompany our meal. Our waiter, Christopher, recommended the Classico over the house Chianti. It was typically good Classico; however $10 per glass was far too expensive for what I consider average Italian red wine. I had the Sausage and Peppers $14. He had the Sausage and Penne also $14, substituting Spaghattini was welcomed. Both meals included a salad of mixed greens, cucumber & one decorative ring of onion with a light Italian vinegrette. I will say that the Sausage & Peppers was a little better than I expected. The red, orange and yellow peppers were lightly sauteed and just a bit crisp, very nice. The Italian sausage was sliced into bite sized slices, nicely grilled and not at all fat. The Aglio e olio sauce was fresh and nicely spiced with fresh garlic, oregano & basil. His Sausage was two 4" links served atop spaghetti with a manara that was a rich tomato sauce not too hotly spiced. Total cost for the dinner, tax included $51.48. Christopher's service was ABOVE average. We rewarded his service with a 23.5% ($12) gratuity. We will be back. I am looking forward to tasting their Lasagne and my husband is interested in the Clams & Linguine.
(4)Karen K.
Dinner Saturday night at Olazzo for our party of four was good. We opted to sit in one of the booths in the bar area . If you are looking for a good cocktails, you will find them at Olazzo. Our server was conscientious but not hovering. She was busy with all of the booths and the tables outside but did not forget us at all. The appetizers, mussels, bruschetta, and arancini were yummy and hit the spot with the appetizers. We ordered four different pasta dishes and everyone was happy with their dish. I asked if the sausage and pepper dish could be made with marinara instead of garlic and olive oil. No problem. Too full for dessert!
(4)Brittany J.
I was dying to go somewhere with cheap drinks and fried calamari for Fat Tuesday and Yelp lead me to Olazzo. I had been before with friends but didn't realize they had drink specials on Tuesday. Word to the wise, many of their martini offerings are VERY sweet. Like hangover, sickly sweet. Every time I've been here the service has been kind of slow, but the servers are nice and they accommodate groups well. This one in particular kept forgetting our orders and having to come back and check or just not putting them in at all. As far as the ambiance, the lighting is very dim and there is lots of exposed brick, so it kind of looks like they're hiding something. There's a back room that I've never dined it, that is even darker than the front bar area. It's definitely not fancy, but good for intimate evenings if you want something neighborhoody. The food, however, has always been satisfying and my favorite dish is the shrimp and crab rose pasta. This time around I got the olazzo salad, which is just a caprese salad on top of a house salad. It was good though, do not be disconcerted by the purple tomatoes. The vinegar makes them dark. The calamari comes with marinara instead of aioli, and only comes with rings! Perfect for those squicked out by legs. Also, warm bread and olive oil. Nom nom nom. There's not a lot of variety, but what they do, they do well. So I'll keep coming back for good, local fare.
(4)John G.
I admit I am a sucker for good itallian food, if this place were closer I would b a regular.....the food is out so fast, the service is good and their bread is really good! Mozzerella napolean, while simple was the best I have ever had, so fresh and flavorful, my mouth is watering now, just thinking about it. Only mistake was I asked for sausage and veggies and got sausage and peppers.....it wasn't enough to make me send it back and it was delicious. My wife loves their chicken cardinale and its the only thing she will eat for entree
(4)Stacy K.
OH. EM. GEE. My meal and the service at Olazzo tonight was FANTASTIC. I'm actually eating the leftovers I stole from my boyfriend as I write this review. Their food is even great cold (don't judge me, I'm too lazy to go downstairs to heat it up). I wanted to come here for my birthday dinner a few months ago b/c I read great reviews but since the restaurant is small, I went elsewhere to accommodate for my large party. I am so glad my friends suggested this place tonight, which is very easy to miss as you're driving down Georgia Ave. Silver Spring isn't even on my radar when it comes to nights out or places to eat but I would go back in a heartbeat for their delicious Italian food...and I usually don't even like pasta! First, they were really kind about us arriving late for our 8 o'clock reservation. Parking is a b****, and even though they were quite busy, they still kept our table for us. Awesome. The waitress was friendly but not one of those waitresses who try too hard to create some sort of lasting bond with you. She was attentive, polite, and checked on us regularly. At the end of our meal, she even boxed up our leftovers for us and let us hang out to enjoy wine/beer/coffee instead of rushing us out for the next group of people. I will update with the names of our dishes later but WOW. My boyfriend had some sort of pasta with chicken and tomato-based sauce, and it was to die for! I kept nibbling on his food in between bites of my amazing cheese stuffed ravioli--it had a very light sauce with spinach, garlic and...figs, maybe? I don't know...again, I'll update with names another time but I was so impressed! The portion size was perfect. I'm never one to eat more than half of my entree in one sitting but this was the first time in a looong time that I didn't have anything left on my plate! I would have licked the plate clean if I could have. The only reason I took off a star is because we were all supposed to receive side salads but some of them didn't come out (however, the waitress corrected this immediately after we brought it to her attention). Also, she mixed up the dishes when she was giving them to us however it wasn't a big deal at all. The last reason I deducted a star was b/c it's very loud inside so it's hard to hear on top of the hustle and bustle of the restaurant in addition to the music that was playing. Food-wise though, it's definitely a perfect score from me. I can't wait to go again!
(4)Medjinne D.
Came here with my besti the drinks were nice and strong. The food was delish and the waitress was nice too. Too bad we came here when the drink specials weren't on.
(4)Keisha A.
Was very pleased with my visit. We had an order if calamari for the table and I had the shrimp and crab Rose I believe it's called. Amazing! There was a nice amount if shrimp and crabmeat. I just wish my penne had been cooked a little longer. My only complaint was that since the space is so small, it can get too noisy really easily. It was hard to hear my friend who was sitting across from me, granted the bulk of the noise came from the rest if our party at the other end of the table, but that's still abnormal. Would definitely return!
(4)Nate H.
I ate there in the first few weeks of being open several years ago. I am not exagerating when i say it was the worst restaurant meal I've ever had. The linguine with white clam sauce was inedible. Really. My mouth literally hurt from all the salt. I have no idea how they put so much in it but they did. Now i've never sent food back at a restaurant, besides that time, to this day but i simply got up and left after spitting one bite back on the plate. Besides that the service was crappy. We ordered a bottle of wine and as the presentation the waitress says "do you like want to taste it or anything?" When i got home i e-mailed the owner(s) at the adress provided on the website and basically told them the above but in clearer and greater detail as it was fresh in my mind and mouth. Again, this was years ago, and very shortly after they opened. I must say that they took my experience seriously and after some back and forth of them asking serious questions and me giving honest answers they offered a hundred dollar gift card. I declined to take the card as i had no intention of ever returning and was just informing them of the state of their new restaurant while they were presumably absent. I work in the business and was not after a freebie and couldnt imagine taking a deserved night off from a restaurant i owned and have the staff put out such an awful product all the way around. Last Saturday however, my inlaws were in town from Jersey and instead of hauling the 6 of us all the way down town from silver spring for dinner my wife suggested Olazzo. (she likes the place and has been without me many times. In fact its one of her go-to's when she and her sister are dining without me when i work late or something since i wouldnt go there). Anyway, not wanting to make a scene of my stubborness in front of the whole family i returned. I must say the food was good. We all had pasta entrees and every one of them was perfectly cooked as were the various accompanyments/toppings (shrimp, eggplant, sausage etc.). Likewise the sauces were all tasty and everyone enjoyed their meal. The one issue i had was that the service was a little aloof like they were doing us a favor by allowing us to eat their delicous food while they worked in t shirts but it may have been just the one guy waiting on us who was our superior. All in all, this second visit would have warranted a 4-5 star review if not for the original sub 1 star experience. So a 2 star average for what would have been a 0 and a 4 or so. Hopefully if i ever return they can continue to raise the average. We'll see.
(2)Anthony N.
This place gets my vote for best Italian in Silver Spring and maybe all of Montgomery County. A short walk from the metro, it is conveniently located, though on the edge of where you would be comfortable walking after dark. Any further down Georgia ave and I wouldnt be as willing to venture. Very cozy place that is bigger than it looks. Lots of sdeating in the back half. Great food and wine. Perfect for a nice dinner with your spouse or friends. Half price wine night is a great deal.
(5)Stephan S.
Nice place to grab a meal with friends or that special person. Menu is great at a fair price. Never had a bad meal.
(4)Miguel A.
Got here at about six on a Saturday, thank goodness we got here when we did because we got the last table, everyone after us had to sit at the bar and/or wait on a table. Anyway, we didn't have to wait long before the waitress came to talk to us. It also didn't take long for wife to see lasagna on the menu, so she ordered the lasagna and I ordered the ravioli rose, just as the waitress was asking for the menus my wife notices the garlic mozzarella bread so she orders that as an appetizer. To go along with dinner I ordered a whiskey rebel(Jameson, lemon, lime juice, and something I'm forgetting). The appetizer comes out and it's pretty good, especially the marinara sauce that came along with it. Shortly after we finished that they brought out our side salads, the dressing was a little tart but was still pretty tasty(standard salad, domains, red onion, and cucumber). We finish our salads, they take the plates, then shortly thereafter they bring out bread in a basket with a plate that had oil and balsamic vinegar on it, which I'd never seen before but it worked so no complaints. I will say that the service was very fast and efficient, shortly after finishing whatever was on the table the next thing was coming out, which isn't something that happens often. So finally the entrees come out and I have to say that I was a bit disappointed, not because it didn't taste good but because there were only six ravioli on my plate(this could just be me being spoiled by they portion size at Pasta Mia though). My wife's lasagna was pretty good too she couldn't finish it all could've been all the bread and salad beforehand. My drink was good and seemed to go well with my dinner. We finish, the waitress comes along and asks if we'd like dessert, I said sure. She brings out the menu and let's me know that they don't have the Italian crepes, which I probably would have ordered so I get the cheesecake instead. It was so good that my wife, who doesn't like cheesecake, not only liked it but took multiple bites, I wasn't a fan of the crust by itself but it went well with filling. I have to say that this place as a whole is pretty good and I could definitely see myself coming here over and over again.
(4)Laura D.
Great food, lovely atmosphere, will go here again! Perfect for dates. The Bada Bing martini is excellent, the dirty martina is a classic, though the Brandy Alexander was a bit strong and alcohol-y. But still great!
(5)Leslie M.
Meatball Sliders are top notch!
(4)First J.
The service is great and the food is excellent. Paul makes the perfect drinks. It feels like a home cooked meal. The prices are just right.
(5)Brian H.
The restaurant's atmosphere is good. I came here to celebrate anniversary with my girlfriend. We love the spaghetti and pizza. Very comfortable place to eat dinner. We will come back later if we are in Silver Spring!
(4)Moritz R.
Best Italian food in Silver Spring hands down. The salads alone are great, but they do take care in great specials and quality as well as portion size. The fish was cooked perfectly and tomatoes were top quality.
(5)O O.
I've been here three times and have started to bring around friends who haven't been, actually, because I love the food and the adorable restaurant decor/atmosphere. The place is very narrow but very long, there's a bar and some tables in the front but I've always ended up being seated in the back of the restaurant, which is a separate dining floor from the front. It has a very cute decor, plays awesome Euro lounge music, has a TV running Casablanca on repeat and nice dim, candle lighting (perfect for a date!). The food is really great too. The portions are a quite large, I have never finished what I ordered but their young wait staff is really quick and nice about offering to-go boxes. The grilled eggplant pasta was awesome! Didn't love the linguine with clams as much, but it was actually a lot better on the second day, microwaved, perhaps because the sauce had time to soak in. The calamari starter was really great too. I've had bad calamari before and was a little "scarred" by the experience, but this place does it right. They also bring out baskets of this heavenly, fresh bread and a olive oil/balsamic dipping plate - you have to keep yourself from eating too much of that before the food arrives! Their cocktails are also awesome. Try the coffee "martini" - it's basically a chocolate/coffee liquor drink with a coffee bean on top. It was absolutely delicious (so was their brownie/sea salt caramel gelato dessert!). Jeez, I could go on and on! The prices were what you would expect, $13-20 a dish. The space can be a little tight depending on how full the place is, but I don't really care about that because it lends to the intimate atmosphere of the place. I recommend!
(5)Eva H.
Linguine with clams? Sigh, soooooo delicious. I have literally never had better outside of Italy. Sauce was a perfect consistency, tossed with plenty of what tasted like mozzarella/basil pieces no bigger than my pinky nail. The clams were drenched in flavors. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly - not too soft, nor too al dente. In short, everything about that dish just screamed perfect meal. Wine selection (of the good stuff, mind you) is a little limited... but Monday is half price bottle of wine night, so WHATEVA. Service was great.
(5)Denise C.
Our Party of 4 was seated immediately (we had a reservation for 7). Service was fast and friendly. We ordered appetizers (meatball sliders and calamari) excellent. Ordered entrees - I got the Pesto Shrimp - great pesto flavor, generous serving, enjoyed but could not finish. Husband got the eggplant over pasta dish and was not that happy. Says the angel hair was mushy. Other guests were very happy with their dishes (Alfredo and a pasta with sausage dish) I will go again. Prices were responsible.
(4)Michele A.
We were a party eight. Very good food with excellent service!
(5)Sarah O.
Excellent martini menu....check Scrumptious bread with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette...check Delicious food to suffice your hungry appetite...check Appealing and cozy decor...check Reasonably priced...check This place is great for almost any occasion, ranging from a night at the bar, family gathering or date night. The ambiance is appropriate for it all. And don't forget to try the mint chocolate martini....it is to die for!
(4)K B.
Great ambiance, but food was only so-so. Maybe you need to first drink a couple of the $5 Tuesday martinis to make this place shine. We came on a Saturday, so no luck there. We ordered the risotto balls for appetizer, and for main dish my husband got the gnocchi and I got the seafood special. The risotto balls came out and were well cooked and had good consistency, but lacked the salt necessary to bring out the flavors. Our dinners came with salads, but if there was a dressing on them, it was unnoticeable. My seafood dish consisted a of a medley of salmon, muscles, scallops, and calamari over linguini and with a lemon-white wine sauce. All the seafood and pasta was cooked perfectly, and the calamari was incredibly tender. Unfortunately, there was no evidence of any lemon-white wine sauce, unless the puddle of oil at the bottom of the dish was supposed to be it. I asked the waitress for some lemons, and using that and the entire dish of ground cheese we were provided made it more palatable, but the dish was pretty much a fail. My husband's gnocchi wasn't much better, the marinara had less zazz then what comes in the jars at the grocery store. The place is very nicely decorated, with high ceilings, stucco walls, racks of wine, and a nice LCD fireplace. The staff was very friendly. If you could take the food from Sergio Ristorante Italiano (which has horrible ambiance) and plug it in here, you'd have a really great restaurant.
(3)JP W.
A gem! Had a terrific dinner on NYE. They were serving from the regular menu and the food was great. Bread was fresh and warm, included salad was a nice surprise, and the next half of my lasagna bolanegse will make a great lunch today. The pumpkin cheesecake was huge and delicious. Service was efficient and friendly, passing servers made a point of saying "happy new year" and I'm thrilled that we just found a new neighborhood restaurant to visit in 2014!
(4)Sharon W.
Olazzo is a cozy restaurant. I feel like I'm actually in a little cafe in Italy. The food is good. I don't eat a lot of meat so usually get the cheese ravioli and a chocolate martini for dessert. Only reason it doesn't get another star is the parking is not the best.
(4)Kathryn Z.
This review really is 3.5 stars...but I thought 3 stars didn't really reflect my experience, so 4 stars it is! Went there with my boyfriend last Friday and we had a really nice time. Our server was fabulous (coming from a server). She was thoughtful, attentive, and had amazing pre-bussing skills. I flicked one of the mussels I had (with marinara sauce=recipe for stain disaster) which splattered sauce all over me, and she brought over napkins and water without hesitation. Now the food was pretty good and had a great price point. My ravioli with a tomato cream sauce was solid. You could definitely get away with an inexpensive dinner here. Wine list was a little disappointing for an Italian restaurant...and I love my wine. The atmosphere was fun / classic dark and crowded Italian place. But I kind of love that when I'm eating Italian. Summary, definitely try it out. Great price point for a nice dinner without the sticker shock of a crazy bill. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, but it just wasn't good enough for me to come back immediately.
(4)Anita C.
5 stars only because there were several families with small children, resulting in A LOT of added noise. Not their fault of course, but definitely the acoustics of the upstairs dining room are focus on amplifying and not absorbing. Cute/kitschy italian dining room upstairs from the darker/more adult bar. Because of the noise, not the place I'd reccommend for the quiet meal--but worth it for the food. LOVED the rose sauce on the ravioli. They were perfect in my opinion, my partner wasn't as pleased with the flavor profile in the lasagna, but I think the meat did lack a little more flavor than it should have. The martinis were perfect, and I could have a Pineapple Upside Down-tini every day and be pleased. The starter salad was the perfect size and balance of dressing to greens and overall this is the best balanced italian meal I've had in the DC area, definitely good for the price. I'd like to return for the martini happy hour. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Gregory O.
Wow! This place is terrific -- I am sorely tempted to give it 5 stars. Just about every part of this meal was great: * I'm normally not much of a drinker but I had to try the mint chocolate chip martini and I'm glad I did. It was fantastic (they have a lot of other martinis that look good, too). * The bread was yummy. I'm normally not a salad fan, but it was alright too. * My fettuccini alfredo with chicken was very tasty. * The service was pretty good; I also liked the decor. I'll definitely be returning.
(4)Tim H.
3.5 stars. Good assortment of drinks and a decent menu. The execution on everything I've tried has been very good. The atmosphere is sort of trying too hard (to be an Italian courtyard), but it's always felt cozy and warm and I've always had a good time.
(4)J B.
Went here on a whim and was pleasantly surprised on how tasty the food was. Maybe one of the best italian places in Silver Springs/ DC area. TRY IT
(4)Candace H.
Conveniently located In downtown silver spring. Went for a Thursday evening dinner got say right away. Nice cozy and intimate decor. Mussels are good and the primavera. Waitress and bus boy staff attentive. Great dinner. I'd come back.
(4)Brian G.
We've eaten here several times. It's always enjoyable. Great place for a romantic dinner or a get together with a small group. A year ago I would have given it 4 stars but I've come to realize that any good restaurant needs to change up the menu from time to time. The menu, while good, is limited - especially the appetizers. With that said, I've ordered some of the specials that are not on the menu and they rock. If ever you are there and the baked salmon in pastry is available jump on it. It was absolutely fantastic. Ask for seating in the rear unless you want to be close up to a bunch of loud drunks at the bar.
(3)Nicole F.
After eating here last night I decided I was never going to tell anyone about it for fear word would spread like wild fire and I would ruin this place. haha- as if I had that kind of power but yelp scares me like that sometimes. This place is one of the best Italian restaurants I've eaten in since moving to DC. The food is just like when I go home to visit family- and by home I mean, Queens NY. I love the quaint, intimate atmosphere and its a great date spot. The calamari was amazing but better for a party of 4 verses a party of 2. Not that we didn't eat it all- we just ran out of room for dinner. :) We also had this grilled peaches and goat cheese appetizer which was also amazing. We'll be regulars at this place soon.
(5)Carlton M.
Best Italian food in town! Service is great and food is excellent! One of my favorites in Silver Spring. If you live near downtown you MUST try this place!
(5)B G.
We ate here on a recent trip to the East coast. When a hankerin' for some down home Italian food struck us, we turned to Yelp. As always, Yelp came through. The food, the service. the wine... all excellent!
(5)Monica A.
The 1st time I went to Olazzo, it was around Christmas of last year and my boyfriend and I had a great time, we both really enjoyed our food and the atmosphere. I had the chicken cardinale and it was a really good dish, the service was also very good. The 2nd time I went, it was like I went to a different restaurant. The staff wasn't that friendly and our waiter failed to tell us the day's specials. However, after we were done with our meal, we overheard him telling two other tables about the amazing swordfish special. Um, what about us? WE LIKE SWORDFISH, TOO. He also wasn't that attentive and seemed very rushed, almost as if he got pulled off the street and told to wait tables. Aside from the sub-par service, the food wasn't as good as I remember. I really loved the chicken cardinale the first time I went but I love pesto dishes so I tried the, pesto with shrimp--- It was good but not great, a little oily for me. My boyfriend liked his lasagna but thought the bolognese sauce wasn't that good. It's really like a tale of two restaurants. I would go back to get the chicken cardinale but if the service is the same as the last time, i wouldn't go back again.
(3)Steven W.
Went to Olazzo last night and it was overall a good experience. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. My wife had the Mango Salmon, which was tasty but cooked a little more through than what you would expect. I had the spaghetti and meat balls...very good. Two large meatballs, with good flavor, served on pasta with a very good red sauce. Both meals came with traditional italian restaurant style salad. The bread that comes to the table at the start is piping hot and tasty. It is served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and is better than the average bread basket starter. The wine list is small but great for what it offers. A few choices of everything. For Montgomery County it is priced very well also. A few good values on there. I had a glass of St. Julia Organica cab for only $6.00! Nice, taste and nice value! The place is very dark, and would make a nice "date" restaurant. The food is pretty old school classic italian. If I were in Silver Spring and the classic italian mood hit, I would definitely go back.
(3)Suzanne A.
Update: I've been a few times now, and each meal is better than the last. My previous complaint about lukewarm food has been fixed (though each time I do specify that I want my ravioli piping hot). I've also discovered their caprese salads. Such a wonderful, chill, local place to take visitors.
(4)Michelle W.
The food was good. I had gnocchi bolognese which was better than average. There were some leaks in the ceiling - a drop of water fell right onto my husband's head during dinner. The waitress misunderstood some details, like no sauce on my son's spaghetti, and bubbly water rather than still, but took care of them. Overall fine, but probably won't go out of our way to return.
(3)Brent T.
My wife is always taking me to new places to broaden my dining horizons. My wife did some looking around and suggested we go to Olazzo in Silver Spring. As usual, I griped and moaned like a child about trying anything new. At this point, I should just trust her and go along but what fun would that be? Olazzo was small and cozy on the inside and just my style. I had the Fettucini Alfredo with chicken and it was delicious. The Peroni (on tap) seemed a tad warm and a little skunky so I'm not sure if they were near the end of the keg or what. Not bad but wasn't as crisp and refreshing as I expected. The service was the perfect mix, attentive but not down your throat. I'd go back again since the food was fantastic and the service was excellent. The beer was good and will probably be better next time.
(4)Targi B.
Warm Gooey CHEESE!!!! This place has it! I like the division of this restaurant, it seems bar in front and romantic dinner in back. Great selection of martinis in both areas! I had a peach one which was good and strong. For starts we had something that's name doesn't give it justice. It was wonderful juicy tasty tomatoes with the best mozzarella in between with peppers and oil drizzled all over it! Between that and the warm bread, I was almost at my limit! For dinner I went with the classic chicken parmesan which was amazing! It had that slighty burnt mozzeralla cheese all over it! It was so tasty I wanted to finish it but I'm happy they boxed it for me (Gordon Ramsey would disapprove, but YAY lunch today!) I can't wait to go back!
(5)Ruthie V.
We at lunch here. It's a bar atmosphere and they have best table bread I've ever had. It was warm, fresh & crusty just how I like! We loved the Greek Salad and ordered it with lettuce so we could split it and it was plenty for two people. We also ordered the peppers & sausage - perfecto! We wanted to come back for dinner but time did not allow since we were on vacation. Service was good too!
(5)Kevin M.
I heard good things about Olazzo but when I went there I and everyone I was with was either disappointed or unimpressed. The chicken parmesan was burnt and the chicken didn't seem like it was good to begin with. Can't remember what my friends had but they were nonplussed by the food. Based on the other reviews, I'm thinking that maybe I just went on an off night and I'm willing to try it again but nothing about the place made going back there high on my priority list.
(2)Josh R.
I found the atmosphere, service, and food quality to be great for the price. We started with the dates, which were excellent. I then had the Chicken Cardinale as a main course. I had enough left over for a satisfying lunch the next day. Peroni on tap was also a nice plus.
(5)Rich Z.
Last night 6 of us went to Olazzo. None of us had been here before. I had been wanting to go here for awhile. It is a very nice restaurant. The staff is very friendly. The food, however, is not particularly memorable. After the meal was over we all agreed that everything was OK but certainly not great. We asked the server for guidance but nothing really was better than good or fair. In particular, the marinara sauce, which is a staple at Italian restaurants, was not very tasty. The server offered to write separate bills for the 3 couples but she got confused and had to redo them, which took a lot of time. We did not mind because we were engaged in conversation. I'd say we will go back but I am not so sure because there are so many good Italian restaurants to patronize.
(3)Diana C.
Finally managed to get myself in for dinner. The place is much bigger than the exterior looks. The place is cozy and filled with tables, and was pretty packed on a Friday night. As for the food... I got a special appetizer that was goat cheese-stuffed dates, wrapped in proscuitto with some wine reduction. Easily the most delicious thing on the menu. $9 was a bit steep for about 5 dates, but they were SO GOOD. It's a fantastic combination of sweet & salty. My date ordered the calamari. The portion was ridiculous. It was like a trough. They were cooked & seasoned very well, but the marinara with it was a bit small and bland. I got linguine with clams. It was ok. Nothing stupendous or really memorable. The menu was pretty much a few standard/boring pasta + sauce/protein of your choice. I probably should have tried the special of the day (mahi mahi), but it didn't really strike me as a particularly Italian dish. The service was friendly, and I really liked the atmosphere. I haven't had one of their legendary martinis yet, but I'd probably come here again for appetizers/drinks rather than a huge meal.
(3)Geo N.
simple Italian fare in the coziest & simple space in Silver Spring. The staff are generally nice, and most of them are helpful. At times there's a dude staff or bartender, but the management really seems to care. They just joined open table, too, which ROCKS! I wish they'd stock oranges for nigronis - it's an Italian restaurant after all, but otherwise, it's simply nice, good people with value priced food.
(5)MaJ C.
I am still impressed with the food, Though the unripe tomatoes and cow mozzarella left me disappointed. Be careful! The wine list is Mis-labeled. ( My Peeve in the industry ) They are selling a Ripasso method Valpolicella as an Amarone. HUGE difference for those who know wine. On the wine list it is "Amarone" when it come to the table, it is a Ripasso method wine. That felt a little scammy to me. And should be corrected. And they told me they did not have any decanters *sigh* If a place is going to sell wine at $40 and above, get some glass jugs please?!
(4)Kiki D.
Good italian food with a nice interior space.
(3)Jung-Ah P.
You know those days when you need a drink and nourishment, and even though you have the supplies at home, you just want to be served by someone else? I was having one of those, and thankfully, so was JC. I'd never been to Olazzo, either in Bethesda or Silver Spring, so we thought we'd give it a try. The ambience inside Olazzo is cozy and warm - a TV screen at the end of the bar showcases a digital fireplace, the room is dim, yet there is a warm glow that lights up the place, and the booths are big and welcoming. We settled into one of the cushy booths and ordered a bottle of riesling. I feel like I get a lot of requests for a fruity riesling at work, which we don't carry - for those you who are searching for a fruity and sweet riesling, Olazzo's got it. We sipped away for a while, having girl talk and giggling a lot, as we do often. We started with the fried calamari, which is a pretty impressive portion. For $9, we got a giant platter of lightly battered and deep fried, hot and crispy calamari with marinara. It was delicious, not overdone, and did I mention, it's HUGE? Unfortunately, the rest of the meal wasn't that great or memorable. JC ordered the mozzarella neopolitan, which wasn't particularly remarkable, and I made the mistake of ordering what turned out to be a country fried steak of some sort. It had some charming Italian name that lured me to it and I was feeling like some red meat. Without frills, it was pretty gross. It was dry, there was way too much breading that was too salty, and I couldn't eat more than 1/3 of it. Ew ew ew ew ew. Perhaps that's why it's not on the menu anymore. Good riddance, I say. I like Olazzo. I will go back and perhaps this time, I'll get a pasta...that should be safe in an Italian restaurant, don't you think? Tasty tasty!!
(2)N S.
Wasn't feeling it. Had some bruschetta - the topping was hot and had melted cheese on it? I mean, not that it was bad, but when you deviate from the norm you need to give folks a heads up. The pasta alla checca was more alla blanda and wasn't as al dente as I prefer. I discerned no garlic either. This had the perfect flavor for a kindergartener ie. none. I am learning to put the fork down when food isn't that great. Who needs the calories? Average? Just let it go. Pay the check and walk away. No thanks, I don't need a box. Service was decent. It just takes more than a cute space and some jazzy music, but I am amenable to giving it another shot maybe.
(3)Deborah N.
Don't get me wrong. Olazzo has great food. It's just that I get a bit edgy dining there. It's a bit cramped and echoey. Also the street parking situation can be a little off-putting to those of us used to associating suburban towns with parking garages. Still it's really good and we're lucky to have it in SS. They have great lunch specials.
(4)Laura W.
I love their martinis! 5 bucks on tuesday too... So if ya want to join me for one;) Also I dig the sundried tomato pasta. Great flavor. Enough to enjoy again the next day. The roaring fire on dvd is a little kooky tho :)
(4)Katie W.
I have never had a bad experience at either the Silver Spring or the Bethesda location of Olazzo, but I must say that S.S. has come out in front for ambience alone. Both restaurants are pretty tiny, and initimate, but S.S. is slightly brighter and you are not always sitting on top of the people next to you. The food is consistently good. The service is always friendly. I usually have wine when I go, but we stopped by for happy hour for my birthday this past week and I went with a martini, which was delightful. The bartender was great and definitely made me want to check out the $5 martini Tuesdays! The calamari is great to share as are the bruschetta and meatball slider appetizers. Salads come with your meal, which makes the less than $20 per entree price tag even better. I am a big fan of the shrimp rose, lasagna, and their special pasta, which usually has some wonderful combination of seafood. Don't know too much about the desserts because as my profile says, I usually drink mine ;)
(4)Antoinette A.
This is a great place for good italian food. Its a small restaurant with a very warm and cozy atmosphere, the service is great and helpful. When you go here order the cheesecake! Its the best cheesecake I've ever tasted. I love that they don't drench it in sweetened strawberries like most restaurants do, they just garnish it with a thin slice of lemon, so perfect. All their desserts looked great though, especially the cannoli. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Julie P.
Delicious Food! Had a really nice lunch with my Mom and daughter. We had the stuffed dates with pancetta, the meatball sliders and a salad. Perfect for two. The service was exceptional!
(4)Cj S.
Allow me to be knee jerk and emotional, it's that time of the yelp month. I went to Olazzo last night and had the worst service this side of White Castle at 2 [hiccup] 30 [swaying back and forth, hiccup] in the morning. Upon entering, we stood for a few minutes in the front of restuarant before we were told we could self escort ourselves to a table (no problem). After sitting and familiarizing ourselves with our surroundings, the great wait of December 2nd, 2010 occured. All told, it was approximately 15 minutes before any acknowledgement was made. When the bartender/server came over I explained to her that (a) I was glad she was alive and then quickly (b) told her our wait time was a little on the ridiculous side. Rather than using the ol customer service 101 approach of "I'm really sorry, let me take your order" she said something about having to bartend and cover two tables as well. Fast forward through mixing up the order, disappearing again for the entirety of the meal (in part to go have a smoke break) and attempting to pacify at the end with a free shot, presenting it in confusing, yet umm confusing terms as "would the boys like to play along" I would give this place a thorough thumbs down.
(2)James T.
We live in McLean and had to drop off someone at BWI late on Sunday afternoon. We decided to have a nice Italian dinner in Baltimore's Little Italy after the airport drop-off. But the Yelp reviews for every candidate 4-star, $$ restaurant were disappointing, typically with several diners credibly claiming "overpriced for the quality" and/or simply "not particularly good." So I looked at similar restaurants along the route home, closer to home, in Silver Spring and Bethesda. Olazzo was prominently noted at two locations but the Silver Spring Olazzo accepts reservations whereas the Bethesda restaurant does not. It seemed worth a try and it turned out to be a good choice. Our meal was really very good! The menu is somewhat limited, but we were after southern Italian (tomato sauce) and not necessarily veal. Nina ordered the special ($22) crab-stuffed tilapia. I had the chicken parmesan ($15). Salads and excellent bread were included. The tomato sauce was uncommonly good and Katie provided very attentive and competent service. It was exactly what we wanted, and at very affordable prices. There are few restaurants in this area that can offer good Italian cuisine for two for under $50, including tax and tip! This is basically a neighborhood Italian restaurant that appears to cater to the mid-priced southern Italian diner market. I always ask myself after any restaurant visit, "Would I come back here for a meal?" Most of the time I say "no, it wasn't special and it was overpriced for what we ate." This Olazzo is family owned (two young brothers, I believe) and they really do care. Their names are on the line and they know it. I would go back, and it won't require a trip to BWI next time!
(5)Caitie K.
One of our new favorite spots! Cozy with photos of the Olazzo family from way back, yet eclectic row home with exposed brick & updated furnishings - the building is very long in depth, but it is literally only like 10' wide. This restaurant was suggested by Catey, one of the instructors at my local health/wellness studio. Completely impressed! The first time we decided to try out the suggestion, we sat at the bar as there wasn't an empty table in the place. The bartender took great care of us & made great, spot-on suggestions. Since we have sat at both the bar & tables and the service continues to be wonderful. My notable favorites: MOZZARELLA NEOPOLITAN, CHICKEN PARMESAN (#1 fave - sounds basic, and the first time I ordered it - by recommendation of course, it arrived and I thought, gee how basic could this sauce be - Ummm, so not basic. It's full of flavor, I LOVE their marinara/red sauce, and the breading on the chicken is so light it's not overwhelming, yet remains necessary as the main characteristic qualifiying it as "chicken parm"). Another notable, but not always on the menu antipasti dish that is a MUST TRY are the goat cheese stuffed dates....recommended by our server, I was weiry, however he prevailed, and the app was FANTASTIC - Kudos, Olazzo, these should be addede to the everyday menu!!! Different sized & shaped plates offer an impressive, yet simple plate presentation. The very reasonable menu prices equate to more dinero to partake in their portfolio of martini offerings. Again, consistent service, whether sitting at the bar or at a table, and VERY CONSISTENT food. We've even taken my boss (also impressed) & are proud to continue to introduce other friends & family to this goldmine.
(4)Cheryl B.
This was a nice place to close out our weekend and enjoy an evening with a dear friend that we don't see enough of!! We popped into Olazzo around 5:30 and chose to be seated in the back dining room. First let me say that the smiles on the staff's faces as we entered was really nice and welcoming. Let's touch on the decor - somewhat rustic, open beamed ceiling, warm faux tattered plaster effects on the walls and simple white cloth table linens with black napkins were just the right balance. The lighting was muted and a copper hued garland was suspended from the overhead lighting and around the wine barrels that lined the far wall above the flat screen - which on this evening played a continuous fireplace scene very nicely done. The food - starters Italian wedding soup and the eggplant brucschetta were both yummy. I thought the broth on the soup was really nice, very rich but subtle tones of tomato. The topping on the bruschetta was warm, cheese and the eggplant was nicely seasoned. For our main courses - all dishes came with a small green salad which was dressed in a simple yet enticing vinaigrette. Penne pasta with meatballs in an rustic tomato sauce, seeds and all, was the choice of my husband and our friend...they said it was good but was not seasoned well enough (this is the only reason for3 vs 4 stars). I chose the Chicken Cardinale - and it rocked! The chicken was very tender and the housemade creamy tomato sauce was lucious, with an ever so mild smoky flavor hidden within. Needless to say the portions were so generous my husband opted to take over for me when I couldn't take another bite. Stuffed, yes, room for dessert....always! The three of us decided to share a piece of the ricotta and lemon cheesecake and we were not disappointed. Creamy texture yet light on the palate. The crust was not over bearing as can be the case in most cheesecakes - in this case the actual cheesecake was the star. The only thing we wished for was more lemon zest or even candied lemon peel on top to enhance the flavor of the filling. Rounding out our meal was an espresso. The service was wonderful. Our waitress was so helpful and even though she had a couple of very large parties to care for we didn't notice. She made sure our orders were prompt, she checked on us often and was quick to complete the payment portion at the end of the evening. The manager on duty, our waitress and the food will certainly mean a trip back when we are in the area again.
(4)Jules J.
I absolutely love Olazzo. The servers are always friendly and it has such a cozy feel. During the warmer months they are always happy to have my small dog accompany me on the patio. It's fun to come on Tuesday nights when they have a $5 martini special and you can try out the different drinks on the menu. On the rare occasion that you don't like a drink you ordered they are always happy to bring you something else. The fried calamari appetizer is always soo good and I really like the pasta alla checca. Save room for dessert, or if you forget, order a cannoli or two to go! I went here for brunch once and some confusion about my order resulted in my omelet coming out after the other people at my table had already finished eating. I had been here so many times before that I didn't mind the mistake and I wasn't going to complain. I was really impressed with the customer service -- the manager was really apologetic and even sent me home with some complimentary nutella crepes! Everyone in my group loved their food (crepes, sausage & peppers omelet, eggs benedict) and the mimosas were yummy too. I would pass on the prosciutto wrapped melon (it was a little too soggy for me) but definitely try the sweet potato fries they are delicious!
(5)Linda B.
Raspberry Truffle martini. Enough said. The idea of mixing espresso vodka and Chambord may sound preposterous but it works, and quite well if I may say so. Bearing in mind that they are only $5 all night on Tuesday, the caliber and variety of the martinis are amazing! The staff and bartenders are very friendly and in spite of being a small place with an unbelievable martini deal on Tuesdays, I can always find a seat at the bar or a table. As for the food, everyone raves about the pink sauce, which is fine, but I've found that their daily specials are the way to go. I've had a white fish, chicken Florentine, and pesto linguini with lentil meatballs on special and loved them all! Olazzo is definitely one of my favorite neighborhood joints.
(4)Carson H.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. Been here more than most places in DTSS. Something about the Tv's and the fake fireplace upfront that makes me happy! The drinks are a tad pricey, but the calamari and most of the food items are very well put together. Great Ambiance! Don't plan to save your money here. If you choose this spot be prepared to pay for the experience. The wait staff is just as amazing as the ambiance. Great place to chill with a good friend when you just want to catch up or on date # 1,2,3, or 4 to wind down after hanging in the area or on your way home from D.C.
(4)visalsok n.
I love Olazzo. Great Italian food. the place is small for big group, but be sure to book ahead of time if u have large group, cuz they have backroom from larger group or private event. On the weekend, especially during dinner time can be over loaded with ppl. call ahead to check for a spot. They also have special on each day. it is not on the menu. it is just a lil bit pricey, depend on wat u order. but the special is always great food.
(5)Peculiar B.
Quaint. Cozy. Enjoyable. I had dinner here and was quite pleased with the service and atmosphere. Its a small place, but that definitely adds to its charm. For dinner I had the sausage and peppers which was really good, but I felt it was a little too light on the salt and needed a bit more acidity to balance the dish -- yet, I would order it again. I tried a bit of my son's Shrimp Rose which was very tasty and was slightly envious of his choosing the better dish this time. The glass of Chianti that I enjoyed was recommended by the waiter and was worth the recommendation. I look forward to visiting this establishment again and taking advantage of the Happy Hour specials and trying more of the entrees. This place received 3 stars because I had to add some seasoning to my dish to get it to my satisfaction. Yet the overall experience was great.
(3)Amanda B.
Yummy yummy martinis. They have a list of something like 20 of them. (Tuesday night is $5 martini night, even yummier). Somehow their martinis are so good that sitting outside on the edge of Georgia avenue is quite peaceful. The inside feels a little dungeony, but somehow it works for them. The food is done well, but not mindblowing. Just good quality Italian food. I like that they give you bread and olive oil before. I feel like many places drop this habit to save money or time or whatever. Well, it's appreciated. The wait staff / bartenders are great. Sure to please.
(4)Jennifer S.
I think I've mentioned in my review of Nicaro that I do marketing contract work nearby. That being said, my fellow contractors and I hardly ever leave to eat-out, but when we do we ALWAYS go to Nicaro. This week we stepped outside the box and tried something new...Olazzo. I'll start with the starter...the bread. Warm, crusty, cornmeal coated (if memory serves me right) and DELISH! I probably consumed a whole loaf all by myself and I think my coworkers might have figured out why I am forever "dieting." The evils of bread and butter. I ordered the chicken Milanese salad. Oh how I hate it when a restaurant says "Milanese" and they give you "Chunk-o-meat." Not the case here - nice and slim, good crust, perfectly cooked. The salad and dressing were also quite good and very fresh. I tasted the sauce on my coworker's lasagna (had to dip that bread in!). Didn't need to try any more of it. Acidic and thick as paste--very Ragu. That's always a bad sign. No time OR room for dessert, but the server talked on and on about the pumpkin cheesecake as if she had made it herself. Next time, provided I can drag out my coworkers again before it disappears off the menu, I definitely want to give that a sampling. Service. I hate to bash her, but our server wasn't really super speedy or attentive or efficient. Of course, we were at the front of the restaurant in the bar area and she could have had a ton of tables in the back. We'll never know. She did provide a very compelling case for ordering the cheesecake though - so extra points for the mouth-water factor. Upselling the customer without being phony is key. And you could genuinely tell she REALLY liked this cheesecake. Next time: the eggplant parm sandwich. If they serve it on that bread, I almost wouldn't care what the filling tastes like! Let's just hope they read this review and fix the sauce situation before that day comes.
(3)Jim C.
Darn good and reliable neighborhood Italian joint with a modern panache. Terrific service. Awesome bread (they call it ciabatta but it deviates from the tradition). Manager told us it's made especially for them by a Hyattsville bakery and delivered partially baked. They finish it in their oven. So good it makes the sandwiches. Meatball sandwich and the sausage and peppers sandwich are great. Really good, spicy bloody marys at brunch. Very good calamari. Good happy hour specials.
(3)Danielle M.
went for Valentines with boyfriend, we called earlier in the week to make a reservation and 5pm was the lastest we could get.... not quite the romantic dinner time I was looking for, but we both get off work early so it was ok. but when we got there it was EMPTY! (it did fill up once we were about done and leaving) the dim lighting is nice, arancini (risotto balls) were delish. beer selection was a little lacking for my bf, but I got a nice martini. for dinner I ordered eggplant parm and he ordered spinach and roasted garlic tortellini (we are both vegetarian) my eggplant was GREAT! his tortellini came and almost half the bowl was sausage! wha!?!? we went back and read the menu and it no where on there says sausage..... disappointing. both other than our unexpected sausage addition dinner was good.
(4)Kevin C.
Olazzo on a Friday night: this tiny restaurant/bar is packed by 7:30 pm. Lucky for me, I walked in fifteen minutes prior to the onslaught of the gathering hoard. Even though packed, the ambiance was bustling and pleasant. Service was attentive and efficient, yet lacking the true flare of a better hospitality professonal. Lasagna Bolognese struck my attention immediately, and I was quick to pair it with an ice cold Peroni from the tap. I felt the lasagna itself lacked depth, flare, and overall seasoning. More or less a well plated version of a frozen Stouffer's. The salad that it came with was well seasoned and quite delicious, along with the bread at the table -- warm and soft. Overall had a gratifying experience and am looking forward to perhaps checking out Olazzo again in the near future.
(3)Linda W.
Nice atmosphere and good food. I had the salmon with mango and it was very good. They were very busy but still managed to bring our food and drinks in a timely manner.
(4)Michelle C.
LOVE this place! Everyone we bring here loves it too. The shrimp and crab rose is my favorite. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here. You'll love it. Go!
(5)Margaret B.
I recently went to the SS location for a friend's birthday and if you're looking for solid Italian fare and a great ambiance Olazzo will not disappoint. The good: They have an very impressive "martini" list, which we definitely took advantage of, though I eschewed some of the more fanciful offerings in favor of traditional gin and vermouth. They didn't stop bringing us bread...it just kept coming; and we just kept eating it; because it was soft, warm, and fluffy. Probably my favorite part of the meal. The rosa sauce a few of my friends got was out of the park good. I didn't get pasta this time, but from what I tasted around the table, it was cooked properly (there's nothing worse than overdone pasta). The bad: I had the special, which was overall good, but I felt that the risotto really lacked that gluteny creaminess to the texture. Personally I think their menu is a bit minimalist. I'm definitely a fan of doing a few things very well, but where's the marsala? and the saltimboca? and the arrabiata? I feel like they could benefit from a slight expansion. All in all, I would definitely go again, especially for one of their $5 martini nights.
(4)Jaemie D.
Went to this place for dinner during SilverDocs. The place is part bar part Italian restaurant, so the atmosphere is cozy. I was sitting in a booth, so it was easy to hold a conversation. Half the menu is dedicated to the drinks- with a sizable wine selection menu, the other half is for the food. There was not a huge selection of dishes offered like some other Italian restaurants that offer everything and then some on the menu. However, it seems like Olazzo knows what it does best,,, so a limited dinner menu is ok with me. If you go, you must try their martinis- they are excellent. I got the French martini, and was set for the night. The food is Italian that tastes like its 100% homemade and delicious. I got the simple dish of pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil and they still managed to make it a fabulous dish. The tomatoes were fresh and the they didn't weigh it down with a heavy cream sauce- so it was a perfect summer dinner. I would definitely make a trip out to Silver Spring to eat there again.
(4)vineetha p.
I've been meaning to stop by Olazzo since one of my friend's told me its "pretty good." So as me and another friend were walking around trying to explore all the restaurant options on Georgia Avenue this side of Silver Spring we spotted Olazzo. I ordered the Pasta Cardinale - chicken, sun dried tomatoes, tomato cream sauce and parmesan. Definitely good! My friend got the calamari, and they do NOT go light on the supply over there. Both dishes were overflowing quantity wise...loved it! The waitstaff was amazing. Even with the place packed (I've heard it always is) they still managed to be attentive. Now I'm going to have to go back for these $5 martinis!
(4)Lindsay Y.
I've been back here multiple times now with friends and family and Olazzo never disappoints. I love this place. Great food, charming decor and consistent service. They also take online reservations which is convenient. You can't go wrong with their linguine with clams, any of their chicken dishes or the ravioli. I've tried the Bethesda location as well which is just as good.
(5)Patrick W.
Absolutely love this place! The front bar area is very cozy, dark, and comfortable. The back room feels like you are outside, very romantic. The food is always spot on. It doesn't jump out at you from the street, maybe the best kept secret in Silver Spring. Will go back many, many times.
(5)angie h.
1/2 price bottles of wine got me in the door, and it was the best decision I made yesterday. First of all, a bottle of Cakebread cellars for 32 dollars, YES PLEASE! The food was also fantastic. Warm crusty bread, rose sauce that was to die for, and the fish special was also well prepared. So happy we found a new "go-to" spot in our quasi-hood.
(4)Ina C.
Another solid four stars! I came with a group of 8 people on a Friday night, and I was told by the owner when I called the night before that if I call half an hour before I plan on coming, they can minimize our wait time. So I did, and they delivered! Our group of eight ended up waiting about five minutes, even though the restaurant isn't all that big. I know some of the ladies I was with will never ever read this review, so I feel free to say this... One of our dining guests had a bit of an attitude (No Diet Sprite? What's wrong with you?) and a decisiveness problem (I know you've asked three times already, but I still don't know what I want), but our server was incredibly patient and gracious. I have to emphasize also that the entrees here are a fantastic value. You can't complain about hefty portions for $12-17. I highly recommend the linguine with clams in white sauce and the pasta alla checca (very light and tasty).
(4)Adriana H.
They have the front room and the back room. Each has its own atmosphere. The front one is a bit noisy and very alive with the bar. The back one is a bit more quiet. They tried to remind an old Italian home, which is true in many ways. To my bad luck, I`m a bit claustrophobic and I could only keep my eye on the tiny window near the ceiling, which reminds me that room is actually a basement. Leaving my crazy thoughts aside, the bread was great and the service excellent. Can`t speak much about the wine list as I didn`t look at the wine list that night. The mozzarella neapolitan was scrumptious!! I`m not a fan of bell pepper, but the fired-roasted pepper was perfect. I had ravioli rose which I didn`t enjoy much. I think my stomach didn`t agree with the creamy tomato sauce. My husband had penne with sausage and he really liked it. Next time I will order the shrimp pesto. As you can tell, we will be back there :)
(4)Cris B.
Not a big fan of Italian restaurants usually, but this place was pretty tasty. The atmosphere is a little lacking (we sat in front, maybe it is nicer in back) for the price of the meal. I had a chicken penne with a cream sauce (sorry, I've since forgotten the name) and it was delicious. Only reason I wouldn't give five stars is the atmosphere and the lack of creativity on the menu. Even though my food was good, there weren't many exciting options and it generally isn't hard to make something satisfying if you add a cup of butter and a cup of cream. That being said, I would eat here again and try and sit in the back.
(4)Scott M.
What a great find! Nice friendly staff, lively bar (with TVs) in the front, and a small but very nice dining room (with great ambiance) in the back for more of a quiet dinner. While the menu is somewhat limited and perhaps "traditional" when it comes to what one might expect at an Italian restaurant, the quality was next to none, and very reasonably priced. Everyone at my table found their meals to be exceptional. I'm looking forward to returning. Olazzo is a great staple to add to your list!
(4)Anjali S.
I cannot believe I only just discovered this gem. This place has one of those rare combinations - great food + really courteous and fun stuff + a lovely atmosphere. I almost don't want anyone else to find out about it. I wish more places were like this. Love the happy hour martini and apps at the bar as well as cozy dinner with the hubby in the back.
(4)Raquel C.
The food here is terrific. It is quite small so our party of 10 was a bit cramped upstairs. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the food and drinks. I had a special which was chicken meatballs with walnut pesto over pasta. It was delicious and due to the portions, I had to take the rest home. They are generous. Some of my friends ordered the shrimp and crab rose and they adored it. This is a great Italian restaurant. Drinks: The Olazzo martini is delicious! Dessert: The cannoli is mediocre but the tiramisu was yummy! This is a great place to bring a date for the ambiance (dimly lit and romantic setting).
(4)Bruce J.
Guess I'm still mourning the loss of Half Moon BBQ--what a great little hole-in-the-wall that was!--so it's taken me over a year to check this place out. But what a treat. In fact, the makeover almost made me forget where I was. Exposed brick walls, bare wood tables, and a funky array of light fixtures and candles, all add up to a warm, comforting ambiance that is drawing in big crowds. To my great surprise, Olazzo was packed to the gills on a Tuesday night. And that's with the addition of seating in the room that once housed Half Moon's music venue. One of the strengths of this excellent addition to downtown Silver Spring dining scene is that it's well-staffed by a friendly, efficient crew that knows just how often is the right amount of often to stop by and check in. And the food is darn good, too. My friends and I were pleased with all of the items we ordered. The brushetta with basil, roma tomatoes, garlic, and mozzarella was more than satisfying, as was the complimentary bread, which came warm and fresh, and the house salad. Although I was in the mood for a more traditional entree I found myself tempted away by the Salmon Mango, a generous portion of grilled salmon served with an equally generous amount of fresh, chopped mango, and accompanied by an array of goodies: sautéed roma tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and sun dried tomatoes. Not at all your standard Italian dish, but every bite was delicious. For dessert our table lingered over a wonderful tiramisu--which we split--and mugs of coffee. The entire evening was relaxed and pleasing, thanks to the whole new environment that's been created in the space of my long-departed Georgia Avenue favorite. The lively crowd is also a definite part of Olazzo's appeal, as are the reasonable prices. On my way out I noticed that Olazzo was named City Paper's "Best Red-Sauce Italian Restaurant" for 2008, which means next time I'll be going traditional.
(4)Zachary H.
Ever been to an Italian restaurant where, immediately after walking in, you feel as though you have been transported into a Martin Scorsese film and begin donning a fake Italian-American accent, just to make the experience a little more believable? If not, Olazzo is your place! There are a couple Italian restaurants in Silver Spring and Olazzo, thus far, is our favorite, though I will say that I think we enjoyed the classic Italian decor more than the food itself. Our first visit consisted of two entrees -- the eggplant parmasan and a house salad with steak. To round out the meal, we also both had martinis - an Italian surfer and a classic dirty martini. Both of our entrees were good -- my fiance is a pretty harsh critic of eggplant parmasan, as it's her favorite Italian dish. I'm not much of a salad guy, but I found the house salad with steak to be decent. Though I was surprised by the breaded/fried steak peices at first, I ultimately enjoyed them. Both entrees were a solid three stars. Though the food was a bit forgettable, the drinks were not. My dirty martini was one of the best I have ever had! The Italian Surfer was sweet, but also quite good. Great martinis with passable Italian food made for a good evening. On the ultimate test, which is always whether we would return or not, we have decided yes. Both of us are interested in the advertised Sunday brunch and may decide to pay them a visit on our next hung over Sunday morning.
(3)Jamon B.
Terrific vegetarian lasagne. First of all, it's great that this place even has vegetarian lasagne, as most Italian restaurants don't. But it's actually good, too. Solid traditional Italian food. Also, I really like the atmosphere. It's like a friendly neighborhood pub, with exposed brick walls, a tv playing sports, chatty waiters, and apparent regulars. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Jon W.
Had lived in Silver Spring for several years and walked by the place dozens of times, never trying it. How sad for me. What you would hope for from a typical Italian American joint...Uncomplicated but tasty, generous portions, slightly al dente pasta and good sauce. Can vouch for the Chicken Cardinale, pasta primavera and the ravioli rose. Inside is small, but doesn't feel too cramped, but I usually do take out in any case.
(4)Dee H.
On my way from another restaurant in Silver Sprung that was a 30 minute plus wait and out of menu Items. We decided to stop here to try some Italian options here that was not Macaroni grill or Olive garden. This place seems small, very dark but felt cozy enuff to take the edge off a cold winter night. we were promptly seated which is good for a weekend night (even though our table was near the door which gave us a chilly draft to remind us that it is still indeed winter) I can't clap to the barstool tables, but you get to see almost everything happening there. On to the food. The garlic bread was very cheesy and served with piping hot marinara sauce ( i burnt my tongue) and the food portions were huge... enough for 2 people, but it is an italian pasta place, right? I wasn't blown away from the food presentation or the tastes, but it was better than average. The menu seems to have most of your favorite Italian dishes with a few specialties. The Special sounded good tho: Tilapia covered with crab meat served over Linguine? I think that may be worth a return trip. The prices work well too for the amount of food you get (most entree's were like 10-15 bucks), so you can have leftovers for your monday lunch that's not mickey d's!
(3)Ollie G.
Delicious baked ziti and nice ambiance!
(4)Dak F.
Good food with humane portions. Great atmosphere for a date (if you can overlook the LCD fireplaces). The caprese salad is a winner. As are the chicken parm and the linguine with clam. Solid.
(4)Mark O.
Nothing spectacular here. The marinara was bland, and the penne overcooked. I won't be back.
(2)Alexander M.
We are regulars here and have never been disappointed. The food is always amazing, the bar staff knows our name, and the martinis are the best! I love the Olazzo little bitter with the red wine but makes it fun!
(5)George N.
had their food at the italian embassy where they catered the dinner. good pasta, but their canoli was great, the food was devoured faster than a ferrari f 40 will have to try out the restaurant soon the owner was friendly and down to earth
(4)Jean L.
Yum~ My friends took me out for my birthday last night and this place was really great! I don't really know how to review this place without making it sound like adding on to Ina K's review so I won't try. Take a looksie at Ina's review for more details~ Like Ina, I was really impressed with the service. I don't know what it is about working at Olazzo but the servers seemed especially happy. They aren't quite like Chotchkie's Brian, but they smile and they're really polite. They even say "excuse me" for reaching over the table to set food down. Haha, maybe I'm being a little particular, but I was more than satisfied with how frequently they refilled our glasses--it wasn't just a one time deal. I had the Pasta alla checca and it was great! I'm a little wary of pasta tossed with olive oil because I've had it done wrong plenty of times, but it was really good here. The tomatoes weren't cut too small (and there were plenty pieces), the basil was fresh... and the sauce was done well. I'm not a fan of when the oil separates and becomes visible, but it stayed nice and emulsified throughout over at Olazzo's. I sort of wish now that I had tried a bite of the others' dishes just so I can describe it but I was just so satisfied with my own. Their calamari was also great. Tender and seasoned just right--not too salty, which has generally been the case for me. The only thing about the presentation in the large martini glass is that, and maybe I'm really lazy for noticing, tall glass on a perfect-height table + what I think is a fairly average torso length = stretching your neck out like a turtle to look inside the solid napkin-lined glass. Innovative, yes... practical, maybe not. The portion of the calamari must've been pretty big because the five of us didn't even finish it (there were a couple pieces left)... OR, it might've been the bread. Yum!!! I love my carbs so imagine my delight in being presented with a steaming loaf and a mix of olive oil and balsamic. With a crackly crust and a soft inside, it was just the way I like my bread. We finished the first loaf in record time, got another and finished that one too! The salad, though not especially memorable, was everything a salad should be--light and fresh. You won't find any wilted leaves here~ I was given the honor of choosing the dessert on behalf of my birthday and I was stuck between the cannoli and the lemon cheesecake. A slice of cake is probably easier to share... anway, I went with the lemon cheesecake and it did not disappoint! Everyone seemed to like it~ The texture was amazing because of the ricotta. I think ricotta cheesecakes somehow manage to be rich and light at the same time. The flavor was balanced. Not too much of anything~ As much as I like lemon, sometimes places get a bit too into it, but the lemon flavor was subtle, but definitely present--delicate comes to mind. It was so good, I ended up finishing it off! Another thing I remember is that they cleared the table with great efficiency. He managed to stack up all our heavy, near-empty-empty plates along one arm, leaving the other arm free!
(4)Lina N.
3.5 stars. The flavors aren't very sophisticated and the pasta is from a box, but the food is consistent and they give a generous portion of vegetables with your meal if you ask to substitute vegetables for pasta. Included with every meal is a nice portion of bread/olive oil and a respectable salad. Considering what restaurants are doing to save money these days, Olazzo is a very good value and a solid place to visit for a weekday meal. Servers are also pretty nice. My only complaint is that the sound in the front room seems to resonate off the walls on a busy night.
(3)James T.
I ate at Olazzo today for lunch. This newish Silver Spring restaurant is in the "Old Strip," or that which is not Silver Sprung. It gets automatic points just for being on Georgia Avenue instead of in that bastion of banality that popped up a couple years ago and brought such suburban threats as The Red Lobster and Eggspectations to town. The decor is nice and cozy and the service was friendly, competent and attentive. I had high hopes. I did raise an eyebrow when I saw the "Meatball Salad," described as "meatballs and marinara sauce over a house salad." Say what?? Well, anyway, not ordering that, but anyhoo... Alas, the food was merely average. I skipped over the numerous sandwich offerings and went straight for classic spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were decent if not thrilling, but the pasta was overcooked and the sauce completely unremarkable. There was nothing really bad about the food, it just wasn't any better than you'd get at some place like Maggiano's. I sampled a few other dishes that others were eating and had about the same reaction - passable but nothing exciting. I think I'll be back, but try the sandwiches instead. One person at our table had a proscuitto & mozzerella sandwich which looked good, this could be the way to go at lunchtime. I'm not sure if the dinner menu is different but perhaps the entrees will be a bit more inspired in the evening hours. Overall, it's decent and the prices are reasonable. It's a friendly, cozy spot, so I'll be back, but I can't rate higher than 3 stars because the food just didn't inspire.
(3)Stephen R.
The perfect place to take a date in Silver Spring. Wonderful Atmosphere and Food. They have a great selection of Martinis which always makes the Mrs. happy. I have always gotten superb service. I don't think you can find a better pasta than their Shrimp Rose and they have the best Tiramisu I have ever had.
(5)Lisa Z.
Good, Simple Italian food. The waiter even said that right out -- that the menu was full of simple dishes done very well. She was right; the pastas delivered. And the prices were great for one of the nicer looking restaurants in Silver Spring. Plus, there were actual Italians at the restaurant, adding a bit of authenticity to the place! I liked the bar-style seating in the front area, and the open brick look gave a good feel to it. It wasn't too loud in there, but it was a bit dark. I'd say Olazzo is good for a semi-casual date when you live in SS and don't want to travel far. You won't need to spend a lot on a tasty, real Italian meal.
(4)John G.
Wow. I can't believe I've lived in Silver Spring for 4 years and just came here for the first time a few months ago. We've been come back about every other week since. Great food and amazing service.
(5)Jim W.
I wasn't that impressed on my first visit to Olazzo, but last night we decided to give it another try and I'm glad we did. The service was quick and the food was enjoyable. If you find yourself in Silver Spring and need a pasta fix give them a try.
(3)Gabby D.
Ordered take out. The menu was very selective. Ordered the Chicken fettuccine and the lasagna. Literally to die for. The salad was fresh as the bread. Would def recommend this to anyone in the Silver spring, MD area
(4)Mimi X.
This place is very attractive and pleasant inside, which is amazing if you ever ate there in its previous incarnation as Half Moon BBQ. The flatscreen with the fireplace DVD on repeat first struck me as cheesy, but then, bizarrely, fooled me anyway and made me feel warm and cozy. Both pasta entrees I've had here have been very good, and Mr. X loves the cheesy garlic bread appetizer. They have a surprisingly long martini/drink menu, and I've liked the ones I've tried. My one quibble: the second time I went, we sat in the very front, where the Olympics were on the front TVs, just a few feet from our heads, and it was sooooo distracting. This was not Michael Phelps going for a record or the World Series or a Redskins game or something, where I might think, well, there are probably a lot of people here who are interested... it was Olympic women's diving and no one was really watching, just getting distracted/hypnotized by it... Why did they have it on? Was the bartender bored or something? Next time I'll ask to be seated away from the front TVs, either in the back room or by the TV that's dedicated to being a fake fireplace (ha).
(4)Amanda H.
Don't be fooled by the surrounding businesses - Olazzo is a cool, trendy restaurant with great food! Atmosphere: I admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, but once you walk through the door, it feels like you have left Silver Spring. The bar area is small, but very cool with exposed brick walls and cool photographs on the walls. They also have one flat panel in the bar area that plays old silent movies. There are a couple other flat panels at the bar that have sporting events on them. Olazzo is small, so make sure to book a table ahead of time. However, aside from the bar, there is a good size back room. Food: I had the sea bass special and it was delicious. We also had the meatball sliders which were very tasty. The price was reasonable and it was an overall great experience.
(4)Rachel H.
We took a friend to dinner there the other night. We thought the atmosphere was great and the warm ciabatta served before our meals was delicious, but the pasta dishes were nothing special. We won't go back anytime soon.
(2)Debbie C.
The hours on this website and on THEIR website are not accurate. I tried to go there for lunch today (Sunday) at 2pm... and I was sorely disappointed. Imagine, it takes 2 hours to get to and from Silver Spring. And they were closed. Very disappointed.
(3)Sheila W.
I've had two meals here, one with 10 people and the other with 5, and all in both groups were satisfied with the food and service. It's Italian food with soul and just the right touch of yuppieness. I had the mango salmon and the penne with meatballs (at two separate sittings)....both were great. Others raved about the eggplant dish. Large servings were polished off by people who normally eat with restraint. My one complaint is that is was a bit loud by the bar and we had a little trouble hearing each other on a Saturday night. I think it would be a great place for a date. Not ideal for young children.
(4)Charles A.
Always good for lunch or dinner. Great Northern Italian, simple but very good, fresh ingredients. Great staff and owners.
(4)Bowser H.
Had early dinner(4:30pm) with a friend of mine who recommended the place. We ate in the backroom, which reminded me of a secret hideout for Robin Hood and his Hoodlum friends. The place was dimly lit giving the aura of a romantic setting that I and my heterosexual guy friend could only counter-act with a unsettling need to instantly turn the room into the unspoken 'fight club.' Our waitress was very attentive, delivery of the food and timing of it was like her dress attire, punctual . My plate(the special), the shrimp stuffed with crabmeat was so-so. A dry bland pasta with ULTRA flavorful sun dried tomatoes. The flavor of it was like watching Heather Locklear having sex with David Spade, quaint yet cohesive, but very imbalanced. My boys plate was a hit though (fetuccini alfredo with steak melanese). The Calamari was exquisite, light fluffy with a tinge of salt for that seaside reminder (better than Ruth's Chris?). The calamari also came out very quick, like Pho bowl quick, which was surprising. The beer comes in a very tall glass, not sure how many ounces since I don't drink, but needless to say, it was a good deal. Overall, its a really nice place with overall good food without the pretentiousness, that would make you want to stab a dining neighbor with a steak knife, prick them with a salad fork? Maybe. But yeah, good eats, good times.
(4)PAUL G.
Great place for Italian food. Wonderful selection. Had the grape leaf appetizer which was splendid. Pasta primavera was good, but nothing special - the Lasagna Bolognese was great! Good service, very attentive. Found through an online discount restaurant site. No problem using voucher.
(4)Bill D.
This place is great! It's small and cozy, but still big enough to be comfortable. The food is delicious--tastes home-made. It doesn't seem fancy, but it's great cooking. Try the gnocchi, that's probably my favorite on the menu. The service was friendly, attentive (but not smotheringly-so), and quick. It's very affordable, things are very reasonably priced. If you're looking for great food, service, and atmosphere at a reasonable price, you're not going to get much better than this.
(5)Joanne C.
I went here one night with my boyfriend and a friend of his. We had to wait for a table because the place was packed, but all three of us had finally decided on a place to eat, and we were sticking to it. I'm actually fairly glad we did. The food here was delicious, however the best surprise was our waiter. I used to go to Tower Oaks in Rockville when I lived near there and there was a fantastic waiter there named Ryan (I think). Well, low and behold Ryan is now working at Olazzo and was super attentive and very helpful.
(4)Robin B.
We had a great time last night at Olazzo. They had a decent martini list, which was fun. We all liked our dinners, but the winner of the night were the Meatball Sliders that we got as an appetizer. So yummy!
(4)Semra E.
I came here a few times and it's usually been because of the group of friends I was with just wanted to have enough space to sit down and be somewhere in the cut in the back of the establishment...which is fine. I have come here before on a date and honestly wasn't really impressed with the food. I got the shrimp Linguine in butter/ wine sauce. It was really drippy and yet still pretty flavorless, almost tasted watered down. The wine that I had there was OK, not the best I've had before and didn't really compliment the food. What is cool about the space here is the cozy feel it has, there's a fake fire being displayed on a plasma screen next to the bar, the entire place has red brick walls and there are thick dark wood tables (that look medieval style) that are the tables they use there. It's worth it if you're going for hard drinks and want a good happy hour (Mondays= half off bottles of wine. Tues. = $5 Martinis).
(2)Jennifer C.
I live in the area and my boyfriend and I eat here all the time. I love this place. For starters, Olazzo is owned by two brothers who are there most nights. The bartenders are friendly and very attentive. We only sit at the bars because I feel you get the best service at all restaurants by sitting at the bar. There is great ambiance, even with the falsie fire place over in the corner. The menu is "off the chain" and the nightly specials are almost always delicious.
(5)Clay F.
My husband and I ate at this restaurant tonight to celebrate our anniversary. We were seated in the back room, which was pleasant enough, though a little dark. There was some sort of soft jazz playing on the sound system -- not altogether our taste, but it was not obtrusive and was quiet enough for conversation. Service was quick but not rushed, and the wait staff was efficient and friendly. The bread was excellent -- warm, slightly crusty, sourdough, served with a small dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was a large plate of fried rings of calamari served on a bed of greens with a tomato-based dipping sauce and fresh lemons. The calamari was very tender, and the flavor good. For the main course, we had the ravioli rose, which was ravioli filled with ricotta served with a tomato cream sauce. The portion was generous, and the dish was well seasoned and satisfying. We also had the grilled eggplant, which consisted of thin slices of eggplant served with roasted red peppers and fresh mozarella, slightly melted, over well-seasoned thin spaghetti with olive oil and garlic. The salad, which came with the entree, was very good: mixed romaine and baby greens with red onion and slices of peeled cucumber with an oil and vinegar dressing and a bit of parmesan. I had a glass of Pinot Noir, which was fine (I'm not a wine expert, though). My husband had a cup of espresso, which was also fine. We didn't try the desserts. Perhaps another time. We definitely will try this place again. Note: just noticed that this is under my husband's name. I am not Clay! But he agrees with everything I wrote here. :)
(4)K S.
Living a couple blocks away, glad to have found a "neighborhood restaurant" that is reasonable priced, unpretentious, with great food. I go often and the service, quality, and atmosphere are consistently fabulous. 'Nuff said.
(5)Maya E.
We have been to Olazzo twice now and have really enjoyed our experience both times. The food was quite good, the portions were large, and the atmosphere was lively. A solid four stars.
(4)Mic X.
you can't please everybody, right? ticky tack calls (as a certain sports announcer would say) on olazzo. people seem to want to tear this place apart for not reinventing pasta. this place is an extremely nice place to eat a reasonably priced solid italianamericano meal. had the sausage & peppers, chicken parmesan, fettuccini alfredo, caprese salad, calamari, cicken milanese..... all of which were solid to mighty fine in taste and presentation. if you want a nice meal in a nice place at a nice price then come to olazzo.
(4)jenny h.
I had the penne primavera and my husband got the gnocchi. The dishes were solid, especially the gnocchi. Atmosphere is clean and cozy. However, the menu is very limited. I would have appreciated a few more vegetarian or seafood options.
(3)Peter H.
I would like to see a rotating menu. Great neighborhood Southern Italian .... I would love to see some new items to constantly stimulate my interest.
(4)Milton R.
Great food, great decor. Get the calamari. Highly recommend.
(4)Lauren M.
Made a reservation at this place for an anniversary with my boyfriend, also it was less than 5 min walking distance from my house, which was a plus. SUCH a good place! I didn't realize how far back the restaurant went! Even though I had a reservation, we got there early and they sat us right away. Our waitress was very nice, not too eager to speed up our time and didn't always come by and ask how we were doing, which is a pet peeve of mine, when waitresses (waiters) come by constantly and bug us. Both myself and my boyfriend had a nice glass of wine (merlot and pinot noir), shared the bruschetta...which was a very fancy, busy version of the original. It was toasted and had mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes, garlic...it was superb. Both had house salads that came with our entrees, they were small but it was great because I needed room for my entree. I had the spinach and roasted garlic florentine and my boyfriend had the chicken carnindale. Both were so delicious! I highly recommend this place. The setting was very intimate, which was nice. Not loud at all, but it was a bit crowded in that the tables were pretty close together, but I didn't really mind that. I will definitely come back! It was a bit pricey, but worth it because the entrees were large enough for both of us to take leftovers home. Also, I just had my boyfriend's leftovers for lunch, still so amazing. Maybe I will come back here when they have their half off martini night!
(5)Andrea T.
I found this restaurant on Yelp! Thanks, Yelp! Anyway, our friend was in town visiting from Germany (he's America) and was craving Italian food. The place is very dark and romantic... a great date spot. They have endless warm crusty bread with olive oil for dipping which we loved. Our friends ordered linguine with clam sauce and chicken parm. I'm a vegan so I will have to take their word at the food being pretty good. My favorite part, however, is that we asked our cute perky waitress if we could just order spaghetti marinara (there are otherwise no other meatless (let alone dairy free or remotely vegan) items on their menu) and she said, "Of course!" It was simple, and our food was okay but I was nervous about how much it was going to cost. Our food was much simpler than our friends' meals, and I was worried we'd be charged $14.95 a plate. The best surprise was when we got the bill and our meatless entrees were only $8 a piece! We were very happy about that. If more friends are in the mood for Italian, we'll definitely go back.
(3)Dora F.
Came here on a Monday night for dinner-- 2 couples, plus one 10-month old baby. They sat us at the front-most table, and were quite accommodating with the baby. The service was an 8/10. The server was really nice to us, but seemed really distracted. The entrees were FANTASTIC. Everyone loved their meal. When our server told us the specials, he gave us the prices, which I really appreciated. My husband had a Manhattan, which he's usually really picky about, and he said that it tasted great. The only thing I didn't like was their warm brownie with panna cotta. The brownie was not really warm, and the panna cotta didn't have much of a flavor. Their cannoli and tiramisu, though: to die for. I usually don't like tiramisu and I had half of my husband's because it was so good.
(4)marsha s.
Thanks yelpers, I figured out something to be able to post reviews. This place is a great getaway for lunch if you want to spend an afternoon eating and drinking. It's a very intimate ( small) place and the bar fills up with what I assume are regulars. The food is very reasonably priced and delicious. I had mango salmon. The salmon was grilled and moist with a sweet glaze, topped with ripe mango cubes. My friend had the Eggplant Parmesan which was quite good. Olazzo has a highly rated red sauce, of which , unfortunately, I cannot partake because it's too much acid for my ol' belly, but I did take a bite and it was just right. Most of the entrees can be had as a meal or sandwich or salad, and they have quite a few low carb options. That's good if that's what you want to do, but the bread was pretty good, too. I would go back because it is a tremendous value. No entree at lunch is over $12. Service is attentive and the atmosphere is charming with old photos of Italians being Italians. The interior is newly done.
(4)Pamella N.
Delicious food!!!! My girlfriend and I had dinner there on saturday nite, and we both enjoyed our meals. Ordered Calamari for our appetizer, it was good but our plate was not overflowing as one customer wrote in their review, it was sparse. Apparently our waiter was new, because we had to ask for our setups, water and bread! We ordered wine and one glass came up short, the waiter mentioned that the was all that was left in the bottle, so we should decide who would get the glass with the most wine in it. When we requested the bill, that movement was expedient. Undecided as to whether we will return or not.
(4)Jeff P.
I dropped by this place for a quick meal last night while waiting for my car to get serviced, and I was pleasantly surprised. I sat at the bar and partook in some lively conversation with the bartenders Gabriel and Paul, who were both good gents. I had a plate of penne marinara with meatballs, and it was delicious. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the meatballs were flavorful, and the sauce was thick. It also came with a side salad and some bread, both of which were good too. Especially the bread, which had a hard crust but was chewy soft on the inside, just how it should be. Finally, they had Peroni on tap, which made my night. Overall a very nice experience, and I will definitely bring some of my friends back here sometime.
(4)Leigh S.
I came here for a first date almost 3 years ago, and we have been coming back to Olazzo ever since... I love the modern yet cozy feel to it, and have always had friendly and good service - although if the restaurant is full, you can expect to have less than prompt service. The food is simple and delicious, and on half price wine night, a good value. Your meal comes with great bread with oil and balsamic, plus a starter salad - so appetizers aren't really a necessity, but the caprese salad is on point. The ravioli rose and (if you're feeling indulgent) the alfredo with chicken is amazing. I recently had the butternut squash ravioli on special - I'd highly recommend it if its offered again. Sweet, yet spicy. Delicious!
(4)T D.
Easily the best Italian in Silver Spring. We visited on a Friday evening and it was quite crowded, its a small-ish place. Great service considering it was quite busy. Food was good with large portions served very hot. I ordered chicken parm, and would do so again. Atmosphere is pretty cool and really surprised me for Silver Spring. The ceiling in the back of the restaurant is neat. The prices on the menu were awesome and you certainly get your money's worth here. A nice house salad and bread is served with each entree. You should check this place out!
(4)Jennifer F.
I moved to Silver Spring with my husband last year and we immediately were on the hunt to find great eateries in the area. Olazzo's tops our list. It's a great atmosphere (nice, small hole in the wall italian restaurant complete with old black&white classic movie playing at the bar 24/7), everything on the menu is great (yes, we've had everything), the drinks are great, the service is always wonderful, and we don't break the bank going out for dinner there. We prefer to eat in the front room (bar area), but there's also a back room which is convenient when it gets pretty busy (& it can get very busy on the weekends 7-8pm-ish). This is our go-to place for date & night and taking out our guests when they come to visit!
(5)Kenneth C.
I have eaten here several times, usually for lunch. Their salads (with chicken or salmon) are reasonably portioned and priced. Also the chicken cardinale is quite tasty. I am not a "bread-a-holic" by any means, but the bread with dinner comes warm and melts in your mouth. Nice staff, which don't get too stressed during busy periods. I haven't hit a happy-hour there yet, so I have to reserve a star for that.
(4)Virginia S.
I have eaten here a number of times and every time it has been delicious. And the service is always excellent. I would recommend this place to my friends.
(4)Steve Y.
This is a very good addition to the Silver Spring restaurant scene. I've been twice and on both occasions I've had a very good experience. The restaurant itself is best described as long and narrow (and perhaps just a tad dark), but nicely furnished and highlighted by exposed bricks. My one criticism is with the flat panel TVs over the bar - a real restaurant shouldn't have TVs, they're too distracting. TVs are also used as faux fireplaces - a little cheesy in my opinion, however I have to admit that I couldn't help staring at them from time to time. The food is excellent, particularly considering the price - most entrees are in the low to mid teens. I've had the Shrimp Rose and the Pasta Alla Checca w/ shrimp - both were very tasty and plentiful. The entrees come with a decent enough salad and plenty of crusty bread so an appetizer is usually not necessary. For desert I've had the tiramisu - very nice although a slightly different version than I am used to. Wine selection is fairly good, particularly for Montgomery County, and the prices are not unreasonable. Service has always been very good, although the last time we were there it was almost too attentive. I guess my overall view is that it's a good restaurant so I don't know why they also try to be a sports bar by having the flat panel TVs. I think they should ditch the TVs and focus on what's good - the food, the service and the general look of the place.
(4)Pat B.
We sat at the bar for only about 10 minutes to wait for a table.The bartender wAs pleasant and knew his wines. Once seated our party of three ordered three different pasta dishes. The food was good, the prices reasonable and the service was good. It's also nice to have a restaurant like this less than a mile away from your home.
(4)Brownie B.
After taking a stroll on Georgia Avenue, I noticed this place. I figured I would eventually check it out, so, met up with a lady friend for drinks, and I was pretty impressed. I didn't check the back dining area to see what that was like, but got a table up front. Friendly waitstaff. I ordered an appetizer, some mozzarella and tomato dish. Excellent. The tomato was perfectly seasoned and tasted fresh. Also ordered the banana martini and white chocolate martini. I generally drink dirty martinis, but figured I would try something different. Impressed - I hate sweet drinks, but these were very tolerable. I was also happy with my check, thought I was undercharged, and then I see they had $5 martinis on Tuesday night. Loved the atmosphere. I could probably chill at the bar and catch a baseball game or something, too. The place isn't huge, but comfortable and with a nice vibe from the crowd...Definitely worth checking out if in downtown Silver Spring.
(4)Susan P.
Really nice personnel...it's a small place, gets crowded fast. Entrees were really good, salad was okay (only house dressing which I didn't care for). Bread was good. Service very attentive. Per my daughter the cannoli was good as well. There are so many choices in DC, but I would make a point of returning here. It was good, and consistent with other yelpers reviews.
(4)Becky T.
I had the best 5 star lunch here. I had a craving for spaghetti and meatballs after seeing a beautiful picture of some on the cover of Gourmet magazine this month and this place definitely satisfied that want. The decor was nice and cozy and service was superb. Our waiter was friendly and patient and our water glasses were always filled. We had the garlic bread which came with an awesome marinara sauce and then I had my pasta and meatballs. It was just as I lusted for. The meatballs were huge and meaty and served over some penne with a fresh tasting tomato sauce. My friends' chicken parmigiana and steak alfredo were also to die for. The meats were pounded thin, lightly breaded and cooked to the perfect crispness while still maintaining moistness of the protein. To top it all off was homemade tiramisui and a ricotta-cream cheese cheesecake. I also had one of their dessert martinis, the creme brulee, which was delicious though not very creme brulee like. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a nicer dining experience. What made it even better was that the price of their lunch entrees were generally under $10. The martini cost as much as the pasta dish. I'll be back again though for sure. Monday nights is half off bottled wines and Tuesday nights is $5 martini nights. They haven't been on the Washingtonian best cheapest eats list year after year for nothing.
(5)Greg H.
Visiting from Austin,Tx. Friends we are staying with took us to this very decently priced Italian eatery with nice sized portions. Nice interior, very good service. The wine list is a bit small but again, decently priced. On Mondays, they have 1/2 price bottle special. We had the Eggplant parmesian (served over penne..bit of an odd choice there for the chefs) and Chicken Cardinale. Both were good. Not out of this world good but good. For a party of four, with 2 bottles of wine, four entrees', and 1 appetizer, we got out for $130 which I consider a pretty good value.
(4)Steve B.
My two friends and I had a fine meal at the Silver Spring location two days ago. The atmosphere was charming and our server, Megan, was on time and intuitive. She was also funny and we enjoyed a witty repartee during the meal. She also recommended dishes that were just what we wanted. I recommend the restaurant and our server! PS. the Tiramisu was surprisingly good.
(4)Rowena E.
you gotta love cozy local italian joints. food was good, the prices pretty reasonable for what you get, and the service was great. our waiter Adam, was friendly, not pushy, offered great suggestions, and kind of reminded me of will ferrel - he had a great big grin and smiled the whole time even though the place was packed and it was 95 degrees outside. you could tell the staff enjoys working here. like other yelpers said, the space is a bit narrow, dark, and kinda pub-like with a bar on one side and a flat screen TV showing a faux fireplace for ambiance on the back wall. sweet! Only complaints are that it was really hot in the restaurant due to the humidity and weather outside, and all they did was open the door to let in even more hot air and humidity. wish they brought out a fan or two to make it a bit more bearable. also, the tall chairs/stools were a bit uncomfortable to sit in, esp. if you're short and your legs don't touch the foot rest. portions are huge so go easy on the bread and appetizers and order something that reheats well so you can take it home. we ordered the calamari appetizer, clams with white sauce, chicken parm, and lasagna bolognese (meat sauce). all were good but we were so stuffed from the calamari and bread, we could barely put a dent in them. Then topped it all off with a super yummy tiramasu - flavorful, but you could still taste the marscapone cheese, and my cousin said "it just melts in your mouth." even though we were stuffed and all bringing home leftovers, we still scarfed down that dessert and licked the plates.
(4)Tara B.
Went here for a meeting with my college friends. I ordered the Sausage and Peppers disk. Awesome. Me and my hubby will definitely return.
(4)Jacob G.
Hands down was the best lasagna I've ever had.
(5)Doug S.
Chicken cardinale was good, but i seriously doubt this was roasted. Stuffed dates were too sweet for my tastes. We had local "takeout taxi" deliver . Prompt, but a $24 dinner turned into $37. OMG, really???
(3)Shawn W.
This place never ceases to amaze me with their quality of food and service. The meatball sliders and arancini are a great way to start the meal. I recommend the penne with meatballs and sausage for a filling and greatly satisfying entree!
(5)Bruce C.
I've always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere at Olazzo in SS, and I had no idea it could get even better. I've done so much bragging about "my place" that I finally decided to share via their catering for a Broker's Open House. The food was ready as promised, and they obviously have their system down to a science. I had an Italiano platter, a Vegetariano platter, Bruschetta, tortellini, and sliders. Every agent that visited complimented the presentation, then went from noshing to grabbing a plate and devouring the food. I dare to say that as much a positive impression the house made, the food remained a vivid impression in their minds, and I was a star for introducing the other agents to my favorite spot: Olazzo!!
(5)Kristin M.
For you review skimmers out there, I'll start with the most important info: $5 martinis on Tuesdays. And there's a lot to choose from, whether you're a true cocktail drinker or you'd really prefer get drunk on iced mochas. Happy hour's Wednesday-Friday, 4:30-6:30. Now, on to the rest: Narrow and dimly lit with lots of brick and a cozy dining room tucked behind the front bar area, Olazzo's a solid choice for an intimate but not-too-stuffy Italian dinner or drinks with friends or a date. The front room has a good sized bar and a few tables and booths and not much standing room. It can get crowded even on weeknights, especially Tuesdays. Friendly, festive atmosphere, and gets plenty noisy, but still feels a little romantic because it's dark and cozy without being divey. Walk straight through to get to the dining room, which has a slightly warmer feel (the fireplace screensaver thing is pretty hilarious, and oddly appealing...) and enough space to seat a couple large groups if need be. Be forewarned that if you're carbs-averse, this isn't the best place for you. First, they start you off with warm, delicious, crusty-on-outside, soft-on-the-inside ciabatta with oil and vinegar. It's problematically irresistible. Then you get to the menu - there's only one page of food options, and almost all the entrees are pasta. But I mean, it's an Italian restaurant, so I guess man up or go home. (I didn't; I had the salmon, and it was nothin special. I blame myself for not manning up.)
(4)Sammy A.
Definitely an essential part of the DSS cannon. So close to quarry house and sidebar so your in the perfect spot for a great time. Monday night half-off wine bottle makes for a great, quaint date spot. Their Tuesday Martini has gotta be my favorite,$6 for a great cocktail (be weary though, some bartenders are greater than others (of course)). The Brooklyn,whiskey rebel & the classic manhattan is always a great choice though. The best part is, their food is actually quite good. Balsamic & Evoo greet your palate upon your food order. So whether a quick lunch sandwich with a Tuesday martini or their lasagna for a Monday night dinner (try it with the rose sauce= amazing). You can't really go wrong at Olazzo.
(4)Mike M.
Every time we come here, we have a delicious meal for a reasonable price and the atmosphere is really cozy and the service is superb. They don't skimp on the cocktails. Be sure to try the stuffed figs appetizer, the shrimp and crab rosé, and the tiramisu! A truly great restaurant - I highly recommend it!
(5)David W.
Stumbled into this place by chance. My wife and two daughters were coming out of a movie and needed some good food. I remember seeing a review of Olazzo. We were not disappointed. Wonderful atmosphere. Excellent Service and tasty cuisine. We will certainly visit again soon. Prices were very reasonable. A neighborhood gem.
(5)Muriel H.
Dinner was sooo good! My husband and I went here for a date night and we will definitely be going back soon. We were greeted with warm bread and olive oil with vinagrett which was delish. We ordered the stuffed dates appetizer which was stuffed with cheese and topped with pancetta. I thought that it was wrapped in it according to the menu but it was not. I would have preferred more pancetta. My husband was not a fan. I liked it but I probably will not order it again because it was too tangy for my taste buds. House salads came with our dinner which was pretty good. I ordered the shrimp and crab pasta rose...AMAZING! My husband ordered the lasagna bolognese sauce, also pretty good. Their servings are pretty large and we ended up taking the rest of our food home which served as awesome leftovers. I also had a really good white chocolate martini. I am a fan!
(4)Ashley E.
whaaat????? how have I been in DC for years and never tried Olazzo? I knew it was going to be phenomenal before I even had the opportunity to dine here- my friend who lived in Italy for years said Olazzo is the best. So, on a rainy night, my boyfriend and I walked in to the most comfortable, italian eatery in the DC metro area. Amazing warm ciabatta, calamari, eggplant parm, linguine with clams, and my personal favorite: arancini (fried saffron risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella served with marinara $8). one of the best things I have ever eaten. HUGE BONUS: $5, YES $5 MARTINIS ON TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (my maker's mark manhattan was $6- totally worth the extra buck)
(5)Eric C.
I came here recently and I was highly impressed by the place. The ambiance was elegant, yet relaxed. I got the calamari and it was fairly good. It could have had more flavor and seasoning, but it was good enough for me to want to come back and take a stab at the rest of the menu. In other words, excellent decor, B+ food, and standard prices. A-OK!
(3)Annette E.
The chicken cardinale was great!!! The food is absolutely wonderful here. I'm glad I decided to eat here!!
(5)Ritzie C.
Here's the long and short of it: Olazzo is consistent and good. The atmosphere is dimly lit and quiet - a perfect place for a laid back date night. The pastas are all done well and I'm a fan of the lasagna bolognese and shrimp and crab rose. Upon being seated, you'll be served bread, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil prior to your meal. If you fancy an appetizer (that's right, I just turned British), I would highly recommend the goat cheese stuffed dates, wrapped in pancetta and served in a chianti reduction. They're very rich but oh so good. Steer clear of the arancini - which seems like a safe bet anywhere but these are mildly disappointing with their lack of flavor. Overall, you'll get a good meal here. Not outstanding or stellar, but solid and satisfying. I hear they do $5 martinis on Tuesday night. If their large variety of martinis are as good as the chocolate martini I had for dessert, I will venture out here on Tuesday. I wonder how well the bartenders deal with sloppy martini girls ... only one way to find out!
(3)Lowell N.
Wonderful satisfying meal at an excellent price. We had stuffed dates, Pasta primavera, and spinach/garlic tortellini. Crispy side-salad with the entrees was a nice touch. Excellent homemade pasta, and generous servings. Bread with the meal also very fresh and delicious. The restaurant is long and narrow, and a bit cramped, so don't plan on anything very private! Our waitress was a bit distracted but generally got us what we needed.
(4)Sarah K.
I went to olazzo for the second time this week and it was just as good as I remember it being the time. It was my 2nd wedding anniversary dinner and we wanted to go somewhere cozy and close to home. Our food was very good and the service was also great. The server checked in just enough times to be attentive--yet not annoying. We were seated in the back room and it was a bit tight/cramped at our table. The tables could stand to be a little bigger to accommodate the large plates the food is served on. We had the calamari to start (yum) and I had chicken Alfredo and my husband had chicken parm...both were very tasty. I'll definitely be returning to olazzo in the future.
(4)Jamila C.
Great random find for some Italian dining. My girls and I needed to eat and wanted to have a few drinks before a show at the Fillmore. This was my first time in MD, so I was excited. The booths are so fun, and our server was great. I had the martini margarita - which was mixed with olive juice rather than salt. I actually enjoyed it. We ordered appetizers - calamari, cheesy garlic bread & meatball sliders. I wish they just had meatball marinara appetizer. The calamari was great, garlic bread was alright - needed more cheese :) Nonetheless, great find for an out-of-towner and my local gals!
(4)Aarti B.
Tucked away from downtown SS on the ghetto streets of Georgia Ave, is the hidden gem Olazzo. The only good Italian restaurant in Silver Spring! The restaurant is a bit dark and cozy, which makes the backroom the perfect intimidate place for a date. After I sat down, the server came out with the bread basket. The fluffy bread is delicious and melts in your mouth. I like how the server mixed the olive oil with vinaigrette, it's a nice tangy taste. It beats the oily bread of Macaroni Grille, which is good, but very heavy. I feel full just from eating the bread there. I ordered the pesto linguini and substituted the shrimp for mushrooms (this is a good vegetarian option). To this day, it's the best pesto pasta I've had hands down! The pesto cavatappi at Noodles & Company is an outcry compared to the pesto dish at Olazzo. It's like comparing Comfort Inn to a Ritz-Carlton. The service is very friendly and attentive. I've been to the restaurant 3 times and was always served well and enjoyed my food. The only thing I didn't really care for was the gnocchi bolognese, I tried it without the meat and wasn't very tasty. If you are looking for a great Italian restaurant, forget Macaroni Grille and head over to Olazzo with the help of your date footing the bill!
(5)Adam P.
An excellent authentic Italian restaurant. The second time I've been to Olazzo and this place consistently delivers high-quality and hearty Italian food. The cocktails are a nice mix of traditional and new and the wine list has a good compliment for all price ranges. The service is top-notch and each server I've ever had is extremely attentive. Not being a big pasta lover I simply can't get enough of whatever I'm served. The veal parmesan is fantastic as is the eggplant. To really top things off try the cannoli or the warm browny.
(4)Kevin K.
I hate it when you go to one eatery and then try another of the same name of the same menu and basically of the same service....and you know what happens? It is totally different. I ordered the same dishes as Olazzo Bethesda. Bruschetta, calamari, linguine and clams, and gnocchi. The apps were the same the pasta dishes....totally different. The linguine and clams were soupy? I mean a little residual sauce is fine but it was swimming in sauce. The gnocchi were totally not good....mealy and kinda glutened. Just not my thing. Bethesda you are awesome....SS not so much. Cheers and happy eats.
(1)Tina C.
Fantastic. I went in for an early dinner by myself, and the waitress was friendly and helpful with suggestions. I had the fetuccini alfredo and a Manhattan (perfectly mixed). The restaurant's mood would have been perfect for a date, but even just for reading and hanging out it was lovely. The fettucini alredo could not have been more delicious. It picked up closer to 6:30, mostly couples and families having a nice dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)Nikkia G.
Cannot believe I've been walking by this place everyday for six months and I JUST tried it! I went for dinner with a friend on Tuesday night and I WILL be a repeat customer. The Place- From the outside it looks like a small small with table seating along the walls. So imagine my surprise when the hostess asks if I mind sitting in the back? A little confused I cautiously followed her down a small hallway and into a VERY large room that I would l never guess is there. The place was very roomy, comfortable and an ideal setting to catch up and chat with friend. Drinks- I loved the $5 martini special they have on Tuesdays. Yes, I tried several: the Razberri, the Pompeii and the Old Blue eyes. They were all very good. Dinner- Also no complaints there. I had the Chicken Cardinale- good portion size (I took half home) and great flavors. All and all, I'm SOOOO happy to know there is a GOOD italian place not even a mile from my front door. Good service, good food, good drinks and all affordable- what more can you ask these days?
(4)Evan B.
The standards for restaurants and good food in Silver Spring must be very different than that of the District and Baltimore. The food was sub standard Italian, the chicken tasted like it had come out of a can - very rubbery and the sauce overall was thick and heavy with little to distinguish it from canned sauce. The date appetizer was ok but a little too sweet. We did enjoy the wine though. Won't be coming back here again - much better options just down the road.
(2)Donnie S.
My wife and I went here June 23rd for dinner and really enjoyed ourselves. I can't say it was the greatest Italian dinner of all time, but I would definitely recommend it. We started out with a couple martinis which Olazza specializes in. Both drinks were quite good. We ordered the meatball sliders for an app and absolutely loved them. They were accompanied by fresh baked bread which was quite good but the fact that it is served in a paper napkin takes it down a notch in my opinion. For entrees we order gnocchi bolognese and shrimp and crab rose. Both dishes were quite good. I would say that it was nothing super special but definitely delicious. For dessert we enjoyed the crepes with bananas (whatever it's called). Again, it was good but not mind blowing by any means. The atmosphere was pretty weak, it is stuck somewhere between romantic and hip. I didn't love that. Realistically Olazza should get 3.5 stars but because that's not an option I am going with 4 and being nice. I'm a sucker for local businesses and it was better than 3 stars for sure. If you're looking for some good Italian food in downtown silver spring, you won't be disappointed with Olazzo.
(4)Mo M.
This place is a hidden gem, everything we ordered was amazing and so is the service. Try the Crab and Shrimp Rose! I only wish I knew about this place earlier!
(5)Nita C.
If you're not paying attention as you walk past the other stores/restaurants, then you will miss the entrance door. So my advice-- look up for the black awning with "Olazzo" written on it. When you walk in, you are immediately face-to-face with the bar that takes up about have of the room. There wasn't a hostess or greeter to meet me and my date so it was an awkward minute or two just standing there. On the other side of the long room are a few booths and directly to the left of the door entrance is this big table that sits under the only window for the place. It looks like a table for big groups that want to be by the bar. At the far end of the room is a small flat screen TV with a faux fireplace going (I thought it was nice). After the awkward moment, the bartender greeted us and walked us to our table... Wondering where you are going to sit in the crowded bar? Well, the bartender led us pass the bar and kitchen and towards the back of the restaurant. You have to walk up a small set of stairs and there you will find a dimly lit area with another faux fireplace. It had rafters and hanging foliage/lights. A very intimate setting. The waitress was attentive (even though it was late). The menu was reasonably priced with good portions. The seats were comfortable too. Ironically, they were playing reggae music in the Italian restaurant. Overall, on a Saturday night, it was a nice place to go to before you headed out to your main activity or a nice intimate date if you wanted to get romantic. I would return! Hope this helps! Oh and they do have drink specials.
(4)Sarah W.
AWESOME quaint italian joint in downtown silver spring. great pasta dishes olive oil/balsamic dipping for their warm chewy bread alfredo w/ chicken milanese - yumlicious! crab ravioli rose - friend loved hers
(4)Michael B.
Nice restaurant, limited menu but good pasta dishes and salads.
(4)Mia R.
Meatballs and the bread. That's why I eat here. The bread is fresh baked and served warm with a very good olive oil and balsamic mix (quality is everything, ain't it?) I brought my fiance here when he first visited from the UK...he'd ordered the sausage and peppers pasta (I think its waht they called it)...and I ordered spaghetti with meatballs...he looked at me like "That's such a basic dish...why order that?" I let him taste the meatballs and what happened? We were trading dishes as he wouldn't stop eating off of my plate...and well, since I love him...:-) His only complaint is that the pasta is overcooked...i have to agree with that. They also have really good lentil soup (when its on the menu). I usually drink wine here...never had a cocktail...but they look good. And they seem to have a nice happy hour menu as well. Also, Paul, the bartender...is great. IF the bar's not full (which it almost always is later in the week)...and the playlist (music) is cool too. I've often caught a few great albums from this place (using Shazam.) I'm not a real fan of super-packed bars...that's my only complaint here. The bar is small and almost always PACKED if you arrive at a certain time. Plus it seems to draw a 'younger and louder' crowd. I'm a bar-type person--i don't often sit at dining tables unless its a date or a large party. So if the bar is packed and loud--its a full 'no go' for me. That being the case, I don't hardly eat here as much as I'd like. Still...it gets 4 stars--as the times when I choose to visit, its always pleasant and I walk out happy with my meal. Overall...its a good spot. Certainly one of the better italian spots in the area.
(4)Deb G.
Three stars for the service, four stars for the drinks, and two stars for the food. Our server was really sweet and the right blend of helpful and hands off, which I really appreciated after a long week at work. The Abruzzi martini, with blueberries and mint, was delicious - sweet, fruity, and super cold. I guess that's why my food such a disappointment. The ricotta gnocchi were overcooked to the point of squashiness, with no resistance left. They were DEAD! And the bolognese was kind of flavorless, lacking acidity and bite. The side salad and bread were better than the entree. I'll definitely be back for drinks, and I might try an appetizer, but won't waste my time with an entree there.
(3)Massiel G.
The atmosphere was nice warm and friendly our waiter was really nice. The food was sooooo good I was completely sastify with the calamari very crispy and good. Then I Oder the ball risoto was very good as for my meal the rose ravioli perfect I enjoy everything and the salad they brought. My husband had lasagna he didn't enjoy as much. maybe he'll try something else next time. But I was so satisfy with the food can't wait to come back!!!
(4)Izzat A.
Went here for dinner last night with the wife. I love the Olazzo in Bethesda but haven't had a chance to go to this one. I love the decor in here. It's very rustic. The front of the half near the bar is noticeably louder than the back. I got my normal chicken cardinale and wife got a cheese lasagna. Service was great and the food was awesome. This place is just as solid as the Bethesda location. Definitely one of the better restaurants in SS. Will be back often.
(4)Joseph B.
Everything was great. Mussels appetizer...yum! Calamari appetizer...yummy! I ordered the Lasagna...yummy! My partner, who has a gluten allergy, was ecstatic because they serve a few pastas that are gluten free. Yummy for him! Service was excellent on top of the good food. Prices were reasonable. We ordered a lot plus a few cocktails, hence the hefty check. Will definitely return.
(5)Jay K.
Olazzo offers quality and consistent food in a cozy and relaxed setting. The food is not the best Italian food in the area but I've never been disappointed in any of my meal choices here. Service is always attentive but the place can be very busy on weekend nights, so a reservation on these nights are recommended.
(4)Justine B.
Went here the other night with a girlfriend and had a great time. The front room is dominated by the bar and televisions, but still manages to pull off a cozy atmosphere for customers seated at booths, at least on a Monday night. There is a back room, which I didn't venture into, but it seemed large. The whole place was dimly-lit, making it a romantic place for a date perhaps. On Mondays the bottled wine is half off with an entree. We ordered two bottles of a pinot grigio, which was very good. We had the bruschetta, which I enjoyed. I ordered the grilled eggplant, which was delicious as well. The servers were all very friendly as well and took good care of us. We chatted for several hours drinking our wine and truly had a great time. Thanks, Olazzo!
(4)Andrew M.
Went here for dinner on Saturday night with the in-laws. We were quite happy with the place. Had some apps (meatball sliders, arancini, wedding soup - all excellent). We all had a pasta dish for mains... gnocchi, lasagna, baked penne, and something w/ mushrooms. Again, all were great. They were also good with my 2-year old; they brought his dishes out extremely quickly. For dessert, we tried three different items. The winner, by far, was the cannoli; so fresh; perfectly executed. The cheese cake was ok, as was the brownie (that was probably 2nd best), and the tiramisu was average. Everyone also enjoyed their espresso. We thought prices reasonable and the atmosphere certainly better than certain other nearby Italian eateries. The menu is on the small side and geared towards pasta... so take that into consideration if you have any pasta-haters in your group. I, personally, thought the menu fine/great and the food quite good (and decent value). I also loved that they include a small side salad with your main.
(4)Libby F.
Happy Hour at Olazzo: 4:30-6:30 Wednesday-Friday. Maybe it is not the cheapest, but I love the decor. $1 off all glasses of wine $2 off appetizers $3 Miller Lite bottles $4 Peroni drafts $4 rail drinks $6.50 martinis The staff are the best; very attentive, especially our waiter, Sam. :) I had a tall cold Peroni and some of their delicious Mozzarella garlic bread with a side of marinara for dipping. It was so good I didn't even mind that they forgot to give me the $2 off for happy hour. $7 is a bit high for bread though... I also got a side of grilled shrimp (5 for $5). It was perfectly done. My friend ordered their sausage & peppers entree. It was quite large and reasonably priced for $9. I can see why Washingtonian Magazine had rated this place in their Top 100 Best Bargain Restaurants in past years. It is very small and cozy. I will definitely be back!
(4)Sara O.
Martini selection is mad long! I love the Sunday martini that I had. I also love the calamari there. It is lightly battered and lightly fried so you don't feel the greasiness like your normally do from it. Large portions! I had meatballs and penne with marinara and cheese. It was very tasty and very filling. We also order the arancini balls which were good and tasty. This place is great and am definitely going here again with my friends tonight. Definitely seems a bit better than Paccis!
(4)Craig C.
One of my favorite places in downtown silver spring. Service is consistently good and the specials are usually tasty and excellent. The great Martini rush on Tuesday nights is freakin' great, and they are consistently well made. Specials are always creative and tasty. I never hesitate to try them, no matter what they are. I've never brought friends here who left disappointed. And, the signature dish, Chicken Cardinale is worth the visit alone. The staff is friendly, the regulars are chatty but not annoying and some of the best convo's I've had in the neighborhood were at Olazzo's. Good neighborly spot, with a good crowd of characters....
(5)Stephanie S W.
Yum! I had a friend in town with a hankering for Italian, so we popped over to Olazzo. The store front appears super small, but the restaurant actually goes very far back with ample seating. The food was delicious, and I especially loved the bread. The only critique of Olazzo was that the back room where we were seated was extremely dark. It feels like a wine cellar, which to some is very ambient and pleasant, I felt a bit clostrophobic though. Other than that - tasty food!
(4)Jeff S.
Ate here last night for about the tenth time. This place has high-end Italian food in a casual environment. The staff are courteous and knowledgeable wearing restaurant T-shirts, not bowties and aprons. I love that in the winter-time, they play the "Fireplace DVD" on their TV's in their faux fireplaces. I usually order the sausage and peppers over linguine. It's awesome. Somehow I eat the whole thing and don't feel like a fat-ass when I'm done. Check 'em out!
(4)Catherine S.
Food is really good and so are the many flavors of martinis they have (want to taste them all). Good spot for a date in Silver Spring.
(4)Laura L.
Delicious food. Friendly, efficient wait staff. Lovely low lighting which makes a nice ambiance. Music at just right volume. Not too loud, and not too soft either. I had the mushroom gnocchi and it was fantastic. Can't wait to return to this hidden gem!
(5)Colby M.
Been here twice now, small place in Silver Spring. Love the vibe. Upstairs setting is very nice, quiet, perfect place to grab dinner on a date or to catch up with friends. Have not had a bad meal here, Italian. Peroni available. Try the specials.
(4)Yomphana A.
One of my FAVorite hang outs in Silver Spring (if not THE FAV). It's a known fact that I'm paying the staff's future children college fund. The staff is extremely warm. I come for the great customer service & $5 martinis on Tuesday night. If you love martini's like I do, this is your spot! There are about two dozen options to choose from. The restaurant is a good size, there are two rooms, the bar area with tables and the dining room towards the back which is more intimate & quiet. I generally hang in the front/bar area cause I'm all about people watching and action. Olazzo is really like my Cheers, the staff is wonderful and there are a bunch of regulars who are friendly. Food: try the stuffed dates with goat cheese wrapped with bacon, the caprese salad and the clams with linguine (ask for it to be spicy). If you go for lunch definitely get the roasted vegetable sandwich. I can't say enough about this place, you should go.
(5)Nate H.
Found this place by chance when shopping in Silver Spring. VERY tasty! Love the martinis, the warm ambiance and the great menu of authentic Italian dishes. The risotto balls with veal bolognese is out of this world! I will be back, and definitely worth the trip from DC - nothing in the city like this place!
(4)Ericka M.
Our (my fiancee and I) experience at Olazzo was amazing. We made a reservation online through Yelp. We were seated in the front area and Brittany served us. She was amazing! She had a great personality and was really on top of everything the entire time...I don't think she ever stopped moving! Anyways...you also have to love the free parking. Did I forget to mention the food?? It was AMAZING!! My fiancee had the lasagna and I had the tortellini with spinach and dates (?). Anyways...AMAZING. We also had the bruschetta with meatballs as a starter. The food was too much for me, and my fiancee is an eater and had to work to finish the lasagna. We will definitely go out to Olazzo again! We felt the food was great and the service was superior to chain restaurants we have visited of late.
(5)Alex G.
My girlfriend and I just visited Olazzo on a whim. It ended up being the best decision of the day. The waitress was wonderful and the atmosphere was cozy and sophisticated. They brought out the freshest, warmest bread for an appetizer and we both had spaghetti and meatball that was to die for. The food came swiftly and for the food we received the price couldn't have been better. We will without a doubt be returning to Olazzo for another fantastic experience.
(5)Kristina K.
Olazzo has become a Tuesday (all night) happy hour staple. Serving a broad range of ever-cycling martinis for $5 a pop, Olazzo is easy to like in the beverage department, especially given their decent by-the-glass selection that includes bubbly favorites such as Prosecco. As with any art (of which martini-making is one), the artist brings a special touch and Amanda, whom we have had the pleasure of cocktailing us on several occasions, has got it. Food wise, we have only had antipasti so far as we keep getting side tracked with placing multiple orders of their delectable caprese salad (mozzarella, fresh basil, impressive redish purple tomatoes--even in winter--tossed with olive oil and garlic). The meatball sliders sound better in theory than practice, partly owing to the flavor-sapping boiling (versus baking) of the main ingredient. A one-time run-in with the calamari did not impress and neither did the other mozz & tomatoes salad--though, for the latter, it was less an issue of ingredients than the awesomeness of its caprese counterpart. The prosciutto-wrapped dates are an interesting, slightly sweet, original touch but at ~$9 for four 1.5 inch fruit wrapped in wafer-thin meat, they are not the best in price-to-value ratio. A tip for the waiting-weary: as Tuesday nights can become packed, call ahead to reserve a table or come early to score a spot at the bar (the over-flow back room tends to get slower service). Even with a delay, $5 beverages are a steal in this metro-accessible DC 'burb!
(4)Lisa H.
My experience at Olazzo was not that great. I gave this review an extra star because our waitress was very friendly and helpful. I ordered the Caprese salad with shrimp. When I got the salad I thought the presentation looked good. I started eating it and thought it was very tasty. As I started to eat the shrimp I was shocked to see that all the shrimp were not devained. To me that is an inexcusable error. Who wants to eat shrimp poop for dinner??? Not me!!
(2)Ginger B.
Unexpected find. We went here for a mid-week birthday dinner. The food was good in a not-overdone way. We had the stuffed dates for an appetizer. They came displayed on a plate, each date stuffed and wrapped in an Italian ham and drizzled with sauce. Served up with the bread that appeared on our table they were a nice, not-fried beginning. The salad, included with the entree, came as I ordered with dressing on the side. The mixed greens were fresh with not too much onion. A good start. I had the pasta with sausage and peppers. Served in a large bowl the proportion of sausage to pasta was generous. The pasta was al dente. Husband had linguni with clams, son eggplant. We split terramisu (sp?) for dessert and felt like we'd had a touch of sweetness to celebrate. We came at the height of the dinner hour so the resturant was busy. The servers worked well together and kept our table covered as we ordered an extra drink or dessert. The only reason I didn't give the place 5 stars is that the iced-tea did not appear to be brewed in-house, it had that syrupy taste of something from a drink dispenser.
(4)Kha D.
Great ambiance, cocktails and food was solid and reasonably priced. Our server Britney was FANTASTIC, super charming and very attentive without being overbearing. Would definitely come back.
(4)Juliana C.
I visited Olazzo early on a Tuesday night, as part of an ingenious one-two punch Mic came up with (see my next review for step 2 of the Silver Spring spree). See, on Tuesdays Olazzo serves up 28 different martinis, some featuring chambord, stoli or gran marnier, for $5. I knew about the deal before I went in, so I plotted out my top three choices, hopeful yet fully prepared to be told certain offerings were still full price. But every single martini was $5; even special requests were discounted. More things that made me smile: - parking around the corner was easy as pie, and after 6, free - we were able to snag 4 seats at the bar, at the height of happy hour - the meatball sliders were plump and delicious (also gone in 60 seconds) - the calamari was (were?) plentiful, crispy and satisfying - the bartender couldn't have been more friendly and attentive I realized about a half hour into my visit that I was in the kind of place where you say "Just one drink," and you end up spending an evening chatting, sampling food and sipping drinks. I've known for a while that Silver Spring is home to a bunch of great spots no one really talks about, and Olazzo is definitely one of them.
(4)Dee B.
It is nice to return to a restaurant where you know you will find good food at a reasonable price and receive good service. The martinis listed on the menu did not list prices (a definite pet peeve of mind), and my friend was convinced that they would be in the double digits. Our very friendly server was able to clarify that the martinis were only $8 each. With the exception of the evening's special which was $20, all of the entrees are under $20. Service was very good, food was good, and Olazzo continues to be a place I recommend. (BTW, I recently read that the Bethesda location is being expanded, which I was excited to hear, as I always found it a bit too tight on busy evenings.)
(4)Y V.
Great ambiance. When you first enter, you think it's a tiny little restaurant but it opens up in the back. Friend that had just returned from Italy said it reminded her of being there. Food was very good. I had a beef lasagne that was great. Wine selection is very good. I had a 2010 Dante Pinot Noir that was excellent. Everything else was very fresh. Best Italian restaurant I've tried so far in DC.
(4)Matt A.
My wife and I have been coming here for a long time, and the service and warmth of the staff keep us coming back as much as the excellent food. We really love that there are two different restaurants here. The loud, friendly bar up front, where we can get a martini and a small plate at the excellent happy hour prices while we chat with the bar staff and the neighborhood folks and the comfy and quiet back room where we can sit and have a nice meal together. The food is great either way, and the bar tenders are friendly, fast, and knowledgeable. We've always had great service from the wait staff and bus-boys. If you're getting a snack up front, try the arancini with a negroni. Everything on the dinner menu is tasty, but my favorite is the ravioli.
(5)Esky G.
I only dock one star because I ordered a pasta dish advertised as having shrimp and crab, and the crab was barely there. That being said, the food was absolutely delicious, the environment was quiet and simple, and the service was most helpful.
(4)Michael M.
Not fantastic but good. Service is prompt and friendly, but a little too casual for the prices. They brought us the wrong dish but quickly corrected it. As for the food, my girlfriend described the raviolis as tasting like "chef boyardee"... which... judging by its commercial success isn't too much of a knock... but at $13... not what you'd expect for 7 raviolis I got the Salmon mango... and it was just... not thought out... a dry cut of salmon with chunks of mango piled next to it... great work guys. The bread and oil were great... but I can do that at home...
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