Patch Picks: Italian Restaurants

“Life is too short, and I'm Italian. I'd much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 0.” -Sophia Bush

I don’t know about you, but when it gets cold outside I want a nice hearty stew or a great big bowl of pasta. I love pasta. Or for that matter, I love any type of Italian dish. I have to; it’s in my blood. So many options and sauces to choose from, every night could be pasta night and it would never “get old” or “be dull”.

In the aisle at the grocery store one is left with so many choices. First, which pasta to choose:  ravioli, tortellini, spaghetti, ziti, fusilli, pastina, lasagna, gnocchi or spätzle. Second, which sauce? Choices include traditional, sausage and peppers, meatball, vodka, alfredo, pesto, white, oil, marinara, garden vegetable and many, many more. But not only do you have these choices, you have to choose the brand, do you get Barilla or the Ronzoni spaghetti or do you choose Ragu over Newman’s Own sauce?

Now, I can’t make pasta and sauce like I had when I was little. My Grandma and Mom made sauce from scratch and some of the best stuffed shells, eggplant parmigiana and meatballs I have ever had. It is moments like this when I wish my Mom was alive and my Grandma lived closer, so they could just whip me up some “Italian goodness”.

Lucky for me, I paid attention to them both and I at least can come close to doing their recipes justice. However these five Gaithersburg restaurants do a pretty good job coming close to my “how my mom/grandma made it” dishes. Here are our Patch Picks on local Italian restaurants. 'Diverti' or ‘Enjoy’!!

Address: 122 Kentlands Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-947-7346
Hours: Mon - Thu, 11am - 10pm; Fri, 11am - 11pm; Sat, 11am - 11pm; Sun, 11am - 9pm.
About: Buca di Beppo is located in the Kentlands and is a family-friendly restaurant known for their entrees that are “family-sized” and intended to share. Entrées include: pizza, salad, antipasti, seafood, pasta and dessert. Buca’s Baked Ziti is delicious and cheesy; it combines pasta with mozzarella, parmesan, provolone and ricotta cheeses. Their Linguine Frutti di Mare is an amazing dish that mixes pasta with shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari. And of course I recommend their Eggplant Parmigiana - a simple dish of fried eggplant, marinara and mozzarella. They have recently had four new additions to their menu including: Shrimp Florentine, Penne Ala Vodka, Chicken and Sausage Ziti and one that I definitely need to try Bucatini Ala Enzo, a mixture of pancetta and prosciutto with mushrooms, peas and pasta. Just make sure you save some room for desert, try their cannoli or the Italian crème cake for a happy ending.

Address: 211 Rio Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-963-5003
Hours: Mon - Thu, Sun, 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat, 11am - 11pm
About: Macaroni Grill is located in the Washingtonian Center and offers authentic Italian Mediterranean cuisine. Its menu includes tapas, appetizers, flatbreads, and pasta dishes like their Pesto Spaghetti, a combination of ham, pesto, peas, ricotta and prosciutto. Their menu also includes a “Classic” section with one of my all time favorites, the Shrimp Portofino, which is jumbo shrimp, capellini, spinach, mushrooms, pinenuts sautéed in lemon butter. Or you can try their “Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs and Spaghetti,” a traditional dish but a great take on meatballs by using beef, veal and ricotta. Check out their “Principale” section of the menu for Italian favorites including: Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Scaloppini and Veal Saltimbocca.

Address: 9083 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: 301-977-6300
Hours: Mon - Fri, 11:00am - 10:00pm; Sat, noon - 10:00pm; Sun, 3:00pm - 9:00pm.
About: Zio’s serves southern Italian food including my favorite, their Eggplant Rolitini and their homemade cannoli. Another favorite Zio dish is their Sausage Giombatta which is their homemade sausage with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes and pasta. And of course they have all your usual Italian suspect dishes including: chicken alfredo, scampi, chicken marsala, manicotti, cannelloni with tomato sauce, stuffed shells, ravioli, linguini with meatballs and more. And as mentioned, save room for a cannoli or three or try their doughnuts dusted with sugar and cinnamon or better known as “Zeppole”.

Address: 824 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-987-0050
Hours: Mon - Thu, 11am - 10pm; Fri, Sat, 11am - 11pm; Sun, noon - 9pm
About: Manhattan Pizza and Pasta is located in the Muddy Branch Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. Its walls are donned with a variety of playbills from Manhattan, New York plays and their food is almost as good as you would find in New York too. This is a family-friendly pizza joint so don’t expect a lavish or romantic dinner here. Their pasta dishes hover in the $10 range and include all the classics including: spaghetti with tomato sauce or meatballs or Italian sausage, lasagna, chicken or veal or eggplant parmigiana, baked ziti, stuffed shells, manicotti and more. And if you are not in the mood for pasta they have a menu selection that also includes wings, pizza, calzones, subs and salads.

Address: 245 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-590-0735
Hours: Mon - Sat, 11am- 10pm; Sun, 12pm - 9pm
About: You would never know from the outside of this establishment that inside is an intimate atmosphere serving fine Italian cuisine for 15 years. Il Porto has been rated as one of the “100 Best Bargain Restaurants” by Washingtonian magazine. This is your traditional Italian restaurant offering all the Italian classics including: spaghetti bolognese, gnocchi with marinara sauce, baked ziti, cheese ravioli, fettuccine alfredo, spaghetti carbonara and more. They also have great seafood dishes including clams with linguini and shrimp and scallops alla panna. Or one can choose their veal parmigiana, chicken romano or the chicken bosccaiola, a chicken dish with artichokes and mushrooms and super delish. Il Porto is also known for their Italian wine selection and offer choices by the glass, carafe, or bottle. And of course make room at the end for their “Coppa Caffe” or a cannoli.