Bites Nearby: Italian Pines Ristorante Italiano

How wonderful to have this quaint of an Italian restaurant this close to home…and with great food to boot.

Italian Pines first began serving Gaithersburg area customers over 20 years ago at their Montgomery Village location. Now they serve us here at their “new North Potomac home” in the Shops at Potomac Village.

From the great selection of “antipasti” we suggest fried zucchini or calamari fritti. White pizza makes an excellent appetizer. And, the pasta fagioli soup (when available) is the best in and around town.

If you enjoy your seafood, you’ll enjoy Italian Pines’ rockfish special –a real North Potomac pleaser with lots of garlic. Fresh sea scallops fradiavolo (spicy marinara sauce) is also high on the list of seafood favorites.

Mussels with linguini in white sauce are mouth-watering.

Traditional Italian entrees abound with veal or chicken prepared francese, marsala, parmigiana or scaloppini style.

But folks come from far beyond North Potomac for the Ossobuco (a Milanese dish of veal shank braised in vegetables, white wine and stock) served with spaghetti for a true Italian treat.

And if the mark of a great Italian restaurant is its pasta, well, you will not be disappointed with the jumbo ravioli or meat lasagna. 

Italian Pines desserts and bread are all homemade and baked fresh daily. And the homemade tiramisu is worth the trek… or it would be worth the trek if this great Italian restaurant wasn’t already in our own backyard.

Italian Pines Ristorante Italiano is located at 12166 Darnestown Road. Open hours are Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.; Closed Monday.