Words can't describe how amazed I am ! Liberatores hosted our wedding reception September 6, 2015! The entire restaurant was transformed for us! We served some of Liberatores famous creations as well as some of Libs Grill favorites. From a raw oyster bar, calamari, lamb chops ,mini gyros,fish tacos, ahi tuna....and those were just the appetizers ! The staff and chefs were also amazing with dinner and making sure our guests had fast service at the open bars !! Prime Rib, potatoes,green beans,and pasta stations also were served to our guests. We had about 160 people and every single one raved about their experience!!! Since the night we shared our first date here, till our wedding night ---we loved Liberatores!!!! They will be the place we go for casual dinner and catering big events in our future !!!
(5)
Stacy R.
I hosted a bridal shower for 45 guests here, and the day could not have gone smoother thanks to the Liberatore's staff. From start to finish, they were amazing. They were incredibly attentive throughout the entire process, and were ready and willing to go above and beyond just serving drinks and food. They helped us unload and reload the cars, rearrange tables, and set up decor. The space itself was gorgeous ... we used the second floor room which overlooked the entire restaurant, and was very open and bright. The food, wine and dessert was delicious as well. I would definitely host another party here in the future.
(5)
Jennifer B.
I recently threw my parents a surprise Anniversary party at Liberatore's in Bel Air. I would highly recommend Liberatore's for any event due to their great customer service and amazing food. The owner Italo, was the first person to help me set up every detail from menu to table arrangements. The day of the party, the manager Gavin was so generous to walk down to Woodlea's Bakery to pick up the cake and mini cupcakes so I wouldn't have to worry about them. The servers Sheree and Christian went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. I received so many compliments about the food and service from my guests. Even with the pouring rain, the party went off without a hitch and my parents loved it!!! I will definitely be planning a party again at Liberatore's. :)
(5)
Cee L.
Best fine Dining in Harford County. The food?! Phenomenal!!! Highly recommend for family, business, or pleasure.
(5)
Carol L.
Not such a bad restaurant though Johnny's has better crabcakes. The ambience here is nicer overall. However this restaurant was noisy. The other negative is that the service is quite slow. Their antipasto type of appetizer was very good. No leftovers there! Their seafood also was good. Try the salmon salad. The lobster tetrazzini was good though. Salmon risotto was also good as was the veal Parmesan. Overall the food would be four stars. The noise and service brought it down to three.
(3)
Tom S.
We have eaten here a few times and have always have had great food and great service. Nice quiet atmosphere. I am a fan of Margherita pizza and this is one of the best ones around. They have a lunch buffet with a large variety of food and desserts at a reasonable price. Definitely a repeat location.
(4)
M S O.
Liberatore's used to be a REALLY GOOD restaurant. Now it's an OK restaurant. I'd compare it to a Broadway Show that's several years into its run. The show is still entertaining, it's still Broadway. But's it's only a shadow of what it was with the original cast before you could get TKTS at half price. That's Liberatore's. They built a great business and a large regular following. Now it appears that they're resting on their reputation. And people continue to show up. Example: my wife asked why they no longer used shaved parmesan on the salad. The server said something like, "Oh, sorry about that" and returned shortly with shaved parmesan. I guess it was easier to shake it out of a shaker bottle - and, besides, who cares? If you sit near enough to the service bar, you can hear the wait staff grumbling. If you ask, they'll grumble to you about the kitchen or management. No one who works there is smiling. The place is starting to feel tired. There's a phone-it-in attitude by the staff. I see other Yelpers are having similar experiences. It's really too bad. The food is, for the most part, good. It's too bad because at one point, the food was excellent. And the service staff was attentive. And there was a buzz. That was back when they cared and paid attention to details. (I was tempted to give them 2 stars, but I can't say that I've had a "bad" meal there.) Success does that, I guess. MSO
(3)
Mark T.
We loved this place. Our new favorite date night place (without kids). It was busy, but they have a nice bar area to wait in and have drinks. My wife ordered wine and, unlike other restaurants, it was actually a really nice size glass of wine. The atmosphere is really, REALLY nice and quite unexpected from how it looks out front. And the food was fantastic. Honestly, I don't know what some people are complaining about, this is probably one of our favorite restaurants in Bel Air now. I seriously considered going back and reducing some of my 5-star scores because this place was that good. You should definitely try this place...
(5)
Edward D.
Lunch buffet was dissapointing. Dinners have been good in the past. Lunch bar had cheap cafeteria style food. A great way to promote an up scale Italian food restarant. I don,t see this place staying open......shame.
(2)
Gabrielle C.
The food was very good. The kids enjoyed the butter penne with Parmesan cheese. I liked the Alfredo and my boyfriend enjoyed the spaghetti with meatballs. The dessert was homemade and awesome! The service was extremely slow. The place was near empty and still it was miserably at a turtle pace. It seemed it was the waiter she was nice just took way to long!
(3)
Sharon F.
We had dinner here the other night. Everything was great except our waiter. He was so awkward. Anytime he spoke to us, he stared at the wall.
(4)
Scott H.
Finding a good local restaurant amongst the sea of national chain restaurants in Bel Air can be a challenge. But if you are willing to pay a tad bit more, Liberatore's is a good option. It's a nice, slightly upscale Italian place, great for a date night or special family occasion, with good Italian food that might be a tad pricy, but won't break the bank. We went here a couple of weeks ago for a family birthday, on request of the birthday gal. Beer selection is a bit boring here ... only Sam Adams Seasonal and Stella for draft selections. Appetizers were well received by the table, especially the crab bruschetta. For dinner, I got the Veal Liberatore - veal medalions topped with crab meat in a wonderful light cream sauce. It was served with a side of pasta, and they will serve the pasta with any sauce, including the cream sauce that matched the Veal Liberatore. At $26, this is a bit pricy of an entree, but the portions were ample and everything was very good, especially the cream sauce. I was in a party of 8, and everyone in the group enjoyed their meal with no complaints. The only reason I hold them back from 5 stars is that they are slightly pricy - I have gotten larger portions for a tad less at other nearby Italian restaurants. And the beer selection was weak. I know this is more of a wine place, but having a good beer selection these days is equally important IMO. But I would give 4.5 starts if I could, and I will be happy to go back on another special/family occasion.
(4)
elmer s.
My wife and I visited recently and were very disappointed. I ordered veal piccata. It was served room temperature as was my wife entree. There was no house salad, just some dried bread and no grated cheese available. The service was very poor. We couldn't even get a drink refill.
(1)
Dave M.
First time there and went based on recommendations from friends. I was not disappointed. I had the seafood roisotto and it was giod but not great. My wife had the crab ravioli and it was good. Daughter had the salmon and it was excellent. My son had two appetizers including the crab dip which was good and the shrimp cocktail which he loved. Decent wine list. What I liked most was that they space the tables nicely so you don't feel crowded. We sat upstairs and the noise level was nice, not too noisy. The service was great. The waitress overheard that we were there to celebrate my late fatherinlaws birthday and she brought us out a complimentary piece of cake with a candle. Overall a little pricey but we'll be back.
(4)
A M.
I really love this place--it's a guaranteed great meal. The huge tv with pics of Italy is a little ... Baltimore 1980's--but, well, whatever ... the food is excellent, that's all that really matters. The service is solicitous, the wine list is good... The bread is fantastic. People who appreciate dipping oil instead of butter should ask for this special addition to their meal, it's one of the best I ever had--anywhere.
(5)
Veronica S.
Yummy options for food. Nice staff. All around pretty good. I would go here again.
(4)
Shawn N.
I'll tell you what, I was very impressed with this restaurant! I never would've expected such a upscale restaurant to be located where it is. I was greeted immediately as I walked in the door. The waitstaff was attentive and yet not pushy. I stopped in for lunch and had the salmon salad which was excellent! I'm very excited to go back and try more of the offerings on the menu.
(4)
Morad B.
Great for nice romantic dinner. Good food. The owner is a very nice older man. Greets you personally and makes you feel welcomed. Staff is great.
(5)
Pamela M.
I visited Liberatore's recently with a group of friends, seven in all. We were so impressed with the appearance of the lunch buffet, we all ordered that. The green salad and fixings were fresh and of a good variety. In addition to the tasty cold pasta salad and very good ham and cheese wraps, the buffet had a hot pasta and a chicken dish. Cheese and pepperoni pizza rounded out the offerings--all for under $10. This buffet would be a great lunch choice for someone who is limited in time. Our waitress was very attentive in refilling drinks and removing used plates. It didn't matter this time, but on this and previous visits our group was told that individual checks could not be given. We all pay with cash and other restaurants have indicated that individual checks are easily run with the newer registers. Maybe this could be remedied?
(4)
Ron S.
This place is excellent! Went here for the first for me and wife's anniversary. Food was great, place was real classy, waiter was excellent. Try the grilled calamari
(5)
Becca H.
I wasn't "wowed" by Liberatore's. This was disappointing, as I had always heard good things about it. I ordered salmon, which isn't very difficult to make. But it was ok, at best. The service was great, but the food did nothing for me.
(2)
Max D.
I am by no means a connoisseur of Italian food. Having been said, their food quality is satisfactory to me. I leave happy with the quantity as well. Never had a horrible experience. This is why it is a 2 star instead of a 5: gift certificates. I bought a $100 gift certificate to give to a family member. When I was buying it, the girl behind the counter wrote an expiration date onto the gift cert. To anyone reading this, this may not sound like a big issue, but I believe it is, and I will explain why. This is a bad business practice, I do not know how anyone in the restaurant business can explain how this is a good thing. It shows lack of faith in ones restaurant, whether the service, food quality, or menu choices. Why would an establishment this successful want to put an expiration date when you are GUARANTEEING THEM INCOME? So, not only will they gladly take your money, but they will not let you redeem it. As soon as this policy changes, so does my review.
(2)
Sandra M.
We eat here several times a year and I've never disliked my meal or experience. The prices are good, the service is usually fantastic, and the food is tasty. I would recommend Liberatores to anyone.
(5)
Kevin S.
This place is a little upscale for an routine place to head for dinner, but it is worth it. I think there are several locations around the Baltimore area and they have been around forever. I have been here twice and got the special each time (the first was a chicken pasta and the second was a fish pasta with lump crab meat) and it was spectacular. Really great service, nice ambiance, the staff is friendly and it appears to be great for nightlife too. Not really a perfect place for kids (as there are a lot of dates happening) but I brought mine and he was treated wonderfully by the staff. Overall, a great time with some great Italian food.
(4)
Randy J.
Belair.This is one of our go to Italian restaurants. I have gone to the other locations but love this one the most. The people are friendly,food on point and the atmosphere looks great. Prices are average but the food taste homemade. We like it.
(4)
Candice K.
This is one of my go to places in Bel Air. You might not be able to tell by looking at it from the outside, with just a sign to tell you where it is but, what you will find is a quality Italian restaurant right in the middle of Bel Air (to compare, it's way better than Olive Garden). This is an authentic Italian restaurant, that is local and family owned. The two things they do best are pasta and bread. So If its your first time there, you can't go wrong. I especially love their table bread and olive oil. My favorite dish is the orecchiette alla formaggio - orecchiette noodles, cheese, spinach and sausage. They have a great wine menu, full bar, Lavazza coffee and have a wide dessert selection. It can get very busy on weekend nights, so plan ahead or be ready to wait. Its great for family dinners or larger parties. As much as I enjoy it, the 4 stars are relative to the location. Sure there are better 4 stars in Baltimore but for the area they are really good because it isn't a chain and it close by.
(4)
Michael C.
My wife and I went here for dinner the weekend before Valentines. It is so nice inside not what you would expect from a resturant in a strip center....The big screen with the scenes of Italian vineyards made you feel like you were in a far away place.....For apps Monica had the shrimp cocktail which was served in a martini glass and were the perfect size....I had the mussels which were cooked perfect and melted in your mouth.....For dinner I had the Veal with mushroom sauce....it was fresh and cooked perfect....Monica had the crab ravioli which were also freshly made and delish.....Service was top knotch and we can not wait to return.
(5)
Dottie F.
Great place...tomato sauce is yummy, and I also like the Vodka Rigatoni. Make a reservation on the weekend.
(4)
Aly M.
Italian food at its overpriced finest. Went here for a birthday dinner for my future MIL and I wasn't expecting much. Italian places for an Italian person are usually a let-down, so I keep the goals low. What makes me happy is to see a dish that is unique or something I wouldn't make at home for a reasonable price that is yummy. I didn't get that here. I got a dish that had fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil with pasta. I thought it would be fresh and not too heavy. It was ok, but there was hardly any mozzarella and it was lucky the restaurant was so dark because it didn't look too appealing, either. My fiance' got a lobster special that was way too salty, and the way they did the lobster--he didn't even know it was lobster until near the end of the meal because it was so weird looking. In general, the group of us were "ok" about our food, but I won't go here again unless people really want to go. The service was ok, but they had to shout because it was so loud in there (and this was at 8pm at night when it was fairly empty). My other huge pet peeve is the price. I hate hate hate Italian places that charge crazy amounts for simple pasta dishes. Olive Garden is overpriced, but I understand it's a chain/they want to make a profit/etc. At least there food is still about half the price of Liberatore's, and they're not trying to make themselves out to be any fancier than they are.
(2)
J S.
Took the family on a week night for dinner.. the restaurant was fairly empty with only a few other tables so we were seated immediately by the host "Uncle Donny". Service was great and attentive. The food was good - not the best we've had in Italian in Bel Air - but good nonetheless. One of us got the crab ravioli and loved it; chicken parm was typical, nothing too special; Chicken Marsala again was typical. Would come again, but would be second to Scotto's or Enotria.
(3)
Steve W.
Been to this restaurant several times. Usually walk out doubting that I would ever go back. So many items just miss the mark although the lump crab in red sauce over pasta is always good. The real killer is the noise level. This place tends to get very busy, especially on weekends, and it gets so loud it is almost impossible to carry on a conversation. I have been seated at various locations and it is loud everywhere. So, dinner is not the least bit relaxing. With that said, I recently walked in on a weeknight and the place was almost empty. There were a total of 4 people in the bar area. It was quiet so we had a drink at the bar and then decided to stay for dinner and sat at a small table in the bar. The service was great and the food was also fine. Quite an improvement. Bottom line is I will never go there if it is crowded but on an off night I could certainly be persuaded to stick around.
(3)
Ellie V.
I signed up for Yelp only to review this restaurant. It is not just awful, it's dangerous. I have been twice (the second time I returned under protest.) Both times I was there for lunch. First time, my friend and I ordered the NY Steak Sandwich that she said was good. The meat was pre-cooked, grissly, microwave-tough, "leftover," and basically inedible. Bread was a standard Costco Kaiser roll. My friend apologized to me and said, "it's usually better than this." On a Friday at lunch, we were the only people in the restaurant and thought to myself, "no I don't think it usually is." Yesterday, I argued against going back, but it was a friend's birthday and convenient to meet there. At noon on a Sunday, there were only two people in this massive restaurant! I knew why. Our waitress came to take our drink order. Her long hair was dripping wet, as though she'd just stepped out of the shower. Weird, but whatever. She brought us drinks and took our order. She said the soup of the day was Beef and Bacon stew, but came back to let us know it was Shrimp and Corn Chowder. When the soup came, I noticed the shrimp sat "atop" the soup. Ok, so they plopped pre-cooked shrimp into canned soup. Again, whatever. Read on to find out why. We ordered a Pizza Margherita as an appetizer. Pizza was literally a hot, sloppy mess. The dough was so raw, it wasn't even warm. Even the cheese and tomato were anxious to get away from it and immediately slid off upon cutting. My sister had orrechiette with sausage and said it was good. My friend had the shrimp salad and asked to have a house salad with it. Took the waitress several iterations to figure this out. When this dish came, it was a pile of shrimp sitting on a pile of lettuce with a pile of Russian dressing on top. I looked at it and thought, "how gross. Why are they trying to get rid of the shrimp?" My salad was supposed to be their version of a Greek salad, but was more like a Greek tragedy. Iceberg lettuce (fine) with the most mealy tomatoes, slimy, spoiled cucumbers and diced pieces of pre-shaved lunch meat and lunch cheese. Amateur hour, for sure. The salad smelled to high heaven. Then, I noticed they mixed shrimp into my Greek (?) salad, though shrimp wasn't listed on the menu as an ingredient. I took one bite and knew the shrimp were long since spoiled. No wonder they were trying to get rid of it! I looked at my friend and said, "don't eat those shrimp. You'll be sick." When the server came to clear our places, he asked if we wanted to take home the rest. I'd had two bites of my salad. I said, "absolutely not." He asked my friend and she said, "no, I better not." He never asked why and that should have been obvious. Even if Liberatore's paid me, I'd never risk going back. Word to the wise: an empty restaurant that is more than a week old, is empty for good reason. Caveat emptor!
(1)
barry k.
Have been going here for a couple of years, food is great, made fresh, a little upscale compared to others. Service is always fantastic!
(5)
Judy H.
Went to Liberatore's on Christmas Eve. They were very busy, but the service was great and the food was very good. I would recommend the Liberatore's in Bel Air, as the one in Timonium and the one in Perry Hall are not as good.
(4)
miss b.
Went to Liberatore's last night for a bachelorette dinner. I walked in and loved the decor and the low lights. The place had a great feel. We ended up having another person show up to our dinner party and the people working there were so nice about it. They added on another little table to our big table. The menu had so many choices that you just couldn't go wrong. They was definitely something to choose from for everyone. It's quite pricey, but I think well worth it. The bread was kind of tough, but slabbing lots of olive oil maybe it amazing. So amazing that I had a loaf of bread myself pretty much... The waiter we had was so nice and attentive to our table. Throughout the night, the place got packed. The table beside us had the most delicious looking Sangrias, so I will definitely try them the next time I go back. For dinner I had the Augie Salad which I really liked. It had Genoa salami, ham and provolone cheese and was topped with shrimp. I got the Raspberry Vinaigrette which was more creamy than I thought it would be, but it was pretty good. I also got the Cream of Crab which was pretty good. Everyone else at the table ordered some sort of pasta and was happy. Some felt that their pasta wasn't tender enough, but that definitely was not a deal breaker. I tried some of my friend's Calamari which was good and the drinks were delicious. This is definitely a good place for a meal to treat yourself, have a romantic night out or a special occasion. Definitely will be back...probably to the one closer to my house - can't wait!
(4)
Kellee C.
Went into Liberatores yesterday for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had a lunch buffet !!! Has a lot of different choices on there from soup, salad , pizza, pasta, and a chicken dish! I was torn from ordering off the regular lunch menu which has a list of awesome salads/sandwiches to choose from! I went with the lunch buffet since it had a spread of all different things to choose from- oh a best part about the buffet , it's $8.95!!!!!!! I'll be back !
(5)
Vince M.
As we sit here finishing our outstanding dinner I couldn't help but write a review!! From the moment we walked in with our party of 11 including 4 kids we were taken care of with the utmost care. Dave is by far the best waiter we've encountered in our many culinary travels. The service the food the atmosphere were beyond 5 star and we can not wait to return here again. Dave you are awesome e thank you for an amazing dining experience.
(5)
A J.
Firstly, Liberatore's is excellent and always has been. Great Italian food - OH my word, do yourself a favor and get the fresh capellini margherita - and it has an excellent bar. But I must comment on the OUTSTANDING service and management. I encountered a small hiccup with a hostess a few months back and was very disappointed with the whole experience. Management found out and took every step to make amends. They were nothing but courteous, generous and accommodating and have made up for the whole ordeal and then some, especially with the crazy delicious dinner I enjoyed tonight. Go patronize their excellent establishment. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Naomi K.
This is by far the best restaurant in bel air!!!! Just go between their busy, crowded times. Their food is delicious, real Italian food and great bread with their olive oil. Just watch out for their drink prices. I would really like to see them get better desserts to compliment their food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Kristen C.
Words can't describe how amazed I am ! Liberatores hosted our wedding reception September 6, 2015! The entire restaurant was transformed for us! We served some of Liberatores famous creations as well as some of Libs Grill favorites. From a raw oyster bar, calamari, lamb chops ,mini gyros,fish tacos, ahi tuna....and those were just the appetizers ! The staff and chefs were also amazing with dinner and making sure our guests had fast service at the open bars !! Prime Rib, potatoes,green beans,and pasta stations also were served to our guests. We had about 160 people and every single one raved about their experience!!! Since the night we shared our first date here, till our wedding night ---we loved Liberatores!!!! They will be the place we go for casual dinner and catering big events in our future !!!
(5)Stacy R.
I hosted a bridal shower for 45 guests here, and the day could not have gone smoother thanks to the Liberatore's staff. From start to finish, they were amazing. They were incredibly attentive throughout the entire process, and were ready and willing to go above and beyond just serving drinks and food. They helped us unload and reload the cars, rearrange tables, and set up decor. The space itself was gorgeous ... we used the second floor room which overlooked the entire restaurant, and was very open and bright. The food, wine and dessert was delicious as well. I would definitely host another party here in the future.
(5)Jennifer B.
I recently threw my parents a surprise Anniversary party at Liberatore's in Bel Air. I would highly recommend Liberatore's for any event due to their great customer service and amazing food. The owner Italo, was the first person to help me set up every detail from menu to table arrangements. The day of the party, the manager Gavin was so generous to walk down to Woodlea's Bakery to pick up the cake and mini cupcakes so I wouldn't have to worry about them. The servers Sheree and Christian went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. I received so many compliments about the food and service from my guests. Even with the pouring rain, the party went off without a hitch and my parents loved it!!! I will definitely be planning a party again at Liberatore's. :)
(5)Cee L.
Best fine Dining in Harford County. The food?! Phenomenal!!! Highly recommend for family, business, or pleasure.
(5)Carol L.
Not such a bad restaurant though Johnny's has better crabcakes. The ambience here is nicer overall. However this restaurant was noisy. The other negative is that the service is quite slow. Their antipasto type of appetizer was very good. No leftovers there! Their seafood also was good. Try the salmon salad. The lobster tetrazzini was good though. Salmon risotto was also good as was the veal Parmesan. Overall the food would be four stars. The noise and service brought it down to three.
(3)Tom S.
We have eaten here a few times and have always have had great food and great service. Nice quiet atmosphere. I am a fan of Margherita pizza and this is one of the best ones around. They have a lunch buffet with a large variety of food and desserts at a reasonable price. Definitely a repeat location.
(4)M S O.
Liberatore's used to be a REALLY GOOD restaurant. Now it's an OK restaurant. I'd compare it to a Broadway Show that's several years into its run. The show is still entertaining, it's still Broadway. But's it's only a shadow of what it was with the original cast before you could get TKTS at half price. That's Liberatore's. They built a great business and a large regular following. Now it appears that they're resting on their reputation. And people continue to show up. Example: my wife asked why they no longer used shaved parmesan on the salad. The server said something like, "Oh, sorry about that" and returned shortly with shaved parmesan. I guess it was easier to shake it out of a shaker bottle - and, besides, who cares? If you sit near enough to the service bar, you can hear the wait staff grumbling. If you ask, they'll grumble to you about the kitchen or management. No one who works there is smiling. The place is starting to feel tired. There's a phone-it-in attitude by the staff. I see other Yelpers are having similar experiences. It's really too bad. The food is, for the most part, good. It's too bad because at one point, the food was excellent. And the service staff was attentive. And there was a buzz. That was back when they cared and paid attention to details. (I was tempted to give them 2 stars, but I can't say that I've had a "bad" meal there.) Success does that, I guess. MSO
(3)Mark T.
We loved this place. Our new favorite date night place (without kids). It was busy, but they have a nice bar area to wait in and have drinks. My wife ordered wine and, unlike other restaurants, it was actually a really nice size glass of wine. The atmosphere is really, REALLY nice and quite unexpected from how it looks out front. And the food was fantastic. Honestly, I don't know what some people are complaining about, this is probably one of our favorite restaurants in Bel Air now. I seriously considered going back and reducing some of my 5-star scores because this place was that good. You should definitely try this place...
(5)Edward D.
Lunch buffet was dissapointing. Dinners have been good in the past. Lunch bar had cheap cafeteria style food. A great way to promote an up scale Italian food restarant. I don,t see this place staying open......shame.
(2)Gabrielle C.
The food was very good. The kids enjoyed the butter penne with Parmesan cheese. I liked the Alfredo and my boyfriend enjoyed the spaghetti with meatballs. The dessert was homemade and awesome! The service was extremely slow. The place was near empty and still it was miserably at a turtle pace. It seemed it was the waiter she was nice just took way to long!
(3)Sharon F.
We had dinner here the other night. Everything was great except our waiter. He was so awkward. Anytime he spoke to us, he stared at the wall.
(4)Scott H.
Finding a good local restaurant amongst the sea of national chain restaurants in Bel Air can be a challenge. But if you are willing to pay a tad bit more, Liberatore's is a good option. It's a nice, slightly upscale Italian place, great for a date night or special family occasion, with good Italian food that might be a tad pricy, but won't break the bank. We went here a couple of weeks ago for a family birthday, on request of the birthday gal. Beer selection is a bit boring here ... only Sam Adams Seasonal and Stella for draft selections. Appetizers were well received by the table, especially the crab bruschetta. For dinner, I got the Veal Liberatore - veal medalions topped with crab meat in a wonderful light cream sauce. It was served with a side of pasta, and they will serve the pasta with any sauce, including the cream sauce that matched the Veal Liberatore. At $26, this is a bit pricy of an entree, but the portions were ample and everything was very good, especially the cream sauce. I was in a party of 8, and everyone in the group enjoyed their meal with no complaints. The only reason I hold them back from 5 stars is that they are slightly pricy - I have gotten larger portions for a tad less at other nearby Italian restaurants. And the beer selection was weak. I know this is more of a wine place, but having a good beer selection these days is equally important IMO. But I would give 4.5 starts if I could, and I will be happy to go back on another special/family occasion.
(4)elmer s.
My wife and I visited recently and were very disappointed. I ordered veal piccata. It was served room temperature as was my wife entree. There was no house salad, just some dried bread and no grated cheese available. The service was very poor. We couldn't even get a drink refill.
(1)Dave M.
First time there and went based on recommendations from friends. I was not disappointed. I had the seafood roisotto and it was giod but not great. My wife had the crab ravioli and it was good. Daughter had the salmon and it was excellent. My son had two appetizers including the crab dip which was good and the shrimp cocktail which he loved. Decent wine list. What I liked most was that they space the tables nicely so you don't feel crowded. We sat upstairs and the noise level was nice, not too noisy. The service was great. The waitress overheard that we were there to celebrate my late fatherinlaws birthday and she brought us out a complimentary piece of cake with a candle. Overall a little pricey but we'll be back.
(4)A M.
I really love this place--it's a guaranteed great meal. The huge tv with pics of Italy is a little ... Baltimore 1980's--but, well, whatever ... the food is excellent, that's all that really matters. The service is solicitous, the wine list is good... The bread is fantastic. People who appreciate dipping oil instead of butter should ask for this special addition to their meal, it's one of the best I ever had--anywhere.
(5)Veronica S.
Yummy options for food. Nice staff. All around pretty good. I would go here again.
(4)Shawn N.
I'll tell you what, I was very impressed with this restaurant! I never would've expected such a upscale restaurant to be located where it is. I was greeted immediately as I walked in the door. The waitstaff was attentive and yet not pushy. I stopped in for lunch and had the salmon salad which was excellent! I'm very excited to go back and try more of the offerings on the menu.
(4)Morad B.
Great for nice romantic dinner. Good food. The owner is a very nice older man. Greets you personally and makes you feel welcomed. Staff is great.
(5)Pamela M.
I visited Liberatore's recently with a group of friends, seven in all. We were so impressed with the appearance of the lunch buffet, we all ordered that. The green salad and fixings were fresh and of a good variety. In addition to the tasty cold pasta salad and very good ham and cheese wraps, the buffet had a hot pasta and a chicken dish. Cheese and pepperoni pizza rounded out the offerings--all for under $10. This buffet would be a great lunch choice for someone who is limited in time. Our waitress was very attentive in refilling drinks and removing used plates. It didn't matter this time, but on this and previous visits our group was told that individual checks could not be given. We all pay with cash and other restaurants have indicated that individual checks are easily run with the newer registers. Maybe this could be remedied?
(4)Ron S.
This place is excellent! Went here for the first for me and wife's anniversary. Food was great, place was real classy, waiter was excellent. Try the grilled calamari
(5)Becca H.
I wasn't "wowed" by Liberatore's. This was disappointing, as I had always heard good things about it. I ordered salmon, which isn't very difficult to make. But it was ok, at best. The service was great, but the food did nothing for me.
(2)Max D.
I am by no means a connoisseur of Italian food. Having been said, their food quality is satisfactory to me. I leave happy with the quantity as well. Never had a horrible experience. This is why it is a 2 star instead of a 5: gift certificates. I bought a $100 gift certificate to give to a family member. When I was buying it, the girl behind the counter wrote an expiration date onto the gift cert. To anyone reading this, this may not sound like a big issue, but I believe it is, and I will explain why. This is a bad business practice, I do not know how anyone in the restaurant business can explain how this is a good thing. It shows lack of faith in ones restaurant, whether the service, food quality, or menu choices. Why would an establishment this successful want to put an expiration date when you are GUARANTEEING THEM INCOME? So, not only will they gladly take your money, but they will not let you redeem it. As soon as this policy changes, so does my review.
(2)Sandra M.
We eat here several times a year and I've never disliked my meal or experience. The prices are good, the service is usually fantastic, and the food is tasty. I would recommend Liberatores to anyone.
(5)Kevin S.
This place is a little upscale for an routine place to head for dinner, but it is worth it. I think there are several locations around the Baltimore area and they have been around forever. I have been here twice and got the special each time (the first was a chicken pasta and the second was a fish pasta with lump crab meat) and it was spectacular. Really great service, nice ambiance, the staff is friendly and it appears to be great for nightlife too. Not really a perfect place for kids (as there are a lot of dates happening) but I brought mine and he was treated wonderfully by the staff. Overall, a great time with some great Italian food.
(4)Randy J.
Belair.This is one of our go to Italian restaurants. I have gone to the other locations but love this one the most. The people are friendly,food on point and the atmosphere looks great. Prices are average but the food taste homemade. We like it.
(4)Candice K.
This is one of my go to places in Bel Air. You might not be able to tell by looking at it from the outside, with just a sign to tell you where it is but, what you will find is a quality Italian restaurant right in the middle of Bel Air (to compare, it's way better than Olive Garden). This is an authentic Italian restaurant, that is local and family owned. The two things they do best are pasta and bread. So If its your first time there, you can't go wrong. I especially love their table bread and olive oil. My favorite dish is the orecchiette alla formaggio - orecchiette noodles, cheese, spinach and sausage. They have a great wine menu, full bar, Lavazza coffee and have a wide dessert selection. It can get very busy on weekend nights, so plan ahead or be ready to wait. Its great for family dinners or larger parties. As much as I enjoy it, the 4 stars are relative to the location. Sure there are better 4 stars in Baltimore but for the area they are really good because it isn't a chain and it close by.
(4)Michael C.
My wife and I went here for dinner the weekend before Valentines. It is so nice inside not what you would expect from a resturant in a strip center....The big screen with the scenes of Italian vineyards made you feel like you were in a far away place.....For apps Monica had the shrimp cocktail which was served in a martini glass and were the perfect size....I had the mussels which were cooked perfect and melted in your mouth.....For dinner I had the Veal with mushroom sauce....it was fresh and cooked perfect....Monica had the crab ravioli which were also freshly made and delish.....Service was top knotch and we can not wait to return.
(5)Dottie F.
Great place...tomato sauce is yummy, and I also like the Vodka Rigatoni. Make a reservation on the weekend.
(4)Aly M.
Italian food at its overpriced finest. Went here for a birthday dinner for my future MIL and I wasn't expecting much. Italian places for an Italian person are usually a let-down, so I keep the goals low. What makes me happy is to see a dish that is unique or something I wouldn't make at home for a reasonable price that is yummy. I didn't get that here. I got a dish that had fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil with pasta. I thought it would be fresh and not too heavy. It was ok, but there was hardly any mozzarella and it was lucky the restaurant was so dark because it didn't look too appealing, either. My fiance' got a lobster special that was way too salty, and the way they did the lobster--he didn't even know it was lobster until near the end of the meal because it was so weird looking. In general, the group of us were "ok" about our food, but I won't go here again unless people really want to go. The service was ok, but they had to shout because it was so loud in there (and this was at 8pm at night when it was fairly empty). My other huge pet peeve is the price. I hate hate hate Italian places that charge crazy amounts for simple pasta dishes. Olive Garden is overpriced, but I understand it's a chain/they want to make a profit/etc. At least there food is still about half the price of Liberatore's, and they're not trying to make themselves out to be any fancier than they are.
(2)J S.
Took the family on a week night for dinner.. the restaurant was fairly empty with only a few other tables so we were seated immediately by the host "Uncle Donny". Service was great and attentive. The food was good - not the best we've had in Italian in Bel Air - but good nonetheless. One of us got the crab ravioli and loved it; chicken parm was typical, nothing too special; Chicken Marsala again was typical. Would come again, but would be second to Scotto's or Enotria.
(3)Steve W.
Been to this restaurant several times. Usually walk out doubting that I would ever go back. So many items just miss the mark although the lump crab in red sauce over pasta is always good. The real killer is the noise level. This place tends to get very busy, especially on weekends, and it gets so loud it is almost impossible to carry on a conversation. I have been seated at various locations and it is loud everywhere. So, dinner is not the least bit relaxing. With that said, I recently walked in on a weeknight and the place was almost empty. There were a total of 4 people in the bar area. It was quiet so we had a drink at the bar and then decided to stay for dinner and sat at a small table in the bar. The service was great and the food was also fine. Quite an improvement. Bottom line is I will never go there if it is crowded but on an off night I could certainly be persuaded to stick around.
(3)Ellie V.
I signed up for Yelp only to review this restaurant. It is not just awful, it's dangerous. I have been twice (the second time I returned under protest.) Both times I was there for lunch. First time, my friend and I ordered the NY Steak Sandwich that she said was good. The meat was pre-cooked, grissly, microwave-tough, "leftover," and basically inedible. Bread was a standard Costco Kaiser roll. My friend apologized to me and said, "it's usually better than this." On a Friday at lunch, we were the only people in the restaurant and thought to myself, "no I don't think it usually is." Yesterday, I argued against going back, but it was a friend's birthday and convenient to meet there. At noon on a Sunday, there were only two people in this massive restaurant! I knew why. Our waitress came to take our drink order. Her long hair was dripping wet, as though she'd just stepped out of the shower. Weird, but whatever. She brought us drinks and took our order. She said the soup of the day was Beef and Bacon stew, but came back to let us know it was Shrimp and Corn Chowder. When the soup came, I noticed the shrimp sat "atop" the soup. Ok, so they plopped pre-cooked shrimp into canned soup. Again, whatever. Read on to find out why. We ordered a Pizza Margherita as an appetizer. Pizza was literally a hot, sloppy mess. The dough was so raw, it wasn't even warm. Even the cheese and tomato were anxious to get away from it and immediately slid off upon cutting. My sister had orrechiette with sausage and said it was good. My friend had the shrimp salad and asked to have a house salad with it. Took the waitress several iterations to figure this out. When this dish came, it was a pile of shrimp sitting on a pile of lettuce with a pile of Russian dressing on top. I looked at it and thought, "how gross. Why are they trying to get rid of the shrimp?" My salad was supposed to be their version of a Greek salad, but was more like a Greek tragedy. Iceberg lettuce (fine) with the most mealy tomatoes, slimy, spoiled cucumbers and diced pieces of pre-shaved lunch meat and lunch cheese. Amateur hour, for sure. The salad smelled to high heaven. Then, I noticed they mixed shrimp into my Greek (?) salad, though shrimp wasn't listed on the menu as an ingredient. I took one bite and knew the shrimp were long since spoiled. No wonder they were trying to get rid of it! I looked at my friend and said, "don't eat those shrimp. You'll be sick." When the server came to clear our places, he asked if we wanted to take home the rest. I'd had two bites of my salad. I said, "absolutely not." He asked my friend and she said, "no, I better not." He never asked why and that should have been obvious. Even if Liberatore's paid me, I'd never risk going back. Word to the wise: an empty restaurant that is more than a week old, is empty for good reason. Caveat emptor!
(1)barry k.
Have been going here for a couple of years, food is great, made fresh, a little upscale compared to others. Service is always fantastic!
(5)Judy H.
Went to Liberatore's on Christmas Eve. They were very busy, but the service was great and the food was very good. I would recommend the Liberatore's in Bel Air, as the one in Timonium and the one in Perry Hall are not as good.
(4)miss b.
Went to Liberatore's last night for a bachelorette dinner. I walked in and loved the decor and the low lights. The place had a great feel. We ended up having another person show up to our dinner party and the people working there were so nice about it. They added on another little table to our big table. The menu had so many choices that you just couldn't go wrong. They was definitely something to choose from for everyone. It's quite pricey, but I think well worth it. The bread was kind of tough, but slabbing lots of olive oil maybe it amazing. So amazing that I had a loaf of bread myself pretty much... The waiter we had was so nice and attentive to our table. Throughout the night, the place got packed. The table beside us had the most delicious looking Sangrias, so I will definitely try them the next time I go back. For dinner I had the Augie Salad which I really liked. It had Genoa salami, ham and provolone cheese and was topped with shrimp. I got the Raspberry Vinaigrette which was more creamy than I thought it would be, but it was pretty good. I also got the Cream of Crab which was pretty good. Everyone else at the table ordered some sort of pasta and was happy. Some felt that their pasta wasn't tender enough, but that definitely was not a deal breaker. I tried some of my friend's Calamari which was good and the drinks were delicious. This is definitely a good place for a meal to treat yourself, have a romantic night out or a special occasion. Definitely will be back...probably to the one closer to my house - can't wait!
(4)Kellee C.
Went into Liberatores yesterday for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had a lunch buffet !!! Has a lot of different choices on there from soup, salad , pizza, pasta, and a chicken dish! I was torn from ordering off the regular lunch menu which has a list of awesome salads/sandwiches to choose from! I went with the lunch buffet since it had a spread of all different things to choose from- oh a best part about the buffet , it's $8.95!!!!!!! I'll be back !
(5)Vince M.
As we sit here finishing our outstanding dinner I couldn't help but write a review!! From the moment we walked in with our party of 11 including 4 kids we were taken care of with the utmost care. Dave is by far the best waiter we've encountered in our many culinary travels. The service the food the atmosphere were beyond 5 star and we can not wait to return here again. Dave you are awesome e thank you for an amazing dining experience.
(5)A J.
Firstly, Liberatore's is excellent and always has been. Great Italian food - OH my word, do yourself a favor and get the fresh capellini margherita - and it has an excellent bar. But I must comment on the OUTSTANDING service and management. I encountered a small hiccup with a hostess a few months back and was very disappointed with the whole experience. Management found out and took every step to make amends. They were nothing but courteous, generous and accommodating and have made up for the whole ordeal and then some, especially with the crazy delicious dinner I enjoyed tonight. Go patronize their excellent establishment. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Naomi K.
This is by far the best restaurant in bel air!!!! Just go between their busy, crowded times. Their food is delicious, real Italian food and great bread with their olive oil. Just watch out for their drink prices. I would really like to see them get better desserts to compliment their food.
(4)