Italian Pines
12166 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878
Italian Pines Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Gaithersburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
12166 Darnestown Rd
Gaithersburg, MD, 20878 - Phone (301) 977-4600
- Website https://www.italianpines.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Barry S.
Somehow packed every night ... but for these prices and food quality I'd go to Il Porto every time ... and would step up to Il Pizzico when I wanted *great* Italian around GB. We had some odd service ... odd issues with paying on credit ... although the food alone will get us to skip this for good.
(2)Elizabeth W.
Went here today with my parents and sister because my dad was like "Hey, let's go to that Italian place by Caliyogurt." Shoot...I didn't even know there was an Italian place by my favorite yogurt place. But we drove over anyway and decided to go in. The place was very quiet around 6pm and the staff didn't seem too friendly, but the place quickly became crowded towards the end of our meal, and loud, very very loud with families all around with loud children. I liked it a lot better when it was quiet. We learned that if you want olive oil and cheese for your bread, you have to be a regular who knows to ask for it (we learned this when a regular diner came in and asked for it of course). I want to mention the decor because I liked it. I've been to a couple of mom and pop Italian places that were tacky or just seemed....underdone. This one was nice, and my family had a nice conversation about it to. I had the Shrimp Fradiavolo with spaghetti, My father and sister had the Fettuccine Al Pesto with Chicken, and my mother odd woman that she is decided she wanted Calamari and a salad for dinner. My Fradiavolo was wonderful, just spicy enough, the shrimp were nicely cooked and the marinara sauce that they used as the sauce was actually very good. My sister cleaned her plate until there wasn't even a speck of green left, which I think attests to how good she thought her meal was. My dad's chicken was a little dry and tough though which was his only complaint. He loved the pasta though. My mother thought her calamari was too greasy and I have to agree, it left that oily taste behind in your mouth. It was really crispy though. Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5 because the food was pretty darn good, the decor and atmosphere was nice (if you go earlier) and I like that it's next to Caliyogurt where we had dessert ^_^.
(4)Sy R.
Pleasant decor. Average service. Pasta you could make at home in 12 minutes, without having to suffer what tasted like Ragu sauce.
(2)Sharon W.
We've met daughter-in-law and granddaughter at Il Porto a number of times lately but d-in-law kept saying we should try Italian Pines. Tonight we did and we weren't very impressed. We arrived early so it wasn't crowded. The restaurant is rather plain but that's okay. Service was adequate but it was the food and little details that were lacking compared to Il Porto. Bread was all right but apparently you have to ask for dipping sauce and parmesan cheese. For appetizers we had mussels with red sauce and sauteed spinach. The mussels needed to be served hotter and the spinach was a soggy, tasteless mess, not much more than a hint of garlic, if that, and it was barely luke warm. Husband and granddaughter said the pizza was okay, the sauce was good but it wasn't very cheesy. My chicken parmesan was average. Everything ranged from just okay to pretty dismal so when visiting our family in Montgomery Village I would definitely choose Il Porto over Italian Pines.
(2)vanda g.
i can't believe how long it took me to finally try this place. it used to be located in montgomery village but recently moved to this current location in north potomac. my husband ryan, baby alex and i went here for lunch on my b-day recently and i was completely blown away by how good the pizza was(i love pizza). it's the most authentic pizza i've ever tasted. perfect thin crust (not too thin or thick) and perfect amount of chewyness. the sauce is placed on top of the cheese and the pizza is cooked in an electric oven. the other menu item we ordered was the chicken alfredo. the chicken was dry but had good seasoning and the pasta and sauce were delicious. since it was my birthday the waiter brought me a canolli for desert with a lit candle on top. it was the first canolli i ever ate so i have nothing to compare it with but it was really good! i can't wait to go back again. i'm so happy they moved closer to our home. i still remember the warm summer day. i was driving in my first car (white 91' firebird) with my friend tracie and she mentioned how good this restaurant was as we were driving past it. this was at least 15 years ago. so much time wasted...
(5)Samantha E.
italian pines is my favorite restaurant by far. its a little mom n pop restaurant thats been open forever, and their food has always been amazing. ive never had a bad meal and ive been going there since i was little. i always get the house salad with their homemade italian dressing, the white pizza which is different and much better than any other white pizza anywhere, or the grilled salmon. everything is homemase, super fresh, and just awesomely good. i love italian pines!
(5)Daniel Z.
What a great little Italy in Mont. Co. Great food and very cozy. Highly Recommended !!
(4)Joe C.
My boss is trying to eat healthy and has been eating a lot of seafood. Knowing of our love for seafood, he suggested we all go to dinner here. He kept saying they have the best seafood because they cook it in the pizza oven. This isn't a huge oddity to me, but whatever. The restaurant itself reminded me of a lot of the small family restaurants in NY - definitely a good thing. Looking at the menu, I decided I really just wasn't in the mood for seafood - and ordered the chicken parmesan. My boss ordered the flounder - and the waitress warned him that it was large. Others ordered mussels, fettucini alfredo and some other fish that I didn't catch the name of (haha, get it?). When the food was brought out, I was both relieved and disappointed that I didn't order the flounder. It was huge. I'm talking hanging off the edges of the plate huge. He was really impressed with it and was barely able to finish it - despite being a huge guy. My chicken parm was decent, but unimpressive. Everyone else seemed pleased with their food. The service was excellent - and the servers very friendly. I'd come back again, but I'd definitely try the seafood next time.
(3)Puggy F.
The good: * Best pizza in town, easily. * Solid Italian food. The pollo picatta was excellent as was their pasta sauce. * Warm fresh Italian bread served with the meal. * Reasonably priced for Italian food. * Service was good and fairly quick. The not so good: * There is no ambiance to this place. Generic is too descriptive of a word. While the place could definitely use some more interesting decor, the food was really quite good. I'll definitely come back.
(4)Charles Y.
I can keep this short by referring you to Jason's review from a year ago. He was spot on. Mediocre service. Sauce that tasted like it came out of a can (and then was watered down), unimpressive salad - the only good thing was the bread! Whoever is doing the cooking either isn't tasting, or just doesn't know how to cook. Definitely will be going elsewhere for Italian.
(1)Deb L.
I went here for dinner last night with some friends, trusting the yelp reviews. It was a decent Italian place but not the best in the area. The staff were very friendly but the food wasn't worth the half-hour drive for me. The bread was a cold and could have been much improved with a quick trip to the oven to warm it. For appetizers, we got the fried calamari and the fried zucchini. My friends seemed to enjoy the calamari but my zucchini came sliced too thin so was burned and tasteless at times. The homemade marina sauce wasn't anything to write home about. I got the gnocchi, which was good, though the marinara sauce was, again, bland. The portions were also small, but then given the price, that was okay. The spudmoni for dessert was excellent. There are much better Italian places in the area that I probably won't be back. Above Mama Lucia's; below Pasta Plus.
(2)Gavin P.
I've been going to this restaurant for years and years. Its been a pastime for my family since I was young. We are always treated right and get very good food! I don't understand the reviews that complain about the marinara. I think its some of the best in the area, this coming from an Italian that cooks his own marinara. Give it a shot! Its good stuff!
(5)Steven W.
Italian Pines can be 4 star good, but it can also be 2-star not-so-good. Consistency is the issue. I have found, since my first visit here in 2008, it more often leans to the not-so-good, finding a home in the land of A-OK. Being my neighborhood Italian spot it pains me to take away a star...but if I can take myself WAY too seriously for a moment, leaving Italian Pines 4-star, in my opinion, shoots down my credibility on other 4-star reviews. Furthermore it also dilutes the sometimes fine line between 3 and 4 stars...Now back to my humble update. My family has had everything here...pizza (consistently good, thin crust nice cheese etc...), pasta (hit or miss...many times tastes like it has been sitting in water), steamed vegetables (see sitting in water comment above), fish and chicken (both really all over the place, from succulent to dried out) and veal in many forms (usually a safe bet). Service is generally both friendly and prompt, and overall I still stand by the fact that Italian Pines is a good value for the D.C. area. Of course when you have to roll the dice on whether or not you will have a better than average meal, it can skew the value equation. The funny thing is both my father and father in-law LOVE the roasted veal (which is almost always on the specials board when you enter). When I say LOVE, I can't stress that enough. They both look forward to eating here every time they visit just for the Roasted Veal. Maybe next time I should order the Roasted Veal?
(3)Olga S.
Absolutely awful! Hard to decide what was worse, food or service. Would have to go with service. First we were barely acknowledged and were awkwardly standing at the door not sure what to do. Then some lady noticed us led us to the table and threw the menus on it as she walked away. Our server barely came to us and we waited forever for him to take our order and bring me my water, yet he brought my dad's drink right away. Not sure why he couldn't just grab both at the same time. Food was mediocre, to say the best. Nothing you can't make yourself at home, even if you are not a good cook and working with just one hand. I have NEVER had to use salt at a restaurant, until tonight, I must also say I don't really like my food too salty, but this was just soooooo plain, it cried for salt. Don't waste your money, go elsewhere.
(1)Cat L.
This is a quaint Italian restaurant awkwardly located in a tiny shopping center dominated by fast-food chains and quick-service stores like UPS. I stopped by here for a weekday lunch thanks to a LivingSocial deal and am glad that I did. I would come back here if I were in the area, but I doubt that I'll find myself here again except for quick stops like dropping off UPS packages. Our group of 3 ordered the veal cutlet milanese with spaghetti, the spinach and cheese ravioli, and a 12" white pizza with cheese. The white pizza was my favorite - it tasted like a flat but extra cheesy version of cheesy bread. I liked the ravioli as well, but it was small and only came with 4 pieces. We also got a huge helping of soft bread and butter before our meal. I thought our meal was a little pricey given the portion sizes, but the LivingSocial made it a good deal. Service was very attentive throughout the meal, although the place was nearly empty anyway.
(4)Katia M.
Everything was WONDERFUL, I read reviews and gave it a try and I'm impressed! My pesto was delicious and the same with salmon and pesto sauce is homemade, I am coming back!
(5)Jay H.
I've been to this place multiple times and always received great food and service. Italian Pines is located in a strip mall in Quince Orchard behind the main road. It's not hard to find once you know where to look. Parking can be tough at times if they, or their neighbours, are busy as there just aren't that many spaces out front. I've always found the seating area to be clean with a bright and warm interior. The place has ample seating but is not the largest place. The food quality and service is first rate. I've been there multiple times and always found the food (presentation and taste) to be first rate. The staff is always friendly. They serve pretty good portion sizes and I would guestimate most dinners running ~$30pp (Appetizer+ Entrees + Dessert). Recommendation: My family and I frequent this place often and I highly recommend it. One of the best places in Quince Orchard.
(4)Sue C.
My husband and I ate at Italian Pines because some of his relatives were raving about it, and truth be told, we had a coupon. Being from NJ, and knowing good Italian food from mediocre, I was unimpressed with Italian Pines. The decor is very bland and boring, but clean. I've eaten in some real rundown places in Hoboken that have awesome Italian food, so I am not that hung up on the decor. Neither of us were thrilled with our dinners. They were just OK. I did notice on the menu that there was an extra charge for homemade sauce...which means, that unless you ask for it and pay extra, I guess you are getting sauce out of the jar or can. Yuk! I can eat that at home! Why would I pay for it out at an Italian restaurant? Prices were a little on the expensive side too - especially considering you're not getting homemade sauce. I wonder what else on the menu is out of a box, jar or freezer? We never ate there again, and don't plan to in the future. There are too many other choices to go back to some place that was just OK.
(2)John E.
Alright, so I'll start by acknowledging that this place has a rather mediocre reputation in the area but this place is by no means awful as some of the reviewers have stated. My family and I have been coming to their old and new location for years. The staff has always been great and accommodating. The few times service perhaps didn't shine was when they were clearly at their busiest and had a lot of tables and orders to work, so no hard feelings there. When it comes to the food, what I have tried has always been consistent and delicious, though I can't speak for the whole menu since I usually only stick with the same 2-3 dishes. Chicken Fiorentine (a big ol chicken breast covered in a homemade spinach cream and a side salad or pasta) is my favorite and my recommendation for those of you who spend too much time perusing the menus. Though the absolute must for any customer has to be their white pizza (medium is a great portion to share with a table of 4). It is seriously the best white pizza I think I've ever had, and I've backpacked in Italy and been to NYC lol. All in all, Italian Pines perhaps isn't the most authentic Italian food out there but it does provide for a satisfying meal to be shared with family and friends.
(4)Jason I.
I've been eating at this place for years at both their new location and their old location. My folks frequented this place (their prices are low) and I often accompanied them. Please excuse how long this review will be ; I feel it's necessary to do you a favor and be as detailed as possible as to why you shouldn't eat here. I've always been unimpressed with their food ( I would even rather eat at the mediocre Buca Di Beppos location up the street ) however their last visit left me with a really unpleasant taste in my mouth. Pun. For starters the service was mediocre. I usually don't focus on service in my reviews as I believe that food should always be paramount in a description of a restaurant however this service was particularly bad. Our waitress ignored our table throughout the entire evening. That's fine; I can deal with bad service as long as the food is good. I ordered squid and spaghetti in red sauce, and my dad ordered pork chops. I knew something was off when the server didn't ask my dad how he wanted his chops done but the old guy always likes his meat cooked hella nasty ( well done) or with just a bit of pink so I didn't say anything. My mother ordered eggplant Parmesan. My pasta was cooked to mush. It's always a huge red flag whenever an Italian place doesn't toss their pasta in sauce (all good Italian restaurants do this because they understand how to treat starches properly and they make food because they are a restaurant) and throughout the years Italian Pines has also always had disturbingly watery and tasteless marinara sauce. However this time they also improperly cooked the pasta until it was past al dente and way past the edible stage. The squid lacked any sort of seasoning whatsoever. No salt, no pepper, no garlic, no acid, no spice, no love, nothing. It was also chewy like a dog toy. My father's pork chops were so dry that he had great difficulty cutting through them. My mom's eggplant Parm was a watery, bland, soupy and disgusting mess that looked like sweaty socks. I've worked in the restaurant industry and I am a big believer in giving restaurants a chance at correcting their mistakes. People mess up. Chefs show up drunk. Wait staff gets crunk during service. BUT restaurants I've worked at and places I've eaten at have always graciously make it up whenever they made an error. I'm also not picky. I can overlook things. But this meal was across the board an inedible nasty waste. I wasn't a fan of this place to begin with but me and my family have been loyal customers and I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. My folks are afraid to complain about their meals (they're weird) so I took it upon myself to talk to the floor manager. The guy was visibly annoyed when he headed over to our table. He hunched over, his pockmarked bloated face sweating all over our table, and sternly, in a demanding way, asked why we were upset with the meal. I explained that my squid was overcooked and had no seasoning. He looked at me angrily and told me that they can redo them but that that was the way they've always made calamari. I got a nauseous feeling in my stomach and not just because of the food. Next my dad showed him how dry and difficult it was to cut through his chops. The guy had the nerve to actually LECTURE us on how it is IMPOSSIBLE TO COOK A TENDER PORK CHOP. The man was not only a rude and terrible manager but also a liar and an outright moron. He hurriedly said something about pork having no flavor compared to beef, that pork was inherently tough and difficult to chew, and that they could recook the chops but they would be just as chewy. I was speechless. I've never heard a manager say such hilariously stupid things before. Then he just stood there looking mad at us, saying nothing, sweating on us. I asked him 'What can you do for us then?'. The manager responded : 'I can do nothing except recook your food. However our food is fine the way it is and we have many happy customers.' HE THEN WALKED AWAY. I had to shout at him as he walked away, 'We won't be back then'. All the old people and families with screaming babies (the only two types of people who eat at Italian Pines) looked at me briefly. Good Job Italian Pines, you've completely alienated loyal customers from ever eating at your gross restaurant again. You've firmly established yourself as being literally the worst Italian restaurant in all of Gaithersburg. When there's so many other better offerings in the area (Il Pizzico, Amici de Mei, Il Porto, hell, even Macaroni Grill), there's zero reason to ever visit this sad excuse of a restaurant. Also please learn how to cook a pork chop.
(1)James W.
I went here with family on numerous recommendations. It was unimpressive. The food wasn't great and certainly didn't live up to the billing or the price. The meat was tough as shoe leather and the sauce tasted no better than prego. The food wasn't awful, just a let down from what I was expecting. Wouldn't go back. 2 out of 5
(2)Lynn L.
Hmmm - this place was definitely middle-of-the-road for Italian food. Despite being in a strip mall, the dining room was cozy, and staff friendly and welcoming. There were quite a few tables occupied on a Tuesday night, so I was looking forward to my meal! We settled in and ordered a bottle of Montepulciano (wine list is very reasonable in terms of price!), and entrees. Bread was served - a little stale, and most definitely not heated - with only butter. No olive oil and/or balsamic vinegar to be found. My chicken piccata was nicely done and I have no complaints other than that the chicken could have been pounded thinner. However, the side of linguine with marinara that came with my entree was awful! Thin, flavorless marinara. I added so much salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to it, I wondered if it was just crushed tomatoes atop linguine. My cannoli dessert was good, just very plain (no nuts or chocolate chips adorning the ends). I don't know if there's great Italian in Gaithersburg, but this was most certainly just plain and middle-of-the road. I won't come back.
(3)Brynn D.
upon visiting my hometown last month, i was devestated to find out from my mom that italian pines had apparently closed. my mom doesn't have the internets... or for that matter, a microwave, or call waiting, or a cell phone, or cable tv, or anything else remotely 20th or 21st-century-ish except for a motorized vehicle. when i was in town and she asked where i wanted to go to dinner, italian pines was the first thing out of my mouth... and my mom, distraught, says it appears they went out of business. she starts mumbling some alternates like that overpriced seafood place in kentlands (no!) or il pizzico (maaaybe) while i do a five-second search on my iphone to discover that italian pines has not closed, merely relocated. dinner is saved!!! we hop in the truck and head right out there (my mom is equally amazed at google maps on my iphone telling us how to get there). i order the same thing i always do: the caprese salad and a tomato/moz pizza with olives. my mom orders her usual, a bowl of soup, ravioli and an extra bowl of parmesan for the sprinklin (or dousing, more accurately). then we go about the usual dinner task at hand, which is arguing about politics and everything under the sun without actually getting angry, as only stubborn italian women can do. then we leave, each of us fatter and even more convinced on our own stance of how obama's doing. i call it a successful trip home.
(5)Kevin S.
They moved a while back to North Potomac. Food is decent. Qual;ity could be better. Nice new location & decor. Servers could stand to be a little more "on the ball"
(3)Andrea R.
We have been going to the Pines of Rome in Bethesda for over 30 years. As Italians, we are sorta picky about our Italian food (no Olive Garden for us!). The Italian Pines in G'burg is owned by the same people as the Pines of Rome in Bethesda. If you go to either one during the dinner rush, get there early because they will both be packed!! But the food is excellent and I love that the atmosphere of both places. You'd be just as comfortable taking a date here or showing up in shorts and flip flops. The staff are wonderful and they must treat their staff fairly well because the servers have been around for years. The food is absolutely wonderful too. Very authentic. The best is the white pizza (with no cheese), fried zuchiini, and the manicotti. The food is fresh and the portions are reasonable so you have room for desert.
(5)Jason L.
Clearly Gaithersburg has an aversion to attracting good Italian restaurants. When the best Italian that can be had is the local Buca di Beppo you just have to throw up your hands and wave the surrender flag. Everything about my recent trip here screamed disinterest. We came on a Friday night and it was one of the quietest restaurants I have ever been in. Our waitress gave us about as much enthusiasm as she would have given her local dentist before getting a root canal without anesthesia. The inside of the restaurant is plainly decorated and devoid of any life. We ordered the fried calamari as an appetizer and although decent was overpriced. I ordered the Pollo Saltimbocca which was a boneless chicken breast with prosciutto ham and melted mozzarella cheese in white wine sauce. The chicken was a thin, cheap cut of meat. The white wine sauce was thin and flavorless. I actually became disinterested in finishing the meal about halfway through. It was one of those moments where you think to yourself, "why I am wasting calories on this?". The check was hastily signed and we got out of there quickly. I know this review sounds harsh but there was really not a positive note from the whole evening. Avoid.
(2)Elaine F.
My husband & I dined at Italian Pines for the second time tonight. The appetizers are very good, including the mussels, calamari, and french fried artichokes. I had grilled chicken with mushrooms, which was excellent. My husband ordered spaghetti with Italian sausage, which also was very good. We had a bottle of wine (pinot grigio) and the check was about $50.00. This is an attractive neighborhood restaurant with excellent food. The dining room allows for private conversation, and the service was very good. Will be going back!
(4)Jay H.
I've been to this place multiple times and always received great food and service. Italian Pines is located in a strip mall in Quince Orchard behind the main road. It's not hard to find once you know where to look. Parking can be tough at times if they, or their neighbours, are busy as there just aren't that many spaces out front. I've always found the seating area to be clean with a bright and warm interior. The place has ample seating but is not the largest place. The food quality and service is first rate. I've been there multiple times and always found the food (presentation and taste) to be first rate. The staff is always friendly. They serve pretty good portion sizes and I would guestimate most dinners running ~$30pp (Appetizer+ Entrees + Dessert). Recommendation: My family and I frequent this place often and I highly recommend it. One of the best places in Quince Orchard.
(4)Olga S.
Absolutely awful! Hard to decide what was worse, food or service. Would have to go with service. First we were barely acknowledged and were awkwardly standing at the door not sure what to do. Then some lady noticed us led us to the table and threw the menus on it as she walked away. Our server barely came to us and we waited forever for him to take our order and bring me my water, yet he brought my dad's drink right away. Not sure why he couldn't just grab both at the same time. Food was mediocre, to say the best. Nothing you can't make yourself at home, even if you are not a good cook and working with just one hand. I have NEVER had to use salt at a restaurant, until tonight, I must also say I don't really like my food too salty, but this was just soooooo plain, it cried for salt. Don't waste your money, go elsewhere.
(1)Cat L.
This is a quaint Italian restaurant awkwardly located in a tiny shopping center dominated by fast-food chains and quick-service stores like UPS. I stopped by here for a weekday lunch thanks to a LivingSocial deal and am glad that I did. I would come back here if I were in the area, but I doubt that I'll find myself here again except for quick stops like dropping off UPS packages. Our group of 3 ordered the veal cutlet milanese with spaghetti, the spinach and cheese ravioli, and a 12" white pizza with cheese. The white pizza was my favorite - it tasted like a flat but extra cheesy version of cheesy bread. I liked the ravioli as well, but it was small and only came with 4 pieces. We also got a huge helping of soft bread and butter before our meal. I thought our meal was a little pricey given the portion sizes, but the LivingSocial made it a good deal. Service was very attentive throughout the meal, although the place was nearly empty anyway.
(4)Katia M.
Everything was WONDERFUL, I read reviews and gave it a try and I'm impressed! My pesto was delicious and the same with salmon and pesto sauce is homemade, I am coming back!
(5)Barry S.
Somehow packed every night ... but for these prices and food quality I'd go to Il Porto every time ... and would step up to Il Pizzico when I wanted *great* Italian around GB. We had some odd service ... odd issues with paying on credit ... although the food alone will get us to skip this for good.
(2)Elizabeth W.
Went here today with my parents and sister because my dad was like "Hey, let's go to that Italian place by Caliyogurt." Shoot...I didn't even know there was an Italian place by my favorite yogurt place. But we drove over anyway and decided to go in. The place was very quiet around 6pm and the staff didn't seem too friendly, but the place quickly became crowded towards the end of our meal, and loud, very very loud with families all around with loud children. I liked it a lot better when it was quiet. We learned that if you want olive oil and cheese for your bread, you have to be a regular who knows to ask for it (we learned this when a regular diner came in and asked for it of course). I want to mention the decor because I liked it. I've been to a couple of mom and pop Italian places that were tacky or just seemed....underdone. This one was nice, and my family had a nice conversation about it to. I had the Shrimp Fradiavolo with spaghetti, My father and sister had the Fettuccine Al Pesto with Chicken, and my mother odd woman that she is decided she wanted Calamari and a salad for dinner. My Fradiavolo was wonderful, just spicy enough, the shrimp were nicely cooked and the marinara sauce that they used as the sauce was actually very good. My sister cleaned her plate until there wasn't even a speck of green left, which I think attests to how good she thought her meal was. My dad's chicken was a little dry and tough though which was his only complaint. He loved the pasta though. My mother thought her calamari was too greasy and I have to agree, it left that oily taste behind in your mouth. It was really crispy though. Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5 because the food was pretty darn good, the decor and atmosphere was nice (if you go earlier) and I like that it's next to Caliyogurt where we had dessert ^_^.
(4)Sy R.
Pleasant decor. Average service. Pasta you could make at home in 12 minutes, without having to suffer what tasted like Ragu sauce.
(2)Sue C.
My husband and I ate at Italian Pines because some of his relatives were raving about it, and truth be told, we had a coupon. Being from NJ, and knowing good Italian food from mediocre, I was unimpressed with Italian Pines. The decor is very bland and boring, but clean. I've eaten in some real rundown places in Hoboken that have awesome Italian food, so I am not that hung up on the decor. Neither of us were thrilled with our dinners. They were just OK. I did notice on the menu that there was an extra charge for homemade sauce...which means, that unless you ask for it and pay extra, I guess you are getting sauce out of the jar or can. Yuk! I can eat that at home! Why would I pay for it out at an Italian restaurant? Prices were a little on the expensive side too - especially considering you're not getting homemade sauce. I wonder what else on the menu is out of a box, jar or freezer? We never ate there again, and don't plan to in the future. There are too many other choices to go back to some place that was just OK.
(2)John E.
Alright, so I'll start by acknowledging that this place has a rather mediocre reputation in the area but this place is by no means awful as some of the reviewers have stated. My family and I have been coming to their old and new location for years. The staff has always been great and accommodating. The few times service perhaps didn't shine was when they were clearly at their busiest and had a lot of tables and orders to work, so no hard feelings there. When it comes to the food, what I have tried has always been consistent and delicious, though I can't speak for the whole menu since I usually only stick with the same 2-3 dishes. Chicken Fiorentine (a big ol chicken breast covered in a homemade spinach cream and a side salad or pasta) is my favorite and my recommendation for those of you who spend too much time perusing the menus. Though the absolute must for any customer has to be their white pizza (medium is a great portion to share with a table of 4). It is seriously the best white pizza I think I've ever had, and I've backpacked in Italy and been to NYC lol. All in all, Italian Pines perhaps isn't the most authentic Italian food out there but it does provide for a satisfying meal to be shared with family and friends.
(4)Jason I.
I've been eating at this place for years at both their new location and their old location. My folks frequented this place (their prices are low) and I often accompanied them. Please excuse how long this review will be ; I feel it's necessary to do you a favor and be as detailed as possible as to why you shouldn't eat here. I've always been unimpressed with their food ( I would even rather eat at the mediocre Buca Di Beppos location up the street ) however their last visit left me with a really unpleasant taste in my mouth. Pun. For starters the service was mediocre. I usually don't focus on service in my reviews as I believe that food should always be paramount in a description of a restaurant however this service was particularly bad. Our waitress ignored our table throughout the entire evening. That's fine; I can deal with bad service as long as the food is good. I ordered squid and spaghetti in red sauce, and my dad ordered pork chops. I knew something was off when the server didn't ask my dad how he wanted his chops done but the old guy always likes his meat cooked hella nasty ( well done) or with just a bit of pink so I didn't say anything. My mother ordered eggplant Parmesan. My pasta was cooked to mush. It's always a huge red flag whenever an Italian place doesn't toss their pasta in sauce (all good Italian restaurants do this because they understand how to treat starches properly and they make food because they are a restaurant) and throughout the years Italian Pines has also always had disturbingly watery and tasteless marinara sauce. However this time they also improperly cooked the pasta until it was past al dente and way past the edible stage. The squid lacked any sort of seasoning whatsoever. No salt, no pepper, no garlic, no acid, no spice, no love, nothing. It was also chewy like a dog toy. My father's pork chops were so dry that he had great difficulty cutting through them. My mom's eggplant Parm was a watery, bland, soupy and disgusting mess that looked like sweaty socks. I've worked in the restaurant industry and I am a big believer in giving restaurants a chance at correcting their mistakes. People mess up. Chefs show up drunk. Wait staff gets crunk during service. BUT restaurants I've worked at and places I've eaten at have always graciously make it up whenever they made an error. I'm also not picky. I can overlook things. But this meal was across the board an inedible nasty waste. I wasn't a fan of this place to begin with but me and my family have been loyal customers and I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. My folks are afraid to complain about their meals (they're weird) so I took it upon myself to talk to the floor manager. The guy was visibly annoyed when he headed over to our table. He hunched over, his pockmarked bloated face sweating all over our table, and sternly, in a demanding way, asked why we were upset with the meal. I explained that my squid was overcooked and had no seasoning. He looked at me angrily and told me that they can redo them but that that was the way they've always made calamari. I got a nauseous feeling in my stomach and not just because of the food. Next my dad showed him how dry and difficult it was to cut through his chops. The guy had the nerve to actually LECTURE us on how it is IMPOSSIBLE TO COOK A TENDER PORK CHOP. The man was not only a rude and terrible manager but also a liar and an outright moron. He hurriedly said something about pork having no flavor compared to beef, that pork was inherently tough and difficult to chew, and that they could recook the chops but they would be just as chewy. I was speechless. I've never heard a manager say such hilariously stupid things before. Then he just stood there looking mad at us, saying nothing, sweating on us. I asked him 'What can you do for us then?'. The manager responded : 'I can do nothing except recook your food. However our food is fine the way it is and we have many happy customers.' HE THEN WALKED AWAY. I had to shout at him as he walked away, 'We won't be back then'. All the old people and families with screaming babies (the only two types of people who eat at Italian Pines) looked at me briefly. Good Job Italian Pines, you've completely alienated loyal customers from ever eating at your gross restaurant again. You've firmly established yourself as being literally the worst Italian restaurant in all of Gaithersburg. When there's so many other better offerings in the area (Il Pizzico, Amici de Mei, Il Porto, hell, even Macaroni Grill), there's zero reason to ever visit this sad excuse of a restaurant. Also please learn how to cook a pork chop.
(1)Sharon W.
We've met daughter-in-law and granddaughter at Il Porto a number of times lately but d-in-law kept saying we should try Italian Pines. Tonight we did and we weren't very impressed. We arrived early so it wasn't crowded. The restaurant is rather plain but that's okay. Service was adequate but it was the food and little details that were lacking compared to Il Porto. Bread was all right but apparently you have to ask for dipping sauce and parmesan cheese. For appetizers we had mussels with red sauce and sauteed spinach. The mussels needed to be served hotter and the spinach was a soggy, tasteless mess, not much more than a hint of garlic, if that, and it was barely luke warm. Husband and granddaughter said the pizza was okay, the sauce was good but it wasn't very cheesy. My chicken parmesan was average. Everything ranged from just okay to pretty dismal so when visiting our family in Montgomery Village I would definitely choose Il Porto over Italian Pines.
(2)Steven W.
Italian Pines can be 4 star good, but it can also be 2-star not-so-good. Consistency is the issue. I have found, since my first visit here in 2008, it more often leans to the not-so-good, finding a home in the land of A-OK. Being my neighborhood Italian spot it pains me to take away a star...but if I can take myself WAY too seriously for a moment, leaving Italian Pines 4-star, in my opinion, shoots down my credibility on other 4-star reviews. Furthermore it also dilutes the sometimes fine line between 3 and 4 stars...Now back to my humble update. My family has had everything here...pizza (consistently good, thin crust nice cheese etc...), pasta (hit or miss...many times tastes like it has been sitting in water), steamed vegetables (see sitting in water comment above), fish and chicken (both really all over the place, from succulent to dried out) and veal in many forms (usually a safe bet). Service is generally both friendly and prompt, and overall I still stand by the fact that Italian Pines is a good value for the D.C. area. Of course when you have to roll the dice on whether or not you will have a better than average meal, it can skew the value equation. The funny thing is both my father and father in-law LOVE the roasted veal (which is almost always on the specials board when you enter). When I say LOVE, I can't stress that enough. They both look forward to eating here every time they visit just for the Roasted Veal. Maybe next time I should order the Roasted Veal?
(3)Joe C.
My boss is trying to eat healthy and has been eating a lot of seafood. Knowing of our love for seafood, he suggested we all go to dinner here. He kept saying they have the best seafood because they cook it in the pizza oven. This isn't a huge oddity to me, but whatever. The restaurant itself reminded me of a lot of the small family restaurants in NY - definitely a good thing. Looking at the menu, I decided I really just wasn't in the mood for seafood - and ordered the chicken parmesan. My boss ordered the flounder - and the waitress warned him that it was large. Others ordered mussels, fettucini alfredo and some other fish that I didn't catch the name of (haha, get it?). When the food was brought out, I was both relieved and disappointed that I didn't order the flounder. It was huge. I'm talking hanging off the edges of the plate huge. He was really impressed with it and was barely able to finish it - despite being a huge guy. My chicken parm was decent, but unimpressive. Everyone else seemed pleased with their food. The service was excellent - and the servers very friendly. I'd come back again, but I'd definitely try the seafood next time.
(3)Puggy F.
The good: * Best pizza in town, easily. * Solid Italian food. The pollo picatta was excellent as was their pasta sauce. * Warm fresh Italian bread served with the meal. * Reasonably priced for Italian food. * Service was good and fairly quick. The not so good: * There is no ambiance to this place. Generic is too descriptive of a word. While the place could definitely use some more interesting decor, the food was really quite good. I'll definitely come back.
(4)Charles Y.
I can keep this short by referring you to Jason's review from a year ago. He was spot on. Mediocre service. Sauce that tasted like it came out of a can (and then was watered down), unimpressive salad - the only good thing was the bread! Whoever is doing the cooking either isn't tasting, or just doesn't know how to cook. Definitely will be going elsewhere for Italian.
(1)Deb L.
I went here for dinner last night with some friends, trusting the yelp reviews. It was a decent Italian place but not the best in the area. The staff were very friendly but the food wasn't worth the half-hour drive for me. The bread was a cold and could have been much improved with a quick trip to the oven to warm it. For appetizers, we got the fried calamari and the fried zucchini. My friends seemed to enjoy the calamari but my zucchini came sliced too thin so was burned and tasteless at times. The homemade marina sauce wasn't anything to write home about. I got the gnocchi, which was good, though the marinara sauce was, again, bland. The portions were also small, but then given the price, that was okay. The spudmoni for dessert was excellent. There are much better Italian places in the area that I probably won't be back. Above Mama Lucia's; below Pasta Plus.
(2)Gavin P.
I've been going to this restaurant for years and years. Its been a pastime for my family since I was young. We are always treated right and get very good food! I don't understand the reviews that complain about the marinara. I think its some of the best in the area, this coming from an Italian that cooks his own marinara. Give it a shot! Its good stuff!
(5)James W.
I went here with family on numerous recommendations. It was unimpressive. The food wasn't great and certainly didn't live up to the billing or the price. The meat was tough as shoe leather and the sauce tasted no better than prego. The food wasn't awful, just a let down from what I was expecting. Wouldn't go back. 2 out of 5
(2)Lynn L.
Hmmm - this place was definitely middle-of-the-road for Italian food. Despite being in a strip mall, the dining room was cozy, and staff friendly and welcoming. There were quite a few tables occupied on a Tuesday night, so I was looking forward to my meal! We settled in and ordered a bottle of Montepulciano (wine list is very reasonable in terms of price!), and entrees. Bread was served - a little stale, and most definitely not heated - with only butter. No olive oil and/or balsamic vinegar to be found. My chicken piccata was nicely done and I have no complaints other than that the chicken could have been pounded thinner. However, the side of linguine with marinara that came with my entree was awful! Thin, flavorless marinara. I added so much salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to it, I wondered if it was just crushed tomatoes atop linguine. My cannoli dessert was good, just very plain (no nuts or chocolate chips adorning the ends). I don't know if there's great Italian in Gaithersburg, but this was most certainly just plain and middle-of-the road. I won't come back.
(3)Brynn D.
upon visiting my hometown last month, i was devestated to find out from my mom that italian pines had apparently closed. my mom doesn't have the internets... or for that matter, a microwave, or call waiting, or a cell phone, or cable tv, or anything else remotely 20th or 21st-century-ish except for a motorized vehicle. when i was in town and she asked where i wanted to go to dinner, italian pines was the first thing out of my mouth... and my mom, distraught, says it appears they went out of business. she starts mumbling some alternates like that overpriced seafood place in kentlands (no!) or il pizzico (maaaybe) while i do a five-second search on my iphone to discover that italian pines has not closed, merely relocated. dinner is saved!!! we hop in the truck and head right out there (my mom is equally amazed at google maps on my iphone telling us how to get there). i order the same thing i always do: the caprese salad and a tomato/moz pizza with olives. my mom orders her usual, a bowl of soup, ravioli and an extra bowl of parmesan for the sprinklin (or dousing, more accurately). then we go about the usual dinner task at hand, which is arguing about politics and everything under the sun without actually getting angry, as only stubborn italian women can do. then we leave, each of us fatter and even more convinced on our own stance of how obama's doing. i call it a successful trip home.
(5)Jason L.
Clearly Gaithersburg has an aversion to attracting good Italian restaurants. When the best Italian that can be had is the local Buca di Beppo you just have to throw up your hands and wave the surrender flag. Everything about my recent trip here screamed disinterest. We came on a Friday night and it was one of the quietest restaurants I have ever been in. Our waitress gave us about as much enthusiasm as she would have given her local dentist before getting a root canal without anesthesia. The inside of the restaurant is plainly decorated and devoid of any life. We ordered the fried calamari as an appetizer and although decent was overpriced. I ordered the Pollo Saltimbocca which was a boneless chicken breast with prosciutto ham and melted mozzarella cheese in white wine sauce. The chicken was a thin, cheap cut of meat. The white wine sauce was thin and flavorless. I actually became disinterested in finishing the meal about halfway through. It was one of those moments where you think to yourself, "why I am wasting calories on this?". The check was hastily signed and we got out of there quickly. I know this review sounds harsh but there was really not a positive note from the whole evening. Avoid.
(2)Kevin S.
They moved a while back to North Potomac. Food is decent. Qual;ity could be better. Nice new location & decor. Servers could stand to be a little more "on the ball"
(3)vanda g.
i can't believe how long it took me to finally try this place. it used to be located in montgomery village but recently moved to this current location in north potomac. my husband ryan, baby alex and i went here for lunch on my b-day recently and i was completely blown away by how good the pizza was(i love pizza). it's the most authentic pizza i've ever tasted. perfect thin crust (not too thin or thick) and perfect amount of chewyness. the sauce is placed on top of the cheese and the pizza is cooked in an electric oven. the other menu item we ordered was the chicken alfredo. the chicken was dry but had good seasoning and the pasta and sauce were delicious. since it was my birthday the waiter brought me a canolli for desert with a lit candle on top. it was the first canolli i ever ate so i have nothing to compare it with but it was really good! i can't wait to go back again. i'm so happy they moved closer to our home. i still remember the warm summer day. i was driving in my first car (white 91' firebird) with my friend tracie and she mentioned how good this restaurant was as we were driving past it. this was at least 15 years ago. so much time wasted...
(5)Samantha E.
italian pines is my favorite restaurant by far. its a little mom n pop restaurant thats been open forever, and their food has always been amazing. ive never had a bad meal and ive been going there since i was little. i always get the house salad with their homemade italian dressing, the white pizza which is different and much better than any other white pizza anywhere, or the grilled salmon. everything is homemase, super fresh, and just awesomely good. i love italian pines!
(5)Daniel Z.
What a great little Italy in Mont. Co. Great food and very cozy. Highly Recommended !!
(4)Andrea R.
We have been going to the Pines of Rome in Bethesda for over 30 years. As Italians, we are sorta picky about our Italian food (no Olive Garden for us!). The Italian Pines in G'burg is owned by the same people as the Pines of Rome in Bethesda. If you go to either one during the dinner rush, get there early because they will both be packed!! But the food is excellent and I love that the atmosphere of both places. You'd be just as comfortable taking a date here or showing up in shorts and flip flops. The staff are wonderful and they must treat their staff fairly well because the servers have been around for years. The food is absolutely wonderful too. Very authentic. The best is the white pizza (with no cheese), fried zuchiini, and the manicotti. The food is fresh and the portions are reasonable so you have room for desert.
(5)Elaine F.
My husband & I dined at Italian Pines for the second time tonight. The appetizers are very good, including the mussels, calamari, and french fried artichokes. I had grilled chicken with mushrooms, which was excellent. My husband ordered spaghetti with Italian sausage, which also was very good. We had a bottle of wine (pinot grigio) and the check was about $50.00. This is an attractive neighborhood restaurant with excellent food. The dining room allows for private conversation, and the service was very good. Will be going back!
(4)