Il Pizzico

After starting yelping with two really bad 1-star reviews, I decided I needed to balance things by reviewing our favorite places - the ones that are utterly fine and utterly reliable without breaking the bank, the ones that don't stick you by the swinging kitchen door if you don't look like you're a rich lawyer or lobbyist.

Il Pizzico doesn't really need my glowing review, but here it is anyway. Lurking in an unassuming shopping strip, it churns out consistently high-quality Northern Italian cuisine, including many house-made pasta options, in pleasant, upholstered surroundings, with decent service and usually not too much noise so you can hold a conversation, at entirely reasonable prices - charging less for ravioli (for ex.) than many far less wonderful eateries. LOVE the ravioli and the tiramisu is also excellent.

Used to be, they didn't take reservations and if you got there after 5 pm you'd have to stand around watching other people enjoying their meals. But since the pandemic, reservations are required - SO much better!
My sole complaint is how far it is from us! But the lucky folks in upper NW MoCo can easily get there.

Il Pizzico means 'The Pinch,' and is owned by Enzo Livia. This small, unassuming Italian restaurant is located off of Frederick, in a retro-looking mini strip plaza. With just a blink, you may miss it!

They have both a lunch and a dinner menu, offering dishes with housemade pastas as well as daily specials.

Some tips:
+avoid the Salumi Board - doesn't include cornichons/pickled veggies, jellies, and a selection of cheeses to accompany the meats.
+the Ravioli di Funghi al Pistacchio (ravioli filled with mushrooms and ricotta, all covered with a pistachio-cream sauce) is a favorite amongst the locals
+avoid the Gnocchi di Ricotta alla Gorgonzola Tartufata (ricotta dumpling pasta with a mild gorgonzola sauce drizzled with truffle oil) - slightly gummy and dry
+request only the sun-dried tomato bread in the complimentary bread basket; tapenade is just okay

Service is friendly.

+friendly service
+small lot for your car

This was our first time dining here after years of reading about it and knowing friends who have dined here and personally recommended.

Reservations are recommended as this is a relatively small restaurant with a separate bar area that you can dine as optional seating choice. Upon entering, we were greeted by the Maitre D who graciously brought us to our table. The atmosphere is elegantly classy with white tablecloths and these adorable lit wands at each table which provided ample lighting without being overbearing on the table. A nice alternative to candles.

Our waiter came over right away as we were first reservation upon opening for dinner. Daniel introduced himself, offered to answer any questions, inquired if we preferred bottle or tap water and asked if we wanted wine or cocktail menus. We declined but were not asked if we wanted to order drinks, which we had to take the initiative to do so when we ordered Dinner. We were given ample time to review the menu and only until we set our menu aside did Daniel return to the table. Wonderful bread slices and an amazing olive tamponade were delivered. Luckily I knew what it was, but if you didn't, no one mentioned what it was. Did I say it was DELICIOUS? We both could have eaten it by the spoonful.

Menu is ala carte and I'd suggest if you have a larger appetite, order accordingly as we felt portion size was of the small nature. I ordered the Spinaci salad to start which was delicious and a nice pre-dinner sized salad. Our waiter said it was shareable but it truly was what I would consider a starter sized portion for one. I did share with my husband and Daniel provided a separate plate. He enjoyed and didn't order any additional vegetables with his entree.

Our main courses were Scaloppini alla Sandra (Veal) and Paccheri (garlic shrimp with Rigatoni). Both beautifully presented. Pasta dish was filling, 4 small butterfly shrimp (tails on) served on top of a nice portion of rigatoni. The dish mentioned anchovies which my husband was not a fan of unless minced, so he asked how they are prepared, which Daniel said chopped, and offered to hold them out if preferred. My husband enjoyed. I did sample the pasta and I am not a fan of mixing pasta and seafood, so I'm not the best to judge this dish; however, I was turned off by the fishy flavor and not necessarily garlicky as I expected instead (and I LOVE garlic). My husband did comment that he was surprised by the fishy taste though he didn't have any expectations and mentioned there was some heat to the meal. My dish of veal was VERY good. The sauce and mix of pine nuts & raisins made for a very flavorful combination I enjoyed. Only issue I would mention is the portion size with 3 very small pieces of veal, They were tender, tasty and the sauce was delectable. I even used a slice of bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Dessert, of course, we both had room and I cannot pass up trying Tiramisu at any Italian restaurant, with high expectations. It was enjoyable but I wouldn't say it was the best I've ever had, but very good. My husband had the chocolate mousse, which looked gorgeous in presentation and the richness of the chocolate matched or surpassed its presentation. And the surprise of it was the rice crispy chocolate wafer at the bottom, just like the crackle bar. The mousse was very rich, definitely a chocolate lovers dream dessert and nice portion for the price. I would say the tiramisu was a bit pricey for the serving size. But you don't know until you buy & try.

Overall a fantastic dining experience with impressive service and ambiance. S great spot for a date to impress your partner or for special occasions. If you have picky eaters, you may want to preview the menu. Lunch has a few different options than dinner as we noticed NO chicken available for dinner but one dish is on the lunch menu. If you have issues with beef or pork, as my husband does, the other options limit you. There are many seafood options and pasta with and without. I did notice many patrons that appeared to be regulars and again, strongly recommend reservations.

The one thing that made us uncomfortable was the hovering of service personnel in the dining room. Because the restaurant was not fully seated, seemed like the staff stood at the open tables which were right behind and beside us. Granted it allows for quick response to any of your needs such as refilling your water, removing finished plates or quickly coming to your table if you request something; however has to be a better place for them to stand. Again, service was impeccable.

As I'm keeping eye on service charges or different pricing for cash vs credit, glad to report neither applicable here. BUT Discover card is not accepted.

Bellissimo! Bravo! That is all that really needs to be said. This is a little yet lovely and upscale italian restaurant that will surly make a memorable dining experience. I would highly recommend!!
The Mitra de was wonderful and accommodating (we did not make reservations- I recommend that you do). The staff were superb and very knowledgeable. Great recommendations! A pleasant gem to have in this area.

I can't recommend this establishment enough. The ambiance, service, and dishes are better than many places downtown. They definitely stick to a very traditional Italian cuisine. I would definitely make a reservation in order to secure a table for dinner. They are very very popular and for a very good reason. A must try and keep trying

II Pizzico is probably one of the few nicer Italian restaurants in Rockville. With that, they have less pressure to keep up an authentic italian cuisine.

Upon arrival, we were seated 10 minutes after our reservation. Initial thoughts: it's pretty dark and chaotic. They give bread to start with tapenade, both were delightful.

Food was brought out promptly and plated well. The serving size is not all that great for their prices. The pasta itself was overall an 8/10. It didn't wow me but it also didn't disappoint. It was flavored well, but for an Italian place they don't have alfredo on their menu and it was mainly comprised of tomato based pastas.

As for dessert, this hit the ballpark. The crème brulee was light and airy with just enough sweetness. The carmelized sugar was delicious. The chocolate mousse was beautiful as well. Creamy and soft with the perfect chocolate flavor.

My only drawbacks from this place is:
⁃ It's really loud inside, the tables are very close together.
⁃ They don't give complimentary dessert for birthdays.
- Parking is a bit limited, but there's at least additional parking in the back.

One star for atmosphere. One star for decent food but will never come back. The service is terrible- rushed and rude. We were pushed to make selections, the specials were listed so fast before we could even say hello. Didn't remember a word that was said. Almost gave another star for wine, but our plates were literally taken away before we were finished. We were told to take our time and then the check was brought when we declined dessert. We still had wine from our bottle to drink. Waiter came back to see if we'd paid yet. . It ruined anything positive to be rushed. There was no need- Thursday at 5 pm with other tables available. The next day when I shared my disappointment with a colleague they said that place is famous for rushing people. No thanks. Never again.

Like a finely cut diamond, every facet of your fine dining experience is shined and polished to perfection. The ambiance, the exceptional service, and the enticing menu items, all work together to make each meal at Il Pizzaco, a memorable dining experience.

By the time Il Pizzaco was opening for dinner a crowd of diners assembled at the door. Reservations are a must, if you hope to be served. This restaurant was voted number One in Montgomery County and they deserve all of the recognition and praise.

The meal starts off with freshly baked bread and their tapenade spread. Even though we had ordered a number of appetizers and entrees, who can resist their freshly made bread and tapenade? Like a little gift from the heavens, the pillowy soft bread with a crusty outer layer perfectly pairs with the delicious tamponade.

Next, we tried foie gras en crostini. It was smooth, rich, and had the perfect accompaniment of drizzled balsamic vinaigrette. There was a crunchy bite of something sweet that was a perfect flavor enhancer. I would definitely order it again.

We also enjoyed the tuna carpaccio, which was served in small ice cream cones. The tuna was really fresh and the knife cuts on the tuna were amazing. We both thought it could have used a little punch of wasabi or other spice. But, it was excellent.

For our entrees, we ordered the pistachio di fungi ravioli. Hands down the lightest, creamiest, and tastiest ravioli I have ever ordered anywhere. It is little pillows of goodness packed into each and every bite. This is one of my favorite entrees and voted one of the best tasting ravioli in the country on Yelp.

Then, we ordered the beef short ribs over creamy polenta. The short ribs are braised in a red wine reduction, they are so tender that you only need your fork to pull them apart. But, they pack in so much rich meaty flavor, that they melt in your mouth. The corn polenta is the perfect foil with the smooth, creamy, and phenomenal taste.

Our last entree was the Salmon Isabella. The salmon is sautéed with onions, tomatoes, olives, and endive. My dinner date really enjoyed their meal. They really thought it was cooked wonderfully and the salmon was fresh and tender.

You may be wondering how we did it, but we squeezed in some dessert. The trio of sorbets was very good. We agreed the mango was our favorite, with the raspberry a close second.

We also ordered biscotti and I thought they were a little too hard. I probably would not order that again. The taste was nutty, but a little bland.

So, when you are going to splurge on a fine dining meal, I can guarantee that Il Pizzaco will delight your senses and satisfy your cravings. Like Rihanna says, " It shines bright like a diamond."

Can I tell you this restaurant never gets old. It really should get a Michelin star for the quality of the food. We ordered the pistachio ravioli dinner for starters as an appetizer, and they were great to divide into two dishes it so that we could share among the table. The cheese and meat, charcuterie board was filled with amazing very flavorful meats.

For entrees If you eat veal, the veal with raisins, was seasoned well cooked beautifully and our guest enjoyed. The fluke fish was out of this world for someone who normally doesn't eat fish. It was one of the best items entrées I've had in a long time it was tender, flaky great accompaniment, my other friends got the pasta dishes and enjoyed them.

If you want to bring your own wines, they have a corkage fee, but it adds for fun. They celebrated our friends and loved the desserts from the ice cream gelato and the cannolis.

The owner Enzo and his wife are wonderful!!! They greet you to make you feel very welcome which is special. It's just a great place to go for a regular dinner, a celebratory dinner or for fun. I highly recommend and the ambiance has a great vibe !! This place is first rate.

This is one of the rare times I wish there was an extra star to give a resturant!! The food at Il Pizzico was absolutely devine!

There were lots of highlights with my dining experience, but if I had to whittle it down to just a few:

* The intimate setting of the restaurant and the individual lighting with each table really set a great atmosphere.
* The service was 10/10!! Our server was very knowledgeable not only of the menu, but also the specials for the day.
* Really expansive wine menu - which has me ready to go back and try more of their sommelier's options.
* Without a doubt, their pasta is freshly made... Which of course is a must with a fine dining Italian restaurant & the portion sizes are spot on - not too big, to leave you feeling overwhelmed, or too small that you're hungry after your entrée!!