Amalfi Ristorante Italiano
Amalfi Ristorante has been family owned and operated since 1977, and in that time has built up a very loyal customer base devoted to this "Little Italy"-style restaurant with its old-fashioned charm. The menu is even marked with little "shield of Amalfi" insignias designating items that have proven particularly popular over the years. Favorite appetizers include the white pizza made with garlic, fontina cheese and seasonings on a crust baked fresh in house, and the spiedini,bread stuffed with mozzarella, fried, and served with tomato or anchovy sauce. The penne in a tomato-basil sauce is a signature pasta dish, and standout entrees include the prosciutto and mozzarella-topped chicken or veal saltimbocca, the shrimp in garlic butter and the seafood platter of clams, shrimp, mussels, scallops, and calamari served over linguine with tomato or garlic sauce. Dessert selections include a ganache-topped chocolate mousse flavored with Frangelico and an almond cream cake of ladyfingers topped with mascarpone.
Amalfi Ristorante Italiano
12307 Wilkins Avenue
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 770-7888
amalfirockville.com
Il Pizzico
Il Pizzico Ristorante was opened by owner/chef Enzo Livia in 1990, and quickly established itself as one of Maryland's premier Italian restaurants. It has been recognized by Washingtonian magazine as one of the area's "100 Very Best Restaurants" and has also received rave reviews from the Washington Post and from diner/reviewers at sites including TripAdvisor and UrbanSpoon.
The menu is a bit more complex and upscale than at family-style Italian restaurants. The appetizer menu includes carpacio di Manzo, thin-sliced raw beef served with shaved Parmesan, mixed greens and a mustard sauce, or you could start off with an insalata di arance noci e parmigiano of sliced oranges, walnuts, green onions and parmesan in an oil and vinegar dressing. The homemade pastas include such offerings as reginelle al ragu di cinghiale, wide noodles topped with a wild boar meat sauce, and ravioli di funghi al pistacchio, mushroom-ricotta stuffed ravioli topped with a pistachio cream sauce. Off the seafood menu, critics have praised the nvoltino di pesce spada, bundles of swordfish filled with raisins, bread crumbs and parmesan and served with caponata. The wine list is extensive, featuring Barolo, Barbera, Brunello Di Montalcino, Dolcetto, Chianti, Montepulciano D'Abruzzo and Sangiovese wines in addition to the standard Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio varieties.
Il Pizzico
15209 Frederick Road
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 309-0610
ilpizzico.com
Baci
Baci's claim to fame is its association with Italian-born celebrity chef Roberto Donna, who took leave from his high-profile restaurants in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC to help launch this Rockville restaurant and wine bar in December of 2008. Donna, who has won numerous awards, including the The Chef of America Award from the Master Chef's Society and the Caterina de Medici Award from the Federazione Italiana Cuochi, is perhaps best known for his several appearances on the TV show "Iron Chef", but he proclaims his mission to be the promotion of authentic Italian cuisine.
While the menu items may be authentically Italian, they also take advantage of locally-available produce, as with the tortino di granchio in salsa diavola from the appetizer selection and crab cakes served Italian-style, with field greens in a spicy tomato coulis and pesto sauce. Pasta dishes include orecchiette sautéed with broccolini, Italian sausage and parmesan cheese and maccheroncini alla carbonara leggera, tube-shaped pasta with pancetta, onions, peas, eggs and parmesan cheese. Entrees (secondi piatti ) include veal, pork, chicken and salmon dishes, and a selection of pizzas and paninis are also available. The elaborate, beautiful dessert creations (dolci) include pana cotta (a cooked cream dish) topped with berry sauce and fresh berries, a poached pear served in a red wine sauce and accompanied by a bitter chocolate mousse, and a chocolate walnut cake which is served with a mocha rum drink. Wines are available by the glass, the bottle and the flight.
Baci
4 North Washington Street
Rockville Maryland 20850
(301) 838-7441
baciofrockville.com
