Mamma Lucia

Picked up 2 pizza. The pizza was stiff and dry and cold. Worst pizza I’ve ever had. They must have known that this pizza was bad. I wish I looked at it before I left the restaurant! Nice way to loose a customer!

I cant believe this restaurant has 3 stars. The experience was out of a restaurant impossible episode. We tried the pizza at a birthday party and decided to try the restaurant. Bad idea. Im still trying to get rid of the butter taste!
I ordered the fettuccini alfredo, which was just pasta swimming in a bed of butter. I had to add salt and parmesan only to leave most of it on the plate. Service was just mediocre. Since we didn’t ask for a kids drink they decided not to bring one, so we had to ask for it. Food was served but we had no silverware, so we had to take it from the table next to us, and no bread at an Italian restaurant? We asked for it and it was just disgusting. The dipping sauce was melted butter with parmesan, honestly didn’t touch it.
Also, the hostess placed us on the table that had all the additional salt and pepper jars without even noticing it, and this is with an almost empty restaurant. I really though things like this only happened on TV… The chairs were dirty, the walls falling apart and decoration dull… Do us all a favor and call Robert Irvine. Never again Mama Lucias!

I’m from CT and so far this is the Best NYC pizza in the area! The bread with oil dip on the table is to die for and the service is pleasant. I have also had the grilled Caesar salad which was great. And the zucchini pasta dish (may have been a special but I hope it stays on the menu) is sooooo good! Instead of pasta its zucchini with pesto sauce and roasted tomatoes and pine nuts. Yum. 2 Thumbs up from us!

I agree with other reviews that this is the best NY style pizza in the area and the chicken Parmesan and meatball Parmesan never disappoint. I only wish they did their own delivery.

The meal wasn’t too bad but the environment was awful. People were packed in there like sardines. Very uncomfortable. Also, because the kitchen part of the dining room, it feels like you are in a sauna. You can also here the manager yelling at his employees often, very unprofessional. I won’t be going back. Better options in town.

I work at a car dealership, and we get pizza delivered here once in a while on Saturdays. My co-​workers say if you go to the restaurant, you’ll get good pizza, but whenever we order pizza for ALL the employees, (Like 20 pizzas) they must deliver days-​old pizza, because it is always dry and bland.

Mama Lucia is one of the best places for Italian and Pizza in Betheada. The pizza is huge and tastes great, the pasta is very good but a bit expensive and over priced. I like Mama Lucia and would reccomend it.

Another great experience at mama Lucia’s. I got the wedding soup because its rainy out today… it was delicious, flavorful and well portioned. Also, the appetizer bread was delicious and free :)

Be careful with ordering carry-​out: I ordered an Eggplant Parmesan, but when my son, a vegetarian, opened the bag at home, it had a piece of fried chicken instead of the eggplant. Luckily I do eat chicken, so the meal wasn’t a total waste.
UPDATE: The restaurant’s manager contacted me, apologized and offered a free entrée. Good move, although I haven’t tried to reedem it yet!

Went here for my last lunch in Washington and was not disappointed. I sat outside and really enjoyed the atmosphere, had a very New York vibe. Good music (Frank Sinatra), good pizza, and a hearty Seafood Asparagus pasta with giant scallops and shrimp sent me home happy. The garlic and parmesan olive oil with the bread was also a nice touch.

Appetizers were good, but meals were not what I was expecting. Service was bad as well. Irony is, you still tip even if you are not happy with the service.

My husband and I are a fairly young couple in the neighborhood (26, 27), and eat out around Downtown Bethesda frequently.
Last night we ordered two large pizzas for pick-​up (our first time trying Mama Lucia’s pizzas, but not the first eating from there) and paid a little over $ 27 — certainly not cheap. We were very disappointed that not only were the toppings on both pizzas (the Mama Lucia white and a cheese with jalapenos and mushrooms) SO sparse, but they used canned mushrooms.
We called the manager who told us that next time, if we wanted to get fresh mushrooms, we «just have to ask.» There’s no extra charge for fresh ingredients, but you have to ask — policy is that they used canned. Why is that not stated anywhere? I find it odd that a proper restaurant has a policy of using canned but will use fresh ingredients if asked to without telling the customer that they’re even getting canned in the first place. It’s deceptive.
For nearly $ 15 a pizza at a proper restaurant, no one should just expect canned vegetables — which, if you’ve had them, you’ll know, are lacking in taste and have a strange texture. There are dozens of restaurants in the area that provide real produce on their food, so we don’t see a reason to return. If you choose to go, be sure to request fresh ingredients.

I expected to be fairly indifferent to Mamma Lucia since it’s a chain restaurant, but they hold their own as a great place to dine. My boyfriend and I were there for dinner last week and got to enjoy the nice outdoor seating and people-​watching under the trees.
Their minestrone soup is a must. They salt it just right and the vegetables are perfectly cooked. And the pizza is tasty from toppings to crust.
Plus, the service was great. Staff were friendly and welcoming — felt like a small town restaurant.

I did not enjoy my experience at mamma lucia’s. We sat outside but the place just looked really dirty. Our server seemed to not care, he was too slow and the dining room was not even busy. We had the Gamberetti Scampi which was flavorless and our Pizza was just inedible. Also, the manager was extremely unprofessional, and was scolding employees right in front of us which just made me so uncomfortable. Never coming back here again

Came across Mamma Lucia while exploring Bethesda at the tail end of our DC vacation. The menu attracted us, so we decided to dine here. Great service throughout our dinner, and our seats had a nice view of the outside, which was opened up to accommodate the sunny late afternoon.
I ordered the Chicken Pappardelle. My mom ordered a crab and lobster ravioli and my father ordered one of the specials which featured a steak. My order had thin slices of chicken, asparagus, and artichoke hearts. The entire pasta dish was coated in a delicious, light and buttery garlic white wine sauce. It was easily one of the best Italian pasta dishes I’ve ever had. That is saying a lot, since I’ve enjoyed some really exceptional Italian dishes in San Francisco (where I’m from).
There were so many other menu items I wanted to try. I’m bummed I can’t easily go back here to try them all. But I wholeheartedly recommend Mamma Lucia’s to anyone looking for a great place to dine in downtown Bethesda. If I am in the area again, I will definitely come back.

Not sure why all the hate towards this place. Mamma Lucia’s has been a Bethesda staple for years. I went here in High School and I go here now as an adult (ish). I love that they deliver although I wish they did a better job of keeping the food warm during delivery as the pizza sometimes arrives cold. But it’s still delicious. The sauces they use are flavorful and fresh and the veggies are always perfectly cooked. If you haven’t already, DEF check out their white pizza with broccoli. Now if they could only find a way to improve the crust (which admittedly is not very good) it would be perfection in pizza form.
They offer a number of great specials such as half-​price bottled wine night on Wednesday and buy an entrée and get a second pasta dish for $ 3.99 on Mondays. It’s a great place to go with a group of friends or family as you’ll save a considerable amount of money.
And for everyone complaining about the amount of children there– its family-​friendly vibe helps add to its charm. Yes screaming children are annoying, no you can’t hold that against a restaurant. There’s too much to love about their food to nitpick these sort of things. And you always have the option to eat outside during the summer.
All in all a solid place, good salads, pasta and pizza. If they continue to make quality food, I will continue to frequent this place.

I’ve been to Mama Lucias on many occasions but yesterday was my first dinner experience. Let me begin by saying the service was exceptional from the host to our waiter Javier.
My coworker and I were seated as soon as we arrived and hot bread and water was brought out soon after. The bread was served with an olive oil mix which was absolutely delicious.
The menu was very extensive. That caused my coworker to take a while making her selection. She finally decided on a shrimp pasta dish and I of course had the combination pizza.
We shared a bottle of Chardonnay while we waited.
*They offer ½ off bottles of wine on Wednesday.
This was a nice surprise. When Our food arrived we dug right in. Everything was delicious.
The only downside was the number of children in the restaurant. The restaurant had a daycare vibe and took away from the relaxing after work experience we were looking for. With that said, it’s an excellent place for families.

Where do I begin… HORRIBLE!
The service was slow, the food came out late, and my order was incorrect, but I can live with these imperfections on a busy Saturday night. It was food quality and management’s attitude that rubbed me the wrong way.
After consuming the below-​average frozen calamari appetizer, some type of orange toast, and salad soaked in poor quality balsamic vinegar, I ordered veal parm and specifically asked for all of the sauce on the side. I like veal crispy so I usually request this to avoid eating a piece of soggy meat drenched in sauce. After 3 visits to our table apologizing for the slowness of the service, and the fact that the fire alarm was ringing for 30 minutes, the owner/​manager returned for his 4^th visit, and yanked the plates with our meals out of the server’s hands; clearly an effort to demonstrate his authority and displeasure. He set them down in front of us for that personal touch.
My veal and pasta were saturated with sauce! When I politely reminded The Boss that I asked for all of the sauce on the side, he asked if I would like another plate. I declined, as I was in no mood to watch my buddies ravenously consume their meals as I waited for an undisclosed amount of time. So, I dug in…
The sauce was so acidic that I wondered if it could dissolve the paint on my plate. Also, the veal was burned, which could possibly have been the source of the fire alarm. Again, I could live with slow service and messing up my order; however the food was so bad and the manager’s 5^th visit to our table really got to me. He said: «What can I do to make this right?»
At this point I just wanted him to go away and leave us alone, so, with an apparent look of annoyance I shrugged and said: «Don’t worry about it.» Now, I guess you’re thinking, why didn’t you just tell him the meal sucked and you didn’t want to pay for it? To be honest, I just wanted him out of my face and no confrontation. I also felt that my displeasure was so apparent that his question was rhetorical (a sensible owner would compensate the table in an appropriate manner).
Withing a few short moments after his departure, I could feel my ears getting warm, my blood pressure rising; the audacity of the owner asking me that question. It felt like I was being manipulated into begging for compensation! Even if I did request a comp, it is my opinion (based on observing the owner’s behavior), that he would have declined, got defensive, or offered an insignificant token like a free cannoli. Sorry chief, not going to happen, and not going back… E V E R!!!

So bad.
The only redeeming quality is that I can sit outside with my dog and they bring him water.
The pizza is horrendous, the pasta was gross, and the atmosphere inside left a lot to be desired.
You want Italian? Go to Pizzeria Paradiso or 2Amys.

What’s not to love about eating fresh baked flat bread with a gazillion toppings and the occasional anchovy while listening to the Rat Pack croon away? Bethesda’s Mama Lucia is a hidden gem on the side of Bethesda Row.
Ample wine bar. Fantastic pasta selection!
Be prepared to slap the feedbag on here, cause the place rocks on all cylinders.
I love this restaurant.