We haven't visited POR in a very long time - they were on Elm the last time we were there. While always known for the White Pizza, we decided to try something else for lunch. The food was almost 'horrible' - first of all, a basic dish like Fettucine Alfredo - has no 'protein' options! To add shrimp, one had to order a jumbo shrimp entree, to the tune of $26 (4 pieces) to accompany the pasta on the side! Also, no chicken options! What restaurant on the planet doesn't offer GRILLED CHICKEN? It is a 'restaurant staple'! We were offered bread at the start of our experience - the bread came cold & untoasted - but the kicker is that it was served with foil-wrapped butter packets that were FROZEN...no possibility of spreading on the cold bread. Wow! The service was sub-par...the atmosphere was drab...there was absolutely nothing inviting about the place. It is safe to say we will not return.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Diran Jalkian
My family has been coming here for the last 40 years. The food has always been the best . I’ve not eaten anything on the planet that tastes like Pines … ON THE PLANET!!! ❤️❤️❤️💯
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Uwe Schuettler
I suspect that for some who've been coming here for decades, rose-colored glasses are strong. I personally remember when this was a go-to spot in Bethesda. In reality, while well past its expiration date, it has just enough nostalgia to keep us old school folk coming by from time to time.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
William Currier
Great place for all occasions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Devon Janes
Just a disappointing experience. Food didn't taste like much at all, service was slow and not responsive, and the restaurant seemed messy. There's framed prints on the wall with the print falling within the frame.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Vincent Pizzi
Terrible service and filthy restaurant. Food was mediocre at best.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Steven J Levy
Authentic southern Italian food in a casual, unpretentious atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eli Singer
If you want Shitalian food, this place is it. If you want proper Italian food, this place is not it. Matter of fact, there are no real, good quality Italian restaurants in the DMV.
Arlen Blechman
Always good seafood and pasta.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark Wheeler
Absolute institution. Simple dishes, well executed. Must have: white pizza. Their basic pasta sauce is so light and simple (with whole stewed tomatoes) it is sublime. Veal Pizzaiola is probably my most frequent ordered main, but over the decades I've had almost everything on the menu and wouldn't steer you away from anything.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Our Pizza, Sweet Sausage, White Pizza with Fontina, Veal Chop, Combination Salad
No frills Southern Italian cuisine is very reproducibly delicious and with large portions and reasonably priced. The white pizza with fontina cheese with strong fresh garlic is a must as an appetizer. Keep an eye out for their specials. You can get wine in a carafe. Feels home cooked in a very great way. I am so happy my local friends recommended this restaurant to me because I am looking forward to my next meal there.
Every dish we had exceeded expectations. I tried the following dishes: small white pizza with Fontina cheese, roast veal, osso buco in red sauce and spaghetti (on special - don't forget to eat the bone marrow), shrimp Garlic and butter with Linguini, 2 carafe of Rose
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Krosin
One of the oldest, classic restaurants in Bethesda. A local favorite for decades. Highly recommend everybody come here at one point or another. I love their red pizza, eggplant Parm, carbonara. My dad is obsessed with their reveal, but I don’t eat veal, so… please give pines a try and support a Bethesda staple.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anna Apicella
The waiter used his phone from his pocket and then touched our bread. The spaghetti marinara was not good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Bill Van Dyke
Great old school Italian restaurant
Food: 5
Service: 5
Guy Fieri
Went in because of the name only, Pines of Rome, which is a great piece by Rhespighi (love the version Seiji Ozawa conducted) and the place lived up to its name. Take it for what you will, as I'm a knuckle dragger when it comes to food tho
Vegetarian options: I never cared for vegetarians
Dietary restrictions: I shouldn't have to say this but don't do Italian if youre gluten intolerant
Parking: I hate paid parking
Kid-friendliness: Sure!
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheel chair people don't worry, they'll bring the food to you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Fra Diavolo or Lobster Platter
We haven't visited POR in a very long time - they were on Elm the last time we were there. While always known for the White Pizza, we decided to try something else for lunch. The food was almost 'horrible' - first of all, a basic dish like Fettucine Alfredo - has no 'protein' options! To add shrimp, one had to order a jumbo shrimp entree, to the tune of $26 (4 pieces) to accompany the pasta on the side! Also, no chicken options! What restaurant on the planet doesn't offer GRILLED CHICKEN? It is a 'restaurant staple'! We were offered bread at the start of our experience - the bread came cold & untoasted - but the kicker is that it was served with foil-wrapped butter packets that were FROZEN...no possibility of spreading on the cold bread. Wow!
The service was sub-par...the atmosphere was drab...there was absolutely nothing inviting about the place. It is safe to say we will not return.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
My family has been coming here for the last 40 years. The food has always been the best . I’ve not eaten anything on the planet that tastes like Pines … ON THE PLANET!!! ❤️❤️❤️💯
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I suspect that for some who've been coming here for decades, rose-colored glasses are strong. I personally remember when this was a go-to spot in Bethesda. In reality, while well past its expiration date, it has just enough nostalgia to keep us old school folk coming by from time to time.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great place for all occasions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Just a disappointing experience. Food didn't taste like much at all, service was slow and not responsive, and the restaurant seemed messy. There's framed prints on the wall with the print falling within the frame.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Terrible service and filthy restaurant. Food was mediocre at best.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Authentic southern Italian food in a casual, unpretentious atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you want Shitalian food, this place is it. If you want proper Italian food, this place is not it. Matter of fact, there are no real, good quality Italian restaurants in the DMV.
Always good seafood and pasta.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolute institution. Simple dishes, well executed. Must have: white pizza. Their basic pasta sauce is so light and simple (with whole stewed tomatoes) it is sublime. Veal Pizzaiola is probably my most frequent ordered main, but over the decades I've had almost everything on the menu and wouldn't steer you away from anything.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Our Pizza, Sweet Sausage, White Pizza with Fontina, Veal Chop, Combination Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
No frills Southern Italian cuisine is very reproducibly delicious and with large portions and reasonably priced. The white pizza with fontina cheese with strong fresh garlic is a must as an appetizer. Keep an eye out for their specials. You can get wine in a carafe. Feels home cooked in a very great way. I am so happy my local friends recommended this restaurant to me because I am looking forward to my next meal there.
Every dish we had exceeded expectations. I tried the following dishes: small white pizza with Fontina cheese, roast veal, osso buco in red sauce and spaghetti (on special - don't forget to eat the bone marrow), shrimp Garlic and butter with Linguini, 2 carafe of Rose
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the oldest, classic restaurants in Bethesda. A local favorite for decades. Highly recommend everybody come here at one point or another. I love their red pizza, eggplant Parm, carbonara. My dad is obsessed with their reveal, but I don’t eat veal, so… please give pines a try and support a Bethesda staple.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The waiter used his phone from his pocket and then touched our bread. The spaghetti marinara was not good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Great old school Italian restaurant
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went in because of the name only, Pines of Rome, which is a great piece by Rhespighi (love the version Seiji Ozawa conducted) and the place lived up to its name. Take it for what you will, as I'm a knuckle dragger when it comes to food tho
Vegetarian options: I never cared for vegetarians
Dietary restrictions: I shouldn't have to say this but don't do Italian if youre gluten intolerant
Parking: I hate paid parking
Kid-friendliness: Sure!
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheel chair people don't worry, they'll bring the food to you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Fra Diavolo or Lobster Platter
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