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Timpano Italian Chophouse
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Diana N. said: "WAHOO!! finally came here to use my livingsocial coupon and was super excited! There was no wait, but i made my reservations on yelp anyways. The host was very nice when i told him our party would be 5 instead of 4. plus! We were…" read more »
90 reviews for Timpano Italian Chophouse
Review Highlights
"They have the best mussels around."
(in 25 reviews)
"...food, drinks, and service - and amazing happy hour."
(in 11 reviews)
"white linen, hardwood floors, dark oak, live music."
(in 7 reviews)
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Brandi K.
Frederick, MD
8/24/2011
My sister has been taking my dad to Timpano for years on his birthday and other special occasions, and I joined them for the first time last weekend for lunch. They always order the shrimp fra diablo, and now I see why...it looked delicious. I ordered off the Sunday Brunch menu--Italian-style French toast with vanilla bean custard and raspberry sauce. My meal was scrumptious and the presentation was beautiful. Service was excellent. Prices seemed reasonable, but perhaps the lunch menu is less expensive than dinner. My meal was only $8.95, and I ordered a mimosa (also from the Sunday brunch menu) for $3.
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Review from Amanda M.
McLean, VA
I've been to Timpano over a dozen times but mostly for happy hour and drinks. This time I went on New Year's Day for a nice dinner and it was so-so.
I would like to note that all of the food with the exception of the mussels came out warm to borderline cold. I don't understand why none of our food was piping hot. And if you order a steak, they tend to overcook it so go down in temperature if you want your steak cooked correctly.
~APPETIZERS:
BLACK SKILLET-ROASTED MUSSELS
Tossed with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Kosher Salt 12
*These are roasted on a cast iron skillet and the mussels are tender and juicy and were delicious dipping them into the drawn butter.
MINESTRONE SOUP
*This would have been a great soup if it has not been lukewarm
~ENTREE:
14 OZ. AGED BONE-IN FILET 37
*We split the filet but we asked for it to be medium rare and it was medium to almost medium well. They brought us a new one and it was medium rare but the strange part about it was that it was lukewarm. How is it not hot? We decided not to send it back for a third time just because we did not want to deal with the hassle of it but at the same time, how do you send out a warm filet and not a hot one? The filet was okay and it lacked flavor for being a bone-in filet.
~SIDES:
MAC & CHEESE WITH TRUFFLES 7
*The pasta was definitely undercooked and overloaded with truffles.
GARLIC WHIPPED MASHED POTATOES 5
*The potatoes were a good portion but were oozing butter and tasted like a greasy mess.
~DESSERT:
Chocolate raspberry cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream
*Okay, not great for $9. The scoop of ice cream was so small that after 2 bites it was gone.
SERVICE:
The waitress was a little too casual in my opinion. She didn't have a sense of urgency and when I asked her does this steak look medium rare to you, she just shrugged her shoulders. Clearly it's overdone and she didn't seem to have an opinion either way.
For two people, our meal was $107 including tip and I feel like I overpaid. I'd come back again but probably only for happy hour not for dinner. -
Review from Ntochi K.
Germantown, MD
11/19/2011
Timpano is not bad but, if you are dining, may be a little over priced for what is offered. If you are going to lounge by the bar and relax to live jazz, it is perfect!
It has been a while since I dined there, but I remember enjoying the ambiance and food (and not being blown away by it either). The downside was their high prices: meals are $15 to $31 and don't come with sides, which will cost you $5 - 7.50 each! The upside is their great martinis (super good!), good wines, and good live jazz band most nights.
This time we went on a Friday at around happy hour time and sat at the bar. We had reviewed their website and looked forward to the advertized $5 appetizers, $3.50 wines & liqueurs, and $1 off beers. When we got there we asked our server about their happy hour specials and were told they had discontinued it and now only offered $3.50 on house wines and basic rail drinks; there were also no appetizer specials. We placed our orders anyway but decided to double check their website as we'd just checked it that afternoon (and the waitress was nice but didn't present herself as being very knowledgeable). We pulled it up on a smart-phone and pointed out their ad to her. She told us it was discontinued and they must have not updated their site.
We didn't complain further but their manager came up minutes later, apologized, and gave our next order of drinks on the house. Two thumbs up to him for rectifying a situation that would have otherwise led me to not return.
Our group enjoyed the evening: the live music was great; the martinis are above average (fantastic!), and appetizers (calamari in particular) are pretty tasty. I hope they update their site soon! -
Review from Shelby H.
Rockville, MD
8/30/2011
As my fiancee said, if you're going to be a CHOPHOUSE, the one thing you could at least get right is making a steak medium rare. She got two good bites of tender, juicy middle with a perfectly crisp seared outside, and the rest was decidedly medium, a very pale, pale hint of pink. So NOT worth $28.
I foolishly ordered the veal scallopini, which was probably also overcooked and/or underpounded, inasmuch as it was tough as leather (and I didn't even get a steak knife). The artichoke it was served with absorbed the lemon-caper flavor alright and helped the meat out, but there were plenty of really tough outer husk layers of the artichoke to ruin the chewing experience.
For dessert, we took the server's recommendation of the strawberry shortcake with basil ice cream. Turned out to be a small, rock-hard scoop of admittedly delicious ice cream on top of a harder, crumbly, tiny shortbread cookie, surrounded by a stingy sprinkle of tiny slices of strawberry. The $9 must've been for the elegant plating.
Glad we didn't pay full price -- we brazenly availed ourselves of a $20 coupon. Perhaps it was the coupon that made our server call us cheap. When trying to pick a wine to complement her steak, my fiancee was asking for a recommendation for something full-bodied but available by the glass (the server's first recommendation to go with the filet only came by the bottle). "Oh that's alright, I'm cheap, too," the server said as she pointed out some alternatives. Uh, thanks! Not being cheap, just trying not to drink a whole bottle on a Monday. Cocky attitude for someone who left us hanging forever for the check.
They had a nice piano player, though. This might be a nice place to go have a drink if you just want some ambiance. Just don't come hungry. -
Review from C. B.
Washington, DC
2/9/2012
The bar is the main attraction at Timpano. It's comfortable and relatively large. I've always liked the fireplace, the outdoor patio, and the live entertainment. However, the noise (high ceilings, hard surfaces) and the patrons (older, leering single men and brash mortgage brokers) can make it insufferable sometimes. My husband and I call it the Star Wars bar scene.
The food is good, but not great. I've enjoyed the flatbreads, but never thought a steak was worthwhile considering the true steakhouse pricing. The wine list sucks; it lacks variety and is overpriced for the large-scale production so-so stuff on it. Desserts look appealing on the menu, but are small, pricey, and often dry.
If you're looking for a mixed drink and a little weekend entertainment, the bar is hard to beat in Rockville. Otherwise, avoid. -
Review from Brian A.
Attleboro, MA
2/8/2012
My wife and I will be moving to the area soon, so I have been checking out a place to live. I found several apartments, but this little gem was close to the Alaire, and Dennis the bartender is fantastic. Very attentive, polite, and a good conversation. I cannot speak for the rest of the staff ( except the barback, who is on top of his game also), and I can tell you that I look forward to living here so that I can come to Timpano's more often!
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Review from Tigi L.
Silver Spring, MD
1/31/2012
Great mussels. We went around 5:30pm and seated at the bar. We were disappointed that they have no happy hour menu anymore. Our bar tender was Beth and she was Not friendly at all. She did not even refill our drinks without asking. We were really happy with the mussels and we will come back. Good food, mediocre service...
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Review from Tim D.
8/13/2011
OMG! What a dive!!!
Went there tonite and thought I had walked on to the set of "Goodfellas's Gone Bad"!! The absolute worst looking crowd assembled in one place I've ever had the misfortune to view!!!
It was Fri. nite and the ENTIRE dining room was empty @ 10PM!!!!
Everyone was @ the bar and it was a sorry & sordid affair, let me tell you!!!
There were long-neck Bud's & belly's protruding everywhere....
revolting, disgusting .....
BUT
the steak I ordered was pretty good...a 20 oz. ribeye that was aged for $33.00...Not cheap but I think it was worth it. (I paid $60 for the same steak @ Mortons but Morton's was 2x as good!)
Gave the girl @ the bar a $20 tip on a $40 tab cuz I felt sorry for her but she barely even acknowledged it!!!!
WTF???!!!
when tip someone 50%,- it would be nice if they f---ing acknowledged your GIFT!!!!!
won't be back! -
Review from Paola G.
7/11/2011
My family from Colombia was here and they wanted to have italian food accompanied by live music. I couldnt think of anything in the Rockville area other than Guapos, but it was raining outside and it was not worth siting outside in the humidity.
I decided to give this restaurant a shot. Last time I was here was in my Highschool days, I never disliked it I just never really went back.
Anyhow, the service was amazing, our waiter was so attentive and nice. Even the manager was making conversation with us.
We ordered about 5 bottles of wine, tuna carpacio and the mozzarella with a flat bread to start. All very delicious!
As my meal I got the Shrimp Fre Diablo, which was so so so good I wanted to lick the plate off. It came with shrimp, goat cheese, fettuccine, asparagus, nuts and rose sauce.
Someone else got the short ribs and they said it was delicious. My mom and aunt got the salmon marinated with a white dill and shallot sauce.. I love white sauce on anything so I gave it a try and I will be ordering that when I go back.
I didn't try anyone elses plate, but I can say that no one said anything bad and everything on that table was devoured.
I'm thinking I got lucky because reviews have not been that great, but I dont care, I had a good experience and Will be back soon! -
Review from Chris N.
Rockville, MD
11/7/2011
Standard italian fare in a chain/theme-restaurant atmosphere. The place tends to be noisy and often times gets rather busy. Nothing too great nothing really wrong with this place. Just ... Meh.
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Review from M. C. M.
New York, NY
7/22/2011
Came here the other night with a couple of friends, because they live nearby and had a 15% off coupon.
First impression was that it looked like every other shopping center chain restaurant from the outside.
Inside it's still chainy-feeling, but it's quite nice and upscale. They had classy live musician playing, which was nice.
Hot bread and garlic infused olive oil on the table gratis. Yum.
Split an awesome chopped salad too. Really, really good.
For entrees we had the chx marsala, chx parm, and shrimp diavlo. All were good, sizable portions, but not the best we had.
Service was really nice, attentive and friendly. -
Review from Lissette S.
Rockville, MD
10/14/2011
Went here one time and I don't think its excellent or exceptional its just ok. Danced a little with the band and that was the highlight. The food is ok but no wow factor
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Review from Peiwen T.
Wilmington, NC
3/23/2011
Came here on a week night from out of town and was surprised at how packed it was. Took us a while to get greeted and seated when we got here. The calamari and mozzarela appetizers were decent, nothing impressive. Got the seafood cioppino as an entree and was kind of disappointed at the portion. Half the bowl was filled with noodles and the mussels were smelly. Didn't get water refills for the first half of the meal until I finally asked for it when my entree arrived. I'll take my
money elsewhere next time! -
Review from Vanessa P.
North Bethesda, MD
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was excellent & cooked to order. Staff was very pleasant & attentive. Mashed potatoes & brocolini was awesome. The live music was the cherry on top - played a lot of Frank Sinatra music. All in all, I will definitely go back!
*Tip: Definitely make a reservation for the weekend to avoid a long wait. I make mine through "Open Table". Makes for a 0-3 minute wait. ;) -
Review from Ian K.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/10/2011
This was probably one of the worst $100+ dinners for two we have had in some time. We went on Saturday night. There was a full house and we had to wait about 15 min for a table around 8:30pm.
After being seated, we watched all of the action around us, with servers flittering about. No one made eye contact with us or came by. Several minutes went by and a manager filled out water glasses. After a few more minutes went by and still no contact, when the manager walked by again, I flagged him and said "no one has come by yet or even made eye contact with us; do we have a waiter?" As I am saying this, a waiter interjects himself and says "can I take your drink order in the meantime or put appetizers in for you?"... which was nice... he then came back and gave us the extremely abbreviated "story" and came back with our drinks and some hard bread.... at which point I saw him serving the tables on each side of us and realized he was our waiter.
So, it was awkward, the unspoken gaffe of blowing us off and then acting like he had taken over our table from our wayward waiter.
We ordered a Caeser and the pan roasted mussels (on recommendation). The Caeser was big but could have used fresh ground better, which was never offered. The mussels, in an unusual preparion (and seemingly popular) were not real good. Pan roasted they were kind of rubbery and dry, not juicy and flavorful. We left about half of them behind.
For entrees, we ordered the shrimp with linguini and the shrimp and lobster ravioli. The shrimp dish when served was lukewarm at best. The ravioli was undercooked to the book that the corners/edges were dense and chewy and clearly not translucent. Our waiter checked in prior to taking a bite... but then not again until we were eating and had already written off the dinner.
It was such a bad dining experience. -
Review from Stephanie D.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/20/2011
Came here to have drinks and chat with a friend attending the same conference nearby.
The bartender was accommodating, & made our drinks fast. While I've had better ones, they were very drinkable. His demeanor made it seem like a neighborhood bar and we were regulars (in a good way).
The chef happened to be at the bar talking to the bartender, and took the time to talk to us about questions my friend had about the menu, as well as letting her know he was willing to do whatever she wanted to make modifications to her meal.
She had the roasted chicken and I had one of their flatbreads (Caramelized Onions, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Roasted Portobello Mushroom). My flatbread was delicious; that and the attentive service made up for the drinks. -
Review from N S.
Washington, DC
12/23/2010
Ugh - this place has never been that great. It's just a spot to hit for a typical BLAH ROCKVILLE happy hour. The food is just ok, I only order at the bar when I need food due to the consumption of alcohol, but I would never make this a dinner destination.
The decor is kitschy movie set old school mafioso. I don't do kitschy - that's for children. The bar area can get pretty packed, particularly on Thursdays which is a popular night. -
Review from Nicole L.
Updated - 10/20/2010
I was really craving for a big fat steak but I didn't feel like driving to BLT. Since I was in the area shopping and I decided to have a quick dinner there. Wow the parking near the entrance was completely full so I had to park by the open lot few steps down. As expected the bar was full as well. At this point I decided to get something to go and I told the bartender that. As I was checking out the menu, the nice bartender found a seat opened up and told me about it. I was a bit shocked by the price of the steak but it was reasonable for "aged" steaks. I ended up ordering a 12 oz New York strip, which came with mash potatoes but I replaced it with broccolinis. The bartender was cool with that.
While waiting for my steak, I noticed the two middle-aged women next to me, they were getting all kinds of free food from the chef and one was bitching to the other for ordering an additional chicken dish - sad to say but that's a typical Rockville Pike scene.
My steak looked spectacular on top of a bed of broccolinis, it was nicely charred on the outside and perfect medium rare inside. The broccolini was garlicky yet retained a fresh crunch - perfect! I cleaned the plate.
At least you are getting a real steak here compared to other franchises in the area for the same price. Not bad, not bad at all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/7/2008
It's looked like a nice steakhouse but I wanted to find a place for drinks in the suburbs. There was… Read more »
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Review from Sharon W.
Silver Spring, MD
7/11/2011
Have only been there once and never went back. I thought the food was very over-priced and there was little ambiance.
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Review from eric b.
Bethesda, MD
3/20/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Surprising food for the middle of the Pike.
Okay, it's not the ribeye you'll get at The Palm, but they cook it right, and the rest of the menu holds up.
Mussels were great. Chicken parm medioke.
My wife says the pasta specials are always on point.
The service is always fantastic. Our waiter is John - a middle aged asian gentleman that is five stars on his own - could work at Daniel in NY. He rocks. -
Review from sjlee l.
Rockville, MD
9/21/2011
Good quality food, high price, great service, great ambience.
Mussels for the appetizer...Entree...I had the salmon...the portion was decent. It tasted good though! It wasn't too salty, but I felt that I could've made it on my BBQ grill. It was a tad plain, though I don't know how it could have been "dressed up" more.
You definitely feel like you're at a fancy restaurant, but I hope you're here to enjoy the whole experience (not just the food!).
The food itself is not worth the money, but I came here for a special occasion.
It's a good place for a romantic date...though it can get pretty loud.
The wood is beautiful. The lighting is good. The location is fabulous, 355 and Randolph. -
Review from Christine C.
Annapolis, MD
1/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Go for the mussels. Stay for the mussels. Salty, hot, lemony, and SO GOOD!!! Everything else is overpriced and underwhelming.
Don't share your mussels. Order them all for yourself. They are that good.
To recap: Glass of Wine+Mussels+Live Music Night = Good Times -
Review from Jessica L.
Washington, DC
12/23/2010
OK, I have been coming to this place for years...HH, Lunch and Dinner. I love the food, the steamed mussels appetizer is WONDERFUL and I get it everytime I go. They come on a pipping hot skillet with hot butter, salt, and lemon. Everytime I go in here they are all I can think about, the mussels are of the finest quality and are totally savory and mouth-watering, make sure to try them if you can!!
The HH scene here is more of an older crowd, people who live/work in Rockville, not usually my crowd but I'll stop by if I am out this way. The martinis are always good, and the bar staff is pretty quick.
Lunch, love the shortened menu for this part of the day. They still manage to have wornderful, elegantly presented food even though lunch is typically a more laidback meal. They have little lunch boxes, one named for each member of the Rat Pack, all of which come with a salad and dessert. They also still serve a collection of pastas and entrees from the dinner menu, in case you are starving or craving a large lunch.
Dinner, is always great, the food is spectacular and well prepared. They do seem to get busy though at night, so have a reservation or be prepared to wait.
Ok, all of this being said....the food might be excellent (the chef and his staff do a wonderful job) but the service is very hit or miss. When I say hit or miss, I mean over the top wonderful or downright horrendous. I was having dinner with my mother one night and our waiter was completely incompetent, like didn't refill our waters, would only check on one table in his section at a time, and literally would only take one plate/glass from a table at a time and forget about his other tables. He couldn't even remember what wine I ordered when I asked for a second glass.
For lunch today, our service was...well I don't really know how to explain it. He was totally creepy, he called me "sweetie" the whole time, even after having checking my ID when I ordered my typical hangover Mimosa. I'm mean by no means am I old, but by no means do you have the right to call me sweetie, that's just weird to me. Also, he didn't give us any bread, I continually had to ask for more water, and he just gave me the willies.
However, our waitress on another visit was attentive, knew the in's and out's of the menu. She made sure that everything was perfect, she even offered one of our guests a flashlight because she was having issues reading the menu in the low light.
I will continue to go here as long as the mussels stay on the menu. The food is so good, the terrible service can be ignored. -
Review from Teresa H.
Rockville, MD
12/23/2010
Lunch, happy hour, dinner. Any time of day, this place is amazing. The fireplace by the bar enhances the cozy and homey ambiance. Service is generally really good and their food is oh so yummy.
Let's start with HH. Their Mussels appetizer is the best thing known to man. Better than sliced bread. A generous portion of black mussels in a hot butter salt comes out searing in a cast iron skillet. The presentation is nice, the smell is mouth-watering, and the taste is melt-in-your-mouth exquisite. Only for $5 during HH at the bar area, but I'll order this anytime I come. There's also the carpaccio and sliders on the menu that are well worth it. Not to mention the $3 house wines and beers. Can't beat it. One of my favorite HH pads.
Their lunch specials are great too. They have good a la carte selections as well, but I love variety. Try any of their Rat Pack lunches. The Sammy Davis, Jr, the Dean Martin, Peter Lawford or the Frank Sinatra have various combinations of soups, salad, steaks, chicken, fish, or sandwiches. Even gives you a choice of the perfect portion of dessert. All for under $15, depending on which combo you get.
For dinner, their bone-in rib eye is delicious. I haven't been that adventurous with their dinner menu because I can't get past that rib eye. I'm sure everything else is good too. I haven't eaten anything I didn't like here and I''m a big fan. Dinner is a little pricey, but it's the same as any respectable chophouse/steakhouse would charge, so it's well worth it.
I'm not sure how I am the first person to review this place since it's been around for years, but I'm happy to do so. Also, their wine selection is pretty nice and there's usually a live performance around 8pm on Thursdays. Another awesome feature of this awesome place. -
Review from Charde S.
Silver Spring, MD
8/9/2010
I know a lot of people have found their experience at this restaurant to be less-than-stellar, but I really enjoyed my meal here. I came here with a friend because we were on our way down Rockville Pike looking for something decent to eat (ie. something besides Ruby Tuesday or Hooters). The restaurant was pretty full and I was surprised at how quickly we were seated. Our waiter was polite, attentive and a bit on the quiet side but I'd prefer that as oppose to a chatterbox.
We started our meal with the mussels and they were fantastic. I liked the fact that they were simply prepared and not drowned in some type of sauce. Suffice it to say, there weren't any mussels left once our food arrived.
My friend ordered the Ravioli of the day although I can't remember which one that was; but I know she enjoyed it. I ordered the Salmon with wilted spinach and it was excellent. I believe it had dill sauce which was also very good.
My only complaint is the complete lack of a proper dessert menu. Your only choices are cheesecake "lollipops" which my friend ordered and hated or these tiny shot glasses filled with mousse. I ordered the latter and it was quite good but way too tiny for someone looking to eat a decent dessert.
Overall the meal, service and ambiance of this restaurant were great considering it's location. -
Review from Marivic L.
Alexandria, VA
11/10/2010
I met some friends for dinner and realized I bypassed Timpanos for years because it blends into the shopping area due to its colors.
The must-eat here are the mussels. They're grilled, which gives them a nice flavor, along with the saltiness of the broth/sauce, which is nice to dip your bread into.
I had the shrimp with pine nuts, spinach, goat cheese, etc. I like anything with goat cheese and spinach, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. I really wish I would've tried one of their fresh pasta dishes instead.
The dessert at Timpano is exactly how I like it. SMALL. I love that they have most of their desserts in double shot glasses. I opted for the strawberry white chocolate one, which was a good end to a good meal. Next time, I'll try one of the cheesecake "lollipops" which comes on little tree branches. Next time, I'll make - I mean SUGGEST - that my group gets the entire cheesecake tree to share. -
Review from Trevor M.
8/20/2010 19 Check-ins Here
This used to be my playground.
I loved this place. Yes, past tense. In a linear fashion...there's the present, there's the future...and there is the past. Timpano has gone into a dark ages.
Atmosphere: Modern Italian.
Food: Ok, honestly....the food is still really good. The food is still made with the same dedication and consistency...it's an open kitchen...if they screw up...you bet you can see it.
Side note: Since, the recent, horrible recession...servings are a little bit smaller...just saying...
But amazing quality...aged beef that is grilled to perfection. Sides and salads that are just as good. A chophouse that makes seared tuna that is good. How's that for quality!
Bar/Drinks: Great selection of drinks...great wines.
Service: This is what happened. Timpanos opened up...it was the draw of the elite in Rockville/Bethesda. it was a great alternative to Ruth/Chris... it was local and easy to get to...if you consider the pike easy to navigate. But, then it went to hell...it came back when they brought in a manager of quality, of substance, of (dare, I say it) consistency.... Then..he left. What the hell happened to you guys...Customer service used to be King/Queen there?
Price: It is what it is for a good, quality chophouse.
Bottom line: It is no longer allocated the destination of great food. It is the destination point of Cougars and men hunting cougars. Ok, let's be real...the bar rocks there and for Friday and Saturday nights for the wanna be elite of Rockville and Cougars in training..go there..learn something...and have a steak. -
Review from Jill M.
Philadelphia, PA
10/26/2010
Sat at the bar with a friend during Happy Hour on a Monday. The bar had a nice size crowd and the restaurant was about 1/3 full (for a Monday that's probably good). Did not order dinner but did order drinks and appetizers. Drinks on special (house wine, rail drinks, beers, etc) were all about $5. The happy hour food specials are really good. There are about 5 choices all around $5-8. The night I visited one item was out so they substituted mussels for $5 instead.
My friend and I each ordered a salad and split an order of the burger sliders. I honestly think they were the best sliders I've ever had - can't beat the price and definitely worth getting if you're at the bar. -
Review from jea y.
Rockville, MD
8/2/2011
Been coming here for over a decade. Management has been a revolving door but the steaks have been consistently good as has the service. The crowd has definitely gotten.. shall i say... older. hehe. I guess it depends on the night. Maybe I'm just aging slower. There is still a hardcore group of locals here since day one and the staff is always professional and personable. The outdoor seating area is great to hang out and have a smoke. Walk backwards into the parking lot if you've been drinking so you don't get pulled over. hehe.
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Review from Catherine H.
Oakland, CA
9/13/2007
Katherine K. completely nailed this one, but I've just got to add my back up.
My boyfriend's little brother insisted we go here for a drink one Friday night a few months back. The bar crowd could not have been more off-putting. Loud in a "we're desperately trying to pretend we're having fun" sort of way; overly made up, considering it is, ahem, a STRIP MALL IN ROCKVILLE; massive meat market vibe and overall pretty embarrassing and sad. And look, I say this as someone who frequents this strip mall on a regular basis-- so I'm no strip mall snob!
Top it all off, my gin and tonic had the wrong gin and was WAY over priced.
I shudder every time I think about this evening. -
Review from Brittany Z. M.
Washington, DC
12/18/2010
I went here last night for an office dinner and had a great time. We ended up staying even later and headed downstairs near the bar where they had live music playing.
The downside is they sat us by the water closet, but for all the fun we were having, we barely noticed. The upside is we had the best view on the balcony so it made up for what was going on behind us. I have the diablo pasta dish w/the pine nuts, shrimp and goat cheese, and I tried the salmon, pan seared striped bass, the mussels appetizer, and the calamari. I also tried the creme brulee dessert, and just about all the lollipops cause we ordered the tree. The drinks I tried were grape crush and a couple sex on the baby grands. They werent my first choice for drinks, but they didnt have the liqueurs to make the millionaires martini, or the tootsie martini. Sex on the baby grand is a decadent and worthwhile drink. Try it.
OKAY, so the diablo pasta was a bit spicy, but I like it that way. The only issue I had w/the dish is it was a bit too creamy, but I enjoyed it otherwise. Also, the bass had entirely too much tomato sauce covering it, so you could barely taste the fish. The salmon was too dry for me, but perhaps it was requested that way. I LOVEDDDD the calamari, the creme brulee and most of the lollipops (some flavors were iffy). The brulee had the most wonderful sweet flavor, and strawberries about halfway down the glass. Very cute. I know the mussels are highly recommended, but they're grilled or something similar and they have that smoky flavor. I'm not a huge fan of that movement.
All in all the atmosphere was great, we had a wonderful time, and I'd go again for late night entertainment. -
Review from Katherine K.
Washington, DC
8/27/2007
Nothing will make you feel more white and part of strip-mall-life than hanging out here on a Friday night. The drinks are okay but overpriced, and there's usually some douchy Kenny G-inspired jazz band playing in the bar.
The food is particularly unmemorable and overpriced. Service tends to lean towards "waitertainment" one would expect from TGIFriday's. This is the kind of place you are trapped into eating at with a large group of people, and after everyone puts in $50 the bill still comes up $100 short. -
Review from Fenny L.
12/9/2008 2 Check-ins Here
Last year (5/19/2007) I had my dad's surprise retirement party at Timpano's and the night of the event was perfect! We had a private room (there were 40+ guests), and we had two dedicated wait staff for just our party. Although the package I purchased was just a wine package - when my dad ordered scotch (3 of them, to be exact), the wait staff went and got them for my dad - and I never got charged!
Prior to the party, trying to reach the party planner was VERY difficult (which is why they got only 4 stars, instead of 5)! I would leave her and her assistant several messages before I would get a reply. HOWEVER, on the day of the event, she was fantastic! She took care of a lot of the small details that I forgotten to tell her I needed (like, a gift table), and she also did a great job in letting the hostesses know that this was a surprise party for my dad - so when he arrived, they signaled us (in the room) before letting him in.
It was great, and I think one of my favorite parties (this is including my wedding - which is another story altogether)!
I also went to Timpano's for New Year's Eve this year (2008), and the dinner was wonderful! A little pricey (it was $75 per person, if I remember correctly), but the food was amazing, and the service was decent (not the best I've ever had, but I also didn't need to pretend I'm ground control to get someone's attention either!).Listed in: Where to have a private party
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Review from jenn h.
Washington, DC
10/12/2006
*2 1/2 stars*
This eatery is not worth the money they charge. They present themselves as an upscale restaurant, but it's a wannabe Sam and Harry's. Their steak is only a half step above your neighborhood Bennigan's. The pasta is overly salted. The wait staff is not knowledgeable about the wine list.
Skip the food, and go for the libations. They sometimes have a lively bar scene, with a live band. They pour a nice drink. There's decent outdoor seating on a nice night. Not bad for Rockville nightlife. Hit Timpano only after you've eaten elsewhere. -
Review from Abheek S.
Rockville, MD
Words cannot express how much I enjoy going to Timpano Italian Chophouse. My roommate and I went for the first time in March for my birthday dinner. Since then, we have been going once a month. Without fail, we go for the 12 oz dry aged Filet. Best deal in the house. It comes with mashed potatoes and a roasted roma tomatoes. For the appetizer, again always go for the mussels. Sad to say I haven't tried any of their dishes... Their steak is just that amazing.
Usually they are always packed. I wouldn't go there without a reservation. I've seen people celebrate prom, birthdays, anniversaries, company sponsored events, anything and everything. They are always very attentive and helpful. Sundays and Mondays half price wine night.
Only con: don't get the 8oz dry aged filet... you'll regret not getting the 12 oz ;).
Still reading? Are you crazy??? get going to Timpano... you won't regret it! -
Review from Shawn B.
Glendale, AZ
4/9/2007
My husband and I are alone here on the East coast, so we usually eat out on holidays (like Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.). When our favorite restaurant was fully booked for Christmas last year, the only option left was Timpano.
We had never been to Timpano before, but we live nearby, and it always smelled terrific, so we thought, "What the heck." BAD idea. Their prices are completely out of line with the quality of the food, and the service.
We have told everyone we know NOT to eat at Timpano - a total waste of time and money. HUGE disappointment. -
Review from Ally G.
Philadelphia, PA
1/18/2010 1 photo
When I lived in Maryland, I'd visit Rockville quite a bit. For me Timpano's was that restaurant that you have on your "to try" list, but can never really find the right time to go. For the last several years now I've been living in Philly; Timpano was just a restaurant of the past...
Luckily for me, when I visited Maryland for the holidays, a few of my friends suggested coming here for Sunday brunch (fyi good place to watch football). And I'm so happy that I finally got to go!
The service was great and very friendly. The mimosas were a big plus too. 3/4 champagne, 1/4 OJ... now that's a drink! haha...
We started with the Black Skillet-Roasted Mussels, which came to our table still sizzling in the pan. Now I'm not a big mussel fan. But these were UHmazing... For those of you who have never tried mussels, or just aren't a big seafood fan. I'd start here, you won't be disappointed!
For my main meal I had such a hard time choosing what I wanted! There were so many tasty-sounding things on the menu! But eventually I narrowed it down to the Sliders section. The options were Beef, Blackened Mahi, and Chicken Parmesan. I went with 2 beef and 1 chicken parm (I'm not a big fish fan). YUM. The Beef Sliders were so flavorful, and cooked perfectly, and I LOVED the caramelized onions on top. The Chicken Parm Slider was extremely most and tasty too. The presentation of the dish was great too (check out the Timpano photos above for my pic)!
So on your next adventure to Timpano's definetly try:
The Beef Sliders & Black Skillet-Roasted Mussels -
Review from Jessica C.
Bethesda, MD
2/12/2008
I've been here a handful of times mostly for dinner but I have done their brunch once. The reason is because my roommate is in love with this place. I, on the other hand, do not.
I feel that the food is tasty but just doesn't give me the wow factor. I do have to say that their appetizers and salads are usually pretty good. The main dishes are just eh. Not too tasty...very plain.
I gave this place 3 stars out of 5 because the service here is always good. The people are very friendly and polite, and are usually willing to give you advice on what they feel is good and what you should not order.
I am not a big desert person, but their lollipop cheesecake tree is very unique, cute and tasty, as is their deserts in shot glasses such as a shot glass of creme brulee or tiramisu.
A litle overpriced but the atmosphere is nice. No big complaints just eh, eh, eh....go if you must, stay home if you will. -
Review from Samho M.
Rockville, MD
8/27/2008
My roommate, his girl and I couldn't decide what to eat one night so I suggested Timpano's.
The ambiance was nice, not too formal or casual, and the waiter did a pretty good job. The food was good, but not worth what we paid, and my roommate's girl didn't like her food at all. Also, the menu was quite skimpy, not many choices and almost no side dishes with the main courses.
The only part of that night that makes me want to go back was the manager's attitude and hospitality. He came over to our table and asked if we were enjoying our food, and when my roommate politely told him that his girlfriend didn't like her dish, he offered to have the chefs make anything she wanted. She declined but he brought her a chocolate desert anyway.
I'll give it another shot, but I think I'll have one of the steaks. -
Review from George R.
Flushing, NY
5/27/2011
Iffy. Never had to send asparagus back before! The steak: so-so.
