Maryland restaurants receive top state culinary honors

Il Pizzico, a longtime Italian restaurant in Rockville, has been named the best Italian restaurant in Maryland by Chowhound. The selection was part of a national feature highlighting one representative restaurant from each state. Chowhound cited the restaurant’s innovative approach to traditional dishes and noted it is the only establishment in Maryland to hold a Gambero Rosso “forchette” recognition. Owned and operated by Enzo and Sandra Livia for over 30 years, the restaurant is noted for dishes such as mushroom and ricotta ravioli in pistachio cream sauce.

Separately, Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana has been named the best pizza place in Maryland by Lovefood. The Montgomery County pizzeria was recognized for its Neapolitan-inspired wood-fired crusts, specifically its Margherita pizza. Chef and owner Tony Conte, who opened the restaurant in 2015, utilizes a “canotto” style dough to create an airy, puffed crust. Inferno has also received high rankings from the Italy-based organization 50 Top Pizza.