Buon Appetito Essex — Restaurant in Maryland

5 stars – A True Italian Treasure in Essex!

I had an absolutely phenomenal experience at Buon Appetito in Essex! I went with my son and a close friend who frequents the restaurant and even holds her company’s work parties there—now I understand why!

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with beautiful décor and a charming outdoor seating area that really set the mood. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive—top-tier service from the moment we sat down. I wish I remembered our server's name because he was excellent!

I ordered the fettuccine with vodka sauce, crab, and lobster, and let me tell you—hands down amazing. Perfectly cooked pasta, rich sauce, and generous seafood. My son got the lobster and couldn’t stop talking about it. My friend ordered the steak with asparagus and the lobster bisque, which quite literally blew my socks off—rich, creamy, and packed with flavor.

To top it all off, the manager personally came over, introduced himself, and later gave me a full tour of the restaurant—explaining everything they offer. It was a personal touch you just don’t find often.

We each had a glass of sangria—delicious, refreshing, and strong enough to make even a light drinker like me feel it!

This place is far from a hidden gem anymore—everyone’s talking about it, and for good reason. Right on Mace Avenue, Buon Appetito is the spot to get your Italian fix. Highly,...

Shrimp scampi is pretty much Swedish meatballs with different noodles and meat. The weirdest I have ever eaten. Served crab dip without bread or crackers at a wedding reception until after the dip was gone, but the cold wings were edible lol. No signage indicating they had an event space (outside). The DJ… if the DJ came with the restaurant, maybe let him go due to his terrible attitude, and turning off the heat at an outdoor event at the end of October. Plus the multiple attempts to “pump us up” by muting songs and yelling woo into a mic loudly did the opposite. Literally died laughing at how terrible he was. Overall I would skip this place if I was invited to another wedding and definitely wouldn’t have an event.

EDIT AFTER OWNER “RESPONDED”: THE FOOD WAS CRAP. AND WHO SERVES CRAB DIP WITHOUT DIPPING ITEMS?!?! THE SERVICE WAS SUBPAR FOR A WEDDING - PRETTY SURE THE WEDDING PARTY HAD NO SAY ON THAT. The DJ, sure, I will give you a break… my main point for all reviewers: BUON APPETITO: Ya food SUCKED. Shrimp scampi is NOT Swedish meatballs with shrimp, crab dip should only be eaten with just a spoon by yourself in the privacy of your own home, and maybe serve bread FIRST! Get your act together,...

Ive been here multiple times, and the food is consistently extremely good, the service is almost always great and never bad, and everything is kept clean. The first time i came here i swear the waitress could read my mind, every time i was about to ask for something shed arrive with it in hand, i didnt even know service that good was possible. I HIGHLY recommend mozzarella sticks and farfalle a la vodka, the mozaralla sticks are really good and the marinara sauce they come with is in a league of its own and arrives nice and hot, ive never tasted marinara sauce that good before and yet its always just as good as the last time whenever I come here. Farfalle a la vodka is basically bowtie noodles in a really nice creamy spicy sauce, and you can get blackened chicken topping it, which is really good, but my personal preference is without it. I'll try to remember to take pictures of said food next time i go, but im not sure if the hand reaching for my phone will be faster than the one reaching for the mozarella sticks... also I DID try drinking the marinara sauce, dont recommend doing that, tastes a bit bad on its own somehow (maybe cause it got...