Desantis Pizza Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Maryland

I really debated on writing this review. But as a fellow server i was just very surprised on how the staff behaved with guests in the restaurant. I came in on mothers day (5/12/24) around 7:45 pm for dinner with my mom. I had just gotten off my shift so my mom and i just wanted somewhere chill and have always heard great things about the food here which the food did not disappoint everything we had was delicious. We were sat on the dining room side with 3 other tables. The bar was busy so service started slow but was decent until the end. A few of the servers and bussers i guess were off for the night and decided to have their shift meal and shift drink in the dining room. Which i have no issue with as i understand being on your feet all day and you can finally have a moment to sit and eat. The issues arose as they all chose to sit at the table DIRECTLY behind my mother and I. I was surprised they chose that table considering it was right next to guests and there were plenty of open tables close to the front of the restaurant considering the 3 remaining tables with guests in the dining room were all on the same side and right next to each other. But again everything was still okay. Until they started their conversation. Now listen as i stated i am also in the industry i get it i really do. But to have 4-6 staff to sit directly behind us hitting their vape pens/weed pens and talk about sex, drugs, and doing mushrooms on a golf course the entire time didn’t make for a great mother’s day dinner. Especially with half the dining room empty i just don’t understand why the staff thought it was okay or why management allows this there was no attempt to for them to talk quietly or honestly just wait for the raunchy topics when guests leave?? Im not sure if the goal was to rush guests out so they could leave work or if they were simply that oblivious to the situation. There was just absolutely no regard for any guests still dining in the room. Another table said something to us as we were leaving to confirm we were all having the same experience which ultimately lead us to say something to our server who said “sorry” and rushed off. I will say the positive was the bartender with a full bar noticing us standing at the host stand and got us a bag and was very kind. I wish we would’ve just sat at his bar for the night but hey- the more you know. Food was great and ill be back. Just will probably stick to the bar side...

I really like DeSantis ! I have lived around the corner from there for years and I had never eaten there before. I had heard a lot of good things about it, so I decided to give it a try. From the moment I walked in the whole place smelled of Olive Oil and Herbs, it was wonderful ! There is a nice homey ambience about the place that makes you feel comfortable and although I did get carry out (due to COVID, but you can dine in) I will be be back to enjoy the dining experience. As i looked at the menu, I noticed that they have a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes along with some traditional American selections as well. On this particular visit I decided to go with one of their specials for the day which was the "Shrimp and Scallop Scampi" served over linguine. I wanted to get something that complemented the Italian fragrance that I had smelled when I first walked in. My carry out order took a little long but I was understanding of this because they were very busy on this day. When I got home and opened the dish my nose was instantly hit with a heavenly concoction of delicious aromas 😋, so I dove right in. The linguine had an authentic taste and the scampi sauce was done just right! Normally I like a thicker sauce with my pasta but the scampi had enough herbs, seasonings, and butter mixed in with the the olive oil, that it made a nice sauce to go with the linguine. The scallops were a healthy size. They lightly breaded the scallops with Italian bread crumbs then pan seared them to give them a thin crust on the outside. This not only helped them to soak up the scampi sauce but also gave them a little crunch to offset the soft texture of the scallops. They were cooked just right and tasted great. The shrimp were sauteed and coated with herbs and seasonings. They too were very tasty. Everything on the dish came together just right. I really enjoyed my meal and the portion was not stingy at all. I ate until I was full and still had enough food left over to take lunch for work the next day. Overall, I was very pleased with my first experience trying DeSantis and I have already recommended the restaurant to some some of my coworkers. I will surely be back to dine in and try out some of the other items...

My experience in this place has constantly been poor. This evening I once again went there for a drink and crab dip. I sat my self as usual it was very loud I went to the only clean table I could find which was a four top in the middle of the bar/ restaurant. O was never acknowledged which isn't unusual when I go there. Unless of course,your a regular there. Very colicky, rather unfriendly. So once again I weaseld through a heavy drinking crowd to the bar and ordered my own drink. Once back at the table I sat for well over 30 minutes, hungry,tired and felt very uncomfortable. Guess that the cluck thing. Never was waited on grab my drink went to the hostess gave her my information to give to the owner to please contact me along with my personal email. I was wearing a new hat ,and gloves. Once I left hungry and feeling very unwelcome as usual there at least for me.I also bought a verycute hand made bracket a young girl made for my neice ceramic. I remember 2summers ago I went there for lunch,needed break mathews pizza salad margaritas. I had a head phone on I was speaking g to a client. I was minding my on,and I had alot pizza so I offered to a few tables around uf the would like a piece therewasenty. They looked at me like I was from Mars, and a very intoxicated guy she is too happy as if I was a freak in a side show. Shortly after to be told by a waiter I needed to leave because I was bothering I guess the click gang. Wow when did smiling,and being kind go out of style.. sadly I'll never return. Lisa Eidman, 3 time small business ower.."Melanie Beattie, " Sometimes, , you have to back to something, just long enough to know that isn't where you want to be. "Guess somethings never change. I've change though, because I got up didn't have a morsel, feeling unwelcomed And left my email ,phone for the owners to please give a call. There's nothing I'm saying more than this God Bless Everyone, I just left sad,I had been through so much recently 🙏 🙌. Then to come in alone and being a girl wasn't so fun. XoPeace...