Squisito Pizza & Pasta - Burtonsville — Restaurant in Maryland

Great spot to meet up with family and have a variety of Italian items to choose from.

We often gather on a whim with family and friends here. It's an easy and friendly atmosphere everytime, likely because the manager is consistently present and always asks us about our experience and if we are happy with our meals. We always are and he doesn't linger but he cares. The tables, floors and bathrooms are clean and even when the place is busy, it all seems to be running smoothly.

You order at the counter after walking through a glass lined kitchen looking at all the pizza choices. Once you get to the end ,you typically know what your mouth is watering for. You order at the register, they give you a number and you choose a table. Someone comes out, greets you again and sets your table. A few minutes later someone comes out with your food. The pizza is great, close to NY style slices. The calzones and chicken wings and tasty. The spaghetti and tomato sauce is delicious and we always have plenty to take home. We only wish they would give you more than one piece of that savory garlic bread.

It's a good energy in the place. The staff gets along, at least it seems so. They are smiling and openly talking while they work. Often, they bring you into the small chit chat. You find yourself smiling and adding a comment or two. Then I think, this manager sucks you in, he's a leader. I'm not usually one for small talk but here I am chatting with the folks behind the glass. It's crazy, no one misses a beat. They continue to work, treat you kindly and you keep moving as expected.

Ultimately, this seemingly run of the mill fast Italian spot keeps providing great food, a welcoming vibe and keeps bringing us back. You really can't ask for a better neighborhood spot to hang with your family and...

In my three visits to Squisito, I've been thoroughly enchanted by their pizzas—a highlight that consistently delivers. Each pizza experience has been a showcase of culinary excellence, underscoring the skill of their pizza chefs.

However, delving into their pasta selections, especially the oven-baked dishes like the lasagna bolognese, brings about a notable disappointment. The Squisito tomato sauce, while decent, is overshadowed by an excessive use of ricotta cheese, a lamentable lack of meat, and notably thin pasta sheets, further diminished by insufficient seasoning.

The most significant letdowns, though, are found in their garlic bread and its cheese-topped variant. These items, utterly devoid of merit, are made with a base of the lowest quality white bread, crowned with a mozzarella cheese that emits an off-putting scent. This undoubtedly marks the lowest point of my bread tasting experiences in Italian dining establishments. It seems wise to bypass the appetizers in favor of the main dishes, which promise a more fulfilling culinary adventure.

The rankings go: Pizza Calzones Subs Pastas ...

For the Celiac/Gluten Free patrons - NOT SAFE:

We have noticed that this is not a Celiac friendly, nor honoring establishment. We have frequented this Squisito as they once honored our request to clean and properly separate and clean the preparation and utensils to have minimal cross-contamination.

As recent as yesterday, my wife called in the order and specifically requested that ALL of the pizza utensils be washed thoroughly prior to using on our pizzas. I witnessed and even identified the cook's error with a shoulder shrug (attempted language barrier) when he simply rinsed the cutting wheel in cold water and dried the utensil with a paper towel.

Squisito, we can no longer be patrons of your restaurant as you and your staff blatantly ignore the requests of those who specifically ask that you honor our request to properly wash (with soap) and safely...