Sotto Sopra

4.7
2119 reviews
icon/ic_price_rangeCreated with Sketch.
$31 to $50
icon/ic_cuisineCreated with Sketch.
Italian
Top tags:
  • Romance
  • Special Occasions
  • Good for a Date
Sotto Sopra is an Italian restaurant housed in a beautiful 19th century building just blocks north of Baltimore’s Harborplace on Charles Street. Sotto Sopra specializes in true contemporary Italian cuisine adapting farm to table. We buy local whenever it is possible. The perfect risotto, handmade pastas, roasted meats, local seafood, and regional produce are here for your total enjoyment.

Join us for our Power Lunch, featuring what's freshest and best in Italian cuisine. Two courses from our full lunch menu, $20.

Sotto Sopra invites you to dine for lunch, Monday through Saturdays and dinner every evening. Eat.Drink.Sleep.Dream--Italian
Dining Style
Casual Elegant
icon/ic_cuisineCreated with Sketch.
Cuisines
Italian
icon/ic_clockCreated with Sketch.
Hours of Operation
Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:30am – 2:00pm; Dinner: Sunday: 5:00 - 9:00pm Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:30pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:00pm – 10:30pm
icon/ic_phoneCreated with Sketch.
Phone number
(410) 625-0534
icon/ic_new_windowCreated with Sketch.
icon/ic_paymentCreated with Sketch.
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
icon/ic_dress_codeCreated with Sketch.
Dress Code
Smart Casual
icon/ic_chefCreated with Sketch.
Executive Chef
Riccardo Bosio
icon/ic_neighborhoodCreated with Sketch.
icon/ic_cross_streetCreated with Sketch.
Cross Street
Mulberry and Franklin St.
icon/ic_parking_detailsCreated with Sketch.
Parking Details
Valet Parking
icon/ic_public_transitCreated with Sketch.
Public Transit
Downtown Trolley - Free Circulator
icon/ic_entertainmentCreated with Sketch.
Entertainment
Opera Night: Once a month on a Sunday evening, Sotto Sopra offers a multi-course pre-fixe menu along with live opera performances. Check our website for each month's menu.
icon/ic_special_eventsCreated with Sketch.
Special Events & Promotions
Monthly Live Opera Nights with a multi course dinner.
Credit card secured reservations required at 410-625-0534 (credit cards will be charged for cancellations 48 hours or less).
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Outdoor dining , Wheelchair Access, Wine
What 2119 People Are Saying
Overall ratings and reviews
Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant
4.7based on recent ratings
4.8
food
4.7
service
4.7
ambience
4.4
value
Noise · Moderate
98% of people would recommend it to a friend
5
4
3
2
1
Sort by
Newest
Filters
S
New York Area
2 reviews
Dined a day ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

This place was so romantic! We visited this restaurant after Saturday Mass in Baltimore Basilica. Dark and cozy place to date with your lovely person.

Report
Helpful
JM
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

AHHMAAZZING!!! I chose it because of one particular dish, and when I asked the waiter what he recommended, he said that dish! It did not disappoint. I almost asked if I could finish someone else's plate that had the same thing. Lava dessert was wonderful. Ask for Brandon. He was fantastic!

Report
Helpful
MM
Philadelphia
2 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 4

I over the food and close proximity to our hotel will visit again

Report
Helpful
J
Baltimore
15 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Consistently amazing upscale Italian food that doesn't break the bank. Generous portions. The service is always amazing. Love David! And there is live Jazz on some Wednesdays. Plus the ambiance is so warm and cozy. Perfect date night.

Report
Helpful
FH
Baltimore
12 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Always a consistently high standard here. Really appreciated our server’s attention to our need to attend Baltimore Center Stage evening performance on time.

Report
Helpful
WH
Baltimore
4 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
Overall 4food 5service 2ambience 4

This is about the 7th time I have been. Sotto Sopra had a special: If you bring in your "I Voted" sticker, every pasta dish was $10, among other deals (e.g., wine and beer specials). Normally, the menu items range into the $20-$30 range, so this was a steal!

I brought my mom, and it was not too busy (Tuesday night on Election Day). The food was amazing, the deals were amazing, but our waiter missed the mark completely. He showed up to our table, visibly inconvenienced by having to speak to us. He never said his name, only asked what we wanted to drink and what food we wanted. We ordered one meal to go about 15 minutes after placing our order, but somehow it came out 2 minutes later, while our food came out 30 minutes later. The food, ambiance, etc. were great. Even another waitress tried to come by to provide service, to which our waiter dashed over to take over. I will keep visiting, but not on a Tuesday night when I know I could get stuck with this guy.

Report
Helpful
OT
Baltimore
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Our party went for the ‘I Voted’ pasta & wine special - they should do this once a week! Food was great as was the service. The three of us shared two appetizers, and a bottle of red wine, we each had 3 different pasta dishes, and shared the Tiramisu for dessert. The restaurant certainly didn’t lose money - if anything they gained. On an otherwise off night for restaurants, it would be nice to know we have a Tuesday or Wednesday night place to go in Mt Vernon for a reasonably priced meal. If they added a few entrees on special then those who steer away from pastas for dietary reasons, would still have an alternate choice.

Report
Helpful
NS
Baltimore
8 reviews
Dined on 4 November 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

This place never fails !
From the wait staff to the bartender to the general manager - all on top of their game !
And the Chef always consistent!

Report
Helpful
K
Washington DC
14 reviews
Dined on 4 November 2018
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 5

Everything was excellent. Only complain was that the salad could have used an extra wash.

Report
Helpful
U
Baltimore
54 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2018
Overall 5food 5service 4ambience 5

Sotto Sopra is the best in Baltimore of upscale Italian. We've eaten here several times through the years and it continues to impress on all fronts. The food is great, taking some creative liberties while still keeping dishes simple. On this visit, we had the mushroom crostini appetizier and it was bursting with flavor. For dinner, we had whole bronzino and halibut - both dishes were winners. The restaurant has a nice selection of wine at various price points. Nice romantic atmosphere that also has good energy (i.e. the place is full but you can still have a quiet conversation). Service is friendly and knowledgeable; it was a little slow on this visit, but it was also Saturday evening.

Report
Helpful
D
Charleston
5 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

My son introduced me to sotto last feb for my birthday. I was blown away with entire meal. Ambiance lovely. I had my husband take us for our anniversary again delicious. Now on third visit brought friends who said it was delicious !!

Report
Helpful
CZ
Baltimore
2 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

This was our first visit to Sotto Sopra and we were very impressed! The food was fabulous and the wait staff friendly and experienced. Loved the décor and ambience! We will definitely be back...Perfetto!

Report
Helpful
BM
Las Vegas
14 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Everything we tasted was outstanding, from the veal to the pumpkin ravioli. A wonderful evening

Report
Helpful
OT
Dallas
2 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

We absolutely loved this place. Great recommendation!! We will return with our friends next time we are in Baltimore.

Report
Helpful
M
Baltimore
335 reviews
Dined on 31 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

So, we dressed in costume and went to Sotto Sopra for a Halloween Pasta Special. We feel so at home at this restaurant as the staff is always so welcoming. David and Derrick took excellent care of us.

We started off splitting the special of eggplant timbalo – it was hot, gooey with mozzarella, and just delicious. We devoured it! For my pasta entrée, I wanted to try something new to me, so I ordered the short rib ravioli – raviolis with shiitake mushrooms, pancetta, and sage in a truffle butter sauce. My husband savored the veal agnolotti – veal stuffed pasta with smoked bacon, spinach in a veal demi glaze. Both of our dishes were bursting with flavor. Thanks for a fun and delicious evening!

Report
Helpful
RB
1 review
Dined on 31 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Sotta Sopra never fails to please! Food and ambiance is great and service is always good. Highly recommend for special occasions.

Report
Helpful
BK
Baltimore
2 reviews
Dined on 27 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Always head here for a great smooth night of outstanding food and ambiance

Report
Helpful
L
Baltimore
30 reviews
Dined on 26 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Sotto Sopra is always fantastic. We went because we were craving our favorite pumpkin ravioli. Had a side of brocolini and it was fantastic. Fennel soup was great too. I always get the soup of the day and have never been disappointed. Service is also fantastic. A great team on Friday nights. Looking forward to my next visit.

Report
Helpful
TF
Baltimore
68 reviews
Dined on 23 October 2018
Overall 3food 3service 1ambience 5

Good space (spectacular dining room) - well curated menu but the service....
Waited with two other unrelated parties of two at the hostess-free hostess stand for 10 minutes. No other staff approached to say hello or "I'll find the maitre'd. Weird . Untrained.

Un-matched daily printed menus given out ("wait - that's not on my menu")
Stemware, cutlery not cleared promptly or completely ("would you mind taking this"?)
Small bread basket not tended for 4 people
Indifferent attitude of server
Not crowded but the same issues visible elsewhere in the dining room
8:45pm on a Tuesday the over head music was turned off (trying to hurry folks out ?)

The restaurant can take a long lesson from the Foreman/Wolf team and their alumni with respect to proper table tending. The room is beautiful, food decent. The competition has lapped Sotta Sopra - kind of sad.

Report
Helpful
d
Baltimore
2 reviews
Dined on 21 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

We went for opera night. The performers were funny, explaining that most operas are tenor and baritone as friends, tenor falls in love with soprano, baritone gets jealous, someone ends up killing themselves. They hammed it up and we found it very enjoyable. They took requests. The eggplant appetizer (which may have been a special) was fabulous.

Report
Helpful
r
Washington DC
15 reviews
Dined on 21 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 4ambience 5

A Baltimore Classic. Still delicious and going strong after all these years.

Report
Helpful
AM
Baltimore
7 reviews
Dined on 21 October 2018
Overall 3food 3service 3ambience 4

For some reason they over booked. Several patrons waiting for tables. We were seated about 45 minutes after our reservation time.

Report
Helpful
RE
Baltimore
28 reviews
Dined on 20 October 2018
Overall 4food 5service 5ambience 4

My wife and I have dined twice at Sotto Sopra. The restaurant compares very favorably as a place for fine dining. The Italian cuisine was delicious and prepared carefully. Every course from salad to dessert was tasty, sufficient in quantity but not overwhelming and prepared with care. Clearly, the chef is topflight. The table service was outstanding and ambience was lively and reminded us of a past trip to Venice. We enjoyed the tasteful background music - the volume didn't interfere with table conversation.
One shortcoming is the restaurant's location on Charles Street, too busy a thoroughfare for fast, easy or safe car retrieval by the valet parking attendant who did a great job.

Report
Helpful
JB
Detroit
1 review
Dined on 20 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

The bolognese was exceptional!! The smokey bacon flavor was so good. The ambiance was very nice and the service was attentive!

Report
Helpful
AG
Baltimore
2 reviews
Dined on 18 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Catching a show at the Lyric, perfect time and place to grab dinner before hand. Service was great our waitress Tori was very prompt and helpful with menu suggestions. From the appetizer, to the salad, to the entrees and dessert, everything was spot on. Can't go wrong with either the regular menu or the specials. Thanks for a great dining experience.

Report
Helpful
JG
New England
1 review
Dined on 15 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

We are regulars at Sotto Sopro and always have a wonderful experience. The updated interiors and amazing service make it a memorable experience. I am vegetarian and my boyfriend is a carnivore and there's food for everyone! We would highly recommend Sotto Sopro!

Report
Helpful
G
Baltimore
7 reviews
Dined on 14 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Outstanding in every way. I had the ceasar salad and halibut on pumpkin puree with gnocchi. Superb.

Report
Helpful
SA
1 review
Dined on 14 October 2018
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 5

I was at Sotto Sopra last week. Great place, good food and extraordinary service. I will definitely be back.

Report
Helpful
ME
1 review
Dined on 14 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Great small restaurant for authentic Italian cuisine. Nice for an intimate date night.

Report
Helpful
r
Richmond
4 reviews
Dined on 13 October 2018
Overall 4food 5service 2ambience 5

We come in town Baltimore once a month from the Beach in DE and we love Sotta Sopra. The food is always delicious. The service the past two times has been average. WE will likely come back due to teh exceptional food but you need to get some staff in there that can serve the tables better

Report
Helpful
CH
1 review
Dined on 13 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

My wife and I went here for our 10th anniversary and were more than pleased. First, they were able to change our original reservation time when our show ended earlier than expected.

Our waiter was very friendly, fast and helpful.

The food was amazing. They even brought us champagne (twice) and a small dessert (on top of the ones we ordered) with a sparkler to help us celebrate. We were really surprised when the bill came and we were not charged for the champagne and the desserts.

Will definitely eat here again!!!

Report
Helpful
JM
Los Angeles
4 reviews
Dined on 13 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

First time at this restaurant and it was very nice. Good ambiance, food and service. We will go back.

Report
Helpful
k
Las Vegas
6 reviews
Dined on 11 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

Absolutely one of the best dining experiences in Baltimore

Report
Helpful
E
New York Area
20 reviews
Dined on 11 October 2018
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 5

I have been to Sotto Sopra several times for dining before a Peabody Conservatory performance. Consistently wonderful! Great food and thoughtful service.

Report
Helpful
TS
Pittsburgh
4 reviews
Dined on 10 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

This was one of my favorite dining experiences ever. Delicious food, wonderful service and exquisite ambience. The live jazz was an added bonus. I wish I was in town for one of their live opera prefix meals. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough.

Report
Helpful
DW
Baltimore
2 reviews
Dined on 10 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

I went to dinner for four before seeing Les Mis at the hippodrome, and we had an fantastic time! Our waiter was knowledgeable, generous, and provided many personalized recommendations. The staff were all very proficient and attentive. The food was amazing, fresh made pasta is like nothing else! The pumpkin ravioli was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before- it felt like a special meal. The polenta di formaggi was incredible. We will all be returning! Ciao bella!

Report
Helpful
SM
Washington DC
18 reviews
Dined on 9 October 2018
Overall 5food 4service 5ambience 5

Have been coming for years and always count on a good meal and excellent service. A long drive but worth it.

Report
Helpful
K
Washington DC
8 reviews
Dined on 7 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 4ambience 4

Upon arriving, it didn't start out well. We stood at the host(ess) desk waiting to be acknowledged for over 10 minutes. The restaurant wasn't even busy so that was unacceptable. When making the reservation, I indicated it was for a birthday which also went unacknowledged. It also took a while for our server to bring water. However, once things finally got started, it was a good experience. Our server was very good, not constantly in your face but would pop by once in a while to check on us. We both ordered the special Halibut with pumpkin puree and ricotta gnocchi. Excellent choice! The gnocchi was so light and airy. The halibut was cooked to perfection and thankfully not over-cooked. The pumpkin puree was a nice touch. My biggest complaint was the wine list, especially by the glass. I'm not a big drinker due to migraines, so I have to drink either a semi-sweet white or a pinot noir. There wasn't a single semi-sweet riesling on the menu. I would have preferred it to the pinot noir with the halibut. It would have been nice to be acknowledged for my birthday too.

Report
Helpful
c
Washington DC
1 review
Dined on 7 October 2018
Overall 5food 5service 5ambience 5

We had a delicious dinner here ahead of a concert at the Modell Lyric Theater. The service was fantastic, the food was absolutely wonderful, and the restaurant is beautiful. Highly recommend the Semolina Cake!

Report
Helpful
AD
New York Area
11 reviews
Dined on 6 October 2018
Overall 4food 4service 4ambience 4

Went here while visiting Baltimore, based on reviews on Open Table and on Trip Advisor. Had to wait close to 30 minutes for our 7:00 table. Food was very good, but I found both my appetizer and main course to be overly salted. Server was very nice, but gave me a butter knife to cut up my lamb (it was not up to the task) and we had to ask several times to have our water glasses refilled.

Report
Helpful
1
2
3
53

Tweets by Sotto Sopra