Carluccio's closes at Pike & Rose (Photos)

I was shocked to find that Carluccio's has closed at Pike & Rose. The UK-based Italian chain was one of the best - and most affordable - sit-down restaurants at the development. Their other D.C.-area location closed as well, so it's unclear if their difficulties were actually related to this particular restaurant, or corporate in nature.

Carluccio's review at Pike & Rose (Video/photos)

If it's good enough for Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston... Carluccio's is a favorite Italian spot for many celebrities in the U.K. Now it is here in Montgomery County.

Did Carluccio's, the new Italian restaurant and market that recently opened at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, live up to the hype? Watch my review and find out.

Carluccio's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Use the new parking garage (with the solar panels on top) accessible from Grand Park Avenue (turn right at the top of the street where it [temporarily] dead-ends) and Trade Street (turn left into the garage), and you will emerge right in front of the restaurant in Muse Alley. Parking is free for two hours.

Carluccio's patio
in Muse Alley

Peroni Nastro Azurro draft

Funghi fritti (top)
and Arancini di riso

Caprese Bites

Imported Sicilian
giant green olives

House-made ravioli with
spinach and ricotta

Chocolate and salted caramel
sundae

Tiramisu

Cioccolato Ganache Cake

Sundae again

Imported Italian coffee

11826 Trade Street

Pike & Rose

(240) 669-4694

First look: Carluccio's at Pike & Rose opening in early/mid March (Photos + menu)

Updated: February 24 at 8:47 AM - The article has been updated to reflect new information from a Carlucccio's spokesperson

Here's an exclusive first look inside the highly-anticipated Carluccio's restaurant and Italian market at Pike & Rose. Everything is ready to go here, and an employee said they expect to open officially next week. A spokesperson for the restaurant later said the restaurant would open in early-to-mid March.

A friends-and-family soft opening event took place yesterday. If you are planning to be at Pike & Rose anyway in the coming days, you might want to - hint hint - check by in case they have a soft opening for the public. There is no schedule for the soft opening events (publicly, at least), which will have limited hours, and a limited menu.

I have a hard copy of the menu. Scroll down below the pictures to see the menu, and plan what you'll order when they open. Click on any picture to enlarge it for more detail.

As you can see, there are many products available in the market section to help you create your own Italian meals at home.

This will be a must-try in the Pike District of North Bethesda.

Panettone

As Italian as...apple pie
and carrot cake

A romantic table
setting for two

Puttanesca, pesto, finocchio
selvatico, and more

Pastas and sauces

Breads, pomodorata, capperi al sale,
capricci di canelli, Antonio's Pepolata

Exterior in Muse Alley;
Carluccio's sign not installed yet

Carluccio's posts Coming Soon banner at Pike & Rose: NRG beer garden & outdoor fireplace under construction (Photos)

One of the restaurant openings I am most looking forward to in 2016 is Carluccio's at Pike & Rose. A banner has now appeared on the construction wall outside the restaurant. Not much has been constructed on the interior yet, however, so there's a ways to go before the grand opening here.

Carluccio's is an international chain of Italian restaurants and markets based in the U.K., and a favorite of celebrities like Benedict Cumberbatch, Pippa Middleton and Tom Hiddleston.

Wooden construction screening is also up at the future Neighborhood Restaurant Group restaurant, which is currently unnamed, but will be centered around a beer garden and craft beers.

Finally, check out this future outdoor fireplace, which will be part of the public space to be known as Muse Alley. It appears in the two photos above, as well.

Carluccio's future Pike & Rose location identified (Photo)

You'll soon be able to dine out like Sherlock Holmes himself, and here's where you're going to do it at Federal Realty's Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda. Back when I broke the story about Carluccio's leasing at Pike & Rose, where it physically fit into the development hadn't been identified.

Here in this photo you can see, at the top of the stairs to the right, the first storefront where Benedict Cumberbatch's favorite Italian restaurant will be. This area is beyond the outdoor patio at Summer House Santa Monica on Grand Park Avenue.

Other British fans of Carluccio's, an Italian restaurant and market, include actor Tom Hiddleston and Pippa Middleton.

Carluccio's Caffè ready to start construction at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda's Pike District

When I broke the story about Federal Realty bringing Benedict Cumberbatch's favorite Italian restaurant to its Pike & Rose development, it was unclear what the timetable was for the opening. Would it go into one of the remaining spaces in the Phase 1 construction, or in the Phase 2 section now under construction north of there on the property?

It turns out we'll be trying the world-famous menu of Carluccio's sooner, rather than later. The restaurant and cafe now has a listed address of 11580 Old Georgetown Road, and they have just requested a construction permit from Montgomery County. That would suggest an opening could come in a matter of months, once that permit is issued.

Other famous fans of Carluccio's caffè include Tom Hiddleston and Pippa Middleton.

CARLUCCIO'S COMING TO PIKE & ROSE

Carluccio's, an Italian restaurant and market born in the UK but now owned by a Dubai-based firm, is coming to Pike & Rose in North Bethesda's Pike District. The American division of the company is using the DC area as a testing ground for a larger launch across the United States, starting in Alexandria.

The 4,559 SF space being leased by Carluccio's is smaller than the Alexandria outpost, but fits within the target square footage the company said it is seeking in our region.

Started by UK celebrity chef Antonio Carluccio, the rapidly-expanding chain has locations across Britain and the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and, of course, Dubai. Carluccio's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making Italian baked goods as important as the authentic pasta dishes on the menu. Famous Carluccio's fans include Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, photographed leaving one of their UK restaurants together.

Tom Hiddleston (L) and
Benedict Cumberbatch caught by
paparazzi leaving Carluccio's