Strapazza

Seriously bummed that they have closed. Loved their lunch specials, particularly the gnocchi, Crab Chesapeake Penne and the Pavarotti salad. They will be missed.

My date and I snagged seats outside in nice 70-​degree weather. I had a nice bowl of minestrone after a rather chilly exchange with the waiter, and he got a large bowl of mussels marinara.
The food was pretty good, if not on the average side. My only other complaint is that we didn’t discover their gelato until we’d left the place!

The Chicken Vesuvio and Chicken Paestano were both tasty. My wife and i had the lunch portion, which came with Garlic Bread, and they were filling. The interior is just descent… Giving 4 stars for tastiness… Will go back

I love this place. They have the best deep fired pizza and lasagna around the Towson arean.

Strapazza is a great place for lunch in Towson. They have a nice list of casual Italian favorites under $ 8. I have never been here for dinner so I cannot speak to that menu. All of the lunch specials come with garlic bread on the side. It’s great but I usually don’t have a lot of room for it.
Of special note is Strapazza’s lasagna. It has been the best thing I’ve had here. You can get it with meat or without. It is very cheesy and the sauce is especially delicious. If this is your first go around, please do yourself a favor and start the experience out right with this treat. You earned it, right?!
Alternatively, you can get two slices of cheese pizza under $ 5. Which is exactly what I did today. You can get a side with this and it’s still under the $ 8 umbrella. The pizza is great and the cheese is delicious.
One plus is the food is always consistent. I have had many dishes many times and they haven’t varied in quality much. If you’re like me and appreciate consistency, this is a great place to go. We’ve waltzed in here with groups of 10+ for lunch and they have seated us immediately. Bravo, Strapazza.

Easily the best pizza in Baltimore County. Hint: Order the mussles and dip your pizza crust in the sauce ;)

The only thing that keeps me coming back is my co-​workers who seem to love this place for some reason. The food is mediocre at best, flavor is lacking, and service is alright. I wouldn’t ever choose this place for lunch if it was on me, but if work is paying for it, I’ll try it again.

Came here for my sister’s birthday and overall had a great experience! Yummy food, big portions, and awesome customer service. Our food came out quickly and hot. We had Angelo as our server! Would return again.

I was very disappointed in my experience at Strapazza last night. I have eaten here in the past and the food has been alright, but the customer service I received last night guaranteed that it would be my last visit to this restaurant.
When we called in our pick-​up order, they didn’t bother to mention that the neighborhood streets were shut down for cars due to a festival going on. Not a problem, it took a really long time to park but whatever, it happens. When we mentioned that maybe they should alert people that they would have to park blocks away in order to pick up, they said it’s not their problem and acted annoyed that we would even bring it up.
As rude as that was, they managed to top themselves when they refused to give us our pick-​up order until we recalled the specific order number that they rattled off on the phone earlier. We had a pretty specific order, and the guy REFUSED to look it up any other way or listen to what the order contained. It was bizarre and rude. We fortunately remembered the number, but unfortunately by that point the food was ice cold. Seriously. We had to heat everything up in the oven when we got home.
The food is alright, but not good enough to justify going there again and being treated like an inconvenience. There are similar Italian places nearby that offer a more pleasant experience.

I’m surprised about the low stars! We came here in June with an Italian family who recommended the restaurant. We were due to leave for Italy and arrangements were made with the server (who was from Italy) to help us practice our Italian. She was delightful and it was a wonderful dinner. What made it most note-​worthy was that during our entire vacationin Italy (11 days), my fiancé noted that his meal was not as good as his pasta (Tortellini Bolognese) that he had as a Strapazza. That became his final decision for the entire trip. Personally, while my meal at Strapazza was delicious, there is no comparison to the fresh/​homemade pasta we ate in Italy but I wanted to share his opinion and give a thumbs up to the restaurant.

Delicious! Penne ala vodka is superb!!! Very much enjoying the food and very good service.

By far the best lasagna I have ever had! Even surpassed my mom’s. The sauce is amazing, a little sweet, a little tart, just right. Yumm! Looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!!!

Oops! Unfinished review from two months back!
Been a long time since I dined here, a place that was once a standby a lifetime ago. Had many a date night and many a lunch there when I worked in Towson, especially in the earlier days.
Not much had changed, which I think is a good thing! Went with two work buddies while in Towson, and all the food was good, as was the service. Opted for an Italian hot cut, which was solid, but my all-​time favorite here is pizza with prosciutto and feta cheese toppings… nice a salty!

Pizza was fantastic. Don’t be fooled by the atmosphere great people and service. Really enjoyed the food.

Went here after work last night. Had the bruschetta as an appetizer which was alright. Then I ordered the stuffed shells for my entrée and that was pretty great. I was excited for dessert thinking it would be great– the cheesecake I ordered was frozen in the middle. That was pretty disappointing… especially when I got the check. The frozen cheesecake had cost 6.50 and my check was nearly $ 40 with a glass of moscato.
In short, way overpriced for quality.

Strapazza is owned by nice italian staff. It has a very european flair and good food. We get take out pasta from this place all the time. Gnocchi Sorrentina are the best!

Disappointed :(
I went here one night while staying at a local hotel. I ordered the chicken parm and boy was it sad. The chicken, I dont know what to say about it but it was unpleasant. Tough almost. The spaghetti was cooked too long so the nooddle were puffy. The sauce was very lack luster as well.
This meal was $ 15 and I found that over priced. Parking was easy though.

Overpriced for what it is. They got my order wrong but I just didn’t bother to send it back because I was hungry and it had been a long day.
Small, quaint italian place which feels a bit more like just a pizzeria. Don’t get me wrong, the food was decent and they offer gluten-​free pasta.

My previous review gave this place 4 stars, but I think that’s unfair.
The service is incredible, friendlier staff do not exist in a place as busy as this. As busy as it can get, the staff is always super efficient. Though I don’t speak Italian, the Italian TV is somehow mesmerizing to watch.
Honestly, the cheese steak here is the best in Towson. Its what I want from a cheese steak. I’ve been here so many times and I still haven’t had an urge to order anything else.
Go here for lunch and get carryout. Its worth it.

Strapazza is simple and classic Italian cuisine located on one of Towson’s trendier streets. If you are looking for something quick, straight forward, and reasonably priced you will be satisfied. If you are looking for an upper-​class romantic experience, eh, maybe not so much. Depends on your date. I have been coming here for years, so this is an overall review of the restaurant.
What I Like:
— No surprises. Eggplant parmesan is eggplant parmesan. Pizza is pizza. Nothing wild and outlandish. They are also very consistent. These dishes remain untouched throughout the years.
— Good portion-​to-​cost value. If you come here with an appetite, you will leave satisfied.
— Full bar! Whisky and coke? Glass of house merlot? Go for it.
— Outdoor dining is very relaxing when the weather is right. Towson is a fun people-​watching scene. Take that any way you want to!
— Full assortment of simple desserts. They have gelato and everything else. So you can hit 3 courses and be pleased with them all.
What I Don’t Like:
— Service can be hit or miss, inconsistent.
— Parking on this street can be tough, and it will cost you a few bucks if you come during bankers hours.
The décor indoors is just fine for me. I would describe it as darker during the day despite large windows, and dimly lit at night with lit candles on the tables most nights. Again, it is more simple than elegant. But people love this joint and it always seems full. They accommodate large groups very easily and they make the food fast.
In my opinion, they make the best Chicken Piccata. Salty and simple. Not thick and saucy. Love it.