Assaggi Mozzarella Bar Restaurant Review

The Assaggi Restaurant Mozzarella Bar in Bethesda, Maryland has a somewhat unique spin on the classic Italian restaurant. For many people, cheese really steals the show and is the most important element on an Italian dish or antipasto. So why not make cheese the focal point of an entire restaurant?

That's in essence what the folks over at Assaggi Mozzarella Bar have done. They offer a full menu of Italian food, but the main draw is their mozzarella samplers. They have six different kinds of mozzarella cheese on their menu (did anybody even realize that there were six kinds of mozzarella cheese?), including three from the U.S. and three imported from Italy.

This includes two types of Burrata, a somewhat rare mozzarella cheese that has a rich, creamy interior and four kinds of buffalo mozzarella cheese (including one of the Burrata cheeses). Each has their own unique texture and taste and you can mix and match which ones you want to try with their tasting trays.

You can order one cheese with your choice of two condiments or you can order a larger platter with three cheeses and four condiments. The condiments include fresh tomatoes, organic roasted peppers and other vegetable offerings. There is also a cured meat sample platter.

While you can sit at the bar for the full "Mozzarella Bar" effect, all of the sampler plates can be ordered from the restaurant's tables. The rest of the menu includes pasta, fish and meat dishes, as well as salads and vegetable side dishes.

If you think the décor inside looks familiar, then you're probably right. You must have seen some of the same artistic offerings in the shops next door to Assaggi, as the Mozzarella Bar used some of its neighboring local businesses to help accommodate the interior design.

The Assaggi Mozzarella Bar may be pricey (the three cheese platter is $17) but makes for a great night out destination. Enjoy some good wine with some great cheese and fresh bread and it's easy to forget about any and everything else. As a standalone Italian restaurant the food would still pass a demanding test, but the mozzarella platters are what you absolutely must try when you visit.

The Assaggi Mozzarella Bar is located on Bethesda Avenue, in Bethesda, Maryland. For a full menu and more information, their website is located at www.assaggirestaurant.com.