Have enjoyed trying a little of everything from the menu on a somewhat weekly basis lately! Always enjoy the ample sangria -- what a way to relax during a weeknight: fruity, potent, but not overly so. First meal I ever had there was Jack's Special: seafood pasta entree. I still remember it vividly! Delicious. More than I can eat in a sitting, but very enjoyable. I also loved their Margarita pizza -- made perfectly the way I like it, with a thin crust of delicious bread, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. The calamari was ok, not amazing -- but a nice thing to munch with a drink and conversation. And really loved the Warm Marinated Olives. Most have pits, so there's work involved, but they are super tasty. The atmosphere is casual, and clearly an after-work place to stop for the train-commuters. Wait staff is friendly and attentive, but not overly so. Can't wait to try the next curiosity on the menu. (Oh! enjoyed their creme brulee too.)
Review Source:Upgrade to 5 stars ... I finally had the chance to have a full meal at Monza last night, and it was fantastic.. The wife and I arrived at about 6:30PM Saturday night to the normal weekend crowd. Monza is becoming a hot spot in Manassas, and they get really crowded Fridays and Saturdays. We were lucky to snag a seat at the bar and we stayed there for ... umm ... quite a while :-)
Wife and I both enjoyed the risotto fritters and and the pizza is fantastic. We ordered a Margherita and added mushrooms (which, as I told the wife, makes it no longer a Margherita, but we love mushrooms) and much later, after a few libations, ordered a 5 cheese pizza, which I liked even better.
Speaking of drinks, we discovered that they have a great list of specialty martinis that made the wife happy. And of course, there is the AWESOME beet selection. They have 9 taps of great craft beers (many of them local) and an impressive bottled beer selection with unique offerings that you would normally only find at Total Wine. And the bartender told me they plan to add 4 more taps and rotate more local and seasonal brews.
Monza is becoming a very popular spot in Old Town Manassas because of great beer, great food, and a fun crowd and atmosphere.
This is a good spot to hit if you're in Manassas and want a fun place to get a couple drinks. The bar was full and very diverse in terms of its clientele (this made for awesome people watching, making the nite extremely entertaining). It was like a humorous war between two very different customer groups who were changing the juke box between country and hip hop. And then a couple folks playing classic rock. It was hilarious.
Great beer selection and good prices. The bar itself has a nice vibe and set up well. Lots of good little nooks and crannies to sit in and enjoy the people-watching and the drinking.
Another amazing meal at Monza. Â My sister and I had dinner here again last night. Â Monza is my new FAVORITE place in Manassas! Â Olivia the bartender was one of the best servers I've ever had... and Daniel, her bar back, what an amazing team. Â Monza never fails to impress me. Â
The oysters are to die for, literally, to die! Â I had the Penne Cilantro last night for the first time, it was cooked perfectly and the sauce was just fantastic. Â Ask them to spice it up a notch if you're in the mood for a kick.
Do yourself a favor, give Monza's a try, fall in love, then tell your friends. Â This place is truly a gem in Old Town Manassas!
Went to Monza for dinner with a couple of friends on a Saturday night. The indoor seating is pretty limited, and was all full up, so we ended up sitting at one of the outdoor tables. Not ideal on a chilly fall evening, but we didn't want to look for another restaurant.
Between the three of us, we had an order of risotto fritters, the four cheese ravioli, and two Jack's Specials, as well as several drinks. The risotto fritters were a little disappointing -- they were mostly mozzarella, the risotto felt like more of an afterthought than a significant component. Everything else was absolutely fantastic, though.
I was particularly pleased with my four cheese ravioli. Putting alfredo sauce on top of cheese ravioli is a risky move, since it can very easily veer into "too much cheese" territory, but Monza balanced it perfectly. I stole a taste of one of the orders of Jack's Special, and that was delicious as well.
I will probably shoot for a weeknight next time I go to Monza, just so I don't have to worry about getting stuck outside if the weather isn't ideal, but I will definitely be returning.
The one thing that frustrates me to no end is when I ask for a certain brand of alcohol and a drink is made for me and the minute I taste it I know it's incorrect. Â When I ask about it and I'm told it's a different brand. Â I'm sorry in my opinion not all vodkas taste the same so if you don't have what I ask for tell me, I can change my drink order. Â That has happened to me on two different occasions with two different bartenders here.
Other than that service has been good, and it can get really busy here. Â It's nice that they offer outside dining and have an acoustic performer.
As for the food, I think it's average. The seafood pasta dish lacked flavor. Â The calamari was basic and fried but tasty. Â The pizza I would say is more of a highlight here. Â I've had it a couple of times, one time I did receive a completely burnt one. Â I was shocked that it was even served, but when I pointed it out it was immediately corrected.
For Manassas I would say it's a nice alternative to the options available.
We went to Monza for the first time tonight for dinner. It was... Average.
The atmosphere is great. It's a little small but very, very inviting and classy. They mostly had raised tables and 2-tops on the ground. The service was really, really friendly. A funeral party came in unannounced and they had to move us to a different table, and they were very gracious about it and bought us a glass of nice wine and dessert.
The food was pretty good, a little higher than Olive Garden quality, but not fantastic. I was kind of upset about the lack of tomato-based sauces that they had on the menu. Everything was heavy and cream-based, which I don't usually prefer. I had the Jack's Special which was capellini with butter sauce and seafood. The seafood was cooked really well but overall it was average. The portion size was way smaller than I would like for a $17 dish, and did not include bread, salad, or a side of vegetables. My mother's meatball dish was very, very salty; she didn't especially like it. My dad enjoyed his tortellini. He also really enjoyed the wine that he had. The dessert that we got was a bomba, a dome of ice cream with a chocolate shell. It was good, not great.
Overall, I wouldn't go again based on the portion size vs. the price. It's a nice place, but not nice enough to drop $50 on food that I'm not in love with.
I wish there were more places like Monza's and Carmello's in Manassas. Although both could seriously benefit from some vegetarian choices, the atmosphere is sophisticated for the area and the staff is always super nice and informative. Whoever runs both establishments needs to limit the menu at Carmello's and I suspect the food reviews would improve greatly for both establishments if smaller menus were presented-perhaps that incorporate specials from the local farmer's market. Just think how much more foodie cred the place would have if they used fruit for their sangrias from the farmer's market, fresh lettuce from the market-or whatever else is in season at that point. It would certainly be a real draw for the community.
Review Source:My husband and I have lived in Manassas for almost 3 years and have really been at a loss to find a place that was not the regular chain restaurant. We recently visited Monza and found a new favorite!
Monza's atmosphere, decor and food make it a go to place if you're looking for a change.  We weren't really that hungry when we visited (we were mainly looking to get a few drinks and an app).  The app selection was OK. We had the calamari which was a bit over cooked, but it's hard to find perfectly cooked calamari anywhere.  Their draft selection is minimal, but good.  They could really use a stout on tap.  They have a large selection of wine though.  In addition to the calamari app, we had a margherita pizza which was delicious! all the ingredients were fresh! Just enough to split and not be over stuffed! Afterward we had the crème brulee and chocolate cake, both of which were good, but nothing to write home about. Â
The staff was very friendly and attentive. Our food came out quickly and was hot and fresh. Â We will definitely visit again soon. Great place all in all.
I went several weeks ago on a weekday evening.  Only 1 waiter was working the patio and there were about 5 guest tables.  The service was sorely lacking.  I am not sure if it was due to not being trained correctly or because the server was overwhelmed.  We walked into the restaurant and  the bar had people in it but no one greeted us.  After standing a bit we went back to the patio and sat down.  Little things like that can make such a difference upon entering a restaurant establishment.
 We ordered a regular appetizer off the menu and asked if we could also have a pizza as an appetizer.  We also ordered  a salad and an entree.  The appetizer came out and then the salad and then the entree and last was the pizza we had asked to be part of our appetizer.
I had to keep asking the waiter for all of the things that he should have been trained to do that make for a good guest experience.  Things such as salt & pepper, extra cheese for on top of the pasta dish, plates for the pizza.  I asked for a spatula or something to help get the pizza off the plate but was told that they do not have any  spatulas and to just use my knife........
The food was relatively good and I totally get what they are trying to do with this restaurant concept but it does not make up for the lack of service that my husband and I experienced at this restaurant.
How about some wood-fired brick-oven pizzas and Italian pasta bowls in a trendy bar-room atmosphere in downtown Manassas? Â I'm telling you, this is a great place. Â Took my family here on a Sunday afternoon and had a blast. Â
We were able to catch a Nats game on the flat screens while I downed a couple of Fat Tire beers on tap. Â My crusty perfectly-seared tomato, pepperoni and sausage "Monza" pizza was blanketed with mouth-watering mozarella and tangy marinara. Â
My wife's "Jack's Special" seafood pasta was perfectly cooked and had a thick creamy sauce mixed with thick chunks of scallops, crab and shrimp. Â BIG TIP: Waitress told us all pastas are $4.00 off before 4 o'clock. Â Nice.
There really isn't much to say bad about Monzas except for the fact that being in downtown, parking might be a problem. Â They could add a little variety to the menu - (the selections are a little limited to pizza and pasta mostly). Â And I'm not a fan of the raised bar-stool tables. Â Whenever we needed to cut into our food, the entire table would move.
Eh, Â Monza was just OK. Nothing really caught my attention. My friend and I came here last week for lunch. I ordered the Monza Steak Salad and he ordered their Tuscan pizza. The pizza was nothing fancy, felt as if it was pre-made. Wish it was more of that rustic Italian style. The salad was not surprising at all. Grilled steak over a bed of salad, cut up tomatoes... No cheese no Italian toppings. Wait is this an Italian restaurant?
Review Source:In a town full of sports bars, Monza is a rare oasis. It is classy, but not stuffy and is the perfect place for a quiet lunch or an afternoon drink.
When I asked about how long Monza had been open, one of the staff took me on a tour of the attached Carmello's public and private dining rooms, the wine room, and we got to look in at what appeared to be a clean, well-run kitchen.
The interior is beautiful. After hours, if they turned down the lights and put on some Bossa nova, you could make Monza a lounge.
Drinks are poured strong enough to stun a mule. The contents of the bar lean strongly towards premium brands and some lesser-known spirits. Monza also benefits from the Carmello's wine room, which is a bonus that is not immediately obvious.
I tried the Margherita pizza. It was a rare treat with a thin crispy crust, a perfect balance of tomato, mozzarella, basil and just enough garlic to let you know it was there. The entree pizzas would easily feed two for a light lunch.
When the pizza arrived, I immediately checked the crust in the center and it was perfectly crispy. However, over the next 15 or so minutes, I found that the crust started to absorb the sauce, making the last couple of pieces soggy in the middle. I think this might be where the source of some reviewers complaints come from. The pizza is made to be eaten immediately. If things are busy, and the pizza spends 10 minutes waiting to be taken out to a table, it's ruined from the start.
I plan to come here more often, and definitely intend to see if they can make a classic Martini.
The only issue I could find? The excellent local draft beer selection had Miller Light at the top of the list. It should have been added to the bottom, as an afterthought for the kind of person who orders steak at a seafood restaurant.
Monza (and Carmello's) is a real asset to the City of Manassas. Â The wines available by the glass leave a little to be desired but the beer menu and wines by the bottle are plentiful and varied. Â While I can't say that the food is amazing, (I'm looking at you soggy margherita pizza with tons of raw flour on the underside) I can't help but order the calamari and the risotto fritters every time we're in there. Â It's a great place for Happy Hour with friends and I foresee many return visits in the future.
Review Source:Been here 2 times and had really good meals both times. Â Sat in the bar area and forgive me for not remembering what exactly I had but it was good lol. Â Very simple menu not very elaborate but very tastey none the less. Â Seems to be one of the more "upscale" kind of places not so much you need a suit but its not a bar where you're going to go watch the football game (though they do have TV) its more drinks after work with the coworkers kind of bar. Â Then again it is downtown manassas so it seems to be in with the uperclass kind of crowd. Â great place don't get me wrong, they're not snooty or anything I went there in jeans and a tshirt without a problem there just seems to be an elegant feel to the place not the biker bar/sports bar where people smoke and get drunk know what I mean? Â I hope so :)
Review Source:Best Kept secret in this town, Â A very Gracious Owner who cares that people are having a goo time, enjoying their experience. Â Decent Wine selection, Great Drink Specials (Happy Hour til 7pm)
 They have added tables on the sidewalk for drinks/dinner out when the weather is nice.  Try the tortellini, you won't be disapointed...  Try going on a Monday night for the Martini specials, the weekends get a little crowded, but it is still a fun stop, even if you are just passing thru.
My husband and I have been here twice now. Nice casual spot with outdoor patio seating. On the weekend they have live music in the street. They have a great assortment of beer and wines. I am also on a mission to find the best martini. They are up there on my list of bests! The calamari we ordered was perfectly cooked. I had the steak salad, it had wonderful flavor. My husband had the spaghetti and homemade meatballs. He enjoyed his meal very much as well.
Just the right potions, not too little not too much.
The transformation I have seen from Monza from last summer has been a dream come true.
Beer: Monza has added Lost Rhino, DC Brau, Port City, Arrogant Bastard, Fat tire, etc. in addition to Loose Cannon which they already carried. Monza has become the best local craft beer haven this side of Arlington. The beer alone is worth going to this place.
Food: The pizza has gone from ordinary to exceptional. Last summer Monza was serving up thick, soggy, bland pies and I would lament going there. Clearly, Monza has now got a true pizza artisan working the oven and the dough buckets. The crust has incredible flavor, the sauce is great. A week ago we had the Margharita which had great flavor but soggy crust in the middle. But tonight, we had the Monza pizza, which was nearly flawless. The crust was a masterpiece, crispy and perfectly charred like you would get at Fireworks in Leesburg or Pizzaria Paradiso in DC.
To nit-pick, and I understand that the pizzas have to be catered to the lowest common denominator suburban palate accustomed to Papa John's, I personally would have preferred a little bit less cheese, and I thought the chicken breast meat added little flavor and was overall a dry pointless protein. I also thought the crust had a little bit too much flour stuck to the bottom. It didn't really interfere with the pizza but left a little bit of a doughy flavor in the mouth. I have been baking pizzas myself for 8 years and understand the importance of making sure the dough doesn't stick to the peel, so I understand.
Overall: Whoever is working the pizza oven at Monza has clearly found their groove and is a brilliant pizza dough maker. The beer list also makes this a destination; I am amazed at the changes Monza has made. I used to go here almost weekly for lost cannon and mediocre pizza. Now I will go here weekly for incredible local IPA selection and awesome pizza.
This place is adorable and just what Manassas needed! The food was great, and good Italian/Portuguese is hard to find! It is owned by the same owners as Carmello's which is an upscale restaurant with a good reputation. This place is awesome because its the same great food Carmello's is known for but less expensive and a much more relaxed environment. I can't wait to go back and tryout the rest of their menu which was made up of everyone's favorite Italian classics including lasagna, brick oven pizza, chicken alfredo, etc!!!
Review Source:The atmosphere is visually nice but wrecked by extremely loud music. Â The pizzas are disappointing. Â According to the menu, they are baked in a brick oven. Â However, the crust is soggy. Â Also, the Margherita pizza was loaded with garlic, which was not mentioned on the menu and was a very unpleasant surprise to this garlic hater.
Review Source:Get to Monza ASAP! This is by far, the Hottest spot in Manassas! The food is AMAZING, fair prices, GREAT service!! They have an outdoor eating area, they often have live music, and the energy in old town is always very fun! If you go, get the bruschetta and sample one of their many wines... There is nothing like this in Manassas, I am so grateful they opened up!
Review Source:Great food, great atmosphere, great service.
I recommend the Italian Sausage sandwich (add Mozzarella) and the house salad (their creamy Italian is TO DIE FOR). Don't forget dessert!! Try the Italian Bomba (any one of three combos of ice cream in a chocolate shell --- sooooooo good I can't compare it to anything ever).
Plus they have an 11a - 7p Happy Hour, which, I would TOTALLY take advantage of (if I weren't currently pregnant). Someone go drink for me and I'll live vicariously through you!!
So happy to see Carmellos reopened in Olde Towne!
We live in the city (Manassas) and were happy to hear from our neighbor that Carmellos was doing a 'soft opening' so my husband and I decided to try it out Fri. night. On walking in, we were very impressed with the new decor - however we couldn't  help but be nostalgic for the old style (many happy memories at that restaurant). We were seated at a table by one of side front doors and while it was not used extensively, it was a bit breezy every time anyone left by that door.While overall the waiter/waitresses seemed upbeat and fun, ours unfortuately was not and was actually a bit surly. I ordered the swordish special and my husband ordered the seafood linguini and I have to say the food was fantastic! My swordfish was nicely grilled with a roasted red pepper and light tomato cream sauce (that I got on the side). The accompanying green beans were wonderfully fresh and tasty and my husbands linguini was chock-full of shrimp, clams and other assorted seafood. We finished the night with coffee, tea and and a tirimisu. We're looking forward to trying Monza, the new bar/lighter fare area which was also hopping while we were there. For not being fully open, they were pretty well full. We are so happy they are back!
Recently opened in the space next to Carmello's & Little Portugal.
Viva Italiano!
A nice upscale casual dining establishment in old town Manassas, bella!
They offer a nice variety of Italian. Mostly traditional fare in a casual dining environment. The Lasagna Bolognese, sabroso!
An excellent selection of appetizers, salads. sandwiches and burgers.
A great bar area, a couple of  plasmas and a well stocked bar with all your favorites.
A nice selection of top shelf Whiskey, Vodka & Tequila.
They have Peroni on tap!
Check out the wood grain looking bar, it looks like real wood but it's actually concrete covered with clear coat polyurethane.
On the weekends, check out the brunch with pork chops, pork tenderloin, pasta, fresh salad and new potatoes and custom made omelets made by Chef Jose...all for $15 bucks.
Mike & Sean will take care of all your beverage requests.
Live music on Friday evenings. A guy and an acoustic or two guys and two acoustic, but mellow music.
They have a great patio for al fresco!
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