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Name: Strega Waterfront
Address: One Marina Park Dr,56 Northern Ave On GPS, Boston, MA, 02210
Telephone: (617) 345-3992
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.75

Strega Waterfront

One Marina Park Dr,56 Northern Ave On GPS, Boston, MA, 02210

(617) 345-3992
Store is closed

Strega Waterfront Menu

Antipasto E Insalate

Caprese

La Strega

La Romana

La Misticanza

Prosciutto Bocconcini E Peperoni

Portobello Al Forno

Gamberi In Padella

Tegamino

Capesante Al Grand Marnier

Antipasto Della Casa

Fritto Di Calamari

Rollatini Di Nico

Melenzane Al Castello
Primi Piatti

Fettuccine Strega

Fettuccine Gamberoni

Pappardelle Funghi Selvatici

Linguine Alle Vongole

Tortelloni Alla Panna

Pappardelle Emiliana

Gnocchi Sorrentina

Casarecci Di Marina

Lobster Fra Diavolo

Ravioli Aragosta
Secondi Piatti

Marsala

Valdostana

Sorrentina

Calabrisella

Supreme Al Limone

Alla Romana
Specialitá Della Casa

Costata Ripiena

Il Filetto Al Cognac

Il Fagottino

Roasted Halibut

La Fiorentina

Salmone
Risotti

Risotto Di Mare

Risotto Don Pietro
Specialita Della Settimana

Sunday - A Typical Italian Family Dinner

Monday - Bistecca Pizzaiola

Tuesday - Pollo Allo Spiedo

Wednesday - Maccaroni And Cheese All’ Aragosta

Thursday - Porchetta

Friday - Torta All’ Aragosta

Saturday - Petto D’anatra Allo Chamboard

Healthy Meal suggestions for Strega Waterfront

Antipasto E Insalate

Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

La Strega [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

La Romana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

La Misticanza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto Bocconcini E Peperoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello Al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gamberi In Padella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tegamino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Capesante Al Grand Marnier [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipasto Della Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fritto Di Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rollatini Di Nico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melenzane Al Castello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Primi Piatti

Fettuccine Strega [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccine Gamberoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pappardelle Funghi Selvatici [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguine Alle Vongole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortelloni Alla Panna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pappardelle Emiliana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnocchi Sorrentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Casarecci Di Marina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lobster Fra Diavolo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ravioli Aragosta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Secondi Piatti

Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Valdostana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorrentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calabrisella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Supreme Al Limone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alla Romana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specialitá Della Casa

Costata Ripiena [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Il Filetto Al Cognac [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Il Fagottino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Halibut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

La Fiorentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Risotti

Risotto Di Mare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto Don Pietro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specialita Della Settimana

Sunday - A Typical Italian Family Dinner [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Monday - Bistecca Pizzaiola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuesday - Pollo Allo Spiedo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wednesday - Maccaroni And Cheese All’ Aragosta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thursday - Porchetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Friday - Torta All’ Aragosta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Saturday - Petto D’anatra Allo Chamboard [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Boston Common Coffee Co. ( 97 Salem St )

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Write An Anonymous Review

Dee P.

The food was good but not great, we sat outside on the patio, poor service the waitress was nice but I feel they were very understaffed, I ordered lamb and didn't get a steak knife, I waited 10 mins for one after my meal was already on the table. Not satisfied at all not worth it. Go to Del Friscos instead
(2)
Garima T.

Great ambience ! Loved the tiramisu ! The vegetarian food is good too ! Service is prompt.
(4)
Tim M.

One of the best restaurants in Boston. The food was authentic and flavorful. The staff were very attentive to our needs and requests. They have a great wine selection and outstanding mixed drinks. A great place for business or personal events.
(5)
Darcy W.

Hello yum! If you like great appetizers, pasta, seafood, a beautiful atmosphere with live piano music and fantastic service... GO TO STREGA! This place is gorgeous! We usually head to the North End, but I will tell you this location is fantastic! We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bartender Bianca. She is awesome! We had the appetizer special and I loved the homemade mozzarella. The seafood special was huge and absolutely amazing. I love the fresh pasta dishes here, and love the fact that they will make an entree to your taste is even better. Strega has a wonderful wine list too! This place sounds fancy, but there are a ton of TV's in the bar to catch a game! I will be back next time I'm in Boston!
(5)
Michael C.

Came in for a restaurant week lunch, it seems they try and discourage it though as we had to request the menu when we sat.. Our waitress was great, my glass of water was never close to empty. I really like the sleek look of this place, cool outdoor seating, and the TV set at their bar. Dinner here is pricey but lunch was reasonable. Beet Salad - Light and refreshing, if you like goat cheese you will enjoy this dish as beets are pretty flavorless Pork Loin - I liked the slightly sweet and fruity marinate but found the pork a little tough Tiramisu - Highlight of the meal this thing was delicious.
(4)
Remie M.

I came here on a saturday night. Being the "out of towner" my locals wanted to show me a good time. Our reservations were at 845pm. Table for 4. Luckily, I was staying near by @ the westin. A quick cab ride to the resto. As we checked in, we were seated rt away. The table location was perfect. Rt next the window in the corner so it was kind of seculded. The ambiance was modern and romantic. I felt a little overdressed. (But at least I felt pretty, not to be conceited or anything.) A place like this in socal, u would think to dress up in a really cute cocktail dress. Apparently, Bostonians think differently. A lot of people dressed "casual" Jeans and a nice top. My friend came in a sweater and cargo shorts. haha I guess I'll never understand the fashion over there @ all. ANYWAYS, the food was good. We ordered the lobster ravioli, surf and turf, and two other entree's which I forgot. We started off with calamari. Which btw, is FANTASTIC!!! A bottle of white wine to wash down the dinner. What a perfect relaxing dinner. As we finished our dinner, we ordered drinks and shots. Plenty of them. The bill wasn't bad for 4 ppl. I really enjoyed the ambiance. The most rememberable thing was I asked one of the workers where the restrooms were located, he was very sweet and he stopped what he was doing and guided me in front of it. As, I was in line (of course, there's a line in the ladies room) I received a lot of looks. I had a brief converstation with this one lady, in her 50s. She asked where I was from and complimented me on my attire. I politely said "thank u" She asked me if I was single. I said "yes, I am" then she took out her phone and showed me a pic of a guy and said "that's my son,he would love a pretty girl like u" I was flattered but I didn't know it was getting interviewed to be set up. I just need to use the restroom! Other than that, I had a blast at this resto. Our waiter was phenominal! He was prompt and personable.
(4)
Gaurvi J.

Amazing ambience and really good food! The veggie red sauce pasta I ordered was just too good.:)
(4)
Joe G.

Came to Strega Waterfront for a business dinner while visiting Boston in November. I must say the thing that really stood out was their wait staff. They were very helpful (took my coat and bag) and offered recommendations for drinks and food. I ordered my go-to dish: Filet Medium. I must say that their filet was pretty good. Cooked exactly to my specifications and good garnishes - mash and asparagus (although their asparagus was huge!). Had Tiramisu for dessert that was decent as well. All in all, good experience at Strega Waterfront.
(4)
Lisa L.

So we came back for our anniversary this year. Our favorite waiter wasn't working this day so we had another. I want to tell you his name but he never said. While he was a cute little Italian guy, but we had a seriously hard time understanding him. He smiled at us everytime he interacted but it really wasn't enough. I had to ask him to order everything, never, not one time did he ask if anything was ok or if we needed anything. Its a beautiful restaurant and we had a good table but service was lacking. No excuse for this, this is a expensive high end place. Everyone should be on there games all the time. Tiramisu was bad, worst one I ever had. Not that he noticed. I refuse to let him rain on my parade, I will try it again and hope for a better experience like ones that I have had in the past here.
(3)
Kathy M.

Would have given place 5 stars except for the behavior of our waiter. Had friends in town and thought Strega would be a great place to take them. Went there Saturday night (May 30th). It's been a wonderful place in the past. We have been there about 4 times beforehand. Service and food has been excellent. But, this time, we were all turned off by our waiter immediately. After our friend had looked at a 40-something dollar wine and asked the waiter about it, the waiter then suggested that two other choices would be much better, more-or-less putting down her choice (then don't have the wine on the menu if the waiter doesn't like it!!!!) One of his suggestions was about $170, the other in the 70s or 80s (luckily she asked the price). She ended up sticking with her original decision. Another waiter turn-off: when pouring water, he yelled over our table AND another table to a waiter/bus boy to take away some silverware (!!!). He yelled a few times, as I guess no one was listening. In general, he also made us feel that his choices were superior than his. It was not too hard to get the impression that he wanted to upsell us on everything, increase the total, so as to get a larger tip. By the way, we had: Appetizers: Caesar salad, eggplant rollatini, burrata. They were all great. Entrees were: Sea bass (incredibly tasty), steak, veal chop, scallops. Liked them all. Our bill came to over $300. My husband ended up tipping only 15 percent (but did include the tax in the amount). On the way out, the waiter accosted my husband to ask "is this correct?" about the check. At first, my husband thought that he might have added up the check wrong, and said that the total was fine. Afterwards, we realize that that the waiter was disappointed in his tip. My husband didn't realize this at the time. But it was obvious. We all had the same opinion about this waiter -- so unprofessional, so "in our face". I was a little embarassed about our restaurant choice as I had talked up Strega, and what a great place it was, to our guests. We go out a lot in Boston and I must say this was the worse experience with a waiter at such a nice, high-end restaurant. And by the way, we were all very polite and really don't think our waiter's behavior was a reaction to us. So disappointed in Strega.
(2)
Doug M.

Took my wife for lunch on Mother's Day and we certainly weren't disappointed. Promptly seated at a nice table by the window, which we liked. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. We started off with Caesar salads which were very good. We shared a special appetizer of calamari, scallops and shrimp - in what I believe was a Thai sauce, which was fantastic. My wife had a special 8 oz filet mignon and baked stuffed lobster tail. My daughter had filet mignon; while I had the Fettuccini Strega. All 3 entrees were superb. Some of the freshest seafood I have ever had. The filets were also delicious. For dessert, my wife and I split key lime pie and daughter had tiramisu. Great way to end an excellent meal.
(5)
Jessi K.

Lobster fra Diablo is the best! It will not disappoint. I always order this dish along with the prosciutto appetizer. Everything is great. Surf and turf is awesome too! Staff is great! I love Sarah! The bartender! Tip her well she does a great job! And you never know you might see a celebrity! Literally! I have!
(5)
susan H.

This place cracks me up. I have to say, right off the bat, I've only been once, although my husband has gone a few times for work-related events. We went this past Saturday, without a reservation and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. We both ordered the Strega salad (arugula and grapefruit), which was a bit tired and underdressed. I had a delicious mushroom risotto and my husband had steak and lobster tail (steak ok, lobster tail finger-licking good.) Desert: key lime pie, just so-so. Save the calories. So what's so funny? The decor for one. It's like you're on the set of The Sopranos except right in the middle is that giant semi-circle portal from Star Gate. I kept waiting for Kurt Russell or those weird Egyptian people to burst through. They play scenes from famous Italian or Italian American movies on screens in the dining area (the Godfather, la Dolce Vida), which actually was pretty entertaining. And everyone who works there seems like they could have been in one of the movies. Our waiter was a charming, very professional guy who, I swear, almost told us he was gonna make us an offer we couldn't refuse (his recommendation of a "Cab" from the wine list.) Sort of like dinner theater.
(3)
Thomas N.

beautiful place, great service, excellent drinks, food ok, sorry to say that, it is a great place, calamari was ok, nothing special, steak sandwich would have been much better if the meat were more thinly sliced and scallops, 3 for 18$.......that said, it is a beautiful restaurant with great service
(4)
Erin T.

Could have been 3 stars but i have to minus out 1 for the bad service. I waited an extra 15 min for new "filet mignon topped with crabmeat"dish while my friends were having their dinner. The fact that I had to pay almost $50 for a small piece of steak- I expected it to be done right - the 1st time not 2nd. We asked for a tasting of a wine bottle the waiter recommended since Strega didn't have the one we want. He bluntly said "No.. You can't. You have to order it and if you don't like it then you can return the bottle" that alone already ruined my dinner... What kind of fancy restaurant is this? Customer service is very important! Especially every dishes cost more than $30. Disappointed.
(2)
Aman S.

Authentic Italian food and amazing meatballs. I would go back here again and again.
(5)
William K.

Wonderful food excellent service, seabass Perfectly cooked and the Lamb Chop was beautiful and juicy. I love this place!
(5)
Heidi R.

The beet salad was delicious, the shaved asparagus appetizer was uninspired - two spears thinly sliced over red onion and shredded carrots- they were gracious and took it back, my table had the seared scallops which they enjoyed, I had the steak salad which was again uninspired steak plopped next to a pile of baby spinach with some red onions and way too sweet vinaigrette. The wait staff was friendly and the valet parking was a deal for the area at $10. It was not the dining experience I was hoping for.
(2)
L P.

I was fairly disappointed in Strega Waterfront on Sunday night. It was our first time dining there, but had wanted to try it for awhile (all the hype and whatnot). Granted it was Restaurant Week... but still. First impression: It's a nice place, very polished BUT... they don't offer to take your coat at the door OR the table... even when packed in like sardines and people are having a tough time squeezing around chairs, much less coats. Also, they don't help with your chair. I'm really not picky about this, because I love dives as much as fine dining, but if you have white tablecloths and bottles of wine in excess of $1000, probably should step it up a bit on the service front. (oh, and on that note... we saw a bottle of red that we often buy for $45 or so that was marked at $180! I get wine markup, but whoa.) Next: Wine selection. The list is unbelievable... but... while the waiter did try to help us select something, it wasn't quite what we wanted. He checked in the with sommelier, came back, checked in again, came back... etc. He must have gone back and forth between the somm and our table 3 times until we finally found something we agreed on. Wouldn't it have just been faster to send the sommelier over? First course: I had the tuna carpaccio. Delicious. Loved it! My husband had the meatball... good, but the ricotta cheese it was plated on was cold. Didn't send it back because we weren't quite sure if it was supposed to be cold or hot... also... we had been so picky about the wine. Still tasted good, and I'm not much of a stickler for temp anyway (see! not picky!) Second course: I had the veal and he had the porchetta. My veal tasted good, but small portion and smothered in cheese. Not very "artfully" done. His porchetta was dry and overdone. Not good. Table next to us actually sent theirs back. We didn't... again... Oh, and the accompaniments were totally uninspired. Same thing, both plates: 2 asparagus spears, potato. Ho hum. Dessert: Good! The tiramisu was moist and delicious. The 2 mini cannolis were delicious as well. Happy ending. All in all, we will not be back. Sorry. Not recommended.
(2)
Michelle S.

4 of us went to dinner at Strega Waterfront last night (Friday). We had reservations at 8 45 and were promptly seated outside by a bus station. We were given menus and the wine list and my friend asked our waiter, Connor, to show him a bottle of wine just to make sure he was ordering the right bottle. Connor brought it out, it happened not to be the right one, but he did order a different one. The wine presentation was fine but Connor was very unprofessional. This is where my 3 star review comes from. The food was fantastic, which I'll get to, but Connor was very unprofessional. At one point during ordering appetizers, Connor stood at the computer putting in an order for another table as our friend was trying to order. He could have politely said give me just one min to put an order in and that he would be right with us. But no, he chose to stand behind the computer. It was ridiculous. Our main entrees took a long time to come out, so we sat for a long time with nothing to eat. Our bread was also not refilled. Connor also did not give us the proper attention for first time diners. He didn't really talk about the menu. His attitude implied that he just wanted us to order and leave him alone. He did get a 20% tip because other staff should not suffer due to his inability to serve tables correctly. The food was fantastic. We ordered the shrimp app, calamari, and seafood risotto for starters. For entrees we had lamb chops, sea scallops, tortellini, and short rib. Everyone was raving about the food. But the food is not enough for me to give a 5 star review.
(3)
Michael P.

Our experience at Strega deserves five stars. Isaac did an amazing job of helping us to navigate the menu. Especially the wine menu which is about five pages long. He was knowledgeable and helpful about the selections on the menu. First, he helped guide us to our selection of champagne to celebrate our anniversary. Unfortunately, we couldn't do the Dom Perignon so we took his his advice with the Tatinger champagne. A fantastic choice. We then had the stuffed figs and crab avocado salad which was fantastic as an appetizer. My wife had the Veal chop which she loved, and I had the Sea bass with the spinach which was amazing. A complementary crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e for our anniversary and a couple of the 30-year-old ports and the meal was complete. A fantastic experience! To top things off I checked in with yelp and received 15% off our food. Thanks Yelp!
(5)
Jamie H.

my friends and i went to strega for drinks and appetizers. we were able to sit outside and i thought the wait staff was nice and the food was great, although all very expensive. one of my favorite dishes was the beet salad, which had huge fresh pieces of beets, very creamy goat cheese, and drizzles of honey. i also thought the calamari was delicious, light, and crispy. i didn't try the rolled eggplant lasagna, but others at the table were highly complimentary. we also got meatballs that were good, but not particularly memorable and very pricey for the serving size. the restaurant was out of the wine that we originally ordered, but they came up with a very similarly priced substitute that we all enjoyed. the wait staff also tried hard to make sure we all had what we needed and that the plates were well spread out at the long table. i would recommend most of these dishes that we had, and would look forward to trying others. however, i did find that the prices were very high and this was a bit of a turnoff for me. had i been picking for myself, i would have been much more hesitant to indulge in so many offerings.
(4)
Manfred S.

Excellent food and service at a price. Natale was a perfect server. We had out of town guests that we liked to treat. Bread is a nice side. Oyster choice was limited to Wellfleets, which were okay, but not great. Surf and turf, seafood combo and filet mignon with mushrooms and crab meat. The filet (rare plus) was phenomenal. The mushrooms and crab meat garnish was wonderful. The steak of the surf and turf - ordered medium well - seemed eatable. At least our guest looked happy. Seafood combo was good, but I wouldn't order it again. I skipped dessert, but everyone else seem to like it. The bill though left a bitter taste at well over $100 per person.
(4)
Anastasia B.

not sure what the fuss is about. service is good. huge wine list but food is really just OK. got 4 appetizers and 2 meals , babbo next door 100 times better with true Italian food.
(3)
Raquel M.

Don't know what took me so long to write this review...Strega is located in South Boston's Beautiful Seaport District. The restaurant is quite impressive with a higher-end contemporary decor. The waitstaff is very welcoming and attentive and happy to make suggestions. The grilled salmon, served with caper mustard sauce is deelish...If you're in the area and want to be treated amazingly well and enjoy delicious food, this is the spot. Kudos to Nicki and the Varano Group!
(5)
Lexington G.

Sea bass was excellent, gin martini was made perfectly - but the best part of the evening (aside from my date!) was the wonderful service we received from Bruno. He is knowledgable, genuine and kind. Thank you to Bruno and the Strega team for a wonderful night.
(5)
Charlestown C.

Once again...delizioso! Walked in tonight, a SATURDAY NIGHT and was warmly welcomed and immediately seated to a beautiful table outdoors overlooking the harbor and FIREWORKS! Our server, Tony M was incredibly amiable and professional. The wIt to be seTed without a reservation inside the restaurant was two hours but we were all very happy to sit outside on a beautiful summers night. The food is ALWAYS wonderful, the service is always incredible and nothing can beat the location or decor. It is no wonder that.Boston's athletes frequent Strega's. godere e assaporare l'ottimo cibo!
(5)
Katerina V.

The service and the atmosphere were really nice. They have several rooms which are a bit separated from the rest of the place, which creates a little bit more privacy, which is great for when it is really full. I was a bit upset that there basically isn't any seating which faces the waterfront. We came here for a dinner during restaurant week. Their seafood risotto was good, very calamari-heavy, although I would prefer if the sauce was a bit more creamy. Their Rollatini di Nico appetizer was delicious though! The wine list was extensive!
(4)
Hunter H.

Amazing service and food. Really treated me exceptionally for my birthday! Everything we had was phenomenal.
(5)
Sharon O.

Organizing a business dinner can be a stressful thing. Thanks to Yelpers and, of course, Strega Waterfront as well, I have to say, I was able to hit it out of the park. Strega Waterfront's location is very nice... because it's Waterfront, so we had a pleasant walk to South Station. But it's also nice because it's near the Convention Center. Also because it's more of a high-end type food of place that you'd generally like for a business dinner. The decor was nice, and although their food was high-end, the prices really weren't too bad. Most importantly, they handled our party of changing size/different arrival times like it didn't bother them at all- although I know it must have been annoying. Strega's location (near the Convention Center), great food, and friendly staff. We shared fried calamari, which was tasty (even though I tend to not like it at other places). We also shared a few meatballs after one person mentioned they had heard about them on the radio and asked if that was why I chose the place (from hearing the radio ads- I had not)! Also very good. I ordered the calabrisella (chicken breast with spinach, prosciutto, and fontina cheese), which was somewhat a safe bet but was still very good. Several people in my party went for one of the night specials- sea bass-- and ranted and raved. Woohoo- success. So, thanks Strega!
(4)
Kimberly W.

I was looking for a decent place in the Waterfront area, and while I never heard of anything specific about Strega, the name sounded somewhat familiar [maybe from a magazine or from perusing restaurant week, not sure]. Italian food by the water, and a majority of good ratings, I decided to give it a go. And after the experience, I can put my two cents in and rave about this place as well! I had a 6:15 PM reservation, and everything went smoothly. The hosts were very friendly - and there were only two or three interactions, so they made a good first impression! I waited a bit and a waiter promptly came to bring some water and asked if I would like some cheese and bread. We took our time deciding what we wanted to eat and drink, but we were by no means rushed or felt rushed. It was definitely very comfortable feeling. The waiter was easy going, friendly, and attentive. So aside from the great service experience, the food. I had the "Strega" pasta dish and the scallops and shrimp were perfect. I'm not that critical about food [which is ironic that I post on yelp], but this was some good stuff. Not overcooked at all and just very tasty. The linguine pasta was also very good, though the sauce was a bit strange. Like I had tasted something similar, but I couldn't [and still can't] figure out what was so familiar about it. The atmosphere is pretty dark, but it's very nice inside. I kept thinking I could totally see a wedding banquet or something being hosted in there with the giant arch thing they have in the middle of the main seating area. Despite the dark and the somewhat close proximity to other tables, I didn't feel too cramped or on top of others. It was a good arrangement. A bit far removed from the rest of the city, but the Waterfront area seems to be an up and coming place for higher end restaurants and condos. So for the area, service, and food, this place was definitely an enjoyable experience!
(5)
Joe C.

Nick Varano, You should be proud of the staff at Strega Waterfront. My wife and I went to your restaurant tonight to celebrate our 41st anniversary. We were early for our reservation but were still seated right away in the crowded restaurant. Our table for two turned out to be next to a wall. I am a large man with broad shoulders so I did not fit well at that table. I mentioned it to the gentleman pouring water and he said he would be right back. In a moment he returned with your manager Rachael Perry. She quickly moved us to a great booth. We told her it was our 41st and she brought us a glass of champagne. We were in your restaurant for five minutes and we saw three examples of great service and it got better. Our server was Natale DeMarco. When he is not working, he is a med student. Hi service was great. I had the grilled shrimp over pineapple appetizer and Kathy had the mozzarella and tomato. Both were great. Natale recommended the baked stuff lobster tail with a filet (the surf and turf special). It was fabulous. We had a great night with great food and great service at a reasonable price. Rachael stopped by the table four times to check on us. Thank you for having such great people representing you and thank you for serving such great food.
(5)
Rick L.

I was really excited to come back to Strega after visiting a few months ago, unfortunately I was disappointed this visit. For me as a business traveler I normally sit at the bar so the food and bartender are extremely important. The food was good..nothing extraordinary this visit, but solid. However, it wasn't enough to make up for the service. The bartender had the personality of a turnip. Hello? When people travel on business and sit at the bar they expect to have a little more interaction and expertise on the menu. I asked her for a recommendation between 2 wines. A mid level Cab or a Super Tuscan. "Oh, I would go with the Silver Oak, it's really good." No shit...it's my favorite red, but I'm not drinking it solo. When it was time to order my entree she provided zero recommendations and didn't even mention the specials for the night. As a frequent patron of Nicos and Strega in the NorthEnd I know this is a huge error. Not sure if I will visit this restaurant again when I stay on the Waterfront. I will continue to frequent the North End locations, but most likely look for other options on the Waterfront.
(2)
Katie S.

I went here for my birthday and it was absolutely incredible. Our waiter was an absolute joy and made us laugh whenever he came by & he even placed up at a table with the best view of the sail boats that were going by. The food was well worth the money paid with perfect portions. I got the Filet Mignon topped with crab meat and it cut like butter and was the most flavorful filet I have ever had. I couldn't have had a better experience.
(5)
Ned K.

We came here for dinner at around 7. My girlfriend always raves about the one in the North End so she insisted we go since I'd never been. I'll start with the reason I gave it four stars and not five: The service was atrocious. It took us about 30 minutes just to get our drinks when we sat down and our waiter kept forgetting our additional water/our requests for butter with our bread. I really think it was just that we had pretty inexperienced waiter who seemed very overwhelmed. To give you an idea, his first words to us when we sat were "sorry, our kitchen is slammed tonight". No need to say that, just be pleasant and remember things and we won't care that it's busy. That aside, the food was fantastic. We split calamari to start which was great, but our entrees were cooked to perfection. I got the risotto with different kinds of fish in it (can't remember the exact name). The scallops were amazing and the flavor was one I still remember. My girlfriend got mussels over linguine which was also fantastic. The ambiance there is also great whether you're inside or outside. Overall, I'll go back but I'll make sure to keep an eye on how busy it is/who our waiter is to ensure a five-star experience.
(4)
Eric M.

Strega Waterfront is a bigger and better version of the original restaurant which still resides in the North End. This is a classic Italian restaurant with plenty of space inside including a sizable bar and a large patio with views of the harbor. If the weather is warm i would definitely recommend sitting outside. However, despite the size of the space, the restaurant is very popular so be sure to have a reservation or expect to wait. The food is definitely a good quality and there is an impressive wine list to choose from. The prices are a bit on the higher end for this type of restaurant, but the portions are large which more than makes up for it.
(4)
Dennis J.

We were celebrating our 20th anniversary last night and several friends recommend Strega Waterfront to us and after last night we would also highly recommend Strega to our friends and family. The restaurant is quite impressive and our evening started off on the right foot when checking in and were surprised when the host informed me that he had reserved a special table for us and I would agree that it was possibly the best table in the restaurant. Everything on the menu sounded amazing, the wait staff was very welcoming and attentive and happy to make food and wine recommendations. We started with the wild mushroom risotto and burrata appetizers and for dinner we had the stuffed veal chop and seared sea bass, everything was outstanding and we are already looking forward to going back to try the rest of the menu. If you're in the area and want to be treated amazingly well and enjoy delicious food, Strega Waterfront is the spot.
(5)
Juliet G.

The food is def good. But the waitstaff really needs help. They should be trained on how to provide quality top service. They are definitely resting on their laurels. Service at Boston's other steakhouses easily blows Strega away. Ex: 1. The waiter did not offer a wine list. We had to ask for it. I knew from this point, we were going to have problems. 2. The wine glasses that were set on the table upon arrival were never cleared away even after we all ordered individual drinks. Again, we had to ask them to remove them. 3. The waiter told us the specials and said if we had any questions about the menu, please ask. We were like "ummm well can we please have menus???" 4. He served me someone else's glass of wine. 5. He didn't offer to correct the wine mix up mistake. It was just like Oh Well. 6. We ordered a bottle of wine which he just uncorked and started pouring. He didn't present the bottle or have anyone sip it first. 7. It took foreverrrrr for the appetizer plates to be cleared. Empty mussel shells stared at us for far too long. My steak was delicious. There definitely isn't a problem in the back of the house. The front of the house needs a major overhaul. Strega should start recruiting from the top restaurants if they want to stay in the game.
(2)
Mark A.

Came in for an anniversary dinner on a Tuesday. The place was packed, and for good reason. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wines and menu, helping us pick what to order. The pumpkin ravioli app was to die for, all the flavors went together so perfectly. They even surprised us with a complimentary dessert. It is pricey, but the food quality and service can't be beat.
(5)
FrÃ©dÃ©ric A.

This restaurant is overpriced and very noisy. The food is average. My wife ordered a weird pineapple shrimp dish.
(3)
Derek C.

FABULOUS! I've been here several times and the food and service is always outstanding. Their knowledge of the menu, food & wine is always impeccable. The food is delicious, authentic Italian, but a little creative. Must be something in the air becuase I always leave there feeling happier than ever. The atmosphere is great - perfect for any demographic or any occasion. Some dishes can be a little heavy, but it's Italian.
(5)
Dean W.

If you're craving a fantastic North End style meal without the expense and tourism bum's rush, this is the place to go for real Eastie style Italian food. We sat in the lounge area where it's a little less formal and the service was friendly and personable like a trattoria even though the decor is decked out to be a fancy dining experience. The thing that's nice about this place is both the view, the ease of getting there (plenty of parking) and there's clearly care on the personal touch to keep it from being just another Italian restaurant in Boston. There's no rushing, timing is dead on between courses, and the food is just phenomenal. We had the mushroom Risotto and the stuffed veal chop and I haven't had a meal like that since going to Rinos over in Eastie, our favorite next to Kelly's Pub. The risotto had three types of mushrooms and was just infused with flavor. The chop was perfectly done, huge, and nestled in with tasty sides and a light marsala sauce. Unbelievable. Just perfectly done and the pricing right on for the quality of the experience.
(4)
Lisa K.

Probably one of the most hyped up restaurants that actually lived up to it's name. I made reservations for me and my boyfriend on Friday night and they sat us immediately. It took us a while to put our orders in, but food came out really quick. The olive oil that came with the complimentary bread was spot on! We ordered the calamari, which was good and the mussels/clams with crostini, which I could literally lick the sauce off the plate because it was absolutely amazing. My boyfriend had the lobster ravioli and the veal medallions in tomato sauce and I had the lobster fra diavolo. We both raved about the food, but for some reason, I thought the lobster would come unshelled, so I don't recommend ordering that on a first date because it could get very messy. Wine was great and service was fantastic because our server really checked up on us and made sure we were content. A woman who had too much to drink next to us liked our server a little too much...but it made us feel like family. He even gave us a free dessert for my boyfriend's birthday, which I didn't even ask for. Overall, for what the food is worth, I really don't think it is overpriced. For all the seafood and lobster and alcohol we got, I'd say it's really worth it compared to other "posh" Boston restaurants.
(5)
Mia S.

Lunch was totally underwhelming. Cheesy decor. View blocked by Louis Boston. Why is this place so popular?
(1)
Lillian C.

I was skeptical of this place since it was located in the Waterfront and looked like a typical fancy schmancy restaurant, BUT, at its heart, it's a North End kind of place where food never disappoints. The Tegamino: Clams/mussels appetizer in spicy tomato sauce was AMAZING. The perfect briny sauce and great bread to soak the yummy sauce. It was perfectly spiced and flavored. One of the best dishes I've ever had! Gamberi in Padella: Shrimp appetizer...this looked great although I didn't get to try it...but I'm sure it won't disappoint. A Typical Italian Dinner: Delicious especially if you are a meat lover...the dish came with one giant meatball, sausage and a pork roll...all in all..it was very flavorful. The portions are reasonable but not overwhelming.
(4)
Cristina R.

Strega is such a strange place. Delicious. But strange. My friend and I found ourselves in the area and walked in around 6 PM on a Saturday. We were informed that since we didn't have reservations, a table would take about an hour. Or we could sit in the (near-empty) lounge and order immediately. Okay. Let's do that. The lounge has huge TVs which played a variety of shows ranging from sports to reality TV. Random. And a little distracting. Also, it's in the part of the restaurant away from the water (which is unfortunate, considering "waterfront" is in the place's name), but otherwise the space seemed fine for a nice meal. Now I'd like to talk about the service. I don't exactly know how to put it, but the hostesses and waitresses just did not fit in with the restaurant's ambiance, food quality, or cost. The manager obviously looks for a very specific type of girl: mid-20's, pretty (in a heavily made up way), and of Italian descent (bordering on Jersey Shore-esque). Must be willing to wear tight, short sequined black skirts and impossibly high heels. Our server was very nice, albeit a bit fake-sounding. She (of course) recommended the more expensive specials and wine for our meal, but when we gave her an idea of what we wanted, she let us know of popular dishes and wine that seemed to fit that. As for the food, it might just be some of the best Italian I've had in Boston. The bread they brought out was fresh and herby, and I couldn't stop dip dip dipping it in the accompanying olive oil. I was in a veal mood and (based on our waitress's recommendation) opted for the Il Fagottino, a veal medallion stuffed with proscuitto and fontina in a port wine sauce. Just yes. The portion wasn't huge, which was perfectly fine since I was already pretty full on bread, and the flavor was absolutely outstanding. But, for $27, it damn better be. Luckily I wasn't disappointed. My friend ordered a pasta dish and was equally impressed with the flavor. Based on the food and location, Strega Waterfront would be a nice date spot. Just make sure your date doesn't have a wandering eye. And is willing to pay for dinner.
(3)
Erica S.

Review based on weekday dinner + drinks (April 2014) 1. Great value. Free bread + olives which is always a plus in my book. Large portions in the high 20 to high 40 range. Bass entree is huge. 2. Delicious food. antipasto + bass + Strega salad + veal + stuffed ravioli + dessert. All on point. The food is incredibly fresh, seasoned just right and overall seemingly healthy. I didn't feel like anything was drenched in butter or oil. My favorites here are the mushroom pasta (side) + bass. A killer combo. 3. Attentive service. 4. Beautiful venue. Situated right on the water. Large floor to ceiling windows. Large. Semi fancy but not over the top. Large bar. tons of TVs playing traditional Italian classics and of course the games. Overall, I have dined here three times so far and have enjoyed every experience. Probably not somewhere I would go for a casual dinner but definitely a great date spot and for out of town visitors!
(5)
Brian E.

Classic Italian done right. The atmosphere had the appearance of a classic old Italian restaurant in a new hip section of Boston. The service was impeccable and the food classic and delicious. I had the beet salad (which wasn't. "Classic") that I will go back for. I also had the Fradiavlo which was the right amount of flavor and spice without being overpowering. I also had the mushroom paparadelle which was incredible.
(5)
Angie M.

We went to Strega Waterfront last night for the first time and I wasn't very impressed. When I made the reservation I was thought being on the water would be very nice...I didn't even see the water. That took away from the ambiance of the restaurant right there. The inside is decorated nicely, modern. We were at a very small table for 2, very close to the people next to us. It was hard to fit just our plates and drinks on the table. Our apps were very good so I was excited for the entree to come out. Boy was I disappointed. The veil saltimbocca was thin and rubbery. The cheese seemed cold and I had a hard time cutting it, even with my knife. I got two (2) asparagus, pretty skimpy if you ask me. And 3 tiny little potatoes. My boyfriend got the baked stuffed pork loin. It seemed to be cooked alright, barely stuffed though and kind of flavorless. His mashed potatoes were very good and he got a whopping three (3) asparagus. For the price, definitely not worth it. I think the only way I would go back is if I sat outside and had apps or maybe at the bar. It was a nice idea...but I was surprisingly disappointed.
(2)
William L.

Maybe between its location, the constant adds during Phantom Gourmet, and the price my expectations were inflated. The valet was slow, disorganized and unfriendly. Our server was attentive but I felt a bit like I was buying a used car. The food was average Italian and certainly doesn't stand up to other restaurants in the price range. Our antipasto was tasty, our calamari was lackluster and a bit overcooked. The lobster ravioli were flavorful and stuffed with lobster, they looked like they had been made by a child though. The sauce was OK and wouldn't make the top ten the neighborhood across the harbor. The sea bass special was cooked well, but was to be served with "roasted cherry tomato's" I got three along with an equally anemic serving of bland mashed potatoes. With desert I requested some port, and was offered a choice of only three fairly run of the mill varieties. For a restaurant who's wine list reads like the Odyssey I guess I expected more. I guess that was the overall experience I had at Strega Waterfront, I expected more. If you're looking to be treated "like a celebrity" as Nick Varano says go to a Boston staple or one of the up and coming Cambridge Restaurants. If you want something from Nick Varano go to his sandwich shop on the corner of the North End. Its Great.
(2)
Bess M.

I went to Strega on Thanksgiving and I felt right as I walked in the door they rolled out the red carpet for me and my family. Not only was the food fabulous but the service was EXCELLENT!
(5)
Jeff S.

Good food, a little overpriced. Very nice decor. Overall a good experience if you can get beyond the constant shameless self promotion.
(3)
Elyse H.

I was actually very excited to go to Strega having heard such a buzz about the place. Unfortunately my husband and I were both very disappointed. The decor is really lovely , exciting and located beautifully by the water. Our server Anthony was friendly, welcoming and informative. The food however was completely average and at that price point I would expect a lot better. The meatball appetizer was excellent as was the bread and olive oil. Calamari was cold and somewhat flavorless. The Vongole pasta was filled with clams in the shell but so bland in a basic broth that had little or no flavor and the portion size was very tiny with little pasta to be had. The gnocchi was chewy ,dry and under seasoned. It took about 50 minutes for our entrees to arrive after the pasta and by the time they did they were pretty cold. I had the surf and turf special, a stuffed lobster tail and a petite filet. The filet had very little flavor and the lobster tail was cold and just ok. My husbands veal chop had the same issue of blandness. There is a definite under seasoning trend at this restaurant. My sister in law did enjoy her lamb. Dessert: The chocolate cake was very dry and the cannoli was very good. It's a packed restaurant, a happening place with a great setting and design. I wouldn't go there for a food experience though. I personally have had much more flavorful and better prepared food at too many other Boston restaurants to visit this one again. The bill for three of us with only one glass of wine was 348.00.
(2)
Jo B.

Wow, I love this place! Went here to celebrate a special occasion and was not disappointed. The atmosphere was my favorite thing. it's right near the water, so if you sit by the window you will have a great view. It's not actually "on" the water, but still a great view nonetheless. Even if you don't get a table next to the window, the atmosphere is fabulous because of the high ceilings/windows. It just feels really open and the overall vibe is energetic. If you're looking for a quiet and cozy romantic type of place, then this not for you, but it's a great place for a fun date or to meet up with friends. The food was amazing too. I got the veal fagottino which was one of the best veal dishes I've ever had. I highly recommend it. The drinks from the bar were good, not watered down and not too stiff. The bar is a really cool area to hang out at. It was packed when we got there but we managed to get a seat where we waited for our table to be ready. I was, however, disappointed that they did not have crushed mint for mojitos. Our waiter (small stature older gentlemen) was good but was definitely sporting a fake Italian accent. Someone else mentioned this in their review as well. Very. Bizarre. Also, he said he knew about wines, but seemed to struggle when we asked him for a good Chardonnay $60 or less. Not surprisingly the wine he ended up recommending was not great. I wasn't sure what to wear because the attire on yelp says "dressy" but people were generally dressed "upscale casual". I would recommend something like nice jeans/slacks and collared shirt for guys and maybe a cute dress and heels for the ladies (although nice pants or a skirt with a cute top would be fine too). One more thing, the valet parking is free. Yes, I said FREE. In Boston. Unheard of. Was so excited about this that I left a very generous tip.
(5)
Nicole L.

My husband and I had reservation on Nov 26th to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. We were warmly welcome as soon as we arrived and were seated promptly. We then met out waiter, I would tell you his name but he never told us nor did he ever make eye contact with either of us. The appetizers, main dishes and desserts were great. Drinks were definitely tiny for the value..couple sips and you need a new one. It was very annoying that we had to find our waiter each time we wanted a new drink or if we needed anything. We will go back but I will never sit in this guys section again, he simply did not have the time of day for us.
(4)
Rob T.

Well, location was nice. However the waiter overstepped himself trying to oversell a more expensive surf and turf meal to a lady in my party. He was not successful. Food was good...not great. I expect great when I pay $43 for a veal chop. Accompaniments on the plate were lame. With so many great choices I do not think I will be back here.
(2)
Tess C.

Lack of views from the dining areas. You would think a restaurant on the waterfront would feature decent views, but the "patio" dining is just along the street and the dining rooms give you a glimpse of some water at best. The vibe here was really somber--maybe an effort to be formal? Server was quite pleasant. Boring menu and be warned: raw bar is whimsically unavailable at times. I can't see why this would be a great Italian choice especially given the superior and numerous alternatives in Boston.
(2)
anna M.

This really must be a case of the emperor has no clothes. Last night was my first and last time at Strega. The location is great but I look for more than valet parking in a restaurant. Our server was great and funny but the food was terrible. We took a look at the wine list and a 75% markup on wine is a little ridiculous. We split a house salad which was a nice size just arugula, grapefruit, parmesan, and walnuts. Nothing remarkable. Another staff member tried twice to bring out our entrees while we were still eating the salad. The entrees were absolutely terrible. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to the fact that the entrees sat under the lamps for a while until we finished the salad but I don't think that is the case. We had the linguine which was too thick, served with canned asparagus and overcooked shrimp and the sauce was completely bland. The Casarecci was slightly better but that's not a high standard. The past was too soft and the tomato sauce was completely bland. No flavor whatsoever: no salt, no garlic, nothing. The eggplant was cooked well but not well enough to save this dish. The attire of the female employees was revolting. A woman came and spoke to the table next to us and her dress was so short that her bum was almost completely exposed. I was horrified to later see her behind the bar. Besides not being larger than dinner napkins, the dress was backless- not appropriate for a restaurant or a bartender. We will not be back.
(1)
Rob N.

I have mixed feelings about Strega Waterfront. First off, the name implies that the restaurant is located on the water, bit it's actually in the middle of a parking lot at One Marina Drive. The inside is a little more modern than I expected, but the architecture fits the building it's in. We had reservations for 8:15 the Friday after Thanksgiving, and could have been seated immediately (they had plenty of open tables) but we decided to get a drink at the bar. 2 cosmos, 2 glasses of wine $45. My wife and I had the clams / mussels as an app, and it was pretty decent. The seafood was cooked perfectly, and the sauce had just enough spice. For the main course, I got the lobster Fri diablo which was awful. The lobster was perfectly cooled and placed over a bed of angel hair, but it was sitting in a sauce that had the consistency and taste of water... My wife had the papadali pasta in a mushroom cream sauce which was pretty good. Our friends had the Gnocchi and the mushroom risotto, and they both seemed to like theirs as well. The waiter was helpful with the menu, and I guess I had too much confidence in my order to ask his opinion.... The entire bill was $300 for 4 people, and I would go back but would definitely order something different.
(4)
Hilary D.

Wine list is superb. Service is above average for Boston. Staff are down to earth. View is amazing.
(4)
Michelle M.

Service was amazing, wine was amazing, food was amazing. All-around GREAT dining experience. !!!
(5)
KT K.

This was one of the better dinners I've had in Boston in a while, I was really impressed. The service was top-notch, absolutely couldn't have asked for better service. Polite, professional, smiling, pleasant, happy staff--from the hostess to the waitstaff. Water glasses always filled, generous with the fresh bread with olive oil and olives, quick with taking our drink orders... They made everything very easy. The staff was always nearby and alert, but they didn't hover. For apps we got the calamari, eggplant rolatini, and something like a caprese salad but it was on a bed of proscuitto and the cheese was a blend of mozzarella AND ricotta which was absolutely DELICIOUS, very flavorful. The eggplant rolatini was the best I've ever gotten at a restaurant. I think eggplant can always go wrong very quickly, but this melted in my mouth. Two of us got the lobster-tail and filet, one got the roasted haddock, and I got the gnocchi. All of it was great, the steaks came out cooked exactly as requested, very generous portions. For dessert--chocolate cake which my friends said was good, nothing special. Ricotta pie which my husb raved about, and I got the cannoli which I loved but at first I was taken aback because it tasted pretty lemony whch I didn't expect, but I got used to it and enjoyed it. The cannoli shell was tasty (I think sometimes they're kinda bad). Overall--a great experience. I would definitely go back. I didn't give it 5 stars because I save that for places that I think are mind-blowingly great, and I only got the gnocchi. :) The menu is a tiny bit limited if you aren't a seafood person, like me.
(4)
LeAnn H.

a few girlfriends and i visited here a couple weeks ago for a birthday dinner. my expectations, like other reviewers have mentioned, were on the high side and it certianly delivered an enjoyable experience. not only was the food excellent, but our server allowed us to be creative and accomodated our party's varying tastes with dishes that weren't even on the menu. his attitude was "if we have the ingredients, we can make it". there were no issues with subbing out certain seafoods or other proteins, changing the sauces, etc. definitely earns you, Strega, some points. the setting is great - beautiful location on the waterfront and definitely feels less crowded/tight than its north-end location. the decor is trendy and modern - again, what you'd expect. however the classier aspect is somewhat tainted by the obnoxious number of tvs throughout the place. if i wanted to catch every baseball game being televised that night, we would have gone to jerry remys. minus half a star. the service was attentive throughout. as mentioned above, he was great with the menu and offered decent wine recommendations. another server approached our table at one point, noting that our server had stepped out back for a moment, but he wanted to check on us. it was an appropriate level of service - not overbearing, but they also made sure no one disappeared on us for half an hour. the bill was also decent for what we ordered. again, dont come here looking for tavern prices (or tavern quality). that being said, we had mentioned it was a birthday and asked about any desserts/candle type situations we could create. our server brought a lit piece of cake AND a round of shots for the table. again, awesome. but not so awesome that we were charged for the shots we didn't ask for. minus another half a star.
(4)
Jacky N.

After reading all the rave reviews here, my fiance and I tried it out today. The ambience, as has been pointed out by many, is truly over the top. Not to worry, we decided to sit outside and enjoy a nice summer day. The food was o.k but nothing to write home about. I had a sea-bass special which was good, no complaints. My fiance had the chicken milanese, again just o.k, nothing special. We must have had bad luck as our server (a) failed to offer us the restaurant week menu (b) took our dessert orders without asking if we wanted tea/coffee and promptly took off and (c) brought me green tea when I finally managed to order an earl grey. His level of interest in use decreased exponentially as our meal came to a close. I don't think we'll return, there isn't anything special about this spot except it is by the waterfront. We also noticed a lot of foot traffic by our table as non-diners were actually using the outside seating area as a short cut from the waterfront and out onto the street. Not worth it. Overall disappointed.
(3)
Douglyss G.

I held a company dinner event at Strega Waterfront, and they did a fantastic job. The staff was incredibly professional from planning through dessert. The space is beautiful. The event planner was on-site for the event and made sure everything went smoothly. And the food was simply awesome. My guests left full and extremely happy. I couldn't be more pleased.
(5)
Cole L.

I loved Strega Waterfront! We went for late night cocktails so I cannot comment on the food other than the amazing bread basket. It was delicious and fresh even at the end of the night and the olive oil with olives was a tasty compliment. We only ordered 2 drinks and right away she asked if we wanted some bread even though we weren't there for a meal. The strawberry cocktail was very good! I cannot wait to go back to have some food and enjoy the atmosphere. It was classy and really comfortable with the fire.
(5)
Robert M.

Loved the food, loved the atmosphere, loved the service, loved everything. Just go.
(5)
Nancy K.

Just came home from an phenomenal dinner at Strega's on the Waterfront. From the time we walked in to the time we were seated and served we had nothing but topnotch service and personalized attention not to mention the outstanding food. The burratta unbelievably rich and smooth, Strega salad refreshing to the palate, my veal chop perfection and my husband's frutta di mare was a picture not to mention the full dish of lobster, shrimp, scallops, etc. in a broth that was to die for. Everything was seasoned to perfection and I guess I can say that about all of the staff - experienced and so genuinely concerned about their customers. Would go back over and over and will bring all of our friends. Thank you, Strega, for an incredible evening. Kudos to all of you there for making your customers feel special and treating them as one would treat family. Grazie mille. Nancy
(5)
Pam F.

Went to Strega for my 30th birthday. Could have gone anywhere in the City, and unfortunately picked Strega. The two person table was squished in the middle of the room, felt like a sardine from the beginning. The calamari and Caesar salad were pretty good. I ordered the Lobster Fra Diavalo for dinner (Lobster with pasta and spicy red sauce). Most places serve the lobster already out of the shell and in the pasta, and if not the lobster is steamed and on the side. But Strega thought they would try something different. They served this entrÃ©e with the lobster still in the shell, on top of the pasta, COVERED IN MARINARA SAUCE. As you can imagine, this makes it a little impossible to enjoy. At first, I asked the waiter how I was supposed to eat this. He looked at the table, said "sorry", and came back with a lobster cracker. I tried to crack it, of course getting sauce everywhere, because it was impossible not to. The next time he came back, he brought me a moist white napkin. I continued to try to free the lobster from the marinara sauce covered shell, until it went all over my clothes and onto the floor. The waiter sent the manager over, who did not understand how ridiculous this was. No one asked if I would like something else. I had about a bite of food, on my birthday, and their response was to bring over a free dessert. Wow, thanks. This was the absolute worst experience of my life ruined my birthday, and no one seemed to care. They are just about packing the restaurant to make as much money as possible, service and food quality are not on their mind. Go somewhere else.
(1)
Sarah R.

Came here on a Wed night at 6:30 for three of us. Got seated right away with our reservation. Bread and oil were ok, nothing special. The waiter/waitress combo that were serving us seemed incredible disinterested, almost to the point of brushing us off when we had a question. The guy who filled our water glasses was friendlier. Didn't order any apps, all three of us just ordered an entree. Took a damn HOUR to get our food. Are you kidding me?! Ridiculous. Not like we custom ordered, or ordered any of the specials. And when we told both our waiter and waitress how we were upset that the food took so long, they both shrugged their shoulders, like woops. So disrespectful. The food itself was just ok. The chicken with spinach, prosciutto, and fontina was something I could have made better myself at home. The papardelle with meat ragu was ok, but I had some fatty cartilage pieces which totally ruined it for me. After all three of us complained enough about it taking over an hour and not even coming out hot, they gave us two free desserts to go. Big deal. They honestly didn't seem in the least big apologetic. It seemed more like "oh well, they complained, so this is what we are supposed to do" accompanied by an eye roll. Don't see myself ever coming back here.
(2)
Lien N.

Very romantic upscale part of Waterfront. Having traveled here for business a few times, I made sure to make time to go for my favorite Italian dish served here : Strega Shrimp & Scallop Fettucine! The pasta is made perfect to order and the cream sauce is amazing. Very flavorful, the right amount of saltiness. I usually can't get enough so I would order the dinner portion. However I did order it for brunch before and they offer"half-size" dish. Still stuffed me for half the price. Happy girl here.
(5)
Jay P.

Strega Waterfront was spectacular. Made 930 reservations because that was only available on opentable, called to see if there was any earlier, host immediatly bumped it to 9 with no problem. We arrived early and they verified my reservation in seconds, no "hmm let me see" it was like they were waiting for us. They said they were running ahead and said we could sit early or have a drink, our choice. We said we would have a drink and when it was almost gone the hostess came over and sat us. The food was great, both of us had homemade pasta dishes and they were great. We come from an area with no shortage of authentic Italian and Strega is right there. The Maitre'd Phil was great, what a nice nice guy, stopping by to chat once or twice, found out it was our anniversary and came back with a couple of after dinner drinks, and some advice on where to go later. Great asset to Strega. Keep in mind this is a Sat night and this place was jammed but we still received excellent attention you would expect from a high end place. Great place to enjoy a special occasion. We will be back.
(5)
jamie c.

We have been to Strega on the Waterfront about 5 times since they opened and have always enjoyed it, yet this weekend we had a different experience. I had planned a special night to treat my boyfriend with dinner and drinks to celebrate a commercial building purchase he made. We had a great time and 45 minutes before it was time to leave we asked Strega to call a cab, yet over an hour later, were still waiting! We inquired three times about the cab, and even approached the owner. He was rude and threw up his hands saying "what do you want me to do?!?!". Well they should have thought this through at the opening and made arrangements with the cab companies to be there w/e nights starting at 9pm so their customers could get home safely.
(2)
Alicia G.

Went here for dinner during our honeymoon vacation. It is a little more upscale than we usually go for, but we figured, what the hell. We made a reservation through OpenTable and were seated right away. The table we got seated at was TINY and right in the path of the waitstaff so it was actually really hard to read the menu without either elbowing a waiter or knocking stuff over on the table. We got the Caprese for an appetizer, which was very delicious. My husband got the Lobster Aragosta (lobster ravioli), which was a little bland. His actual assesment was "meh." I got the Tortelloni Alla Panna (cheese ravioli with ham in a cream sauce). It was pretty good, but not great. Definitely very heavy so it was good that the portions were a bit smaller. Our waiter, Michael, was very nice, attentive, receptive to our questions and made some helpful suggestions. It is definitely not a romantic restaurant. It was practically overflowing with what appeared to be business meetings and there was a wall that just played My Blue Heaven, Goodfellas, Get Shorty and some Tony Curtis movie on a loop. Overall: good, but not great. Honestly, for the prices, I expected the food and drink to be quite a bit better and I wouldn't recommend for couples on date night.
(3)
Deborah F.

absolutely great food and service but ohhhhh so noisey! not a place for a quiet dinner! Wonderful wine list
(4)
Ashley P.

This place was amazing! From the service, to the ambiance and the food everything was just great. The tables are a little close together a la every Boston restaurant, but what are you going to do. First of all, there is free valet parking which immediately put me in a better mood. Our server was great, and it was nice to not only have the waiter but also multiple bus boys who made sure our drinks/bread/plates were always kept fresh. We had the caprese salad and calamari to start (delicious!) and I had the sausage and mushroom risotto. Now let me tell you, this was some of the best risotto I have ever had. My boyfriend got the seafood risotto, which was good but a bit too spicy for me but he loved it. We definitely debated doing the full Italian dinner with the pasta course and the meat course, but we were just too full to even finish the risottos. We got a cannoli for dessert and the waiter put an extra one on since it was my birthday. We had a really great time here and I can't wait to go back! But keep this in mind - definitely make a reservation.
(5)
Ryan A.

On Monday night, we came here for restaurant week. We kept seeing commercials for Strega on TV so we took it as a sign that we should try something new. The location is absolutely beautiful. It was a nice night so we decided to sit outside and we could see the water from our table. I absolutely love the smell whenever you're near a large body of water so needless to say, it was a great start to the meal. The waiter was very nice and greeted us immediately with menus. As a side note, you have to request the restaurant week menu so we did and proceeded to order a few drinks. My only complaint was the speed of service. We arrived right when they opened and were the only customers there so the drinks come out right away. But as it slowly became more crowded, the speed of the service slowed down quite a bit. Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the beet salad, the stuffed pork and the tiramisu (which was the star of the show). I also stole a few bites of the seafood risotto which was really good. Outstanding atmosphere, great food but the service should have been faster. Regardless, I'd recommend you check this place out if you're in the area.
(4)
D S.

Looking for date night with the lady in Boston this is your place . Or in the mood for some Italian and on your own come here sit at the bar eat admire the beautiful bartenders. I had the lobster rage and an bottle of Allagash . Both worth the purchase.
(4)
Maria C.

Very nice elegant restaurant, the staff and customer service is outstanding and very attentive. My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari for appetizer with Neiomi wine and lobster ravioli. Everything was delicious and tasty. It's kind of pricey but worth the cash and experience.
(4)
Deanna C.

My boyfriend and I are frequent patrons of Strega Prime in Woburn, so it should go without saying that up until this point we have enjoyed the Strega brand. Upon learning that all of the Strega restaurants would be participating in restaurant week we thought it presented a wonderful opportunity to try one of the other Strega locations in Boston; we decided on Strega Waterfront. We were pleasantly greeted by the hosts upon our arrival. We were seated on the patio without delay. When our waiter finally made his way over to our table we were not informed of the evening's regular or restaurant week specials; he simply asked if we would like to place a drink order. Not having been given a restaurant week menu I asked him if this was in fact restaurant week. He curtly responded "Yeah I'll get you a menu." He returned with only one menu for the two of us. At this point we noticed that other tables sat around the same time as us had been given a basket of bread and olive oil for dipping. We assumed that this would be coming shortly, but it never did. Two other couples were sat in our section after we placed our order. Our waiter greeted each of these tables, informed them of the daily and restaurant week specials; something he did not do with us. These tables were also given bread and olive oil as well. Not once were we asked how any of the food was. He was absent for the majority of the meal which is inexcusable. This was earlier in the evening and the restaurant was rather slow. Our waiter disappeared again after dropping off the bill. Another waiter that noticed our plates hadn't been cleared and the bill hadn't been picked up came over and asked us if he could take our plates and the check. Needless to say we don't plan on returning to this location. Service can make or break a dining experience. This was extremely disappointing to the both of us because this experience was the polar opposite of all the wonderful experiences we have had at Strega Prime in Woburn.
(2)
Julianne S.

Great atmosphere, great service. The food, however, was just okay. For the prices that Strega charges, I feel like the food should be more on par with other places in the Seaport. No doubt fresh, but it was missing a little something. They have an intimidatingly expansive wine list--I'm talking karaoke book sized-- so you're bound to find something you like. We sat outside on a Friday night for a late dinner and the weather was perfect. I would recommend making a reservation.
(3)
Harold L.

I recently had a birthday dinner here for my fiancÃ©'s 40th. The food was great and the atmosphere was electric that evening. It's a great spot to have dinner but I really don't think the price equated to the food quality, but the service we had was second to none. I've never had better. I'll be sure to try it again just because of the attentiveness of the team of servers we had.
(4)
M Y.

This place was awesome. The atmosphere, the food, everything was just well done. The food portions were tremendous, enough to feed a sizable group. I had the Filet Mignon (Medium) and it was fantastic, smooth texture, very juicy and flavor was very good. Just because I liked to eat, I ordered the Short Ribs to go, WOW, Just WOW. I liked ribs but this place made me love them. They were tender and juicy and just a great late night snack. :-) I would definitely recommend this place for a date, company gathering or just friends and family. A great staff and an excellent chef.
(4)
Elfego S.

So for our 5 year anniversary we had to try a nice place since we weren't celebrating to much this year. Good thing it was restaurant week this week which made it even better and cheaper. So I made a reservation online, hard part is trying to find parking but that's nothing on the restaurant. So when your table is read they send you a text, they say is right at 10. Nice booth table close to the windows, we ordered what was available per the restaurant week menu. There was almost nothing wrong with the food, just over all amazing. The staff was awesome they attend to you on a constant basis. Our waiter was fast and super nice, my wife asked him what kind of wine to pair her food with. He choose something really good, they just know there craft in this place. Definitely a place to experience.
(5)
Kim S.

I went here for a business dinner with a group of 10. We started off with drinks at the bar. All the bartenders and cocktail waitresses are beautiful and friendly. Throughout the bar, there were complimentary passed Hors d'oeuvres that included shrimp cocktail, scallops and bruschetta. All were very good. We were promptly seated for our reservation. There were a few other parties going on at the restaurant and space is tight. The coat check was located in an odd area in a makeshift rack by the bathrooms. It was a bit difficult maneuvering through the patrons of the party that spilled out from their private room into the main dining area. Service was great. We knew our server from another steakhouse as well as Fiore in the north end. He was wonderful and eager to please. The wine kept flowing and he made sure not one wine glass was every empty. I loved it! The fried seafood and balsamic appetizer was great. I didn't see any scallops but the calamari and baby shrimp was plentiful. The burrata (fresh buffalo mozzarella) was creamy and delicious. Everyone was a fan of the Rosetta's famous meatballs. Each meatball was HUGE and could be cut up into 5-6 pieces to share. It was tender and moist. The rollantini di nico was also very good. I was disappointed that we only got one order for a table of 10 but the morsel I had was great! For dinner, I tried the rib eye and filet bolognese. The rib eye was perfect but I have to admit I was expecting spaghetti pasta for the bolognese. It was good but not what I expected. For dessert, we split a cheesecake, chocolate cake and a canolli along with some chocolate gelato. All were great but nothing to write home about. They were comparable to other desserts in other restaurants of its stature but nothing left me mesmerized. I would come here again for a special occasion or for a business dinner. It's a bit on the pricey side for just a regular date night after all the drinks and food are said and done. Parking is a bit tough and we had to valet our car.
(4)
Joe N.

Just ok - I was looking for WOW !!! Nice atmosphere but staff seemed to be a little much for me, more interested in each other ! It seemed more about the look than the service and food ! Not impressed ...
(2)
Craig S.

Beautiful outdoor location. Excellent friendly knowledgeable service all around. The ariabata shrimp are amazing app wanted to lick the plate clean. Both entrees, Steak bolognaise and fisherman's soup (way too much of every shellfish so they can charge $52), while very good quality ingredients, were inexcusably bland and overpriced. Wish I could give 3.5 as the other areas of the place almost make up for the really bad entrees. Almost.
(3)
Reeba M.

Strega not all it's cracked up to be! Don't waste your time or money here. Probably the worst dining experience I've ever had! From the food to the service and the view was not at all what you expect from such a fancy looking place. The service was horrible our waiter barely spoke to us came around once in a blue moon to check on us. Never asked how the food was (which was bland and not worth the calories). I think they may have only given attention to the "high rollers" at the restaurant that night and couldn't be bothered with the normal folk who were out trying to enjoy a nice night. After leaving here I went out a had some pizza which was much better that the baked cod I had for dinner (which tasted like something out of the frozen food section of the grocery store). Please do yourself a favor and find another place to go!
(1)
Mahee F.

Some of the best italian food in Boston in a great location with an incredible view
(5)
Carolyn A.

I have written a pretty long review voicing my dissatisfaction with the treatment I received in this establishment, at a time when I was the only African American customer at the time. I felt targeted and disrespected with the aggression of a bartender named Silvio. This was not a pleasant experience and I will never support such an establishment. Please continue reading... Sunday, as the Patriots took home the win, my friends and I hit the town to celebrate our victory. We decided to try a quaint little restaurant in Seaport called, Strega's. Upon our entry, there were few customers at the bar, so we made our way to the vacant seats. With my cellphone battery low, I noticed a charger coming from the bar area. I politely explained to the women next to me that my charge was low on my phone, and asked if I would be able to borrow her charger for a moment when she was finished. Clearly agitated by personal issues, the woman expressed that the charger belonged to the bartender. Instead of handing me the charger, she then rudely threw the charger connection port in my direction. Although I took notice of her agitation, I kept in mind that fact that she was arguing on the phone before I sat down, so I kindly said thank you and continued to enjoy my time with friends. A few moments later, as we were waiting to be helped by the bartender, Silvio, so when he neared our direction I asked if we could place an order. The woman next to me chimed in, saying that it was very busy. Apparently we must not have been at the same bar, because the whole section where my six friends and I were seated was empty until we arrived. When the bartender finally made it to our section, I placed my order, passed him my card and asked to keep my tab open. The bartender returned with my bill inside of a leather sleeve, against my request. I then reminded the bartender, Silvio, that I wanted to keep my tab open. Apparently this was the wrong request because Silvio proceeded to take the leather sleeve with my bill and aggressively pelt it into the trash with such force that it made an audible sound. Confused at his behavior and unprofessionalism, I continued to remain calm in a situation where I began to feel targeted. The woman next to me began probing me, and asking if I had ever been a server or waiter because my request was rude. After asking how my request was at all rude, being that an error was made on the bartender's part, when I replied that I had never been a waiter, she began to get agitated and increasingly disrespectful. This woman went on to make a scene by saying I think I am better than others since I've never been a server, calling me a "bitch", saying stereotypical phrases such as "bye Felicia", mentioning my "ghetto bamboo earrings" and referencing me as "girl". As her insults continued, I was confused at what could have caused such an escalation, and why the bartender hadn't intervened in her erratic behavior. I then remembered the charger belonged to the bartender so realized they must have known each other prior to that night. I also recalled the argument she had been having upon my entry into the bar and quickly realized her issues ran much deeper than a pair of earring I had been wearing. After ending the argument gracefully, with zero cursing or vulgarities on my part, the bartender took it upon himself to decide that I, solely, would not be served because he "didn't like what was going on". At no point had the other woman been held accountable for her classless behavior in such an establishment. The bartender proceeded to refuse to serve me and my six friends due to this incident, but continued to serve the other woman who was the aggressor. Being the only African American in the establishment at the time, it was clear that I was not welcomed and I felt as though I had been targeted. As I exited the establishment, the bartender, Silvio told me that I "have no class" and that he "is not going to allow a new comer to act this way". Not only had he taken sides in this situation, but he went on to insult me as not only a customer, but a new customer. He refused to serve seven customers total, and caused Strega's to miss out on sales., due to his pride and pompous attitude. I am disappointed at how this matter was handled, and I plan to share my story with all who will listen.
(1)
John P.

Make reservations now!!! This is the coolest restaurant in Boston. The ambiance is unmatched with class and style while quietly humming the "Goodfellas" vibe. The wine list and drinks are trendy and classic. The food ranges from Ossobucco to Gnocchi to Lobsters. If you have a significant occasion, special friends or important clients this is THE Place to go.
(5)
Nathan G.

I have eaten here a number of times. Food is always excellent. However, the staff are starting to develop a bit of an attitude. I think they are starting to think they are the local celebrities who dine there. Food great. Staff.... not so great "consistently".
(3)
Lam Ann H.

We celebrated our anniversary here on a visit to Beantown. The ambience was perfectly romantic. The service was fine .. The appetizers we ordered (avocado salad and calamari) were better than our main courses, the surf and turf & filet mignon. The main courses were fine - just nothing spectacular. We appreciated the complimentary anniversary dessert though! For a waterfront restaurant with high reviews here, we were expecting more.. The 15% yelp checkin offer was a plus. But still we left feeling something was amiss.
(3)
Whitney W.

Really delicious. Quality staff. Sit by the window for a beautiful view. Love the decor.
(4)
AmyLynn A.

Usually we love this place, but tonight it's not going so well. There are several loud 20/30 somethings that look pretty but are lacking class. Breaking glasses and yelling across the restaurant. The manager came over when we sat and rudely demanded my husband take his hat off. It's not a problem to do so but maybe a please, or a milder tone? Not to mention the meat heads in the corner wearing hats and tank tops. We've been here for over 30 minutes and have yet to get our two pasta dishes. It's an all around fail.
(2)
Ann K.

This is one of those cases where I wish I could give 3 1/2 stars. Strega Waterfront was not quite 4 stars but not really a 3 either. We got off to a slow start after we changed tables to accomodate a 5th person. I think perhaps the waiter did not realize we were his as it took some time for him to show up. Once he arrived, he took our wine order quickly but then disappeared again for quite some time before we ordered. After that, he was very attentive and things picked up speed. Each of us got an awesome appetizer with buratta cheese, fresh roma tomatoes and proscuitto. Very, very good. Our friends just got back from 4 years in Europe and said it was as good as any they had in Italy. For an entree, I had the risotto di mare. Nice fresh seafood but the rice kind of got lost in the shells of the mussels and clams. I say rice as it really was more rice than risotto. For dessert my husband got a cannoli that was really good. I chose the ricotta cheesecake which was good but not what I expected as a) the waiter said it had chocolate chips in in when in fact it had strawberry glaze on the top instead and b) it really tasted more like regular cheesecake than ricotta. When we got the bill we noticed the waiter had forgotten to add our second bottle of wine so we flagged him down to get that corrected. Stega is not cheap and if our friend's sharp eyes had not noticed the wine was missing, we wouldn't have noticed as the total was steep enough to make one thing it was in there! I'm a little biased as I live in Upstate NY where really good Italian food is very inexpensive but don't plan to go to Strega if you are on a budget!
(3)
Megan A.

We got the Strega salad for an appetizer, but I actually didn't think that the grapefruit went well with the arugula and parmesan - it was too much acid. I had lobster ravioli and he had seafood risotto for our main courses, and they were very good. The risotto especially had a good ratio of seafood to risotto and a range of seafood in the dish. It was a relatively busy Sunday night, but the waitstaff was attentive and helpful. I was disappointed with the atmosphere of Strega. One, it is right on the water, but the restaurant doesn't take advantage of that at all. Unless you are outside, you can't tell at all. Two, it's decorated and presented as a fancy restaurant, but there are Italian movies playing on six flat-screen TVs on the wall in the dining area, which was distracting and made me feel like I was in a bizarro sports bar. Three, as some others have mentioned, the tables are very close together. We were lucky to be seated by a pillar, but there was a table for two right up against ours, and two separate couples came, sat down at that table, and then switched tables because they were so close to us and the table on the other side.
(3)
Tina D.

Way too much going on with the decor in this place. The overdone design felt cluttered and overwhelming. T.V.'s everywhere! T.V.'s running the same tired mafia movies in a loop, with the exception of one, which was running an ad for the restaurant.... in a loop. Holy Vegas! Maybe that's what they were going for, but it took away from the experience for me. On the up-side food was good quality and tasty and the staff was warm and friendly.
(3)
Sheila B.

I come here all the time mostly for lunch but also for dinner. This place is next door to my office and I also am a VIP there, literally I have a card and i get a 15% discount for dining in :-). The lunch service is great especially when I have an hour or less. The menu is really good, with a few favorites:worth mentioning: 1) Frito misto, calamari, with shrimp and scallops in this delish balsamic reduction- scrumptious, served with these ginormous asparagus spears.. 2) Chilean sea bass- always cooked perfectly in a white wine reduction. 3) Pistachio and horse-radish crusted Salmon love this combination, it's divine 4) Arugula salad, with grapefruit, walnuts and parmigiana -ridiculously good, such a great combination, with a light olive oil dressing 5) Chicken Parmesan- I eat this once a month, it's huge, but when I am not counting calories, I love eating this it totally hits the spot 6) Desserts, all good- tiramisu, cannoli, chocolate ganache cake thing, and creme brulee 7) coffee- hot and iced is great, I get that at least 3x a week, must be illy or some other good Italian brand, This place is great, consistently good, and even all the celebs love it, It's like Boston's Raos.
(5)
Jenna L.

I tried this place for a work outing one day (since it's super close to my office) - it was still warm out so we got to sit outside on the patio, which was super nice. Most of us were under umbrellas, but for some reason only my face was in the sun so I had to lean in quite a bit to get under the shade. A little awkward but not really their fault. The food was decent, though I won't say it was outstanding. We had calamari to start, and I had the lobster ravioli. Pretty good, but again not out of this world. I guess expectations are set pretty high when you are able to see the water and are wanting super fresh, extraordinary seafood dishes. Will likely give it another try once the weather warms up again, but for the price I would say it's only a little better than average.
(3)
Sergio V.

I cannot believe all the 4 and 5 stars reviews here. The food is bland at best (the lemon chicken my girlfriend had looked like it was just popped out of a microwave after they heated the pasta that came on the side) and the crowd is very fake pretentious (lots of fake tans, glitter, skulls etc.) The location is indeed "it" and the service above average, but there are numerous other spots in Boston (even on the waterfront) that deserve one or two stars above Strega. The place is highly overrated and way too expensive for the quality of the food.
(2)
Cosmo X.

atmosphere, service and food was all good....just over priced and portions so so Or I'd give it a 5 star
(4)
Laurie G.

I had a delicious dinner at Strega but most importantly I was incredibly impressed by the staff. Our waiter was one of the best: extremely attentive and pleasant. But the whole staff really went out of their way when, after dinner, I couldn't find my car keys. They helped me search every where for them and told me that they would make sure I got home, even if it meant that one of them would drive me there (and I live a hour away from Strega)...That is AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE! I did find my keys, eventually, outside where I had absent mindedly put them on a bench! So, I certainly sing the praises of the staff: waiters and managers, at Strega.... Laurie Geary
(5)
Enay V.

Got there at 9 for our reservation but were told that if we wanted outdoor seating, we'd have to wait 15 minutes. A half hour later, we were finally seated. The restaurant was very flashy & reminded me of an Atlantic City casino. There were TVs in the bathroom which were kind of weird. The hostesses were dressed like they were going to a club (the shortest dresses I have ever seen) but were very friendly. The huge TV screens in the bar were more for show than for actual viewing as it was too crazy to focus on & way to bright. The restaurant was dressed like high class but oozed cheese from the staff. When we finally got our drink order in (an hour later - a half hour after being schmoozed by one of the staff). I didn't come there to make friends or chat with people like I was in some mob movie, I came there to eat and enjoy the view. The food was less than stellar - the only thing that saved the dinner was my father's steak (which came out 20 minutes after the rest of our food because they messed up the order)- he said it was the best he'd ever had. My gnocchi were waxy and the gravy on them was tasteless. Our waiter ignored us for most of the time we were there & instead, focused on the more extravagant diners & the owner of the restaurant. If you want to open a club, open a club. The decor (besides the huge TVs in the bar and the TVs in the bathroom) is great & the place could be a really nice establishment if image wasn't so important to the staff. Get the dishes 100% if you want to charge that amount. Drop the fake Italian accents, fix the outside tables so we don't have to use napkins to level them out, and try not to bump into me (almost sending me into the fiery infernos that heat the outside) while running to impress the owner. I'll stick to the North End for good food and better service, thanks. Bottom line: If i want to go to a club, I'll go to a club (not a restaurant disguised as a club) - If I want casino ambiance and wannabe mob men, I'll head back to Jersey and hit up the Borgata.
(2)
Pauleena M.

drinks were so expensive! If you plan to go, definitely go nicely dressed! I went very causal and felt out of place. Service was ok, not impressed. Busy that night so I am being rational. Didn't try food, maybe next time. I would go back some day..
(3)
Gordon O.

This is a stellar restaurant in a city that is gradually adding many fine eateries. Start with the FREE valet parking, add in some exquisite cocktails in a bar filled with exciting and good looking people. Then toss in a great view, comfortable tables not too close to one another and top flight service and you've got a good start. Then the food and wine, both of which are great. The wine list goes on and on, and the food we ordered was all excellent. After two apps, an antipasto and risotto dish it was all my wife and I could do to split a veal entree. We were there on a busy saturday night, stayed almost three hours and never felt rushed or pressured to turn the table. I sometimes think Yelp reviewers pan a restaurant to keep the crowds away. If I was that type of person I'd do that here, because I definitely want to go back soon!
(5)
Christine L.

This place is amazing. The location is great and the restaurant itself is so beautiful inside. The food is seriously phenomenal. I ordered shrimp and I can safely say I had no idea shrimp could taste like that. If you go here, you need to get the shrimp. To die for.
(5)
Adam F.

I was here for the first time on Friday for my girlfriend's birthday. It wasn't my first choice, since I'm a steakhouse guy, but I went along with it. Valet was a great value at only $10. I obviously tipped in addition to that. Pretty sure it's $20 at Empire which is next to Strega. I had a reservation through Open Table, but it wasn't packed so we could have walked in. Our server greeted us right away, was very polite, and took our drink order immediately. We ordered the Pappardella for a first course, which was phenomenal. If we come back, we will definitely get pasta dishes. There is nothing like homemade pasta. I also like how they serve it in 2 bowls, instead of family style. For entrees, she had the filet, which looked very small for $54; supposedly 10oz. I've been to every steak restaurant in Boston (including Strega Prime in Woburn), and for $50 you usually get a 12-14 oz cut. I had the steak and stuffed lobster tail for $68. My steak was supposedly 8oz, but was bigger than her 10oz cut. The lobster tail was okay. The meat was really tough. It was stuffed with scallops, which were also really tough. I know oven cooking seafood is difficult because you can easily overcook it, but for almost $70 I really wanted to be blown away. The steak was cooked the way I asked, but there was no seasoning. I cook filet at home all the time, and a little salt and pepper never hurt anyone. It was served with a plain brown gravy on the side, which added some much needed flavor. Also worth mentioning that it took 1 hour from the time we ordered, till the time we were served our entrees. We were seated at 9:00pm, and started eating our steaks at 10:15. We ended up being so stuffed from the pasta that we brought our steaks home. I ended up searing them with butter in a cast iron skillet, and they tasted better (no joke) the next morning as steak and eggs. In addition to our bottle of wine, we had a couple cocktails. I didn't try her's, but my "Boom Boom" tasted like a Jack and Ginger. It was supposed to be Bourbon, Ginger liquor, Mint, Simple Syrup, and Lemon juice. It made no mention of club soda, but it was carbonated. They didn't muddle the mint, so there was no mint flavor. In total, my bill was $310 including a 20% tip. For over $300, I really wanted to be blown away, and sadly I was not. It's by no means a bad restaurant, I just expected more. Since my girlfriend is part Italian, I will almost positively have to come back. Next time I will order one of their pasta dishes, and just stick to wine.
(3)
Nicole P.

Food is to die for and I made friends with the waiter Bruno, who is the sweetest! He's from Italy as well so it makes the food definitely seem authentic. Wish I could remember exactly what I got but whatever I tried on the table from our group was phenomenal!
(5)
Emily W.

Food, service, and view were meh, to gross. The meatball was the best thing that we ordered. The Risotto di mare was disgusting. The risotto was so over cooked that it didn't even taste like risotto, and the sauce tasted like it was out of the jar then watered down-barely any flavor. Good amount of seafood though. The tiramisu was inedible as they used insanely cheap alcohol in it (I'm assuming) because it burned your mouth when you ate it. The service was ridiculous. Only 2 servers for the entire outside patio, plus they had were responsible for indoor tables too. Our apps came out quickly, before our bottle of wine, then we waited almost 45 min for our (gross) entrees. The wine was great, but we won't be returning. Too many other delicious places to choose from on the waterfront-with actual views.
(2)
Jace F.

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhh. If I could give half stars (which we should really think about here, a 5-star rating system seems a bit too committal to me), Strega Waterfront would be a 2.5 star restaurant. From top to bottom, Strega Waterfront didn't really impress. The main dining room was a bit cluttered with wait staff squeezing past you every 5 seconds and giant prep tables hugging the wall for breads and water refills. The food was another let down. We started off strong with the meatball and antipasto platter; both which were very good. However, then it seemed as if seasoning was an afterthought in the entrees. From the ribeye steaks to the chicken with lemon sauce, to the bolognese --- Strega's needed a dose of seasoning to make these dishes really pop. The quality of the meats, pastas, vegetables (albeit severely under-cooked), etc. were all very good, but the flavors were bland at best. The wine list was vast and had a good selection of bottles to choose from. We opted not to have dessert. All in all, Strega Waterfront is a cache name and cache location with overpriced and under-flavored food. It wasn't BAD by any means, but definitely not good or worth the price tag. I would much rather hit up Capital Grille and find something a bit more consistent and flavorful.
(3)
Jenny G.

Our first & most likely last visit to Strega Waterfront: Let me preface this with we were late for our reservation. We were coming straight from the airport, and we thought for sure we would be able to arrive for dinner on time. About 30 min prior to our reservation time, we realized we would be late, so we called the restaurant to let them know/make sure we could still come in for dinner. We live north of Boston, and thought a romantic night out to Strega Waterfront was just what the doctor ordered since we had been away from each other all week. FYI: Siri didn't direct us properly using Maps on our iPhone. We were very lost, but knew we were in the right area, so we parked the car, and walked/asked people for directions. *MAKE SURE TO USE 56 Northern Ave*, not 1 Marina... Finally, we arrived. I almost felt like we were sat in the worst table in the restaurant on purpose, due to our 45 minute tardiness, but I didn't want to complain, as it was our fault, and we wanted to have a nice evening. Our table was in a small room, right next to a sliding door. The restaurant looked nice on the inside, but I thought there would be views of the harbor. This was one of the main reasons for picking something so far off our radar. By the way, It was very busy/ SO loud, my boyfriend and I had to shout at each other in order to hear. I'm not exaggerating at all. We were handed dinner menus immediately upon sitting. I'm surprised the hostess didn't pull out my chair, or put napkins on my lap. Luckily, my boyfriend does this for me wherever we go, so I don't think he took notice. The space for me to sit was not very big at all, and very cramped. We were NOT given wine lists, or cocktail lists. Busser asked if tap water was OK, and we said "No, we prefer sparkling water". This was brought to our table promptly, however we were a little surprised lemons or limes were not offered. I requested the wine menu, and was given a very attractive and extensive list-although some of the wine was noticbly VERY marked up. I chose the Super Tuscan, and my boyfriend ordered a vodka on the rocks with a splash of lemon-lime soda, no fruit. This may sound nit-picky, but his drink arrived with club soda instead of lemon-lime and it was garnished with a lime. I will compliment the bussing staff. Our water glasses were re-filled constantly. This was very attentive, and we appreciated it. Also, bread and oil with olives was brought to our table, and this was quite appetizing. Onto the meals: I ordered Beet Salad & Sea Bass. -Beet Salad was 'ok'. I've never had cheese presented this way, and the beets didn't taste fresh, but it was good. I wouldn't order it again, but didn't have anything specific to complain about other than I just didn't enjoy it 100%. -Sea Bass was cooked satisfactory, but the veggies were very undercooked. I like al dente, these were basically raw. I didn't eat much of my entree. As a matter of fact, I only ate about 20%. I was not asked if there was something wrong with it, if I enjoyed it. Boyfriend ordered Strega Salad and Short Rib. His salad was very underdressed. We had to flag down someone for extra dressing. Short Rib was tasty. We both would have liked some salt, but it was not on the table. Again, we could barely hear each other. I'm not sure if the acoustics in the room was poor, or its just the entire restaurant in general. I didn't see anyone in reviews mention how loud this restaurant was, so I am very curious why. The level of noise completely made our experience poor. Our waiter was polite, but we didn't see much of him, and didn't feel we had anything other than average service. He seemed very hectic/rushed. We ordered creme brÃ»lÃ©e. I ordered Banfi Rosa Regale for an after dinner drink, but the drink in my glass was not Rosa Regale. I drink this all the time, and I know the color and flavor. In my champagne glass was a dry rose, and actually good, but NOT what I ordered. Our bill was $200 pre-tip. We are frequent fine-diners, and just felt the experience was not worth the money or hype. We both walked out and asked each other how we liked it, and came to the same opinion. Food was good, and the bussers/front of staff support (the people all in black with long aprons) were on-point, but there are *plenty* of other places to get much better ambiance, service, and views. We never even saw the waterfront until we walked back to our car. We just flat out felt disappointed. Perhaps our experience was a fluke/and or due to our tardiness. Either way, we will not recommend to friends. We actually "wished" we had gone somewhere else. This isn't how anyone spending close to $250 on a night out should feel. $37 for parking. UGH. Not the restaurant's fault (I actually read that Valet is only $10)...it is what it is... BUT again the over all feeling was NOT WORTH IT.
(2)
Joelle K.

I had dinner at Strega last week with my husband and parents. I was able to make reservations through open table the day before. We had hoped to sit outside, but it was unfortunately just too hot. The restaurant is decorated very nicely and our table had a pretty view of the water. I can't remember the name of our server, but he was awesome throughout the entire meal. We started with the two appetizer specials, the balsamic calamari and meatballs. The calamari was a little odd with the balsamic flavor, but was cooked perfectly. I have no complaints about the meatballs. For dinner, my dad and I both had the costata ripiena and, my husband had the la fiorentina and my mom had the fettucini Strega. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. I would not hesitate to return to Strega.
(4)
Alec H.

Really enjoyed my dinner, with friends here. Beautiful place, staff very attentive and knowledgable. Pasta was very fresh and just the perfect texture, in my opinion. I had the pasta with mushrooms and Truffle Oil, and , seriously would have finished the entire bowl, but I did control myself as I am trying to watch my intake, but that just my issue :). The other dishes were equally as delicious and my party seemed to also very much enjoy the evening and the venue. Wine list was not overwhelming yet had a great variety. They do have a Sommelier, if you require one, I always enjoy speaking with someone knowelegable, and helps with the paring. I look forward to going back. Would have given 5 Stars but didn't love my Booth location a bit to close to the hostess Station.
(4)
O G.

** highly recommended to call in and make a reservation. good service, great food and elegant setting. i'm a fan
(4)
Tiffany L.

Absolutely incredible! The sea bass and scallops were to die for -- perfectly cooked and seasoned. Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp was also great. For dessert, you have to get the sorbet -- the pineapple and coconut sorbet come in pineapple/coconut shells. It's so cute! Service was great and the ambience inside is really nice; could work for either a business dinner or a date!
(5)
Gina-Marie M.

Always a good choice for dinner. Very solid atmosphere, lighting, music the staff is super friendly and the food is always good. The meatball is a MUST. I also recommend that spinach salad if you are looking for something lighter. The steak is amazing and pretty much everything on the menu is yummy. Great for a date night or a nice dinner with friends. Great seaport spot to check out!
(4)
Sarah B.

Came in at 2PM on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. They were serving the dinner menu already, but that was fine. I ordered the filet mignon, which was delicious! I ordered it medium and it was cooked perfectly. As a side I ordered plain broccoli, but it was so drenched in olive oil I couldn't eat it. My boyfriend enjoyed his meal of the ravioli aragosta. Enjoyable experience, in and out in under and hour. Wouldn't mind coming back!
(4)
Victoria S.

Always a solid win for dinner. The wine list here is absolutely impressive. I've eaten here many times over the years and have always received impeccable service and amazing food. Tiramisu = delicious There are a hand full of TVs in the restaurant that always play Italian movies on silent. I'm pretty sure that one of the Godfather movies is always playing on repeat.
(4)
Stephanie T.

I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, and I am definitely a fan. I couldn't decide between 2 pasta's for my dinner, and the waiter suggested I get a 1/2 order of each, best decision I made that night. Both pasta's were filling and delicious and it was great to get to sample both. The antipasta appetizer left a lot to be desired, I have had much better for much cheaper elsewhere. The service was great and I want to go back again soon so I can try out some of the desserts!
(4)
Adam B.

Really enjoyed dinner here the other night. It was not my first time at strega waterfront, so i guess they did enought to get me back!
(4)
Carrie Y.

I have to say I wasn't expecting much as I have heard mixed reviews about this place. After dinning here, I have to say I am quite pleased and would return. Any wine drinker would appreciate their wine list. Being a recent mover from SF, CA to Boston and seeing their extensive Napa wine selection I was impressed, and impressing someone who goes to Napa once a month is not easy. They have a good selection of years for each wine, possibly 5-10? Upon walking in and sitting at the bar waiting for my other party to arrive, I saw that they served Silver Oak by the bottle, which meant, this restaurant was already off to a good foot. The servers were all very attentive and the decor is very elegant. Perfect for a date or celebration or work dinner. Onto the food... - Ahi Tuna Carpaccio: I have never had Ahi Tuna served to me in a thick steak cut, perfection! The Seaweed salad was a nice touch on the bottom. Nice and light for a started. - Tegamino- MUST GET!!!!!! Not on the menu so you have to request it. Its a seafood mix of clams and muscles in a spicy tomato broth. This is to die for, I could eat 10 of these. - Ravioli Aragosta: This is a lobster pasta dish, a good amount of crab and lobster with just enough sauce. It's not as heavy as I was thinking so that's always a plus. Not a must have everytime, but would order if I was in the mood for a lobster pasta. - Gnocchi Sorentina- Get the red sauce with it. I had both- red sauce and pesto sauce (half and half). I liked the red better. Very heavy dish. - Bone in rib eye (special of the night)- I thought del frisco's rib eye was better, but it wasn't horrible. I would pass on this next time. No room for dessert... I also had a glass of silver oak and a few of the house martinis (must get). And a cup of mint tea.... It really depends on what you order when going into a restaurant. But I believe the total was $400 for 2 (drinks + food). Over all, great service and I will most definitely be returning sometime in the future. The best part was the wine list and sea food app :) Cheers!
(4)
A M.

Came here second time with a group of friends and still found this place to be hip and upscale with the sophisticated touch. Decor is great which is a reason that made me to come back. We shared all the food and it was incredible. Here is what we had: 1)Rollatini Di Nico - I have to admit that I absolutely love eggplant in any form which is the reason why this dish is the first on the list. And it was amazing! 2) Shrimp Arrabiata - surprisingly great! Red tomato sauce was slightly spicy which made the dish quite interesting and different. 3) Crab Avocado Salad - simple yet delicious fresh salad. 4) Seared Sea Bass - perfectly cooked. 5) Braised Short Ribs - excellent and tender. That's all!
(5)
Christine N.

I came here with some girlfriends for dinner during restaurant week. We were seated promptly and given the regular dinner menu so we had to ask for the special menu. Not really sure what was up with that but we actually ended up ordering off the regular menu anyways. We got the meatballs and while it was a good meatball, I was confused why it said meatballs (plural) if it only comes as one. I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was good. Rich and creamy and loaded with lobster. My girlfriend got the cheese tortellini and she loved it. My desserts were ok. Average at best. I had the tiramisu and it came out like a slice of cake. It wasn't as sweet as I would normally like it but it wasn't awful. The creme brÃ»lÃ©e however, was terrible. I know, how can someone mess up a creme brÃ»lÃ©e? Well, they burned the sugar coating where it was so bitter I couldn't eat anymore. We let our waitress know and she said that's how creme brÃ»lÃ©es are supposed to be. Not sure where she's been eating her creme brÃ»lÃ©es but no way Jose girlfriend. So she returns with another creme brÃ»lÃ©e with no color and said "since you didn't like it the way it was, I just heated it just so the sugar would melt." Alright.. That's not what a creme brÃ»lÃ©e is but I couldn't make her take it back without risk of spit in my next creme brÃ»lÃ©e. All in all, it's ok. Would I go back? Probably not.
(3)
Beth T.

Never disappointing. Had dinner with friends everything from service to food and drinks were perfect.
(5)
Hara W.

I'd always been turned off by the celebrity-pushing nature of Strega (its front entrance is choking with gratuitous 'celebrity' photos), assuming it was more oriented towards style than substance. And that's about right. The location is hard to get to due to current construction and parking is difficult, but it's a short walk from the Courthouse T stop. The setting is beautiful along the water (and will be better once construction sites become buildings) and it's a good place to hang on a summer night. I went during the Boston Dine Out week. Our table sampled apps (beets, meatball, and a roll up), entrees (veal and porchetta), dessert (cannolis and tiramisu - dry and bland). Overall the food was fine but for those prices I downgrade that to a solid meh. My point of comparisons are that the hubs' family is half-Italian, I've traveled through Italy, and enjoyed hidden gems in the North End, Little Italy, North Beach. Service was quite attentive and professional but food delivery super slow, which is unusual since Restaurant/Dine out week revolves around limited menus. Drinks were pricey ($15/pop). So yeah, expect okay food (it's neither inventive nor incredibly delicious), people more into experiencing the scene than the meal, and higher than merited prices. More sizzle than steak.
(2)
Liza R.

I absolutely love this place! Food is always consistently good, service has been great and the atmosphere is awesome. I've been here with and without reservations and found the wait times to be fair. Drinks can be a little on the strong side, but hey I'm not complaining! Strega will continue to be my go to restaurant on the waterfront.
(5)
Casey H.

Beautiful atmosphere. You are right on the water front, if you care about this in winter.. The interior is nice. Not spectacular, speaking as an architect. The food is good. Not beyond good, especially considering the price. The lobster mac & cheese was delicious, so was the short rib. The tiramisu was mediocre at best. Not impressed with dessert at all. Drinks were enjoyable if you can afford 14$ Martini and nigroninis. I'd say there are better places to spend your cash with a nicer atmosphere.
(3)
Christine D.

Eating at Strega Waterfront was totally wonderful. The ambiance is quietly elegant and the greeting at the door is so very welcoming. Considering it was a Tuesday evening, the restaurant was extremely busy with every table taken throughout our almost three hour dining experience. Management personnel were continuously available circulating throughout the dining room to check on diners at each table. Assistant General Manager Rachel stopped by several times. Smiles and pleasantries were abundant. And, now for a very important part of the evening: the delectable food and drinks. The wine list is absolutely phenomenal! My husband enjoyed his Cabernet and I was thrilled with the Red Sangria, a rich fruity drink. Drinks were accompanied by a basket of olive and Italian bread in addition to a dish of assorted olives in oil making us both smile. But then, the mouthwatering appetizers arrived, the burrata, consisting of tender prosciutto, creamy buffalo mozzarella and juicy sliced tomatoes, as well as the Meatball with ricotta - both scrumptious! Our smiles for the night then became even more heavenly! Just the right amount of time elapsed before our two palate-pleasing entrees arrived. The Pappardelle Emiliana's rich bolognese dish and the braised short rib were excellent entree choices which my husband and I decided to share. Our very pleasant waiter was a great listener and as a result, my request for well-cooked vegetables rather than pasta to accompany the short rib was heeded. He also made sure that we were not rushed but was always there to check in on us. The finale deserved a drum roll: refreshing sorbet served in the actual fruit's shell, one pineapple and one lemon - absolutely luscious! Kudos to the owner of this fine establishment. Management, chefs and waitstaff definitely deserve accolades for lovely presentation, appetizing dishes and attention to their patrons! Thank you for an extraordinary dining adventure!!!
(5)
Samantha R.

I've been here in the past with my family and we all thought the food and service was great. Therefore, I decided I should try it again for Restaurant Week. I'm a huge fan of risotto so when I saw they were offering it on the menu I was sold. Needless to say, the chef does not know how to prepare it correctly. The dish was definitely more of a paella than a risotto and I was super disappointed. The veal was also severely overcooked. Disappointing and probably won't be back. Would not recommend.
(2)
Soni B.

The food was well presented, however it did not have much flavor. We had the restaurant week menu, and each course did not taste like anything special including the terribly cooked seafood risotto. The service was very slow and rude. It was difficult to hear others because the noise level of the restaurant was quite loud. The only reason I give them two stars is because the restaurant was nicely decorated. The food and service deserves one star.
(2)
M O.

Very disappointed for a $300 meal for 4. Food was bland and pricey, as others have noted, but my main beef was with the server, Michael, who gave us the bum's rush from the second we sat down. We sat outside (Sunday night) and here's a partial list of the problems: 1. Set up was for 2, not 4 - we stole from another table 2. Waiter approached - didn't say "Welcome" nor his name (I only got it from the bill!), just said, "Tap water OK?". Then he brought the water and said, "Do you know what you want?" I said, "Sure, can we see a drink list?" 3. He came by at 3 times asking if we were ready to order, while we had our menus clearly open. 4. My son asked for the wine list and he said "What do you want - I'll get you a glass. Chardonnay or Pinot grigio?" Never produced a wine list. 5. Then he disappeared DURING the meal. Had to grab random waiters/busboys to get black pepper, grated cheese for my pasta, pack up leftovers, etc. 6. Had to ask for dessert list. He showed up at the end of the meal to perfunctorily ask how things were and looked at the tip (more than he deserved) right in front of us. I'm not sure I've ever met a more disinterested waiter. And it was an Anniversary/Birthday dinner, so was doubly disappointing.
(1)
Melinda G.

Upbeat, upscale atmosphere near Boston's picturesque waterfront. Indoor/outdoor seating. I went there last Thursday night with 8 girlfriends for a birthday dinner. The waitress was very attentive and the quality of service was excellent. I ordered the beet salad, which in all honestly was the worst part about the dinner. The beets felt like they came out of a can and the whipped ricotta was lacking flavor. For my main course I ordered a seafood pasta dish consisting of lobster, calamari, scallops, clams, mussels, and shrimp in a pasta with a spicy tomato based broth. The seafood portions were huge and it was very delicious. I was also there 2 years ago with my husband. I asked the waiter to surprise me with his favorite dish and I received the bone-in veal. While I usually do not allow myself to eat veal, it was one of the best tasting meats I have ever had. I had a bite of a cannoli and the tiramisu. I would not give rave reviews about these and could skip it all together next time. I would recommend it for a special event or to take out of towners again and again, especially in the summer where you can walk along the waterfront after your meal.
(4)
Nancy L.

I was organizing a 55-people wedding reception at Strega Waterfront and worked with Fruittie, the manager for over a month or so. I must say that she was the most patient and easy person to work with! I had a ton of questions and many detailed requests - floral arrangements, placecard holders, cake from outside, but she was always prompt and patient with her responses. What I appreciated the most though was that unlike other restaurants I've talked to, she never tried to up-sell me anything. I was a little nervous before the reception about whether things would work out well but on the day of the wedding, it looked absolutely stunning. The guests all complimented on the ambience and the food portions were quite generous. I would recommend Strega Waterfront to anyone planning a large private event!
(5)
Becky W.

Amazing food, great atmosphere and wonderful staff / service. I can't wait to go back on my next visit to Boston! This is definitely a wonderful find!
(5)
Wayne C.

Went to Strega expecting a first class experience, this was hardly the case. Was greeted by a super pretentious host who acted like we should be grateful that he was waiting on us. Total clown. When seated, I was greeted by dirty silverware - so far a great impression after being in this place 5 minutes. Talk about J.V. I had the chicken under a brick, which was dry and flavorless. My wife had the sea bass which was fishy. A poor and expensive experience. Funny when my local town restaurant can do it better than a hyped-up Boston restaurant. File this place under "All show, and no go..."
(1)
B C.

No question, its a great place. I entertained some co-workers from the midwest looking for a great Boston experience, so we all ordered seafood - two orders of the sea bass and one ordered scallops. The portions were large and the food was very good. The appetizer special, a lightly fried seafood mix in a balsamic dressing, is one we are still talking about. Unlike other reviewers here, our server was good and service was fine. The food and atmosphere are excellent, but I'm not sure it lives up to the hype.
(4)
B B.

Love it! Amazing is all I can say. We went for our 2 year anniversary - our waiter made it so very special. He found us a perfect wine to celebrate. Since it was still warm for late September we were able to eat outside and enjoy the view - next time I will try the inside though because it looked so beautiful. Food, service and view were all great. My only thing I could complain about, is I wish the guests dressed nicer for such a great restaurant. I think it is much to nice a place for jeans, sneakers and shorts. Thank you so very much for making our anniversay a special night...we will be back!!
(5)
James W.

My default for a place I liked is four stars, but I couldnt think of a reason to give this place any less than five. The staff is very friendly, the food is absolutely delicious, while not being ridiculously expensive. My only beef with it would be the size of the bar. I would love to be able to sit down before dinner for a drink, but the bar is always packed. But, that's not their fault, they work as well as they can with the space they have. Great place.
(5)
Jennifer B.

We were in search of a waterfront restaurant for lunch during restaurant week. Based on the 4 star reviews, we chose Strega Waterfront. Let me start with the $10 "complimentary" valet parking. What a rip off for an hour lunch. I had read reviews this was free. It's not. We found a table outside which was great. There isn't much water to see. If you're looking for a nicer view head over to places around the World Trade Center. The waiter whose name was John was in a horrible mood. We tried to kill him with kindness, but he never cracked a smile or was nice. The food was just ok. The beer salad was really good. The eggplant app, ravioli and spaghetti were average. Maybe a good place for a quick lunch outside of work, but not when there are so many better choices.
(3)
Steve H.

Absolutely wonderful experience and amazing food. My wife said it was the best meal she has ever had.
(5)
Gary F.

Our second visit sealed the deal. Gary is not a huge fan of Strega. It's loud, it's overpriced, it's too intense. The screens with everplaying "Gangster movies"? Distracting and...no. The ambiance? Too much. Too loud, too much "leather banquettes and dark panelling = classy Italian." Our last visit was for Mother's Day lunch. To begin, the waiter was just too...much. He asked us 139 times if we were ready to order. We get it, it's a busy day, but it was also 2:30 in the afternoon and not prime time for turning tables. And the menus were still wide open, man. Rookie move. We shared the grilled shrimp and pineapple appetizer. It was good, but it was also like $17 for 3 shrimp on a half of a pineapple. Since there were 4 diners, I was shrimpless. Entrees had to be sent back because, regardless of (simple) clear (and really simple) requests to hold the sauce on the sea bass, the plates arrived dripping with sauce. Literally, since the busser spilled some on my foot as he brought them to the table. It's an honest mistake, but the mistake was compounded when the food was brought back borderline room temp and just left at our places in our absence (ladies' room). This is a $40 plate. Just not 5-star. Just not worth the price. Just not.
(2)
Steve P.

Found this place while walking to end of the pier and back so we decided to check it out. Server helpful but often took some time to get his attention. Food delicious but menu choices limited so wife and I had to choose from items we didn't necessarily crave. Part of reason for only a three star is the expectations didn't quite match ambience. I'd recommend you check it out.
(3)
AnnMarie G.

Amazing food! Beautiful decor ! Service was perfect! Highly suggest antipasto and beet salad! Love love Strega Waterfront! We will be back.
(5)
Nicole S.

The food here is great and the atmosphere is unmatched by anywhere else in Boston. I used to dine here at least once a week and was constantly recommending this restaurant to friends and family. Even reserved the private rooms on a regular basis for the company i worked for. My one star is not based on the food or the restaurant itself, but with the individual put in charge of this location. After being a regular patron for about two years. I was inappropriately approached by the GM who made some very demeaning comments to me and ending the conversation by saying he assumed i was a hooker or as he put it an "escort", apparently thats better. I made it clear how off base and offensive he was which led to him saying "no offense this place is just kind of another world". No offense? Really? This situation made me so uncomfortable that i sadly haven't been back, probably never will and no longer recommend it. I wasn't raised in an environment where men speak to women in that way and i find it unfortunate that in this "World" of Strega, that behavior is acceptable.
(1)
Manda Bear B.

*********************** 779 ************************* Strega Waterfront offers amazing food, modern decor, smashing interior, and breathtaking view of the waterfront. Located at Fan Pier in Boston seaport district. Strega Waterfront is a place to go to see and be seen. Gorgeous high ceiling sport ultra lounge full bar with big screens, plenty of tables that you can get full menu of food here. Great cocktail list and beautiful bartender Sarah, super nice, and make awesome cocktails. To the right is the dining room, with a few smaller private dining room, we were in 1 of those because my friends have small children. The servers were all nice and very accommodated to my friends and the kids, since they are regular there. The wine list was pretty good. Over 30 wines by glass from $7-$14, that is very VERY reasonable price point for a nice establishment like Strega. - A great list by bottles of Pinot Gris from Italy; - An IMPRESSIVE list for California Saugvinon Blanc and Chardonnay, - An extensive wine list from Italy: Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Reserva, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, and of course Super Tuscan. - A SERIOUS and AMAZING vintages from Napa Valley, Santa Cruz, Sonoma list, dominates by Cabernet Saugvinon, then Pinot Noir, then Zinfandel; must be the owner love Cali wines. Although the mark up is higher than I expected. California wines probably makes up 70-80% of their wine list. - Smaller magnum selection, but much smaller mark up! Small Porto list but they offer: 1970 Taylor Fladgate, Douro Valley, Portugal, and just a tiny portion of Bordeaux and Rhone. The menu was some beautiful classic Italian Calabrian cuisine where the owner Nicky Varano family is from; and at Stregas cooking is from the southernmost part of mainland Italy, all the recipes come from his grandmother and mother. It's just amazing to see how successful this restaurant group has been in less than a decade! Everything we ordered were so tasty, good spices, beautifully cooked, and just left me feel as I was in Italy or at least Manhattan :-) - PORTOBELLO AL FORNO - Baked stuffed mushroom cap with homemade ricotta cheese and spinach served with spicy San Marzano tomatoes - so good. - FRITTO DI CALAMARI - Lightly deep-fried fresh calamari served with marinara sauce - I couldn't stop touching this! - PROSCIUTTO BOCCONCINI E PEPERONI - Homemade fresh bocconcini mozzarella wrapped with the finest Italian prosciutto and served with marinated roasted peppers - this meant to share with your loved ones. - TEGAMINO - Farm-raised clams and mussels served in a spicy tomato sauce over crostini bread - this dish can be an entree! We ordered so much food. - CIOPPINO DI MARE Assorted seafood - such a generous portion, this was 1 of my favorite dishes of the night. - LOBSTER FRA DIAVOLO One-half jumbo lobster with a spicy tomato sauce served over spaghetti - this was unbelievable goodness, al dente spaghettini just how we like it. - VALDOSTANA - Veal medallions topped with prosciutto and Fontina cheese in a demi-glaze - my friends loved this dish. - IL FILETTO AL COGNAC - Grilled filet mignon served with Mission Figs in a RÃ©my Martin sauce - another dish that my friends ordered. They were at awe. This review is way overdue. I'm so behind with my review because of school, volunteer, and hustling though life, but this is probably 1 of my favorite Italian restos in the US. I've had my share with may Italian restos in Manhattan while I was there and still often visit. Yes, I said it.
(5)
P R.

We were a party of 12 on Mother's Day 5/12/14 we were extremely disappointed. The waiter was the one of the worst I ever had. Our food was cold and very disappointing. We initially complained to the person at the podium at the front door about our waiter and that person did nothing. It was only after I asked to speak with a manager was our waiter removed from serving our table. To say this experience ruined our mother's day is an understatement. My mother is 86 years old and her mother's days are limited so were really heart stricken over our horrible experience. I will never return to a Strega Restaurant again! When I told the waiter our service was unacceptable he sarcastically responded "Why Thank You! This is grounds for firing in my book!
(2)
Joe T.

Food was good, not great, but the service was outstanding. The restaurant itself is beautiful and it couldn't be in a better location. I would definitely recommend checking out Strega on the Waterfront.
(4)
Ellen H.

My expectations for a place like this are a definitely on the high side, and while Strega hit a few key items, it just wasn't the memorable night I was hoping for. We made reservations for 8:45pm on a Friday, and arrived about 20 minutes early. We were directed to the bar to wait, which was fine with us. We sat a little table (literally little - maybe 2 feet from the ground), and a waitress brought us drink menus. But wait! All the waitresses in the bar look exactly the same! Tall, skinny girls in black skin-tight dresses. All of them. I literally could not figure out which one was our waitress and we ended up giving orders to probably three of them. It was like a fembot army in there! No mint, which is stupid (A) because I like mojitos and (B) because there were drinks on their drink specials menu that had mint in them. Lock it up, Strega. When we were seated for dinner, it was smooth sailing from there. Good service, great food, the lobster ravioli was fantastic, the bread basket was delicious, drinks were strong (but mintless). For about $150 for a dinner, I expect a restaurant to give me a great experience from the moment I walk through the door to the moment I leave. Strega's was okay, but there are better options if you are spending that kind of money.
(3)
Ashley G.

The service was exceptional and the food was really good. I went on a saturday night and it was pretty loud inside but I went with a group for a friends birthday so we barely noticed the noise. I dont know much about Italian cuisine but I can say my meal was very tasty, I had the fettuccine con gamberoni and surprisingly my jumbo shrimp were actually JUMBO. Overall it was a great experience and I do plan to dine here again in the future.
(4)
Katie H.

Top notch from start to finish. The olive oil that's served with Italian bread is amazing! My husband and I split the caesar salad. For $10, I've seen bigger salads, but hey it's Boston. For an entree, he ordered the chicken limoncello and I had the pappardelle bolognese. Both were fantastic! Our server was very attentive. While it seemed like it took awhile to get our entree, the beautiful ambience and The Godfather on TV served as nice distractions. I'd go back in a heartbeat!
(4)
Matthew C.

So I came here after attending a beer festival in Seaport. My fiancee and I were seating and our waiter came over and was very smug. He acted like we didn't belong in this establishment. Maybe it was because we were both intoxicated, maybe it was because when I walked in, I had a University of Maine hat on, I'm not sure. So I got the spinach and pear salad. It was probably the worst salad I've ever had in my life. The pear was off to the side and besides that it was just a mound of spinach leafs. My fiancee got the Roasted Beet Salad. I'm not a huge fan of beets but I have to admitt, that was pretty good. For dinner she got a steak that was pretty amazing and I got the Lobster Fra Diavlo. I wish I had said no calimari since I don't like it but I was pleasantly surprised to get a lobster tail and a claw served with it. And this lobster was still in the shell so there was no way they were screwing you over on lobster. The dish was quite delicious. Overall the food was great. I give it two stars because of the terrible service from the smug waiter who I tipped $30 (20%) for when I should have given him $10 for his attitude. Overall good food, terrible service. Not sure if I'll be back or not.
(2)
Michael G.

Outstanding mushroom risotto in a rich but light garlic oil. The service was efficient and non-intrusive. There is an outstanding wine list to compliment any meal. Interesting event of the night, our party sat across from Mark Wallberg and his enterage. Bottom line: price is reasonable and the food interesting and quite good. Ideal for a nice date or business dinner.
(4)
Scott J.

I would not eat here again, it is overpriced for what it is, they are just relying on the Strega name. I ordered the rissotto del mar, which I had to send back because the rice was under cooked and basically crunchy. According to the waitress though the rissotto at Strega is supposed to be that 'Al dente'....I'm not Italian but I'm sure that's not true.
(1)
Samuel I.

I am a regular at strega since the day it opened , it seems this place keeps getting better and better , the food is excellent and very creative thanks to sal and his crew ,the managers Dan and mike and the staff welcomes you like royalty , Phill ...simply amazing !!!! attention to miner dentals is impeccable , all of the bartenders are fantastic and on the busiest nights they seem to make every one seated feel like they are the only costumer there ,Sarah ,Bianca, Silvio, Lindsey ,Stephanie ,heather , shauna ..you guys are the best . I also had a function last year for 35 people which fruitti (function manager )overlooked and it was flawless ....And When the owner Nick is in ..there is an added Sense of warmth which makes you want to come back again tomorrow. !!!!!!!! Did I forget to mention that this is the cleanest retaurant I have ever bin at .
(5)
John I.

I was at Strega for the first time on Saturday . Both bartenders were amazing Silvio and Lindsay... As crowded as it was they never skipped a beat. We had a great night thank you so much for the staff at Strega .... Silvio you picked the right drink thanks again !!!
(5)
Melissa N.

We used the yelp 15% off check in. My husband said that he felt treated like a rich celebrity. I agree! We were not treated any differently than anyone else for having a yelp discount. Sometimes we have used groupons/restaurant.com/ etc and the restaurants act like we won't pay the bill. Not the case at all with Strega Waterfront. The hostess greeted us, took our coats for free coat check, and seated us right away. The food was amazing and our waiter was wonderful. I heard a couple people have happy birthday sung to them so I explained to the waiter it was my husband's birthday. His response was," So how embarrassing do you want it?" I told him all the way. He came back with a wonderful tiramisu and a second waiter. Both sang loudly and beautifully with an applause by the entire restaurant. My husband had the surf and turf special and I had the lamb. We tried each other's dishes and could not pick which choice was better, because they were both amazing. We also had the mixed seafood appetizer that was completely different in anything I've tried. 5 stars with the food, service, and ambience! I really hope they keep the yelp 15% check in so our next visit to Boston we can go there again.
(5)
Jessica S.

I recently worked with the special events department at Strega to plan a small corporate event. The event staff was very friendly, efficient and quick to respond to all of my questions throughout the planning process. On the night of the event, the staff was courteous, attentive and prepared for our event. I received a great amount of compliments from our guests on both the food and the service for the evening. We had selected a fixed menu, including their Lobster Fra Diavolo, which everyone raved about. Our guests and my coworkers all made note that it was one of the best corporate dinners that they had attended. A great choice if you're looking to plan a private event.
(5)
Megan G.

I would like to share some feed back about my personal experience at Strega Waterfront with you. My boyfriend and I went to Strega Waterfront for out first time last night to beat the crowd on Valentines Day. The ambiance was nice and the staff welcoming but the over all experience was a disappointment. We sat at a booth near the hostess stand and throughout our dinner the bar tenders working at the time 8:15-on we're acting very unprofessionally. They were yelling to the point where heads were turning to see what was the matter - it was quite disturbing. The next disappointment came when I ordered a drink from our waiter called "swim with the fishes". The waiter returned to inform me it could not be made since there was no apple juice on hand. There are simple substitutes (for example Apple liqueur) I believe they could have improvised a bit more to meet a simple request. And last but not least, the food. My boyfriend ordered a special "Chiopino" which was generous in portion but quality was very poor. It consisted mostly of calamari that was almost unbearable to chew and there was about 5 strands of fettuccine and the price outrageous at $52!!! We are sorry to say that we are very disappointed that our second Valentines Day together was not what we expected.
(1)
Lauren G.

Disappointing. Not worth all the goodfellas hype. Service was mediocre at best. We sat outside on a week night and the waiter basically ignores us. I had the tomato mozzarella salad, the tomatoes were under ripe. The Rolatini was undercooked just a bit but flavor was good. My guest had the gnocchi and was very happy with her dish. I tasted it and honestly the tomato sauce tasted like a can of stop and shop sauce.
(2)
J E.

The two bartenders on staff last evening were amazing. Bianca and I forget the man's name (young guy that began with an S) where above the top with customer service and made the best recommendations for food! We like to sit at the bar and they found us the first opening and mentioned we can call for them ahead of time and they will save seats. We will be back very soon!
(4)
Shane B.

Always a "Class Act". Bruno, Phil and staff are as professional as they come. Warm, welcoming, and a pleasure to be around. Cuisine & wine menu are above reproach..Here you will want for nothing. 1000% amazing PS Ask to be seated with Jimmy Sala, the best they have there.
(5)
Ryan W.

I appreciate these folks being on the leading edge of restaurants to enter Seaport district. The ambience is over the top, but that's what we've come to expect from Nick Varano. It seemed to be very popular with the Jersey Shore set, sorry. The food was not good or bad, just average. The specials were all pretty expensive ($40-55), which leaves you with the traditional Italian fare. We had calamari, scallop, shrimp and peppers flash fried with a balsamic reduction for an app, which was pretty good 7/10. I had the Lobster Fra Diavolo, which was good but nothing special - 6/10. My friend had the Lobster Ravioli, which looked well prepared, but he also gave it average reviews - 7/10. The service was very attentive and on the ball. Absolutely no complaints there. If you can't get a seat at any of the other restaurants in the area (which was the case for us), this is good back up option.
(3)
Brooke T.

My man took me here for my birthday. As a Boston native, you must make a stop here on a fancy night out. This is a romantic place indeed. The service is superb. The staff is swift to take away your items on the table once finished. Yet they still do not interfere and you don't feel bothered. There is a waiter who takes your order and about two other people attentive to water glasses being full and removing plates once you are done. We got the Caesar salad and Calamari for an appetizer. Caesar salad had big chunks of Parmesan and a strong homemade dressing. Calamari was crisp and delicious. For an entree I got the Strega Fettuccini. This is made with alfredo like cream sauce, which is to die for. My man got the lamb with a demi-glaze cooked medium. It was cooked to perfection and absolutely melted in your mouth. It came with the biggest stemmed asparagus I have ever seen and sub-par mashed potatoes. Of course we indulged in dessert because, well, it was my birthday! I got CrÃ¨me Brule and was a little disappointed as the caramelized top was burned way too much. The strawberry cheesecake was delightful and I had some serious food envy! All and all the mashed potatoes and CrÃ¨me Brule didn't make the cut for me!
(4)
Florina K.

The atmosphere is very good here, the patio is great and so is the decor indoors. The food is pretty good as well... The waitstaff is friendly, though makes a lot of mistakes. In a group of 13 half our orders were wrong. The Surt n' turf's lobster tail was very dry for most of us. And my husband's ordered medium done steak first came out well done, and then medium rare... The waiter also spilled water on our friends a couple of times... We did let them know of this, and they gave us a very pretty dessert platter, which was nice. I hope there is better luck next time? Maybe go with a smaller group next time, they may get overwhelmed with larger groups. The tiramisu here is amazing!
(3)
Thomas A.

Food was okay, service not. Earlier this week, I was at the Strega Waterfront with family and had a rather disappointing experience. First of all, the place is close to the waterfront, but not directly at the water, so there is no view. The inside is nice, modern and pretty dark, focusing more on business customers than on families. The items on the menu were mainly meat-based and had far less seafood then one would expect in Boston. The food itself was all okay, but nothing mind-blowing or out of the ordinary. We shared several starters and had an entree each. The seafood risotto lacked salt, the rack of lamb and the veal were cooked perfectly. The waiter who started out cracking some jokes and giving recommendations on the menu turned abruptly silent after we didn't follow his wine recommendation for an overpowering and expensive bottle of Barolo and insisted on our choice instead. The wine was great, so was the entire wine list. The behavior of the waiter was not. When we asked the waiter to call us a cab, he told us the restaurant has a complimentary driver service, we were just told to tip. Well, after the driver dropped us off, he asked for $18, "not including tips", how he stated it. Over all, the food was okay, but nothing exceptional. The service of the waiter and the driver were totally not on the level one can expect for a pretty expensive dinner.
(2)
Yasa E.

I can't say I was blown away by the food here, but everything else is great. The location is beautiful. Lots of parking around, which is a huge bonus. The bar area is gorgeous and the bartenders are on point. Overall, a great place for a date or for drinks with friends.
(4)
Erika S.

Anniversary Lunch in July--very nice side view of water. I would liked a better view but I got to look at my husband, too, so win-win. Maybe why I spilled most of my drink which the waiter didn't notice or help clean up. Excellent bread and oil to begin. Husband had a giant meatball from menu, Paccheri con Polpett, while I had prefixe but some items were not available. It was good anyway: spinach salad (instead of beets), veal, and tiramisu.
(4)
Barbara C.

My husband and I made reservations for date night! Everything was not "perfect" but it was close enough that we would give it a solid 4. We sat at the bar while waiting for our table and the bartender was attentive and the cocktails well balanced. Nice wine list and both of our dishes were good. We will be back!
(4)
Ambrose C.

Finding a decent place to eat in the Waterfront area might be a little hard. I decided to eat at this really upscale place with my family after hearing about the really good reviews. The food I ordered is from the Restaurant Week menu but the appetizer and the entree should be on the regular menu. Here is what I got for my dinner: Prosciutto Bocconcini e Peperoni - This is mozzarella cheese wrapped with Italian style ham. Peppers are put as garnish. This was the antipasto. Ravioli Aragosta - This is lobster filled ravioli with a cream sauce made from crab meat. The dish only had 4 pieces. Tiramisu - This was a cake with tiramisu flavor and it was the dolce. My mother ordered the Thursday special, which was the Porchetta. This dish is a pork loin, with mashed potatoes, asparagus and peppers, despite the conflicting description on the menu. My father ordered the Linguine Alle Vongole. This is pasta with clams doused in a scampi sauce. The bread was actually pretty good, fairly crusty and chewy. They provided some olive oil, and it was pretty good as well. I ate a couple of olives, brought back some memories of eating aceitunas in Spain. As for my dishes, the presentation of the appetizer was really impressive. The ham and cheese were really tasty and the balsamic vinegar was pretty good as well. The peppers were decent. As for the lobster ravioli, the presentation was not really impressive, but the ravioli was tasty and chewy and the sauce was decently good. Did not detect much meatiness in the lobster though and I thought it was probably the most disappointing dish. As for the other dishes, I sampled the pork loin and the clams. The pork was dry and not so tender to my liking. The clams though were decently good. As for the dessert, I thought it was the best part of the meal and a great finisher to the meal. The cream, the sweetness, along with the fresh cool softness of the cake, gave my tongue and palate a great feeling of euphoria. I'm talking about the kind of euphoria that you get as if you are standing at the Piazzale Michelangelo on a beautiful afternoon in Firenze, Toscana and you get kissed by a really gorgeous girl that you really want to spend time with often. Yeah, the tiramisu is that good, but probably not as good as tiramisu from the bakeries and cafes in the North End neighborhood, and maybe not as good as tiramisu from a decent cafe in Firenze. Service was pretty good, the server was very attentive, and replaced our forks and knives every time we finished a dish. He always made sure our glasses were filled with water and we had enough bread. Interior is really comfortable. I think you should wear something nice, maybe a Kenneth Cole collared shirt and some nice slacks by Armani. Restrooms are really clean, and strangely, there is a flat screen TV above the toilets so you can conveniently watch TV while "taking care of your business". This place is open until 2 AM, so it's not a bad choice after a night out in the city. Overall, this place is not high on my recommendations for great Italian cuisine in Boston, but it is a pretty good choice for something upscale, if you don't mind splurging a little and if you do not want to walk far after spending a really long day at an exposition at the Institute of Contemporary Art museum nearby. It's also a pretty good choice for a dinner appointment as well, but the location kind of sucks since this area in Boston is a little boring.
(4)
Bill B.

Boston's best seafood, fantastic service. Great atmosphere, Halibut, salmon, pasta all very high quality, creative presentations. Tasty desserts I enjoyed 3 favors of sorbet
(5)
Darcie G.

I took my boyfriend to Strega for his birthday on Friday. Immediately the waiter offered us drinks. I had a glass of Shiraz and he had a beer. The waiter was wonderful and left us to enjoy each other. After some time, he came back and dictated the specials.... all sounded great! We decided to start with calamari for an appetizer. I ordered the Lobster Fra Diavlo and he ordered the Surf and Turf special. Both came out at the right time (just enough time after we finished the calamari but without much waiting. Lobster Fra Diavlo: the pasta was cooked just right, the sauce had just the right amount of spice.... There was a substantial amount of lobster on top. My old problem was that the claw shell was so hard that I could not open it. As a result, I made a huge mess on the table and then eventually gave up and didn't eat it... and then when we took a doggie bag home, it was not included... I was ready to rinse it off and give it a try the next night :) Surf and Turf: Huge portion of lobster and an 8 ounce filet. It was to die for... In fact, after all the bread, olives, oil, my boyfriend wasn't able to eat more than half of it... that's ok because I got to eat the rest for dinner the next night and it was still as great! My only complaint was the shock I received when I got the bill and this entree was $20 more than the most expensive thing on the menu. I expect a surf and turf to be expensive but the price should be inline with the rest of the menu even if the most expensive item. We will definitely go back but I will be careful about ordering an item on the specials list.
(4)
Gwen P.

I absolutely LOVE this place. I went there for the first time with a co-worker after work. We sat at the bar and we were waited on by the bartender Brianna. She was very nice and caring. We both ordered the chicken parm and it was amazing! Honestly the best I have ever had. I also, ordered a couple drinks the first was the "warm me up sangria" which was really yummy. Then, I had a craving for a pumpkin martini (which was not on the menu) so the bartender and I came up with a recipe and it tasted really good! Overall I had a very pleasant experience it was not as expensive as I thought it would be, and everything was PERFECT! I plan to visit Strega again in the near future. Great job!
(5)
Mark R.

A group of six of us went to Strega Waterfront last weekend. Four of us had the special of mixed seafood over fettuccine. My girlfriend and I have been trying this at a couple of places in the North End, but Strega was the best. The spring season may have helped but the lobster had not atrophied at all and the variety of sea creatures exceed the other establishments. The wine selection is enormous if you have an expert with you (not me). The salmon was alright, but the filet mignon was extraordinary. Appetizers were very good especially the sauce for the mussels. Our reservations were at 9:30pm and they were still seating when we were finishing our dinner. Its nice to have that flexibility in going out. Thank you!
(4)
Mary M.

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!! Strega is a fabulous restaurant with to die for food. Went here for my 21st birthday and was blown away by the service and food selection. I ordered the Sea bass and could not stop gushing over it. So delicious and flavorful- definitely a must! Not only was our server attentive but also he brought out a cake and sang to me! Can't get any better than that!
(5)
Marc K.

We went to Strega Waterfront to celebrate my birthday on a lovely Saturday night. I had what was described as the "Cowboy" Rib Eye steak. It was a bone-in rib eye that wasn't as thick as I expected it would be, based on having rib eye many times in other restaurants. It was very tasty, however. My wife had a 'surf and turf;' a stuffed lobster tail and filet mignon, both of which that were very large portions. With a price to match, I should mention! Our waiter, Vincenzo, was charming and very attentive and helpful! The owner, Nick Varano, made a point of visiting practically every table in the place during the time we were there. A nice touch. Definitely a 'special occasion' place to dine.
(4)
Jordan S.

Well, Strega is uber fancy and over priced but hey when you're a tourist you don't know these things. Good things included the cocktail and wine lists, which were extensive to say the least. My partner and I both ordered a limone fresco before food and I had Prosecco with the entree and both were fabulous. Hats off to the bartender. Our appetizer (Tregamino) was great! The mussels and clams were perfectly cooked, the broth was delicious with bread, and the tomatoes were a great touch. My partner's entree was a special that night (Chilean Sea Bass) which he now declares his favorite fish after that meal. The not so great things included my entree of Fettuccine Strega which tasted great but only had four pieces of seafood which is less than advertised in the description. The server was okay but seemed kinda fake-friendly, not actually so. He didn't ask if we wanted the complimentary olives, which yes I know is complimentary but I hate olives and I didn't want them wasted on my table where we didn't touch them. And, probably the biggest ambiance killer of all, there were about 5-6 large televisions in our section of the dining area so it was this weird mix of tvs and fancy table decor that didn't quite vibe. Oh, and don't believe the waterfront in the name. Yes it is next to the water but you cannot see if from inside the restaurant, only the tvs. So, all in all, not worth the price and I wouldn't go again.
(3)
Sara H.

Strega has delicious seafood dishes and everything is very fresh. They have a great wine selection. Portions are impressive. I had their Mac and Cheese with lobster last time I went with Burrata as an app. Burrata Mozzarella is always amazing, so no comment there. Their bread is served with delicious olive oil. My Mac and Cheese was filled with heaps of huge lobster pieces.
(4)
Larry S.

Great food and service.. If you are loke g for a guaranteed great night then this is the place.. Only issue maybe is that the tables are a bit crowded..
(5)
Fred S.

Went here a few months back......Very impressed with this entire operation! Great bar, great food, great service and good clients made for a really enjoyable business dinner at Strega Waterfront. See you again next week!
(5)
S A.

One of the top restaurants in Boston, great location.
(4)
Meghan G.

The food was delicious, but my husband I will not be back. We were appalled by the service. Our table was not ready on time and every aspect of the ordering process took forever. At the end we sat waiting for the check for 15 minutes with no food or drinks. This would have been ok if the waiter was remotely apologetic, but he was rude. I guess you have to be in the family that owns Strega or a celebrity or something for them to treat you with any respect. The female staff all wear the tiniest skin tight dresses (I wonder how their hiring process works? haha) but that was not a real issue, just seemed tacky. We spent at least $250 on a special dinner and felt our mere presence annoyed our waiter, who apparently had better things to do.
(2)
G K.

Great place to hang out and eat..... Veal chops were amazing. Lamb chops.. amazing. Veal saltimbocca... amazing. Super friendly service. Great bar area.
(5)
Heather S.

This is a great place. The atmosphere was great. The service was great. It wS a little crowded in the bar area while we waited for our table but we were able to get a seat at the bar after a little while. The food was good too! We would definitely go back. Great place to people watch.
(4)
Morra Y.

Went there on birthday. The service was good and the waiter could recommend dishes for us according to taste. Liked the spicy seafood pasta with soup and tiremisu.
(5)
Melissa V.

Love this restaurant. Great food. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
(4)
Adam G.

I have never had a poor experience here. The waitstaff has always been excellent, the food has always been excellent, and the portions have always been excellent. The frutti di mare is exceptional (it's a special, but I've always had it listed as an option by the waitstaff). It does come with a price as it is not a cheap restaurant, but I always feel as though I got what I paid for. They have TVs replaying "Italian" movies which is a bit cheesy and out of place for a fancy place like that, but you can easily ignore them. Would go back.
(5)
Victoria S.

Wonderful,elegant welcoming restaurant, if you go there ones you would like to come back, convenient $10 valley parking. Great food and great atmosphere
(5)
Marilyn M.

I came for a Company/group dinner. We had a special menu and I choose the Ribeye steak as the seafood offered was Salmon and I don't care for it. I would have liked to try seafood as Boston is known for fresh seafood. It was very good and prepared as ordered. The appetizers were very good especially the eggplant. I enjoyed the sauce so much on the eggplant that I asked the waiter for a bowl of their marinara sauce just for dipping. Servers were very quick to respond to our requests even though we were a big group. (Our private room was too small for the group so it was very crowded which made it difficult to move around or get up from the table.) I wish I lived in the Boston area as I would love to go back and try other items on the menu. Highly recommend.
(5)
Ryan M.

We went for restaurant week, another reviewer mentioned that you have to ask for the menu- you do. It definitely seems like they discourage this, because the meal wasn't very good at all. The service was great however. We went to Strega in the North End last year and would have given the Waterfront location 5 stars if the food had been as good. Next time we won't order off of that menu, lesson learned.
(2)
Mrs. G.

Strega on the waterfront has a very nice interior. It's a bit flashy but very nice. The servers are all very nice and attentive. The appetizers are excellent, such as the calamari with balsamic glaze. The seafood linguine I ordered was plentiful of lobster tails, shrimp, scallops and calamari all which were yummy. I do wish the sauce was a bit thicker and spicier though. Overall, it was pretty good. For 50.00 I would have expected my dinner to be a little tastier though.
(4)
Steve S.

I was here on a date in spring of 2013. food is great, service is great, atmosphere is great. very well appointed. prices are well suited to the quality of food and service. if I were in the downtown boston area more often, I might want to hang out at the bar, which is well separated from the dining tables. a great choice for my date and me.
(4)
Amy C.

Been here a few time's, sat at the bar. Came here tonight on a second date with a guy I just met. Sat in the bar area for dinner, the food was ridiculously good. Our server Shuana, was AMAZING!! The drinks were outstanding! Thanks Shuana for an incredible night, we'll be back!!
(4)
Lindsay P.

It was a good meal, decent service, and the cocktail/wine list was impressive. As far as atmosphere, it is very steakhouse-ish. There were TVs in the dining room that were unnecessary.
(4)
Kerry B.

Overall disappointed. Portions were small and pricey. Beautiful atmosphere and excellent wine list. Food just wasn't nearly as good as we had hoped.
(2)
Jeff F.

Rolled in here this past week and may come back to post up at the quasi-sports bar, but probably won't be back for dinner. Here's the rundown: Pros - could be option if you need somewhere on the Seaport - also a good option if you need a good option for a private room - seemed like they could accommodate a room for 10 or 40 Cons - keep in mind this is in comparison w/ average Italian food in BOS - food ranges from good (burrata app) to mediocre (Frutti di Mare was more of a flavorless Zuppa di Pesce) - most of the food was average gnocchi, mushroom Pappardelle, etc.. Not sure why people pumped on Strega - my best guess is that it's new...
(2)
Jenna H.

I live in the north end and I choose to take the jaunt over to this Strega as it is so much better! I love dining outside next to the harbor, and the staff is incredibly hospitable. I came here with a work group, my company is in the process of moving to fan pier, and we had a great time. We shared a few plates between our group and each one was outstanding! We had the calamari, prosciutto, rollatini, scallops, and mushroom starters. My only complaint were the scallops - they were very small, almost too small to really capture the flavor. The highlight was a dish we had with burrata cheese. This is the best burrata cheese outside of Italy - I promise - the best! For desert I had the lemon cake - also amazing. I cannot wait to come here more often when I am working in this location, and in the summers when I walk over from the north end.
(4)
Pascual P.

Went to Strega for a graduation celebration, and each step of the meal could not have gone any better. From the champagne toast to the dessert and coffee, everything was presented and delivered to perfection. The fritto misto and mozzarella specials as appetizers were fantastic. The balsamic that the seafood was cooked in/served with had a great level of sweetness to complement the seafood. Only wish there had been more scallops. The mozzarella melted in my mouth. I ordered the filet, served with mashed potato, asparagus, and a fig gravy. The steak was cooked to an absolutely perfect medium-rare. I usually add a bit of salt to my steaks, but there was no need - the flavor to the steak was among the best I've ever had. The other entrees - lobster ravioli, short rib/lobster, pasta - were all enjoyed to varying degrees by others... again, I can only speak to my filet, which was perfect. Finally, we were presented with a dessert tray with 6 different desserts (cheesecake, cannoli, tiramisu, etc.) courtesy of one of the restaurant managers to celebrate the occasion. The server was fantastic and engaging, and most importantly did not make us feel rushed. We were able to eat and drink at our own pace, and he was more than happy to let us dictate the evening.
(5)
Ashley O.

I went here with my boyfriend this past Saturday, who researched this place and made a reservation. I have to say that from the valet to the meal, everything was great! We started by getting our car valet parked right out front so we wouldn't have to deal with parking / me walking in heels - and it was pretty reasonable compared to most restaurants. We arrived a little early, so we grabbed a drink at the bar - which had a really cool atmosphere. We were seated on-time, grabbed a bottle of recommended Merlot, and ordered our meal. I got the mixed green salad, which had the most perfect, tender large tomato slices. We also split the seafood risotto 1/2 portion, which was cooked perfectly. Our entrees were the lobster ravioli and the Sea Bass, which was a special that night. Though I wish the cream sauce to my ravioli had a bit more robust flavor, the Sea Bass over gnocchi was to die for. We waited while for our entrees to come out, but the staff was so attentive and the food was so well worth it. I will absolutely come here again!
(4)
David W.

Strega Waterfront may have the best service in Boston, Hell its most likely the best service I've ever had at an upscale restaurant. I prefer the atmosphere of the lounge to the dining area and Shauna & Heather are the best waitresses in the city.
(5)
Joseph M.

Ate here on 06/07/14 with my wife after a show down the street. The food was nothing great, just the typical selections you see at most restaurants, but way more expensive and smaller portions. The waiters were all male, and somewhat amateurish. For what you pay at this place you would expect a more polished staff. The female staff that were seating customers were wearing way to skimpy skirts and they were walking around with these serious, snobby looks on their face. I had to ask the waiter three times for lemon for my water. The busers were clumsy and one actually dropped a plate full of food on the floor near us and it splattered on my wife. The interior was nice, but did not exude the ambiance of fine dining with televisions on featuring race car racing. Like usual, it's all marketing, and smoke and mirrors, until you get there and experience it first hand. Save your hard earned money, be wise, stop chasing the foo foo shee shee (comes with age) and eat somewhere less expensive with food just as good.
(2)
Mihir P.

Atmosphere: bustling, professional, business attire. Bar has a good amount of TV's. Pretty staff. Food: Caesar salad was soggy from the greens being so drenched in dressing which was overdosed with parmesan cheese. Stuffed lobster tail - VERY LITTLE lobster and the stuffing of shrimp and scallops was mostly breading. But of course the price tag would have you believe that you'd get real seafood and an amount commensurate to that price. Proscuitto: melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a sweet vinegar dressing. Yum! Service: our waiter was aiming to please no doubt but his support staff fell short: None of them new who ordered what and a restaurant of what Strega wants to achieve and charge, shouldn't be ask who ordered what. Hostess didn't bring cocktail list. If you want tap water, then make sure you ask or they will give you bottled water and charge you up the wazoo for it.
(3)
Patrick M.

Fantastic night all around, from food, drinks, and especially service. We started off with an awesome meatball paired with ricotta cheese, rollatini di nico, and a chef prepared seafood sampler based off the seafood tower available at Strega Prime. All were excellent. Next we moved on to salads where my cesaer had great flavor, but could have used a little more dressing. Entrees were all excellent including the fettucine de strega, risotto, tortelloni alla panna, and the short rib special (this and the risotto were the best portions out of all if you are very hungry). The tiramisu and cheesecake were also excellent. Our waiter, Natale, was the star of the show. This is the best service I have received at any restaurant in Boston, including some of the top steakhouses. He was very accommodating, gave great recommendations, and had a great knowledge of the wine list. Overall a great meal, we went for my Grandmothers birthday and I have never seen her so happy. Highly recommended.
(5)
Patrick B.

Perfection. Service- 5 Food- 5 Wine- 5 Atmosphere- Beautiful Company- Gorgeous Traveled up to Boston for a night out and I was happy they had one table left. The hostess was very polite, directed us to their upbeat entertainment bar and lounge as we waited for our table to become available. The bartenders were very tentative and the drinks were suburb. We were then brought to our dinner, and greated by our server who was very polished, and went over specials and menu highlights. We were not disappointed from there. We both cleaned off our plates and then enjoyed after dinner drinks in the lounge until they closed down. Perfect night out THANK YOU
(5)
Liz S.

Good Bar and Lounge Scene!! Didn't have dinner but the appetizers were great. Looking forwarding to heading back for dinner in the very near future and I will update my post!
(4)
Morgan D.

Amazing, Lavish, Delicious...the important ingredients for a superb meal. I can hands down say, this is one of the best, if not the best, dining experiences of my life. Went here for one of my best friends birthdays, there were a total of 9 girls and it was fabulous. We started with bottles of wine and great appetizers. The food and service were pristine. The owner came out and bull-shited with our table...very also, down-to-earth guy. He sent over 2 bottles of champagne for us. He was truly fantastic and treated us like family. From what I hear, reservations are very hard to get so it was awesome that we got to experience this great meal. Everyone was dressed to the 9's, so I probably wouldn't come in jeans. We stayed here for 3 hours (a dream come true of mine, I love dining out and hate to be rushed) and it was worth it!! We definitely payed a pretty penny our meal, but you pay for what you get and what we got was excellent!
(5)
Bob T.

Great atmosphere, professional staff, and wonderful tastes.
(4)
Kim D.

Just had dinner here and after all the hype, WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT,!!! Gnocchi were lead balls and the Bone in Rib Eye special was fatty and tasteless. After waiting 2 months to take my wife there for her birthday, what a let down. I can say the 1 star rating was for the Mussels appetizer and for the bartenders. Will go back to their Hanover Street location rather than this one.
(1)
Barry B.

We took a large group 11 for dinner after my sons graduation. Sat in a private room. The food and service were very good. A bit pricey but Strega was a big part of a great day.
(4)
Melissa C.

Delicious food! The filet and stuffed veal chop were very good. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. Our food took a while to come, which was no problem for us since we weren't in a rush (and they gave us a free dessert to make up for it even though we didn't make any mention of the wait).
(4)
Amy R.

I see a lot of 4 and 5 stars here. Am I missing something? Aside from the chic ambiance and fantastic views, the service was most certainly lacking. My sister, cousin, and I arrived relatively early for our 9:15 reservation last Saturday night. But, we were seated pretty quickly as our reservation time approached. That's as quick as anything went for usfor the entire duration of the meal. We had gotten a round of beverages at the bar before we were seated, so I can forgive the waiter for not immediately coming over to our table at the beginning of our meal. We were all catching up with each other as well, so we did appreciate not having our waiter up our butts while we were sipping on our first round of cocktails. He did come by and ran down the specials for the night and took our order for a bottle of Pinot Grigio (can't beat Santa Margherita on an immensely hot, humid, and oppressive evening!) About 10 minutes later, our bottle of wine came and we ordered the buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and prosciutto appetizer special. At the waiter's recommendation, we got the 4 person serving. We were getting a little starved at this point, so we did put in our order for dinner as well. The appetizer came out in about 15-20 minutes... close to the point in time where we were going to start gnawing on our arms for sustinence... The serving was way too big for the 3 of us, but it was delicious nonetheless. We only were able to eat about 60% of the plate. It was kind of a waste to get the larger serving, but ahhh well. So, 35-40 minutes goes by... no sign of our entrees... waiter... life... I was getting a little irritated. I am pretty patient when it comes to slow service, but when we're reaching 10:30-45 and we haven't even had the main course... come on now. I finally spoke up and let the waiter know that I wasn't terribly upset his service personally, since it was a busy night, but each course took a significant amount of time to come out and it was getting a tad ridiculous. Obviously, the kitchen was backed up and he couldn't be faulted for it. Finally, our meals come out. I had the Lobster Ravioli, my sister had the Chicken & Mushroom risotto, and my cuz had Pasta Bolognese. I've had the Lobster Ravs at the North End location and had been blown away. It seems as though the quality control from the North End location never made its way to the Waterfront. The raviolis were average at best and there were 3 measly pieces of lobster randomly placed on top. The risotto should have been renamed "Bowl of Grilled Chicken with a side of ride" because I didn't see any ooey gooey risotto goodness in that bowl at all. It was overtaken by massive hunks of chicken instead. Very disappointing. My cousin's meal was just okay. We were rewarded with 2 desserts of our choice and glasses of Limoncello on the house to make up for the experience. But, I feel as though we didn't get our bang for our buck and we spent a pretty decent amount of money on a sub-par meal. I don't think I'll be heading back anytime soon.
(2)
Melissa H.

What an amazing dinner with such attention from our waiter John and our host Phil!! We sat outside and enjoyed our wine and meals and never felt rushed. A perfect Saturday night on the waterfront!! Oh and the food was amazing :)
(5)
Bailey F.

I have eaten here twice now. Food is amazing! For someone who doesn't eat dessert ever, I ate dessert! I would recommend the lobster and crab ravoli I have had it both times! Will definitely be going back soon.
(4)
David V.

Allow me to explain my 2-star rating.... Overall, my experience at Strega was great. The service was outstanding and the food was pretty good. My reason for the 2-star rating is based mainly on the entree that I ordered. I ate lunch here with my colleagues. Most of the group went with the fixed lunch menu (app, entree, dessert for $20-great deal), but I decided to go with a lunch entree instead: The Lobster Ravioli. In most restaurants where I've ordered this dish, it is a large portion, and their are actual chunks of lobster in the ravioli. At Strega, they serve you 4 pieces of ravioli. That's right, FOUR, for $16. The "lobster" filling is really minced up lobster, not actual nice chunks of lobster like other restaurants. I observed other entrees at my table that were much larger and cheaper than this dish. For example, the panini sandwiches were huge, and the veal Parmesan was also a big portion. I have had better lobster ravioli at much cheaper restaurants. Thankfully, my colleagues shared some of their meals with me because every other meal at this restaurant appears to be a normal, adult sized portion. And the the desserts came out... The options for the desserts were tiramisu or a chocolate chip cannoli. I am not joking when I say that the tiramisu portion was larger than my lunch portion. Based on today's experience, I don't see how the Italian food at this restaurant is worth the prices that they charge. Obviously, you are paying for the waterfront location, because I've had comparable (and better) Italian food at many other restaurants that charge a lot less. So, if you go here for lunch, I recommend the fixed lunch menu option. It is the best value, at $20, when other portions cost just about the same. The service was excellent, as was the atmosphere, but the food just did not impress me like I was hoping that it would.
(2)
Michelle R.

I wanted to love this place but I liked it. Let's get down to it: Apps: PROSCIUTTO BOCCONCINI E PEPERONI: 8/10 - just really good. CALAMARI: 1/10 - bland, can get it anywhere, nothing special Dinner: IL FILETTO AL COGNAC: 8/10 Filet - cooked to perfection but the sides are bland and there's not enough potatoes FETTUCCINE STREGA: 7/10 - looked amazing, really filling, but somewhat bland Third entree was a special and the plate was empty.. maybe go with the specials?! Drinks: Sangria was ok, too much ice cucumber vesper was GOOD - this made me happy, loaded champagne cocktail was nice, could of used more booze il capo - get it, probably my favorite chardonnay - meh. pinot G - meh. Really... get better wine! Or maybe we got the wrong ones. I'd go back just out of curiosity for other things on the menu but for the price you pay I think you're not getting what you pay for, just my two cents.
(3)
Christine F.

went here for a date. Great food but not good atmosphere since too loud.
(3)
Richard L.

Decor is great and the area is awesome when all the tourists leave. Otherwise, food is unremarkable. Between the risotto and the veal saltimbocca, I'm sure to have consumed 10 sticks of butter. And butter is mostly what one tastes. Shoddy service with an attitude to boot. I cannot think of any reason to want to go back other than the location.
(2)
Steven G.

We had a wedding rehearsal dinner at this restaurant for 50 people and it doesn't get any better. First the young lady that helped us with the pre-event planning was courteous and professional. We told her in broad terms and she helped us narrow in on the details. The food was outstanding. Meatballs - good Seafood salad - good Shrimp cocktail - good Antipasto platter - good Fruit and cheese - the fruit was very ripe even the kiwi that usually are not ripe. All good Now for the stars Stuffed mushrooms - very good Shrimp scampi - the best I ever had, huge and not drowning in oil and garlic Crostini - yes I know it is bread and a tomato topping sounds simple, these were very good and refreshing. Again they were not drowning in garlic but had a fresh taste. The wine was house wine but everyone said (I am not much of a drinker) it was very good. I guess so it was flowing fast. The service was impeccable, attentive and professional. If you asked for something they got I right away and found you no matter were you moved to. They were right in step with the evening. Pricing was competitive with other waterfront venues. They made the evening rave worthy. I recommend Strega Waterfront for anyone planning an event.
(5)
Steve C.

First visited this location shortly after it opened and was disappointed with the food, it was really poor, but I reserved to make comment as I thought it was just going through a shake down period. Here I am several months later and although the food was better, it was still disappointing. The decor is nicely finished albeit a little too busy for me, the bank of TV's doesn't really complement the nicely appointed wine cellar, it's almost as if too many people were involved in the design.. The food. They do get their bread from Bricco on Hanover so that's a treat, and the olives they serve with it are fresh and delicious. The lobster fra diavolo was spice-less, needed a kick in the you know what to get it going, the spaghetti was a little over cooked and unseasoned, the lobster however was cooked to perfection. Lamb chops looked promising, but unfortunately as they were not all the same size, the small ones were cooked perfectly and the larger ones were raw, someone should have picked up on that and left the larger ones on the grill a little longer. The service is absolutely first class, the servers are knowledgeable and very professional, as are the management team and bar staff. An interesting observation was there seems to be an ongoing competition to see who can be the most "Italian person" there, not that it's a bad thing, just an observation..
(3)
Anna K.

First review, but have had many meals here and at at Strega in the North End. Not understanding why some are complaining about the prices. Think about it: customers are paying for consistently good food, attentive service, clean/modern & lively ambiance, and prime waterfront location. The only thing missing is an attendant in the bathroom with essentials and hairspray- the TV is already in there! Worth it.
(4)
Gina E.

The food was amazing to match the top shelf service.
(4)
East West Coast Girl C.

Ah Strega! Its a standby for us if we're in Seaport. But its a caricature of itself. Both the patrons and the staff are exaggerated like cartoons. Another reviewer described waitresses as very "Jersey Shore." I agree and find it fascinating! Boston's Finest and members of The Family toast each other and mingle in peace here. Enjoy the show! The last time we were at Stega, we sat in the TV strewn bar area. It was 4:00PM, the changing of the guard so service was no where to be found. Unfortunately this is typical of most restaurants. As 5:00PM approached, more staff came on and service got a lot better. The speciality cocktails are well crafted. Food is decent but there are some misses. The eggplant rotini app. was bland and seemed straight from the freezer. Garlic shrimp was good, anitpasto plate is worth it. I've not had an entree here. When you consider the eyeful you get with decent food, its worth the trip.
(4)
Abir H.

So even after making reservations we had to wait over 30 minutes to be seated as our table was given to another party of 10! Not a great way to start our celebration. I can honestly say out of the 10 people there that night only 2 enjoyed their dish and they both had the same thing, a steak. For an Italian place they really don't know how to cook Italian. The worst dish was the gnocchi....it was horrible. The fra diavlo came in this plate that looked like an upside down hat, with the smallest hole for the food, in other words....not at all satisfying. The place is quite big and it was full of people but honestly I doubt I will ever go again.
(2)
Shirley Y.

Strega on the Waterfront was amazing for both my visits there. My first experience at Strega was a straight up business lunch. When you're sitting around a table discussing business prospects, you would want the experience to be as professional as possible, and professional the service was and more! The menu was expansive and the staff is quick to accommodate your every wish. One of us was in the mood for swordfish. A huge heaping piece of fish appeared at the table when our food came, laden with a red sauce and looked absolutely unbelievable. I was also eyeing the braised rib served with freshly made pasta, the special of the day, that the person next to me ordered with a bit of diner's remorse and envy. The portion sizes were generous, with the braised rib having to go in a doggie bag. I start salivating even as I think about it today. *drool* For my second experience, we had a small company function and rented out the private room to the side of the main dining room. It does not have the views that the main dining room boasted, but the service was nothing less than perfect. From the moment we walked in, until the function was over, the servers milling about never let you mingle empty-handed, and always with a full wine glass, cocktail, beer or sparkling or still water. They even remembered what you were drinking for the refills. The spread of food was decadent and the best quality, with cured meats, melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella cheese, garlicky bruschetta, not to mention the platters of fresh and crisp steak and cheese egg rolls, mushrooms, and the largest bacon-wrapped scallops I have ever seen that were so difficult to eat gracefully with a drink in your hand. The bar area was a contradiction of the classy dining room, with walls lined floor to ceiling with flat screen televisions. Perfect place to watch the game. This place fully deserves all five stars and more. I cannot wait to find some way to go back, and be able to afford it! You do get what you pay for.
(5)
Sarah A.

I'll be generous and give Strega 4 stars, but I'm rounding up from 3.5 My friend and I were looking to spend the evening in a relaxing space, drinking and eating some decadent food with the opportunity to at least gaze upon some appealing silver foxes. The evening started out on a high note when we found a metered parking spot right on Northern Ave. Yes. We arrived about 20 minutes early for our reservation, checked in and moved over to the bar. Once we sat down at the bar, we knew our evening was not exactly going to go as planned. Instead of an assortment of foxes, the bar area was packed with, um, how to say this politely, ....drunk, scantily clad young women with bad highlights...you get the picture? We enjoyed our drinks but were happy when the host told us our table was ready. We were seated at a beautiful U shaped booth that made us feel very VIP. I guess it's good to make reservations. Although we had plenty of space at our table, the overall atmosphere of the dining room was a bit crowded. On the way to our table we had to squeeze past other tables and many of the tables in front of us seemed spaced a bit too closely. Also, it was rather warm. We decided to stay inside thinking there would be AC, but it didn't seem much cooler inside than it did outside. I enjoyed our food, especially the appetizers. My favorite was the sea scallops in Grand Marnier. They were perfectly cooked and served with orange slices. The melezane were also quite good. I was a bit disappointed with my entree, the fettucine strega. I had high hopes, but, frankly it tasted a bit processed. And, for $29, I'd rather try making something similar at home. To end it all, the waiter messed up the split on our credit cards, overcharging my card. Still waiting to see if it will be canceled and the appropriate amount charged. I'd go back for drinks and the scallops in Grand Marnier. Not sure that I'd bother with dinner, though.
(4)
John B.

I Had the pleasure of dinning at Strega for a birthday with a party of five recently. Let me start off by saying that the food was excellent, however the service is the real reason I am giving Strega only 3 stars. The service started off fine, our waiter was very informative and helpful and the 3 starters and 2 salads we ordered came out fairly quickly. Then we ordered our entrees. We waited for at least an hour for our dinner to come out. In that hour our waiter only stopped by once to say that the kitchen was running a little slow and our food should be out shortly. With such a big party spending a good amount of money it would have been nice if the manager had come over to apologize for the wait or even the owner who was chatting at a nearby table, but non of this happened. Even a complementary drink to go along with the 2 bottles of wine we already drank while waiting would have been a nice gesture since we waited so long. Strega can absolutely improve in the customer service department. On the positive side when our food did finally come out it was amazing. I had the sea bass and it was cooked perfectly. I would certainly recommend Strega as I'm sure that this quality of service isn't the norm however I was very diss appointed with the service we received.
(3)
Lindsay M.

Delicioso! My husband and I went here on date night, right before the Cirque du Soleil show. We made a reservation for 6pm, When we arrived we were asking our preference, indoor or outdoor seating. I choose outdoor. It was very nice on the front patio area and from my chair I could see the water, loved that! Upon our arrival we were asked what type of water we liked. The water glass was never more than half empty, which was appreciated/. I asked the waiter if the bartender could make a non alcoholic juice spritzer. Well the bartender perfected this and it was a perfect yummy drink for this preggo girl. We ordered the app special which was mozzarella and prosciutto. It was very very good. Hubby ordered the homemade gnocchi and I ordered the homemade fusuli with eggplant. Both dishes were absolutely delicious! I will definitely return for the pasta along - Mmmmm! Job well done.
(4)
Kerry D.

I had a lovely lunch with my girlfriend. We sat in a nice table in the window with a water view, and our service was excellent. The decor is as mentioned by others... over the top, and so many TVs. Especially at the bar area but there is even one in the bathroom. I personally think it's an unnecessary distraction. The food was quite good. We started with well-mixed cocktails and shared an appetizer special which was housemade burrata with prosciutto and tomatoes. Very nice. We both enjoyed our pasta entrees. I had another special (from their dinner menu) which was a very tender braised short rib with homemade papardelle. I was too full for dessert but the macchiato I had instead was also well-made. In short, nothing ground-breaking, but I would return again for the waterfront location, solid Italian food, and great service.
(4)
Dennis S.

Everyone has a favorite place, and this is mine. The combination of true hospitality, excellent food, and great atmosphere all come together seamlessly here! From the valets to the GM to the back servers everyone is just friendly and accommodating. These people aren't waiters or bartenders anymore these people are friends!! This is the place to go!
(5)
Greg N.

Great food, just very expensive. Worth a try.
(3)
Will R.

I found this restaurant to be very nice aesthetically speaking. I just like the Hanover St. location better. The parking is great but I found the food to be pricey, good, but not as good as the other location.
(4)
Lee H.

I was new to Boston and instead of taking the hotel's recommendation I took Yelp's. Luckily I did this place has great food and service. They even made my dinner partner a veal parm(not on the menu). If you're in the area, definitely worth a try.
(4)
mary s.

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants. I've gone here for Christmas Eve this year and last. I'm not wild about the gangster movies they play on the big screen TV's, but the food is some of the best Italian I've ever had. The service is impeccable and the drinks are great! Just a tip - when making a reservation, request a table in the back room. The ambiance is far better (no TV's!).
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Came here for my 30th birthday dinner about a week ago on a Saturday night and was very pleased with the experience. First, they handled my husband's reservation fairly well. He always waits too long to make a reservation for my birthday, and with this restaurant's popularity, location, and it being the worst month of the year (graduations, weddings, showers, etc) it was very kind of them to squeeze in such a large group at a nearly decent hour (9 pm). So, kudos for being accommodating and understanding the panicked husband. I believe they did make him complete a contract for such a large group, so fair warning. They are located right on the waterfront (hence the name). Decor is modern, with lots of windows, very appealing for me. They also had a $10 valet, which was the same price as any other parking in the area, so it's well worth it to use that service. We were able to enjoy drinks outside while we waited for our very large group to finish arriving, and for our table to be ready. The sangria was absolutely perfect! They do have a lounge area where a bachelorette party had congregated. It was a little warm in there but it was VERY busy (lounge and restaurant) so we were happy to be outside in the fresh air. Inside we were seated at a very nice, longer table near the back where we had privacy, and nice real estate (not near the kitchen, the entrance the bathroom, etc). It has the trademark TV's on the walls playing movies, sports, etc but nicely enough we were seated far enough away that our group could converse without the distraction. Our group had latecomers and we used the time to review the menu. I've been to the Strega in the North End and the menu at the waterfront has some similarities, but also modifications to make it a little more upscale. Everyone ordered, we all selected a variety off different meals and loved every bite. Not a single person out of 14 had an issue with their meal. And of course, the bread and olives beforehand helped tide us over (yummy!). They were also kind enough to accommodate a guest bringing an outside dessert to celebrate the special occasion, so thank you again! Overall the waitstaff was very attentive, pleasant and knowledgeable. Drinks were always being replaced and out food came very quickly. We also never felt rushed, despite the fact that we were there close to 2 hours. They do add on an automatic tip with large groups, so beware. And it looks like they have a policy of not splitting large bills between several cards, so I would check in on that before bringing a large group. Enjoyed every minute of our experience there and we will definitely be back! Great job to the manager and his staff for helping to make a very nice, memorable evening that all of us enjoyed! You made 30 not so dirty ;-)
(5)
David P.

This restaurant will receive awards! Only open for a few months we chose Strega Waterfront for a birthday dinner. Excellent! Not only were the atmosphere and staff superb but each person in our party of 6 raved about every course. Our group, having lived in Boston for 10-14 years each, has not complimented in unison like this in a long time! Calamari was light and cooked to perfection. My veal Voldostana was tender and seasoned to perfection. Parking was a cinch (Sunday evening - plenty of open meters) but valet service was available.
(5)
J P.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night in July. The space: The location is great, nice for a walk and the view of the water from the main dining room is nice. The television situation is out of control. From our vantage point in the dining room, we could see 6 televisions playing various movies (one with a bit of nudity, which was kind of hilarious) and the crrazzzy jumble of televisions behind the bar showing various sporting events. Totally distracting and takes away from a nice dining experience, in my opinion. The clientele: my table ranged in age from 30-40 and we were by far the youngest table in the place by at least 25 years. Our reservation was on the earlier side, so maybe that's why? Weird. The service: Our waiter was, on the whole, condescending. As if we were kids crashing the grown-ups party. When asked what beers they had on tap, his response was an annoyed "none." [awkward silence]. Oh I'm sorry, if this is such a classy establishment, then why are there 38,476 televisions on the walls? It's a valid question. The snippiness continued while we picked our wines, tried to pronounce things in Italian (he made sure to correct us), and asked him to repeat the dessert menu that he rattled off at warp speed, so he started describing to us what a cannoli is like we had never seen one before. (This was when I was seriously about to slap him.) The food: We shared the burata appetizer for 4, which was a ton for 4 people. It was delicious, better than the burata we recently had at Scampo. As someone who doesn't eat shellfish or veal, I had a tough time with the menu. Thankfully there was a special of braised shortribs with pappardelle pasta. The meat was tasty, though slightly overdone, and the small chunks of lobster in the sauce would have been a nice surprise...for someone who likes lobster (sorry, not me). The pasta was good, but not as outstanding as the price tag would suggest. The cost: not worth it. There are plenty of places in the North End with much better ambiance, with dishes that are just as good and more inventive, and for less than the arm and leg we paid here. I'm not sure what we were paying for so I doubt we'll be back.
(2)
Jeffrey K.

Love this place. Let me start by saying that the Boston waterfront is a great place to have dinner. I've been to Strega twice and i must say that the service and food are both off the charts. It feels that you're being taken care of right when you enter the restaurant. Everything is made to order and is equally fresh and delicious. If you desire something off the menu just throw it out there and the waiter/waitress will exeed your expectations. I would love to say I've tasted numerous items on the menu however both times I ordered the surf and turf. If it ain't broke then don't fix it! selected the ginormous lobster tail which is accompanied by 6 lamb chops. The flavor is like no other. This place isn't cheap but you get what you pay for!
(4)
Neil S.

Food was great. We went for a late lunch~2pm and had to wait a very long time for our lunch and the restaurant was nearly empty. That said, portion size was large and the chicken balsamic mozzarella panini was very good. I'd give it a shot again for dinner s the menu looks quite interesting.
(3)
Sarah M.

I honestly think our waitress was high. To start, there were maybe 5 other tables of people outside and the waitstaff was working in teams, or so they claimed. I arrived before my brother, so after he showed up the waitress came by to ask what we wanted to drink. We asked for a drink menu and minutes later she came back with one then she disappeared for another 5+ minutes. I was in the restroom when my brother ordered my drink and she had him get my ID from my purse. Not a big deal but I wasn't even sitting there so how did she know it was my picture on the ID and it wasn't a fake? After she dropped the drinks off she said she would tell us the specials in a minute. 10-15 minutes passed and she finally came back to tell us the specials. As she was telling them, she kept looking around slowly..turning her head side to side as she was talking. She then came back another 10-15 minutes later to take our order. In the 10-15 minutes we waited, I watched her behind the outdoor bar chatting it up with the bartender. Anyway, flash forward to the food. We ordered an appetizer that was tomato, mozzarella, and prosciutto. It was delicious and probably the best choice of the night. When dinner arrived, we were disappointed with the size of the entrees. $21 for a tortellini plate that had maybe 8 large tortellini and a small amount of chopped ham. The tortellini were okay..but they had a lot of pepper in them. Overall, the place probably would have gotten 4 stars had it not been for our horrible waitress and the small portion size.
(2)
Marina S.

I have never been to this restaurant before and went for the first time on a quiet wednesday night. As soon as I stepped in I loved the atmosphere. The hostess greeted us right away and took our jackets for us. We sat at the bar and ordered 2 Martinis, they were ok. I liked all the t.v.s they had up against the wall. When we we ready for dinner we got a nice comfy booth. Or waiter was excellent. Knowledgeable and gracious. We ordered the garlic shrimp as an appetizer and once again it was just ok. For our main course we ordered the t-bone steak which was very good and very filling. Came with potatoes, caramelized onions and veggies. The other main dish was a special they had for that night. The waiter described it similar to cioppino and since I was in the mood for seafood AND we were eating right on the water I figured I could not go wrong. Wrong. They brought out the dish and it was the smelliest dish ever. I can't believe they presented that to diners. I have had a lot of seafood in my day and never experienced that before. The half lobster it came with barely had any taste. The mussels and clams were o.k. Overall for the price of that dish I was very, very disappointed. Seemed like they threw in their almost expired seafood into a dish and tried to get away with it. At last we had tiramisu, which once again was just o.k. Overall, I would go back there for drinks and to hang in the bar area. As far as eating there again, will not be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Kcb B.

One of the best overall experiences we've ever had. Food and service are immaculate. One of our top 5 favorite restaurants in the city.
(5)
Mindy R.

I went to Strega waterfront for my boyfriends graduation meal. We expected there to be a lot of people there, but there was barely anyone there. Probably because it was a bit far from BU and BC and New England law -all who had graduation that day. We had 7 people in our group and we got there about 1/2 hour early. We sat in the bar a bit and got drinks, then went to our table. The servers in the bar and the table were awesome. They were so knowledgeable about the menu and even made an exception to get my boyfriends mom muscles when they weren't on the lunch menu. It's great to know that a restaurant that does amazing business cares about each guest enough to please them; it shows you're not just $$$. The food was fantastic. I had the haddock and it was fantastic. I don't usually like tomatoes with my fish, but I was willing to try something new. So delicious. Everyone really enjoyed their meals and my boyfriend even tried lobster ravioli that day! For dessert they brought over a large complimentary dessert tray to celebrate his graduation!!! It was a great time, and I would definitely go back again. Only I'd go at dinner and probably make reservations a few days, if not a week, ahead of time. It looked super busy for the night when I looked over the host stand.
(5)
Barry G.

So after you read my review, you might think 'ok, why did he give it a 4 not a 5' well, it is a combination of TW) visits - thats why! So I have frequented the Hanover St location many times. Love the small cozy atmosphere, the staff, and the FOOD! So of course, waterfront should be good to right? well, the food, yes, amazing! I will chronicle my two visits. Over the summer, during the SC playoffs (GO BRUINS!), after w couple hours at Luckys we went over to Strega to meet friends. Jam packed, shoulder to shoulder, HUGE TV's showing the game, and good strong drinks. Fun, nice place, but a little to crowded for my liking (it is why we left Luckys) Went again last night, just for dinner. Much different scene (as you would expect). about half capacity, a lot quieter, and more enjoyable (I am there for the food now, not the bar) I was there with 5 other people,and we got a LOT of food. - pumpkin ravioli appetizer - top notch! - mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto? Just as good (such creamy cheese - the waiter said they import it twice a week from Italy) - Fried and grilled veggie platter - also great! The meals were amazing as expected. Sirloin, stuffed pork, awesome! sides are great Desserts? We ordered too many. Creme brule, amoretto cake, and more - all top notch. THIS is what good dining should be. great food, not thinking of calories, washed down with some Mcllelen 12 year and great atmosphere ther eis a lot more room than the hanover st location, and especially the higher ceilings make it seem bigger. I like the location, I love the food 5 stars for going out for dinner -1 star for the over crowded bar atmosphere later at night (hey, not their fault, popularity is good!)
(4)
Karen C.

3 1/2 stars - The food and service were good, just not great. They were very helpful as we were a fairly large party and the reservation was made the wrong day but they were still able to seat us. There were really no stand outs when it came to what we ordered. To start we ordered the La Strega Salad, the Calamari and the Melenzane al Castello which were all tasty, just not very exciting. I had wanted to order the duck special but they ran out of it so I opted for the IL Fagottino instead. That and the Pappardelle Funghi Selvatici were probably the best things we ordered. The lobster ravioli was good, just had better at other restaurants. Which is pretty much how I felt about this experience - good just had better similar food elsewhere.
(3)
T. H.

Strega Waterfront is a is Fantastic! A bigger restaurant than the original restaurant which is in the North End. This is a a modern restaurant serving Italian Classics with a bar and a patio on the harbor. If the weather is warm i would definitely recommend sitting outside. However, despite the size of the space, the restaurant is very popular so be sure to have a reservation or expect to wait. The food... Large portions, good quality and there is an impressive wine list to choose from. Prices are on par with the quality and the serving size.
(4)
Renee H.

Wonderful food, the service..well lets just say it could have definitely been better since the menu boasts "where everyone is treated like a celebrity". The server was definitely lacking in the beginning and the end. It wasn't bad enough for me to not return though. His recommendation for my entree was spot on. The patio was perfection until it got dark out, and there wasn't so much as a candle on the table to see by..
(4)
Nathan L.

Visited Strega Waterfront for my birthday with my girlfriend. We had a reservation and arrived early. We enjoyed a drink at a table outside and waited for our table. The location is great and design of the restaurant is very nice both inside and out although it was VERY loud inside the restaurant. Best part of the meal was the appetizer. It was a mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto dish with a very good balsamic sauce. They also have a very good wine list. The rest of the meal was disappointing. I got a short rib dish which was a special that night. The dish was average but for $40 I expected more. My girlfriend got a lobster pasta dish with a red sauce but when it arrived the lobster was still in the shell. It appeared they tried to crack the shells to make it easy to get the meat out but they were not cracked enough so it had to be sent back. The most disappointing part of the meal was when I asked for a side of pasta with red sauce, because I didn't really like the sauce that came with my dish. I was given a small bowl (the size of a cereal bowl) half filled with pasta. They charged us $12 for that. I was a little surprised they charged us at all for it but when I saw it was $12 I was shocked. Being my birthday my girlfriend didn't raise the issue until after the fact because she didn't want me to be upset but when I saw the check I was very disappointed. My meal was not worth close to the $52 she paid.
(2)
Cat M.

Nothing wrong with my meal, just nothing special.
(3)
Allyson W.

I went for dinner on my birthday with a group of five. Everyone loved their food, and the service was impeccable. They were happy to accommodate special requests, such as pasta instead of mashed potatoes with an entree. We had the antipasti and a Caesar salad, plus an appetizer with burrata, tomatoes and basil with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, to start. For entrees, we had the fettuccine with shrimp, the filet, the lemon chicken, the homemade fusilli with eggplant, and a parmigiana-esque veal dish called Sorrentina. I don't remember all the actual names, unfortunately. We had a bottle of Cabernet and a bottle of Riesling. To finish the meal, a few of us had Irish coffee, and I had a piece of strawberry cheesecake. Everything was nicely presented. We enjoyed our experience immensely and would go back again, hopefully during nicer weather so we can sit on the patio.
(5)
Jo T.

So impressed with the fresh pasta dishes. Loved the lobster fra diavolo. Waiter memorized four guests' food allergies and was patient and gracious. Enjoyed a post-dinner walk along the waterfront on a hot summer night. My new favorite restaurant.
(5)
Jay L.

We could not have been happier. Natale our waiter was attentive, but not to the point of annoying. The food was crazy good. The view was the view, not a lot to comment on their, but we are already planning another night out at Strega Waterfront, I would put it on your "must go" list, but be prepared to pay for great food and great service, Strega doesn't come cheep, but we knew that going in. Worth the 5 stars all day long.
(5)
Jason C.

I had an incredible time at this restaurant! I celebrated my anniversary here and didn't have a single regret. The atmosphere was great, the food was great, and the waiter was very knowledgeable. I went to Strega (meaning Witch, also an Italian drink) early afternoon Sunday. My girlfriend and I were the only people there for a while, so of course I told her I rented the place out for her. But serious I had a great experience here, I would highly recommend this establishment to family and friends.
(5)
Michael D.

I took my girlfriend to Strega waterfront for her bday. We had reservations but arrived early so we sat at the bar. The bar tenders were friendly and the drinks were good. Soon thereafter we were swept to our table. Our waiter was very friendly and the menu was good. We ordered the stuffed portabello mushroom for an apetizer. It arrived quickly and was very good. We both opted for the daily specials for our mealinstead of a menu item. I had the Zuppa Di Pesci (lobster, clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and shrimp in a spicy sauce over spaghetti) and my girlfriend opted for the surf and Turf (a plentiful steak and a 2 lb stuffed lobster tail). Let me tell you these dishes were the best that we've had of these particular meals. We took our dessert to go. I had a cannoli and she the tiramisu. I will definitely return to Strega.
(5)
Nikhil P.

Style points ooze out of this restaurant and it was a great spot for my wife's 30th birthday. It's all very "showy." The manager(?) greets you at the door, a tall leggy brunette takes you to your table, an uber charming waiter goes into all the detail you need about the menu, a baby grand piano and old italian films are conspicuously placed as decor. The people at adjoining tables who were either: BFFs with the management, shareholders in Strega, or wannabe "ballers" were giving mad patsies on everyone's backs who seemed important, and there was even the token older man with two young bombshells flanking him at a booth nearby. I find myself getting a bit uncomfortable with the whole "scene" that goes along with this kind of bravado, but it was a fun spot to eat. The food was honestly delicious. The calamari al fruiti (?) was damn tasty, and my risotto dinner was really good. The olives and bread were a great touch (and really freaking good ... I'd carb load at this place anyday), and the cannoli at the end of the night was probably the best cannoli I've ever had anywhere. Hands down. The only downer, which sort of confirmed/soured my taste of the place, was this little incident we witnessed at the end of the evening. A busboy / assistant to our waiter was handing over our bag of packed-up-food (portions are huge here!) and we asked him if he could show us a dessert menu. He turned to our supremely confident waiter and asked if he could bring over a dessert menu, and the waiter basically humiliated him well within earshot. Essentially, I've got it, do your job, don't get in the way, don't tell me what to do ... to a college kid who was trying to be helpful. Not classy, and makes a big statement by how everyone treats their fellow staffers. Overall, damn good food, great atmosphere, and fun spot for a cool, hip dinner on a special night out.
(4)
Francesca J.

I went here last night to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. The entire experience was excellent. We started the night in the lounge to have a drink. Really dark chic space with a friendly atmosphere. Would definitely go back just to have a drink and an appetizer sometime. We then were seated at our table and had dinner. Dining room is much larger than the north end location and really beautiful. Huge extensive wine with lavish bottles to cheap great tasting wines. My boyfriend got the veal chop while I got the lobster fra diavolo. We cleaned our plates it was so good!!! We each got dessert which were both very tasty, and his was even comp'd for his special day ( you never see that anymore) I wish we could come every weekend!
(5)
Rick B.

Fantastic experience today to celebrate our daughter's graduation. Great reception and awesome food and drinks. For a party of nine I could not have asked for more. Great suggestions for food and wine, Timothy was a true professional and made the day for all of us. Thank you!
(5)
Tey H.

Strega is more nightclub than restaurant. The food despite steep prices is just average. And be sure to ask the prices of the specials or be surprised by a $45 bland chicken. Nothing really stands out. Pork chops ok, but not flavorful, tortelloni was average. The bar scene is amusing. Mob movies play continuously which is fun for 10 minutes. Most bizarre is when the TVs behind the front bar stopped ESPN and began scrolling Chairman Mao sized photos of . . . the owner. Laughed our asses off at that bit of ego. Waitresses are gorgeous but unless one of them fits inside a ravioli, we are going elsewhere.
(2)
Lo-an L.

As the wind carried me into the massive entrance of Strega, I realize that I might not be able to spot my date in the sea of suits at the bar. Oodles and oodles of older gentlemen nursing their 12-year-old scotch looking at me as a sacrificial lamb. While I backed away slowly trying not to look them in the eye and scouring the place for a familiar face, my date waved his hand up in recognition and came to rescue me before the herd attacked. Relieved and thirsty, I settled myself at the bar and we ordered up a house-customized martini for me and, you guessed it, a 12-year-old scotch for him. It was a mindless Tuesday and the bar is already buzzing with older gents after work and traveler's crowd. Mental note, tell all the single ladies where the men are hiding in this town. The strawberry filled martini with vodka and prosecco did wonders of calming my nerves while being around some power suits. As conversations around me swirl from day trading to vacation hot spots I find my stomach grumbling in anticipation for some delightfully fresh carbohydrates. When the host finally came over to announce that our table was ready, we finished our drinks and made our tipsy way to a cozy booth. I sat there and drank in the atmosphere with it's high ceiling, huge windows overlooking the waterfront with it's ominous dark clouds and the brave souls that would want to take a romantic stroll on a windy evening such as this. A deliciously fresh breadbasket was placed before us with tons of olives filled olive oil for our dipping pleasure. Our waiter came over to recite the special which I listen to half heartedly as I munch on the bread and wait to order my bowl of linguine alla vongole with fra diavolo sauce. A nice bottle of Cabernet set the mood as my date educate me on how 2005 was a great year for cabs..... Caprese salad was as fresh as can be. The tomatoes and basil taste like they just got hand picked on a beautiful August evening... No complaints from me as I sat there satisfied with my salad and my wine. The pasta was amazingly fresh but the clams were a bit sandy and chewy. I was thinking how I should have ordered the lamp chops and then without saying anything, a lamp chop magically appeared on my plate (not magically, just a generous fella who shares). The chops were brilliantly juicy with just enough rosemary to flavor. My night was complete. Great wine, fresh pasta and a fella who shares his chops; what more can a gal ask for... Well, I could have done without the couple 2 booths away who just proposed... but c'est la vie.
(4)
Ed B.

Best meatballs in town! A little pricey at $9 for a single meatball, but, they are delicious. Sea bass was perfectly cooked, too. Our server was very attentive and provided great customer service. Will definitely be back - can't wait for it to be warm enough to sit outside.
(4)
Shari J.

Went to Strega for a work event, so I can't rate the actual menu food itself. But the event was just a mess. When a friend asked for some Pino Grigio at the bar, the bartender asked her "red or white?". She was dumbfounded. I would have asked for the red, just to see what would happen! The event food was poor bbq food to say the least - sausage, hot dogs, burgers and horrendous crab cakes. Not exactly vegetarian friendly either. Between the attitudes (and lack of knowledge) of the bartenders and servers and the underwhelming food, I don't think I'll be coming here to dine anytime soon!
(1)
Melissa D.

Insert commercial pun right now: "To die for." Strega waterfront is located on Fan Pier (inbetween the Moakley Courthouse and ICA). Valet is provided but there are plenty of parking lots around. Strega has outdoor seating and inside has the dark tones of an Italian steakhouse. Since you need to make reservations about a month in advance, we chanced it but they were fully booked. The crowd was an older setting and people got dressed up. We felt uncomfortable in our jeans and summer tops. We sat outside, a bit chilly but they have heat lamps. As we waited for a couple more people, my friend tried out the Limoncello Martini and the Espresso Martini. The latter was a better cocktail. We were disappointed that they didn't have a great selection of appetizers but I settled with the Caesar salad. Heads up the salad is a good starter for 2 people with fresh cut slices of parmesan and a mound of romaine and dressing. However, the entrees won us back with so many delicious choices to choose from. Orders were placed for the Fettuccine Strega (scallops and shrimp in a cream sauce), Gnocchi Sorrentina (potato dumplings with buffalo mozzarella), and Alla Romana (chicken breast with sun dried tomatoes). Great ingredients like fresh made pasta, off the boat scallops, chicken cooked to perfection. Entrees range from $27-$45 and cocktails about $12 each. You are going to spend a little more but the atmosphere and food won our votes to come back.
(4)
raymond g.

This place never disappoints! The food is great, the staff is fabulous, and the bar always has a great vibe. Love it.
(5)
Adam M.

Despite a new locale and a fancy decor, Strega still leaves a bit to be desired in terms of keeping up Boston's ever improving culinary scene. With many classic dishes that conjure up memories of grandma's kitchen, Strega offers something that everyone can enjoy, however, doesn't really come close to delivering something truly special. The scallop appetizer was not seared enough (barely seared at all), however, the eggplant was nicely prepared and not soggy. We only shared an entree so likely will need to return to get a better sense as to the scope of the menu, however, the Pappardelle Emiliana was well cooked, but the sauce definitely needed more seasoning. Despite high quality ingredients, the sauce was semi-tasteless and could have been much better with minor adjustments. All in all, Strega will definitely thrive in its new locale and the great view, however, will need to pick it up on the innovation side to compete with some of the up and coming chefs in Boston's culinary scene.
(2)
Cayer N.

We had high expectations but received horrible food and service...and way too expensive. Not a fun way to spend anniversary. If you want a nice meal on the water, go to del frisco.
(1)
J R.

Very popular restaurant, but very loud. Appeals mainly to tourists so absolutely no dress code. Food is good, typical Italian served in very large portions with equally vary large prices. One strange thing ... over the bar they showed old Boston gangster movies.
(3)
Lauren V.

Televised Strega commercials are about as ubiquitous in this town as Andelman brothers, and let's face it, they're painfully corny. So between that and the gaudy neon sign, I was at least moderately hesitant. And then Nick Varano and his food blew my Doubting Thomas attitude out of the water. My boyfriend and I arrived for our 8:30 reservation a few minutes early and were seated promptly - both the inside and outside dining rooms were full and bustling. The decor is, yes, a little cheesy - all grand scale and Italian-American movie classics like the Godfather(s), Goodfellas, and Raging Bull playing on loop on TVs on the central wall and this inexplicable St. Louis Arch-looking thing (I commend whoever gets seated at the table under that thing because you'll feel like you're at a wedding in the 80s. Actually, maybe I'm jealous.) in the middle of the main dining room, but the rest is all white linens and a single tea light and rose on each table. Classic. Service over the course of the meal was attentive, non-intrusive, and friendly. Within minutes, our waiters (yes, plural... a waiter and a sidekick) arrived, the former rattling off the lengthy list of specials thoroughly and with a delightful Brooklyn Italian accent to boot (was it real? was it fake? I DON'T CARE.) to my delight. I ordered a cocktail and my boyfriend ordered a beer, and in the few minutes before those arrived, the sidekick brought over nice crusty Italian bread and olive oil for dipping. For an appetizer, we ordered the day's special - fried clams. They were fat, tender, and sweet, with deliciously light crispy batter, and whipped tartar sauce - delicious! It's tough to screw up a fried clam, but these really were great, and my boyfriend mopped up the rest of the tartar sauce with some bread, because you can take the couple out of Allston, but you can't take the Allston out of the couple, y'know? For entrees, he ordered the short rib special, which had lobster meat and was served over (homemade, of course) papardelle, and I had the swordfish special, which was done puttanesca style over spaghetti. Both meats were cooked perfectly - tender, fresh, and not overwhelmed by their accompaniments. The pasta, as fresh pasta tends to be, was to die for. Though I could have finished off my meal, I saved some for today's lunch, and I don't even feel bad that I'll be the person on my office floor nuking the fish, because nothing's gonna rain on my swordfish parade. Dessert was creme brulee, which we split, and a decaf cappuccino for me. I'm not a huge creme brulee fan, as it tends to be too heavy, especially following a rich meal, but this was light, almost like a whipped pudding, with the usual delicious caramelized sugar crust, and a few strawberries and chocolate drizzles on the plate. It was completely delicious, especially with my cappuccino (fresh whipped cream and cinnamon on top), and we pretty much licked the plate clean. (How rude, you might think, but considering I spent the appetizers-'n-cocktails-time finding clever ways to deposit my olive pits, this was an improvement.) (Hint: the napkin in the lap hides EVERYTHING.) This is certainly a pricey splurge place, but the food was genuinely, shockingly delicious, and I'll gladly return here for any remotely special occasion (or non-occasion, such as a Wednesday, because they have lobster mac and cheese on Wednesdays. YOU'RE WELCOME.)
(5)
Saba N.

I love the location of this place, honestly.. you can't beat it. beautiful view. The restaurant is a little tacky, but I kind of like it. And it's Strega, what do you expect? My biggest complaint is that I ordered this tequila/grapefruit drink (which normally I love)... and it was genuinely garbage. 12 dollar garbage. But, that being said, the lunch I had was Delicious. I think it was a little over priced for dinner, but I would definitely come back for lunch. I had a prosciutto parma panini (say that 3 times fast) and I was super impressed. Plus, it was $13 bucks. Not bad for a nice, Boston lunch. Definitely would go back.. but overall not amazingly impressed. It was good. And that's about it. There aren't a ton of places on the waterfront though, so it's a really good option for those who want a nice view and to impress.
(3)
RJ S.

Beautiful location and the food was excellent! I had some lovely wine with the lobster fra diavolo- incredible!
(5)
MaryKate R.

Yet again..... They knocked it out the park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally get a night out with the ladies, leaving hubby and the boys at home, and it was amazing!! Food was mouthwatering and the cocktails were perrrrrrfect!
(5)
Linda P.

Without a doubt, this place is beautiful and located in a perfect location next to the water. However, the service was horrendous. Just because my friends and I were not dressed to impress does NOT mean that we should be treated any differently. Our waiter tended to the tables next to us more often - to an older well-dressed couple. Our water stayed empty for long periods of time and the waiter was short with us when we asked for recommendations for dishes. The food was mediocre - I was not impressed.
(2)
Rich D.

Our group tried 4 apps, 4 entrees and 4 desserts. Our extremely knowledgeable server explained everything in great detail. It started with the apps where he went on and on about this one being the best you can find in Boston, this one being the greatest this, that one being the greatest that. He oversold everything. I wanted to laugh. But then I tasted the apps ... one after the other ... he was right about everything! He wasn't overselling it. Each app, each entree and each dessert was fantastic! Even things I don't normally eat like figs, gnocchi and prosciutto were wonderful. My favorites were probably the calamari and the Chilean sea bass. Both were the best I've had at any restaurant. So incredible food and service to match in a beautiful restaurant. What more could you ask for? I've only been here once, but it's already my favorite restaurant. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Christine D.

amazing pumpkin ravioli. good for a midweek dinner. extremely friendly and sweet bartenders. good prices
(5)
Warren W.

Easy to get to location; took advantage of the valet parking; gave him my keys and look over and there are about 5 spaces available on the street.! In we go, catch up with our good friend and it's dad's night out with the ladies. I don't love 1/2 moon booth type seating. One person has to take a leak and 2 of us get up. Not for four of us anyway but there we are and I think the crew likes it. I say nothing. Water is delivered promptly with a large basket of bread, the most delicious olives and I'm checking out the the crowd. Mostly men; looks like just after work and with a mixture of couples as the night progresses. We arrived at 7:00. Recommendations from previous yelper experiences has my daughter all over the lobster ravioli or better known to we Italian wannabes as Lobster Aragosta! Ha! This was first challenged by a hearty plate of calamari with a very delicous marinara sauce and more than just an appetizer. Order this and stop. I went for the Taganino (rhymes with Menino) and not exactly as described in the menu. Somebody forgot the crostini. I kept eating; kept doing my best to get to the bottom; but there was no bread at the bottom of the delicious little necks and mussels. The sauce was described as spicey by not so. One diner, Auntie, enjoyed the Rollatini (eggplant perfectly rolled and the most wonderful of all textures and taste.) She then got after the Papparadele Funghi Sevatici a creme based, truffle infused, mushroom dish that was perfect on this cold evening. She loved it. Got to tell you about Auntie's bloody mary. She's not much of a drinker. "please may I have a bloody Mary with very little vodka?" Out it comes. Now she also doesn't care much for spicy. This Mary is beyond hot mixed with far too much pepper and really for most undrinkable. Another is brought to the table as a replacement. She hopes watered down! Nope. Sits sits there loneyl with ice melting looking for a new home. Our other friend the Panda was engrossed in a fusili dish known to most Italians as Casareci Di Marinara a perfect dish for this discerning vegan who loves tomato, and eggplant baked together. The wine was a very dry and tasty G. Travaglini Gattinara 2004 that also was priced sort of fairly and affordable for our host who was footing the bill (Auntie). Vincenzo was our server. He was attentive, funny, and personable. I would ask for him again without question. The atmosphere is upscale, and I think a taste of what the waterfront in the Seaport area will become. This will be a very busy spot 12 months a year. A cool yet small bar with a great display of tv's and a hostess or two in dresses short enough to have me take the pictures of the wife and kids out of my wallet! Why the 4....Oh I can't do it I'm changing it to 5. Did not like the booth, where was my crostini, and a sure could have used a spoon for my clams!? Oh, I could have said something, but I was the guest and trying to be on my best and well.......
(5)
Kyle R.

The meatballs were amazing, as was the bread with oil and olives to start. The Peroni was delicious as well. Went with the scrimp scampi. the shrimp was fresh and tasty but the pasta lacked flavor although it was cooked perfectly. Sat outside because it was a nice day. The interior dining room is beautifully designed. amazing architecture! very solid wine list and the rest of the menu looked good. Will try again for sure
(3)
Leah M.

I tried Strega for the first time this past Friday night. We had reservations, but had to wait probably 20 minutes to be seated. We sat awhile before our server came over, but we didn't mind much. This place has a very, very nice decor. I liked how they had t.v screens with my favorite mob movies playing which was really cool. The location is nice, but it was a lot further back than I had thought so I couldn't find it right away. The server came over with warm bread and olive oil with all different types of olives, which was SOO good!! We got the calamari as an appetizer which we all enjoyed it was delicious. All of our entrees were excellent, I had the CASARECCI DI MARINA, which was eggplant with fusilli w/ tomato sauce. It was amazing!! My sister had the fettuccini strega, which was shrimp and scallops w/ pasta in a cream sauce. She loved it, I tried it too and I thought it was delicious. Our friend had a dish with mushrooms and pasta in a creamy sauce, I can't remember what it was called but it was good, lol. The food was amazing we enjoyed it!! They lose a star for making us wait for our table, and it took quite awhile for our server to greet us and for our drinks to come. Our server was really nice though, and it was a Friday night they were super busy.
(4)
Justin B.

Strega Waterfront provides some of the best service in the city. They just do it right. They have an army of people and they are all alert, professional, attractive and good. Just plain good. It's old school and astute. The vibe of the restaurant is a busy urban Italian place. Even the most popular trendy places in town, although very busy on Saturday nights, will not fill up until after 7p. At Strega W they seem to have a regular crowd that will come out earlier than 8p on a Saturday night, and stay for a while. This combined with the walk ins and normal volume for a city restaurant means that the place is buzzing from the get go, but if there is a seat or a table available, they will make it happen for you. On poin with the servicet. The decor and mood is modern and elegant. One would assume that the fare is traditional Italian food, a la Maggiano's, but when you open the menu the pleasant surprise is that there is adventure in there. At two pages its short and to the point, but the choices are plentiful. If you want chicken parm just ask, which it seems was purposeful. Why waste space on the menu listing the staples if you are going to be so accommodating that any request is fulfilled? I've brought dates here, my parents and me mates (not all together). It's always a good time.
(4)
Jennifer S.

Great new addition to this neighborhood! The decor was very cool, the service was great by recommending dishes and the food was excellent. I highly recommend trying some of the housemade pasta...delicious!
(4)
Melyssa C.

This restaurant was absolutely DISGUSTING!!!! The waitress was a total bitch!!! The chicken Marsala tasted like Maple Syrup & chicken was cold. Our food took forever, everything about his experience was HORRIBLE!!!! I wish I didn't even ave to give it 1 star. They sat us outside near a working station, and everytime they'd walk by with plates of food, my arm got burnt. The Strega in the North End is very good!!
(1)
Anh L.

Service: Held a birthday dinner for a friend last night for a party of 10 and couldn't be more pleased with the service. We had originally made our reservation for 9pm but the birthday girl couldn't arrive until 10.. Although they closed at 11, the waitstaff was extremely patient and very understanding while the rest of the party was seated. Atmosphere: Enjoyed the atmosphere in here.. The lighting was at a perfect setting - not too dim. Interesting playlist for the music though. It felt like we were sitting in a lounge at certain points of the night.. but for the age of our crowd, it was actually a pleasant surprise. The only complaint is that we were seated by the window in the back so a nice view would have been nice.. maybe of the waterfront? Menu: The menu was reasonably priced, although some members of the party may disagree. Could use a little more of a selection but everyone enjoyed the dishes they ordered that were pretty well sized. Definitely glad we decided to go here. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(4)
Elidga M.

Today me and my girlfriend where at this fine dinning restaurant in Boston! Great food, great service, everything was on a top level! I will visit it again!
(5)
Amy T.

What a fantastic night! Strega provided a fabulous experience from start to finish. I have a hard time with places that seem to be trying too hard (from the pretentious host to the bored waitstaff), but Strega didn't have any of that. Not a single snotty attitude, or blase person to be found! Everyone was friendly and accommodating The bar is great. Lj (our bartender) was not only great at taking care of our large group, but did it with a genuine smile and pleasure. Our waiter was fun, well-informed and we ended up feeling like he was part of our dinner party (in the best way possible). He added so much to an already pleasurable dining experience. The food was delicious and all nine of us liked our food (not an easy accomplishment). The antipasto platters were delicious and the bread was phenomenal (they basically had me at the bread basket). They serve you bread that is so moist, with a side of olives in olive oil that is so good, that had I been alone, I would have eaten enough to make myself sick. The atmosphere was a great mix of classy and fun. Very nice decor and added a little wink wink Italian flare with Old Blue Eyes watching us from the wall on our left, DeNiro watching our back, and the Italian American film classics on the TV. There was one tiny little minor issue. The creme brulee (my favorite dessert) was not brulee. It was more of a pot du creme. A minor detail I would have no problem overlooking and will not deter me from returning as soon as I can. Thanks Strega!
(5)
Georgina C.

As a patron of Strega and Niko on Hanover St I was BLOWN AWAY by Strega Waterfront. Everything was top notch, the decor, drinks, menu selection and service. This is a WONDERFUL venue for any type of occasion and Guissepe our waiter was fantastic, very attentive and knowledgeable. The place was also packed, a testament to the exceptional service and quality of food. I would recommend this to anyone! Wonderful wonderful wonderful! Well done Mr. Verano.
(5)
Paul S.

Amazingly bad food. Place is gorgeous. Service is pretty good, attentive but slow. The food is the real letdown and frankly it is surprising. I would have thought this was going to be a 5 star meal. Calamari app was bland and really not worth eating. Surf and turf was awful. Steak was dry and tasteless. The stuffed lobster special was absolutely awful. They removed the lobster meat and only left a small part of the tail that was stuck to the shell. The shrimp and scallops were way over cooked and hard. Cult detect any lobster meat other than the stuff I struggled to scrape off the inside of the shell. Want be rushing back to this place especially with so many good restaurants in the area. Legals down the road actually has a view of the water (which we did not) and the food is amazing. There is also Delfriscos that is probably in the same price range and their food rocks. Sorry to put this review - thought this place was going to be great.
(2)
Roseann C.

I really wanted to love it here. It's in one of my favorite parts of the city, is a wonderful space, and I love the outdoor bar. I ate at the original Strega years and years ago, when it first opened, and was underwhelmed then. I figured over a decade was enough time to put together a good menu with well-prepared offerings, and I was excited to try its beautiful waterfront location. Buuuut, the food here was just not good. The staff were very warm and nice and inviting, and our server was just fine. The drinks were good as well. I ordered the Pollo Alla Romana and asked for spinach instead of the starch it is normally served with, which request was readily honored. Sadly, it was greasy and unappealing and not very flavorful. The spinach was very oily, and it had whole garlic cloves in it, which I normally do not mind at all - the more garlic the better for me - but these were not cooked. My boyfriend had the Pappardelle Funghi, and the pasta was unfortunately overcooked, and the dish was very oversauced. The couple we dined with had the Gnocchi Sorrentina, which was reported as heavy, gummy and overcooked, and a Frutti Di Mare special which was "just okay." I did like the lively atmosphere, the movies on the TV screens (though "Analyze This" in my opinion does not belong on screens next to "The Godfather" and "A Bronx Tale"), and I get that this place is a "scene" and whatnot, with its Bentleys and Maseratis parked outside, but it is not someplace I will eat again. Maybe I'll pop back for a cocktail at the bar outside on a breezy summer night by the water, but that's it. What a shame.
(2)
Marissa S.

Beautiful location, awesome atmosphere, good food. What else do you need for a good restaurant? A friend suggested we go here, so there of us made a reservation - which I would HIGHLY recommend. We went on a Wed night and there were no tables without a reservation. We were seated and placed a drink order. In general the restaurant is expensive. Martini's are $12-$14 and entrees are $21-$45. The one thing I didn't like about the atmosphere is that in the bar area there are huge tv's and lots of them. It's almost like a sports bar. The other thing is that the service is okay. Just okay. We found ourselves asking a few times, "where is our waiter?" and one time had to ask someone else to find him. But, the food was awesome. It was very good. I had the tortellini and it was delicious. One other very cool fact is that they have complimentary car service that will take you wherever you want to go! how cool is that? I have a feeling this place is going to be hot, hot, hot during the summer since it is right on the water. Def. worth a try!
(4)
Iris M.

Great location by the waterfront, oh!, and a 10 minute walk from my job! The restaurants seems to be a meeting place for execs in the area, as well as large family gatherings and couples looking for a special night out (a guy proposed to his fiance that night). Anyway, we went here for a friend's birthday in May and it was a really chill spot. A bottle of champagne was sent to the table, we had loads of sweet drinks, the rolls were fresh, I finally got to see A Bronx Tale, tried a couple of the appetizers (tomato basil mozarella and eggplant). Honestly, I can't remember the exact dishes that were ordered, but the night was that good and it left a feeling of deep satisfaction. What I did taste, left me wanting to come back in the very near future.
(4)
Itch S.

Not just dinner but a complete experience. Phil greeted us, Bruno waited on us and everything else fell in place. It was difficult to decide amongst so many choices. I wanted to go the full Italian course with Appertif, antipasto, primi pasta, secondi, insalata, desert, expresso, grappa.... and I did. Bruno accomodated my request for small arrabiata pasta as a primi, which was not on the menu, without hesitation. Great. Mozzarella in the Caprese was great. Ossobucco was so good I almost thought it was manufactured (I know that doesn't make sense). Creme brulee was great but was strange that I was given a dinner fork with which to eat it (fahgetaboutit) - but hey it helped me savor it longer. Everything going on around us, the interesting crowd, the regulars and even the staff were entertaining to watch. I noted that many of the movies showing on the multiple video screens had the same actors at different stages of their careers on simultaneously. Chazz Palminteri, of course DeNiro. Hey and it was a full moon viewed out the window. Hey nothing about the place was cheap but it was all good stuff.
(5)
Rachel R.

I went here with a friend from work yesterday during restaurant week. I had never been here before but my friend had, so she suggested the place. The atmosphere and location are very nice. It is bright and sunny and very close to the water. The seaport district is really getting some great places!! They brought a basket with lots of warm, freshmade bread, and olive oil with all different kinds of olives. This was delicious!!! I started out with the Minestrone Soup for my appetizer and it was very flavorful and full of veggies. My friend has the prosciutto e melone(melon wrapped in prosciutto), which was three large pieces of melon wrapped in lots of prosciutto! She said it was great! For my entree I had the Pollo Parmagiana. It was a very tasty piece of chicken, with breading, topped with homemade red sauce and cheese, and a side of penne! Delicious!!! And a great portion, especially during restaurant week! My friend had the polpette with paccheri... which was homemade veal and mushroom meatballs with house made paccheri pasta... it looked amazing! we both finished our plates. For dessert, it was tiramisu for both! Excellent! The service was amazing here, and I beleive all of the servers are actually Italian. Sometimes the service can go downhill during restaurant week but Strega definitely kept it upscale! So happy I tried this place. I will definitely go here again!
(5)
Abhirup D.

This place is expensive, but for the money you dish out, they sure treat you like an Arabian prince. I went to Strega Waterfront for a corporate dinner, and as soon as i walk in you are greeted by the collage of celebrity photos, each of who I am sure enjoyed the experience as much as I did. The food was great. I had the rack of lamb special. It was amazing. Presentation, flavor, taste, everything was awesome! My gin and tonic was nicely made as well, except for the copious amount of tiny ice cubes, but that was overshadowed by the glamor of the waiters/bartenders. The ambiance was a little ridiculous - they had giant screen TV's playing Rocky and a bunch of Italian Mafia and Gangsta movies, but it all added to the experience. I would be mostly inclined to take my girl to that place and treat her to a luxurious dining experience, and I highly recommend you do too. The place is the bomb.
(5)
Jennifer V.

Went to Strega Waterfront Friday night with some friends before Cirque Du Soleil. I like the space. It was about 90 degrees out and we had walked there from the financial district so it was nice to hit the AC. The owner of the restaurant was sitting outsite having dinner with someone and I happened to turn around and caught his eye. I said hey you're the guy on the commercials. He was very friendly. I told him that I have been to Strega in the North End and love it and so I wanted to try this. The interior is very modern and interesting. Very roomy not crowded. I liked the feel. We were dying from our walk over and the heat so we didn't want to sit outside. We had them sit us inside but with an outside view. All that was between us and the people eating outside was glass. I liked that. I'm not going to lie. The food was absolutely delicious! They were very attentive throughout the entire meal. They brought drinks and the bread basket which was nice and full and the oil with the olives is such a treat. We ordered the scallops sauteed in Grand Marnier for an appetizer. Those were stellar! A friend ordered the Calamari and said it was a tad bland. Strega if you are reading these posts, change the Calamari or offer it both ways. I have dined at several places that use an aioli rather than marinara and they drizzle it on top of the calamari. Much better. Send someone out to Rustic Kitchen or Sofia to try their Calamari which I feel has a little something extra! My entree was a special. The Chilean Seabass. This was delicious! It came with parmesan mashed potato and 2 huge pieces of asparagus, an orange pepper and a small zucchini that were tied together. You had to pull it off this little skewer thing. Really good. I was looking to eat healthy so I accomplished my goal. My friends had the Porterhouse steak with those mashed potato and veg and the other had surf and turf. This was pricy $68. Wow! My chilean sea bass was about $42. I think the porterhouse was about $39. The Scallops were $19 and the Calamari $13. The Calamari looked plump and fresh, I didn't have any but my friend told me that it was bland. I told her to dredge it in the Grand Marnier sauce from my scallops. for dessert I had Creme Brulee. It was delicious as usual. They put a swirl of some type of raspberry sauce or something on the plate, but I love my Creme Brulee with fresh berries. My friend had a really big piece of chocolate cake. The other friend had lemon sorbet. They stuffed it in a lemon shell, which was nice looking. I'm definitely going to go back for those scallops in Grand Marnier. I loved everything I had. Now I just need to try Nico's. The other place he owns.
(5)
Carmella R.

Came here for my parents birthday and was very disappointed. SERVICE: Our waiter was an older gentleman, who rushed us throughout the whole night. I asked him what I could get besides mash potatoes and vegetables with my meal & he said those were the only two options. However I found out later you could get roasted potatoes which would have been better since I have a cheese allergy and the Mash potatoes had a ton of cheese in it!! Which I was never told. FOOD: It was also very expansive for what you get..which isn't that good. The portions are very small, and for the price you pay, you would expect double the amount of food. I got the lemon chicken which comes with gross tasting cheesy mash potatoes (my brother who loves cheese hated the mash potatoes) with one mini zucchini, one mini pepper, and 2 pieces of asparagus. All for $25. Needless to say I left hungry which should not happen when you go out to eat. I only weigh 105 pounds, so normally I get full fast, but this wasn't the case at Strega. My brother got the veal which again only came with mash potatoes and an an incredibly small side of vegetables. (Shocked to know the only two sides available with each dish is mash potatoes and veg.) Veal was not tender at all. My father got a different veal dish which came with roasted potatoes, however most of them were black...we thought they were figs at first. Never have seen a black potatoes and I hope I never do again. ATMOSPHERE: Very loud. Could barely hear the waiter and guests at my table. It's a sports bar,that meets a fancy restaurant....the combination of he two don't work unless you're in Vegas. $300 later and we all left hungry. We will not be returning back. Don't waste your money here, the food is NOT exceptional and or amazing. Neither is the service or the atmosphere.
(2)
Tim S.

Great Location, Great Atmosphere, Amazing Wine List, & Very Good Food. PS: The Female Servers are Gorgeous!
(4)
A N.

The three stars are for the excellent service (despite the rude man who confirmed my reservation by phone) and the wonderful ribeye special. Three stars is generous! Other than the ribeye, the food was mediocre - boring Caesar salad, bland fried calamari with blander sauce, under seasoned scampi and just a decent chocolate cake. With just two glasses of wine, dinner for 2 adults and 2 teenagers (squished at a tiny table which was really only big enough for 2) was over $300 with tip. Thanks for not mentioning the special prices! Would that have been rude? And valet was $10 despite the website's free valet parking claim. I don't mind an expensive dinner when it's worth it, but we experienced very little value here unfortunately.
(3)
Joanne F.

Really torn on a review since some of the food was very good, but the experience was tainted by hair in both a salad and an entree, both delivered to the same person - tough luck, huh? In fairness to Strega, the hair recipient was our guest and opted not to complain to the waiter so we respected that, but really -- hair in not one but two dishes made us all circumspect. :( Service was good but not great, the food was overall good but nothing special. Prices steep but not absurdly so. Two of us had the salmon with mustard/caper sauce, that was very good but pricey, a couple others had chicken, appetizers and salads good, and great wine list but the waiter couldn't answer any questions. The hairs though - one hair would have been a fluke, but a different type hair in a salad and entree both was enough so that we would never go back.
(2)
Pam C.

Went for lunch, and it was not very crowded. This location if fairly new. The original location is in the North End. By far one of the best Italian restaurants! Don't let the upscale, hoy de toy look fool you. Yes, you might have to dress up a bit, but do it! The service was superb. The food even better! The waiter filled a plate of assorted hot and cold appetizers from a beautiful layed out display. My husband had the steamed clams and mussels in a perfect broth. Wonderful bread to sop up the broth too! I had the stuffed eggplant appetizer. The red sauce over the eggplant was delicious, with the correct amount of spice. My husband had the tortellini. The white sauce with the tortellini was perfect. The restaurant is on the water...kind of. Located within a corner of the waterfront. The wall of fame as you enter the restaurant is impressive, if that kind of thing impresses you. Stars like this place! We spent $100 for two, but had 4 glasses of processco with our lunch. Worth every penny!!
(5)
S. M. S.

Hope you like watching TV while you eat because the only thing odder than the inconvenient location of this restaurant is the frickin' 300 TV's blaring Times Square-scale baseball in your face. Food was North End Italian (boring).
(2)
Eve S.

At first, the decor and ambience seem straight out of a NJ mob movie, and you wonder if it's all a little too... Italian kitsch. But it all makes sense once you taste the food and experience the service. Strega does home-style Italian proud. I'll definitely be hosting my most finicky Italian foodie family and friends here in the future.
(4)
Ann D.

I was totally impressed with my experience at Strega Waterfront. We sat at a table by the bar, as we didn't have a reservation and the dining room was full by 615 on a Wednesday... Our server Shauna (i think?) was the sweetest ever. Really, everyone working there really nailed it on the hospitality front. The vibe was warm and welcoming, which is rare in a kinda sexy place! Everything was yummy, too!
(4)
Frank K.

I've been a big fan of Strega in the North End for a long time and recently had the opportunity to try Nick Verano's latest venture, Strega Waterfront and like everything else he run's this establishment was top notch. We waited at the bar for the rest of our party to arrive, the hostesses were very accommodating dealing with our late to arrive party. The table service was first class and the everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Phil the Host made his rounds throughout the night checking in frequently to make sure everything was satisfactory. Be prepared to drop some coin but the service and quality of the food certainly command it!
(5)
J H.

Love this place. I had no idea it existed so close to work but I'm glad I know now :)
(5)
Roseanne B.

I went here during Restaurant week and it was delicious!! The freshmade bread and olives is a great way to start the meal. I had the shrimp scampi, which was cooked PERFECTLY. Not too garlicky, and the pasta was perfect. Will definitly go back.
(4)
Ted D.

I went Strega's for the first time in July, 2013 on an early Friday evening for dinner with a friend and found it to be an excellent restaurant from all perspectives, From the hostess to bar, waiter, wine selection and especially the food preparation and portion size. I had the fish with gnoccI and I had a special request which I was very surprised and appreciated that the waiter and chef was able to accomodate. Excellent, food, service and atmosphere. I would higly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Rick B.

Great Italian food. Excellent service. Valet parking better than garage.
(5)
Jackie N.

Food: Pasta was a tiny but too mushy, bread was boring, but rest of food was great - especially seafood. Service: Excellent waiter except he got really busy & forgot to refill our drinks Atmosphere: Strange mix of classy decor & service but loud music & bar scene right next to indoor dining area (we got there at 9:30) & tv's on the wall. Still a nice place that was good for our 1-year anniversary. I would go back but I wouldn't bring my parents if they were in town - unless it were earlier. Maybe it's quieter then.
(4)
Johanna D.

Went here during lunch for restaurant week because I've dying to try it. Looking at their menu though I was confused as to why none of the restaurant week options were actually on the menu (and we had to specifially ask for the restarant week menu). I opted for the meatball which came with ricotta for an appetizer and I must say it was absolutely to die for! Melt in your mouth veal as the main ingredient and the ricotta a perfect compliment. Then I had sausage and broccoli rabe risotto which was also really tasty and a good lunch choice. My boyfriend decided to order off the regular menu and got a caprese salad and a Strega burger. He really liked it but it was nothing to write home about. Tiramisu is a must! Overall, solid choice.
(4)
Nicholas W.

I took my wife and mother in law here about a week ago because a friend of mine had raved about the new restaurant. Needless to say we were all impressed. The atmosphere is perfect. Not stuffy but dressy enough to make it special. Phil, the restaurant host noticed we looked hungry and brought us some delicious anti pasta on the house. Nick Varano, the owner, was going around the room saying hi to everyone and making sure everyone felt special. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for great food and a good time.
(5)
Kathy S.

Our waiter was extremely helpful, great service. (the main reason I give four stars) Wine list is huge. We got one bottle of wine and then the next three wines we selected were out of stock. They made up for it by providing a bottle that cost double the amount. Appetizers were delicious, the ones we got anyway. We ordered the one that everyone raves about but it never came. I felt uncomfortable asking where it was because someone else was picking up the tab. The beef ribs with noodles looked outstanding. The veal was ok nothing spectacular and small portion. My dish was very blah. I got the pasta with eggplant and sun dried tomatoes.... or should I say ONE small piece of eggplant and one sun dried tomato. Not kidding. The sauce was very very blah. NO flavor. Didn't eat more than a few bites. Glad I filled up on the appetizers or I would have been hungry leaving the place. The place was extremely noisy. We had to yell to hear each other. There is a connected bar and I believe people want to talk above each other so they get louder and louder to get their say in (where have manners gone??) .... so I don't hold this against the Strega.
(4)
Andrew S.

It's a nice atmosphere, but tries to be too many things at once. The dining area is elegant with great details, but has TV's along the wall showing classic italian/mob movies (a gimmick from their North End location). It just detracts from the classy establishment it's trying to be. The sports bar, sorry, "lounge", portion wasn't separated and as a result the entire restaurant was way too loud. We were on the opposite side of the restaurant and were constantly straining to talk across a 3 ft table. The food was "meh"; admittedly we ordered on the cheaper side of the menu ($20+) but you shouldn't have to order a $35+ entree to get decent food at a "high-end" restaurant. Overall it was ok, and my date liked it but it was nothing special and doesn't live up to the hype. If I go back I'll know to have much lower expectations. Bottom line: service, initial appearance and prices of a high-end restaurant but the food and atmosphere of a "wanna-be" establishment. BTW: drinks are way over priced (prices not on the menu). $7 for a 12oz bottle of Sam seasonal in a glass.
(3)
melissa c.

a 3.5 would be my ideal. I'll start with my issue- I found the place WAY too crowded. I was in a larger party of 14 and we were laughing at how tight the space was. We actually had to shift seats to alternate man/woman to give us enough space to eat. Even so I literally had to keep my elbows in toward my body in order to use my fork and knife without hitting the people next to me. When I had to use the ladies room I had to inch my chair directly back because I couldn't get out. Of course on my walk to the bathroom I felt like every two feet I was bumping into either a patron or staff. The bar looked great and we wanted to stay for a drink after dinner but once again you were moving out of the way every 30 seconds for someone who needed to pass through. I understand that popular places will have a full house but it ruin's the experience when you can relax and enjoy yourself. I would have rated it a 4 if the space wasn't such a bother to me. Now the good. First off the staff were all VERY nice and professional. We were greeted, our server was awesome and all were pleasant. The food was amazing. Since there were so many of us I was able to try different dishes which was great. The buffalo mozz., prosciutto, tomato was awesome as was the calamari. the lamb lollipops were superb and the lobster ravioli was GREAT. I loved that there were actual chunks of lobster inside-many places cheap out and they do it right. The wine selection was great as well. I was too full to try to desserts but the tray looked so yummy. I would go back but would get a reservation and reserve a booth-with a booth you may not have to deal with as much of the space issues as the tables.
(3)
Michelle P.

I'm actually really surpised that this place got so many good reviews. I think people are just being nice. Other than the atmosphere and free valet - this place is terrible. The chicken I got was completely overcooked and dry like it had been sitting there for 5 hours. They brought me another dish and it was the same way. Super disappointing for a $25 entree. Then we got Tiramisu for dessert. Starting eating it and it was pretty good until we tried to take a second bite and realized it was completely frozen in the middle. Really Strega? You're a "high-class" Italian restaurant and you are serving me a frozen piece of Tiramisu? Disgusting. Not to mention how awkward it is when the owners walk around bothering people while they are eating...I'll never be back here.
(2)
Michael W.

Great food and for a place that attracts a fair amount of tourist types....the menu is a lot more than veal parm and a pound of pasta. Very innovative menu that still specializes in the classics. Authentic food, outstanding staff and a beautiful looking restaurant. Highly reccomended!!!!!
(4)
Darien G.

Had a business lunch here recently, and I thought it was excellent. Upon entry, you get surrounded by photos of famous people posing with somebody (must be the owner / founder?) so you immediately know there are people that frequent the joint much cooler than you are. Decor is ok, but what is the deal with TVs everywhere? I get that the bar area wants to have a lot of TVs, but it's a bit tacky to have them in the dining area. That's about the only negative thing I can say though (but hey, I get to answer the "Has TV?" question in the affirmative, if only they KNEW just how many TVs!) Menu is extensive, and it's always a good thing when you reach each item and sort of nod your head in agreement. By the time it was my turn to order, I had it narrowed down to about one of four dishes. Their home made pasta is superb. The sauces are beautiful. The quality of the ingredients is obviously a priority as well... Portion size is a bit strange. Everybody in our group thought the portions were WAY TOO big, but that's a tough thing to complain about in the grand scheme of things. There's nothing they don't do well, and I look forward to a return visit soon.
(5)
Colin B.

Had a group dinner here (about 12 of us) - the staff made us feel welcome and right at home. What a great team, this was followed by truly best in class food - I personally think their anti pasta platter is to die for, but it may be a toss up with the grilled prossuitto wrapped around the smoked mozzarella Wonderful place, go and enjoy yourself!
(5)
Ryan A.

On Monday night, we came here for restaurant week. We kept seeing commercials for Strega on TV so we took it as a sign that we should try something new. The location is absolutely beautiful. It was a nice night so we decided to sit outside and we could see the water from our table. I absolutely love the smell whenever you're near a large body of water so needless to say, it was a great start to the meal. The waiter was very nice and greeted us immediately with menus. As a side note, you have to request the restaurant week menu so we did and proceeded to order a few drinks. My only complaint was the speed of service. We arrived right when they opened and were the only customers there so the drinks come out right away. But as it slowly became more crowded, the speed of the service slowed down quite a bit. Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the beet salad, the stuffed pork and the tiramisu (which was the star of the show). I also stole a few bites of the seafood risotto which was really good. Outstanding atmosphere, great food but the service should have been faster. Regardless, I'd recommend you check this place out if you're in the area.
(4)
Deanna C.

My boyfriend and I are frequent patrons of Strega Prime in Woburn, so it should go without saying that up until this point we have enjoyed the Strega brand. Upon learning that all of the Strega restaurants would be participating in restaurant week we thought it presented a wonderful opportunity to try one of the other Strega locations in Boston; we decided on Strega Waterfront. We were pleasantly greeted by the hosts upon our arrival. We were seated on the patio without delay. When our waiter finally made his way over to our table we were not informed of the evening's regular or restaurant week specials; he simply asked if we would like to place a drink order. Not having been given a restaurant week menu I asked him if this was in fact restaurant week. He curtly responded "Yeah I'll get you a menu." He returned with only one menu for the two of us. At this point we noticed that other tables sat around the same time as us had been given a basket of bread and olive oil for dipping. We assumed that this would be coming shortly, but it never did. Two other couples were sat in our section after we placed our order. Our waiter greeted each of these tables, informed them of the daily and restaurant week specials; something he did not do with us. These tables were also given bread and olive oil as well. Not once were we asked how any of the food was. He was absent for the majority of the meal which is inexcusable. This was earlier in the evening and the restaurant was rather slow. Our waiter disappeared again after dropping off the bill. Another waiter that noticed our plates hadn't been cleared and the bill hadn't been picked up came over and asked us if he could take our plates and the check. Needless to say we don't plan on returning to this location. Service can make or break a dining experience. This was extremely disappointing to the both of us because this experience was the polar opposite of all the wonderful experiences we have had at Strega Prime in Woburn.
(2)
Julianne S.

Great atmosphere, great service. The food, however, was just okay. For the prices that Strega charges, I feel like the food should be more on par with other places in the Seaport. No doubt fresh, but it was missing a little something. They have an intimidatingly expansive wine list--I'm talking karaoke book sized-- so you're bound to find something you like. We sat outside on a Friday night for a late dinner and the weather was perfect. I would recommend making a reservation.
(3)
Harold L.

I recently had a birthday dinner here for my fiancÃ©'s 40th. The food was great and the atmosphere was electric that evening. It's a great spot to have dinner but I really don't think the price equated to the food quality, but the service we had was second to none. I've never had better. I'll be sure to try it again just because of the attentiveness of the team of servers we had.
(4)
M Y.

This place was awesome. The atmosphere, the food, everything was just well done. The food portions were tremendous, enough to feed a sizable group. I had the Filet Mignon (Medium) and it was fantastic, smooth texture, very juicy and flavor was very good. Just because I liked to eat, I ordered the Short Ribs to go, WOW, Just WOW. I liked ribs but this place made me love them. They were tender and juicy and just a great late night snack. :-) I would definitely recommend this place for a date, company gathering or just friends and family. A great staff and an excellent chef.
(4)
Elfego S.

So for our 5 year anniversary we had to try a nice place since we weren't celebrating to much this year. Good thing it was restaurant week this week which made it even better and cheaper. So I made a reservation online, hard part is trying to find parking but that's nothing on the restaurant. So when your table is read they send you a text, they say is right at 10. Nice booth table close to the windows, we ordered what was available per the restaurant week menu. There was almost nothing wrong with the food, just over all amazing. The staff was awesome they attend to you on a constant basis. Our waiter was fast and super nice, my wife asked him what kind of wine to pair her food with. He choose something really good, they just know there craft in this place. Definitely a place to experience.
(5)
Kim S.

I went here for a business dinner with a group of 10. We started off with drinks at the bar. All the bartenders and cocktail waitresses are beautiful and friendly. Throughout the bar, there were complimentary passed Hors d'oeuvres that included shrimp cocktail, scallops and bruschetta. All were very good. We were promptly seated for our reservation. There were a few other parties going on at the restaurant and space is tight. The coat check was located in an odd area in a makeshift rack by the bathrooms. It was a bit difficult maneuvering through the patrons of the party that spilled out from their private room into the main dining area. Service was great. We knew our server from another steakhouse as well as Fiore in the north end. He was wonderful and eager to please. The wine kept flowing and he made sure not one wine glass was every empty. I loved it! The fried seafood and balsamic appetizer was great. I didn't see any scallops but the calamari and baby shrimp was plentiful. The burrata (fresh buffalo mozzarella) was creamy and delicious. Everyone was a fan of the Rosetta's famous meatballs. Each meatball was HUGE and could be cut up into 5-6 pieces to share. It was tender and moist. The rollantini di nico was also very good. I was disappointed that we only got one order for a table of 10 but the morsel I had was great! For dinner, I tried the rib eye and filet bolognese. The rib eye was perfect but I have to admit I was expecting spaghetti pasta for the bolognese. It was good but not what I expected. For dessert, we split a cheesecake, chocolate cake and a canolli along with some chocolate gelato. All were great but nothing to write home about. They were comparable to other desserts in other restaurants of its stature but nothing left me mesmerized. I would come here again for a special occasion or for a business dinner. It's a bit on the pricey side for just a regular date night after all the drinks and food are said and done. Parking is a bit tough and we had to valet our car.
(4)
Joe N.

Just ok - I was looking for WOW !!! Nice atmosphere but staff seemed to be a little much for me, more interested in each other ! It seemed more about the look than the service and food ! Not impressed ...
(2)
Craig S.

Beautiful outdoor location. Excellent friendly knowledgeable service all around. The ariabata shrimp are amazing app wanted to lick the plate clean. Both entrees, Steak bolognaise and fisherman's soup (way too much of every shellfish so they can charge $52), while very good quality ingredients, were inexcusably bland and overpriced. Wish I could give 3.5 as the other areas of the place almost make up for the really bad entrees. Almost.
(3)
D S.

Looking for date night with the lady in Boston this is your place . Or in the mood for some Italian and on your own come here sit at the bar eat admire the beautiful bartenders. I had the lobster rage and an bottle of Allagash . Both worth the purchase.
(4)
Maria C.

Very nice elegant restaurant, the staff and customer service is outstanding and very attentive. My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari for appetizer with Neiomi wine and lobster ravioli. Everything was delicious and tasty. It's kind of pricey but worth the cash and experience.
(4)
Emily W.

Food, service, and view were meh, to gross. The meatball was the best thing that we ordered. The Risotto di mare was disgusting. The risotto was so over cooked that it didn't even taste like risotto, and the sauce tasted like it was out of the jar then watered down-barely any flavor. Good amount of seafood though. The tiramisu was inedible as they used insanely cheap alcohol in it (I'm assuming) because it burned your mouth when you ate it. The service was ridiculous. Only 2 servers for the entire outside patio, plus they had were responsible for indoor tables too. Our apps came out quickly, before our bottle of wine, then we waited almost 45 min for our (gross) entrees. The wine was great, but we won't be returning. Too many other delicious places to choose from on the waterfront-with actual views.
(2)
Jace F.

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhh. If I could give half stars (which we should really think about here, a 5-star rating system seems a bit too committal to me), Strega Waterfront would be a 2.5 star restaurant. From top to bottom, Strega Waterfront didn't really impress. The main dining room was a bit cluttered with wait staff squeezing past you every 5 seconds and giant prep tables hugging the wall for breads and water refills. The food was another let down. We started off strong with the meatball and antipasto platter; both which were very good. However, then it seemed as if seasoning was an afterthought in the entrees. From the ribeye steaks to the chicken with lemon sauce, to the bolognese --- Strega's needed a dose of seasoning to make these dishes really pop. The quality of the meats, pastas, vegetables (albeit severely under-cooked), etc. were all very good, but the flavors were bland at best. The wine list was vast and had a good selection of bottles to choose from. We opted not to have dessert. All in all, Strega Waterfront is a cache name and cache location with overpriced and under-flavored food. It wasn't BAD by any means, but definitely not good or worth the price tag. I would much rather hit up Capital Grille and find something a bit more consistent and flavorful.
(3)
Jenny G.

Our first & most likely last visit to Strega Waterfront: Let me preface this with we were late for our reservation. We were coming straight from the airport, and we thought for sure we would be able to arrive for dinner on time. About 30 min prior to our reservation time, we realized we would be late, so we called the restaurant to let them know/make sure we could still come in for dinner. We live north of Boston, and thought a romantic night out to Strega Waterfront was just what the doctor ordered since we had been away from each other all week. FYI: Siri didn't direct us properly using Maps on our iPhone. We were very lost, but knew we were in the right area, so we parked the car, and walked/asked people for directions. *MAKE SURE TO USE 56 Northern Ave*, not 1 Marina... Finally, we arrived. I almost felt like we were sat in the worst table in the restaurant on purpose, due to our 45 minute tardiness, but I didn't want to complain, as it was our fault, and we wanted to have a nice evening. Our table was in a small room, right next to a sliding door. The restaurant looked nice on the inside, but I thought there would be views of the harbor. This was one of the main reasons for picking something so far off our radar. By the way, It was very busy/ SO loud, my boyfriend and I had to shout at each other in order to hear. I'm not exaggerating at all. We were handed dinner menus immediately upon sitting. I'm surprised the hostess didn't pull out my chair, or put napkins on my lap. Luckily, my boyfriend does this for me wherever we go, so I don't think he took notice. The space for me to sit was not very big at all, and very cramped. We were NOT given wine lists, or cocktail lists. Busser asked if tap water was OK, and we said "No, we prefer sparkling water". This was brought to our table promptly, however we were a little surprised lemons or limes were not offered. I requested the wine menu, and was given a very attractive and extensive list-although some of the wine was noticbly VERY marked up. I chose the Super Tuscan, and my boyfriend ordered a vodka on the rocks with a splash of lemon-lime soda, no fruit. This may sound nit-picky, but his drink arrived with club soda instead of lemon-lime and it was garnished with a lime. I will compliment the bussing staff. Our water glasses were re-filled constantly. This was very attentive, and we appreciated it. Also, bread and oil with olives was brought to our table, and this was quite appetizing. Onto the meals: I ordered Beet Salad & Sea Bass. -Beet Salad was 'ok'. I've never had cheese presented this way, and the beets didn't taste fresh, but it was good. I wouldn't order it again, but didn't have anything specific to complain about other than I just didn't enjoy it 100%. -Sea Bass was cooked satisfactory, but the veggies were very undercooked. I like al dente, these were basically raw. I didn't eat much of my entree. As a matter of fact, I only ate about 20%. I was not asked if there was something wrong with it, if I enjoyed it. Boyfriend ordered Strega Salad and Short Rib. His salad was very underdressed. We had to flag down someone for extra dressing. Short Rib was tasty. We both would have liked some salt, but it was not on the table. Again, we could barely hear each other. I'm not sure if the acoustics in the room was poor, or its just the entire restaurant in general. I didn't see anyone in reviews mention how loud this restaurant was, so I am very curious why. The level of noise completely made our experience poor. Our waiter was polite, but we didn't see much of him, and didn't feel we had anything other than average service. He seemed very hectic/rushed. We ordered creme brÃ»lÃ©e. I ordered Banfi Rosa Regale for an after dinner drink, but the drink in my glass was not Rosa Regale. I drink this all the time, and I know the color and flavor. In my champagne glass was a dry rose, and actually good, but NOT what I ordered. Our bill was $200 pre-tip. We are frequent fine-diners, and just felt the experience was not worth the money or hype. We both walked out and asked each other how we liked it, and came to the same opinion. Food was good, and the bussers/front of staff support (the people all in black with long aprons) were on-point, but there are *plenty* of other places to get much better ambiance, service, and views. We never even saw the waterfront until we walked back to our car. We just flat out felt disappointed. Perhaps our experience was a fluke/and or due to our tardiness. Either way, we will not recommend to friends. We actually "wished" we had gone somewhere else. This isn't how anyone spending close to $250 on a night out should feel. $37 for parking. UGH. Not the restaurant's fault (I actually read that Valet is only $10)...it is what it is... BUT again the over all feeling was NOT WORTH IT.
(2)
Joelle K.

I had dinner at Strega last week with my husband and parents. I was able to make reservations through open table the day before. We had hoped to sit outside, but it was unfortunately just too hot. The restaurant is decorated very nicely and our table had a pretty view of the water. I can't remember the name of our server, but he was awesome throughout the entire meal. We started with the two appetizer specials, the balsamic calamari and meatballs. The calamari was a little odd with the balsamic flavor, but was cooked perfectly. I have no complaints about the meatballs. For dinner, my dad and I both had the costata ripiena and, my husband had the la fiorentina and my mom had the fettucini Strega. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. I would not hesitate to return to Strega.
(4)
Alec H.

Really enjoyed my dinner, with friends here. Beautiful place, staff very attentive and knowledgable. Pasta was very fresh and just the perfect texture, in my opinion. I had the pasta with mushrooms and Truffle Oil, and , seriously would have finished the entire bowl, but I did control myself as I am trying to watch my intake, but that just my issue :). The other dishes were equally as delicious and my party seemed to also very much enjoy the evening and the venue. Wine list was not overwhelming yet had a great variety. They do have a Sommelier, if you require one, I always enjoy speaking with someone knowelegable, and helps with the paring. I look forward to going back. Would have given 5 Stars but didn't love my Booth location a bit to close to the hostess Station.
(4)
O G.

** highly recommended to call in and make a reservation. good service, great food and elegant setting. i'm a fan
(4)
Tiffany L.

Absolutely incredible! The sea bass and scallops were to die for -- perfectly cooked and seasoned. Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp was also great. For dessert, you have to get the sorbet -- the pineapple and coconut sorbet come in pineapple/coconut shells. It's so cute! Service was great and the ambience inside is really nice; could work for either a business dinner or a date!
(5)
Gina-Marie M.

Always a good choice for dinner. Very solid atmosphere, lighting, music the staff is super friendly and the food is always good. The meatball is a MUST. I also recommend that spinach salad if you are looking for something lighter. The steak is amazing and pretty much everything on the menu is yummy. Great for a date night or a nice dinner with friends. Great seaport spot to check out!
(4)
Sarah B.

Came in at 2PM on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. They were serving the dinner menu already, but that was fine. I ordered the filet mignon, which was delicious! I ordered it medium and it was cooked perfectly. As a side I ordered plain broccoli, but it was so drenched in olive oil I couldn't eat it. My boyfriend enjoyed his meal of the ravioli aragosta. Enjoyable experience, in and out in under and hour. Wouldn't mind coming back!
(4)
Victoria S.

Always a solid win for dinner. The wine list here is absolutely impressive. I've eaten here many times over the years and have always received impeccable service and amazing food. Tiramisu = delicious There are a hand full of TVs in the restaurant that always play Italian movies on silent. I'm pretty sure that one of the Godfather movies is always playing on repeat.
(4)
Stephanie T.

I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, and I am definitely a fan. I couldn't decide between 2 pasta's for my dinner, and the waiter suggested I get a 1/2 order of each, best decision I made that night. Both pasta's were filling and delicious and it was great to get to sample both. The antipasta appetizer left a lot to be desired, I have had much better for much cheaper elsewhere. The service was great and I want to go back again soon so I can try out some of the desserts!
(4)
Tess C.

Lack of views from the dining areas. You would think a restaurant on the waterfront would feature decent views, but the "patio" dining is just along the street and the dining rooms give you a glimpse of some water at best. The vibe here was really somber--maybe an effort to be formal? Server was quite pleasant. Boring menu and be warned: raw bar is whimsically unavailable at times. I can't see why this would be a great Italian choice especially given the superior and numerous alternatives in Boston.
(2)
Adam B.

Really enjoyed dinner here the other night. It was not my first time at strega waterfront, so i guess they did enought to get me back!
(4)
Casey H.

Beautiful atmosphere. You are right on the water front, if you care about this in winter.. The interior is nice. Not spectacular, speaking as an architect. The food is good. Not beyond good, especially considering the price. The lobster mac & cheese was delicious, so was the short rib. The tiramisu was mediocre at best. Not impressed with dessert at all. Drinks were enjoyable if you can afford 14$ Martini and nigroninis. I'd say there are better places to spend your cash with a nicer atmosphere.
(3)
Michael C.

Came in for a restaurant week lunch, it seems they try and discourage it though as we had to request the menu when we sat.. Our waitress was great, my glass of water was never close to empty. I really like the sleek look of this place, cool outdoor seating, and the TV set at their bar. Dinner here is pricey but lunch was reasonable. Beet Salad - Light and refreshing, if you like goat cheese you will enjoy this dish as beets are pretty flavorless Pork Loin - I liked the slightly sweet and fruity marinate but found the pork a little tough Tiramisu - Highlight of the meal this thing was delicious.
(4)
Heidi R.

The beet salad was delicious, the shaved asparagus appetizer was uninspired - two spears thinly sliced over red onion and shredded carrots- they were gracious and took it back, my table had the seared scallops which they enjoyed, I had the steak salad which was again uninspired steak plopped next to a pile of baby spinach with some red onions and way too sweet vinaigrette. The wait staff was friendly and the valet parking was a deal for the area at $10. It was not the dining experience I was hoping for.
(2)
Carrie Y.

I have to say I wasn't expecting much as I have heard mixed reviews about this place. After dinning here, I have to say I am quite pleased and would return. Any wine drinker would appreciate their wine list. Being a recent mover from SF, CA to Boston and seeing their extensive Napa wine selection I was impressed, and impressing someone who goes to Napa once a month is not easy. They have a good selection of years for each wine, possibly 5-10? Upon walking in and sitting at the bar waiting for my other party to arrive, I saw that they served Silver Oak by the bottle, which meant, this restaurant was already off to a good foot. The servers were all very attentive and the decor is very elegant. Perfect for a date or celebration or work dinner. Onto the food... - Ahi Tuna Carpaccio: I have never had Ahi Tuna served to me in a thick steak cut, perfection! The Seaweed salad was a nice touch on the bottom. Nice and light for a started. - Tegamino- MUST GET!!!!!! Not on the menu so you have to request it. Its a seafood mix of clams and muscles in a spicy tomato broth. This is to die for, I could eat 10 of these. - Ravioli Aragosta: This is a lobster pasta dish, a good amount of crab and lobster with just enough sauce. It's not as heavy as I was thinking so that's always a plus. Not a must have everytime, but would order if I was in the mood for a lobster pasta. - Gnocchi Sorentina- Get the red sauce with it. I had both- red sauce and pesto sauce (half and half). I liked the red better. Very heavy dish. - Bone in rib eye (special of the night)- I thought del frisco's rib eye was better, but it wasn't horrible. I would pass on this next time. No room for dessert... I also had a glass of silver oak and a few of the house martinis (must get). And a cup of mint tea.... It really depends on what you order when going into a restaurant. But I believe the total was $400 for 2 (drinks + food). Over all, great service and I will most definitely be returning sometime in the future. The best part was the wine list and sea food app :) Cheers!
(4)
A M.

Came here second time with a group of friends and still found this place to be hip and upscale with the sophisticated touch. Decor is great which is a reason that made me to come back. We shared all the food and it was incredible. Here is what we had: 1)Rollatini Di Nico - I have to admit that I absolutely love eggplant in any form which is the reason why this dish is the first on the list. And it was amazing! 2) Shrimp Arrabiata - surprisingly great! Red tomato sauce was slightly spicy which made the dish quite interesting and different. 3) Crab Avocado Salad - simple yet delicious fresh salad. 4) Seared Sea Bass - perfectly cooked. 5) Braised Short Ribs - excellent and tender. That's all!
(5)
Dee P.

The food was good but not great, we sat outside on the patio, poor service the waitress was nice but I feel they were very understaffed, I ordered lamb and didn't get a steak knife, I waited 10 mins for one after my meal was already on the table. Not satisfied at all not worth it. Go to Del Friscos instead
(2)
Christine N.

I came here with some girlfriends for dinner during restaurant week. We were seated promptly and given the regular dinner menu so we had to ask for the special menu. Not really sure what was up with that but we actually ended up ordering off the regular menu anyways. We got the meatballs and while it was a good meatball, I was confused why it said meatballs (plural) if it only comes as one. I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was good. Rich and creamy and loaded with lobster. My girlfriend got the cheese tortellini and she loved it. My desserts were ok. Average at best. I had the tiramisu and it came out like a slice of cake. It wasn't as sweet as I would normally like it but it wasn't awful. The creme brÃ»lÃ©e however, was terrible. I know, how can someone mess up a creme brÃ»lÃ©e? Well, they burned the sugar coating where it was so bitter I couldn't eat anymore. We let our waitress know and she said that's how creme brÃ»lÃ©es are supposed to be. Not sure where she's been eating her creme brÃ»lÃ©es but no way Jose girlfriend. So she returns with another creme brÃ»lÃ©e with no color and said "since you didn't like it the way it was, I just heated it just so the sugar would melt." Alright.. That's not what a creme brÃ»lÃ©e is but I couldn't make her take it back without risk of spit in my next creme brÃ»lÃ©e. All in all, it's ok. Would I go back? Probably not.
(3)
Beth T.

Never disappointing. Had dinner with friends everything from service to food and drinks were perfect.
(5)
Hara W.

I'd always been turned off by the celebrity-pushing nature of Strega (its front entrance is choking with gratuitous 'celebrity' photos), assuming it was more oriented towards style than substance. And that's about right. The location is hard to get to due to current construction and parking is difficult, but it's a short walk from the Courthouse T stop. The setting is beautiful along the water (and will be better once construction sites become buildings) and it's a good place to hang on a summer night. I went during the Boston Dine Out week. Our table sampled apps (beets, meatball, and a roll up), entrees (veal and porchetta), dessert (cannolis and tiramisu - dry and bland). Overall the food was fine but for those prices I downgrade that to a solid meh. My point of comparisons are that the hubs' family is half-Italian, I've traveled through Italy, and enjoyed hidden gems in the North End, Little Italy, North Beach. Service was quite attentive and professional but food delivery super slow, which is unusual since Restaurant/Dine out week revolves around limited menus. Drinks were pricey ($15/pop). So yeah, expect okay food (it's neither inventive nor incredibly delicious), people more into experiencing the scene than the meal, and higher than merited prices. More sizzle than steak.
(2)
Liza R.

I absolutely love this place! Food is always consistently good, service has been great and the atmosphere is awesome. I've been here with and without reservations and found the wait times to be fair. Drinks can be a little on the strong side, but hey I'm not complaining! Strega will continue to be my go to restaurant on the waterfront.
(5)
Christine D.

Eating at Strega Waterfront was totally wonderful. The ambiance is quietly elegant and the greeting at the door is so very welcoming. Considering it was a Tuesday evening, the restaurant was extremely busy with every table taken throughout our almost three hour dining experience. Management personnel were continuously available circulating throughout the dining room to check on diners at each table. Assistant General Manager Rachel stopped by several times. Smiles and pleasantries were abundant. And, now for a very important part of the evening: the delectable food and drinks. The wine list is absolutely phenomenal! My husband enjoyed his Cabernet and I was thrilled with the Red Sangria, a rich fruity drink. Drinks were accompanied by a basket of olive and Italian bread in addition to a dish of assorted olives in oil making us both smile. But then, the mouthwatering appetizers arrived, the burrata, consisting of tender prosciutto, creamy buffalo mozzarella and juicy sliced tomatoes, as well as the Meatball with ricotta - both scrumptious! Our smiles for the night then became even more heavenly! Just the right amount of time elapsed before our two palate-pleasing entrees arrived. The Pappardelle Emiliana's rich bolognese dish and the braised short rib were excellent entree choices which my husband and I decided to share. Our very pleasant waiter was a great listener and as a result, my request for well-cooked vegetables rather than pasta to accompany the short rib was heeded. He also made sure that we were not rushed but was always there to check in on us. The finale deserved a drum roll: refreshing sorbet served in the actual fruit's shell, one pineapple and one lemon - absolutely luscious! Kudos to the owner of this fine establishment. Management, chefs and waitstaff definitely deserve accolades for lovely presentation, appetizing dishes and attention to their patrons! Thank you for an extraordinary dining adventure!!!
(5)
Samantha R.

I've been here in the past with my family and we all thought the food and service was great. Therefore, I decided I should try it again for Restaurant Week. I'm a huge fan of risotto so when I saw they were offering it on the menu I was sold. Needless to say, the chef does not know how to prepare it correctly. The dish was definitely more of a paella than a risotto and I was super disappointed. The veal was also severely overcooked. Disappointing and probably won't be back. Would not recommend.
(2)
Soni B.

The food was well presented, however it did not have much flavor. We had the restaurant week menu, and each course did not taste like anything special including the terribly cooked seafood risotto. The service was very slow and rude. It was difficult to hear others because the noise level of the restaurant was quite loud. The only reason I give them two stars is because the restaurant was nicely decorated. The food and service deserves one star.
(2)
M O.

Very disappointed for a $300 meal for 4. Food was bland and pricey, as others have noted, but my main beef was with the server, Michael, who gave us the bum's rush from the second we sat down. We sat outside (Sunday night) and here's a partial list of the problems: 1. Set up was for 2, not 4 - we stole from another table 2. Waiter approached - didn't say "Welcome" nor his name (I only got it from the bill!), just said, "Tap water OK?". Then he brought the water and said, "Do you know what you want?" I said, "Sure, can we see a drink list?" 3. He came by at 3 times asking if we were ready to order, while we had our menus clearly open. 4. My son asked for the wine list and he said "What do you want - I'll get you a glass. Chardonnay or Pinot grigio?" Never produced a wine list. 5. Then he disappeared DURING the meal. Had to grab random waiters/busboys to get black pepper, grated cheese for my pasta, pack up leftovers, etc. 6. Had to ask for dessert list. He showed up at the end of the meal to perfunctorily ask how things were and looked at the tip (more than he deserved) right in front of us. I'm not sure I've ever met a more disinterested waiter. And it was an Anniversary/Birthday dinner, so was doubly disappointing.
(1)
Melinda G.

Upbeat, upscale atmosphere near Boston's picturesque waterfront. Indoor/outdoor seating. I went there last Thursday night with 8 girlfriends for a birthday dinner. The waitress was very attentive and the quality of service was excellent. I ordered the beet salad, which in all honestly was the worst part about the dinner. The beets felt like they came out of a can and the whipped ricotta was lacking flavor. For my main course I ordered a seafood pasta dish consisting of lobster, calamari, scallops, clams, mussels, and shrimp in a pasta with a spicy tomato based broth. The seafood portions were huge and it was very delicious. I was also there 2 years ago with my husband. I asked the waiter to surprise me with his favorite dish and I received the bone-in veal. While I usually do not allow myself to eat veal, it was one of the best tasting meats I have ever had. I had a bite of a cannoli and the tiramisu. I would not give rave reviews about these and could skip it all together next time. I would recommend it for a special event or to take out of towners again and again, especially in the summer where you can walk along the waterfront after your meal.
(4)
Nancy L.

I was organizing a 55-people wedding reception at Strega Waterfront and worked with Fruittie, the manager for over a month or so. I must say that she was the most patient and easy person to work with! I had a ton of questions and many detailed requests - floral arrangements, placecard holders, cake from outside, but she was always prompt and patient with her responses. What I appreciated the most though was that unlike other restaurants I've talked to, she never tried to up-sell me anything. I was a little nervous before the reception about whether things would work out well but on the day of the wedding, it looked absolutely stunning. The guests all complimented on the ambience and the food portions were quite generous. I would recommend Strega Waterfront to anyone planning a large private event!
(5)
Remie M.

I came here on a saturday night. Being the "out of towner" my locals wanted to show me a good time. Our reservations were at 845pm. Table for 4. Luckily, I was staying near by @ the westin. A quick cab ride to the resto. As we checked in, we were seated rt away. The table location was perfect. Rt next the window in the corner so it was kind of seculded. The ambiance was modern and romantic. I felt a little overdressed. (But at least I felt pretty, not to be conceited or anything.) A place like this in socal, u would think to dress up in a really cute cocktail dress. Apparently, Bostonians think differently. A lot of people dressed "casual" Jeans and a nice top. My friend came in a sweater and cargo shorts. haha I guess I'll never understand the fashion over there @ all. ANYWAYS, the food was good. We ordered the lobster ravioli, surf and turf, and two other entree's which I forgot. We started off with calamari. Which btw, is FANTASTIC!!! A bottle of white wine to wash down the dinner. What a perfect relaxing dinner. As we finished our dinner, we ordered drinks and shots. Plenty of them. The bill wasn't bad for 4 ppl. I really enjoyed the ambiance. The most rememberable thing was I asked one of the workers where the restrooms were located, he was very sweet and he stopped what he was doing and guided me in front of it. As, I was in line (of course, there's a line in the ladies room) I received a lot of looks. I had a brief converstation with this one lady, in her 50s. She asked where I was from and complimented me on my attire. I politely said "thank u" She asked me if I was single. I said "yes, I am" then she took out her phone and showed me a pic of a guy and said "that's my son,he would love a pretty girl like u" I was flattered but I didn't know it was getting interviewed to be set up. I just need to use the restroom! Other than that, I had a blast at this resto. Our waiter was phenominal! He was prompt and personable.
(4)
Gaurvi J.

Amazing ambience and really good food! The veggie red sauce pasta I ordered was just too good.:)
(4)
Joe G.

Came to Strega Waterfront for a business dinner while visiting Boston in November. I must say the thing that really stood out was their wait staff. They were very helpful (took my coat and bag) and offered recommendations for drinks and food. I ordered my go-to dish: Filet Medium. I must say that their filet was pretty good. Cooked exactly to my specifications and good garnishes - mash and asparagus (although their asparagus was huge!). Had Tiramisu for dessert that was decent as well. All in all, good experience at Strega Waterfront.
(4)
Lisa L.

So we came back for our anniversary this year. Our favorite waiter wasn't working this day so we had another. I want to tell you his name but he never said. While he was a cute little Italian guy, but we had a seriously hard time understanding him. He smiled at us everytime he interacted but it really wasn't enough. I had to ask him to order everything, never, not one time did he ask if anything was ok or if we needed anything. Its a beautiful restaurant and we had a good table but service was lacking. No excuse for this, this is a expensive high end place. Everyone should be on there games all the time. Tiramisu was bad, worst one I ever had. Not that he noticed. I refuse to let him rain on my parade, I will try it again and hope for a better experience like ones that I have had in the past here.
(3)
Kathy M.

Would have given place 5 stars except for the behavior of our waiter. Had friends in town and thought Strega would be a great place to take them. Went there Saturday night (May 30th). It's been a wonderful place in the past. We have been there about 4 times beforehand. Service and food has been excellent. But, this time, we were all turned off by our waiter immediately. After our friend had looked at a 40-something dollar wine and asked the waiter about it, the waiter then suggested that two other choices would be much better, more-or-less putting down her choice (then don't have the wine on the menu if the waiter doesn't like it!!!!) One of his suggestions was about $170, the other in the 70s or 80s (luckily she asked the price). She ended up sticking with her original decision. Another waiter turn-off: when pouring water, he yelled over our table AND another table to a waiter/bus boy to take away some silverware (!!!). He yelled a few times, as I guess no one was listening. In general, he also made us feel that his choices were superior than his. It was not too hard to get the impression that he wanted to upsell us on everything, increase the total, so as to get a larger tip. By the way, we had: Appetizers: Caesar salad, eggplant rollatini, burrata. They were all great. Entrees were: Sea bass (incredibly tasty), steak, veal chop, scallops. Liked them all. Our bill came to over $300. My husband ended up tipping only 15 percent (but did include the tax in the amount). On the way out, the waiter accosted my husband to ask "is this correct?" about the check. At first, my husband thought that he might have added up the check wrong, and said that the total was fine. Afterwards, we realize that that the waiter was disappointed in his tip. My husband didn't realize this at the time. But it was obvious. We all had the same opinion about this waiter -- so unprofessional, so "in our face". I was a little embarassed about our restaurant choice as I had talked up Strega, and what a great place it was, to our guests. We go out a lot in Boston and I must say this was the worse experience with a waiter at such a nice, high-end restaurant. And by the way, we were all very polite and really don't think our waiter's behavior was a reaction to us. So disappointed in Strega.
(2)
Doug M.

Took my wife for lunch on Mother's Day and we certainly weren't disappointed. Promptly seated at a nice table by the window, which we liked. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. We started off with Caesar salads which were very good. We shared a special appetizer of calamari, scallops and shrimp - in what I believe was a Thai sauce, which was fantastic. My wife had a special 8 oz filet mignon and baked stuffed lobster tail. My daughter had filet mignon; while I had the Fettuccini Strega. All 3 entrees were superb. Some of the freshest seafood I have ever had. The filets were also delicious. For dessert, my wife and I split key lime pie and daughter had tiramisu. Great way to end an excellent meal.
(5)
Jessi K.

Lobster fra Diablo is the best! It will not disappoint. I always order this dish along with the prosciutto appetizer. Everything is great. Surf and turf is awesome too! Staff is great! I love Sarah! The bartender! Tip her well she does a great job! And you never know you might see a celebrity! Literally! I have!
(5)
Darcy W.

Hello yum! If you like great appetizers, pasta, seafood, a beautiful atmosphere with live piano music and fantastic service... GO TO STREGA! This place is gorgeous! We usually head to the North End, but I will tell you this location is fantastic! We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bartender Bianca. She is awesome! We had the appetizer special and I loved the homemade mozzarella. The seafood special was huge and absolutely amazing. I love the fresh pasta dishes here, and love the fact that they will make an entree to your taste is even better. Strega has a wonderful wine list too! This place sounds fancy, but there are a ton of TV's in the bar to catch a game! I will be back next time I'm in Boston!
(5)
susan H.

This place cracks me up. I have to say, right off the bat, I've only been once, although my husband has gone a few times for work-related events. We went this past Saturday, without a reservation and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. We both ordered the Strega salad (arugula and grapefruit), which was a bit tired and underdressed. I had a delicious mushroom risotto and my husband had steak and lobster tail (steak ok, lobster tail finger-licking good.) Desert: key lime pie, just so-so. Save the calories. So what's so funny? The decor for one. It's like you're on the set of The Sopranos except right in the middle is that giant semi-circle portal from Star Gate. I kept waiting for Kurt Russell or those weird Egyptian people to burst through. They play scenes from famous Italian or Italian American movies on screens in the dining area (the Godfather, la Dolce Vida), which actually was pretty entertaining. And everyone who works there seems like they could have been in one of the movies. Our waiter was a charming, very professional guy who, I swear, almost told us he was gonna make us an offer we couldn't refuse (his recommendation of a "Cab" from the wine list.) Sort of like dinner theater.
(3)
Thomas N.

beautiful place, great service, excellent drinks, food ok, sorry to say that, it is a great place, calamari was ok, nothing special, steak sandwich would have been much better if the meat were more thinly sliced and scallops, 3 for 18$.......that said, it is a beautiful restaurant with great service
(4)
Erin T.

Could have been 3 stars but i have to minus out 1 for the bad service. I waited an extra 15 min for new "filet mignon topped with crabmeat"dish while my friends were having their dinner. The fact that I had to pay almost $50 for a small piece of steak- I expected it to be done right - the 1st time not 2nd. We asked for a tasting of a wine bottle the waiter recommended since Strega didn't have the one we want. He bluntly said "No.. You can't. You have to order it and if you don't like it then you can return the bottle" that alone already ruined my dinner... What kind of fancy restaurant is this? Customer service is very important! Especially every dishes cost more than $30. Disappointed.
(2)
Aman S.

Authentic Italian food and amazing meatballs. I would go back here again and again.
(5)
William K.

Wonderful food excellent service, seabass Perfectly cooked and the Lamb Chop was beautiful and juicy. I love this place!
(5)
L P.

I was fairly disappointed in Strega Waterfront on Sunday night. It was our first time dining there, but had wanted to try it for awhile (all the hype and whatnot). Granted it was Restaurant Week... but still. First impression: It's a nice place, very polished BUT... they don't offer to take your coat at the door OR the table... even when packed in like sardines and people are having a tough time squeezing around chairs, much less coats. Also, they don't help with your chair. I'm really not picky about this, because I love dives as much as fine dining, but if you have white tablecloths and bottles of wine in excess of $1000, probably should step it up a bit on the service front. (oh, and on that note... we saw a bottle of red that we often buy for $45 or so that was marked at $180! I get wine markup, but whoa.) Next: Wine selection. The list is unbelievable... but... while the waiter did try to help us select something, it wasn't quite what we wanted. He checked in the with sommelier, came back, checked in again, came back... etc. He must have gone back and forth between the somm and our table 3 times until we finally found something we agreed on. Wouldn't it have just been faster to send the sommelier over? First course: I had the tuna carpaccio. Delicious. Loved it! My husband had the meatball... good, but the ricotta cheese it was plated on was cold. Didn't send it back because we weren't quite sure if it was supposed to be cold or hot... also... we had been so picky about the wine. Still tasted good, and I'm not much of a stickler for temp anyway (see! not picky!) Second course: I had the veal and he had the porchetta. My veal tasted good, but small portion and smothered in cheese. Not very "artfully" done. His porchetta was dry and overdone. Not good. Table next to us actually sent theirs back. We didn't... again... Oh, and the accompaniments were totally uninspired. Same thing, both plates: 2 asparagus spears, potato. Ho hum. Dessert: Good! The tiramisu was moist and delicious. The 2 mini cannolis were delicious as well. Happy ending. All in all, we will not be back. Sorry. Not recommended.
(2)
Michelle S.

4 of us went to dinner at Strega Waterfront last night (Friday). We had reservations at 8 45 and were promptly seated outside by a bus station. We were given menus and the wine list and my friend asked our waiter, Connor, to show him a bottle of wine just to make sure he was ordering the right bottle. Connor brought it out, it happened not to be the right one, but he did order a different one. The wine presentation was fine but Connor was very unprofessional. This is where my 3 star review comes from. The food was fantastic, which I'll get to, but Connor was very unprofessional. At one point during ordering appetizers, Connor stood at the computer putting in an order for another table as our friend was trying to order. He could have politely said give me just one min to put an order in and that he would be right with us. But no, he chose to stand behind the computer. It was ridiculous. Our main entrees took a long time to come out, so we sat for a long time with nothing to eat. Our bread was also not refilled. Connor also did not give us the proper attention for first time diners. He didn't really talk about the menu. His attitude implied that he just wanted us to order and leave him alone. He did get a 20% tip because other staff should not suffer due to his inability to serve tables correctly. The food was fantastic. We ordered the shrimp app, calamari, and seafood risotto for starters. For entrees we had lamb chops, sea scallops, tortellini, and short rib. Everyone was raving about the food. But the food is not enough for me to give a 5 star review.
(3)
Michael P.

Our experience at Strega deserves five stars. Isaac did an amazing job of helping us to navigate the menu. Especially the wine menu which is about five pages long. He was knowledgeable and helpful about the selections on the menu. First, he helped guide us to our selection of champagne to celebrate our anniversary. Unfortunately, we couldn't do the Dom Perignon so we took his his advice with the Tatinger champagne. A fantastic choice. We then had the stuffed figs and crab avocado salad which was fantastic as an appetizer. My wife had the Veal chop which she loved, and I had the Sea bass with the spinach which was amazing. A complementary crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e for our anniversary and a couple of the 30-year-old ports and the meal was complete. A fantastic experience! To top things off I checked in with yelp and received 15% off our food. Thanks Yelp!
(5)
Jamie H.

my friends and i went to strega for drinks and appetizers. we were able to sit outside and i thought the wait staff was nice and the food was great, although all very expensive. one of my favorite dishes was the beet salad, which had huge fresh pieces of beets, very creamy goat cheese, and drizzles of honey. i also thought the calamari was delicious, light, and crispy. i didn't try the rolled eggplant lasagna, but others at the table were highly complimentary. we also got meatballs that were good, but not particularly memorable and very pricey for the serving size. the restaurant was out of the wine that we originally ordered, but they came up with a very similarly priced substitute that we all enjoyed. the wait staff also tried hard to make sure we all had what we needed and that the plates were well spread out at the long table. i would recommend most of these dishes that we had, and would look forward to trying others. however, i did find that the prices were very high and this was a bit of a turnoff for me. had i been picking for myself, i would have been much more hesitant to indulge in so many offerings.
(4)
Manfred S.

Excellent food and service at a price. Natale was a perfect server. We had out of town guests that we liked to treat. Bread is a nice side. Oyster choice was limited to Wellfleets, which were okay, but not great. Surf and turf, seafood combo and filet mignon with mushrooms and crab meat. The filet (rare plus) was phenomenal. The mushrooms and crab meat garnish was wonderful. The steak of the surf and turf - ordered medium well - seemed eatable. At least our guest looked happy. Seafood combo was good, but I wouldn't order it again. I skipped dessert, but everyone else seem to like it. The bill though left a bitter taste at well over $100 per person.
(4)
Anastasia B.

not sure what the fuss is about. service is good. huge wine list but food is really just OK. got 4 appetizers and 2 meals , babbo next door 100 times better with true Italian food.
(3)
Raquel M.

Don't know what took me so long to write this review...Strega is located in South Boston's Beautiful Seaport District. The restaurant is quite impressive with a higher-end contemporary decor. The waitstaff is very welcoming and attentive and happy to make suggestions. The grilled salmon, served with caper mustard sauce is deelish...If you're in the area and want to be treated amazingly well and enjoy delicious food, this is the spot. Kudos to Nicki and the Varano Group!
(5)
Garima T.

Great ambience ! Loved the tiramisu ! The vegetarian food is good too ! Service is prompt.
(4)
Tim M.

One of the best restaurants in Boston. The food was authentic and flavorful. The staff were very attentive to our needs and requests. They have a great wine selection and outstanding mixed drinks. A great place for business or personal events.
(5)
Lexington G.

Sea bass was excellent, gin martini was made perfectly - but the best part of the evening (aside from my date!) was the wonderful service we received from Bruno. He is knowledgable, genuine and kind. Thank you to Bruno and the Strega team for a wonderful night.
(5)
Charlestown C.

Once again...delizioso! Walked in tonight, a SATURDAY NIGHT and was warmly welcomed and immediately seated to a beautiful table outdoors overlooking the harbor and FIREWORKS! Our server, Tony M was incredibly amiable and professional. The wIt to be seTed without a reservation inside the restaurant was two hours but we were all very happy to sit outside on a beautiful summers night. The food is ALWAYS wonderful, the service is always incredible and nothing can beat the location or decor. It is no wonder that.Boston's athletes frequent Strega's. godere e assaporare l'ottimo cibo!
(5)
Katerina V.

The service and the atmosphere were really nice. They have several rooms which are a bit separated from the rest of the place, which creates a little bit more privacy, which is great for when it is really full. I was a bit upset that there basically isn't any seating which faces the waterfront. We came here for a dinner during restaurant week. Their seafood risotto was good, very calamari-heavy, although I would prefer if the sauce was a bit more creamy. Their Rollatini di Nico appetizer was delicious though! The wine list was extensive!
(4)
Hunter H.

Amazing service and food. Really treated me exceptionally for my birthday! Everything we had was phenomenal.
(5)
Eric M.

Strega Waterfront is a bigger and better version of the original restaurant which still resides in the North End. This is a classic Italian restaurant with plenty of space inside including a sizable bar and a large patio with views of the harbor. If the weather is warm i would definitely recommend sitting outside. However, despite the size of the space, the restaurant is very popular so be sure to have a reservation or expect to wait. The food is definitely a good quality and there is an impressive wine list to choose from. The prices are a bit on the higher end for this type of restaurant, but the portions are large which more than makes up for it.
(4)
Derek C.

FABULOUS! I've been here several times and the food and service is always outstanding. Their knowledge of the menu, food & wine is always impeccable. The food is delicious, authentic Italian, but a little creative. Must be something in the air becuase I always leave there feeling happier than ever. The atmosphere is great - perfect for any demographic or any occasion. Some dishes can be a little heavy, but it's Italian.
(5)
Sharon O.

Organizing a business dinner can be a stressful thing. Thanks to Yelpers and, of course, Strega Waterfront as well, I have to say, I was able to hit it out of the park. Strega Waterfront's location is very nice... because it's Waterfront, so we had a pleasant walk to South Station. But it's also nice because it's near the Convention Center. Also because it's more of a high-end type food of place that you'd generally like for a business dinner. The decor was nice, and although their food was high-end, the prices really weren't too bad. Most importantly, they handled our party of changing size/different arrival times like it didn't bother them at all- although I know it must have been annoying. Strega's location (near the Convention Center), great food, and friendly staff. We shared fried calamari, which was tasty (even though I tend to not like it at other places). We also shared a few meatballs after one person mentioned they had heard about them on the radio and asked if that was why I chose the place (from hearing the radio ads- I had not)! Also very good. I ordered the calabrisella (chicken breast with spinach, prosciutto, and fontina cheese), which was somewhat a safe bet but was still very good. Several people in my party went for one of the night specials- sea bass-- and ranted and raved. Woohoo- success. So, thanks Strega!
(4)
Kimberly W.

I was looking for a decent place in the Waterfront area, and while I never heard of anything specific about Strega, the name sounded somewhat familiar [maybe from a magazine or from perusing restaurant week, not sure]. Italian food by the water, and a majority of good ratings, I decided to give it a go. And after the experience, I can put my two cents in and rave about this place as well! I had a 6:15 PM reservation, and everything went smoothly. The hosts were very friendly - and there were only two or three interactions, so they made a good first impression! I waited a bit and a waiter promptly came to bring some water and asked if I would like some cheese and bread. We took our time deciding what we wanted to eat and drink, but we were by no means rushed or felt rushed. It was definitely very comfortable feeling. The waiter was easy going, friendly, and attentive. So aside from the great service experience, the food. I had the "Strega" pasta dish and the scallops and shrimp were perfect. I'm not that critical about food [which is ironic that I post on yelp], but this was some good stuff. Not overcooked at all and just very tasty. The linguine pasta was also very good, though the sauce was a bit strange. Like I had tasted something similar, but I couldn't [and still can't] figure out what was so familiar about it. The atmosphere is pretty dark, but it's very nice inside. I kept thinking I could totally see a wedding banquet or something being hosted in there with the giant arch thing they have in the middle of the main seating area. Despite the dark and the somewhat close proximity to other tables, I didn't feel too cramped or on top of others. It was a good arrangement. A bit far removed from the rest of the city, but the Waterfront area seems to be an up and coming place for higher end restaurants and condos. So for the area, service, and food, this place was definitely an enjoyable experience!
(5)
Joe C.

Nick Varano, You should be proud of the staff at Strega Waterfront. My wife and I went to your restaurant tonight to celebrate our 41st anniversary. We were early for our reservation but were still seated right away in the crowded restaurant. Our table for two turned out to be next to a wall. I am a large man with broad shoulders so I did not fit well at that table. I mentioned it to the gentleman pouring water and he said he would be right back. In a moment he returned with your manager Rachael Perry. She quickly moved us to a great booth. We told her it was our 41st and she brought us a glass of champagne. We were in your restaurant for five minutes and we saw three examples of great service and it got better. Our server was Natale DeMarco. When he is not working, he is a med student. Hi service was great. I had the grilled shrimp over pineapple appetizer and Kathy had the mozzarella and tomato. Both were great. Natale recommended the baked stuff lobster tail with a filet (the surf and turf special). It was fabulous. We had a great night with great food and great service at a reasonable price. Rachael stopped by the table four times to check on us. Thank you for having such great people representing you and thank you for serving such great food.
(5)
Rick L.

I was really excited to come back to Strega after visiting a few months ago, unfortunately I was disappointed this visit. For me as a business traveler I normally sit at the bar so the food and bartender are extremely important. The food was good..nothing extraordinary this visit, but solid. However, it wasn't enough to make up for the service. The bartender had the personality of a turnip. Hello? When people travel on business and sit at the bar they expect to have a little more interaction and expertise on the menu. I asked her for a recommendation between 2 wines. A mid level Cab or a Super Tuscan. "Oh, I would go with the Silver Oak, it's really good." No shit...it's my favorite red, but I'm not drinking it solo. When it was time to order my entree she provided zero recommendations and didn't even mention the specials for the night. As a frequent patron of Nicos and Strega in the NorthEnd I know this is a huge error. Not sure if I will visit this restaurant again when I stay on the Waterfront. I will continue to frequent the North End locations, but most likely look for other options on the Waterfront.
(2)
Katie S.

I went here for my birthday and it was absolutely incredible. Our waiter was an absolute joy and made us laugh whenever he came by & he even placed up at a table with the best view of the sail boats that were going by. The food was well worth the money paid with perfect portions. I got the Filet Mignon topped with crab meat and it cut like butter and was the most flavorful filet I have ever had. I couldn't have had a better experience.
(5)
Mark A.

Came in for an anniversary dinner on a Tuesday. The place was packed, and for good reason. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wines and menu, helping us pick what to order. The pumpkin ravioli app was to die for, all the flavors went together so perfectly. They even surprised us with a complimentary dessert. It is pricey, but the food quality and service can't be beat.
(5)
FrÃ©dÃ©ric A.

This restaurant is overpriced and very noisy. The food is average. My wife ordered a weird pineapple shrimp dish.
(3)
Ned K.

We came here for dinner at around 7. My girlfriend always raves about the one in the North End so she insisted we go since I'd never been. I'll start with the reason I gave it four stars and not five: The service was atrocious. It took us about 30 minutes just to get our drinks when we sat down and our waiter kept forgetting our additional water/our requests for butter with our bread. I really think it was just that we had pretty inexperienced waiter who seemed very overwhelmed. To give you an idea, his first words to us when we sat were "sorry, our kitchen is slammed tonight". No need to say that, just be pleasant and remember things and we won't care that it's busy. That aside, the food was fantastic. We split calamari to start which was great, but our entrees were cooked to perfection. I got the risotto with different kinds of fish in it (can't remember the exact name). The scallops were amazing and the flavor was one I still remember. My girlfriend got mussels over linguine which was also fantastic. The ambiance there is also great whether you're inside or outside. Overall, I'll go back but I'll make sure to keep an eye on how busy it is/who our waiter is to ensure a five-star experience.
(4)
Dennis J.

We were celebrating our 20th anniversary last night and several friends recommend Strega Waterfront to us and after last night we would also highly recommend Strega to our friends and family. The restaurant is quite impressive and our evening started off on the right foot when checking in and were surprised when the host informed me that he had reserved a special table for us and I would agree that it was possibly the best table in the restaurant. Everything on the menu sounded amazing, the wait staff was very welcoming and attentive and happy to make food and wine recommendations. We started with the wild mushroom risotto and burrata appetizers and for dinner we had the stuffed veal chop and seared sea bass, everything was outstanding and we are already looking forward to going back to try the rest of the menu. If you're in the area and want to be treated amazingly well and enjoy delicious food, Strega Waterfront is the spot.
(5)
Juliet G.

The food is def good. But the waitstaff really needs help. They should be trained on how to provide quality top service. They are definitely resting on their laurels. Service at Boston's other steakhouses easily blows Strega away. Ex: 1. The waiter did not offer a wine list. We had to ask for it. I knew from this point, we were going to have problems. 2. The wine glasses that were set on the table upon arrival were never cleared away even after we all ordered individual drinks. Again, we had to ask them to remove them. 3. The waiter told us the specials and said if we had any questions about the menu, please ask. We were like "ummm well can we please have menus???" 4. He served me someone else's glass of wine. 5. He didn't offer to correct the wine mix up mistake. It was just like Oh Well. 6. We ordered a bottle of wine which he just uncorked and started pouring. He didn't present the bottle or have anyone sip it first. 7. It took foreverrrrr for the appetizer plates to be cleared. Empty mussel shells stared at us for far too long. My steak was delicious. There definitely isn't a problem in the back of the house. The front of the house needs a major overhaul. Strega should start recruiting from the top restaurants if they want to stay in the game.
(2)
Dean W.

If you're craving a fantastic North End style meal without the expense and tourism bum's rush, this is the place to go for real Eastie style Italian food. We sat in the lounge area where it's a little less formal and the service was friendly and personable like a trattoria even though the decor is decked out to be a fancy dining experience. The thing that's nice about this place is both the view, the ease of getting there (plenty of parking) and there's clearly care on the personal touch to keep it from being just another Italian restaurant in Boston. There's no rushing, timing is dead on between courses, and the food is just phenomenal. We had the mushroom Risotto and the stuffed veal chop and I haven't had a meal like that since going to Rinos over in Eastie, our favorite next to Kelly's Pub. The risotto had three types of mushrooms and was just infused with flavor. The chop was perfectly done, huge, and nestled in with tasty sides and a light marsala sauce. Unbelievable. Just perfectly done and the pricing right on for the quality of the experience.
(4)
Lisa K.

Probably one of the most hyped up restaurants that actually lived up to it's name. I made reservations for me and my boyfriend on Friday night and they sat us immediately. It took us a while to put our orders in, but food came out really quick. The olive oil that came with the complimentary bread was spot on! We ordered the calamari, which was good and the mussels/clams with crostini, which I could literally lick the sauce off the plate because it was absolutely amazing. My boyfriend had the lobster ravioli and the veal medallions in tomato sauce and I had the lobster fra diavolo. We both raved about the food, but for some reason, I thought the lobster would come unshelled, so I don't recommend ordering that on a first date because it could get very messy. Wine was great and service was fantastic because our server really checked up on us and made sure we were content. A woman who had too much to drink next to us liked our server a little too much...but it made us feel like family. He even gave us a free dessert for my boyfriend's birthday, which I didn't even ask for. Overall, for what the food is worth, I really don't think it is overpriced. For all the seafood and lobster and alcohol we got, I'd say it's really worth it compared to other "posh" Boston restaurants.
(5)
Mia S.

Lunch was totally underwhelming. Cheesy decor. View blocked by Louis Boston. Why is this place so popular?
(1)
Lillian C.

I was skeptical of this place since it was located in the Waterfront and looked like a typical fancy schmancy restaurant, BUT, at its heart, it's a North End kind of place where food never disappoints. The Tegamino: Clams/mussels appetizer in spicy tomato sauce was AMAZING. The perfect briny sauce and great bread to soak the yummy sauce. It was perfectly spiced and flavored. One of the best dishes I've ever had! Gamberi in Padella: Shrimp appetizer...this looked great although I didn't get to try it...but I'm sure it won't disappoint. A Typical Italian Dinner: Delicious especially if you are a meat lover...the dish came with one giant meatball, sausage and a pork roll...all in all..it was very flavorful. The portions are reasonable but not overwhelming.
(4)
Cristina R.

Strega is such a strange place. Delicious. But strange. My friend and I found ourselves in the area and walked in around 6 PM on a Saturday. We were informed that since we didn't have reservations, a table would take about an hour. Or we could sit in the (near-empty) lounge and order immediately. Okay. Let's do that. The lounge has huge TVs which played a variety of shows ranging from sports to reality TV. Random. And a little distracting. Also, it's in the part of the restaurant away from the water (which is unfortunate, considering "waterfront" is in the place's name), but otherwise the space seemed fine for a nice meal. Now I'd like to talk about the service. I don't exactly know how to put it, but the hostesses and waitresses just did not fit in with the restaurant's ambiance, food quality, or cost. The manager obviously looks for a very specific type of girl: mid-20's, pretty (in a heavily made up way), and of Italian descent (bordering on Jersey Shore-esque). Must be willing to wear tight, short sequined black skirts and impossibly high heels. Our server was very nice, albeit a bit fake-sounding. She (of course) recommended the more expensive specials and wine for our meal, but when we gave her an idea of what we wanted, she let us know of popular dishes and wine that seemed to fit that. As for the food, it might just be some of the best Italian I've had in Boston. The bread they brought out was fresh and herby, and I couldn't stop dip dip dipping it in the accompanying olive oil. I was in a veal mood and (based on our waitress's recommendation) opted for the Il Fagottino, a veal medallion stuffed with proscuitto and fontina in a port wine sauce. Just yes. The portion wasn't huge, which was perfectly fine since I was already pretty full on bread, and the flavor was absolutely outstanding. But, for $27, it damn better be. Luckily I wasn't disappointed. My friend ordered a pasta dish and was equally impressed with the flavor. Based on the food and location, Strega Waterfront would be a nice date spot. Just make sure your date doesn't have a wandering eye. And is willing to pay for dinner.
(3)
Erica S.

Review based on weekday dinner + drinks (April 2014) 1. Great value. Free bread + olives which is always a plus in my book. Large portions in the high 20 to high 40 range. Bass entree is huge. 2. Delicious food. antipasto + bass + Strega salad + veal + stuffed ravioli + dessert. All on point. The food is incredibly fresh, seasoned just right and overall seemingly healthy. I didn't feel like anything was drenched in butter or oil. My favorites here are the mushroom pasta (side) + bass. A killer combo. 3. Attentive service. 4. Beautiful venue. Situated right on the water. Large floor to ceiling windows. Large. Semi fancy but not over the top. Large bar. tons of TVs playing traditional Italian classics and of course the games. Overall, I have dined here three times so far and have enjoyed every experience. Probably not somewhere I would go for a casual dinner but definitely a great date spot and for out of town visitors!
(5)
Brian E.

Classic Italian done right. The atmosphere had the appearance of a classic old Italian restaurant in a new hip section of Boston. The service was impeccable and the food classic and delicious. I had the beet salad (which wasn't. "Classic") that I will go back for. I also had the Fradiavlo which was the right amount of flavor and spice without being overpowering. I also had the mushroom paparadelle which was incredible.
(5)
Angie M.

We went to Strega Waterfront last night for the first time and I wasn't very impressed. When I made the reservation I was thought being on the water would be very nice...I didn't even see the water. That took away from the ambiance of the restaurant right there. The inside is decorated nicely, modern. We were at a very small table for 2, very close to the people next to us. It was hard to fit just our plates and drinks on the table. Our apps were very good so I was excited for the entree to come out. Boy was I disappointed. The veil saltimbocca was thin and rubbery. The cheese seemed cold and I had a hard time cutting it, even with my knife. I got two (2) asparagus, pretty skimpy if you ask me. And 3 tiny little potatoes. My boyfriend got the baked stuffed pork loin. It seemed to be cooked alright, barely stuffed though and kind of flavorless. His mashed potatoes were very good and he got a whopping three (3) asparagus. For the price, definitely not worth it. I think the only way I would go back is if I sat outside and had apps or maybe at the bar. It was a nice idea...but I was surprisingly disappointed.
(2)
Mahee F.

Some of the best italian food in Boston in a great location with an incredible view
(5)
Carolyn A.

I have written a pretty long review voicing my dissatisfaction with the treatment I received in this establishment, at a time when I was the only African American customer at the time. I felt targeted and disrespected with the aggression of a bartender named Silvio. This was not a pleasant experience and I will never support such an establishment. Please continue reading... Sunday, as the Patriots took home the win, my friends and I hit the town to celebrate our victory. We decided to try a quaint little restaurant in Seaport called, Strega's. Upon our entry, there were few customers at the bar, so we made our way to the vacant seats. With my cellphone battery low, I noticed a charger coming from the bar area. I politely explained to the women next to me that my charge was low on my phone, and asked if I would be able to borrow her charger for a moment when she was finished. Clearly agitated by personal issues, the woman expressed that the charger belonged to the bartender. Instead of handing me the charger, she then rudely threw the charger connection port in my direction. Although I took notice of her agitation, I kept in mind that fact that she was arguing on the phone before I sat down, so I kindly said thank you and continued to enjoy my time with friends. A few moments later, as we were waiting to be helped by the bartender, Silvio, so when he neared our direction I asked if we could place an order. The woman next to me chimed in, saying that it was very busy. Apparently we must not have been at the same bar, because the whole section where my six friends and I were seated was empty until we arrived. When the bartender finally made it to our section, I placed my order, passed him my card and asked to keep my tab open. The bartender returned with my bill inside of a leather sleeve, against my request. I then reminded the bartender, Silvio, that I wanted to keep my tab open. Apparently this was the wrong request because Silvio proceeded to take the leather sleeve with my bill and aggressively pelt it into the trash with such force that it made an audible sound. Confused at his behavior and unprofessionalism, I continued to remain calm in a situation where I began to feel targeted. The woman next to me began probing me, and asking if I had ever been a server or waiter because my request was rude. After asking how my request was at all rude, being that an error was made on the bartender's part, when I replied that I had never been a waiter, she began to get agitated and increasingly disrespectful. This woman went on to make a scene by saying I think I am better than others since I've never been a server, calling me a "bitch", saying stereotypical phrases such as "bye Felicia", mentioning my "ghetto bamboo earrings" and referencing me as "girl". As her insults continued, I was confused at what could have caused such an escalation, and why the bartender hadn't intervened in her erratic behavior. I then remembered the charger belonged to the bartender so realized they must have known each other prior to that night. I also recalled the argument she had been having upon my entry into the bar and quickly realized her issues ran much deeper than a pair of earring I had been wearing. After ending the argument gracefully, with zero cursing or vulgarities on my part, the bartender took it upon himself to decide that I, solely, would not be served because he "didn't like what was going on". At no point had the other woman been held accountable for her classless behavior in such an establishment. The bartender proceeded to refuse to serve me and my six friends due to this incident, but continued to serve the other woman who was the aggressor. Being the only African American in the establishment at the time, it was clear that I was not welcomed and I felt as though I had been targeted. As I exited the establishment, the bartender, Silvio told me that I "have no class" and that he "is not going to allow a new comer to act this way". Not only had he taken sides in this situation, but he went on to insult me as not only a customer, but a new customer. He refused to serve seven customers total, and caused Strega's to miss out on sales., due to his pride and pompous attitude. I am disappointed at how this matter was handled, and I plan to share my story with all who will listen.
(1)
John P.

Make reservations now!!! This is the coolest restaurant in Boston. The ambiance is unmatched with class and style while quietly humming the "Goodfellas" vibe. The wine list and drinks are trendy and classic. The food ranges from Ossobucco to Gnocchi to Lobsters. If you have a significant occasion, special friends or important clients this is THE Place to go.
(5)
Nathan G.

I have eaten here a number of times. Food is always excellent. However, the staff are starting to develop a bit of an attitude. I think they are starting to think they are the local celebrities who dine there. Food great. Staff.... not so great "consistently".
(3)
Lam Ann H.

We celebrated our anniversary here on a visit to Beantown. The ambience was perfectly romantic. The service was fine .. The appetizers we ordered (avocado salad and calamari) were better than our main courses, the surf and turf & filet mignon. The main courses were fine - just nothing spectacular. We appreciated the complimentary anniversary dessert though! For a waterfront restaurant with high reviews here, we were expecting more.. The 15% yelp checkin offer was a plus. But still we left feeling something was amiss.
(3)
Whitney W.

Really delicious. Quality staff. Sit by the window for a beautiful view. Love the decor.
(4)
AmyLynn A.

Usually we love this place, but tonight it's not going so well. There are several loud 20/30 somethings that look pretty but are lacking class. Breaking glasses and yelling across the restaurant. The manager came over when we sat and rudely demanded my husband take his hat off. It's not a problem to do so but maybe a please, or a milder tone? Not to mention the meat heads in the corner wearing hats and tank tops. We've been here for over 30 minutes and have yet to get our two pasta dishes. It's an all around fail.
(2)
Ann K.

This is one of those cases where I wish I could give 3 1/2 stars. Strega Waterfront was not quite 4 stars but not really a 3 either. We got off to a slow start after we changed tables to accomodate a 5th person. I think perhaps the waiter did not realize we were his as it took some time for him to show up. Once he arrived, he took our wine order quickly but then disappeared again for quite some time before we ordered. After that, he was very attentive and things picked up speed. Each of us got an awesome appetizer with buratta cheese, fresh roma tomatoes and proscuitto. Very, very good. Our friends just got back from 4 years in Europe and said it was as good as any they had in Italy. For an entree, I had the risotto di mare. Nice fresh seafood but the rice kind of got lost in the shells of the mussels and clams. I say rice as it really was more rice than risotto. For dessert my husband got a cannoli that was really good. I chose the ricotta cheesecake which was good but not what I expected as a) the waiter said it had chocolate chips in in when in fact it had strawberry glaze on the top instead and b) it really tasted more like regular cheesecake than ricotta. When we got the bill we noticed the waiter had forgotten to add our second bottle of wine so we flagged him down to get that corrected. Stega is not cheap and if our friend's sharp eyes had not noticed the wine was missing, we wouldn't have noticed as the total was steep enough to make one thing it was in there! I'm a little biased as I live in Upstate NY where really good Italian food is very inexpensive but don't plan to go to Strega if you are on a budget!
(3)
Megan A.

We got the Strega salad for an appetizer, but I actually didn't think that the grapefruit went well with the arugula and parmesan - it was too much acid. I had lobster ravioli and he had seafood risotto for our main courses, and they were very good. The risotto especially had a good ratio of seafood to risotto and a range of seafood in the dish. It was a relatively busy Sunday night, but the waitstaff was attentive and helpful. I was disappointed with the atmosphere of Strega. One, it is right on the water, but the restaurant doesn't take advantage of that at all. Unless you are outside, you can't tell at all. Two, it's decorated and presented as a fancy restaurant, but there are Italian movies playing on six flat-screen TVs on the wall in the dining area, which was distracting and made me feel like I was in a bizarro sports bar. Three, as some others have mentioned, the tables are very close together. We were lucky to be seated by a pillar, but there was a table for two right up against ours, and two separate couples came, sat down at that table, and then switched tables because they were so close to us and the table on the other side.
(3)
B B.

Love it! Amazing is all I can say. We went for our 2 year anniversary - our waiter made it so very special. He found us a perfect wine to celebrate. Since it was still warm for late September we were able to eat outside and enjoy the view - next time I will try the inside though because it looked so beautiful. Food, service and view were all great. My only thing I could complain about, is I wish the guests dressed nicer for such a great restaurant. I think it is much to nice a place for jeans, sneakers and shorts. Thank you so very much for making our anniversay a special night...we will be back!!
(5)
Sheila B.

I come here all the time mostly for lunch but also for dinner. This place is next door to my office and I also am a VIP there, literally I have a card and i get a 15% discount for dining in :-). The lunch service is great especially when I have an hour or less. The menu is really good, with a few favorites:worth mentioning: 1) Frito misto, calamari, with shrimp and scallops in this delish balsamic reduction- scrumptious, served with these ginormous asparagus spears.. 2) Chilean sea bass- always cooked perfectly in a white wine reduction. 3) Pistachio and horse-radish crusted Salmon love this combination, it's divine 4) Arugula salad, with grapefruit, walnuts and parmigiana -ridiculously good, such a great combination, with a light olive oil dressing 5) Chicken Parmesan- I eat this once a month, it's huge, but when I am not counting calories, I love eating this it totally hits the spot 6) Desserts, all good- tiramisu, cannoli, chocolate ganache cake thing, and creme brulee 7) coffee- hot and iced is great, I get that at least 3x a week, must be illy or some other good Italian brand, This place is great, consistently good, and even all the celebs love it, It's like Boston's Raos.
(5)
Jenna L.

I tried this place for a work outing one day (since it's super close to my office) - it was still warm out so we got to sit outside on the patio, which was super nice. Most of us were under umbrellas, but for some reason only my face was in the sun so I had to lean in quite a bit to get under the shade. A little awkward but not really their fault. The food was decent, though I won't say it was outstanding. We had calamari to start, and I had the lobster ravioli. Pretty good, but again not out of this world. I guess expectations are set pretty high when you are able to see the water and are wanting super fresh, extraordinary seafood dishes. Will likely give it another try once the weather warms up again, but for the price I would say it's only a little better than average.
(3)
Becky W.

Amazing food, great atmosphere and wonderful staff / service. I can't wait to go back on my next visit to Boston! This is definitely a wonderful find!
(5)
Wayne C.

Went to Strega expecting a first class experience, this was hardly the case. Was greeted by a super pretentious host who acted like we should be grateful that he was waiting on us. Total clown. When seated, I was greeted by dirty silverware - so far a great impression after being in this place 5 minutes. Talk about J.V. I had the chicken under a brick, which was dry and flavorless. My wife had the sea bass which was fishy. A poor and expensive experience. Funny when my local town restaurant can do it better than a hyped-up Boston restaurant. File this place under "All show, and no go..."
(1)
B C.

No question, its a great place. I entertained some co-workers from the midwest looking for a great Boston experience, so we all ordered seafood - two orders of the sea bass and one ordered scallops. The portions were large and the food was very good. The appetizer special, a lightly fried seafood mix in a balsamic dressing, is one we are still talking about. Unlike other reviewers here, our server was good and service was fine. The food and atmosphere are excellent, but I'm not sure it lives up to the hype.
(4)
James W.

My default for a place I liked is four stars, but I couldnt think of a reason to give this place any less than five. The staff is very friendly, the food is absolutely delicious, while not being ridiculously expensive. My only beef with it would be the size of the bar. I would love to be able to sit down before dinner for a drink, but the bar is always packed. But, that's not their fault, they work as well as they can with the space they have. Great place.
(5)
Jennifer B.

We were in search of a waterfront restaurant for lunch during restaurant week. Based on the 4 star reviews, we chose Strega Waterfront. Let me start with the $10 "complimentary" valet parking. What a rip off for an hour lunch. I had read reviews this was free. It's not. We found a table outside which was great. There isn't much water to see. If you're looking for a nicer view head over to places around the World Trade Center. The waiter whose name was John was in a horrible mood. We tried to kill him with kindness, but he never cracked a smile or was nice. The food was just ok. The beer salad was really good. The eggplant app, ravioli and spaghetti were average. Maybe a good place for a quick lunch outside of work, but not when there are so many better choices.
(3)
Steve H.

Absolutely wonderful experience and amazing food. My wife said it was the best meal she has ever had.
(5)
Gary F.

Our second visit sealed the deal. Gary is not a huge fan of Strega. It's loud, it's overpriced, it's too intense. The screens with everplaying "Gangster movies"? Distracting and...no. The ambiance? Too much. Too loud, too much "leather banquettes and dark panelling = classy Italian." Our last visit was for Mother's Day lunch. To begin, the waiter was just too...much. He asked us 139 times if we were ready to order. We get it, it's a busy day, but it was also 2:30 in the afternoon and not prime time for turning tables. And the menus were still wide open, man. Rookie move. We shared the grilled shrimp and pineapple appetizer. It was good, but it was also like $17 for 3 shrimp on a half of a pineapple. Since there were 4 diners, I was shrimpless. Entrees had to be sent back because, regardless of (simple) clear (and really simple) requests to hold the sauce on the sea bass, the plates arrived dripping with sauce. Literally, since the busser spilled some on my foot as he brought them to the table. It's an honest mistake, but the mistake was compounded when the food was brought back borderline room temp and just left at our places in our absence (ladies' room). This is a $40 plate. Just not 5-star. Just not worth the price. Just not.
(2)
Steve P.

Found this place while walking to end of the pier and back so we decided to check it out. Server helpful but often took some time to get his attention. Food delicious but menu choices limited so wife and I had to choose from items we didn't necessarily crave. Part of reason for only a three star is the expectations didn't quite match ambience. I'd recommend you check it out.
(3)
AnnMarie G.

Amazing food! Beautiful decor ! Service was perfect! Highly suggest antipasto and beet salad! Love love Strega Waterfront! We will be back.
(5)
Nicole S.

The food here is great and the atmosphere is unmatched by anywhere else in Boston. I used to dine here at least once a week and was constantly recommending this restaurant to friends and family. Even reserved the private rooms on a regular basis for the company i worked for. My one star is not based on the food or the restaurant itself, but with the individual put in charge of this location. After being a regular patron for about two years. I was inappropriately approached by the GM who made some very demeaning comments to me and ending the conversation by saying he assumed i was a hooker or as he put it an "escort", apparently thats better. I made it clear how off base and offensive he was which led to him saying "no offense this place is just kind of another world". No offense? Really? This situation made me so uncomfortable that i sadly haven't been back, probably never will and no longer recommend it. I wasn't raised in an environment where men speak to women in that way and i find it unfortunate that in this "World" of Strega, that behavior is acceptable.
(1)
P R.

We were a party of 12 on Mother's Day 5/12/14 we were extremely disappointed. The waiter was the one of the worst I ever had. Our food was cold and very disappointing. We initially complained to the person at the podium at the front door about our waiter and that person did nothing. It was only after I asked to speak with a manager was our waiter removed from serving our table. To say this experience ruined our mother's day is an understatement. My mother is 86 years old and her mother's days are limited so were really heart stricken over our horrible experience. I will never return to a Strega Restaurant again! When I told the waiter our service was unacceptable he sarcastically responded "Why Thank You! This is grounds for firing in my book!
(2)
Joe T.

Food was good, not great, but the service was outstanding. The restaurant itself is beautiful and it couldn't be in a better location. I would definitely recommend checking out Strega on the Waterfront.
(4)
Ellen H.

My expectations for a place like this are a definitely on the high side, and while Strega hit a few key items, it just wasn't the memorable night I was hoping for. We made reservations for 8:45pm on a Friday, and arrived about 20 minutes early. We were directed to the bar to wait, which was fine with us. We sat a little table (literally little - maybe 2 feet from the ground), and a waitress brought us drink menus. But wait! All the waitresses in the bar look exactly the same! Tall, skinny girls in black skin-tight dresses. All of them. I literally could not figure out which one was our waitress and we ended up giving orders to probably three of them. It was like a fembot army in there! No mint, which is stupid (A) because I like mojitos and (B) because there were drinks on their drink specials menu that had mint in them. Lock it up, Strega. When we were seated for dinner, it was smooth sailing from there. Good service, great food, the lobster ravioli was fantastic, the bread basket was delicious, drinks were strong (but mintless). For about $150 for a dinner, I expect a restaurant to give me a great experience from the moment I walk through the door to the moment I leave. Strega's was okay, but there are better options if you are spending that kind of money.
(3)
Manda Bear B.

*********************** 779 ************************* Strega Waterfront offers amazing food, modern decor, smashing interior, and breathtaking view of the waterfront. Located at Fan Pier in Boston seaport district. Strega Waterfront is a place to go to see and be seen. Gorgeous high ceiling sport ultra lounge full bar with big screens, plenty of tables that you can get full menu of food here. Great cocktail list and beautiful bartender Sarah, super nice, and make awesome cocktails. To the right is the dining room, with a few smaller private dining room, we were in 1 of those because my friends have small children. The servers were all nice and very accommodated to my friends and the kids, since they are regular there. The wine list was pretty good. Over 30 wines by glass from $7-$14, that is very VERY reasonable price point for a nice establishment like Strega. - A great list by bottles of Pinot Gris from Italy; - An IMPRESSIVE list for California Saugvinon Blanc and Chardonnay, - An extensive wine list from Italy: Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Reserva, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, and of course Super Tuscan. - A SERIOUS and AMAZING vintages from Napa Valley, Santa Cruz, Sonoma list, dominates by Cabernet Saugvinon, then Pinot Noir, then Zinfandel; must be the owner love Cali wines. Although the mark up is higher than I expected. California wines probably makes up 70-80% of their wine list. - Smaller magnum selection, but much smaller mark up! Small Porto list but they offer: 1970 Taylor Fladgate, Douro Valley, Portugal, and just a tiny portion of Bordeaux and Rhone. The menu was some beautiful classic Italian Calabrian cuisine where the owner Nicky Varano family is from; and at Stregas cooking is from the southernmost part of mainland Italy, all the recipes come from his grandmother and mother. It's just amazing to see how successful this restaurant group has been in less than a decade! Everything we ordered were so tasty, good spices, beautifully cooked, and just left me feel as I was in Italy or at least Manhattan :-) - PORTOBELLO AL FORNO - Baked stuffed mushroom cap with homemade ricotta cheese and spinach served with spicy San Marzano tomatoes - so good. - FRITTO DI CALAMARI - Lightly deep-fried fresh calamari served with marinara sauce - I couldn't stop touching this! - PROSCIUTTO BOCCONCINI E PEPERONI - Homemade fresh bocconcini mozzarella wrapped with the finest Italian prosciutto and served with marinated roasted peppers - this meant to share with your loved ones. - TEGAMINO - Farm-raised clams and mussels served in a spicy tomato sauce over crostini bread - this dish can be an entree! We ordered so much food. - CIOPPINO DI MARE Assorted seafood - such a generous portion, this was 1 of my favorite dishes of the night. - LOBSTER FRA DIAVOLO One-half jumbo lobster with a spicy tomato sauce served over spaghetti - this was unbelievable goodness, al dente spaghettini just how we like it. - VALDOSTANA - Veal medallions topped with prosciutto and Fontina cheese in a demi-glaze - my friends loved this dish. - IL FILETTO AL COGNAC - Grilled filet mignon served with Mission Figs in a RÃ©my Martin sauce - another dish that my friends ordered. They were at awe. This review is way overdue. I'm so behind with my review because of school, volunteer, and hustling though life, but this is probably 1 of my favorite Italian restos in the US. I've had my share with may Italian restos in Manhattan while I was there and still often visit. Yes, I said it.
(5)
Ashley G.

The service was exceptional and the food was really good. I went on a saturday night and it was pretty loud inside but I went with a group for a friends birthday so we barely noticed the noise. I dont know much about Italian cuisine but I can say my meal was very tasty, I had the fettuccine con gamberoni and surprisingly my jumbo shrimp were actually JUMBO. Overall it was a great experience and I do plan to dine here again in the future.
(4)
Katie H.

Top notch from start to finish. The olive oil that's served with Italian bread is amazing! My husband and I split the caesar salad. For $10, I've seen bigger salads, but hey it's Boston. For an entree, he ordered the chicken limoncello and I had the pappardelle bolognese. Both were fantastic! Our server was very attentive. While it seemed like it took awhile to get our entree, the beautiful ambience and The Godfather on TV served as nice distractions. I'd go back in a heartbeat!
(4)
Matthew C.

So I came here after attending a beer festival in Seaport. My fiancee and I were seating and our waiter came over and was very smug. He acted like we didn't belong in this establishment. Maybe it was because we were both intoxicated, maybe it was because when I walked in, I had a University of Maine hat on, I'm not sure. So I got the spinach and pear salad. It was probably the worst salad I've ever had in my life. The pear was off to the side and besides that it was just a mound of spinach leafs. My fiancee got the Roasted Beet Salad. I'm not a huge fan of beets but I have to admitt, that was pretty good. For dinner she got a steak that was pretty amazing and I got the Lobster Fra Diavlo. I wish I had said no calimari since I don't like it but I was pleasantly surprised to get a lobster tail and a claw served with it. And this lobster was still in the shell so there was no way they were screwing you over on lobster. The dish was quite delicious. Overall the food was great. I give it two stars because of the terrible service from the smug waiter who I tipped $30 (20%) for when I should have given him $10 for his attitude. Overall good food, terrible service. Not sure if I'll be back or not.
(2)
Michael G.

Outstanding mushroom risotto in a rich but light garlic oil. The service was efficient and non-intrusive. There is an outstanding wine list to compliment any meal. Interesting event of the night, our party sat across from Mark Wallberg and his enterage. Bottom line: price is reasonable and the food interesting and quite good. Ideal for a nice date or business dinner.
(4)
Scott J.

I would not eat here again, it is overpriced for what it is, they are just relying on the Strega name. I ordered the rissotto del mar, which I had to send back because the rice was under cooked and basically crunchy. According to the waitress though the rissotto at Strega is supposed to be that 'Al dente'....I'm not Italian but I'm sure that's not true.
(1)
Samuel I.

I am a regular at strega since the day it opened , it seems this place keeps getting better and better , the food is excellent and very creative thanks to sal and his crew ,the managers Dan and mike and the staff welcomes you like royalty , Phill ...simply amazing !!!! attention to miner dentals is impeccable , all of the bartenders are fantastic and on the busiest nights they seem to make every one seated feel like they are the only costumer there ,Sarah ,Bianca, Silvio, Lindsey ,Stephanie ,heather , shauna ..you guys are the best . I also had a function last year for 35 people which fruitti (function manager )overlooked and it was flawless ....And When the owner Nick is in ..there is an added Sense of warmth which makes you want to come back again tomorrow. !!!!!!!! Did I forget to mention that this is the cleanest retaurant I have ever bin at .
(5)
John I.

I was at Strega for the first time on Saturday . Both bartenders were amazing Silvio and Lindsay... As crowded as it was they never skipped a beat. We had a great night thank you so much for the staff at Strega .... Silvio you picked the right drink thanks again !!!
(5)
Melissa N.

We used the yelp 15% off check in. My husband said that he felt treated like a rich celebrity. I agree! We were not treated any differently than anyone else for having a yelp discount. Sometimes we have used groupons/restaurant.com/ etc and the restaurants act like we won't pay the bill. Not the case at all with Strega Waterfront. The hostess greeted us, took our coats for free coat check, and seated us right away. The food was amazing and our waiter was wonderful. I heard a couple people have happy birthday sung to them so I explained to the waiter it was my husband's birthday. His response was," So how embarrassing do you want it?" I told him all the way. He came back with a wonderful tiramisu and a second waiter. Both sang loudly and beautifully with an applause by the entire restaurant. My husband had the surf and turf special and I had the lamb. We tried each other's dishes and could not pick which choice was better, because they were both amazing. We also had the mixed seafood appetizer that was completely different in anything I've tried. 5 stars with the food, service, and ambience! I really hope they keep the yelp 15% check in so our next visit to Boston we can go there again.
(5)
Jessica S.

I recently worked with the special events department at Strega to plan a small corporate event. The event staff was very friendly, efficient and quick to respond to all of my questions throughout the planning process. On the night of the event, the staff was courteous, attentive and prepared for our event. I received a great amount of compliments from our guests on both the food and the service for the evening. We had selected a fixed menu, including their Lobster Fra Diavolo, which everyone raved about. Our guests and my coworkers all made note that it was one of the best corporate dinners that they had attended. A great choice if you're looking to plan a private event.
(5)
Megan G.

I would like to share some feed back about my personal experience at Strega Waterfront with you. My boyfriend and I went to Strega Waterfront for out first time last night to beat the crowd on Valentines Day. The ambiance was nice and the staff welcoming but the over all experience was a disappointment. We sat at a booth near the hostess stand and throughout our dinner the bar tenders working at the time 8:15-on we're acting very unprofessionally. They were yelling to the point where heads were turning to see what was the matter - it was quite disturbing. The next disappointment came when I ordered a drink from our waiter called "swim with the fishes". The waiter returned to inform me it could not be made since there was no apple juice on hand. There are simple substitutes (for example Apple liqueur) I believe they could have improvised a bit more to meet a simple request. And last but not least, the food. My boyfriend ordered a special "Chiopino" which was generous in portion but quality was very poor. It consisted mostly of calamari that was almost unbearable to chew and there was about 5 strands of fettuccine and the price outrageous at $52!!! We are sorry to say that we are very disappointed that our second Valentines Day together was not what we expected.
(1)
Lauren G.

Disappointing. Not worth all the goodfellas hype. Service was mediocre at best. We sat outside on a week night and the waiter basically ignores us. I had the tomato mozzarella salad, the tomatoes were under ripe. The Rolatini was undercooked just a bit but flavor was good. My guest had the gnocchi and was very happy with her dish. I tasted it and honestly the tomato sauce tasted like a can of stop and shop sauce.
(2)
J E.

The two bartenders on staff last evening were amazing. Bianca and I forget the man's name (young guy that began with an S) where above the top with customer service and made the best recommendations for food! We like to sit at the bar and they found us the first opening and mentioned we can call for them ahead of time and they will save seats. We will be back very soon!
(4)
Shane B.

Always a "Class Act". Bruno, Phil and staff are as professional as they come. Warm, welcoming, and a pleasure to be around. Cuisine & wine menu are above reproach..Here you will want for nothing. 1000% amazing PS Ask to be seated with Jimmy Sala, the best they have there.
(5)
Ryan W.

I appreciate these folks being on the leading edge of restaurants to enter Seaport district. The ambience is over the top, but that's what we've come to expect from Nick Varano. It seemed to be very popular with the Jersey Shore set, sorry. The food was not good or bad, just average. The specials were all pretty expensive ($40-55), which leaves you with the traditional Italian fare. We had calamari, scallop, shrimp and peppers flash fried with a balsamic reduction for an app, which was pretty good 7/10. I had the Lobster Fra Diavolo, which was good but nothing special - 6/10. My friend had the Lobster Ravioli, which looked well prepared, but he also gave it average reviews - 7/10. The service was very attentive and on the ball. Absolutely no complaints there. If you can't get a seat at any of the other restaurants in the area (which was the case for us), this is good back up option.
(3)
Brooke T.

My man took me here for my birthday. As a Boston native, you must make a stop here on a fancy night out. This is a romantic place indeed. The service is superb. The staff is swift to take away your items on the table once finished. Yet they still do not interfere and you don't feel bothered. There is a waiter who takes your order and about two other people attentive to water glasses being full and removing plates once you are done. We got the Caesar salad and Calamari for an appetizer. Caesar salad had big chunks of Parmesan and a strong homemade dressing. Calamari was crisp and delicious. For an entree I got the Strega Fettuccini. This is made with alfredo like cream sauce, which is to die for. My man got the lamb with a demi-glaze cooked medium. It was cooked to perfection and absolutely melted in your mouth. It came with the biggest stemmed asparagus I have ever seen and sub-par mashed potatoes. Of course we indulged in dessert because, well, it was my birthday! I got CrÃ¨me Brule and was a little disappointed as the caramelized top was burned way too much. The strawberry cheesecake was delightful and I had some serious food envy! All and all the mashed potatoes and CrÃ¨me Brule didn't make the cut for me!
(4)
Florina K.

The atmosphere is very good here, the patio is great and so is the decor indoors. The food is pretty good as well... The waitstaff is friendly, though makes a lot of mistakes. In a group of 13 half our orders were wrong. The Surt n' turf's lobster tail was very dry for most of us. And my husband's ordered medium done steak first came out well done, and then medium rare... The waiter also spilled water on our friends a couple of times... We did let them know of this, and they gave us a very pretty dessert platter, which was nice. I hope there is better luck next time? Maybe go with a smaller group next time, they may get overwhelmed with larger groups. The tiramisu here is amazing!
(3)
Thomas A.

Food was okay, service not. Earlier this week, I was at the Strega Waterfront with family and had a rather disappointing experience. First of all, the place is close to the waterfront, but not directly at the water, so there is no view. The inside is nice, modern and pretty dark, focusing more on business customers than on families. The items on the menu were mainly meat-based and had far less seafood then one would expect in Boston. The food itself was all okay, but nothing mind-blowing or out of the ordinary. We shared several starters and had an entree each. The seafood risotto lacked salt, the rack of lamb and the veal were cooked perfectly. The waiter who started out cracking some jokes and giving recommendations on the menu turned abruptly silent after we didn't follow his wine recommendation for an overpowering and expensive bottle of Barolo and insisted on our choice instead. The wine was great, so was the entire wine list. The behavior of the waiter was not. When we asked the waiter to call us a cab, he told us the restaurant has a complimentary driver service, we were just told to tip. Well, after the driver dropped us off, he asked for $18, "not including tips", how he stated it. Over all, the food was okay, but nothing exceptional. The service of the waiter and the driver were totally not on the level one can expect for a pretty expensive dinner.
(2)
Yasa E.

I can't say I was blown away by the food here, but everything else is great. The location is beautiful. Lots of parking around, which is a huge bonus. The bar area is gorgeous and the bartenders are on point. Overall, a great place for a date or for drinks with friends.
(4)
Ambrose C.

Finding a decent place to eat in the Waterfront area might be a little hard. I decided to eat at this really upscale place with my family after hearing about the really good reviews. The food I ordered is from the Restaurant Week menu but the appetizer and the entree should be on the regular menu. Here is what I got for my dinner: Prosciutto Bocconcini e Peperoni - This is mozzarella cheese wrapped with Italian style ham. Peppers are put as garnish. This was the antipasto. Ravioli Aragosta - This is lobster filled ravioli with a cream sauce made from crab meat. The dish only had 4 pieces. Tiramisu - This was a cake with tiramisu flavor and it was the dolce. My mother ordered the Thursday special, which was the Porchetta. This dish is a pork loin, with mashed potatoes, asparagus and peppers, despite the conflicting description on the menu. My father ordered the Linguine Alle Vongole. This is pasta with clams doused in a scampi sauce. The bread was actually pretty good, fairly crusty and chewy. They provided some olive oil, and it was pretty good as well. I ate a couple of olives, brought back some memories of eating aceitunas in Spain. As for my dishes, the presentation of the appetizer was really impressive. The ham and cheese were really tasty and the balsamic vinegar was pretty good as well. The peppers were decent. As for the lobster ravioli, the presentation was not really impressive, but the ravioli was tasty and chewy and the sauce was decently good. Did not detect much meatiness in the lobster though and I thought it was probably the most disappointing dish. As for the other dishes, I sampled the pork loin and the clams. The pork was dry and not so tender to my liking. The clams though were decently good. As for the dessert, I thought it was the best part of the meal and a great finisher to the meal. The cream, the sweetness, along with the fresh cool softness of the cake, gave my tongue and palate a great feeling of euphoria. I'm talking about the kind of euphoria that you get as if you are standing at the Piazzale Michelangelo on a beautiful afternoon in Firenze, Toscana and you get kissed by a really gorgeous girl that you really want to spend time with often. Yeah, the tiramisu is that good, but probably not as good as tiramisu from the bakeries and cafes in the North End neighborhood, and maybe not as good as tiramisu from a decent cafe in Firenze. Service was pretty good, the server was very attentive, and replaced our forks and knives every time we finished a dish. He always made sure our glasses were filled with water and we had enough bread. Interior is really comfortable. I think you should wear something nice, maybe a Kenneth Cole collared shirt and some nice slacks by Armani. Restrooms are really clean, and strangely, there is a flat screen TV above the toilets so you can conveniently watch TV while "taking care of your business". This place is open until 2 AM, so it's not a bad choice after a night out in the city. Overall, this place is not high on my recommendations for great Italian cuisine in Boston, but it is a pretty good choice for something upscale, if you don't mind splurging a little and if you do not want to walk far after spending a really long day at an exposition at the Institute of Contemporary Art museum nearby. It's also a pretty good choice for a dinner appointment as well, but the location kind of sucks since this area in Boston is a little boring.
(4)
Bill B.

Boston's best seafood, fantastic service. Great atmosphere, Halibut, salmon, pasta all very high quality, creative presentations. Tasty desserts I enjoyed 3 favors of sorbet
(5)
Darcie G.

I took my boyfriend to Strega for his birthday on Friday. Immediately the waiter offered us drinks. I had a glass of Shiraz and he had a beer. The waiter was wonderful and left us to enjoy each other. After some time, he came back and dictated the specials.... all sounded great! We decided to start with calamari for an appetizer. I ordered the Lobster Fra Diavlo and he ordered the Surf and Turf special. Both came out at the right time (just enough time after we finished the calamari but without much waiting. Lobster Fra Diavlo: the pasta was cooked just right, the sauce had just the right amount of spice.... There was a substantial amount of lobster on top. My old problem was that the claw shell was so hard that I could not open it. As a result, I made a huge mess on the table and then eventually gave up and didn't eat it... and then when we took a doggie bag home, it was not included... I was ready to rinse it off and give it a try the next night :) Surf and Turf: Huge portion of lobster and an 8 ounce filet. It was to die for... In fact, after all the bread, olives, oil, my boyfriend wasn't able to eat more than half of it... that's ok because I got to eat the rest for dinner the next night and it was still as great! My only complaint was the shock I received when I got the bill and this entree was $20 more than the most expensive thing on the menu. I expect a surf and turf to be expensive but the price should be inline with the rest of the menu even if the most expensive item. We will definitely go back but I will be careful about ordering an item on the specials list.
(4)
Gwen P.

I absolutely LOVE this place. I went there for the first time with a co-worker after work. We sat at the bar and we were waited on by the bartender Brianna. She was very nice and caring. We both ordered the chicken parm and it was amazing! Honestly the best I have ever had. I also, ordered a couple drinks the first was the "warm me up sangria" which was really yummy. Then, I had a craving for a pumpkin martini (which was not on the menu) so the bartender and I came up with a recipe and it tasted really good! Overall I had a very pleasant experience it was not as expensive as I thought it would be, and everything was PERFECT! I plan to visit Strega again in the near future. Great job!
(5)
Mark R.

A group of six of us went to Strega Waterfront last weekend. Four of us had the special of mixed seafood over fettuccine. My girlfriend and I have been trying this at a couple of places in the North End, but Strega was the best. The spring season may have helped but the lobster had not atrophied at all and the variety of sea creatures exceed the other establishments. The wine selection is enormous if you have an expert with you (not me). The salmon was alright, but the filet mignon was extraordinary. Appetizers were very good especially the sauce for the mussels. Our reservations were at 9:30pm and they were still seating when we were finishing our dinner. Its nice to have that flexibility in going out. Thank you!
(4)
Mary M.

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!! Strega is a fabulous restaurant with to die for food. Went here for my 21st birthday and was blown away by the service and food selection. I ordered the Sea bass and could not stop gushing over it. So delicious and flavorful- definitely a must! Not only was our server attentive but also he brought out a cake and sang to me! Can't get any better than that!
(5)
Erika S.

Anniversary Lunch in July--very nice side view of water. I would liked a better view but I got to look at my husband, too, so win-win. Maybe why I spilled most of my drink which the waiter didn't notice or help clean up. Excellent bread and oil to begin. Husband had a giant meatball from menu, Paccheri con Polpett, while I had prefixe but some items were not available. It was good anyway: spinach salad (instead of beets), veal, and tiramisu.
(4)
Barbara C.

My husband and I made reservations for date night! Everything was not "perfect" but it was close enough that we would give it a solid 4. We sat at the bar while waiting for our table and the bartender was attentive and the cocktails well balanced. Nice wine list and both of our dishes were good. We will be back!
(4)
Marc K.

We went to Strega Waterfront to celebrate my birthday on a lovely Saturday night. I had what was described as the "Cowboy" Rib Eye steak. It was a bone-in rib eye that wasn't as thick as I expected it would be, based on having rib eye many times in other restaurants. It was very tasty, however. My wife had a 'surf and turf;' a stuffed lobster tail and filet mignon, both of which that were very large portions. With a price to match, I should mention! Our waiter, Vincenzo, was charming and very attentive and helpful! The owner, Nick Varano, made a point of visiting practically every table in the place during the time we were there. A nice touch. Definitely a 'special occasion' place to dine.
(4)
Jordan S.

Well, Strega is uber fancy and over priced but hey when you're a tourist you don't know these things. Good things included the cocktail and wine lists, which were extensive to say the least. My partner and I both ordered a limone fresco before food and I had Prosecco with the entree and both were fabulous. Hats off to the bartender. Our appetizer (Tregamino) was great! The mussels and clams were perfectly cooked, the broth was delicious with bread, and the tomatoes were a great touch. My partner's entree was a special that night (Chilean Sea Bass) which he now declares his favorite fish after that meal. The not so great things included my entree of Fettuccine Strega which tasted great but only had four pieces of seafood which is less than advertised in the description. The server was okay but seemed kinda fake-friendly, not actually so. He didn't ask if we wanted the complimentary olives, which yes I know is complimentary but I hate olives and I didn't want them wasted on my table where we didn't touch them. And, probably the biggest ambiance killer of all, there were about 5-6 large televisions in our section of the dining area so it was this weird mix of tvs and fancy table decor that didn't quite vibe. Oh, and don't believe the waterfront in the name. Yes it is next to the water but you cannot see if from inside the restaurant, only the tvs. So, all in all, not worth the price and I wouldn't go again.
(3)
Sara H.

Strega has delicious seafood dishes and everything is very fresh. They have a great wine selection. Portions are impressive. I had their Mac and Cheese with lobster last time I went with Burrata as an app. Burrata Mozzarella is always amazing, so no comment there. Their bread is served with delicious olive oil. My Mac and Cheese was filled with heaps of huge lobster pieces.
(4)
Larry S.

Great food and service.. If you are loke g for a guaranteed great night then this is the place.. Only issue maybe is that the tables are a bit crowded..
(5)
Meghan G.

The food was delicious, but my husband I will not be back. We were appalled by the service. Our table was not ready on time and every aspect of the ordering process took forever. At the end we sat waiting for the check for 15 minutes with no food or drinks. This would have been ok if the waiter was remotely apologetic, but he was rude. I guess you have to be in the family that owns Strega or a celebrity or something for them to treat you with any respect. The female staff all wear the tiniest skin tight dresses (I wonder how their hiring process works? haha) but that was not a real issue, just seemed tacky. We spent at least $250 on a special dinner and felt our mere presence annoyed our waiter, who apparently had better things to do.
(2)
G K.

Great place to hang out and eat..... Veal chops were amazing. Lamb chops.. amazing. Veal saltimbocca... amazing. Super friendly service. Great bar area.
(5)
Heather S.

This is a great place. The atmosphere was great. The service was great. It wS a little crowded in the bar area while we waited for our table but we were able to get a seat at the bar after a little while. The food was good too! We would definitely go back. Great place to people watch.
(4)
Morra Y.

Went there on birthday. The service was good and the waiter could recommend dishes for us according to taste. Liked the spicy seafood pasta with soup and tiremisu.
(5)
Melissa V.

Love this restaurant. Great food. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
(4)
Adam G.

I have never had a poor experience here. The waitstaff has always been excellent, the food has always been excellent, and the portions have always been excellent. The frutti di mare is exceptional (it's a special, but I've always had it listed as an option by the waitstaff). It does come with a price as it is not a cheap restaurant, but I always feel as though I got what I paid for. They have TVs replaying "Italian" movies which is a bit cheesy and out of place for a fancy place like that, but you can easily ignore them. Would go back.
(5)
Victoria S.

Wonderful,elegant welcoming restaurant, if you go there ones you would like to come back, convenient $10 valley parking. Great food and great atmosphere
(5)
Marilyn M.

I came for a Company/group dinner. We had a special menu and I choose the Ribeye steak as the seafood offered was Salmon and I don't care for it. I would have liked to try seafood as Boston is known for fresh seafood. It was very good and prepared as ordered. The appetizers were very good especially the eggplant. I enjoyed the sauce so much on the eggplant that I asked the waiter for a bowl of their marinara sauce just for dipping. Servers were very quick to respond to our requests even though we were a big group. (Our private room was too small for the group so it was very crowded which made it difficult to move around or get up from the table.) I wish I lived in the Boston area as I would love to go back and try other items on the menu. Highly recommend.
(5)
Fred S.

Went here a few months back......Very impressed with this entire operation! Great bar, great food, great service and good clients made for a really enjoyable business dinner at Strega Waterfront. See you again next week!
(5)
S A.

One of the top restaurants in Boston, great location.
(4)
Ryan M.

We went for restaurant week, another reviewer mentioned that you have to ask for the menu- you do. It definitely seems like they discourage this, because the meal wasn't very good at all. The service was great however. We went to Strega in the North End last year and would have given the Waterfront location 5 stars if the food had been as good. Next time we won't order off of that menu, lesson learned.
(2)
Mrs. G.

Strega on the waterfront has a very nice interior. It's a bit flashy but very nice. The servers are all very nice and attentive. The appetizers are excellent, such as the calamari with balsamic glaze. The seafood linguine I ordered was plentiful of lobster tails, shrimp, scallops and calamari all which were yummy. I do wish the sauce was a bit thicker and spicier though. Overall, it was pretty good. For 50.00 I would have expected my dinner to be a little tastier though.
(4)
Steve S.

I was here on a date in spring of 2013. food is great, service is great, atmosphere is great. very well appointed. prices are well suited to the quality of food and service. if I were in the downtown boston area more often, I might want to hang out at the bar, which is well separated from the dining tables. a great choice for my date and me.
(4)
Amy C.

Been here a few time's, sat at the bar. Came here tonight on a second date with a guy I just met. Sat in the bar area for dinner, the food was ridiculously good. Our server Shuana, was AMAZING!! The drinks were outstanding! Thanks Shuana for an incredible night, we'll be back!!
(4)
Lindsay P.

It was a good meal, decent service, and the cocktail/wine list was impressive. As far as atmosphere, it is very steakhouse-ish. There were TVs in the dining room that were unnecessary.
(4)
Kerry B.

Overall disappointed. Portions were small and pricey. Beautiful atmosphere and excellent wine list. Food just wasn't nearly as good as we had hoped.
(2)
Jeff F.

Rolled in here this past week and may come back to post up at the quasi-sports bar, but probably won't be back for dinner. Here's the rundown: Pros - could be option if you need somewhere on the Seaport - also a good option if you need a good option for a private room - seemed like they could accommodate a room for 10 or 40 Cons - keep in mind this is in comparison w/ average Italian food in BOS - food ranges from good (burrata app) to mediocre (Frutti di Mare was more of a flavorless Zuppa di Pesce) - most of the food was average gnocchi, mushroom Pappardelle, etc.. Not sure why people pumped on Strega - my best guess is that it's new...
(2)
Jenna H.

I live in the north end and I choose to take the jaunt over to this Strega as it is so much better! I love dining outside next to the harbor, and the staff is incredibly hospitable. I came here with a work group, my company is in the process of moving to fan pier, and we had a great time. We shared a few plates between our group and each one was outstanding! We had the calamari, prosciutto, rollatini, scallops, and mushroom starters. My only complaint were the scallops - they were very small, almost too small to really capture the flavor. The highlight was a dish we had with burrata cheese. This is the best burrata cheese outside of Italy - I promise - the best! For desert I had the lemon cake - also amazing. I cannot wait to come here more often when I am working in this location, and in the summers when I walk over from the north end.
(4)
Pascual P.

Went to Strega for a graduation celebration, and each step of the meal could not have gone any better. From the champagne toast to the dessert and coffee, everything was presented and delivered to perfection. The fritto misto and mozzarella specials as appetizers were fantastic. The balsamic that the seafood was cooked in/served with had a great level of sweetness to complement the seafood. Only wish there had been more scallops. The mozzarella melted in my mouth. I ordered the filet, served with mashed potato, asparagus, and a fig gravy. The steak was cooked to an absolutely perfect medium-rare. I usually add a bit of salt to my steaks, but there was no need - the flavor to the steak was among the best I've ever had. The other entrees - lobster ravioli, short rib/lobster, pasta - were all enjoyed to varying degrees by others... again, I can only speak to my filet, which was perfect. Finally, we were presented with a dessert tray with 6 different desserts (cheesecake, cannoli, tiramisu, etc.) courtesy of one of the restaurant managers to celebrate the occasion. The server was fantastic and engaging, and most importantly did not make us feel rushed. We were able to eat and drink at our own pace, and he was more than happy to let us dictate the evening.
(5)
Gina E.

The food was amazing to match the top shelf service.
(4)
Ashley O.

I went here with my boyfriend this past Saturday, who researched this place and made a reservation. I have to say that from the valet to the meal, everything was great! We started by getting our car valet parked right out front so we wouldn't have to deal with parking / me walking in heels - and it was pretty reasonable compared to most restaurants. We arrived a little early, so we grabbed a drink at the bar - which had a really cool atmosphere. We were seated on-time, grabbed a bottle of recommended Merlot, and ordered our meal. I got the mixed green salad, which had the most perfect, tender large tomato slices. We also split the seafood risotto 1/2 portion, which was cooked perfectly. Our entrees were the lobster ravioli and the Sea Bass, which was a special that night. Though I wish the cream sauce to my ravioli had a bit more robust flavor, the Sea Bass over gnocchi was to die for. We waited while for our entrees to come out, but the staff was so attentive and the food was so well worth it. I will absolutely come here again!
(4)
David W.

Strega Waterfront may have the best service in Boston, Hell its most likely the best service I've ever had at an upscale restaurant. I prefer the atmosphere of the lounge to the dining area and Shauna & Heather are the best waitresses in the city.
(5)
Joseph M.

Ate here on 06/07/14 with my wife after a show down the street. The food was nothing great, just the typical selections you see at most restaurants, but way more expensive and smaller portions. The waiters were all male, and somewhat amateurish. For what you pay at this place you would expect a more polished staff. The female staff that were seating customers were wearing way to skimpy skirts and they were walking around with these serious, snobby looks on their face. I had to ask the waiter three times for lemon for my water. The busers were clumsy and one actually dropped a plate full of food on the floor near us and it splattered on my wife. The interior was nice, but did not exude the ambiance of fine dining with televisions on featuring race car racing. Like usual, it's all marketing, and smoke and mirrors, until you get there and experience it first hand. Save your hard earned money, be wise, stop chasing the foo foo shee shee (comes with age) and eat somewhere less expensive with food just as good.
(2)
Mihir P.

Atmosphere: bustling, professional, business attire. Bar has a good amount of TV's. Pretty staff. Food: Caesar salad was soggy from the greens being so drenched in dressing which was overdosed with parmesan cheese. Stuffed lobster tail - VERY LITTLE lobster and the stuffing of shrimp and scallops was mostly breading. But of course the price tag would have you believe that you'd get real seafood and an amount commensurate to that price. Proscuitto: melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a sweet vinegar dressing. Yum! Service: our waiter was aiming to please no doubt but his support staff fell short: None of them new who ordered what and a restaurant of what Strega wants to achieve and charge, shouldn't be ask who ordered what. Hostess didn't bring cocktail list. If you want tap water, then make sure you ask or they will give you bottled water and charge you up the wazoo for it.
(3)
Patrick M.

Fantastic night all around, from food, drinks, and especially service. We started off with an awesome meatball paired with ricotta cheese, rollatini di nico, and a chef prepared seafood sampler based off the seafood tower available at Strega Prime. All were excellent. Next we moved on to salads where my cesaer had great flavor, but could have used a little more dressing. Entrees were all excellent including the fettucine de strega, risotto, tortelloni alla panna, and the short rib special (this and the risotto were the best portions out of all if you are very hungry). The tiramisu and cheesecake were also excellent. Our waiter, Natale, was the star of the show. This is the best service I have received at any restaurant in Boston, including some of the top steakhouses. He was very accommodating, gave great recommendations, and had a great knowledge of the wine list. Overall a great meal, we went for my Grandmothers birthday and I have never seen her so happy. Highly recommended.
(5)
Patrick B.

Perfection. Service- 5 Food- 5 Wine- 5 Atmosphere- Beautiful Company- Gorgeous Traveled up to Boston for a night out and I was happy they had one table left. The hostess was very polite, directed us to their upbeat entertainment bar and lounge as we waited for our table to become available. The bartenders were very tentative and the drinks were suburb. We were then brought to our dinner, and greated by our server who was very polished, and went over specials and menu highlights. We were not disappointed from there. We both cleaned off our plates and then enjoyed after dinner drinks in the lounge until they closed down. Perfect night out THANK YOU
(5)
Liz S.

Good Bar and Lounge Scene!! Didn't have dinner but the appetizers were great. Looking forwarding to heading back for dinner in the very near future and I will update my post!
(4)
Morgan D.

Amazing, Lavish, Delicious...the important ingredients for a superb meal. I can hands down say, this is one of the best, if not the best, dining experiences of my life. Went here for one of my best friends birthdays, there were a total of 9 girls and it was fabulous. We started with bottles of wine and great appetizers. The food and service were pristine. The owner came out and bull-shited with our table...very also, down-to-earth guy. He sent over 2 bottles of champagne for us. He was truly fantastic and treated us like family. From what I hear, reservations are very hard to get so it was awesome that we got to experience this great meal. Everyone was dressed to the 9's, so I probably wouldn't come in jeans. We stayed here for 3 hours (a dream come true of mine, I love dining out and hate to be rushed) and it was worth it!! We definitely payed a pretty penny our meal, but you pay for what you get and what we got was excellent!
(5)
Bob T.

Great atmosphere, professional staff, and wonderful tastes.
(4)
Kim D.

Just had dinner here and after all the hype, WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT,!!! Gnocchi were lead balls and the Bone in Rib Eye special was fatty and tasteless. After waiting 2 months to take my wife there for her birthday, what a let down. I can say the 1 star rating was for the Mussels appetizer and for the bartenders. Will go back to their Hanover Street location rather than this one.
(1)
Barry B.

We took a large group 11 for dinner after my sons graduation. Sat in a private room. The food and service were very good. A bit pricey but Strega was a big part of a great day.
(4)
Amy R.

I see a lot of 4 and 5 stars here. Am I missing something? Aside from the chic ambiance and fantastic views, the service was most certainly lacking. My sister, cousin, and I arrived relatively early for our 9:15 reservation last Saturday night. But, we were seated pretty quickly as our reservation time approached. That's as quick as anything went for usfor the entire duration of the meal. We had gotten a round of beverages at the bar before we were seated, so I can forgive the waiter for not immediately coming over to our table at the beginning of our meal. We were all catching up with each other as well, so we did appreciate not having our waiter up our butts while we were sipping on our first round of cocktails. He did come by and ran down the specials for the night and took our order for a bottle of Pinot Grigio (can't beat Santa Margherita on an immensely hot, humid, and oppressive evening!) About 10 minutes later, our bottle of wine came and we ordered the buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and prosciutto appetizer special. At the waiter's recommendation, we got the 4 person serving. We were getting a little starved at this point, so we did put in our order for dinner as well. The appetizer came out in about 15-20 minutes... close to the point in time where we were going to start gnawing on our arms for sustinence... The serving was way too big for the 3 of us, but it was delicious nonetheless. We only were able to eat about 60% of the plate. It was kind of a waste to get the larger serving, but ahhh well. So, 35-40 minutes goes by... no sign of our entrees... waiter... life... I was getting a little irritated. I am pretty patient when it comes to slow service, but when we're reaching 10:30-45 and we haven't even had the main course... come on now. I finally spoke up and let the waiter know that I wasn't terribly upset his service personally, since it was a busy night, but each course took a significant amount of time to come out and it was getting a tad ridiculous. Obviously, the kitchen was backed up and he couldn't be faulted for it. Finally, our meals come out. I had the Lobster Ravioli, my sister had the Chicken & Mushroom risotto, and my cuz had Pasta Bolognese. I've had the Lobster Ravs at the North End location and had been blown away. It seems as though the quality control from the North End location never made its way to the Waterfront. The raviolis were average at best and there were 3 measly pieces of lobster randomly placed on top. The risotto should have been renamed "Bowl of Grilled Chicken with a side of ride" because I didn't see any ooey gooey risotto goodness in that bowl at all. It was overtaken by massive hunks of chicken instead. Very disappointing. My cousin's meal was just okay. We were rewarded with 2 desserts of our choice and glasses of Limoncello on the house to make up for the experience. But, I feel as though we didn't get our bang for our buck and we spent a pretty decent amount of money on a sub-par meal. I don't think I'll be heading back anytime soon.
(2)
David V.

Allow me to explain my 2-star rating.... Overall, my experience at Strega was great. The service was outstanding and the food was pretty good. My reason for the 2-star rating is based mainly on the entree that I ordered. I ate lunch here with my colleagues. Most of the group went with the fixed lunch menu (app, entree, dessert for $20-great deal), but I decided to go with a lunch entree instead: The Lobster Ravioli. In most restaurants where I've ordered this dish, it is a large portion, and their are actual chunks of lobster in the ravioli. At Strega, they serve you 4 pieces of ravioli. That's right, FOUR, for $16. The "lobster" filling is really minced up lobster, not actual nice chunks of lobster like other restaurants. I observed other entrees at my table that were much larger and cheaper than this dish. For example, the panini sandwiches were huge, and the veal Parmesan was also a big portion. I have had better lobster ravioli at much cheaper restaurants. Thankfully, my colleagues shared some of their meals with me because every other meal at this restaurant appears to be a normal, adult sized portion. And the the desserts came out... The options for the desserts were tiramisu or a chocolate chip cannoli. I am not joking when I say that the tiramisu portion was larger than my lunch portion. Based on today's experience, I don't see how the Italian food at this restaurant is worth the prices that they charge. Obviously, you are paying for the waterfront location, because I've had comparable (and better) Italian food at many other restaurants that charge a lot less. So, if you go here for lunch, I recommend the fixed lunch menu option. It is the best value, at $20, when other portions cost just about the same. The service was excellent, as was the atmosphere, but the food just did not impress me like I was hoping that it would.
(2)
Michelle R.

I wanted to love this place but I liked it. Let's get down to it: Apps: PROSCIUTTO BOCCONCINI E PEPERONI: 8/10 - just really good. CALAMARI: 1/10 - bland, can get it anywhere, nothing special Dinner: IL FILETTO AL COGNAC: 8/10 Filet - cooked to perfection but the sides are bland and there's not enough potatoes FETTUCCINE STREGA: 7/10 - looked amazing, really filling, but somewhat bland Third entree was a special and the plate was empty.. maybe go with the specials?! Drinks: Sangria was ok, too much ice cucumber vesper was GOOD - this made me happy, loaded champagne cocktail was nice, could of used more booze il capo - get it, probably my favorite chardonnay - meh. pinot G - meh. Really... get better wine! Or maybe we got the wrong ones. I'd go back just out of curiosity for other things on the menu but for the price you pay I think you're not getting what you pay for, just my two cents.
(3)
Christine F.

went here for a date. Great food but not good atmosphere since too loud.
(3)
Richard L.

Decor is great and the area is awesome when all the tourists leave. Otherwise, food is unremarkable. Between the risotto and the veal saltimbocca, I'm sure to have consumed 10 sticks of butter. And butter is mostly what one tastes. Shoddy service with an attitude to boot. I cannot think of any reason to want to go back other than the location.
(2)
Melissa C.

Delicious food! The filet and stuffed veal chop were very good. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. Our food took a while to come, which was no problem for us since we weren't in a rush (and they gave us a free dessert to make up for it even though we didn't make any mention of the wait).
(4)
Steven G.

We had a wedding rehearsal dinner at this restaurant for 50 people and it doesn't get any better. First the young lady that helped us with the pre-event planning was courteous and professional. We told her in broad terms and she helped us narrow in on the details. The food was outstanding. Meatballs - good Seafood salad - good Shrimp cocktail - good Antipasto platter - good Fruit and cheese - the fruit was very ripe even the kiwi that usually are not ripe. All good Now for the stars Stuffed mushrooms - very good Shrimp scampi - the best I ever had, huge and not drowning in oil and garlic Crostini - yes I know it is bread and a tomato topping sounds simple, these were very good and refreshing. Again they were not drowning in garlic but had a fresh taste. The wine was house wine but everyone said (I am not much of a drinker) it was very good. I guess so it was flowing fast. The service was impeccable, attentive and professional. If you asked for something they got I right away and found you no matter were you moved to. They were right in step with the evening. Pricing was competitive with other waterfront venues. They made the evening rave worthy. I recommend Strega Waterfront for anyone planning an event.
(5)
Steve C.

First visited this location shortly after it opened and was disappointed with the food, it was really poor, but I reserved to make comment as I thought it was just going through a shake down period. Here I am several months later and although the food was better, it was still disappointing. The decor is nicely finished albeit a little too busy for me, the bank of TV's doesn't really complement the nicely appointed wine cellar, it's almost as if too many people were involved in the design.. The food. They do get their bread from Bricco on Hanover so that's a treat, and the olives they serve with it are fresh and delicious. The lobster fra diavolo was spice-less, needed a kick in the you know what to get it going, the spaghetti was a little over cooked and unseasoned, the lobster however was cooked to perfection. Lamb chops looked promising, but unfortunately as they were not all the same size, the small ones were cooked perfectly and the larger ones were raw, someone should have picked up on that and left the larger ones on the grill a little longer. The service is absolutely first class, the servers are knowledgeable and very professional, as are the management team and bar staff. An interesting observation was there seems to be an ongoing competition to see who can be the most "Italian person" there, not that it's a bad thing, just an observation..
(3)
Anna K.

First review, but have had many meals here and at at Strega in the North End. Not understanding why some are complaining about the prices. Think about it: customers are paying for consistently good food, attentive service, clean/modern & lively ambiance, and prime waterfront location. The only thing missing is an attendant in the bathroom with essentials and hairspray- the TV is already in there! Worth it.
(4)
East West Coast Girl C.

Ah Strega! Its a standby for us if we're in Seaport. But its a caricature of itself. Both the patrons and the staff are exaggerated like cartoons. Another reviewer described waitresses as very "Jersey Shore." I agree and find it fascinating! Boston's Finest and members of The Family toast each other and mingle in peace here. Enjoy the show! The last time we were at Stega, we sat in the TV strewn bar area. It was 4:00PM, the changing of the guard so service was no where to be found. Unfortunately this is typical of most restaurants. As 5:00PM approached, more staff came on and service got a lot better. The speciality cocktails are well crafted. Food is decent but there are some misses. The eggplant rotini app. was bland and seemed straight from the freezer. Garlic shrimp was good, anitpasto plate is worth it. I've not had an entree here. When you consider the eyeful you get with decent food, its worth the trip.
(4)
Abir H.

So even after making reservations we had to wait over 30 minutes to be seated as our table was given to another party of 10! Not a great way to start our celebration. I can honestly say out of the 10 people there that night only 2 enjoyed their dish and they both had the same thing, a steak. For an Italian place they really don't know how to cook Italian. The worst dish was the gnocchi....it was horrible. The fra diavlo came in this plate that looked like an upside down hat, with the smallest hole for the food, in other words....not at all satisfying. The place is quite big and it was full of people but honestly I doubt I will ever go again.
(2)
Shirley Y.

Strega on the Waterfront was amazing for both my visits there. My first experience at Strega was a straight up business lunch. When you're sitting around a table discussing business prospects, you would want the experience to be as professional as possible, and professional the service was and more! The menu was expansive and the staff is quick to accommodate your every wish. One of us was in the mood for swordfish. A huge heaping piece of fish appeared at the table when our food came, laden with a red sauce and looked absolutely unbelievable. I was also eyeing the braised rib served with freshly made pasta, the special of the day, that the person next to me ordered with a bit of diner's remorse and envy. The portion sizes were generous, with the braised rib having to go in a doggie bag. I start salivating even as I think about it today. *drool* For my second experience, we had a small company function and rented out the private room to the side of the main dining room. It does not have the views that the main dining room boasted, but the service was nothing less than perfect. From the moment we walked in, until the function was over, the servers milling about never let you mingle empty-handed, and always with a full wine glass, cocktail, beer or sparkling or still water. They even remembered what you were drinking for the refills. The spread of food was decadent and the best quality, with cured meats, melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella cheese, garlicky bruschetta, not to mention the platters of fresh and crisp steak and cheese egg rolls, mushrooms, and the largest bacon-wrapped scallops I have ever seen that were so difficult to eat gracefully with a drink in your hand. The bar area was a contradiction of the classy dining room, with walls lined floor to ceiling with flat screen televisions. Perfect place to watch the game. This place fully deserves all five stars and more. I cannot wait to find some way to go back, and be able to afford it! You do get what you pay for.
(5)
Sarah A.

I'll be generous and give Strega 4 stars, but I'm rounding up from 3.5 My friend and I were looking to spend the evening in a relaxing space, drinking and eating some decadent food with the opportunity to at least gaze upon some appealing silver foxes. The evening started out on a high note when we found a metered parking spot right on Northern Ave. Yes. We arrived about 20 minutes early for our reservation, checked in and moved over to the bar. Once we sat down at the bar, we knew our evening was not exactly going to go as planned. Instead of an assortment of foxes, the bar area was packed with, um, how to say this politely, ....drunk, scantily clad young women with bad highlights...you get the picture? We enjoyed our drinks but were happy when the host told us our table was ready. We were seated at a beautiful U shaped booth that made us feel very VIP. I guess it's good to make reservations. Although we had plenty of space at our table, the overall atmosphere of the dining room was a bit crowded. On the way to our table we had to squeeze past other tables and many of the tables in front of us seemed spaced a bit too closely. Also, it was rather warm. We decided to stay inside thinking there would be AC, but it didn't seem much cooler inside than it did outside. I enjoyed our food, especially the appetizers. My favorite was the sea scallops in Grand Marnier. They were perfectly cooked and served with orange slices. The melezane were also quite good. I was a bit disappointed with my entree, the fettucine strega. I had high hopes, but, frankly it tasted a bit processed. And, for $29, I'd rather try making something similar at home. To end it all, the waiter messed up the split on our credit cards, overcharging my card. Still waiting to see if it will be canceled and the appropriate amount charged. I'd go back for drinks and the scallops in Grand Marnier. Not sure that I'd bother with dinner, though.
(4)
John B.

I Had the pleasure of dinning at Strega for a birthday with a party of five recently. Let me start off by saying that the food was excellent, however the service is the real reason I am giving Strega only 3 stars. The service started off fine, our waiter was very informative and helpful and the 3 starters and 2 salads we ordered came out fairly quickly. Then we ordered our entrees. We waited for at least an hour for our dinner to come out. In that hour our waiter only stopped by once to say that the kitchen was running a little slow and our food should be out shortly. With such a big party spending a good amount of money it would have been nice if the manager had come over to apologize for the wait or even the owner who was chatting at a nearby table, but non of this happened. Even a complementary drink to go along with the 2 bottles of wine we already drank while waiting would have been a nice gesture since we waited so long. Strega can absolutely improve in the customer service department. On the positive side when our food did finally come out it was amazing. I had the sea bass and it was cooked perfectly. I would certainly recommend Strega as I'm sure that this quality of service isn't the norm however I was very diss appointed with the service we received.
(3)
Lindsay M.

Delicioso! My husband and I went here on date night, right before the Cirque du Soleil show. We made a reservation for 6pm, When we arrived we were asking our preference, indoor or outdoor seating. I choose outdoor. It was very nice on the front patio area and from my chair I could see the water, loved that! Upon our arrival we were asked what type of water we liked. The water glass was never more than half empty, which was appreciated/. I asked the waiter if the bartender could make a non alcoholic juice spritzer. Well the bartender perfected this and it was a perfect yummy drink for this preggo girl. We ordered the app special which was mozzarella and prosciutto. It was very very good. Hubby ordered the homemade gnocchi and I ordered the homemade fusuli with eggplant. Both dishes were absolutely delicious! I will definitely return for the pasta along - Mmmmm! Job well done.
(4)
Kerry D.

I had a lovely lunch with my girlfriend. We sat in a nice table in the window with a water view, and our service was excellent. The decor is as mentioned by others... over the top, and so many TVs. Especially at the bar area but there is even one in the bathroom. I personally think it's an unnecessary distraction. The food was quite good. We started with well-mixed cocktails and shared an appetizer special which was housemade burrata with prosciutto and tomatoes. Very nice. We both enjoyed our pasta entrees. I had another special (from their dinner menu) which was a very tender braised short rib with homemade papardelle. I was too full for dessert but the macchiato I had instead was also well-made. In short, nothing ground-breaking, but I would return again for the waterfront location, solid Italian food, and great service.
(4)
Dennis S.

Everyone has a favorite place, and this is mine. The combination of true hospitality, excellent food, and great atmosphere all come together seamlessly here! From the valets to the GM to the back servers everyone is just friendly and accommodating. These people aren't waiters or bartenders anymore these people are friends!! This is the place to go!
(5)
Greg N.

Great food, just very expensive. Worth a try.
(3)
Will R.

I found this restaurant to be very nice aesthetically speaking. I just like the Hanover St. location better. The parking is great but I found the food to be pricey, good, but not as good as the other location.
(4)
Lee H.

I was new to Boston and instead of taking the hotel's recommendation I took Yelp's. Luckily I did this place has great food and service. They even made my dinner partner a veal parm(not on the menu). If you're in the area, definitely worth a try.
(4)
mary s.

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants. I've gone here for Christmas Eve this year and last. I'm not wild about the gangster movies they play on the big screen TV's, but the food is some of the best Italian I've ever had. The service is impeccable and the drinks are great! Just a tip - when making a reservation, request a table in the back room. The ambiance is far better (no TV's!).
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Came here for my 30th birthday dinner about a week ago on a Saturday night and was very pleased with the experience. First, they handled my husband's reservation fairly well. He always waits too long to make a reservation for my birthday, and with this restaurant's popularity, location, and it being the worst month of the year (graduations, weddings, showers, etc) it was very kind of them to squeeze in such a large group at a nearly decent hour (9 pm). So, kudos for being accommodating and understanding the panicked husband. I believe they did make him complete a contract for such a large group, so fair warning. They are located right on the waterfront (hence the name). Decor is modern, with lots of windows, very appealing for me. They also had a $10 valet, which was the same price as any other parking in the area, so it's well worth it to use that service. We were able to enjoy drinks outside while we waited for our very large group to finish arriving, and for our table to be ready. The sangria was absolutely perfect! They do have a lounge area where a bachelorette party had congregated. It was a little warm in there but it was VERY busy (lounge and restaurant) so we were happy to be outside in the fresh air. Inside we were seated at a very nice, longer table near the back where we had privacy, and nice real estate (not near the kitchen, the entrance the bathroom, etc). It has the trademark TV's on the walls playing movies, sports, etc but nicely enough we were seated far enough away that our group could converse without the distraction. Our group had latecomers and we used the time to review the menu. I've been to the Strega in the North End and the menu at the waterfront has some similarities, but also modifications to make it a little more upscale. Everyone ordered, we all selected a variety off different meals and loved every bite. Not a single person out of 14 had an issue with their meal. And of course, the bread and olives beforehand helped tide us over (yummy!). They were also kind enough to accommodate a guest bringing an outside dessert to celebrate the special occasion, so thank you again! Overall the waitstaff was very attentive, pleasant and knowledgeable. Drinks were always being replaced and out food came very quickly. We also never felt rushed, despite the fact that we were there close to 2 hours. They do add on an automatic tip with large groups, so beware. And it looks like they have a policy of not splitting large bills between several cards, so I would check in on that before bringing a large group. Enjoyed every minute of our experience there and we will definitely be back! Great job to the manager and his staff for helping to make a very nice, memorable evening that all of us enjoyed! You made 30 not so dirty ;-)
(5)
Shari J.

Went to Strega for a work event, so I can't rate the actual menu food itself. But the event was just a mess. When a friend asked for some Pino Grigio at the bar, the bartender asked her "red or white?". She was dumbfounded. I would have asked for the red, just to see what would happen! The event food was poor bbq food to say the least - sausage, hot dogs, burgers and horrendous crab cakes. Not exactly vegetarian friendly either. Between the attitudes (and lack of knowledge) of the bartenders and servers and the underwhelming food, I don't think I'll be coming here to dine anytime soon!
(1)
J P.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night in July. The space: The location is great, nice for a walk and the view of the water from the main dining room is nice. The television situation is out of control. From our vantage point in the dining room, we could see 6 televisions playing various movies (one with a bit of nudity, which was kind of hilarious) and the crrazzzy jumble of televisions behind the bar showing various sporting events. Totally distracting and takes away from a nice dining experience, in my opinion. The clientele: my table ranged in age from 30-40 and we were by far the youngest table in the place by at least 25 years. Our reservation was on the earlier side, so maybe that's why? Weird. The service: Our waiter was, on the whole, condescending. As if we were kids crashing the grown-ups party. When asked what beers they had on tap, his response was an annoyed "none." [awkward silence]. Oh I'm sorry, if this is such a classy establishment, then why are there 38,476 televisions on the walls? It's a valid question. The snippiness continued while we picked our wines, tried to pronounce things in Italian (he made sure to correct us), and asked him to repeat the dessert menu that he rattled off at warp speed, so he started describing to us what a cannoli is like we had never seen one before. (This was when I was seriously about to slap him.) The food: We shared the burata appetizer for 4, which was a ton for 4 people. It was delicious, better than the burata we recently had at Scampo. As someone who doesn't eat shellfish or veal, I had a tough time with the menu. Thankfully there was a special of braised shortribs with pappardelle pasta. The meat was tasty, though slightly overdone, and the small chunks of lobster in the sauce would have been a nice surprise...for someone who likes lobster (sorry, not me). The pasta was good, but not as outstanding as the price tag would suggest. The cost: not worth it. There are plenty of places in the North End with much better ambiance, with dishes that are just as good and more inventive, and for less than the arm and leg we paid here. I'm not sure what we were paying for so I doubt we'll be back.
(2)
Jeffrey K.

Love this place. Let me start by saying that the Boston waterfront is a great place to have dinner. I've been to Strega twice and i must say that the service and food are both off the charts. It feels that you're being taken care of right when you enter the restaurant. Everything is made to order and is equally fresh and delicious. If you desire something off the menu just throw it out there and the waiter/waitress will exeed your expectations. I would love to say I've tasted numerous items on the menu however both times I ordered the surf and turf. If it ain't broke then don't fix it! selected the ginormous lobster tail which is accompanied by 6 lamb chops. The flavor is like no other. This place isn't cheap but you get what you pay for!
(4)
Neil S.

Food was great. We went for a late lunch~2pm and had to wait a very long time for our lunch and the restaurant was nearly empty. That said, portion size was large and the chicken balsamic mozzarella panini was very good. I'd give it a shot again for dinner s the menu looks quite interesting.
(3)
Sarah M.

I honestly think our waitress was high. To start, there were maybe 5 other tables of people outside and the waitstaff was working in teams, or so they claimed. I arrived before my brother, so after he showed up the waitress came by to ask what we wanted to drink. We asked for a drink menu and minutes later she came back with one then she disappeared for another 5+ minutes. I was in the restroom when my brother ordered my drink and she had him get my ID from my purse. Not a big deal but I wasn't even sitting there so how did she know it was my picture on the ID and it wasn't a fake? After she dropped the drinks off she said she would tell us the specials in a minute. 10-15 minutes passed and she finally came back to tell us the specials. As she was telling them, she kept looking around slowly..turning her head side to side as she was talking. She then came back another 10-15 minutes later to take our order. In the 10-15 minutes we waited, I watched her behind the outdoor bar chatting it up with the bartender. Anyway, flash forward to the food. We ordered an appetizer that was tomato, mozzarella, and prosciutto. It was delicious and probably the best choice of the night. When dinner arrived, we were disappointed with the size of the entrees. $21 for a tortellini plate that had maybe 8 large tortellini and a small amount of chopped ham. The tortellini were okay..but they had a lot of pepper in them. Overall, the place probably would have gotten 4 stars had it not been for our horrible waitress and the small portion size.
(2)
Marina S.

I have never been to this restaurant before and went for the first time on a quiet wednesday night. As soon as I stepped in I loved the atmosphere. The hostess greeted us right away and took our jackets for us. We sat at the bar and ordered 2 Martinis, they were ok. I liked all the t.v.s they had up against the wall. When we we ready for dinner we got a nice comfy booth. Or waiter was excellent. Knowledgeable and gracious. We ordered the garlic shrimp as an appetizer and once again it was just ok. For our main course we ordered the t-bone steak which was very good and very filling. Came with potatoes, caramelized onions and veggies. The other main dish was a special they had for that night. The waiter described it similar to cioppino and since I was in the mood for seafood AND we were eating right on the water I figured I could not go wrong. Wrong. They brought out the dish and it was the smelliest dish ever. I can't believe they presented that to diners. I have had a lot of seafood in my day and never experienced that before. The half lobster it came with barely had any taste. The mussels and clams were o.k. Overall for the price of that dish I was very, very disappointed. Seemed like they threw in their almost expired seafood into a dish and tried to get away with it. At last we had tiramisu, which once again was just o.k. Overall, I would go back there for drinks and to hang in the bar area. As far as eating there again, will not be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Kcb B.

One of the best overall experiences we've ever had. Food and service are immaculate. One of our top 5 favorite restaurants in the city.
(5)
Mindy R.

I went to Strega waterfront for my boyfriends graduation meal. We expected there to be a lot of people there, but there was barely anyone there. Probably because it was a bit far from BU and BC and New England law -all who had graduation that day. We had 7 people in our group and we got there about 1/2 hour early. We sat in the bar a bit and got drinks, then went to our table. The servers in the bar and the table were awesome. They were so knowledgeable about the menu and even made an exception to get my boyfriends mom muscles when they weren't on the lunch menu. It's great to know that a restaurant that does amazing business cares about each guest enough to please them; it shows you're not just $$$. The food was fantastic. I had the haddock and it was fantastic. I don't usually like tomatoes with my fish, but I was willing to try something new. So delicious. Everyone really enjoyed their meals and my boyfriend even tried lobster ravioli that day! For dessert they brought over a large complimentary dessert tray to celebrate his graduation!!! It was a great time, and I would definitely go back again. Only I'd go at dinner and probably make reservations a few days, if not a week, ahead of time. It looked super busy for the night when I looked over the host stand.
(5)
Barry G.

So after you read my review, you might think 'ok, why did he give it a 4 not a 5' well, it is a combination of TW) visits - thats why! So I have frequented the Hanover St location many times. Love the small cozy atmosphere, the staff, and the FOOD! So of course, waterfront should be good to right? well, the food, yes, amazing! I will chronicle my two visits. Over the summer, during the SC playoffs (GO BRUINS!), after w couple hours at Luckys we went over to Strega to meet friends. Jam packed, shoulder to shoulder, HUGE TV's showing the game, and good strong drinks. Fun, nice place, but a little to crowded for my liking (it is why we left Luckys) Went again last night, just for dinner. Much different scene (as you would expect). about half capacity, a lot quieter, and more enjoyable (I am there for the food now, not the bar) I was there with 5 other people,and we got a LOT of food. - pumpkin ravioli appetizer - top notch! - mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto? Just as good (such creamy cheese - the waiter said they import it twice a week from Italy) - Fried and grilled veggie platter - also great! The meals were amazing as expected. Sirloin, stuffed pork, awesome! sides are great Desserts? We ordered too many. Creme brule, amoretto cake, and more - all top notch. THIS is what good dining should be. great food, not thinking of calories, washed down with some Mcllelen 12 year and great atmosphere ther eis a lot more room than the hanover st location, and especially the higher ceilings make it seem bigger. I like the location, I love the food 5 stars for going out for dinner -1 star for the over crowded bar atmosphere later at night (hey, not their fault, popularity is good!)
(4)
Karen C.

3 1/2 stars - The food and service were good, just not great. They were very helpful as we were a fairly large party and the reservation was made the wrong day but they were still able to seat us. There were really no stand outs when it came to what we ordered. To start we ordered the La Strega Salad, the Calamari and the Melenzane al Castello which were all tasty, just not very exciting. I had wanted to order the duck special but they ran out of it so I opted for the IL Fagottino instead. That and the Pappardelle Funghi Selvatici were probably the best things we ordered. The lobster ravioli was good, just had better at other restaurants. Which is pretty much how I felt about this experience - good just had better similar food elsewhere.
(3)
T. H.

Strega Waterfront is a is Fantastic! A bigger restaurant than the original restaurant which is in the North End. This is a a modern restaurant serving Italian Classics with a bar and a patio on the harbor. If the weather is warm i would definitely recommend sitting outside. However, despite the size of the space, the restaurant is very popular so be sure to have a reservation or expect to wait. The food... Large portions, good quality and there is an impressive wine list to choose from. Prices are on par with the quality and the serving size.
(4)
Renee H.

Wonderful food, the service..well lets just say it could have definitely been better since the menu boasts "where everyone is treated like a celebrity". The server was definitely lacking in the beginning and the end. It wasn't bad enough for me to not return though. His recommendation for my entree was spot on. The patio was perfection until it got dark out, and there wasn't so much as a candle on the table to see by..
(4)
Nathan L.

Visited Strega Waterfront for my birthday with my girlfriend. We had a reservation and arrived early. We enjoyed a drink at a table outside and waited for our table. The location is great and design of the restaurant is very nice both inside and out although it was VERY loud inside the restaurant. Best part of the meal was the appetizer. It was a mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto dish with a very good balsamic sauce. They also have a very good wine list. The rest of the meal was disappointing. I got a short rib dish which was a special that night. The dish was average but for $40 I expected more. My girlfriend got a lobster pasta dish with a red sauce but when it arrived the lobster was still in the shell. It appeared they tried to crack the shells to make it easy to get the meat out but they were not cracked enough so it had to be sent back. The most disappointing part of the meal was when I asked for a side of pasta with red sauce, because I didn't really like the sauce that came with my dish. I was given a small bowl (the size of a cereal bowl) half filled with pasta. They charged us $12 for that. I was a little surprised they charged us at all for it but when I saw it was $12 I was shocked. Being my birthday my girlfriend didn't raise the issue until after the fact because she didn't want me to be upset but when I saw the check I was very disappointed. My meal was not worth close to the $52 she paid.
(2)
Cat M.

Nothing wrong with my meal, just nothing special.
(3)
Allyson W.

I went for dinner on my birthday with a group of five. Everyone loved their food, and the service was impeccable. They were happy to accommodate special requests, such as pasta instead of mashed potatoes with an entree. We had the antipasti and a Caesar salad, plus an appetizer with burrata, tomatoes and basil with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, to start. For entrees, we had the fettuccine with shrimp, the filet, the lemon chicken, the homemade fusilli with eggplant, and a parmigiana-esque veal dish called Sorrentina. I don't remember all the actual names, unfortunately. We had a bottle of Cabernet and a bottle of Riesling. To finish the meal, a few of us had Irish coffee, and I had a piece of strawberry cheesecake. Everything was nicely presented. We enjoyed our experience immensely and would go back again, hopefully during nicer weather so we can sit on the patio.
(5)
Jo T.

So impressed with the fresh pasta dishes. Loved the lobster fra diavolo. Waiter memorized four guests' food allergies and was patient and gracious. Enjoyed a post-dinner walk along the waterfront on a hot summer night. My new favorite restaurant.
(5)
Jay L.

We could not have been happier. Natale our waiter was attentive, but not to the point of annoying. The food was crazy good. The view was the view, not a lot to comment on their, but we are already planning another night out at Strega Waterfront, I would put it on your "must go" list, but be prepared to pay for great food and great service, Strega doesn't come cheep, but we knew that going in. Worth the 5 stars all day long.
(5)
Jason C.

I had an incredible time at this restaurant! I celebrated my anniversary here and didn't have a single regret. The atmosphere was great, the food was great, and the waiter was very knowledgeable. I went to Strega (meaning Witch, also an Italian drink) early afternoon Sunday. My girlfriend and I were the only people there for a while, so of course I told her I rented the place out for her. But serious I had a great experience here, I would highly recommend this establishment to family and friends.
(5)
Michael D.

I took my girlfriend to Strega waterfront for her bday. We had reservations but arrived early so we sat at the bar. The bar tenders were friendly and the drinks were good. Soon thereafter we were swept to our table. Our waiter was very friendly and the menu was good. We ordered the stuffed portabello mushroom for an apetizer. It arrived quickly and was very good. We both opted for the daily specials for our mealinstead of a menu item. I had the Zuppa Di Pesci (lobster, clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and shrimp in a spicy sauce over spaghetti) and my girlfriend opted for the surf and Turf (a plentiful steak and a 2 lb stuffed lobster tail). Let me tell you these dishes were the best that we've had of these particular meals. We took our dessert to go. I had a cannoli and she the tiramisu. I will definitely return to Strega.
(5)
Nikhil P.

Style points ooze out of this restaurant and it was a great spot for my wife's 30th birthday. It's all very "showy." The manager(?) greets you at the door, a tall leggy brunette takes you to your table, an uber charming waiter goes into all the detail you need about the menu, a baby grand piano and old italian films are conspicuously placed as decor. The people at adjoining tables who were either: BFFs with the management, shareholders in Strega, or wannabe "ballers" were giving mad patsies on everyone's backs who seemed important, and there was even the token older man with two young bombshells flanking him at a booth nearby. I find myself getting a bit uncomfortable with the whole "scene" that goes along with this kind of bravado, but it was a fun spot to eat. The food was honestly delicious. The calamari al fruiti (?) was damn tasty, and my risotto dinner was really good. The olives and bread were a great touch (and really freaking good ... I'd carb load at this place anyday), and the cannoli at the end of the night was probably the best cannoli I've ever had anywhere. Hands down. The only downer, which sort of confirmed/soured my taste of the place, was this little incident we witnessed at the end of the evening. A busboy / assistant to our waiter was handing over our bag of packed-up-food (portions are huge here!) and we asked him if he could show us a dessert menu. He turned to our supremely confident waiter and asked if he could bring over a dessert menu, and the waiter basically humiliated him well within earshot. Essentially, I've got it, do your job, don't get in the way, don't tell me what to do ... to a college kid who was trying to be helpful. Not classy, and makes a big statement by how everyone treats their fellow staffers. Overall, damn good food, great atmosphere, and fun spot for a cool, hip dinner on a special night out.
(4)
Francesca J.

I went here last night to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. The entire experience was excellent. We started the night in the lounge to have a drink. Really dark chic space with a friendly atmosphere. Would definitely go back just to have a drink and an appetizer sometime. We then were seated at our table and had dinner. Dining room is much larger than the north end location and really beautiful. Huge extensive wine with lavish bottles to cheap great tasting wines. My boyfriend got the veal chop while I got the lobster fra diavolo. We cleaned our plates it was so good!!! We each got dessert which were both very tasty, and his was even comp'd for his special day ( you never see that anymore) I wish we could come every weekend!
(5)
Rick B.

Fantastic experience today to celebrate our daughter's graduation. Great reception and awesome food and drinks. For a party of nine I could not have asked for more. Great suggestions for food and wine, Timothy was a true professional and made the day for all of us. Thank you!
(5)
Tey H.

Strega is more nightclub than restaurant. The food despite steep prices is just average. And be sure to ask the prices of the specials or be surprised by a $45 bland chicken. Nothing really stands out. Pork chops ok, but not flavorful, tortelloni was average. The bar scene is amusing. Mob movies play continuously which is fun for 10 minutes. Most bizarre is when the TVs behind the front bar stopped ESPN and began scrolling Chairman Mao sized photos of . . . the owner. Laughed our asses off at that bit of ego. Waitresses are gorgeous but unless one of them fits inside a ravioli, we are going elsewhere.
(2)
Lo-an L.

As the wind carried me into the massive entrance of Strega, I realize that I might not be able to spot my date in the sea of suits at the bar. Oodles and oodles of older gentlemen nursing their 12-year-old scotch looking at me as a sacrificial lamb. While I backed away slowly trying not to look them in the eye and scouring the place for a familiar face, my date waved his hand up in recognition and came to rescue me before the herd attacked. Relieved and thirsty, I settled myself at the bar and we ordered up a house-customized martini for me and, you guessed it, a 12-year-old scotch for him. It was a mindless Tuesday and the bar is already buzzing with older gents after work and traveler's crowd. Mental note, tell all the single ladies where the men are hiding in this town. The strawberry filled martini with vodka and prosecco did wonders of calming my nerves while being around some power suits. As conversations around me swirl from day trading to vacation hot spots I find my stomach grumbling in anticipation for some delightfully fresh carbohydrates. When the host finally came over to announce that our table was ready, we finished our drinks and made our tipsy way to a cozy booth. I sat there and drank in the atmosphere with it's high ceiling, huge windows overlooking the waterfront with it's ominous dark clouds and the brave souls that would want to take a romantic stroll on a windy evening such as this. A deliciously fresh breadbasket was placed before us with tons of olives filled olive oil for our dipping pleasure. Our waiter came over to recite the special which I listen to half heartedly as I munch on the bread and wait to order my bowl of linguine alla vongole with fra diavolo sauce. A nice bottle of Cabernet set the mood as my date educate me on how 2005 was a great year for cabs..... Caprese salad was as fresh as can be. The tomatoes and basil taste like they just got hand picked on a beautiful August evening... No complaints from me as I sat there satisfied with my salad and my wine. The pasta was amazingly fresh but the clams were a bit sandy and chewy. I was thinking how I should have ordered the lamp chops and then without saying anything, a lamp chop magically appeared on my plate (not magically, just a generous fella who shares). The chops were brilliantly juicy with just enough rosemary to flavor. My night was complete. Great wine, fresh pasta and a fella who shares his chops; what more can a gal ask for... Well, I could have done without the couple 2 booths away who just proposed... but c'est la vie.
(4)
Ed B.

Best meatballs in town! A little pricey at $9 for a single meatball, but, they are delicious. Sea bass was perfectly cooked, too. Our server was very attentive and provided great customer service. Will definitely be back - can't wait for it to be warm enough to sit outside.
(4)
Melissa H.

What an amazing dinner with such attention from our waiter John and our host Phil!! We sat outside and enjoyed our wine and meals and never felt rushed. A perfect Saturday night on the waterfront!! Oh and the food was amazing :)
(5)
Bailey F.

I have eaten here twice now. Food is amazing! For someone who doesn't eat dessert ever, I ate dessert! I would recommend the lobster and crab ravoli I have had it both times! Will definitely be going back soon.
(4)
Melissa D.

Insert commercial pun right now: "To die for." Strega waterfront is located on Fan Pier (inbetween the Moakley Courthouse and ICA). Valet is provided but there are plenty of parking lots around. Strega has outdoor seating and inside has the dark tones of an Italian steakhouse. Since you need to make reservations about a month in advance, we chanced it but they were fully booked. The crowd was an older setting and people got dressed up. We felt uncomfortable in our jeans and summer tops. We sat outside, a bit chilly but they have heat lamps. As we waited for a couple more people, my friend tried out the Limoncello Martini and the Espresso Martini. The latter was a better cocktail. We were disappointed that they didn't have a great selection of appetizers but I settled with the Caesar salad. Heads up the salad is a good starter for 2 people with fresh cut slices of parmesan and a mound of romaine and dressing. However, the entrees won us back with so many delicious choices to choose from. Orders were placed for the Fettuccine Strega (scallops and shrimp in a cream sauce), Gnocchi Sorrentina (potato dumplings with buffalo mozzarella), and Alla Romana (chicken breast with sun dried tomatoes). Great ingredients like fresh made pasta, off the boat scallops, chicken cooked to perfection. Entrees range from $27-$45 and cocktails about $12 each. You are going to spend a little more but the atmosphere and food won our votes to come back.
(4)
raymond g.

This place never disappoints! The food is great, the staff is fabulous, and the bar always has a great vibe. Love it.
(5)
Adam M.

Despite a new locale and a fancy decor, Strega still leaves a bit to be desired in terms of keeping up Boston's ever improving culinary scene. With many classic dishes that conjure up memories of grandma's kitchen, Strega offers something that everyone can enjoy, however, doesn't really come close to delivering something truly special. The scallop appetizer was not seared enough (barely seared at all), however, the eggplant was nicely prepared and not soggy. We only shared an entree so likely will need to return to get a better sense as to the scope of the menu, however, the Pappardelle Emiliana was well cooked, but the sauce definitely needed more seasoning. Despite high quality ingredients, the sauce was semi-tasteless and could have been much better with minor adjustments. All in all, Strega will definitely thrive in its new locale and the great view, however, will need to pick it up on the innovation side to compete with some of the up and coming chefs in Boston's culinary scene.
(2)
Georgina C.

As a patron of Strega and Niko on Hanover St I was BLOWN AWAY by Strega Waterfront. Everything was top notch, the decor, drinks, menu selection and service. This is a WONDERFUL venue for any type of occasion and Guissepe our waiter was fantastic, very attentive and knowledgeable. The place was also packed, a testament to the exceptional service and quality of food. I would recommend this to anyone! Wonderful wonderful wonderful! Well done Mr. Verano.
(5)
Lauren V.

Televised Strega commercials are about as ubiquitous in this town as Andelman brothers, and let's face it, they're painfully corny. So between that and the gaudy neon sign, I was at least moderately hesitant. And then Nick Varano and his food blew my Doubting Thomas attitude out of the water. My boyfriend and I arrived for our 8:30 reservation a few minutes early and were seated promptly - both the inside and outside dining rooms were full and bustling. The decor is, yes, a little cheesy - all grand scale and Italian-American movie classics like the Godfather(s), Goodfellas, and Raging Bull playing on loop on TVs on the central wall and this inexplicable St. Louis Arch-looking thing (I commend whoever gets seated at the table under that thing because you'll feel like you're at a wedding in the 80s. Actually, maybe I'm jealous.) in the middle of the main dining room, but the rest is all white linens and a single tea light and rose on each table. Classic. Service over the course of the meal was attentive, non-intrusive, and friendly. Within minutes, our waiters (yes, plural... a waiter and a sidekick) arrived, the former rattling off the lengthy list of specials thoroughly and with a delightful Brooklyn Italian accent to boot (was it real? was it fake? I DON'T CARE.) to my delight. I ordered a cocktail and my boyfriend ordered a beer, and in the few minutes before those arrived, the sidekick brought over nice crusty Italian bread and olive oil for dipping. For an appetizer, we ordered the day's special - fried clams. They were fat, tender, and sweet, with deliciously light crispy batter, and whipped tartar sauce - delicious! It's tough to screw up a fried clam, but these really were great, and my boyfriend mopped up the rest of the tartar sauce with some bread, because you can take the couple out of Allston, but you can't take the Allston out of the couple, y'know? For entrees, he ordered the short rib special, which had lobster meat and was served over (homemade, of course) papardelle, and I had the swordfish special, which was done puttanesca style over spaghetti. Both meats were cooked perfectly - tender, fresh, and not overwhelmed by their accompaniments. The pasta, as fresh pasta tends to be, was to die for. Though I could have finished off my meal, I saved some for today's lunch, and I don't even feel bad that I'll be the person on my office floor nuking the fish, because nothing's gonna rain on my swordfish parade. Dessert was creme brulee, which we split, and a decaf cappuccino for me. I'm not a huge creme brulee fan, as it tends to be too heavy, especially following a rich meal, but this was light, almost like a whipped pudding, with the usual delicious caramelized sugar crust, and a few strawberries and chocolate drizzles on the plate. It was completely delicious, especially with my cappuccino (fresh whipped cream and cinnamon on top), and we pretty much licked the plate clean. (How rude, you might think, but considering I spent the appetizers-'n-cocktails-time finding clever ways to deposit my olive pits, this was an improvement.) (Hint: the napkin in the lap hides EVERYTHING.) This is certainly a pricey splurge place, but the food was genuinely, shockingly delicious, and I'll gladly return here for any remotely special occasion (or non-occasion, such as a Wednesday, because they have lobster mac and cheese on Wednesdays. YOU'RE WELCOME.)
(5)
Saba N.

I love the location of this place, honestly.. you can't beat it. beautiful view. The restaurant is a little tacky, but I kind of like it. And it's Strega, what do you expect? My biggest complaint is that I ordered this tequila/grapefruit drink (which normally I love)... and it was genuinely garbage. 12 dollar garbage. But, that being said, the lunch I had was Delicious. I think it was a little over priced for dinner, but I would definitely come back for lunch. I had a prosciutto parma panini (say that 3 times fast) and I was super impressed. Plus, it was $13 bucks. Not bad for a nice, Boston lunch. Definitely would go back.. but overall not amazingly impressed. It was good. And that's about it. There aren't a ton of places on the waterfront though, so it's a really good option for those who want a nice view and to impress.
(3)
RJ S.

Beautiful location and the food was excellent! I had some lovely wine with the lobster fra diavolo- incredible!
(5)
MaryKate R.

Yet again..... They knocked it out the park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally get a night out with the ladies, leaving hubby and the boys at home, and it was amazing!! Food was mouthwatering and the cocktails were perrrrrrfect!
(5)
Linda P.

Without a doubt, this place is beautiful and located in a perfect location next to the water. However, the service was horrendous. Just because my friends and I were not dressed to impress does NOT mean that we should be treated any differently. Our waiter tended to the tables next to us more often - to an older well-dressed couple. Our water stayed empty for long periods of time and the waiter was short with us when we asked for recommendations for dishes. The food was mediocre - I was not impressed.
(2)
Rich D.

Our group tried 4 apps, 4 entrees and 4 desserts. Our extremely knowledgeable server explained everything in great detail. It started with the apps where he went on and on about this one being the best you can find in Boston, this one being the greatest this, that one being the greatest that. He oversold everything. I wanted to laugh. But then I tasted the apps ... one after the other ... he was right about everything! He wasn't overselling it. Each app, each entree and each dessert was fantastic! Even things I don't normally eat like figs, gnocchi and prosciutto were wonderful. My favorites were probably the calamari and the Chilean sea bass. Both were the best I've had at any restaurant. So incredible food and service to match in a beautiful restaurant. What more could you ask for? I've only been here once, but it's already my favorite restaurant. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Christine D.

amazing pumpkin ravioli. good for a midweek dinner. extremely friendly and sweet bartenders. good prices
(5)
Warren W.

Easy to get to location; took advantage of the valet parking; gave him my keys and look over and there are about 5 spaces available on the street.! In we go, catch up with our good friend and it's dad's night out with the ladies. I don't love 1/2 moon booth type seating. One person has to take a leak and 2 of us get up. Not for four of us anyway but there we are and I think the crew likes it. I say nothing. Water is delivered promptly with a large basket of bread, the most delicious olives and I'm checking out the the crowd. Mostly men; looks like just after work and with a mixture of couples as the night progresses. We arrived at 7:00. Recommendations from previous yelper experiences has my daughter all over the lobster ravioli or better known to we Italian wannabes as Lobster Aragosta! Ha! This was first challenged by a hearty plate of calamari with a very delicous marinara sauce and more than just an appetizer. Order this and stop. I went for the Taganino (rhymes with Menino) and not exactly as described in the menu. Somebody forgot the crostini. I kept eating; kept doing my best to get to the bottom; but there was no bread at the bottom of the delicious little necks and mussels. The sauce was described as spicey by not so. One diner, Auntie, enjoyed the Rollatini (eggplant perfectly rolled and the most wonderful of all textures and taste.) She then got after the Papparadele Funghi Sevatici a creme based, truffle infused, mushroom dish that was perfect on this cold evening. She loved it. Got to tell you about Auntie's bloody mary. She's not much of a drinker. "please may I have a bloody Mary with very little vodka?" Out it comes. Now she also doesn't care much for spicy. This Mary is beyond hot mixed with far too much pepper and really for most undrinkable. Another is brought to the table as a replacement. She hopes watered down! Nope. Sits sits there loneyl with ice melting looking for a new home. Our other friend the Panda was engrossed in a fusili dish known to most Italians as Casareci Di Marinara a perfect dish for this discerning vegan who loves tomato, and eggplant baked together. The wine was a very dry and tasty G. Travaglini Gattinara 2004 that also was priced sort of fairly and affordable for our host who was footing the bill (Auntie). Vincenzo was our server. He was attentive, funny, and personable. I would ask for him again without question. The atmosphere is upscale, and I think a taste of what the waterfront in the Seaport area will become. This will be a very busy spot 12 months a year. A cool yet small bar with a great display of tv's and a hostess or two in dresses short enough to have me take the pictures of the wife and kids out of my wallet! Why the 4....Oh I can't do it I'm changing it to 5. Did not like the booth, where was my crostini, and a sure could have used a spoon for my clams!? Oh, I could have said something, but I was the guest and trying to be on my best and well.......
(5)
David P.

This restaurant will receive awards! Only open for a few months we chose Strega Waterfront for a birthday dinner. Excellent! Not only were the atmosphere and staff superb but each person in our party of 6 raved about every course. Our group, having lived in Boston for 10-14 years each, has not complimented in unison like this in a long time! Calamari was light and cooked to perfection. My veal Voldostana was tender and seasoned to perfection. Parking was a cinch (Sunday evening - plenty of open meters) but valet service was available.
(5)
Leah M.

I tried Strega for the first time this past Friday night. We had reservations, but had to wait probably 20 minutes to be seated. We sat awhile before our server came over, but we didn't mind much. This place has a very, very nice decor. I liked how they had t.v screens with my favorite mob movies playing which was really cool. The location is nice, but it was a lot further back than I had thought so I couldn't find it right away. The server came over with warm bread and olive oil with all different types of olives, which was SOO good!! We got the calamari as an appetizer which we all enjoyed it was delicious. All of our entrees were excellent, I had the CASARECCI DI MARINA, which was eggplant with fusilli w/ tomato sauce. It was amazing!! My sister had the fettuccini strega, which was shrimp and scallops w/ pasta in a cream sauce. She loved it, I tried it too and I thought it was delicious. Our friend had a dish with mushrooms and pasta in a creamy sauce, I can't remember what it was called but it was good, lol. The food was amazing we enjoyed it!! They lose a star for making us wait for our table, and it took quite awhile for our server to greet us and for our drinks to come. Our server was really nice though, and it was a Friday night they were super busy.
(4)
Justin B.

Strega Waterfront provides some of the best service in the city. They just do it right. They have an army of people and they are all alert, professional, attractive and good. Just plain good. It's old school and astute. The vibe of the restaurant is a busy urban Italian place. Even the most popular trendy places in town, although very busy on Saturday nights, will not fill up until after 7p. At Strega W they seem to have a regular crowd that will come out earlier than 8p on a Saturday night, and stay for a while. This combined with the walk ins and normal volume for a city restaurant means that the place is buzzing from the get go, but if there is a seat or a table available, they will make it happen for you. On poin with the servicet. The decor and mood is modern and elegant. One would assume that the fare is traditional Italian food, a la Maggiano's, but when you open the menu the pleasant surprise is that there is adventure in there. At two pages its short and to the point, but the choices are plentiful. If you want chicken parm just ask, which it seems was purposeful. Why waste space on the menu listing the staples if you are going to be so accommodating that any request is fulfilled? I've brought dates here, my parents and me mates (not all together). It's always a good time.
(4)
Jennifer S.

Great new addition to this neighborhood! The decor was very cool, the service was great by recommending dishes and the food was excellent. I highly recommend trying some of the housemade pasta...delicious!
(4)
Melyssa C.

This restaurant was absolutely DISGUSTING!!!! The waitress was a total bitch!!! The chicken Marsala tasted like Maple Syrup & chicken was cold. Our food took forever, everything about his experience was HORRIBLE!!!! I wish I didn't even ave to give it 1 star. They sat us outside near a working station, and everytime they'd walk by with plates of food, my arm got burnt. The Strega in the North End is very good!!
(1)
Anh L.

Service: Held a birthday dinner for a friend last night for a party of 10 and couldn't be more pleased with the service. We had originally made our reservation for 9pm but the birthday girl couldn't arrive until 10.. Although they closed at 11, the waitstaff was extremely patient and very understanding while the rest of the party was seated. Atmosphere: Enjoyed the atmosphere in here.. The lighting was at a perfect setting - not too dim. Interesting playlist for the music though. It felt like we were sitting in a lounge at certain points of the night.. but for the age of our crowd, it was actually a pleasant surprise. The only complaint is that we were seated by the window in the back so a nice view would have been nice.. maybe of the waterfront? Menu: The menu was reasonably priced, although some members of the party may disagree. Could use a little more of a selection but everyone enjoyed the dishes they ordered that were pretty well sized. Definitely glad we decided to go here. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(4)
Elidga M.

Today me and my girlfriend where at this fine dinning restaurant in Boston! Great food, great service, everything was on a top level! I will visit it again!
(5)
Amy T.

What a fantastic night! Strega provided a fabulous experience from start to finish. I have a hard time with places that seem to be trying too hard (from the pretentious host to the bored waitstaff), but Strega didn't have any of that. Not a single snotty attitude, or blase person to be found! Everyone was friendly and accommodating The bar is great. Lj (our bartender) was not only great at taking care of our large group, but did it with a genuine smile and pleasure. Our waiter was fun, well-informed and we ended up feeling like he was part of our dinner party (in the best way possible). He added so much to an already pleasurable dining experience. The food was delicious and all nine of us liked our food (not an easy accomplishment). The antipasto platters were delicious and the bread was phenomenal (they basically had me at the bread basket). They serve you bread that is so moist, with a side of olives in olive oil that is so good, that had I been alone, I would have eaten enough to make myself sick. The atmosphere was a great mix of classy and fun. Very nice decor and added a little wink wink Italian flare with Old Blue Eyes watching us from the wall on our left, DeNiro watching our back, and the Italian American film classics on the TV. There was one tiny little minor issue. The creme brulee (my favorite dessert) was not brulee. It was more of a pot du creme. A minor detail I would have no problem overlooking and will not deter me from returning as soon as I can. Thanks Strega!
(5)
Kyle R.

The meatballs were amazing, as was the bread with oil and olives to start. The Peroni was delicious as well. Went with the scrimp scampi. the shrimp was fresh and tasty but the pasta lacked flavor although it was cooked perfectly. Sat outside because it was a nice day. The interior dining room is beautifully designed. amazing architecture! very solid wine list and the rest of the menu looked good. Will try again for sure
(3)
Paul S.

Amazingly bad food. Place is gorgeous. Service is pretty good, attentive but slow. The food is the real letdown and frankly it is surprising. I would have thought this was going to be a 5 star meal. Calamari app was bland and really not worth eating. Surf and turf was awful. Steak was dry and tasteless. The stuffed lobster special was absolutely awful. They removed the lobster meat and only left a small part of the tail that was stuck to the shell. The shrimp and scallops were way over cooked and hard. Cult detect any lobster meat other than the stuff I struggled to scrape off the inside of the shell. Want be rushing back to this place especially with so many good restaurants in the area. Legals down the road actually has a view of the water (which we did not) and the food is amazing. There is also Delfriscos that is probably in the same price range and their food rocks. Sorry to put this review - thought this place was going to be great.
(2)
Roseann C.

I really wanted to love it here. It's in one of my favorite parts of the city, is a wonderful space, and I love the outdoor bar. I ate at the original Strega years and years ago, when it first opened, and was underwhelmed then. I figured over a decade was enough time to put together a good menu with well-prepared offerings, and I was excited to try its beautiful waterfront location. Buuuut, the food here was just not good. The staff were very warm and nice and inviting, and our server was just fine. The drinks were good as well. I ordered the Pollo Alla Romana and asked for spinach instead of the starch it is normally served with, which request was readily honored. Sadly, it was greasy and unappealing and not very flavorful. The spinach was very oily, and it had whole garlic cloves in it, which I normally do not mind at all - the more garlic the better for me - but these were not cooked. My boyfriend had the Pappardelle Funghi, and the pasta was unfortunately overcooked, and the dish was very oversauced. The couple we dined with had the Gnocchi Sorrentina, which was reported as heavy, gummy and overcooked, and a Frutti Di Mare special which was "just okay." I did like the lively atmosphere, the movies on the TV screens (though "Analyze This" in my opinion does not belong on screens next to "The Godfather" and "A Bronx Tale"), and I get that this place is a "scene" and whatnot, with its Bentleys and Maseratis parked outside, but it is not someplace I will eat again. Maybe I'll pop back for a cocktail at the bar outside on a breezy summer night by the water, but that's it. What a shame.
(2)
Marissa S.

Beautiful location, awesome atmosphere, good food. What else do you need for a good restaurant? A friend suggested we go here, so there of us made a reservation - which I would HIGHLY recommend. We went on a Wed night and there were no tables without a reservation. We were seated and placed a drink order. In general the restaurant is expensive. Martini's are $12-$14 and entrees are $21-$45. The one thing I didn't like about the atmosphere is that in the bar area there are huge tv's and lots of them. It's almost like a sports bar. The other thing is that the service is okay. Just okay. We found ourselves asking a few times, "where is our waiter?" and one time had to ask someone else to find him. But, the food was awesome. It was very good. I had the tortellini and it was delicious. One other very cool fact is that they have complimentary car service that will take you wherever you want to go! how cool is that? I have a feeling this place is going to be hot, hot, hot during the summer since it is right on the water. Def. worth a try!
(4)
Iris M.

Great location by the waterfront, oh!, and a 10 minute walk from my job! The restaurants seems to be a meeting place for execs in the area, as well as large family gatherings and couples looking for a special night out (a guy proposed to his fiance that night). Anyway, we went here for a friend's birthday in May and it was a really chill spot. A bottle of champagne was sent to the table, we had loads of sweet drinks, the rolls were fresh, I finally got to see A Bronx Tale, tried a couple of the appetizers (tomato basil mozarella and eggplant). Honestly, I can't remember the exact dishes that were ordered, but the night was that good and it left a feeling of deep satisfaction. What I did taste, left me wanting to come back in the very near future.
(4)
Itch S.

Not just dinner but a complete experience. Phil greeted us, Bruno waited on us and everything else fell in place. It was difficult to decide amongst so many choices. I wanted to go the full Italian course with Appertif, antipasto, primi pasta, secondi, insalata, desert, expresso, grappa.... and I did. Bruno accomodated my request for small arrabiata pasta as a primi, which was not on the menu, without hesitation. Great. Mozzarella in the Caprese was great. Ossobucco was so good I almost thought it was manufactured (I know that doesn't make sense). Creme brulee was great but was strange that I was given a dinner fork with which to eat it (fahgetaboutit) - but hey it helped me savor it longer. Everything going on around us, the interesting crowd, the regulars and even the staff were entertaining to watch. I noted that many of the movies showing on the multiple video screens had the same actors at different stages of their careers on simultaneously. Chazz Palminteri, of course DeNiro. Hey and it was a full moon viewed out the window. Hey nothing about the place was cheap but it was all good stuff.
(5)
Rachel R.

I went here with a friend from work yesterday during restaurant week. I had never been here before but my friend had, so she suggested the place. The atmosphere and location are very nice. It is bright and sunny and very close to the water. The seaport district is really getting some great places!! They brought a basket with lots of warm, freshmade bread, and olive oil with all different kinds of olives. This was delicious!!! I started out with the Minestrone Soup for my appetizer and it was very flavorful and full of veggies. My friend has the prosciutto e melone(melon wrapped in prosciutto), which was three large pieces of melon wrapped in lots of prosciutto! She said it was great! For my entree I had the Pollo Parmagiana. It was a very tasty piece of chicken, with breading, topped with homemade red sauce and cheese, and a side of penne! Delicious!!! And a great portion, especially during restaurant week! My friend had the polpette with paccheri... which was homemade veal and mushroom meatballs with house made paccheri pasta... it looked amazing! we both finished our plates. For dessert, it was tiramisu for both! Excellent! The service was amazing here, and I beleive all of the servers are actually Italian. Sometimes the service can go downhill during restaurant week but Strega definitely kept it upscale! So happy I tried this place. I will definitely go here again!
(5)
Abhirup D.

This place is expensive, but for the money you dish out, they sure treat you like an Arabian prince. I went to Strega Waterfront for a corporate dinner, and as soon as i walk in you are greeted by the collage of celebrity photos, each of who I am sure enjoyed the experience as much as I did. The food was great. I had the rack of lamb special. It was amazing. Presentation, flavor, taste, everything was awesome! My gin and tonic was nicely made as well, except for the copious amount of tiny ice cubes, but that was overshadowed by the glamor of the waiters/bartenders. The ambiance was a little ridiculous - they had giant screen TV's playing Rocky and a bunch of Italian Mafia and Gangsta movies, but it all added to the experience. I would be mostly inclined to take my girl to that place and treat her to a luxurious dining experience, and I highly recommend you do too. The place is the bomb.
(5)
Jennifer V.

Went to Strega Waterfront Friday night with some friends before Cirque Du Soleil. I like the space. It was about 90 degrees out and we had walked there from the financial district so it was nice to hit the AC. The owner of the restaurant was sitting outsite having dinner with someone and I happened to turn around and caught his eye. I said hey you're the guy on the commercials. He was very friendly. I told him that I have been to Strega in the North End and love it and so I wanted to try this. The interior is very modern and interesting. Very roomy not crowded. I liked the feel. We were dying from our walk over and the heat so we didn't want to sit outside. We had them sit us inside but with an outside view. All that was between us and the people eating outside was glass. I liked that. I'm not going to lie. The food was absolutely delicious! They were very attentive throughout the entire meal. They brought drinks and the bread basket which was nice and full and the oil with the olives is such a treat. We ordered the scallops sauteed in Grand Marnier for an appetizer. Those were stellar! A friend ordered the Calamari and said it was a tad bland. Strega if you are reading these posts, change the Calamari or offer it both ways. I have dined at several places that use an aioli rather than marinara and they drizzle it on top of the calamari. Much better. Send someone out to Rustic Kitchen or Sofia to try their Calamari which I feel has a little something extra! My entree was a special. The Chilean Seabass. This was delicious! It came with parmesan mashed potato and 2 huge pieces of asparagus, an orange pepper and a small zucchini that were tied together. You had to pull it off this little skewer thing. Really good. I was looking to eat healthy so I accomplished my goal. My friends had the Porterhouse steak with those mashed potato and veg and the other had surf and turf. This was pricy $68. Wow! My chilean sea bass was about $42. I think the porterhouse was about $39. The Scallops were $19 and the Calamari $13. The Calamari looked plump and fresh, I didn't have any but my friend told me that it was bland. I told her to dredge it in the Grand Marnier sauce from my scallops. for dessert I had Creme Brulee. It was delicious as usual. They put a swirl of some type of raspberry sauce or something on the plate, but I love my Creme Brulee with fresh berries. My friend had a really big piece of chocolate cake. The other friend had lemon sorbet. They stuffed it in a lemon shell, which was nice looking. I'm definitely going to go back for those scallops in Grand Marnier. I loved everything I had. Now I just need to try Nico's. The other place he owns.
(5)
Carmella R.

Came here for my parents birthday and was very disappointed. SERVICE: Our waiter was an older gentleman, who rushed us throughout the whole night. I asked him what I could get besides mash potatoes and vegetables with my meal & he said those were the only two options. However I found out later you could get roasted potatoes which would have been better since I have a cheese allergy and the Mash potatoes had a ton of cheese in it!! Which I was never told. FOOD: It was also very expansive for what you get..which isn't that good. The portions are very small, and for the price you pay, you would expect double the amount of food. I got the lemon chicken which comes with gross tasting cheesy mash potatoes (my brother who loves cheese hated the mash potatoes) with one mini zucchini, one mini pepper, and 2 pieces of asparagus. All for $25. Needless to say I left hungry which should not happen when you go out to eat. I only weigh 105 pounds, so normally I get full fast, but this wasn't the case at Strega. My brother got the veal which again only came with mash potatoes and an an incredibly small side of vegetables. (Shocked to know the only two sides available with each dish is mash potatoes and veg.) Veal was not tender at all. My father got a different veal dish which came with roasted potatoes, however most of them were black...we thought they were figs at first. Never have seen a black potatoes and I hope I never do again. ATMOSPHERE: Very loud. Could barely hear the waiter and guests at my table. It's a sports bar,that meets a fancy restaurant....the combination of he two don't work unless you're in Vegas. $300 later and we all left hungry. We will not be returning back. Don't waste your money here, the food is NOT exceptional and or amazing. Neither is the service or the atmosphere.
(2)
Tim S.

Great Location, Great Atmosphere, Amazing Wine List, & Very Good Food. PS: The Female Servers are Gorgeous!
(4)
A N.

The three stars are for the excellent service (despite the rude man who confirmed my reservation by phone) and the wonderful ribeye special. Three stars is generous! Other than the ribeye, the food was mediocre - boring Caesar salad, bland fried calamari with blander sauce, under seasoned scampi and just a decent chocolate cake. With just two glasses of wine, dinner for 2 adults and 2 teenagers (squished at a tiny table which was really only big enough for 2) was over $300 with tip. Thanks for not mentioning the special prices! Would that have been rude? And valet was $10 despite the website's free valet parking claim. I don't mind an expensive dinner when it's worth it, but we experienced very little value here unfortunately.
(3)
Joanne F.

Really torn on a review since some of the food was very good, but the experience was tainted by hair in both a salad and an entree, both delivered to the same person - tough luck, huh? In fairness to Strega, the hair recipient was our guest and opted not to complain to the waiter so we respected that, but really -- hair in not one but two dishes made us all circumspect. :( Service was good but not great, the food was overall good but nothing special. Prices steep but not absurdly so. Two of us had the salmon with mustard/caper sauce, that was very good but pricey, a couple others had chicken, appetizers and salads good, and great wine list but the waiter couldn't answer any questions. The hairs though - one hair would have been a fluke, but a different type hair in a salad and entree both was enough so that we would never go back.
(2)
Cayer N.

We had high expectations but received horrible food and service...and way too expensive. Not a fun way to spend anniversary. If you want a nice meal on the water, go to del frisco.
(1)
J R.

Very popular restaurant, but very loud. Appeals mainly to tourists so absolutely no dress code. Food is good, typical Italian served in very large portions with equally vary large prices. One strange thing ... over the bar they showed old Boston gangster movies.
(3)
Pam C.

Went for lunch, and it was not very crowded. This location if fairly new. The original location is in the North End. By far one of the best Italian restaurants! Don't let the upscale, hoy de toy look fool you. Yes, you might have to dress up a bit, but do it! The service was superb. The food even better! The waiter filled a plate of assorted hot and cold appetizers from a beautiful layed out display. My husband had the steamed clams and mussels in a perfect broth. Wonderful bread to sop up the broth too! I had the stuffed eggplant appetizer. The red sauce over the eggplant was delicious, with the correct amount of spice. My husband had the tortellini. The white sauce with the tortellini was perfect. The restaurant is on the water...kind of. Located within a corner of the waterfront. The wall of fame as you enter the restaurant is impressive, if that kind of thing impresses you. Stars like this place! We spent $100 for two, but had 4 glasses of processco with our lunch. Worth every penny!!
(5)
S. M. S.

Hope you like watching TV while you eat because the only thing odder than the inconvenient location of this restaurant is the frickin' 300 TV's blaring Times Square-scale baseball in your face. Food was North End Italian (boring).
(2)
Eve S.

At first, the decor and ambience seem straight out of a NJ mob movie, and you wonder if it's all a little too... Italian kitsch. But it all makes sense once you taste the food and experience the service. Strega does home-style Italian proud. I'll definitely be hosting my most finicky Italian foodie family and friends here in the future.
(4)
Ann D.

I was totally impressed with my experience at Strega Waterfront. We sat at a table by the bar, as we didn't have a reservation and the dining room was full by 615 on a Wednesday... Our server Shauna (i think?) was the sweetest ever. Really, everyone working there really nailed it on the hospitality front. The vibe was warm and welcoming, which is rare in a kinda sexy place! Everything was yummy, too!
(4)
Frank K.

I've been a big fan of Strega in the North End for a long time and recently had the opportunity to try Nick Verano's latest venture, Strega Waterfront and like everything else he run's this establishment was top notch. We waited at the bar for the rest of our party to arrive, the hostesses were very accommodating dealing with our late to arrive party. The table service was first class and the everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Phil the Host made his rounds throughout the night checking in frequently to make sure everything was satisfactory. Be prepared to drop some coin but the service and quality of the food certainly command it!
(5)
J H.

Love this place. I had no idea it existed so close to work but I'm glad I know now :)
(5)
Reeba M.

Strega not all it's cracked up to be! Don't waste your time or money here. Probably the worst dining experience I've ever had! From the food to the service and the view was not at all what you expect from such a fancy looking place. The service was horrible our waiter barely spoke to us came around once in a blue moon to check on us. Never asked how the food was (which was bland and not worth the calories). I think they may have only given attention to the "high rollers" at the restaurant that night and couldn't be bothered with the normal folk who were out trying to enjoy a nice night. After leaving here I went out a had some pizza which was much better that the baked cod I had for dinner (which tasted like something out of the frozen food section of the grocery store). Please do yourself a favor and find another place to go!
(1)
Adam F.

I was here for the first time on Friday for my girlfriend's birthday. It wasn't my first choice, since I'm a steakhouse guy, but I went along with it. Valet was a great value at only $10. I obviously tipped in addition to that. Pretty sure it's $20 at Empire which is next to Strega. I had a reservation through Open Table, but it wasn't packed so we could have walked in. Our server greeted us right away, was very polite, and took our drink order immediately. We ordered the Pappardella for a first course, which was phenomenal. If we come back, we will definitely get pasta dishes. There is nothing like homemade pasta. I also like how they serve it in 2 bowls, instead of family style. For entrees, she had the filet, which looked very small for $54; supposedly 10oz. I've been to every steak restaurant in Boston (including Strega Prime in Woburn), and for $50 you usually get a 12-14 oz cut. I had the steak and stuffed lobster tail for $68. My steak was supposedly 8oz, but was bigger than her 10oz cut. The lobster tail was okay. The meat was really tough. It was stuffed with scallops, which were also really tough. I know oven cooking seafood is difficult because you can easily overcook it, but for almost $70 I really wanted to be blown away. The steak was cooked the way I asked, but there was no seasoning. I cook filet at home all the time, and a little salt and pepper never hurt anyone. It was served with a plain brown gravy on the side, which added some much needed flavor. Also worth mentioning that it took 1 hour from the time we ordered, till the time we were served our entrees. We were seated at 9:00pm, and started eating our steaks at 10:15. We ended up being so stuffed from the pasta that we brought our steaks home. I ended up searing them with butter in a cast iron skillet, and they tasted better (no joke) the next morning as steak and eggs. In addition to our bottle of wine, we had a couple cocktails. I didn't try her's, but my "Boom Boom" tasted like a Jack and Ginger. It was supposed to be Bourbon, Ginger liquor, Mint, Simple Syrup, and Lemon juice. It made no mention of club soda, but it was carbonated. They didn't muddle the mint, so there was no mint flavor. In total, my bill was $310 including a 20% tip. For over $300, I really wanted to be blown away, and sadly I was not. It's by no means a bad restaurant, I just expected more. Since my girlfriend is part Italian, I will almost positively have to come back. Next time I will order one of their pasta dishes, and just stick to wine.
(3)
Nicole P.

Food is to die for and I made friends with the waiter Bruno, who is the sweetest! He's from Italy as well so it makes the food definitely seem authentic. Wish I could remember exactly what I got but whatever I tried on the table from our group was phenomenal!
(5)
Lien N.

Very romantic upscale part of Waterfront. Having traveled here for business a few times, I made sure to make time to go for my favorite Italian dish served here : Strega Shrimp & Scallop Fettucine! The pasta is made perfect to order and the cream sauce is amazing. Very flavorful, the right amount of saltiness. I usually can't get enough so I would order the dinner portion. However I did order it for brunch before and they offer"half-size" dish. Still stuffed me for half the price. Happy girl here.
(5)
Roseanne B.

I went here during Restaurant week and it was delicious!! The freshmade bread and olives is a great way to start the meal. I had the shrimp scampi, which was cooked PERFECTLY. Not too garlicky, and the pasta was perfect. Will definitly go back.
(4)
Ted D.

I went Strega's for the first time in July, 2013 on an early Friday evening for dinner with a friend and found it to be an excellent restaurant from all perspectives, From the hostess to bar, waiter, wine selection and especially the food preparation and portion size. I had the fish with gnoccI and I had a special request which I was very surprised and appreciated that the waiter and chef was able to accomodate. Excellent, food, service and atmosphere. I would higly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Rick B.

Great Italian food. Excellent service. Valet parking better than garage.
(5)
Jackie N.

Food: Pasta was a tiny but too mushy, bread was boring, but rest of food was great - especially seafood. Service: Excellent waiter except he got really busy & forgot to refill our drinks Atmosphere: Strange mix of classy decor & service but loud music & bar scene right next to indoor dining area (we got there at 9:30) & tv's on the wall. Still a nice place that was good for our 1-year anniversary. I would go back but I wouldn't bring my parents if they were in town - unless it were earlier. Maybe it's quieter then.
(4)
Johanna D.

Went here during lunch for restaurant week because I've dying to try it. Looking at their menu though I was confused as to why none of the restaurant week options were actually on the menu (and we had to specifially ask for the restarant week menu). I opted for the meatball which came with ricotta for an appetizer and I must say it was absolutely to die for! Melt in your mouth veal as the main ingredient and the ricotta a perfect compliment. Then I had sausage and broccoli rabe risotto which was also really tasty and a good lunch choice. My boyfriend decided to order off the regular menu and got a caprese salad and a Strega burger. He really liked it but it was nothing to write home about. Tiramisu is a must! Overall, solid choice.
(4)
Nicholas W.

I took my wife and mother in law here about a week ago because a friend of mine had raved about the new restaurant. Needless to say we were all impressed. The atmosphere is perfect. Not stuffy but dressy enough to make it special. Phil, the restaurant host noticed we looked hungry and brought us some delicious anti pasta on the house. Nick Varano, the owner, was going around the room saying hi to everyone and making sure everyone felt special. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for great food and a good time.
(5)
Kathy S.

Our waiter was extremely helpful, great service. (the main reason I give four stars) Wine list is huge. We got one bottle of wine and then the next three wines we selected were out of stock. They made up for it by providing a bottle that cost double the amount. Appetizers were delicious, the ones we got anyway. We ordered the one that everyone raves about but it never came. I felt uncomfortable asking where it was because someone else was picking up the tab. The beef ribs with noodles looked outstanding. The veal was ok nothing spectacular and small portion. My dish was very blah. I got the pasta with eggplant and sun dried tomatoes.... or should I say ONE small piece of eggplant and one sun dried tomato. Not kidding. The sauce was very very blah. NO flavor. Didn't eat more than a few bites. Glad I filled up on the appetizers or I would have been hungry leaving the place. The place was extremely noisy. We had to yell to hear each other. There is a connected bar and I believe people want to talk above each other so they get louder and louder to get their say in (where have manners gone??) .... so I don't hold this against the Strega.
(4)
Andrew S.

It's a nice atmosphere, but tries to be too many things at once. The dining area is elegant with great details, but has TV's along the wall showing classic italian/mob movies (a gimmick from their North End location). It just detracts from the classy establishment it's trying to be. The sports bar, sorry, "lounge", portion wasn't separated and as a result the entire restaurant was way too loud. We were on the opposite side of the restaurant and were constantly straining to talk across a 3 ft table. The food was "meh"; admittedly we ordered on the cheaper side of the menu ($20+) but you shouldn't have to order a $35+ entree to get decent food at a "high-end" restaurant. Overall it was ok, and my date liked it but it was nothing special and doesn't live up to the hype. If I go back I'll know to have much lower expectations. Bottom line: service, initial appearance and prices of a high-end restaurant but the food and atmosphere of a "wanna-be" establishment. BTW: drinks are way over priced (prices not on the menu). $7 for a 12oz bottle of Sam seasonal in a glass.
(3)
Pauleena M.

drinks were so expensive! If you plan to go, definitely go nicely dressed! I went very causal and felt out of place. Service was ok, not impressed. Busy that night so I am being rational. Didn't try food, maybe next time. I would go back some day..
(3)
Gordon O.

This is a stellar restaurant in a city that is gradually adding many fine eateries. Start with the FREE valet parking, add in some exquisite cocktails in a bar filled with exciting and good looking people. Then toss in a great view, comfortable tables not too close to one another and top flight service and you've got a good start. Then the food and wine, both of which are great. The wine list goes on and on, and the food we ordered was all excellent. After two apps, an antipasto and risotto dish it was all my wife and I could do to split a veal entree. We were there on a busy saturday night, stayed almost three hours and never felt rushed or pressured to turn the table. I sometimes think Yelp reviewers pan a restaurant to keep the crowds away. If I was that type of person I'd do that here, because I definitely want to go back soon!
(5)
melissa c.

a 3.5 would be my ideal. I'll start with my issue- I found the place WAY too crowded. I was in a larger party of 14 and we were laughing at how tight the space was. We actually had to shift seats to alternate man/woman to give us enough space to eat. Even so I literally had to keep my elbows in toward my body in order to use my fork and knife without hitting the people next to me. When I had to use the ladies room I had to inch my chair directly back because I couldn't get out. Of course on my walk to the bathroom I felt like every two feet I was bumping into either a patron or staff. The bar looked great and we wanted to stay for a drink after dinner but once again you were moving out of the way every 30 seconds for someone who needed to pass through. I understand that popular places will have a full house but it ruin's the experience when you can relax and enjoy yourself. I would have rated it a 4 if the space wasn't such a bother to me. Now the good. First off the staff were all VERY nice and professional. We were greeted, our server was awesome and all were pleasant. The food was amazing. Since there were so many of us I was able to try different dishes which was great. The buffalo mozz., prosciutto, tomato was awesome as was the calamari. the lamb lollipops were superb and the lobster ravioli was GREAT. I loved that there were actual chunks of lobster inside-many places cheap out and they do it right. The wine selection was great as well. I was too full to try to desserts but the tray looked so yummy. I would go back but would get a reservation and reserve a booth-with a booth you may not have to deal with as much of the space issues as the tables.
(3)
Michelle P.

I'm actually really surpised that this place got so many good reviews. I think people are just being nice. Other than the atmosphere and free valet - this place is terrible. The chicken I got was completely overcooked and dry like it had been sitting there for 5 hours. They brought me another dish and it was the same way. Super disappointing for a $25 entree. Then we got Tiramisu for dessert. Starting eating it and it was pretty good until we tried to take a second bite and realized it was completely frozen in the middle. Really Strega? You're a "high-class" Italian restaurant and you are serving me a frozen piece of Tiramisu? Disgusting. Not to mention how awkward it is when the owners walk around bothering people while they are eating...I'll never be back here.
(2)
Michael W.

Great food and for a place that attracts a fair amount of tourist types....the menu is a lot more than veal parm and a pound of pasta. Very innovative menu that still specializes in the classics. Authentic food, outstanding staff and a beautiful looking restaurant. Highly reccomended!!!!!
(4)
Christine L.

This place is amazing. The location is great and the restaurant itself is so beautiful inside. The food is seriously phenomenal. I ordered shrimp and I can safely say I had no idea shrimp could taste like that. If you go here, you need to get the shrimp. To die for.
(5)
Darien G.

Had a business lunch here recently, and I thought it was excellent. Upon entry, you get surrounded by photos of famous people posing with somebody (must be the owner / founder?) so you immediately know there are people that frequent the joint much cooler than you are. Decor is ok, but what is the deal with TVs everywhere? I get that the bar area wants to have a lot of TVs, but it's a bit tacky to have them in the dining area. That's about the only negative thing I can say though (but hey, I get to answer the "Has TV?" question in the affirmative, if only they KNEW just how many TVs!) Menu is extensive, and it's always a good thing when you reach each item and sort of nod your head in agreement. By the time it was my turn to order, I had it narrowed down to about one of four dishes. Their home made pasta is superb. The sauces are beautiful. The quality of the ingredients is obviously a priority as well... Portion size is a bit strange. Everybody in our group thought the portions were WAY TOO big, but that's a tough thing to complain about in the grand scheme of things. There's nothing they don't do well, and I look forward to a return visit soon.
(5)
Colin B.

Had a group dinner here (about 12 of us) - the staff made us feel welcome and right at home. What a great team, this was followed by truly best in class food - I personally think their anti pasta platter is to die for, but it may be a toss up with the grilled prossuitto wrapped around the smoked mozzarella Wonderful place, go and enjoy yourself!
(5)
Enay V.

Got there at 9 for our reservation but were told that if we wanted outdoor seating, we'd have to wait 15 minutes. A half hour later, we were finally seated. The restaurant was very flashy & reminded me of an Atlantic City casino. There were TVs in the bathroom which were kind of weird. The hostesses were dressed like they were going to a club (the shortest dresses I have ever seen) but were very friendly. The huge TV screens in the bar were more for show than for actual viewing as it was too crazy to focus on & way to bright. The restaurant was dressed like high class but oozed cheese from the staff. When we finally got our drink order in (an hour later - a half hour after being schmoozed by one of the staff). I didn't come there to make friends or chat with people like I was in some mob movie, I came there to eat and enjoy the view. The food was less than stellar - the only thing that saved the dinner was my father's steak (which came out 20 minutes after the rest of our food because they messed up the order)- he said it was the best he'd ever had. My gnocchi were waxy and the gravy on them was tasteless. Our waiter ignored us for most of the time we were there & instead, focused on the more extravagant diners & the owner of the restaurant. If you want to open a club, open a club. The decor (besides the huge TVs in the bar and the TVs in the bathroom) is great & the place could be a really nice establishment if image wasn't so important to the staff. Get the dishes 100% if you want to charge that amount. Drop the fake Italian accents, fix the outside tables so we don't have to use napkins to level them out, and try not to bump into me (almost sending me into the fiery infernos that heat the outside) while running to impress the owner. I'll stick to the North End for good food and better service, thanks. Bottom line: If i want to go to a club, I'll go to a club (not a restaurant disguised as a club) - If I want casino ambiance and wannabe mob men, I'll head back to Jersey and hit up the Borgata.
(2)
Tina D.

Way too much going on with the decor in this place. The overdone design felt cluttered and overwhelming. T.V.'s everywhere! T.V.'s running the same tired mafia movies in a loop, with the exception of one, which was running an ad for the restaurant.... in a loop. Holy Vegas! Maybe that's what they were going for, but it took away from the experience for me. On the up-side food was good quality and tasty and the staff was warm and friendly.
(3)
William L.

Maybe between its location, the constant adds during Phantom Gourmet, and the price my expectations were inflated. The valet was slow, disorganized and unfriendly. Our server was attentive but I felt a bit like I was buying a used car. The food was average Italian and certainly doesn't stand up to other restaurants in the price range. Our antipasto was tasty, our calamari was lackluster and a bit overcooked. The lobster ravioli were flavorful and stuffed with lobster, they looked like they had been made by a child though. The sauce was OK and wouldn't make the top ten the neighborhood across the harbor. The sea bass special was cooked well, but was to be served with "roasted cherry tomato's" I got three along with an equally anemic serving of bland mashed potatoes. With desert I requested some port, and was offered a choice of only three fairly run of the mill varieties. For a restaurant who's wine list reads like the Odyssey I guess I expected more. I guess that was the overall experience I had at Strega Waterfront, I expected more. If you're looking to be treated "like a celebrity" as Nick Varano says go to a Boston staple or one of the up and coming Cambridge Restaurants. If you want something from Nick Varano go to his sandwich shop on the corner of the North End. Its Great.
(2)
Bess M.

I went to Strega on Thanksgiving and I felt right as I walked in the door they rolled out the red carpet for me and my family. Not only was the food fabulous but the service was EXCELLENT!
(5)
Jeff S.

Good food, a little overpriced. Very nice decor. Overall a good experience if you can get beyond the constant shameless self promotion.
(3)
Nicole L.

My husband and I had reservation on Nov 26th to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. We were warmly welcome as soon as we arrived and were seated promptly. We then met out waiter, I would tell you his name but he never told us nor did he ever make eye contact with either of us. The appetizers, main dishes and desserts were great. Drinks were definitely tiny for the value..couple sips and you need a new one. It was very annoying that we had to find our waiter each time we wanted a new drink or if we needed anything. We will go back but I will never sit in this guys section again, he simply did not have the time of day for us.
(4)
Elyse H.

I was actually very excited to go to Strega having heard such a buzz about the place. Unfortunately my husband and I were both very disappointed. The decor is really lovely , exciting and located beautifully by the water. Our server Anthony was friendly, welcoming and informative. The food however was completely average and at that price point I would expect a lot better. The meatball appetizer was excellent as was the bread and olive oil. Calamari was cold and somewhat flavorless. The Vongole pasta was filled with clams in the shell but so bland in a basic broth that had little or no flavor and the portion size was very tiny with little pasta to be had. The gnocchi was chewy ,dry and under seasoned. It took about 50 minutes for our entrees to arrive after the pasta and by the time they did they were pretty cold. I had the surf and turf special, a stuffed lobster tail and a petite filet. The filet had very little flavor and the lobster tail was cold and just ok. My husbands veal chop had the same issue of blandness. There is a definite under seasoning trend at this restaurant. My sister in law did enjoy her lamb. Dessert: The chocolate cake was very dry and the cannoli was very good. It's a packed restaurant, a happening place with a great setting and design. I wouldn't go there for a food experience though. I personally have had much more flavorful and better prepared food at too many other Boston restaurants to visit this one again. The bill for three of us with only one glass of wine was 348.00.
(2)
Jo B.

Wow, I love this place! Went here to celebrate a special occasion and was not disappointed. The atmosphere was my favorite thing. it's right near the water, so if you sit by the window you will have a great view. It's not actually "on" the water, but still a great view nonetheless. Even if you don't get a table next to the window, the atmosphere is fabulous because of the high ceilings/windows. It just feels really open and the overall vibe is energetic. If you're looking for a quiet and cozy romantic type of place, then this not for you, but it's a great place for a fun date or to meet up with friends. The food was amazing too. I got the veal fagottino which was one of the best veal dishes I've ever had. I highly recommend it. The drinks from the bar were good, not watered down and not too stiff. The bar is a really cool area to hang out at. It was packed when we got there but we managed to get a seat where we waited for our table to be ready. I was, however, disappointed that they did not have crushed mint for mojitos. Our waiter (small stature older gentlemen) was good but was definitely sporting a fake Italian accent. Someone else mentioned this in their review as well. Very. Bizarre. Also, he said he knew about wines, but seemed to struggle when we asked him for a good Chardonnay $60 or less. Not surprisingly the wine he ended up recommending was not great. I wasn't sure what to wear because the attire on yelp says "dressy" but people were generally dressed "upscale casual". I would recommend something like nice jeans/slacks and collared shirt for guys and maybe a cute dress and heels for the ladies (although nice pants or a skirt with a cute top would be fine too). One more thing, the valet parking is free. Yes, I said FREE. In Boston. Unheard of. Was so excited about this that I left a very generous tip.
(5)
anna M.

This really must be a case of the emperor has no clothes. Last night was my first and last time at Strega. The location is great but I look for more than valet parking in a restaurant. Our server was great and funny but the food was terrible. We took a look at the wine list and a 75% markup on wine is a little ridiculous. We split a house salad which was a nice size just arugula, grapefruit, parmesan, and walnuts. Nothing remarkable. Another staff member tried twice to bring out our entrees while we were still eating the salad. The entrees were absolutely terrible. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to the fact that the entrees sat under the lamps for a while until we finished the salad but I don't think that is the case. We had the linguine which was too thick, served with canned asparagus and overcooked shrimp and the sauce was completely bland. The Casarecci was slightly better but that's not a high standard. The past was too soft and the tomato sauce was completely bland. No flavor whatsoever: no salt, no garlic, nothing. The eggplant was cooked well but not well enough to save this dish. The attire of the female employees was revolting. A woman came and spoke to the table next to us and her dress was so short that her bum was almost completely exposed. I was horrified to later see her behind the bar. Besides not being larger than dinner napkins, the dress was backless- not appropriate for a restaurant or a bartender. We will not be back.
(1)
Rob N.

I have mixed feelings about Strega Waterfront. First off, the name implies that the restaurant is located on the water, bit it's actually in the middle of a parking lot at One Marina Drive. The inside is a little more modern than I expected, but the architecture fits the building it's in. We had reservations for 8:15 the Friday after Thanksgiving, and could have been seated immediately (they had plenty of open tables) but we decided to get a drink at the bar. 2 cosmos, 2 glasses of wine $45. My wife and I had the clams / mussels as an app, and it was pretty decent. The seafood was cooked perfectly, and the sauce had just enough spice. For the main course, I got the lobster Fri diablo which was awful. The lobster was perfectly cooled and placed over a bed of angel hair, but it was sitting in a sauce that had the consistency and taste of water... My wife had the papadali pasta in a mushroom cream sauce which was pretty good. Our friends had the Gnocchi and the mushroom risotto, and they both seemed to like theirs as well. The waiter was helpful with the menu, and I guess I had too much confidence in my order to ask his opinion.... The entire bill was $300 for 4 people, and I would go back but would definitely order something different.
(4)
Hilary D.

Wine list is superb. Service is above average for Boston. Staff are down to earth. View is amazing.
(4)
Michelle M.

Service was amazing, wine was amazing, food was amazing. All-around GREAT dining experience. !!!
(5)
KT K.

This was one of the better dinners I've had in Boston in a while, I was really impressed. The service was top-notch, absolutely couldn't have asked for better service. Polite, professional, smiling, pleasant, happy staff--from the hostess to the waitstaff. Water glasses always filled, generous with the fresh bread with olive oil and olives, quick with taking our drink orders... They made everything very easy. The staff was always nearby and alert, but they didn't hover. For apps we got the calamari, eggplant rolatini, and something like a caprese salad but it was on a bed of proscuitto and the cheese was a blend of mozzarella AND ricotta which was absolutely DELICIOUS, very flavorful. The eggplant rolatini was the best I've ever gotten at a restaurant. I think eggplant can always go wrong very quickly, but this melted in my mouth. Two of us got the lobster-tail and filet, one got the roasted haddock, and I got the gnocchi. All of it was great, the steaks came out cooked exactly as requested, very generous portions. For dessert--chocolate cake which my friends said was good, nothing special. Ricotta pie which my husb raved about, and I got the cannoli which I loved but at first I was taken aback because it tasted pretty lemony whch I didn't expect, but I got used to it and enjoyed it. The cannoli shell was tasty (I think sometimes they're kinda bad). Overall--a great experience. I would definitely go back. I didn't give it 5 stars because I save that for places that I think are mind-blowingly great, and I only got the gnocchi. :) The menu is a tiny bit limited if you aren't a seafood person, like me.
(4)
LeAnn H.

a few girlfriends and i visited here a couple weeks ago for a birthday dinner. my expectations, like other reviewers have mentioned, were on the high side and it certianly delivered an enjoyable experience. not only was the food excellent, but our server allowed us to be creative and accomodated our party's varying tastes with dishes that weren't even on the menu. his attitude was "if we have the ingredients, we can make it". there were no issues with subbing out certain seafoods or other proteins, changing the sauces, etc. definitely earns you, Strega, some points. the setting is great - beautiful location on the waterfront and definitely feels less crowded/tight than its north-end location. the decor is trendy and modern - again, what you'd expect. however the classier aspect is somewhat tainted by the obnoxious number of tvs throughout the place. if i wanted to catch every baseball game being televised that night, we would have gone to jerry remys. minus half a star. the service was attentive throughout. as mentioned above, he was great with the menu and offered decent wine recommendations. another server approached our table at one point, noting that our server had stepped out back for a moment, but he wanted to check on us. it was an appropriate level of service - not overbearing, but they also made sure no one disappeared on us for half an hour. the bill was also decent for what we ordered. again, dont come here looking for tavern prices (or tavern quality). that being said, we had mentioned it was a birthday and asked about any desserts/candle type situations we could create. our server brought a lit piece of cake AND a round of shots for the table. again, awesome. but not so awesome that we were charged for the shots we didn't ask for. minus another half a star.
(4)
Sergio V.

I cannot believe all the 4 and 5 stars reviews here. The food is bland at best (the lemon chicken my girlfriend had looked like it was just popped out of a microwave after they heated the pasta that came on the side) and the crowd is very fake pretentious (lots of fake tans, glitter, skulls etc.) The location is indeed "it" and the service above average, but there are numerous other spots in Boston (even on the waterfront) that deserve one or two stars above Strega. The place is highly overrated and way too expensive for the quality of the food.
(2)
Cosmo X.

atmosphere, service and food was all good....just over priced and portions so so Or I'd give it a 5 star
(4)
Laurie G.

I had a delicious dinner at Strega but most importantly I was incredibly impressed by the staff. Our waiter was one of the best: extremely attentive and pleasant. But the whole staff really went out of their way when, after dinner, I couldn't find my car keys. They helped me search every where for them and told me that they would make sure I got home, even if it meant that one of them would drive me there (and I live a hour away from Strega)...That is AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE! I did find my keys, eventually, outside where I had absent mindedly put them on a bench! So, I certainly sing the praises of the staff: waiters and managers, at Strega.... Laurie Geary
(5)
Rob T.

Well, location was nice. However the waiter overstepped himself trying to oversell a more expensive surf and turf meal to a lady in my party. He was not successful. Food was good...not great. I expect great when I pay $43 for a veal chop. Accompaniments on the plate were lame. With so many great choices I do not think I will be back here.
(2)
Jacky N.

After reading all the rave reviews here, my fiance and I tried it out today. The ambience, as has been pointed out by many, is truly over the top. Not to worry, we decided to sit outside and enjoy a nice summer day. The food was o.k but nothing to write home about. I had a sea-bass special which was good, no complaints. My fiance had the chicken milanese, again just o.k, nothing special. We must have had bad luck as our server (a) failed to offer us the restaurant week menu (b) took our dessert orders without asking if we wanted tea/coffee and promptly took off and (c) brought me green tea when I finally managed to order an earl grey. His level of interest in use decreased exponentially as our meal came to a close. I don't think we'll return, there isn't anything special about this spot except it is by the waterfront. We also noticed a lot of foot traffic by our table as non-diners were actually using the outside seating area as a short cut from the waterfront and out onto the street. Not worth it. Overall disappointed.
(3)
Douglyss G.

I held a company dinner event at Strega Waterfront, and they did a fantastic job. The staff was incredibly professional from planning through dessert. The space is beautiful. The event planner was on-site for the event and made sure everything went smoothly. And the food was simply awesome. My guests left full and extremely happy. I couldn't be more pleased.
(5)
Cole L.

I loved Strega Waterfront! We went for late night cocktails so I cannot comment on the food other than the amazing bread basket. It was delicious and fresh even at the end of the night and the olive oil with olives was a tasty compliment. We only ordered 2 drinks and right away she asked if we wanted some bread even though we weren't there for a meal. The strawberry cocktail was very good! I cannot wait to go back to have some food and enjoy the atmosphere. It was classy and really comfortable with the fire.
(5)
Robert M.

Loved the food, loved the atmosphere, loved the service, loved everything. Just go.
(5)
Nancy K.

Just came home from an phenomenal dinner at Strega's on the Waterfront. From the time we walked in to the time we were seated and served we had nothing but topnotch service and personalized attention not to mention the outstanding food. The burratta unbelievably rich and smooth, Strega salad refreshing to the palate, my veal chop perfection and my husband's frutta di mare was a picture not to mention the full dish of lobster, shrimp, scallops, etc. in a broth that was to die for. Everything was seasoned to perfection and I guess I can say that about all of the staff - experienced and so genuinely concerned about their customers. Would go back over and over and will bring all of our friends. Thank you, Strega, for an incredible evening. Kudos to all of you there for making your customers feel special and treating them as one would treat family. Grazie mille. Nancy
(5)
Pam F.

Went to Strega for my 30th birthday. Could have gone anywhere in the City, and unfortunately picked Strega. The two person table was squished in the middle of the room, felt like a sardine from the beginning. The calamari and Caesar salad were pretty good. I ordered the Lobster Fra Diavalo for dinner (Lobster with pasta and spicy red sauce). Most places serve the lobster already out of the shell and in the pasta, and if not the lobster is steamed and on the side. But Strega thought they would try something different. They served this entrÃ©e with the lobster still in the shell, on top of the pasta, COVERED IN MARINARA SAUCE. As you can imagine, this makes it a little impossible to enjoy. At first, I asked the waiter how I was supposed to eat this. He looked at the table, said "sorry", and came back with a lobster cracker. I tried to crack it, of course getting sauce everywhere, because it was impossible not to. The next time he came back, he brought me a moist white napkin. I continued to try to free the lobster from the marinara sauce covered shell, until it went all over my clothes and onto the floor. The waiter sent the manager over, who did not understand how ridiculous this was. No one asked if I would like something else. I had about a bite of food, on my birthday, and their response was to bring over a free dessert. Wow, thanks. This was the absolute worst experience of my life ruined my birthday, and no one seemed to care. They are just about packing the restaurant to make as much money as possible, service and food quality are not on their mind. Go somewhere else.
(1)
Sarah R.

Came here on a Wed night at 6:30 for three of us. Got seated right away with our reservation. Bread and oil were ok, nothing special. The waiter/waitress combo that were serving us seemed incredible disinterested, almost to the point of brushing us off when we had a question. The guy who filled our water glasses was friendlier. Didn't order any apps, all three of us just ordered an entree. Took a damn HOUR to get our food. Are you kidding me?! Ridiculous. Not like we custom ordered, or ordered any of the specials. And when we told both our waiter and waitress how we were upset that the food took so long, they both shrugged their shoulders, like woops. So disrespectful. The food itself was just ok. The chicken with spinach, prosciutto, and fontina was something I could have made better myself at home. The papardelle with meat ragu was ok, but I had some fatty cartilage pieces which totally ruined it for me. After all three of us complained enough about it taking over an hour and not even coming out hot, they gave us two free desserts to go. Big deal. They honestly didn't seem in the least big apologetic. It seemed more like "oh well, they complained, so this is what we are supposed to do" accompanied by an eye roll. Don't see myself ever coming back here.
(2)
Jay P.

Strega Waterfront was spectacular. Made 930 reservations because that was only available on opentable, called to see if there was any earlier, host immediatly bumped it to 9 with no problem. We arrived early and they verified my reservation in seconds, no "hmm let me see" it was like they were waiting for us. They said they were running ahead and said we could sit early or have a drink, our choice. We said we would have a drink and when it was almost gone the hostess came over and sat us. The food was great, both of us had homemade pasta dishes and they were great. We come from an area with no shortage of authentic Italian and Strega is right there. The Maitre'd Phil was great, what a nice nice guy, stopping by to chat once or twice, found out it was our anniversary and came back with a couple of after dinner drinks, and some advice on where to go later. Great asset to Strega. Keep in mind this is a Sat night and this place was jammed but we still received excellent attention you would expect from a high end place. Great place to enjoy a special occasion. We will be back.
(5)
jamie c.

We have been to Strega on the Waterfront about 5 times since they opened and have always enjoyed it, yet this weekend we had a different experience. I had planned a special night to treat my boyfriend with dinner and drinks to celebrate a commercial building purchase he made. We had a great time and 45 minutes before it was time to leave we asked Strega to call a cab, yet over an hour later, were still waiting! We inquired three times about the cab, and even approached the owner. He was rude and threw up his hands saying "what do you want me to do?!?!". Well they should have thought this through at the opening and made arrangements with the cab companies to be there w/e nights starting at 9pm so their customers could get home safely.
(2)
Alicia G.

Went here for dinner during our honeymoon vacation. It is a little more upscale than we usually go for, but we figured, what the hell. We made a reservation through OpenTable and were seated right away. The table we got seated at was TINY and right in the path of the waitstaff so it was actually really hard to read the menu without either elbowing a waiter or knocking stuff over on the table. We got the Caprese for an appetizer, which was very delicious. My husband got the Lobster Aragosta (lobster ravioli), which was a little bland. His actual assesment was "meh." I got the Tortelloni Alla Panna (cheese ravioli with ham in a cream sauce). It was pretty good, but not great. Definitely very heavy so it was good that the portions were a bit smaller. Our waiter, Michael, was very nice, attentive, receptive to our questions and made some helpful suggestions. It is definitely not a romantic restaurant. It was practically overflowing with what appeared to be business meetings and there was a wall that just played My Blue Heaven, Goodfellas, Get Shorty and some Tony Curtis movie on a loop. Overall: good, but not great. Honestly, for the prices, I expected the food and drink to be quite a bit better and I wouldn't recommend for couples on date night.
(3)
Deborah F.

absolutely great food and service but ohhhhh so noisey! not a place for a quiet dinner! Wonderful wine list
(4)
Ashley P.

This place was amazing! From the service, to the ambiance and the food everything was just great. The tables are a little close together a la every Boston restaurant, but what are you going to do. First of all, there is free valet parking which immediately put me in a better mood. Our server was great, and it was nice to not only have the waiter but also multiple bus boys who made sure our drinks/bread/plates were always kept fresh. We had the caprese salad and calamari to start (delicious!) and I had the sausage and mushroom risotto. Now let me tell you, this was some of the best risotto I have ever had. My boyfriend got the seafood risotto, which was good but a bit too spicy for me but he loved it. We definitely debated doing the full Italian dinner with the pasta course and the meat course, but we were just too full to even finish the risottos. We got a cannoli for dessert and the waiter put an extra one on since it was my birthday. We had a really great time here and I can't wait to go back! But keep this in mind - definitely make a reservation.
(5)

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Address : One Marina Park Dr,56 Northern Ave On GPS
Boston, MA, 02210
Phone (617) 345-3992
Website https://www.stregawaterfront.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Strega Waterfront

One Marina Park Dr,56 Northern Ave On GPS, Boston, MA, 02210

Strega Waterfront Menu

Antipasto E Insalate

Primi Piatti

Secondi Piatti

Specialitá Della Casa

Risotti

Specialita Della Settimana

Healthy Meal suggestions for Strega Waterfront

Antipasto E Insalate

Primi Piatti

Secondi Piatti

Specialitá Della Casa

Risotti

Specialita Della Settimana

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