Spoleto Restaurant
1 Bridge St, Northampton, MA, 01060
Spoleto Restaurant Menu
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Address :
1 Bridge St
Northampton, MA, 01060 - Phone (413) 586-6313
- Website https://www.spoletorestaurants.com/spoleto_northampton/spoleto_northampton.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
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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Annie G.
Crazy prices for scant servings. What on earth are they thinking?
(2)Penny M.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! The atmosphere is marvelous - colorful, fun, relaxed. Service is attentive, friendly, efficient. Menu is varied - lots of wonderful choices for all palates. I had the Cioppino - absolutely the BEST! Presentation, seasoning, fresh and flavorful. My family had pasta dishes and kept debating whose was better than the others...all were great! The wine list is extensive, but don't spend a wad on the wine - the house bottles are terrific! Desserts are delicious. Again, presentation is marvelous...fresh and flavorful. I had biscotti and capuccino. My husband had the tiramisu which he said was "the best I've ever had" (and he's a real tiramisu snob). My son had the chocolate lover's delight - he was in heaven.... All in all, a great evening. My ONLY complaint and this has NOTHING to do with management...is the number of panhandlers that we had to pass by to get to the restaraunt. It's really a shame. Puts a damper on the experience of coming and going.
(5)Greg K.
I rated them with two rather than three stars due to the high prices for the average food and service. Nothing was terrible, but this is not at all the quality of Italian food you can find in larger cities or in Italy, especially in terms of spicing, sauce quality and overall composition of the dishes. They may need to charge high prices for the high quality of the ingredients, but then they need to do something imaginative with these. Only the squash ravioli was "good" and the salad was "good", the squid in its watery, tasteless sauce and boring monkfish were only "fair". The wine was very good but high priced.
(2)James C.
After hearing mixed reviews, we decided to give this place a try. I'm honestly really glad we did. The food, service and atmosphere were absolutely perfect for date night. The cheesy garlic bread was a small loaf of bread sliced with a plentiful amount of cheese in it. Our waiter (I believe was Henry [had ponytail], if not I apologize because you were excellent) made great suggestions, was attentive and very friendly. We each had the Bolognese as our entree. Now, I am a huge fan of Bolognese and I can confidently say this was one of the best. And I am from Boston, home to the North End's authentic Italian food! The Rotini was cooked perfectly and the mean sauce was excellent. I recommend the shredded Parmesan cheese for an added deliciousness! I highly recommend this restaurant for a nice quiet date night at an affordable price.
(4)Baer T.
Absinthe coats my brain as the Tagliatelle fulfills my soul. __________________________________________________Â______________________ Spoleto's offers consistently strong Italian fare - my highlights have been the Duck dishes and the Beef tartare. The cocktails are very well done!
(4)Christian L.
Our favorite restaurant in Northampton!! The food is excellent for a very reasonable price. They have a great specialty mixed drink menu, beer selection and wine list. The bartenders and wait staff are very friendly which makes for a pleasant dinner in a welcoming atmosphere.
(5)Bill H.
Last visit was disappointing Used to be a favorite of mine. Not after this trip. Much smaller portions for the price.
(2)Tracy G.
2.5 stars. the hostess was very cheerful. my friend saw a gluten-free pizza online that she was interested in but it wasn't reflected in the menu. in fact, when we asked for a GF menu the waiter said there wasn't one, but they had GF pasta. truth is, they also make a GF pizza. he didn't know. so -- the restaurant needs to update what's online to match what's really available, and provide its servers with more training. our waiter was new and honest about it. i hate it when they try to pretend they know more than they do. we figured some stuff out together, he had a great attitude, so that was fun. but i told the server i was dairy-free and my salad came with parmesan all over it. we also told him we were both gluten-free and he brought us a basket of sourdough bread with butter and oil. again, server needs to be taught to register allergies and restrictions and keep them in mind on behalf of the customer. there are probably options he could offer; the restaurant needs to educate him about what those might be. we didn't think to ask. he was operating on auto-pilot. didn't work for us. my pal made up a GF pizza that she was really happy with, and said she liked the thin crust. i ordered a pan-fried cod special with green beans and roasted potatoes and i have to say, i just didn't like it. everything tasted buttery for some reason. my dairy restriction is voluntary and in the interest of not wasting food, i ate my meal, but i left with a heavy belly and a sneaking suspicion i'd just eaten something i didn't really mean to eat. *sigh* points for a nice vibe, affable employees, and my friend's GF pizza. but i'm not going back. sorry, spoleto.
(2)Katie C.
I really want to love this place and I think with a few changes it could be awesome. I will say that the bolognese is excellent and the house made bread with ricotta and olive oil is also really good. But, that's really where the greatness ends in my opinion. The other dishes we've tried have been bland and overpriced. Lobster ravioli with shrimp is like $34? Maybe more? I don't recall exactly but whatever the price, it wasn't worth it. Our last experience at the restaurant sealed the deal that we probably won't be back. The drink menu changed and they no longer make some of the cocktails we previously enjoyed. We thought that perhaps they'd still be able to make them but from what we were told, not so. Our service was extremely rushed at our last visit and to their defense, it was New Year's Eve and they probably needed to turn tables more quickly. But, our bread that we really like was removed only half way through. I really liked that bread!!! :) Shortly after, our meals arrived and both the puttanesca with salmon and lobster ravioli with shrimp were bland and unremarkable. I bet the rest of our bread would've spruced up the dishes a bit. ;) Although we wanted the old drink list, we're not opposed to trying out some new cocktails so we ordered a "cassis and desist" and another drink with house made limoncello. Both were really good but still not as good as the drinks we'd previously had on the old menu. I love the atmosphere at this restaurant but I just don't think the prices are in line with the food quality. Maybe just for the bolognese, but otherwise nope.
(3)Curt S.
Worst dining experience ever! We showed last evening at 7:50 and finally received our meals at 9:45. My Wild Boar pasta dish had to be returned because it was cold. Two other people in our party of 6 returned their dishes. One of the other dishes was also a Wild Boar. Before I sent mine back I removed the dill sprig that was placed on top. When my dish came back I noticed at the bottom of my bowl was a sprig of dill and a thin layer of cheese that was previously on top of the dish. My dads dish did not have the dill sprig in his replaced meal (because it was previously mine and I pulled it out.) The kitchen apparently decided to microwave our dishes, flip them over and re-plate them. Yuck! #feelingrobbed
(1)Colleen S.
First time here and definitely my last. My meal was fine but it really doesn't matter in the long run since the customer service was crappy. I am sure that other servers would have made the experience much better but who knows. Since I was part of a big group, our server really did not seem to think attending to us was worth the time since the 20% gratuity was a guarantee - which I had no idea was the case until the end of the meal. Apparently when you dine there, you need to know that you cannot "split" one bill with multiple credit cards because it "changes the tax" each time a card is swiped. We were told that is how their computer "system" works. Seems like an outdated system that might have been using when everyone had AOL e-mail accounts. You should know that if multiple people are paying for the meal, you need to say you want to have separate checks when you call to make a reservation or before server puts the order in "system."
(1)Susan A.
Two words = beef tarare! Three more words = Winter Caprese Salad! Oh wait, two more words = WINE LIST! No no no no, three more words = BARREL AGED MANHATTAN!!! I was late to the Spoleto game. I had only ever had cocktails and dessert at the old location. It was good but I had never eaten dinner there before. After they moved to the new location, we finally made it in because, well, the parking is pretty dang ideal. Really shocked at how good it was and mad at myself for not going sooner. Now we find ourselves there every few weeks. The service is great. The food is great. The wine list and and cocktails are to do!
(5)Kerry M.
Hard to believe this only gets 3 stars - hands down, best restaurant in Hamp! Wonderful specials and s great variety of craft beers plus very friendly and accommodating. We live in Hamp and frequent all the restaurants; this is our favorite
(5)Joshua D.
This place is overpriced for what it is. Usually I am all for local food and hole in the wall type restaurants, but this place is terrible. Some of the worst Italian I've ever had. Not going back here. First off, their service is quite mediocre. Their food is what hurts though. It's expensive and overly bitter. Their steak is dry and flavorless. You'd have more flavor at an Olive Garden, and that is saying something!
(1)A. E. C.
The service was extremely slow and the food is just average. We couldn't find any reason here again. They tried to enrich the chicken Parmesan with a thick layer of cheese, however the cheese was so thick that made it hard to swallow.
(3)Jennay S.
I would've like to have given one star for my experience but it was my first time at this restaurant and perhaps I'll give them another chance. My party of 6 pre-called in a reservation for 8:00 on a busy night (graduation). While we waited for one late member we ordered drinks and an appetizer which were OK-meatball duo and gorg bread. Our experience then went downhill as drinks (alcoholic) sat empty. Our last member arrived and we ordered our entrees around 8:30. Over an hour and a half later our table plus a party next to us (who ordered before us) still had not received our meals. I feel that if our server was more attentive to even our drinks perhaps it wouldn't have been so frustrating but she was not. It was only after this extremely long wait that we received an apology. My lobster ravioli arrived cold and was mediocre at best. My party was starving so sending food back was out of the question but our aforementioned neighbors sent their entrees back because they were cold as well. To soften the blow we ordered more drinks which didn't come till we were done eating and they were incorrect and incomplete. I've heard nothing but good things about this establishment and I was more than a little disappointed. I'll be back for perhaps one more chance but as a hungry pregnant woman I was not happy.
(2)Valentina D.
In early September, Northampton (oh this lovely town) had "Northampton Restaurant Week" so I grabbed four friends and we went to Spoleto's. I have to say, we were all really really happy with our meals. I got the filet mignon with fries and it was amazing. This may be normal (or not) but I usually always need ketchup with my fries. That's just how I like them. Well the filet mignon pepper sauce was delicious and I didn't even bother with ketchup. Finally, the trio of chocolate mousse, chocolate flourless cake and chocolate dipped strawberry... so good! We left (very) full and satisfied!
(4)Shannon P.
Very overpriced. We ordered a ravioli appetizer and three small raviolis came out on a very large plate. Also ordered garlic bread appetizer. Very small piece of bread for the price tag. The female bartender had *maybe* eight people at the bar and was running around in a panic and having a hard time keeping up. It was New Years Eve, right before midnight and we asked her to change the channel to the ball dropping in NYC. She snapped that she would need to wait for another person to do that, she was too busy. Sheesh, sorry to bother you!! I won't be back.
(1)Maggie B.
Amazing meal and terrific service! Domenico made wonderful suggestions for my daughter and myself, after asking what we enjoyed most. She's a vegetarian, and I love fish, so he took it from there. Meals were just the right size (I had to share mine with my daughter, actually, it was a bit large, but sooo delicious!) I was going to order a malbec, and Domenico had just the right one in mind. His family has vineyards in Italy, so he knows his wine! I loved the ambience and decor in the restaurant, the layout, the options for seating, the open kitchen, the ability to eat outdoors with heaters, etc... I totally enjoyed the experience. This can be a "special occasion" place or a nice relaxed night out. Dressy or casual dress... Staff was friendly and informative... the hostess told me that the owner has 2 other restaurants in Northampton and described them to me. I go to Northampton often, but have not ventured that far down the main street from Smith before. Lesson learned! I highly recommend Spoleto's!
(5)Kerri E.
Another really really yummy meal at Spoletos last night. A bonus because it was Tuesday, and we had the three course prix fixe dinner option! First , before the first course, we had a basket of delicious , warm, chewy, crunchy rustic bread with the restaurant's homemade burrata- OMG, that and a nice glass of red wine is really all anyone needs in life! Next, we had the grilled shrimp appetizer and the roasted calamari. Both very good, the calamari portion was huge, nice and crispy from the brick oven, tender and lemony ( maybe ask for extra fresh basil, it compliments the calamari so well). Our bellies are already getting full, and getting sad because we know the entrees will soon be here! And even sadder when my salmon arrives and is Sooo delicious that I don't want to stop eating! A large filet portion, cooked perfectly with the skin on, yummy sweet and savory sauce, and the beet risotto to die for. The roasted asparagus was also cooked perfectly, crisp yet tender . I only ate a third of my entree because god forbid I can't at least eat part of my dessert. We asked for one dessert to go ( chocolate mousse, in my fridge for tonight's dessert ) and we shared the creme brûlée , as with everything else we ate, it was yummy ! A perfectly satisfying meal, with lots of leftovers and all for a great price ( food about 25$ per person plus a bottle of wine for 26$) I don't agree with the negative reviews here, we have always had great food and service !
(5)Bryan F.
Pizza is really a one star. Horrible blend of favor. It almost tasted as if it had spoiled. Again great attentive service representative of the 2 stars.
(2)Jessica L.
So impressed! I've been going to Spoleto's ever since it opened and decreased my visits after awhile because the menu never changed up at all. However, they menu has finally been updated, and it's fantastic! They have everything from delicious Italian pastas and main courses to salumi appetizer platters to truffle fries to excellent pizzas. The wine list is also extensive with an excellent range of wines. We ordered the salumi plate and it was the perfect portion size for multiple people to try all the different types of cured meat. Delicious! We ordered the fillet mignon and Lombardo pizza, and both were excellent. The pizza had the perfect blend of carmelized onions, pancetta, shallots, and cheeses. Great service and I was impressed that the owner greeted customers at the door all evening. I can't wait to return and try more of the menu!
(5)Michael C.
I have had dinner here on several occasions. Last week on a busy Saturday night was the absolute worst. Entrée came out early, forgot garlic bread and salad; whomever was coordinating the back was absent and the Chef; yes the Chef can now call himself a cook. Get your house together Claudio. . .
(3)Ranny D.
Great food, service and atmosphere, but more on the pricier/upscale side of Italian. No complaints. Everything I had from the menu was flawless.
(5)Jay O.
This is not the restaurant it used to be. I would frequent this place once or twice a year at its old location and it was a decent large volume pasta house with shaky service and ok cocktails. I don't know of environment is the key ingredient to my latest experience, but either way this place has gone through a serious change that involves far more than a new and prettier and less cramped and loud location. Sat at the bar tonight and had attentive service by the barkeep who knew both the food and wine menu well. Bar menu offered a happy hour theme from 4-6 with a variety of seafood, flatbread and pasta options, including truffled Mac and cheese and bolognese. The dinner menu consists largely of the expected northern Italian favs, and runs a little short on white fish options. However, the highlight was the scallops with lemon beurre blanc sauce perfectly emulsified with a butternut and Brussels sprouts risotto. Now here's MY thing with risotto--- it usually comes out and a heavy buttery pile of goup of cheese and rice. THIS: a well cooked, perfectly al dente rice where the characters (butternut and Brussels) were the predominant flavors. Scallops BTW, nice crisp sear, hot in the middle without being overcooked and rubbery. Room: pretty, dark, romantic, open kitchen Food: there is clearly a new and cared about attitude behind what is put in front if you. Portions: PERFECT. I'm happy to see they have done away with the massive pile of pasta that you can take home and eat for a week... This is an appropriately presented plate, dish after dish, that is pretty and makes you happy to devour it rather than curious about what you'll do with what you already know you can't eat before you even taken the first bite. My stomach and liver finished with a smile rather than a groan of feeling overstuffed. Value: very good. Normal human portions with apps between 5 and 10 dollars... Entrees around 20. This place is traditionally known for high volume on weekends, and I'm sitting here on a rather quiet Tuesday. I would make a resi the day of or before on a fri/sat, otherwise, weekday walk in is easy. Addendum: I went back the following Sat. night and it was a bit of a different experience. The wait was about 45 min for a table, they do NOT take resi requests on Fridays or Saturdays (??) and are fist come first serve only. Quality of the food was more like a 3/5 than my previous experience. Go on a weekday. Hit the happy hour bar menu and have a better experience!
(5)Paul C.
Portions small. Service slow,slow,slow. The special (snapper) was dry, bland, and tasteless.The veal scallopini was to die for. 10 minute wait on a drink, twice.15 minutes to clear our plates. 15 minutes to take our payment on the check.
(2)Jeff H.
Not very good anymore. The food tastes reheated and the texture is damp. For what they are charging, the quality and value is just not there. Spoleto and its associated restaurants are being squeezed to maximize profit and minimize expense -- and it shows.
(1)Nohores H.
I went recently for a birthday dinner with about 12 friends. The drinks and appetizers were good, and the food, though overrated, was pretty decent too (except for the pile of oil the gnocchi was drowning in). However, the service was absolutely horrendous and frankly embarrassing. I`m not sure what was going on with our server (I will say that I have had good service there before from other people), but his head was clearly elsewhere and the service was extremely chaotic from start to finish. He never gave everyone at the table menus, and never told us the specials. He neglected to ask us for appetizer orders and didn`t even check on our table for an inordinate amount of time after taking drink orders. We finally had to flag him down to order apps. When we asked for the bread that comes with the table, we were given what was clearly not enough for our large table, and when we asked for another basket it took about 15 more minutes. Then, when I said 'thank you' when he dropped it off, he snapped--in a very hostile tone--'what did you say?!' It was very rude. There were a couple of other issues with the ordering that I won`t mention here, but when it came time to pay he practically had a mini tantrum when we asked to separate the checks. No, we hadn`t asked at the beginning; and maybe this was our mistake, but frankly, there wasn`t really a chance in all the chaos. He never once had introduced himself or addressed the table as a whole, and was running around the table and the restaurant manically much of the time; it was very disconcerting. We suggested each group that was paying write what they had ordered and their name and card number on the receipt, but he wouldn`t allow it and insisted--he did not try to hide his irritation--that he would just have to remember what each person had. Needless to say, that didn`t go well, and he was clearly flustered and angry with us. I will say here that we were just trying to have a fun, celebratory dinner. We were all in good moods; no one was drunk or belligerent or ever rude. Nothing justified his attitude. Overall, while we did still have a very nice time, his service left my head spinning. I would go back, more likely just for happy hour but maybe for a full meal and maybe even with a large party. I would make sure that ______ was not my server though, because it really had a negative effect on the overall experience. Oh, and when I was speaking with friends later about writing this review, they said they had talked about the terrible service for days afterwards and to make sure to mention that in addition to all of the above, when two friends ordered a bottle of wine, the server dropped it off at the table with glasses and no wine key. No only did he not open it for them, but they had no way to open it. They finally were able to flag down a different server who brought an opener and opened it for them. And this in a "fine dining" establishment?! Utterly inexcusable!!
(1)Murray W.
My co-worker and I came here on a bustling Thursday evening, our last night in Northampton on our business trip. We had heard good things about Spoleto, so we decided to make this the finale to a series of great dinners in Northampton. As I said, the restaurant was quite busy, although we didn't have to wait and got shoehorned into a two person high top table directly across from the bar. The restaurant had a warm and comfortable palate of oranges and reds , with a mix of booths, banquettes and tables. The bar behind us was impressively stocked, although the area was quite high traffic, especially when other patrons were standing around waiting for tables to open up. The crowd was noticeably older than other restaurants we had been to in Northampton, but it wasn't the early-bird type of crowd either. Our waitress was quick to start us off with some drinks and we ordered some brick oven meatballs to start while we waited for our mains. While I was tempted by the wild boar pappardelle, I ended up settling on the gnocchi which won me over with it's description of house-made potato gnocchi with oyster and shitake mushrooms, guanciale, shallots, fresh lemon, pecorino romano, and topped with a poached Feather Ridge Farm egg. There was no resisting this dish. The meatballs arrived after a short wait, and we eagerly dug into them. Made of a pork and beef blend, in a slightly spicy marinara sauce, they were nicely browned but still moist, and had a little bit of zing to them. The marinara also made for a great dipping sauce for the plentiful bread that flowed our way. Now that I had some meat and carbs, I was primed to eat more meat and carbs. The gnocchi came piping hot from the kitchen, which helped me slow down my eating of it, which kept me from exploding from potato pasta goodness. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy, and soaked up the slightly sweet sauce of onions, mushrooms and olive oil, and the egg yolk added another level of richness to the dish. It was quite filling despite the lack of large amounts of protein. With attentive service and good Italian food, Spolteo is a winner, unless you're a local student that doesn't want to run into their professor at dinner.
(4)Evan H.
Have eaten and had drinks at Spoleto several times and I've had minor issues almost every time. Last night I went to have a few drinks for a friend's birthday. There were 3 of us and we were expecting 2 more. When we arrived there was no hostess and all but one of the high-tops near the bar were open. We walked to the far side of the bar and sat at one of the high-tops. After waiting for 15 minutes and no one tending to us, we went to the bar to order a few drinks. The bartender had clearly seen us and every waiter working that evening walked by our table at least once, with not so much as a glance our way. When the bartender approached us, she proceeded to question why we were sitting at the high-top and gave us a ton of attitude about 'not waiting to be seated' and that the high-tops were for people ordering food. She was rude and condescending for the entire 3 minute interaction. We had our drink and left promptly after. There are tons of places to eat in Northampton and tons of bars. You would have no problem finding a place with a better atmosphere and definitely better service, so do yourself a favor and pass this place by. I have lived in Northampton for 6 years and this place always makes me feel like I'm from out of town and apparently the staff is not a big fan of money, as they make no attempt to even be civil to us while we were there.
(1)Joanne F.
Spoleto is my Go To restaurant. And nearly always is on point. I've been a patron since Spoleto opened back in the early 80's. What year did Spoleto open? Claudio was the Chef back then and typically would stop by the table to thank us for coming! Oops I digress.....Anyway whomever is (the Chef) in the kitchen now has developed a new extensive Holiday menu. On 12/30 I had dinner with a professional "Foodie" friend Patricia . Pat lives at East Hampton, LI, New York and dines at Manhattan's best restaurants . And, the Hampton's have a few fine dining opportunities ......so it's tough to impress. We were greeted at the Door by a welcoming host. (I haven't met him before) Maybe he is one of Claudio's Manager's ? He couldn't have been more welcoming. Initially I wanted a booth (they were full) but, the Host said one was about to leave so we decided to have a cocktail at the Bar. We had just driven from Amherst as we were initially intending to dine at the Lumber Yard, We arrived at the Lumber Yard at 8:15 PM and the Host informed us they were no longer seating for Dinner. He said we could have cocktails at the Bar but, the kitchen was closed. He stated the kitchen closed early because they were afraid they would run out if food on New Year's Eve. In the future I will call 1st. Back to Spoletto ....Ruth, the Bartender, is terrific!!! We were starving and decided to order a couple appetizers with our cocktails. The Calimari is always great but, this evening it was especially delicious. Spoleto Calimari (unlike many restaurants) is always tender and flavorful. The fresh cut up tomato and perfectly spiced dish is a refreshing combination. The fresh Calimari is flash pan sautéed. Did I already say fresh?? Hahaha We also ordered the Yellow and Red Beet Salad that was perfectly "lightly" dressed. If you enjoy beets be sure to order this yummy salad. We decided to stay at the Bar because Ruth was so hospitable (great personality) and was informative about the (new expanded Holiday menu). We were comfortably seated at the Bar. I ordered the Salmon with rice and asparagus. The Salmon was perfectly cooked. I prefer my fish cooked thru but (please not dry). The flavor's in this dish were perfectt. An Asian influence sauce but, not salty and not sweet. If you like Salmon you will love this dish. I am going back soon to enjoy this dish again. Pat ordered the Pasta Putenesca. I don't usually order red sauce but, the Puttanesca was spiced perfectly. We always share whenever we are enjoying an exceptional dish ......and Pat couldn't stop raving about about the Salmon!!! I had a small portion left and she enjoyed it for lunch the next day. From beginning to end this was a memorable Dining Experience. Thank you Claudio!!!
(5)Brian M.
My only regret was that we didn't eat inside. The interior is very attractive. We had to stay out on the patio to keep an eye on our big dog who was in the car (AC running the entire time so don't worry). We started with the oysters from the raw bar. A few dozen from Martha's Vineyard the likes of which I hadn't sampled before. Very tiny and very tasty. So sweet. i could have eaten four dozen though they were a bit pricey. My daughter had both the goat cheese ravioli (home mde with a brown butter sauce) and a grilled peach salad. As a vegetarian, there weren't many options on fhe menu for her but these were both wonderful, particularly the ravioli with pine nuts. My wife tried the vegetarian Bolognese without meat and as a vegetarian dish as well, it proved to be excellent. Very sweet and tasty. You could taste the riccotta (also home made). It made me want to try the meat version with sweet Italian sausage. I went a bit out of my normal zone to Wild Boar Sausage and Orecchiette - House made boar sausage with shallots, rainbow chard, green peas, white wine, garlic butter topped with grana padano and seasoned bread crumbs. It really was a superb dish. The boar was so sweet - lots of sage and a bit of fennel in that sausage to make it so wonderful. I expected something stronger in flavor and was presently surprised that the meat and sauce were so delicate. For dessert, the fresh berries with lavender zabaglione and mint were a big hit. I had the cheese plate. I like that they use local products. I complement them on the fact that the cheese was at room temperature and every so tasty. Great with a small glass of port. We'll definitely be back when we visit my daughter again!
(4)Xiao Z.
So, I'm always a "glass is half-full" kinda food critic. I think all places has some good qualities and I usually never base my entire judgment on one particular bad experience. This restaurant, however, is the exception to my rule. Please keep in mind that this was based on one REALLY BAD experience, so don't let it persuade you completely. Furthermore, I will preface the review by saying that I have heard from my peers who tried this restaurant and they said this place was "ok," it wasn't earth-shattering, but it was certainly nice. So, let's talk about the PROS: it looks really nice, the decor has a nice, elegant (albeit expensive) appearance that makes you immediately for your wallet to see if you brought enough $20s to pay for your meal. Albeit, you'll be spending most of that time dwelling on those thoughts as you wait over 40 minutes for a table. CONS: Looking beyond the overpriced, generic tasting Italian food, I'd like to state the service (our particular waiter) was absolutely atrocious! We came to the restaurant on a busy Saturday night, and waited longer than any of the patrons who came after us. In fact, by the time our food had arrived (smaller portions than other groups who ordered the same dish), all of our neighbors who came after us had already finished their meals. Furthermore, the waiter got 2 of our dishes completely wrong, and when we tried to reason with him, he actually blamed US for being rude. As icing for the terrible cake that is Spoleto, since I had waited 40 minutes for my $20 pasta, my appetite was already quelled by the numerous baskets of gratuitous bread. So I specifically (and politely) requested to take my meal to go. After 10 more minutes, the waiter came back with our check, and had thrown away my dinner! When I confronted him, he simply said that I had not mentioned about taking my dinner to go, and upon further confrontation, he asked the chef to bring a new meal, which took only FIVE MINUTES! We left that restaurant dumbfounded, for I've never had a worse dinner experience in my entire life.
(1)Kat M.
I was really excited to try Spoleto's and so my boyfriend and I come on our anniversary. We made reservations for 8:00, but came at 7:30 to see if we could get in earlier. With a fifteen minute wait, we were seated by the window. I actually like the atmosphere a lot. A large space, but pretty cramped and quite loud, making it nice to speak at your own volume without feeling badly. I was disappointed with our server. At the start of the meal he brought over a blackboard to show us the specials (??? is all I can say, though it seems like this is done no matter which server you have). He just assumed we would have salad with our meals, without asking if we wanted soup. He also did not offer us any ground pepper. Both of these things I head him offer to the larger table behind us. Hm. He seemed to be in a rush (though this did kind of fit hand in hand with the atmosphere, so it didn't bother me too much). We ordered some house wine, which was fine (I'm no wine critic) and our meals. i ordered a chicken stuffed with feta that came with mashed potatoes and I believe green beans (being unable to remember the food is what will happen to you a week or so after coming here.. it was just not impressive) and my boyfriend got chicken Parmesan. For an "Italian" restaurant, the chicken parm was not very good. The sauce seemed like it was from a can. My stuffed chicken dish was OK, but nothing I can rave about. If it weren't for the over-priced food, this visit would slip into the back of my mind. The food doesn't make this place memorable, it's the over priced dishes! 20 dollar dishes when they are worth $10-12? No way... Just go to Spoleto's express on King St. The food seemed BETTER at the express and much cheaper. if you want a sit-down italian place, I like VIVA or Joe's Spaghetti and Pizza. This place is not worth it. Bummer, it's in the perfect location.
(2)Andrew T.
Fair, at best. I had the grilled octopus app and was disappointed. The meat was overdone, not tender as I've had in Spain, Italy, & other restaurants in the US. The portion was small, made larger by the large amount of white beans, which distracted rather than added to the dish. There was also an overly citrus flavor. Now I realize that Mario Bateli seeves this dish, but the flavors & proportions work much better. This was not a great start. The pork loin was my entree & was overcooked, dry & boring. This is a simple dish that can have wonderful subtlety. Too bad, as I was in the mood for the rich flavors available. Seems like the thinking & prep behind this menu is stereotypical with little creativity & mediocre execution. On another note, prosecco for $9 a glass? The bottle probably costs that. I enjoy bubbly - prosecco & cava, as they tend to be good value. I've reformed my ways, and won't overpay just for a drink with my meal. I'm fine going home and having something after the meal. I think the pricing is unfortunate. I believe places that keep the prices,per glass, reasonable actually sell more wine. I consistently order wine by the glass or bottle at places that offer value.
(2)Taylor M.
READ THIS REVIEW BEFORE YOU EAT AT SPOLETO! My boyfriend and I were very excited to try this place because of the reviews we read. Our waiter was great and very attentive but the food was not as good as we expected. I ordered the special they had that night, scallops and bacon risotto, and my boyfriend got the rigatoni bolognese. We shared both meals. The rigatoni bolognese was okay but it was nothing special. The scallops were bland but the risotto was delicious. The total of the meal came to around 60 dollars including the tip which not was worth the quality of food. The real problem we had was an hour later. Both my boyfriend and I were up ALL night sick with stomach problems!!! Mine even continued to the next day. We aren't sure what caused it because we shared both meals but we will NEVER be going there again.
(1)Zoe P.
So. Very. Northampton. It's not really Italian food, but it's hearty and healthy (well, that is to say, you can get whole wheat pasta) and fresh and pretty tasty, too. It's a good deal, if you pay attention to what you're doing. The outdoor dining is great - service doesn't forget you, the chairs are especially comfortable for patio furniture, the heaters are handy and there's always a little street theater on the corner of Main and Pleasant. But it's noisy indoors, you can follow your neighbors' conversations, I hate the booths and I've found that the waitstaff indoors can be hit or miss. I like this place, but it's not a destination and I wouldn't wait for a table.
(3)Alicia G.
Went here on a Friday night with three other people. It was pretty busy when we got there but it emptied out really quick starting at around 8:30. There was outdoor seating but we opted to sit inside and were seated right away. Our waitress seemed pretty out of it and took a really long time between every interaction. The menu was disappointingly limited and the descriptions weren't great. I went with an old standby, Chicken Parm. It was ok, the sauce was pretty bland. I was never offered grated cheese, fresh or otherwise, at any point which is honestly my favorite part about Italian food. They charged way too much for the quality of the food. Meh is a perfect description of this place.
(2)Lauren C.
I think the food is fairly mediocre for the prices. It's the kind of thing you'd make at home on a regular night. There's nothing really special on the menu. They do have a great bar though and patio area. Go for a drink and get food somewhere better.
(3)Maria K.
Went last night with a group of girlfriends. Had a blast trying different cocktails with fresh juice at the bar. Service was very good, personal but giving us space to have fun. And the food was amazing. We had a bunch of apps to start. The calamari was cooked in a lighter fashion than the traditional fried calamari. And we loved it! The filet mignon was cooked perfect and the gnocchi had to be made from scratch. Also happy to have the choice of a dinner salad with salmon on top. Definitely going back!
(5)arlo s.
i was in town for buisness and had the chance to get to northhampton for dinner. 4 of us met at spoleto and it started good and kept rolling thruout the whole meal. first of all, free parking even if the lot is a bit muddy. decor was stylish and classy. we had cocktails to start, and i had the prosectuer. excellent. apps were next and they were spot on. i think the calimari was the highlight of that course but all were solid. i had the spicy ceaser that i loved.we took a chance with the wine and asked Chris, who turned out to be the manager, to recomend a bottle for us. he brought out a bottle of Nebbiolo, an italian red that was around $40 for the bottle - really nice. for main courses we had veal, wild boar, bolengnese, and the chicken. all were solid but the veal was really good. full flavors thruout the meals. i would have liked a slightly larger peice of veal but it was so tasty that was not suprising. desserts were solid but a little limited in the choices. i give a 4 star simply because the whole experience was well executed overall. to find a resturant of this level in a small town is always a pleasent suprise now just pave your parking lot and ill make it a 5 star.
(4)Sophia L.
My friends and I went on a Friday night in January for a nice, casual dinner. The atmosphere was intoned good service and classy menus under the dim lights. Food was very satisfying for the 3-for$23 meal; I had the lobster ravioli, mixed grill meats, cannoli, and a glass of chardonnay. The ravioli was delicious and I was eager for the entree. However my main dish was slightly over-cooked; the meats were more medium than rare (I like mine medium rare) and the potatoes were a bit dry. Still good overall, and the cannoli was a sweet finish. I would definitely go again for this deal.
(4)gunks n.
The last time I had dinner here many years ago, it was really good. A few nights ago I returned and it had changed significantly for the worse. Pros : No wait, friendly service. Great bread. Watermelon gazpacho was good and refreshing . This soup was very pureed, I prefer my gazpacho with a little more texture. Cons : Terrible mojito (and I've had plenty!). Note to Spoleto - don't picture mojitos on every table served in Ball jar glasses if 1) you're going to serve them in glasses half the size and 2) you don't know how to make a mojito! Mafilde Pasta looked good and had great ingredients, but it very oily and the pasta was slightly overdone. Gnocchi appetizer - pretty good, but gnocchi was way too cheesy (for my taste at least) and again, very oily. Prix fixe not available on holidays which is ok, just make the print a little bigger on this one. I was disappointed with this $70 meal.
(2)Jessica W.
We stopped there by chance... It was amazing. The place was packed but fortunately the wait was only 10 mins. The staff was so friendly and on top of their game. $20 for a 3-course meal. I would highly recommend the stuffed artichoke and the chocolate mousse. To die for...
(5)Holly H.
Great food in just the right portions-but at NoHo Prices. We rarely have the time and opportunity to check out everything on Northhampton but missed our window for another restaurant and decided to explore Spoleto. Opted for the 3-course 21.95 deal (appetizer, entree, dessert or two appetizers) I felt that all of the food was tasty and brought piping hot to our table my attentive server Evod and the atmosphere was lively and it was interesting to people-watch. Also, I admire any restaurant that is willing to have a a window directly into the kitchen-it shows a high degree of trust and confidence in the staff. Pros: Good waitstaff, reasonable portions, interesting combinations. Cons: Fills up quickly, can get noisy, tables are set close together, parking *anywhere* in Northhampton can be problematic-so opt for the garage.
(4)Dave T.
Lousy food...horrible service...perhaps the worst restaurant in Northampton...i've eaten there twice in the last six months will never return! i suggest you save yourself the aggravation and stay away altogether! The food is bland and overcooked and the service(?) staff is incompetent and non-caring! I f you call to complain the management apparently listens to you but does nothing about the many issues that plague this "restaurant". You've been warned!!!
(1)Gary G.
Yikes! Fast food Italian. Where to begin. Long waits for seating, then about 15 min for a competely clueless wait person to come with water, salad in another ten, then the wine finally shows , then the bread. As this is happening there is drama at 2 nearby tables ( inedible meal at one, some other issue with the food). Eggplant Parma was excellent. The service was very speedy when tables were vacated, with wait staff Johnny on the spot to empty, clean, and seat the next victims. When the entre was done we were racing to get away from the noise , the understaffing, the crowds. Escape was the taste in our mouths.
(1)hk k.
I tried Spoleto because I've been told by many people that it was their favorite Noho restaurant. Honestly, I don't understand why. The food was mediocre at best, with no creative touch whatsoever. The cocktails were good, but alas, the bartender who made them was absolutely rude and nearly hostile toward me and my date when we were nothing but polite to her. I wasn't sure if this was racially motivated, but I've heard later on that other people of color have had experienced rude and hostile service here before. Will never go back there again.
(1)John R.
One of my two favorite Italian restaurants
(5)Zack K.
Came here during restaurant week. I called ahead for seating, yet when I arrived I wasn't in the book. After convincing the hostess that I had indeed called they sat us pretty quickly ahead of other people. Our server, Khalil, was fantastic. The place was packed, yet my water glass never emptied, and even though the wait for the food was long, Khalil kept us entertained and assured that our food would come soon, which it did. I ordered the Crostini appetizer, which was small and tasty, the Fra Diablo pasta minus the squid ink, which was also yummy. My date ordered the fried calamari and a strip steak cooked as ordered. The food was good but nothing to write home about in my opinion... The desserts were a bit lacking. The meringue berry concoction we got was extremely disappointing, but the chocolate sampler was good. I have to break down my rating Service : 5 Appetizer : 3 Entree : 4 Dessert : 2 Overall : 3.5
(3)James W.
Tonight we ordered the seafood salad special. Canned mussels, rubbery octopus, soggy shrimp... All for $9. Yuk. Sad when this kind of thing happens. Tomatoes caprese was better...tomatoes a bit hard. Not going back to Spoletos.
(1)Stephen G.
Spoleto's in Northampton embodies the spirit of mediocrity lurking around an upscale, attractive setting that begs for better. Don't get me wrong - apparently some people are sold on it. I understand why it might get a higher rating - it's an inviting atmosphere - it makes you want it to be good - you might even be "willing" it to excel. But alas, it's the service, the food, the drink and the ownership that drag it down, at least the times we've been there. Start with the service - on our last visit, our waitperson was attentive and enthusiastic, but not adept at taking care of us. Perhaps it was inexperience, but something tells me it's also the training. Take the wine for instance - we order a red wine that's warm, like above 80 degrees - (obviously it wasn't stored in a wine cabinet - think "flabby" and tasteless - here's a link to an article on how to address this problem: latimes.com/features/foo… ) So our waitperson is a little surprised about the "warm" wine - brings out the marble chiller - but really, that's for keeping wine cool - not for chilling it. So the owner comes by, gets a chiller with ice and tells you the wines on the shelves get warm during the off hours - and you're thinking, his staff is serving it anyway? Ok. That's a great way to handle it. No checking back later to see if it's ok, no offer for a replacement. Now for the food: we ordered a steak and pasta shells. Simply put - the steak was tough - two of us tried it and agreed. But that can happen in the best of places. Our waiter brought the manager over - it didn't seem like there was any effort to explain what might have happened, no offer to get you another steak, only other menu items. At least this was professional. The pasta shells were al dente, spicy as advertised but frankly without much flavor or character, just hot, and the grilled chicken in it was dried out like leather. This was not very good for a signature dish. They did take the steak off the bill, so that's a plus. Would we go back? Considering we've been to Spoleto's in one location or another at least 8 times and none were better than this, it appears the spirit of mediocrity lives on. If you want a great atmosphere and don't have high expectations for the rest, give it a shot in Northampton. Personally, I think they could do a lot better. And I really hope they do.
(2)Chris W.
Spoleto's is a Northampton staple for dining. this is usually the first place you may think of when your in northampton to eat as its right in the middle of downtown. Spoleto's is very misleading however. I would suggest this as a good place to wet your palate of what the area has to offer as this is only 2.5-3 star dining. the food is nothing special, but their prices tell another story. The service is usually very good, but you will forget about it when the noise level surpasses rowdy bar and when you find yourself just about dining with the people next to you or wait staff bumping you or almost being in your lap at times. the seating is soo close together you will be tempted to take something off your neighbors plate You may take the impression that Northampton tries to mock NYC and this is probably one of those times. Spoleto trumps on the big name in the area and sells high on this. I've yet to eat outside and its on my list of things to do..will report back
(3)Florence G.
Had dinner there last night for a birthday celebration. Our waitress was polite but not friendly or attentive or knowledgeable and seemed a bit impatient when we were ordering and had some questions over the menu. I ordered a chicken pasta dish with a marscapone sauce but it actually was a demi-glace (veal stock) of which I was not informed by the waitress when ordering even when I was asking questions about the sauce and it had not been described as such on the menu. I was upset as I never eat veal and would never have ordered that dish had the menu been more specific or the waitress more informed. To save time since my friend was already eating, I ordered an appetizer instead of another entree. When the bill came they had charged me for the appetizer! I objected but said I would pay it but would be sure to mention it on my online review. At that point they took it off the bill. Overall the experience was disappointing. The food we did eat was good but nothing special and the service was terrible so with so many other good restaurants in the area we will not be back.
(2)Kate C.
I recently went to the new location at 1 Bridge Street and was pleasantly surprised by my experience. The modifications made to the space allow for more natural light and a more enjoyable experience. The large tvs are gone, booths have been added, and the bar redesigned. I was also pleased to see a more streamlined menu with a greater offering of local products. I have had Spoleto gnocchi before, and it was okay. The gnocchi I was served in the new location was beyond my expectations. Light, fluffy, and flavorful, it was quite a treat. Paired with a Kusek 75 cocktail and a great wine selection, we had an excellent meal. Spoleto will definitely be back in the rotation, especially since they have the best happy hour menu in town.
(4)Wendy Y.
The waitress was the best thing about our visit. The food was average and frighteningly overpriced. frighteningly. $16 for a bowl of pasta is an insult to the panhandlers outside the doors, for sure. I am blown away that there exists such an ostentatious mentality that allows this disrespect for the value of appropriate cost for service and goods.
(1)Valentina Z.
My friend and I had dinner here this past weekend. The atmosphere was a nice mix of a NoHo eclectic, nice, fun and relaxed dining atmosphere. We were initially excited over the Mojitos as well as the Sauvignon Blanc, Champagne and Chardonnay tasting trio, a perfect compliment to a hot summer evening! The food was good. The price was right. We had the Calamari Neapolitano style, grilled Polenta, Tuna Tartare salad with mango and avocado, as well as Pan Seared Scallops over snow pea risotto. The service and wait staff were great! We were seated right away. We had a server named Scott Ryan, who was charming, accommodating, friendly and funny. It was a fun place to dine, while stopping through Northampton.
(4)C A.
You can get a 3 course meal and a liter of wine for two people and end up paying 75 with tip. This place is great.
(5)gwen a.
Spoleto. If the neon-light face in the window of this restaurant were to pull off the glass as flesh and blood, it could only manifest as a character who presents as somewhat ill-fitting within their context- their class maybe, or just clothing- fumbling and messy in conversation, gesticulating wildly. Though, somehow, they produce masterfully solid and stable arguments displaying their self possession, and end up leaving you at a loss of words in the wake of misjudgment. We've all been there. Dining here is dining within the soul of this fictional persona. Our waiter is attentive and quite serious, but also downright goofy; bumping into tables, crawling underneath another while a couple continues to dine, he's overenthusiastic even as he drops his voice, pulls his chin up, and holds his hands behind his back inquiring about our satisfaction. The candles on the table are, in fact, fake battery-powered lights. The amount of olive oil at each table is more than a four-person household can go through in two months. The entire layout of the restaurant is a bit goofy itself. But the food! Our appetizer, the roasted red pepper plate (with anchovies to the side), was gloriously simple and well-executed. With thick slices of meaty green olive, spicy kalamata, capers and plenty of garlic- just everything it should be. Now, this is no easy place for a vegan, judging by the menu. I asked for the roasted vegetable terrine, without cheese. "Sorry, I can do ANY item without cheese for you! Really! Except the meatball lasagna and terrine." So I order simple pasta dish with artichoke, olives, pinenuts, and extra vegetables in place of pesto and cheese. "Sorry, all of our pasta has egg. And all of our stuffed vegetables." Which left me with the house salad. But no! That was simply not good enough. Our waiter fidgeted a bit seeing my disappointment, asked about my tastes...and when the food arrived, I was presented with a massive plate of perfectly roasted zucchini, summer squash, grilled asparagus and artichoke, slices of portabello mushroom and garlic, and olives. They were hands down the most accommodating establishment I've eaten at. So Spoleto made its statement- good food, in healthy portions (though less healthy for the omnivorous options). However, the prices are high for dishes so easily replicated by a home chef. There was no twist, no kick, to differentiate, nor that pang of relief that comfort food can bring. That being said, for a birthday dinner as it was (not my own) and given the limitations of this location, Spoleto made for a lovely evening.
(4)Megan R.
I consider Spoleto to be my rock-steady back-up when it comes to Northampton. I love it for its convenient location right smack in the middle of Main Street, and right around the corner from Turn It Up, Sergio's favorite record shop. I will often walk across the street to enjoy a cocktail at the bar while waiting for Sergio to browse. It is only open for dinner though, so it has to be a 5 pm drink or later. Spoleto also has a really nice pre-fixe menu that always delivers. Though the food can be a bit common place, it will fill your belly. And with a little something for everyone on the menu, it's usually a crowd pleaser. From time to time, the service has been a little off, but its not meant to be a fine dining atmosphere, so I never mind too much. Last time, there was a new young girl training to be a bartender, and she, as well as her trainer, were both polite and attentive, while not being obtrusive. Overall, a good spot to have a nice dinner while going easy on the wallet.
(3)Paul L.
I went after skiing a few weeks back. Food was very good, solid service, and busy. Rarely in the area, but i would consider going A no brainer!
(4)Zack M.
Spoleto was a very enjoyable experience as the food was delicious and the service was exceptionally friendly. I had a number of dishes, but did not do the 3-course meal as my sister did. Everything was tasty and fresh including the mussels and the shrimp and scallop marchese that I had for an entree. A pleasant experience all around!
(4)Eric S.
One of my favorite restaurants anywhere. The food and service are consistently good. The wait can be lengthy at peak hours, but only at peak hours. Reasonable prices and a good "date" restaurant. The ravioli a la vodka and the pecan encrusted salmon are tasty.
(5)Kristina D.
During Restaurant Week, I would think that a restaurant would want to showcase its best offerings, not serve food that: 1. had been sitting under a warmer for most of the day 2. Lacked flavor 3. Gave the bride's father-in-law-to-be food poisoning the night before her wedding. Please do not go here. I have been here three times, and after the restaurant week food poisoning incident, I will not go back.
(1)cindy b.
We took our daughter here when visiting her college town; she picked it based on recommendations from people she knew. Norhthampton is a good food town considering its rather remote location and Spoleto's fit right in that mainstream quality. The small place was nicely decorated with warm colors and framed theme posters. I am not crazy about sitting at a diner style banquet for anything other than a chef salad. I am also never crazy about paying $10 for a standard cocktail dressed up as something it's not so I opted for a less expensive glass of wine. The waitress was very helpful and warm so that gets four stars. The food was well prepared New Italian and everyone enjoyed their meal. However, three days later I can't recall it. They did have a nice 3 course special where you choose your entree (lots of choices) and add salad and dessert. We missed the music because we dined early I guess. I had a beet salad which was a mixed greens salad (good, the sweet watercress style) with beets on the side and some goat cheese. The antipasto looked good, a generous spread with extras. It's starting to come back to me. I had the Mafalde Pasta which was quite nice, a good vegan choice, and the meatball lasagne looked super also. You can also get a ribe eye with shrimp, pork scallopine, a mixed grill and a family favorite cioppino along with many traditional favorites. Among the dessert selection we had, the NY style cheese cake, the brownie sundae, and the Cannoli, they were good but I particularly liked the dark chocolate sauce surprising me on the brownie sundae. The cannoli cream was real, and good. I would go again, and spring for the martini or imported tequila. When you are out for fun and the bill is $120 for four without tip, what's a few bucks? One tip: if the weather is bad in this town allow extra time to find a place to park if you have to drive.
(3)John F.
One's first impression is that Spoleto presents a nice, although noisy, dining atmosphere and presents gourmet Italian food, but unfortunately the food and service doesn't support the facade. The food which obviously, is the most important part of the experience, is a gamble. On our first visit, it was good enough to return, but this time was just not up to it. My wife ordered the Chicken Parm and the best thing that can be said is that it was average. I ordered the Lamb Shank special and unfortunately the most generous portion of the dish was the bone. For some reason the waitress kept pressuring us to order the lamp shank as there were "only 3 left" which I could understand if it were later but we were there at 6:00 pm. Bottom line our tab was $60 per person and I'm sorry it was nothing more than bland Italian food. One can go anywhere for this stuff. Even the grocery store. The waitress wasn't attentive, didn't clear the table properly, and was slow with our drinks. Some examples: If you take my fork, provide a replacement to eat my entree. We had to ask the waitress to finally take the dirty appetizer dishes off the table. Finally, a nice touch would be to serve my wine with dinner not after I have finished my entree. It was a disjointed experience that was hardly worth the money. We won't return to this restaurant and therefore can't recommend it to others.
(1)Ashley P.
Food - 2 stars Service - 4 stars Average - 3 stars I went here for my birthday dinner and while the service was excellent the food was pretty mediocre. Maybe my standards are too high (I am from Boston and have an Italian family) but I also lived in the Valley for 5+ years and have experienced better Italian food at other locations. Let's be clear, none of the food was bad. Everything was good, but just not great. Everything seemed like I could have made it my own kitchen. I had the risotto and the boy had steak. Like I said, everything was good, but nothing was outstanding. And to top it off the bar service was extremely slow, I didn't get my second drink until I was almost finished with my dinner. However, our waitress was excellent!!! She was super fun and helpful. She boosted this review a lot. But unfortunately, I don't think I will be going back.
(3)Marlene M.
Our first time here and we had an incredible dinner and fantastic service!! The atmosphere is fun, casual, and colorful! The perfect stop after a weekend of skiing...
(5)J T.
Of all the places I've been through for work and pleasure, their 3 course deal was one of the best food (and .5 liter of decent wine!) I've ever had for under $30. Went twice for it, best items were phyllo "ravioli", surf n turf, and espresso torte. Of course, if you're reading this more recently you may be aware that this special is discontinued. I cannot fully endorse the regular menu prices for even their above average food, but it's worthy of consideration regardless.
(4)Zach F.
From the beginning of our experience, the bar was set pretty low. I'm not sure I've ever been greeted by a hostess who mentions that she's recently had a miscarriage...! After processing that--which we had a long time to do, as it took our waiter quite a few minutes to introduce himself in this half-full restaurant--we were greeted with a blackboard of specials. The waiter either didn't know how to read or felt that he couldn't adequately explain them in full detail, as we had a one-word description of each. We read the specials ourselves in the low lighting. I was then served some beer in a chipped glass before dinner began. Appetizers and salads weren't too bad, but the entrees were a huge disappointment. My special, the shrimp "loco" alfredo quoted as a spicy chili powder alfredo. I ended up with mostly green peppers and sausage, making this more of a stroganoff than anything. The rest of the table was also disappointed with their choices from the menu. Too much spice on the beef tips (wish I had that problem!), bland salmon. Most of this time, the waiter was absent and didn't clear dishes before the next course was served. Lastly, the waiter couldn't be bothered to provide a drink menu with deserts. Asking for the port, I was told, "Oh, they're right up there behind you on the bar." Guess this place thrives on self-service. Deserts were good--probably the best course of the evening--but pretty much thrown across the table to each of us. A combination of poor service and average fare make this an 'established' Northampton restaurant to avoid.
(2)Bob R.
Chef Colin Hoyt does an excellent job in the beautiful open kitchen!
(5)Anne G.
We went to the new location last night for dinner. I was SO happy to see a complete revamp of the menu! I had cavatelli with Brussels sprouts and pancetta, my hubby had scallops carbonara. We started with spiced olives and beef carpaccio. Beef was beautiful. Olives were really good too. The last time I went to Spoleto was about 3 years ago - and the menu was tired (I mean really - I ordered the same thing as I did in the mid-90s...really??) and the experience mediocre at best. Last night renewed my faith in this downtown fixture. Our server was attentive and FUN. Granted - it was a Monday night - so maybe next time we will go on the weekend. I hope this is the beginning of a really good run for them. I will definitely be back and tell my friends about it.
(4)Archer L.
Good steak frites and delicious cocktails.
(3)Pamela T.
After recently returning from a 2 week trip to Italy, it was wonderful to find a restaurant styled so autentically to Italy. The owner was friendly and brought us to our table immediately. Our waiter was attentive and very personable. But the food was more than delicious. I had the vegetarian bolognese and it was fabulous. I can't wait to have it again. Their homemade noodles and homemade ricotta were delightful! Finally, we finished off with the tiramisu and it was the best one i've ever eaten. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Heather S.
Super service: friendly, efficient, and considerate; excellent food, and a great price! For $20/person, you get a three course meal. To be honest, we (2 women) could have had 1 of these 3 course things, and been stuffed. There was so much delicious food! I wasn't too fond of their wine list, in part because most hailed from Italy rather than Napa/Sonoma, which I prefer. My pinot grigio was too sharp for my palate. But, the food was terrific! I loved the Phyllo ravioli with smoked chicken and goat cheese in a creamy tomato sauce. We also had a chicken-shrimp dish (called, Papiollote), enclosed in parchment paper,which was fun to tear off, and, the sole, which was lightly breaded, so light and lemony! They did not have many entrees for vegetarians, however. Dessert was splendid! The espresso chocolate cake was to die for. I loved what they called, Red Velvet cake, but to be honest, it's more like a traditional Italian Rainbow (or Venetian or tri-color) cookie than a traditional red velvet cake. Nonetheless, it was moist and terrific! The service was fabulous, as mentioned, and we left, fully satisfied.
(4)David P.
Old review: Spoleto used to be excellent, probably one of the best Italian places in town. Lately, not so good. I've been here about 20 times over the years, and the service has been consistently getting worse. The food, while it used to be really great Italian, has been resorting to the "too much salt and oil" method, and it's really not that great. Good atmosphere, so if you don't care that much about the food, or overpaying, you'll have a good time. Getting a drink and an appetizer at the bar is still very good, though. Updated: Since moving to a new location and revamping the menu, Spoleto has improved significantly. The food is truly 4 stars. Unfortunately, the prices are higher than many great NYC Italian restaurants, and the food isn't quite that good. If you're fine with overpaying, you will be happy with the food, for sure!
(4)Barbara A.
Ok, so know I have had a bad meal here -- I don't know what it was but I was so disappointed in this place this time. My parm was dry, the pasta was bland. My daughter liked her meal, but it was butter and pasta. It was packed to the gills, extremely hot and loud, and it felt like they put in more tables to deal with their popularity. So sad ... will probably try again but not as a first option anymore :(
(3)Lauren B.
Mediocre food at best. Fresh vegetables but tasteless. No mozzarella on the classic Parmesan. Look real close at the bill.. Overcharged us $26 for an $8 glass of wine, like we wouldn't notice.
(2)Andrew H.
3 course meal with a half liter of decent wine for under $30. You can choose from over half of the appetizers, over half of the entrees, and all of the desserts for the $20 set menu. I had the crabcakes, chicken balsamico, and tiramisu. My friend had salad, Mafalde pasta, and creme brulee. Everything was very good and exceeded expectations. It was much better than the other Italian place we had gone to in Northampton, and one of the most satisfying Italian meals I have had outside Italy. They managed to toe the line between Italian and Italian-American cuisine with skill and style. Tornerò!
(5)Meli H.
Visited for the first time while we had family in town, and thank god for that, since at least we could catch up with each other while we waited (and waited, and waited) for our food. At least the cocktails were somewhat interesting. The new location is beautiful - the inside is gorgeous, and the outdoor seating area is a bit nicer than at the old location. I wish I could blame our sub-par experience on a new restaurant/new staff adjustment period, but this place has been around for a while, and I doubt they hired a completely new staff when they moved down the street. Methinks our waiting time had more to do with the kitchen, but who knows. Our server seemed friendly enough, but we waited 25 minutes for a single appetizer, and then an additional 25 for our entrees. AND she messed up my order, and then blamed me for not ordering correctly. The entire menu looks appetizing, but it really is overpriced for what you get. Not that the portions are itty-bitty, or that the food isn't of good quality - I guess it seems like this place thinks it's in NYC rather than a quaint New England town. There are SO many great restaurants in this town -the great majority of which use the freshest, local organic ingredients, and their prices are almost surprisingly reasonable. Not so at Spoleto (and they didn't seem to tout the whole "local" thing as much as they should have - and I say "should" because we're in farm country here; lets be practical - and ethical). Don't get me wrong - I worked in the restaurant business for 10+ years, mostly at places that were criticized for being overpriced, but when I moved to western Mass., I thought I'd stepped into a far superior restaurant scene. I guess this place caters more to the out-of-towners (which is a shame, because we eat out a lot), but I can get amazing Italian food at, say, Roberto's, and for a fraction of the price, and with far friendlier service.
(2)william d.
Ambiance inside is great, low light and very intimate (great for a date) and so is the new location formerly "Paradise City", very convenient because of the parking lot. The old spot definately had it's charm, but this is a nice spot too. Had the Filet Mignon Nebbiolo... best cut of tenderloin I've had in quite some time, cooked with Gorgonzola, Nebbiolo wine reduction and roasted root vegetables (only complaint was it ended too quickly). I had the scallops which were on special, seared nicely and very fresh. I sampled the Spoleto house wine Merlot 2009, and the Gretzky, yes as in "Wayne Gretzky" Cabernet 2005... both of which I was very pleased with but the Gretzky wine was a complete surprise and is definitely worth a try. I will definitely be back to try more things on the menu soon.
(4)Joanne W.
Not interested in a return trip. They would not seat us until all four of us were there. That was not the worst though. We were seated downstairs. You must walk through the kitchen to get downstairs. It was very close quarters and very loud. Our server was very nice but we waited far too long for everything, especially our check. Food was average.
(2)James D.
Decent Italian. A step up from the Olive Garden. Price and value are nice. Great atmosphere. Not much else to say it was A-OK.
(3)Betty W.
Love their pizza!! Great for large parties and an evening with friends! Service was always excellent!
(4)John B.
Having returned to Noho after a 10 year absence, I was anxious to try Spoleto's, an old favorite, again. Went on a Saturday night with three others, about 3 weeks after its move from Main to Bridge St. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. On the positive side, there was only a 15 minute wait on a Saturday night, around 7:30; other places had 40 minute waits. Also the dining room and bar area were nicely appointed. On the negative side, the room was extremely noisy. Also, ur server was amiable, but rarely checked in. The food, appetizers, entrees, and dessert arrived at a reasonable pace; however, things arriving from the bar were horribly slow in arriving. Before the meal, three in our party ordered cocktails and I ordered a beer. They took forever to come. (The beer selection is extremely limited; only two or three craft beers.) The others in my party didn't like the taste of their cocktails. As my main course arrived, I ordered the house Cabernet Sauvignon to go with it. Although it was excellent, I was finished my entree when it arrived. Overall, the food was disappointing. We shared a couple of appetizers. One was meatballs, actually two, uninspired. We ordered a vegetarian antipasto dish. It was so small that it was impossible to share, only a couple of morsels of each item and mostly uninteresting. The bread that came with the meal wasn't very good. Most of the entrees weren't very good either. Mine was a Rigatoni Bolognese. Presentation was horrible. Just a big pile of pasta piled in the middle of a bowl with a heavy sauce dumped on top. Worse: it was lukewarm. A creme brûlée was small and uninspired. Everything was a la carte, so, overall, it was expensive relative to the quality of the food and the service. Won't be returning.
(1)Derek W.
Spoleto just tries too hard. I got a piece of grilled swordfish with a clam and arugula risotto. The plate came out and the flavors of the risotto were just very muddy and the whole dish was oversalted. I feel like this place could be a very good Italian restaurant if it just could stay out of its own way and keep the food simple. Another example is the dessert I got. It was a chocolate mousse. That's all it said on the menu, chocolate mousse. However, when I tasted it, it was obvious that there was some sort of orange liqueur in it. Now, this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing but it wasn't mentioned in the menu and it COMPLETELY overpowered the chocolate in the "chocolate" mousse. It was just trying a little too hard to be elegant and fell flat as a result. The service was very nice and friendly and wait times were reasonable. Also, the appetizers I tasted, a watermelon gazpacho and an order of gnocchi with pancetta, were very good. Considering what a delicious gnocchi this place made, I feel like it would really be much better if it just went back to basics and cooked rustic Italian food instead of some sort of bastardized attempt at a strange fusion which comes off as anything but elegant.
(2)Kristen V.
To be fair, my experience with Spoleto was 1. over eight years ago and 2. severely colored by emotional issues. So maybe this is not the most accurate assessment of said establishment. My highlights of my college-graduation dinner at Spoleto include, but are not limited to: being pushed to the point of sobbing in the bathroom stall after being emotionally tormented by my parents because of my "new high-falutin' liberal Smith College views" (to date, I cannot recall the topic of dinner debate, only the hot-salt tears that streamed down my face); feeling like a fat sausage shoved into scratchy panty-hose; and Lynn V. (who never eats red meat) ordering a dish covered in Prosciutto because although she is a proud Italian-American, she had never seen the word written down (only heard it pronounced out-loud as"Pro-zhuit"). Thankfully, she felt ill after eating the pile of lukewarm flaccid meat, then broke her foot while taking a tv out of my parent's backseat right in front of the restaurant...but not wanting to cause more tears or drama, she didn't mention a thing about it while it to swelled to three times its normal size. Despite these beautiful and heartwarming memories, I recall Spoleto being crowded, over air-conditioned and overpriced given the limp, flavorless offerings. (word to the wise...if you have newly graduated from college and go to Spoleto with your parents, please don't start a conversation with "well, last week in anthropology class we were discussing..." or mention anything involving the words "sustainable development" or "Yangtze hydro-dam project." I fear the harsh lighting, chaotic atmosphere, and high prices may cause them to view the discussion through angry, crimson-colored glasses)
(2)Jason T.
I've eaten here several times and the food is always good! Great place for special events like New Year's Eve, etc.
(4)John R.
Nice people, nice staff. $20/3 courses is a cool deal, but the portions are kind of small. I loved their caesar salad, but my entree and dessert were kind of lacking in the taste dept. Additionally, I've got sick after going here twice. Ambivalence high.
(3)Jane C.
The best Italian food I've had in Northampton. I think Spoleto's gets a lot of criticism for its prices (which are high relative to most of its neighbors in Northampton). The not-so-great: -if you go at peak dinner hours, the wait is long -the prices definitely add up if you get entrees and a drink How to make it better: -have a glass of wine while you wait -the portions are pretty big so split one with a friend (entrees come with salad too) Recommend: -pasta shells -chianti (wine) the atmosphere is great so as long as you go with friends for a nice relaxed meal filled with conversation, you should have a great experience! :) the wait staff are also great to talk to.
(4)Matt L.
I have been to this restaurant on several occassions and it gets better each time. The town is the typical New England small downtown and has many restaurants to choose from. This one has been here for over 20 years and is one of the top spots around. The decor is hip an trendy and it is always crowded. The menu brings an array of Italian dishes with a great wine list ad very easy going waitstaff that are quick on their feet and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this place for a great dinner out with a loved one or family. It is a good size place and can take the noise levels and can be romantic or fun! Top notch!
(4)