My cousin tells me that I shouldn't leave such a negative reviews. Regretfully this review is negative. I am just looking for a good meal it's not my fault that America has accepted mediocrity. The first time my family and I arrived early and they would not let us get a table and said they had fully sold out the restaurant. What made that horrible was how rude the hostess was. Like we didn't belong there... We should've taken that as an omen because when we finally had reservations my wife and I thought it was the worst Italian meal we've ever had. Maybe where are just spoiled by New York & Boston's North End. On a positive note the wine wasn't bad and the food was hot...let's just say that will be it's one star. The employees looked like they were working hard including the chefs outback. My guess is the owner has taken the liberty of removing any quality ingredients of any quantity whatsoever. The appetizers: The clams in the clam casino were tiny with no bacon a bit of breadcrumbs and butter...they were about a C. The other appetizer we had to antipasto had domestic prosciutto but only one piece. Very scary that they can't spend a dollar. And a bunch of marinated garbage on it. The cheese was bad so that was a D. The meal: My wife chose the lobster and crab ravioli which was frozen and horrible that was an F. Considering I almost barfed in my mouth after the meal I would recommend investing in Alka-Seltzer prior to eating here. I chose the chicken something - and that was horrible too. I left the restaurant hungry...the chicken was boiled the eggplant wasn't peeled or breaded. Dessert: Too scared to try since everything else was so horrible and overpriced. Save your money for god sake. It was sad to see everybody working so hard but not having any idea that their food was bad. I think the other patrons here were delusional or the first time eating here. The owners need to go to good Italian restaurant and learn something from it.
(1)
Eric W.
Anyone who gives this place a bad review is a straight up moron. Make reservations. Small North End vibe restaurant. Food is amazing. gravy is delicious. 3x here. Got Veal Marsala this time. Terrific. Thank you from a fellow Italiano.
(5)
Frank M.
Massimo, Have you changed your ridiculous policy not letting your customers use groupons and gift certificates on the same evening.......
(1)
Craig F.
I have to say I was very disappointed with your Restaurant. My Wife and I had been wanting to try this place for a while and we finally had a night to try it. We called and confirmed a reservation for 8PM on Saturday. When we got to the restaurant the Owner/Manager greeted as a preceded to show us the clock and basically said to us why are we here 15 minutes early for a 8PM reservation. After waiting for a while with a check in everyone in a while we finally a table open up and assume that after waiting 20 Minutes past our reservation time that we would get seated but no they gave the table to someone else. When I asked about I was given a rude response that they had a 7:30 reservation which was clearly a lie because you could see from the book that all the 7:30's had been seated and crossed off the reservation. If what they said was true they would of crossed out our reservation when we arrived. At this point we had enough and left to have dinner somewhere else. This is not how you should treat customers who have been told good things about your restaurant. My recommendation is if your not regular there don't bother going.
(1)
Kathryn M.
Food is delicious. I always order the food to go because a reservation seems to be needed on any given night. I can pick up my order at 5:50 pm and the dining room can be empty. 10 minutes later, every table is filled with a 6pm reservation. The restaurant has about 12 tables and a tiny make shift bar that holds 3 or 4 seats. The tables for 2 are so close together that the tiny female servers can barely squeeze in between them to take your order. I've seen the servers actually serve from behind the table. Those customers look really surprised and uncomfortable to be sitting that close to the next table. The tables for parties of 4 are better and the customers look more comfortable. Service is fine, but the servers aren't all that smiley. They are not short handed--but they do look stressed and it gives off a weird vibe. No parking lot, but I've always managed to find parking on the street. It's far better than dealing with the North End's parking situation. In my opinion, the food is just as good. The chicken parm is outstanding. Their sauce is perfection. Good bread, too. I'm sure they serve dessert and coffee, but if you might also want to stop in at D'Amici's bakery across the street.
(4)
Billie J.
Short and sweet. A bit over priced menu when compared to local eateries. My girlfriend ordered the haddock/capers with green beans and potatoes. Very tasty. I ordered the Frutti di Mare. Never again. The obviously previous frozen shrimp were over-cooked and dry. The calamari was rubbery and the shellfish tasted aweful. The only positive point of this meal was the pasta with Fra Diavolo sauce. Limited beer selection. Service was attentive.
(2)
Stephen D.
Went here on first date with wife in several months. We were pleasantly surprised when we were seated immediately to a table instead of the bar where I thought we'd end up based on reservation with maître d. Wine suggestions were solid- a nice house chianti and wife had sauv blanc. The caprese was really good, especially since mid-Fall yet very tasty tomatoes. Entrees were predictably 'big Italian', and not very memorable. Service was both pleasant and attentive.
(3)
Danielle C.
They have excellent food, great service, and great hospitality. I had the homemade Tortellini Donna Rosa and it was my second time getting it was just as good as the first time.
(5)
Jenn M.
The North End in Reading! Great little Italian restaurant. When you walk in you feel as if you've been transported to Little Italy! Every time we have eaten here our meals have been incredible. The owner is great and walks around shaking hands and greeting all guests as if you are in his home! You will not regret dining at this restaurant. Authentic high quality food. It's a gem!
(5)
Luke D.
Food is good, a little over priced. But the service is the worst. 1st time I went there, they asked if I had a res. I said no, they were all panicked and rude and keep tell me I should have called, O BTW THERE WAS NOBODY IN THE ENTIRE RESTAURANT. months later I decide to go back. I called for a res (remembering the last time), I left a message (which is what message says to do). I show up, THERE IS NOBODY IN THE PLACE. They said if we dont call you back, you dont have a res. made a big deal, finally sat me being rude and panicked....by the time we eat and left 2 other people showed.
(2)
Phil O.
I went here last Thursday with my girlfriend. Bread- Homemade with a slight pinch of garlic: 8/10 Appetizer- Sea Scallops in a light sherry sauce: 8/10 Entrees- Veal cacciatore & chicken cacciatore: 4/10 These dishes were incredibly under seasoned. Clearly, the meat had not been pre-seasoned, not even with salt or pepper, which is a must for bland meats (i.e. chicken especially). The vegetables and pasta were similarly lacking flavor. This was one of the rare occurrences at a high-end Italian restaurant where I've had to add hefty amounts of salt & pepper to compensate for an overly dull entree. Even my girlfriend who has a simple palate complained about it. Maybe this dish was originally intended to go with sausage, which could explain some of it. I could be old-fashioned, but I expect the cooks to be adding the flavor, not me. While the service was decent, we will not be coming back here.
(2)
Barrett D.
I got a groupon for this place. At about 6pm, I called to make a reservation for 8pm. I was told the restaurant was full and I asked for a reservation at 9pm, or 9:30pm. They said they did not know if they had tables at that time. They did not take my reservation and asked me to come between 9-9:30pm. Showed up at about 9pm, but they told me I should have made a reservation. The point was I tried to make reservation but they did not take it. The place was small and crowd, so it was very loud. We had to yell to our server when we placed the order. We ordered mussels for appetizer. The mussels were awful. They were fishy and some of them had the smell like feces. They were pretty disgusting. I had scallops and shrimp as main course and it was alright. My wife had the lobster and crab ravioli. She said there was only one piece of lobster and the shell was very thick compared to other restaurants in the North end. She did not finish the dish and did not want to box it because she said the food was making her sick. I boxed my dish and we went home. My wife did not feel good the rest of the night. The next day when I opened my leftover, I found shrimp-shells in my dish. They boxed that too. The service was alright. The manager seemed pretty enthusiastic and nice. However, the food was not good at all and the restroom was very dirty, even compared to those in gas stations.
(2)
Domenic P.
My girlfriend and I stopped by for dinner a couple weeks ago. We were greeted by Christina who was amazing. She was very polite, and very friendly. The food arrived quick and was delicious! Portions were just right. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner. He is a really good guy and made us feel so welcome. We will definitely be back and will be recommending this place to everyone!!
(5)
Julie K.
I got the home made gnokki (I might of spelled that wrong) it was delicious! Large portion. My friend got the veal very large portion! Both meals were delicious. Very cozy. The lady who sat us wasn't pleasant and made me feel like we were bothering her but out waitress and the other servers were very pleasant. My meal was 17 dollars and the veal was 22. Was worth it though. I wish that it came with a small salad but honestly I probably wouldn't of finished my meal
(4)
Jenna L.
My boyfriend and I tried going here for dinner and were not impressed. We walked into a pretty empty dining room and were told that the kitchen was closing (at 8pm) and that they'd really prefer you make a reservation. Even without a reservation, we were seated promptly. I mean, it's not a hair salon - since when does dining out shun walk-ins?? Anyways, for city prices the food was far below par. The pasta was overcooked ten minutes too long and turned into a mushy paste, the shrimp was overcooked and tough and the scallops just didn't taste fresh. The bread was good and if you could manage to get any oil out of the bottle to make your own dipping sauce - quite delicious. Needless to say, we won't be back.
(2)
joan l.
Hmmm. I've been to Pavarotti's at least six times. I'm left with such mixed feelings. The food is wonderful. I adore their calamari, their pan fried scallops are divine and the seafood dishes have all been consistently fresh and tasty. Their serving sizes are more than adequate. I don't mind that it's small and crowded. To me it adds to a cozy, bustling neighborhood restaurant experience. And the wine is excellent. I can't accept the way they handle the reservations, though. Look, if you can't give me a table at 7 pm on Friday, why not just tell me so, instead of keeping me and other patrons waiting for interminable amounts of time? The last time my boyfriend and I wanted to go, I called up for reservations early in the week for 6pm on Friday, figuring that we'd probably be safe from the huge surge of weekend diners that are clamoring to get in by 7pm. The owner Massimo looked a little flustered when we arrived. He initially told us that he couldn't find our reservation. When I mentioned that I had actually made the reservation with him on the phone, he scanned the list again and found us. Minutes went by. New patrons same in, all with the same 6 pm reservation time. We all stood there in the tiny waiting or outside, shivering in the chilly winter night air. Thirty-five minutes later, Massimo came to get us. But instead of a seat he brought us to the little bar(only holds about four people), squeezed a place for us at the end and handed us our menus. When I complained, he glared at me. Then he sidled up to my boyfriend, spoke to him in Italian ( he knew that my boyfriend is Italian speaking). Apparently he told my boyfriend he was in a jam for tables and asked him to be a sport and take the bar seats. Massimo does speak English. He just choose not to speak it with me. That particular example of chauvinism didn't sit well with me. I haven't been back since. Not to say I wouldn't go back. There's not exactly a plethora of good Italian restaurants in the North Shore. But things have gotta change here. Here's my wish list for Pavarotti's: 1) Be honest about your reservation times. Figure out how to best handle your popularity. Maybe you should only take reservations for tables of six or more. 2) Get a savvy, friendly host/hostess to deal with the calls and the patrons coming in. Massimo should stick to running the restaurant, not dealing with the customers.
(3)
R. W.
Do not go here!!!!! Looking for a new place for Italian my wife and I decided to go here. What a mistake. Food was horrible, there were small portions and service was terrible ( made numerous mistakes on drink and appetizer orders) . Even before we sat down when you walk in there is a privacy curtain that my wife and I waited without anyone coming through to greet us for a good five minutes. When finally someone came through to " greet" us if that's what you would consider it the man was so rude as he acted like we were inconveniencing him for coming in. Mind you this was a Tuesday and no one was even in the place. Awful experience, prices were outrageous. Don't waste your money . F-
(1)
Hasmig P.
my husband and I tried this restaurant fri nite - and we loved it - I read all the negative reviews and thought "oh no" -but we did have a Restaurant.com certif. and wanted to use it.....so here we go...we had the calamari for appetizer - delicious -then I ordered the scallops w/fettucini(red sauce) and my (Sicilian)husband had the fruit de marre (spell?) and finished off my scallops - loved the red sauce - both plates were full enough, with the right spices - no complaints I'm glad we had made reservations for 6 pm - greeted by the friendly owner - all staff very pleasant, even the chef came out to say hello.... atmosphere very warm - brng flashliht to read menu (or your phone lie) and when it did fill up I was a little crowded - but had a good feeling - like being in Italy and when the waitress brought over complimentary lemincello at the end...well what else is there to say....we were toasting w/our new friends who had been seated next to us - and they had been coming to Pavarotti's for last 2 years!
(4)
Christy W.
My boyfriend and I ate here last night. We really enjoyed everything about this dining experience. We enjoy Italian restaurants that have an intimate feeling. The restaurant is very tiny, so you definitely need to make a reservation. But also be aware that you might have to wait a little because the restaurant is small with only about 15 tables. Don't blame the restaurant if you have to wait a little longer than what you made your reservation for. It's not the restaurant's, or the owners fault, if the guests stay at their tables longer than expected. Be a little patient. Fortunately, we were able to get right in for our 8:15 reservation and had a nice table by the window. The restaurant is really cute. It gives off a nice homey feel. The owner is very sweet and very Italian. :) He likes to be involved in the restaurant and likes to talk to the guests to make sure they are enjoying themselves. Our waitress was also very nice and attentive. We received our glasses of wine and bread (very good and comes with oil) within 5 minutes of sitting down. For the meals, we started with the caprese. This was really good but could of used a little balsamic reduction on it. It was with oil only. We still enjoyed it. I got the Fruiti Di Mare over Fusilli in a fra diavlo gravy. Very very good. Huge scallops and nice and spicy gravy. The fusilli was also cooked perfect. My boyfriend got the Chicken Parmigiana with zitti. There were two huge pieces of chicken with gravy and cheese on one plate and then a side of zitti. Also very good. He ended up taking a whole piece of chicken home with zitti. We were too full for dessert (though they looked really good). We ended our meals with lemoncello, on the house from the owner! Overall, very good experience and will definitely be back! The prices are perfect and the meals were great!
(5)
Christina P.
Was expecting better for the price. Got the lobster ravioli and sauce had zero flavor. All I could taste was the dough from the pasta. Shrimp in grand marnier was amazing! And def try the lemoncello cake for dessert!
(3)
Connie R.
The food was excellent. The service SUPERB. The veal Saltamboca was the best ever. Gnocchni - was succulent and the Mussels and Scallops over linguine with garlic white wine sauce was perfectly perpared. Calamari and Brushetta appetizers were the an ideal start to our meal. An intimate corner restaurant storefront - was quite appealing to our family. We absolutely enjoyed ourselves. Definitely BE BACK!
(5)
Rob K.
Food is good, the manager is a grouch. The first time we visited we had a reservation and were told we could wait at the tiny bar until our table was ready. We waited almost an hour without anyone working the bar or offering a drink. So much for having a reservation. We gave the place a second chance thinking it was an off night. Wrong. The second visit we also had a very long wait even with a reservation. The waitress dropped our drinks which was ok with us but not apparently with the manager. We were seated so late that most had left by the time we were served. It became very obvious the manager and staff wanted to leave and became very inattentive. The manager and one of the staff got into an argument making for a very uncomfortable scene. It is too bad, the food was good but I strongly advise finding another place to eat. The manager is awful.
(2)
Wang E.
Go, go, go treecy! It's it's It's my birthday We gon' party cuz it's my birthday Imma' sip Bacardi cuz it's my birthday, and you know you gotta care cuz it's my bday!! --50 Cent ft. Wang Treecy E. I'm debating between 2 and 3. I would have given two, but the place gave my party free shots! Thanks guys! One line: SERVICE IS WACK!!!!! Ok so I called the place a couple of days before to make a reservation for my birthday dinner at 8:30. Then the guy said he can't do 8:30, is 9 fine? I was like OK that's fine, and he's like ask your mom to make sure if it's ok. I was like "ughh.... this is for my friends." Then he's like "how old are you?" Seriously.... Do I really sound like a baby on the phone?! so rude.... I should have just hung up but man, my mistake to keep the reservation. When we all arrived (It was the night before the HURRICANE IRENE day! Why did we drive through that ruckus? BOY ARE WE A DANGEROUS PARTY) Surprisingly, we weren't the only ones there. The guy told me to arrive at 8:45 because he would have the table prepared. But when we came, it wasn't. We had to wait 30 minutes, so we weren't seated until 9:15 ish. In some previous review, someone noted that the owner interrupted their dinner, and move them to another seat so that he could serve a bigger party. I did not expect myself to be stuck in that scenario but on the opposite side. Sorry to the couple that moved for us! I guess he does it often. Everyone had almost different dishes and ordered almost every thang on the menu, but no one's mind was blown. The portions they give is EXTREMELY generous but for this taste, I rather pay more and have it savory. . I enjoy NorthEnd Italian restaurants much better than here. We had a bottle of sparkling wine and it was really cheap. The girls and I ordered martinis and goshh, it was STRONG. We had a difficult time sipping so we chugged them sweeties down! Blah blah, at the end of the dinner I wanted my cake to be out and they did bring it out. Everyone was captivated by my gorgeous cake (thanks to my wonderful boyfriend). The waitress wanted to bring it back in and cut it for me but I wanted to cut my own cake because I wanted to be able to save some for my family. She was fine with it and gave me knives and plates. (I think the reason why she wanted to cut it in the back was to give some to the people in the back). Well I asked them if my waitress and owner would like a slice, and they said yes. However, the waitress kept asking for a few more slices for the people in the back. I would not mind but I was done with cutting the cake, about to eat, and I had to recut the cake again. They should have just given me how many plates they wanted instead of doing this. When we asked for the bill, they took their longest time. These two waitresses were arguing in the back REALLY LOUD! I guess they were arguing about how much they got tipped and who got which table. Still, can't they do that on their own time? We could all hear them arguing from across the room. Gee we don't want any knives and plates flying around since we were the only ones left. We kept trying to ask for the bill and it took them FOREVER, like 20 minutes. We had to leave so we could catch the bars after. Wow, after typing so much, I realized that this place really deserves 2 stars. Forget the shots!
(2)
Alexandra M.
This place used to be quite good unfortunately it took a nose dive over the past year or so. My husband and I went there over the summer after a year and noted a marked decline in quality. The owner made a mistake that many small restaurant owners make; try to be everything to everybody. The menu is the size of War and Peace and in order to achieve that in a small restaurant is to use canned and prepared ingredients. And let me tell you, if you are a real foodie, you can taste it. And it ain't good. I had the gnocchi which was clearly mass factory produced, probably purchased from U.S. Foodservice. If you are a real Italian restaurant owner, you would call this a sacrilage. My husband had a cavatappi dish wich was ok, but it was way too creamy and the portions reminded me of the crazy days of Vinny T's. The tiramisu was also not made on the premises. We had tiramisu there before which was excellent and clearly freshly made. Service was fine, we never had a problem with it. Unfortunately due to the dissapointing quality of the food and the ingredients, it's doubtful we'll be returning. I think the owner would do much better to reduce the menu to two pages maybe and start making fresh pasta. There is also no need to serve portions enough to feed a small family of six. I think the trend is changing.
(2)
Maurizio c.
Beautiful, Just beautiful. We were promptly seated by the friendly owner, although I would reccommend reservations early that day. The ingredients, so fresh, so right. The atmosphere, warm and romantic. The wine list was OK. Best italian food(or food in general) I've had in a long time. I will be going back.
(5)
Joyce K.
We actually went to Ristorante Pavarotti in December, but I had a hard time deciding how to review the place. We don't want to go back, but we had a wonderful time. We arrived five minutes after our reservation time, but we had called to say were delayed a little. Every table was taken and the owner who met us at the door appeard upset that we were there. He didn't seem to know anything about our reservation. Actually, the owner seemed to be upset with everybody about everything all evening. Its sort of the entertainment. After some discussion, he hustled us through the narrow dining area to a small bar that had three chairs that almost touched the table of a couple eating dinner. I can only imagine how they felt eating their dinner with our butts hanging over the table. We got drinks and talked with another couple who seemed to be regulars who were seated in the path of the servers going to and from the kitchen , Husband had a glass of Barbera so he was happy. It was only a short wait until we were seated and could relax a little. They have an extensive menu. Husband and I both ordered veal dishes. Our meals could have been excellent based on the sauces, but the entrees were under cooked. This was quickly corrected by the server and earned us a lecture from the owner that we didn't know how veal should be served. I guess after two years of living in Italy and Italian friends who gave me cooking lessons I still needed we had never covered that. By this time husband was on another Barbera and we were enjoying watching the owner fluttering around from table to table. If you can relax, he adds to the atmosphere, but several tables were really upset. To sum up, service was good, prices were moderate, food was OK but not exceptional and the management was strange,
(3)
Lori D.
Under staffed, rude staff, rude owner. Stay away.
(1)
Me B. M.
The place is nicely located, clean, and friendly. But, the food is only above average, the portions rather small, and as a result the value is not there for the relatively high prices. It just opened so there is a chance that with some adjustments could really be a great addition.
(3)
Vincent S.
worst experience that I have ever had in USA! terrible restaurant with no trust! they reject groupon ! what the fxxxxxk! horrible terrible stupid cheater! i have been to so many restaurants ,this is the fxxxxxking ridiculous restaurant with no credibility! so angry and so annoying Be careful about this restaurant! They might reject your gift card or coupon or groupon bought from the internet using "we do not have computers to verify your coupon or groupon" as an excuse. I bought NOW! Groupon and went to that restaurant, using my mobile phone app to show them about my groupon (which I have done many times for other restaurants) but they rejected. I hate things with No credibility. Ristorante Pavarotti, Please stop selling coupons or groupons on the internet, please stop cheating customers!!!!
(1)
Sandy D.
Ristorante Pavarotti,....Absolutely Fantastic food!!! We ate at Ristorante Pavarotti in Reading last night, and my husband said hands down, "the Veal Parmesan was the best he has ever had". The red sauce was unbelievably good tasting and veal was extremely tender, with a tasty, crispy coating, just the way it should be. I had the Chicken Picatta and that was very, very good as well. Tender chicken (you can cut with a fork)and a very lemony sauce, with lots of butter. The prices were $ 20.95 and $ 17.95 which is certainly not shocking, especially knowing the quality of the ingredients used in the meals. I got a side salad loaded with field greens and house creamy balsamic dressing that was excellent. That was $ 3.95. My martini was literally filled to the rim with the vodka I specified, unlike a lot of restaurants. The setting is fabulous right in the center of Reading with huge windows to look out. The inside is dreamy and romantic with just the right lighting to see what your eating but not too bright. Our server Jacqui, was welcoming, friendly and gave us exceptional service. I am an avid cook, and appreciate a restaurant that knows only using high quality ingredients achieves a high quality dish. When we were leaving, the owner Massimo was gracious enough to ask us how everything was. Its most certain he appreciates your business...something you don't get in the "chain" restaurants. Sandy
(4)
Michelle C.
This place is excellent and the food is very authentic definitely make a reservation, however sometimes you will still wait its worth it but that is the only thing!!! Food is so delicious!!!
(4)
Chaim T.
We've been to this restaurant twice, both using Groupons. We only went back a second time hoping that our mid-week reservation would be honored. Wrong! Both times our reservations were not honored resulting in 20-30 minute waits. Though cozy, the place is noisy with spotty service. The food is good and comes out piping hot. It's a little pricey but the portions are enough for two.
(2)
S R.
Came on Friday night with reservation and left an hour later with no end in sight for the wait. The owner kept promising seats in15 minutes. Returned another Friday night and were seated 40 minutes after the reservation time. In the meanwhile, you are stuck in a cold entryway listening to the owner complaining about customers who come late for their reservations, pushing back all future customers! We had a Groupon that allowed us any choice of 2 appetizers and 4 entrees. They had naturally run out of lobster. How convenient, since that was the most expensive dish! The food was mostly good, the service was quite attentive, but a tad pricey. Three pieces per appetizer dish - that was odd. Don't they usually come in even numbers making it easier to share for the average group? The dessert was not impressive - the tiramisu at Costco is way better!
(2)
Mike R.
Somehow my review disappeared
(3)
Rick S.
Wonderful Italian food. My wife had the fruiti di mare. It was a huge dish of pasta with tons of seafood in a white wine sauce. I had the pumpkin squash ravioli. It was decadent! Like pillows of pasta filed with pumpkin pie. UNREAL!! For dessert, we had a cannoli (homemade and delicious). If you are anywhere near Reading, you MUST try Ristorante Pavarotti!
(5)
Colin G.
Ristorante Pavarotti is a quaint italian spot. The food is decent. not great but not bad. the octopus appetizer was drenched in tomato sauce and smothered the taste and flavor of the baby octopus. The Caesar salad however was very good and done just right. The carbonara was a bit rich even for your standard carbonara dish and the egg whites were separating in the dish. I know its nit picky but the execution was just a touch off. The Clam in fettuccine was done just right. The cannolis we good and seemed fresh filled to order. a complimentary shot of limoncello was a nice touch and well received. over all it was good dinner.
(3)
Willard P.
We live in a nearby town but found ourselves hungry and in Reading tonight. Following tips I got from Yelp, we ended up at this fairly new spot. It was a little unnerving when we went in because the very small, intimate restaurant was almost empty. The waitress and apparent owner could not have been nicer and more welcoming. They clearly were trying to do everything to please, and everything was done very well. We ordered the pumpkin raviolis as an appetizer which were outstanding! Our salads were also very good. I had the chicken parm and the chicken was a very high quality. This was not the cheapest place but the quality and presentation was so good that it was well worth it to us! We are looking forward to trying it again!
(5)
Laurie W.
I'm a huge fan!! After looking on Yelp for a good local place to eat I decided to make reservations for Ristorante Pavarotti. While making the reservations the man who answered, in his thick Italian accent, was very nice and I thought, "ok....great start"! We arrived on time for our reservation and were seated within 10 minutes. We received prompt service, but were not rushed. Our waitress gave us great advice on meals and the wine was promptly delivered. When the meal came, I got the Seafood Risotto, it was amazing and everyone in my family loved their choice as well. We were not rushed and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. This will definitely be someplace I will return to.
(4)
Christie L.
We had a restaurant.com coupon and decided to try it out on a Thursday night. We had a reservation for 7:30pm and were seated about 5 minutes after arriving. I ordered the crab and shrimp ravioli and my bf ordered the cioppino. Our portions were huge. More ravioli than I've ever gotten with a seafood ravioli dish and the sauce was very good. My bf loved his dish and said he couldn't wait to return to order it again. It was great seafood with just the right amount of spicy sauce. We were happy with our service and thought it was nice that the manager was walking around, making sure people were enjoying their food and shook our hands and thanked us on our way out. We'll definitely be back to try more menu items!
(4)
Laura N.
What a HORRIBLE experience!!! My friend and I had made reservations the day before for 7:30 on Saturday night. We arrived on time and were informed there was a wait of about 20 minutes. We explained we had reservations and were told it wasn't their problem. We decided to wait and took a seat at the bar while my companion stood. After 40 minutes another seat became available at the tiny 5 seat bar so my friend sat down. We were told after another 5 minutes to get up because they were going to seat some people in our chairs for dinner. We had no interest in eating at the cramped bar. At this point we asked about our reservations and were told by a condescending manager that they were busy and couldn't seat us. We said what about our reservation? He again said there was nothing to be done and why were we upset? REALLY???? The hostess and manager we both rude and condescending and I will never go there again. We left and went down the road to Sam's Bistro where we were graciously welcomed and had a get meal. So, don't bother with this place unless you actually enjoy abuse.
(1)
Cosmo X.
I went there with my family. We were all very happy with what we ordered. The food was fresh, steaming hot and delicious. I think we found our new favorite Italian restaurant without going to the North End. Definately a return visit
(4)
Kristin J.
Love Restaurant Pavarotti. Have been there many times and have used a groupon. Have never had a problem. The owner Masamo is a very nice guy! Food is outstanding and is made to order so if you want to add something to your dish they accommodate. My children age 17'and 9 love it there too. I always make a reservation because it gets very crowded. This place is a true gem and I agree with last reviewer how can anyone give this place a negative review? Excellent service & food!
(5)
Cynda R.
I wanted to love this place ......our first experience right after they opened was subpar, but I was ready to give it a try again since a lot of my friends LOVE it! But once again I was not wowed. The service was ok. When we asked the waitress what the difference between the Montepulciano on the menu and the house Montepulciano was (that she mentioned), the answer..."3$". Really, do you know the name of the vineyard? "He wouldn't serve it if it wasn't good." ok then. The food eh. I am a foodie and ok maybe a food snob never the less.....really just ok....yet, very liberal with the limoncello after the meal so all was not lost. So disappointed because I think they could be great. Or I wish they were great.
(1)
Christine S.
Im upping the anti on this place after the meal my family had last night. Excellent! My son exclaimed "I think this is the best Italian Ive had since we came back from Italy". He was devouring a dish with chicken medallions, artichoke hearts and asparagus. My dinner, consisted of roasted red peppers (okay someone tell me if these are homemade because WOW) and baby spinach leaves stuffed inside a crisped chicken breast with a white wine sauce. My husband had a classic parm which was wonderful in a chunky fresh tomato gravy. The prices are really reasonable for this quality of food and you can get a decent house wine for 20.00 a bottle. Dessert, recommended by the waitress was not to disappoint. Chocolate cake with a light mocha filling. Yum. This is a hidden gem. Only open for dinner and I would recommend you give it a shot. Yes Italian spoken there.
(5)
Ju L.
Ate there last year and had the Chicken parm and Veal shank (special). Food was quite good, and portions quite large, but price-wise was expensive for what you got. I had sticker shock when I saw that the veal shank was $45 for the entree. Overall, food is good but overpriced. Service was very good as it's always pretty much empty. No doubt, it's one of the better Italian food places in Reading though for value of money, it's not worth it. I'd rather go to Colombo's (down the road by the Reading train station) and not feel ripped off -- where you can get good food for good value minus the white table cloth but at least I don't feel ripped off.
(4)
Dynamic D.
We took advantage of a groupon offer and we weren't disappointed in the food. As an appetizer we had the eggplant rolletini, entrees (butternut squash ravioli and seafood ravioli) and dessert (chocolate mousse cake) and drinks (massimo-- didn't taste much prosecco.. tasted too watered down, cosmapolitain, cappuccino and riesling wine) Everything was fresh, hot and delicious. Our complaints are minor. We didn't get bread and olive oil (delicious) offered until the entree was already on the table. My massimo tasted watered down, with prosecco it should have been bubbly. We had dinner reservations for 6pm and the place is small but intimate. Several others had the same reservation time but even though we were there first, several groups arrived for the same reservation time and after about the 4th group which was larger (around 6 people) they were offered to sit at the bar while we stood in the narrow door area with other couples until a table was available (about 15 mins, close to 6pm). We didn't find the host to be rude just very businesslike. We have traveled to Italy and we understand that the cultural pleasantries that we Americans are used to are not the same everywhere. He did not offend us as a matter of fact once he finished the business of telling how long was must wait he then asked us how we were. So we did see a smile eventually. I think the rushed restaurant business can be a bit of a task and that coupled with cultural norms is the reason for the other reviewers opinions. I would definitely return for the food alone. We went on a Sunday which may not be the busiest day.
(4)
Jerry P.
My wife,mother inlaw and friend just ate there for the first time tonight. I can't believe I have driven by this gem for three years without giving it a try. Everything was flawless! The wine,bruschetta,chicken,pasta were all to die for. My chicken was so tender I could cut it with just a fork. The portion was more than I could finish even though I I wanted so bad to finish every last drop. The owner greeted us at the door and came over to see how our meal was and we were all as pleased as I was. The place is kind of dimly lit and makes the perfect spot for a special night. It is going to be our go to spot for Italian food from now on.
(5)
Janet D.
We went last night for dinner. The owner and the staff were very friendly. Nice atmosphere. They have a very interesting menu. .The pumpkin butternut squash ravioli were SUPERB. The shrimp, scallop and crabmeat ravioli were very good...seafood stuffed ravioli with four jumbo shrimp. Water glasses were constantly refilled which is a big plus. Bread was served warm with a dipping oil which could have used more spices. We will definitely return.
(4)
Erik J.
Great service, nice decor in a small well decorates setting. Overall very good food. Ceasar salad was just good, not great. Espresso was just Ok - not bitter but not quite perfect. The entree and pasta were really good. Good portion size, not super sized. Nice wine list, not huge but there were enough choice at reasonable prices. Good value. I am coming back again.
(4)
Bruce B.
I would have to agree with alot of the other reviews, fantastic dinning experience! I took my wife there last Saturday night, we had a 730 reservation and arrived early thinking we could sit at the bar and have a cocktail, well the bar was full but we were seated in about 10 minutes (Resturant was packed.) We let the server know we were out for a special birhtday dinner and she was more than pleasant and did not rush us at all. Drinks, apps,drinks, dinner and a piece of cake with a candle on it all came out on time, with plenty of time between to allow us to talk and enjoy the evening. Make a reservation and enjoy!
(5)
Sunil U.
This place is nothing special. The Maitre d' (or was it the owner?) came across as a little rude. No smiles, no greetings. The food was nothing to write home about. I've had better Italian food at the chain restaurants. North-end of course is the ultimate. The Maine PI Mussels that we had was distasteful to say the least and tasted stale. And then the empty water glasses were never filled up, long wait for the check and so on. Only went there because we had a groupon. Never again.
(1)
Robert R.
From the outside it looks like a typical neighborhood Italian place. The inside was no different but that is not a slam. I liked the small space inside with its several small wooden tables and chairs and white table cloths. The drinks and martini's were good sized and well done. I had the lobster ravioli which was very good. The raviolis were not the typical square shaped pasta bags but instead were oblong-ed which are better for the lumpy lobster inside. The sauce was a creamy garlic source which was not heavy. My wife started with a dinner salad which was the right size and vinaigrette dressing was great. She also had a fish and paste dish which she loved as well. The prices were in the high teens to high twenty's. Overall I liked the mean and would definitely go back.
(4)
Jenna D.
Had a great birthday meal for 8 ppl here (including one slightly messy but luckliy not noisy toddler). It is small with a nice ambiance. The menu is huge with many choices, and have a good martini selection. The food was impressive, especially the butternut ravioli! A great timeand I would return,
(4)
Mike L.
I called at 3 PM for a 5:00 PM reservation on Sunday . Arrived at 5:00 PM when they opened and was seated immediately. The owner introduced himself and sat us at a table of our choice. Wait staff was friendly and service was prompt. Food was excellent. Great experience. Price was a little on the high side but the food was worth it. Great atmosphere also. I read all the reviews before I went. Just depends on the time you get there and the mood you are in. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Vyas S.
My review is listed at : vyassanzgiri.blogspot.co…
(4)
Jessica K.
Very good Italian food. Decided to stop in here after Venetian Moon wait was too long. Little place, tables are very close. The butternut squash raviolis were delicious, great chocolate martini too. Would absolutely come back again.
(4)
D. Z.
Had a great meal here - we stuck to the regular menu, both ordering salads and pastas, though the specials sounded interesting. Gnocchi was cooked perfectly, fusilli with eggplant also a winner. Good portions, very friendly and helpful service, wrapped up in a cozy, airy setting. Can't wait to go back. Oh, and the wines by the glass are a great deal, not a huge selection, but my cabernet sauv. was perfect.
(4)
Liza M.
Can't believe we have lived in Reading for 3 years and totally missed this place. Went on my birthday. It was a Tuesday night and surprisingly there were a lot of people there. The owner sat us himself and apologized a few times that they were short staffed due to the blizzard. We didn't notice, we were paid more than enough attention. Water glasses always filled. There were so many dishes on the menu I wanted to try! I ordered the house pasta - but they said they were out of it. Which I did find odd considering it was described as pasta with meatballs, peas and a tomato sauce. That was OK though because I was debating between that and many others. I had chicken with artichokes, peas and mushrooms over linguine with a white wine sauce. It was delicious. Great portion size, lots of chicken. Chris had the seafood ravioli, I think it was stuffed with scallops, crab meat, etc. Topped with two huge jumbo shrimp. The portion was huge, they did not skimp on the ravioli's like some places do! Our waitress was super sweet. Only main complaint is the price. It's not that expensive, but definitely comparable pricing to some places in the North End, and for the suburbs I'd expect it to be a little cheaper. Though Venetian Moon across the street is definitely even more expensive than Pavarotti is. It was small, cozy, warm and dimly lit, making it a good spot for a romantic date or special night out. Will definitely go back to try the other 3 dishes I really wanted.
(4)
Laura C.
I don't understand the negatives here, but after reading them, used a Groupon on a Sunday night instead of Saturday and maybe that helped. The restaurant was about 2/3 full at 6 p.m. on a Sunday so there was no waiting - we were seated as soon as we got there, a few minutes before our reservation. I don't think the infamous owner was on site. Our waitress couldn't have been nicer, service was great. The house chianti was better than most house wines and a good deal at $24/bottle. We didn't have a cocktail, but noted a really nice selection of liquors at the bar, obviously chosen with care. We split the antipasto and it was nice, not too much to overpower the meal to come. My husband had the pasta nona, their version of a bolognese made with ricotta instead of cream and declared it the tastiest he had had. I had the shrimp Valentino and it was wonderful, five big, fresh shrimp over homemade papardelle in a saffron cream sauce with mushrooms and peas. If there was a tiny problem, it was that the homemade pasta was cooked in too small a pot because strands were stuck together, but they twirled apart on the fork and weren't pasty, not did the pasta taste of dough as another review mentioned. The chef popped out and asked how our meals were too. All in all an unexpected surprise. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Fred P.
First time at this restaurant, made reservations for 7PM, got there about 10 of 7 and found 4 or 5 couples waiting for a table. Not sure if they got more business then they were expecting or people were lingering. There is hardly any room to wait, since it was about 10 degrees outside everyone crowded into a very small area. We were seated about a 1/2 hour after our reservation and waited on right away. We ordered drinks and mussels to start and since we had already looked at the menu ordered our meals. The mussels came out, there were quite a few of them more than enough for two people to split. They were very hot in a red sauce, little chewy, probably due their size. My wife ordered shrimp and scallops in a garlic sauce, I ordered veal parm (if you can't do a parm dish well you have problems). The meals came out, my veal were two large tender cutlets in a marinara sauce with a side of penne. The shrimp and scallops were piled on top of linguine. I would have preferred my cutlets cooked a little longer but they were very good, the shrimp and scallops were excellent. I had trouble finishing mine, we took leftovers home from my wife's meal. We decided to split a piece of chocolate cake which was very good. For drinks my wife had a lemon martini which was very strong, I had peroni beer, which came very cold. The tab with tip came to about $100, more than you might to expect to pay in Reading but still very good. The owner who had been greeting and seating people all night made a point of saying goodbye to people as they left. When we paid our bill and had gone outside already, he followed us outside to make sure we enjoyed our meal and thanked us for coming. Overall very good food, wait staff were pleasant and attentive. We'll try it again
(4)
Jessica P.
A wonderful place - I'm a fan. It's so much better (not to mention classier!) than the Venetian Moon. The food is exquisite, the atmosphere very nice and the owner is as gracious as they come. Highly recommend for a date or anniversary celebration, but make sure you call for a reservation. They are quite busy.
(5)
Marcia M.
Terrific meal last night. 4 of us, each ordering something different. Veal, shrimp, butternut squash ravs, pasta. Restaurant is small, service was excellent, meals were GREAT! My NYC guests were impressed with the quality (and their son used to be a world class chef!) . Only comment is that the size of the place made for a slightly noisy environment. Nonetheless, we will most definitely return. I can still taste the butternut/pumpkin raviolis........mmmmmm.
(4)
Joe A.
Really nice little place tucked away in Reading, Ma. Italian music plays in the background and the atmosphere was actually pretty romantic.The owner was an authentic Italian and on hand to seat people. Meals are pricey but worth it. Pasta dishes on average were about $18, no meat just pasta. They also have seafood, chicken and veal meals. I ordered a tortellini dish with alfredo sauce, ham, and peas. Very, very, good! My wife got a pasta and scallop dish. She wasn't doing back flips over her meal. In fact, she had quite a bit left over but decided not to take the rest home. The restaurant is small and fills up quickly. They only had two servers working which easily got overwhelmed once the place was full. I bought a groupon voucher which I paid $20 for and got $40 to spend at the restaurant. Would I go again without a groupon? If I had the extra money I think I would, the food was that good.
(4)
bozo m.
If you are ever thinking of eating here, RUN DON'T WALK. THE SERVICE IS PUTRID, We arrived 5 mins. before opening time and had to wait 20 count 'em twenty minutes for a freaking salad. The waitress gave us some bull crap that everything is made fresh. Here's a clue, honey, it doesn't take TWENTY MINUTES to empty salad greens out of a bag. And, oh yes, the bread we requested was in the oven. Five minutes later it was delivered to this joint. Meanwhile, the maitre d' does nothing but pace up and down, while SIX EMPLOYEES GATHER AND TALK. Ya think these jokers could have thrown the salad on a plate. Oh no, don't let me disturb your gabfest. Stay away and tell everyone you know. Oh yes, the food is totally over-priced and only so-so. Save yourself the aggravation. Forgot to say, 10 MORE MINUTES BEFORE THE ENTREE ARRIVED. Looking for aggravation after a long day? Try Ristorante Pavarotti!
(1)
Valerie S.
Met friends for dinner after work recently. Food was delicious, and prices were reasonable. I would definitely go again, but would avoid the waitress that we had. If it wasn't for her attitude, we would've stayed for dessert and coffee. Instead, we went to the Venetian for a martini.
(4)
Amelia D.
Amazing food, good service. It's a very small place, and they rarely take reservations for the same day. Cozy atmosphere and everything my husband and I have tried has been delicious!
(4)
G. M.
OMG...this place was so awful we walked out and never had a meal. The waitress was appalling. She needs a course in diversity training ASAP. It is sad to even say that in 2015 3 people of color can walk into a restaurant in the North and more so in MA a blue state and receive the treatment we did from this women. We arrive because I had read many good things about the food and friends have said with me running restaurants I have to try this food. So me and a good friend who is a food critic and my sister went to go try this place. We didn't have a reservation and the place is small. We went on a Saturday July 18th about 6pm after a show. We drove 40 min from Boston to get there. We were standing in the waiting area by the door to be seated and the waitress ignored us for about 5 mins. Finally I asked if there was a hostess. She said just wait a minute...rudely I might add. I said okay. Then 3 minutes later after she kept serving tables and pouring water and clearing dishes she says do you have a reservation? I said no but there were 7 empty table. I asked if this was an issue and she said maybe. Waited another 5 minutes. Then another couple that just happen to be Caucasian walks in and she ran over. Said can I help you do you have a reservation . They said yes but they were an hour early and was wondering if they could be seated. She checked them off and said no problem and sat them. Then finally came back over and sate us at a 4 tops table next to the other couple she just sat. The young water and bus lady was so kind but that was it for kindness at this place. we look at the menu and so many things I wanted to have. She finally comes over with no welcome at all and with an attitude says you know what you want. The 3 of us looked at each other with faces of what is this woman's issue. So we tried to ignore it and my friend the food critic said he wanted the calamari as his entree cause he was not very hungry but wanted to try the food. My sister said she wanted Mussels and the waitress in a rude and snipped tone said red or white. didn't explain that was a choice of two type of sauces or what was in them. My sister said white. I asked about the shrimp app and how many piece cause I wanted to share it for the table and she rolled her eyes and said 3. So I was going to order an entree to share as a starter and was going to get the Lobster ravioli and then looking at something else and she barked out. Do you have some kind of coupon or something. I said excuse me. She said do you have some kind of online coupon. I said yes I do. She then went on to say very loudly in this very small dining room. It's not good on apps and you have to order at least two entrees. My guest were ready to leave right then. I said about I didn't see that but that is not an issue. Then she says for everyone to hear oh and you can't split the check. No one had mentioned anything about the check we had not even finished ordering and she barks out that. That was the last straw for my sister and friend and they got up and walked out. I know my sister left because she was about to let her have it. I stayed seat waiting for the manager or owner to come over and no one ever did I waited 5 more minutes before I walked out. I then called 10 minutes later to speak to the owner or manager and she answered the phone and said she would not be in today. This was clearly racist women and I don't recommend that any person of color ever go to support this place. I left 2 other messages for the owner to contact me since I run a restaurant and thought they should be made aware of this bad service and to see if they were going to do anything to correct this and never a return call. I hope this saves any blacks or Spanish people the trips for from buying any groupon, gilt city or living social voucher to this place. It's said cause the food smelled and looked great but I will never ever know now. Totally Disappointed, G.M.
(1)
Mike B.
My wife and I just moved to Reading and really wanted to love this place. We'd heard good things. We did leave full, but we left a bit disappointed, too. The place is cute inside and the food is really quite good. My wife got the gnocchi, which was tender and tasty, and I got the shrimp and scallops with homemade pasta. The pasta was wonderful, but the scallops were a bit salty. And the rest of the experience left something to be desired: - The prices are reasonable, but a few dollars higher than they needed to be. - The beer list is horrendous. Coors Light? Really? - The staff wasn't all that friendly, which is what you'd expect from a quaint neighborhood joint. Will we go back? Probably, because the menu is quite extensive. Does it need to get better? Yep, it does.
Food was good. Service, not so much... I got the Risotto which was excellent. Nice sauce that wasn't too heavy. My girlfriend got the Gnocchi which she liked. Good sized portions. The waitress was not that great. She came to get drink orders, then food orders and wasn't seen till the very end. The quiet little woman refilling water and clearing tables helped us more than the waitress. We had to ask her for extra sauce, more bread, cheese, and she kept on top of drinks. Probably won't go back unless we get a good coupon.
(2)
Brian G.
The food is above average. I usually get the shrimp and scallops with red sauce. The menu has plenty of options. The prices are slightly higher than the quality. The atmosphere is small and noisy. The owners tend to rush you in and out. If you're late (even a couple minutes) you will be spoken to. Overall it's average but we prefer Artichoke's in Wakefield.
(3)
David A.
The princess and I came here shortly after moving to Reading. Walked in to an intimate close-seated small place, perfect ambiance, great lighting. Smells eminating from the kitchen that brought tears of excitement to my eyes. For an Italian place outside the North End, it gets no better. This was absolutely the best meal I've had since moving back to Boston, and boston area. Staff was friendly and inviting, food was on time, glasses were never empty. Mixed drinks were perfectly made. When the Tab arrived, the princess and I were full, hydrated, happy and all for less than 100.00 before tip. Make the trip!!!!
I was really rooting for this nice, family-owned establishment, and was looking forward a relaxing dinner on a quiet weeknight. The place is perfectly pleasant, the staff is very polite, but the food... ugh. Maybe it was my plate. My wife was reasonably pleased with her veal. Meanwhile, I ordered scallops with pappardelle pasta. The scallops weren't all that fresh, and the pasta was cold and slimy. I normally eat just about anything, but here I can honestly say I've had better.
(2)
H S.
I too purchased a groupon for this restaurant (it was getting hard to resist after the 6th time I received an email--never a good sign for a business). And I too failed to make a reservation. How foolish of me to show up with one other person for dinner on a cold Wednesday night, only to be told I MUST make a reservation next time, before both the hostess and manager shoo'd us out into the cold. They literally refused us and told us to come back another time. If I hadn't already purchased the groupon there's no chance in hell I would have come back. And honestly, I could have done with just throwing out the coupon, because when we finally did make a reservation and returned for dinner, it was nothing special at all. My fiance's ravioli wasn't cooked enough and he said it was chewy, and I thought the marinara on my chicken parm was too soupy. Not to mention the waitress kept rushing us in the continuously sad attempt to make this restaurant look attractively bustling. Not impressed at all. If the groupon tempts you like it did me, pass over this deal and pay a few extra dollars for some decent Italian somewhere else.
(1)
Sam D.
I visited this place as a result of a groupon. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was a bit loud but it's a small place and expected. The owner was very nice to us, we had a bit of a wait but that was ok. The only issue was that there's a bit of a draft as a result of the front door - you can see the owner has done what he can to prevent it - using a curtain, walls, etc. but it's still there. Overall, I thought this was a real nice place, food was excellent, sort of surprised at some of the rough reviews...I've been to many local Italian restaurants and I would rate this near the top.
(5)
John K.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Came in on a Monday night, wasn't busy. Staff very friendly. We were next to the bar and the bartender started chatting with us. She makes an incredible espresso martini, and even tried out a couple of drinks with us. Made it a fun night. Service - friendly and fast. Had our food very quickly. It annoys me when a not-busy restaurant is as slow as one that's busy. Not here - it was quick. Pre-meal bread was excellent. Appetizer - got the caprese salad. Nothing special, could use a balsamic reduction. Nothing bad about it, it was what it was. Meal - I had the pumpkin butternut squash ravioli, was AMAZING. Rich pumpkin flavor. Sauce was fairly plain but that was what it needed - anything more and it would have been too much. Reasonable portion too. Wife had seafood risotto, she said was excellent. Too stuffed for desert, but I WILL be back. I used a Restaurant.com certificate so it wasn't ridiculous $-wise either. Pricey otherwise but I'd say worth it. I'm looking forward to trying a couple of other dishes.
(5)
Rick F.
For a local fine Italian restaurant this place is great. It is small and therefore crowded so reservations are a MUST. The food is fresh and hot.
(4)
Lynelle S.
I actually joined Yelp today so that I could write this review. That's how strongly I feel about how I was treated by a restaurant that I never even ate at (and I hate to be that person to judge a restaurant they haven't eaten at, but take it as a warning). I purchased a Groupon to this restaurant a few weeks ago for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. We were around in the area and wouldn't be free to go to dinner until at least 8pm this upcoming Sunday. On their website, the very front page says that they open for dinner 7 nights a week at 5pm and the kitchen closes at 10pm. Take a look - ristorantepavarotti.com . So, of course, I figured it would not be an issue making 8pm reservations (that's not even an unreasonable time to eat dinner, especially at an Italian restaurant). Well, according to the extremely condescending and rude hostess who answered the phone, I'm out of my mind for assuming they would actually be open that late on a Sunday. She immediately made me feel like a complete idiot for even thinking I could get a reservation for that time. She told me I would be refused if I came any time past 7pm. I then politely pointed out that on the front page of their website, it has completely different information and that I had relied on that. I was then told that they are allowed to close when they want based on interest. I guess my reservation didn't count as interest? And I guess they aren't willing to act on good customer service and say that they'll look into the mis-information? I then got told that the other reservations for Sunday were at 5pm, to further make me feel like an idiot for assuming I could come around 8pm. I was in such shock at the blatant rudeness of the entire conversation that I quickly hung up. Looking back, I regret not speaking with the manager. It's actually comical how many people on this page have had similar experiences, and this restaurant could not care less. Just take a look at some of the ones directly below me. Treating your customers like trash or your potential customers is not the way to generate a loyal following and guarantee revenue for your business. I've worked in customer service before, and if I ever got caught speaking like that to someone calling to make a reservation at my restaurant, I would have gotten fired immediately. The management at this place should be embarrassed by some of these reviews. The standards at this place are just so disappointing.
(1)
Bryan M.
Exactly restaurant. The food was great and the service was on point. I had the fusilli romana and my girlfriend had the fusilli a primavera. Both dishes came out steaming hot. The sauce was delicious and the serving size was perfect we both left full and still had left overs. We had a groupon and ended up paying $14 including drinks. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
erin s.
I shouldn't have gone after the phone call to make a simple reservation, however, I did because I had the groupon to use. My food was good, my companion's veal was chewy and not good. Food very overpriced considering the manager/owner? clearly trying to shuffle people in and out like cattle. Won't be back, ill save my business for someone that actually appreciates it.
(2)
Mike M.
My wife and I went here a week ago for dinner, right when they opened, with a reservation placed earlier in the week. We were using a Groupon and told the waitress immediately we were doing so. Her attitude seemed to change right away and was very short with us the rest of the evening and didn't make eye contact with either of us. The restaurant itself was nicely decorated, but there are probably too many tables in the small space. We felt cramped. The food seemed to take a while to come out but was good. My wife did say her creamy sauce was flavorless, which it was but my red sauce was tasty. Overall, there are better Italian restaurants in the area with better food for the similar higher end prices.
(3)
myles l.
This was the single worst restaurant experience I have ever had. We had a 7pm reservation and had to wait at the bar for 45 minutes and were not asked if we wanted a drink for 30 minutes. Walk-ins who knew the employees were clearly seated first. Didn't even get dinner, first walk out of a restaurant of my life. Purchased a groupon, owner knew it, and treated us like garbage. Don't offer groupons if you're going to be rude about it.
(1)
Catharine M.
WHAT A MESS! Well, my husband and I bought a GroupOn to go here to try it out...mistake #1! Let's just say you have to be speak Italian and be buddy buddy with the owner to get a table that you RESERVED. I'm sorry....we're not going to wait 30 minutes in a cramped little excuse for a "waiting area" for a table we reserved earlier that day. You clearly favorite other customers who come in after us and let them just come right in in front of the rest of us waiting. The service before we even were seated was SO BAD, we ended up just leaving and ripping the GroupOn up into little pieces. What a waste of money!
(1)
Scotty P.
So we went again to give them another chance. FAIL. For a restaurant that specializes in southern Italian cuisine it should know never to use frozen seafood for Frutti di Mare.
(1)
Steven W.
The staff is comically rude. I'm not sure if my wife and I had ever walked out of a restaurant before trying the food. Enter Ristorante Pavarotti.
(1)
Jimmy S.
So despite all the reviews, we had a GREAT experience. Groupon was taken by our super hot waitress with no problems. Ordered seafood and regular entree's. Both were of superb quality and served quite quickly. Limoncello is legit. Be sure to order it. Unlike other Yelp'ers, we did not get a few free. Good drinks though. What is bad about the place? Pretty small inside. Be sure to get reservations. Took us two weeks to get them.
(4)
Mia B.
I have been here a few times and have always enjoyed it. If you come on the weekend you should make a reservation because it does tend to get busy very quickly, especially at peak times. One of my favorite dishes here is the butternut squash and pumpkin ravioli! Delicious! The wine and martini list is also good. My only issue would be that the menu seems to be a bit pricey for the area. If you haven't been yet definitely check it out!
(4)
Mike K.
We went here recently on a Saturday evening and had a pretty good time. It is a very small space, and reservations are highly recommended. On that topic, unlike some of the other reviews, we had no issue with our reservation time, and were seated as soon as we arrived for our 8pm sitting. The owner (Massimo?) is full of personality, and enjoys circulating around the restaurant visiting with guests. This is a nice touch. I kept it simple and ordered a chicken parmesan. For an "authentic" Italian bistro, the sauce was really boring. I am a huge fan of garlic, and it was noteably absent from this red sauce. It was just kind of there...the chicken parmesan was very moist though, and the breading gave it a light crust without being soggy. On a more positive note, my wife had the risotto and was very pleased with her meal. All in all, glad I tried Ristorante Pavarotti as I live in the same town and try to support local businesses. However, based on the prices and the so-so quality of the food this will not become a regular part of my dining rotation schedule.
(2)
Sarah F.
We had a groupon for this place so we dropped by last night. I did not realize how small this restaurant is. It is TINY!!! We should have made a reservation, but we didn't, so we ended up sitting at the bar (even though there were plenty of empty tables while we were there). The bar is also tiny and you have a view of quite a few almost empty liquor bottles. Not really romantic. There is no bartender, so the waitresses kept coming in and out of the bar. oddly enough, the wine we ordered came from the back of the restaurant....probably not enough room for wine in the tiny bar. We shared a Caesar salad, which was OK. I had the chicken saltimbocca, which was tasty but very salty. My husband had the mama Nona's pappardelle, which was also good, but not mind-blowing. I probably would have liked this place better if we had been sitting at a table. Also - it is a pet peeve of mine when restaurants don't list the name/vintner of there house wines and just have "house" on the menu. Please list that info so we know what we are getting. We ordered more expensive wine because we didnt trust mystery "house". For an Italian restaurant, the wines by the glass selection was pretty meager (especially once you rule out the mystery house options).
(3)
Christalina W.
I have been here a few times and while I think the food is good, I don't think it's fantastic or stands out. Pricey for just average tasting food.
(3)
Chris C.
The waitress and host were very nice, friendly and personable. The food itself was alright, priced of a bit high for this area and more along the lines of the North End. The restaurant is very small and nearly impossible to have a personal conversation with your dinner partner.
(4)
Courtney W.
Overpriced, tight space, with no parking lot. Would be acceptable if it was in the north end, but it's not!! Food was o.k., not great.
(2)
Greg T.
How anyone could write a negative review of this place is beyond me. I found our experience top notch, and cannot wait to return to try other things on the menu. Other people have complained about using a Groupon, but we were there with a party of 6 on a Sunday night WITH a Groupon, and there were no issues. Even the owner that was supposed to be rude according to the previous reviews, came out and thanked us and was nothing but a nice guy. People are insane on Yelp sometimes. But let me talk about our experience. We had a reservation for 6, and we were seated right on time. We started with a few drinks, and ordered a few apps for the table. The eggplant rollatini was delicious, as were the stuffed mushrooms. We also had the antipasti which is always good (how can you go wrong with meats and cheeses??), and the bruschetta was delicious as well. So far so good. Nothing to complain about. The apps came out quickly and were nice and fresh. For dinner, I had the pappardelle, which you could tell was made with fresh pasta and a sauce that had been simmering all day. There was a ton of meat in it, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. By the time I was finished, I was stuffed. Granted, I cleared the plate, but isn't that what you are supposed to do when food is delicious? The rest of the table had a marsala, picatta, and some seafood entrees. All of them were polished off in full, and you could tell that all the pasta dishes were made from scratch with fresh pasta. And to top it off, I think the most expensive plate was $22 maybe? For a seafood pasta dish with fresh made pasta, that is a steal. Being the gluttons we are, we ordered a few desserts and shared with each other. The canolli was great, and worthy of being served from any top notch bakery. The chocolate mousse cake was just as good, and was gone in no time. We also tried the tiramisu and creme brulee cheesecake which weren't as good as the others, but nothing to turn away either. We had a few lemoncellos that were good, and a few more came out on the house with the bill. Can't go wrong with some free booze, right? For 6 of us with plenty of beers, 3 or 4 glasses of wine and a martini or 2, the bill was beyond reasonable. If we were in the North End, it easily would have been $600. We had 4 apps, 6 entrees, 4 desserts and a ton of drinks, and it wasn't even close to that. The wait staff at this place would bring me back if it wasn't for the good food. It was like you were being served by a family member. Great conversation about everything, and beyond friendly. I felt like we were at home, and weren't rushed out of the place at all. We probably stayed beyond what we should have, and no one ever came by to clear of the table to get rid of us, or any of that other stuff. Just a great meal served by friendly people. The place is quaint, but that just adds to the charm. I would make a reservation the next time as we did this time, just to ensure a table was there for us. Great meal, and highly recommended!
(5)
Deborah G.
Love traditonal Italian!
(5)
A G.
Showed up here on a Friday night at 8pm looking for dinner. I went in and asked for a table for 1. The guy at the desk told me they didn't have any tables. Long pause as I wait for something like "you can wait for the next table" or perhaps a polite "we can't fit you in tonight", but all I get is silence. I say ok, I'm going to go find another restaurant, and the guy got super mad. He seemed to think I was accusing him of lying, because he got super agitated and told me that I should go look around the dining room if I didn't believe him. At this point he was almost yelling, and I was feeling almost threatened. I got the hell out.
(1)
Tiffany K.
The food can easily be compared to that of the North End, but the service really needs an overhaul. I have been there with a date several times, and can not say many good things about the service, but this past time really pushed me over the edge... A few of the waitresses we have had, especially the one we had this past Thursday night, was not particularly pleasant. The waitress that greeted us could have been a bit more polite about reminding us to make a reservation in the future...even though the restaurant was only half-full. After we were seated and had made our dinner selections from the menu, she informed us that I could not order an appetizer as a meal (a large salad), even though we have done it in the past. She was quite rude about it even though it didn't say anywhere on the Groupon, or in the restaurant itself, that you could not do that, but also that we had already ordered an appetizer to share, as well as a glass of wine at this point, and clearly planned on spending much more than the $40 value. The worst part was since I couldn't get the salad, I was forced to choose something from the entree list that I wasn't in the mood for, and was unsatisfied with my order. It doesn't seem right that there were rules and restrictions for using the Groupon, especially since the menu options are not very extensive. Seemed like the waitress was worried about her tip, but as it says on the Groupon, "Remember: there's no discount on great service. Please be sure to tip on the total bill (Groupon value plus anything else you order)." In spite of the terrible service, we still left a generous tip in hopes that the next Groupon customers will receive a warmer welcome. The food is always delicious and the chef does deserve credit on that one, BUT how difficult is it to hire welcoming and accommodating staff to keep us coming back? If the Groupons are intended to make and keep new customers, it's not working...
(3)
Marianne D.
I'm confused by the negative reviews on here because I've had nothing but great experiences. Tried this place a few times and used their groupon deals each time and always had incredible meals. Service is fairly good but the food is out of this world and the fresh pasta is authentic. Small hole in the wall type place and it's best to make a reservation, and also be aware that prices are higher than you might wish but totally worth it for the quantity and quality of food.
(5)
Mark B.
I wish I could give this restaurant a good rating but we (five of us) arrived at 4:25 thinking we could catch them early and despite an empty restaurant they would not let us eat claiming they were fully booked. They lady was borderline rude. It was too bad there food may have been good but now I will never know...
(1)
Kimball P.
We have been to Pavarotti numerous times, love the food, great service. Last night was no exception. After a short wait at a cozy little bar in the back, the owner, Massimo seated us. He seems to be everywhere, a great host. We were greeted by our server immediately. She brought us some hot crusty bread and told us about the specials. We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer to share. It was outstanding, cooked perfectly, a great blend of cheeses between layers of perfectly cooked eggplant with a light sauce. Our entrees were equally good. A pasta puttanesca with calamari, and a very filling pumpkin ravioli in a cream sauce. There was no room for dessert sadly, but we will be back for sure, will try and save some room next time. We highly recommend Pavarotti, enjoy.
(5)
Aniela L.
Kitchen Nightmares strikes again... A friend and I arrived at Ristorante Pavarotti around 6:30pm on a Friday night - neither one of us had ever been to this restaurant. Little did we know, reservations are a must. When we told the host that we didn't have a reservation he rudely asked if we'd like to eat at the bar. Eating at the bar wasn't a big deal to us, so we follow him back. We were seated at the end of the tiny bar, right in the path of all the servers going to and from the kitchen. At that point I realized what we were getting into, but thought we'd give it a shot anyway. After about 5-10 mins waiting for someone to acknowledge we were there, we were finally given some bread and put in a drink order. Drinks - The restaurant has a good enough selection of hard liquor, but if you're only looking for a glass of wine (not a whole bottle) your selections are limited. Only about 3 house whites and 2 or 3 house reds. Apps - Our stuffed mushroom appetizer came out in a decent amount of time but was less than impressive. It was served on a plate of wilted lettuce and tasted like I could buy the same thing in the freezer section of the grocery store. The best part was as we were finishing our app, we heard one server yell to another "they're still eating the mushrooms!!" Apparently our food was ready and waiting! Dinner - I had the baked haddock for my main dish. Again this was nothing to write home about. The fish was over cooked, the green beans were slightly under cooked, and the dish lacked overall flavor. Overall - First impressions were rude and the food was just not a good as I had hoped. The best part of dining here were the antics of the staff as a whole. How many staff arguments do you really need to witness before being turned off from a restaurant for good? This place is just like one of the family-run restaurants Gordon Ramsey deals with on his show Kitchen Nightmares. Nobody working there is happy, and that is translated through to a poor dining experience.
(2)
Denise I.
I wasn't impressed. Food is overpriced, in my opinion. My lobster ravioli was loaded with garlic, too much. Its a cozy atmosphere....very small. Three chairs at the bar. I had a Groupon as most reviewers did. I personally, will not be returning.
(2)
Tara C.
I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant. I've been going here for a while now and the way that they treated a regular customer is appalling. We made a reservation for a birthday celebration for a large group. The night before we were called to confirm and they had the time wrong. I politely told the woman the time she said was incorrect to which she replied well I don't recognize who wrote this down and I need you out by 7:30, I have a full restaurant . I told her we would do out best bit it was a birthday dinner . I also jokingly said if we weren't done eating were they going to pack us up and send us home. I have met the owner on many occasions and just brushed her rudeness off. The next night the waitress was hovering over us from the second we sat down asking us to order even though our whole table wasn't there yet and Massimo came over to tell us he had people coming at 7:30 and needed the table . The servers kept trying to wrap up our food before we were finished and were so pushy trying to hurry us up. I was so disappointed in how the whole situation was handled and will never be back here again. Please think twice before going here!
(1)
Divya S.
I would have given them 5 stars if the waitress wasn't rude! We showed up there on a Tuesday evening at 7 PM and first thing she said to us was "Do you have a reservation?" no hello or how are you..we didn't think it was a big deal but oh no she made sure she told us that it is "Required" and how their restaurant fills up pretty quickly. Well after that terrible attitude she proceeded to show us our seats and there were probably 4 more tables being used. It was a tad bit smaller restaurant and the tables were pretty tight. The food however was absolutely delicious! I had the Chicken Maddalena and it was scrumptious. My husband had their seafood ravioli and his portion was a bit small. The waitress was OK for the rest of the time we were there. The best part though is that the owner was sitting there and he personally stood up to thank every customer when they were leaving. He asked us if we enjoyed our meal and to come back again. Will I go back there again probably yes but this time I will make sure I Make a RESERVATION!
(3)
Rick S.
Invest in an air curtain for the entry After waiting for 40 minutes past our reservation time, we were seated next to the front door, where we froze during our entire meal. With the success they're enjoying, one would think the owner would invest in an air curtain for the entry; everyone seated near us was cold. Service was adequate but our food was mostly sub standard. The exception was the Chicken Parm, and Veal Parm. Both were quite good. Sadly, everything else was forgettable from the burned Bruschetta to the pasta that accompanied our main dishes. A garden salad was good, as was the house cabernet. I suspect the great reputation this restaurant enjoys has led it to become blase. Too bad! There are too many choices out there to endure shivering during a meal!
(1)
Chantelle D.
We had reservations for 8:00. We got there at 7:45 and the manager/owner gave us attitude for being early. I can't help it that we were a little early we knew we would have to wait a little. But little is not what we waited. Once the large group before us was sat we waited for an hour before we were seated. He asked if we wanted to have dinner at the bar, but why would we want to eat at the waitresses drink station? That's what they should call it. I think that because we are younger than most couples there we were ignored. We were also new customers, and it seemed he gave preferential treatment to other customers he knew. He asked others names as they were leaving and introduced himself but never came over to our table. The clams casino took 25 minutes which should not have taken so long. They were ok. Our meals were good i had the chicken piccata and my boyfriend had the chicken parm, but we barely ate it after being full from our appetizers and bread because of the hour wait. Luckily we had a groupon otherwise we never would have came. I don't know if we will be back.
(1)
Laser s.
So...we tried going back to Pavarotti's a few weeks ago, on a Thursday night. Since the last time we went, we walked right in and were seated, we figured that would be the case. Nope. Every table was full, the owner greeted us with, "You have a reservation?" and we said no. Much hand waving ensued, he pointed to the book, pointed to the restaurant, shrugged, lectured us that we SHOULD HAVE CALLED FIRST, and he was clearly irritated. He gave us his card, and said he could possibly seat us in 45 minutes. We said thanks, and went down the street to Gaetanos which never fails to please! AND they are polite. One of the reasons why I didn't bother making a reservation was because of all the people here who said they made reservations and still had to wait. So I figured it was futile. But there is NO place to wait. Tiny entry way, tiny bar in the back, I mean NOWHERE. I wouldn't go there in the winter, for sure. Bottom line is I'll try it again, but if we are treated the same way as many people on the boards here report they have been treated, it will be my last time.
(2)
Heather M.
Yes, you need reservations but once we told the waitress/hostess we'd come back later, they found a table for two, after they asked if we wanted to sit at the bar which only had 5 chairs. I can't complain about anything except the bus girl/water girl. She was so soft spoken we kept asking her to repeat herself. She never smiled nor seemed very happy to be doing whatever it was she does. Our waitress was the hostess and we were given bread and drinks pretty quickly, although they didn't have iced tea. My pasta dish was excellent, very hot, flavorful, nice and crisp broccoli and the mushrooms tasted fresh from the garden. My husband's veal, no pasta which was his choice, was good but he said it needed something to tie it together. Maybe a red wine sauce instead of a white wine sauce. Our Caesar Salads were good and they offer you anchovies on top if you'd like. Yes, this place is small and there isn't any room to wait in the foyer. However, there is plenty of sidewalk space to wait outside. We would go back again and are glad we didn't bring our children. Unless they are adventurous eaters they won't find anything they like!
(4)
Judy F.
Delicious Seafood Ravioli and Pumpkin butternut squash ravioli! Their homemade limoncello was amazing.
(4)
J L.
This restaurant is absolutely incredible, the staff is very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is quaint and the food absolutely delicious. We have been there 6 times this year alone! When people are looking for a great Italian place we recommend Ristorante Pavarotti.
(5)
Adam F.
I almost ate here tonight. Unfortunately the kitchen closes closer to 7:00 PM then 10:00 PM (7 days a week kitchen closes at 10:00 PM is how the website reads). I suppose 10:00 PM is more of a guess or they aim to push away customers and lock the door on a dark restaurant at 10:00 PM. The person answering the phone seemed upset I called. Perhaps the hours need to be updated, perhaps they close and open when they feel like it, perhaps I'll never know (this one :)).
(1)
Jen X.
Pretty bad is how I'd summarize our Friday night dinner there. Started by getting seated at 8:40 for an 8pm reservation. Then no one realized we were seated except the lady that dropped off some bread & water. After more waiting the manager (I assume) came & asked if anyone came over yet. When we did get a waitress she was extremely apologetic and kind. "we don't have stations & rotate through, we didn't know." She was super nice! We started with "stuffed mushrooms" which were actually mushroom caps filled with some store brand breadcrumbs & olive oil. Lacking in flavor for sure. I had the Veal Francese with a side of fusilli & he got scallops, shrimp clams, & calamari in Fra Diavolo sauce. Not his original order but since they were "out of lobster," he had to make a 2nd choice. Veal Francese, well it claimed to be dipped in egg batter & breaded which it was but unfortunately I assume it sat for a bit before sent out since the veal was warm in some spots & the breading was completely soggy & mushy. The veal itself wasn't even good tasting. The side of fusilli was good. The penne with scallop (SINGULAR) shrimp, calamari & clams in Fra Diavolo lacked seasoning in the sauce. It was spicy but no other yummy Italian sauce flavor that we were hoping for. There was only one scallop in the dish but I guess it wasn't a big deal there wasn't more because it was rather yucky & had an unfresh strong fishy flavor. The clams "crunched" with grit & the calamari & shrimp were not bad but not great. We love to eat, but these plates left much to be desired. We barely ate & took nothing home. Surprisingly the bus girl thought nothing of removing the full plates of food from the table?? Hmmm...I"d guess it's not the 1st time this has happened? While we got our food in a timely manner, once we did order, the table of 4 on the side of us ordered before we were even seated yet didn't get their food until sometime after us. Apparently the other waitress forgot to put in the order. Kind of an important piece to miss. When one of the guesets in the party asked the "manager" his explanation was "everything is made fresh to order" no apologies or acknowledging the real error. I happen to encounter the manager while I waited in line for the restroom & he asked "so how was things?" SO... I told him a lil' bit of my opinion but hate to complain so as he began yelling to the chef that I didn't like it I asked that he not make scene. All while a poor waitress was there asking "are you we done yet here? No I still don't have my calamari." The manager insisted we have a lemoncello shot before leaving so after declining the 1st offer & his persistent 2nd offer, we took him up. ...hey something needed to have flavor. I guess to sum things up: If you want good bread, a nice waitress & pretty decent house cab then I'd recommend this place, otherwise save yourself 2 hours of your life & $125 & pour a jar of Bertolli over some penne at home because it will taste better than the food here. WAY overrated on here. Certainly will not be rushing back...ever.
(1)
Tiffani M.
My husband and I went to Ristorante Pavarotti tonight. We made reservations earlier in the week for 7:30. We were greeted quite rudely by the owner and he shouted "GO GO GO" and basically pushed us to our table. The main waitress was not any friendlier. She would give us really weird looks and roll her eyes. It was very uncomfortable. I don't know if she was having a rough night or what. But really, she was the least of our problems. After 15-20 minutes of sitting and waiting for water, the owner comes back owner and yells "Where are your menus?!" We reply that we have already placed our order. He didn't understand. My husband repeated that we had placed our orders. I asked, "If we could just get some water...?" and he was yelled "Where are your water glasses?!?!" Uh...... I don't know...? Getting upset that I am being literally YELLED at, I ask "Why are you yelling at us?" And he storms away. My husband is now pretty upset over this.. follows the owner to ask why is he is being so rude. He just threw his hands in the air, yelled something we didn't understand, and returned to the kitchen. The table next to us was finishing up and paying their bill. The customers told us that her shrimp smelled like ammonia. When it was brought to the owner's attention, he argued with her about it and told her the shrimp was just fine. So we weren't the only ones having a REALLY bad experience. We let our waitress know that we would be leaving due to the extreme disrespect and rude behavior from the owner. NEVER is all my dining experiences have I been treated so badly! It sounds like from the rancid shrimp that we weren't missing out. I do not recommend this place to anyone. No one deserves to be treated this way when going out for a nice dinner. AVOID.
(1)
Mike L.
Went here for dinner for the first time about 6 months ago. Been back monthly (if not more often) ever since. I've tried 8-10 different dishes and all have been phenomenal. Owner, hostess and wait staff are all incredible, they make you feel at home. After being there a couple times, the owner recognized us as regulars and since then, we've gotten a free limoncello after dinner. He's a very happy guy, and makes sure his guests are taken care of. Only drawback is that you NEED to make a reservation to be able to eat here on the weekends, and you need to make it a day or so in advance, at least. It's a small and popular place, but I don't agree that it should get a negative rating because of that. VERY recommended. Best dish is the Fusilli Ala Norma (especially if you like homemade pasta and eggplant).
(5)
Ken P.
I've been here a couple times and had passable Italian food. It's around the block from my house, so I like the convenience. However, last time two times I went, the service was terrible. One time, I had my table moved mid meal so they could accommodate a bigger party that showed up. I don't particularly enjoy have to put down my fork and shift across the restaurant to the back corner. I dealt with it and decided to give them another chance. Then the next time, I made a reservation and ended up waiting 30 minutes past that time for a table. When my wife asked the absentee manager when our table would be ready and that we had a reservation a half hour before, he asked "if we thought he was stupid". We didn't ask remotely hostilely... He had written my name down wrong on the pad and we wanted to make sure he knew it was us. Nice way to run a business, though. We said "Ok. Listen you obviously can't handle our group tonight, so we're going." Then the guy *grabbed my arm* and started saying "I can't help it if people eat slow." I waved my group on, since I wanted to leave the situation. I asked him to release me and that I was leaving to find food elsewhere. He at this point said it will only be another 5-10 minutes and asked if I wanted some wine, and blocked me from the door. I was waiting with two pregnant women and would've appreciated some understanding from him. I'll never eat there again, and I'll discourage my neighbors from it as well. I like supporting local businesses, but only if the guy there doesn't insult my wife and then assault me. Heh. There's plenty of mom and pop Italian in Boston. I recommend finding another one.
(1)
Stacy C.
Food is decent, service is apathetic and at times rude. Never again...the food's not that good. We could walk there, but the people who work there (both on the phone and the servers) are so unpleasant we'll get in our car and drive someplace else. Put a little effort in and a lot less attitude, Pavarotti, and people might come back.
(1)
Alexandra R.
My husband and I went here last night, (Friday) for his birthday dinner. I had made a 7:45 reservation and we got there perfectly on time, but were asked rudely to wait until seats were ready, meanwhile, there is NOOOO room to wait, the entry way is the smallest area I might have ever been in! We finally say down at approx 8:10, the owner, is a JERK, we were seated next to the bar (which might as well not even been a bar, it was so tiny) and we over heard him yelling a a waitress in front of us! When the yelling at her was over he went to the customers sitting at the bar and said "you would think a waitress would be smart and not be so stupid!" wow he did he really just insult a waitress IN FRONT of customers??? WOW!!!! Never the less, we were slightly entertained and carried on with our meal, the appetizer of calamari was very good, came quickly and our round of martinis were great. Ordered our meal and were discussing how crazy HOT it was in the restaurant. We got our meals quickly again, which was perfect, because it was so hot we couldn't wait to get outside (which was actually cooler). I got the lobster Ravi and my husband got the seafood ravioli, both were decent, nothing to go crazy about... as soon as we were done the RUDE owner noticed me fanning myself and came over and started going on and on about the temp being hot because "the filter, the filter, was going beep, beep, beep and the landlord was coming in tomorrow to fix it" that is all well and good, but a simple, "I'm so sorry it's this hot" would have been better, he is extremely pushy and made myself and my husband very uncomfortable. As soon as we paid, we ran out to cool off and headed across the street, to the air conditioned relaxing atmosphere of the venetian moon...thank goodness for THEIR martini's! All in all, we would NOT be going back, it was overpriced, sub-par food, rude owner, not the happiest waitstaff and we had to wait even though we had a reservation. Good luck if you do decide to still give them a try! :)
I had bought the groupon here a while ago and had to use it before it expired. I got the feeling the owner didn't like the fact i was using it, whatever. I called ahead but got seated at a very small bar area. The salad was average. I ordered a fish in an oddly good orange cream sauce. I little weird at first but I really did like it. The owner had eyes for my girlfriend and gave us a shot of lemoncello on the way out. It's small, better call ahead. Service was good, the girls were on top of their game.
(3)
Jason Z.
Amazing food at a reasonable price, but the owner's friend first approach will limit its potential. I have been dinning at Ristorante Pavarotti for three times already and I am a fan of their foods. I also have to point out that this place does not really need Groupon and LivingSocial to stay open (the owner want to spread the words according to the waitress). I have to give credit to the chef because he is doing such a good job. The spinach and mushroom risotto was amazing, and the butternut squash and pumpkin ravioli was out of this world. This place has became my girlfiend's favor restaurant at our first vist. However, I hesitated to make reservation here for our anniversary worrying the service is going to ruin my important date. And this is how the place got a 4 stars. Let me explain. Dinning at Ristorante Pavarotti kind of reminded me ordering soup from the Soup Nazi (Seinfeld reference). the food was amazing but if the owner doesn't like you, he can leave a bad taste in your mouth. It was clear that the owner give priority to his friends. For the first two times, people came later than we did were seated ahead of us (although we did make reservation, and came in on time). And the third time was the worst. As we walked into the place, there were three table open, and two of them are at the quiet area with not a lot of traffic while the third one was in front of the door. Just before the waitress about to seat us, the owner/manager called her back (in front of us) and ask her "come back, where are you taking them, let me look first." After he looked around the room and decided to have the waitress seat us in front of the door. My girlfriend and I kind of looked at each other because most places seat you to the less traffic table first (so the waiters and waitress wouldn't run into customer constantly, and customers like it better). As the other two tables were continue to remain open, waiters and waitress were having a hard time getting around us and I had to move my chairs often (as I have expected). 15 mins after we sat down, two groups show up, and they appeared to be the owner/manager's friends as they were shaking hands and giving out hugs. They were seated immediately by the owner/manager at the remaining two tables. Overall is not a bad restaurant, and I have every intention to come back here even without a Groupon or LivingSocial deal. Ristorante Pavarotti has really good foods. It has what it take to become a successful restaurant. But the owner need to understand the friend-first approach will only limit the number of new customers you will get.
(4)
Paul B.
Superb meal. Fish specialties are a must. And the portions are huge!! Wait staff can explain all the dishes and help when you cannot decide. We could have been full after the appetizers, but wanted their entrees. I highly recommend this place. Leave plenty of time to savor each bite!!
(5)
Shonna M.
My sister and I happened upon this place while on vacation in Boston. The atmosphere, service and food was amazing. The owner seated us and walked us out at the end checking on our meal. My sister had the veal special and I had the pumpkin ravioli, both were amazing. This was our first night, but out of all the places we have eaten since, this was our favorite. Highly recommend!
(5)
A K.
This restaurant is a nice little corner place in Reading, small, but intimate. It's a nice alternative to Venetian Moon, which I feel like sometimes is just trying to act like it's smack in the middle of Boston. Ristorante Pavarotti has great food...I am a sucker for their seafood risotto (it's the only reason I would ever go there). I have to say though, despite the good food, the service is...how do I put this...sub-par? rude? slow? The owner who acts as host is friendly, but without trying to hide it, is bias towards his customers. The last time we went here, there was two of us. We had a reservation and were told it would be maybe 10 minutes for our table. Another party of 2 walked in after us...and after a few minutes, they were sat first because they were "regulars"...the owner tried to play it off saying that the table they gave him was not suitable for us (as if he put them in a bad spot)...false. They were right by the window. Where did we end up being sat? the last table, right before the entrance to the kitchen. The waitress, though kind, was rude, slow, and we felt as if we were being ignored most of the night...we've all been there unfortunately. We powered through the dinner and decided we probably won't return, at least not for a very long time. In the past, I have gone here with 4-5 other people and accommodating a larger party in this place can be hard, but doable. I remember the service then being a bit better, but again, the waitresses (I don't want to judge, I don't know if it is all family-run?) are somewhat rude and give an impression like they really don't care, they just want to push the food out (which ok, some places are like that, you know that going in...here, you wouldn't expect that). I do have to say, there is one waitress, I am not sure her name, who is awesome. I had her before when I was there with a larger party. She is friendly, attentive, and on top of her game. I hope that some day the other wait staff take note and follow in her footsteps.
(2)
Lucille F.
My husband and I just came home from this restaurant, we had a Groupon that was ready to expire. We went in shortly after 5 pm and were asked if we had a reservation. I was surprised to hear that the place would be full on a Thursday night so early, but I asked if we could sit at the bar and was told we could. The owner Massimo came over to us shortly after we sat and asked us if we could move down a seat, just in case others came in. He seemed very high strung and added almost a nervous energy to the restaurant. We didn't really understand what he meant at first and we stayed put, but midway through our dinners, another couple came and sat at the bar, and he moved us down a seat, actually moving our placemats, etc. to allow for more room. He said he'd "take care of us" for the inconvenience, but that wasn't the case. The food was OK, we both felt it was overpriced for what you got, if we didn't have the Groupon, we doubtfully would have gone in, but even with the Groupon, we won't go back, there are much better Italian places in the area for quality of food and value.
(2)
Michael M.
Good prices for such a nice Italian restaurant.
(4)
Miss B.
Food was amazing, priced decently. Loved the atmosphere and decor. Would have enjoyed dinner a little more if the owner didn't keep talking our ear off....he was nice. He's very on top of his wait staff though.
(4)
Paul K.
I wanted to ignore all the poor ratings and like Pavoarotti. However, most is fairly accurate. The owner is genuine and tries to make it a positive experience. The mixed drinks were good but lacked in alcohol content. The over priced butternut squash (6 for $18) were not very good, my wife says she has had better from a package. The calamari was bland. My wife and I both had veal, it was chewy and tough. It is very small which is fine but there is nowhere to wait, and on a cold night, your only option is inside. The bar seats maybe 4 people and everyone was eating dinner leaving no room to hang out and wait. The temp fluctuates up and down, I had my jacket on most of the dinner then the heat kicked on and we were too hot. I wished it was a place I could recommend, but for the prices, there are so many other options.
(2)
Grandpa B.
Grandma and I went to RP mid week at 6PM. By 6:30 the place was filled up. A bit later there was a line out the door. There must be something happening here. We ordered the gnocchi and the fusili . They were very well prepared and delicious. It is a bit pricy, but it is homemade pasta which is typically a couple bucks more. But to compare, in the North End you get a heaping dish of pasta which assures you lots of left-overs to enjoy at home next day. The portion at RP was reasonable for the dinner but little if any leftovers. The gnocchi goes down very easy so I had no leftovers. After RP filled up with customers, conversation was difficult due to the loudness of everyone talking. Overall, we were treated well. The service was attentive. Delivery of the meal was prompt. I would go there again, but noting that there seems to be plenty of discount coupons available around the various coupon sites.
(4)
Bonnie M.
Great night out with friends to celebrate my Husband's birthday. Great automosphere, great food, great service...
(5)
Sharon K.
If you have a coupon be prepared to ber treated as a second class citizen and by all means DO NOT put your phone number on the coupon (they will ask you to) . You will wait for service, bread, food etc. and you won't get the lemonchello at the end of your meal. Then if for any reason you send back your food, and ask it to be taken off your bill, be prepared for the owner to argue with you then call you at home and yell and swear at you and call you cheat.... I have had several really good meals there but the owner is such a nasty man that we will never go back there again.
(1)
Steve B.
Adding to Rick S.'s 1/15/2012 review... When I arrive 10 minutes before a 7pm reservation, and I'm waiting another 30 minutes standing in a cold vestibule, DO NOT seat anyone who came in AFTER me because you can put 2 tables together and seat the 4 that came in after us! That is just WRONG! And that was my first impression, which did not set the experience in a positive direction. I seriously asked my buddy if, even after being seated if he wanted to leave and just pay for the drinks. We didn't, but we were close. The rest of his review is spot on. Though the Veal Parm (for me) was good and tender, the white sauce & garlic (what garlic?) pasta was tasteless - I had to mix it with the sauce with the Veal Parm for any flavor, and the bruchetta was burned and also lacking in any type of zing. I don't need to return here.
(1)
Craig S.
This place is excellent. This is my 5 or 6th time dining here and it only gets better. Last night I had the caesar salad (perfect) and clams casino. The clams were some of the best I have ever had and I eat out regularly and they were perfect. The real treat was the carbonara. So creamy, tasty - absolutely perfect. I was licking the plate. My wife had the veal something and it was also perfect. I love this place. I highly recommend as there is nothing north shore that competes. I am going to start going every 2 weeks to give this guy business.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Mark B.
My cousin tells me that I shouldn't leave such a negative reviews. Regretfully this review is negative. I am just looking for a good meal it's not my fault that America has accepted mediocrity. The first time my family and I arrived early and they would not let us get a table and said they had fully sold out the restaurant. What made that horrible was how rude the hostess was. Like we didn't belong there... We should've taken that as an omen because when we finally had reservations my wife and I thought it was the worst Italian meal we've ever had. Maybe where are just spoiled by New York & Boston's North End. On a positive note the wine wasn't bad and the food was hot...let's just say that will be it's one star. The employees looked like they were working hard including the chefs outback. My guess is the owner has taken the liberty of removing any quality ingredients of any quantity whatsoever. The appetizers: The clams in the clam casino were tiny with no bacon a bit of breadcrumbs and butter...they were about a C. The other appetizer we had to antipasto had domestic prosciutto but only one piece. Very scary that they can't spend a dollar. And a bunch of marinated garbage on it. The cheese was bad so that was a D. The meal: My wife chose the lobster and crab ravioli which was frozen and horrible that was an F. Considering I almost barfed in my mouth after the meal I would recommend investing in Alka-Seltzer prior to eating here. I chose the chicken something - and that was horrible too. I left the restaurant hungry...the chicken was boiled the eggplant wasn't peeled or breaded. Dessert: Too scared to try since everything else was so horrible and overpriced. Save your money for god sake. It was sad to see everybody working so hard but not having any idea that their food was bad. I think the other patrons here were delusional or the first time eating here. The owners need to go to good Italian restaurant and learn something from it.
(1)Eric W.
Anyone who gives this place a bad review is a straight up moron. Make reservations. Small North End vibe restaurant. Food is amazing. gravy is delicious. 3x here. Got Veal Marsala this time. Terrific. Thank you from a fellow Italiano.
(5)Frank M.
Massimo, Have you changed your ridiculous policy not letting your customers use groupons and gift certificates on the same evening.......
(1)Craig F.
I have to say I was very disappointed with your Restaurant. My Wife and I had been wanting to try this place for a while and we finally had a night to try it. We called and confirmed a reservation for 8PM on Saturday. When we got to the restaurant the Owner/Manager greeted as a preceded to show us the clock and basically said to us why are we here 15 minutes early for a 8PM reservation. After waiting for a while with a check in everyone in a while we finally a table open up and assume that after waiting 20 Minutes past our reservation time that we would get seated but no they gave the table to someone else. When I asked about I was given a rude response that they had a 7:30 reservation which was clearly a lie because you could see from the book that all the 7:30's had been seated and crossed off the reservation. If what they said was true they would of crossed out our reservation when we arrived. At this point we had enough and left to have dinner somewhere else. This is not how you should treat customers who have been told good things about your restaurant. My recommendation is if your not regular there don't bother going.
(1)Kathryn M.
Food is delicious. I always order the food to go because a reservation seems to be needed on any given night. I can pick up my order at 5:50 pm and the dining room can be empty. 10 minutes later, every table is filled with a 6pm reservation. The restaurant has about 12 tables and a tiny make shift bar that holds 3 or 4 seats. The tables for 2 are so close together that the tiny female servers can barely squeeze in between them to take your order. I've seen the servers actually serve from behind the table. Those customers look really surprised and uncomfortable to be sitting that close to the next table. The tables for parties of 4 are better and the customers look more comfortable. Service is fine, but the servers aren't all that smiley. They are not short handed--but they do look stressed and it gives off a weird vibe. No parking lot, but I've always managed to find parking on the street. It's far better than dealing with the North End's parking situation. In my opinion, the food is just as good. The chicken parm is outstanding. Their sauce is perfection. Good bread, too. I'm sure they serve dessert and coffee, but if you might also want to stop in at D'Amici's bakery across the street.
(4)Billie J.
Short and sweet. A bit over priced menu when compared to local eateries. My girlfriend ordered the haddock/capers with green beans and potatoes. Very tasty. I ordered the Frutti di Mare. Never again. The obviously previous frozen shrimp were over-cooked and dry. The calamari was rubbery and the shellfish tasted aweful. The only positive point of this meal was the pasta with Fra Diavolo sauce. Limited beer selection. Service was attentive.
(2)Stephen D.
Went here on first date with wife in several months. We were pleasantly surprised when we were seated immediately to a table instead of the bar where I thought we'd end up based on reservation with maître d. Wine suggestions were solid- a nice house chianti and wife had sauv blanc. The caprese was really good, especially since mid-Fall yet very tasty tomatoes. Entrees were predictably 'big Italian', and not very memorable. Service was both pleasant and attentive.
(3)Danielle C.
They have excellent food, great service, and great hospitality. I had the homemade Tortellini Donna Rosa and it was my second time getting it was just as good as the first time.
(5)Jenn M.
The North End in Reading! Great little Italian restaurant. When you walk in you feel as if you've been transported to Little Italy! Every time we have eaten here our meals have been incredible. The owner is great and walks around shaking hands and greeting all guests as if you are in his home! You will not regret dining at this restaurant. Authentic high quality food. It's a gem!
(5)Luke D.
Food is good, a little over priced. But the service is the worst. 1st time I went there, they asked if I had a res. I said no, they were all panicked and rude and keep tell me I should have called, O BTW THERE WAS NOBODY IN THE ENTIRE RESTAURANT. months later I decide to go back. I called for a res (remembering the last time), I left a message (which is what message says to do). I show up, THERE IS NOBODY IN THE PLACE. They said if we dont call you back, you dont have a res. made a big deal, finally sat me being rude and panicked....by the time we eat and left 2 other people showed.
(2)Phil O.
I went here last Thursday with my girlfriend. Bread- Homemade with a slight pinch of garlic: 8/10 Appetizer- Sea Scallops in a light sherry sauce: 8/10 Entrees- Veal cacciatore & chicken cacciatore: 4/10 These dishes were incredibly under seasoned. Clearly, the meat had not been pre-seasoned, not even with salt or pepper, which is a must for bland meats (i.e. chicken especially). The vegetables and pasta were similarly lacking flavor. This was one of the rare occurrences at a high-end Italian restaurant where I've had to add hefty amounts of salt & pepper to compensate for an overly dull entree. Even my girlfriend who has a simple palate complained about it. Maybe this dish was originally intended to go with sausage, which could explain some of it. I could be old-fashioned, but I expect the cooks to be adding the flavor, not me. While the service was decent, we will not be coming back here.
(2)Barrett D.
I got a groupon for this place. At about 6pm, I called to make a reservation for 8pm. I was told the restaurant was full and I asked for a reservation at 9pm, or 9:30pm. They said they did not know if they had tables at that time. They did not take my reservation and asked me to come between 9-9:30pm. Showed up at about 9pm, but they told me I should have made a reservation. The point was I tried to make reservation but they did not take it. The place was small and crowd, so it was very loud. We had to yell to our server when we placed the order. We ordered mussels for appetizer. The mussels were awful. They were fishy and some of them had the smell like feces. They were pretty disgusting. I had scallops and shrimp as main course and it was alright. My wife had the lobster and crab ravioli. She said there was only one piece of lobster and the shell was very thick compared to other restaurants in the North end. She did not finish the dish and did not want to box it because she said the food was making her sick. I boxed my dish and we went home. My wife did not feel good the rest of the night. The next day when I opened my leftover, I found shrimp-shells in my dish. They boxed that too. The service was alright. The manager seemed pretty enthusiastic and nice. However, the food was not good at all and the restroom was very dirty, even compared to those in gas stations.
(2)Domenic P.
My girlfriend and I stopped by for dinner a couple weeks ago. We were greeted by Christina who was amazing. She was very polite, and very friendly. The food arrived quick and was delicious! Portions were just right. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner. He is a really good guy and made us feel so welcome. We will definitely be back and will be recommending this place to everyone!!
(5)Julie K.
I got the home made gnokki (I might of spelled that wrong) it was delicious! Large portion. My friend got the veal very large portion! Both meals were delicious. Very cozy. The lady who sat us wasn't pleasant and made me feel like we were bothering her but out waitress and the other servers were very pleasant. My meal was 17 dollars and the veal was 22. Was worth it though. I wish that it came with a small salad but honestly I probably wouldn't of finished my meal
(4)Jenna L.
My boyfriend and I tried going here for dinner and were not impressed. We walked into a pretty empty dining room and were told that the kitchen was closing (at 8pm) and that they'd really prefer you make a reservation. Even without a reservation, we were seated promptly. I mean, it's not a hair salon - since when does dining out shun walk-ins?? Anyways, for city prices the food was far below par. The pasta was overcooked ten minutes too long and turned into a mushy paste, the shrimp was overcooked and tough and the scallops just didn't taste fresh. The bread was good and if you could manage to get any oil out of the bottle to make your own dipping sauce - quite delicious. Needless to say, we won't be back.
(2)joan l.
Hmmm. I've been to Pavarotti's at least six times. I'm left with such mixed feelings. The food is wonderful. I adore their calamari, their pan fried scallops are divine and the seafood dishes have all been consistently fresh and tasty. Their serving sizes are more than adequate. I don't mind that it's small and crowded. To me it adds to a cozy, bustling neighborhood restaurant experience. And the wine is excellent. I can't accept the way they handle the reservations, though. Look, if you can't give me a table at 7 pm on Friday, why not just tell me so, instead of keeping me and other patrons waiting for interminable amounts of time? The last time my boyfriend and I wanted to go, I called up for reservations early in the week for 6pm on Friday, figuring that we'd probably be safe from the huge surge of weekend diners that are clamoring to get in by 7pm. The owner Massimo looked a little flustered when we arrived. He initially told us that he couldn't find our reservation. When I mentioned that I had actually made the reservation with him on the phone, he scanned the list again and found us. Minutes went by. New patrons same in, all with the same 6 pm reservation time. We all stood there in the tiny waiting or outside, shivering in the chilly winter night air. Thirty-five minutes later, Massimo came to get us. But instead of a seat he brought us to the little bar(only holds about four people), squeezed a place for us at the end and handed us our menus. When I complained, he glared at me. Then he sidled up to my boyfriend, spoke to him in Italian ( he knew that my boyfriend is Italian speaking). Apparently he told my boyfriend he was in a jam for tables and asked him to be a sport and take the bar seats. Massimo does speak English. He just choose not to speak it with me. That particular example of chauvinism didn't sit well with me. I haven't been back since. Not to say I wouldn't go back. There's not exactly a plethora of good Italian restaurants in the North Shore. But things have gotta change here. Here's my wish list for Pavarotti's: 1) Be honest about your reservation times. Figure out how to best handle your popularity. Maybe you should only take reservations for tables of six or more. 2) Get a savvy, friendly host/hostess to deal with the calls and the patrons coming in. Massimo should stick to running the restaurant, not dealing with the customers.
(3)R. W.
Do not go here!!!!! Looking for a new place for Italian my wife and I decided to go here. What a mistake. Food was horrible, there were small portions and service was terrible ( made numerous mistakes on drink and appetizer orders) . Even before we sat down when you walk in there is a privacy curtain that my wife and I waited without anyone coming through to greet us for a good five minutes. When finally someone came through to " greet" us if that's what you would consider it the man was so rude as he acted like we were inconveniencing him for coming in. Mind you this was a Tuesday and no one was even in the place. Awful experience, prices were outrageous. Don't waste your money . F-
(1)Hasmig P.
my husband and I tried this restaurant fri nite - and we loved it - I read all the negative reviews and thought "oh no" -but we did have a Restaurant.com certif. and wanted to use it.....so here we go...we had the calamari for appetizer - delicious -then I ordered the scallops w/fettucini(red sauce) and my (Sicilian)husband had the fruit de marre (spell?) and finished off my scallops - loved the red sauce - both plates were full enough, with the right spices - no complaints I'm glad we had made reservations for 6 pm - greeted by the friendly owner - all staff very pleasant, even the chef came out to say hello.... atmosphere very warm - brng flashliht to read menu (or your phone lie) and when it did fill up I was a little crowded - but had a good feeling - like being in Italy and when the waitress brought over complimentary lemincello at the end...well what else is there to say....we were toasting w/our new friends who had been seated next to us - and they had been coming to Pavarotti's for last 2 years!
(4)Christy W.
My boyfriend and I ate here last night. We really enjoyed everything about this dining experience. We enjoy Italian restaurants that have an intimate feeling. The restaurant is very tiny, so you definitely need to make a reservation. But also be aware that you might have to wait a little because the restaurant is small with only about 15 tables. Don't blame the restaurant if you have to wait a little longer than what you made your reservation for. It's not the restaurant's, or the owners fault, if the guests stay at their tables longer than expected. Be a little patient. Fortunately, we were able to get right in for our 8:15 reservation and had a nice table by the window. The restaurant is really cute. It gives off a nice homey feel. The owner is very sweet and very Italian. :) He likes to be involved in the restaurant and likes to talk to the guests to make sure they are enjoying themselves. Our waitress was also very nice and attentive. We received our glasses of wine and bread (very good and comes with oil) within 5 minutes of sitting down. For the meals, we started with the caprese. This was really good but could of used a little balsamic reduction on it. It was with oil only. We still enjoyed it. I got the Fruiti Di Mare over Fusilli in a fra diavlo gravy. Very very good. Huge scallops and nice and spicy gravy. The fusilli was also cooked perfect. My boyfriend got the Chicken Parmigiana with zitti. There were two huge pieces of chicken with gravy and cheese on one plate and then a side of zitti. Also very good. He ended up taking a whole piece of chicken home with zitti. We were too full for dessert (though they looked really good). We ended our meals with lemoncello, on the house from the owner! Overall, very good experience and will definitely be back! The prices are perfect and the meals were great!
(5)Christina P.
Was expecting better for the price. Got the lobster ravioli and sauce had zero flavor. All I could taste was the dough from the pasta. Shrimp in grand marnier was amazing! And def try the lemoncello cake for dessert!
(3)Connie R.
The food was excellent. The service SUPERB. The veal Saltamboca was the best ever. Gnocchni - was succulent and the Mussels and Scallops over linguine with garlic white wine sauce was perfectly perpared. Calamari and Brushetta appetizers were the an ideal start to our meal. An intimate corner restaurant storefront - was quite appealing to our family. We absolutely enjoyed ourselves. Definitely BE BACK!
(5)Rob K.
Food is good, the manager is a grouch. The first time we visited we had a reservation and were told we could wait at the tiny bar until our table was ready. We waited almost an hour without anyone working the bar or offering a drink. So much for having a reservation. We gave the place a second chance thinking it was an off night. Wrong. The second visit we also had a very long wait even with a reservation. The waitress dropped our drinks which was ok with us but not apparently with the manager. We were seated so late that most had left by the time we were served. It became very obvious the manager and staff wanted to leave and became very inattentive. The manager and one of the staff got into an argument making for a very uncomfortable scene. It is too bad, the food was good but I strongly advise finding another place to eat. The manager is awful.
(2)Wang E.
Go, go, go treecy! It's it's It's my birthday We gon' party cuz it's my birthday Imma' sip Bacardi cuz it's my birthday, and you know you gotta care cuz it's my bday!! --50 Cent ft. Wang Treecy E. I'm debating between 2 and 3. I would have given two, but the place gave my party free shots! Thanks guys! One line: SERVICE IS WACK!!!!! Ok so I called the place a couple of days before to make a reservation for my birthday dinner at 8:30. Then the guy said he can't do 8:30, is 9 fine? I was like OK that's fine, and he's like ask your mom to make sure if it's ok. I was like "ughh.... this is for my friends." Then he's like "how old are you?" Seriously.... Do I really sound like a baby on the phone?! so rude.... I should have just hung up but man, my mistake to keep the reservation. When we all arrived (It was the night before the HURRICANE IRENE day! Why did we drive through that ruckus? BOY ARE WE A DANGEROUS PARTY) Surprisingly, we weren't the only ones there. The guy told me to arrive at 8:45 because he would have the table prepared. But when we came, it wasn't. We had to wait 30 minutes, so we weren't seated until 9:15 ish. In some previous review, someone noted that the owner interrupted their dinner, and move them to another seat so that he could serve a bigger party. I did not expect myself to be stuck in that scenario but on the opposite side. Sorry to the couple that moved for us! I guess he does it often. Everyone had almost different dishes and ordered almost every thang on the menu, but no one's mind was blown. The portions they give is EXTREMELY generous but for this taste, I rather pay more and have it savory. . I enjoy NorthEnd Italian restaurants much better than here. We had a bottle of sparkling wine and it was really cheap. The girls and I ordered martinis and goshh, it was STRONG. We had a difficult time sipping so we chugged them sweeties down! Blah blah, at the end of the dinner I wanted my cake to be out and they did bring it out. Everyone was captivated by my gorgeous cake (thanks to my wonderful boyfriend). The waitress wanted to bring it back in and cut it for me but I wanted to cut my own cake because I wanted to be able to save some for my family. She was fine with it and gave me knives and plates. (I think the reason why she wanted to cut it in the back was to give some to the people in the back). Well I asked them if my waitress and owner would like a slice, and they said yes. However, the waitress kept asking for a few more slices for the people in the back. I would not mind but I was done with cutting the cake, about to eat, and I had to recut the cake again. They should have just given me how many plates they wanted instead of doing this. When we asked for the bill, they took their longest time. These two waitresses were arguing in the back REALLY LOUD! I guess they were arguing about how much they got tipped and who got which table. Still, can't they do that on their own time? We could all hear them arguing from across the room. Gee we don't want any knives and plates flying around since we were the only ones left. We kept trying to ask for the bill and it took them FOREVER, like 20 minutes. We had to leave so we could catch the bars after. Wow, after typing so much, I realized that this place really deserves 2 stars. Forget the shots!
(2)Alexandra M.
This place used to be quite good unfortunately it took a nose dive over the past year or so. My husband and I went there over the summer after a year and noted a marked decline in quality. The owner made a mistake that many small restaurant owners make; try to be everything to everybody. The menu is the size of War and Peace and in order to achieve that in a small restaurant is to use canned and prepared ingredients. And let me tell you, if you are a real foodie, you can taste it. And it ain't good. I had the gnocchi which was clearly mass factory produced, probably purchased from U.S. Foodservice. If you are a real Italian restaurant owner, you would call this a sacrilage. My husband had a cavatappi dish wich was ok, but it was way too creamy and the portions reminded me of the crazy days of Vinny T's. The tiramisu was also not made on the premises. We had tiramisu there before which was excellent and clearly freshly made. Service was fine, we never had a problem with it. Unfortunately due to the dissapointing quality of the food and the ingredients, it's doubtful we'll be returning. I think the owner would do much better to reduce the menu to two pages maybe and start making fresh pasta. There is also no need to serve portions enough to feed a small family of six. I think the trend is changing.
(2)Maurizio c.
Beautiful, Just beautiful. We were promptly seated by the friendly owner, although I would reccommend reservations early that day. The ingredients, so fresh, so right. The atmosphere, warm and romantic. The wine list was OK. Best italian food(or food in general) I've had in a long time. I will be going back.
(5)Joyce K.
We actually went to Ristorante Pavarotti in December, but I had a hard time deciding how to review the place. We don't want to go back, but we had a wonderful time. We arrived five minutes after our reservation time, but we had called to say were delayed a little. Every table was taken and the owner who met us at the door appeard upset that we were there. He didn't seem to know anything about our reservation. Actually, the owner seemed to be upset with everybody about everything all evening. Its sort of the entertainment. After some discussion, he hustled us through the narrow dining area to a small bar that had three chairs that almost touched the table of a couple eating dinner. I can only imagine how they felt eating their dinner with our butts hanging over the table. We got drinks and talked with another couple who seemed to be regulars who were seated in the path of the servers going to and from the kitchen , Husband had a glass of Barbera so he was happy. It was only a short wait until we were seated and could relax a little. They have an extensive menu. Husband and I both ordered veal dishes. Our meals could have been excellent based on the sauces, but the entrees were under cooked. This was quickly corrected by the server and earned us a lecture from the owner that we didn't know how veal should be served. I guess after two years of living in Italy and Italian friends who gave me cooking lessons I still needed we had never covered that. By this time husband was on another Barbera and we were enjoying watching the owner fluttering around from table to table. If you can relax, he adds to the atmosphere, but several tables were really upset. To sum up, service was good, prices were moderate, food was OK but not exceptional and the management was strange,
(3)Lori D.
Under staffed, rude staff, rude owner. Stay away.
(1)Me B. M.
The place is nicely located, clean, and friendly. But, the food is only above average, the portions rather small, and as a result the value is not there for the relatively high prices. It just opened so there is a chance that with some adjustments could really be a great addition.
(3)Vincent S.
worst experience that I have ever had in USA! terrible restaurant with no trust! they reject groupon ! what the fxxxxxk! horrible terrible stupid cheater! i have been to so many restaurants ,this is the fxxxxxking ridiculous restaurant with no credibility! so angry and so annoying Be careful about this restaurant! They might reject your gift card or coupon or groupon bought from the internet using "we do not have computers to verify your coupon or groupon" as an excuse. I bought NOW! Groupon and went to that restaurant, using my mobile phone app to show them about my groupon (which I have done many times for other restaurants) but they rejected. I hate things with No credibility. Ristorante Pavarotti, Please stop selling coupons or groupons on the internet, please stop cheating customers!!!!
(1)Sandy D.
Ristorante Pavarotti,....Absolutely Fantastic food!!! We ate at Ristorante Pavarotti in Reading last night, and my husband said hands down, "the Veal Parmesan was the best he has ever had". The red sauce was unbelievably good tasting and veal was extremely tender, with a tasty, crispy coating, just the way it should be. I had the Chicken Picatta and that was very, very good as well. Tender chicken (you can cut with a fork)and a very lemony sauce, with lots of butter. The prices were $ 20.95 and $ 17.95 which is certainly not shocking, especially knowing the quality of the ingredients used in the meals. I got a side salad loaded with field greens and house creamy balsamic dressing that was excellent. That was $ 3.95. My martini was literally filled to the rim with the vodka I specified, unlike a lot of restaurants. The setting is fabulous right in the center of Reading with huge windows to look out. The inside is dreamy and romantic with just the right lighting to see what your eating but not too bright. Our server Jacqui, was welcoming, friendly and gave us exceptional service. I am an avid cook, and appreciate a restaurant that knows only using high quality ingredients achieves a high quality dish. When we were leaving, the owner Massimo was gracious enough to ask us how everything was. Its most certain he appreciates your business...something you don't get in the "chain" restaurants. Sandy
(4)Michelle C.
This place is excellent and the food is very authentic definitely make a reservation, however sometimes you will still wait its worth it but that is the only thing!!! Food is so delicious!!!
(4)Chaim T.
We've been to this restaurant twice, both using Groupons. We only went back a second time hoping that our mid-week reservation would be honored. Wrong! Both times our reservations were not honored resulting in 20-30 minute waits. Though cozy, the place is noisy with spotty service. The food is good and comes out piping hot. It's a little pricey but the portions are enough for two.
(2)S R.
Came on Friday night with reservation and left an hour later with no end in sight for the wait. The owner kept promising seats in15 minutes. Returned another Friday night and were seated 40 minutes after the reservation time. In the meanwhile, you are stuck in a cold entryway listening to the owner complaining about customers who come late for their reservations, pushing back all future customers! We had a Groupon that allowed us any choice of 2 appetizers and 4 entrees. They had naturally run out of lobster. How convenient, since that was the most expensive dish! The food was mostly good, the service was quite attentive, but a tad pricey. Three pieces per appetizer dish - that was odd. Don't they usually come in even numbers making it easier to share for the average group? The dessert was not impressive - the tiramisu at Costco is way better!
(2)Mike R.
Somehow my review disappeared
(3)Rick S.
Wonderful Italian food. My wife had the fruiti di mare. It was a huge dish of pasta with tons of seafood in a white wine sauce. I had the pumpkin squash ravioli. It was decadent! Like pillows of pasta filed with pumpkin pie. UNREAL!! For dessert, we had a cannoli (homemade and delicious). If you are anywhere near Reading, you MUST try Ristorante Pavarotti!
(5)Colin G.
Ristorante Pavarotti is a quaint italian spot. The food is decent. not great but not bad. the octopus appetizer was drenched in tomato sauce and smothered the taste and flavor of the baby octopus. The Caesar salad however was very good and done just right. The carbonara was a bit rich even for your standard carbonara dish and the egg whites were separating in the dish. I know its nit picky but the execution was just a touch off. The Clam in fettuccine was done just right. The cannolis we good and seemed fresh filled to order. a complimentary shot of limoncello was a nice touch and well received. over all it was good dinner.
(3)Willard P.
We live in a nearby town but found ourselves hungry and in Reading tonight. Following tips I got from Yelp, we ended up at this fairly new spot. It was a little unnerving when we went in because the very small, intimate restaurant was almost empty. The waitress and apparent owner could not have been nicer and more welcoming. They clearly were trying to do everything to please, and everything was done very well. We ordered the pumpkin raviolis as an appetizer which were outstanding! Our salads were also very good. I had the chicken parm and the chicken was a very high quality. This was not the cheapest place but the quality and presentation was so good that it was well worth it to us! We are looking forward to trying it again!
(5)Laurie W.
I'm a huge fan!! After looking on Yelp for a good local place to eat I decided to make reservations for Ristorante Pavarotti. While making the reservations the man who answered, in his thick Italian accent, was very nice and I thought, "ok....great start"! We arrived on time for our reservation and were seated within 10 minutes. We received prompt service, but were not rushed. Our waitress gave us great advice on meals and the wine was promptly delivered. When the meal came, I got the Seafood Risotto, it was amazing and everyone in my family loved their choice as well. We were not rushed and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. This will definitely be someplace I will return to.
(4)Christie L.
We had a restaurant.com coupon and decided to try it out on a Thursday night. We had a reservation for 7:30pm and were seated about 5 minutes after arriving. I ordered the crab and shrimp ravioli and my bf ordered the cioppino. Our portions were huge. More ravioli than I've ever gotten with a seafood ravioli dish and the sauce was very good. My bf loved his dish and said he couldn't wait to return to order it again. It was great seafood with just the right amount of spicy sauce. We were happy with our service and thought it was nice that the manager was walking around, making sure people were enjoying their food and shook our hands and thanked us on our way out. We'll definitely be back to try more menu items!
(4)Laura N.
What a HORRIBLE experience!!! My friend and I had made reservations the day before for 7:30 on Saturday night. We arrived on time and were informed there was a wait of about 20 minutes. We explained we had reservations and were told it wasn't their problem. We decided to wait and took a seat at the bar while my companion stood. After 40 minutes another seat became available at the tiny 5 seat bar so my friend sat down. We were told after another 5 minutes to get up because they were going to seat some people in our chairs for dinner. We had no interest in eating at the cramped bar. At this point we asked about our reservations and were told by a condescending manager that they were busy and couldn't seat us. We said what about our reservation? He again said there was nothing to be done and why were we upset? REALLY???? The hostess and manager we both rude and condescending and I will never go there again. We left and went down the road to Sam's Bistro where we were graciously welcomed and had a get meal. So, don't bother with this place unless you actually enjoy abuse.
(1)Cosmo X.
I went there with my family. We were all very happy with what we ordered. The food was fresh, steaming hot and delicious. I think we found our new favorite Italian restaurant without going to the North End. Definately a return visit
(4)Kristin J.
Love Restaurant Pavarotti. Have been there many times and have used a groupon. Have never had a problem. The owner Masamo is a very nice guy! Food is outstanding and is made to order so if you want to add something to your dish they accommodate. My children age 17'and 9 love it there too. I always make a reservation because it gets very crowded. This place is a true gem and I agree with last reviewer how can anyone give this place a negative review? Excellent service & food!
(5)Cynda R.
I wanted to love this place ......our first experience right after they opened was subpar, but I was ready to give it a try again since a lot of my friends LOVE it! But once again I was not wowed. The service was ok. When we asked the waitress what the difference between the Montepulciano on the menu and the house Montepulciano was (that she mentioned), the answer..."3$". Really, do you know the name of the vineyard? "He wouldn't serve it if it wasn't good." ok then. The food eh. I am a foodie and ok maybe a food snob never the less.....really just ok....yet, very liberal with the limoncello after the meal so all was not lost. So disappointed because I think they could be great. Or I wish they were great.
(1)Christine S.
Im upping the anti on this place after the meal my family had last night. Excellent! My son exclaimed "I think this is the best Italian Ive had since we came back from Italy". He was devouring a dish with chicken medallions, artichoke hearts and asparagus. My dinner, consisted of roasted red peppers (okay someone tell me if these are homemade because WOW) and baby spinach leaves stuffed inside a crisped chicken breast with a white wine sauce. My husband had a classic parm which was wonderful in a chunky fresh tomato gravy. The prices are really reasonable for this quality of food and you can get a decent house wine for 20.00 a bottle. Dessert, recommended by the waitress was not to disappoint. Chocolate cake with a light mocha filling. Yum. This is a hidden gem. Only open for dinner and I would recommend you give it a shot. Yes Italian spoken there.
(5)Ju L.
Ate there last year and had the Chicken parm and Veal shank (special). Food was quite good, and portions quite large, but price-wise was expensive for what you got. I had sticker shock when I saw that the veal shank was $45 for the entree. Overall, food is good but overpriced. Service was very good as it's always pretty much empty. No doubt, it's one of the better Italian food places in Reading though for value of money, it's not worth it. I'd rather go to Colombo's (down the road by the Reading train station) and not feel ripped off -- where you can get good food for good value minus the white table cloth but at least I don't feel ripped off.
(4)Dynamic D.
We took advantage of a groupon offer and we weren't disappointed in the food. As an appetizer we had the eggplant rolletini, entrees (butternut squash ravioli and seafood ravioli) and dessert (chocolate mousse cake) and drinks (massimo-- didn't taste much prosecco.. tasted too watered down, cosmapolitain, cappuccino and riesling wine) Everything was fresh, hot and delicious. Our complaints are minor. We didn't get bread and olive oil (delicious) offered until the entree was already on the table. My massimo tasted watered down, with prosecco it should have been bubbly. We had dinner reservations for 6pm and the place is small but intimate. Several others had the same reservation time but even though we were there first, several groups arrived for the same reservation time and after about the 4th group which was larger (around 6 people) they were offered to sit at the bar while we stood in the narrow door area with other couples until a table was available (about 15 mins, close to 6pm). We didn't find the host to be rude just very businesslike. We have traveled to Italy and we understand that the cultural pleasantries that we Americans are used to are not the same everywhere. He did not offend us as a matter of fact once he finished the business of telling how long was must wait he then asked us how we were. So we did see a smile eventually. I think the rushed restaurant business can be a bit of a task and that coupled with cultural norms is the reason for the other reviewers opinions. I would definitely return for the food alone. We went on a Sunday which may not be the busiest day.
(4)Jerry P.
My wife,mother inlaw and friend just ate there for the first time tonight. I can't believe I have driven by this gem for three years without giving it a try. Everything was flawless! The wine,bruschetta,chicken,pasta were all to die for. My chicken was so tender I could cut it with just a fork. The portion was more than I could finish even though I I wanted so bad to finish every last drop. The owner greeted us at the door and came over to see how our meal was and we were all as pleased as I was. The place is kind of dimly lit and makes the perfect spot for a special night. It is going to be our go to spot for Italian food from now on.
(5)Janet D.
We went last night for dinner. The owner and the staff were very friendly. Nice atmosphere. They have a very interesting menu. .The pumpkin butternut squash ravioli were SUPERB. The shrimp, scallop and crabmeat ravioli were very good...seafood stuffed ravioli with four jumbo shrimp. Water glasses were constantly refilled which is a big plus. Bread was served warm with a dipping oil which could have used more spices. We will definitely return.
(4)Erik J.
Great service, nice decor in a small well decorates setting. Overall very good food. Ceasar salad was just good, not great. Espresso was just Ok - not bitter but not quite perfect. The entree and pasta were really good. Good portion size, not super sized. Nice wine list, not huge but there were enough choice at reasonable prices. Good value. I am coming back again.
(4)Bruce B.
I would have to agree with alot of the other reviews, fantastic dinning experience! I took my wife there last Saturday night, we had a 730 reservation and arrived early thinking we could sit at the bar and have a cocktail, well the bar was full but we were seated in about 10 minutes (Resturant was packed.) We let the server know we were out for a special birhtday dinner and she was more than pleasant and did not rush us at all. Drinks, apps,drinks, dinner and a piece of cake with a candle on it all came out on time, with plenty of time between to allow us to talk and enjoy the evening. Make a reservation and enjoy!
(5)Sunil U.
This place is nothing special. The Maitre d' (or was it the owner?) came across as a little rude. No smiles, no greetings. The food was nothing to write home about. I've had better Italian food at the chain restaurants. North-end of course is the ultimate. The Maine PI Mussels that we had was distasteful to say the least and tasted stale. And then the empty water glasses were never filled up, long wait for the check and so on. Only went there because we had a groupon. Never again.
(1)Robert R.
From the outside it looks like a typical neighborhood Italian place. The inside was no different but that is not a slam. I liked the small space inside with its several small wooden tables and chairs and white table cloths. The drinks and martini's were good sized and well done. I had the lobster ravioli which was very good. The raviolis were not the typical square shaped pasta bags but instead were oblong-ed which are better for the lumpy lobster inside. The sauce was a creamy garlic source which was not heavy. My wife started with a dinner salad which was the right size and vinaigrette dressing was great. She also had a fish and paste dish which she loved as well. The prices were in the high teens to high twenty's. Overall I liked the mean and would definitely go back.
(4)Jenna D.
Had a great birthday meal for 8 ppl here (including one slightly messy but luckliy not noisy toddler). It is small with a nice ambiance. The menu is huge with many choices, and have a good martini selection. The food was impressive, especially the butternut ravioli! A great timeand I would return,
(4)Mike L.
I called at 3 PM for a 5:00 PM reservation on Sunday . Arrived at 5:00 PM when they opened and was seated immediately. The owner introduced himself and sat us at a table of our choice. Wait staff was friendly and service was prompt. Food was excellent. Great experience. Price was a little on the high side but the food was worth it. Great atmosphere also. I read all the reviews before I went. Just depends on the time you get there and the mood you are in. Will definitely go back.
(5)Vyas S.
My review is listed at : vyassanzgiri.blogspot.co…
(4)Jessica K.
Very good Italian food. Decided to stop in here after Venetian Moon wait was too long. Little place, tables are very close. The butternut squash raviolis were delicious, great chocolate martini too. Would absolutely come back again.
(4)D. Z.
Had a great meal here - we stuck to the regular menu, both ordering salads and pastas, though the specials sounded interesting. Gnocchi was cooked perfectly, fusilli with eggplant also a winner. Good portions, very friendly and helpful service, wrapped up in a cozy, airy setting. Can't wait to go back. Oh, and the wines by the glass are a great deal, not a huge selection, but my cabernet sauv. was perfect.
(4)Liza M.
Can't believe we have lived in Reading for 3 years and totally missed this place. Went on my birthday. It was a Tuesday night and surprisingly there were a lot of people there. The owner sat us himself and apologized a few times that they were short staffed due to the blizzard. We didn't notice, we were paid more than enough attention. Water glasses always filled. There were so many dishes on the menu I wanted to try! I ordered the house pasta - but they said they were out of it. Which I did find odd considering it was described as pasta with meatballs, peas and a tomato sauce. That was OK though because I was debating between that and many others. I had chicken with artichokes, peas and mushrooms over linguine with a white wine sauce. It was delicious. Great portion size, lots of chicken. Chris had the seafood ravioli, I think it was stuffed with scallops, crab meat, etc. Topped with two huge jumbo shrimp. The portion was huge, they did not skimp on the ravioli's like some places do! Our waitress was super sweet. Only main complaint is the price. It's not that expensive, but definitely comparable pricing to some places in the North End, and for the suburbs I'd expect it to be a little cheaper. Though Venetian Moon across the street is definitely even more expensive than Pavarotti is. It was small, cozy, warm and dimly lit, making it a good spot for a romantic date or special night out. Will definitely go back to try the other 3 dishes I really wanted.
(4)Laura C.
I don't understand the negatives here, but after reading them, used a Groupon on a Sunday night instead of Saturday and maybe that helped. The restaurant was about 2/3 full at 6 p.m. on a Sunday so there was no waiting - we were seated as soon as we got there, a few minutes before our reservation. I don't think the infamous owner was on site. Our waitress couldn't have been nicer, service was great. The house chianti was better than most house wines and a good deal at $24/bottle. We didn't have a cocktail, but noted a really nice selection of liquors at the bar, obviously chosen with care. We split the antipasto and it was nice, not too much to overpower the meal to come. My husband had the pasta nona, their version of a bolognese made with ricotta instead of cream and declared it the tastiest he had had. I had the shrimp Valentino and it was wonderful, five big, fresh shrimp over homemade papardelle in a saffron cream sauce with mushrooms and peas. If there was a tiny problem, it was that the homemade pasta was cooked in too small a pot because strands were stuck together, but they twirled apart on the fork and weren't pasty, not did the pasta taste of dough as another review mentioned. The chef popped out and asked how our meals were too. All in all an unexpected surprise. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Fred P.
First time at this restaurant, made reservations for 7PM, got there about 10 of 7 and found 4 or 5 couples waiting for a table. Not sure if they got more business then they were expecting or people were lingering. There is hardly any room to wait, since it was about 10 degrees outside everyone crowded into a very small area. We were seated about a 1/2 hour after our reservation and waited on right away. We ordered drinks and mussels to start and since we had already looked at the menu ordered our meals. The mussels came out, there were quite a few of them more than enough for two people to split. They were very hot in a red sauce, little chewy, probably due their size. My wife ordered shrimp and scallops in a garlic sauce, I ordered veal parm (if you can't do a parm dish well you have problems). The meals came out, my veal were two large tender cutlets in a marinara sauce with a side of penne. The shrimp and scallops were piled on top of linguine. I would have preferred my cutlets cooked a little longer but they were very good, the shrimp and scallops were excellent. I had trouble finishing mine, we took leftovers home from my wife's meal. We decided to split a piece of chocolate cake which was very good. For drinks my wife had a lemon martini which was very strong, I had peroni beer, which came very cold. The tab with tip came to about $100, more than you might to expect to pay in Reading but still very good. The owner who had been greeting and seating people all night made a point of saying goodbye to people as they left. When we paid our bill and had gone outside already, he followed us outside to make sure we enjoyed our meal and thanked us for coming. Overall very good food, wait staff were pleasant and attentive. We'll try it again
(4)Jessica P.
A wonderful place - I'm a fan. It's so much better (not to mention classier!) than the Venetian Moon. The food is exquisite, the atmosphere very nice and the owner is as gracious as they come. Highly recommend for a date or anniversary celebration, but make sure you call for a reservation. They are quite busy.
(5)Marcia M.
Terrific meal last night. 4 of us, each ordering something different. Veal, shrimp, butternut squash ravs, pasta. Restaurant is small, service was excellent, meals were GREAT! My NYC guests were impressed with the quality (and their son used to be a world class chef!) . Only comment is that the size of the place made for a slightly noisy environment. Nonetheless, we will most definitely return. I can still taste the butternut/pumpkin raviolis........mmmmmm.
(4)Joe A.
Really nice little place tucked away in Reading, Ma. Italian music plays in the background and the atmosphere was actually pretty romantic.The owner was an authentic Italian and on hand to seat people. Meals are pricey but worth it. Pasta dishes on average were about $18, no meat just pasta. They also have seafood, chicken and veal meals. I ordered a tortellini dish with alfredo sauce, ham, and peas. Very, very, good! My wife got a pasta and scallop dish. She wasn't doing back flips over her meal. In fact, she had quite a bit left over but decided not to take the rest home. The restaurant is small and fills up quickly. They only had two servers working which easily got overwhelmed once the place was full. I bought a groupon voucher which I paid $20 for and got $40 to spend at the restaurant. Would I go again without a groupon? If I had the extra money I think I would, the food was that good.
(4)bozo m.
If you are ever thinking of eating here, RUN DON'T WALK. THE SERVICE IS PUTRID, We arrived 5 mins. before opening time and had to wait 20 count 'em twenty minutes for a freaking salad. The waitress gave us some bull crap that everything is made fresh. Here's a clue, honey, it doesn't take TWENTY MINUTES to empty salad greens out of a bag. And, oh yes, the bread we requested was in the oven. Five minutes later it was delivered to this joint. Meanwhile, the maitre d' does nothing but pace up and down, while SIX EMPLOYEES GATHER AND TALK. Ya think these jokers could have thrown the salad on a plate. Oh no, don't let me disturb your gabfest. Stay away and tell everyone you know. Oh yes, the food is totally over-priced and only so-so. Save yourself the aggravation. Forgot to say, 10 MORE MINUTES BEFORE THE ENTREE ARRIVED. Looking for aggravation after a long day? Try Ristorante Pavarotti!
(1)Valerie S.
Met friends for dinner after work recently. Food was delicious, and prices were reasonable. I would definitely go again, but would avoid the waitress that we had. If it wasn't for her attitude, we would've stayed for dessert and coffee. Instead, we went to the Venetian for a martini.
(4)Amelia D.
Amazing food, good service. It's a very small place, and they rarely take reservations for the same day. Cozy atmosphere and everything my husband and I have tried has been delicious!
(4)G. M.
OMG...this place was so awful we walked out and never had a meal. The waitress was appalling. She needs a course in diversity training ASAP. It is sad to even say that in 2015 3 people of color can walk into a restaurant in the North and more so in MA a blue state and receive the treatment we did from this women. We arrive because I had read many good things about the food and friends have said with me running restaurants I have to try this food. So me and a good friend who is a food critic and my sister went to go try this place. We didn't have a reservation and the place is small. We went on a Saturday July 18th about 6pm after a show. We drove 40 min from Boston to get there. We were standing in the waiting area by the door to be seated and the waitress ignored us for about 5 mins. Finally I asked if there was a hostess. She said just wait a minute...rudely I might add. I said okay. Then 3 minutes later after she kept serving tables and pouring water and clearing dishes she says do you have a reservation? I said no but there were 7 empty table. I asked if this was an issue and she said maybe. Waited another 5 minutes. Then another couple that just happen to be Caucasian walks in and she ran over. Said can I help you do you have a reservation . They said yes but they were an hour early and was wondering if they could be seated. She checked them off and said no problem and sat them. Then finally came back over and sate us at a 4 tops table next to the other couple she just sat. The young water and bus lady was so kind but that was it for kindness at this place. we look at the menu and so many things I wanted to have. She finally comes over with no welcome at all and with an attitude says you know what you want. The 3 of us looked at each other with faces of what is this woman's issue. So we tried to ignore it and my friend the food critic said he wanted the calamari as his entree cause he was not very hungry but wanted to try the food. My sister said she wanted Mussels and the waitress in a rude and snipped tone said red or white. didn't explain that was a choice of two type of sauces or what was in them. My sister said white. I asked about the shrimp app and how many piece cause I wanted to share it for the table and she rolled her eyes and said 3. So I was going to order an entree to share as a starter and was going to get the Lobster ravioli and then looking at something else and she barked out. Do you have some kind of coupon or something. I said excuse me. She said do you have some kind of online coupon. I said yes I do. She then went on to say very loudly in this very small dining room. It's not good on apps and you have to order at least two entrees. My guest were ready to leave right then. I said about I didn't see that but that is not an issue. Then she says for everyone to hear oh and you can't split the check. No one had mentioned anything about the check we had not even finished ordering and she barks out that. That was the last straw for my sister and friend and they got up and walked out. I know my sister left because she was about to let her have it. I stayed seat waiting for the manager or owner to come over and no one ever did I waited 5 more minutes before I walked out. I then called 10 minutes later to speak to the owner or manager and she answered the phone and said she would not be in today. This was clearly racist women and I don't recommend that any person of color ever go to support this place. I left 2 other messages for the owner to contact me since I run a restaurant and thought they should be made aware of this bad service and to see if they were going to do anything to correct this and never a return call. I hope this saves any blacks or Spanish people the trips for from buying any groupon, gilt city or living social voucher to this place. It's said cause the food smelled and looked great but I will never ever know now. Totally Disappointed, G.M.
(1)Mike B.
My wife and I just moved to Reading and really wanted to love this place. We'd heard good things. We did leave full, but we left a bit disappointed, too. The place is cute inside and the food is really quite good. My wife got the gnocchi, which was tender and tasty, and I got the shrimp and scallops with homemade pasta. The pasta was wonderful, but the scallops were a bit salty. And the rest of the experience left something to be desired: - The prices are reasonable, but a few dollars higher than they needed to be. - The beer list is horrendous. Coors Light? Really? - The staff wasn't all that friendly, which is what you'd expect from a quaint neighborhood joint. Will we go back? Probably, because the menu is quite extensive. Does it need to get better? Yep, it does.
(3)Jaclyn S.
I went here for a birthday dinner. The restaurant is tiny, but cute. We were a party of 8, so it was a little of a tight fit, but I'm used to North End, so this wasn't much of a shock. Due to the size of the restaurant, you should really make reservations as there aren't too many tables. For appetizers we ordered the mussels, eggplant and stuffed mushrooms. I didn't really care for the stuffed mushrooms but really liked the other 2. If I had to choose, I'd say the eggplant was the best of the 3. For my entrée I got the Homemade Fusilli alla Barese (sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions in a red sauce over fusili) which was very good. I tried a friends gnocchi and I thought it was just ok, but she liked it. For dessert we got the lemon cake, chocolate mouse cake and a cannoli. The lemon was the best of the 3. When I went to Rome they used to bring over the bottle of lemoncello at the end of the night and let us have drinks for free. So any time an Italian restaurant does this, it reminds me of Rome. The waitress came out with shots of lemoncello which was a nice treat. So, overall I thought the service was good and I had no problems with my meal. I think if you live in this area then it is probably a good option for you.
(3)Mike D.
Food was good. Service, not so much... I got the Risotto which was excellent. Nice sauce that wasn't too heavy. My girlfriend got the Gnocchi which she liked. Good sized portions. The waitress was not that great. She came to get drink orders, then food orders and wasn't seen till the very end. The quiet little woman refilling water and clearing tables helped us more than the waitress. We had to ask her for extra sauce, more bread, cheese, and she kept on top of drinks. Probably won't go back unless we get a good coupon.
(2)Brian G.
The food is above average. I usually get the shrimp and scallops with red sauce. The menu has plenty of options. The prices are slightly higher than the quality. The atmosphere is small and noisy. The owners tend to rush you in and out. If you're late (even a couple minutes) you will be spoken to. Overall it's average but we prefer Artichoke's in Wakefield.
(3)David A.
The princess and I came here shortly after moving to Reading. Walked in to an intimate close-seated small place, perfect ambiance, great lighting. Smells eminating from the kitchen that brought tears of excitement to my eyes. For an Italian place outside the North End, it gets no better. This was absolutely the best meal I've had since moving back to Boston, and boston area. Staff was friendly and inviting, food was on time, glasses were never empty. Mixed drinks were perfectly made. When the Tab arrived, the princess and I were full, hydrated, happy and all for less than 100.00 before tip. Make the trip!!!!
(5)Andy R.
Very pleasantly surprised. A friend recently asked to go for her birthday. I've been driving past this place for years and wondering about it, so I was happy to have an occasion to try it out. We were both v. happy we tried it. We are fussy about our food and we both loved what we had. Restaurant is very intimate - we liked the décor. Many complaints here about the noise level, which was not a problem for us as there were only a few tables on a Wednesday night. Portions were reasonable, prices fair. My friend commented that even the coffee was good. And the fellow at the next table was from Rome - can't get more authentic than that. Highly recommend.
(4)Stan D.
I was really rooting for this nice, family-owned establishment, and was looking forward a relaxing dinner on a quiet weeknight. The place is perfectly pleasant, the staff is very polite, but the food... ugh. Maybe it was my plate. My wife was reasonably pleased with her veal. Meanwhile, I ordered scallops with pappardelle pasta. The scallops weren't all that fresh, and the pasta was cold and slimy. I normally eat just about anything, but here I can honestly say I've had better.
(2)H S.
I too purchased a groupon for this restaurant (it was getting hard to resist after the 6th time I received an email--never a good sign for a business). And I too failed to make a reservation. How foolish of me to show up with one other person for dinner on a cold Wednesday night, only to be told I MUST make a reservation next time, before both the hostess and manager shoo'd us out into the cold. They literally refused us and told us to come back another time. If I hadn't already purchased the groupon there's no chance in hell I would have come back. And honestly, I could have done with just throwing out the coupon, because when we finally did make a reservation and returned for dinner, it was nothing special at all. My fiance's ravioli wasn't cooked enough and he said it was chewy, and I thought the marinara on my chicken parm was too soupy. Not to mention the waitress kept rushing us in the continuously sad attempt to make this restaurant look attractively bustling. Not impressed at all. If the groupon tempts you like it did me, pass over this deal and pay a few extra dollars for some decent Italian somewhere else.
(1)Sam D.
I visited this place as a result of a groupon. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was a bit loud but it's a small place and expected. The owner was very nice to us, we had a bit of a wait but that was ok. The only issue was that there's a bit of a draft as a result of the front door - you can see the owner has done what he can to prevent it - using a curtain, walls, etc. but it's still there. Overall, I thought this was a real nice place, food was excellent, sort of surprised at some of the rough reviews...I've been to many local Italian restaurants and I would rate this near the top.
(5)John K.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Came in on a Monday night, wasn't busy. Staff very friendly. We were next to the bar and the bartender started chatting with us. She makes an incredible espresso martini, and even tried out a couple of drinks with us. Made it a fun night. Service - friendly and fast. Had our food very quickly. It annoys me when a not-busy restaurant is as slow as one that's busy. Not here - it was quick. Pre-meal bread was excellent. Appetizer - got the caprese salad. Nothing special, could use a balsamic reduction. Nothing bad about it, it was what it was. Meal - I had the pumpkin butternut squash ravioli, was AMAZING. Rich pumpkin flavor. Sauce was fairly plain but that was what it needed - anything more and it would have been too much. Reasonable portion too. Wife had seafood risotto, she said was excellent. Too stuffed for desert, but I WILL be back. I used a Restaurant.com certificate so it wasn't ridiculous $-wise either. Pricey otherwise but I'd say worth it. I'm looking forward to trying a couple of other dishes.
(5)Rick F.
For a local fine Italian restaurant this place is great. It is small and therefore crowded so reservations are a MUST. The food is fresh and hot.
(4)Lynelle S.
I actually joined Yelp today so that I could write this review. That's how strongly I feel about how I was treated by a restaurant that I never even ate at (and I hate to be that person to judge a restaurant they haven't eaten at, but take it as a warning). I purchased a Groupon to this restaurant a few weeks ago for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. We were around in the area and wouldn't be free to go to dinner until at least 8pm this upcoming Sunday. On their website, the very front page says that they open for dinner 7 nights a week at 5pm and the kitchen closes at 10pm. Take a look - ristorantepavarotti.com . So, of course, I figured it would not be an issue making 8pm reservations (that's not even an unreasonable time to eat dinner, especially at an Italian restaurant). Well, according to the extremely condescending and rude hostess who answered the phone, I'm out of my mind for assuming they would actually be open that late on a Sunday. She immediately made me feel like a complete idiot for even thinking I could get a reservation for that time. She told me I would be refused if I came any time past 7pm. I then politely pointed out that on the front page of their website, it has completely different information and that I had relied on that. I was then told that they are allowed to close when they want based on interest. I guess my reservation didn't count as interest? And I guess they aren't willing to act on good customer service and say that they'll look into the mis-information? I then got told that the other reservations for Sunday were at 5pm, to further make me feel like an idiot for assuming I could come around 8pm. I was in such shock at the blatant rudeness of the entire conversation that I quickly hung up. Looking back, I regret not speaking with the manager. It's actually comical how many people on this page have had similar experiences, and this restaurant could not care less. Just take a look at some of the ones directly below me. Treating your customers like trash or your potential customers is not the way to generate a loyal following and guarantee revenue for your business. I've worked in customer service before, and if I ever got caught speaking like that to someone calling to make a reservation at my restaurant, I would have gotten fired immediately. The management at this place should be embarrassed by some of these reviews. The standards at this place are just so disappointing.
(1)Bryan M.
Exactly restaurant. The food was great and the service was on point. I had the fusilli romana and my girlfriend had the fusilli a primavera. Both dishes came out steaming hot. The sauce was delicious and the serving size was perfect we both left full and still had left overs. We had a groupon and ended up paying $14 including drinks. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)erin s.
I shouldn't have gone after the phone call to make a simple reservation, however, I did because I had the groupon to use. My food was good, my companion's veal was chewy and not good. Food very overpriced considering the manager/owner? clearly trying to shuffle people in and out like cattle. Won't be back, ill save my business for someone that actually appreciates it.
(2)Mike M.
My wife and I went here a week ago for dinner, right when they opened, with a reservation placed earlier in the week. We were using a Groupon and told the waitress immediately we were doing so. Her attitude seemed to change right away and was very short with us the rest of the evening and didn't make eye contact with either of us. The restaurant itself was nicely decorated, but there are probably too many tables in the small space. We felt cramped. The food seemed to take a while to come out but was good. My wife did say her creamy sauce was flavorless, which it was but my red sauce was tasty. Overall, there are better Italian restaurants in the area with better food for the similar higher end prices.
(3)myles l.
This was the single worst restaurant experience I have ever had. We had a 7pm reservation and had to wait at the bar for 45 minutes and were not asked if we wanted a drink for 30 minutes. Walk-ins who knew the employees were clearly seated first. Didn't even get dinner, first walk out of a restaurant of my life. Purchased a groupon, owner knew it, and treated us like garbage. Don't offer groupons if you're going to be rude about it.
(1)Catharine M.
WHAT A MESS! Well, my husband and I bought a GroupOn to go here to try it out...mistake #1! Let's just say you have to be speak Italian and be buddy buddy with the owner to get a table that you RESERVED. I'm sorry....we're not going to wait 30 minutes in a cramped little excuse for a "waiting area" for a table we reserved earlier that day. You clearly favorite other customers who come in after us and let them just come right in in front of the rest of us waiting. The service before we even were seated was SO BAD, we ended up just leaving and ripping the GroupOn up into little pieces. What a waste of money!
(1)Scotty P.
So we went again to give them another chance. FAIL. For a restaurant that specializes in southern Italian cuisine it should know never to use frozen seafood for Frutti di Mare.
(1)Steven W.
The staff is comically rude. I'm not sure if my wife and I had ever walked out of a restaurant before trying the food. Enter Ristorante Pavarotti.
(1)Jimmy S.
So despite all the reviews, we had a GREAT experience. Groupon was taken by our super hot waitress with no problems. Ordered seafood and regular entree's. Both were of superb quality and served quite quickly. Limoncello is legit. Be sure to order it. Unlike other Yelp'ers, we did not get a few free. Good drinks though. What is bad about the place? Pretty small inside. Be sure to get reservations. Took us two weeks to get them.
(4)Mia B.
I have been here a few times and have always enjoyed it. If you come on the weekend you should make a reservation because it does tend to get busy very quickly, especially at peak times. One of my favorite dishes here is the butternut squash and pumpkin ravioli! Delicious! The wine and martini list is also good. My only issue would be that the menu seems to be a bit pricey for the area. If you haven't been yet definitely check it out!
(4)Mike K.
We went here recently on a Saturday evening and had a pretty good time. It is a very small space, and reservations are highly recommended. On that topic, unlike some of the other reviews, we had no issue with our reservation time, and were seated as soon as we arrived for our 8pm sitting. The owner (Massimo?) is full of personality, and enjoys circulating around the restaurant visiting with guests. This is a nice touch. I kept it simple and ordered a chicken parmesan. For an "authentic" Italian bistro, the sauce was really boring. I am a huge fan of garlic, and it was noteably absent from this red sauce. It was just kind of there...the chicken parmesan was very moist though, and the breading gave it a light crust without being soggy. On a more positive note, my wife had the risotto and was very pleased with her meal. All in all, glad I tried Ristorante Pavarotti as I live in the same town and try to support local businesses. However, based on the prices and the so-so quality of the food this will not become a regular part of my dining rotation schedule.
(2)Sarah F.
We had a groupon for this place so we dropped by last night. I did not realize how small this restaurant is. It is TINY!!! We should have made a reservation, but we didn't, so we ended up sitting at the bar (even though there were plenty of empty tables while we were there). The bar is also tiny and you have a view of quite a few almost empty liquor bottles. Not really romantic. There is no bartender, so the waitresses kept coming in and out of the bar. oddly enough, the wine we ordered came from the back of the restaurant....probably not enough room for wine in the tiny bar. We shared a Caesar salad, which was OK. I had the chicken saltimbocca, which was tasty but very salty. My husband had the mama Nona's pappardelle, which was also good, but not mind-blowing. I probably would have liked this place better if we had been sitting at a table. Also - it is a pet peeve of mine when restaurants don't list the name/vintner of there house wines and just have "house" on the menu. Please list that info so we know what we are getting. We ordered more expensive wine because we didnt trust mystery "house". For an Italian restaurant, the wines by the glass selection was pretty meager (especially once you rule out the mystery house options).
(3)Christalina W.
I have been here a few times and while I think the food is good, I don't think it's fantastic or stands out. Pricey for just average tasting food.
(3)Chris C.
The waitress and host were very nice, friendly and personable. The food itself was alright, priced of a bit high for this area and more along the lines of the North End. The restaurant is very small and nearly impossible to have a personal conversation with your dinner partner.
(4)Courtney W.
Overpriced, tight space, with no parking lot. Would be acceptable if it was in the north end, but it's not!! Food was o.k., not great.
(2)Greg T.
How anyone could write a negative review of this place is beyond me. I found our experience top notch, and cannot wait to return to try other things on the menu. Other people have complained about using a Groupon, but we were there with a party of 6 on a Sunday night WITH a Groupon, and there were no issues. Even the owner that was supposed to be rude according to the previous reviews, came out and thanked us and was nothing but a nice guy. People are insane on Yelp sometimes. But let me talk about our experience. We had a reservation for 6, and we were seated right on time. We started with a few drinks, and ordered a few apps for the table. The eggplant rollatini was delicious, as were the stuffed mushrooms. We also had the antipasti which is always good (how can you go wrong with meats and cheeses??), and the bruschetta was delicious as well. So far so good. Nothing to complain about. The apps came out quickly and were nice and fresh. For dinner, I had the pappardelle, which you could tell was made with fresh pasta and a sauce that had been simmering all day. There was a ton of meat in it, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. By the time I was finished, I was stuffed. Granted, I cleared the plate, but isn't that what you are supposed to do when food is delicious? The rest of the table had a marsala, picatta, and some seafood entrees. All of them were polished off in full, and you could tell that all the pasta dishes were made from scratch with fresh pasta. And to top it off, I think the most expensive plate was $22 maybe? For a seafood pasta dish with fresh made pasta, that is a steal. Being the gluttons we are, we ordered a few desserts and shared with each other. The canolli was great, and worthy of being served from any top notch bakery. The chocolate mousse cake was just as good, and was gone in no time. We also tried the tiramisu and creme brulee cheesecake which weren't as good as the others, but nothing to turn away either. We had a few lemoncellos that were good, and a few more came out on the house with the bill. Can't go wrong with some free booze, right? For 6 of us with plenty of beers, 3 or 4 glasses of wine and a martini or 2, the bill was beyond reasonable. If we were in the North End, it easily would have been $600. We had 4 apps, 6 entrees, 4 desserts and a ton of drinks, and it wasn't even close to that. The wait staff at this place would bring me back if it wasn't for the good food. It was like you were being served by a family member. Great conversation about everything, and beyond friendly. I felt like we were at home, and weren't rushed out of the place at all. We probably stayed beyond what we should have, and no one ever came by to clear of the table to get rid of us, or any of that other stuff. Just a great meal served by friendly people. The place is quaint, but that just adds to the charm. I would make a reservation the next time as we did this time, just to ensure a table was there for us. Great meal, and highly recommended!
(5)Deborah G.
Love traditonal Italian!
(5)A G.
Showed up here on a Friday night at 8pm looking for dinner. I went in and asked for a table for 1. The guy at the desk told me they didn't have any tables. Long pause as I wait for something like "you can wait for the next table" or perhaps a polite "we can't fit you in tonight", but all I get is silence. I say ok, I'm going to go find another restaurant, and the guy got super mad. He seemed to think I was accusing him of lying, because he got super agitated and told me that I should go look around the dining room if I didn't believe him. At this point he was almost yelling, and I was feeling almost threatened. I got the hell out.
(1)Tiffany K.
The food can easily be compared to that of the North End, but the service really needs an overhaul. I have been there with a date several times, and can not say many good things about the service, but this past time really pushed me over the edge... A few of the waitresses we have had, especially the one we had this past Thursday night, was not particularly pleasant. The waitress that greeted us could have been a bit more polite about reminding us to make a reservation in the future...even though the restaurant was only half-full. After we were seated and had made our dinner selections from the menu, she informed us that I could not order an appetizer as a meal (a large salad), even though we have done it in the past. She was quite rude about it even though it didn't say anywhere on the Groupon, or in the restaurant itself, that you could not do that, but also that we had already ordered an appetizer to share, as well as a glass of wine at this point, and clearly planned on spending much more than the $40 value. The worst part was since I couldn't get the salad, I was forced to choose something from the entree list that I wasn't in the mood for, and was unsatisfied with my order. It doesn't seem right that there were rules and restrictions for using the Groupon, especially since the menu options are not very extensive. Seemed like the waitress was worried about her tip, but as it says on the Groupon, "Remember: there's no discount on great service. Please be sure to tip on the total bill (Groupon value plus anything else you order)." In spite of the terrible service, we still left a generous tip in hopes that the next Groupon customers will receive a warmer welcome. The food is always delicious and the chef does deserve credit on that one, BUT how difficult is it to hire welcoming and accommodating staff to keep us coming back? If the Groupons are intended to make and keep new customers, it's not working...
(3)Marianne D.
I'm confused by the negative reviews on here because I've had nothing but great experiences. Tried this place a few times and used their groupon deals each time and always had incredible meals. Service is fairly good but the food is out of this world and the fresh pasta is authentic. Small hole in the wall type place and it's best to make a reservation, and also be aware that prices are higher than you might wish but totally worth it for the quantity and quality of food.
(5)Mark B.
I wish I could give this restaurant a good rating but we (five of us) arrived at 4:25 thinking we could catch them early and despite an empty restaurant they would not let us eat claiming they were fully booked. They lady was borderline rude. It was too bad there food may have been good but now I will never know...
(1)Kimball P.
We have been to Pavarotti numerous times, love the food, great service. Last night was no exception. After a short wait at a cozy little bar in the back, the owner, Massimo seated us. He seems to be everywhere, a great host. We were greeted by our server immediately. She brought us some hot crusty bread and told us about the specials. We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer to share. It was outstanding, cooked perfectly, a great blend of cheeses between layers of perfectly cooked eggplant with a light sauce. Our entrees were equally good. A pasta puttanesca with calamari, and a very filling pumpkin ravioli in a cream sauce. There was no room for dessert sadly, but we will be back for sure, will try and save some room next time. We highly recommend Pavarotti, enjoy.
(5)Aniela L.
Kitchen Nightmares strikes again... A friend and I arrived at Ristorante Pavarotti around 6:30pm on a Friday night - neither one of us had ever been to this restaurant. Little did we know, reservations are a must. When we told the host that we didn't have a reservation he rudely asked if we'd like to eat at the bar. Eating at the bar wasn't a big deal to us, so we follow him back. We were seated at the end of the tiny bar, right in the path of all the servers going to and from the kitchen. At that point I realized what we were getting into, but thought we'd give it a shot anyway. After about 5-10 mins waiting for someone to acknowledge we were there, we were finally given some bread and put in a drink order. Drinks - The restaurant has a good enough selection of hard liquor, but if you're only looking for a glass of wine (not a whole bottle) your selections are limited. Only about 3 house whites and 2 or 3 house reds. Apps - Our stuffed mushroom appetizer came out in a decent amount of time but was less than impressive. It was served on a plate of wilted lettuce and tasted like I could buy the same thing in the freezer section of the grocery store. The best part was as we were finishing our app, we heard one server yell to another "they're still eating the mushrooms!!" Apparently our food was ready and waiting! Dinner - I had the baked haddock for my main dish. Again this was nothing to write home about. The fish was over cooked, the green beans were slightly under cooked, and the dish lacked overall flavor. Overall - First impressions were rude and the food was just not a good as I had hoped. The best part of dining here were the antics of the staff as a whole. How many staff arguments do you really need to witness before being turned off from a restaurant for good? This place is just like one of the family-run restaurants Gordon Ramsey deals with on his show Kitchen Nightmares. Nobody working there is happy, and that is translated through to a poor dining experience.
(2)Denise I.
I wasn't impressed. Food is overpriced, in my opinion. My lobster ravioli was loaded with garlic, too much. Its a cozy atmosphere....very small. Three chairs at the bar. I had a Groupon as most reviewers did. I personally, will not be returning.
(2)Tara C.
I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant. I've been going here for a while now and the way that they treated a regular customer is appalling. We made a reservation for a birthday celebration for a large group. The night before we were called to confirm and they had the time wrong. I politely told the woman the time she said was incorrect to which she replied well I don't recognize who wrote this down and I need you out by 7:30, I have a full restaurant . I told her we would do out best bit it was a birthday dinner . I also jokingly said if we weren't done eating were they going to pack us up and send us home. I have met the owner on many occasions and just brushed her rudeness off. The next night the waitress was hovering over us from the second we sat down asking us to order even though our whole table wasn't there yet and Massimo came over to tell us he had people coming at 7:30 and needed the table . The servers kept trying to wrap up our food before we were finished and were so pushy trying to hurry us up. I was so disappointed in how the whole situation was handled and will never be back here again. Please think twice before going here!
(1)Divya S.
I would have given them 5 stars if the waitress wasn't rude! We showed up there on a Tuesday evening at 7 PM and first thing she said to us was "Do you have a reservation?" no hello or how are you..we didn't think it was a big deal but oh no she made sure she told us that it is "Required" and how their restaurant fills up pretty quickly. Well after that terrible attitude she proceeded to show us our seats and there were probably 4 more tables being used. It was a tad bit smaller restaurant and the tables were pretty tight. The food however was absolutely delicious! I had the Chicken Maddalena and it was scrumptious. My husband had their seafood ravioli and his portion was a bit small. The waitress was OK for the rest of the time we were there. The best part though is that the owner was sitting there and he personally stood up to thank every customer when they were leaving. He asked us if we enjoyed our meal and to come back again. Will I go back there again probably yes but this time I will make sure I Make a RESERVATION!
(3)Rick S.
Invest in an air curtain for the entry After waiting for 40 minutes past our reservation time, we were seated next to the front door, where we froze during our entire meal. With the success they're enjoying, one would think the owner would invest in an air curtain for the entry; everyone seated near us was cold. Service was adequate but our food was mostly sub standard. The exception was the Chicken Parm, and Veal Parm. Both were quite good. Sadly, everything else was forgettable from the burned Bruschetta to the pasta that accompanied our main dishes. A garden salad was good, as was the house cabernet. I suspect the great reputation this restaurant enjoys has led it to become blase. Too bad! There are too many choices out there to endure shivering during a meal!
(1)Chantelle D.
We had reservations for 8:00. We got there at 7:45 and the manager/owner gave us attitude for being early. I can't help it that we were a little early we knew we would have to wait a little. But little is not what we waited. Once the large group before us was sat we waited for an hour before we were seated. He asked if we wanted to have dinner at the bar, but why would we want to eat at the waitresses drink station? That's what they should call it. I think that because we are younger than most couples there we were ignored. We were also new customers, and it seemed he gave preferential treatment to other customers he knew. He asked others names as they were leaving and introduced himself but never came over to our table. The clams casino took 25 minutes which should not have taken so long. They were ok. Our meals were good i had the chicken piccata and my boyfriend had the chicken parm, but we barely ate it after being full from our appetizers and bread because of the hour wait. Luckily we had a groupon otherwise we never would have came. I don't know if we will be back.
(1)Laser s.
So...we tried going back to Pavarotti's a few weeks ago, on a Thursday night. Since the last time we went, we walked right in and were seated, we figured that would be the case. Nope. Every table was full, the owner greeted us with, "You have a reservation?" and we said no. Much hand waving ensued, he pointed to the book, pointed to the restaurant, shrugged, lectured us that we SHOULD HAVE CALLED FIRST, and he was clearly irritated. He gave us his card, and said he could possibly seat us in 45 minutes. We said thanks, and went down the street to Gaetanos which never fails to please! AND they are polite. One of the reasons why I didn't bother making a reservation was because of all the people here who said they made reservations and still had to wait. So I figured it was futile. But there is NO place to wait. Tiny entry way, tiny bar in the back, I mean NOWHERE. I wouldn't go there in the winter, for sure. Bottom line is I'll try it again, but if we are treated the same way as many people on the boards here report they have been treated, it will be my last time.
(2)Heather M.
Yes, you need reservations but once we told the waitress/hostess we'd come back later, they found a table for two, after they asked if we wanted to sit at the bar which only had 5 chairs. I can't complain about anything except the bus girl/water girl. She was so soft spoken we kept asking her to repeat herself. She never smiled nor seemed very happy to be doing whatever it was she does. Our waitress was the hostess and we were given bread and drinks pretty quickly, although they didn't have iced tea. My pasta dish was excellent, very hot, flavorful, nice and crisp broccoli and the mushrooms tasted fresh from the garden. My husband's veal, no pasta which was his choice, was good but he said it needed something to tie it together. Maybe a red wine sauce instead of a white wine sauce. Our Caesar Salads were good and they offer you anchovies on top if you'd like. Yes, this place is small and there isn't any room to wait in the foyer. However, there is plenty of sidewalk space to wait outside. We would go back again and are glad we didn't bring our children. Unless they are adventurous eaters they won't find anything they like!
(4)Judy F.
Delicious Seafood Ravioli and Pumpkin butternut squash ravioli! Their homemade limoncello was amazing.
(4)J L.
This restaurant is absolutely incredible, the staff is very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is quaint and the food absolutely delicious. We have been there 6 times this year alone! When people are looking for a great Italian place we recommend Ristorante Pavarotti.
(5)Adam F.
I almost ate here tonight. Unfortunately the kitchen closes closer to 7:00 PM then 10:00 PM (7 days a week kitchen closes at 10:00 PM is how the website reads). I suppose 10:00 PM is more of a guess or they aim to push away customers and lock the door on a dark restaurant at 10:00 PM. The person answering the phone seemed upset I called. Perhaps the hours need to be updated, perhaps they close and open when they feel like it, perhaps I'll never know (this one :)).
(1)Jen X.
Pretty bad is how I'd summarize our Friday night dinner there. Started by getting seated at 8:40 for an 8pm reservation. Then no one realized we were seated except the lady that dropped off some bread & water. After more waiting the manager (I assume) came & asked if anyone came over yet. When we did get a waitress she was extremely apologetic and kind. "we don't have stations & rotate through, we didn't know." She was super nice! We started with "stuffed mushrooms" which were actually mushroom caps filled with some store brand breadcrumbs & olive oil. Lacking in flavor for sure. I had the Veal Francese with a side of fusilli & he got scallops, shrimp clams, & calamari in Fra Diavolo sauce. Not his original order but since they were "out of lobster," he had to make a 2nd choice. Veal Francese, well it claimed to be dipped in egg batter & breaded which it was but unfortunately I assume it sat for a bit before sent out since the veal was warm in some spots & the breading was completely soggy & mushy. The veal itself wasn't even good tasting. The side of fusilli was good. The penne with scallop (SINGULAR) shrimp, calamari & clams in Fra Diavolo lacked seasoning in the sauce. It was spicy but no other yummy Italian sauce flavor that we were hoping for. There was only one scallop in the dish but I guess it wasn't a big deal there wasn't more because it was rather yucky & had an unfresh strong fishy flavor. The clams "crunched" with grit & the calamari & shrimp were not bad but not great. We love to eat, but these plates left much to be desired. We barely ate & took nothing home. Surprisingly the bus girl thought nothing of removing the full plates of food from the table?? Hmmm...I"d guess it's not the 1st time this has happened? While we got our food in a timely manner, once we did order, the table of 4 on the side of us ordered before we were even seated yet didn't get their food until sometime after us. Apparently the other waitress forgot to put in the order. Kind of an important piece to miss. When one of the guesets in the party asked the "manager" his explanation was "everything is made fresh to order" no apologies or acknowledging the real error. I happen to encounter the manager while I waited in line for the restroom & he asked "so how was things?" SO... I told him a lil' bit of my opinion but hate to complain so as he began yelling to the chef that I didn't like it I asked that he not make scene. All while a poor waitress was there asking "are you we done yet here? No I still don't have my calamari." The manager insisted we have a lemoncello shot before leaving so after declining the 1st offer & his persistent 2nd offer, we took him up. ...hey something needed to have flavor. I guess to sum things up: If you want good bread, a nice waitress & pretty decent house cab then I'd recommend this place, otherwise save yourself 2 hours of your life & $125 & pour a jar of Bertolli over some penne at home because it will taste better than the food here. WAY overrated on here. Certainly will not be rushing back...ever.
(1)Tiffani M.
My husband and I went to Ristorante Pavarotti tonight. We made reservations earlier in the week for 7:30. We were greeted quite rudely by the owner and he shouted "GO GO GO" and basically pushed us to our table. The main waitress was not any friendlier. She would give us really weird looks and roll her eyes. It was very uncomfortable. I don't know if she was having a rough night or what. But really, she was the least of our problems. After 15-20 minutes of sitting and waiting for water, the owner comes back owner and yells "Where are your menus?!" We reply that we have already placed our order. He didn't understand. My husband repeated that we had placed our orders. I asked, "If we could just get some water...?" and he was yelled "Where are your water glasses?!?!" Uh...... I don't know...? Getting upset that I am being literally YELLED at, I ask "Why are you yelling at us?" And he storms away. My husband is now pretty upset over this.. follows the owner to ask why is he is being so rude. He just threw his hands in the air, yelled something we didn't understand, and returned to the kitchen. The table next to us was finishing up and paying their bill. The customers told us that her shrimp smelled like ammonia. When it was brought to the owner's attention, he argued with her about it and told her the shrimp was just fine. So we weren't the only ones having a REALLY bad experience. We let our waitress know that we would be leaving due to the extreme disrespect and rude behavior from the owner. NEVER is all my dining experiences have I been treated so badly! It sounds like from the rancid shrimp that we weren't missing out. I do not recommend this place to anyone. No one deserves to be treated this way when going out for a nice dinner. AVOID.
(1)Mike L.
Went here for dinner for the first time about 6 months ago. Been back monthly (if not more often) ever since. I've tried 8-10 different dishes and all have been phenomenal. Owner, hostess and wait staff are all incredible, they make you feel at home. After being there a couple times, the owner recognized us as regulars and since then, we've gotten a free limoncello after dinner. He's a very happy guy, and makes sure his guests are taken care of. Only drawback is that you NEED to make a reservation to be able to eat here on the weekends, and you need to make it a day or so in advance, at least. It's a small and popular place, but I don't agree that it should get a negative rating because of that. VERY recommended. Best dish is the Fusilli Ala Norma (especially if you like homemade pasta and eggplant).
(5)Ken P.
I've been here a couple times and had passable Italian food. It's around the block from my house, so I like the convenience. However, last time two times I went, the service was terrible. One time, I had my table moved mid meal so they could accommodate a bigger party that showed up. I don't particularly enjoy have to put down my fork and shift across the restaurant to the back corner. I dealt with it and decided to give them another chance. Then the next time, I made a reservation and ended up waiting 30 minutes past that time for a table. When my wife asked the absentee manager when our table would be ready and that we had a reservation a half hour before, he asked "if we thought he was stupid". We didn't ask remotely hostilely... He had written my name down wrong on the pad and we wanted to make sure he knew it was us. Nice way to run a business, though. We said "Ok. Listen you obviously can't handle our group tonight, so we're going." Then the guy *grabbed my arm* and started saying "I can't help it if people eat slow." I waved my group on, since I wanted to leave the situation. I asked him to release me and that I was leaving to find food elsewhere. He at this point said it will only be another 5-10 minutes and asked if I wanted some wine, and blocked me from the door. I was waiting with two pregnant women and would've appreciated some understanding from him. I'll never eat there again, and I'll discourage my neighbors from it as well. I like supporting local businesses, but only if the guy there doesn't insult my wife and then assault me. Heh. There's plenty of mom and pop Italian in Boston. I recommend finding another one.
(1)Stacy C.
Food is decent, service is apathetic and at times rude. Never again...the food's not that good. We could walk there, but the people who work there (both on the phone and the servers) are so unpleasant we'll get in our car and drive someplace else. Put a little effort in and a lot less attitude, Pavarotti, and people might come back.
(1)Alexandra R.
My husband and I went here last night, (Friday) for his birthday dinner. I had made a 7:45 reservation and we got there perfectly on time, but were asked rudely to wait until seats were ready, meanwhile, there is NOOOO room to wait, the entry way is the smallest area I might have ever been in! We finally say down at approx 8:10, the owner, is a JERK, we were seated next to the bar (which might as well not even been a bar, it was so tiny) and we over heard him yelling a a waitress in front of us! When the yelling at her was over he went to the customers sitting at the bar and said "you would think a waitress would be smart and not be so stupid!" wow he did he really just insult a waitress IN FRONT of customers??? WOW!!!! Never the less, we were slightly entertained and carried on with our meal, the appetizer of calamari was very good, came quickly and our round of martinis were great. Ordered our meal and were discussing how crazy HOT it was in the restaurant. We got our meals quickly again, which was perfect, because it was so hot we couldn't wait to get outside (which was actually cooler). I got the lobster Ravi and my husband got the seafood ravioli, both were decent, nothing to go crazy about... as soon as we were done the RUDE owner noticed me fanning myself and came over and started going on and on about the temp being hot because "the filter, the filter, was going beep, beep, beep and the landlord was coming in tomorrow to fix it" that is all well and good, but a simple, "I'm so sorry it's this hot" would have been better, he is extremely pushy and made myself and my husband very uncomfortable. As soon as we paid, we ran out to cool off and headed across the street, to the air conditioned relaxing atmosphere of the venetian moon...thank goodness for THEIR martini's! All in all, we would NOT be going back, it was overpriced, sub-par food, rude owner, not the happiest waitstaff and we had to wait even though we had a reservation. Good luck if you do decide to still give them a try! :)
(1)Lindi K.
I was in Boston recently to help a friend prepare to move to Phoenix. During my little trip I (naturally) wanted to try out some food! We weren't too far from this place and based on its positive reviews, I suggested we try it. She had never been there either, so off we went with hungry bellies. The restaurant was pretty small and there was a bit of a wait since we didn't make reservations, but being that it was just the 2 of us, we didn't wait very long. It was very cute and seemed authentic. Our server greeted us almost immediately and brought back some amazing bread with oil. We decided to skip on the appetizers and go straight for the entrées. Everything came out promptly and looked amazing! Not surprisingly, it tasted just as good too. We were starving so there were no leftovers to be had. Overall, the food was great, service was extremely friendly and attentive and I felt the pricing was right on point for this style of restaurant. I'd definitely go here often if I lived in Boston!
(5)Chip S.
I had bought the groupon here a while ago and had to use it before it expired. I got the feeling the owner didn't like the fact i was using it, whatever. I called ahead but got seated at a very small bar area. The salad was average. I ordered a fish in an oddly good orange cream sauce. I little weird at first but I really did like it. The owner had eyes for my girlfriend and gave us a shot of lemoncello on the way out. It's small, better call ahead. Service was good, the girls were on top of their game.
(3)Jason Z.
Amazing food at a reasonable price, but the owner's friend first approach will limit its potential. I have been dinning at Ristorante Pavarotti for three times already and I am a fan of their foods. I also have to point out that this place does not really need Groupon and LivingSocial to stay open (the owner want to spread the words according to the waitress). I have to give credit to the chef because he is doing such a good job. The spinach and mushroom risotto was amazing, and the butternut squash and pumpkin ravioli was out of this world. This place has became my girlfiend's favor restaurant at our first vist. However, I hesitated to make reservation here for our anniversary worrying the service is going to ruin my important date. And this is how the place got a 4 stars. Let me explain. Dinning at Ristorante Pavarotti kind of reminded me ordering soup from the Soup Nazi (Seinfeld reference). the food was amazing but if the owner doesn't like you, he can leave a bad taste in your mouth. It was clear that the owner give priority to his friends. For the first two times, people came later than we did were seated ahead of us (although we did make reservation, and came in on time). And the third time was the worst. As we walked into the place, there were three table open, and two of them are at the quiet area with not a lot of traffic while the third one was in front of the door. Just before the waitress about to seat us, the owner/manager called her back (in front of us) and ask her "come back, where are you taking them, let me look first." After he looked around the room and decided to have the waitress seat us in front of the door. My girlfriend and I kind of looked at each other because most places seat you to the less traffic table first (so the waiters and waitress wouldn't run into customer constantly, and customers like it better). As the other two tables were continue to remain open, waiters and waitress were having a hard time getting around us and I had to move my chairs often (as I have expected). 15 mins after we sat down, two groups show up, and they appeared to be the owner/manager's friends as they were shaking hands and giving out hugs. They were seated immediately by the owner/manager at the remaining two tables. Overall is not a bad restaurant, and I have every intention to come back here even without a Groupon or LivingSocial deal. Ristorante Pavarotti has really good foods. It has what it take to become a successful restaurant. But the owner need to understand the friend-first approach will only limit the number of new customers you will get.
(4)Paul B.
Superb meal. Fish specialties are a must. And the portions are huge!! Wait staff can explain all the dishes and help when you cannot decide. We could have been full after the appetizers, but wanted their entrees. I highly recommend this place. Leave plenty of time to savor each bite!!
(5)Shonna M.
My sister and I happened upon this place while on vacation in Boston. The atmosphere, service and food was amazing. The owner seated us and walked us out at the end checking on our meal. My sister had the veal special and I had the pumpkin ravioli, both were amazing. This was our first night, but out of all the places we have eaten since, this was our favorite. Highly recommend!
(5)A K.
This restaurant is a nice little corner place in Reading, small, but intimate. It's a nice alternative to Venetian Moon, which I feel like sometimes is just trying to act like it's smack in the middle of Boston. Ristorante Pavarotti has great food...I am a sucker for their seafood risotto (it's the only reason I would ever go there). I have to say though, despite the good food, the service is...how do I put this...sub-par? rude? slow? The owner who acts as host is friendly, but without trying to hide it, is bias towards his customers. The last time we went here, there was two of us. We had a reservation and were told it would be maybe 10 minutes for our table. Another party of 2 walked in after us...and after a few minutes, they were sat first because they were "regulars"...the owner tried to play it off saying that the table they gave him was not suitable for us (as if he put them in a bad spot)...false. They were right by the window. Where did we end up being sat? the last table, right before the entrance to the kitchen. The waitress, though kind, was rude, slow, and we felt as if we were being ignored most of the night...we've all been there unfortunately. We powered through the dinner and decided we probably won't return, at least not for a very long time. In the past, I have gone here with 4-5 other people and accommodating a larger party in this place can be hard, but doable. I remember the service then being a bit better, but again, the waitresses (I don't want to judge, I don't know if it is all family-run?) are somewhat rude and give an impression like they really don't care, they just want to push the food out (which ok, some places are like that, you know that going in...here, you wouldn't expect that). I do have to say, there is one waitress, I am not sure her name, who is awesome. I had her before when I was there with a larger party. She is friendly, attentive, and on top of her game. I hope that some day the other wait staff take note and follow in her footsteps.
(2)Lucille F.
My husband and I just came home from this restaurant, we had a Groupon that was ready to expire. We went in shortly after 5 pm and were asked if we had a reservation. I was surprised to hear that the place would be full on a Thursday night so early, but I asked if we could sit at the bar and was told we could. The owner Massimo came over to us shortly after we sat and asked us if we could move down a seat, just in case others came in. He seemed very high strung and added almost a nervous energy to the restaurant. We didn't really understand what he meant at first and we stayed put, but midway through our dinners, another couple came and sat at the bar, and he moved us down a seat, actually moving our placemats, etc. to allow for more room. He said he'd "take care of us" for the inconvenience, but that wasn't the case. The food was OK, we both felt it was overpriced for what you got, if we didn't have the Groupon, we doubtfully would have gone in, but even with the Groupon, we won't go back, there are much better Italian places in the area for quality of food and value.
(2)Michael M.
Good prices for such a nice Italian restaurant.
(4)Miss B.
Food was amazing, priced decently. Loved the atmosphere and decor. Would have enjoyed dinner a little more if the owner didn't keep talking our ear off....he was nice. He's very on top of his wait staff though.
(4)Paul K.
I wanted to ignore all the poor ratings and like Pavoarotti. However, most is fairly accurate. The owner is genuine and tries to make it a positive experience. The mixed drinks were good but lacked in alcohol content. The over priced butternut squash (6 for $18) were not very good, my wife says she has had better from a package. The calamari was bland. My wife and I both had veal, it was chewy and tough. It is very small which is fine but there is nowhere to wait, and on a cold night, your only option is inside. The bar seats maybe 4 people and everyone was eating dinner leaving no room to hang out and wait. The temp fluctuates up and down, I had my jacket on most of the dinner then the heat kicked on and we were too hot. I wished it was a place I could recommend, but for the prices, there are so many other options.
(2)Grandpa B.
Grandma and I went to RP mid week at 6PM. By 6:30 the place was filled up. A bit later there was a line out the door. There must be something happening here. We ordered the gnocchi and the fusili . They were very well prepared and delicious. It is a bit pricy, but it is homemade pasta which is typically a couple bucks more. But to compare, in the North End you get a heaping dish of pasta which assures you lots of left-overs to enjoy at home next day. The portion at RP was reasonable for the dinner but little if any leftovers. The gnocchi goes down very easy so I had no leftovers. After RP filled up with customers, conversation was difficult due to the loudness of everyone talking. Overall, we were treated well. The service was attentive. Delivery of the meal was prompt. I would go there again, but noting that there seems to be plenty of discount coupons available around the various coupon sites.
(4)Bonnie M.
Great night out with friends to celebrate my Husband's birthday. Great automosphere, great food, great service...
(5)Sharon K.
If you have a coupon be prepared to ber treated as a second class citizen and by all means DO NOT put your phone number on the coupon (they will ask you to) . You will wait for service, bread, food etc. and you won't get the lemonchello at the end of your meal. Then if for any reason you send back your food, and ask it to be taken off your bill, be prepared for the owner to argue with you then call you at home and yell and swear at you and call you cheat.... I have had several really good meals there but the owner is such a nasty man that we will never go back there again.
(1)Steve B.
Adding to Rick S.'s 1/15/2012 review... When I arrive 10 minutes before a 7pm reservation, and I'm waiting another 30 minutes standing in a cold vestibule, DO NOT seat anyone who came in AFTER me because you can put 2 tables together and seat the 4 that came in after us! That is just WRONG! And that was my first impression, which did not set the experience in a positive direction. I seriously asked my buddy if, even after being seated if he wanted to leave and just pay for the drinks. We didn't, but we were close. The rest of his review is spot on. Though the Veal Parm (for me) was good and tender, the white sauce & garlic (what garlic?) pasta was tasteless - I had to mix it with the sauce with the Veal Parm for any flavor, and the bruchetta was burned and also lacking in any type of zing. I don't need to return here.
(1)Craig S.
This place is excellent. This is my 5 or 6th time dining here and it only gets better. Last night I had the caesar salad (perfect) and clams casino. The clams were some of the best I have ever had and I eat out regularly and they were perfect. The real treat was the carbonara. So creamy, tasty - absolutely perfect. I was licking the plate. My wife had the veal something and it was also perfect. I love this place. I highly recommend as there is nothing north shore that competes. I am going to start going every 2 weeks to give this guy business.
(5)