- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Porcini's
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Mediterranean Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean [Edit]
68 School StWatertown, MA 02472
(617) 924-2221
- Nearest Transit:
-
Arsenal St @ School St (70, 70A)
Arsenal St Opp School St (70, 70A)
Arsenal St Opp Arsenal Ct Dr (70, 70A)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
54 reviews for Porcini's
Review Highlights
-
"Great hidden jewel of a place." In 3 reviews -
"...gone even easier on the red sauce although the red sauce..." In 4 reviews -
"Great service, nice wine selection and a menu of Italian..." In 4 reviews
Loading...
54 reviews in English
-
Review from Karen S.
South Hampton, NH
5/2/2012
I have been going to Porcini's for years and have yet to be disappointed.
We always start with the Antipasto Platter. Everyone picks their favorites from the platter. Mine is the hummus on toasted pita. As far as the main course goes - I like to try something new all the time. Last week I had the Lobster Ravioli and I must say, I'm a huge fan and may have to get it a second time!
Not much room for dessert but I have been known to sneak a bite from others.
The place is small, quaint and the staff is attentive and friendly.
We'll be back for Mother's Day! -
Review from Morgan T.
Boston, MA
4/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Ok I face it, I'm a tough one to please. I was skeptic of this place because that's in my nature. There was an instant Groupon so I figured I would try it out.
It was very small yet cute inside. The bread came with some hummus/olive oil concoction which was AMAZING, I'd never tried anything like that before. The calamari.....GREAT.
For the main course, there are usually one or two things I'm stuck between. Here, there were about 5 different things I wanted. The menu had a wonderful spread, I had the Margherita with shrimp and it was delicious! MmM thinking about it now makes me want to go back.
Overall, good Italian spot in Watertown and I'm sure I'll be back for more. -
Review from Maren C.
Newton, MA
4/6/2012
We have driven by Porcini's hundreds of times. When I saw a Groupon I thought, why not give it a try? So we drove on over and were seated promptly. We had $50 to spend. So we got an appetizer, the eggplant rollitini, which was a-ok. I prefer a bit thinker slice of eggplant with a bit more ricotta but either way it was fine. Then we got the gnocchi. Which was really strange. It was also extremely salty. There was squash, peas and tomato sauce on the gnocchi and it was topped with breadcrumbs and cheese. Weird combination of flavors but they were overpowered by the salt. We also got the Distrutto, which was better. It was like the food was from two different restaurants. The cream sauce here was light enough and the sun-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives complimented each other. I would have liked a bit less salt here as well but it was not nearly as salty as the gnocchi. So all done, we get our check. Its 49 dollars. I have to spend the extra dollar. Fine, add a cannoli. Ok, cannoli added. $8. Let me repeat $8. Now granted there was two small ones and they were good. But $8? Fine. We were not allowed to change our order when we realized how expensive these little gems were.
Restaurants should practice keeping the customers they have gotten in the door happy, so that they come back. It's common sense.
But now that we have left, my suggestions are to lay off the salt and charge a reasonable price for a cannoli. Until then, ciao. -
Review from Dorothy O.
Belmont, MA
4/7/2012
The waitress here was great, the food adaquate. However, the owner ruined a very nice night by refusing to take the groupon we presented. We acknowledge that the bar code was missing from the groupon and would have happily provided the number when we got home. The other couple dining with us were frequent patrons of this establishment. Instead the owner engaged us in a screaming match in front of other patrons . He actually questioned our careers in an outrageous display of anger. It was frightening to see someone lose control in such a public forum. We will never set foot in there again although he told us that our review would have no affect on his business, I hope differently.
-
Review from Todd F.
Woburn, MA
2/12/2012
I've not the biggest fan of Italian food, having had it most of my life. For me, an Italian restaurant has to either do it different or really well. Porcini's does both.
The meal starts with an amazing bread that has a wonderful texture and a nice herb seasoning to it. Add to that a roasted red pepper and sun dried tomato hummus, and you've got an incredible start to the meal.
For starters we had the antipasto plate (amazing quality and variety) and the mushroom strudel (jaw droppingly good, even for someone who doesn't like mushrooms).
Dinner was the Disrutto; perfectly cooked pasta in a light garlic cream sauce with chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and olives. This dish wasn't heavy, but it was incredibly flavorful. My wife had the gemini with three seared scallops, grilled shrimp, and a nice cream sauce.
Dessert was a light, yet tasty Tiramisu, while the wife had the new chocolate creme brule. We were both incredibly happy.
Service was fast, friendly, and helpful as I found myself hard pressed to decide between dishes.
If I had one complaint, it's the outside. The sign is old and dated and the place is dark and uninviting. Inside the decor is warm and comfortable, but they need to do something about the exterior.
I'll definitely be returning to Porcini's!!! -
Review from Caitlin A.
Watertown, MA
5/11/2012
Deciding it was time to try another Watertown spot, I got a 50$ Groupon for Porcini's. We made a reservation for a Monday night around 7:30, when we got there, there was maybe two other tables. But it was a warm and inviting space, with candles on each table. It took a while for a server to come by to get our drink orders, and when someone finally did come, it was a manager with our waitress trailing a few seconds behind. Essentially we gave our drink order to two people. Weird. We ordered water with lemon. After what seemed liked quite some time, we got our water and some bread with a fantastic red pepper hummus with olive oil dip. It really was very nice, especially with the fresh bread.
For an appetizer, we got the Crab Cakes. They were the best part of the meal. Two nice sized cakes with a crispy batter on the outside, but fall apart fresh crabbiness in the middle. The aioli that came drizzled on top and on the side was also very good, but the cakes didn't need it. For dinner I got Veal Saltimbocca. It was okay. The veal cutlet was cooked well and the thick pieces of prosciutto were delicious, but the sauce was just okay and the pasta was really unappealing. (I may be jaded from the fresh pasta I have been unable to get enough of lately - L'Impasto in Cambridge). Overcooked, definitely not fresh. The boy got the Special Risotto that night. It had sausage and mushrooms, and Gouda cheese and some other really yummy sounding things. He doesn't like mushrooms so they made his order without. It was good and creamy, but ridiculously heavy. Too much of the cheese in our opinion. So the food was not bad by any means, everything was "good", aside from the crab cakes which were outstanding, but it was overpriced. For 25$ a meal I want fantastic/authentic/fresh Italian food.
On a side note: Neither the waitress or manager came by to check on us after giving us our food, and we had been done eating for a good 15 minutes before anyone came over to take our plate and offer dessert. Mind you: there were only three other tables at this point. They offered a dessert tray, we got the "No Flour Chocolate Cake", which was also overpriced but not disclosed until the bill came. The cake was VERY rich, a smaller, lesser priced piece would have been sufficient for the two of us to share.
I ended up spending an extra 30$ on top of my 50$ groupon, and I don't think it was entirely worth it. -
Review from Roscoe R.
Cambridge, MA
3/24/2012
I finally tried Porcini's last night and it was decent, though not as good as I had hoped.
SERVICE. Service started out really strong, but at end of the meal -- when the restaurant was much more crowded -- we waited for long periods of time and had to flag down our server. He was good, though -- polite and knowledgeable.
FOOD. Bread and a red pepper/olive oil spread are delivered to every table. The bread was fresh and tasty, and so was the spread. Great stuff! I started w/the Caesar Salad (anchovies on the side). It was a decent Caesar, not bad but nothing distinctive. The Crab Cake appetizer was the high point of the meal. Specifically, the lemon-garlic aioli and the saffron sauce (tasted kinda like hollandaise to me) were really well spiced and flavorful. The two crab cakes themselves were large, moist, and tasty. This appetizer is a "must-get." We split a Beef Tenderloin Risotto, just because this sounded interesting to me. Unfortunately, beef doesn't seem to go to well in risotto. It would've been great except the beef was just weird in there. Otherwise, the risotto was perfectly cooked and really tasty. We then split 2 entrees: Chicken Parmigiana and Pork Tenderloin. The Chicken Parm was spiced lightly, cooked nicely, and was a decent size. The linguini was done well too -- not too al dente, but not overcooked. I really like the red sauce here -- it's thick and rich, a bit like tomato paste (that's how I like my red sauce). The Pork Tenderloin wasn't that good. Although the pork itself was a nicely cooked piece of meat, the balsamic was way too strong and totally overpowered the dish. It was served on top of really bad mashed potatoes -- watery, with zero spice (tasted like boxed mashed potatoes after too much water was mistakenly added). So I'd stay away from that dish. We didn't get dessert or coffee.
Overall, Porcini's is decent, but for the price (especially in a relatively low-rent location), you can probably do better. I'd go back there if I was with someone who really wanted to return there, but I wouldn't suggest it on my own. -
Review from Amanda H.
Watertown, MA
2/2/2012
Love this place! We go all the time! You have to try the risotto of the day sometime but I also love their lobster ravioli and my husband is a big fan of their Osso Bocco. Plus, they have very tasty cocktails. We like the cucumber one and also the Porcinitini.
I even enjoyed this place when I was pregnant!
It is a cute place and their outside space is also sweet. Hidden gem -
Review from Zachary W.
Brighton, MA
9/20/2011
I'm giving this 3 stars based on the merits of the food, which I'll start with first:
I had the grilled scallops and risotto with julienned vegetables, and my friend had the margherita angel hair pasta. The ingredients were all fresh and everything was cooked beautifully. My only complaint about the main course was that the julienned vegetables did not stand up to the rest of the dish. Perhaps roasted vegetables would have been better? We topped it off with a passion fruit crème brulée, which erred more on the side of mousse with carmelized sugar. But, I saw this as a positive, rather than a negative. However, the strawberry it came with was rather under-ripe.
The staff was also very friendly, though the restaurant was rather empty. But the bar was VERY FULL. The decor and lighting leaves quite a lot to be desired. It's also a bit strange that they were playing Shostakovich's 8th string quartet and Tchaik's piano concerto over the raido. I love those works, but it's a bit intense for dinner!
That being said with a low(er) priced wine, this was a $86 meal *before* tip. Considering the location, decor, and the food (albeit good); this is overpriced. The pricing is about the same as Vinoteca di Monica in the North End, but doesn't deliver on the same level.
Here is what the pricing was and what I thought it should be:
Wine (Malbec) $32 -- definitely should be $27
Scallops $23 -- acceptable! but a nice deal would be $21
Plain margherita pasta $15 -- should be $11
Crème Brulée $8 -- should be $6
anyhow, that's about $11 overpriced. -
Review from Aly W.
Brookline, MA
10/20/2011
been here numerous times and I havent been disappointed yet! Everything I have ever ordered here has always been great. The chefs are accomodating if you dislike an ingredient in the dish and the waitresses are always super nice!
The atmospher is nice. the bar is seperated from the dining area, but only by a wall and they have an open kitchen. -
Review from Food Doc F.
Watertown, MA
1/9/2012
Believe it or not, it was my first time!! And you always remember your first time!
Pretty darn good.......I am not a huge fan of Italian style food, but a friend suggested that we go there and celebrate something or other. I think it was just an excuse for me to take her to dinner, but what the heck... the company was good and the food excellent.
I think we made a mistake on focussing on the app's though, because by the time our main courses came, we were not hungry anymore...but the leftovers were wonderful the next day.
I think though I need to focus on the app's... the mussels... a huge portion for an appatizer, so tasty and just the right amount of garlic. The mushroom pillow dealies.... OK, VERY rich, but such good finger licking sauce...but to me, the hit of the app's was the traditional antipasto.... just the right amount of everything. I would have appreciated some hairy little fish, but forgot to ask for them.
Our entrees were tasty, portion size...huge (seafood fra diablo and osso bucco).The wine list is pretty reasonable and moderately priced. The service was wonderful, attentive, engaging and "just right"
Apparently they have periodic wine tasting dinners too... just got an invite... multi-course, multii wines for $60.00... can't go wrong there.
I'll be back! -
Review from Argyria D.
Cambridge, MA
11/1/2011
I've been here in the past for work events and things were fine. The strudel was great, there are fun drinks, nothing else was noteworthy.
Last week, I had a terrible experience and don't intend to go back anytime soon. Here's why, in haiku:
3 Scallops not seared
but Burned. For twenty-three bucks?
really, rude manager?
Here's the longer version:
The evening started out well, with a friendly server, good drinks and strudel.
I ordered the scallop entree and was surprised to find that 1. it was not "seared" but burned to bitterness 2. for $23 there were only 3.
I didn't see my server after receiving my entree until I had tried 2 of the scallops and had given up. When she came by, she asked how it was, and I said "Too charred". She got defensive and said she let the manager know. I asked for a comment card, because I hadn't mentioned the small number of scallops and was told that I should tell the manager directly.
The manager was immediately defensive and said I should have let my server know sooner. I said she hadn't come by. She said 'Well we don't come by after appetizers, just entrees.' I said 'This was the entree.'
I said 'I was surprised that there were only 3 scallops on an entree for $23, typically you get 5 or 6 for that price.' She said 'I doubt the other places you go have such good quality scallops. I don't want to stand here arguing with you.' Then walked away. She managed to insult both me and the other (*much* better) restaurants that I frequent.
I've never had such a rude interaction with someone at a restaurant, especially management. There were no apologies for the burned food or offers to comp that dish or a drink.
I've got better things to do with my dollars. -
Review from Robo t.
Rough and Ready, CA
5/12/2011
A few of us spontaneously decided to go here one weekday evening.
The service was attentive and friendly. The waitress was very forward with recommendations and had extensive knowledge about the menu. The rigatoni bolognese was delicious albeit a little too salty. Other people in my party enjoyed the veal piccatta and the lobster ravioli. Effort goes into plating and presentation - dishes are contemporary and additional flair such as a balsamic reduction drizzle garnish are visually enticing.
The decor is fine but below my expectation for a restaurant of this price point. However they do have an open kitchen which brings a nice addition to the overall experience.
The food was good....but expensive. The price does not quite match the overall quality of food. The price definitely does not match the ambiance and interior.
Regardless, I'll probably come again and try a couple of the other entrees. -
Review from Lee H.
Natick, MA
2/23/2011
The coupon was expiring, so my wife and I headed to Watertown for some italian food.
Porcini's is a homey little place, with a dark ambience. The smell of garlic greets you when you walk in. A good sign.
The waitress was friendly and attentive.
I had a chicken marsala special, my wife had a vegetarian gnocchi. My chicken was tasty, although considering the rich look of the sauce I would have expected the flavors to be bolder. My wife's gnocchi was better, the red sauce being a standout. We finished with a chocolate flourless cake which was quite good.
Overall we really enjoyed our dinner. If I were the owner, however, I'd drop the prices about $5/plate and increase the portion size slightly (they're somewhat small), so there's something to take home. This is not a swanky restaurant, rather a cozy neighborhood place. Serving the food on square plates just doesn't fit the atmosphere. With those changes, I'd bet the place would be packed all the time. -
Review from Catie S.
Newton, MA
2/13/2011
This place is right across the street from my office, and I hadn't really noticed it until I saw the Groupon offer - glad I did!
Topline: Incredible food, pleasant atmosphere, a bit pricey.
Went in a group of six, which was genius because we got to try a variety of items. The bread and hummus/dip that comes out to start off is very good and tasty... but don't overdo it because the food gets better as you go on.
For apps we had the bruschetta which came with chunks of chicken and was good (but I'm not huge on bruschetta so can't comment farther). The calamari was fanstastic - well cooked, in a slightly spicy red sauce and the portion size was large and came with two big crostinis too. I love that it was NOT fried like it is everywhere else you go. We also go the eggplant/spinach/ricotta app and I'm pretty sure we licked that bowl clean - even the people who did not like veggies were in love with it. I would consider it as an entree with a side of pasta in the future.
I had the whole wheat linguine with squash, peas, tomatoes, mozzarella and some other veggies. Good, light sauce and healthy but flavorful feel overall.
One friend had the gemelli with shrimp and scallops which actually sounded like the best thing on the menu but was slightly disappointing to me. The sauce was a brandy-gorgonzola, which was GOOD and quite unique but a little watery for the dish. I would have liked them to thicken it up a bit.
Two friends got the chef's special risotto for the night and everyone was SUPER impressed with it. Good portion size, perfect al dente, incredible flavor and lots of beautiful ingredients. Excellent choices.
Another friend got the penne with chicken, sundried tomatoes, olives, and I forget what else. This sounded plain on the menu but was actually quite good. I think it was my favorite thing on the table!
Overall our dining experience was great and we all really liked the food. Only thing is that the bill could be high if going back without coupns - especially for Watertown. -
Review from Amanda A.
Watertown, MA
10/31/2011
My husband and I went here last night for the first time, I had an Eversave coupon which was due to expire (today)! We ordered the Antipasto salad for an appetizer, it was delish, with a nice mix of cheeses, meats and peppers. The pita served with this was extra tasty, it had that smoked flavor to it. For entrees I ordered the Sirloin Steak (served with mashed potatoes and vegetables and a bleu cheese sauce), my husband ordered one of their Specials - lamb chops over mashed sweet potatoes. The size of the meat served was very generous. Previously, I was a fan of the steaks at Longhorn because they are tasty and reasonably priced. The meats at Porcini's are much better though, a lot more flavor, and much more juicy. Staff was very friendly. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that I ordered my meat medium well and it came out very rare. I do not mind the taste but am fearful of getting sick from eating the raw meat though. Thankfully, I am fine!
We will definitely be returning to this restaurant, possibly for my Birthday which is right around the corner:-) -
Review from Andrew F.
Waltham, MA
2/18/2011
We brought my father out to eat here on his Birthday. Great service, nice wine selection and a menu of Italian food that is sure to please everyone. If you are looking for the American standards or some more traditional Italian dishes, you will find them here.
I am a huge fan of seafood, and the Seafood Diavolo special did not disappointed. -
Review from Karen D.
11/25/2010
Don't let the outside fool you. Inside awaits some delicious cuisine. I went there for my anniversary and the food was great.
First we chanced the mushroom strudel and I was afraid it would be typical dry phyllo appetizer you usually get at the office party, but it was not that at all. It had a great sauce and which we mopped up with the bread although the bread comes with olive oil and hummus.
We shared the walnut and gorgonzola salad and everything was fresh and tasty.
For dinner I got the scallops and risotto and my boyfriend got the shrimp and scallop pasta. Mine was perfect.
Add a bottle of Burgess Cabernet and it was a feast.
We would have opted for the flourless white chocolate cake, but we were way to stuffed.
If I had any criticism it's that there are too many things with peas with them. My boyfriend's dish had a lot of them. -
Review from Barbara A.
East Watertown, MA
After a hard week, my neighbor and friend took me out here to hang at the bar and unwind - yay! The blueberry gimlet was phenomenal - light and not too sweet; just right for a hot and steamy July night.
We decided to nosh a little, since we needed to drive home at some point - my friend opted for the mussels off the appetizer menu and I got the Bruschetta. SO YUMMY!
I can not speak for the mussels because she was bogarting them but the bruschetta was a meal unto itself -- grilled chicken, goat cheese, roma tomato, onions all atop grilled focaccia (see my picture). I think for an appetizer it could have been just as good without the chicken, but I appreciated the twist.
A side note - the bread is homemade and you can tell and it comes with a chickpea concoction (they were keen to point out that it was not hummus). Double yum ... no that is triple yum because I forgot the gimlet (perish the thought :)Listed in: Welcome to my Neighborhood, The Magical Frannie Tour of my…, No place like home(town)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/5/2011
Sat at the bar on a not so busy Friday night ... started off with the lemontini (or lemon drop) and… Read more »
-
-
Review from Helen A.
East Watertown, MA
7/21/2011
We ate on the patio on a hot night and as soon as the food arrived, we were accosted by several flies. Chose to shoo them away because we liked the outside ambiance. Suddenly a fly landed in the sauce of my scallops appetizer and got stuck. I pulled out the fly and told the manager who replied "The fly must have really liked the food." Nothing more. Although we have eaten happily at this restaurant over the years, we will never return.
-
Review from Kimberlee B.
Brookline, MA
10/31/2011
This was delish! I shared a Caesar salad with my friend to start. They brought this amazingly delicious homemade bread with a hummus dip. WOW. I ordered chicken Marsala because it is a dish I like to try at Italian places. I had to do all to keep from licking the plate, it was so good. My only complaint is that the portions were a little small for the price. It was a really nice Italian restaurant and I can tell they used the finest ingredients, but I wanted more! That could also be a tribute to how good the food is.
I think this place is worth the drive. Oh, and save room for dessert. Their chocolate moose cake was great. -
Review from Mike D.
Watertown, MA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
We've been going to Porcini's since it opened and this is by far our favorite local restaurant. They held a wine/food pairing event on Monday and it was fantastic. Their chef is amazing and there are always a few specials which keeps the menu fresh. The staff here is very attentive and only when it is extremely busy have we found the service a little slow, but not worth worrying about. Quaint atmosphere.
-
Review from Julie A.
Arlington, MA
4/11/2007
I really like this place! It is a little expensive, but I have had constantly great food. It's cozy, with a fireplace, nice decor, good lighting, super friendly wait staff and big tasty menu!
The wine tasting nights are a really good deal and a chance to experiment. They have a great wine list, a little overwhelming to me, but everything they have recommended has been top notch!
You'd never think to find a place like this in this neighborhood, but it's damn fine dining! -
Review from denis s.
East Watertown, MA
4/18/2009
Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1. Here's what happened. We walked in without a reservation and the hostess was incredibly polite and we took her up on her offer to have a glass of wine while waiting for a table. She alerted the bartender, and he gave us wine menus. Even the bar was full so we were standing behind seated patrons. We then stood there for 10 minutes without ever being acknowledged again, even after making eye contact. I'm not saying he should have served us by then (although in this case I do think he could have based on the flow at the bar) -- but I am saying he should have acknowledged us. Just a simple "I'll be with you folks in a minute" -- ANYTHING -- and we would have stayed.
Here's a perfect example of how a restaurant is an interconnected system -- one weak link can ruin them regardless of the other links in the system. Hostess was great and for all we know the food would have been great. But we left to eat elsewhere and we'll never go back.
FOOD: N/a
AMBIANCE: N/a
VALUE: N/a -
Review from Becka D.
Framingham, MA
12/19/2006
One Monday night a month, Porcini's does a wine tasting dinner in which they close off the restaurant and have a fixed-price menu (which includes all the wines, hors d'oeuvres, 3 entrees and dessert). They also have someone from the local wine shop there to walk you through all the wines you are tasting and to answer any questions.
I have only been once, and it was only for a wine-tasting dinner, so I have never even seen the menu of this place. But I was a huge fan of the tasting dinner, and I would definitely go back more often if I made more money. This place is an endulgence, but it's one that it totally worth it. -
Review from Hannah M.
Cambridge, MA
9/3/2006
I'm torn about my star rating and here's why.
The food was delicious (albeit overpriced).....
...spending the majority of the night in the bathroom with said delicious food coming out both ends was not so fun.
And the hostesses reaction when I called the next day to report food poisoning was rude, dismissive and unexcusable. She told me that it couldn't have been from their restaurant as food poisoning takes 24 hours.... Um, not possible really, the food is out of your system within 24 hrs.
At any rate, despite our initial impressions, we will not be going back.
Addition - the manager sent us a gift certificate since the hostess was so nasty and I had food poisoning - we'll give 'em one more chance. -
Review from Andrew C.
Natick, MA
9/7/2007
Great hidden jewel of a place. If you didn't know to look for it you would be sure to miss it. Tucked away near the Arsenal Mall in Watertown I found this place by accident and am always happy to go back for the pasta bolognese.
The prices are a bit high for the area but the food is always been good, I've had two birthday dinners there and everyone has enjoyed their meals. I especially enjoy the always changing hummus type spread they give you with your bread.
I would give it 5 starts but the prices are a bit high and I once had an issue with a lost reservation, they did find us a table but my parents were visiting and it was stress I didn't need.Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Cheryl L.
Boston, MA
3/19/2009
Just terrific - can't get enough.
Reasonable prices, very tasty food all of the time.
Been going here for years. -
Review from jesse b.
Philadelphia, PA
5/28/2011
Well worth the ride. The eggplant appetizer was fantastic. The wheat pasta w/ butternut squash, peas, and mozzarella was surprisingly really good. Wish they had beer on tap but no big deal, the sangria was good. Service was top notch.
-
Review from Joseph G.
Brookline, MA
11/15/2007
The food is excellent, one of my favorite comfort foods is osso buco and Porcini's does an excellent job. Also try Chef Rodney's Porcini Risotto, al dente perfection.
I love coming here in the summer where you have the choice to dine Al fresca. And when it gets cold outside they stoke up the fireplace which makes it comfy and cosy. I would have given it 5 stars, but a night out in H2Otown should not cost as much as dining in the city and the waitstaff is what you would expect at a chain restaurant, slow and unattentive. -
Review from Ladyjane S.
Cambridge, MA
6/13/2007
Unfortunately this place has started to go downhill. My last meal here was severely sub-par and the service was spotty at best.
I ordered a seafood pasta dish, which obviously is going to be a tad salty, but this thing was loaded with salt. I didn't want to complain so I asked my dining companion to try it to see if I was just being picky but she agreed (and nearly spit out the food). I told the waitress about the saltiness and they offered to re-make the meal and I accepted. However the replacement meal was just as salty (if not more) and the pasta came back mushy. Her chicken marsala was OK but nothing special.
Basically a very blah experience, when it is usually a superb experience. I wonder if the management and/or chefs have changed... -
Review from michael G.
Boston, MA
6/27/2011
Just had a great meal. Nice atmosphere and very good food.
-
Review from R. K.
McLean, VA
8/17/2008
A friend of mine was raving about this place for months, so our expectations were set very high.
We visited the restaurant on a Saturday around 6 p.m., and it was not busy at all. We chose to dine al fresca. The immediate ambiance is welcoming, but just do not look beyond the patio. I think it is right next to a car dealership or an auto-body shop, because there were some junk cars sitting back there. Not a great visual.
The bread and hummus was delicious. But that was about it. Although our entrees were delivered to our table promptly, they were both lukewarm, almost cold. My husband said his penne bolognese was bland and the sauce was obviously too runny. It looked like pasta soup, if that makes sense.
The service was unimpressive. We were not really greeted when we walked in, it was just a "how many?" Our server was not personable at all, having no facial expression the entire time he waited on us. It was almost eerie.
We chose to enjoy dessert elsewhere; however, the dessert options looked fantastic!
The food is extremely overpriced. All in all, a very unimpressive dining experience. I can honestly say we were extremely disappointed, considering the rave reviews of our friend. Maybe we did not order the right foods, or visited too early in the evening. But, our experience does not warrant a return visit for us. -
Review from Jody M.
Somerville, MA
11/13/2010
i've only eaten at porcini's a few times but each time it's been great!
service is good, nice room (if a bit warm with the fireplace on), good wine selection (from what people tell me).
they do really good salads - especially the gorgonzola and walnut, mm mm good! you could make a meal out of a couple of appetizers. the entrees are generous and so good! haven't tried a dessert yet - but they look incredible.
pricy yes - but worth it. we were going to go to legal seafood (which we both love) tonite and then decided on porcini's for a change. glad we did! -
Review from Tai Z.
Lexington, MA
4/9/2011
Our appetizer was okay. We didn't like the bread, but both of our entrees were excellent!
The reason I'm giving three stars instead of four is because of the desserts. They don't have a dessert menu, they show you samples. It turned out that our desserts cost EIGHT dollars each. I'm sorry, but for a place like this I think that is outrageous. They wouldn't have asked $8 on a menu because almost nobody would order them. I feel tricked. Oh yes, my dessert was good, but my wife's tiramisu was so-so and not very big. -
Review from Ashima S.
East Watertown, MA
6/9/2009
Porcini's is a great restaurant but in a not-so-great location. It's off of Arsenal on School with no foot traffic and nothing nearby but a small pizza delivery place and a car wash. This is the only reason I can think that this place seems never to be full.
But the food is great. The bread and hummus are a very tasty start, and both the Mediterranean Salad and the Beet and Goat Cheese salad alone are worth coming for. The grilled scallop dish is excellent. Find it and give it a try! -
Review from Lisa O.
Sandwich, MA
5/10/2011
Great Mediterenean food..off the beaten path! I always look for calamari cooked in ways other than fried and theirs was very good! They could have gone even easier on the red sauce although the red sauce was excellent. The scallop appetizer was perfect and I never felt rushed and enjoyed the atmosphere. Will definitely go again. Just as good as North End but easier to park.
-
Review from Lynne C.
Somerville, MA
2/20/2011
Overpriced food. Unimpressive decor.
We started with the non-traditional bruschetta (chunks of dry chicken, too chunky tomatoes & onions). It wasn't worth finishing.
For entrees, we tried veal saltimbocca (not tender) and the gnocchi (a pricey $20). The best gnocchi I've ever had melted in my mouth and so did it's accompaniments. Porcini's gnocchi were dense and accompanied by crunchy sugar snap peas and whole cherry tomatoes. This combination just didn't work for me. The same vegetables were used in the pasta accompanying the veal, which tells me the chef isn't focused on refining flavors and textures to each dish. The red sauce was delicious, but not well suited to the gnocchi.
The waitstaff was friendly and attentive, but the interior lacks ambiance. The fireplace is oddly positioned so only a handful of tables can even see it. In general the decor needs an update. It is not as upscale as the prices on the menu. -
Review from Tammy R.
Arlington, MA
10/22/2010 2 photos
A hidden gem of a place, with excellent food and great service. I found the mussels to be a welcome change from the usual overly wine-y mussels in many places; with tomato and garlic in a mustard/rosemary cream sauce, they are almost a meal in themselves! The risotto was perfectly creamy the first time I went, and I returned for more. The chef sources everything locally, and the staff was well-versed in the menu's offerings and very helpful with my special requests. Highly recommend for a romantic dinner, or even a large party!
-
Review from Peter P.
Cambridge, MA
2/12/2006
Very unimpressed.......I ordered a steak which was served to me already cut, so the juices completely leaked out onto the plate, leaving the steak very dry and very chewy. I did not know you could mess up a skirt steak, i just throw them on the grill and forget about them. The side dishes were not bad, but they were nothing special at all, similar to frozen vegetable packages you find at Trader Joe's and throw in the microwave. Respectable but small wine list, which I was not allowed to sample because I had forgotten my ID. All in all, thumbs down.
