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Prisco's Pasta Market Cafe
- Nearest Transit:
-
Ferry St Opp Elmwood Pk (104)
Ferry St @ Holyoke St (104)
Ferry St @ Magnolia St (104)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for Prisco's Pasta Market Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Eggplant Parm is a special, and they don't have it every..." In 5 reviews -
"This place takes cash only so be prepared." In 4 reviews -
"The Lobster Ravioli is out of this world good." In 7 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Amanda B.
Saugus, MA
2/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place makes their own pasta. They sell wholesale to lots of restaurants around as well. If you get anything here you MUST order the Gnochi Pieno. Its pan fried and stuffed with goat cheese and bell peppers and tossed with their amazing marinara sauce. Being from an Italian family myself I'm super picky about my Itallian food and this place has yet to disappoint. Amazing!
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Review from Jennifer D.
Woburn, MA
5/19/2012
I'm giving this 3 stars for the value, and the fact that the pasta is homemade, which lends authenticity, which I can appreciate...but I don't think I'll be rushing back. With that being said, you could totally tell this is a BIG local joint, and if I lived closer, I'd be tempted to return, but not worth the drive, at least for me.
So we arrive and we realize that they serve strictly beer and wine, which is fine with me since I most always order wine when dining. But our waitress was....off? She like "wasn't with it" or something. When inquiring about the wine offerings we were met with a blank stare, that was followed by "there is red and white"....ok. So what were the red options? "There is one red"...ok...what is the brand? *Blank effing stare* "Uh, I don't know." What the hell kind of wine are we going to be drinking this evening since there is ONE choice? We ask to see the bottle, Beringer. Sounds good we'll take it!
We got the calamari and fried mozz triangles. The calamari was ok, seemed fresh, but no tenticles...that is my favorite part lol. The mozz was decent, but then again it's fried mozzarella, kinda hard to screw up.
I got the Tortellini Maria, which was ok, had sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, in a "pink sauce." It was alright, but not memorable. And I mean for the price 12-13 bucks, can't really complain on that end. My date had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli, he liked the flavor of the sauce, but thought that the pasta itself was too thick/dense, I concurred. The ravi's should have been more delicate/less doughy. I know it's homemade kids, so it doesn't always come out "perfect," so to speak, but these were just too thick.
We opted to not have dessert, so I cannot comment on that. Overall, I would most likely not go back, it was just so lackluster for me. The value is great, but I would rather pay a few extra bucks somewhere else. Maybe we should have ordered something else? We went based on recommendations from a couple of friends. But bottom line, fix your staffing problems, and amp the food up a notch. -
Review from Susan H.
Beverly, MA
4/21/2011
I am not sure what the other people are talking about when they complain about the food.
We have been here a few times and I have suggested it to man friends. No one I know has walked away disappointed at all. Every time we have been the food has been fantastic.
We have so far had the Eggplant Parm,Calamari app,Lobster Ravioli(my favorite),basil pasta and a few other things. The food is amazing. Fresh pasta,great bread and OMG the flavors. The Lobster Ravioli is out of this world good. The sauce is something I have never had and it was delicious it is almost like a dessert.
4 stars all the way!!!! -
Review from Christopher M.
Malden, MA
1/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had heard heard so many great things about Prisco's Pasta Market, I went in with high expectations. Perhaps too high.
As a result, I'm rather ambivalent to the restaurant at the moment.
Was the food good? Sure! I left full and satisfied. Was it "run home and call your momma" good? No, not really. Portions were big (in the North End you'd get five ravioli on your plate - here you get a whole bowl), it was a great value (again, about 70% of what it would cost you in the city) but everything tasted just a wee bit bland. Or maybe it's just me.
Service, however, was a HUGE shortfall, and I'm sure that wasn't just me. Our waitress just wasn't there - physically, mentally, spiritually. It's not like it's a big dining room - a half dozen tables, two servers plus support staff. I think we saw her twice all evening, once to take our order, and once to bring out food, and she maybe said three words the entire time. Perhaps Prisco's is better served as a takeout shop, because there's just no emphasis on dining experience.
It is a great value, though. If you're local, it's worth stopping by once or twice (or better yet, get takeout for a night where you just can't stand to cook). Seeing that's it's two blocks from my house, I'll go back eventually, but I'm not going to sing it from the mountain top just yet.Listed in: M^3 - Proof There's Decent…
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Review from Kelly C.
4/13/2011
Stopped in with my husband last saturday night around 7:45, and had no wait. There are about 8-10 tables in the place, and it's definitely small, but nice. We had a good experience, but were discussing how it felt like something was missing regarding atmosphere. It's updated, and nothing wrong, but needed more warmth or personality.
The food we ordered was okay, and the bread and oil is always a good start.
I had the house special Lasagna and he had the carbonara. Both were big portions and were solid, but just missing a little something. Needed a bit more flavor.
Overall it was not bad, and we'll definitely be back - Like others said, bring cash! -
Review from C R.
Norfolk, MA
2/26/2011
Cash only! I never cary cash and use my credit card for just about everything - so, if you're like me, plan ahead and bring some cash.
This place could really have been fantastic as it had all of the elements of a great (vs. good / 3 star) place; it is small,there are only maybe 5 or 6 tables max, it's unique in terms of it having a "chef" vs. a cook, the chef cooks just feet away from you at an open kitchen station and it has a family-owned feel to it.
We each started out with a glass of house red and white wine as well as an enormous dish of mussels and some sweet tasting calamari. Both were delicious and very good sized portions (AND not unreasonably priced). I had the veal marsala and my other half had the pasta and seafood. Both portions were good sized and honestly quite tasty.
Being a small, non-franchised type of restaurant, it would have been a really classy touch if the chef came over to greet us and ask us how things were. I mean, c'mon, he was right over there! That personal connection could have made this good restaurant a much much better experience. That being said, it was not at all bad. Our waitress was pleasant, quick and helpful. A little razzle-dazzle on her end would have helped to add to the experience (maybe tell us about the specials and/or what she personally enjoyed).
As I eat out several nights a week, food is of course important, but there's only so much you can do to make a great tasting dish. What makes a restaurant great for me is the overall experience - food often comes second. This place was good and so I give it a 3; a-ok. Add in a dash of personal touch and this place could be even better. -
Review from Kristin A.
Arlington, MA
10/15/2011
Fresh homemade pasta! Absolutely delicious. Malden has a few great Italian restaurants and this one is the best for a casual experience. One thing to be careful of is the HUGE portions. Expect three meals on every plate!
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Review from Patrick H.
Melrose, MA
8/31/2010
We adore Prisco's!
What's not to love? Fresh homemade pasta, simple, quality ingredients, expert preparations at affordable prices. It really doesn't get much better. Standard menu items are fantastic but keep an eye on the specials board. Of particular note, is the pappardelle pasta with Shrimp Scampi. Pure Heaven. -
Review from Frank D.
Everett, MA
Great always good we go there almost every week
great service Try the Shrimp grand manier. Best eggplant parm ever. -
Review from john g.
Mt Kisco, NY
4/1/2008
This place is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. You can get a plate-licking meal, glass of wine, dessert and coffee for two people and spend $50 with tip. They added a restaurant to a long-standing, family-owned pasta business. All of the pastas are homemade in the same building. Beyond that, I think they have a magic chicken parm machine because it comes out that perfect golden brown every time. Don't get me wrong, I have tried and loved more than a dozen dishes here, but I can't help but come back to the parm. The menu is extraordinarily diverse for a small place and goes beyond pasta
To boot, they make their own cheesecake which is one of the best I've ever had and usually take an extra piece home. Also, try the calamari which is done with a sweet vinegar sauce - unique and fantastic.
I know everyone looks for new places to eat and its a lot harder in the 'burbs" to find them. I have brought many groups of friends there and they all loved it. This is well worth it. -
Review from Ed T.
Malden, MA
3/3/2010
I have never had better pasta. Their homemade pasta is actually made right in the building, and actually sold to other restaurants.
This is a small and cozy little restaurant with just a handful of tables. The kitchen is right there, in full view of the entire place, and it can be exciting to see bursts of flame shoot up occasionally.
As I said, there is no better pasta place that I have found, and I try to go as often as I can, but it is hard because I am trying not to be fat. :)
The only complaint I have is that the service can be a little slow, especially when it comes to placing initial order and waiting for the check when it is time to leave. Once the order is placed though, the food is up right away and delicious enough to be worth any wait. -
Review from Janet S.
Salem, MA
2/15/2012
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the food here!! Their pasta is incredible -- homemade -- and out of this world. The pasta alfredo is made with their spinach pasta and it is AMAZING. I have loved everything I have tried here. We make a point of going back once a month because we love it that much! Nice daily specials in addition to regular menu items.
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Review from Bryan L.
Malden, MA
7/12/2009
Psstt... I got another secret to tell you, my fellow Yelpers. There's another pretty excellent restaurant in Malden Square and it's called the Pasta Market Cafe. Yeah, don't believe me? Well you should really go try it out yourself.
Need some suggestions? Try the gnocchi appetizer. The red sauce (or "gravy" for you weird folk) it was cooked in was delicious. For our entrees, we had the smoked mozzarella and lobster and crab meat raviolis. For the lobster and crab meat ravioli, the sauce that it was cooked in surprised me because it was kind of sweet and I wasn't expecting that. However, that shouldn't deter you at all - it was really good and fairly inexpensive.
Ah, but what really put me over the top for the five stars, was the home-made cheesecake that I had. I love cheesecake and I think my personal bar was set at Maggiano's, but that definitely has changed. That makes me happy because now I don't need to travel into Boston for the perfect slice of cheesecake since it's only 5 minutes from my house. My friend said that the creme brulee was a bit egg-y, but I thought it was good.
I've always thought that this place looked cool on the outside and walking inside, it's very simply decorated. Nothing special to report here.
I'm pretty surprised at the quality of restaurants in Malden now, there are a few gems around and the Pasta Market Cafe should be included in this cream of the crop. -
Review from Jeff G.
10/8/2010
Im really torn about this place because I felt really good when i got here and it was charming knowing that their pasta was homemade and that there were only 5 tables. The menu is pretty extensive (on par with north end) and the bread with olive oil is great.
The issue I have is it that it wasn't what i expected (quality, price, portion). I ordered chicken broccoli rabe rigatoni. The pasta was a noodle, literally just a soggy noodle and it was ok. The chicken and broccoli was a bit lacking in terms of portion and a bit hard to find. The sauce it was in wasn't anything special. What i expected was some al dente rigatoni with a lil crunch, big pieces of broccoli and at least more chicken then i got. Personally i like chunks of garlic in my pasta, but i understand thats not for everyone So for the price $14 yea its kinda like going to the north end, but your still in Malden and its still...ok.
Prob the major problem in this place is the service which others have noted. Let me say again...there are ONLY 5 tables and two cooks, so im not sure why it took so long and there was no water refills (yes i sound like a snob, but its part of service). The bar is also pretty basic with 4/5 bottles so nothing special on that part. Didnt take part in dessert but I wouldn't expect much.
Overall, yes its convenient for the north shore, but if I'm gona shell out money, id rather the real deal. -
Review from Julie S.
Auburndale, MA
9/21/2009
Had dinner here with my husband on Saturday night after seeing a rerun of the Phantom Gourmet and had to try it out for ourselves. Yes, it's true, this is the kind of food that Phantom Phans love.
Prisco's is a casual restaurant in front and does a huge wholesale business in the back. According to The Phantom, they provide food to many of the restaurants in the North End. After eating here, I believe it.
There was a half hour wait at about 7:30, so my husband and I decided to eat at the bar. The place is tiny, so there's really no difference. We started with a salad. That was the only bad part of the meal. It tasted like it had been dressed with the balsamic hours before.
Our meals, however, were fantastic. I had the potato gnocchi. I was ridiculously full, yet could not stop shoving them in my face. Delicious.
My husband had the chicken parmesan with rigatoni on the waitresses recommendation and was not disappointed. The rigatoni was obviously homemade, and was the freshest pasta either of us had ever tasted. It was perfection.
There's almost no ambiance here, so I wouldn't come here instead of the North End, but for a simple, delicious meal, Prisco's is a new favorite. -
Review from Leann F.
Medford, MA
3/9/2009
This place has the BEST Eggplant Parmesan that I've had; it's made with layers of very thinly sliced eggplant , cheese, and great marinara sauce. The result is a dish that highlights the eggplant without overwhelming it. Eggplant Parm is a special, and they don't have it every day, so be sure to call ahead if you have your heart set on it. The rest of the menu is quite good, as well. I particularly like the fried calamari and the ravioli with smoked mozzarella.
The atmosphere is cute, and even a bit trendy by Malden standards. Big portions and good service round out the experience. The restaurant is cash only, so don't forget a pre-meal stop at the ATM. -
Review from Diane H.
7/31/2010
HMM. I had very high expectations..because of such a high rating! And my friend told me she went SEVEN times already because it was SOOO delicious....
I mean I walked past this place without realizing what it was 3094389204 times when I go over to my friend's house...It was dark inside..and all the waitresses were hiding at the bar..legit...my friend cracked this joke..since we were all like "WOW WHY IS IT CLOSED??!" Let me just say..their door is mighty heavy..and there wasn't anyone eating yet...this was 6pm on a friday too! SO WEIRD. More people came around 7ish...
But...it's meh. It's not too flavorful..I got the i think it was called fettuccini alla carbonara..$12.95. When my friend said CREAMY...they meant CREAMY. It's crazy cremey..I thought it was in like soup or something...way too creamy for my taste..I like Cheesecake factory's...the amount of bacon in this? OMG like 5 pieces?! ARE YOU SERIOUS? WOW. Yeah, i was disappointed. It was like...5 pieces of little bacon and pasta..and a ton of cream.
One of my friend's pasta alfredo..was pretty good...it's spinach pasta which was very interesting...so I liked her's..there's lots of chicken in it..or a lot compared to what i got for bacon. I hate to bash..but it was jush "meh". I think I'll go back to try something else..and maybe update the review if it gets better.
but one thing..THE BREAD IS AMAZING..it's SOOOO SOFT~!!!! -
Review from larry m.
Medford, MA
7/13/2009
This is a great little place in Malden that serves fresh/home made pasta. It's really small with less than 10 tables so either get there early or call for takeout. That is the only negative part about this place....but the food is great.
I have had the fried gnocchi (yes FRIED) with marinara sauce....lobster and crab ravioli in a saffron sauce (unique/interesting but delicious) and the risotto with chicken and capers. The place is batting a thousand for me.
The prices are very reasonable...the place is super clean and has plenty of parking. I highly recommend it.....but best for takeout. -
Review from Ken F.
Winchester, MA
8/17/2009
This is a great cafe, have had great meals there for both lunch and dinner. The hours are strange, so verify they are open before you head there.
For lunch, I recommend the Lemon Chicken sandwich. Very simple but very delicious. -
Review from Andrew M.
Revere, MA
9/27/2009
Great food. Had to wait about 45 minutes for a table - but worth it in the end. I had the rigatoni bolegnese (?), and my wife had the mushroom ravioli, both excellent.
I dont think they our known for their service - no hostess, and waitress was just ok. But otherwise, good choice for north of Boston italian.
Cash only -
Review from Elizabeth H.
Malden, MA
5/14/2010
I am confused by the ratings that people are giving this restaurant. Is this really the same place where I just had the most lackluster take-out? I ordered the linguini and meatballs; more like breadballs, and the sauce: bland. My husband ordered the seafood fra diavlo and it was bland as well. The tomatoes on the bruchetta and in the salad were under ripe and tasteless.
If this was the corner pizza shop, I may have been less disappointed, but this was NOT the great food that I read about here. -
Review from Paulette B.
Malden, MA
8/10/2006
I went there for lunch and had the best chicken sandwich with roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese. It was so good. The portion was large enough to take half home for dinner. They don't take credit cards so be prepared with cash. I want to go back for dinner.
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Review from P C.
Boston, MA
8/19/2007
This place is cute. Friendly little environment, used to be the location of a bakery. The food is good, the menu is somewhat limited but the portions are large and worth the money. They do not accept credit cards but they do take checks. Great place to go for lunch on a Sunday afternoon.
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Review from Food S.
Worcester, MA
5/24/2007
I have had dinner at this restaurant many times, so, that has to tell you something about this review, it is going to be a good one. Of all the Italian places I have been to over the years, this is probably by far one of the best. The pasta is freshly made on the premises, the meats, vegetables, etc are all very fresh, now, the flavours, are amazing, some favourites of mine from that menu are the chicken Marsala, veal Madeira amongst many others. If you are ever in the Malden area, check them out. Very friendly and accommodating staff, the chefs prepare the food in the restraunt behind a short wall, you can smell everything as whatever dishes they are creating, (And I mean creating!!!), are prepared. This is a relatively small place, is ADA compliant, (There is a wheelchair ramp as soon as you walk in the door.) There are probably about 8 or 9 tables that seat about 4 each, you can sit at the bar as well, eat, drink and be merry. (Sorry for the cliche)
Check it out...it's well worth the trip if you're outside Malden. It is right on Ferry St in the middle of the fork, (SIC) -
Review from Elisa T.
Wakefield, MA
2/12/2010
Reminds me a bit of Giacamo's in the North End. Inexpensive and delicious. It's my favorite Italian restaurant outside of the North End so if you're looking to avoid paying for parking and don't mind a simpler ambiance, this is the restaurant for you . Things to try out: eggplant parm, fettuccini bolognese, and the fried calamari appetizer. Their pasta is homemade, which you can never go wrong with. But get there early because they don't take reservations and there are only about 8 tables. Still need to try it out for lunch which I'm sure is great too.
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Review from Linda W.
Boston, MA
6/27/2010
Stopped by here on a rainy Thursday night after work because I didn't feel like cooking, and read some reviews saying this was like Giacomo's. I had a yummy pasta dish at Giacomo's and thought I'd give this a try. I got the fettuccini alla cruda with shrimp and grilled chicken in fresh tomato, garlic, basil and olive oil. It was 13.95 and not that cheap as the other Yelpers said. I've had fettuccini before and this one was so much wider, more like a parpedelle which I'm not a big fan of. The sauce was okay and the chicken was kind of bland and chewy. I might come back again but only to try the tiramisu.
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Review from Ruth B.
Medford, MA
1/19/2010
This place is great, and the Owner is awesome. They make their own pasta and if you want something you don't see on the menu he will make it if he has the ingredient's make the BEST Creme' Brule', and a very decent priced menu and huge portions. The waitresses are very attentive to your needs. A small place but the best Italian food I have ever had except my own, of course :)Tell him Ashley's Mom Ruth sent you, he donated to the benefits I held for my deceased only child's, Ashley Burns, scholarship fund that I gave out last year in May to 3 Medford High School Students.
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Review from ray k.
Dracut, MA
6/11/2011
Okay here is the real deal..i'm an italian so i think i know good pasta when i taste it, ..went there for supper last night....very small seating area which was not a problem, the food was presented well and simplely prepared, had crab cakes that were over the top served hot and with a great sauce, prices are well within most any budget, wine was a little pricey but you get a full glass not a shot glass, wait staff was very attentive and never had to ask for refills of drinks,,had creme brule and espresso for dessert and was very impressed. You need to do this place!!!!!!
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Review from Paula G.
Chelsea, MA
Updated - 1/2/2011
I went in for lunch Friday on my way up to Maine to bring in the New Year. When I walked in the waitress was attending the board placing specials. Before she could write I blurted Eggpplant. She said yes and both my friend and I dove into the Eggplant. There are so many ultra thin slices... It is Italian Heavan!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/2/2010
First about me; I am so angry at myself for driving past this gem for at least 3 to 4 years going… Read more »
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Review from BonBon H.
Middlesex, MA
8/25/2009
This place was a huge disappointment. First of all, the prices are outrageous just for pasta and don't trust the prices online because they are at least three to four dollars more. I ordered the chicken rigatonni and brocolli for take out and literally I got ten pieces of pasta in there. HORRIBLE!! On top of that, it didn't even taste that good. I have had much better pasta at places such as New York Pizza or even the mall. For two bowls of pasta and fried calamari, I paid 40 bucks. Huge huge disappointment. Don't go there because this place is overrated and it's not worth the money. HONESTLY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING RESTAURANT THAT I HAVE BEEN TO!!
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Review from n b.
Pelham, NH
1/6/2010
I went to Prisco's for lunch today and had the eggplant parm special which was fantastic. The prices are right on and while it was busy, we found a table right away.
We will definitely be coming back.
* Bring Cash, no credit cards! -
Review from bella c.
Boston, MA
6/1/2007
yuck, i ordered pasta with little neck clams-a special that night and first off the clams were huge!!! i couldnt even eat them, the one that i did eat tasted fishy and was really chewy!!!
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Review from Anatomically I.
Melrose, MA
2/19/2008
This is my new "go to" restaurant in the area. Had dinner here Friday night with my wife...two glasses of wine, one appetizer, two entrees (shrimp scampi and lobster/crabmeat ravioli in a saffron sauce)...$45 plus tip. Generous portions, freshly-made pasta. What's not to like?
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Review from Kelly A.
3/22/2008
Stopped here for dinner last night. It was our first trip, and we had no idea that the place would be so tiny! They only had five tables available for seating, plus the bar, and since the tables were all taken, we had to wait for over an hour. I wasn't starving, so I didn't mind the wait so much, and then when we sat down it was clear that the wait was worth it. We were greeted by fresh bread and garlic dipping oil that was delicious. We then decided to split the Artichoke Limone for an appetizer. We don't normally order appetizers, but this one just sounded too good to resist. We got about 6 or 8 fresh artichoke hearts, and they had been sauteed in a lovely sauce of white wine, lemon juice, and butter. They were SO GOOD. It's kind of making me hungry just thinking about it. Then I had the potato gnocchi with red sauce and it was wicked good and soooo fresh-tasting. The portions are pretty generous, so I also had enough to eat for lunch today. My husband wanted to get the vegetable risotto, but upon further inquiry we discovered it was made with chicken stock. So then he decided to get the red bell pepper gnocchi, but then the chef told us that the garlic/cheese sauce is ALSO made with chicken stock, so he just got it with garlic oil instead. Anyways, it was still really good. The service was pretty inattentive though and they don't take credit cards, which is annoying. But considering the location and the awesome food, we'll be back.
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Review from Ellen T.
Quincy, MA
12/4/2009
I went to try out this place after seeing it on Phantom Gourmet. This place takes cash only so be prepared! The place is very tiny, I went on a Saturday night. It wasn't too busy since we went late. It was a little dark in there. It is an open kitchen setting so you'll smell like food when you leave. There were only two of us so we ordered two different pastas. We got the lobster and crabmeat ravioli and the seafood fra diavlo. First of all, I want to note that the service was not that great. We ordered and it took them forever to get them to us. We asked once where our food was and she said it was coming. I hope they were making the pastas right at that moment! It took about 30 minutes or so to get our food. I saw another table get their food before us and they sat down after us! I was getting irritated but waited. Once the food came, it made up for this super long wait. The raviolis were soo good! I love the sauce. The fra diavlo was good too, the pasta was cooked just right and a good amount of seafood. But the sauce was a bit too spicy to me. Lots of chili! The price of the dishes here are really reasonable. The only thing about going back now is the questionable service/wait for the food.
