Delfino Restaurant — Restaurant in Boston

I love the tiramisu at this place, but the hospitality can significantly improve. I am Not talking about the servers (who have always been lovely) but about management/owner who seems to also be the front door host.

Here it goes. I called to make reservations and asked for a table for 4 at 6pm. The owner asked if we can come at 6:30 instead. I said “No”. He insisted that we should come at 6:30. What kind of hospitality is that? I don’t make my schedule based on the restaurant’s schedule. I said we can go somewhere else if they can’t reserve a table for 6pm. He then told me that a table will be available at 6pm. Was it? No. We were seated at 6:30pm. So, I won’t bother to come again. Plenty of restaurants in the area. Did he apologize for the delay? No. Did he offer us a glass of water while we waited? No. Instead he treated us as if we worked there, or worse. While we waited he told us to line up behind him: between him and the wall, in a space of 1.5 feet, so we don’t sit too close to other tables. Indeed, he told 3 grown women to sit between him and the wall, as if it was our decision to jam-pack the space with tables and leave absolutely no space for anyone waiting to be seated. We told him we’ll wait in the entryway (another 2 by 4 foot space). On our way out, he instructed us to make sure whoever comes in the front door knows to close that door before opening the next one. At a $$$ restaurant the owner asked us to take care of the doorman’s duties (which were his) not ours.

The table service was ok, and the food was ok (we had fish and grilled vegetables; pasta and shrimp; pasta and broccoli). But for the abysmal hospitality the price of $60/person (entree + one drink + tip) is not worth it.

If this was my restaurant, I would take out a few tables to make space for waiting guests and hire a hostess who enjoys this role and...

Went to Delfino tonight craving really good Italian food. We were not disappointed! We arrived with our two kids and there was a 20 minute wait. The owner, Steven, was outside assisting with curbside take out. He was so friendly and welcoming, chatting with us and checking on our table. When he noticed our daughters were super hungry, he got them fresh bread from inside. Once seated, we had prompt and very professional service from our waitress Christine. She helped one daughter customize a dish to be chicken and pasta in white cream sauce. We started with the bruschetta which was piled high with fresh amazing tomatoes and crumbled goat cheese, and a balsamic reduction that had us licking off the plate! We also had the scallops which were perfectly cooked and served with the sweetest corn succotash ever! Summer on a plate!

Husband ordered the phenomenal open face lobster ravioli, which was life-changing good. So generous with the lobster portions and truly decadent. Wife had the fruitti di Mari which was excellent! All the seafood perfectly cooked — pasta perfectly al Dente. Robust tomato sauce was balanced between tart and a little sweet. Our other daughter had chicken Parmesan with sauce on the side — two HUGE portions of chicken breast and sauce that we all were dipping into :)

Overall it was a phenomenal meal and a lovely neighborhood find. The service was impeccable and the entire experience rivaled the north end. Prices are really reasonable for the portions and seafood heavy options, which normally are much more expensive. We are so happy to have found this gem; we will be back and will definitely be ordering their curbside family meals as well. Very impressed that the owner priced those meals at $39 to make them affordable for families impacted during COVID - and seeing the pan sizes going out, they are a...

The food was very fresh with generous portion sizes. Service was very good. Good bread basket. We were lucky to get a table by the window which was relatively quiet as the restaurant is very noisy. Unfortunately, the food was not that great - our first time there so not sure what the hullabaloo is all about: shrimp and pasta - lots of shrimp but way too much sauce which had little flavor - the result was gummy. "Mediterranean" Chicken with quinoa and veggies - the chef had made the unfortunate choice of replacing the quinoa (a seasonal change we were told) with sweet potato purée and no cooked grain. The chicken had spices but was undercooked - the result, not much flavor and gummy due to the sweet potato purée the chicken rested on. Finally, we ordered what was supposed to be a Caesar salad - lots of very fresh romaine, a few (optional) anchovies and bottled creamy italian dressing - not even bottled caesar dressing - I'm on the warpath (in perspective) about this one - the chef talks about her Italian training - come on !! Creamy italian dressing - inexcusable. The other divergence from "Italian training" is that Italian cooking doesn't actually use big helpings of sauce. So - in sum - we won't be going back. Too bad really, as with a few minor changes, the meal could have been excellent. I wrote a letter to the chef to which she did not respond so I'm "going public" with...