Filho's Cucina — Restaurant in Groton

This Brazilian-run Italian restaurant is inexplicably popular among the well-heeled locals avoiding the drudgery of their own home kitchens. The attempt at Italian cuisine here fails on many levels. Pasta is invariably overcooked, over-sauced, and over-priced. The flavor profile does not evoke any regional Italian cuisine, and does not even rise to the standard of the typical, much-maligned 1950s style New Jersey Italian Red Sauce restaurant.

The service, while virtually irrelevant in an establishment where you order at the counter, still manages to be sub-par. The wait for ordering during busy times would have you believe you're going to experience some of the best food served in the Metro West region of Massachusetts, when nothing could be further from the truth.

I recognize that there are many good reviews for this restaurant. I lived in Italy in the late 1970s, married a fine Italian woman, and am well-acquainted with the tastes and pleasures of Italian cooking that so many "Italian" restaurants in America fail to attain. Filho's Cucina fails in a slightly more interesting way than many of the others, but nevertheless fails...

We arrived about 530pm. My wife and elderly mom were waiting in our vehicle while I went inside a very busy Filho's Cucina. A young lady behind the service counter, with kind and gracious demeanor welcomed me and inquired of my needs in a helpful manor... to shorten this review I'll cut to the chase. Christina setup our table ahead of time (so very needful for us, thank you), I returned to my vehicle to assist mom... seated mom while my wife ordered dinner; the atmosphere was a happy, a "kind sound" of voices in a glad manner of laughter and joy... The dinner was served with a gracious and generous delight, and absolutely delicious! We thought we had over ordered; yet not a bit was left over... mom who eats like a bird devoured her helpings! Chicken Marsalis; Chicken Parmigiano; Misto Griglio. The service - the cooks, all deserve applause; to them its probably business as usual but to us it was melting our taste buds! Just right! So happy to rave of a just perfect dinner... Thank you Ozzi for your Cucina anf thank you to all who touched our hearts after quite a day in our lives... and isn't That what a fine finish it should...

This is MY place. Been coming here for years. There are peak times so in order to get a parking spot and a good table you might need to go at times that aren't considered lunch or dinner. Perhaps when they just open, 1-2pm, or closer to closing time. Food has always been amazing. It's partially self serve. You walk in and place your order, grab your own glass of water (unless you plan to purchase from Filhos or grab an adult beverage in the connected store), utensils, napkins and pick your table. Wait staff bring over plates with seasoning and bread, shortly after they deliver your meal. Filhos has added patio tables out front which I find charming especially for those summer days or when Im passing through and I have my dog (this place is 45 minutes from me and I still make a point to drive there because I love it) The inside restaurant and bathroom are always clean. The cooking area is right behind the counter and even though the place is small I never feel it's too loud or overwhelming. I wish they would expand but the quality of the food is so good I wouldn't risk it. Such a charming place in an equally...