Fiorella's Cucina — Restaurant in Newton

Consistently delicious food at acceptable prices keep bringing me and my SO back, until we find something better that isn't Capital Grille priced. It's worth mentioning they are one of the few places in the area that accepts Phantom Gourmet gift cards! After countless visits I'm finally writing an in-depth review. (Maybe I should sign up for their under the radar rewards program? Buy-in is steep for $350+ for first $25 off reward. But definitely doable if you go with a large group.) I completely disagree with this location as a romantic or an intimate setting since you can't make a reservation for less than 6 people. This place is extremely child friendly; so that could be a great thing if you're a parent, or somewhat annoying if you're like me.

SERVICE We've had different servers each time we've visited with groups ranging from 2 to 5, so unfortunately this aspect is not as consistently as great as the food. One instance we ordered 1 Arancini and my SO loves to make this joke (I cringe each time) where he says "We were so unsatisfied (looking at empty plate), that we insist you bring us another until we are satisfied!" The server took him literally and actually put in another order. We had to awkwardly decline the second serving. My SO noted that this was the first time in the 15 years it had ever happened. (He's since stopped making this joke.)

The second time we dined here for our 5 year anniversary as a last minute decision at around 9PM on a Wednesday. We expected the restaurant to be mostly empty (and it was), so it'd be easy to dine in a more intimate setting. We arrive and the host leads us to a table in the middle of the back section of seating, sandwiched between 2 extremely loud groups. One table of 4 with 2 adults and 2 mischievous children. One table of 6 young professionals who looked like they were having a mini-reunion over the last drops of their bottomless wine, talking loudly reminiscing back on their good ol' college years. I hinted to the server, this is a LOUD area and I even had to repeat myself 3 times because he had a hard time hearing me over the other groups. In an effort to brush me off he just said, "Don't worry they will be gone soon" referring to the group of 6. Nope, they lingered for about another hour until they finally paid their bill and said their goodbyes. Now the big troublemaker was the table of kids who needed to be distracted by cartoons blaring loudly on full blast (prior to their meal arriving).

FOOD - What haven't we tried on the menu at this point? Worth mentioning that their bread sticks with signature marinara sauce is so tasty! Appetizers (~$7-13) unless you're extremely hungry, you can just skip this since the servers are attentive at refilling those bread sticks. Misto - great way to sample 3 of their appetizers: Toasted Ravioli, Stuffed Peppers Parmigiana & Calamari Fritti. I love them all except the toasted ravioli, which is more of a take it or leave it deal. Rosemary Shrimp Toscano - 5 shrimps soaked in the buttery, tangy lemon sauce perfection with 2 crostini Entrees - you know it's good when you look forward to the leftovers for lunch the next day! Honestly everything I've tasted was heavenly. Favorites: Braised Short Rib, Baked Gnocchi, Chicken Lazario Dessert Favorites: Gelato Sundae, peanut butter...

Be still my half Italian heart. This place was amazing. The only complaint was that we got sat at a table with a huge pipe above dripping condensation down on us. However, they moved us with no issue and no gruff.

The goat cheese, cranberry and walnut salad was phenomenal. I even asked the girl what goat cheese they use because the texture was the best I've ever experienced. (Belmont, for the inquiring minds.) We also got the cheese board which is probably lacking for true cheese board fans, but it was perfectly delicious for what it was.

We got chicken parmigiana and chicken broccoli alfredo. When we told them we were splitting the alfredo dish, they actually brought it out on two separate plates which weirdly made me super happy that I didn't have to do it. We all just got to eat and the food was delicious. The chicken texture was slightly off to me, but I think it was just me.

For dessert we got the peanut butter ice cream pie and the tiramisu. I'm a diehard tiramisu fan and it was pretty good, but the lady fingers were over soaked and it made it all feel too one texture. The peanut butter pie was really good and the cappuccino I got was perfection.

Service was outstanding as well and the flat bread they give you with their red sauce was a wonderful surprise and also really, really good. I would have been happy with my salad and that - it was that good. Highly recommend them. They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more, but we were sat immediately towards the end of their night. I imagine there's a wait in earlier dining hours.

Overall... great service, delicious food, and fantastic everything else. Atmosphere was cozy not kitschy either which I...

My boyfriend and I came here for a date night and were originally so excited. The food was delicious, however it was unbearably hot in the restaurant because the kitchen is where the guests are seated. We have never been to an Italian place like this before. When ordering the ceasar salad, the waitress offered anchovies. We said "sure". Neither of us like anchovies very much, but we didn't want to be rude. When ordering the chicken parm, the waitress offered me two different types of pasta. I said the first kind was fine. At the end of the meal, we realized there was a $3 upcharge on both the chicken parm and the ceasar. We were confused. When we asked the waitress why, she said that anchovies are extra and so is the different pasta. We told her that, if we had known this, we wouldn't have chosen those options and that we wish she had been up front about the surcharge. The manager came over (a blonde lady) and began to speak down to us. She started explaining that anchovies and fresh pasta are always extra. We apologized for not knowing this, but it was because we were never told and had never been there before. She continued to patronize us about not knowing this up front and agreed to "change the bill, just this once, out of good will." I asked her to not speak to me so patronizingly, as we really enjoyed our food and wanted to return. She continued to argue and speak to me like I was a kindergartener. I left the restaurant in tears. It was an extremely disappointing end to what could have been a great meal because that one lady had to feed her ego and speak condensendingly to her customers. We, unfortunately, will not be returning until there is...