THE EMPORIO — Restaurant in Stoneham

Update:

A week later we came here for dinner because we had to know! We got here right on time because this place gets BUSY. We ordered garlic bread to start and it was perfection in every way. Alongside that we got the lasagna and mushroom pasta. Both were delicious, flavorful, and everything tasted home cooked. The lasagna was the perfect balance of the sweetness of the tomatoes, heartiness of the beef, and creamy cheese. The mushroom pasta was not too heavy, and had a nutty flavor.

The only downside is with meals like this is that it does take a while. The wait times were slightly longer than your typical sandwich spot… but it’s SO worth it.

We also got the fruit tart for dessert. The tart and cream alone were good, but they had this interesting orange berry fruit that gave an amazing kick.

Review from 1/13/24

Y’ALL!! This little cafe is a hidden GEM in Stoneham. They just opened up in October (posting this in January), and if you’re in the area you must try.

For context, we came here later on Sunday around noon (they close at 1), and got breakfast sandwiches and ate at the cafe.

We ordered the Alba (egg and cheese on focaccia) and Genova (egg, cheese, eggplant, tomato and pesto on focaccia). To start, the bread is delicious. It’s perfectly buttered/oiled and balances crispy and soft in each bite. The eggs are fried perfectly, with the most delicious cheeses. The Alba sandwich had a rich, heavy cheese that was great on its own. The Genova had fresh ingredients, and a delicious pesto sauce. The eggplant was meaty and filling.

We loved every bite of both sandwiches and can’t wait to come in to try the rest of the menu. I appreciate the quality of service especially since we were there close to the end of the day for them.

The service is friendly and the chef is willing to answer any questions you may have. The cafe is small, I’m curious how it would be for a larger meal, but for breakfast it was perfect.

Lastly, for the price, portions, and taste it was so worth it....

I was born and grew up in Sicily, moved to the Boston area as an adult and I am constantly scouring the area for real authentic genuine food establishments, who are able to reproduce the simplicity and the flavors of the real Italian regional cuisine experience. Most places grossly overdo it, trying to "enrich and inflate" recipes, to impress more. Italian cuisine is about selecting the freshest ingredients and assembling them with love in small batches, always having the 'essential' in mind. And having a small menu, that allows to keep things simple and wholesome. The Emporio in Stoneham has truly impressed me and my family when we visited the place last week, as Simona (the owner) strives every day to embody these values. Small family-like outfit, we greatly enjoyed all the menu items we picked .. (lots of pasta of course, Pappardelle ai funghi, Lasagna, Bolognese and Vongole is what we had) - Antipastos were delicious as well (Arancini and focaccia). No shortage of desserts as well, all to die for .. Service was also a plus, with Valentina greeting us with a big smile , while answering our questions on the menu. Will certainly go back frequently and will consider the Emporio for formal certification among the 'Accademia Italiana della Cucina' recommended Italian restaurants in Boston. Thanks Simona and Valentina! Keep up the great work...

UPD: About 4 hours later, Slice (the third-party service) contacted me directly, apologized for the technical error on their end, and confirmed that a refund was processed—I appreciate their follow up. However, my negative review is for the restaurant itself. The woman at the counter made no attempt to help or show any empathy. Instead of offering any assistance or even basic politeness - there was just a cold attitude that made it clear she didn’t care. I only had a 30min lunch break and ended up wasting it dealing with this situation while still left hungry and frustrated. Mistakes happen, but the lack of basic customer service and empathy is unacceptable and what truly ruined the experience. Their response below still carries an inconsiderate attitude, despite the fact that I was the one who paid for the order and never received it and it doesn’t matter what third party they use for their services.

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Previous review: Be careful, this place is a fraud! You make an order online via their website, pay for it in advance, get confirmation and reminders but when you come to pick it up, they say they’ve never received an order in a very rude manner. I’ll have to reach out to the bank to get...