It was my aunt's 66th birthday and a party of eight. I wish I could say she would have many happy returns, but after this experience, the only thing memorable was how horrible it was. The drinks were under average. The wine list for an Italian restaurant had such a limited Italian selection. The eggplant Parm was burned and sent back. The chicken Caesar salad was charred. The only saving grace was the minestrone and the focaccia. We were charged two dollars for eight small plates for a homemade cake that we had brought. And thankfully we did. The night was not all lost. Furthermore, and the pièce de résistance was the attitude of the server, who chronically seemed bothered by any communication. The most insulting experiences were when she left the drink platter on my table setting, and when I had given it back to her fifteen minutes later, she looked at me in offended confusion. Secondly, when I was asking her a question, she walked away without making eye contact, and answered as she was exiting the dining room. For someone who struggles with hearing and given the overall hostility, this was embarrassing and uncomfortable to "bother" asking her to repeat herself. Everyone has their own stuff going on. I get it. But this was extreme. I'm a decent person and it killed me to leave a 20% tip. So I hope this review is constructive enough to help her and the management develop some conscientiousness. But given the similar complaints of reviewers, I sense that overall the restaurant is intransigent and won't hold my breath.
X “hungrytommy” X
Who is rating this place? I don’t want to sink a restaurant but this was awful. The food is bland at best. The service was rushed and hostile. The ambiance is severely lacking.I got the fig salad to start. I enjoyed the candied nuts but the feta came from a pre-crumbled package and had no flavor.Then I got the veal saltimbocca. I’m not sure there was actually any sage. The sauce was so flavorless that the pasta just tasted like buttered noodles. I left them all behind.At one point my son interrupted my wife as she was ordering and the waitress yelled at her. Our friend who was eight months pregnant made a joke about having a drink and the waitress brought it to her even though she clearly said she was just kidding.The wine list is awful. The cocktails aren’t good. The only reason not to give them one star is the veal parm which was solid. So if that’s all you are going for, ok. But nothing else our party had was worth eating or drinking.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Hungrytommy ..
Who is rating this place? I don't want to sink a restaurant but this was awful. The food is bland at best. The service was rushed and hostile. The ambiance is severely lacking. I got the fig salad to start. I enjoyed the candied nuts but the feta came from a pre-crumbled package and had no flavor. Then I got the veal saltimbocca. I'm not sure there was actually any sage. The sauce was so flavorless that the pasta just tasted like buttered noodles. I left them all behind. At one point my son interrupted my wife as she was ordering and the waitress yelled at her. Our friend who was eight months pregnant made a joke about having a drink and the waitress brought it to her even though she clearly said she was just kidding. The wine list is awful. The cocktails aren't good. The only reason not to give them one star is the veal parm which was solid. So if that's all you are going for, ok. But nothing else our party had was worth eating or drinking.
Elle Hatch
Food is consistently good. We have had the same server during our last two visits. Very inattentive, almost rude. We politely requested water, 3/4 through our meal, she looked at us we had asked her fly to Italy for a special bottle of wine. She never once returned to the table to ask if we needed anything. It was not busy and they were not short staffed. It was enough for us to decide that we need not return.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Heidi Lacoshus
The best Italian restaurant around the food is great.. it’s hard to order off the menu when the specials are always so delicious. The drinks the almond joy martini is the best…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephanie Vitale
Food and service are amazing .. you will not be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shelley U.
The service was ok. They were out of a few items and had the wrong specials. The food was below average -- The ambiance was dated and had a weird smell. I can make better food at home. Nice drink selection and perhaps we'd go back for some appetizers and drinks but we didn't care for the food. Also, salad is extra despite the $$ dish. Bread and oil were the best part of the meal here.
Carrie Rogers-Rivera
I’ve been driving past Rufina’s for months, always intrigued by the full parking lot so early on Friday evenings. I finally got the chance to stop in yesterday and was certainly delighted! The hostess seated my 3 girls and I quickly, while reassuring that the white table cloths didn’t mean that kids were not welcome. The menu is extensive: all of our family’s favorite dishes plus a whole lot more. The girls were so happy with the dessert list. We landed on angel hair pasta with marinara and meatball, ziti broccoli with chicken, and piccata with shrimp and mushrooms. For dessert in house made cheesecake with strawberries! The service was great too- we had drinks right away and the server got dinner orders in promptly (super important with kiddos). The food wasn’t brought super quickly but a trip to the bathroom and a couple minutes buffer with cell phone videos did the trick. Along the way, we asked for extra silverware which were brought right away and we had a major drink spill, which they helped contain and remediate quickly (complete with a new wheats table cloth). The prices were comfortable and the quality was great. The only thing that was a bit strange for our young crew was the noise level- it was super quiet when we first arrived around 5:45/6. I had to keep reminding the girls of the quiet voices that were needed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carrie R.
I've been driving past Rufina's for months, always intrigued by the full parking lot so early on Friday evenings. I finally got the chance to stop in yesterday and was certainly delighted! The hostess seated my 3 girls and I quickly, while reassuring that the white table cloths didn't mean that kids were not welcome. The menu is extensive: all of our family's favorite dishes plus a whole lot more. The girls were so happy with the dessert list. We landed on angel hair pasta with marinara and meatball, ziti broccoli with chicken, and piccata with shrimp and mushrooms. For dessert in house made cheesecake with strawberries! The service was great too- we had drinks right away and the server got dinner orders in promptly (super important with kiddos). The food wasn't brought super quickly but a trip to the bathroom and a couple minutes buffer with cell phone videos did the trick. Along the way, we asked for extra silverware which were brought right away and we had a major drink spill, which they helped contain and remediate quickly (complete with a new wheats table cloth). The prices were comfortable and the quality was great. The only thing that was a bit strange for our young crew was the noise level- it was super quiet when we first arrived around 5:45/6. I had to keep reminding the girls of the quiet voices that were needed.
gina federico
A big “Thank you” to the owner and staff at Rufina’s for making our special occasion so pleasant. We had a small wedding celebration with family 15 of us. Rufina’s gave us a private room and they were so kind to let me come an hour early before they opened to decorate. They had the table already done up for us, and the room was arranged perfect with pretty white linen table clothes and a few small tables to put gifts, and decorations. The waitresses were superb! So friendly and attentive. I was a little nervous because it was only my 2nd time there, (1st time was delicious as well) and my family is 100% Italian - so it’s all about the food lolEveryone loved the food. Their eggplant parmigiana is out of this world, the veal saltimbocca is one of the best I’ve had. The chicken parmigiana is delicious, and they give generous portions of quality food. The bread and dipping oil alone- Omg SO good! The drinks were delicious. Prices are reasonableI’ve been to many other Italian restaurants in the area and this place blows them away.
We have large family gatherings here, always helpful staff, no rush. GREAT
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Avery W.
Workers clearly don't care about their jobs... Always seems like they would rather be done with their shift rather then actually making what little money they were promised. Won't be coming back
Chris Tanner
Nice Local, fresh, Quality food, great staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ken Goguen
Wonderful dining experience. A favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Deepti Gupta
Wonderful ambience , Delicious Italian food and friendly staff . Their dessert is to die for and they have many varieties of drinks also. Our go to place for Italian good is north end in Boston but this place is definitely giving a high competition to all the Italian restaurant in Boston . Top notch food , clean ambience , feeling of fine dine environment. I highly highly recommend this place to all the Italian food lovers . Can’t wait to come back again and enjoy meal with my fav boys !!
It was my aunt's 66th birthday and a party of eight. I wish I could say she would have many happy returns, but after this experience, the only thing memorable was how horrible it was. The drinks were under average. The wine list for an Italian restaurant had such a limited Italian selection. The eggplant Parm was burned and sent back. The chicken Caesar salad was charred. The only saving grace was the minestrone and the focaccia. We were charged two dollars for eight small plates for a homemade cake that we had brought. And thankfully we did. The night was not all lost. Furthermore, and the pièce de résistance was the attitude of the server, who chronically seemed bothered by any communication. The most insulting experiences were when she left the drink platter on my table setting, and when I had given it back to her fifteen minutes later, she looked at me in offended confusion. Secondly, when I was asking her a question, she walked away without making eye contact, and answered as she was exiting the dining room. For someone who struggles with hearing and given the overall hostility, this was embarrassing and uncomfortable to "bother" asking her to repeat herself. Everyone has their own stuff going on. I get it. But this was extreme. I'm a decent person and it killed me to leave a 20% tip. So I hope this review is constructive enough to help her and the management develop some conscientiousness. But given the similar complaints of reviewers, I sense that overall the restaurant is intransigent and won't hold my breath.
Who is rating this place? I don’t want to sink a restaurant but this was awful. The food is bland at best. The service was rushed and hostile. The ambiance is severely lacking.I got the fig salad to start. I enjoyed the candied nuts but the feta came from a pre-crumbled package and had no flavor.Then I got the veal saltimbocca. I’m not sure there was actually any sage. The sauce was so flavorless that the pasta just tasted like buttered noodles. I left them all behind.At one point my son interrupted my wife as she was ordering and the waitress yelled at her. Our friend who was eight months pregnant made a joke about having a drink and the waitress brought it to her even though she clearly said she was just kidding.The wine list is awful. The cocktails aren’t good. The only reason not to give them one star is the veal parm which was solid. So if that’s all you are going for, ok. But nothing else our party had was worth eating or drinking.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Who is rating this place? I don't want to sink a restaurant but this was awful. The food is bland at best. The service was rushed and hostile. The ambiance is severely lacking. I got the fig salad to start. I enjoyed the candied nuts but the feta came from a pre-crumbled package and had no flavor. Then I got the veal saltimbocca. I'm not sure there was actually any sage. The sauce was so flavorless that the pasta just tasted like buttered noodles. I left them all behind. At one point my son interrupted my wife as she was ordering and the waitress yelled at her. Our friend who was eight months pregnant made a joke about having a drink and the waitress brought it to her even though she clearly said she was just kidding. The wine list is awful. The cocktails aren't good. The only reason not to give them one star is the veal parm which was solid. So if that's all you are going for, ok. But nothing else our party had was worth eating or drinking.
Food is consistently good. We have had the same server during our last two visits. Very inattentive, almost rude. We politely requested water, 3/4 through our meal, she looked at us we had asked her fly to Italy for a special bottle of wine. She never once returned to the table to ask if we needed anything. It was not busy and they were not short staffed. It was enough for us to decide that we need not return.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
The best Italian restaurant around the food is great.. it’s hard to order off the menu when the specials are always so delicious. The drinks the almond joy martini is the best…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food and service are amazing .. you will not be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was ok. They were out of a few items and had the wrong specials. The food was below average -- The ambiance was dated and had a weird smell. I can make better food at home. Nice drink selection and perhaps we'd go back for some appetizers and drinks but we didn't care for the food. Also, salad is extra despite the $$ dish. Bread and oil were the best part of the meal here.
I’ve been driving past Rufina’s for months, always intrigued by the full parking lot so early on Friday evenings. I finally got the chance to stop in yesterday and was certainly delighted! The hostess seated my 3 girls and I quickly, while reassuring that the white table cloths didn’t mean that kids were not welcome. The menu is extensive: all of our family’s favorite dishes plus a whole lot more. The girls were so happy with the dessert list. We landed on angel hair pasta with marinara and meatball, ziti broccoli with chicken, and piccata with shrimp and mushrooms. For dessert in house made cheesecake with strawberries! The service was great too- we had drinks right away and the server got dinner orders in promptly (super important with kiddos). The food wasn’t brought super quickly but a trip to the bathroom and a couple minutes buffer with cell phone videos did the trick. Along the way, we asked for extra silverware which were brought right away and we had a major drink spill, which they helped contain and remediate quickly (complete with a new wheats table cloth). The prices were comfortable and the quality was great. The only thing that was a bit strange for our young crew was the noise level- it was super quiet when we first arrived around 5:45/6. I had to keep reminding the girls of the quiet voices that were needed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been driving past Rufina's for months, always intrigued by the full parking lot so early on Friday evenings. I finally got the chance to stop in yesterday and was certainly delighted! The hostess seated my 3 girls and I quickly, while reassuring that the white table cloths didn't mean that kids were not welcome. The menu is extensive: all of our family's favorite dishes plus a whole lot more. The girls were so happy with the dessert list. We landed on angel hair pasta with marinara and meatball, ziti broccoli with chicken, and piccata with shrimp and mushrooms. For dessert in house made cheesecake with strawberries! The service was great too- we had drinks right away and the server got dinner orders in promptly (super important with kiddos). The food wasn't brought super quickly but a trip to the bathroom and a couple minutes buffer with cell phone videos did the trick. Along the way, we asked for extra silverware which were brought right away and we had a major drink spill, which they helped contain and remediate quickly (complete with a new wheats table cloth). The prices were comfortable and the quality was great. The only thing that was a bit strange for our young crew was the noise level- it was super quiet when we first arrived around 5:45/6. I had to keep reminding the girls of the quiet voices that were needed.
A big “Thank you” to the owner and staff at Rufina’s for making our special occasion so pleasant. We had a small wedding celebration with family 15 of us. Rufina’s gave us a private room and they were so kind to let me come an hour early before they opened to decorate. They had the table already done up for us, and the room was arranged perfect with pretty white linen table clothes and a few small tables to put gifts, and decorations. The waitresses were superb! So friendly and attentive. I was a little nervous because it was only my 2nd time there, (1st time was delicious as well) and my family is 100% Italian - so it’s all about the food lolEveryone loved the food. Their eggplant parmigiana is out of this world, the veal saltimbocca is one of the best I’ve had. The chicken parmigiana is delicious, and they give generous portions of quality food. The bread and dipping oil alone- Omg SO good! The drinks were delicious. Prices are reasonableI’ve been to many other Italian restaurants in the area and this place blows them away.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We have large family gatherings here, always helpful staff, no rush. GREAT
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Workers clearly don't care about their jobs... Always seems like they would rather be done with their shift rather then actually making what little money they were promised. Won't be coming back
Nice Local, fresh, Quality food, great staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful dining experience. A favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful ambience , Delicious Italian food and friendly staff . Their dessert is to die for and they have many varieties of drinks also. Our go to place for Italian good is north end in Boston but this place is definitely giving a high competition to all the Italian restaurant in Boston . Top notch food , clean ambience , feeling of fine dine environment. I highly highly recommend this place to all the Italian food lovers . Can’t wait to come back again and enjoy meal with my fav boys !!