Fiorella’s

Nah, not really.
All this great experiences, but the truth is, very average place, extremely crowded, long lines, crowded tables for a very average meal.
They do not take reservations for parties smaller than 6 people, so make sure to add an extra hour of waiting to your experience.
I do not plan to go back.

This is one of our absolute favorite spots. Everything on the menu is great. From the cheesy garlic sticks to my favorite, chicken gnocchi fra diavlo, everything is amazing. Pizza and calzones are fantastic. Staff is friendly and attentive and the place smells SO good. They have complimentary valet parking and there is often a wait, but it is well worth it. I mean if a place didn’t have a wait at 7 on a Saturday night, that would be worse because it can’t be that good.

I moved to Newton this year and have since been trying to hit all the billion restaurants in and around Moody St. Fiorella’s is the only one I’ve visited twice. Usually, my second trip to a restaurant isn’t as good as the first, but that wasn’t the case here. The atmosphere is nice and cozy, and it always smells great when you walk in (thanks open kitchen!). Great apps, and their short rib is absolutely fantastic. Honestly, I’ve yet to order anything off the menu that I didn’t like. Only downsides are the sometimes long waits and sometimes I would like more variety in the menu. However, if people are lining up, that’s generally a good sign and I’ll take fewer but better options over a huge Cheesecake Factory-​style menu any day.
Definitely will be back again.

AMAZING. I went with a friend of mine on a Monday. It was so good that we came back on Wednesday… during the same week. Everything was delicious. We ordered the calamari, and goat cheese and glazed walnuts salad. He had the gnocchi and I had the seafood fettuccine. Finished with a cannoli and gelato for dessert. EVERYTHING was delicious. Their red and white sauce are both equally good. Will definitely be back again.

I cannot review the food because they would not honor our reservation. We made a reservation for 6 but only had 5 (one home sick). We were told by the hostess that we would have to wait at least an hour since our party was only 5 people. When we complained to the manager, we were told, «we are trying to run a business here.» Many of my clients ask for restaurant recommendations in the Newton area and I have found several good options in the Nonantum/​West Newton villages but this will not be one of them. Unfortunate since I have heard that the food is really good.

I would have given it one star but I know the food is quite good. The reason for two stars is I made a reservation for 6 and only 5 showed up due to an emergency and was told, with attitude from the «HOSTESS» I would have to wait 45 min. to and hr. for a table. The manager was less helpful as she kept on explaining they are trying to run a «business.» Went to the Château in Waltham and was greeted with open arms and graciousness. And by the way the food was really good. Apparently they are so busy they don’t care about people. They need to be reminded they are in the «hospitallity BUSINESS».

I went with a group and I must say that I enjoyed Fiorella’s restaurant. However, the place where we sat was a bit too tight with space. We were able to hear each other’s conversation so I didn’t find the restaurant too noisy. The restaurant atmosphere is really good and the waiter was very friendly and attentive to our needs. Sometimes there was a little wait for my water glass to be filled because of the busyness but I had a lemonade in between.
It was my second time around and I noticed that parking lot was almost full but we managed to find a spot even though it was a Monday night. The last time I had to park on the roadside where vehicles on the road moved very fast so please beware as you get out of the car and cross the street over to the restaurant.
The calamari for appetizer was good but I was not a fan of the sauce. I ordered baby clams as my main meal and I must give it ⁵⁄₅. I didn’t want a big meal and this was just right. l really like lemonade but was disappointed that it was a fountain drink that I found more «syrupy» and too sweet for my taste. The desert I give it a B+.
Overall, if you want to find a good place for Italian and not drive to East Boston for some tasty Italian food then I think Fiorella’s is a good pick. It’s a decent place to take your family or friends. The people are friendly it is always excellent to be greeted at the door as you arrive and depart. Will I go back? Yes! I admired their friendliness and makes you feel that you are valued as a customer. I find this very important and would give them 4.5 stars for valued service and friendliness.
I recommend that if you think about Fiorella’s give it a shot because each person have their likes and dislikes. I do recommend Fiorella’s!

A+ for the food. Everything I’ve ever tried was delicious. Definitely my favorite Italian place in the area. The complementary bread sticks with marinara sauce are amazing and a perfect appetizer. It does get a little crowded and noisy sometimes and reservations are only available for groups of 6+ people, but the food makes it definitely worth it.

Had a poor experience. We went there at 925 while the restaurant closes at 10– our waiter was frowning to speak to us about the menu. Hated it. Food pizza was good and chef special chicken wasn’t too great. Waiter never came to check in on is. I would not return for poor service. Future customers save your time and go to another italian restaurant.

Fiorella’s is amazing. Everything we ordered was delicious.
They start you off with complimentary cheesy breadsticks and marinara. The breadsticks were soooo good. I always try to stray away from the complimentary bread because it fills you up before you even eat your entrée, but you have to eat their bread. Even I couldn’t stay away because it was so good that I didn’t even want to stop.
Baby Clams — (Fiorella’s version of linguine with clams)
This was the best dish of the night. When the plate first came out, we saw how small the clams were and was initially disappointed. But we overlooked the size once we realized how much clams they gave us. My brother wanted to remove the clams from the shells before beginning to eat. Before we knew it, he was forming a pile; there was 20+ clams in that pasta dish. A dish like that normally retails almost $ 20 in NYC, so we thought it was definitely worth the price (we remembered paying less than $ 15). Plus, it was delicious.
Baked Gnocchi — Soft and pillowy. If you like gnocchi, you’ll be satisfied with this dish. I didn’t even finish it and brought the rest of it back for leftovers. It still tasted delicious the next night.
The restaurant has parking, but it’s only valet parking. However, there is street parking and we were lucky enough to find a free spot across the street. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you’re in the area. Get the Baby Clams!!! It’s such a deal.

I had the seafood fettuccine and it was a good dish full of prosciutto and shrimp a little light on the scallops for the price but adequate for the dish. I went for an office holiday party and they made everyone wait until all 14 of us had arrived which meant we had to be in the way standing, even though our table was empty, while we waited and one person was on crutches. They also ran out of bread and promised to bring some but other tables received bread and we did not. The food was good the service was a bit lackluster comparatively. I did have the arancini which was excellent and their marinara sauce is flavorful and you can tell they take great pride in it.

Every time my parents or in-​laws are in town we come to Fiorella’s. It is a place where almost anyone can be satisfied. Every time we visit, we must order the calamari appetizer which comes with delicate (very nicely cooked) fried calamari and some fried sweet and hot Italian peppers and extra tomato sauce for dunking the freshly baked flatbread (a very nice sauce… so good that it is available for purchase, should you feel the urge).
I recommend any seafood or pasta dish. I know that seems broad, but it is all very delicious. My personal favorite has to be the «baby clams» which is a linguini and white clam sauce dish severed with the cutest, tiny in-​shell clams (perfect for catching bits of white-​wine juice and delicious Italian cheese). This dish is also a hit with many of my relatives. Other favorites include the scallops limoncello, the pesce all’amatriciana, and baked haddock (or for non-​fish, the short ribs milanese, chicken/​veal parmesan, or gnocchi).
Fiorella’s also serves delicious pizza. One can «create their own» with an assortment of toppings, or order pizza’s with predetermined toppings.
The only possible drawback of Fiorella’s is that they do not take reservations (unless you have a party of 6 or more). This can result in very long wait times (~1 hr) at peak dinner times. The good news: they are usually very accurate at estimating the wait times, they have a beautiful bar with good drinks, and they have an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs make the food (and possibly want to eat everything on the menu, before you are seated).

One word needed for this place: DELICIOUS.
I had the Stuffed Peppers Parmigiana to start. It was so damn good. Great taste and a good size for an appetizer. My friend had Rosemary Shrimp Toscano, and had nothing but great things to say about it.
As an entrée, I tried the Short Ribs Milanese. It was seriously one of the best rib dishes I’ve ever had. The ribs were packed with flavour, the mashed potatoes were delicious, and the green beans (mixed with cranberries, almonds, and onions) were unbelievably good. I’m still enjoying the taste of it :)
My friend had Chicken Broccoli Alfredo, and again had great things to say. Such good flavour, juicy chicken, and fresh broccoli.
Hands down, a great choice to try!

I adore this restaurant, the employee’s are all very professional and friendly.
The food is consistently delicious… I crave the caprese and garlic sticks on a weekly basis!

Forget going into the North End. Newton is the place to head for Italian food.
Fiorella’s located in Newton, MA has made its mark in the food scene. Open for 15 years, the restaurant has racked up a high number of positive reviews for its famed marinara sauce and cheese bread to their warm staff. Building a devoted local following, I jumped at the opportunity to have dinner when it presented itself, and I am so glad I did!
Here are the highlights of the evening:
1. Drinks
I only had one, but Fiorella’s has a pretty extensive cocktail and wine menu, not to mention they are good about crafting up their own seasonal drinks. Upon walking into the restaurant I was handed a glass of Blueberry Smash, which is made with bourbon and blueberry simple syrup. The combination of sweet and smokey had a nice balance for a summer evening cocktail with a kick. If you like blueberries and aren’t afraid of the dark liquors, I wouldn’t pass this drink up.
2. The Starters
Upping the ante on bread for a starter, the flat cheese bread with the marinara sauce alone will have you coming back. I call it the appetite killer because it is easy to fill up on — leaving no room for any other food. And the marinara sauce! No wonder its bottled up and sold separately.
What followed was the antipasti board which included salami, pepperoni, parmacotto~ham, imported prosciutto, provolone cheese, marinated long stem artichoke and olives — we knew dinner was going to be great after this.
The arancini, a large crisp risotto ball stuffed with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce is large enough to split amongst a couple of people. Then out of nowhere a plate of various fried deliciousness including, calamari, toasted ravioli and stuffed peppers was passed down to me. All of it was delicious, but the stuffed pepper was my favorite by far. Made with DePasquale’s hot italian sausage, pepperoni, risotto, a blend of ricotta, parmesan and topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella was to die for.
3. Flatbreads and Pizza
Great for sharing or as a meal, the marguerita pizza and mushroom and truffle flatbread are not to be overlooked.
The Margherita has fresh mozzarella cheese and basil over a tomato-​basil sauce and the Mushroom& Truffle is a blend of crimini mushrooms, prosciutto and fontina cheese drizzled with truffle oil. Yum!
4. Entrees
Fortunately, I was able to taste a couple of other plates from my fellow bloggers, but the highlight was the bolognese made with fusilli handmade pasta and a combination of beef, pork and veal in a tomato sauce. A very hearty and filling meal.
5. Dessert
I was stuffed at this point, but of course dessert just can’t be passed up. I had the tiramisu which had a great balance of all of the ingredients and was huge! Of course I took what was left home.
6. Ambiance and Location
The parking is convenient, the restaurant is clean and comfortable, and they do an amazing job of balancing sophistication, but yet appropriate for families with children. The open kitchen is also nice to watch — great to see the chefs work their magic. Here are some more pictures so you get an idea.
Fortunately, Fiorella also has three express locations in Brighton, Belmont and Cambridge. Although, the menu is limited compared to the flagship restaurant, they feature take out and delivery versions of the same classic Italian dishes. You could also get a jar of the marinara sauce at all locations. I was lucky enough to get one at the end of the evening, which my family loved and will be getting more.

If I could give them 6 stars I would!
Fiorella’s — Newtonville, MA — 7÷23÷2015
The online menu looked amazing! Ample parking on the side of the restaurant and an extremely friendly staff. Initially I tried to make an online reservation but they only make reservations for parties of 6 or more online. I’m a solo business traveller and figured if I get there would be no issue getting a table… Good call because shortly after I got there the restaurant filled up! I suspected they would be busy after looking at the menu offerings…
Love the décor… Earthy tones on stucco walls… Chair rail with wainscoting… pots and pans ornately hung from the wall… And topiary potted plants forming a natural barrier between the first dining room and the walkway to the back of the restaurant…
My server Gilmer was awesome. I told him my requirements of appetizer… main and dessert as well as the pace at which I dine and he proceeded to make his recommendations… When you frequent a lot of high end restaurants you need someone else to make the recommendations… That way you’re not locked into the same things that you would normally order and you expand your palate at the same time… I haven’t been disappointed yet…
Gilmer’s first recommendation… Roasted Beet Salad… Arugela & Roasted Beets tossed with a Raspberry White Vinaigrette topped with Goat Cheese… Thin strips of pizza dough/​breads would be brought out with the salad… Amazing!
For the main… Scallops Limoncello… Pan seared sea scallops with capers, vine ripe tomatoes, leeks, shallots & asparagus prepared in our unique lemoncello liqeuer reduction with a hint of spice, served over risotto… OMG… My mouth was experiencing a slow rhythmic food-​gasm pulse that would intensify with each mouth-​watering fork full… Just when you though there were no new sensations to experience gastronomically… along comes Fiorello’s… Wow… Just Wow!
For dessert… The Fiorellas Apple Crisp… Fresh slices apples & cinnamon baked with crunchy oats, topped with a scoop of vanilla gelato and a cappuccino… The apple crisp looks as though it was sculpted in art class and i almost felt bad about eating its beauty… Almost… ;-) It is served fresh out of the oven so give it a few minutes to cool off… The flavour??? There are no words that properly convey what my palate is experiencing right now…
When you come here be prepared to be Wow’d… You will love this place!

I had a pleasant experience dining at Fiorella’s for my birthday. I’ve read many reviews about their free breadsticks and I thought they were OK. They are not as thick as the ones they give you at Olive Garden nor do I think it’s an upgraded version of the cheesy bread from dominos. Rather, the bread is very thin with cheese on top… it’s something that anyone can make really. I thought it was pretty awesome that they make their own mariana sauce.
Their pasta dishes are amazing! Although the specialty ones could be a bit pricey, the classic dishes are always the best. The 3 of us really enjoyed our meals. I would prefer dining here rather than the north end because there is complimentary valet parking and street parking so, plenty of parking for those who plan to drive in.
The wait was not so long in my opinion. We were a party of 3 on a Wednesday evening and the waiter seated us right away after everyone arrived. Inside the restaurant, you’ll see an open kitchen and a beautiful décor. This place does really make you feel like home!

I was very impressed by the food here, and am still salivating thinking about it.
The free breadsticks with marinara sauce that they give you at the beginning are like an upgraded version of Domino’s cheesy bread. They were delicious, warm, and a great start to our meal. We may have filled up on them a bit though. The sangria was also very good with the right mix of ingredients– it actually tasted like sangria and not some cheap mixed drink.
The food took a while to come out, but the waitress was apologetic and kept feeding us breadsticks without our asking. Once the food came, it was served piping hot. I got the beef short ribs that fell apart with the touch of my fork. The flavor was outstanding and they were probably one of the best short ribs dish that I’ve had. The mashed potatoes were creamy, smooth, and perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better meal, and I’m glad they took their time prepping it for me even though it took a long time.
The service was great, the waitress wasn’t overbearing but did check up on us frequently. The prices are reasonable in the $ 15 – 25 range.
I can’t wait to frequent this restaurant more often in the future!

Oh My Deliciuosness! Fiorella’s serves up an Amazing Menu of very fresh and extremely tasty cuisine.
After speaking to our fantastic waitress Michelle she infiormed us that Fiorelli’s has been there for 15 Years and after experiencing the superb service and delicious food it’s no surprise.
If you’re in Newton I highly recommend Fiorellas

We’ve been meaning to try this place for a while, and finally got around to it lastnight.
First off, we walked in, and the open kitchen had us hooked right away. We could see, first hand, the cooks preparing everything fresh. Cooking everything with care, 7 – 8 pans going at once, the brick oven stoked with pizza’s coming in and out. Ladles of fresh marinara heaped into pans with fresh gnocchi. Sold!
The seating configuration offers up a few nooks and cozy spots. The service was great also. Our waiter was super nice!
We’re making this our go-​to Italian place. Complimentary fired dough strips with marinara for dipping. Wow. I could have ate that alone. Bread and sauce, it’s how I grew up!
My date and I actually split a Chicken parm with fresh fettuccini and marinara. Yum. It kept us from over-​eating, because portions are generous. Of course we topped the meal off with Apple Crisp and a Flourless Chocolate cake with gelato. The desserts was equally as fresh and prepared with love.
This reminds me of growing up in NY. Italians are full of love, and when done right, that love goes right into the food. Salute!