Rude confrontational wait staff. Do not recommend unless you want your dining experience ruined.
Jacob
Food was great, service was good. Felt a bit rushed to get in and out, but otherwise was the ideal date spot for an Italian dinner out.
Justin
Excellent food but portions are not big enough. Pasta is very cheap. This wasn't even homemade pasta.
Jeremy
Excellent meal. Scallops and shrimp appetizers followed by risotto and veal Milanese. Great wines too. Enjoyed it so much were returned the next night.
Howard
We had the veal marsala, chicken vodka penne pasta, fried calamari and green salad. Each one was flavorful and we enjoyed every course--we thought the veal was the best of the dishes. Portion size was generous for the price. Service was perfect and meal pacing was prompt.
Paul
The food was mediocre and fatty. The staff was rude and uninterested. And to top it off they automatically added 20% on the bill for tips. We didn't have an option to decide ourselves what % we found appropriate for the food en service delivered. I do not recommend this restaurant.
Helen
For appetizers we had calamari and grilled asparagus with Parmesan. Both were delicious and my husband particularly liked the tomato sauce that came with the calamari. Then we had breaded veal and the eggplant parm with penne. The veal was really tasty, the eggplant parm was just ok. The layers of eggplant had been heavily coated in batter which was soggy in the dish and it was just too much with the penne. The dish would have been better with a fresh salad. Some of the service was friendly and it wasn't bad value for money although we were in and out in 45 minutes which was a bit too quick and rushed.
Patricia
DO NOT EAT HERE! The food is fine but the treatment we received diminished any enjoyment we had. We each had three full courses Everything was fine until we paid the bill. We tipped in excess of 20%. We still had full glasses of wine from a $70 bottle we purchased with our dinner. We were not being loud or noisy or disruptive in any way. There was no waiting line to get in and there were empty tables. I don't know if they were not satisfied with the tip of if they just treat everyone like s*#t. Just after we paid, in spite of having full wine glasses and having just had a rather expensive meal, they unceremoniously asked us to leave. I contacted their management the next day for an explanation just in case I was missing something. Even though I followed up twice, I received no response. Therefore, I feel justified going public with my absolute disgust in this restaurant. Avoid it like the plague. There are more than enough good restaurants that treat their customers with respect.
Phillip
This was our first visit to Isabella, and we'll definitely be back. We had reservations (which I strongly recommend) and were seated immediately by the warm and welcoming host, Martin. Having just returned from Bologna, we chose Bolognese dishes: Tagliatelle Bolognese and Tagliatelle Porcini plus two delicious reds: the chianti and montepulciano. Both dishes were excellent - albeit a bit different from what we had in Bologna (actually, every restaurant in Bologna makes Tagliatelle Bolognese differently which makes this dish so fun to order). For dessert, we shared a tiramisu (yum!!!) and as it was our anniversary, the server gave us two lemoncellos - which may have been better than any we had on the Amalfi coast! Our waiter was wonderful and helpful. The restaurant noise level is typical of those in the North End - a little crowded, but not so much that it's uncomfortable.
Mary
Excellent meal for both me and my companion. Felt a little rushed by the waitress. It was Friday night and they were busy. It's a small restaurant and the tables are close together, but if you're ok with that, highly recommend for a fantastic authentic Italian dinner.
I was looking for an authentic Italian restaurant during a recent trip to Boston and was encouraged by other reviews to try Isabella. Immediately, I felt like I was back in Italy. The atmosphere, food (the Carbonara!), wine and service were outstanding. I will go back. Reservations are a must.
Michael
This was my fourth time eating at Isabella in the last three years. Each time I visit Boston I come here. And I typically bring someone new, who experiences for the first time what I have, great food, great service, and good value. Not to mention I nice wine selection. I am already looking forward to my next visit. Grazie e complimenti!
Erica
Great experience at Isabella! My daughter uses a wheelchair and it was a little tight to get to our seat, but the staff was very accommodating. They put a portable ramp outside to go up the step. Food was delicious! Wonderful experience!
Karen
What a fantastic dining experience! Food was amazing- loved the shrimp risotto, eggplant parmigiana, roasted mussels, and asparagus. Service was outstanding - attentive and friendly. Great restaurant in North End neighborhood- highly recommend.
Carol
You could tell the people in the kitchen really knew what they were doing. For example on the Caesar salad, the dressing was freshly made -- you could taste all the ingredients separately. The portions are generous and the food delicious.
Rude confrontational wait staff. Do not recommend unless you want your dining experience ruined.
Food was great, service was good. Felt a bit rushed to get in and out, but otherwise was the ideal date spot for an Italian dinner out.
Excellent food but portions are not big enough. Pasta is very cheap. This wasn't even homemade pasta.
Excellent meal. Scallops and shrimp appetizers followed by risotto and veal Milanese. Great wines too. Enjoyed it so much were returned the next night.
We had the veal marsala, chicken vodka penne pasta, fried calamari and green salad. Each one was flavorful and we enjoyed every course--we thought the veal was the best of the dishes. Portion size was generous for the price. Service was perfect and meal pacing was prompt.
The food was mediocre and fatty. The staff was rude and uninterested. And to top it off they automatically added 20% on the bill for tips. We didn't have an option to decide ourselves what % we found appropriate for the food en service delivered. I do not recommend this restaurant.
For appetizers we had calamari and grilled asparagus with Parmesan. Both were delicious and my husband particularly liked the tomato sauce that came with the calamari. Then we had breaded veal and the eggplant parm with penne. The veal was really tasty, the eggplant parm was just ok. The layers of eggplant had been heavily coated in batter which was soggy in the dish and it was just too much with the penne. The dish would have been better with a fresh salad. Some of the service was friendly and it wasn't bad value for money although we were in and out in 45 minutes which was a bit too quick and rushed.
DO NOT EAT HERE! The food is fine but the treatment we received diminished any enjoyment we had. We each had three full courses Everything was fine until we paid the bill. We tipped in excess of 20%. We still had full glasses of wine from a $70 bottle we purchased with our dinner. We were not being loud or noisy or disruptive in any way. There was no waiting line to get in and there were empty tables. I don't know if they were not satisfied with the tip of if they just treat everyone like s*#t. Just after we paid, in spite of having full wine glasses and having just had a rather expensive meal, they unceremoniously asked us to leave. I contacted their management the next day for an explanation just in case I was missing something. Even though I followed up twice, I received no response. Therefore, I feel justified going public with my absolute disgust in this restaurant. Avoid it like the plague. There are more than enough good restaurants that treat their customers with respect.
This was our first visit to Isabella, and we'll definitely be back. We had reservations (which I strongly recommend) and were seated immediately by the warm and welcoming host, Martin. Having just returned from Bologna, we chose Bolognese dishes: Tagliatelle Bolognese and Tagliatelle Porcini plus two delicious reds: the chianti and montepulciano. Both dishes were excellent - albeit a bit different from what we had in Bologna (actually, every restaurant in Bologna makes Tagliatelle Bolognese differently which makes this dish so fun to order). For dessert, we shared a tiramisu (yum!!!) and as it was our anniversary, the server gave us two lemoncellos - which may have been better than any we had on the Amalfi coast! Our waiter was wonderful and helpful. The restaurant noise level is typical of those in the North End - a little crowded, but not so much that it's uncomfortable.
Excellent meal for both me and my companion. Felt a little rushed by the waitress. It was Friday night and they were busy. It's a small restaurant and the tables are close together, but if you're ok with that, highly recommend for a fantastic authentic Italian dinner.
Restaurantji Recommends
I was looking for an authentic Italian restaurant during a recent trip to Boston and was encouraged by other reviews to try Isabella. Immediately, I felt like I was back in Italy. The atmosphere, food (the Carbonara!), wine and service were outstanding. I will go back. Reservations are a must.
This was my fourth time eating at Isabella in the last three years. Each time I visit Boston I come here. And I typically bring someone new, who experiences for the first time what I have, great food, great service, and good value. Not to mention I nice wine selection. I am already looking forward to my next visit. Grazie e complimenti!
Great experience at Isabella! My daughter uses a wheelchair and it was a little tight to get to our seat, but the staff was very accommodating. They put a portable ramp outside to go up the step. Food was delicious! Wonderful experience!
What a fantastic dining experience! Food was amazing- loved the shrimp risotto, eggplant parmigiana, roasted mussels, and asparagus. Service was outstanding - attentive and friendly. Great restaurant in North End neighborhood- highly recommend.
You could tell the people in the kitchen really knew what they were doing. For example on the Caesar salad, the dressing was freshly made -- you could taste all the ingredients separately. The portions are generous and the food delicious.
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