Amazing little gem of a neighborhood place in the heart of historic Marblehead. Seats about 22 people total inside, so get your reservation locked down and bring your favorite bottle of wine to complement the meal. Some of the occasional negative reviews of this place are shameful and totally unworthy from my experience.
The gnocchi in “the Little Store Gnocchi” dish was melt in your mouth perfection. Best I ever had in the USA (I have been to Italy 40+ times). The mushrooms, truffle oil and Alfredo-like sauce (it’s better than classic Alfredo … smoother, less sticky, less fatty, more garlicky - and scrumptious… it was so tasty, I could drink the remnants like a divine soup — and frankly, I did!
The Veal Marsala was tender and seasoned perfectly, coated in tasty mushrooms and a dark Marsala sauce that was done with just the right balance of sweet and savory.
My wife had the Seafood Di Mare that was piled high in a skillet full of calamari, shrimp, mussels and scallops on top of homemade fettuccine. The white wine sauce this was bathing in was a little tame for the magnitude of the dish - good, just not spectacular.
All in all, we loved our food so much that we ordered a Haddock Francese “to go” so we can have it the following night and expand our Little Store palate.
The ambiance is cute and quaint, old school pictures on the wall in unmatched frames that you would find at a garage sale. I felt like I was in a neighborhood ristorante in Tuscany. We saw only 1 employee all night and she was a hustler (in a great way). She did everything … never stopped buzzing around to take care of a full restaurant— not to mention a thriving takeout business (folks … please tip this gal even when ordering takeout - she is busting her tail for you!).
I love the BYOB approach because I always have lots of wine at the house - I don’t need to spend an additional $100 on a $40 bottle of wine when I go out.
One last comment - this is an adorable romantic place - unless the guests who visit make it otherwise. I was there with my wife, as were several other husbands enjoying a relatively quiet night out with their significant others. One younger group of 5 friends took the center table, and as the alcohol consumption rose, the conversation volume crescendoed to the point of shouting just to be heard across the table. A neighboring gentleman intervened and asked one particular girl to please stop shouting. He was right to do this - and to the girl’s credit — she apologized, took it down a couple notches, and the rest of the evening was so pleasant for everyone. I am appreciative that she took it so well (enjoying one’s self is a sign and the GOAL of any great restaurant). I say this just to remind people - restaurants are only as pleasant and romantic as the guests who honor them. By all means - celebrate life and friendship … but be wary of your surroundings when your neighbors are just an arm’s length away.
God bless the Little Store — Marbleheaders are sooooo lucky to have her !
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian, Eggplant Rollatine
K T
Cute little place. You’ll need to make a reservation. Cozy and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michele Hironaka
A lucky find on vacation! We were in the mood for some satisfying pasta and we found it. It's located in the cutest neighborhood and their menu looked so wonderful it was hard to choose! We ordered the caccio de pepe with chicken cutlets and we loved it! We will be coming back before the end of our trip. Quick note; the food was very good, but it was not exceptional 5 star quality. If we could give it a 4.5 we would. But we may update our review after our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Elise Hall
A lucky find on vacation! We were in the mood for some satisfying pasta and we found it. It's located in the cutest neighborhood and their menu looked so wonderful it was hard to choose! We ordered the caccio de pepe with chicken cutlets and we loved it! We will be coming back before the end of our trip. Quick note; the food was very good, but it was not exceptional 5 star quality. If we could give it a 4.5 we would. But we may update our review after our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Michael Contois
This little place is a real gem. It's quite small. A former little variety store converted to an Italian restaurant. It also does a booming to go business.
FOOD AND SERVICE: Let me first say that the food is excellent and the fact that the restaurant is BYOB is a huge plus. The BYOB bottle must be unopened and your waitress must open it for you. The waitresses are efficient but not overly friendly, which is fine with me.ATMOSPHERE: Inside, is quaint but there are only seven tables: five tables of four and two tables of two. However, the tables of four are set up to be tables of two if needed. The last few times that I have eaten in the restaurant, there was ALWAYS one or more very noisy table of four (or group of two tables of four put together) talking so loudly or yelling back and forth to others in their group that I could not hear the conversation, for the entire meal, at my own table. The acoustics in this little restaurant are horrible. During good weather, they have a few tables outside that preclude this problem.There is also a genderless bathroom that opens right into the dining area. The table of two next to the bathroom should be the last table seated REGARDLESS of the number in your party; in other words, if you are a party of two, then a table of four if available, should be separated to accommodate the party of two. In no uncertain terms should a party of two be seated next to the toilet if there is somewhere else for them to sit. Several diners used the bathroom and not one of them closed the door when they left it. Also, if you arrive with a reservation and there are three or four tables empty, split the tables for that party because chances are you will split them for a later party which is kind of insulting.My suggestion: if you are a deuce, don't go on Friday or Saturday nights, get your food to go or sit outside in good weather.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Joyce Kingsbury
Best of the Best!! Sir!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels and Pasta, Ravioli, Italian
Gari Copeland
Best food in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick Dariotis
Delicious food, not too expensive, no
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian
Tony Latta
We hit all the recommended places our first couple days in marblehead, we continued to search for additional experiences to try. Our last afternoon we found this little place within walking distance (as most places are in marblehead) and reviews seemed good. Luckily they weren't busy so we didn't need a reservation at that time. After entering we were happily surprised by the decor and menu options, yet somehow we were even more surprised by our appetizers and then our entrées. After being told at another place our first night in marblehead that no restaurants served bread pudding, we ordered two when our server told us they had it (and they fresh and delicious). Had we been in town any longer we definitely would have returned to try some other options. We plan to be back in the area in the spring and we'll be making sure we have reservations.
Amazing little gem of a neighborhood place in the heart of historic Marblehead. Seats about 22 people total inside, so get your reservation locked down and bring your favorite bottle of wine to complement the meal. Some of the occasional negative reviews of this place are shameful and totally unworthy from my experience.
The gnocchi in “the Little Store Gnocchi” dish was melt in your mouth perfection. Best I ever had in the USA (I have been to Italy 40+ times). The mushrooms, truffle oil and Alfredo-like sauce (it’s better than classic Alfredo … smoother, less sticky, less fatty, more garlicky - and scrumptious… it was so tasty, I could drink the remnants like a divine soup — and frankly, I did!
The Veal Marsala was tender and seasoned perfectly, coated in tasty mushrooms and a dark Marsala sauce that was done with just the right balance of sweet and savory.
My wife had the Seafood Di Mare that was piled high in a skillet full of calamari, shrimp, mussels and scallops on top of homemade fettuccine. The white wine sauce this was bathing in was a little tame for the magnitude of the dish - good, just not spectacular.
All in all, we loved our food so much that we ordered a Haddock Francese “to go” so we can have it the following night and expand our Little Store palate.
The ambiance is cute and quaint, old school pictures on the wall in unmatched frames that you would find at a garage sale. I felt like I was in a neighborhood ristorante in Tuscany. We saw only 1 employee all night and she was a hustler (in a great way). She did everything … never stopped buzzing around to take care of a full restaurant— not to mention a thriving takeout business (folks … please tip this gal even when ordering takeout - she is busting her tail for you!).
I love the BYOB approach because I always have lots of wine at the house - I don’t need to spend an additional $100 on a $40 bottle of wine when I go out.
One last comment - this is an adorable romantic place - unless the guests who visit make it otherwise. I was there with my wife, as were several other husbands enjoying a relatively quiet night out with their significant others. One younger group of 5 friends took the center table, and as the alcohol consumption rose, the conversation volume crescendoed to the point of shouting just to be heard across the table. A neighboring gentleman intervened and asked one particular girl to please stop shouting. He was right to do this - and to the girl’s credit — she apologized, took it down a couple notches, and the rest of the evening was so pleasant for everyone. I am appreciative that she took it so well (enjoying one’s self is a sign and the GOAL of any great restaurant). I say this just to remind people - restaurants are only as pleasant and romantic as the guests who honor them. By all means - celebrate life and friendship … but be wary of your surroundings when your neighbors are just an arm’s length away.
God bless the Little Store — Marbleheaders are sooooo lucky to have her !
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian, Eggplant Rollatine
Cute little place. You’ll need to make a reservation. Cozy and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A lucky find on vacation! We were in the mood for some satisfying pasta and we found it. It's located in the cutest neighborhood and their menu looked so wonderful it was hard to choose! We ordered the caccio de pepe with chicken cutlets and we loved it! We will be coming back before the end of our trip. Quick note; the food was very good, but it was not exceptional 5 star quality. If we could give it a 4.5 we would. But we may update our review after our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
A lucky find on vacation! We were in the mood for some satisfying pasta and we found it. It's located in the cutest neighborhood and their menu looked so wonderful it was hard to choose! We ordered the caccio de pepe with chicken cutlets and we loved it! We will be coming back before the end of our trip. Quick note; the food was very good, but it was not exceptional 5 star quality. If we could give it a 4.5 we would. But we may update our review after our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This little place is a real gem. It's quite small. A former little variety store converted to an Italian restaurant. It also does a booming to go business.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Marsala, Rollatini Prosciutto, Italian, Grilled Romaine Salad, Veal Parmigiana
Freshly prepared delicious food. Everything was perfection and look forward to another visit. ?⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pasta & Chicken Parm, Chicken Marsala, Bolognese
THIS is my favorite Italian Restaurant . Never disappoints, intimate atmosphere, very reminiscent of small Italian bistros .
Molto bene ....
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is in a league of its own! Can’t even begin to say how great it is! 2nd time there and it did not disappoint!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Some of the best Italian food i've had since i was in Tuscany!You must go!
Parking: Not a lot of room but don't let that stop you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels and Pasta, Caprese
Delightful opportunity in a small intimate restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
FOOD AND SERVICE: Let me first say that the food is excellent and the fact that the restaurant is BYOB is a huge plus. The BYOB bottle must be unopened and your waitress must open it for you. The waitresses are efficient but not overly friendly, which is fine with me.ATMOSPHERE: Inside, is quaint but there are only seven tables: five tables of four and two tables of two. However, the tables of four are set up to be tables of two if needed. The last few times that I have eaten in the restaurant, there was ALWAYS one or more very noisy table of four (or group of two tables of four put together) talking so loudly or yelling back and forth to others in their group that I could not hear the conversation, for the entire meal, at my own table. The acoustics in this little restaurant are horrible. During good weather, they have a few tables outside that preclude this problem.There is also a genderless bathroom that opens right into the dining area. The table of two next to the bathroom should be the last table seated REGARDLESS of the number in your party; in other words, if you are a party of two, then a table of four if available, should be separated to accommodate the party of two. In no uncertain terms should a party of two be seated next to the toilet if there is somewhere else for them to sit. Several diners used the bathroom and not one of them closed the door when they left it. Also, if you arrive with a reservation and there are three or four tables empty, split the tables for that party because chances are you will split them for a later party which is kind of insulting.My suggestion: if you are a deuce, don't go on Friday or Saturday nights, get your food to go or sit outside in good weather.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Best of the Best!! Sir!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels and Pasta, Ravioli, Italian
Best food in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food, not too expensive, no
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian
We hit all the recommended places our first couple days in marblehead, we continued to search for additional experiences to try. Our last afternoon we found this little place within walking distance (as most places are in marblehead) and reviews seemed good. Luckily they weren't busy so we didn't need a reservation at that time. After entering we were happily surprised by the decor and menu options, yet somehow we were even more surprised by our appetizers and then our entrées. After being told at another place our first night in marblehead that no restaurants served bread pudding, we ordered two when our server told us they had it (and they fresh and delicious). Had we been in town any longer we definitely would have returned to try some other options. We plan to be back in the area in the spring and we'll be making sure we have reservations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian
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