Happened upon this place and were delighted. Small and intimate. Nice original flourishes on classic dishes. Will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
James Bubar
Small, intimate dining area. It can get quite lively at times. You need to like Italian cuisine because that is what they do superbly. Service was very friendly but still professional. All though a a usual restaurant it wouldn’t be out of place for wining and dining clients. Well worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karen Geary
We were lucky enough to stumble upon this gem, wonderful service delicious homemade butter and focaccia and the pastas were to die for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
david constance
Nicely presented, well portioned, good service…great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Desiree Brusman
We went here for our anniversary dinner.
We started off with a wine and a beer.
Our server made us aware that they were out of a couple of things. It was a deal breaker for us, so we decided to go somewhere else. They explained to us that they are a scratch kitchen. We just had bad luck on timing and them selling out of some popular items.
The service we received was fantastic. 2 people were tag teaming hosting, bar tending, and serving. The guy and gal made a great team.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kenna Blume
5 stars for food. infinite stars for our incredible server Leela (hope I’m spelling this right)!!!!! This diva made our entire day. wonderful conversation, very attentive service. Tonight is my last night in New England and she definitely made it special. The gentleman working alongside her mainly behind the bar was also a fabulous vibe. We left the restaurant with high spirits. Will definitely come back when I return to New England for a visit just to say hello to Leela!!♥️Thank you for an epic dinner, splendid conversation, and all around a truly divine addition to our evening.
also the olives were SUPREMEEE😍😍as someone who loves olives enough to name my cat olive….I can say these olives have made it to my top 3…a high compliment from a self proclaimed olive connoisseur 🤣
Stefanie Casey
Absolutely loved our meal and experience at Festina Lente! Our family spends weekends in York and this is one of the best meals we have had this summer. From the service, to the wine, to the homemade pasta, it is worth the hype. Not to mention, we have three little kids, and the staff at the restaurant welcomed us with open arms!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Justin LaLiberty
Food was very good but when the check came, I tried to pay with an AmEx (the only card I carry) and was told they take every other card. If you don’t accept a certain major credit card, that should be disclosed on the menu, door, or by the server prior to ordering. Fortunately, I was dining with someone who had another means of payment or it would have been a bad situation.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Bráulio Amado
A really excellent meal and a really nice waitress that gave us a bunch of good tips for places in the area. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Randolph
Thoughtful service, satisfying wine choices, and very good pasta dishes. We enjoyed it very much
Charming and quaint. Great service and even better italian food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monica Dell'Aquila
This is my first time reviewing a restaurant and I hate to say I couldn’t wait to write people of the review. We were so excited to try this place and it completely let us down. From food, service, to a 2 hour and 15 minute wait after we were told an hour and 15 minute wait, we can’t believe we waited for such disappointing food. The meatball tasted like a frozen meatball and not authentic at all. The lettuce was the same you could get from the grocery store and when it comes to the price we’re paying I’m expecting farm to table. My partners meal was so disappointing he couldn’t finish it. We won’t be returning.
I will say the sister restaurant secundo was excellent service although we never ate there. The customer service on the phone was good.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Thomas Wilhelm
I'm a former Dover, NH resident and Festina Lente was my go-to restaurant when I lived there. I started going there about a week after they opened after watching the renovate the space in the weeks before they opened. I have lived in Italy (Perugia, Umbria) for 4 years now and my impression of Festina Lente has gone from 5 stars to 100 stars since moving here. The food at Festina Lente is the most authentic Italian food I've eaten in the US. I would actually call it Umbrian or Tuscan. From the antipasto to the dolce, pure Italian. The wine is top notch and the service is always exceptional. I don't know Sam, the chef's, connection to Italy and weather he regularly visits here to taste Umbrian food, but his food is as good and as consistent as the best restaurants in Umbria. I live around real Italian food every day and I miss being able to eat at Festina Lente.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Greta Martinez
I was so excited to try this place and I really wanted to love it. I’ll start by saying the service was exceptional. Our waitress was incredibly sweet and very attentive. The atmosphere is also nice, dim lit and cozy, nice bar seating area. That being said, the food was just not very good. I may be biased… I lived in Italy for three years and married into an Italian family who makes absolutely incredible food from scratch. The risotto was so soupy and just way too large and heavy. The focaccia was alright and the other pasta dishes that were ordered were underwhelming. They use the same pasta that we use at home.
I can appreciate this place for a glass of wine and some snacks, they do have good wine choices. Other than that, if the quality of the food is super important to you when you go out to eat, I just wouldn’t recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Amy Schmalz
Nice staff, space and atmosphere. Spaghetti and meatballs were over salted and meatballs were tough. Risotto was soupy and portion was to large. Eggplant and Cacio E Pepe were good.
Happened upon this place and were delighted. Small and intimate. Nice original flourishes on classic dishes. Will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Small, intimate dining area. It can get quite lively at times. You need to like Italian cuisine because that is what they do superbly. Service was very friendly but still professional. All though a a usual restaurant it wouldn’t be out of place for wining and dining clients. Well worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were lucky enough to stumble upon this gem, wonderful service delicious homemade butter and focaccia and the pastas were to die for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicely presented, well portioned, good service…great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went here for our anniversary dinner.
We started off with a wine and a beer.
Our server made us aware that they were out of a couple of things. It was a deal breaker for us, so we decided to go somewhere else. They explained to us that they are a scratch kitchen. We just had bad luck on timing and them selling out of some popular items.
The service we received was fantastic. 2 people were tag teaming hosting, bar tending, and serving. The guy and gal made a great team.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
5 stars for food. infinite stars for our incredible server Leela (hope I’m spelling this right)!!!!! This diva made our entire day. wonderful conversation, very attentive service. Tonight is my last night in New England and she definitely made it special. The gentleman working alongside her mainly behind the bar was also a fabulous vibe. We left the restaurant with high spirits. Will definitely come back when I return to New England for a visit just to say hello to Leela!!♥️Thank you for an epic dinner, splendid conversation, and all around a truly divine addition to our evening.
also the olives were SUPREMEEE😍😍as someone who loves olives enough to name my cat olive….I can say these olives have made it to my top 3…a high compliment from a self proclaimed olive connoisseur 🤣
Absolutely loved our meal and experience at Festina Lente! Our family spends weekends in York and this is one of the best meals we have had this summer. From the service, to the wine, to the homemade pasta, it is worth the hype. Not to mention, we have three little kids, and the staff at the restaurant welcomed us with open arms!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was very good but when the check came, I tried to pay with an AmEx (the only card I carry) and was told they take every other card. If you don’t accept a certain major credit card, that should be disclosed on the menu, door, or by the server prior to ordering. Fortunately, I was dining with someone who had another means of payment or it would have been a bad situation.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
A really excellent meal and a really nice waitress that gave us a bunch of good tips for places in the area. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thoughtful service, satisfying wine choices, and very good pasta dishes. We enjoyed it very much
Restaurantji Recommends
Charming and quaint. Great service and even better italian food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is my first time reviewing a restaurant and I hate to say I couldn’t wait to write people of the review. We were so excited to try this place and it completely let us down. From food, service, to a 2 hour and 15 minute wait after we were told an hour and 15 minute wait, we can’t believe we waited for such disappointing food. The meatball tasted like a frozen meatball and not authentic at all. The lettuce was the same you could get from the grocery store and when it comes to the price we’re paying I’m expecting farm to table. My partners meal was so disappointing he couldn’t finish it. We won’t be returning.
I will say the sister restaurant secundo was excellent service although we never ate there. The customer service on the phone was good.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I'm a former Dover, NH resident and Festina Lente was my go-to restaurant when I lived there. I started going there about a week after they opened after watching the renovate the space in the weeks before they opened. I have lived in Italy (Perugia, Umbria) for 4 years now and my impression of Festina Lente has gone from 5 stars to 100 stars since moving here. The food at Festina Lente is the most authentic Italian food I've eaten in the US. I would actually call it Umbrian or Tuscan. From the antipasto to the dolce, pure Italian. The wine is top notch and the service is always exceptional. I don't know Sam, the chef's, connection to Italy and weather he regularly visits here to taste Umbrian food, but his food is as good and as consistent as the best restaurants in Umbria. I live around real Italian food every day and I miss being able to eat at Festina Lente.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was so excited to try this place and I really wanted to love it. I’ll start by saying the service was exceptional. Our waitress was incredibly sweet and very attentive. The atmosphere is also nice, dim lit and cozy, nice bar seating area. That being said, the food was just not very good. I may be biased… I lived in Italy for three years and married into an Italian family who makes absolutely incredible food from scratch. The risotto was so soupy and just way too large and heavy. The focaccia was alright and the other pasta dishes that were ordered were underwhelming. They use the same pasta that we use at home.
I can appreciate this place for a glass of wine and some snacks, they do have good wine choices. Other than that, if the quality of the food is super important to you when you go out to eat, I just wouldn’t recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Nice staff, space and atmosphere. Spaghetti and meatballs were over salted and meatballs were tough. Risotto was soupy and portion was to large. Eggplant and Cacio E Pepe were good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Loading...