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Brutole Restaurant
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
65 Newbury StDanvers, MA 01923
(978) 777-6633
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
46 reviews for Brutole Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The butternut squash ravioli was amazing." In 4 reviews -
"Try the roasted beet and goat cheese salad." In 3 reviews -
"Cooked perfectly and very flavorful." In 3 reviews
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Ellen H.
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Brutole, Brutole.. what are you? You are a pair of Louboutins with Walmart jeans and a Hanes tee. You are a Louis Vuitton diaper bag, a hand with a 3 carat diamond on it doing an oil change. You are totally misplaced and way above your surroundings. It frightens me that such disparity may drive away those that would truly fall in love with you, and I hope the yelpdom manages to keep you full and fortuitous.
I came to you for lunch with my mother - who gave me directions by saying "it's attached to the motel 6 on route 1". Not your best first impression, but game for anything, I came open-minded. Lunch is an awkward time. It's so empty that the waitress doesn't think she needs to be totally on-her-toes, so patrons often don't get the top-of-the-top service, when they feel that they should because it's so empty. Is this a catch 22? I'm not sure if it falls in that category. We had to ask the guy manning the brick-oven if we could be seated, and he called to the waitress, who seated us quickly after that.
Allow me to comment on your looks - damn, you are gorgeous! Animal print rug (but not offensively so), huge bar, big booths, good restaurant setup. Very upscale. Bathroom was marble floor to ceiling, but was literally an icebox. Way too cold to the point of uncomfortable.
Okay, back to the experience. The menu was a large one-sheeter but it is PACKED with goodies! I could barely decide and I changed my mind at least 10 times. The bread, OH THE BREAD, I could come here for the bread alone. Oven-baked, fresh, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, still warm. Heaven. The bread, OH THE BREAD, I could come here for the bread alone. Oven-baked, fresh, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, still warm. Heaven. Yes I know I said that twice, but that's how good it is.
I had a chicken pesto panini which was HUGE and excellent. The salad was amazing, the mojitos were great. Seriously, this place does not disappoint.
In terms of service, the waitress was good but she definitely isn't everyone's flavor. She was a "hun" "hunny" type of person, and when we asked for more bread/oil/water she kind of gave us a "DUH I'm coming with it!" expression, but she was sweet and knew what she was doing. Fine for a restaurant in Danvers, but I don't know if that would fly at a restaurant in Boston.
Overall, amazing. Can't wait to come back! -
Review from Maura D.
Peabody, MA
4/17/2012
oh my brutole.... what has happened to you? You were our go to romantic date night for the past 10 months but there has been a slow and steady decline. We always had the best time and the most amazing waiter Arthur who was a joy. He would go above and beyond to provide the nicest experience. The portions have slowly decreased in size but the cost stays the same.
Sadly tonight we went and we got a new server. Lincoln. Poor Lincoln kept saying how busy he was as if to excuse the poor service yet save one large party the dining room was empty. He seemed to have a hard time understanding us and at first when we asked for bread he said they didn't have any... I'm not really sure what he thought we asked for at first, english is our first language and it was not loud in there.
One negative is that the menu is not vegetarian friendly, we always got around that by getting the butternut squash as a meal from the app menu. Tonight we got the fig pizza...... really tasty.... I asked for a veggie meal, whatever they wanted to make me I would take. Normally when I ask that I get an amazing meal.... give the chef free range and you get something amazing... I got eggplant parm which although good was standard fare. It's a shame because I was really hoping to be wowed.
Strawberry rhubard crumble for dessert was pretty good...... but I'm a chocolate fiend so can't say I loved it but for what it was it was good.
Sad to say Brutole is slowly falling off our rotation.... I'm sad because I loved it so much when we first started going I was telling everyone how amazing it was. -
Review from Melissa S.
Chelsea, MA
3/31/2012
WARNING - business charges $25/head for no-show persons on reservations. Our women's group based on the North Shore has a monthly dinner at an area business. We always call ahead and discuss our needs with the restaurant and this time it was no different. I spoke with Marco and told him that while we typically have no problem getting about 25 RSVPs, it is true that we sometimes lose people so I mentioned that we liked to call a day or so ahead to let the business know of any changes in the count. He was agreeable to all that we asked.
The Friday before we had gone from 25 persons to 19 - I called and talked to someone (unsure of who but I think it was Andre) - he thanked me for calling to let them know. Saturday morning before noon we lost two more people due to illness, now we were down to 17. I called again to quickly let them know, spoke to Andre this time and he again thanked me.
We all met in the bar for drinks for an hour before our sit down - we always come in early so the restaurant can turn any tables for a Saturday night. I used to own a restaurant so I try to be conscientious about that.
We sat down - 3 of the persons decided to sit at the bar instead of sitting with us. Food was good, service was good. When it came time to leave, the hostess came up to us to let us know that they would be charging $25/per person for no-shows which they considered to be 5. We asked to talk to the owner/manager - he was there - he would not speak to us.
At no time in the 3 times I spoke to someone personally was there any mention of minimums or head charges. Nor was there anyplace on the menu in writing of that policy.
We paid it simply to not be embarrassed any further by them - we have since filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office for the State - I'll update this review based on what happens.
Oh and, they never offered to provide us $25 worth of food for those charges.Listed in: The Worst of the Worst
Comment from ilias k. of Brutole Restaurant 4/1/2012
The warning sign should be for Melisa S the nightmare… More » -
Review from Kathleen H.
Beverly, MA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went for lunch. Very nice interior, classy. There were 3 other tables full at the restaurant.
The food was really good.
Seared scallops - amazing, delish.
Pours of wine - generous.
The marsala sauce was fantastic
Why two stars?
Well. . .Service was good. . for the first 20 minutes.
After we received our appetizers, the service all but disappeared. Water glasses empty. . our entrees were delivered. Delicious. We sat. Water glasses empty, looked around. . .there was a table of 4 having a birthday party, was this the reason?
A party of 8 had come in after us. . and. . they left before us. Understaffed? Perhaps.
Eventually, the server returned. With our check. At which point we were hurriedly asked, oh. . did we want coffee or dessert? Yeah, no. We've lost that loving feeling.
GGF gave her credit card and printed out groupon. "We don't take these for lunch." Well, interestingly, it didn't say that anywhere on the groupon. We heard a story about how that was groupon's fault. . .etc. etc. OK, but.. . . work that out with groupon, ok?
"Groupon sent out a mass email to everyone who had this coupon telling them about the mistake and specifications"
No, they didn't. All email history was checked until the beginning of human history (ok, the past year)
Did Groupon SAY they did? To the restaurant? I know not.
But again - work that out with Groupon for ef's sake. Why are we listening to this?
If you have a problem with another business, doesn't seem quite right to take it out on the customer. . .um. . .does it?
There was no specification about dinner only.
Our bill was $98 and change. Which, with the groupon, we paid $78 for:
two glasses of wine, a salad, an appetizer and two entrees, at lunch.
We hadn't exactly come in and ordered water, a salad, and eaten the free bread. But y'know. . . if you give someone a coupon, they can use it damn well however they like unless specified otherwise. It's the risk one takes as a business person, yes?
A manager was called. Then someone else and evidently this person approved the groupon.
Thx.
Friend called later to talk with manager (whichever one) about the experience. She was yelled at an hung up on.
There was finally a civilized conversation with an owner.
Okey dokey.
sigh.
Really?
Ok.
I won't be back. -
Review from BethAnn S.
North Andover, MA
1/13/2012
Brutole' Restaurant in Danvers MA is absolutely AMAZING. nice bar, amazing dining room, phenom martinis..food..dessert..OMG heaven..highly recommend this hidden gem.
The music is so chic' too!!! its just such a classy establishment.. definitely 5 stars!! I had the filet with whipped potatoes, and this balsamic reduction sauce and sauteed mushrooms..i died..it cut like butter how tender it was..oh and for my app I had this goat cheese green salad with a raspberry dressing..then the creme brulee' for dessert, and even treated myself to a chocolate expresso martini with baileys.. Okay im salivating now!
I heard they have some of the best takeout pizza as well..which im sure is great (and i will try) maybe this weekened, especially with the huge fire grilled oven thats visible for everyone to see!
Its a great place for a date night as well..or to meet local singles in the Bostonlike' atmosphere.
Did I mention the prices were reasonable as well?? GO NOW! -
Review from Nicole P.
Byfield, MA
2/8/2012
Very Yummy!
Finally went after buying a Groupon months ago. The bread and dipping sauce were amazing, I got the panko crusted pork, So delish, tender and crispy crust. The cranberry sauce that accompanied it was very tasty. My bf got the sirloin steak, which came with broccoli and a potato. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and was better than steak I've had at Flemmings or other chainy type steakhouses in the city. The broccoli was also super yummy, lots of lemon juice i think.
The prices are high, especially for the location, which is very odd, a part of Rt 1 that is pretty empty. However, if you want a nice meal in Danvers, not TGI Fridays or the 99, this is a really really good option. Would def return. -
Review from Katy H.
Somerville, MA
1/4/2012
In my opinion, Brutole is the best Italian restaurant north of Boston. Tucked away in an unusual setting (attached to a Motel Six along old Route 1 in Danvers) and a little difficult to reach, but so worth the effort.
New Years Eve found me there with a group and all four of us are still talking about it.
I began my dining experience with a mouth watering (and beautiful!) beet and goat cheese appetizer followed by possibly the best Ceasar salad I have EVER tasted. For my main course, I chose the grilled scallops--cooked to perfection--which came with lobster risotto. Generous bites of lobster in the risotto, not just little bits and pieces. For dessert I had the Falling Down Chocolate cake--it was possibly the best decision I made in 2011.
I have eaten at Brutole before so I was expecting a high end experience but this meal was truly outstanding.
I would have given this restaurant five stars except for two smallish factors--our waitress was just okay (efficient) and the lighting is really dim--on the upside of that, everyone looked fabulous and ten years younger! -
Review from Scott F.
Peabody, MA
3/10/2012
Been here at least a few dozen times. Very rarely do we have a bad night. Yes, there ARE occasional times when ANY dinner from any restaurant might not be prepared to perfection... or even flat-out wrong... but I can only think of a couple of times where that was the case here. Overwhelmingly, our experience has been very positive. Most of the waitstaff we've encountered have been very professional and knowledgeable. There have been a few time when we've gotten the less-attentive variety, but the food was still great.
I'd have given a full 5 stars if we NEVER had any negative experiences... we have... but they were VERY minor and out of DOZENS of visits, the majority have been extremely good. Absolutely worth giving a shot. -
Review from Sara M.
Marblehead, MA
10/28/2011
Just had an awful experience here. We were sat at our table ten minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. Our waiter finally told us he would "be right with us" after I asked the bus boy if there was any one waiting our table.
When my husband and I voiced that we felt ignored, the waiter copped an attitude and stormed off. The hostess did try to smooth things over with us, but at that point we had enough.
We left figuring if our experience was that bad in the first 10 minutes, then we better go someplace else. -
Review from Mike W.
Belmont, MA
11/27/2011
I went to Brutole on the recommendation of a friend and I'm so glad he mentioned it!
I went on a Wednesday evening, which obviously is a hot night for going out... which is one of the main reasons I picked that night. There were a few other tables of people, but nothing I'd call a crowd.
Our waiter was very friendly, and extremely knowledgeable about the wine selection. You could tell he wasn't just going through the motions, but truly enjoyed his work and turning us on to new wine or two. He was correct too... the selection we made, based off his recommendation was excellent.
I decided on the Angus Beef Lasagna for dinner. The meat mixed perfectly with the marinara... and as a someone who was raised on Italian home cooking, I usually hold such dishes up to a slightly higher standard. Well this met and exceed my expectations. My girlfriend got the Lobster Ravioli, which I had to try, and it was also made very well. The flavors all really popped in the right places.
We were treated great, the food was great, and the restaurant itself had a very pleasing atmosphere.
HELPFUL TIP! - Brutole is located on Route 1 North... Now when you're driving it will be very easy to think that you've missed it and gone too far. But what you have to do is go past the exits for Rt. 114 East (Peabody), you'll see the Motel 6 sign (yeah, they keep the light on for ya), THAT is the right you want. The restaurant is in the same parking lot as the Motel 6.
I would definitely recommend Brutole for couples looking for something a bit nicer and romantic, and small to medium sized groups looking for a nice night out. The bar area would be a nice "non-sports bar" spot to catch a game or grab a couple drinks with co-workers after getting out of the office. -
Review from Dina B.
Haverhill, MA
2/23/2012
My boyfriend and I went the night before Valentine's Day. I had been once about a decade ago but my boyfriend had never been. The service was exceptional, and the food was just as good! Gil was our main waiter but several other people helped us. Everyone was very polished and professional. We had lobster bisque, veal marsala (the meat was as tender as butter!), greek salad, the half chicken, butternut squash ravioli, and wine...Worth noting is that the decor and ambiance are very nice. They are pricey but well worth it!
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Review from Sandy D.
Salem, NH
9/29/2011
We have been to Brutole in Danvers MA three times now. The first two times were really good, the third, not so much.
We had no problem finding the restaurant as we put the address in our navigation. We called ahead for a reservations, and our table was waiting for us.
The decor is very upscale, but yet comfortable and cozy. Really nice bar, with many large screen TV's. You can also see the open kitchen from the lobby. We were greeted by Marco and the hostess the first time.
The first time, the waitress came over with freshly baked bread and olive oil with parmesan cheese and red pepper. Delicious! I had seen many, many people that ordered the butternut squash appetizer on Yelp and raved about it, but was afraid that I would be too full since I would be eating it myself, so I ordered shrimp cocktail. I got 4 huge shrimps, that were ice cold, just the way they should be, to share with my husband. The cocktail sauce was very good as well.
For our entrees, I ordered the Chicken Marsala. I was debating on getting a steak entree, but was sure the Chicken Marsala would be pretty interesting, so I decided on that. Now, I have had Chicken Marsala at many, many restaurants, and every time, I say that mine is better. Not this time. This dish was everything I was expecting. The mushrooms were sliced paper thin, the chicken moist, pasta fresh, and the SAUCE... was amazing! It was a cream based sauce instead of buttery sauce that was loaded with flavor. I was craving that sauce the entire next day!
My husband ordered the Ribeye steak, which he said was excellent! It had sauteed mushrooms on top with a demi glace, done exactly the way he ordered. He said the steak was melt in your mouth, and full of flavor. He enjoyed every bite. Sadly, we were so full and it was pretty late, so we didn't order dessert.
The second time was a weeknight and I didn't feel like a huge meal so ordered the pizza with caramelized onion and roasted peppers, which was excellent. The crust was like freshly baked bread and very light, with a generous amount of sauce and cheese. The toppings were excellent also. My husband got Veal Parmesan, which was a very generous amount, thick and tender. He said it was excellent and would definitely get it again. Again, no dessert, too full.
The third time we went was also on a weeknight. I ordered the baked haddock. I substituted mashed potato for the risotto. It also came with roasted asparagus. I must say I was a little shocked at first, as the piece of fish was probably a quarter of a pound, if that! It looked really good though, despite its size, having a cracker crumb topping. The real disappointment came when I tasted it. It was not only dried out and very fishy tasting, it had dark sections in it which were very offensive tasting, and obviously over cooked. I seriously doubt it was haddock. It was not flaky at all, and seemed way too firm and dry for haddock. The potatoes were OK, and three asparagus spears were good. Needless to say I felt like I gave a donation for that meal at
$ 27.00!
My husband ordered the Ribeye steak again, because he enjoyed it so much the first time. When it came it had no demi glace, which was no big deal we just asked for some on the side. He mentioned to me he thought it was a strip steak and not a rib eye, as the shape was more like a strip steak, and it had no tenderloin like a rib eye, and the texture was much different than the first rib eye.
Knowing how much steak he eats, believe me, he can tell blindfolded!
He said it was good, but no where near as good as the first one. We spent approx. $100.00 for the bill with the tip, and left not so pleased this time, compared to the first two times.
The prices are on the higher side, and hope that our experience the third time was just an off night. However, it does leave a bad taste in my mouth that they would serve such a small piece of fish that wasn't fresh, and would substitute a cut of meat without checking with the customer.
I just made Haddock Meuniere last night which was so flaky it barely held together, and had no fishy taste what so ever, and was delicious.
This would have been a 5 star review, had it not been for the disappointing experience the last time we were there. -
Review from Christina Z.
Winthrop, MA
7/24/2011
High class, in the burbs. Elegance + parking, what could be better?
Best lobster bisque I've ever had, cold and strong dirty martini, perfect butternut squash ravioli, delicious panko frenched pork loin, horseradish mashed potatoes - someone read my mind.
My favorite: the duck breast w/ truffled shroom risotto, and blackberry reduction. It is so so good.
Creative without being pretentious. Most amazing part, since they've opened, they've barely changed their menu. Places that look as fancy shmancy as this, you'd expect their food to suffer. Not so.Listed in: Northern Exposure
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Review from Dan D.
Peabody, MA
2/16/2012
used a social media voucher; no problem, waiter was fine with it; no attitude at all.
He was very attentive, and his suggestions were right on. Great food, especially the lobster mac and cheese. Great decor, good for a date, if anyone goes on them anymore!! Prices are a bit steep, but appetizers in combination do the trick, and save big money. A bar menu would be a huge plus.
Long story short? I would go back there, and ask for Francisco, the waiter -
Review from Amanda G.
Boston, MA
8/7/2011
Ok, ignore the fact that your iPhone will replace Brutole with Brutal.
There is nothing brutal about this place.
For a long time, I had no idea why it still existed, perched precariously on route 1 stuck on to some former HoJo.
But, thank you Groupon gods, I purchased a nice little deal for the place, and I'm really glad I did.
The food is absolutely Boston-quality. In fact, I'd say it's better than a good 75% of the high-end restaurants I've frequented in town. Blu, Azure, Excelsior, and Smith and Wollensky to name a few. From the drinks to the apps to the entrees, I had a really hard time making a selection. Fantastic duck, scallops, braised short ribs, and even the old Italian standby of chicken parm were all items that really impressed me. This foreshadows many future visits. Really open atmosphere, cool bar and really elegant decor.
And dear lord in heaven-- the pizza. It's fluffy without being heavy-handed on the dough, the sauce was just sweet enough, and the cheese was well-distributed and bubbly. If you want my personal choice-- get the goat-cheese and carmelized onion.
Brutole is absolutely worth a visit, even if you can't pronounce it. -
Review from Michael D.
Danvers, MA
1/24/2012
This place is just like everyone has said. The food is excellent, but the service is horrible. Our waiter didn't even ask for our order. I had to flag him down (after about 20 minutes). Overall, this place deserves a 3 star. If Brutole can get a better staff, then I will up my rating. As a side note, the hostess was very nice.
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Review from Marissa S.
Salem, MA
3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. This place is amazing. My friend does a lot of catering orders and has always raved about how great it is. I had a $25 gift card to http://restaurant.com and brutole was one of the options so that is what enticed us to try it.
The atmosphere and decor is very nice, chic and upscale. The server was very attentive and polite. When we came in they asked if it was a special occasion which immediately sent up a red flag that this place was going to be pricey. But it wasn't too too bad. Entrees are between $24-37, starter salads (ceasar) was $10 and dessert apple crumble was also $10.
The food was fantastic. Excellent! -
Review from kathy l.
Lynnfield, MA
4/11/2011
Very nice atmosphere that is NOT connected in any way(except physically) to the Comfort Inn
or Motel 8....
We had the Ceasar salad which was a decent portion
and flavorful. Get the butternut ravioli appetizer. It's very good in a light sweet sauce.
The scallops fell short. They were burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. The Haddock was good and cooked perfectly but
the Sea Bass was a little raw on the inside. Nice bar area. It's large with 3 oversized TV's.
It's a little pricey. Average check with wine,entree and appetizer tax and gratuity is about $75.00 per person. -
Review from Tom D.
Beverly, MA
11/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Brutole is an absolutely amazing restaurant in the most ridiculous of locations. Can someone tell me why there is a restaurant of this caliber attached to a Motel 6? This may explain why the night I was taken here (happy birthday to me!) the place was practically empty. The location certainly does nothing to draw people in, but I assure all who read this, you won't be disappointed coming here.
So having said that i was taken here for my birthday, you can imagine that this was no cheap night out. Before you head out for this place, understand that even without drinks, you're in $$$$ territory pricewise. But, in my opinion, you get what you pay for (or what your very generous date that evening pays for!).
My dining companion and I started with the butternut squash brown butter sage ravioli which were absolutely phenomenal. My 12 oz filet? Cooked perfectly and very flavorful. For me, the horseradish mashed potatoes maybe could have had a tad more oomph with the horseradish, but still tasty. Oddly enough, and this is not meant to be a backhanded critique of the steak/potatoes, the thing that stood out the most was the side of steamed veggies served with my steak. It was a medley of summer squash, zucchini, and carrots all cut into thin strands and served like pasta. Cool presentation and whatever herb/oil concoction they were tossed in was...well, let's just say every vegetable side dish since this one has been a let down.
My one critique of my experience here is that the service was a bit "green". Kind of awkward at times, like the entire waitstaff was in their first week of work. Also, with the restaurant being pretty empty the waistaff must have been bored, because I felt kind of watched by some of them, like I was on display at some kind of fine dining zoo. I wasn't made uncomfortable enough to take away a star though.
In summary, do not be deceived by the less than stellar location--Brutole is exquisite. It is also very expensive, so for me, it's going to be solely a special occasion restaurant, but I would return here tomorrow if I could afford it.Listed in: Five Star Eats
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Review from Nancy P.
Beverly, MA
1/9/2012
I really wanted to write a good review about this place. The food was awesome...just like everyone says. However, I was VERY disappointed with the customer service. I went there with a friend on a Saturday for lunch (our lunch bill totaled $98 by the way) and wanted to use a Groupon I had purchased. I was informed by the waitress that they were not honoring the Groupon for lunch, only for dinner. It is important for me to note here that no where on the Groupon did it say "valid for dinner only." The ONLY stipulations on the actual Groupon were that there was only one allowed per table, it was not valid on alcohol, and that it was dine-in only. I think our $98 bill met all their criteria. I pointed out that the Groupon didn't say this and the waitress got the manager. He also said they weren't honoring the Groupon. When I pointed out that no where on the Groupon did is say "not valid for lunch...he responded with "Yeah, I know. But we aren't honoring it." He then stated that it was Groupon's fault and that Groupon had sent out an email to customers saying they made a mistake and corrected the deal. I told him I never received such and email (because I hadn't) and I pressed the point about the Groupon I handed them not saying anything about lunch...eventually they did take the Groupon.
I still would have written an okay review of this place because the food was really good and maybe there was some truth to what the manager said. But I contacted Groupon to find out if maybe I had missed an email about this deal. Groupon contacted me back right away and said the deal had no such restriction on it, there was never an issue from the restaurant about the deal, that Groupon had never sent out an email changing the deal, etc.
Basically the waitress and the manager had lied to me. When I tried to call the restaurant back the next day they were open, the manager yelled at me and hung up on me before I could even explain what had happened....all I was able to get out before he went off was that I had trouble redeeming a Groupon.
Well, that sealed it for me. No food, no matter how good (and it was really good) is worth this kind of shabby treatment.
1/10/12: update: I had left a feedback message on the restaurant's website on Monday and the owner quickly contacted me back. We spoke by phone, and had a lovely conversation. He went into a whole explanation about Groupon, how they work, how he wasn't happy with them, etc. Interesting stuff, but ultimately not my concern. He was, however, very apologetic for his staff's behavior and said he would look into it. All I ever wanted to do with my initial phone call to the restaurant was to let them know there is clearly a disconnect between what they think happened with their Groupon and what Groupon thinks....not get yelled at. While it was a nice conversation, and the owner was very cordial, I told him I would still not be coming back. The whole experience has left too bad a taste in my mouth (pun intended). Too bad too, because, like I said the food was great....I told him that too. -
Review from John M.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/7/2012
Food is great, service was awesome. Love this place, our new favorite place...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/20/2012
Brutole is a great place. It is a place you just dont believe is there because of motel 6. The food… Read more »
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Review from Joanne F.
Beverly, MA
2/20/2012
It was ooookay, but not great, and no compelling reason to go back. The service was fine but for the fact that our waiter, although perfectly nice, didn't know much about the food or wine selection. (Don't most better restaurants ensure the waitstaff taste things??) I had dover sole, which our waiter knew little about except that it was new and there had been no complaints (huh?). It was okay, the tomato overpowered the sole. My husband and son had steaks that looked great, and the caesar salad was good. I'd go three stars were it less pricey, but we spent almost $300 for three of us, and it should have been GREAT instead of just reasonably good. Oh, and they were out of sambuca because it was Monday - HUH? If I did go back, for sure I'd eat at the bar....
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Review from Lexi B.
Topsfield, MA
1/5/2012
I was excited to try this restaurant based on the menu and reviews here, however my experience was anything but positive. Firstly we arrive and the hostess looks us up and down as though our money was not green enough. When we are seated it takes 10 minutes before our brain-dead waiter even realized we were there, the place was barely populated. When we finally get service our order is briskly taken and he disappears again without filling our glasses with water. Waiting for more water was a continuous problem throughout the meal. The meals that arrived were average and uninspired not nearly deserving of the extortionist prices. The version of the pizza I ordered from Burtucci's is far tastier. We decided to finish quickly and get the hell out of there before we could be ignored further. Total freaking let down.
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Review from changun s.
Methuen, MA
2/25/2012
love their pizzas~
fire brick oven made~~ 1 pizza can provide enough for 4 people
fresh bread with great dipping sauce!
muscles tasted fresh, salad was great, calamari were soft and not rubbery~
our waiter in particular was not friendly at all...he was only attentive when
we were paying our check...(surprise, surprise...did he want a big tip?)
yea, here's a tip: treat your customers with respect, fill up our cups with water
even before being asked, be attentive...
other than that....
bring a fat wallet, cuz you're gonna leave with an empty one! -
Review from Joe V.
Middleton, MA
12/6/2009 2 photos
The last time I went here my son was in an infant carrier. Now he's 9 years old and ordering off the regular menu. I had fond memories of the place before, and I think it's a crime that we waited over 8 years to return. Put this place in downtown Salem, Beverly, or Danvers and it would do bang up business.
One bite into the Fried Calamari appetizer brought me back. I remember that we got it during our last visit, and it's still incredibly light and the calamari practically melts in your mouth. Tonight, we had, and loved, the Margharita pizza (thin crispy crust) and the Oven Roasted Chicken (delectable crispy skin). I have posted pictures of both. We also shared the Brutole Greek Salad, which was terrific. Though we were stuffed, the three of us shared a Warm Apple Crisp dessert that was topped with vanilla ice cream. Again, it was a hit. Oh yeah, and the bread and oil served before dinner is awesome. This place makes me wish I had more than one stomach. We ended up taking home half of the pizza.
The place is pricey for dinner. Definitely visit their website and take a look at the menus. I haven't been for lunch yet, but the lunch menu looks significantly more affordable and I plan to make a lunch trip in the near future. -
Review from Charles M.
Washington, DC
10/30/2010
I realize that I am out of my depth. Especially given that I am not from the area and consequently do not have the necessary base knowledge to properly compare this establishment to others in the area. To be honest and to provide readers perspective, the only other area joint that I have frequented is the Blue Ox - which I found enjoyable, but not worth a review.
All that said, if the service was anything other than slower then anything I can fathom or excuse, I would be crowing about 5-stars and tremendous food.
I came with two friends and my wife and with the exception of an ordering miscommunication everything was tremendous. Here's a quick summary of items ordered and our thoughts:
Calamari - if this is something you like, find room in your stomach as it is wonderful and made delectable by the sauce.
Beet Salad - beautiful plating and the plate was wiped clean.
Same goes for tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Everything was fresh and delicious.
The caeser salad and pizza both looked fine to me, although I did not eat them and they did not explode in plating or character.
The butternut squash ravioli was amazing. However, do not ask for it as an entrée as it is more food for all but the biggest of gluttons.
Scallops - I don't know as I am fully responsible for botching a change from the standard preparation. They did look tremendous, but the taste was compromised by my failings and not the kitchen.
We did not have room for dessert, but plan to go back in two days to check it out!
As for the negative such that I withheld that last star - our server could not have been more nice, but a 75 minute dinner took 120 minutes. It really was that slow - and unnecessarily so.
I will go back and do so happily. However, I will do so knowing that a place that should be packed has room because of one minor front-of-house matter that demonstrates the difference between love and like. -
Review from Dawn E.
8/20/2008
This was a favorite when I worked in Peabody (not so long ago). Everything on the menu is delicious, although towards the end I missed the bonus wonderful service of Adrienne (where'd she go?!).
Try the roasted beet and goat cheese salad. It's an organsm in your mouth.
Their creme brulee is amazing too.. exactly what it shoudl be... cool and creamy on the inside, crisp and warm on top. -
Review from Shaun P.
Salem, MA
5/20/2010
Brutole is the best kept secret in all of Boston and the North Shore!!!!!!
The decor is cool, the service is excellent, and the food is out of this world!
-Best Fillet Mignon on the North Shore!
-The Grilled Pizza tastes like it came straight from Italy with the freshest ingredients!
-The butternut squash ravioli is the best appetizer I've ever tasted!
-The Lobster Mac & Cheese is something you won't find anywhere else and is the perfect balance of cheeses, macaroni, and huge fresh tender pieces of real lobster!
The Wine List is top notch at reasonable prices!
VOTED THE BEST RESTAURANT ON THE NORTH SHORE 2010! -
Review from Mike B.
Danvers, MA
12/22/2011
Been here several times, I have to say the place is pretty Damn good... ALmost like you dont expect it to be that good, but its very nice inside, and everytime we had great service.. We have ordered from all spectrums including Pizza, Apps, and upscaled entrees.. hit them up on http://restaurant.com for a little break on the price!!!
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Review from Sarah D.
Van Nuys, CA
9/6/2009
GO! Go now!! Go immediately!!!
Just ignore the odd location and lack of cars parked outside. The food here is among the best I've had...in the world. Yes, seriously.
We had the most amazing meals: lobster macaroni and cheese (with huge chunks of incredibly savory lobster) and white cheese pizza (seasoned with oregano and garlic to absolute perfection) and a side of sauteed vegetables (arranged in a haute cuisine tower). Even the bread and olive oil they serve before dinner is to die for.
There aren't any words that can adequately describe the flavors of Brutole. Go today. Thank me later. -
Review from Danielle H.
Pasadena, CA
12/30/2011
Ambiance is great, food is great too, but service is horrible. Filet was done to perfection, short ribs were on the bland side (but good), greek salad was great, and the calamari was solid. Food is definitely worth the visit, but plan to have a long dinner because the service is slow.
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Review from Ania Z.
Woburn, MA
6/13/2011
We went out Saturday night there for dinner. The server a gentlemen I forget his name but was very kind and attentive. We asked for his recommendations and he was on point about everything! The duck appetizer was delicious! The dinner was very good ribeye and sea bass! I likes the ambiance of the place! Will definitely come back :) not to mention my boyfriend lost his phone there and they kept it safe!!! Thank you!
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Review from Erik J.
North Andover, MA
1/24/2011
First visit so I can't give 5 stars. Just had the bean soup and pizza. Both were excellent. Very good service - not too much, not too little. Maybe a litltle pricy, but not bad value. Will definitely come back.
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Review from Steve m.
Schaumburg, IL
10/18/2011
Some of the best Italian food I've had. Everything is very fresh and flavorful. Great atmosphere and fantastic service. Watch out for this place when driving to it--it's easy to miss.
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Review from Cindy M.
Boston, MA
9/12/2011
Brutlole has been a great addition to the Danvers area - a very high class sleek, modern restaurant with wonderful food, drinks, service and ambience. I was a bit skeptical at first by its location next to the motel 6, but once you step inside you will be impressed. We really enjoy the extent/variety of the menu, and everything we've had has been pretty tasty. With that said, the prices are a little steep, but you get what you pay for. The bar is a great place for drinks.
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Review from john g.
Melrose, MA
9/19/2010
The GF and I went there for dinner tonight (Sunday evening). This was the second time we went there, the first time was very good as point out by the other reviewers. Tonight the food wasn't as good. I ordered the panko-crusted pork tenderloin and it was overcooked, dry, and not a tenderloin but actually a pork loin. The server recommended that I order this prepared as medium (pink in the middle) but it was clearly well done. The GF ordered the baked halibut and that was ok. The appetizers were fine (salad with goat cheese and pears, mussels) and the service was excellent as usual. When I told the server about the dried out entree, he thought I was joking...took a while to convince him that I was serious. There was no adjustment to the bill for the overcooked meal or offers to get me another dish. Perhaps the main chefs had the night off.
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Review from Jessica K.
Middleton, MA
1/29/2011
I've been here a few times and almost every time it is great. Great decor and atmosphere. The location next to the motel6, I agree, is ridiculous. You wouldn't even know it is here, almost hidden off RT1N. However, you will be pleasantly surprised upon entering. Great drink menu, awesome martinis. The butternut squash ravioli are amazing, steaks are great and cooked perfectly. Avoid the pork chop, it was dry and very fatty. Definitely not worth the price. The chicken marsala is amazing though. Be sure to save room for dessert too!
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Review from Corinne G.
Hollis, NH
8/3/2008
This restaurant is baffling to me - it's really nice inside, the food is great, but there's NEVER ANYONE THERE. We've always joked it's a mob front. We had lunch yesterday, were the only table there, and for four of us it was $42 and more good food than anyone could eat. I'd totally recommend it, if you can find it without getting lost on route 1.
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Review from Sarah S.
Boston, MA
8/7/2011
Love this place. great drinks, Great food!!
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Review from Jamie B.
Peabody, MA
5/5/2010
The very best thing compliment I can give a restaurant like Brutole is this; Brutole is consistently amazing
I frequent Brutole with my boyfriend Shaun. We are huge fans of this place! Every time we go there the food is outstanding, the atmosphere is relaxing and the staff is phenomenal. .When we walk in, Marco greets us at the door. He knows we are interested in wine and what we like, he always has a new selection for us to try, its part of the excitement of dinning at Brutole to see what he will pick next!
I can't recommend Brutole enough!
