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Buona Vita!
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
450 Massachusetts AveArlington, MA 02474
Neighborhood: Arlington Center
(781) 641-4734
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Medford St (350, 77, 79)
Massachusetts Ave @ Broadway (350, 77, 79)
Medford St @ Mass Ave (350, 80)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 12 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 3 pm - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Buona Vita!
Review Highlights
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"...looked very good (nutella bread pudding- yes, please." In 3 reviews -
"The corn ravioli was amazing." In 3 reviews -
"...a savory departure from the everyday garlicky red sauce." In 4 reviews
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Tim R.
Concord, MA
4/15/2012
I don't understand the poor reviews. My wife (vegetarian) and I (seafood lover) dined at Buona Vita! last night with five friends - we were a party of seven. From antipasto to secondi, everything was fresh, well prepared and delicious. Excellent and knowlegeable service, too. We were seven very satisfied diners!
We had reservations, parked in the parking lot in back, and the owner was more than happy to let us leave our cars for the evening while we attended a show at the nearby Regent Theater. How easy was that? -
Review from Tim S.
Arlington, MA
3/23/2012
We have eaten here three times and have been happy with the meals. It really reminds me of some small restaurants I've been to in Paris except Italian.
The owner has the nice Italian charm creating a nice atmosphere. Most recently I had the calmari for starter which was not fried in a batter but nicely sauteed in olive oil with rosemary which provided a nice complement to the flavors. It was really quite good and more unique than your typically fried calamari. For the main dish I had perk.tenderloin in a balsamic reduction which.was rich and perfectly moist. The desert was a connoli with a lemon flavored ricotta. -
Review from Steph P.
1/27/2012
After buying the Groupon, I talked my vegetarian friend into trying Buona Vita with me. The space is very cute, maybe a little dark. The waiters have accents, so I am guessing they are maybe Italian? Our waiter was very sweet, but seemed a little nervous. He was also kind of taken aback by our questions regarding items that may or may not have meat in them.
My dining partner ordered the gorgonzola salad which was fresh and tasty. For entrees, I ordered the tagliatelle alla bolognese and she ordered the gnocchi. My bolognese was good, the pasta was cooked perfectly, nice chunks of meat, the flavors were ok. Nothing earth shattering. The gnocchi were well executed, but again, no amazing flavors going on.
For dessert we had the Nutella bread pudding and this was actually disappointing. I could not taste the Nutella at all, and it wasn't even sweet.
I don't hate Buona Vita, I don't love it. But for the price, there are better places to enjoy Italian. -
Review from matt b.
Arlington, MA
5/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We have recently relo'd back to Arlington - and we're within walking distance to all that the center has to offer ( YAAY !) - We have been meaning to go to this small restaurant - and last week paid a visit. We had a wonderful meal, an attentive but not obstrusive waiter and will certainly return.
Early dinners are our favorite, getting in before the crowds and having a choice of a good table. We ordered the standard tomato/basil/motz app, which was drizzle with a fantastic balsamic reduction. delish.
We ordered the gnocchi and loster ravioli, and the both were wonderful, delivered to our table by the chef. The gnocchi was served in the typical heavy sauce which fit it perfectly and the ravioli seved in a light rose sauce. Yum.
A great little place. you should try it. -
Review from Lara S.
Arlington, MA
5/14/2012
We went here for dinner recently and were fairly unimpressed. The food was okay, but pricey for what you get, and the service was unacceptably slow.
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Review from Eric B.
Cambridge, MA
1/11/2012
Bruschette assortite
The assorted bruschette was fairly simple - presented on an unadorned plate, with 4 pieces of toasted bread with various "fixens." Fresh tomato - yummy, glistening in the cold room that was our restaurant. Eggplant - seemingly a ratatouille, the tastiest bread morsel. Ricotta - more dessert like, somewhat disgusting. Sausage - honestly, a plain sausage on a piece of bread? I give them bonus points for "home made" but really this was too plain.
Antipasto
Solid antipasto. When one thinks of the columns of the Parthenon, sipping cups of tea in the afternoon sun, one rarely imagines antipasto. But if you switch the tea and instead imagine a glass of wine, perhaps then and only then, you may think of antipasto. Regardless or not, it is a somewhat interesting exercise. If you haven't been to see the Parthenon, I highly recommend it.
Raviola du jour
Artichoke, asparagus, and fontina cheese stuffed raviolis almost made for a veritable feast, but did not quite sing with complementary flavors. The alfredo sauce covered these tasty treats, caressing them in their stead. I was almost unable to finish all of these raviolis, but I pulled it together, unbuckled my belt, and took the last few bites.
Eric's Grade: B-
Unfortunately, shivering as I was in an unheated restaurant did not help me "warm" to this somewhat plain and uninspiring food. I will block this memory with thoughts of strolling near the parthenon, buying interesting ties, and imagining gladiators duel it out at the colosseum. -
Review from Laser s.
Winchester, MA
3/28/2012
I've been here twice. The first time was on a Saturday night in the fall of 2010 and it was a fantastic experience. There were three of us, we were seated in the back (thus out of the way), and our waiter was phenomenal. He was from Italy (as are most of the staff) and I honestly felt as though I was in Italy for the evening. The service was excellent, relaxed, unhurried. He was attentive and delightful, making some wonderful food suggestions. At the end of the evening, we had to actually ask for the bill. The host told us that they do not bring the bill until you ask for it, as is done in Italy. What a refreshing change from the rush-rush feeling you often get in restaurants! On the way out, we were complimenting the host and our waiter rushed over, asking if everything was okay -- he must have thought we were complaining!
Went again a few months later with the same companions; said waiter was no longer there, we were seated next to the door (ugh!) on a freezing cold Saturday night of a long weekend. It was horrible. There's no place to wait, so people stood there, staring at us. We were jammed in cheek to jowl. Service was rushed, food was so-so, plates weren't cleared, and oh yes, they presented us with the bill this time with no prompting. It might have been an off-night, so I probably would try them again, but I won't rush. It's not cheap and there isn't a full bar, FYI. Definitely make a reservation. -
Review from Julian C.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
5/4/2012
We went there about a week ago for dinner. Service was friendly and helpful; we were made to feel at home. Last time we had gone to Buona Vita was years ago before the renovations (and possibly new ownership?), and the food didn't really measure up to our memories. Perhaps it was the dishes we ordered -- risotto and lamb chops, both among the specials that night. We thought they were pretty average and definitely not worth the price. It's a nice ambiance so we might try it again to try out the core dishes from the main menu.
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Review from Sox G.
Arlington, MA
12/14/2011
I bought a living social deal for Buona Vita in July and recently went (since the living social expired the day that we went, December 13). The portions are pretty huge! I will be eating them for a few days.
We started with the Arancini rice balls, which were SO good. My favorite was the mushroom-filled one. For my entree, I had the homemade sausage and mushroom ragu, which was to die for-I highly recommend that dish. I would love to come back here since it's such a nice quaint spot with a very nice wait staff and good turnover.
You will be waiting a while for your food, but it's worth the wait. -
Review from Ranjit V.
Waltham, MA
12/10/2011
This place was great! Most of the other Italian places we've been to rely on the quality of food, facade walls, and dim lighting to make it a good experience. Buona Vita has all that AND brings the customer service as well.
Our waiter, did a great job of making us feel like we were the only ones there. He offered us the made to order option. A real Italian place will let you order off the menu. Definitely recommended! -
Review from Robert R.
Arlington, MA
8/30/2011
We eat here at least once or twice a year. There are many restaurants to choose from in Arlington and surrounding communities, however this one has become our favorite. Why? The service is great, the food is awesome, and the atmosphere is cozy, charming, and clean.
Tonight we had an appetizer of zucchini florets. They were lighter than tempura and stuffed with a fluffy, creamy filling that was subtle and satisfying. They were served over mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and thin slices of cantaloupe with a light dressing. We also had the four bruschetta.Each lightly toasted crusty bread slice had a different topping. One had tomatoes, one with eggplant, another with ricotta drizzled with fine balsamic vinegar, and another with heirloom tomato wedges.
My main course was a deliciously seasoned grilled bass served on a wooden board, drizzled in balsamic, with a side of very al dente fetuccini with basil pesto.
My friend had gnocchi in tomato sauce. The were light and fluffy in a fresh tomato sauce.
For dessert, we shared the Nutella bread pudding with vanilla gelato and caramel drizzle.
Everything was timed perfectly. The waiter was very attentive but never intrusive or sloppy. The service is elegant without being stuffy. We will definitely continue to dine at Buona Vita! I highly recommend it. Their menu changes frequently. You will definitely want to go back more than once. -
Review from Morgan F.
Somerville, MA
1/21/2012
I love this restaurant. I happened upon it by accident years back and revisit often. It get get a bit pricey but the Italian family feel and personable service are well worth it. I've never had a meal there I didn't love. Great for a date or a family outing.
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Review from Sally W.
Somerville, MA
12/17/2011
WE have eaten here before..about two years ago....It was wonderful! I don't know what has happened to the place. There's this pompous Italian guy who greets everyone, takes their orders (after a very long wait) but never checks back with you. Several people deliver food, etc. I had the ravioli with artichokes and fantini...it was stuck to the plate, nuked in the microwave, ravioli quite tough. On top of that, it was lukewarm. The wait staff had too many tables and it took me four requests to get a cup of ice. Unbelievable! My partner had lamb sha
nk. It was quite fatty. We were both so hungry....nobody came to check on our meals until we were finished eating. A couple next to us left after no menus, no waiting on them, etc. They need to clean their act up!! -
Review from Victoria A.
Brookline, MA
6/29/2011
I sort of adore Buona Vita. Even the things that DON'T work are so odd and adorable that it's endearing
First: Exclamation point in the name? So lame, yet so adorable
Second: Random decor that ranges from old-world and classic to rather amateurish mural of an outdoor market, complete with partially butchered cow? Sort of weird, yet adorable
Third: Tiny space with occasionally insane table set up? inconvenient, yet adorable!
Okay, maybe I'm crazy, none of those things should be exceptionally endearing, but maybe the happy food coma that BV induces also affects my judgment.
The food is great. Hearty Italian fare, not your standard red sauce place, but not quite upscale either. Sort of the perfect place to go with your family for Sunday night dinner. The pasta dishes are flavorful (they make one of my favorite bologneses in Boston) and the meat entrees have always been good (though the sausage is a little bland). I'm not crazy about the risotto, but I've been told that's just because I have bad taste in risotto. In the summer, they serve a stuffed zucchini blossom appetizer, of which they must be incredibly proud because they will tell you about them every chance they get.
The service is good, but maybe a little manic sometimes. You will occasionally hear the waiters yelling on the phone/at each other in Italian, which might be a little off-putting, but I find charming. -
Review from Peggy L.
Arlington, MA
3/10/2012
How can you ruin a classic? My little one wanted pasta and meatballs. The meatballs were dry and hard, the sauce tasted like it came from a can and we did not bother to take home leftovers. Nope, they will never see us again. I can cook better at home!
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Review from Annmarie L.
Arlington, MA
3/22/2011
Similar to the Leaky Cauldron, you do not see Buona Vita! unless you know what you are looking for; otherwise you just walk by it. Sandwiched between two other equally unimpressive store fronts, the aesthetics of the whole block leave something to be desired. This, however, has little impact on the food.
I came in for Restaurant Week, and was promptly seated upon arrival. As an aside, I HIGHLY recommend a reservation! This is a very small restaurant, and everyone seemed content to linger over their meals, ignoring the somewhat malicious glares from those kept waiting in the minuscule waiting nook (to call it a waiting area would be quite an overstatement). I personally love a restaurant that lets you stay, but then again, I was the one with the table and food, not the one waiting outside...
Upon being sat, we were treated with hot bread and oil. Very yummy. Unfortunately, this being a Friday during lent, most of the menu was off-limits, but it was nice that there were enough options that I was still left with choices. I started with the enormous mussels appetizer featuring a lemon-y herb broth, a savory departure from the everyday garlicky red sauce. Had I known the size of the portions, I would have requested this as my main meal! Not being one to waste a deal however, I dove in. My main meal was a lobster risotto. Oh. My. Goodness. I rarely order risotto, and my oh my this was quite a treat.
I never got to dessert, but the wine was decent. Overall, both the food and drink menus are a bit overpriced, but the portions are large, and the atmosphere great for chatting over a long meal with friends.
Not my first choice, but I'll probably be back. -
Review from Jackie G.
Arlington, MA
7/19/2011
Yum! We came here with a groupon and were really impressed. It helped that it was in Arlington Center and had aracinis on the menu- two things that pretty much win my heart.
We started with the arancinis & caprese apps- both very good. The aracinis were actually 4 varieties- a meat, broccoli rabe, basic aracini and then one that we couldn't quite name. My only feedback would be that it would be great to either 1. pick the variety you want or 2. just know what they were.
For entrees I got the seafood and linguine- really good. The sauce was flavorful, the seafood was amazing (mussels, shrimp, & scallops).They make to order so I even got to skip the calamari. Score!
The other half got gnocchi which was also tasty. Desserts looked very good (nutella bread pudding- yes, please!), but we were a little full from all the other amazing food.
We'd definitely go back again and even left saying this would be our new neighborhood spot for good italian. Everyone working was very pleasant- even though people were waiting for tables they didn't rush us at all when we hadn't finished our wine yet- that's 5 stars for me right there =) -
Review from Kara B.
Boston, MA
8/12/2011
I might go 2.5 if that were an option, but no way would this earn 3...
We used a groupon...otherwise would feel even less kindly about this place. The food just isn't that great and we found ourselves listing all of the really first rate places we could have eaten for the same cost.
Service was better than expected given everything that we read, and a couple of the dishes were pretty good, but I thought everything we ordered except one dish was a misfire at some level. Mussels were perfectly cooked, but the lemon brothy stuff was very one note and really would have benefited from the freshness of some parsley to brighten the flavors. Octopus was well cooked but the sauce was too sweet and heavy. Bread was either stale or ineptly toasted. A pasta with sausage and mushrooms was the best thing we ordered, but the gnocci were leaden and gummy and the supposed tomato-basil sauce was too sweet and was so overcooked and musty tasting that you could hardly identify it as tomato...let alone tomato basil. Accompanying parmesan cheese was tasteless and commercial. This was hardly a meal I thought worth $70+. Even the brand of mineral water was second rate.
So, we sat thinking, "Gaslight, Aquitaine, Metropolis...and many others where we have had very satisfying meals for about the same money." -
Review from Andrew N.
Johnston, RI
9/25/2010
If I could split my star rating in 2 I would give the food 3-4 starts and the service 1. We are new to Arlington and have been trying to get to know the restaurants in the area, this was our first actual trip into the Arlington Center region since before we moved and we stopped in just looking at menus without planning ahead of time. They don't seem to have any host, maybe someone was out sick I am not sure, the waiter who seated us and then became our waiter for the meal seemed a bit put out by the fact that we did not have a reservation in spite of the fact that the smallish restaurant never filled all the way up.
The waiter dropped off the menus and took off. About 5 minutes later a second waiter stopped by to check to see if we had been helped, she told us the specials then ran. Finally a couple minutes later the first waiter came back told us the specials a second time and tried to run again, luckily we did manage to call him back to finally place a drink order. The drinks came out quickly which was nice though all our interactions with the waiter could be described as awkward at best. We ordered an appetizer (Arancino) and meals (Veal Parm for myself and Carbonera for my wife).
The Arancini came out after 10-15 minutes which seemed a bit slow, but we were both very happy with the taste. We were a bit less happy with the fact that they never bothered to bring out any plates for the appetizers so we had to mix them together with the crumbs from our bread.
We finished the Arancini and 25-30 minutes later our dinners finally arrived, the waiter had been mostly MIA durring this period, but I was finally able to order a second drink before he took off again. The food was good, not great, not bad, good.
Once we had finished up dinner, the bus boy came by and wrapped up our leftovers then we sat around another 15 minutes waiting for the waiter to come by and ask if we wanted any desert, at this point we really just wanted to get out of there and asked for the check, which finally came 5-10 minutes later.
To wrap it up, I would say the food was good but a bit expensive for what we got, this might have been a bit easier to overlook had the service been half decent. -
Review from Patricia O.
Arlington, MA
11/2/2010
Found this place by accident as we were walking by. Came with my little fam and my niece and they accommodated us nicely. The food was delicious, good size portions, and prices weren't bad compared to other Italian places. The service, yes, is a bit slow, but it does make it feel more authentic and its the atmosphere. The space between tables is a bit cramped also, so just something to keep in mind if you're trying to bring a stroller or something. Saw another table who brought a crazy big stroller in there, which they should've opted not to. But honestly, the food was really good so that alone makes it worth it!!
On a side note, food must be good and pretty authentic because two authentic old Italian men were sitting next to us, having their dinner and a bottle of wine, speaking Italian, and as they finished, one of the gentlemen made it a point to tell me in his great Italian accent that I had a beautiful family :) -
Review from pete g.
Cambridge, MA
8/29/2007
Every time I go here, they do everything right.
This is a good date spot -- just fancy enough to still be very relaxed, great food, good wine, good service and pleasant, warm decor. If you're lucky, the owner will be there and say hello; if you're really lucky, as Meaghan S. and myself were last night, he might even give you free food.
He brought us a couple pieces of pizza margherita, as he's recently added pizza to his menu and he wants to get the word out. Well, here's the word: this pizza is perfect. The crust is light and firm, the sauce was a little spicy and full of tomato flavor, and the cheese was spot-on. Absolutely perfect.
The regular entrees (most $15-20) are wonderful too. Most recently, I enjoyed a meal of rabbit, cooked in a bed of mushrooms and served without pasta. La Buona Vita also offers many seafood dishes, one of which is a mussels appetizer which lasted about two minutes on our table before we were mopping up the last of the sauce with our bread.
My only regret about my experiences here is that I have never saved room for dessert.
I'd compare La Buona Vita to Carlo's in Allston, except more relaxed due to its geography. La Buona Vita gets my vote. -
Review from Roberto C.
Somerville, MA
8/29/2007
Love this place - never had a bad meal here. Very genuine,
family owned & friendly place to dine. Prices are reasonable - I'd recommend reservations on a busy night as it's a fairly small place. Btw, dessert is wonderful as well.
Keep up the great work LBV! -
Review from Manda C.
Arlington, MA
2/15/2009
I wanted this place to be amazing, because my uncle used to take me here when I was younger but it was not.
There aren't many selections on the menu and for someone who doesn't eat seafood or mushrooms that list becomes EVEN shorter. I went with the Cabana because it listed a bunch of things that sounded delightful... it did not list mushrooms... it came with mushrooms.
So as I'm picking out the mushrooms and bummed about my valentines dinner being not all I had hoped I'm waiting for the waitress to check in with us... she never does. She also never went over the specials with us, but she was extra attentive to the couple sitting behind us, I found it interesting. The food tasted pretty good, but the thought of a mushroom possibly getting into my mouth ruined it. And the lack of service was even worse.
The waitress finally comes back over after we had stopped eating for about 10 minutes and she says, you should have said you didn't want mushrooms when you ordered... I'm sorry mushrooms wasn't LISTED as being in the dish in the description. -
Review from Sarah M.
Middlesex, MA
2/22/2010
This is a funny little place.
The good news: The food was really fantastic, very, very good. Many steps up from the Mom and Pop place it looks like. I had chicken cacciatore w/ olives and it was unlike the standard, having shredded chicken and olives combined into the sauce - more akin a meat sauce than chicken with veggies in sauce, and far better. My friends had the mushroom pappardelle and it was great too. The service was also good.
The bad news: Despite efforts to resolve the problem, the atmosphere just isn't "there." It doesn't feel like you're at a nice restaurant inside or out. And, I'm not sure if it was a fluke, but the place smelled like a fryer and my clothes were fryer central when I got home. Gross.
So, my verdict is A-OK. Great food, but the trappings need some work. -
Review from J C.
Arlington, MA
5/26/2011
A dear friend took me for dinner to celebrate my birthday. We'd been once before and were blown away by the deliciously fresh food and the amazing bolognese. We were greeted by the excellent maitre d'/waiter who was charming and explained the zucchini florette, lamb and pasta specials in such glowing terms that we had difficulty deciding. After much discussion, we settled on the lamb and a variation on the bolognese with mascapone cheese. The lamb was simply grilled with olive oil and salt and was tender and delicious. I think lamb is easy to overdo, so I really appreciated the chef's attention to detail here. The bolognese over fresh pasta made in-house was even more delicious than I remembered and I'd been dreaming about it since our first visit. Even the side of spaghetti with a simple red sauce that my friend ordered was very tasty.
The portions are generous and the service is impeccable. The gifted chef busses tables and was happy to chat, and our waiter was very attentive.
Portions are generous. It may seem a little pricey to some, but the freshness of the ingredients is well worth it. It's in Arlington Center across from Papa Ginos-ironic-in a little storefront sandwiched between a nail salon and a garden shop.
I plan to dine there often in future. You should, too! -
Review from Anne W.
12/4/2008
Stopped by here because the wait for Tango was two hours.
This place is not great.. but it's not horrible. The calamari is not breaded and fried like other places. It's in a tomato sauce which can throw you off. Thought it needed more flavor. The bolognese special I had with lamb and beef was really good.. but I know I can get there somewhere else too. I tried my friend's chicken marsala and it was bad. I would almost say awful.
So if you must go, order the specials. -
Review from Garrett B.
Medford, MA
5/31/2009
A small neighborhood southern Italian restaurant, the kind every town should have. It is not the place to go to be wowed, either in food or atmosphere. But the food is good, and the atmosphere pleasant enough that it serves as a good backdrop to interesting conversation .
The menu is limited, which I think is a good idea for a small restaurant. What they do cover is competently executed. Food was flavorful and the ingredients well balanced.
Service is prompt. The server handled our special requests quite well.
Atmosphere is a bit lacking. I'm going to double speak here -- the plainess of this establishment is also part of its charm. It is almost antithetical to the over staged atmospheres that dominate Boston's south end. Which makes it a good place to visit if you're in the neighborhood - but not a place worth seeking out if you're not. -
Review from Julia M.
Newton, MA
7/2/2011
I want to live here and eat their sweet corn ravioli and nutella bread pudding all day every day until I die of malnutrition/diabetes. It will be worth it. They are also just the nicest people. I went here for my anniversary with my boyfriend and it was amazing. I hardly paid attention to him, I was too in love with my food.
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Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
4/9/2011
I'm trying to like this place. I'll try again soon.
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Review from Josh M.
Arlington, MA
6/26/2011
We had a wonderful dinner last week, and while the service could have been better (less awkward). We started with an excellent eggplant Parm appetizer, fillers by a seared tuna and pasta blognese that were both exceptional for suburban dining. Ended with a chocolate bread pudding and are already planning another visit.
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Review from Alison F.
Arlington, MA
11/7/2010
Without a doubt, the worst restaurant i have eaten in in Arlington, and one of the worst restaurants I've eaten in in the Boston area.
It was so bad I'd never dream of returning, so people who've been there more often can say if they think the regular cook must have been out that day, but here's what I got:
1. Very stale, very dry bread. Like compressed sawdust. Good bread is so easy to procure, this is inexcusable.
2. Overcooked pasta, to the point of being gooey.
3. Flavorless sauce.
4. Small portions (not really a problem, if the stuff is good).
5. Terrible service. Two other tables there were complaining about everything (and given how bad MY food was, I couldn't blame them), but the waiter spent the whole time we were there apologizing to them and it took us 20 minutes to get the check after asking for it, we were sitting at the table for at least 15 before we even got menus and water. Should have left right then...
I love Italian food and am generally open-minded about it, but this place should be shut down. -
Review from Hien N.
Quincy, MA
12/1/2011
i had a living social deal and i was expecting a bigger place. it's very italian homey and quaint. we had to wait a while to have our order taken but we were seated pretty quickly on a saturday night. the meal was delicious. i ordered the ravioli of the day which had sweet gargonzola, spinach and some other things. my friend got lasagna. it was very good as well. i wish the waiter was more attentive but it's very italy-like and it was nice to have a slow dinner and not feel rushed. the prosecco was delish.
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Review from Zannah M.
Somerville, MA
1/29/2010
We had a great meal here. It's nice to have Italian food you can be certain will be delicious and not have to head into the North End.
They make all their bread on site and arrived at our table warm and wonderful; the oil and olive mixture to dip in was delicious. We had proscutto and bruschetta for appetizers. What's better, is that these folks know how to do seafood right. I had a fruiti di mare type dish that was by no means run of the mill - the shrimp, squid, scallops and mussels were cooked perfectly as was the pasta. The tomato sauce was not like anything I'd had before. Our tiramisu was as big as my head - easy to share with three people. We also had espresso and a lovely wine. -
Review from Emerson O.
Arlington, MA
4/28/2010
This is one of two authentic italian restaurant (read, not a sub shop) in Arlington.
They recently transitioned to new ownership and I would say the food is about the same. Very acceptable italian dishes, simple recipes, nothing off the charts, no surprises, some interesting variations on traditional recipes, flavors hit all the right spots. You can tell that a little love went into making your food.
The decor feels a little too snazzy, but is very clean and up to date.
Thank goodness the owner is another italian family man. I eat here with my little girls and they eat free (pasta w/ butter and cheese) while I sip on the house wine and eat a professionally cooked meal that is a couple of notches above what I might make for myself at home.
The waitstaff seems to be locals from the town that are friendly and attentive. It would seem more authentic to have a few more italians buzzing around the place.
Location is ideal and the size of the place is just right (less than 20 tables). -
Review from Mark W.
Somerville, MA
5/22/2011
AWESOME FOOD! Needed a replacement Italian restaurant and Buona Vita rocked it. The food was spectacular and other than my father's order taking longer than expected so was the service.
With the departure of Georgie D's in Stoneham and Antonia's in Davis, I've needed a solid, non-North End Italian restaurant and Buona Vita fits that bill. Buried in a non-descript store front along Mass Ave (it's almost across the street from the Starbucks) in Arlington Center, Buona Vita is classic Italian with impeccable service.
With my brother in town for the Cubs game, we were looking for a place to have dinner with the folks that could accommodate both our parents and had an opening on Graduation Weekend. After trying 10 other places, we settled on BV and couldn't have been happier. -
Review from David S.
Arlington, MA
6/13/2011
Absolutely amazing home-style Italian.
Mushroom flat pasta to die for, good wine, relaxing atmosphere.
Even with kids we felt comfy there, kid friendly - is a super important factor for us.
Dave -
Review from Ryan P.
Cambridge, MA
5/16/2011
We were worried after reading reviews about the service. When we arrived, they did make us wait even though we had a reservation. After being seated, nobody came over for a good while to get our drink order. It was noticeable even to what I assume was the manager, because he ended up coming over and taking care of us. He was very apologetic which was nice.
After a rocky start though, everything else was perfect. The corn ravioli was amazing. -
Review from Elise N.
Somerville, MA
5/7/2011 8 photos
Love this place - while it's a bit pricey, the food has been delicious both times I've gone. It's a bit closer to the authentic Italian I'm always looking for. See my full review at The Academic Chef.
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Review from Margaret L.
Weston, MA
11/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Nice cozy Italian Rest on Mass Ave. Nice waiter, food was hot and delicious. Happy with everything. Worth giving it a try!
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Review from Jennifer F.
Somerville, MA
5/1/2011
Simple Italian food cooked to perfection. Fried calamari was light and tender. My husband had lamb chops (a special) and I had chicken al mottone (under a brick), both excellent and very flavorful. The side of fettucine alfredo was light and delicious. The man at the next table said several times that his carbonara was the best he'd had since he'd been in Rome. Portions are generous - one shared appetizer and two entrees left us with food to take home and no room for dessert.
Contrary to some previous posts, service was great, even on a very busy Saturday night. Only criticism: We were seated 12 minutes late for our 8:00 reservation.
