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Sorellina
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1 Huntington Ave(between Dartmouth St & Blagden St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 412-4600
- Nearest Transit:
-
Saint James Ave @ Dartmouth St (10, 192, 193, 39, 502, 503, 504, 55, 555, 9)
Boylston St @ Dartmouth St (10, 170, 193, 39, 55, 9)
Copley Station - Outbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
241 reviews for Sorellina
Review Highlights
"...that with the Kobe Beef meatballs and truffle fries."
(in 19 reviews)
"You MUST order the truffle fries if you come here."
(in 39 reviews)
"The ambience, wine list and service is great."
(in 21 reviews)
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241 reviews in English
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Review from Megan C.
2/3/2012
Stunning Interior + Delicious Eats
On a cold wintry night we set out for a mellow dinner with friends and dined happily at the Bar :) Yep the bar. Comfy seats, interesting people all around, and a lovely bartender. Sorellina is one of those places where you might see quiet a few corporate dinners, romantic couples, and on occasion a family. High ceilings, modern clean decor, a real sense of quality.
The short rib was delicious, the pasta out of this world (home made pasta), everyone really enjoyed our meal. I don't think you could go wrong with just about anything on the menu. Dessert was not to be skipped, had several to taste. Excellent sorbet, fantastic chocolate. Delicious food, fantastic service, mouthwatering happiness in Boston, YEAY!
Date Rating: 8
Pick up Scale: 1
Strong Suggestion: bring friends and try more dishes. -
Review from Bryan E.
Brookline, MA
11/29/2011
Best first-date restaurant in town. Period.
Romantic, incredible service, amazing decor, and the food is always incredible. I've had so many great dining experiences here and though they can get really busy, if you are bright and have fun with your server, they will take great care of you and make sure you are having the best time.
Just because its expensive doesn't mean you get to act like a jerk. Get to know them and you'll find that you'll have the meal of your life prepared for you. This is the kind of restaurant you want to spend the night in going course after course. Book a late reservation and enjoy. -
Review from Renee m.
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent Service, Quality, and taste is all that this place is!
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of care and hospitality shown to customers at this establishment - my waiter was friendly, polite, and always knew what we wanted before we even asked for it... -
Review from Secret S.
Quincy, MA
2/5/2012
A lovely, fantastic place with superb service and quality of food. They even have a private driver with Cadillac to take you to your next destination, complimentary.
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Review from Barbara G.
Colorado Springs, CO
1/27/2012
Excellent food and service. I was traveling to Boston, and looking forward to some great food. The restaurant we tried our first night was very mediocre. I ran into a nice man when I went to the bar to get a glass of water. (No one had been to our table during the first 10 or 15 minutes fter seating us @ the Summershack. I met a man at the bar who told me that Sorellina was the "best restaurant in town" He said it was "world class". He was right!
My biggest complaint is that I couldn't eat more. One should never leave over food that qas that good. I'm trying to figure out a way to go back before we leave town on Sunday.
YUMMMM! -
Review from Valerie H.
Burlingame, CA
11/3/2011
The food here was incredible. I had the tuna tartare and the veal foie-gras meatballs.The food my family got was also, incredible, and this place would have gotten five stars if not for our ridiculously unknowledgeable server, Susan.
She helped us none whatsoever with food choices, and didn't even offer to share the specials of the night until we had been sitting there for 20 minutes and had already made our choices on what to order...
And fine, I know that at 22, I might look young, but at establishments like this, when my family says to bring a certain number of wine glasses to the table, they will do it. Susan, instead, brought two for my parents, and asked "if the young lady has decided on something else to drink."
Screw you lady. I'm drinking exactly the same thing that my parents are drinking and I will look you dead in the eye while I do it. Assuming does nothing but make you look like an ass.
She rolled her eyes at my 4 year old brother a handful of times, because he was playing a gameboy. Hey, as long as he's distracted and not running around, who gives a flying fickle if he's playing a game boy?
Lastly, when she passed out the dessert menu, my stepdad started asking her questions about two particular desserts. She had nothing to say but, "mmhmm, sure, it's good." and proceeded to answer unasked questions.... Sure,he has a little accent, but come on.
stapdad: "how is the cake in this one, is it like a pound cake or..?
Server: "Ummm it's good. the gelato is chocolate."
stepdad: "Ok. but how is the cake? I'm not really looking for something hard..."
Server: *Blank stare*
Me: THE CAKE. WHAT KIND OF CAKE IS IT?
Sever: There is no cake.
honestly, I wanted to slap this woman at the end of the dinner. and mind you, because she offered absolutely no help, we chose a pretty poor dessert, the pear cake thing. It was really no good. I could've bought a pound cake, baked a pear, and had better. -
Review from Stephanie Y.
San Francisco, CA
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is outstanding! We came here for our anniversary dinner and we were greeted with lots of smiles. The waiter asked if I would like a dark napkin to match my black dress. Then he brought over a bottle of wine that my friend had reserved for us. The place is very romantic and the seats are comfortable. I liked the decor too, everything matched down to the plates. The waiter was super friendly
So.. now onto the mouth watering food. We shared the gnocchi (submerged in butter and topped with lobster), PEI mussels with fennel, Milanese, and ribeye. The potato thing that came with the rib eye wasn't great, but everything else was just delicious and tender and juicy. I almost couldn't finish my rib eye because I had so much food already. We were going to skip the dessert, but our friend had already ordered it for us, a vanilla penna cotta and the chocolate mousse. Both were decadent, smooth, and creamy. We aren't big sweets people, but the desserts were not very sweet, so it made it easier to chow down. -
Review from Andrea B.
8/28/2011
I think it's safe to say that one of the best dinners I ever had was at Sorellina.
I came here with my friend about a week ago for Restaurant Week. I had been to Sorellina once before, and I was excited to be going back. Every part of my meal was fantastic, from the veal and prosciutto meatballs that I got for an appetizer, to the mouthwatering sirloin that I had for an entree and the chocolate fudge cake with raspberry syrup that I had for dessert (this in particular was incredible!!). My friend's dinner was good too. He let me try some of the chilled melon soup that he ordered, which also contained crab. It was probably the most unusual combination of flavors I have ever tasted, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. He decided to try swordfish for his entree, and it was interesting but I'd never choose that over my steak. For dessert he had bread pudding, but I could barely come back down to earth from the heaven that was my dessert to try some of his!
The only part of the night that I was less than satisfied with was our waiter. He was friendly and helpful, but he primarily paid attention to my friend, whom I think he must have assumed was paying. The problem there was, I was paying! When he came over with the bill, he placed it near my friend, but I reached over and grabbed it. I don't know if he saw, but you know, girls can treat their male friends to dinner too! Sheesh.
But that's all water under the bridge. I'll be back!Listed in: My Boston Favorites
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Review from David C.
8/22/2011
My biggest mistake so far during my Restaurant Week adventures has been allowing my dining partners to order the dishes I really want. I figure I'll get to sample them anyway (they're the best kinds of friends that way), and I always decide to try something different. So while my meal at Sorellina was good, my friend's was bordering on five-star territory.
I should start off by saying the RW menu at Sorellina is quite different from the one you'll find online. I was really only interested in the filet mignon online, but once I got to the restaurant, I debated for a while between steak (the filet had been replaced with a sirloin), quail (instead of chicken), and swordfish (instead of trout). I knew my friend would opt for the steak, so I decided to try swordfish for the first time in my life. I was served a huge cut of it that bared an uncanny resemblance to an elephant's ear. Nicely salted and sprinkled with a healthy dose of lemon, I definitely enjoyed it, but I found myself staring with murderous envy at my friend and her perfectly seasoned sirloin. She ordered it well done (who does that???) and it was still one of the tastiest pieces of meat I've ever had.
As good as her steak was, the star of the night was far and away the veal and prosciutto meatballs she chose for an appetizer. Imagine three of the most tender, succulent tidbits you've ever tried nestled in a bed of the creamiest, most flavorful polenta you've ever tasted, and you have this dish. Grading single dishes, this one gets one trillion stars. I had the chilled melon soup, which paled in comparison, but still managed to leave an impression. A light and refreshing watermelon concoction was poured at the table into a large bowl harboring Maine crab and avocado, and finished with a drizzle of basil olio. I loved the color in this dish, especially against the stark white of the bowl, which fell in line with the feel of the rest of the restaurant (elegantly modern black and whites accentuated by sleek lines and sharp corners).
Dessert was good, although it left me a little wanting in comparison to the rest of our dishes. I had the vanilla-date bread pudding, while my friend got the cioccolato--two thin strips of dark chocolate fudge cake served with a side of vanilla gelato and raspberry syrup. The gelato was unremarkable, but the combination of the raspberry and fudge knocked my friend off her feet.
Overall, five stars for her, four for me. -
Review from Eric F.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Where to begin, where to begin...for starters, the fact that I'm writing this having literally just gotten back from dinner here speaks for itself!
My friends and I worked it out such that we all ordered something different for each course (love how you roll, Dinah P.!), so here it goes:
ZUPPA (chilled melon, Maine crab, avocado, basil olio) - refreshing summer soup with resounding notes of fruit initially that followed gradually with the meatiness of the Maine crab.
TOMATOES (season's best, whipped ricotta, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt) - fresh ingredients and was good enough to where I enjoyed eating straight tomato...and that's saying a lot as I found the taste of raw tomatoes to be nauseating for many years.
POLPETTE (veal and prosciutto meatballs, soft white polenta, marsala) - some of the best meatballs I've had yet with great texture and a nice sweetness that envelopes you as soon as the meat hits your tongue.
QUAIL (pan roasted Vermont quail, wild mushroom panzanella, arugula) - pleasant gamey flavor that were more noticeable with the breast meat whereas the legs had more citrusy notes, presumably from the dressing for the arugula. The mushrooms were delicious too.
SIRLOIN (grilled, roasted new potatoes, oyster mushrooms, bone marrow butter) - my God this was DE-F'ING-LICIOUS! Perfectly seared to a medium rare and tender and juicy beyond belief. My friends can attest to the Adam Richman-esque experience I had as I closed my eyes and savored each and every moment of mastication. Hands down the best steak I've had to date in Boston and Sorellina isn't even a steakhouse...d^_^b
RISOTTO (carnaroli rice, summer vegetables, goat's milk butter) - Yet another best dish to date! The flavors simply burst right onto your palate and the consistency was absolutely delightful, creamy yet light.
PESCA (poached peaches with vanilla and ginger, wild flower honey crema, streusel) - not too shabby when you got a little of everything onto each forkful, though the peach by itself did taste a little like chilled, canned peaches.
CIOCCOLATO (dark chocolate fudge cake, vanilla gelato, spiced raspberry sciroppo) - delicious dark, fudgy goodness that matched superbly with the gelato and raspberries. Yum!
PRUGNA (white chocolate bread pudding, summer plums, mascarpone) - like the chocolate cake, this dessert's ingredients came together in great harmony with the forward tartness & sweetness of the plums being brought down to earth with the weight & richness of the bread pudding.
By the end of our wonderful meal, we were all gloriously full and content. In addition to the amazing food, the ambiance lends itself to a very modern and sophisticated atmosphere that is thankfully not at all stuffy. Though the wait for our entrees was indeed on the lengthier side, our server did a great job overall and the rest of the staff was on point with refills, plate clearing, etc. I must also point out that this was the first time I've ever seen the server offer to swap out our napkins with black ones to match my friends' lovely dresses. It was also the first time I've ever had the pleasure of being offered a courtesy ride home by a restaurant. My driver, Nunzio, was the textbook definition of a gentleman and a far cry from your typical crazy taxi driver...if you've ever been taken one in NYC, you know what I'm talking about.
Suffice it to say, we were all in accordance that this was the best fine dining experience we've all had in Boston thus far...and it was Restaurant Week! Our server noted that Sorellina makes sure to not skimp in any regard during RW and he was right beyond a shadow of a doubt.
So come here, eat and go home happy =) -
Review from Aaron K.
9/1/2011
The best food I've had in Boston to date. Always superb quality and taste.
Recently came for restaurant week and was disappointed that filet mignon was axed from the menu after 1 week. I had their filet at my first experience there and it was amazing, melt in your mouth steak. I opted for the quail which was excellent because of the complementary sides that went so well with the entree. Portions were excellent for RW and the service just as good! Our waitress asked a few times how the food was and even came over to explain our most interesting dish the chilled melon soup (a puree of watermelon and cantaloupe with crab meat). Appetizers and desserts weren't as great as the entrees but were creative and still very good.
My fiance and I don't splurge much on expensive restaurants but our RW experience ensures that we will be coming back here for a future special occassion..or the next RW.
Expect to spend a pretty penny here outside of RW (entrees in the $40 range, apps in the 9-18$ range, desserts around $10). -
Review from James B.
Boston, MA
9/4/2011
Ate here with my wife during restaurant week...what a bargain. The food was amazing, from appetizer to dessert. I highly recommend their pasta courses, splitting one with your date is a good amount of food for an app.
The service was probably the best I've had, ever. We ordered a bottle of wine and when our server set it down, it was a little wobbly due to the way the tablecloth was laid on the table...no big deal, we just needed to be careful. Without us saying a word about it, our server came back with a little metal tray to stabilize it. This is why I sucked when I was a waiter myself, I just could not pay attention to details as seemingly trivial as this. It made a difference though.
Word of caution: their normal, non-restaurant week prices are pretty expensive. You're looking at a couple hundred at least. -
Review from Courtney G.
Arlington, VA
10/13/2011
It has been FAR too long since I've Yelped...lucky for BOSTON as I haven't been out in DC lately, but took a nice little jaunt to "Town" this weekend.
My sister booked this place for Mom's birthday after having visiting once during restaurant week. I guess that goes to show those gimmicks are worth something. Frankly, I voted for the less stuffy looking option but was outnumbered by the rest of the family, namely Mom who was drawn to the veil after reviewing the menu in advance. Alas, majority rule turned out to be a success...a rare confession from a DC-ite.
The service was excellent...for us! Unfortunately, the table next to us had a different server with whom they seemed very annoyed...probably because she only tended to the table 3 times or so throughout a 3 course meal. Hmm. Anyway, this was no huge matter to me as our waitress was great. I am remiss for not remembering her name, she deserves kudos. She first imparted her knowledge of the wine menu which was welcomed as the list is extensive and i usually just utilize the scroll and point method of selecting.
The food was equally impressive. We tried the special of Sea Urchin to begin...I was the least enthused at the table but the fish-enthusiasts loved it. The other option, tuna was great quality, well seasoned and a hefty protion for an appetizer...even with three sharing!
After a candid and helpful recommendation, I ended up with the filet for my main course. Perfectly cooked, again, large portion and great quality cut of beef. I ate every bite and yes, rudely did not even share...sorry Mom, i know it was your birthday and all, but sometimes...beef prevails.
Mom had the veal milanese which was pounded and breaded and came on the bone (which was a surprise). Again, perfectly cooked and not covered in sauce like some places...in fact, fair warning that there is no sauce on it, just served with some lemon. Simple. My sister recommends avoiding the pastas, which she noted she could have easily gotten elsewhere (duh).
Go for the meat or fish and dont be afraid to try something new here! -
Review from Katarina L.
San Francisco, CA
If I could have an orgasm simply from eating tasty food, the gnocchi with maine lobster at Sorellina would be it.
now that I've said that about this classy establishment, let me elaborate.
we entered into an unassuming glass doorway but once past the hostess podium a whole different world commenced. soft bluish-purple-pink lighting and abstract art, in conjunction with the white couches in stark contrast to the black tables and sliver decorations create a mystical atmosphere like dining in a tim burton movie.
to start we had the polpo (octopus and squid ink cous cous) which was delicious. then i had the gnocchi with maine lobster for my main course. the gnocchi was cooked to perfection -- not too chewy, not too mushy. and the lobster was perfectly flavored in a mix of lobster juices, butter, and herbs. i could have died right there on the spot and been satisfied with my last earthly meal. i eat out a lot -- and this dish makes it into the top five best dishes i have ever had and will crave for the rest of my life. the boyfriend had the filet mignon -- while not as heavenly as my dish, was still quite tasty. for our side we had the hand-cut truffle fries which were yummy but not spectacular. then to round out the meal we had the cioccolato for desert -- devine!
service was excellent though it did seem like our waiter came at the begining of the meal to take our order and at the end to bring the desert and the bill. but there were lots of other people in btween who brought our food, kept the bread coming, and water filled.
i'm coming back here. there is no doubt about that. -
Review from baccad c.
MA
1/10/2012
Everyone at Sorrelina was so helpful with organizing some surprises for a special occasion dinner. ATheir food and service is always excellent. A great menu.
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Review from Elizabeth B.
Quincy, MA
Updated - 7/30/2011
And that is how the experience is supposed to be. I don't even care if it's only because management knew I was coming back in this evening (and would probably write an updated review).
After my last visit I (obviously) wrote about my lackluster experience here on yelp. I was contacted by the manager of Sorellina less than 12 hours later offering to help correct the situation. In a city not particularly renowned for stellar customer service, I was impressed. The very generous offer a gift card was motivation enough for me to make a repeat visit with the boyfriend and his parents on the night of 7/30.
The most significant upgrade this time around: our server was amazing. His name was Mark (so request him if you go!) He was present enough to attend to anything we needed, but unobtrusive enough to allow us to linger over our meal. He was witty, entertaining, and in general a pleasure. He was open with suggestions and could readily explain anything on the menu, which was very helpful when just about everything sounds delicious.
Onto the food, spectacular. Food was never really the issue though, so I don't feel the need to write about that too much other than to say try the truffle fries, and you should kick your own ass if you come here and don't get the lobster gnocchi.
Sorellina, you have redeemed yourself. I will be back, requesting a table instead of a booth and Mark as my server. Now that I know how good you're capable of being, the bar has been set high!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2011
Oh where to begin. I had high hopes based on past yelp reviews, hoping that I wouldn't be one of… Read more »
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Review from Kelly W.
Philadelphia, PA
1/5/2012
ever one i know thinks of great Italian food as being in South Philly or Little Italy in Manhattan but Boston is right there with the rest of them, at Sorellina it's fantastic, i started with the hand cut raw tuna melts in your mouth with just a Little kick then a small portion cappellacci little hat pasta with a creamy Parmesan sauce and a zesty tomato wildly flavor full the local scallops with whipped chestnuts a perfect combination, wine was great service outstanding. the kind of service you would expect In fine Italian restaurant the waiter was there when you needed him seem come from no where but did not impose.
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Review from Christine H.
Quincy, MA
8/23/2011
My husband and I dined here last Friday evening and had an enjoyable meal. It was our first time to Sorellina and I am glad that we finally got around to trying it but I am not sure if we will be back. As others have mentioned, the dining room is gorgeous.
Our visit was during restaurant week and the vegetarian risotto sounded good, so I ordered that along with the tomato appetizer. The appetizer was good but not great. It seemed a little bland to me, which is odd considering I love both fresh tomatoes and ricotta cheese. The risotto was delicous and my favorite part of the meal! It was cooked and seasoned perfectly. (Sorellina, please add this to your permanent menu and I may be back!) I finished with the bread pudding which was good but I would probably skip dessert in the future.
I loved the salted butter that came with the bread. I really like salt and loved how it was presented on the butter. I actually asked for extra salt on our 2nd butter! I understand salt may seem like an odd thing to rave about, but it was flaky and delicious! Yes, I have a salt addiction.
We got an order of the truffle fries which I was very disappointed with after reading such great reviews. Neither of us tasted any truffle flavor in them. They were good fries, but they should have had detectable truffle flavor. We actually wondered if the truffle fries were replaced with normal parmesan fries instead but the check confirmed they should have been truffle fries. We normally love truffle fries, so this was a big disappointment. I may have said something to the server about it but she did not check back with us until we were almost done with our meal at which point it was too late. (As previously mentioned, it was restaurant week which tends to have worse than normal service at any place. I will not hold this against her because she was sat with 3 tables around the time we got our entrees and she was good up until that point.)
My husband did not order off the restaurant week menu. He started off with the Foie Gras appetizer which he said was good. Then he had the Rib-eye which was one of the best he has had, which is saying a lot considering it is his go to cut of meat. He finished with rich chocolate dessert which he enjoyed. I had a bite of it and it was very good, but I enjoyed my fruity bread pudding more! -
Review from Jeremy K.
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Meh. The restaurant experience I had at Sorellina last night can only be summarized by one word: disappointment. Shameful really since I had been to Mistral, one of it's sister restaurants, a couple of times and really had enjoyed it both times. Could it have been because of restaurant week? I doubt it...
We arrived about twenty minutes early and our coats were checked and we were told to wait at the bar by the two hostesses. We proceeded to go there and hung out for a good thirty five minutes before going back and checking up on our table which should have been available for fifteen minutes at that point. Went over and was told that it would be any minute now. Proceeded back to the bar for a good ten minutes and then low and behold, we were escorted to a table on the far right side of the restaurant.
The restaurant itself is very similar to Mistral in style - The decor is spotless, with many dark tones and a very soft lighting. The bar is separated from the dining room table by a small, movable wooden barricade which I found weird. One neat thing I noticed is that the lone television at the bar is in a corner which makes it more discreet - a nice change from restaurants which have too many televisions. That means that there's fewer distractions in the dining room. The tables are somewhat small and feature very little expect for the basic utensils and a small pot with an artificial plant. It's simple yet refined and the table cloths are nice and thick.
After going through both the regular and the restaurant week menu, I decided to go the latter as I was trying to avoid breaking the bank - Some of their entrees alone are more expensive than the RW menu which features three courses.
To start my meal I went for their Mozzarella special, which in this case was fresh mozzarella, prosciutto di parma and some aged balsamic vinegar. The dish was beautifully plated and the prosciutto was incredible. However I had a lot of trouble believing that the mozzarella that was served was fresh. I have two theories in regards to it: either it was the worst house-made mozzarella I've had or it wasn't fresh. It lacked flavor, texture and it was way too hard. Rubbery almost. Just not very pleasant and in many ways it ruined the dish.
Redemption was later found in the entre though, which was a couple of tender, buttery filet mignons which came served with some whipped potatoes, French beans and some gorgonzola butter. I didn't notice the beans at any point in my dish but the meal totally stole the show. It was one of the best pieces of meat that I've had. It just melted and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. A real treat. The hint of the gorgonzola added a nice accent to the dish as well.
To finish the meal off I decided to order up the vanilla cheesecake which came plated with a couple of halved amarena cherries. It was ok but far from great. The texture was there but the flavor wasn't reminiscent of vanilla. Again another major disappointment.
I also forgot to mention that I had a $14 cocktail. Not only was the cocktail ridiculously overpriced, but it wasn't even all that great. It was poured at the table which I thought was neat but it offered very little in value. It was not worth it and the lesson has been learned.
So how to summarize my dining experience there? Well after carefully observing the place, I found that the place was pretentious. Not only in the type of clientele that they attract, but with the pricing of their menu items. The value is absolutely terrible. There's no way that the quality of the food matches their 35+ entrees. Same applies to their cocktails which are each well above $12. The bartenders are Sorellina seem to think that they can compete with Eastern Standard or Drink. They can't. The service was pretty attentive through the meal but my waitress wasn't able to give me much info about a dish a inquired about. I was very excited to be going there but doubt that I'd ever return. The food just isn't good enough. There's just too many other, good Italian restaurants in Boston. Ones that also offer a much better value.Listed in: OpenTable, Restaurant Week Boston
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Review from Joanna F.
5/2/2011
Spectacular.
My good friend and future matron of honor took me here to celebrate my engagement. And a celebration place, this definitely is. It's not a place I would frequent, solely because of the price tag, but you pay for what you get.
The ambiance is modern and chic. The service was remarkable. The waiter was not stumped by any questions we asked and he seemed genuinely interested in helping us.
We both got the tuna tartare appetizer per my friend's recommendation. This dish is a revelation. It is possibly the best appetizer I've had in my life and is most of the reason I'm giving this place five stars instead of four. If you order nothing else, order this dish. The fresh raw tuna, horseradish aioli and spices in a square formation had the perfect amount of flavor without being overpowering and the crackers that came with the dish were amazing.
I ordered the sturgeon for my main course. It was buttery and cooked to perfection. It wasn't as mind blowing as the appetizer, but it was still very good.
I don't know when I'll come back, but I should probably make up something to celebrate for a chance to. -
Review from Paulina R.
Cambridge, MA
5/10/2011
OMG this place is good! Sophisticated, soothing, attentive, and classy. I think I would really like the guy who takes me here on a date!
Alas, I've only ever gone with my girlfriends and the check is always a shocker. Last time I went I shared 3 appetizers with a friend and had two drinks and my portion came to $84. I'm unemployed, so, OUCH! But SOOOOOO worth how hard I'll have to work to afford it next time!
Phenomenal bursts of flavor, each one vastly different from the next, exploded in my mouth. Soothing cool loungey music in the background, soothing lights, well-dressed people, and friendly, attentive bartender. And, the valet guys!....what can I say? So nice and accommodating! Same with the hostess, friendly, accommodating, and helpful.
I simply cannot be vegetarian when I go here. Too many delicious options that you can't find just anywhere, so it's just as well that I can't afford to come here often. But, it is simply an orgy of the senses. I love it here! -
Review from Yasmin E.
3/10/2011
BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely beautiful! The service, the food, the ambiance...A++++!!!!!
I came here with a friend for Restaurant Week . Both of us expected to be served pea sized portions....lets face it, the entire cost of a Restaurant Week's 3 course meal = the price of an appetizer on normal days :/ To our shock and amazement, the portions were NORMAL...and DELICIOUS! The waiter was SUCH a gentleman and, upon request, we received the best seat in the house!
The running Menu can be found here:
http://www.sorellinabo...
I totally recommend the Zuppa, Risotto, Salmon and Torta :)
BON APETITE!!! -
Review from Wendy S.
I had high expectations based on both Zagat and Yelp praise, and was slightly disappointed with my first visit to Sorellina. I'd just arrived in Boston and was able to secure a last-minute reservation on OpenTable which was great. Upon arrival, I asked to be seated at the bar since I was solo and was quickly accommodated. The clientele were somewhat douchy, which was really off-putting. On the other hand, the staff were all super friendly and helpful. I actually ended up chatting with the bartender for the majority of my meal, after a bizarre conversation with an uppity local who whipped out his (cheap) mobile device to show me that he had Daniel Boulud's number on his phone. I mean, seriously? Who does this guy think he is? Welcome to Boston.
I started with a half dozen oysters which were served with a refreshing cucumber, lime granita. I became torn between pasta/risotto and secondi dishes, and settled on the gnocchi with lobster. I normally like small portions, but this portion was unusually tiny. I normally would have ordered another primi at this point, but the clientele really turned me off. I settled up, thanked the awesome bartender and took off. I'll likely return to give Sorellina another chance, but I certainly won't go alone and I won't be sitting at the bar. -
Review from Kathy A.
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5/5. I tried this place out for restaurant week last night and overall had a decent experience.
I absolutely LOVE the ambiance of the place. It is a beautiful, large open room with high ceilings. The only complaint that some people may have is it is a bit dark. I could see people whipping out little flash lights to read the menu, but I didn't think it was that bad. I was also surprised by the attendance in the room. It was somewhat difficult to get a reservation at that time, but when we arrived the place was far from packed.
Our server was very attentive and checked in with us for every course. There was a separate person that always made sure our waters were full and someone who came after every course to use a crumb scraper to clean the table.
They clearly have restaurant week down because after we ordered each course would be served VERY quickly. The only times that it seemed like we were sitting for a while was waiting for them to take our plates away.
Now, on to the food.... I had the rock shrimp risotto which was absolutely delicious. Very light and it didn't taste too creamy which I enjoyed. For the entree I had the quail. It was only so-so. The farro risotto beneath it was pretty good, but the rest of the dish wasn't anything special. I had the citrus torta for dessert which was pretty good, but far from amazing. My dining companion had the soup for an app and it was pretty tasty. There was no cream used in it, but it still had a nice thick consistency and great chunks of apricots in it. He had the salmon for an entree. I didn't get to try it, but he said it was "pretty good." Finally, for dessert he got the cheesecake, which again was decent, but not amazing. Also, the portion sizes are a bit on the small size.
Overall it was a good dining experience. I'm not sure if the portions or regular menu items are much better. I'm slightly intrigued to come back and find out, but they are also normally a lot more expensive.Listed in: Thank god I'm not paying!, Restaurant Weeks
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Review from Kelsey F.
3/15/2011
Sorelina was perfect! From the ambience and decor to the service and staff - not to mention the amazingly delicious food.
We were greeted by the manager at the front door and then brought to our table - a great corner booth. We got a bottle of wine - a Syrah - per the server's reccomendation which we both liked.
Forgot that it was still Restaurant Week - so decided to order from that menu. I started with the mozzarella appetizer that came with thinly shaved prosciutto and drizzled with balsamic. The mozzarella was really fresh and I actually liked the prosciutto which I normally don't even eat.
For my main course I ordered the Fliet Mignon - medium rare - the suggested temperature. It came over mashed potatoes (that had gorgonzola butter - yum!), carmelized onions, and some type of mushrooms. It was also drizzled with a balsamic reduction. This meal was amazing! And the portion size was great even despite being on the Restaurant Week menu. My date got the risotto to start and the Pappardelle entre - and really liked both as well.
We unfortunately had to skip the dessert because we were running late but I am sure the cheesecake that I ordered would have been to die for!
Sorellina is a restaurant that I will definitely be back to. Its nice to find a place that actually lives up to it's name (and prices).Listed in: Date At Eight
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Review from Pam C.
Woburn, MA
7/3/2011
Had a nice dinner there last night. Started off with a drink at the very cool bar. Had the "White Pearl" cocktail which was delicious; pineapple juice, Maibu Rum, and ginger beer.
The food was outstanding. For dinner had two half-portions of different pastas. One was Kobe beef meatballs,barola sauce and parmesan-delicious. My husband had the gnocchi with Maine lobster -unbelievable-the gnocchi was so fresh and perfectly done!
The only downside was the waiter appeared annoyed that we lingered a bit to enjoy dessert and an after dinner drink, making us feel uncomfortable. We had a 9pm reservation and he seemed anxious to go home.. -
Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
3/21/2011 1 photo
I knew we were in for a real treat when our waiter Kirk asked to replace my girlfriend's napkin with one that matched her pants. We planned on eating light and at the bar but it was actually a lot easier to grab an open table, even at 9PM on a Friday. This is really everything you would want in fine dining, great service, amazing atmosphere, and top notch food. Here is a summary of what we had:
Parmesan Truffle Fries - They sound as good as they taste
Octopus w/ Squid Ink Couscous - Some great tasting Octopus, careful the squid ink turns your teeth black till you have a sip of your drink
Kobe Beef Meatballs - These were great, again the name of the dish describes it very well. It came with a red wine reduction sauce and some really good extremely thick noodles.
We also had a glass of their Forever Young Malbec, which was exactly what I was looking for. The total came to about $90 with tip. At the end of the meal the waiter asked if we wanted him again to ask for him by name, I thought that it was a nice touch. -
Review from A G.
Wellesley, MA
4/5/2011
Our dinner was good, but not excellent. Great ambiance, but sadly nothing about our food stood out enough to bring us back.
Verdure: raw crudités with haricot verts, carrots and orange wedges. Menu mentioned olives, but I didn't see any. Supposed to be dressed in a light citrus vinaigrette - light is right, I couldn't taste it at all.
Oysters: Perfection, but as long as they're fresh and cleaned properly, it's not a difficult app. to get right.
Pasta: 1 person in our party had pasta as a primi, and 2 had pasta as their entree. The portion sizes were exactly the same! Asking what everyone thought I got the same answer, "It's fine," "Not bad," and an "I'm still hungry."
Duck: The meat was cooked perfectly, but the skin wasn't crispy (one of the best parts!), just kind of chewy. Served over an apricot polenta. Following the theme of the evening, it was good, not great and for a $40 entree, I expect great.
Wine: Took the server's recommendation and had an expensive bottle of Sangiovese that was only average in taste. Our mistake; next time I'd wait for the sommelier. (Do they have one?)
Dessert: Italian doughnuts (holes) with a honey-ginger sciroppo (Italian for syrup, but it sounds fancier in Italian, I suppose). These were a hit at our table.
Overall, the food didn't meet our expectations, and we left feeling like we overpaid for the dinner and wine that was presented.
From other reviews here, I'd say I'm not alone..... -
Review from Tracy M.
4/17/2011
This place was modern and had a beautiful ambiance. Started with the tuna tartar and the oysters. The tuna was AMAZING! (glad I took the waiter's suggestion) It was rich and fresh and wasn't overdone with aioli. The oysters were delicious as well. They were very different from what I'm used to because I've never had them with cucumber and lime. However if you enjoy muddled cucumber-like drinks, these will do you good.
Had the lobster for my entree and enjoyed it fully! They weren't cheap with the portion size either. The tail was cooked to perfection but the claws were just a bit overdone. The mushrooms were delightful and I wish the peas were cooked through a little more. The sauce was nice and creamy.
For dessert, I had the warm chocolate cake topped with vanilla gelato. A classic dessert. It came out in a cast iron pot and the chocolate just spewed out of the cake. Phenomenal.
Our waiter was a sweetheart. The bartenders make some mean martini's and sidecars. -
Review from Matthew P.
Boston, MA
3/21/2011
Very stuffy and pretentious.
I'm all about going to nice restaurants and spending a pretty penny. However, when I walked into this restaurant I immediately felt cold and unwelcomed. It wasn't the staff. They were nice (though not amazing). They seemed to be putting on airs to make this place the upscale Euro restaurant that they want to be. It wasn't working. The décor was cold and drab. It was just too modern for my liking (I'm sure others would enjoy it more).
As for the food. Meh. Nothing that the people in my party got was particularly good. We were enticed by our server to get the truffle fries. We decided to get two orders (at $12 bucks a pop we figured it would satisfy the 6 of us). Nope. It was tiny and there were not many truffles on that. That was extremely disappointing for me because I LOVE truffles.
I hear Mistral is owned by the same people. Went there and loved it. Would recommend Mistral over this place. -
Review from Karlis B.
Updated - 3/31/2011
Gave this place another go. As I remember, the food was fantastic. To sum up, I had:
- Crepe filled with crab (not on the online menu so I can't give a specific name). Soft, buttery crepe filled with buttery fresh crab meat. Perfect little package. What hot pockets would be in my dreams.
- Maccheroncelli, Kobe beef meatball with one large noodle. Don't go to Sorrelina and not order this. You will be doing yourself a disservice.
- Sturgeon (also not on the online menu).Ssimply cooked well. With green beans and truffle fries for the table, this was a great, light meal to start the week off.
But food was never the problem.
In my last review I mentioned the service - slow and at times nonexistent. This time the server was far more attentive and didn't disappear on us in the middle of our meal. So I'll mark the experience as an anomaly.
My other gripe is the atmosphere. I say "gripe" because I recognize this as a personal preference. But this place still strikes me as very stoic, cold, quiet and dead. I can't get over that feeling. Everyone I was with noticed it. If I wanted a lively place for a dinner with friends, Sorrelina just isn't it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/5/2010
I'm having a hard time with this one. So I'll just write about my experience and hopefully it all… Read more »
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Review from Tiffany L.
Chestnut Hill, MA
9/14/2011
this place is overrated. The truffle fries are not as amazing as I thought they would be. They are just very thin, flavorful and fancy-looking fries. The kobe beef meatballs were also average. The pasta with the kobe beef meatballs confused me--partially because they were kind of boring with such a classy type of beef.
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Review from Will G.
Boston, MA
4/23/2011
Pros:
- Ambiance: Modern and elegant.
- Food: Wine was great, I had the Tuna tartar followed by the Kobe Beef Meatball dish which was both delicious and presented very nicely. The truffle fries were very good.
- Service: Attentive and knowledgeable.
Cons: Price, but you get what you pay for. -
Review from Gabriel H.
Cambridge, MA
10/4/2011
Had dinner this evening, enjoyed very much. The lobster gnochi was terrific, it wasn't rich at all, which is how i prefer it, but the lobster was so tasty, and the texture of the gnochi so perfect, that it worked, and dessert was delicious (donuts and the chocolate gelato). The rest of the meal was very good (foie gras, salad, risotto, veal, milanese) but I wasn't blown away, perhaps my expectations were too high from reading these reviews. Service was solid but a step down from say Craigie on Main, or Menton, which would bend over backward to ensure you enjoy your experience and truly care that you do.
terrific location/ambience, high ceilings, terrific accoustics.
I would likely return to this place if i had a group of people and an occasion to celebrate simply bc the table layout and accoustics are terrific combination, but although it's very pretty it is a bit stiff, and I don't view it becoming a new go-to. excellent restaurant but there are others for me. -
Review from Sean O.
Dedham, MA
3/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a hard time choosing a "Star" rating for this restaurant. After writing the review I'm giving it 3.5 stars.
The place is beautiful. Very modern, chic, minimalistic. The service was very good. I'd say maybe even a little too much. They were constantly checking on us, which I guess is far better than the alternative...
The menu is very intense. Our apps were Caesar and the Carpaccio. Both good. Caesar was average. We then shared a crab risotto. VERY tasty, but the risotto was slightly undercooked. My wife had the scallops, they were very good sized, and tasty. I had the veal which was kind of blah. It's milanese style but lacked seasoning. Kind of dissapointing. The polenta that came with it was great though, and our side of baby brussel sprouts was fantastic.
I think my summary of the experience is that it was not a good value. I was underwhelmed, where I know if I went over to Radius and spent that money I would be blown away. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
3/10/2011
RW review (I caved and went to one--this):
Tucked away location gives way to lovely, chic, dark decor in a spacious setting characteristic of many Back Bay restaurants (Via Matta, Mistral, Davio's) as opposed to the curtained stuffiness of places like L'Espalier and Mamma Maria.
Food was fantastic and generously portioned. Service was fine, but not outstanding. Drink (Vanilla and Fig Old Fashioned) was interesting but not really my cup of tea--a tad bitter and too sweet. The restaurant has good acoustic settings so even though it was jam-packed with long rows of 2-people tables, it never got too loud or noisy, nor do you get stuck unwittingly hearing the conversations of people next to you (unless you want to).
Insalata: Fine. It's mixed greens and cheese, nothing special. Lots of it though. Incidentally, has anyone successfully eaten huge leafy greens without looking barbaric with greens sticking out of their mouths?
Risotto: Generous amount of plump, tender shrimp in delicious truffle butter. Goooood.
Filet Mignon: Tenderest steak I've ever cut. Practically melted under my knife. Delicious gravy--a tad salty, though. Whipped potatoes and oyster mushrooms--nothing terribly exotic but good accompaniments nonetheless.
Pappardelle: Scrumptiuos. Long, thick noodles with a heavenly lamb shoulder ragu. Yumtastic. Yeah, I'm cultured.
Torta: I love citrus. This dessert was surprisingly light yet filling. Definitely a fan.
Cheesecake: Heavier, richer, vanilla goodness. I liked the torta better, though.
Verdict: Definitely good for RW, but wouldn't come for regular menu/prices. Nothing exotic or interesting enough to justify the high prices for me, personally. -
Review from Priscilla T.
Boston, MA
2/28/2011
Modern. Swanky. Classy. Fun. Energized. I really enjoyed myself here for my birthday dinner. The decor and the art was really cool and a little bit different and the food was top notch.
Faves of the evening: truffled tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, wild mushroom soup. The steak tartare was pretty good but had a slight hint of sweetness from the onions that I don't prefer.
Good wine. Good service. I'm sold. -
Review from Juliana N.
Boston, MA
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
AHHHHHHHHHHH - MAZING!!!
I loved every bite of my 3 piece meal!!! Not 3 pieces, but ya know.... 3 courses. Didn't want you to think they were stingy. THIS PLACE IS SO YUMMIE.
Came here for restaurant week. And was veryyy happy with my experience
We arrived ahead of reservation - oopsie! So....We started at the bar with a drink. It quickly became a little squiiiishy, but no FEARRRR... our reservations are near!!
So we were sat down and vooooilahhh!!! GORGEOUS Barney's Dibern collection of these simple, yet stylish plates with a single tree on it. LOVE THEM. Wish I could afford it... haha.
Okay on to the most important part.... FOOOOOD
First Piece: Shrimp Risotto.... uhh hello, DO NOT MISS THIS. It was so delicious and lightly creamy. Rice, oh so soft and full of flavor. That shrimp... shrimpy shrimp. Added so much texture and deliciousness.
Second Piece: Salmon with peas and oyster mushrooms. The sauce for the mushrooms was perfectly paired with the buttery medium rare cooked salmon. I actually added a bit of salt and pepper to my salmon, which i NEVER do, but it needed it a little.
Third Piece: Torta - citrus cake. The server recommended this and an excellent recommendation at that!!!
GO HERE. You won't be displeased. I'd go back again in a heartbeat!!! -
Review from Angie C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/14/2011
Beautiful decor and very attractive hostesses. Sure the hostesses are irrelevant, but I like the attention to detail.
Experience:
I absolutely love the decor and ambiance. I especially love the torn photograph on the side wall. There is definitely a lot of attention to detail from the plate setting to the seating area. The staff is also wonderful. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. He did a great job with recommendations.
Food:
The food can be a hit or miss. I highly recommend the Risotto, it was delicious! I also highly recommend the Bistecca (filet mignon), it was amazing! The filet tasted better than most steakhouses I've been too, very impressive. The Maccheroncelli (pasta with kobe beef meatballs) is decent, but it gets a bit too salty after a few bites. However, the Pappardelle (lamb shoulder) was very disappointing. There was barely any lamb and the dish is simply overwhelmed with pasta. The sauce was decent, but wasn't very impressive.
Overall:
I loved the experience and would definitely recommend this place. I do suggest asking the wait staff for recommendations. -
Review from Keith M.
Dunstable, MA
5/1/2011
ROMAINE SALAD - traditional Ceasar dressing, Parmigiano Reggiano.
LOBSTER* parsnip fonduta, black trumpet mushrooms, English peas
wow - I can't say enough about this meal. Something served just a little different to set it apart. Impeccable service. I can't remember the dessert, but don't hold that against me. It was great too.
