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The Florentine Cafe

3.5 star rating
based on 53 reviews

Category: Italian  [Edit]

Neighborhood: North End
333 Hanover St
(between Bennet St & Fleet St)
Boston, MA 02113
(617) 227-1777
Nearest Transit:

Haymarket (Orange)

North Station (Orange, Green)

Aquarium (Blue)

Hours:

Mon-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
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Neighborhood:
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"The food here is absolutely succulent and delicious.  I went during restaurant week and was able to sample an appetizer, entree, and dessert…" read more »

53 reviews for The Florentine Cafe

Review Highlights   

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"The lobster ravioli is like heaven in a bowl." (in 6 reviews)
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"The bread and garlic olive oil before the meal was also wonderful." (in 4 reviews)
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"…is so pretty and inviting and getting a window seat made it all the better…" (in 4 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Chris P.

Elite '09

11

43

Chris P.

Somerville, MA

3 star rating
11/9/2009

The Florentine Cafe is at best a mediocre restaurant, but a fabulous bar!

My wife and I went for lunch this weekend, as we often find ourselves wandering around the North End at two or three o'clock in the afternoon looking for a late lunch/early dinner.

We ordered some Bruschetta as an appetizer, and it was pretty much just some italian bread with tomatoes and cheese, nothing inspired, but just fine if you're looking for a nosh with your drinks.

I ordered the Pollo Fra Diavolo and was rather disappointed - the sauce was greasy and lacked flavor and pizazz - though it did have a slight kick it was nothing like the fiery goodness of a really good diavolo sauce.

My wife chose the salmon risotto and it was similarly underwhelming, an utterly uninteresting piece of grilled salmon (tasted like it wasn't seasoned at all) and a big blop of mostly flavorless creamy rice.

What saved this place from a two star review was my mixed drink - I had the Florentine Cosmopolitan (Who says guys can't drink a cosmo? :) and it was fabulous.  Beautifully blended flavors that went down very smooth.

This place just radiates neighborhood charm, the recent restoration efforts have really paid off.  I can easily see myself coming back here for drinks and appetizers, just give the entrees a pass and you'll enjoy yourself immensely :)

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Photo of Jenny M.

 

12

20

Jenny M.

Newton, MA

4 star rating
10/13/2009

Went here for lunch last Saturday; ordered the butternut squash ravioli, which was a great choice. YUM. I'm thinking about them right now. The bartender was nice and very accommodating.

I'm knocking off one star for the "regulars" who hovered around my seat at the bar and bantered loudly with the bartender without actually planting themselves down. I felt like they were watching me eat, and it was creepy.

I'd definitely come here again with my boyfriend; I think he'd enjoy it. But if we do, I'm asking for a table.

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Photo of Bethany F.

 

5

23

Bethany F.

Brighton, MA

5 star rating
8/11/2009

Love, Love, LOVE this place!

Food: A+
Wine/Drink options: A+
Ambience: A++ (extra + because we recently discovered the downstairs which has pretty white lights twinkling on the ceiling like stars!)
Location: A+
Date Place: YES!

I have never had a bad meal here. Lobster ravioli's are tasty, but the fan favorite is the filet mignon with balsamic (expensive but worth it if you want to treat yourself).

The one and only downside is that it is expensive. We only go on occasional dates or birthday celebrations. But I always walk away with a fond memory of the evening and a feeling of money well spent.

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Photo of Sarah T.

 

5

91

Sarah T.

Danvers, MA

3 star rating
11/1/2009

The charm of this establishment is in its history.  It has been a presence on Hanover Street for decades.  It is lovely inside, and the Sinatra music is a nice touch.

The food - not so great.  I ordered spaghetti and meatballs.  Not a lot of flavor.  I would have at least expected some garlic, oregano, even basil!  Oh well.

I would recommend popping in for a drink at the bar.  It is a such a lovely style - old school Italian, if you will.

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Photo of Christine S.

 

0

31

Christine S.

Reading, MA

4 star rating
10/31/2009

Thursday night and the bar was pretty full but the dining room was completely open. The waitstaff was attentive but not hovering. We shared an Italian salad which they kindly split in the kitchen. Wonderful balls of fresh mozzarella with grape tomato's and thin slices of red onion on a bed of greens was wonderful despite a little too much salt in the vinaigrette. Ordered the lobster ravioli, couldn't resist. There were ample plump raviolis in a rich cream sauce. Cooked just right. I have to say this place gets the bread right. There is nothing more disappointing then going out for a nice Italian dinner and getting a version of wonder bread served at your table. The bread here is chewy with just the right amount of substance to the crust that it holds up well with the olive oil and herb dip. Excellent service, wonderful meal. Will definitely return.

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Photo of Amy O.

 

6

19

Amy O.

Braintree, MA

4 star rating
9/1/2009

I went with my husband and mother on the Friday of the Feast of St Anthony.  The place was crowded, but we did not have to wait since we didn't mind not getting a window seat.

I ordered the vegetable lasagna, my mother got the spinach ravioli and my husband ordered the chicken parm.  My meal was the best, but my mom's was a close second.  The chicken parm was good - not great - as in, I probably wouldn't order it myself.

The location and ambiance are perfect for the whole North End-Italian experience.

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Photo of Aditi R.

Elite '09

3

62

Aditi R.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
8/10/2009

Actually, I've experienced, MUCH better. I wanted to take my friends to Giacamo's, but there was an hour and half worth of wait and we had a full night's worth of activities planned which we could not wait for. So we walked around a bit and this was the place that could immediately seat us - 4 people on a saturday night and immediately seated? We jumped at it!

The place is beautiful. Huge paintings line the wall, there are open windows to let in the summer breeze and even though there are so many people in the north end at that time, that add's to the ambiance slightly and in my opinion, makes it that much more memorable.

Anyway, we ordered a few appetizers and our main dishes. The appetizers included, eggplant Sorrentino, caprese, and calamari. The calamari was probably the most bland I've ever had. I never leave calamari because it really is one of my favorite dishes, but i just could not even try and like this one. The Eggplant florentine was slightly better, but not by miles, which it just needed to be. Caprese was probably the best of all appetizers and I did like the little bit that I tried of that.

My friend's ordered lobster ravioli and a butternut ravioli dish. Both were good - in fact the butternut ravioli was pretty good. But I've had the best of the best at giacamo's and when that happen's it just doesn't live up to it.

Overall, it was a meh experience. I definitely have experienced better and for some reason if I do find myself here again, I will make sure I steer clear of the calamari because that just really ruined it for me.

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Photo of Jeff K.

 

2

25

Jeff K.

Longmont, CO

4 star rating
9/1/2009

Very good food without a lot of hassle.  

I was eating solo, which turns out to be a real pain in the Keister in the North End.   If you've been, you know...30 seats is probably typical for many of the restaurants...so getting a table for 1 is pretty much out of the question, and if they do have a bar it's often just 4 or 5 seats.

The Florentine had a bar for 20 or so -- I could actually have a seat....it was very busy, but I didn't have to wait.  It looked like the wait for a normal party of 4 would have been only a few minutes...unlike some places where the waiting lines were just silly.  [Giacomo's?  You must be kidding....groupthink at it's worst.....]

I had a grilled seafood salad -- excellent.  Scallops, a (very) small lobster tail --- lagostino?, calamari and a couple of shrimp all flame-grilled nicely.  Nothing over-done....mixed greens with a good vinaigrette for the base.

For desert an excellent tiramisu, very light but not dry.

Not too expensive, either....overall very good!

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Photo of Geno K.

 

0

75

Geno K.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
8/16/2009

The Giacomo's alternative when you're not down for the whole line thing.

Chicken parmesan was good.  Not the best I've had in the North End.  Same with the bruschetta app.  Very good, not great.  A very 4 star experience.  Not 5 stars, but still much better than average.

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Photo of Courtney L.

 

2

25

Courtney L.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
5/8/2009

I've been here 3 times, but am only reviewing this last time.

Came here with my parents & boyfriend for lunch. Requested seating next to window & was sat within 15 min

The bartend was extremely annoying, kept shouting about how his friends were family & that he was going to become a rapper. I also work in the restaurant industry so I know your suppose to entertain your guest, but if I'm sitting at a table enjoying food with my family I don't want to hear  you, lower your voice Thanks!

& the service was HORRIBLE. I asked for a sangria and was responded with "uhh yeah i don't think we have that" so I ordered a glass of wine. 10 min later the table next to us has two sangrias. I question her and am told "its my first week, but yeah i guess that is sangria" did she take my glass of wine that I had one sip of off the bill??? Nope. They have a ravioli dish on their dinner menu that they don't have on their lunch menu & my boyfriend had asked if he could perhaps get that. she responds with "Its my first week", yup you said that when you had no idea that your work serves Sangria.

The food was def. four starts, nice portions & great sauces, but the service left a bad taste in my mouth. Next time I'll go for dinner maybe thats when the good servers & bartends come out

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Photo of Fiona M.

 

0

9

Fiona M.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
5/18/2009

I'm reading the other reviews and wondering if I went to the same restaurant as some of these people.

My experience at The Florentine was horrible.
Rude, pushy waiter, crappy, low end entree at HIGH END price( picture chicken parm. from Papa Gino's w/ Star market brand ziti, but costing $20+). The place was dirty and crowded. YUCK YUCK YUCK!

The only good thing I have to say about this place is, the Calamari was ok.

Never again. There are so many other tiny, relatively unknown restaurants in the North End that are fabulous. I can't believe I dropped $100 (for 2) at this establishment. I know good Italian food & this wasn't it.
How disappointing.

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Photo of Stacey S.

 

2

13

Stacey S.

Newton, MA

3 star rating
7/13/2009

Average.  That's the best way to describe this place.  I didn't experience anything fantastic, but it wasn't horrible....

My date and myself (it was a 1st date) were wandering around, looking for a lunch spot in the N. End and stumbled upon this spot while meandering.  We both liked the open windows and the chance to people watch as we enjoyed our meal.  A+ for ambiance, even if it was filled with tourists in "Boston" Tshirts.  That's the price you pay for dining in the N. End....

Our waitress was nice and attentive and our water glasses were always filled.  The bread basket was delish.   I was confused by the country music that was playing.

But my entree...this is where the Florentine Cafe lost me.  I had ordered a caprese panini.  Now, the last time I checked, a panini was a grilled, warm sandwich.  What I got were a few sliced tomatoes (yellow and red) with fresh mozerella on a hard, crusty, cold FRENCH baguette.  Not even a hint of a grill mark.  This is the kind of bread that shreds the roof of your mouth.  I ended up picking out the tomatos and cheese and just eating that.

I don't think that I'll be seeing the guy or the Florentine Cafe again.  I was too disappointed.

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Photo of Arturo Z.

 

0

12

Arturo Z.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
9/16/2009

I have been to Florentine Cafe three times: once for food and twice for drinks.  When I ate there, service was acceptable, as was the food, but neither surpassed that mark.  It was my first time sitting at the bar, however, that truly put me off to this establishment.  The clientele in the evening is unfortunate, to say the least, and on this particular venture the two bartenders (male and female) were clearly biding their time until they could sneak away to have sex on a break.  Now, this could add to the charm of a bar in a different place...cancun during spring break, for instance, but not in the N. End.  One could have good luck on some days, but go at your own risk.

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Photo of CL S.

 

3

27

CL S.

Portland, ME

4 star rating
4/7/2009

A very nice surprise.  My group got into a cab with the plan of going to the North End and randomly picking a restaurant, testing our shared experience of never having had a bad meal in the North End.

Good food, reasonably priced, large portions.  The wait to be seated was very short - unusually so for a Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. - but it would have been worth it to wait a lot longer.

The waiter was fantastic.  When I let him know that I had a shellfish allergy, he went all out to make sure I didn't get any incidental exposure, even though the other two people in my party ordered shellfish.  I had the tagliatelle, and it was very good.

I'd recommend this place without hesitation.

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Photo of Alicia N.

 

7

35

Alicia N.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
3/30/2009

The food was ok.  When I say ok it means I could make something just as good but not better.  The service was good, not too annoying but I didn't have to set booby traps to get another glass of wine.   No smile or personality was shown by the waiter, which I guess really doesn't matter because I am not looking for a relationship just a good meal.

Funny thing about this place is it is totally sketchy and I was offered a job while still drunk one morning in a pastry place across the street.  I was bored and had some free time so I went to talk to the guy, maybe he was just looking for a date, and maybe I clearly wasn't interested which is why I never went back.

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Photo of Tim T.

Elite '09

100

188

Tim T.

Brookline, MA

5 star rating
4/23/2009 4 photos

This is, by far and away, my most favorite restaurant in the North End without a shadow of a doubt. I have been so many times and it just keeps getting better and better. I love love LOVE it!
It can be romantic, good for a small group or good for a quick bite on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm keeping this review short as less is more. I want and will have lots more of this restaurant! My number 1 place in all of Boston for food and I have been more times than I can remember.

The food and wine is just GORGEOUS and the service is always top notch too!!

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Photo of Katherine J.

Elite '09

19

95

Katherine J.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
4/21/2009

I've been here twice, months apart and it is one of my favorite (albeit touristy) places in the north end. My boyfriend loves the steak and the first time we went, the risotto that came with it was delectable. The second time, the risotto was just so-so.
I had the pumpkin ravioli with the butternut squash sauce and it was sooooooo good. The bread and garlic olive oil before the meal was also wonderful. Overall, solid italian food!

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Photo of Brian a.

 

111

24

Brian a.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
7/15/2009

About a year ago my fiance and I went to Italy with my parents on a vacation. Everything from the views to the food were wonderful. After we came back I really missed the ambiance of the Italian country side and dining. Then I went to The Florentine to eat and all the memories came back to me. Everything from the food to the ambiance reminded me of Italy. It is authentic to the T. I HIGHLY reccomend it.

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Photo of Dianne M.

 

5

149

Dianne M.

San Ramon, CA

5 star rating
4/22/2009

This is the first Italian restaurant were I never order pasta because I simply can't get past the filetto.  Please, please, please try the Filet Mignon with Alfreto risotto and asparagus.  It melts in your mouth and words just don' t do it justice.

Request a window seat in the summer to people watch and enjoy a lovely summer day.

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Photo of Janet E.

Elite '09

100

411

Janet E.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
6/2/2009

I've only been here for breakfast and its been a great experience each time. You cant go wrong ordering anything off their breakfast menu. We went on a Sunday at 9am and thats when the cashier had just put on the menu. I had the eggs benedict and my friend had pancakes. Both were yummie!!! They used to have chocolate filled croissants.  Not anymore. =( The place wasnt too crowded when we arrived which was nice. You basically order and pay for the food at the register, grab a number and then someone delivers the food to you. Doesnt get any easier than that. We went during the Boston half marathon so it was nice watching the runners while enjoying breakfast. Watching the runners made me feel guilty, but then I ate some more and the guilt went away.

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Photo of nanci h.

 

0

20

nanci h.

Encinitas, CA

4 star rating
8/17/2009

This place was lovely. We had the seafood risotto which was out of this world. Portions are not so giantic that one could not finish.

My favorite thing about this place was how we could linger and take our time.  Great place for a romantic dinner.

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Photo of K J.

 

80

107

K J.

Brookline, MA

3 star rating
10/31/2008

This place is straight out of the scenes from The Godfather.
There is an elderly Italian grandfather sitting at the bar complete with a suit and dark glasses.
A young lad in his teens who works at the place walks by, nods his head, picks Grandpa's hand and places a gentle peck on it. Grandpa nods. Boy goes away. Bartender casts a sideways look at the boy as he walks away. Grandpa looks at bartender. Bartender looks at Grandpa. A smirk appears on both their faces.

As far as the food is concerned, I don't know, because at this point I was shit scared. All I remember was the wine was good and helped tone the excess salt in the calamari.

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Photo of Alyson G.

Elite '09

75

101

Alyson G.

Somerville, MA

4 star rating
1/18/2009

When my friend was in town decided we had to have lunch in the North End since we love Italian food and since she is Italian.  We walked by The Florentine Cafe and decided it looked nice so after taking a quick look at the menu we decided to stay. They sat us in one of the windows that opened out and had a view of the garden across the street. We felt like we were in Italy.

We figured if we split a caprese salad with prosciutto and eggplant Sorrentino, we might have been able to save room for dessert. They served some yummy bread with dipping oil first which we totally finished. And the salad was so good!! It had red and yellow tomatoes together with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. Everything was really fresh and had amazing flavor!

The eggplant Sorrentino was another delicious dish! It was their version of Eggplant Parmesan. There was plenty of cheese, the sauce was great and the eggplant was perfectly cooked. We both decided it was our favorite eggplant parm ever!! Even though we tried to save room we were too full for dessert. But I'm guessing they were probably delicious like everything else.

Our waiter was really nice and even took a few pictures for us.  Next time I am in the North End, I will definitely stop in!

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Photo of J. R. H.

 

1

110

J. R. H.

Newport, RI

4 star rating
9/14/2008

Let's see...a sunny late-summer afternoon in the North End, doors/windows wide open, the bartender knows to add fruit to a double Campari and Orange Juice.  A good start that got better.

My party requested a window table for four, and waited for it by crowding our way toward the impressive bar. I hadn't read any reviews before we got here, but as a fan, I'd venture to say those folks giving bad reviews must have just been having a bad day---that's sort of experience can happen when you create your own luck, good and bad.

After a reasonable wait, the table was made ready and the service was actually fairly good--water glasses never empty, food prepared well, plenty of bread to mop up the left-over sauces.  Again, maybe those other folks were just pressing their tough luck...or else those reviews tipped off Florentine staff to turn it up a notch?

On to the food--my stuffed veal on linquini was on the larger side for a luncheon portion and satisfying.  Others had eggplant ravioli, scampi, and a caramelized onion/Parmesan pizzetti.  

The people watching was above average too.  As one of NE oldest catholic churches was wedding central during our meal.  Lots of Project Runway commentary on what people assume is acceptable to wear to a Summer afternoon wedding.

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Photo of Claire Y.

Elite '09

193

341

Claire Y.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
5/30/2008

Since when are paninis served puffy?  I ordered the Caprese panini with proscuitto and it was served un-pressed.  Just maybe I've been ill-informed all this time and believed that the real paninis are supposed to be pressed.  But, for the sake of my appetite, I was not too happy when I saw the puffy Italian bread that held the mozzarella (which was not that fresh), basil, tomato, and proscuitto.

Merely OK food at best.  Service is spotty.  I suppose the only thing we did actually enjoy was the people watching from the window seats which is what had reeled us into the place.

bah

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Photo of J C.

 

67

128

J C.

Brookline, MA

3 star rating
4/2/2008

Last time i ate at Florentine Cafe, it was 7 years ago.  Food was much better but nothing impressed me that much. This time I went with a close friend who was moving away. It was after theater and kinda late (close to 11pm). It was not my choice but was the only one nearby which still served dinner.  

We ordred Mare =Seafood Salad as starter.  It tasted bland. Could use more olive oil, S&P and lemon

I got Pollo Duca d'abbruzzi - Stuffed chicken with spinach and cheese - I was happy with the dish.

My friend had Veggie Lasana - she didn't like it.

Service was allright. We had to ask for water or bread which are simple 101 service.....

We thought of dessert, then we decided to go elsewhere. I would only come back again if in the area and have no other options coz ambiance is ok, service is ok, and food is just ok here.

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Photo of Daniel S.

Elite '09

57

351

Daniel S.

New York, NY

5 star rating
12/2/2007

The bad:  Our waiter was a little stoopid.

The good:  A luxurious multiple-hour diner involving delicious food, open windows, and a sober Liz D.  O.k., let's be honest.  She was only sober half of the meal.  Even the lights hanging off the construction scaffolding added a pleasant glow to the meal.

It isn't an amazing restaurant, but when you're just looking for some good food that doesn't interrupt the conversation - head here.

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Photo of Liz D.

Elite '09

203

388

Liz D.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
10/24/2007

"Oh, check out the menu, this place is cheap!"

Has been a common phrase that has started many an adventure to restaurants only in the North End that pretend they haven't updated their websites, but really they just want to lure you there and hope you stick around long enough to throw a VISA or a Diners Club card(who uses Diners Club?) at them.

I had been here a few times before, as this is the bar my parents like to meet me at when they come to visit.  My dad's always there with a Corona for him, a Corona for me, and a diet coke for the woman who birthed me.  It's a nice bar indeed, a very large wooden bar with plenty of space and seats for all.

After having "it's a great date place!" drilled into my head after all the yelp reviews, I took special notice of this when I went for grub with Daniel S., and happen to agree.  If your date is a baller.

We were seated by an open window which satiated my need to people watch.

As we sat there gazing lovingly into eachothers eyes a little hand popped up in front of the window, followed by the bleating of "FOOD! FOOD!" coming from a vagabond.  Daniel debated on whether he should ignore or pee on him.  I opted for pee.

On to the food. It really was amazing!!

We kind of did it up:

-Gnocchi Palladio- Homemade potato gnocchi with olive oil, garlic, basil, smoked mozzarella & parmesan in a tomato sauce

-Side of Alfredo Risotto

-Con Avocado Salad-Tossed Mache salad with avocado, mint, red onion, oranges, prosciutto and shaved parmesan in red vinegar and fresh squeezed orange juice

But the REAL gem of the meal was the:

-Vongole Cozze al Brandy Appetizer- Clams & mussels Sauteed with olive oil, smoked bacon, roast tomatoes, parsley, brandy & spicy cream sauce topped with garlic bread
GAH it changed my life. Just do it.

I don't need to break down every item as I had no complaints on any of it. It was all fabulous

What I WOULD say is beware the breadbasket.  Don't go dip crazy in the unsuspecting olive oil if you are afraid of chili like I was and then was rudely surprised as I was el fuego and choking to death on my own tears ;)

It was going to be 4 stars, but 5 for making me cry.

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Photo of Megan L.

 

3

19

Megan L.

North Billerica, MA

1 star rating
1/23/2008

This place is horrible.  The food is consistently mediocre and the service sucks.  

Our waitress spilled an entire glass of wine on my dress and didn't apologize or comp us anything, just gave me a wad of napkins to wipe off with.  

Proscuitto wrapped figs were mushy and gross.  Price tag was outrageous for the food and service quality.

I'll never go back.

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Photo of Mike C.

 

14

71

Mike C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/28/2008

I always feel guilty going out to Italian restaurants and getting pasta.  It seems so simple to make at home...until you have a good meal at a nice place.  

Dinner was good, the wine was great and the best was the Cesar salad.  Seriously, when was the last time you freaked over the salad in a meal?  I would go back just for that salad.

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Photo of Katrina W.

Elite '09

64

69

Katrina W.

Quincy, MA

3 star rating
11/11/2008

Yup Yelpers, I am much an admirer of this quaint little nook in the North End. I made reservations here recently for a friends birthday, after a coworker had recommended this place (thanks Steve!)
Here is why I was so pleased with my encounter here.
For starters, we arrived early, and even being a VERY hectic Thursday evening, were still sat right away.
The menu--everything looks mouth watering good...The items ordered that evening a very tasty bottle of Cab Sav, lobster raviolis, sea bass & oysters, ravioli boccelli, gnocchi, and a mouthwatering fillet with vegetables.
I brought a pastry from an outside vendor to have brought out at the end of our meal, and even though they also serve desserts, they where kind enough to store it out back, and serve it with a candle lit once our meals where finished.
Needless to say, the birthday boy was quite surprised and pleased!
Thanks for such a memorable night!

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Photo of sue k.

Elite '09

47

159

sue k.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
10/26/2008

when my lil' sis came to visit, i knew i had to treat her to lunch in the north end, but i didn't have a restaurant in mind. after a morning of sightseeing, i dragged her down hanover street in search of the perfect spot. her legs were tired and i felt bad passing by perfectly good restaurants...but after a couple blocks, we saw the florentine cafe and knew it was the one. this restaurant is so pretty and inviting and getting a window seat made it all the better.

our food did not disappoint. my linguine was full of clams and flavor. it's one of the best i've ever had and it didn't hurt that it was affordable at about $15 for a plate of pasta.

delicious eats in a charming little restaurant...i couldn't have asked for a better date with my little sis.

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Photo of Eddy C.

Elite '09

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168

Eddy C.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
9/11/2007

To be honest, my gf and I had a hard time differentiating between the Italian restaurants in the North End.  In the end, we went with Florentine Cafe because it seemed to have the most people inside.  Unscientific to say the least but that many people can't be wrong, right?

Our meal was good, though i think I prefer the places in Chicago's Little Italy moreso.  My gf ordered the Linguine con Vongole Pomodoro, which had a good proportion of clams to linguine.  It tasted alright -- pretty much what you would expect.  I ordered the Duck Parpadelle, which was tasty and very filling with its ample pieces of duck.  We both had plenty of food left over for the next day.

Service is efficient and our server reminded me of Giada de Laurentis (this is a good thing).  Prices are a little high but still very reasonable.  I wasn't impressed with the meal but I didn't regret going to Florentine Cafe either.

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Elite '09

124

292

Doris K.

Somerville, MA

5 star rating
10/10/2007

I love this place. We stopped into Florentine Cafe because we were looking for a lunch spot during the Columbus Day weekend, and this place looked like it had the most people. After being seated I looked around and thought that Florentine felt very local. I loved all the wood paneling and the set up of the bar. It's quite a large place for a restaurant in the North End, and they have a separate room that will accommodate up to 55 people.

As for the food, the lobster ravioli was the best that I have ever had. I also loved their sausage sandwich and the greens on the side tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I pretty much loved everything about this place including the free bread that they give you before the meal which was baked with plenty of herbs on top.

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58

Jonathan G.

Playa Vista, CA

4 star rating
5/12/2008

We based our choice of The Florentine Cafe on The Rules of the Lines: whenever you have a choice of dining establishments (and with 108 Italian restaurants in the North End of Boston, you have nothing if not choice), always pick the one with the longest line/biggest crowd. We passed by several highly-Yelped Italians like Maurizio's and Giacomo's, but they were nearly empty at about 2pm.

Florentine is known for their lobster ravioli, and it is the best I've had, if a little heavy on the sauce by LA standards. The Caesar salad was also very good, and be sure to ask for the anchovies. We were too stuffed to order dessert, but I would definitely plan my consumption accordingly next time to make room.

Maybe it's just me, but I always like to see a family-run Italian restaurant where the serving staff banter in their native language. It doesn't make the food better, but it adds to the ambiance. Extra half a star.

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Sara A.

New York, NY

3 star rating
7/19/2007

Cute little Italian restaurant in the North End.

I went there with two of my girlfriends and we chosee to split a pizza and mozzarella salad.  It was delicious.

We also had two rounds of mimosas (2 each).  When the bill came it was $117.00!!!  $16.00 for a half a glass of champagne and a half a glass of orange juice, are you kidding me?!  We asked to speak to the manager and he explained that they were using the full bottle of the tiny bottles of champagne, which were $16.00.  I am not sure how you can fit one of those into a champagne glass, but reguardless he took half off for the mimosas, making the bill $72.00.

Cute place, but beware when you order a drink!

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14

Ashlee C.

Jamaica Plain, MA

2 star rating
6/28/2008

We had really excellent service during our meal.  The cheese ravioli is homemade and delicious, the chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese is DRY and tasteless.  

I give this place two stars because my mom and I were waiting for our table in the bar area, and the bartender was EXTREMELY rude.  Not just negligent, but a complete ass to my poor 65 year old mother.  His name is Joe, he is a short dark-haired douche.  We didn't give him any tip.

UPDATE:

A note from the bartender at Florentine:

Hi

"I thank you for the constructive cretinism I am very sorry if that was when i was working.  I would be more then glad to make it up to you if i could please thaks

Joseph (last name removed)

I would really appreciate if you could revise or delete this Thanks"

-Yes Joe, I could sense your sincerity from the instant you called me a cretin.  Good work.

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9

32

Jeanette C.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
12/24/2008

Went here with my mom after a friend told me she always took her mom there.  The lobster ravioli, which had been recommended to me, was good.  But my mother's pasta dish with sausage was just ok.  Also my wine was not good.  Maybe it was my fault for ordering rose, but I've had great rose before and expect good wine when I'm out eating Italian.  Also, the decor was a little cheesy to me.  Still looking for a great Italian place in Boston I guess.

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Elite '09

70

338

Kymm P.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
10/1/2007

I have a dear friend Cheryl from Dallas.

Cheryl was in town several weeks ago and stayed near the North End. Out of the many North End restaurants she claims she's tried, Cheryl touts the Florentine Cafe as apparently the best. Since her visit, I've been dying to stop by the place and I finally got my chance several weekends ago. It was a busy Friday and my friends and I made a dinner stop to supply ourselves the energy for a long night out.

The wait was ridiculously obnoxious, but I mistook that as a good sign. We were crammed into this tiny table situated steps from the bathroom and literally inches from the cashier table. But I held out, waiting for the meal that would apparently "complete my life".

My friends' salads were standard fare (I need to seriously get some new friends...who orders salad in the North End?!), but my Linguine con Vongole was a wreck. I've had a many pasta dishes in my life, and this was not one of the more memorable ones. The pasta was dry and had a lick of sauce. Out of the maybe five shells in my plate, about three of them actually HAD clams in them. Nice.

And to top it off, our waitress was a bitch and a half. Honestly darling, I really love that disdainful, disgusted look on your face as you hand me my drink. It is quite becoming.

So kiddies, what's the lesson learned? Never listen to a tourist.

Especially one from Dallas.

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Elite '09

55

247

Purvi R.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
1/4/2009

Have been here twice now, once to eat and once just to have a drink. Both were average experiences. Actually, eating was a 1-star (unexceptional food) and the drinking was a 3-star average experience. Easy to get drinks as the bar isn't too big.

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