RialtoOne of our favorite restaurantsWe like to gothere for special occasions. This was for our 20th anniversary, and was no disappointment. Delicious food, a specially decorated table, and wonderful service and a dessert that was plated with "Happy Anniversary" written on it. A lovely experience.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMReally nice eveningAmong the best parts of this evening were the service and the outdoor seating. We spent way more time than usual at our table -- with nary a complaint or rush from any service person. Our waiter was a young woman who clearly knew the menu and all ingredients. We ordered salads and steamed clams. I confess I had expected my seafood salad to be cooked and not sushi-style, but it was still fine -- just not what I had planned on. (Had I misread the menu? Possibly.) Portions are small but comfortable. The wine selection was good. Overall, we really enjoyed the evening and feel that Rialto has held its own in Cambridge after these many years. (I was dining with a culinary program manager from Google, and she seemed pleased with her meal.)6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFine Food, Slow ServiceWe had a family meal at the restaurant. The food was excellent. Only issues were some of the entree portions were small-- my daughter and I ordered Bronzino and portion was half of what you get normally. My daughter doesn't eat that much and yet she complained about the lack of food on the plate -- it seemed they split a single fish between us for $38 a plate each! Service at the restaurant was on slow side, but they were quick to replace our water bottles over and over. Again food was excellent and good for a special events, but very high prices, small portions and make sure you have a lot of time.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWe Love Rialto!We took a group of 10 people to Rialto for my birthday celebration (it's a ritual at this point) and it was just wonderful—as always! The food is delicious, the service is great....it was a little noisy in the dining room that night, but everyone had a great time. We're all looking forward to our next trip to Rialto.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversaryAs my husband and I were celebrating our 9th anniversary a vibrant couple at the next table was celebrating their 50th with friends. Can't think of a better place to do it. The food is excellent and the service very friendly. Highly recommended.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Regional Dinner - Sardinia!We three diners all choose the monthly special regional dinner, in this case Sardinia. The first course was an outstanding small plate of perfectly cooked and cooled seafood delicacies with kale and beans in a spicy evoo, a nice pairing a Torbato. The second was a bowl of steamed little neck clams in a broth perfect for sopping up with the house made bread. This was served with a Vermentino Di Sardegna. For the third course two of us choose the lamb chop and braised lamb shank accompanied with Cannonau Di Sardegna Riserva, a perfect pairing, and one had the Branzino with an Insolia, Desert was a Sabados, an interesting combination of fried savory elements and lemon ice cream. The food was superb and the service attentive and smooth. Great!6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMMeet the RainmakersThis was our second meal at Rialto in three weeks. The first time, the sommelier came over to discuss our wine choices personally. She was both very knowledgeable and very friendly. The second time Chef Jody Adams herself came over to get our reaction to the dinner and to chat a bit. My daughter, who is in the food and beverage industry, was dining with us and was very impressed. Needless to say, the food was spot on, as it always is at Rialto.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMexcellent fine diningWe had high expectations - and they were met!
we had one four course menu - with a seafood appetizer, steamed clams, choice of lamb or cod (lamb) and a pastry desert - i found the 2 first courses flavorful, but a little over salted. The lamb came 2 ways, a rare chop and a shank that was cooked long and slow, and positively fell apart, delicious! My husband had the rabit, also 2 ways - with the loin and leg cooked differently, fabulous.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMElegance and excellenceWe chose Rialto as the restaurant to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary. It also helped that we had a gift certificate from WBUR that we got for our donation to our favorite radio station. The food at Rialto was superb- levels above what we usually find in restaurant fare. All in all it was an outstanding dining experience. We would definitely return to Rialto- gift certificate or no gift certificate. We highly recommend Rialto to anyone who appreciates excellence and innovation in food!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappointsWe have been dining at Rialto since it first opened. Our meal on May 25 was one of the best ever. My wife and I had heirloom carrot soup and nettle risotto for appetizers which ended up being passed back and forth so we could each share. For the entree we both ordered spiced chicken under a brick. For a dish so seemingly ordinary, it was incredibly complex and delicious. We ended the evening with the chocolate crema which is always a highnote. We'll be back!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had not been to RialtoWe had not been to Rialto for a couple of years. It was still quite good. The food was inventive and well done, except for the braised lamb part of the main dish, which was too dry, as was part of the rabbit dish. Service was very good for the most part, except for some mix-ups in placing the dishes on the table, something that should not happen in a place like Rialto. The second course also came way too fast creating a long pause between it and the main course.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcelent food and serviceFood was fantastic, the service was great. Enjoyable and relaxing experience.
Only problem: very expensive. But it is worth it if you can afford it.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was wonderful.......From the moment we walked in. Service was impeccable. Courteous, helpful, attentive, but not overly so and also extremely knowledgable. As for the food, it was beautifully presented and all the ingredients combined to make a perfect dish that was cooked to perfection. Not a morsel left for a fellow diner to sample! Dessert was equally delightful. The flavors and preparation made me forget all guilty thoughts.
Thank you!!!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful ConsistencyRialto has always been a favorite and it never disappoints. Jody Adams menu is always interesting - with great local ingredients and wonderful preparations. The restaurant is modern and warm, two elements that do not often go in the same sentence. We go to Rialto regularly and will continue to do so.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely dinnerDespite small portions and high prices, the restaurant was a lovely experience for two women of a certain age looking for a special occasion dinner. Our scallops and Arctic char were well-prepared and the sauces they were accompanied by quite delicious. Some of the descriptions, employing Italian words as they did, required translation--a tad precious, I guess. But our good-natured Italian waiter was happy to oblige. Overall, a very good experience.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMSolid High End RestaurantRestaurants like Rialto are great for business meals as are most steakhouses and many hotel restaurants. They are quieter, the service is professional, expensive, and the food is usually very solid. They are not typically very warm or romantic or energetic foodie destinations. I like Rialto also because the seating is very inviting and comfortable. Semi-private round tables with upholstered seating that can seat up to 6 are a nice feature of such restaurants. Rialto did not disappoint in all these regards. The food was very good if not necessarily memorable. The roasted clams app were very tasty though tiny. The duck entree was by contrast was two huge legs perfectly crisped if slightly more well done than I prefer. Desserts were art!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMReservationsWould have preferred a 7:00 reservation instead of seven thirty but was told be your system that this could not be accommodated.
Checked in at 7:35, left at 10:30 and two thirds of the tables in our dining room were not occupied and remained empty. What's up with that?
Otherwise dinner was very nice. Wait staff exceptional.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat staff, great food, greatgreat staff, great food, great company & wonderful time5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently One of Boston's BestI have been eating here several times a month for many years. You cannot go wrong. My hint is to sit in the bar--and choose between items on the bar menu (smaller plates and apps) and the dining room menu. Always a tough choice between the two! Great flatbread pizzas at the bar.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMSumptuous and graciousFabulous dining experience. What struck me was not just the food--which I had expected to be, and was, wonderful--but the grace of our waiter. We were a slow turning table, but we were not put under any pressure or made feel awkward. It was just the touch to make the evening special.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, gracious serviceWe visited Rialto on a Tuesday night to celebrate a birthday. Very impressed all-around. Decor achieves a comfortable, understated elegance. Service was gracious but still personable. Each food dish was excellent. The pasta dishes were especially impressive. Pork tortelloni tasted like it had been made from a farmer who hand-fed his piggies acorns, it was so flavorful. Bucatini was cooked to perfect al dente perfection, maintaining just a hint of good "bite" to the pasta. A bit too pricey to make part of our regular rotation, but definitely worth it for a splurge!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMALWAYS FABULOUSAlways fabulous....unique dishes always. Chef Owner Jody Adams adds her personal touch to the whole experience...you might even get lucky and have her sit with you for a quick chat! Also don't miss Monday $1 oyster nights...best deal in the city!4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service. WillGreat food and service. Will definitely go there again & will recommend to others.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFit for Foodies!Very pretty atmosphere, great food, delicious bread. Waitress was ok but not the level of attention you would expect from Rialto.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMIt is a nice quiet restaurantIt is a nice quiet restaurant with good foods. The service was excellent. The foods were served at the right pace. We did not have to wait long to receive the dishes but we did not feel rushed. The waiter added water to our glasses at a right time. We did not have to request water. It was a great dinner to cerebrate my wife's birthday.
Thanks,4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have dined at Rialto aWe have dined at Rialto a numerous times and everything has always been perfect. Pre-dinner cocktails are creative and well crafted with a very knowledgable bartender attentively serving you. The food is always perfectly prepared and presented. The waitstaff is attentive but not intrusive. Suggested wine pairings are always spot on. Overall, a perfect evening.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery course was spectacular.Every course was spectacular. Food was flavorful, exciting, and wonderfully prepared. Great drinks. The server was knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. Great atmosphere. One of the best 2 or 3 meals of my life.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service were excellent.Food and service were excellent. It was a great place to brng a guest from the south of France visiting the Boston area for the first time. It's truly a signature restaurant for the area with great location at the Charles Hotel -- a great evening.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience. The waitressGreat experience. The waitress was wonderful and the food exceptional. We look forward to going back foy my 60 birthday in October.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was wonderful, gourmet,The food was wonderful, gourmet, and "farm to table" delicious and fresh, as always. And the service is so accommodating, as we had a concert to attend, and they were able to serve us on a timely basis.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for Easter Brunch.We went for Easter Brunch. The food was outstanding--notably, the breads/pastries were so skillfully done, one realizes you might never have had a real scone till then. I found myself dining with a gluten-free pal & very health-conscious colleague; the kitchen was generously accommodating. Sadly, the service was quite slow and unresponsive; at least, it felt that way, as most other tables received drinks and were through appetizers before anyone took our order. However, that doesn't detract from my overall great review (I'll just try not to get seated in that server's area again)! The rest of the staff was friendly & welcoming.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was excellent!Everything was excellent! the food, the drinks, the waitress, and the ambiance were great!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMOur food was perfectly preparedOur food was perfectly prepared from fresh ingredients, expertly served. Fantastic meal. This is our second year in a row for Easter brunch. It's becoming a tradition.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great Easter dinnerWe had a great Easter dinner and love the wine pairing. Food was very good and the wine a learning experience. Will go again.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMEaster Brunch DelightWe've been several times to this lovely dining spot in the Charles Hotel and have always been delighted with the entire package: from reservations to bidding us a farewell, this establishment is picture perfect professional in every way.
On Easter Sunday the tables were full at noon with a wide variety of clientele: young people in jeans, families, bow ties and Easter bonnets - a Cambridge mixed bag; all enjoying a set price brunch amidst an energetic and very engaged staff.
Our menu options had enough diversity for anyone and each dish was delicious - including the desserts!
Can't give enough positives about Rialto! Don't miss it!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ExperienceI had the best time at Rialto! Our waitress was great. She was well versed on the menu and was able to answer all questions with ease. Not to mention, the food was fantastic! I will definitely return for another dining experience.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect!Everything was perfect for the Easter Brunch. The food was delicious, especially the nettle risotto with flavorful wild mushrooms. We had the perfect waitress, attentive but not overly so, she spoke quietly, was knowledgable, and very nice. I think her name was Alexandra? We were seated close to a table of 5 or 6, but happily this was not intrusive. The other tables were a good distance away from us, so we didn't feel crowded and didn't have to hear other conversations. The dining room is open, yet with lots of private spaces due to the arrangement of the seating, and light-filled. We look forward to another meal at Rialto soon.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent mealDelicious fish and chicken. Everything very fresh and well made. Very different flavor profiles in all the courses served. A little on the pricey side is the only thing that would keep me from coming back more often, however, there is a $40 prix fixe option and bar menu. Cocktails were delicious3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMRialto was an overall greatRialto was an overall great experience. Definitely check out the Burrata appetizer--absolutely to die for! A knowledgable staff and extensive menu.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMRialto--wonderful as everWe had dinner at Rilato last week and it was as wonderful as we expected it to be from previous visits. The food is terrific and the atmosphere and service lovely. In addition the chef, Jody Adams came over to sign a copy of her cookbook for a friend. We can't wait to get back.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food. An imaginativeWonderful food. An imaginative menu. Everyone in our party raved about every dish: especially the nettle risotto, the fisherman's soup, the branzino, the duck, the lamb.
The waiter seemed frantic -- as if he had had too much coffee, or had too many tables. It was unnerving. In the end it didn't bother us. And he did point me to a great barollo. The wine list, btw, is wonderfully rich in reasonable Italian wines.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMBait & SwitchOne disappointment was that we made reservation for Restaurant Week. A few hours before our reservation Rialto called saying they had cancelled Restaurant week. We were dining with friends. Otherwise, we would have cancelled.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMDelivered on its pricey promiseRialto delivered on its pricey promise. The lamb and osso buco ($42) was exquisite. I did not taste the other dishes (duck, branzino) but they were declared great successes. Chocolate crema dessert was delightful. The wine list was interesting. Service impeccable. Nice atmosphere. I'd go back.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFood with FlavourScenic view refers to a nice view overlooking Harvard Sq. No pretty mountains or rivers. However, as noted above the food is exceptional. This is a "must" if spending an evening in the Harvard area3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is first rate andThe food is first rate and the staff accommodated our need to get to a performance at Sanders Theatre.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe visited on our anniversary.We visited on our anniversary. I had oysters which were very good. I also had sirloin which was very good, but not the best steak I've ever had. I had a cocktail that was called a Pompeii. It was really good. I didn't have dessert. Our server was excellent. Very knowledgeable, relaxed and friendly. My only criticism would be that it wasn't really that romantic feeling. I have been there before and sat in a different place that was like a booth and in the interior area. It's a lot of different rooms. This time we were at a table for 4 (there were 2 of us) and facing a big window. It was still day light out and everything around us was white. It felt like lunch. That was the only disappointing. They knew it was an anniversary.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMToo many flavors competingToo many flavors competing in each dish....get simple3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful night - food and service!We were celebrating a birthday, so the table was subtly decorated. Food was outstanding. 3 of us had a new menu item -roasted lamb & osso buco -done perfectly. Bill, our server, was terrific; I couldn't decide between 3 appetizers, so he said "let me surprise you,"(perfect solution) and brought out the warm Maine crab salad. One person ordered duck, which she said was the best she ever had. Desserts were very good - limoncello cake has great texture and not too sweet. My husband loved the trio of Piedmont sweets. Love the portion sizes at Rialto - one can actually have a first course, main course and dessert without feeling overwhelmed. The pace of dining at Rialto is reminiscent of restaurants in Rome.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMvery aggressive pricing forvery aggressive pricing for a good but not great dinner. Ambience and service are flawless.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and wine were wonderful.The food and wine were wonderful. the atmosphere ( a corner banquet with curtain backdrop) was quiet cozy and relaxing. The service was warm and considerate.2/10/2013 12:00:00 AM