Benedetto

Somewhat pricey, but carefully prepared and presented locally sourced food.

This is a fine restaurant. We enjoyed the ambience, the service was impeccable and attentive, very professional, and the cuisine really superior. The bar ample, the wine list creative. The lemon granita dessert that we split was very creative and wonderful. The only consideration that I would make is that the sirloin that I ordered, while ample in terms of quantity, should have been well trimmed, and was not. Other than this, a highly enjoyable evening, and we will return!

Top notch all around!

A delightful restaurant. Food was terrific and the staff most friendly and helpful.

Food: delicious. Service: friendly and unobtrusive. Value: pretty darned good at such an elegant location. The pastas really are terrific.

I hate to write this review as Benedetto has long been a favorite of mine. Typically the food is consistently good and the ambiance is nice. But on New Year's Eve it was a true disappointment. We had a reservation but when we arrived were told there was a glitch and our table was not ready. We waited approximately 25 minutes before being seated. The area where we were waiting was clogged with people and quite chaotic by the bar. We were never offered a drink while we waited and had to ask several times about the status of our table. When we were finally seated no server came to out table. Eventually, I had to physically reach out and grab a server and ask her for help. She was apologetic. The food was fair not great, which is highly atypical, maybe a result of it being a holiday. There was a loud and cheesy jazz band and it impeded conversation. We were never comped anything despite the wait and poor start to service. The expense was high, given the holiday and it was definitely not worth it. Sad to say that Benedetto which has always been solid was a let down this time.

Great food and truly awesome service

One of the best restaurants in Boston/Cambridge. We've been there twice and will add this to our short list of places to go for special occasions.

Our evening at Benedetto was superb, from pre-dinner drinks, a perfect assortment of starters and main courses, to the Umbrian wine, and on to incredible desserts. I had not been to Giulia or Benedetto previously, but I'll certainly become a regular here and I can't wait to try sister restaurant Giulia. Every aspect of our dinner was excellent. This is a major accomplishment and I can't wait to return.

Fantastic food and service

Everything was lovely, but I have to say, you can always add salt, you can’t take it out. This has happened before. Salad—too heavy a hand on the salt. Which is a shame because the ingredients were otherwise stellar.
Pasta—the best I’ve had in a very long time. Perfection.
Dessert—delicious, but too clever by half.

We left feeling everyone had worked to give us the perfect dining experience. Eager to return

One of the best meals I have ever had

Delicious food and absolutely fantastic service from the employees who greeted us upon arrival to our waiter who made the evening fun and made sure that everything ran smoothly. I’ll definitely be back

First visit to Benedetto and I was very happy to be seated in the quieter area in the back. The monkfish was cooked well and I liked the sides. One diner in our party had the pasta and clams , and it was quite disappointing. We were all pleased with the service.

lovely restaurant with good service. The food is very well-prepared but on the heavy side. Choose carefully or you will walk out feeling uncomfortably replete.

Third visit to Benedetto -- I like the convenience for parking in Harvard Sq but the noise level and limited menu selection give this only 3 stars. I keep coming back due to fine memories of the prior restaurant in this location - Rialto. Sadly, while the cuisine is similar, this is not up to my memories.

Excellent throughput!

Waiter was fantastic. Personable, genuine and knowledgeable.

Not comparable to Giulia! Wild mushroom pasta was blend and soggy. Ditto to Vitello Tonnato. The all-Italian wine list is spectacular and reasonable; the sommelier is A+! The wines may be worth a return visit, and if I ever do return, I'll try to stay with simpler dishes, like chicken (which my sister had an enjoyed) or meat.

Pasta was average, the chicken dish was terrible. Place has gone down hill from last Spring! Needs a new chef.

Benedetto is a beautiful restaurant with food and service to match. Pastas are carefully made in house and delicious. Desserts are creative and eye-appealing, but their craft makes them less than comfort food. The wine list is excellent, but, as I remember it, exclusively Italian. The sommelier was extremely helpful for suggestions.

Great food great service great ambience

service at tables in bar area is horrible. this has been true on several occasions. service in restaurant area is great.

Engagement

Benedetto was beyond excellent. I have been trying to sort out whether this was due in large part because of our excellent service, or the food. Obviously a combination, Aaron made the evening very enjoyable with his mouth watering plate description to how pasta is made on the next table. We chose to come to B for the celebration of my wife's birthday. We felt this was one of the best dinners out in our long dining experience some of which were in Pulia and Camapania. Without hesitation I would recommend B and ask for Aaron. As he said though, he is just part of a fabulous team which makes up Benedettos.

We do not eat out too often, but when we eat out we select high end restaurants. My husband had the Paccheri and I had the Strozzapreti. Both dishes were phenomenal. The depth of the flavors were unbelievable. By far the best meal we have had for years! We will be back. Soon!

Benedetto's is an exceptional restaurant with fabulous service, interesting cuisine, generous portions, great wine list, stellar desserts (you must have dessert there!), and best of all, it is quiet enough to have a conversation. We have been several times and the quality of their food and service has been consistently excellent!

As always, the food and wine were excellent, and the service was pleasant and helpful. All this was somewhat marred, however, by a very loud table a few feet away, a corporate group letting off steam. If there was a noise-level indication beyond "Energetic", say, "Detonation" or "Hog Calling", I'd use it in this review. Not really sure what can be done to minimize that sort of nuisance, but nothing was done this time, and it disrupted a quiet evening with friends.

Outstanding service and food.
Great ambiance, requested a quiet table to talk to friends and we had a excellent room and round table.
Chicken liver crostata is always amazing.
It’s white truffles season and they were quite special.
Pasta with meat sauce was very tasty.
Halibut with mushrooms and veggies were delicious, fresh and cooked to perfection.
Save room for Desert, they are always great.

Great combinations of flavors,fresh pastas outstanding right through dessert.

We reserved Benedetto because we could not get a reservation at Giulia. Everything about this restaurant is great!

Their cocktails are creative and delicious. The wine list is vast and the sommelier is knowledgeable.

The food is the star of the show - refined, delicate, composed flavors in every course.

We ordered one of each course and shared everything. Perfect way to spend an evening out.

We will definitely return.

Everything about this meal was wonderful, from the taste of the food to the service and attention to individual needs. Our server handled a demanding diner, catered to needs of vegetarians, and celebrated my daughter's birthday with a beautiful chocolate message on her dessert.

Beautiful birthday dinner with my husband, daughter and son in law. The vibe was perfect for gracious dining. The food was excellent! A small glitch was more than made up for. Highly recommend this beautiful restaurant!

Wonderful service: full attention when needed, but they didn’t bug us when not necessary. Amazing presentation of food.

Excellent food, outstanding service. Our server provided helpful info on the food, was mindful of food allergies in our party, and helped select a wine that we loved. A great experience.

Just exceptional - wonderful truffle pasta
and great Chianti Classico

Usually eat at the bar where the service is great, this time ate in the dining room and the service was very slow and disappointing. We’ll stick with the bar from now on. Food was excellent as always.

Took two friends. Very well worth it.

Inventive menu and excellent execution while surrounded by Harvard super nerds. Good fun and well done.