Super solid meal and dinner date night! We came here with reservations on a weeknight and were surprised how busy it was on a random Tuesday, but glad we had a spot ready for us upon arriving. We got a few sharables and were blown away by the flavor and taste - super solid all around. Yummy bread, solid solid, and the paella was great despite taking a long time to come out. We were sitting for quite a while honestly, but understandable given it's a dish that can't be prepared beforehand as much as the others. The tiramisu at the end was a fantastic touch and end to the night - great and delicious! Overall, I would recommend Bar Volpe for any future meals - tasty and a wonderful time! read more

Sister restaurant to The Fox and the Knife, but Bar Volpe specializes in Southern Italian cuisine. the drinks were good! Service was also attentive. - Farro Arancini: delicious although a tad salty - Shrimp Toast: I liked the bread! It was very crunchy and it was quite good. also a little salty. - Spicy Tuna Cannoli: These were fun but idk i didn't love it. Wish it came more in a cannoli shell instead of a egg roll wrapper - Spaghetti al Limone: This was so good omfg. Loved the crab in it and it wasn't as lemon-y as I thought it'd be (in a good way). - Malloreddus: First time having sardininian gnocchi. Quite good! I liked the kick from the spicy ragu but it was nothing special. - Tiramisu: This is the first time I didn't like a tiramisu? Didn't really taste the soaked espresso, and in addition to the cocoa powder, they used crushed chocolate biscotti, which was fun it was extremely salty. read more

See all

I'm struggling with how to rate this restaurant. We ordered the truffle chicken and beef carpoccio, which were exceptional! 10/10 I would recommend. We ordered a few other dishes that were good, but not amazing. What really upset me was the tiramiso. It was so, SO over salted. I could taste that they used fresh espresso. There seemed to be some marscapone and fresh lady fingers, but salt was the overwhelming flavor of the dish. (There was way more powdered chocolate and salt than marscpone.) I prefer savories to sweets and have never minded a salted dessert, but this was pretty foul, like I was eating a box of mortinerser's salt. (We did order another dessert that was fine.) Overall, I liked the savory dishes but will never order another dessert here. read more

I had a reservation here on Thursday night at 730pm for a party of 4. Arriving just before 730, I received my table immediately. I ended up trying the following: antipasti & stuzzichini, shared plates - tuna crudo $19 - beef carpaccio $16 - warm garlic butter rolls $15 - farro arancini $9 - fritti misti $18 for myself - spaghetti al limone $29 - porcini old fashioned $17 - tomato basil gimlet $16 The tuna crudo's firm but delicate tuna and crisp, tart green apple provided excellent flavor and texture contrasts. The herbal and refreshing olive oil accentuated that further. The beef carpaccio proved similarly nuanced. The carta di musica, a thin flatbread hidden under the carpaccio, had the delicacy of a fine wafer, breaking at knifepoint but holding up to a fork. The warm garlic butter rolls tasted like, well, garlic butter rolls. Copious amounts of garlic a butter adorned this fluffy but not overly soft roll. Aesthetically, it arrived atop a diminutive cast iron skillet. The fritti misti was fried shrimp and calamari with bomba calabrese. The breading was light and not over seasoned, allowing the light tangy and spiciness of the bomba calabrese to permeate. The shrimp were notably quite large, almost prawn-sized. The spaghetti al limone had a white cream sauce, shredded crab, and breadcrumbs. Once again, I noticed the attention to texture. Otherwise, the cream sauce wasn't too heavy and crab wasn't too briny, making the dish less rich than at first glance. The lemon was muted, but definitely helped cut the richness. The porcini old fashioned was quite interesting, with bourbon, brown butter, porcini (mushroom), and maple (syrup?). The old fashioned itself provided the whiskey body. The mushroom, butter, and syrup reminded me of a butterbeer at Harry Potter themed establishments, but without the heaviness of the cream and with more nuanced flavors. The maple and brown butter played off each other, shifting between sweet then savory then back to sweet. The tomato basil gimlet was a bit more muted. The acidity of the gimlet was commandeered by the tomato, so it wasn't the straight lime juice sort of acidity. The tomato added a bit of umami. Overall, I quite enjoyed the food. The cocktails proved interesting in a positive sense. Some places make novelty cocktails that provide only shock value or taste downright terrible. Not here. read more

See all

I think my expectations were too high of this place. Nothing we had really stood out to me. I will say it's a cute restaurant in southie with good vibes. the service was good as well. Food: - shrimp toast (5/10) - arancini (3/10): i like my arancini savory and this was more sweet so def not for me - Malloreddus (7/10): good but not anything special - tiramisu (3/10): salty and too crunchy, not enough espresso, def don't order if you're a tiramisu fan read more

See all

Came back in Sep'24 with a large group! Overall, flavors were good. Ambiance is nice. I believe food came out a bit slower than expected...but everyone had a good time! Definitely on the pricier side. Street parking only I believe. We took an uber. read more

See all

I had lofty expectations for Bar Volpe having dined at Fox and Knife and after the recent Michelin guide was released, to which it fell short on. Before I go on, don't walk away thinking that it was a disappointment or not worth the reservation or money... it just did not live up to the hype for me for a few small reasons. Let me elaborate. Service and ambiance of Bar Volpe is superb. Servers are attentive and space out everything so you are not feeling smothered or neglected, the kitchen is viewable to almost every table in the place and I always enjoy that. Lighting is low, but not super romantic... the whole place oozes class from the fixtures to the seating. The food is good, on the verge of great, but I walked away thinking of a few things that could have elevated a few dishes to the next level. My wife thought the sizes of the pastas were a bit on the smaller side, but not by much. It seems they are a bit smaller than Fox and Knife, but the flavors were on point through the apps my the squid ink/lobster pasta. The Jonah crab spaghetti was a bit too creamy in my opinion but had a lot of flavor, it was just a bit heavy-handed on the dairy for my tastes. I think the biggest misstep was the tiramisu, which had an overwhelming salt element to the topping and almost overwhelmed the whole dish for me. Overall, the food was between good and great and this is simply my opinion and tastes, which is why I rated it as 4 stars vs. 5. Overall, Bar Volpe fell short of my expectations. That doesn't mean it should not be experienced or it isn't worth the reservation or price. I personally have a few other places at this price point I prefer, but I would never turn down an opportunity to revisit or give it another chance. It is a well-oiled machine that puts patrons at the center of the experience and transports them to Italy. It truly is a marvel of a place, but in a saturated market with so many options, it is not to me what it is to others. To be experienced and judged by the individual, but know it is not in my opinion without areas to improve. read more

See all

Absolutely! Hands down! This is one of our fave place when we are in town. This is a must stop for us. Service and meal are phenomenal. Very accommodating staff and will answer any questions about your food and drinks. Their pasta is made fresh and a demo/display near the entrance. Muted decoration with clean and warm colors. We have tried almost all the dishes and are cooked on point. read more

See all

Went on a Monday night for Dinner. The service was fantastic and the place was cute. The appetizers were fantastic.... Truly the best part. I can see why this restaurant has a bib gourmand award from the tuna Crudo and the asparagus. It was light, fresh, and unique. As for the entree I had the lemon crab pasta and it was good, not too rich and a good amount of crab. We also really liked how good they were about my friend having celiac, they have a whole gluten free menu. Overall loved the apps could live without the pasta but it was still really good. read more

See all

Was looking for pasta before the Boston marathon near where we were staying and this was a great option. We were able to make reservations that morning to sit at the bar at 5:45 pm. The inside is really nice and has a fancy atmosphere. They have a gluten free menu which was very perfect for my friend! The bartender had a positive attitude and was very kind. The menu has appetizers and pastas and meats. We split the spring panzanella and loved it! We brought the flavors were great and it was very tasty. I then ordered the culurgiones and really enjoyed them. I thought they were tasty. They weren't very filling though and I thought the portion was a little small for $28. Overall I think this is a nice restaurant to go to for a special occasion! read more

Bar Volpe - Spring Panzanella - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I only enjoyed two dishes here but from their presentation and taste I can tell that every dish is made with love and a chef's kiss. I enjoyed the gnocchi and spaghetti Al limone and I was filled with glee with each bite. The gnocchi was pillowy and in a delicate sauce. The caviar was a nice add but didn't feel like it was necessary and the dish would still have been enjoyable without it. The spaghetti al limone was heavenly - light, delicate and rich. A simple dish yet the simplest dishes are often the hardest to execute and this one was executed to perfection. A dish that should not be overlooked. The dish left me speechless ... I am so glad I ordered it. Excellent wine and drinks list. Try the wines from Piedmont. Everything compliments each other from food to drinks. Staff is welcoming and friendly. Sophisticated interior design. Everything makes you feel a part of something special here and that in life you got to treat yourself, be in community and share a meal or drink with someone. If you are a top chef fan you can't miss adding Chef Karen A. to the list of top chef restaurants you must go to. Everything that Chef Karen creates is truly special. read more

Bar Volpe - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Really cute pasta spot from Chef Karen (fox and knife)! Came here for a dinner w my aunt when I was visiting Boston last week and really enjoyed it! Space is pretty, with a nice open windows concept. Service was stellar the entire time, I have a food allergy and they were on top of it from the get-go. Food was good overall. I loved the squid ink pasta, and the farro arancini. The drinks are fantastic- the olive oil gin sour was incredible! Portions are on the smaller side. read more

See all

Chopped Salad (8/10): Very good salad. I LOVED the cheese. All of the elements of the salad were well balanced. The acidity was the tiniest amount too much, but otherwise everything was perfect. Bagna Cauda Broccolini (8.5/10): The broccolini was actually even better than the salad. Texture was perfect, browned very nicely. Sauce was amazing. Sicilian Pork Sausage (7.5/10): This was a disappointment. $31 for just... a sausage. The broth with beans was rich and delicious. The sausage itself was a bit dry and not noteworthy. The broth pulls this up to a 7.5, but without it I'd rate this dish a 5. Ricotta All'Amatriciana (7.5/10): The pasta had a perfect al dente chew. A tad too salty, but otherwise very good. Tiramisu (6/10): Not a great way to end the meal. Way too much crumble on top. The cup was too shallow, so you can't really mix it without getting it everywhere. After I ate enough to mix it, it still wasn't anything unique or impressive. Not too busy on a Sunday night. Service was okay. The restaurant interior itself was pretty nice. Dimly lit and nice for dates. read more

See all

This restaurant has ample seating and gives a more elevated casual dining experience. While the vibe and atmosphere are pleasant, it felt very similar to other restaurants. The main appeal of this place though is the food. We started with the tuna crudo- while they didnt have tuna due to a delivery issue, they were able to substitute with hamachi. The fish was very light and flakey accompanied with thin apple slices giving it a nice crunch. Overall this was a great way to start as it was light and tasty without being over bearing/filling you up. I ordered the fazzoletti while my husband ordered the malloreddus. Both had fresh pasta but of the two we found the fazzoletti to be more hearty and have a nice balance of flavor. The malloreddus had more of a pizza vibe with the tomato based sauce. Both were good but Id order the fazzoletti again, maybe try something else instead of the malloreddus. The main dish that though that would have me coming back would be the tiramisu. Unlike most, this one had more of a crunchy coca top layer compared to the usual straight powder layers. This addition added a nice texture to the already creamy and soaked lady fingers and really elevated the dish. We saw so many people ordering it through the night so we decided to try it, and could not be happier. Overall this place was friendly and nice. It felt like a very normal restaurant experience between the vibe and staff - friendly and pleasant but nothing extraordinary. However, the food was good and the main reason I'd suggest coming here. read more

Went to Bar Volpe for Valentine's Day and loved their prix fixe menu. The meal was a little pricey but worth a splurge for a special occasion. The food was phenomenal and our cocktails & mocktails were great as well. The ambience and interior design were exactly what you want for a date night. Service was great too with a very friendly and attentive staff. read more

Walked in on a weeknight here with a group of 4 and they were able to squeeze us in. We tried a few dishes from each section of the menu with cocktails and really enjoyed everything. The service was very attentive and the ambiance was nice. read more

Bar Volpe - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I had heard good things about Bar Volpe, particularly after it received a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide, which Michelin describes as recognizing "exceptional food at great value." Unfortunately, I found the food to be average at best and, more importantly, not even a particularly good value. The biggest issue was the portion sizes. The appetizers and entrees were essentially the same size, and the appetizers themselves were quite small, so you can imagine how you would feel about the entrees. The prices also aren't exactly low, which makes the combination of small portions and average food quality particularly difficult to justify. I ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi for $35, which, no exaggeration, was probably around 10 pieces of gnocchi sitting in a very mediocre lemon sauce. I felt that the lemon flavor was doing almost all of the heavy lifting in the dish. It came across as pretty one-dimensional and, frankly, a little lazy. There was also some caviar just laid on top of the gnocchi, which didn't really add anything to the dish other than, I assume, helping justify the $35 price tag for a very small portion of pasta. My father ordered the Fazzoletti for $27, which was essentially Chicken Marsala - one of his favorite dishes. Again, the portion was extremely small, and there was hardly any chicken in the dish, which was particularly disappointing given the price tag. My mother ordered the Spaghetti al Limone for $31 which comes with crab and breadcrumbs and was probably the most satisfied with her meal. That said, even she felt the portion was quite small (someone that does not eat big meals), and the dish still suffered from the same issue I had with mine; the lemon flavor was overwhelmingly dominant and made the dish feel somewhat one-dimensional and low effort. We also ordered the Garlic Butter Rolls since there was no complimentary bread, which I personally feel is a pretty reasonable expectation at a restaurant at this price point. The rolls were fine, although they were so heavily coated in butter that it was a bit excessive. Overall, I left pretty disappointed and will not be coming back. Between the small portions, relatively high prices, and food that I found to be average at best, I just don't see where the "great value" part of the Bib Gourmand award comes from. Boston had only six restaurants receive Bib Gourmand recognition in 2025, including Bar Volpe and Fox & the Knife, which are both owned by the same chef. Given my experience at Bar Volpe, along with the relatively modest overall ratings both restaurants have received, I have to admit I'm skeptical of the way in which they each received their Bib Gourmand designation. read more

I had an excellent dinner here. The two pastas I got were both incredible - the Casarecce Al Nero (squid ink lobster pasta) and culurgiones (potato dumpling pasta). Both dishes were so unique and so delicious. Beautifully plated as well. I also liked that they had matchbooks here at the host stand! read more

Bar Volpe - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Sit at the bar, get a Bar Volpe martini (dirty), get fried olives stuffed with mortadella (luckily pistachio free!), get the tuna crudo, maybe a crostini or two. Big fan. read more

Bar Volpe - Tuna crudo, delicious! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Came here because it's BIB GOURMAND. We had FRITTI MISTI. It's pretty good. It's interesting that they have pesto as dipping sauce. They also have fried lemon which is not too sour. In general, everything is flavorful, just a bit too much salt for me. Then the BV martini has super rich olive flavor. The alpine breeze should really change the name. They added plenty of alcohol and it's good. But it's strong and doesn't feel the breeze part or other flavors that they added to the cocktail. They have plenty of seating indoor and outdoors. read more

See all

I ate fried food at a bar, gross. This joint is supposed to be the cat's meow, Martha. But buyer beware: if you reserve a seat at the bar on a Sunday between 4 and 5 PM you will get a dinky little menu with very limited options; including limited cocktails. LIMITED FOOD -- LIKE, FIVE OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. Burp, uncalled for. **Dinner time! Yes, dinner time, Martha! Ring the bell!!! Begins at 5 PM.** (No sooner, Roger! Nope.) None of this lunacy is documented on the website. Nor is IT documented upon reservation. They do hold your credit card, though, however -- yup, yup. Oh, of course, earthings! But they forget to mention you'll be dining from a very sad menu after you drive, like, idk 49 minutes anticipating to eat some of Bar Volpe's decadent homemade lasagna -- or, whatever -- instead, you're eating fried squid n tentacles at the end of a JaM pAcKeD bar (shoulder-to-shoulder; uncomfy seats) manned by one bartender only. Yo, just... Like... Two thumbs down... Sadly. I'll give it another shot someday, maybe? Womp womp womp. High expectations. Underwhelming experience. Frustrating experience. This reservation/experience failed my valentine's weekend "chow moment" with my one true love (this was 'posed 2B, like, "the dinner," dudes lol) -- but now maybe I will write a short essay about this silly time spent eating da tentacles but also smelling da kitchen prepare that night's gravy for 5PM+ guests @ the same time. Parking is a beast here. Like, ugh. Big windows at restaurant -- bright (glare) read more

Overall, this place is good, but not my favorite. The service was fairly slow, waited a solid 10 minutes before getting introduction and ordering drinks and it was consistently slow for the whole meal. The vibe and the ambience of the restaurant is fabulous, I love all the detail of the decorations, and it was definitely a cozy setting. To start we ordered the chicken croquettes, instead the server brought over the Arancini, but we had that anyway, and it was delicious! We got three pasta dishes to share, the spicy sausage Ragu was definitely super spicy, but it was my favorite, the spaghetti was very light but tasty and then the lobster pasta was definitely something I've never had before, but it was pretty good, although I thought the pasta was a bit chewy. I will add that I think the portion sizes were very small for the prices on the menu, but overall a good experience! read more

See all

Had a really lovely dinner here! Service was attentive and friendly, the outdoor patio was a great spot to sit, and food was fresh. We got the arancini and mussels to start. Both were delicious! The main dishes were bright and fresh, not too heavy at all. The swordfish skewer looked so good, though I didn't try it. I ordered the lobster squid ink pasta which was light and summery as far as pasta goes. The tiramisu was amazing...they added some crunch which totally elevated it. Overall, the meal was delightful. read more

Very good food! Starters especially. Pasta is really good but not super original. Meat mains are pretty good too. Could have more main course choice for vegetarians. Nice ambiance inside. read more

Cannot say enough good things about Bar Volpe - it is perfect. Every time we go we are blown away by food, service and environment. read more

See all

First time visiting and we'd go back. The restaurant is gorgeous. There are two bars and I think we'd try bar seating next time. Food and cocktails were great. We had the tuna crudo, arancini, fritti Misti, the rotisserie chicken and malloreddus. All were fantastic but I think the arancini was the favorite. The only downside was the service, and maybe just our server. They were friendly and knowledgeable but not available. Once seated we were given menus and info on a special. Our server asked the chef an allergy question for me, gave us the info and then disappeared? We sat with our menus for 20 minutes when another server stopped to see if drinks were on the way, which they weren't. He was also kind enough to ask about our food order and that got things moving. Getting a 2nd drink was slow though both having someone ask if I'd like another and then by the time I received it we had already finished our food. Maybe the server was having an off night. As shared before, we'd want try bar seating next time and hopefully some of this could be avoided. read more

Bar volpe definitely has some pretty good dinner options if you're in the Boston area. While all the food we ordered was pretty good, it took quite a bit of time for everything to come in (understandable since it was the weekend). Although service was a bit slow, the staff was really friendly and welcoming. We started with the Burrata and I ordered the ricotta gnocchi, which were both delicious. The portions are definitely on the smaller side for what you're paying though. The best part in my opinion were the desserts, the cannoli and semifreddo were both amazing. read more

See all

If you're looking for a cozy, elevated spot in Boston, Bar Volpe is definitely worth checking out. My boyfriend and I had been to Chef Karen's other restaurant, Fox & the Knife, and loved it. So when we were back in Boston, we knew we had to try this one too. I'd rate both as 5 stars, but I'd say Bar Volpe just falls a tiny bit short compared to Fox & the Knife. Still, it was an amazing experience. Right from the start, the service was excellent. I mentioned to our server that I usually avoid alcohol in both drinks and food, and she immediately spoke to the chef. She pointed out the dishes that might have alcohol used in preparation so I could make better choices. That kind of attention to detail really made me feel cared for. We started with a few appetizers to share, including the salt cod fritters, beef carpaccio, and farro arancini. The fritters and arancini were absolutely delicious, both crispy and flavorful. The beef carpaccio was fresh but felt like it was missing something extra to really stand out. I probably shouldn't compare it, but we had the beef tartare at Fox & the Knife and it was unforgettable, so this one just felt a little flat in comparison. For our main courses, even though they aren't really designed for sharing, we decided to order three dishes to split. The culurgiones were just amazing. They were soft, delicate, and the sauce had the perfect balance of tartness with the creamy goat cheese. The orecchiette with lamb ragu was also a standout. It was the perfect comforting dish, especially after a cold and rainy week. We also shared the grilled arctic char, which was cooked perfectly with crispy skin. It tasted a lot like salmon, so if I hadn't known it was arctic char, I might have thought it was salmon, but it was still a really good dish. We skipped dessert this time because everything except the gelato and sorbet had alcohol in it, and we weren't really in the mood for cold dessert after being out in the rain all week. The whole experience was fantastic. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, perfect for a fancy date night or a nice evening with friends. It felt upscale but never pretentious, and the service really stood out. I'd definitely recommend Bar Volpe and would absolutely come back, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd probably pick Fox & the Knife. Still, you can't go wrong with either read more

See all

I loved the vibes of bar volpe. They have an amazing patio outside and a beautiful interior. We had a super greater server who was very attentive. The espresso martini was super good but so so small. I got the Panzerotti and was OBSESSED. read more

Bar Volpe - Panzerotti - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

We stopped in for drinks and an appetizer. The hostess was managing bar seating, because they reserve bar seats, but we got lucky. The bar tenders were very attentive and helpful. They gave good advice for wines to try. The arancini with orange blossom honey was absolutely delicious, probably the best I ever had. We thought the vibe was going to be a little more formal, but it seems flexible enough for formal or semi-casual. We plan to return for dinner. read more

I'm a big fan of Chef Karen Acunowicz and had previously been to The Fox & the Knife, which I enjoyed greatly, so I was excited to try Bar Volpe. I'm happy to report that our experience at Volpe was also excellent! I give it four stars only because I reserve five stars for something truly unique, inspired and elevated. My daughter was in town on business and staying in the seaport, so we had the perfect reason to visit Bar Volpe. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get a resy because of the recent Michelin nod, but we were, in fact, able to get a resy on a Friday night (about 2 weeks in advance). Despite being an Italian pastificio, the atmosphere gave me French bistro vibes, lively but not overly loud. Our server was attentive and offered good advice. I started with the tomato basil gimlet (highly recommend) and my daughter had the porcini Old Fashioned which she liked a lot but said the maple made it a tad too sweet. With that, we had the mushroom crostini with robiola cheese - the mushrooms were silky and delicious and the cheese was the perfect compliment (note: there is only one crostini per order, so order extras because we were basically fighting over it and ended up ordering another - it's that good). The farro arancini with truffle and orange blossom honey were equally as delicious and thankfully came 4 to an order. For my main, I simply ordered the beef carpaccio, but it was certainly not simple - the quality of the beef was outstanding, the colatura aioli was divine, and for texture, it was served on a paper thin cracker (appropriately called carta di musica or sheet music because it's that thin). My daughter ordered the chicken marsala fazzoletti which we both thought was very good but maybe not Michelin quality. Overall, it was a great meal, and I hope to return (although it's in a tricky location in my opinion). When I return, I will go straight for the arancini and the mushroom crostini! read more

Fantastic bar service and the food was amazing! The olives all' ascolnana (fried olives) appetizer, warm garlic butter rolls, lemon-butter ricotta gnocchi, casarecce al nero, Sicilian pork sausage were all delicious! read more

It's almost the New Year and I wanted to take a few minutes out to write my last review of 2023. Don't worry I will be back better than ever come 2024. For my last review I chose Bar Volpe. I have been following Karen Akunowicz since watching her on a Cooking competition show to her first restaurant Fox and the Knife in South Boston to now, her second newly opened restaurant Bar Volpe. It has been there for a few years now and this is our second time dining here. Parking as you can imagine is tough except for the Tuesday night that we were there after 7pm. I like to start off with parking because we all know how tough it can be living in Boston and surrounding towns. But I will say that this restaurant and so many others are quite worth the trip after driving around for hours looking for that perfect spot. The bar when we arrived was pretty empty minus a few people. Our bartender was so nice as they always are and since I have been in the restaurant business prior I appreciate the kindness and caring from all staff. I started off with their Insalata Verde which was perfect for one but could be shared by two. The crunchiness of the toppings and the balance of all the flavors exploded in my mouth and couldn't wait for another bite. Yummy! We also shared the fried olives...OMG! Where have these been all my life :) and how can I make them at home like yesterday LOL! For entrees, we shared the ORECCHIETTE one of my favorites since I was a little girl. Al dente, cooked to perfection, and great for us to share. We both had a nice glass of Italian red wine (me, Cannonauo) and my husband had their Nebbiolo. If I could give this restaurant 10+ stars I would and not because I am a huge fan of Karen's (because I sure am) but they do everything right and go above and beyond; food, service, wine, decor, ambiance. You name it I love it here and so should you. In 2024 I have a lot of restaurants that I can't wait to ge to (bank account=broke) and even though I have been to this one a few times I will definitely be back again. Maybe I will see you there! A definite place to add to your 'Foodie' bucket list and if you don't have one then start one today. Happy New Year! Cheers! read more

See all

This place met my expectations and beyond. I'm gluten free so it's always a gamble what I can eat but I was greeted at the door by the host and hostess who noticed on my reservation and immediately had a gluten free menu. Was so great to have so many choices! What a way to start. Our table wasn't ready so we started w drinks at the bar, we all enjoyed these cocktails. When we were seated we were brought to a back room that was spacious, decor was lovely and could easily hear each other. I ordered the gluten free dish that had lobster was flavorful, others had recommendations by the waitress, one being the ravioli. We started with a wonderful burrata. Friends ended with a cannoli that looked ok. There was a quaint back bar and our server was lovely.This place was a winner for me. read more

See all

Very good experience at bar volpe. Service was friendly and prompt and had great suggestions. Can defiantly get on the noisy side once 7PM hits, so be aware.Food was very good. I will definitely be coming by again to try other items on the menu. 5/5 Tuna crudo- acqua pazza, sungold tomato, chives. A nice citrus water base combined well with yellow tomatoes and basil- though The tuna was Drowned in it. If I didn't eat it fast it would have gotten soggy. Great taste slightly flawed execution. The being said The tuna was fresh and good quality. 4/5 Salted cod fritters- za'atar, pepperoncini aioli. Nice and crunchy on the outside with a nice zest. Inside you get a slight brineness with a healthy amount of cod. The aioli add a nice sharpness to the dish. Rather yummy 4.5/5 Roasted truffle chicken black truffle, tuscan kale, fingerling potatoes. I was told this was the dish they are known for and that it usually sells out. I can see why people like. The chicken skin is nice and caramelized and bursting with real truffle flavor. This soaks into the meat of the chicken, which was perfectly juicy and tender. The kale added a nice bitterness and the potatoes were potatoes. One of the better chicken dishes I've had 5/5 Chocolate Peanut Butter Semifreddo pretzel brittle, candied peanuts, valrhona satilia, cocoa nibs. Great way to end the night . Decadent semi sweet chocolate paired well with the salted pretzels. I added a scoop of hazlenut icecream ,because why not. 4/5 read more

See all

Bar Volpe manages the rare feat of being aggressively mediocre while charging like it's doing you a favor. From the moment you walk in, the attitude is unmistakable: loud, chaotic, and more interested in cultivating an Instagram aesthetic than delivering a remotely enjoyable dining experience. The food is the biggest disappointment. Dishes arrive either lukewarm or wildly over-seasoned, as if subtlety were personally offensive. Pastas that should be comforting are instead greasy and unbalanced, and anything touted as "house-made" tastes suspiciously like it was rushed out without a second thought. For prices this steep, the execution borders on insulting. Service only compounds the problem. Servers appear overwhelmed or indifferent--sometimes both--vanishing for long stretches and reappearing only to rush you through ordering or drop the check with minimal interaction. Any attempt at hospitality feels transactional at best, and outright dismissive at worst. Then there's the noise. Bar Volpe isn't lively; it's exhausting. Conversations are drowned out by music cranked far past what the room can handle, making the entire experience feel less like a dinner and more like being trapped inside a poorly managed party you didn't ask to attend. In a city with no shortage of excellent Italian and Italian-inspired restaurants, Bar Volpe stands out for all the wrong reasons. It's style over substance, hype over heart, and price over quality. Save your money, your time, and your patience--Boston has far better to offer, don't waste your time. read more

Solid 2nd restaurant by Karen Akunowicz. I'm a big fan of Top Chef, so I had to check out Karen's 2nd restaurant. My wife and I checked out Fox and the Knife back in 2021, so I had high expectations given how much we enjoyed Karen's 1st place. Service here is solid. We came here for my birthday and they provided a custom menu wishing me a happy birthday. The Negroni flight is a cool concept since it gives you the opportunity to try various Negroni styles. The classic was traditional but the Bianco was my favorite. The mezcal was interesting since it was Smokey but it was still my least favorite. We shared the squash blossoms, fritti misti, mussels, and tuna crudo. All were solid dishes. My fave of the "apps" was the squash blossoms with the fritti misti coming in a close 2nd. The shrimps in the fried dish were huge! For entrees we shared the squid ink pasta, pork chop and branzino. We really enjoyed the pasta as it was cooked perfectly and had a nice briney flavor. My fave entree was the pork chop. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The wild rapini had some great acidity which complemented the pork. For dessert I had the gelato en brioche which was huge but delicious. Was a bit sad that my dessert didn't have a birthday candle (since we saw another table have dessert with a candle). But all good. The food was solid that we even ordered some pasta and sauces to go. read more

See all

We were seated in a gracious booth. The arancini and mushroom toast were delicious. The truffle roasted chicken was decadently fabulous. I think it might be the best chicken I have ever had. The affogato for dessert was swoon worthy. Top that off with excellent service and some well- curated wines by the glass and you have a place to go to for that special occasion. We will be going back! read more

We ate outside and brought our 3 month old baby who slept thru dinner. The ambiance outside is cute and very urban - the only thing about eating outside was service was a tad bit slow. The coco margarita I got was really good and I tried to go off menu and order a skinny Marg but that was a mistake. The fried olives left more to be desired but the mussels were delicious as was the calzone. Skid ink pasta was good but the orecchiette was amazing! Overall the dinner was very good just a little slow. read more

See all

Best chicken I've ever had - truffle roasted chicken! Tea party cocktail was also very refreshing! Loved the sea salt touch on the tiramisu - unique and addicting. read more