I was pleasantly surprised by a meal that I had at Cafe Italia recently with my sister and niece. We traveled to Marblehead looking for a Mexican Restaurant that used to be in this same spot. I was really looking forward to the Mexican and tried to con my sister into driving up to Saugus to the Border Cafe. She was having none of it, so we stepped into the Cafe Italia. I liked the atmosphere, open windows on a nice June night. I ordered a special salad with grilled pears, walnuts, and blue cheese (at least I think it was blue, could have been some other kind of fancy goat cheese). Followed by scallops with a pasta and pesto sauce. The scallops were sweet. I even asked for the remainder of my pasta to be wrapped up (which I never do, I know it's wasteful but I never seem to have the time to eat the leftovers and end up throwing them away two weeks later)...so that I could have it the next day for lunch, I reheated it and ate it all. My sister had the lobster ravioli...yum, and the niece at chicken brocolli and fusilli. Loved it all. Would have rated the restaurant higher except for the service, which was slow but our waiter was new. Not bad for Italian on the Northshore. read more

This place rocks. the people and food are great. Its like going tom your grandmother house and the staff is great. I have been to every high end restaurant around and we keep coming back to Italia because we are treated so well. the food is consistent and ask for Joey the waiter he is great. Until he joins the police force. Sarah and Chuck read more

Thus place is definitely 5 stars! Had dinner tonight and cannot wait to go again. They make their pasta and you can definitely tell the difference from that dry box stuff. I had the baked haddock over fresh homemade angel hair pasta with a beautiful white wine sauce! Served with fresh grilled asparagus. They definitely pay attention to detail and SERVICE. Great place for a delicious dinner. Hope you enjoy as much as we did. read more

Always delicious and Donna is wonderful! I recommend the calamari, chicken Parmesan, eggplant rollatini, and the cannoli.

This place is awsome! One of the best kept secrets in Marblehead! My wife and I have become regulars there! Donna is the most gracious host, the food and wine is devine! Very generous portions and reasonable prices! Donna, we love your place, you are the best on the north shore! See you soon! John & Jenni Schillizzi Salem, read more

This little gem of a restaurant is consistently awesome. The food and service are great even in a COVID environment. I get the feeling every time we eat there that they truly care about their customers and our experience. Great food and great people read more

Horrible service!!! Made a reservation for 18 a week in advance and we waited 2 hours and 20 minutes from the time we arrived to be fed (food finally arrived 90 minutes after placing order). Manager (owners son, from what I understand) was too busy flirting with women at bar to come over and maybe offer a free drink or appetizer for the wait (maybe just an apology or an acknowledgment of the ridiculous wait?). I have to admit food was pretty good once it arrived but certainly not worth the wait. It took forever to get the check and, when we finally got it, it was wrong. We won't be running back to this place again. read more

What an amazing restaurant! My wife and I want to thank the owner Donna for always making us always feel at home?

We spent two lovely evenings over there. Furniture, interior and the whole atmosphere is very cozy, friendly, homey. Their seafood is great! Prices is very reasonable and staff is very professional. We were only disappointed with grilled beef(too rare instead of medium well) but the rest of menu is just fantastic and not pricy at all. read more

It was really wonderful to sit by the open front windows and take in a crisp late summer evening. The arancini appetizer was quite lovely, very tender. My entree was chicken limone, which had a light breading on two generous breast filets with a delicate lemon sauce and mushrooms. It came with broccoli rabe but I really wanted pasta. For an upcharge I got tender angel hair pasta underneath, basking in the sauce. Service was competent. read more

We chose Cafe Italia for a Saturday night to support local business. That was a mistake. From the minute we sat down we were ignored - except for our bus boy who did a terrific job keeping our waters full as we waited and waited and waited for the rest of our meal. It took an hour for our entrees to come. I can understand if things are backed up on a Saturday night, but then please just have the waitress or manager come over and let us know we have not been forgotten about. It is not about the wait as much as the consideration. And when the manager did come over at the end of the meal to see how things had been and we said we were less than happy, he brushed it off and said, "Oh, we were very busy." Well, isn't the job of the manger to "manage" that?? And why ask us how things went if he had no interest in the answer. ...and two out of the three dishes we ordered (all specials) were way under seasoned. Even in a small town like Marblehead there are plenty of places who do care about delivering a pleasant dining experience; we will be spending next Saturday night at one of them. read more

I have been here twice and the only reason for the second visit was because it was for a family members birthday dinner. I didn't review it last time because I typically only review places that I have tried a few times and now that I have, the experiences have been identically disappointing. I'll be brief. The appetizers are actually really good. I have had the Caesar salad which was excellent, the arancini and the meatballs. The sad thing is that these appetizers set expectations for the main course that they cannot meet. First time going I had the chicken limon over pasta. The chicken was not pounded thin so only the outside had a faint lemon flavor while the inside was plain. It was like eating a piece if grilled chicken on top of pasta with some watery sauce on the bottom of the bowl. Last (emphasis on last) time I got the fettuccine italia which was barely edible but luckily I had skipped lunch earlier and was absolutely starving. The pasta was great with a nice eggy color but that was the only good thing. The sauce had a sourness to it and the cut up Italian sausage was completely plain. The broccoli rabe stood up to the sour sauce but it was soggy. In summary the place has decent prices in a nice area of Marblehead but if you do have the option of going to one of the many fantastic Italian restaurants within a 3-5 mile radius it is worth the extra drive for a much better dining experience. read more

The food was good...nice atmosphere, well lit.....I brought my girlfriend here for Valentine's Day and there was a live band playing...Unfortunately I couldn't hear anything she was saying from across the table because the music was too loud! read more

Went there last night and had a very mixed experience. It had been a beautiful fall day and we had worked outside all day so we were hungry. We arrived at peak time yet the hostess found a way to get us a table within 10 minutes - kudos for that, it was much appreciated. The wait staff was upbeat and attentive, the drinks were OK (tasted good but served in a relatively small low-ball glass), and wine selection was OK (not huge - a couple of choices of each of the major types). Nice atmosphere - this particular night the whole front of the restaurant was open air. We ordered the fried calamari appetizer and that was quite good. However, our entrees were not great. We had the lamb chops with apricot risotto and balsamic fig reduction as well as the marinated grilled shrimp on a bed of baby greens and zucchini with a side of grilled potatoes. The lamb was tasty and cooked properly but the risotto was tough in texture and the balsamic fig reduction was sour. We each tried one bite of the risotto and that was it. The grilled shrimp was not overcooked but it tasted like the charcoal of the grill - no hint of any marinade. The greens were good. The side of grilled potatoes never arrived but were on the bill. Overall we had a nice time but the food left us unsatisfied. read more

I like to give it more than ONE try and unfortunately several times the food and/or service were not good. We reserved a table for four. We asked ordered salads and bread several times and it never came. My duck was a special and it was an overcooked disaster. I am not sure what the waiter was doing but He evaporated for long periods of time. The table next to us as well as a table across complained to him about the length oftime it took to get him back over. Will not go back,,ever. read more

Caffe Italia is a local Italian eatery that has great food, a nice ambiance and exceptional service. I have dined here many times and have never been disappointed, whether I am at the bar, in the dining room, or attending a private event! Being a big "foodie" I have very high expectations, and I have always been pleased with everything I have ordered. My favorite appetizers are the Calamari Fritti ($11.95)- which is crispy calamari drizzled with a garlic aioli and topped with arugula and and cherry tomatoes, the Melanzana Rollatini ($8.95)- which is egg battered eggplant stuffed with ricotta and spinach and topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce, the Melanzana Donna ($9.95), which is breaded eggplant layered with basil, mozzarella and tomato sauce served over the tastiest, spoon-licking good pesto cream sauce, and the Meat-A-Balls ($9.95), which are the tastiest huge meatballs served with tomato sauce and ricotta. My go-to entree is the Ravioli di Zucca ($17.95) which is butternut squash ravioli served in a marsala brown butter sage sauce and topped with pine nuts and golden raisins- it is perfectly amazing!! Desserts at Caffe Italia are also wonderful, and my favorite is the Gigantic Chocolate Cake- a huge piece of fudgy, chocolatey deliciousness! Caffe Italia is a great spot, that will not disappoint! read more

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We have been to Caffe Italia twice It was great booth times. But the atmosphere was tainted by music that was too loud (coming from a live band). read more

Great, cozy, inviting and reasonably priced joint in a town that's certainly not known for the quality of its cuisine. Caffe Italia has the best Bolognese I've ever had. I love it. It's practically all I order. I usually eat at the bar, receive excellent service, and great food. With 5 Corners Kitchen down for the count, and coming back somewhere between never and who-knows-when, it's nice to have once decent eatery in such a gorgeous town. Now, if we could just get the Barnacle, Landing and Maddies to serve food meant for someone other than prisoners, we might be on a roll. read more

Recently, my family planned a birthday party for me at Cafe Italia in Marblehead. There were 15 guests and every one of them raved about the food, service, and ambiance of the restaurant. Donna, the owner, is a gracious host who wrote the book on customer service. Kelly, the bartender, is the best. Food was outstanding! Looking forward to my next birthday at Cafe Italia. Too bad birthdays come only once a year. read more

Same concept as the original cafe Italia in East Boston. Italian dishes trattoria style are prepared with care and are always good. Hope they will soon open one nearby my town. read more

This place is just okay. It certainly doesn't compare to Italian in Salem or Beverly. I wouldn't come back for several reasons. I ordered the chicken marsala and it wasn't good. The chicken wasn't pounded thin and you receive two large breasts. The entrée doesn't come with pasta or mashed potatoes served with it so be prepared to spend more on additional sides because who really wants just a chicken breast? The marsala sauce was watery, sweet, and lacking flavor. The rolls were good best part of the meal. We had a sourpuss waitress, but loved the nice, cheerful water girl. Overall, I was unimpressed. read more

Caffé Italia is pretty... okay. I've been here dozens of times, and while the entree I usually get is pretty okay, I'm usually disappointed when I try anything else. The service has it's ups and downs. Sometimes it feels pretty welcoming, but other times it feels very diner-ish. Let me put it this way: the building and atmosphere might lead you into thinking this place will be somewhat decent and authentic, but the actual experience is more on par with going to a slightly crappier version of the Cheesecake Factory. It's really not completely awful, but there are other Italian restaurants in the area that are much nicer and more authentic for a similar price. read more

This has quickly become one of our favorite spots in town. The food and drinks are delicious, and the service at the bar is outstanding. They are more than willing to accommodate preferences for dishes which is huge, and each course always seems to be exceptional. Warm atmosphere and great people. read more

The meal was very mediocre, the wait for the food was fairly long which would have been fine if the food really made it worth waiting for - but it didn't. Good wine selection. Way overpriced. $18 for ten very dry butternut squash raviolis. Nothing is included with your entree. Will not return. read more

This food was very average. The manager is a total jerk. Don't eat here at all cost. Stay away if you want good service and good food. I can't say this enough! read more

Delicious! Festive! Great service! Saturday night insalata with nectarines, feta and roasted pecans! Maybe you should go! :)

good food.. the amount of Italian places on the North Shore is sickening... location is cool...parking is sporadic, service is good...menu is standard boston itallian nothing great read more

Love sitting by the huge windows! I can make believe I am in Europe on a Parisian street. The specials are always delicious with interesting combinations and colors and many healthy choices to keep me happy. read more

We went here on a last minute date (my husband and myself) and were delightfully surprised by how good it was! We will definitely go back!

So disappointed as Cafe Italia was one of our go to standards for delicious family dining. No offense to the owners but our last 2 visits were catastrophes and the food quality and service were atrocious. In fact our waitress last night was clearly drunk and the entire meal was a disaster because of it. I gave them a second chance but unfortunately I can't give them a third. I won't go back. read more

This place is very overrated, I believe they get most of their business from the theatre next door, so that explains the hype- but the food and service does not back it up. They're trying to be overly fancy and falling short. Food is decent if you order the right dish, but it's not a place I would care to dine again. The first time I went I had an average experience. My shrimp scampi was cooked perfectly, my boyfriend's dish was hot and tasty, but the waitress seated us in a strange spot and hustled us in and out in just about 30 minutes. The restaurant was pretty empty at the time (it was before dinner rush), so it came off as a bit rude as we wanted a longer romantic dinner (and yes, we made reservations). The second time was fairly awful. It took 20 minutes of waiting by the door to get someone to seat us, and there wasn't even a line. Service was atrociously slow, it was almost 45 minutes before we even got to place an order and bread too too long to come out, my stomach was growling audibly. They seated a table of 10 right next to us with 2 screaming babies which didn't help. Over 1 1/2 hours into being there and we didn't even have our food yet, and the table of 10 that was seated about 30 minutes after us got their food first. My father flagged down the waitress and asked if something was wrong or if the kitchen dropped our order, but she insisted nothing was wrong. Closer to hour 2 was when our food arrived, we would have left if it wasn't for my boyfriend's birthday. My dish was fine, a bit over seasoned with lemon (it was sour), my boyfriend's lobster ravioli were good, but my father's dish was horrible. It was like someone dumped a jar of pasta sauce,half cooked eggplant, and seasoning over rigatoni pasta and then heated it up halfway in an oven. Not pleased. They gave us a free slice of chocolate cake to make up for it, and that came out quickly, which was nice. read more

This is a great place. When you walk in, even when it is busy, you get a warm hello. They actually are pleased that you chose their establishment! Once seated, you are quickly approached by a waitperson, drink order taken, and warm rolls with infused olive oil is placed on the table The food is good. Their house salad is fresh, interesting and the house dressing is very good. The pasta with meatballs, fish dishes, lamb chops and old Italian standbys like Chicken Parmagania are served hot, well seasoned, and cooked correctly. There are two sections of the restaurant. The section that at one time used to be an "Italian market", and the main side, which includes open-window/air dining, booths, adequate tables and a large horseshoe shaped bar. I have been their multiple times, and have yet to have an unpleasant seating situation. Friendly management, helpful staff, good food, appropriate pricing. I am looking forward to returning as soon as I can. read more

Just got the worst take out. They told us 45 minutes but the meals were clearly ready sooner because the food was not hot. The caeser salad looked like old pre-cut lettuce with brown edges, and it was drowned in dressing and very soggy. We couldn't eat it. The bolognese sauce was bland and the pasta was stuck together. The carbonara was the worst I've ever had. The carbonara was bland and congealed. I've always had good food in the restaurant, although I've never ordered these dishes before. I am shocked at how horrible the take-out was. We threw it out. read more

This was our place to eat Italian while we lived in Marblehead for 6 years. This place was better than those restaurants in the north end of Boston. We also did not find any place that matched here in the north shore area. Nothing special but it was well made. We miss this place now as we live in the Bay area. read more

I'm not a fan of Italian restaurants. My mother cooks Italian. Either I got the critic gene or I have just had too much Italian. Cafe Italia has a great atmosphere though with a terrific horseshoe bar. read more

I went to Caffe Italia last weekend. We had a a party of ten, and we were celebrating two people's birthdays. Our table was ready as soon as we got there. Joey was our waitor, and he was awesome! We are quite the loud group when we are together, constantly joking around and Joey fit right in with us. He was able to take the jokes people threw at him, and give it right back. The food was delicous. For apps we had fried calamari, eggplant rolotini, joel rolls (steak and cheese spring rolls), musseles both red and white, and fried stuffed zucchini flowers which were a special - everything was fabulous. Needless to say we were all stuffed by the time our meals came out, but I ordered the Saltimbocca and the few bites I had were very good. If you are in the mood for a drink, get a lemon bar martini! They were INCREDIBLE, everyone at the table had a round or two of those martinis! All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I will definitely be back! read more

I go back to East Boston with Donna. Good menu, moderate prices, nice atmosphere. I recommend it for good casual dining.

From the warm service to incredible food to happy, energetic ambience, this classic Italian restaurant needs to be on your must-try in Marblehead list. We recently had the gorgonzola salad, mellanzana Donna, broccoli rabe and papparadelli bolognese and everything was so fresh and flavorful. Our server made sure we were well taken care of and even asked if I'd like to substitute the pasta with spaghetti to make sure I was getting what I wanted. I would highly recommend Caffe Italia and plan to go back often. read more

Service was great! I had veal parm and it was fine. I thought the sauce needed a little more flavor. My wife got the butternut ravioli and enjoyed it. Very nice ambiance. read more

Food good, service rude and disrespectful. Funny, when I go with my female friends, service is unbelievably abominable. When igo as couples or with men in our party, waitstaff is particularly attentive. I won't be going back. Too bad as I have been a customer for years. Because we were mostly ignored for a friend's 70 th birthday, we have all decided to go back to Paradiso for Italian. read more