We have eaten here many times, sometimes a couple of appetizers and a drink at the bar. Other times dinner with ourselves, or dinner with friends... Everything is beyond superb, regardless of the event. Donna is very welcoming, staff is always friendly and attentive. Attentive. Food is about 14 steps past excellence. Terrific atmosphere and a really excellent bar arrangement. Kudos to Donna and her staff for always having the greatest of experiences. See you soon! read more

Three friends and I came for dinner on a Sunday night. Dante, our waiter, was super friendly and attentive. We ordered drinks and the Burrata and Prosciutto appetizer to share. The drinks came out pretty quickly, but the appetizer was delivered at the same time as our entrees. It had a good amount of Prosciutto and a large serving of burrata, but only came with two very small pieces of bread, which was very odd. I got chicken marsala, which came with two breasts of chicken and three small wedges of potatoes. My friends all got pasta dishes. We all enjoyed our meals and I ate so fast that I forgot to take puctures. Our meals were good, but I'd steer clear of that appetizer, as it was disappointing. read more

We arrived without a reservation on a Friday night but were able to find two seats at the bar. The restaurant had a warm and friendly vibe, it seemed like a local favorite. The two bartenders were very busy throughout the evening, but sociable and as prompt as the many orders allowed. My husband and I split the Caprese salad and Veal Marsala companied by a glass of super Tuscan wine. Everything was delicious. We felt the prices for the food were very reasonable for the quality we received. When we are in the area visiting again, we will definitely give it a try. read more

Donna is an exceptional Hostess and always makes you feel welcome. Had a reservation and sat down within a few minutes, food was great! read more

Having lived in Wakefield and enjoyed being within walking distance of that location, we were excited to see they had a Marblehead location after we moved to Salem. Hubs bday choice was to try them out:) On January 17th. It was a dark slow Tuesday night; we made reservations, although absolutely was not needed. Greeted by the owner and was surprised another Tricia had reservations the same night, lol! The ambiance is old school Italian bar. Dark woods, country seating. While it was mostly empty, we sat right next to another table of a group of ladies. Given that I mentioned this was a bday celebration, I would have hoped to have a bit of space. But it was overall fine. Our server was great and attentive. The owner came by a few times to check on how we were doing, which was a great touch. Food - oh my. So good. The Citrus salad we started with was juicy fresh and not overdressed, seasoned well. We also tried the arancini, which was very good, smooth, and cheesy. Hubs got some seafood red sauce dish, lol we can't remember what it was! But I do remember he absolutely loved it and said it was cooked perfectly. I had the simple-looking lamb chops and grilled veg. This was amazing! The lamb was cooked perfectly, and wow, those veg were seasoned so well, nice char from the grill I gobbled them up. We ended with a cannoli that was so light and fluffy - perfect ending. We will be back! read more

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It's really gone done hill in new location, bright florescent lights, food meh and a more limited menu. The staff is great though...get better lighting and improve food quality and would be winner read more

Amazing food..Memories are made..Great wait staff ..Owner Donna is extremely attentive . Mark her right hand man is always helpful . We can't wait to go back to create more memories.. Kind regards Shellie Johnson Edgartown, Mass. read more

Had a great dinner here recently with some friends. All of our food was great and came out promptly and hot. Large portion sizes. Our server was very nice and helpful. Only downside was the beer menu was limited and they were out of some. Overall, really enjoyed and will be back. read more

The new location is 10 Bessom St. Marblehead. The decor is disappointing if you know the original restaurant on School St. I had the eggplant appetizer, it was served room temperature on a cold plate. The wait staff was overbearing. There was a nice kid who wanted to clear our plates while we still were eating! She was reluctant to leave. Strange experience! read more

Great spot, id go here back in the day when it was in eastie, great pizza, great atmosphere, friendly service, chatted it up, great food

Nice restaurant down town. Larger than most of the tiny places downtown. Great service & the food was above average quality for the price. Good size portions. Typical Italian restaurant decor. read more

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We went with a group of four for Saturday dinner. The atmosphere was great, the hostess and service was outstanding. The food was fresh, hot and decent size portions. Our guests had both the veal parmigiana and pasta fettuccini which were very tasty. I had the chicken saltimboca that had a good portion of chicken however practically no ham or cheese and not much flavor. The shrimp scampi was fresh and good portion of shrimp however very little garlic flavor. read more

We ate at Caffe Italia twice while in Marblehead. The food was excellent and our waitstaff was very friendly. It's worth the trip to get the cannoli gelato! read more

Wow, just wow!! I love trying out new restaurants in my area to see where I can get the best Italian food! Growing up Sicilian this is hands down one of the best authentic Italian places I've ever had! Service was good, atmosphere was great but the food was even better. I ordered a special which was a calamari fra Diavolo dish with a substitute of spaghetti for fusilli. Absolutely outstanding!!!! Well done cafe Italia! read more

Caffé Italia - Calamari fra diavolo - Italian Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

The restaurant is consistently great. My three siblings and myself took my mother to dinner tonight. It was a post mother day additional treat. Everything was spectacular, the male server was polished, knowledgeable, professional and friendly. The dinner was timed perfectly, the food excellent and the drinks superbly crafted. I would recommend Café Italia to anyone looking for a consistently great Italian meal. The owners are great people and very personable. They make my 96-year-old mother feel special every time she enters the restaurant and for that we are forever thankful. read more

If you find yourself craving some Italian, checkout Caffé Italia in Marblehead. The staff is friendly and attentive. I've enjoyed just about all of the pasta dishes. They will not disappoint. Last night I had the pan seared Halibut with spinach and some grilled veg - superb. Although the meal was substantial- I had to go for the chocolate cake and a perfectly brewed latte. read more

Been coming here for years. Friendly staff, nice pour on a decent wine. Usually reliably good food. I was surprised at the reaction to my complaint about my entree. I ordered the haddock Francese and was served a dish quite smothered in lemon and at least 2 tbsp. of tart capers, served with roasted potatoes (3-pieces, soggy and uninspired) and 4 thin pieces of asparagus. I politely pointed out that I was mistakenly served haddock piccata. You would think I'd be offered a new dish but instead, the server merely said "I'll let the chef know" then proceeded to ignore us for the rest of the night as if I had offended him personally. Diner be warned. read more

Lots of salt and oil. I try this place every couple of years with the hope that it has improved. Nope, it's still lousy.

Took an order for take away and then didn't follow through. Left customers in the lurch. Not good customer service in my book

Half priced apps from 4-6 PM can't be beat. Nice ambiance, good food and nice staff; what more could you ask.

I ate at Cafe Italia this evening in Marblehead with a dear friend. I have never been so disappointed in service and food. We waited for 10 minutes before anyone asked for our drink order. Our waiter Adam was dismissive, rude and absolutely awful. I have never experienced that type of service. I eventually mentioned to him how upset I was and also spoke to the owner. She listened and I believe spoke to him because his attitude changed. A bit too late for me. The owner should have done something to make up for the treatment. Marblehead is a very small town and word travels fast. I don't plan on going back. This is my second bad experience at Cafe Italia and will be my last. read more

Got the shrimp scampi. Have had food poisoning for almost 24 hours now and going strong. It's bad. I think the owner (woman) sat us at 5:30 and told us we had to be out by 7:00. read more

Outdoor seating excellent. Fun and also warm. However food was horrible. Pasta not cooked enough and sauces not well prepared. Salad better but do not order ravioli or pasta read more

Very good food. Really enjoyed one dish of meatballs and another with spaghetti and meatballs. Service was prompt. The mood and ambiance was very nice for a couples night out. Would dine here again. read more

COVID Review: Cafe Italia is providing excellent food and dining services during the pandemic. They were both kind and accommodating towards my request to sit outside, despite there bing options to sit both inside and out. Their food is incredible! I have dined here multiple times this summer and am always impressed with their pasta dishes. Not only is the quality fantastic, but the portions make it possible to bring home an entire meal of left overs! I've tried a few drinks from here, and have always been satisfied. If you're in the Marblehead area, I cannot recommend Cafe Italia enough! read more

Meh. It was ok. 3 of us went for dinner. One didn't like her meal, one thought his was ok. Mine was ok. I had chicken parm and the chicken was good. Pasta and sauce were incredibly bland. I think I ate 3 penne and didn't want to take any home. Service was ok. Sorry, but I would not go back. Just ok is how I would describe it all. read more

The absolute best martini(s) I have ever had. Just the right amount of fresh ingredients and different liquors! John is the absolute sweetest and most friendly bartender and mad scientist behind the bar. I have never had a bad meal while enjoying an evening out. This is a restaurant that is well respected by their community, with that being said as an out of town-er I feel comfortable and appreciated as a customer and guest! Tonight I enjoyed a hot and dirty kettle one martini, their house Insalada and superb lamb chops! I look forward to these types of nights! assolutamente delizioso!! read more

Caffé Italia - Encrusted Salmon -- to die for! - Italian Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

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My husband and I found a neighborhood gem! My husband and I have been looking for a good Italian restaurant for years.. this is actually the first one that we have fallen in love with! The owner, Donna was unbelievable. She made the experience special for us.. all of the wait staff is top notch. I ordered chicken Parmesan and my husband had the veal parm. The sauce was so fresh and authentic, I am not sure I have ever tasted anything that taste as delicious as hay homemade recipe! We are looking forward to enjoying many meals in the very near future. read more

We just discovered this place after living here for 12 years! Lively atmosphere, awesome bar with fantastic cocktails, delicious homemade pasta. Family friendly, good value. Highly recommend! read more

Delicious. Their complimentary bread and oil starter is an instant mood lifter... I love that they let you add the parmesan and red pepper yourself so you can adjust the heat to your liking. The first time my fiance and I ate here, we shared a pizza and both thought it was quite good. The second time, I went by myself and ordered a pasta dish with spinach, roasted red peppers, chicken breast and goat cheese from the specials menu. When the enormous dish arrived in front of me, I remember thinking, "How nice, there will be plenty left over to take home and have for lunch tomorrow." The next thing I knew, I was scraping the last piece of penne from the bottom of the bowl. On my third and most recent visit, after being sad to see that the goat cheese dish was not one of the specials that day, I promptly got over it after my fiance and I each ordered a different chicken dish and found them both to be excellent. The atmosphere is very nice - I am really looking forward to dining here in the summer some time when they have the big windows open. The service at the bar, where I have sat during each visit, has been friendly, timely and perfectly courteous. read more

This was my third visit to Caffe Italia and I was unimpressed as usual. It really wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't so expensive for mediocre food. Service was eh at the bar.. would not choose to go back but I'm not sure of another Italian restaurant in Marblehead that would be any better. Ideas? read more

I didn't have a chance to actually eat here, but a bunch of us ended up at Cafe Italia after a wedding reception. If you can say that Marblehead has a scene, this would be as close as it gets. There was a cool cover band playing, so extra props for that. read more

Stopped in the other night and was pleasantly surprised to find a great selection of bar appetizers for $5 from 4-6pm. The eggplant was delicious! Cozy atmosphere and the bar was filled with regulars there to enjoy the food and the company. Mark the owner went around to each table to visit with folks and to make sure everyone was happy. I have found my new go-to bar when I am in Marblehead! read more

Sadly, our experience here was a big disappointment. We were coming off a long drive and were saving our hunger for a good meal out. My husband and I ordered two specials - one was a pasta with shrimp dish and the other a ribeye steak. We are giving a one star review since both our meals were not enjoyable. The pasta wasn't flavorful at all. The steak dinner didn't seem like a ribeye cut and was over cooked to the point of being almost inedible. The steak meal also came with only two very small potatoes. In hindsight, I should have sent my meal back but was so hungry and in all honesty, have never sent anything back. In sum, we should have gone out for a few slices of pizza and saved our money. read more

I've eaten here three or four times. All in the summer. The windows slide open or remove, to make the place practically open air. My experiences have all been good. The frutti di mare is tasty. Service has been decent, even when they're busy. I'll agree that the music is a little too loud. read more

The worst part of this is that the food is so good. The ownership, management, and service have a million miles to go however. ***THIS IS NOT FOR THE WAKEFIELD LOCATION *** For my grandparents 50th anniversary we (12 people) decided to come here because the Wakefield location is so good. First the drinks took a good 10-15 minutes to come. And the waitress didn't even take all over the orders. Then to order appetizers took another 20 minutes. When they finally came out they came out 5 minutes for every two dishes to come out. My mother and her boyfriends salads didn't come out for another 15 minutes after the rest of us finally had our appetizers. By that time our cups where empty (water and alcohol) they didn't ask if we wanted refills and we where still waiting. I asked the Busser to get our drinks, and finally 10 minutes later they came minus 2 of them. At that point(1 1/2 hours later ) my mother, aunt, and I had all talked to the waitress, to no change. I asked to talk to the manager (Donna) , who proceeded to get in my face saying that she was trying to make it right... By helping the kitchen. Which she clearly didn't do, because none of our food came out together. At this point all the drinks needed to be refilled and even by the end of the night they were not. The entrees came out in twos like the appetizers. With 5-8 minutes in between each two dishes we waited. Some of the meals did not even go to the right people. With a 12 top party you want to make sure the food is out within 3 minutes all together. After 15 more minutes my elderly great aunt still didn't have her meal along with my mother. The owner was continually talking back and making excuses. My mom ended up not even eating. My great aunt got her meal 30 minutes after everyone else. Donna really needs to learn how to have customer relations. There's some times when a manager just needs to say yes and get the party out of the restaurant. She just kept arguing which made it worst. She blamed us because the first time the waitress asked us for our Orders we wheren't ready. She Compted our ONE runs of drinks (wow thanks!) and gave us a $50 gift card. She continued to say that, that was all she could do. Basically the whole meal was a catastrophe. You go out to celebrate and have a relaxing time and this was anything except that. If Donna doesn't have the skills or can't take the heat she should get out of the kitchen and the restaurant business. read more

This is an awesome place. We order take out from here all the time. The staff is always so nice. The food is great. You will not be disappointed, the absolute best chicken parm i have had, and the meatball app is unreal. read more

The food was excelent. I loved my pasta with meatballs. Although simple it was good. The fried goat cheese is definitely a winner even if I don't like goat cheese. The atmospher was nice but a little on the loud side. Seems like the place to be for locals in the area. I had the chef's chocolate tort for dessert. I do not recommend that. I am sure the other stuff on the menu is better. read more

Yummy fresh home made Italian food . Made to order_nothing is frozen so delicious. You don't see many places that serve freshly made Italian food. Great place. The owner DOnna is such a lovely person. You can tell she takes pride in her business and customers. She seems to always be on site unlike alot of owners these days. Everything is perfect here. Staff is very nice also . If you want real Italian food and great service check this place out ! read more

Here's the thing, their food is pretty good - if you ever get served. I'm a local, and I've been here a few times. The problem is that there are a couple waitresses who seem to either be over worked or disinterested in serving their customers quickly. The end result is a meal that is long long, long in coming. In the summer, they do open the windows, which is nice since you'll get a picturesque view of the town and feel a nice breeze. However, in the winter, if you're like me, you'll end up getting seated next to the poorly insulated windows and placed near the air vent. The effect, rather than warming you will do the opposite. I found myself waiting an hour for my food and while freezing next to the windows. When we tried to talk to the manager about the problem we were (not so politely) told that if we didn't like it, we could leave. What the f.,...? We could leave rather than freezing by the window and next to a vent while waiting over an hour for our food? It's been six months and I still can't get myself to return to this restaurant even though it's walking distance from my house. If the manager had been a little kinder or more considerate, I might feel better about the place. Maybe you'll have a good meal here. Maybe you won't. Maybe you'll get served. Maybe you won't. Maybe you'll be told to leave when asking for the temperature to be turned up. Maybe you won't. One thing I can tell you is that I won't ever return to Caffe Italia. On a side note, there is one waiter there who is good, and their rolls are tasty. read more