Great prices - we've had take out three times already! Fabulous pizza! I especially loved the homemade gnocchi and fusilli - cooked perfectly each time. I never buy pasta at restaurants - I prefer my own meat sauce to anything found elsewhere. I was happily surprised when I tried their Bolognese and it blew us all away! I even ordered sides of it to go this week when I was too sick to make my own sauce. Lovely staff, great food - so loving the changes! read more

Dining room decor and seating good. Music is a nice compliment. Generous portions for the money. A bit tardy on the food delivery per the kitchen. We had the chicken saltiboca and chicken carbonara. Flavorful. Topped off with the fried dough with strawberry and chocolate dips. Service was excellent. If you go for Saturday lunch, ask for Sophia. read more

Food was pretty good. A bit pricey. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Seating arrangements were interesting. Not really intimate, but nice.

A nice straightforward place with a solid menu that puts it in regular rotation for me and my wife.

The martinis were great! There was a long list to choose from. The pizza was delicious too and the service at the bar was excellent. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Had the autumn harvest ravioli and the fig and goat chesse pizza. Both were amazing! Combined with a nice decor, gentle music and moderately busy noon time crowd, had quite a good experience. read more

It was my first time at Fusillli's, the grilled shrimp as an appetizer was delicious with garlic bread, for main I had chicken Marsala it was very good as well. Service was great, I will definitely go back again read more

My friends & I made reservations for 6pm on a Thursday night. We needed them even though, most of the time, the parking lot seems empty. The food was fantastic and the homemade "fusilli" was just a like grandma made. definitely a great choice for neighborhood italian food. Another time, I ordered takeout and took home. The staff was pretty good as well. read more

Holiday week and was trying to decide what to get for take-out. A friend suggested Fucilli's. I ordered the Fusilli Bolognese to go. Got it home and was expecting a pile of ground beef in marinara sauce. What I got was tender shredded beef in a delicious sauce with fresh, perfectly cooked pasta. What a delight. Delicious! Since I live just two miles south I'm regretting that I haven't visited sooner. read more

Soooo after waiting a while, i decided to go back to this place and try it again... after all the drama died down from when they first opened. Like others below i was a little shocked they were not that busy on a weekend night. I quickly found out why... The food was way over-priced and the service staff was not overly competant. The drinks were made incorrectly, but it was just easier to finish them then wait another 20 minutes for it to be brought out again. Sorry guys, i'm waiting for you to close and the next restaurant to take over the vacant building. Talk around town is by mid-year the owner should have given up. read more

We went there last night to celebrate my finishing my masters degree. We have enjoyed Stearns in Melrose, and this restaurant is owned by the same couple. Not very impressive. The fried calamari appetizer was remarkably bland and flavorless, and the sauce was not very memorable. The caesar salad that came with dinner was fine, but the ribeye steak I ordered was kind of tough and the vegetables were undercooked. Not recommended. read more

I live in Reading but had not made it to Sam's Bistro since it opened, I typically leave town and head to places like Burton's and not your average joes. Walking in a 8:45, we were the only people in the dining room, atmosphere is dark wood and dark leather and is pretty nice except the music blaring in the dining room is 50's diner, beach boys etc, very odd. Service was ok and speedy although no one seemed particularly interested if we were enjoying anything. Food is just plain low quality, I had the ribeye and it was one of the worst steaks I have ever had, this includes one I had recently at the cracker barrel for half the price. My wife had the pork special which she also found poor. Salads tasted as if the came from a bag, both us hardly ate any of our food and the waitress didnt even ask why we didnt eat much of our meal. Overall, I can name dozens of better places to eat for similar prices, I want to be able to have a decent restaurant choice in town, but would rather drive to get a decent meal. I would recommend if you have not eaten here yet to stay away. read more

We went there today for Sunday lunch. I would not go back again. The dining room is a large non descript open room with dark paneling. NO windows. Who wants to be in a dark room at noon time? The food was hit or miss. The fried calamari was not crispy, the Ruben sandwich special was good, the hamburger did not taste good, the vegetable pizza was soggy, the diet cokes were watered down, the fish and chips were good. However, the most incredible thing happened when it was time to pay the bill. Two of us put down credit cards and asked the waitress to put 50% on each card. The receipts came back with $78 on one card and $28 on the other. We asked that it be corrected. The manager spent 20 minutes trying to sort out the problem. Finally we asked that the charges be voided and that we would pay by cash, which we did. But we never got our voided receipt. We were told it was voided, I certainly hope so. read more

First and last time, the food was amazing our waitress however was not we came for lunch there were 2 waitresses and only 5 tables . Myself and my fiance were the youngest of all the tables in the place however we felt like the odd ball out. We were ignored multiple times and she was very matter fact while speaking with us but with the other tables she was much more friendly. I was thirsty and left the same way .. all in all the food was top notch but the waitstaff was terrible we will not come back because of that! !! read more

Very disappointing meal. One at the table got the prime rib (ordered medium) and got a charred slab of rubber. The seafood rosotto (a "signature item") was chewy, overcooked, and unremarkable. The waiter made a paltry effort to make up for it, ended up with the manager, who tried her best, but by then it was too far gone. I had hoped for more. read more

We went for lunch this Sunday. I thought the menu would be very geriatric but it was very family friendly. We had a nice salad with Walnuts & Goat cheese that was very flavorful. For our meal we each ordered different pizzas and shared. The pizzas were terrific. They had toppings and cheese, a nice grilled bottom and were not greasy at all. We thoroughly enjoyed. Our waitress was prompt and courteous. The decor of this place does not match what we got for food. This was a pleasant surprise. read more

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful dinner at the bar last night. He works near Sam's and was dying to try it. Our bartender was Donna, she was pleasant, attentive and very friendly. She was very busy, always had a smile on her face and was upbeat creating a nice vibe at the bar! I got the the mixed grill and it was done perfectly. My boyfriend had oysters, some were a little big and could not be eaten, but otherwise very fresh. Also, I had to try to mac and cheese....amazing!! I would definately go back on a Wednesday night! read more

I love this place! They have out of this world pasta and fish dishes, and a good wine selection. The bar area is very nicely decorated and so is the dining room. There is a variety of different priced dishes on the menu too, so there's something for every budget. You can get a $12 sandwich for dinner or a $30-35 steak entree. My bridesmaids know how much I love it here and even had my bridal shower at Sam's Bistro. The staff did a wonderful job on my shower and everyone loved the food at Sam's. I highly recommend coming here. read more

Food was good but the service was bad. The waitress was very slow on taking both our drink and food orders.

My wife and I spent three weeks in the Northeast visiting relatives. One of our children took us out for lunch to Sam's Bistro in Reading. Everything about the experience was enjoyable. The atmosphere reminded me of those Hotel restaurants one sees in the old '40's movies. The woodwork, tables, and chandeliers added to the atmosphere. The staff was friendly and courteous. For an appetizer we had a large, perfectly battered-fried plate of calamari. The fresh bread also brought out early was tasty and liberally covered with olive oil which was good for dipping. I had an excellently grilled Philly Steak Pizza, the others had a fish sandwich and a shepherd's pie. All of us were pleased with our choices. The bill was quite reasonable. I hope someday to eat there again. read more

I stopped by for lunch this week searching for a good place to take friends when they visit me in Stoneham. I was less than impressed. The menu was boring - no creativity at all - with few lower-carb options. I decided on a bowl of soup and a sandwich. The wedding soup was interesting and definitely not traditional with an interesting flavor (lemon?) and nice greens. The steak tip and arugula sandwich was just that - steak tips with a few arugula leaves on a bun. Nothing else. It lacked flavor and interest. While the meal took care of my midday hunger, I left feeling disappointed at the $25 dollars that I'd spent for a lack-luster experience. read more

Excellent take out. Stands head and shoulders above my recent experience with other Reading restaurants. Chicken Parmesan and Veal Parm were just as good as if you are at the restaurant. read more

I went to order the penne marinara... Only to be told their marinara is made with PORK BONES. And they used that same sauce for the pizza. As an Italian vegetarian, Marinara means meatless. I was disgusted and sad. This was our first time here and unfortunately our last. read more

Food gets 3 stars, knocked one down because no where do they state that the marinara has meat in it... when you're ordering something traditionally vegetarian, like eggplant parm, you wouldn't think you need to specify no meat. Just wasted my money and now have nothing to eat for dinner.... I'm past forty weeks pregnant and couldn't be more upset right now. read more

Sat down at 6pm on a Sunday and it wasn't very busy at all. Took 10 minutes to be offered a drink. Not the end of the world. Sh*t happens. Took at least another 20 minutes to be asked if we wanted to put any Apps in. We'd waited so long, we just ordered out meal. Approximately 45 minutes later, now an hour and 15 minutes into our night if my math is correct, we ask if the food will be out anytime soon. Waitress says "it hasn't been that long. It's usually a lot longer than this." At that very moment (probably before that) I decided it would be my last time there. Food was fine, but at that point nothing was going to salvage the terrible experience. And it wasn't just our table. Another table sat a few minutes after we did and they too waited a while before anyone went over to their table. In the entire 2 hours we were seated, we were offered drinks two times. Don't waste your time. read more

We were a party of 6 eating there on a Wednesday night at 6pm. It is conveniently located and nice looking from the outside. The bar area looked nice although we didn't eat in there. The main room is an open scheme and kind of bland if you ask me, although it was clean looking. The hostess and wait staff were nice and attentive. It did seem to take some time to get the food although it did seem somewhat busy or mid week. I'm going to list what was eaten and how people said their food was: -Chicken parm with risotto...it was good, maybe slightly above average. The Risotto was good. -Petit filet Mignon with vegetables...it was good. -Caesar salads were good. Good size and right amount of dressing. -French Onion Soup was really good. Had a deep taste...not watered down. -Turkey club sandwich was average. -Fried clams and french fries were good. -Mile high chocolate cake was good although they could have put less raspberry drizzle on the plate. 3 drinks were had...a Manahattan, Tanguary & Tonic, and a Bud bottle. It came out to be $35 per person. (we only split the bill between 5 people not 6). They added gratuity in with our party. The drinks were around $7 each so about average. I'm not sure why others were complaining about high drink prices. Maybe they got Martinis but I'd say the average price of a Martini out is around $10 so I would only complain if they were over this price. Overall the place was good but nothing stood out and wowed me so I wouldn't rush back. I might go again if the place was closer to me but I live about 30 mins west of it. -Dave read more

One of my favorite places for lunch (as long as you have an hour to kill) I had the capri salad with steak tips the other day, the steak was cooked perfectly- a little pink not red since I asked for medium rare. Michael the bartender is extremely friendly he created a peppermint martini for us since we were in the mood for something christmasy but they did not have anything on their menu. Definitely my go to spot for lunch or dinner with the girls read more

Great food at a great price. Usually no wait or a short wait. I live close by and also have done takeout. Pretty good beer selection (not a wine drinker, so have no idea.) As some one who grew up in the area this place is well worth it, I never left hungary and often with leftovers! read more

Although this restaurant advertises itself as an Italian restaurant it's really an American restaurant with a few Italian dishes thrown in. This was really disappointing to both myself and my guest as we were looking forward to trying something new. I ordered the fillet and it was the smallest I've ever seen. Guess you get what you pay for??? My guest ordered the seafood risotto and the rice was inedible. Completely disappointed with our experience. I was told it was formerly a Bistro restaurant. I'd say it still is. Not worth a trip unless you want regular American food. Paul read more

I had a good experience here. The roasted chicken and chicken parm were so good. Pay a couple bucks extra for the fusilli pasta. It's homemade, and perfectly al dente, not mushy like homemade pasta can often be. So good. Service was good too. I had an alcoholic drink that I can't remember the name of. I think it had blood orange in it. Anyway, it was delicious. read more

What a great little hidden gem! Waiter (a very sweet gentleman) was fantastic. He was super nice to my kids and spoiled them with extra whip cream and cherries on their dessert! Hubby had chicken parm, I had baked haddock, calamari was the app....everything was delish and very fresh. Yes, the restaurant was a little quiet, but I think once word gets around this place will be hopping. Lots of quaint private rooms and a gorgeous full size bar. We will be back. read more

So I was really excited to see a new restaurant come to the Reading area!!! Being in the business I should have known better than to come here when the server told the table next to us that they had only been open since Wednesday! Atmosphere nice in the dinning room very loud in the bar but the high tops along the wall in there looked nice. As for the food unfortunately this is where my disappointment started. 15 minutes to get drinks service was very new and nervous which can be a good thing but they looked like they needed more training and support staff. We ordered a french onion soup and some drinks. Drinks took 15 minutes to get understandable new staff ect. Complimentary salads came out nice touch but the dressing should be offered on the side or ramped up a bit pretty bland and a bad first impression. Bread came out 5 minutes after salads, thought that was weird should have been the first thing on the table. The soup came out 20 minutes later nice touch with the traditional french goblet but weak presentation on the cheese. If your going to serve the soup and spend the money on the nice dishes do the soup right. Taste soup was too salty from over reduction added some water to it tasted pretty good. THEN we waited and waited and waited 50 minutes later our server came over to tell us our food had been sold to another table and had to be re fired! After already being here almost two hours we did not want to sink another hour into a babysitter for possibly bad food. We asked if we could have our bill it had taken too long. 8 more minutes go by no server no manager. Time to go I went to the front and told the manager we were walking out. Again being in the business I wanted to give him a chance to at least apologize. Instead I got a "this is our first weekend things are taking a lot longer" response from the nice hostess. Tip train your staff to remember one thing the guest is always right no matter what SMILE and say I am sorry you had such a bad experience please come back and give us another try! Sadly I will not be back because this did not happen. I hope you make it because this town could use some more good food, but if that was your Best First Impression on the town of Reading your going to end up like the bazaar. Out of Business! read more

I ordered the chicken Parmesan and garlic bread. The garlic bread comes with a dish of marinara sauce to drunk the bread. It was heavenly! The chicken Parmesan and pasta was delicious. The chicken Parmesan was very moist and flavorful. The sauce is on point. The pasta was cooked perfectly. This is the second time I have been to the restaurant and both times have been excellent. The servers are super friendly and attentive read more

Dropped in for a quick drink at the bar.. Checked out the menu.. Looked on the pricey side for Reading, MA. I WOULD have came back to try dinner except the staff was super rude. When I walked in the woman at the front door said "we are closing soon"... No "hi how are you? Welcome.." then sitting at the bar I was talking to one of the female bartenders trying to just strike up convo about the place and she could have given two sh*ts... Ummm is it just me or should there be staff who actually wants to be there? read more

When I first walked into Sam's Bistro I was instantly impressed with the craftsman ship of the building and the interior decor. It was expertly done and being someone in the construction industry I appreciated the appearance. The staff seemed diligent and pleasant and were prompt to seat us. Although the staff was inexperienced (who can blame them the place has been open for a matter of days) they were polite. The food was however a bit pricey and is definitely more of a treat than a casual dining experience that I would expect from a neighborhood restaurant. I am no food critic but my party and I all enjoyed our meals and I would have to agree the food was a touch slow conversation and drinks made the time fly in the lively atmosphere. I would absolutely go back the food was good, the service was good, the environment was great the only criticism I have is the price. 4 stars read more

Don't go unless you have two hours to kill. Food is average. Server Lisa was nice while trying to cover up the kitchens incompetency.

Our family visited Sam's Bistro a month ago, and other than the flat soda, we enjoyed our meal. I ordered their turkey dinner and it was as good as home cooked. They used fresh carved turkey, oven baked stuffing, gravy, and real potatoes (as opposed to instant). It was delicious and well worth the $17.99 price. The service was polite and the atmosphere warm. We enjoyed our first visit and looked forward to returning again. I was hankering a turkey dinner last night, so our family visited Sam's Bistro again. What a dissappointment! The soda and beer were flat again; evidently they have a problem with the CO2 in their tap? My husband sent the beer back and asked for a bottled beer for which the choices were very limited. He was presented with the beer and a CRACKED GLASS! It took forever to get the waitresses' attention for a new glass so he just drank his beer out of the bottle. Next came our $13.99 lobster ravioli appetizer with...wait for it...2...count 'em...2 raviolis! What a rip-off! Finally our turkey dinners arrived but it wasn't fresh carved turkey as it was the last time, instead it was pressed cold-cut turkey, there was barely any stuffing, there was no gravy and it was cold. For $17.99 I expected real fresh carved turkey not something that would be served in a school cafeteria. I am so very disappointed. read more

The food is good however we sat in the lounge and the bartender was rude. She obviously thought we were bothering he and her voice / body language couldn't say it louder. It was a Monday for lunch ordered appetizers and lunch with no one in the place. Would have thought to be treated nicer...maybe try again... read more

Went here on a date and the food was way overpriced, the waitress didnt know how to open a bottle of wine and it took forever to get service. read more

Upscale decor and pricing, service very good, but, unfortunately the food left something to be desired. Near East rice pilaf, Really? At premium prices, I would hope to enjoy a meal that is somewhat different from what I might cook at home. 2 stars, better places to spend that kind of money. read more