The best Italian food in MA. Better than any in town restaurant. Menu varies with incredible staples (porcini soufflé). Wine list is exceptional. The whole crew makes sure your party is happy and well fed. I couldn't recommend this restaurant enough! read more

First time here. For the main course I had the lamb chops. They were over charred. It gave the meat a burnt taste. The white beans on the plate were under cooked as well. I'd give it two stars but the salmon appetizer and arugula salad were good. read more

After posting my 8/12 review I get a rambling and arrogant 5 minute voice mail on my cell phone from someone at Il Capriccio comparing their menu to Stella's saying that "they take on Stella any day of the week". First--don't call me and tell me I don't know what I'm taking about. I do. Second--say "thank you" for spending $300 at your overpriced restaurant. Third--put some summer entrees on your menu. read more

I would normally never consider a restaurant this pricey unless it was a very special occasion. But some coworkers gave me a gift certificate as a going away present, so I went -- twice. (It was also a special occasion, as I got a good new job.) My vegetables had dirt in them the first time, and they messed up our order the second time, but they made up for the mishaps generously, and we left happier than we probably would have if they had gotten everything perfect. I won't bother describing specific dishes, since most of the menu changes monthly. I can say, however, that the food is superb -- and that's a word I don't use too often. The ingredients are fresh, the dishes are cooked perfectly (despite a little dirt here and there), and they blend sometimes unexpected flavors in wonderful ways. If cost is a big factor for you, I would recommend trying a pasta dish: they are typically below $20 and are still distinctive and memorable. If cost isn't an issue -- well, then, there's no need to read reviews, just give it a try and even splurge on some wine and dessert. read more

Phenomenal. Everything we tried was first rate: the veal, fois gras, sweetbreads, lemon tart, all of it marvelous. The service was also impeccable from the servers to the sommelier. There's no better place to eat near Waltham. Tremendous. read more

A gem of a restaurant in Waltham. Service was top notch and food was amazing. We made a special request of the chef and he delivered in a big way. The stuffed zucchini flowers and the gnocchi in bolognese were out of this world. The sommelier, Jason, made impeccable red and white wine recommendations. A totally unexpected experience! read more

I have been here for business and with a family. (Well almost.) For business was average. I never found the hostess to be very friendly. For family, we could not get in. "Sorry no high chair" and they made mo apologies about it either. I would pass on this . Plenty more options in Waltham read more

It was terrible. Place smelled like cats. Flies were buzzing around table. Managed to squish one with my glass. The curtains were stained, dirty & disappointing reflecting a low pride in ownership. I was not confident kitchen was clean. Waitress was nice though, but i couldn't wait to get out of there but couldn't leave because our friends had picked the restaurant. Place was pretty empty for a Friday night. Yech? read more

I had a great meal here during the holidays with my family. The food was uniformly delicious but a seafood antipasti plate stands out in my memory; it had a seviche of bay scallops, house roasted red peppers wrapped around a fresh creamy tuna filling, gravalax, squid salad & more. My stripped bass was perfectly cooked and brother-in-laws grilled veal chop was to die for (actually, I really like him). The wine list is like none other in Boston (and maybe, the U.S.A.) created by a co-owner/sommelier who travels the hinterlands of Italy a few times a year to discover and import bottles that are not readily available elsewhere. The service was warm and attentive. read more

This place came highly recommended from my family who lived in Boston for many years. My wife and I had high expectations and were looking forward to an authentic Italian meal devoid of creamy sauces. Our appetizers were loaded with cream (the mushroom soufflé and the escargot special) and disappointed us. Our primis were good (carbonara and bolognese), the bolognese was actually excellent but the carbonara wasn't as good as it could have been. The carbonara should really have had an egg whisked into the noodles while al dente but instead a poached egg was provided. The secondi's were bad - I had the swordfish which was dry and my wife had the bass which was better than the swordfish but not great. All in all, a disappointing experience w.r.t the food. Service and wine were excellent though. read more

Honestly, I'm not sure it's worth the money. Food is good, but the ambiance is so-so. Maybe we just got a bad table, but I did not find it "elegant." For the money, I'd much rather go to La Campania. read more

Il capriccio is one of the best Italian restaurants in the Boston area. It is located on a nondescript corner building and it doesn't look like much. Inside il Capriccio you'll find beautiful, tasty and original italian food. The setting is really intimate, I suggest you go there with a date you really want to impress.Make sure that you have wine with your food, their collection is impressive. read more

First time visiting Il Capriccio last week for restaurant week. We went with another couple, so 4 diners for dinner. We chose the restaurant because it had a big menu and a convenient location for us, and parking is always a plus for us suburbanites! The restaurant is decorated very nicely and we were sat in one of their small dining rooms. First impression, it was rather loud and that turned out to be a bit frustrating since we couldn't really hear each other while trying to talk at our table. They had such a huge menu for restaurant week that it was a little surprising that I had a hard time finding something I wanted. I ended up with the Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic for an appetizer and my husband got the mussels. My salad was okay, not sure what it was about it, but I didn't really like it and only ate about half of it. My husband did really enjoy his mussels though. For dinner I got the Crispy Trout Alpine Style with Spinach, Prosciutto, and Lentils. What I was served was a whole fish, deep fried. It was deboned, but I still managed to find quite a few small bones in it, which was frustrating while eating and a little embarrassing to spit out. The fish itself was well cooked and very good, but there wasn't much of a sauce to go with it. I did enjoy it, but I had recently had a quite amazing trout dish at another restaurant and this one didn't compare. So that was a little disappointing. My husband, meanwhile, got the Fettuccini Bolognese and he just plain didn't like it. I tried it and didn't like it either. Hard to explain why, it just had a funny, not so good taste. For dessert I got the lemon crème brule and my husband had the chocolate budino, which was a warm chocolate cake. These were decent, although the crust on my crème brule was really thick and I ended up pulling it off and just eating the custard, which was yummy. The chocolate cake was really good. So unfortunately, we weren't that impressed with Il Capriccio, which is sad since we love Italian and it is so convenient. I'm not sure if it was just a fluke due to our dinner selections. Even with restaurant week, it was a pretty expensive dinner, so I doubt we'll be going back to give them a second try. Oh, and the service was very good, so good marks for that! read more

Just took my husband here for his birthday. Delicious food and top notch service. Love coming here.

We had a great meal here several years ago and always talked about going back. We went last night for our anniversary and I can safely say we won't return. Everything about the restaurant has gone downhill. The food was boring and bland, with the exception of the foie gras app. We weren't asked for temperatures on our meat, the entrees came with what looked to be microwaved vegetables, there was zero thought given to presentation, and the general atmosphere was sloppy. I only gave two stars because our server was nice. Disappointing to say the least. Could have had twice the meal for half the price. read more

Been a fan for years, but writing to encourage anyone reading this to go this time of year. Fresh produce in everything, and not overly busy. The pasta is amazing, fresh and perfectly cooked. Their version of carbonara had fresh peas cooked to perfection (still a bit of a crunch) and a light yet buttery sauce. I can't stop thinking about it. The gnocchi with mushrooms came with fresh favas, and like the peas in the carbonara added a delightful freshness to the dish. Didn't have an entree this time, but they are always good, especially any fish dish. Service is friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Wine list is a reason in of itself to go. The bar is great to sit at for dinner - very warm and bartenders there are great. read more

This is a wonderful place to eat. The wine list is superb and the service is equally excellent. I recommend the fish dishes are especially good; the pasta is freshly made and exquisite. No less superb is the veal and lamb dishes. First rate indeed read more

Very good food and good service. I didn't like the menu the other night, but my veal chop was very good. My date's pork tenderloin was average, she didn't eat half of it. Our server was excellent, the salads (beet with goat cheese and a green for my guest) were excellent and the tiramisu was fine. read more

We came here a while ago. Unassuming place but one of the best restaurants we've been to in the Boston area. Everything was prepared and cooked well, from the pastas, the fish, and the meat dishes. Service very professional and on point. Decor understated yet comfortable. A great place for business dinner but we'll definitely come back for personal dinners too. read more

5 stars all the way. Thanks for continually fabulous dining experiences. The octopus, short ribs, oh my the lamb. So good!

We've eaten at most of the high end restaurants (including lots of the newer ones recently) in the Boston area and believe that Il Capriccio has the best menu, best food, best wine list and best service of them all. They are incredibly consistent...great food and service every time. read more

hands down, 5 stars! we went for the last night of restaurant week, and the food was phenomenal and service was attentive, making for a wonderful evening. we had a table of 6, and each really enjoyed their meal. i started off with the beet and goat cheese salad, with a balsamic dressing. the cheese was mild, offering a perfect balance to the beets. also at the table we had the shortrib bundles, the PEI mussels, and the greens salad. i sampled the mussels, which were very good and came with yellow and red cherry tomatoes. i ordered the crispy trout for the entree, which came with lentils, prosciutto, and spinach. i am normally not a fan of fried foods, but the trout skin was fried in corn meal, and i was able to pull the tender, juicy fish from the skin. the lentils were a great accompaniment and the spinach was tucked inside the fish. i liked the fish, but i wouldn't say that i loved it. two others ordered the sweetbread stuffed quail. this dish was absolutely amazing - the stuffing was creamy and added a savory element to the perfectly cooked quail. sides included brussels and cauliflower. we also had two orders of the scallops ($10 additional charge), which were large, perfectly seared, and neither person was willing to share the dishes as they really enjoyed the plate. one other person ordered the fettuccine bolognese, and also really enjoyed the hearty meat sauce. for dessert, i ordered the berries with creme anglais - light, refreshing, and not too much cream. it was a lighter finish to the dinner, but then i undid any "healthiness" by also working on the warm chocolate budino and coffee granita. the outside of the budino wasn't that great, but inside there was a warm chocolate pudding-like batter, and it was served with a nice light whipped cream. the coffee granita was refreshing - icy coffee topped with an anise-flavored whipped cream with chocolate on the bottom. overall, the food was of high quality, and the pacing of the dishes was nice - we had ample time to eat but also did not feel as though we were waiting long for our food. i would love to go back again, but might be limited by the higher prices of the regular menu. read more

Amazing food! Service was right on! I've been wanting to go here for years!!! I've heard great reviews and of course I know why now! The porcini souffle was so rich but soOOOo GOOD! Bf and I cleaned the plate up with bread! It's something you MUST get! My scallops dish was wonderful! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I would love to come back if only it wasn't so far from me! read more

Went to this restaurant for the first time on Thursday and it certainly won't be my last. My girlfriend and I split the muscles appetizer which was excellent. Best muscles I have had anywhere. For dinner I had rabbit stuffed ravioli which was great and the portion was large. Desserts looked delicious but I was too full to try anything. I highly recommend them. read more

Husby picked this place for a random Friday dinner recently because it came highly recommended on Yelp. The setup of the restaurant is similar to Ruth's Chris with the separate rooms but since there are partly glass walls, it does not feel claustrophobic. Our server was the most adorable French guy (I think his name was Gilles?) and he made us feel comfortable immediately. The service here was impeccable. I started off with a Kir Royale and Husby with a Manhattan - both mixed perfectly. Since most people raved about the souffle di porcini, we ordered that but I felt it was too heavy with not that much mushroom flavour. Still quite delicious but in small doses. I really loved the handmade gnocchi with lobster since the pasta was dense enough without being mealy. Delicious. Our server chose a wine for us and while it was a good drinking red with fruity notes, I'm not sure it paired well with our heavier dishes. Husby ate the veal scaloppine, which I generally don't like, and was not crazy about it. The lamb special was cooked perfectly but the mint pesto was overpowering. However, we did just get back from a 2.5 week trip to Italy and it is unfair to compare. All in all, the service was excellent and while the food was good, it didn't blow us away and seemed a bit over-priced. If we come back, I'll be sure to ask for Gilles and that lobster gnocchi! read more

Il Capriccio does have fantastic food...I can't argue with that. I also enjoyed the cozy ambiance (obviously not the look of the outside which reminded me of a strip club or something...brick, bland building with no windows). I actually had to knock two stars off this place because of some of the worst service I've experienced at an upscale restaurant. I saw our waitress two times...One time when she took our order and then again, after we asked countless times, to deliver the check. Not once were we checked on, even though they forgot to bring me something I ordered. It's a shame because this place has the potential to be really awesome. At this point, I'd much rather frequent La Campania down the street instead though. read more

After not having been to Il Capriccio for many months, we had dinner there last night. All four of us were very happy with the food we were served. Highlights were linguini carbonara, Icelandic cod, and chicken "schnitzel ". The salads were first rate as was the tuna tartare. Service was terrific! An expensive evening but worth the price. We will return. read more

The good: the food is fantastic especially the veal, swordfish and trout. The not so good: prices are very high, portions are on the small side. Overall I would go back but at these prices only once in awhile. read more

This gem in Waltham was great. Fantastic service and food was delicious. Would go back in heartbeat

Unapologetically sophisticated place. Expensive and delicious. Cushy, lounge-y kind of feel and an emphasis on quality that is too rare. There's nothing worse than shelling out $$$ for an occasion and feeling cheated. Not here. Very old-school, grown-up, but looks like nothing much from the outside. read more

1st visit - Gnocchi and lobster, lamb chop, veal scallopine, profiteroles in caramel sauce. 2nd visit - Black risotto w lobster, roast cod, duck breast with foie gras. Consistently yummy food! read more

Best meal I ever had! Every part of it was perfect. Try the Veal tenderloin! Thank you so much for this amazing meal!

I dined here recently and want to express how thrilled I was to return after many years. My friend and I walked in as a last minute choice without a reservation. We were pleasantly surprised that the food and service were still remarkable. Our waiter Mark was kind and took excellent care of us. He knew the menu and wines well and made great suggestions. Fettuccine carbonara is a must have! We are glad we reconnected with this establishment and look forward to returning more often! read more

Always great. Haven't been in 10 years. Kids do that sometimes. We started off with the porcini soufflé. Glad it's still on the menu after all these years. Best thing I ever tasted. We had the Bass and Lamb chops. Great meal. Drinks and desert. You won't be disappointed. read more

Went back this week, and it's still good. My friend and I were splitting the Souffle di Porcini, and the other two were splitting the calamari salad. Yummy souffle, and mediocre salad. I had the duck, and absolutely love it. It was bold, and oh so amazing. I fear I won't love duck from other places as much. The gnocchi my friend had was good. My SO had some yummy gorgonzola ravioli-- I'm not much for blue cheese, but it was pretty good. Not spectacular, but decent. The mussels were also decent. Service was decent this time around as well. read more

It's fine. The rooms are rather cramped and brightly lit. The service is adequate; not exceptional. The food is heavy, with virtually no option to order anything light or green. My scallops were overcooked, though the sauce was good. The wine selection is good. It's fairly expensive and not the kind of satisfying, nice dining experience I had expected at a place with this reputation. And I don't much like parking in a liquor store parking lot, which is a dingy welcome. read more

Love this place! But was particularly pleased the other night when I stumbled in looking pretty grotty from dog walking to introduce my friend to her first mussels. I have been allergic to bivalves for years but the allergy slowly abates with age in my case. I am so happy to have challenged my system with the PEIs! so yummy! and Jason Almlof took the time to make a beer drinker happy with his mix to approximate a Black and Tan. and needless to say I had the souffle.. read more

Dinner visit, Thursday night: I am giving a 4-star, and I didn't even like the main meal (pumpkin gnocci). I should have asked for the chef's choice. Go for: An expensive dinner and ASK for the CHEF's recommendation. Avoid: gnocci. Try: the Apple Brioche pudding. OH MY, that is delicious. I paired it with a pear cognac. YUM. We were sat right away, despite a packed restaurant and a much later dinner reservation. I tried the September menu item "soufflé de porcini" for an app: I felt like someone had told me to get this and I would love it; I liked it, and was not too disappointed. We got a bottle of red, and this may be where the restaurant lacks: we asked our server for a recommendation, and instead of ask someone who knew a lot about the menu, they instead sort of made stuff up. This was even worse with the dessert drinks. My date and I agreed that the problem is not the server not knowing, but them not asking someone who does. The gnocci dish (pumpkin) left a lot to be desired; not awful, but was really just salty pumpkin soup. Maybe more spice? Herbs? We got the apple brioche bread pudding, and that is something they should be proud of! Delicious. I matched it with a Belle Brillet cognac (pear hint) and it was fantastic. I would go again, and instead do my usual thing and ask for the chef's choices. read more

Great food. Get pasta!! A few got the swordfish and wish they would have gotten the pasta. Great service. I will definitely go back. Try the cheese appetizer as well. read more

Delicious food. The taste of their entrees and appetizers will knock you out of the park. A little awkward place to come in if you're in college- older crowd because of the price tag. But still great place for special occasion. read more