[[HIGHLIGHT]]A lovely place, varied menu, terrific staff, delicious food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will definitely be back. A special thank you to the waiter (Colin?) who turned our no longer needed table for five into a perfect table for four. And who got me a seat cushion when I looked like I needed one! read more

We were pretty hungry when we arrived at Spezzo on a bustling weekend evening. In spite of this, we were seated in only about 10 minutes. The host was pleasant and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere was lively, the decor was on the heavier darker side, which I actually prefer.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Things went downhill from there though. It took over 10 minutes for someone to come by the table, and another 15 to get our menus and finally place an order. It seemed as though there were several staff on the floor, but only one was actually waiting on tables. Our server started out seemingly a bit perturbed with us, but they eased up as the evening progressed. I had a decent glass of red, and we also ardered some non-alcoholic beverages which were festive looking and tasted nice. We ordered the foccaccia appetizer. It came out just shy of burned. It was dry, bland and flat tasting, but heavily salted. I had high hopes for the the Spezzatino di Manzo, a beef stew. It may have been rich in taste at some point, but all I got from it was salt. The beef was edible but not as tender as it should have been, and what few vegetables and potatoes survived were mush or nearly pulverized. There were also quite a bit of chewy gristle. The Roasted Mushroom Risotto was unexpectedly watery and flavorless, almost soupy. The Alla Vodka Fettuccini was cooked properly, and wasn't bad, but was tomato heavy for an alla vodka. The chicken in this dish however was overcooked and dry. For dessert, we got the lemon sorbet which was perfectly fine, but it's really hard to mess up sorbet. I don't know how this place has as many stars as it does. Our experience was an expensive disappointment. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Attractive, contemporary decor and seating but the food overall was just so-so.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The special appetizers were excellent, however, taking advantage of the seasonal/regional asparagus crop: we had an outstanding asparagus bisque and grilled asparagus from local farms. After that, well, pretty disappointing. I had their wild mushroom and sweet pea risotto which was gummy and under-seasoned. My daughter's ravioli with beef ragu came drowned in sauce and was also flavorless. My wife's Mediterranean salad was overly vinegary to the point of mouth-puckering. Desserts were also meh: the crème brûlée's caramelized sugar glaze was gooey, not brittle or crackly; and the chocolate mousse was skimpy and buried under a mountain of whipped cream. Service was okay but sometimes spotty: for example, a waitstaff would fill water cups of the table next to us but wouldn't check on our empty glasses so we had to call a different waitstaff for a foil-up. So thumbs up on the special apps; thumbs side-wise on the main entrees and service. read more

See all

Vespa offers very good, imaginatively-crafted food and friendly and efficient service.

You ask "What could you improve?" How about the food? Pasta, drowning in sauce and the thrown on a plate with a piece of chicken so dry I could have repaired the soles on my shoes. Shrimp drowning in Calabrian chiles so that your palette is deaden to taste anything else. Bread, extra? I cannot believe that the owner was connected to the Farm Table and the chef with The Blue Heron. Maybe that's why they don't work there anymore. Definitely NOT Northern Italian cuisine. read more

Lovely meal -- the asparagus and the wedge salad were great! My husband enjoyed the salmon and my son felt the steak hit the spot. They both enjoyed the focaccia, too. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Because the weather was nice, we sat outside and the umbrellas provided good cover during the sun shower.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I let the servers know it was my son's birthday and they added a candle in the lemon gelato read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great dinner on the Vespa patio last night with girlfriends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Jeff nailed the cocktails as usual. We shared the hummus/olives/pita plate, asparagus soup, arugula salad, Calabrian shrimp, and shaved lamb gyro - the potatoes on the side were SO good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We feasted, service was great, and the vibe is always warm and welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] John the owner even popped out to make a wine recommendation! read more

I have gone here a number of times. Always has been a great experience. Went on romantic dates, family gatherings, as well as with friends. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Food is great, service is great, and the ambiance![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I like that the menu is not large, and everything is made with thought. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Air conditioner was broken but that's no one's fault.. we at least sat near a window.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. we got the focaccia as an appetizer.. it came with a dip of olive oil and vinegar.. there was way too much vinegar.. olive oil alone would've been fine and that was over seven dollars basically for some bread which in the past was complementary at most restaurants. I had the chicken fettuccine, which was just mediocre at best. It tasted more like some sort of Americanized version of a fettuccine with a couple of slabs of chicken thrown on top. Service was mediocre also and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place was definitely not crowded.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Osteria Vespa - Chicken fettuccini - Italian Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

One of the most fake restaurants in the area. Claims to be good food, just mediocre and grainy

Not only is this one of the best places to come if you can't eat gluten, but the food is delicious - always topnotch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely atmosphere in side and out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Loved the panelle appetizer! The cacio e pepe was also delicious, with the mushrooms a great addition. My husband loved his burger and patatas bravas. Only weak note was that the tomatoes in the vespa smoked burrata weren't ripe. Great cocktails, too, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the patio was lovely.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

See all

Had a long overdue date night with my spouse here last night. Our server was attentive and helpful but not overly so. The restaurant was tastefully decorated and there was enough space between tables for private conversations and ease of pushing your chair in or out as needed.We ordered the soup of the day, smoky watermelon gazpacho, that was lovely and refreshing. My spouse had the barata salad and we shared the chickpea fritters. All were delicious. For a main course my spouse had the NY strip cooked med. rare and it was cooked perfectly. I ordered the chicken picatta which was loaded with capers and a bit too much raw red onion. To be fair, I had never had this dish before. It was not what I expected and wasn't my favorite. The server offered to get me another dish but I declined. It was flavorful and probably a really good chicken picatta. Next time I would choose a different main course. All in all, food was well prepared and flavorful, service was impeccable and the ambiance was pleasant. If you're looking for an upscale dining option in Amherst this is a great option. read more

See all

Worst service I've ever had in my life. Staff was miserable, our server was straight up nasty, and the food was mediocre at best. They lost our business. 0/10 read more

We had a fantastic evening with friends and our daughters who all go to UMass. The food was delicious and flavorful, salads were fresh and delicious and the panelle was divine. Pastas, burger and pork all so good. We loved it so much we made another reservation for when we come back in a few weeks. Staff was delightful! read more

Pro: The polenta fries were good. Con: The room is sort of industrial. Not cozy...and a little bit too dark. Pasta dishes are served without any basic offer such as ground pepper or cheese; there are no seasonings on the table. As others have said, no bread is offered. On top of that, the dishes were not very good; not fresh tasting or carefully put together. And so little of it! : ) We didn't eat meat so I couldn't comment on those dishes. We felt we wasted $100. Better to check out ANY of the other restaurants in Amherst Center. Conclusion: On a nice evening, grab a patio table and have a glass of wine and those polenta fries. read more

Good homemade pasta but theyboten runout of the entrees if you go later in the evening. One of the better restaurants in the Amherst/ Hampton area. Service is good and [[HIGHLIGHT]]place is quiet so one can actually have a conversation[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

We were so excited to try Osteria Vespa after reading about the history of the chef and the Pacific Northwest connection which we share. The Menu looked interesting and creative so we thought we'd give it a try. [[HIGHLIGHT]]When we arrived there were a few tables dining but all in all it seemed like a rather slow night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were seated and then left for more than ten minutes with no interaction at all. We were finally greeted by a young woman who was kind enough to give us a glass of warm water and told us our waitress would be with us soon. The evening continued like this, a lot of waiting and watching our disinterested waitress hang out with friends at the end of the strip mall, ignoring the few tables seated including ours. The food was surprisingly mediocre. I mean it's one thing to have mediocre service, (and this place does) we kind have become used to this, but putting out mediocre food is such a let down. Maybe Amherst is not a major metropolitan city but we should expect more from our restaurants. I know I certainly do. read more

They got a new chef last summer and they now have more gluten-free options and the food is spectacular! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We had two great meals here sitting outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The food was excellent, the service was excellent,, and the ambiance was lovely.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thank you, Osteria Vespa! read more

This restaurant has so much potential with a little adjustment. Good atmosphere, comfortable, quaint. Service was good, but just good enough. The server just wasn't warm or invested in our experience. It was timely, efficient but ok. The house made bread was good, but it was also a privilege at $7.50 for an 8 inch piece requiring us to get 2 for the table of 6 adults. $15 in for sobering 99.9% of Italian restaurants simply provide. This sort of lays the groundwork for the vibe. Went to the men's room, heard sometime in the kitchen yell at someone else in the kitchen, "Don't f-$&@ that up!" Colorful! My daughter had Cacio e Pepe that was pasta with cracked Pepper for $15. Small portion. She said, "Dad, honestly better at UMass dining." The Pappardelle with braised leg of lamb was the highlight. Very tasty and rich. Both people who ordered it were pleased. Grilled 16 oz. Heritage Pork Chop Shepard's Style with chianti caramelized local onions, melted provolone picante over parmesan fingerling potatoes and marinated-grilled local broccoli was good but also why there needs to be adjustments. The Chianti carmelized onions were drowned with very pedestrian provolone that took away the taste. The potatoes were disappointing - mushy rather than crispy - they looked like they had been crispy once but were stored away. The broccoli was charred too much and had more burnt overpowering the taste and marination! Wine pours were ok. Wine selection good. 3 stars for price may be a little generous. read more

We were so happy with our dinner at Vespa! I always go to Italian restaurants with a bit of worry because I'm gluten-free- but Vespa's menu had an amazing amount of gluten-free options! I'm really not used to that many options on a menu! It turns out that the chef has celiac. But really, whether you're gf or not, the food is wonderful! They clearly have a seasonal menu to show off the best of the valley's bounty and a menu with something to please everyone. I'm very happy to spread the word about this great spot!! read more

The food is good and the ambience is nice. But the stuff is expensive and the waiter is pretty rude. I've been in either my partner a couple times and he's been snarky about us not ordering enough or ordering drinks. Everyone else has been amazing though, just our waiter. read more

This is our go-to restaurant in the area for a nice romantic dinner or for going out with family. The food is always interesting, top quality, fresh and beautifully prepared. Service has always been good and the wait staff are pleasant but not annoyingly enthusiastic or pushy. The vibe is very chill but also classy in an understated kind of way. I had these great chickpea fritters as a starter, homemade pasta with pork shoulder, and for dessert a ricotta almond cake. Their seasonal salads are great too! read more

Wonderful atmosphere and perfect service. The food is amazing. We shared the cheese plate. Lots of delicious homemade crackers surrounded splendid cheeses. Cod dinner was a marvelous combination of flavors and the almond cakes was very moist. Outstanding value and quality! read more

My favorite restaurant in the Valley, not just Amherst. The food is always delicious, creative and the portions are ample. It's cozy inside and in nice weather, lovely to eat on the patio. The staff couldn't be better and Jonathan, the owner, is a gem. An absolute recomend! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very relaxed & fun dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Nice menu. We split a beet salad that had a nice yogurt-tahini dressing. I had swordfish; my wife had a butternut squash pasta. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice ambience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would return for another dinner. read more

Great appetizers - we had the garlic prawns which were absolutely delicious and a farmers salad with a lot of local salads and veggies. Our entrees were just as good and we had some martinis that were to die for - so well made by the bartender. We had had the tiramisu before and it was delicious but this time it was not up to par but still tasty - would definitely go back ... read more

We had a lovely dinner here. The service was good. The ambiance was comfortable -- not too relaxed and not upscale. The food was delicious. We really enjoyed our risotto. The gazpacho was wonderful. The focaccia was a weird texture and a little dry. Overall, though, our party enjoyed our food and our visit. read more

Huge portions, flavorful fresh food. Nice variety. Great service. Nice atmosphere xxxxx read more

Came here for the first time to celebrate a 1 year anniversary and was blown away. My boyfriend got the minestrone soup and pork chop and I got the duck breast (as prepared by the chef). Everything was delicious- main course and the sides. My boyfriend has an Italian family restaurant so he appreciates a well made meal, so for him to give high remarks was outstanding. Sadly I didn't think of taking a picture of the food before eating and surely no one wants to see a plate of half eaten food. We will definitely be back to eat here and have told a few others to try it as well. read more

Food and drinks were amazing; service was warm and attentive, ambiance was good. Only quibble: it was a little hard to find the spot.

Great Atmosphere. Good food. Bread should have been free (for many reasons). We went here on a busy evening for our first time, the bartender/server was great and kept a close eye on us. The rest of the folks were polite. We did three appetizers, 3 dinners, and 3 desserts, and 3 drinks (about $180 total). Everything was delicious except for the foccacia bread - it was dry, crumbly (not in the good way) and the balsamic sauce seemed rushed and a list of ingredients that "should" taste good together - but were meh. Also, for an italian restaurant of this calibre - I was surprised I had to order bread - and it was then disappointing. read more

Very good traditional Italian menu. Interesting and very confident bartender and mixologist. Great with mocktails also! Exceptional and attentive service. Outdoor venue was nice. very helpful and considerate with our reservation. Request on a busy weekend. Appreciated. read more

That place sucks. The food is cafeteria grade, perhaps a bit better, with prices of a good solid restaurant. The ladies doing the service are pleasant and respectful, hence 2 stars, the men however are rude. The red wine is too warm and overpriced. Don't bother, grab a frozen yogurt next food instead. read more

Maybe I am the outlier. The last few places I've been people love it, but when I look at the menu it's, eh. The service here left something to be desired and the cocktails left me wanting something more. The fresh Burratta and tomato salad was good but for the price left something to be desired. The martini was well mixed but slightly more than half full. The braised beef was excellent. This is the one thing I was really pleased with. The fresh fettuccine is a solid choice. The med-rare steak came out Med-well but the service was so hot and miss sending it back wasn't an option. It's a gamble. Are you feelin lucky? read more

Osteria Vespa - Italian Near Me - Amherst, Massachusetts

Nice quiet little place, make reservations. Food was really good, started with cheese plate and tuna tartar. Wife had a pasta special and I had salmon. Both excellent. read more

We had a date night on a Saturday at the restaurant. Our server was friendly and efficient. We each had a pasta dish and thoroughly enjoyed them. The cocktail menu is interesting and my partner enjoyed his drink. The restaurant had a fun and low key vibe. I would definitely go back. It is a good place to go for a date or a nice occasion. read more

Service is good. Ambiance is decent. Food is overpriced, poorly prepared and made with poor ingredients for the money. The menu looks like it was made by some western MA cheeseball who went to an actually good italian restaurant and said- wow look at the prices they're charging, we can do the same thing in Amherst. And, they were either completely insensitive to the level of preparation and quality of an actually good Italian place, or they just thought they could stick it to us because we are just a bunch of quality food pilgrim chumps. Twenty eight dollars for a plate of gnocchi of piss poor quality! Pasta was dense, hard and cheap tasting. Barely any potato, loads of flour. You can find far better quality gnocchi at a decent grocery store. Artichokes in pasta at this price should be stored in olive oil so the flesh is rich and not water burned. These were canned and watery. The meat sauce had no nuance no depth, it wasnt coating the pasta the way I've experienced at dozens of good Italian restaurants. This place is an insult to the cuisine, it's an insult to me (yes I take it personally that someone would think I was stupid enough to dine here) and sadly-- it's proof that Western Massachusetts is a true food desert where people don't know what good food should taste like. read more

One of the best places to eat at when off campus. And very affordable too. You should try. You will enjoy the experience.

Nothing makes an evening at the movies better than having a place to eat -- either before or after -- that one can walk to. Osteria Vespa is just a few feet away from the Amherst Cinema. The menu is authentic Northern Italian and, at the same time, a farm to table restaurant. Whether you order a full, three course dinner or satisfy yourself with a salad and dessert or enjoy wine or a cocktail with cheese and/or another appetizer, you will be satisfied. I've never been one to sit at a bar but the bartenders here make it a comfortable situation. I often do this before a movie because I am snacking on a soup or an appetizer and topping it off with espresso. read more