this Italian restaurant in Winchester is a bright addition to the culinary scene in the area. It's a small place so reservations are probably needed on weekends for sure. This in my humble opinion is the best Italian restaurant in the region. I don't know what's going on in Boston, however, I highly recommend the chicken parm. itsthe best anywhere. and the pasta fagioli is sublime. The owner and chef Giovanni is friendly. The bar is small but comfortable and you can eat at the bar. read more

Had dinner here on a weekday night with my parents and it was a good meal. The space feels elevated with a touch of rustic charm. The service was top notch and the food was cooked nicely. Our table had the chicken parm, chicken broccoli alfredo and scallops and everyone mostly enjoyed their meals. The reason for 4 stars is the scallops were supposed to be served over mush vellutata drizzled with basil oil and they were served on plain mashed potatoes. They did not tell us about this substitution and we ordered 2 of them. This was disappointing as it was a factor for why I chose to order the dish and I did not finish my meal. Additionally they have a profiterole on their dessert menu I was excited to try and that is no longer available. I'd encourage the restaurant to be more proactive about letting diners know of substitutions during the ordering process and to update their online menu. read more

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We went here for a birthday and the service was great. The staff was very nice and they brought complimentary bread to our table. We got meatballs and calamari for an appetizer and both were good, I preferred the meatballs. Then for my main I got the bolognese. I thought it was good but it did lack a bit of that acidic flavor. The pesto was very good and creamy but heavy. I also enjoyed the pink vodka sauce with the pappardelle. The scallops, halibut, and carbonara were just ok. The lobster and shrimp special was good as well as the soup (I didn't try these but heard this). Overall this place was good but it didn't blow me away. Based on the reviews I thought it'd be a bit better but I still enjoyed my dinner here! read more

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This gem, located just outside Winchester center, you might think you're in the North End - the people and the food - authentic! It's an intimate restaurant with the chef - Giovani very much present to make sure your meal meets your expectations. We started with the artichokes - an absolute must - the best outside of Italy. We shared the manicotti with spinach and cheese filling, fusilli with shrimp/scallops, fresh haddock and side of spinach. Every dish was delicious. Our servers were great and offered a taste of wine before we bought a bottle - so we picked the perfect wine to complement our dinner. The bar area is very comfortable for a single or friends. Street parking is very easy - it's North End without the hassle. Mangia!! read more

I loved this restaurant when it was in Malden and the Winchester location is wonderful as well. Staff were very engaging. I spoke with the owner who told me if I wanted something special he would make it which is so kind & appreciated. The homemade pistachio tiramisu was to die for. Coming back next week for another special experience read more

Dinner at Ristorante Serena in Winchester was the first and the last time my wife and I will go there. It is an Italian-American restaurant that offers a wide range of Italian American creations (e.g. veal or chicken parmigiana) that you would never find in Italy where my wife is from. The ambiance was not great because the dining area (although cute and cozy) gets crowded at normal dinner times which means that it is very loud. American diners are often very loud which can put a damper on dinner conversations. The menu featured multiple dishes and courses as in a typical European restaurant. However, the portions are huge as compared with those in a good Italian or continental European restaurant. As a result diners seem to order an antipasto and one heavy dish like a pasta dish highlighting quantity over quality. The dishes we had were not well prepared at all. The first course - tuna tartar - that I ordered was not good. It was served in a dark pungent sauce which tasted terribly. The antipasto bruschetta was ok but the bread at the table was so so. My wife had the pasta faggioli soup as a main dish which she could barely eat. The sauce it was served in destroyed the taste of the hearty beans. My main dish - Grilled Salmon- was also served in a sauce that killed the taste of what was a good sized filet of salmon. The salmon was fresh however. I should have ordered Salmon with lemon only. We skipped desert because we were eager to move on. Our waiter was young and very inexperienced. He got many things wrong like delivering the wrong dishes to two of us. He had to be asked for utensils. The dining experience was yet another reminder that it is extremely difficult to find a real Italian restaurant in the Boston area that serves high quality dishes that you can find almost anywhere in Italy. Of course there are a few Italian restaurants with Michelin Stars in the US but they are found in New York, D.C., LA and San Francisco. Otherwise plan a trip to Italy and book a table in typical Italian restaurant in any large or middle sized city/town. Don't waste your money or time in the typical Italian American restaurant in this area. read more

We decided to go out for a light dinner. Not wanting to drive far we figured we would try this new restaurant in town. At first you notice the place was Small in dining room size with a nice bar to greet us. The magic comes once you are seated. Very nice staff and good servers are a plus. You feel a vibrant atmosphere with nice smells of pastas, meats and fish. We had lasagna which was very good. Great taste. Our second dish was the haddock al forno. Very fresh and well prepared. Our compliments to the chef. I can't wait to try it again. read more

Ristorante Serena - Haddock al forno - Italian Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

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Lovely Italian restaurant with easy street parking and a cozy atmosphere. The food is delicious with great menu options. It can get a bit loud when the place is full, but that's understandable given the small space. They serve both olive oil and butter with the bread, but I personally prefer just the olive oil or a fresh, non-pre-packaged butter, which feels more elegant and healthier. The orchid garnish felt slightly out of place for Italian cuisine, maybe using fancier plates for presentation would look better than a flower. Overall, a great experience, and I'll definitely be back and recommending it to friends. read more

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What a cute awesome place !! I am so happy we found this restaurant ! I am hard to be pleased with my Italian food but I was 100% satisfied. From my appetizer, the Eggplant rollatini to my Tortellini Vodka with a side of Chicken parmigiana ! The desserts were absolutely delicious as well ! Strawberry cake layered with mascarpone. I am so thrilled I do not have to go far for my new and only go to place for my Italian food!! Service was so attentive and friendly. Maria was great ! read more

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We had a lovely time in this quaint place. Superb friendly personal service, delicious dishes, very good wine list priced right, mostly Italian as it should be. Kudos to Antonio who was sincerely interested in our to opinion of the food and wine, and hats off to Chef Giovanni! read more

Real Italian food! 4 friends & I decided to come here for dinner. 2 of them had already been here & highly suggested it. The atmosphere was pleasant & it had very comfortable seating. Joseph, our waiter was warm natured & super attentive. All our food was excellent, portions were generous, & we were all very happy. It's hard to decide from the menu, because everything sounds so good. I got the chicken parm with homemade fusilli. It was absolutely delicious & I was delighted. We will be coming back! read more

Limone Chicken was absolutely delicious but our server Caterina was even better! We came in without a reservation but they were still able to accomodate our party. The small restaurant felt like home. Authentic Italian and a must stop in if you're thinking about it: 11/10 recommend! read more

Ristorante Serena - Limone Chicken - Italian Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

This restaurant is truly a gem! The food is absolutely amazing fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared but what really makes this place special is the people who work here. Everyone is friendly, welcoming, and genuinely cares about giving you a great experience. From the moment you walk in, you feel taken care of. It's the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again. Highly recommend for both the food and the wonderful service! ~Linda read more

The bread serving they offer was extremely small. The calamari appetizer was supposed to have banana peppers with it, which it never did have the banana peppers, all it had was some kind of leaves like spinach, it was also extremely small but it was just good. The bruschetta appetizer was also extremely small, it should have a drizzle of balsamic glaze on it. It was okay but with the balsamic glaze it would have been much better. The Haddock Al Forno was just okay, but I could make a much tastier/better one. It didn't have much flavor at all. I don't think I will be going back. The service from the young man was amazing. The service was the only great thing about my experience. It seems like they skimped on the portions but not the service. read more

This is a relatively small dining area that is in a beautiful room and the food is absolutely fantastic. We started with a white bean soup that was creamy and delicious. I had one of the best chicken parm dinners ever and finished with a traditional tiramisu that was amazing read more

Wonderful! The eggplant rollatini was the best I'd ever had - llght with a fresh marinara, a perfect appetizer and just right for sharing. Tagliatelle Solana was rich, the cream sauce screaming mushroom, the veal tender. Nice cocktail, wine and after dinner drink selection and a butterscotch bread pudding with vanilla ice cream to top things off. Friendly and attentive service. read more

We came here very last minute based on Yelp reviews and it did not disappoint! Everything we ate was absolutely delicious. The homemade desserts topped off an amazing meal. The staff is super welcoming and attentive and we will absolutely be back. read more

The food was delicious. The atmosphere was comfortable, but on the loud side, the weight staff was very attentive and again the food was delicious. read more

I ordered the fusilli with scallops and shrimp Diavolo. Best Italian food I've tasted in years! Service was impeccable. And the presentation was simply gorgeous, even including an edible orchid nestled in the sauce. It's a small dining room. So the noise level was a bit more than I like. Quantity was generous. Overall a great experience worth traveling for. read more

Great food with personal touch. Great service and you will enjoy every single bite. The place is nice and cozy.

It was a great meal friendly staff. The restaurant had a good vibe and was an enjoyable evening.

The service was nice, took a little long especially for my Gertrude(step-daughter). Restaurant was a little loud but the food made up for it all. The bolognese and gnocchi were outstanding and definitely the best dishes I've ever had. Definitely am coming again and even with the kiddos! (They enjoyed aswell.) read more

Excellent place for Italian food, service and ambiance is A+ a Calabrese touch to their dishes. Bon-appetit!

Great ambiance. Best Servers. AMAZING food. My family & I were extremely happy with our meals. Chicken Parm & Linguini cooked to perfection. My son loved the lasagna, and the Penne Pollo E Broccoli is hands down the best I've had thus far. Ristorante Serena deserves more than 5 stars, so I'm giving them thank you for an amazing experience. read more

This is a gem of a restaurant. Under the radar - tough to find if you aren't looking for it, but you'll be happy you did. The effort and care put into their food is obvious. The server recommended a great glass of wine that paired perfectly with our meal. They even squeezed in our party of 5 without a reservation and were super friendly about it. read more

Great experience. Had dinner at the bar and enjoyed my conversation with both bartenders. Enjoyed my meal and am looking to go return for another great meal. read more

Food again amazing..service seller great restaurant..and they listed now have higher chairs..this is an owner who cares about his patrons

A unique, intimate atmosphere that included great food, service, and reasonable prices!

Beautifully styled space, fabulous wine and cocktails, above all Giovanni's food is such a treat with thoughtful details. It's so SO great to have Serena back and better than ever!!! read more

This new place was recommended to us by a friend and we recently decided to try it for dinner. The dining room is elegant and quaint which I love. It feels like you're right at home! The service was excellent- all staff were kind and welcoming and our glasses were kept full but didn't feel like anyone was hovering. The menu is just big enough that it's hard to choose because everything sounds so good but not too big that it's overwhelming. The portions were generous and everything was incredibly tasty! Will definitely be coming back and will bring family and friends here when they're in town visiting! read more

I was eager to try this new Italian restaurant in Winchester. Wow was I impressed. The home made Italian food and selection was incredible and warm service and attentiveness of the staff was appreciated. The cold octopus salad was our starter and we enjoyed each bite. It was not overly marinated like some places. The veal saltenbocca with homemade pasta was tender and fresh. The seafood risotto and homemade lemon cello cake were amazing as well. Prices are reasonable and portions are perfect. We had an A+ evening read more