Small quaint but very nice restaurant in Cambridge. The door from the busy street brings you another place. Like being in Naples on a sea side restaurant sitting outside enjoying good food and company. The food was clean, prepared very nicely and prompt. My only complaint is the prices were a little high. Every meal was $27 and up. Pastas were 27-36 dollars. But all good. read more

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Just visited for the second time - first time was 25 years ago. A very nice little restaurant in Huron Village. We went on a Sunday and parking was easy, might be harder other times. We ordered chicken saltimboca and tortellini bolognese - both were excellent and decent sized portions - we both brought some home and it made a full second meal. The saltimboca was a little salty, but it's a salty dish to begin with. Bread and oil was brought to the table with the meal and it was quite good. We thought the prices were fair, especially for the portion size which was decent. Service was friendly and efficient. We were seated by the door and it was quite cold (it's also February and the coldest winter we've had in years) so you might request with your reservation sitting away from the door if it's could outside. Will return before another 25 years goes by! read more

Trattoria Pulcinella may be one of the best northern Italian restaurants we've been to in the USA. We ordered an artichoke appetizer, which was very lemony (perhaps a bit too lemony?) and a porcini mushroom ravioli, the super-star of the evening. The service was good; the waiter was very nice but made an error on the order, which he quickly fixed. The decor and atmosphere was wonderful, reminding us of the times we had been to Emilia Romagna. The only negative was the wine prices. $16 for a glass of wine??? SERIOUSLY???? I know that local restaurants have been playing 'elasticity of margin' games with wine prices, but this was just WAY TOO MUCH. A glass of wine costs them ~$2 - and just a few years ago, restaurants began to charge more and more - as much as the public will pay. If it weren't for their ridiculous wine prices, we would have given Trattoria Pulcinella 4 stars and made plans to come back. But at $16/glass, I honestly don't know. read more

Wow! I am so honored to have dined in this family business for 30 years! I was reading reviews on this restaurant, and had to come here for authentic Italian cuisine ! I was right the food was amazing and it had the home made touch to it! There is a historic element to this restaurant the owners knew Julia Child would come and dine at this restaurant back in the day! Maria, the owner is so welcoming and lovely. We ordered the Caprese salad with prosciutto, and had the Lobster Arrabbiata linguine and the frutti do Mare. For dessert we had the tiramisu and Spumoni. The food was delicious and the sauces were addicting. I am totally surprised that it was not crazy busy on a Saturday night maybe because people don't know the neighborhood enough. It's located in a nice neighborhood section in Cambridge and it's quite known in the area. All I have to say is if you want really good Italian food with the warm family love, this is a place you must come and visit. I will definitely come back here again! read more

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I was unable to attend a beautiful birthday celebration for a dear sweet friend... My husband took home leftover vegetarian deliciousness!! Brava the flavor and beautiful food I cannot resist for breakfast!! Thank You for your amazing food and excellent service !! read more

Amazing place. Food is incredible, been here several times and everything is cooked from scratch and delicious. Pasta, bread, everything made in house. Small, quaint, quiet. We've been several times and will definitely be back. Desserts are also great! read more

Years ago, I had a delicious meal with my uncle at Pulcinella. Then, I forgot about it until friends suggested we go there for dinner. It's cozy. The service is attentive. And timed correctly--not too fast, not too slow. Our meal was delicious. I had zucchini flowers with ricotta and spring vegetables ( appetizer). Though it was small, it was mighty in taste, and not greasy. All the main dishes were excellent, especially the lobster ravioli. Often, desserts are overly sweet and lack flavor. Not here. Pistachio cake, chocolate temptation, and lemon cake were light and yet satisfying. We'll be returning soon. read more

Absolutely terrific! The food was great. loved everything from the appetizer, main course, and the desserts. The authentic food, the people, and the vibe were amazing! This experience definitely a 10/10. Loved it! read more

Do not go to this restaurant. The meal I had was literally the worst I've had in the past ten years. I am not exaggerating. The chicken I was served was tough, tasted terrible, and was EXTREMELY low quality. The vegetables were also terrible. Bland. The cost? For two basic entries, a salad, and two waters? $78. I am not kidding. Plus a $15 tip. Do not come here. Do not think, "Wow, this is a cute place let's try it out!" You will be sorely disappointed. The positives about this place were that the waiter was nice and the atmosphere was good. read more

PROS: - Besides the long wait for the food (see below), the service was good. The waiter refilled our water when needed and was very polite. - Great ambience. Good place for a date without worrying about it being overly crowded since it's a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of place which makes it even more endearing. CONS: - It took sooo long to get our food. The place was pretty busy by the time we started eating but we got there before the dinner rush. Not so sure as to why it took them 45 minutes to get the food out since we didn't order anything overly complicated. SPECIFICS: - Beef Ravioli = Delicious. I would order this again. The orange cream sauce was great and paired well with the beef filling. - Tripe Rigatoni = The trip was delicious and beautifully done. The flavor really soaked into it. The biggest problem was the pasta. It was undercooked and very very chewy. It stuck to my teeth, which was annoying. This was made worse by the fact that I had waited so long for my food only to have undercooked pasta. Instagram @bowtiebowie for more food adventures! read more

This is a mom and pop in the European style. If you want a fast meal go to olive garden. The owners are friendly to the point of being extended family during your dinner. They are kind and generous. I've generally had good to great meals and see dining here as being invited into someone's kitchen. It's quaint and quiet and perfect for enjoying quality time with family and friends. Is it a michelan 4 star resturant.. No.. But that's not what it's best at and not what it's not intended to be in my opinion and definitely not my reason for loving Trattoria Pulcinella. read more

The food is simply not good enough here to justify the prices. I've been to Pulcinella twice. Prior to my 1st visit I made Amatriciana for myself, and then ordered it at the restaurant. I liked my version better, which I can't recall ever happening before. On my 2nd visit I also thought that I could've made it at least as well myself. Additionally, I ordered a house salted that was extremely salty. read more

The parking is not great since it is street parking. The place looks like it would be a hole in the wall but it's so cute inside, only a few tables so you need a reservation for sure. The wine was very pricy, no bottles less than $52 which in my opinion the wine markup at restaurants has gotten so out of hand.... so unfortunately, we have made a rule to not tip 20% on the price of the wine especially if you are pouring it yourself during your meal and it's a twist off half the time now... so 5% new rule. The food is good, again a bit overpriced for what it is. The service was good nothing spectacular. It was nice to try but I don't think we'll be returning but again, it is good. Tasty food, good service. Everything is mediocre but the prices are just too high in my opinion for what it is. read more

Amazing!! The best eggplant I have ever had! Maria and her amazing family continue to carry on a legacy and make you feel like you are one of their own! Their food is made with love! I can't wait to go back! Maureen and Michael Paladino read more

Great food, great ambience, great service! A true food experience- just like I like it

This exceptional restaurant has the charm of a small countryside trattoria, yet the culinary skill of a top restaurant...the service is impeccable!! I highly recommend this restaurant for an intimate amazing meal. read more

I attend a 14 person dinner and the service was excellent and accommodating. The staff was happy to have us and extremely friendly. They special made chicken Alfredo for some of the guest. This was easily the most amazing, mouth watering and spectacular pasta I have had in my whole life. Get that chicken Alfredo. Salad was also great along with the free bread provided. The dessert and ot he r dishes were great as well. If I find myself in Boston again I will definitely be going back. Quite a quaint little gem. read more

Delicious!! We were visiting the area and were fortunate to find this gem. The food was amazing and exactly what we wanted. The seafood pasta was fresh and delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Great food, great ambience, and great service. Family owned and run, what more could you ask for?

I wanted to be happy as it was recommended by friends and the place is pleasant enough to sit in. But, our meal was really NG-still hurting the next day as I write this- and the service was slow as molasses- all at a price you would expect to pay for an outstanding (good) meal. Pass. read more

As good as the North End! A quiet, charming spot near Huron village. The food was outstanding quality and the service was friendly and charming. The ambiance felt rustic chic. Great wine as well! read more

Very disappointing for many reasons. The only thing good was the ambiance. I will absolutely not be back, I wish I could give 0 stars. 1. The service was awful. It seemed like they only had one server. He was not very nice, my mother asked for what was in the salad and told us it was just tomatoes, but it came out with cheese. When we went to send it back, he snapped back and said for us to read the menu before ordering, when we asked him what was on the salad and never said cheese. The food took over an hour 1/2 to come out. The server was also rough when picking up our plates as if he was annoyed. 2. The food was not good, I got the veal which was extremely tough, and honestly tasted like it was reheated . The veal was like a hockey puck it was so hard. There was barely anything on the plate as well, and the only thing that was tolerable was the carbonara. 3. The prices were absolutely outrageous for what we got served. The food was awful and there was barely anything on the plate. 4. The server never even asked us what drinks we want. When my mother asked for a Diet Coke he was nasty and said there is no soda. Waste of my time and money and will absolutely not be back. read more

Long-time local favorite. Intimate setting, feels very much like an Italian trattoria. Recently reopened after being closed for renovation. With new kitchen (visible to diners), new chef and new menu, the food is even better. read more

Amazing, adorable hole in the wall! We went on a Wednesday night and there were a lot of open tables, and it seem like the owner was attending to us. He was caring and sweet, and everything we had was delicious: the special barrata appetizer, octopus, and bolognese with some Chianti. Everything was delicious! They have a pretty small menu, but everything seems to be made with love. read more

Trattoria Pulcinella - Bread and wine! - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This traditional italian is a hidden gem. It's a quiet, neighborhood restaurant with excellent food. We had the gnocchieti, zuppa de Pesci and pesto -- all were excellent. The tiramisu was also very good, and there is a small but decent wine selection. If you want a quiet place with moderate prices and great food, this is the place to go! read more

A wonderful romantic spot to have a great Italian meal. The owner's daughter spent a while talking to us about the history of the restaurant. It felt as if we were in our own living room. The food was excellent - but I want to make one thing clear: That was the BEST TIRAMISU I've ever had in my life. And I've had a lot. A great place away from the hustle and bustle of the North End. read more

This passe establishment has been forgotten for a reason. A recent saturday night visit yielded a very nice glass of red wine and an amazing smoked buratta cheese surrounded by fresh greens and drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a basil pesto sauce dripping. While the buratta and basil went supremely well, melting in ta bouche nicely, the rest of the plate was a categoric dissappointment. Tomatoe slices were far too cruncy and the creativity of greens with olive oil and balsamic was less than expected. Next, hold your breath"""...."............ The amazing braised rabbit, whole, served in a tomatoe ragout, was anything but amazing. The first bite of rabbit I put into my mouth was ice cold. Dinner ruined. What can you do at this point? I already know the food is reheated. There's no turning back, so painfully, I proceed to work my way through the medley of tomato, onion and garlic. Very painfully. Service was fine; atmosphere cute. No returns in my near future. read more

I have driven by Trattoria Pulcinella at least five hundred times. I finally gave it a try and I was pleasantly surprised. Once the waiter took our order, he recommended an excellent bottle of Sardinian red wine. For the first course we order stuffed artichokes, which didn't have a lot flavors. Entrees were much better. I order the pasta with salted cod and tomatoes. The sauce had a subtle fish flavor - I have had similar tasting sauces in the North End and Italy. Tomatoes were really sweet. It tasted very authentic and homemade. My wife had the vegetable lasagna, which was also very good. It wasn't loaded with cheese, so it wasn't really greasy. First vegetable lasagna I have had, when you could actually taste the vegetables. Trattoria Pulcinella is like a restaurant you might stumble into in Italy. It is quaint, authentic, and romantic, but definitely not a trendy gourmet restaurant. It is kind of dated (some might find traditional), but I thought that it added to the charm. Service was good and the prices were fair. I will be back. read more

Ok, it's been very nearly a year since the last review, so I need to put in my two cents. I really really like this restaurant. It's true Italian, meaning not everything is drenched in olive oil and garlic. True story, I love Italian food but am allergic to garlic. Every time I eat here, they make me something delicious, flavorful and satisfying with no garlic. It's a scratch kitchen, so it's nice to know that I can order a dish from the menu and they'll fix it for me with no fuss. I say give them a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Hubby and I booked a resi here for New Year's Eve. Wow were we surprised at the rustic authenticity of this restaurant! As another yelper put it, this is a good italian restaurant to visit outside of the northend. The service is remarkable and the food was reasonable priced and delicious! I would wonder that if anyone that did not like the food here is a big fan of Olive Garden or Bertiuccis? This is not americanized italian - this is real, almalfi coast italian, and I feel like you get that experience when you dine here! read more

My friends and I had delightful experience at this restaurant. We came on a Sunday evening, and the place was fairly empty. The waiter did suggest that we sit at a table by the window, which, as another reviewer pointed out, might be a tactic for attracting passersby, but he was entirely amenable when we opted to sit in the corner near the open kitchen. The open kitchen, by the way, is a classy touch. This place achieves the right tone in terms of ambiance and service. Quaint, warm, fairly upscale in appearance but casual in mood- indeed, like an authentic Italian trattoria. The music is pleasant, quiet, and uninvasive. The waiter, a man in his fifties or sixties, originally from Sicily, is friendly but unobtrusive. The owners never actually spoke to us directly but rather stayed in the kitchen; perhaps they realized that their sometimes peevish personalities (according to other reviewers) were discomfiting patrons and relegated socializing to the waiter(s). The food, though not exceptional, was very good (four Yelp stars) and authentically Southern Italian. This is definitely the most authentic Italian restaurant in Cambridge, if not one of the most in the greater Boston area. The wine selection is pretty good, and prices are relatively affordable compared to restaurants of comparable quality. In terms of desert: The tiramisu's pretty good, but not extraordinary, as one reviewer raves; the cappucino, however, is- surprisingly- exceptional. The only thing that irked me a little: When the waiter described the specials, he didn't quote the prices, and some of the dishes, of course, were the most expensive they offered; if you're interested in trying one of the specials, make a point to inquire about the price. A good place for a romantic dinner date, an evening of conversation with a small group of friends, or to bring a relative for a birthday. Not a good place to bring children, or for a raucous crowd. read more

We ate there, at the end of May, mid-week.... The service was HORRENDOUS. There was only one person taking care of the customers, so he was "outnumbered", for sure.... ...but that didnot justify his constipated attitude... He was way too slow, and then he was so rushed in his asking us what we wanted, it seemed like a sequel to John Belushi's surly "Samari Counterman", from Saturdaynight Live, ("Pepsi, no Coke!").. I have been going to restaurants for 45 years, and never had worse service. For the price, the food was not up to the measure, as compared to the French place, (T and W??), down Concord Avenue... read more

I am so glad that I finally tried this wonderful neighborhood trattoria. All the food, wine and service were perfect. This place deserves to be packed every night. The menu at Pulcinella changes frequently and showcases seasonal ingredients. The dishes were simple but prepared expertly with the flavors of the meat or fish really standing out. I had lamb kidney chops in an anchovy butter - perfect. Others in my party had a whole grilled sea bass and a veal chop milanese. Appetizers were also very good. All pasta dishes can be ordered as full or half portions although that is not indicated on the menu. The restaurant is family owned. The service was thus warm and attentive but not intrusive. The kitchen is open and its great to smell food as it cooks. read more

I wanted to love this place really, but the service stunk, the waiter acted like he was doing us a favor, and the food was...meh I've had better for less anywhere. We were seated when the restaurant was near empty. It took the waiter at least 5 minutes before he came by to fill our water and offer us a menu. After explaining the specials, he disappeared, re-appeared a minute later to only disappear again after we told him we'd need another minute. Maybe he was confused and thought we said we need 15 minutes of uninterrupted time because that's how long he was gone for. When he came back by we hurriedly ordered -- I went with the gnocchi with clams and shrimp in an arugula cream sauce and my friend had the shrimp with garlic and cherry tomatoes. So OK, don't call something a cream sauce if it's not. Call it a pesto or something else, but don't call it a cream sauce. Also I think one of the first steps in serving clams is to clean the clams so as to prevent a pile up of grainy bits of dirt and such. Just sayin' Oh and the shrimp with garlic and cherry tomatoes was exactly that -- 4 shrimp with some garlic and halved cherry tomatoes. No sauce, no pasta, nothing. I started scooping in my dirt tasting gnocchi so she could at least have something. Why didn't we complain, you might be thinking...well that is a great question. The reason we didn't complain is that our waiter once again disappeared for about 20 minutes. No water refill, no how-does-your-food-taste question, nothing. Ugh...so we sat there with our plates getting cold and finally gave up. When he came back by we asked for the check and waited another 15 minutes for it. The lack of service was actually terrible. The food was not well prepared or executed and the cost for what we got was just silly. Oh and a note to the chef who we were watching as we waited for our waiter to come with our check (open kitchen): We saw you sneeze into the saute pan that you were seasoning and we saw you wipe your nose with your hand and keep cooking. read more

I wanted to love this place. I really, truly did. It was a family favorite when I was a child, about 15 years ago. We booked a table for 3 for my mom's birthday celebration. Most importantly: there is no AC in this restaurant. They have a wall unit, but it doesn't blow any air. I saw that their thermostat read 86 degrees. My dad finally asked if there was a fan available, and the waiter grabbed one from the basement (why this wasn't already set up, I have no idea, especially since the waiter told us how he didn't want to be there either because of the heat). Based on other yelp reviews, we knew that we may have to wait a bit longer than customary for our meals. The appetizers came promptly, but we only ordered the salami dish and ceviche (dad LOVED the ceviche). However, we certainly weren't prepared for the 40 minute wait for pasta dishes. My bolognese was delicious, but my father's caccio e pepe and my mother's carbonara were the worst we've ever tasted. The items were not fresh and onions overwhelmed the dishes. The waiter was very kind and you could tell he was hustling his ass off. He treated us to complimentary champagne (to help "deal with the heat") and a round of Port post-dinner, once he learned that it was my mom's birthday. I'd love to see this place brought back to the standards of the early 2000s, especially since they're charging enough for their dishes to employ more than one chef and one server. read more

I don't know what went wrong tonight but the dinner was so mediocre bordering on awful. The swordfish was thin and clearly came from a frozen packet. Trader Joe's has better. The lamb had a huge bone with very little meat on it and fatty. The chicken parmagiane had two thin cutlets, and no cheese, just tomato sauce. I don't know. But we won't be back that's for sure. read more

Super small space but gives an intimate, Italian family vibe. Food was amazing! I highly recommend the Barbera

We live right up the street and was excited to try it, so my husband, kids and myself stopped in, the place had one couple in it and they asked if we had resevations we said no but we were just in for a quick bite. SNOB is the only word to describe these people!!! they told us they were booked and couldn't take us..Literally there was no one there. And I tell you the way we were treated was horrible... bad taste in my mouth all around !!! read more

Such a great little spot and nice setting. We walked in on a Saturday evening to find it empty. It's so intimate we felt we couldn't leave. The hostess was nice but not professional--we could easily hear her phone call and an argument with the cooks about how long to boil beans. The salad was unimpressive--I've made far better at home. When the meal arrived, I asked my husband how his was--"good" he said and then immediately choked. He pulled a large piece (longer than two inches) of plastic wrapper from a sausage from his mouth. This was a first. My pasta was minutes away from al dente on the uncooked side lying in a lifeless pool of red sauce. By the time we left there were two other couples there. We live close by but will never go again unless a capable owner and great chef takes over. read more

If you want authentic Italian food, this is the place for you. Cozy, relaxing, romantic, and very Mediterranean. Located in Huron Village (Cambridge), this is like a mini trip to Italy. You really feel like you are in the Mediterranean. I was so stressed one day, hungry and ready to cry. I went there really late at night, there were only 2 other couples (middle age) sitting there, quietly. The owner (i am guessing) is so nice, he greets you with a genuine and warm smile (not fake ones like a lot of places). Food is like that too, genuine and warm. After a glass of very good red wine (we ordered half-bottle since we both had to work next day), my stress melted away. Staffs/chef were all speaking to each other in Italian too, it's really like an Italian oasis in Cambridge. If you are from Mediterranean region and miss home, try going there. I'm sure that it would feel like home there. We were the last customers, and the owner was the last one there still at the restaurant, because the other 2 left for home. Even then, he still offered dessert and coffee. I was just amazed. One thing to note though, they don't take American Express. When one of the older couple realized they don't take AmEx, they didn't have cash on them either. So they apologized and promised the owner, "I'm so sorry I promise to come back in half an hour!" The owner said, "Oh you don't have to, don't worry about it. Just come back sometime this week or next time you stop by." I was like, "That's so Mediterranean...." lol Oh, the old couple did come back in 30 minutes and paid, by the way. Con would be a parking situation (like everywhere else in Cambridge). It's surrounded by residential parking streets, with some meters. But there are more meters on Concord Ave. I went there just once, so I may have to go back for a fair opinion (hence for now, 4 stars) but if this experience holds true next time, I'll edit my review and give this place 5 stars. read more