I was there 12/10 with 8 gentlemen the food was excellent but the service was terrible. The restaurant was not very busy and we had to wait for service or request it the 2 waiters never came to table they were busy talking and had to call them. We ordered several bottles of wine and they just opened it and put them on the table. Very disappointed but will return because of the food! read more

This Italian restaurant is really, really good! But be warned, if you go, you better be hungry! Good Italian restaurant with lots of traditional Italian dishes! I got the scallop, shrimp and lobster pasta dish! Omg, the amount of seafood they loaded the pasta with was unreal! I have not seen a restaurant serve such a generous amount, which I love! Also I opted for the hand made pasta, which is a +++++! My friend ordered the braciola pasta and also was very generous with portions, my friend couldn't finish it! We started with the fried calamari, which was good and again, large portions. We were able to share it amongst three of us. We had a good red wine and selection was good! I recommend reservations since it's very popular! read more

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Everything is good. Service was very nice. Also I like the atmosphere of the dining area.

Love it We're so glad to get back here. Ordered the gnocchi and also get some homemade fusilli; and my wife got a special dish she's been looking for for a while. From a safety standpoint, They space the tables out for plenty of social distancing and staff is very courteous and pays attention to cleanliness. I'm Just glad the taste is the same awesome taste I remember. it was nice to be back here after a long absence. I would highly recommend you go here if you're looking for some homestyle Italian cooking and want to go to a relaxed place with nice service and a good atmosphere. read more

Vinny's Ristorante - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Food was wonderful! I had the lasagna and my husband had the fussilla pasta with sausage. Service was great-friendly & recommended great choices. The restaurant was quaint and so friendly. read more

Vinny's is the ultimate hidden gem Italian restaurant of Boston. Been around forever, stuff of legend. It still retains the old school vibe. This place is basically a national treasure. read more

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Holy crap this place was amazing I had the VEAL OSSO BUCO it was the best meal I have had all year the meat was so tender and the rice was so flavorful CANT say enough about it read more

My husband and I ate in the deli section since they had stopped serving lunch and weren't yet serving dinner in the restaurant section. The young woman working the deli was very friendly and helpful. I had the eggplant Parmesan sandwich which was fantastic. My husband had the sausage sandwich which he said was as good as any he has ever had. This isn't a fancy place, but the food is great. read more

Old-school Italian American goodness. Restaurants like Vinny's seem to be declining in Boston. Nowadays Italian restaurants are expensive, trying (but failing) to be fancy, and you might even leave the restaurant hungry. Italian grandma's everywhere just shake their heads in disappointment. Enter Vinny's: super casual, giant portions, and not overly pricey. You can order a lot of Italian American classics here, but they also have their own unique specialties. Definitely try some of their homemade mafalde or fusilli pasta. Their arancini weren't the super crispy on the outside, but they had good flavor and the sauce was nice. We also tried some of their specialties, the tripe. It was not my favorite version of the dish, but it was tender, a large portion, and super tripe-y, so if you like tripe, you will definitely be happy. The haddock fra diavolo was a nice dish. Tons of freshly cooked fish with olives and a very tasty sauce. The size of the dish surprised me, so I definitely recommend sharing. I definitely want to come back so I can try more dishes. Great for a casual and comforting dinner. read more

If you're looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, come to Vinny's and stay a while. They converted the back part of a convenience store into a restaurant specializing in Sicilian fare. Where some notorious Somerville gangsters have had their birthday parties. And it's been around for nearly 40 years. Now that's saying something. My group of 5 sat at the bar, and we were delighted for 3 hours with 3 courses. Everything we had was amazing! Order the arancini as an appetizer. These piping hot balls of rice and peas with marinara are heaven. You'll want to order extra of Vinny's special sauce to slather on top. You'll even enjoy salad after trying their delightful version with shrimp, mozzarella, artichokes, olives & antipasto! As for entrees, you can't go wrong. The lamb osso bucco, veal piccata, eggplant special, and beef braciola were all incredible. And filling! You can definitely make a meal or 2 out of the leftovers. I suggest upgrading to the homemade pasta whenever possible to take the experience up another notch. Don't forget to get an expertly-made cocktail (or three) from the bartender (Hi, Scott!) and have a few pieces of the warm, complimentary bread which is flown in every other day from a bakery in Toronto! From the ingredients to the care in preparation and service, Vinny's doesn't skimp on quality. I'll be back pronto. Ciao! read more

Vinny's Ristorante - Beef Bracciola - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I love Vinny's! My last meal there was not great though! I often get the Calamari salad and it was different, not as good. My friend got the homemade fusilli with sausage, it had NO SAUCE or oil (ordered olive oil) and was flavorless. I'll probably not return but am sad because this used to be the best place. The service was excellent. read more

Service was so-so. Bread was burnt. Took a long time to get bread. Nice touch with olive oil. Large portions- ordered home made pasta so meal prep took a long time. Food tasted nice. More expensive than we expected overall. read more

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if your American you are going to love vinny's, Italians....NO WAY. the tripe was good, my friend had stuffed calamari, extremely salty. the waitress destroyed the entire experience. she was rude and rude.....there is no need to ever visit Vinny's again, why pay for rudeness, and they should close for a few days and sanitize the entire restaurant read more

I am obsessed with this place! I'm never going to the North end again (maybe for cafe Vittoria still) chicken marsala is my go to, but so is the ravioli and the arrancini , and so is the chicken parmesan and chicken picatta , but so is the tiramisu , and I'm sure the more I taste through the menu , the more I'm going to add to this list! Great friendly staff , patient waiters (dealing with me after me having too many espresso martinis, ha!) Oh and don't forget the hot fresh bread and perfect olive oil , even their parmesan is so so good ! read more

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After all these years and changes in my old neighborhood so glad to see that vinnys is still here! This place is so old school and I don't think they give one crap about a yelp review LOL. People that come here know what vinnys is all about so any outsiders that are new in the area don't expect 5 star service, not going to happen. Located in east Somerville and yes parking is tuff but be patient as always someone will be leaving,this place is so worth it.. I usually come here get take out, or dine in. The set up is different than any other restaurant. One part is take out you can order subs, pizza and calzones. The other is the dining area. The menu has a little bit of everything from fresh pasta, lasagna, chicken parm, calamari salad, seafood, veal, steaks and alot more. The portions are huge and the prices are fare. You will be leaving here happy. Cash or credit cards for payment. Oh make sure you order the arancini so bomb!! read more

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This is my favorite Italian restaurant outside of the North End. The homemade pasta is amazing. The gravy reminds me of my nanas. The chicken Marsala with my homemade fusili was the best. On top of the delicious food, the service was five stars. Lori was our server and she was pleasant, responsive polite and attentive. I'd give this place six stars if I could. read more

Antipasto was underwelming, but tasty enough. (Didn't like the few little rolls of meat/cheese that looked like they came from grocery store deli tray.) Pasta sauce/gravy was watery and tasteless. Pasta was a bit overcooked (i.e. not 'al dente'). We were never served any bread which is odd for any Italian restaurant. (Even if is was, I see that it's served with butter! It's my red flag to leave any Italian restaurant that serves their bread with butter instead of olive oil.) I had the Chicken Bracciole and it was more like a lightly stuffed chicken breast than a real Sicilian bracciole (flattened meat). My husband's Chicken Marsala looked/tasted exactly the same only with mushrooms. Atmosphere and decor is nice, people and staff are friendly ... hence the extra star rating. I/We don't need to go back there. read more

Vinny's is a sub shop by day (great) and an Italian restaurant by night (amazing). I am reviewing the night restaurant part,. The restaurant is small and somewhat casual. The service is efficient, kind and knowledgeable. Well, the service could distinguish the restaurant by itself, it is the food that is most distinguished. I've been coming to this restaurant for many years and have never had a bad experience, but if it's possible, it's actually gotten better. You are starting off with beverage order and basket of wonderful bread that can be either buttered or dipped in a wonderful EVOO. I chose table chef, taking the EVOO with Parmesan, hot pepper and salt. As for the menu, there is so many options, both appetizers, and entrées. Something to consider is the portions are beyond generous. The only problem that causes is the food is so good you just don't wanna stop eating. I started with the pasta Alforno. You can almost call it a vegetarian lasagna. It is a huge pasta and vegetables formed into a square and covered with their extraordinary marinara. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. My Wife had the ravioli which were large and stuffed with cheese. She was only able to leave one and a half raviolis because she couldn't stop eating. She truly enjoyed that more than just about anything I've seen her eat, my daughter had the homemade gnocchi. She liked it to her grandmother's and said it was the best she had had in a restaurant. My stealing a bite confirmed that. The prices are very reasonable and the experience is unforgettable. Vinny's is the best Italian restaurant in Boston area. Period read more

Another great time! Vinny's never disappoints! The drinks, food and friendly service are impeccable! We love it here!

They started carrying the large seeded rolls which "EVERYONE" wants but for some reason they just stopped out of the blue. I think they had them for a week. And they would sell them out every day. I have no idea why they stopped carrying them. Seems like a stupid decision read more

Vinny's Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Vinny's is a superb restaurant and serves up classic Italian dishes: huge portions, amazing pasta, and the service is on point. I will go to this place over North End Boston any day. While I really enjoy North End (Little Italy) in Boston, it's impossible to find parking and you have to wait a long time to get seated. Eataly, in the Prudential, is no different story. Not to mention severely bloated prices. However, this place is special because the prices are reasonable ($14-20 per dish), and the portions are huge. We ordered the salmon pasta with homemade spaghetti, 5-cheese ravioli, and chicken cacciatore. We also included two appetizers: the garlic bread and their fried calamari. The garlic bread was unnecessary, because they came out with FRESHLY-BAKED BREAD! It was amazingly warm and moist on the inside, with a nice crisp exterior. Not to mention the olive oil and herbs that we spooned on them. I could have eaten two more baskets of their complimentary bread. Their pasta is delicious, with perfect al-dente bite. The salmon was buttery and literally fell apart in our mouths. The ravioli was amazing, stuffed with delicious cheese and in this amazing vodka sweet sauce. I wish I could have packed that sauce to go. (It was near Valentine's day when I went with my friends, so we had the option of getting this tomato-pasta pressed into heart-shaped ravioli. It was amazing!) read more

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Vinny's takeout was OUTRAGEOUSLY good! We ordered Chicken Marsala with angel hair pasta ( new addition! Yum!) and antipasto (excellent) and Chicken Parmigiana (fantastic!) Favorite was Chicken Marsala!!! read more

Vinny's Ristorante - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Came for the meatballs featured on food network. For me.. the sauce was too watery, while the tomatoes were too chunky and not very flavorful. The meatballs were too homogenous, not enough texture, and ground too finely. read more

Vinny's Ristorante - ziti with meatballs - not too excited about the meatballs. and it's actually penne.. we looked it up. - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Never lets me down! A small, unassuming little place but with super delicious, authentic Italian classics. Their chicken parm and homemade mafalde are especially fabulous. read more

Saw Vinny's on the food network or on Phantom gourmet and decided we must try it! Besides, I live nearby. It was no joke when they said it doesn't look like there would be a dining room because of the way it looks outside and because of the deli that is in front. We were greeted by a very friendly host who sat us right away even though we didn't have reservations. **TIP : DO make a reservation for Saturdays. I came around 6PM and was seated luckily, but right after, many many many parties started coming in. Anyway, our server was really nice and friendly. She was helpful with the menu. I ordered the Lamb osso Bucco (I think that's what it's called), my bf had the chicken parm, and his son had penne with red sauce. The red sauce was definitely good! The waitress told me the Lamb came with risotto but it was pretty much just rice and they put the gravy on top of it. (Didn't really matter, it was still a nice dish) Dessert I had the tiramisu and it was great. I devoured it in less than 1 minute. Would love to try this place again! read more

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Great lii place for authentic italiano food! We had the veal marsala with homemade fusili, and eggplant parm. Fresh sauteed spinach as the side. Bread on table fresh and yummy! Great service too! Pricing a wee bit high but thats the reality... highly recommend you try it out at Vinnys! They even have a deli area for u to take home food/meats! Mmmmmmm! read more

Nice sit down restaurant, came here for dinner with my girlfriend, good food and service

Needs improvement. Cons: First, they claim to take reservations through OpenTable, but we were treated like a walk-in and had to wait for our table. Second, two different waiters took our order. Initially, our appetizers/drinks came quickly but then 1.5 hrs goes by and no one checked up on us even with empty dishes and two empty wine glasses. We had to ask what happened to our order. Turns out, there was a mix up and they had to re-make it. So, it took 2hrs to get to our main...perhaps they need more organization Pros: Portion was large and food was tasty. For the mistake they gave us a generous pour of red wine. read more

This restaurant has been in business for the longest time and I just got to try it. The food was absolutely delicious, we ordered the arancini with homemade sauce, spinach with garlic and oil. For dinner both pasta dishes were so delicious. The services was top notch by Andrew, he was really nice and friendly. We will definitely come back! Support your local restaurants. read more

I must have came on a bad night, because it seemed the bartender was the only one taking everyone's order. I wasn't greeted, so I just sat at the bar. A regular customer was sitting next to me helped me get the bartender/waitress' attention so I could order. Very nice staff, once I spoke to them. I ordered the Lobster Fra Diavlo and a Chianti to go with it. When the meal came out, it was amazing!!! Scallops, shrimps and lobster was tender and the red sauce was perfectly spicy and flavorful. I would have given five stars, but the service was a bit slow. I would still return and try something else on the menu, whenever I'm back in Boston. read more

Vinny's Ristorante - Chianti time! - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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What a pleasant surprise. My wife and I were visiting Boston and our son met us here. We know he likes Italian food. After a disappointing meal the night before in the North End, we decided, after encountering the wall of people there in the afternoon, to a change of plans. We found Vinny's not too far from our hotel. It is an Italian deli by day, and a fantastic restaurant by night. Warning - they are cash only. We started with a nice inexpensive bottle of Pinot noir (lots of low cost and decent choices). The bread is good and the infused olive oil is out of this world. We ordered the chicken meatballs specials. Ground chicken is not easy to make interesting. They were served with incredible red sauce and were truly awesome. I ordered veal parm, my son the chicken parm, and my wife the rack of lamb. Each entree was better than the next. And, the pasta that came with my son and my dishes was excellent. My wife said the veggies she ordered were great too and she absolutely loved the lamb. I grew up in Brooklyn, lived in Hoboken, and work in Manhattan and have eaten at Il Mulino, which rates one of the top Italian restaurants anywhere. Vinny's was as good any Italian restaurant I've ever been too. My only disappointment is that we were too full to try the dessert. Oh, and the prices are beyond reasonable. Forget the North End. This is the place! read more

Homemade dishes, beautifully presented and delicious! I've never really found Scicilian food this good. But, I need tohad the eggplant parm with linguine and marina sauce. The eggplant was thinly sliced and cooked to perfection. I don't usually order linguini because it usually has no taste. But, I'm glad because it was delicious. The waitstaff were caring and aimed to please. One of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area. read more

There is much to love about Vinny's, but so much that should be improved. First, they claim to take reservations through OpenTable, but treat those reservations akin to any other walk-in. Second, the service is inexcusably slow. Portions are huge. It's tucked in the back of a store. read more

Great food, great service. We had a party of 10 and everyone had a great meal and enjoyed the experience

I have mixed emotions about Vinny's. My date took me here with the disclaimer that "the food is awesome but the service is horrible." He was right about the service part, but I think saying the food was awesome would be a bit too generous. The interior is quite crammed and crowded so walking into the main dining room, you definitely have to be conscious of your coat/purse as to not hit one of the patrons on the head in passing. Once seated, you will notice that you are surrounded by mirrors. I found this really odd and, not to mention, tacky. As already mentioned, the service was horrid. We had probably waited a good 30 min between finishing our appetizer and getting our entree. By the time the main dishes arrived, i had already stuffed myself full of bread and wasn't even hungry. Now to the food-- capresi salad: fresh tomatoes (great), wayyyyyyy too much dressing. It was overwhelming and really took away from both the taste and presentation of the dish. Gnocchi-good stuff, but i wouldn't say it was any better than dishes you can get at any restaurant in the north end. My partner had some penne, which i didn't try, but the chicken meatballs he got on the side were good. Overall, decent food, but I would not come back here for the service...I think we spent a good 2.5 hours at the restaurant, which for me is just excessive. The restaurant also definitely has one of those family place vibes. It looked like the owner/manager knew regulars by name, and that's important for some people. oh and FYI, the single person restroom is basically in the kitchen... read more

I had such high expectations!!! First of all, the staff are great. That being said, lets talk about the food!! The antipasta came as a salad, we thought differently but it was good. The wine list was ok, nothing special. It was the dinner that was truly disappointing. My veal piccata was dry, shriveled veal strips. The white wine sauce was brown. My friends lasana was a nice shade of burnt brown all over with an extra shaker of salt added to kill the taste. I can't even begin to express my dissappointment. I'm glad we tried it with a Groupon...kinda...umm no... I'm lying. Having read the Yelp reviews I cant help but think what are these people thinking or did the chef quit. I refuse to believe my fellow Yelpers would lead me astray! I'm gonna go with option two and hope it's just that the chef quit. :) read more

After considerable review, I have to give Vinny's 5 stars. To be honest, this review is based 80% in the food alone, which I know isn't the entire reason why people choose a restaurant, but let's be serious - the food is at least 80% of the reason why you choose a restaurant. So this is fair, right? To the (very small) credit of negative reviews of this place, the outside makes it look like strictly a sub joint. Even the "lobby" gives off the same vibe. But, alas, the back portion of the Ristorante is exactly that. A cramped, North End feel. Once you sit down, you're in another world. My girlfriend and I started with the fried calamari appetizer, which was delicious. We ordered a bottle of Chianti and relaxed. The waiter initially made us feel rushed to order our entrées, but then warned us that each entrée takes between 25 and 30 minutes to prepare, which caused us to put in the order before we normally would. And true to his word, about 27 minutes later, our plates came out hot off the stove. We both got the Beef Bracciola (picture attached), over the homemade gnocchi, which was out of this world. They truly make the pasta in house, which comes through 110%. It was delicious from the first bite until the last (yes, I cleaned the plate). I actually had to stop using the knife, because the beef was tender enough that it required cutting with your fork edge. The whole dish was melt-in-your-mouth delectable. And for just $21.95, the portion size was well worth it. The service was on point. Non-intrusive and polite. Which when you're on a date with your person, you learn to respect. Conclusion: for those looking for a full-on fine dining experience, with waiters wiping your mouth and massaging your feet, look elsewhere. Otherwise, visit Vinny's and walk out 100% satisfied with an authentic, homemade Italian meal, with plenty leftover for lunch the next day, at below North End prices and wait times. read more

Vinny's Ristorante - Beef Bracciola (beef stuffed with prosciutto and Swiss cheese) over homemade gnocchi. - Italian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Vinny's is the kind of place the North End should have - but doesn't. It's a relatively small, jovial spot with locals all around and great red-sauce Italian food. The bread they bring over? Unreal. We shared a chicken meatball and caprese salad for appetizers - and the salad had some of the best fresh mozzarella I've ever had. The chicken parm was the size of my face, and was served with delicious homemade pasta. The pasta al forno had all kinds of stuff cooked into it - peas, hard boiled eggs, eggplant - and was so much fun. We were too full for dinner but I couldn't leave without their homemade tiramisu so we got some to go. It was incredible. Cons? The wines by the glass (and bottle, I think) were primarily of the Hob Nob and Barefoot varieties. Also, the food comes out darn fast - the guys beside us didn't order an appetizer and they were out the door in less than an hour. To me, though, those things are plenty worth the pros. Definitely worth a trip! read more

We stopped by for lunch, on a snowy weekday, and had a terrific experience. there were several other patrons in the small, cozy dining room. we happened to chat with one other diner who we learned WAS Vinnie! charming fellow (and not just because he sent us some arancini (rice balls) on the house - they were fantastic!). I had a pasta dish, my wife the tripe. She is an aficionado, and pronounced the tripe excellent, my pasta was also great, very savory red sauce. The server apologized initially for a few minute delay (not noticed by us) - but the fresh bread was just coming out of the oven! Delicious! They have a full bar though we only had wine. I didn't see the wine list so I can't speak to that, I've had sandwiches there(also excellent) but never a sit down meal, we'll definitely go back read more

We're visiting from Houston, TX. This place caught my eye with its quaint corner-store feel. It's half seat yourself and half wait to be seated. Fun customers too. The food! Delicious. My kid had the meatball sub and I had the chicken parm. read more

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