After *two* visits to Acqua al 2 during our recent Berkshires foray, I can say with confidence that this restaurant is not to be missed! Five stars, hands down. ***** The exterior is a pop of color in the small town of West Stockbridge and it is conveniently located near the I-90, Tanglewood, and all things Berkshires. Check out the original artwork on the walls and relax as you are transported to another place. What makes this restaurant so special is the authenticity of the food. All the recipes are from the original Florence location, perfected over many years by the owners. If you are a meat-eater then you'll be delighted by any of the filets. I enjoyed both the blueberry filet and the green peppercorn filet (strategically ordering both with a friend and then switching plates once halfway through!). The port wine sauce chicken is also quite tasty. The restaurant offers several "samplers" (salad, steak, pasta, dessert) which makes it easy to try lots of different flavor combinations, textures, and fresh ingredients. We did get the pasta sampler, and my favorites were the gnocchi (that day it was served with red pepper sauce - but on my next visit I tried the Gorgonzola sauce, yum) and the bow tie pasta with pumpkin and tiny but delicious morsels of almond crunch. I love greek salad and Acqua Al 2 did not disappoint. Fresh, crisp and refreshing cucumbers & tomatoes with a "to-die-for" feta cheese. I am also a huge fan of tiramisu so while others in our group opted for the dessert sampler, I went all-in on my top choice... iykyk. A good tiramisu can make or break a meal. This one was A+ Our server, Juan, was gracious and attentive. Overall a wonderful experience. Also, I don't drink alcohol, but they do have a full bar and an extensive wine list. Content with my Shirley Temple, I felt no judgement from staff! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Acqua al 2 exterior - Italian Near Me - West Stockbridge, Massachusetts

My wife and I were traveling through the Berkshires and were looking for an Italian restaurant. We discovered Acqua Al 2 and read that the unique name is because THE restaurant is a distant "expansion" from Florence Italy. Well, that was enough to raise our expectations and we headed to this wonderful restaurant with authentic Italian food. The selections were excellent and we both found meals that we were interested in, and then the service and food preparation exceeded our expectations. The service was excellent and we were there early in the evening and were able to engage with owner, Valentino. We learned all about the history and the drive to create this location in West Stockbridge, a short 10 minute drive from the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. I left my sunglasses on the window frame, and Valentino drove them to the Red Lion, unbeknownst to me, but when I realized the glasses were missing, I discovered that they were returned to the Hotel. Fantastic experience, delicious food, and the pricing was lower than expected, while the quality was higher than expected. As the English say, "good value for money"! We would love to return to the Berkshires and enjoy another meal. read more

We'd been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, but the yelp reviews made me sceptical. Today we happened to be in West Stockbridge at lunch time and decided to give it a try. We will absolutely be back. We shared the salad and steak samplers, as well as the pumpkin pasta. Everything was delicious, but my favorites were the pasta and blueberry filet. (Friend loved the balsamic fillet. Neither of is are big red meat eaters; the fact that we enjoyed it so much says A LOT.) Great service, cozy atmosphere. Really can't wait to go back. read more

Very enjoyable dinner experience. Samplers fun to order. Can be shared with another. Very well prepared, fresh ingredients and, of course the pasta was al dente. Entree probably best red sauce around. Rigatoni and eggplant. Great Italian inspired food. Desserts homemade. Very good. Service attentive and engaging. Not rushed. Ambiance soothing and relaxing. read more

I enjoyed this place very much. The server seemed...maybe a bit gruff...? But the menu is fresh. Downright exhilarating with its Florentine take on Italian. (I've been to Florence in the last 6 months...and I don't recall that the food is like this necessarily, but that's beside the point). The salads are interesting yet there remain classics like Caprese, and the pastas are varied and well executed. They even have some classics like rigatoni in a meat ragu (in case you bring your very old mother who misses her era of Italian food). Houses in a renovated (and re-renovated) historic home in West Stockbridge, this is a worthy restaurant to squeeze into a your Berkshires itinerary. read more

We we're so excited when we saw that they have a sister restaurant in Florence. We had just come from there. The food was literally absolutely no flavor with pasta the poor wine chicken. I thought it was a dessert. It was like they took a wine production threw it over a chicken absolutely do not recommend this place. You'd be better off. Going to chipotle. read more

Acqua Al 2 - This was the chicken -:( - Italian Near Me - West Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Wonderful spot. Been to the restaurant in Florence and. Chef/owner happened to be working last night. He was so warm and engaging as was our waitstaff. Pasta sampler is wonderful-- all fresh homemade and flavorful sophisticated sauces. Very fair prices -- $50 person for salad appetizer and meat entrees. Meats and chicken are excellent. No fish served. read more

There is a level of culinary artistry here that is honest and refined. The pasta with mushroom and mascarpone is elegant and delicious. The spicy red sauce pasta was understated on the menu and was an incredible combination of fresh rosemary, red pepper and warm tomato pesto. The pear salad was heavenly with perfect Bosc pear chunks, arugula, and light olive oil cheese dressing with arugula. This is Europe in Massachusetts. Please make a visit with an open heart and a love of authenticity. Thank you for this gem read more

Very expensive for basic food. Like the quirkiness and Italian roots but $20 for kids butter pasta is stupid.

We had a completely wonderful meal here tonight. Liam was our server and he couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. The house wine, at only eight dollars a glass, was a good value and very tasty. We got the salad sampler, I got the chicken with zucchini sauce, and my husband had the pasta sampler. Everything was fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared. We were so full we didn't have room for dessert, but that looked delicious, too. The vibe was classy and relaxed, and we would definitely go back. read more

Came here for our anniversary, and the food was authentic and delectable, the service was good. One downside, was the restaurant was a little noisy ... for the ambiance you'd expect, disappointing. That said , the food is worth it. read more

This place is amazing - delicious and original - I was there last weekend and had to go back on Thursday - the chef is brilliant

Ugh, what a disappointment. We had such high hopes and even drove an hour to try this place. Unfortunately, the meal--and the long wait for it--were major letdowns. We started with the table wine and three appetizers. The cheese plate included only three very small slices of cheese, a bit of lettuce, and a few apple slices. The trio of salads was just okay, comparable to what you might find in a grocery store deli. The eggplant was the only appetizer we truly enjoyed. For our entrées, the 50 dollar sirloin steaks we ordered medium rare arrived well done, and the gnocchi had an extremely soft, almost snot-like texture. Overall, the food was just sad. To make things worse, we waited almost two hours for our entrées--even though the restaurant was empty on a Friday night. Now we understand why. Our server was very sweet and did their best, but the experience as a whole was terrible. Our exit was extremely memorable as we walked by the kitchen on our way out and were hit in the face with cigarette smoke. We won't be returning. We loved Rouge, the previous restaurant in this location, but unfortunately this new spot doesn't hold a candle to it. read more

Food is amazing!! I ate good Italian food here and there but this restaurant is definitely ranking high at this moment. Our waitress was not knowledgeable nor provided good service but floor manager was excellent to accommodate our needs. We tried pasta sampler to taste 5 different pastas and steak sampler. Steaks were great! Especially their famous blueberry sauce! Loved read more

Disappointing... inconsistent. Had a pasta and salmon dish ... one week it was amazing and loaded with salmon bits... next time the a portion was half the size and had little to no salmon in it. Felt like a waste of money. And the waitress was not friendly at all. Seemed like she was in the wrong job. Very impatient. read more

While the vibe was nice and the steak was fairly good, the service felt really off. The portions were pretty small for the price, but the main issue was how we were treated. We waited for some time for our food and weren't offered any bread. Which at first I thought was kind of different compared to other Italian restaurants or steakhouses which is fine BUT At the end of the meal, we saw the server proactively giving bread to all the tables around us. When I asked why we weren't offered any, he just said it was 'by request only.' Which is inaccurate coz I heard him say --here's some bread and olive oil to eat while you guys are waiting. We were well-dressed, smiling, polite, respectful and noticed we were the only Asians in the room. It honestly felt were singled out or ignored, especially seeing everyone else get better service. It was an unwelcoming experience. Even when we first came in we weren't accompanied to our table the guys just pointed --there that's your table. We didn't sit yet because the table was plated for 4 people and there's 5 of us. So when he noticed we're still standing he approached us and I said sorry I wasn't sure if this is for us because there's 5 of us and he said unapologetically "well you didn't call to reserve". Well even if we didn't reserve it doesn't mean we cannot get a little customer service.. like " I apologize for the inconvenience it's the only table available " or is there anything else I can offer to make it a little more comfortable for you and your family. Overall is a 3 over 5. Steak was good. The bread itself wasn't really a big deal it's just the being treated differently. read more

Understaffed, under cooked, loud and a bad attitude. Waited 10 minutes to be seated when the restaurant was not crowded, with a reservation. Pasta was undercooked. Would not return or recommend. read more

Food quality / price (value) rating 8.5. The atmosphere is Contemporary Italian, with red walls, plenty of artwork, and several levels of warm cozy dining rooms and alcoves. The menu is classical Italian. I had the sliced sirloin steak with parmesan cheese, six ounces of sirloin on top of a high quality mixed greens salad and a wonderfully unique Focaccia bread crust that was chewy and crispy at the same time! Fantastic ! The wife had the pasta and marscapone cheese and mushroom sauce and said it was very good. They offer several well chosen bottled beers and a decent wine list. There are only a few restaurants on West Stockbridge, and you can be assured that you'll have a good meal here. read more

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The exterior of Acqua al 2 beckons with its twinkling lights and lighted windows extending the length of the restaurant. I loved how the space was broken into intimate corners and angles, with tables placed unexpectedly, lending privacy to each. The service--it was a rainy, quiet early Thursday night--was provided by Valentino, the owner, a sollicitous and charming host who explained the menu in detail. The food: out of this southern mountain Italian's world!! The rigatoni with ragù sauce and mushrooms blew me away, the pasta so al dente! Perfect! I should have stopped there, but chicken with a port wine reduction tempted me further. Divine. Tiramisu topped off the night. Valentino made this experience extra special for us. We live close to Marlborough and rarely come west, but I would definitely make the effort to return for the pasta alone! Bravissimo! read more

I already miss this place! A secret gem! Best Italian food outside of ITALY! The Sardi's of the Berkshire's (only with better food) the perfect place to go after the theatre! read more

Second visit here. Same great experience as our first visit. - Food - first visit we enjoyed the unique sampler-portion tour of the menu. The portions and variety for our party of two was fantastic. Starters, salads, "secondi," and dessert. Most recently we shared the steak & mushrooms and chicken curry (I know, right?) with a pasta starter and the sampler dessert plate. Fantastic. - Service - bar service was great. No specialty cocktails, but all your favorites done well. Thoughtful wine list. Staff are engaged and well trained. They truly want your evening to be enjoyable. West Stockbridge is on the cusp of becoming a mini dining destination due in large part to Valentino and his efforts to create an intimate and excellent bistro-type atmosphere. We will keep coming in to see what's cooking at Acqua Al 2. read more

How could a restaurant tout a Firenze location and serve food this bad? I was excited for the porcini mushrooms and sirloin. I requested medium rare. What I got was a steak, presliced and overdone. A few slivers of mushrooms and 8 thin slices of grizzled overcooked steak is not worth $50. I was mortified and unhappy. Never again. It may have been a mistake but a fellow restaurant goer requested the same order and received the same. Very disappointed esp after waiting 2 hours for our entree. read more

Food was amazing. Sampler pasta and steak was incredible. Desserts were perfect! Service was great as well!

Food is amazing , Delicious . Happy relaxing environment . Regular customers and recommend anyone to go .

The food here is definitely better than what is typically served in the Berkshires as Italian food, but at double the price, not worth it. What's in your wallet? Not much, after dining here! read more

Service was poor. Three people dinners all came out at different times. One ten minutes from the other two. Waiter was slow, unresponsive. Noticed other tables plates were also served at different times. read more

If you're looking for a genuine "Tuscan" restaurant experience in the Berkshires this is it! Dropped in w/o a reservation on a Saturday afternoon. The service was beyond good. We felt welcome right away even on a busy night sitting at a cocktail table in the bar area. The wine list was sophisticated, and could only be enhanced by a few more options by the glass. The food was over-the-top good. The three salad appetizer was great. I had pollo al porto; my partner had cannelloni. we shared and were both pleased. Each of the four "sampler" desserts pleased partner Mary, and I found all but one exquisite. The server Carly, and bartender James made us feel like locals as did the owner Valentino when he came by to chat and check on things We live an hour away but will DEFINITELY BE BACK ! Mike Finnegan Coxsackie, NY read more

My party went for a special occasion. Reservations was booked months in advance and was told would get "best table in house." Upon arrival, owner seated us in a terrible table next to bathroom. Waitress was not friendly, owner couldn't be bothered to see if we were enjoying our meal on our occasion. Despite the reviews you read, food is NOTHING SPECIAL. There are many restaurants better in the Berkshires. I am telling all my friends not to bother with this place. Never again... read more

I hope this restaurant gets better because it is my hope they will because they are trying to be - and maybe will be better 1. wine list - good and varied and well priced. 2. wait staff - great and caring (but bussing as well so spread thin) 3. presentation - nice 4. salad - was not fresh enough (but nice to be able to taste a few) The lettuce and melon was not up to par. 5. tasting menu - lovely but the pasta was not heated properly and not prepared as they would have liked since it is prepared well in advance. 6. greeting - attentive attitude 7. table next to mine - their dishes did not arrive together - and not as requested. The restaurant has so much promise and is trying - but is spreading itself too thin to do all it intends. Wishing them well, since they are already 10 months old and are striving for so much - I want to be a fan in the future. read more

Just fucking GREAT Highly recommend trying the sampler of both the pastas and steaks. You get 3 fantastic filets and 5 delicious pastas. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Bar - Italian Near Me - West Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Acqua Al 2 is not just a wonderful meal, it is an experience. The food was excellent......perhaps the most authentic Italian food we have eaten in the states. Service was exceptional and the atmosphere charming and welcoming. How lucky for the Berkshires to have this little bit of Italy right in its backyard. We will be back again and again. read more

What? Florence now West Stockbridge? Aqua al 2 did not disappoint. The assagio of pastas was so good, there were bites you wanted to keep on your palate just a second longer before swallowing. Honestly, one cannot completely replicate the sublime Aqua al 2 in Florence; This rendition is damned close. Thank you Valentino for being such a gracious host. read more

Staff was wonderful - attentive and friendly. Both stars are for our server. I wouldn't give the food even a single star. We ordered the salad sampler, cheese sampler, and pasta sampler to share. The salads were clearly made in advance and slightly past their prime. The cheeses were served too cold and they were bland. The five pastas were almost inedible - pasta was overcooked and gummy and the sauces tasted like something you'd get in a cafeteria. Do yourself a favor skip this place. read more

Pleasant and efficient staff, however they couldn't make up for the institutional nature of the food. We opted for the heavily promoted samplers . The salads came out wilted and browned , the cheeses were grocery store quality at best. The 5 pastas tasted like they had been made 3 days ago and kept on a steam table. The $20 house red and tiramisu saved the meal , but the rest was so sub-standard it's hard to imagine this restaurant will survive given the other options nearby. read more

We thought the food was good; some of it very good and some of it just good. The melanzane parmagiano was very good and my guy's pasta with ragu were in the very good category. The caprese salad was good, but given that it's tomato season here, the tomatoes should have been more ripe and flavorful. I'm allergic to gluten, so my choices were limited. I got the grilled chicken in port wine sauce. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the sauce was good, but not great - a bit sweet for my taste, although I did like the strawberry with it - perfectly ripe and flavorful although it is NOT strawberry season. All of the food arrived piping hot. I did envy the gorgeous steaming plates of pasta being served at other tables. It's probably a place best for those that can eat pasta. I appreciated that they accommodated a gluten-free diner, although a side with the chicken would have been nice. Excellent service, pleasant ambiance. read more

Nice ambiance and friendly staff, but this new restaurant has a long way to go if it wants to succeed. The salads were ice cold and had little flavor as a result. The fillet was a good cut of beef but was drenched in a cloyingly sweet balsamic sauce. The meat dishes come with no accompaniments and the sides were limited and pricey. The rigatoni with mushrooms and meat ragu was the best dish of the night, but it was nothing special. I would love to see Acqua Al 2 make it, but major improvements in the food and menu are necessary. read more