Loved it! We are a big fan of the Duck, another restaurant in the same group and located in the same building. Avellinos is great. The service and hospitality is wonderful. This is one group where u feel the mgt trains front of the house well and selects good people. So important to be greeted properly Now about the food: perfectly cooked and served hot!!!! I am really fussy about food temp-- hate when it sits around before being delivered or the expediter puts sides on too soon and they are cold while center of plate is hot. So. This place does it right. Everything hot I had burrata app which had roasted tomatoes and balsamic sauce and a bit of basil olive oil. Amazing on the grilled bread. My friend had arrancini which she liked. We both had veal parm. The usual thing I order although I was tempted by soany things. But it's a good way to see if you want to return! And I do! And maybe I will try something else (or not---this was so good). Food was so good. Veal was tender. Breaded but very lightly (done right) Sauce was sweet (not too acidic). Pasta was al dente. Sadly, no room for dessert. Will eat 1/2 next time so I have room. Price is correct and reasonable for this quality. Highly recommend read more

We were very pleased with our experience at Avellino. It is advertised (somewhere) as a kitchen bar or open kitchen. I have to say I was expecting something a little different, like a kitchen bar we could sit at a counter/bar and watch the kitchen staff working (like we have at other kitchen bar restaurants in NYC). That was not the case here, and ultimately ok with us. Nice ambiance, dim lighting, relatively quiet, nicely decorated- these things are important to me. The service was good, attentive but not annoyingly so. I had a cocktail upstairs at The Duck that wasn't on the menu, and the waitress had a "no problem" attitude when I told her that. She asked me to describe which bartender made the drink and quickly returned with what I asked for. The food was really good. I can't even recall what I got (eye roll), but I think it was a gnocchi dish. And my boyfriend got some seafood/pasta dish. The details never matter as much as the general opinion of what my experience was overall, and it was a great experience. I should also mention that we found the prices to be very reasonable. I think my gnocchi was $19 and I know of another Italian restaurant not far away that charges roughly the same and is nowhere near the same quality as Avellino. Will definitely return. read more

My family and I just had dinner at this lovely restaurant. The Caesar salads were crisp, fresh and a generous portion. The focaccia bread was served fresh and warm. Our entrees were delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala which was perfection served over risotto. This was the best Chicken Marsala I have ever had. My sons had the Chicken Parmesan. It was a large portion too much for even my big guys to finish. They said it was delicious. We had the S'mores Cheesecake which was delicious and my son's girlfriend had the Coconut Creme Brûlée. She ate every bite and raved about how good it was. Our server, Dan, was professional, efficient, and delivered excellent service. The dining room is beautiful, immaculate with a warm and inviting feeling. If you are looking for a fine Italian restaurant you must try Avellino. You will not be disappointed. read more

Avellino was a remarkable restaurant. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Have you ever heard of a flavor explosion? Well Rico Avellino the man behind this incredible cuisine causes a flavor explosion if I have ever tasted one. read more

had the veal parm over pasta, my wife had the grilled scallops over risoto. both meals were good and the portions were average. prices were not to high. good night out. read more

As a disclaimer our entire bill was taken care of by the manager so ultimately she did her best to make it right. We were seated right away upon arrival and ordered drinks, starters and mains all at once. Drinks and starters arrived promptly. I got the meatballs and my wife got a Cesar salad. We both thought they were average. We then waited close to an hour for our mains and received several assurances they would be right out. Ultimately we asked to cancel them since we needed to get home for our baby sitter. We were offered the meals to go, although they still weren't ready at that point, but declined. As mentioned the manager apologized and took care of the bill for us which was nice but disappointing since it was our 5th anniversary dinner. All in all I don't think I'd return. I realize mistakes happen but then food we did eat wasn't overly memorable. It's a average place surrounded by good and great ones. read more

I have been to Avellino's twice now. The first time was quite a disappointment - the service was slow, my husband was not pleased with his entree, and when I asked the waitress for a recommendation on a drink, she brought me back a Strawberry Basil martini that I am hoping the bartender made incorrectly, because it tasted like bile. The saving grace for them, was their AMAZING ricotta gnocchi with meat sauce. That one dish was so good, I find myself craving it as I type this. It's also the only reason I decided to give Avellino's a second try. I could not get my husband to accompany me on this second visit (he was still so displeased with our first), so I brought my teenage daughter with me instead. This visit was certainly better than the first (I steered clear of that horrendous drink this time around), and of course I once again ordered the ricotta gnocci. Just as good as the first time around, but my daughter really wasn't thrilled with her entree. We did order the arancini as an appetizier, and we both agreed it was delicious. So my overall opinion on Avellino's is not the greatest, and I doubt I will be back again (other than for gnocchi takeout). I probably would have only given it 2 stars if it weren't for that amazing gnocchi dish. And they are also on the pricy side. read more

Good food and staff very nice priced little high depending on what you order , best on weekend to call a head and parking lot little tight they share in with Duck restaurant upstairs witch is not as good as Avellino ,best to go early because dinner takes a few hour they away have some good special read more

Just had my sister's baby shower at Avellino today. The only problem was the event manager, Dakota. The food was delicious, the room is beautiful, the waitresses Jamie and Sydney were great. Jen (who identifies herself as the manager of The Duck) stepped right in to help us. If it weren't for these three girls, I would have walked out without paying our bill. Dakota never finalized our menu or total price (because she didn't respond to my voicemail nor my email 3 days before the shower), she is horrible at communication, and was not even on site for the shower - and due to her lack of follow through, I didn't even know she wouldn't be there. I'd say that's a pretty important job for the sales and event manager. She sometimes took more than a week to respond, or just didn't respond at all and I had to track her down via a different form of communication, which she then didn't follow up on either. I hold the Table 3 corporation / group to a higher standard in this area, but honestly this employee brings you guys down. Thank you to the other staff who were present today, as mentioned above, to give my sister a beautiful shower. Especially Jen who was very helpful in a time of confusion, very understanding of why we were upset, and I felt did Dakota's job for her - but did it better. read more

This is the first time I've eaten here and it was an enjoyable experience. When we were first seated we noticed the table was wobbly, but the waitress noticed when she brought our water and came right back with a little shimmy. I thought that was nice bc there's nothing worse than trying to eat while pushing the table down with your foot! But let's get to the food part bc we both ordered the buffet and got to try a little bit of everything: chicken parm, stuffed shells, meatballs, sausage with ziti, roasted chicken, and stuffed cabbage. They also brought bread with olive oil to the table. They also had salad. After our first plate the waitress cleared them and asked us if we wanted to go up again. We didn't bc we were so full and wanted dessert, but it was great to try everything. Especially if you're indecisive. Especially for $15. The creme brûlée was a sweet end to the meal. My only problem with this place is the parking. The lot is too tiny for 2 restaurants (the Avellino is in the same building as the Duck). The last time we tried to go here we had to leave bc we couldn't find a parking spot. Nice place though. Worth a try if you're craving Italian. read more

We stopped @ Avelino on our way home to Long Island from Boston. Found it on "Yelp" & though it had 4 stars, there were only about 35 reviews so I was nervous. I had NO reason to be!! Our server, Danny, was pleasant, knowledgeable on the wine list & the menu. There were 3'of us & everything we ordered was simply FANTASTIC & surpassed expectations! To start we shared a Gorgonzola bread appetizer that had a prosciutto & arugula garnish. Completely different & absolutely yummy! For main courses: My daughter ordered the gnocchi bolognese-creamy, a hint of sweetness (I think they were ricotta gnocchi) & some of the best any of us have ever had...My husband had the parpardalle with a lamb & root vegetable ragu, of sorts. The parpardalle was perfectly al dente & the "sauce" was savory & delicious...I ordered the shellfish risotto. This decadent dish was a large center portion of asiago risotto surrounded generously by mussels & clams in the shell, scallops & shrimp.-bathed in a broth that you couldn't help dipping your bread in! The shellfish was cooked absolutely PERFECTLY & was outrageously delicious! All 3 dinner portions were large (with an app or 2 likely large enough for 2 to share) & we each took home leftovers. For dessert we chose the creme brûlée of the day, which was the seasonly appropriate pumpkin creme brûlée. I admit I was skeptical but it had just a hint of pumpkin & was light & delicious. Now-I was hesitant to mention the one glitch we had in our meal, because it was such an over all fantastic experience. But I'm going to-solely to demonstrate how a WELL RUN establishment & a great server handles a problem. And it was handled PERFECTLY...when my shellfish risotto arrived & I tried a few bites of the risotto, & asking my daughter to taste it as well, I realized it was undercooked & too al dente (firm). I was hesitant to send it back because it was simply that delicious!!! But as it was mainly a risotto dish, I decided to (apologetically) mention it to Danny, our server. He could not have been more lovely! He said he would immediately have a new dish made & it would be about 5 mins. He was true to his word & a new, perfectly cooked dish was returned to me. And here's what also impressed me-many restaurants would have pulled off the shellfish from the original dish, set it aside & returned them to the new risotto. It was obvious by how perfectly cooked the shellfish was that this was an entirely fresh dish from top to bottom. And just amazing!! Don't miss this little gem if you're in the area or traveling passed it. We'll look for any reason to go back again!! read more

Great meal tonight , Scallop special was exceptional. The chocolate flourless torte was exquisite. Service was fantastic-Christine was attentive. Perfect spot for my dad's birthday dinner . Thank you Avellino! read more

Avellino is a nice Italian restaurant in the center of Sturbridge. The food was excellent and the portions were good. I had the Lobster Ravioli which had hearty chunks of lobster meat inside and out. My friend had the risotto topped with lobster which was also generous. Overall, a very nice experience and I would definitely go here again. read more

My husband and I tried Avellino tonight for the first time. From the moment we walked in the door everything went perfectly. It is immaculate, tastefully decorated, and it has a very nice ambiance. The service was just as you would like it to be in a restaurant like this one. The food was excellent from start to finish, and we will recommend it highly to all our friends. You cannot go wrong at Avellino! read more

Excellent! Wonderful food and service. Upscale and casual at the same time. Going to Avelino's was part of a get away package that my wife and I had last weekend. The stay came with a gift certificate to the restaurant and we were a bit apprehensive as we had never been. We asked a few people over the course of the day and got like warm reviews. But these were totally unfounded as we had a very nice evening. Both of our meals were cooked perfectly and the wine selection was perfectly sized (not an overwhelming list but a very good selection to pair with any meal). We would definitely return if we were in the area! read more

We visited this establishment for the first time yesterday. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. The waitstaff was very professional and efficient and the food was amazing. I was there with a party of six and everyone loved what they ordered. We will definitely be back! read more

Attended the Tuscan Wine Dinner on Thurs, 8/13. Food was superb, service great, wine was over the top. A delightful evening with lots of fun meeting other guests and enjoying the menu prepared by Rico, 4 courses, all were way beyond expectations. I won't miss another of these events. read more

I love to make this a stop when going out in the Sturbridge area with friends. I really enjoy spending time in the newly renovated classy yet very relaxed downstairs bar/lounge area. It's not only comfortable but the bar staff is exceedingly friendly and after only a visit or two had gotten to know our usual drink. Chef came out of the kitchen once too and stopped to make sure our meals were good...which they were...and always are. Highly recommend Avellino for a more upscale night out. read more

I can say the salad that came with my meal was good, fresh and a nice quantity. That's it. The eggplant parm came with a side of unexciting spaghetti that was at best forgettable. But what was supposed to be eggplant I soon discovered was not able to be cut with a knife and once the sauce was scraped away revealed 3 slices of an unknown material. I wondered did they bread and fry the outer skin and forget the pulp of the plant? Is this shoe leather? In fairness the waitstaff once informed of this removed the plate and returned to say they agreed there was something wrong with my meal and deducted the cost from the bill, however, I was not offered any replacement. So dinner consisted of 1/2 salad , few bites of spaghetti and drinks. Others remarked their meals were so-so. Very disappointing...won't be back. read more

We had an amazing birthday celebration here. Chef Rico, Dakota and the staff made sure that every detail was perfect. Our server was excellent. He was always available when needed but never intrusive. It was an incredible dining experience that inspired our young culinary student. Chef Rico was patient and enthusiastic in sharing his knowledge and experiences. The once-monthly cooking with Chef Rico events are sure to be a success! The food was fabulous and the menu was inventive, easily overcoming the challenges of accommodating the gluten free and vegetarian requirements of two people in our party. There wasn't a single dish that wasn't enjoyed. We dined family-style, beginning with homemade pizza, dandelion green and peach salad with walnuts with a light lime dressing (my new favorite salad) and seafood soup that was perfection. That would have been satisfying as the whole meal, but the next course had our mouths watering again as our plates were cleared and two pasta dishes appeared - gnocchi bolognese and a gluten free pasta with a cream sauce and pancetta. Everyone at the table enjoyed the gluten free dish as much as the gnocchi - which was to die for This was followed by a third course of grilled pork with mushrooms and mashed cauliflower (both gf). I can't even describe how good the pork was. The flavorings were infused in the meat. Just when we thought we couldn't eat anymore, it was time for dessert. We had a homemade chocolate cake with ganache topped with strawberries filled with chocolate. Kudos off to the pastry chef! It was rich without being overwhelming. The perfect end to a perfect meal. We're all looking forward to returning soon! read more

I Purchased a local "sweet deal' half price certificate to try this highly regarded local restaurant. We went on a Friday evening with a reservation for our 38th Anniversary. We were brought to a small table for 2 beside a large server's table. While they were careful to serve quietly from this station, it was a huge distraction as orders were brought and left there. Our waiter came quickly and asked if we wanted drinks and an appetizer, I ordered the Pink grapefruit salad and my husband ordered the ceasar salad. My salad was too sour to eat so, I put it to the side, my husband enjoyed his salad. The waiter walked by several times but, didn't ask if he could take the salad until he brought the entrée. I told him is was too sour to eat but, he only asked if it was from the grapefruit-I didn't know. The Risotto with my Chicken Picatta dish was marvelous, not enough capers for me however. My husband enjoyed his Chicken Parm, although he described it more like fried chicken with sauce and cheese. Again no check from our waiter. He showed up with 2 dessert menus asking if we wanted dessert-we were full. He brought the check and explained he took the offending salad off the check. (I would hope he would take off an inedible salad off!) Noisy so, we couldn't talk at all. read more

I wish I could do a review of our meal here last night but I can't. Made reservations last night here. I was in the mood for Italian and tried the usual good Worcester restaurants but everything was packed. One of the restaurants told me 'good luck making a reservation, it's 'Homecoming weekend for a lot of Worcester colleges'. So we decided to got west and try Sturbridge. So after calling Avellino and waiting about 5 minutes on the phone we were told we had a 7:00 reservation. After spending 10 minutes riding around to try and find parking (all of their lots were full) we checked in with the hostess. We were told that we our reservations were not with Avellino but with the 'Duck' restaurant upstairs. There are actually two restaurants in the same bulding, Avellino and 'The Duck'. The building is actually the old where the 'Whistling Swan' and the 'Ugly Duckling' use to be. I had been to both and thought they were both excellent restaurants. I had no idea until I got there the Avellino was now in this building. When we question the hostess about why are reservation were for the wrong restaurant we were told that Avellino had stopped taking reservations 2 days beforehand and at least we had a place to eat. At this point everyone just wanted something to eat so we went upstairs and waited in line on the stairs for about 10 minutes. I had remembered eating at the 'Ugly Duckling' before and it was good, a cheaper version of the food at the 'Whistling Swan' so this wasn't going to be that big a deal. Well the 'Duck' is not a cheaper version of food at Avellino. Totally separate menus and the 'Duck' was actually more expensive the Avellino and not an Italian dish to be found on the menu. The cheapest meal was an $11 burger which my son had and said it was nothing special. We had fish and chips for $16 and it too was nothing special. Most of the other meals were around $25+. To top things off their drafts were $8 each which found out when we got the bill. Although my meal at the Duck was less than great my beef is with Avellino. How can a restaurant take a reservation and then tell you it's for a totally different restaurant when you get there. I don't care if both restaurants were owned by the same establishment and were in the same building. We chose Avellino based wanting Italian food and reviewing their menu and Yelp rating. If I make a reservation with Via in Worcester and when I got there they told me that Via was full so my reservation at the 'Sole' on Highland St (same owners) would this be OK. I think not. read more