Many friends had recommended Bocelli's to us. They did not disappoint. My wife and I agreed that our calamari appetizer was the best we'd ever had. She enjoyed her lasagna and had enough for lunch the next day. My veal parmigiana was outstanding and I sopped the plate clean with the fresh bread. We will be back! read more

Perfection. We stopped by for dinner on whim. The food was great. The staff was exceptional. Never have I felt more welcome or at home in a restaurant. Being our first visit, I asked our waitress, Darlene, what was popular. Instead of muttering off a menu item, her eyes lit up, "Let me show you my favorites." Suddenly she was sitting next to me, pointing to dishes on the menu, explaining how it is all homemade and why she enjoyed each dish. On her advice, I ordered the tagliatelle bolognese, it was tasty. She also recommended many of the chicken dishes, I will absolutely be back to try them. My partner, a vegetarian, ordered gnocchi sorrentino. He enjoyed it. I had a couple bottles of beers, both solid IPAs. My partner had a mixed drink. We finished off our meal with a dessert, cannoli. Darlene mentioned that even the cheese was made there. It was perfection. I'm so glad we decided to drop in and that we were lucky enough to have Darlene as our waitress. Wonderful! Bocelli will now be our go to Italian place. It should be yours too. read more

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Terrible, terrible, terrible. We LOVED this place and went often for many years. My siblings & our spouses went regularly because it reminded us of our deceased mother's Italian cooking. BUT THE OWNERSHIP HAS CHANGED AND SO HAS THE FOOD. The salad was always a favorite. When we went last night it was horrible and the dressing was worse. The dressing used to remind us of our family's but now it is uneatable - vinegary, spicy, etc. The beef tips were also difficult to eat and 2 of those who ordered them, had half eaten portions left on our plates because we could not swallow them. Tough, poor quality beef. The spumoni was wrapped in chocolate? minimal raspberry sauce, whipped cream?. It wasn't true spumoni. We made reservations but the table was not set up for us even though the place was empty (now I know why). The service was equally terrible-extremely slow, inattentive, forgetful, they did not write any of our orders down and made mistakes. We are very sad that we can't go there anymore. It was a regular place for our group. read more

I went here for the first time last Wednesday with my boyfriend . A very friendly lady sat us right away We got expresso martinis that were the best we ever tasted Omg So so yummy. We had stuffed quahogs as an appetizer which was amazing I had the chicken parm and my boyfriend had the veal picatte. We were both very happy with our meals and you the prices are not expensive compared what we pay other places around the same area. It was better than places we have tried in the North End . Our waitress was very friendly This will be our new go to . Next time we will try the desserts and so looking forward to it read more

As someone who cooked professionally, studying under a few James Beard chefs I can say Bocellis is where I want to eat. The ambiance is old school Italian, and is as inviting as your nana was at Sunday dinner! You get exactly what your soul needs a delicious plate of food, served by people who care! The best linguine and clams I've ever had, so fresh and so clean! The pizza dough is a marvel as it's extremely light and crispy with actual flavor and cooked perfectly. Donna who took care of us is an ABSOLUTE GEM OF A HUMAN and ensured my kids felt the love and more importantly felt like they belonged in the restaurant! Come in, sit down be patient, look around and take it all in....it's going to be great! Understand good things come to those who wait...and I'd wait all night for a plate of food from Bocellis! read more

We came here for dinner on my birthday. It was by far the worst birthday dinner I have ever had. I used to come here often about 10 years ago but it is no longer good and I would never go back. We were seated by the bathroom which was obviously unappetizing. Trash littered the floor by our table and under it. I opened the menu and there were used butter wrappers stuck to the menu. The waitresses were super stressed/hyper/strung out. The table next of us the owner had a bottle of winded that he used to "clean" the tables but just left out with a dirty rag next to us. The waitress never once cleared dirty plates. The food took a very long time to come. While waiting one of the waitresses slipped on the very greasy dirt floor and fell pretty badly. The food was decent at best... the dirty restaurant and horribly depressing atmosphere had me lose my appetite by the time it came so it all just tasted gross. The final straw was when the waitress finally brought the check and had snuck in 20% gratuity even though we were only a party of 5 and she never mentioned it. I'm certain she thought we wouldn't notice and would add More gratuity on top. We asked about it at the front and the owner called his own waitress "sneaky." Horrible experience. I know it's an "institution" but it's past its prime and they should call it quits. I can only imagine the cleanliness of the kitchen. So gross!!!! read more

Food was great! When we called for a take-out order, the lady was not the friendliest- was short with her responses saying "yup" and then stating the total and quickly hanging up. Upon picking up the food, the man was very friendly and welcoming! Our food was ready on the table. A generous amount of bread was also given. Parmesan cheese and butter also included. read more

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An Italian Gem in the rough! One of the best Italian restaurants in Boston - and that's saying something. Forget the North End try Bocelli's. Solid high quality food and service, provided with pride and a good portion of love. Order off the menu - I highly recommend the Chicken Marcelina ! As a business traveler I feel lucky to have found, and been welcomed into, this wonderful neighbor hood gem read more

Bocelli's - Italian Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

I do not understand how this restaurant can have any rating below four stars My wife and I have dined here on two separate occasions and both were perfect. First let's start with the ambiance - the moment you walk in you feel like you're going to your grandmas for Sunday dinner. The staff is lovely and you feel warm and welcomed. Next the food is delicious and the ingredients are fresh. They make their own pasta and the sauce is delicious. I have had the seafood pasta and the chicken Parmesan. Last the prices - they are so family friendly it's outrageous (in a good way). You can get drinks, appetizers and two amazing dinners for $50 which is great if you consider you are close to the city. Plus you can get a large Pizza for less then $10. Overall 5 Stars and I would recommend it to anyone! read more

This restaurant was recommended to us! The menu had so many choices that it was a tough decision. My husband and I decided on two different specials. We were not sorry. He had veal and I had lobster and shrimp over pasta. Bread was delicious and drinks were good. Excellent! Great service!! Old world and delicious! We will return! Delicious!!! read more

Fantastic local old school Italian spot with traditional Boston Italian personalities. If you're looking for something else, this isn't it. Family style restaurant. Waitresses are always making sure you've been helped, drinks always come with an extra pour and food is delicious. Pizza on a separate menu, but everything we've tried on both menus is great. read more

There were 4 in our party. Two are local and highly recommend this family style, old school venue. When I was. in my teens I used to get pizza here when i was called DePasquale's but I digress. This version of this place has stood the test of time. Waitstaff was efficient, good and friendly. As a group, our overall opinion is a strong recommendation. My partner had a so-so chicken Marsala with not a hint of Marsala omit. My veal cacciatore was generous, meat was tender with good veggie crispness. Other couples were quite happy with theirs. Our tiramisu desserts were just right. We'd recommend to anyone and can't wait to revisit. read more

The owner was welcoming and the food was pretty good, definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu.

always the best Whether you dine in or take out NICK and team can't get any better PS they hosted our small last-minute impromptu wedding reception. A small gathering of less than 10 people Social distanced they gave us our privacy and everybody raved about the food read more

What an outstanding place! We are traveling through checking out campuses with our son and last stop today was Tufts. Novello' did about a mile away from main campus area on the Main St of the town. Old style Italian that I can't find anywhere near me in Phoenix. The lobster and shrimp fra diavolo was wonderful with big chunks of lobster and giant shrimp and a fresh tomato sauce with the right amount of spice. But the stuffed veal chop my son ordered was divine! Tender meat, sautéed mushrooms and sauce was the perfect flavor fest every bite. The potatoes and greens enhanced the chop's flavors flawlessly. The best meal I have had during our New England venture, read more

Went here for a date night when there was live music and it was so great. The food was amazing and the vibes were fun. Our server Edwin was very attentive and helpful. On our way out the manager Mike introduced himself as well and asked about our experience. Everyone was so kind. Highly recommend this place! read more

Have been going to Bocelli's for years while under previous ownership. New youngish female owner needs a lesson in class. She was very snippy when she came over to our table after a veal dish was sent back. Veal was chewy and under cooked, pasta was old and soggy. No way was I going to eat it, not to mention the extremely slow service. Clams casino was mostly toasted breadcrumbs which, during old ownership was only sprinkled with breadcrumbs and had a small piece of bacon on each shell. She refused to listen, saying only that they have the same chef who has been there for 22 years, which she said 6 times... I counted and told her to stop saying that, we heard her the first 5 times. Maybe it IS the same chef, but it is also possible she is making him scrimp on ingredients. We were good customers, always more than satisfied with the food in years past. We will NOT be going back. Told her to give us the bill for the clams and drinks so I could go somewhere else for dinner. Needs a serious lesson in dealing with customers. Ignorant young woman, not even dressed well, as an owner should be. read more

The food was delicious! The service was incredible. I have no complaints. Very organized ! Great value!

Old school in atmosphere, prices and service. Excellent red sauce restaurant. Had stuffed claims and were excellent, eggplant rotini was great and the Osos Bucco could feed 2 people...all low low prices...Cambridge and Back bay crown must not like but if you appricate old school Italian you will come back for your go to restaurant. Young women was a excellent servers by checking in often and making recommendations.....Arthur pasty is a short walk away and they have been in business for 51 years. Orginally from East Boston....bread is outstanding also.....enjoy while you can before owners of both places age out.... read more

Great place for a slice of pizza, pizza to go, a drink, dinner, lunch. Its not super trendy, but its a nice gem for Medford. My friends used to live around the corner, so this was a regular place for us. Once we moved closer to Davis, we stopped going, but I have some great memories of the place. The owner was always nice to customers, but he yelled at the staff a lot. They didn't seem to mind as much as I'd think, and when he wasn't around, they seemed to love working there. The last time I went here, it was after a funeral with a few friends. We got some beers, and the waitress ended up sitting down with us. We ordered a round of shots. I got tequila. It came in a highball glass, no ice, filled about a 1/3 of the way up. I asked for a lime and salt... the waitress replied "what are you a pussy?". This place cracks me up. If you live near it, stop by. they have really cheap big slices of pizza, and amazing gourmet pizzas too. Hint: It closes a bit early, so check the hours before going. read more

Have not been here for quite a while, sat at the bar and had great service from a very friendly bartender, she was very knowledgeable about the menu and wasn't afraid to make suggestions, food was great , solid Italian, the owner is usually there and is very friendly and makes sure you are happy! Place is dated, only negative, but some people love the authentic and traditional style read more

This place is a godsend. The bread given to you before you order your first course of edible royalty, came straight from the heavens itself. When you glance at the menu, most intelligent humans would be able to tell right away this is the most genuine and elegant Italian eatery anyone in New England. When you place you're order of extravagance you will soon find any piece of food that graces the tips of your taste buds has been finely crafted the from the freshest ingredients on this side the eastern side of the Mississippi river. The wine selection is second to none. Service is an understatement at Boccelli's, as the staff makes you feel as though you are dining this Julius Caesar himself. There has never been a time where I felt the wait staff wasn't working as a well-oiled machine. Any negative reviews of this establishment need to be reevaluated and most likely taken down. Do yourself a favor and eat at this place. At least get the bread and come find and personally tell me it's not the preeminent bread of U.S Italian-American cuisine. read more

Fun staff, wonderful service, good food all perfect for a small group birthday celebration.

This was for a takeout experience. The food was all amazing and we really appreciated the side of Parmesan and bread being given as well. My only qualm is that it was difficult to get the food even though it was ready when we arrived at the restaurant and the staff were very discourteous on the phone while ordering. It may have been busy but a little more care can go a long way. read more

This place is a staple in Medford and it is amazing. If you are looking for good Italian food, pizza, coffee, desert, anything this is a great place to go. The inside is adorable and reminds me of my nonno and Nonnas house. The staff is friendly. The owner, Nick, is adorable and absolutely amazing and kind. read more

Bocelli's is an amazing hole in the wall. It has north end quality for a much more affordable price. I've sampled the stuffed eggplant rollatini, the ravioli with pink sauce, chicken parm and the tortellini with pesto and shrimp. I have now been here a repeatedly amount of times and I will be back for more. Their homemade wine is also good quality. No parking lot but street parking is available. They serve bread and olives as a free starter. I've heard great things about their Sicilian pizza too. read more

Bocelli's - Italian Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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We had an antipasto salad and that was good! We also order stuffed clams and that was okay! My friend didn't like his lobster pasta neither do I! The pasta taste more like it was out of a 99 cents box instead of homemade with love! I wouldn't come back! read more

I would easily give more stars if I could. We arrived early for our reservation but were made to feel warm and welcome.The owner is amazing. We enjoyed our time at the bar and were seated in a very timely manner. Our waitress was top notch. Very attentive, friendly and made sure we had a great experience. The kitchen was a little behind and she brought us out some warm cheese bread which was fabulous. Everything we ordered margarita pizza, chicken ziti broccoli, bolognese and linguini with clam sauce was absolutely delicious fresh from scratch like a home cooked meal. We were in the area for an event at Tufts but I hope I get the chance to get back!!!!! read more

Still fantasizing about the dinner I had here last week---it was THAT good! Came here on a Friday night, good thing we had a rezzie because it was packed! While there is nothing wrong with the decor, it's kind of no frills and has an old school mom and pop restaurant kind of vibe. For starters we had the shrimp cocktail, eggplant rollatini, and I had the chicken soup. All were delicious. The Rollatini was small, ideally meant to be split two people, so order accordingly. Choosing an entree was a difficult task, nearly everything sounded to die for. I decided to stick with a tried and true favorite - chicken, broccoli and ziti in wine sauce. It was an excellent decision. Everyone at the table enjoyed their entrees-- we had the Haddock Italiano, Veal Marsala, Pork Chop, everyone was happy. For dessert I had the Tiramisu, which was honestly one of the best I've ever had. The owner was also kind enough to send a round of Limoncello shots for the table. Overall, would highly recommend this place, the only downfall is it is very loud when it's busy, making conversation kind of tricky if you're dining with multiple people. read more

Old school indeed, but I'd call it dirty. Saw fruit flies at lunch and a pan of deep dish pizza on a stool, uncovered, inside the door. I'll admit the crispy crust pizza was good, but that was about all I trusted. Local patrons love the place and make for interesting people-watching. But I've seen enough here. read more

Bocelli's - ??? - Italian Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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Maybe I am mad because our server called us ladies, or maybe because my vegetables in wine sauce came drenched in oil, or maybe because my pasta was soggy, or the fact that our waitress would rather flirt with some guy she knew instead of serving us, I don't know- it's hard to choose. UN-vegan friendly. UN queer-friendly. UN-friendly period. I would give a negative rating if I could. read more

Wow, this place has really gone downhill. It seriously used to be my favorite restaurant in the world, I've been about a dozen times, but the service is just ungodly awful now. None of the waitresses (and, yes, they're all female) know anything about the menu. Once, we had to ask three times to get a drink menu, and the waitress gave us crap for it, like "why do you want a drink menu?" They don't know how to serve or pour wine at all -- a lot of wrestling around with the corkscrew, and a "glug glug glug" into the glass, like they were pouring milk or something. One hour wait, from the time you've been seated to the time the food arrives, is the norm. Orders are forgotten, food is served completely out of order (one member of the party is always awkwardly watching while everyone eats). On the last trip here (with my boyfriend's very very Italian father), we watched the waitress stand next to a plate of food that had the last entree to be delivered to our table, and flirt with one of the kitchen guys for five minutes, before picking the plate up and delivering it. You can forget about water glasses being filled, or a new bread basket being brought to the table during your hour-long wait. We've always tipped very well, we've always been polite, we've never raised a fuss, but this is the last straw. I don't know how they're hiring waitresses, but they seriously need to start doing a better job of it. read more

So, I've been living in Medford for 10 months now. I have been dining at Bocelli's at least once a week or so. My fiance pretty much could live here and sings it's praises every time we eat here. I need to update my review to include that I am a member of the clean plate club. I normally eat 1/2 and take the rest home. If I am hungry I will finish my spaghetti and meatballs -- also, they do homemade fusilli which is delicious but I'm old school and I love me some spaghetti and meatballs. Get the carafe of Chianti, it's twenty bucks and you can easily share it with another person -- or be a lush and drink it all yourself. The service here is always friendly and the girls are all adorable. The owners are a sweet Italian husband and wife and their children work in the restaurant. Sometimes, on Saturday nights you will be entertained by an accordion player. He is so much fun. I never thought I'd get excited about an accordion player, but I do. I'm easy to please, I guess. Next time you don't want to drive to the North End, head into Medford and eat at Bocelli's. Ciao! read more

This place reminded me of the classic 1966 film staring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef. That of course being, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The good: Food here was awesome. Truly a 5 star experience. Ordered mussels for apps. They have great home made bread as well that is good for dipping. I ordered Lobster Ravioli. The rav's were stuff with lobster, and I made a large pile of chunk lobster on the side of my plate that probably amounted to about six fork fulls of lobster. Gf ordered stuffed veal (stuffed with cheese and panchetta. All quite tasty. The bad: While the server was quite friendly, she was a bit rough around the edges with her service. We waited to pay the bill while she chatted at the bar with her cousin (overheard her introduce him to a co-worker). It dragged for a while. Gf asked for the rest of her dish to take home. Server forgot to box it up and then came back and said that she never threw it out b.c. the owner takes the meat home for his dog. She gave us the box, but who knows. That was a bit of an odd thing to say. Nevertheless, she was friendly and nice which certainly helped. The ugly: The servers wipe the food and crumbs off the tables onto the seats and floors. Then they do not sweep up the floor. Needless to say, the floors were in rough shape and my gf and I had to clean up our seats before we sat down. Thought it may have been a fluke, but then saw another server using the wipe on the floor technique at her table as well. So there it is, the good, the bad, and the ugly. All in all, the food was awesome. If you are coming here for beautiful presentation and a clean floor, then this place may not be for you. If you just like good food, this place has that. read more

Excellent place. This place has some of the best Italian food in town. The food is great and the service is excellent too. I don't go there for pizza, but the pizza is really good. The entrees are even better. The owner Nick is a real Italian and very service-oriented. read more

O my dearest Bocelli, I wanted to love you so badly. I came prepared: I brought friends and an appetite. Greeting me at the door with a girl in gray sweats and crocs was not the reciprocation I had expected. After being seated downstairs -- where I was promptly frozen by a nearby AC unit -- I was greeted by a dumbfounded waitress who (1) did not know the specials (2) did not know the difference between shrimp and chicken and (3) did not know how to "put in" an order. My point: we asked about the salmon special -- she said "Oh, the sal mon (sal. mon.) tips?" .. well, no, the salmon special, "Oh I don't know what that is.." well you should, you do work here.. "I know I should, but I don't." (direct quote). Later, when my boyfriend asked for the "tortellini and shrimp" with chicken instead of shrimp, she seemed like she understood -- but later asked us "so the tortellini and shrimp was with pesto, not redsauce, right?" And finally -- we asked for more bread when we put in our orders; she seemed like the understood but about 10 mins later when we saw our busboy, as he was saying "do you need more bread?" she was interrupting him "oh, yah, they want more bread" -- clearly having forgotten the request. *Sigh* here's the thing - the food was great ... the tortellini with chicken was FANTASTIC; the manicotti was delish, the seafood casserole looked amazeeee. The quality of the food -- with the addition of the live accordion player -- will bring me back for a second round. Waitresses can be flukes; AC units can be flukes -- I am hoping for the best on round 2 because I want great service to match the great eats... stay tuned! read more

This is exactly what I'm looking for in an authentic Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is completely casual. Waitresses, patrons, homeless guys wandering in from outside, they all seem to know each other. Get ready to immerse yourself in a "Cheers" vibe. Part of the casualness means that service won't always be totally *professional* or people won't always be totally *prepared.* But what you get in return is service that's attentive, flexible, and personalized. You should eat upstairs. Downstairs is okay too. The food at most Italian restaurants tastes just plain forgetable. Sort of a "why am I paying $12 for this pasta that tastes like I could just make it from a box at home." Ingredients in standard Italian food aren't that wild. I think it's all in the preparation. At Boccelli's they know how to PREPARE their food. At Boccelli's, you'll savor the experience of chewing on the fresh ravioli dough, indulging in the texture...normally when I get ravioli it's like "why the hell did I order this?" Again, it's not that their ingredients are so unique, but they are so well-prepared and taste so fresh. And their red tomato sauce...jesus christ, their SAUCE. If you judge an Italian restaurant by how good their sauce is, then GO HERE. It's a tiny bit sweeter than I would prefer, but it is so rich and flavorful. I would go here just to get a bowl of their sauce. If you want an amped-up fancy Italian dining experience, then go to Strega or something. But if you live in Somerville/Medford and want a regular, go-to Italian eatery then PLEASE go here. read more

This. Is. Yes. Not much more to say... Lobster ravs, homemade pappardelle, stuffed artichoke. All things we need in our life. Family run place great for groups, take-out, or just a quick bite of authentic Italian. read more

Food is just meh . It's Boston, there's an Italian place around every block, you can find something better!

A low-key, no frills, Italian restaurant with dated decor circa 1972 and a lot of regulars who have been probably been dining here with their families since Bocelli first opened its doors. The restaurant is somewhat small, but offers adequate seating spread out over two levels. The lower level has a function room available by reservation for large parties. A small bar is located on the upper level and serves until 1am. We reserved a spot at Bocelli for our annual Christmas dinner with friends and they graciously accommodated our party of 12 by pushing a few tables together. The lower level definitely feels like a basement and is a bit stuffy, yet sort of cozy in a way. I think I would have preferred the upper level which is more open and allows for more space between tables. However, we had a TV right above our corner last night which made all the Celtics fans in our party very happy. Italian food is not my top fave, but every once in a while I don't mind a heaping plate of chicken or eggplant smothered in sauce and cheese. The menu here at Bocelli consists of classic Italian fare at average prices. Entrees include a variety of pastas, chicken dishes, seafood, salads, barbecue, and pizza. The appetizer menu offers eggplant rollatine, fried calamari, mussels, and much more. I was not in the mood for a heavy meal of red sauce and cheese last night so I opted for the chicken piccata with a lemon and caper sauce. I recently discovered I am absolutely wild about those mysterious little flower buds and purposely seek out any meal prepared with capers. My meal was decent, the chicken slightly overcooked, but I really enjoyed the sauce. The other members of our party seemed pleased with their meals as well. Our waitress was patient with our large group as we waited for late members to arrive and asked her to snap several photos. She was pleasant and efficient at her job, however seemed a bit overwhelmed or perhaps under some stress. I had hoped for a server with some more enthusiasm as it would have added to the spirit of our fun night out. We had some unexpected guests at our table last night we will refer to as the fruit flies. These pesty little critters kept appearing and circling around our food. This did not leave a good impression for me and I was a bit concerned about where they might be coming from. I believe Bocelli was most likely a shining star (or perhaps five shining stars) back in the day, but if it does not hold sentimental value or fond family memories for you there are many better options in the area. read more