First of all, service was excellent. The waitresses squeezed my family of 4 in before another reservation, but made us feel so comfortable and were so friendly. They made sure we got everything we needed despite the tables getting filled up quickly. I highly recommend a reservation if you go, but even those may be hard to come back. We ordered 7 dishes for 4 people because everything on the menu looked so good and they had such a great selection, and we brought home quite a bit of leftovers! My son loved everything from the fresh pasta down to the bread and devoured the leftovers the next day. A hidden gem for sure!! read more

See all

Nice old fashion Italian restaurant with plenty of tables candle lights. The bar is a good size with comfortable sitting the service was excellent the bartender was very helpful in answering questions the martini's were flying out the door the beer's were nice and cold.had calamari for a appetizer cooked really good. Had veal parmigiana with angel hair and it's delicious was the best ever everything was absolutely perfect food service excellent read more

See all

Sat at the bar shortly after they opened on a Saturday (4pm), Vinny was my bartender and he was amazing. He was very attentive, friendly and made a good Pineapple Bomber (rum, amaretto, pineapple juice?) Since I was getting ready for an event in Salem I was just looking to get a drink or two, but did end up getting a side of pasta with marinara and it was perfect snack/meal. They also do give a basket of rolls when you first sit with some butter. Place has a smaller sized dining room and I got lucky to find a street parking out front. Seems like a lot of locals enjoy hanging here and it's about connection and food and drinks. read more

Met a group of teacher friends here on a very rainy Thursday night. The dining room was very busy and we were seated in our reserved seats near the restroom corridor. (we were 8 and most tables sit 2-4 comfortably). Our server, whose name escapes me (but it says #0087 on the charge slip) was outstanding! She was patiently explaining the menu, which martinis were her favorites, and any specials not found on the menu. I was super happy when they delivered TWO baskets of hot rolls and butter to a group as large as ours, saving us the hassle of having to chase down the server to ask for more, which is usually the case. Water glasses were constantly being refilled and they accommodated one of our friends with a complimentary slice of birthday cake with flaming candle when it came time for dessert. Entrees ordered were Enzo's Sunday Dinner (fusilli, meatball, sausage, braciola), the stuffed veal chop with fig reduction (special), chic/ziti broccoli, some salmon entrees and I believe the halibut (special). All looked delicious and everyone was happy with their choices. I waffled between ordering Enzo and the veal chop...turns out the chop may have been the star of the night, but I very much enjoyed the tender meatballs, homemade pasta and all the meats! I enjoyed a simple glass of chianti, but friends seemed to enjoy their espresso martinis, flirtinis, and cocktails. We all passed around creme brulee, tiramisu, over-stuffed cannolo and the birthday red velvet cake. I must say, it was the best cannolo I've had lately--crispy shell and the creamy ricotta filling was perfect--could have used some chopped pistachios on the end, but truly, it was delicious. The cappuccino looked authentic and delicious. Server 0087 was a true professional in every way and really took the time to make our dinner a special celebration of friendship. read more

See all

Atmosphere is warm and comforting....I must say tonight I received the most amazing filet mignon, it was the most tender cut of beef! So buttery and soft, it melts in your mouth! The service was incredible as Vinny not only being the best bartender but the most accommodating server. An unforgettable filet priced incredibly well for the quality!! AMAZING!! This restaurant is a hidden gem!!! 10 stars read more

Great service, good food. Had a wonderful girl's night out with my cousins. I will definitely return!! read more

Memories are made..Food is delicious ..Wait staff extremely attentive.The Bar is terrific , with a Bar Tender to match . We will be back... Rachelle Johnson Edgartown, Mass. read more

The food here is amazing!! Everything we tried was delicious! I highly recommend the beet salad and definitely get the homemade pasta!

Our first visit to Caffe Italian & Great Recommendation It's a beautiful restaurant with a nice bar, a family member who lives near by told us about the restaurant. We started off with the Calamari which were delicious & definitely recommend them. They are drizzled with an aioli & have peppers on them. We had the meatballs which were 3 big size meatball & the Caesar Salad which even had a unique twist. Our Dinners were all perfectly prepared & fish was fresh. The Salmon with the Risotto was amazing. The fusilli with broccoli rabe was perfect The cod was perfect & highly recommend the above. The linguine with white clams is prepared with basil & lemon rind which is nothing like we make it. The clams were whole & fresh. The shrimp scampi was also very different having tomatoes in it but delicious. We ended our meal with delicious cup of cappuccino. We definitely recommend this restaurant read more

See all

Figured we would try out Caffe Italia in Wakefield last week. It was pretty late, but was glad to see that they advertised on their website they were open until 10:00 pm. We got there are 8.45, walked in the door, and a young man (who looked like a busboy or someone who worked in the kitchen) walked up to us and said they were closed. I asked what time they were open until, he said the kitchen closes at 9:00. I explained to him that their website doesn't state that, it says they are open until 10:00. He said the kitchen is closed. Their website states Monday through Saturday 4 pm to 10 pm they are open. It says nothing about the kitchen closing at 9:00. Which means if you get there at 9:00 you will be turned away. So, we drove 25 minutes to get to a restaurant that wastes people's time and is too lazy to update their website or, wanted to close early that night. Either way...dirty trick. Against my better judgement, my husband wanted to try them again. We walked in, and a man came out and said "2"?.....No "hello". No "how are you tonight"? Just "2". He brought us over to a table, plopped the menus down and walked away. The table was literally on top of another table. So any conversation would be overheard. The restaurant was very quiet so the entire restaurant would hear what you were saying anyway. When we sat down the lady at the table on top of us was reading her menu with the flashlight on her phone. The restaurant was dark. Really dark. How do you see what you were eating with it so dark? My husband and I sat there for a very short time and both felt very uncomfortable with the entire restaurant. Before anything was ordered, we just got up and left. We ended up going to another great Italian restaurant in town, which has a much better vibe. People in the bar area as you walk in are chatting and laughing and people greet you with a smile. And the food and service is great! I think Caffe Italia has a lot to learn about wasting people's time with their inaccurate information on their website and what people are looking for in an enjoyable night out. ............................................................................................................................................ vinny o. left a compliment for your review of Caffe Italia I apologize for the website not being up to date. Sometimes things are out of our control for the time. The saying goes you can't please everyone!!" In response to Vinny O's private message shown directly above that was sent to me on 7-23-23. Disappointing to see such a smart response. Instead of saying "I'm so sorry that the website was inaccurate and we wasted your time". Instead, he gives excuses and ends with the comment "you can't please everyone". People rely on restaurants and other establishments websites to be accurate. Especially when it comes to hours and patrons may be driving some distance. It is very easy to update a website with the correct hours. Probably less time than it took you to respond to my review. My review is 100% accurate. We did drive a distance to go to your restaurant only to be turned away due to inaccurate website information and quite rudely I might add. Reviews are meant to help establishments in their performance. My review is not made up or cruel. It is factual. You have to admit, it is absurd that people have to use the flashlights on their cell phones to read your menu as the dining room is so dark. read more

Caffe Italia - Italian Near Me - Wakefield, Massachusetts

We've been a handful of times since moving to the area, and I will admit it's only been our first choice, the first time we went. The food and ambiance are average, I haven't seen anything that would stand out wildly one way on another. It's clean and the service has been amiable. read more

Delicious food. Freshly made Parapdelle which they subbed into my Linguini with Clams order was fantastic. The service was amazing and flexible as the adapted to our several odd requests with a sense of humor and a smile. A wonderful place for nice Italian meal. read more

Hello all, I have previously mentioned that Wakefield is a great place to go to for dinner if you like Italian food, because they have good Italian restaurants a-plenty. Caffe Italia is one of the places that if you are in the Wakefield area, you need to try it. It combines exquisite cuisine with a high-end atmosphere. This is one of, if not the favorite restaurant, of my uncle who is practically on the VIP list over there. He absolutely loves Caffe Italia. I first went there some years ago for some relative's Communion, Confirmation, or something of the sort. We also had one of my Uncle's birthday parties there, and the restaurant could not have treated us better. The service staff was very good attentive, the atmosphere was a little on the medium-side, but nothing I would get a headache over, and the food was absolutely excellent. My mom (who I think is biased and only thinks her own food is the best) was saying to me the whole night "You got to try this..." She really liked it too, which was a first for me to see out in public. One tell of the restaurant is that there is always a lot of people in there on the weekends and they can have some wait times. But take it from me, its worth it. Caffe Italia is definitely one of the best in Wakefield. Enjoy! read more

1st time visit certainly not the last Fresh hot rolls smaller than bertucci but you can have more drinks all good with average pricing although not listed Fried calamari light and tender comes with tomato sauce to dip great flavor Veal Oscar was delish Braciole special was great will be on menu next week as a standard read more

Food is good and especially the calamari! Salmon with risotto too. Lively bar area for dinner. Waitstaff can be rude at times and short and same with bartender. Unfortunate as others have said the same to me. read more

What a cute little Italian place! Came in on a Saturday evening with a reservation, and was seated immediately by the friendly host. The people I was with ordered some appetizers which I could not eat since I'm GF, but they said they were pretty good. After ordering and eating the appetizers, it took the server about an hour to ask us to order our main entrees (not sure why?). I was getting kind of annoyed, because I skipped the appetizers and was hungry. Finally, after finishing the appetizers we ordered. There are not too many gluten free options, but enough (I think they have GF pasta) to pick from. I ordered a Caesar salad with grilled salmon. It was decent; the salmon was cooked well done and flavorful. Everyone else enjoyed their dishes, with the only exception being they were a little too soupy/had too much liquid left drowning in the fish or meat. I would recommend this place, but wouldn't personally come back due to the limited gluten free options. read more

This place is the real deal I've been traveling the world and this is the best Italian restaurant on the planet Service is awesome read more

Food is excellent. Every time we eat here it's a great time too. Friendly staff and we have never felt rushed.

First time Won't be the last time Went with several of my female cousins Had lots of laughs Food was excellent Service was even better Anna and Jayvon (sp) could not have been nicer. Very attentive and patient As you can guess 7 Italian woman together, focusing is not our strong point Yummy bread Great selection of wine Bartender made the best Cosmos; Dirty & Lemon Drop martinis We had 3 appetizers = Calamari, Eggplant Rollatini & Lamb Chops, recommended by our cousin Terry, who frequents this establishment often And the BEST charcuterie meat & cheeseboard I've ever had The "Chefs Antipasto" A MUST HAVE All DELICIOUS !!!!! We shared 3 main dishes, named after 2 of the cousins in our group. Chicken Nancy. A dish named Joanne & Veal Vincenzo, after our Uncle & grandfather Even though it it was after closing, they were kind enough to offer us coffee and dessert. We declined the dessert, because we were so stuffed from the meal, but we did get coffees with sides Sambuca & Bailey's Needless to say, we closed the joint & then some Thank you for your kindness and your understanding and your patience. That's why I give it a five star rating. And the kicker is, we didn't even realize it until we looked at the photos the next day that we were sitting underneath a painting on the wall with our family name sketched in the print Definitely a sign that our large family of those that have passed on was with us at our dinner gathering read more

Caffe Italia is by far my family's most cherished haunt. We've been coming here for years and it's still always our first choice for a nice dinner out. You can't go wrong with any of the menu items, everything's outstanding (although you MUST try the Eggplant Donna and Pear Salad- thank me later;)) The drinks are stiff and expertly crafted, and food portions fit for a king. Sit at the bar if you have a chance, it's definitely where the magic happens! read more

The food was great. Would highly recommend it. Definitely recommend making a reservation as we did. The place was full, shows how well people enjoy the restaurant. read more

5 star food and service. Not overpriced, good value. High quality... support local businesses

Came here for a birthday celebration. It is so conveniently close to home that we were able to walk there. Its looks cute on the outside and is dark and romantic on the inside. Loved the simple elegant decor and the white Christmas lights. We were seated in a corner booth. We started with calamari and the pear Gorgonzola salad. Both were really tasty, light and fresh! And Im usually not a fruit with greens salad kind of gal but this was really well balanced. Hubby had veal with some kind of light sauce with sun dried tomatoes and artichokes. He said it was very flavorful and practically licked his plate clean! The teen girl had chicken and mushroom risotto, she was nervous to try because she never had risotto before. But she was very happy with her choice, and couldn't believe how much they gave her lol. I had the salmon risotto and it was sooooooo delicious. It was cooked perfectly with a nice crust, the risotto was creamy and smooth with just a tiny bite still to it. My portion was huge too and am excited to have it for lunch again today! Desserts we opted for vanilla and pumpkin gelato and hubby got the creme brulee. Our waiter was kind and thoughtful and had a great balance of checking up on us, keeping the dinner running smooth and really making it a special dinner. (he put a candle in one of the desserts for me!) All positives here. Wont be great for the check book if we make this a weekly thing but since they are so close it just might be! read more

See all

Excellent!! Everything was phenomenal- the food, the service, the vibe, the cleanliness etc.. For starters the bread was excellent... definitely made in-house. We ordered the fusilli with chicken and broccoli rabe dish which was served with a white butter sauce- very light and flavorful. Also ordered the short ribs paired with Parmesan risotto...very impressive! The meat was tender and juicy-fell apart with the fork effortlessly. The risotto and the sauce were very flavorful and rich, complemented the meat well and not heavy. Everything was reasonably priced making for an excellent yet affordable meal ...as the portions were very generous! Noted: They were clean and positioned well in respect to Covid sanitation and distancing recommendations. Very pleased all around, highly recommend.!! read more

Went here on Friday night with my husband. We had made reservations the night before and we were excited to try a new restaurant. We arrived around 6pm and it was pretty busy. We were seated near the bar, and our waiter was also the bartender. It was about 15 mins before we received water, which the bus boy brought over. Our waiter gave us menus, but didn't give us a mixed drink menu which we asked for. The bus boy brought that over as well. Throughout the night our waiter pretty much ignored us and focused more on the older crowd that was there. I ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio, Caesar salad, and lamb chops. My husband had 2 mixed drinks- which he said were on the sweeter side. He also had a pasta dish which he said was okay. Later that night- I was throwing up in the bathroom sick from the food I had gotten and have been down with what I believe to be food poisoning. I messaged the restaurant and the woman I spoke to was very nice, but however it didn't make up for my overall experience at the restaurant. I will not be returning. read more

My favorite Italian restaurant in Wakefield. It has a North End feel to it. The calamari is so good that my husband and I usually start with it. I've never had a bad meal here and the wait staff is friendly. Make a reservation though. Everyone seems to love this place. read more

My husband and I walked into Cafe Italia after a recommendation from someone who knows good food. We were pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food was! Excellent service from our server named Erin - she could not have been more kind and helpful. The haddock was incredibly fresh and prepared in a delicious way that I had not had before. My husband's Chicken Nancy was absolutely delicious! The gelato and tiramisu were "must haves!" The woman who greeted us at the door was the only downer; she never smiled at us and gave us the once over as though we were in the wrong place. We will definitely be back for the amazing food and were very happy with our server! read more

My friends and I just walked into this restaurant and the hostess seemed horrified. We didn't have a reservation, and despite several empty tables, were told that nothing would open up until 8:30p. No doubt those empty tables were being held for reservations. I don't think she meant it, but it's just that the delivery was reminiscent of Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts is essentially turned away for being trashy. Two of the four of us were wearing jeans, so I guess that's a no no. The decor was well-appointed and lovely, the air heavy with garlic and snootiness. If you're part of the local scene, you'll probably be welcome here. I guess we looked like we came from the wrong side of the tracks. https://youtu.be/Nu3x5SZrMHo read more

We bought linguini with meatballs and chicken parm. Both were very good.

The food is awesome! We always eat at the bar, Vinnie makes you feel at home he is a hoot,I would recommend Cafe Italia to everyone!!

Keep calling, they'll pick up and it's worth it. We've only had takeout and it's definitely the best Italian in the area. Beef short ribs and risotto is amazing every time. read more

We had dinner here last night. Food was great but service? Outstanding! We had Debbie as our waitress. She was so much fun and very attentive. Great customer service. Will definitely be back. Thank you for s great night! read more

We were lucky (a party of 5) to snag a last minute table on a Friday evening at 5:30. The service was impeccable! The host was welcoming, quick to greet and seat us. The kiddos had the meatballs, calamari (amazing) and gobbled up half my clams over linguini. My mom and I polished off those clams over linguini in a white sauce. My husband devoured the porcini pappardelle. The sauvignon blanc white wine was chilled. To our parental luck they had lemonade, chocolate milk and .... espresso martinis to wash it all down. Everyone was satisfied after a hectic week. Thank you Cafe Italia for the delicious and welcoming experience! We will return or inquire take out. read more

I received a gift certificate as a gift. Food was delicious with some great service. The atmosphere was quaint.

Caffe Italia, Is our favorite Italian go to restaurant. For starters the calamari is the best around. And you can't go wrong with the entree's. We definitely miss the second floor dining atmosphere. read more

I've been to Caffe Italia several times. Everything has been absolutely great! The service is ridiculously accommodating and so nice. - You MUST try the LAMB CHOPS, HOMEMADE MEATBALLS and calamari !!! My top 3 favorites for appetizers. It's insane and paired perfectly with amazing quality and taste. My favorite dish is the Parpadelle Bolongnese - OMG - so so so good !!!! The Parmigiana is the best. Every time I go there I keep thinking - When I will be back again There is a plate they call Braised Beef Short Ribs - it came with a Parmesan risotto - yesterday I asked if they could change the risotto for the parpadelle pasta - The boneless beef ribs in a osobucco sauce is the one of the best things I ate in a Italian restaurant ! I absolutely loved this dish! The veal is fork tender and so flavorful. I highly recommend Caffe Italia, they are extremely accommodating and the food is from heaven. I need to tell a secret there is a homemade chocolate mousse on the menu - Go for it ! it`s the gold key for all this awesome good food experience. read more

Caffe Italia - Italian Near Me - Wakefield, Massachusetts

We are so grateful to live nearby this wonderful establishment. We have eaten here many times, always satisfied, sometimes over the moon happy. The service is always great, the food is almost always great. I have never had a bad meal. I love the parpadelle porcini and the arugula salad. We've tried other items and all have been very good. The atmosphere is comfortable and the few times we forgot to make a reservation they always managed to find a table for us. read more

The food is amazing and the service is too! I watched what everyone was getting and not one person left anything on their plate and were raving about how great their dinner was. We have had the pizza, calamari, various salads and raviolis! We LOVED them all! This place is fabulous! Give it a try! It's a beautiful restaurant too with a great bar! read more

See all

FOOD, very good......WAITER, horrible. The Good - Bread, crusty & great! Calamari, light and delicious. Bolognese for hubby, a little more tomato than usual but delicious! Shrimp Gran Marnier over Fusilli for me. The shrimp is an App but I wanted it over pasta, very good & unique. Dessert - Cannoli for hubby. Excellent. Espresso Martini for me - just ok, too much Amaretto but drinkable. The Not So Good (ok, horrible ) - the waiter. From the minute we walked in he was rude. Not specifically to us, he had zero personality. He couldn't figure out where to seat us - in a completely empty restaurant. We were early-birds, that night. He told us they had lots of 5:30 reservations, whatever that meant. It was 5pm. By 6:30 there were 7 people in the restaurant. He was abrupt, rude and not friendly. It appeared he couldn't wait to get rid of us. I tried to engage him in conversation but he wasn't having it. He slammed the plates on the table...so much so it was loud. I noticed this behavior with other diners as well. I saw people giving him the eye-roll. He needs to get another job. I can't give his name because he never told us but he's got lots of tats so if you go there ask for another waiter. But, you'll recognize him, he's the one with the personality of a flea. We didn't let him ruin our evening. We met long lost friends there and it was a great evening but we're still talking about his behavior. LOL. As I said, food was delicious. We will return just ask for another waiter. read more

OK folks it's time to talk about Caffe Italia in Wakefield. Made a reservation for 4, a week in advance. Showed up on time and was told "you're going to have to wait". What that means is that if you're a friend of the owner, you'll get seated right away, which happened right in front of us; people he knew were escorted right passed us. If you're just a normal PAYING customer who reserved a table, you'll get seated when they feel like it, even though you made a reservation. Half hour later we got a table. No bread available... "we ran out". Two of the three drinks we tried to order were "not available". We were rushed to order the meal and were not told about the specials. Guess who were told about the specials and got bread right away? You guessed it, the friends of the owner who were at the better table next to us. Do they think no one pays attention? If you want good service for your money, go somewhere else. Not worth it if you're treated poorly. read more