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Cornicello

4.6 (71 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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CORNICELLO ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Cornicello

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Duck pasta
Olga S.

Sottocello is incredible! We kept failing to make a reservation for Cornicello, but the downstairs bar, Sottocello, doesn't take reservations and we managed to just walk in on a (cold, snowy) Saturday night without issue. The menu is the same - absolutely incredible, and the drinks are perfection! The vibe is also great, I enjoyed talking to the bartender and nearby people, it's the perfect layout for that. My favorites were the funghi bruschetta and the duck pasta entree. We will definitely be back!

Bruschetta Olio Nuova
Nicole F.

Last minute came across this restaurant while searching for an Italian restaurants for Valentines Day. To no surprise, there were no available reservations for the foreseeable future. I discovered they have a downstairs location, Sottocello that is a "speakeasy" restaurant in the downstairs area of Cornicello that serves the same menu as the restaurant above. No reservations, first come, first serve. We decided to give it a shot to see if we could get a seat. Since it was Valentine's, they did have the majority of the tables at Sottocello reserved but they had one large table (seating for 8) that was a "community table" for people who arrived on a walk-in basis. That is where we sat, at first hesitant, we came to really enjoy our stranger's company and towards the end of our meal became friendly with the others at our table. We started our meals with the brushette which was ample amounts of tomato, and for $2 more, added mozzarella which seemed to lack in quantity of the cheese. For the entrees, I ordered the rigatoni dish with short rib and my boy friend a nother pasta dish with ground duck. We both very much enjoyed our meals, although the pasta was a bit more on the al dente side than I would've preferred and wished the servings were bigger for the pretty penny the meal cost us. We enjoyed the wines we ordered for our meals and ordered their pistachio/olive oil cake for dessert which was not too sweet. We were impressed with our meal and hope to return back again but to save this place for special occasions.

Braised Duck
Dean V.

What a find! I travel quite a bit but rarely write reviews, but I thought it was important to share this location with you. From my warm greeting, to the comfortable decor, my initial impression was that of QUALITY. This continued with an eclectic menu of Italian food all made daily from scratch. So many unique pasta types and ingredients, I had to keep Googling them.. Once I honed my choice it came out quick & was amazing. The bar tender Maggie also was super warm & knowledgeable. The dinner choice was braised duck with a unique square hand made pasta (tucci?), then the olive oil drenched pistachio cake (must try this!!). Chef Josh also came out & asked how the meal was. This is a great sign that they actually care & appreciate feedback to improve on their offering (I don't know how honestly). I will be back & recommend this place above any others in the area.

White bean, guanciale and fortune cookie pasta
Crowden S.

On the second visit I remembered (but just barely) to take some pics of the deeeeelicious food. Lindsey was delightful and her wine pairing suggestions were spot on. A lovely atmosphere and zero reasons not to try it. Because ... try it and you'll like it!

Bolognese with homemade pasta
Jessica T.

We absolutely love coming here! We start off with the prosecco on tap with the broo-sketta. Then usually order two to three entrees to share between the two of us. Always split the pistachio cake to eat at the end and order an extra to take home.

Menu
Markus W.

Meh, there are better Italian restaurants within driving distance. Food wasn't bad, just not remarkable and worth the month to get a table nor the 200+ dollar bill for my wife and son to have dinner. My dish per the waitress "was so spicy people return it." Yet was so bland and zero spice somehow. My son's swordfish was great and the winner, was tasty. My wife's and mine was bland and super lacking in flavor. Oh well. Service was excellent, ambiance was lovely, wine was good, food was ok, just not 200 bucks and a month wait by any stretch of the imagination ok.

LINGUINE con FRUTTI di MARE all'AMALFITANA
Rose M.

Here I am again, where I belong, enjoying out of this world culinary excellence. Be sure to make a reservation. We had a delectable artichoke appetizer with lemon aioli. Again, we had the bolognese and I tried the LINGUINE con FRUTTI di MARE all'AMALFITANA fresh ME lobster & sustainably harvested Ecuadorian shrimp in a buttery, lemon & wine "piccata" sauce, Sicilian capers, melted leeks; w/egg yolk rich linguine, basil, garlic breadcrumbs, stracciatella drizzle. Out of ALL my reviews, this restaurant knocks it out of the ball park including restaurants I have been to in the north end of Boston. Honestly, if I lived next door, I would be here every night!

Date Ripiene alle miele
Dan S.

The restaurant is small and nicely laid out - tables are spaced from each other and do not feel cramped. There are huge windows offering a beautiful view of the rushing Squamscott river. At night, the illuminated back porch of a neighboring restaurant adds to the ambiance. The service is excellent! We were taken care of by Lindsay who is competent in describing the dishes and making informed recommendations. Menu: The items change on a regular basis. Some items are constant while most rotate. Therefore, my review may not be applicable in 2 weeks. This restaurant has gained a reputation for its homemade pasta and it's well deserved. Why 3 stars? - The execution of almost every dish had me wondering what was going on in the kitchen. We had outstanding stuffed dates, but everything after that was a disappointment. The bruschetta is served on toast and it was soggy on the bottom. The bread was served cold, like refrigerator temperature. The campagna oil is bitter!! The bread lacked salt. The presentation of my ravioli was just plain ugly. It was soggy and completely off balance. It was a struggle to finish. The Pasta with lemon sauce had a peculiar umami flavor and was sticky and unpleasant to eat. We asked for crushed pepper and it came in a black pepper jar whose holes were way too small (we needed to manually open the bottle and shake out the pepper). Our dessert was a pistachio cake that was soaking in the bitter campagna olive oil. It was not enjoyable. Perhaps it was a bad night? I see the menu has already been updated for the following week so I won't discourage anyone from making a reservation. I hope you enjoy! If the food doesn't impress, the service and ambiance will. Make a reservation and get a table!!!

Pasta Bolognese
Michael R.

Great meal at Il Cornicello in Exeter, and you have to give kudos to those adventurous to start a new restaurant during the pandemic! We've wanted to dine here for some time now but it is a very small restaurant and reservations are tricky to get. Strongly recommend that you plan ahead. We found this to be a very enjoyable evening with very good food, service and a lovely dining room and atmosphere. They even have a little bit of a market out front if you want to take home some products (fresh pasta is not available for take home however). We started with one of the delicious bruschetta choice on the menu. We chose one with olive tapenade and burrata, which was very tasty. We noticed almost every table ordered a variety of the bread. Note that a bread basket is not provided, so perhaps that is the reason. Next time I want to try the garlic version! We also enjoyed the Alitalia cocktail, which was delicious and well balanced. Our next course was a green salad with roasted delicata squash, simply delicious, not overdressed and had just the right amount of apples and cheese. Fresh in house made pasta steals the show here, and we were impressed with the tender delicious pasta bolognese. The sauce was creamy and delicious, and if I have to find any fault with the dish, perhaps a little less salt would have made this dish 5 stars. For dessert we tried some of the home made cookies, which were just delicious, light and made me feel like I was in an Italian pastry shop. This was a really good dining experience all around, and we look forward to visiting again.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. The menu changes often, if not daily. I will return.

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Excellent service, delicious food and lovely atmosphere. We really enjoy Cornicello- food is always fresh .

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3 years ago

Cute location along the river with a bar in the middle. Amazing food. Hard to get a reservation but worth it!

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Ristorante Molise - Lobster Ravioli

Ristorante Molise

(192 reviews)

$$

Ristorante Molise deserves every bit of 5 stars! From start to finish, the experience was nothing…read moreshort of perfect. The service is outstanding--professional, attentive, and they have a way of keeping the flow of food just right without ever making you feel rushed. The owner is incredibly friendly and went above and beyond to make our night feel extra special, which truly set the tone for the evening. The dining room itself is elegant and welcoming, with an open layout that makes the space feel lively and inviting. Because it's all open, it can get a little loud at times and make conversation harder to hear, but when we went toward the end of the night the atmosphere was quieter and even more enjoyable. The meal started with their bread--perfectly crunchy on the outside yet soft and fluffy inside, the kind you can't stop eating. The Calamari Fritti was hands down the best I've ever had: tender, melt-in-your-mouth, never rubbery, with a sauce that balanced savory richness and just the right amount of kick. Despite being fried, it felt light and satisfying, the ideal appetizer. For my entrée, I had the Ravioli di Aragosta, and I honestly can't praise it enough. The ravioli were generously sized and stuffed with flavorful lobster chunks--both inside and piled on top. Each bite was rich, savory, and carried that perfect seafood finish that lingered beautifully. Absolutely phenomenal. Drinks are another highlight--the bartender pours them strong and tasty, just the way I like them. And to top it all off, the desserts were gorgeous and paired perfectly with an espresso. I loved the thoughtful touch of including a rock candy stick, letting you stir in sweetness to taste or just enjoy as a little snack. All in all, Ristorante Molise checks every box: incredible food, warm hospitality, and those little details that make an evening memorable. I can't wait to come back!

Food is always great! Service good too. Charming outdoor space too…read more Reservations are recommended to get a table at this popular eatery.

Ristorante Massimo - Bar area

Ristorante Massimo

(332 reviews)

$$$

I've dined at Restaurant Massimo many times, and it never disappoints. The food is consistently…read moreexcellent, and this evening's service was truly outstanding. Our waitress was exceptionally knowledgeable--not only about the menu, but also the wine list. Service at Massimo is always strong, but she genuinely stood out and elevated the entire dining experience. We started with the corkscrew pasta with wild mushrooms, finished with a delicate touch of shaved truffles. It was absolutely delicious--the sauce was light, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. It works beautifully as either an appetizer or a main course. For entrées, the pan-seared cod was as impressive as it was visually appealing--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The veal was also excellent. Their veal saltimbocca offers a slightly different and very enjoyable twist; instead of the traditional sherry, it's prepared with Marsala wine, giving the dish a subtly sweeter and richer flavor profile. I also highly recommend the arancini. You receive two per order, and they're outstanding--crispy on the outside and rich and satisfying inside. The atmosphere at Restaurant Massimo is both relaxing and romantic, making it an ideal spot for a special night out or an intimate dinner. Consistently great food, exceptional service, and a warm, inviting ambiance keep me coming back.

Went for an anniversary dinner, food was delicious. Service was lackluster. Evening started great…read morebut spiraled from there. My SO went to the restroom and the bartender asked me if we were celebrating anything and I told her it was our 7 year anniversary, she mentioned bringing something out for us, unexpected but appreciated. Meatball appetizer along with an appetizer size portion of a pasta dish, and the smoked duck small plate. All very good. From there it went downhill. Neither bartender checked in for about 30 minutes while we waited for our main course. Espresso rubbed duck was very flavorful and delicious. After the main nothing was brought out, so at that point I was a little frustrated so we went on our way. Food was great, service started good but then disappeared. Definitely would not return for an occasion.

Cornicello - italian - Updated May 2026

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