This was once a great Italian restaurant but not anymore... If you offer a pininni sandwich use grilled panini bread... it tasted to me like a toasted rye bread sandwich with no oomph... Get an Italian chef..And fix your meatballs too..you have a prime location so take atvantage and serve some new hearty Italian Meals... read more

Go for the new breakfast. Veggie Omelette was great and the potatoes that come with it were super tasty. Service is always nice here and the new look of the place makes it more welcoming than it was before. read more

I only went here once, and that was one too many times, if you ask me. People like this place. WHY? The food is nothing to write home about, the place hasn't been updated since the 80s, and the service - don't get me started. The reason why I will never go back, is because the service is so... exceptionally.... slow. I was there on a night when there was MAYBE 1 or 2 other couples in the place. I was there with 4 people. No big deal - right? Wrong. Service was so slow it was unbelieveable. I literally cannot stand to think about this place - that's how much it bothers me. Don't go. read more

People seem to go bananas for this place but I wasn't too impressed. The seating was cramped and the staff was not particularly friendly. There was some loudmouth talking on his Nextel right behind us. Classy..... Parking for us was a snap. We got a space right near the front door but things can be tight in that little lot out back. My Chicken Marsala was runny and very sweet, like it had sugar in the sauce. The bread was warm but tasted like cardboard. Maybe I don't look Italian enough to get the good stuff. Heyyyyyyyyfuggettaboutit! They also threw away my wife's meal after she asked to have it put in a doggie bag. We will probably go back since it is so close to our house. Maybe we will have better luck next time. read more

Overpriced, snobby place with crappy food. When we walked in, hostess was busy with some cards and we waited good ten minutes before she approached us... another second and we would walk out of there. Food was so-so, both me and my husband didn't feel so good afterward. But the prices.... we paid around $100 for two. read more

Ordered a small Pizza. It was hot and fresh. That is the only good thing I can say. NO FLAVOR at all and WAY OVER PRICED at $14.00. Not worth it. To many other Pizza places to bother going back read more

I was really not impressed with this place, although it seems to be full up most weekends. The decor was blah, the salad & bread were blah, the main was oily and not that flavorful, and the service was slow. I don't really have much else to say about it. It wasn't good enough for me to go back and try again. read more

This review will most likely be biased. That's because my very first job was as a bus boy at Gaetano's. I was fifteen, and I grew up three blocks away from the restaurant, so I used to skateboard there. During my shifts I would grab some dinner rolls and dip them in the house salad dressing. Flippin' fantastic. But that's neither here nor there... After I stopped working there, I used to go with my folks periodically during the mid to late-90's. There was a time I believe that Gaetano's wasn't faring too well, and was expected to go under. Well, they did something right because it remains the nice, semi-quiet little Italian spot in Stoneham. It's still under the same management. I moved back to Mass in 2005 after being in Pennsylvania for a few years, and I've gone about three times since. First things first: the pizza. I have to say their pizza is pretty damn good. The last pizza I ordered was sausage, green pepper, and onion. A size large is HUGE. My brother and I shared a large, and we still had a slice to take home! I'm not really that much of a pizza snob...I mean, I like Papa Gino's and the local delivery shit, and what have you. I understand the appreciation of a "proper" pizza (whatever that definition might be...), but all I know is this: for an Italian restaurant in the suburbs, it does the job. If you want the North End, go to the North End. Other menionables include the potato gnocchi, although the next time I wouldn't order it because it's a lot and it's filling. The gnocchi would work better as a side dish, because I need a little variety. I've gotten veal on several occasions and it's always been tender and flavorful. My personal favorites are veal or chicken saltimbocca or marsala, but that's just me. Salads are always crisp, and the bread + table dipping sauce is my steez. FRESH coffee. Never really had any major issues with this place, enough said. In terms of atmosphere, it can get a little noisy but I've never really experienced anything obnoxious. What you're going to get are a number of locals who frequent the bar, and they also have larger parties, small functions, and whatnot. There are definitely a lot of locals kissing each other on each cheek, but it's a good vibe and family-friendly. It's a nice set-up. read more

Had dinner for the first time last night with my wife (she works in Stoneham, she had take out lunch w/co-workers recently so she wanted us to try dining in). She made reservations, we walked in were immediately greeted by the lovely hostess who took us to very nice table. Next we were greeted by our server Fran who turned out to just wonderful! She was cheerful and polite and helped us make our dinner selections. (Since it was a Friday during Lent we don't eat meat) but I noticed they had Lamb Shank on the menu so I had already decided I wanted to return again to try this dish! We ordered an eggplant pizza and Fran brought us some nice bread that had been warmed in the oven to start with. (Bread was nice and warm and crusty and we enjoyed it with a drizzle of the nice olive oil & grated cheese that were on the table). Fran checked on us throughout our meal, making sure we were happy with our pizza and drinks and she chatted with us a bit too giving us a brief history about the restaurant and the owners. When we were ready to leave, I asked Fran if I could speak to an owner, a very nice young man came over and I raved to him about how much we enjoyed the food, how simply wonderful Fran was and how we planned to come back again to try some of their delicious sounding entrees, ( Lamb Shank, pasta & seafood meals in particular). The restaurant has a nice warm environment and was a perfect atmosphere for a cold winter night out with my beautiful wife. We will definitely be back and will be sure to request Fran as our server again too. Try Gaetano's in Stoneham you will be pleasantly surprised (as I was) how good it is!! read more

After reading the reviews of this place I figured I would give it a try. Given the number of options available in the area I would HIGHLY recommend going to another place. We started off the meal with a simple bruschetta which had our hopes up as this dish was a good option. Came out well and we figured we were in for a treat. I ordered the seafood fra diavolo - let's just say that this was by far the worst meal I have ever had. I've had better marinara's out of a bottle than this garbage. Not to mention the 'pasta' was horrid and completely overcooked I just couldn't finish my meal. My wife ordered a veal dish and was also completely turned off by the meal. Very bland, no flavor. Overall the service was fine, nothing to write home about and it seemed to me very much a 'locals' joint. We will not be back... read more

I'd give Gaetano's 2.5 stars if I could. The food has always been decent. Their pizza is uber-cheesy, but tasty, and the mussels are always pretty delicious. The atmosphere is loud and echoey and the place is always filled is 50-something townies and their loud-mouth wives with the thick Boston accents. The service is friendly, but slow, and it takes forever to get anything from the bar. If you can ignore this, you'll probably enjoy yourself. Another thing to note is the prices: The portions are huge so it's a decent value, but beware of the fact that when you order a pizza with a half-topping on one side and a half-topping on the other (should equal one topping, right?) you WILL be charged for two toppings. That's BS! read more

I recently stopped here for lunch. The server was kind, friendly and attentive, however, the food and beer had room for improvement. I ordered a steak dish and asked for my steak "medium", which came out well done. All of the beers on tap tasted strange. I ended up ordering a bottled beer. Maybe it was an off day for them? I have heard great things about this place, however, my first experience here was disappointing. read more

Great spot north of the city for brunch, lunch and dinner. Staff is consistently incredible (shout out Debbie) and the fresh new daily specials are worth trying each and every time- highly suggest. Will be back soon! read more

Love the atmosphere and food. Lobster ravs and martinis are a must! Under new ownership which gas been a great change. Beautiful outside patio with lights and flowers. So cute Highly reccomend! Filet and short rib looked amazing will try next time. Also offering brunch and mimosas.. will be back read more

On a cold, winter weeknight my fiance and I stopped by Gaetano's because we were hungry and it was getting late. The exterior of the place looked inviting and there was ample parking in the rear. My first impression was how strange it is to enter the office building in order to get to the restaurant (reminds me somewhat of Morton's in Boston). The place was surprisingly packed for mid-week at 8:30pm. My fiance wasn't that hungry so he ordered the bruschetta appetizer and the appetizer portion of the lobster ravioli. I, on the other hand, was ravenous and went from the oh-so-healthy veal parmigiana. Hey, at least mine came with a salad . . . But anyway . . . the bruschetta portion was ginormous! Definitely not an appetizer unless you have a dozen people with you. The fiance loved the lobster ravioli swimming in its creamy sauce although it was just average to me. My veal parm was pretty good, but overpriced especially when compared to places like Greg's in Watertown. Our server was friendly though and checked up on us quite a lot. On the way in, we noticed the dessert tray and the options looked divine! Unfortunately, we were so full that we didn't even finish our main courses so there was no room for dessert. Considering I just had water and the fiance had one beer AND he didn't even get an entree, I felt the food was good quality, but again, our meal was overpriced at $50 for two people before tax and tip. However, I hear good things about their pizza so we might come back sometime to sample some of that fare. read more

This a great place for Italian. Homemade Specials. Very Quaint Your sure to enjoy :-} 271 Main St. 781-279-0100 read more

Beware of baked stuffed lobster on Wednesday nights. No lobster and all stuffing. We first had two fried lobsters come out and the waitress took them back as she knew we ordered baked stuffed. Well they came back out with two what looked to be baked stuffed but it was all stuffing and very few pieces of lobster. There was no tail. It looked to be they took the two wrong orders and tried to make it right. I would definitely check with them before ordering. I did send a review on open table and was hoping that I would hear back from them. I have had their Wednesday night specials before and they were good. Very disappointed. read more

Outstanding food. We stopped here after work because of the good reviews. The shrimp and short rib appetizers were very good. The entrees were also top-shelf. We would definitely eat here again. read more

Love this place! I flew up to Boston for my 50th birthday, my son his girlfriend, my bff & fiancée had dinner. Pizza still as good as I remember! Everything was delicious! That nights dinner special was soup entree & dessert $16.95 fresh hot & delicious! read more

Gaetanos - Italian Near Me - Stoneham, Massachusetts

My daughter and I visited this fantastic restaurant again tonight. We have never been disappointed here. The minute you walk in the door you are greeted by friendly faces. Our waitress, Francesca, actually remembered what my daughter had ordered on our previous visit. I highly recommend Gaetanos and think you will enjoy the incredible foo. read more

Pizza was amazing and the staff is the best. Maggie behind the bar is fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant.

My boyfriend and I started coming here over summer 2020. Each time we visit the food & drinks are so amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful & our waiter is always extremely friendly. Very good place for lunch or dinner. The calamari & shrimp grand marnier appetizers are the best! The Mai Tai is the perfect drink. Please visit & enjoy read more

Can I tell you? The food is incredible. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. A beautiful night out with friends that we enjoyed so much. Francesca the waitress was beyond professional and accommodating. We will be back. Thank you for a lovely night. read more

This place has a big menu...the food ranges from average to outstanding. The fish in particular is always very fresh and great quality which is surprising for the suburbs. Their homemade bruschetta is pretty addictive, my boyfriend and I order it to go all the time. I get thier lobster ravioli alot, its good and not something I can get just anywhere. The eggplant mozzerella salad is another one I'd definitley say to try. It is very function friendly too...I have been there for several. The outdoor patio is cool. The only downside to this place, is the menu is just too huge, Certain dishes are worth the money and visit, but other ones can be dropped. read more

This place is great. Very comfortable atmosphere and the food is very good as well. You really can't go wrong with a selection, from parmigiana to seafood; it's all excellent. The ingredients are very fresh and each dish is prepared carefully. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It's my favorite. read more

So average. First off, we made a reservation through Yelp and when we got there the hostess said "oh I didn't know anything about that" so I think we were lucky they had a table. Second off, the veal marsala is not a thin sliced feel cutlet it is a huge chunk of fatty veal. Third off, it was just an overall average experience and I don't think I can ever go back there. read more

Have been here several times for breakfast and was pleased so thought we'd try lunch. Disappointing at best. We both ordered turkey paninis with fries. I specifically mentioned that I don't care for battered fries but was informed that the batter was very light. After an appreciable amount of time the entrees arrived. First, it was hardly a panini but more of two pieces of grilled bread. Not warm throughout nor crusty. Secondly the fries were all batter. The sandwich was extremely salty and both of us ate only half each. When the server asked if we wanted it to go, I mentioned that it was too salty for me and didn't care for it. She was apologetic and did ask if we wanted something else but we declined. Neither meal was comped but 15% was taken off one of the entrees. (Not off the check but off only one of the sandwiches.) Nothing like washing down a salt sandwich with warm beer. read more

Over the years we have visited Gaetanos with a couple who knew the previous owners and staff well. We have always enjoyed going there and find it a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Over the last year Gaetanos was sold and they have kept many of the previous staff and many favorite dishes on the menu. I would just like to say that last night I had one of the best meals ever. It was a blackened swordfish with local a fresh vegetable salad and blueberries. Also served with a creamed corn puree. I have to say I eat out a lot, especially in the summer, and I usually choose to have fish. This dish was so delicious and creative and presented so lovely. The swordfish was cooked to perfection, the summer salad so tasty and fresh and the blueberries made a nice flair and added something different to the entrée. Adding a creamed corn puree was also an added treat. Kudos to the chef and new owners who are definitely venturing outside the box to try some different combinations with popular food. As always, past and present Gaetanos continues to shine. read more

On our way to Maine and we stopped in for dinner. Food was excellent as well as the staff. Antoine even gave us some recommendations for places to stop in Maine. Definitely worth it if you're in the mood for good Italian food at a local place! read more

This was our first time at Gaetanos and my wife and i were out on a date night. Fran was our server and she was excellent. Very nice friendly. Food was very good loved the calimari , Haddock was good. Restaurant has a nice atmosphere. Will come back in the summer to enjoy their outdoor seating. read more

We had a fabulous meal and Debbie made our evening very memorable. She was fun and professional. Our orders were perfect. We had eggplant parmigiana, which was excellent. The restaurant was full and very energetic. We will be back soon! read more

In our effort to eat local we went here for breakfast which they had just stated serving. Only four other patrons in the restaurant when we arrived (should have been our clue) and us. Service was slow. There were two waitstaff on plenty for practically an empty house so there was no need for the lag in service. We got our coffee when we ordered our eggs and needed another but we weren't attended to during our time waiting for our breakfast. 45 MINUTES later our eggs were served. I have never in my life waited 45 minutes for eggs in a restaurant with only four other patrons. Not only did I pay extra for avocado but when I bit into my lovey looking eggs benny it tasted bitter. The avocado which the cook lay down before placing my egg was BLACK. Let me repeat that. My avocado was BLACK. This cook put black avocado under my poached egg and then poured hollandaise to cover it up hoping I wouldn't notice? I told the waitress she brought me fresh avocado but that point my experience was pretty much ruined. My husbands avocado was black also in his breakfast bowl. Then we were given coffee. I guess this fresh pot needed an hour to brew. I will never go here again. read more

We have been patrons of Gaetanos for a long time and have always been pleased with food and service. Tonight, however, my husband and i ordered a couple of drinks before dinner and we both looked at each other when they arrived at our table. Both martinis were a little more than half full. When I am paying almost $15 for a drink, I expect it to be at least full. When I asked the waitress where the rest was, she went back to the bar and the bartender, visibly irritated, proceeded to remake my drink but did nothing about my husband's. Food was good, service was ok but I think we will be dining elsewhere for the time being. Gaetanos, do yourself a favor and get yourself a new bartender. Maybe if he wasn't so preoccupied with the young ladies sitting at the bar, he would have been more attentive to the diners in the restaurant. read more

Bad experience tonight. We originally had reservations for 6:30. They called and moved it to 7. Got there and they had no clue. We waited 20 minutes for a bad table. Wait person was bad and food was iffy at best. Won't go there again. Don't waste your $. read more

Great Italian-American food and people. The clientele is a bit older, but very family oriented. Gus and Luise and their family love the business and what they do. Great place to stop for a nice Italian family experience. read more

What a great place! Went here for dinner with my girlfriend during restaurant week and had not only and amazing meal but a great experience. We had an appetizer, bottle of wine, two entrees, dessert and coffee for under $100! I understand it was restaurant week but it was still great! The food was cooked perfectly and the service was on point. We were greeted by the chef, hostess, waitress (of course), and pianist! Just to add the piano player was a nice touch to our night. You must check it out! read more

Have gone back once since the grand re-opening. Very, very disappointed (and I never thought I'd say that about Gaetanos). It's extremely dark inside, the service was disinterested at best --- it wasn't crowded, but our server took a long time to get to us and then never checked on us once we finally got our meals -- and many of my favorites are GONE from the menu. No antipasto salad. No Chicken ala Aprile. Had a steak tip pasta salad which btw, was NOT steak tips. It was stew beef. Did they think people wouldn't notice? I"ll try one more time but if I have another experience like that, it will be bye-bye to 19 years of steady patronage. read more

Let's start with my feeling that green pepper is a very strong flavor, and not something I like to have on my pizzas. With that said, I ordered a small pizza with sausage, pepperoni and onion. When the pizza came, it had green peppers instead of pepperoni. I explained to the waitress that I had ordered pepperoni not green peppers. She apologized and said she would take care of it. In less than 6 minutes she came out with another pizza with pepperoni instead of green pepper. I noticed that the cheese didn't look as cooked as the rest of the pizza. I took the first slice from the pizza platter and put it on my plate. immediately I knew I could smell green pepper. I took the first bite and I could taste the leftover taste of the green peppers. All they did was remove the green peppers, throw on some pepperoni and then re-cook the pizza 'til the cheese melted (not cooked). At this point I went to the manager and registered my complaint. She said she would get me a new pizza. I waited for a longer time than it took for the first pizza came out, my friend had completely finished his meal. When the pizza came, it was correct. While both the waitress and the manager were very nice and helpful. It doesn't make up for a practice that someone in management or in the kitchen felt was acceptable - to just take the green peppers off and doctor the pizza up. Not to mention that it totally ruined the dining experience with my friend. They provided free desserts, but now knowing how they try to fix a meal in the kitchen has totally put me off from ever going back to this place. I live in Stoneham and while it might be convenient to go here - never again. read more

No. Just no. As we were leaving my husband turned to me and said, "Do you think they tried to make us feel unwelcome on purpose?" He wasn't kidding. The pasta (and this is at an Italian restaurant, mind you) was gummy and under cooked, the waitress was distracted at best and disinterested at worst and the atmosphere was cramped and loud. Judging from the behavior of the patrons yelling from table to table at each other, they must make their drinks strong. So there's that. read more

Food was alright, but it was pricey considering the quality. And the waiter brought my date the wrong dish. Atmosphere was not very cozy, the high ceilings caused an echoe-y loud background noise. Too many good Italian joints in Stoneham to go here. read more