This is supposedly a spot frequented by local celebs but anyhow it didn't disappoint!! Excellent wine selection and great salad appetizers. We had the corn appetizer which was great. The fish special was sea bass and it was excellent. The noise level was a bit high but overall fantastic ambience. Accommodates bigger groups for parties etc. Check out this spot if you're in the Brookline or Longwood area! Easy street parking always helps reduce pre-meal stress level :) read more

Doesn't get better than this. The food here is as good as any I've had anywhere in the North End (and I've eaten at just about every place in the North End), the service was not only impeccable but also personal and friendly, and the ambiance is perfect for a relaxed but classy meal. I always try to write balanced reviews, so if I were to try to find something negative to say about this place, the best I could come up with is that the outside vicinity, the streets around La Morra, are kinda yucky. But if you find yourself grasping at straws so much you're talking about the neighborhood a restaurant is in, that really tells you all you need to know. This place is amazing. I'm looking forward to coming back. read more

I didn't have the best experience. I ordered eggplant parmigiana and was very disappointed. The eggplant was served lukewarm and did not taste fresh. I left La Morra a note before leaving describing my experience. To date I have not received a call (email) or an apology regarding my personal experience. I was referred there by a friend who also decided not to returned. read more

my husbands parents took us to la morra for a family gift exchange, and overall the food and service were very good. it's a cozy restaurant, and we got a table on the first floor near the bar. we didn't go upstairs, but i believe there is a much larger space on the second floor. one thing i will point out that i liked was that there is a 4 course prix fixe menu, but you can actually order any of the specials a la carte (some restaurants do not allow you to do this). this made my night, as i really was excited about the entree but did not want all 4 courses. before we ordered dinner i noticed that there was a large selection of wines, although only about a quarter were offered by the glass. this still allowed quite a few options to choose from, and both glasses of red wine and the one glass of white wine i had were flavorful and complementary. i did appreciate that when i ordered the second glass of red, the waitress misheard me and thought i was ordering a dessert wine. she quickly clarified, concerned that it would not be a good pairing if i had actually ordered the dessert wine that has a similar name. my mother in law got the la mora cocktail, and actually told me to write down the ingredients since she thought it was so good. we started out with the ciccheti, which are small bites. we got the arancini (2 golf ball sizes), 2 plates of tuscan meatballs (2 golf ball sizes each), pickled vegetables, 2 plates of fried olives, and a cheese plate. this was a lot of food for 5 of us, since 3 of us also got salads. the arancini was creamy, crispy, and filled with a bit of meat and a lot of cheese. the meatballs were very rich for my taste, and one bite completely sufficed (although others at the table really enjoyed them!). the pickled vegetables were excellent, and came with cauliflower, pepper, pearl onion, and brussels sprouts. the fried olives surprised me as they were literally battered, fried olives. i wasn't looking forward to trying them but was pleasantly surprised and my husband loved them. the cheese plate was delicious, with one variety that was somewhere between goat and brie, a gorgonzola, and a hard parmesan. it also came with a fig jelly, crackers, and apples. on top of all of this, i also had the special watermelon radish and carrot salad. it was exactly that, shaved. i liked it, but it was a lot of appetizer when paired with all of the plates we had ordered. i ordered the tuna special, and my husband got the swordfish. the tuna was thick-cut, and served rare with just a slight sear. perfectly cooked, and i liked the seasoning. the swordfish was also perfectly cooked; juicy without losing its texture. it was served over beets and a horseradish cabbage slaw that was an excellent complement. all of the food was delicious, and the prices are reasonable for such high-quality food. the service was well-paced, slow enough to allow us to really enjoy all of the courses and not be overwhelmed by all of the food. this would be a great place for a nice date, celebration, or family meal. read more

Really enjoyed our last experience here. The house ricotta with olive oil and black pepper should be a food group. Randomly ordered a $40 bottle of Italian red wine (the Zenato) and it was delicious. Bolognese was as good as the last time and has proven very reliable, if simple. The steak on the other hand, topped with a tomato relish and sliced and presented like a larger cut, was fantastic. Grilling over wood adds an incredible smoked flavor that isn't heavy like with BBQ, but totally makes the dish. Friends had the mushroom risotto and capellini with squash and cheese and both looked great and they said tasted very good. Almost forgot: small plates have some absolute gems...arancini are a MUST get. Finally, desert was the orange cardamom cake with the fig gelato and it was unique and perfectly executed. Even the homemade biscotti were special. Don't pass on dessert! read more

My wife and I received a gift certificate to this restaurant from friends and heard rave reviews. With reservations tough to get, we thought it was going to be great. We arrived on a Friday to find a terrible location with hardly any parking but with valet service. The place is very crowded and very loud with a useless bar crowding people around it and tables put everywhere in the downstairs portion. There is an upstairs but this night they had a party there so people were restricted to the downstairs. We were seated in the middle of the place by the door where people stood over your table and bumped into your legs and arms. The hostess/wait staff was very slow and the place was a bit disorganized. The menu is a bit of Italian and Meditteranean fare with a nice selection and a nice wine list. Prices are moderate but total bill was a bit out there for what we ordered. Service is very slow and like a rat race for a place this small. The food was just okay, appetizers were creative, the pasta was undercooked and crunchy enough to send it back to the kitchen. The main dishes are okay but by the time you get them, your ready to leave since the noise level and cramped space are irritating. They tred to make up for it by letting us try an appetizer and desserts on the house, but at that point we were ready to leave. With all the restaurants in Boston, this one is surprisingly crowded. We were glad the entire gift certificate was used up this visit because we wont return. Its not worth the effort, the hassle of parking and the lousy service when we can just go to the North End and find better quality food. Do yourself a favor, dont believe the hype and look in the South End or North End for a better spot. In no time this place will get a bad rap and probably close its doors like the many other Boston so called hot spots where the allure wears off. read more

Two of us ordered salads, while they tasted fine, they were easily two of the most over-dressed salads I've ever had, still feeling the effects of all that vinegar this morning. Tried the ricotta pasta with spring vegetables and ramp pesto, it was underseasoned and flat, needed acidity and the ramp element (one of my all-time favorite veg.) just did not come through. The Orecciette with sausage and cannellini beans was decent, and I like al dente pasta, but this was beyond al dente, needed another minute or so in the water, again, underseasoned. I had the brick cornish hen as an entree, which was moist, but had flabby skin (what's the point of brick chicken if you can't even get the skin crisp?) and lentils with kale and radicchio, which were nice components but didn't feel like anything complemented each other. Dessert, of the two I tried, the sorbet trio and raspberry crostada, were good, but too sweet IMO (yes it's a dessert, but I still think it can be too sweet) The goat cheese sorbet on the crostada was, however, excellent. Overall, fundamental things bothered me the most; over-dressed salads and under-cooked pastas, it just lacked that little extra care and technique I always look for in a restaurant. read more

Great and authentic Italian food. Not a lot of places in Boston where you feel a so authentic atmosphere. Service in also great.

i *am* a fan of la morra. i can't believe so many folks had so-so experienced there. i've been 5 or 6 times and whether i eat at the bar (which is lovely) or at a table (for a romantic dinner a deux) i've had excellent food, service, atmosphere.... never a bad time nor even a mediocre meal. i've recommended it to several friends who also enjoyed themselves. try the southern italian reds...umyum! read more

I probably would have given this place 4 stars (5 star food, 2 star prices- very expensive) but we went to enjoy our dinner for Restaurant Week and got an unpleasant surprise. Each of us had been eyeing the menu all week. With a quick look before we left home I knew I wanted the steak for dinner, however when we got to the restaurant the pre fix menu was completely different. I felt that was dissapointing and deceitful and it definitly scewed my impression of the place. With only 2 entre options on the pre fix (one including a dismal sounding 'Veggie Plate' ) we ordered straight off the regular menu and got half dishes b/c of the price ($22 for a full plate of pasta vs $12 for a half plate). Also this place is 2 stories with most seating upstairs, so if anyone in the group in handicapped it might be good to mention this when getting a reservation. PS parking is street parking or valet for $8. read more

La Morra offers a lovely space, responsive staff, and a menu with a range of choices to satisfy the tastes of many. The food is typically well-prepared and delicious. It's on the pricey side for a neighborhood restaurant and more appropriate for a special night out. In any case, you will want to return again and again read more

Enjoyed dinner at La Morra on Saturday night April 7. 8:15 reservation, we had a brief wait to be seated. The restaurant was full, after eating dinner it was easy to understand why. The food was outstanding. I had the pate appetizer, very good, large serving, not fatty at all. My main course was the Lamb Ragu. Excellent; hearty with enough spice to have a bite but not over powering, and large pieces of lamb. The staff was very helpful in the wine selection. The dinner took time to order and arrive, but it was worth every minute. Others have mentioned that if you are dinning with younger kids this may be a problem, If I was in a hurry I would eat fast food. I wanted real food and professional service and got it. I should mention the pasta is made in house and is great, I had a bite of my sister's and it was cooked perfectly. read more

Brady was right about the bolognese -- it was one of the best I've ever had. The service was great too. We started with the meatballs and rice balls for an app and those were great as wells. Drinks are potent. Service was great. Parking can be tough but we lucked out. My only "wish" is that the portions were bigger. read more

We recently held an important company dinner at La Morra. We couldn't have been happier with the service, the food, and especially the care put in by Stephanie, the manager, who went the extra mile to help us create the perfect environment for our event, and work with us on creating our menu, finding a musician for our event (Jose Allende), and customizing our table arrangements. The food was delicious, and beautifully presented, the servers were wonderful, and the restaurant itself is a little treasure, with lots of character, wooden beams and brick walls, and lovely lighting. We hired the whole top floor which worked perfectly for our party of about 30 people. read more

What a great restaurant. The staff is professional. The small appetizers called cicchetti were delicious. The sage leaves , salt cod, and meatballs were wonderful as was the pate. The whole fish was cooked perfectly as was the veal and lamb. The sorbets were not too sweet but full of flavor. We loved it. read more

This used to be my favorite restaurant, but I think that it has deteriorated somewhat since the owners moved out to Sherborn to start another venture. My adult daughter picked up a (pricey) takeout order of hanger steak for me and it was too smokey. Also one of the side dishes was missing. She said the wait staff seemed to be having a grand old time (when the cats' away...). Second, there are two kinds of wine pairings at La Morra. One where you have very little choice over what food you will eat and in between each course, you have to listen to a boring lecture by a wine salesman from Italy. Everything I was served was awful and I could not eat it. They put it in some cartons for me and then I forgot to take them home to my dog as they were under the restaurant table. We also had to share a table with about 5 strangers so the two people I was with really did not get much of a chance to talk to me or each other nor were we physically comfortable. I paid big bucks for a dinner I could not eat. The second kind of wine pairings allow you to skip the wine altogether and gives you a bit more standard food. Nor do you have to listen to a boring lecture about the wine you are about to drink. I have not gone back since the take out order fiasco and I probably won't since everything there is quite pricey and dishes are not worth what they were charging. read more

Look... let's be real. There are a ton of fantastic Italian restaurants in Brookline ... the best I've tasted in some time. I called at 9PM and merely asked if I could make a reservation... I was quickly informed that they were closing at 10:30 (not really what I asked). When we showed up at 9:15 we were reminded again that they close at 10:30. We should have left but we forged on. We were given a lackluster description of the specials followed by curt opinions of our waitresses recommendations. We ordered quickly - mindful of the closing time - yet they didn't hesitate to turn the lights up and clean around us. When the bill was paid most of the staff left with us as their clean up was completed as we ate. I travel extensively and typically would view a restaurant as an extension of my own dining room and this place couldn't have been more inhospitable. I'll choose better next time . read more

My fiance and I just tried it last night (for RW), and we both agreed we won't go back. The atmosphere is wonderful, it's cozy and adorable, but the food was just not fabulous. And for the price, it should be. I had the gorgonzola sformato for my appetizer, and it had a very nice flavor, but I wasn't crazy about the texture. (my fault- I didn't realize what a sformato was). Second dish was this penne in a porcini mushroom sauce, which my fiance thought was awesome, but I thought was a bit too salty. He would have loved a bigger portion, but being a four-course meal, of course it was on the small side. Our dinners- I had the pork with polenta and fig. The pork was awesome, but the polenta was overwhelmed with thyme. I like Thyme, but this kinda killed it for me. He had the brisket with sweet potaotes. The sweet potatoes had a great flavor, but I'm not the biggest fan of sweet potatoes being as thin and almost soupy as they were. The brisket was good, but that's about it. For dessert, we had the chocolate flourless cake, and it was average. Nothing spectacular. Really, the place was ok. My fiance loved the pasta, mentioned above, but nothing else was really awesome, and for 120 bucks, we had hoped for really fabulous flavors tingling in our mouths. read more

went here for dinner today for restaurant week- awesome! i had the arugula salad (great), the risotto (amazing), the hanger steak (steak was great but the spinach was mediocre. mashed potatoes were great), and the apple crisp (good, not great) dining date greens and reds, orecchiette (great), veggie plate (fabulous), and sorbet (great!) service was great too read more

This was my third time dining at La Mora (why I didn't write a review sooner I haven't a clue) BUT they continue to impress me...From my first visit and each after La Mora continues to impress me with each delicious bite. First off, the space is cozy (on two floors) but yet spacious enough to carry on a conversation without eavesdropping on your neighbor. The menu selection is ample, offering cichetti (small bites) to tempt the palate, or for those with a less than substantial appetite, as well as a tasting menu, as well as a variety of offerings on their regular menu. Their wine list offering something for all tastes and budgets. This time we started with cichetti--the meatballs (which reminded me of my Mom's to a tee!!) and the fried olives, both equally delicious and devoured instantaneously!. I had the cavatelli which that evening was served with a ramp pesto, along with peas, fiddlehead ferns, cherry tomatoes and green beans. The pesto was light but very flavorful and the homemade cavatelli were light, tender and absolutely delicious. This is one of my favorite local dining spots and can't wait to return read more

Went for restaurant week and had a lovely meal. Service was phenomenal from the moment we walked in. We ordered four courses each which was way more than my partner and I could stomach, but it was fun to eat a progression of dishes. The venue is a is a bit upscale in its service and food, but manages still to be easy and casual at the same time. My favorite dishes were the cavatelli pasta, the roasted beet salad, and the berry semifreddo for dessert. All in all a great classic Italian restaurant with nicely prepared dishes. read more

This was the very best Italian food I've ever had! Starting with the fresh bread, the stuffed olives, braised beef appetizer and delicious main course! I'm vegetarian and my daughter is not and we both had amazing dishes! The wait staff is pleasant, courteous and efficient. Overall, an A+!! read more

We went to La Morra with high expectations. We had reservations for 9:15pm and arrived early to see if we could be seated early or have a drink. The hostess briskly asked us to wait upstairs in the "waiting area" and she would come and take our drink order. The area was already taken by another party, so we stood and she never came to take our drink order. Finally, we were seated at 9:30pm. The service was OK, the appetizers arrived and left on the table without any appetizer plates, so we used our bread plates. The fried Sage was greasy and tasteless. When the second course arrived, the dirty plates were not removed. As other patrons finished and left the room, the service got worse. Our main course arrived and my shrimp scampi was the small bay shrimp, not normal size shrimp. Maybe our bar was too high, as we just returned from 2 weeks in northern Italy. Between the poor service and disappointing meal, I'm not sure I would return. Many of our friends love this restaurant but our experience was less than ideal. All the raves about the service must be only between 6:00-8:00pm, if you go early or late, don't expect the same care. read more

this review is from their Valentine's Day prix-fixe dinner, so this is far from a usual night. granted it's my own fault for going out to dinner that night and making my boyfriend spend a ridiculous amounf of money ($300+). anyway, the foie gras I had for an appetizer was AMAZING. best I'd ever had. that's the only thing I actually remember eating that night. my entree and dessert were just so-so. my boyfriend strongly disliked his whole meal, and ended up getting somewhat sick later on from the food. overall it was fine, but I guess I was just expecting everything to be amazing from what I had heard. strange mix of people there too, definitely an older crowd... read more

We had lovely meal here with a large group over a busy holiday weekend. Service was very gracious and efficient with a large party. The bolognese and fettucelle were as delicious as promised and crispy potatoes (contorni) was a surprising standout. A few of the secondi (braised beef, skate, duck) were a bit salty but otherwise tasty. Our waiter was terrific and generously replaced a bottle of wine we didn't love with a great recommendation we enjoyed much more. There's a very small valet lot out front, but we were able to find street parking close by (but no guarantees). read more

What a gem! The food is packed with flavor. Great presentation on the plates. Cozy atmosphere. Seemed like a popular place to eat. Service was excellent. I'll be going back for sure!! read more

Went here for Restaurant Week and was very impressed. The food was delicious (plus you get 4 courses instead of 3 like you get most everywhere else), the service was very good, and the atmosphere was very romantic and cozy. I will definitely be back! read more

We have been to La Morra more often than any other restaurant in Boston. We like the service and the value, but recently the food has taken a bit of a plunge. So for now this restaurant with its lovely hostess and fine service is off our list. read more

Went recently on a weeknight and ordered from the Prezzo Fisso menu which included 4 courses. Our server Jonathan was spot on- professional yet friendly and provided great service. We did not feel rushed which is nice when being served multiple courses. We both started wth the salad with buttermilk vinaigrette. Second courses were the squash risotto and the gemellli pasta with I believe a kale pesto, both were served hot and were delicious. Forgot to mention the olive oil with homemade ricotta served with bread-nice change from butter or olive oil. Swordfish with lentils and pork tenderloin with a delicious cheesy polenta were our mains. Chocolate torte and really nice olive oil cake with lemon creme to finish. Will return! read more

Such a wonderful place. Staff was very pleasant. cocktails, wine, tapas, entrees, everything so delicious! Cannot wait to return. The strawberry appetizers were unexpectedly amazing. Many dishes ordered, none of them disappointed! read more

Fantastic Itialian restaurant! The bolognese is amazing! The best I've ever had. Service was first class, beautiful building. Will def go back again, next time I'm in Boston. read more

Our party messed up the night we needed to make a reservation for 30 people. So we came in on a different night without them expecting it. Even though they were busy, they went out of their way to accommodate us and make our dining experience excellent. The food was top notch. I want to give this restaurant and the hostess and waiters my strongest recommendation!! read more

La Morra has been our special occasion spot for a few years now. The food is phenomenal. The hanger steak is always cooked to perfection. The pureed collie flower is scrumptious and light. We have also attended one of there week night wine dinners which was a ton of fun and worth every penny. I believe on our third visit we mentioned to our waitress that La Morra was our special occasion spot and she had them put that somewhere in their system. Now, most times when we come in we get asked what we are celebrating and often get a little special something during the meal. The restaurant is definitely in a random spot but worth a try! read more

We checked this out on Yelp and found so many great reviews -- we were expecting a fantastic meal. Unfortunately, I disagree with these stellar reviews. The food was just OK, and the service was inattentive. The place was crowded, so people must like it, but I just don't get it. I'd give it a 2.5 if I could, but I'll give it a 3 because the food was unique (e.g., rabbit, spicy flavor in the sauteed spinach, liberal use of radishes). read more

This is probably the most authentic Italiian food I've had in the Boston area. Everything I've tried has been superb. The homemade ricotta is amazing! read more

Off the beaten path homey and unpretentious. Excellent food. Terrific service.

My wife and I spent 8 years living in Florence, Italy (her home town) and we tend to be tough to please when it comes to Italian restaurants. La Morra delivers. The food reminded us of dishes we loved in Italy along with a full range wine list. The service was very good and we found the ambiance inviting. read more

Good was 4 stars, service was 1 star. We arrived for our reservation and they weren't ready for us (no problem. That happens) the young guy running the host stand seemed to be confused with what he should do with us. He eventually figured out he should have us sit at the bar. The bartender made us great drinks but then had us close our tab with him before going to the dining room. Of course I want to make sure he gets his tip...but at a restaurant like this, it came off as tacky. Once we were upstairs our waiter told us he'd bring us water, and forgot....then forgot to bring us bread....then forgot to bring us our second round of drinks. The meatballs were great, Bolognese was also fantastic but considering the parking and the service, it wasn't worth it. By then end of the dinner the waiter asked if we wanted any dessert, we declined as we were already running a bit late for the babysitter. To his credit he did acknowledge it was my wife's birthday and offered us complimentary biscotti....then forgot that they had run out. He then forgot to pick up our credit card for about 15 minutes. Was really hoping for a special night after hearing such great things but they really disappointed. read more

Some friends recommended this restaurant and six of us went there for dinner to celebrate a birthday. We brought a small cake and were told that if we wanted to have the cake we would have to pay $6 per person. The staff was not very friendly and we chose to leave. I wonder if the fact that we were all Black and Hispanic had anything to do with it. Maybe they were worried that if they made an exception, next time we would show up with our own appetizers. read more

We love La Morra - go as often as we can. Flavor is king here. The menu is creative, the food authentic Italian, sophisticated without being fussy. On our last visit one of us had the Tortino di porre e proscuitto to start. It was fabulous, as was the savoy cabbage salad flavored with red wine vinaigrette and a touch of bagna cauda. The beef short ribs and buccatini with mussels were beyond compare. The staff are very helpful and accommodating. The level of excellence exhibited in every aspect of the restaurant is admirable. La Morra is definitely one of the best restaurants in Boston. read more