I had higher hopes for this place. Interesting menu and wine list. Great patio in the back and nice set up inside. The food lacked a bit. We tried several dishes; and though they were presented well and sounded good, most of it proved to be uninspired - bland and weird consistency. Risotto wasn't creamy, but rather like runny butter...yet the rice was a bit undercooked. The service needs a big pep talk. It was super slow; and they brought out the wrong food twice. I'll give it to them for the drinks, though. Yum! read more

Elegant, creative and comforting! Tough to find that all in one spot but SRV delivers. The cocktails are equally elegant and comforting. Everyone I've brought to this spot has loved it as much as I have. One of three best new restaurants in Boston. read more

Sensational!! What a wonderful addition to Boston. I have been to Venice and partook in a giro d'ombra (essentially a pub crawl for wine and cicchetti), and can verify that the cicchetti at SRV are both authentic and delicious.I particularly enjoyed the olive fritte. The carne cruda was somewhat disappointing; I would say I am fairly well versed in this area and this did not stand out by any means. I also thought the tortelli was nothing special. That being said, despite small portions, the pastas were very well put together, with good flavour and al dente pasta. Favourites on the night included the aforementioned olive fritte, the bucatini and the suca baruca. Furthermore, the atmosphere and vibes are great: a darker mood setting with loud conversation and excitement. The staff appeasing (we got our cicchetti for free because we waited for two hours for our table) and very kind, and offered appropriate and intelligent answers on food. Highly recommend. read more

If you are looking for expertly crafted Italian this is not the place. Go to Giulia in Cambridge instead. Meatballs, fried mozzarella, fried olives are all excellent small bites. But then again this is merely comfort food; not fine dining. The pastas are well made. The duck ragout was with a beautiful handcrafted pasta but the ragout was oddly reminiscent of Campbell's chicken noodle soup concentrate. Although the black truffle sweet potato pasta was tasty the sweet potato overpowered the truffle. The tiramisu was actually offensive. Literally so sour we worried it was spoiled. We asked the waiter about it and he said it was meant to be like that because they added a fresh cows milk fromage to give it an authentic tartness like what is used in Italy. However I have had tiramisu in Venice and this ain't it! read more

We had a wonderful first visit to SRV last night - I say first visit because I hope there will be many more! The restaurant feels open and spacious, I love the decor, and it had a really fun atmosphere. However, it also wasn't overly loud - we loved all the exposed brick, but there were enough soft furnishings to mean you could hear your conversation! They do a selection of cicchetti (small bites), plus small plates, pastas and risotto. We started with a selection of cicchetti - mozzarella in carrozza, polpette, baby octopus, quail egg, and beef tendons, all of which we would order again in a heartbeat. Delicious. We were going to each order a pasta next, but were advised we might need a smaller plate as well, so we got the skate wing to share. I'm glad we tried it because it was phenomenal, but in hindsight I don't think we needed that and two pasta dishes. We also had the shrimp pasta and the foraged mushroom pasta. Both were great - the shrimp had the edge for me. The mushroom pasta was good, but lacked a certain something, I can't quite put my finger on what it was. That's nit picking, though, because it was a great meal overall. Service was great, and we had a really nice corner booth table looking out over the whole restaurant, which was pretty special. A great addition to the neighbourhood, and we're looking forward to going back. read more

Awesome new southend restaurant beautiful layout great drinks also the mushroom pasta out of this world and very friendly outgoing service will definitely be back .. read more

Amazing dining experience traditional Italian regional Italian from Venice. Tracy and David behind the bar ridiculous

What a neat place. Various sized dishes you can share if you'd like. Each was excellent. The Sangiovese we picked matched everything well. Accolades to SRV and their chef for their attention to what they serve. For us that's half the job. The other is service. Our waiter, Steve, timed everything perfectly and SRV adds people for much of the important details such as water, clean up, etc. Each of those people very pleasant. There were no shortfalls. Next time we go we will ask for a table in the open patio at the back of the restaurant. read more

One of the best meals I've ever had! Every dish was so delicate in texture and carefully flavored. Dishes are on the smaller side, but not inappropriately so; it is so much better to leave an Italian restaurant having had a beautiful meal and feeling perfectly satiated. The ambiance was very cool, drinks were great, and the front-of-house was really on top of its game. Will definitely go back again. read more

We come here WAY too often, though we've yet to sit anywhere besides the bar. The bartenders are all absolutely wonderful, the cocktails are expertly crafted, and you can tell how much effort is put into each one. We've never had a bad experience here and will definitely have to come back to sit down at a table to eat dinner. But for bar snacks, I definitely recommend the meatballs and they have an amazing chopped salad as well. read more

The food lives up to the hype. Service was good and the pasta was amazing. Cocktails could use some work. Definitely going back. Outdoor seating in the back. read more

Upon arriving to the restaurant we were informed there would be a 45 minute wait to sit in the dining room so we opted to sit at the bar. We were warmly greeted and had the menu explained to us as it seemed a little confusing. Every item we tried was absolutely incredible from the cicchetti to the piatti to the grani. Our bartender Kirsten was phenomenal , beyond hospitable and had excellent knowledge regarding the menu. She guided us through one of the best dining experiences I've ever had! I highly recommend giving this establishment a try. My personal favorites were the duck liver mousse(so hesitant to try as I'm very picky but it was amazing!) the polpette and the clam risotto! To finish our meal off we had the tiramisu and sampled all the interesting yet delectable gelatos. Once again try this place out, sit at the bar and ask for Kirsten she is by far one of the best bartenders I have ever had! read more

Exceptional food! We were a group of 8 and tried chef's Arsenale tasting menu. It was basically 8 course of amazing food for $45! Definitely recommend this place. read more

The restaurant is beautifully decorated. The food was presented elegantly but the portion was super small. It is a place you don't need to concern about over eating. If you are hungry, I suggest you eat before going there. Otherwise you will leave feeling hungry. read more

Three stars because of great service (I've been there once) and the wine list is more unique than most. In terms of actual food, however, it is definitely not the best IMO. Portions are quite small (I'm 100 pounds and needed the three slices of bread after to feel full...but then again I eat a lot, I guess). And the taste was just decent, not bad, but not the greatest either. Simply didn't stand out to me and urge me to go back. I would probably still stick with the Northend next time... read more

The food here was creative, well-balanced, and beautifully prepared. That's why it is so disappointing that the service I had here was absolutely insulting. I want to believe that this is an isolated incident considering the other glowing reviews, and I truly think it was just my server. The hostesses were lovely and kind and sat us immediately. We were given our menus and then we did not see our server for at least 15 minutes. He came back to our table and asked what we wanted to eat, and did not ever bother to ask if we wanted drinks at all. My friend had to remind him. He asked for our IDs, something he did not do for any other table, which is fine, but he looked at mine skeptically, which was the first sign of his rudeness. I'm 23, have a 401K and a masters degree, I can have a glass of wine. Thanks. The timing of which our food came out was splendid. We had the meatballs, the scallop crudo, the wagyu tartare, and the squash dish, which were absolutely delicious. We received our pasta dishes (sweet potato ravioli, clam risotto) which were executed perfectly. The kitchen really knows what they're doing. We were clearly finished with dinner for over 20 minutes, and while maybe three people came to fill our waters, we did not see our server for at least 30 minutes. Nobody asked if we wanted more wine until we were done with our food, and nobody came to clear our plates until a half hour later. A manager or shift lead had to stop by our table and clear our dishes for us. At this point we had another server ask if we wanted dessert, which of course we did. Still no sign of our first server at our table, though he continued to serve other tables very attentively. Our second server, who was very kind, served our desserts which were a great way to end the meal. We had just received our dessert and we finally see our server again, but this time, he drops the check on our table without uttering a word! Never in my life have I experienced such a rude gesture at a restaurant where I'm spending this much money. How dare he drop the check on our table before we're done with our meal? We were going to order more drinks, but too bad we wanted so desperately to get out of this place. Unbelievable. I left a note with my feedback in the little book they give you with the check to write of this horrific experience with this server. He probably ripped it out. I can't begin to imagine what anger or annoyance this server had with us. I was just celebrating my friend's birthday and treating her to a nice dinner. We weren't being loud or obnoxious, and we both appreciate really good food and knew what we were talking about. We didn't bother him with questions or ridiculous requests. My only guess is that he truly hates women? Who knows. This guy is lucky I don't remember his name. I would say he's the bearded one but there are several of those. He was a white man with a beard and clearly a lot of unrecognized privilege. I won't be returning here because of this. There are plenty of delicious Italian restaurants in Boston, and SRV needs to recognize that people come back to restaurants because of the service. read more

Duck liver mouse tart was amazing -- all the other dishes I tried ranged from very good to just good.

SRV has been on our list to try for a while, and we finally went last night. They use fresh, seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes regularly. I have to say that I was disappointed at first since something I was eyeing on here was no longer on the menu, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. They were able to accommodate several dishes to be vegetarian and mushroom free (since I'm allergic). The peach ricotta crostini with thyme was delicious- the cheese was so smooth. My husband got the meatballs which he thought were good, and he really liked the clams in a flavorful broth. We shared the Farinata, a chickpea pancake which was yummy and unique. For a main he got the Strozzapreti with pork sausage, which he loved. The pasta robiola was phenomenal. This was a creamy goat cheese filled ravioli that was simple but delicious. With a rotating menu, you know you're not stuck with the same options. Next time we'll have to try dessert! read more

We've lived downtown for 10 years and I'd say this was the best meal we've ever had. Wasn't a single thing we ordered that was anything less than excellent, service (Dan Ehrlich!) was superb and friendly. Kind of place where you want to talk to your neighbors because everyone is having a great time. 6 stars. read more

Just went back for my second visit - loved it the first time - and wow did SRV go down hill fast. Was there for business dinner, and service and food were both incredibly inconsistent throughout the night -- so much so that I had to (1) physically walk around the restaurant looking for my server twice, (2) gave up on pasta course after waiting 40 minutes since our last small plates. Not good when you are trying to impress folks. In the end they comp'd some desserts. 50/50 to return. Too bad, really thought SRV had legs. read more

Great restaurant. I loved the ambiance and quality of the food. I was less happy with the cocktail list but all the rest was flawless. The fried olives were to die for. The service was fabulous. I will be back. read more

I live in the north end (Boston's little Italy) and this place is worth the trip outside of the neighborhood for great food!

The tasting menu is the way to go, everything was just fantastic. The staff are super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this place.

Writing this review from a vegetarian perspective. Food options were both limited and very underwhelming. Food wasn't particularly creative and most of the items were bland and fell flat. However great ambience and pretty good service. Would avoid if vegetarian. read more

Truly an unbelievable restaurant. My go-to spot for Italian. On your first trip, I highly recommend ordering the entire cicchetti menu. These are relatively inexpensive 2-6 bite apps (if you only want a few, I recommend the pulpetta and salt cod). The wine is great and the servers fantastic, so let them be your spirit guide. The white truffle risotto is not to be missed if it's in season. Also, the manager, Ted, is always helpful. read more

Hooooly crap this place is amazing. The food is stellar, especially the cicchetti, and the ambiance is lovely. We always come on special occasions, get way too much food, spend way too much money, eat it all, and regret nothing. I *dream* about their olive fritters, their honey cibatta, their rich and delicate sauces...basically, order anything and be prepared to be delighted. Or get the tasting menu (an extremely reasonable $45) and have an experience tailored to your tastes with some innovations thrown in. read more

Best new restaurant in Boston for a long time. We had white asparagus, soft shell crab, rabbit, and truffle pasta. All outstanding. All glass front and back let in a lot of natural light for an early dinner time--very nice. Waiter was excellent. Looking forward to a return visit. read more

No idea what the positive reviews are about. Our server was pretentious, the barn-door/uncovered brick decor has nothing to do with the South End (or Italy), they play loud (and not especially good) cocktail music on a Sunday evening, and the food (which is what matters most) is, well, not good. As larger dishes we had the clam risotto and the pasta with shrimp. The risotto was not light and creamy the way risotto should be, but oily and full of unabsorbed liquid (like an arroz caldoso that wasn't fully cooked). The shrimp were very fishy -- tasted like they were a week old, the sauce was flavorless (and as with the risotto, there was way too much liquid), and there were a couple of noodles floating in it. They serve the shrimp with the heads on, yet no bowl for the heads. And two hunks of dry bread at a time with roasted beets (no bread needed) or alone with no oil. Nothing tasted, well, good. I spend a fair amount of time in Europe -- this place is clueless (it ain't putting out the gnocci with fresh tomatoes I ate in Rome). Might be somewhere I'd feel "fancy" having a drink with friends as a 21 year old, but as an adult, just another restaurant in the South End that's overdesigned and puts out bad food. read more

Very good restaurant! The people here are very nice and responsible, especially the restaurant owner. I am not big fan of cheese but I have to say they serve very good Italian food here! The owner even told me they can serve no cheese Italian food here for my special taste. They are honest to customers and they care for us. We can feel the dedication to great food and perfect service. As a foodie, I highly recommend this place! read more

I'm not very good at writing reviews but I felt the need to do this after eating at SRV. This was our first trip to Boston and a friend of mine told me that we should go try out SRV - that we would not be disappointed. Well from the time Steven came to take our drink order to the last bite of the Gelato and Tiramisu we were treated like we were the only people in the restaurant. For the four of us we had Salumi Misti, Baccla Mantecato (my favorite), Nervetti Fritti & the Plopette for starters. These were all very tasty dishes to nibble on with our 1st bottle of Chanti. After good quiet conversation 2 of us ordered the Spaghetti (alla Busara shrimp), 1 Smoked Sea Trout and 1 Vongole alla Pescatora. All of these dishes were exceptional! The atmosphere and ambience was so warm and comfortable we could have stayed for hours... If we ever get a chance to travel back to Massachusetts we will defiantly go back to SRV and try the Risotto, there were several choices on the menu and my only regret was that we didn't order any. Our server Steven was fun and very attentive and it was very sweet of Mike Lombardi to come over to our table to say hello. I wish everyone at SRV a very prosperous year~ read more

Great, flavorsome Italian food. Tasty pork shoulder starter; delicious spicy lamb sausage pasta main. Outside patio area at the back which was perfect for a balmy summer's evening. read more

Amazing food unfortunately with terrible service. Our waiter was either too busy or too disinterested to give us great service. We had to ask to have the dishes cleared when our next course was served because our waiter disappeared. Our wine order was taken well after our first course was served when we should have already received wine. Very disappointing as it overshadowed the delicious food coming out of the kitchen and what should have been an enjoyable birthday dinner. read more

I loved the ambiance and vibe. My daughter lives In South end so we wanted to restaurant we could walk to. We had a very positive attitude going in however I was very disappointed. I understand small plates however these were ridiculously small. I felt like everything was over salted so you couldn't taste the food. Overall I would give the food a two and the vibe a 4. The service was just very average almost poor. So bummed. read more

I've lived in Boston for 5 years, and this place is the best I've been to (hands down). Came here for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend; we went with the chef's tasting menu for $45 each. There were 10 plates that came out. All were delicious (especially the meatball, ricotta, mozzarella, octopus, and arugula plates); the only one we wouldn't get again is the pork shoulder. The ambiance of the restaurant was also beautiful, and gave off a trendy NYC loft vibe. If you want authentic and delicious Italian food, forget the North End! Come here instead. We'll definitely be back. read more

Came there for a small birthday celebration. We got a chef's menu, which was just amazing! Small bites, but every one so good! We didn't feel overstuffed, just full enough. Really really nice place. read more

I went here on my last night in Boston, and it was a fantastic decision. The food was fantastic. My recommendations are the baccala mantecato and the bauletti. The baccala is very popular and for good reason. The lemongrass isn't overpowering and the cod is just the right texture. The bauletti was my favorite dish by far. The cheese they stuff the bauletti with (which by the way the bauletti is milled and made in house) is melt in your mouth good and the taste isn't too tangy or strong. The prosciutto just adds a bonus flavor to the pasta dish. read more

One of the best dining experiences in Boston - incredible food, great atmosphere, helpful staff, and of course good cocktails.

Food was great, service impeccable. A friend recommended this place and we are glad she did.

Fantastic. The food was absolutely delicious, the service excellent and the atmosphere beautiful. My husband and I ate here for the first time on Marathon Monday - a very busy evening for Boston restaurants. We were beyond thrilled with the experience. We had a our 9 and 12-year-old children with us. There is no kids menu, and we wanted them to experience the more adult flavors that this restaurant offers, but also wanted them to be happy and full. The chef happily prepared spaghetti and meatballs for our son and pasta with butter sauce for our daughter (both of which were delicious). We will definitely be back, as this is one of the best meals we've had in Boston. read more

Really great service, waiters knowledgeable about the menu and very helpful for first timers. All the dishes were unique and so, so good. Would definitely recommend!! read more