Via Matta

This was a really disappointing evening. We went out with friends whom we were treating for yummy dinner at a restaurant we'd liked before. NOT tonight! The hostesses just standing there at the front door were so full of attitude. We were seated at the WORST table despite having advance and confirmed reservations. When asked about switching tables, there were SEVERAL empty tables, we were told it was impossible. This was very disappointing evening. Even if the food had been AMAZING, and the service outstanding, our experience was spoiled. The food, by the way, was NOT amazing and the service was FAR FROM outstanding. There was NO visible management presence or something may have been done to make the disappointment less hard to swallow. The restaurant is just not too ordinary to rest on a no longer valid reputation of cool and chic with good food: NONE of this applies. Our waiter was 23: what does he know about food or wine. He is just serving what is ordered; he made no recommendations or suggestions. Over-priced and UNDER-whelming. Stay away; there are many better places to be treated unkindly and unprofessionally. Michael Schlow should be ASHAMED. more

Since I can remember being out and about on the Boston area restaurant scene, which is maybe ten years now, I've never had a bad meal at Via Matta. Each new menu they come up with is better than another. I miss the chef's table in the kitchen but the main dining room is really where it's at anyway. Try any of their home made pasta entrees and the drinks are always top shelf. I put this on my top ten for new and old friends visiting Boston. more

Simply elegant, chic Italian inspired food and people make this place a favorite! Homemade pasta and friendly service, great location... Wines are nicely priced and all around great experience! Pros: Quality and Creativity more

The ideal restaurant for those who enjoy waiters in blue jeans & sneakers serving them mid-$40 entrees. For diners who haven't travelled to Italy, this will seem like a great restaurant. The chef relies on heavy doses of herbs and salt to spice up dishes created from mundane ingredients -- certainly an appeal to his regular clientele. They make sure you know how they feel about your dining in their restaurant. Pros: Coat check, attempts at style Cons: forgetful waiters, on a par with the average restaurants in Boston, more

This is the restaurant me and my boyfriend go to every time we want to have a special meal. We never go to the North End anymore because Via Matta is the best. The pastas there are absolutely amazing with much more diverse and innovative choices than ones in north end or anywhere else in Boston. Spicy lobster pasta is my favorite! The spicy calamari appetizer is also amazing. We have been there 5 or 6 times and it's been amazing every time. Also do not leave without trying their desserts, mind blowing!!! Pros: Amazing pastas, great desserts, very professional staff Cons: noisy sometimes, crowded during special occasions (Valentine's Day) more

Amazing restaurant! From the valet person outside, to the front desk, to the server, to the busperson, I felt like a princess or a superstar!!! Get a VIP treatment even if you?re a regular person like me!! The raw tuna appetizer was delish, and the chicken under a brick was to die for! My drinks came long after we order, but other than that it was a great experience. I definitely recommend it for special occasions. more

I have been to Via Matta twice (the second time reluctantly), and have had very negative experiences. In my first visit, we were seated after 45 minutes despite having a reservation. When seated, the waitress recommended the most expensive wine and meal on the menu to my son's friend. Before our meals came (took roughly 45-50 minutes), the waitress brought out olive oil in unnecessary quantities. It turned out later that the olive oil was part of the bill. Never before have I gone to a restaurant that gauges money so perversely as Via Matta. The second time I visited, the waiter spilt an entire glass of wine on my suit, and all the manager could offer was a clean shirt. I believe the appropriate, polite response to such an occasion would be to offer the meal on the house. Instead, I was offered a simple button down shirt, no compensation for my suit, and feeling like a victim rather than like a customer, I left before the main courses arrived. Pros: Leaving Cons: The (lack of) service and manners more

I've found very few restaurants that seem to have everything in order... the food, service and ambiance. Via Matta has it all. My husband and I have a great experience each time we go: the food is delectable, the service is incredibly professional, and the environment is pleasant. We like everything so much that we've made dinner here a weekly tradition. The waitstaff seem to have recognized this and greet us warmly, sometimes even remembering the dishes we like to order. I'd recommend the Burrata appetizer, it's light and very fresh. My husband swears by the bolognese pasta. Definitely make a trip here if you enjoy fresh food and friendly service. Pros: Everything Cons: Nothing more

Better than the North End. Crispy Eggplant, fresh ricotta, great seasonal menus! Great for outdoor dining or.. more

Better than the North End. Crispy Eggplant, fresh ricotta, great seasonal menus! Great for outdoor dining or a romantic table inside. ... more

I've eaten here twice and found the food to be OK, the wine list to be good, and the service to be somewhat lacking. Considering that the prices are sky high the service should be commensurate, but it's definitely not. A noisy restaurant with an abrupt staff. I won't eat there again. Pros: Good wine list Cons: Pricy with poor service more

I recently took my girlfriend out for her birthday. She loves Italian, so I asked around the office for some great spots in the city (I don't go out often) and the majority of the office suggested Via Matta. I had no trouble making the reservation, even on a busy weekend. I told the girl on the phone that it was a special occasion, and she told me that they would make sure the night was special. They went above and beyond! We checked in for our reservation, and the people at the door greated us with a smile, and wish my girlfriend a big happy birthday. Then, we went to our table, a really nice spot by the window, and the table was decorated with confetti and the server greeted us with complimentary champagne. We had the best dinner, but the best part was the dessert with a personalized ""Happy Birthday"" message with her name, and a birthday card signed by the entire staff. I highly recomend this restaurant for special occasions like birthdays, and I'm looking forward to going back to have some drinks at their bar with my friends (which was packed all night). Pros: Service, celebration, food Cons: I couldnt stay longer! more

The noise level makes conversation impossible. Reservation requests are not respected. The server got furious when we did not order bottled water and more so when we asked to split a pasta as a first course. The chicken was so salty it was inedible and then she slapped the bill on the table as soon as she served dessert. The costs are sky high but the rest is down and dirty. Pros: great outside Cons: poor service, poor food more

Went for dinner the other day. Seated at great window table. Started with pappardelle with wild mushrooms. My friend and I could not decide on what to order as both the chicken milanese and the shellfish stew looked appealing. We figured we would just share. The waiter took it upon himself to split both meals so we each got an individual plate of both..... great idea and great presentation. Panna cotta for dessert was fantastic. all in all one of the best dining experiences in a while Pros: food, service more

my fav restaurant in boston- trendy, cool, hip, waiter was attentive. ambience is great. have been to almost every high end restaurant in boston and this one takes the cake... or the panna cotta which was amazing :) Pros: service, food, ambience Cons: no parking, a bit loud dining more

Nice to finally have an Italian restaurant that isn't in the North End and one that offers a broader range of regional cuisine. Very dynamic ambience. Would like to see more ""traditional dishes"" on the menu and more variation but overall, have to say this is one of the better Italian restaurants in Boston. Great wine list. Pros: food, service, wine list more

The ambiance was elegant and some of the dishes were good, although 2 items were below basic dining standards. First the special olive oil infused with various spices had no taste. The regular olive oil (extra virgin with heavy olive taste) was a great substitute and married well with the bread. Secondly I ordered the Mediterranean grilled whole fish which was a special. When I smelled my fish being served, it had a strong, obvious fishy odor. The server said it was how the fish should smell. I later smelled the same fishiness of another fish served to another table. Im surprised that the talented chefs would allow such fishy dishes to leave the kitchen. I returned my fish and replaced it with the Cacciucco of East Coast Shellfish (similar to the bouillabaisse) which was excellent with intense seafood and rosemary flavors. My wait staff was polite and understanding. Pros: ambience Cons: fishy fish more

The quality is generally very good, although some of the items of the menu are a little simple, maybe Americanized (like the pollo al mattone). But one of the best in terms of authentic Italian food. more

The food was to die for!! The service was outstanding I went with a couple of my girlfriends we had a couple drinks at the bar since we were early for our reservation and the drink menu was great the bartnenders were the best they made wonderful drinks and were very attentive. I would go back for sure. Two thumbs up!! Valet service was also fantastic! Pros: Great Food & drinks, Service more

What an awesome first time! My girlfriend and I wanted a place special and fun, and everyone at Via Matta made our anniversary perfect. We had a drink at the bar and the bartender was so nice. That Basil Gimlet--amazing. We heard about the eggplant and the bolognese and both were spectacular; perfectly seasoned. Service was sharp and unobtrusive. Desserts--chocolate crostata and panna cotta were so decadent. They didn't rush us to leave and kept filling our water. We will definitely be back and bring friends!!! Pros: valet, fun, great service more