Spazio

Ew. Was there to meet some girlfriends. I arrived early. I was hit on incessantly by a 6’7″ string bean macho dude «Joe» who wouldn’t take the hint and wouldn’t shut up about what an important business guy he was. Wouldn’t have been a big deal except that the bartender and waitstaff seemed to encourage his gross behavior and chastised me for refusing his advances. Guess he’s a regular there and the staff serves as his pimp. We ate and left quickly. He was still waiting, hoping I changed my mind or could sacrifice one of my friends. Yuck. And the food was mediocre to boot!

We ate here on the recommendation of a friend and we weren’t disappointed. It sits inside a strip mall and you’d never know what a treat you’ve found unless you go inside!
You can sit either on the pub side or restaurant side. We asked to be seated in the bar section and had a great table right next to the brick pizza oven. Since it was Friday night, our pizza night, it turned out perfect as we watched the chef come out and throw our pizza crust right next to us and then place it in the oven.
We also had a Caesar salad, which was delicious and a perfect size to share.
They had a number of entrees that sounded delicious including a swordfish special.
They immediately brought a dish of hummus /​olive oil with delicious bread to the table when we were seated.
The service was great. The place was clean, including the restroom.
We will definitely go back again.

Tucked in the corner of a small plaza, Spazio wouldn’t be a place that you just happened to come across. Originally two storefronts, the layout is awkward with two entrances leading immediately to a bar area that split the dining room in half. Apart from the layout, Spazio also falls short of the romantic dining experience it seemed to be going for.
We were sat on the left side and the hostess quickly brought over a basket of two day old bread and a delicious hummus spread. The server, despite walking by ⁴⁄₅ times, failed to acknowledge us (there were ⁴⁄₅ tables sat between 2 servers). No draft beers though there was a variety of bottled beer and wine options. Our table opted for the chicken marsala, chicken under a brick, and sausage and eggplant pasta. I was a bit surprised when told that the chicken would take 25 minutes, but was pleasantly surprised by its juiciness and flavor. Everything was piping hot and my dinner mates were equally as satisfied with their entrees.
I found the prices to be a bit on the high end for a strip mall restaurant with Spazio’s type of décor and feel. The quality of the food may lead me back, that is if I can get over the rather uncomfortable feel of the dining area. Perhaps takeout is the way to go?

This place has great atmosphere and nice set up. We ordered chicken on brick and sword fish which is special for the day. The chicken is a little dry and plain but the fish is more plain. Overall, the food is just fine, not that special. The portion quite big!

Waited 1.5 hours to be seated after being told it would be 15 minutes. Hostess is unqualified. After being seated left 15 minutes later when server didn’t come and take order.

Went there recently. Was surprised that there was a wait on a Tuesday night. Staff has been excellent on my previous trips there and did not disappoint despite being «in the weeds».
Overall the food was a little off this night. I tried the pork tenderloin, which was not very tender. I almost asked for a steak knife just to cut it. It also should have been scored on the top to let the meat absorb more of the seasoning (which was tasty). The «grilled vegetables» that came with it were a mixed bag. The zucchini was delicious and perfectly seasoned. But for some reason the other part of the veggie combo was a spiral cut section of red onion that did not make sense. For such a small menu, I expected a little more in the execution department.
The tiramisu dessert was bland and uninspiring.
The total dining experience was OK. But there are much better local options, especially for the price.

My dish was pretty good, my boyfriend’s was absolutely horrible. He got stuffed chicken which was teaming with inedible amounts of spices– thyme & fennel (?) This was our second trip here, the first time I believe, was in March and we had a great experience. I’b be willing to give it another try if I was in the area but wouldn’t make a special trip here.
Nice atmosphere.

Service was great and food was delicious. We got the chicken on a brick, chicken marsala, and one of their specials lobster risotto with scallops. Calamari was hot and crunchy but wished there was more flavor and bigger portions, we had to salt and squeeze every drop of the lemon. The special entrée portion was very small compared to the other entrees. Their breadsticks served with the hummus/​olive oil is good. We used a Groupon but will definitely come back to try the pork tenderloin that other reviewers have raved about.

We went tonight because my wife had bought a groupon deal. We didn’t realize it wasn’t valid for holidays but they let us use it anyway. We had the fried calamari and they were very good. Tender, not at all greasy, possibly in need of a bit more seasoning but to each his own. My wife had a chicken and artichoke pasta dish and loved it. I had veal parm and loved it. We had dessert, too, to make sure we hit the $ 50 groupon threshold. This was my first time there and I will definitely be going back. 2 pretty good sized cutlets cooked just right — crispy but not dried out. Our waitress was very nice, prompt. A very good 1^st impression of Spazio!

I went for years ignoring this place, mostly because of the strip mall location. I totally judged a book by its cover. The service is fantastic, and the food is really great. The white bean hummus that they put out on the tables is addictive, and everything else I’ve tried so far has been great. Perfect to sit on the bar side with a few friends to enjoy some comfort food.

remember seeing Spazio being built some 25 years ago when I was out for a run in my East Braintree neighborhood. Due to open in a few weeks, chef Michael saw me peering through the glass windows and invited me in for a tour of what was to be a great neighborhood destination. And it was —- We dined there almost weekly and enjoyed every meal from it’s innovated Italian-​styled menu. Gracious service supplemented our weekly visits.
Fast forward to today. I’m still a regular, just not as often. The menu has been down-​sized but still carefully chosen. Some of the servers from its initiation are still there (or were). When Chef Michael is cooking or just present, I find the meals offered are executed properly & timely. After almost 25+ years of patronage at both the restaurant & bar, I find it almost inexcusable that there is no recognition (not even a head nod) by the chef! (but ALWAYS by the usual wait staff & bartender)
That aside: They have some of the best hummus starter on the South Shore. Also, the maple gazed pork tenderloin, an original menu item from «back in the day» is a consistent menu staple (if Michael is cooking). They also offer a decent flatbread pizza and well made parmesana favs in the form of veal & chicken. Gone are their days of the glorious veal chop but on a not too recent I had a very respectable pork chop with vinegar peppers. An Italian classic done well (Michael was cooking this night). If servers Dee or Patty are there waiting your tables, your experience will be memorable. Other ventures with other servers & chefs have proved to be lest memorable. Also, they need a better wine menu. The selections, particularly by the glass, are from the bargain aisle with a higher end price tag. Often the reds have been opened too long & oxidized — so beware. Ask when the bottle was opened before you order.
Not a bad place overall but not up to their opening days standard. May the luck of the chef & servers be with you!
BEWARE: If you go on a Groupon night, be prepared to WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. Can’t understand stand why they don’t add more wait staff when they offer a Groupon. That’s just a no-​brainer Michael, listen-​up!

I actually had a great experience here. My shrimp pasta was delicious. Sauce was great, shrimp was slightly dry but the size and amount on the entre made up for it. Their beef carpaccio special was amazing. It was thinly sliced and melted in my mouth. I will definitely go back.

Awesome food and great service! We went with a groupon and still had money left over. Homemade eggplant parm was perfect! Cozy atmosphere and unexpectedly pleased.

My one star is for the owner only. My wife and I are regulars and have been going almost weekly for about eight years. Have literally spent thousands there.
Always pleased with the food, but more importantly the service from the bartender John. SUPERIOR service from him and the real reason we go. Consummate professional.
We were there last week and the owner came to the bar and commented to another couple «he’s an idiot.» (Referring to his employee) We were stunned by his unprofessionalism and arrogance.
Asking other locals, most concurred the owners arrogance is his downfall.
Mr. Richardi, your employees are what make your business. Don’t assume we (the regulars who are the backbone of your revenue) will always come back… we won’t.
There are so many dining options I could use (ever hear of Sintra?) so my advice would be to treat your employees and your loyal customers with a little respect. It’s not just the right business thing to do, it’s the human thing to do.

Food is usually good. They give a decent wine pour. My only complaint is they never change their menu. When I go I hope they have something good for specials or I will have to settle for the same old things. John the bartender is the best part of the experience. The chocolate amaretti cake with maple walnut ice cream is a must have.

Good food. Nothing new.

Love this place, go as often as possible. When I have a Groupon it’s even better. Not cheap but delicious and when something runs out, it’s gone for the day. No old food hanging around here.

Off to a bad start! No tomatoes, please, on the wedge salad as I’m allergic to raw tomato, yet here they are! Our waitress was very apologetic and sweet about it. Hubster had the lobster bisque for his appetizer and thought it was outstanding! For dinner, I had the best chicken under a brick. So juicy and flavorful. It was wonderful! Hubby had the veal roll-​ups stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and prosciutto. He didn’t care much for the sauce, but he hates all sauces, so no surprise there! For dessert I had a chocolate mousse that could have been a tad bit lighter and fluffier. Very good, but more of a pudding texture than a traditional mousse. The homemade whipped cream made it even better! Hubby had the carrot cake and swears it was the best he’s ever had. All in all, a great dining experience. UPDATE!!! SICK ALL NIGHT FROM THE TOMATOES I ATE HIDDEN UNDER THE BLEU CHEESE!!!

I was looking for a place for a group of friends to do a post-​thanksgiving celebration, the usual Château (or how I like to pronounce it «shat-​toe») was starting to feel like a chain restaurant and I wanted a more authentic cozy Italian feel. So we found this place and they made room for our party of 8 adults. Atmosphere wise, this place was great, we could feel the warmth coming from their exposed oven and especially from the friendly waitress (wink).
Anyways, we were surprised to have learned that the variety of breads we received were homemade and not the common hard crusted rolls. Our group started with some grilled veggies and a calamari appetizer. For my main dish, I had ordered the night’s special mushroom ravioli and my wife had the seafood pasta, portions were generous and a bit more than enough for me, maybe it was the extra bread I ate (shrug). My ravioli wasn’t stuffed with all cheese, it was mostly filled with mushrooms and the sauce was flavorful. From what I could tell, everyone else was also very pleased with their dish.
But I Must not forget the dessert (still drooling from the thought of it)!!! I was almost full but I managed to make room for the crème brûlée, the top wasn’t super crunchy the way I like it, but the texture and flavor of the custard melted my heart, my wife must’ve gotten jealous because I think she thought I was having an affair with it … lol. All in all, it definitely wasn’t a heavy meal, but from everything I ate that night, I can only remember waking up the next day.
Highly recommend and will definitely visit again!

Spazio is an Italian restaurant about a 10 minute drive from the Braintree t-​station. Frankly put, it’s a hidden gem. It’s not inexpensive, but for rack of lamb, you’d easily pay the same amount. Note too that they served a hearty portion of lamb that was perfectly caramelized on the outside and medium rare on the inside… just how I like it. The beef tenderloin was also perfectly cooked and seasoned. The blue cheese mashed potatoes were dreamy as well, as was the fire roasted pizza appetizer. The chopped salad was good but at the end of the day, it’s just a salad. ;) The menu wasn’t huge, but all of the food we had was fresh, well-​cooked and made by someone who knows how to properly cook meat!
The service was stellar. Even though we arrived late in the evening (make sure to call so you know when the kitchen closes…9 on Sundays), we were comfortably welcomed and encouraged to take our time, which we did. The prices are moderate to high for the area, so you should definitely take advantage of any Groupon offerings they have if you can. Well worth the a return trip to this little unassuming spot in the strip mall!