Giulia

Do the food and wine pairing! Ridiculously good and you need to come prepared to roll home and into bed! Staff is awesome and fantastic. Trevor is so good and fascinating to talk to. Awesome experience for an in towner and out of towner!

The restaurant was good, but I was a bit disappointed. Given how long it took to get a reservation, the reviews on Unilocal,and the price, my expectations were quite high. The pappardelle with wild boar was tasty. We also got the whole flounder which was cooked nicely, but I didn’t love the sauce. It had too much orange flavor for me. Liver crostini and burrata cheese appetizer were both very good– just nothing unexpected or special. I would probably have given the restaurant 4 stars, but because my expectations were so high and it’s a pricy meal, I feel like my experience was more 3 stars.

Oh, Giulia. Why are you so good? Every time that I have eaten here has been an unforgettable experience. For the appetizer, I usually get the Prosciutto di parma with pear, arugula, and aged parmigiano. The appetizer comes with a generous helping of prosciutto, which can be paired with the parmigiano and a light drizzle of olive oil for a lightly salted, delicious start to the meal. My favorite entrée is the papardelle with wild boar, black trumpet, juniper and parmigiano. The wild boar is cooked to perfection, with no hint of gamey taste and bursting with tender, juicy flavor. The pappardelle is the perfect vehicle to absorb all of the juices from the wild boar and the sauce, and the entire dish is a symphony of perfectly melded flavors. I’ve also tried the emmer farro casarecce with braised rabbit, mousserons, snap peas, and sweet onions, which is also quite good, but isn’t a superb stand out like the wild boar pappardelle. For dessert, I always get the affogato with hazelnut gelato, chocolate shortbread, and espresso. The espresso is poured over the dessert in front of you so you can watch the coffee absorb into the dessert. This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Boston — truly an excellent, 5-​star experience.

Based on a one-​time visit, sitting at the bar and having one pasta and a side, two glasses of wine, this is what I can say:
The food is good. It is not the best Italian food I’ve had, but I live in NYC and travel to Italy fairly often. I had a pasta special with duck and faro, and a chestnut sauce. The chestnut sauce was a bit too sweet, there was barely any duck, and the combination both pasta and faro was a little awkward. But it was good, just not great. And a side of kale was also good.
The wine I had was really fantastic and it was reasonably priced, and of course us New Yorkers love the Boston pour, probably 20% more in your glass than you get in NYC. The wine stood out as something that makes this an exceptional restaurant.
The bartender was great at guiding me with the wines, and kept up with me and was friendly with everyone at the bar. Really a fantastic server. The only weird thing is that he had a pretty bad cold. He coughed and sneezed into his sleeve, but it still felt a little weird that someone at that stage of a cold was serving food and drink.
I give the 3 stars knowing it won’t harm their overall rating, but to just make a point that while it is a good restaurant, it is possible that it is a bit overrated. I would not hesitate to go back and try other dishes… if I didn’t have to reserve 3 weeks in advance or wait an hour or more to sit at the bar.

Yum! So good. Cute little space. We ordered a very nice assorted salumi that was very fresh and tasty and it wasn’t a plate of filler, it was actual goodness. I got the Hamachi Crudo w sea urchin and hearts of palm and some tangerine. It was good but I think I enjoyed the salumi more. Sticking to my dairy free diet (which I sometimes loosen but didn’t want to tonight) I had limited pasta options, but I ended up picking the Tagliolini with Foraged Mushrooms which was amazing! So good! My friend got the Papardelle with Wild Boar. He said he was skeptical of restaurants serving wild boar because he hadn’t had a good one, but he really enjoyed this one.
Service was great, The waiter was very friendly

Food is not bad, but nothing so special for the price you pay (and the quantities are pretty small).
Service is ok, but again nothing special.
Not worth the price at all, I honestly don’t understand why this place has so many good reviews.

While I’d still count it among the top restaurants in Boston, I can’t help but wonder if Giulia is starting to get complacent on the hospitality side and taking its regulars for granted. The food remains unquestionably good and I appreciate the effort that goes into crafting fresh pasta every day. However, since the departure of their general manager a few months ago, I’ve come to perceive that Giulia, a place that’s still nearly impossible to reserve, is becoming a victim of its own success.
In the past few months, I’ve felt less appreciated as a regular patron, and this is highly disappointing. While it’s philosophical, I think that a restaurant hits an inflection point when it starts to take its regular customers for granted. I called to get Chef Pagliarini’s email address to voice my concerns in person after my last visit but was told that the chef doesn’t like to be contacted directly. I think this perfectly crystallizes the basis of my concern.
I have no financial stake in any dining establishment anywhere but I do want the restaurants that I love to succeed, perhaps for selfish reasons. While based on recent experience I’m not sure that I’ll be going again soon, I’m hoping that the chef and management will be more cognizant of the way they take care of their regulars, and strive to improve this aspect of the dining experience.

Been here a few times already and it’s still great every single time. I’m sad they don’t have that olive oil cake anymore but everything is always so delicious. It’s deceptively simple food with complex flavors!

This was truly a beautiful & memorable Christmas gift of our daughter-​in-​law and son. The warm semolina cake with truffles, fresh burrata & house cured ham and apple, spaghetti ‘Alle Vongole’, Roasted chicken, and brussels sprouts with hot peppers were all masterfully prepared and truly amazing.
The mixed berry sorbet was accompanied by a very crispy wafer that had a hint of anise flavor. It reminded us of the sweet berries found in southwest Michigan in the summer!
RL

I came here for a special occasion with a friend. There was a few week waiting list for reservatons, so I figured it must be good. I have to confess that I’m not a huge Italian food fan, but based off others’ reviews, this seemed like a good spot for a nice dinner.
The place itself is cute. Exposed brick, small tables, intimate setting – all the fixings for a prefect spot. We had reservations and were seated shortly after our arrival. We ordered drinks and looked over the menu.
I have to say that the menu is somewhat limited. Their selection of antipasti/​appetizers was pretty broad, and we ended up choosing clams with a corn cream sauce. It was delicious. I’ve looked at the menu since though, and since it’s no longer available, I’m assuming it’s a seasonal offering. I wish that the antipasti was the start to an amazing meal, but sadly, it was the pinnacle. We had ordered the remainder of the meal and ended up waiting over an hour for the rest of the food. We didn’t hear a single update from the staff and there were tons of empty seats around us. In retrospect, I wonder if there was a miscommunication in relaying our order to the kitchen or if there were some difficulties in the kitchen. When the food finally did come, it was good… but not great. I had ordered pasta with fresh truffles – like I said, good, but not outstanding. I would happily eat the food again, but I can think of a dozen other places that don’t have a three week wait to recommend to friends over this place.
Overall, I was happy with the food, and aside from the long wait time, I don’t have any one specific criticism. I don’t have much to say on the converse either though. For me, it was just slightly above average.

We had an 8:30pm reservation, got to the place around 8:15pm and checked in w/​the host. He was on the phone and told us he was checking in w/​several of his «late 8p.m. reservations», so in the meantime our options were to wait, get a drink (although we could not sit at the bar, because there is a wait list for the bar) or go to the bar next door and he would call us. Granted, we were early, but considering the fact that there is no standing room anywhere and the bar has a wait list, I think he should’ve sat us and the «late 8p.m.» people could have had our 8:30pm table, if they showed up at all. We left and waited outside, got a call for our table at 8:30pm.
First, you have to wait about a month to get into this place, so right away you bar is set pretty high. Service was good but it did take a while between courses, we were there 1.5hr before we got the entrées. The food is definitely over salted, actually every single thing we ate there seemed to have just a tad more salt than it should have. The food was good, but it wasn’t mind-​blowing, wasn’t the best food I ate and certainly not worth a month to wait for. Overall, I’d recommend it and I would come but but it’s unlikely because of the waitlist.

We tried this place a week after they opened back in 2012. Their Boar pappardelle is fantastic. My favorite deserts in Boston. Specially their panna cotta.

I’ve waited months before finally deciding to review Giulia, mostly because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say about it. 3 stars doesn’t seem to do the place justice, but 4 stars would be overstating my experience and my feelings.
My boyfriend and I visited Giulia some time in the summer. It was July, I believe, and we had to book for a weekday in order to get a reservation (plus, it was a bit on the later side for dinner, at around 8PM). Reservations fill up quickly for prime dinner times, so do be prepared to make a reservation a couple weeks in advance.
We put in what I think is a very atypical order for the place – we ordered three pasta dishes to split between the two of us. I can’t recall all three dishes, but we did get the pappardelle with wild boar and the emmer farro casarecce with braised rabbit.
The pasta was very good. Portions were small, but I guess that’s to be expected. There was not very much meat in either of the dishes mentioned above, but what was there was delicious. All the pasta dishes include some form of mushrooms /​trumpet /​the like. I really don’t enjoy any fungi… ever… so it made loving the pasta at Giulia really difficult. The flavor of the trumpets weren’t overwhelming by any means, but I spent a good deal of time picking out the fungi and passing them off to my boyfriend (who also does not like mushrooms, but will eat them for my sake).
Giulia is a very cozy and romantic restaurant, but I’m still on the hunt for a go-​to Italian place in Boston and this was not quite it. I just can’t justify the prices here when I didn’t love the pasta.

Holy crap. This place is freaking unbelievable.
Went with a bunch of friends, and tried a huge sampling of the menu — everything was really spot on, to the point where we’d have minute lulls in our conversations while everyone gorged themselves and forgot to speak.
We started with the Marinated Olives and Almonds (warm citrusy olives? I’m in love), and graduated on to a spattering of apps. The standouts included the Burrata and the Prosciutto, but I’d also recommend the Oysters (can’t go wrong here) and the Bagna Cauda (a take on fondue, with a truly delicious dipping sauce and impressive spread of veggies). The plates were all fairly large, so if you’re planning on doing a main or pasta, I’d recommend sharing some appetizers rather than each ordering one.
Next up came the real star: Pasta. Whatever you do, please please please do not pass up on the Wild Boar Pappardelle. It was absolutely amazing: rich, savory, and divine. The Corn and Brown Butter Agnolotti was also delish, as was the Bucatini.
Sadly we were all to full to indulge in the yummy looking dessert menu, but I know I’ll be back soon.

It’s a rare occasion that I dine out for «upscale» Italian, because it’s nearly always synonymous with overpriced dishes that hail from this lofty concept of «northern Italy.» However, a dear friend offered to treat me to Giulia after coming into some money, and I couldn’t turn away from a place with such a formidable wait list.
We were seated at the bar, and started with the gnocchi di semolina, then I ordered the farro casarecce con panna, followed by the grilled swordfish. The casarecce pasta was made perfectly, exactly how fresh pasta should taste, and evocative of the elusive «settentrionale» vibe these restaurants go for. The swordfish was dressed beautifully with the fennel and ramps, but was a bit overcooked. Not inedibly so, but I generally prefer fish on the rare side. The side dish our waiter recommended was some hodgepodge of greens in a cream sauce, easily the most disappointing part of the meal.
For dessert, the pistachio gelato was passable, providing all the flavor but only half the consistency. The bartender was helpful throughout, particularly in locating zibibbo on the menu for a nightcap. This is one example of many Boston-​area restaurants with hefty acclaim that would not make it any other city with a fortified food reputation, but adjusted for inflation it’s 4 stars.

Bucatini all’amatriciana ($ 17) with pancetta and tomato sauce Is fiery and fresh.
Pappardelle with wild boar ($ 21) and mushrooms is rich and creamy. Earthy and filled with meat.
Really nice digs. Very polite service.
Portion to punch, just not worth it. Rather pretentious and overpriced. Although the food is admittedly decent, paying over $ 200 for two diners plus beverages is outrageous and that’s where I’m lost — it’s just not that good.

Food: ⁴⁄₅ Stars
Service: ⁴⁄₅ Stars
This is my second visit to Giulia and while it was also an excellent meal, it just wasn’t quite what my first perfect visit was like. I ordered the tagliatelle which was delicious, a little bit on the saltier side. One thing I was a little confused by was the texture of the pasta; I usually remember a very al dente like mouthfeel with great pasta especially during my first trip to Giulia. However, it didn’t really come across during this second visit. I was thinking it might be possible it was just the characteristic of tagliatelle in general.
The complimentary bread as always was great — a little bit on the tougher side, and more moist than dry. We ordered the semolina cakes which were very unique and it was quite nice of our server to help accommodate the dish for my vegetarian ladyfriend.
For dessert, we got the olive oil and citrus cake which was also great. My favorite part was the icecream though. We’ve had olive oil cake at L’Artusi in New York and this just couldn’t compare. The olive oil flavor doesn’t come across as much even though it’s still a wonderful dessert.
All in all, still a great meal, but a little bit less amazing than the magical first time here.

We were a party of five coming in on a Friday evening. It’s a warm and inviting atmosphere — from both the physical ambiance to the great hospitality that was shown by our waitress (who was friendly and proactive in making our time there enjoyable). For non-​drinkers, the bar will also create virgin cocktails for you — just ask!
The food was good all around — the appetizers were decently sized (burratina was great) and so were the entrees (my branzino was cooked perfectly). My pistachio gelato also made it another reason to re-​visit. It wasn’t too rich, but still packed with flavor.

It’s reservation only and we were able to get one of the last late dinner slots around 10:30. Our waiter was great and knew the menu very well from main courses to beer suggestions, she was great.
We made sure to order the pasta since its made in-​house. My friend ordered the Pappardelle with Wild Boar. I had a few bites and it was amazing! The cream sauce was very rich and perfectly seasoned. The wild boar was tender and juicy. And the pasta was perfect.
I ordered the Tagliatelle with Red Wine Braised Duck. It was sooooo delicious. I honestly loved everything about my meal and the experience overall.
I would definitely recommend this place for a nice date. It’s very intimate with a full bar and limited seating.

Come in to experience amazing Pasta! The pasta is made fresh every morning, and combined in every way you desire. You can enjoy this delicious pasta with dick, boar etc. Or, you can enjoy their meat and fish dishes.
Once you are seated, you are served with olive oil and excellent bread. I highly suggest getting the warm semolina cakes as an appetizer and trying the duck heart spiedini if you are feeling experimental.
So why a ⁴⁄₅? It’s impossible to get reservations!
T accessible: buses + Porter square (red line)