Caffe II Cipresso

Amazing! Comparable to the Northend for sure. The atmosphere isn’t anything special (which is why I gave 4 star instead of 5) but the food, drinks and service were incredible! I ordered the cheese tortellini with grilled chicken and Gorgonzola cheese sauce and it was a super generous portion and I am taking more than half of it home for dinner tomorrow. I will definitely be back!

One of the worst restaurants we have been to. Service was slow and awful. Took us 2 hours to get meal. Food was bad.

I went here this weekend after a long absence and, sadly, almost everything I loved about this place has changed. The tortellini and gnocchi (always amazing) are not available any longer, the once-​flavorful Giorgio sauce (half tomato sauce, half alfredo sauce) has been replaced by a bland, soupy substitute, and the previously-​amazing house dressing is now okay but not anything special. This makes me sad as I still want to love this restaurant.
The staff was very polite (if not a little formal; think «Yes, ma’am.» and «Thank you, sir.»), the place was clean, the garlic bread was wonderful, the salad ingredients were fresh and the glasses of wine were filled very generously. Sadly, polite staff, fresh veggies, and bread are not enough to bring me back for a meal. I don’t know what has changed (new owners? new chef?) but I hope this is a temporary glitch.

Whoever was cooking yesterday should be fired two meals completely undercooked. It’s great when you get take out. waste $ 40 because the food will make you sick then you have to go get dinner somewhere else. Completely unacceptable.

So funny some other reviews mention the décor as «odd» (my thoughts exactly.) That said, the food is good and prices fair. Service was excellent recently. The waiter, Justin, was very pleasant and gives me the impression he’s worked at a country club. He strikes me as a real class act. I’ll be back and I do recommend trying this place for lunch or dinner.

My husband took me here for my birthday dinner on April 18. I ordered the eggplant with penne and he got the chicken parm. He said his meal was good and I told him mine wasnt good so I would not order it again if we came back here. I bit into the next eggplant and I had to spit it out. It had a bad smell and tasted so bad. It was rotten. I went to the bathroom and got sick from the taste. I asked to speak to someone and the cook came out. He talked to me as if I wouldn’t know what rotten eggplant would taste like. He said that it is aways fresh, which it could have been but it didnt change the fact it was rotten. I told him smell it and all he would say is it is always fresh. I just wish he could have said ‘sorry’. It may have been fresh but it was rotten. I got my meal for free which I should have because I asked him to take it. I might have tried this place again because i know things happen, but will not go back because of how he spoke to me.

I have been meaning to try this place for quite some time, so when we got a $ 49.99 dinner for 2 coupon, my husband and I went. The positives: garlic bread opener, fried ravioli app, bottle of wine that came with the deal (we picked the Bolla Cabernet, which was nicely bagged up with the remaining wine at the end of the night), and the polite attitude of the hostess, who was also our server! Negatives: Tacky décor, small portions not at all worth the price, tough steak tips in salty, «pasty» sauce, veal saltimbocca just average, but by far the worst part of our meal was the flourless chocolate cake: dry and tasteless, my husband remarked that it seemed as though it was missing a major ingredient or two. Would we go back? Probably not, given the better food at a number of nearby places at equal or lower prices.

Brunch is To. Die. For. Irish Eggs Benedict with homemade hash from home cooked corned beef and Hollandaise sauce made from scratch. And GLUTEN FREE! Chef takes cross contamination seriously. Then there’s the Bloody Mary bar. Two mixes, 25 condiments and all the fixings. Make your own and the bartender will give it a good shake for you. My husband had the Italian omelette loaded with tomato, mozzarella, salami, prosciutto and capicoll. My daughter had the Reuben omelette– you’ll never need the bread again. Mmmmmmm!

Businesses should have a very clear definition of what they are trying to be, and focus on it as the guidance for their day to day operation and future planning. I feel like that’s either missing or misdirected at Caffe Il Cipresso. Here’s a restaurant with outstanding food but that is below par in other respects.
The dining room is very plain, to the extent of lacking any suggestion of ‘bright and cheery’ OR having ambiance in any way, shape, form, or manner. Ask for a glass of water and it comes in a plastic tumbler with a Pepsi logo. It seems to be a very hushed environment, but we like a place that’s a bit on the noisy side with chatter and laughter filling the room.
As for service, the young lady was knowledgeable about the offerings, both for the food and alcohol, but seemed kind of reserved. We like it when a cheery greeting with a big smile is offered, where the server has an outgoing personality, and spends a minute or three chatting with us initially and during the meal.

On to the food, with a little bad news first. Soon after sitting we (2 of us) were served four pieces of garlic toast in a wire container lined with what seems to be the sort of waxed paper available at the supermarket for shoppers to use to help themselves to the donuts and muffins in the bakery case. The flavor was okay but the serving was in keeping with what I perceive to be the seeming confusion over being a nice Italian restaurant or a place with no cohesive identity.
We each ate a slice immediately, and the other two slices soon turned into something resembling stiff cardboard in texture. It would have been a more enjoyable and common experience to have been served better bread or rolls, warmed and covered so as not to get hard, with a side saucer of dipping oil so that we each could decide how much or how little flavor we were in the mood for.
Now for the good news, make that the great news! The meals were nothing short of superb! We started with an appetizer of chicken wings. 10 wings were on the plate and the dip was on the side, per the waitresses’ suggestion, because we’d asked that they be nice and crispy. They were wonderful! I wasn’t as enamored of the dip as was the Mrs., but that’s because my taste buds need a pretty good kick, and while the sauce is good, it’s a bit milder than I prefer. If you like wings, I’d definitely recommend you order them as we did, crispy with the dip on the side. And I’d love to see the sauce that was in the Saltimbocca plate be offered with the wings. Awesome if you like garlic wings and we DO!
The Mrs. chose the Linguine alle Vongole. The only time she wasn’t praising it was when she was actually eating it! The clams in the shells were flavorful and tender and the garlic and butter white sauce was delicious. I had the Veal Saltimbocca and have to say that it’s been a very long time since I’ve had as tasty a meal as that. The sauce in the plate was nice and garlicky and the two rolls of veal, prosciutto, and mozzarella were incredibly flavorful.
I had a side of penne, good, but they skimped with the grated parmesan. We got a small bowl to start with, and when I asked for more we were brought about half of what we were given at first. C’mon, for $ 21, bring out the grater and keep it coming until I say it’s enough! We had no desserts so I can’t comment on that, but on balance well go back and soon, despite the negatives listed, because the food was so damned good! Try it for yourselves!
For two, with 2 glasses of wine and two 20 ounce beers, the tab came to $ 70 plus tax and tip, NOT a CHEAP night, and one that could be made so much more enjoyable overall with a few simple changes on the part of the owner.

I really enjoy it here. Over the years I have bought hundreds in gift cards for bus drivers and teachers so that many others can discover such a wonderful non-​chain spot.
The last time I posted I mentioned the metal tables. They are now long gone and it is so much more comfortable inside.
Recipes seem to have changed in the last year, not in a bad way but we were a bit surprised the last time we were there that we didn’t receive what we were used to in the past. Bolognese was definitely different.
It is still our go to spot in the area. Shame on you if you go to Olive Garden up the street, you own a microwave you don’t need their nasty reheated food.

I’m disappointed. This food is mediocre and the portions are small. The décor is odd, with big murals on some walls and then patio tables to sit at. Maybe they were going for an «outdoor» feel, but… if it’s not outdoors, who are you fooling?
I’ve lived in the area for a few years and since I don’t drive down that way too often, I forget about it. I finally remembered it because I do love fresh pasta, but frankly, I can make much better food at home, and that’s without any special pasta making equipment. This isn’t terrible, it’s just not good, and when I think of other Italian restaurants within 45 minutes of this place… I wouldn’t go back. The prices are high for both the quantity and the quality. The takeout containers are recycled and recyclable plastic, except for the Styrofoam salad container, blech.
My husband got a Caesar salad ($ 4 add-​on, 3 croutons and a pile of very pale romaine, decent dressing) and the Alfredo Gorgonzola sauce over pasta with chicken. The sauce was just OK, mainly because the Gorgonzola added plenty of flavor. The spaghetti did not taste homemade and was very bland. There was nothing «fresh» tasting about it, and it certainly didn’t taste like any house-​made pasta we’ve ever had in other places. It just tasted like generic boxed pasta that was slightly overcooked. I don’t fault the overcooking; I did take out and sometimes an extra few minutes in the car is enough to tip pasta over the perfect point. I do fault the bland (except for the cheese) sauce and the overall lack of any discernible flavor in the pasta.
I got the homemade ravioli, which says it has spinach in it, but did not (I wonder if the menu is just badly written… *sigh*) with meatballs and red sauce. My husband is an amazing meatball maker and to be honest, we are frequently disappointed in restaurants who really just phone it in with their meatballs. We both make excellent sauces, both red and white. He was afraid to order them, so I did and told him he could sample them. These meatballs, advertised as being (3) for $ 3, were just that: balls of unseasoned ground beef. I don’t even think it was the traditional «meatball mix» which adds a lot more flavor even without seasoning. Also, I only got two. The sauce was homemade; I know because it was nearly unseasoned crushed tomatoes and was very watery. Having just canned a few quarts of crushed tomatoes with no seasoning; I know what they taste like. I think this must’ve just been lightly salted, but tasted no basil, oregano, black pepper, onions/​garlic, other veggies, wine, etc. Bland!
An order of garlic bread came with our food and I think it might’ve been the best thing, despite being that awful white «Italian bread» you find in the supermarket. At least the garlic was actually crushed and applied at the restaurant and butter was used. The garlic in the bread made up for the lack thereof in the sauces, I guess.
The portions were very small. We are used to our neighborhood place’s portions and didn’t order food for our toddler, thinking she’d just eat from our plates. I am still hungry, and she just asked for cheese and crackers, so she must be, too. To be honest, the portions are probably what restaurants should be serving, however, as I’m used to getting two or three meals out of one order, this was disappointing and $ 10 more than our normal orders (which have many more vegetables and much better sauce).
I’m so sorry. I wanted to like this place, but feel like it was kind of a waste of time and money. They could fix it pretty easily if they are actually making their own stuff… really. Buy some herbs and spices and step it up. Let the sauce simmer a bit to get some of that water out. Double check the ingredients on your pasta. Especially with all the farms in the area, you could easily get some of the farmers to throw down an extra row or two of basil and oregano, I’m sure. There’s just no reason for unseasoned meatballs and sauces.

My wife and I recently went here for the first time. Although it’s not that close to our home, the reviews were pretty good so we decided to give it a try. What a great decision!
We chose from the Chef’s Specials for that evening:
* Seafood Florentine for my wife
* Caffe Veal & Eggplant for me
* The Seafood Florentine had 3 huge scallops, at least 6 shrimp, and about a dozen mussels, served with onion, artichokes, tomato and spinach in a garlic wine sauce on homemade pasta. It was excellent and my wife thoroughly enjoyed it.
* The Caffe Veal & Eggplant may’ve been the tastiest Italian meal I’ve ever had, including the North End. It had local eggplant sliced paper thin and marinated, and grilled on top of tender veal that was tossed in a creamy caper, pepper, onion and tomato sauce over homemade pasta.
The service was excellent, with a waitress who was extremely friendly and attentive.
We will definitely make the drive again, and we highly recommend Caffe il Cipresso.

Had a blast at Caffe Il Cipresso. I have not been there in years and am glad I went back. Our waitress was very good — I think she was one of the new owners.
I don’t know why I ordered fish at an Italian restaurant, but I did. It was okay. Just a piece of haddock with marinara and cheese.
My husband thoroughly enjoyed his clams with linguine. The eggplant was awesome as well.
I definitely won’t wait a few years to go back again.

In-​house made pastas and sauces. That in itself is impressive. You can create your own combinations. The range of these are very accommodating and flavorful; I personally like the spicier sauces. In addition, they have several signature dishes that are wonderful. I have never been disappointed here and it has the small, family-​run business feel. Quality and flavor walk together here.

The best food this side of boston the wait staff is very very friendly the place is clean the food is great the appetizers how wonderful the main courses excellent I must say I have another have room for dessert

Wow, very impressed with this place. Pasta was Fresh made sauce outstanding and service very good. The menu is a little too big for this place, you should specialize in one Chicken, and one Veal Dish. I liked everything I had including the apps. We started with the Aracini’s and Caprese salad both excellent, Arancini’s cooked a little too long but not bad. Caprese was good but tomato’s could have been better, probably better when they are in season. I had the veal, it was outstanding but what stole the show was the Fresh Pasta WOW this was great and the sauce was good as well. I would recommend, love this place so close to home. Good Italian food close, nothing like it. Keep up the good work.

I will start out by saying that I have never had a meal based on a Unilocal review /​rating and been so disappointed. This place for starters is so odd to begin. Moderate priced entrees with patio chairs in the «dinning room.»
I have eaten in restaurants all around the world and this place has the hardest napkins EVER. You could get a paper cut from them. They also smelled nasty.
The food was bland, tough, greasy and just gross. The garlic bread had no taste, the broccoli was
just bad and waterlogged. The grilled combo had 4 steak tips that you would need a chainsaw to cut through and a piece of chicken you could have bounced off the walls. The bowl of broccoli on the place took up 90% of the space. At $ 18.99 this should be considered a crime. The chicken francoise had an oil slick for the «sauce» and for the first time in ages I had to use table salt to try and get flavor.
Best parts of the meal, the ginger ale and the door on the way out.
Best of luck and Gordon Ramsey should come in for Restaurant makeover.

I used to love the food here. We went this past Saturday and the service was slow and the food was not great (pasta was not fully cooked, chewy steak tips)… Will not go back again

We went here for dinner and it was horrible. I felt like I was in a Ramsey’s, Kitchen Nightmares episode.
Presentation was poor, food tasteless. I ordered Ahi Tuna that was on the list of specials and it was not edible. The chicken marsala was just as disappointing. They do give huge portions, but it is not worth eating. Service was OK. I felt bad for the waitress as I usually never complain and she took my meal off the bill. We will never return.

This is based on our experience ordering several trays for an event. We ordered about 6 different items, from Caesar salad to chicken fingers and everything was fresh and well prepared. The chicken penne in alfredo was excellent, as was the sausage cacciatore and lasagna. People loved the chicken parmesan too.
Ordering was easy, picking up was hassle free and everything was hot and ready at the promised time.
Very good & highly recommended!

I used to drive out of my way to eat at Café Il Cipresso, but that was many years ago when it was owned and managed by the previous ownership, a nice local family. The place was always crowded, the food and atmosphere was consistently excellent and would have easily earned a 5 star review.
We drove by a few days ago to eat lunch and were surprised to find Café Il Cipresso in the larger corner building (it used to be in one of the small shops in that small strip mall). As it turns out, it’s not due to the family deciding to go big — it’s because a couple of years ago they sold the restaurant off and the new owners went for the bigger building.
Nothing against the new management, but the food was nothing special — quite bland and predictable. The atmosphere was nothing special either, but we did eat early in the afternoon — hardly a busy time. The service was very good — no complaints there.
It’s a solid three stars… but nothing special, and definitely not worth getting out of one’s way to eat there. Oh well — nothing lasts forever, and I’m glad that I had a chance to experience the old Café Il Cipresso. Better to have loved and lost…

We went to Café II Cipresso for dinner one weeknight after shopping in the area.
When we walked in there was a strong smell of bleach. The seating was wide open, and lighting, very poor. Not a very good start.
At this point, I was not getting a very good feeling, so I ordered something simple, a garden salad and ravioli with sauce. My husband ordered Veal Parmesan.
The salad was your typical and came with bottled ranch dressing. The ravioli were typical, but I got so bored with them after about 4 I never finished my plate, and did not want to take them home.
My husbands was «nothing special» and to use his words, seemed like very low grade veal as it was tough. He never finished his, and did not take the leftovers either.
There were only a few people in the restaurant and still the server took forever to come over and give us our bill.
Not very good at all.