Umbria

My friend and I wanted to enjoy a nice dinner somewhere authentic to the Boston area. We asked our concierege to recommend a good Italian restaurant nearby. Seconds later we had reservations for 2 at Umbria. We got dressed up to the nines and headed to the restaurant excited for some great food, great atmosphere and what we had hoped to be a great experience. When we walked in the door we were somewhat greeted (for lack of a better word) and showed to our table. After several minutes our server finally approached our table to pour us some water then walked away. When he came back he asked us if we "even wanted to hear the specials" as though it was bother for him. We asked for a few moments to decide. By the time it took him to return to the table not only had we decided upon our appetizer but our entree as well. We got our mussels after waiting a ridiculously long time. Shortly thereafter 2 ladies were sat at the table next to us. They got their appetizers and entrees before we got our entree (which was pasta with shrimp...) I thought it was a little strange that they got their meals before we did, but decided not to make a big deal of it. We requested a dessert menu and continued to wait. Before we were given an opportunity to order dessert I noticed that our neighbors had received their check, had their wine bottle corked and were ready to exit. Needless to say, we were obviously at the bottom of our server's Priority list. There was an obvious push to sell us alcohol on 3 separate attempts and maybe because we didn't order any it effected the quality of service?? When it was all said and done the meal was average and overpriced. The ambiance was less than appealing and the service was mediocre at best. It seemed as though the only thing they were attentive to was hurrying us out the door as soon as we received our check.

It appalls me that this restaurant manages to maintain a 4.5 star rating. Several complaints: First, the food could not be more tasteless and boring, especially considering the price. It was below average-- I'd guarantee you'd be happier at Olive Garden. The "yams and Brussels sprout lasagna" that accompanied my bacon wrapped pork had a piece of something small, sharp, and clear in it. I took it out of my mouth only to find that it was the appearance and consistency of a finger nail. At first I thought, no matter, it's probably not a finger nail. Then I found several more in my next bite. I finally just stopped eating it since it was all ending up in my napkin anyway. While the sheer quantity dispelled my finger nail concern, one should never find something like that in their $34 entree. Second, my boyfriend's dish was so salty he could barely eat it. Third, I wasn't going to get wine because I just wasn't in the mood to drink enough to spend $10 on a glass. Instead, I decided to compromise and just order an inexpensive glass of the house red. Everyone knows you order the house wine because its the polite way of ordering the least expensive selection. Well, when the bill came, we were charged $15 for each glass of house --it ended up being more expensive than any glass listed on the wine list!! This is a tricky and cheap practice. Even after complaining politely that this was misleading, the waiter was rude. Lastly, I went on a Friday night expecting some kind of ambiance but it was dead. And the staff just sat around watching baseball on the big screen. Really romantic. Also, though we were only there at 8 pm (not clubbing time), there was some kind of non-stop stomping and loud banging going on upstairs that disrupted the entire dinner. Unfortunately, I would give this restaurant NO STARS if that were a possibility, even if it WASN'T expensive. If you are looking for food worth the price, go somewhere else. I'd recommend Florentine in the North End for starters.

I recently made a reservation for 10 ladies two weeks in advance. The evening was a celebration of a co-worker having married. By the way, we are all 55+. We were greeted by waiter telling us we had better order quickly because they were busy. After spending over $650, and approx. 2 hours at our table, as soon as we finished our coffee and paid the check we were asked to vacate the table because they needed it! Very embarassing to say the least. My complaint to the manager illicited no response in the way of any compensation, this was after a personal discussion with her, a follow up phone call and an e-mail which was never answered. There are now 10 ladies in Boston who will never frequent this restaurant around the corner from our office nor recommend it to anyone else. Beware if you have a large group!

Very overpriced for average at best food. Entrees ran around $40 each. For that price I expect them to step it up on the quality of the food. Lamb was not very good and the Filet was average. Portions rather small. I left feeling like I had just gotten ripped off. Dinner for two with tip and a reasonably priced wine was pushing $200 (no dessert). Service is average and the atmosphere is nice. The bar seems a nice place for a drink, but I would not recommend. This was for dinner.

I go to Umbria fairly regularly for lunch (I have never had dinner here), generally on an expense account. The service is a bit inconsistent -- sometimes it is great, sometimes very slow. Usually when it is slow, the dessert is free. The restaurant can get very crowded at lunch, and the tables are close together. I have enjoyed most of the meals I have had. I typically have either the eggplant and mozzarella dish or the market fresh salad to start. The eggplant is good but very filling for an appetizer. The salad is frequently underdressed, so it can feel like a large plate of greens. The soups are typically quite good. For an entree, I tend to alternate between the gnocchetti, the pappardelle, and the risotto specials, all of which I enjoy (though the gnocchetti can often be served too hot). I have had the chicken ravioli as well, but it is made with dark meat and quite a lot of butter, so it is generally richer than I like. For dessert at lunch, there are only three choices -- bread pudding, tiramisu, and gelatto. I love the tiramisu (and appreciate that they change up the presentation).