Finally got to trying the Rhode Island version of this NYC eatery...some comments: - ate here within the 1st month or so of opening, so I try and cut them some slack...but since they have an essential carbon copy in NY, I don't cut them THAT much slack... - restaurant is more cramped than others in the area (Post Office, Siena, et al), but the six of us never felt short on space at the table - we didn't get the server that was normally assigned to our table - not sure what happened here, but it felt like we got a bench player...this all became apparent when, after we were seated, we were somewhat forgotten...a lack of attention also became obvious during our meal - we could have easily ordered another round or two of drinks, but the server was seldom to be found... - were told they didn't have anymore ravioli (the choice of two in our party) at 8pm on a Saturday night...really??? Then, five minutes later, they suddenly DID have ravioli...???? - portions are small - I was not starving when I left, but would have expected a bit more on my plate that's all the bad stuff...some good stuff: - the food was terrific - i had the Gorgonzola gnocchi, and sampled the ravioli in capri sauce, which was light and delicious... - the decor is nice - bright...the farmhouse vibe also lends itself to being a little less casual than other places... - i live within walking distance, but the valet parking is a good touch for this location... - prices are not bad, but they are also reflective of the portion size...pretty much par for the course all in all, I'll definitely give them another shot - the service definitely needs some work, and the coordination between the kitchen and wait staff (aka: be aware of what you are out of before I place my order) could use some refinement... Siena is still my go-to place in EG for upscale Italian, both in terms of the food quality/variety and the impeccable service, but La Masseria could make it to my dinner night list with a little polish...
(4)
Kevin M.
First visit last night. Food was a 8 out of 10, specifically, our table had 5 different pasta selections and they were all exceptional. Gnocchi, ravioli, linguine - the sauces were remarkable, the pasta well prepared and delicious. Ravioli and Gnocchi were stand-outs. This restaurant opened less than a month ago and I would say they are well on their way to a successful run on Main Street. Only negatives - 1) staff seemed a little frazzled. We probably would have bought another round of drinks (or two) had the wait staff asked. 2) While on the subject of drinks. Drinks arrived in a variety of glasses - meaning same drink different glass each time. Vodka in tonic first in wine glass, then short rocks glass and then tall glass. Nitpicking, but definitely something we all noticed.
(4)
Jim O.
Excellent Italian cuisine in a nice setting.
(4)
LINDSAY N.
4.5 stars. Delicious, real, Italian food. The service is top notch and the ambiance is great - intimate but vibrant. We will be back!
(4)
R F.
Been going here for years. Used to be great but we've noticed the food and service going down over time. Last night was the icing on the cake. Extremely rude wait and management staff. Not our idea of a great dining experience. There are much better (and more pleasant) italian places to eat in RI. We won't be back.
(1)
cynthia c.
This restaurant has it all. I should disclose that I love the Manhattan La Masseria, so when this opened in East Greenwich, we were curious to see if there was the same level of service, atmosphere, and quality of food that is present in Manhattan. I am happy to report same level on all accounts, and we were not disappointed in the least. I LOVE this restaurant. The food is so fresh, and so authentic that I could be in a small town in Italy, talking informally with the owner while everyone bustles from table to table, checking in. The atmosphere is warm, and the design work is beautifully executed. The service, the knowledge of the food from the staff, and the actual tastes are what bring us back time after time after time. We have never had a disappointing meal, and in a world where customers are disposable, La Masseria goes to the extreme to insure that you will want to come back. I have seen the same repeat customers when I have been there, so apparently we are not alone in our love and in our admiration for this spectacular place. I do not give five stars easily. This is my first five star rating on Yelp. This restaurant justifies the rating, and you will be in for a memorable meal, and a charming experience. Enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer M.
Absolutely delicious food and excellent service.
(5)
Vaji D.
Slow service food was bland, little taste. The pasta did indeed seem fresh and good quality. Small servings as well. Desserts are not made but purchased.
(2)
Jeff H.
As most everyone knows by now, La Masseria in East Greenwich is a second operation by the same owners of La Masseria in NY, which by all accounts is a great restaurant. Unfortunately, duplication of the same experience is not happening in RI. Both the food and service were mediocre, the latter suffering the most. We had four to our party with one person popping in just a few minutes after we were seated. We specifically told the server we had one more guest joining us but she cleared the menu from the empty seat anyway. We ordered a fried seafood appetizer consisting of fried calamari, shrimp and scallops. It was lightly battered and was delicious despite the watery marinara sauce it was served with. The entrees arrived soon after we were done. However, the server had yet to clear the appetizer dishes. Fortunately they cleared before serving the main course but left the dish of marinara until half way through. The runners who served the entrees completely mixed up who got what. Everyone enjoyed their entrees but all agreed the food was not hot enough. Mine was approaching luke-warm when it was served. Presentation was average. After, our entrees were cleared our server asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu. I and another guest said yes, and she gave him a menu but left without giving me one. Coffee was also ordered while one guest ordered espresso, which was served in a full size coffe mug. It filled the cup up about one third of the way. Our visit confirmed if you want good Italian in RI, as always, Federal Hill is the place to go.
(2)
Briana M.
The experience that I had at La Masseria on Christmas Eve was heartbreaking. It still smarts, hence the fact that I haven't written a review yet. Alas, today is the day that I sack up and write, despite my misfortune. As a modestly seasoned diner and restaurant worker, I understand that a visit to a restaurant on Christmas Eve is not necessarily indicative of a meal on any other, less frantic evening. HOWEVER, I also aspire to the 'suck it up' philosophy of running a restaurant: the management staff is in charge of their reservation list for the evening, and they should be able to assess how many people they can serve, feed, and keep happy based on their floor staffs, kitchen staffs, and bar staffs. If a restaurant cannot make this assessment accurately, it is a huge demotion. Also, as they have been open for over a year, no new restaurant slack can be cut. Unfortunately, La Masseria made a holy error in their calculations of what they could handle, evident from the minute we walked in the door until we left that evening. We had a reservation at 7pm and were seated forty-five minutes later. Again, I can understand a delay, but that's out of the range of acceptability. Our table was upstairs, and then we waited for a server. Then we waited for drinks. Then we waited for bread. Then we waited for apps. Then we waited for drinks. Then we waited for salads. Then we waited for our meals. Then we waited for dessert. Our experience was probably 85% waiting (which, I may add, we are more than capable of keeping ourselves entertained, but this was just ridiculous) and 15% enjoying La Masseria's offerings. To their credit, the homemade pastas and sauces were executed well. However, the server was way off-point in helping us assemble a meal with appropriate portion sizes - even though we solicited his guidance. The pasta portions are not main portions, but instead mid-course size to be enjoyed after appetizers and before the main course. This is a traditional Italian practice that I am all for - but it definitely deserves mentioning. Apparently, our server did not get that memo from the kitchen. Again, my family is not the hunka hunka burnin' portion kinda family, but we certainly like to be satiated. Between all the waiting and the small portions, I was ready to strangle our server out of a. frustration and b. hunger. Some more food notes: Gnocchi in vodka sauce was delicious (if you order the gnocchi, get it with the vodka sauce and NOT how it is presented on the menu unless you like really, really, really stinky cheese). Bucatini with bacon and butter was also delicious. The homestyle meaty pasta was not so meaty. The ribeye special was a charred, fatty mess that required way too much butchering on the plate (this was ordered in absence of a filet option). The frites that accompanied the steak were one of the best parts of the meal (!). The meat and cheese plate for four was an ABOMINATION, included four slices of one type of cheese, five olives, and two slices each of mortadella and proscioutto all thrown on a white plate with no attention to presentation. The ricotta pie was referred to as cheesecake, which, if I am not mistaken, are VERY different things. It was delicious, yes, but why call it cheesecake if it is ricotta pie? All in all, this was a horrible meal experience. However, the pastas were a glimmer of hope. I'd try it again. As a two-top. During the week.
(2)
Anita I.
Opening a restaurant in East Greenwich is a hit or a miss. It can be the hot spot for all of the socialite townies (elite, finely dressed, air smooching snobs) or it can quickly plummet and become something like a senior citizens center, which is always the end of a restaurant career when the 'snow birds' fly south to Florida for the winter. La Misseria has remained untouchable. It is the perfect harmony of all groups. The decor is so equisite with its rustic yet traditional feel. You almost feel like you're under dressed, until you are greeted with authentic smiles from sharply dressed management. The food is like an out of body experience. It begins with a basket of fresh bread, your choice of foccacia, bread sticks or crusty grain. The highlight of the bread basket is the side of lentils in olive oil to dip. People that I know have tried to replicate this with little success. The menu is fairly priced for the service & level of food quality/preperation. I've had the I CUCUZIELLI FRITTI ALLA PINO, which is julienne zucchini, delicately fried in a light tempura batter. You can't stop nibbling on these, they are so good! I think I could even replace french fries with these bad boys. TERRA MARE DEL TAVOLIERE is not for those afraid of tentacles, but if you want to try something delish, worth it. Its baby octopus, grilled and served on a bed of rabe and pureed fava beans, all drizzled with olive oil. It all truly melts in your mouth. I have not yet tried the giant meatballs, but I've heard that they're out of this world. The pasta is all freshly made with just the right consistency to it. I had a dish, of course the name eludes me, that was pure decadence. Truffle mushrooms, tossed in light yet buttery sauce with fettucine. The truffles were pungent yet balanced the pasta and butter. The last dish that I tried was SCIALATIELLI QUATTRO PASSI, thick/short fettucine with eggplant and smoked mozzarella, all tossed in a flavorful red sauce. The food is incredible. The only thing that I complain about was the overzealous waiter that seemed to be popping up every 5 seconds. He really pissed me off when I could see him peeking behind the wall, just waiting to come back and pick up the check. He was peeking all night, and I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he had a date with someone spectacular after his shift? Stalker server that wanted to rush us, not so cool. Either way, this place is still on the top of my list.
(4)
Daniel W.
LOVE THE SPACE AND AMBIANCE. The service is always great. The problem is the food. Have been there at least 8 dinners. Most have been just OK. Last meal veal and mushrooms JUST AWFUL!! Dennys would have been better. Plan to go down the street to another Italian restaurant with less ambiance but great food.
(1)
Deborah C.
Fantastic meal! The absolute best imported mozzerella cheese I've had since visiting Italy.
(5)
John U.
It is very rare that I can give anyone a full 5 stars. Everything here is amazing and they always seem to exceed my expectations. It easily blows away anything in Providence and is in my opinion, one of the top two restaurants in RI. I wont get into specifics on any dishes because i cant be critical of anything. High prices but well worth the money.
(5)
Jack A.
Very disappointed! Waiter very NYCity. Didn't ask for drinks but wanted to give specials. Very rushed and disorganized service. Salad came right behind cocktails with food order following right behind. Served the men at the table before the women. My tagliatelle bolognese arrived as a clotted mass of pasta with limited sauce. Obviously pre cooked. Definitely not a candidate for a second visit.
(1)
Christopher F.
So far La Masseria is my favorite Main St. restaurant. The atmosphere is what you want it to be. Choose to sit by the window or outside on a nice summer evening, select a table is the electric downstairs seating area, near the bar and host or move upstairs for a more intimate meal. We have opted for this latter option on our last couple of trips, date nights for us parents so we wanted to have a little quiet and some adult conversation! Styled as an upscale Tuscan villa, you feel comfortable but aware of its refinement when there. From beginning to end the service is top notch, friendly and attentive, not overly formal but never boorish either. We enjoy selecting one of their (well known) mozzarella appetizers, as they are always amazing. Great variety and always served with the proper accompaniments. We have eaten dinner here several times and only once was my wife underwhelmed with her selection. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I have ordered whether a menu staple or special. Pastas are fresh and sauces delicious, meat and fish prepared superbly and a nice wine selection to compliment the meals. Everything bursts with flavor, making for memorable and enjoyable meals. I expect to return many times over the years!
(5)
ric g.
Went back a second time. The staff is great, managers Pepe and Enzo add to the overall experience. The gnocchi melts in your mouth, the meatballs are incredible, and the buratta cheese is an unbelievable treat. Make sure if you are eating Italian, that you eat here.
(5)
Lisa P.
Service was top notch, food was wonderful (a bit overpriced), wine list is phenomenal (again, a bit overpriced), all told, a great restaurant. The bread was served with a lentil/olive oil dipping sauce, which was very nice. We had the beef carpaccio with very fresh arugula and a tasty shaved parmesan for an appetizer. The homemade fettucini bolognese was out of this world, homemade ravioli also very good. Sea bass was cooked perfectly, but sadly served with a bland side of mixed veggies (fortunately we added some sauteed broccoli rabe so weren't left without good veggies). No substitutions on the veggie side dish should be reconsidered :) we'll definitely go back!
(4)
Chris R.
A-OK is actually a great way to put this place. I was expecting to have my mind blown after hearing from friends the first time I went. Service is decent (our waitress was a bit rough around the edges) , prices are a bit high for what you get. Drinks are good and is a great place for a date. If your date is a picky eater then head to another place. To their credit, it is seriously right out of Italy. Its not an Americanized Italian place so don't expect veal parm. Everything was great, I would give 3 1/2 If possible. I only ding this place because of the NYC prices and the menu is a bit limited if your not and I hate to use the word "foodie" or Italian. Average Joe and Jane Smith are probably not going to like it. I realize EG is affluent, I grew up there, but it seems this place priced its menu like its NYC sister restaurant. I have zero problem spending lots of money at a great place Like La Bernadine or NOBU in NYC or insert your favorite great place. The Point is this place doesn't deliver for what their prices demand they do. I should walk out of their not caring that I spent $200+ for two and I didn't the way I do when I leave others in RI like the classic Capriccios, TEN, Alforno's, SIENNA or a Good Steak House like Mortons, Capital Grill, Prime ect...
Absolutely melt in your mouth delicious! The menu and specials all sounded so good it took us forever to decide! We started with the mozzarella and a salad with goat cheese for starters - very good. I had the ravioli (YUM!) and my husband had the chicken special with truffles - we both all but licked the plates clean. Delicious! Then we chose the cheesecake and the tiramisu for dessert. Everything was wonderful and our sever (Matt) was fantastic despite being overwhelmed by 10+ tables. We never noticed and there was always someone there for drink refills or to answer question about the menu. So glad we chose La Masseria!
(5)
Amanda S.
Amazing! Great food, service and atmosphere. It was a delicious meal and fun night out. Can't wait to come back! Just as good as the NY restaurant!
(5)
Steve S.
Went there the Sunday after Christmas, and the word that kept coming up was underwhelming. Let's go course by course: For our appetizer, we split the trio of fried seafood: calamari, scallops and shrimp. The calamari were overcooked and tough, the scallops oversalted and gritty, and the shrimp were a bit over as well, but not the extent the calamari was. It came with a pretty standard marinara dipping sauce and some lemon wedges. The lemon helped a bit as everything was pretty dry and the flavors were muddled, but this was a flop. You can get better fried seafood at any clam shack in South County for half the price. For the salad, we split the frisee with bacon. I love bacon, but it dominated the salad. The greens were nice but overdressed, and the dressing needed some acidity to balance it out. Luckily we had the lemon from the fried seafood mess, and that helped quite a bit, but the bacon was too overpowering for the salad to stand up against. Another unsuccessful dish. For our mains, we had the grilled chicken with leeks, the rabbit, and the lobster with linguine. The grilled chicken was one of the most unremarkable dishes I've ever seen. It was pounded chicken breast grilled with some salt and pepper, served with mash and mixed veg. The mash may have been instant, and the veg was fine, but it didn't compliment the dish in any way. It was just thrown on the plate and wasn't thought through. It came with one leek and no sauce. I don't know what they were thinking when this was put on the menu. I ordered the "roasted" rabbit, as the waiter described it to me. When I think roasted, I think crispy skin, roasted in an oven. This was essentially stewed rabbit served with a red sauce of little consequence, with the same sides as the grilled chicken. The rabbit had a consistency of pulled pork, and wasn't entirely flavorless, but wasn't good by any stretch. Another disappointment. The final dish ordered was the linguine with lobster. The linguine was stuck together and looked more like Pad Thai noodles than Italian pasta, and the lobster was overcooked and tough - this seems to be the theme with the seafood. Luckily, we ordered the pasta with broccoli rabe and bacon for the table. This was a standout dish - fresh pasta, the bacon and broccoli worked well together, just really delicious overall. For dessert we had the apple tart with ice cream. I'd bet that this was frozen, and may have been made by Pepperidge Farm. The apples were mush but the vanilla ice cream was good. Still, good vanilla ice cream isn't a tall task. The service was fine, though it was a bit amateurish. The waiter seemed a bit confused when we had questions for him, but he did try hard. The place has potential, because they showed me that they have the ability to make a good dish. The menu isn't well thought out, and the entree selection leaves me wanting. It looks like pastas are what they can do, so maybe they should expand on that part of the menu, cut back on the entrees and emphasize that you should order pasta. I won't be going back as there are better options at better prices on Main Street. Let's hope they can make some changes.
(2)
Jack M.
$31.50 for 4 bites of some kind of fish with no taste but that's the good news neither the waiter, manager or owner could care
(1)
Betsy F.
An Italian restaurant that is really Italian. Great food, lively atmosphere, wonderful wine list and a super staff. The place I pick when it's my turn to choose.
(5)
Jennifer G.
I went here a year ago and loved it. I went back a week ago excited to have the same experience, and unfortunately was disappointed. I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. As an RI restaurant, I would expect the clams to be of decent size, but they were so small - pretty much illegal size. The whole dish lacked flavor. Clams are not hard to come by in RI, they really need to step up.
(3)
Leana M.
Awesome food, awesome service! Will definitely go back!!!
(5)
Grace M.
This is a lovely spot. Great for a date night. Prices are a bit high but the food is consistently excellent and the service always on point. We are fans of the risotto (preparation changes daily) and the gnocchi. The pasta with eggplant and smoked mozzarella is also a favorite. The bartenders make great Manhattans, too.
(4)
Lindsay W.
Wow, this was greater than I could have hoped for. Was looking for a nice Italian place on the way home and decided to give La Masseria a try, based on the other positive Yelp reviews. The experience was delightful and worthwhile from the moment I walked in the door. The customer service was top-notch. The host pulled the seat out for me and my guest, and the waiter promptly came over. He was a jovial man who knew the menu by heart and made the experience of ordering fun. We started with one of the appetizer specials - a mozzarella pinwheel with eggplant, red pepper and arugula. Was surprised to learn they make their own mozzarella at La Masseria. It was delicious. For the main course, I ordered the homemade fettuccine with eggplant and mozzarella. I'd never had homemade pasta, and it was incredible. As my partner pointed out, it was as rich and smooth as the cheese - truly a unique and impressive flavor. He ordered the potato gnocchi, also homemade. Although the waiter warned of the pungent cheese accompanying it, it wasn't too strong and was just the right flavor. Will definitely be returning to La Masseria and will be probably give the NY location a try as well.
(5)
Justyn C.
The food is amazing and the service is what you'd expect from an establishment of this quality. However, as a former neighbor of theirs I can attest to the fact that their valet system treats local residents like crap! I can't count the number of times that I had to wait in my car, in the middle of Main St, while the valet moved all of the cars they had parked in the shared driveway only to find out that they were also using the residential parking spaces in the back lot as parking for their valet service! Again, they have great food... But despite having lived directly adjacent to their restaurant for 2 years I've only been once, purely out of curiosity, due to their managements attitude and poor business practices.
(5)
Steven D.
Revisited in the early evening. A casual restaurant for people who dress smartly. I felt good wandering back in. The five stars are confirmed. An intimate place, but a local restaurant was a laid back feel (though the place does smell of wealth).
(5)
Monika S.
Extraordinarily superb. Ambience lovely, service top notch, ricotta cheesecake to die for- it's not really even a cheesecake even though that's its name. Its like fluffy airy whipped creamy goodness. I love this place and am definitely taking all guests here. I plan to treat myself more times than not too!
(5)
Rich T.
Wife and I made our first and long awaited visit to La Masseria last night. When we walked in door we were greeted by manager ? and hostess. Entrance is in bar area and was quite loud. Fortunately we were seated upstairs in quiet dining area, After seating for several minutes with water provided by bus man, we were handed menus. Waiter was very attentive and took our drink orders. We waited for about 20 minutes without our drinks yet, Waiter took notice and told us drinks were on the way... Manager finally delivered out drinks about 1/2 hour in. I asked if the bar was busy, and to his credit he said they lost or threw away our drink order slip. This is unacceptable at a 5 star restaurant ????. But since we were planning a leisure dining experience, it didn't adversely affect our dining experience. Waiter was excellent and attentive to us throughout evening. Food ..... We ordered appetizer special mozzarella for two... I loved the freshly made mozzarella, wife thought it needed fresh herbs, like basil or mint.... Main Course: I ordered linguine with lobster.... Wife commented that the dish wasn't steaming hot and lobster was in small pieces. I enjoyed though, the linguine was freshly made and had a good consistently. Wife had veal dish,,, but didn't comment either up or down. When I asked her today she thought portion was on small size,,,, Dessert was very good. Overall we were expecting a five star experience and didn't feel like we experienced it. For the record when we received check the first round of drinks wasn't comped. Something that is usually standard in lower end restaurants. If the waiter wasn't so good my rating would have been lower than 3 stars.,
(3)
Antares S.
I tried this place out a few weeks ago on my birthday after a very busy day at work. Well... it was a very good culinary present that I bought for myself. I ordered the Braised Rabbit with Wine sauce and it had to be the best meal I've eaten in close to 15 years. It was accompanied by Polenta and shredded Brussels Sprouts, two of my least favorite sides, but turned out to be very delicious and good accompaniments for the main dish. I ate at the bar, and the bartender was quite friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I will definitely be going back and hopefully, I catch them on a night when they have their Braised Goat special, which the bartender told me, is out of this world.
(5)
Deborah M.
A Nice addition to Restaurant Row! The atmosphere is old-world "Cucina Rustica" and the food is excellent. My second visit was for lunch -- treating a friend in thanks for helping with my new home -- and I knew it was the right place to bring an excellent Italian cook! La Masseria is reliably excellent and did not disappoint!
(5)
Bob L.
This is one of my local favorites. It is a can't miss restaurant with fresh everything, authentic and a great atmosphere.The only knock on the place is the bar is a bit tiny and you really want to reserve in advance. It is SO worth it! ALWAYS get the fresh stuffed mozzarella or the Borata. Fabulous. Last night went for the pasta special with mushrooms and sausage and oil. Incredible. Also had the Badiola wine, a red blend of Sangiovese and Merot..amazing! This is a must visit if you have never been! NYC restaurant is just as good!
(5)
Eric C.
Great food always. The rabbit dish is my favorite!
(4)
lily q.
Have had excellent meals and service here, recommend ordering whatever is on special. Mix of romantic/fancy and loud older EG and Warwick residents thoroughly enoying themselves at the bar ;) I have seen kids here but would never bring my kids in a million years. Sun and Thurs, I believe, are 25% off wine which brings it down to acceptable price ranges. Nice date night place. Valet. Still haven't been upstairs, will add to review if I ever make it up there...
(4)
Pat S.
Fabulous dinner! Great service! Beautiful atmosphere. Great restaurant for a special date night.
(5)
Kris M.
Amazing from the moment we arrived. Everyone is wonderful and treat you like u are royalty. The veal fungi is phenomenal and the imported mozzarella is to die for. Bartenders are fantastic and the gentleman whom greats you at the door is gracious, inviting you in like family. Amazing place!
(5)
Daniel L.
We had seen this place being renovated and were curious about it since it opened about a month ago. Went here tonight and had an exceptional experience. We had early reservations (5:30 pm) and were seated promptly on our arrival. The menu seems pretty good, as does the wine list (I wish they had an online presence - they have a sister restaurant in NYC, and the menu seems similar). My wife was disappointed they didn't have a martini menu, but our server said they could pretty much make anything, so she had a basic apple martini and I had my stand-by Tanqueray 10, up with olives. We started with the fried squid, scallops, and shrimp appetizer. It was very tasty, not greasy at all. Oh, before I forget, they serve their bread with a whole lentils thing on the side, which remarkably was quite tasty and a nice change of pace from the ubiquitous olive oil. My wife had the risotto, which came with shrimp and peas, and was delicious, and I, on the basis of the first review of this place, had the gnocchi, which was quite scrumptious. We were pleased with the serving size of the entrees, which at first looked a bit skimpy, but in the end were perfect - not too small, and not so big that we were bloated afterwards. We had the apple tart for dessert, which was also fabulous. A couple of notes about our visit: 1) when I called to make reservations on Monday, at first the woman who answered said there were no openings on Friday, but when I asked for something early, like around 5:30, she said that would work, but we would have to be done by 7 pm. Not a problem for us as we don't lolly-gag over our meals (we savor, but don't linger), but it was a little odd, but not totally crazy I guess since they still have the new restaurant in the area smell about them. 2) there was a group of gentlemen at a table nearby and they were quite boisterous. Not a big deal for us given the time of year, and we're not so fastidious or tight-assed that a little noise bothers us. Throughout the early parts of our meal, many people were visiting the table and my wife made the connection that at least one of the men at the table had some kind of ownership interest in the restaurant. Anyway, at some point during the evening, one of the gentlemen (assume ownership guy) tells our server, who was excellent throughout the evening, to comp us our next round of drinks to make up for all the hubbub going on. Totally unnecessary, but a nice touch. After our meal, this gentleman asks about us a little, introduces us to his partner, and inquires about our meal. It's all good we say, and since we live right around the corner, we're definitely coming back to try some other items on the menu. Overall, a great experience. My advice is to make reservations way in advance if you want to go there on the weekend, though, at least until the newness of the place wears off. Of course, given how good our experience was here, and assuming this is the norm for all diners, their reservation book may be full for quite some time to come.
(5)
John G.
This is one of my favorite spots in NYC, and I was happy to hear they opened one in RI. Food was fantastic! By far the best meatballs I have ever had other than my moms. The only negative was our waiter, somewhat smug. He made a joke about about the way my wife pronounced one of the items on menu, and also forgot to bring her salad. Hint to the waiter: always keep the women happy. Don't let this stop you from going, food was awesome!
(4)
Dominic L.
Love this place, best in RI.
(5)
Ryan D.
Went out on friday night to La Masseria. The inside is not really that big, so reservations seem like a must here. Food was excellent. We had received an appetizer that we did not order, tried to return it and they said we could keep it and were not charged for it. It was bruchetta and grilled zucchini. I didnt try it as both are not for me, however my girlfriend said there were good. We ended up getting the mozzarella app. It was very good with fresh mozzarella, tomoatos and prosciutto. . We had the grilled prime rib and pasta with shrimp. Both were excellent. The prime rib was cooked as i requested (medium rare). Since it was grilled it had a nice char all around and very flavorful. The wine list seems to be pretty good. Although I am mostly a Pino Grigio person, so unsure if the red wine list is acceptable or not. The service was very good. Sometimes when you dont even know the waiter is there is a good thing. He refilled our wine without having to ask and brought everything out in a reasonable time frame. It is a little bit more pricey than the rest of the neighborhood, but worth it to me. Its better than going to providence. Would highly reccomend this restaurant to friends.
(5)
Niki K.
As close to a true "dining in Italy" experience as I have ever had in Rhode Island. From the small, intimate old world space, to the fresh ingredients, casual pacing and excellent preparation. Your experience here is truly Italian, enjoying your company, fine wine, impeccable but unobtrusive service and a perfectly paced meal, not too much food, but excellent food. I wish my father was alive to try this place. He and I and my family have dined out extensively in northern Italy, from trattorias to some of the finest restaurants, and La Masseria makes us feel like we're in Italy, without spending on the airfare!
(4)
Joshua J.
It's fine. Very "Italian" vibe, meaning loud tables of dudes ballin' outta control, ordering as much as their super-sized palates can handle. "Have you tried the meatballs here? My mom knows balls and she recommends these, they are outta control." Overheard verbatim. Service was good, albeit slightly too bro.
(3)
Robyn F.
I wanted so much to give this place five stars, but alas they disappointed me when I Asked for the Rabbit dish, and they didn't have rabbit in stock. ( I could tell it bothered the waiter too, to find out this news, but I had my heart set on it ) I ended up getting a shrimp salad, which was very fresh and well balanced, I kind of wish it had more shrimp versus the four shrimp I had on the plate, but that's okay the salad was great tasting. Overall the atmosphere of La Masseria is very pleasant it reminded me of a few of the places I visited when I was in Quebec ( With the exception of the whole Italian vs French thing). Overall I'd recommend this place to someone whom wants to try a good plate of Italian food.
(4)
Aimee Z.
I love laMasseria! I've been for lunch, for dinner and also just for cocktails! I've brought my family and my friends! The staff is so welcoming! Sandi, Jose, Andreas, Mallory....all great friends that I love to see. I've met great friends while visiting there and also have run into some of my best friends there too! It just makes me happy to go there. The building is beautiful, very clean & comfortable and I love dining outside when the weather is warm! Some of my favorites include the carpaccio, cheese ravioli, rabbit, egg yolk ravioli on Saturdays, fresh mozzarella appetizers are always great, cheesecake and their homemade ORANGECELLO! I've enjoyed many of their specials so I look forward to hearing what they have to offer. I love the upstairs but typically end up dining wherever they sit me it really doesn't matter not a bad seat in the house!
(5)
William E.
Among my worst dining experiences in my 53 yrs. It takes a special level of incompetence to turn an"aged prime ribeye", ordered medium, into a flavorless piece of shoe leather. Then, to have it returned for a new one to be cooked "right away", and have it delivered 30 minutes later when my entire party had finished their meals, my appetite gone, and be offered free dessert as compensation for their "error", with no sign of a manager anywhere in sight, was nothing short of insulting. La Masseria wouldn't know a decent meal if it sat on their face!
(1)
Julie M.
I went here recently with a good friend and we had an excellent meal. We split a bottle of wine and the wait staff made sure our glasses were never empty. I had the short rib ragu with pappadelle.........it was so good that I didn't even offer my friend a bite! My selfishness wasn't pre-calulated, I just didn't think of it because it was THAT good! My friend ordered the gnocchi.....and come to think of it she didn't offer me a bite either! (I feel better now!) The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is we didn't order dessert and I just can't give 5 stars to a restaurant without trying the dessert! I'll just have to go back. :-)
(4)
Bruce K.
Eleven stars. Okay, nine. Grrr, is five the best we can do here? That's just not fair. Lunch meetings with some friends who live in the area. They said that we wouldn't need menus and they were right. They just told the manager to bring us "whatever" and after asking me if I had any allergies or foods I didn't like (bring me ANYTHING!), we started getting yumminess delivered. It started with tastings of some fab wines. I don't know wine, so I stuck to what I thought was going to be a boring (but good) Italian beer, Peroni. Nope, I was brought a Menabrea. Great beer and if this is where we are headed, it's going to be a great trip! Breadsticks, fresh from the oven. Something with fava beans and shrimp. Something with garlic and octopus. And the main course, a locally caught sea breem with locally caught octopus in a tomato sauce. It was... insane. There's just no way to describe how amazingly good this food was. Oh, wait. There's MORE? How about a bowl of fresh fruit that's been soaking in liqueur for a couple of hours? OMG. Service was excellent. Sante, the waiter, took great care of us. The manager, whose name I missed, actually fileted the fish at table side. I've never seen that done and he was awesome at it. I really felt welcome here. My only complaint? It was a hot and humid day. A couple of fans might have helped move the air around a bit.
(5)
Liz D.
Excellent from start to finish! 25%off a bottle of wine. Olive oil and lentils for the delicious bread. Stuffed mozzarella appetizer with sundries tomatoes and roasted red peppers was so tasty! Ravioli special with egg yolk and truffle oil is a culinary masterpiece. Couldn't leave without dessert, Italian Cheesecake and chocolate almond cake were perfect.
(5)
Paul D.
This is a great restaurant. I really love thier fish dishes and also the ambiance...especially upstairs is very relaxing.
so we had reservation Sat night at 8pm. My bf requested " we do not want to sit near the bathroom". So when we arrived, we were near the bathroom..of course and this was our first time here. The manager was very very nice though! quick action and move us over to a better spot. Also our table was near a huge birthday party. We had the snail salad (special) really good but heavy on the onion. I would order it again though. My bf had the pasta with meatballs and sausage (grandmother sauce). nothing too special but the pasta was fresh and you can tell its home made. I really wanted the rabbit so i order that... weird thing was our waiter didnt tell us they ran out. They gave me stuffed chicken...not sure why??? I question it and he said "ohhhhh we ran out" very odd. So i order the grilled veal which was really good!!! The manager was very very nice. I just dont understand the mistake on my entree, thats all. Will def go back soon.
(3)
Michael P.
We met some friends for dinner here last week during the middle of the week and everything was good or better than good--from the ambiance, service, food, and wine. My partner and I had a drink at the bar before our friends got there. They had a decent wine selection (but not extensive) and the basics when it came to liquor. I order a bourbon to start and at dinner we ordered a bottle of the wine my wife had gotten since it was SO good. I had the Orecchiette pasta which was very flavorful with the broccoli rabe and sausage even though it didn't have a sauce that did not distract from it being an amazing dish. My partner had the risotto shrimp special that was perfectly cooked as well. Our glasses were never empty and our server was always there when we needed something, more than I can say for most restaurants. Many times we do not order dessert, but they had a ricotta cheesecake and this is something that my partner and I can tend to agree on when wanting to split a dessert. We asked our waiter about it and he said it was "life-changing." The cheesecake was pretty amazing as it was in between a cheesecake and custard consistency. The flavor was probably one of the best ricotta cheesecakes that I've had in a very long time. I'm not sure that my life-changed, but we definitely have talked about how good it was every night and that was a week ago. So, maybe it has changed my life as I don't tend to think about dessert that often ;-)
(5)
Mugsie W.
Great service by Joe. Ambiance is perfect. I ordered a veggie pasta with homemade parpardelle - pasta was good but veggies seemed like frozen veggies. Carrot sticks all the exact same size, and - carrots sticks in pasta? not a very sophisticated dish. I'd prefer fresh onions, spinach, some roasted red pepper - something more Italian! Sign of a great restaurant in my eyes is how well they pick and cook their veggies. The lentil olive oil dip that came with the bread was great! Loved the area and would definitely go back.
(4)
Tip F.
One of the best atmospheres in RI. Great food. Can sit at the bar or have an important dinner. Great wine selection. Authentic feel. Nice outside seating on Main Street in the summer.
(5)
Robert S.
Went there for Restaurant Week, but this was my second visit to this establishment. The food is impeccable, the service attentive and cordial, the setting is cozy. We sat outside for a lunch meal and it was very nice. The pastas, the fish, the soups, everything here is top quality. I think it is one of the best restaurants in EG. Could be pricey, but great for special occasions.
(4)
Ernie C.
Had lunch here today. Very nicely done little restaurant, very clean, great service. Pleasantly surprised by the menu -- more adventurous than expected. We had salads, meatballs, sausage and broccoli rabe sandwich, chicken sandwich, and a chicken and spinach dish. All were really, really good, well prepared and presented. We don't get to this town very much, but if we did, we'd be regulars. Very highly recommended.
(4)
Emily R.
This is a go-to spot for my husband and me! Love the atmosphere and food. I would highly recommend.
(4)
Stacey P.
It's been a long time since I had a nice Italian meal out. I love Mike's Kitchen in Cranston, but sometimes you want something with a little better atmosphere and overall experience. Sadly, Federal Hill hasn't left me with any memorable experiences in quite some time. La Masseria in East Greenwich surprised me. This little spot on Main Street is the real deal. The combination of quiet atmosphere, outstanding service and very tasty food add up to one of or possibly THE the finest Italian restaurants in RI. The service is always friendly and good at anticipating needs and wants. Everything I've ordered has been well prepared and the flavors have been spot on. I've enjoyed lunch and dinner here - the attention to detail is the same. The menu is vast with something for everyone.
(5)
Sophie K.
La Masseria is a great quality restaurant. From the service to the food to the atmosphere, everything was spot on. We all started with house salads, which were very simple, yet delicious. They have a large list of specials, which all sounded so good it was hard to choose! Each of us decided on some sort of seafood dish-2 from the special list and one from the regular menu. The two specials were a fully filleted Branzino fish and a ravioli with pistachio and fish with tomato and crab sauce. I got the salmon, which was done just right with a nice mustard glaze. All of the seafood was extremely fresh and flavorful. The service was excellent as well. I will definitely be going back!
(5)
Chad C.
Superb dining experience special occasion or just tipping back a few at the bar with a fine martini. A must go and the service is excellent. My disclaimer: I really hate Yelp and I think it does a disservice to fine business owners out there by allowing folks who quite frankly should never be heard much less review anything. If I don't like something I'm just not going back and Im keeping my mouth shut. These reviews will be one for the little guy!
(5)
Steven And Nicole G.
We both had the margarita pizza and it was fantastic! Big serving and we both ate our own and finished it. We really like the doors that open up to the outside too, felt like we were back in Europe. We will def go here again and most likely get the same thing.
(4)
S Nicole M.
Warm reception from the hosts set off a perfect visit to this intimate spot on Main Street in EG. I loved the unique feel of the restaurant. It felt as if I was enjoying myself at a bar in an intimate rustic farmhouse. Ok - rustic farm houses wouldn't have such a classy well-stocked bar, but it really was super relaxing. I have been to the bar a couple of times for a night cap, but never sampled anything off the menu until last night. I ordered the carpaccio - the thinly sliced raw beef was served atop some lightly dressed arugula and generously finished with some parmesan slivers. It was one of the best carpaccio creations I've ever had. Only after being served, did the host tell me that the kitchen was closed and he prepared the salad himself. I felt awful for imposing but such an impressive gesture. I would definitely come back for a full dinner with girlfriends or my dearest. It is the kind of place that you want to share with intimate friends...and it would make a great spot if you're trying to impress a date - or future in-laws. Laid back enough to enjoy anytime, but upscale for special occasion celebrations. I will have to come up with a reason...soon!
(5)
Bobbie L.
for excellent, italian food, that is not heavy on the starches check this out... wonderful food -- the stripy bass was delectable and the ricotta/vanilla cheesecake to die for !!! very romantic and superb service... will definitely return on our annual RI trip...
(5)
Toni M.
I had high hopes for La Masseria, but I was so disappointed. I experienced an extremely rude waitstaff and over priced so so food. I had the burrata (special of the day) for an appetizer ($26) and the seafood zuppa for an entre. My entre was cooked perfectly (scallops, shrimp, squid, etc), however I've had burrata ten times better and bigger from Venda for $7 and the proscuitto served with the burrata tasted as if it had been sitting out all day. I expected amazing food and an amazing experience, but instead got disappointing food and an extremely rude waiter. I would not go here again- there are too many better places for Italian in Rhode Island (Camilles, Andinos, etc)
(1)
Sarah E.
I enjoyed a delicious meal at La Masseria a few weeks back. Its a charming little restaurant located in the heart of EG's Main Street. The place is intimately decorated and the service is exemplary. This place is definitely worth a look in the restaurant-filled Main Street area. I had the BOCCONCINI DI POLLO AL VIN COTTO, FUNGHI E SALSICCIA. It was amazing! Our server recommended the dish and accompanying wine and he could not have recommended a more perfect meal. Love!
(4)
Stephen R.
Excellent attentive service. Cocktails were acceptable but nothing exceptional - the wine selection was much more extensive - this is definitely type of restaurant you would have wine with your meal. As for food, everything was quite good and good portions. The daily special on the fresh mozzarella appetizer was exceptional. I had the veal - nicely prepared and tasty; my guests' pasta was cooked to perfection and delicious in its simplicity. We sat outside on a beautiful night which ended up being a great plus for conversation - the dining room seemed to be a little on the loud side when busy.
(4)
David M.
I grew up with my Italian grandmother living upstairs, so I appreciate fine Italian food and restaurants. imho, that Olive chain is not what I consider a fine Italian Restaurant. La Masseria is however among the best, including those on Federal Hill and Boston's North End. While traveling on business I stopped into La Masseria in New York. I was really impressed by the food and the service. What a great place. When I got back home I told my wife about this great restaurant in NY I went to the website I was thrilled to find out they also have a location in RI. I went to the RI location with high expectations and I was once again impressed. While the food in NY was just a touch better, the ambiance is RI is much more cozy and quiet. Either location is truly top notch.
(5)
Chris D.
What a gem of a place. We started with the gnocchi main and split it as an appetizer. What a pleasure - fresh made, light and delicious. I had the veal with mushrooms and truffle oil while my wife has the chicken with sausage. Simply delicious. Save room for dessert - the tiramisu was big enough to split. We will be back.....
This is an incredible restaurant. My wife and I had dinner there...never been before, and they made us feel like regulars. Nice menu options. Not overwhelming. Great wine list. Excellent service. Recommendations: get the Rib Eye! Oh my goodness...it's insanely good! Also, the meatball app? YES...get that too! Love this joint. Will definitely be back. One good tip: If you're on a date, or with someone you want to have a quiet conversation with, the upstairs seating is more desirable, as the downstairs bar scene can be somewhat lively.
(5)
Rebecca R.
I've been to La Masseria on two different occasions for dinner. Beautiful ambiance in this little restaurant on Main Street. A romantic setting, great for date night or to celebrate an anniversary. The stuffed mozzarella is a great start to any meal, not your typical mozzarella sticks - oh no my friends. Fresh mozzarella rolled up with meat and i'm thinking basil... delicious. diced tomatoes are all over the dish. service is amazing, they split the appetizer and serve it for you. no awkwardness over who has the last piece, etc. They take care of it all for you! The salmon is to die for. My only complaint would be the sides are small - you get about 5 slices of zucchini and 5 or so potato bites. but the salmon and the mustard sauce that tops it is heavenly. each piece of salmon slides right off of your fork and melts in your mouth! good to the last bite!
(4)
Jay H.
Always has fantastic dishes, 5 star service and THE GREATEST DESSERT I HAVE EVER HAD, the ricotta pie. No joke, you will regret not getting this. Homemade meatballs as an appetizer is also a fantastic choice.
(5)
Kevin C.
I'be been twice now. Food was excellent both times. It is s little pricey, but you get what you pay for.
(4)
Leona C.
Great atmosphere. The staff is friendly. And most importantly, the food is great!
(4)
Kevin C.
Great place!!! Staff great! Service awesome! Food perfect. Highly recommend this place for a date night. Cheesecake was the highlight!!
(4)
Patrick B.
I might just be getting lucky lately, but WOW. Service 5 Atmospher 5 Food 5 No wonder they have a successful place in NYC. I am extremely glad and satisfied they brought it here to Rhode Island. Lets start off by the accomodations the management made for a nice table for my date and I. The server, was world class. He recommended everything we ate, from the mozz and pancetta, to the meatballs, the the lamb special, and even the bottle of vino!! A great getaway from providence and now on the top 5 list for me. WONDERFUL...
(5)
Scott K.
The food is consistently great at La Masseria. I've been here a number of times, and have never been disappointed with my meal (whether it's an appetizer, salad, meat, fish, pasta, or desert - it's all delicious). The stuffed mozzarella balls (ha ha he said, balls...) are amazing, and the ricotta cheesecake is not to be missed. While the setting can be romantic, the scene can be a little too, "Hey, I live in EG and I drive a Bentley" for my taste - especially downstairs. Divorce attorneys and plastic surgeons should loiter at the bar and pass out business cards to patrons. I've also had some interesting conversations with the wait staff (conversations that would have completely offended a more politically correct person) that have left me saying to myself, "Did he actually just say that out loud?" If you're in EG, looking for some great Italian food, and there's a 2 hour wait at Sienna, do yourself a favor and check this place out. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.
(4)
Kerri S.
Great place. We had a warm welcome from the manager who seated us right away. We arrived for a late dinner Saturday evening and seemed that most people we finishing their meals. As one review mentioned, the fresh stuffed mozzarella is wonderful. Everyone at our table greatly enjoyed their meal. The gnocchi was fantastic.
(5)
Wendy O.
Pros: Excellent service, fresh food. I thoroughly enjoyed the gnocchi and my husband was only satisfied with his special pasta dish. Cons: Bread wasn't warm, small pieces, not terribly tasty. Despite the fantastic reviews there was little on the menu that looked irresistible to us, and we didn't leave saying "We can't wait to go back". In fact, my husband said, "I'm not sure I'd go back". Bummer because we live in EG and are on the hunt for our favorite dinner spots.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Dan S.
Finally got to trying the Rhode Island version of this NYC eatery...some comments: - ate here within the 1st month or so of opening, so I try and cut them some slack...but since they have an essential carbon copy in NY, I don't cut them THAT much slack... - restaurant is more cramped than others in the area (Post Office, Siena, et al), but the six of us never felt short on space at the table - we didn't get the server that was normally assigned to our table - not sure what happened here, but it felt like we got a bench player...this all became apparent when, after we were seated, we were somewhat forgotten...a lack of attention also became obvious during our meal - we could have easily ordered another round or two of drinks, but the server was seldom to be found... - were told they didn't have anymore ravioli (the choice of two in our party) at 8pm on a Saturday night...really??? Then, five minutes later, they suddenly DID have ravioli...???? - portions are small - I was not starving when I left, but would have expected a bit more on my plate that's all the bad stuff...some good stuff: - the food was terrific - i had the Gorgonzola gnocchi, and sampled the ravioli in capri sauce, which was light and delicious... - the decor is nice - bright...the farmhouse vibe also lends itself to being a little less casual than other places... - i live within walking distance, but the valet parking is a good touch for this location... - prices are not bad, but they are also reflective of the portion size...pretty much par for the course all in all, I'll definitely give them another shot - the service definitely needs some work, and the coordination between the kitchen and wait staff (aka: be aware of what you are out of before I place my order) could use some refinement... Siena is still my go-to place in EG for upscale Italian, both in terms of the food quality/variety and the impeccable service, but La Masseria could make it to my dinner night list with a little polish...
(4)Kevin M.
First visit last night. Food was a 8 out of 10, specifically, our table had 5 different pasta selections and they were all exceptional. Gnocchi, ravioli, linguine - the sauces were remarkable, the pasta well prepared and delicious. Ravioli and Gnocchi were stand-outs. This restaurant opened less than a month ago and I would say they are well on their way to a successful run on Main Street. Only negatives - 1) staff seemed a little frazzled. We probably would have bought another round of drinks (or two) had the wait staff asked. 2) While on the subject of drinks. Drinks arrived in a variety of glasses - meaning same drink different glass each time. Vodka in tonic first in wine glass, then short rocks glass and then tall glass. Nitpicking, but definitely something we all noticed.
(4)Jim O.
Excellent Italian cuisine in a nice setting.
(4)LINDSAY N.
4.5 stars. Delicious, real, Italian food. The service is top notch and the ambiance is great - intimate but vibrant. We will be back!
(4)R F.
Been going here for years. Used to be great but we've noticed the food and service going down over time. Last night was the icing on the cake. Extremely rude wait and management staff. Not our idea of a great dining experience. There are much better (and more pleasant) italian places to eat in RI. We won't be back.
(1)cynthia c.
This restaurant has it all. I should disclose that I love the Manhattan La Masseria, so when this opened in East Greenwich, we were curious to see if there was the same level of service, atmosphere, and quality of food that is present in Manhattan. I am happy to report same level on all accounts, and we were not disappointed in the least. I LOVE this restaurant. The food is so fresh, and so authentic that I could be in a small town in Italy, talking informally with the owner while everyone bustles from table to table, checking in. The atmosphere is warm, and the design work is beautifully executed. The service, the knowledge of the food from the staff, and the actual tastes are what bring us back time after time after time. We have never had a disappointing meal, and in a world where customers are disposable, La Masseria goes to the extreme to insure that you will want to come back. I have seen the same repeat customers when I have been there, so apparently we are not alone in our love and in our admiration for this spectacular place. I do not give five stars easily. This is my first five star rating on Yelp. This restaurant justifies the rating, and you will be in for a memorable meal, and a charming experience. Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer M.
Absolutely delicious food and excellent service.
(5)Vaji D.
Slow service food was bland, little taste. The pasta did indeed seem fresh and good quality. Small servings as well. Desserts are not made but purchased.
(2)Jeff H.
As most everyone knows by now, La Masseria in East Greenwich is a second operation by the same owners of La Masseria in NY, which by all accounts is a great restaurant. Unfortunately, duplication of the same experience is not happening in RI. Both the food and service were mediocre, the latter suffering the most. We had four to our party with one person popping in just a few minutes after we were seated. We specifically told the server we had one more guest joining us but she cleared the menu from the empty seat anyway. We ordered a fried seafood appetizer consisting of fried calamari, shrimp and scallops. It was lightly battered and was delicious despite the watery marinara sauce it was served with. The entrees arrived soon after we were done. However, the server had yet to clear the appetizer dishes. Fortunately they cleared before serving the main course but left the dish of marinara until half way through. The runners who served the entrees completely mixed up who got what. Everyone enjoyed their entrees but all agreed the food was not hot enough. Mine was approaching luke-warm when it was served. Presentation was average. After, our entrees were cleared our server asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu. I and another guest said yes, and she gave him a menu but left without giving me one. Coffee was also ordered while one guest ordered espresso, which was served in a full size coffe mug. It filled the cup up about one third of the way. Our visit confirmed if you want good Italian in RI, as always, Federal Hill is the place to go.
(2)Briana M.
The experience that I had at La Masseria on Christmas Eve was heartbreaking. It still smarts, hence the fact that I haven't written a review yet. Alas, today is the day that I sack up and write, despite my misfortune. As a modestly seasoned diner and restaurant worker, I understand that a visit to a restaurant on Christmas Eve is not necessarily indicative of a meal on any other, less frantic evening. HOWEVER, I also aspire to the 'suck it up' philosophy of running a restaurant: the management staff is in charge of their reservation list for the evening, and they should be able to assess how many people they can serve, feed, and keep happy based on their floor staffs, kitchen staffs, and bar staffs. If a restaurant cannot make this assessment accurately, it is a huge demotion. Also, as they have been open for over a year, no new restaurant slack can be cut. Unfortunately, La Masseria made a holy error in their calculations of what they could handle, evident from the minute we walked in the door until we left that evening. We had a reservation at 7pm and were seated forty-five minutes later. Again, I can understand a delay, but that's out of the range of acceptability. Our table was upstairs, and then we waited for a server. Then we waited for drinks. Then we waited for bread. Then we waited for apps. Then we waited for drinks. Then we waited for salads. Then we waited for our meals. Then we waited for dessert. Our experience was probably 85% waiting (which, I may add, we are more than capable of keeping ourselves entertained, but this was just ridiculous) and 15% enjoying La Masseria's offerings. To their credit, the homemade pastas and sauces were executed well. However, the server was way off-point in helping us assemble a meal with appropriate portion sizes - even though we solicited his guidance. The pasta portions are not main portions, but instead mid-course size to be enjoyed after appetizers and before the main course. This is a traditional Italian practice that I am all for - but it definitely deserves mentioning. Apparently, our server did not get that memo from the kitchen. Again, my family is not the hunka hunka burnin' portion kinda family, but we certainly like to be satiated. Between all the waiting and the small portions, I was ready to strangle our server out of a. frustration and b. hunger. Some more food notes: Gnocchi in vodka sauce was delicious (if you order the gnocchi, get it with the vodka sauce and NOT how it is presented on the menu unless you like really, really, really stinky cheese). Bucatini with bacon and butter was also delicious. The homestyle meaty pasta was not so meaty. The ribeye special was a charred, fatty mess that required way too much butchering on the plate (this was ordered in absence of a filet option). The frites that accompanied the steak were one of the best parts of the meal (!). The meat and cheese plate for four was an ABOMINATION, included four slices of one type of cheese, five olives, and two slices each of mortadella and proscioutto all thrown on a white plate with no attention to presentation. The ricotta pie was referred to as cheesecake, which, if I am not mistaken, are VERY different things. It was delicious, yes, but why call it cheesecake if it is ricotta pie? All in all, this was a horrible meal experience. However, the pastas were a glimmer of hope. I'd try it again. As a two-top. During the week.
(2)Anita I.
Opening a restaurant in East Greenwich is a hit or a miss. It can be the hot spot for all of the socialite townies (elite, finely dressed, air smooching snobs) or it can quickly plummet and become something like a senior citizens center, which is always the end of a restaurant career when the 'snow birds' fly south to Florida for the winter. La Misseria has remained untouchable. It is the perfect harmony of all groups. The decor is so equisite with its rustic yet traditional feel. You almost feel like you're under dressed, until you are greeted with authentic smiles from sharply dressed management. The food is like an out of body experience. It begins with a basket of fresh bread, your choice of foccacia, bread sticks or crusty grain. The highlight of the bread basket is the side of lentils in olive oil to dip. People that I know have tried to replicate this with little success. The menu is fairly priced for the service & level of food quality/preperation. I've had the I CUCUZIELLI FRITTI ALLA PINO, which is julienne zucchini, delicately fried in a light tempura batter. You can't stop nibbling on these, they are so good! I think I could even replace french fries with these bad boys. TERRA MARE DEL TAVOLIERE is not for those afraid of tentacles, but if you want to try something delish, worth it. Its baby octopus, grilled and served on a bed of rabe and pureed fava beans, all drizzled with olive oil. It all truly melts in your mouth. I have not yet tried the giant meatballs, but I've heard that they're out of this world. The pasta is all freshly made with just the right consistency to it. I had a dish, of course the name eludes me, that was pure decadence. Truffle mushrooms, tossed in light yet buttery sauce with fettucine. The truffles were pungent yet balanced the pasta and butter. The last dish that I tried was SCIALATIELLI QUATTRO PASSI, thick/short fettucine with eggplant and smoked mozzarella, all tossed in a flavorful red sauce. The food is incredible. The only thing that I complain about was the overzealous waiter that seemed to be popping up every 5 seconds. He really pissed me off when I could see him peeking behind the wall, just waiting to come back and pick up the check. He was peeking all night, and I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he had a date with someone spectacular after his shift? Stalker server that wanted to rush us, not so cool. Either way, this place is still on the top of my list.
(4)Daniel W.
LOVE THE SPACE AND AMBIANCE. The service is always great. The problem is the food. Have been there at least 8 dinners. Most have been just OK. Last meal veal and mushrooms JUST AWFUL!! Dennys would have been better. Plan to go down the street to another Italian restaurant with less ambiance but great food.
(1)Deborah C.
Fantastic meal! The absolute best imported mozzerella cheese I've had since visiting Italy.
(5)John U.
It is very rare that I can give anyone a full 5 stars. Everything here is amazing and they always seem to exceed my expectations. It easily blows away anything in Providence and is in my opinion, one of the top two restaurants in RI. I wont get into specifics on any dishes because i cant be critical of anything. High prices but well worth the money.
(5)Jack A.
Very disappointed! Waiter very NYCity. Didn't ask for drinks but wanted to give specials. Very rushed and disorganized service. Salad came right behind cocktails with food order following right behind. Served the men at the table before the women. My tagliatelle bolognese arrived as a clotted mass of pasta with limited sauce. Obviously pre cooked. Definitely not a candidate for a second visit.
(1)Christopher F.
So far La Masseria is my favorite Main St. restaurant. The atmosphere is what you want it to be. Choose to sit by the window or outside on a nice summer evening, select a table is the electric downstairs seating area, near the bar and host or move upstairs for a more intimate meal. We have opted for this latter option on our last couple of trips, date nights for us parents so we wanted to have a little quiet and some adult conversation! Styled as an upscale Tuscan villa, you feel comfortable but aware of its refinement when there. From beginning to end the service is top notch, friendly and attentive, not overly formal but never boorish either. We enjoy selecting one of their (well known) mozzarella appetizers, as they are always amazing. Great variety and always served with the proper accompaniments. We have eaten dinner here several times and only once was my wife underwhelmed with her selection. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I have ordered whether a menu staple or special. Pastas are fresh and sauces delicious, meat and fish prepared superbly and a nice wine selection to compliment the meals. Everything bursts with flavor, making for memorable and enjoyable meals. I expect to return many times over the years!
(5)ric g.
Went back a second time. The staff is great, managers Pepe and Enzo add to the overall experience. The gnocchi melts in your mouth, the meatballs are incredible, and the buratta cheese is an unbelievable treat. Make sure if you are eating Italian, that you eat here.
(5)Lisa P.
Service was top notch, food was wonderful (a bit overpriced), wine list is phenomenal (again, a bit overpriced), all told, a great restaurant. The bread was served with a lentil/olive oil dipping sauce, which was very nice. We had the beef carpaccio with very fresh arugula and a tasty shaved parmesan for an appetizer. The homemade fettucini bolognese was out of this world, homemade ravioli also very good. Sea bass was cooked perfectly, but sadly served with a bland side of mixed veggies (fortunately we added some sauteed broccoli rabe so weren't left without good veggies). No substitutions on the veggie side dish should be reconsidered :) we'll definitely go back!
(4)Chris R.
A-OK is actually a great way to put this place. I was expecting to have my mind blown after hearing from friends the first time I went. Service is decent (our waitress was a bit rough around the edges) , prices are a bit high for what you get. Drinks are good and is a great place for a date. If your date is a picky eater then head to another place. To their credit, it is seriously right out of Italy. Its not an Americanized Italian place so don't expect veal parm. Everything was great, I would give 3 1/2 If possible. I only ding this place because of the NYC prices and the menu is a bit limited if your not and I hate to use the word "foodie" or Italian. Average Joe and Jane Smith are probably not going to like it. I realize EG is affluent, I grew up there, but it seems this place priced its menu like its NYC sister restaurant. I have zero problem spending lots of money at a great place Like La Bernadine or NOBU in NYC or insert your favorite great place. The Point is this place doesn't deliver for what their prices demand they do. I should walk out of their not caring that I spent $200+ for two and I didn't the way I do when I leave others in RI like the classic Capriccios, TEN, Alforno's, SIENNA or a Good Steak House like Mortons, Capital Grill, Prime ect...
(3)Joe C.
My wife and I went to La Masseria for the first time for our anniversary. We had a reservation so we were able to sit right after we walked in. It was college graduation weekend, so I'm glad that we made a reservation. The atmosphere is nice - rustic Italian. Our waiter was knowledgeable and knew all 6 of the specials with out reading, but he did seem a bit disengaged. He didn't really make eye contact, would look out the windows when he was talking to us and the attention we did get was the bare minimum. The menu is not all that exciting, just traditional Italian fare. We had a hard time picking appetizers because nothing jumped out. We settled on the meat and cheese plate and a mesculin salad with string beans and warm goat cheese. My advice, don't bother with the cheese plate. The waiter didn't tell us what it was we were having and when we asked him, he didn't know. He came back and told us the names, but not what kind of cheese, where it was from or anything. There was only one kind of cheese and it tasted like Monterey Jack. There were 4 meats ; 2 pepperonis - one sweet and one spicy, some prosciutto and something else that looked and tasted like deli bologna. If you go out and really want a good meat and cheese plate go to Siena Enoteca just down the street. It is SOOOOO much better. The salad was good, but not great. The one thing that made it was the goat cheese. With out the goat cheese the salad would have been really disappointing. At this point we were getting a bit concerned and were making jokes about what would be included in the Yelp review. The entrées came out next. My wife had short cut thick fettuccini with eggplant & smoked mozzarella and I had a special - ravioli stuffed with ricotta and egg yolk with a black truffle sauce. Both of the entrées were AMAZING. The ravioli plate only came with 2 and I thought that it wouldn't be enough. However, it was so rich that it was the perfect amount. The eggplant was cooked perfectly and the mozzarella was just fantastic. The only issue was that the fettuccini was neither short cut, nor thick. It was just regular size. Despite that it was still very tasty. For dessert, we spit the ricotta cheese cake. We didn't get coffee or after-dinner drinks so we assumed the cheese cake would be out rather quickly. This was not the case. Easily 20 minutes went by and when the cheese cake did come out the waiter just said that the kitchen "dropped the ball" and he yelled at them. No apology, no explanation - that was disappointing. The cheese cake was really very good but the wait was excessive. To sum up some of the meal was really good, and some was not that great. The prices were OK, less than the NYC version of the same restaurant but higher than other things in East G. If you really want a great Italian dinner in EG skip this and go to Siena.
(3)Emma N.
Absolutely melt in your mouth delicious! The menu and specials all sounded so good it took us forever to decide! We started with the mozzarella and a salad with goat cheese for starters - very good. I had the ravioli (YUM!) and my husband had the chicken special with truffles - we both all but licked the plates clean. Delicious! Then we chose the cheesecake and the tiramisu for dessert. Everything was wonderful and our sever (Matt) was fantastic despite being overwhelmed by 10+ tables. We never noticed and there was always someone there for drink refills or to answer question about the menu. So glad we chose La Masseria!
(5)Amanda S.
Amazing! Great food, service and atmosphere. It was a delicious meal and fun night out. Can't wait to come back! Just as good as the NY restaurant!
(5)Steve S.
Went there the Sunday after Christmas, and the word that kept coming up was underwhelming. Let's go course by course: For our appetizer, we split the trio of fried seafood: calamari, scallops and shrimp. The calamari were overcooked and tough, the scallops oversalted and gritty, and the shrimp were a bit over as well, but not the extent the calamari was. It came with a pretty standard marinara dipping sauce and some lemon wedges. The lemon helped a bit as everything was pretty dry and the flavors were muddled, but this was a flop. You can get better fried seafood at any clam shack in South County for half the price. For the salad, we split the frisee with bacon. I love bacon, but it dominated the salad. The greens were nice but overdressed, and the dressing needed some acidity to balance it out. Luckily we had the lemon from the fried seafood mess, and that helped quite a bit, but the bacon was too overpowering for the salad to stand up against. Another unsuccessful dish. For our mains, we had the grilled chicken with leeks, the rabbit, and the lobster with linguine. The grilled chicken was one of the most unremarkable dishes I've ever seen. It was pounded chicken breast grilled with some salt and pepper, served with mash and mixed veg. The mash may have been instant, and the veg was fine, but it didn't compliment the dish in any way. It was just thrown on the plate and wasn't thought through. It came with one leek and no sauce. I don't know what they were thinking when this was put on the menu. I ordered the "roasted" rabbit, as the waiter described it to me. When I think roasted, I think crispy skin, roasted in an oven. This was essentially stewed rabbit served with a red sauce of little consequence, with the same sides as the grilled chicken. The rabbit had a consistency of pulled pork, and wasn't entirely flavorless, but wasn't good by any stretch. Another disappointment. The final dish ordered was the linguine with lobster. The linguine was stuck together and looked more like Pad Thai noodles than Italian pasta, and the lobster was overcooked and tough - this seems to be the theme with the seafood. Luckily, we ordered the pasta with broccoli rabe and bacon for the table. This was a standout dish - fresh pasta, the bacon and broccoli worked well together, just really delicious overall. For dessert we had the apple tart with ice cream. I'd bet that this was frozen, and may have been made by Pepperidge Farm. The apples were mush but the vanilla ice cream was good. Still, good vanilla ice cream isn't a tall task. The service was fine, though it was a bit amateurish. The waiter seemed a bit confused when we had questions for him, but he did try hard. The place has potential, because they showed me that they have the ability to make a good dish. The menu isn't well thought out, and the entree selection leaves me wanting. It looks like pastas are what they can do, so maybe they should expand on that part of the menu, cut back on the entrees and emphasize that you should order pasta. I won't be going back as there are better options at better prices on Main Street. Let's hope they can make some changes.
(2)Jack M.
$31.50 for 4 bites of some kind of fish with no taste but that's the good news neither the waiter, manager or owner could care
(1)Betsy F.
An Italian restaurant that is really Italian. Great food, lively atmosphere, wonderful wine list and a super staff. The place I pick when it's my turn to choose.
(5)Jennifer G.
I went here a year ago and loved it. I went back a week ago excited to have the same experience, and unfortunately was disappointed. I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. As an RI restaurant, I would expect the clams to be of decent size, but they were so small - pretty much illegal size. The whole dish lacked flavor. Clams are not hard to come by in RI, they really need to step up.
(3)Leana M.
Awesome food, awesome service! Will definitely go back!!!
(5)Grace M.
This is a lovely spot. Great for a date night. Prices are a bit high but the food is consistently excellent and the service always on point. We are fans of the risotto (preparation changes daily) and the gnocchi. The pasta with eggplant and smoked mozzarella is also a favorite. The bartenders make great Manhattans, too.
(4)Lindsay W.
Wow, this was greater than I could have hoped for. Was looking for a nice Italian place on the way home and decided to give La Masseria a try, based on the other positive Yelp reviews. The experience was delightful and worthwhile from the moment I walked in the door. The customer service was top-notch. The host pulled the seat out for me and my guest, and the waiter promptly came over. He was a jovial man who knew the menu by heart and made the experience of ordering fun. We started with one of the appetizer specials - a mozzarella pinwheel with eggplant, red pepper and arugula. Was surprised to learn they make their own mozzarella at La Masseria. It was delicious. For the main course, I ordered the homemade fettuccine with eggplant and mozzarella. I'd never had homemade pasta, and it was incredible. As my partner pointed out, it was as rich and smooth as the cheese - truly a unique and impressive flavor. He ordered the potato gnocchi, also homemade. Although the waiter warned of the pungent cheese accompanying it, it wasn't too strong and was just the right flavor. Will definitely be returning to La Masseria and will be probably give the NY location a try as well.
(5)Justyn C.
The food is amazing and the service is what you'd expect from an establishment of this quality. However, as a former neighbor of theirs I can attest to the fact that their valet system treats local residents like crap! I can't count the number of times that I had to wait in my car, in the middle of Main St, while the valet moved all of the cars they had parked in the shared driveway only to find out that they were also using the residential parking spaces in the back lot as parking for their valet service! Again, they have great food... But despite having lived directly adjacent to their restaurant for 2 years I've only been once, purely out of curiosity, due to their managements attitude and poor business practices.
(5)Steven D.
Revisited in the early evening. A casual restaurant for people who dress smartly. I felt good wandering back in. The five stars are confirmed. An intimate place, but a local restaurant was a laid back feel (though the place does smell of wealth).
(5)Monika S.
Extraordinarily superb. Ambience lovely, service top notch, ricotta cheesecake to die for- it's not really even a cheesecake even though that's its name. Its like fluffy airy whipped creamy goodness. I love this place and am definitely taking all guests here. I plan to treat myself more times than not too!
(5)Rich T.
Wife and I made our first and long awaited visit to La Masseria last night. When we walked in door we were greeted by manager ? and hostess. Entrance is in bar area and was quite loud. Fortunately we were seated upstairs in quiet dining area, After seating for several minutes with water provided by bus man, we were handed menus. Waiter was very attentive and took our drink orders. We waited for about 20 minutes without our drinks yet, Waiter took notice and told us drinks were on the way... Manager finally delivered out drinks about 1/2 hour in. I asked if the bar was busy, and to his credit he said they lost or threw away our drink order slip. This is unacceptable at a 5 star restaurant ????. But since we were planning a leisure dining experience, it didn't adversely affect our dining experience. Waiter was excellent and attentive to us throughout evening. Food ..... We ordered appetizer special mozzarella for two... I loved the freshly made mozzarella, wife thought it needed fresh herbs, like basil or mint.... Main Course: I ordered linguine with lobster.... Wife commented that the dish wasn't steaming hot and lobster was in small pieces. I enjoyed though, the linguine was freshly made and had a good consistently. Wife had veal dish,,, but didn't comment either up or down. When I asked her today she thought portion was on small size,,,, Dessert was very good. Overall we were expecting a five star experience and didn't feel like we experienced it. For the record when we received check the first round of drinks wasn't comped. Something that is usually standard in lower end restaurants. If the waiter wasn't so good my rating would have been lower than 3 stars.,
(3)Antares S.
I tried this place out a few weeks ago on my birthday after a very busy day at work. Well... it was a very good culinary present that I bought for myself. I ordered the Braised Rabbit with Wine sauce and it had to be the best meal I've eaten in close to 15 years. It was accompanied by Polenta and shredded Brussels Sprouts, two of my least favorite sides, but turned out to be very delicious and good accompaniments for the main dish. I ate at the bar, and the bartender was quite friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I will definitely be going back and hopefully, I catch them on a night when they have their Braised Goat special, which the bartender told me, is out of this world.
(5)Deborah M.
A Nice addition to Restaurant Row! The atmosphere is old-world "Cucina Rustica" and the food is excellent. My second visit was for lunch -- treating a friend in thanks for helping with my new home -- and I knew it was the right place to bring an excellent Italian cook! La Masseria is reliably excellent and did not disappoint!
(5)Bob L.
This is one of my local favorites. It is a can't miss restaurant with fresh everything, authentic and a great atmosphere.The only knock on the place is the bar is a bit tiny and you really want to reserve in advance. It is SO worth it! ALWAYS get the fresh stuffed mozzarella or the Borata. Fabulous. Last night went for the pasta special with mushrooms and sausage and oil. Incredible. Also had the Badiola wine, a red blend of Sangiovese and Merot..amazing! This is a must visit if you have never been! NYC restaurant is just as good!
(5)Eric C.
Great food always. The rabbit dish is my favorite!
(4)lily q.
Have had excellent meals and service here, recommend ordering whatever is on special. Mix of romantic/fancy and loud older EG and Warwick residents thoroughly enoying themselves at the bar ;) I have seen kids here but would never bring my kids in a million years. Sun and Thurs, I believe, are 25% off wine which brings it down to acceptable price ranges. Nice date night place. Valet. Still haven't been upstairs, will add to review if I ever make it up there...
(4)Pat S.
Fabulous dinner! Great service! Beautiful atmosphere. Great restaurant for a special date night.
(5)Kris M.
Amazing from the moment we arrived. Everyone is wonderful and treat you like u are royalty. The veal fungi is phenomenal and the imported mozzarella is to die for. Bartenders are fantastic and the gentleman whom greats you at the door is gracious, inviting you in like family. Amazing place!
(5)Daniel L.
We had seen this place being renovated and were curious about it since it opened about a month ago. Went here tonight and had an exceptional experience. We had early reservations (5:30 pm) and were seated promptly on our arrival. The menu seems pretty good, as does the wine list (I wish they had an online presence - they have a sister restaurant in NYC, and the menu seems similar). My wife was disappointed they didn't have a martini menu, but our server said they could pretty much make anything, so she had a basic apple martini and I had my stand-by Tanqueray 10, up with olives. We started with the fried squid, scallops, and shrimp appetizer. It was very tasty, not greasy at all. Oh, before I forget, they serve their bread with a whole lentils thing on the side, which remarkably was quite tasty and a nice change of pace from the ubiquitous olive oil. My wife had the risotto, which came with shrimp and peas, and was delicious, and I, on the basis of the first review of this place, had the gnocchi, which was quite scrumptious. We were pleased with the serving size of the entrees, which at first looked a bit skimpy, but in the end were perfect - not too small, and not so big that we were bloated afterwards. We had the apple tart for dessert, which was also fabulous. A couple of notes about our visit: 1) when I called to make reservations on Monday, at first the woman who answered said there were no openings on Friday, but when I asked for something early, like around 5:30, she said that would work, but we would have to be done by 7 pm. Not a problem for us as we don't lolly-gag over our meals (we savor, but don't linger), but it was a little odd, but not totally crazy I guess since they still have the new restaurant in the area smell about them. 2) there was a group of gentlemen at a table nearby and they were quite boisterous. Not a big deal for us given the time of year, and we're not so fastidious or tight-assed that a little noise bothers us. Throughout the early parts of our meal, many people were visiting the table and my wife made the connection that at least one of the men at the table had some kind of ownership interest in the restaurant. Anyway, at some point during the evening, one of the gentlemen (assume ownership guy) tells our server, who was excellent throughout the evening, to comp us our next round of drinks to make up for all the hubbub going on. Totally unnecessary, but a nice touch. After our meal, this gentleman asks about us a little, introduces us to his partner, and inquires about our meal. It's all good we say, and since we live right around the corner, we're definitely coming back to try some other items on the menu. Overall, a great experience. My advice is to make reservations way in advance if you want to go there on the weekend, though, at least until the newness of the place wears off. Of course, given how good our experience was here, and assuming this is the norm for all diners, their reservation book may be full for quite some time to come.
(5)John G.
This is one of my favorite spots in NYC, and I was happy to hear they opened one in RI. Food was fantastic! By far the best meatballs I have ever had other than my moms. The only negative was our waiter, somewhat smug. He made a joke about about the way my wife pronounced one of the items on menu, and also forgot to bring her salad. Hint to the waiter: always keep the women happy. Don't let this stop you from going, food was awesome!
(4)Dominic L.
Love this place, best in RI.
(5)Ryan D.
Went out on friday night to La Masseria. The inside is not really that big, so reservations seem like a must here. Food was excellent. We had received an appetizer that we did not order, tried to return it and they said we could keep it and were not charged for it. It was bruchetta and grilled zucchini. I didnt try it as both are not for me, however my girlfriend said there were good. We ended up getting the mozzarella app. It was very good with fresh mozzarella, tomoatos and prosciutto. . We had the grilled prime rib and pasta with shrimp. Both were excellent. The prime rib was cooked as i requested (medium rare). Since it was grilled it had a nice char all around and very flavorful. The wine list seems to be pretty good. Although I am mostly a Pino Grigio person, so unsure if the red wine list is acceptable or not. The service was very good. Sometimes when you dont even know the waiter is there is a good thing. He refilled our wine without having to ask and brought everything out in a reasonable time frame. It is a little bit more pricey than the rest of the neighborhood, but worth it to me. Its better than going to providence. Would highly reccomend this restaurant to friends.
(5)Niki K.
As close to a true "dining in Italy" experience as I have ever had in Rhode Island. From the small, intimate old world space, to the fresh ingredients, casual pacing and excellent preparation. Your experience here is truly Italian, enjoying your company, fine wine, impeccable but unobtrusive service and a perfectly paced meal, not too much food, but excellent food. I wish my father was alive to try this place. He and I and my family have dined out extensively in northern Italy, from trattorias to some of the finest restaurants, and La Masseria makes us feel like we're in Italy, without spending on the airfare!
(4)Joshua J.
It's fine. Very "Italian" vibe, meaning loud tables of dudes ballin' outta control, ordering as much as their super-sized palates can handle. "Have you tried the meatballs here? My mom knows balls and she recommends these, they are outta control." Overheard verbatim. Service was good, albeit slightly too bro.
(3)Robyn F.
I wanted so much to give this place five stars, but alas they disappointed me when I Asked for the Rabbit dish, and they didn't have rabbit in stock. ( I could tell it bothered the waiter too, to find out this news, but I had my heart set on it ) I ended up getting a shrimp salad, which was very fresh and well balanced, I kind of wish it had more shrimp versus the four shrimp I had on the plate, but that's okay the salad was great tasting. Overall the atmosphere of La Masseria is very pleasant it reminded me of a few of the places I visited when I was in Quebec ( With the exception of the whole Italian vs French thing). Overall I'd recommend this place to someone whom wants to try a good plate of Italian food.
(4)Aimee Z.
I love laMasseria! I've been for lunch, for dinner and also just for cocktails! I've brought my family and my friends! The staff is so welcoming! Sandi, Jose, Andreas, Mallory....all great friends that I love to see. I've met great friends while visiting there and also have run into some of my best friends there too! It just makes me happy to go there. The building is beautiful, very clean & comfortable and I love dining outside when the weather is warm! Some of my favorites include the carpaccio, cheese ravioli, rabbit, egg yolk ravioli on Saturdays, fresh mozzarella appetizers are always great, cheesecake and their homemade ORANGECELLO! I've enjoyed many of their specials so I look forward to hearing what they have to offer. I love the upstairs but typically end up dining wherever they sit me it really doesn't matter not a bad seat in the house!
(5)William E.
Among my worst dining experiences in my 53 yrs. It takes a special level of incompetence to turn an"aged prime ribeye", ordered medium, into a flavorless piece of shoe leather. Then, to have it returned for a new one to be cooked "right away", and have it delivered 30 minutes later when my entire party had finished their meals, my appetite gone, and be offered free dessert as compensation for their "error", with no sign of a manager anywhere in sight, was nothing short of insulting. La Masseria wouldn't know a decent meal if it sat on their face!
(1)Julie M.
I went here recently with a good friend and we had an excellent meal. We split a bottle of wine and the wait staff made sure our glasses were never empty. I had the short rib ragu with pappadelle.........it was so good that I didn't even offer my friend a bite! My selfishness wasn't pre-calulated, I just didn't think of it because it was THAT good! My friend ordered the gnocchi.....and come to think of it she didn't offer me a bite either! (I feel better now!) The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is we didn't order dessert and I just can't give 5 stars to a restaurant without trying the dessert! I'll just have to go back. :-)
(4)Bruce K.
Eleven stars. Okay, nine. Grrr, is five the best we can do here? That's just not fair. Lunch meetings with some friends who live in the area. They said that we wouldn't need menus and they were right. They just told the manager to bring us "whatever" and after asking me if I had any allergies or foods I didn't like (bring me ANYTHING!), we started getting yumminess delivered. It started with tastings of some fab wines. I don't know wine, so I stuck to what I thought was going to be a boring (but good) Italian beer, Peroni. Nope, I was brought a Menabrea. Great beer and if this is where we are headed, it's going to be a great trip! Breadsticks, fresh from the oven. Something with fava beans and shrimp. Something with garlic and octopus. And the main course, a locally caught sea breem with locally caught octopus in a tomato sauce. It was... insane. There's just no way to describe how amazingly good this food was. Oh, wait. There's MORE? How about a bowl of fresh fruit that's been soaking in liqueur for a couple of hours? OMG. Service was excellent. Sante, the waiter, took great care of us. The manager, whose name I missed, actually fileted the fish at table side. I've never seen that done and he was awesome at it. I really felt welcome here. My only complaint? It was a hot and humid day. A couple of fans might have helped move the air around a bit.
(5)Liz D.
Excellent from start to finish! 25%off a bottle of wine. Olive oil and lentils for the delicious bread. Stuffed mozzarella appetizer with sundries tomatoes and roasted red peppers was so tasty! Ravioli special with egg yolk and truffle oil is a culinary masterpiece. Couldn't leave without dessert, Italian Cheesecake and chocolate almond cake were perfect.
(5)Paul D.
This is a great restaurant. I really love thier fish dishes and also the ambiance...especially upstairs is very relaxing.
(5)Jared M.
Some of the best food I have had in my life. I went out with my girlfriend for a birthday dinner and we were both extremely satisfied. We purchased a bottle of white wine that was top notch. Then for an appetizer we ordered the stuffed mozzarella which was gorgeously made and flavorful. For entrées I got oven roasted rabbit, she got pasta and meatballs. Both of the entrées were delicious! Definitely would recommend this to a friend.
(5)Chanceny K.
so we had reservation Sat night at 8pm. My bf requested " we do not want to sit near the bathroom". So when we arrived, we were near the bathroom..of course and this was our first time here. The manager was very very nice though! quick action and move us over to a better spot. Also our table was near a huge birthday party. We had the snail salad (special) really good but heavy on the onion. I would order it again though. My bf had the pasta with meatballs and sausage (grandmother sauce). nothing too special but the pasta was fresh and you can tell its home made. I really wanted the rabbit so i order that... weird thing was our waiter didnt tell us they ran out. They gave me stuffed chicken...not sure why??? I question it and he said "ohhhhh we ran out" very odd. So i order the grilled veal which was really good!!! The manager was very very nice. I just dont understand the mistake on my entree, thats all. Will def go back soon.
(3)Michael P.
We met some friends for dinner here last week during the middle of the week and everything was good or better than good--from the ambiance, service, food, and wine. My partner and I had a drink at the bar before our friends got there. They had a decent wine selection (but not extensive) and the basics when it came to liquor. I order a bourbon to start and at dinner we ordered a bottle of the wine my wife had gotten since it was SO good. I had the Orecchiette pasta which was very flavorful with the broccoli rabe and sausage even though it didn't have a sauce that did not distract from it being an amazing dish. My partner had the risotto shrimp special that was perfectly cooked as well. Our glasses were never empty and our server was always there when we needed something, more than I can say for most restaurants. Many times we do not order dessert, but they had a ricotta cheesecake and this is something that my partner and I can tend to agree on when wanting to split a dessert. We asked our waiter about it and he said it was "life-changing." The cheesecake was pretty amazing as it was in between a cheesecake and custard consistency. The flavor was probably one of the best ricotta cheesecakes that I've had in a very long time. I'm not sure that my life-changed, but we definitely have talked about how good it was every night and that was a week ago. So, maybe it has changed my life as I don't tend to think about dessert that often ;-)
(5)Mugsie W.
Great service by Joe. Ambiance is perfect. I ordered a veggie pasta with homemade parpardelle - pasta was good but veggies seemed like frozen veggies. Carrot sticks all the exact same size, and - carrots sticks in pasta? not a very sophisticated dish. I'd prefer fresh onions, spinach, some roasted red pepper - something more Italian! Sign of a great restaurant in my eyes is how well they pick and cook their veggies. The lentil olive oil dip that came with the bread was great! Loved the area and would definitely go back.
(4)Tip F.
One of the best atmospheres in RI. Great food. Can sit at the bar or have an important dinner. Great wine selection. Authentic feel. Nice outside seating on Main Street in the summer.
(5)Robert S.
Went there for Restaurant Week, but this was my second visit to this establishment. The food is impeccable, the service attentive and cordial, the setting is cozy. We sat outside for a lunch meal and it was very nice. The pastas, the fish, the soups, everything here is top quality. I think it is one of the best restaurants in EG. Could be pricey, but great for special occasions.
(4)Ernie C.
Had lunch here today. Very nicely done little restaurant, very clean, great service. Pleasantly surprised by the menu -- more adventurous than expected. We had salads, meatballs, sausage and broccoli rabe sandwich, chicken sandwich, and a chicken and spinach dish. All were really, really good, well prepared and presented. We don't get to this town very much, but if we did, we'd be regulars. Very highly recommended.
(4)Emily R.
This is a go-to spot for my husband and me! Love the atmosphere and food. I would highly recommend.
(4)Stacey P.
It's been a long time since I had a nice Italian meal out. I love Mike's Kitchen in Cranston, but sometimes you want something with a little better atmosphere and overall experience. Sadly, Federal Hill hasn't left me with any memorable experiences in quite some time. La Masseria in East Greenwich surprised me. This little spot on Main Street is the real deal. The combination of quiet atmosphere, outstanding service and very tasty food add up to one of or possibly THE the finest Italian restaurants in RI. The service is always friendly and good at anticipating needs and wants. Everything I've ordered has been well prepared and the flavors have been spot on. I've enjoyed lunch and dinner here - the attention to detail is the same. The menu is vast with something for everyone.
(5)Sophie K.
La Masseria is a great quality restaurant. From the service to the food to the atmosphere, everything was spot on. We all started with house salads, which were very simple, yet delicious. They have a large list of specials, which all sounded so good it was hard to choose! Each of us decided on some sort of seafood dish-2 from the special list and one from the regular menu. The two specials were a fully filleted Branzino fish and a ravioli with pistachio and fish with tomato and crab sauce. I got the salmon, which was done just right with a nice mustard glaze. All of the seafood was extremely fresh and flavorful. The service was excellent as well. I will definitely be going back!
(5)Chad C.
Superb dining experience special occasion or just tipping back a few at the bar with a fine martini. A must go and the service is excellent. My disclaimer: I really hate Yelp and I think it does a disservice to fine business owners out there by allowing folks who quite frankly should never be heard much less review anything. If I don't like something I'm just not going back and Im keeping my mouth shut. These reviews will be one for the little guy!
(5)Steven And Nicole G.
We both had the margarita pizza and it was fantastic! Big serving and we both ate our own and finished it. We really like the doors that open up to the outside too, felt like we were back in Europe. We will def go here again and most likely get the same thing.
(4)S Nicole M.
Warm reception from the hosts set off a perfect visit to this intimate spot on Main Street in EG. I loved the unique feel of the restaurant. It felt as if I was enjoying myself at a bar in an intimate rustic farmhouse. Ok - rustic farm houses wouldn't have such a classy well-stocked bar, but it really was super relaxing. I have been to the bar a couple of times for a night cap, but never sampled anything off the menu until last night. I ordered the carpaccio - the thinly sliced raw beef was served atop some lightly dressed arugula and generously finished with some parmesan slivers. It was one of the best carpaccio creations I've ever had. Only after being served, did the host tell me that the kitchen was closed and he prepared the salad himself. I felt awful for imposing but such an impressive gesture. I would definitely come back for a full dinner with girlfriends or my dearest. It is the kind of place that you want to share with intimate friends...and it would make a great spot if you're trying to impress a date - or future in-laws. Laid back enough to enjoy anytime, but upscale for special occasion celebrations. I will have to come up with a reason...soon!
(5)Bobbie L.
for excellent, italian food, that is not heavy on the starches check this out... wonderful food -- the stripy bass was delectable and the ricotta/vanilla cheesecake to die for !!! very romantic and superb service... will definitely return on our annual RI trip...
(5)Toni M.
I had high hopes for La Masseria, but I was so disappointed. I experienced an extremely rude waitstaff and over priced so so food. I had the burrata (special of the day) for an appetizer ($26) and the seafood zuppa for an entre. My entre was cooked perfectly (scallops, shrimp, squid, etc), however I've had burrata ten times better and bigger from Venda for $7 and the proscuitto served with the burrata tasted as if it had been sitting out all day. I expected amazing food and an amazing experience, but instead got disappointing food and an extremely rude waiter. I would not go here again- there are too many better places for Italian in Rhode Island (Camilles, Andinos, etc)
(1)Sarah E.
I enjoyed a delicious meal at La Masseria a few weeks back. Its a charming little restaurant located in the heart of EG's Main Street. The place is intimately decorated and the service is exemplary. This place is definitely worth a look in the restaurant-filled Main Street area. I had the BOCCONCINI DI POLLO AL VIN COTTO, FUNGHI E SALSICCIA. It was amazing! Our server recommended the dish and accompanying wine and he could not have recommended a more perfect meal. Love!
(4)Stephen R.
Excellent attentive service. Cocktails were acceptable but nothing exceptional - the wine selection was much more extensive - this is definitely type of restaurant you would have wine with your meal. As for food, everything was quite good and good portions. The daily special on the fresh mozzarella appetizer was exceptional. I had the veal - nicely prepared and tasty; my guests' pasta was cooked to perfection and delicious in its simplicity. We sat outside on a beautiful night which ended up being a great plus for conversation - the dining room seemed to be a little on the loud side when busy.
(4)David M.
I grew up with my Italian grandmother living upstairs, so I appreciate fine Italian food and restaurants. imho, that Olive chain is not what I consider a fine Italian Restaurant. La Masseria is however among the best, including those on Federal Hill and Boston's North End. While traveling on business I stopped into La Masseria in New York. I was really impressed by the food and the service. What a great place. When I got back home I told my wife about this great restaurant in NY I went to the website I was thrilled to find out they also have a location in RI. I went to the RI location with high expectations and I was once again impressed. While the food in NY was just a touch better, the ambiance is RI is much more cozy and quiet. Either location is truly top notch.
(5)Chris D.
What a gem of a place. We started with the gnocchi main and split it as an appetizer. What a pleasure - fresh made, light and delicious. I had the veal with mushrooms and truffle oil while my wife has the chicken with sausage. Simply delicious. Save room for dessert - the tiramisu was big enough to split. We will be back.....
(4)Sharon N.
My boyfriend and I were celebrating our first anniversary and he found this restaurant through recommendations from friends, and through reviews. From beginning to end, it was magical. Great decor-rustic wood beamed ceilings, stone finish walls, yet we sat at a table on the 'edge' of outside. Perfect! We lucked out with a beautiful evening. Service was impeccable, yet friendly. Attentive and non-obtrusive. We each had our own appetizers (octopus/cuttle fish - him, and my beef carpaccio), both were fantastic! At our server's suggestion we tried the homemade egg yolk ravioli (also a recommendation from our friend), which we were able to order one apiece. Fantastic! Moving onto entrées, he had the mako shark in lemon caper sauce (special) and I had the swordfish with fennel orange salade (also a special). Did I mention the wine??? Haha, we shared a half bottle of a delicious Cabernet (though we moved to a glass afterwards because it can be expensive!) Dessert was divine, he had vanilla bean gelato and I had the vaniglia ricotta pie. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT! Truly, it was a custard pie, creamy and smooth. I've made ricotta pie a few times, and if you expect a sort of dry and crumbly pie, this is NOT what you will receive. But it was the best thing I've had in years and years! Absolutely delicious! Service was unbelievable, food was delicious-soup to nuts! We went at 6pm on a Saturday night and beat the crowd. Please go!
(5)David S.
This is an incredible restaurant. My wife and I had dinner there...never been before, and they made us feel like regulars. Nice menu options. Not overwhelming. Great wine list. Excellent service. Recommendations: get the Rib Eye! Oh my goodness...it's insanely good! Also, the meatball app? YES...get that too! Love this joint. Will definitely be back. One good tip: If you're on a date, or with someone you want to have a quiet conversation with, the upstairs seating is more desirable, as the downstairs bar scene can be somewhat lively.
(5)Rebecca R.
I've been to La Masseria on two different occasions for dinner. Beautiful ambiance in this little restaurant on Main Street. A romantic setting, great for date night or to celebrate an anniversary. The stuffed mozzarella is a great start to any meal, not your typical mozzarella sticks - oh no my friends. Fresh mozzarella rolled up with meat and i'm thinking basil... delicious. diced tomatoes are all over the dish. service is amazing, they split the appetizer and serve it for you. no awkwardness over who has the last piece, etc. They take care of it all for you! The salmon is to die for. My only complaint would be the sides are small - you get about 5 slices of zucchini and 5 or so potato bites. but the salmon and the mustard sauce that tops it is heavenly. each piece of salmon slides right off of your fork and melts in your mouth! good to the last bite!
(4)Jay H.
Always has fantastic dishes, 5 star service and THE GREATEST DESSERT I HAVE EVER HAD, the ricotta pie. No joke, you will regret not getting this. Homemade meatballs as an appetizer is also a fantastic choice.
(5)Kevin C.
I'be been twice now. Food was excellent both times. It is s little pricey, but you get what you pay for.
(4)Leona C.
Great atmosphere. The staff is friendly. And most importantly, the food is great!
(4)Kevin C.
Great place!!! Staff great! Service awesome! Food perfect. Highly recommend this place for a date night. Cheesecake was the highlight!!
(4)Patrick B.
I might just be getting lucky lately, but WOW. Service 5 Atmospher 5 Food 5 No wonder they have a successful place in NYC. I am extremely glad and satisfied they brought it here to Rhode Island. Lets start off by the accomodations the management made for a nice table for my date and I. The server, was world class. He recommended everything we ate, from the mozz and pancetta, to the meatballs, the the lamb special, and even the bottle of vino!! A great getaway from providence and now on the top 5 list for me. WONDERFUL...
(5)Scott K.
The food is consistently great at La Masseria. I've been here a number of times, and have never been disappointed with my meal (whether it's an appetizer, salad, meat, fish, pasta, or desert - it's all delicious). The stuffed mozzarella balls (ha ha he said, balls...) are amazing, and the ricotta cheesecake is not to be missed. While the setting can be romantic, the scene can be a little too, "Hey, I live in EG and I drive a Bentley" for my taste - especially downstairs. Divorce attorneys and plastic surgeons should loiter at the bar and pass out business cards to patrons. I've also had some interesting conversations with the wait staff (conversations that would have completely offended a more politically correct person) that have left me saying to myself, "Did he actually just say that out loud?" If you're in EG, looking for some great Italian food, and there's a 2 hour wait at Sienna, do yourself a favor and check this place out. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.
(4)Kerri S.
Great place. We had a warm welcome from the manager who seated us right away. We arrived for a late dinner Saturday evening and seemed that most people we finishing their meals. As one review mentioned, the fresh stuffed mozzarella is wonderful. Everyone at our table greatly enjoyed their meal. The gnocchi was fantastic.
(5)Wendy O.
Pros: Excellent service, fresh food. I thoroughly enjoyed the gnocchi and my husband was only satisfied with his special pasta dish. Cons: Bread wasn't warm, small pieces, not terribly tasty. Despite the fantastic reviews there was little on the menu that looked irresistible to us, and we didn't leave saying "We can't wait to go back". In fact, my husband said, "I'm not sure I'd go back". Bummer because we live in EG and are on the hunt for our favorite dinner spots.
(4)