La Scala Restaurant
1070 N Main St, Randolph, MA, 02368
La Scala Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Randolph for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Randolph for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Randolph for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1070 N Main St
Randolph, MA, 02368 - Phone (781) 963-1700
- Website https://www.lascalarestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Notso H.
It was really a 3.5 stars but I gave them the benefit in the end. I had been here many times years ago but this was the first time back in a while. My friend swears by this place, I think some of it has to do with what you are used to for sauce. Some are used to plain flat tasteless red sauce, some like theirs with some hints of seasoning and some very seasoned. There are also now sauces that are too sweet, when you are in the grocery store just look and all of them have sugar added! Well this place does a decent seasoned sauce but I think they now use a brand that is loaded with sugar or corn syrup or maybe they sweeten it in house. The service was average to just above, it wasn't a peak or busy time though. The drinks were very average but the price was bordering on pricey I thought. The appetizer we split was plain frozen food that was fried up, pretty boring (calamari) The entrees didn't seem as home cooked as they used to be, but at the same time it wasn't just Sysco food re-heated. We split a canoli and had coffee to finish, the canoli was pre-filled long before, you could tell from the soggy shell, the coffee was fair at best and definitely overpriced. The menu had enough to pick from so I know I'll be going back but I'll skip the desert menu.
(4)Patrick K.
The food was... Meh. The service was atrocious. I asked for a simple, two-ingredient drink. Belvedere, up, twist of lime. I got my Belvedere with a squeeze. This happens all the time. And since I'm good for two or three of these, I powered through the first one. She asked me if I'd like another, so I said, Please. But may I have a twist this time instead of a squeeze?" Blank stare. Scurry off. She returned with a cloudy martini. Quoth the server, "She squeezed about four or five lines in there to make sure there was enough." It was my turn to stare blankly. I asked her to return with a martini with a twist. She returned with a brandy snifter of warm vodka with a wine glass full of lime wedges. I stuttered, "But that's not even cold!" She said the bartender had no clue what I wanted. I pointed to the first drink (which was still on the table, and said, "That, with no garnish. Cold vodka in a glass." She absconded with the fist drink and left the brandy snifter behind. She came back with a glass full of ice. I told her to go away, and that I'd figure it out on my own.
(1)Meg D.
The "meh" description with the two stars is accurate as to my feelins of this place. The parking lot is small, but there is a side street that I parked on (and didnt get a ticket), so I assume it's okay to park there. Inside it is very "old italian" dimly lit, dark woods, white table cloths, etc. Tables seem to be crammed in there so if the place was busy it may be crowded. Service was ok, our waitress was borderline rude, but I think thats just part of her "sass". For food I got the Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil salad. It was decent, tomatoes are not currently in season, so that isnt their fault. The cheese was the little tiny balls, and it was a balsamic and oil mixture on top. I would have prefered a drizzle of high quality balsamic instead, but that is just my opinion. There was much more oil than balsamic to be had. For my entree I got the veal parmagian, and my friend got the chicken picatta. We both got pasta on the side. When the food came he got linguini with red sauce smothered on it, instead of the garlic butter sauce. When he pointed it out to the waitress she snidely said that he should have specified that he didnt want red sauce. He asked if he could have the garlic/butter linguine instead. We had to flag her down and remind her over and over. 25 minutes later the pasta came out. Cold. We were both done our meal at that point. He asked to have the pasta boxed up with the rest of the meal. The food was good, was it mindblowing? No. Would I go back? Probably, but now I know what to expect.
(2)Sara C.
Friendly lovely atmosphere full of lots or neighborhood regulars. Caesar salad was delicious. Husband liked the minestrone. But veal Marsala was kind of strange. Decent prices and big portions.
(3)Susan R.
I went there for a birthday celebration dinner. I ordered the scampi. Six very overdone rubbery, small shrimp came out on some pasta. It looked like they had been microwaved. They were inedible. But I said nothing as I was a guest of friends and did not want to complain about their choice of restaurants. BUT, when I ordered a slice of rum cake for dessert, I could not let this slip by. The cake was dry and the cream was rancid. When I told the waitress she left and came back to the table and offered a slice from a new cake as the one I had was from an old cake. !! HUH? Never again
(1)Robert H.
The House salad dressing is still very good. Although the entrees do not come with a salad, the dinner salad is only five bucks and two can split it. I wrote in 2010 that the portion could have been bigger, but that was not the case this time. There was a honking plate of Chicken Creation ( chicken, eggplant, prosciutto in wine and butter ). Few humans could finish it, it was really two portions, so not too bad at $16, considering how tasty it is. The house tomato sauce is not Ragu, mildly spiced, pretty good.
(4)Travis P.
Very very good food and customer service. I am very pleased with my trip here. I will definitely be coming back. Not a bad thing alto say about the place.
(5)Mary Jane J.
At work, we got some takeout for our little christmas shindig. Everyone absolutely raved about how wonderful La Scala is and one of the guys of Sicilian heritiage said the sauce is second only to his grandmother's. A bold statement. I could only think back to a few years ago when I first tried them and the restaurant smelled like a nursing home and the wine was blah. But after trying it again I thought it was...meh, okay. The chicken parm was really good and the lasagna was tasty but sweet Jesus I've never seen such an oily sauce in all my life. And everything was over-cheesed (I am a cheese fiend and it was too much for me). I wouldn't NOT eat it again but I've def had better, I guess my coworkers don't get out very often. :o\
(3)Meg D.
Love LaScala. Meatballs are amazing. I want to soak up every bit of the delicious sauce with that soft crusty bread! Boyfriend loves the tiramisu. It's dark and cozy even if it can be loud when the place is in full swing. Have been a few times now and had consistently great meals and friendly prompt and attentive service. Menu is well priced, and portions are sizable. Good for a special occasion or just a really good meal any night of the week.
(4)Kellie H.
Seriously the best chicken Marsala!!! Each time I've been the waitresses have been awesome! Make sure you ask for the warm dipping oil for the bread too...it's delicious!!
(4)Kelly M.
Great Italian menu at an excellent price. I had chicken parm. The sauce was delicious. The atmosphere was very romantic. Our waitress was friendly. We will be back!
(4)D M.
WOW!!! Heading back from a Red Sox game we just weren't going to make back to Providence. So hungry - we needed something good, and we were very lucky to find this gem! Absolutely excellent Italian food just off the highway. Great staff, excellent service, the bartender made a perfect drink and if course the food was exceptional. Parking lot was small but we parked next door. Don't forget to bring cash or a check - no credit cards accepted. I'd go back again!
(5)Wm S.
The food at LaScala is as good as Italian gets, simple as that. If you want French/Italian (like half of the Itals in the Back Bay) then maybe it's not the place for you. That said, if you have visitors from Italy or NY/NJ, bring them here. They'll be shocked when they get a fresh salad, fresh rolls with oil & garlic, and a perfectly prepared entree big enough for two for $15.00 Can't beat this place....
(5)Melanie D.
La Scala is a nice Italian restaurant with pretty good food, but it has its pros and cons. It's always busy which is a good sign for any restaurant, but means there's always a pretty long wait. It's also CASH ONLY which I really hate. Beware, if you're like me and never have cash! The food is good, but not great. I've tried a few of the chicken dishes and a special - seafood fra diavolo - and of those I definitely preferred the seafood as the chicken dishes were BATHED in both butter and garlic. So they tasted great, but could not have been more unhealthy. Prices are reasonable but there are stupid little quirks like the fact that you get a choice of a salad or pasta with your dish, when typically Italian places would give you both. The ambiance here is very nice, especially in the lounge/bar area. The staff is also pretty friendly and I've always gotten good service. All in all, a pretty solid 3-star review. I'll be back, but not every week.
(3)Michael T.
I eat here several times a year as it's a few streets from where I live.... It's hands down the best Italian restaurant on the south shore.... You won't find any place better. Last night though was a little disappointing as our 45 minute wait was an hour and twenty minutes and our waitress was extremely rude.... Vanessa or Veronica? I've literally ate there at least 75 times and this was the only black mark they've ever had.... You want a great meal and/or a great place to take a date.... This is the place to go
(4)Food L.
went there one night to have a nice family dinner with it took 3 hours to get us seated and to get service it must of took an other hour also when we got the service it was horrible the ladies phone ring and she picked it up while we were ordering the food and and she had a whole conversation with whoever it was and when the food came we all did not like the food the problem with my food was that the gnocchis were frozen and they said they were homemade I could tell that they were frozen because they weren't cooked at all and the were drowded in butter I don't know if they thought the butter was going to cook it or what
(1)Toby H.
Not good - went there for a company function and found the food to be just bad. Shrimp cocktail was so overcooked it was like rubber. When I informed them of my dairy allergy they still put cheese on my pasta and on top of it all the place had a smell which suggested it needed a thorough cleaning.
(2)Kaity M.
This review is for ENTREES ONLY, as the service and calamari appetizer would put this review in the negative range (which is a bummer, because everyone except our server was extremely pleasant). DONTs: Calamari- no flavor; just gummy, fried calamari and the dipping sauce is (or what tasted like) cocktail sauce. House salad- wish I had taken a picture of this one- I could only laugh at this point, after receiving the wrong appetizer and being ignored by the waitress. I was not expecting this salad from an "authentic Italian restaurant" as it was just iceberg lettuce with some giant tomato slices and cold green beans from a can on top. DOs Lobster Bisque (cup, 5.50) - Whoa nelly this is the good stuff. After this (finally) got to the table, I forgot all about the negatives of this place. This is probably the best cup of lobster bisque I have ever had. Scallop Saute (15.95)- These were incredible, and I am currently eating the leftovers as I type this review. Where else can you get a plate of maybe ten scallops in a delicious buttery, maple-like sauce for 16 bucks?--certainly a flavor that I haven't found anywhere else and I will definitely be back for more of these. Linguine with Shrimp and Clams in white sauce (15.95)- after receiving the wrong entree (and wrong appetizer--I don't know why the server didn't write any of our order down; her excuse was that "every other table" ordered the food she had rung us up for) and sending back my scallops to keep warm until my date's order was corrected, we finally were able to sit down with our entrees. This dish was PERFECTLY seasoned and sauced and the shrimp and clams were of quality you'd find in some of the top North End restaurants. So, DESPITE all of the shortcomings of our evening, it was a beautiful night out and we are so happy to know that some of the best italian dishes in the city are right in our backyard.
(4)Nikki B.
I have been a customer of La Scala for many years due to my fathers family golf businesses in South Easton. I have probably been to the restaurant at least a handful of times. For the past three years it has been a tradition for a close friend of mine and I to go every Valentines Day. This is the only time they have live musical entertainment. This particular quartet is to die for. No musical instruments just a group of fantastic voices. They not only sing great but also involve the clients in their talent. But most importantly, the food is to die for. The Gnocchi and eggplant rollatini is to die for. It's flavor is unique and delicious and served piping warm every time. Also on there dessert menu for beverages is a tradition, which is always done, in the Italian family, which is a shot of Limoncello. It is very rare in our day and age that family owned restaurants is still up and running. This is a hole in the wall I highly recommend. Just remember everyone to bring Cash due to the only form of payment, which is accepted. I hope this convinces many of you YELP followers to give this remarkable restaurant a try Sincerely Nikki
(4)Shawn M.
This by far my favorite Italian restaurant , chicken picatta best ever. Always a great meal. Chicken parmigiana is also amazing. You know a restaurant is great when they can afford to be cash only.
(5)Miss L.
Hands down best Italian food in the south shore. Service has always been fast and friendly.
(4)Danielle L.
I feel like the place is over-hyped, I've had better Italian at Johnny Macaroni's in East Bridgewater, the North End, or Federal Hill. It's adequate American-Italian. I find it really odd a lot of the dishes don't come WITH the pasta, it's a side. I ordered chicken picatta and the chicken was unbreaded, the sauce over-buttery, and it was missing some of the salt and acid I associate with the dish. I think I saw three capers on the whole thing and I had to ask for a lemon to squeeze on top of it. The pasta was a side with red sauce, which was a little jarring. Red sauce is okay. Not a ton of flavor to it, your basic marinara. My mom's chicken parm looked better than my meal. The whole place could use a facelift, the back dining room felt like something out the 80s with wall to wall mirrors. Maybe Restaurant Impossible should come do a makeover! Also, who the heck doesn't take credit in 2014? The ATM on site is helpful but I don't like the fees and again . it's 2014. You expect a full-service restaurant to take credit/debit, especially when it's not a neighborhood dive or small business. I sound overly negative but it's really not that bad . . just. Okay.
(3)Lapriest P.
The only reason I am giving this place one star is because the lemon water was the best thing that wasn't on the menu. First off, the salad only consulted if iceberg lettuce, onion and greenbeens....horrible btw. The lasagna had a teaspoon of sauce, no meat and was very bland. The bartenders name was....wait she never told me her name.... wasn't very friendly at all. Never filled my drink and didnt have the nerve to ask me if my food was ok, but wanted to know if I wanted desert, lol! I didnt eat more than two bites of either my salad or entree..... let me think..... hell no. I will not patronize this establishment again. I still left a 20% tip because I have worked in the industry. But, servers nust unterstand that when ur livelihood comes from tips......you must give "service!"
(1)Dick K.
Why? Best italian food around. I had veal parmagon- large portion, excellent melted cheese, superb red sauce. Wife had shrimp parmagon- excellent. Place is loud, only takes cash. Ill be back soon.
(5)Scott W.
I've been eating at La Scala both dining in and Take Out for many years and I can honestly say the food is really good however over the past few times I've ordered from Lascala for takeout if I ordered anything with (Red Sauce) there is not enough to cover the pasta or Veal Parm etc etc. . I got hip to asking for extra sauce when I ordered again (not minding paying for it) the Sauce is very skimpy... Totally different than dining in the restaurant! I don't get this. .. The food is awesome but they don't correct the skimpy sauce problem... This is the only issue I've got with La Scala, the staff is awesome and friendly. .. I highly recommend checking them out and if you do order takeout check the order before leaving the restaraunt so it can get corrected then and there. .
(5)Grace A.
The food was good, but seriously...who doesn't take credit cards these days?
(3)Scott T.
If you don't want to make trip into the North end by far the Best Italian restaurant around.
(5)Louis C.
Went here for dinner this week, food was good, not great, but definitely good. I had the Chicken Margarita and Kelly had the Chicken Parmigiane. I enjoyed mine but Kelly's tasted bland to me. Kelly had the Lobster Bisque which she enjoyed. I had a Tomato and Mozzarella salad, which was good buy the vinaigrette dressing did not agree with my tastebuds. Service was great, our waitress Sarah was very pleasant and quick to offer advice on what to get. I thought that the prices were spot on, sure it's on the higher side of average but this isn't the Olive Garden either. Biggest draw backs were the limited amount of parking. I don't want to be walking the streets of Randolph on my way to an "upscale" Italian restaurant. Also, the place is cash only, however they do have an ATM inside and it's only a $1.75 fee.
(3)Kathy S.
I have ordered takeout three times in the last four months. Each time the food has been delicious! The staff has been so polite and competent. My review may sound very unexciting but all the points I've listed are so important when paying for a meal. Too many times other restaurants have handed over food that has been cold, old or falls short in taste. This has not happened at La Scala Restaurant.
(5)Daniel J.
I generally dont like writing negative reviews...I just look for other alternatives..But I have been going here for many years and would have much more positive feedback then this review of last couple of visits...The food as of late has not been very good...Overcooked shrimps in both cocktail and scampi dishes...size poor as well...Sauce on veal parm flavorless..veal itself breaded like crap...Marsala oily and tasteless as well....same old specials from week to week..Even service very indifferent and blah....All air vents very dirty and dine room smells a bit stale and old..Place needs new ideas and needs to evolve a bit...Still will go once and a while but place is really starting to become dated....Lets get a little creative guys!!!
(2)lisa s.
As Kurt the hurt would say LETS DO IT
(4)Jared G.
Not good. Runny! The chicken margarita was rubbery, drenched in runny butter/grease/lemon. Cheese was dry. The pasta sauce was so watery it wouldn't even stay on the ravioli. A ravioli would be covered in sauce, pick it up with your fork and almost nothing would be on it. So watery. The salad was just iceberg, onions, tomato and literally 1 (one) olive, with again, watery runny, flavorless dressing. Also had the rack of lamb which was ok but nothing special. So disappointing. Our waitress didn't smile once. We felt rushed. Who doesn't take credit?! What a joke.
(1)Peter B.
I've heard people speak very highly of La Scala, so when a friend suggested we go, I was excited. When pulling into the small parking lot I found myself surprised, as I had always imagined a much larger restaurant. Walking in I found the ambiance to be cozy and intimate. We went at 8:30pm on a Wednesday night; there was no wait. The waitress was friendly and attentive. I enjoyed their delicious authentic Italian bread, linguine with marinara, a few glasses of their burgundy house wine, and a cannolo, all for under $ 30, 20% tip included! The bread was delicious, the pasta tasted homemade (I'm Italian), the wine was of high quality for a house selection, and the cannolo was the final touch to a superb meal. While they do not accept debit/credit payments, which is usually a turnoff for me, they had a convenient ATM available inside with a very modest fee. Very impressed and will visit again!
(5)Taryn M.
This was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had!! EVERYTHING was perfect! The food is all homemade, fresh, made to order, and just delicious!!!! And what really made our experience amazing was the service... Our waitress was the best!! I'm going back with everyone I know! Me and my pops went to dinner here tonight and he has been here many times before ( he loves this place), but I have never been. I'm Italian so I'm a tough tough tough critic with Italian food ( I grew up with my grandmother cooking homemade authentic Italian from homemade white wedding soup and homemade gnocchi to Braciole and Eggplant Parmesan.) they know how to cook!! La Scala doesn't overcook chicken, or burn the sauce, or use nasty margarine!! You can tell they use real butter ( the key to good food) and good olive oil, spices, fresh vegetables ( nothing canned or frozen), fresh pasta, homemade sauce, unique creations, just aaaamazing!! Our waitress was sincerely nice and very knowledgeable and attentive (without being annoying or overbearing), she was so amazing!! She made out experience enjoyable and exciting and comfortable. We ordered the escarole and eggplant as an appetizer, ravioli, a chicken dish, tiramisu, wine, Martinis, and gelato. I was satisfied completely with EVERYTHING. Everything came out hot, correct, and delicious. The ricotta in my ravioli was creamy and not dry at all!! They didn't skimp on the sauce either! I loved how they used all different kinds of mushrooms in the chicken plate my pops ordered and how the escarole was soft and dripping in oil, butter, garlic, and lemon!! So much flavor!! The eggplant wasn't bitter or dry and didn't have skin on it...perfect! I hate skin on eggplant yuck!! The tiramisu was creamy and not soggy .... Yummmmy!!! I will diffidently be coming back. Hopefully I get the same waitress again! I'll have to get her name next time!! -- 100% satisfied and more!
(5)Le N.
Food: not memorable.. came with a party of 6 who all ordered different plates.. I can't recall a single dish that I loved. Service: mediocre. I was quite surprise about my visit since my brother kept saying his friend raved about this place. But now that I've tried it myself, I'll probably head into Boston (Giacomo's!) the next time I'm craving Italian..
(2)Anna C.
La Scala is a great Italian restaurant. They do not take reservation, so I usually pop in before it gets crowded. Also, they only accept cash. It is dimly lit with candles, but not too fancy to make jeans unacceptable. If I could pick my last meal it would be La Scala's chicken parm. The chicken must have had the hell pounded out of it because it is perfectly thin and tender. It is topped with scrumptious gooey cheese and the best sauce. I'm picky about my sauce, coming from an Italian family, and it reminds of my grandmother's! I usually get a house salad which is refreshing and light. Another great starter would be the artichoke salad which has the same dressing and a generous amount of beautiful hearts of artichoke. The shrimp parmigiana is the bomb (I recommend selecting the red sauce over the white because the red is out of the world). The veal parmigiana is great. Heck, you cannot go wrong with anything parmigiana at this place. If you are not a marinara type of person, don't shy away from here because the alfredo sauce is also great- rich and creamy. You can end the night off with cannolis, or my personal favorite, the chocolate torte, which is basically just a really good really fudgy cake. mhmmm
(5)Dana S.
Pretty old-school Italian restaurant but one of the best eateries in Randolph. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and they service was incredible. Great place for a private event. Food here is good; they are known for their red sauce. I love their seafood entrees. You can eat a ton here for very little money. Be aware that they only take cash but there is an ATM on premises. Good selection at the bar.
(3)John O.
Great Italian family restaurant in Randolph. The decor is nice, the staff is great and the food is amazing. What else could you ask for? Just remember, cash only.
(4)Kayla B.
Great Italian food if you don't want to deal with going to the North End. I love the salmon with linguine and red sauce. I also love their shrimp. Huge and fresh! Everything is flavorful, fresh, and tasty. When ordering takeout they give a lot of fresh bread which is nice. The only thing is they only accept cash which is inconvenient to most people.
(3)Susan M.
This place is so over rated! The food and service were awful! The salad was a small bowl of crappy wilted lettuce drenched in dressing (even though I asked for light on the dressing). It took over an hour to get our meal. The waitress never came by once to let us know why it was taking so long. We literally sat there for an hour and never saw her. We ordered a glass of wine and she forgot to bring it. I had to hunt her down after 30 minutes to remind her to bring it. It sat at the bar getting warm while she was neglecting us. Then the food came and it was cold. The bill came and they over charged us for items we never received. The manager did comp us a round of drinks because the service was so bad and the kitchen was so behind, but it won't make up for the bad meal and service. AND, they don't take credit cards which means they must be mafia!!! Who the hell doesn't take credit cards? AWFUL experience.
(1)Chris M.
My family loves La Scala. We have had many events there, they have catered events for us, and we probably go 1-2 times a month. I work downton and frequent the North End and La Scala is better than most of the places there, has parking, and is more affordable. Is cash only, but they have an ATM. Like anyplace service can be off or on depending on the night, but you can rest assured when the food arrives it'll make you feel like you're in an old Italian family.
(5)Joel C.
The waitress we had was amazing, however it didn't make up for the food. Clams casino was done terribly. I had the chicken creation which was overly sweet and dry. My wife enjoyed the llinguine and mussles. The reason i am giving this restaurant a 1 FOOD POISONING! We just moved into the area and it was the only thing we ate that. Have been sick two days now. Very disappointed considering all the good reviews this place got
(1)Rachel G.
Recommendation: Get the Chicken Bona Boca. Delicious. I recently strayed from the Chicken Bona Boca and was very disappointed. I enjoy good veal and seafood dishes so it speaks volumes about the quality of the dish that a chicken meal beat out any other items on the menu! My boyfriend ordered the Eggplant/Veal Parmesan combo and was pleased with it but during a later outing, ordered a stuffed veal special and was very disappointed with it. I agree with other reviewers that consistency might be an issue. The waitress gave us a "tip" the last time we visited. You can get the addictive olive oil and garlic dipping sauce for your bread, upon request ONLY! Bad news is the bread is dry and bland. Nothing special. Some nice warm rolls would be a nicer touch. Wine list is okay. Very nice atmosphere, friendly waitstaff (one waitress in specific, i forget her name but she was very sweet). The renovations are beautiful (for anyone who remembers, La Scala use to be a TINY hole in the wall, basement restaurant) but I think they are more worried about aesthetics than consistent quality.
(3)M L.
La Scalable is on the way home from work so I stop by every month or 2 for dinner. Everything I get is good and consistent. I like one of the bartenders so its worth going in for her. Whiskey pours are solid, good pour
(4)Erica H.
Not very good. I had the chicken piccata- way too salty and was drowning in a butter lemon sauce. The chicken was rubbery and it didnt look appealing. The salad before the entree was just a bunch of iceburg lettuce with a couple tomatoes, onions and greenbeans thrown on top- at least it was cold but definitely looked like it was thrown together- not appetizing. Did not like it here- very disppointing.
(1)Nicole L.
I'm giving one star because it will not allow me to give zero. This has to be the NASTIEST food I've ever had. Who puts canned beans on a salad OR in a "nice" restaurant serves iceberg lettuce. And canned soup? Really? and since when is Shrimp Scampi in a red sauce. Oh yes- let me not forget the frozen gnochi. The only upside is the staff is friendly and nice. If you are not a foodie you might like this place. Even the gross food at MacDonalds is better than what I was served here- don't let me get started on the presentation- offensive.
(1)Jesse F.
Food: Terrific. We had the Shrimp Exquisito, a veal dish, and the eggplant parm, all of which were fantastic. Service: Terrible... But it wasn't the server's fault. They carry pagers so the kitchen can alert them when the order is ready. Several tables around us sat and finished before we got our main course. The kitchen either didn't make our food, or they mistakenly gave it to another server. Some regulars told us that it is typically very good, so I'm willing to give it another shot, especially since the food was so delicious. Price: Great deal. It wasn't very expensive at all. Certainly a good bang for your buck! NOTE: CASH ONLY
(4)Camille R.
I've been having some serious problems with the quality and consistency here. Since my first review I've eaten at the restaurant once and have had take out numerous times and each time I'm becoming less and less interested in coming here. And tonight's take-out order from here has compelled me to write this review. My partner's Fettucini starting coming to us so dry, hardly without any alfredo sauce, and once it was inedible. He even tried to add cream and butter, but it didn't help. He finally resorted to asking them to add a little more cream. A couple of times it was like a cream soup, though today it was like a fettucini alfredo should be. Several times the Linguine w/ Garlic and Olive Oil has come back with completely raw garlic (and if you've been here, you know they COVER their linguine in garlic). Sometimes there was almost no garlic to found. Tonight is what really set me off; the top of both orders of linguine was covered is COMPLETELY BURNT GARLIC and the portion was a quarter of what they usually serve! I took FIVE bited of the pasta and was done. It tasted digusting and I sat through my meal thinking about how disappointed I was. How pissed off I was. How sad I was. My partner and his family have been coming here since it was a small shop, more than 10yrs, his father has stopped eating here long ago because of the inconsistency and I'm just about to follow his lead. It's too bad because I really liked this place and they've done right by me for a long time. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and try it out again.
(3)Kelly C.
Not bad. I loved the vibe here. It was very old school Italian neighborhood eatery. The kind of place you'd go to meet up with old friends and talk about "the good ol days". Or just to have some chicken parm. Which is what i was there for. Limited parking. We ended up in front of neighboring business which was closed at the time so no biggie. They only take CASH. This is huge problem for me. I understand that it is cost to the business to take credit cards but this is 2013 (Happy New Year). This cashless society fad is not going anywhere, jump on board to the future. Anywhos. They do have an ATM in the lobby which I appreciated but of course there is a fee associated with it. We had a small wait and got to see the bar which looked like a cool place to hang out for a drink and a bite. We sat at a small two seater table next to a loud groups that was having a reunion of sorts. i didn't mind. Like I said, it's that kind of place. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. I had the clam chowder to start which was very think and good. L had a tomato mozzarella salad which was good but the dressing was a little overpowering. Yummy bread at the table to start. I had the chicken parm (my go to italian meal). It was just okay. I'm not a big fan of it being submerged in sauce and this is what that was. But it was definitely okay. L had a lemon chicken dish. I had a bite and wasn't a fan. I would definitely go back but wouldn't get the chicken parm dish again. I liked the atmosphere. It's a nice date spot.
(3)Kathy S.
La Scala's is just alright...I've lived in Randolph my entire life. To be honest I'm not too sure what all the hype is. You wait minimum 45 minutes in a very crowded spot...either standing or at a packed bar then get packed in to a cramped restaurant to eat pasta. Salad is not free and you have to pay extra for it..which is just ridiculous. You're lucky if you find a place to park. It's like you just found a golden ticket in a bar of chocolate when you actually do find a spot..it's insane. They don't accept credit cards so don't even attempt to bring your ATM card. They do have pretty large portions that taste good. But, it's all pretty standard italian dishes you can find at any italian restaurant that has plenty of parking, takes credit cards and I don't have to wait an hour to sit down. I just never got all the hoopla.
(3)Phantom F.
This place does not like children and they say they are a "family" restaurant. Very rude waitstaff. Do not go there with young children. You're better off to go Papa Gino's and get a better meal or even a tv dinner.
(1)Brittany H.
The food is quite good, but not the best Italian I've ever had. I'm sure I'll be back at some point because it's so close, but my complaint is this: on the menu you have fettucine alfredo, fettucine with shrimp, lobster, or scallops, but I can't get fettucine alfredo with chicken? You're a private owned, non-chain restaurant and you can't find a way to get me fettucine and chicken on the same plate? I didn't think it was that outlandish of a request, but had to settle for just plain fettucine alfredo. The other thing is it's cash only. If you don't have a debit card, plan ahead! We were taken totally by surprise. My boyfriend had no cash but fortunately I did. The date ended up being on me!
(3)David W.
Very good food--huge portions, so be prepared either to share an appetizer and an entree, or otherwise (unless you're super hungry!) you may end up bringing some home. This is like the really good Italian restaurants that your parents (or grandparents, or whomever) would take you to, for special treats. It's always busy, so the food is always fresh. And its customer base tends to be very loyal, which is also a good sign in an Italian place. The caprese salad is a steal at the price. Their mozzarella balls are small and freshh, and not overly salty or stringy. Plenty of basil. Generally good, ripe tomatoes (but not always--hence the 4 stars. Believe me, I think I am being pretty harsh--they really deserve more like 4.5+ stars! In fact, I have other motives, as I don't want them to become too crowded!!) Other stalwart appetizers include their rolled eggplant (like a meal in itself) and their mussels. Calamari is very good, but not heavenly (I'm from RI--what can I say?) Main courses are where they shine. Osso bucco is the real stuff. Their veal tenderloin is really like a braised veal that is true Italian--tender, almost shredded, and full of flavor. Their marinara (gravy, really, as it does have a meat base to it) is excellent, and it also does NOT taste like canned sauce--trust me on this one, people. It tastes like it's made with love, like your grandmother from Itri or Napoli may have made for you. The traditional "Italian American" specialties are dynamite. The cacciatories are particularly good, if not a tad greasy, but in reality, that is more typical of the "Italian side" of the cooking than the "American side" (I have spent plenty of time on both sides). BUT, unlike on the Italian side, the meat is boneless--that's a bit of a shame... The best choices are with either the seafood fra diavolo (with homemade pasta) with lobster, clams, scallops, shrimp and mussels in a spicy tomato sauce (a staple on any good restaurant in Providence, folks, and here it's at 75% of the price, or with the homemade paparedelle pasta with wild mushrooms in a creamy sauce laced with reggiano and truffle oil. At $16, it is an absolutely decadent steal, and should be a permanent part of their menu (who do I have to bribe for that?)! Yes, it is that good. And if you found homemade past with such wonderful fresh ingredients on the North End, you'd be lucky if it only cost you $42 for that treasure! Mangia! And Gary C (et al.) don't worry, obviously you don't know anything about Italian food or what to eat, so I'll be happy to take your seat!! Oh, and I have almost always found the servers to be delightful...
(4)Ryan S.
I thoroughly enjoyed my pasta and calamari here. The service was particuarly good and the waitress was personable and full of friendly recommendations. I will be going back here soon. Would be a great place for a dinner meeting with business associates or a fun family nit out. Good size portions with quality entrees.
(4)Katie R.
Love this place! The wait on a weekend night will always suck and they only take cash but their specialty chicken dishes like Chicken Esquisito and Chicken Bona Boca are damn amazing. Thier red sauce is tasty and the service is always friendly.
(5)Rick P.
Really good Italian. I like their Chicken Creation dish. One drawback is it is cash only.
(5)Jason B.
Found myself down at the ass end of Why-The-Fuck-Am-I-Here-ville last weekend, and stopped into an old haunt for an early dinner. I used to work here, back in the day, (1996) and I remembered that it was a great, old-skool Eye-talian place run by some great old-skool eye-talians who knew how to cook. They haven't forgotten. This place would probably get lost in the city, since it's one of several other Italian places that really knock it out of the park, like Olive Garden and Papa Gino's, but down here in Randolph, La Scala is the proverbial punchbowl floating in a swimming pool full of turds. If your travels bring you to this unfortunate town, at least you'll know that even with no Olive Garden nearby, you can get a great veal scallopine.
(4)Susie A.
We had just moved to the area 2 days ago and we were referred here by our movers and let me just say, what a fantastic experience! The food was simply amazing and the prices were great, especially for upscale Italian dining. We had a salad and clams casino for apps and both of us ordered the special, seafood fra diavlo on house made pasta and it was exquisite! I couldn't believe how much lobster was actually in eh pasta. The owner was very friendly and checked in on us numerous times. Wine list was great (we had a bottle of chianti that was delicious) and our server, Michelle was so wonderful. The atmosphere is exciting and everyone there seemed to be having a great dining experience. My only complain is that they do not take reservations so you can expect to wait a bit, but the lounge is super cool and will make the wait less painful. People complain that they don't take credit cards, but they do have am ATM on site. Menu was exciting and traditional, which is what I crave in Italian dining. This place will definitely be a regular spot for us.
(5)Mister Chub S.
Went back to La Scala for dinner with the fam. and had the Pollo Valencia ($16.50)- very tender pieces of white meat chicken with mushrooms and artichoke in a marsala wine sauce. The meal was very good but I've found that all of the wine and scampi sauce dishes that I've had are just a bit too oily. It's tasty but that much oil seems a bit excessive. I also had two strong G&Ts and rounded out my night with a homemade cannoli that was very rich and tasty. As always the staff there is top notch.
(4)martina d.
Went early on a Friday night without reservation, seated quickly.This restaurant takes personal checks or cash, no credit or debit cards but has ATM on site. Excellent gnocchi, veal and chicken dishes and good specials. Enjoyed Chicken Bona Boca. Tomato sauce is runny not thick and chunky. Regular salad has iceberg lettuce..ugh. Very busy, overflow parking across the street. Good sized portions with enough left over for lunch the next day. Would definitely return.
(3)Gary C.
A+ on the ambience. Service excellent. Food, not so great. Veal parm - 1/4" of tough overcooked veal, 1/4" of breadcrumbs, 1/4" of mozzarella, covered in tasteless canned tomato sauce. Lunch in the $9 range, portions large, good value if you value quantity over quality.
(2)Adam B.
I've been going to La Scala since I was a little kid and it is without a doubt, my all-time favorite restaurant. I would put the red sauce on my cereal for god sake!! The staff is friendly and the prices are more than reasonable considerring the quality of the food and the size of the portions. My favorite is the Chicken Parm but close seconds are the Shrimp ala Mama (Shrimp w/ Mushrooms in a garlicy oily type sauce), Chicken Bona Boca, Veal & Eggplant Parm, and on the app menu, the Shrimp and Clams Napolitano. I've seen some folks complain about the cash only policy but I don't have a problem with it. They do it because they can! Its that good. Every restaurant owner in the world would prefer to avoid fees associated with credit card transactions and I think with the reasonable prices at La Scala, its really not too much to ask to hit the ATM before, or the one inside the restaurant. One last thing is the daytime menu. I call it daytime as opposed to lunch because I equate lunch with a reasonably small sized meal that doesn't put you in a food coma for the day! The prices are slightly cheaper and the menu and portions seem to be identical. We hit it up for an early Sunday meal from time to time. Also a good way to beat the crowds. Go here if you haven't already.
(5)Dawn A.
La Scala is a decent Italian restaurant. Not great, but good. On a typical Saturday night, expect a long wait. It is and will be very crowded. The restaurant has a legion of devoted followers. When my friends and I went this past Saturday night, the wait was only 35 minutes, but a snow storm was looming, so I would bet that had something to do with the short wait. Normally, I have waited well over an hour for this place. The bar is nice. Very comfortable chairs. Not a bad bar to have to wait out for a while if you can get a seat. I got chicken Margarita. It was tasty. A good sized portion. I brought a full half of it home. My friends had Shrimp Scampi, Seafood Medley and linguine Carbonara. Everyone was happy with their food choices. Not "this is to die for" happy, but pleased. The service was not fabulous. The waitress seemed very harried. She came over twice to tell us the specials, as if she totally forgot what she had done. We had to request things several times. Maybe she was having an off night, but the service should have been better at a fine dining establishment. Another thing... they present the check to you without a check folder. Just throw the slip of paper on the table. I thought that seemed a little tacky. White table cloths and candles and no check folder. Picky, maybe. But when a restaurant tries to be a fine dining establishment, they should go all the way. I have one other bone to pick... they charged us for refills on small glasses of soda. $2.25 for a small glass. Also, it's good to know ahead of time that they do not take credit cards.
(3)Shawnte H.
Food was excellent. The waitress that we received was very slow. Otherwise a good experience. Oh and they are cash only
(4)Abigail F.
Best Eggplant app anywhere..hands down..limited parking if takiing out,, but def worth the wait and walk if you park at The Lodge or on Emeline street.
(4)Toni W.
We recently moved back to Randolph and couldn't wait to go to La Scala. We used to go there all the time and always had a great time.. We should have left good enough alone. Me, the hubby , I'll call him W and my Stepson, I'll call him J went to dinner on April 2nd. The menu seemed to be Weaker than we remember but no biggie. Me and J ordered chicken, broccoli and ziti. W ordered chicken parm with ravioli. When the C B and Z came out we were surprised to see that the whole meal was primarily green. The broccoli looked like it had been put through a blender with pesto and thrown on the ziti. The chicken had a very odd rubber consistency. It did not taste very good at all and it left you with a nasty taste in your mouth. W fared a little better. It could have gotten more stars but it was bland. Absolutely no taste whatsoever.. Needless to say neither I or J ate our meals. We decided against saying anything to the waitress and I regret that now. We also decided desert was in order.. How can they screw that up? W got puffy pastry with ice cream and me and J got cheesecake. W asked what the pastry dish was and was told 2 heaping scoops of ice cream and a flaky pastry.. Sounded very tasty...We got it to go because by this time, tums was my only recourse to get rid of that pesto taste in my mouth. When we got home, W immediately opened his desert to find a hard crusty pastry and what could only be describes as a drop of ice cream.. Not at all what was described. W opened his cheesecake only to find that the strawberries and cheesecake smelled sour. Not a nice smell.. I don't know how or why whoever served this didn't detect the smell.. For all of this were allowed to pay over $80.00 with tip. The experience was just wrong on so many levels. Two Words.. NEVER AGAIN..
(1)Kaella C.
I've only ever had take-out from La Scala, but it's basically the same every time. Semi-good food, extremely overpriced, and it also seems to be cooked/prepared a little sloppily. Like someone else said, this place reminds me a lot of Nanina's, except Nanina's was fairly priced (and better, in my opinion). I usually get the Fettuccine Alfredo, but I regret doing so when I get home and start eating it. The pasta is always either overcooked or not cooked enough. Instead of having a nice, creamy sauce with great flavoring, they slather the pasta in this thin, buttery sauce and throw a heap of Parmesan cheese over it. The past time we got take-out from there, I opted for the Ziti with Chicken & Broccoli (only because they don't have Fettucini with Chicken... OK then). The past times I've gotten this, it's been pretty good despite another thin sauce, though this one seems to be derived from olive oil (and they LOAD the bottom of the take out container in it). This time, I got two pieces of white meat, about seven pieces of dark, fatty meat and two halves of a stump of broccoli. This is what I mean by sloppily prepared. For $16, you'd think that this dish would be a little better. I ate half of it and ended up tossing the other half. You can definitely find better Italian food... maybe even at Olive Garden. I don't hate the place, but I don't love it.
(2)Kelly A.
We stopped here for dinner the other night because 1) we were in the area and 2) we didn't want to hit rush hour traffic on the way back to Boston. It was difficult to find a parking spot, but we finally snagged one, and were then greeted by the "WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS" thing on the door. Ugh. Luckily we scrounged up enough cash to afford dinner, but normally we don't tend to carry much cash, so on any other day, we would have left and gone on to find another place. Really, this is 2009. What kind of restaurant doesn't take credit cards?! So anyways, no wine or anything for us, because we were on a strict budget due to the cash-only situation! We were coming from a funeral, so we were dressed up quite a bit, and I think they thought that meant we were going to be big spendahs or something. So they were like, "Oh yes, we have a lovely table in the corner just for you." That was nice, but they must have been disappointed by our meager order. Anyways, we were greeted with some fluffy bread and butter. The bread was good, but the butter was very cold and therefore difficult to spread. I prefer good olive oil with my bread anyways, so that was a little disappointing. Our waitress was incredibly helpful when asked about vegetarian options. She told us that their usual sauce is made from a meat base, and that the meat is just strained out after cooking, so to avoid that. The marinara sauce is totally veg-friendly, so I got the manicotti with marinara and the boy got the eggplant parm with marinara. Both of these were really really good. The sauce was delicious. The portions are also very generous, and we left with enough for another meal. We did save a little room for dessert, and the waitress gave us her recommendations for the best. We went for the homemade bread pudding. Holy rum! That was some serious rum! But really good. We got out of there for around $40. Would we go back? Well, the stars would have to align: 1) we'd have to be in the area, 2) we'd have to be hungry, and 3) we'd have to have cash. So the answer is possibly.
(4)Michael M.
This place was very nice and fancier than expected, I felt like I should've dressed up better than just the average casual clothing. I think this place is great just for a date night. Waitress didnt have any kind of personality and was very quite all night. Food and pricing was decent. I will definently try other places before coming back here again.
(3)David M.
I brought my mother here on a Friday evening. The food was excellent and the service was great. We shared a Clams Casino for an appetizer. It tasted good but did not have bacon or sausage. I had the Chicken Bona Boca. It was delicious and huge! I brought half of it home. It was two chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto and cheese. Marsala wine sauce and mushrooms were poured over it. My mother had the crab cakes that was on their specials menu. She was also satisfied with it. They lose a star because parking is difficult, they don't accept credits cards, and the clams casino was missing bacon.
(4)Jess L.
Considering the expectations of a South Shore Red Sauce Italian hotspot in Randolph..... This place is great if you're looking for good buttery red sauce to go with pasta. I was pleasantly surprised. However, the bad news.....the bread sucks, and cash only.
(4)T S.
I can't say to much about the wait, or crowds because we went at lunch time on Saturday when their closed except for special functions, so I will just talk food, and service. we had a birthday party at La Scala. First of all, the place is gorgeous on the inside, like all the other reviewers said parking sucks, but I parked across the street and it was fine I guess, not earth shattering.They had the Bruins on in the bar area, which was awesome.We had a pre-selected menu for the party, I got the eggplant parmigiana with a side of ravioli, and salad. My salad was SO GOOD, its impossible to screw up a salad you say? Contrair Monfrair, I have had it happen to me many times, so I was happy with this one. I did not like my food at all... I took one bite and was like NOPE, it tasted like seafood.. I did however LOVE my side of Ravioli, everyone in my party who had the scallops were thrilled so I guess I would highly recommend those. We had a birthday cake which they were kind enough to cut up and serve for us. The waitress(cant remember her name) did a good job. I never did get a drink refill or offered but we were kind of a chaotic bunch, so I will cut her some slack, I don't think she smiled once either.. I don't really think I will go back here again next time I am home, but I will always have a special place in my heart for this spot since it was a lovely, lovely day.
(4)Patrick D.
Best bang for the buck. Just as good as the North End
(5)Dee S.
I've been twice now. I have left both times very pleased. I have sat in the lounge area both times and it is a relaxed, upscale feel that won't kill your wallet. I look forward to trying the dinning room. First we sat near the fire with a glass of wine. We decided to eat and asked to move to a table. The food was great and the service was superb. Nothing but smiles and at-ease friendliness. TIP - this is a great first date place guys!
(4)Canna S.
Loved the fireplace! Food is ok for the price. Drinks are heavily poured. Service is ok. Will return.
(3)Lady J.
I must say that when I am craving North End quality Italian this is the place for me. It is right up the street and really good quality. I hate that they only take cash. But I do love their food and ambiance. The pasta is amazing and never disappoints.
(4)Laura H.
Some friends of ours have been raving about LaScala for weeks, so we finally got in to try it. It was a Tuesday night so the place was relatively dead (plus for service, minus for any sort of atmosphere). We sat in the back on the dining room near the kitchen, which I found odd given how slow it was but whatever. The menu is huge and the waitress was prompt and friendly. We ordered a clam appetizer that was decent, but a bit overcooked. For dinner we both had a pasta (chicken parm for me, veal something for the man). The meal was good solid food with a yummy red sauce, portions not huge and not tiny either. We will be back to LaScala to try dining in the bar (which looked inviting) and because the man loves unfussy Italian food. But, it's nothing great compared to the amazing ambiance and inventive food that you can get at many places in the North End. I think that they actually own a place there...wonder if the menu is any different. And, big deal, CASH ONLY.
(3)David V.
We love La Scala! The Homemade Gnocchi is incredible. The marinara that the Gnocchi is topped with is of exeptional quality. I can still smell and taste it. The other dish that we have tried is their Seafood Medley that they serve on top of Linguine. The seafood served is always fresh. The portion sizes are just right. The prices are decent for the quality. We are spoiled to have this place right next to home...saves us from having to go to the North End! Parking is at times difficult.
(4)Mel P.
Yummy food. Expensive-ish. And the tables are so close together and its dark. I couldn't really see my food (but the candles were a nice ambiance) and the food was darn good. So I will be returning. I love good food. This place has it. I hope to see you there... (bring a flashlight).
(4)K F.
If you go in and just get a ceaser salad you will be extremely happy you did. It is old school yum. It has goooooooood cheesy garlicky creamy dressing and really nothing else matters. They get four stars because I am not wowed by everything else they do but very very happy with the food overall. The red sauce is good, the apps are good but not mind blowing. I got a mushroom chicken dish based on another yelper, they said don't get this dish unless you love mushrooms which I do so I did and it was good. Cash is king here as mentioned previously which yeah it is a pain but whatever. Huge portions, Randolph kind of stinks but overall great restaurant. Go and get the ceaser!
(4)David W.
Very good food--huge portions, so be prepared either to share an appetizer and an entree, or otherwise (unless you're super hungry!) you may end up bringing some home. This is like the really good Italian restaurants that your parents (or grandparents, or whomever) would take you to, for special treats. It's always busy, so the food is always fresh. And its customer base tends to be very loyal, which is also a good sign in an Italian place. The caprese salad is a steal at the price. Their mozzarella balls are small and freshh, and not overly salty or stringy. Plenty of basil. Generally good, ripe tomatoes (but not always--hence the 4 stars. Believe me, I think I am being pretty harsh--they really deserve more like 4.5+ stars! In fact, I have other motives, as I don't want them to become too crowded!!) Other stalwart appetizers include their rolled eggplant (like a meal in itself) and their mussels. Calamari is very good, but not heavenly (I'm from RI--what can I say?) Main courses are where they shine. Osso bucco is the real stuff. Their veal tenderloin is really like a braised veal that is true Italian--tender, almost shredded, and full of flavor. Their marinara (gravy, really, as it does have a meat base to it) is excellent, and it also does NOT taste like canned sauce--trust me on this one, people. It tastes like it's made with love, like your grandmother from Itri or Napoli may have made for you. The traditional "Italian American" specialties are dynamite. The cacciatories are particularly good, if not a tad greasy, but in reality, that is more typical of the "Italian side" of the cooking than the "American side" (I have spent plenty of time on both sides). BUT, unlike on the Italian side, the meat is boneless--that's a bit of a shame... The best choices are with either the seafood fra diavolo (with homemade pasta) with lobster, clams, scallops, shrimp and mussels in a spicy tomato sauce (a staple on any good restaurant in Providence, folks, and here it's at 75% of the price, or with the homemade paparedelle pasta with wild mushrooms in a creamy sauce laced with reggiano and truffle oil. At $16, it is an absolutely decadent steal, and should be a permanent part of their menu (who do I have to bribe for that?)! Yes, it is that good. And if you found homemade past with such wonderful fresh ingredients on the North End, you'd be lucky if it only cost you $42 for that treasure! Mangia! And Gary C (et al.) don't worry, obviously you don't know anything about Italian food or what to eat, so I'll be happy to take your seat!! Oh, and I have almost always found the servers to be delightful...
(4)Ryan S.
I thoroughly enjoyed my pasta and calamari here. The service was particuarly good and the waitress was personable and full of friendly recommendations. I will be going back here soon. Would be a great place for a dinner meeting with business associates or a fun family nit out. Good size portions with quality entrees.
(4)Katie R.
Love this place! The wait on a weekend night will always suck and they only take cash but their specialty chicken dishes like Chicken Esquisito and Chicken Bona Boca are damn amazing. Thier red sauce is tasty and the service is always friendly.
(5)Rick P.
Really good Italian. I like their Chicken Creation dish. One drawback is it is cash only.
(5)Jason B.
Found myself down at the ass end of Why-The-Fuck-Am-I-Here-ville last weekend, and stopped into an old haunt for an early dinner. I used to work here, back in the day, (1996) and I remembered that it was a great, old-skool Eye-talian place run by some great old-skool eye-talians who knew how to cook. They haven't forgotten. This place would probably get lost in the city, since it's one of several other Italian places that really knock it out of the park, like Olive Garden and Papa Gino's, but down here in Randolph, La Scala is the proverbial punchbowl floating in a swimming pool full of turds. If your travels bring you to this unfortunate town, at least you'll know that even with no Olive Garden nearby, you can get a great veal scallopine.
(4)Susie A.
We had just moved to the area 2 days ago and we were referred here by our movers and let me just say, what a fantastic experience! The food was simply amazing and the prices were great, especially for upscale Italian dining. We had a salad and clams casino for apps and both of us ordered the special, seafood fra diavlo on house made pasta and it was exquisite! I couldn't believe how much lobster was actually in eh pasta. The owner was very friendly and checked in on us numerous times. Wine list was great (we had a bottle of chianti that was delicious) and our server, Michelle was so wonderful. The atmosphere is exciting and everyone there seemed to be having a great dining experience. My only complain is that they do not take reservations so you can expect to wait a bit, but the lounge is super cool and will make the wait less painful. People complain that they don't take credit cards, but they do have am ATM on site. Menu was exciting and traditional, which is what I crave in Italian dining. This place will definitely be a regular spot for us.
(5)Mister Chub S.
Went back to La Scala for dinner with the fam. and had the Pollo Valencia ($16.50)- very tender pieces of white meat chicken with mushrooms and artichoke in a marsala wine sauce. The meal was very good but I've found that all of the wine and scampi sauce dishes that I've had are just a bit too oily. It's tasty but that much oil seems a bit excessive. I also had two strong G&Ts and rounded out my night with a homemade cannoli that was very rich and tasty. As always the staff there is top notch.
(4)martina d.
Went early on a Friday night without reservation, seated quickly.This restaurant takes personal checks or cash, no credit or debit cards but has ATM on site. Excellent gnocchi, veal and chicken dishes and good specials. Enjoyed Chicken Bona Boca. Tomato sauce is runny not thick and chunky. Regular salad has iceberg lettuce..ugh. Very busy, overflow parking across the street. Good sized portions with enough left over for lunch the next day. Would definitely return.
(3)Gary C.
A+ on the ambience. Service excellent. Food, not so great. Veal parm - 1/4" of tough overcooked veal, 1/4" of breadcrumbs, 1/4" of mozzarella, covered in tasteless canned tomato sauce. Lunch in the $9 range, portions large, good value if you value quantity over quality.
(2)Adam B.
I've been going to La Scala since I was a little kid and it is without a doubt, my all-time favorite restaurant. I would put the red sauce on my cereal for god sake!! The staff is friendly and the prices are more than reasonable considerring the quality of the food and the size of the portions. My favorite is the Chicken Parm but close seconds are the Shrimp ala Mama (Shrimp w/ Mushrooms in a garlicy oily type sauce), Chicken Bona Boca, Veal & Eggplant Parm, and on the app menu, the Shrimp and Clams Napolitano. I've seen some folks complain about the cash only policy but I don't have a problem with it. They do it because they can! Its that good. Every restaurant owner in the world would prefer to avoid fees associated with credit card transactions and I think with the reasonable prices at La Scala, its really not too much to ask to hit the ATM before, or the one inside the restaurant. One last thing is the daytime menu. I call it daytime as opposed to lunch because I equate lunch with a reasonably small sized meal that doesn't put you in a food coma for the day! The prices are slightly cheaper and the menu and portions seem to be identical. We hit it up for an early Sunday meal from time to time. Also a good way to beat the crowds. Go here if you haven't already.
(5)Dawn A.
La Scala is a decent Italian restaurant. Not great, but good. On a typical Saturday night, expect a long wait. It is and will be very crowded. The restaurant has a legion of devoted followers. When my friends and I went this past Saturday night, the wait was only 35 minutes, but a snow storm was looming, so I would bet that had something to do with the short wait. Normally, I have waited well over an hour for this place. The bar is nice. Very comfortable chairs. Not a bad bar to have to wait out for a while if you can get a seat. I got chicken Margarita. It was tasty. A good sized portion. I brought a full half of it home. My friends had Shrimp Scampi, Seafood Medley and linguine Carbonara. Everyone was happy with their food choices. Not "this is to die for" happy, but pleased. The service was not fabulous. The waitress seemed very harried. She came over twice to tell us the specials, as if she totally forgot what she had done. We had to request things several times. Maybe she was having an off night, but the service should have been better at a fine dining establishment. Another thing... they present the check to you without a check folder. Just throw the slip of paper on the table. I thought that seemed a little tacky. White table cloths and candles and no check folder. Picky, maybe. But when a restaurant tries to be a fine dining establishment, they should go all the way. I have one other bone to pick... they charged us for refills on small glasses of soda. $2.25 for a small glass. Also, it's good to know ahead of time that they do not take credit cards.
(3)Shawnte H.
Food was excellent. The waitress that we received was very slow. Otherwise a good experience. Oh and they are cash only
(4)Abigail F.
Best Eggplant app anywhere..hands down..limited parking if takiing out,, but def worth the wait and walk if you park at The Lodge or on Emeline street.
(4)Toni W.
We recently moved back to Randolph and couldn't wait to go to La Scala. We used to go there all the time and always had a great time.. We should have left good enough alone. Me, the hubby , I'll call him W and my Stepson, I'll call him J went to dinner on April 2nd. The menu seemed to be Weaker than we remember but no biggie. Me and J ordered chicken, broccoli and ziti. W ordered chicken parm with ravioli. When the C B and Z came out we were surprised to see that the whole meal was primarily green. The broccoli looked like it had been put through a blender with pesto and thrown on the ziti. The chicken had a very odd rubber consistency. It did not taste very good at all and it left you with a nasty taste in your mouth. W fared a little better. It could have gotten more stars but it was bland. Absolutely no taste whatsoever.. Needless to say neither I or J ate our meals. We decided against saying anything to the waitress and I regret that now. We also decided desert was in order.. How can they screw that up? W got puffy pastry with ice cream and me and J got cheesecake. W asked what the pastry dish was and was told 2 heaping scoops of ice cream and a flaky pastry.. Sounded very tasty...We got it to go because by this time, tums was my only recourse to get rid of that pesto taste in my mouth. When we got home, W immediately opened his desert to find a hard crusty pastry and what could only be describes as a drop of ice cream.. Not at all what was described. W opened his cheesecake only to find that the strawberries and cheesecake smelled sour. Not a nice smell.. I don't know how or why whoever served this didn't detect the smell.. For all of this were allowed to pay over $80.00 with tip. The experience was just wrong on so many levels. Two Words.. NEVER AGAIN..
(1)Kaella C.
I've only ever had take-out from La Scala, but it's basically the same every time. Semi-good food, extremely overpriced, and it also seems to be cooked/prepared a little sloppily. Like someone else said, this place reminds me a lot of Nanina's, except Nanina's was fairly priced (and better, in my opinion). I usually get the Fettuccine Alfredo, but I regret doing so when I get home and start eating it. The pasta is always either overcooked or not cooked enough. Instead of having a nice, creamy sauce with great flavoring, they slather the pasta in this thin, buttery sauce and throw a heap of Parmesan cheese over it. The past time we got take-out from there, I opted for the Ziti with Chicken & Broccoli (only because they don't have Fettucini with Chicken... OK then). The past times I've gotten this, it's been pretty good despite another thin sauce, though this one seems to be derived from olive oil (and they LOAD the bottom of the take out container in it). This time, I got two pieces of white meat, about seven pieces of dark, fatty meat and two halves of a stump of broccoli. This is what I mean by sloppily prepared. For $16, you'd think that this dish would be a little better. I ate half of it and ended up tossing the other half. You can definitely find better Italian food... maybe even at Olive Garden. I don't hate the place, but I don't love it.
(2)Kelly A.
We stopped here for dinner the other night because 1) we were in the area and 2) we didn't want to hit rush hour traffic on the way back to Boston. It was difficult to find a parking spot, but we finally snagged one, and were then greeted by the "WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS" thing on the door. Ugh. Luckily we scrounged up enough cash to afford dinner, but normally we don't tend to carry much cash, so on any other day, we would have left and gone on to find another place. Really, this is 2009. What kind of restaurant doesn't take credit cards?! So anyways, no wine or anything for us, because we were on a strict budget due to the cash-only situation! We were coming from a funeral, so we were dressed up quite a bit, and I think they thought that meant we were going to be big spendahs or something. So they were like, "Oh yes, we have a lovely table in the corner just for you." That was nice, but they must have been disappointed by our meager order. Anyways, we were greeted with some fluffy bread and butter. The bread was good, but the butter was very cold and therefore difficult to spread. I prefer good olive oil with my bread anyways, so that was a little disappointing. Our waitress was incredibly helpful when asked about vegetarian options. She told us that their usual sauce is made from a meat base, and that the meat is just strained out after cooking, so to avoid that. The marinara sauce is totally veg-friendly, so I got the manicotti with marinara and the boy got the eggplant parm with marinara. Both of these were really really good. The sauce was delicious. The portions are also very generous, and we left with enough for another meal. We did save a little room for dessert, and the waitress gave us her recommendations for the best. We went for the homemade bread pudding. Holy rum! That was some serious rum! But really good. We got out of there for around $40. Would we go back? Well, the stars would have to align: 1) we'd have to be in the area, 2) we'd have to be hungry, and 3) we'd have to have cash. So the answer is possibly.
(4)Michael M.
This place was very nice and fancier than expected, I felt like I should've dressed up better than just the average casual clothing. I think this place is great just for a date night. Waitress didnt have any kind of personality and was very quite all night. Food and pricing was decent. I will definently try other places before coming back here again.
(3)David M.
I brought my mother here on a Friday evening. The food was excellent and the service was great. We shared a Clams Casino for an appetizer. It tasted good but did not have bacon or sausage. I had the Chicken Bona Boca. It was delicious and huge! I brought half of it home. It was two chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto and cheese. Marsala wine sauce and mushrooms were poured over it. My mother had the crab cakes that was on their specials menu. She was also satisfied with it. They lose a star because parking is difficult, they don't accept credits cards, and the clams casino was missing bacon.
(4)Jess L.
Considering the expectations of a South Shore Red Sauce Italian hotspot in Randolph..... This place is great if you're looking for good buttery red sauce to go with pasta. I was pleasantly surprised. However, the bad news.....the bread sucks, and cash only.
(4)T S.
I can't say to much about the wait, or crowds because we went at lunch time on Saturday when their closed except for special functions, so I will just talk food, and service. we had a birthday party at La Scala. First of all, the place is gorgeous on the inside, like all the other reviewers said parking sucks, but I parked across the street and it was fine I guess, not earth shattering.They had the Bruins on in the bar area, which was awesome.We had a pre-selected menu for the party, I got the eggplant parmigiana with a side of ravioli, and salad. My salad was SO GOOD, its impossible to screw up a salad you say? Contrair Monfrair, I have had it happen to me many times, so I was happy with this one. I did not like my food at all... I took one bite and was like NOPE, it tasted like seafood.. I did however LOVE my side of Ravioli, everyone in my party who had the scallops were thrilled so I guess I would highly recommend those. We had a birthday cake which they were kind enough to cut up and serve for us. The waitress(cant remember her name) did a good job. I never did get a drink refill or offered but we were kind of a chaotic bunch, so I will cut her some slack, I don't think she smiled once either.. I don't really think I will go back here again next time I am home, but I will always have a special place in my heart for this spot since it was a lovely, lovely day.
(4)Patrick D.
Best bang for the buck. Just as good as the North End
(5)Dee S.
I've been twice now. I have left both times very pleased. I have sat in the lounge area both times and it is a relaxed, upscale feel that won't kill your wallet. I look forward to trying the dinning room. First we sat near the fire with a glass of wine. We decided to eat and asked to move to a table. The food was great and the service was superb. Nothing but smiles and at-ease friendliness. TIP - this is a great first date place guys!
(4)Canna S.
Loved the fireplace! Food is ok for the price. Drinks are heavily poured. Service is ok. Will return.
(3)Lady J.
I must say that when I am craving North End quality Italian this is the place for me. It is right up the street and really good quality. I hate that they only take cash. But I do love their food and ambiance. The pasta is amazing and never disappoints.
(4)Laura H.
Some friends of ours have been raving about LaScala for weeks, so we finally got in to try it. It was a Tuesday night so the place was relatively dead (plus for service, minus for any sort of atmosphere). We sat in the back on the dining room near the kitchen, which I found odd given how slow it was but whatever. The menu is huge and the waitress was prompt and friendly. We ordered a clam appetizer that was decent, but a bit overcooked. For dinner we both had a pasta (chicken parm for me, veal something for the man). The meal was good solid food with a yummy red sauce, portions not huge and not tiny either. We will be back to LaScala to try dining in the bar (which looked inviting) and because the man loves unfussy Italian food. But, it's nothing great compared to the amazing ambiance and inventive food that you can get at many places in the North End. I think that they actually own a place there...wonder if the menu is any different. And, big deal, CASH ONLY.
(3)David V.
We love La Scala! The Homemade Gnocchi is incredible. The marinara that the Gnocchi is topped with is of exeptional quality. I can still smell and taste it. The other dish that we have tried is their Seafood Medley that they serve on top of Linguine. The seafood served is always fresh. The portion sizes are just right. The prices are decent for the quality. We are spoiled to have this place right next to home...saves us from having to go to the North End! Parking is at times difficult.
(4)Mel P.
Yummy food. Expensive-ish. And the tables are so close together and its dark. I couldn't really see my food (but the candles were a nice ambiance) and the food was darn good. So I will be returning. I love good food. This place has it. I hope to see you there... (bring a flashlight).
(4)K F.
If you go in and just get a ceaser salad you will be extremely happy you did. It is old school yum. It has goooooooood cheesy garlicky creamy dressing and really nothing else matters. They get four stars because I am not wowed by everything else they do but very very happy with the food overall. The red sauce is good, the apps are good but not mind blowing. I got a mushroom chicken dish based on another yelper, they said don't get this dish unless you love mushrooms which I do so I did and it was good. Cash is king here as mentioned previously which yeah it is a pain but whatever. Huge portions, Randolph kind of stinks but overall great restaurant. Go and get the ceaser!
(4)Rebecca V.
Try the garlic and olive oil dipping sauce! We just visited this past weekend and it was delicious as usual. If you get there early you don't have to deal with any parking dilemmas or crowds. Their service staff is incredibly nice.
(4)Steve S.
Suburban restaurants usually receive a star for trying, because Major population centers like Providence and Boston seem to have the good food. Usually we will go to the suburbs to meet friends and have to ratchet down our expectations. This is not true at La Scala, which is the twin of Mother Annas of the North End. Italian food should not be difficult. The pasta is the same albeit different shapes. Garlic bread is well...bread with garlic The differentiator is the red sauce, which is placed over the sameness to make it unique. And Mother Scalas has great red sauce . If you like the artichokes, try Pollo Venezia...They also have other proprietary dishes worth trying as well 4-5 real urban stars for these folks
(4)Chris W.
Good basic italian food. Oysters rockefeller are a nice appetizer, and the ice cream puff is a great dessert. Some inconsistencies with the entrees so I stick to eggplant parm.
(3)Theresa C.
Due to a large lunch I wasn't very hungry when we went to La Scala which isn't a good thing for me when going out for Italian. My first impressions of the restaurant was parking was extremely limited and for how hard it was to find a spot it wasn't very busy. I walked in through the bar area which was very charming and homey. There was someone playing piano, a huge fireplace and a good size bar with ample seating near at tables near the fireplace. Since we had a group of 12 we were seated in a back function room area where we were stationed off to have our own space. This was nice but didn't allow us to enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant which was too bad. They were also setting up for then having an event with a DJ which got a little on the loud side but not completely prohibitive for conversation. Since I wasn't very hungry I decided to go with a salad and appetizer in lieu of an entree. The side salad was a disappointment. It was a little plate of lettuce with a couple vegetables and oddly some canned green beans. Their house dressing was a creamy Italian but I'm much more of a vinaigrette fan so was also a little let down by the dressing selection. The bread was average at best...it was just bread and for those watching their carb or calorie intake this should be an easy bread basked to skip. The appetizer, on the other hand, was wonderful! I had the eggplant rollatini. It was lightly breaded, full of gooey cheese and in a really flavorful and rich red sauce. It was served steaming hot and I enjoyed every last bite! Overall the experience here was average. I'd like to go back sometime with an appetite to try one of their veal dishes or the eggplant parm! Other diners had those and said they were wonderful. One even planned on saving half of their eggplant parm for the next day but ended up eating the whole serving - now to me that's a sign it was great! The prices were reasonable enough. When I go back I'd like to enjoy the bar area, get a feel for the real atmosphere of the place and enjoy an entree. If you're in the Randolph area it's worth the stop.
(3)Beth R.
I've had many delicious entrees at La Scala over the years and can't say enough about them. It's funny how the restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside but upscale North End on the inside. Hostesses and servers are helpful and the food is usually very good. I've even attended a rehearsal dinner here and loved it! Upon our last visit, however, our entrees were brought out before the calamari appetizer. We brought it to their attention and asked that they cancel the app order since we had already gotten our dinner, not a problem. Also, my sister in law says that they don't take credit cards here, which I never knew all the years I've eaten at La Scala. But there's an atm on site, so she went to take out cash...it was broken and she came back to the table empty-handed but said that they were working on it and she'd be able to get into it in about 10 mins. We waited and sipped our drinks, it was fine and another nice dinner at La Scala was had.
(4)K F.
excellent shrmp scampi over linguini,house salad w house dressing is delicious.Mussels marinara app yummy!
(5)Bridget A.
I went here for my birthday with my husband and another couple and thought it was a good experience overall. The ambiance is very romantic. The gnocchi, mud pie and limoncello were all delicious. The service was just okay. The prices are a little expensive. I would definitely consider La Scala for another special occasion.
(3)Jack M.
I am very surprised by some comments. This place is incredible and very cheap. As good as you can get for good old Red sauce Italian. Huge portions, cheap prices on Wine. I venture to say this is by far the best Italian on the south shore. Chicken Creation is something to dream about. Veal is awesome. Desserts are home made and you can tell. As far as prices how about 5 adult's, 5 beers,3 apps, 5 meals, 3 desserts and a bottle of wine for $170.00?? Very cheap and very good. Cash only but they do have a atm on site...
(5)Jay G.
Horrible! I would rather go to Olive Garden. This place is SMALL, and so EXPENSIVE for food that has no taste. I just can't seem to figure out how Salad can be horrible how can you ruin lettuce on a plate?! Well they sure did, never ate a salad so small for the price I paid. If you want to go on a nice date and save a buck or too go to Stash's, or Olive Garden or even Not your average Joe's which are all in Randolph or on the Randolph Stoughton Line.
(1)Glenn F.
The food is outstanding... There's a bit of a parking problem, but the visit would be well worth the trip.
(4)Melissa M.
I went to La Scala for a rehearsal dinner and it was really nice. Very Guido Italian and his posse type place. Veal and Chicken Parmagiana was very good. Nice wine list and clean restaurant. Clean bathrooms too. Service was ok. But just a nice place to go when in Randolph.
(4)Danielle H.
La Scala is my families go-to restaurant. Their red sauce is delicious. I always get the chicken parm but have heard that everything on the menu is great. During the week they have cheap lunch prices. Very accommodating for functions as well. I definitely recommend!
(5)Vincent S.
Extremely dissapointed. Ordered evening special, pork braciole. The meat was so tough, I needed a steak knife to cut it. It was all fat and gristle, and drowning in very acidic tomato sauce. The broccoli-rabe was also tough and like the braciole, was swimming in too much oil and garlic. I resorted to eating two dinner rolls which were average. I would have preferred Italian bread. Now I ordered chocolate gelatto. Once again I was not satisfied. It tasted like chocolate ice cream. The only highlight was the two glasses of red wine. My Italian Nonna from above must be proud that I'm submitting this review. I don't plan on returning to LaScala. There are so many options for quality Italian cuisine in metropolitan Boston.
(1)Giancarlo C.
I always get the raviolis when I come. Great sauce and awesome cheese filling. The salad dressing is delicious! Waiting for a table can sometimes be daunting, but it is worth it.
(5)Scott R.
This place was excellent. My wife and I got a recommendation from a friend. I got the butterfly shrimp which was egg battered. The marinara sauce was very good. My wife had the shrimp scampi which she said was very good. We did not have time for dessert but I got an amazing cappuccino. I was extremely satisfied and would highly recommend La Scala.
(5)jac f.
We always use LaScala as reference to any other places we go to eat and after 20 + years non have matched the food and price you get there.Simply the best place on the South Shore.
(5)Chuck D.
This is one of my favorite italian restaurants in all of New England. Great spaghetti and meatballs and a delicious salad is the pick for me. It should also be noted this place is very reasonably priced. I have been going here for over 20 years!! I give La Scala a 91/100
(4)Joanne G.
I think the atmosphere is great for nice dates but I've had better Italian food for sure. Sometimes it's just too greasy.
(3)Lisa D.
Long waits on weekend nights and a very shady cash only policy but the mixed drinks are top notch (beers are $4.75 a pop so stick with the hard stuff for value) and there are a few menu items that always make it a worthwhile trip. I learned years ago to skip the appetizers because they are pretty bad. The garlic bread is soaked in oil and the lobster bisque is that darker shade version and not very tasty. However, if you are looking for chicken parm, this is the place. I also highly recommend their chargrilled boneless chicken dish. Go for the pasta/ravioli as a side with any entree if you are not a fan of canned veggies as they use canned green beans and olives in their house salad and you can taste the aluminum. Also, this restaurant is heavy with the salt shaker so if you are salt sensitive this may not be the place for you or at the very least, ask for it light on salt or you risk being temporarily petrified via the sodium.
(3)Kerri M.
Love this place, this is one of my favorite Italian restaraunts around. Great food, good quantity and friendly staff
(4)Kate M.
My family loves to eat at La Scala. Although my husband is the owner's nephew, that is not going to twist my arm while writing this review. First, the bar is really cool. The interior decorator did a great job at reinventing an old world feel with the dark woods and wall paintings. Also, BIG tumblers to better serve you liquor in! The restaurant is comfortable and cozy. The food is delicious! Take caution if you are not one of those who like a rich dish, because the majority of them are. The waitresses are friendly and spunky. Prices are reasonable and NO they do not take credit cards, however there is an ATM on-site.
(4)Yak D.
Went there (again) and I cannot for the life of me, imagine why I cannot make substitutions. Is everything that pre-made? Everything was surrounded by what I thought was cacciatore, but it was more like a cold bath I took in 1992. Allow subs and credit cards-the blue hairs can't last forever.
(1)Jillian P.
great food, cheap prices AND you can buy a jar of really good house wine for 10 bucks!
(5)Esther L.
Tasty Italian food in a romantic atmosphere. They recently expanded the restaurant, so now it has outdoor patio seating and lots more tables inside. I recommend the Alaskan King Crab Legs with linguini. There's usually a wait, and they don't take reservations for parties less than 8 people, so get there early.
(4)stephanie t.
I have actually only been here once, which is strange having grown up less than 10 minutes away. Everyone always raved about it but for some reason I just never went. I finally went about a month ago with a friend and saw what the fuss was about, and everyone was right! We went around 8:00pm on a Friday and luckily it wasn't too packed (but it does get very crowed there). The waitress was extremely nice and helpful, and talked to us a lot about stuff other than the food (sometimes this can be very annoying but in this instance it wasn't bad at all). As a recent college grad I do dine on a budget, and some of the menu items were a little expensive, so I just went with an all time fave spaghetti and meatballs, for only like $7!! Also, side note, the bread is delicious! The portion was large, so I was excited to get left overs out of the deal. Its definitely a romantic couplely place (low lights, soft music, candles, etc), so i did feel a little out of place with my friend, but its ok. Also, i know this was mentioned in a previous review...they don't take credit cards. All in all, this is definitely a great place to go to, maybe not like an every week type place, but for a special occasion or for a romantic dinner with that certain someone ; )
(4)Notso H.
It was really a 3.5 stars but I gave them the benefit in the end. I had been here many times years ago but this was the first time back in a while. My friend swears by this place, I think some of it has to do with what you are used to for sauce. Some are used to plain flat tasteless red sauce, some like theirs with some hints of seasoning and some very seasoned. There are also now sauces that are too sweet, when you are in the grocery store just look and all of them have sugar added! Well this place does a decent seasoned sauce but I think they now use a brand that is loaded with sugar or corn syrup or maybe they sweeten it in house. The service was average to just above, it wasn't a peak or busy time though. The drinks were very average but the price was bordering on pricey I thought. The appetizer we split was plain frozen food that was fried up, pretty boring (calamari) The entrees didn't seem as home cooked as they used to be, but at the same time it wasn't just Sysco food re-heated. We split a canoli and had coffee to finish, the canoli was pre-filled long before, you could tell from the soggy shell, the coffee was fair at best and definitely overpriced. The menu had enough to pick from so I know I'll be going back but I'll skip the desert menu.
(4)Patrick K.
The food was... Meh. The service was atrocious. I asked for a simple, two-ingredient drink. Belvedere, up, twist of lime. I got my Belvedere with a squeeze. This happens all the time. And since I'm good for two or three of these, I powered through the first one. She asked me if I'd like another, so I said, Please. But may I have a twist this time instead of a squeeze?" Blank stare. Scurry off. She returned with a cloudy martini. Quoth the server, "She squeezed about four or five lines in there to make sure there was enough." It was my turn to stare blankly. I asked her to return with a martini with a twist. She returned with a brandy snifter of warm vodka with a wine glass full of lime wedges. I stuttered, "But that's not even cold!" She said the bartender had no clue what I wanted. I pointed to the first drink (which was still on the table, and said, "That, with no garnish. Cold vodka in a glass." She absconded with the fist drink and left the brandy snifter behind. She came back with a glass full of ice. I told her to go away, and that I'd figure it out on my own.
(1)Meg D.
The "meh" description with the two stars is accurate as to my feelins of this place. The parking lot is small, but there is a side street that I parked on (and didnt get a ticket), so I assume it's okay to park there. Inside it is very "old italian" dimly lit, dark woods, white table cloths, etc. Tables seem to be crammed in there so if the place was busy it may be crowded. Service was ok, our waitress was borderline rude, but I think thats just part of her "sass". For food I got the Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil salad. It was decent, tomatoes are not currently in season, so that isnt their fault. The cheese was the little tiny balls, and it was a balsamic and oil mixture on top. I would have prefered a drizzle of high quality balsamic instead, but that is just my opinion. There was much more oil than balsamic to be had. For my entree I got the veal parmagian, and my friend got the chicken picatta. We both got pasta on the side. When the food came he got linguini with red sauce smothered on it, instead of the garlic butter sauce. When he pointed it out to the waitress she snidely said that he should have specified that he didnt want red sauce. He asked if he could have the garlic/butter linguine instead. We had to flag her down and remind her over and over. 25 minutes later the pasta came out. Cold. We were both done our meal at that point. He asked to have the pasta boxed up with the rest of the meal. The food was good, was it mindblowing? No. Would I go back? Probably, but now I know what to expect.
(2)Sara C.
Friendly lovely atmosphere full of lots or neighborhood regulars. Caesar salad was delicious. Husband liked the minestrone. But veal Marsala was kind of strange. Decent prices and big portions.
(3)Susan R.
I went there for a birthday celebration dinner. I ordered the scampi. Six very overdone rubbery, small shrimp came out on some pasta. It looked like they had been microwaved. They were inedible. But I said nothing as I was a guest of friends and did not want to complain about their choice of restaurants. BUT, when I ordered a slice of rum cake for dessert, I could not let this slip by. The cake was dry and the cream was rancid. When I told the waitress she left and came back to the table and offered a slice from a new cake as the one I had was from an old cake. !! HUH? Never again
(1)Robert H.
The House salad dressing is still very good. Although the entrees do not come with a salad, the dinner salad is only five bucks and two can split it. I wrote in 2010 that the portion could have been bigger, but that was not the case this time. There was a honking plate of Chicken Creation ( chicken, eggplant, prosciutto in wine and butter ). Few humans could finish it, it was really two portions, so not too bad at $16, considering how tasty it is. The house tomato sauce is not Ragu, mildly spiced, pretty good.
(4)Travis P.
Very very good food and customer service. I am very pleased with my trip here. I will definitely be coming back. Not a bad thing alto say about the place.
(5)Mary Jane J.
At work, we got some takeout for our little christmas shindig. Everyone absolutely raved about how wonderful La Scala is and one of the guys of Sicilian heritiage said the sauce is second only to his grandmother's. A bold statement. I could only think back to a few years ago when I first tried them and the restaurant smelled like a nursing home and the wine was blah. But after trying it again I thought it was...meh, okay. The chicken parm was really good and the lasagna was tasty but sweet Jesus I've never seen such an oily sauce in all my life. And everything was over-cheesed (I am a cheese fiend and it was too much for me). I wouldn't NOT eat it again but I've def had better, I guess my coworkers don't get out very often. :o\
(3)Meg D.
Love LaScala. Meatballs are amazing. I want to soak up every bit of the delicious sauce with that soft crusty bread! Boyfriend loves the tiramisu. It's dark and cozy even if it can be loud when the place is in full swing. Have been a few times now and had consistently great meals and friendly prompt and attentive service. Menu is well priced, and portions are sizable. Good for a special occasion or just a really good meal any night of the week.
(4)Kellie H.
Seriously the best chicken Marsala!!! Each time I've been the waitresses have been awesome! Make sure you ask for the warm dipping oil for the bread too...it's delicious!!
(4)Kelly M.
Great Italian menu at an excellent price. I had chicken parm. The sauce was delicious. The atmosphere was very romantic. Our waitress was friendly. We will be back!
(4)D M.
WOW!!! Heading back from a Red Sox game we just weren't going to make back to Providence. So hungry - we needed something good, and we were very lucky to find this gem! Absolutely excellent Italian food just off the highway. Great staff, excellent service, the bartender made a perfect drink and if course the food was exceptional. Parking lot was small but we parked next door. Don't forget to bring cash or a check - no credit cards accepted. I'd go back again!
(5)Wm S.
The food at LaScala is as good as Italian gets, simple as that. If you want French/Italian (like half of the Itals in the Back Bay) then maybe it's not the place for you. That said, if you have visitors from Italy or NY/NJ, bring them here. They'll be shocked when they get a fresh salad, fresh rolls with oil & garlic, and a perfectly prepared entree big enough for two for $15.00 Can't beat this place....
(5)Kathy S.
I have ordered takeout three times in the last four months. Each time the food has been delicious! The staff has been so polite and competent. My review may sound very unexciting but all the points I've listed are so important when paying for a meal. Too many times other restaurants have handed over food that has been cold, old or falls short in taste. This has not happened at La Scala Restaurant.
(5)Melanie D.
La Scala is a nice Italian restaurant with pretty good food, but it has its pros and cons. It's always busy which is a good sign for any restaurant, but means there's always a pretty long wait. It's also CASH ONLY which I really hate. Beware, if you're like me and never have cash! The food is good, but not great. I've tried a few of the chicken dishes and a special - seafood fra diavolo - and of those I definitely preferred the seafood as the chicken dishes were BATHED in both butter and garlic. So they tasted great, but could not have been more unhealthy. Prices are reasonable but there are stupid little quirks like the fact that you get a choice of a salad or pasta with your dish, when typically Italian places would give you both. The ambiance here is very nice, especially in the lounge/bar area. The staff is also pretty friendly and I've always gotten good service. All in all, a pretty solid 3-star review. I'll be back, but not every week.
(3)Michael T.
I eat here several times a year as it's a few streets from where I live.... It's hands down the best Italian restaurant on the south shore.... You won't find any place better. Last night though was a little disappointing as our 45 minute wait was an hour and twenty minutes and our waitress was extremely rude.... Vanessa or Veronica? I've literally ate there at least 75 times and this was the only black mark they've ever had.... You want a great meal and/or a great place to take a date.... This is the place to go
(4)Food L.
went there one night to have a nice family dinner with it took 3 hours to get us seated and to get service it must of took an other hour also when we got the service it was horrible the ladies phone ring and she picked it up while we were ordering the food and and she had a whole conversation with whoever it was and when the food came we all did not like the food the problem with my food was that the gnocchis were frozen and they said they were homemade I could tell that they were frozen because they weren't cooked at all and the were drowded in butter I don't know if they thought the butter was going to cook it or what
(1)Toby H.
Not good - went there for a company function and found the food to be just bad. Shrimp cocktail was so overcooked it was like rubber. When I informed them of my dairy allergy they still put cheese on my pasta and on top of it all the place had a smell which suggested it needed a thorough cleaning.
(2)Louis C.
Went here for dinner this week, food was good, not great, but definitely good. I had the Chicken Margarita and Kelly had the Chicken Parmigiane. I enjoyed mine but Kelly's tasted bland to me. Kelly had the Lobster Bisque which she enjoyed. I had a Tomato and Mozzarella salad, which was good buy the vinaigrette dressing did not agree with my tastebuds. Service was great, our waitress Sarah was very pleasant and quick to offer advice on what to get. I thought that the prices were spot on, sure it's on the higher side of average but this isn't the Olive Garden either. Biggest draw backs were the limited amount of parking. I don't want to be walking the streets of Randolph on my way to an "upscale" Italian restaurant. Also, the place is cash only, however they do have an ATM inside and it's only a $1.75 fee.
(3)Kaity M.
This review is for ENTREES ONLY, as the service and calamari appetizer would put this review in the negative range (which is a bummer, because everyone except our server was extremely pleasant). DONTs: Calamari- no flavor; just gummy, fried calamari and the dipping sauce is (or what tasted like) cocktail sauce. House salad- wish I had taken a picture of this one- I could only laugh at this point, after receiving the wrong appetizer and being ignored by the waitress. I was not expecting this salad from an "authentic Italian restaurant" as it was just iceberg lettuce with some giant tomato slices and cold green beans from a can on top. DOs Lobster Bisque (cup, 5.50) - Whoa nelly this is the good stuff. After this (finally) got to the table, I forgot all about the negatives of this place. This is probably the best cup of lobster bisque I have ever had. Scallop Saute (15.95)- These were incredible, and I am currently eating the leftovers as I type this review. Where else can you get a plate of maybe ten scallops in a delicious buttery, maple-like sauce for 16 bucks?--certainly a flavor that I haven't found anywhere else and I will definitely be back for more of these. Linguine with Shrimp and Clams in white sauce (15.95)- after receiving the wrong entree (and wrong appetizer--I don't know why the server didn't write any of our order down; her excuse was that "every other table" ordered the food she had rung us up for) and sending back my scallops to keep warm until my date's order was corrected, we finally were able to sit down with our entrees. This dish was PERFECTLY seasoned and sauced and the shrimp and clams were of quality you'd find in some of the top North End restaurants. So, DESPITE all of the shortcomings of our evening, it was a beautiful night out and we are so happy to know that some of the best italian dishes in the city are right in our backyard.
(4)Nikki B.
I have been a customer of La Scala for many years due to my fathers family golf businesses in South Easton. I have probably been to the restaurant at least a handful of times. For the past three years it has been a tradition for a close friend of mine and I to go every Valentines Day. This is the only time they have live musical entertainment. This particular quartet is to die for. No musical instruments just a group of fantastic voices. They not only sing great but also involve the clients in their talent. But most importantly, the food is to die for. The Gnocchi and eggplant rollatini is to die for. It's flavor is unique and delicious and served piping warm every time. Also on there dessert menu for beverages is a tradition, which is always done, in the Italian family, which is a shot of Limoncello. It is very rare in our day and age that family owned restaurants is still up and running. This is a hole in the wall I highly recommend. Just remember everyone to bring Cash due to the only form of payment, which is accepted. I hope this convinces many of you YELP followers to give this remarkable restaurant a try Sincerely Nikki
(4)Shawn M.
This by far my favorite Italian restaurant , chicken picatta best ever. Always a great meal. Chicken parmigiana is also amazing. You know a restaurant is great when they can afford to be cash only.
(5)Miss L.
Hands down best Italian food in the south shore. Service has always been fast and friendly.
(4)Danielle L.
I feel like the place is over-hyped, I've had better Italian at Johnny Macaroni's in East Bridgewater, the North End, or Federal Hill. It's adequate American-Italian. I find it really odd a lot of the dishes don't come WITH the pasta, it's a side. I ordered chicken picatta and the chicken was unbreaded, the sauce over-buttery, and it was missing some of the salt and acid I associate with the dish. I think I saw three capers on the whole thing and I had to ask for a lemon to squeeze on top of it. The pasta was a side with red sauce, which was a little jarring. Red sauce is okay. Not a ton of flavor to it, your basic marinara. My mom's chicken parm looked better than my meal. The whole place could use a facelift, the back dining room felt like something out the 80s with wall to wall mirrors. Maybe Restaurant Impossible should come do a makeover! Also, who the heck doesn't take credit in 2014? The ATM on site is helpful but I don't like the fees and again . it's 2014. You expect a full-service restaurant to take credit/debit, especially when it's not a neighborhood dive or small business. I sound overly negative but it's really not that bad . . just. Okay.
(3)Lapriest P.
The only reason I am giving this place one star is because the lemon water was the best thing that wasn't on the menu. First off, the salad only consulted if iceberg lettuce, onion and greenbeens....horrible btw. The lasagna had a teaspoon of sauce, no meat and was very bland. The bartenders name was....wait she never told me her name.... wasn't very friendly at all. Never filled my drink and didnt have the nerve to ask me if my food was ok, but wanted to know if I wanted desert, lol! I didnt eat more than two bites of either my salad or entree..... let me think..... hell no. I will not patronize this establishment again. I still left a 20% tip because I have worked in the industry. But, servers nust unterstand that when ur livelihood comes from tips......you must give "service!"
(1)Dick K.
Why? Best italian food around. I had veal parmagon- large portion, excellent melted cheese, superb red sauce. Wife had shrimp parmagon- excellent. Place is loud, only takes cash. Ill be back soon.
(5)Scott W.
I've been eating at La Scala both dining in and Take Out for many years and I can honestly say the food is really good however over the past few times I've ordered from Lascala for takeout if I ordered anything with (Red Sauce) there is not enough to cover the pasta or Veal Parm etc etc. . I got hip to asking for extra sauce when I ordered again (not minding paying for it) the Sauce is very skimpy... Totally different than dining in the restaurant! I don't get this. .. The food is awesome but they don't correct the skimpy sauce problem... This is the only issue I've got with La Scala, the staff is awesome and friendly. .. I highly recommend checking them out and if you do order takeout check the order before leaving the restaraunt so it can get corrected then and there. .
(5)Grace A.
The food was good, but seriously...who doesn't take credit cards these days?
(3)Scott T.
If you don't want to make trip into the North end by far the Best Italian restaurant around.
(5)Daniel J.
I generally dont like writing negative reviews...I just look for other alternatives..But I have been going here for many years and would have much more positive feedback then this review of last couple of visits...The food as of late has not been very good...Overcooked shrimps in both cocktail and scampi dishes...size poor as well...Sauce on veal parm flavorless..veal itself breaded like crap...Marsala oily and tasteless as well....same old specials from week to week..Even service very indifferent and blah....All air vents very dirty and dine room smells a bit stale and old..Place needs new ideas and needs to evolve a bit...Still will go once and a while but place is really starting to become dated....Lets get a little creative guys!!!
(2)lisa s.
As Kurt the hurt would say LETS DO IT
(4)Jared G.
Not good. Runny! The chicken margarita was rubbery, drenched in runny butter/grease/lemon. Cheese was dry. The pasta sauce was so watery it wouldn't even stay on the ravioli. A ravioli would be covered in sauce, pick it up with your fork and almost nothing would be on it. So watery. The salad was just iceberg, onions, tomato and literally 1 (one) olive, with again, watery runny, flavorless dressing. Also had the rack of lamb which was ok but nothing special. So disappointing. Our waitress didn't smile once. We felt rushed. Who doesn't take credit?! What a joke.
(1)Peter B.
I've heard people speak very highly of La Scala, so when a friend suggested we go, I was excited. When pulling into the small parking lot I found myself surprised, as I had always imagined a much larger restaurant. Walking in I found the ambiance to be cozy and intimate. We went at 8:30pm on a Wednesday night; there was no wait. The waitress was friendly and attentive. I enjoyed their delicious authentic Italian bread, linguine with marinara, a few glasses of their burgundy house wine, and a cannolo, all for under $ 30, 20% tip included! The bread was delicious, the pasta tasted homemade (I'm Italian), the wine was of high quality for a house selection, and the cannolo was the final touch to a superb meal. While they do not accept debit/credit payments, which is usually a turnoff for me, they had a convenient ATM available inside with a very modest fee. Very impressed and will visit again!
(5)Dana S.
Pretty old-school Italian restaurant but one of the best eateries in Randolph. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and they service was incredible. Great place for a private event. Food here is good; they are known for their red sauce. I love their seafood entrees. You can eat a ton here for very little money. Be aware that they only take cash but there is an ATM on premises. Good selection at the bar.
(3)John O.
Great Italian family restaurant in Randolph. The decor is nice, the staff is great and the food is amazing. What else could you ask for? Just remember, cash only.
(4)Taryn M.
This was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had!! EVERYTHING was perfect! The food is all homemade, fresh, made to order, and just delicious!!!! And what really made our experience amazing was the service... Our waitress was the best!! I'm going back with everyone I know! Me and my pops went to dinner here tonight and he has been here many times before ( he loves this place), but I have never been. I'm Italian so I'm a tough tough tough critic with Italian food ( I grew up with my grandmother cooking homemade authentic Italian from homemade white wedding soup and homemade gnocchi to Braciole and Eggplant Parmesan.) they know how to cook!! La Scala doesn't overcook chicken, or burn the sauce, or use nasty margarine!! You can tell they use real butter ( the key to good food) and good olive oil, spices, fresh vegetables ( nothing canned or frozen), fresh pasta, homemade sauce, unique creations, just aaaamazing!! Our waitress was sincerely nice and very knowledgeable and attentive (without being annoying or overbearing), she was so amazing!! She made out experience enjoyable and exciting and comfortable. We ordered the escarole and eggplant as an appetizer, ravioli, a chicken dish, tiramisu, wine, Martinis, and gelato. I was satisfied completely with EVERYTHING. Everything came out hot, correct, and delicious. The ricotta in my ravioli was creamy and not dry at all!! They didn't skimp on the sauce either! I loved how they used all different kinds of mushrooms in the chicken plate my pops ordered and how the escarole was soft and dripping in oil, butter, garlic, and lemon!! So much flavor!! The eggplant wasn't bitter or dry and didn't have skin on it...perfect! I hate skin on eggplant yuck!! The tiramisu was creamy and not soggy .... Yummmmy!!! I will diffidently be coming back. Hopefully I get the same waitress again! I'll have to get her name next time!! -- 100% satisfied and more!
(5)Le N.
Food: not memorable.. came with a party of 6 who all ordered different plates.. I can't recall a single dish that I loved. Service: mediocre. I was quite surprise about my visit since my brother kept saying his friend raved about this place. But now that I've tried it myself, I'll probably head into Boston (Giacomo's!) the next time I'm craving Italian..
(2)Anna C.
La Scala is a great Italian restaurant. They do not take reservation, so I usually pop in before it gets crowded. Also, they only accept cash. It is dimly lit with candles, but not too fancy to make jeans unacceptable. If I could pick my last meal it would be La Scala's chicken parm. The chicken must have had the hell pounded out of it because it is perfectly thin and tender. It is topped with scrumptious gooey cheese and the best sauce. I'm picky about my sauce, coming from an Italian family, and it reminds of my grandmother's! I usually get a house salad which is refreshing and light. Another great starter would be the artichoke salad which has the same dressing and a generous amount of beautiful hearts of artichoke. The shrimp parmigiana is the bomb (I recommend selecting the red sauce over the white because the red is out of the world). The veal parmigiana is great. Heck, you cannot go wrong with anything parmigiana at this place. If you are not a marinara type of person, don't shy away from here because the alfredo sauce is also great- rich and creamy. You can end the night off with cannolis, or my personal favorite, the chocolate torte, which is basically just a really good really fudgy cake. mhmmm
(5)Kayla B.
Great Italian food if you don't want to deal with going to the North End. I love the salmon with linguine and red sauce. I also love their shrimp. Huge and fresh! Everything is flavorful, fresh, and tasty. When ordering takeout they give a lot of fresh bread which is nice. The only thing is they only accept cash which is inconvenient to most people.
(3)Susan M.
This place is so over rated! The food and service were awful! The salad was a small bowl of crappy wilted lettuce drenched in dressing (even though I asked for light on the dressing). It took over an hour to get our meal. The waitress never came by once to let us know why it was taking so long. We literally sat there for an hour and never saw her. We ordered a glass of wine and she forgot to bring it. I had to hunt her down after 30 minutes to remind her to bring it. It sat at the bar getting warm while she was neglecting us. Then the food came and it was cold. The bill came and they over charged us for items we never received. The manager did comp us a round of drinks because the service was so bad and the kitchen was so behind, but it won't make up for the bad meal and service. AND, they don't take credit cards which means they must be mafia!!! Who the hell doesn't take credit cards? AWFUL experience.
(1)Chris M.
My family loves La Scala. We have had many events there, they have catered events for us, and we probably go 1-2 times a month. I work downton and frequent the North End and La Scala is better than most of the places there, has parking, and is more affordable. Is cash only, but they have an ATM. Like anyplace service can be off or on depending on the night, but you can rest assured when the food arrives it'll make you feel like you're in an old Italian family.
(5)Joel C.
The waitress we had was amazing, however it didn't make up for the food. Clams casino was done terribly. I had the chicken creation which was overly sweet and dry. My wife enjoyed the llinguine and mussles. The reason i am giving this restaurant a 1 FOOD POISONING! We just moved into the area and it was the only thing we ate that. Have been sick two days now. Very disappointed considering all the good reviews this place got
(1)Rachel G.
Recommendation: Get the Chicken Bona Boca. Delicious. I recently strayed from the Chicken Bona Boca and was very disappointed. I enjoy good veal and seafood dishes so it speaks volumes about the quality of the dish that a chicken meal beat out any other items on the menu! My boyfriend ordered the Eggplant/Veal Parmesan combo and was pleased with it but during a later outing, ordered a stuffed veal special and was very disappointed with it. I agree with other reviewers that consistency might be an issue. The waitress gave us a "tip" the last time we visited. You can get the addictive olive oil and garlic dipping sauce for your bread, upon request ONLY! Bad news is the bread is dry and bland. Nothing special. Some nice warm rolls would be a nicer touch. Wine list is okay. Very nice atmosphere, friendly waitstaff (one waitress in specific, i forget her name but she was very sweet). The renovations are beautiful (for anyone who remembers, La Scala use to be a TINY hole in the wall, basement restaurant) but I think they are more worried about aesthetics than consistent quality.
(3)M L.
La Scalable is on the way home from work so I stop by every month or 2 for dinner. Everything I get is good and consistent. I like one of the bartenders so its worth going in for her. Whiskey pours are solid, good pour
(4)Erica H.
Not very good. I had the chicken piccata- way too salty and was drowning in a butter lemon sauce. The chicken was rubbery and it didnt look appealing. The salad before the entree was just a bunch of iceburg lettuce with a couple tomatoes, onions and greenbeans thrown on top- at least it was cold but definitely looked like it was thrown together- not appetizing. Did not like it here- very disppointing.
(1)Nicole L.
I'm giving one star because it will not allow me to give zero. This has to be the NASTIEST food I've ever had. Who puts canned beans on a salad OR in a "nice" restaurant serves iceberg lettuce. And canned soup? Really? and since when is Shrimp Scampi in a red sauce. Oh yes- let me not forget the frozen gnochi. The only upside is the staff is friendly and nice. If you are not a foodie you might like this place. Even the gross food at MacDonalds is better than what I was served here- don't let me get started on the presentation- offensive.
(1)Jesse F.
Food: Terrific. We had the Shrimp Exquisito, a veal dish, and the eggplant parm, all of which were fantastic. Service: Terrible... But it wasn't the server's fault. They carry pagers so the kitchen can alert them when the order is ready. Several tables around us sat and finished before we got our main course. The kitchen either didn't make our food, or they mistakenly gave it to another server. Some regulars told us that it is typically very good, so I'm willing to give it another shot, especially since the food was so delicious. Price: Great deal. It wasn't very expensive at all. Certainly a good bang for your buck! NOTE: CASH ONLY
(4)Camille R.
I've been having some serious problems with the quality and consistency here. Since my first review I've eaten at the restaurant once and have had take out numerous times and each time I'm becoming less and less interested in coming here. And tonight's take-out order from here has compelled me to write this review. My partner's Fettucini starting coming to us so dry, hardly without any alfredo sauce, and once it was inedible. He even tried to add cream and butter, but it didn't help. He finally resorted to asking them to add a little more cream. A couple of times it was like a cream soup, though today it was like a fettucini alfredo should be. Several times the Linguine w/ Garlic and Olive Oil has come back with completely raw garlic (and if you've been here, you know they COVER their linguine in garlic). Sometimes there was almost no garlic to found. Tonight is what really set me off; the top of both orders of linguine was covered is COMPLETELY BURNT GARLIC and the portion was a quarter of what they usually serve! I took FIVE bited of the pasta and was done. It tasted digusting and I sat through my meal thinking about how disappointed I was. How pissed off I was. How sad I was. My partner and his family have been coming here since it was a small shop, more than 10yrs, his father has stopped eating here long ago because of the inconsistency and I'm just about to follow his lead. It's too bad because I really liked this place and they've done right by me for a long time. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and try it out again.
(3)Kelly C.
Not bad. I loved the vibe here. It was very old school Italian neighborhood eatery. The kind of place you'd go to meet up with old friends and talk about "the good ol days". Or just to have some chicken parm. Which is what i was there for. Limited parking. We ended up in front of neighboring business which was closed at the time so no biggie. They only take CASH. This is huge problem for me. I understand that it is cost to the business to take credit cards but this is 2013 (Happy New Year). This cashless society fad is not going anywhere, jump on board to the future. Anywhos. They do have an ATM in the lobby which I appreciated but of course there is a fee associated with it. We had a small wait and got to see the bar which looked like a cool place to hang out for a drink and a bite. We sat at a small two seater table next to a loud groups that was having a reunion of sorts. i didn't mind. Like I said, it's that kind of place. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. I had the clam chowder to start which was very think and good. L had a tomato mozzarella salad which was good but the dressing was a little overpowering. Yummy bread at the table to start. I had the chicken parm (my go to italian meal). It was just okay. I'm not a big fan of it being submerged in sauce and this is what that was. But it was definitely okay. L had a lemon chicken dish. I had a bite and wasn't a fan. I would definitely go back but wouldn't get the chicken parm dish again. I liked the atmosphere. It's a nice date spot.
(3)Kathy S.
La Scala's is just alright...I've lived in Randolph my entire life. To be honest I'm not too sure what all the hype is. You wait minimum 45 minutes in a very crowded spot...either standing or at a packed bar then get packed in to a cramped restaurant to eat pasta. Salad is not free and you have to pay extra for it..which is just ridiculous. You're lucky if you find a place to park. It's like you just found a golden ticket in a bar of chocolate when you actually do find a spot..it's insane. They don't accept credit cards so don't even attempt to bring your ATM card. They do have pretty large portions that taste good. But, it's all pretty standard italian dishes you can find at any italian restaurant that has plenty of parking, takes credit cards and I don't have to wait an hour to sit down. I just never got all the hoopla.
(3)Phantom F.
This place does not like children and they say they are a "family" restaurant. Very rude waitstaff. Do not go there with young children. You're better off to go Papa Gino's and get a better meal or even a tv dinner.
(1)Brittany H.
The food is quite good, but not the best Italian I've ever had. I'm sure I'll be back at some point because it's so close, but my complaint is this: on the menu you have fettucine alfredo, fettucine with shrimp, lobster, or scallops, but I can't get fettucine alfredo with chicken? You're a private owned, non-chain restaurant and you can't find a way to get me fettucine and chicken on the same plate? I didn't think it was that outlandish of a request, but had to settle for just plain fettucine alfredo. The other thing is it's cash only. If you don't have a debit card, plan ahead! We were taken totally by surprise. My boyfriend had no cash but fortunately I did. The date ended up being on me!
(3)