Cafe Rossetti’s
115 Winthrop Shore Dr, Winthrop, MA, 02152
Cafe Rossetti’s Menu
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Address :
115 Winthrop Shore Dr
Winthrop, MA, 02152 - Phone (617) 539-9990
- Website https://www.caferossettis.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : 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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Sam A.
Your Classic Nana's Kitchen!! So between eating here for the first time, and finishing this yelp review, I went back to the restaurant. This is the kind of place you can go to every week, and it not get old. That's due largely to the kitchen's flexibility. EVERYTHING is made to order. From my two experiences, here are my recommendations: 1) BYO because you can, and that's awesome. 2) Get an App. i) I had the zucchini blossoms-- a seasonal Italian delicacy, you rarely see on menus. Lightly battered and fried, stuffed with mozzarella, and served with the lemon caper sauce... they're like cheese stuffed pockets of Italy. ii) I had the eggplant and mozzarella. It matches the menu description to a T. As with everything this place serves up, it was excellent. I felt like I was playing a game of peek-a-boo with the ricotta, and it would make its presence known, at just the right times. iii) I had the prosciutto wrapped figs with the balsamic honey glaze. I don't really have the words for this one. I subbed fresh mozzarella in for the goat cheese because goat cheese is gross, and the mozz is unreal. The prosciutto is such high quality, that honestly think I had a relationship with the pig. The combination of ham, black mission fig, mozzarella, honey, balsamic, and a strawberry, was altogether spiritual and overwhelming. I might be dead, and this dish might be heaven. 3) Whatever you get for a main dish, and you can't really go wrong, make sure someone at your table gets something fra diavalo. When my waitress brought my first Chicken Braciolettini fra diavalo, she said, "I can smell the Marsala". I thought she was crazy, as my dinner partner got chicken Margarita (don't let the name fool you, this isn't marinara with fresh mozzerella, but a delicately battered breast, with the lemon caper sauce--unreal) and I got fra diavalo--re: no one got Marsala. But she was right, embedded in my Fra Diavalo sauce, was a Marsala wine, reduced with EVOO and Garlic. Then its topped off with spicy marinara. This sauce is magic. It's sweet, it's fresh, it's garlicky, and at the very end, its hot. Not too hot, but its hot. I may or may not have lifted my plate to drink the stuff. And I'm not sorry. All of my food, both times, came out quickly, came out steaming, came out exactly how we ordered it, AND with a smile on our servers face. This place is a gem. The atmosphere is fun, and on the beach, the BYO business is a blast, as you can bring your personal favorite wines/beers. The wait staff-- shout outs to my girls Stephanie and Annie (two visits and I feel like a regular)-- are amazing! Everyone feels like family at this place, and the food tastes like home. Amen.
(5)Sarah M.
During dinner, my husband (100% Italian) looks up at me, looks at the chef and said "that kid can cook". Staff was great, it definitely looks like kinda shite from outside, so without a friend recommending it, not even sure if I would know there was a restaurant there. The food is what shines here though, and isn't that what you go out to eat for? To eat delicious food you wouldn't make yourself, or in my case... couldn't. Lemme tell you what we got. The bread. Do they make the bread?? Who the hell makes this bread?? It was so good. So good. Eat the bread. I don't always, well rarely eat the bread, but man. Delish. Soft inside, crunchy out. For food, husband just got salad, and I split the wrapped figs that everyone here recommended. Were very good. For food, my son got what he always gets, linguine with butter... so.. moving on. My daughter got the ravioli with meatball. She did share a bite of the meatball with me and it was very delicious and velvety. Nom Nom. My husband got the pork chops, I wasn't a fan, but only because I don't like peppers. You need to love peppers to like this dish. The meat was cooked to perfection though. I had the veal parm. Very tender and yummy. Sauce was great, too much cheese and wasn't really melted, but overlooked that with how good everything else was. Check it out even if out of the way!
(5)DireWolf W.
The BOMB. Get the fig, prosciut, goat cheese, balamic glaze app special (insert homer mouth water noise here) Ciao!
(5)Shuang Y.
Love the view here! You can enjoy the food beside watching the sea. Service is passional and food are great! Little cuisine but clean and Italian! Recommend to come and visit!! Nice place for chatting and drinking
(5)Steve M.
Ate there last night for the first time having been to the Lynn location before. The food and the staff were wonderful but unfortunately, just as at the lynn restaaurant, the noise level is astounding making it almost impossible to have a conversation without shouting. Previously the owner told us he was going to address the noise problem in Lynn with curtains and some baffles but it hasn't happened in Winthrop. I haven't been back to Lynn.
(3)Jacqueline C.
This review is based on the food we ordered. We love this restaurant, but the food we had this time were just not our thing. The pasta dish with olives, sea salt and archives- there were tons of olives on top of the tomato sauce. The whole pasta smells like olives. I don't know why I ordered this dish in the first place... We also had the tri-colored tortellini in a creamy Alfredo sauce. We love the creamy sauce! Won't go wrong if you like tortellini. Next time we will order the basic pasta with tomato sauce.. I came here before and had some amazing food(the mussels appetizer was so good). So My suggestion would be to pick a dish that you feel comfortable with.
(3)Mike D.
Insanely good food! Have been coming for years! Never ever ever been let down . You have to try their meat sauce or however you spell bolegeniese lol . And arincinis when they have them are great , bread , cheese , subs . Everything is good !
(5)Nick R.
I'm pretty picky when if comes to food and this place is always awesome. Chicken cacciatore and margarita pizza are two of my all time favorites, not just here but ANYWHERE!
(5)aaron s.
Definitely had a great time tonight with our waitress Donna! Never mind the wait because the food, atmosphere and service is always top notch! Come hungry, sip slowly, leave happy!
(5)Robert C.
Great food, great service, great location. Besides location being on the small side, everything was perfect. A must try, no need to waste money at tourist traps in Boston area.
(5)Patti B.
Food , service, all around the most delicious meal in a while.. The staff is above excellent!! From out of state recommend by people who live in area.. Couldnt have been happier to spend my holidays eating excellent Italian & Seafood..This is what we miss most!!! Original from New England & i have never been here before.. Will defintely come back next time...
(5)Matt S.
Talk about a hidden gem. My girlfriend and I had just moved to Winthrop and had my parents over to come see our new home. After they arrived, we decided to take a walk along the beach to explore our new surroundings. As we were walking my mother noticed a little Italian restaurant tucked in a little house across from the beach. We were all a little hungry so we decided to grab an early dinner. I'm glad that we did because we found one of the best Italian restaurants that I've ever been to. The ambiance and presentation is that of classic home-style Italian joint. Everything is served on these big, deep, white dishes that I swear came from my grandmothers house. Everybody's meals were perfect. Everything was Delicious. Café Rossetti's is the kind of place where I would bring anyone looking to experience some of the amazing food with amazing views that Winthrop has to offer.
(4)Gail S.
Cafe Rosetti's is our favorite restaurant in Winthrop and it is worth a visit even if you don't leave here. Located across the street from the beach, it is a little hole in the wall with BYOB -- so don't expect a white glove experience but that only adds to its considerable charms. The food is excellent and the service is fast, attentive and friendly. I usually get the chicken romano -- velvety chicken in a scrumptious tomato cream sauce -- while my fiance typically gets their thick, succulent pork chop. They make fabulous, tasty pizza that has the most delicious crust too. The owners and staff here are always so nice and welcoming. And their catering is sublime. They catered an event at my home and the food was cooked perfectly.
(5)Kimberly H.
Two stars on Yelp = Meh, I've experienced better. There are several Italian restaurants in Winthrop and at those you can get either better food or a better deal. I don't understand the ratings on here, other than this is a beloved Winthrop institution and sits on the beach road. Since I live in the neighborhood, it is easy to stop by regularly. I typically get greeted with a "do you have a reservation". This is when it's 4:30 pm and the restaurant is mostly empty. It gets tiring. The pasta dishes are fine, but nothing remarkable. On a recent visit, I had a fusilli-like pasta dish with broccolini that was $17 and the portion size was not enough to fill me up. You can get gnocchi for $2-3 less at area restaurants, so I don't know what justifies theirs, other than the place's popularity. In our most recent experience, my family went in looking for a cup of coffee and snacks at about 3:45 in the afternoon. First they were told there are no to go cups, so they couldn't get coffee to go. My family offered to sit and drink their coffee out of china, and even said they would get snacks, but apparently this was not enough of a food order for them, so they told us no. No to paying customers in a mostly empty restaurant in the afternoon. Laziness or arrogance, I won't be back.
(2)Christopher K.
Donna and I take all of our friends here! The best Italian foot you'll find in the Boston area. B.Y.O.B. & Fabulous Food! Romantic and cozy atmosphere. This place is a great summertime date!
(5)Tom G.
Such good food. It is a very casual place and you may think it looks more like just a pizza shop than a place for great Italian, until you taste it. The only reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is that I think the dishes are a little on the expensive side even given the quality of the cuisine.
(4)Paul N.
Cafe Rossettis is the real deal. Absolute best Italian food around. I am italian, grew up eating italian, and this place is at the top of the chain. Fresh ingredients, excellent specials, and great prices. The location is BYOB, so feel free to bring a bottle of wine, beer, etc and drink while you eat. The servers will even bring over wine glasses/pop the bottle for you. Is is a small place (which makes it more intimate) so plan on getting there early because people certainly know about this place. Do no be surprised if you need to wait an hour to get a seat.. but it is worth it.
(5)Geri V.
Every time we come here the food is fresh, sooooo flavorful and just delish!!!! From their appys to desert.. Everything is great!!! Every red sauce tastes different, not like a pre made batch of red sauce for every meal and their pasta is always al dente! The chicken parm...crispy chicken..mozzarella cheese was melted to perfection! The red sauce was garlicky, sweet and delish! Cavatelli with broccoli rabe- wow.. Garlicky, buttery.. It's a tiny place.. May need to RSVP in advance but so worth it!
(5)Jeff I.
A long time guest...Rossetti's offers the best fresh food on the planet served in the most appetizing manner. My favorite is the shrimp in pink sauce with pasta. Our server Anita is the very best anywhere! Will continue to visit as often as possible. Don't change a thing!
(5)Russll B.
One of the best Italian Restaurant's in Boston Area. We have been going to Cafe Rosetti's for some four years now. Every meal is outstanding. ..the pork chops with potatoes and vinegar peppers is better the my grandmother's who came of the boat from Italy. The appetizers are wonderful also. Fried calamari with banana peppers are to die for as well as the beet salad with goat cheese and strawberries. The main courses are also authentic Italian dishes. We usually go with four, six or eight people but make sure you get reservations from the owner Bobby who you will speak to when making your reservation. There is something about restaurants where owner is part of everything from reservation to cooking your meal to saying hello. Anita, Donna and Stephanie are the best waitresses this side of New York City so if you can ask for one of Anita' s tables. If you are looking for a quiet romantic dinner out....this is not the place...be prepared to have have noisy, fun, enjoyable, fantastic Italian dinner with friends and family. I probably love this place so much cause it reminds me of Italian Sunday dinner with family. ..DO NOT FORGET A GREAT BOTTLE (S) OF WINE FOR YOUR DINNER AS IT IS BYOB. Try Cafe Rosetti's. ..you will love it so much more than North End...no parking fee's either....
(5)Kilgore B.
The first time I went in here a few years ago, for lunch, the waitress asked me if I had a reservation. I laughed and said "A reservation? For lunch? In Winthrop?" The waitress did some checking, and was able to "squeeze us in" to a table in the corner of an otherwise empty restaurant. Well, within fifteen minutes, the entire place was packed with magnum wine bottle toting Rossetti's groupies. They eagerly fussed and debated the day's many special's. I ordered the spicy shrimp Rossetti, and it was absolutely amazing with fresh tomatoes and 8-10 large flavorful shrimp on a bed of fresh house made fusilli. I have been back here too many times to count since then. It has always been amazing. Everything is fresh and perfectly prepared. Now I know enough make a reservation, and to BYOB! You can eat here for a quarter of the cost of a similar place in the North End, and have a view of the ocean while you do. In my opinion, the best restaurant in Winthrop.
(5)Stefan Z.
Best Italian food I've had in Boston. Staff was friendly and very accommodating. The BYOB was great. My girlfriend and I regularly drive out of the city to dine here and will continue to do so until they shut the place down! Highly recommend.
(5)Christian G.
Excellent hole-in-the-wall right by the ocean. Their beet salad is a festive delight of sweet fruit (oranges, strawberries, golden raisins) and juicy beets all topped off with fresh and meaty arugula. Great buttery white sauce with linguine and they cook the mussels just perfectly: savory and juicy without a super rubbery texture. Eggplant parm is delicious as well. Flour less Chocolate Cake is a little dry.
(5)Sean S.
Within about a quarter mile radius there are three Italian restaurants that serve some of the best Italian dishes I've ever had. Among those three, Cafe Rossetti's might serve the best. I have never left wishing I had ordered something else. My only issues with this beach side restaurant are all related to the size of it. It is very small, which means it can be very loud and have long waits (even with a reservation). Other than that, this place is a definite go to.
(4)Julie G.
I love this place. Granted, it is tiny and RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED! This place fills up quick and is packed even on Sunday nights. I've enjoyed many meals here but I would really like to review one visit in particular, although it was in the summer (probably June). The boyfriend and I had reservations for 8pm on a Friday night. It was packed but we were seated right away. It took a few minutes but we were given some water by a nice young girl. 10 minutes rolls by, and I get the girls attention asking if she was our waitress, she was not but brought us bread anyways. It took 20, yes TWENTY minutes (from the time we sat down) for our older brunette waitress to finally stop chatting at another table and pay is some attention. She was very short and abrupt when taking our order. I understand that she was busy but that right there is just poor service. I watched our food come to the window, again the waitress let it sit there for a good 5+ minutes while she was talking up another table, no not even taking an order. She plopped our delicious food down and walked away not to be seen until I had to hunt her down for the check. We had to rely on every other passing employee in there to fill our water, etc. I understand it was busy, but there was no excuse for her to be rude and absent. (I could see her just a few tables down giving a couple particularly enough attention) The kicker is, a few weeks later I had returned with my parents and a couple of their friends. She seemed not to recognize me (why would she? She didn't even look at me while taking my our order the first time there) but on a just as busy night, paid my table quite enough attention. Hmm was she prejudice because of the young couple she was sat vs the older couple? Learn your lesson, a customer is a customer and you would have been tipped well if only you had done your job! Every other waitress in here is sweet as pie though!
(3)D L.
Really, they sent a bruschetta with provolone and not fresh mozzarella, yet I was charged. Check you delivery before giving a 20 percent tip even though generous
(2)Patty T.
Tried to eat here a few weeks ago on a Saturday night with 7:30 reservations. After waiting 45 minutes after our reservation, we were told it would be at least another 40 minutes. We left and went to a wonderful Winthrop restaurant serving delicious Mexican food. How about learning to say "no" to reservations instead of taking them with no chance of getting in? I'd rather be told no instead of waiting for 1 1/2 hours in a cramped space. I'm going to only go during the week. Lesson learned...
(2)Mic F.
I thought this place was awesome. The menu has a great variety. I had the lobster ravioli with shrimp and a side of Italian sausage. It was very good and was perfectly portioned. It's a small place and obviously a regular neighborhood meeting place ( in a good way ). Price is not bad for quality of food. I would definitely come back.
(4)Steve F.
Love this place, cant not say enough about the food. This place is worth the wait.
(5)Chris B.
Hands down one of the best cozy casual restaurants I have ever been to. I am a total food snob, this is my favorite small town spots I've ever come across. I order the shrimp basil spaghetti every time, their carpaccio app, soft shell crab app, and the mozzarella tomato caprese is amazing. Bigggg portions though so come hungry or take home! *******this place is BYOB, which is awesome but don't forget it! ********* service is almost always amazing, especially their server Annie! She is great.
(5)Abby A.
We were brought here by a friend, and although we had reservations we had to wait almost 40 minutes (--tiny restaurant, and VERY popular.) Even with the wait, I would go back in a heart beat. The service was exceptionally warm and helpful. The food was amazing. It's BYOB, which is a plus, too! Excellent. Only suggestion would be to go on a weekday, which I'm guessing is a bit less crowded....
(5)Jack T.
Rosetti's in Winthrop has the foodies trifecta. Great Food, Great Drinks and great conversation. The food of course is out of this world thanks to some great home creations developed by owner and head chef Bob Rosetti. The beverages are BYOB so some creative libations find there way there. And the conversation? Turn to your left or your right and just ask what the person next to ordered.
(4)Christina L.
Absolute worst restaurant experience of my life. I can't even tell you how the food was because we waited 45 minutes after our reservation time and still had not been seated. We watched customers who walked in after us be seated before us because four top tables were available. Disgusted and totally bummed out. Never ever going to attempt to go here again.
(1)Stacey B.
We love this place! Donna is our favorite hostess with the mostest. We feel so welcome each time we are here. The food is always fabulous! The asparagus platter rocks! We had the haddock with lobster stuffing special which was outstanding!
(5)Danjackie L.
We came here on a Friday afternoon around 3pm ish for a late lunch. There were a couple of other diners and we were able to sit right next to the window to look out at the ocean view. We knew going in that the ambiance was typical of a "hole in the wall" place. Didn't deter us. We also brought a bottle of chilled wine in with us. The waitress was very attentive and let us know that we had our choice of ordering off the lunch, dinner, or specials menu. We started with an appetizer of figs wrapped in bacon with goat cheese and balsamic glaze. It was heavily. The figs were so large and plump. A great choice! My husband chose chicken parmesan with penne pasta and finished his whole meal. The sauce was very flavorful, I would describe it as a sweeter style sauce. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the pasta al dente. I had the Bolognese with fresh made rigatoni. A very decent Bolognese and the rigatoni was very fresh and almost melted in my mouth. We had a great little meal. I would recommend this little place to anyone looking for a non-pretension, nice Italian meal.
(4)Dv M.
Hands down the best Italian food around - rivals the north end. Everything is fresh and tasty - the BYOB feature is fun. Can't recommend the seafood dishes highly enough. The specials are always fantastic as are the standby's - shrimp dishes, the cherrystones fra diavlo, even the subs and pizza at lunch are fantastic - (primavera sub yum!). Have never given five stars so easily. One note is to be sure to park on the beach. I've faced being towed off the side street a couple of times because the resident only parking isnt clearly posted.
(5)Laura W.
Saturday night = RESERVATIONS!!! I thought there was a Yelp settings to alert patrons. My fault was not looking through the reviews from other Yelpers to see that reservations were a necessity for this tiny establishment. Let me set the scene... three of us were on a spontaneous trip to Winthrop and smelled the amazingness from the restaurant a block away. We looked at the entrance, no line. We looked inside, a free table and no one waiting!! We went inside and were told that it would be an hour wait! Seriously?!? Although it is a cute place and the food did smell great, this is not the kind of place that you expect to have to have to place a reservation (when you see it, you'll see what I mean). My suggestion is to update your Yelp details, so that potential patrons are not disappointed; especially when it seems like you have open tables!!
(1)Alan M.
As you drive by this place on the beach in Winthrop it looks like a non descript little café of some sort, the décor is nothing special and it is really small inside, the tables are cramped in together but it is all worth it for the food.. Everything made here is done with care and love, the food was absolutely amazing. I had the soft shell crab special appetizer, it was cooked perfectly and the sauce was just perfect, I cleaned the entire plate. For a main course I went with there specialty, a house Bolognese sauce with homemade fusilli pasta. This was the best Bolognese I have ever had, it was flavorful, authentic and the fresh homemade pasta was just delicious. For desert I had a flourless chocolate cake which was served warm with vanilla ice cream, everything was made in house and the chocolate cake was not heavy or dense, it was light and fluffy but rich, it was like eating warm chocolate air! The food here was just absolutely fabulous and I would go back again and again as they have an amazing menu with lots of great choices. Even though this place is very cramped and you have to get a little creative to get into your table, it still gets 5 stars from me as the food is just absolutely amazing to me.
(5)Mark F.
While I agree with most of the reviews that say the food is outstanding and BYOB is fun, I can't rate this place greater than 3 stars because the wait to get into this cramped place is unbearable...even with a reservation. Example: I was there a few days ago...had a reservation for 7:30. they told me it was going to be about 15 mins wait. Well 15 mins later they seated another party of four in front of us, not sure they had a reservation, but seemed to be regulars on a first name basis with the staff and I'm pretty sure got preferential treatment. Then 15 mins later, around 8:00 o'clock, they broke up a 4 top in order to seat two 2 tops (that arrived after us) in front of us!! Well after that we left. On the upside they do deliver!!!!! LOL. ***EDIT*** I added a star....here's why. I received an apologetic message from the owner, Bobby who assured me that regulars would not have gotten preferential over us and provided a way to get in touch with him if there was anything he could do. I appreciate that and it shows that ownership cares and values it's customers.
(4)Evan B.
Rossetti's is 5 stars. It has a great true-to-Italian-culture feel with all the tables very close together and the kitchen in plain sight. As previously mentioned, it's a very small establishment and reservations are probably necessary on your typically popular days and times. Something also worth noting: If you're looking for privacy and an intimate setting for a lavish dinner, this is not your place. Its traditional Italian, family oriented, talk-to-your-neighbors, eat, drink, and laugh until your hearts content. Great service from women who felt more like my aunts or cousins than a wait staff. Very friendly and helpful. I brought a bottle of wine that likely saved us around $50 in drinks alone. No corking fees or any trash like that. They will even open your bottle and give you glasses to drink while you wait for a table. I got two apps(bruschetta and spicy calamari), chicken cacciatore, and a canoli. Everything was delicious. Chicken Cacciatore was well cooked and the blend of onions and peppers created a good spice, and a lot of flavor. Tomatoes on the bruschetta were fresh. I'd never had calamari that wasn't fried so their version was good, but probably not something I'd get again, however that was but a minor speed bump in an otherwise flawless dinner. The ability to bring your own wine puts this place into the "We gotta come back and bring (person 1) and (person 2) with us" category. Great place for a date(impressive and original) or for a bunch of friends/family (wine bottles + great atmosphere) 2 apps, 2 entrees,1 desert = totaled about $60. Quality= 4.5 stars BYOB=5.5 stars. P.S. Hipsters are not allowed in this establishment.
(5)Jay W.
It's a small joint right near the beach. It's almost like it's a well hidden secret. The food was top notch, our server, amazing and I highly recommend going here. It's bring your own liquor though. The place may not look like much, but as soon as the food touches your lips, you forget that you don't have much room to sit down. If anything you're thinking about the next bite. That's how good this place is. Trust me. Just park on the sidewalk near the beach and walk down. Don't try to find anything close for parking.
(5)Michele P.
This truly is as good as it gets in Winthrop. Everything is fresh, fresh, fresh! My fave is the Shrimp Margarita. I'm a sucker for anything francaise, and this is it at it's best! Shrimp the size of your palm in a beautiful lemon white wine sauce. Here's a tip to peeps that live in Winthrop... you can order take out, have it delivered, and it arrives at your door piping hot. It's as if the restaurant comes to you, with out the tight atmosphere of the small restaurant.
(5)Ann M.
Yum! Everything is delicious!!! I can't wait to go again! Although the outside is deceiving (i.e. beach shack-esque) the inside is much nicer with cloth napkins, and a fancy-schmancy menu with all the deliciousness in it. And the staff?? Couldn't be nicer or more in tune with their menu. The owner even came over to welcome us to this BYOB, and told us the next time we came in, we had to let him know so he could pour us some wine from his own collection. Top notch service and food (gnocchi, eggplant rollatini and chicken parmagiana to name a few!)
(4)M C.
I love you guys! Hands down best Italian in the area. BYOB is the best feature besides the amazing food. Staff is like family and they never forget you. I try and come once a week with my boyfriend, but I wish it would be twice a week ! My favorites are : Chicken Margarita , Eggplant Rollatini , Haddock Mediterranean ( Special ) out of this world , calamari, shrimp scampi, Just started ordering the mussels AMAZING so great with lemongrass white wine sauce and for dessert you MUST try the chocolate cake, they make it there ; ) Oh and your crazy if you think you dont need a reservation, especially on friday and sat. night
(5)Katie D.
alfredo Cheese tortellini is amazing! i only.wish their space was bigger, maybe an outside area and the prices a little cheaper
(4)Nic V.
The food was the only good thing about this place - but the atmosphere completely ruined it so it didn't really matter what we were eating. My husband and I went there for our anniversary and were seated literally about an inch away from the other tables. They tried to cram SO MANY people in there it was ridiculous!! sacrifice a few tables for your customers' happiness. We couldn't hear a word we were saying so eventually we just gave up talking to each other. It felt like it should've just been a take-out place it was so small. Hands down the worst place to go for a relaxing meal without literally touching elbows to the person next to you. It was kind of like eating on an airplane. The only plus was that you have to BYO so you save some $$ on booze. bottom line stay away unless you're a super loud Italian!
(1)Cheryl D.
The food here is fabulous. I loved it all. My favorite is the chicken Marsala and the anitipasto. It is small and can be a little noisy but I feel like I am back at my Italian grandmother's house for Sunday dinner. There is so much love coming out of the kitchen and the restaurant staff make you feel like family. If you come from a big Italian family like I did and want to experience your family's dinners go to Cafe Rossetti's you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ashley P.
Cafe Rossetti's you have stolen my heart.... I arrived with my main squeeze in search for a yummy Italian dinner on a Wednesday night. We didn't make a reservation because we figured its Wednesday night, who makes reservations on Wednesdays? Well I totally underestimated to pull of this place, make a reservation!! Either way, we still didn't wait too long to be seated. The one reason that a star was deducted was because there were clearly "regulars" at this location who got seated before us even though we arrived first. A bit annoying, but it didn't cause enough of a delay for us to make a fuss. On to the meal... As other have mentioned, it is BYOB, so I am already liking this place. Once we were seated, we were definitely treated like regulars. The waitress was so nice and was chatting with us. She was very accommodating when we said that we wanted to take our time with out meal and enjoy everything. It was true Italian hospitality. The food was OUTSTANDING. Better then most of the food I have had in the North End. We started with the figs wrapped in prosciutto... which my boyfriend claimed he didn't like bet yet ate half of the appetizer. It also came with brie cheese and strawberries and blueberries. Amazing!! We also had the calamari, and while it wasn't overly seasoned, it was cooked to perfection. For our meals, I had the sausage cacciatore, which was the most delicious pasta dish I have had in a long time. The white wine sauce mixed with the spicy sausage and veggies was perfect. My other half got baked chicken with mozzarella and spinach. Also phenomenal. We had plenty to take home and even though I really wanted to try one of their homemade desserts I just couldn't find the room. So instead we ended the night with a stroll on the beach to help digest some of the amazing food we had just eaten. So in summary: BYOB + delicious food + great service + reasonable prices = I will be returning to this spot very often!!
(4)Christina Z.
The mushroom ravioli is TO DIE FOR. Best eaten when accompanied by the soothing lull of the ocean, and a luscious bottle of BYOB wine. Lemongrass mussels are scrumptious and a pleasantly surprising find. This place is along my beach run. Small and quite cramped inside, but you quickly find that you don't mind. Fairly inexpensive. Dinner for four with apps came to $88 (not including tip).
(4)K. H.
I have written a review on Rosetti's in the past and it got lost in the shuffle. After a visit today I had to come back to sing it's praises! Not only is the service top notch, not to mention there location on the beach..but their sandwiches are truly the best I have ever had! Hands down!! You must try the chicken,mozzarella, and basil..life changing good:-) If you have to wait a little while to eat here at night..it is worth it!!
(5)Lisa G.
MMM MMMM! Cafe Rossetti's is one of my favorite places to go! I live in Boston and try to get to Rossettis whenever I have the chance. Portions are large, dishes are inexpensive and its BYOB! Doesn't get much better. My favorite dish is the Chicken with Roasted Red Peppers and Artichokes, but everything that I have tried is so good. The waitresses have been there for a long time and are so nice. The only downfall is the wait- definitely make a reservation (you still may have to wait a bit as the place is tiny) but it is well worth it! Love this place!
(5)Anna W.
I've been hearing for weeks now that I have to try this place out... that they have the best Italian food outside of the North End. Since my friends and I were in Winthrop hanging out anyway, we decided to go there for dinner. Since it was a Saturday night and we know the place is always packed, we called ahead and got a reservation. That was probably our first mistake -- the next time we go, we will simply have to choose a slower night, like a Tuesday or Wednesday. They told us we could get a reservation for four for 8:30. Their last seating is at 9:00 on Saturdays, so we decided a late dinner would be fine. We arrived there on time for our reservation, and as expected, the place was packed. The inside is absolutely tiny and very low-key. I counted out eight four-person tables (seating capacity of 32 total), so that should give you an idea of how small it is. Also, hopefully no one has a personal space issue or anything, because the two rows of tables are set up picnic-style, so they are essentially one on top fo the other. There is an open kitchen, and it is BYOB (not just alcohol, but pretty much everything... I saw people who brought soda, juice, etc.). We were told there were three parties ahead of us, and they asked us to wait outside since the inside is so tiny. So, we picked up some liquor and sat on the sea wall across the street while we waited for our table. The wait was probably the most painful part of the evening. By the time we finally got seated, it was 9:45 (for an 8:30 reservation!). However, I do have to give them props for seating us and staying open, since their last seating was supposed to take place by 9:00. After we sat down, we ordered and the food came out very quickly. We got stuffed portabellos for an appetizer, and they were two large mushrooms covered with peppers, cheese, and balsamic. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill stuffed mushrooms. We all ordered some form of pasta, and they were very flexible with our entrees -- you can pretty much get anything you want, assuming the kitchen can accommodate it. I was in a pasta mood, so I got their sauteed gnocchi. The food arrived within 15 minutes of ordering. I was a little disappointed that the gnocchi didn't appear to be handmade, but it was still pretty good. Their red sauce was flavorful and had the right amount of spice. Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well, and afterwards, we got a few slices of tiramisu to share for dessert. The tiramisu again, did not taste homemade, but it was good nonetheless. I also have to rave about the service. The waitstaff there was incredibly nice, considering what a busy night it was. Our server, Paula, was very pleasant and funny. All in all, we would definitely come here again and try out more menu selections. However, if we are in a rush, we would probably opt for take-out instead of dining in. The wait for our table was especially long, and it's good that none of us were absolutely starving at 8:30 when we first arrived.
(4)Brittany H.
I don't frequently go out to dinner for Italian food, but this place is worth it. A little out of the way, but they just do a great job at great Italian classics. ++ Bonus points for being able to bring your own wine! Total genius. My parents are 100% Italian and picky about their food, so when they visited I brought them to Cafe Rosetti's and they loved it! Honestly, I would have given them 5 stars if they just get a better reservation/seating system. The place is tiny so you need to go at off peak hours if you want to sit right away. We weren't seated until about 45 minutes after our reservation. I know it can be tough for a small family-run restaurant to anticipate what kind of business they're going to get on a given night, but it was tough watching tons of takeout orders go in and out when you're starving... I hope they renovate someday and open up a second floor. That would be fantastic.
(4)Sarah F.
This review is way over due as I was here at the end of August. Although small, so expect to wait...it was ALL worth it. My friend and I had brought our own wine as it's BYOB and then proceeded to order some of the most delicious Italian food we have ever had. The prosciutto wrapped figs, with goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette were to die for. I then ordered (as suggested by Phantom Gourmet) the Chicken Margarita which was superb. My friend had the Chicken Alfredo and said the sauce was very flavorful and not too heavy which she loved. The staff were friendly, food AMAZING, it is small and quite noisy, but also across from the water-so on a nice day a great walk after your filling meal. We had made a reservation, but still had to wait an hour. It was a Friday night though, so my suggestion is to try pick a slower night if they have one.
(5)Amanda J.
Since our first dining experience at Rossetti's - we've been back countless times and even resorted to delivery! We've never had a bad meal and the service is always stellar. We chose this place to tell my out of town mother that we were engaged last year. Donna, the best waitress ever, even cried and gave my mom a hug. You are remiss if you never make it here!
(5)Dan G.
I hear the pizza is great but i still have yet to try it! (Maybe tonight!?). I stupidly ordred 2 orders aranciati (rice balls) and to my surprise they came over with 6!! Oops but it was so worth it, they are sooooo good. Its small, yes but you cant beat the ocean view if you go when its still likght out, plus i love that I can walk for less than a minute and be home! All of the food here is really good. They do close a little early though and can get really busy.
(5)Dan A.
Maybe the easiest five stars I've given as long as I've lived in Boston. I have eaten here twice, and both times, everything was amazing. Most recently, my girlfriend and I went here for our Valentine's Day dinner. The softshell crab appetizer was fantastic, and her steak mafioso was perfectly done. I am a sucker for frutti di mare, and Rossetti's was phenomenal. I took the waiter's recommendation to have the dish with their fra diavolo sauce and homemade fusilli, and it was the right call. Perhaps the best part was dessert; Rossetti's homemade cannoli are unbelievable, better than anything I've had in the North End, and their cappucinos are great, too. Oh yeah, the place is BYO as well. We will be back - soon.
(5)Ronald R.
Great food, great service and BYOB. The perfect restaurant!
(5)Wayne D.
I went here a few months back on a Sunday night with a friend. We were actually ordering take-out. Sort of a cramped space but well worth the uncomfortable wait. As my friend and I were waiting the chef actually came out to the register and saw us standing there. he opened up his cooler and poured us a glass of wine each, on the house. Of course it was on the house, it wasn't theirs! They have a BYOW license so any left over wine goes into their cooler to offer to other people as they wait (or shift drink anyone???) Must I say that the chicken marsala is the best marsala this side of the North End, hands down! I have tried marsala at other local places like D'Parma's and Paesaens but Cafe Rosetties does-it-right! I liked the food so much that I went back weeks later to sit and have dinner. the people are so good there and the food is just mouthwatering. True Italian food at it's best! Gotta go!
(5)Sandra S.
Another gem in Winthrop! BYOB here as well. Theyw ill keep it in the fridge for you if you get there and the table isn't ready, and if the owner notices that you have been standing much past your reservation, he usually sends over a free appetizer! The eggplant Rolatini is to die for and the Fig and goatcheese app...always get it. They accommodate any diet or allergy. You definately need to make a reservation tho. The place gets packed and waiting is long, but well worth it. Especially in the summer. They open the windows and you get to enjoy the warm summer breeze of the ocean which is right across the street. Def make a reservation tho, but if you don't mind waiting outside in the summer, then you can sit on the wall and enjoy the breeze. A definate take in for sure...our own little GEM!
(5)g w.
If Cafe Rossetti's wasn't 45 minutes from my house I would probably eat there 5 times a week! I just got back from my third visit and had my third great dining experience. The staff if friendly, the food is as good as you are going to find and BYOB is kind of nice...Every time I've been there the Chef/owner has made it a point to come out and see how our meal is - as he does with everybody I'm sure. This place is truly a treasure not to miss even if it is a 45 minute drive. It is a small place and I'm sure at peak times the wait can get long - it's worth it! Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Suzanne K.
I can't believe I didn't review Cafe Rossetti right after we ate there! We heard about it from a man who was shooshing cars out of on-street parking spots just before a Sox game. We got to chatting with him, and about how we were heading out of town to get closer to the airport for an early AM flight home. He tells us it's our lucky day since we will be staying near his favorite Italian restaurant in the Boston area. In fact, he gets on the phone while I make reservations and talks to the owner. We wind up getting stuck in traffic and running WAY late for our reservation and are told that they likely won't be able to accommodate us but we can try to walk in. So we do. Thank God, they make room for us and we wind up having one of the most thoughtful, delicious meals among fun, friendly people ever! The place is tiny and they really pack people in which makes for some fun conversation if you are a friendly type. If you aren't, you should probably go somewhere else. The food is clearly made by people who love food. The combinations of ingredients on some of the dishes were unlike anything I'd have come up with on my own. Everything we ate, and heard about from people sitting nearby was outstanding. If you are in the area, or passing through, make time to stop in and have a meal here. It's a year after I went, and I am still thinking about it!
(5)John D.
This small Italian restaurant has such a great atmosphere (right on the ocean) excellent food, reasonable prices, and BYOB=heaven. I am not the only one who feels this way since there is a wait each time we go. The owner made us homemade meatballs while we waited for a table.
(5)Beth R.
Cafe Rossetti's is fantastic! We eat here every Wednesday night and love the food, service and staff. Remember to BYOB as they don't have a liquor license.
(5)Jesse B.
I've been her 3 times and the food has been exceptional every time. if you get a bad meal send me the bill and I'll pay it, its that good.
(5)Narin N.
reservation made for 8, it is now 8: 25....9pm seated. food was ok, big portions, lots of old ppl go here. bottom line: meh =\
(2)Casey C.
Cafe Rossetti's is definitely in the top two for best Italian we've found in Boston! My boyfriend and I had a very romantic night here and were blown away by the food and service. We made a reservation for 7 pm on a Sunday night and waited about 15 minutes for a table once we got there- based on other reviews, we were prepared for that. Our server was Mike, and he was wonderfully helpful and friendly and had great recommendations. We shared the fried soft shell crab appetizer, which was perfectly fried without being heavy and had great flavor. We loved it (and soft shell crab isn't something we order too often). Then we shared the chicken, roasted peppers and artichoke hearts, along with the frutti di mare. Both were great, but if we had to choose one it would be the chicken dish. Both were wonderfully done and we had at least a full service of each left over at the end of the night (yum leftovers!). Dessert really blew us away. Mike brought us a homemade cannoli on the house, and it was the best cannoli I've ever had- far better than anything I've found in the north end. The filling was unbelievably creamy and fresh-tasting. We split the chocolate cake, which was also homemade and fantastic, especially along with cappuccinos (which were fantastic, by the way). Be sure to bring a bottle of wine, since it's BYO- a great money saver! We loved this place and will absolutely be coming back.
(5)Kate S.
Great food and attentive staff. Good prices too. I really enjoyed this little place. Just wish I knew it was BYO before I went.
(4)Reid F.
Don't let the modest appearance of this Winthrop beach establishment fool you...it is a classic, family-run eatery, with great service and excellent, home-made Italian food, including some superb seafood specialties like frutti di mare and calamari salad. In addition, it is a BYO with a very low uncorking fee, and they take reservations. Highly recommended!
(5)Paul W.
Have not been for a while, time for another visit... Molto Bene!!!!!!!!!
(5)L S.
I'd give this place 4 stars, but you REALLY have to not mind sitting RIGHT NEXT to strangers while conversating, eating, and drinking. The food and service, I would give just about 4 stars. Made reservations for 6pm on a recent Sat. night. Got seated right away. I was prepared for the seating situation. It wasn't too bad. Friendly, nice mid-age couple to my left and and a much more older couple to my left.I was w/my bf. He had been there before + liked it and knew how the tables are very close together. It's a byob type of place, so that worked well. The fig appetizer was very good. Never had it before and I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, they give u the usual bread w/garlic, cheesy olive oil dip..which was good. I had angel hair cabonara. I hadn't had it in a long time, it was very good. Maybe a little too much cream + cheese tho, but I know thats how its made. My bf had the fruitti di mare. He said it was very good. Prices were reasonable. Just be prepared for a non-intimate dinner. Dinners that were going by, looked good. I'd say try it once and if may not be your cup of tea, but if u don't mind, I think you'll enjoy the food. It's probably nice if u can sit by the window, at least u got some kind of view and may not be right next to another table. I'll go back, but not any time soon.
(3)Fred D.
The food here is really good. When you are ordering it seems expensive, but after the meal your not left thinking about the price. Honestly, the best eggplant parm I have ever had.
(4)C L.
Meh... There are better Italian BYOB places in Winthrop. Not bad, but not memorable either.
(3)Hungry C.
When it comes to pizza, Rosetti's is greater Boston's best kept secret. If you're a fan of the Regina/Santarpio approach, then you owe it to yourself to give Rosetti's a try. It's just perfect - and just $10 for a large cheese. The room however, is tiny, loud, and uncomfortable. Your best bet here is to order your pizza 'to go' then carry it across the street and eat it in your car while watching the planes approach from over the Atlantic. We've never actually eaten inside or ordered anything other than pizza, but the food we've seen looks terrific and is priced accordingly. We like cozy, but the room here is so tight it makes us blanch. BYOB.
(4)Soren V.
Best italian food in Winthrop!!!!! Skip the rest! The Proccini Ravioli is the best around.
(5)Paula G.
They did it again. Okay, maybe even better then last time. My first experience (see last review); Chicken Romano Chicken sauteed with mushrooms & served over pasta in a pink cream sauce was to die for. I love this place. The food is equal to any North End establishment. I had the pleasure of being served by Paula last time I was here. She is great and felt I could get no better. I went on 10-14-11 and I was wrong. PAULA & DONNA combination are the BEST!!!! They are both entertaining and make you feel like a VIP. I hope they are paying you well ladies cause it may be time to ask for an increase in the pay. No question; I will be back!
(5)Gina L.
Rossetti's is absolutely AMAZING. I have eaten there many, many times over the past few years and I have never had a dish that wasn't to die for. My favorite dish to get is the frutti di mare in the pink sauce. My boyfriend's favorite is veal cutlet with spinach. The arancini appetizer is our favorite, but it's special so it's not always available. We also love that it's BYOB. The service is wonderful. Rossetti's is my absolute favorite restaurant and can definitely compete with any place in the North End.
(5)Bonnie M.
We went here for the 1st time this weekend. It is tiny however the service and food definately made up for it. Affordable and delicious! A word to the wise, do not go here if you are starving and its prime dining hours, you'll definately wait. That being said....well worth it.
(4)Samantha B.
Cons: Crowded, not a lot of tables...if you're searching for a relaxing, quiet dinner this isn't the place! The tables are small and close together. Also, it's a little bit pricey for a small, local place but... Pros: The food is AMAZING. I ordered the baked scallops. I love seafood and can say that hands down these were THE BEST scallops I've ever had! I also had the egglant rolatini to start, which was delicious. My boyfriend who doesn't like eggplant even loved it. Overall, delicious food and a nice place to have dinner for a special night. Highly recommended!
(5)robert f.
good food good service, be warned it's a small place. bring your own wine as we did or beer. no corkage fee. went twice in one month had a late lunch both times. ordered from lunch menu once but opted for dinner menu next time. basically same size just cheaper on lunch menu. go @ 2.30 and check out limited lunch menu, if you don't see what you like get dinner. excellent prices and bringing your own booze is the best !
(4)Loves T.
I visited Rossetti's for the first time last night, and I was thoroughly impressed with every aspect of the experience. The waitstaff was kind, attentive, and friendly, and more importantly the food was incredible. This is Italian food done right! We had the mussels fra diavolo and softshell crab for appetizers, and both were cooked to perfection. For entrees we had (and shared!) Chicken Margherita, pasta in a bolognese sauce, and the largest and most delicious bone-in pork chop I have ever seen. Honestly, I was most amazed by the bolognese. It's not something I would ordinarily order in a restaurant, but it was absolutely perfect! The pork chop was cooked perfectly, and the sauce it was served in was delicious beyond words. This is a must-try for anyone who loves Italian food. Also--it's BYOB. :) Might want a reservation, as it seems perpetually busy here (one can see why). We arrived relatively early, around 6:00 pm, and the place was already almost full. When we left around 7:00, there was a line. One thing is for sure...this place is worth the wait! Amazing!
(5)Darlene D.
This is a favorite Italian restaurant in Boston-yes it's loud and too crowded but go on a Sunday around 5P, sit by the window and look out over the water. The food is always excellent and the service is down home and friendly. It's BYOB so bring your favorite wine and enjoy! The pizza is excellent too, go for lunch or take out.
(5)Paul D.
ive been hitting this spot since it opened for lunch with my moms on wednesdays, and ive always liked it, never blew my mind or anything, but everything is as you would expect.. then out of nowhere i order a meatball sub for the first time...and......holyshit! they are some of the finest meatballs ive ever tasted! traditional, not too complicated, but masterfully prepared, without much filler... i will never order anything else...they are that good!
(4)Erin B.
While I'm sure you could choose a billion other Italian restaurants in this city, this by far has the BEST food! I came here for my New Year's Eve dinner, and it couldn't have been a better choice. Yes, this restaurant is super tiny, but you can't beat the service, the price, and on top of it all it's BYOB!! I had the tomato basil shrimp accompanied by ziti, and it was super scrumptious. I really wanted to try the warm chocolate cake ala mode, but there was no room left in my tummy. It is obviously a family owned restaurant, and the cook made sure to ask how our meal was, and wished us a great new year. Next time I'm back in town, I'll be sure to hit this place up!
(5)Richard D.
Yes, you can find some good italian in the North End, but for a view of the ocean and the best Italian food in all of Mass, go to Rosetti's. The veal dishes are my favorite, my wife loves the Samon Teriaki, and my mother in law loves the mussels. Anytime I mention a visit to Rosetti's everyone is "in".
(5)