Canestaro's

10/03/09

who gave this place five stars?? I was thinking maybe 2.

by pickyonparkdrive

We got the mussels appetizer, chicken cacciatore special and the veal marsala.

Pros: The atmosphere is a laid-back and the place was bustling, but we were able to get a seat on a Friday night. The service was friendly and the long menu has something for everyone. The mussels were ok. The vegetables in my pasta were fresh and not super-soggy.

Cons: The garlic bread they brought out was cold. The chicken in my pasta was breaded and fried, the veal was breaded and fried, though it doesn't say say on the menu. Neither of us found our dishes that tasty. I'm not a food snob... but for a $15 pasta dish i expect something that tastes better than a TV dinner.

Supposedly their pizzas are good, but I'm not sure I'd go back to find out.

For this price range in this neighborhood, the thai place is MUCH better.

• Pros: friendly service, extensive menu
• Cons: overpriced and not that delicious

06/23/09

CANESTARO - Great food, friendly people, lovely surroundings

by George12

Just steps from Fenway Park is A GEM OF A PLACE! Canestaro, I have loved it for years, but am surprised that some people still haven't discovered it. It's just around the corner from Fenway Park on Peterborough St (where Park Drive starts). They have a nice dining room, small bar & a great outdoor patio, plus a parking lot in the back. The food is wonderful -- great pastas and, I would say, the best Pizza in Boston. Ingredients are very fresh, sauces are homemade -- try the spinach gnocchi in tomato basil cream sauce -- it is to die for!

• Pros: Delicious pastas. Lovely outdoor patio.
• Cons: A little hard to find - tucked away on quiet Peterborough St

09/10/08

Great food ... sloth-like service

by BigHal

The place has great food!!! The place is in a quiet out-of-the-mainstream location, yet a 3 minute walk to Fenway Park and Beacon St. Make friends with Tom out back and get there a bit early and you will have an excellent parking location for Fenway events - and only $25 (be sure to add a few bucks for Tom). Spaces are limited. When you leave you can shoot down Park Dr and avoid event traffic.

The one BIG problem is the speed of service. Never plan to eat there before a Fenway event unless you give yourself 2+ hours. On some nights, if you order sandwiches and pizza only, you can get out of there in 45 minutes. But on most they are challenged to turn the table over in less than and hour and a half. It took us over two hours to eat and get out of there for the Neil Diamond concert. Good thing we got there at 5 PM for an 8PM concert to assure a parking space.