11/05/09

exceptional coffee

by gambino

top of the line coffee house in a great spot of north end. the cigar bar below is so awesome. love to get a cup and espresso and hit the cigar bar

• Pros: great coffee
• Cons: service could be better at times

Open since 1929, the city's first Italian cafe continues to serve as a meeting place for European students and area residents.

by Contributor

On busy weekend nights, carefully coiffed 20-somethings fill Caffe Vittoria's four levels of seating to linger over cappuccinos and shots of limoncello. Mirroring the cafe's relaxed clientele, servers tend to take their time navigating the cafe. The menu of creamy gelato and rich pastries goes great with the extensive list of coffee drinks available. Libation lovers relax over a glass from the cafe's lengthy Grappa list.

High Marks
* "...the atmosphere in the cafe was great, it felt like you were right in Italy..." (livNbig, Citysearch user)

* "...the relaxed atmosphere invites lounging and talking to friends for hours. One of my favorite places in Boston." (redelephant, Citysearch user)

Low Marks
* "...i don't find this place stands out in any particular way. desserts and coffee are ok but nothing spectacular..." (freewilly7, Citysearch user)

* "...there are too many other wonderfully delicious places to go in the North End that have a pleasant environment where you don't risk getting "yelled at" by staff." (scout08, Citysearch user)

04/12/08

overrated

by freewilly7

everybody likes to go there. but i don't find this place stands out in any particular way. desserts and coffee are ok but nothing spectacular; wait staff is inattentive bordering on unfriendly (and we didn't even go in rush hour or occupying the table for hours w/o second rounds of food & drinks). i don't see why's the hype.

one time i went there and was enticed by their considerable list of ice-cream flavors on the menu. but when i ordered it, they only had 2 or 3 in stock (not that they ran out but they actually don't make them). so why not take them off the menu already?

:)

• Pros: hanover hot spot, great people watching
• Cons: confusing seating system (do i seat myself or what), items on menu not available, old furniture & decor

01/29/08

Best cappuccino and tiramisu!

by livNbig

After dinner in the north end, my wife and I decided to check this place out. There was no wait, so we sat ourselves at a table. The waitress was very polite, and helped explain some of the items we weren't sure about. Everything on the menu sounded delicious, so we decided on cappucino, tiramisu, and a canoli. It was delicious, I've never tasted cappucino quite like this. Also the atmosphere in the cafe was great, it felt like you were right in Italy. Overall, I highly recommend this place, and would definately go back again. Also if you smoke, check out Stanza dei Sigari located right downstairs.

• Pros: Cappucino, tiramisu, canoli, atmosphere, and service
• Cons: none

10/13/07

Terrible service

by ywang24

We stumbled in here because they had 2 TVs to catch the Red Sox game on and also, the line at Mike's was too long. Our waitress was seriously the rudest I've ever encountered. I'm not sure if she is the same one the other reviewers on here have complained about, but from descriptions, I think it might be the 50-some year old woman with short brownish hair. While she was taking our orders, one of my friends spent a little bit longer deciding and instead of telling us she'd be back when she was ready, just walked away from our table without saying anything. She really just gave the impression that she really did not give a care about us and that we were beneath her. I'm not sure if she was agist (gainst 20-somethings) since she seemed to scowl a bit less at the couple behind us in their mid-40s? Also, the menu does not have prices and at the end, instead of giving us a bill with the items and total listed, she just verbally told us the price. I thought this was a little odd for any eating establishment to do? She took our paid bill while we were still sitting there eating and counted it out right in front of our table. It was simply one of the most tactless things I have ever seen.

Foodwise, I got the blackberry gelato and it was really not that great. It also seemed like ice cream rather than gelato. It was creamier and had a more sticky quality than gelato normaly has. I would probably never come here again.

• Pros: have 2 TVs, looks cozy
• Cons: Awful service, gelato

04/14/07

Would be good if the server actually valued customers

by scout08

My friend and I visited this cafe to chat and study over coffee and dessert. Two hours into our stay a rude server (loud and rather abrupt), in her mid-fifties with short blondish hair, approached the table and rudely told my friend that they don't like people staying that long because they're busy. I had been checking around throughout our stay to make sure we were not occupying a needed table; although it was getting busier, there was in no way, shape, or form a scarcity of tables. We spent less than 5 minutes wrapping up our chatting/work, when we heard this server yelling to another server near the front of the restaurant: "Are they still here?!? I told them to leave!!!" That is not only embarrassing to us as customers, but horribly rude and unappreciative of our business. We were paying customers throughout our stay. If we hadn't been studying would we have been kicked out for having a lengthy conversation? Although the coffee and dessert was good (which I had to box up to finish at home, as we were told to leave), there are too many other wonderfully delicious places to go in the North End that have a pleasant environment where you don't risk getting "yelled at" by staff.

• Pros: Good coffee
• Cons: Nasty service

01/18/07

Best Cap

by thebiggerguy

YEAAAAA yea YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this is a pick me up cappicino YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA start your day with a yea

• Pros: to go on the go
• Cons: love it all

11/22/06

Why get coffee and dessert anywhere else?

by redelephant

When I eat in the North End, I always skip getting dessert at the restaurant, walk right past the long lines at Mike's Pastry, and head right to Cafe Vittoria for the best cappachino in the Northeast and some of the best tiramisu in the North End. They also have great gellato, canolis, cake, and coffees, and the relaxed atmosphere invites lounging and talking to friends for hours. One of my favorite places in Boston.

• Pros: Cappachino and tiramiu

08/12/06

Manager is The Man

by krazygirlcj

I think Kenny is a awesome man & manager, & can melt a womans heart

Kenny I will always love you baby

• Pros: This place is #1
• Cons: Nothing

10/31/05

Unbelievably awesome!!!

by marara

We found this café just by chance but their cappuccino and tiramisu were unbelievably tasty! I can say I had the best cappuccino and tiramisu in my life there! And the atmosphere was cool and relaxing, and their service was kind and friendly. I already miss the café and I definitely will go back whenever I go to Boston from next time.

Even if you are NOT cappuccino and tiramisu lover, seriously, I recommend you to try them!!! I am so much sure you will change your mind!

• Pros: taste, value, service
• Cons: ???I cannot find...