Giulia
| Address: | 1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA |
| Phone: | +1 617-441-2800 |
| Site: | giuliarestaurant.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–11PM 5:30–11PM Closed |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 7
MI
Michael Collins
We stopped in on a Saturday night and we were able to sit at the bar. They do a wait list, in person, for the bar but no reservations. First off, the food here is excellent and we will definitely be back. This place embodies everything I love about modern Italian food. Smaller portions, big flavors, and slightly adventurous. We were told that all the pasta being served is made within the last 24 hours. If you have been to the famous Flour + Water in San Francisco, this place is pretty damn similar. Why the 4 stars? First the wait between appetizer and entree was almost 40 minutes, which is a little unreasonable especially for fresh pasta. When I asked our bartender about our meal and if she thought the wait between entree and dessert would be as long, she gave a response that was borderline unfriendly instead of sympathizing with the long wait. This was one of those waits where you find yourself staring at the open kitchen saying to yourself "Oh this must be my plate coming out" Then it isnt... On to the food: Sexy Americano (cocktail) - A mixture of rose champagne and St. Germaine, I expected it to be a little sweeter but found it dry. Not my style. Fresh Bread & Olive Oil - Great room temperature bread served with some of the best tasting olive oil I have had in memory Burrata - The highlight of this dish was not the burrata itself, it was the complex and outstanding mix of flavors the veggies and spices added around it. Small plate, only enough for 2 people at most. Bucatini - Imagine if you put angel hair pasta on steroids for a few months, that is what bucatini is and it was excellent. The chucks of pancetta and and red sauce were simple yet extremely flavorful. I cannot emphasize enough the quality of pasta here. Pappardelle with Wild Boar - Wide long noodles (imagine lasagna noodles) accompanied with some slow cooked wild boar. For those not into exotic meats, this tasted no different than a beef brisket in terms of texture and flavor profile. The black trumpet mushrooms added a nice flavor. I thought this was the best dish of the meal Almond Torta Dolce - My favorite of the desserts I tried. Almond bread with some peach jam and whipped cream. The flavors were simple while going together perfectly all at once. This seems to be a theme of this restaurant. Affogato - This dish is essentially a gelato/ice cream smothered in a shot of espresso. They use a hazlenut gelato and mix in some shortbread and real hazlenuts. Due to the shot of espresso the dish is slightly bitter. Great if you want coffee and dessert in one dish
NA
Nancy James
Giulia is a walkable restaurant that has become an all-time favorite due to the extremely and consistently high quality of the cuisine and the warm and professional service. We have recommended it highly to friends, and weve brought many friends to introduce them to Giulia. Thats why its sad to report 2 recent experiences there that were so out of synch - and in the second instance made us agree not to come back - I was preparing to make another reservation before leaving, but didnt do that. In the first instance a whole fish was served without the provision of having the server prepare the fish . When we asked, the only answer was "the chef likes is served this way." Well, the chef wasnt eating it, the customer was, and the customer was surprised to find a service offered in any restaurant in Italy, unavailable in a fine Italian restaurant in Cambridge. Plus the servers response came with a tinge of unappetizing arrogance. In the second instance we observed (and our dinner with a friend was negatively affected by) a situation at the table next to us. The diner noted to the server an unappetizing amount of gristle on the steak, and because she did not have time to wait for another dinner (our dinners also had taken an unusually long time to arrive) she asked just that her bill be reduced. What I observed was not the gracious response you would expect at Giulia. The response involved a manager coming to the table to tell the diner that she WOULD be paying for her WHOLE meal. An argument ensued, loud enough to interrupt our conversation. None of us had ever seen a response like this at a nice restaurant. The food was awesome, we would have licked out plates if we werent better brought up - but we still left with a bad taste in our mouths.
NA
Nathan Green
The care taken in the preparation of our dinner was quite evident: ethereal, rich, sensory, deceptively compact semolina cakes (warm, w/parsnip crema, hazelnuts, apple, nutmeg and parmigiano)--breakfast and dessert together; a virtually incomparable antipasto of burrata (w/berkshire ham, crisp and charred and oil-laden sourdough bread, perfectly marinated artichokes); an excellent bucatini allamatriciana (w/house-cured, chunky pancetta, tomato, onion, pecorino); an addictive pappardelle with wild boar (plus black trumpet mushrooms, juniper and parmigiana); a warm, buttery ground almond torta (w/vanilla gelato, almond praline---some pieces dentally challenging--- and wine-macerated fruit salad); an espresso-topped affogato ( with chocolate and vanilla gelati and authentic Italian cookies); a very nice Verona Soave from Giannoni Selections; and excellent coffee. Great house-made pasta. Difficult to reserve less than a month ahead, yet has neighborhood vibe, possibly including walk-ins.
MI
Michael Weiss
I was so happy to learn that Chef Mike opened up Giulia and it was everything we had hoped it would be. The space is cozy, rustic and simple...yet refined. The food is phenomenal. Tasty, strong flavors yet simple ingredients that make a dish perfect. The staff knows their food and can recommend a dish depending on your interest of palate. The chef accommodated our allergies and also interest in half dishes so we could taste more than one of their yummy plates. They recommended I try the Pistachio ice cream which was like nothing I have tried before...truly amazing. I cant wait to go back.
MI
Minh Chau
We were a party of five coming in on a Friday evening. Its a warm and inviting atmosphere - from both the physical ambiance to the great hospitality that was shown by our waitress (who was friendly and proactive in making our time there enjoyable). For non-drinkers, the bar will also create virgin cocktails for you - just ask! The food was good all around - the appetizers were decently sized (burratina was great) and so were the entrees (my branzino was cooked perfectly). My pistachio gelato also made it another reason to re-visit. It wasnt too rich, but still packed with flavor.
TI
Tim Gilligan
Hidden in plain sight on Mass Ave between Harvard and Porter, this cozy Umbrian spot offers delicious small plates and pastas energetically. If you are a larger group you are bound to the chefs pasta table in the back, a somewhat more lively experience right in the middle of it all. Smaller parties enjoy being nestled into tables and if you are late to the game, you can sometimes elbow your way into some of the prime bar seats. The drinks are inspired and the food high quality... Just get there early to not be disappointed when the place fills up!
CH
Charles Collins
My wife and I enjoyed our dinner at Giulia. Our server was both personable and knowledgeable. When unsure of which wine to have with dinner, she brought us samples of each to try - a nice touch. Giulias menu has a wide variety of choices and offers many dishes not typically found in Italian restaurants. From hearty pasta dishes to delicate seafood preparations - once you read the menu youll already be planning your next visit because youve spotted quite of few entrees that sound wonderful. We shall return !
