Pomodoro

Are you looking for a reasonably-​priced gourmet brunch on a Sunday? How about one that entails no reservations or long lines? Does such a magical unicorn exist? It does at Pomodoro– yes, the very Pomodoro that doesn’t openly advertise its brunch offerings online! Extensive research of the Boston brunch scene and a hint of desperation for a special Sunday AM led one of my friends to this blog:
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To start, the service was very friendly and accommodating, while the ambiance was pleasantly bright. I can recommend Pomodoro for a special brunch date, a friendly group outing, and a family affair.
The bread, high-​quality olive oil, and olives that we received as we were waiting for our meal were fantastic (be sure to grab a piece of that cheese bread!). Navigating the menu was a challenge because there were so many great options. I passed up on the highly-​enticing sirloin hash topped with poached eggs, sauteed spinach, and gorgonzola fonduta and the pizza options to order my first-​ever burrata– an Italian mozzarella cheese stuffed with cream. My burrata didn’t disappoint, as it had the outer texture of a fresh, soft mozzarella and a nice, creamy interior. The arugula, proscuttio (if memory serves me right), and pine nuts added some nice balance. I requested bread (which I felt could have completed an otherwise fantastic dish) to eat with my meal, and my server VERY generously complied. My friends also enjoyed the pastas and hashes that they ate, though there was a complaint about the spinach and artichoke frittata, which was unseasoned and was missing artichokes.
That said, Pomodoro is a hidden gem when it comes to the Boston brunch scene. I also favored my brunch experience here over the dining experience I had in the North End’s sister restaurant (which was a mixed-​bag of an experience).
Please note that Pomodoro in Brookline is cash-​only like its sister restaurant in the North End. Luckily, there are a handful of ATM options in the neighborhood.
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The service was great and the selections for brunch were quite varied. The bread was also great, as were some of the dishes we ordered, including a couple pastas and the hashes. Unfortunately, the one I had, the spinach and artichoke frittata, was not good. The eggs had a weird texture and the entire dish was unseasoned. Additionally, there was no artichoke to be found at all. I’d be much happier if the artichoke was not advertised, since my expectations would be lower.

Beautiful intimate restaurant with solid execution. We ordered the calamari fritti, Shrimp fra diavolo, clams linguine and a penne dish. All dishes were good but not exceptional. Would recommend for a quite dinner with friends. Be sure to make a reservation and to bring cash.

Excellent! Beautifully decorated space and comfortable seating areas. Food was outstanding! Cash only somewhat inconvenient.

Being in Boston for appointments at DFCI, we had just finished our last appointment before heading back to the hotel, before procedures the next day, and wanted some good Italian food. After searching Open Table, nothing came up in Brookline where we were staying, so looked at Unilocal and saw Pomodoro. The all cash did not bother us, we just wanted a really nice meal after a trying day… Well Pomodoro did not disappoint! We started with the braised meatballs which were moist, tender and the red sauce was superb. My wife had Burrata with squash and arugula which was again fantastic. We shared a salad then were wowed by the Eggplant Parmesan, an absolutely super dish. My wife had the linguine with shrimp scampi. It was very good as well. We finished, although we did not need it, with a bittersweet chocolate bondi which was the best chocolate dessert I ever had. We both cook a lot at home and when we eat out we want something that is inspiring… and we found it here. The restaurant is cozy, service is superb… quick and efficient… thanks to Ben for such wonderful service… throughout the entire meal. We will be back… unfortunately…in the next week, but at least we have something to look forward too!

Lovely atmosphere with upscale wonderful Italian menu. The caesar salad is dressed perfectly with the nice mild white anchovies on the top. We have had the pasta with white clam sauce that was excellent along with the well prepared cod, the tasty scallops and the wonderful eggplant parmesan.(.a real winner) that were all put together just right to please the pallet Love the way they serve their water with mint and lemon… nice touch! The only downside is that they do not take credit cards which I find an inconvenience.

This place is small and cozy. It has a romantic atmosphere but casual at the same time. The bread and olive oil was outstanding. I ordered the eggplant parm with a side of pasta (I would order both again). My wife had the tenderloin. Overall we will be back! Only downside is cash only!

Tasty, a bit more expensive than average for restaurants of this type, and the portion size is modest (some would call it too small.) Décor is refreshingly different and quite pleasant.

I was excited about trying this place but it was disappointing. The food was alright and overpriced. They don’t take credit cards or debit cards and the server did not addressed that since the begging. I had to run down the street to take out cash from an atm and pay convince fees. They don’t have AC and its very hot inside. It was overall a negative experience.

Having come back here after four years, I was impressed by Pomodoro. My ceasar salad was solid and so was the fra diavolo. They have great wines and the bread pudding dessert is AMAZING. Coming on a Sunday afternoon made a huge difference in my experience this time because it was quite and nice inside. Pricey for what it is but a good choice.

To escape the pre-​July 4^th festivities in Boston, we decided to go to dinner in Brookline.
Absolutely loved this little gem of a restaurant. Located in the former Village Fish restaurant, it has a warm, friendly vibe. Sam, the bartender/​owner
(I think), makes delicious cocktails! We shared appetizers: calimari that was tender, yet crisp, meatballs in a delicious red sauce that was excellent for dipping the scrumptious bread into and mussels that were flavorful in a delicious broth that had a mildly sweet garlic flavor! Each of our main meals were cooked exactly the way we wanted. The eggplant Parmesan was particularly excellent, but the pasta dishes were very good! In previous visits, I had one of their fresh, delicious salads. We cannot wait to go back. They do take walk-​ins, but since it is a small space, reservations are a good idea. No credit cards. Cash only!

Brutal waiter service and pathetic ingredients in dishes. Quality of service and food options is thoroughly disappointing especially at these prices. Worst restaurant experience I’ve had in many years.

Customer Service was poor. Servers were not friendly, were stuck up, and did not check up on us. The food was good, but not for that price. Poor experience.

Love the intimate feels of this minimalistic but charming establishment. It feels like Anthropology employees quit their job and did up the inside of this joint. The personalized friendly service goes a long way and takes this review from a 3 star to a 4 star.
Generally the food is nice and homemade. A few dishes in our party of 6 were just average but a nice couple of standouts. The shared dishes were very well-​received. Desert is not to be missed.
Great for a romantic dinner. Loved the bar, too and worth stopping in a for a drink. Make sure to book in advance if you can if your party is over 2 people as not a ton of large tables.

Awful customer service. Cash only.

This place has the makings to be five-​stars. Good service, nice décor, and, for us, infant-​friendly was a big plus.
But the food was just meh — I tried the lamb ossobuco, and while the meat was fine, it was a bit overcooked, and both it and its accompanying risotto were almost completely unseasoned. I asked for salt and had to add a fair bit to get it past the point of tasting like prison mush. My wife felt similarly about her dish. Again, the makings of being great, but missing a few key elements.
But mostly, it’s ridiculous that this place is cash-​only. When your bill might be $ 100 or more for dinner for two, suggesting they run down the street to an ATM is the worst possible way to finish a guest’s experience in your restaurant, and it gives the guest a good opportunity to really think about whether the bill was worth it.
In our case, we walked away saying «meh, probably not.»

I visited this location last night and was grateful for the hidden gem that it is. The ambiance was lovely and quite romantic with dim light and candlelight. The waiter was pleasant, not overly friendly but served his purpose and helped recommend the pan roasted lobster pasta dish with brussel sprouts in a garlic cream sauce and the ravioli dish.
I had the lobster and it wad fresh, light and buttery soft. The best lobster I’ve had in a long time! My friend had the ravioli and she loved it.
Beaware that the restaurant is cash only. ATMs nearby.

Pomodoro is a cosmopolitan Italian restaurant that seems to specialize in seafood dishes. The décor and the atmosphere is not stuffy like many Italian places, but rather modern and sleek. It features a beautiful bar that would be a great place to sample a cocktail or dine alone.
I stopped here on my way to Fenway and as my wife put it, Pomodoro is as non-​baseball as you can get. I tried the hanger steak, and one of the house cocktails. We had a lovely, if expensive meal. It was certainly a nice romantic spot. For her part, my wife loved the eggplant Parmesan she had.
Overall, this place was a nice surprise. It would be a fun spot to have a group, as buoyant conversation would be natural. According to our server, the menu was brand new during our visit, so keep that in mind.

Poor Service and Mediocre Food… a bad combination
Although the average review score is reasonably high at Pomodoro, I had heard some bad experiences here through some of my friends. However, living in Brookline Village, I though it would be worth a try just in case I happened to like it.
Whoops. I should have listened to my friends. Pomodoro is a small restaurant and was quite loud even for early evening (6PM). It was hard to have much of a conversation.
The server we had was among the rudest least helpful ones I have ever encountered. Asking for something as simple as skim or low fat milk for our coffee seemed to put her out. That was beside the point that they did not have anything other than whole milk. She was very slow and we waited quite a while for our entrees. She never cracked a smile.
The menu is the typical Italian fare without much innovation or creativity. My steak was overcooked and a bit dry. Of course, I did not bother to send it back because I was trying to keep the interaction with my server to a minimum. I probably should have ordered pasta.
Overall, I found Pomodoro to be uninspired. Even discounting the lackluster service, the food was pricey and similar to what you could find at a dozen other Italian bistros. I can think of several better options for Italian if you are willing to venture a bit further into the city. I will not be back to Pomodoro!

Excellent food and nice service. Pre-​meal bread and olive oil were fab. Water has nice mint and lemon in it. I had delicious pappardelle with braised short rib. (Around $ 13 or $ 14.)
Look forward to trying more things there! It’s pricey, but not too pricey. Good for a special lunch or dinner without going crazy.
Warning: Cash only.