Papa Razzi

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Papa Razzi. The ambience was good (subtitle music in the background) and the service was great. Unfortunately, the food was not up to standard. I ordered a salad, i don’t recall the name, but I do know it had lettuce, goat cheese, tomatoes, capers and bits of ripped up bread mixed with oil and wine. The idea of the salad is a good one, but it was simply too sour. The capers could have been drained better or maybe reduced in quantity. I gave this place three stars because I need a caffeine kick and ordered a coffee that I was thoroughly impressed with. All in all, I would come back to try a different dish, maybe a thin crust pizza.

I’ve had mixed experiences here. It’s not that the cooking is inconsistent. I’ve always had the pasta with the eggplant and smoked mozzarella, which is always delicious. However, their risotto and some of their pasta dishes are mediocre. They’re not horrible but nothing to write home about. I would suggest going to somewhere in Newton for better Italian if you don’t want to trek into Boston.

The reason I am giving papa razzi a 3 star is that everything was just alright. Nothing outstanding. The restaurant was very busy on a Saturday night and the wait was long even with a reservation at 8:00 we did not get seated until about 8:30.
The appetizers were alright but the calamari tasted a little like it had been sitting under a light n the kitchen for a while. It was slightly chewy and not crispy hot like it should be.
My lobster ravioli that was a special really was nothing special. It was a slightly tough pasta with a flavorless filling. It was passable but not living up to the hype that everyone was talking about. Maybe it was an unusual night being busy but I would go back in a weekday to see if it improves in quality at all.
The deserts were good. I had a cake that was chocolate and delicious.

Came here today after shopping. I had the veal picatta which was the special of the day. It reminded me of that car commercial in which they get sour chicken instead of sweet and sour. I think it’s a great feat to make meat taste that sour but these people managed to do it. It was almost inedible but I was starving. The waiter was nice and kept my wine glass full. The bread was the only good food at this place. Ended up paying $ 50 for a meal for one. I will not be coming back.

I went here for lunch today with my wife and 1 year old. After being seated for 10 – 15 minutes no one came to even take a drink order. There was barely any people eating there but were well staffed. I couldn’t get anyone’s attention so we left! I wouldn’t go back there that’s for sure. I had a similar experience at Charley’s, so maybe it’s contagious at that mall since the food places lack there (no wonder why Charley’s is now out of business). On a lighter note I would recommend Papa Razzi in Wellesley which is the complete opposite of Chestnuthill and really a great place! For lunch today we ended up at a local favorite: Maugus Diner in Wellesley.

Came here for dinner with friends one evening. We had a reservation that we had to keep pushing back, but the folks at Papa Razzi were nothing short of gracious. When we finally arrived we were promptly seated.
We were having a late dinner, so we decided to skip the antipasti. The bread however was delicious. I has the insalate cesare with shrimp while my friends had the pollo piccata, agnolotti all’ aragosta (lobster ravioli), and ravioli al pomodoro. All of our meals were great the BEST being the lobster ravioli.
The greatest part of our experience was when my friend was serenaded with the most beautiful Happy birthday operetta I have ever heard.
All in all a great experience. I would definitely go back!

We recently stopped in while we were shopping around the Chestnut Hill Mall.
We shared the Calamari and a Pizza. Both the appetizer and the pizza were very good. I would get both again since both were a great value and really delicious.
The service was friendly and attentive. We went just before dinner so they were still gearing up for the big dinner rush so we had nice service before things got crazy.
Give Papa Razzi a chance for a nice meal while you are shopping. Take some time to kick back relax and put your feet up (figuratively) while you enjoy a nice Italian meal.

Today we enjoyed a lunch at the bar after shopping. Food and drinks were excellent as usual. The downside was slow service, very noisy, and when I asked for another piece of focaccia bread the bar tender said they ran out.

Papa Razzi is consistently good, albeit never cheap. I took a break from a shopping Sunday afternoon for a pint and some calamari at the bar. I was treated really nicely and calamari were very tasty. So not too much to report, but a nice experience for a mall restaurant.

Really nice staff and good food. Who would have thought a mall restaurant could be fine dining?

Woody Allen could very well have been talking about this place when he said «the food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.» Add to it surly management, and you’ve got the trifecta.
And guess what? It’s totally overpriced too!
I know, I know. It’s a crappy chain restaurant. But I guess I expected more for the price. It’s like Olive Garden – only more expensive, with crappier food and douchebag management. Pasta was grotesquely under cooked – not «al dente» as they claim. This is crown-​breaking, slightly damp out of the box under done. Waiter disappeared, so I flagged down a passing manager. His response? «We’ll go soften it up for you.»
Ummm…I’m not sure what that entails, but I’d rather you just cook it correctly.
No apology, no «terribly sorry.» 10 minutes later, I tell the waiter that I’ll just forego the pasta. Again, manager comes out, this bearing a dish of pasta, and a snarky monologue about «how we do things here.» Again, no apology. No, «I’m really sorry for screwing up your dinner.»
Guess what? That’s not how I do it. So I told him. And he shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
It wasn’t until his THIRD visit to the table, and upon MY prompting that he took any responsibility for the food. With lots of in your face gesticulations, to boot. I think the guy sells used cars during the day – the natural fiber-​free suit and douchy veneer would certainly suggest so. $ 10 says there’s a gold chain under that shiny shirt.
It’s a shame this neighborhood can’t support a decent Italian restaurant.
Mai più!

The menu is extensive but not overly ‘authentic’ Italian — but — it pleased everyone at my table! Service was friendly and super efficient. Pizzas are light and tasty. Cocktails poured at the table. I think for a mall restaurant it is great.

Good, not great. Eaten there a dozen times and it’s very hit or miss. Ordered chicken which looked amazing but was so dry I had to send it back. They were very apologetic and took it off the bill. On the other hand, my wife’s pasta sausage dish was delicious. Home run or strike out. Stick to the pasta. Salads are uninspired — skip altogether.

I ordered the evening special, a $ 26 swordfish entrée with 4 tiny shrimp, average in every respect but one: The serving size was so small that the restaurant should be ashamed to serve it to customers. Instead of apologizing, the manager began to explain how expensive swordfish is! The bottom line: At these prices, the food better be either A) much more amazing or B) much more generously sized. I am always glad to pay more for an exceptional dining experience, but this was merely mediocre mall food. How disappointing. I will not return to this restaurant and will warn my friends not to go there.

I’m going to give this place 5 stars because it is a regular destination for us and we keep coming back. The service is always great here. Some food favorites for me are the Decampo salad, Rainbow Trout (when they have it), Calamari, Pizza and Eggplant app.
The kids specials are a great deal and for the price and the white tablecloth environment is a good value. The problem this location consistently having is under cooking the pasta and broccoli. The quality of both are high so you need to tell them to cook the pasta and broccoli well. I’m not sure what they’re thinking in the kitchen with this.
Get the coffee and dessert. The coffee is served in a big silver pot and is left there for you. The desserts are good.
We will keep returning.

This place is good for its value — you get what you pay for. It’s a pretty good deal for decent italian dishes, especially their pastas as they are made to order. You can definitely find better italian food in the North End but if you don’t feel like waiting in line and being surrounded by tourists this could be a good substitute.
I’ve been to Paparazzi multiple times over the past few years. I used to visit the one in Back Bay a lot more but now I opt for the Chestnut Hill location because parking is convenient. The food taste pretty much the same in both of these locations but the Chestnut Hill location is much less crowded.
Appetizers:
Mozzarella Fritas — lightly breaded fresh mozzarella fried and topped with their famous pomodoro sauce. Light appetizer to start off the meal
Calamari — I’ve tried this in many restaurants and I think my favorite is still from Paparazzi. The cherry peppers and arrabbiata sauce (spicy pomodoro dipping sauce) makes this dish special here.
Entrees:
Chicken Scaloppine — HUGE portion of breaded chicken cutlet with a lemon buttery caper sauce on top (see my pictures). Consider swapping out the sides with some of your favorite pasta dish.
Spaghetti Bolognese — the light creamy touch to this meat lovers pasta dish adds to the flavor of the red sauce.
This recent visit I tried the Friday special — Linguine with lobster and spicy pomodoro sauce. The lobster wasn’t very fresh and overall was quite bland. I will be sticking with my regular choices above!
I would recommend any of their dishes with veal meatballs… so yummmmy! I also love this place because you can order HALF portions of any pasta or salad dish. I am a regular here but this will always be a decent italian chain… nothing out of the box.

I wanted to write a review for PR because it needed to be included in my «great gluten free menu» restaurant list. PR will make any pasta dish on the menu with gf pasta. It’s not the best tasting gf meal I have had, but I appreciated the effort. It’s nice to have choices as somebody with celiacs disease. I should note, however, that this was my fav restaurant when it was in Cambridgeside Galleria, and I was not a glutard. The salads are amazing and I loved the Chicken al forno. (sigh)

The food was fine, but I didn’t feel that authentic Italian factor that makes for an awesome meal. The service was great, and definitely stands up to what it’s chain represents.
I got their potato gnocci with a mushroom bolognese sauce that was decent. Certainly not the place to take an Italian for dinner. A family would enjoy its American take on Italian classics, however.
I like the brick-​oven aesthetic. Next time I’ll have to order something that gets cooked in it.

I’ve been to this location a few times — twice for brunch and twice for dinner.
The food is never amazing (although my salad from yesterday was pretty darn good!) but it’s consistently tasty and good.
Presentation-​wise, it’s ok (not the most amazing, but they try).
Their brunch comes with a free mimosa or bellini, which is a nice touch, and plenty of DELICIOUS foccaccia bread (plus the bread sticks!).
In short, it’s a chain — yes, some chains are awful, some are amazing. (And I see nothing wrong with chain restaurants.) This one is middle-​of-​the-​road, but is a good place for a group brunch, especially with kids!

I’ve eaten at Papa Razzi countless times — Natick, Boston, and this location at Chestnut Hill. I cannot say I love it, yet I keep going back. (Damn you, Back Bay Restaurant Group and your fab rewards card! :shakes-​a-​fist:)
The food is always perfectly good. Exceptional? No. Tasty? Yes. As someone who typically orders the same thing over and over, I’ve actually tried several things from Papa Razzi and never left unhappy. So my lack of love is a little perplexing. I — like Tim Gunn — am concerned. Why can’t I give you five stars, Papa Razzi? Or even four? Is your menu too boring? Your restaurant-​chain quality a hinderance? The service not smile-​y enough? It’s mindboggling, truly.