Fiori Restaurant

While the dishes were presented beautifully, flavored and prepared in excellence, the server dropped this rating to a 3. She was disinterested, had no opinions on the menu items and could barely comment on the wine list. That aside, the zucchini soup with its spicy drizzle and the garlic poached lobster bruschetta with radish greens paired perfectly with their choice of fresh toasted bread.

Late night in Great Barrington provides very little options in the way of food, but Fiori saved the day!
As visitors from Florida, we were unfamiliar with how early the local food establishments closed in the area. Alcohol was still available, but any of the places that we went to had stopped serving all food fairly early. We would have been happy with junk food, but we ended up lucking out!
Fiori was not too far from our hotel, and the bartender was super-​helpful and friendly. We sat at the bar, and he made some suggestions. While what they had was limited due to the late hour, we were able to eat, and it was delicious! We had the Artisanal grilled cheese sandwich, meatball sliders, and truffle fries. Wow! I had low expectations based on the lack of local options, but boy was I surprised! Everything was delicious, and the drinks were terrific, as well!
I recommend Fiori, and would come back here if I am in the area again!

The only thing that saved this review from being 1 star is the server, who was put between a rock and a hard place and really did very little wrong.
I’ve been to Fiori multiple (5+) times over the 2 or so years since it opened. While previous experiences would have garnered anywhere between 3 and 4 stars, tonight’s experience was abysmal.
One note before I get into the details… even though I probably won’t be back, for the sake of your other patrons, please clean up your restrooms so they reflect at least an adequate level of cleanliness.
The pacing of the meal was off. 2 salads came; then 10 minutes later, our truffle fries. We asked no less than 4 times for our buratta salad. 20 minutes later, the buratta was delivered (more about that below). A very stuttered way to be served.
FOOD
Panzanella Salad — This was good. A nice variation of tomatoes, peppers and, of course, oil and vinaigrette soaked bread.
Truffle Fries — These were very good, as they usually are. Truffle oil and cheese, and a nice size portion to boot. What could be bad about truffle oil and cheese on top of nice crispy fries, right?
Buratta Salad — This is where things went off the tracks, and not because of how good or bad the buratta was. Our previous visit to Fiori was a few weeks ago, and we had ordered the buratta salad. We enjoyed it so much that we were definitely ordering it again tonight. The portion a few weeks ago was reasonable; a good size appetizer, enough for two to share (served with 2 toasted crostini, etc.). Tonight, we were presented with one lonely and meager looking piece of buratta, and two pieces of burnt crostini. We told the server that a few weeks prior we had this dish and it was served with a decent size piece of buratta, which this was not. He apologized and said he would go to the kitchen to grab us another piece. Five minutes later, the owner (tall with short curly hair) came over. We explained the issue and he said that what we were served a few weeks ago must have been a mistake, and what we were served tonight was their «normal» portion. He said [condescendingly] he could certainly give us another piece, but that it would be at an additional charge. Um, what??? The salad is already $ 14 and you want to charge even more? He said that buratta is very labor intensive so he would have to up charge for anything more. We said no thank you and returned the dish. Beyond being horrible customer service, the fact that I had to negotiate for cheese lost him a customer.
Smoked Tomato Ravioli — My wife enjoyed this dish a few weeks ago; it was near perfect. Tonight, not so much. The pasta wasn’t cooked though (think 5 steps pre-​al dente) and was strangely and outrageously spicy. This one got sent back.
Garganelli with Mussels — This was my first time having this dish, and I was excited to try something new (usually get the taglietelle). The pasta was way undercooked and the broth had very little taste. This also got sent back.
Grilled Chicken Breast — My father-​in-​law enjoyed the chicken, but it was a tiny piece. They could have served at least a ¼ chicken; this portion was less.
Brodetto — My mother-​in-​law won the prize with this dish. The mussels, scallops, etc. were well cooked and this was an enjoyable, well-​rounded dish.
The only misstep by our server was in bringing us a check that still reflected the items that were sent back. When the owner came over, I asked him for a corrected check and he was blissfully unaware that any of the entrees had been returned. Great communication, guys!
I never go out expecting to be comped for anything. However, even a TGIF manager knows when a customer has had a bad experience and should be comped for dessert or perhaps even the entire meal. Perhaps the owner of Fiori should have done a stint at TGIF as he offered nothing, apologized for nothing, and comped nothing. I’m not looking for a handout, just good customer service. Based on the above, it’s probably not a stretch for anyone to believe that any return to Fiori by me in the future is doubtful.
The night wasn’t a complete loss as, after we left Fiori, we popped down the street to Soco and we made up for our lack of dinner with delicious ice cream sundaes. Thank goodness for Soco…

Appetizers and wine were good; actually great. The main courses left something to be desired. We came on a Wednesday night. It was relatively quiet, yet it took a very long time for our entrees to arrive. I’m not sure I’d go back, but if I did, I would only get the starters and appetizers.

My wife, two friends and I went to Fiori for a leisurely dinner before a concert at the Mahaiwe and the theatre at Berkshire Theatre Festival. We gave ourselves plenty of time (1:25) to do so. The restaurant was not bustling, in fact, there were only four tables seated at our time of arrival.
After a 10 minute wait did we even get a glance from anyone who works there and that is because we were putting on our NYC faces and trying desperately to get someone’s/anyone’s attention. It just so happened to be the manager. He took our drink order and assured us that our server would be with us shortly.
Another 10 minutes before our waiter showed up to the table to take our food order. We told him about our time restraints and he said there would be no problem with getting our food.
Long story short: Only two salads and one app arrived over the entire time we were there. The bar was EXTREMELY slow as well, taking near 8 – 10 minutes to get a glass of wine. We asked numerous times for our food. Our dining companions needed to leave as they had farther to travel, so we cancelled their food.
We only had 15 minutes to eat and get into our seats at the concert IF our food arrived, which it didn’t. We asked the hostess to get our check as we stood in the vestibule trying to leave. We would pay for our salads and drinks but had to cancel all of our entrees.
We were not the only ones. At least two or three other tables left because of the same situation declaring their intention not to return. We will follow suit. That’s a shame as the description of the food looked good. But we NEVER saw any food being delivered to a very busy restaurant so we can’t even say it looked good.
The staff was running around frantically but nothing was being accomplished. The manager, who finally came out from the kitchen, sweating profusely, was less than helpful saying our food was just coming up and we could box it and take it with us, which makes no sense given it was a vegetable dish and a rare tuna steak and we were going to sit and listen to a concert for the next two hours. He looked less than interested in our feelings and return patronage.
Thank god we saw a great concert at the wonderful Mahaiwe theatre but had to go home afterward and eat cold cuts to stop our growling stomachs.
Never again!

food was excellent, and was pleasantly surprised. would def suggest going to anyone who hasnt tried it.

Fiori is my favorite Great Barrington restaurant for many reasons. The atmosphere is great, the seating is comfortable, the waitstaff is friendly & attentive, the view is the best in town, & the food is creative & delicious.
If you’re looking for traditional red sauce Italian, this is probably not the best choice for you. The cuisine is unusual & a great choice for the diner looking for an amazing meal. Everything from pasta to bread to ricotta is house-​made.
A deconstructed lasagna, wood grilled hangar steak w/​pancetta mashed potatoes, pasta w/​rabbit, olives & capers — a few of my favorites.
The Bar Menu is quite good, & very reasonably priced. Truffle fries. Interesting sandwiches too.
The molten chocolate dessert, house-​made sorbets, profiteroles w/​ginger crème are luscious .
The menu changes seasonally, but some of the items I mentioned are staples.

The inconsistency of Fiori’s reviews reflects the inconsistency of the experience. First, let me begin by saying that I still miss Pearl’s which previously occupied the space admirably. Because of the tragedy that forced Pearl’s to close and the long period during which the desirable location stood vacant, I was really looking forward to Fiori’s opening.
Its initial year or so was one in which they clearly had to find their footing. The food was generally satisfactory but it was overpriced for both the type and the area (and I say this despite the fact that the prices at Pearl’s were comparable — but it was worth it). The service was sub par, ranging from «lost» reservations to long waits between courses. Willing to revisit after I hiatus, I’ve more recently found several changes, including a revamped menu and generally better service. However, the food is still an issue. We’ve enjoyed several great meals and several that were completely lacking. The irony is that sometimes the same dish can fall into both categories. As for the menu, there are few selections among the appetizers that involve vegetables which, in this day of alternative eating, is limiting.
I’m willing to give it another chance but patience us waning and at some point, it needs to be predictable — for better or worse!

Unless something substantial changes (and there is someone to tell me about it), this most recent visit was our last to Fiori. We’ve been there a few times and continue to be disappointed. Over the summer we went for brunch. Not being very hungry, I ordered the cheese plate which came with nothing but three minuscule pieces of cheese and peach mostardo. No bread, no crackers, nothing. Our waiter seemed put out when we inquired as to how I ought to eat this. They were equally put out by my daughter’s request to have her pancakes without blueberries. After that, I swore I wouldn’t return, but my wife insisted we give them another chance.
So, this evening we went for dessert and drinks. The chocolate bread pudding was a disappointment. Imagine taking a tiny pound cake, topping it with a few bits of chocolate, slicing it into five or six teensy slices and laying it down in a pool of crème anglaise. Nothing about it said «bread pudding» in any sense that I’m familiar with. For drinks, I opted for the strawberry bourbon milkshake, which tasted a lot like bourbon (good) but nothing like strawberry (bad). It was a poorly executed good idea. My wife’s adult hot chocolate was good, but lacked the marshmallows it indicated it would have. I’d probably have overlooked it, but given prior experiences, Fiori had little room left to make mistakes. Sorry to say, we feel like we’ve given Fiori enough chances to prove us wrong.

Steadily improving due to a solid addition of live music.
I’ve DJed this venue a couple of times so far and we always have fun. When I’m in the mood for a cocktail that is eccentric and new, I will find Jesse — their bar manager — and he never fails to whip up something tasty. Their steak sandwich is delicious, as is the brunch menu. I don’t particularly like sitting in a dining room for dinner (I’m more of a chat with others /​meal at the bar sort of person) so I can’t tell you what the dining room atmosphere is like for dinner. I’d recommend this place or Allium over Castle Street Café (another semi-​upscale restaurant in GB) any day of the week!

Food was just ok. Had lunch and was not impressed.

On a recent visit, my wife and I ordered the «bruschetta» appetizer. What came out was toasted bread soaked in oil with a runny slice of what may have been mozzarella. Main course was ok, but dessert (gelato) was liquid and tasteless.
Server placed order, only to return 10 minutes later to say that one of the ordered items out.
Fiori is overpriced and pretentious.

Good food. Bad service.
It took forever to take our order — then made mistakes on both of our orders.
It took forever to deliver the food, too.

Food was delicious.

We have a weekend place in the area and rarely go out to eat, outside of catching a quick bite and a beer at The Well or The Brick House Pub. This past Friday, we had a couple of friends in tow for the weekend and stopped in for a couple of drinks and dinner at the bar. WOW! Everything we had was fantastic. We sampled the beer, cocktails, wood-​fired pizza, sandwiches (PLT and Salmon) and clams. Just about everything they serve is house-​made. What a difference and SO good!

Amazing dinner and way better than I expected, despite the glowing reviews. The service was excellent, the food was perfect, and the sommelier was kind and helpful. We will be back next time we’re in the Berkshires!
For the record, we had the gigantic antipasta plate (Antipasto Misto For Two). The antipasta was so generous that skipped primi (we’ll have their freshly-​made pasta another time) and went straight to secondi (Bistecca/​mash for me, rabbit special for her). The 08 Fontarutoli Chianti Classico half bottle was a good choice, too :-)
Reservations are recommended as this is a popular place in Great Barrington!

A few bad reviews on the service at this lovely restaurant are no reason to skip it. In fact, our meal was exceptional and the service prompt, efficient and almost perfect. The chef even came out and gave us some suggestions and the fact that he studied in Bologna encouraged us to try the lasagna which was traditional Italian and very unlike anything you find at your typical Italian joint.
The hangar steak, cooked over wood was quite excellent and the seafood stew exceptional.
Ignore the early, poor reviews, know that the staff is working hard to improve their reputation on service and give the place a try!

Good food, but the servers need to get it together. We went for dinner very early on a Sunday when there was only a few tables of blue hairs, so it’s not like it was busy and it’s not like the restaurant is brand new.
First they said we wouldn’t get table service if we sat outside because it might rain later – but the sky was blue (and it didn’t rain later). But we were welcome to order food at the bar and bring it outside. No thanks, it’s not a take-​out joint. Then it was like Keystone cops with different servers trying to get our water and drink orders. When the server launched into his spiel about specials we asked him to speak up so our hard-​of-​hearing fellow diner might hear, and he raised his voice ever so slightly for about three words then went back to low volume.
The house-​made ricotta served with the bread and olive oil was a nice touch, the antipasti cheese and meats plate was good, and the fresh linguini with mushrooms was very good. At the level this restaurant aspires to, though, the service should be better. I doubt we’ll return.

Went here recently on a Friday. Food was amazing and service great! Beautiful modern space. Although we live in NYC, we will definitely be coming back when we’re in the Berkshires. This is definitely one of our favorite Italian restaurants!
The details:
For appetizer, we had fresh mozzarella sandwich with what appeared to be sweet homemade jam spread accompanied with greens that were nicely dressed and had bits of delicious pancetta (forgot the name but reminded us of a modern take on fried mozzarella). For entrée we had Tagliatelle con i Funghi (hand rolled pasta with exotic mushrooms) — best pasta dish we’ve had in a while. We also had hanger steak with delicious caramelized onion and mashed potatoes with the same delicious pancetta mixed in. Everything we had was excellent. Can’t wait to do it again.

I wanted fine dining in New England and I most certainly found it at Fiori. This restaurant does not mess around. These two brothers who run the place are serious about what they do and you won’t be left wanting from the moment you step foot through their doorway to the instant you exit. One brother takes care of you in the front, the other in the kitchen and both do so most admirably.
The décor is extremely attractive with a relaxed formality that is kind of the distinct mood of the entire place — upscale, yet relaxed, enjoyable, and not in the least bit stuffy! Lots of exposed raw brick and warm dark woods. There is even a church bass (NOT A ‘CELLO!!!) perched over the lovely glass storage area. The seats are very comfortable and the servers are respectful, yet down to Earth and convivial.
The food brings it up another level however; OMG is it good! Northern Italian in the strictest sense, you will NOT find this food cliché or pedestrian! You will be stuffed however with such delicacies as Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese (made with green nettle pasta), Tagliatelle colli Funghi, a beautiful seafood Brodetto and their Cinghiale (please see my above posted pix [and also see their menu at:
). Funny thing is — as much as I pigged out here, I did not find myself feeling «logy» afterward; I felt just satisfied enough.
I drove about an hour and a half from Vermont to sample the fare of this new place of legend, but to tell you the truth, I think I’d even undertake a road trip up from NYC for grub so exquisitely executed in a venue so warm and hospitable!
The wines were incredible (I know A LOT about Italian wines but learned much from our amiable host/​wine steward/​co-​owner, Matthew) and the food was better than so much of what I’ve had in NYC. I think the true culinary artists are foregoing «The City» for more appreciative pastures elsewhere these days.
Anyhow, whenever I’m within a hundred mile radius, you’ll find me here. If you’re near Great Barrington or Lennox, you’ll be a darned fool if you don’t find yourself taking advantage of this culinary gem also. Go here!