Boston Restaurant Blog -- June, 2008

I've always been intrigued by all of the old-fashioned restaurants that are located on Route 53 between Weymouth Landing and Quincy Center. Well, the other night, I ended up checking one of them out. And while I wasn't overly impressed by GioMatti, it had a sort of old-world charm to it that you just don't find all that much these days.

GioMatti is located in Braintree, about midway between Weymouth Landing and Quincy. From the outside, it looks like a family restaurant that hasn't changed all that much over the years. And the inside of the restaurant continues this theme, with old carpeting, a stone wall on one side, muted pastel colors throughout the place, and comfortable booths and tables where families and large groups dine. It felt like the kind of place that only locals went to, especially since it is a bit off the beaten path on a stretch of Route 53 that is rather bleak in parts.

After looking at the menu, we decided to split a couple of entrees, starting out beforehand with a decent antipasto. I also had a cup of minestrone soup, which may have been the best item of the night, as it had a deliciously hearty tomato base with a perfect mix of salt, seasonings, and oil. The entrees that we split were not quite as good, as the quattro formaggio pizza was basically just a big circle of cheese that quickly congealed into a rather nasty mess. The pollo sorrentina was a little better, with a nice mix of chicken, prosciutto, porcini ravioli, grilled eggplant, and chopped tomatoes in a light white wine sauce, but the dish wasn't quite as fresh and tasty as I would have liked it. We passed on dessert, as we were much too full to eat another bite.

GioMatti is the kind of place that I want to like, as I have always had a place in my heart for unpretentious, old-school restaurants that regulars frequent. But it was not quite good enough in my opinion, and with Gennaro's and Cronin's just up the street, it is hard to justify returning to this dining spot.

If you would like the address for GioMatti, here it is: GioMatti Ristorante, 462 Quincy Avenue, Braintree, MA, 02184. Phone: (781) 380-8180.

Related Blog Entries: Braintree restaurants, Italian restaurants

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on June 5, 2008.
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2 COMMENTS:
Joshua B said:
Glad you finally made it! What an awesome place.
Posted on 6/16/08
MH said:
A few days ago I read on Chowhound that GioMatti has closed. As of now, there's no word as to what might move into the spot vacated by them.
Posted on 8/8/08

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