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Boston Restaurant Blog -- August, 2008

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Dinner at Viola Restaurant and Wine Bar, Braintree

A few months back, I was excited to hear that a new Italian restaurant was coming to South Braintree. One reason is that the section of Braintree that Viola Restaurant and Wine Bar opened in is a rather restaurant-poor area (with all due respect to Sintra and a couple of others). But after making the trip over to Viola, I'll probably keep looking for places around South Braintree, as I was a bit disappointed in the place.

From the outside, Viola looks promising, with an attractive sign in front of the nicely renovated building it is housed in. And the inside of Viola is pretty nice, too, with a dark, modern feel to the place. (I wouldn't quite call it cozy or romantic, but it is appealing enough.) Unfortunately, the atmosphere was probably the highlight of my experience at Viola, as the food just wasn't anything special. The minestrone soup that I started out with was decent enough, with fresh vegetables mixed into a tasty tomato-based broth. But the margherita pizza was practically inedible, as it came to the table with a greasy film on top which gave it an unpleasant texture and taste. The crust wasn't much better, as it was thick and doughy with almost no salt or seasonings, and the sauce was just so-so. The veal bracciolettine was a little more palatable, though the pasta didn't taste all that fresh and the veal was tasty but rather tough in places. Desserts looked very nice, though we didn't have enough room to try any of them.

Service was just ok, with the person waiting on our table handling our orders with little passion. But she was quick and efficient, and was by no means unfriendly--just a bit distinct and distracted at times. As far as prices, they were mostly reasonable, especially compared to prices at a similarly mid-upscale restaurant closer to Boston.

It is possible that the folks at Viola are still working the kinks out and that the food will be more consistent as time goes on. But until I hear that this is indeed the case, I'll probably hold off on going back there, especially since we discovered an outstanding Italian restaurant called Ecco, which is not too far away from Viola in Weymouth. Stay tuned for a report on them soon...

If you would like the address for Viola, here it is: Viola Restaurant and Wine Bar, 1209 Washington Street, Braintree, MA, 02184. Phone: (781) 848-8980.

Related Blog Entries: Braintree restaurants, Italian restaurants

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on August 21, 2008.
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5 COMMENTS:
anonymous said:
Although pricing was fair, the atmosphere showed too much attempt to present illusion of real restaurant as opposed to chain. The whole experience seemed contrived. Food, atmosphere and wait staff reminicent of dressed up Olive Garden.
Posted on 8/31/08
eo said:
Excellent food - adorable - get there early...going all the time.
Posted on 10/14/08
MAS said:
I have been a few times and with many friends. We all had great food and fun! The wine list is fabulous and the food is excellent.
The first time we went the service was slow as in any new restaurant but the last few times it was great. Ten of us went for my birthday and everyone loved their entire meal; we all had an appetizer and a meal as well as salads and desserts. The tables are close but quaint. Viola "VERY" reasonable prices unlike other restaurants in Braintree.
If you have not tried it yet there is a wait almost every night so go early or call and make a reservation.
Posted on 10/23/08
jd said:
This used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is a very small fast food location. I went there and the hostess was [not nice] so I left!
Posted on 10/24/08
rms said:
I thought that the food was good and the prices fair. Lunch is a bargain. I sent 3 friends there and they were happy. Tables are close together; I would like to see them expand the place.
Posted on 1/4/09

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