Cinquecento Roman Trattoria - Boston

Solid food, very friendly service and validated parking lot right next door is a bonus!

My boyfriend and I came in this past Saturday to celebrate our anniversary. Upon arriving, we found out that our reservation was at 6pm instead of 6:45 so we had missed our time slot! What would’ve been a devastating moment was quickly saved by the gracious staff who were incredibly accommodating and had us seated in minutes!! They seated us in a corner booth and were quick to bring over water and bread while we pondered over the delicious menu. Drinks arrived quickly after ordering and so we placed our orders for our main course. Eventually our food came but not without our waiter coming over...with complimentary champagne to apologize for the wait and to congratulate our anniversary!! (It didn’t seem like the food took a long time but maybe we were just deep into our conversation lol . The food was delicious, the service was incredible, and the atmosphere was perfect whether you’re looking for a night out with friends or a romantic dinner for 2! We will DEFINITELY be coming back :

The meal was very good and the ambiance was great. Unfortunately we felt rushed from the moment we got there. We had a reservation for a early dinner (5:30). We were the first guest to arrive. Our waiter although friendly was, from my opinion only interested in how fast he could serve us to get another seating in. We had to ask for water refills twice nor did He clear away unused wine glasses which made for a crowded table since we had ordered other drinks. The waiter hovered over us waiting for us to order. Our appetizer plates were whisked away with food still on them before we could stop him. Dinner was great! We ordered cappuccino and gelato which I was enjoyed immensely. However before I finished my coffee the waiter whisked away my cup containing the delicious froth I had savored. We realized we had overstayed our welcome. As we were sliding out of the booth the wait staff had flocked around us like vultures and began clearing the table making it impossible for me to get out of the booth. Bottom line food was great, loved the ambiance but won’t be going back due to very poor service.

After not going to Cinquecento for a couple years because of mediocre food and even worse service, my wife and two friends tried it recently because we had heard good things about the restaurant with the arrival of a new chef (formerly at the now-closed Erbaluce in Bay Village). We were very impressed! The pastas (norcina, funghi, and bolognese) were all fresh and delicious, as was the salmon and arugula salad. Warm, comfortable ambience in the space, combined with energetic, friendly service made for a really nice night out. Cinquecento is definitely back on our list!

It was an off night. Food was still great but they seemed extremely short handed and they had run out alot of items. Hopefully it was a one-off experience.