Nebo Cucina & Enoteca

If you're looking for a cozy spot to enjoy some traditional but creative cocktails, Nebo in Boston might just be your new go-to. We stopped by for some after-dinner drinks and were not disappointed. First up was the Filthy Martini--a dirty martini taken to the next level with vodka marinated in olives. The drink was a perfect blend of salty and boozy. There was a mountain of olives behind the bar marinating in vodka, along with strawberries and pineapples for other drinks. Next, we tried the PB&J Martini, a creamy concoction that struck the perfect balance between peanut butter richness and a hint of berry sweetness. It was a dessert in a glass so good I forgot to take a picture of it!! The ambiance was surprisingly really quiet for a Friday night, making it an ideal place to unwind. The bar setup was inviting, with a well-stocked array of liquors and a laid-back vibe that encourages you to stay for just one more. Nebo in Boston is worth a visit if you're in the mood for quality cocktails in a relaxed setting.

Last week, my husband and I, along with my sister-in-law and nephew came to Nebo for an early dinner. It was a beautiful night and while we did have the option to sit outside we worried that it would be too noisy as the restaurant faces a busy road. In hindsight, we wish we had opted to sit outside. More on that later.The restaurant is lovely and designed as so many are these days with a high-ceilinged, exposed vents, hardwood floors giving it an industrial look. I liked it. When you walk in there is a bar on one side and then the host desk where we were quickly greeted. As it was still early (5:30pm) we had a number of options and I asked that we be seated as far back from the bar as possible. The bar area was packed with people who I am guessing had just stopped in after work. The noise level at the bar was loud!!! Once we were seated our waitperson came by and introduced himself. He asked about allergies and if there was a need for gluten free menus. No and no.As many places do now he asked us "what kind" of water we wanted. He returned shortly thereafter with our waters and then took our drink menus. I was happy to see they had Falanghina which is a wine from the Campania region of Italy that I very much enjoy. I had that.My husband and nephew each had some kind of imported beer and my SIL had an Aperol spritz.The menu is a modernized take on Italian. For my main dish I ordered the Polenta Con Scampi. This was a dish of shrimp done scampi style over grilled polenta. The interesting take on this dish is that it included baccalà mantecato which is essentially salt cod whipped with olive oil. Alone it is a popular Venetian appetizer usually spread on grilled bread but here the spread was incorporated into the dish for a lovely burst of umami flavor. I love cod as well as anything made with salt cod and this was a tasty. The issue with my dish which otherwise was delicious was that it was swimming in far too much garlic butter. One might argue there is never enough delicious garlic butter in a dish but I am here to tell you this was too much.My SIL ordered the Acqua Pazza ("crazy water") which is a pan-seared arctic char with baby clams, capers, olives, fennel in a tomato brodo. She said she liked her dish.Both my husband and nephew ordered an individual pizza...I can't recall which ones they ordered but the menu has interesting selections from which to choose...They seemed to enjoy their choices.For dessert we shared an order of tiramisu and a plate of cenci which are thin pieces of of fried dough with powdered sugar on top. The cenci come with a dish of warm Nutella in which you can dip. The tiramisu was just okay and really needed to have more pizzazz. I didn't love the presentation in goblet (I prefer a wedge on a plate) and it needed a heavier hand with the espresso and cognac flavors. The cenci were unfortunately too greasy. While these are easy enough to make (I've done it) they require attention in ensuring they are drained well before serving.The primary issue with Nebo is the noise level which will prevent us from returning any time soon. As the tables filled up, the noise level became almost intolerable. Any restaurant where patrons have to raise their voices in order to be heard is a problem. This is why in hindsight we wished that we had chosen to sit outside where even the traffic noise would have been an improvement.Some restaurants are misguided in thinking noise equals an energetic vibe and while this may be true, it is also annoying and exhausting. I urge Nebo to consider some sound abatement measures. The only other time I had been to Nebo is when they opened in the early 2000s and they were in their original location. The restaurant was much smaller, the two sisters who own it were out and about in the dining room and the menu was much more old-school. I recall they even had tripe on the menu! The restaurant became popular and moved some time later to this larger location where it has evolved into what seems to be a "hot spot". Hot spots often spell trouble in one way or another...the noise level is the primary trouble here. The food is okay to good and needs more attention to detail in the areas I mentioned. Given the price point which is relatively high, I would expect more focus and care in the kitchen. (Women's bathroom, btw is nice and despite how busy the restaurant was, it was clean and tidy.)

Nebo, an Italian spot opened by sisters Carla and Christine Pallotta in 2005, is another fave in Boston. Located in a setting that has a mechanical industrial aesthetic. The patio for an afternoon drink is a must. Stopping in for a drink, I opted for a Manhattan, which was great as always.We didn't eat but I love this spot. The zucchini lasagna is my favorite. The Pallotta sisters' dedication to authentic Italian cuisine is clear.

We went on a late Saturday afternoon. The place was not crowded at all. Plenty of room to sit. The ambience is really a 10. Very warm and cozy. I love the fact that they use real candles. Exposed brick and hard woods. Views of the city out the front windows. Very nicely done. We sat at the bar, and everyone who served us was excellent. Just very friendly and hospitable. They had plenty of gluten-free and dairy free options which was a plus. The food is expensive as to be expected considering the location. The food was very good. I wasn't blown away. But it was good enough to warrant four stars and I can give it a solid recommendation. The person sitting next to me ordered a pizza, which I did not try, but it did look quite delicious. They have a lot of pasta dishes, meatballs, chicken. Not an extensive menu, but some yummy options.

Service was excellent. The first dish I got (the chicken dish) was very dry but I was offered another and I tried the veal, which was delicious. Prices are high. I had to pay an extra $22 for gluten free pasta on the side. Ambiance was great but there was a very loud private party that took away from it a bit.

Boyfriend and I made a last minute reservation for our anniversary. The place got us seated immediately. It was a bit loud, but it's also a pretty big restaurant so it was to be expected. The lighting is also a bit dark. We ordered a bottle of wine and some calamari to start--which was great! Very tasty. Bf got the veal cutlet, sooo good. I made sure to try it I got the ricotta gnocchi, which had a lot of greens in it, but I enjoyed it regardless.Our server was good! Attentive when she needed to be, couldn't have asked for more!

Pretty average Italian restaurant, solid food but won't blow your socks off. I've been on numerous occasions, and have tried the prosciutto di parma, burrata, arancini, calamari fritti, christina pizza (sausage, bacon, corn), and the ricotta gnocchi.The ricotta gnocchi is the only dish that stood out to me, as being very tasty and well put-together. The dish has homemade pasta, sweet Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, pecorino romano, and calabrian chili flakes. Each bite is well-seasoned, and has a little bit of a kick (spicy). The gnocchi is thick but not too dense, the sauce is creamy, and the chili flakes complete the dish.The ambiance both inside and outside the restaurant is nice- it's a great spot for a social gathering! I find service to be on the slower side, but this place is also usually packed.

Came here for dinner with my boyfriend because I've heard about how good their gluten free menu / options are and my boyfriend has celiac so reputable GF kitchens are so important. Whenever we make reservations we always note that we are eating GF and make sure to tell the waiter as we order, and noted that he did mark it down. However, my boyfriend was glutened after eating here which bums me out so much! Maybe it was a mixup in the kitchen or some accidental cross contamination which happens, but when a menu is voted as the "best GF menu" I think I do expect a little more. Their menu does say that they cannot guarantee a 100% GF kitchen, but they do take precautions against cross contamination. We ordered the calamari to start; we're pretty sure this is how he got glutened but because the dish is on the gluten free menu we assumed it would be fried separately? In the moment it was really good, and the aioli was great. For mains, I tried the "Bobby Flay Throwdown Winner" (a zucchini lasagna) and my boyfriend ordered the cappesante (a mascarpone sauce pasta with scallops). We were a little underwhelmed for the price of the entrées. The lasagna was good, but better reheated the next day--something I don't really expect when paying $30 for a veggie lasagna to be completely honest. The cappesante had a really overwhelming lemon flavor that put my boyfriend off, but I didn't really mind a few days later (after reheating). The scallops on his pasta were cooked nicely. We went in on a Thursday evening and it was busier than I thought it would be, at some points every single seat was filled. We had to wait a long time before our waiter even came by the first time (enough time for both of us to go to the bathroom and come back and finish our water).The ambiance of Nebo is really nice, I loved the look of the interior and I'm a sucker for good ambient lighting. Maybe we came here on an off day, but for the price and after effects of glutening, I can't strongly recommend Nebo.

So accommodating and delicious! Since the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed. Everyone from back to the front of the house is friendly and positive. Great food and drinks. Ya gotta go! :)

Waitress was very sweet. Manager has an attitude problem and terrible customer service. Seems to have a hard time taking accountability. From other reviews seems not a safe place for people with food allergies either. Seafood is not good either.