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Based on the reviews here I decided to try Vincenzo's in Chelmsford. I was
not very impressed with the cuisine. The funny thing is, this is probably
more authentic Old Italian peasant food cuisine than more modern more-toward-
haute cuisine most establishments offer in current times, but it felt tired,
boring, and dated that evening. Every dish from appetizer to entr�e came
almost submerged in its plate swimming in olive oil. The food, as well as
the decor, reminded us of a 1950's American Italian restaurant experience. I
could not make up my mind that evening whether this (with its tell-tale
stucco walls) was a wonderfully preserved piece of old Americana, or a dated
old dinosaur sitting alone out in a forgotten spot in the sticks. [This
place was very difficult to find as well, never having been to that remote
corner of Chelmsford before, and me being 'male' by not calling for
directions first :-)]. What they called caramelized onions turned out to be
simple olive oil quick-saut�ed uncaramelized onions, and that was the most
modish ingredient on their menu. The quality of the veal was OK, but not
great, just passably good. All in all, the meal was "just OK". A moderate
everyday cuisine, in fact, more like your own personal home cooking than most
dining out experiences. Yet the prices seemed to reflect them thinking this
was a haute cuisine experience.
This surprised me since there is also a Ciro's chain restaurant in the same
strip mall just two doors over. Ciro's for me defines a great spot for
reasonable, always consistent, very good, everyday Italian food - moderate
cuisine at moderate prices. Whereas Vincenzo's offered moderate cuisine at
higher prices. In fact, to be honest, I've had better quality veal, better
veal dishes, and all around better meals at Ciro's. If I lived in the area,
Vincenzo's door would be passed by for Ciro's door every visit. I don't know
how Vincenzo's stays in business with Ciro's right next door. Perhaps people
miss sitting in a stucco-walled room? :-)
This was just one visit, your experience may vary....
-Erik
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| Someone told me that they were related. Not sure if that's true or not.
I've only been to Vincenzo's for lunch (a few years ago). I enjoyed it the times
I went, but can't say that the menu was all that inspired or creative. I'd have
to agree with the 'decor' comment about Vincenzo's, too. For lunch in the
Bedford, MA area, I liked Luigi's better.
I've been to the Ciro's in Chelmsford and Nashua, but enjoyed their Newburyport
restaurant the best. This one is bigger and seems to be more upscale. We were
able to eat outside during the 4th of July festivities. We could hear (and
sortof see) the band, but the trees blocked the view of the fireworks...
-Jeff
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> <<< Note 1169.16 by DECC::SULLIVAN "Jeff Sullivan" >>>
>Someone told me that they were related. Not sure if that's true or not.
I've always been under the impression that they have the same
owner, but I'm not sure of that either. I live in Chelmsford and
I would never opt to go to Vincenzo's because Agresti's in Westford
is waaaayyy better, in my opinion.
Used to go to that Ciro's for pizza and thought it was quite good,
but now there's a Bertucci's even closer by.
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| I too have heard they are related. And I also heard that their chef of
years ago had left to open his own restaurant in Nashua, Ya Mama's and
we all know from the reviews in here that it probably took alot of
Vincenzo's business away. Probably why the promotional offer came out
this year.
I'm going to have to try Agresti's next time. As I noted earlier,
we only went to Vincenzo's because of the promotional offer we received
at the time. The first visit was outstanding. But as the visits
progressed, I felt as though it wasn't as good as the last visit.
If you order off their 1985 menu, you will receive a very good meal for
the price but if you order off their regular menu, you are going to be
paying alot more for the same food.
Even if Ciro's is under the same Owner, isn't it the chef that makes
the restaurant anyways?
cj
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