La Buona Vita
Arlington, MA 02474
Phone: (781) 641-4734
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Broadway
- Specialties:
- Italian Food
- Hours:
- Daily 4pm-11pm
Editorial Review for La Buona Vita – by Citysearch Staff
In Short
Since 1996, La Buona Vita has treated Arlingtonians to authentic Southern Italian fare. Located in Arlington Center, the restaurant serves seasonal specials as well as longtime favorites like grilled swordfish with extra virgin oil, lemon, garlic, parsley, oregano, mint, and pepperoncino sauce. The warm, welcoming environment is complemented by attentive service and bargain Southern Italian wines.
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User Reviews for La Buona Vita
08/07/2008 Posted by MarciaAnne
I've been to this restaurant a couple of times. I'm a single mom and I take my 11year old there. I get the carbonara, he gets spaghetti with sauce. In March our bill for this, with a single salad and 2 sodas was around $23. We went there last night, brought a friend who had spaghetti with butter and no drink and the bill was $49!!!! I didn't say anything at the time, but called about an hour later. I asked for the manager and I was told by a woman that he was not there. I'm pretty sure the person I was talking to was the waitress we had, who may or may not be related to the owner. She was incredibly rude. I've worked in a number of restaurants and you always try to please the customer. $10.95 for spagetti with a splash of sauce. NO WAY. $6.95 for spaghetti with butter.... on the high side, I think. These were salad size bowls. Not platters, like mine. I thought the price was outrageous. Shame on this woman. We will not be going back there. No garlic bread, no bruchetta...... No wonder why there were 5 customers in the place. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.
Pros: Nothing
Cons: Rude staff, ripoff.
07/20/2006 Posted by btownchik
I admit that it looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the food makes up for it 10 times! The inside is decorated plentifully with photos and furnishings from the owner's homeland. The interior is nothing fancy but the food is magnificent. My mother could not stop raving about how she has never had such amazing calamari since she lived in Winthrop, where the seafood is the freshest. I ordered the Siciliana and the sauce was incredibly flavorful. Most everything is homemade and it tastes that way too. To top it all off, the prices were extremely reasonable if not a little cheap compared to other restaurants in the Arlington area. Great alternative to the overwhelming Harvard Square and Boston. The service was great. It seems like a place where lots of regulars know about it. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys great cooking without the snobbery.
Pros: Food, Service, Price
Cons: Simple Interior
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