Toscano Restaurant

One of the few Boston restaurants in this price range with outstanding service. The swordfish and veal are fabulous.

First of all, I'm a regular customer and eat there at least twice a month, I live in Back Bay. Richard J Cacciagrani, the managing partner, is probably the perfect face for a worthless restaurant. His demeanor, behavior and manners are unacceptable. My experience two nights ago proves that Toscano, while occasionally showing signs of life in the kitchen, isn't worth your time. He decided to refuse service to my party for an unknown reason and actually swiped the menus out of my hands while we were standing at the host desk. He then further insulted my intelligence by informing me that his food is all made fresh and would take longer than we had. We were not in a hurry, we wanted a nice long evening with friends. Why would he decide not to serve willing customers. My friend had a very similar experience the other week. She stopped off one evening to get a soup for takeout (the pappa al pomodoro) and he lied by saying they didn't have any takeout menus. Then when confronted, he relented and produced the takeout menu from the host desk where he was standing. When she went in to put in her order, he said two soups would take 45 minutes and after snatching the menu out of her hands said he didn't need the business. She lives in Beacon Hill and is ALSO a regular customer. Why would a restaurant in Beacon Hill feel justified in humiliating their regulars, especially when people are eating out less? It seems to me that they would want to value exactly those customers. Toscano, you showed your true colors because it wasn't a staff member, it was the self described 'owner' who was dishing out the insults.

They completely did over the interior, and it is beautiful and comfortable. We like to eat at the bar; we like the people and the food has consistently been great.