Illiano's Cucina - Medford

I was rehearsal last week with my friend for my best friends. It was spectacular! Great atmosphere, the food was incredible, and service was wonderful! I haven't been here since it was Lamberti 20 years ago, but this place still has the amazing pizza bread and rolls as they get hot on the table and let the butter melt in them before they spread it. I will certainly be back!!!

The service was attentive and helpful. It took a while to see for sitting. The Caprese salad was the best I ever had. I'd go back alone.

I had the Veal Shrimp with Cappellini from Illiano Cucina when I last visited the site. The sauce was light, and it tasted like the chef/line cooks only use juices from tomatoes and other fresh ingredients to create the sauce in which the pasta sits. The calfsal was thin and was a little hard when cutting with my knife, but I know that (thanks to the supply problems care about the pandemic-the meat and other ingredients are not so easy to come and so EVERY RESTAURANT and EVERY HOME KITCHEN sees the quality of our meat cuts less than ideal. So I don't think this was due to the restaurant that always had the best quality ingredients during the pre-pandemic days. That said I'm going on... There was a Jumbo shrimp on the top of the calfs loaded with molten mozzarella on top. I LOVE Cheese all the more of the Merrier! The shrimps were perfectly cooked, although I would have wished for a few more on my plate. Overall, the dish tasted fresh, filled and felt like a meal well suited to be called Italian comfort food.

I read about this restaurant in my own backyard on NJ.com 50 best Italian restaurants in NJ may 23 2022. I can't believe I've never heard of them before! My wife and I have booked a dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary on a Wednesday night. Very clean and comfortable, excellent attentive service and an excellent menu. We will go back, you should plan to go!!!

We started eating here decades ago, when the owner, Tony Illiano first opened and his kids were young and soon too, learning the business, and what a great job they all did. Bravo!!! So after, I’d have to guess, having eaten almost 1500 meals, (if you include take out) all of which was as delicious as the last, we were delighted to have been back last night after having retired to NC. It was like a warm hug and coming home. Thank you Lucia for a delightful time, and yet again, another “most memorable meal”. We will savor the memory until we are up this way again!!!