Slighty cramped, but a good Italian restaurant nevertheless - Fresco's Restaurant, Mendon, MA
Written: Nov 02 '07
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Pros: Nice varied selection of Italian dishes, Interesting specials, Good service
Cons: Cramped, Can be a long wait
The Bottom Line: If you are near the Mendon area a great place to stop for dinner is Fresco’s - You’ll get quality Italian food at a decent price in a nice atmosphere
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| jps246's Full Review: Fresco's Restaurant |
While the stretch of Route 16 between Milford and Uxbridge can seem a bit barren, there are a couple of restaurants in this section, including Fresco’s. Located in an old barn, Fresco’s is definitely a cozy little restaurant. The tables are packed in tightly and overall the entire dining room is probably no larger than some people’s living rooms. So you might find yourself waiting for a table, but they do offer some great Italian entrees that make it worth the wait.
Where is Fresco’s?
Fresco’s is located on Route 16 as it passes through the town of Mendon about 10 minutes from Milford and about the same from Uxbridge. There’s a large parking area for the restaurant and generally at all but the busiest times, you can find a parking spot.
There is often a wait for a table at Fresco’s due to the small size of the dining room. In the summer months, they have a small, outdoor waiting area where you can get a drink and sit and wait for your table. In the winter, there’s only a very small indoor waiting area (basically a enclosed porch on the front of the restaurant) so you may find yourself out in the cold if the line is quite long.
Ambiance and Service
Well from the outside, Fresco’s doesn’t seem like much. The building looks like an older barn that has been converted into a restaurant. As you walk in through the small entryway you pretty much come right into the dining room where you are greeted by the host. During slower times, you can be seated from there, however when it’s busier, they will take your name and you’ll have to wait for a table.
Like I said, the whole dining room is quite small with maybe 10-15 tables inside. The inside lighting is muted and the kitchen area is located behind the dining area on the backside of a small bar, so you can see some of the cooking going on. The décor is a sort of country meets Italian I guess and isn’t garish or tacky. It’s a pleasant dining experience, though it can get very loud since it’s a small space with lots of people. Also, if you don’t like sitting close to other tables, you might not like Fresco’s as there’s not a lot of space between tables.
Bread and olive oil is served as you are seated and you can have your choice of drinks including a full-service bar. Wine is also available, both by the glass and by the bottle.
The wait staff is attentive though I haven’t been wowed by the service. It’s adequate and the overall timing of the meals from the salads and appetizers to the main course and then desert is generally quite good, however things do tend to slow down a bit as the restaurant gets busier.
If you have a party with five or more people, you can call ahead and make reservations (which I would heartily recommend) and you can also call ahead and get your name on the seating list if your party is smaller, so you won’t have to wait quite as long when you arrive.
Food
You’ll find a varied selection of Italian dishes at Fresco’s basically nothing out of the ordinary for a typical Italian restaurant. Most people will find a dish they enjoy including several different fish, chicken, veal and beef dishes.
We often start our meals with either a house salad or a small caesar salad, along with the bread that’s served as you are seat. For my meal, I tend to go with the chicken dishes and my favorite is the chicken saltimbocca. The main courses are served with pasta and tend to be a good size. I often find myself bringing enough home for lunch the next day. My partner has gotten the shrimp scampi and loved it, while other friends that have gone with us haven’t had anything but good things to say about their dishes. That said, I wouldn’t say the food is spectacular either. It’s solid, well made and well presented Italian specialties – basically you know what you are getting and it will be good.
The chef also prepares daily specials that are often in tune with the season. He tries to use various local items and some of the specials can be quite good.
All in all, we’ve always enjoyed the food at Fresco’s and I’ve always liked the fact that the portions are sized so I end up getting a second meal out of the deal. Not only that, the prices are in line with most other restaurants in the area – with the average entrée around $15. Appetizers are about half that cost and deserts are around $5.
Experiences
When we lived in Uxbridge we often made our way past Fresco’s on the way to various other places further east or on the way back home so we often stopped for a meal when we were hungry. Now that we live further east, Fresco’s is a bit out of our way, but we have been known to go with friends and start our evening there.
Not only that, but Fresco’s is part of the SkyMiles dining program, so I get to earn extra miles on my frequent flyer account just for eating there, which is a nice little bonus.
Final Thoughts
That line waiting for a table has got to tell you something. Fresco’s is a great place to have a meal.
So if you live in or near the Mendon area or are traveling through near dinnertime, a great place to stop is Fresco’s. You’ll get quality Italian food at a decent price in a nice atmosphere (though I do wish the dining area was a bit bigger).
I’ve eaten there before and more than likely, I’ll be there again.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations try the call ahead seating so you don''t have to wait so long
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