Boston Globe Review

The Boston Globe does not allow a complete reprint of their reviews. We have reproduced some of what they had to say below. You can, however, follow this link and read the full text of what they had to say on www.boston.com. A review of Isabella

...this gem of a restaurant in Dedham Square...

The new restaurant has a minimalist, grotto-like look to it, a bit austere, really, with a black ceiling reminiscent of '60s coffeehouses; soft sconce lighting; candles in glasses, and very shiny wooden floors. ...the overall effect is striking...

The restaurant's motto, prominently displayed on menus and T-shirts, is "the pleasure is ours." Obviously, Isabella takes this mandate seriously, since we were well-pampered.

From the moment we received our first basket of focaccia, served with a sensational chilled white bean dip, we were in Cheap Eats nirvana.

We barely had room left for entrees, but at this rate, who wanted to stop? We polished off a magnificent tartlette, a pastry shell filled with rock shrimp and scallops with mushrooms, diced tomatoes and a roasted garlic sauce ($6.95). We wolfed down a huge portion of grilled chicken breast, served on large-grain Moroccan couscous that tasted almost like barley. And around the table we passed a gigantic order of tomato and basil fettucine, loaded with broccoli, artichokes, scallions and mushrooms.

Somehow, we found room to indulge in the dessert du jour, a flamboyant fresh berry-filled crepe with shaved chocolate, vanilla ice cream and three sauces, including a wonderful mango sauce. At $4.95, it made six of us very happy.

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