Fortunato's Italian Steak

Reviews & Tips

• 0

  We were pleasantly surprised after passing fortunato's in the past.  The recent reviews drew us in and it was great.  The server was attentive and I have a dietary restriction and rather than getting a bland plate the chef came out and was able to make something great. My wife still talks about the braised lamb taco app and the drink menu was great as well.   We will be back soon. Food was reasonably priced as well. I guess it transforms into a lounge/ DJ scene after 10 or so (not really our scene) but dinner was quiet and delicous.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 02.04.12 Anthony C.

  • Report
• 0

  We stumbled in here before a show at the Tsongas on Sun. but didn't take down the name of the place.  After plugging in the approximate address and searching around here and Trip Advisor, I found Fortunato.  But it seems that they will be or just changed their name because it's not an Italian steakhouse anymore.  It's a big space with kind of an odd vibe, but the menu is pretty interesting.  Our lamb tacos were excellent.  Actually, it's lamb on mini pita bread but tasty with lots of meat.  We also got a decent plate of plump mussels with good grilled bread.  Beer choices for my friend were pretty dull.  Music wasn't working so it was quiet in there, owner/bartender/server was very nice, it seems like it has potential.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 02.01.12 Joanie L.

  • Report
• 0

  I saw that Fortunatos had changed hands so we went by to check out the menu.  One of the owners greeted us on the way in and explained the new menu and everything looked fresh and interesting so we gave it a try.
  
  I'm not sure how big the beer selection is but I tried the light micro-brew on tap.  It had a fruity note at the end that was nice.  They also had a decent sized wine menu with some recognizable names.
  
  Bread was served warm with a fresh made hummus that was really tasty.  We had the rosemary frittes and mini meatballs as an appetizer and both were very good.  The meatballs were served with a really interesting almond sauce that I had never tried before.  We all had different entrees but everyone was satisfied with their dishes.  They no longer have the traditional old-school Italian restaurant menu but the chef made a chicken parm for us so you can still ask for those types of dishes. I also had the tiramisu for dessert that was pretty standard but fresh and done right.
  
  The restaurant only changed hands a few weeks ago so I think they are still working on getting it running totally smoothly, but they are on their way and I would definitely recommend trying it out for a nice dining experience outside of the traditional American stuff that you typically get in town.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 12.03.11 Angela A.

  • Report
• 0

  let's see...I was there and there were no other customers. I had to wait 5 minutes to get someone to take my order. Then I had to wait 10 minutes only to find out they didn't have what I wanted...then when I was done I had to chase down my server to pay and that required the use of two registers and three people, and while I stood 10 feet away it still took 5 minutes and in the distance between me and the register, my waitress lost my change and that took another few minutes to sort out...and I was the ONLY customer in the place.
  
  Ummm...you think I'm coming back when there are other customers there?

  Review Source:

  Posted on 08.10.11 Jake D.

  • Report
• 0

  We ate at the bar on a Friday night at 7.  Service was great.  My chicken picatta was probably the best I've ever had, the sauce was delicious, the chicken was tender, the pasta was excellent.  Plenty of garlic bread was served also when asked for.  Hubby's chicken parm was good, both dinners were only $13 each.  Had bacardi and coke, could have been a bit stronger, but good.  There was a wonderful saxophone player in the bar, it was great hearing good live music.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.26.11 BIANCA S.

  • Report
• 0

  I don't get all the low reviews here.  I am NOT a fan of Downtown Lowell or many of the eateries within it, however, Fortunato's provides me a good meal that I would go for again.
  
  I can see the gripes with prices and portions, as it can be expensive for certain portions [a lot of red-sauce dishes].  However, one real item gem is the Italian chicken penne with broccoli and herb sauce.  The herb sauce is soooo good.  Lots of garlic, basil, oregano, and rosemary come through in a subtle buttery white wine sauce.  For starters - the bruschetta is also failsafe, with a delicious balsamic drizzle.
  
  The place could definitely use some updating, as the pasty walls and cramped tables don't provide the greatest of atmospheres, but I would and will go back for more.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 11.03.10 JC F.

  • Report
• 0

  I've eaten here about four times mid week and a couple of times on the mid week in '09 and have never had a bad meal.  During the week I'll sit in the bar but on weekends we'll go for the table service. The specials I've had have always been good. I like the steak tips.
  
  It being in Lowell means it is rarely crowded mid week. The service is decent, noting extraordinary.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 10.25.10 Thom C.

  • Report
• 0

  I went to Fortunato's after not having been there since they first opened and because I was in the mood for Italian.  It was a mistake because our waitress was dressed in workout clothes and walked away before the whole order was taken and the one who was in training was dressed up appropriately.  The caprese salad tasted like someone had put gasoline on it.  The alfredo sauce was brown and soupy and wasn't all that great.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.10.10 Kristen H.

  • Report
• 0

  After having a decent meal here a few years ago during Lowell's "Italian Fest", we came here a few weeks ago on a Tuesday evening.  The dining room was empty but the bar area had a good 10-15 people in it.  There was only one server handling both.  We were seated by ourselves in the dining room which was dimly lit and dead silent.  
  
  My swordfish special tasted very, very fishy.  I was unable to finish it.  My husband was pleased with his pasta Alfredo.  Our server came and checked on us once, but there was a good 20 minute lapse between finishing our meal and ordering our dessert, and then another 30 minutes between finishing our dessert and getting the bill.  We both had nothing to drink halfway through the meal and saw no point when dessert arrvied.  We went out to the bar to pay since it we didn't feel like waiting to see our server again.  In her defense she was probably making better tips at the bar from regulars than a couple having dinner.
  
  We will never come back since the food was nothing we couldn't get anywhere else for less money and the service was awful.
  
  Five stars for the mango mousse pie.  One of the best desserts I've had anywhere!  I should have just ordered one of those as an entree.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.24.10 S. R.

  • Report
• 0

  Came here for a Christmas office lunch and ended up wishing we had gone elsewhere.  
  
  It seemed like they were overwhelmed by our group of 10, and since we were the only people in the place, it was surprising.  I ordered the chicken parm sandwich and it tasted like it had been sitting under the heat lamp for half an hour.  Of course it probably had been, since it took them over an hour to bring us our lunch.  I mean what were they doing back there?
  
  They get the 1st star because we had a courteous server.  The 2nd star was given because I was on the clock the entire time and I wasn't paying for the meal...Next.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 01.05.10 Justin H.

  • Report
• 0

  Not impressed.  
  
  Went here with family because it was somewhat central to everyone's location and since I was just coming back from vacation I didn't have time to check the reviews on yelp when someone suggested it!  If I had, obviously we would have gone somewhere else.
  
  The place was dead, which made it easy for 8 of us to get a table without a reservation.  I asked the waitress for 2 high chairs or 1 high chair and a booster seat as we had two kids that were coming.  She brought 1 high chair-and that was it.  Luckily my niece, who is only 2 is pretty tall and could mostly reach the table without a booster so we didn't bother saying anything.
  
  I ordered a vodka martini and J had a glass of pinot noir while we were waiting for everyone else to arrive.  The martini was fine (how can greygoose be bad?) but the olives were disgusting!  I couldn't tell if they had gone bad or were just really bad olives.  Took the rest of them out of my glass and enjoyed the rest of my drink.  The waitress brought over italian bread drizzled with olive oil and romano cheese.  The bread was pretty good and I took that as a sign that the food would be good too.
  
  Once the rest of our group arrived and everyone looked over the menu's, we ordered two orders of the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and a meal for everyone.  Again, there was practically no other tables there but our appetizers took more than a half hour to come out.  And during that time, our waitress never came over to see if anyone needed another drink or to apologize for the app taking so long.  At this point, it didn't bother me, because we were busy catching up with family and enjoying each other's company, I still thought the food was going to be good and service would get better.
  
  The stuffed mushrooms finally came out, 4 mushrooms in each order. They were stuffed with a crab stuffing that was heavily breaded, but they were tasty.  I'm still not sure why a total of 8 stuffed mushrooms took 30 minutes to show up but no big deal.  And the waitress again took off before anyone could ask for another drink or hey, how about some water?
  
  Our meals took another 40 minutes after the appetizers came.  I had the Strip steak which is topped with roasted garlic compound butter, and served with roasted beets, carrots and spinach.  I ordered the steak Medium-rare. The beets, spinach and carrots were good but there was no herb butter to be found on my steak and it was very well done.  I normally would have sent it back but my sister discovered that her baked haddock was hardly baked at all, and since she's pregnant, medium rare fish just won't do.  Our waitress was again missing so we asked another server if he could send the fish back to be cooked a little more.  At this point I just decided to suck it up and eat my leather steak.  Again, some insane amount of time went by and the fish isn't coming back out and the waitress is missing.  She hasn't checked on us even once since we got our food.  I get up to find someone to help us and no word of a lie, took three walks around the restaurant looking for a server, busboy or manager to talk to.  Finally, I found another server and told her the situation and she said she'd get our waitress right away.  
  
  She did come out right away, with the fish, which was now so overcooked it was dry and rubbery.  Obviously they forgot about the fish and she only came out because someone else told her to.  J's meal was fine flavor-wise but he said it was so salty it was burning his mouth.  wtf?  
  
  I'm not a complainer when it comes to restaurants being busy, or servers being over worked, or food talking a long time in general and I'm usually willing to give most places a second chance.  But when a place is empty, your server is almost entirely absent, the food is cooked poorly and it still takes hours to even get it, I'm NOT going to go back to a place.  I was pissed and so was everyone else.  Don't waste your time at Fortunato's.  There are other better restaurants in Lowell.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.08.09 Andrea Q.

  • Report
• 0

  Went here tonight after first trying to go to Moonstones, Ricardo's and Cobblestones (all closed).  We were the only diners at the time (8pm-ish on a Sunday).  Both the midriff-baring hostess and the grumpy tattooed waitress with zero knowledge of wine were a real drag.  The clatter & chatter coming from the kitchen was also a total drag.  
  Guess it's pretty obvious why no one else was dining there!
  The food (steak tips, lobster ravioli) and drink (Peroni, pinot grigio) was pretty good...B+ I'd say.  But, for me, going out to eat is a "total package" experience, and both my husband & I agreed, "never again"!!!!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 12.14.08 Melody S.

  • Report
• 0

  Mediocre in all respects.  Except the service which was downright bad and untrained.  
  We arrived on Friday evening, around 7:30.  Many tables were available.  The server didn't tell us about the specials, but I asked because I had seen things on the board that sounded somewhat interesting.  
  Looking over the wine list, my husband asked the server if she knew which of two particular chiantis was the drier one.  Her response:  "Oh, I'm pretty dumb about wine.  I don't drink it.  Maybe the other girl knows."  Other server didn't have any firsthand information to share.  Both wines were available by the glass, so when I suggested they bring a small tasting of each so we could then decide and order a bottle, the server said, "So okay, you each want a glass of each,then you'll get a bottle" and I said no, just a tasting, the servers looked at each other quite confused.  Husband said, 'just bring a bottle of this one." and that's what she did.  It was fine, dry like we wanted, but neither one of the servers even bothered to ask and learn if indeed the wine was dry or sweet or anything, so the next time, they'll go through the same dumb server routine.  
  We ordered: calamari appetizer, with hot peppers and artichokes, which husband and I shared.  It was a huge serving, mostly what we tasted was the coating on the calamari rings and not the calamari themselves.  I do love me some artichokes, and the combination was ok.  Before we finished the appetizer the server came over to see to ask "You guys still working on that?  Cuz your dinners are ready now, but we'll just let you finish that before I bring them out."   How thoughtful of you.
  She cleared, brought our main courses: I had seafood piccata which was one of the specials.  Fettucine with shrimp, scallops and pieces of 'crab' (do the air quotation gesture here) in a lemony caper sauce.  Uninspired, and I am quite sure the crab is the faux crabmeat served in seafood salad.  Husband had eggplant parmesan with angel hair pasta, again ok.  Huge portions, pretty reasonable prices, 'nothing to write home about ' in terms of flavor or presentation my dad would say.
  We would have had more fun at the opening of the gourmet hot dog place.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 04.07.08 Suzanne G.

  • Report
• 0

  Beautiful restaurant on a beautiful cobblestoned corner in downtown Lowell.  Has outdoor seating during the summer.  However, the food is highly unremarkable and the service is usually not that great.  I've probably been here six times and been at least a little disappointed four of them.  This could be one of the best restaurants in the city if they'd get their act together.  For good Italian food in Lowell, go to Ricardo's - which unfortunately has a poor location.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 04.06.08 Corey S.

  • Report
• 0

  I have eaten at fortunatos about five times.  This place is always 50/50 either you get great service bad food or vice versa.
  
  What I know:
  
  The Chicken picatta is horrible.
  Antipasto is fabulous.
  Seared Tuna and Scallops are great.
  Pasta Nachos GREAT especially after you have been drinking.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 03.24.08 Krista C.

  • Report
• 0

  I went here in July and the food and experience was great.
  
  My experience today was OK.
  
  I didn't like the fact that you have to ask for bread and that my sister had a fly frozen in the ice floating in her water.  There was no apology for this, just a look of shock on the face of the waitress.
  
  The food was delivered promptly which was nice and I enjoyed my Caprese salad and chicken carbonara and everyone at the table enjoyed thier food too.
  
  I'd like to give this resturant a 2.5... and I might give it one more chance!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 09.27.07 Pam O.

  • Report
• 0

  Advertises as Italian Steakhouse and keeper of antique Italian family recipes. It is actually a bad version of other very good Italian steakhouses, I will not mention names. The ambiance though is nice and the music is light and it is possible to have a conversation. My suggestion? Go across the street to Caffe Paradiso, It's cheaper and at least the food is good

  Review Source:

  Posted on 07.29.05 Stellina M.

  • Report