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Candela Cucina, New Bedford, MA

Candela Cucina

4.6
4.6
123 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 50 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
Candela Cucina is an upscale Italian restaurant from Servedwell Hospitality in the historic Candleworks building. Candela Cucina is not just another Italian American restaurant, Candela is an authentic Italian restaurant. Candela’s menu ranges from classic Italian dishes to innovative contemporary creations, all crafted with the finest ingredients.

This new concept from Servedwell Hospitality is in partnership with Peter Biondi. Pete has opened other Servedwell concepts and has worked at several NYC Michelin-starred restaurants. The menu is crafted and overseen by Chef Josh Riazi. Josh has been overseeing all Servedwell’s culinary development and operations since 2018. Josh has worked in several highly acclaimed restaurants; most notably, Josh was Executive Chef at Al Forno in Providence, RI. Josh is assisted by Chef Joe Melo, a Servedwell alum, who will oversee daily culinary operations at Candela.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Italian, Italian, Regional Italian (Sardinia)
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (774) 510-7901
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Jose Melo
  • Neighbourhood
    New Bedford
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 123 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Boston Metro South

    Best Service

  • Boston Metro South

    Best Ambience

  • Boston Metro South

    Innovative

  • Boston Metro South

    Great for fine wines

  • Boston Metro South

    Romantic

  • Boston Metro South

    Good for special occasions

  • Boston Metro South

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Candela Cucina is a vibrant addition to New Bedford's dining scene, celebrated for its "fantastic" service and "delicious" Italian cuisine. The elegant interior and thoughtful wine list create a warm ambiance. Signature dishes like the pasta fagioli and duck confit impress, while standout appetizers include the "whipped ricotta." A must-visit gem!

123 Reviews
  1. Marcy

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Tables are too close together. Food was not great. I had lasagna that was pretty bland and my husband had chicken parm that was dry and not very tasty

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  2. JLynn

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved Candela! I prefer to only dine at restaurants that make homemade pasta. With that being said we were very excited to try Candela. I opted for the chicken parm and my husband the fettuccine nero. We loved both entrees. We also got the hazelnut bomboloni for dessert. We are happy to have a new favorite Italian restaurant close to home. We usually travel Middletown, RI. Can’t wait to go back and try the bolognese. The only thing that we didn’t care for was the closeness of the tables. I get that they want to offer as much seating as possible because there is no privacy in conversation.

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  3. Cristina

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had such a great experience at Candela Cucina last night—it completely exceeded my expectations! The service was fantastic, making the whole evening even more enjoyable. (Thank you Brandon!!!) The whipped risotto was absolutely perfect—so creamy and flavorful. The duck might have been the best I’ve ever had, cooked beautifully with amazing flavor, and the salmon was just as impressive. Everything was spot on. If I had one small suggestion, it would be to include a little something, like a biscotti, with the affogato to round it out. But honestly, the meal was incredible, and I can’t wait to go back!

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  4. Conor

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience from start to finish. The drinks, the food, the atmosphere, and the service were all impeccable. Management were so gracious and welcoming as they circulated the restaurant. A perfect dining outing.

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  5. Main

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I was disappointed with my entrée although, to be fair, it was accurately described. I did not like the flavor of the entrée nor either of the two sides with which the chef chose to accompany it. Tables for two were too close to enjoy conversation, which was further impeded by the noise level. Music was NOT needed on this filled-to-capacity Saturday night.

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  6. Pamela

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Husband and I made a birthday reservation at 3pm on a Saturday. We’re seated immediately but after 20 minutes of waiting we had no water or even a hello from the waiter or waitress. My husband couldn’t get anybody to look at him, even if they were checking the next table. We gave up. I could only imagine that we’d be waiting long times for our food once someone bothered to come. I didn’t want to feel frustrated the entire visit. It’s a nice looking restaurant. The food looked lovely. Wish we had a chance to taste it. I said goodbye to the host so they’d know our table was available for someone else. I did not want to be rude and ghost them. Though the restaurant knew our reason for coming was my 60th birthday, they did not even offer a reason to return. The host did apologize, saying he’d serve us himself, but the overall situation wasn’t promising. I’ve enjoyed “The Candleworks” for decades under different names. Don’t know if I’ll try this new place again. Looked like other people seated nearby might have been lacking basic attention too. Is mid-afternoon a troublesome time to eat out?

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  7. kevin

    New York City

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was excellent and the waiter was super attentive. The main dining room is very quaint. We were sat in the sunroom area, which was very loud and chilly. Major drawback of the layout is that the tabletops for 2 people were way too close together. Like less than 2 feet apart. Our neighbors on both sides were very nice, but I didn’t go to dinner to converse with strangers. Seems like they tried to overload the area to maximize profit, which ultimately takes away from an upscale environment. Overall good, but it needs some rethinking. Same feedback I’ve heard from numerous people that have gone.

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  8. Sarah

    VIP

    Washington DC

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food - lasagna and meatball we’re phenomenal. Don’t skip the pistachio ice cream. Lovely service as well.

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  9. Ashley

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went on Valentine’s Day. It was a super busy night, but the service and the food were excellent. We waited a little bit to be seated (expected), and they gave us complementary wine. After that, everything went smoothly. The food, the drinks, and the dessert were 10/10. We are coming back.

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  10. Courtney

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great dinner for Valentine’s Day! It was super busy, had to wait about 30 minutes past reservation time but management was very accommodating and offered complimentary wine. Service was amazing and the whipped ricotta appetizer was to die for! Will definitely come back and try more of the menu!

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FAQs

Candela Cucina offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (774) 510-7901.

Candela Cucina is rated 4.6 stars by 123 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 50 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Candela Cucina

72 N Water St, New Bedford, MA 02740-6264

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    New Bedford
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Italian, Italian, Regional Italian (Sardinia)
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Jose Melo
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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