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✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 4–9 PM |
| Saturday | 4–9 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 11 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
Phone: (603) 580-4604
Website: http://www.ilcornicello.com/
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Il Cornicello
Come visit us in historic & picturesque Exeter, right downtown along the river. Serving dinner. CORNICELLO. 11 Water Street. Exeter, NH 03833. (603) 580-4604.
Book Your Cornicello Reservation Now on Resy
Located in beautiful downtown Exeter, NH, by the river. Free on street parking or parking in the municipal lot. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Cornicello | Exeter NH – Facebook
If you’d like to read along: Portsmouth Herald: https://www.seacoastonline. com/story/news/local/2026/02/10/exeter-nh-il- cornicello-ranks-among-top-10-of-u-s …
Reviews
Olga Shestopalova
Sottocello is incredible! We kept failing to make a reservation for Cornicello, but the downstairs bar, Sottocello, doesn’t take reservations and we managed to just walk in on a (cold, snowy) Saturday night without issue. The menu is the same – absolutely incredible, and the drinks are perfection! The vibe is also great, I enjoyed talking to the bartender and nearby people, it’s the perfect layout for that. My favorites were the funghi bruschetta and the duck pasta entree. We will definitely be back!
… moreNicole Francischelli
Last minute came across this restaurant while searching for an Italian restaurants for Valentines Day. To no surprise, there were no available reservations for the foreseeable future. I discovered they have a downstairs location, Sottocello that is a “speakeasy” restaurant in the downstairs area of Cornicello that serves the same menu as the restaurant above. No reservations, first come, first serve. We decided to give it a shot to see if we could get a seat. Since it was Valentine’s, they did have the majority of the tables at Sottocello reserved but they had one large table (seating for 8) that was a “community table” for people who arrived on a walk-in basis. That is where we sat, at first hesitant, we came to really enjoy our stranger’s company and towards the end of our meal became friendly with the others at our table. We started our meals with the brushette which was ample amounts of tomato, and for $2 more, added mozzarella which seemed to lack in quantity of the cheese. For the entrees, I ordered the rigatoni dish with short rib and my boy friend a nother pasta dish with ground duck. We both very much enjoyed our meals, although the pasta was a bit more on the al dente side than I would’ve preferred and wished the servings were bigger for the pretty penny the meal cost us. We enjoyed the wines we ordered for our meals and ordered their pistachio/olive oil cake for dessert which was not too sweet. We were impressed with our meal and hope to return back again but
… moreAlyssa M
We have come here several times and had a great experience with delicious food. We recently came again at the request of our son for his first visit for his birthday celebration and it was a disappointment.
We made reservations and when we arrived we found out we were being seated in the basement section at the community table. Apparently the basement doesn’t have the same menu or drink menu, so we couldn’t get the same cocktails and there was no beer on tap— not sure why they wouldn’t just get some from upstairs. That was a bummer especially since there was no warning about that during our reservations.
The music was so loud that half our table couldn’t hear each other or the waitress. The wait staff wasn’t super attentive, it seemed like we had a couple different people assigned to us but no one was quite taking ownership of checking in on us.
The food wasn’t nearly as good as it had been in visits past. Dry, not was warm, and not as flavorful. Nothing terribly wrong but just not amazing like we’ve experienced here before.
We all left our dinner experience feeling bummed at the quality of the food and mediocre service especially for the small portion size and the price. It didn’t feel worth it.
Half of our party had been regulars here and we all left feeling like it wouldn’t be worth coming back. Seems like a classic case of quality going downhill with an expansion, which is a bummer.
Also to note, we had gluten free members in our party and while they do offer GF options, it seems like there is some cross contamination based on stomach issues following the meal. Maybe there’s so much flour floating around from making pasta that it gets contaminated.
… moreWe made reservations and when we arrived we found out we were being seated in the basement section at the community table. Apparently the basement doesn’t have the same menu or drink menu, so we couldn’t get the same cocktails and there was no beer on tap— not sure why they wouldn’t just get some from upstairs. That was a bummer especially since there was no warning about that during our reservations.
The music was so loud that half our table couldn’t hear each other or the waitress. The wait staff wasn’t super attentive, it seemed like we had a couple different people assigned to us but no one was quite taking ownership of checking in on us.
The food wasn’t nearly as good as it had been in visits past. Dry, not was warm, and not as flavorful. Nothing terribly wrong but just not amazing like we’ve experienced here before.
We all left our dinner experience feeling bummed at the quality of the food and mediocre service especially for the small portion size and the price. It didn’t feel worth it.
Half of our party had been regulars here and we all left feeling like it wouldn’t be worth coming back. Seems like a classic case of quality going downhill with an expansion, which is a bummer.
Also to note, we had gluten free members in our party and while they do offer GF options, it seems like there is some cross contamination based on stomach issues following the meal. Maybe there’s so much flour floating around from making pasta that it gets contaminated.
Brenda A. Laycock
Outstanding food! Awesome staff! Chef Josh is the absolute Best!! Atmosphere beautiful and welcoming! We loved our meals, appetizers, drinks and desserts! ##nhlife #nh #restaurant #eatery #delicious #blessed #thankful #grateful #believe #exeter #exeternh #chef #corcicello #great #july18
… moreAlex Lara
Incredibly flavorful meals.
You can see the chefs literally building pasta from scratch upstairs.
Head to the bar downstairs and have Miranda, Maggie, or Michelle make you a stiff but delicious drink.
I’ll make the 35 mile drive just to come here.
Parking is difficult, but juice is worth the squeeze.
… moreYou can see the chefs literally building pasta from scratch upstairs.
Head to the bar downstairs and have Miranda, Maggie, or Michelle make you a stiff but delicious drink.
I’ll make the 35 mile drive just to come here.
Parking is difficult, but juice is worth the squeeze.
Kai Eathsong
Truly exceptional fresh pasta in a beautiful dining room. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The view over the river is beautiful. My wife and I went for her birthday last December and are making a tradition of it – this time we’ll come with a group of friends.
It is some of the best pasta I have had in the US and the presentation is impeccable.
Book a reservation far in advance!
… moreIt is some of the best pasta I have had in the US and the presentation is impeccable.
Book a reservation far in advance!
Cynthia Heider
The food was fantastic, incorporating super fresh ingredients in thoughtful and delicious flavor combinations. I love that we were able to watch the pasta being made from scratch through one of the front windows. The service was cheerful and efficient. A very satisfying experience all around.
… moreThomas Cera
Outstanding service. The staff is professional and friendly. The atmosphere is charming, inside and out. We dined with a view of rapids and a quaint setting. Plenty of wines from which to choose. The entrees were delicious and unusual. Don’t forget dessert.
… moreKyle M
Fantastic little spot. Handmade pasta daily. Sign me up. We booked reservations at the bar. Checked in 10min prior and we were seated pretty much right away. Staff was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about what to recommend.
We ordered a blueberry and goat cheese bruschetta, meatballs in broth, and I had ravioli while my girl had the braised short rib and pasta choice. And we had their olive oil cake. Flavors were awesome, everything just melted in your mouth. I really don’t think you would find anything you don’t like on this menu or that isn’t prepped, cooked, and constructed with precision and thought.
Street parking wasn’t an issue. The atmosphere is cozy, fairly low key, quiet, and relaxed. 7tables and the bar seating keeps it that way.
Book ahead of time they seemingly are booked out weeks/months.
If you get a chance, stop in. If you like authentic Italian cuisine, you will be pleased.
… moreWe ordered a blueberry and goat cheese bruschetta, meatballs in broth, and I had ravioli while my girl had the braised short rib and pasta choice. And we had their olive oil cake. Flavors were awesome, everything just melted in your mouth. I really don’t think you would find anything you don’t like on this menu or that isn’t prepped, cooked, and constructed with precision and thought.
Street parking wasn’t an issue. The atmosphere is cozy, fairly low key, quiet, and relaxed. 7tables and the bar seating keeps it that way.
Book ahead of time they seemingly are booked out weeks/months.
If you get a chance, stop in. If you like authentic Italian cuisine, you will be pleased.
Warren Gardner
I have a $150 gift certificate, and recently made a reservation. Unfortunately, I was informed by a manager that the business was recently sold, and the new owner will not be honoring gift certificates. Well, that’s one way to clear up business debt. So although I never ate here, this restaurant left a bad taste in my mouth.
… more