Delicious Italian Restaurants in Boston
Boston is an epicenter of culture, education, and culinary delights. Located in the city’s former Irish district, you’ll find Little Italy, known locally as the North End. This section of Boston, spanning a single square mile, features some of the best Italian eateries in the country. From pasta to pastries, you’ll be able to get your fill in Boston. Here are our picks for Best Italian Restaurants in Boston.
Photo credit: thdailycatch.com
The Daily Catch
323 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-8567
You’ll find the freshest catches in Boston served Sicilian-style at The Daily Catch. Since the ’70s, this North End restaurant has been supplying Bostonians with their fill of wine, pasta, and seafood. The restaurant is only one room, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor. The calamari and squid ink pasta come highly recommended. Enjoy your meal right from the sizzling hot skillet it was cooked in with a plastic tumbler of wine. The Daily Catch offers a full-flavor Italian dining experience without the pretenses.
Photo credit: Yelp
Prezza
24 Fleet St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 227-1577
With an astounding selection of over 6,000 wines, you’ll always be able to find the best pairing at Prezza. This upscale, modern Italian restaurant offers peasant dishes crafted with handmade pasta and hearty, wood grilled meats and fish. With the restaurant’s name inspired by his grandmother’s birthplace, Chef Anthony Caturano opened for business when he was just 25 years old. Since then, Prezza has become a local favorite among Bostonians.
Photo credit: Yelp
La Famiglia Giorgio’s
112 Salem St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 367-6711
If you’re looking for large helpings of homemade pasta and a generous selection of wines to choose from, you’ll find what you seek at La Famiglia Giorgio’s. This North End eatery has been serving reasonably priced Roman entrees since the 90s. With ten types of handmade pasta to choose from, you can experience the taste of authentic, Italian cooking at La Famiglia Giorgio’s. The eggplant parmesan is a favorite among the regulars.
Photo credit: Yelp
Mare
223 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 723-6273
Featuring a crudo bar and an exquisite outdoor dining venue, Mare is the North End’s pearl of seafood and raw bar restaurants. Get your fill of oysters, clams, and shrimp before moving on to something a little more substantial. The wild boar pasta and lobster ravioli are just two of the unique entrees available at Mare. After dinner, order a glass of organic wine or a craft beer and chill out by the fire pit.
Photo credit: Yelp
Al Dente
109 Salem St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-0990
Generous portions meet wallet-friendly prices at Al Dente. This Italian-American ristorante is a popular spot among locals for dinner out. If you want to experience Italian cooking without the frills, Al Dente offers a down-to-earth experience that can be enjoyed by all. Chicken, seafood, and veal dishes pair well with a glass of wine and make for a satisfying dinner.
Photo credit: Yelp
Galleria Umberto
289 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 227-5709
Galleria Umberto has been serving Sicilian pizzas to the North End since 1974. This mom-and-pop pizza counter opens at lunch and stays open until they sell out. If you want to savor a slice from Umberto’s, be sure to arrive early. Their pies tend to sell like hotcakes. Paninis, calzones, and fresh bread are available at prices so low you’ll think you’ve stepped back in time.
Photo credit: Yelp
Strega
379 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-8481
It’s all glitz and glam at the North End’s Strega. The decor is ritzy, and if you dine here, you may find yourself in the vicinity of a celebrity. Study the photos lining the walls, and you’ll see the owner, Nick Verano, posing with some of the many famous figures that have dined at Strega. The restaurant’s Sicilian chef serves up classic Italian fare with delightful twists that leave diners wanting more. Strega brings refined Italian dining to the North End.
Photo credit: Yelp
Giacomo’s
355 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-9026
Giacomo’s is one of Boston’s most loved Italian restaurants. Customers line up for hours to get a table so they can enjoy heaps of pasta at an affordable price. The most popular item on the menu is the seafood pasta that comes piled high with clams, mussels, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and calamari.
Photo credit: Yelp
Lucca
226 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
(617) 742-9200
Lucca is the perfect venue for special occasion dining. The restaurant’s interior offers an air of romance, and the menu features dishes created by chef Yoni Alcantara, a regular visitor of Italy. Duck, lobster, and mussels are the stars of the show in many of the dishes at Lucca.
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