Best Italian Food in Boston's Little Italy
Jun 5th, 2012, 02:04 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best Italian Food in Boston's Little Italy
My husband and I are headed to Boston this weekend to attend the Antique Roadshow and a Red Sox game. Someone mentioned La Famiglia in Little Italy - wondering if anyone has been there or has another recommendation for great, classic Italian food. Thank you!
Jun 5th, 2012, 05:21 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just an FYI, it's called the "North End" in Bostonian speak, or the "Italian North End", but it's not necessary to put in the Italian part because everyone knows it by the North End.
Another FYI, don't expect to find parking in the North End. You'll have to park and take a taxi or make a 5-10 minute walk.
Another FYI, don't expect to find parking in the North End. You'll have to park and take a taxi or make a 5-10 minute walk.
Jun 5th, 2012, 06:42 PM
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's a fairly recent thread on food in the North End to start you off: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-north-end.cfm
There must be over 50 restaurants there, and no one ever agrees on "the best."
There must be over 50 restaurants there, and no one ever agrees on "the best."
Jun 6th, 2012, 04:11 AM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, I agree with cw. This is just about as controversial topic as you could open with a bunch of Bostonians and former Bostonians.
Jaya's advice on parking is good. I don't know where you are coming from, but it is a very good idea to park your car when you arrive and get it again only when you leave. If you don't do in-and-out, there is inexpensive weekend parking under Post Office Square, in the Prudential Center, and under the Common.
The most convenient T station to the North End is Haymarket since you can go directly to or from Fenway Park from there. Aquarium is also close and in an interesting area, but you have to change from the Green to the Blue lines at Government Center.
Jaya's advice on parking is good. I don't know where you are coming from, but it is a very good idea to park your car when you arrive and get it again only when you leave. If you don't do in-and-out, there is inexpensive weekend parking under Post Office Square, in the Prudential Center, and under the Common.
The most convenient T station to the North End is Haymarket since you can go directly to or from Fenway Park from there. Aquarium is also close and in an interesting area, but you have to change from the Green to the Blue lines at Government Center.
Jun 6th, 2012, 05:36 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you! I appreciate the advice. I am not surprised that there are many answers and appreciate the link to the thred. Perhaps we will reconsider where we eat. We have been to Boston so are familiar with the fact that driving around isn't always best.
Lookin Glass - I will check out chowhound. I have not used it before. Funny though - I see people ask questions about restaurants ALL THE TIME on Fodors so I don't see it as an inappropriate question in this forum. I'm always happy to answer such questions when they are in places with which I am familiar.
Elberko - our tickets are for 9am as well! I'm sure we'll all have a great time!
I'll look at the restaurant issue with a positive spin - there are many good choices. I guess it is kind of like asking people where to eat Mexican food in my hometown of San Antonio. Many distinct and definitive opinions. Many great options.
Lookin Glass - I will check out chowhound. I have not used it before. Funny though - I see people ask questions about restaurants ALL THE TIME on Fodors so I don't see it as an inappropriate question in this forum. I'm always happy to answer such questions when they are in places with which I am familiar.
Elberko - our tickets are for 9am as well! I'm sure we'll all have a great time!
I'll look at the restaurant issue with a positive spin - there are many good choices. I guess it is kind of like asking people where to eat Mexican food in my hometown of San Antonio. Many distinct and definitive opinions. Many great options.
Jun 6th, 2012, 08:05 AM
#10
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 10,556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is a report I recently posted:
"Last night we had the BEST ITALIAN food ever, even better than we had in Italy! I should start a new thread dedicated to this restaurant alone: Nico, at 417 Hanover Street, in the North End.
It is a tiny place, with excellent personal service. Our waiter was from Sicily, and every other worker we heard also had an Italian accent, except the maitre d' was from S America.
We started with shrimp bruschetta, which was a large plate with two pieces of toast, covered by four gigantic shrimp, in a wonderful scampi-type sauce. This was the size of a lunch sandwich. It was so delicious. It was $17.95, so not cheap.
We also had a caesar salad which we split, thank goodness, because it also was huge. I think it was only $9. It was dressed perfectly and also was delicious.
My entree was veal saltimbocca, for $22.95. It also was huge. Two slices of veal, stiffed with cheese and proscuitto, accompanied by homemade pasta. I had asked for pasta, instead of potato, and they are happy to modify their menu for their patrons.
DH had a house specialty-- linguine with seafood. OMG. Enough for two people, for sure. Lobster claw and a split lobster tail on top, huge shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and clams in a wonderful fra diablo sauce. I can't believe he ate the whole thing! If we'd had a fridge and microwave for leftovers, he would have taken it home, I am sure. It was about $45.
We enjoyed wonderful wine by the glass, which the waiter recommended. He brought sample tastes to the table, without being asked. He was extremely attentive and friendly. Our wines were probably $10/glass. I had white, DH had red.
We were given complimentary glasses of limoncello to finish.
Tables are close together and tiny, in the tiny room. We struck up a conversation at the end of the meal, with a couple from Canada and Australia. They were very interesting, and we actually had a lot in common.
It was an exquisite evening. Total bill was $150 + tip.
We highly recommend Nico!"
"Last night we had the BEST ITALIAN food ever, even better than we had in Italy! I should start a new thread dedicated to this restaurant alone: Nico, at 417 Hanover Street, in the North End.
It is a tiny place, with excellent personal service. Our waiter was from Sicily, and every other worker we heard also had an Italian accent, except the maitre d' was from S America.
We started with shrimp bruschetta, which was a large plate with two pieces of toast, covered by four gigantic shrimp, in a wonderful scampi-type sauce. This was the size of a lunch sandwich. It was so delicious. It was $17.95, so not cheap.
We also had a caesar salad which we split, thank goodness, because it also was huge. I think it was only $9. It was dressed perfectly and also was delicious.
My entree was veal saltimbocca, for $22.95. It also was huge. Two slices of veal, stiffed with cheese and proscuitto, accompanied by homemade pasta. I had asked for pasta, instead of potato, and they are happy to modify their menu for their patrons.
DH had a house specialty-- linguine with seafood. OMG. Enough for two people, for sure. Lobster claw and a split lobster tail on top, huge shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and clams in a wonderful fra diablo sauce. I can't believe he ate the whole thing! If we'd had a fridge and microwave for leftovers, he would have taken it home, I am sure. It was about $45.
We enjoyed wonderful wine by the glass, which the waiter recommended. He brought sample tastes to the table, without being asked. He was extremely attentive and friendly. Our wines were probably $10/glass. I had white, DH had red.
We were given complimentary glasses of limoncello to finish.
Tables are close together and tiny, in the tiny room. We struck up a conversation at the end of the meal, with a couple from Canada and Australia. They were very interesting, and we actually had a lot in common.
It was an exquisite evening. Total bill was $150 + tip.
We highly recommend Nico!"
Jun 6th, 2012, 09:16 AM
#11
On my recent visit to Boston I used yelp.com for dining advice and it was very helpful.The only problem is many others were using yelp and the highly rated places had long lines.
In fact as I walked through The Northend at about 8 pm there were people waiting outside many restaurants.
In fact as I walked through The Northend at about 8 pm there were people waiting outside many restaurants.
Jun 6th, 2012, 10:24 AM
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as La Famiglia, I took a look and was shocked on the rave reviews on Yelp and TA. In my circle the opinion is "it's not very good, but they sure do give you a lot" I just think you can do so much better.
I haven't been to Nico but it sounds wonderful. We sometimes go to Panza which the owner had roots with Giacomo's across they way which is not worth the loooong lines. We are regulars at the sister property in the south end. It is affordable and solid. Limoncello is also another favorite.
http://www.panzarestaurant.com/
Hope you report back that your antique is worth thousands!
I haven't been to Nico but it sounds wonderful. We sometimes go to Panza which the owner had roots with Giacomo's across they way which is not worth the loooong lines. We are regulars at the sister property in the south end. It is affordable and solid. Limoncello is also another favorite.
http://www.panzarestaurant.com/
Hope you report back that your antique is worth thousands!
Jun 6th, 2012, 10:29 AM
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
La Famiglia is where the college kids go...lots of food at cheap prices. It's not BAD, but it's not GOOD either.
I'm not a fan of Antico Forno.
I've heard good things about Lucca.
But really, that lobster roll at Neptune is great!
And I prefer Modern over Mike's if you're going to get some pastry afterwards.
I'm not a fan of Antico Forno.
I've heard good things about Lucca.
But really, that lobster roll at Neptune is great!
And I prefer Modern over Mike's if you're going to get some pastry afterwards.
Jun 6th, 2012, 01:09 PM
#16
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jun 8th, 2012, 10:30 AM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,829
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just posted this on a thread about a week ago here. I'll repeat.
Here are some dinner options I especially like:
Northern Italian: Prezza, Mamma Maria.
Southern Italian: Pagliuca's, Maurizio's, Saraceno (for Southern Italian red sauce classics), Antico Forno (this last especially for baked specialties, also makes a very good pizza). Marco is also excellent and has a slightly broader menu beyond Southern Italian.
Pizza: Pizzeria Regina (the original on Thacher Street, avoid the fast-food food-court offshoots at places like South Station and Quincy Market).
Southern Italian seafood: Daily Catch, Giacomo's (this last has its detractors, though I've done well here).
Italian/Peruvian hybrid: Taranta.
Espresso/pastry afterward: Caffe Vittoria.
Bakeries with less formal sit-down seating: Modern Pastries, Mike's. Not sure if Maria's is open evenings.
Other worthy options of varying Italian types include Euno, Rabia, Carmen, Bricco, Vinoteca di Monica, La Summa, Pomodoro, Lucca, and Massimino's.
If I could only choose one place and was fine with Northern Italian, I'd opt for Prezza.
For non-Italian, one of the best standard seafood places in Boston in located in the North End, Neptune Oyster.
An especially good (and cheap) Southern Italian lunchtime option is Galleria Umberto.
I do think it's well worthwhile to eat in the North End, but the places there run the gamut from great spots that treat their diners well to crummy tourist traps that pull sneaky tricks on the unsuspecting. The trick is knowing the good places from the bad.
And yes, Chowhound is an excellent site to get answers to these kinds of questions.
Here are some dinner options I especially like:
Northern Italian: Prezza, Mamma Maria.
Southern Italian: Pagliuca's, Maurizio's, Saraceno (for Southern Italian red sauce classics), Antico Forno (this last especially for baked specialties, also makes a very good pizza). Marco is also excellent and has a slightly broader menu beyond Southern Italian.
Pizza: Pizzeria Regina (the original on Thacher Street, avoid the fast-food food-court offshoots at places like South Station and Quincy Market).
Southern Italian seafood: Daily Catch, Giacomo's (this last has its detractors, though I've done well here).
Italian/Peruvian hybrid: Taranta.
Espresso/pastry afterward: Caffe Vittoria.
Bakeries with less formal sit-down seating: Modern Pastries, Mike's. Not sure if Maria's is open evenings.
Other worthy options of varying Italian types include Euno, Rabia, Carmen, Bricco, Vinoteca di Monica, La Summa, Pomodoro, Lucca, and Massimino's.
If I could only choose one place and was fine with Northern Italian, I'd opt for Prezza.
For non-Italian, one of the best standard seafood places in Boston in located in the North End, Neptune Oyster.
An especially good (and cheap) Southern Italian lunchtime option is Galleria Umberto.
I do think it's well worthwhile to eat in the North End, but the places there run the gamut from great spots that treat their diners well to crummy tourist traps that pull sneaky tricks on the unsuspecting. The trick is knowing the good places from the bad.
And yes, Chowhound is an excellent site to get answers to these kinds of questions.
Jun 8th, 2012, 11:10 AM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,829
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just my 2-cents on the "La Famiglia" places in the North End. There are actually two of them, and they're both lousy. There's not, as far as I know, any crossover in ownership between them.
La Famiglia Giorgio (arguably the better known of the two) gives you enough food to eat for a week per order. The catch is, you have to eat it. But at least they don't in my experience stoop so low as to pull clip joint tactics.
La Famiglia Spagnuolo, however, is a place that has pulled clip joint tactics on me the two times I ventured there (bill padding and wrong prices in their favor). And their food bar none is the worst I've ever had in the North End. I say beware.
La Famiglia Giorgio (arguably the better known of the two) gives you enough food to eat for a week per order. The catch is, you have to eat it. But at least they don't in my experience stoop so low as to pull clip joint tactics.
La Famiglia Spagnuolo, however, is a place that has pulled clip joint tactics on me the two times I ventured there (bill padding and wrong prices in their favor). And their food bar none is the worst I've ever had in the North End. I say beware.
