chgeeb

Hey everyone,
Just moved to the Boston area...parents are coming down in about 2 months to visit, and want me to make a reservation somewhere in the North End.
What's a good place? We all like simple food, a laid back place. Nothing too fancy or too pricey.
Somewhere that we can just go with nice jeans and a button down shirt. Just a place with good food and chill. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

yk

I really like Neptune Oyster, though they don't take reservations. Go early. Really laid back place with excellent raw bar. Neptune Oyster is also voted as having the best Lobstah Roll in Boston. They have 2 versions: hot (with dipped butter) and cold (with mayo but just lightly). Both comes with fries and they're addictive.

I took my parents there and they loved it!

http://www.neptuneoyster.com/

CAAA101406

Limoncello.... love it!

wyatt92

You can really go to most places in jeans.

I like Maurizio's, Tresca and Giacomo's. Of the three, Giacomo's is the most casual, cash only and no reservations, but excellent seafood.

For more upscale, there's Mamma Maria and Prezza.

Myer

We were in Boston a month ago and took the 10 minute walk to the North End.

We walk up and down Salem and ???? (forget the name) street and picked a restaurant based on the posted menu and restaurants being more than half full.

We ate at Galleria 33 on Salem and it was good.

However, I'm sure that any of a bunch of restaurants would have been fine.

I'm not looking for a gourmet meal and wouldn't know "the best" of anything. If it tastes good to me and is what I expect, I'm happy.

Ralphie

Myer, that other street you're thinking of might be Hanover Street, a main drag which cuts right through the N.E.

I always recommend strolling around the 'hood and taking in the sights *before* dinner hour rolls around. While doing this, look at all the restaurant menus posted outside each one. Take note of the ones that sound the best to you and decide when your stomach starts growling.

Some places don't take reservations, quite a few don't take credit cards.

bachslunch

Lots of options here. And except for a few tasting menu spots (none in the North End), you'll be fine anywhere in Boston dressed as you've described.

For Southern Italian: Pagliuca's, Maurizio's, Saraceno's.

For pizza: Pizzeria Regina (the original on Thacher St. only, avoid the mall offshoots).

For Southern Italian seafood: Daily Catch, Giacomo's.

For super-cheap Southern Italian comfort food lunch: Galleria Umberto.

For baked Southern Italian and pizza: Antico Forno.

For upscale Northern Italian: Prezza, Mamma Maria.

For non-Italian seafood: Neptune Oyster.

Feel free to check out the post I made at Chowhound's website on the area:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/448599

cigalechanta

There's a piece on the North end today, in the travel section of the Boston Globe.

cigalechanta

My favorite place there is Tarania
on Hanover St.

bachslunch

cigalechanta, I'm guessing you mean Taranta, and I'll agree that it's an excellent spot. The cuisine fuses Italian and Peruvian influences.

cigalechanta

yES, BACH!!!

lcuy

Our favorites are Giacamos and Limoncello. I wouldn't call Giacamos chill though.

bennnie

I had a really good meal at Francesca's on Richmond a few weeks ago. Its been there forever and has an old school feel about it - in a good way.

LoveMaine

Our favorite is Maurizio's...

capecodshanty

In today's Globe, there is an excellent article on the North End. Go to Boston.com, and to today's date for the Boston Globe, and then "North End.
I saved it for future trips into Boston!

yk

Here's the link to the article:
The Italian Heart of Town
http://www.boston.com/travel/boston/...heart_of_town/

ezguides

Mike's Pastry is a very popular cafe here that you should definitely check out. Another popular place is Giacomo's Itatlian restaurant though casual and with fair price there's usually a line minutes after they open at 5pm. I found an interesting blog about North End that might be helpful:
http://ezboston.blogspot.com/