Hello....I am visiting Boston next week with 6 other women (in-laws --- EEEEK!!) Never had a chance to eat dinner in the North end on my first trip to Boston last year and am looking for a suggestion for an Italian restaurant for Saturday night. Can you recommend a restaurant that has great food and outdoor seating? Thanks for your help.....Lori

For outdoor dining and really terrific food, our favorite is Trattoria Il Panino. Reservations are essential, especially for a Saturday night.

djkbooks is correct on the need for reservations on Friday and Saturday nights. The lines are very, very long for people who have not booked, not just at TiP but at most of the better restaurants in the North End.

Almost every weekend (Friday nite, Saturday day and nite, Sunday day) in North Edn there are religious "festivals", each dedicated to the patron saint of something. They range in size from big to huge. Level of disruption to normal restaurants and other businesses ranges from mild to major.

I am assuming you mean weekend of 6/16 by next week. With some difficulty I found scedule of festivals and it seems there is not one that weekend - that is a plus for availability of restaurant dining that weekend. But I would not take my word for it - ask restaurant (whichever one) when you call.

You are fortunate to have a party of 6+ - it is surprising that so many good restaurants in Boston do not take reservations except for larger groups.

Thanks, everyone....I was thinking about the Trattoria il Panino and will give them a call today! Lori