My husband and I are heading to Boston's North End in May for a much needed four day vacation, having not vacationed alone since our daughter was born two years ago. Needless to say, we are looking for three romantic restaurants to have quiet (no children around) dinners together. Price is no concern, and I guess travelling to another part of Boston is not out of the question either! We just want to be able to sit, relax, drink some wine, eat some good food, and not have to worry about cutting up chicken fingers into small pieces or wiping up strewn food from my daughter!!! Please, any input would be GREATLY APPRECIATED, especially if you've walked in my shoes!!!

Trattoria a Scalinatella. I may have spelled it wrong, but it's wonderful. Great food, wine, atmosphere. Cozy and romantic; the owner comes to your table to chat occasionally. Definitely make a reservation. I'm jealous!

Our favorite for romantic is "Lucia's" on Hanover Street. Be sure to go upstairs and see the murals in the bar upstairs. We also really like "Antico Forno" on Salem Street. Most of the restaurants in the North End are very small and they really crowd the tables in - - so if your idea of "romantic" means an isolated table....you may want to go somewhere else. BUT you will not find the same quality of Italian dishes elsewhere and the North End is really a special experience.
We also like the Spinnaker restaurant at the top of the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge. The room revolves over the Charles River giving you a most spectaular view of both Boston and Cambridge. We like to go at dusk at see all the lights coming on - beautiful! The food here can be inconsistent but we take our chances to get the view. You can also go there and have drinks and desert. Ask for a table on the outside edge of the room.
If price is no object - you may want to head to the Four Seasons - either the Bristol Lounge or Aujourd'hui upsatirs.
Ask for a window seat....great food, Boston scenes, great service but quite expensive. Enjoy our lovely city!

You HAVE to eat at Saracino's in the North End. Ask to be seated in the wine cellar - you'll snake down a couple flights of stairs and feel like you're in an authentic grotto / wine cellar. The walls are hung with ivy and lined with wine bottles - sooooo romantic. The food is excellent and the ambiance and atmosphere is incredible. Enjoy!

Mama Maria is an upscale Northend selection, close to old North CHurch.
You may want to check into the Northend Culinary Tour during your stay. It's a local's insight into the markets, specialty shops, and restaurants of the North End, combined with cooking tips and Italian influence in America.

For Italian I suggest Villa Francesca in the North End. Ask to be seated in the cellar. A bit cool but more quiet and worth it. Agree with the Spinnaker. Great place and have gone in many times. Maison Robert is good too. Enjoy! Just back from a trip to NYC w/out the kids and I know how you feel!

The Top of the Hub (bar/restaurant on the top of the Prudential Center)is another good sport for a drink before or after dinner. I remember very well our 10th anniversary. It was a very wet, cold overcast night in Feb. We went to the Top of the Hub for a drink before dinner. Our thoughts of a nice view were of course unrealistic. But it was a nice place so we weren't disappointed. But then as we sat there, suddenly the fog was gone, the clouds parted and a beautiful full moon shining on the harbor was revealed. The entire bar simultaneously and spontaneously went "OHHHHHHHHH" It was really memorable.
Enjoy Boston. Its a great city.