Had an exquisite dinner at Aqua Pazza in the North End of Boston - first time and not the last time. Elegant table setting; great bar-tending/waiting by Olivia. (she gave generous tastes of wine, professionally done with a fresh glass for every bottle tasted.) Get the manicotti! undersubscribed which is a shame, given its warm luscious tomato sauce and cheesy stuffing and perfectly prepared fresh pasta. Consider the stuffed chicken as well - a revelation! We experienced a kitchen snafu which Olivia and the manager handled with gracious generosity. Highly recommend! we will return for sure. read more

We've come here so many times and the food is always great! The ambiance is pretty lively if you're coming in on the weekend. We made a rezzie on Open Table but still had to wait for a few mins to get our table ready. The server came pretty quickly to take our drink order and we asked to order apps at the same time. The apps came out pretty fast but the drinks took longer. They were out of one of their draft beers -- they only had two. Before the remodel, they used to carry Downeast Cider in the can but they don't anymore. Lots of wine to choose from tho - except they don't have Lambrusco. Our favorite dishes are the cacio y pepe, manicotti, squash blossoms, and the bread with the pesto sauce. My sister tried the pesto pasta this time and I also got the salmon dish - the salmon was perfect. My hubby enjoyed the shrimp scampi special. We will def. be back! read more

Aqua Pazza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We recently visited Aqua Pazza this weekend. We had a to wait a little for our reservation but once we were seated our waitress was very attentive and nice. We split the burrata and the oysters. The oysters were delicious and very fresh. We all had pasta. We had the wild boar pappardelle, the vongole and the pesto. I am very particular about pesto as it was my grandmothers specialty and I can say their pesto is one of the best I've had at a restaurant. It doesn't include the heavy cream and you can tell it is made fresh. We would certainly come back next time visiting in Boston. read more

This Italian restaurant was cute and clean on the inside, with a friendly atmosphere. We also each got a caesar salad, which we all loved, and came with two small ricotta balls each (we wished they were bigger because they were so good). My friend got the cosmo, which she loved. The pasta dishes were amazing! read more

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RISOTTO!! I had a reservation on a weekend night, and while the restaurant is quite small- making it tricky for guests to move around if they weren't happy with their table or bar seat- the intimate setting added to its charm. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful with recommendations. For starters, I tried the Tuna Crudo. While the portion was disappointingly small for the price, the flavors were bold and well-balanced, making every bite count. For one of my entrée, I went with the Braised Beef Short Ribs, which were incredibly tender and packed with rich, savory flavor. However, I should've taken my server's advice and swapped the polenta for mashed potatoes- the polenta was too watery and lacked depth. The highlight of the meal, without a doubt, was the Risotto of the Day: a pumpkin risotto with shrimp. It was nothing short of phenomenal. The rice was perfectly cooked, the pumpkin added a subtle sweetness without being overpowering, and the shrimp melted in my mouth. It leaned on the richer side, and while my stomach was waving the white flag, my heart simply couldn't stop. Even though the risotto selection changes, I can't imagine it ever being a letdown. If you dine here, do yourself a favor and order the risotto- it's easily in my top three favorites of all time. read more

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Cosy dining space in the north end with upscale modern sensibilities. Both our server and host took care of us well, with a nice birthday surprise in the form of a deconstructed tiramisu. Food was delicious- the seafood risotto, beef short rib over creamy polenta, and eggplant parm app were great. read more

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As a vegetarian, there weren't too many dishes for me to try. However, the ones that I did saved this review. I ordered the pesto pasta and it was amazing. I think about it a lot. The ambiance was very fancy and it really felt like fine dining. The view from the window felt like a movie. One day when I return to Boston, I will make sure to stop by. read more

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WOW! I have to say, Aqua Pazza did not fail to impress with their espresso martinis. This is a MUST get if you like coffee. The martini is well-blended, and has a chocolate rim that is a delicious addition. I also enjoyed the zucchini flowers and lobster pillows - both of which were also amazing. This is a cozy spot for a nice dinner for an event, a special someone, or a celebration with friends. read more

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Really enjoyed Aqua Pazza the first time I came here, easily would have been 5 stars. However, the second time really tarnished my overall experience here, and because of that visit, I won't be back here again. First time here: Great service, most likely because we were one of the few tables here. Drinks were tasty yet strong. Food was so beyond amazing, and the complimentary bread came out piping hot with a delicious side of pesto. Calamari and the homemade spaghetti vongole was cooked to perfection. Everything was so great, that we decided we wanted to bring the rest of our family here. Now onto the second time.... HORRIBLE service from the get-go. Reservations were made in advance but pointless. We had to wait 40 minutes after our reservation time in order to finally get a table, and they brought us to a tiny table they insisted we must squish in. Bread was cold and hard like a rock. Felt like they took it out of the fridge and served it to us. When we asked about it, they said they didn't have time to warm it up. Shouldn't quality be the same every time regardless of when you dine at a restaurant? The food was quite average this time. It seems that they sacrifice on quality when there's a higher demand for quantity. So if you are planning to dine here, I'd recommend choosing a day when they're not busy. read more

Aqua Pazza - Homemade Spaghetti Vongole - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I was visiting Boston for the weekend and found this place. The food was ok but the service was terrible. There was only one other table of patrons, that probably should've been a sign. The employees were huddled by the kitchen and socializing as if they were out and not at work. The food was all just average, most of the dishes were not seasoned well. The waiter who deboned my branzino left so many bones! The bottles of sparkling water was room temperature. This place needs a good manager read more

Small space and very intimate so would definitely recommend making a reservation for a table over sitting at the bar. Had some great oysters there and the pasta was excellent read more

Aqua Pazza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This restaurant is amazing. The Pappardelle al Cinghiale is outrageously tasty. I can feel the spirit of Bacchus flowing through me with each delicious bite, blessing my tastebuds with superlative flavors and textures. The spaghetti and meatballs are shockingly good. I did not know spaghetti and meatballs could taste this good, and yet there they are, tasting that good. The braised beef short ribs are also fantastic - a dark flavor perfect for cold weather cozy time. Even my brother (not one for fancy food) was raving about how he could taste all the fresh ingredients in the burger. And the bread! They serve it with pesto! Bless this house! All these wack restaurants popping up these days with the AUDACITY to charge money for their sorry Instagram bread can't hold a candle to REAL bread like this. Take note, losers, this is how you do it! Magnifique! This place is fantastic. The people giving 1 star reviews are on crack. read more

Finally! A place in Boston we all loved! This small quaint location seats about 50. Reservation is highly recommended. It's bright and clean inside. The service was outstanding. Our server "Willy" was attentive. He heard us talking about my sisters birthday and made sure to bring out a special plate that said happy birthday with a candle. He even sang with the other server to her. It was wonderful! The zucchini flowers were outstanding! I would return just for those. The manicotti was as advertised. Delicious. The seafood risotto was very good. It had a little more bit than I like but in the range of what's expected. The spaghetti was very good with the meatballs being great! The lobster pillows had some really nice claw chunks of lobster throughout and it was very tasty. It was a reasonable walk from Marriott Custom House as well. I highly recommend. read more

Aqua Pazza - Birthday wishes. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here for Christmas dinner and was let down by the service. Our appetizers were good, but the shrimp cocktail on the seafood menu was apparently one shrimp for $10.99? Insanity. Our server was not around a lot and we also noticed he did not tell us any specials unlike the other servers. My espresso martini also came spilled with the glass stem dirty and sticky. The food was okay. We asked for the gnocchi to be split between us, and it was a very generous portion even as half. It tasted like a loaded potato soup to me, so it was very rich and thick. The wagyu burger was okay - we were not asked for doneness so it came well done. The veal chop Milanese was fine but probably won't order it next time. It needed a little more salt. The insalata mista was very tasty and refreshing. The key lime pie was tart and sweet. We saw the tableside tiramisu which looked fun but we already felt the food was pretty richec and wanted something tart. The view is nice since it's on the corner but with so many restaurants in the North End, I'm not sure I'll return any time soon. read more

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Came here after Christmas Mass. From the drinks to the salad to the entree and even dessert, everything was perfect! Had the octopus, burrata salad, short rib (insane!!), halibut, gnocchi and chocolate mousse! Service was great and the manager was personable and was a great person to talk to regarding food in the city! Thank you for a perfect Christmas dinner! read more

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Celebrated here with friends and it was a lovely experience! A cozy dining room, bar and raw bar. The staff were attentive and friendly. Food was delicious, as well as the cocktails. The snowfall outside made the night all the more magical. 10/10 - highly recommend! read more

Aqua Pazza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I came here with my friend that lives in Boston. We wanted to try something new that she hadn't been to before. The restaurant was empty the entire time we were there, which maybe was a sign. We ordered the salmon crudo, the passionfruit salad, eggplant parmigiana, and a pasta trio that came with pappardelle, lobster pillows, and cacio e Pepe. We all agreed that the appetizers were better than the main pasta. The pasta was a little too Al dente for our preference. The cacio e pepe was super salty and the other two pastas weren't particularly notable. For the price, I had higher expectations. read more

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I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. It was delicious. The mousse dessert was delicious. Loved the zucchini flowers. Server was excellent. Small and crowded inside but had a nice view of the street. Would go back! read more

Was able to get a reservation for two about two hours before on a Wednesday night at 7:15. Showed up ten minutes early, was promptly seated. Service was great throughout the meal. Bread with pesto - really enjoyed the pesto, ate very light and bright Calamari starter - this was very good and a fairly large portion, we were still picking at it while we waited for our mains and were unable to finish it. This is big enough for a party of 4 to share comfortably. 5/5. GF got the seafood risotto which she really liked. Did not eat very heavy. 5/5 I got the spaghetti with clams, again very good. 4/5. Split a bottle of wine, passed on desert as we were pretty full from dinner. read more

Amazing food and even more amazing staff. They were about to close and yet, they allowed us to get a table and enjoy our food!

Food was amazing. The bread, which you could tell was fresh, was served with one of the best pesto I have had in Boston. The diners at the table next to ours had ordered the spaghetti with clams, and it looked and smelled so good that it made our order decision very easy. We left no crumbs on the plate. The flavor profile of the dish was perfect. Aqua pazza does not get five starts because our server, while very professional, brought us our check without even asking if we wanted dessert. Bear in mind that we were in no way overstaying our welcome, as we had been in the restaurant for 40 minutes at that point. Simply thought it was rude and put a bit of a damper on the experience. read more

Italian seafood in the north end...always looking for somewhere good that we can get a reservation! So we tried aqua pazza! First the food--I can say their seafood risotto was tremendous. My wife loved the bolognese as well. But...the hamachi crudi had balsamic on it which was not a good flavor combo ; the octopus was fried, which was tasty but strange; and the halibut was significantly over cooked. They're supposed to have valet parking , but when we drove up in our rental suv, they said that's too big and then We had to go searching g for parking --which SUCKED. It was a quaint place and I did like the risotto but....not sure it's the top of my north end list read more

Aqua Pazza - Seafood risotto - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The restaurant is pretty small but the food was so good! I would definitely come back to this place if I was in the area. The pesto pasta was my favorite thing here. The wait time was not bad at all too. I came on a Saturday evening and they were able to sit 9 people right away. Overall, I recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

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Aqua Pazza has a lovely corner unit with beautiful windows. I recommend sitting by a window versus being in the center of the restaurant. We loved the arnacini, mains and dessert. Service was quick once ordering. read more

Aqua Pazza - Cacio e Pepe with Arnacini - Breaded Rice Ball / Black Pepper / Pecorino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Absolutely magic meal. In town for a weekend with my wife and did not know that one should have reservations for fine Italian... We were fortunate to get a seat at the bar. Wonderful ambiance. Great vibes... Super friendly staff yet professional. And the food was to die for. You know that meal when you say to yourself, "I am going to remember this particular moment for the rest of my life..." It was that meal. I had the Seafood Risotto and my wife had the Lobster Pillows (ravioli). The bread and pesto was amazing. And trust me. Get the Parmesan. Highly recommended. read more

Our friendly greeting set the tone for our meal at Aqua Pazza. The oyster selection was excellent and delicious. The arancini balls were small but packed a flavor punch. Gnocchi was tasty but very rich. The seafood risotto had a nice piece of salmon but otherwise lacked any other seafood. The short rib polenta was also very rich but satisfying. Service friendly. We were not rushed on a Friday night, which was appreciated. If you're looking for an above average Italian meal with several seafood options and a nice Italian heavy wine list, this is your place. read more

Came here for dinner with family. One of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of trying in the North End. We started the the oysters and the octopus appetizers. Although, I did not try either, my family really enjoyed it. I did try the eggplant bursts that were served with the octopus and it was delicious. The complimentary bread was also so good: the pesto tasted so fresh. I love that all the pasta is freshly made. The gnocchi melted right away and was delicious. The restaurant has dim lighting and is very intimate, making it the perfect date night place. I do wish the entrance/waiting area for the estuary was a bit larger, but aside from that my experience was excellent! read more

Aqua Pazza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Everything was perfect! They didn't have a table available but immediately offered us the bar. The bartender was amazing: professional, attentive, great honest recommendations. We had 6 oysters and they were perfect: prepared correctly so they came out of the shell easy, very fresh. Then we had the charcuterie board which I would not recommend as it didn't have a lot of cheese or bread or crackers and most of the meat was mortadella. Then we had the fettuccine Alfredo which was the best I have ever had, obviously fresh pasta and a true Alfredo taste, not the goopy jarred flavour. Great ambience, packed to the brim but we like the small and busy feel. read more

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We dined here twice and we would've dined here more except our trip ended. This is our review of our first dining visit. The second time was all that the first was, but with new dishes and new levels of appreciation for their food, style, and Matthew (what a host) & staff (omg Iban) who truly love creating a memorable dining experience for dining guests.... "This is a must-go restaurant for stellar food and top tier personable service. The restaurant went above and beyond to welcome our family for a special occasion meal after we traveled cross-country, with Aqua Pazza was our first meal experience in Boston. For starters, my "don't-miss" list includes their fresh oysters menu in season. Matthew shared with us about what makes the oysters available in autumn time so special in New England, and how they are cultivated by local and even generational family oyster farmers to offer unique flavor profiles. We tried two varieties, including the "Summer Love" and "Sweet Blue" and I am going to say here that I tasted the best oyster of my life. We are retired career U.S.Coast Guard, we have lived on many coastal locations in the USA, and I have eaten many fresh local seafoods. If you like oysters, come here. If you love them, run here. Aqua Pazza knows how to select them, serve them ano enrich the experience by letting you know all about where your food comes from and what to appreciate about each kind. Second, if you love raw fish, don't miss the Salmon Crudo. We live in the Pacific Northwest and we know and love salmon. How Aqua Pazza prepares their Salmon Crudo is indescribably good. It's the best l've ever tasted, and worth eating slowly to savor every bite. Thirdly, and I know it's Italian here in the North End, but don't miss their dessert menu item the Key Lime pie. We have lived in the Florida Keys, and I have my own key lime pie recipe. This restaurant, however, served us the best key lime pie I've ever tasted. Creamy, tart, light crunchy crust, and just delicious. It melted in my mouth like ice cream. We also had a few other tasty things including coffee martinis... If I could give Aqua Pazza five stars I would award it six. If you go here, let Matthew & his staff take care of you (Iban / Ivan (spelling?) served us superbly both nights!) As our first meal in Boston Aqua Pazza set the bar as a hard one to beat-- we look forward to our next time." read more

Unfortunately I didn't like the food as much, I give it 3.5 stars. The best dish was the octopus appetizer as far as cooked food. The Aqua Pazza entree was a mix of seafood in a tomato broth but it has very little flavor so the fish didn't taste much like anything. As for dessert, they make your tiramisu at the table which is pretty cool but the mascarpone filling is foamy and not very tasty. My keylime pie was a tart made of cookies crust and a very think cheese filling, almost like a paste. Not impressed with any of them. Maybe their pasta is great but I didn't try it. read more

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I really enjoyed this new North End spot! Very tasty flavor combinations and beautifully plated dishes. I went for Dine Out Boston week in August 2020. It was clearly a busy night when I went, but I was a little disappointed that even though I had a reservation I was mildly scolded for standing at the wrong entrance and then had to wait about 10 minutes for my table to be ready. After that the night went pretty smoothly except for a slightly longer wait for dessert compared to our other courses, but to be fair our server was covering a lot of nearby tables and clearly not abandoning us on purpose. After the initial tastes I got from Dine Out Boston, I'm excited to see more of what they have to offer and eventually try their raw bar as well! I liked the flavors and colors overall, and there was a lot on their menu I'd be interested in going back to try. The tiramisu assembled right at our table was a fun way to end the meal! read more

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Great service! We mostly ordered from the oyster bar menu - oyster selection was good, well-shucked and served. The didn't care for the salmon from the sushi bar - salmon great, sauce was too sweet, tasted like dessert. The kampachi was well-portioned for the price and delicious! From the apps menu, the grilled octopus w/ tomato & eggplant was very good, but dare I say it was the eggplant and tomato that did it for me. The octopus was tender but a bit on the drier side for my taste and the dish itself lacked cohesion overall, like the tomato /eggplant could've been it's own dish served with bread. Drinks were good, but if it was a full bar, would've been 5 stars overall for atmosphere, service and quality seafood. I would def go back to try other dishes from the menu for the service, ambiance & fresh food. read more

My husband and I recently had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Aquapazza. It was a tremendous experience. From the moment we met Matt many months before the event through the dessert being served, the service was exceptional. Matt took pride in every aspect of planning the dinner and it could not have been better. The food was delicious and served timely for our large party. Every element of the evening was executed with class and care. Matt and the staff at Aquapazza made our guests feel so comfortable and they are still raving about the food today. We would absolutely recommend Aquapazza for any sort of large group dinner. It was a 10/10 experience! read more

Aqua Pazza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The kampachi tartare was a real standout dish. One of the best dishes I've had in a long time. We also got chicken parm and pappardelle al cinghiale which were both good. Atmosphere is nice. read more

I cannot recommend this place. Unlike Umbria, you will not be dragged in to the wine cellar and beaten within an inch of your life. I came in for a simple dinner on a Saturday night, because I was down in the North End for a show at Improv Asylum (more on that in my next review today). Even the bar was very crowded, and no tables were available for a walk-in, but unlie unlike the executive staff at Umbria (the owner himself dragged me into their wine cellar, along with 4 mafioso GOONs and proceeded to beat me to a pulp (they then chased me knocked me down on the curve and tried to continue their "work" until I went into Improv Asylum (ie, no dinner for Stu last night) and locked myself in a bathroom for three hours, until the police came, to escort me to South Station, whereI then took the T home. I am still limping from the after effects of my beating last night. Totally different story at Aqua Pazza - the manager greeted me warmly and escorted me to the remaining seat at the bar, telling my neighboring diners to make room for me (I usually do that myself, politely, but to his credit, he knew how to treat a customer). Now, to the food. I had a vegan pesto pasta (I am extremely lactose intolerant IBS, but can still eat as much as I want of the aged cheeses, like parmesan, romano, asiago, cheddar, etc.). I had the minestrone, a goat cheese salad, and the entree. All were top notch. I hope that Umbria goes out of business (but I know that their "best practices" will continue to be implemented. An enormous hats off to Aqua Pazza. The North End is notoriously spotty for consistency of quality service and food, but you cannot go wrong with Aqua Pazza - they excel in both. 'Nuff said. read more

Poor service. Every one in my group already arrived. However, they make us to wait for 25 minutes and set the other group who had a 15 minute later reservation first. Also, they are a party of six and only five came. Because the receptionist and the group members were talking in Spanish, however we do understand what they're saying. VERY DISAPPOINTED. read more

We ate here this evening with high expectations, we were extremely disappointed. My manicotti was terrible. it was inconsistently cooked, gummy in some parts, raw and hard, burnt in others. don't let the pics fool you. I am going to look up what other restaurants they own to avoid them. very disappointing. small, crowded dining area playing horrible 80s-90s rap, hip hop. not Italian at all! read more

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Aqua Pazza is an okay choice for Italian in Boston. Vibe: it's a tiny restaurant with tables close together and an unassuming feel. There are plenty of wait staff and barely any room for them to stand away from the tables. Food: they started us off with complimentary bread and pesto and my dining companions and I shared the Burrata which was delicious. I would definitely order that again. We also ordered Gnocchi, wild boar Pappardelle, and the chicken parmigiana. We all tried about of each other's dishes and all came to the same conclusion- the wild boar was the best of the 3 entrees and was quite good. Next up the chicken parmigiana- it was okay- a classic, middle of the road chicken parmigiana. Last, the gnocchi- I really wanted to like this. It was not good. None of us liked it. It was VERY smoky and almost tart. I also thought it was slightly pricey for what we were getting. Service: Our server was attentive but his accent was so think it was challenging at times to understand and not overly friendly. read more

Aqua Pazza - Bread and pesto - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Service was IMPECCABLE. Food was DELECTABLE. So incredibly enjoyable. I highly recommend if your looking for fresh lobster and don't want to settle for a lobster roll. The lobster had this delicious smokey flavor I couldn't get enough of. Yummm.... read more

Aqua Pazza - Lobster a la Diablo, special of the house. AMAZING! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Had a reservation for 8, they sat a couple with no reservations ahead of my party of 4 a and we ended up leaving by 8:30 as we did not see the possibility of getting seated anytime soon Would not recommend as reservations are not honored read more