Don't be upset by this horrifyingly low rating (I rarely give a single star). In fact, I would recommend you try it. Allow me to explain myself (first the onesie). Eek! Methinks not. You would have thought "what the hell, no way, now how" also, had you never received your meal! Dave and I spent the night out with our family in the North End. His mum and my parents. Trying to make a memorable night out of it. Boy, was it memorable. Dave ordered a side dish with his Secondi but only received the side! Him, being as patient as he could, waited it out thinking 'well, the side was technically on the Primi list; maybe the Secondi is on its way...' Well, after two out of the four of us received and COMPLETED our meals, his was still no where to be found. ... which leads me to my second qualm ... Our unfortunate waiter had NO clue what was going on. Granted he was responsive and not rude at all, he just didn't seem like he knew anything. He forgot to bring my glass of wine and of course forgot also to bring Dave his dinner. He also told me that an Arancini was an artichoke (soooo not the same) and when I asked him to explain what a "[insert Italian words here]" was, he simply repeated the title. Argh. Meh. I've experienced better. This option would NOT apply since, well, sure, I've experienced better service, but when you speak of the food, I actually reeeeally liked it. The Gamberi Arrabbiata was flavored with anchovies and hot pepper (mmm!!). Also, I thought the prices were very reasonable in terms of North End prices. A-OK. I considered this option, but the forgetting of the meal was truly unacceptable. And while our waiter offered to re order it for Dave ... everyone else was done eating ... and we drank a lot of wine ( = sleepiness setting in) And of course, I wasn't a true fan of the restaurant nor did I believe it was anywhere near as good as it gets.. But I really liked the restaurant layout: not too scrunched amongst your neighboring diners. The noise level was only elevated by the people around you. The lighting was satisfactory and it was nicely decorated. In other words, I felt very comfortable here and would love to give it another chance. But please, don't give me the same waiter. read more

I expected much more in terms of quality and service. We were seated on the second floor i the corner. When we first sat down the room had an overwhelming vomit smell. We all were taken aback by it and considered asking to change tables, but suddenly our order was taken faster than we imagined and we felt stuck. We ordered the meat antipasti and the caprese salad - both were decent, as was the bread brought to the table. I had the spaghetti carbonara - the bacon was burnt and the whole dish was very salty with little sauce - it was a very dry dish and not good at all. My husband had the veal parm - he said it was decent, but not great. My kids shared a cheese pizza which they didn't care for (although I thought it looked good), and my cousin had the chicken parm which she said was good, and the other cousin had lasagna which she didn't finish and my husband tried - he thought it was very mediocre. The food came out fast, but any time we asked for anything - parm cheese, more bread, crushed red pepper, balsamic vinegar - it was promised but never delivered. Decent wines were well priced, and we didn't have dessert, of course nobody offered it to us, they just cleared the plates and gave us the check. I think they could do better. Or you could do better by going somewhere else!!! read more

Only reviewing bar + dessert... Friendly, attentive, and with one of the better Boston renditions of tiramisu I've had. Bonus points for being an Italian joint that actually has Italian after-dinner liqueurs. read more

The service was soo slow it was extremely uncomfortable just sitting there. I can't even remember the food due to the simple fact that the wait staff was incompetent. It wasn't just my table - it was terminable for everyone around us. Should it take 25 minutes to wrap up leftovers, present a bill and then run a credit card? No! And by the way - I hate Italian restuarants that charge you over 5 dollars for a side of spagetti. It should come with a chicken dish, especially for the price of thier lonely entree. Come on - was I just going to eat just a main course with absolutely no side. read more

Amazing service and a great vibe. Some of the BEST meatballs in Boston hands down. The chicken parmigiana with Ziti is out of this world!!! Great spot to grab dinner before a Bruins or Celtics game. read more

I've been here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. I'd say this is more of a lunch place. The last time I was there we got excellent service, with our waitress being incredibly attentive. She even went so far as to tell us that if there was anything we wanted that wasn't on the menu, we should just tell her and the chef would whip it right up, including lobster ravioli. While this was a great offer, I wonder why they don't have these items on the menu... the menu that they do have is a little limited and could definitely be pumped up. I would recommend the calamari to start with which is nice, a very light breading. My dad also had the tomato salad (the cheeseless one) which was well-seasoned and a really light, tasty start to the meal. I had the shrimp arrabiata pasta, which was good but could have used more spice (not the end of the world, I dutifully added red pepper to my heart's content!). The atmosphere could use a little work... you walk into the restuarant and have to pass the bar before you get to the hostess table, which can be confusing. And they play the background music so softly you can't hear it, which is awkward when the restaurant is only lightly populated. read more

We had a nice light meal here. Three of us shared the Caesar salad, Caprese salad, country bread with tomato, prosciutto and smoked mozzarella and the special pasta of the day:,Lobster ravioli with shrimp in a creamy tomato touched sauce. The service was excellent- everyone greeted us and was very caring. Our waiter even gave us a list of others restaurants to try in the area. The only weak spot was the slightly under ripe tomatoes in the Caprese. read more

Our waitress was wonderful! The wine and meal was impeccable, and having never been here before we didn't know what to expect.

Just got back from a family dinner night at Artu, and the party of 5 consensus was a solid 3 stars. The service was good. Not great. I don't mind waiting a little longer than average for the bill, and that wasn't the issue. I realized that this is probably the first restaurant in the North End I have been to where the option of ground pepper on my salad and parmesan cheese on my entree was not given. Woe to me though because I also didn't think to ask. I'm sure they would have provided this service at my request, and a wise Yelper (Saba N. Check her out!) once told me not to complain about things in my review if I didn't complain on site. Just a small note. The food was OK, but I come to the North End for a fantastic Italian dinner. At our table, we all either ordered frutti di mare, spaghetti carbonara, or Fusilli e con Broccoli Rabe (and the breakdown on that dish: cork screw pasta, broccoli rabe, garlic, evoo, chili flakes). We all cleaned our plates, so it wasn't a matter of not being edible. Also that's my family's way: we're borderline savages when it comes to food. But, none of us were ranting and raving about how delicious the food was. I think my brother's carbonara was probably the best out of the three. So to conclude, this was not a terrible meal. I did enjoy my meal. However, I wouldn't say Artu was a North End experience worth writing home about, nor do I intend to return for seconds. read more

Best sandwiches in Boston especially the roasted pork they are open for lunch and dinner real Italian north end food I have eaten there sandwiches since they opened full menu authentic north end you will not be disappointed read more

Wow. Excellent antipasto - cheese, roasted vegetables including sparagus, brussel sprouts and cauliflower and salami. Fusili e con with ghamberi was outstanding. Many large and tender shrimp were immersed in a spicy, a nchovie tomato sauce. Excellent. Fresh bread. Nice servers. Small and cozy, excellent for a date. read more

Finally, a place I can get comfortable in. It's as if you stepped out of the North End and into a place in the Financial District (or downtown Chicago). What we have here is an upscale place that won't drain your wallet. And, unlike many North End establishments, they accept credit. Ambiance: Comfortable. The bar chairs are cushy, almost like armchairs. The bar is wide, so taking dinner there is just as good, if not better, than dining at a table. The music is on at a low volume, which fills silent moments but doesn't intrude on the conversation. Service: Friendly & attentive, which is exactly what will draw me back. Food & Bev: We were only here for a (relatively) quick dinner, so I opted for a glass of wine instead of a bottle, but really, this is exactly the kind of place where you ought to share a bottle of wine and have a good long conversation. In addition to wine, I had the tortellini; it was good, as was the frozen chocolate-y dessert that I had. read more

Highly recommend this place, for its delicious food. Rabbi, Chicken, Veal, Pasta, and Veggies, its all so good. One of the best around...thanks for always being great. 15 years plus customer read more

Came here without a reservation and they were great in sitting us right away. Started with the bruschetta and mussels. quite a different take on bruschetta...lots of garlic and spinach. Was tasty but not what u would expect. Mussels were good in a nice white wine sauce. Finally shared with the hubby the linguini scampi which was tasty, same sauce used for the mussels, nothing extra ordinary though. Would try to make a reservation at the other cool italian spots if u know you will be in the area. read more

Amazing food, great bar, and overall awesome experience! We loved everything we ordered - Cannellini and Broccoli Rabe Bruschetta, Burrata, Puttanesca, and Saltimbocca. Love this spot right in the middle of North End! read more

As a first generation american from an Italian family I can tell you without hesitation that Artu is one of the best authentic Italian restaurants in the north end. - Handmade pasta - the right way like mama makes it - Knowledge of how to actually prepare the dishes they serve - Coniglio is on the menu - if you don't know what that is you have absolutely no place writing a review for an Italian resturant - Knowledge of wine pairing with il primo piatto e secondo o antipasto - They actually know that "MEATBALLS" are purely AMERICAN, there's no such thing as Italian meatballs...... they do not exist in Italy. - Classy decor, knowledgeable staff with EXCELLENT service The ONLY thing they don't have is the chef coming out to ask everyone who eats his food whether or not it was to their satisfaction - that would be my only reservation though. EAT HERE WITH CONFIDENCE read more

We've been coming here for years. The price point for the high quality food and service can't be beat. The take-out menu is also great especially compared to other more pricey yet lower quality places in the area. Family run and you can tell they care. The owner and her brother do a great job. There is a reason why it's been going string for years. read more

Best lamb Loli pops ever. I keep forgetting if I post this or not because I keep coming back and ordering it so my apologies. There is no disconnect between the bar and kitchen so don't worry about anything. It's fun like a Michelin level. We were lucky to get to know Ashley s. She's local, cool, and knows her way around. Really pumped she's my new favorite bartender in the north end. Takes me awhile to get accustomed to new people but Ashley is the best read more

The best in the north end. Service is always impeccable. Will continue to go here for years ahead.

The service in this place was great. We had a res for 22 people, and ended up shoehorning 35 people in to the "private" dining loft. Appetizers were great, wine was so-so, or maybe that was just the guy ordering...Finally I took the list away and gave it to the boss. Thank God! Bartender pours a mean drink, and soon the table was sloshed. I had the Veal Marsala and was unbelievably disappointed. Two hunks of slightly overdone veal, in a very lemony sauce. That's it. No pasta or veggie to go with it, just the meat. I like a citrus based sauce, but this was incredibly watery, not like a true Marsala. Hmm, You would think that being sloshed, the food would have tasted better. Anyhow, I give this place a 3 star, due to the great service, and because they were able to get the boss tipsy enough to send out a karaoke rally cry. read more

Just had a wonderful dinner here and a perfect birthday evening! Ambiance is very nice - the restaurant is elegant and modern, feels very upscale and comfortable. Our service from Marcos was perfect - very warm and helpful, was attentive without being overbearing as he could tell we wanted to have a leisurely meal. Food was excellent (and I am very particular about my pasta). I had tagliatelle bolognese and it was absolutely fabulous. Very large portion so I will enjoy it for lunch tomorrow too. My friend is a very fussy eater and enjoyed his carbonara. Prices are also very reasonable for the area - you get a great experience for much less than some of the other north end restaurants. Would totally recommend - many happy looking groups here too, also was perfect for a more romantic birthday dinner. Come here, you will not regret it! Update - friend told me later he had NOT liked his carbonara but didn't want to tell me that night and upset me on my birthday.... lol. I tried his leftovers and they were SUPER salty and very unappetizing..... maybe that dish is a miss. read more

Brian at the bar was awesome. Great meal and atmosphere. Don't be fooled by the super busy spots on the North End, you won't regret going here! read more

Recommended by fellow foodie to visit Artu on Prince Street in Boston's North End Little Italy. Business group of real eaters and we enjoyed the service, the opening round of chunky chewy hard bread that reminded me of my travels through Italy. Then got the standard and good fried calamari with hot cherry peppers, followed by a really mediocre and over cooked pasta bolognese. The pasta which we craved al dente was cooked to mush and lacked salt, but the bolognese was excellent. Various entrees for the 5 of us, all very good, French portions which was a nice change from the usual American over eating portion sizes. Well seasoned and medium rare NY Strip with amazing broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes, to house dish of chicken al forno stuffed with prosciutto, cheese and spinach and the right crunch on the outside. And then veal 3 different ways, all very good, scaloppine, to rollatini, to braciola, just delicious. Nice find, authentic, solid 4 stars! read more

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I had dinner with my family at Artu this past weekend. Their pasta is excellent! I had the Homemade Spaghetti Carbonara and the texture of the pasta was perfect. So often when a restaurant makes their own pasta it is either too starchy and tough or falls apart. At Artu is was perfect. We started with the Lobster Arancini and the Burrata. There was a small issue with the Arancini but our waiter handled it masterfully and took good care of us. Our waiter was very kind and helpful. This is random, but I love that their restrooms are very Euro and each facility is it's own room with a door that goes to the floor, not just a room with stalls. The neighborhood is super cute and I'd love to return. read more

I've been to this place at least 20 times in the past, but since I don't live in Boston anymore, I hadn't been here in a long time. It's well-executed classic Italian cuisine. Compared to other restaurants in the North End, it's probably right in the middle of the pack, but what I like about Artu is the menu is varied, there are vegetables if you want them, and they have great take-out, and it's less expensive than many others. Their wine list is hopelessly young and cheap, however. Today I had a pasta bolognese, it was hearty and delicious. It's a great go-to place if you want to be a regular, but if you're a tourist with a limited amount of time, you might want to try a different restaurant. read more

I eat here up to 3 times a week. Staff is friendly, music is great (especially on Tribe Tuesdays) and food is excellent. I recommend the spaghetti alla Amatriciana or the fettuccine norcina. Pair with a glass of Barbera and you're leaving happy. Oh the lasagna and chicken Marsala both are on point. Great neighborhood spot. read more

I went during the end of Restaurant Week this year, it was the only place that was open late enough for me and my coworker to close and haul ass to the North End, though I had several other places I wanted to go before I was forced to choose this place due to timing. The waitstaff was amazing, let us take our time though it was late, and gave us suggestions and recommendations. We had really good food. Bruschetta was really good, I got a starter that had asparagus and fish which was very well seasoned. I got really good gnocchi with meat sauce, and my friend got salmon and we tried each. Really good. Tiramisu and some death by chocolate something or other and we were really very satisfied. If the prices weren't this low I probably wouldn't return, but... It was a positive experience. read more

Saturday Night we decided to brave the crowd of locals and tourists during a feast to go to the North End for dinner. Not really sure what we were thinking, but we were pretty convinced we'd find a place to eat. After walking around for nearly an hour we stumbled upon Artu. None of us had heard of it, but we decided to give it a shot. The wait was only 30 minutes - which really sealed the deal (all other places were 1-2 hour waits). We got lucky & got seats at the bar & got served pretty quickly. Though one pet peeve: bartender did not know anything about the wine because she doesn't like it - I find that annoying a bartender should be able to describe, or know something about the beverage they are serving. Whatever, 30 min passed quickly and we were seated. Though this other group that came in behind us was really pressuring the hostess to seat them first (so obnoxious), but luckily she refused to bend to the pressure and seated us. This happened afte we had already been cut in line when trying to put our name in by another group. What is wrong with people? Our waitress comes over - cute older woman and knew the menu well - recommended a wine she liked etc. The food was pretty good - all the seafood and pasta dishes we got were good, not the best ever, but definitely reasonable. And the service was quick - though we were never rushed either. read more

I went to the North End location of Artu to celebrate my friend's bachelorette. This location is much larger than the Beacon Hill location. I went with a group of 15 girls, and they were able to accommodate our reservation without any issues. The wait staff was exceptional. They were able to get everyone's orders right and split the check as needed. I ordered the eggplant and chicken parm and would highly recommend! read more

A friend and I went on a Thursday night to the North End to see the fancier side of Boston. In this "little Italy" section, there appears to be tons of fine Italian food spots. A lot of the places had long lines, so we kept it moving until we stumbled upon Artu. The wait was only about 5 minutes, but once we were seated we waited quite a bit longer. We placed our order and received our drinks and waited some more then the bread finally arrived shortly before the meal. The food was good, however the portion was on the small side. Maybe thats customary for the north end, but I like to leave stuffed. I didn't feel like I got my money's worth here. read more

I almost don't want to post this, I like going to Artu's and not having to wait too long for a table, but alas, I must share the greatness that I have come to know as Artu's. A few years ago when I was in school outside of Boston I asked a good friend of mine for a suggestion in the North End to take my girlfriend at the time. What he told me was both amusing and a little worrisome, "the key to the North End" he told me, "is not being afraid to wander off Hanover." So after a few other amusing anecdotes he suggested Artu's. He's from a VERY Italian family and apparently they have all been going here for a long time. After having visited I know why. Amusingly, the first time I went, they were under construction and apologized for their mess but sat us at a cozy table nonetheless. Well the food that time, and every time since (probably around a dozen over the last 5 years) has been amazing! The last time I went I was really hoping for the pasta fra diavolo (a spicy seafood pasta) but it didn't seem to be on their menu, when I asked about it the waitress said she'd talk to the chef, and a short while later I had a dish a seafood and pasta goodness before me. Since their remodel (which is a few years back now) they've added a pretty chill bar in the front as well that is always a favorite for a quick bite when I find myself in the North End. Further, it's just dressy enough that you'll be perfect in jeans and a nice shirt or a suit. in short: If you want a great Italian meal, Artu's is a great choice for a date, or dinner with the family and for what you get it's incredibly reasonable. read more

Here is what is good, nay, amazing: Spaghetti carbonara. Real guanciale, fresh pasta, great quality cheese, delicious. Here is what is moderately good: chicken dishes--sort of dry. Calamari--over fried. Prices (you get a lot for your money, though.) Here is what is kind of not good at all: tomato sauce on lasagna (very thin) ditzy waitress who made us wait for wine, often and at length. Butter instead of olive oil. (Really?) These things keep it from four stars, but I would definitely come back, though I know there's better out there. read more

I had a pretty disappointing meal here last night. There was not much of a wait, on a Friday night, which was nice, but also should have been a warning sign. They sat us in the back dining room which had this weird, industrial cafeteria feel to it. The bread they gave us to start with was less than room temperature and just not very good. We started with an appetizer of fried calamari. The marina sauce that came with it was pretty good, but the calamari itself was really chewy. I had the seafood fra diavalo (mussels, calamari, shrimp, and fish in a red sauce over linguini) and was really disappointed. It was pretty bland, and filled with more of the overly-chewy calamari. The prices weren't terrible, entrees were $15-$25. The service was pretty good, but I definitely will not go back to Artu. read more

typical north end Italian restaurant. Went here because i got a gift certificate from restaurant.com. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar, where I got the shrimp with mushroom and he got the chicken parm. The food was decent, but didn't blow me away. I had a good amount of shrimp and mushrooms with the linguine, and the portion was generous. The chicken parm was just a slab of chicken on a plate, so it looked a little sad but tasted good. What earned this place two starts instead of three was the service. The bartender was in a sour mood and coudln't be bothered with questions. She was snappy at the other waiters and only smiled to us when we were leaving. Artu wasn't that bad, but there wasn't anything special about it that would make me recommend it to others or go back. read more

Traditional Italian fare in a rustic and cozy dining space. Overall, the menu was limited, but in the best way possible. I dined with a friend who has been attending to a loved one at Mass General and a dose of well prepared Italian cuisine was exactly the comfort food we were looking for. The staff was attentive and extremely friendly and though we were there early on a Wednesday night, I would expect they provide this service every day of the week. One word of warning however, due to the small dining room, groups larger than 4 might be a tight squeeze. read more

This might have been the best meal I've ever had. My friend and I shared a bottle of red wine from Argentina (Pizzetta, I believe) which was fantastic, the spaghetti carbonara which was delicious, and a pizza with gorgonzola, prosciutto and fig which was definitely the best pizza I've ever had and probably ever will have. To top off the experience, our server was very friendly and knowledgeable, the restaurant was well populated but not cramped, and it was clean and lovely but not overly fancy (which was perfect as we were there in our Blue Jays gear). A fantastic and tasty experience in Little Italy, would absolutely recommend. read more

Visiting Boston and stopped in for dinner. Sat at the bar and had great service, friendly staff really made you feel at home. Ordered the gnocchi and meatballs, amazing. My nephew ordered the margarita pizza, nothing like a good fresh baked pizza. This is off the Main Street, but a great find. Highly recommend stopping in for dinner. read more

The food is overpriced, the restaurant is crowded and loud, and the service really leaves a lot to be desired--the waitstaff constantly shuffles you off to the other staff, etc. I live around the corner and have given them many opportunities, but there are so many better Italian restaurants in a two block radius. read more

Awesome Awesome Awesome Experience! We went for my husbands 26th birthday with a large group. The food was unbelievable! We started out with the fried calamari, crostini, and antipasto plate. DELICIOUS! For entree's we got chicken parm, shrimp scampi, veal special, and mancotti. YUMMM-0. On top of all that we had the best waitress Pru. She made us feel at home and even brought out a dessert platter for my husband. Needless to say we will definitely be back. read more

The food is pretty average here, but for the North End standard, I'd say they're below average. I got the homemade spaghetti and my fiance got the gnocchi with meatballs. They all tasted like something I'd find on Route 1 in Saugus, which is to say, the quality is just meh. But, we were served by Prudenzia. This woman, who is in her 70s, has the energy of a 21 year old. She is a riot. If you're a tourist and you ate at the Daily Catch or Giacomo, you might've experienced much better food, but you didn't get served by Prudenzia. This woman embodies everything about the North End. She is hilarious and so friendly. It made our Uber ride from Medford to North End all worth it. If it wasn't for her, I would've rated this restaurant 2/5 stars. Seriously. She's that good. Plus, this place has no line or wait. You walk in, eat, drink lots of wine, laugh, enjoy each other's company and get served by Prudenzia. You can't do that in any top rated restaurants in the North End. read more