We were in Boston, moving our daughter out of her dorm. She just completed her freshman year with…read moregreat grades, so we wanted to have a great meal in the North End to celebrate. We went to Arya based on a friend's recommendation, who is also a foodie. It was a GREAT choice. Arya is located on Hanover Street and is on the second floor. It is small, but the interior is nicely appointed, and the tables are comfortable. They also have a small bar with 5-6 seats. The host sat us promptly and was very cordial. Our waiter was GREAT. He was a riot. He opened up the night and said you can order your way or my way. He was referring to ordering what we wanted from the menu, or taking the voyage through Italy. This is a three-course meal including appetizers, a small plate of pasta, and an entree for each guest. It is served family style. We went on the voyage! We started with fabulous cocktails before the voyage began. We received 3 appetizers, including shrimp, MEATBALLS in sauce, and a Burrata salad. The pasta course was Rigatoni with a Vodka sauce. What was impossible to believe was the entrees. We got a whole filet of Branzino, a huge chicken parmigiana, and a full-size ribeye steak with amazingly crispy French Fries. I can't tell you how fabulous the food was. Every item was cooked to perfection and extremely flavorful. The meatballs are the best I have had in the North End. The fish was moist and flavorful. We ended up taking home a HUGE bag of leftovers. Best of all, the price was $70 per person. We had an excellent slice of Tiramisu, and I had a fabulous Pistachio martini. We have a new favorite place in the North End. Make it a point to go and have a fabulous time. You will love it. MAKE a reservation!!

Me and my friends went to this restaurant and it was the most horrible experience I've ever had at…read morea restaurant. The food was mid and we had to pay over $70 for water alone. They made it almost impossible to split the bill easily. It was literally a SCAM because they made us pay for 2 extra water that we did not order. This place was a disgrace to Italian food and I will not be returning or recommending this place to anyone.

Visited Boston for my brother's graduation in which he insisted going to this restaurant because…read moresupposedly Nancy Pelosi loves this restaurant. Came here Monday night before my parents, husband, and I had to fly out the next day. The history of this restaurant as well as location is interesting as it used to be a jailhouse converted to a hotel. The entire hotel is jail themed too so you have a bar named the Alibi, another one named The Clink and the restaurant named Scampo means 'escape' in Italian. As far as the restaurant goes, the food is pretty good. The only was that we were originally here for all the all you can eat pasta on Mondays but I didn't see anywhere on their reservation system that meant the lounge side was the only one that had it. Apparently the dining table side is à la carte ordering only. I did see on the reservation system there was a selection for each side, but I wish they did mention the all you can eat was lounge side only. Maybe it was somewhere on their website but I couldn't find it. That said, we stayed on the dining table side as it turns out we weren't really in the mood for all you can eat. The pastas were really good though. I got their carbonara while my mom got the meat sauce. My husband got their vegetarian ravioli while my brother got the duck and my dad got their fish. My mom said as far as her meat sauce/bolognese pasta went, it was one of the best pastas she ever had. She doesn't like bland pasta with sauce on top and prefers the sauce cooked with the pasta which this place does. My carbonara was one of the better ones I've had too. Though it's not the most authentic. Traditional carbonara generally uses egg yolk in which this places uses heavy cream. But considering I'm pregnant, it worked out. While most places drench their carbonara with sauce, somehow mine was all at the bottom in which I actually didn't mind that since it can get heavy when drenched. So I just ate from top to bottom which made it much lighter. My husband's vegetarian ravioli was a bit lackluster though. I'm not entirely sure what's with Italian/Italian American places only giving a few pieces. He said he wish there was more. Then we ordered a lobster pizza as they're supposedly famous for that. Um...it's not bad. But really overhyped. Like the topping itself isn't bad, but it does run bland. On top of that the pizza isn't really a pizza. It's not the traditional crust you would think of where it's bready or puffy like Regina pizza. It's a cracker crust type of deal. Honestly it's more flatbread style and then some as opposed to pizza aside from its round shape. So while most entrees were good, there were just a couple that fell short. Like I won't say to not try the lobster pizza as that is a rare find. Just don't expect it to be an actual pizza. Service wise, the restaurant was perfect as our waiter was really nice and attentive. He filled our water pretty quickly. All our orders were correct too so he got the job done. Would I come back here? Probably. Just maybe not for the lobster pizza.

Very nice restaurant with a large bar area. Decor is upscale and trendy. Located in an interesting…read moreand unique hotel. You can dress however you wish, but most people do dress very nicely. Food is delicious, but how could it not be with Lydia at the helm. She makes you feel in awe, just by her presence. The service is a perfect combination of attentive, yet not intrusive. A very enjoyable experience.

We were looking for a quick drink before a reservation and slipped in here seeing it was the ONLY…read moreplace that seemed to have bar seats. From 3-5 they have a $10 martini list. We werent given any other menu so we ordered a dirty martini and a porn star martini. For $20 plus tip there were no complaints. Love the open windows.

Don't go to this place!…read more I have never felt so disrespected by anyone in my life. From the moment we walked in, the lady serving us was rude. My girlfriend and I were visiting Boston, and she wasn't very hungry, so we ordered one Alfredo fettuccine to share. We genuinely didn't know that sharing a meal wasn't allowed. When the server noticed, she became very rude and disrespectful. I asked to speak with the manager, and she told me that she was the manager. I had two complaints. First, while my girlfriend was still eating, the server picked up her plate before she had even finished. Second, her attitude throughout the entire interaction was extremely rude. She pointed to a small note on the menu stating that meals cannot be shared. I immediately apologized and asked if I could see the menu so I could order something else. I even offered to pay for an additional meal, even if I didn't eat it, because we didn't want to waste food or carry leftovers while sightseeing. However, despite asking for the menu three times, she refused to give it to me. Instead, she said, "There's no need to pay. Just eat your food and leave." I apologized again and explained that I wanted to pay because we enjoy dining out, and it's not right, in my culture, to leave without paying for what we ordered. I insisted on paying and even stood up to ask for the bill, but she started yelling, refused to let us pay, and repeatedly told us, "No, no, just go. You people do this," before asking us to leave. It was one of the most humiliating dining experiences I've ever had. I understand that restaurants have policies, and I was more than willing to follow them once they were explained. What I cannot accept is being treated with such disrespect and hostility. I would not recommend this place based on how we were treated.

If you are looking for an authentic Italian experience in the North End without the tourist-trap…read morefeel, Assaggio is the spot. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, inviting, and smelled absolutely incredible. The Food We started with some wine and dove straight into the mains. The Carbonara was rich, creamy, and executed perfectly, exactly how you'd hope for in Boston's Italian district. We also ordered the Lasagna, which was a massive portion of pure comfort. You can tell the pasta is fresh and the sauce has been simmering for hours. The Service What really took our night from great to unforgettable was our waitress, Alina. She truly went above and beyond for us. She was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and had such a bright energy that made us feel like regulars. It's rare to find service this genuine and seamless! Pro Tip: Definitely make a reservation if you're heading there on a weekend, as it fills up fast! Bottom Line: Amazing food, cozy vibes, and world-class service. We will definitely be back and asking for Alina's section!

I'm not saying I'm a Pasta Carbonara connoisseur... but I've eaten enough Carbonara to know when…read moreI've been personally offended by one. Sadly, the Carbonara at Assaggio was, without question, the worst I've ever had. The sauce tasted like it came straight from the "Just Add Water" collection, the pancetta seemed to have skipped the whole "meeting the frying pan" step, and the seasoning apparently called in sick that day. It also took about an hour for a few simple pasta dishes to arrive, which gave us plenty of time to lower our expectations. The portions were surprisingly small--perhaps to match the amount of seasoning. As for the service... let's just say the automatic 20% gratuity felt less like a convenience and more like a witness protection program for the waitstaff. Overall, if you're looking for authentic Carbonara, keep looking. If you're looking for a memorable experience, congratulations--you've found one.

This is a super cute resturant located right on Newbury Street. It's in the basement so walking by,…read moreit can be hard to spot immediately, but eventually you'll see the bright sign and then you walk down a few steps to get in. I ordered the penne alla vodka and it was delicious! My friend got the spaghetti with red sauce and added breaded chicken on top. My friend and I both thought the portions of the pasta were just right. We didn't leave feeling grossly stuffed, but also didn't leave hungry. It was perfect. The service was pretty slow there which we didn't mind too much since we had a lot of catching up to do, but we were here for quite a while. The drinks are strong too!

Came for dinner and the place was busy. Instead of waiting 20 minutes for a table, we opted to sit…read moreat the bar. The bar area was a bit dark without overhead lighting, but luckily we were offered a table before we even ordered. I ordered the gnocchi and added grilled chicken. The dish came out great. The grilled chicken was cut into small pieces and mixed in with the gnocchi and sauce. The tomatoes were nicely grilled and soft, and the sauce was creamy. The gnocchi was as smooth as can be, almost dissolving with just a little pressure from the tongue. Very satisfying in both flavor and portion. Will return again if I'm in the area and recommend.

Shhhh... we have a secret. The BEST restaurant in the North End! We have been dining at Euno since…read morewe found it in 2021, and saying we love it is an understatement. You'll be greeted with warm hospitality. Pair this with, a bottle of wine and the some heavenly handmade pasta, and a cozy interior... bon appétit! We've ordered various dishes each time we have gone and you truly can't go wrong. In the summer, sit near the open windows to enjoy the balmy city air, and in the winter, sit in the cellar with a group of besties (or as we prefer, go for a date night!) and enjoy stepping away from it all, and savoring each bite, even if just for a night! We highly recommend making reservations as there's a limited number of tables and on weekends it can be busy. Please put this place on your list, and support this lovely restaurant... now *you know* Lentz_explore

Amazing flavorful Italian food. Authentic vibe and cuisine. Servers make you feel like family. A…read moremust stop if visiting the North End.

Trattoria Il Panino on Parmenter Street holds its own in the North End, a neighborhood packed with…read moreItalian restaurants competing for your attention on every block. The philosophy here is simple: handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and the kind of lively trattoria energy that makes you feel like you wandered into something real rather than something staged for tourists. We walked into a small, intimate space that feels authentically old North End, with street level seating and a downstairs dining room that fills up fast on most nights. The energy when it gets loud and busy only adds to the warmth of the room, making the meal feel more fun rather than overwhelming. If you are looking for a quiet, candlelit dinner, timing your visit carefully or requesting a window table upstairs is worth doing. The vibe otherwise is bustling and inviting, the kind of place where the noise level actually enhances the experience. The pasta is where things really shine. The truffle mushroom ravioli is outstanding, the kind of dish that stays with you, and the lobster diavolo has real depth and kick to it. The seafood plate, loaded with scallops, shrimp, sea bass, salmon, lobster, and calamari over fettuccine alfredo, is a serious undertaking in the best possible way. The zucchini flowers are delicate and worth ordering if they are available. Bread comes to the table, and the drinks are solid. On the flip side, some of the simpler pasta dishes can feel under seasoned compared to the more composed plates, and the pricing reflects the neighborhood, so you are not walking out cheap. Service is generally warm and attentive, with a mix of staff that has that authentic Italian restaurant feel. The pacing moves at a good clip, sometimes a little fast, but the energy of the room makes it work. For a North End dinner that delivers on homemade pasta and fresh seafood without trying too hard to be anything other than what it is, Trattoria Il Panino is a solid pick. Reservations are a good idea.

I wanted to be wow'd as this was highly recommended to me but it seems it may be more of a tourist…read morestop nowadays. The menu was good but nothing to write home about. I was excited to see cacio e pepe on the menu along with their famous espresso martini. I wasn't blown away by either. They were okay. They also didn't offer a kids menu or smaller portion options, when asked, however there were plenty of kids and high chairs. It was a mediocre spot. The location itself is cute and central in the north end. It does have the dishes you'd expect from an Italian spot but they may not blow you away.

Everyone has had lobster ravioli. But you haven't had the lobster pillows. They are light, the…read moresauce is fresh and the fumet adds that seafood taste. Also the arancini are on point

We've come here so many times and the food is always great! The ambiance is pretty lively if you're…read morecoming 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!