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    Isabella Ristorante

    4.5 (650 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Isabella Ristorante Photos

    Business Info

    ISABELLA RISTORANTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Isabella Ristorante

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    Spaghetti and meatballs
    Shari H.

    The service was so friendly and helpful, the ambiance is exactly what I would expect from a smaller Italian restaurant(in the best way) My family of four had reservations, were seated immediately, and instantly felt welcome. We ordered the antipasto, which I forgot the photograph, but it was delicious. We ordered spaghetti and meatballs, tagliatelle bolognese, branzino, and penne chicken vodka. Every dish was scrumptious, even the bread fluffy and flavorful.

    homemade bread
    Helen V.

    Make sure to book your reservations in advance because they typically don't have space for walk ins. The restaurant seems smaller inside but it had enough space. The servers were friendly and helpful in recommending dishes. The pasta was tasty and filling! Pretty flavorful and I liked how there was variety in the sauces and types of pasta.

    Lobster ravioli and chicken Alfredo
    Laura L.

    10/10. If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would!! This cozy spot is extremely underrated but right in the heart of North End. I visited this place with my family about 2 years ago and remember it being delicious, so I had to come back again with my boyfriend to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It was just as delicious as I remembered it, but even better. The interior is beautiful with the dim lighting, and it does get a little cramped because it is a smaller restaurant, but it makes the ambiance even more cozy. We ordered their calamari and roasted clams for appetizers and my goodness. The calamari came out piping hot and had a beautiful light crispy batter and tender squid. When paired with the sweet marinara, it was perfect. The clams were soooo delicious. They're cooked in a garlicky white wine and lemon sauce and it was everything you would ever want and more. Our main courses of that night were lobster ravioli and fettuccini alfredo. Both pastas came out hot and cooked perfectly. The ravioli was filled with lobster and cheese and it was perfect. Don't forget to save extra pieces of bread to dip in your leftover pasta sauce! They do not skimp out on the sauce! Oh and for drinks, we got an aperol spritz and a limoncello martini. Both were sweet and refreshing! The servers are so sweet and so patient. The service was fast, they check up on you often, and they even have my boyfriend and I limoncello shots on the house. They also offered extra bread to eat with our leftover sauces, but at that point we were so full. Every time I visit Boston, I will always go to this place for an amazing Italian dinner experience and I hope you all do too! Service was amazing

    Vijay S.

    A classic Italian gem in the North End! We stopped by for lunch on a weekend and the place was fairly busy, but we were seated right away. We ordered the calamari, the scallop special, and the chicken piccata, and everything was absolutely delicious. The food came out quickly enough and the service was excellent throughout our meal. The ambiance had a traditional white tablecloth feel. Definitely a great spot to check out in Boston.

    Bill Z.

    Any time I've dined in a restaurant on a side street in the North End, I've felt as if I've gone off the beaten path - it has always been quieter, a bit more zen, a little bit more to yourself rather than heavily interacting with the folks there. That was the case at Isabella as well. It's not a bad thing, it can add to your enjoyment of your meal. We were fortunate that we could be squeezed in without a reservation on a Friday early evening, but told we'd need to be out by a certain time, which wasn't an issue at all. The drink selection is small, no doubt to what I perceived as a limited amount of alcohol on the shelves. That was more than made up for by the wines available. Water and fresh bread came out quickly, including ramekins of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese. We ordered the Mozzarella Caprese as an appetizer, which also came out quickly. But we were scratching our heads when we saw it was just tomatoes and cheese and a few dustings of dried basil flakes instead of fresh basil. When we asked our waiter about that, he mumbled something about customers not liking the flavor... not really buying that, but yeah it does say Mozzarella Caprese instead of Caprese Salad. No issues with our dinners. The vodka cream sauce on my chicken cutlet and spinach dish was terrific. The other dinner, salmon piccata, was equally tasty, the salmon was cooked perfectly. Isabella is a nice choice for a good dinner with fast service in a low key atmosphere.

    Spaghetti carbonara
    Tes H.

    Easily the best Italian food in Boston and honestly some of the best I've ever had. The carbonara was silky, rich, and absolutely perfect- the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite. The staff was unapologetically rude, but in a way that somehow made it feel even more authentic, like I'd been temporarily transported to a tiny Roman trattoria. No nonsense, no hand-holding, just unreal food served with attitude. Would go back in a heartbeat and happily be judged again for ordering the same thing.

    Reshonda S.

    This is a very small, but romantic restaurant. My partner and I were seeking an authentic Italian spot and went to the "Little Italy" area. I'm not a local, so I'm not sure how authentic the area's restaurants are but the food was good. It could use more seasoning (not sure if thats a personal preference, but everything tastes fresh; yet bland). The service could use some work. Upon entering, a man rushes over to say 'hurry and close the door.' There's no host area when you enter, just people eating; the restaurant is a small room, with long glass windows, that fits about 10 tables. It's a bit confusing for people just aiming to walk-in or stop by for dinner. Rather than the employees running to close the door like we're being reprimanded at granny's to keep the door shut, I'd recommend a "reservations only" sign on the door or perhaps place a host outside to greet guests. It'd help with avoiding guests starting off on a negative note. For the rest of the evening, our waitress and service was fine.

    Chicken parmigiana
    Kit D.

    What a nice Italian restaurant! This place has such a romantic, family atmosphere to it. Truly felt like I was somewhere in Italy. My girlfriend & I made a reservation a few days in advance for a romantic date lunch. We were running a few minutes late to our reservation the day of, but called the restaurant and the host was very friendly and accommodating - they held our table for 15 minutes. When we got there, were seated right away and were served bread with fresh olive oil. The bread was warm and the oil was very tasty, but the complimentary portion was a bit small - we weren't sure if it was socially acceptable to ask for more LOL! To start off, we ordered the burrata appetizer, which was absolutely delicious. The burrata was super fresh and was served over prosciutto which was very tasty. The only thing I think that could've made it better was if they served it with something to dip it in, perhaps some more warm bread. For our entrees, I ordered my favorite chicken parmigiana, and my girlfriend ordered a sausage pasta veggie dish. Chicken parm was good - the portion size was perfect. Two pieces of chicken with melted mozzarella cheese over it, which tasted amazing. Their homemade sauce was really tasty as well and was very light. The penne pasta was pretty good, though I think it would've been even better cooked a bit more al dente. My girlfriend's pasta dish was very good as well and super colorful. The sausage was nice and not too overpowering, and the buttered penne itself was tasty. Overall, this is a 10/10 spot for any occasion, date night, or family lunch. Definitely one of my new favorites in the North End!

    Wine wall
    George D.

    We took an Uber over to the North End specifically to go to Isabella. It was a wise choice. We went in around 2pm so it was not busy. Very quiet. They have maybe 10-12 tables? I bet this place is hard to get into at dinner. Service was quick. The staff seemed to all be Italian with their wonderful accents. They start you with fresh bread that is warm from the oven with olive oil and fresh grated parm. So damn good. We were not looking for a heavy meal. We ordered the meatball appetizer and the bruschetta. Both were excellent. The meatballs were a combination of pork and beef. Highly recommend.

    Limoncello martinis
    Denise M.

    This was our last mail in Boston and we decided to go to the North End for Italian. We wander around looking at menus and decided on this place just us the square of the Catholic church. It looks pretty full but it did have a couple of empty tables so we stopped in. He asked if we had reservations, which of course, we did not. After two people compare their reservation list, they managed to squeeze us in in the corner. As I watch the door I saw them turning away parties, except for the few that looked out and came just at the right time that another party left. Apparently this place is very popular It's kind of small, although they managed to fit a lot of tables in there. Tables are covered with white tablecloths topped with white paper. On one wall just above the tables it is completely made of wine racks full of wine. The other walls were plain with just framed prints. The bathrooms are located at the bottom of steep stairs, so I would say this is not necessarily ADA friendly, but these are old buildings and most places probably are not. Our server came right away and brought water. She gave us a few minutes to look over the menu and we ordered: *Limoncello martinis *Calamari with cherry peppers *Veal parmigiana *Spaghetti with meatballs in arabiatta Everything was absolutely delicious. Did raviata was so delicious and chunky and spicy and the meatballs (four of them) were huge. In fact, All the portions were huge. I definitely recommend this place, but I also recommend a reservation, especially if you were going on a Sunday afternoon. I think there are a lot of the after church crowd and just plain tourists mixed in with the locals. This place definitely seems to be in demand.

    Judy H.

    The restaurant is super small so definitely grab a reservation otherwise you're not getting in. The entrance is set up kinda wonky and we weren't seated until our full party was in. Service was a little gruff, but we got what we ordered and that was good enough. The food - it was pretty good. But I don't think it was mindblowing or really that memorable. I think some of the other places I've tried around the North End were definitely better. My friend and I split a chicken Parm (really nice that they actually just split it into two plates for us on serving) We got the risotto special as an app along with meatballs and some other items. Overall, I liked having tried it once, but I'm not sure I'd come back despite all the rave reviews everyone else gave.

    May 2025
    Julie W.

    We went here on a Wednesday evening. It's a small restaurant with no outdoor seating. They do have fans in the ceiling. Open Table's earliest available table was 8 pm so we decided to see if there was a wait for walk in. They were able to seat us right away with no reservations at 5:30 but they were going to need the table by 7 pm. We usually don't have veal in California so plentiful as Boston. The veal parmesan and saltimbocca were very tender here and both dishes had a great flavor. The calamari was not overly chewy and the marinara sauce was good. Their gnocchi was home made and they had no ridges to hold the sauce. The gnocchi amatriciana had Italian pancetta, onions and San marzano tomatoes. Flavor was good and they did not get soggy by the end of the meal. The chocolate dish for dessert was just right for sharing and just enough for 3 to get a taste. We would come back if we were in the neighborhood.

    Helen T.

    Isabella in Boston has quickly become one of our favorite go-to spots, and every visit reminds us why. The food is consistently delicious, portions are generous, and the flavors are spot-on every single time. We ordered the bolognese with tagliatelle, and it was incredible -- rich, slow-simmered sauce that clings perfectly to the fresh pasta. The kids devoured their plates (and these were huge portions!), which says everything you need to know. The lobster ravioli was another standout -- silky pasta pockets filled with sweet lobster, finished in a beautifully balanced cream sauce. Absolutely decadent without being too heavy. Their meatballs are tender, well-seasoned, and full of classic comfort, and the calamari is crisp, light, and not greasy at all -- just how good calamari should be. And to end the night, the tiramisu was perfection: creamy, not too sweet, with just the right hit of espresso. A must-order. Service is warm, the atmosphere is cozy, and everything feels made with care. Isabella delivers every time, and we always leave happy and planning our next visit. Highly recommend!

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    Martin A.

    Thank you Brittany for your amazing feedback,we appreciate you.

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    Thank you for your feedback Bill.

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    Thank you for your kind words George,we appreciate you.

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    Martin A.

    Sorry to hear that Judy,we wish you the best.

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    Martin A.

    Thank you Julie for your feedback.

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    Thank you for your kind words Alexa,we appreciate your feedback.

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    Thank you Dale,is always a pleasure having you at Isabella

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    Thank you Lily for your feedback,we appreciate you.

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    Thank you Kent for your kind words,we appreciate you.

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    Thank you Amber,we appreciate your feedback.

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    Thank you Marc,it was a pleasure,hope to see you soon at Isabella.

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    Thank you Chris,we appreciate your feedback.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Isabella Ristorante Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Isabella Ristorante

    Where is the Nearest parking?

    Parking is notoriously difficult anywhere in the North End. We took an Uber. Easy!

    Safe to assume Celtic game day attire is acceptable?

    Sure!

    Is your pasta made fresh in house?

    Hi Mark not all of them, Gnocchi Tagliatelle… Read more

    Does it have air conditioning? Thank you for your prompt answer. See you this evening.

    Hi Marilyn,yes we do

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    A stunning atmosphere and incredible service, even if the food missed the mark. I am still giving…read morePiattini 4 stars for the fantastic service, the beautiful ambiance, prime location, and the drinks! The restaurant itself is absolutely gorgeous. They have a great outdoor seating area right on Newbury Street that is perfect for people-watching. Inside, the space is divided into these unique, eclectic nooks. Whether you want to feel right at home or celebrate in their stunning vine-draped dining room (the ceiling is amazing!), the vibe is spot-on. I stopped in on a Wednesday, so it wasn't too busy, and I sat right at the bar. The bartender was fantastic--super attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly. I ordered a wine flight, and they gave me these adorable little informational cards detailing the region and tasting notes for every unique bottle I tried. It was such a cute, elevated touch that made the experience feel special! The food came out in a very timely fashion, but unfortunately, it was the weak point of the visit. I started with the bruschetta, hoping for the best, but it was incredibly under-seasoned. The cherry tomatoes were left whole, which meant I was chewing on tomato skins for far too long, and the juices immediately made the middle of the toast completely soggy. Next came the pasta. I truly appreciated that the kitchen can customize anything you want even vegan style. On the plus side, the food arrives piping hot, and the portion size was wonderful! However, just like the appetizer, it was seriously lacking flavor. I had to add as much salt and pepper as I possibly could just to make it worth my while. Ultimately, the overall experience was the best part of the deal--from the gorgeous views to the wonderful wine flight and the stellar service. But as for the meal itself... in the historic Boston Italian vs. Irish rivalry, I think the Irish might have won this round! #Enjoygoodpeople

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    I would've given Krasi five stars for the bread rolls alone. Almost everyone in my dinner party…read morenominated this as their favorite. The menu refers to these as "Greek cheese bread" but somehow that doesn't do it justice - these were immensely pillowy and cheesy, with an amazing crust, with homemade honey butter on the side. I could have had just these for dinner and been satisfied. They really nailed the bread. My other favorites: 1. Hipiti: spicy whipped feta with crispy potatoes on the side. I don't do well with spice but I absolutely loved this. 2. Marouli: winter lettuce with the most amazing vinaigrette dressing. My only knock to this is, presentation-wise, they serve it with half of the plate empty and the other half with salad. I don't understand why restaurants do this because - one, it only highlights the smaller portion and two, we're just going to mix the salad all around in the bowl anyway. 3. Boudeto: daily catch in a beautiful tomato broth. For a seafood dish at a restaurant in Back Bay, this was priced at a fairly reasonable $28. The only dish that fell a little flat for me was the tzatziki - needed a bit more seasoning. As it was, I was eating mostly just plain yogurt. The table-side preparation was cool, though. The space is its own visual dinner, there's simply a lot to look at (including a drawing of Poseidon riding a surf board). We got the big table in the back, which was a beautiful glass structure with a whole terrarium underneath. We couldn't stop marveling at it throughout the meal. Our waiter was wonderful - very helpful recommendations, came by to check on us often even though we were pretty far in the back, super patient with our questions. Hard to get reservations but worth it! Don't bother driving / trying to find parking unless you're willing to eat a hefty garage fee, it's Back Bay.

    SRV Boston

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    Had a wonderful Valentine's meal. Menu was prix fixe for the night - we got one regular and one…read morevegetarian meal. About 8 courses ( small, tapa-size). Each course was unique, different than any other Italian food I've had, and delicious. The food is Italian-inspired, but just a bit different from anything you've tried before. Our favorite was probably the carpaccio- both the beef and the beet, but all was great. The decor was classy and festive, and the service was outstanding - our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful. Also, kudos to restaurant for serving red wine at room temperature...I'm sick of going to nice restaurants and getting chilled red wine.

    Pros: The prices are a lot more reasonable than most places in Boston, portions on the main courses…read moreare big (enough to take leftover). The service is so friendly and seamless which in itself makes for a lovely evening. Highlights were the mussels, which were very fresh and delicious. The service here was attentive with the waiters offering more bread for the mussels. Most dishes are a little spicy, so if you don't like spice, make sure to note that with the waiter. The miso gelato is one of the most delicious savory/sweet desserts, and has lots of nice crunchy accents of the sesame crumble. Cocktails are fabulous, very smooth, as well as the mocktails. Cons: The crostini was nothing really special, and one of them came without the oyster butter. The meatballs, which were tasty but had a slightly hard texture on the outside. The prawn risotto was pretty one-note in flavor, and the prawn heads tasted overcooked and slightly off. The radiatore was spicy and nicely plated. The Cremoso al Cioccolato had a strange flavor profile that didn't quite fit, and had such a large salted chocolate-truffle section that we did not finish it (which is saying something)! Overall, if you are looking for a solid dinner in Boston that will guarantee be a nice experience because of the atmosphere, this is a good place.

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    Listen! Baby! This place had me and my husband going through our photo files trying to remember…read morewhat city we were in! This place from start to finish did not disappoint! The burrata was so fresh and delicious with the perfect amount of crunch with the pine nuts! I loved the crostinis so much they brought us more-- the pesto is AMAZING and if you love the fresh taste of olive oil and pine nuts, yum! We ordered the short braised rib lasagna and my husband had the toasted chicken. Both impeccable but mine was better! They made our night by bringing me a deconstructed version of tiramisu which was also delicious and the espresso was poured over it and so warm and fresh! The customer service and ambiance was truly amazing and for Boston in late July? We had the best experience! Highly recommend!

    I would give Mida 3.5 stars if I could. I enjoyed the ambiance especially for a dinner out with my…read morefriends. Our waitress definitely impacted my experience. I'm not sure if she was new, but the overall interaction seemed awkward and as if she didn't want to be bothered. I really enjoyed the sorrento spritz, which was surprising because I typically don't like grapefruit flavor. The drink was very refreshing and I also appreciate paying only $6 for a mocktail (places tend to overcharge). My favorite appetizer was the arancini. It was fried well and flavorful. The caesar salad was also great. The calamari were okay, but nothing special and they he focaccia was tasty, but I wish it was a little softer. For my entree I ordered the cacio e pepe gnocchi, which was also just okay in my opinion. I was looking for a bolder flavor, but unfortunately I didn't get that.

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    (126 reviews)

    Jamaica Plain

    Tonino is such a gem in JP -- everything about the experience just hits. The pizza was delicious,…read moreand definitely don't skip the dips -- even with a red pie. They take the crust to another level and make sure nothing goes to waste. I also had the clams and bucatini with anchovy chili butter, and it was absolutely to die for -- rich, flavorful, and one of those dishes you keep thinking about after the meal ends. The cocktails and the wine selection is great. I had the house spritz and it was refreshing and a beautiful digression from an Aperol spritz. The service was impeccable -- super personable and attentive without ever feeling over the top. And the vibe? Perfect. Great music, intimate energy, and a fun atmosphere that makes a small space feel just right. Easily one of my favorite spots in JP right now. Can't wait to come back.

    People rave about this place being better than the north end; I would say it's definitely more…read moreoriginal, and the approach to food is much more intentional. However, I don't know that it lived up to the hype that I anticipated. We got the pizza Bianca with ricotta with hot honey, which was basically just like plain toasted focaccia and ricotta (wasn't anything to write home about). The taleggio was 100% our least favorite and we didn't even finish half. We had asked the waiter to describe taste profile, which they said was a "little funky" and had asked for clarification if it was closer to blue cheese. Once it arrived, it was like a verrrrrry strong/stinky Brie on the inside. The balsamic didn't really contribute to the taste at all. Sad that we didn't like this/kinda made me feel yucky after eating. The cavatelli was very good- nice light creamy sauce with the sausage and bitter broccolini. Very well balanced. Forgot to take a pic of the tiramisu but it was good, too! It's kinda salty (they add sea salt to the top). Drink menu was limited. Had two different glasses of red wine but wish they had something more full bodied on the menu!

    Isabella Ristorante - italian - Updated May 2026

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