Tidbit!!! Get a reservation. Onto the review -- We expected the food to be touristy, since it's in the North End. While the bread initially felt like that tourist vibe (cold, served with... little cups of oil... weird), the main dishes were outstanding. We enjoyed the caprese, the lobster ravioli, and the clam linguini -- all really good. If you're looking for dessert, while my boyfriend would've preferred a sweeter cannoli, I was a big fan of the tiramisu, both for its size and taste. I would recommend getting a reservation, as the spot is cozy and can get a little cramped. We did see people leave after being late to their reservation. Lastly the service was very attentive. Our initial server may have been new. She didn't chat much, but she checked on us often. The second server was super chatty and really listened to what we wanted. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Cannolis, tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Good food, friendly service and a small by cozy dining room! This was a solid meal! They work around a hour and a half table rotation so keep that in mind. I won't lie. It kind of felt rushed but it's doable. Myself, when I am out spending a good amount of money, the rushed feeling is the one I don't want to have. But our server was awesome. Knew the menu and wine list well. Did his best to not make us feel rushed. So apps were Bruschetta, antipasto, clams. All were awesome and very well proportioned! Entries were amazing and again well proportioned. Their homemade pasta was yummy!!! And Finally I got my Tiramisu!!' Inside joke with my friends. All in all this was a great dinner, two thumbs up and definitely on my list to visit again! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Mushroom Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I can't wait to be back in Boston to visit! Such a beautiful charming little restaurant. We did have a reservation and ended up waiting an additional 5 to 7 minutes, which wasn't horrible except it was cold and rainy. Obviously not anybody's fault due to the size of the restaurant. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. The owner did walk around quite a bit that was nice. My husband and I shared a couple of dishes and everything we had was perfectly seasoned and delicious! You can't go wrong with any choice on the menu. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Spaghetti and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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. read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We needed an early dinner after the day at the aquarium with kids. This place is also close to mikes desserts. It was perfect! Delicious bread and olive oil. Everything we ordered was fabulous. Waiter (Caiden, I think) was attentive and patient with two little ones. Flavors and portions were spot on! Small intimate setting so it would be lovely for a date night as well. Fabulous kid friendly but still elevated experience for early dinner with kiddos. read more

We had reservations at 5 pm on a Saturday and were seated immediately upon arrival. We watched so many people come and try to walk in with no luck, I would say you 100% need a reservation. They have a small cocktail menu but the espresso martini was amazing. We shared a green salad and the bolognese tagliatelle and it was amazing!!! The only thing that wasn't amazing was the bread, would have liked for it to be served warm. read more

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. read more

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We certainly enjoyed our meal but was it our favorite, no. Flew in from S Florida and was super excited to get back to the north end. Reservations at 7, only had to wait a few minutes. Place is small (as many are). Our waiter had a bit of 'tude so there was that. He made us order all at once like a cruise ship. *2 glasses wine * 2 sodas *Caesar Salad *Chicken Marsala. It was small. Certainly, the highlight of the meal, it was very good, we just wish it was larger. *Steak dish: Beef Tenderloin w Porcini mushrooms on special that night. Medium rare which came out perhaps a bit more on the rare side. *Tagliatelle bolognese: It was good but not amazing; This shoudl have been the dish to beat as it was a 'comfort food', but fell short for us. Out the door was $182. Would I go back, not sure as we had a better meal later in the week, and so many other places to try. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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The chicken penne vodka was delicious and full of flavor, with especially tender chicken. Both the chicken and veal parmesan were equally satisfying choices. The ambiance was cozy and intimate though the restaurant was completely full, it was still easy to hold a conversation. The service was attentive, and I'd definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Wine wall - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is a really cute, small restaurant in the north end! The place is really tight, so it wouldn't be great for someone in a wheelchair or bringing kids. They take reservations so i recommend making them. The bread in the beginning was really good, I would prefer a bottle of olive oil than a small cup of it. The service was very fast. We split the burrata app, it was good but I think it was overpriced. I got the eggplant parm which was really good and not too heavy or fried but I wish I got more pasta on the side. My friend liked her gnocchi and it was also light and the sauce was flavorful. read more

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My soul felt fed after coming here lol. Everything was sooo good. The lamb ragu pasta dish is incredible. I would say make a reservation if you can because it's a smaller restaurant. Very very cute and enjoyable meal. They also have a very extensive wine list. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Ended up here because the other place we tried was booked. Not at all disappointed. Service was perfectly attentive. Seated almost immediately in a nice and quiet small intimate dining room. Was wonderful to have a conversation at a normal volume. Ravioli Di Ricotta was a crowd pleaser. Tagliatelle and Porcini was w wonderfully rich cream sauce. Overall heavenly experience. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I know my review is going to be a bit different as I am hopeful it was just a bad night. We started off with fried calamari and it was bland and lacking taste. My daughter had Penna ala Vodka with chicken and it was average. I had their Veal special and it was good but nothing to brag about. We also had a side of Broccoli Rabe and it was very undercooked. The place small and loud but that was fine. Won't rush back... Sorry read more

Isabella Ristorante - Veal special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Why eat anywhere else? This is my team's go to place when we come to Boston for our team meetings. I love this place. The food the service the atmosphere it's fantastic. My team has eaten here many times. We've tried other places but this is the place. Highly recommended. read more

Service was great, food was great. Not the best gnocchi in the north end but a solid 9/10. Will go back!! Pesto was really nice and the burrata was delicious. We got a Chardonnay split 3 ways and that was also delicious. Bathroom is not handicap accessible and is down a flight of stairs. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Wow, what an experience! Isabella's is a small restaurant around the corner of Paul Revere's house. Inside there are a couple of tables with limited seating, so a reservation is recommended to ensure being seated. Our server, who served every table, was very knowledgeable of the menu and truly a great representation of the restaurant. Our table ordered a few of the appetizers - antipasto, meatballs, and calamari. I don't like seafood, but the calamari smelled amazing! I ordered the tagliatelle bolognese and it was incredible. Well cooked noodles withy meaty ragu sauce and a few spoonfuls of fresh Parmesan from the table. Absolutely perfect. We didn't order dessert, but I'm sure it wouldn't have disappointed. If you want to raise your expectations for Italian restaurants, visit Isabella's. A small but mighty restaurant whose food you'll never forget. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Tagliatelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Tremendous! Incredible food. Quick and friendly service. Traditional Italian restaurant vibe. Very intimate setting. Great spot for a date night. In the middle of the historic North End. Can't wait to return. I had the Lobster Ravioli which was superior to any ravioli dish I've had. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Lobster Ravioli. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Managed to get a reservation for the same day. Upon arriving to the restaurant, there was a TINY table in the window next to the door and I had great fear that we would be sat there with only a thin black fabric between one of us and the open doorway on a very cold night in Boston. My fears were for nothing. We received a warm greeting and asked which table we wanted. THAT table should be saved for those without reservations IMHO. Anyway, the interior is small but nicely decorated. Our server was attentive and friendly. We ordered the bruschetta, cheese ravioli and chicken parmigiana. The bruschetta was delicious although the bread could have been a tiny bit crispier to hold up to the tomatoes. The ravioli were pure perfection as was the chicken parmigiana. The ravioli had nice filling and were perfectly tender in a delicious red sauce. The chicken parmigiana was tender and crispy under the perfect amount of sauce and mozzarella. We left too full for any dessert. We tried another place in the north end the next night and it could not compare. We regretted not coming back here. Next time I'm in Boston, I'll be back! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Chicken parmigiana. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Great food, really good portion sizes, reasonable prices. Love the vibes and the whole area of Little Italy! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Been experiencing string of disappointments w dining in North End of late. Met up w buddy at spur of moment and lucked out w no wait walk in dining. Wanted to get the branzino but the waiter stated the frutti di mare was better and "chef's favorite" so went w his suggestion. The dish was a lack luster disappointment the squid was under cooked and the overall dish was bland and lacking the seafood umami. The linguini was not al dente but might ad well giving the blandness of the sauce/broth. We also overheard table next to us complaining to the staff her salmon was fishy On the plus side my buddy said his chicken parm was perfect read more

Isabella Ristorante - Frutti di mare was bland and boring. Squid was undercooked while the linguini was overcooked. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Isabella is a cute, small restaurant in the north end-- It maybe had 10 tables all of which were filled. Our server was ok, as we felt a little rushed. We like to enjoy our dinner and have it spaced out so we prefer to order things separately. Our waiter told us we had to order everything all at once and that it would come out separately. But after we ordered, he said, do you want it all out at the same time? I wasn't sure if he was talking about the salad and the entrées or if he was talking about just the different entrées, but it just seemed like an odd question given what I had just requested. The four of us had a Caesar salad to share, then split three entrées...the tagliatelle Bolognese, a beef tenderloin with porcini mushrooms, and the chicken marsala. Our favorite was the marsala, but felt the portion was small compared to the other two entrées. Expect North end pricing. read more

Wow. Just wow! Service was wonderful. The meatballs were so flavorful and shockingly light. And the Marsala chicken over risotto was to die for. The food was very fresh and served piping hot- just how I like it! Will be back next time I'm in the area! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Chicken Marsala on risotto and shrimp scampi - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We stopped by Isabella around 5:45 P.M. on a Saturday after reading the Yelp! review. Martin, the Maitre'd met us at the door, and even though we didn't have a reservation, he said if we could wait just a bit, he would seat us in the window table. Within about 15-20 minutes, he had us seated in a two top right in the window next to the door. Our server was helpful and quick. He recommended a good wine and took our order: Spaghetti Arrabbiata with meatballs and Gnocchi Pesto. Our orders came out so quickly. We may have waited 5-10 minutes. The spaghetti arrabbiata was a perfect spicy flavor. The four meatballs were tasty and everything was piping hot. My wife loved her gnocchi. She found them to be fresh and light. The server told us all of the sauces and pastas are made in house. A wonderful experience. You usually need a reservation to eat here so don't be surprised if you are turned away without one, but if you get there early, you might have some luck getting in if you are nice to Martin and have some patience. read more

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The table bread was not warm and didn't appear to be fresh. The parmesan cheese and olive oil were in TINY plastic portioned out cups. Not a great start and odd for an expensive restaurant. App: The bruschetta bread was wet with water from the tomatoes- no basil? Eggplant parm was decent. Pasta was not freshly made. In and out in less than 45 min- felt rushed. The restaurant ambiance is nice - but the front door has curtains to block the wind/ cold and it blows cold air through the first few tables near the door. $200 dollars later- wish we did our research to eat in a better restaurant in the North End. Super disappointed in our first time experience in this area. This place has potential but needs some attention to details. read more

Stopped by here while traveling along the Freedom Trail. It's a smaller restaurant that was pretty empty during weekday lunch but service was great. Carbonara came out super quick and would definitely recommend as it was delicious. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Isabella is a great place. Five of us ate here based on the Yelp reviews and we all had great meals. Our only down fall was our waiter was just average at best. We had to ask for everything from bread, drinks, refills and for him to clear the table. However this doesn't cloud the fact that the food was great and the ambiance was very close to eating in Italy. The prices ranged from $22 for pasta to $45 for the special of scallops over risotto. Isabella is a small place with wooden tables and you definitely need a reservation. read more

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We enjoyed this place in general. It gets very busy so be sure to make a reservation if possible. We made ours for 7:30 by calling the restaurant for 3 people. When we arrived there was a guy standing inside the door to whom we told we have a reservation and our name. He asked if we called and seemed a little caught off guard but seated us anyway. The service was good and the food was nice. I had the lamb ragu with (house made) tagliatelle, gnocchi (house made) and veal parm. I enjoyed the ragu- the lamb was flavorful and the pasta had a nice texture. The gnocchi was fluffy and the veal parm looked great. The restaurant itself was small and intimate, but felt comfortable. I did feel like I wish I had dressed slightly less casually but I don't think it was a necessity. read more

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Food was good and ambience was very intimate. The space is small, so don't expect a quiet dining experience. I did make a reservation, but there's limited seating so we did have to wait like 10 more minutes, but it was no problem! Overall, I really liked how nice the workers were and the spot was super nice to walk around! read more

The food was super fast to come out and sat down with a reservation easily. It's a smaller so having the reservation really helped because the restaurant is very busy. The decor is pretty standard but updated. The food was amazing. Best meal I had in Boston. The bread, drinks, and apps were all great. Then the pasta came and I was in heaven. We ordered a variety of pastas and they were all very delicious! Would definitely recommend! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Calamari and Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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