This place was even better than I remembered! We went on the Saturday of St. Anthony's Feast and made reservations for 6:00 p.m. To be honest, I was expecting that we might have to wait, but when we arrived, we were seated right away. Warm Italian bread was immediately brought to our table, which was a great start! Our waitress was super nice, attentive, and very helpful when I was trying to decide what to order. The fried calamari and Caesar salad did not disappoint! My husband opted for the Chicken Parmigiano, and I ordered the Veal Teresa. Both plates were huge and absolutely delicious--right down to the very last morsel! We each had two alcoholic beverages, and, to our surprise, the bill was not even that expensive. We have definitely paid more at restaurants closer to home. We had such a wonderful experience and are already looking forward to coming back for dinner with friends in the future. Great food, great service, generous portions, and reasonable prices--what more could you ask for? We will definitely be back! read more

Portions are large . Just very disappointing. Artichoke heart appetizer tasted like a soggy omelette, Shrimp Diavolo, Pasta with prawns wasn't anything special, was supposed to be spicy.... Had very little flavor. Both companions felt the same about their choices. Eggplant parmigiana . Large portion, just okay. Maybe our timing was off, as a large tour group came in right after we arrived. read more

This was recommended by a local so we had high expectations. Half our party arrived about 10 min before the other half did which was nice that there was no issues. Look at bit for our server to come over and when she did, boy did she have an East coast harsh attitude. Our food was alright. I had the lasagna and it was pretty good but not anything I would order again. My mom got shrimp lemon pasta and it was pure butter and oil and she ended up sending it back. The manager came and talked to her and still was a bit on the harsher side of restaurant etiquette and made my mom feel even more guilty than she already did. At the end of the meal the manager was outside yelling at a customer. It was wild and unprofessional. Again wasnt a place I would rush back to. read more

We stopped here as part of the Politically Incorrect food tour. If we weren't on the tour we might not have stopped here and we would have missed out. The servers here were super attentive to our beverage needs.The food from the tour was some of their house made ravioli stuffed with cheese. It was some beautiful pasta with a delicious marinara sauce and we paired it with a nice glass of Chianti. If we resist Boston and need a seafood break this place would be on our list. read more

Pretty good all around experience. They were able to get us a walk in table for two at dinnertime on Valentine's. We lucked out. The Caesar salad was a very good start and I very much enjoyed the Brodetto Di Pesce entree. Good portion if you're hungry as I was. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the Amaretto Cake was. Top shelf dessert. Moist AF. Atmosphere is good, not as dark and romantic as other places (so keep it above the table). Service and wait for food was excellent. All in all, this place is a great value and fulfills all expectations of North End dining. (I was apprehensive about sharing this review for the selfish purpose of not wanting to make a long future line to wait in.) read more

L'Osteria - Brodetto Di Pesce (Mussels, Shrimp, Calamari & Scrod over Linguini w/ light tomato sauce) - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great place. Small and calm, welcoming. Great pasta, minestrone was on point. We went early and got in without a reservation right away. I'll go back. read more

L'Osteria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great atmosphere, great food. The real deal if you want an authentic North End restaurant from a bygone era.

The wait was long--even with a reservation--and it gets worse! The charcuterie board (forget exact name) was not good for the price (especially the meat and olives). Entrees were even worse, with subpar gravy and a small awkward bowl of pasta on the side. Halfway into eating the live singing began. They claimed it was to "improve the experience"--no thank you. Not only did the waiters seem fed up with maneuvering around performers, but they put the mic to our faces mid-chew for a sing-along. Food was extremely expensive for how bad it was. I'd rather go to a cheap Italian restaurant in Somerville. read more

We had dinner at L'Osteria last night(family of 5 before a Celtics game) and overall it was a great experience. The service was excellent--friendly, attentive, and made us feel really welcome. We started with a Caesar salad & the caprese salad both were great. For our mains, we had the tortellini con Panna, bolognese, & the Alfredo. ALL were good, though the Alfredo could've used a little more bold flavor to really make it stand out I Personally like a thicker sauce . My husband also got the meatballs that he liked so much he ordered a second I also got the chocolate martini that was fantastic --perfectly made and delicious. Solid food, great service, and definitely worth a visit read more

L'Osteria - Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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If you like to cook, especially Italian, you know what goes into making eggplant parmigiana. THINLY sliced and breaded with breadcrumbs from old Italian bread. Also the time it takes to fry the slices the right way. The marinara sauce is delicious. I asked for small bowl, so I could just slurp it down with a spoon. Dipping Italian bread in it is pretty classic (Brooklyn style)!! Leslie ordered the Paglia e fieno (pasta dish. You only find this dish in authentic Italian restaurants! Carol, our waitress was so kind and efficient! MANGIA!! read more

We have been enjoying the food and the family at this restaurant since the mid nineties. The menu has something for everyone and the prices are still reasonable. We recently went with two friends and had chicken parm., chicken cacciatore, lasagna and ziti with clams. It was all very delicious and Joanne our waitress was fabulous. Don't miss this charming place, you will love it. Hello to Philip too! Myra and Tito love L'Osteria on Salem St. read more

Ordered the carbonara and gnocchi bolognese. Both lacked seasoning, vibrancy, and overall flavor. When we informed our server regarding the bland pasta she asked if she could take the plate away and we agreed, but nothing was offered to compensate. Also ordered a pasta dish for our children to split and some garlic bread which was seasoned well, but rather thin. For nearly $100 we were quite disappointed. read more

Excellent Italian comfort food at very reasonable prices. Great service. Warm and cozy ambience, especially at Christmas time, but always warm and inviting. read more

The food was soooo good! My cheese raviolis were so fresh and delicious! My mom loved her eggplant Parmesan and the portions are huge for a cheap price. There is a very chill vibe and waiter was nice. Overall I definitely recommend if you wand a fresh and delicious Italian read more

L'Osteria - Tortellini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Servers are very welcoming and friendly. They really try to get to know what you like/don't. The restaurant is cozy and spacious. Perfect for date night and group outings. I ordered their linguine with mussels, fried calamari, and a bottle of Chianti. All of them are delicious!! They have robust wine collection, definitely check it out!! read more

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I came in hungry and I left hungry. Jee whiz what a joke this establishment is. I felt like I was in a real Italian home being seated right next to a stairway except the open door gave me the experience of an Italian family in Brooklyn. Servers were fine. It felt like they were getting paid by the plate they picked up because they were constantly jumping at the chance to snatch the food back to serve to the next customer. Not that there was much food to begin with. Meal fit for a North End rat. Not because it was bad the food was actually quite good. But the portion size was unbelievably small, for almost 30 bucks I shouldn't be getting a paper thin slice of chicken and nothing else. Eat here if you like being hungry and donating your money to be burnt in a North End pizza oven. read more

We have been visiting this restaurant from NH for 25+ years. Through birthdays and anniversaries my kids have grown up eating this fabulous food. The owners, Danielle & her family, have run a superb restaurant. We had the pleasure of being taken care of by a wonderful server, Emanuel. He was attentive and professional. He was kind and genuine. The food came out at a perfect pace and was full of flavor. We truly enjoyed our day and will be coming real soon. read more

My recent experience here was highly mixed, particularly regarding the service. The food itself was just okay, though the serving sizes were large. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan but was disappointed to find that the accompanying pasta just never came to the table and by the time the waitress came back around, everyone else was almost done so I just left it alone. I was surprised when one person at our table asked for linguine as their choice of pasta instead of ziti (as they dislike ziti). The server's response was shockingly, "You get what the kitchen has ready at that time." I've never encountered such an inflexible attitude. This was further complicated by an inconsistency: another person at our table ordered the Linguine with Clams and received linguine without issue. In the end, the person who requested the choice did not receive linguine The restaurant has a limited drink menu, as they do not serve hard alcohol. read more

A local favorite, and authentic Italian restaurant. Ambiance is inviting and always enjoyable. Visited with 2 friends of mine, and we each couldn't decide which entree we liked more as they were all amazing. Theres really no wrong choice at L'Osteria. Theres a few restaurants I always make a point to revisit if I'm in the area, and this is one of them! read more

The ravioli and the sauce was spectacular! That is all we had, but it appears tourist and locals love it all the same. We would love to check out their menu further and appreciated their hospitality. read more

L'Osteria - Ready for Italian! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great dining experience. Friendly and professional staff. Easy check-in. (No waiting in a line on Saturday night due overbooking - they don't overbook) Food was very tasty- atmosphere was old school Italian Restaurant - think the neighborhood restaurant in the movie Moonstruck. Well done! read more

Food was delicious and service was great. definitely a great place to go in the North End off the main street.

I just went here last night for my friend's birthday dinner and it was a huge hit. There were 6 of us and we had a reservation. We were seated within 5 mins of our arrival and got the best seat in the house. The service was quick and all of us really enjoyed our meals. They gave us a bowl of bread with parmesan cheese, crushed red paper, salt, pepper, and olive oil already on the table so we could create our own little dip for the bread. We all got drinks and dinner and everyone truly enjoyed it from start to finish. I got the chicken parm and it was delicious! Now for the star(s) of the show: midway through dinner, two guys started singing Italian songs while all the tables were seated and eating. Everyone loved it and started singing/clapping/laughing and all around was having such a good time. Moments like this truly makes going out to dinner a night to remember. The singers even asked if anyone was celebrating their birthday. 4 tables were! We had a blast doing a "cheers" with them and listening to them sing happy birthday to our friend and all those celebrating. read more

The food here is amazing and by far one of the best Italian restaurants in the North End. My favorite apps/dishes are the Caesar salad, Gnocchi Bolognese and the Chicken Marsala. The food is very authentic and always on point. The ambience is great, the staff are so kind and the overall experience is 100/10! read more

We were surprised to discover good Cibo Italiano in the tourist section of Boston. This restaurant has a large tourist clientle that could easily put out American Italian dinners like others. However, the owners are from Italy and they prepare food like they are preparing it for family. Yes, they have traditional dinners we are used to eating in America. But, they also offer meals only available in Italy. The pasta is cooked perfect al dente, the sauces to die for, and the service is second to none. We had not planned on visiting this restaurant but a long line at the restaurant we planned on visiting took us here. Well worth it, mangia, mangia! read more

L'Osteria - Vitello Theresa and Amatriciana - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

In a world where so many restaurants are raising prices and cutting corners, it's so wonderful to see that L'Osteria hasn't hopped on the bandwagon. I was back in town for a brief trip and made sure to make it one of my meal stops. I was so thrilled to discover that the food was just as delicious as I remember it from years ago. On a corner of Salem St, the windows provide prime people-watching opportunities and the ambiance is almost as welcoming as the greeting you'll receive when you first walk in. The love of food and commitment to the diners' experience is so evident, and the staff truly makes you feel like a valued patron. Truly delicious food and a warm, inviting environment make this a favorite on my list of Boston cuisine. read more

L'Osteria - Manicotti Bolonese - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The Chicken parm and Eggplant parm were amazing. The fettuccine Alfredo was good, it was missing something, and not too saucy, but the chicken was great. The staff was great being that it was New Year's Eve, and they were full! We asked to put on the football game on the tv and they were able to, nice place with a lot of history. read more

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Pretty bad, to the point where I felt I had to write this because...how does this place have even over a 3 star rating?! Drinks and food: party of 4, one of us ordered a Cosmo, it was basically some sort of sugar mix (no alcohol that I could taste). 4-5 red wines available by the glass (no Montepulciano--bottle only! is this a real Italian place?!), I asked for a recommendation with pasta, waiter said he had never tasted any but asked "do you like sweet wines?" No sommelier, no staff with any clue, I asked for a sample of the Chianti, it was 'good enough' so I got a glass. Asked about homemade pastas--why go to an Italian place in the North End that doesn't make their own?--answer: only pastas that say "homemade" on the menu, are. Fair enough. That meant manicotti or gnocchi (no ziti, penne, linguini, spaghetti, nothing homemade). Our table ordered one of each. As my son would say, they were "mid." Very bland--honestly tasted worse than Rao's in the jar marinara--and the bolognese was the same: it tasted as if someone just put fried ground beef into a marinara sauce. I frankly am not convinced either was indeed homemade, as the texture of the gnocchi and the taste of the manicotti screamed 'reheated from frozen'. The free white bread is sliced and served with ice cold butter in little packets, like you get at Waffle House (no garlic bread on offer on the menu itself, so this will need to be your bread for the meal). A small glass container of olive oil on the table tasted like...Kirkland brand? Service: Our waiter was absolutely clueless--and completely disinterested. We were one of about 4 tables (entire restaurant was empty, which was frankly the clue we should have listened to before walking in and eating without a reservation!). He had no recommendations about anything (see wine convo above) and he seemed bothered when we asked for things. When we left, he was sitting at a table near the register with about 5 other staff members, just chatting, which finally made his whole mien make sense to us: he never really wanted to wait the table, just get back to chatting with friends. Overall, bad cocktails, wine, food and no atmosphere to speak of=SKIP THIS PLACE! If you're in the North End, I'll recommend Tony & Elaine's instead or...Olive Garden? At least when you're there, you're family? I don't know. Either way, do not go to L'Osteria, it is Italian in name only. read more

Have been going for 30 years. Moved away and make sure we visit whenever we are back in the city. Favorite restaurant in Northend!!!

Great food and service and terrific location! Chicken parm and ravioli are my faves. Great seating upstairs or downstairs...

Nice surprise. Service was a bit slow and not super friendly, but the vibe was great and the food very good. I was very surprised and encourage everyone to try this place. They did not try to do too much, I liked it. read more

L'Osteria - Meatballs and Sausage on pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We live in TN but Always come to L'Osteria whenever we are in Boston. ALL of their Veal dishes are amazing and we love the atmosphere and staff. A++++++* read more

A cozy little Italian spot in the North End. Dim lights and candles - very romantic. Our server was pretty attentive in the beginning and she was very good with suggestions. I got the shrimp special - wow a lot of food. The penne was made al dente - which I really liked. The shrimp was charred but firm biting in. The inside wasn't too chewy. The asparagus- I wish there was more but it was really tender. The vodka sauce brought the whole dish together very nicely. It was subtle and added rich depth. Overall, cute little restaurant. read more

L'Osteria - shrimp special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We loved the fact that there was no wait at this restaurant. The red sauce is sweet and noodles firm which equal delicious in my book. The pictures are deceiving as the plates are large. I couldn't finish the ravioli. And the chicken parm had the largest piece of chicken I've ever seen in it. I'd definitely eat here again. I don't think it will earn a 5 star rating, but it's decent for Italian. read more

L'Osteria - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Visited this restaurant on a Little Italy food tour and it did not disappoint! We tried the ravioli dish due to its authentic tomato sauce and lack of unnecessary additives like sugar, and it was a flavorful dish! read more

L'Osteria - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

What a nice small hidden gem this is. The food was amazing. We came here on a busy Saturday night during Covid, to be honest you would never know that there was a pandemic going on. It was packed. Our table was near the door, but that didn't matter. The waitress was sweet and attentive, we had a Caesar salad for two, avail dish, and shrimp Diablo. We also got sparkling water glass of wine and a Peroni beer. All were excellent. Will definitely go back again. Again. read more

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Great food and service just like eating in someone's home. Very welcoming fantastic menu options makes for great family functions

I moved to California in 1983, I always , Always stop here for authentic delicious Italian cuisine whenever I am in town! Best of the Best! read more

L'Osteria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Always make a reservation in the north end. Our waitress was nice and accommodating for a large group. Complimentary bread and an array of drink options. Food was good but limited if you have food allergies. read more

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Great food, nice service, clean and inviting ambiance. Reasonable prices for the North End. The veal is excellent.