Wow -- I was blown away by this spot! We went here to celebrate our engagement, and they treated us so incredibly well from start to finish. It's a true old-school Italian restaurant that hasn't been taken over by the touristy North End vibe, which I absolutely loved. The hostess was so friendly and made some great menu recommendations, and our server was equally helpful and attentive. They have a selection of cocktails but not a full bar, which was totally fine with us -- we got an espresso martini and an Aperol spritz. The wine selection was phenomenal and very reasonably priced. Our bottle was only $30! We started with the meatballs and absolutely loved the red sauce. For our entree, we had the veal with prosciutto in a sweet mushroom sauce and upgraded the pasta to the house-special ravioli. Let me tell you, I typically don't even like ravioli, but I fell in love with these! The pasta was fresh, the ravioli were huge, and the filling was so flavorful. The veal was incredibly thin and crispy, and the sauce was very sweet, so I'm glad we split the dish. For dessert, we got the special spumoni, which was so nostalgic because I used to eat it as a kid! They also brought us complimentary limoncello to celebrate our engagement, which was such a thoughtful touch. Overall, this place is reasonably priced, the food quality is excellent, and -- most importantly -- you can tell the staff genuinely cares about your experience. We will absolutely be going back! read more

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Lovely dinner with all the right flavors and a great atmosphere. I felt a little like I was eating in mama's kitchen back home. The staff felt like family, and the restaurant was cozy. We were drawn in by the delicious smells that wafted down the street. This was the best meal of our trip. Thank you! read more

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This place is a hidden gem in the North End. Tucked away on a side street off Hanover, this place is a keeper. The food is fresh and delicious. The service is top notch. You feel like a family member. The room is old and a little dated. But that's part of its charm. You feel like you are in Nanna's kitchen enjoying Sunday sauce. I love this place. read more

Overall, my wife and I really enjoyed our dining experience here. Old-school quaint romantic cozy atmosphere. Family owned and staff is super friendly and attentive. Traditional Italian offering on menu. They do offer gluten free. My wife ordered gluten free Frutti di mare. I ordered chicken parm over pasta. Wife thought hers was OK...my chicken parm was above average (but I have had better). I will continue to seek out other places before I dine here again. read more

Super quaint little spot in Little Italy. Tried the fettuccine, arancini, & pistachio drink of some sort and all were incredibly hearty and delicious. Owners were sweet too! read more

Ambiance is very nice, service was perfect, bathrooms were clean, food was delicious, very authentic food that tastes delicious and came out at a timely manner. I will be coming back! read more

La Summa - Baked Manicotti - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Cute little restaurant and the 3rd one we walked into for our party of 6 without reservations that didn't have 45+ minute wait! And given that these 2 west coasters can't handle standing outside in temps below 40 degrees, I needed some carbs stat! Lovely service and cozy interior. Very eclectic mix of patrons from girlfriends (wide range of ages) catching up to family meals to married 55 year regulars. Everyone (including the two teens) enjoyed the food ranging from the salsiccia (italian sausage) to the pollo limone to the sausage specials. read more

We wandered around the North End on a busy Saturday and this was the first place that didn't turn us around immediately, which was appreciated! It was also off the main street, so it was quieter and more pleasant. Very cute exterior with a cozy interior. Front of house and service were both very friendly. We got the arancini as an appetizer, then the Baked Manicotti and Tagliatelle e Polpette (Meatballs). The arancini was good, though there was more shredded chicken in it than I would prefer. The tagliatelle tasted as if it were homemade and fresh, and the meatballs were soft and juicy. The manicotti was cooked al dente, with a ton of cheese (almost too much). Overall it was good, and I'd come back for sure. read more

La Summa - Tagliatelle e Polpette - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I came to Boston for a vacation but accidentally teleported to a cozy trattoria in Italy. La Summa didn't just serve dinner -- it served dreams. We were greeted like long-lost cousins and sat immediately, which is rare these days unless you're Beyoncé. Then came the food. Oh, the food. I'm still emotionally recovering. The dishes arrived faster than my mom texts me back when I say "No, that car accident wasn't me." Every bite tasted like a grandmother named Nonna was in the kitchen whispering Italian love spells over the sauce. Sadly, we were headed to the theatre and couldn't bring leftovers, so we had to leave a few bites behind. I almost cried. RIP, delicious bites of pasta. You were too beautiful for this world. Five stars. Ten if I could. I'm considering coming back tomorrow. Or moving in. Do they need a dishwasher? read more

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Cute little restaurant tucked away in the North End. Walking in, it feels like someone's living room converted to an eatery. The service was warm and lovely, but I do feel like the food was pretty average. We got a basket of sliced bread to start as well as a few appetizers -- stuffed mushrooms, stuffed artichoke, and caprese. Out of these, we liked the caprese the most. They served it with the basil all chopped up so it was able to infuse the olive oil and get all over the cheese and tomato, very yummy. The mushrooms and artichoke were unremarkable in my opinion. For entrees, my partner got the eggplant papardelle and I got the gamberi siciliano. Both dishes were decent. We happily finished them but again they weren't exactly mind blowing. In particular I do feel like the pasta could have been more al dente. Overall, though, the prices were pretty good (especially for Boston) and the vibes were cozy. I think it'd be a cute place to go on a date, but the food wasn't my favorite. read more

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My first time visiting North End Boston. This little gem in Little Italy. The food, service and hospitality were amazing. You must get the pork chop entree. It's served with scallop potatoes and spicy vinegar peppers. The brown sauce was so flavorful and it was a nice size portion. My friend had the Barbara's special. It was chicken breast over pasta with a beautiful marsala sauce. Both dishes were amazing! Highly recommend making reservation at La Summa. read more

La Summa - Barbara's special chicken. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It's very warm and cozy inside and you do not feel rushed as you do in many of the other north end restaurants. The service is absolutely wonderful but unfortunately the food does not match it. Both our meals we did not like and we live in the neighborhood so we have our fair share of Italian food. Hopefully the food can improve! read more

Excellent staff and charming restaurant. We were on a family trip to Boston with our 12 year old and 9 year old and they thoroughly enjoyed the meatballs, ravioli, bolognese and gnocchi. Staff was friendly and food was very good. read more

Absolutely love this cozy Italian restaurant in Boston's historic North End. Red sauce, pasta and service are unmatched. read more

First business visited first time in Boston Initial impression was the just. Despite not having reservations she got us a seat but made it very clear everyone must order food and not to linger. There was also a note at the tables of no splitting entrees and each person must order. Not sure how I feel about this, but likely trying to maximize the earnings for their wait staff. Food was very good from a flavor standpoint (muscles were a little fishy), portions were generous, and prices were reasonable. Staff was efficient and responsive but otherwise not much interaction or friendliness. We don't mind. It's off the beaten path just a little. Quaint place, but solid choice. read more

Our 1st visit to La Summa and won't be our last. It is a small, cute restaurant in the North End. The owner Sharon was actually our waitress! She was so warm and inviting and felt like someone we had known for years. The soup and salad were both good, drinks were good and the main course was delicious. I had the Eggplant pappardelle and my husband had the chicken parm. He also got the homemade raviolis which were so good. We ended with coffee and dessert of ricotta pie which was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place. read more

Overall this rating is a 3.5 rounded up for friendly service, immediate seating upon early arrival for a reservation, and the cozy ambiance. However, like some other reviews have said, the food is somewhat unremarkable. Most dishes were tasty, but lacked depth of flavor and were one note. Stuffed mushrooms were enjoyable and our favorite of the two apps. The other we ordered was the cheese ravioli special and we appreciated how large the individual ravioli were, but were really nothing special. For my main I got the chicken, broccoli and ziti and my favorite part about the dish was probably the broccoli which was fresh, vibrant and cooked very well. The pasta and sauce were good with an al dente cook, but the chicken pieces were inconsistently cooked with some tender and juicy and some dry and hard. My friend said her tagliatelle was overcooked. The chicken parm was pretty standard - nothing good or bad to say. read more

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Feast weekend and this crew had it down. The reservation was right on time and servers were on point. You walk in to an Italian restaurant not to big not to small just right. Seating was perfect you weren't in top of each other and you could enjoy your groups conversation. Now for the food. We started with arancinis and stuffed mushrooms. GONE just like that. My wife had chicken parm and she loved it right to the last bite. Perfect portion. I had the Gnocchi with meat balls and the sauce was one of the best I've had I used the rest of the bread to wipe my plate clean. highly recommend. Our server Erica was perfect she knew the menu inside and out and her timing couldn't have been any more punctual, 5 stars for her too. read more

La Summa - Gnocchi with meatballs. Bruschetta forgot about that delicious. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Overall: unfortunately one of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant in forever. Only positives are the cute location and interior design. Food: none of the pasta options were worth getting ever again. Firstly it starts with the pasta and they cooked almost all the pasta noodles too soft and the penne was also limp. Equivalent to overcooking Costco generic pasta. Second the sauce was way overdone. Maybe it was too much heavy cream in the Spinaci but it was way too rich. The other red sauces were the opposite being extremely flat. Almost as if they forgot to cook it with stock. The only redeeming dish was the Arancini as it was freshly deep fried and therefore crispy. Even the bread lacked fluff and crust. Service: the worst part had to be how slow the service was. We didn't get an order in until 15 minutes after our party sat down. Second, there was a little bit of attitude with getting the food too. I'll give the benefit of the doubt and say that the other table was being annoying to our waitress but still. read more

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Wow. Let's start by saying looks are deceiving. The decor and laminated menus I no way prepared me for the meal or service I was about to experience. Traditional southern Italian - done exceptionally well . The food was amazing - truly. The stuffed mushrooms were light and perfectly seasoned. Perfect The Arannicia were crispy pillows of delishesness - you would not know you were eating rice. Melt in your mouth. The tagliatelle with meatballs was just as good as everything else. the coup de grace was a ricotta pie from heaven. The wine list is good and inexpensive. This is not an expensive restaurant and the service was beyond reproach. In fact, our waiter was cautioned us not to over order, and did not try to upsell us at all, and he was dead on. If you're looking for great southern Italian in the north end, I can't recommend this place enough. Money well spent . read more

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Fantastic service, lovely people, the montepulciano was very enjoyable and affordable, and the haddock with spinach and homemade was a perfect early dinner before an evening event. We'll be back thank you Christian read more

La Summa has a cozy and charming atmosphere, and the pasta dishes were quite fresh. However, the service was a bit slow and inattentive. Overall, it was a decent experience, but not memorable. read more

We got in late to Boston and didn't have a reservation but luckily La Summa had a spot just as one family was leaving we got the window seat! Service was phenomenal. Friendly, efficient, and we got everything and anything we wanted quickly and without question. The restaurant is very nice - I liked the tables and the setup - it's really nice to sit in the window and people watch while you eat. All the food was top notch - I love pork chops and so does my son. We both ordered them and they did not disappoint - 10 out of 10. The gnocchi were perfect pillows of potato pasta and my wife enjoyed a giant salad. The salad was good, but in a restaurant with Italian food - get the Italian food! If you are walking from the Back Bay Area - this is down a side street near Hanover. Really nice place - I highly recommend it! read more

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Made a reservation and I'm glad we did! When we walked in the restaurant was packed! The day prior was the restaurants 40th anniversary and they were still celebrating! Upon entering we were greeted by a very nice hostess and were informed that they were just finishing preparing our table! We ordered stuffed mushrooms to start and for a meal ordered shrimp w/broccoli & zucchini and the gnocchi! The food was very tasty! Our waiter was nice, however a little slow but it was understandable because he also had a big party that he was serving too read more

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This is the best espresso martini I have ever had. It tastes like an alcoholic starbucks frap, creamy and smooth and chocolatey. Italian wedding soup - soup of the day, did not disappoint. Bruschetta - like a pizza but fresher, better and with softer breading Pollo Speciale - wow this came as a recommendation but it is amazing. Its a really size-able chunk of chicken with such a unique flavor. Its sweet and savory, like there was brown sugar added to the sauce. Overall 10/10, the service was amazing the prices were very good for an italian menu and I think this might be the best italian place Ive tried yet. read more

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We were in Boston for a long weekend from Texas. So of course, I was particularly excited to eat some amazing Italian food. Fortunately my Uncle kept a business card from La Summa. We ate here 6 years ago and absolutely loved it. We tried another restaurant two nights before and were disappointed. So we made a reservation to try La Summa again, on our last night. It was everything I remembered from the moment we stepped inside. Picture a fine dining environment but a family atmosphere. White table clothes, nice place settings and a staff that is friendly and welcoming. We started with the Caprese and Caesar salad. WOW . So good and fresh. Then they brought out my House Special and my wife's Tagliatelle with meatballs. I can't even describe in words how good my house special was. Fresh and made from scratch. That white wine sauce was out of this world good! My wife even let me try here meatballs and I wanted to order a side of them. If my wife would have let me...I would have licked my plate clean. Then our waitress surprised us with a piece of Ricotta pie. OMG that was a little bit of Heaven. Most obviously made fresh and one of the best pieces of pie I've ever had. We will be back when we visit Boston again soon. read more

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My parents and I visited on our last night in Boston. We stumbled our way in after walking by and seeing the warm ambience, happy customers leaving, and smells that we couldn't resist. Without a reservation we were sat within 10 minutes. The staff was fantastic, especially our waitress Destiny, who was working on her birthday of all days. Food was fantastic, from our appetizers to dessert there wasn't anything we wouldn't have again. Must try this place when in the north end. read more

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Very small and we found it congested and loud. We requested a quiet table at the window and put on our reservation it was for a date night on New Years Eve. We were seated ordered a bottle of Prosecco. And a couple with two children were seated right next to us. So much for a quiet romantic table. The server was very nice. Menu quite limited. The bread was bland. He ordered the Barbara's special with the veal. And I had the manicotti. The manicotti were very small . The food was ok but compared to other North End restaurants we had been to in the past two weeks this was just ok. We will not return to this spot again. Much better food at Bacco, Bencotto and Tresca. read more

Food is LEGENDARY!! Seriously some of the best Italian food I've had in my life, comparable to food I've had in Italy. My parents and I split the manicotti and the Barbara special, and we could not find enough space in our stomachs to fit more food it was so good!!! The place had the cutest, cozy vibes, and the service was absolutely stellar. This place is a gem among the highly popular and impossible-to-make-reservations restaurants in the north end. I could not recommend it more!! read more

La Summa - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I stumbled across this restaurant when looking for a last-minute Friday night reservation, and was intrigued by their House Special. The spicy wine sauce was great, but I was a bit disappointed by the pasta component of the dish, which was quite overcooked. There was a lot of meat in the dish though, which were all cooked well. Their peach Bellinis were also great, but slightly on the stronger side (made with peach liqueur) though plenty sweet. Service was friendly. It was bustling at 8 pm, but had mostly cleared out by 9:30. read more

Frutti di mare with red sauce, delicious and absolutely worth market price. Nicely insulated from the bustle of the rest of the North End. read more

La Summa - Frutti di mare - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The Barbara special. Without a doubt the worst dish I've ever had at an Italian restaurant. It's a nice mix of chicken parm and aunt Jemima maple syrup. I would be infinitely happier with Olive Garden chicken Marsala. Steer clear. All the other food was actually very good. Ambiance was fanatic. Wine was well priced. Will not be back but really respect the hustle these guys got going. Five stars. read more

La Summa - Barbara special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food was delicious. Service was good. Small friendly family like restaurant. Everything was good. read more

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Excellent service and good classic Italian dishes. The opera singer cut off our conversation in the middle of our meal because the volume on his speakers was so high. read more

La Summa - Manicotti was delicious - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Absolutely a fantastic dinner tonight. This place is so charming and romantic, it demands you to take that special someone out for an evening. The ladies that work there are gems. Love the hostess! The actual stars of the dining show for us were actually the arancini, and ricotta pie. read more

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A great place to enjoy an Italian meal! The ambience, food, decor and wait staff were remarkable. We ordered our drinks and then a gentleman started to sing opera for the entire restaurant. What a delight! He sang 2 songs and had the entire place clapping with him. A wonderful surprise. The food was beyond expectation. Huge portions were served and I couldn't finish it all. Our group had the pasta bolognese, Barbara's speciality (Lightly breaded veal or boneless chicken breast, layered with prosciutto, mozzarella, and mushrooms in a sweet marsala sauce), haddock pizziola and Tagliatelle - polpette (with 2 meatballs). Perfectly prepared and delicious. Dessert was tiramisu. I highly recommend this place. Our waiter was Christian and he was fantastic. read more

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Solid clean flavors. Kinda basic, nothing that blew my mind but good service and fair pricing

Food is bland , service is lacking. I don't understand why the good reviews. Fettuccine Alfredo, noodles were mixed with parpadel pasta, just big clumps of pasta stuck together. Chicken Limone tasted like it was sautéed in lemon water, no flavor at all. I was so disappointed with the entire experience read more

What a hidden gem! We happened upon this place as we were looking for dinner. Traditional Italian menu with a non assuming entrance. We decided to walk in as it looked like they could see us quickly. We were warmly greeted by the hostess who sat us quickly. The staff was amazing. We instantly felt like "one of the family"! The food was amazing. The insulata de casa was excellent. We also had the gnocchi and the tagliatelle with meatballs. The gnocchi were light and fluffy and the meatballs were soft and delicious. The sauce was excellent and one of the best I've tasted. We ended the evening with a piece of ricotta pie. This was excellent and should not be missed! read more

Wonderful, quaint atmosphere and fantastic food! They were filled booked when we showed up but they squeezed us in anyways. Super kind staff! read more

La Summa - Lobster ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts