Even though I was determined to love this place, it just let me down. I went in expecting it to easily be a 5 star yelping, yet two stars it is. They committed a grievous sin in my book...the appetizer was COLD. We got a plate of stuffed peppers. Should have been piping hot with moist bread crumbs and melted cheese, but it was cold and pasty (as if taken from the refrigerator). Making it go from 3 stars for average fare to 2...sorry. There's a lot working against them. The rest of the dinner was delicious. I got homemade pasta and my date got lemon chicken. Both of these were lovely. They were busy, so the service was infrequent. And we got stuffed into a back room, with barely enough room for 2 people at the table. Our seats were blocking a large party into their table, so we had to get up for them to leave. eh. If you go on a weekend, make a reservation. read more

Went here with a group of 15 about a week ago. Great spot for groups! I walked in and the place was empty (on a Friday night at 7:30pm), so naturally I had my guard up, thinking "oh god, it's probably terrible food/service/etc". Complete opposite experience. Highly impressed with service, food and wine selection. We paid $50/person, which included appetizers, entrees, desserts and wines (shared apps and desserts but each person had their own entree). It's tough to really scope this place out because there isn't a website but don't let that deter you. This place is just off of Hanover St in the North End and has a large dining room space. Food: Their entree selection is broad and food was fresh and warm. Appetizers were good too - we got several orders of the bruschetta, which were a bit hit (I think more because they were like cheesey/pizza tasting than lots of tomatoes, but people enjoyed them). Good wine selection with reasonable prices. Desserts were good - we had some canolis and tiramisu. Service: Prompt and helpful with choosing entrees and wines. Didn't rush us at all. Ambiance: Fine - nothing special or too romantic. Why not 5 stars? Food didn't blow me out of the water, nor did the ambiance or service. But they are all really good, just not outstanding. I'd definitely go back here - especially for a big group party where we basically take over the restaurant. read more

The food was DISGUSTING. My eggplant parmesan was half COLD. How aggravating! DON'T GO HERE. read more

Um, I am not sure if it's because my fiances uncle always takes us to amazing restaurants in the greater Boston area and I have high expectations for places he suggests, or if I couldn't taste as well because I was catching a cold, but... I really was not impressed by this place at all and I am fairly shocked by the high rating here on yelp. It wasn't that I had a particularly terrible time there, it's just that I didn't really enjoy anything I was served. It was completely without nuance and bordered on flavorless, in my opinion. The manicotti I had tasted like the Lasagna I can get down the street from my house at very simple cafe and looked sort of like Italian enchiladas. There was no richness like I am used to in manicotti, it was just very one-dimensional. The bruschetta appetizer was nearly soggy everywhere except the crust, the deep fried risotto balls (I forget the technical name), had cheese in the center which was kind of interesting. It didn't taste good enough for me to be overwhelmed by that idea though, they were also kind of mushy. We were practically the only guests in there and the service was fairly slow. This didn't contribute to my unenjoyable experience, but worth noting I guess. However, our waitress and back waiter were both very nice and accommodating. I've definitely had much better Italian food though, sorry La Summa. read more

I love the fresh pasta, in fact the waiter let me change the pasta from the special of the day just so I can taste them. GREAT SERVICE!! Location is off the main dragg of the north end, which is nice. Ambient is perfect for more of romantic night out, rather than biz dinner (though there were 10+ VERY LOUD biz dinner type folks who really annoyed crap out of me and my customer) Overall, I was satisfied with the food and service. read more

I am updating and adding an extra star because I returned to La Summa on 10/27/13 and found that they have renovated! My main complaint last time was that the space was very small, and too many tables were crammed into the space. Now it is set up differently, remodeled, and there is plenty of room between the tables. The food was just as good as last time, and I will return more quickly next time. read more

Strictly ok Italian food for the north end, we went here to try a new place, have to say the food was OK. Nothing really amazing the table bread was mediocre but the staff and service was excellent read more

La Summa - The house special with veal chicken and sausage is the meal.. Served over linguini.. The sausage is very delish and stands out - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Finally, a place in the north end that I can call home. With all of the other places requiring either the patience to stand in line for an hour with tourists taking photos all around you, or a second mortgage to pay for a bowl of noodles, this place provides a simple and nice decor with good food and no crowds. I went there with two other people and we split the bruschetta and arancini between us as appetizers (both extremely tasty). The pasta dishes that we got were all very tasty. They weren't any better or worse than the places on Hanover street, but they were moderately priced and in an uncluttered environment. After having spent numerous dinners at Cantina Italiana and G'vanni's, I now know that I don't need to be on Hanover street to have a good Italian meal in the North End. read more

I took my family here on Friday night after learning that the wait at Giacamo's around the corner was an hour and a half. To be honest, we chose it because the main courses were less than $20 each and they had a table for us immediately. Minus 1 star for the waitress who made a loud and angry sigh when my sister told her that she wasn't ordering anything for dinner (though i understand it is less of a tip, she just wasn't hungry). My pasta spinaci was delicious, my boyfriends pappardelle was great, some of the best eggplant i have ever tasted! The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and fantastic sounding specials, I would definitely try it again! read more

I've been here twice now with one other person. We've been seated quickly and received attentive service (except for the time we never got napkins). The food has been excellent each time, we highly recommend the gnocchi =) My only real complaint is that it's very dark in there. I know it's a common trend to limit lighting to minimal overhead & a candle, but I like to see my food and dinner partner. read more

Yummy! I will definitely be returning! Meals of tonight were as follows: Appetizer: Cheese ravioli. Delicious! There was only 4 but they were huge! Their marinara sauce was very garlicky and wonderful! Definitely something to split as an app. Dinners: Pappardelle pasta in a marinara sauce with sliced eggplant. I LOVED it!! The pasta was nice and thick, the way real pasta should be. The second entree was Chicken with a thick layer of mozzarella, large chunks of prosciutto, and mushrooms in a red wine sauce. It was "finger lickin' good"! I couldn't finish it! The leftovers had to be brought home. Absolutely delicious! Our waitress was very sweet and the host/ busser was also extremely kind. I loved the service. We will be back! read more

After trying the lobster ravioli special a few weeks back, I actually considered moving in. It was by far one of the best meals I've had in a long, long time. The meals were very reasonably priced, the ambiance is very cozy and inviting. The service was superb and the italian man going around with his guitar and serenading people was the cutest thing ever. I will be going back here again for sure!! read more

Ordered up a veal parm plate which was spectacular. Fresh and homemade pasta served just right. Bread was good. Salad was nicely prepared. Had some of my wife's gnocchi and that was great as well. Small interior. Typical North End look. Nice atmosphere. Will definitely go back. read more

We walked in this place right before they were about to close and they were very happy to seat us and gave us our own private dining experience. The food was amazing and really authentic Italian, the veal special is absolutely incredible and I would definitely recommend it. The owner of the restaurant is a older Italian woman who lives across the street and has run the restaurant for 37 years. Would recommend to anybody! Please go to this place over anywhere else in the north end you will not be disappointed. read more

I don't think I've quite figured out this place, some of our food was great, and some was not. I'm working on a theory that they put more love in to the specials, but I'm not really sure. I'm probably not dedicated enough to go back and see. We started with appetizers. My date got a dish whose name I've forgotten, but which was essentially a fried rice ball around cheese. It was not very tasty. I ordered mussels fra diavolo. These were amazing, and the sauce was incredibly delicious. Everything was served with great bread, slightly toasted. (you can see, already, why I find this place confusing. Next we both got second piatti. I got the lemon chicken - topped with fontina cheese and served over pasta. My date got the house special - a variety of meats served over pasta. These were filling and tasted good, but I wouldn't say much more about them than that. They didn't really taste that different, for all the difference in meats. The service was quite good, and the food was affordable, but the food was nothing to exclaim about, except for the mussels. So maybe there is something else going on here, some secret to ordering? I will probably not find out. read more

Great value! A bottle of wine and entrees for two for $40. Add in a couple of appetizers, and the final tab was still only 60 clams. If you pass on the bruschetta, you might miss the best, heartiest bruschetta my sweetie and I have had in the North End. And that's saying something. Chicken limone and chicken marsala were perfect and plentiful. If you're looking for traditional Italian fare perfectly prepared and attentively served, La Summa is a great choice. read more

Atmosphere: Was looking for a quiet, intimate atmosphere to take my girlfriend and did not get that. Music was a bit loud in the beginning and there were a few kids/families around. If you're looking for a quiet, romantic atmosphere, I'd advise looking elsewhere. If I had a family, this place would certainly be higher up on my list. Service: Service was ok. Nothing special but then again the prices weren't as high as other places in the North End. Appetizer, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine for $90. Food: This is probably where I was most disappointed. The stuffed artichoke we ordered was like chewing bark with no flavor. Bread tasted like it was out of a bag at Stop & Shop. The main course was alright. Someone who's never been to the North End before might say the food was good, but as someone who visits the North End more frequently, I was a bit disappointed. The seafood dishes and appetizer were lacking any bold flavor- nothing jumped out at me. Prices were ~$25/dish (one of the more expensive meals) Overall: If you're a family and looking for decent Italian-style meal, this place might work for you. If you know your Italian food and want a more unique, memorable atmosphere, go somewhere else. There's a reason the place was half full on a Friday night... read more

Absolutely a hidden gem, authentic non-tourist trap! Don't tell anyone so we all don't have to deal with the Hanover St headache read more

Dinner tonite was a trip back to Italy. Starters were arugula salad and caprese salad. Homemade pasta and amazing marinara sauce followed. All accompanied by an amazing red wine. Friendly service. An energetic dining crowd. We can't wait to return. read more

La Summa - Appetizers - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Joey on the corner at the liquor store about this place. Family owned and run restaurant. Great prices. The food was ok. Everything was fresh. I'd prefer my chicken thinner and pounded to absorb more of the sauce. Very strong egg flavor in both the batter chicken and eggplant which I did not like. Fresh pasta which was delicious. The service was fabulous. The owner and her daughter in law are very nice and hospitable. read more

An immediate 2 stars as no martinis/cocktails and only one grappa. Was refused a tiny taste by either owner or waitress. However added a star if you want to play Godfather it is a nice place to pretend you are AL Pacino. Comfy and food good and the wine was decent. Probably the best place of 3 we tried in area but no expert. read more

I am not sure what all the hype is about. The food was average at best. We ordered a mussels appetizer at Mrkt Price (you would think they would be fresh) and everyone at our table agreed they smelled and tasted fishy. At the end of the night, about half our table liked their meals and half did not. The restaurant was able to accommodate our large group of 7, which was a plus. Unfortunately, our waiter (maybe the owner?) would not let us order appetizers until our entire party arrived. This was a bit frustrating, but he did say that there was only one chef working and he wanted to put in the order all at once. The service was very slow at the beginning, but we did get our appetizers and entrees very quickly. Mussels: fishy Arancini: Bland Bruschetta: Soggy At least it wasn't too expensive. Overall, I wouldn't go back. read more

Let me start by saying I am not a picky eater. La Summa came very highly recommended as "the place" to eat from a trusted family member. The place is cute and the atmosphere is great, service was great too but the food was horrible. We got the stuffed mushrooms, veal parm and Gamberi. The stuffed mushrooms were odd.....tasted sort of like mashed potatoes in the middle. The veal was so tough! It had a reasonably good flavor but I was chewing and trying to cut through it forever! The Gamberi, which was my partner's dish was equally poor. The shrimp were very large and tasted great but then again, grilled shrimp is a hard thing to mess up. The pomodoro sauce was like tasteless tomato water... In short, skip La Summa and go to the Olive Garden, you are better off there. read more

I was in Boston for a short weekend trip - to visit someone who was there on business. We decided to check out the North End since it had been mentioned as the area to go to for Italian food. Not knowing which restaurant to choose, we walked around and saw many people inside and several others waiting outside to eat here. That always seems like a good sign to me. The menu looked fine so we asked if they could fit us in, even though it was prime dinner dining time on a Saturday night. We waited about 15 minutes and were ushered to a table in the back. As others have mentioned, the decor is kinda old school - not necessarily in a good way. Lots of framed posters of calla lilies and Michelangelo's David. There is a fireplace (non-working?) in one corner that appeared to be some sort of shrine to St. Anthony? The food: We ordered bruschetta as an appetizer. The bread was the same generic bread they brought us prior to the meal -- not toasted, and there was mozzerella melted on top of the tomato/basil mixture. The bread was sort of soggy, but the flavors were okay. I ordered gnocchi with a marina sauce. The gnocchi were very mushy and the sauce was kind of bland. My dining companion ordered jumbo shrimp with linguine and a marina sauce. She said it was good. There were 6 large shrimp on the dish, which was nice. Portion sizes were large, too. Neither of us were able to finish our dish. Two things stood out to me and being sort of odd: the complimentary bread brought to us while we were waiting was not served warm, which would have been a nice touch and it was kind of dry. Secondly, when our pasta dishes arrived they did not offer any freshly grated parmesan cheese. There was a shaker of that terrible granulated parmesan on the table, which I refuse to use. I found this surprising and very disappointing for an "authenic" Italian restaurant. Our bill for two drinks, an appetizer, and two pasta dishes came to $60 before tip. There was also a gentleman who came out during dinner service who played acoustic guitar and sang at tables. He worked his way around the room, asking for special requests. When we didn't have one, he moved on. The music was not overbearing and he did not pressure anyone but I found it a little much. Overall, I think this restaurant is probably less touristy - which is what we were hoping for; but the food seemed mediocre. I would not go here again. read more

This place has everything we were looking for in a North End dinner. Fantastic service. Linen table cloths and napkins. Amazing food and reasonable prices. This is our go to spot from now on. read more

La Summa - Lemon Chicken Pasta. They were totally cool about leaving off the cheese for me. It was fantastic - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Very lovely family owned restaurant! My husband I were planning to go to very well known restaurant on Hanover, but didn't want to wait for 1-2hrs. We checked Yelp and decided to come here. Lovely place with excellent meals & great service. I had Gamberi Siciliano and my husband had Pollo Limone. Both were excellent! read more

La Summa - Gamberi Siciliano - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here w a party of 12. The food and service was wonderful. We sampled many appetizers and dishes and all were delicious. I had the haddock pizziole. It was a wonderful fish dish. There were several large parties but you would never know it - we got all of our food in a reasonable time and were perfectly attended to. I would highly recommend and come again. read more

My wife and I love this restaurant. This location is off the beaten path and gets you away from the big touristy chain locations. A true family style restaurant that make their own pasta. This quaint location has the personality that starts with the hostess when you walk through the door. This place has the service you wish and should get at the larger restaurants. You will not be disappointed as the food melts in your mouth read more

Fantastic!!! We enjoyed this experience very much! We felt like family and the food was amazing!!! Couldn't fit dessert after such a filling meal but we will certainly go back next time we are in the North End! Thank you!! read more

Traditional preparation, excellent service, unpretentious atmosphere. An oasis of calm bang in the heart of the North End.

My wife and I had dinner here while traveling on the East Coast. The food was outstanding! The staff was very good! I left my credit card by mistake. The staff took good care of it. Barbara personally took it to the post office and mailed it to me. They went way beyond great service. David E read more

Best Italian I have ever had! Hand made pasta like no other and an excellent selection on the menu. Small quaint place with a home feel. Staff is very good and the dessert was the best creme brûlée I have ever eaten. read more

I am new to yelp, but wanted to express my review of La Summa. I went there last Thursday before the Boston Bruins game based on a recommendation from friend. We were the only people in the place (5:30pm). I stared with the Caprese salad which was saturated in oil and gritty tomatoes. I had fresh fusilli pasta with shrimp in a pomodoro sauce. The pasta was gummy, the shrimp had a rubber texture, and the sauce seemed to come right from a can with no seasonings. My father had a seafood dish with fresh pasta and it was bland and fish was not fresh. Service was surprisingly slow and the atmosphere was pretty dingy. I don't know how it averages 4 stars on yelp and google but I would not recommend this to anyone. read more

I had family in town, and they wanted to eat something in the North End. As it was a holiday weekend, I made reservations for six on a busy Saturday night, and when we arrived they looked almost surprised when I said I had a reservation, but a few minutes of table clearing later we were seated. Compared to the option of going to a non-reservation taking restaurant which had lines around the block, we were still quite happy with our choice. Service was prompt, as in a little too fast for a group who was looking to unwind over a bottle of wine and eat, but that's not entirely unexpected in such a small place on a night as busy as the one we chose. The ambiance is indeed charming, though if you're waiting for a table you will feel in the way, as there's no space anywhere in the small room that is not dedicated to tables. Everyone enjoyed their food immensely, though we all made a point to order from the pastas that were fresh made (they have a star by them on the menu). NO complaints on taste or quality! The only complaint food-wise was that we were never given bread, and by the time we wanted/remembered it (to sop up the sauce!) we were too shy to ask. Other than that, our server was quite friendly, knowledgeable, and prompt. Prices were very reasonable for the quality of food served. This isn't a place where you go an expect over the top preparations or perfect ambiance, but it's very good all around and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted authentic Italian food. The only thing preventing it from getting a five star rating are the series of trivial missteps that individually I would disregard, but combined result in, well, a four star rating. read more

Lasumma, Lasumma, Lasumma...this is the second restaurant in this area that I have experienced lately...it was just OK... We had a decent size party (12) so the service was a little slow...I'm hoping that was the reason... Appetizers were decent...I had some caprese - nice ... mussels - nice... bruschetta -nice...tastey...I was satisfied but there was so much time between apps and main course I was hungry all over again... Ventured into my husband's plate...pasta so overcooked that if I was blind folded it would not have been discernible...the parmigiana was adequate at best....sauce looked like a vodka sauce, you know that color and texture...but only tasted like ok sauce... Dinner...Frutti di Mare/pasta with oil and butter on side (no taste at all)...weird is all I can say...the mussels and clams tasted just like I was drinking a glass of ocean water...they were clean, just weird...shrimp chewy but that sometimes happens with "stewy" things...scallops minuscule but ok...my lobster half, if you could call it that was almost indescribable...the claw had the consistency of wet mushy cotton...the texture was soooo weird I almost gagged it back out...luckily nobody notice...this in itself completely turned me off...so the rest as they say is history on a side note...another person in our party ordered the same exact thing that I did...he thought it was tastey...I don't know him well enough to really determine if something went awry with his palette...or he was being polite...or if really I just got the one bad dish...he consumed it all so I guess that mean you should be the judge...as for me NAH!!!! read more

This was fantastic. Went here based on the Yelp reviews. It was quiet, the service was excellent, and the food couldn't be better. We both had pasta and it was clearly fresh. The eggplant in light red sauce was light and fluffy with a little breading. The portions were generous, and they never let the water glasses get empty. My mother and I agreed that we would definitely go back, and if the whole family were in town this is one of those places that everyone would be able to find something without complaining that there was a limited selection (a common occurance with 9 very different voices going). read more

Upon entering La Summa, we were a little confused if we had used the correct entrance. Very tight space and we walked right into a bookcase filled with family photographs. Not like, old-timey Old-World Italian photos -- like, graduation pictures from the past decade. In any event, I think it really added to this place's charm. I loved that many of their pastas are fresh. I opted for the gnocchi. I absolutely love gnocchi and this one was one of the best I have had. The tomato sauce was nice and light. Reasonably priced and very filling, I enjoyed the rest of it later that evening in my hotel room. One friend had the pappardelle with eggplant and she indicated it was delicious. The other friend had one of the specials - a tortellini with chicken, shrimp, and pistachios in a cream sauce. I tried some and I almost thought perhaps I should have ordered that instead (but then I realized I was PLENTY happy with my gnocchi). The wait staff could not have been more kind and helpful. I also liked that this was somewhat "off the beaten path" in the North End so the restaurant was busy, but not packed. I would absolutely go back to this place next time I am back in Boston. read more

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the north end! Definitely call for reservations! Large portionS of pasta dishes and the waiters are so friendly! I've tried many dishes on my trips here and have never been disappointed ! read more

This is a hidden gem in Boston, a must-go. Family-owned, freshfood. If you try many north end restaurants, you'll notice that they churn out dishes like it's a factory. This place, they cook for you as if you're one of their children. I am a very picky eater. And this place is easily my top 3 restaurants. read more

Gster and I tour the North End to find the best restaurants. In the end, they are all very similar. We had a big night out with our dear friends and of course we needed to get Italian. We were able to make a last minute reservation, and were seated right away. They actually had an employee sitting at our table when we got there, which could be sketch, but I just saw it as elite reservation status. We ordered a few bottles of wine, but only two of us actually did some damage on it. The ladies ordered extra bread, while the boyz split the salad... because we obvi eat the carbs and saturday's are for the boys! The bread was a 2.5/5, it wasn't that impressive. However, We got the arancini and bruschetta as apps, which were fantastic. The bruschetta was almost like a pizza from pizza hut, with the golden brown layers of cheese overpowering the bruschetta, which made it like a cheesy bread which is amazing. Gster got the pork, I got the classic tomato sauce, and our friends got the alfredo and the chicken parm (not to be confused with chicken palm). Overall, the food was excellent, full of flavor, and homemade. The service was awesome, and the bill was reasonable. Is this the best place in the north end? no. But does it meet your basic needs for a fun date night? Absolutely. read more

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