Amazing little family style Italian place that isn't the usual touristy North End Italian joint. Pastas are fresh, well-selected flavorful wine that isn't too pricey. Great place for date night - will definitely be back! read more

We were a party of 10, saw the 4 stars in yelp, and ended up at this place. It looked promising but unfortunately did not end up quite like that. The service was pretty average to poor. The first Italian restaurant who served breakfast white bread slices on the table!!! Quite unbelievable. The olive oil on the table was most definitely cooking olive oil as it had no taste whatsoever. The starters arrived quite quickly but the mains took good 45 minutes. We ended up being the only people in the restaurant by the time our food arrived. The food was not bad but the whole experience was average to poor. read more

Went to La Summa for a night out with my wife and had an unbelievable italian meal. I had the Veal Parm and my wife had the Gamberi Siciliano. The desert was out of this world...Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream. read more

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Perfect ambiance with delicious food! Best meatballs and veal parmigiana I've ever had. The staff is very friendly and treats you like family. I would highly recommend. read more

This is the perfect North End restaurant. It isn't trendy like many of the new places, it is more of a family establishment. The portions are all huge and the prices are very reasonable. I highly suggest this place if you need to go on a date. It is a small restaurant, but I never felt cramped in there. read more

Nice service, very friendly staff. Had a hankering for Italian but the prime restaurants had huge lines. This place was off the beaten path a bit, but empty tables. Run of the mill Italian nothing spectacular. Okay as opposed to standing in a dreadfully long like; nothing to write home about though. read more

What a gem away from the tourists and bustle of Hanover. The authentic , homemade Italian food cannot be beat. Cozy and intimate ambiance was perfect as was the friendly service. Was there with a group of six adults and a baby and we were warmly accommodated. The prices are more than reasonable, a totally bargain. Do yourself a favor and check it out next time you're in the North End! read more

This was so disappointing. Maybe it's because I didn't order the right thing. I ordered the alfredo, hoping for some simple Italian cooking. It was wayyyy too salty. My friend got the special which was swordfish, homemade pasta, and a red sauce. It was disgusting. I am usually not a picky eater, but we were very disappointed. Service was good and it was a great atmosphere..food just wasn't great. read more

I took some friends who were visiting from out of town out to dinner in Boston's North End and we found this jewel. While the line for Giaccamo's on Hannover was down the block, on little side street Fleet street we found Summa Ristorante which I found to be comparable in delectability, price, charm and it took credit cards (though it boasted 5% discount for cash.) I the ambiance was manageable fine dining and I felt as though we were guests in an Italian family's home. Kid friendly, too. The portion sizes were perfect. It was a perfect find and a great choice! read more

My wife and I have eaten here together a handful of times. She used to go here all the time while going to college. so, we go here mainly for her memories then the food. IMO its one of the places on the north end that is lack luster. The are plenty of great places to eat in the north end, this just isn't one of them. Its not bad, but its not good either. If you are hungry and every where else is busy or too expensive, then its not a bad place. read more

I am very disappointed with this restaurant. My husband and I came to have dinner on a Sunday night around 9pm. We were one of two parties in the restaurant. We had to ask our server for everything. Bread, water refills, and the bill. Each time we had to interrupt her side conversation she was having with some guy in the restaurant. The food was decent but I started to question if everything was homemade after the owner told another group the dessert was store bought. Very disappointing first dinner in Boston. read more

I have eaten at La Summa quite a bit in the past and have had always had good food until tonight. My husband and I ordered arancini for an appetizer which was good. My husband got chicken parm which he liked and I got pollo limone. My chicken was bland and there were green and red peppers which were not supposed to be there in my dish which made the sauce ( which had no limone I could taste) and the pasta taste like peppers and over powered the entire dish. It is safe to say I will most likely not come back as I was very disappointed to spend money on that less than pleasurable dish. Not sure if they have a new cook or not, but I was surprised as I have loved every other dish I have eaten at La Summa in the past. Was so bummed! :( read more

Really enjoyed La Summa. Fantastic Sicilian dishes prepared with fresh ingredients. Very good service and friendly atmosphere. Portions were the perfect size. Enjoyed the fresh bacon wrapped figs seasonal appetizer. Our dinners were delicious. Met the owner Barbara who was born and raised in Boston North End. You can tell she pours her traditional local love into this restaurant. Highly recommend. read more

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Great place for italian food and a nice quiet break from the busy tourist street just a short walk away. The owner was excellent to talk to and the service was great. read more

My wife and I were recommended to try La Summa for dinner by a local business down the street during our visit to Boston. We could not have been happier with our experience! Service was great and atmosphere was warm and cozy! I had the The chicken Parmesan served with homemade pasta and it was easily the best I have ever had! Would recommend to anyone who lives in or is visiting the area. read more

I went to La Summa last night for dinner and was very disappointed. The service was HORRIBLE. the waiter came to our table with food in his mouth and a napkin in his hand. He took our order without saying a word and then never came back to our table again. The waitress for the table next to us was more helpful than our own waiter. As for the food- It was ok. The pasta was cooked perfectly, but the sauce tasted like it came from a jar. its was blah. the veal was VERY chewy. Atmosphere- it was a family run restaurant with tons of pictures of the family members. it was nice inside- casual, but not too casual. Overall, there are so many other restaurants in the north end- DON'T waste your time trying La Summa. read more

I almost hate to write this review because I would like to keep this place as it is, uncrowded, friendly, unpretentious and usually there is no wait time. Being a North End resident, I have been to most of the restaurants around and I always end up back at La Summa. It is more casual, less expensive and far more friendly than some of its pricier counterparts. They give you a normal portion as well and don't sacrifice quality for quantity; if you are looking for gigantic family style portions, this isn't the place. The staff is extremely friendly and doesn't rush you through your meal or make you feel like you are an imposition holding up a table like you do at some places. The fresh pasta dishes are really fantastic and usually they have some sort of delectable seafood dish as a special. I recommend the eggplant paparadelle as it is one of the house specialties. You don't go to La Summa for frills, you go there for good food and good service in a comfortable environment. I mean when you walk in, you come face to face with family photos-fantastic! read more

Some of the most legit Italian food I have ever had and I'm glad it was because we were in little Italy in Boston. Great vibe and service, the food was killer and I would go back for sure if I'm ever in Boston again. The best thing about the end of the night was a group of older gentlemen were sitting down and they turned out to be singers or something; the one dude sung in Italian and it was great. Everyone in the place was clapping and cheering him on after he finished, something out of a movie and he did it for free of course; his wife and friends sat and watched him with smiles. Back to the food though, the pastas were all fresh and the gravy was great! keep up the great work! read more

Very cute, authentic Italian restaurant in the North End. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Owner was onsite. Parking is typical Boston! The House Special was an excellent combination of so many different flavors in a wonderful white wine sauce. Pasta Spinachi was in a very rich cream sauce. Portions were the perfect size. We don't drink but they had an extensive wine list. read more

Amazing service, very attentive and kind. The food is incredible. We started with the Arancini and stuffed mushrooms, both great and easy to share. For mains we ordered the pasta spinaci, mussels, manicotti, arugula salad, and the special of the evening: tortellini with shrimp and scallops in tomato cream sauce. We had the house red which went well with everything. Would recommend to anyone. read more

My husband and I were very well taken care of when we had dinner at La Summa. We made a reservation, which was completely unnecessary as the restaurant only had a couple of other parties when we arrived and for most of our meal, we were the only people in the restaurant. We had the raviolo appetizer, which was delicious. The entrees were unfortunately not as good. I had the seafood pasta dish, which lacked flavor. I should have gone with my first choice of chicken parm. read more

Definitely a top choice in the North End. Anyone claiming the prices here aren't reasonable has clearly never eaten at a restaurant in Boston. If you like fettucini alfredo, please don't miss out on theirs, it's the best I've come across hands-down. Also, don't miss the arancini, stuffed mushrooms and the ricotta pie for dessert (if they have it that night). read more

La Summa is a super cute authentic Italian restaurant right off the hustle and bustle and Hanover St on Fleet St. Being off Hanover St it is a bit quieter, and I can definitely appreciate that it is less touristy than many of the other restaurants in the area. I dined here recently for a family member's birthday and we had a wonderful experience. The ambiance is nice and cozy, although not too cozy. The server was great and very accommodating, allowing us to order things that were not necessarily on the menu. We started with the Funghi Ripieni ($10) which were mushrooms brimming to the top with a cheesy bread crumb stuffing. They were liked by all, and the portion size was nice for sharing. The menu for entrees is pretty basic, with your typical Italian entrees. I ordered the Pappardelle e Melanzane ($15.95) which was fresh wide noodle pasta gently tossed with thin pieces of eggplant and flavored with basil and garlic in a marinara sauce. Others at my table ordered the gnocchi, ($15.95), which I enjoyed tasting as it was pillowy and fluffy, and the Pollo Limone ($17.95) which was a large piece of chicken breast coated in an egg batter in a lemon butter sauce. We ordered the tiramisu and tartufo for dessert, and you really can't go wrong with either. The tiramisu was airy and light, but the tartufo was also filled with great flavors! Overall, a nice spot to visit in the North End for an authentic Italian meal. read more

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I was not expecting this place to be so good I thought it was just another tourist trap I am from Boston and Im Italian so I tend to be a little over critical. We got the arancinis they were ok I like a different style but my husband really enjoyed them I prefer umbertos. Then we had manicotti and rabe with sausage and fresh fusili both were perfect we gobbled them down with two glasses of red wine. We had tiramisu for desert I was not impressed the chocolate syrup reminded me of Hershey syrup. The bread was ok but I think they can do better and maybe some good olive oil on the table for the bread also the menu needs work its too long and it could use some tweaking. I told you I was over critical I will stop now. The service was very good and friendly. read more

a pleasant place off the exhaustive main drag. ridiculously over-air-conditioned, though. 60? good heavens, that's arctic. the olive oil is as bland as skin conditioner without fragrance. the grilled sausage with broccoli raab was very nice. I had it without pasta because Jiminy cricket, who needs those carbs? they were very kind about giving me extra green stuff to make up for the gaping pasta hole. I had a bite of the homemade pasta from my boyfriend's plate, though. as bland as a boyfriend looking over your shoulder and correcting your typing errors as you write a yelp review. "semicolon," he says, pointing at the screen. well, at least the texture of pasta is pleasing. I'm sure most people would like it. most people with a pancreas. but you can always chew on packing noodles for mouth feel and save yourself the metabolic disorder. read more

really good place. I'm half Italian and always so disappointed with the North End scene. This place was a nice change: no wait, good size dishes and ok prices. We got the stuffed peperoni but it was nothing special. Entrees and dessert were very good though. I really felt as if I was eating something I could not cook myself. On top of that, the waiter gave us great advice throughout the night too (wine/ dessert). Will def go back. read more

The food was excellent!! I got the fettuchini alfredo.. Best pasta and sauce that I have ever had. They actually make their own pasta. It is quaint and family owned which i also love. The staff is really nice. There was also a guy going around playing the guitar and singing in italian to tables which was pretty cool. Also, a plus is that if you pay in cash you receive 10% off the bill. There was one downside that i noticed. When my boyfriend and I were finished eating we had to wait more than 10 minutes for the bill and then once we received the bill and were ready to pay we had to wait more then another 10 minutes for the waiter to return which was frustrating. This is why i rated 4 instead of 5 stars. Overall great place. read more

Well if you've read any of my other reviews, you know I'm a pretty positive person...., however, I'm going negative on this one. I was on a recent business trip in the great town of Boston, with my wife accompanying me. We love Italian food and were looking forward to trying one of the 79 Italian restaurants in Boston's Little Italy. Kinda like on the craps table, sometimes you "crap out," and we did with this choice. To the point - the glass of house Merlot, was average at best, a little "vinegary," both of our pasta dishes were bland and the pasta was soft, and overcooked, as were the vegetables in my dish. My wife felt she was "picking pasta out of a soup." She had pasta with seafood, broccoli and a few other vegetables; I had pasta with Italian sausage, red peppers and broccoli in an light, olive oil base. We were both really disappointed. The other odd thing was that the waiter didn't come by once to see how we were doing. I don't believe he was too busy, because the place was only about half full. I'm sorry to write this, but this was our experience. We wouldn't return, nor would we recommend this restaurant to family or friends. I hope La Summa was just "off their game" this particular night. read more

a round of meals, no appetizers, one bottle of wine, handful of beers - $240 guess that's not bad - but sometimes paying $15-$20 for pasta and tomato sauce feels like a total con. still, it's not nearly as crowded as Hanover St - the wait service has been fiarly consistent - and the taste, while occassionally heavy on the EVOO, is still pretty solid. and atmosphere - functional rather than funky. are there better places in the North End? definitely are they all worth fighting through the tourists to get a seat - probably not. read more

Went here with family for New Year's Eve. Waiter was rude and snippy. Gave us quick answers and talked to us like we were stupid. Strike 1. Brushchetta was more like cheesy bread and less like Brushchetta. Strike 2. Stuffed mushrooms were ok. Chicken marsala (not called that on the menu) was good. Veal parm was gross. The red sauce was bland and tasteless. The selection of food was poor and the emptyness of the restaraunt reflects the quality of the food. 730pm on NYE and the place was only half full with no waiting. This place is not up to North End standards! read more

Yum! I had the gnocchi & split a bottle of wine with my companions. The atmosphere is calm & friendly (none of the frenetic nonsense that is so common on Hanover St). Service is quick & efficient & the portions generous. My group lingered over the bottle of wine and was not rushed, which made our whole experience even better. I'm looking forward to returning. read more

We live in Boston and went to Yelp for recommendations on a "solid" Italian restaurant in the North End for dinner. While the restaurant was very "homey" and had pretty decent service, the food was decidedly over salted. My boyfriend had the Seafood Risotto and the Risotto was well, pretty much like mush. He said the seafood was good, but the Risotto was very disappointing. Sorry that we won't be back. read more

Wine and dined here the other night. Service was great. Had spicy italian sausage pasta, clams served w white wine, and red wine to drink. Delish! Perfect for regular dinner with fam and friends read more

I've been here several times over the past 5+ years and this is probably one of the most underrated restaurants in the neighborhood. It's also a bit quieter and less chaotic since it's slightly off the main street. Outside is cute with the awning and lights. Decor inside is nothing special. Service is very good, portions and pours are generous, and food is good. The eggplant pappardelle is one of my favorites but I think all of the pastas I've had were good. Went with a large group a while back and everyone was really happy. read more

I always take my girlfriend here on her birthday. The ambiance is fantastic and the staff was very helpful. Whenever I am here, I order the Pappardelle E Melanzane and it never fails to impress. Being from Boston, I can assure you that this is the true North End. Leave behind the tourists and long lines on Hanover to come to this gem, our favorite! read more

The food was really good. Service was good. The arrancini was delicious. I think I can just eat that all day long. Ceaser salad was ordinary. Ordered the home made papardelle, I think I would prefer it with less marinara, the pasta itself tasted home made and yummy. My husband ordered the house special, it was tasty but had way too many green onion slices... read more

Nice little place tucked away in the North End. I had the stuffed calamari (ordered it spicy!) and it was divine. I ate every last bite. We also ordered the mussels as an appetizer and loved those, as well. The sauce from the mussels was perfect for dipping their yummy crusty bread! Very reasonably priced to boot! read more

I went here on a date & this place is a hidden gem. I purposely had us not walk on Hanover St to avoid the crowds & long lines. I had the pasta w eggplant & he had the chicken marsala. It was delicious. They weren't too busy for a Fri night so we totally lucked out & got to sit by the window. Definitely worth checking out when you need some place off the beaten path. Glad it wasn't expensive either, very well done at this place. read more

Had dinner here with some out of town friends, we were all looking for simple and old-school Italian in the N. End. They only have beer/wine, and very limited wines by the glass. 3 reds to be exact. We started with the mussels and they were awesome. I had the veal piccata and it was delish - one of the better ones I've had. The meat was not overwhelming, the sauce was light and the pasta homemade. My friend had the special chicken and it was to die for!!! 2 others had the seafood dish with lobster and seemed to love it! It's a small restaurant, not much to the decor, but warm and exactly what we were looking for! Make sure you look at the menu closely to be sure you're getting the homemade pasta.... read more

I went to have dinner with some friends at La Summa this weekend. I had the capri salad and it could have been a little better if the tomatoes were in season. We also had the fresh ravioli app. that was super yummy! The portions are very large and you just can't mess up Italian food on the north end. Our waiter was ok but could not give us a wine recommendation. read more