Lo Conte's Restaurant

Food: linguine with clams in white sauce, hubby had chicken parm and DD had spaghetti with marinara…read moresauce. The linguine sauce was just ok but not better than my local place in Las Vegas. I loved that it came with fresh delicious baked bread and olives. The olives were a nice twist. Service: was fantastic. We were running 10-15 minutes late for our reservation and I called and they said no problem. We arrived and it was absolutely packed and they honored our reservation. I really appreciated that! Ambiance: lots of intimate tables close together. We got the added treat of being serenaded by a lovely duo that sang a few operatic songs. Very impressive! Not sure I'd be back when there are so many places to try and food was just ok.

We actually had reservations down the street but got hungry early and the other place wasn't open…read moreyet. So we canceled there and swung in Limoncello on a whim. Safe to say we are glad that we did. The entire experience top to bottom was stellar. Greeting at the door, service throughout, food, atmosphere. Got the scallops to start with along with a Caesar to share. I ordered the rosette al montasio ed olio di tartufo and my mom ordered the veal piccata. My pasta dish also happened to be the special of the evening. Unlike anything I've ever had and unlike anything I likely will have again. The most melt in your mouth homemade pasta rolled with prosciutto, mushrooms and montasio cheese, baked and finished in a tomato cream sauce and truffle oil. Three huge rosettes! I could only eat one and a half, even though I wanted more. My stomach simply wouldn't let me. If you're a wine lover, they had the most lovely collection and could direct you to anything you are looking for. I liked that this restaurant was around the corner from the main strip of North End so it wasn't quite as hectic.

Interior

Chicken Parmesan

See all

Exterior

Cafe Amaro

4.3(89 reviews)

Most amazing pizza in Boston and even Italy. We had the fig and prosciutto pizza. WOW!read more

Very disappointing experience. To be clear, I understand that bringing outside food into a…read morerestaurant is generally not permitted, especially when they sell desserts themselves. My issue was not the policy, but how it was handled. We walked in carrying a Mike's Pastry box in plain sight, placed it on the table, and ordered two amaros and a Coke. The waiter greeted us, saw the box, and never mentioned the policy. We then opened it and began sharing a cannoli with our 3 year old son while staff could clearly see us. A few minutes later, a large group walked in. I heard the person who appeared to be the manager or owner comment to the staff that we were "three people for two tables and only two amaros." Shortly afterward, our waiter was instructed to tell us we could not eat the cannoli. Had someone simply told us when we arrived that outside food was not allowed, we would have gladly put it away or gone somewhere else. Instead, nothing was said until after we had ordered and our son had already started eating. The staff later explained that this happens frequently because Mike's is directly across the street. If that is the case, communicating the policy when customers arrive carrying outside food seems like a simple solution. The policy is completely reasonable. The communication and customer service were disappointing.

Kitchen area

Prosciutto and Fig pizza

See all

Broccoli rabe pizza

Bricco

4.0(1.6k reviews)

Decent, not bad, so many options here in Boston, this was a rec from the rental car guy haha…read more Espresso martini was bomb probably best thing we got 9/10 strong and flavorful Berry cocktail was ok, 7/10 prob would skip next time Ricotta pillows were good! Wish it had more protein solid 8.5/10 Filet minon valid, 8.5/10 Oysters were yummy wish they gave more haha 8.5/10 Fries were delicious and crispy Cheesecake was ok! The food took SO LONG. I won't lie. We got here around 7:45/8 and didn't get our food until like 9pm. Parking is TERRIBLE after 6pm omg. Permits or $40+ valet only, their website has parking garage suggestion tho so we did that!!! Overshoot your time to avoid a late fee

Bricco missed several marks and will not be added to my list of locations to return to…read more We made a reservation for later in the evening knowing that we wanted to experience the "must try" espresso martinis and notated in the comments that we were coming for drinks. When we pulled up our reservation to confirm the time, we found that it had been cancelled without any communication at all. After calling the restaurant to see if something had happened, the host commented that the manager decided to cancel because we had notated we were coming in for drinks. No where on the website or OpenTable app does it say this is not allowed. Nor did the manager reach out via text or call to confirm or follow up before cancelling. We had already decided we would be getting appetizers and possible dinner as well so they did allow us to rebook when we called to inquire. The waiter was attentive and the waters were kept filled which we appreciated. It is worth notating that the Ceaser salad is not a traditional salad and their version just shows you why it's a classic for a reason. The bibb lettuce was wilted and the heavy pour/toss of dressing did nothing but weigh the salad down and make it slimy. The "crispy ricotta polpettes" while great in theory, missed the mark of complimenting the salad and instead seemed like a cold hush puppy that was more cornmeal forward than ricotta. The real reason we came, the espresso martini still held our attention and we were hoping that the best was yet to come. We each ordered an espresso martini and while our preferences range when it comes to the perfect cocktail, we all agreed this was not the way to do it. This is more reminiscent of a liquid mudslide than an espresso martini (calling it that, is taking very creative liberty). Despite the glass being rimmed with espresso powder, the cocktail lacked the espresso profile we were looking for and the different alcohols used were all fighting to be tasted above the other. A disappointing experience and lack of professionalism by the manager.

See all

Now Pouring Wine Bar

4.4(11 reviews)

0.3 mi•West End

I come in there almost every day and this super nice woman, Laura, always fills up my water bottle…read moreon the house. Makes my day!

Located in Hub Hall, we stopped at Now Pouring Wine Bar for some drinks after spending the day in…read moreSalem. It's small but just right. We sat on bar stools, chatted, and drank some beer and cider. No complaints. Loved the ambiance of the place, especially seeing as it was right next to Mike's Pastry. It was easy to get a cannoli and a drink all in one go.

Drinks.

See all

Trattoria Il Panino

3.8(800 reviews)

Came in for a lunch after being recommended by our tour guide. This place is homey, full of…read morecharacter with original grandma recipes, modern hospitality and an old world charm. Stand outs was the eggplant Parmesan, spaghetti carbonara and the tiramisu. Friendly and professional service.

Unfortunately, this was probably one of the worst Italian dining experiences I have had. I have…read morebeen cooking for over 40 years, and I absolutely know the difference between pasta that is properly al dente and pasta that simply is not cooked. The pasta we were served was undercooked, and when we brought it to their attention, we were told that it was "al dente." It wasn't. Beyond the food, the entire experience felt extremely rushed. It seemed much more focused on turning tables and getting people in and out than allowing guests to actually enjoy an Italian meal. The restaurant was incredibly loud, overcrowded, and anything but relaxing. When I go out for Italian food--especially in Boston's North End--I expect great pasta, hospitality, and an atmosphere where I can sit down and enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, this restaurant missed the mark on all three. There are far too many wonderful Italian restaurants in the North End to settle for an experience like this. I would recommend finding somewhere else to eat.

See all

Haley Henry Wine Bar

4.3(248 reviews)

0.5 mi•Downtown

This place was awesome! The food was delicious and I loved the wine selection. The service was…read moretop notch and very helpful. Loved sitting outside on a cool Boston evening. Perfect!

Haley Henry Wine Bar is a solid spot for a relaxed but elevated wine night. I went on a Wednesday…read moreevening without a reservation and had no problem getting seated right away for a table of two, which was a great start. The wine selection is excellent and thoughtfully curated -- whites, reds, bubbles, orange wines, and more, so there's truly something for every palate. My friend and I both ordered a red, and it was absolutely perfect. Our server was super friendly and attentive, and she even offered a few samples so we could try before committing to a full glass, which we really appreciated. For food, we shared the hot dog with fried oysters to pair with the wine, and it was surprisingly delicious and a fun, elevated bar bite. Overall, the experience was fantastic -- great wine, great service, and a comfortable atmosphere. Pricing is definitely on the higher end, with wine glasses around $20 and the hot dog at $14, but the quality and experience justify it. I'd absolutely come back for another wine night.

Inside

Cheese & charcuterie - the pistachio butter is unreal

See all

Cheese & Charcuterie - such a perfect small bite!

Casarecce

4.3(504 reviews)

I just had the best chicken parmigiana I've ever had in my life…read more I've been living for 23 days in the Boston area and have had a lot of Italian food. We were a little nervous as they weren't busy like some other restaurants in the North End, but my family and I were pleasantly surprised with how just solid food the food was! They make their pasta fresh in-house and it's just amazing. Their chicken parmigiana was not dry or overcooked. Their spaghetti and meatballs was classic but not basic tasting. We had 4 of us eating dinner and it was all so good! Their menu isn't very big but they rocked everything we ordered. PLUS - they are one of few places in the North End that are actually pretty handicap accessible. There's a ramp to go in the front door (most have a ledge or stairs) and the restroom is on the same level, not downstairs like other places. My child is in a wheelchair so we take note and appreciate the efforts.

This is a cute place in little Italy in Boston and a great spot if you are looking for a small,…read morecozy dinner. This place had some of the best Italian food I have had. I had the mushroom ravioli and it was delicious. So fresh, so flavorful and the pasta was delicious. The staff was attentive and helpful. We ate here on a Friday night and had a reservation which I highly recommend as it was packed. We had to squeeze by folks to get to our table and the back of my chair was hitting the person behind me. It made for a high energy environment with a lot of hustle and bustle, but if you are looking for a quiet, intimate dinner than this may not be the place. Overall though the food was really good and I still think this is a solid option in Boston.

Cozy but delicious!!!

See all

Pasta time

Giacomo's Ristorante - Boston

4.1(4.5k reviews)

You might accidentally walk past this cute Italian ristorante...and you would regret it. I walked…read morearound the area for a while before settling at a table by the window in Giacomo's. I was quickly greeted and informed that they were cash-only dining. But fret not, for just inside the doorway is a perfectly placed ATM. It took only a few seconds for me to pinpoint the exact item on the menu that my stomach was craving and my eyes fixed upon...Antipasto for an appetiser and chicken Marsala for the entree. The antipasto dish arrived very quickly and was a beautiful layout. Of course I desired to save some room for the entree but ended up eating about 3/4 of the appetiser before it arrived. The chicken marsala was absolutely perfect, still steaming on the plate as she placed it before me. I told myself I would only eat half the dish and take the rest back to my hotel for snacking later. However, my taste buds are not allow me to stop feasting on this Italian delicacy. If you're ever in the area, don't worry about the other Italian restaurants in the downtown, although I am sure that they are well and good, but Giacomo's is well worth your consideration. My only regret is that I only have one more night here to try another one of their delectable dishes.

Wait wasn't too long on a Friday night…read more I enjoyed the texture of the fusilli and it certainly was a hearty bowl of pasta. Beyond that though, nothing remarkable. Portion size was decent although prices are not cheap (just entree alone will be minimum $30). They specialize in seafood so the only protein options that weren't seafood were chicken or veal. There weren't too many apps that caught my eye, particularly lacking veggies. Service is on the ruder side. They automatically add 20% tip to your bill.

More menu

See all

Open dining room

Panza

3.8(1.6k reviews)

I'm genuinely surprised that the reviews are not that good... This place is excellent!…read more Very attentive, kind staff

I was little skeptical to try this restaurant because of their rating but please do not be fooled,…read moreif you are looking for good Italian food you absolutely need to go here!! My family went to Italy last summer so we are well versed in authentic Italian food, and this place has it. The meal started with bread and oil, and balsamic vinegar upon our request. We ordered the burrata, bruschetta, and mushroom goat cheese spring rolls as appetizers, and all were delicious but not too filling before our entrees. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli. I was expecting a fairly small amount of ravioli, but they also gave me a TON of roasted squash to supplement them! They were tender, flavorful, and had an amazing browned butter sauce that I wanted to drink. The spinach ricotta ravioli, seafood pappardelle pasta, baked ziti, and veal panza were also ordered by my family and enjoyed immensely. The service was fast and attentive, and the restaurant setting/ambiance allowed us to forget we were in Boston for a moment and pretend we were back in Italy. Will be returning!

Interior

Bruschetta

See all

Cheers to spending time with my son!

Artu

3.5(523 reviews)

An amazing taste of Italy right in the heart of Boston!…read more Overwhelmed by all of the different food choices for a late lunch, we remembered a recommendation to go to Artu. A quick bite of homemade meatballs and lobster ravioli with some wine really hit the spot. Our server was very helpful with explaining to us a few of the wines we were considering and what they would pair best with.

I love this restaurant and whenever I visit Boston, I plan for a dinner here. I always get the Veal…read moreParm (best I have ever had) but my wife works her way around the menu. Last night she had chicken with white wine, prosciutto, mushrooms and fontina cheese. Fabulous. Service was great. Two dinners with one drink each was $96 plus tip. Atmosphere is upscale but not white tablecloth.

Meatball App

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

18 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Jade N.

14 years ago

If I could give this restaurant 0 stars I most definitely would. I have NEVER had such a horrid dining experience. My mother and I happened to walk into this restaurant on good note from some of her coworkers in the north end and were pretty excited to try it out. Upon entering we had to literally search out a waiter who simply shooed us to the nearest table and threw the menus down at us. We were starving so we put up with the extreme inattentive waiter and the fact that a larger table who had arrived much later than ours received both their food first and much kinder service. Our order came to $72 and we left an $8 tip for the waiter who said less than 20 words total to us, all very rudely might I add. He threw the tip down on our table and demanded we pay him 15% of the bill and how despicable we were for not doing so already. My mother explained that being in the business herself you receive a tip based on your qualities as a server, it is not a set number. He left with the tip after dropping a few nasty comments and the entire small dining hall was staring at us. Embarrassed, we collected our things when the friendlier staff waiter came over and told us that the man had been working at the restaurant for 20 years and hasn't received a complaint. We said the food was good, which it was, aside from the stone cold bread, but what he did was completely rude and absolutely unprofessional. The man then began explaining that this is how it works in the north end and waiters don't just "cut their losses". They will stand their ground. This was completely ridiculous. We felt completely uncomfortable as we walked out of the restaurant and the servers told us to never come back. We never raised our voices with these servers and complimented their food accordingly and only mentioned the incompetent wait staff after being put on the spot in front of the entire dining hall. It was completely juvenile. I would advise no one to ever set foot in this restaurant unless you enjoy being treated like a doormat. read more

Mario M.

3 years ago

It's-a me, Mario, and I gotta tell ya, I had quite the adventure at Lo Conte's Italian restaurant. First off, we had a reservation, but we waited and waited outside like poor lost Goombas while being totally ignored. To top it off, the busser had us lug our own water upstairs - talk about a Koopa Troopa move! Once inside, they shoved us in a corner with long, dirty tables, right next to a family munchin' on their spaghetti. No windows, and the floor, mamma mia, was so sticky you'd think you were trapped in a Piranha Plant's lair! Now, the bolognese, oh boy, it was as bland as a Toad without a hat. No seasoning, cooked in plain oil, tons of tomato paste, and no meat in sight. It's-a me, Mario, but I couldn't even recognize what was in it. Maybe they used canned marinara? And they called it penne, but it was ziti, didn't hold the sauce at all - I needed a ladle, not a fork! The only saving grace was the special chicken and sausage Mateo. Sure, the sauce did the splits halfway through, and it was sauce-heavy, but the chicken and sausage were like power-ups, and it worked well with the linguine. Overall, Lo Conte's had a terrible vibe, terrible food, and felt like a trap, just like a Bowser's Castle. Save your coins and find another kingdom to feast in! read more

Manlio L.

19 years ago

I should first admit that i'm a little bit biased, because i'm related (distantly) to the people that own the restaurant, and i share a name with the place. that being said, this is still one of my favorite places for italian food in boston. the portions are large. very large. i usually get an appetizzer and an entree and don't finish either one. the wine selection is pretty good, though i'm by no means a wine afficianado, and the service is very friendly. not a great place for the weekends (crowded), but it's a wonderful spot for dinner on the weeknights. read more

Colin T.

10 years ago

If you're a sadomasochist with a hankering for abuse and a delicious chicken parm, look no further! First let's share a quote from the owner: "I don't want to see your face again". This was to a woman behind us who was politely addressing the terribly slow service. If he said that to my loved ones, I would have slapped his fresh mouth. This guy is a grade A jerk. A true piece of garbage who knows that because of his location, he'll always have guests. It should be a crime the way he treats customers. I hate to say it - food was fantastic. read more

Cristina F.

12 years ago

Boston's best kept secret! We eat out all the time,and overall choices of food and food quality ranks #1. Soon they are adding a new bar down stairs! I'd say to any doubters try it again and another dish! Tell me of a better restaurant so far this is my favorite red sauce rules! Best chix Parm & saltimboca, along with man othr great dishes!!! It can get busy and noisy on weekends but that should be expected as this gem gets more discovered!---Johnny K from NH read more

Sonja C.

8 years ago

We went up to Boston and had to try the North End. When the restaurant we wanted to eat at didn't have our reservation in the system we stumbled upon loconte's. Oh wow were we happy! The food was old school home cooked Italian, and the staff were so atentive and warm. This place is a few blocks off of Hanover Street nestled in a pretty little part of The North End. I highly recommend, entire experience was exactly what we wanted, and then some. read more

Alan M.

5 years ago

This place will knock your socks off every single time. I have been coming in regularly for several years now. The staff is always on top of it and friendly without being overbearing with how often they check up on you. Every dish on the menu is brilliantly authentic and unique, the wine selection is fantastic and the price is completely reasonable given the absolutely massive portions. read more

Gabriel G.

166

123

152

13 years ago

I eat at Loconte's numerous times and I always liked the casual atmosphere and generous sized dishes at affordable prices. I can not understand the "one start" reviews below :( Sometimes I have the impression that most of yelpers are professional complainers that are chasing down small businesses when they don't have anything better to do ... lol read more

Danny F.

11 years ago

This has been my go to spot in the North End since I can remember. Food is great. Staff is pleasant and courteous. I haven't tried many other places in the North End because I can't seem to not go here. Portions are huge and price is right on par! Can't beat this place. read more

Jonathan L.

11 years ago

Wow!!! I have lived here for years and never went here, this place is the best and can't believe it took this long to find it. Definitely a joint for locals which is nice... read more

Chris L.

2 years ago

Delicious Traditional Italian feel good food Mmmm The warm welcome and the cozy surround Make this my forever go to place :) Mangia Mangia Manigia read more

Demetrios K.

4 years ago

Good food Good service Good ambiance Didn't wait to be seated restaurant was full and was clean read more

Eat T.

12 years ago

excellent a definite yes. very very good service food wonderful please go and check it out

Chris C.

116

8 years ago

Food was fantastic. I don't know why it wasn't more busy. I would absolutely come back.

Jeff B.

11 years ago

Our "go-to" spot in the North End. Always a favorite and they take reservations.

Maggie S.

14 years ago

the best in n. end always see bruins here eating too.

Paul M.

376

116

16 years ago

Not good at all, real waste of a trip.

Michael B.

16 years ago

The best place in the North End!

Lo Conte's Restaurant - italian - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Restaurants near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Coffee near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Things to Do near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Desserts near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Parking near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Cocktail Bars near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Pizza near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Dinner near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Shopping near Lo Conte's Restaurant

BEST of Boston, Massachusetts Wineries near Lo Conte's Restaurant

Best of Boston

Things to do in Boston

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Lo Conte's Restaurant also viewed

Vinoteca di Monica

3.6

(640 reviews)

I came here for brunch. Amazing French toast! Great service at the bar. Friendly customers too.read more

I stopped in for a luncheon meal. I had a gift card to use up. It was my first visit to this…read morelocation . I ordered the meatballs and pasta. The salad with pear. 2 Peroni beers and over 70 bucks add tip ... 85 bucks ... wasn't worth the cost The bread was fresh with a ranch dipping sauce . The Salad was 18 bucks and few walnuts, a few slices pear. I need more dressing which was very good . I would have like romaine lettuce instead. The pasta in red sauce with meatballs wasn't worth 28 bucks. Pasta didn't taste homemade . Meatballs small and didn't have flavor . The blend with pork didn't go well with the red sauce .. a vodka or Alfredo would have been better. Draft Peronis beers were 11 bucks each. Nice bar atmosphere The server female bartender was very hospitable .

Casarecce

4.3

(504 reviews)

Pappare Ristorante & Bar

4.4

(84 reviews)

Tried Pappare for the first time a few weeks ago and very happy with the decision. We wanted to try…read morea new spot, and we happened to land on this one. Portions are just right in my opinion. Everything tasted fresh. Started arancini and bruschetta - both were tasty! Chicken parm with house-made pasta hit all the right notes. Shrimp scampi was very good, not overly garlicky, good size shrimp. Chicken risotto came with a generous portion of risotto and chicken cutlets in a marsala sauce. Saved room for dessert amazingly, and couldn't pass up the cranberry bread pudding, which was fantastic. Perfect balance of sweet and tart, with vanilla gelato to tie it all together. Will definitely return in the future to sample other menu items.

This was our first meal after landing in Boston, and it was exactly what I was hoping for. I wanted…read moreto find a great neighborhood Italian restaurant and Peppare absolutely hit the mark. When we first arrived, the restaurant was fairly quiet. As we settled in, though, there was a steady stream of people stopping in for drinks, and by the time we were leaving, the place had noticeably filled up. The crowd seemed to be mostly locals, and I got the sense that many of them were regulars working their way through the menu one visit at a time. That's always a good sign. We started with a salad that was beautifully prepared. It wasn't overdressed, just lightly tossed with a delicious vinaigrette that let the ingredients shine. For our mains, the chicken parm was excellent--crispy, flavorful, and comforting without feeling heavy. The gnocchi was equally impressive. The dumplings were tender and pillowy, and the pesto tasted incredibly fresh, as if it had just been made that day. It's a simple dish when done well, and this version was done very well. I'd order it again and again.

Nico Ristorante

4.0

(762 reviews)

For years I have dined in the North End and somehow never eaten at Nico's…read more A small resturant right on Hanover Street, so parking is a premium. You should make a reservation if its a weekend night. We went on a Saturday, were seated promptly at a glorious table. Service was beyond outstanding. The server, I think his name was Gerard, was outstanding. The meal moved smoothly. When we finished with the appetizers, those plates went away and the entrees came. Very professional. We ate the eggplant stack as an appetizer. Very well contructed. The eggplant was crisp and nicely seasoned. For entrees I had the cacio e pepe prepared at the table. The pasta was divine. Creamy, with a bite of pepper. Exquisitely prepared. My friend had eggplant parm, the portion was huge and was enough for three meals. As with many restuarants they do not serve desserts but Mike's is down the street. The ambiance is lively, and on a Saturday night, a bit loud. Overall, 5 stars -- if you want excellent service and food -- run to Nico's. Superb.

Small intimate and cozy place at the far end of Hanover St. Bar tender was super nice and provided…read moregreat service. I started with the meatball appetizer. It was amazing! Super tender and tasted divine. I ordered the Rigatoni alla Vodka as my entree. It was very good as well. Problem was the meatball was so big, I didn't have much of an appetite left. You have to try this place when visiting the North End.

Monica's Trattoria

3.6

(649 reviews)

What went well: service was attentive and fast. Food: mixed meats and cheese platter was really…read moregood. Freshly sliced cured meats, a good cheese selection, olives, stuffed peppers & pickles. The meatballs were moist and flavorful. The cook on the pasta was also good. What left something to be desired- the caprese consisted of tomatoes at were not ripe, which to me is a miss- it's September. There are ripe yummy tomatoes out there. The spaghetti & clams were not the way I prefer- there was a lot of butter/fat in the sauce, vs more wine/clam juice. The mussels were inconsistent, the broth flavor was good, but some mussels were over cooked, while others perfect. Last- they sat us in the back near the kitchen on a warmer night, when there were tables open near the front. I made a reservation so seemed odd to seat us in the back corner.

We stumbled upon this place since the Mercato has a long wait. Apparently they are owned by…read morebrothers. The fresh pasta was yummy - we had a seafood pasta, chicken Parmesan and a grilled shrimp pasta. They were all very fresh and tasty. We appreciated the bread that we used to soak up all the extra sauce ! We sat downstairs and appreciated being able to see pasta being made on the bottom floor where the bathrooms are. Service was friendly. We loved the coconut macaroon and pistachio macaroon and "Lacey" type cookie at at Bova next door. Much less crowded and touristy compared to mikes bakery.

Villa Francesca

3.0

(582 reviews)

Food is delicious. We had the caprese, caesar salad, garlic bread, shrimp scampi, ravioli and pesto…read morepasta. All were excellent. Our server was efficient and attentive. Place is small and got packed on a Friday. Make a reservation. There is a small bar as well and drinks were tasty.

We had a 6 PM reservation for four and arrived on time, with three of our four guests present. We…read morewere informed that we couldn't be seated until our entire party arrived, which is understandable and a policy I can respect. However, what was disappointing was the repeated questioning from the gentleman managing the front about when our fourth guest would arrive, despite only about ten minutes having passed. It felt unnecessarily pushy and wasn't the most welcoming start to our evening. Once seated, we ordered cocktails and dinner. Unfortunately, the service throughout the evening felt inconsistent and poorly coordinated. Two members of our party received their entrées noticeably later than the others, with my father-in-law's dish arriving last. For a table of four, I would expect better timing and communication from the service team. As for the atmosphere, Villa Francesca is certainly lively, but the dining room is extremely tight and quite loud. Some may enjoy that energetic North End atmosphere, but personally, I found it more chaotic than charming. Overall, the experience felt more geared toward the tourist crowd than toward guests looking for a relaxed, well-executed Italian dining experience. Between the initial interaction at the door, uneven food service, and crowded atmosphere, I don't see myself returning. There are simply too many other restaurants in Boston worth exploring.

Cafe Amaro

4.3

(89 reviews)

Most amazing pizza in Boston and even Italy. We had the fig and prosciutto pizza. WOW!read more

Trattoria Il Panino

3.8

(800 reviews)

Lucia Ristorante

3.6

(915 reviews)

Stopped by during a quick trip to downtown Boston. The restaurant was pretty empty and we were sat…read moreright away. They served us bread and olive oil which tasted freshly made. For lunch I went with the tricolore that is listed as serving 2 people. In reality it could have easily served 3 people. You get a plate of spaghetti, tortellini, and gnocchi. Each one has a very distinct flavor and tastes like your Italian grandmother made it. It's a no frills dish, just good and hearty pasta with a subtle sauce. As someone who spent multiple summers in Italy, this is an authentic Italian experience. For dessert I went with a cannoli because why not. I could've easily eaten a plate of these but luckily I was full from my entree. The cannoli is not overly sweet and the shell is airy. I absolutely loved everything about this meal.

I came here with my travel companions after a long and exhausting day at our mushroom endive…read moreconvention at the Marriott Copley Place (review coming soon, avoid like the bubonic plague. I'll also be contacting the CDC regarding what appeared to be a Stachybotrys chartarum infestation) We arrived hungry, tired, and hopeful. We were seated and initially greeted by a kind server who, unfortunately turned sinister. We ordered our cocktails and a caprese salad to start. I blinked, and suddenly our appetizer had arrived... practically splattered on my lap and face. Our server walked by and practically launched the caprese salad onto our table with such force that the plate landed with a sound that could only be described as Hiroshima. Tomatoes scattered. Mozzarella shifted. My travel companion, who was recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy, sat there in stunned silence trying to process what had just occurred. Boston has approximately 47 Italian restaurants per square foot, so there is absolutely no reason to subject yourself to this one. Pasta can be found elsewhere. Mozzarella can be found elsewhere. Shut it down. Signed BOSS & CEO

BenCotto - Boston

4.2

(853 reviews)