I made a reservation for four a couple days in advanced, and I highly recommend you do the same. This is a pretty small restaurant (as are most restaurants in the North End) so prepare to be a little cramped, but that's the experience you expect and want. For a group of four, we definitely carbo-loaded and ordered wayyyy too much bread. We didn't realize that every table gets bread and oil to start, so we also ordered the Bruchetta and Garlic Bread. Don't get me wrong, it was all delicious, but having three slices of bread isn't exactly the light appetizer you want before a huge plate of pasta. We ordered the Ziti with Meatballs, Lobster Ravioli, Veal Tortellini and the Fettuccine with Lobster. I don't know if the portions were super large, or if it's the three slices of bread chilling in my stomach, but I barely finished half of my food. My friends loved their Lobster Ravioli and Veal Tortellini. I went halfsies with my friend over the Ziti and Lobster Fettuccine. The Ziti was very good with two HUGE meatballs, and the fettuccine had a generous portion of lobster. For the price, this is one of the best places I have been to in the North End. I would highly recommend the Bruschetta and Lobster Fettuccine, and I definitely want to go again to try a couple of their other popular dishes. read more

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The food at this restaurant was amazing! The atmosphere of the area is great. We started with Caesar salad and the braised short ribs; the braised short ribs was super tender and delicious and I try Caesar salads pretty much everywhere I go and this was hands down my favorite of any Caesar salad I've ever eaten. For dinner, had the ziti and my husband had the veal parmigiana and said it's the best he's had in a really long time. Highly recommend! read more

So good! We came for Valentine's Day and the the atmosphere and service was so nice. The food came in generous portions and tasty!

Heard about Panza through a search of a local Facebook group recommending restaurants in the North End. The hubby, a friend and I were looking to have an earlier dinner on a Saturday evening and hubby suggested we make a reservation. I was thinking it would be early enough that we wouldn't need one but now I'm glad we did call to make one (for 5:30 p). As we walked up to the door, a line had already formed on the street and it was standing room only in the little entryway. As I poked my head thru to the beginning of the line, I learned everyone waiting also had reservations and were waiting for an available table. I caught the eye of a server as I there really isn't a hostess stand, she took my name and said she'd be right back. We waited along with everyone in the tight entryway for under 10 minutes and the server called us in. The restaurant is fairly small (seats probably 60-70 people in two "rows" of tables of 2 to 4 on each side. We were seated along the left side (as you walk in) fairly close to the door and were thankful we didn't' have the seats right at the door as if would have felt that those waiting were standing on top of us and the breeze/cold air from the open door would have been uncomfortable. The menus were laid on the table as we were seated so as we pursued the menu, our server came over to offer drinks (we opted to stick with tap water) and she gave us a few minutes to decide on starters and our meals. We decided to each order a salad: 2 house salads and one Caesar. For entrees, the hubby ordered the gnocchi bolognese, our friend the beef and veal tortelloni and me, the linguine alla pescatore with the fra diavolo sauce. I had seen the photos of the alla pescatore in yelp so I already had my heart set on it. Complimentary rustic bread was served and the olive oil is already on the table in small shaker bottles. I love the rustic/crusty bread so I was very pleased. Our salads arrived shortly and the house salad was rather disappointing as it only contained mixed greens from a bag tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette ...nothing else, no tomatoes, onions, cucumbers or anything. A fairly sizable portion but no pizazz. I had the Caesar salad which was definitely more appealing than the house salad. It wasn't long before our entrees arrived. The hubby was very happy with his gnocchi - the gnocchi were pillowy tender with a very flavorful bolognese sauce. Our friend was happy with the taste of the beef and veal tortelloni but a bit disappointed in the scarcity of the meat filling in the tortelloni. My alla pescatore was fantastic - just the right amount of heat, fresh seafood and piping hot. The pictures did not disappoint! Our entree portions were generous and as we observed other tables, it seemed the baked ziti was a popular dish. We didn't end up with any leftovers but many diners around us did. Our water glasses never went empty as the servers and bus boys all covered each other's tables - a customer service bonus! Our server was friendly but since the restaurant was so busy, she wasn't much into chatting. Pros: excellent food, generous portions, attentive service, very fair prices. Cons: small restaurant, probably would not be able to get in without a reservation, very loud due to acoustics It's on our list as a "would definitely return"! read more

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From pricing; quality ; to location .. this place IS AMAZING!!!!! the food comes out relatively fast too !! One of my favorite Sunday nights go to as a broke law student !! read more

Made a reservation here based off of reviews I had seen. Currently during Covid, they have both outdoor dining and indoor dining although the outdoor dining is very limited. Although the outdoor dining was really nice, I was not a fan of how close the tables actually were to each other. The tables definitely were not at least 6 ft apart (more like 6-7 inches apart), I felt like I was eating right on top of people which made us a little uncomfortable. I understand space in the North End is limited but was not expecting the tables to be so close. Also, when we arrived for our reservation we could not find anyone that worked there to check in. Walked into the restaurant, looked around, said "hello". So we waited until someone came around. I guess the hostess/waiter was dining with one of the guests outside? for those 2 reasons, I am not giving a 5 star review. Other than that, I really enjoyed the food and the plates (even the appetizers) we a great portion size. They also have seasonal summer drinks, which we ordered. We both got their pina colada sangria. Sounds strange but it was really good! It tastes exactly like a piña colada but it was not a slush and the base was not rum but instead a white wine. Highly recommend trying it- it's a really large drink and it's only $10! What a deal! I will say if this particular drink doesn't peak your interest, they did have other seasonal drinks that sounded and looked very tasty as well. We also ordered the fried calamari for an appetizer. They have both an appetizer and meal portion. I'm curious as to what the meal portion looked like because even the appetizer portion was big! Big, but very tasty! I ordered the butternut squash tortellini. One word- YUM! The flavors just fit perfectly and the portion size was excellent. Just the right amount. My friend ordered the potato gnocchi bolognese, but did not seem to be a big fan. She said it was ok but she didn't really enjoy it and also didn't finish her meal. Overall, ranking for myself, I would go back. I really enjoyed everything I had and I hear the lobster ravioli is great! So that will have to be the next thing I try! I am left wondering if they have dessert because we never received a dessert menu or were asked if we wanted any and I do not see anything on their website or in the yelp photos. So keep that in mind if you're looking to top off your meal with dessert-although there are plenty of dessert places to go to in the North End read more

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Food was very solid for the price that it was. Service was great too for a 6pm dinner we were in and out in 40 minutes

North End is one my happy places. Every time I ever gone to Boston it's pretty much land, then North End. Been there while it's hot, while it's cold. This time was summer. Went to Panza on a co worker recommendation. I'm generally favorable on Panza. Ambiance: Nothing nice inside. And on a warm day it can be pretty hot inside. Especially as you are eating some great hot Italian food. Food: Burrata appetizer...$11. Nice and creamy. I had the fettuccine fra diavolo I thought it was awesome. Not a lot of seafood, but the sauce was perfect. Pasta cooked right. My wife had the matriciana. I live in S Florida, and frequent a place that goes to Italy in August (yes, you heard that right..the whole shop closes, and they go back to Italy). Theirs was much better. Service: This was the low light. Our waitress, and bus boy, to a degree was like 'oh f great, more tourists'. Hard to explain just was there. Overall, we enjoyed our meal...and I can't wait to get back to the North End. read more

I would give this place a 4.5 stars. This is probably the best place for the price for Italian food on the North End. I only took away .5 star because they didn't have lobster in their seafood pasta and I have had better at Giacomo's. (The price was also a lot more expensive as well.... dang it, I wanted lobster! I'm in Boston bitch!) After looking around for a place for good pasta for lunch since Giacomo was only open in the evenings, we found this place offers a substantially cheaper mussels plate for appetizers. (Most other places would charge $11-$13 on the same street.) What the heck?! We'll give it a try. It wasn't too small either, we got about 16 mussels and you have the choice of red, white or fra diavolo sauce, which is a spicy tomato based sauce. It's really not that spicy but it was well seasoned. We then shared a seafood pasta dish that had an ample amount of pasta with calamari, shrimp, scallops and mussels. It was very delicious and was only $14. The pasta was enough for 2 people and we were completely full after sharing the 2 dishes. Oh and their bread was amazing too! Not super chewy hard crust with a soft chewy middle. It was really good with the mussels' sauce. I would come back to this place again for sure when I'm in town again. Love Panza, what a great find! read more

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Such a good find! Starting with the complimentary bread-perfect consistency, to the bruschetta then the the Lobster Ravioli and Baked Ziti with the best meatballs. The pasta dishes were some of the best I've ever had!! Great service. Totally would recommend this to everyone! read more

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Linguine alla pescatore ($16): while the portion size was very generous and the seafood was fresh, I preferred the sauce of the fruitti di mare at Carmelina's ($27.82)better. This is how I would rank the seafood pasta I have tasted in Boston so far: 1. Fruitti di mare at Carmelina's ($27.82) 2. Lobster fra diavolo at Daily Catch ($69, for 2 persons) 3. Fruitti di mare ( nonspicy red sauce) at Giacomo's ($21) 4. linguine alla pascatore at Panza ($16) 5. Lobster roe pasta at Island Creek Oyster Bar ($38) I was quite impressed by Island Creek the first time I went but unfortunately their quality of food was inconsistent during my second visit. They are definitely the best in terms of ambiance though. The noise level at the other restaurants listed is fairly high. Not the best options for business meetings I would say. Ambiance: I arrived on a weekday at 1:45pm and only two other tables were occupied. The other patrons left at approximately 2pm and I had the entire dining room to myself. read more

Panza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I would rate the food and menu a 5, very tasty, great options and inventive specials. We were there on a Saturday night, and it was naturally busy, noise levels hit 100 decibels (per several apple watches). Our waitress seemed to be inconvenienced and not very interested in helping us enjoy our experience. So if you only want to eat, the food is fantastic! If you want a comfortable experience and friendly service there are many more options on that street. Lastly, a group of 12 also had reservations at the same time as us 7:00pm and they were still waiting for a table at 7:45. read more

Absolutely loved it! Cormen was delightful and helped me pick the perfect glass of wine. He was attentive and polite. I ordered the Linguine Alla Pescatore with fradiavolo sauce and it was wonderful. It was lightly spicyI and I enjoyed every bite. I will absolutely come back here. read more

Panza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We came here for dinner and I felt a little underwhelmed. Pros: + Great service - I didn't like one of the dishes (risotto) on the menu, and the staff were extremely accommodating. He took the dish back and brought me a fresh other gnocchi. + Classic menu - On the plus side most of the dishes were classic traditional ones you would see at most Italian restaurants. However, they did lack some innovation in their menu Cons: - Food tasted a little under seasoned - Pricey for the quality of dishes you're getting - Crowded - Pasta that really tasted like it was from a box. If I'm paying so much, I was really hoping for some fresh pasta made in house. read more

We loved EVERYTHING! Each dish we've tried has been great! It's helpful to order ahead and take it home since the place is very small and understaffed! But worth it either way with tons of leftovers! read more

Panza - We love everything! Italian Chop Salad, Penne With Chicken And Broccoli, and the Free Form Lasagna!!! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We made a reservation for 3 on a Fri night ~ server was super annoyed we only had 3 and not 4 people. Apps came out way too fast ( maybe 5 min after ordering which tells me it wasn't fresh!). Food was barely ok. Super super rushed service and left a generous 15% tip (I normally tip 25% but the service was terrible). The waiter actually had the NERVE to ask me if my math was right. 1st and last time for us and we're in Boston a ton. read more

Panza is a somewhat-hidden gem of North End! We decided to come in here because it was slightly less crowded than the restaurant we originally intended on visiting, and I'm so glad we stopped by. I ordered the grilled salmon risotto with the maple mustard glaze. This was flavorful and definitely a unique flavor. The salmon was beautifully grilled, and they gave me an enormous portion. The bottom skin was crisp, and the salmon itself was a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors. The risotto part of the dish is sweeter than I'm used to in an entree, but I still enjoyed it. Though it wasn't as creamy as the texture I'd usually seek in risotto, I loved the contrast of the smooth texture the butternut squash chunks gave. The person I was dining with got a special - a three cheese tortellini. I thought it wasn't as unique or flavorful as the salmon risotto, but he still loved it. I've been to multiple restaurants in the North End, and this is definitely one worth visiting. I can't wait to visit again! read more

Panza - The maple glazed salmon risotto and the three cheese tortellini special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

All the other restaurants in North End had a crazily long wait. Thankfully there was Panza! It's a huge restaurant (it has seating on the ground floor and in the basement) and had no problem seating my boyfriend and me on a Friday night. I ordered the Broccoli and Sausage pizza while my boyfriend ordered the seafood pasta. My pizza was just okay and was more of a flatbread than a pizza. It was superrrrrrrr cheesy though and pretty lacking in both broccoli and sausage toppings. My boyfriend's seafood pasta was delicious though!! The pasta was perfectly cooked and the kitchen was super generous with piling on the mussels, scallops, and shrimp! They really don't skimp and I was in yummy seafood bliss. Overall - not a bad find at all! Come by for a tasty meal without any of the crazy touristy crowds! read more

Panza - Pizza was more of a flatbread and was mediocre at best. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food was okay. Portions were great, but the quality was mediocre. Way better places to visit on hanover for italian. Got the seafood spicy red pasta and it was filling and had a good spice to it, but I deifneitly could make it at home. read more

One of my best places to go to when in Boston. I've been going there for over 10 years and the quality is always the same

Baked Ziti was AMAZING!!!! They did a great job and loved the Bruschetta (sorry for the spelling). Great atmosphere and good service! Baked Ziti Bruschetta read more

Check the servers math on your bill! The food, service and atmosphere were great. Far enough away from Mike's Pastry so it wasn't super touristy with "traditional spaghetti and meatballs." We enjoyed the meal and the veal/beef tortellini was the hit of the table Then the bill came..... The servers use hand written order forms. I was a little surprised at the total so I did some quick math and learned that a $125 check was padded with and extra $8 in "math errors". Check the bill, I'm skeptical it was a math error and not a pad to the bill. The server apologized but was less than sincere in his "discovery " of the error. Foods great, don't get scammed read more

Perfect classic Italian, with some fun twists to the menu. My salmon was delicious! The dining place was cozy and the wait staff was friendly and accommodating. read more

Panza - Grilled Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great food. Great prices. Cozy or too tight and sometimes loud. Worth it though. Thanks for the amazing dishes and prices!

Excited about the very crowded italian district here in North End from raved reviews. Chose Panza on a Friday evening after browsing over eight different italian restaurants. Reservations recommended. For dinner, had the Linguine alla Pescatore: the freshest al dente linguine with a creamy finish of white sauce. The scallops and clams were so fresh and tasty!! Left with a full stomach and a warm smile. read more

Panza - Linguine Alla Pescatore - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This restaurant is smaller and was empty as we got there right as it opened. Everywhere else had a long wait time. We didn't expect much as it was empty but within 30 minutes it was filled up. Our waiter was very nice and provided great recommendations with both the wine and the food. We had bread and dipping oil which is always delicious and a sign of an Italian place that knows what it is doing. We really enjoyed our pastas and ate almost all of it. Overall we really loved this experience and the food! read more

I came here for the butternut squash tortellini and that is just what I purchased. It had a wonderful flavor but it was not at all delivered as pictured on their website. Yes I had about six chunks of squash atop my pasta but inside the six pasta, a major disappointment. They weren't even stuffed. Sad face! The brown butter sage sauce was bland and serving it on a plate vs a bowl? Why?? Instead of a nice hot dish, it was barely room temperature and you would think it would come out hot when the kitchen was directly behind me! Oh well, bad timing or bad day for the chef. Very cool location though in North End! read more

Panza - Here it is... The butternut squash tortellini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Small little spot. Definitely not suitable for large parties or tall people. lol. However the food is good, the service is great and the chefs work damn hard! No desserts or evening espressos but hey if your still hungry after their more than hefty servings per dish-kudos to you! These guys know how to deliver service and Italian food! Good job!! read more

My wife and I were in Boston for Suffolk University orientation for our daughter and we had a free Tuesday evening. We decided on Panza based on dinning here a few years ago. We made a reservation but it did not appear one was needed when we arrived. We ordered a bottle of the Alta Classe Sangiovese and it was very good and not overly pricey. I ordered the Chicken Panza and my wife ordered chicken saltimbocca. My wife is not fan of a red sauce on her pasta and she asked if they could make a white sauce in place of the red sauce and they were very accommodating on this request. Overall I would rate the meal as average. Nice size portions. Neither one of us were wowed, but we were not disappointed either. read more

I would definitely suggest this place! The food was amazing and service was great. See photos for more! We had butternut squash tortellini and fired calamari: Amazing! Portions are big! read more

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One of my faves in the north end. It's small, casual and intimate but the service is fantastic and the food even better. They make you feel like you're at home and the service cadence is perfect. Eggplant parmigiana is to die for read more

I think this might be the best restaurant in the North End when it comes to quality of food and price. The first time I came here with a group of 4 and we ordered. Bruchetta, Garlic Bread, Ziti w/ Meatballs, Lobster Ravioli, Beef & Veal Tortelloni, and Tarragon Fettuccine w/ Grilled Lobster. I would say all of the meals were superb with incredible portion sizes. The bread appetizers were all on point and very thickly cut and very fresh. This meal was 5/5. I may even venture to say that the ziti + meatballs is the best in the area! (hot take) I recently went a second time and ordered the chicken parm with ziti on the side and my friend ordered the butternut squash ravioli. We also ordered a large fried calamari (which was only $3 more than the small) but the portion size was very large. Definitely too large of a size for 2 but if you are going for value. It's a great deal. Overall I would recommend this place but definitely reserve ahead of time as they do take reservations online. read more

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The food here was absolutely amazing. We did have to wait a while for a table, but the food came out so quickly once we ordered, so it was totally worth it. The complementary bread was absolutely delicious and the chicken parmesan was one of the best ones I've tried. The butternut squash ravioli was also a great contender, with its sweet creamy sauce and filling. The space itself felt really authentic as well and the one guy who seemed to be serving all the tables was super nice as well. read more

Panza - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The food is the best in the north end. Hands down. Never had a bad meal. Service is impeccable !!!

Food was amazing! our server was also great! I got the lobster ravioli and my husband got the short rib and we were both very happy! Five stars read more

The Veal dishes are to die for. A small place where lines are long, but the food outstanding. Don't go here if you are dieting.

I'm so pleased with my experience here! I made a reservation for 6:30 PM the night before and I'm glad I listened to the Yelp reviews- **reservations** are so important. Panza is a snug (and I mean REALLY SNUG), bustling restaurant. Once we were seated (we had to squeeze past tables to do so), our waitress arrived promptly with menus, water, and a bread basket starter. I had their seasonal sangria ($7) as well as a Caprese salad ($9) to share. The sangria was subtly sweet and light and not too boozy. Our Caprese salad was really good!! It consisted of two fried tomatoes and mozzarella chunks/slices on top of a bed of greens. The tomatoes were nicely crisp and the mozzarella tasted so fresh! It was the perfect combination- and definitely the surprise of the night. For the entree, I had the spinach and ricotta ravioli ($16). Panza doesn't skimp on their portions. My dish was huge and had plenty of ravioli in it!!! Everything was drenched in a creamy white sauce. Each piece of ravioli had a good amount of spinach and ricotta filling. I loved the garnishing of pine nuts and spinach. :'- ) The overall atmosphere of the restaurant was lively and the dim lighting made everything feel glowy and warm. I highly recommend this restaurant for a variety of reasons. The portions are great and filling! The food is sublime! Caprese salad!! read more

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Well spaced out tables and clean space. We had lobster ravioli, carbonara, and veal piccata. The veal was very strong on lemon - and I love citrus so I believe it would be too pronounced for some. The ravioli was delicious and very rich. The carbonara just right. Service was quick and efficient but without soul. Good choice for low frills food, read more

This is my Fiancee and I's favorite North End restaurant. You get the best portions for the most reasonable prices and delicious meals. I love the baked ziti personally. It's a tight knit restaurant but I love the ambiance, feel like I'm in Europe. read more

Such a cute place! It's really intimate and always busy but it was great. The food was amazing. I got the seafood pasta and everything was super fresh and the pasta was amazing. My partner got the chicken Parmesan and I almost ate all his food it was so crunchy and fresh. The wine options were really good and they suggested wines based on our food. They have a really good sangria! read more