Would not recommend. We had a reservation and did not get seated until 45 min after our reservation time. They basically do not have a hostess and have a waitress checking people in. No point to even have a reservation at this place. Once we did finally got seated our waiter was extremely rushed. You are all crammed into the tiny restaurant, the noise level is very loud & the food is mediocre. Would recommend going elsewhere in the North End for Italian. read more

Another hidden gem on Hanover Street. It's got a small storefront so easy to miss but it is in the top 10 Italian restaurants in the North End. It's nice on the inside worthy of a special occasion. I had the veal saltimbocca and it was pretty good. The sage in the sauce was really nice and a nice twist on traditional presentation. The portions are generous making the value very good. My son-in-law had the tortellini and it was other worldly. Its a two person show because of the pandemic so be patient and give a good tip. There is a lot to like about Panza. Check it out. read more

I got the Butternut Squash Ravioli. Such an excellent dessert-like dinner. Kind of a reconstructed pumpkin pie. Often people will get this wrong by throwing blue cheese in and throwing the whole flavor off - they did not make that mistake. The squash was maybe a bit large, but, delicious. My friend got the Gnocchi Bolognese. Kind of an odd choice to only pair gnocchi with meat sauce but, still definitely its own kind of delicious. Definitely a place for a nicer night out. read more

Solid Italian this evening for dinner at Panza. I arrived without a reservation at 630pm and was fortunate to get a two-top table right at the window where my entertainment was the pedestrian and vehicle traffic along Hanover Street. Service was top notch with a friendly waiter who kept my food coming at a good pace. I started off with a Caesar salad, which was quite large for a starter with a light dressing and plenty of croutons and shaved Parmesan. Definitely enough to share. Main course, I chose the spaghetti vongole in the spicy sauce. A very good sized portion with scallops, shrimp, clams and mussels. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was plenty spicy. My only complaint here is that a restaurant of this quality deserves freshly grated cheese on pasta rather than a table shaker. But that's a very small problem. I opted not to get dessert at the table and picked up a Mike's canoli on the way home instead. Great dinner at Panza! [Review 10039 overall, 1623 of 2018.] read more

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We were in from out of town and so this is where our hosts took us in the north end. The wait was long but so worth it. Maybe the best Italian meal ever read more

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Stumbled upon this spot after being turned away from several other north end restaurants that had multi-hour wait times. We managed to snag one of the last open tables just before a rush. The server was friendly and helpful, steering us away from ordering too large a portion of calimari. And, speaking of portions, "generous" would be an understatement. All the pasta dishes were really tasty. Once the place got busy and a line accumulated, we did feel somewhat rushed, in that, as soon as we were done, they abruptly cleaned off our table, delivered and collected our check and hovered. Understandable given the relatively small size of the place, but kind of annoying. With that, we'd definitely go back! read more

Great Italian food at a cozy spot in the North End! Went with a group of 4 and had an 8:30pm reservation. Unfortunately, we were not actually seated until 9:30pm so that was a bummer but makes sense since it is a very small restaurant. We shared a nice bottle of red wine and the grilled greens appetizer. The app was delicious and such a unique dish. The greens had a great bitterness and the polenta was perfectly creamy on the inside and crisped on the outside. We loved it! I had the penne amitriciana which was simple and delicious. The portion are huge! Overall it was a great experience minus the long wait! read more

Stopped in for an early dinner before heading to catch a musical in town and even around 5/6pm there was a bit of a wait. The space is SUPER small, though, so that was no surprise. We eventually squeezed into a small table and ordered. My husband got his favorite, veal parmigiana, while I got the penne and meatballs. He really liked his veal and my dish was also very good but, and I think this might be the only time I've ever had this problem at a restaurant, the meal was almost TOO hot temperaturewise. Like, everything from the noodles to the pasta to the steaming meatballs were scalding. I had to wait a few minutes to dig in and even then I burned my mouth on a few bites. The flavor was great, though, and the smell was amazing so it made having to wait to dig in all the more frustrating. Ha! Service was ok. Not overly friendly but fine. I think they were just kind of busy and rushing to get everyone taken care of, so I was grateful we were able to get to our show that night on time, but a little more attentiveness would have not been a bad thing. I'd definitely return, however, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal in the North End. read more

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The food was very ok and if that's all you're looking for you may like this place. The service left much to be desired. We felt rushed from the second we sat down and were only seated 30 minutes before they started asking if we needed boxes and if we were ready for the check. The waiters were very aggressive about taking our plates away, we had to tell them no we are still working on it 3+ times in the span of 10 minutes. I totally understand wanting to turn tables over for people waiting but we were only there an hour from the time we walked in the door to the time we walked out. Just not the dining experience I was hoping for tonight. read more

Never got greeted by staff. Tried to follow their posted sign and wait in the vestibule to avoid crowding those eating but no one came. When i finally went in to say we were checking in for our reservation the waitress did not ask our name and just pointed to a table. Hard to rate the service because we did not really get any. Someone asked if we were ready to order and took our order, but that was it. Everything we ate was average at best: buratta, calamari, baked ziti, risotto, all ok if I'm being generous. Overall, really disappointed. read more

I'm in Boston, I haven't had my wifes home cooking in a few days. I want something she'd make for dinner. I see a huge line across the street from Panza. Why these people aren't here is a mystery. After my meal, I say Panza for the win. I sit down by myself, the restaurant it seems just opened for dinner. I only want one thing, linguini with clams. The waiter brings over some damn good Italian bread. I have my drink, I'm nom'ing on a piece of chewy bread and my platter arrives. Sure the pasta is from a box but the fresh clams and garlicy oil puts me in the zone. I'm shucking my clams, twirling linguini and just slurping away. Hey, I have a napkin over my shirt so I don't splash. Don't judge me.... This is the spot to get into the pasta! After I knocked out the linguini, I have this plate of oil left. I grab a hunk of bread and dip it into the oil. Heaven....... Panza? Thank you for a great meal. Let the dopey tourists stand in the rain waiting for the same food you served to me. I enjoyed my meal and when I'm in Boston again, I will swing by for more of that great linguini. read more

Panza - Traveling it seems like forever, I want a little taste of home with some Linguine & Littleneck Clams - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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As we were walking on the North End we decided to stop by Panza and give it a try! The environment seemed really cool and it was right on the Main Street! The bread and oil was a amazing way to start off our meal! CALAMARI- let me tell you! You have to order it! So much flavor and fried perfectly! Unfortunately my pasta was very over cooked. But the pesto helped to mask the overcooked pasta! The service we had was great! The waiter was very attentive and made sure we were satisfied! read more

Panza - Free Form Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I have not physically been in the restaurant but ordered from them last night on Door Dash. OMG so delicious! We had linquine and clams and the lobster ravioli! OMG so so good and really good portions for delivery! Will probably try to go to the restaurant itself but will for sure order Door Dash from them again. Highly recommend! MANGIA!!!! read more

We had a 8:00 reservation and waited until 8:30 on a Saturday until we decided to leave. Do not recommend especially on a weekend.

Like another reviewer I thought it was just okay. The atmosphere, service and bread was great and I thought it would translate into great food but it didn't. My son had lobster ravioli and I had veal parmesan. My food came out extremely hot -- like it had been microwaved. My son said His was "okay " and I'd say mine was tolerable. It filled our stomachs and wasn't horrible, so there's that. I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for a special Italian food experience. read more

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Absolutely in love with the North End area of Boston. Panza was incredible! We had a reservation for six at 7:15pm and we weren't seated until 7:45pm, but it was definitely worth the wait! The bruschetta was very good even on top of the free bread they give you upon your arrival. The pastas we ordered were incredible and so reasonably priced (~$18) for the portion and quality! I'm not even a fan of mushrooms, but the beef and veal pasta with mushrooms was divine! Our service was great and the atmosphere was like we were in Italy! I believe several restaurants in the area are exceptional, but I highly recommend Panza! read more

Panza - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Sat down no lines. Seafood risotto was packed with scallops and shrimp. Flavor was excellent. Very filling. We also had lobster ravioli with crab meat on top as the special of the day. It was excellent, perfect with some bread to dip up the red sauce. read more

Panza - Seafood risotto (2/3 portion). - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

During a busy day in Boston, we stopped in Panza on a Reddit recommendation for lunch before visiting the historic sites downtown. We felt rushed all morning to make the stops we wanted, so sitting down for lunch needed to be a decompressing experience. Thank God we found Panza. I haven't had Italian food like this ever. Filling but not stuffing. Subtle in so many ways. We were blown away in every sense of the work. I ordered the carbonara and found a new favorite pasta dish, with the savory addition of pancetta unlocking a new dimension for me. My wife ordered the penne with chicken and broccoli, and it was right up her alley but also better than anything she'd ever had. The wine was excellent as well; my Montepulciano was fantastic and showed me a new style I didn't know I wanted. The atmosphere was quaint and relaxed; we felt like we had all the time in the world in this hole in the wall. It might not seem like much from the outside, but hidden in an unassuming façade is some of the best food I've ever had. read more

Pleasantly surprised with the takeout from this Italian restaurant on the Sunday night before the Boston marathon. Food was fresh and hot, salads were perfectly dressed and pasta was fresh and tasty. We ordered through DoorDash so didn't experience the staff or service, but based on the quality of the food, we'd seek it out to dine in for a future visit. Unfortunately the restaurant forgot to include silverware or napkins, and the garlic bread was a little soggy by the time it arrived, but it was a good dinner. read more

Excellent food! Amazing service and great location. I would highly recommend this North End restaurant!

Food is decent but staff holds true to the other reviews I've read. No point in making a reservation, they don't follow through. Came for lunch and felt we were more of an inconvenience than anything. Rushed, rude and wish we would have spent our money somewhere that appreciated us as customers. read more

Beautiful, fresh ingredients, correct ingredients for standard Italian, but a flare for unique ingredients on home-made ravioli.. Lasagna is simple loose noodles, but ingredients are yummy. Reasonable prices on food and wine compared to Giacomo across the street($$$) GREAT open- air window dining. Sweet service & they take cards* read more

Panza is a cute little Italian restaurant in the North End! It has a great atmosphere, the service is excellent and the portions are large. read more

Panza - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I enjoyed the meal here! We had Watermelon sangria that was delicious! The bruschetta was so good, the bread was grilled and had a truly grilled taste! The ricotta ravioli was my favorite, really good! read more

Waited a little over an hour. It wasn't a wait like giacomo across the street. Small restaurant easily close to the table next to you. Everyone who worked there was nice. The food wasn't worth the wait to me. I ordered meatballs, chicken parmigiana. Meatballs is a side and get 2, which were huge. Chicken parmigiana is big portion as well. Meatballs were better than the chicken parmigiana. I got recommended this place and truly wanted to like it. I honestly felt like I could have had better food at home. If you decide to come just make a reservation ahead of time. read more

Panza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Positives first-the roasted greens starter was very delicious. Also, we had a vegan with us and although there was no vegan option for an entree they very happily accommodated and created a pasta primavera that was decent. Everything else, unfortunately was a bust. First, we were seated more than 30 mins after our reservation. And the restaurant was LOUD. We could hardly hear our own conversation or what the waiter was saying. The food, other than the appetizer, was also very mediocre. I had the baked ziti with sausage. The pasta was barely cooked and I think they put about a pound of cheese on it. Hubs got the risotto and it was super liquidy, like they never allowed for it to absorb the broth. And not very flavorful at all. Our server was helpful with the need for vegan food, so no complaints there, but overall, I would not recommend coming here. read more

Excellent food! Cute little place with amazing cuisine! We had an Italian salad, meatballs, saltimbocca and a shrimp and scallop special. All meals were served in a timely manner, fresh ingredients and piping hot. The service was also great! I will be returning! read more

AMAZING!!! So happy they're still open during covid. All the tables are separated, there's hand sanitizer at the front and online scanned menus. Now to the good stuff...THE FOOD. Omg. My husband ordered the calamari and lobster ravioli and he said they were unbelievable. I'm vegan so I ordered the gnocchi with marinara and grilled veg and they were more than happy to oblige and make the dish for me!! And good lord, the gnocchi was THE BEST I've ever had. Just cooked to absolute perfection, I couldn't stop eating! And the marinara, I don't know what was in that sauce but it was the best either of us has ever had. Our waiter was incredibly kind and attentive, and the atmosphere was simple and clean. We had an awesome night here and can't wait to bring our parents back! THANK YOU again!! read more

Panza - Gnocchi with marinara and Grilled Vegetables - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We arrived for an early dinner and were seated immediately, so we didn't necessarily need reservations. While our table wasn't ideal - right by the door - it was fine for the most part except when the line grew and people were holding one or both doors open and the winter chill came charging in. Our eyes were larger than our stomachs, but not by much, and so we ordered: PANZA SPARE RIBS 10 Slow-braised spare ribs with sweet Sicilian bbq sauce CAPRESE SALAD 9 Fried tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil oil LINGUINE ALLA PESCATORE 21 Shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, and calamari in a red, white or fra diavolo sauce CHICKEN PANZA 17 Mushrooms, spinach, sun-dried tomato, toasted pine nuts, balsamic marsala sauce, served with a side of pasta The caprese here was my favorite dish with the hot juicy tomato encased in a crispy crunchy shell contrasting with the cool, soft slab of mozzarella. Perfect to share between two. The meat was falling of the bones tender, and arrived 3 bones to the plate. Very good. The chicken was tender, and served with al dente ziti on the side splashed with tomato sauce. The seafood was unimpressive in portion, but deemed fresh and perfectly cooked. The linguine was pleasantly al dente and enrobed in a tasty white wine garlic sauce. The restaurant itself was a bit tight, and the inobservant would be an accident waiting to happen. A single private bathroom in the back by the kitchen yielded the greatest warmth in their space. read more

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Came here after getting denied a table at the infamously booked Carmelina's down the street, but still had a great experience. If Panza had a mantra, it would have something to do with enormous portions at decent prices. Calamari was beautifully crispy and not too heavy on the batter, but the large was definitely too much food for an appetizer for two people (would recommend sharing the small). I was craving gnocchi, so I had their special of the day, the potato gnocchi with tomato cream sauce and chicken, and loved how perfectly soft the bite of the gnocchi was, along with the surprisingly tender chicken breast pieces. The sauce was full of smooth tomato flavor, but had a slight bitter aftertaste (too much wine?) that became a bit overwhelming halfway through the dish. But again, I can't complain. Given how gigantic portions were (I don't even think I own plates that big at my own house), the quality and the flavors were superb. you're in for a classic North End Italian treat! read more

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I think I found my new go to place for dinner in the North End. Sometimes you don't know you're searching for a new place but when you eat someplace that makes you stop in your tracks and decide you want to eat here again tomorrow night and the next, you've basically found it. You can listen to all the other D Bagger yelpers that bitch and complain about waiting outside, or having to wait 15 minutes after their reservation time has passed but to tell you the truth it's the food that matters here (and the hard working staff). From sauces to the quality of the food it was hands down one of the best meals I've had in the North End for years. I can't wait to come back time and time again and make Panza my new favorite place (until they trespass me like my last fav place). read more

Looked this place up visiting from out of town for work and was a good spot to try. I was thankful we made a reservation as it was packed. Small intimate place, tables are close to each other. The restaurant was loud so it made hard for conversation - small space so jus Floyd conversations. We started our dinner with the burata appetizer. Good burata, not the best I've had. I ordered the gnocchi with bolognese for dinner with a heaping pour of San Giovese wine. The gnocchi would good, nothing out of this world, but was a good dish. All portions are rather big, they don't call it panza (stomach) for small portions, that's for sure! read more

Panza - Potato Gnocchi Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Just like all the other restaurants in little Italy, Panza is just as small as any other restaurant. Note: you will probably be closer than expected to your neighbor. Luckily, you CAN make reservations here! I had the Lobster Ravioli, which was magically cheesy and cooked to al dente. ALL Italian food is heavy on the carbs, so don't expect to leave here without feeling stuffed! read more

Overall: skip this and walk across the street to The Daily Catch or Giacommos Food: I had the house salad and it was literally field greens, no cucumber, no onion, no tomato, nothing, literally field greens Linguini alla pescatore did NOT have shrimp as advertised on the menu!! It was watery and oily Service: that poor girl was serving the whole restaurant. Cheap owners. She was slow and I didn't get everything I asked for WILL NOT BE BACK read more

Panza - The house salad was literally field greens, no cucumber, no onion, no tomato, nothing, literally field greens - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We were seated quickly after a long day visiting the city, and the meal hit the spot! They didn't have a kid's menu but my boys still had plenty of options, even the one who doesn't like pasta. The blue crab ravioli special is worth getting if it's offered during your visit. read more

Panza - Blue crab ravioli special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Boston's north end is wall to wall Italian restaurants. It's hard to stand out. Panza was okay, but doesn't stand above the rest. House salad is mixed greens with a sherry vinaigrette. And that's exactly what it was. Greens and nothing else. Truth in advertising, and the vinaigrette was good, but a bit of a letdown nonetheless. "Free form" lasagna was basically a chicken & pasta dish using broken lasagna noodles. Unfortunately, it doesn't taste like lasagna. The ricotta, which to me is so essential to lasagna, is lost in the dish, so you really don't even know it's there. And sadly, the large pieces of chicken were somewhat tough to chew, let alone try to cut. Spinach & ricotta ravioli, however, was excellent. What really set it apart was its excellent pine nut cream sauce. Made the dish. read more

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Checked Panza out because Giacamos' line was not moving. Panza takes reservations and also does walk-ins. I came here last Friday without a reservation and waited about 30 minutes for a table for two. The restaurant is small and gets pretty loud. Service was great and attentive. Food wasn't mind-blowing, but still good option if you don't have a reservation and looking for pasta in the North End. Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Spring rolls: 2 spring rolls cut into 4 bite sized pieces with a thyme flavored honey over a small bed of greens. This was good, but nothing spectacular. Linguine Alla Pescatore: We got this spicy which was very tasty. The linquine came with mussels, clams, scallops and shrimp. The seafood was fresh, but wish we had more scallop! There were only 2 in the whole dish. Linguine was cooked al dente just the way I like it. Butternut Squash Ravioli: My first time getting butternut squash ravioli and it was okay. Tasted like a dessert pasta IMO. read more

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I would avoid this restaurant unless it is actually the last option available for something that resembles Italian food in Boston. The service left much to be desired as they never cleared old plates from the table and were nowhere to be found when we needed new cutlery or had questions about the food that was put in front of us, The waiter mentioned proudly that everything was "made to order" which couldn't be farther from the truth as the chicken Marsala I ordered was clearly reheated and the clump of linguini that came with it came with a red sauce that wasn't mentioned anywhere on the menu and was cold when it got to the table. I gave it 2 stars as the ambiance of the restaurant is what to expect in the north end with cramped tables and terrible acoustics. read more

My family of 4 had a fabulous dinner here last night . We started with the calamari which was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious . Favorite dishes were the Chicken Panza and the Short Ribs . Large portions and very good service . We will be back for sure . read more

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

I've been looking for a good fra diavolo pasta for a while now. Upon searching at Yelp, found this place that has seafood linguini with option for fra diavolo sauce. This place didn't disappoint. The pasta was cooked to perfection. The seafood was fresh. Portion was a tiny bit large but I managed to gulped down almost everything except for a couple forks of linguini. Would come back for exact same dish whenever I'm back in town read more

Panza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts