Love love love this restaurant. The ambiance is cozy and feels familiar. It gives you that feeling of the hole in the wall treasure you tell your friends about when you wanna give them a non-touristy spot. The food is amazing, the Spagetti allá Carbonara is by far one of the best pastas I've ever had. I regularly recommend this place to anyone that is either visiting Boston or asks for recommendations for Italian food. We got our food and drinks within 25ish minutes of sitting down. 5/5 no notes read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Spaghetti alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We ended up dining here on a Sunday night just before a major blizzard. We didn't have reservations, but were warmly welcomed by the owner and waitstaff. The owner immediately brought over a complementary appetizer of tomato mozzarella and prosciutto. The ambience is cozy and quaint and reminds me of a restaurant you would see in Italy. It also has a romantic/date night vibe. There was a great assortment to choose from on the menu and plenty of items that appealed to our party. I selected those steak Florentine that came with potatoes and broccoli. I haven't had steak Florentine since I was in Florence Italy, so I was quite excited when I saw this on the menu. My husband ordered a dish that came with lobster and tomatoes and linguine. It was massive, but quite delicious. This was our second time here. Our first time was 10 years ago and we definitely want to make it a point to get back there in the next few months. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Lobster with linguine - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This felt like a very cheap experience. The restaurant's basement is massive, and likely where you'll be seated, in odd rooms with ugly colored lighting and lame fake statues. The food was satisfying, but only because they add so much butter and salt that will make you feel sick later. The flavor was one note because of that. There are places of true culinary artistry in the North End, and then there's this restaurant. At least the service was good. read more

My friends and I made a reservation for dinner here on our trip to Boston and wish we went somewhere different. The nice man lead us through a maze of rooms until we were brought to the very last table crammed in a corner with flashing christmas lights on all night. We sat as a table of 7 for 1.5 hours before anyone even took our order or looked in our direction to ask if we're ready. We got one bin of bread (never got the second we asked for) that didn't even have enough pieces for everyone at the table. No one enjoyed their food - no one finished their plate and the serving sizes weren't that big. For the price of their food we were expecting something mind blowing and everyone's plate was flavorless or unenjoyable. The opera singer also started as we were ready to leave, and the place is too small to share the walkway so we had to wait. She was very talented but as someone else mentioned, the mic is very loud for such a small space. read more

The best for Italian in the North End. A true classic with fantastic dining and world-class hospitality. Don't skip it!

Dining at Ristorante Saraceno felt like being transported straight to Italy. The food was phenomenal--but what truly made the night unforgettable was the live opera singer. Yes, you read that right. In the middle of an incredible meal, the restaurant was filled with the rich, powerful voice of an opera singer performing classic Italian arias. It was goosebumps good--like something out of a movie. As for the food: flawless. The pasta was fresh and homemade, the seafood was perfectly cooked, and every sauce was rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure the experience felt both special and comfortable. If you're in Boston's North End and want more than just a meal--something romantic, soulful, and genuinely memorable--Saraceno is the place. I'll be talking about this night for a long time. read more

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Booked this on a fluke after the marathon. Restaurant was really cozy, staff were accommodating and menu was impressive. We ordered a bottle of wine to share at a great price. The bread baskets just kept coming during dinner. Our table was full of veal, eggplant and chicken Parm's and all were delicious. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Eggplant parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I really enjoyed this Italian restaurant. To start, I ordered a Moscato--I'm not a fan of bitter wine. The bread was brought to our table quickly, and the service was excellent. The restaurant has two levels, and they seated us on the upper level, which was a bit tight on space. The food was fantastic and arrived piping hot, with steam rising from the dishes. Overall, it's a great spot--just maybe not the best choice on a night when the Bruins are playing! read more

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It is cozy and the staff are friendly. I highly recommend the calamari and muscles in white sauce.

Delicious!!! The bread was really good with olive oil and some balsamic vinaigrette. I also liked how they placed a small bowl of Parmesan cheese on the table lol. The calamari was absolutely delicious. It was super fresh, light, and had a perfect seafood to lettuce ratio for a salad. My mom and I split the risotto and it was also so decedent. The mushrooms were really big and overall it just tasted amazing. read more

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Genuine Italian feel, but not genuine Italian taste. Everything was quite overpriced, particularly the wine ($50 for a mediocre bottle of Sauvignon Blanc). The food tasted good, but nothing to write home about; I'd say comparable to Olive Garden. The best part of the experience was the service. We were greeted by a friendly Italian man and shown to our table; we were able to be seated quickly without a reservation on a Wednesday evening. Our server was very nice, and the busser didn't appear to speak English, just further creating an genuine Italian atmosphere. With so many Italian restaurants on that street, I'd recommend opting for a different one. read more

Saraceno has become my go to spot in the North End especially when i have guests in town! The tortellini al formaggio is my absolute favorite and i get it without fail. I've also started trying the mushrooms as a starter and the garlicky butter sauce that they're cooked in goes fantastic with the bread they give you. If you go on a weekend evening, you will likely be treated to musicians singing as well which really completes the Italian experience. Love!! read more

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Ambience was lacking. Very low ceilings in the basement dining room, fake dusty plants hanging all over and odd blue lighting. Bathrooms were very dirty. Italian opera singing on mic was FAR too loud for such a small and cramped restaurant. Uncomfortably loud. Food was good, but not standout. Service was great though. Much better choices in the North end! read more

We had a reservation and did request a nice table with a good view. When we arrived a waiter waved us to wait. Then a gentleman came to get us and ushered us down what seemed to be 3 flights. Not sure why we needed a reservation as no one checked us or spoke a word to us. It was a bit odd. We were then seated near the door at the kitchen entrance which I wasn't very keen on. My prosecco tasted like sparkling water and the Chianti was basic. The bread was good. I was a bit underwhelmed so we cancelled our meal to go elsewhere. The server was very accommodating and they comped our drinks, which is very good business. We did tip the server nicely. I can't comment on the food; I'm sure it's good as the restaurant was packed. read more

Feel like you're in someone's home, my bolognese was spectacular (so fresh and flavorful) but the salad was overpriced for the portion and gushes of freezing air came in every time someone walked in or out because they had the inner door propped open. My friends ate dinner with their coats on because it was making our table so cold. read more

We had a delightful experience at Saraceno welcomed by Franco el capo di capi when it comes to knowledge of Italian pasta. My wife and I dropped off our son to College and wanted to celebrate the event going to one of the very best Italian in the North End. We were not disappointed. We started with two Proseccos then a some fried calamari. I love the tagliatelle con Sarde. They made it with a tomato based fragrant sauce with onions, fennel, raisins, pine nuts, anchovies, sardines, and olive oil. I was absolutely perfect. The pasta a la vongole with white wine was also to die for. Service was very pleasant and attentive. The atmosphere was the best as we were sitting in the front spoke to everyone around us who were all natives from Boston and returning customers. The food was amazing. We will be back! Mille grazie Franko! read more

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I heard many positive things about this place from my colleagues. So, here I am!! It was bad timing , however, they have a construction work, so some of the space is occupied with stuffs. I ordered their frittura di calamari and pasta alla vongole. I swapped the spaghetti with linguine and surprisingly server was accommodating my request. Will definitely return here in the future. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Frittura di Calamari - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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A cute gem in the North End! We ended up here after seeing the long line at our original spot, and I'm so glad we skipped the wait. The place has a cozy, heartwarming vibe. The food was generally delicious--hearty and filling--but nothing particularly stood out. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Come visit Frank and crew, they are the best in the North End! Food is great, and the restaurant is gorgeous inside. A small gem.

Easy to find better... Simply, a lot of misses all around. While we wanted at least one of the dishes to sing, nothing did: stuffed mushrooms were uninspired (and we didn't get the ones we'd ordered), the tomatoes in the burrata weren't ripe enough, and neither dish was anything to write home about. The decor is, well, what's the word? Kitschy, I guess. What's more, there is no check in... I came in at my reservation time, stood inside the doorway, and it was :10m until a waiter, anyone made any eye contact with me (which was when I went to find someone, I bumped into the host who looked like she walked in off the street). You can do better than this for great pasta in the North End. I wish them well... read more

Ristorante Saraceno - a plate of pasta and sauce - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I had a great dining experience despite the initial hesitation! The Gamberi Alla Carbonara being al dente and delicious was a great sign of quality, and it's awesome that the portion sizes were reasonable. My family's choices-Fettuccine Alfredo, Gnocchi Alla Napolitana which my daughter founded delicious and Eggplant Parmesan- all plates were very tasty and good generous portions . It's always a nice surprise when a restaurant exceeds expectations, especially when reviews are mixed. Service was prompt. All around I will visit this restaurant if in the area next time. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Gamberi Alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here after work with some coworkers and received exemplary service, even with such a huge party (almost 20 people!). The free bread and butter was delicious and our waiters were very sweet. The food was on the pricier side and the portions are smaller than your standard Italian place. Don't expect to be full if you want to split a plate but the dishes were all super delicious which validated the price. My personal favorite was the shrimp carbonara, which I highly recommend for any creamy pasta lovers !!! read more

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Apps were good, but the spaghetti alle vongole was so oversalted that the dish was nearly inedible. Chicken and veal parm were both overcooked as well. read more

Stopped in off the street and had a dining experience that was unforgettable. We were greeted by Frank and he took great care of us. Provided great recommendations as we had a variety of anti-pasta and calamari. The calamari were incredible really fresh and tender. That was followed by a pasta with a bolognese sauce which meaty and tasty. Main entrees were some seafood pasta and spaghetti carbonara. The tiramisu was also fantastic. The seafood pastas were out of this world!!! read more

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Walked in and felt like a little Italy Restaurant should feel, narrow, low lighting, white table cloth and wood all over. Then came the food, the fried calamari was great, the stuffed mushrooms were delicious, the spaghetti carbonara was fantastic and last not least the ravioli puscanetta with bolognese sauce was amazing and nicely filled with ricotta. Put in reservations just to be on the safe side which is a good idea. read more

One of the best meals we've had in a long time. I had the special of the day, gnocci puttanesca which were like like little pillows from heaven and my husband had chicken, sausage and pasta dish which he greatly enjoyed. We are pretty big eaters but couldn't finish it all. Used the hotel microwave and had the remainder for dinner that night, along with a pastry from Mikes. The meals were only about $20 each! Cheap for the area. We were treated like family there. If ever in Boston again will go there again for sure. read more

This restaurant advertises valet parking. We used the service for $30. When we got home, we saw that we had received a parking ticket for $60. They had parked us illegally. The restaurant disavowed any responsibility and told us that they subcontract to a parking company and we had to contact them. Of course, the company didn't return our call. Very deceptive and sleazy. The food was mediocre. read more

While walking the North End we met Frank in the doorway of Saraceno and he invited us in. We returned for late lunch and it was perfect. We had the Zuppa de Pesca, abundant with lobster, clams, mussels, octopus in a delicious broth. Frank stopped by the greet us and we felt like neighbors instead of first time visitors. The ambiance is cozy and intimate. We lingered and laughed over exceptional food, Italian wine and tiramisu. We hope Frank will bring the flavors of Italy to Hawaii. read more

Arrived for a reservation, was sat awkwardly in a super tight table wedged between 2 existing dining families. Wife and I had to sit catty-corner across from each other just to fit, not a single employee we interacted with seemed to care/notice how silly it was. While 4 thin slices of stale bread were brought to the table we ordered an appetizer - one of our favorites: prosciutto and melon ($16). 3 slices of prosciutto draped over 2 MASSIVE honeydew slices. Not even ripe if you gave them a week. We hacked at them for a minute or 2 and just ate the prosciutto. If we made it to dinner, entrees might've tasted okay - we'll never know. Subpar bread, really poor attempt at an appetizer, and the most awkward seating arrangement gave us no reason to tough it out. In the North End not hard to find another spot. read more

Frutti Di mare was excellent as it always is. Clean, consistent, excellent food. Service is always great. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Hot seafood antipasto with oysters stuffed, calamari, escargot, crab and more served 5 easily. Excellent. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Got tipped off to try some Italian food and decided on this place. Didn't know what to expect but the service was good and the food was great! read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Shrimp carbonara - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My mom & I went last night for dinner. We made reservations for 7:30 and were seated right before that time in the basement at a two person table. Everything was going well. We were enjoying the atmosphere (there was an opera singer!) and just waiting for our food... when out of nowhere, the owner (? Not really sure who It was...) came to our table and grabbed my mom's drink and said "ah, we are moving you to a more comfortable table..." Well, he forced us to move to another table that wasn't more comfortable and it was away from the action of the other room. He didn't give us any explanation and we asked 2 different people until we got an answer from our waiter... there was a group of 10 that needed the space where we were sitting. After we were moved... neither of us really wanted to continue with the dinner. I've NEVER been forced to move to another table in all my years of dining. It was extremely rude and inappropriate. It basically felt like we were tossed aside. I have wrote an email to the restaurant with the same review & I'm sure I will not get a response from them. If I do, I will update this review. Oh and the food. It was ok. Nothing special for the North End. You can do better. This restaurant ruined our last night in Boston. It was my mom's first time and honestly probably her only time. Thankfully Bova's line was worth the wait & we had wonderful pastries to end our crazy evening. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Outside - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We didn't pick this restaurant our friends did. It didn't wow me. It was good but not great. Food seemed over priced. The service was ok but didn't match the cost. Food was a bit salty. I had chicken parmigiana with Alfredo. My husband have the tortellini with vodka cream sauce, which was delicious. The bread wasn't anything special and didn't seem very soft. To add a salad it's quite expensive. We had the anti-pasta plate which was surprisingly good and some thing I've never had before. Overall, I would probably try a different restaurant since you are in the land of Italian choices. I did not taste the cannoli but my friend said that the cookie part of it was extremely hard and definitely wasn't worth the $15. We were seated down below the restaurant, and it is stairs only FYI. There is a bathroom down there, but it is extremely tiny. read more

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Service was good, our server was nice and friendly. Food wise, the calamari was good but everything else was just ok in my opinion. Pasta (at least gnocchi) didn't taste homemade and was very dense. read more

Really fun place . The basement is a funny maze and the servers are as charming as they come. Food was good as well and fairly inexpensive

Had a superb dinner at this restaurant last night. The food was excellent starting with the crusty bread and olive oil, house antipasto that had imported mortadella,Parma prosciutto and sharp provolone cheese. The homemade fusilli amatriciana was cooked perfectly I prefer it el dente and my wife likes it softer and they accommodated both of us. There dishes were delicious and large enough that we split our entree of veal francese was tender and very tasty. The wine list was fairly priced with a large selection. Frank the owner was omnipresent in the restaurant and was attentive to the customers. Our dinner ended with a homemade taramisu and cappucuno. Highly recommend it read more

Delicious pasta meal in Boston's North End! We got seated right away even though it was a Friday night. So many things to choose from on the menu, but decided on a classic: ravioli with bolognese sauce. Generous portions and the ravioli was swimming in that warm, savory sauce. The pasta was filled with ricotta cheese that paired well with the bolognese. Would definitely eat here again next time I'm in Boston. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Ravioli with bolognese sauce - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My first time dining in the North End and my first time trying the Boston Italian food scene. I really wanted to like this place more than I did. I love Italian food and this wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me either. It was average. From what I can tell by the pictures on the wall, this restaurant has been around for a long time. However, they need to work on the ambiance and service. We arrived on time for our 8:30pm reservation and there was a line of people huddled in the tight entrance where we could not even get in to check in for our reservation. There is no hostess stand when you walk in. It's just a door and then the first table is seated right at the entrance. There was one hostess that was never standing in the front and constantly going outside to what looked like another entrance. She did not update us on the status of our table and when we did ask she said it would just be a few more minutes. After waiting 30 minutes squished in a hallway, we finally sat down. It's a small restaurant and we had a large party, but that is why we made a reservation in advance. A 30 minute wait when you have a reservation is too long. Then we were escorted downstairs to our table. The downstairs dining room looks completely different from the upstairs. It was like we stepped into an entirely different time. There was blue lighting that was not very flattering, fake columns, and Italian statues with creepy eyes. The table was tight, but we expected that with a large party and most restaurants in the area being small. The bathroom was so cramped, to open the door of the stall I had to open the main door of the bathroom just to clear the door. If not there was no room to open the door. They constructed two stalls inside a bathroom that should just be a single bathroom. The bread they brought at the beginning was cold and stale. It would have been a little better if it was toasted. I ordered the carbonara and it was decent. The lighting was not very good so the picture of the dish isn't great. It was cooked al dente but the sauce could have had a bit more flavor. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Downstairs dining room - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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If you don't want to wait in line for all the other restaurants around little Italy, here's a little gem! Their pasta and risotto was delicious. Everything was perfectly reasoned. We got the clam and mussels in white sauce (it was $6 more to add clams). Seafood risotto (super flavorful. Highly recommend) and shrimp pasta. read more

Ristorante Saraceno - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The bread was great and the escargot was good. The Cabernet red wine was not worth the amount they were asking for per glass. The mussels and the clams weren't good and the spaghetti that went with the clams weren't fully cooked. The tiramisu and the cannoli were good. The waitress barely came to check on us and didn't like when we asked for her to repeat the specials of the day. It was not a great experience. read more