We sat inside the humid basement in a cramped area where they store wine on the walls. It was busy and didn't wait long, at least. Our waiter brought bread and olive oil to our table which were decent. Our entrees were fine, but my gnocchi was a little on the bland side. I much preferred the pesto dish that my friend got instead. The drinks also weren't anything special. read more

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I know this is a classic North End spot but I thought it was just fine - I'm sorry! My group and I had a 6:30 reservation for a Friday, and were seated in their antique basement. We started off with their espresso martinis, which you cannot go wrong with. Everyone ordered their own pasta; I got the carbonara. In the grand scheme of things, it was fine, but also it was room temperature which threw me off a bit. However, the carbonara flavor was solid, good pasta texture too. Overall, I wasn't completely blown away but it was just all right. I'd like to give it another try one day read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We had reservations for 7:15 and arrived 7:13. They said they would call us when our table was ready. But we waited another 10 minutes before my husband went in to ask. A few minutes later we were led to a table. Inside was very crowded and dimly lit. The seating was pretty tight. After the waitress took our orders and then the bread arrived. There was olive oil on the table that was used for dipping the bread in. We ordered the lasagna, penne alle Amatriciana, fried calamari, and meatball with ricotta. I got the fried calamari and meatball as my meal. They were very large portions. The calamari was tender but the breading fell off as soon as you bit into it. The way they had the lemon wrapped so that the seeds wouldn't fall in when squeezed was clever. The meatball went well with the ricotta. The texture was good but lacked flavor. My husband enjoyed his lasagna. We all love the sauce. My daughter also liked her penne alla Amatriciana. It was cooked al dente and had slight kick to it. After dinner we shared a cannoli. The food was good if a little expensive. The waitress was friendly but because it was crowded wasnot as attentive as she could be. read more

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So you could wait in line for some trendy place. Meanwhile I'll just be over here eating delicious Italian food with friendly service right on the main strip. This place has been around a while but that is a good thing. They know what works and they just play the hits. You want pasta with claims? We will serve them in a pan and give you plenty of claims with fresh tomatos. So good. The carbonara? Classic. Zucchini blossoms? Yep. And just fresh pasta all around. We loved our meal here. Sometimes you just need to go to the classics. You'll be happy you did. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The meatball appetizers were very soft and flavorful. Give the stuffed zucchini flowers time to rest or you'll bite into a molten ball of cheese. I got the steak medium rare and it was still very tough and chewy. The steak was under seasoned but the fries were incredibly salty. read more

I wanted to be wow'd as this was highly recommended to me but it seems it may be more of a tourist stop nowadays. The menu was good but nothing to write home about. I was excited to see cacio e pepe on the menu along with their famous espresso martini. I wasn't blown away by either. They were okay. They also didn't offer a kids menu or smaller portion options, when asked, however there were plenty of kids and high chairs. It was a mediocre spot. The location itself is cute and central in the north end. It does have the dishes you'd expect from an Italian spot but they may not blow you away. read more

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I can only assume that this restaurant makes any "where to eat" lists for Boston by paying off or owning the reviewers. We had a reservation for 8:45 on a Thursday and were taken to the back of the loud, hot, crowded basement and stuffed in a corner where I couldn't sit exactly upright or lean back without bashing my head against some shelving or modeling that stuck out from the wall. The service was sub-par. After our food came out, no one stopped by to check on how we were doing, see if we needed anything, how the food was, etc. We had to wait a good 15 minutes after finishing our meal for our server to show back up so we could ask for the check. And the bathroom was absolutely disgusting. The food was fine, although I have no idea why some dishes are served in skillets... they dropped off a skillet of ragu and took my plate that I could've ate off of away from me. My husband's dish was served on a normal plate. read more

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We travel west flying out Boston, we usually go the night before and enjoy a dinner in the North End. This was a first here and in a word, disapointed. Even with a reservation, they placed us in the center of the room splitting a table of 4 amidst a lot of folks eating. The hostess staff was very accomdating to move us. It took a while to get service and instead of an engaging server, we got an order taker. I know they were busy but make some attempt to connect in the moment. The sauce, as friends mentioned to us was very good, ravioli tasty and meatballs good. What was great was the bread, but three small slices!?! The piccata was over lemonaded ( a new word) and to many capers, chicken not as tender as it should be and pasta not al dente. Our experience overall was just OK, but the restaurant was packed and the bar looked fun. We probably will . explore other places before we try again. I just expected more than Ok and that's probably why "disapointed". I don't mean to be harsh, a different server ( the one at the first table set for us was engaging) and a seat at the window would probably have changed this point of view. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Menu - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Highly recommend making a reservation! This spot has multiple buildings, but the covered patio was definitely my favorite. I will say it felt a little commercialized, which was disappointing, but overall we still had a good experience. The service was quick and the food came out within 10 minutes of ordering. We really enjoyed the tortellini, although it didn't have as much truffle flavor as expected. The veal was the standout; a huge portion, perfectly crispy on the outside, and incredibly tender. One downside: they don't offer dessert or coffee, which was disappointing, especially at this price point. Overall, it was good, but I'd probably explore some other restaurants before returning. read more

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Overall good but wouldn't come back. Food didn't wow me enough to make it worth the price. Cool decor walls covered in old wooded wine boxes. Big bar. Friendly bartender. Very expensive for the quality and flavor. Orcchetti with sausage and broccoli rabe- not much flavor. Very boring. Just garlic and individual ingredients. Very plain and pasta was barely cooked Mom's meat balls- very good. Tender and flavorful. Not too much breadcrumb or filler Amazing high quality olive oil- dark green and amazing flavor read more

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Food was melt in your mouth good! Experience was one to remember and the service was great. It poured rain outside the entire experience was memorable and the most beautiful ambiance. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Melt in your mouth good!! Poured rain outside and was the most beautiful experience - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We popped in for dinner. Very busy little place.We had a reservation so we were seated quickly. Our waiter was quick to get our drink order and we knew pretty quickly what we wanted. I had a glass of their house white Sav, it was just ok. Bread service was quick. Sourdough was good, but the olive oil (for dipping) had zero spices. Pretty plain. My husband ordered the lasagna. I ordered the Mezzi paccheri al Ragu... but the waiter came back 2 times to Ask what we ordered and i ended up getting Moms Quattro carni Ragu. The lasagna was so good we were sopping the plate. Mine came with sausage, ribs, and a meatball and pasta. Definitely not what I wanted... but I thought, I'll try it-no big deal. Pasta was cooked very nicely...sausage (i had one bite) it had good flavor but not my thing. The meatball was good. A little dry. I definitely could've used more Ragu gravy. The poke rib... very interesting choice for the a pasta dish. It was tasty it very hard to eat. I wasn't too impressed with my dinner but the lasagna was good. For us, it was a little dark and noisy. But, that's definitely to be expected in an Italian restaurant. Not a con at all. I would go back and get the other Ragu! read more

We were very excited to come here. It was recommended by a friend. We started with the calamari. It was bland. No flavor. We ate a few pieces. Left 90 percent. I had the lobster ravioli with crab. Plenty of seafood, but again bland. My husband got pasta with seafood. He showed the waitress what he wanted. He asked for spaghetti instead of ziti. She brought spaghetti with no seafood. Had to remake it. The pistachio martini was great. We came to Boston for a nice weekend. My husband had an appointment with an oncologist that day. It was not what we hoped for. read more

This place was good. Even at 3:30 in the afternoon, the place was packed with a line out the door. I ordered the lobster fra diavalo. The lobster was meaty and tasty! Wish the entree came with more pasta. It was good but just a bit skimpy. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Lobster Fra Diavolo (House Special)- good! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I give this restaurant 4 stars but husband thought it was only 3 stars as it was "too touristy" and their house special (the Lobster Fra Diavolo) was disappointing. I would not recommend it as the sauce was very bland. The other two entrees that we had were very good. I highly recommend the Ravioli Porcini if you love mushroom entrees. We also ordered the Tortelli Panna e Prosciutto which was also very good pasta. read more

The carbonara was exquisite. The sauce was well-balanced and delicious. The meatballs with whipped ricotta were delicious as well.

My husband and I loved this place the first time we went and genuinely thought we had found a new favorite spot. Unfortunately, our second visit was a completely different experience. The penne alla vodka was watery and had almost no flavor, which was really disappointing considering I drove an hour to come back. I also could've sworn they served martinis before, but this time it seemed like they only had wine. I'm not sure what changed, but the food just wasn't what we remembered. Sadly, I probably wouldn't go back. read more

Great spot. Great service. The house antipasti was very traditional, vegetables prepared like my grandma, eggplant, peppers/onions, rapini, escarole, zucchini & mushrooms. We ordered a variety of pastas, all cooked perfectly, sauces tasty, seasoned perfectly: the mezza ragu, gnocchi, vodka sauce and carbonara. Nothing was left! It's great spot for a romantic dinner or a family meal. read more

The food was good and my kids and wife loved everything too. We got seated in the basement unfortunately and it was really crammed with a larger group and bad air flow. Really threw us off, ruined the vibe. I'd give the total rating 3-3.5 but the server was really helpful and quick, food was classic - 4/5! read more

Visited August 8, 2026 Stopped by Trattoria Il Panino in Boston's North End for a late lunch around 2 PM. We didn't need a reservation at that time, although the restaurant was still quite full. The dining area itself is pretty small and cramped, but that's something you come to expect at many restaurants in the North End. For our meal, we ordered the NE Spicy Vodka Sauce ($28) with an added chicken cutlet ($8) and the Trombette al Pesto ($27). The pasta here is always solid and consistent, and both dishes tasted great. The spicy vodka sauce was rich and flavorful, while the pesto was another solid choice. My only real complaint was the $8 upcharge for the chicken cutlet. For the price, I expected a more substantial piece of chicken. It was sliced very thin and felt like there was more breading than actual chicken, so I probably wouldn't add it again. Service, however, was excellent. The head waiter was extremely friendly and made us feel right at home, which added a lot to the experience. He was welcoming and attentive throughout our meal. Overall, Trattoria Il Panino continues to be a dependable North End option for pasta. The prices can add up quickly with extras, but the pasta itself has always been consistent whenever I've visited. I'd definitely come back again. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - NE Spicy Vodka Sauce with Added Cutlet - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I've been to Trattoria Il Panino twice, with a reservation both times, and both times we were seated in the basement. On my first visit, it smelled like urine. It didn't smell that way this time, but being seated downstairs again made the experience less enjoyable. We told our server we were headed to a concert, so the quick pace worked for us. Our food arrived before our drinks. My drink was delicious, but the spicy vodka pasta was the biggest disappointment. The pasta was genuinely undercooked, beyond al dente, and the sauce tasted to me like Kraft mac and cheese sauce rather than spicy vodka sauce. The stainless steel pan made for a nice presentation, but the dish itself wasn't good. More concerning, my friend told the server she had a gluten allergy. She ordered a dish that apparently couldn't be made gluten-free, but no one told her that when she ordered. Only when it arrived and she asked did the server say it contained gluten, so she had to choose something else. I did appreciate that the server pointed out the included 20% gratuity at the end. Still, between the seating, the pasta, and the allergy mix-up, this visit was disappointing. There are much better Italian restaurants to go to in the North End. I will not come back here again. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Spicy Vodka Sauce Pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Another stop in our Boston adventures. This spot welcomed us with a happy smile and got us our food quickly! Our waiter helped us pick out delicious wines! We started off with Mom's meatballs, which were delectable and melted in our mouths. I got the cacio which was soooo much food and opted to get chicken with it. I loved the way they plate food here for the aesthetic. Food was great and service too! read more

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After finding many restaurants on New Years were not serving food, we were recommended by another place to try this one. They were serving a late night menu with quite a few options. We each got a glass of champagne to ring in the new year. The Zucchini Flowers were our appetizer, which were actually really good. They were filled with a rich ricotta which was really tasty, and prosciutto. For the entree, we sort of split a pasta dish, the Mezzi Paccheri al Ragú. It was a good portion and filled us up. I liked the ambiance inside as there's a dining room on one side and bar on the other. We were also seated near the window which I liked. This is also one of the more known restaurants in the North End so it was nice to try, and it was my first meal of 2026! I'd like to come back to try their full menu one evening, or grab a drink at the bar. Overall I think this is a good option for dinner in Boston if you want something classic and no frills. read more

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Xmas Eve 2025. Coming in from Vermont as we had a return flight next day, our original dinner plans were not to be, so we looked for options in the North End for dinner. Many places we called were closing, but Trattoria Il Panino had availability for 7 pm. Awesome. When we got to the North End we were shocked how packed it was on XMAS eve. They seated us in the 'outdoor' section. It's Dec 24th, its' cold. We were seated in the front, close to the hard plastic 'windows' and a few of our party were cold, as the heaters above didn't fully reach them. I saw a few others w beanie hats on, also to keep warm presumably. Ok..the food. *Bottle Sparking Water $10 *2 glasses wine about $15 each *Appetizer Meatballs w r Ricotta. $20 for two large size. Really good. *Caesar Salad, split between the 4 of us which was just enough. * Dish1: Served at the table in a frying pan, we ordered Penne alla Amatriciana. * Dish2: Also Served at the table in a frying pan, we ordered Mezzi Paccheri al Ragú We really enjoyed these two dishes, much better than our previous N.E. experience earlier in the week, we just wished we ordered a diff dish as both sauces were similar. Our waiter started off decent, but like our 1st North End experience earlier in the week, ended a bit grumpy. Is this all service in the North End? Rough night? Working on Xmas eve? Not sure, but a bit off putting. Out the door was $169 All in all we would definitely return as it was delish and fired on that 'legit North end experience' we were looking for read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

another great spot in the north end! I was recommended to order off menu and got the gnocchi with spicy vodka sauce and a chicken cutlet - would highly recommend. The gnocchi was so soft and perfectly grabbed the vodka sauce. The vodka sauce was creamy and savory (i personally would not say spicy - but nonetheless delicious). The chicken cutlet was crisp and paired so well - although i wish a bit bigger. HOWEVER, the portions overall were huge! especially for a gnocchi dish i was pleasantly surprised with how large the serving was. This spot was lively and packed on a Friday night - get in a resy - but despite this service was super fast! I will say the hostesses were not friendly, overall service once seated was nice though! read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Trattoria Il Panino on Parmenter Street holds its own in the North End, a neighborhood packed with Italian restaurants competing for your attention on every block. The philosophy here is simple: handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and the kind of lively trattoria energy that makes you feel like you wandered into something real rather than something staged for tourists. We walked into a small, intimate space that feels authentically old North End, with street level seating and a downstairs dining room that fills up fast on most nights. The energy when it gets loud and busy only adds to the warmth of the room, making the meal feel more fun rather than overwhelming. If you are looking for a quiet, candlelit dinner, timing your visit carefully or requesting a window table upstairs is worth doing. The vibe otherwise is bustling and inviting, the kind of place where the noise level actually enhances the experience. The pasta is where things really shine. The truffle mushroom ravioli is outstanding, the kind of dish that stays with you, and the lobster diavolo has real depth and kick to it. The seafood plate, loaded with scallops, shrimp, sea bass, salmon, lobster, and calamari over fettuccine alfredo, is a serious undertaking in the best possible way. The zucchini flowers are delicate and worth ordering if they are available. Bread comes to the table, and the drinks are solid. On the flip side, some of the simpler pasta dishes can feel under seasoned compared to the more composed plates, and the pricing reflects the neighborhood, so you are not walking out cheap. Service is generally warm and attentive, with a mix of staff that has that authentic Italian restaurant feel. The pacing moves at a good clip, sometimes a little fast, but the energy of the room makes it work. For a North End dinner that delivers on homemade pasta and fresh seafood without trying too hard to be anything other than what it is, Trattoria Il Panino is a solid pick. Reservations are a good idea. read more

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Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Italian food, but this place does a pretty solid job. There are lots of options in the North End and this one is probably on the better end of the scale. That being said, the food wasn't overly memorable to me. My friends had actually arrived earlier and I met up with them later on, after coming straight from the airport. The waiter was kind enough to store my luggage and pull up an extra chair for me. The restaurant was pretty busy, even on a weeknight, but they had extra space downstairs. I'd consider coming back for another group dinner. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Entrées - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We visited on a Sunday night and it was packed. The bread the server brought was fluffy and really yummy with the olive oil; it was perfect. For the appetiser we ordered calamari which had a lighter breading than what we're used to with a savory marinara sauce. The spaghetti carbonara was really delicious. The creamy rich sauce with the salty pancetta was perfection. All the food was very flavourful which I love and this was probably the best Italian food I've ever had. The staff was attentive and the ambiance was lively. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This place was delicious with fantastic service! A great spot in the north end and we were able to get a reservation for that night. Two of us got the carbonara, fantastic, while my other coworker got a mushroom ravioli. We also tried the zucchini flowers, very good, and tiramisu. Everything was delicious! We got seated in the basement, which was a fun atmosphere and quieter than upstairs which we appreciated. read more

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This is a Boston staple. On a busy north end street, Trattoria Il Panini stands above the rest. The service is incredible, our waiter had us laughing all night. The food is breathtaking. I dream about the Cacio e Pepe. Plan ahead and get a reservation because they are busy. The espresso martini was delicious and the Hugo spritz was also excellent. They can do no wrong. read more

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Trattoria was such a great experience! Our server, Mihia Cotirta, was extremely knowledgeable and recommended the Ravioli Porcini to my friend. I normally go with the Vodka, which I decided to get this time, but I honestly wished I had gone with Mihia's recommendation instead! The Ravioli Porcini was phenomenal--it literally melts in your mouth. I do appreciate Mihia's wine recommendation, though, because it paired perfectly with the Vodka entrée I had. Great food, great recommendations, and excellent service! Thank you, Trattoria and Mihia, for such a wonderful dining experience! read more

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The food was amazing!! Best Italian food in the North End!! I love my lobster pasta!! Service was top notch! One of the best service I have ever had in Boston!! The server came multiple times to ask if we needed something else. Paid so much attention to details! Great ambiance! Will be back!! read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

For how much we spent (for two)-- $172... I expected a lot more both in quantity and service. Taste-wise food here is good, but I was disappointed with the service primarily. Waiters were inattentive, didn't recognize when I tried to flag them down numerous times, and kept forgetting my requests. Additionally, I had to ask THREE times for place setting and a cup for my 2 year old (they kept forgetting). Also, when ordering, it felt like our waiter didn't know the menu and he was not friendly nor helpful. Food wise: taste of everything was good. I was disappointed with the tomato salad because our waiter made it sound like it came with greens-- it did not. He also made it sound like it was enough for 4 people-- it was small. Also the salmon was pretty lame for being over $30... super small and no starch or sides included (except for a few carrots and beans). My ragu pasta was great! Super yummy and perfectly aldente. The sausage appetizer was also quite delicious. Honestly, I wouldn't go back because of the service, but quality of food was good. Just expect a high bill for how much you need to order to feel satisfied. read more

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We were there for drinks and apps. We ordered a charcuterie board. So disappointed. 8 little pieces of rolled meat. Some type of soft white cheese with no flavor. A few olives and one skinny bread stick. The worst one I have ever ordered. We left and had dinner elsewhere. read more

This was good for lunch, we all loved our meals and drinks. They are very friendly and I would go there again.

Disappointed. This was our favorite Italian restaurant in the North End when we lived and worked in Boston. Haven't been back since we moved away. Still crowded. Seems it moved one establishment over...Reservations recommended. Casual attire fine. Ambiance just ok....not like the old world charm of the old place. Today was in the high 90s and high humidity...NO AC. Very loud. Service so so. Staff not attentive "hanging around" chatting with each others or watching World Cup hovering over tables of folks dining. That being said, our waiter Paola was excellent! Great personality , polished and professional Evaluation of food: Appetizer,: Caesar salad as appetizer ok. Entrees: -Grigliata di Pesce: Not good...Everything grilled and over cooked. (2) Grilled scallops (ok) 1/2 lobster- (overcooked, served without utensils to crack or pic....when I finally got the lobster out with my hands, about 1 tablespoon of meat). (2) shrimp (dry) calamari (flavorless and like rubber. Couldn't chew) & Cod/salmon ok. -Recommend the Ravioli con Aragosta (Lobster ravioli with crab meat pink sauce) Outstanding!!! Very good. House wine Chardonnay and desert limoncella good read more

The ravioli porcini was amazing here, I highly recommend it! The portion sizes are very small especially compared to what the price is so expect to spend a lot or only eat a small amount. This place is definitely vegetarian friendly as I had vegetarians with me who were easily able to find what they can eat. The restaurant is very cute! However is limited seating in here and it can get quite busy so we went here at an odd time when there weren't as many people to avoid the crowd. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Ravioli Porcini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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They have some of the best pastas Boston has to offer. These pastas are easy to share and I served in pants. It's a no frills comfortable spot. The service is quick and they accommodate all your request. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We were super excited to try Italian food and to be honest this spot was disappointing, the food was very mid and it was pricey read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This place was outstanding! Tik tok told me to come, so we got the highly recommended espresso martinis and they did not disappoint! I asked for the vodka gnocchi and it was amazing, all the pasta comes in a stainless steel pan, amazing place. They even set us up with a reservation for a very big party of 18-20 pretty easily. read more

Trattoria Il Panino - Vodka Gnocci - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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