Swanky, elegant, and distinctive, chef-owner Jamie Mammanos regional Italian restaurant is a Copley Square gem, thanks to high-touch service like expert wine recs and gratis chocolate truffles at the end of the meal. This cozy family-owned venue has been in operation since 1909, providing visitors with ample opportunity to enjoy a refreshing pint of Guinness served at a pre-Prohibition bar. [Photo: Facebook], Family-owned since 1929, James Hook & Company has become a giant and well-loved lobster purveyor. Food-wise, this place will let you carb up on American comfort food and cool down on milk shakes. Situated between Central and Harvard Squares, this hip trattoria has aslightly retro feel thanks tothe amber glow of its globe lights and double-sided fireplace. The pastries include cannoli, limoncello cake and tiramisu equal to any dessert in this Italian neighborhood. Andrew Michael. The food was delicious but very overpriced. Try another? Perched above Congress Street in Fort Point, Barbara Lynchs sleek and modern rendition of a classic diner offers up supremely tasty, trattoria-inspired Italian cuisine. Don't miss it! Warren Tavern is worth visiting for the history alone, but fortunately, the food and drink here is top-notch as well. Most tables start their meals off with a selection of cicchettitraditional pre-dinner snacks, like pickled vegetables and salt cod spreadbefore moving on to dishes of homemade pastas and hearty entrees. "Got great reviews so we made a reservation. Amongst its menu of 30+ dishes, you'll see tempting and tasty seasonal options like goat cheese-stuffed zucchini flowers drizzled with lemon and honey, as well as a whole roasted fish that's artfully carved tableside. Try another? In honor of Classics Week, these are 25 of Boston's most classic restaurants, including some truly old specimens. Located within the opulent Omni Parker House hotel, the venue gave rise to this iconic dessert in the mid-1800s, and is also noted for inventing the Parker House roll. Visit Website. Tucked away in Beacon Hill, this underground eatery is the epitome of intimate. 24 Fleet St., North End, Boston, 617-227-1577, prezza.com. Original fixtures and features are paired with whimsical touches, and the lights are low for a suitably debauched atmosphere. South Street Diner has retro-cool cred. You'll often find owner James Bari seated outside this small eight-table restaurant which dates back to 1968. 348 Congress St., Fort Point, Boston, 617-737-1234, sportelloboston.com. Tuck into this friendly and inviting spot for a classic parmigiana or the signature house-made bombolotti pasta with North Atlantic lobster tail and shrimp in a spicy fra diavolo sauce. Located in Charlestown, this beloved pub dates back to 1780, and counts Paul Revere, Ben Franklin, and even George Washington as some of its most notable patrons. Giulia is serving some of the best fresh pasta in the city. In 2018, Regina Pizzeria was declared the best pizza restaurant in the United States by TripAdvisor. La Locanda. Oops. We sat downstairs which was lively and such a fun experiencemore, We made reservations for my daughter s 30th birthday and everyone was so nice, very accommodating! The romantic dining room is filled with wine bottles and crates, and gold curtains frame floor-to-ceiling windows that provide ample opportunity for people-watching. Amrheins is the oldest restaurant in South Boston and claims lineage back to 1890. The reality is, it takes a lot of hard work and something truly special to keep an eatery up and running for decadesif not more. Pappardelle at Delfino. This is a loud, messy, group dinner kind of spot, for people who aren't going to critique their pasta. Jeveli's Restaurant Year Established: 1924 Original Owner: Pasquale Jeveli Location: 387 Chelsea St. The gelatoaround 20 flavorsand sorbetto make for a classic afternoon pick-me-up, a tradition straight from the old country. The clam pie with cherrystone clams and hot peppers is a perennial favorite. 210 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113. This Centre Street joint forms its pies from slow-fermented dough before cooking them in a 700-degree, wood fired oven to achieve a crispy crust that still has a good chew. It's definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Boston for those looking for tasty and inventive seafood dishes. Netflix watchers will soon see the restaurant star in the upcoming film Dont Look Up, featuring Cate Blanchett and Tyler Perry. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! 1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 441-2800 Visit Website Giulia's fresh-made pasta is hard to beat. 39 tips and reviews Kelly Robertson: If you are looking for an authentic Italian experience, this is the place! Giulia chef-owner Michael Pagliarini. Brick walls and candlelight keep this Cambridge restaurant's vibe romantic and rustic. One of the younger entries on the list, East Coast Grill opened in Inman Square in 1985 and is known for its seafood not to mention its fiery fare, especially on its popular "Hell Nights." Head to the outskirts of Boston to enjoy Sweet Basils eclectic decor and menu crammed with comforting yet refined Italian-American favorites, like sauteed eggplant parm and beef and sausage bolognese. Located in South Boston, where it has been for over a century, Amrheins boasts the oldest hand-carved bar in America as well as the first draft beer pump in Boston. ago. Regina lays claim as Boston's oldest pizzeria, and their brick-oven, thin-crust pizza is legendary. 28 W. Broadway, South Boston, 617-766-8630, foxandtheknife.com. It was sold a couple years back to longtime employees, but has, thankfully, changed little. / Photo by Pat Piasecki. 754 South St., Roslindale Village, 617-327-8359, delfinorestaurant.com. Malcolm X once worked at Parkers Restaurant as a busboy in the 1940s, while Vietnamese politician H Ch Minh was a baker at the Omni Parker House during the early 1910s. [Photo: Facebook], When Jeveli's opened in East Boston in 1924, the restaurant had only 30 seats. Chef-owner Josh Ziskins seasonal, northern Italian cuisine exudes rustic, refined comfort. Lydia Reichert and the team behind suburban hotspot Sycamore have opened another Newton eatery: a sophisticated pizza place that pays homage to her larger than life grandmother named, you guessed it, Jinny. Politicians like Daniel Webster and John F. Kennedy were frequent patrons, and several decades prior to opening, the building served as a refuge for the exiled Louis Philippe I, a European royal who would later serve as King of France from 1830 to 1848. Overall, Genesio ranks as one of the best traditional Italian restaurants in the Boston area -- outranking many of Boston's highly regarded, heavily advertised and promoted Italian restaurants. Tagliatelle Bolognese is rich pasta perfection, the sauce blurring the lines between meat and cheese and sweet tomato; and the gnocchi with lobster and mushroom ragu and peas is a must-order. Thename of this little Italian restaurantGrottosuits it perfectly. Head to Allston and get settled in the cozy, laid-back dining room at local favorite Carlos Cucina Italiana. Salumeria Italiana 332 reviews Closed Now Speciality Food Market, Italian - "The Best Italian Sandwich!" "The best of the best stocked Italian food." 2022 2. There's a whole room dedicated to John Fitzgerald, JFK's grandfather. Perfect for pizza and a ballgame on a weekday afternoon, this family-owned classic gets packed on weekend nights. With more than 90,000 establishments offering Italian-style dishes here in America, there are endless options to consider when craving the flavorful, savory tastes of "The Boot." Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Italian restaurants in Boston on Tripadvisor. Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. Its interior courtyard is a favorite for al fresco eating, while its fireplace is perfect for cozying up during the cooler monthsmaking it a New American go-to the entire year round. And, of course, this South End joint (and its sister space in Newton) expertly executes classic Italian cocktails, like the Negroni. This is a review for italian restaurants in Boston, MA: "Amazing old school italian restaurant look, feel and taste! From hidden gems known mainly to locals or historic landmarks that have been open for decades, we've tracked down the best old-school Italian restaurant in every state and Washington,. Weve got the best red sauce joints, fine dining and weeknight carb spots around. First, it was the Copley Caf. 48 Boylston St., BrooklineVillage, 617-739-0007, lamorra.com. Swing by Foxs brand-new, one-block-away sibling, Bar Volpe.). This restaurant's blazing, wood-fire oven proudly serves up robust, hand-crafted pies, like its famed funghi pizza made with homemade ricotta and arugula. Today the landmark still has its old-school charm. Here are 13 of Boston.com readers' favorite gone-but-not-forgotten restaurants: Aku-Aku Cambridge "The pu pu platter at the Aku-Aku in Cambridge (Fresh Pond). Netflix watchers will soon see the restaurant star in the upcoming film. From old-school red sauce joints, to chic seafood, to soulful reinterpretations of classic comforts. In the modern era, guests are welcome to stop by for classic pub fare like Fish and Chips or Baked Mac n Cheese with a crisp lager in hand. Then theres the superlative vino and outstanding cocktails that flow at the bar (where a la carte ordering is allowed), thanks to wine director Katie Hubbard and bar manager Rob Hicks. Compare. Geppetto This long awaited restaurant in Cambridge that executive chef Will Gilson (Puritan & Co., Cafe Beatrice) managed to. Trattoria Il Panino, Bostons self-proclaimed original trattoria, is practically a North End landmark. More than a decade in, the menu at this South End enoteca is still consistently creative and well-executed, from the blistered pizzas to the hand made pastas (such as a fusilli with fennel sausage, seared escarole, and a white bean ragu). Legend has it that during the Prohibition, the pub fronted as a shoe store. / Photo by Douglas Friedman Contessa Landing a table at Contessa is one of the toughest gambits in townbut as our own. 10 Restaurants Offering Takeout or Delivery for Dine Out Boston, The 38 Essential Boston Restaurants, April 2013. Opened in 1975, Harvest lays claim to being the training ground for many celebrated chefs, including Eric Brennan, Scott Bryan, Barbara Lynch, Lydia Shire and Sara Moulton. [Photo: Facebook], Named from its original owner, Henry Marliave, a French immigrant from Paris, this restaurant opened its doors in 1885. The wood-lined interior, including an antique carved wood bar, is well worn by a devoted local clientele who enjoy comfort food and strong cocktails. Dig into our citys past by dining out at Bostons most historic eateries. It has been serving delicious pizza and Italian dishes since 1960 with a pizza that rivals the best in the five boroughs. Thanks for subscribing! Cafe Gia Ristorante 3. Bostons dining scene can be ever-evolving and, over the years, weve seen plenty of restaurants come and go. 3. Chef Colin Lynchs oft-changing crudo preparations are where to start at this coastal Italian-inspired stunner. This Medford restaurant is known for its total lack of menu and for cooking incredible meals based on what you love to eat and what they have in the kitchen. Though its only operated under this name for 24 years, the diner goes back several decades and is one of the Worcester Dining Companys original no-frills dining cars. The Warren Tavern has been in its current location on Pleasant Street (near the Bunker Hill Monument) since 1780. Geppetto. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. It is the oldest continuously family-owned pub in the city. Drinks and food were delicious! It's been that way since 1932, and it's been family owned and operated. Fans of Schlows dearly-departed Via Matta can enjoy old-school chicken parm or rigatoni with spicy fennel sausage ragu. / Photo by Christopher Churchill for Best Restaurants in Boston, We often find ourselves popping into chef Douglass Williamss South End neighborhood spot to see what inspired, seasonal flavors chef-owner Douglass Williams is cooking up. Doyle's is also the first bar to serve Sam Adams beer. Note: While pizza is probably Americas favorite Italian offering, dedicated pizzerias dont appear on this map; theyve got their own. It is tough to argue that everyone doesn't love a ton ofmore, Really really really good Italian food. Tagliatelle al rag at La Morra in Brookline. Also great value, we had two appetizers, three main dishes, and a $50 bottle of wine for $160. Heading to your local pub for some much-needed gossip is one of humanitys favorite pastimes, and at the Bell in Hand Tavern, this time-honored tradition has been enjoyed for centuries on end. Open in Google Maps. The wine list tends to favor Northern Italian and French bottles, with an emphasis on lesser known producers. Strega | 379 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113 | $$. By 1978, it was The Plaza Bar and Dining Room, and in 1996, it became The Oak Room. 17. Founded more than half a century ago, this unassuming Irish-American watering hole was vaulted to local stardom in 1983 after a visit from sitting president Ronald Reagan, followed by a 1992 visit from then-presidential hopeful Bill Clinton. Share one of the pear-, gorgonzola-, and prosciutto-topped pies, try the eggy chitarra carbonara, or indulge in the chili-flaked meatballs to discover why it remains a hit with so many regulars.