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A feast at South End staple Bar Mezzana.
Brian Samuels/Bar Mezzana

Boston’s Best Italian Restaurants

It’s not all about the North End

by Celina Colby, Nathan Tavares, and Eater Staff Updated
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A feast at South End staple Bar Mezzana.
| Brian Samuels/Bar Mezzana
by Celina Colby, Nathan Tavares, and Eater Staff Updated

Boston isn’t short on Italian food — it’s easy to find variations inspired by different regions of Italy, as well as the red-sauce variety popularized by so many Italian American families. And the North End doesn’t have a patent on the stuff, either — there are excellent options all around the city.

Here are 15 local restaurants that showcase some of the best Italian and Italian American food the Boston area has to offer, from Sicilian-inspired seafood to hefty plates of pasta.

Note: While pizza is probably America’s favorite Italian offering, dedicated pizzerias don’t appear on this map; they’ve got their own.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Giulia

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Giulia is serving some of the best fresh pasta in the city. If available, get the pappardelle with wild boar, but a diner can’t go wrong with any of the options, from beef neck tortelli to squid ink linguine with cuttlefish. Plan out dinner here well in advance; reservations are difficult to snag.

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 441-2800
(617) 441-2800
A shallow green bowl filled with yellow pasta topped with green herbs.
Looking for exemplary pasta in the Boston area? Head to Giulia.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Rino's Place

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Rino’s Place in East Boston has the hard-to-find lovability of locals and tourists alike. This is no-frills, classic Italian American checker-tablecloth dining. The ravioli are made to order, and no meal is complete without a plate of crispy calamari for the table. Come hungry; portions tend toward gigantic. (No reservations; walk-ins only.)

258 Saratoga St, Boston, MA 02128
(617) 567-7412
(617) 567-7412

Pammy's

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Pammy’s is not quite Italian — the restaurant describes itself as “a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria” — but it pulls from Italian cuisine enough (and is good enough) that it’s worth including here. Negronis are served on draft, and the pasta is made from scratch, down to the flour being milled in-house. Don’t ignore the lumache, served with a Bolognese sauce that’s kicked up with spicy Korean gochujang.

928 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-1761
(617) 945-1761
An overhead shot of pasta in an orange sauce, piled in a white bowl.
Pammy’s famous lumache.
Natasha Moustache/Pammy’s

Also featured in:

Mamma Maria

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Where classic red-sauce dining meets Boston’s historic old charm, Mamma Maria defines what great Italian food in the North End should look like. Overlooking the cobblestones of Boston’s oldest city square on North Street, Mamma Maria’s gorgeous storefront reels you in, and the food will surely make you stay. As is done in Italy, expect a seasonal menu — Mamma Maria focuses on taking the best from what the local markets have available. The bar is not to be missed, featuring artisanal cocktails with local liqueurs, including Boston’s own Black Infusions Vodka.

3 N Square, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-0077
(617) 523-0077
A beige dining room filled with white tablecloth-covered tables and gigantic drapes hanging from the windows.
A cozy night at Mamma Maria.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Viale

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Italian at heart, Viale emphasizes the beautiful Mediterranean coast at their Central Square restaurant. The menu is multifaceted — boar ragu gnocchi, saffron arancini, halibut crudo, and pizzas with whipped ricotta, calabrian hot honey, and sausage. The cocktails are meticulously curated, and there’s negroni on draft.

502 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-1900
(617) 576-1900
An overhead shot of a pasta dish with black mussels on the side, shrimp, and a showering of breadcrumbs over top.
A seafood pasta at Viale.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Carlo's Cucina Italiana

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For loaded Italian plates and a more casual atmosphere, head to Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Allston. This family-owned and operated spot has been dishing out Saltimbocca and Sunday sauce since the 1970s. They also offer a hearty lunch menu with packed paninis and savory pasta.

131 Brighton Ave (Harvard Ave), Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-9759
(617) 254-9759
A man walking into the entryway of a red brick building with a green awning overhead and the restaurant sign visible.
Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Allston.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Bar Mezzana

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It’s all about the lobster paccheri, folks. But also any other pasta dish, any crudo, and it should not be an option to leave without ordering dessert. Just order the whole menu at Bar Mezzana, which features coastal Italian cuisine.

360 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 530-1770
(617) 530-1770
Overhead view of three oval restaurant plates, each with a different elegantly plated crudo.
Bar Mezzana crudos.
Reagan Byrne/Bar Mezzana

Also featured in:

Coppa

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While Ken Oringer and longtime business partner Jamie Bissonnette recently parted ways, lucky for diners that this South End enoteca is still standing strong. Oringer has taken over sole ownership of the spot, which does a particularly good job with cheese and cured meats; definitely get the beef heart pastrami when available. But don’t forget the pastas: The cavatelli is a must.

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 391-0902
(617) 391-0902
A white bowl of cavatelli in an orange-ish sauce sits on a wooden table
Cavatelli with slow cooked broccoli and chicken sausage, tomato, fennel pollen, and parmesan at Coppa.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

SRV

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SRV (which stands for Serene Republic of Venice) is a bacaro and wine bar serving cuisine inspired by the Adriatic right in Boston’s South End. Go with friends and get at least one of each cicchetti option (Venetian small plates), but also try some of the creative pasta dishes, such as stuffed paccheri with octopus, fennel, and tomato, or the agnolotti in brodo with beet, orange, and poppy seeds.

569 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-9500
(617) 536-9500
A plate of finely shaved prosciutto and buttered bread on a marble countertop.
A prosciutto starter plate at SRV.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Bar Volpe

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Unlike its northern Italian predecessor, the Fox & the Knife, chef Karen Akunowicz’s Bar Volpe places emphasis on the phenomenal flavors of southern Italy. The South Boston restaurant serves as both a dining room and a store where fresh pasta can be bought by the pound to take home. Make sure to try the hand-crafted Sardinian culurgiones stuffed with goat cheese and potato served over a tomato basil sauce.

170 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 865-7100
(617) 865-7100

Also featured in:

Mida

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With spots in Newton and East Boston joining chef/owner Douglass Williams’ original South End location, it might be inevitable to one day have a Mida in every neighborhood. And a wonder that would be, with crispy arancini with San Marzano tomato sauce, and braised pork tagliatelle with radicchio, chili flakes, and Grana Padano cheese from the north of Italy just a few steps away. Get the braised short rib lasagna. Ditto for the tiramisu. You won’t regret it.

782 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
617-936-3490
617-936-3490
An overhead shot of dishes of various pastas laid out on a white table with drinks interspersed throughout.
A selection of various dishes at Mida.
Emily Kan/Mida

Also featured in:

Petula's

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It’s easy to fall in love with Petula’s, Rachel Titcomb’s Italian-ish newcomer that opened in Southie in May 2023, from the small plates of whipped ricotta with pickled red onions and herb honey on grilled sourdough, to classic pasta with vodka sauce that topped with chili flakes and fresh parmesan. The vibe is date-night chic, too — check out the dining room’s warm blush tones and the dried blooms hanging over the bar — whether your date is a pal for martini Mondays or a partner to split the pristine prosciutto and delicata squash pizza. Or even still: A treat-yourself date of truffle cacio e pepe with confit mushrooms. That way, you can hoard the whole meal for yourself.

81 L St (E Fourth St), Boston, MA 02127
(617) 752-4531
(617) 752-4531

Also featured in:

La Morra

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This Brookline mainstay tends to lean in the direction of northern Italy, based on owners Josh and Jen Ziskin’s time in Italy’s Piedmont region. For a taste of as much of the menu as possible, try the prix fixe menu with optional wine pairings.

48 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 739-0007
(617) 739-0007

Also featured in:

Tonino

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This Jamaica Plain gem has garnered an enthusiastic following since it opened in October 2022. It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but look especially for the taleggio cappelletti drizzled with aged balsamic, the bowl of countneck clams, and the Roman-style pizza bianca with excellent pairings including whipped ‘nduja and stracciatella, ricotta and hot honey, and eggplant caponata.

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 524-9217
(617) 524-9217
An overhead image of five white plate-bowls, filled with different pasta dishes, on a white tablecloth, along with a couple glasses of wine and a couple candles.
A spread of pasta dishes at Tonino.
Brian Samuels Photography/Tonino

Also featured in:

Via Cannuccia

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Chef Stefano Quaresima transports customers direct to Italy at this spot on Dorchester Avenue. Roman through and through, this trattoria is a bakery by day — putting out some of Boston’s freshest and tastiest pastries thanks to their lievito madre (sourdough starter) — and a restaurant by night. Stop by on the weekend to sample their brunch, where you can taste a true maritozzo rarely found anywhere outside of Rome. Then, come back in the evening for an unforgettable dining experience that will make you question if you’re in Dorchester or Anzio, Quaresima’s hometown south of Rome.

1739 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02124
(617) 506-1877
(617) 506-1877
Domed lamps hang from the ceiling in a dining room awash in cool neutral colors, with sunlight streaming in from a front window.
Via Cannuccia’s darling interior.
Via Cannuccia

Also featured in:

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Giulia

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Giulia is serving some of the best fresh pasta in the city. If available, get the pappardelle with wild boar, but a diner can’t go wrong with any of the options, from beef neck tortelli to squid ink linguine with cuttlefish. Plan out dinner here well in advance; reservations are difficult to snag.

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 441-2800
(617) 441-2800
A shallow green bowl filled with yellow pasta topped with green herbs.
Looking for exemplary pasta in the Boston area? Head to Giulia.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Rino's Place

258 Saratoga St, Boston, MA 02128

Rino’s Place in East Boston has the hard-to-find lovability of locals and tourists alike. This is no-frills, classic Italian American checker-tablecloth dining. The ravioli are made to order, and no meal is complete without a plate of crispy calamari for the table. Come hungry; portions tend toward gigantic. (No reservations; walk-ins only.)

258 Saratoga St, Boston, MA 02128
(617) 567-7412
(617) 567-7412

Pammy's

928 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Pammy’s is not quite Italian — the restaurant describes itself as “a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria” — but it pulls from Italian cuisine enough (and is good enough) that it’s worth including here. Negronis are served on draft, and the pasta is made from scratch, down to the flour being milled in-house. Don’t ignore the lumache, served with a Bolognese sauce that’s kicked up with spicy Korean gochujang.

928 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-1761
(617) 945-1761
An overhead shot of pasta in an orange sauce, piled in a white bowl.
Pammy’s famous lumache.
Natasha Moustache/Pammy’s

Mamma Maria

3 N Square, Boston, MA 02113

Where classic red-sauce dining meets Boston’s historic old charm, Mamma Maria defines what great Italian food in the North End should look like. Overlooking the cobblestones of Boston’s oldest city square on North Street, Mamma Maria’s gorgeous storefront reels you in, and the food will surely make you stay. As is done in Italy, expect a seasonal menu — Mamma Maria focuses on taking the best from what the local markets have available. The bar is not to be missed, featuring artisanal cocktails with local liqueurs, including Boston’s own Black Infusions Vodka.

3 N Square, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-0077
(617) 523-0077
A beige dining room filled with white tablecloth-covered tables and gigantic drapes hanging from the windows.
A cozy night at Mamma Maria.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Viale

502 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Italian at heart, Viale emphasizes the beautiful Mediterranean coast at their Central Square restaurant. The menu is multifaceted — boar ragu gnocchi, saffron arancini, halibut crudo, and pizzas with whipped ricotta, calabrian hot honey, and sausage. The cocktails are meticulously curated, and there’s negroni on draft.

502 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-1900
(617) 576-1900
An overhead shot of a pasta dish with black mussels on the side, shrimp, and a showering of breadcrumbs over top.
A seafood pasta at Viale.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Carlo's Cucina Italiana

131 Brighton Ave (Harvard Ave), Allston, MA 02134

For loaded Italian plates and a more casual atmosphere, head to Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Allston. This family-owned and operated spot has been dishing out Saltimbocca and Sunday sauce since the 1970s. They also offer a hearty lunch menu with packed paninis and savory pasta.

131 Brighton Ave (Harvard Ave), Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-9759
(617) 254-9759
A man walking into the entryway of a red brick building with a green awning overhead and the restaurant sign visible.
Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Allston.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Bar Mezzana

360 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118

It’s all about the lobster paccheri, folks. But also any other pasta dish, any crudo, and it should not be an option to leave without ordering dessert. Just order the whole menu at Bar Mezzana, which features coastal Italian cuisine.

360 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 530-1770
(617) 530-1770
Overhead view of three oval restaurant plates, each with a different elegantly plated crudo.
Bar Mezzana crudos.
Reagan Byrne/Bar Mezzana

Coppa

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

While Ken Oringer and longtime business partner Jamie Bissonnette recently parted ways, lucky for diners that this South End enoteca is still standing strong. Oringer has taken over sole ownership of the spot, which does a particularly good job with cheese and cured meats; definitely get the beef heart pastrami when available. But don’t forget the pastas: The cavatelli is a must.

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 391-0902
(617) 391-0902
A white bowl of cavatelli in an orange-ish sauce sits on a wooden table
Cavatelli with slow cooked broccoli and chicken sausage, tomato, fennel pollen, and parmesan at Coppa.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

SRV

569 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

SRV (which stands for Serene Republic of Venice) is a bacaro and wine bar serving cuisine inspired by the Adriatic right in Boston’s South End. Go with friends and get at least one of each cicchetti option (Venetian small plates), but also try some of the creative pasta dishes, such as stuffed paccheri with octopus, fennel, and tomato, or the agnolotti in brodo with beet, orange, and poppy seeds.

569 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-9500
(617) 536-9500
A plate of finely shaved prosciutto and buttered bread on a marble countertop.
A prosciutto starter plate at SRV.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Bar Volpe

170 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

Unlike its northern Italian predecessor, the Fox & the Knife, chef Karen Akunowicz’s Bar Volpe places emphasis on the phenomenal flavors of southern Italy. The South Boston restaurant serves as both a dining room and a store where fresh pasta can be bought by the pound to take home. Make sure to try the hand-crafted Sardinian culurgiones stuffed with goat cheese and potato served over a tomato basil sauce.

170 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 865-7100
(617) 865-7100

Mida

782 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

With spots in Newton and East Boston joining chef/owner Douglass Williams’ original South End location, it might be inevitable to one day have a Mida in every neighborhood. And a wonder that would be, with crispy arancini with San Marzano tomato sauce, and braised pork tagliatelle with radicchio, chili flakes, and Grana Padano cheese from the north of Italy just a few steps away. Get the braised short rib lasagna. Ditto for the tiramisu. You won’t regret it.

782 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
617-936-3490
617-936-3490
An overhead shot of dishes of various pastas laid out on a white table with drinks interspersed throughout.
A selection of various dishes at Mida.
Emily Kan/Mida

Petula's

81 L St (E Fourth St), Boston, MA 02127

It’s easy to fall in love with Petula’s, Rachel Titcomb’s Italian-ish newcomer that opened in Southie in May 2023, from the small plates of whipped ricotta with pickled red onions and herb honey on grilled sourdough, to classic pasta with vodka sauce that topped with chili flakes and fresh parmesan. The vibe is date-night chic, too — check out the dining room’s warm blush tones and the dried blooms hanging over the bar — whether your date is a pal for martini Mondays or a partner to split the pristine prosciutto and delicata squash pizza. Or even still: A treat-yourself date of truffle cacio e pepe with confit mushrooms. That way, you can hoard the whole meal for yourself.

81 L St (E Fourth St), Boston, MA 02127
(617) 752-4531
(617) 752-4531

La Morra

48 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445

This Brookline mainstay tends to lean in the direction of northern Italy, based on owners Josh and Jen Ziskin’s time in Italy’s Piedmont region. For a taste of as much of the menu as possible, try the prix fixe menu with optional wine pairings.

48 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 739-0007
(617) 739-0007

Tonino

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

This Jamaica Plain gem has garnered an enthusiastic following since it opened in October 2022. It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but look especially for the taleggio cappelletti drizzled with aged balsamic, the bowl of countneck clams, and the Roman-style pizza bianca with excellent pairings including whipped ‘nduja and stracciatella, ricotta and hot honey, and eggplant caponata.

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 524-9217
(617) 524-9217
An overhead image of five white plate-bowls, filled with different pasta dishes, on a white tablecloth, along with a couple glasses of wine and a couple candles.
A spread of pasta dishes at Tonino.
Brian Samuels Photography/Tonino

Via Cannuccia

1739 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02124

Chef Stefano Quaresima transports customers direct to Italy at this spot on Dorchester Avenue. Roman through and through, this trattoria is a bakery by day — putting out some of Boston’s freshest and tastiest pastries thanks to their lievito madre (sourdough starter) — and a restaurant by night. Stop by on the weekend to sample their brunch, where you can taste a true maritozzo rarely found anywhere outside of Rome. Then, come back in the evening for an unforgettable dining experience that will make you question if you’re in Dorchester or Anzio, Quaresima’s hometown south of Rome.

1739 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02124
(617) 506-1877
(617) 506-1877
Domed lamps hang from the ceiling in a dining room awash in cool neutral colors, with sunlight streaming in from a front window.
Via Cannuccia’s darling interior.
Via Cannuccia

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