If you’re searching for the best restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts, you have come to the right place.
There are various reasons why people can’t get enough Italian food: the large portions, rich sauces, quality ingredients, and never-ending wine. Italian cuisine has a wide range of regional variations, and the country has significantly influenced American dining culture.
Boston boasts a vibrant Italian food scene, with an array of choices available for locals and visitors alike. A slew of Italian restaurants, pizzerias, and cafés can be found throughout the city, each with their own unique atmosphere and options for all tastes and budgets.
Suffice it to say, Boston is home to some of the best Italian restaurants in America. Let’s find out the best this city has to offer.
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12 Best Italian Restaurants in Boston, USA
Here is our list of the consistently top Italian restaurants in Boston, USA.
1. Mamma Maria
Address: 3 N Square, Boston, MA 02113, USA
Mamma Maria is located in the city’s “Little Italy.” This gem of a restaurant has received numerous awards for its excellent food and service.
In addition to being named one of the best Italian restaurants in Boston by various publications like The Boston Globe and Yelp!, Mamma Maria also receives positive reviews from customers — many say that they’ve come back multiple times because they love it so much.
Mamma Maria serves traditional Italian dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. Do not miss their carpaccio with truffle, pasta with meat sauce, veal cotolleta, prosciutto e melone (ham), gnocchi al granchio (cheese-stuffed potato dumplings), and burrata al tartufo (cow milk cheese with truffle).
2. Sorellina
Address: 1 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02116, USA
One of the best Italian restaurants in Boston, Sorellina is an excellent choice for special occasions, business meetings, and birthdays.
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience with great food and attentive service, Sorellina is your place! As soon as you walk into this restaurant, it feels like home because everyone here is friendly and gives off that welcoming vibe.
They have plenty of options available, so everyone who visits will be able to find something they enjoy.
One thing you’ll notice when trying out some dishes is how fresh everything tastes. Must-sample are their raviolo, tuna tartare, lobster gnocchi, and truffle fries. Also, the mousse di cioccolato (chocolate mousse) and tiramisu are to die for!
When ordering drinks from their menu, you will love how nicely presented each glass looks. You’ll appreciate the glass before drinking the content, which will make you feel even more excited about eating delicious Italian cuisine.
When you’re in Boston, eating at Sorellina at least once is a must!
3. MIDA
Address: 782 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
MIDA is a modern Italian trattoria in the North End, with an open kitchen and patio scene that add to its charming atmosphere. This is sure to be one of your favorite spots in the city!
Bucatini all’amatriciana (pasta with bacon, tomatoes, and pecorino), arancini (crispy rice fritters), insalata mista (mixed salad), Sicilian mussels, and marinated olives are all a must-try.
Their wine list also has something for everyone. Reds, whites, and sparkling wines are available by the glass or bottle – depending on what you’re looking for.
Finally, their desserts are extremely delightful! You simply must taste their pistachio gelato – seriously!
Overall, dining at MIDA is a wonderful experience, with their super-friendly staff and classy atmosphere. This Italian eatery in Boston should not be skipped when you’re looking for extraordinary Italian food in the area.
4. La Famiglia Giorgio’s Restaurant
Address: 112 Salem St., Boston, MA 02113, USA
La Famiglia Giorgio’s Restaurant is one of the most famous Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End.
They serve large portions of traditional Roman-comfort food and seafood cuisine, with a menu that ranges from appetizers like calamari fritti and bruschetta to entrées like veal scaloppine with prosciutto di Parma. There’s something for everyone at La Famiglia Giorgio’s Restaurant.
Everything you’ll eat here is fresh – from Italian bread and oil to pastas and sauces! We are huge eggplant lovers here so we highly recommend La Famiglia Giorgio’s eggplant parmigiana. It’s so darn good you will want to take home some with you!
La Famiglia Giorgio’s also offers an impressive wine list featuring local wines by the glass or bottle.
5. Coppa Enoteca
Address: 253 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, USA
Coppa Enoteca is a popular Italian restaurant in Boston that serves Italian food with a focus on small plates and sharing dishes that pair well together. Think antipasti platters and charcuterie boards, as well as pizzas, portions of pasta, and salads.
This small, hip spot on Boston’s South End also offers an extensive wine list featuring many Italian wines for those who like their drinks to be paired with their meals.
The best time to visit is during dinner hours when you can get reservations quickly at the restaurant itself or online through their website.
6. Carmelina’s
Address: 307 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113, USA
Carmelina’s offers classic Sicilian-style fare with a Mediterranean twist, thanks to chefs Damien DiPaola and Michael Hollenkamp.
Carmelina’s is a fabulous restaurant in the North End of Boston. It has been serving Italian cuisine since 2012. The restaurant is located on Hanover Street, where it offers both lunch and dinner menus.
Carmelina’s features an extensive wine list with over 100 wines from all over the world, including Italy and France. The menu includes some of the most popular dishes from around Italy: arancini, pasta primavera, risotto alla milanese, and more!
In addition to its extensive entrées such as chicken parmesan or seafood linguine Alfredo, you can also order your favorite pizza by selecting either tomato sauce or pesto sauce on your pie instead of regular cheese topping. This option comes as part of their “artisan” pizza.
7. Ristorante Limoncello
Address: 190 North St., Boston, MA 02113, USA
Ristorante Limoncello is a trattoria in Boston that offers excellent pasta, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and more!
The price range starts from moderate (under $20 per person) to expensive ($40+ per person). You can find a lot of great specials if you’re willing to spend more money.
Their specialty pasta dishes are unique. They have some really good vegetable dishes, too, if you’re looking for something vegetarian-friendly or vegan-friendly. Their desserts are super sweet but delicious nonetheless; try their tiramisu or limoncello cake!
Besides their fantastic wines and Italian classics, you will also love Ristorante Limoncello’s warm vibe with murals of Italy on the restaurant’s walls.
8. Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
Address: 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116-3936, USA
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, with a second location in Harvard Square.
It was in 1985 that the young and ambitious Steve DiFillippo bought Davio’s, a locally-owned family restaurant on Newbury Street in Boston’s Back Bay. Decades later, Davio’s is now an important destination in the city and one of the most iconic Italian restaurants in the whole of New England.
The menu at Davio’s features traditional dishes such as lasagna, braciole (slices of beef tenderloin), ossobuco (braised veal shank), and many more.
Davio’s offers three levels of wine lists: an affordable one for those on a budget; an intermediate list featuring good values; and finally, if you’re feeling flush, then go ahead and splurge on bottles costing $100+ per glass!
9. Giacomo’s Ristorante
Address: 355 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113, USA
Giacomo’s Ristorante in Boston’s North End is a popular Italian restaurant that was founded in 1985.
This Italian restaurant specializes in pasta and seafood dishes such as fusilli with lobster and shrimp, lobster roll, mozzarella marinara, and grilled octopus. Entrées include different variants of fetuccine and linguine. All are must-try, but the eggplant rollatini – rolled eggplant in a tomato sauce, with ricotta, romano, and mozarella cheese filling – is our personal favorite!
Giacomo’s Ristorante is a great destination for Italian cuisine enthusiasts, especially with its beautifully classic interior. However, if you don’t want to sit inside as you dine, there are plenty of outdoor seating options as well – including a patio.
10. Antico Forno
Address: 93 Salem St., Boston, MA 02113, USA
Craving for some slices of authentic Neapolitan-style pizza in Boston? Then head to Antico Forno, where you can find the best pizza and other rustic Southern Italian fare served in vibrant, traditional setting.
Apart from exquisite antipasti, pizzas, and pastas, fantastic white wines from Italy such as Ventorosa and Chiorri are also available, and so are Italian reds like Montepulciano and Cordano.
Antico Forno provides an excellent dining experience to those who are looking for truly authentic Southern Italian food. Vegan options are also available, which are not very common in Boston’s North End – making it ideal for everyone.
11. Rino’s Place
Address: 258 Saratoga St., Boston, MA 02128, USA
Rino’s Place is a great Italian restaurant in Boston that specializes in seafood and Italian dishes. It’s located in the North End, so reservations are recommended for this popular spot.
The atmosphere is casual and friendly, with tables throughout the room for you to choose from if you don’t want to be too close to others who may be dining there at the same time as you.
Frutti di mare, lobster ravioli, shrimp scampi, and pollo parmigiana are among the most popular dishes you can order.
The menu also features homemade desserts as well as wine pairings for each course of your meal, so if you’re looking for something sweet after dinner or have an extra treat after work (or even before), this place has got you covered!
12. Lucca Restaurant
Address: 226 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113, USA
Lucca is an intimate trattoria in the North End, offering authentic dishes from Northern Italy, with a focus on seasonal produce. It’s been voted “the Best Italian Restaurant in Boston” by Boston Magazine.
Hands down one of the most popular restaurants in Boston’s North End, Lucca Restaurant prides itself in the outstanding quality of its cut meats and the sauces that are made from scratch.
Rigatoni, pappardelle (flat ribbon pasta with meat sauce), and lobster cavatelli are some of the house’s absolute bestsellers. They also offer phenomenal appetizers such as calamari and lobster bisque. Conclude your meal with their fabulous desserts: sorbet, gelato, or tiramisu. You will also get limoncello for free.
Lucca is an absolute must-not-miss in Boston!
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