Excellent meal and service! Packed upstairs on a Friday night so they sat us downstairs which also filled up but not nearly as crowded and noisy. All of our meals were excellent! Carpaccio starter was unique with artichokes and other veggies. So good! Veal chop was so tender and delicious. Mushroom ravioli and chicken saltimboca were amazing as well. Great cocktails and a nice glass of super Tuscan. We will definitely return!
Monica C.
Pasta was amazing. Space is crowded and smoky (the kitchen was open and connected to the dining area). We're placed by the bar counter. 2 groups of people waiting for downstair seats literally squeezed into our table for over 30 min. Talking, laughing, drinking right next to our faces. Reported to the staff but was told 'well why didn't you tell us first?'. Overall a terrible experience. Will not be here again...!
Nancy Gillette
The cheese plate was amazing as was the bread But the main entrees were terrible. Zero flavor, nothing exciting and a total disappointment.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana
Summer Wang
Popped into this Italian spot in Boston with some pretty high hopes. We decided on the branzino and swordfish, throwing in a few appetizers for good measure. The branzino arrived as a whole fish, which was a pleasant surprise, and thankfully, it wasn't a battle with tiny bones - they were easy enough to navigate around.The pasta was, well, just okay. It filled the spot but didn't leave a lasting impression, kind of like a background character in a bustling street scene. The calamari was decent, not the star of the show but a solid performance.Overall, I'd say the food was pretty good by Boston's Italian dining standards, enough to make me consider a return visit. It's a solid 4-star place for me. The branzino was the highlight, and while not everything hit the high notes, the experience was enjoyable enough to leave a good taste in my mouth.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Katitlyn Parkinson
service was terrible. will not be going back again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sophia Xu
They lied to us and said our reservation didn’t go through and told us to wait. After waiting an hour we decided to go somewhere else, and got an email that they canceled our reservation which means they had it the entire time. They sat five different groups ahead of us even though we clearly had our reservation. The host was rude as well, zero stars.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
James Madonna
This place was amazing. We had the best calamari I've ever eaten, it had a sweet orangy flavor. Then i had the veal chop punded thin with a home made bread crumbs crust made from the in his bread sticks, came with probably the best risotto I've ever had as well. The owner Sal was a fantastic host.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Chop Valdostana, Calamari
DavidF
An outstanding evening. I brought my 87-year-old mother, and the staff was very pleasant and accommodating. Sara, our server, was attentive, professional, and good natured. Other people who work there--Ortensa, Joseph the bartender, Lirsa--came over to meet my mom, just to make her feel at home. The pappardelle has one of the better Bolognese sauces in the North End. The spaghetti alle vongole was outstanding: perfectly cooked pasta, fresh clams, tangy white wine-garlic sauce. The prosciutto wrapped smoked mozzarella app, which they don't always have, is delish. And my brother reports that the swordfish was excellent. After our meal, on the owner's initiative, Sara brought us complimentary Limoncello shots and some cannoli after the meal. A nice touch that reminds you that though it's fine Italian cuisine and wine, this is ultimately a family place.
Eric Maher
I'm a proud Italian, and this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had outside of my Nana's house. Highly recommend the Penne alla Siciliana.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DavidF
Excellent service, delicious food, including some authentic Sicilian dishes (two of my favorites are the octopus appetizer, which has a texture, taste and presentation straight outta Cefalù, and the arancini, which build on a traditional Sicilian street snack to serve as a delightful appetizer.) Our server, Lirsa, was extremely personable and helpful, as was Joey, the bartender. I've eaten there a few times and have never experienced anything but excellent, friendly service from the staff. Nando is definitely an unassuming eatery with plenty of local character—the full bar has sizable LED TVs where clientele will catch the Bs, Cs, Sox and Pats—and the venue retains some of the trappings of its previous use as a neighborhood pharmacy. But this is also a good place for a special event with fine food and wine (There's a banquet table downstairs.) You might also run into local celebrities and sports figures looking to take a break from the popular-but-nosier spot just up the street.
The service and food were excellent. The gnocchi with lobster and artichokes was amazing. For me the lighting was a little too bright, would have preferred a little softer. Other than that it was terrific!
Paul L.
This was our fourth or fifth visit. We like the airiness of restaurant's floor to ceiling banks of windows on both walls of the dining room, and the sophisticated look of the stone floors and marbled tabletops, and sleek bar. We've liked our food each trip. This time I got a special that, while made well, was in retrospect not as successful as my past choices. (It was a dish using lobster meat in a beef based sauce. They were generous with the lobster and beef, but those two flavors didn't quite mesh for me; lobster didn't hold up well against the beef flavor). We're life long Bostonians that eat in the North End regularly. Nandos is entering heavy rotation for us
JonE
Not good food. I've eaten good Italian food plenty of times. This wasn't that. Waste of $150. I had a feeling I should've stayed away from Hanover street except for mikes or modern pastry. This is why. Place is also incredibly loud. People packed like sardines. And the ambiance is like something a 13 year old would come up with. Everything was just awful.
I am so impressed with this restaurant and enjoyed everything we ordered. The Server was probably the best in the business. Food is delicious and their tomato sauce is the most delicious I've ever tasted in an Italian restaurant in the North End can't wait to go back
LAMB117
Staff was friendly. Food was good this was our first time here and we will be back. Restaurant has an open kitchen and it was quite warm inside even with the door open. Small tables close together and they have dessert. The cannoli was one of the best I've ever had.
Excellent meal and service! Packed upstairs on a Friday night so they sat us downstairs which also filled up but not nearly as crowded and noisy. All of our meals were excellent! Carpaccio starter was unique with artichokes and other veggies. So good! Veal chop was so tender and delicious. Mushroom ravioli and chicken saltimboca were amazing as well. Great cocktails and a nice glass of super Tuscan. We will definitely return!
Pasta was amazing. Space is crowded and smoky (the kitchen was open and connected to the dining area). We're placed by the bar counter. 2 groups of people waiting for downstair seats literally squeezed into our table for over 30 min. Talking, laughing, drinking right next to our faces. Reported to the staff but was told 'well why didn't you tell us first?'. Overall a terrible experience. Will not be here again...!
The cheese plate was amazing as was the bread But the main entrees were terrible. Zero flavor, nothing exciting and a total disappointment.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana
Popped into this Italian spot in Boston with some pretty high hopes. We decided on the branzino and swordfish, throwing in a few appetizers for good measure. The branzino arrived as a whole fish, which was a pleasant surprise, and thankfully, it wasn't a battle with tiny bones - they were easy enough to navigate around.The pasta was, well, just okay. It filled the spot but didn't leave a lasting impression, kind of like a background character in a bustling street scene. The calamari was decent, not the star of the show but a solid performance.Overall, I'd say the food was pretty good by Boston's Italian dining standards, enough to make me consider a return visit. It's a solid 4-star place for me. The branzino was the highlight, and while not everything hit the high notes, the experience was enjoyable enough to leave a good taste in my mouth.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
service was terrible. will not be going back again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
They lied to us and said our reservation didn’t go through and told us to wait. After waiting an hour we decided to go somewhere else, and got an email that they canceled our reservation which means they had it the entire time. They sat five different groups ahead of us even though we clearly had our reservation. The host was rude as well, zero stars.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This place was amazing. We had the best calamari I've ever eaten, it had a sweet orangy flavor. Then i had the veal chop punded thin with a home made bread crumbs crust made from the in his bread sticks, came with probably the best risotto I've ever had as well. The owner Sal was a fantastic host.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Chop Valdostana, Calamari
An outstanding evening. I brought my 87-year-old mother, and the staff was very pleasant and accommodating. Sara, our server, was attentive, professional, and good natured. Other people who work there--Ortensa, Joseph the bartender, Lirsa--came over to meet my mom, just to make her feel at home. The pappardelle has one of the better Bolognese sauces in the North End. The spaghetti alle vongole was outstanding: perfectly cooked pasta, fresh clams, tangy white wine-garlic sauce. The prosciutto wrapped smoked mozzarella app, which they don't always have, is delish. And my brother reports that the swordfish was excellent. After our meal, on the owner's initiative, Sara brought us complimentary Limoncello shots and some cannoli after the meal. A nice touch that reminds you that though it's fine Italian cuisine and wine, this is ultimately a family place.
I'm a proud Italian, and this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had outside of my Nana's house. Highly recommend the Penne alla Siciliana.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent service, delicious food, including some authentic Sicilian dishes (two of my favorites are the octopus appetizer, which has a texture, taste and presentation straight outta Cefalù, and the arancini, which build on a traditional Sicilian street snack to serve as a delightful appetizer.) Our server, Lirsa, was extremely personable and helpful, as was Joey, the bartender. I've eaten there a few times and have never experienced anything but excellent, friendly service from the staff. Nando is definitely an unassuming eatery with plenty of local character—the full bar has sizable LED TVs where clientele will catch the Bs, Cs, Sox and Pats—and the venue retains some of the trappings of its previous use as a neighborhood pharmacy. But this is also a good place for a special event with fine food and wine (There's a banquet table downstairs.) You might also run into local celebrities and sports figures looking to take a break from the popular-but-nosier spot just up the street.
Restaurantji Recommends
The service and food were excellent. The gnocchi with lobster and artichokes was amazing. For me the lighting was a little too bright, would have preferred a little softer. Other than that it was terrific!
This was our fourth or fifth visit. We like the airiness of restaurant's floor to ceiling banks of windows on both walls of the dining room, and the sophisticated look of the stone floors and marbled tabletops, and sleek bar. We've liked our food each trip. This time I got a special that, while made well, was in retrospect not as successful as my past choices. (It was a dish using lobster meat in a beef based sauce. They were generous with the lobster and beef, but those two flavors didn't quite mesh for me; lobster didn't hold up well against the beef flavor). We're life long Bostonians that eat in the North End regularly. Nandos is entering heavy rotation for us
Not good food. I've eaten good Italian food plenty of times. This wasn't that. Waste of $150. I had a feeling I should've stayed away from Hanover street except for mikes or modern pastry. This is why. Place is also incredibly loud. People packed like sardines. And the ambiance is like something a 13 year old would come up with. Everything was just awful.
I am so impressed with this restaurant and enjoyed everything we ordered. The Server was probably the best in the business. Food is delicious and their tomato sauce is the most delicious I've ever tasted in an Italian restaurant in the North End can't wait to go back
Staff was friendly. Food was good this was our first time here and we will be back. Restaurant has an open kitchen and it was quite warm inside even with the door open. Small tables close together and they have dessert. The cannoli was one of the best I've ever had.