10 Best Italian Restaurants in Cambridge

“Pammy's in Cambridge offers a culinary journey that delights the senses at every turn. From the moment you step inside, the warm and inviting ambiance sets the stage for an exceptional dining experience. The menu is a celebration of seasonal ingredients and inventive flavor combinations, expertly curated by the talented chefs. Each dish is a work of art, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. Standout dishes include the handmade pastas, perfectly cooked meats, and inventive vegetable creations. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the dining experience, from the impeccable service to the thoughtfully selected wine list. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to indulge in outstanding cuisine, Pammy's is a culinary gem not to be missed in Cambridge.“

“A past Boston local first introduced me to Giulia by donning it the only Italian restaurant they’d go to on that side of the water. So there’s that. Not only did they very kindly fit us in on a Friday night, the food and service was absolutely excellent. Top notch food and drink, great vibes. Will absolutely be back. Special shout-out to their incredible co-owner who very kindly sent me my Project Paulie hat I left there by accident. You guys are the truly the best! THANK YOU!“

“Viale is amazing! We had a large party and had to add a couple of people at the last minute on a busy Friday night and they were very accommodating. Additionally, our server was very friendly and helpful and made the experience even better. The food was also very good; I would especially recommend everyone try to arancini appetizer.“

“Tiny pizza shop in Cambridge. Cash only but they have an ATM inside.We ordered three slices of the Sicilian and a large half pepperoni and half pineapple pizza. The pizza was great. Love the taste of the bread and also the quality of the pepperoni was great. The Sicilian pizza was good but not as good as the pepperoni/pineapple.We'll be coming back as this was an overall great dinner.Parking: Street parking on multiple street around“

“We enjoyed the food at Gufo a lot! Been there many times and sometimes we had takeout. Last time, I ordered pickup and I have to go back again for the pizza. The staff just got the pizza and followed me to my car. He’s so sweet! We love Gufo!“

“I ordered garlic bread and a large Primavera pizza, which is larger than the large pizzas at other pizzerias. The pizza came with a good amount of toppings, and the thin crust is also great! However, I would have liked the crust to be crisper. Overall, it was a good quality pizza at a reasonable price. They have a lot of options for vegetarians, which is a plus.“

“The food was excellent. The staff was lovely, making for a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The staff seemed to know everyone who came in besides us [our first visit, but we will go again]. It is a small dining area so noise level depends on your neighbours. The only drawback was that our table was just a little unsteady.“

“I didn't go into the restaurant, which is the reason behind me not rating the atmosphere. However, delivery was delicious! I got the aglio e olio, cheesy garlic bread and cannoli. The pasta was fresh, and seasoned well (note they put a fair amount of red chili flakes, so I'd ask no chili flakes if you aren't into spicy!). Of course the cheesy garlic bread and cannoli were yummy too. If you want some reasonably priced fresh pasta and associated fare, I would recommend stopping in here!Vegetarian options: I got the aglio e olio and there were other options that were vegetarian friendly.“

“Popped in here after an early PT appointment looking for a breakfast sandwich and good coffee before going to work. This place looks brand new. It's tucked away near the Fresh Pond mall. I ordered the huevos Diablo sandwich and a dark chocolate mocha. I sat down in one of the many comfy chairs while I waited for my order to come out, but didn't have to wait very long at all. I took a peek at the food before I took it to go. The sandwich looked delicious and the home fries that came with it where amazing! Whatever seasoning they're putting on those is absolutely delicious. The dark chocolate mocha was phenomenal. The breakfast sandwich didn't disappoint. The egg was perfectly over easy, the chorizo and the special sauce were absolutely delicious. I'm so glad I decided to make a quick pitstop and will definitely be back here.“

“Geppetto is tucked away in the center of the Lechmere shopping area. We had a reservation for 6 but were 30 min late due to MBTA struggles; thankfully they were super nice about it. We were seated at an elegant circular table booth. The food came out very quickly (as it was made), so we had a table full of food in no time.A lot of things on the menu looked really good so we just dove in. Overall a lot of the dishes we ordered were quite cheesy/rich, so I much preferred the lighter dishes.Delicious, would get again- Cod cioppino ($38) - The broth for this dish is perfect -- light, savory, and very seafood forward. The cod was also great - flaky and somehow had a crispy crust. I also really enjoyed the bay scallops in the broth. The other seafood (shrimp, mussel, clam) didn't stand out as much, and may have been a bit overcooked. This was a super tasty dish.- Grilled focaccia ($2) - We got one piece of focaccia which came with a small bowl of white truffle bean dip. Wow this was great! The bean dip was delicious -- smooth but not heavy, lovely truffle flavor. The bread was just a vehicle for the bean dip deliciousness.- Beef carpaccio ($20) - I had no idea what to expect, but wow this was delicious! The smoked wagyu beef was very thinly sliced and tasted like a cross between smoked salmon and prosciutto. The toppings were delicious as well, with interesting textural contrast. It's pricey, but worth it.Good, might get again- Porcini lasagna ($26) - I'm a sucker for porcini mushrooms, and they definitely did them justice with this lasagna. There were crispy parts on the top and bottom and delicious compacted layers of mushroom. There was also a lot of cheese surrounding it which I avoided.- Seared brussels sprouts ($10) - Hot and tasty brussels sprouts, who can complain! I appreciated that there was no sweetness in these, as I have come to expect of restaurant brussels sprouts.Meh, wouldn't get again- Pull apart garlic bread ($10) - I was enticed by the concept, but was disappointed by the result. The bread wasn't as fresh/soft as we would've wanted. It was also sitting a pool of cheese, and that was a lot.- Lobster fra diavolo ($32) - I didn't like the seasoning for this pasta. It was overly acidic. The lobster had good flavor but was a bit overcooked. It comes with half of a lobster tail (in the shell) and some cut up claw meat in the pasta sauce. I've definitely had better lobster pastas.We also got the Cosmopolitan ($15), which was fine, nothing special, and the pineapple orange guava sorbetto ($9), which was pretty good (though I wasn't a fan of the candied orange pieces). We also didn't realize that the gelato toppings costed extra ($1 each), because the menu didn't clearly indicate that.Overall, I tried some tasty things here. I think their textures and flavors are generally very good, though many of the things we got were a bit too rich for me. Some of the seafood was also a bit overcooked. I would say the restaurant felt pretty similar to Moeca in terms of price point and types of dishes, but Geppetto food felt heavier on average, and the seafood wasn't as on point. The restaurant has great ambience and service, and some fun dishes that I haven't had elsewhere.“