50 Best Italian Restaurants near Charlestown

“Do yourself a favor - skip over the Boston restaurants and head straight here. I’ve been coming for years and the food never disappoints. The service is great. And there’s gluten free on Monday - what more could you want!? Fabulous.“

“Came to an empty shop for a quick lunch: chicken parm sandwich (wanted an eggplant parm, but only eggplant pizza was available which is strange because ingredients in a restaurant are generally multi-dish). Service was as expected.

Sandwich was generally well built, good bread, good size ($18 may be a bit steep, but there was plenty of meat) , right amount of cheese and not too heavy on the sauce. Two unexpected negatives stood out: low salt and chicken was too cool for a sandwich.

The low salt is very unusual, I feel like the cheese was changed and sauce never adjusted (and I am not one of those eating a bag of chips before the sandwich).

Cool chicken (colder than what you would expect from a dense parm sandwich) after 5 minutes in a bag is very strange. Sauce was warmer.“

“Pazza is AMAZING! Great service and the food is incredible. Highly recommend!“

“This place is amazing!! The customer service was top notch!!“

“Amazing, fresh, worth going off the beaten path for!“

“Ab-so-lutely wonderful! If there is one Italian restaurant you go to in town, please, please, please, make it Via Cannuccia. Cannot recommend them more heartily. Everything was delectable, and of course there are favourites, but honestly it'll be hard to find anything you don't like here. Truly magnificent, great chef, warm staff, lovely environment, outstanding dishes, and an experience to remember. Bravi tutti.“

“This resaurant is by the Copley pla e mall. Really nice vibe inside. Staff was super friendly. Love that they come with the bottle of wine and then serve you onbthe spot. Applaud themnfor that. Rhe meatballs with taiasted bread is a great app. But the Margherita & Bianco pizza were amazing. The dough, marinara and chesses were top notch.. Highly recommend their 🍕.“

“First time at IL PONTE! Definitely not our last time. Luigi made our experience one to remember with his expertise in making the best drinks and food recommendations. Brianne welcomed us on a crowded Friday (even though it was only 5:30) and accommodated us - a party of 2. 10 out of 10. Food was the best Italian food we’ve ever had. Staff was so welcoming and kind. Will be back again soon - on a Tuesday or Friday - because Luigi is the best! Thank you for a great experience ❤️“

“Perfect place for Mothers Day when Valet is a must!“

“My husband and I had dinner last Sunday night. It was a beautiful experience with impeccable service. I am going to remember my quail dish for a very long time. Highly recommend“

“This was one of the finest dining experiences we’ve had. We’ve heard about Giulia for months now, reputed as one of, if not the best Italian restaurant in Massachusetts, which meant we had extremely high expectations going in. Combined with the difficulty of getting a reservation due to the popularity (with many nights waiting at 12am sharp hoping that I refreshed fast enough), and finally we had secured a reservation.

The food is heavenly. We ordered the erbazzone and grilled rosemary flatbread for appetizers, and both were so delicious— especially the erbazzone, which was probably the tastiest appetizer I have tasted. I still crave it as I am writing this, and my girlfriend feels the same way. The flatbread was also amazing, though the erbazzone trumps almost anything from the night.

My girlfriend ordered the vegetarian bucatini, and I ordered their famous wild boar pappardelle. Both pastas were excellent, though not as standout as the appetizers. It was really nice to note that they deducted the price for the vegetarian pasta from 28 (which would include meat) to 18, which we really appreciated.

Finally, we ordered the yogurt panna cotta with beach rose, toasted coconut and winter citrus for dessert. Oh my god, this is the greatest food I have tasted in eons. My girlfriend thinks it’s the best thing she has eaten (and we’re both very judgy with food!). Neither of us had thought we would enjoy anything rose-flavored so much, with the taste recurring with each bit of saliva, slowly dissipating with time. It is as if rose bloomed in our mouth, slowly melted to our tongues, and withered away as we bit away and let it wither. The sweetness gave way for the rose, and the rose enhanced the coconut and yogurt tastes. We should have ordered another one.

Overall, this was probably one of the top three meals in my life, and certainly best in the New England area. I HIGHLY recommend everyone to go, and honestly it might even be better to just order their appetizers and desserts without pasta. Their pastas are good, but the appetizers and desserts are on a whole different level. 11/10 experience. Also cute seatings outside on a beautiful afternoon. A shame we forgot to take pictures of the appetizers and desserts because they were SO GOOD. Keep in mind the portion size might be a bit smaller than you would like, but in my opinion it adds to the experience. I hope they get a Michelin recommendation at least, if not a star this year.

Hope this helps to anyone contemplating on securing a reservation!“

“Amazing food and service with authentic Italian hospitality!“

“We tried pizza Bianca, the famous salad and pasta with aged balsamic, and finally the ricotta cheese cake. Everything was vey good. The favorite dish was the pasta. I scored it 4/5 because I think the food portion was small. But definitely one of the best Italian dishes in the area! 👌“

“By far the best, authentic Italian food in the North End. We have dined at several restaurants but the service, ambience and food is the best! They make their own pasta and sauces daily. I cannot recommend Casarecce enough. Delicioso.“

“Wow, wow, and wow again! What a treat that my dear friend and I happened upon this GEM! At first glance it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when you step inside it’s like entering a whole new world. It is elegant and beautiful, a fantastic combination of fine dining with an atmosphere like coming home. Such a quaint spot with the best quality Italian food I have ever had. Cristiano was the kindest server on the planet, so attentive, and so welcoming! As a worker in the food service industry, I was blown away! First off, drinks. To our surprise, Arancini has a BYOB policy (SO COOL! People had brought their own bottles of wine, which Cristiano offered to open and put on ice). Other than that, they offer your typical sodas, some juice, and a variety of sparkling and still water options. Let’s talk food. Right away, they bring fresh, warm, house-made bread, with fantastically seasoned dipping oil. Other than that, we started off with the Caesar salad and the friend mozzarella appetizer. The Caesar salad (despite it being just about the most basic thing that someone can order) was so well put together. It had just the right amount of dressing, and fresh grated, high quality parmesan cheese! The mozzarella app was quite possible the tastiest thing I have ever put in my mouth. Oh my god, it just about dissolved in my mouth. Imagine the best mozzarella sticks you’ve ever had in your life, but the cheese is so high quality and it is freshly battered and friend minutes before it is brought to your table. Never frozen - just made hot and fresh for you to eat. Don’t even get me started on the marinara sauce. Again, clearly house-made and so fresh. I could’ve had it as a soup! For a main meal I had the most delicious fettuccini Alfredo. The sauce was TO DIE FOR. The pasta was perfectly cooked (I didn’t know pasta could even taste like that ). I asked for chicken in the pasta and… oh. my. god. I have no words. I mean I can attempt to describe it but I won’t do it justice. Tender, JUICY, and you KNOW it’s authentic because the chicken was battered in egg. I was drooling before I took a single bite. I also added broccoli and it was SO PERFECT. The whole meal, it was just the best food I have ever had I swear. PLEASE give this place a shot! You’ll probably want a reservation because I don’t think there are more than 10 tables there! It’s small but mighty. Thank you Cristiano for making this experience incredible!“

“We went there tonight. The food was delicious. The staff were amazing. We loved everything about this place. Thank you for a wonderful dinning experience. We will definitely be back.“

“Stopped by Davios on my way out of logan. Food was pretty good. Had the burger which was very filling if you're hungry. The bartender Diego was awesome! Friendly knowledgeable and hilarious. I'll be stopping in again and again just for the great service!“

“My favorite restaurant we live in Southern NH I will only go there to eat in Boston just there yesterday for Lunch , Food and Service is outstanding we also had our daughters wedding there. Staff and food was amazing service is very professional no other place I rather be while visiting Boston will always come back“

“I attended an event yesterday at this amazing Restaurant. The atmosphere is so inviting, the drinks were delicious. Food was absolutely scrumptious. And the staff all so kind and friendly. I highly recommend stopping in for a cocktail or dinner, you won’t be disappointed!!!“

“We had a great dinner experience at Tresca. The staff was attentive and we really appreciated the table side visit from the chef. His recommendation prompted a couple of last minute meal changes, which were delicious. We would highly recommend this place and will definitely make a point to go back there again.“

“We had a large group. (13 people) And we had a reservation. They were able to take us early and it was easy to make a reservation, good service and delicious food. For the number of people, the food and drinks came out fast and everyone enjoyed their meal. I look forward to making another reservation soon for another meeting. Hopefully we'll be able to do dinner there sometime to see the different menu.“

“Grilled Clams make it so worthwhile“

“Exceptional Italian food. Extremely pleasant and generous offerings. Strongly recommend to family and friends.“

“Hands down the best in Davis. Don't think twice about going to eat here! 10/10 atmosphere 10/10 staff 10/10 food 10/10 drinks Don't believe me? Go and see for yourselves! :)“

“Wonderful food and great service in an amazing setting!“

“Another wonderful family lunch today! Thank you Chris and the Carlo’s Cucina family. My second visit in three weeks. We’ll definitely be back! My new favorite dining spot on my visits to Allston, from the Cape. 👍🍽️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mark N.“

“Amazing!; Enjoyed listening to Andrea Bocelli's backup singer! Food and wine was first rate. Service was extremely attentive. The owner, Robert was a phenomenal host with a passion for music and good cheer. Thank you Robert for a memorable evening.“

“By far the best food and atmosphere! Cheryl was our server and was simply outstanding! The portions are huge and the food is fresh and inspired!“

“Amazing food and great customer service! Put this place on your To Go list in Boston!“

“Wonderful experience at Rossetti. Our first time there. The service is outstanding and the food to die for. Best Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at. Love love love this place. Try it you will not be sorry.“

“Quality ingredients. A sublime attention to detail. Balance in salty, umami and heat. The broccoli Caesar is a must have along with the homemade ricotta. I sat at Chefs counter and got wonderful attention from everyone. Amazing!“

“I had an amazing experience and can’t wait to go back🥰“

“★★★★★

We visited Porto in Back Bay, Boston, on July 25, 2025, for my wife's birthday while in our former hometown. Initially, we had reservations elsewhere, but while passing by Porto before it opened, we met Elizabeth Caton, the event sales manager. She was incredibly helpful and secured us a table for that evening at a reasonable hour.

Despite the restaurant being packed, we were seated almost immediately, which was a pleasant surprise.

Service was slightly slow due to the crowd, but the food more than made up for it. I had the lobster roll—buttery, delicious, and one of the best I’ve had in ages.

My wife enjoyed the salmon on a bed of spinach, tomatoes, and other delights, with generous portion sizes for both dishes. Our friend’s scallops were cooked to perfection.

We capped the meal with the plum butter pound cake, a perfect end to an excellent dining experience. Highly recommend Porto for a memorable meal.“

“Outstanding menu that changes seasonally and with specials. Service is superb! Especially Christina. We love to visit and eat here with goid friends. Never a bad meal. A plus! 10 stars! All quality food! Worth every penny. Love pans cota too!“

“Stella’s is absolutely incredible- even the arancini held up during a short drive home! It was incredibly easy to place my order online and loved the happy hour appetizers so I could try two. I was able to try the arancini which were so creamy and crisp and the meatballs which were so flavorful. The chicken parm was served with a garlic sauce for the pasta which I never would have chosen, but absolutely loved!“

“Being 100% Italian also the food was amazing! They started us off with real EVOO to dip Our bread in with salt & pepper you can tell the EVOO was straight from Italy. I started with the arancini special which was sausage and saffron sitting in a white creamy sauce that was absolutely delicious. Then it was a toss up on my pasta dish between lobster raviolis and wild mushroom pappardelle I went with the lobster raviolis in a pink sauce. I never finish my food and I ate ever single ravioli. The portion was good enough for me and the proper way to eat a pasta dish so you don’t have left overs or waste. The pink sauce was creamy and delicious (I even dipped my bread in it at the end). Then I went straight for the dessert and ordered affogato (gelato with espresso) wow amazing not too sweet and not too bitter from the espresso perfect blend. Then my friend and I still were not ready to leave so I ordered a espresso martini and again amazing only advice I would give them is shake the martini more to make it foamy And that was my first experience at Gusto’s I give it a 10/10 Oh and the pizza looked really good that will be my next outing.“

“Very nice staff and delicious food“

“Great atmosphere and great food! Everything was great! Will definitely be back“

“Best Italian pasta I ever tried!!!“

“The food was fantastic. Unfortunately we could only get seats at the bar. The bar is an exercise in how to design something for maximum discomfort. The seats are incredibly heavy and difficult to scoot into position. Possibly due to a conflict in materials, the feet of the chairs simply do not move on the floor. The bar surface does not extend far enough over your lap, so we kept trying to scoot the chairs closer. As close as we could get, with our knees jammed against the underside of the bar, we were still not close enough to eat without leaning forward. Bar comfort aside, the music in this place is terrible. Just like Ostra. It makes it feel like you're eating in a cheesy Vegas hotel restaurant. Guys, use your imagination! Imagine eating this amazing food while listening to a mix of jazz standards, Frank Sinatra, some old school rock like Blondie or Bowie, some 80s-90s hip hop, some Kurangbin, George Michael, a bit of yacht rock. Mix it up! Your current selection is an audio gold chain over a turtleneck.“

“This place had the best chicken Parmesan we had ever eaten. I’m so glad we stumbled upon this place that was not too far from our hotel. Our waitress was so kind and attentive.“

“The most delicious Italian restaurant! We will absolutely be back!!! Thank you for having gluten free options as well! Everyone enjoyed their pastas and appetizers! The server was so nice and his recommendations were amazing! What a wonderful find! We will recommend to all our friends!“

“The quality and presentation of the food was top notch. We were incredibly impressed by the dining room layout and staff. If you are looking for a place to propose to your significant other… this is NOT the appropriate place. As I mentioned the food was the finest I’ve ever had; however, the music was terrible. We felt like we were in a 1990’s discotheque. The music was loud, very heavy beat and not remotely romantic. We did mention to our waitstaff and they attempted to get it turned down to no avail. No coffee or dessert available either. I understand space is limited; however you have two of the finest dessert businesses well within walking distance. Even if you only carry two desserts. I would still go back there for the food with the hopes of different music…even soft jazz would be acceptable.“

“The hubby wanted to take me to lunch for my upcoming birthday..for our age and for our wallet we always go to lunch vs dinner...we are now already home with the pups in our jammies..so great...now as a self proclaimed foodie, I have wanted to try the food at Alma Nove at the Hingham Shipyard for many years...I am also a huge Wahlbergers show fan...adored their mom Alma on the show and her pal Phyllis...the show is so much fun..binge it if you haven't seen it..anyway...the weather today didn't look too spectacular for a waterfront restaurant but the blue skies showed themselves as we were eating inside...such a terrific location..the shipyard has been revitalized in the last 15 years or so...lots of shopping and dining destinations including the original Wahlbergers Burger Joint...I love this stuff...Dave is like ok whatever...but our experience was lovely..I will say however that my husband and I don't quite fit in the Hingham vibe...and it has a vibe..no shade but it kind of carries an air about it...the people I mean...lol...but we ignored all that and for sure enjoyed lunch..even Dave said how delicious it all was...our server...nice..we typically enjoy banter with our servers...he wasn't about that...all business and he gave us excellent service..but I do have the sense that more than likely the staff has high hopes of gaining maybe a walk on role on Blood Bloods with Donnie or maybe a handshake from Marky Mark when he comes through from time to time...hope for them it happens..fingers crossed...😉..about the food...great bread..seemed homemade but simple..fresh..served with butter that had black specks on it..turns out it was a black salt..interesting..a few drafts for Dave from Mayflower Brewery in nearby Plymouth and I had a lovely Pinot Noir...bottled water on the table..big fan of that..I ordered the Pan Seared Shrimp and Scallops served over a sweet potato risotto , topped with haricot verts(fancy greenbeans), toasted marcona almonds and truffle honey and my date had the Butternut squash Tortellacci with pan seared chicken topped with sage brown butter sauce, pecorino romano, apple cider gastrique and fried sage and chives..wow..we are styling here in the Shipyard...every bite was spot on and a perfect serving for lunch..we enjoyed all of it..dessert..well.of course..they have an in house pastry chef so that's a given for me..chose the Banana Bourbon Bread Pudding..when he returned he also brought a small chocolate dessert..like cake in a jar with whipped cream and a candle...he said they heard someone was celebrating a bday...we never said it so all I can figure is I posted that we were there for my bday and had tagged the restaurant...great social media connection if that was the case...we shared them and they were fabulous...took some photos around the place..ran into folks the hubby knew from Hull..absolutely highly recommend Alma Nove..those that aren't familiar with the background. ..The famous Wahlberg Brothers Donnie and Mark have a brother Paul who is the chef and owner of Alma Nove..named for their precious mom Alma and Nove in Italian means nine..there were 9 Walhberg kids..5 stars from me for Alma Nove.. Open daily for lunch and dinner. .I believe they have live music on Sundays and in the nice weather their outside patio overlooks Hingham Bay...a must try❤️ Mark has famously said their brother Paul is the most talented in the family...I believe that is spot on...“

“My husband & I had a lovely lunch there this afternoon. Our first time there. Will certainly be back. Thank you so much for your hospitality.“

“Wow. This is the kind of place where I’m sitting there thinking, “now this is 5 stars.”

It came to light because at some point we heard that 1) they had won a James Beard award (which is on display right up front), and 2) the Culurgiones (Sardinian stuffed pasta) were to die for.

When we arrived, we immediately appreciated the level of service provided - for example, our coats were taken and hung up. The wine menu is also authentic Italian - I ordered a Nebbiolo rosso.

As a party of two, we split an antipasto, a primo, and a secondo. First was an excellent burrata. Second was the famed Culurgiones (pictured) - so pillowy and tasty. Third was the roast half chicken. This was the best roasted chicken we’d had in quite a while. So juicy and well seasoned.

We finished with the tiramisu (tasty, well-presented, and bigger than we thought) and the cannoli (comes with two).

The atmosphere was lovely and so was our server, Paige.

Looking forward to coming back sometime!“

“Amazing food and good service. I will go back.“

“Had a lovely dinner at Grotto during our time in Boston. We had the chicken parmigiana pasta and the pasta bolognese — both were full of flavor and really satisfying. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was friendly, and prices felt fair for the quality. A great little spot for a relaxed Italian dinner.“

“Excellent food and service“