50 Best Italian Restaurants near East Boston

“Went for some pizza. Order at the counter got three slices to split with hubby. Proper pepperoni-pepperoni pizza with burrata and hot honey (my favorite one) Cheese and Milanese- cheese pizza with chicken cutlet and red peppers. We also wanted to try the arancini- made with prosciutto instead of ground beef. You can take it to go but we decided to stay and eat. Beautifully decorated. The owner Stefano was so nice and checked on us to see if we needed anything. As we were leaving we stopped at the gelato counter and got a gelato to go. I had the oreo. Soooo good! We will be back!“

“March 8th we had a retirement party catered from Stevie and gang at Sammys. Cold Cut Platter Assorted Calzone Chicken Boccoli and Ziti Sausage Potato Pepper and Onion Garden salad and dressing. Delivered to Saugus!!! Hot. Fresh. On time. Cost effective. Tasty!!!! Plentiful, we ran out of nothing with 50 adults, mostly men. 5 star job. ☆☆☆☆☆ Will use for the next gathering as well. Thanks All, Steve Passariello“

“The food here was actually pretty delicious and came out quickly, which is great when traveling through the airport. The drinks, however, were extremely pricey for what you get. Service was timely, but not very attentive — we asked for waters and never received them.

Overall, if you’re in a rush and want a solid meal before your flight, I’d recommend it. But if you have extra time at the airport, there are probably better dining options available.“

“10/10 would recommend. At the very last minute this restaurant helped my boyfriend pull off a surprise for me. The food was incredible and the wine suggesting were perfect. I'd recommend for any occasion. The staff is great and the food and wine are even better.“

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

“Very appealing menu; a rare one where I wanted almost everything on it. And the food did not disappoint — wonderful combinations, like the chicken liver on toasts topped with green tomato jam, and pillowy ricotta-stuffed agnolotti with corn and mushrooms. Everything was exceptional.“

“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!!!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“Overall, this was a fun experience dining at Table! We did the 4 course menu, and it was a lot of food, so I cannot imagine doing the full dinner.

The atmosphere is what makes this restaurant special. The communal dining was unique and fun to try. It was fun to talk with strangers around you.

The food is good, but nothing wowed me. It is very good food, but it didn’t wow me like some other spots in North End have. Instead, come here and enjoy the experience. Sit down at the communal table, and just enjoy a nice 2 hours around new people!“

“Had a great dinner here and honestly don’t have anything to complain about. The food came out fresh and tasted excellent, the portions were good, and the service was friendly the whole time. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal and we left very happy.“

“We definitely had a great time at Little Sage, not only all the dishes/wine are solid but the service is superb. I recommend going earlier though. Our reservation was at 8:30 so quite a few popular dishes (octopus, gnocchi, shrimps) were all sold out. But whatever we ordered, they were really tasty and filling! I couldn't digest all the food I consumed till the next morning.“

“The best meal- great service- Beautiful atmosphere And warm friendly hostess“

“First time in the city and this was an amazing dinner for us. The food is delicious.“

“Grilled Clams make it so worthwhile“

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

“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“

“Stopped by here during a work trip and can 100% say I will be back! thank you guys for the amazing food and service!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“I have had the pleasure of dining at Trescas two times now and I will absolutely be back! As someone who has celiac disease and a wheat allergy I have serious trust issues when it comes to eating out. I had heard amazing things about Trescas and dreamed of going for years. Finally I went for the first time in March. Amazing atmosphere, even more amazing GLUTEN FREE food. I am talking THE BEST gluten free pasta I have ever had (they can make almost any pasta dish GF!!). The staff was extremely knowledgeable about my allergies and the chef even makes his was around the restaurant to check in with his patrons. Hands down top notch! I recently returned and had another FANTASTIC experience. I asked the chef what he would order from the menu if he were me, as a celiac, and he offered to make me a dish not even on the menu! I can’t even put to words what it means for someone who often doesn’t dine out due to allergy’s. Trescas makes it easy! And the service is 10 out of 10!“

“Had an excellent dining experience at Sorellina in Boston! The food was absolutely delicious, and the customer service was outstanding. The staff was extremely friendly, attentive, and professional, making the entire experience even more enjoyable. Great food combined with exceptional hospitality truly makes this place stand out. Definitely a restaurant I would highly recommend and would love to visit again!“

“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...“

“Wonderful dining experience, top to bottom, with perfectly executed dishes. Can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Just ensure you get the Cappelletti, maybe 2 orders (it’s that damn good and will blow you away) and the Tiramisu. We also got the Pizza Bianca with the trio of dips, the snap pea caesar salad, and the linguine - all top notch and so good. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked incredible. The space is intimate without being cramped and the servers are kind, attentive, and helpful with the menu. As a self-proclaimed NYC food snob, I understand why this place is regarded as one of Boston’s best and I will definitely be returning!“

“Amazing food and service with authentic Italian hospitality!“

“went for first time today so good I am sure it will be the first of many visits“

“Great food and great service! They were short staffed but Sean C. did an awesome job! The goat cheese and spinach Gnudi was delicious.“

“Great food and great service! I even got gluten free chicken parm and spaghetti which was excellent! They have a wonderful food and drink menu. Our server Jess was was excellent as well. The manager Nick greeted us when we came in and found us a great table by the window. So the bottom line is, this is a great restaurant and I'm so happy we found this little gem! We will be back!“

“Great place to have date night. Very nice“

“The Dungeon Master Roll the Dice“

“A regular go to restaurant........fortunate to have locally“

“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!“

“Amazing! Every bite was delish! First visit and will be back for sure!“

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

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

“My husband and I went to Il Ponte in Woburn for the first time tonight. Let’s just say it will not be the last. From the moment we walked in right up until we walked out the door it was an incredible experience. We both had cocktails: a Cabernet and falling for you and both were amazing. The bread/focaccia with garlic and oil was a fantastic start to the meal. We got the octopus and a bruschetta to start and they were flavorful and cooked perfectly. My husband had the braised short rib over saffron risotto and he said it was delicious and fork tender. He said the flavor was like nothing he’s ever had and the saffron risotto was incredible and cooked perfectly. I got the special which was a crusted swordfish with asparagus risotto and it was, hands down, the best swordfish I have ever eaten. It was crusted so lightly and the swordfish was cooked to perfection. The portion was so big that I took half home. We don’t usually order dessert but when the server said “pistachio gelato” they reeled me in. My husband got bomboloni and couldn’t stop making all the faces and sounds…it was to die for. Before we finished the owner was making rounds at the tables thanking everyone and making sure we enjoyed our meals. I would give Il Ponte a 20/10 rating. We will absolutely be back again. If you get the opportunity….do not sleep on Il Ponte.“

“First experience at LFG and wont be our last! Food was ON POINT! So much food and everything was delicious ! Fantastic gluten-free options and super mindful of allergies/safety. Michelle our server was fantastic and accommodating and helped us celebrate our daughter’s birthday. LFG has a whole new meaning! Let’s flipping go (LFG) to Lla Familia Giorgios (LFG)!“

“Awesome food! Great service! Perfect restaurant. Vodka sauce is the best I've had. Eggplant parmigiana highly recommended. The meatballs were phenomenal as well.“

“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.“

“An exceptional experience at Parla\! Cas provided some of, if not the BEST customer service I’ve EVER HAD\. Warm, genuine, incredibly attentive, what more could one ask for? Nothing\. Cas was able to successfully tend to all of the customers at the bar, while ensuring each customer’s needs were met\. Cas made sure we felt cared for and was very attentive without being overbearing\. The team truly listens to what each customer wants and goes above and beyond to create the best possible experience while serving responsibly. ALSO THE MUSIC IS PERFECT.

A special thank\-you to Gui, who we believe made a fantastic mini Paper Plane to complement the perfect cocktail\. Between the personalized service, friendly atmosphere, and genuine hospitality, this was a 11/10 experience from start to finish\. If you visit Parla, sit at the bar and ask for Cas—you’ll be in excellent hands.“

“Su buen servicio y la comida es deliciosa.“

“DELICIOUS food & wine, good service“

“Everything about Limoncello’s is terrific. I started back in the early 2000’s having lunch when visiting family that lives in Chelsea. Then we came this past summer for my son’s 10th birthday. We dined there Friday and Saturday night this past weekend because my son loves it so much. If you haven’t tried it, then get there! It’s the best I’ve had in the North End! Maurizio is a gentleman and his family treated us wonderfully. Chico is a great server and LuLu is quick witted, kind, and BEAUTIFUL! Every staff member was great…especially one person that really made my boy feel special.“

“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.“

“We were there relatively early on a Sunday night. Service was great. Had appetizers and the paella, which was unique and delicious. Also excellent not too sweet cannoli for dessert. Thanks to our server Becca and the rest of the wait staff for an enjoyable dinner.“

“Husband and I went to Maggiano's for the first time today. The food was fantastic and the portions are huge. Our waitress Marisa was very attentive and made sure we had everything we need during our meal here. Highly recommend and we can't wait to come back!“

“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.“

“Just ordered some yummy chicken bowl AMAZING! Hands down the best food I’ve had in a while!“