50 Best Italian Restaurants near Newton Centre

“Molto bene! The decor was bright & cheerful, with yellows and whites. The owner’s daughter was friendly, fun, upbeat and managed a very busy & very loud restaurant with grace and patience. She was our server. The food was exceptional. I got meatballs (homemade) and spaghetti. I’m a homemade meatball chef at home and these were delicious! My husband’s braised beef and mashed was delicious, too. Looking forward to coming again!“

“My wife loves Italian food, but has a very select amount of things she will like. She is lovely and particular. So instead of going to a shiny glitzy hyper priced place I went looking for a hole in the wall type place that prided them selves on the details of the food not the details on the walls. I found that perfect place! It was exactly what I was looking for. Food was amazing service was very genuine and were the perfect compliment to the food and the experience. If your looking for the wow factor when you walk in the door, pay more for that elsewhere. If you want the wow factor when every bit its your tongue, this is your spot! Highly recommend. We live an hour away on the north shore, but will defiantly be making our way back. Thank you!“

“An absolutely fantastic dining experience at Giulia. This is the kind of place that reminds you why great Italian restaurants are so special—thoughtful dishes, incredible flavors, and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and memorable.

Every dish we had was outstanding. The seafood pasta special with seabass and calamari was exceptional—perfectly prepared and packed with flavor. The squash appetizer was another highlight and set the tone for a meal where every course felt carefully crafted and unique. From start to finish, the food was creative, balanced, and simply delicious.

The service matched the quality of the food—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. It’s exactly the kind of experience you hope for when dining at a private Italian restaurant where the focus is clearly on great food and great hospitality.

To cap it all off, the post-meal limoncellos were excellent and the perfect finish to a memorable dinner.

If you enjoy Italian cuisine that’s both authentic and inventive, Giulia is an absolute must-visit.“

“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.“

“Stopped in on a Thursday night with the family, no reservations, and waited about 35 minutes for a table. Totally worth it.

We ordered two pizzas, the burrata salad, and a charcuterie board, and everything hit the mark. The pizzas were perfectly cooked, great crust and flavor, the burrata was fresh and creamy, and the charcuterie board was exactly what you’d hope for—quality meats and cheeses done right.

Food came out quick, service was friendly and efficient, and the overall vibe was casual but lively.

Bottom line: food was mad good, everyone left happy, and I’d absolutely 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!!!“

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

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

“The lobster stuffed mushrooms were made to perfection and truthfully the best I’ve ever come across! We both enjoyed our meals and the portion to price ratio was worth it. I do wish the lights had been just a tad bit dimmer to bring in a more intimate atmosphere. Overall 10/10“

“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“

“We went to Sorellina yesterday (Saturday night) at 5:30 pm as that was the only reservation I could get at one of the top restaurants in Backbay Boston. Boston has some good restaurants but getting reservations on a Saturday night if you don’t have one is going to take a miracle.
Sorellina is an Italian-Mediterranean restaurant and it is also a one of the romantic places to dine with beautiful ambience. They are known for their fresh pastas and seafood.
Their service is impeccable and they really go overboard with it.
The food was amazing as well. We tried the tuna tartare, the oysters for appetizers. We shared the mafaldine a mushroom pasta for primi, and the veal chop Milanese for entree. Just one thing was that the veal was a bit overcooked.
We tasted the non-alcoholic Negroni count-me-in and the Guinness zero stout which were almost like the real thing.
Most of all I was impressed by their wait staff and their service so we gave them a very big tip.
I am sure I will return here for another meal.“

“Definitely worth the hype. The food is exceptional. Pizza Bianca with the tomato relish is delicious bite and the bread is so perfect, the pepperoni pizza with hot honey is probably the only thing we ate that you can skip but it's still really good, clams and guanciale is cooked to perfection and the sauce is addicting, the bucatini with chilli anchovy butter is one of my favorite dishes I've had, perfect chew and flavor. The sausage cavatelli was a delicious change of pace again a perfect cook on the pasta, finally the taleggio signature dish, absolutely delicious, if you're going with a group I'd probably get it as a shared plate because it is so so rich. Service was also stellar“

“10/10!! Such a cute place. Love the open concept to where the patrons can see the kitchen in action. Great wine and even better food!! We started with the herbed flatbread and the burrata appetizer. So. Good. For the mains we got the ricotta gnocchi and lobster pasta and the baked fazoletti and shot rib dishes. Phenomenal!!! Everything was balanced perfectly and tons of tomatoey goodness. A North End must!“

“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!“

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

“Grilled Clams make it so worthwhile“

“I can’t recall the last time our family went out to dinner and we all had such excellent meals like this. The service, the food, the staff, everything was awesome. Marybeth, our server, was outstanding! We absolutely need to come back more often. It was really, truly that good!“

“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)!“

“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!“

“Probably one of the best meals ever. From oysters to bread pudding! So amazing! A burst of flavor in every bite! Go out of your way if you have to , you won’t regret! 💕“

“Great place to have date night. Very nice“

“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!“

“First time here. I was recommended by a good friend. Called for a rest for 6 and was accommodated by the gentleman answering the phone. Celebrating my son’s birthday. From the moment I stepped in, greeted by Massimo “welcome to my home” I knew I was in the right spot. Thank you Massimo, Russell and your staff. The Italian ride did not disappoint. Cannot wait to return and try other options. Continued success to you—see you soon.“

“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!“

“One of my favorite restaurants in the area for a night out with friends, especially when we are meeting partway between Boston and western suburbs. The food is really delicious, the drinks are great, and the service is attentive. It can get a little loud, but you can definitely still have a conversation. Don’t miss the focaccia and ricotta, but the pizza and pasta are also always outstanding. So are the salads. This place is just really solid.“

“DELICIOUS food & wine, good service“

“Su buen servicio y la comida es deliciosa.“

“We had dinner here for two on a Saturday evening. The vibes inside are warm and lovely. The staff were all very pleasant and our waiter was very knowledgable on the menu.

We got a couple of the pastas for entrees that were good, but weren't too impressive. The real standout for us was the mussels toast appetizer. The flavors were well balanced and complex. Overall a great dining experience.“

“Excellent people exc food great prices!“

“Excellent food and service“

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

“An absolute must if you have not been. Food is beyond incredible and service is very kind. I recommend 2 orders of chicken croquettes, shrimp toast, and ricotta gnocchi. Girlfriend had the spirit free “Ferrari” which was delicious and would be great with a mezcal. Will definitely be returning.“

“Incredible place with incredible food and drinks! I love going to the original location in the North End, but this exceeded expectations. Luana, specially, was a fantastic server! Would highly recommend this location! Great food, drinks, and service!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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! :)“

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

“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.“

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

“This place is just phenomenal. From the moment you begin your interaction with the staff, it is a world class experience. The food doesn’t miss, the atmosphere is amazing, and the staff is top tier. They have the best pasta dish in the city in my opinion, the Rigatoni Tuscano. 10/10 every time I’ve come here, and I cannot wait to go back.“

“Had a great experience at Gigi! We sat at the bar and Mike was both our server and bartender. He was fantastic. The food was absolutely delicious and every recommendation he made for food and drinks was spot on. You can tell he really knows the menu and cares about the experience. If you go, definitely sit at the bar and ask for Mike. We will for sure be back.“

“Came in jan 2026- we had made reservation reservations for five of us however these were ultimately not necessary because there’s only one other group here- our waitress did clarify that it is slower in the winter and on weekdays. In terms of the food, I thought it was a good balance between meats and veggies, and the portions were great, and we all left full and content. Highlights from me were the octopus and the salad.“

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

“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.“

“Excellent high end meal in Waltham. The mushroom souffle is a signature dish with great sauce. The Tuscan kale ceasar salad is likely the best kale salad I have ever had. The chicken schnitzel main is a bomb of flavor. Strong, attentive service from the staff.“

“The woman who waited on me and my family was incredibly kind. We have a wheelchair bound daughter and I just hope the know how come the made us feel plus the food was amazing. Save room for a cappuccino and tiramisu!“

“Family style dinner which is nice because you get to try a couple of things. The chicken parm was huge and delicious! I would also recommend the arancini and we also split carbonara which was good but not as standout as the chicken parm. Everyone there was super friendly! We went on a Monday so it was pretty quiet but still a really nice vibe.“