50 Best Italian Restaurants near Watertown

“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!“

“Thank you for a nice chicken parm dinner. It was very good and a nice portion. I'll be back!“

“always excellent food and service!“

“Enjoyed a delicious brunch here today - they also serve their regular menu all day. Staff was friendly, beautiful space.“

“Great pizza consistently, very nice service, and helpful staff.
It was very hot inside though, but not a problem of your picking your food up.
Highly recommend the veggie - great dough, generous amount of toppings, in and a very nice mix!“

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

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

“June 2026
Absolutely outstanding brick oven pizza! We ordered five different pizzas and a charcuterie board for a group of eight, and we destroyed every last slice. Crisp, delicious, and bursting with flavor. Highly recommend this place.“

“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.“

“Great service and fantastic food at Little Sage. I walked in for dinner and was seated real quick. The waitstaff was very helpful and shared details that made my selection easier. Loved their casarcce pasta and the olive oil cake. When I was at the restaurant I saw someone come in just for the olive oil cake so you know it’s solid! Their limone cocktail was terrific! Great spot for dinner or date nights. Definitely recommend.“

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

“We had the pleasure of dining at Tresca before seeing a show at TD. We had started our meal with the melanzana and calamari which were fried to perfection! The pork chop with the balsamic reduction and mashed sweet potato is a must have and if in the mood to splurge- the filet mignon with the lobster stuffed mushroom is a perfect entree. The food was excellent, however, the wonderful staff and Chef Rich really made the dining experience feel as if you were at a family member's home for supper! This is a must try in the North End!“

“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“

“The hype around this restaurant was insane. After weeks of trying, I was able to snag a reservation 30 days out and as the date got closer, I was sure I was in for a hell of a let down.

It was actually quite the opposite. We had a reservation for 2 at 8:30 pm and were seated within 10 minutes of our arrival (we arrived 15 minutes early). The restaurant does a great job of staggering their seating so the kitchen can properly flow and doesn't get backed up.

The atmosphere was really nice, warm and enjoyable. My wife and I were able to talk the whole time. The waitress was very kind and friendly. She kept us entertained and ensured our anniversary dinner was special. The drinks were really good and the food was ridiculous. Everything we had was amazing and I would be hard pressed to identify a dish I would consider not ordering to be able to taste something different.

This place is definitely worth the hype and am hoping I can snag another reservation in the months to come.“

“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.“

“Great food and service! Our waiter, Sebastian, was super accommodating and friendly. I got the Black Bass which was super flavorful. My girlfriend and I were celebrating our anniversary and they wrote happy anniversary on our dessert plate in chocolate syrup.“

“Great place to have date night. Very nice“

“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.“

“Grilled Clams make it so worthwhile“

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

“Marybeth was the sweetest!! Went in to use my birthday meal before it expired and she went above and beyond to make it still feel so special weeks later!! It was our first time at this location and we are definitely coming back. Loved loved loved the lavender blueberry cosmo, brussel sprouts, chicken parm & citrus honey torta!!“

“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!“

“Had no idea what to expect when a friend booked the reservation and it was amazing. Food was so good and we were all fighting over the family style leftovers when it was time to leave. Such a great atmosphere for a large friend group dinner and the perfect spot for great food and service. Thank you again!“

“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! 💕“

“As an out-of-towner, we try a lot of different places, but there’s nothing like Arya. We shared multiple dishes at the direction of a friend and EVERYTHING we tried was amazing… swordfish, meatballs… the food just kept coming. We remember a handful of meals in our lifetime and I’ll always remember this one.“

“I’m not an adventurous drinker, but my husband is and we loved the idea of a mystery cocktail! He rolled the dice and now we’re hooked. I don’t drink alcohol, but Tuane helped me through and we brainstormed together for a delicious mocktail. When the mystery drink arrived she was so knowledgeable about it!
We’re definitely coming back soon. Thank you, Tuane!!“

“DELICIOUS food & wine, good service“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Excellent food and service“

“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 delivery is always speedy and the steak tips NEVER disappoint. So good🤤🤤🤤“

“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.“

“Just fantastic.

My party ordered quite a lot and everything was just cooked and seasoned perfectly... We enjoyed every dish. Absolutely get the snap pea cesar salad, duck bacon pizza, and any of the pasta dishes.

I get the feeling their menu rotates a bit, so if these items are not there, order whatever. I am confident it will be delicious!

The service is really great. Very timely and kind. Offered excellent recs.“

“Stopped by this bar and restaurant after work and honestly enjoyed the experience a lot. The environment felt relaxed and modern, making it a nice place to unwind. Drinks were well made, portions were satisfying, and the staff treated customers politely throughout the visit.“

“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.“

“Try one of everything, it's all homemade and so very delicious! Gabriel is a phenomenal waiter!“

“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 fantastic! We highly recommend making a reservation, as it’s a small restaurant and fills up quickly. We stopped in on a Saturday around 5 PM and were lucky enough to grab seats at the bar.

The wine selection is outstanding, with plenty of great options to choose from. We ordered the veal, which was enormous and easily large enough to share. We also tried both the truffle pasta and the vodka pasta, with the vodka pasta being our favorite. The portions were generous, the food was delicious, and the pricing felt very reasonable for the area.

A wonderful experience overall! I would definitely return and highly recommend it.“

“Great food and atmosphere. Amanda, Jay and their staff are amazing! Highly recommend!“

“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!“

“We’ve been trying to book for dinner a few Saturdays now but always the place was booked, finally we booked few weeks in advance and made it.
The atmosphere and interior is amazing, white/gold tones with chandeliers and floral decor.
The service was amazing, our helper was Alejandro, he didn’t rush us at all and was very attentive and on top of things.
The cocktails and appetizers were awesome and the food was delicious.
Overall it was a great experience, Alejandro made it a very pleasant experience.“

“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!“