We were in Boston, moving our daughter out of her dorm. She just completed her freshman year with great grades, so we wanted to have a great meal in the North End to celebrate. We went to Arya based on a friend's recommendation, who is also a foodie. It was a GREAT choice. Arya is located on Hanover Street and is on the second floor. It is small, but the interior is nicely appointed, and the tables are comfortable. They also have a small bar with 5-6 seats. The host sat us promptly and was very cordial. Our waiter was GREAT. He was a riot. He opened up the night and said you can order your way or my way. He was referring to ordering what we wanted from the menu, or taking the voyage through Italy. This is a three-course meal including appetizers, a small plate of pasta, and an entree for each guest. It is served family style. We went on the voyage! We started with fabulous cocktails before the voyage began. We received 3 appetizers, including shrimp, MEATBALLS in sauce, and a Burrata salad. The pasta course was Rigatoni with a Vodka sauce. What was impossible to believe was the entrees. We got a whole filet of Branzino, a huge chicken parmigiana, and a full-size ribeye steak with amazingly crispy French Fries. I can't tell you how fabulous the food was. Every item was cooked to perfection and extremely flavorful. The meatballs are the best I have had in the North End. The fish was moist and flavorful. We ended up taking home a HUGE bag of leftovers. Best of all, the price was $70 per person. We had an excellent slice of Tiramisu, and I had a fabulous Pistachio martini. We have a new favorite place in the North End. Make it a point to go and have a fabulous time. You will love it. MAKE a reservation!! read more

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The food was very okay. The chicken was overcooked. The gnocchi didn't have a lot of taste. It felt like the red sauce was out of a jar. The ambiance was SO LOUD. We could barely hear ourselves think. Service was good. There are much better spots in the North End. read more

Arya Trattoria - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The osso bucco was very good and definitely the star menu item. However, I don't think it makes up for the lackluster service from our server, who was terribly unexcited about the food and unknowledgeable about the wine. It was quite a deflating experience, especially since we had just passed by a bunch of very energetic and friendly restaurants on our way there. read more

Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious. It just felt a little basic compared to other locations in the area, especially for the price. The biggest issue I had was the staff was not very kind or attentive. They scoffed at us when we entered, and did not treat us like I would expect for this price. We weren't even finished with our dinner before they came and took it away to box it for us. Felt like they were kicking us out. Don't know if we are not the normal people who come in, but it left a bad taste in my mouth, despite the delicious food. read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

As rich as the flavors are, as attentive the service and as big the portions, the thing that sticks with me was Massimo, the owner, greeting folks at the door and looking up the score to the game when he noticed I was peeking at the screen. This place is pure heart and soul. read more

10/10. We frequent the North End, and have found arguably our favorite spot. We were greeted by the owner upon arrival. Very nice guy!! He recommended that we try the chefs selection menu, and we did. For starters we got the meatballs and a fried burrata with a spicy vodka sauce. Both were 10/10. We then each got a bolognese, also fantastic. Our next course was the ribeye and chicken parm. Again, both were excellent. I would recommend Arya to any and everyone. We will be coming back very soon. read more

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Ended up finding this GEM after a disappointing dinner at a total tourist trap. Massimo greeted us at the door and got us to the bar. Our bartender and drinks were great! Highly recommend the espresso martini and the old fashion. We decided to come back for dinner the next night to try out the FARE UN VIAGGIO for the four of us. There was a slight wait due to the Bruins game (enter more martinis and old fashions) but ended up sitting at a window table. Our bartender was very attentive and checked up on us often, our waiter was fabulous! So on to the food...So Much Food! Meatballs are ‍. The peppers in the calamari make this dish! Chicken parm was so tender. Scallops were cooked to perfection. The fish had a perfect crust to it. Every thing had amazing flavor! So glad we stumbled upon this place. Will have to make another trip out to Boston! Thank you to Massimo and your wonderful crew! read more

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Only go here if you're ready for a festival in your mouth. The food you taste here captures the true meaning of old world Italian meets sophistication. This is a Boston landmark restaurant that remains busy and booked, so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time if you want to be seated at all. We were seated promptly in the middle of a quaint little hustling and bustling dining area which included a cute little bar too. We can hear the traffic nearby on a busy street down below. The dim lighting created a sexy ambiance and the light music drowned out the louder conversations. There were parties of all sizes and types - bachelorette parties, couples, business meetings, families, friends, etc. And from start to finish, the dishes just kept getting better. We had the calamari fritti with pickled chili peppers, Mamma Rosalie's award-winning meatballs, ravioli con funghi, and torta di melanzane (eggplant) - all tasted so fresh and as though it came straight out of an Italian family's kitchen. And I must say ALL staff members were amazing - so attentive, efficient, hospitable, and well trained in the culture of the restaurant. We got anything and everything we needed promptly and accurately. The manager was consistently checking on all tables to ensure everyone was happy with their food and service too. I must say this is a must-go for us every time we visit Boston. read more

A nice small trattoria on the 2nd floor with high quality Italian fare . Had the meatballs and Pesto Rigatoni both very good . Recommend the window table overlooking the street . Viewed a marching band with some patron saint come down the street . I would return to this establishment only after trying some other restaurants on Hanover street . First timers give this restaurant a try , you won't be disappointed. read more

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Good quality, fresh pasta. Cooked perfectly too. Dirty martini was made with good thought as well.

Three adults and a kid made early evening reservations for dinner. Part of being a historic-type building comes with some antiquated infrastructure; dinner was off to a difficult start right away as we had significant trouble getting the stroller up the narrow stairway and there wasn't really anywhere to put it. They were otherwise very accommodating of the baby and set us up with a high chair right away. For antipasti we ordered caprese and calamari. I was not expecting the portion sizes to be nearly as giant as they were. The thick slices of mozzarella were so fresh. Would have been nice to have some balsamic drizzle and higher-quality tomato. The calamari portion was huge and the fried pickled peppers were a fun novelty. We went heavy on the primi with mushroom ravioli, lobster gnocchi, and truffle mac and cheese for the little one. My wife was completely gaga for the ravioli, which I thought were ok. The truffle mac and cheese was good. The gnocci themselves were fine but the lobster was a little tough and it was hard to distinguish what was lobster and what was pasta under all the sauce. I thought the quantity of lobster was reasonable. We went with the pork oso buco for our secondi. The meat was tender and served in a tomato sauce. Also good, but didn't stand out in any way. Overall, we got an incredible quantity of food, but nothing really blew me away. A solid meal for a reasonable price, I was happy with our trip to the north end. read more

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Me and my friends went to this restaurant and it was the most horrible experience I've ever had at a restaurant. The food was mid and we had to pay over $70 for water alone. They made it almost impossible to split the bill easily. It was literally a SCAM because they made us pay for 2 extra water that we did not order. This place was a disgrace to Italian food and I will not be returning or recommending this place to anyone. read more

If you like Italian food - The North End of Boston is a MUST VISIT!!! We made reservations to come here on a Friday night while visiting Boston... The place was packed when we got there for our 7PM time. The staff was friendly, all of them were. The menu is loaded with excellent looking options, which made it tough for us to choose, so when our server told us about the chef's dinner option, we took it! Basically, for $70 per person, you get: * Salad to share - Ours was a large caprese made with their amazing Bufala cheese * Appetizer - Their soft, moist, flavorful, and BIG meatballs! They were outstanding and had a great red sauce on them! * Pasta course - Pasta with Bolognese and it was excellent!! * 2 main dishes that were HUGE o One was their braised beef short rib and it was honestly one of the BEST beef dishes I've ever had - the sauce, the meat and it's flavor and tenderness - it was truly outstanding! o They also gave us their HUGE chicken parm and it was excellent as well! All definitely excellent food and an amazing deal - Highly recommend stopping in!! read more

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Everything, starting with parking, they say valet, they don't tell you when you get there for your reservation, they can't valet there's none left. We were a party of 12, when you make reservations they don't tell you they are serving you family style, so you get what they offer that's it end of story. Food was horrible. We were so squeezed in we couldn't move. Trust me on this one. I never write a review, but this was absolutely awful read more

Very intimate and small restaurant. The food was very good and service was good as well. I would try to make a reservation instead of just showing up. . read more

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We used to love Arya, and had a 5 star review on here - haven't been in years, and we were so excited to visit. We were so disappointed. The burrata special was very unique and we enjoyed it. The calamari and chicken parm were fine, standard Italian restaurant fare, would've been happy with it if we were at a chain and not spending $35-46 a plate. I can't think of any redeeming qualities of the lobster gnocchi - took a few bites and really just didn't like it. The place was freezing because they had all the windows open. Service was meh. Went from a favorite to we won't be back. read more

There are a million good or great Italian restaurants in the north end. You can skip this one. I had dinner tonight with three friends and all of the food we ordered was extremely mediocre. At no point did anyone say, "Oh, this is delicious" or get excited by any of the dishes. They were very bland and just okay. The bread was stale, which tells you everything you need to know. Extremely loud and perfunctory service. Since when should diners have to ask for salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese to be brought to the table? And milk or cream for the coffee. The guy didn't seem happy to be there and it was just generally only a fun and wonderful night because of the company I was in and not at all because of the meal. read more

Good food, really nice service, and great North End ambiance. It was a Monday night and I'd screwed up my timing and made my wife and I late for dinner. They seated us right as the kitchen was about to close and treated us royally. It's a classic trattoria menu at very affordable prices, by the standards of the area. We had a couple of good cocktails, a nice glass of wine and a delicious meal. My wife stopped being angry at me for making us late. I owe them one. read more

We made reservations for our 1 year anniversary, and was a little disappointed the host nor waiter took note of that since it was a special night for us. We each had a glass of wine, I tried the "staff pick", which I was very pleased with. The appetizers were incredible and very generous portions. The calamari was very crispy and tender. The lamb chops were big enough to be a meal! For my entree, I got the Osso bucco, their house specialty- which was good, but for a specialty dish, could have been better. The seasonings seemed off- the sauce was very salty, but the pork was not. It could have been more flavorful and more tender. read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Small, hole in the wall type of feel. We sat by the window which was a nice view and felt less compact than sitting in between different parties of people. You definitely need a reservation in advance as this place is quite popular in the north end. My dinner partner and I had the halibut special which was very tasty. The dish came with butternut squash and roasted vegetables, I felt full but not heavy after my meal. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and the portion was large enough to feed four people or more. We felt the calamari could have been better if they were less fried and less crispy - they felt more like calamari chips but that might be a preference for some. read more

Arya Trattoria - Halibut special - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went here for work dinner. Small spot, like tiny. But service was great. Drinks were good! Food was 3/5. Some people loved their food others were eh. Loved the appetizers. Octopus was amazing. I'd say it's a go to! read more

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I am sad to report - The olive oil was delicious, but the bread was boring. The melon in the burrata dish was too hard to cut with a fork. The meatball was blah, the cheese wasn't melted on top and just fell off when I cut it. The calamari wasn't bad but we doused it with the sauce which was a mistake as it was really spicy. The frutti Di Mar was so al dente that I sent it back. My son said he could taste the flour in the pasta (bolognese). The service was great. The owner was wonderful, but unfortunately, whoever was cooking the pasta was not cooking it long enough. read more

My friends and I came for a quick drink hoping we'd get lucky. Fortunately for us, my sister knew the amazing hostess Fiona who was more than happy to make some quick accommodations for our short stay. She made us a delicious expresso martini as well as two cosmos. Fiona was even kind enough to produce us with some shots that almost tasted like lemonade. Overall, I had a great experience in this comfortable and fun environment. From the glimpses of food I saw being brought out to the tables, I would be more than happy to come again! read more

Arya Trattoria - Cosmos and expresso martini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Massimo was glee to reply to my review but doesn't want to help out a customer on Valentine's Day. Such low grade people and honestly embarrassing service. Will be sure to never come back here or recommend this place to anyone. Quattro was happy to help however, would recommend going there instead. Much better food and great service. read more

Massimo is the host with the most. And the best meatballs in the city. We held a private party here and everything was impeccable. The hospitality, the service, the food, etc. everything was on point. My group (of food service industry professionals) were thoroughly impressed. Many of them were from out of town. And they cited this as the highlight of the trip. They really got to experience the Best of Boston. LFG. read more

Went for my birthday night dinner before going to a Red Sox game (was a SUPER exciting game). I forget how old Boston is as a city. This restaurant is on the second floor up a narrow staircase. Going up I was leery. It was for naught! The four of us, two couples sat at the bar. I chose to be in my birthday moment and didn't take pictures of the food. So, guess I have to describe... Appetizer: special pear, fig and cheese. Yummy!!! Dinner: seafood special. Oh.My. Word! I have to say that HANDS DOWN- I ate the best buttery mouth-watering scallops I've EVER eaten! Along with shrimp and fish. It was so good that I had my eyes closed enjoying this meal. The others had fish and chips; steak and chops. All said the food was SUPERB! read more

Arya Trattoria - Happy Birthday to me! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

10/10 experience here for dinner. It's an intimate restaurant on the second floor in the famous North End and it did not disappoint. I felt like I was at my Italian uncle's house for dinner. We were greeted by the owner "welcome to my home" at the front door. I had already stalked the menu, so I was ready with my order. The truffle Cesar salad is incredible - the truffle is very proportionate and not over powering. The lobster ravioli was on special that night. The real star of the show was the Ribeye- INCREDIBLE. Loved loved loved the Ribeye. We ended dinner with pistachio (AMAZING) martini and an espresso martini. PLEASE try the pistachio martini - it is out of this world! The ambiance was truly what we loved. Tables are close together, everyone chatting... felt like we were in Italy at a local spot. Would recommend to anyone visiting the North End. Book a reservation! read more

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At first glance, this place is very small but cozy. We were excited because of the good reviews. Service was excellent, however we were unfortunately disappointed in the quality of food. I ordered the spaghetti and clams, which were good but not exceptional. My husband ordered the gnocchi and lobster. Gnocchi were harder than al dente and the lobster was like chewing on a piece of rubber. We did send the dish back and at least got 50% of the dish on our bill. Overall, we probably won't come back. read more

I came here for a catered event and the staff was so friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is located on the second floor and I was lucky enough to get a table by the window - strong Europe vibes! The inside is cozy and very intimate, perfect for a date night or catching up with loved ones. The food was amazing and the meatballs especially are my favorite. I also tried the pistachio martini and an espresso martini which were delicious. read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The service was delicious, I recommend the osso buco. I sat at the bar and the service was great. It was very lively for a Tuesday night and lots of fun! read more

What a fantastic restaurant. My wife had the lobster ravioli I have the Frutti Di Mare. By far the best Italian meal I've had in a long time. The Frutti Di Mare had great flavor and was just spicy enough. I also love the loud ambiance. Makes for a fun time not having to stay quiet. Highly recommend this place. read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place is a real gem! Ambience food and service are all 100%. It's upstairs so it could be missed if walking by but very much worth a visit. Meat balls are the best, also love the arugula salad. read more

Went for a boys night on Saturday for a 9pm reservation. What a great experience. Owner came over and asked if he could take us on a food journey. We trusted him to pick all the appetizers and entrees. We're so glad we did. He went above and beyond. Even gave us a complimentary limoncello at the end. Will definitely be back. read more

We had a reservation for 10 at 5PM last Sunday night. The food was very good. The tables were too close together and half of our party kept getting bumped by the patrons and servers behind them. The wait staff and owner were less than pleasant. Pushy to take our order even though we had just gotten our drinks. When we were done eating dinner, we passed on dessert and half of us went outside to wait for the remaining half that were finishing the last half-inch of our drinks. The owner - Mossimo - Came over and asked us to please move it along so he could seat his next large party. Rude and absolutely unacceptable. He should know better. read more

Overall the homemade pasta was excellent but the sauces were forgettable. The Vongole was nothing to write home about, the clams were very fresh and tasty. Another in our party had the Bolognese which was just as mediocre. Service and ambience were fine. No need to rush back but not at all disappointed with my visit. read more

We came here on a whim with a party of 11. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant solely based on the owner, Mossimo. He was incredibly personable, made us feel like our dinner was not just a meal, but an experience for us, and even made plates off menu for our five tweens/teens without us even asking. The meatballs were huge and great. My husband's dinner (frutta de mar?) was spicy and spectacular. Great little gem in Boston. read more

Belated review for our annual tradition of getting dinner in the North End the Sunday after Thanksgiving before flying home, and Arya quickly climbed the rankings to be the best meal we've had there so far. It's upstairs, small and intimate, and we got seated by a window overlooking the street. It was admittedly chilly there, but a great spot, and certainly cozy. The staff was very accommodating for our daughter and our server was patient, friendly, and professional. We started with some cocktails, the arugula salad, and their famous meatballs. The salad was bright and fresh, with a perfect hit of acid before we started digging into meat and carbs. No muss, no fuss. The meatballs were also delicious, but we did not have some out-of-body eyes-rolling-into-our-skulls meatball experience?: no, just solid, delicious, homemade meatballs with a simple and wonderful sauce that could be sopped up with the bread that they provide each table. For mains, the three of us shared the Osso Bucco and Bolognese da Abruzzo. The former dish was wonderful, though--it pains us to admit--not as good as the Osso Bucco at Bricco, which is truly divine. But the meat was tender and the sauce was plate-lickable; the polenta wasn't doing much for the dish and seemed more like an afterthought. The bolognese was hands down the BEST pasta dish we've ever had in the North End, possibly one of the best we've ever had in this country. Your teeth could really sink into the most wonderful al dente pasta and the ragout was out of this world. We were so full but could not stop eating it. SO GOOD. For dessert, we got the nutella cheesecake, and (not complaining), it was 100% chocolate on top and not nutella. No matter--it was still scrumptious. So, overall, great service, great food, and prices that don't insult you and simply reflect what the cost of an excellent meal should be. We were practically floating out of the restaurant we were so happy. Usually we like to try a new place every year, but who knows, maybe we'll be back again next year. 4.5 stars rounding down. read more

Lovely first meal at Arya! Had the calamari, very generous portion with a good mix of fried peppers and calamari, only complaint was the dipping sauce was cold, not sure if that's normal but I prefer it hot. Also had the lobster ravioli special and the pesto rigatoni. The pesto was very light and good you could tell it's homemade. Small and cozy restaurant, a little loud since tables are close together. Server was attentive. read more

Arya was a great place for a date night dinner. All staff are wearing masks, but no gloves. Tables are not 6 feet apart, but there are plexiglass stands between tables. The food was delicious, and service was great. My partner asked to add scallops to his entree, and they were super accommodating. I recommend anyone to try Arya Trattoria! Just make sure you have a reservation, because there aren't too many tables. read more

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Arya Trattoria has the most delicious food ever. The meatballs are sublime and so is the ribeye steak with the truffle fries. The food is so good you cannot stop eating it. We also got a lovely light sea bass that just melted in my mouth. I should add that the pasta is homemade and tastes like an Italian grandmother (who happens to be a great cook) just made it for a Sunday dinner. Please try this place. It is wonderful. My friend Chris brought me here and he knows his food inside and out. read more