As others have mentioned, for the neighborhood and price, the food was disappointing. Also, as others have mentioned, the service was disappointing. We had reservations for 8, I spent over $800 there, and we felt rushed and unwelcome the entire time. At the end my husband asked for a surprise dessert because it was my birthday and they said no! read more

Food is okay, not great. Extremely over the top loud. Very tiny upstairs place. Would not return.

We've been to Arya a few times in the past and everything was fantastic from start to finish. We recommended it to anyone/everyone. But it's been a while. We were back last night for a celebratory dinner and had a fairly underwhelming experience. Not bad, just not great. Service and atmosphere were fine, thumbs up. The food, though, missed on nearly every meal of the 4 at our table. My bolognese was just OK, kind of bland, and the taglitelle was clumpy, which was sad. One of our companions ordered the pasta w/clams. He loved it until he got a clam that was full of sand. He worked it down but left the remaining clams uneaten after that, understandably. Another ordered the Gnocchi con Aragosta and left the lobster meat uneaten after a few bites because the taste was unpleasant. The 4th meal, carbonara, was fine and reported as "delicious." The berrata apps we started with were nice but the cheese itself was a little too cold. Maybe we landed on an off night; mid week instead of the weekend might be a different level? I don't know but, sadly, Arya isn't our "go to" any longer and not sure we'd recommend unreservedly. YMMV. read more

I went here with my boyfriend for date night- and had a pretty bad experience. The waitstaff is very well trained I will say that, getting more bread, water, or silverware before you ask or notice you need it. But the food and experience I had with the manager was awful. I ordered the cavatelli and I just felt it tasted and smelled funky so I sadly had to send it back. Then the manager came over and told me He had sold 15 of them this evening and had no problems and did not apologize or anything- basically letting me know the problem is me and not his food. While I was waiting for my next dish to come I tried my boyfriends veal- it was so so salty. Then my food comes- the seafood pasta. The seafood was so over cooked and tough- the only thing edible on the plate was the scallops. Meanwhile the entire time we are there there is a party of 20 people having there Christmas party behind us with their boss making announcements the entire time. This is a tiny restaurant and it was SO loud. One couple even came in and sat down and then immediately left without ordering. Overall one of the most disappointing eating experiences I have had in Boston :( read more

Ok dinner but expected a lot more. We were headed to a show at the TD Garden and decided to have dinner in the North End first. I read great reviews on Yelp and made a reservation. We were seated right away. The restaurant wasn't full but there were a decent number of people for 5:30pm on a Thursday. The host and servers were very nice and attentive for the most part. We both ordered salads, I had a beet salad and my aunt the caprese. The beet salad was ok but way too large for 1 person, the caprese could have been shared too. We both had pasta dishes. I had the Bolognese which was good but nothing amazing. My aunt had a scallop and linguini special she didn't comment on it. Both had very generous portions, but I would have preferred a better dish over such a large dish. We weren't asked about dessert until our server saw us checking out a neighboring table's chocolate cake. We had actually finished eating before them, and they were offered and served dessert before our server said anything to us. In the end we passed on dessert as our salads and pasta were already way too much food. A big reason for the 3 stars besides not being blown away by the food, was the price. Our total for 2 people: salads, pasta, wine and tip was almost $175. I'm okay with spending a lot for a good meal, but I expect way more. read more

Our review of Aria Trattoria. We dined at Aria last night and overall had a pleasant experience. Our three-star scoring is an aggregate of the dining experience as a whole. First I will share the positive notes. The food was nicely prepared and delivered promptly with pleasing presentations. We selected the "tour of Italy" selection (Fare un Viaggio). The price was $60/person which is slightly higher than the $50/person on their website. Not a problem as the offering is still a value for the first time visitor. Nonna Rosalie's signature meatballs are nothing less than spectacular. Moist and flavorful throughout. We also tried the Limoncello marinated shrimp, which aside from the soggy bread was also flavorful. The shrimp was poached/cooked to perfection. The next items in the flight was a savory pancetta wrapped asparagus and a pasta dish which had the flavor of a piccata with capers, lemon, and pork sausage. The meal closed with a meat serving with a beef rib dish accompanied by a cluster of soggy Truffle fries. We found the meat tender, but sinewy. The fries seemed to be an add-on best left in the kitchen. French fries in this meal plan just seemed out of place. And then, of course, they were soggy. As a matter of preference I like fries crunchy, but again this is a matter of my personal preference. Now for the less positive notes about our experience at Aria. We made a reservation on Open Table for 7:30 and arrived at 7:00. Meeting us at the door downstairs was a young lady who was attempting to bring people in off the street. To us, this is a "euro" technique and does not seem like a positive motivator to attract patrons. Perhaps this is targeted to tourists who may miss the signage. However, we observed full rooms at several other restaurants the same evening. We entered the dining room upstairs where there were a couple of open seats. Bear in mind the North End has many dining establishments that once were residences. Therefore the floorplans are less than optimal for restaurants. Aria does the best they can with their floorplan. A couple was finishing up at a two top near the window, and we inquired if we could wait for them to finish and occupy that seat with a view. We went as far as to offer the server an extra tip for the location. The server instructed us to wait at the bar until the couple departed and the table made ready. About five minutes later the server informed us that the restaurant owner had reserved that table for his friends coming in later. We took a seat nearby the fireplace and started our dining experience at approximately 7:10. We concluded our dining experience at 8:35 and the "friends" of the owner had yet to arrive. We paid the bill, left the owner a note, and spoke briefly to the server who we tipped accordingly. As we departed the people showed up nearly 40 minutes late for their 8:00 reservation. As first-time visitors, we found this treatment to be an example of how 'not' to treat your customers and servers. The server missed out on the additional gratuity we offered for the table, and the customer (us) felt like second class citizens. And of course, the friends of the owner were nothing less than disrespectful of the server, the owner, and the business. The ambiance is nice, and the food is decent, but Aria fails in the delivery of customer service. In the competitive environment that is the North End, I hope the owner takes this constructive criticism and puts the customer before his buddies. There are more than a few places in the area where one can expect better treatment as the patron. read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Amazing Italian. Fun view along the window, entertaining, engaging staff. This is a must do experience. It's an intimate second floor location, make a reservation! read more

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Had an amazing dinner tonight with my mom visiting for my birthday. Chose to do their 3 course meal, absolutely superb. First was meatballs and fried eggplant lasagna, then some sort of light pasta with more pork, and for my main entre I had a delicious prime rib with a amazing sauce, tasted like a balsamic reduction but hey, I'm not chef. Finally, for dessert, terrimasu, it was phenomenal. I would have preferred for a salad to break up all the proteins and carbs, but no big deal, everything was good. Ordered a bottle of wine that the waiter suggested - also really good, great legs. Met Massimo, dude seemed really cool, his servers were on point - walking past the kitchen all you hear is the cooks speaking Italian, this is a great establishment. I've eaten enough here in the North End to know a good place when I see it. Overall, definitely a solid 4.5. Make sure you grab reservations - they fill up so fast on the weekend, the bar seating requires reservations as well. I felt like everyone was dressed down a bit, fairly casual, I felt almost overdressed. read more

It felt like a lot of carbs. Obviously, when I decide to eat pasta, I know I'll be eating a lot of carbs. But if the noodles and pasta sauce are harmonious, the dish becomes a deliciously prepped meal. I was disappointed by the meal I ate at Aria because it felt like the noodles and sauce were two separate things. The ambience of the restaurant was the real selling point. Despite my disappointment in the food, Aria is a great spot for a date. -- taste / 2 aesthetics / 2 vibe / 4 service / 4 price for quality / 2 OVERALL / 2.5 read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Swung by Aria to grab dinner before the Celtics game because the Fiore roof deck had a 40 minute wait. Pleasantly surprised by the host who put us right at the window with a street view on a beautiful day - what a treat (and, pretty much as good as the roof deck!). Cosmo was yummy but 2 and I still wasn't feeling warm and fuzzy. At $14 or so a pop, that becomes an expensive mission. I had caprese salad - fantastic, with the right ratio of burrata to tomato (that can often be too little cheese to too much tomato, but not here). He had shrimp scampi -- very wine-y sauce, but very good flavor. Was disappointed not to be able to finish! Would probably come back if we could sit at the window again, would love to try some of their pasta dishes myself! read more

To say I was disappointed my last experience would be an understatement. After experiencing a wonderful NYE at Arya, I planned a dinner here with myself, my fiancé, and both of our families. I let the restaurant know it would be celebrate our engagement and all seemed well. When we arrived, our table was ready and the 10 of us enjoyed a good dinner and wine. Then suddenly, we were handed the bill without being asked if we wanted dessert. When we said we would like some dessert, we were given serious attitude so I stood up to speak with the manager who told me we could have dessert but to hurry up. Now mind you we had been there less than an hour and a half and had spent nearly $800. We were so taken aback by this that we ordered quickly, paid the bill, and left. We went to the valet to get our car and they said it would be a few minutes. Shortly after leaving, my mom began feeling stomach pains as we continued to wait for the car. After over an HOUR of waiting, we finally got our car from the valet. My poor mom had to Uber back to her hotel she was so sick. So long story short, we went to Arya to celebrate our engagement. Were told to hurry up after only being there for an hour and a half and having spent nearly $800 on food and wine. I even had the receipt showing a time exactly 2 hours after our reservation time (meaning after we were randomly handed the bill, we got dessert, paid the bill, and left all within 2 hours for a party of ten). Then waiting an additional hour for our car from valet while my mom was sick from the food. I am so disappointed in Arya. It was our favorite restaurant in town. Now it's forgettable, or at least we are trying to forget it. read more

This is how we were greeted: Owner: Reservation? Me: Yes, Lastname, for 2. Owner: 5pm? (Clearly unhappy.) Me: No, 5:15pm. (It was a few minutes after 5:15pm.) Owner: I'm the owner and we only take reservations on the half hour. (Implying I'm lying and he can't seat us.) Me: That's weird. I could have sworn it was 5:15pm. (Reaching for my phone, showing him my OpenTable confirmation of our 5:15pm reservation.) He begrudgingly seated us, reiterating his restaurant's seating policy all the way to our table, prompting my girlfriend to apologize to him to relieve tension and change our evening's trajectory. I was silent but annoyed. I thought he should have apologized to us for HIS mistake (miscommunication with OpenTable about his restaurant's seating schedule) and for greeting us with irritation and distrust. I wish he had kick us out: I don't mind high prices except when the food is mediocre. $45 for seafood fra diavolo with plenty of overcooked pasta but light on the seafood (e.g., a few small bites of lobster). Stingy pours of unremarkable wine. Highlights: meatball appetizer and the service. read more

It was a hot summer early-eve in Boston and my beau and I had been walking all day and were more than ready for a meal! We happened to be in the North End and so casually glanced at the menus of a handful of other Italian restaurants on the block, and decided on Arya Trattoria. I liked the upstairs dining room and the dimply lit atmosphere was cooling and inviting. This is more of an up-scale dining experience with white linen tablecloths and charming hosts, although certainly we were very casually dressed from a day of walking and touring the city. We were seated right away even though we didn't have a reservation, and it was clear that others seated around us DID have reservations and it was a popular place. We each ordered an appetizer and a main course, and the portions were pretty large. In hindsight, we could have actually shared an appetizer and a main course and our stomachs would have been content with that. I ordered the Gambas with Limoncello. What a great little twist to a standard gambas/garlic/lemon sauce, and I sopped up some of the juice with the complimentary basket of artisan bread. I was full after that but my main course was still coming: scallops with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto. The scallops were cooked perfectly, juicy and chewy, and the asparagus was also cooked perfectly with just enough tenderness to bite into without being that usual soggy vegetable that comes to your table overcooked! I thought the proscuitto added just the right amount of saltiness to the meal and seemed to bring out all the flavours on the plate. Needless to say, we were both stuffed when we left and rolled down the stairs and back out into the Boston Sunday evening traffic with a very delicious meal under our belts. We would definitely visit this place the next time we are in Boston. read more

Arya Trattoria - Gambas in Limoncello - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is an amazing place. Like many other North End Italian places, the space is small and cramped. 2nd floor space can accommodate no more than 35-40 people. They have a fantastic host who is very helpful and accommodating. Reservation is a must. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. Service was a bit slow. Reasonably priced wine list. We chose calamari for an appetizer. It was amazing. Very light yet amazingly flavorful. Peppers added nice counterpoint. Loved every bite. Generous portions. For salads we went with Caesar and Beet salad. Once again a very generous portions. Caesar was tasty but did not standout. Beet salad was huge with lots of beet and very tasty. For the main course I went with Frutti di Mare and wife ordered rigatoni. Wow, what amazing dishes. My pasta was homemade taglitelle. It was one of the best I've ever eaten; full of tasty seafood without being salty. I was in haven. Rigatoni was also homemade and was very tasty. Due to generous portions, we didn't have a room for any desert. This was without a doubt one of the best meals I've ever had. read more

Just wow. I came here with a rehearsal dinner party a few weeks ago. Massimo went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. I have a gluten and dairy allergy (the staff made sure to accommodate me despite being the only person in the party with an allergy), and they were able to serve me the best Bolognese I've ever had. They even got me dairy free ice cream. A definite will return. read more

I very rarely give five stars on a first visit but I've always had a soft spot for the North End. For years I have been meaning to try other restaurants but couldn't fight the addiction to my favorite place. What brought me to Aria Trattoria was traveling with my GF partner in crime last summer. Homemade gluten-free pasta is pretty much non-existent in Tampa, so I knew he was in for a treat! After hours of giving him a tour of the city, and walking about ten miles, we had worked up quite the appetites. It was a Tuesday evening, so the north end was relatively quiet. We didn't have to wait to be brought upstairs and welcomed in by the owner. He was exceptionally warm, and made us feel right at home. We snagged a table in the corner next to an open window. It was a perfect evening to enjoy fresh air and the view of Hanover street. The restaurant is intimate and a bit classy. I thought we were too casually dressed, but we didn't feel uncomfortable. I ordered the Gnocchi con Aragosta, with asparagus (handmade potato gnocchi tossed with truffle and fontina cheese fonduta, and the meat of 1 ¼ pound Maine lobster - $34). My date ordered the GF version of Bolognese da Abruzzo (handmade Taglitelle pasta prepared with a typical abbruzzese style veal and beef ragout, enriched with pancetta and tomato - $26). Presentation was simple and effective. Nothing pretentious or too fancy, just traditional. The dishes appear to be easily doable but they stuffed us silly about halfway through. Everything was cooked to perfection, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. My favorite part was watching him enjoy an authentic Italian meal in my favorite city. Next time I visit home with him, Aria Trattoria is a must! read more

Arya Trattoria - Gnocchi con Aragosta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Took one bite of the Lobster Ravioli and came all over the place. Big mess. Took forever to clean up. 10/10 would go back.

Loved the food, had tagliatelle and clams. My wife had a tortellini special. Both were superb. Perfectly cooked and very tasty. The service was responsive but not rushed. It's located on the second floor so there is a flight of stairs. Small bar and dining area so you are not sitting in a large cavern. The only downside (for me) is that it is very noisy. That may or may not add to the charm, your call. read more

One of my new favorite restaurants in the North End! We went for dinner with a larger group on a Wednesday night and we raved about the meal. The food was DELICIOUS - my mom said, "It's rare to find Italian food that is both high quality AND large portions - but this is it!" The meals were really filling and delicious! You have the choice between a typical a la carte menu (entrees between about $23-32) or a chef's choice menu where the chef chooses your dishes for multiple courses. We went a la carte and were very pleased. The space is small but lovely, tucked away on the 2nd floor above Hanover street. It's a good spot for a date or for group dinners. I'd definitely recommend reservations. The service was WONDERFUL - top 5 I've ever received in a Boston restaurant. They were attentive, friendly, and made some great recommendations. read more

Dined at Arya Trattoria Sunday for a birthday celebration. Three in our party have to eat gluten free. The owner came to our table and explained that his daughter has celiac disease and he takes this very seriously. About 85% of the menu could be made gluten free. EVERYTHING we ate was delicious! I felt like we were dinner guests at someone's house in the North End. I must say Arya is now my favorite restaurant in the North End! Arya goes above and beyond to make delicious entrées and appertizers!!!! If you are in the North End, make sure you eat here! read more

Very happy with our experience at Aria Ambience and Service: smaller space; definitely try to make a reservation. Our server was perfect- great suggestions and food came out timely. Food: we did the trip around Italy, were you let the chefs choose your dishes- two apps, each person gets pasta, then two entrees. I highly recommend this, we were very pleased with everything. Our favorites were the meatballs, caprese, the bolognese (may be the best I have ever had) and the salmon special was PERFECTLY cooked. Overall, great place to go! Will be back- read more

Arya is truly one of the best spots of the North End. Diego was an incredible server and everything tasted spectacular. We will definitely be back! read more

food n drinks were both p tasty, couldnt stay for dessert but would be curious to try the other dishes! (i had stuck w the basics this time around) read more

If we could give it 10 stars we would. We were persuaded to get the chef's menu even though we had 2 teenagers with us, so I was worried about them wasting it. $60 per plate, but it was worth every penny. 3-course meal as decided by the chef (we only gave a couple of off-table items). But this was not a normal 3-course meal. Appetizers consisted of 4 different options to share. Then a delicious pasta dish, perfect portion. Then the entree selection was also 4 different options to share. Amazing. End it with Limoncello (kids got pineapple juice). One of our top 3 meals of all time. Our waitress was awesome, so was the bartender, and so was the rest of the staff. We even cancelled Easter Brunch for tomorrow because what's the point after tonight's meal??? So good! read more

Arya Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A wonderful find in Boston's North End, Aria Trattoria serves up delicious pasta dishes in a warm and intimate setting, one story above street level. Dropping in for dinner during a recent business trip, I settled in at the small bar for an amazing order of their Bolognese de Abruzzo, a handmade pasta with veal and beef, covered in a rich tomato sauce. Paired with a cold New England craft beer from the restaurant's small but impressive selection, it made for the perfect meal on a cool and rainy Boston evening. I only wish I had sampled Aria's signature meatball appetizer, known by locals as 'the Best Balls in Boston.' They'll definitely be on the menu for my next visit. read more

What's special about Aria is the "culinary journey" meal, where you share any food restrictions with Massimo or his staff, and the rest is taken care of. We had two vegetarians in the family, and so four of us enjoyed a variety of meat dishes, and the two others enjoyed delicious pastas. The variety was wonderful, giving everyone a chance to taste the flavors of Italy. Service was outstanding, and we had a wonderful experience. With two bottles of wine and gratuity, the entire evening ran us just under $100 PP, which in my book is an outstanding value. read more

Aria Trattoria is a hidden gem in the North End of Boston. My girlfriend and I arrived there at about 5:45 on a Friday night, and it was practically empty. We were worried by the absence of customers, but our concerns were put to bed once the food arrived. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer, and it was delicious. It came with a tasty tomato vinaigrette on the side. For the entree, my girlfriend ordered the ravioli con funghi, and I ordered the linguine scampi. Both dishes were excellent. My girlfriend made note of how fresh the ingredients were, and I concurred. I enjoyed the pieces of fresh garlic and herbs in my plate, and the white wine sauce was flavorful. For dessert we shared tiramisu, and we almost ordered another slice because of how great it was. All three courses were phenomenal, and I will definitely return the next time I am in the area. The service was exceptional. I drink a lot of water, and every time I finished my glass the busboy arrived to refill it. It is a small restaurant, but there is enough room to be comfortable. The menu is pricey (for college students at least), but the meal was worth every penny. The quality of the food is high, and I would recommend it to anyone in search for some authentic Italian food in the North End. read more

Food was good, martini was great, but waiter was rude. Gave us the check, without offering dessert or another drink. It was 9:30 and restaurant was still crowded, so we asked, if they needed the table for someone else-the answer was no. Not sure why they felt the need to rush us. Place is cute, dark and a little on the crowded side. The seem to cater to B personality /athletes. The NBA basketball player, received a lot of attention and clearly allowed to order food after the curfew. read more

Came in for a quick dinner and would say Aria is worth putting in the rotation if you're a North End local. Rundown: - Lamp Chops - solid even if they were borderline under - Bolognese da Abruzzo - Good, but not on the shortlist if you come in. - Aria Mista Salad - arguably the best thing I ate here Service was solid. read more

An upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of Boston's North End. Massimo lives up to his reputation for the the best meatballs in the North End. The menu is expansive and every dish is delicious! You will be transported to an authentic Italian experience bar none! Mangia! read more

Had an amazing reunion with family in Boston and enjoyed a great meal. Appetizers shared were Calamari, Meatballs and Burrata. Calamari was okay, meatballs delish. The Burrata was outstanding-something you could eat daily and still be left wanting more. The Oso Bucco was outstanding, linguini and clams excellent and pasta was amazing. Chose an earlier seating for convenience. Was disappointed when we were told another party was waiting for our table. read more

WHEN: Saturday, November 2013 WHO: 5 people (30+ year olds, male/female, friends + couples) WHY: It was Saturday night! We were overdue for a night in the north end, wanted to try somewhere new, but are a group that looks for "classier" food and great wine. THE FUN DETAIL: FOOD - by far some of the best Italian food I've had in the north end in awhile and I've been to almost every place on Hanover and it's sister side streets. We had the meatballs, caprese special and shrimp limoncello as appetizers and all of them were excellent. I'd say the shrimp was the best, largely due to the tasty sauce that it came in and the grilled piece of bread that soaked it up. I'm a sucker for anything that has lemon, capers and butter...and this had it all. Dinner was a tough choice. I never eat pasta (paleo eater) but when I go to the North End...I'm going for pasta, and luckily our waiter told us that the pasta dishes were the best on the menu. My fellow eaters couldn't decide between the bolognese and the mushroom ravioli, so our waiter kindly offered to do a half dish of each for them - BINGO! I opted for a full plate of the mushroom ravioli and a few others got the special which included homemade pasta with a light butter and shavings of truffles that came in from Italy the night before. (the truffles were brought to our table and shaved right in front of our eyes, awesome. They only got 3 in from Italy!) My ravioli was killer! It had plenty of fresh, gourmet mushrooms (these weren't button mushrooms from your local stop&shop) that were sauteed with a light sauce and the ravioli itself had a tasty mushroom filling that had just the right amount of flavor. I tried my husbands Bolognese and the truffle pasta...both were spot on al dente and I couldn't believe the flavor the truffles gave the one dish. No wonder they're so hard to come by! DECOR - it was exactly what we were looking for. Classy, modern and slightly upscale while still maintaining an authentic Italian/North end feel. It's a small place (42 seats I believe they told us) but they don't pack you in like sardines which is refreshing. We had a fantastic table by the window that overlooked hanover street and I was particularly fond of the chandelier made out of silverwear. Instagrammed it later that evening... SERVER - he was great. Knowledgeable, enticing, responsive and allowed us to get split servings of dessert and dinner so we could try more dishes. The owner also came over to our table multiple times, which we loved. We're big fans of owners who stay close to their customers and their businesses by actually getting to the tables and talking to the folks paying the checks. He gave us his card at the end of the meal and we really enjoyed talking to him. LAST THOUGHTS: I've been trying to find another place in the North End that I like as much as Fiore and I would definitely say Aria stacks up. Head there if you have a small group (no more than 6-8) or are looking for a great date spot. It's a little pricey, but worthit. And make a reservation. Ciao! read more

Like the setting and friendly service. Food was just OK and expected better for the price point.

Ducked into this place to kill some time and have some drinks, waiting on a reservation at another restaurant in the area. Somehow, I managed to have a bad glass of wine. The bottle had turned a long time ago, and I guess the bartender didn't bother to check prior to serving. My S.O had peach Bellinis, a shot of peach liquor and prosseco, ran about 12-13 bucks a pop. Service at the bar was prompt and friendly. We sat at the bar looking into the kitchen, watched the cook staff stick their fingers (finger to mouth) in food to taste the sauces... No hand washing in between... I'm not a huge germ-a-phobe, but the cook staff should probably realize that people are watching them... It's unlikely we'll be back given the profusion of other choices, and the lack of care displayed on our visit. read more

Up the stairs to a cozy and elegant dining experience. Great service, great food and a great overall experience. We arrived wet from an errant thunderstorm and early. We were seated directly and proceeded to have a wonderful evening. We left full and happy. The osso buco was delicious and the scallops amazing. Oh yeah - the limoncello marinated shrimp are to die for. Not much to complain about (I always try to find something if I'm writing a review). I would have like a bit more salt in the mushroom ravioli, but in my experience the sea is occasionally not salty enough ('nuff said). I'm going to go back. (yeah - I read books I like at least twice too...) Consider trying the chef's choice menu. Its worth it. I certainly wouldn't worry about tattoos and if the staff tastes the food - great! Even after looking at the other reviewer complaints, I can't say that it changes my opinion. Give Aria a try - I suspect you will be pleased. read more

Disappointed....was so excited to try this place....the staff started out so friendly but wanted us to hurry up and leave....they gave us the check without us ordering dessert....the spaghetti carbonara? Was not even close.... read more

I am mystified by the negative reviews of this place. I finally made it in last night and it was fantastic. I was a huge Marco fan and was happy when I learned that the entire staff was staying on; not only because they're great but it really says something about the new owner who could have easily replaced them with his own people. Also, you know what to expect as service goes - and it was as stellar as ever. The service is professional but still warm and casual which was what I loved most about Marco. The place looks great. The new owner made some changes to the decor (it looks a little brighter and the kitchen looks downright sparkly) and added a tv at the bar. He was there working the door and managing the front and back of the house. It was a Saturday night and they filled up quickly but everything seemed to hum along smoothly. We started with the aperol prosecco cocktail which was delicious and then got a bottle of wine. The wine list had plenty of options at all price points. We started with the fried calamari with chili peppers and smokey tomato vinaigrette (delicious and cooked perfectly) and the salumi plate with fruit and cheese drizzled with truffle honey which was a really nice touch - both perfectly portioned. We shared the handmade mushroom ravioli with truffled mascarpone for a pasta course - it was delicious and also generously portioned. For the final course we had the porchetta with broccoli rabe and potatoes - it was MAGICAL. I felt like I was eating at someone's grandmother's house. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the portion was extremely generous. I really like the menu. As much as I loved Marco, it's menu was a pretty limited. This menu has way more options for seafood, meat, pasta and sides and, given the portions and quality, a great value. I'm really looking forward to going back. read more

Had an incredible dinner at Aria Trattoria. Made reservations on open table but needed to move the time back by 30 minutes, called and was told no problem. The restaurant is small, cozy but well laid out with a small bar. Maybe a total of 10 tables and 6-7 seats at the bar. Upon arrival we were greeted by the owner who took care of our coats and led us to the bar while they prepared our table. Within 10 minutes we had our table. You can order off the menu (a la cart) or family style. Most other tables elected to go family style which is what we ended up doing as well. We were brought 4 different appetizers, a shrimp dish, meatballs, (owners mothers recipe & and incredible) lamb skewers and caprise. Next we had a small but delicious bowl of pasta. 3 main dishes were served, bistecca delmonico, porchetta arrosto, and the nights special which was a swordfish dish. Every single thing we ate was delicious and top notch. We thought things were done as the family style "tour of Italy" is only a 3 course meal but the owner surprised us and provided a complimentary limon cello and dessert for the table. We had an amazing time, the food blew away my expectations, this is my new go to restaurant in the north end. read more

was pleasantly surprised by Aria Trattoria. We wanted a romantic night in the North end. My husband had read about this place from a write up the Globe had done. Anyway's, we arrived early for our reservations and sat at the bar and had a cocktail and chatted with the bartender who was so welcoming, he made us feel like we were regulars. So, already I'm liking this place. The hostess came and seated us promptly at 8:30. Our waiter was very very nice and pleasant. He explained everything we ordered, ingredients and where in Italy it comes from. We ordered a bottle of wine that they recommended for $60 or so. Ordered 2 apps the signature meatballs and the limoncello marinated shrimp. We also shared the lobster diavlo pasta For our main course my husband ordered the delmonico steak. He immediately said it was better than our favorite steak house of all time. I got the scallops. The ambiance was so romantic, we were seated next to the window and also next to the fire place. All in all I will certainly return here the food was excellent. Service was perfect. Both are top notch. read more

I have now been frequenting this place for five plus years and it absolutely, positively never fails to impress or amaze. You can look at the other reviews and most are based on one dining experience, mine is based on multiple days, year after year and at various times, I am serious about my love for ARIA and it deserves to be known. You start with walking in the door (if you can) and you're greeted by the owner (Massimo) and actually welcomed and not pushed aside or feel like you're imposing. It's like your family or you know someone and that alone will make you feel special. Next up, a drink. The wine selection is great and it's not just the selection, it's the knowledge of the staff. Get the "no Name"!! Onto the main event, the food. I have had most things, but continue to return to the Bolognese and Nonna Balls with a Ceasar. Homemade pasta made in hpouse and not bought from a vendor, that's a significant difference with so many of the Italian restaurants​ in the North End. I could honestly go on about every little detail of the meal and service and wine etc. but it's​ all amazing, its all been covered by others and all of the great reviews are not only justified​ but honest. You cannot go wrong with choosing Aria over all of the other restaurants​ in the​ North End. I am not saying there are no other good restaurants​ or even great ones, but Aria is the best. One drawback​, not enough​ seats..... but if it was bigger, it would lose part of the​ appeal. Tough balance! read more