The staff was incredibly friendly. It was nice to hear them taking time to help train new staff in a positive manner. The main dining is crowded but it's in a city, room is at a premium. They made effective use of what they have. The food... so good! Rustic pizza was perfectly done. Crisp dough to hold the pizza together but soft enough to have great flavor. The penne a la vodka was superbly done. Perfectly al Dante. The bruschetta was ok, nothing to brag about but not bad at all. Highly recommend this place. read more

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The Lobster Raviolis were amazing. The staff was very friendly. Would definitely recommend.

First off the service was amazing, very attentive staff. Second the appetizer was stunning. The wine was nice, not over powering. My friend ordered the clam pizza -- insanely good and huge portions. I ordered the pesto with fusilli -- again perfectly done and huge portions. Parking is a bit of a challenge and we were placed by the door which was quite suboptimal. Otherwise this would have been five stars. read more

Great food, awesome service. They take care of you here like family. And if need a good place for gluten free pizza, this is your spot!

Cute little place great service food was phenomenal. The servers went above and beyond to take care of us.

Went here recently for the second time with the family, and it was just as outstanding as the first time. I absolutely love this place. The food is so authentic and delicious; the servers are extremely knowledgeable; and the ambiance is quintessential North End. There's a small dining room upstairs where you can people watch and take in the fresh air, but there's also a great dining area in the nice, cool basement which my kids love. It's like a secret dining room. This is a North End favorite for my family. read more

Food was pretty decent. Chicken Parm tasted a bit like cardboard. Penne was excellent. Was a little hot in the basement but our server was very nice and attentive! read more

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Wait what am I in Italy!! Well it sure as hell feels that way! We came here with friends and left with full bellies and a warm heart. The food was simply delicious. Cooked in hot ovens with simple ingredients and lots of experience. I can not say enough good things about this place. Our server Mateo was spot on. He knew his menu knew his chef and really made everything even better than it was..Well done to him.. Indoor and outdoor seating available. I will come back here again and again.. live laugh and viva Italia . read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in the North End. We had a reservation but were not sat until thirty minutes after which was frustrating. However, once we were seated it was a great experience. The space is small but has a very authentic feel to it. The servers were super friendly and helpful. For drinks we got a Peach Belini and a Bencotto Punch, which is my favorite and highly recommend. We got the Boscaiola with gnocchi which we really enjoyed, the pink cream sauce was amazing. We also got a Benevento Pizza which was very good. Gluten Free: I cannot recommend this restaurant enough for gluten free Italian food. Gluten free items are not marked on the menu but the server was very knowledgeable, and walked us through what we could have and what substitutions needed to be made. They had both gluten free pasta and gnocchi available and can do the pizzas gluten free. read more

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This is always a winner. Been to Boston 3 times and have had this spot every time. Last time I had Bolognese on GF penne, and this time I had Gnocchi Bolognese with Sausage. We compared the gluten free Gnocchi and the regular Gnocchi and both are superb.. Would be hard to tell them apart unless you eat them side by side. Everyone raved about my Gnocchi Bolognese with Sausage. The Bruschetta appetizer was also a winner. Cheers! read more

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Lobster ravioli was good. Pumpkin ravioli was better. I guess there was a lot of cream and butter because I'm mildly lactose intolerant. The staff were great. read more

My oldest was celebrating his birthday and we headed to BenCotto. It's a bit tiny in there so grab reservations, most definitely. Our server Megan knocked it out of the park. She did such a great job taking care of us. We snagged a seat right by the pizza oven, which was fun to check out. The bar was hoping and the cocktails looked great. Next time! My son got the cheese pizza and devoured it. I chose the fusilli with bolognese. Umm wow, that was delicious! Thanks for the great food and service. read more

BenCotto - Boston - Kiddo cheese pizza and fusilli with bolognese. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

What a great little place. Our server was so nice and the fettuccine bolognese was fantastic and plentiful! read more

BenCotto - Boston - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Not a bad Italian eatery but not great. We had the lobster, ravioli, rustic margarita, pizza, pasta with vodka cream sauce, and orecchiette. The food was good but it was telling that the orecchiette featured bacon instead of pancetta or guanciale. Similarly it was telling that the waiter didn't know why there was a two dollar difference between the rustic margarita pizza and the brick oven fired margarita pizza. Regardless all the food was fine and we enjoyed our meal. given the options round I probably would not eat here again. read more

This bustling, family-friendly restaurant was one of the highlights of our Boston trip! My wife said the Orechiette BenCotto was the best thing she's eaten in quite some time, and I agree! The saltimbocca had all the right proportions and was full of favor throughout the dish. And the service was friendly and fun! read more

BenCotto - Boston - Chicken Saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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So good. I rarely give 5 stars on a first visit however this was fantastic. Great service and we had a larger group with 7 for lunch. They were attentive, helpful, and made the experience that much better. We sat outside at the sidewalk seating. They had both corners so probably have shade all the time. I turned to the "North End Favorites" which included the Chicken Penne Broccoli as an option. It comes with a choice of cream sauce (what I chose) or white wine garlic. The cream was just the right cheesiness. It wasn't too heavy but oh so good. Lots of broccoli florets. The penne had a great texture. The overall dish was a wonderful flavor. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. So, so good. Lots of great menu items and reasons to return. Definitely give them a try. read more

BenCotto - Boston - Corner spot - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was a great spot the girls and I landed when trying to find dinner after our flight. The drink menu had plenty to choose and was absolutely delicious. It felt great enjoying a cocktail with the windows open and fresh air blowing into the restaurant. The host is what drew us into the restaurant that day. He was welcoming, asking what brought us into the city and gave some great recommendations to do on the city. Our server was equally just as fun, welcoming and easy going to talk to. She apologized when our second round of cocktails took a little longer than before but we reassured it was all good as we were relaxing and we clearly saw that the dinner rush was hitting so we didn't mind waiting. I got the pink vodka sauce with fettuccine and it was yummy! I also recommend starting with the calamari as the mariana it was lightly breaded, perfectly done and the sauce was scrumptious. The menu is on the pricier side, especially if you want to add protein to a pasta dish, just a heads up. read more

BenCotto - Boston - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

stopped by here while we were in the north end over the labor day weekend and place is ok... not wow by any means... hostess was A+ waitress was A+ food was C (i was hoping to be wowed by the special, seafood, but it was mediocre) read more

Easy five star review for me. Warm, welcoming classic Italian spot right in the heart of the action on Boston's North End. Service was perfect - easy going, attentive staff that knew exactly what to recommend (and when to offer another round of Peroni!). I had the vinegar peppers, sausage, chicken and potatoes and really enjoyed it - tons of distinct flavors, cooked just right, great portion size. Added a side of rigatoni so I could give their red sauce a spin and was glad I did. Strong recommendation off Hanover, an area with stiff competition. read more

BenCotto - Boston - Vinegar Peppers ,Sausage, Chicken & Potatoes - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food, service, ambiance, ALL A1. The lobster ravioli was so delightful The lasagna was "omg, omg, buzzin' buzzin' - says my 11-year-old son. The waiter was so attentive. I plan on coming back here forever now. Here's a pic of the before and after lol GO CHECK THEM OUT NOW!! read more

BenCotto - Boston - Before - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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While a small physical building, they make up for with the great food and service. I loved getting their pesto sauce with the bread - a game changer for anyone who loves pesto. The food was great and because we had to wait a little longer they gave us a free dessert without even knowing we were there for our anniversary dinner so that was special. Waiter was friendly and overall great North End Italian vibes! read more

BenCotto - Boston - Margherita Pizza and gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food , service, atmosphere...all amazing. Best Chicken Marsala on planet. Can't wait to go back

Not sure why the North End gets a lot of hype for Italian food but the offerings here are pretty weak IMO. Our dining experience here was pretty subpar. Made reservations for 6pm but we ended up waiting to get seated at 6:30 even though they let walk ins who came in after us sit before us (don't know why). When we finally got seated, they stuck us in the basement next to the wine rack. Having someone constantly reach over me during my meal to grab wine was really annoying. I got the distinct feeling that this establishment isn't POC friendly from the overall vibe from their front of the house. Food here is pretty meh. Menu has a lot of Italian staples but the food is just average. Portions are pretty small for the price. I think what sealed it for me was watching someone from the kitchen run and grab 4 boxes of Barilla pasta to bring back to the kitchen. THEY DON'T USE FRESH PASTA HERE. I don't know what passes for authentic Italian in Boston but I think most NYC places in Little Italy or Arthur Avenue would be appalled. Honestly no one in the family liked their food (maybe we're just spoiled with our choices in NY). Service here from our server was excellent - she was attentive, friendly and the only bright spot in our meal. I'd skip eating here if you're used to Arthur Avenue level food. Overall a very disappointing experience. read more

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Pretty good food overall. Pasta taste fresh and the calamari wasn't over breaded. Sauces could have used a bit more salt bit good experience overall. read more

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Excellent food. Excellent pizza. Ambiance is so so. Small place PACKED with tables. During popular hours expect to be sitting right next to other people. Get bumped by waiters and waitresses trying to squeeze by the tight tables. Not for a quiet, romantic dinner unless you go when it isn't crowded. I would avoid sitting downstairs if possible. read more

One of the best gluten free pizzas in the country. I had the Saint Agrippina. It was truly wonderful. I have had the very best at Tonys in SF. THIS IS IN CONTENTION. Please comment. read more

We are on a Mother & daughter graduation trip so I let her pick where we ate supper last night. My only request was that they offered lasagna. She picked the right place! The Cheese Lasagna with a meatball was so good! read more

BenCotto - Boston - Cheese Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place is fire the service was so nice our waiter was so kind Now the pasta was hands down the best I've ever had The place was super romantic with it's small room seating but it's building and street view is gorgeous Im little Italy . It's a great date spot for sure will come back read more

Delicious food and even better staff. The atmosphere here is amazing and it has become one of my North End staples

Nice staff, decent ambiance, they were easily able to fit a large group of 22 downstairs. Espresso martini was just okay, didn't taste very espresso-y to me. The Bolognese was fine, not much flavor, but the sauce was good. Calamari was good. Beet salad was okay, very very citrusy and the beets weren't that flavorful. The goat cheese was yummy. Large portions. read more

Are here a few weeks ago for my mother's birthday. The food was very good I had zero complaints. Only issue I had, which really isn't the restaurants fault was the lack of premium spirits. No Greg goose, no Titos and no Belvedere vodka, which I thought was bizarre. Ambiance was very good we ate downstairs which I really enjoyed. The waitress and waiters were great as well! I would def go back! read more

This place smells amazing just walking in the door! The staff is very nice. My wife ordered the fig salad to start, what they brought out was enough for 3 people. I'm not much for salad but there was so much I had some as well. This salad was delicious, heck I'd come back for lunch and just have this salad lol. For an entree my wife had the eggplant parmigiana and I had the carbonara with sausage. Again huge portions I can eat and only ate half and saved the rest for lunch the next day. I guess I've never had good Italian food until now, we would definitely go here again the next time we're in the area. read more

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Fantastic waitstaff. The chicken piccata was delicious. The pumpkin ravioli is a must too. read more

BenCotto - Boston - Chicken Picatta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Stopped in for an early lunch. The ambience is great with all the open floor-ceiling windows and really nice weather. The staff was friendly and the service was prompt. And, most importantly, the housemade fusilli with carbonara was absolutely delicious! Rich and creamy with a lot of chewy, crispy bacon. Not overly heavy but very hearty. If I had to nitpick, I'd say the tables are really packed in like sardines. But, with a small space, I understand why, and it didn't detract from the experience, Would definitely return. read more

This was such a gem! We visit North End multiple time a year and a h visit like to try new places. I've gotta say...this is one of those places I can't wait to eat at again because it was just that good. Trust me it will be one of the best Italian dishes you've tasted in a while. read more

BenCotto - Boston - Mamma was so happy with her scaperella! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Love Jen the bartender. She was a great conversationalist, aware of what was happening in the restaurant, directing staff as needed. Vibe was welcoming and cozy. All tables were full and it smelled amazing. We only had drinks at the bar, but will definitely be back for dinner. read more

Top tier Italian food for the win! This restaurant is legit from the pastas to the pizza! Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. The Salumi board was amazing and the eggplant rollatini has the most delectable ricotta filling. 10/10 highly recommended this restaurant! read more

Great friendly staff. The food is amazing. Nice little Italian restaurant in the North End. read more

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The food is absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the prosciutto pizza. I've now had it twice. Everyone in our party loved their pizza and the service was superb. Staff were attentive, friendly and had wonderful recommendations. This is the place to go in the north end!! read more

BenCotto - Boston - Rustic Prosciutto Pizza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The other people's pictures don't make the restaurant seem nice but it was very nice. Super friendly waitress and I got a good bottle of Stags Leap Artemis. Gluten free pasta was the best I've had. All the appetizers were good ... calamari, bruschetta, tomato salad, asparagus. Only downside was everything was a little salty, but not too much to spoil the meal. We had a great time, would definitely come back ... read more