Absolutely wonderful Italian dining experience. It's unusual to start a review by talking about the free bread, but honestly -- it was amazing, and from there everything just kept getting better. We tried the house specials along with a few other menu items, and every single dish was outstanding. The desserts were on another level entirely. Both the creme caramel and the tiramisu tasted like they came from another world -- rich, balanced, and perfectly prepared. Service was excellent throughout, attentive without being intrusive. I'm definitely recommending this place. read more

Came for dinner with a reservation. Interior is rather small and space is tight. We ordered a bunch of appetizers like the mussels, clams, etc., different pastas, and a few cocktails. Everything was tasty though we felt the pastas could have been more al dente. The complimentary bread wasn't a hit - wish they served higher quality, warm bread with nice olive oil. The drinks were a bit weak, watered down, and too sweet. Service was effectively nonexistent once they dropped our food off. read more

Now THIS was great Italian! We made a 7:30 pm reservation for a summer Saturday night and got in right away. The restaurant is adorable, although the tables are small and very close together. It was quite loud and hard to hold a conversation. Service was great. I had the chicken parmigiana with penne and my dining companion had the fettuccine Alfredo. We both thought this was our favorite Italian we've had in a long time. read more

Overall, I had a good experience here. I feel like the prices accurately reflected the location (touristy area) without making you feel like you overpaid. The portions are generous and the food is actually good. But I feel like the dishes were very hit or miss: The calamari was whatever, very standard. I'd skip unless you're a calamari die hard. The cacio e pepe was the biggest disappointment, it's my favorite dish and I was looking forward to it based on photos or reviews. We thought it all tasted just like buttered noodles :( Lobster ravioli was the standout by far. Gnocchi was also just okay. But their lobster ravioli is fantastic and absolutely worth it. read more

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The north end Boston is full of Italian restaurants. Isabella is a smaller sized restaurant but seemed to be run well. Very busy and dining room was a bit cramped. However, the food, service, and ambiance were great. I would return if I am in this area again. read more

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I recently visited Isabella Ristorante in the North End and had a really enjoyable dinner overall. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation because the restaurant fills up quickly, especially during dinner hours. One small thing -- maybe it was just me, but the entrance was a little difficult to find at first since it's mainly just a door from the outside. There were also tables seated very close to the entrance, which made it feel a bit cramped and awkward walking in and out. Our waiter was friendly and nice, though the service did feel a little rushed at times. That said, the food was absolutely delicious. We started with the calamari to share, and it was beautifully prepared -- crispy, fresh, and not overly heavy. For my entree, I ordered the seafood pasta and really loved it. The seafood tasted fresh, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and the flavors all came together really well. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Isabella Ristorante is a wonderful little Italian spot in the North End of Boston. Such a great little Italy vibe. The staff are really warm and attentive. The food was excellent. I had the veal parm (waiters reco) and Sue had the chicken parm. They were both delish! The sauce was tasty and the dish was balanced excellence. Our guest had the scallops and she enjoyed them. I do hope to return to this spot on my next trip to Boston. Definitely check this spot out! read more

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Isabella's is an incredible small Italian restaurant in Boston's North End. Dinner there this evening was wonderful. I had the veal special which was rolled with vegetables and served with mashed potatoes and more veggies with an amazing sauce. My husband had the cod risotto which he said was good. Our waiter, Keidi, was terrific - checked in when necessary but not often which was a pleasure that only Europeans seem to do. Since it is our last day of vacation, we splurged on dessert - I had the tiramisu and a decaf cappuccino and my husband had the cannolis plus an espresso. We are so glad we went here. I highly recommend it. read more

It was fine. Not great. Standard Italian fare. The pesto pasta was okay but did not have a strong enough basil or garlic flavor. The tagliatelle didn't have enough mushrooms. We didn't get any fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top and we could have used it. The server seemed mildly annoyed with us the entire time. read more

Good food, friendly service and a small by cozy dining room! This was a solid meal! They work around a hour and a half table rotation so keep that in mind. I won't lie. It kind of felt rushed but it's doable. Myself, when I am out spending a good amount of money, the rushed feeling is the one I don't want to have. But our server was awesome. Knew the menu and wine list well. Did his best to not make us feel rushed. So apps were Bruschetta, antipasto, clams. All were awesome and very well proportioned! Entries were amazing and again well proportioned. Their homemade pasta was yummy!!! And Finally I got my Tiramisu!!' Inside joke with my friends. All in all this was a great dinner, two thumbs up and definitely on my list to visit again! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Mushroom Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Tidbit!!! Get a reservation. Onto the review -- We expected the food to be touristy, since it's in the North End. While the bread initially felt like that tourist vibe (cold, served with... little cups of oil... weird), the main dishes were outstanding. We enjoyed the caprese, the lobster ravioli, and the clam linguini -- all really good. If you're looking for dessert, while my boyfriend would've preferred a sweeter cannoli, I was a big fan of the tiramisu, both for its size and taste. I would recommend getting a reservation, as the spot is cozy and can get a little cramped. We did see people leave after being late to their reservation. Lastly the service was very attentive. Our initial server may have been new. She didn't chat much, but she checked on us often. The second server was super chatty and really listened to what we wanted. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Cannolis, tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Note to self they have a 10 minute grace period for reservations and we made it right on time or so we thought, because they had trouble finding us a table. We ordered the branzino which was cooked perfectly - blackened crispy seasoned on a bed of cooked veggies and the sausage penne pasta with veggies was also delicious. You can't go wrong with any burrata in my opinion especially when it's paired with arugula balsamic and prosciutto. read more

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With all the wonderful choices of restaurants in North End Boston, what is one more review. But this, this dinner was a fantastic end to our vacation. Caden greeted us at the entrance Isabella Ristorante with a professional smile to politely ask for a few minutes to get our reserved table ready. With a dozen table tops in the entire place, the ambiance was intimate and well attended. Cadens professionalism is noteworthy because for me. His attention to detail. On point recommendations and friendly yet polished disposition truly elevated our dining experience. Moreover, every bite of everyone's meals were so delicious. The menu has a great selection but i would strongly recommend any of the homemade pastas. Great flavor and texture. The pics will show which ones we chose and we all practically licked the plate clean but more tastefully done with bread. The calamari with the peppers and the burrata was phenomenal. Our dishes were chicken Marsala, shrimp diabolo, spaghetti and meatballs with arrabbiata sauce and the special mushroom ravioli with the porcini mushroom sauce. All top tier! We ended with affogatos and limoncello and a great conversation with Damon to commend him and the chef. Located just around the corner from The Paul Revere House, we had to walk by to walk off some of the worthwhile calories. I would strongly recommend seeking out a time to make this place your meal in Boston read more

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I can't wait to be back in Boston to visit! Such a beautiful charming little restaurant. We did have a reservation and ended up waiting an additional 5 to 7 minutes, which wasn't horrible except it was cold and rainy. Obviously not anybody's fault due to the size of the restaurant. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. The owner did walk around quite a bit that was nice. My husband and I shared a couple of dishes and everything we had was perfectly seasoned and delicious! You can't go wrong with any choice on the menu. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The food is outstanding. Some of the best Italian in the North End. Service is fantastic and the ambiance is cozy and warm. I highly recommend read more

Isabella Ristorante - Veal Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Amazing little spot in the Boston North End. We walked in just before lunch and were seated immediately. Recommend reservations for dinner as others have mentioned as it's relatively small, but cozy and reminiscent of some of my favorite Italy spots. Service was personal, immediate and wonderful. Bread was great as appetizer and filling. We ordered two specials and were VERY happy we did (see photos). read more

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Tourist trap, mediocre food. And they're not Italians, at least the people working there. I know my brethren and they ain't it.

10/10. If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would!! This cozy spot is extremely underrated but right in the heart of North End. I visited this place with my family about 2 years ago and remember it being delicious, so I had to come back again with my boyfriend to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It was just as delicious as I remembered it, but even better. The interior is beautiful with the dim lighting, and it does get a little cramped because it is a smaller restaurant, but it makes the ambiance even more cozy. We ordered their calamari and roasted clams for appetizers and my goodness. The calamari came out piping hot and had a beautiful light crispy batter and tender squid. When paired with the sweet marinara, it was perfect. The clams were soooo delicious. They're cooked in a garlicky white wine and lemon sauce and it was everything you would ever want and more. Our main courses of that night were lobster ravioli and fettuccini alfredo. Both pastas came out hot and cooked perfectly. The ravioli was filled with lobster and cheese and it was perfect. Don't forget to save extra pieces of bread to dip in your leftover pasta sauce! They do not skimp out on the sauce! Oh and for drinks, we got an aperol spritz and a limoncello martini. Both were sweet and refreshing! The servers are so sweet and so patient. The service was fast, they check up on you often, and they even have my boyfriend and I limoncello shots on the house. They also offered extra bread to eat with our leftover sauces, but at that point we were so full. Every time I visit Boston, I will always go to this place for an amazing Italian dinner experience and I hope you all do too! Service was amazing read more

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Made a reservation on a weekday, which was not necessary but with a family of five in a small restaurant you never know. We all enjoyed the bread and our meals greatly. Gratis Limoncello afterwards and everything. Waiter was great, place is charming in the North End. This was a big hit with adults and children both. Not busy either which is what we were looking for. Didn't want a crazy tourist restaurant. read more

Make sure to book your reservations in advance because they typically don't have space for walk ins. The restaurant seems smaller inside but it had enough space. The servers were friendly and helpful in recommending dishes. The pasta was tasty and filling! Pretty flavorful and I liked how there was variety in the sauces and types of pasta. read more

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We were a party of 8, which is a tight fit in this restaurant. The food was delicious, but on par with most other Italian restaurants. So, while there were no complaints, nothing stood out as outstanding. Drink options are limited as they don't have a full bar. The service was fantastic and a highlight of the evening. Reservations are definitely recommended. read more

Enjoyed our dinner the other night! Cute ambiance and service was great! Overall, felt like the food sometimes felt a little bland, but the courses that had flavor were really good! It's a competitive area for italian food and Isabella holds up well against others around it. read more

Any time I've dined in a restaurant on a side street in the North End, I've felt as if I've gone off the beaten path - it has always been quieter, a bit more zen, a little bit more to yourself rather than heavily interacting with the folks there. That was the case at Isabella as well. It's not a bad thing, it can add to your enjoyment of your meal. We were fortunate that we could be squeezed in without a reservation on a Friday early evening, but told we'd need to be out by a certain time, which wasn't an issue at all. The drink selection is small, no doubt to what I perceived as a limited amount of alcohol on the shelves. That was more than made up for by the wines available. Water and fresh bread came out quickly, including ramekins of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese. We ordered the Mozzarella Caprese as an appetizer, which also came out quickly. But we were scratching our heads when we saw it was just tomatoes and cheese and a few dustings of dried basil flakes instead of fresh basil. When we asked our waiter about that, he mumbled something about customers not liking the flavor... not really buying that, but yeah it does say Mozzarella Caprese instead of Caprese Salad. No issues with our dinners. The vodka cream sauce on my chicken cutlet and spinach dish was terrific. The other dinner, salmon piccata, was equally tasty, the salmon was cooked perfectly. Isabella is a nice choice for a good dinner with fast service in a low key atmosphere. read more

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A classic Italian gem in the North End! We stopped by for lunch on a weekend and the place was fairly busy, but we were seated right away. We ordered the calamari, the scallop special, and the chicken piccata, and everything was absolutely delicious. The food came out quickly enough and the service was excellent throughout our meal. The ambiance had a traditional white tablecloth feel. Definitely a great spot to check out in Boston. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a very small, but romantic restaurant. My partner and I were seeking an authentic Italian spot and went to the "Little Italy" area. I'm not a local, so I'm not sure how authentic the area's restaurants are but the food was good. It could use more seasoning (not sure if thats a personal preference, but everything tastes fresh; yet bland). The service could use some work. Upon entering, a man rushes over to say 'hurry and close the door.' There's no host area when you enter, just people eating; the restaurant is a small room, with long glass windows, that fits about 10 tables. It's a bit confusing for people just aiming to walk-in or stop by for dinner. Rather than the employees running to close the door like we're being reprimanded at granny's to keep the door shut, I'd recommend a "reservations only" sign on the door or perhaps place a host outside to greet guests. It'd help with avoiding guests starting off on a negative note. For the rest of the evening, our waitress and service was fine. read more

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Wanted to experience a great meal while touring Little Italy section of Boston. This is a small location with maybe 12 tables. The service was efficient and the food was absolutely delicious. I had the special which was a spicy tomato sauce with pasta, shrimp and lobster. I will definitely be going back. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Lobster & Shrimp in a spicy tomato sauce. Awesome! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This food is amazing! I got the ravioli di ricotta and it was to die for! Service was great and waiter had no notepads and remembered everything we ordered! Very impressive! Very very very good! Would come again anytime! 5 stars read more

Isabella Ristorante - Food - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

What a nice Italian restaurant! This place has such a romantic, family atmosphere to it. Truly felt like I was somewhere in Italy. My girlfriend & I made a reservation a few days in advance for a romantic date lunch. We were running a few minutes late to our reservation the day of, but called the restaurant and the host was very friendly and accommodating - they held our table for 15 minutes. When we got there, were seated right away and were served bread with fresh olive oil. The bread was warm and the oil was very tasty, but the complimentary portion was a bit small - we weren't sure if it was socially acceptable to ask for more LOL! To start off, we ordered the burrata appetizer, which was absolutely delicious. The burrata was super fresh and was served over prosciutto which was very tasty. The only thing I think that could've made it better was if they served it with something to dip it in, perhaps some more warm bread. For our entrees, I ordered my favorite chicken parmigiana, and my girlfriend ordered a sausage pasta veggie dish. Chicken parm was good - the portion size was perfect. Two pieces of chicken with melted mozzarella cheese over it, which tasted amazing. Their homemade sauce was really tasty as well and was very light. The penne pasta was pretty good, though I think it would've been even better cooked a bit more al dente. My girlfriend's pasta dish was very good as well and super colorful. The sausage was nice and not too overpowering, and the buttered penne itself was tasty. Overall, this is a 10/10 spot for any occasion, date night, or family lunch. Definitely one of my new favorites in the North End! read more

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We took an Uber over to the North End specifically to go to Isabella. It was a wise choice. We went in around 2pm so it was not busy. Very quiet. They have maybe 10-12 tables? I bet this place is hard to get into at dinner. Service was quick. The staff seemed to all be Italian with their wonderful accents. They start you with fresh bread that is warm from the oven with olive oil and fresh grated parm. So damn good. We were not looking for a heavy meal. We ordered the meatball appetizer and the bruschetta. Both were excellent. The meatballs were a combination of pork and beef. Highly recommend. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Wine wall - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Small, intimate Italian restaurant on the North End with impeccable service and incredible food! Looking forward to returning on our next Boston trip! read more

Isabella Ristorante - Penne with sausage and broccoli rabe, chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We really enjoyed our experience here. The food, wine, atmosphere, and service. I ate the shrimp risotto and my husband had the veal special. We got lucky that the first service was over and happened to have a table for us. Everyone was so nice. I highly recommend!! read more

We certainly enjoyed our meal but was it our favorite, no. Flew in from S Florida and was super excited to get back to the north end. Reservations at 7, only had to wait a few minutes. Place is small (as many are). Our waiter had a bit of 'tude so there was that. He made us order all at once like a cruise ship. *2 glasses wine * 2 sodas *Caesar Salad *Chicken Marsala. It was small. Certainly, the highlight of the meal, it was very good, we just wish it was larger. *Steak dish: Beef Tenderloin w Porcini mushrooms on special that night. Medium rare which came out perhaps a bit more on the rare side. *Tagliatelle bolognese: It was good but not amazing; This shoudl have been the dish to beat as it was a 'comfort food', but fell short for us. Out the door was $182. Would I go back, not sure as we had a better meal later in the week, and so many other places to try. read more

Easily the best Italian food in Boston and honestly some of the best I've ever had. The carbonara was silky, rich, and absolutely perfect- the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite. The staff was unapologetically rude, but in a way that somehow made it feel even more authentic, like I'd been temporarily transported to a tiny Roman trattoria. No nonsense, no hand-holding, just unreal food served with attitude. Would go back in a heartbeat and happily be judged again for ordering the same thing. read more

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This is an addendum to my previous review, had the pleasure of dining tonight and remembered to take pictures! Everything was delicious, the veal melts in your mouth. Burrata was the best, yet again. Our server was excellent, attentive. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming. I highly recommend to locals and visitors alike. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Burrata - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Fantastic ambiance, service and food. Well worth the trip Scallops could not have been prepared better. read more

This was our last mail in Boston and we decided to go to the North End for Italian. We wander around looking at menus and decided on this place just us the square of the Catholic church. It looks pretty full but it did have a couple of empty tables so we stopped in. He asked if we had reservations, which of course, we did not. After two people compare their reservation list, they managed to squeeze us in in the corner. As I watch the door I saw them turning away parties, except for the few that looked out and came just at the right time that another party left. Apparently this place is very popular It's kind of small, although they managed to fit a lot of tables in there. Tables are covered with white tablecloths topped with white paper. On one wall just above the tables it is completely made of wine racks full of wine. The other walls were plain with just framed prints. The bathrooms are located at the bottom of steep stairs, so I would say this is not necessarily ADA friendly, but these are old buildings and most places probably are not. Our server came right away and brought water. She gave us a few minutes to look over the menu and we ordered: *Limoncello martinis *Calamari with cherry peppers *Veal parmigiana *Spaghetti with meatballs in arabiatta Everything was absolutely delicious. Did raviata was so delicious and chunky and spicy and the meatballs (four of them) were huge. In fact, All the portions were huge. I definitely recommend this place, but I also recommend a reservation, especially if you were going on a Sunday afternoon. I think there are a lot of the after church crowd and just plain tourists mixed in with the locals. This place definitely seems to be in demand. read more

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The restaurant is super small so definitely grab a reservation otherwise you're not getting in. The entrance is set up kinda wonky and we weren't seated until our full party was in. Service was a little gruff, but we got what we ordered and that was good enough. The food - it was pretty good. But I don't think it was mindblowing or really that memorable. I think some of the other places I've tried around the North End were definitely better. My friend and I split a chicken Parm (really nice that they actually just split it into two plates for us on serving) We got the risotto special as an app along with meatballs and some other items. Overall, I liked having tried it once, but I'm not sure I'd come back despite all the rave reviews everyone else gave. read more

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We stopped in for an early lunch with a group of 7. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated immediately. Our server was fantastic-- walked us through the specials and made recommendations for us. We had the burrata and meatballs for apps, and both were great. I don't usually eat pork, but it was worth making an exception. My kids had pasta alfredo and lobster ravioli and both were delicious. My son (who is 9) said the Alfredo was so good it might have ruined all others for him. My sister had chicken marsala and, although I'm not a marsala lover, it was very good-- not too wine-forward. I had one of the specials (scallops with asparagus risotto) and it was fantastic. Risotto seems to be a thing that restaurants tend to struggle with, and I don't order it out often because it's seldom done properly. I'm glad I took a chance, because the rice was perfectly al dente, not mushy. The asparagus was crisp-tender, and the scallops were charred crispy on the outside but still moist and buttery in the middle. The lunch portions were generous, but not so big that we had copious leftovers (perfect for us since we were passing through). All in all, a great meal with fantastic service. The meal was well-timed; we didn't feel rushed at all. Would definitely visit again on a future trip to Boston. read more

We went here on a Wednesday evening. It's a small restaurant with no outdoor seating. They do have fans in the ceiling. Open Table's earliest available table was 8 pm so we decided to see if there was a wait for walk in. They were able to seat us right away with no reservations at 5:30 but they were going to need the table by 7 pm. We usually don't have veal in California so plentiful as Boston. The veal parmesan and saltimbocca were very tender here and both dishes had a great flavor. The calamari was not overly chewy and the marinara sauce was good. Their gnocchi was home made and they had no ridges to hold the sauce. The gnocchi amatriciana had Italian pancetta, onions and San marzano tomatoes. Flavor was good and they did not get soggy by the end of the meal. The chocolate dish for dessert was just right for sharing and just enough for 3 to get a taste. We would come back if we were in the neighborhood. read more

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The service was so friendly and helpful, the ambiance is exactly what I would expect from a smaller Italian restaurant(in the best way) My family of four had reservations, were seated immediately, and instantly felt welcome. We ordered the antipasto, which I forgot the photograph, but it was delicious. We ordered spaghetti and meatballs, tagliatelle bolognese, branzino, and penne chicken vodka. Every dish was scrumptious, even the bread fluffy and flavorful. read more

Isabella Ristorante - Spaghetti and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts