Came here for dinner for Valentine's Day and I should imagine it was a very tight. This is my first…read moretime here so I'm not sure if the configuration it was supposed to be as tight where they have like two high top tables directly behind other dining tables so some acrobatics were needed to be done by both the white staff and customers to sort just move around. I didn't mind that much since it was actually pretty tight and cozy so it actually brought up the energy I think. We already had reservations, so we received a fairly quickly, and the white stuff were very professional and courteous. The food did not disappoint. The calamari came out fresh and hot. Crispy and the banana peppers gave it just the right heat. The marinara sauce paired well with it. The Lobster Fra Diavolo was done in a cute heart shaped, so that was delightful. Lobster was done perfectly and the slightly spicy sauce of the pasta paired beautifully. My favorite was actually the marsala. The Fusilli was done perfectly al dente and soaked in that delicious sauce that was flavorful and clung so well to the pasta. The chicken breast was well marinated and super tender and juicy. Honestly, I wouldn't hesitate to order this again next time.

Cafe Amaro....No Bene!…read more North End is one of my favorite Boston neighborhoods for Italian food especially Pizza. But this time, not so much! We walked in here on a Sunday afternoon and stopped at Cafe Amaro since they had open tables. The restaurant is very small probably about 10 or so tables. We sat right up against the kitchen which was warm since it was a bit chilly outside. After about 5-8 minutes went by our server came over and we asked to sample 2 glasses of wine. They were not good at all. After tasting one more we finally landed on the Chianti. We then waited longer to place our order which was the Prosciutto and Fig pizza. I also ordered a soda water with lemon which never came. Note: there are 2 servers and I believe 1 speaks English but I am not 100% sure. Once our server finally came over my husband had to remind him of the soda water which he proceeded to say "we only have large bottles." Ok, thanks for letting me know since the other server/busser did not. Does he work here? Does he know the menu? Why wouldn't he tell me this the first place? Our pizza finally came and even after ordering it well done it was still floppy and flimsy to the point when everytime we went to pick up the slice everything fell off...UGH! I don't know how in the North End this place gets by or survives? Maybe they were having an off day? I do see other reviews that had better experiences than ours. Maybe they were short on staff? If that was the case then say something because I probably would've had more patience and understanding if this was the case. BTW, Our server NEVER came over after ordering our wines and pizza. He never asked "how is everything?" NEVER... I also rarely give one/two stars to restaurants but this was despicable and I really hope this is not their norm. All I have to say is there are so many other better restaurants in the North End to go to, but Cafe Amaro is not one of them.

I went to Bricco with some friends during a short trip to Boston. We were seated upstairs and we…read morestarted our meal with cocktails. I ordered the Espresso Martini, which I learned the restaurant is famous for and after tasting it I understand while. I want to put the disclaimer that I am allergic to nuts, so I didn't have it how the restaurant traditionally prepares it (using Amaretto) but it still tasted excellent. The Espresso Martini was perfectly balanced between bitter and sweet and the had the perfect amount of foam on top. For my meal I got the Shrimp pasta with Zucchini. The shrimp was tender and the noodles were cooked to a perfect al dente. The zucchini added a nice contrast to the rich tomato sauce and helped make the dish feel light even though it was a bowl of pasta. My only complaint that the restaurant is very dim especially upstairs. Some people at our table joked that they might need to use their phone flashlight to read the menu, so if you are someone who struggles to see in dimly lit places keep that in mind.

The building has 2 floors with bathrooms on both floors. The restaurant was dimly lit at night…read more They did give some complementary bread. I ordered the Farfalle Tartufate (lobster pasta with truffle) and Bricco's brodetto (variety of seafood) as they were recommended online. However they fell below my expectations. The lobster was overcooked so it was on the rubbery size. The pasta was undercooked and hard. The pasta portion size was tiny like an appetizer for the cost of $34 for 5-6 pieces of pasta. The swordfish in the brodetto was pretty hard and I found some sand in my clams. The salmon was also very expensive for the small portion size. For appetizers I did like how they wrapped the lemon in a net so the seeds wouldn't fall out. The mashed potatoes were also nice and creamy. The zucchini flowers were good but pretty expensive for just 2.

Located in Hub Hall, we stopped at Now Pouring Wine Bar for some drinks after spending the day in…read moreSalem. It's small but just right. We sat on bar stools, chatted, and drank some beer and cider. No complaints. Loved the ambiance of the place, especially seeing as it was right next to Mike's Pastry. It was easy to get a cannoli and a drink all in one go.

I will say I'm biased - I have been coming here for 3 years. I'm utterly obsessed with the staff…read morewho are attentive and hardworking & the drinks they create! Just got a mango margarita - but I highly recommend looking at their drink menu. There is something for everyone!

Trattoria Il Panino is one of the many lovely Italian restaurants that you'll find in the North…read moreEnd. Not my favorite but it's still a goodie! They get SUPER packed on weekends especially & I definitely recommend making reservations instead of relying on walk-in. We made a reservation on a Saturday at 9pm & we still had to wait ~30 min for our table to be ready, because of how busy they were. Now, they do move pretty quick though! Once we were seated & gave our server our order, our food came in a timely manner. We ordered: -calamari -trombetta al pesto -chicken parm -carbonara w/ chicken cutlet The calamari was quite yummy. It tasted fresh and the batter was light but still crispy. We even debated on getting another order of the calamari! Trombetta al pesto is what I personally had. Good portion size & loved the pesto sauce. I did wish it came with a protein but that's okay. The pesto is on the herb-ier side as opposed to garlicky, so keep that in mind if you're not too big on herb heavy taste. I personally loved it though. The pasta was also cooked al dente, PERFECTO! The chicken parm was demolished within minutes of arriving to our table, so that should tell you how good it was haha. Now, for the carbonara with chicken cutlet, the pasta was cooked perfectly. Nice and al dente but we wished that we had gotten grilled chicken breast instead of the breaded chicken cutlet, as it probably would've paired better with the dish. Overall, I think Trattoria Il Panino is a solid spot to go for a sit-down lunch or dinner! I liked that even though we did have to wait a bit for our table with reservations, we didn't have to really wait for our food after ordering. The staff was very efficient and service was outstanding! Parking: parking garage by Haymarket or can valet in front of the restaurant.

Everything went well tonight for a Saturday in the North end with the world out and about. So…read morepacked out there that night, the city was alive. We waited about 30 minutes after checking in for our reservation, they were running behind a bit. We were then seated in the downstairs dining area, which i actually liked better than upstairs, felt more intimate and more spacious. Service was great, our server was very nice. We were here to celebrate a friend's birthday - Trombetta al pesto The pesto sauce was on the herbier side, i prefer more of a garlic pesto but still delicious! - chicken parm with ziti - actually a much smaller portion then expected, would have liked a bit more ziti to chicken cutlet ratio. BDay boy inhaled it anyways. - chicken cutlet carbonara spaghetti i probably would have opted for the grilled chicken over a cutlet next time. For me it was a bit dry with the cutlet and needed MORE sauce for the dish overall. It was tossed in some, but the flavor didn't come thru as bold as i had hoped. perhaps some bacon bits in it would have hit another flavor trigger on my taste buds personally haha. Overall though it was still a good pasta. All the pastas were al dente. Came out hot and quick. We really liked the calamari, fresh, not chewy, not overly battered. Would def get two of these next time! The staff was super nice, got a tiramisu desert for the birthday boy! Nice light and a sugar kick.

Haley Henry Wine Bar is a solid spot for a relaxed but elevated wine night. I went on a Wednesday…read moreevening without a reservation and had no problem getting seated right away for a table of two, which was a great start. The wine selection is excellent and thoughtfully curated -- whites, reds, bubbles, orange wines, and more, so there's truly something for every palate. My friend and I both ordered a red, and it was absolutely perfect. Our server was super friendly and attentive, and she even offered a few samples so we could try before committing to a full glass, which we really appreciated. For food, we shared the hot dog with fried oysters to pair with the wine, and it was surprisingly delicious and a fun, elevated bar bite. Overall, the experience was fantastic -- great wine, great service, and a comfortable atmosphere. Pricing is definitely on the higher end, with wine glasses around $20 and the hot dog at $14, but the quality and experience justify it. I'd absolutely come back for another wine night.

I've been a loyal fan of haley.henry for years and have recommended this spot to countless friends,…read moreso I was really excited to finally bring a new coworker here. Unfortunately, this most recent visit didn't live up to the high standards I've come to expect. While a few dishes hit the mark, the majority of our order was a letdown: Tinned Octopus: Surprisingly chewy and lacked seasoning. Mushroom Toast: The texture was rubbery, and the flavor was completely drowned out by an aggressive amount of balsamic. Beets: Had a very overwhelming cumin flavor that threw the dish out of balance. Roast Beef Slider: Served cold and felt a bit uninspired. It's such a cute, intimate space, and I've had so many wonderful nights here in the past, but the execution was just off this time around. I'm hoping it was just an off night, but it was definitely disappointing given how much I usually love this place!

Such a great find in Little Italy. I came in solo for dinner and was seated right away, which I…read moreappreciated. The space is small and cozy, but it adds to the charm. I ordered the arugula and beet salad along with the chicken parm spring rolls, and those spring rolls alone are worth the visit. Crispy, flavorful, and paired with marinara for dipping, they were something different from the usual menu options in the area and really stood out. The service was straightforward and the food delivered. If you are looking for something a little outside the box in a neighborhood full of similar menus, this place definitely hits the mark.

Very cute place in the North End with delicious and fresh pasta!…read more The service is FAST and efficient! They are not messing around and making sure everyone in your party is taken care of. If you like carbonara, or maybe had it once and didn't like it--trust me, you gotta have the carbonara here, it is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! As someone who usually doesn't like carbonara, this pasta made me a fan! And my partner who loves carbonara, fell in love with it too! So all in all, GET THE CARBONARA PASTA!!! And don't skip out on the bread & butter! It's salty and the bread is so soft, sooo good!

The most authentic Italian I've yet to have. Feels like you escaped to Italy through the authentic…read morecuisine and friendly Italian staff. Ordered the prosciutto and pea linguine in the garlic cream and it was the most delicious pasta I've ever had! My husband ordered the veal in the white wine and continues to still talk about it.

Cute little place but unfortunately just wasn't my favorite. The bread was cold. I had the…read morebolognese with added meatballs and the meatballs were cold in the middle. The penne just tasted like good store bought pasta. The sauce was tomatoey but lacked depth in my opinion. I ate it all after working all day - it was bad, just not great. Service was great and everyone was very sweet. CASH ONLY which is inconvenient for me on work trips.

Had a nice dinner on a Thursday night. Service was good and food was also solid. We had a large…read moregroup and they handled it well, while also taking care of the other guests. I had the Chicken Parm, which is always my litmus test for Italian restaurants on my first visit.

I just had one of my worst experiences at a restaurant in a very long time. Unfortunately, we were…read morelate for our reservation, but I had called 10 minutes ahead of time and kept the restaurant up-to-date the entire time. At no point did the restaurant indicate that us being late was going to be an issue. Ever. I know how hard it is to get a reservation in Boston so I was being very conscious about making sure they knew and apologizing profusely. They could have cancelled. Or told me they had to move the time They never did. When I got there, I was told the Wait wpuld be a few minutes.. fine That makes sense. 20 minutes later, I had to ask how long it would be to get a table and that I was met with a woman named Stephanie who then told me we don't hold tables and it was nice of you to call but we can't hold a table for with that information on a Friday night in the north end of Boston. She was soooooooooooooooooo Nasty about it. I could've easily made another reservation at several other restaurants. Or walked across the street instead of standing there. Due to her unnecessary behavior and the lack of communication from the restaurant, we went to a restaurant on the corner, which we could've done at Any given point had anyone communicated with me the way I communicated with them. Line out the door and I did not see them talking to anyone in line. , shame on them for having such attitude Don't go here they're rude After 6 hours on a plane And a car ride that was supposed to be 20 minutes that turned into 40 That's not how you treat a customer that truly went out of Their way to communicate and give the restaurant courtesy. Their communication should have been up front from the beginning. This woman was so nasty. We left. Went somewhere else. Which we could had done earlier. Do better