We planned a family dinner on Black Friday since we had all the girls in town with us. Eldest daughter picked the restaurant based on a recommendation from a colleague. My only regret is that we cannot pick up this restaurant and bring it home with us. This is the Italian restaurant we've been searching for. A place that serves house wine, a small menu of fresh, authentic food, and staff that reminds us of family. We were heartily welcomed and allowed to leisurely enjoy our delicious meal. The caprese appetizer was simply prepared but fresh and tasty. Around the table, the farfalle with mushroom cream sauce, the veal Marsala, and ravioli were mightily enjoyed. Youngest daughter, who doesn't normally like gnocchi because of the texture, chose that as her vegetarian option and loved it. She loved the tomato sauce and especially loved how the gnocchi were neither mushy nor tough. We spoke with Nido after dinner and were regaled with his stories. I really wish we lived in Boston. We'd be at Piccolo Nido every Sunday night. read more

The food was delicious and the owner gave us personal consideration. The place is quaint with a true North End vibe.

Went back 14 years later as we had such a memorable meal here. It was good, not great. The veal parmesian was rather dry and boring with a sauce that was quite acidy. Fellow diners had eggplant parm which looked delicious and it was the "special" that day. That would have been nice to know as it is one of my all-time favorites but alas, we weren't informed of any specials. Beau had a linguini and clam sauce which he too was disappointed in. Good, not great. The overall dining experience was ok, not great. We sat next to a large group in an otherwise empty restaurant. Seemed odd rubbing elbows with all the eggplant parmesan diners when there was plenty of room elsewhere. The service was good and prices fair. We spent over 40$ in Uber fare to get to a meh meal. We won't return. Sometimes if you have a memorable experience, just leave it there, in your memory. read more

Piccolo Nido sat us happily and promptly on a super busy Saturday night! It was refreshing after everywhere else had a 2 hour wait. They had homemade pasta and very authentic second main plates. We really enjoyed the food and experience! read more

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Writing this review as I chew so that I don't forget the flavors. I ordered the Spaghetti Americiana. When the plate came out, a towering pile of pasta, I thought there was no way I could eat it all. But the flavor is so good that I'm on my last bite. Perfectly balanced sauce, the tomatoes balanced well not too sweet, salty, garlicky or acidic. I am in love! This was my first time here. We were honestly wandering the neighborhood (we aren't locals), felt cold and hungry, and saw the restaurant in the distance. It seemed serendipitous. The environment feels like you've been welcomed into a warm hug. Local or not, we felt at home. The atmosphere was not at all pretentious or hipster (thank god). Please do yourself a favor by checking this place out! I should mention - it was very expensive. We had 2 pasta dishes and the bill was $88, but if you have the money it is well worth it! read more

The food is extraordinary, particularly the homemade gnocchi and tiramisu. Service was excellent and attentive. Restaurants is quiet, though busy, so we could talk. read more

This was my first time dining here. Food was amazing! Service was amazing! Can't wait to go back.

Wanting to have some of the famed authentic Italian in the North End on our first time to Boston, and after being overwhelmed by the crowds and noise in the main areas, we stumbled upon Piccollo Nido. The man at the door said they get more locals frequenting there and had been in business for over thirty years. We decided to give it a shot and we are so glad we did! The atmosphere and service are welcoming and friendly. We had the bruschetta to start with and it was delicious--big fresh tomatoes and vibrant basil. For the main course we had the veal Parmesan and the Regina pasta with Bolognese. I normally eat half of my meal and take half home. Not this time -- it was so good I finished it all (I had the Regina) and my husband ate both of his veal cutlets easily. The pasta was clearly homemade and so satisfying. We hope to make it back to Boston and to Piccolo Nido! read more

Amazing spot off the beaten path in the North End. Our table of 4 cleaned our plates, ordered desert, and cleaned those plates too. As we walked in, a patron leaving turned around and told us we were in luck, because this was the best restaurant in the North End. It's a quaint restaurant, with limited tables. Felt like a family owned and operated spot with incredibly friendly service. We were very well taken care of! Reservations are taken as well as limited walk ins. We were fortunate to get a walk in table around 8:30PM on a Saturday. The food was top notch. I ordered the homemade mushroom ravioli and it hit the spot. The sauce was so, so good. Get off the main drag and give this a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Piccolo Nido - Mushroom Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Had a reservation and was seated promptly. Waitress was wonderful--kind, prompt, a pro. The food was all excellent. It reminded me of the Italian food I grew up with in the NYC outer boroughs, which is hard to beat, but everything we ate was delicious. Highlights were the warm antipasto, minestrone soup, mushroom ravioli and the veal Marsala, which was done perfectly--veal was thin and tender. The bread with olive oil was delicious too. Crowd was full of locals and regulars, which gave it a friendly and joyous atmosphere. A bit off the beaten path, but all the better as far as I'm concerned. Great place! read more

Excellent tiramisu! Best I've ever had! Friendly owner and waitstaff as well. Lovely option that's off the beaten path from busy Hanover Street. Definitely will be back! read more

We love Piccolo Nido! The atmosphere feels like you are in Italy, the food is delicious and the staff are super attentive. Prices are very reasonable. I prefer Piccolo Nido over all of the other restaurants in the North End. If you're coming to dinner in the North End I highly recommend checking out this spot. read more

Stopped by this gem during the St. Anthony festival. Best Italian food I've ever had. Recommended as a place where the locals go it. Will be going back next time we're in town. read more

Small place off the beaten path on North St. Away from the tourists packed up on Hanover St .... We were greeted by the owner/ chef upon entering ....very friendly waitstaff Apps were a antipasto that was great ...and an eggplant that was tasty. Huge pieces of Italian bread with butter I ordered a unique dish Chicken Frangelica. Two perfectly cooked chicken fillets in a mushroom and frangelica sauce, roasted potatoes and zucchini...very different and tasty. Other orders were a veal Marsala that I'm told was very good ,and another chicken dish that I can't remember the name of. Overall is was an enjoyable experience read more

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Tonight we were a party of five people Dining at Piccolo Nido. One of the waiters had a marvelous voice, singing in Italian to celebrate one of the diner's birthday. I enjoyed the delectable broiled salmon that was the fresh fish of the day. I highly recommend dining here. read more

We visited Piccolo Nido on a last minute recommendation from someone we met in Boston. WOW. So glad we did. The handmade mushroom ravioli was amazing. When people asked how we liked Boston, this restaurant is one of the first things we mention. Cannot wait to go back. A must! read more

Beyond rude. My boyfriend and I were all dressed up and ready for a date night. He called and no one answered so we assumed we could try to walk in (no expectations) and get a table if they had one or try somewhere else if they didn't. We walked in and they literally said we weren't welcome. The waitress and a host that worked there both looked at us and treated us like garbage. He opened the door for us to leave after we said we didn't have a reservation. I'm glad they didn't get our service in the first place. I do not recommend, so many more better options read more

Touring the city and looking for Little Italy- happened upon this place and was seated immediately early Friday evening- looked like many tables were reserved- we were early and the service was quick. Our server was so helpful and accommodating. First experience with authentic Italian and it was so beyond delicious- we both enjoyed veal. The ambiance is also quite charming. read more

Food was cold, food came out at different times, never received ordered drinks. Minimal interaction with waitress Food was not good at all, would not recommend. read more

This place is beyond amazing. The owner goes out of his way to make you feel like family. Great wine prices and the best handmade pasta we have ever had!! Get the mushroom pasta! read more

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Away from the Hanover street chaos kind of hidden. Yes it's not that popular however the people are local and food is good. The gnocchi is sumptuous and light, the sauce was so delicious. Had the antipasto platter. It was great for sharing. The roasted peppers and the portabella mushroom was something you'll remember. The prosciutto was sooooo good. Coming to the risotto: it was soooo good. Homely yet it makes the heart feel warm. It was packed with flavour yet was so light on the palate. The food here is homey and great and would any day compete with the other more famous ones. Would secretly want them to remain kind of unknown. read more

Piccolo Nido - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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First off Coco M. Is a spoiled brat as Pino notes, I have been going to this restaurant for 26 years and Pino and his staff are the most attentive and GENUINE folks outside of southern Italy I know. From the time you arrive, tou are welcomed, treated as a valued friend or guest and served the very best! It has been a rough road for restaurants during the pandemic and if some minor reservation thing went a little awry, CoCo M needs to get over it.. whiner! All restaurants, servers and wait staff need to be treated as the professionals they are, Just as they are in Europe and elsewhere.... Do the right thing and feel better about yourself! read more

Definitely a local restaurant where everyone knows your name. The owner is a great guy. He took the time to make me a out of towner feel welcome. The service was fast and on point. The food was some of the best Italian I've ever had. It definitely has a home town small town feel. read more

Came here after making an appointment on yelp, but was unsuccessful because they claim their yelp system isn't working. We had to wait an hour for seating even though they had a lot of empty table. When we return for our seat around the estimated time the owner and the waiter joked around that they were betting we won't return. Kind of weird and rude. The food we got was great. It was a bit slow getting it, but it was good. We ordered the two appetizer - the grill calamari and portobello mushrooms. The grill calamari was my favorite. It has such a wonderful char taste to it, along with a wonderful savory tangy taste. The portobello mushroom initially had a shocking taste. The initial bite caught me off guard and it was a huge punch in the face. It looks warm, but it's a cold dish. The mushroom is marinated in balsamic vinegar, so there's a strong taste. If you squeeze some lemon in it it makes the mushroom bearable. For the main dish we ordered the mushroom pasta, fruit da mar (seafood pasta), and trout in a white wine sauce. The mushroom pasta was all our favorite. It was very creamy, and flavorful. The fruit da mar was alright. The sauce was lacking a bit. I wish it was seasoned a bit more. The trout was fresh and good. The white wine sauce makes it better. This was a great discovery. Just wished that the service/attitude was slightly better. read more

Piccolo Nido - Grill calamari and portobello mushroom - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Everything was great!! Pino the owner is a class act, very nice guy! Food was outstanding and wine was great too. Highly recommend!

Got locked out of the Hanover Street eateries and went to the tried and true Piccolo Nido and had a fun night of damned good food prepared by chef Pino. I felt like a carbonara, not on the menu, but "sure we can prepare that for you" was the answer to the inquiry. I usually get the exquisite veal chop but needed something lighter and this was perfect. My three companions, including a fussy teen, all loved their meals. Go off the beaten path and get an excellent meal at a very reasonable price at Piccolo Nido. I've been going there for over 20 years and never been disappointed. Pino is a hoot and is the best. When you satisfy The MadDog you know you're good! Always start with an antipasto. MD read more

Food was good, service was okay. All North End Italian places charge a tourism premium. The sizing is such that a person will typically need bread, an appetizer and a full entrée individually to eat to satisfaction, at a price point of around $60-70 a head including tax and tip. The mushroom farfalle was their best dish. The crespelle ai funghi were also a treat. Veal marsala special was done well. Gnocchi in a tomato sauce were just okay. It sounds like the personality of the chef can often add to the overall experience, but he wasn't present when we visited. read more

We had such a sweet experience at this lovely restaurant. Traditional white linen table service. Wait staff were charming and attentive. Delicious meal. Low key quiet location. The owner, Pino, gave my daughter a blessing at the end of our meal. We felt well cared for. The "little nest" lives up to its name. read more

little hole in the wall slightly off the main strip of italian restaurants in the north end, was the best find we could have hoped for. the service made me feel like i was right back in italy, all emphasis on quality of service and food, no rushing at all. we got the caprese, bresaola, and mixed salad as appetizers, and everything was excellent. all entrees were perfectly cooked, we got the farfalle with mushroom and prosciutto, linguini frutti de mare, spaghetti and meatball special, and vitello valdostana. the tiramisu afterwards was delicious. the owner was incredibly personable and checked in with us throughout our stay. if you want italian food and an authentic italian restaurant experience, no place is better than piccolo nido read more

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A great mom-and-pop-style restaurant that has survived multiple decades! We were referred to this restaurant by a friend who went to college locally and the food was stellar. The server was extremely friendly and attentive, definitely felt like everyone here was genuine and cared about us having a great meal. read more

Piccolo Nido - Mushroom Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Terrible service and attitude from the owner. I was speaking in my first language and he insulted our group in front of children. It has been the worst experience we have ever had. I do not recommend anyone to ever come to this restaurant!! Aside from being rude, the menu sucks and he has no wine or drinks and what he has is overpriced and no good TERRIBLE BEYOND WORDS read more

Very good food. Pasta was fresh with great sauce, veal chop was great. Service was excellent as well. Would definitely recommend.

Was able to get a table for 7 last minute on a Saturday night, so we were just happy to be there. Really thankful to the owner allowing me and my wife to bring our raucous group of friends into such a nice establishment. The antipasto was delicious and high quality and one of our group members noted that she tried the house red on her latest sojourn to Italy (no worries, it was before the COVID 19 outbreak) so we knew this place was legit. Most us got pasta dishes that were clearly freshly made and we devoured every last morsel. The clam dish was also very good, although our friend from Maine said Portland was the best destination for clams... will have to take our word for it. Finished the meal with a few espresso which were very strong and left a few of our friends rambling about milk for the rest of the evening! read more

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This wonderful restaurant is tucked away, around the corner from the action. Come here for authentic Italian cuisine served by Pino. They have an outdoor area for dining as well as socially-distanced seating inside. Some of our faves: Mushroom Crepe appetizer Grilled Calamari Eggplant Parmesan And any special on the menu!! The service is excellent and attentive. Well priced. Truly a gem that rises above the pedestrian tourist offerings in the area. read more

Piccolo Nido - A special aperitif- Merto - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Fresh authentic Italian. Fantastic service. Friendly environment. Felt like family. Highly recommend. You will not find better.

The food was delicious and the wait staff was knowledgeable. Would definitely go again. Bonus - one of the staff had an amazing singing voice! read more

This off the beaten path restaurant in Boston's famous North End is absolutely the best Italian restaurant in the city (IMO). The photos depicted here are of their mouth watering veal parm and house made rigatoni and sumptuous Seafood linguine. The portions are incredible. You will love your leftovers! If you have the good fortune of finding this hidden charm, then please don't let the no-thrills ambient steer you away. It's the hidden gems that are always to most memorable! read more

Piccolo Nido - Veal parm with house made rigatoni and delish seafood linguine - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

One of the most charming and delightful foodie experiences in a long while. The owner / Host is Pino. An engaging and fun host. the food was extraordinary and checked all the boxes. felt like I was in the heart of Italy. Nothing pretenious. just a welcoming and homey environment serving outstanding , authentic Italian cuisine read more

I told the chef and I'll tell the Yelp community... best chicken parm I've ever had. The chef was amazing. We had seen bruschetta on the menu when looking at home but it wasn't on it when we got there. He made a special order for us and it was delicious. For dinner I got the chicken parm and my boyfriend got the special fish which happened to be haddock. Both dishes were to die for. The homemade pasta was also a hit. Obviously we had to get dessert. It was an amazing tiramisu. The chef came out and gave us complimentary limoncello shots. It was an amazing place and we can't wait to go back. read more

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Made a reservation over Yelp for 5 and called to check if my reservation was outdoor seating. I ended up speaking to an incredibly rude man named pino who informed me that I did not have a reservation because the "computer is down" and never apologized for the inconvenience or misunderstanding. I would not recommend this restaurant and would warn you to stay away from their rude staff. EDIT: the owner of the establishment is trying to say I cancelled my reservation because they didn't have outdoor seating. This is NOT true. He explicitly asked if I was cancelling and I said no. I called back after he told me I didn't have a reservation to tell him I had a reservation confirmation to which he told me that it was too bad as they weren't taking any reservations via Yelp. So no I am not "smearing" your business nor do I need your forgiveness. read more

Piccolo Nido - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts