Absolutely loved this place! They give you a very healthy pour of a glass of wine. The bread is really, really good. Most of the table were full, but the vibe was very peaceful and quiet...it felt homey. Chef Pino was walking to each table and was super nice! I got the seafood linguine which was incredible, and also tried part of the spaghetti Amatriciana. Amazing!! Will definitely be back. read more

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

The food was amazing as is the staff. It's the best Italian food I've had since visiting Italy. We had the mushroom ravioli and seafood pasta. It was delicious. read more

Piccolo Nido - Seafood pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was my absolute favorite hidden gem Italian restaurant. I was excited that it reopened during the pandemic. The staff were super nice and attentive. This time around the food was not as good as before, henceforth, 4 stars. But overall, very tasty. read more

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We found this fabulous restaurant by chance. Lucky us. So glad we avoided the Main Street hustle and bustle for this beautiful restaurant with upscale food and gracious family feel. I felt like home at a Italian family gathering. So hospitable. The food was fresh and came out piping hot. It was our anniversary, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate. We will be back again!!! read more

$20 for a plate of frozen gnocchi served in unseasoned tomato sauce. Zero flavor. You got to do better if you're charging those kind of prices. Wine was good, though. read more

If you're looking for truly great Italian food and want to get away from the tourist crowds, this is the place to go. Service is as personable as it gets, the food quality is great, and the wine list and prices spot on with the delicious menu. It's amazing this is only two blocks off of Hanover Street - quiet, nice atmosphere and a truly relaxing dinner read more

Wonderful find. Small and a little off the main area where many of the North End restaurants are but a wonderful experience. Food was excellent. We were met at the door by the owner/chef and the staff was so helpful (they were from Italy). It is cozy and we actually chatted with our neighboring table which was such a nice experience. If you are looking for good food and a more personal environment, this is a great place to go. read more

The food is exceptional, I love true red sauce and there's is one of the best. The service was also top notch. We will be back often.

Cutest family owned restaurant off the beaten path. A hidden gem! Everything made fresh and delicious.

You may come here for the food, but what you really get is Pino -- the owner. He is the "crazy" owner and chef that turns a meal into an experience. He truly cares about the food and that you have a good time. He turns a meal into an event. (Ask him to tell you about his Red Sox ring.) Now, do not let me distract you from the quality of the food. It is really fresh and tasty, The best item on the menu is the flounder. Oh, I could just sit there and eat his flounder all day long. What I love about it is that it is really fresh (as in the restaurant is a short walk from the docks) and there was not a lot of sauce or covering to distract you. One tip, no free refills on the Coke. But, you should be drinking wine anyway. read more

We were so lucky to find this place. It was parents weekend at BC and I'm sure other colleges. Plus the Red Sox Yankees game just finished. The Main Street in the North End was packed. Waits were over 2 hours. We were SO happy to find Piccolo while walking down the side streets. And fortunately for us a giant party just left the restaurant so opened up seating. We were graciously sat within a reasonable time. We ordered the Veal Marsala, the Trout dish but the were out of trout so they substituted it with haddock but with the same seasoning of trout, and my wife got a mushroom bow tie pasta dish. Everything was delicious. Our plates were completely cleaned after dipping the bread in the remaining sauces. It was a perfect portion, not too much. Each meal came with roasted potatoes and zucchini. We will absolutely be back and recommend to friends. Thank you read more

Piccolo Nido - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Seriously the best eggplant parmigiana and tiramisu I can recall ever having (and those are my Italian staples). Pino was an exceptional host and I look forward to my next dinner experience here! read more

This was a very interesting experience! When we arrived at the restaurant, the owner approached us to let us know he had given his waitstaff the week off as it was going to be slow! ok, nice of him but let's hope it doesn't negate our experience. So, he wasn't all that attentive at first which made us all feel pretty uncomfortable. We finally got his attention & things got "better". We learned that they do not have a full bar and only serve beer & wine. We got past that, ordered the Campanile Pinot Grigio & it was lovely! From this point on, PINO (the owner's name we learned) was very attentive & accommodating. My mom couldn't decide on a dish so he said "I will bring you some of BOTH!" When does that happen? Our teenage kids were with us so there wasn't too much on the menu that piqued their interested so they went with the Pasta with Bolognese sauce & LOVED it! The Veal Parm was awesome! The Fish dish (I forget what it was) was GREAT! the apps were fantastic! And Pino ended up being our best friend by the time we left! There isn't much of a dessert selection so the teens walked over to Mike's Pastry, this didn't phase Pino at all! In fact, we needed another take out box so we could split up the desserts & he happily provided us with one! We were a party of 9 who all walked out 100% Satisfied & said we will all go back! read more

Lovely little "mom and pop" place but with just pop running the house. Delicious ravioli porcini --perfectly Al dente. We had the special that night, hake, and it was incredibly fresh and prepared just as they do in Italy with fresh fish--just salt, pepper and oil. Delish! Wish they had a bigger/more extensive wine list. PS they seem to get scammed by lameass customers a lot who want to park their car in front and think if they order a glass of wine that they can use Resident parking. Weird, I know. Also, they were great about keeping our reservation (see one star review below). They only give it away when you neglect to confirm a time you plan on arriving!! Lol. read more

The interior here is pretty sad and outdated, and the location is a bit off the North End proper. Service was ok, nothing special. That said, the food is excellent and, that alone, is the reason for my 4 star review. The spaghetti and ravioli were probably the best I've ever had in the North End. I would highly recommend checking this place out for the food quality. read more

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EXCELLENT!! My dish (attached photo) was phenomenal and same for my husband's. He ordered veal with prosciutto crudo and fontina cheese. We finally ordered tiramisu, unbelievably good!! I recommend this place to anyone that wants to eat REAL Italian food. Very nice and pleasant people too!! If I could, I would give more than 5 stars. I'll be back very soon!! read more

Piccolo Nido - Bow tie with prosciutto crudo, mushrooms, Alfredo sauce - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This hole in the wall place is super cute. At first, they were playing modern pop hits but then switched to old Italian music, adding to the ultimate ambiance. I got the Petti di Pollo Frangelico and we all got a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc to split and I have no complaints. There was no wait to be seated. If you're looking for a more casual, calm experience, check this place out. read more

What a wonderful experience we had last night for dinner! We arrived around 8:00pm and were seated promptly. The service was attentive but not annoying. My husband and I live in the area so we were excited to try this restaurant. Needless to say we will be back and will suggest it to anyone looking for a quiet dinner in the North End. The atmosphere was my favorite part. We felt like we were in Grandma's living room, as all the tables were chatting with each other! We even had a special celebrity guest pop in! Very fun! I had the caprese salad starter and my husband had a cesar salad. Both were big enough to share (but we didn't) and very fresh! For mains he had the Armateiciana (spelling), and I had the Haddock fish special. Probably best haddock I have ever had, and very fresh! The spaghetti that my husband had was also very good with a great portion. Not too much! We did not have desert but the tirramasu did look amazing and big enough to share Prices were reasonable! We will be back! read more

Honestly, I haven't had a bad Italian meal in two weeks in Massachusetts. This place definitely stands out, though. My fiancee and I braved the elements and were pleasantly surprised by the warm and welcoming staff, the cozy atmosphere, and the exceptionally delicious dishes we enjoyed. We'd definitely come back if we had more time here. read more

Piccolo Nido - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Fantastic meal. Treated like family. Simply prepared and let the ingredients own flavors shine. Fantastic for my family of four and their grandparents. Everyone left full, but not overly full, and happy. read more

We just had one of the most amazing meals ever! Pino treated us like family (as he was doing with everyone there); and the food was absolutely perfect. Overall a fantastic experience. We'll definitely be back and would highly recommend to anyone. Thanks to Pino and staff for a great night! read more

Fabulous food. Owner and his staff are warm and welcoming. Charming, authentic restaurant atmosphere.

My father used to come to Piccolo Nido a bunch when he was in Boston for work. It was one of his favorite restaurants and he became friendly with Nido, who is known for giving blessings for good luck if prompted. I used to come here nearly 10 years ago and recall the food being much better than my most recent visit. The atmosphere hasn't changed much in those intervening years. It's on a corner just off the more heavily trodden Hanover St. which makes quieter. It is an intimate setting and Nido is obviously very attentive of his guests - he was deep in conversation with a table of Italians near the kitchen for the majority of our dinner. We were promptly seated and the server was attentive and kind, all in the all the service was wonderful. The food was cooked well, but none of it really wowed me. It wasn't Olive Garden, which is a relief, but unfortunately it wasn't terribly memorable either. I had the gnocchi which had a lovely red sauce but were otherwise a bit tough and not as pillowy soft as other gnocchi I've had. The tiramisu was, however, exquisite and we gobbled that right up. Their house red is decent, but if you are a larger table I highly suggest ordering a bottle. They're incredibly reasonably priced for a restaurant and have a much larger selection. All in all, it was a passable meal and we weren't hungry when we left. It just wasn't what I remember. read more

Restaurant was absolutely amazing! From start to end the owner/chef Pino gave us top notch service! Warm hospitality, perfect lighting, ambience, excellent food portions and the taste was on point! Completely satisfied; highly recommended! We will definitely be back again! Thank you Pino for a memorable birthday celebration! read more

Don't EVER go. I made a reservation for 7:30 and it was 7:40... the "hostess" asked us 3 times who we were, the 4th time they asked who we were, I gave them our name then they accused me of giving them a "dirty look." A look such as that was not given. He refused us service and yelled at us because I said "I wasn't giving you a dirty look" and he said I was calling him "a liar".... horrible customer service also no AC. Hot as fuck. Never even attempting again. UPDATE: I'd like to give this place 0 stars given the responses from the incompetent owner. Don't know how this place is still in business. read more

Meh. Owner approached us as we walked into the restaurant last night, "if you don't have a reservation, we are booked until 8:45". How's that for a greeting? We had a reservation, unfortunately. Asked what we wanted to drink before we were handed the drink "menu" which is literally a small dry erase board listing types of wine and prices. "We only serve beer and wine". Funny because we were never handed a beer list. We ordered the house red for $10 a glass. I would highly recommend asking what the wine is before you do the same. We ordered the calamari which had good flavor, but was overlooked and rubbery. We only had a couple of pieces, but couldn't eat the rest. When the owner came over the clear the dish he never asked if it was ok or if we wanted to package up the rest to take home. Hmmmm did he already know we wouldn't want it and that's why he didn't bother to ask? For our main courses we ordered the gnocchi and the chicken. Gnocchi was good, but the sauce was bland, just ok. Chicken dish was pretty good, two chicken cutlets, but no accompanying pasta. I didn't finish the gnocchi and again, the dish was removed from the table without asking if everything was ok or if I wanted to wrap up the rest to take home. Strange. There were only 2 people taking care of the entire dining room, the owner and another waiter. The customers who personally knew the owner were treated the way every customer should be treated and the rest of us waited until they had time to stop by our table for quick drive-by service. I really wanted to love this place as it is off the beaten path in the North End and the owner clearly cares about his establishment. Unfortunately the food is average for the North End, the owner doesn't seem interested in ensuring all of his customers have a great dining experience and he doesn't treat all of his customers the same, coming across a little rude if he doesn't know you personally. read more

This hidden gem is off the beaten path of Hanover street, so it is less crowded but popular with locals in the know. The food is delicious and the owner, Pino, is delightful and friendly. read more

Great little place tucked in a neighborhood. Good food, quite and not as busy. Teal Italian food, great service. If III want a decent meal with a buddy or date, this is the place. read more

A hidden gem. Not where the tourists go, Piccolo Nido is where the locals hang out. A real neighborhood favorite, intimate, relaxed, comfortable, romantic. Food is exceptional, decent prices, service is relaxed and personal. read more

Food is subpar. Service is so bad. Makes sense as to why it's always empty. Stay away from this place! Read the poor reviews before going here. Jaw-dropping how terrible the owner is. read more

STAY AWAY!! I had the most unbelievable experience here. I ordered the Vitello Valdostana. I've had this dish before at multiple restaurants and know I love it. The dish that was served to me tasted like metal. My husband tried it and he agreed it tasted bad. I told the server that I never send food back, and I'm sorry, but the dish doesn't taste right (I was in the restaurant business for 8 years - serving food). He went and "tattled" on me to the chef who came to our table with an attitude and a bowl of raw meat!!! He shoved it in my face and told me its the best veal!!! I stood my ground and I said, "the DISH tasted like metal, not necessarily the meat"...he took my plate away and ate a bite in the middle of the restaurant and comes back to me and tells me, basically, I'm crazy, and what I was tasting was sage....(I'm 34 years old and have lived in the north end for 5 years...I think I know what SAGE tastes like). He offered to make me another dish but with that kind of treatment, I wasn't about to order another dish. He glares at me in disbelief and yells (in front of the whole dining room) "FORGET ABOUT THIS TABLE!!!". We finished my husband's meal (which was, at best, Olive Garden level) and asked for the check (after being blatantly ignored for 10-15 minutes). They didn't charge us for anything Thank God. I don't know who these people think they are, but that kind of service is unacceptable, even if you're an Italian chef in the North End. read more

Discriminated against for being Muslim. Incredibly unprofessional and frustrating. Sorry that our large group doesn't drink and therefore was denied last minute. Background: Called a few days ago to make a large group reservation for Sunday, owner was said yeah sure we can open for large groups and sounded very accommodating. Called today (because they didnt call yesterday when they said they would) and started finalizing the menu. Everything was agreed upon until I asked that alcohol and pork not be used in the meals. The owner said oh you're Muslim? Then backed out and said he can no longer do it due to everyone not drinking and not making a profit. EVEN though I offered that we pay more per person to make up the difference AND that we would be ordering other drinks (coffees, mocktails etc). I understand that profit is the goal, but if you have a minimum $$ or DRINKING requirement it would be professional to disclose that upfront. When you make these decisions after finding out religious requirements then you are straight up discriminating. I and everyone I know will not be supporting this establishment in the future. read more

In response to Mr. Irano's message. Sadly you yelled at another man behind me who wanted to use the bathroom. I don't fault you for getting angry at him as you had a sign on the front of your door stating that the bathroom was only to be used by paying customers. I NEVER had the intention of using your bathroom as 1. I read your sign and 2. I was looking for a place to have dinner. I stand by the fact that I have been a yelp user (please look at my reviews to view my track record) for some time and everything I said in my first review was 100% factual. I am afraid Mr. Irano was yelling at so many people that night he has forgotten what actually happened. read more

A typical North End Italian restaurant, cozy, authentic and manned by polite, professional wait staff. Party of 16? No problem. Six of them are teenagers you'd like to sit at their own table? No problem. We tried and enjoyed the house red and white wines. Then we enjoyed them more. And more yet. The appetizer sampler platters they brought out were loaded with goodies, but I couldn't stop thinking about the bruschetta. The bread was a perfect combination of chewy soft inside and chewy crusty outside. I was in heaven. For my entree I had veal with pancetta and fontina cheese. The meat was fork tender and delicate, yet not overpowered by the salty pancetta nor the cheese. Delicious. I surprised myself by passing on coffee and dessert, truly one of the joys of eating authentic Italian dinners. I was just too stuffed. Our server was funny, patient and professional, and charmed the ladies in attendance to no end. Piccolo Nido did a great job, I'd be very happy to return for either business or family dinners. Check 'em out. read more

Just moved to the North End and thought we would try this place that was just down the street. We were greeted politely and were seated at a table. Our order was taken promptly and everything was okay until the entrees came out. I ordered the grilled squid.... which I love fresh squid. However, there was nothing fresh about what was put on my plate. The squid was overly chewy and it tasted like the burned up carbon that accumulates on a grill when it hasn't been cleaned in a long time. I basically sat there with an untouched plate and no one came by to ask me how I was doing or note that I hadn't eaten my entree. The smell of it was so overwhelming that I can still smell it in my hair and on my clothes. The waiter didn't even make note of the full plate while he was taking it off the table. I finally said that the calamari was too tough and tasted over cooked and then in a very condescending tone went on to tell me.... "what do you expect, that's what grilled squid tastes like and it's not going to taste like fried calamari". I responded by saying that I eat fresh squid all the time and all he said was "that's good". No offer to take it off the bill.... or bring me something else for dinner..... NOTHING. The only reason why this restaurant is not getting 1 star is because my husband's dinner was decent. I'm off to go shower to get the smell of burned calamari off of me....yuk. read more

Really disappointed. I go to Italy every year and I can tell you there are much better Italian restaurants in the area. First, it's expensive for the quality : 25$ for a plate of pasta that was not even better than a Barilla one ? C'mon! Honestly, for the price and service offered, you can get a much better restaurant in North end. read more

Food was awesome and the waiter was very friendly. Quick service and diverse menu. Much calmer than most italian restaurants in the north end while still having friendly and fun energy. Would recommend. read more

Piccolo Nido - Dinner - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

First of all, there was NO wood fired pizza on the menu or offered despite what all the yelpers said. All I can imagine is maybe a new owner took over the restaurant? From the rave reviews I was expecting homemade wonderfulness. However, this was not the case. The bread came out with butter and not olive oil. The Caesar salad was worse than packaged. The gnocchi tasted just like the packaged gnocchi I get from the grocery store. I was extremely disappointed. My son had a wonderful steak, but I didn't come all the way to the North End from CA for steak! The one plus was my husbands pasta was homemade and the sauce good. However, our bill totaled over 200$ for 4 people, so I'd say the yelp review of $$ is NOT accurate! (We did have a 30$ bottle of wine included in that, but no dessert). Plenty of other good restaurants in the area... read more

I'm almost afraid to review this place for fear that this wonderful, quiet North End restaurant will become crowded and overrun. This has been my favorite Italian spot in Boston for more than a year. The food is fabulous (I recommend the veal parm!) and the service is generally pretty good as well. The owner is always there, and usually comes over to ask how your meal is. It's a good date place, because of the food and the ambiance, but it's also good for medium-sized groups too. The bottom line is that this place has some of the best Italian in the North End, and it's reasonably priced. (Best ___: Best Italian) read more