Big awesome servings. Old school Itlaian. Superb daily specials. I go once a month.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet: Every Single Homemade Pasta Here is AMAZING. GET IT. You don't regret it! Do NOT get any of the other pastas, they are ordinary and whomever orders their non-homemade pastas will just end up eating the other people's pastas (which is what happened to my friend). You can have boxed penne anytime at home or anywhere else. Get their homemade pasta - whether it's gnocchi or ravioli or fusili or whatever......just get it. Everything is SO delicious. The sauces, the meats, the pasta. SO DAMN GOOD. The other thing to note are the portion sizes. Each bowl/plate of pasta feeds any army (ok more like 3 people, but still). There were 4 people in my party and we made the mistake of each ordering a dish. Wrong move. We should've ordered 2 pastas and maybe an appetizer. It wouldn't have been a problem if we lived there and take home leftovers (which, if that's what you're going to do then by all means) but we were catching a flight so we had to let a lot of food go to waste. We ended up trying to stuff our faces with as much carbs as possible to not waste! But I still recommend ordering fewer entrees so you really get to enjoy each plate. =) I am such a fan. Honestly, one of the best Italian meals I've had. Just GO and eat! read more

So about 4:00 we were discussing what we should get for dinner. Somehow, Rino's was mentioned, and then so was the usual line and one hour wait since they do not take reservations. It's 100 percent first come first serve (I'm not positive but I think they will accept reservations for parties of 6+). I said let me give them a call and see how long the wait is. I was surprised when the girl on the other end of the phone said there were 2 empty tables. Needless to say we took off like Speed Racer, I think we arrived in under 10 minutes. The food Gods were on our side, just as we got comfy at the last table the infamous waiting line started to form. We beat the crowd by about three minutes. If you have never been here, I suggest to order drinks and an appetizer while you try to decide what you want. The reason for this you may ask??? EVERYTHING ON THE MENU IS FABULOUS. The menu is quite large and they always have an additional page of specials. Choices, Choices, Choices. We ordered a round of beers and some Calamari to hold us over until we could decide. Finally we made our choices and awaited the Bounty. The first selection to arrive at the table was the Grilled octopus served over Cannellini bean salad. WOW!! THIS WAS THE BEST OCTOPUS I HAVE EVER EATEN. It was cooked to perfection. It was soft, not a bit chewy, it actually melted in your mouth. And the spices, AMAZING!! The Cannellini Beans were good, but the Octopus was definitely the star . $14.00 The first entrée to be placed on the table was the Veal Parmiggiana. There were two large pieces of Veal pan fried and panko crusted topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese baked and served over HOMEMADE RIGATONI. This is a killer dish! The veal was tender and perfectly seasoned. The rigatoni were cooked al dente, OH Boy!! How Delicious. $20.00 Then the Ribeye was brought over, My God! What a steak!! It was cooked perfectly and the spices Unbelievable! This Ribeye would challenge the best steak in Boston for only $30.00 and it's served with Asparagus and 3 potato Crochets. Who would guess the best steak in town is at an Italian joint not a steak house?? I'll definitely be going back again to fill my Ribeye void. I would have loved to see the desert menu, but needless to say, we were stuffed. However a double espresso was forced down.. It was a great blend. I give Rino's a Solid 5 Stars read more

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Fantastic Italian food, service and ambiance! We got the fried calamari and smoked mozzarella eggplant for apps, and I got the chicken parm for an entree. It was delicious! Honestly, THE BEST fried calamari I have ever had. Will return here and look forward to trying the options. read more

Found this spot on a recommendation and we were very pleased. The portions were large and the food was delicious! It came out piping hot and we both had leftovers. The bread that came out before the wasn't necessarily special but great experience overall! read more

Rino's Place - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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THIS PLACE IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO DINE IN, IN EAST BOSTON!!!!!! Okay. Yelling aside, this is one of THE BEST family owned establishments I've ever been to. Fresh pasta, authentic "treat me like family" service and atmosphere. And the best part, you get to poop in the kitchen !! That's really just because you go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom. Ordered the calamari, lobster rav and bolognese. Seriously such hearty servings, and well worth the price. Would dine here again in a heartbeat. Hell, maybe I'll fly out for dinner. And just dinner. And fly back home. I've done crazier. But I would do it for this place. read more

SO GOOD. Great vibes- very small and cozy, authentic feeling. The menu was extensive and had the classics plus more creative options. The food was SO good and the portions are insane. Worth the wait. read more

I've been doing a lot of traveling back and forth to Boston, one of the places I bookmarked was Rino's Place. What a find! Located in the middle of small, unassuming neighborhood is this beacon of old school Italian cooking. Kinda reminds me of being in Queens. Walking in, I tell the hostess table for one place. She takes my cell number and within 15 minutes my table is ready. Easy peasy! When I check in, David from Boston is telling me to order all these items. If I was with my family, I'd order them, it's a lot of food! I'm focused on one thing, the Lobster Ravioli that everyone raves about. I also ordered a nice glass of Italian wine. My waiter? He reminds me of one of my uncles, I can see he's proud of this place. He's all over me with bread and water refills. The lobster ravs come to me. This is a ginormous plate, the ravioli are filled with chucks of fresh lobster meat swimming in a pink sauce. At this point, I want a lobster ravioli cologne. Mmm mm! The pasta, you can tell is freshly made and the filling is I'm sure a family recipe. Bostonians? This place rocks and you should be glad they're making this regional dish. I have two raviolis left, I am packed out! I can hear my uncle Sal saying: Billy, two left? You're eyes are bigger than your stomach. I couldn't finished but man... I am dreaming of those ravs. Total fan. Rino's Place, it was a pleasure to dine in your establishment. Thanks for the great food and service. read more

In town for a conference and wanted to try something local. This is a no nonsense location in a residential area that delivers AMAZING food. You will likely have a long wait outside (don't try to wait inside, not only will the staff not let you - there's nowhere to stand ) but it's totally worth the wait. I am not a lobster fanatic but holy moly, the lobster ravioli is incredible. A lot of it is the sauce - do yourself a favor and get it! The chicken parmigiana is very good too & surprisingly so is the steak. You can't go wrong with the food. Splurge on the food & save your money & forgo the wine. read more

What can I say about Rino's, that hasn't already been said? They are, a true gem. Nestled on a corner in a local East Boston neighborhood, this is what real italian looks like - not touristy North End. They are open from 3pm daily, and while that may be frustrating for some lunchtime folks, and seem a bit odd - look. If you can open at 3pm and still do good business, that in itself is also very telling. Besides, working up an appetite for making this your first (and likely, only) meal of the day, is actually a good plan. We planned ahead and had a small snack late morning and made our way to Rino's by 3pm promptly. And we were the first ones there, but within minutes, there was a line of about 10 others behind us. Right off the bat, we knew we were going to enjoy ourselves as we were greeted by the owner and another woman, cleaning up outside. Super friendly and just warm, smiling, genuine people. They let us pick whichever table we preferred and while we were a party of two, they said we could sit at a table for four, no problem. Service is just beyond lovely. So refreshing to see a local family run restaurant, really working together as a unit. From the hostess in charge of seating, to the various servers and the owner, Rino's is a very well oiled machine. They do not miss a beat between greeting customers, getting menus and water to the tables. They are prompt with taking your drink orders, and they time everything seamlessly from wine, table bread, to appetizers and then main entrees. We were served by Anna, and let me just say. I want to be her best friend! She's just so welcoming and wonderful. She was the highlight of our visit, even with the excellent food! (Anna! Thank you for being so wonderful!) We ordered a bottle of Chianti, very reasonably priced. The Fritto Misto a mixed plate of fried seafood which came with the most perfectly cooked, tender and juicy scallops (4), and shrimp (4), and a load of calamari. The Lobster Ravioli is a must if it's your first time. We almost never order ravioli anywhere because you pay a full entree price for a handful of small ricotta cheese pieces but this Lobster Ravioli is exceptional. Huge chunks of lobster meat and fresh ricotta stuffed inside large, plump, homemade ravioli. And, pink sauce smothered on top, with additional chunks of lobster meat. We had 2 pieces each and were on the verge of being full ... even before diving into the rest of our meal. And so now, let me tell you about ordering the side of homemade pasta for $7. You won't need it because the portions are huge but, you must get it. Because the homemade pasta is the stuff of dreams. We chose the Parpadelle and oh my. It was perfect. And so addictive! Fresh, chewy, perfectly cooked, glorious. And then the Veal Parm which is like 2 pounds of battered meat, with an excellent red sauce. Tender, and flavorful, my husband gave his rare two thumbs up. Even if the food may be more of a classic good italian, and not some Michelin rated fancy stuff, coupled with the super reasonable prices, generous portions and the amazing, warm "you're part of our family!" service - there's a reason why it garners the praise it does, and the reason that we will always choose Rino's for a great meal! Service : Start to End, 10/10 + more! Fritto Misto : Full $20, 10/10 Veal Parm : Entree $22, 10/10 Lobster Ravioli : Entree $40, 10/10 Homemade Parpadelle : $7, 10/10 + extra kudos! Espresso : $4, 10/10 Cappuccino : $6, 10/10 read more

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GREAT FOOD! It's a very small restaurant so prepare to wait. The food is amazing and the portions sizes are HUGE.

So glad this place lived up to the hype. Everything was great. The stand outs for me was the shrimp scampi and the lobster ravioli- but everything was excellent. Our waitress and the whole team were all so down to earth and friendly. So glad I finally made it here, and can't wait to go back. read more

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We came to visit from California. Seen this restaurant on 10 Best place to eat. Let me tell you they're right. But I would do TOP 3.. Thee BEST restaurant in East Boston. MUST TRY!!!Tammy was our server. So sweet and nice. Told us little history on the place. Get there before 6 pm after we walked in it got pack. Small little place on corner. Parking is crazy. We park a block away. Food is that great. Husband and I tried Mozzarella and sauce for appetizers, requested bread. Then, ordered Chicken Parmesan, side of Alfredo fettuccine and Rigatoni. These was enough for 3-4 people. Thank you Tammy for amazing experience. Forgive me the name dishes are named differently on menu. We spent less then $80. On appts, main dishes, add on pasta and drinks. Think we'll stop in again before going back to Cali. read more

Rino's Place - Pollo Parmigiana (chicken Parmesan), Fettuccine Alfredo $10 and Rigatoni meat sauce. Each plate raged between $18-$24. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food is not worth an hour and a half wait. No reservations, no call aheads. They get $10 each for an upgrade of homemade pasta (obscene). Bread is like white wonder bread. Other than that the food was good(large portions) and reasonably priced. read more

Another FIVE STARS! Had the same...calamari app, shrimp scampi and gnocchi with broccoli rabi and shrimp. Soooooo good. read more

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This is the place to go to feel like you're family. The wait for this place is outrageous though. We came in a Saturday at 4 pm, we thought of course we'd be able to grab a table and not have to wait. Boy were we wrong, we ended up getting a table around 5:15 pm. On the bright side, they take your phone number and call you when your table is ready. So our party of 4 decided to stay warm in our car until we got called. The food is endless. Each main course comes with a side salad and bread. Yum! The salad dressing is just the right amount and not your typically too saucy lettuce. They have two dressings: Italian or creamy cesear. We shared the eggplant appetizer (the half size alone was good to split.) As for individual pasta dishes we ordered spaghetti and meatballs, lobster ravioli, cheese tortellini, and the gnocchi. Wow, we barely ate a third of the dish and packed the rest. The dishes tasted just as good the next day. Besides the food, the servers are very friendly and have smiles on their faces! Overall, go to Rino's! You won't regret it!!! read more

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Very good home made pasta at lunch time here with plenty of leftovers. The ambience was cute but get here off peak otherwise parking will be tough. A lot of unique choices even for lunchtime and all were really well prepared. read more

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An employee at BWI airport in Maryland recommended this hole-in-the-wall restaurant to me. My husband and I got there at 3 pm when the restaurant opened and there was already a line due to the fact that it's a small restaurant. They do not have a waiting area in the restaurant which could be an inconvenience if the weather is bad. My husband and I ordered Bruschetta as an appetizer. He ordered the pollo carrozella and I ordered the lobster ravioli for our entrees. My husband said this was one of the best Italian dishes he has ever had. I took a bite of his and loved it too. The chicken was moist and the mozzarella and gooey on the inside and crispy on the outside. I liked the lobster ravioli but enjoyed his more. Compared to other ravioli I've had, the lobster was generous. Note, that the portion size is VERY generous. We were not able to finish our dishes. We are from out of town, otherwise, I would have taken a doggy bag. If the opportunity ever arose, and I was back in Boston, this would be my go to spot. read more

Rino's Place - Pollo Carrozella - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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What a crazy experience. Came here based on all the coverage from Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and Mark Weins on YouTube with a few friends. Crazy. First of all the service: a fight literally broke out before us. Like the police came and everything. I couldn't believe was I was seeing. The waitress separated the two customers and was yelling at them. They settled down and the police came and did a walk through. The food was also just mediocre. I was expected great things thanks to the previously mentioned celebs but nope. Started with the stuffed eggplant which tasted like bbq sauce for some reason. The Lobster Ravioli was just ok--so so salty. I got the Calamari pasta which was pretty bland. Basically that's how it went. And the portions were massive. Literally this meal kept me fed for the next four days. So I guess good bang for your buck?? But I will not be coming back here. read more

Portions are incredibly large. Chicken parm just the chicken is basically 2lbs fried slab. Fussily pasta is excellent. Lobster raviolis the size of your fist for 40 bucks! Also the meatballs and wine selection are great too. read more

Rino's Place - Slapping on the feed bag at Dino's. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Holy cannoli! I've long considered myself an honorary Italian, some say fake Italian, same difference. Heck the first time I visited Italy, I told everyone I was going back home lol. If Italy is my obsession, then Rino's might be my fake grandma's kitchen. I've had Rino's on my radar for the longest, we're talking years. This is not for lack of trying, As this east Boston staple is notorious for 2+ hour wait times. Lucky for me, lunch in the middle of the week gets you a table rather quickly. Based on food alone, I can fully understand what all the commotion is about, it's freaking good. Scratch that, great. Authentic, fresh, hearty portions of delicious Italian classics that is the closest thing to homemade as you'll find. Food Wild boar sausage: not really sure why I went in this direction, but my hunch was better than I could have ever expected. The sausage is mild, with the perfect amount of seasoning. Juicy and flavorful. The biggest surprise is the broccoli rabe on which it sits. I love broccoli but hate broccoli rabe. In my past experience it is very bitter and off putting. Rino's has completely flipped the script. Their version has zero bitter taste and is cooked perfectly tender, probably more enjoyable than any plain broccoli I've ever had. Where has this been all my life? Lobster ravioli: the far and away most popular dish on the menu. No need to be wordy, it's the perfect marriage of seafood and pasta. Fresh hand made ravioli with generous lumps of cheese and lobster swimming in saucey goodness.....enough said. Rino's is far and away the top Italian destination in Eastie, and better than anything I've had in the north end (yes I said it!) As good as the food is, the lasting takeaway is the welcoming spirit of the Rino's staff. Their friendly and homely nature only adds to the already exceptional dining experience. It took me years to finally get here, but I have the feeling I'll be back in days time.... Word of advice: put your pride aside and ask for the to go box, you're not finishing that plate. The struggle is real.... read more

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Wow! Knowing that Rino's had a good reputation, but not having heard much else about the restaurant, I was floored by the portions here. I got the pasta al forno for myself, but it could have served four! I'll be eating leftovers for the rest of the week. I'm not sure if I ordered wrong, but I wasn't as impressed with the sauce as I hoped to be. It wasn't bad, but I was expecting more flavor. I definitely appreciate the amount of cheese that my pasta came with, though! read more

Rino's Place - Pasta Al Forno - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Huge portions, great quality, friendly service, what more to say? Definitely recommend anyone coming here to try this place. read more

Rino's Place - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Honestly one of the top 5 best places I have ever been, if you want fresh Italian home cooked food this place is it! Parking is spotty and need a reservation but A+ all the way! read more

Best bite of Italian you'll have in the US. Very good service and a lot of care goes into their craft. Impressive all around and a rare find. It's laughable to see people crying on here about cold FREE bread and the heavy set guy who eats 90% over spiced Asian food crying about no flavor etc. Dude, stick with shoveling mass amounts of Sichuan in your pie hole and stay in your lane. Rino's FTW always. read more

We waited many years to get here and all our expectations were met. They keep it real. Only demerit is the bread. There were more lobster chunks in the ravioli dish than any lobster roll I've ever had (even similar money as one L roll in New England). The service and attention reminds you of a ch-chi high-end hotel resturant. They really dote on you. Add to all this we got lucky with parking and were also seated immediately. Like hitting a scratch off lottery card. read more

Rino's Place - Aside from the ricotta and lobster filled ravioli there are chunks of lobster meat in the sauce. - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went for lunch and wasn't disappointed! Everything was delicious. I am in Boston for work and my Dad said he saw this place on diners, drive-throughs and dives. So so good. Fresh made pasta and small but cute restaurant. I had the stuffed peppers and gnocchi it was so yummy. read more

Rino's Place - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

walked in pretty busy at the time we had walked in, hostess was super nice lovely young man same with our server she was great! loved every bit of our food, definitely will be coming back! read more

Huge portions that doesn't take away from the quality of the dish. Friendly service and the ambiance is homey.

This is my fourth time at this place. They said 50-1hour wait. It was two hours later and still no seats. There system does not work, they go out of order. And they don't care. Every time I have been there it's been more time then they estimate. And the food it not that great. read more

Just did take out but some of the best Italian I've ever had. We got the Matriciano and stuffed eggplant. Ambiance in the restaurant was quaint, it's small and intimate but there were some larger groups. Parking wasn't easy. read more

Best Italian food in Boston!!! I had the best Fettuccini Alfredo pasta I've had in a looong time. The restaurant is small but very cozy, and the staff they're all so nice and kind. 100% recommend if you're in the Boston area. read more

I ordered Veal parmigiana and it was tasteless , service without enthusiasm. Huge portions, but who eats that much? Quality is the priority Ambiance? Pricing....like 5 star restaurant. They don't take a reservations. You can't find a parking, and you can't wait inside. They won't seat you unless everybody present. read more

My favorite Italian Restaurant in Boston. If you think the North End is where it's at, think again. It doesn't get any better than this. Generous portions and every plate is a winner. Lobstahh Ravioli is a must. read more

I don't even feel like writing a long review. Just go. If you're going because you saw the Diner, Drive-in, and dives episode Guy was right. It's amazing. The portions are incredible, the food was delectable. The lobster ravioli was just 100% to die for. It had me slumped. I'm definitely going again read more

Rino's Place - I was excited af - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Great atmosphere and great service! Nice outdoor seating, food came out fast. 10/10 the chicken parm lasted me 5 days read more

Rino's Place - Chicken parm with homemade Pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Lobster ravioli is delicious! The staff are friendly and attentive. The cotton branches on the pillars are culturally insensitive.

What a great neighborhood restaurant! I have been visiting here for the last 15 years. I live in North Carolina and when I come to Boston this is always on the list. I have brought co-workers and my customers here. I love the Arancini! read more

Rino's Place - Aranicini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The portions are freakin' huge and I LOVE IT! The $7 side of ravioli came with 2 pieces the size of my hand!!! The calamari pasta had so much meat in it, it was an amazing deal! The arancini were also fabulous-the half portion included 2 baseball-sized pieces. Would definitely come back here! Bring your friends who need a lot to eat! :D read more

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The portions are huge! You are good to order 1 item for 2 people. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They also have a cool outside patio when it's nice outside that lets you appreciate the neighborhood. read more