We've been here twice, and as people living in the North End and just a 10-minute walk away, we will definitely be back! It's August 2023, but this restaurant has been on my list of places to visit since September 2022 when my mom suggested we go here for my birthday. Unfortunately, she fell ill, which inevitably postponed our family visit. I was fortunate this year to dine here once in July and once (so far) in August; both times, I've loved my experience. This is a very cute spot tucked away on the slightly less busy (compared to Hanover) Salem Street. It is a small place with tables placed pretty close together, but it still feels intimate rather than overcrowded. The lighting is not too harsh, and when the weather is nice, they open the front windows for a nice breeze. On both visits, our waiter Richard was incredibly knowledgeable of the menu, and he recited the nightly specials with palpable care and intentionality. He is both the specials menu and the dessert menu for anyone wondering. Additionally, on our first visit, a different man briefly helped us select our drinks (moscato d'asti), and later in the evening, he even offered to show us the exact bottle and explained how to identify it in stores for future purchase, which was very kind of him. On our first visit in July, my boyfriend and I started with the polpette, a nightly special. It consisted of 2 deliciously warm meatballs in a bath of tomato sauce with fresh Parmesan cheese and basil over top. We savored them with restaurant-provided freshly baked bread, and it was the perfect beginning to a great meal. For entrees, I ordered the pappardelle alla bolognese, and my boyfriend ordered the gnocchi con funghi. I am a red sauce girl, and he is a white sauce guy, and we were both incredibly satisfied with our dishes. I also really enjoyed that they offered freshly grated Parmesan from a comically large bowl and freshly cracked black pepper from a comically long grinder; both were nice added extra touches. For dessert, we shared a tiramisu, and it was the perfect end to a lovely night out. On our second visit in August, we brought friends, and the food, service, and ambiance continued to be top notch. (Thank you, Richard!) I would definitely recommend this spot for a date night or just a night out with friends and family, enjoying delicious Italian food in the heart of the North End. read more