Italian restaurants in Massachusetts
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Cafe Rustico
This family-run Italian joint is one of Boston’s best-kept secrets. But those in the know keep coming back for more – staff seem to know everyone by name, or at least by favorite sandwich. Seating is in short supply, but everything is available for take-out. Pizza, salads and subs are all recommended, but the gnocchi is the hands-down favorite.
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Grotto
Tucked into a basement on the back side of Beacon Hill, this cozy, cavelike place lives up to its name. The funky decor – exposed brick walls decked with rotating art exhibits – reflects the innovative menu (which also changes frequently). Reservations recommended.
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Giacomo’s Ristorante
Customers line up before the doors open so they can guarantee themselves a spot in the first round of seating at this North End favorite. Enthusiastic and entertaining waiters, plus cramped quarters, ensure that you get to know your neighbors. The cuisine is no-frills southern Italian fare, served in unbelievable portions.
The specialty of the house is zuppa di pesce ($55 for two), chock-full of shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and lobster. Cash only.
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Ivy
Ivy is the rare place that manages to combine all the elements: chic, urban décor; cool but unpretentious vibe; and excellent, innovative food and drink. All this, and it won’t break the bank. The menu is mostly small plates – pastas, salads and seafood – meaning more piatti to sample and share. Afterwards, all guests receive a complimentary scoop of organic gelato – a fine finish to your meal.
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Sportello
Modern and minimalist, this brainchild of Barbara Lynch fits right into this up-and-coming urban ’hood. At the sportello, or lunch counter, suited yuppies indulge in sophisticated soups and salads and decadent polenta and pasta dishes. It’s a popular spot, which means it’s usually a tight squeeze, but the attentive waitstaff ensure that everybody is comfortable and contented.
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Piattini
If you have trouble deciding what to order, Piattini can help. The name means ‘small plates,’ so you don’t have to choose just one. The list of wines by the glass is extensive, each accompanied by tasting notes and fun facts. This intimate enoteca (wine bar) is a delightful setting to sample the flavors of Italy, and you might just learn something while you're there.
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Via Matta
Via Matta tries to recreate your finest memories of Italy – the ambience, the romance and of course the flavors. Sample the chef’s whims in the tastefully trendy dining room or, better yet, in the dark, sexy caffe. The latter serves pizzas, bruschettas and other small plates late into the night – a perfect place to stop for a bite after the theater.
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Carmen
Exposed brick walls and candlelit tables are good for romance; interesting and exotic menu combinations are good for culinary indulgence. The innovative menu offers a selection of small plates providing a fresh take on traditional fare; mains such as pork roast and seared tuna sit alongside classic pasta dishes.
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Ristorante Fiore
Come to Fiore - not for anything so special out of the kitchen, but for the fabulous roof deck (the only one in the North End). It's a wonderful place for a cocktail on a warm summer evening. The menu offers all of your favorite Italian standards, most served with Fiore's signature homemade pasta: you'll certainly be sated if you decide to stay for dinner.
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Ristorante Damiano
If you can’t stomach the thought of a huge plate of pasta and a bottle of wine, head to this contemporary Sicilian café for piattini (small plates) and wine by the glass. It’s a small space, but the large windows and open kitchen make it modern and convivial, especially compared to the old-fashioned eateries on Hanover St.
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Antonio's Cucina Italiana
Antonio offers all the charms of your favorite North End eatery: the cramped quarters and scrumptious southern Italian fare are straight from Hanover St, without the crowds. Huge portions and friendly service are reminiscent of eating in the kitchen of your beloved Italian aunt. This neighborhood favorite is little known off of Beacon Hill.
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L'Osteria
This family-run ristoranti typifies the mouth-watering magic and Old-World charm of the North End. It's nothing fancy, but the service is friendly and the southern Italian fare is always delicious. Generous portions guarantee that you will have leftovers for lunch. The basement is sort of drab, so it's worth waiting for a table upstairs.
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Scampo
Celeb chef Lydia Shire has done it again. This masterpiece – on the ground floor of the Liberty Hotel – is a trendy and tantalizing restaurant buzzing with energy. The wide variety of delectable handmade pastas and the region's finest freshest seafood are to be expected; the mozzarella bar is a delightful and delicious surprise.
It seems sinful to order pizza at such a fine restaurant, but Shire makes it easy to justify, by offering irresistible and unusual combinations of toppings.
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La Morra
The sleek interior at La Morra is the setting for equally sophisticated dining, featuring small plates of antipasti and homemade pastas. A daily changing prix-fixe menu offers wine pairings to complement the three-course meal. The staff is pleasant and professional, though service can be harried when the place gets hopping.
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Pomodoro
This hole-in-the-wall place on Hanover is one of the North End’s most romantic settings for delectable Italian. The food is simply but perfectly prepared: fresh pasta, spicy tomato sauce, grilled fish and meats, and wine by the glass. Credit cards are not accepted and the bathroom is smaller than your closet, but that’s all part of the charm.
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Rom’s
Rom’s is a roadside institution that seats 500 and serves big portions of traditional Italian-American fare (and drinks) for moderate prices. Locals flock to the all-you-can-eat buffets (Friday night and Sunday morning). It’s across the street from the Sturbridge Plaza shopping center.
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Trattoria Il Panino
In sunny weather, the café tables in the courtyard of this traditional trattoria are the place to be. On dreary days, the cozy candlelit dining room will warm you up. Pasta and shellfish are the specialties but the menu covers a lot of ground, including sizzling steaks.
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Trattoria Toscana
On a residential street in the heart of the Fenway, this tiny Old World trattoria welcomes all comers as if they are old friends, serving up Tuscan wines, rich soups and delicious pastas, with gnocchi a particular highlight. The tantalizing aromas and intimate atmosphere delight the neighborhood crowd at this hidden gem.
It's a small place that does not take reservations, but your patience will be rewarded.
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Bottega Fiorentina
A tiny, self-service storefront, this place boasts ‘the best sandwiches outside of Florence.’ But the bottega offers much more. Daily specials – ranging from lasagna bolognese to pumpkin tortellini to baked stuffed zucchini – are a surprising bargain ($6 to $8).
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Mulino’s
This family-style trattoria serves big portions of robust Italian mains. It’s part of the classy triune that includes the more upscale Brasserie 40-A on the 1st floor and the Bishop’s Lounge – with smoking deck – on the 3rd floor.
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Bella Verona
The striped awning and overflowing flower boxes are the perfect gateway into this romantic trattoria in the heart of Salem. Owner Giogio Manzana has brought the flavors from his home region (Verona, of course) and the results are delightful. Aside from the impeccable food and service, this place is cozy, ie crowded. Don't plan on discussing anything too private over your plates of pasta.
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Figs
This creative pizzeria – which also has an outlet in Beacon Hill – is the brainchild of celebrity chef Todd English, who tops whisper-thin crusts with interesting, exotic toppings. Case in point: the namesake fig and prosciutto with gorgonzola cheese. The menu also includes sandwiches and fresh pasta. While the food tastes gourmet, the dining room is dark, comfy and casual.
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