Galleria Umberto - Review - North End - Boston - The Infatuation

"This is the spot to stop at if you’re walking around town, have a couple of bucks in your pocket, and want some delicious pizza and incredible arancini. The Sicilian slices are just the right amount of thick with perfectly charred cheese, and the arancini could put on a TED Talk covering texture contrast with its crunch-to-gooey ratio. It’s cash only, and you should be prepared to eat off paper plates. Also, you’ll really want to have your order ready when you get to the counter—we’re not saying you’ll get a dirty look, but you’ll probably get a dirty look. Food Rundown Arancini This is the best thing on the menu at Umberto, with apologies to the pizza. We like to order two of these tennis ball-sized treats and slice them in half. Watch the steam rise from the cheese, ground beef, and peas and then bite into the crunchy exterior and let it all melt in your mouth. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre Pizza A single slice will run you $2.25, and the thick Sicilian is the best lunch deal in town. The slices are square, with thick crust that has a slightly fermented flavor, topped with tart tomato sauce and piles of slightly charred cheese. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre Panzarotti Much like the arancini, the panzarotti has a crisp exterior, but is slightly more breaded. A big bite reveals it’s stuffed with soft, warm potato that surrounds mozzarella cheese. There are a lot of ways to eat potatoes, but mashed with cheese and a big fried crunch is an elite choice. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre" - Tanya Edwards