Italian Restaurants in Boston

A South End bacaro riffing on Venetian traditions—house-milled pasta, cicchetti, and a strong amaro game. Regularly cited by Eater Boston and Resy for its inventive risotti and pastas, and beloved by locals for its courtyard energy and neighborhood roots.

Colin Lynch’s coastal Italian hub delivers pristine crudo and handmade pastas with a laid-back South End vibe. Frequently praised by local food critics and OpenTable diners, it’s a go-to for date nights, aperitivi, and lively group dinners.

An elegant North End townhouse serving seasonal Italian with New England ingredients. Celebrated by The New York Times and reviewed by The Infatuation, it’s a special-occasion staple where osso buco and housemade pastas meet white-tablecloth hospitality.

Anthony Caturano’s longtime North End standout blends Italian and Mediterranean ideas with charcoal-grilled flavors and housemade pastas. Marked 25 years in 2025 and praised by Boston Globe writers for its enduring place in the neighborhood.

Sicilian-inflected comfort food with an open kitchen and lively pace on Hanover Street. Highlighted by The Boston Globe for standout seafood and saucy pastas, it’s a reliable pick for visitors and locals chasing North End flavor.

Ken Oringer’s intimate South End enoteca is loved for charcuterie, natural-leaning wines, and seasonal pastas. A frequent Eater Boston favorite, it captures the neighborhood’s social rhythm with sidewalk seating and a creative small-plates approach.

Chef Karen Akunowicz’s South Boston enoteca channels Modena with aperitivo culture, handmade pasta, and amari. Named one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America and warmly reviewed by The Boston Globe, it’s a modern neighborhood anchor.

Akunowicz’s ode to Southern Italy features a glass-walled pastificio, wood-fired seafood, and regional specialties like culurgiones. Covered by Eater Boston and noted by local press for its wine program, it’s Southie’s destination for southern flavors.

Douglass Williams’s original MIDA remains a South End favorite for handmade pasta, Sunday specials, and generous hospitality. Praised by local critics and national outlets, it blends Italian inspiration with a true neighborhood feel.

In Jamaica Plain, Tonino channels small Roman neighborhood spots with scratch cooking and aperitivo sensibility. Recognized by The New York Times among notable Boston restaurants, it’s intimate, ingredient-focused, and distinctly local.

A Dorchester café-trattoria where house-baked pastries meet Roman-inspired plates. Praised by The New York Times as the closest Boston gets to a true Roman trattoria; recently resumed dinner service after a short August break in 2025.

Family-run since 1985 in East Boston, famous for fist-sized ravioli and old-school plates. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and praised by Boston Globe readers, it remains a cash-only classic with loyal neighborhood following.