Forcella

Italian restaurant · North End

Forcella

Italian restaurant · North End

4

33 N Square, Boston, MA 02113

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Highlights

Cozy Italian eatery with pasta, risotto, pan-roasted mains  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

33 N Square, Boston, MA 02113 Get directions

forcellaboston.com
@forcellaboston

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

33 N Square, Boston, MA 02113 Get directions

+1 617 936 4274
forcellaboston.com
@forcellaboston

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 21, 2025

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@eater

10 Solid Bets for Boston’s Restaurant Week

"Tiny North-End Italian favorite Forcella is here with a special $55 dinner during Dine Out Boston. Burrata with tomato jam, crostini, and roasted pine nuts, plus pesto risotto with baby tomatoes, and classic chicken parm with smoked mozzarella are highlights on the three-course menu. Dinner is available every night but Saturdays." - Nathan Tavares, Erika Adams

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-boston-restaurant-week
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@infatuation

Forcella - Review - North End - Boston - The Infatuation

"Forcella is a tiny place on North Square that, like every other restaurant within walking distance, is Italian. The good news is that the menu is more exciting than your typical North End Italian spot, with things like quail with vanilla-poached rhubarb and gnocchi served with braised rabbit. If you’re in the neighborhood and struggling to decide between the 106 restaurants that all look they could be “cute little Italian places,” head here knowing you’ll get a decent meal - especially if you can land the one table next to the big window overlooking the square." - Dan Secatore

https://www.theinfatuation.com/boston/reviews/forcella
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@eater

22 Top Sit-Down Pizzerias in NYC | Eater NY

"The original (and sole remaining) location of this Neapolitan pie specialist turns out great pies, though the hangover-quelling Montanera version, a margherita pie starring a fried crust, is a highlight. The South Williamsburg space, on a quiet stretch of Lorimer, is high-ceilinged with lots of wood detailing and brick walls." - Alexandra Ilyashov

https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-sit-down-pizza-restaurants-nyc
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@eater

Forcella Italian Restaurant Opens in Boston’s North End - Eater Boston

"Forcella is now open, serving classic Italian food. A new Italian restaurant is now open within a storied space in the North End. Forcella (33 North Sq.) opened Thursday, December 20, taking over where Carmen left off after 16 years when it closed in 2016." - Dana Hatic

https://boston.eater.com/2018/12/21/18151434/forcella-italian-restaurant-north-end-open
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Oscar Fonseca

Google
Forcella is a great Italian spot right along the Freedom Trail, next to Paul Revere’s house. I had dinner at the bar, and the food was delicious, well prepared and nicely presented. The bartender gave some solid recommendations, which I appreciated. They accept major credit cards, and I’d gladly eat there again.

Brad

Google
Michelin Meh: A Tragicomedy in Three Courses Act I: The Waiting Game We arrived at 8:15 PM, bright-eyed, hungry, and full of hope. Little did we know we were about to be cast in the restaurant's longest-running production: "Table for Never." We placed our order at 8:52 PM—after a performance of hide-and-seek with the server—and were finally served at 9:47 PM, at which point our appetites had been slow-roasted beyond recognition. Act II: Chef's Mood Ring We asked if we could tweak the dish ever so slightly—nothing wild, just a swap or two—but were met with: “That would make the chef grumpy.” Grumpy? Are we feeding him after midnight? Is this a restaurant or a live-in diva spa for emotionally fragile wizards? Act III: A Taste of Regret The food arrived lukewarm and underwhelming, much like a text from your ex. The flavors were missing in a blandemic, and the price tag belonged in a fine dining heist movie. This wasn’t a meal—it was a culinary hostage situation. Curtain Call: Slow Service, Slower Escape By the time we left, I had aged spiritually, emotionally, and possibly legally. The only thing they served hot was the disappointment, and even that came with a 90-minute delay. --- Would I return? Only if I’m reincarnated as a glacier with no dinner plans.

Joe

Google
Ate dinner on the back patio. We had the lasagna and chicken parm. We were happy with both plates, the chicken parm had a taste like it was cooked in pig fat / pork. The pasta that came with it was good. Pieces of feedback - the bread that you get served at the beginning was kind of plain and underwhelming, as the first food you get at the table, it makes an impression. The waiter was a little pushy, kept asking us if we were ordering cocktails or after dinner drinks even though he commented about my wife being pregnant… Pretty good and would recommend, but not so different than other options around.

Kailee Paiva

Google
This dinner date turned out to be so nice even though we weren’t planning to eat here. We asked if they had seating and the staff were so friendly. We ate outside and they put a heater next to our table. The food was delicious and the price was reasonable!

Adam Proulx

Google
Food was absolutely delicious! Service was awesome, fast, friendly, attentive. Atmosphere in the patio was GREAT. I appreciate a smaller menu and didn't mind the fact they don't have desert. Only nitpick was the slightly smaller portions but ultimately they were a satisfying size.

Erik Hickey

Google
Some of the best food I’ve had in the morth end. The chicken parm was delicious and cooked perfectly. The pasta that came with had a vodka sauce base and the texture was soft slightly chewy and creamy, honestly possibly the best pasta I’ve had. Wife got the mushroom risotto and daughter got the pesto pasta with chicken . Both liked their meals.

Sujay Alvencar

Google
Outstanding restaurant with fantastic authentic food and caring friendly service. Drinks especially the Last Chance were on point. We had an issue with getting a dog sitter and they were able to sit us in a beautiful patio area really facilitating us with a smile every step of the way. Can’t say enough good things about the place. Definitely worth a visit.

Doug Samuel

Google
Beautiful but small location and good pasta dishes, but dinner service was extremely rushed. We went to celebrate a birthday dinner and had appetizers within minutes of ordering and then food followed soon after. Result being we only drank half a bottle of wine and had to leave as they did not serve dessert or after dinner drinks. Not the sort of experience we expected from a nice restaurant. With so many options in the North End, skip this one unless you are on a tight schedule.
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Ria A.

Yelp
A small group of friends and I tried Forcella for Dine Out 2025 on a weeknight and had a great time. The space is like any in the North End, smallish but well packed with a number of tables. I will say this place feels a little quieter and more intimate that other spots in the North End, which I appreciated. For apps, most opted for the burrata and I opted for the meatballs and shared. Loved the tomato jam on the meatballs, and needed the extra table bread to finish the sauce on both. For the next course, we all did it differently, trying the cacio e pepe, carbonara, and pesto risotto. All were classic but I think the cacio e pepe was perfect and the carbonara was stunning but I wish I could have added a little parm. Finally for the third course, two got the chicken parmigiana and two the salmon. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and cooked. One friend liked her chicken while the other found the chicken too thin and tough. She said she wouldn't order it again. Our server Taylor also very kindly got a drink with a candle in it to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. Thank you Taylor! It was a great meal and we're glad we explored it for Dine Out. We'll definitely be back!
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Alex F.

Yelp
On our quest to try every restaurant in the North End, this was #4. We went on Thursday when it was blistering hot and humid, so we chose outdoor seating because we were unsure if the inside had AC. The outdoor seating was intimate however it was between 2 buildings so there was no breeze. Our server, David, was probably roasting in the heat but he always spoke to us with a smile on his face and worked so hard the whole night. We ordered: -Burrata: 2 large servings- 1 for each of us. It was very light and tasty. -*** Crispy Pork Belly***: This was new and totally stole the show. It literally melted in your mouth; you didn't have to chew it. I would come back here just to get that again. -Lobster risotto: a very generous portion of lobster. I would have preferred the sauce to be a little thicker but my boyfriend absolutely loved it. -Bolognese: pasta was cooked al dente (which I love). It was a great pasta-to-sauce ratio! I would have loved some bigger chunks of meat but the sauce was super flavorful. My favorite meal is bolognese and I was very pleased with this. PS: this restaurant does not do desserts or coffee. We walked down the street to modern pastry afterwards.
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Dennis M.

Yelp
The service at the door was excellent as was the service at the bar. We have a lovely glass of wine while we waited for our table. The table are rather close together and the noise is a bit more than moderate. Nice ambiance but not for private conversations. We ordered the mushroom risotto and baby octopus for appetizers. The risotto was amazing, great taste and rice was perfect. I had the pasta with pesto and my friend had the lobster risotto. Both entrees were excellent. Lots of lobster and perfectly prepared. My issue here is that the service was slow. There was no progression from appetizer to entree or entree to check. Also they do not have coffee or dessert. Dessert I understand, go to Mikes but no coffee, that was sad. Overall good food.
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Alisa G.

Yelp
My friends and I came here on a Thursday evening and enjoyed our meals. I had the Pappardelle alla Bolognese and thought it was really tasty. The texture of the pasta was excellent and the sauce had a lot of flavor. Service was attentive but they definitely enforce a bit of a time limit. They had another reservation after us they had to get ready for which is totally fine and fair, but the hostess or manager was giving a little attitude about it which was off-putting. Nevertheless, overall we had a good time and our waiter was very friendly. I also liked the aesthetic of the interior especially with the brick wall. It's an intimate restaurant and I would come back again for a date night for sure.

Cate J.

Yelp
Ordered the smoked salmon pasta, bolognese, pan roasted salmon, burrata, and the arugula salad. The burrata was amazing--fresh, juicy tomatoes and a light, creamy burrata served with pesto. The arugula salad was simple, recommend if you want a light green before your entree. My pan roasted salmon was served with crispy skin atop roasted vegetables--highly recommend for a lighter appetite. The pastas were not overwhelmingly large portions and were super flavorful. Sangria was also delicious. No dessert menu but we went around the corner for cannoli at Modern Bakery. Service was attentive and not rushing us at all. The space was a bit cramped and dim lit, so definitely good for a more intimate dinner. I recommend for simple, straightforward, delicious Italian dishes!
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Maria M.

Yelp
We sat outside on the patio and it was very quaint. There was a man playing the accordion for ambiance and that was nice touch. The food and drinks were all good. Very traditional North End food. Only downside is that they don't have dessert.

Nancy H.

Yelp
Had reservation, but was put in tiny back room behind bar with weight staff constantly coming and going next to us. Took forever for someone to even bring us water, they couldn't figure out who was supposed to be waiting on us. Totally unacceptable and I would've asked for another table except my daughter had made the reservations for a birthday dinner and I didn't want to make her feel bad. Food was good but the atmosphere in service totally ruined it
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Miley W.

Yelp
I only got a drink here but they were so incredibly nice. My drink was good, it was one of the only places that was available to have people inside with the cold. It was dark, cute, and calm inside.
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Stewart H.

Yelp
Came with a friend for Dine Out Boston. Cozy and intimate. Food and service were excellent. Best meatballs I have ever had, cesar salad was delicious, and the Cacio & Pepe was off the chart. Got the chicken parm . It was good but not a fan of the smoked mozzarella. Would be better with regular mozzarella.
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Michele G.

Yelp
Just went for drinks and sat at the bar. Nice little place to sit and grab apps/drinks. Mostly a bar but there is a couch to sit- and not crazy busy so nice to be able to get a seat at a late hour. Enjoyed burrata and some April. Overall good
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Matt H.

Yelp
We were trying to find a place for an early dinner on Sunday and could not find seating in the most popular Italian restaurants in the North End but we found this place which was happy to seat us. The weekly street parade honoring the saint of the week stops right outside as you can see from the video we took. I don't ordinarily eat carbonara pasta but I had a good appetite this day and ate it all. This was our only meal in North End so we have no other comparison but based on my limited experience, I would try them again. There are very limited seafood menu options. Our server was kind and attentive and on this day that made all the difference.
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Peter V.

Yelp
I'm a resident and have been to most restaurants in the North End. I can tell you this is one of the best ones. Really good service, the food tasted like I was at Lake Como, nice music. The Burata had a pumpkin sauce, which sounds odd, but tasted amazing.
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Joyce K.

Yelp
I was very excited to have an authentic Italian pasta dinner in the North End and made a reservation at Forcella - which turned out to be one of the best meals I've had in months! The ambience is very cozy, elegant, and romantic. I got the Cacio e Pepe pasta (fettuccini with pepper, $21), which was so filling and delicious. The texture of the pasta was perfect. My friend got the eggplant rigatoni which was also amazing. We also tried the meatballs as an appetizer (beef and veal) which were very tender and came with a yummy tomato sauce. One of the highlights of the meal was the quality of the service - our server did a top-notch job, always refilling the water, frequently checking to see if we needed anything, and just overall being extremely hospitable and attentive. I would definitely come here again for a nice dinner with family and friends.
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Rosemary S.

Yelp
This is a great hidden patio for the north end. Not one of those ones in a damp ally, it's large and secluded from foot traffic. Service was fast and friendly. Baby octopus, sautéed mussels and risotto all'Aragosta were all delicious. The pistachio martini was good but a little sweet for me. Dirty martini was decent. I'd definitely come back for a table outside.
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Anna M.

Yelp
Having spent 5 hours on an airplane flying in from the West Coast, we were excited about hitting the North End for great Italian. We decided on Forcella as the reviews were positive and my partner being from Naples, found the restaurant name intriguing. We made reservations for 8:30pm on a Wednesday night. We realized our 8:30 reservation was made too late we were hungry! We thought instead to show up an hour early planning to get a cocktail and perhaps an appetizer at the bar while waiting for our reservation. We check in at the door where the young hostess seemed flustered. Not exactly sure what the sense of anxiety was about. We told her we'd wait in the bar knowing we were an hour early. Turns out they don't have a liquor license- only beer and wine. They pretend to sell cocktails with "fake" vodka made from grapes instead of ingredients legitimate vodka is made from. About 1/2 hour into waiting, I went to the host stand where Shannon, the owner was standing. I asked, if it is possible when our table is ready could please be seated at the window? It was as though I asked Shannon if I could burn the place down with everyone in it. Shannon was SO INCREDIBLY RUDE, SURLY, HATEFUL AND ALL AROUND MEAN. Shannon said: YOU ARE EARLY FOR YOUR RESERVATION!!!!!!!!!!! Taken aback by her aggressively angry and irritated response, I calmly said; I'm not trying to upset you, I'm only asking if when our table is ready- could you please give us a table near the window. Then, I walked away thinking I was having a bad dream. Hey Shannon- it's not uncommon for customers to request a specific table. I observed not one person walked through the door for 32 minutes after her little melt down. There were SIX EMPTY TABLES 2 of which were near the window. WHAT WAS ALL YOUR DRAMA ABOUT? Oh wait! Perhaps it's because the food is SO BAD we had to send 3 out of the 4 things back. Meatballs were disgraceful. Consistency of mush. Caesar Salad had oranges in it? Pasta was overcooked sitting in a bath of pasta water. Whatever happened with the main course was not noted as I gave up eating. The entire evening was A COMPLETE DISASATER. Thank GOD our waiter Marin was fantastic- A true professional with grace. Thank you for your excellent service. He was a veteran and knew things were not going well. The chef/owner stopped by our table and asked about the returned food. He told us he had had too much to drink and wandered away talking to himself. With all the options in the North End go elsewhere.
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Emily S.

Yelp
I only stayed long enough for drinks and appetizers. The clams were so good! Wish I had more bread to dip the sauce in. Waiters were friendly and fast. Nice atmosphere. Small and cozy. Would definitely come again!
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J M.

Yelp
Sure, there are numerous Italian restaurants in the North End .... Do not miss this one. A hidden gem ! Small and cozy with incredibly tasty dishes. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed their entrees. The Rigatoni alla Barese was fantastic. Hopefully Sara will be your server. She is exceptional ! Thanks to the entire staff for a wonderful meal.
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Justin S.

Yelp
Wow! What an incredible dining experience. I was lucky enough to enjoy a 3 course feast for Boston Restaurant Week at Forcella. The food was delicious, the service was impeccable, and the ambience was cozy and welcoming. I would recommend the pork chop to any diner who visits Forcellas. It was perfectly cooked and layed on top of a warm bed of polenta and topped with delicious greens. Nice work Forcella, hats off to the chef.
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Danyel M.

Yelp
We found a new spot in the North End! The ambience was warm and cozy. Service was top notch as soon as we walked through the door. The food was memorable and we can't wait to get back to try more dishes. We ordered the burrata, beet salad, shrimp and scallops, mushroom risotto, and the cacio e pepe. The food was beyond what we expected. The burrata and the tomato jam on top of the toast was the perfect bite. Try it on the soft bread they bring to the table! Both ways are yummy. The beet salad was full of flavor, make sure to take each bite with the creamy sauce. I didn't eat the shrimp and scallops but my hubby loved them. The mushroom risotto was so rich and flavorful but not too rich. Just right. The portion was very generous (I saved half for dinner the following night paired with baked salmon I prepared). My hubby said the cacio e Pepe was exactly as it should be. It was so good, even tho he was full, he ate the entire plate! Oh and to top it off, at the end of the dinner, our server brought us each a limoncello shot (on the house)! Check out our food:
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Edward W.

Yelp
Went out for dine out Boston and it was definitely worth it! Tried both the meatballs and charcuterie board for appetizers. Definitely liked the board more! For first mains we got the pesto risotto and carbonara which both were yummy. Last course was salmon and pork chop. The dine out didn't come with dessert. I definitely recommend going with someone and splitting different items as the food was yummy but very one note. Overall I really enjoyed the intimate setting, yummy food, and EXCELLENT staff.
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Bob H.

Yelp
Went here for a work dinner and was very impressed. Had the burrata and bolognese and both were amazing. There were a few other items I was eyeing up, but honestly I would probably just order this again as I thought it was so good. Service was great, but we were the first ones there so not sure when it's busy. Nice little place on the inside and fits right into the North End, but not the touristy spots. Would go back.
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Tracey S.

Yelp
I love this restaurant! With so many North End places to choose, Forcella rises to the top with excellent food, a cozy atmosphere, and solid service. On my first visit, I had the best piece of swordfish I've ever eaten (it was a special, sadly, and they didn't have it on my recent visit). I ordered the Amatriciana the next time I went, and it was outstanding. They also have a creative cocktail menu and the cocktails are good, which you don't always find in the North End. This is quickly becoming my favorite North End spot.
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Charlie W.

Yelp
We had the pleasure dining on the terrace. It was a beautiful Thursday night in Boston. We had the shrimp scampi and it was so fresh, hot, and delicious! Staff were very pleasant and we were very well taken care of. Highly recommend this North End restaurant!

Stephanie F.

Yelp
Ate at Forcella over the weekend with family. Delicious food and a wonderful atmosphere. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the North End.
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K G.

Yelp
Pasta was a little over cooked, a tad salty and over priced. The menu was a little limited. Ambience was good, service was good.
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Joanie C.

Yelp
We are visiting family in Boston, after having lived here for many years. This is a gem of a restaurant - incredible food, warm and friendly atmosphere - and so far, the least expensive of our Boston dinners. The portions are large - so we had left-overs packed up to eat for breakfast. They may not last that long! Try it, you can't go wrong.

N C.

Yelp
There are better restaurants in the north end. Service was slow for a Saturday night. The waitress never asked us if we wanted more drinks! Of course we did! Thank goodness the water guy, kept coming around! Food was just ok! Ugh
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Lillian L.

Yelp
Food was good. The service was mediocre. Waitress seemed new, not too friendly. Got frustrated opening our bottle of wine. Didn't know what a decanter was. After asking another server, she returned and stated the whole restaurant had only one decanter and it was being used. So we couldn't decant our $120 bottle of tight red wine. Octopus and polenta appetizer tasty. Felt my Cacio e Pepe pasta was okay, nothing special. The others seemed to enjoy their entrees. The rigatoni barese looked kind of watery to me. Waitress returned and says no dessert and then slapped our bill down in the table before we asked for it. Maybe it's just Boston service in general but this seemed a little more rude than usual. They had a nice outdoor patio but you had to walk by all the smelly trash cans to get there. All in all we enjoyed our meal but not sure I'd really recommend the place.
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My-Linh D.

Yelp
I went during restaurant week and wow this place really did not disappoint! Usually with restaurant week, I notice most restaurants try to skimp out on the portions. But, Forcellas dishes were phenomenal! There were 3 courses, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees. I like how they had 2 entrees instead of dessert. I was so full by the second entree!
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Dave K.

Yelp
Small, nice, great food and good service Italian. Chicken Parmesan was great as was the Cacio e Pepe. The Caesar salad was a chopped, premade disappointment. All the other starters were fine. I'd come back for sure but skip the Caesar.
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Jazzy G.

Yelp
My husband and I made reservations here to celebrate my birthday. From the beginning to end of the whole experience it was very weird and awkward vibes. The whole experience felt very transactional. The host was a bit rude to us we had to wait outside in the cold as they checked our reservation. We sat near the window and saw he was letting other parties in to stand inside and not wait in the cold, that was weird. Not sure what that was about. Our waiter (blonde haired gentleman) felt very transactional. We felt very unwelcome in this establishment. It felt as if he was being nice to every other table but ours for some reason. He hardly checked in on our table. It was very weird energy. The ambiance is a bit awkward it seems like they are trying too hard to be relevant. The music was horrible. The food was just ok. It sucks to have spent my birthday here and we spent over $150+ to get treated this way with mediocre food. I will never be going here again. I wish I could get my money and experience back.
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Preeti M.

Yelp
Small, intimate inviting space with decent service (our server seemed annoyed we were sitting outside on a cold day). Food is extremely average...just like most Italian restos in the North End, this is nothing spectacular at all. Wine list was decent. I had the rigatoni and again, nothing memorable.
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Tianna D.

Yelp
I must agree that this is a hidden gem in the North End. For Dine Out Boston, we wanted to take the chance of trying out a new restaurant for dinner and decided on here. Inside is a small, modern, intimate setting. Nice ambience. Our waiter was great. Very friendly and helpful with the menu. My husband ordered from the dine out week menu while I ordered from the regular menu (I didn't have a lot of faith in myself to even make it to the secondi since I was feeling for something light). He got the Beet Salad, Black Pepper Linguine Carbonara and the Bone In Pork Chop. He enjoyed everything. He said the Carbonara is the best he's had and it was recommend highly by our waiter. I had the Linguine alle Congole and the Herbed Mushroom etc as a side. I will admit the flavours of the pasta didn't stand out to me but the mushroom side brought my meal together. The Russolo Pinot Grigio was a great pairing to our meals.
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Alejandro S.

Yelp
Food is pretty darn good. Had the burrata and the mushroom risotto. Red Sangria is outstanding. Really cool vibe with awesome waiters...attentive and personable!
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Stephen V.

Yelp
On North st right next to the tourist trap Limoncellos. Sat nite around 530 , Four of us walked right in and sat at bar. Barkeep very attentive and friendly. Got the meatball app. Nice light sauce and tender meatballs. Main entrees were shrimp scampi , chicken Parm and Carbonara. Carbonara was tasty with what seemed to be fresh pasta. Shrimp Scampi I'm told was ok. And the chicken parm was very good . A huge piece of chicken with sauce and a smoked Gouda on top. Pasta was on side with a light sauce sprinkled with fresh basil. Have a decent view of the street to people watch while eating. Only issue I had was the proximity to bathroom. I could smell the deodorizer.
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Cecilia D.

Yelp
This is, without a doubt, the best restaurant in the North End. The food is divine, always fresh and flavorful, but what adds to this restaurant's charm is the service and staff. The bartender taught us techniques for making cocktails while providing great recommendations on wines. Our server was a delight and chatted with us about local sites and the history of the north end and the owner, Shannon, personally came over to welcome us and ensure we were having a great time. I can't speak more highly of this gem in Little Italy!

Bashar K.

Yelp
Excellent cocktails with the great vibes. I wish I knew about this earlier. I would've come here more often.

Kyle B.

Yelp
Do not go if you have shell fish allergy, chef said you can only get the salad and burrata. Other than that, service was good, ambiance is good!

Brenda C.

Yelp
Went for dinner here with my husband while visiting our daughter. We all had amazing meals. The Autumn style burrata was outstanding. Each one of us was thrilled with our dinner choices! Great service and a nice cozy atmosphere!
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Julie R.

Yelp
Delicious risotto al pesto with shrimp! The waiter was knowledgeable about gluten allergies. This is one of their select gluten free dishes. Others in my group enjoyed the salmon and pappardelle alla bolognese. The outdoor dining experience in the corner square was away from the crowd, but great to still see the city action. The waiter was very friendly and made us feel so welcomed. We have been back several times and always enjoy it.
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Beth H.

Yelp
On a balmy Sunday evening in August, my husband and I headed to the North End of Boston without a dinner reservation. The first three places we tried were packed. Then we saw a door with a sign inviting us to ask about the patio. We asked, and the host led us down an alley to a surprisingly large patio behind the small restaurant. There, we enjoyed a lovely Italian meal. We started with some delicious bread served with fresh-tasting olive oil. This was followed by an amazing burrata salad, which featured two generous portions of the creamy mozzarella with a smear of pesto, a balsamic drizzle, and perfectly ripe tomatoes. For the entree, I ordered the pan roasted salmon with asparagus. The moist fish was accompanied by a silky eggplant purée and caponata--little cubes of eggplant sautéed with onions and tomatoes. A sprinkling of pistachios added a slightly nutty flavor. The asparagus was cooked crisp-tender, exactly the way I like it. I ate every bite of those vegetables. Husband enjoyed the rigatoni with meatballs. The pasta was light, flavorful, and authentic, which means it wasn't drowned in sauce and cheese. The meatballs were incredible, so moist and fluffy they almost melted in the mouth. The servers were prompt and friendly. The patio was romantic and relatively quiet. As for atmosphere, the North End is thick with it. We emerged from the restaurant just in time to hear a street performer sing an Italian aria. Windows displayed Italian imports and servings of handmade pasta. Even the narrow streets and crazy traffic added to the Italian vibe. As far as I can tell, Forcella has only two disadvantages. They don't serve coffee or dessert, and the stairs to the restrooms in the cellar are very steep. But the quality of that wonderful meal was worth the inconvenience.
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Bill S.

Yelp
Forcella created a beautiful outdoor dining area, it was a pleasure and we enjoyed our experience. My son lives in Boston and we agreed to dine in the North End. I chose Forcella based on the rustic menu choices. My sons Uber pulls up, we do the guy back slaps and walk inside. Then, we walk through the restaurant to a magnificent courtyard. We're shown to our table and order wine. The menu looks amazing, we chose to split the grilled octopus (I wanted to try the meatballs) and I was looking forward to a big plate of linguini with clams. The bread comes to the table, very rustic and the accompanying EV olive oil was of high quality. Then, the octopus was brought to the table. The octopus was grilled perfectly. The fish had a nice charr and was tender. Now the linguine is brought to me. The clams are fresh and plumpy. The linguine was al denti, although it's a pasta from a box, the chef made it work. Now you don't use aged cheese on fresh fish, I can ask for red pepper flakes! (Hey, it's how I enjoy linguini with clams) Overall, we had a great meal and the Italian wines we were served were superb. They don't serve dessert?? No matter, I was so packed. If you're considering an Italian restaurant in the North End, I highly recommend Forcella.
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Steve W.

Yelp
Extremely fresh and wonderful food on a rainy winter night. Sat at the bar and enjoyed the very best service. The vibe has great and cozy energy- we'll be back!
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Amanda L.

Yelp
Incredible food, very intimate, special little space. The owners are so friendly and welcoming. I've had excellent gnocchi with rabbit, risotto, perfect duck, beautiful antipasto, excellent selection of wines. Highly recommended, make reservations way ahead of time because the space is very small and it fills up very quickly.

Mike K.

Yelp
Really great food, service and atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and return. The back patio was really nice.

Ryan L.

Yelp
Don't support shell fish allergy. Suggested the caesar salad or burrata as alternatives. Note: they only have one shrimp dish. Although the chef's decision to refuse to clean one pan to accommodate an allergy, service was good. Plenty of other options nearby

E. A.

Yelp
We were excited to try a new-to-us restaurant in the North End, as we eat here often. We were disappointed from the start when the woman at the door rudely said "can I help you?" with disdain in her voice. There had been some confusion because she had an iPad and had been gesturing and my husband thought she had said to hold on and not to come through. We sat down and the interior is lovely. We were offered wine right away and the waiter mentioned coursing the wine with appetizers and entrees. We ordered our food and were pretty shocked when our appetizer and main course all arrived within 15 minutes. We had had 1/2 glass of wine. We mentioned this to the woman who had been at the door and she just shrugged it off. We mentioned it to the waiter as well and said that we had been looking forward to a nice leisurely night out, and that to be done dining in 30 mins is disappointing. He said that they allot tables for one hour and 20 mins. He seemed to understand why it was disappointing, but said that the tickets came out when they did and they had no control over it. Very disappointing overall and the food was ok but not as good as other places for the price.
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Cathy M.

Yelp
With so many choices in North End, I'm glad we stopped in here. The food was excellent. Had the antipasta, salmon, and chicken parm, which was perfect. The wait staff were so accommodating! Loved the quietness of the patio, couldn't hear any of the street noises

Sean C.

Yelp
Went tonight with my girlfriend, we got the clams and Cesar salad as appetizers. The clams were very good and the white wine sauce was delicious to dip bread into. The salad was very big and also very tasty. For entrees I got the duck breast and my gf got the bolognese. The bolognese was just alright, I've definitely had a lot better. But the duck breast was absolutely delicious, every bite has so much flavor and it was very tender, in all honesty one of the best things I've ever eaten. The service was also pretty good. The only down side is if you sit outside you are walked through an alley with garbage and trash along the wall. Other than that it was a very good dinner.