Galleria Umberto
Pizza restaurant · North End
289 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Highlights
Cash-only Sicilian pizza & arancini, a 2018 James Beard award winner
Cash-only Sicilian pizza & arancini, a 2018 James Beard award winner
"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." - tanya edwards, jonathan smith
"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
"Price: $ For a true North End experience, head to this casual Hanover Street spot, which is only open for lunch every day except Sunday, and closes as soon as they sell out. The lines are long but move quickly for the Sicilian slices and arancini — and that’s almost entirely the menu, plus beer and wine and a few other food items. In 2018, the James Beard Foundation proclaimed it an “American classic.” Know before you go: This spot is cash only, so prepare accordingly." - Erika Adams
"Galleria Umberto only sells one type of pizza. They make a limited number of their Sicilian-style pies every day, and once they sell out (and they always sell out) they close up shop, usually at around 2:30pm. If you only make a single type of pizza, it better be good, and luckily Umberto’s is exceptional, with a fluffy crust that supports a sea of red sauce and a humble layer of mozzarella. They also serve a variety of Italian street foods (also in limited quantities), like arancini with a hearty ragu center, deep-fried cheesy potato panzerotti, and calzones. The space is cavernous, owing to the restaurant's past life as a church and, later, as a tenement home, and while there’s a good amount of seating indoors, if it’s too packed you can grab a spot on a bench outside at the nearby Paul Revere Mall." - lala thaddeus, tanya edwards
"Tip: Get to Galleria Umberto on the earlier side (it opens at 10:45 a.m.) because once it sells out of its Sicilian-style square slices and fist-sized arancini, the doors shut for the day. This is some of the best pizza in the city, or anywhere. This very casual spot is open for lunch Monday through Saturday. Cash only." - Erika Adams
