Giacomo's Boston North End

Amazing portion, taste and fresh pasta! Service was incredible too, my cup was never low or empty. The waitresses were very nice and recommended their special sauce which was fabulous. Will return for sure!

My wife and I had the pleasure of eating at Giacomo’s recently. The burrata was the best I’ve ever had… truly spectacular! My wife really enjoyed her octopus appetizer. I ordered the chicken parm which I really enjoyed (big portion so be prepared to eat). The sauce was really good. The ambiance was lovely—I felt like I was in Italy. Our waiter Chris was nothing short of amazing. He definitely gives strong Italian vibes which I enjoyed. Genuine guy. We highly recommend!

Had the calamari appetizer and the linguine with calamari, and both were absolutely incredible—some of the best I’ve ever had. Super fresh, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. The place is small with limited seating, so definitely try to get there early, but it’s 100% worth the wait. Highly recommend!

Sitting upstairs was a treat. Parades going by, a perfect sangria and the food was delightful. Cash only, no reservations, but if you are there you must either wait, or have the universe smile on you with the perfect table for lunch.

Giacomo's doesn't need another review! It's one of the bosses dominating the North End little Italy food scene! Absolute no-nonsense good and authentic food! Pick whatever you want from the menu and it is good! Their prices never shot up to the crazy numbers, even with the soaring costs!! I have so many favs here, like the grilled octopus salad, eggplant rollatoni, the lobster roll and the 'must have' seafood pasta with their 3 choice of sauces!! While you can share the big pasta serving, sharable between two- which has a full lobster with clams and mussels..and is a huge serving, there is also a small plate for individual order most of the time on their specials...that comes with half a lobster and everything else!

Incredible food, cozy restaurant, authentic experience and food. The best pasta I’ve had outside of Italy. It is a tight space, cash only, and they are very “efficient” to get you served. I’d argue this is a feature, not a bug. It allows them to serve so many in such a short amount of time. 10/10

A colleague recommended Giacomo’s and said it was “the best Italian he’s ever had” and honestly, you’ll get better Italian at Olive Garden. I have never been more disappointed. We waited an hour for a table for 5 and sat upstairs. The table was sticky, the waitress less than thrilled to be serving us, not friendly in offering suggestions or checking on us after food arrive. The table bread was cold and burned. I ordered bruschetta and it was the same burnt bread, inedible. Wish I took picture of the rest of the food. It was okay. Nothing special regarding flavor or taste, it needed more freshness and flavor in general. Another waiter came by to top off waters and touched multiple salads with the bottom of the pitcher which was off putting as well and we did not eat more of the salad. The prosecco was flat and we were served wine in stemless glasses? Overall this place seemed cute and authentic from the outside, but is a tourist trap.

Get the butternut squash ravioli. Get any pasta. We had 3 different types and all were amazing. The mussels were tender and thay scampi sauce was the best I have had on them. This was one of the spots locals recommended and we were so glad we listened!

We discovered this restaurant while strolling around italian village. Best homemade Italian food we've had since leaving Chicago. Everyone was genuinely polite and the prices were realso able.

This place is hella good. Seafood pasta was so fresh and everything else. You have to give it a try We also had a live performer, singing opera like vocals.

Our waiter, Alessandro, was amazing! He is extremely soft spoken, kind, accommodating, and attentive. He was so polite and said thank you several times. The food was delicious. Pasta perfectly al dente. This place is as Italian as it gets and we had Carmelinas. Good portions for a good cost too. We were told that it might be a long wait and there was a line out the door, but were seated within 5-10 minutes. The only thing I wanted to note was that it is HOT in there, which makes me appreciate Alessandro even more who was serving in all black, long clothing (all while being excellent). My husband and I are fast eaters so it didn't bother us for long. I would definitely come back.

Expect to wait around 30-45 mins to be seated. Once inside the tables are a bit cramped together, very intimate. We got the meatball appetizer which were huge meatballs. The seafood tasted fresh and salmon was cooked perfectly. It's right by the harbor so you can take a nice post meal walk

Probably the best pasta I've had in Boston! This place does not miss! Great service. There's a reason a bunch of people come here!

Best pasta I've ever had in Boston and 100% worth the wait! Although this spot is quite touristy, their menu does not disappoint! Their fried calamari and bruschetta apps were so fresh and delicious, and their frutti di mare was cooked and seasoned well. My friends' pasta dishes also came out very hot and fresh! The service was rather quick, but the only negative note is that the restaurant itself was so hot (lowkey felt like a sauna). However, despite that, I highly recommend this place!

Was in town for my sister's graduation and wanted to try local Italian. Because this girl is an Italian snob. You know I always go to Italy every year to eat food. Was loving the side of Boston that is so authentic Italian. This restaurant had fusilli noodles which is one of my favorite pasta in Traponi (Sicily). Had the pasta, Sicilian, Caprese salad, and steamed muscles in garlic sauce. Sooo good. Note, we did take out and paid cash.

The seafood was incredible. They were very generous with the seafood in all of their dishes. The fried calamari was so good, the fried peppers added a nice touch. The servers were very attentive and kind. I appreciate the staff so much, they made the experience 10x better. The restaurant is a little small but the food is worth it. Keep in mind, this place is cash only. They have an atm on the first floor next to the staircase in case you don't have any cash on you.

Do not come here. I love historical places and small businesses, but cannot recommend this place. If you're seated near the wall you will smell the bathroom. I felt nauseous after 10 minutes and asked to move. At first I thought it was one of our neighbors or perhaps me that had stepped in something smelly, so I looked around the floor a little and noticed that they have air fresheners perched along the wall - so they are definitely aware of the smell and don't do anything about it but try to cover it up! The bread was cold and the pasta we got with eggplant had literally two small pieces of eggplant in it. For a cash only place that charges $20 for a vegetarian pasta dish, I'm not sure what I was expecting but the smell of sewage and restaurant depot pasta was not it.

Best Italian food I have ever had! The service was also great. This place is cash only and we had to sit upstairs, which was a small inconvenience, but the food and the service definitely made up for all of that! Not pictured is the fried mozzarella appetizer that my son and I fought over! Definitely give this place a try while you are in Boston!

Took some friends out for dinner and chose this restaurant. After waiting in line for about 25 to 30 minutes outside the restaurant , we were promptly seated (there was only one group ahead of us). Fortunately the drizzle stops while we're in line, as the weather was non stop rain. We got a table at the 2nd floor. Ordered several appetizers. (2 calamari, Bruschetta and Mozzarella) and for our main course- Zuppa Di Pesce (for 2) l, Fruti di Mari and Chicken Parmigiana. Fried Calamari was delicious....i enjoyed the Zuppa di Pesce I ordered. Servers are attentive and friendly. Just a reminder : this a Cash Only restaurant Just be careful in ascending the steps leading to the 2nd floor or descending the stairway going down to the restrooms if you need to use it - it is located in the lower floor Overall 5 stars for foods and service.

Dining room is small with cute decor. There may be a line to get in but parties of two will get in quicker as there are more tables for two. Service is fast so the line moves in a timely manner. I chose the Bruschetta as an appetizer. The combination of flavors were spot on and the bread was so light and fluffy. My Chicken Parmesan was served so hot I had to cut some pieces to cool to eat, I enjoyed it very much. A bigger dining room would be nice but most places in the area are similar.

We walked in for two for Saturday lunch. I didn't see an online reservation system. The server was nice. We had sangria, calamari, and linguine. I tried the da fraviolo sauce, which had a good kick. It was a hearty portion. It's cash only.

Wow, this place was delicious. Small restaurant with house-made pasta. Service was lovely. The pasta was phenomenal. Make sure you bring cash as they only accept cash, but if you forget there's an ATM right in the front. Only reason I am giving it 4-stars is due to them not taking card.

It's a nice atmosphere but I thought the food was subpar - my salmon was flavorless. Veggies watered down. Pasta - I can make better at home. My guest's pasta was ok a salmon and scallops were decent and the sauce was good. But our food took over 35 minutes to arrive. The server had to ask her assistant to check on our food and the people in the tables around us that were seated 5 mins before us were paying to leave. Not good service in my opinion. Then to add insult the waitress (salt and pepper hair short ponytail) adds 18% tip on a cash only sale ON TOP of a taxed bill - why is she making us pay a tip against the tax? Google to see if that is legal to do. So she imposed a tip % on us for a 2 person table with bad service. We left $10 out of mercy for her, what we should have done is left NO TIP for someone who thinks that their customers are idiots and don't know what is being done here. People need to know what is going on at this restaurant. NEVER AGAIN! I will NEVER come here again.

Have been coming to Boston for around 10yrs for Memorial Day soccer tournaments and always see a line outside Giacomo's. Had to finally check this one off the list. Went mid afternoon(2:30 ish). No wait, got seated immediately. Caution it is Cash Only, they do have an ATM if you forget. Seating was a little tight, but expected(when you see long lines maybe expect they are packing people in or have small amount of seating). Now the food. The pasta was amazing and fresh. The seafood followed suit. The Fracomo and Giacomo sauces were delish. Wife liked the chicken parm. Yes the bread is cold, but it is supposed to be, and delicious as well. Great for dipping. Forgot a pic of the burrata app but it was a highlight! Definitely recommend you try at least once.

Drinks! The drinks were the best thing about this place. I ordered the mussels but missing a little more flavor. The scallops were yummy.... The presentation and the broccoli and mashed potatoes was definitely missing something. My friend had the calamari and eggplant parm..he said it was delicious. The ambience.... I was def expecting more. Def expected Davio's and received Chili's vibe.

What I loved about eating at Giacomo's was the authentic Italian feel, I felt like I was eating at home. We ordered the Zuppa Di Pesce with the included bottle of wine option. It came with lobster, shrimp, huge scallops, calamari, clams and mussels all served over the linguine and a saporito (tasty) sauce. The sauce we chose was Fracomo, a combination of two sauces: the Giacomo and the Fra Diavolo. The combination of a spicy Lobster based red sauce mixed with a Lobster based red sauce that has a touch of Béchamel cream. This dish was easily our favorite. We also ordered two additional dishes. There was plenty for the 5 of us. The two additional dishes were clams and linguine with a Scampi sauce. The white wine, garlic and oil hit all the notes of a perfect dish. And lastly we ordered the shrimp and linguini in the Giacomo sauce. Located in the North End. Boston's Italian district is thriving with competition, you have to offer the best and this place has the lines to prove it. We were seated upstairs, the decor is nothing to write home about but on the other hand it made you feel at home. Service was good. We were taken care of by two to three ladies that were attentive when we needed them. Once the food came it was all about the joys of sharing a delicious meal with family. Absolutely loved the experience. Cheers

Haven't been here for well over 20 years as the line to get in has always been too long. However today we totally lucked out and walked by and saw only one other couple waiting, so we jumped at the chance to eat here. Overall terrific restaurant and would highly recommend. My overall rating is 4 stars only because my wife's Eggplant pasta dish didn't have enough eggplant. My veal Marsala was fantastic.... best I ever had. Started with two meatballs and garlic bread for an appetizer and they both were delicious. However, next time I will skip the Garlic Bread because the bread they put on the table was very fresh. Food comes out very quickly and hot. Waitress team of Donna & her partner were efficient. Clearing dishes as soon as they were empty. CASH Only! Go... but be ready to wait.

I've never had a less than amazing meal here. Pre-Covid one might wait for an hour or more in line on Hanover St at any hour they were open. Recently I was able to for a special lunch and with their new upstairs seating expansion we were able to sit almost immediately. Nothing "fancy" inside, the Ambiance is of a restaurant that is 100% about cooking great pasta dishes as fast as they can for people waiting in line for a chance to eat it, basically.

Giacomo's is a Boston institution. I remember them always having a line since I lived here during my college days. Came to Boston for the weekend with my husband and wanted to give him the quintessential beantown experience, so I of course had to start with Giacomo's for dinner. We came here around 5:15p on a Friday since we were hungry and I wanted to beat the long lines. Even so, we still had 2 parties in front of us! There are only about 7 tables inside since the place is small, but that adds to its charm. We only waited about 10 minutes before we got seated by the window. It was a nice cool evening so we enjoyed them having the doors windows open. The food was amazing as expected. We started with the calamari. It was lightly breaded and super tender, not chewy at all. My husband got the seafood pasta special, which was a steal for the large serving they give you. I got the pasta in garlic cream sauce with prosciutto and peas. It honestly was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in my life. Not exaggerating. My husband said I looked so happy the whole time I was eating. I was even dancing in my seat a little lol. Service was quick but friendly. As I mentioned, it's small here so this is not the place to linger for an hour and a half taking up a table. They work very hard to make such incredible food. It made me very happy to see that 18 years after I was first in town, they are still doing well and serving amazing food.

We have been dying to try Giacomo's but haven't braved the cold to wait outside for a dinner time table (waits can be up to 1.5 hours I've heard)! However, we took a "fun day" off and came here for lunch in January which was amazing! Much less busy (us and 1-2 other tables), but I could see how it could get crowded quick. We had the best waitress who offered up amazing sauce recommendations to elevate our experience and don't get me started on the wine pour for a single glass (pics of Chianti for reference). It is ***CASH ONLY*** but there's an atm inside and a Bank of America atm on Hanover st. You can choose a protein option and then the sauce so we got the shrimp with pesto cream and scallops with garlic cream. Our waitress recommended switching to the cream sauces because they are less creamy than an Alfredo sauce but were tasty! Shrimp was cooked perfectly and scallop portions were great. Comes with a large chunk of yummy house bread, olive oil, s&p, and parm. YUM. Will be dreaming of coming back!!

Really fast service and food was very good. I got the shrimp and lobster fusilli special which was light and filling.

It located right in the wonderful Italian district of Boston. From the restaurant itself to the staff and the menu, you really feel like you're getting the best quality Italian cuisine. The restaurant was busy, but I was able to grab a table. I was greeted pretty quickly by servers and they were able to help me with picking out some options. I got a glass of wine and started with the calamari. The calamari was nice because they had not only the rings, but also the little squids and peppers. Though the calamari and marinara could both have used some salt, and the marinara was pretty runny. I added some salt and parm, and it was still enjoyable overall. For my entrée, I got the house made pasta dinner special that had lobster and shrimp. The sauce was a spicy marinara lobster sauce. it was absolutely spectacular! Would definitely go back and try another entree!

Walking around town a friend let me know that he's been going to this restaurant since the 80s. I was 10 min away so thought I'd walk over, grab some lunch, and see what's up with this place he so highly recommends. I've never been to the North End - I could have walked around all day getting to know this Italian-flavored neighborhood. Yum' I walked in and was directed upstairs for a 1 top. I could tell from that initial contact this restaurant had a vibe. A number of other guests have commented on terse interactions with staff; I experienced that as well. I immediately didn't feel comfortable asking too many questions. Making observations during my meal, terse is the communication culture there. The staff is moving quickly and clearly don't want to be dawdling at tables. There were so many inviting items on the menu it took me a minute to select just one item. I chose a special, the fusilli with lobster and shrimp with chose the spicy red sauce as the base. The accompanying bread is worthy and they provided plenty of butter. When my meal came I was offered some cheese on top. Most restaurants provide a a scant amount of cheese; my server brought the bowl and spooned an ample amount of cheese over my pasta - a rare occasion I didn't have to ask for more. Flavor was good. Texture was good. Amount of seafood was good. The fusilli was $30 and was enough for 2 meals. A glass of wine was $12. Basically, $50 for lunch after tip, which was a splurge for the day. It's cash only here - like many places in the North End - if you don't have cash no worries they have a cash machine as soon as you walk in the door. Grab a window seat if you can. It's a small restaurant. Don't expect privacy in conversations. Expect a lot of movement around you. Go during the day to avoid the common lines/waiting. I'm not one who waits in lines so I'm was glad to arrive during the day when seating was immediate.

My favorite were the clam chowder, giacamo sauce w special seafood platter for 2, and grilled octopus salad. We got the chicken parm to try, it wasn't good... The service was amazing although it was super busy. They don't take reservations, we waited about 30 min. Cash only!! If you like this, you may also like carmelina's nearby. Each dish is super flavorful!!!

Giacamo's Italian Restaurant exceeded my expectations with its delightful dishes. The calamari was perfectly crisp and tender, showcasing a masterful balance of flavors. The salmon with sundried tomatoes was a true standout, with the rich, savory tomatoes complementing the succulent, well-seasoned salmon beautifully. A highly recommended dining experience!

The food was good. The service was good. The wine list is mediocre. You definitely need a reservation unless you get there early enough to get one of the very few second floor tables. It's cash only. There is an ATM on the first floor and across the street. This restaurant seems geared toward tourists that enjoy basic Italian food.

AMAZING! Came to walk around little Italy and decided to grab dinner here. Service was fast and food came out nice and hot. Place is small but nice atmosphere. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was everything and more. My boyfriend has the salmon pasta and he loved it too! Portions are great and definitely shareable. Will be coming back next time we visit

Giacomo's Ristorante is not just a restaurant; it's an immersive experience into the heart and soul of Italy's rich gastronomic tradition. Family-owned and operated, Giacomo's has been a beloved fixture in the North End neighborhood, weaving its charm into the fabric of this historic community. What sets it apart? Pasta that's "made fresh in-house" and sauces that are simply "to-die-for." These ingredients come together to create Italian dishes so fabulous, they'll have even the most budget-minded guests swooning and licking their plates clean. In the hustle and bustle of this cozy, cash-only eatery, the often-colorful staff is dedicated to ensuring you savor every bite while moving things along swiftly. Be prepared for a line; Giacomo's may be tiny, but it's undoubtedly worth any inconvenience. So, if you're in search of an authentic Italian dining experience, venture to Giacomo's Ristorante. It's more than just a restaurant; it's a cherished destination where tradition, taste, and a touch of North End magic come together FOLLOW @zackaryeats on Instagram/Tiktok for more foodie finds

I've been waiting for the chance to come here for years now since usually the line is always long....why?!?!?! I can wrap head around it. Ordered meatballs which were grainy with no parsley or Parmesan cheese in sights. They were tasteless and I felt like I was literally eating sand. I also ordered the bolognese which was also an epic fail. I had to add salt, pepper and Parmesan in order to get a hint of flavor. This place is overrated. Had so much better food elsewhere. Cute atmosphere and amazing serving.

Delicious food and good value. Service was very personable. 4 of us shared the seafood linguine, which is portioned for 2. It looks like it would be enough for 4 but we polished it off with room to spare and had to order another pasta dish. We sat upstairs and overlooked the bustling Hanover St. it was an enjoyable experience.

I wanted the classic Little Italy dining experience and got it at Giacomo's. Their menu is fairly simple: pick your pasta, pick your sauce and enjoy. I went with the 1/2 lobster, clams and mussels with linguini with fra como sauce. It wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be, but was still pretty darn tasty. I enjoyed making a mess of myself pulling the lobster from the shell. Heck, I would have pulled all the meat out of even the small pieces if I had the right tools, but got pretty full with the portion. We also ordered the frutti de mare and garlic bread to soak up the sauce. I recommend going when they open if you don't want to wait in the cold. They are friendly and fast making you feel like family while dining.

A colleague at a work conference from the area suggested Giacomo's when for my planned visit to Boston with my wife and best friend several weeks later and this is also the top Italian restaurant on Yelp in the North End. Hence my wife, best friend, and I waited in line for about 45 to get into Giacomo's the evening before July 4th for dinner and it was definitely worth the wait. The ambiance is small of an old world restaurant in Italy, so it was surprising how fast we got in given the size of the place. Probably either in order to make things faster or to keep things traditional they do not accept credit cards, so please ensure you have ample cash. The food was amazing and well worth the wait. In fact, it is the best pasta we ever had hands down with Filomena in DC as number two, and Il Bel Lago outside of St. Louis as number three. My wife and I shared a Fettuccini with Swordfish and Tuna and the Pumpkin Tortellini and our best friend had some sort of pasta with seafood he loved as well. To drink with our dinner, we had a bottle of Chianti which was also wonderful. Our server was amazing as well. We definitely recommend coming here as like the Original Regina Pizza we ate at the night before, it is always worth the long wait.

Amazing Italian food. The line is always super long but so worth the wait. Seating is tight inside so larger parties may have a hard time being seated. But the pastas and calamari are so good.

Love it! Would highly recommend! We have been coming back every year and everyone always looks forward to it. Best seafood!

I had heard about the wait and saw the line. Decided to go anyway and was seated in under 10 minutes. There is not a lot of seating so it becomes tight and not super kid friendly....but the food...!! Well worth the wait. Staff were amazing. Service was fast! Well done!! Definitely coming back!

The sauce on the Lobster Ravioli is to die for. Cash only establishment. Great service and high quality food!

We landed at the airport and needed a place to eat. We selected Giacomo's off of google and Yelp. We walked in and we were literally in the kitchen. There were about maybe 8-10 tables. Not sure if the upstairs was part of the restaurant. We ordered,l and received our food in a timely manner. We did feel a little rushed after we received our dinner. Not a fan of the restroom. Cute place. BTW: they do not serve dessert.

Excellent food for the value even if you have to pay cash it's worth it every single time. The food in the service is great.

This place is worth the hype!!! Here on a work trip, and this place has been on my list. Decided to show up at 6pm on a Thursday, and man this area was packed and there already was a line. Decided to wait since I was by myself and the wait ended up not being too bad. Took about 20 mins. Ordered the 1/2 lobster with muscles and clams linguine. Honestly, one of the best lobster pasta dish I have ever had. I literally killed everything. Great service as well. It was an exceptional dinner.

I kid you not, I had the BEST pasta of my life! The line is crazzzzzyyy outside because reservations are not taken online. The line moves fairly fast though. We waited 30 minutes in total. Everyone was extremely nice, our waiters and the host were all super kind and welcomed us. We were seated upstairs and there were about 4 tables total upstairs. I was afraid the service wouldn't be as prompt; but it was perfect. We made our own pasta. We ordered the salmon with linguine and pesto sauce. 10/10 amazing!!

If you're searching for delicious, freshly made pasta in the North End, this is the place! This small family owned spot embraces the authentic Italian feel from the decor to the dishes. Servers are efficient to account for the long wait as it is first come first serve and cash only. Don't let the line steer you away because the food is worth every bite.

Giacomo's is a classic Italian spot that hits the Mark in every way. Came here because it was highly recommended by the Internet, and was not disappointed. First off reminder that this is a cash only joint, they have an ATM inside so if you forget cash, it's no big deal. Second, they do not take reservations, and depending on the time of day, you are showing up for your meal. You will wait in a line of a varying length. We showed up at 6:45 PM the Friday after Thanksgiving and only waited in line for about 10 minutes for a table of two. The larger group though the longer it will likely take to be seated given that the restaurant is so small so just keep that in mind especially if you have kids with you or anyone who can't stand for too long. I'll also call out that when we walked by earlier in the evening around 530 the line was definitely at least three times as long as it was when we showed up so it's probably a gamble depending on weather time of year etc. The real question is, is this place worth the weight and my announcer is a resounding yes. The food is extremely fresh and delicious, I wanted to order more things off the menu but because we were only a table for two, we stuck to the garlic bread and meatballs for starters. The garlic bread was fantastic and highly recommend it to dip in your sauce after you finish your pasta. Meatballs were really good, slightly under-salted for my personal taste, but you can tell that the meat is fantastic quality. For dinner I had the linguine with scallops and red sauce, and my partner had the cheese ravioli with Bolognese sauce. Both were absolutely fantastic. The Bolognese sauce, particularly which I believe was a special was to die for and I finished the garlic bread by dipping into that sauce. Really enjoyed my dinner here and would highly recommend for pretty much any occasion. Just keep in mind that if you are going during peak hours, you are likely going to have to wait and schedule accordingly.

I ordered their linguini with half a lobster, mussels, and clams. The dish was so delicious and seafood was very fresh! Only drawback was breaking apart the lobster was extremely messy. Luckily the waitress helped me to take the lobster claw back to the cook to crack open for me. Also, restaurant is cash only.

You cannot find prices this low in other similar Boston restaurants. We ended up walking out of Al Dente's because their prices were $7 more than their online menu!!! Portions are big at Giacomos. Chicken Parm was pretty good, lacked a little flavor. ($19) Veal parm was okay as well and about 1/2 of it was tough. ($20) But the Pumpkin Tortellini in the Mascarpone sauce was incredible! ($19). Stuffed well with amazing pumpkin filling, tender pasta and the sauce I couldn't get enough of. We also got the meatball app for $10. Did not like the meatballs at all. They were not soft/moist and they tasted like they were sitting in the sauce way too long - almost like a crockpot flavor. Friendly staff and chill atmosphere.

wow, the red spicy seafood pasta was one of the best I've ever had. So rich, seafood so fresh, and just the right amount of kick! Would come more if it weren't so difficult to drive there. Parking is impossible - take the T. But so worth the wait times. Go off hours!

We wanted the best Italian experience we could get in Boston. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. Many - MANY of these places are absolutely slammed on a weekend. So reserve early and be early. My wife and I headed up to the North End about 5:30-6p, and found the line for Giacomo's to be down the street (approx 50 people long). What at first seemed an utter fail turned into a pleasant 35-40 minutes in line, eased by the pleasant conversation with other patrons. The convivial atmosphere made the line feel as though it moved pretty fast. This joint it small - and they really pack you in there. Service was top notch for such a busy place. All the food we had - from the appetizer to our main courses was fantastic! I opted for the lobster ravioli, and cannot say enough about it. Absolutely blown away! Can't remember what my wife had, but I know we left agreeing this was probably the best Italian meal either one of us ever had. So, why not the 5th star? I'm sorry to say - I made the somewhat treacherous jaunt downstairs for the bathroom, where I did my best to touch as little as possible. When I got back to the table, and realized neither my wife nor I had hand sanitizer - I considered lighting my hands on fire to kill whatever may be on them. Bottom line: be early, if there is a line it's definitely worth the wait, the food is phenomenal, the service is great, but GO TO THE BATHROOM ELSEWHERE.

The food was good, not amazing but averagely good to me. I would definitely go back to try other Boston if I visit Boston again. I like the texture of the calamari which was crispy but not too much. The calamari sauce was not it, watery and not as flavored like other places. Olive oil with bread is just regular olive oil but you can put Parmesan cheese/salt for flavor if you like.

Fantastic waitstaff! The mussels and calamari and linguine were excellent. The meatballs appetizer was great too. The bread was also very good. The glass of Frank Coppola sav blanc was good too! I had my leftovers tonight! Great lunch! Cash only. All in for me was $60.