L'Osteria

Nice surprise. Service was a bit slow and not super friendly, but the vibe was great and the food very good. I was very surprised and encourage everyone to try this place. They did not try to do too much, I liked it.

It was good, that’s kind of it. Didn’t knock my socks off but, the staff was friendly and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The only reason I am not giving a 5 stars is because I was hoping the sauce and filling was more flavorful.

So so good ! The veal braciolettine and veal tristini are out of this world. Mussels marinara was also excellent….don’t forget to dip your bread in that sauce….yum ! Great service and perfect spot if you want to escape the crowds on Hanover as well as inflated prices. Love me some L’Osteria 👍🏼

We came here for dinner and were impressed by the delicious food and warm atmosphere! The Caesar salad for two was the perfect start to the meal. Simple, but so well done! For my main course, I had the linguini and mussels and it was amazing! The the mussels were fresh and tender. Service was excellent, with friendly and attentive staff who made the experience even better. If you’re looking for authentic Italian food in the North End, L’Osteria is a must-visit.

Pretty solid place from start to finish, We called on the way there because it was a last minute decision and there was only two of us ...They were able to accommodate after a very short wait... Pretty good atmosphere very old school. Great service our server was fantastic very attentive. A little bit disappointing with the red sauce seemed a little bit watery and more on the sugar-based side but that's a personal preference. The food was good ,Just a little disappointing in that. Great pasta dishes that we had as well as multiple appetizers. Gnocchi dish was very good and quite the serving. We asked for the meatballs to be ordered as an appetizer and they accommodated and the meatballs were very good. Calamari was very fresh so good. The person I was with had the chicken parm which was very plentiful and very well done. Overall a good visit definitely would be back just a little disappointed in the red sauce. Good place great atmosphere

We really enjoyed this place. The seating was super cramped but the atmosphere was still really nice. The food was great. We loved the host. She was grumpy and funny and we enjoyed her the most. We didn't have a reservation and she was able to get us in quickly. I had the lasagna and my boyfriend had the chicken parm. We would go again.

The staff were wonderful and were particularly kind to our 1 year old son. Offered to bring him something out right away. The food was great. My wife enjoyed hers but my Italian sausage & bolognese was amazing. It was clear the sausage was top notch. Thank you so much for a great vacation meal!

I have to be honest, everyone, I mean everyone was talking about this spot. It's nice and the service was good, but... it was cold AF. Teeth chattering "keep your jacket on the whole time" cold. -chicken parm 7/10 (sauce resembled tomoto soup more than marinara) -Stuffed mushrooms 0/10 the mushrooms had no flavor and were stufed with pure breadcrumbs. no exaduration. just powder. They were very nice though. I gave 4 stars instead of 3 cause the try hard. But i have to keep it real for my viewers

Great food, nice service, clean and inviting ambiance. Reasonable prices for the North End. The veal is excellent.

Nice surprise. Service was a bit slow and not super friendly, but the vibe was great and the food very good. I was very surprised and encourage everyone to try this place. They did not try to do too much, I liked it.

If you love traditional Italian stuffed mushrooms, you must try them here! I always get the ravioli and they never fail to impress me. They taste so fresh. The service is always pleasant and fast. When I dine in, I really feel like I'm in a traditional Italian restaurant. L'Osteria is one of my favorite North End restaurants.

Always fantastic food every time we go! We love the restaurant, the experience and the food! It's old school Italian. Love it!

Servers are very welcoming and friendly. They really try to get to know what you like/don't. The restaurant is cozy and spacious. Perfect for date night and group outings. I ordered their linguine with mussels, fried calamari, and a bottle of Chianti. All of them are delicious!! They have robust wine collection, definitely check it out!!

We loved the fact that there was no wait at this restaurant. The red sauce is sweet and noodles firm which equal delicious in my book. The pictures are deceiving as the plates are large. I couldn't finish the ravioli. And the chicken parm had the largest piece of chicken I've ever seen in it. I'd definitely eat here again. I don't think it will earn a 5 star rating, but it's decent for Italian.

The Chicken parm and Eggplant parm were amazing. The fettuccine Alfredo was good, it was missing something, and not too saucy, but the chicken was great. The staff was great being that it was New Year's Eve, and they were full! We asked to put on the football game on the tv and they were able to, nice place with a lot of history.

The ravioli and the sauce was spectacular! That is all we had, but it appears tourist and locals love it all the same. We would love to check out their menu further and appreciated their hospitality.

We live in TN but Always come to L'Osteria whenever we are in Boston. ALL of their Veal dishes are amazing and we love the atmosphere and staff. A++++++*

Pretty bad, to the point where I felt I had to write this because...how does this place have even over a 3 star rating?! Drinks and food: party of 4, one of us ordered a Cosmo, it was basically some sort of sugar mix (no alcohol that I could taste). 4-5 red wines available by the glass (no Montepulciano--bottle only! is this a real Italian place?!), I asked for a recommendation with pasta, waiter said he had never tasted any but asked "do you like sweet wines?" No sommelier, no staff with any clue, I asked for a sample of the Chianti, it was 'good enough' so I got a glass. Asked about homemade pastas--why go to an Italian place in the North End that doesn't make their own?--answer: only pastas that say "homemade" on the menu, are. Fair enough. That meant manicotti or gnocchi (no ziti, penne, linguini, spaghetti, nothing homemade). Our table ordered one of each. As my son would say, they were "mid." Very bland--honestly tasted worse than Rao's in the jar marinara--and the bolognese was the same: it tasted as if someone just put fried ground beef into a marinara sauce. I frankly am not convinced either was indeed homemade, as the texture of the gnocchi and the taste of the manicotti screamed 'reheated from frozen'. The free white bread is sliced and served with ice cold butter in little packets, like you get at Waffle House (no garlic bread on offer on the menu itself, so this will need to be your bread for the meal). A small glass container of olive oil on the table tasted like...Kirkland brand? Service: Our waiter was absolutely clueless--and completely disinterested. We were one of about 4 tables (entire restaurant was empty, which was frankly the clue we should have listened to before walking in and eating without a reservation!). He had no recommendations about anything (see wine convo above) and he seemed bothered when we asked for things. When we left, he was sitting at a table near the register with about 5 other staff members, just chatting, which finally made his whole mien make sense to us: he never really wanted to wait the table, just get back to chatting with friends. Overall, bad cocktails, wine, food and no atmosphere to speak of=SKIP THIS PLACE! If you're in the North End, I'll recommend Tony & Elaine's instead or...Olive Garden? At least when you're there, you're family? I don't know. Either way, do not go to L'Osteria, it is Italian in name only.

On Monday night 4/14/25 while dining by myself, I ordered a glass of red wine, a house salad and a bowl of minestrone soup. While it all tasted great, about an hour later I got really sick with food poisoning. I threw up the whole night long and am still suffering nearly 48 hours later.

I just went here last night for my friend's birthday dinner and it was a huge hit. There were 6 of us and we had a reservation. We were seated within 5 mins of our arrival and got the best seat in the house. The service was quick and all of us really enjoyed our meals. They gave us a bowl of bread with parmesan cheese, crushed red paper, salt, pepper, and olive oil already on the table so we could create our own little dip for the bread. We all got drinks and dinner and everyone truly enjoyed it from start to finish. I got the chicken parm and it was delicious! Now for the star(s) of the show: midway through dinner, two guys started singing Italian songs while all the tables were seated and eating. Everyone loved it and started singing/clapping/laughing and all around was having such a good time. Moments like this truly makes going out to dinner a night to remember. The singers even asked if anyone was celebrating their birthday. 4 tables were! We had a blast doing a "cheers" with them and listening to them sing happy birthday to our friend and all those celebrating.

Atmosphere, food and service were all excellent! We made reservations and were early but they sat us immediately. I asked the sever for a recommendation and she didn't fail! My family of boys had lasagna, chicken parm, and meatballs. Their plates were licked clean! Portions were big. Wine selection was good. Overall, great!!

In a world where so many restaurants are raising prices and cutting corners, it's so wonderful to see that L'Osteria hasn't hopped on the bandwagon. I was back in town for a brief trip and made sure to make it one of my meal stops. I was so thrilled to discover that the food was just as delicious as I remember it from years ago. On a corner of Salem St, the windows provide prime people-watching opportunities and the ambiance is almost as welcoming as the greeting you'll receive when you first walk in. The love of food and commitment to the diners' experience is so evident, and the staff truly makes you feel like a valued patron. Truly delicious food and a warm, inviting environment make this a favorite on my list of Boston cuisine.

Visited this restaurant on a Little Italy food tour and it did not disappoint! We tried the ravioli dish due to its authentic tomato sauce and lack of unnecessary additives like sugar, and it was a flavorful dish!

Food and Service were great, got the chicken parm, suggested by our waitress and it was very good!

Came in to get a nice Italian dinner, left considerably worse off. Service was fine, ambiance wasn't anything special, food was actively bad. Fried artichoke heart appetizer- odd in taste and texture. They do give you massive servings of pasta, but this is ultimately unwelcome because the flavors are so lacking. My boyfriend and I weren't even able to finish our entrèes. Disappointing food and not really worth the hefty tab.

I moved to California in 1983, I always , Always stop here for authentic delicious Italian cuisine whenever I am in town! Best of the Best!

Great spot when you are in the Boston area. Authentic Italian cuisine! Excellent veal dishes . The veal special is outstanding.

Always make a reservation in the north end. Our waitress was nice and accommodating for a large group. Complimentary bread and an array of drink options. Food was good but limited if you have food allergies.

The food is delicious and it's a cute vibe! Have been here multiple times and always good service.

I went to dinner with my friends for her birthday expecting to have a good time. The waitress decided to charge our card 5 times and then when we asked her about it, she yelled in our face saying that the card declined and wouldn't let us show her the card payment details. She was then yelling at us to apologize. She forced us to sign the receipt. She was so rude and she took advantage of young girls trying to enjoy their friends birthday. Also, there was also no toilet paper and the Fettucini tasted like nothing. Such a waste of time, I can't believe a silly mistake like walking into that restaurant could ruin our whole night. Horrible woman, should not be working with people in any job. If I could give 0 stars for this vicious verbal attack I would. Do not go to this restaurant if you want to be treated with respect and if you don't want to lose 500$ for no reason.

We stopped here in little Italy for dinner after completing a duck tour. We had worked up an appetite and walked in without reservations and was seated within minutes. The wine was good my lobster ravioli was not hot so I asked for it to be warmed up. The taste of the ravioli was not impressive and the sauce was plain as well.

The food, the setting, the service! All amazing! Highly recommend to go for dinner or for a nice evening!

Make sure you book a reservation in advance, don't expect to walk in and get a table, this place is always going to be busy because food is excellent and service was great. Yeah, there might be a bad review here and there but. That was definitely not our experience..

Ate there on a busy Saturday afternoon in the North End. Stopped at L'Osteria because there were tables available and one of the few spots with no lines. The inside was very nice and roomy considering most places are ridiculously cramped. Service was good, beers were cold, and the bread was fresh and warm. Those were the highlights. The calamari was legitimately possibly the worst i've ever had. Like deep fried rubber bands with breading. Not a good way to start. Then the entrees came. We got pasta bolognese that was ok and my veal and eggplant parm were mixed. The veal was very good and very tender but the eggplant must have evaporated leaving only the breading. Not to mention the pasta for my entree came out when i was almost done and had to ask where it was. All in all it was just ok and given the competition in the area i don't see myself going back. Not a bad place but not a great one - based on only one visit.

I had a party of 11 on October 4th. One server, food took almost an hour to come out. Food was undercooked. 7 in the group said their meal was awful. I had manicotti, undercooked and could even cut with a knife. I then send an email on Oct 5th. No response. When I called 2weeks later was told the owner would answer. Still have not heard from owner. Going there for years. Based on this experience and no response, I will find another place. Would not recommend to anyone

We've been here twice now and wish we lived where we could make this a regular! The food is amazing and the staff is fabulous! This is such a cozy family friendly restaurant ! Next time we fly into town, we'll be back! Well done

Best place in the north end. Manicotti and eggplant parm just unbelievable. If you know you know.

Delicious everything! Reasonable, especially for a North End restaurant. Food , staff, atmosphere are great. Been coming here for about 20 years. Never a bad dish or complaint. You will enjoy L'Osteria!

delish. lots of bread brought to the table as an all which is obviously wonderful and our server was great, she made all of our drinks herself so impressive! i loved my gnocchi and it was a big portion!

The food, the service, everything about this place is amazing. Comfortable. Friendly. Felt like family.

Lobster ravioli and carbonara were so good. 5 stars! Great service and the vibe was perfect for Valentine's Day.

I give them a 3.5 /5. The wait staff is friendly however you can tell that they are not as good as other waitstaff in other restaurants. My stuffed mushrooms were very tasty. My boyfriends dishes were also tasty. The gluten free pasta I ordered was so so. I ordered a fish dish with side of GF pasta, I just wanted GF pasta so I could put some oil & cheese on it but they brought it out with red sauce, which I didn't ask for. We also ordered a bottle of water and the waitress came over to refill our glasses with tap water. Little things like this lower a restaurants ratings because they don't pay attention to detail. The waitress did not ask us if we wanted any coffee or dessert, she simply brought our check over. The place is cozy , which I like. I do not like how they do not serve fresh formaggio. A place in the north end should NOT be serving "cheese" in a shaker. Overall, 3.5/5.

Fantastic meal at L'Osteria! Samantha helped us, she was a delight! Super friendly and attentive. The restaurant was pretty busy but service was quick. The calamari was crunchy and a generous portion. The chicken marsala and shrimp scampi dishes both abundant and tasty. The amaretto cake was fabulous! Great evening!

The waitress seemed like she didn't want to there. Service was short and inconsistent, we weren't even offered bread and it's an Italian restaurant. Felt rushed and unwelcomed, the pasta was underwhelming.

A cozy little Italian spot in the North End. Dim lights and candles - very romantic. Our server was pretty attentive in the beginning and she was very good with suggestions. I got the shrimp special - wow a lot of food. The penne was made al dente - which I really liked. The shrimp was charred but firm biting in. The inside wasn't too chewy. The asparagus- I wish there was more but it was really tender. The vodka sauce brought the whole dish together very nicely. It was subtle and added rich depth. Overall, cute little restaurant.

Been coming here for years, this is our favorite restaurant in Boston. The chicken parm is awesome.

Walked into this place, because on a Friday night at peak dinner time, I've learned my lesson that you NEED a reservation at a decent North End spot. Greeting us as we entered, was a strong whiff of something rotten. The first red flag. This place was pretty empty at 7:30pm which was a good warning of what was to come. We reluctantly walked in to get a drink and a bite to eat as we waited for a table to become available at another restaurant. After trying to order an off-menu skinny margarita, I was told they were only able to provide what was on the menu for cocktails. So I got possibly the worst cosmo I've ever had instead. Then, we ordered the antipasto ($20). I've never had an antipasto with what I believe had canned tuna in it. It was incredibly difficult to take bites of this dish. Maybe it was the smell, maybe it was the sprinkled tuna. Would not eat here again.

The food and service were amazing! One thing to keep in mind, there is no bar and they fill up fast. Beer, wine and Aperol Spritz are the only alcoholic options. But the food is so amazing that it is definitely worth the trip. Very reasonable prices too!

So fun and festive. Great food and wine. Fab service in a warm family home atmosphere

What a nice small hidden gem this is. The food was amazing. We came here on a busy Saturday night during Covid, to be honest you would never know that there was a pandemic going on. It was packed. Our table was near the door, but that didn't matter. The waitress was sweet and attentive, we had a Caesar salad for two, avail dish, and shrimp Diablo. We also got sparkling water glass of wine and a Peroni beer. All were excellent. Will definitely go back again. Again.

My husband and I stopped in for our first time here. There was no wait around 5:15 on a Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed the Eggplant Parmesan. I opted for a salad instead of pasta. My husband liked his Chicken Parmesan very much. The atmosphere was relaxed and service was excellent. I would definitely go here again!

Good food!! Soo many to choose which food, decisions! Love that place and would go again!

My wife and I took her father there for lunch today. They both ordered the Bolognese with linguine. It arrived with Ziti. My wife said no problem it's ok we will just eat it. The waitress said no I put that in as linguine and I will make it right. She had two dishes prepared to go and took them both off the bill against my wishes. The customer service and the care for their business clearly showed why they have been in business for 40 years! Our first visit and certainly won't be the last.

Best Italian restaurant in Boston! I live in North Carolina, but every time I have a work trip to Boston I make a point to have dinner at least once at L'Osteria! The sauce is sublime. The pasta is fresh. The wine list is divine. And the service is always impeccable. Make sure you have a reservation (and that your entire party is present on arrival). Get the lasagna, or the osso bucco, or the veal, or ... It's all great here!!

Service and food were both average, nothing horrible nothing spectacular. I got the lobster ravioli, wife got the veal.

This place is great! Atmosphere is chill and cool but the staff is also really friendly. They know what they're doing and what they're talking about, and you can tell making the customers happy is their main priority. Food is pretty good, some italian classics and some twists, and for their prices it's 100% worth it. is chill and cool but the staff is also really friendly. They know what they're doing and what they're talking about, and you can tell making the customers happy is their main priority. Food is pretty good, some italian classics and some twists, and for their prices it's 100% worth it.

We wanted to have an authentic Italian dinner in Little Italy on our last night in Boston and we were told that we couldn't go wrong anywhere in the area. That may be true, but we hit the jackpot with L'Osteria! From the moment we smelled the delicious food wafting into the street, we knew we were in for a treat. Clearly a family business, there's nothing trendy about this restaurant, and I mean that in the best possible way. Great food doesn't need to be fancy. We tried the stuffed mushrooms, Caesar salad for two, the homemade manicotti (with bolognese and a meatball on the side for good measure), and the lasagna. Each dish was better than the last! Our server was helpful and attentive, and made our meal a wonderful experience. We hope to come back to this gem of a restaurant whenever we're in Boston!