Pagliuca's

Bread for olive oil was OK at the best. Menu has draft beer bur they didn't have any. Food was good. Overall OK place, nothing special.

I quite literally have never left a bad review in my life but pls do not come here. I am scared I ate bad clams. The carbonara was INEDIBLE it should be taken off the menu genuinely. The only thing we enjoyed was the free bread and oil. I had to load my white clam pasta with salt, pepper, and Parmesan to stomach it. We waited OVER AN HOUR for our food and once our waiter took our orders we did not see him until the end of the meal. When we asked another waiter if our food was almost ready after about 30 minutes he said “I guess I don’t know”, walked away and ignored us the rest of the time we were here. Don’t know if I would even make my worst enemy eat here. OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT they were roasting us in an oven. I get you think it’s fall in Boston but mama it is 80 degrees on PLS AT LEAST GET A FAN. We had to ask twice for our food. Like come on. We saw people who were sat 30 minutes after us who ordered drinks and food, ate, paid, and left before we had even gotten our food. Can u tell I’m mad.

Congratulations 🎊 you guys are serving the worst Chicken Parmigiana in the North End. My cutlets were cooked all the way in a oven, instead of being fried then tossed in the oven to finish off. Walked in yesterday Friday 09/26/25 at 5:30pm...no reservations no nothing and got a table instantly which was a huge red flag. Our server was ok, when asked about our meals, we were obviously not pleased and said everything was "OK" she wasn't surprised, almost as if she was expecting it. There were 2 other tables sat and eating as well, but the place is dead. This might be where people in the restaurant industry go to die. Please put this place out of it's misery, its actually sad 😔

The restaurant is packed with bookings and orders and there were not many tables. Long queue was long and it seems like a good recommendation. Bread ✅Soft and plain served together with olive oil with spice. Surprising this tastes good. Carbonara Italian style ✅ the portion was big ✅ amount of bacon served was good ✅ Not spicy, different from most of other carbonara I have tried before ❌taste was bland. ❌ bacon was not fully fried and unable to fully push fragrance to the sauce. ❌linguine was overcooked and soggy. Perhaps due to peaked hours. Stracciatella / Egg soup (with parsley sprinkled) ✅it was served hot and portion was big ✅ come with tiny hair line linguine ❌A little too salty It could incorrect combination of these made carbonara tastes bland. Could have tried with other soup combination. Summary: Overall the food serving speed is slower than expected (30 mins). Waitress tried her best to clean table as fast as possible. It seems they have shortage manpower. Food served hot and portion was decent. Cozy and good for big group. Not so suitable for smaller group of two or less. The price is reasonable and affordable. Recommend try to make reservations earlier and avoid weekend. Walking in typically will not get the priority and it gave impression you will get the table in 15-20 mins but usually it takes long from my observation. It took me about 40 minutes but i understand it is weekend dinner time.

It’s my family’s favorite Italian restaurant. The kids love their seafood Fri Diablo, and I love the veal parmigiana my wife likes the eggplant. Not only the food is excellent but the service also is. I would highly recommend to try it.

Food was decent. Minestrone soup was good but needed cheese to make it better. Eggplant Parmesan was ok, didn’t have much cheese. Not much flavor. Cioppino was special and was told it was good. Portions were large. Space was tight. Servers seemed upset to be there. When we sat down they threw down a stack of napkins and silverware. Would I go again, probably not. There were many other options in the area. We chose this place due to a recommendation and we could get reservations for a large group.

Pagliuca’s is a must stop every time my wife and I come to Boston. It is honestly a staple in our trip and whenever we book our trip to Boston we always get excited to come here. We found this place because 8 years ago it was the only place we could get into without a reservation on a Saturday night. Boy were we surprised. The food is great. It’s not the best in the north end but it is up there especially for the price. You will leave full unlike some of the other restaurants you’ll find over in that area. I will say the wine is over priced but what restaurant doesn’t mark up a $15 bottle to $50. That is just kind of how the food business is. But honestly. I love this place. It is a small place off the main drag, but the food is great. I highly recommend it here, and I can’t wait to go back whenever I come back to Boston whether that be in 1 year or 5. This place will always hold a dear place in my heart! If you are in the fence the answer is GO HERE.

Great food and amazing service! A hidden gem and a must try! The fried peppers were a pleasurable surprise.

We have been coming 35+ years Best chicken parm and eggplant parm in the state Third generation is as hard working as their parents

Pagliucas was recommended to us by my coworker who grew up in Boston and still has family out here. We were NOT disappointed. My husband and I both got the house made pasta. I ordered it with the Cacio de Pepe and my husband got the Bolognese. Both were fantastic! I also ordered a sangria that was perfect with my meal. Also the bread with olive oil was perfect!!!! We were sat right at the window which made for a perfect ambiance. Perfect weather, people watching. Would come back here again!

Came here for some drinks and an app while we were waiting for a dinner reservation in the area. The restaurant is very inviting and the staff are so kind and attentive. We got a couple of lemon drops, which were strong and pleasantly tart. We also split a plate of meatballs. I felt like the sauce was lacking a bit in flavor, but the meatballs themselves were very tender and perfectly cooked.

The food here is AMAZING!!! I can't believe that all of the reviews aren't 5-star. A tour guide from the neighborhood suggested Pagliucas. We were not disappointed AT ALL. Everything tasted homemade. The shrimp al limencello is the thing that dreams are made of. The staff is equally incredible.

The chicken broccoli ziti was very tasty, I wish it was more al dente though. The buratta appetizer was good. My friend enjoyed her chicken parmesan. The waiter was very nice.

The best items on the menu are the appetizer meatballs since they are large. They come with super soft and fresh ricotta. The next best item is the chicken with potatoes and vegetables. The chicken is well seasoned and the vegetables are steamed to a nice soft consistency. I liked my cacio e pepe since I could customize the pasta to angel hair pasta and the dish was not too buttery. It came in a pan which I thought was cute. The side of spaghetti my boyfriend ordered was too watery and the pasta was too thick.

Lunch to try a new N End Italian restaurant and we left satisfied with our selections pasta with garlic and oil complimented with fresh mushrooms. The service was efficient and friendly. Burrata is a must with prosciutto, which could have been sliced a bit thinner. An affordable menu compared to other places in this section of Boston. Love the old pics on the brick walls, creating a sense of nostalgia. We will return!!!

We stopped here for dinner hoping for some good Italian food in Boston's famous neighborhood. Unfortunately this spot was a total miss. I would not recommend if you want good food. We were seated downstairs and got a few appetizers to start. They were tiny. For dinner we got various entrees as we were a party of 5. The food was mediocre at best. My husband's pasta was awful and flavorless. It had no seasoning whatsoever, just lots of oil. Would not recommend.

This is a cute & cozy family restaurant. I went on a Friday night with some friends and it was quite busy. However, the staff was very nice and accommodating and sat us quickly. I can't comment on any entrees, as I only had an expresso martini and tiramisu, and both were delicious. The tiramisu tasted just as good as the more popular bakeries in the North End. I'll definitely go back for a meal.

Very nice waitress Mariah. Food was average. I had the bolognese sauce, flavor was good but it didn't seem to have any meat in it & was a bit runny - atmosphere was nice. Went about 2:30 so got food fast as not real busy. This place was good, but not great, so if I did another trip to Boston I would pry give another Italian place try.

Ambulance: A cute restaurant with old style Italian menu, playing old time Italian music. A bit quieter than the neighboring restaurants Food: Traditional Italian menu. We had the lobster ravioli, gnocchi with pink sauce, tripe with red sauce. We had glasses of Rustico Chianti and Baby Super Tuscany. All delicious. Service: Friendly and attentive. Water was filled frequently, they brought out more bread baskets when finished.

Came here for a friends birthday, I understand how busy Saturday nights are in the North end. It was incredibly packed and wait time was insane, our party had a reservation for 7:15 pm and we didn't get sat till a lottle after 8. Sat at a dirty table with old food, water cups, and stains on table mats. Drinks and food took almost an hour to come out, i ordered the Cacio e Pepe and it came out basically as buttered noodles with parmesan. Very bland not impressive, quite disappointing. My friends dishes were watery or tasted very blah. One of the servers was trying to pack another party near us and was carrying tables over half of my tables heads as we were eating. Not very much of an exciting night and a bit of a let down.

My significant other and I came here for a later dinner on Valentine's day. Before getting into the review just note that we did take into consideration the day/how busy they were. Our reservation was for 9:45, but we arrived at 9:30 and were seated immediately. We were done and out the door by 10:10 pm (probably the fastest date we've ever had). The restaurant was packed and had heart balloons on the back of some chairs. It's a small spot with some Italian pictures around. We were given bread that was cold with dipping oil that was good. We started with the stuffed zucchini flowers. This appetizer was probably one of the worst dishes i've ever had at a restaurant. Five minutes after ordering it was in front of us. It was two stuffed zucchinis with the smallest dollop of ricotta and a little bit of sauce. It was foul - cutting into it, it was grey. It oozed with too much cheese and tasted like it should have been thrown out a year ago. The quality and quantity were definitely not worth $18. After the appetizer we were a bit worried about our entrees, manicotti and fettuccine alfredo. Our entrees came quickly after the appetizer, within minutes. The manicotti didn't look like traditional manicotti and it was awful. It was layers of pasta dough with a ridiculous amount of cheese (not stuffed with ricotta). There were two of them and I only had most of one because I was starving. As for the fettuccine alfredo it tasted like one of those stovetop packs from the store except worse. It was beyond bland and had no flavor. This was by far the worst food we've had while living in Boston and especially for the North End. The one positive I would highlight is that the drinks are a heavy pour. As for the service, as stated before we were in and out very quickly. Our waitress was attentive. While looking around the restaurant we did notice that a lot of people were not finishing their meals and other meals looked bland. This is a review I really wish I took pictures for, but we wouldn't come back to try anything else.

It's not the same Pagliucas that we frequented years ago. The quality of the food is not on par with the past, nor the service. First the service, it was certainly friendly but inconsistent. It took some time between visits by the server to get new drinks and such. In the past, it was a good go to place for southern Italian. The previous visit, I got the Cioppino, which was disappointing. This time, I chose the pork chops with peppers and potatoes. The pork chops were thin and not browned or crusty as you would expect them. The peppers were fine and the potatoes are crispy, but it just lacked flavor. My benchmark for this is an Italian restaurant in Newark New Jersey. This wasn't even close. For an appetizer, we had the prosciutto and it was - not very generous. My daughter had the chicken with lemon parentheses (or isn't that chicken piccata?) that was generous with three chicken fillets. Sautéed well with capers on top of spaghetti. It was tasty. One of the things I look at for great restaurant execution, or not hitting the bar is the cleanliness of the restrooms. Just not where it should be. I don't know if the management or ownership changed. There wasn't a manager present overseeing or checking in with people. That's the third time we've been to the restaurant without that presence. I might be a little generous with three stars. I'm so disappointed. I used to love this restaurant , it was unpretentious with just great quality food.

We went here from a Boston local recommendation even with the 3 star reviews here. My husband and I shared a salad. The only thing lacking was we are used to mixed greens and not iceberg. However that seems to be a thing here. Spaghetti and meatballs was great and so was the gnocchi in a pinks sauce. The Chianti went well with both our meals as recommended by our waiter. The service was timely and nice.

From The lights hanging outside to the chaos and ambiance inside. This was an authentic little Italian family restaurant. We had fun people watching, and being in a family atmosphere. Large portions of food! Decent prices. The service was wonderful, even though very busy inside. If your looking for a quiet romantic dinner- this is not the place. But if your wanting to meet friends and catch up , or even a large group of friends!

Staff and Service: - Small restaurant with a few folks working - Service was good overall, but it was difficult to get their attention a couple times even though it wasn't loud in the restaurant Food and Drinks: - Gnocchi Sorentina: flavorful, soft, saucy, cheesy - Arrabiata Ziti: was hoping this would be spicier with the Arrabiata sauce, but it was still delicious - Meatball with ricotta: two big meatballs that we split with four people. Good flavor and the fresh ricotta added a nice touch - Margarita: flavorful with a citrus / almond flavor to it Miscellaneous: - They take reservations - we made one for 6:30pm on a Thursday, but we didn't need it. Started to get busier around 7:15pm

Swindled!!! I was charged 2 meals for 2 meatballs, linguine, and 1 tbsp of ricotta-$39.99!!! I brought the error to the waitress and she said I got an appetizer and a meal. I ordered it as one- it came out as one. Be careful! Any restaurant that purposefully screws you id NOT a good restaurant. Wish I stuck with my original thought to go to Lucca!!

We ate here on our trip to Boston out of process of elimination because no other restaurant could accommodate a party of seven and all restaurants were very busy in little Italy. We saw the poor reviews before entering, but had no choice as we were hungry, I will start off by saying most reviews are accurate. Nothing great about this restaurant and nothing really horrible, besides the gnats and bugs inside the restaurant. The food was just ok and nothing to talk about. The place is tiny as most places in this area but it just didn't feel clean and up kept. I would not recommend this restaurant, especially if you don't live in this area.

Nice, cozy restaurant. We came here because a friend posted good comments about it. We came at a good time, they say us down right away. The staff is busy but attentive. Our order came out right away, and the portion are just right not to small or to large. There's a lot places in these neighborhood (little Italy, north end) to try, but I'm glad we came here. I recommend trying it.

Good value for the North End. Service is well paced and gracious. The flavored olive oil for dipping bread is delicious. Wine is a generous pour. Menu has all the standards and tastes homey.

IMO how you're received upon entering a restaurant can set the course for the night. The hostess was not rude but she definitely was not engaging nor appeared to be interested in a light greeting chat. Her first words to me were "Hello, how many?" We told her 3 and her immediate response was "Wait." We have dined here many times in the past. Within the last year when we dined here the food was sub par. Specifically the (Lemon Chicken) was like shoe leather. I struggled to cut it much less chew and digest it. Completely dissatisfied. Fast forward roughly another year and I thought, every restaurant can have an off day so let's give it another try. To be consistent I ordered the Lemon Chicken once more. The breast meat was not as tough as last time but it wasn't juicy or tender. Another observation was that the Olive oil, served with bread prior to our meal, lacked flavor and tasted "light." The bolognese (sp?) was basically marina with ground up beef. The red sauces were also lacking flavor. The order of succession with the waitstaff and the scope of what they should do seemed off. I can appreciate other waitstaff checking in on our meals, but our waitress checked up on our level of satisfaction when our meals were almost done. She was pleasant but... The level of service was lacking in other areas as well. There were multiple times when we tried to flag down any of the weight staff and we weren't acknowledged. It bears worth mentioning that it was not crowded when we first got there and it wasn't filled to capacity when we left either. So why this dining experience (including the food) couldn't have been better stumps me. One of the gentlemen in our party seemed to almost constantly be ignored when he would put in a polite request. I would follow up his request with an "excuse me" and lifting my arm to get attention and my efforts also went unnoticed. I realize that everything has gone up which forces menu prices to rise. But I have to wonder if they're acquiring their food from a lower grade supplier. To have the same meal nearly a year apart with almost the same below standard quality is disappointing. Unfortunately, in my book 2 strikes you're out so sadly we won't be returning here again. I won't suggest other Italian Restaurants but there are several to choose from within very close proximity.

My favorite restaurant !!! The staff is amazing...It is so well priced. I feel like I'm in Italy while I'm there

The food was delicious, the waitress attentive and kind, and the ambiance perfect! We were sat next to the window and it was such a beautiful day. The ravioli was ahhhmazing. The sauce was delicious. Only problem was that I ate too much!

5pm on a Sat nite decided to roll the dice and try a new place. Tresca was jammed so we randomly tried here. Hostess said we could walk right in ...table for 4. Bread with a garlic and olive oil dip. I love garlic but this was absolutely loaded with it. I could taste it an hr later. No apps tonite Entrees we're a shrimp FraDiavolo with homemade Fusilli. Was tasty. Shrimp a tad over cooked. Chicken parm ,I'm told was good. Chicken Limone with a side dish of angel hair and a nice marinara sauce was very good. Chicken sliced thin like it should be. While there, a local Older gentleman was playing the accordion. He played whatever you wanted. I asked for ole Solo Mio and Che La Luna. He added a nice touch to the evening.

I would give this review zero stars if I could. Horrid. We have been coming here for years when we move our daughter up to Boston for school. Food is always good and staff has always been helpful. Tonight we had reservations. We went and were told by the hostess that we would be sat in a minute. Waited and the. A table of walk ins (who I heard in line said they did not have a reservation ) get sat by the window. I asked the waitress when we would be sat and the story changed by her saying to talk to "the man over there he is the owner and running the door." I asked about being sat and the story changed saying that he had 6:00 reservations still waiting which was not the case. Come to find out we were not the only ones in this predicament. Another family who had reservations who was not being sat told us a relative who worked here was not paid when we she employed. So while the food is excellent, do not give this establishment any money it does not deserve. There are many other restaurants in the North End with better service.

Fast and friendly service! I ordered the lobster ravioli and loved it. The bread and dipping oil were also great! Would definitely recommend!

Tried this place tonight as there were lines everywhere else. Great choice! Started with an anti-pasti loaded with great cheeses, salami, prosciutto and artichoke... delicious. Had the seafood special. Clams, mussels, squid over linguini fra diavolo. Great portion (left a bit behind. Stuffed!). Service was great. Maria was attentive and had great suggestions. Priced right even with a bottle of wine! Will be back.

This is definitely my favorite authentic Italian restaurant in the North End! From the minute you walk thru the door, you can feel the relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The service is excellent, and the staff is welcoming and very attentive to every detail of your dining experience. The food is absolutely delicious, prepared and presented perfectly. There is something for everyone, especially a fish lover like me. The stuffed salmon was done to perfection, with broccoli spears in a light olive oil and garlic marinade. The lemon chicken with linguine in a light lemon sauce was amazingly delicious and perfectly balanced. Don't pass thru the North End without stoping in to Pagliuca's for lunch or dinner. You won't be disappointed, trust me!

The food was OK. The service was OK. It was tucked off the main street (Hanover) and not very busy. There were lines at most other restaurants in the area, but maybe those places are more than just OK. I just expected more from a place that has been around a while (maybe that's the issue?) in the "famous" North End of Boston.

If you are looking for a quick eat in the north end, you might get away going to pagliucas. My wife and I came in on a Saturday night at prime dinner time and tried our luck at a few of our favorites spots with no luck. Pagliucas took us right in finding a table for two in their back room. We did like the ambiance of the restaurant as it felt like we were in somebodies living room about to get a home cooked authentic meal. The food was great but the drinks were a little pricy for the quality...overall would have given another star but as with most places in the north end, it got extremely loud during dinner when two other large tables were seated to the point that my wife and I couldn't get a word in with each other. On an off night you might be pleasantly surprised but this little hole in the wall off of the main beat of Salem/Hanover street.

I came here on a Sunday evening when visiting Boston. Everyone told us we had to go to little Italy for some great Italian food so we listened. We didn't make a reservation anywhere, so we tried a couple of places that couldn't get us in, but finally we found this restaurant and they could seat us right away. I'm so glad we found this place because their lobster ravioli was to die for! We even enjoyed a nice bottle of champagne with our meals. The place was very cute and cozy, and the staff was very friendly. I definitely recommend this restaurant in Little Italy!

Never disappoints! Great vibe, great service and excellent food! Tripe for me and Chicken Campagna for my wife. Delizioso!

We visited there on Sunday night not too busy it is a very small place and loud the food was not good my fried peppers were ok . We wouldn't go back for sure .

When it comes to dining in the North End, I'm not particularly worried about the star-rating of any Italian restaurant. I figure anyplace that isn't too good isn't going to last long. Local friends had dined here previously and enjoyed it, so we were fine coming here, and the food and experience were quite enjoyable. The antipasto platter with which we started set the bar pretty high for the evening. With everything on it, it can be quite filling for a small group but just right for a medium group. We almost had to resort to using our utensils as weapons of combat as we fought for those delicious red peppers - they were, for us, the stars of the dish. My entree, Chicken Felix, is I guess their take on Chicken Francese. The chicken was moist and tender. I'm not sure if you can get a choice of pastas with it, I wasn't asked and I didn't think to ask, but I was fine with the ziti. I've noticed that the entrees on their website don't match the current menu, so use that for an idea of what's offered, but expect some different options on the current menu (such as the Chicken Felix, for example), and pay close attention the evening's specials too. Service was great also, we were well attended and everything came out very quickly. I'd certainly visit again.

The Best in the North End!! Amazing food! Authentic Italian Cuisine. Great service!! The hot antipasto is the best! Reservations are a must.

We stopped in here yesterday afternoon to take a break from shopping and had a great lunch! They brought over 2 baskets of soft bread with olive oil and our waitress also gave us butter for the kiddos. The meatballs with ricotta came with 2 large meatballs and was perfect with the Caesar salad. The kids enjoyed the lobster ravioli (4 large ones), shrimp scampi, pasta marinara, and lamb chops. They were VERY accommodating!!! My daughter asked for chocolate milk which came a little later than the other drinks and the waitress said "we ran out of milk so they ran out to the store to get some!" My nephew's lamb chops came over arugula but she brought him a side of pasta with sauce at no charge and without being asked. It was just very thoughtful and I think they went above and beyond! Great service and I'd definitely go back next time we're in the North End!

Went for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend - reasonable prices for the north end, and delicious homemade pasta. Our waitress was very friendly. The bread was good but would be better if it was warmer. The homemade pasta was the best. An older place with the older vibes and a hand written check - loved that feel though!

Food was good Appetizer are decent in size. Prices very reasonable Service efficient and quick Place is not very noisy

Small place, old but neat deco, good service, excellent food quality, coffee can be improved. Will go back to try more dishes.

When I read that Zagat gave it 4.5 I was sure it's a great choice. The servers were friendly but the food was bad. We were reading about the homey food and praises about the marinara sauce. Save yourself the calories, the money and don't eat here. The calamari was the only ok dish. The sauces were nothing special. The pasta was over cooked. The artichoke not good. There are so so many Italian places all around here but this place is definitely not worth it. We didn't even bother returning the food. Just don't come here. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because the servers were friendly.

Terrible disappointing low quality overpriced food. I hate going to places like this. We were forced to because the other restaurants were full and we randomly picked this place.

One of my go to spots in the North End. It is one of the few places that accepts debit/credit cards. Everything is delicious, and they have really good sangria. Perfect for any time of the day and the service is always good.

This review is for takeout on a busy friday night... The greeter at the door was lovely and warm, honestly she's the reason I ultimately ordered food from here. My gf a local, referred me to a handful of Italian restaurants and this one was the most inviting for me. Anyway, we ordered the Gnocchi "to go" for my (youngest) son who stayed behind at my friends place, he was taking a breather from our travels (we had just taken a train from NYC)! He loved the meal and the warm bread served on the side. The next day he was up and ready to roll so I guess the carbs upon carbs helped his case! Next time I'm in Boston I'll be sure to stop back in as their other menu items look fantastic!

Was recommended to try. Had high hopes that fell a little short. Staff was very friendly and overhearing them speak with each other in Italian was a encouraging. At the Uber drop off in the middle of the Amal street sandwiched between a million other family owned Italian places, walking in gave a small quaint feel to the place with the windows opening to the street with tons of foot traffic was great. But the food just missed from what I hoped. A solid 2 stars. I had the lasagna which was edible but didn't wow me. My wife had the chicken Felix which didn't have much flavor. It looks like it should be great, but could only taste the cooked off white wine no other seasoning.

When walking and you feel like you are in Italy it was the most wonderful feeling and charming and everybody was so welcoming. The smell was intoxicating of all the flavors and everything cooking you could smell the garlic in the pasta sauce it was absolutely delicious. Our survey came over because it was our first time there she explained the menu and made a few suggestions we started with a hot antipasto which was absolutely incredible and then we ordered a variety to share. We started with Bill Parmesan a seafood Chia Pinot dish eggplant Parmesan and stuffed salmon with sauté broccoli. If you want to step back in time and feel like you are in Italy please go visit this location in the north end of Boston it will not disappoint you will not be disappointed it was absolutely fantastic.

Had a reservation at 5pm along with several other parties and all of us had to wait at least an hour to be seated. The restaurant was incredibly understaffed and disorganized. Do not go here if you want water in a timely manner and breading on your chicken parm. We were neglected for 50 minutes before receiving our food and were pretty sure we got someone's leftover bread. Go literally anywhere else in the North End. Also, sauce was really salty.

The food and service were amazing! Had the ravioli and meatballs. So delicious! And the waitress was attentive and kind. Sat is near the window which was perfect.

Great, authentic, Italian cuisine. Makes you feel like you're in the heart of Italy! Huge portions, decent prices, great drinks. Will absolutely return 100 times over.