All over the world, Italian cuisine is known as a traditional cuisine that has blended seamlessly into modern life because of its nutritional value, authenticity, and flavor. No wonder it has colored the lifestyle in major American cities like Boston. Below are the best Italian restaurants you can ever find in Boston.
Quattro
$$ | (617) 720-0444 | WEBSITE
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If you want authentic Italian food, a visit to Quattro will offer you that. It has all the mainstay of Italian cuisine – pasta, rotisserie, white pizza, Soppressata, sausage & rabe, fried mozzarella, spaghettini with meatballs, chicken ravioli mezzaluna, Lasagna Della Cassa, grilled foods, etc.
There’s also a wide array of wines and cocktails like Blueberry lemonade, espresso Martini, Aperol Spritz, and others that serve as accompaniments. The restaurant’s in the open air, so you can enjoy the serenity of the city as you eat. There are also takeout and delivery options.
Rino’s Place
$$ | (617) 567-7412 | WEBSITE
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Rino and Anna DiCenso founded Rino’s place over two decades ago, which is currently managed by their son, Anthony Dicenso. It’s well-known for its ravioli and red sauce, plus the excellent customer service, fine decor, and serene atmosphere.
The environment is family-friendly, so you can bring your kids along. Anthony grew up in Italy, and this has helped him polish the restaurant’s cuisine to show the authenticity of Italian foods, evidenced by the features they get on media channels. They only serve dinner and also have vegan-friendly options.
Sportello
$$ | (617) 737-1234 | WEBSITE
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Operated by a chef who puts together the high-quality pasta and polentas, Barbara Lynch, Sportello offers traditional Italian foods in an American style. Also, this restaurant is the real definition of community building – the counters are large enough to contain several people, so you can also make friends as you eat.
There’s also the option of having a picnic near the waterside close to it. You can make reservations, but you have to book in advance. Their popular dishes include tagliatelle bolognese, braised rabbit, tomato soup, etc. You can check them out if you want to experience their communal culture.
Coppa
$$$ | (617) 391-0902 | WEBSITE
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Coppa not only stands out for the excellent Italian dishes – pasta, pizzas, and pies- and excellent cocktails it provides but for its cozy location. If you’re looking for a place to feel comfy with your loved one or enjoy some romance with a partner, Coppa is the place. If you don’t want to sit inside, you can find some space on the sidewalk instead. A creation of chefs Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer, this restaurant’s known for preparing all its foods in-house.
Mida
$$$ | (617) 936-3490 | WEBSITE
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At the South end of Boston, Mida is another restaurant that offers excellent Italian cuisine in a splendid environment and affordable prices. You’ll find different delights on the menu – short rib lasagna, ricotta, beef bresaola, gnocchi, polenta.
Owned by one of the top chefs in America, Douglass Williams ensures that every meal is prepared as a gift to its customers. The restaurant claims to use only wholesome and fresh ingredients to prepare its meals. The customer service is very inviting too.
Prezza
$$$ | (617) 227-1577 | WEBSITE
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Anthony Caturano knew that he wanted to open the most prominent Italian restaurant in Boston, and he got started when he turned 25. Today, Prezza is regarded as one of the most classy restaurants for unique dishes, good wine, and hosting cozy gatherings.
All their chefs are handpicked and trained to satisfy the customer’s needs. It also has vegan options for vegans and nonvegans who love adventure, private party facilities, and a full bar. This restaurant is your go-to to enjoy original, rich and diverse Italian food culture.
Carmelina’s
$$ | (617) 742-0020 | WEBSITE
If you’re a lover of fresh foods such as salads, mushrooms, rollati, macaroni, you should check out Carmelina’s. It was started in 2012 by Chef di Cucina Michael Hollenkamp.
One thing that first appeals to customers when they step into the restaurant is the homely feeling that envelopes them. It’s a nice place to take your family for memorable bonding moments.
Their favorite dishes are carbonara, crazy alfredo, Frutti di mare, rollati di pasta, etc. The staff’s warmth and brilliance will also leave you wanting to come around as often as you can.
Sorellina
$$$$ | (617) 412-4600 | WEBSITE
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If you have a great taste in design, Sorellina is one of the top Italian restaurants in Boston you’d love to visit. Even though the decor’s theme is mainly black and white, the space is inviting and surreal.
Just the glamour makes you enjoy your food more, which clients say is first-rated. You can try their popular dishes, such as the traditional Milanese or the Montepulciano sauce, or if you love newness, go for the newest dishes on their menu.
In short, Chef Jamie Mammano, the restaurant’s owner, is good at what he does.
Giacomo
$$ | (617) 523-9026 | WEBSITE
Due to the long line of regulars it gets, Giacomo, also called Little Italy, isn’t a restaurant you can linger around after you’re done eating. It operates on a cash-in-hand basis, so there are no reservations.
But the simplicity of its operations doesn’t fully estimate the savor and authenticity of its food.
It’s like home to different types of Italian dishes, even the ones you’ve never heard of. Besides, it’s quite spacious as it extends into the street’s corner. It claims to be the best Italian restaurant in Boston as voted by the citizens.
Fox & the Knife
$$$ | (617) 766-8630 | WEBSITE
Modeled after the cuisine and culture in Modena, Italy, Fox & the Knife is a restaurant that uses bold ingredients to make exceptional dishes that leave the customers wowed.
Chef Karen Akunowicz is fully committed to ensuring her clients leave the restaurant with a taste of another world through food, even in America. The energy in the restaurant is electric and provides an excellent opportunity to make friends with other people.
Another quality that makes Fox & the Knife stand out is its everyday ingredients to create dishes that can’t be found anywhere else.
SRV
$$$ | (617) 536-9500 | WEBSITE
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With fantastic menu options like salt cod, ragu pasta, pork shoulder, porcini risotto, baked eggs with polenta, meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, negroni, etc., SRV, Serene Republic of Venice is another exquisite Italian restaurant that lies in the south end of the city.
The food isn’t overpriced, and the portions are quite generous. You’d also love this space if you’re a lover of antique things.
They also have private dining facilities such as the private and main dining rooms for those who want to host a cozy gathering of about 45 – 200 people, but you have to book in advance.
Nico
$$ | (617) 742-0404 | WEBSITE
Nico is a lounge, wine bar, and restaurant all in one. It also claims that all it sells are locally sourced under the expertise of an award-winning chef who knows what it takes to win over clients.
Their menu options span buffalo mozzarella, fine Italian cheeses, salami, wild mushrooms, white truffle cream sauce, lobster ravioli, jumbo shrimp, broccoli rabe, sausage, parmesan, English peas, toasted bread crumbs, etc. Nico is a mix of flavor and finesse that leaves you stunned, content yet never wanting it to finish.
Summary
Authentic Italian cuisine will remain appreciated for a long time to come, and there’s nowhere better than these best Italian restaurants in Boston listed above to enjoy it, whether alone or with loved ones.
Nathan Perkins starts working at Birch Restaurant as an intern, focusing on SEO and content marketing. After graduation, he joins the team as a full-blown editor and coordinator. He collaborates with other editors, operates, and manages each post on the blog. On weekends, he spends most of his time camping or traveling, seeking Mexican food or café restaurant.
