I have been trying to hit different restaurants in the North End when going to see the Bruins and have been to almost every popular restaurant in the neighborhood. We went to Aqua Pazza on Saturday before the game and it may have been my favorite experience in the North End. The service was excellent, the food was fantastic and the vibe is bright and wide open. We had zucchini flowers, manicotti and cacio e pepe and it was the first time in a long time I finished my entire meal. This is the only time I have made an effort to write a review on Open Table, I enjoyed it that much.
RobertW
Wonderful staff which that was very helpful of offering suggestions from a nice variety of Entrées and main courses. The ambience is warm and open with large windows over looking the lights of Boston. The grilled octopus was out of this world as was the beef Capacio with its wonderful truffle sauce. The Dover soul was beautifully prepared and deboned table side into moist strips of white fish with a light butter and lemon sauce. Also, enjoyed the unique serving of tiramisu for desert, which was also prepared table and was a great way to finish off the meal. Was a great place to celebrate our anniversary, and greatly appreciated the great service and food.
JOHNP
I was a bit hesitant as this was a last day reservation and most everything else in the North End was booked and they had multiple opening but we were not disappointed. The restaurant itself is up to date, clean, sharp and bright. Not a big space so be prepared for that but that is not unusual in the area. Sat right away and service was attentive. Crazy wine list but I am no specialist so I helped myself to the wines by the glass and they were delicious...Montepulciano. Not a oyster person but many ordered around us. Shared a Caesar salad which was a half a head of romaine with a delicious but not overbearing dressing. Also had the meatball appetizer...not my moms but delicious and the red sauce was fresh and bright. For dinner, I had the wild boar tagliatelle...delicious..nice size portion but not crazy and my son had the gnocchi in brown butter which were very soft. They came with fried onions on the top which we bought thought weird and my son swears they were out of a can....can't believe that but..Stuffed, we did not have desert. I am long of Italian heritage (well 50% Sicilian which my Nepalese father said was not Italian), lover to cook and so often disappointed in Italian food. This was a pleasure and will bring my wife on our next visit to Boston. 2 apps, 3 beers, 2 wines, 2 entrees...$150
Alex
We booked a reservation for a Thursday night just a few hours before. We came in to what the hostess referred to as the best seat in the house - and it most definitely was. We were seated at a cute two person window at the corner of the restaurant. All the street facing walls are huge windows, giving a lovely view outside and likely a beautifully naturally lit atmosphere during the day. Outside the window next to us, we were able to see the street corner and the lights of the skyscrapers next to us.We started with the half seafood tower, absolutely devouring all the seafood they placed in front of us. Our lovely waiter let us know which oysters we were according to the name card they provided. I wish they gave us a tool to crack open the large lobster claw, but we got in there with a fork ? There was a lot of extra lobster meat hiding away in there!We also ordered the grilled Positano style octopus which came with an eggplant caponata and burrata which. Everything on this plate was absolute delicious. The burrata was so so good, that we ended up adding the burrata appetizer to our order.The burrata at this place just melts in your mouth and it tastes so fresh. The burrata appetizer came with a homemade tomato jam that paired so flawlessly.We also ordered the Pappardelle al Cinghiale which was made with wild boar, red wine, and porcini mushrooms. I was really craving a pasta dish with wide noodles so this menu item called out to me. The sauce was rich with lots of shredded wild boar meat and slices of mushroom.To wrap up the meal we had a deconstructed tiramisu which the server carefully poured the coffee liquor over and spread the mascarpone cream on top. We really loved this dish; the sponge cake was soft and the mascarpone cream was the perfect consistency.We also had an Italian Coffee and the Sicilian Coffee. They were cuter than I expected arriving in big glasses with whipped cream on top. We particularly loved the flavor of the amaretto which gave it a yummy almond taste.This was also a great place to enjoy a variety of Amaro. We ended up trying 3: a Sicilian amaro that was incredibly smooth, a powerful herbal amaro (which my boyfriend ended up loving even though I typically love the herbal ones), and one made from artichokes (which I found to be shockingly amazing).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CyndyC
Aqua plaza is an incredible experience. We started our meal with three different types of oysters raw of course they served it with three different sauces and Tabasco. Then we had the beef capaccio and the calamari which also included scallops and shrimp that was a nice surprise and very delicious. Finally we had a crab leg and a lobster then tiramisu for dessert which I have to tell you is an absolute foodie experience toasted lady fingers, whipped mascarpone cheese espresso with shaved chocolate melt in your mouth along with a cappuccino. They were short staffed on waiters but everyone pitched in things went really smoothly I waiter was very attentive we had a fabulous time would definitely go again this is a great place for a date if you really want to impress someone.
Hugh Neville
Pretty disappointed in our meal last night. I used to come here all the time for oysters and cocktails…and I think that’s maybe the best to stick to. The halibut special I got was unremarkable and the vegetables were not very flavorful. When the highlight of the meal is the raw shellfish appetizer there is something wrong. Our party of four had two halibut specials and two pasta dishes and no one was pleased with the bland and lukewarm food we were served.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fresh Oysters
One of the best meals I have ever had in the north end! Everything was fantastic and the service was great! We went for a birthday and would highly recommend. We will be coming back for dinner.
SamsonS
Our dinner at Aqua Pazza last night was spectacular in every way. The food, the service, the ambiance, the expertise of the maître d', Matthew, was top notch. We can't wait to return!
John Jennings
This is a jewel. The servers, the owner and the staff are amazing. The food and drinks are next level. The chicken Parmesan is huge. I couldn’t eat half of it. The staff promised to give it to a person in need. ❤️ These are great humans!!! Please visit this restaurant if you are in Boston.Kid-friendliness: Staff are so amazing. They are very personable and seem to care about their customers and society.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana
Melanie
Came in without a reservation for dinner and grabbed 2 seats at the bar. Service was excellent as was the pasta and wine selection. The espresso martini was also good.
Amazing option in North End! Great vibe, manages to be cozy & modern all at the same time. The food & service is incredible — The pasta sampler special was a *can’t miss* IMO & the GM, Matt, goes above and beyond to make sure you’re experience is top notch.
Disappointed with the hostess. We showed up without a reservation because we were in the area and saw there was plenty of availability per open table. We were told they were full until a booked a reservation in front of her. Then we were sat.
Heather H.
Aqua Pazza is an easy favorite in the north end! Everything from the starters, to the pasta, to the entrees are delicious. The lobster ravioli and the wild boar & mushroom pasta were amazing! I've been in the summer & winter times and both offer great atmosphere, wether it's the large open windows in august or the cozy soft lighting in December you can't go wrong. The GM, Matt, will make sure you're taken care of like family!
Allyson B.
Everything was absolutely perfect. The service, food, and ambiance could not have been better. Both the chicken parmigiana and short ribs were perfect. The portions were large and delicious.
Alex Issokson
The food was excellent overall. I enjoyed my spaghetti and meatballs. My family got some fish dishes which they also enjoyed. For appetizers, the caesar salad was good but the arancini didn’t have a red sauce so it felt like it was missing something.The biggest issue was the service. We were sitting at the table for over 10 minutes and had to flag someone over to take our order. Nobody ever checked on us, refilled water, or brought Parmesan cheese over. Every time we wanted something, we had to work to get a server’s attention. The food was great, but we would maybe get takeout next time or come when it’s less busy. Also, the pesto with the bread was amazing, but they barely even gave a teaspoon of it.
I have been trying to hit different restaurants in the North End when going to see the Bruins and have been to almost every popular restaurant in the neighborhood. We went to Aqua Pazza on Saturday before the game and it may have been my favorite experience in the North End. The service was excellent, the food was fantastic and the vibe is bright and wide open. We had zucchini flowers, manicotti and cacio e pepe and it was the first time in a long time I finished my entire meal. This is the only time I have made an effort to write a review on Open Table, I enjoyed it that much.
Wonderful staff which that was very helpful of offering suggestions from a nice variety of Entrées and main courses. The ambience is warm and open with large windows over looking the lights of Boston. The grilled octopus was out of this world as was the beef Capacio with its wonderful truffle sauce. The Dover soul was beautifully prepared and deboned table side into moist strips of white fish with a light butter and lemon sauce. Also, enjoyed the unique serving of tiramisu for desert, which was also prepared table and was a great way to finish off the meal. Was a great place to celebrate our anniversary, and greatly appreciated the great service and food.
I was a bit hesitant as this was a last day reservation and most everything else in the North End was booked and they had multiple opening but we were not disappointed. The restaurant itself is up to date, clean, sharp and bright. Not a big space so be prepared for that but that is not unusual in the area. Sat right away and service was attentive. Crazy wine list but I am no specialist so I helped myself to the wines by the glass and they were delicious...Montepulciano. Not a oyster person but many ordered around us. Shared a Caesar salad which was a half a head of romaine with a delicious but not overbearing dressing. Also had the meatball appetizer...not my moms but delicious and the red sauce was fresh and bright. For dinner, I had the wild boar tagliatelle...delicious..nice size portion but not crazy and my son had the gnocchi in brown butter which were very soft. They came with fried onions on the top which we bought thought weird and my son swears they were out of a can....can't believe that but..Stuffed, we did not have desert. I am long of Italian heritage (well 50% Sicilian which my Nepalese father said was not Italian), lover to cook and so often disappointed in Italian food. This was a pleasure and will bring my wife on our next visit to Boston. 2 apps, 3 beers, 2 wines, 2 entrees...$150
We booked a reservation for a Thursday night just a few hours before. We came in to what the hostess referred to as the best seat in the house - and it most definitely was. We were seated at a cute two person window at the corner of the restaurant. All the street facing walls are huge windows, giving a lovely view outside and likely a beautifully naturally lit atmosphere during the day. Outside the window next to us, we were able to see the street corner and the lights of the skyscrapers next to us.We started with the half seafood tower, absolutely devouring all the seafood they placed in front of us. Our lovely waiter let us know which oysters we were according to the name card they provided. I wish they gave us a tool to crack open the large lobster claw, but we got in there with a fork ? There was a lot of extra lobster meat hiding away in there!We also ordered the grilled Positano style octopus which came with an eggplant caponata and burrata which. Everything on this plate was absolute delicious. The burrata was so so good, that we ended up adding the burrata appetizer to our order.The burrata at this place just melts in your mouth and it tastes so fresh. The burrata appetizer came with a homemade tomato jam that paired so flawlessly.We also ordered the Pappardelle al Cinghiale which was made with wild boar, red wine, and porcini mushrooms. I was really craving a pasta dish with wide noodles so this menu item called out to me. The sauce was rich with lots of shredded wild boar meat and slices of mushroom.To wrap up the meal we had a deconstructed tiramisu which the server carefully poured the coffee liquor over and spread the mascarpone cream on top. We really loved this dish; the sponge cake was soft and the mascarpone cream was the perfect consistency.We also had an Italian Coffee and the Sicilian Coffee. They were cuter than I expected arriving in big glasses with whipped cream on top. We particularly loved the flavor of the amaretto which gave it a yummy almond taste.This was also a great place to enjoy a variety of Amaro. We ended up trying 3: a Sicilian amaro that was incredibly smooth, a powerful herbal amaro (which my boyfriend ended up loving even though I typically love the herbal ones), and one made from artichokes (which I found to be shockingly amazing).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aqua plaza is an incredible experience. We started our meal with three different types of oysters raw of course they served it with three different sauces and Tabasco. Then we had the beef capaccio and the calamari which also included scallops and shrimp that was a nice surprise and very delicious. Finally we had a crab leg and a lobster then tiramisu for dessert which I have to tell you is an absolute foodie experience toasted lady fingers, whipped mascarpone cheese espresso with shaved chocolate melt in your mouth along with a cappuccino. They were short staffed on waiters but everyone pitched in things went really smoothly I waiter was very attentive we had a fabulous time would definitely go again this is a great place for a date if you really want to impress someone.
Pretty disappointed in our meal last night. I used to come here all the time for oysters and cocktails…and I think that’s maybe the best to stick to. The halibut special I got was unremarkable and the vegetables were not very flavorful. When the highlight of the meal is the raw shellfish appetizer there is something wrong. Our party of four had two halibut specials and two pasta dishes and no one was pleased with the bland and lukewarm food we were served.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fresh Oysters
One of the best meals I have ever had in the north end! Everything was fantastic and the service was great! We went for a birthday and would highly recommend. We will be coming back for dinner.
Our dinner at Aqua Pazza last night was spectacular in every way. The food, the service, the ambiance, the expertise of the maître d', Matthew, was top notch. We can't wait to return!
This is a jewel. The servers, the owner and the staff are amazing. The food and drinks are next level. The chicken Parmesan is huge. I couldn’t eat half of it. The staff promised to give it to a person in need. ❤️ These are great humans!!! Please visit this restaurant if you are in Boston.Kid-friendliness: Staff are so amazing. They are very personable and seem to care about their customers and society.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana
Came in without a reservation for dinner and grabbed 2 seats at the bar. Service was excellent as was the pasta and wine selection. The espresso martini was also good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing option in North End! Great vibe, manages to be cozy & modern all at the same time. The food & service is incredible — The pasta sampler special was a *can’t miss* IMO & the GM, Matt, goes above and beyond to make sure you’re experience is top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrata, Pappardelle Al Cinghiale, Lobster Pillows, Grilled Octopus Positano Style
Disappointed with the hostess. We showed up without a reservation because we were in the area and saw there was plenty of availability per open table. We were told they were full until a booked a reservation in front of her. Then we were sat.
Aqua Pazza is an easy favorite in the north end! Everything from the starters, to the pasta, to the entrees are delicious. The lobster ravioli and the wild boar & mushroom pasta were amazing! I've been in the summer & winter times and both offer great atmosphere, wether it's the large open windows in august or the cozy soft lighting in December you can't go wrong. The GM, Matt, will make sure you're taken care of like family!
Everything was absolutely perfect. The service, food, and ambiance could not have been better. Both the chicken parmigiana and short ribs were perfect. The portions were large and delicious.
The food was excellent overall. I enjoyed my spaghetti and meatballs. My family got some fish dishes which they also enjoyed. For appetizers, the caesar salad was good but the arancini didn’t have a red sauce so it felt like it was missing something.The biggest issue was the service. We were sitting at the table for over 10 minutes and had to flag someone over to take our order. Nobody ever checked on us, refilled water, or brought Parmesan cheese over. Every time we wanted something, we had to work to get a server’s attention. The food was great, but we would maybe get takeout next time or come when it’s less busy. Also, the pesto with the bread was amazing, but they barely even gave a teaspoon of it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2