Great food! Omar provided amazing service and Mike was such a a welcoming host! Both were so nice to my 14 year old son.The fusilli rabe with sausage was delicious as was the carbonara!Kid-friendliness: The staff were friendly and professional and made sure to include my 14 year old son in the conversation. Omar went over the drink list with him and explained the dish he wanted to be sure he would be happy with his selection.Mike, who welcomed us in, joked with our son and made him feel comfortable and at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm, Calamari Fritti
Christopher Widmer
Excellent North End restaurant. Omar has served us twice, and both times he’s treated us like family. The food is always outstanding . Can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Bellair
Everyone was absolutely wonderful and friendly. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was authentic!! Omar was phenomenal!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zachary Babbitz
Great food and very attentive service by Omar!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sausage, Tiramisu
Connie Rosa
As in the past, we had Omar as our waiter. He is attentive, but does not hover and interrupt the conversation. We dine at the Cantina with 2 other couples that we usually see 2 or 3 times a year, so the chatter is almost non stop. Having opened in 1931 as the first restaurant in the North End speaks volumes for its success.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread and Oil, Calamari Fritti, Parmigiana Di Pollo, Lasagna Al Forno, Gnocchi Alla Norcina
R P
We had the best Italian meal here! Checked in for our reservation and we were seated at a great table! The food was absolutely delicious! It was like a movie in terms of the atmosphere and the buzz of the patrons chatting. Great place to eat in the North End. We felt welcomed by everybody especially Omar. Thank you for a great experience and especially tasty food!
Michelle Cao
the food was fine but definitely higher quality pasta can be found at other places in north end for the same price. reservations were overbooked, and service could have been better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi Alla Norcina
John Jones
Whenever I’m asked about my favorite Italian restaurant in Boston, there’s only one place that comes to mind. It’s not just a dining spot for me—it’s an experience that I look forward to, time and time again. The food is consistently outstanding, this place is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy great food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MichelleG
What a great dining experience!! From start to finish . Our waiter “O” (he has a very Italian name I don't want to mess up ) was absolutely awesome . Food was delicious, we were not rushed at all !!! We will go back !!!!
Peter S
What an excellent dining experience!! The food & atmosphere were outstanding. Frutti Di Mare was excellente!!!! Everyone enjoyed their meal. Aracini was really good. Bread and pasta is made on premises and is wonderful.Our waiter Omar was top notch!!!! Loved the Cannoli and Lemon Sorbe for dessert. Highly recommend!! ?
Good food but I think the Pasta should come with the meals and not cost extra,Most of the other restaurants in the North end include the Pasta.I and my wife like sitting at the bar, the bartenders are great.They are very good and make great drinks
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dent
Great Friday night dinner at Cantina Italiana! the staff is friendly and welcoming and the classic Italian Menu is delicious. We particularly loved our waiter Orazio - he was outstanding! He gave us accurate and detailed information on the menu; made excellent recommendations; and was extremely attentive throught our dinner. Thios restaurant is neighborhood gem in the North End
Halle Barron
Came here for my birthday dinner last night from out of state after seeing so many good reviews online with a party of 12 and had to leave before being able to enjoy the meal together. We were placed in the corner of the restaurant, where my own brother was so uncomfortable with people carrying things over his head and having no space that he left before ordering. We all our young adults and I feel we were treated differently due to our age and rudely talked to by management when asked if there was any solution to getting another table. Everything the manager said to us made me feel like he cared more about wanting to make money than ensuring we had a good experience to celebrate the occasion. The waitresses were lovely and did the best they could considering the situation. My advice would be to only accept reservations for as many people as the restaurant can reasonably accommodate so everyone can have an enjoyable experience.
Jeremey Conboy
Me and my party of 12 just ate last night at cantina italiana for a birthday celebration having a prior reservation placed. Upon being seated, we were placed in the rear of the restaurant at a table which could not accommodate even 10 people comfortably. Two people needed to be seated at the direct corner of the table, with barely enough room to eat. To make it worse, those corner seats were at the intersection between the kitchen and the rest of the restaurant, with waiters and staff bumping into those sat there the entire time we waited for drinks. The person sitting there eventually left having been bumped into and after having a table carried over their head.We politely expressed our discontent with our seating arrangement and were told by the lovely waitress we could be moved to another table once the party sitting there had left. The other party left and we were shortly told after there was another party coming in and we couldn’t be moved, however the food would be out quickly.Having lost a person of the party and the discontent of being told we wouldn’t be moved, I asked to speak to the manager directly- his name is omar. Upon coming to the table, he immediately brought up how it was unfair we were requesting to be moved but had only ordered five meals at the time (take in mind, the meals are huge, we ordered drinks, and we had intentions of dessert) and did not deserve to be accommodated. The discussion became immediately tense thereafter knowing we wouldn’t be accommodated or even apologized to because it was about the money. We asked to pay for what we had eaten and decided that we would be leaving. At that point, the manager began to compromise and offered to move us. We declined and left the restaurant having paid for our drinks and the food was packed up for us, on the house.We were disgusted at how this interaction was handled. Such a simple issue that could have been avoided by only accepting reservations for as many people that could be accommodated. The manager is money driven and extremely rude. Birthday dinner was ruined. Would never eat here again.The food was 8.5/10 and waitresses were lovely, hence 1 star review.
Food: 4
Dakota Hogan
Wonderful bar service! The stuffed mushrooms are amazing!
Great food! Omar provided amazing service and Mike was such a a welcoming host! Both were so nice to my 14 year old son.The fusilli rabe with sausage was delicious as was the carbonara!Kid-friendliness: The staff were friendly and professional and made sure to include my 14 year old son in the conversation. Omar went over the drink list with him and explained the dish he wanted to be sure he would be happy with his selection.Mike, who welcomed us in, joked with our son and made him feel comfortable and at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm, Calamari Fritti
Excellent North End restaurant. Omar has served us twice, and both times he’s treated us like family. The food is always outstanding . Can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everyone was absolutely wonderful and friendly. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was authentic!! Omar was phenomenal!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food and very attentive service by Omar!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sausage, Tiramisu
As in the past, we had Omar as our waiter. He is attentive, but does not hover and interrupt the conversation. We dine at the Cantina with 2 other couples that we usually see 2 or 3 times a year, so the chatter is almost non stop. Having opened in 1931 as the first restaurant in the North End speaks volumes for its success.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread and Oil, Calamari Fritti, Parmigiana Di Pollo, Lasagna Al Forno, Gnocchi Alla Norcina
We had the best Italian meal here! Checked in for our reservation and we were seated at a great table! The food was absolutely delicious! It was like a movie in terms of the atmosphere and the buzz of the patrons chatting. Great place to eat in the North End. We felt welcomed by everybody especially Omar. Thank you for a great experience and especially tasty food!
the food was fine but definitely higher quality pasta can be found at other places in north end for the same price. reservations were overbooked, and service could have been better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi Alla Norcina
Whenever I’m asked about my favorite Italian restaurant in Boston, there’s only one place that comes to mind. It’s not just a dining spot for me—it’s an experience that I look forward to, time and time again. The food is consistently outstanding, this place is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy great food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a great dining experience!! From start to finish . Our waiter “O” (he has a very Italian name I don't want to mess up ) was absolutely awesome . Food was delicious, we were not rushed at all !!! We will go back !!!!
What an excellent dining experience!! The food & atmosphere were outstanding. Frutti Di Mare was excellente!!!! Everyone enjoyed their meal. Aracini was really good. Bread and pasta is made on premises and is wonderful.Our waiter Omar was top notch!!!! Loved the Cannoli and Lemon Sorbe for dessert. Highly recommend!! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Good food but I think the Pasta should come with the meals and not cost extra,Most of the other restaurants in the North end include the Pasta.I and my wife like sitting at the bar, the bartenders are great.They are very good and make great drinks
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Great Friday night dinner at Cantina Italiana! the staff is friendly and welcoming and the classic Italian Menu is delicious. We particularly loved our waiter Orazio - he was outstanding! He gave us accurate and detailed information on the menu; made excellent recommendations; and was extremely attentive throught our dinner. Thios restaurant is neighborhood gem in the North End
Came here for my birthday dinner last night from out of state after seeing so many good reviews online with a party of 12 and had to leave before being able to enjoy the meal together. We were placed in the corner of the restaurant, where my own brother was so uncomfortable with people carrying things over his head and having no space that he left before ordering. We all our young adults and I feel we were treated differently due to our age and rudely talked to by management when asked if there was any solution to getting another table. Everything the manager said to us made me feel like he cared more about wanting to make money than ensuring we had a good experience to celebrate the occasion. The waitresses were lovely and did the best they could considering the situation. My advice would be to only accept reservations for as many people as the restaurant can reasonably accommodate so everyone can have an enjoyable experience.
Me and my party of 12 just ate last night at cantina italiana for a birthday celebration having a prior reservation placed. Upon being seated, we were placed in the rear of the restaurant at a table which could not accommodate even 10 people comfortably. Two people needed to be seated at the direct corner of the table, with barely enough room to eat. To make it worse, those corner seats were at the intersection between the kitchen and the rest of the restaurant, with waiters and staff bumping into those sat there the entire time we waited for drinks. The person sitting there eventually left having been bumped into and after having a table carried over their head.We politely expressed our discontent with our seating arrangement and were told by the lovely waitress we could be moved to another table once the party sitting there had left. The other party left and we were shortly told after there was another party coming in and we couldn’t be moved, however the food would be out quickly.Having lost a person of the party and the discontent of being told we wouldn’t be moved, I asked to speak to the manager directly- his name is omar. Upon coming to the table, he immediately brought up how it was unfair we were requesting to be moved but had only ordered five meals at the time (take in mind, the meals are huge, we ordered drinks, and we had intentions of dessert) and did not deserve to be accommodated. The discussion became immediately tense thereafter knowing we wouldn’t be accommodated or even apologized to because it was about the money. We asked to pay for what we had eaten and decided that we would be leaving. At that point, the manager began to compromise and offered to move us. We declined and left the restaurant having paid for our drinks and the food was packed up for us, on the house.We were disgusted at how this interaction was handled. Such a simple issue that could have been avoided by only accepting reservations for as many people that could be accommodated. The manager is money driven and extremely rude. Birthday dinner was ruined. Would never eat here again.The food was 8.5/10 and waitresses were lovely, hence 1 star review.
Food: 4
Wonderful bar service! The stuffed mushrooms are amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5