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Haymarket (Orange)
North Station (Orange, Green)
Aquarium (Blue)
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Aaaahh, yes! Es perfecto!
Love love LOVED this place. The quaintness, the yelling Italians, the thick authentic Boston accent?! Not only that, but the food was Ah--May--Zing! I miss it already.
I had the Frutti di Mare in the spicy Fradiavolo sauce, my sister had it with the house lobster-based Giacomo sauce. Both equally superb. Mussles cooked. To perfection. Take notes Maggiano's. geez. Scallops were also delicious.
It was easy to get to and we seated quickly. Maybe because we went a little early and there were only two of us. The line out the door did get longer and longer as we savored every bite. ;)
Only drawback....Cash only. poo. I love my credit cards.
Everyone and their mom seems to know about Giacomo's. And if they don't, then they'll wait in line as soon as they see a line forming. Monkey see, monkey do. Regardless, their experiences will always be superb!
You have to have everyone present in your party to be seated unless you can order for them. We started waiting about 30 minutes before opening and got seated right when it opened. My friends raved about the Frutti di Mare and you can get an individual platter of this or a two-person platter (which includes lobster for $55 or for $65 you can add wine too). See my pictures for comparison. It was heavenly. Definitely get the half red and half white sauce. The seafood was fresh, the pasta was cooked al dente, and the sauce had depth (they don't just throw cream at you).
We also got calamari as an appetizer and they deep fry the peppers in addition to it (similar to Rhode Island style). Good but didn't surprise me as much as my main dish. I don't normally go out of my way for Italian food but this blew my mind. It was my first time to Boston but this is definitely a place I'll come back to... no doubt!
I'm a little bit sad that I have to give Giacomo's 3 stars. I would honestly prefer to give them 4, but can't quite seem to do it.
Ten years ago when I lived in Quincy, I took my sister to Giacomo's based on a some good reviews and word of mouth. This was prior to Rachael Ray's endorsement (the kiss of death for transforming a decent local joint into the ninth circle of hell teeming with loudmouth tourists.) What I remember is a lobster linguine with sauce so sublime that I licked my plate. I'm the consummate slob, but that's even a mite disgusting for me. In other words, this was some good freakin' sauce.
This is a family-style joint with big plates and a basic menu, where you choose a sauce, meat, and noodle. But unlike other paint-by-numbers places, the food was actually good. The Macaroni Grill this was not. Is not?
My dad and I are back east right now, and I couldn't wait to take him to Giacomo's.
Should've heeded the warnings. Every local that we spoke with practically rolled their eyes while giving us directions to Giacomo's. I considered the possibilities:
The food is crap.
The service is crap.
They are just sick of tourists asking about this particular place.
I'm an optimist about food, so I went with option 3.
The wait wasn't very long (it was a rainy Tuesday night) and the waitress looked like she wanted to put me in a headlock when I asked her what the "Giacomo sauce" was before she got a chance to complete her menu explanation spiel.
Otherwise, she seemed like a nice lady that would probably take in stray animals and babysit your kids on a moment's notice. So I let that
one go.
The caesar salad was just average. It didn't exactly suck. The dressing wasn't too tangy, too thick, or too anything. It wasn't bad, but it was far from memorable. The very middle of meh.
My dad ordered a plate of the fried mozzarella. This was a little bit better, the batter was very light which and the mozzarella wasn't rubbery which (in my determination) are the only factors that prevent this dish from tasting like it came from TGI Friday's.
Too bad they slathered it in marinara sauce that wasn't bad, but was also of the mysteriously unmemorable variety.
We moved on to the pasta special with fusili in the "Giacomo" sauce (bechamel and marinara combined) with chunks of lobster and shrimp. I don't know why everybody thinks that a 20 dollar and beyond price tag on pasta is such a bargain. I don't. And I don't care if it is topped with gold leaf and truffled Harvard diplomas.
That said, the lobster was delicious and the folks at Giacomo's do not skimp portion-wise. I only ate about a quarter of the pasta and I felt painfully bloated afterwards. Generosity is not a problem here.
The sauce was good, the pasta al dente, and the shrimp decent but overcooked. This was good stuff, but not the Giacomo's pasta of my memory. It was not a transcendent experience, but merited a few Mmmms.
I got plenty of time to consider the virtues of this meal as it repeated on me until midnight that night.
Go to Giacomo's and don't expect to be blown away by the appetizers.
My guess is that they do fried appetizers well, so stick with those, and any entree involving lobster.
Worth the wait.
Got there at around 5:30pm on Saturday with a party of two and waited about half an hour!
There are so many wonderful things about this restaurant. The most important, though, is the food (of course!).
We had to go with the butternut squash ravioli with asparagus and proscuitto marscapone cheese sauce. When we discussed it, the woman at the table next to us leaned over and said, "It's delicious," pointing to her plate. I don't even like butternut squash all that much, but this dish was amazing. Slightly sweet, not to cheesy or salty, but just the right balance of everything - tastes, textures, etc.
We also ordered the veal marsala with came with a side of spaghetti with marinara sauce. This was great, but not as good as the ravioli. It was extremely flavorful, and they didn't skip on that rich, unique marsala wine taste. We ordered it because it was only a dollar more than the chicken marsala, and we thought, "When is veal ever this cheap?" The veal was very tender and we liked this dish a lot.
Another really fantastic thing about Giacomo's is the camaraderie you feel with all the people waiting in line with you but especially with the people you're dining with because the place is really that small. People had to move their chairs every time someone wanted to get by, elbows were hitting strangers' elbows and servers had to reach over diners to get food on the table. Sounds really annoying, but everyone seemed to have a positive attitude about it and just rolled with the punches.
The last wonderful thing I have to say about this restaurant is that it's easy on the wallet. We paid $32 (not including tip) for two entrees and we were fully, fully satisfied.
Tip: if you don't want to wait, get there BEFORE they open. Seriously.
Another tip: every additional person in your group adds to your waiting time exponentially. Seriously. y = x^2. Because our group and the group in front of us had parties of two, we got seated before the 15 people in line ahead of us.
But enjoy! It is seriously seriously worth it.
Worth the wait? Perhaps just once or twice. I don't think it's worth the wait to come here often.
Friday night around 7pm, the line was around the corner...which is AT LEAST 1+ hour wait. So we came back Saturday night right when the restaurant opened (5pm) and guess what? THERE WAS STILL A LINE. It was shorter so we got seated about 30 mins later at this tiny table with shared elbow space with the neighboring table. As for the food, the fried calamari was yummy. There were bits of fried red peppers and jalepenos (?) in it as well. I have to admit, the butternut squash ravioli was AMAZING. The creamy cheese prosciutto sauce, oh man...we licked that plate clean, literally. The lobster ravioli was delicious too, really cheesy with chunks of lobster in it. I used the bread to wipe all that leftover garlic cream sauce up, it was goooood. Our waiter laughed at how clean our plates were.
However, this is definitely not my ideal date spot since there are 30 hungry people waiting outside the door giving you the stink eye to hurry your ass up and leave.
food = good
long wait + no space + being rushed to eat/pay/leave + cash only = not so good
Giacomo's is probably the most famous Boston Italian restaurant that doesn't take reservations. People wait in line for upwards of an hour to get into this place. The menu is constantly rotating, but is always affordable.
I had the Frutti di Mare, it was superb. The calamari was a bit greasy, but nothing that is uncommon. Finally, despite the really fast turnover in this place--the service is pretty good.
I would expand and take reservations, for the love of all that is delicious.
WORTH THE WAIT!!! Don't let the long ass line that stretches around the corner discourage you. If you see a line stretched out the door; it has to be good!
Stand in line, talk with the strangers standing in line with you. People are friendly. Why not make a new friend while standing in line? There's a good chance you'll be sitting next to them again. It's a small tiny place.
Yes, try the butternut squash ravioli! Really good! The creamy sauce is a bit on the sweet side, but it compliments it well!
The fried calamari....crunchy goodness! Tender....not chewy!
The wait staff was a bit pushy, as in asking if we would like to order the minute we sat down. I can forgive them because I understand that have to turn tables fast with a line down the block.
Prices won't break the bank!!! Great Italian food! As authentic as it gets!
The whole dining experience was kind of surreal. First of all, there is no "list" to put your name on, you have to stand outside and wait in line, rain or shine. OR... meet nice folks who will hold your spot while you go get Mike's Pastries and a flask of Cap'n Morgan (Bostonians are really nice people!).
It's about an hour wait from the corner down the street. The restaurant has about 10 tables and two seats at the bar. We got lucky and were seated at the bar, right next to the chefs! The waitstaff is no nonsense, true Bostonian Italians with attitude. Loved it. We ordered the House Special - Zuppa di Pesce, which is every kind of seafood imaginable piled on top of a huge dish of linguini. The shrimp is jumbo sized and the lobster is extremely fresh and tender. You get your choice of sauce and we went with a mix of a creamy Lobster sauce with a spicy sauce. Heaven in my freaking mouth. The wine selection is also no-nonsense. With the house special, a very decent bottle of Chianti came out to an additional $10.
You feel really rushed to eat b/c people are standing outside the window glaring you down. But this restaurant is a MUST!
The only downside: CASH ONLY.
I actually do not like Italian food that much. I use to actually hate pasta and I hated eating out at a Italian restaurant....until I met Giacomo's.
I want to first give you 6 stars instead of 5 because 5 stars does not fully capture your greatness. You made me actually fall in love with Italian dishes and your pasta dishes actually changed my hatred towards pasta.
Among the 5 star restaurants, for me, this is top 3.
Now, it seems like every time I'm passing North End, there is a long line outside Giacomo's...but when there was a snow storm with people freezing to death, Giacomo's was the only restaurant with people still waiting outside to eat the food no matter what. Now, this proves that Giacomo's is worth dying for (literally).
Giacomo's, you just win in life.
I love Italian food. Long lines always intrigue me, and one weekend not too long ago, a few friends and I decided to check this place out. We ended up in a very cramped table off to the side, which I was expecting given the long wait. The waitress was very nice, and even though it was pretty crazy outside, and that line wasn't getting any shorter, she didn't seem to rush us. This gave me a very good impression.
Finally we did order. Man, is this place cheap. Very cheap wine and everything, which is A-OK in my book. We didn't start with any appetizers, which we figured they'd be happy with, given the line. I went for the chicken marsala. Another friend of mine went with the pumpkin ravioli and the final friend I was with had a seafood pasta.
The chicken marsala was bad. Very bad. Everything from the presentation to the taste missed. I thought the pasta was bland, and seemed akin to a pile of wet noodles. The Chicken was pretty well prepared and marinated, but there was very little of it and it did not bring the dish back from the deep hole that it was digging. The dishes that my friends ordered were very good, however. The ravioli was especially good.
Stick to the seafood or the ravioli here, if I ever find myself here again (sort of unlikely with so many other options and such a long line for this place) that is what I will do.
I could take the smelly garbage days, the hapless tourists, and the crazy locals in the North End IF I lived by Giacomo's.
This place is amazing. I grew up in an Italian family and know authentic when I taste it. This place is reasonably priced for such amazing food! The butternut squash ravioli - divine. The frutti di mare - absolutely delicious. The customize your favorite combination of seafood, pasta, and sauce (generally get calamari, mussels, and fra diavolo) - perfection. The wine is decent but who cares about that when you have a steaming bowl of succulent, al dente pasta with gravy in front of you!
The only downfall is that they don't serve lunch and the place is teeeeeeny. You will always wait because there is going to be a line - rain or shine or snow or hurricane. Because it is totally worth it.
Their South End location is good as well AND they take reservations!
When anyone asks me how to spot this restaurant, I simply reply "just look for the one with the ginormous line in front." I have never seen Giacomo's without a line outside of it, even in the winter. But if you have the patience, the wait's worth it. Just arrive close to opening time and you should be golden.
My friend was in town visiting so we decided to snack on a cannoli to hold ourselves over while waiting in line. 30 minutes later, we were finally in! We quickly sat down and wasted no time with useless conversation and got right to ordering. After all, this was not a date and we could talk after food.
She had the special of the night, which was pasta with a half lobster. And I had the butternut squash ravioli. The ravioli is amazing. I loved the sauce so much I wiped my plate clean with the bread. And my friend ate her whole meal and only spared me a little bite to sample. Her verdict? She was in love. If Giacomo's was a man, she would marry him.
I've been there a second time and the food was just as amazing so it was not a fluke.
Sweet Jesus! If Jesus ever cooked Italian food, I swear it would taste like the pasta here. Yes, you might have to wait in line... all things good comes when you wait really applies to Giacomo's. I might not be able to really vowel and enunciate this restaurant's name but really who cares when the pasta is beyond yum.
We waited for around 15 minutes in line. We had this super jolly Italian man server that put all of us in a joyous mood. Along with the bread, we started off with the fried calamari. With the crispness of the batter and the flavor of the seasoning was a perfect start to an amazing dish to come. I had the Penne Amatriciana it was good... i felt like i was eating pure Italian pasta cuisine. It has great flavor of the sauce and the veggies that were added. No matter how awesome the sauce is, no great pasta dish will be great if the pasta isn't cooked well. Mine was perfectly al dente!
It was such a great price for the amount that they give you. I ended taking the rest home and eating it for my next 2 meals. I really didn't get sick of it even after eating it the 3rd time. Extreme much? No I say!
From sitting down, till a finished meal. I had a happy smile on my face all the way through.
Wow, Yelpers weren't kidding when they warned about the long lines. On a Friday evening, the queue consisted of over 30 people and turned around the corner. After nearly an hour of exasperating waiting, we were seated at two tiny seats in front of an open kitchen. Altogether, the restaurant seats only a handful of people, but service is fast and turn around time per table is relative short. The menu is written on a large chalk board at one end of the room. We opted for the calamari, lobster ravioli, and seafood pasta in Diablo sauce. The food came fast, and the flavors were fresh and simple, without a lot of fuss or invention. Overall, the food is solid for a good price, but in my opinion, does not justify the long wait. If you want a pleasant North End experience, any of a slew of other Italian restaurants on the same street are as enjoyable.
I went here on Halloween and there was a line out the door. That seemed to be a good sign that this place is worth the wait. I was a little wary of the fact that they advertised Rachel Ray came here on her "$40 a day" show...anyways, this place is tiny. And service is....not the best part of the experience. Our appetizer orders were screamed to the kitchen as soon as they escaped our mouths. They have great vegetarian options, the pumpkin tortellini is to die for. I had the gnocci special and I must say, it was like eating heavenly potato marshmallows in tomato sauce. Wine list is short and inexpensive. Portions are large enough to feed three people. Whatever they lack in service, they make up for in grub.
Wow! Wow! Wow!!!!! I love this place. The wait is ridiculous and the lady who comes out to get your party number totally fibs on the amout of time to wait. She told us it would be 30 minutes, and it was more like 75 minutes. But.... here is a big BUT..... it was sooo worth the wait.
The food was amazing and so surprisingly affordable. I loved it. I had the night special which was linguine with your choice of sauce with mussels, clams, and 1/2 a lobster for $20 bucks. Really a dish with all that seafood and HALF a lobste for only $20 bucks. Plus the have an extremely satisfying wine list all for under $20 as well.
Giacomo you are my new favorite place to eat. Plus the waiters here are absolutely hilarious. We had so much fun. This is the only place I have ever heard a waiter curse out a group of patrons because someone wanted spaghetti and meatballs. Seriously, wtf would you wait up to 2hours in line for just spaghetti and meatballs. They don't even have meatballs. If you don't eat seafood, eat their butternut squash ravioli, if you don't want that seafood isn't really meat right? Just eat it... it is absolutely heavenly here.
So, we waited in line to eat at this restaurant - in the cold. I had the famous pumpkin tortellinis with fresh sage marscapone cheese sauce. I do love marscapone cheese! The dish was good, but not outstanding.
My fiance had a seafood pasta dish (Frutti di Mare) with mussels, calamari, scallops, clams, etc. He said everything was cooked well and was good but not great - the pesto sauce was lacking in being memorable. He also had better Antipasto plates at other restaurants.
I enjoyed the experience and tight dining room - he was not a fan. I found it worth trying once and standing in the line - he prefers not standing in line for food, at least not this food.
The wait is so worth it!
There was a long line when we arrived at 8:30pm last night, but the wait wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My Bostonian friends told me that the wait is normal and expected, and people are willing to stand outside in the pouring rain to eat here!
The restaurant is super small and you're pretty much rubbing shoulders with all your neighbors, so this is not the place to go to if you want to ask a girl out, break up with your boyfriend, or disclose horrific news to your party member.
We ordered the lobster ravioli, butternut squash ravioli, and the chicken and shrimp pesto pasta. All the dishes were tasty, but my ultimate favorite is echoed by all the other reviewers on this restaurant - the butternut squash ravioli is to DIE FOR.
This is probably the best italian food I've ever had in my life so far.
Waited about a half hour on a rainy Saturday night to eat elbow to elbow with other diners-- and I'd do it again.
The bread is absolutely delicious. Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside. We started with calamari (which I don't eat but my husband loved) and garlic bread which was delicious.
I had the lobster ravioli. The portion was enormous and there was a ton of lobster inside. I'm not usually a big fan of cream sauce but this was delicious. House wine is $4.50 a glass. You can't beat that.
It was difficult to get refills of water or to ask the waitress any questions. I know Giacomo's is extremely busy, but it would have been nice if she didn't lean over another diner to pour my husband's water. That was awkward. The meal was delicious, though, and we will be back.
Giacomo's is by far the best Italian Food I've ever eaten in my life. Period.
While the wait can sometimes be a bit long (expect at least an hour), and you're going to be standing outside (so plan accordingly to weather), but it is absolutely, most definitely worth the wait. Also, they do not accept credit cards so make sure you have cash.
The food is nothing short of astounding. Caesar salads can be split, and make a great way to start a meal. The wine list is great, and very cheap too!
If you're in the North End and do not stop by Giacomo's, you've seriously made a big mistake.
This has been my favorite restaurant since I was a little girl so I think it's only natural that it be my first review. First of all, you do need to heed the advice that this is a tourist trap and quality does diminish and tempers within become shorter during tourist season. That being said, wait in line in the snow and slush and you'll have the most amazing meal and service.
The wait staff is very informal and friendly and by the end of the meal you feel like you're right at home except its not your turn to do the dishes. As far as the food goes, it's great. The fra diavalo sauce is my go to but I also really enjoy the salmon and sundried tomato dish as well as the butternut squash ravioli. The portions are HUGE but if you get an appetizer (go for the calamari) you can split a dinner and its perfect!
The long line was worth it, as countless others have pointed out. The place is crowded and everyone sits elbow to elbow, but I didn't mind because the food was great.
We started off with the calamari app. Dish was large enough for the 4 of us to share. It was very fresh, and had just the right amount of kick from the peppers. The tangy dipping sauce was a nice addition. Best I've ever had.
Everyone ordered some kind of ravioli, and they all looked fabulous. I got the lobster ravioli and it was mouthwatering. Just the right amount of cheese and lobster in every bite. The buttery, creamy sauce was so light and flavorful, it didn't overpower the pasta.
Service was sufficient, quick and to the point.
Overall, very affordable compared to nearby restaurants. I will definitely be coming back.
I am ashamed to say that after 4 years of Boston, I finally made it Giacomo's for the first time this summer.
Hands down, best Italian food!
After reading hundreds of reviews, my friends and I went right when it opened, so the wait time was minimal. Plus, people watching in the North End on a sunny day is fantastic.
I got the special of the day, pasta with crab meat and the giacomo sauce. Absolutely to die for. The crab meat was so generous and more importantly, it was fresh. The flavor really came through, and the sauce complemented it perfectly.
The bread as well as the calamari was also amazing. I loved the atmosphere at the establishment, casual and very family like. I felt like I was dining at some friendly Italian's kitchen. Comfort food made by the Italian mama. Yumm.
I wouldn't give this place 5 stars if it was not worth over a half hour wait at 9pm in the middle of the week. IT WAS WORTH IT. Lobster Ravioli, Lobster Ravioli, Lobster Ravioli. Get it, eat it, love it. I crave it, right now, at 12pm... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
The waiter was too cute (lil old italian guy)
And we were kind of shuffled in and out
but who cares, when you have tons of delicious pasta in front of you and a glass of wine. Fabulous.
Go and wait, don't give in to a neighboring restaurant, even though they'll be trying to take your order on the street. YOU CAN DO IT.
One 5-star experience and one 3-star experience. Since the 3 is more recent, that's what the rating is. Let's start with the good:
The first time I came here I ordered a plate of calamari, a Friacomo (mixed Fra Diavolo and Giacamo) fettucini with shrimp and scallops, and the butternut squash ravioli. The food was simply AMAZING. I used to think calamari could not really undo other calamaris...but boy was I wrong. The little peppers and the perfectly fried rings were freaking delicious. The Friacomo was also out of this world - although the scallops tasted somewhat...metallic? The butternut squash was super rich and unique and I was definitely glad I had that as well.
Now for the worse experience:
The second time I ordered (why change what was great before right?) a plate of calamari, the Friacomo fettucini with shrimp and scallops, and a salmon in lobster based cream sauce. The new dish was great...glad I was able to try it and might even order it again. The rest however were disappointing. The calamari whipped out of the kitchen in about 2 minutes...but it didn't seem nearly as great as that first time. Perhaps the batter was slightly off or they didn't add in enough jalapenos. The bigger disappointment was the Friacomo. First, it came with linguini which I'm not a fan of. When we questioned the waitress, she said that's not what she heard....but then again she was in such a hurry who knows what she heard. Also, it was a lot more liquidy this time. I had assumed they used the same ratio everytime they mixed their Friacomo - but maybe it was more subjective than that and this time we didn't get a good mix. Or maybe the linguini didn't soak up the liquid well, which the fettucini did, which is why we liked it so much the first time.
All in all, I would have waited 2 hours for that first meal I had there (even though I didn't have to). However, for the second meal I waited 1 hour and I probably wouldn't have waited more than 10 minutes for that quality. I'm surprised they didn't even acknowledge their mistake in the ordering. Seriously, I'm not a compulsive liar trying to trick you into wasting food as I laugh evilly when u make a second batch. They might not have though the difference of noodles was too big a deal - but that mistake combined with my bitterness of the mediocre calamari and sauce made for a unsatisfactory experience.
With all of the other good restaurants in the area, I'll at least try out another local spot for Italian next time! This restaurant had 5-star+++ taste the first time, but if it's not consistent, what's the point?
Just adding to the rave reviews! This is a great place to go if you want pasta and seafood (or maybe chicken) with a tasty sauce. That's about all they offer, so be prepared.
Calamari was good, not the best I've had, but definitely good.
The specials are good, and the Giacomo sauce is absolutely delicious! YUM!
The bread waiting at the table was a little tough, but had a nice crumb.
Oh! And, our waitress was awesome! She was funny, engaging and even gave us great advice about what to order! She definitely helped make the meal.
We waited for an hour on a Friday night at about 6. It was great to get to know some of the others waiting in line with us. Very worthwhile.
As others have said, cash only.
You want Italian, you go to Giacomo's... or you fly to Italy. Those are your only two choices.
This was our 2nd time at Giacomo's. The wait was about 45 minutes and worth every second of it!
There was not much talking while eating, we were too busy taking it in. You forget about the wait, forget about the other diners bumping into your elbows. Food is that damn good.
BTW, fried calamari is the best! Give the chef the gold medal. 1-hour wait is worth JUST for that fried goodness.
Waiter did a great job too.
I am one of those foodies who could care less for Italian food. I just don't find the cuisine that… Read more »
I definitely love this place, Giacomo's.
We've waited outside in line for about an hour on Friday night but absolutely worth it :)
We started with their popular calamari appetizer and the garlic bread then we had the butternut squash ravioli and veal Parmesan dish....
The calamari appetizer was fresh and good and the garlic bread had a great flavor but unfortunately resembled the texture of hardtack.....
The butternut squash ravioli was rich and delicious... I personally thought the sweetness over took the dish but overall I enjoyed the dish as well as the veal parmesan..
I would go back here next time to try some more dishes!!
maybe...lobster ravioli or special seafood platter :D
We pass by this place as we're searching for a parking space. There were about 8 people waiting outside the door. Twenty minutes later after parking and walking over, the line has grown over 15 ahead of us on a Wednesday at 6:30pm.
Luckily, the queue moves somewhat quickly because the wait staff really turn those tables. We get seated about 30 minutes later unfortunately next to a really loud annoying couple. The dining room is small and tables close together. The waiter was clearing the table next to me and even dripped sauce on the boob of my dress. That's how close all the tables are.
Fortunately, the food made up for the annoying atmosphere. The calamari appetizer was amazing. Best darn bites I've had since eating by the ocean off the Maine coast. Nothing like the rubber bands at Vinny T's. I ordered the frutti di mare with giacomo sauce (red sauce with a splash of bechamel). And hubby got the scallops with pesto. The plates came out piping out. It goes from sauteed pan to plate to mouth in less then 30 seconds. Beware of burning your mouth.
Anyways, the pasta was tasty but slightly overcooked (not al dente like how I liked it in Italy). The sauces were fresh and delicious. The seafood in my dish were fresh from the ocean, except for the overcooked shrimps. blah. Hubby thought his scallops were slightly undercooked.
Our server was super informative introducing the menu, specials, and recommending the correct portion of calamari. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and would return to try different plates.
Wow - so delicious!
Calamari was very tender and melts in your mouth. I couldn't get enough of the Baby spinach salad with caramelized onions, goat cheese, and spicy walnuts. The Gnocchi was so soft and tender. What a fantastic Italian meal in Boston!
Succumbing to my curiosity that surrounds the madness over at Giacomo's, we decided to brave the insane lines to see what all the fuss is all about. The stories are indeed true. Lines wrap around the corner, composed of a mixture of patiently waiting tourists and locals alike. I listen amusingly to stories from locals in line next to us insisting on how wonderful Giacomo's is despite its touristy appeal (thanks Rachel). Could it be that great?!
After waiting for a little over an hour, we finally get seated. We arrived around 4:25pm and got seated around 5:40ish. Yeah, we were among those who were waiting around the corner. Curiosity and hunger can make you do silly things like that.
We ordered the calamari with house sauce (awesome), the fruitti di mare fra diavolo (delish) and the veal parm (superb). Their house red sauce (lobster base) is something you truly do not want to miss. It's so flavorful and delicious! The other reviews are not kidding when they talk about massive portions. Wearing elastic waist pants is probably not such a bad idea after dining here.
I think one of the most delightful and entertaining aspects of our experience here was the service. Our waiter, whose name escapes me, made the whole experience memorable. He was friendly, lively, efficient and energetic. He kept us and the folks around us laughing and smiling the whole time.
The atmosphere was a controlled chaos. If you're not comfortable dining in extremely cramped quarters, this is probably not the place for you. I personally didn't mind as it only made the whole experience a more communal dining experience.
Prices are surprisingly very affordable. Dishes range, on average, from $15-$20. Wine is also pretty inexpensive. I didn't notice any beers on tap but I wasn't really looking.
Definitely check Giacomo's out. It's definitely worth the wait. The immense and loyal clientele would vouch for this place anytime. So would I.
There was a line to the corner when arrived at 7:15 and it was still there when we left around 8:20. I was told this was a tame line compared to the busier nights and weekends. This line exists for two reasons: the dining area is very small, but more importantly the food is very good.
I had the pumpkin tortellini in a fresh sage mascarpone cheese sauce. The portion was huge and the sauce was so rich. It excited me to see this as a regular menu item. The others at the table had eggplant parmesan, chicken parmesan and a steak special - nobody was disappointed. The waitress even came around and hand spooned heaping amounts of extra cheese on our entrées.
The meal as a whole was reasonably priced. It's important to note that they accept cash only - two of our five diners had to dash for the ATM before we could leave. In addition, parties of five or more automatically have an 18% tip added in - still it came out to less than $100 for five hungry people.
My goodness! Hands down, the best Italian food I've had in Boston. Yes, the wait is annoying but totally worth it. The place is small and warm, but this only strengthens the Italian family style cuisine experience.
Note: literally have to wait in line for a table. You can't put down your name and wonder around till they call you. Cash only.
Suggestions: get there right after it opens or near closing time to prevent a long wait. ALWAYS get the calamari.
WOW!
I am not a fan of Italian food and my girlfriend Gracie C always argues "that's because you've only had crappy Italian food." Besides my visit to Italy, this is the first evidence that she may be right (but don't tell her that).
Coming off a red-eye followed by a string of meetings with a crappy Wendy's meal in between, my colleague Steve and I decided to try to find some real food and made our way to North End. The line was a bit intimidating at first especially when combined with our fatigue and the fact that I was completely unprepared to give my talk at the Software Industry Conference the next day. But, we waited. And damn, I'm glad we did.
- calamari: I could not stop shoveling these super tender, juicy, crispy on the outside morsels of squid smack into my face
- lobster ravioli: Incredible. Huge chunks of lobster interspersed in super soft ravioli with this amazing soaking in this unhealthy white sauce generously
- Steve's dish: need to jog my memory or ask him as it was an amazing hand-made pasta (I think fusili) with tons of fresh seafood
A must visit in Boston, whether you like Italian or not.
This place is good, and maybe my expectations were set a little high after reading all the Yelp reviews, but I didn't think this place was blow-your-mind awesome. My boyfriend and I stood outside for a little over an hour, which I guess isn't unreasonable given that this place only has about 10 tables. We were part of the last few groups let into the restaurant for the night.
It's true about the fried calamari- it's really tender. But when we asked for another minute to place our entree orders, we got a "Well you'd better decide quick because the kitchen is closing". Okay, I get that we were some of the last people that they let in, but we're still paying customers. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for another minute.
I got the special- lobster and shrimp fusilli in a fra diavolo sauce. The pasta was good but the shrimp was tough and rubbery. My boyfriend's linguine with chicken in a pesto sauce was also good, but nothing I would classify as super special.
I'd go back just to try the butternut squash ravioli everyone's been raving about, but I wouldn't stand outside for an hour for it.
This is one of the best meals I have had in Boston.
The staff was super friendly. The food was unreal and the wine was delicious. This is the real deal.
Minus one star for having to wait outside in line for an hour and fifteen minutes to be seated.
This has to now be in my Top 3 FAVORITE Italian restaurants! The 35 minute line waiting outside for seating doesn't lie. Authentic and delicious meals await inside. I had the squid ink pappardelle with shrimp and capers. They knocked it out of the park! The squid ink isn't overpowering. It gave the pappardelle so much flavor while complementing the shrimp very nicely.
The butternut squash raviolis were just as delicious. Don't be fooled that it might be bland with the absence of meat or fish. The butternut squash is a great stand alone.
The service is warm and authentic. Portions are generous. Patrons are tourists and locals alike. YOU MUST EAT HERE WHEN IN BOSTON!
The butternut squash raviolis with asparagus is my all time favorite! Just thinking about the delicious butternuttyness and creamy sauce makes me want to head over there right now. Boyfriend got the linguine with mussels and red sauce and he loved it.
I've been here a few times already, and they really do not disappoint. The quality is consistent, which is hard to say for many places.
I can see the wait being a problem during the winter. This is a very homey hole-in-the-wall type place, and there is no waiting room inside (there's barely any room to maneuver). It helps to have a small party though, I would recommend no more than 4, as they can't move their tables around too much to accommodate larger parties well.
The boyfriend and I were told there would be a 45-minute wait, but after about 25-minutes or so, we got a table! Although I have to admit I felt a bit bad for the 10+ people we walked by to get inside, and even a bit worse when we could see them waiting outside still. But we forgot all about that after the short wait for our food [:
My person took me to this restaurant the first time we were in Boston together to celebrate my belated birthday and to end our beautiful vacation. It was perfect!
The food was delicious and well worth the wait. But be prepared to wait. The service is quick. People do watch you through the windows while you eat. It was a quick hustle and bustle but still very intimate. We had a great time! It was a great evening that turned out to be very romantic. I wouldn't change anything.
Rating: One my favorite restaurants ever. Will always go back for the food and the ambience.
Came here when I was on a road trip. My BU friend told us to go here and we happily listened. The fried calamari is freaking awesome and pretty cheap for what we got. The thing that makes this place a five star for me was the fact that I got a great lobster, mussel, clams, and oyster dish for 20 bucks flat without tax. The place is just freaking awesome and I'd suggest going there any time you are in Boston.
Wednesday Night is Spaghetti…
Boston, MA
Introducing
Somerville, MA
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Italian
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