Il Panino Express
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Charlestown, North End266 Hanover St
(between Board Aly & Parmenter St)
Boston, MA 02113 (617) 720-5720
- Nearest Transit:
Haymarket (Orange)
Aquarium (Blue)
North Station (Orange, Green)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
32 Reviews for Il Panino Express
Chicken Parm. Calzone, Tortellini Alfredo, and a slice of cheese.
This is the "express" version of Il Panino restaurant which is around the corner on Parmenter street. It's not the cheapest spot in town but it does have food to die for. It's cafeteria style so you order and they call your dish up. It's real plates and real utensils and it's really good food. They'll make the Alfredo sauce in front of you when you order. And this is one of the few places that understands when you order a chicken parm. calzone, which is loads of chicken wrapped in a lot of goey mozzarella cheese.
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I concur! When I'm in the North End for a doctor's appointment, Il Panino Express is the perfect place to grab a very quick lunch afterwards. However, prices went up - today I paid $7.30 for a sub and yes, it was very good, but that's too much for lunch...
I like the chicken parm and the caprese sandwiches. Nice chewy bread, great fresh mozzarella and the beautiful sweet basil.
I can't speak to their pasta and have only had their pizza once or twice, but it was solid and just the way I like it: big slices, thin crust, great sauce, and cheap!
To summarize: Il Panino Express is yummy and fast but not as cheap as it used to be.
A good lunch spot. On the first spring-like day in Boston, a good bowl of pasta with the windows open, the sun flowing in, and the people watching...better than the average lunch.
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I ran in here last night to pick up two calzones, one veggie, one meat for a get together. One word, awesome. and cheap, I guess that's two. Very Happy!
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By the same brilliant owner of News, Umbria, and Il Panino, Express serves up tasty simple Italian fare at bargain prices. I'm a fan of the pizza, especially the margarita slice. Haven't tried their pasta yet but hear its also very respectable. As the name suggests, the food is best enjoyed when you are looking for a quick bite running in or out of the North End.
The chicken parm here is kind of plain, but the cold subs are awesome. Definitely get the italian..
Missing my old hood, we wanted take-out from Regina's the other night. I couldn't even get through on the phone so we drove over thinking we'd place the order in person and wait 30 minutes...that's how badly we wanted Regina's. When we got there, the place was mayhem (as usual) but by that time I had become too hungry and cranky myself to deal with the crankiness that is Regina's. I've gotten soft since I left the N.E.
Settled on a whole pizza from Il Panino Express, which I have never done before (but slices have always been reliable). They usually only sell cheese or pepperoni so when I asked for spinach & mushroom the guy quickly said "No". Then, he looked at me again and I swear hadn't even whined or anything and he said "Okay, I'll make it for you."
It was pretty good. Fresh toppings. Crust not as good or as crispy as Regina's but still decent. Obscenely enormous pizza for 2 people (I have had cold pizza for breakfast twice since then). It did the trick. Will we drive from So. Boston over to the North End specifically for Il Panino Express pizza again? Probably not. But if you're in the area and don't want to wait in line at Regina's, this place is an acceptable alternative.
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Four stars for...for...this?
It's one of my favorite date spots in Boston during the summer. Grab something to go and head down to the docks and watch the sun go down. Nothing says "I'm a great catch" like spattering red sauce all down the front of your t-shirt.
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After having regular lunches at the Volle Nolle at North End, I thought that I would try something different today. Before living in Boston, I remembered coming here to get a panino before my flight back to LA and eating it on the T like I've never seen food before. Three years later, I thought that I would give them another taste.
They have a good selection of panini-subs (all $6.95), pasta dishes ($10.95), salads ($6.95), soup ($4.95), pizzas ($12.95 per pie, you can also get by the slice), and calzones ($7.95). There is also a specials blackboard that included items such as ziti pasta and lobster ravioli. I decided on the meatball sub today and it was good but with no "wow" factor. I would put it one notch above Quiznos for having more of a family feel. They put the meatballs, sauce, and cheese in the oven to toast before serving to you, which makes it hot and crunchy in your mouth. I wouldn't cross this place out of my future North End visits for their pizzas, but I will definitely be eating at Volle Nolle for more yum-o pressed sandwiches. Bathroom review: It's no Hilton but it's clean and does the job!
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Alright when you go to the North End you should probably not be eating at somplace called "Express" but despite its cafeteria style serving, the food was really good. I got the Bolgenese pasta and considering it was done in under 3 minutes, it was awsome. In the same time it takes to get a cheesburger at McDonalds I got eat something that didnt make me feel like dying after.
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the food is good. pizza it super yummy. you can get a slice, sit down and relax, and not have to wait on line at reginas.
the other dishes they have look good. with the exception of their lasagna. it was almost dry. they can do better. also, the staff can be a bit rude and rush you.
it's a good lunch spot. great if you're on the run but want a quick break.
The North End is notorious for having the most delicious restaurants in Boston. Typically they are at fancier and very pricey old world Italian cafes. This joint is great to have in the North End. It is the only place that I can get a huge, quick and delicious sandwich for 6.95. I had a fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil and evoo sandwich, sooooo Yummo (sorry about the Rach Ray expression but I just couldn't help it).
The only thing that was bush league was that they were pretty stern about the no soda refill rules, thus they lost a star (they had a sign, but come on, I don't have cooties)
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Though not the *perfect* pizza... it's pretty damn good! Hooray for NY style in Boston! The crust is crusty and the cheese is cheesy... Yummmmmmm......
My only major complaint... Only cheese and pepperoni by the slice (I like mushrooms) and no refills on sodas.
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A giant-sized slice - not too cheesy, not too saucy - and a soda for under $4. Quick service. Clean, cool atmosphere. Nothing else to say.
This is a great quick and easy North End lunch option if you're with your coworkers and want Italian but don't want a lot of hype, style and flair with it. This is the North End's best Italian cafeteria. The pizza here is delicious and affordable but what I love is the Lobster Ravioli for $11. When I feel like splurging on a delicious pasta dish but only can fit it in my lunch hour--this is where I go. The tables are simple & clean. You order at the front and pick it up when your food is ready. The drinks are pretty pricey (for a cola - no refills) so bring a soda with you. They never seem to mind if you're drinking brought in water or other drinks. It might not be Mama Maria, but Il Panino Express wins with quick, tasty pasta dishes when time is limited!
They don't take credit cards though but no sweat--a Bank of America is right next door in case you forget!
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If you want a quick and delicius lunch or dinner in the north end, and on the cheap side you must try Panino Express. I love comming here in the summer and eating right next to the open window. I tend to love the pasta dishes and subs too. Portions are huge and the pizza is also very good and slices are big and cheap. I always have time and cash left over for a italian gelato or pastry up the street. Fun!
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This is a great place for a quick meal on the run. They have delicious pizza, paninis, calzones and pasta.
I ordered a calzone and it was the right amount of bubbly cheese and perfectly cooked crust. You'll have to wait, but they were nice enough to bring it to my table.
GO! You won't be sorry!
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I just went here for the first time.
I showed up at 11am on the dot, so I was the first customer of the day.
They had just pulled a massive cheese pizza out of the oven. I ordered one slice. It was HUGE. It cost 2.36. It was THE BEST SLICE OF PIZZA I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE!!!
There is nothing better than having the best pizza you've ever had. The sauce and the cheese were RIDICULOUSLY good, the crust. AHH the crust. It was gorgeous.
This blows upper crust way out of my scale of "good pizza."
This is officially a new favorite...
now to dive into my red velvet cupcake from lulu's... review to come...
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I lived in the North End for years and this is where I would eat if I wanted a quick bite to eat after work. The food is fresh and you get huge portions enough so that you could share a meal. The gnocchi is the best thing on the menu, and surprisingly, they make kickass steak & cheese subs.
Forget Pizzaria Regina, this place has great pizza that's humungous.
The menu is pretty good and it's cafeteria style quickness/prices will be hard to beat anywhere around here.
Great...
I'd definitely come back here, and then go to Mike's to get some sweet champagne fruity cookies... yea
Been a fan for forever. Love an Italiano sub w/the workx for breakfast. The big slices of pizza are reminiscent of Ray's or other average NYC pie. (Try the original Regina for something betta). Entrees at Il Panino are average and pricey. The real deal here is the Panino sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella, basil, and tomato. They've been getting right it long before the rest had a clue. It's a keeper.
Il Panino Express is the most convenient and cheapest place to eat in the North End, that said, it is still a tad pricey for cafeteria style.
But the food is reallly good (try the Bolgnese) and although it can get pretty crowded, the line moves quick and you get your food within minutes. Its a great place to go if you want big portions of good Italian without the prices and waits at some of the other North End restaurants.
Delicious! The veggie panini and ricotta calzone are amazing! Everything is big enough for two meals or to share. Love it here!
The best place in Boston to get good Italian food and fast. its set up reminds one of fast food but the food is fresh and the fare is traditional Italian. The pizzas are huge and the sandwiches and calzones are delicious.
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its just about the amatricana.
quick easy bites for lunch...can always seem to grab a table.
the menu is big enough for any hungry stomach!
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For the North End and Boston in general, this is a very decently priced places. With all sorts of food that is too die for, jsut make shure you expand your horizons and try something new each time. You wont be disappointed!
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quick and dirty, this place does it up and does it right; its dead center on hanover street and is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat; i kid you not, this place is cheap and has large portions and great food; the pizza is one of the best i have had in boston, reminds of NY style but doesnt have lots of different kinds for slices but you can order a whole pie if want; they have massive subs but i go with the gnocchi with meat sauce, so soft and hearty, its tough to get up afterwards, never disapoints for 10 bucks; bathroom handle was broken when i went so watch out if you are taking a dump; great place before a night out or on a sunny day when they open up the windows
7 out of 10
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As my quest to get pizza that tasted like home (NY) continued throughout my college career in Boston, a friend from NY told me to check out Il Panino Express. Now I of course was skeptical because I had been sent to many places before that were nowhere near what NY pizza really is and sort of tasted like bad cafeteria pizza. So i decided to check it out. When you walk in, you might not really think much of this place, because its small and loud and you get the food yourself. But it looked cool so I walked up. My boyfriend was with me, also from NY and also a love of pizza and we decide to get a large cheese pie and a bottle of red wine. There are only two kinds here, red and white.
So we sit down to wait for our pizza and its ready in about 10 minutes.
It looks amazing but looks are not always true to their form and so we take the first slice. he first bite was the most amazing thing I had tasted in my four years in Boston and I was in love. Please believe me when I tell you this is the best pizza in town. Make a trip to the North End just for this. We finished the whole pie. That should be enough said.
Il Panino Express is my Holy Grail of Pizza in Boston.
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You can get a delicious and filling meal here in under $10, unlike most of the other restaurants in the North End. The service is fast, the prices are very reasonable and the seating area is nice and clean. I love the door sized windows, which would be open when it's warmer outside, but a lot of cafes/restaurants have got that on Hanover St. I had the chicken parm sub which was wonderful, especially the bread which was so fresh and crispy. You would appreciate their subs even more if you've been eating Subway/Quizno's for a long time.I guess fresher and less commercial does make a difference. One thing I didn't like was the fact they didn't have any water on the fountain. I try to avoid soda whenever possible and I was really thirsty. The lady at the register wanted me to have soda. Bottom line... if you want quick and cheap food in the North End, definitely check Express out. The owner of this place has 5 other places in town, such as News, Gelataria etc.
I went in here a few weeks ago to get a calzone (I was craving it!). I thought I had never been in here before but then I realized that this is the only place in the North End I had ever gone to in college. I'm glad to see it hasn't changed much! In the summer everything is opened up so you feel like you are sitting outside. As for my calzone, it was very cheesy and extremely cheap. I split it with my housemate and we were both full. The only thing is that it was very garlicy as well which didn't make me happy. I felt nauseous the second I took a bite of it which makes me think I have an allergy to garlic. I am allergic to everything in the universe so it wouldn't be surprising. But that is unique to me and my housemate didn't feel sick at all. I highly recommend this place for a cheap, fast, and very tasty Italian dish. Don't expect a nice meal, but this is one of those rare Italian food treasures. Try out this place instead of Ernesto's one night!
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i generally like anywhere i can get away with speaking italian without sounding like an ass, so being able to say 'grazie' and have someone say 'prego' back just brightened my day.
the spinach calzone i got took a while to come out (the subs my friends ordered were a good 5-10 min faster) but holy moly was it worth it. the crust was crispy and soft on the inside, but not too thick, and it was so fabulously cheesy. seriously, my calzone runneth over. the sauce provided for dipping purposes was also stellar. my only complaint was a lack of riccotta, but i was nonetheless fat and happy by the end of the meal.
and, a plus, 4$ glasses of wine!
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This place is the best place to go when you dont have a lot of time but dont want to eat that fast food junk. Offers a variety of pastas, salads, subs, pizza. Food all out on display and you can watch them make what you ordered. Cute area to sit and eat there or take it to go. Fast service. Chicken parm sub is to die for, so is the plain pasta and sauce....and the proscuitto sub...and the pizza...see a pattern?
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