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Maurizio's
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
364 Hanover St(between Bennet St & Charter St)
Boston, MA 02113
Neighborhood: North End
(617) 367-1123
- Nearest Transit:
-
Commercial St @ Battery St (4)
Commercial St @ Fleet St (4)
Commercial St. @ Hanover St. (4)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street, Validated, Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
95 reviews for Maurizio's
Review Highlights
"...then had the Malloreddus alla campidanese - the Sardinian..."
(in 9 reviews)
"LINGUINE NERE AL SALMONE $23."
(in 2 reviews)
"...got the salmone ripieno and the linguine ai frutti di mare."
(in 4 reviews)
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95 reviews in English
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Review from Damien S.
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
One could easily accuse Maurizio of blending in to the Hanover red sauce demons that plague the most touristy parts of the North End. One could try, however, two very distinct counterpoints stand clear:
- Sitting at the base of Hanover, away from the Greenway, reduces the touristy foot traffic to a fraction of what's pitter-pattering along the main strip.
- The food is actually quite fulfilling, and almost completely anti-prepackaged with a Sardinian edge
We started with a pleasant eggplant rolitini, thinly sliced berry stuffed with ricotta and doused in slight peppery red sauce. Fine for two, more than enough for one, it's a solid steal at $9.50.
My Malloreddus alla Campidanese came perfectly sauced, seasoned well and chock full of lamb and sausage, while her gnocchi came out a bit heavy on the butter, with sage, ricotta and Mascarpone cheese. All in all, a few solid dishes served on.... solid dishes. The flatware tosses back to the 80's with the freshness, and the serving size is more than adequate.
Love the service (sweet, familial, engaged) and you don't need to be lucky to have Maurizio himself swing by your table, present with a joke or a handshake. The interior may resemble the center of Vesuvius, but the real warmth lies in the rooted origins of this off-the-beaten path find.Listed in: Man Caves
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Review from Malcolm K.
Fremont, CA
12/16/2011
NO, NO, NEVER, NEVER
I am a former head waiter and general manager.
I don't expect excellent food and service in all the places I eat, but when a place is highly touted then I do expect a good dining experience. Timing is everything in delivering a great dining experience.
Maurizio's disappointed me almost from the moment I walked in, but being a patient and forgiving person I didn't realize it until it was too late.
1. This place was recommended by a local bar tender so we had high expectations.
2. I am a vegetarian and told our server this the moment she handed me the menu and we discussed options.
3. My colleague and I were the only people in the place.
After discussing veggie options with the server I asked for a house salad and the gnocchi then inquired if they had marinated olives. She told me that I could forgo the salad and go with an appetizer that had greens and olives, so I thought that would be perfect.
Immediately, before we even had a chance to sip our wine she delivered a plate of greens and olives, but guess what else? It was loaded with salami! Really? Didn't we just go though the entire menu together discussing veggie options!?
She said, "oh, sorry, I wasn't thinking" and came back 5 seconds later with a plate sans the meat, as if that fooled me. I was with a colleague so I didn't say anything.
After no more than five minutes another server comes to our table and asks if he can clear our appetizer plates. I politely responded, no we are not even 1/2 way though our appetizer please hold our main courses, why are you pushing the main course?
"Pushing" is a well know restaurant term for doing anything you can to accelerate the dining cycle with the expectation you can serve more customers in a given night. Did I mention we were the only people in the place?
As I'm talking with this server the OWNER comes over and JUMPS DOWN MY THROAT BIG TIME saying we aren't pushing you, we're just doing our job, how dare you etc. etc. etc.
I tried to make nice, introduced myself and shook her hand and all seemed to be well.
But, my gnocchi arrived way too soon and severely under cooked.
Is this their version of doing their job?
1. Pushing me when there was no one else in the place
2. Serving me under cooked food when there was no one else in the place
3. After I paid the bill we were still drinking our wine yet the waitress was nowhere to be found, the other server said she was "running an errand". Really? When I was a server I didn't leave until my last customer was out the door.
4. The owner jumps down the throat of a customer for no reason
5. serving a vegetarian meat even after a thorough review of veggie options
A totally bad and uncomfortable experience for me and my colleague. We come to Boston often, but will never return to Maurizio's.
$96 to for two to be abused. Eek! Methinks not! -
Review from Aaron K.
Wayland, MA
12/16/2011
Yet another charming italian restaurant in Boston's north end, Maurizios offers atmosphere, top notch service, artisan crafted meals, and a personality all its own in a neighborhood full of clones.
I was drawn in by the pumpkin tortellini in a creamy mascarpone cheese sauce. My own meal was a black linguine, pasta colored with squid ink, with a bounty of salmon mixed in, all coated in a plum tomato cream sauce. The wine list was on par with any other establishment in the area.
The staff was welcoming, even with a later seating time, and demonstrated attention to detail as well as knowledge of the various offerings. I would certainly come back with an old friend, or someone I was trying to impress. -
Review from Andria L.
Cambridge, MA
2/3/2012
Seafood was beyond fresh! I was given a melt in your mouth medley of seafood! In fact I dined with a close friend who doesnt eat seafood and enjoyed my food upon tasting! Ambiance with dim lighting overlooking the hussle of Hanover is entertaining within itself! Mussels amazing! A bottle of pino nior was phenomenal and affordable! Overall a great restaurant!
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Review from Vivian C.
Remember the short movie "The Red Balloon"? A red balloon faithfully followed a young boy. Well, there was a painting at Maurizio's that reminded me of the film. It was probably for sale if you are interested, as Maurizio's offers the opportunity for local artists to show their works on their red walls.
As Maurizio's is a Sardinian restaurant, I gravitated towards the dishes labeled as such. We ended up sharing two appetizers and two entrees since the desserts, while likely freshly made, aren't made on the premises.
MAZZAMURRU $9
Classic Sardinian peasant dish made with toasted bread, chicken broth and tomato sauce, topped with a poached egg and pecorino cheese and baked
INVOLTINI DI MELANZANE $9.50
Rolled slices of eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese, basil, sun dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese, topped with tomato sauce
LINGUINE NERE AL SALMONE $23
Homemade fresh black linguine with fresh and smoked salmon, diced plum tomatoes, scallions and fresh basil in a lobster tomato cream sauce
SALMONE RIPIENO $24
Pan roasted stuffed salmon filet with crab meat, lobster meat and ricotta cheese, over saffron risotto in a lobster brand cream sauce
In each category, there was an obvious winner.
The Mazzamurru was both interesting and tasty. The mouthful of warm juiced up bread was surprisingly good, although I though the egg looked more fried than poached. The eggplant was tasty, but had that unfortunate unpleasant taste that eggplants sometimes have, but is usually hidden by the frying of the eggplant. Perhaps this version wasn't fried?
The baking of the Salmone Ripieno caused the outside of the fish to be a bit dry. The stuffing was plentiful but I would have preferred the shellfish chunkier so that I could differentiate between the two better. Both were worth ordering, but I found myself continually picking at the Linguine Nere al Salmone with its moister chunks of salmon and the saucy al dente black pasta strands.
Even the bread course was good. The slices of cool soft bread was addictive dipped in the olive oil - I quickly consumed my two slices!
Two individual unmarked bathrooms are located down the metal spiral staircase, where there was also a whole other larger room of dining space! And it was pleasantly brighter down there.
They validate for Parcel 7 Garage parking (3 hours max). -
Review from DonPaul N.
North Weymouth, MA
10/22/2011
Maurizio's is my favorite restaurant in the North End, and one of Boston's best kept secrets. The street level dining room is small and cozy, painted in earthy colors and lit for a romantic evening. Plate glass windows provide a good view of people strolling by on Hanover Street.
While most North End menus tend to look similar, Maurizio's menu offers the unique tastes of Sardinia, a region whose cuisine is rarely represented here.
Favorite Dish: I recommend going with the traditional Sardinian dishes or Maurizio's specialties. Last time I was there I had the OSSOBUCCO D'AGNELLO, which was delicious. They do have some more basic dishes to satisfy those who are less adventurous.
They also have some nice Sardinia and Sicilian wines. -
Review from Kiki F.
Boston, MA
10/10/2011
I was very excited about coming here after hearing such great things, but my experience was not as wonderful as what I had heard.
The ambiance and service were great, no problems at all.
The food, at least my food, was average. I ordered the Salade Mista and the fettuccine alla carbonara. The salad was fine, simple greens with peppers and cucumbers and a bit too much dressing. The fettuccine was not very good... I have certainly had better at restaurants, and even at home. Other people in my party really liked their meals, however, and were surprised to hear my sub-par remarks.
So, overall, average experience, but I will definitely go back soon and try other dishes. -
Review from Jenn S.
6/20/2011
I had honestly never heard of Maurizio's until I saw an Eversave coupon (similar to Groupon). Figuring it'd be a good excuse to hit up the North End, I checked out the Yelp reviews and was satisfied, so I bought it.
With my parents visiting last weekend and my dad requesting dinner in the North End, it was meant to be. I believe you can only call after 5 pm to make a reservation, so I called Friday night for a Saturday night reservation.
When we arrived, I was surprised at how small it was (I don't know why, it IS the North End), but ah ha! There's a spiral staircase down the basement, where several more tables await. We were seated downstairs, which was nice and charming (although, due to a large party seated next to us, rather loud near the end of our meal).
My dad & husband each got a split of Prosecco, which was plenty for all 4 of us to taste and enjoy. All of us got a salad - Caesar for my husband; Spinaci for me (Fresh spinach salad with apples, strawberries and toasted walnuts in a light blue cheese dressing - really fresh and nice) and Tricolore for both of my parents (Arugula, Belgien endive and radicchio salad topped with crumbled goat cheese, tossed with a balsamic vinegar extra virgin olive oil dressing). We were all really satisfied with the salads.
For our entrees, my mom & split the Chicken Marsala (Breast of chicken sauteed with mushrooms and onion in a marsala wine sauce with grilled asparagus and roasted potatoes) - there was plenty for us both and enough for both guys to taste a few bites. The asparagus was crispy, but cooked, and the potatoes were perfectly cooked, while retaining a nice crisp outside and plenty of flavor. YUM all around.
Both guys went with the Chicken Parmesan (don't ask me why they didn't share), which was your typical breaded chicken topped with mozzarella cheese, baked in a tomato sauce and served with pasta. The 2 HUGE plates of food came and we all thought "leftovers!" but nope - they both cleaned their plates. (Ok, my mom and I helped a bit.) I think they both felt the chicken could have been a BIT crisper, but overall, it was tender and so full of flavor. And the sauce was delightful. Not sure if the pasta is homemade, but that's ok.
Thanks to the Eversave coupon, it was pretty cheap (entrees run in the low-$20s, but they are big enough to share) and the ambiance and service were fantastic.
I have been searching for my go-to North End place for years and this has jumped to the top of the list!Listed in: Ethnic Eateries, Clean Plate Club!
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Review from Izzat A.
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Meh. All the restaurants in the North End were slammed so we came here. After a 45 minute wait we were seated downstairs. Service was friendly. One thing that I didn't like was that when you order, you can't subsitute anything in the entrees (ie can't add chicken to a nonchicken dish). For the prices that you are paying here, you should be able to. I got the Penne Con Pollo Alla Grigilia and it was very very average. Pretty bland. Portions were average. I was just really underwhelmed by this place. There are far too many other options in the North End to come back here again. This place wasn't packed like other places for a reason and I tasted why.
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Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
6/8/2011
I love learning about the regional differences within a culture's cuisine and Maurizio's is a great way to do that for Italian food. The restaurant offers Sardinian fare rather than the typical Italian-American stuff, with dishes that aren't available at most other North End establishments.
It's on the smaller side, comfortably fitting maybe 30 people at most. There's nothing remarkable about the decor, although they do have quite a few paintings by local artists on the walls. When I was there, the lights were off and they relied mostly on outdoor sunlight for lighting, which can be kind of blinding and dim at the same time if you're seated facing the window.
My friend and I split the Mazzamurru to start. Described on the menu as a "classic Sardinian peasant dish made with toasted bread, chicken broth and tomato sauce, topped with a poached egg and pecorino cheese and baked" it was all kinds of salty, soggy bread deliciousness. And the portion was HUGE! This is easily enough for one meal if you eat like a fairly large bird.
I got the Malloreddus alla Campidanese for my entree as it is apparently another classic Sardinian dish of pasta, savory sausage, lamb, diced vegetables, red wine and tomatoes. It was quite good, although more salty than I would have liked and the pasta was an unusual shape and texture that I've never encountered before.
My friend got the Sogliola alla Parmigiana--a filet of sole Sardinian style served over sauteed spinach in a lemon white wine sauce. It was melt-in-your-mouth tender with just the right amount of zest.
For dessert, I had to try their amaretto almond cream cake. It. Was. Amazing. I love light, moist cake and if it's accompanied by light, fluffy custard or cream, even better. And who doesn't love the light taste of almonds? Have I said "light" enough? Probably. Anyway, the point is, this cake was da bomb and satisfied the craving for sweet cakiness I'd had for weeks without hurting my very swollen sore throat with too much sugar. Definitely save room for this. I could've devoured a second slice if we hadn't had to leave to see the Glee kids perform at the TD Garden. "Just a small town girl...." -
Review from Jessica C.
Needham, MA
11/21/2011
Was there a chef change at Maurizios?
I have raved about this place to friends and family for a few years now as the BEST Italian restaurant in Boston...there have been many a date night and family celebrations spent at Maurizios.
Unfortunately, this past Saturday, the food/service was only par for the course. We chose to celebrate a special occasion with a small group of friends who had never been to the restaurant. The server was only mildly interested in our experience. Normally we would get great recommendations and there were always multiple specials, but not that night. We ordered a number of different plates including calamari, veal, cod, etc. No one was blown away (like the usual response) and we were left wondering why?
I hope Maurizios returns to the great place I came to know and love. Hopefully this weekend was just a fluke. In the meantime, I think I will try a new place for our next dinner. -
Review from Dennis M.
5/31/2011 1 photo
I ate here for dinner. This place is right next to Paul Revere Park.
We got the GNOCCHI DI RICOTTA ALLA CAPRESE (Homemade ricotta and chive gnocchi baked with fresh plum tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil) and LINGUINE NERE AL SALMONE (Homemade fresh black linguine with fresh and smoked salmon, diced plum tomatoes, scallions and fresh basil in a lobster tomato cream sauce). Both were amazing. If I had to choose between the two, I would pick the Linguine Nere Al Salmone.
Great service and we only had to wait about 15 minutes. I found out they serve brunch too! We can't wait to go back. Reservations highly recommended. -
Review from Ehsan H.
Cambridge, MA
6/9/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
I went to this place after buying a coupon from Yelp.
We opted for the items that the waitress recommended. All the items were simply horrible and we couldn't even finish half of our food. The food was very dry and it lacked flavor.
Not going back again!! -
Review from Susan R.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Two of my gal-pals decided to hit up the North End one night randomly. I mean, we live in JP... and rarely find ourselves in the North End... why not?
A question I think we all ask ourselves.
Of course, we used our Yelp app to find a place, ad Maurizio's was the first to look adorable enough to try.
Very small and suitably dark..
(there is a downstairs below ground that looked really cute) they have an open(ish) kitchen... music was a bit weird...but i imagine they are sick of listening to Sinatra in the North End.
Anyway, we are sat immediately and right off the bat BAM! our server was AWESOME... funny, knowledgeable, friendly, great suggestions, perfect!
The wine that she recommended was exactly as described and reasonably priced. Actually, I found the wine list both nicely rounded and fairly priced, which is a relief in the North End.
The specials sounded very creative, but it seems like whenever I receive verbally transmitted specials... i order from the menu. (sorry trees- but everyone should print their specials or have an eco-friendly specials board).
The food was superb. SU-PERB. I even ate the leftovers!!! (i NEVER eat my leftovers)
I feel like I need to go a few more times to give it the 5 star full monty- but for now... I look forward to a date with their Bolognese again soon.
Great for a date or a small group of talkative friends. -
Review from Ranee S.
Newcastle, WA
7/6/2011
Eggplant dish (appetizer) that was recommended on Yelp was divine and the Asian pear salad was very good (which I chose on recommendation from the waitress). It was a nice North End restaurant experience for my first time in Boston.
The dinner was great, but the drama in the kitchen, not so much. I believe one of the chef's got into an argument with the manager or owner and up and left as I was paying my bill. It's an open kitchen so I could hear the chef complaining to the other chef through my entire meal. They were speaking Spanish and I don't think they had any clue anyone in the restaurant could understand them (though it was just the one chef complaining, the chef that didn't walk out was in no way complaining, just listening). It was a little awkward, but the food was very good. -
Review from Purvi R.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/31/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 2 Check-ins Here
Fantastic food, fresh pasta and sauces, VERY reasonable wines. Particularly loved the insalata tricolore and the rigatoni alla norma (SO GOOD I DREAM ABOUT IT EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SO)
They do take reservations and larger parties should request to sit in the cute downstairs area (watch your head as you go down those steep steps!)
Cannot wait to go bacK!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/14/2010
Fantastic food, fresh pasta and sauces, VERY reasonable wines. Particularly loved the insalata… Read more »
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Review from Josh S.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/30/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I think I have found a new, favorite Italian restaurant! We were there last night for the first time, despite walking right on by it on numerous occasions. Like most places in the North End, it's a little small, with tables mere inches from one another, but that really isn't an issue for us. The service was prompt, friendly, and spot on. We started out with the insalata di spinaci, which was the one disappointment of the evening. Although it had a good amount of nuts and nice apple, it was overdressed, with limp leaves and limp strawberries. For our entrees, we got the salmone ripieno and the linguine ai frutti di mare. Both of our entrees were both absolutely delicious, with huge portions. The seasoning was perfect, the presentation was great, and the satisfaction level was super high. What else could you ask for? For dessert, we shared the almond cake which was like Disaronno in baked good form--in other words, wonderful. We shall return!
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Review from J C.
Boston, MA
12/13/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I enjoyed my dinner at Maurizios. We were seated in the basement level on a saturday night and although it was busy the service was great. My boyfriend had penne al'arrabiata and I had the bolognese. We were both very satisfied and full by the end. I loved that it didn't seem touristy - as a resident of the north end I tend to try to stay away from places on Hannover but this place seemed like a great gem!
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Review from leah r.
Middleton, MA
3/29/2011
Maurizio's is a nice Italian Restaurant in the North End. It's towards the end of Hanover St., making it easy to be overlooked. The outside of the building is uninviting and needs updating when comparing it to the open window/modern restaurants upstreet on Hanover.
The inside is small and a little cramped.
Despite all of this, we liked the food. I had the rolled eggplant and it was delicious. Very fresh
ingredients and the red sauce is very flavorful. My husband had the gnocci and also thought it was great. Maurizio's is run by the chef/owner which just adds to it's appeal. -
Review from Elaine C.
Boston, MA
9/21/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Really good service, waiter was very knowledgeable about menu. Great calamari app with homemade cocktail sauce, wonderful tomato sauce aka gravy on side. Stuffed salmon with ricotta excellent . Traditional Sardinian pasta dish was good, not great, a little overpriced for what it was..
I'm giving three stars for two reasons-
Skimped on pasta - son had chicken parm, not enough pasta for him (maybe half cup or so) - pasta's cheap, why skimp on this?
The upstairs dining room very noisy from kitchen - they should put some sort of wall between kitchen and dining room, those sitting closer to kitchen had to deal with clanking of pans, etc... -
Review from David H.
Brookline, MA
5/1/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Maurizio's is a small place next to the park with the Paul Revere statue that leads down to Old North Church. The menu offers many Sardinian dishes that are not found elsewhere on Hanover Street, and they are definitely worth a try.
The appetizer called mazzamuru is pretty unique - a light tomato broth covering soaked french (?) bread & cheese, topped with a poached egg. Terrific! The filet of sole Sardinian style was also superb - delicately breaded & fried sitting on a bed of spinach. Malloreddus alla campidanese is hearty peasant-style pasta & meat fare - so big that we wound up taking most of it home.
The Sardinian red we tried (Perdera IGT) was an excellent value for $27, & reminded me of similarly priced Portuguese favorites.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Jennifer T.
San Mateo, CA
10/25/2010
Yummy!
I was in Boston for a convention and my boss recommended this restaurant. It's a tiny little place but they also have seating downstairs for bigger groups. They have a sign outside which says "No Pasta No Potty" which I found very amusing. Although...the bathrooms were not really anything to write home about. The toilet is on this raised step so that if you're short, your legs are kinda hovering once you sit down on the seat (if you're a female). Anyway...enough about the toilet...onto the food!
We ordered a few appetizers including the Bruschetta Alla Mediterranea (HUGE pieces...taste...so so...I guess bigger isn't always better =P), Calamari Fritti (good but not the best I've ever had), and Gamberi Con Crostini All'Aglio - sauteed shrimp with garlic, lemon, white wine and extra virgin olive oil, served with garlic crostini (Mmmm! This was so good - probably one of the best shrimp dishes I've ever had...too bad I was eating with one of our partners so I was embarassed to fight for the last piece...but boy do I wish I had).
For my main dish, I ended up going with the Linguine Al Frutti di Mare. It was a very generous portion and I couldn't even finish 1/2 of it. I felt so bad that I had to waste so much food =(. It was spicy but really good and hit the spot.
Overall, the food was delish and I would come back here if I was in Boston again. However, the service was only so so. I think it was the owner that helped us but she wasn't as friendly as I would've thought. They were also out of a lot of the wines that we wanted and ran out of the ravioli - which 3 people had ordered. But I suppose that's what happens with a smaller mom and pop type restaurant. -
Review from Stephen M.
Cambridge, MA
1/22/2011
PRO'S: Delicious. Some of the best gnocci I've ever had, and the linguine (shrimp, mussels) was superb as well. Very flavorful. The portions were reasonable (we both had leftovers) and everything was surprisingly filling. Entrees were $20-25 a plate. All in all, one of the best meals I've had in the North End.The wine selection had some very nice options ($28+) despite being a bit limited. We didn't want a whole bottle and went with the house red wine ($8/glass). The atmosphere was cozy and quiet enough for a nice, intimate date.
CON'S: The waitress was a real bitch. I asked her about the wines and was told to just look at the list. I felt like she was brief with us. After dinner, she also made us go downstairs to get our own coats. Ummm...PMS? The only other thing I'd mention is that, like many of these restaurants, the tables were very close/crammed together. -
Review from Teresa S.
6/5/2011
Two of my friends and myself went here for Dinner on Sunday. We sat downstairs in the wine cellar.... Loved it. Our waiter Brian was very good and knew the answer to all the questions on the menu! Appetizer was fantastic as well as the wine.( Cheese with olives and salad.) We all got a different dinner and all shared a sample with each other. I had the Pasta,with lamb and sausage,then there was the gnocchi and the baked fish. Everything was fantastic. I will defiantly come back here.
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Review from Frank L.
9/18/2010
I was hanging out with a group of co-workers at the end of a very busy day. We're all out-of-towners and decided to get in a night of tourism while we had the chance. We all agreed the evening had to include an Italian dinner in the North End.
The most highly recommended restaurants were all packed--lines out the door. We walked by Maurizio's on the way toward another place we spotted down the street. I liked the look of Maurizio's a bit more and the low Yelp rating for the other restaurant secured our decision.
They set up a table for our large party very quickly--without a reservation or even a moment's notice--in the tiny main dining room. I ordered the Rigatoni alla Norma: Eggplant, black olives, onions, fresh basil, oregano, tossed with tomato sauce and topped with shaved hard ricotta cheese. Delicious. The dishes ordered by my table mates looked even better than mine. (Why do I always get the wrong thing?) The wine list had some interesting offerings.
The service was appropriately attentive and waitress had no problem providing separate charges for everyone in our big group. We all left satisfied and without an ounce of room for dessert from one of the bakeries down the street. I recommend. -
Review from John C.
Boston, MA
2/20/2011
Went out for dinner here the other night.
Pros:
Butternut squash soup was great.
Cons:
-Had a faint smell of ammonia in the dining room.
-Very small/cramped
-Ordered the linguini with ham and mushrooms...ham was cubed like it was make your own omelette day.
We won't be back. -
Review from Ryan M.
Brighton, MA
11/15/2010
My wife and I went to another restaurant in the North End the previous week and as were were walking past Maurizio's someone standing outside said, "Hey! You ought to come to Maurizio's. Maurizio is the best chef in the North End."
A friendly enough invitation, we randomly decided to go back to the North End this past weekend to check it out.
I got the small shell-like pasta noodles with the sausage and lamb meat sauce which was fantastic. Very tasty for just pasta and meat sauce.
The killer was what my wife got: the black pasta noodles with smoked salmon! That was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever tasted! Absolutely delicious. The black pasta noodles are so tasty in some sort of white wine sauce and the salmon melts in your mouth! "So yummy!" Says my wife.
The atmosphere was nice. We got there a little after 5 on Saturday and the upstairs quickly filled up. There's a downstairs but it isn't nearly as nice as upstairs where you can look out on the the street and have a good view of the kitchen and Maurizio cooking up a storm from every seat.
Waitress was great, very helpful and knowledgeable of the menu (I always like to ask for help and opinions from the staff when order).
The olive oil was fantastic but I didn't like the bread, however my wife loved it, so there you go.
Price was typical for North End dining, though more than I hoped to have spent. Nevertheless we got our meal's worth through our takeout leftovers. -
Review from Irene Y.
3/3/2010
We were planning on going Giacomo's, but there was a 2 hour wait outside in the COLD, so we decided to try something else. *shakes head* I should have been more patient :/
Recommendations:
* I tried the Malloreddus Alla Campidanese ($21) as recommeded by other yelpers, and i was severely disappointed. it was SOUR, YUCK!
*My partner tried the Pescepada Alla Livornese ($25), the swordfish, and it too was SOUR.
*Expensive, slow service, and terrible food-- I don't know how much worse this restaurant could have been. Don't come here. -
Review from Ellen L.
Framingham, MA
7/28/2011
We went there for the first time with a reservation. The waitress was rude after she knew we were using an eversave coupon. She threw the menus at us. we were told that the chef will not make any substitutions to the way he wants to prepare the food. After explaining there were serious food allergies, she still was reluctant to make any changes. We certainly did not feel like she cared what we thought of the restaurant. It left us feeling uncomfortable enough with her non welcoming manor that we had no choice but to leave. Eating there would have been an an unpleasant experience if that was the introduction.
My husband has been dealing with his food allergies for many years and has never been treated so rudely before. We would rather lose the cost of the eversave than to be treated like this. -
Review from Phil W.
Somerville, MA
10/9/2007
By far my favorite restaurant in the North End.
It's small and romantic, and the service is quick and excellent without being overbearing. And everything I've tried for the food - the appetizers, my entrees, my friends' entrees, the desserts, everything has been wonderful. I always go with the seafood, and I've never been disappointed. Even my vegetarian friends have raved.
Oh, and the tiramisu? *Christ*, it's so good. -
Review from K M.
East Watertown, MA
10/13/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Food was good, but having made a reservation, showing up on time, and getting stuck way in the back of the basement when there was a perfectly good table for two right up front on the main floor, we were not thrilled. The table we were seated at rocked back and forth because a leg was missing, and the otherwise very nice hostess seemed a bit annoyed to have to deal with it. Not sure why we were seated there at all, there were tons of empty tables. Not sure I'd rush back there, but the meal was good and the service acceptable.
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Review from Katie F.
Boston, MA
10/2/2008
The restaurant is extremely small. 11 of us went last night, and despite it's size Maurizio's was far from snug. The waitress was extremely accomodating even though our group was loud, ordered sporadically, and made many demands. Haha.
I ordered the Mediterranean bruschetta (yum) and the penne with smoked salmon. AMAZING. If you don't mind green pasta, you're good to go!
I will definitely be going back! Beware though, we ended up ordering 4 bottles of wine upon our waitresses suggestion. $$$$$$ -
Review from Mandy H.
MA
3/2/2008
I believe it was Bridget M. and Quinn E. who made great parallels between restaurants that purvey a certain type of cuisine and restaurants that attempt to do so in a distinctly Epcot Center fashion ( ex: the Asgard as "Ireland-land"). I've felt the same way about many restaurants in the North End and in New York's Little Italy ( not to mention Paris...it's meta-bizarre to go to a "Frenchland!" restaurant in the actual country itself).
That said: sometimes we all enjoy a bit of fantasy in our dining. I've always wanted to be Cher in 'Moonstruck '( who wouldn't?). Maurizio's comes close to approximating the feeling that that movie gives me of romance, heartiness, and no-frills magic.
I enjoy that Maurizio's doesn't attempt to be "Italyland." It is a small space, neatly ( but not extravagantly/cheesily) decorated and bathed in an inviting red light. It is utterly romantic, but it doesn't try to be ( which makes it all the better!) Singles, take note: It would be a wondrous, wondrous place to take a date. I would totally swoon for the person who thought of taking me here.
Maurizio himself comes over to you table and jokes with you before scampering off to prepare your dinner for you. The servers are not only pleasant and friendly to you and your guest, but to each other as well ( I heard them checking up on each other's days... it was rather sweet).
But enough with this; atmosphere and service is almost trivial when it comes down to the meat of the matter: the food.
This is probably the best Italian food I have had in my life.
I recommend:
**Malloreddus alla campidanese: A Sardinian pasta dish served in a meat sauce with diced veggies, bits of lamb, and tomatoes. It's not a dish you typically see offered on many menus and it was an unexpected treat.
**Penne nere al salmone : black penne pasta with salmon. I've never had black penne before and was likewise intrigued by it's novelty. The garlic cream sauce was light and flavorful without making you feel like you ingested a quart of heavy cream.
**Ravioli d'aragosta: Lobster Ravioli. This shows up on many an Italian menu, but the sauce here really made it exceptional.
All this was paired, at the suggestion of our waitress, with Alexander Fitch Cabernet Sauvingon (sadly, they might be out of this, as it is no longer listed on Maurizio's website's wine list). It was an inexpensive option, but went well with all our dishes and didn't have the bitterness that puts me off some cabernets.
The portions were large, but not bloat-inducing, and the prices are not gargantuan ($20 and under for an entree) but costly enough to warrant a "special night out".
So, if anyone else out there yearns for some Italian dining fantasy of a decidedly intimate and fabulous variety, put on your stiletto heels, grab the nearest Nicholas Cage lookalike and head to Maurizios (or "snap outta it!!") -
Review from Sara S.
Boston, MA
12/12/2008
I'm convinced that the further you get away from the hub of Hanover street towards Fleet Street, the restaurants are better priced and you get better food. Marizio's is a pretty good example of this!
Maurizio's is a great place if you're looking for lighter Italian food. No frills, yet professional and cozy atmosphere at the same time. You won't find really heavy tomato sauce, baked ziti, chicken parm, etc. on their menu. However, what you will find is a huge selection of amazing sounding food, and you'll probably be just like me and stare at the menu for about 15 minutes and have an incredibly difficult time deciding on what to get.
For an appetizer, we started with the stuffed eggplant. Yum! The eggplant was thinly sliced and rolled around ricotta cheese, and smothered with homemade tomato sauce. Three pieces on the plate... a generously sided appetizer.
For an entree, I had the homemade wild mushroom ravioli with a pesto cream sauce. The dish was very good; however, I don't think I am too enthused with pesto cream sauce in general. I love the strong taste of pesto, and I feel like the cream "waters" it down a bit. TOTAL personal preference, and don't let this stray you from ordering this dish, but it was certainly yummy. I love mushroom, and the pesto-creaminess complimented it wonderfully.
My mom ordered the stuffed chicken breast (with ricotta and spinach), which came with green beans and potatoes. OMG. GET THIS. This was SO GOOD. This dish had the potential to be too salty, chicken too tough, overly fried potatoes, and mushy green beans. However, everything was literally perfect. The potatoes were just crispy and salty enough, cubed and lightly pan fried. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside, generously stuffed with a rich yet light ricotta and spinach blend. I will be back to Maurizio's specifically for this dish. It was a HUGE portion... much bigger than the ravioli, and only a few dollars extra.
A diet coke, an appetizer, and two entrees set us back $50 before tip. Honestly, this was a steal for what we got. I highly suggest Maurizio's, way before Strega, Giacamos, Fiore, or any of the other overrated places in the North End. It can be tough to distinguish one North End restaurant from another, but believe me... this place is notable, and I highly suggest you go! -
Review from chase w.
Suffolk, MA
4/24/2007
Prepare for a biased review. So maybe Maurizio's, isn't the best of the best the North End has to offer food-wise, but not so far off to sway my rating downwards....
Dining in the basement is a treat especially when the chef and owner Maurizio create's a personal blue print for each course we were to sample. Aside from the charming and whitty staff and owner, the food was fabulous as was the wine. A typical North End experience in the good way- I'll keep coming back again, and again, and again because it's always fun and we leave happy and satisfied. -
Review from Katie V.
5/16/2009
Very solid Italian fare -- hearty portions, authentic flavors, and a simple but delicious menu. Maurizio's doesn't need bells and whistles -- it succeeds with fresh ingredients, homemade pasta, and very reasonable prices.
Lamb ossobucco -- delicious, but a huge portion.
Spinach lasagna -- to die for. Literally, I might die for it.
Caesar with imported white anchovies -- phenomenal.
All in all, a wonderful evening.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Emily B.
Napa, CA
11/19/2008 4 photos
There were many restaurants in the north end that looked tempting and we couldn't decide. Luckily The Wine Bottega Store pointed us in the direction of Maurizio's. The owner is from Sardinia so the food has a nice twist to it but still very authentic.
My friend and I started out with the bruschetta , and that was amazing. Fresh ingredients and a large portion that you can share. (See my picture).
Then for our entrees we both had two of the specials . The seafood risotto with mussels and shrimp was very tasty. And The Lobster Ravioli was awesome. The entrees just like the apps. were a large portion so we had lunch for the next day.
I would definitely come back here when in Boston. Maurizio's is quaint and adorably small with a big reputation for great service and great food. -
Review from Maria V.
Boston, MA
10/18/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I ordered the seafood alfredo dish which costs $20 and the sauce was watery and tasteless, along with the seafood itself. It had no flavor and I feel like I could have made a better seafood alfredo dish at home for 1/3 the price. My friend ordered the stuffed salmon which was very good. Maybe I was unlucky in that I got a bad dish but for the price of the food I was expecting more.
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Review from Rob G.
Boston, MA
4/1/2009
The food to cost ratio is pretty sweet here -- good food:fair price. I ordered the Cesare salad, made with anchovy paste(real deal friends), and the gnocchi the first time I went. I've had both dishes before at other places, and this was between above average and delicious. The portions were large, too! That's always a plus.
The atmosphere was unique and interesting as well. It's small, which isn't rare for the north end, and everyone is dressed business casual, but feel free to be as loud and friendly as you want. They welcome it, and the typical crowd you find there is open to it as well. The servers, chefs, and hostess were all nice, too.
Conclusion: wonderful place, great for dates(my girlfriend loved it), and great for small parties. I would suggest asking for a table in the upstairs. The basement is alright, but you don't get the full Murizio experience down there. -
Review from Lily S.
Brighton, MA
6/6/2010
So I went here as opposed to my North End favorite, Piccola Venezia, as a recommendation from one of my friends--hey, why not try something new? We went on a wednesday night--perfect time to go out in the North End if you want to avoid the long lines at dinner time- the three of us had the entire restaurant to ourselves.
The service was great, which is the only thing that's getting it the 3rd star. But then again, the place was empty. I had the gnocchi, which was nothing special to say the least. Felt like eating hard balls of cheese, not that there;s anything wrong with that, I just dont want to pay 22$ for a bowl of it. The portion was quite sizeable, and the bruschetta we started with was pretty good. But for the 45$ i ended up paying after taxes and tip, it left me disappointed.
