AWARDS
Best of Boston: For Stargazing
What do Melissa McCarthy, the Rock, Joey Kramer, and Marty Walsh have in common? They’ve all dined at this intimate second-floor restaurant, where first-time restaurateur Massimo Tiberi has pulled in a crowd of celebs big and…not so big (ciao, Kris Humphries) over the past few years. Maybe it’s his genuinely warm “Welcome to my house” greeting at the start of the meal. Maybe it’s the expert wine-pairing advice—a server-recommended nebbiolo was structured and sturdy, the ideal accompaniment to our fall-apart-tender osso buco. Or maybe it’s just the generous portions of better-than-average regional Italian fare.
Best Wine Pairings in Boston
An extensive wine list complements the regional Italian dishes at this midpriced North End trattoria. Oenophiles looking for a dining adventure should opt for the vino volo, a $30 wine flight that treats diners to wines from the all-Italian wine cellar.
Boston’s Best Meatball
1. Aria Trattoria
It’d be remiss not to include at least one North End stalwart on this list. If you’re looking for an old-school Italian experience, consider this: Chef/owner Massimo Tiberi’s recipe goes back generations. His polpette della Nonna is a 50-50 veal-and-beef blend. Held together by bread crumbs, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic, they are then baked—not fried—for an hour, and then slow-simmered “with love” as Tiberi says, in sauce made with his own mother’s recipe.
Top North End Restaurants:
Romantic – Special Occasion
“It’s such an incredible place to dine!” :It was a perfect meal — the food was spectacular, and the service was exceptional!” “Arya in amazing — it’s literally some of the best Italian food I’ve had outside of Italy!” “An absolutely wonderful experience!”