Giacomo's Restaurant

(617) 523-9026

355 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113 42.3646 -71.0534

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Neighborhoods: North End, Central

Price:

$$$

Last updated 9.02.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Chef's Table, People Watching, Family Style Dining, Group Dining

Cuisine:

Italian

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Giacomo's Restaurant

Featured Review

Eric Grossman

Contributor

The Scene – Giacomo's popularity, coupled with a strict no-reservations policy, means that on most nights (regardless of the weather) a line will spill out the door and onto bustling Hanover Street. Once inside the dining room's cramped quarters, patrons are rewarded with heaping plates of high-quality, reasonably-priced Italian cuisine. Patrons looking for the same award-winning cuisine but in a more relaxed setting should make the trek across town to Giacomo's South End location: Here, the speedy waitstaff's singular goal is to keep the line outside moving. – – The Food…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Your credit cards are no good here, so come with cash. If you forget, there are ATMs all over Hanover Street.
Know Before You Go:
To avoid being rushed out the door by zealous waiters, order your meal course-by-course instead of all at once.
Save Money:
Cash-strapped couples should opt to split any of the restaurant's massive pasta dishes, which are more than large enough to share.
ambiance
80.0% positive
  1. “However, the ambience failed to impress me - the tables were packed in too tight, and they weren't dressed up or anything.”
  2. “love the informal ambiance, the prices can't be beat, and the servers are hysterical.”
  3. “romantic dinner place this is not, but if you're looking for great Italian food in a hurry, this is your place.”
  4. “Excellent food and service that's worth the wait, but first-timers may find the rushed and cramped atmosphere a little grating.”
  5. “If you want a nice Northend Italian meal where you can genuinely relax and enjoy your food, friends and the atmosphere - dont' go to Giacomos.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Have some wine, a good meal.”
  2. “The wine was perfect.”
  3. “We loved the calamari as an appetizer, and all four of us loved our meals, and the whole bill came to less than $100 including a bottle of wine!”
  4. “If you want to relax after dinner, there is a great cigar bar across the street!”
food quality
96.59000396728516% positive
  1. “The wait staff isn't super friendly or really helpful, but what they lack in manners, they more than make up for in the food.”
  2. “The service was great but the food.”
  3. “service was just as expected, food was quality and wonderful, at the best prices in Boston.”
  4. “As someone who lived in Florence for 6 months, I do know great Italian food.”
  5. “Good value for authentic Italian food”
  6. “usually get the chicken Marsala because it is the best Marsala sauce i have ever had.”
  7. “Excellent food and service that's worth the wait, but first-timers may find the rushed and cramped atmosphere a little grating.”
  8. “Have some wine, a good meal.”
  9. “It's a no thrills type of menu but the food is fantastic!”
  10. “Great food, but overall I was underwhelmed.”
  11. “Great food!”
  12. “The food was outstanding, the only drawback of the place being the VERY cramped quarters and the rush to get you in and out.”
  13. “The food was definitely good - not specifically memorable, although the gnocchi was fantastic.”
  14. “There is no doubt you'll have to wait in line, but the quality and authenticity of the food, matched with the inexpensive prices, makes this the best Italian restaurant in Boston.”
  15. “Excellent food, cheap prices.”
  16. “This is possibly the best food I've had in Boston.”
  17. “But if you're looking for some of the best food in the city, do not miss it.”
  18. “The vino was very good, service excellent, and weeks later, my mouth is still watering remembering how delicious the meal was.”
  19. “The food overall was mediocre.”
  20. “Good food, a little too much hype”
  21. “The waiter was great, explained everything to us (their homemade sauces and pasta) and was great for suggestions.”
  22. “romantic dinner place this is not, but if you're looking for great Italian food in a hurry, this is your place.”
  23. “The "fresh pasta" is not so freash.”
  24. “Great food - but get there early!”
  25. “The Caprese is fresh and the Bufalo Mozzerella is great.”
  26. “recommend their fra diavola sauce.”
  27. “The food is ridiculously good, the service was great and I loved it.”
  28. “If you want a nice Northend Italian meal where you can genuinely relax and enjoy your food, friends and the atmosphere - dont' go to Giacomos.”
  29. “And for no more than $15 an entree, it's a good value for a nice, hearty Italian meal.”
  30. “They found my Grandmothers old huge bowl and filled it with lobster,shrimp, and fusili fra diavlo.”
  31. “Tony was my enthusiastic waiter who served me the best pesto, lobster, mussel, clam dish I've ever had.”
  32. “Great flavor on the fired cal's and would recommend their homemade pasta.”
  33. “The food is outstanding.”
  34. “The food here is great and they bring it out very quickly.”
  35. “Good food for good prices!”
  36. “Food is fair; ceaser salad is pretty good.”
  37. “My partner had a fresh fish special with pasta, clams, mussels, and half a lobster.”
  38. “The food, especially the seafood, is fresh and mouth watering.”
  39. “My wife and I absolutely LOVE the food!”
  40. “Their focus on excellent food and a pleasant dining experience is gone.”
  41. “Amazing food!”
  42. “particularly like the Fra Diavlo sauce and the Giacomo sauce on virtually anything.”
  43. “Excellent food and fresh pasta”
  44. “Pesto fettucini with tuna delicious.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a no thrills type of menu but the food is fantastic!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is the best place in the North End for a fuss-free Italian dinner.”
  2. “The best Italian restaurant in the US!”
  3. “have always known Giacomo's to be a great restaurant.”
  4. “There is no doubt you'll have to wait in line, but the quality and authenticity of the food, matched with the inexpensive prices, makes this the best Italian restaurant in Boston.”
  5. “But i'll go on about how great this place is.”
  6. “romantic dinner place this is not, but if you're looking for great Italian food in a hurry, this is your place.”
  7. “But I will still have to say it's a great place.”
  8. “However, for me it is now part of the draw to this great restaurant.”
service
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. “love the informal ambiance, the prices can't be beat, and the servers are hysterical.”
  2. “The service was great but the food.”
  3. “The waiter was great, explained everything to us (their homemade sauces and pasta) and was great for suggestions.”
  4. “The wait staff isn't super friendly or really helpful, but what they lack in manners, they more than make up for in the food.”
  5. “Waited in line for 30 minutes on a Monday night, but the weather was great and there was nice people to talk to in line.”
  6. “Our waiter was very rude - not in a congenial, gruff Italian way - but genuinely unfriendly.”
  7. “When you are walking down Hanover St. and you see the huge line of people waiting for a table, it's most likely Giacomo's.”
  8. “Tony was my enthusiastic waiter who served me the best pesto, lobster, mussel, clam dish I've ever had.”
  9. “service was just as expected, food was quality and wonderful, at the best prices in Boston.”
  10. “You can meet some interesting people!”
  11. “Excellent food and service that's worth the wait, but first-timers may find the rushed and cramped atmosphere a little grating.”
  12. “The waitstaff is friendly and always running around doing whatever they can.”
  13. “The vino was very good, service excellent, and weeks later, my mouth is still watering remembering how delicious the meal was.”
  14. “The food is ridiculously good, the service was great and I loved it.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Good food for good prices!”
  2. “When you are walking down Hanover St. and you see the huge line of people waiting for a table, it's most likely Giacomo's.”
  3. “service was just as expected, food was quality and wonderful, at the best prices in Boston.”
  4. “They found my Grandmothers old huge bowl and filled it with lobster,shrimp, and fusili fra diavlo.”
  5. “love the informal ambiance, the prices can't be beat, and the servers are hysterical.”
  6. “Excellent food, cheap prices.”
  7. “Wine list reasonable prices.”
  8. “Avoid the big facny places with their small portions, Giacomo's is the place to go!”
  9. “The portions are huge, and the sauces are second to none.”
  10. “There is no doubt you'll have to wait in line, but the quality and authenticity of the food, matched with the inexpensive prices, makes this the best Italian restaurant in Boston.”
  11. “Excellent food and service that's worth the wait, but first-timers may find the rushed and cramped atmosphere a little grating.”
  12. “And for no more than $15 an entree, it's a good value for a nice, hearty Italian meal.”
  13. “Good value for authentic Italian food”
wait time
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Service can be slow, but thats because it is very busy.”
  2. “After waiting in the long line we we sat at a table and had great waitstaff that really treated us well.”
  3. “Waited in line for 30 minutes on a Monday night, but the weather was great and there was nice people to talk to in line.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/05/10

Good value for authentic Italian food

by gethebassics , Citysearch Contributor

I went here a few years ago, and remember being underwhelmed in comparison to how long I had to wait to get inside. The food was definitely good - not specifically memorable, although the gnocchi was fantastic. And for no more than $15 an entree, it's a good value for a nice, hearty Italian meal. However, the ambience failed to impress me - the tables were packed in too tight, and they weren't dressed up or anything.

  • Pros: Large portions, good food, not too expensive
  • Cons: Ambience, wait service
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/11/10

ALL BLOW AND NO SHOW!!!!

by bobco99

I have heard alot of hype about this place since moving here. In the summer, there are always lines out the door so I waited until the winter to check it out. This place is all blow and no show!!! The "fresh pasta" is not so freash. I can make better at home! There are many other hidden places in the North End that are far superior that Giacomo's. I will not be going back. Dont waste your time!!! Leave it for the tourists!

  • Pros: fast food
  • Cons: the food
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/19/09

Scrumptious

by gmlinyc

We first came August of 2007 -recommended by one of my co-workers. My husband and I loved it! The food, especially the seafood, is fresh and mouth watering. We came to Plymouth this past weekend (8/14/09) and had to drive here for dinner. We could not pass it up! As usual the Zuppa di pesce for two with the wine was out of this world! We'll be back!

  • Pros: Best Seafood ever
  • Cons: Waiting on line - but worth it
2 Star Rating: Below Average

08/14/09

Fast Service Sloppy Preperation

by LEE7

Went on a date here, not the best place to go for a date but thats ok. It smelled amazing inside but the food didn't match the smell. The calamari was chewy=overcooked. My ceasar salad was douced in dressing and my main course had a strange B.O like flavor it was a special and I thought it was going to be way better. I asked if the sauce was light or heavy and the waitress said it was light but it wasnt . Wasnt a fan. Some good things about the restaurant were that it was quick and the waitresses were not about BS and savoring the moment.

  • Pros: Quick, Well Priced
  • Cons: Sloppy, over seasoned
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/25/09

Test Review

by SethT

I am just trying to see how to get my review on my wall in Facebook

  • Pros: This is just a test
  • Cons: None

The Details on Giacomo's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • best italian restaurant
  • great service
  • excellent cheap prices
  • great waiter
  • nice northend italian meal
  • fantastic fried calamari
  • fresh homemade pasta
  • very good vino
  • good value
  • fabulous giacomo
  • romantic dinner
  • really helpful wait staff
  • fantastic gnocchi
  • great waitstaff
  • great dinig experience
  • huge line
  • great italian
  • great spot
  • just perfect pumpkin tortellini
  • best lobster
  • perfect wine
  • great italian food
  • nice people
  • love informal ambiance

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