One of the North End's oldest restaurants serves up satisfying Italian cuisine and plenty of charm.
(857) 366-6287
346 Hanover St
Boston,
MA
02113
42.3647
-71.0537
Neighborhoods: North End, Central
What People Are Saying About Cantina Italiana
The Owner
Cantina Italiana
Owner
A tradition in Boston's historic North End serving the tastes that made the North End famous. Cantina Italiana is a long time favorite of locals and visitors alike, as we serve up some of the best traditional Italian cuisine in Boston. Opened in 1931, Cantina Italiana is the oldest restaurant in the North End. We boast over 70 years of tradition for excellent cuisine and outstanding service. Cantina Italiana's warm and charming atmosphere gives the restaurant a relaxed setting for your dining pleasure. Nothing brings a family together like a traditional, Italian dinner. Since 1931,…
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene – A loyal, local clientele and a steady stream of tourists have kept business booming at this popular restaurant since 1931. While there are fancier, more modern establishments in the North End, few places provide such an untainted old-world atmosphere. Congenial waiters clearly take pride in their service, and the dining room's cozy booths provide an ideal setting for enjoying the restaurant's special homemade bombolotti (wagon wheel) pasta. – – The Food – The kitchen's extensive menu rarely veers off the red-sauce highway. But diners seldom complain after…
07/07/09
Average Food, High Prices
by Foodietoo
Just moved up from New Orleans. Expected more, but I guess I'm spoiled. (New Yorker too). The place was as authentic as you can get, complete with live accordian music, but we had the cold antipasto, gnocci and rissotto procini. The rissotto was dry, and the gnocci's sauce was flat and uninspired..
Not worth the 65 dollar bill (no wine or drinks).
No wonder there was no wait to get in.
- Pros: Great Atmosphere
- Cons: Food and Cuisine was ho-hum
06/22/08
North End disaster
by hotelman21
We made a reservation for 8:30 on Saturday night and were still waiting for a table by 9:15. Other patrons near the bar were annoyed with the wait when they made reservations as the hostess and manager sat other walk-ins. When I told the hostess to take off our reservation she rolled her eye's at me.
As a hospitality professional myself I would never stake my reputation by recommending this restaurant to anyone. There are to many great restaurants in the North End to put up with this level of unprofessionalism.
- Pros: It's convience to better places
- Cons: Poor reservation management
03/08/08
Below Average Quality, Overpriced
by LoveItalianFood
I have been to this Restaurant 3 times, the first 2 times the food was good but the last experience was one of the worst I have had in any restaurant, rude waiter and terrible food. While the food was good the first 2 times, it is still overpriced. Not every restaurant in the north end has good Italian food, this one may vary on the day, you may have a good experience in one day and a bad one on another, but regardless, it is overpriced, you can get cheaper/better quality Italian food in a local restaurant or even Carrabbas.
- Pros: Fast food serve once you order
- Cons: Expensive
The Details on Cantina Italiana
Parking:
The good news: This is one of the few restaurants to offer valet service (during dinner only) in the parking space-challenged North End. The bad news? It'll set you back $20 (which still beats a long walk from the nearest T stop).
Know Before You Go:
Celeb alert: This is one of the Bruins' favorite post-game hangouts.
What to Drink:
The bar offers several libations rarely found in the North End, including Leffe, a boffo Belgian beer.
When to Go:
Accordionist Carmen Spada plays at the Cantina on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 6pm-9pm.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Gift Certificate, American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, Travelers Check
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Family Style Dining, Date Spot, Group Dining
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No
Message from Cantina Italiana
- Warm & Charming Atmosphere
- Great for Couples & Groups
- Open for Lunch & Dinner
A tradition in Boston's historic North End serving the tastes that made the North End famous. Cantina Italiana is a long time favorite of locals and visitors alike, as we serve up some of the best traditional Italian cuisine in Boston. Opened in 1931, Cantina Italiana is the oldest restaurant in the North End. We boast over 70 years of tradition for excellent cuisine and outstanding service. Cantina Italiana's warm and charming atmosphere gives the restaurant a relaxed setting for your dining pleasure.
Nothing brings a family together like a traditional, Italian dinner. Since 1931, generations of families, locals and tourists have come here to celebrate the important moments in life: a birthday, christening, communion, graduation, new job, anniversary or retirement party. For lunch or for dinner, Cantina Italiana makes people feel right at home.
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