Best of Boston
Best Italian Restaurant
2012 Best Italian Restaurant, Upscale
Rialto
Cambridge
The city's Italian-dining scene skews either reasonably authentic (yet undistinguished), or posh (but not quite legit). Rialto bridges the gap with seasonal, from-scratch cooking (strands [...] read more»
2011 Best Italian Restaurant, South
Orta
Pembroke
We love Orta for the same reason we love classic red-sauce Italian food: It's bold, unpretentious, and easy on the wallet. That's not to say [...] read more»
2011 Best Italian Restaurant, Upscale
Dante
Cambridge
Okay, so the guy went and named a restaurant after himself. Clearly, chef Dante de Magistris is focusing his subtlety elsewhere—on, for example, his nuanced [...] read more»
2011 Best Italian Restaurant, Casual
Trattoria Toscana
Boston
We're reluctant to give up this little storefront gem, but its ribbons of house-made pappardelle and tender raviolis are just too delightful not to share. [...] read more»
2009 Best Italian Restaurant
Rialto
Cambridge
Like a Verdian lothario, this town's upscale Italian has a knack for breaking hearts. Leave a place transported by its pillowy gnocchi, and you can [...] read more»
2009 Best Italian Restaurant, Affordable
Il Casale
Belmont
When dining at Il Casale, don't be surprised if your companions—having mopped the last bit of tangy, rich marinara from their plates—start hatching a plan [...] read more»
2008 Best Italian Restaurant
Dante
Cambridge
Don't be misled by the hotel setting: Dante de Magistris is no banquet chef. Since opening his eponymous restaurant at the Royal Sonesta two years [...] read more»
2008 Best Italian Restaurant, Affordable
Trattoria Toscana
Boston
This '07 winner keeps its crown for another year, and deservedly so. We adore the relaxed intimacy of the teeny Fenway trattoria, especially the everyone's-a-regular [...] read more»
2008 Best Italian Restaurant, West
La Campania
Waltham
Given its Main Street address and wall of accolades from the likes of Wine Spectator and Zagat right inside the front door, there's no pretending [...] read more»
2007 Best Italian Restaurant
Sorellina
Boston
Dinner at Sorellina can cost as much as a flight to Italy, but at least here the life-altering food comes without jet lag. The hearty [...] read more»