Galleria Umberto
Address: 289 hanover st. phone: 617 227-5709. hours: mo-sa 11am-2pm. hours: open only for lunch, this often-overlooked north end spot not only serves up fantastic sicilian specialties, it's one of the cheapest places to eat lunch in the whole city, with calzones from $2-3 and square sicilian pizza slices under a dollar. locals in the know form a queue in front of the counter that can spill out the front door. be warned though: this place is strictly counter service, and the focus is completely on the food. you'll have to eat on your feet, or here's a tip walk north down hanover and sit on a stump overlooking the harbor and the coast guard station.
Marliave
Address: 10 bosworth st. phone: 617 423-6340. a 124-year-old restaurant in the heart of historic boston. excellent food. has a roof garden area overlooking the streets of boston. very friendly management and excellent service and food. a hidden gem that hasn't changed the decor in at least 100 years. just the way bostonians like it.
Maurizio's
Address: 364 hanover st. phone: 617 367-1123. web site: (http://www.mauriziosboston.com) maurizio's, top rated in the zagat guide and three time winner of boston magazine's best of boston award, has been part of the north end dining experience for over twelve years. chef maurizio loddo hails from the italian island of sardinia and brings a wealth of additional cooking experience from france, germany and spain. wines from maurizio's exciting list are selected to complement the food. you will find exceptional and affordable picks from all over the globe. dessert counter at modern pastry
Osteria Rustico
Address: 85 canal st. phone 617 742-8770. hours: lunch m-f 11am-5pm, dinner th-sa 5pm-10pm. there are only six tables and the menu is not very extensive, however the exceptional food makes up for this. for lunch, be sure to try the casalinga with grilled chicken and for dinner, the seafood pasta is out of this world.
Pizzeria Regina
Address: 11â½ thatcher st. phone: 617 227-0765. price="cash only">where the locals go to get their pizza. expect to wait outside in line during peak hours. there are also fast-food style locations around town, though it's not quite the same quality as the main location.
Al Dente Ristorante
Address: 109 salem st. phone: 617 523-0990. web site (http://www.aldenteboston.com). hours: m-th 11:30am-10pm, f-sa 11:30am-11pm, su noon-10pm. this italian gem has an amazing selection. choose from about a dozen pasta types and sauce types. for a truly excellent combo, try one of their homemade pastas with a the tangy vodka sauce. lap the extra sauce down with the fresh bread and clear your pallet with some nice cold peroni beer.
There is a plethora of Italian restaurants in the North End: the following is only a partial list. If you don't know exactly where to eat but know you want good Italian food, all you need to do is walk down either Hanover or Salem Streets, and you'll have no shortage of choices.