Trattoria Il Panino

Mussels: 4/5 (delicious broth)Lobster ravioli: 5/5 (AMAZING)Espresso martini: 5/5 (best light martini I've had in Boston. Especially when I usually prefer dark)Service: 4/5 (not very friendly but perfectly fine and attentive)

i've been to Trattoria Il Panino only twice, and i love it. consistent quality, great service and beautiful ambiance. at first we were given seating next to the kitchen, but we saw a couple clear tables and we asked to be moved closer to the staircase which they had no problem with. the bread starter is perfect and fresh, super soft on the inside and crispy outside. we shared the meatball starter which was 2 big meatballs, and while we loved it, we both agreeed it could have a bit more flavor or spice. the whipped ricotta with the meatballs is perfect. the carbonara was amazing - highly recommended, and the penne al pomodoro was delicious. kevin is a fantastic server, they were extremely busy on labor day and he checked in with us frequently (but not too much) to make sure everything was up to par. A+ hospitality.MEATBALLS 9/10PENNE AL POMODORO 8.5/10 CARBONARA 10/10would absolutely return when looking for a reliable, delicious, authentic italian meal. ambiance: 5/5food: 4.6/5service: 5/5trattoria il panino: 4.9/5

Going to the North End for Italian food should be a requirement for anyone visiting Boston! Trattoria II Panino will definitely do you justice! There were three of us dining and we all thoroughly enjoyed everything! With the summer heat in Boston, and no air conditioning in this area, it made for a mildly uncomfortable meal as it quite hot inside and out. I'm not going to sing a star for that. The great service with recommendations, atmosphere and food was a great way to end a long workday! Bellini's to start with calamari and slight heat to the dipping marinara. I went with Osso Buco and risotto, which was amazing. Pasta with pink sauce was said to be wonderful as well! We were also served crusty bread to enjoy before and during our meal. Leftovers were boxed up and send with me to enjoy the follow day for lunch. I won't hesitate to return, it was truly wonderful!

The north end we go!I came in with very low expectations but actually had a great time! My mom wanted to visit this spot because she went here in 2018 and always remembered the lasagna. Fast forward 6 years later and they are no longer family owned and one of the locations of a restaurant monopoly along with Bricco and Umbria. This usually comes in my opinion means higher pricing and not as great quality food. The inside was open air just like many of its North end neighbors and was perfect for the sunny day. I got the cacio o pepe which was yummy but the pesto dish my sister got was missing the flavor . Entrees were $25-30 each and pretty small for an average person. Our server, who I wish I knew her name was such a sweetheart, definitely made the lunch even better. She was very patient and kind to my little brother in small ways that made a difference then how I see him treated sometimes. Not a bad spot overall but nothing that stands out to bring me back especially with how pricey it is.What we gotcacio o pepeMom's Lasagna della CasaTrombetta al PestoPrice $$Food 6Atmosphere 6Service 8

"A bottle of red, a bottle of whiteIt all depends upon your appetiteI'll meet you any time you wantIn our Italian restaurant" (Billy Joel)The North End of Boston is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Italian restaurants. So, it's sure not surprising that we found a good one when the four of us had lunch at Trattoria Il Panino.We were munching on their complimentary Italian bread while checking out their menu. Two of us went with La Romana Traditional Caesar salads ($13.99) with add ons of Chicken Cutlet ($7.99) and four Grilled Shrimp ($11.95). Our other choices were an Octopus Salad with Potatoes, celery & green olives ($18.99), and a Melanzane alla Parmigiana (Baked eggplant mozzarella & tomato) for $18.99.I had Octopus Salad and it was fantastic. I usually order octopus whenever I can but am always a little wary of it being rubbery and overcooked. Not here! The chef did a great job and my salad was chocked full of diced octopus, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and tender diced potatoes in a vinaigrette. It was a fantastic dish, and a pretty good-sized portion for $18.99.My wife's eggplant was excellent (I knew because I mooched a forkful). It was a multi layered beauty of tender eggplant, sauce, and cheese. It was quite delicious.Our excellent Italian lunch ran $91.91 and we all loved our dishes.

I came here for lunch with a coworker and we got seated early AND I found parking on Hanover street just 2 blocks away. Already started off my experience on a high. We had friendly service waiting on our table and the homie Italian ambiance is very inviting. It was surprising to see they had so many open reservations for lunch but I'm so glad they did! I've never personally seen it so empty but I'm not complaining. :)We ordered the meatballs as an app: It came in a pan with plenty of red sauce with a pretty crunchy slice of bread and a generous slab of ricotta cheese which meant for a great dip to scrape the bread in. Would get these again!I didn't try the zucchini flowers since there was prosciutto in them and I don't like prosciutto but they looked delicious. My coworker did mention she liked these. I ordered the Penne Al Pomodoro and it was divine! I finished the whole entire dish. They have a delicious red sauce and the pasta was perfectly cooked just how I like it. The portion was also just enough. I was stuffed but also left no pasta behind. A great lunch in the North End for sure!

My husband and I went here on our honeymoon trip to Boston. It was divine! Our servers were so nice, the ambiance was clean and friendly, and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the mushroom ravioli! Worth every penny, just make sure you make a reservation!

Calamari-was not the best, the batter keeps falling apart and the sauce was not that great. I like my calamari with white sauce usually. Carbonara pasta with chicken- was delicious. Full of flavor and the chicken was so CRISPY. Mmm it was so good my friend kept eating my pasta. Cheese ravioli- was a bit too hard, it could have been a bit softer in my opinion. My friend said it was ok definitely not as good as the carbonara. Our server was very nice and attentive. Although we didn't get his name. He served us well. It was actually pretty busy in here compared to the restaurant next door. It is very spacious for the North End. Has another room right when you walk in too. I would definitely come back and try the tortellini pasta next time.Note: i just witnessed a waitress coming out of the women's restroom stall not washing her hands and leaving the bathroom! Disgusting! She was a waitress at this restaurant too! . If you work with food please dont forget to wash your hands. Even if you are just opening the bathroom stalls and not using the toilet you still need to wash your hands ‍

The PastaIf you are looking for an unpretentious trattoria with good food served up true Italian style, then this is your restaurant. Trattoria Il Panino is quite popular with the younger crowd in the North End as it's prices are more affordable than a lot of its neighbors. Stopped in here and grabbed a plate of Cacio e Pepe and a couple of real espresso martinis. Freshly made delicious pasta delicately combined with pecorino romano and black pepper, absolutely delicious.The only complaint is the drinks are small and priced big. I know it's the North End but an espresso martini that you drink in two sips is small. Overall a very good spot. Thanks

This is the second time I have been here. I will say the food was a bit better this time around but the staff was very rude both times. We had a reservation and still waited 30 mins before we got to sit. They kept moving us around as we waited because they didn't want us blocking the door but then the bar told us not to sit because "they had customers," as if we too were not paying customers. We were also there for a birthday, which we mentioned when making the reservation and specifically asked to get a tiramisu to sing the bday girl a happy birthday. The bill came, they had charged us for the tiramisu but never brought it out. The waitress also wasn't very attentive, forgetting to bring us anything we asked for aside from the meal itself. The ambiance is cute but not worth it for the experience we had. Overall, the food isn't terrible but the experience was extremely disappointing. Parking is also very hard to find, but that is a North end issue, not the restaurant's fault.