La Summa

We got in late to Boston and didn't have a reservation but luckily La Summa had a spot just as one family was leaving we got the window seat!Service was phenomenal. Friendly, efficient, and we got everything and anything we wanted quickly and without question.The restaurant is very nice - I liked the tables and the setup - it's really nice to sit in the window and people watch while you eat. All the food was top notch - I love pork chops and so does my son. We both ordered them and they did not disappoint - 10 out of 10.The gnocchi were perfect pillows of potato pasta and my wife enjoyed a giant salad.The salad was good, but in a restaurant with Italian food - get the Italian food! If you are walking from the Back Bay Area - this is down a side street near Hanover. Really nice place - I highly recommend it!

First business visited first time in Boston Initial impression was the just. Despite not having reservations she got us a seat but made it very clear everyone must order food and not to linger. There was also a note at the tables of no splitting entrees and each person must order. Not sure how I feel about this, but likely trying to maximize the earnings for their wait staff. Food was very good from a flavor standpoint (muscles were a little fishy), portions were generous, and prices were reasonable. Staff was efficient and responsive but otherwise not much interaction or friendliness. We don't mind. It's off the beaten path just a little. Quaint place, but solid choice.

We wandered around the North End on a busy Saturday and this was the first place that didn't turn us around immediately, which was appreciated! It was also off the main street, so it was quieter and more pleasant.Very cute exterior with a cozy interior. Front of house and service were both very friendly.We got the arancini as an appetizer, then the Baked Manicotti and Tagliatelle e Polpette (Meatballs). The arancini was good, though there was more shredded chicken in it than I would prefer. The tagliatelle tasted as if it were homemade and fresh, and the meatballs were soft and juicy. The manicotti was cooked al dente, with a ton of cheese (almost too much).Overall it was good, and I'd come back for sure.

Frutti di mare with red sauce, delicious and absolutely worth market price. Nicely insulated from the bustle of the rest of the North End.

What can be said for the best food of our trip, and reasonably priced where the entire staff stop by your table and chat a bit. Totally unexpected find for my wife and I on our last night in Boston on a Fall Color road trip. Our waitress, Sharon, guided us through the menu and was an absolute delight. She so cared for the restaurant and their history, it was just totally absorbing. Every item would be a top pick after the fact, so we wouldn't change a bit. The brucetta was unique and fantastic, sirloin steak "perfect", vegetables, same. The creme brulee and cannolloni (sp) out of this world. The risotto my wife had was the best she's ever had. We promised a review and here it is, a MUST stop on any Boston trip, IMHO. Totally reasonable prices, after experiencing much higher ones for lesser quality/quantity. Do yourself and your party a favor by trying this (and, no relation, never heard of the place, just chose as they were a $20-30 choice in my search v. $30-50 or higher, so I tried it.... So good)!

The Barbara special. Without a doubt the worst dish I've ever had at an Italian restaurant. It's a nice mix of chicken parm and aunt Jemima maple syrup. I would be infinitely happier with Olive Garden chicken Marsala. Steer clear. All the other food was actually very good. Ambiance was fanatic. Wine was well priced. Will not be back but really respect the hustle these guys got going. Five stars.

Overall: unfortunately one of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant in forever. Only positives are the cute location and interior design. Food: none of the pasta options were worth getting ever again. Firstly it starts with the pasta and they cooked almost all the pasta noodles too soft and the penne was also limp. Equivalent to overcooking Costco generic pasta. Second the sauce was way overdone. Maybe it was too much heavy cream in the Spinaci but it was way too rich. The other red sauces were the opposite being extremely flat. Almost as if they forgot to cook it with stock. The only redeeming dish was the Arancini as it was freshly deep fried and therefore crispy. Even the bread lacked fluff and crust. Service: the worst part had to be how slow the service was. We didn't get an order in until 15 minutes after our party sat down. Second, there was a little bit of attitude with getting the food too. I'll give the benefit of the doubt and say that the other table was being annoying to our waitress but still.

Excellent service and good classic Italian dishes. The opera singer cut off our conversation in the middle of our meal because the volume on his speakers was so high.

Wow. Let's start by saying looks are deceiving. The decor and laminated menus I no way prepared me for the meal or service I was about to experience. Traditional southern Italian - done exceptionally well. The food was amazing - truly. The stuffed mushrooms were light and perfectly seasoned. Perfect The Arannicia were crispy pillows of delishesness - you would not know you were eating rice. Melt in your mouth. The tagliatelle with meatballs was just as good as everything else. the coup de grace was a ricotta pie from heaven. The wine list is good and inexpensive.This is not an expensive restaurant and the service was beyond reproach. In fact, our waiter was cautioned us not to over order, and did not try to upsell us at all, and he was dead on. If you're looking for great southern Italian in the north end, I can't recommend this place enough. Money well spent .

Uninspired glop for the touristy masses. We had two salads, arancini, and mussels.The mussels were overcooked. The arancini were nothing special, likely out of a Sysco freezer pack, and the salads were overdressed with gross sweet dressing.For mains we had The House Special, particularly appalling mess of gloppy indistinguishable proteins swimming in a salty but flavorless sauce. The pasta was mushy and over cooked.The Veal Parm was what you'd expect, but not at all special.Likewise for the sausage with broccoli rabe. Not horrible, but not at all notable.There was no real flavor, heart, or finesse in ANYTHING. Just going through the motions to serve buckets of glop to the tourist crowd. Never again.