Antico Forno
93 Salem St, Boston, MA, 02113
Antico Forno Menu
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Address :
93 Salem St
Boston, MA, 02113 - Phone (617) 723-6733
- Website https://www.anticofornoboston.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Elizabeth S.
Worst meal we ever had. A rip off. No cheese and tasted like purée and a little basil. On margarita pizza. Chicken Parmesan was so tough and dry. Hard to cut through even. Very stingy on cheese. Would not return,
(1)Chelsea D.
I visited some friends in Boston for St. Patrick's Day, which coincided with the beginning of Boston's restaurant week. We're all about food, and wanted to have a decent dinner before I hopped on a bus back to New York. After a few hours of perusing restaurant week menus and reviews on Yelp, we decided Antico Forno would be the place to have that decent dinner. And for the most part, the food was good, but our experience was disgusting. We called a few hours ahead, made reservations, and were immediately seated upon arrival. The hostess was friendly and everything started on the right foot. The waiter was not the friendliest or most communicative while taking our orders, but he got everything down and was at least polite. They brought us a bread basket, with some olives in oil. We were starving, so we demolished the bread in a couple of minutes. It was delicious. Our appetizers came: arancini di riso (rice balls stuffed with bolognese sauce, green peas and fontina cheese, house tomato sauce) and melanzane (roasted eggplant topped with mozzarella and tomato then baked to perfection, topped with basil pesto). (Parenthetical descriptions from their menu.) I took a bite from the periphery of my giant rice ball and was very pleased with its taste, so I cut it in half to dig right in and it was frozen solid in the middle. Luckily, it seemed like my snowball arancini was an outlier. The other one at the table was perfectly fine, and the waitress who whisked it away for a fresh one was very apologetic. She said it was one of the most popular items that night. And for good reason. It was definitely a solid appetizer, even for something that was premade and defrosted. But before my replacement or our entrees had arrived, a terrible thing happened. As previously mentioned, we immediately downed the bread basket. But one of us investigated the basket for leftover morsels because we were that hungry. Instead of bread, we found small, dark, nut-shaped nuggets at the bottom. "What are these?" Closer inspection (taking them out of the basket) revealed that they were wet. And then we realized they were olive pits. Wet, spit-out olive pits. And all five of our olive pits were accounted for on our plate. You know what that means. THERE WERE WET, SPIT-OUT OLIVE PITS FROM A PREVIOUS CUSTOMER AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR BREAD BASKET. We called over our waiter and asked him what he thought the dark little things were. He remained uncommunicative, and shrugged off our question, and so we pointed out that they were olive pits from someone else. He mumbled "sorry", grabbed the basket away, and brought it to the back. We obviously asked to speak to a manager the next time someone came to the table. She immediately came over, and it was clear that she thought our complaint would be about the frozen appetizer. Which we did briefly mention. But she had no idea about the olive pits, and was absolutely stunned when my friend filled her in. She had no response but "that is absolutely disgusting. There is no excuse for that." And you could tell she was extremely angry that she heard about this from the customers, and not the wait staff who had been informed of the issue. After a few more visits to the table, and a lot of sincere apologies, she eventually told us that our entire meal would be on the house. (Though she initially tried to give us free drinks to make up for it -- we were all sick, tired of drinking after St. Patrick's, or in the middle of a study day, so no alcohol for us. Though even if I was drinking I'm not sure I would have taken a free glass of sangria to make up for the fact that someone's spitty olive pit touched the bread I ate). But back to the food (yes, I know, we continued eating here but we were hungry and she assured us over and over and over again that this was not something that happened frequently). Two of us had the Bistecca Pizzaiola (braised short rib topped with sautéed peppers and onions, smoked scamorza gratin, balsamic condimento) which was somewhat disappointing by their accounts. They thought the dish was a little too lukewarm and didn't have enough food. It was basically a pile of meat with very little else. It needed a starch or just something more. My Cannelloni con Pollo e Spinaci (cannelloni stuffed with chicken, spinach and ricotta cheese, baked with roast garlic cream sauce) was great. There was a somewhat uneven distribution of chicken and spinach (with one cannelloni being all chickened out and one being all chickened up), but the roast garlic cream sauce was delightful. It was on the thinner side but packed with flavor. I certainly enjoyed it. Dessert was take it or leave it: bread pudding and cannolis, I've had better and I've had worse. Having someone one else's spittle on the table should be one star, automatically. I'm giving two stars because the food was pretty good and the manager handled the situation well. Given the circumstances, however, I will not return.
(2)Yasi J.
Not a good pizza at all. We got the Amilfatana and it was basically crust(a very dry one), cheese, and a bowl of argula being dumped on after taking it out of the oven. A lot of argula were just dangling on the top and would fall all over the place. It was like havi ng bread with your salad dumped on top.
(2)Sarah F.
Food here was great. Much more of family place than a romantic place. There was a 90th birthday party being held there when I was there and there were kids everywhere! My husband and I really enjoyed the aranchini. They were quite tasty. We tried the traditional pizza and the gnocci. Both were good, but not amazing. The pizza's toppings were not applied evenly, so one half of the pizza had a lot of sausage and the other half had barely any. I drank the house "bianco" wine. It was good. All-in-all a nice casual spot for a nice family dinner. Don't go in expecting a romantic dinner.
(4)Marcia B.
The portions are not for those who are light eaters. Go hungry! Had the veal parm and it was excellent! Thicker pieces of veal than normal which is fine by me. We had planned to go to another spot but the line was long and asked a gentleman on the street getting into his car where he would recommend. Great recommendation! Only issue I had was that it's quite loud so hard to carry on a conversation.
(4)Amy S.
Went there last night for dinner. The Food was delicious. My friend had one of the seafood pastas and I wanted to try the daily special. Oh Boy! It was very special.. Thinking about it makes my mouth watery lol the lobster and shrimp ravioli in a homemade tomato sauce Yummmm! A must go place,
(5)Tom V.
Went to the Feast of St. Anthony yesterday Saturday evening. Broke away from the crowd and went to Antico Forno on Salem St.. Kathy and I sat at the bar and ate. We ordered a summer Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, the biggest tomato slices I've seen come out of a restaurant kitchen with basil. It was awesome. (see photos) We also ordered the Arancini with red sauce which was also double awesome. We shared one entree, the potato "Gnocchi" of coarse. It was special, the sauce was again, awesome. Sitting at the bar we sampled multiple Espresso Martini's made to perfection. What else can I say about this place...If your in the North End visit Hanover St. for Mike's Pastry but walk to Salem Street to try Antico Forno.
(5)Angela O.
I visited Boston April 2014, and a local recommended this restaurant. A year has past and I still remember this place and the amazing food! I would literally go back to Boston just to eat here again!
(5)Sarah F.
This place didn't quite live up to the hype (and the line out the door when we arrived). It's certainly VERY loud, but we didn't particularly mind. The wine server (or sommelier? The bartender called him "the wine guy"), when asked, made good suggestions and they have a solid and reasonably-priced wine list. The bartender didn't know much about wine, but she knew to ask him so all good. The plum tomato sauce was, as expected, sweet but nuanced-- likely house-made. I ordered the chicken Parmesan and it lacked flavor; I wound up adding a lot of Parmesan cheese. The linguine it came with was overcooked. Overall it was fine, but after spending about $40 on dinner and one drink I would have expected a bit more. This is the North End, after all, so I bet there's better fare to be had.
(3)Abbie K.
SO the food is generally excellent. The only reason I'm not at 5 stars is because the atmosphere can be overwhelming. The place is deceptively small (when it's busy you feel a bit smushed into other tables) and I've never been there when the place wasn't just too LOUD. I've never had a problem with service and when I was there for a birthday they brought out tiramisu and a candle! The desserts aren't brilliant but there are plenty of other places around that only do dessert type stuff. I also find they're a bit pricey but the food really is worth it. It's the ambiance I'm not as happy with.
(4)Joanne E.
Very disappointed in this place. Our server never told us about the dinner specials. But she did tell the next table over all about them. They also ordered right before us and they received their meals quickly. Ours came about 20 mins later. The chicken parm was soggy and mushy. The carbonara was dry. We had to ask another server for extra sauce. Ours never check on how our meals were. Go elsewhere, we won't be back.
(1)Jaclyn S.
This place is fantastic for larger groups. The North End is known for restaurants to have limited space but Antico Forno is definitely bigger in size than most places and for that reason makes it a good spot for larger parties. This restaurant has a casual atmosphere. I have ate here twice and am impressed with both the food and prices. For appetizers I have tried: Focaccina con caprino (excellent), mussels (great), calamari (great), and Arrancini (good). For the main entrée I have tried the Rigatoni Salsiccia (Rigatoni, Sausage, and onions in a tomato sauce with Ricotta on top). This was AMAZING and I'd highly recommend it. I have also tried the Fusilli Al Tegamino (fusilli pasta, eggplant and zucchini in a tomato sauce with goat cheese). I would also recommend this dish. They put a lot of their pasta dishes in a brick oven, which makes it extra tasty. They also have a ton of pizza selections and who doesn't love pizza cooked in a brick oven? The margherita pizza was quite tasty, but the next time I go I would love to try one of the specialty pizzas. Overall the quality and volume of food with the low prices make this place a must try if you have never been. I honestly loved the entire experience and can't wait to go back to try a new dish! Update: I've been here recently and tried the Vesuvio pizza (mozzarella, roasted peppers, ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes, & prosciutto). It is out of this world. You must order this! The sausage and broccoli rabe pizza was also great.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Make sure you have a reservation, and even then arrive early because the place is packed and you will still have to wait for your table. The pizza is hands down best I've had, the crust is crispy, chewy and light; comes to table piping hot. My daughter's spaghetti with meatball was good, nice tangy sauce. Hubby had osso bucco with side of polenta which was nicely done. My seafood postino was blah, the sauce was super sweet, the handmade cut pasta was al dente, but didn't have the chewiness I like. I would go back just for pizza if I can stand the crowd. It's just so crowded and I felt hurried. The hostess lifted my purse while I was getting my coat on to hurry me along so the boys can bus re table for the next patrons.
(3)Mark A.
Visiting Boston during restaurant week was a great idea... All kinds of awesome restaurants participate and have great prices on a Prix Fixe menu. Decided to try the north end and some authentic Italian. For $20 a person we got an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Delicious fettuccini carbonara. Clearly homemade pasta and fresh ingredients. And although it was little on the small side, the cannoli was outstanding. (I'm guessing it was for the Prix fixe, regular menu item may be bigger) I would go here again for sure, although being from LA I want to try many other places during my short stay here.
(4)Chris M.
We visited this pizza place last night after my wife completed the Boston marathon. It was recommended as a place that served good pizza and catered for people with gluten intolerance. The place was full which is always a good sign in my book and we weren't disappointed. The service was quick and the food was good. Two minor negatives. As the place was so full our table felt like it was in the middle of a highway with people going passed on both sides throughout the meal. The second negative was there was no choice of pizza base, thin, deep pan etc. I prefer a typical Italian pizza base and this was on offer. The thicker one I got was nice but not my favourite. I would return again, I'd just ask for a different table :-)
(4)L F.
Meh. My boyfriend and I came here the other night to grab dinner before an Improv Boston show. He is vegetarian and I prefer to eat vegan and my go-to meal at Italian places is usually a veggie pizza hold the cheese. Somehow, our waiter had a really hard time letting us order the veggie pizza without cheese. He made a big deal about it and made me feel like I was imposing on him for asking the chef to please leave off the cheese. I don't get it. I'm paying you so that I can enjoy my dinner at your establishment without having a tummy ache afterwards -- on top of that, you are saving money by *not* serving me the cheese! Extra points taken off for not being able to suggest an appetizer without meat and cheese. The waiter didn't recommend we have any appetizers (presumably because the flavor comes from the animal product?), but I saw a bunch of veggies in different menu items that could be combined into a tasty salad or an antipasto salad or platter. In the end we ordered a "side dish" for an appetizer: a roasted red pepper salad (delicious!) For a main meal, we finally convinced the waiter that we indeed wanted the pizza without cheese, and it was actually quite tasty. The good: - The food was good, the complimentary bread with olive oil was good too (but I'm easy to please, I like carbs) - The ambiance -- kinda cheesy but nice. The bad: - The service was just frustrating. I wish the waiter would have been a bit more knowledgeable about the menu (i.e. the side dish was a great appetizer). His lack of enthusiasm to find the best items for us on the menu left a sour aftertaste. - We had reservations and showed up on time but had to wait about 25 minutes before they seated us. Bottom line: The food wasn't bad but why would I want to pay for bad service? Next time, I'll order take out. PS: the Improv Boston show was definitely the highlight of this evening; very much recommended!
(1)Frank P.
Aranchini were really good. We were a larger party so we tried a variety of the pizzas. They all seemed a little off. They were ok nothing to brag about. The best was the traditional one and the worst was the four cheese one. Staff was super nice and tended to us very well.
(4)Nati E.
Food quality was ok not what I was expecting.
(2)Deb E.
We had a res here the night of the Boston manhunt on April 19 - they called us to let us know they were open and we were happy to venture out from our hotel. Deep in the North End Antico Forno is a nice homey Italian restaurant. With a fireplace and a wall of windows it was a nice cozy atmosphere. It was not a typical night to be visiting (I suspect it was much quieter than usual) but we enjoyed our meals and service was attentive and friendly. Our children each had a calzone which were MASSIVE at $13 - they could have shared one. My husband & I shared a spinach salad with pancetta (Not recommended - not special at all), a portion of fettucine bolognese (delicious and the noodles were obviously fresh) and an artichoke pizza with mushrooms & truffle oil. Delicious. We skipped dessert opting to head up to Mike's pastry for take home dessert. All in all: cocktails=expensive, food was moderate and overall good. We may return but there are so many other places in the north end to try. They were kid friendly.
(3)Patty M.
Food was delicious homemade and fresh. We had Bolognese dish. It was amazing. The pasta is fresh and home made. The potions are small and it was an expensive meal but worth it.
(4)Elizabeth B.
There's a reason for always having a line out the door. I come here all the time but my last experience here last week was exceptional! The pizza tasted better than ever (it's always been my favorite in the North End) and my boyfriends pork chop was perfectly cooked. I tasted the desert for the first time too, bread pudding YUM! There's a great bar that we choose to sit at sometimes (when there's seats available) and the sangria is to die for! It's hard to believe some of the comments on here after being here so many times - it's busy & loud on the weekends, so if you're looking for a quiet, romantic dinner maybe I could understand that part. All in all - my favorite spot in the North End for big portions and very reasonable prices.
(5)Meagan D.
Most importantly, Antico has a pizza slice buzzer to let you know when your table is ready. This softened the blow for our 40 minute wait time. Fear not, a crowded restaurant is typically a good thing (unless you are trying to hit up IHOP at 2 am). The overwhelming crowd inside was lively. They really pack the tables in and we jokingly invited the guests next to us to close the two inch gap between our tables and join us...they declined. Damn. I think they were more interested in the table headed by the guy yelling, "BRING THE KING HIS FOOD!" Touché. We ordered the arancini and scarfed them down quickly. They were crispy on the outside and oozing with a mild bolognese and pea concoction inside. The bread served before the meal was a little disappointing. We expected it to be more homemade tasting but it could be likened to a loaf of .99 cent Italian bread from stop and shop. The spread served with the bread was unique though. Our guess was that it was made of ricotta and plum tomato which was a wildcard for the premeal bread served at Italian places since all of us have only had been served olive oil. The entrees were sizable and very filling. The gnocchi was dense and the tomato sauce was savory. We also tried the popular baked sausage rigatoni served with ricotta - YUM. Barely ate half of it because it was so hearty. I should also mention that we ordered the pomegranate sparklers. Though delish, a tiny fluted champagne glass was not a satisfying portion for the price. I think I took a shot at Dick's Last Resort later in the evening that was larger than this drink. Overall - there's a reason this place has a line out the door. Either people are coming back for the reasonably priced authentic Italian fare or the pizza slice buzzers. Either way, we aren't judging.
(4)Suzanne Y.
Has the Arancini and the traditional pizza at the bar on a busy Sunday afternoon. Busy lively place. Loved the Arancini
(4)Jeremy B.
Excellent Italian - some of the best I've had in a few years. It can get crowded pretty easily, but they take reservations.
(5)K M.
Good food but service is incredibly slow and poor. There is usually one or two servers for the whole place. You will be seated and could wait 15 minutes for someone to even bring you a menu.
(4)Kaili H.
My fiancé and I chose this restaurant based on ratings and the moderate price range last summer while visiting Boston. We went for a late lunch, and though it was busy, it wasn't crowded so we were able to be seated immediately. We ordered an appetizer, the charcuterie, and a bottle of prosecco. Both were very good, as was the gnocchi for lunch. It was a very calm atmosphere with good food and service.
(4)Helen K.
I may not be Italian, but I am very particular about my Margherita pizzas and the one they serve here is legit!! It could use a little more basil and it could be a *little* thinner, but the sauce tasted fresh, the cheese proportion and gooeyness level just right. The dough is really tasty, too. I'm surprised that the caprese salad had a lot of lettuce in it. Aren't caprese salads supposed to be: tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar?
(4)Jen S.
Great food and service. A beautiful and cozy restaurant! I had the Melanzane as an appetizer (roasted eggplant topped with mozzarella and tomato baked and topped with basil pesto.) A pasta with mushrooms and chicken as an entree (can't remember the name) and a cannoli for dessert! Everything was great! I'm a fan and stand behind my four star rating!
(4)Cassandra H.
My husband and I love this place. The pasta is fresh and delicious. I would recommend having a reservation as the wait gets long especially on the weekend. It is a bit loud inside as well but the food is well worth it. The fusilli is a must try.
(4)App T.
Rude waitress. We ordered 4 dishes at lunch for 4 adults and 2 kids. She told us that that it's a table for 7 and we need to order more. Food was ok nothing that would let us go back
(1)Mal S.
WOW WOW WOW. Came here with a party of 12 and we all ate ourselves into a coma. The must haves: Polpette, The cheesy egglpant appetizer, Caprese, the quattro formaggio pizza (ask for a side of marinara to dip), and the pasta bolognese. Get it!
(5)Amy L.
This place is great! Pizza made from scratch so you can have it exactly as you want it. Cozy space and you can watch the pizza being cooked in the brick oven. Dough and tomato sauce are heavenly. Staff is friendly & speedy. We will be back for sure!!!
(4)Pallavi B.
What a disappointing TT in the Little Italy! Glad that we got tortured so as to prevent anybody else from the future tormenting experiences. We waited and waited and waited with that rattle like buzzer in our hands and it rang after almost 2 hours of wait time. The hostess and the girl at the check in kept apologizing for the delay and appreciating our patience, however it was only a little respite. We thought that the food might be able to lift our spirits, however it is a different story altogether. My husband was head bent on having pizza that night so we ordered their margarita pie to split. It was really nothing to write home about. Steer away if you are there for only a few days and want to spend your time on North End wisely. We are not going back again.
(2)Nick Z.
I came here with high hopes for the pizza and I was disappointed. I ordered the tradional pizza and thought it would be a good idea get prosciutto as an addition. It's as if the pizza was cooked and the chef forgot to put the prosciutto on and just threw slices of meat on after the fact. I however found out that's not true because my girlfriend got a pizza with prosciutto on the specific style and it came out the same way. I don't even know how to describe the prosciutto as a topping, besides it's put on the same way meat is put on a sandwich. The rice balls however were fantastic and the staff was great as well and that's the reason for the 2 stars.
(2)Joel S.
Nice space on Salem Street. Nice decor, brick walls and dim lighting. Our waiter was a very nice guy and we enjoyed his company. We were served a basket of very good bread with olive oil. We ordered a nice, reasonably priced bottle of Primitivo. The mixed green salad was good and nicely dressed. Our main courses were OK. My wife ordered the fusilli and didn't love it. The flavor combination was funny to her, but she should have figured it out from the menu. The thing that she really didn't like was that the pasta was overcooked. I had the linguine al frutti di mare. The sauce was good and the seafood was good. The linguine was flaccid. The menu refers to these two pastas being finished off in the oven. Neither tasted like a casserole. Both dishes just tasted as if the pasta was overcooked. If the linguine was al dente it would have been a lot better. We probably should have realized this from the menu. My wife was expecting something more the consistency of baked ziti. Overall a pleasant evening with a nice waiter. I would order differently if I went back.
(3)Amanda B.
Worth the hour-and-a-half wait? Maybe. Depends on what you're looking for. Luckily we weren't starving, and turned the wait into a game. We ate the rigatoni salsiccia and the linguine with steamed clams. Both were delightful! I recommend the linguine over the rigatoni, but to each her own. The service was good, attentive but not overwhelming, and the price was fairly reasonable. The good: great food. The bad: an exceptional wait time. Usually a good sign. The weird: the buzzers they give for folks waiting for a table are shaped like pizza slices.
(4)Michelle V.
Although the food was good, it was a bit pricey for Italian - I suppose the location has everything to do with that. The noise level is over the top, the need some help with the acoustics in the space.
(3)Stephen V.
Absolutely my favorite Italian restaurant . A bit loud but worth it for the quality of food. if there is something you want that isn't on the menu , they will make it for you ! The Calamari is unbelievable. My fave is the seafood Fra diavolo ! You cant go wrong here ! Need to make reservations !
(5)Jon J.
Major disappointment in the Italian section of Boston. Service was slooooow. Wait staff was wooden, no words were spoken to us by the waitress. She just stood there. No smile. Nada. Pizza was thin crust, which usually indicates crispy texture but ours was limp and soggy. The pizza sauce and crust had no flavor at all. Pasta was floating in watery sauce. They must depend on tourists because no one would go back for more of their unfriendly treatment and bland food. I'm Italian and my homemade pizza is far better. And I smile at my guests, too.
(1)Maria E.
really great Italian food. Visited yesterday and ordered lasagna, margherita, Linguine al frutti di mare, parmigiana di pollo. Everything was great, except that there was a bit too much tomato to my liking and the chairs are not particularly comfy.
(5)Lisa S.
I lived in the North End for several years and though I had never eaten at the restaurant before, I was familiar with it and had always heard good things. When a group of us decided to go in town for dinner and a show, I made a reservation at Antico Forno. We had to be at the show by 9:45 (it was around the corner at 10:00) so I decided to make a 7:30 reservation to make sure we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy our meal before heading out. Unfortunately (and ridiculously), we were not seated until 9:00 (every time we followed up we were told "20 minutes" - needless to say that was untrue). I would have gone elsewhere when 8:00 came around and we hadn't been seated for our reservation yet, but it was Saturday night and we had a large group, so there was no availability at the surrounding restaurants for us. And truthfully, I didn't think it would be anywhere near an hour and a half to be seated with a reservation. Once we were finally seated, we had to immediately order entrees to ensure that we would not be late for the show. The 1-star here is for our waitress - she was actually very nice and made sure that our order arrived very quickly. That was the only positive though because the food itself was mediocre at best - and that is being kind (the calamari was fishy, one person in our group ordered chicken parm and thought it was veal...and the parm dishes was so drowned in sauce I am not surprised she couldn't identify the meat, and the complaints go on...). What a disappointment -- I will never go to this restaurant again and will ensure that when others ask for recommendations I warn them not to go here.
(1)Jeanie M.
Dinner for 13 people was tough. They handled it very well, splitting the check for 4 people each check so it was easier to figure out. Food-wonderful. I tasted the pizza and it was superb. I had the clams & linguine-finished off in the oven it was so good! Service-patient Chairs- SO uncomfortable. It is very casual and fun but LOUD. Maybe something on the ceiling to muffle the sound? And change those chairs. I would go back it was really delicious and fairly priced.
(4)Kelsey C.
The service here is the worst I've ever had. I would have preferred no service to the service I got. For starters, the server resetting the adjacent table slammed each plate and piece of silverware with an anger the source of which I can't begin to guess. He was so loud we had to shout to talk. Then we were ignored for ten minutes. Yes, I timed it. When a server finally came to take our order, I asked him what their specials were and he glared at me and pointed to the specials menu, which said "risotto of the day". Apparently, I should read the menu...and his mind. So it turns out, our server probably wasn't supposed to be our server because right after he went to put the order in, a lady walked up to our table with a notepad and hovered wordlessly for what felt like hours. Eventually, we informed her that our order was just taken and she moved on to glare at the next table. Without saying a word. We got the Caprese appetizer, which was crude with thick chunks of irregularly-shaped mozzarella, interspersed with giant slices of tomato on steroids. The mozzarella was tasty, so it's a pity a dish with such potential for beauty was so hideously portrayed. The Carciofi e Porcini Pizza had a crispy crust that most chefs spend a lifetime trying to perfect. What a pity it was doused in a liter of truffle oil, which was about as nauseating as morning sickness. I didn't eat a whole lot here, but I'll never find out what the other dishes are like. Antico forno may translate to "old oven", but the deadly combination of food and service conjure the very flames of hell. I barely escaped hell this time, and I certainly won't be going back.
(1)Vivian C.
Antico Forno makes for a long lunch. But just think about it, it is a restaurant that specializes in Brick Oven specialties! So if you are coming here, make sure you're not starving, that you plenty of time to sit and wait, and order an appetizer to start with. We ordered two appetizers, and entree, and a pizza, and our neighboring table that sat down shortly after we did didn't get their pizza till after we had the chance to dig into ours. In the meantime though, they were nursing their drinks and the bread basket of a nice focaccia and some french bread. INVOLTINI DI MELANZANE $8.00 Rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese and basil, baked in brick oven with plum tomato sauce and parmigiano cheese CAPRESE $8.00 Fresh mozzarella and tomato salad, mixed greens, toasted bread, dressed with extra virgin olive oil and basil LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE $14.00 Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in plum tomato sauce baked in parchment paper PIZZA CON SPINACI from a separate Additions to Menu sheet $10.50 Fresh mozzarella and baby spinach Judging from the two appetizers we tried, they seem to like to portion their appetizers for 3. There were three stuffed pieces of eggplant smothered in tomato sauce (and may I say, YUM!) as well as three layers of fat sliced tomatoes and mozzarella on the caprese plate. As for the pasta, the sauce was infused with flavors of the seafood. Too peppery for my dc. A bit too salty too. The pizza surprised us by arriving sauceless. The complete coating of cheese did not lend it enough flavor in my dc's opinion, but I found the gobs of pre-cooked spinach rather wet - but that sure did the job of keeping the spinach leaves from burning! But it also lent to a slight sogginess in the center. The crust was a bit crisp at the edge but rather soft in the center. The place was pretty full shortly before 1pm, so they must do pretty good lunch business.
(3)Steve C.
I have eaten here many times but never reviewed it for some reason, shame on me. Here goes, by far one of the best in the north end, i personally like what i call "peasant" Italian food, for example chicken parm, calzones, veal parm, saltimbocca, marsala you know, meatballs and sausage type, and Antico Forno delivers and then some. The wood fired pizza oven sits at the end of the main dining room and is always on the go, the pizza and calzones are awesome, they have great dough and delicious sauces and toppings. I've had many selections from the main menu, the lasagna, the bolognese, the chicken parm, veal chop, all incredible, homemade pasta and sauces, how can you go wrong. There's a small bar, great during the week as you may get a seat but forget it at the weekends, there's always a line so reservations are definitely recommended. Service is prompt and efficient, Maria was our server and was an absolute delight.
(5)Emily S.
Went with a "preplanned" menu with a group of kids - there were good and bad points to the experience. For a big group was basically $12/person plus tax and tip. This was ceasar salad (the portions were tiny and the dressing not fabulous, I think due to group they skimped), margherita pizza completed NOT authentic, and some type of pasta with a red sauce. So this probably (at most) cost them $1/person. It also had some kind of other sausage and artichoke pizza. (about 3 pieces of sausage and same w artichoke for whole pizza). Then for dessert the smallest canneloni I had ever seen (luckily I had had one early at Mikes which was to die for) Also I had our tab broken out (my daughter and I ) and didn't realize until later that they DOUBLE charged on our tip so I paid about $15 for tip - they didnt bring to my attention and think did on purpose. Also they whisked the food away like they were going to use for their dinner. One of the kids asked smartly for a to go box - WTF were they going to do with all that left over food? Scariest thought - WHAT were they doing with ALL the left over food (for a party of 22) - do they reheat and reserve? Just due to that would AVOID. As a native Californian whose favorite place is North Beach (aka REAL italian food) and having been to Italy with my daughter, this was a true disapointment. There are so many really CUTE places along this area, trust your fellow "yelpers" and choose one with better In closing to re-iterate, when you go to italy (and NOTE I was there ALSO with a group of high school kids) dinner is to savor - its anticipating the next course and savoring all the food AND they DO NOT take away the food. They let you savor and enjoy. too bad as many of the kids hadnt travelled to get a NON authentic experience, PS go to MIKES for Cannoli
(1)John C.
Very solid food. I've enjoyed many of the pizzas and pastas. They don't seem to mess anything up and some of the combinations are delicious and imaginative. The servers are very friendly and reasonably prompt and attentive. Nice boisterous ambience.
(4)Joelle K.
Great North End restaurant! The decor is really nice with exposed bricks. They have a nice bar that I have gone to both while waiting for a table or just to stop in for a couple glasses of wine. It's been a while since I last had a meal here, so I don't remember exactly what I had. I do know that me and the other two people that I went with all had pastas dishes that we were very happy with.
(4)Karen Y.
a brick oven they cook almost everything in and house made smoked mozzarella pretty much sealed the deal when picking an italian restaurant in the north end. we started with the mussels and calamari. both cooked well and i couldn't get enough of the spicy red sauce the mussels were cooked in. hold off on the aioli with the bread, dip the bread in the mussel sauce instead. the calamari is was well prepared, but nothing special. the little one loved it though and ordering it with the sauce on the side left us with the ability to order what we wanted that he would likely not want to eat. my husband and i split the il marinero pizza. the sautéed shrimp and smoked mozzarella topped with fresh arugula and refreshing tomatoes was a great combo. i wouldn't say the service was all that attentive and the lady at the hostess stand seemed really annoyed that we were taking so long to walk through the door (my son is five and was at the beginning stage of becoming h-angry). otherwise, i wouldn't say it was bad service either. they are extremely busy, with every table filled by 5:30 on a friday night so it pays to know exactly what you want.
(4)Robyn T.
Although I enjoyed my experience at Antico Forno, I can't say it was mind blowing. And because of where it's located, the competition is fierce so I was hoping for something a little more memorable. Don't get me wrong, everything was good, from the wine, the bread, and the gnocchi I had, and I would definitely go again, but I didn't walk out of there saying "this is my new place". There are so many choices in the North End for old school italian that I'll probably make the rounds first. Perhaps there's a specialty item that I missed?
(3)Andrew H.
Being a suburbanite, I have wanted to hit Antico Forno for a few years now, after hearing great things about it (including one night when, if you've read my reviews, I really wished I had gone here instead of another North End establishment). I finally got my chance, the other day, and I have to say that I have mixed emotions about the experience. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, and we were seated quickly. Appetizers were delicious. The lemon aioli that came with the calamari was lick-off-the-plate good. The arancini were enormous. An order was comprised of 2 larger than baseball sized arancini, seasoned and stuffed perfectly, with almost perfect marinara. Entrees/pizzas were almost perfect. Everything came out right except for the four-cheese pizza "quattro formaggio", which was requested to have extra roasted garlic, and prosciutto added. Well, it came out sliced, with ice cold prosciutto layered on top. Firstly, we didn't expect to get cold prosciutto, and secondly, it was impossible to eat without cutting through the ham, since it wasn't sliced with the pizza - not very easy without sharp knives. When this was pointed out to the server, she proceeded to lecture us on the fact that it was prosciutto crudo, and shouldn't be heated. When I pointed out that it was cooked in many other dishes on their menu, I was ignored off-hand. She eventually took the pizza back and had it heated in the oven, but when it came back we realized that the garlic wasn't roasted (as specified on their menu and asked for), either. It was a huge pie with raw, still-crunchy garlic all over it. All in all, 6 out of 7 things ordered were great. Getting lectured-to about what I ordered was not pleasant, nor was the service after the one item (out of 7, once again) was sent back. Honestly, what was good was delicious, but I won't be going back. I don't need lectures from people that know less about the food on their menu than I do.
(3)Breanna B.
Came here for a post-graduation lunch. Great pizza, nice atmosphere with windows open and breeze flowing through when the weather's nice. We all ordered a bunch of pizzas to share. Loved the margharita and the quattro fromagio. Nice wood fired style crust with a bit of char and enough fluff in the crust, perfect for dipping in the olive oil. There's lots of space for groups and I liked that our table was round so we all got to chat together. A casual, but impressive experience fit for a celebratory time.
(4)Angie R.
We were so happy we were accommodated considering there were nine of us and especially during the St. Anthony fest. I absolutely loved it. I had the braised pork with polenta. My family had various pasta dishes and they all loved their meals as well. I can't wait to come back to Boston and to this awesome restaurant.
(5)Erica K.
Yum! Came in for a late lunch and I split the caprese salad and chicken saltimbocca with my boyfriend. The caprese salad was delicious, big chunks of mozzarella and tomato, over greens. The chicken dish was very similar to Marsala but it was also very yummy. I also ordered the sangria which wasn't the best I've ever had but fine. My boyfriend got a Bloody Mary and he liked it. I would come back!
(4)Choncho R.
Went their with a group of ten for the feast and they were very accommodating. Our waiter was great considering the crowd. Great job. My Son and I had the Puttanesca which was really good. Every one was satisfied with their meal and we'd definitely come back
(4)June-Young C.
The beeper's are slices of pizza that light up when it's your turn to be seated!? The seafood pasta here is great. It is probably a good idea to share any of their entrees because the serving sizes are huge. I ordered their veal parm and it was pretty good. It might be hard to pronounce anything on the menu since it is all in Italian, but the waiters can figure it out. Pretty good service here.
(4)Rachelle B.
Visited Boston three times in the last year and now one of the highlights is going to the Italian neighborhood to walk along the streets and find somewhere that looks good. Found this place on a nice, Tuesday evening in May. Traditional, casual atmosphere inside with brick, low/warm lighting, basic wooden tables, a large bar and the whole place basically divided into two halves. We were put at a two-seater table in the middle of the right section, which was so close to another two-seater, that it actually felt like one big four-seater. Luckily, no one came and sat there so we were able to enjoy moderate privacy. Average to loud with all the conversations going on, couldn't hear if there was music, and the place at least half full out of maybe 30 tables in total or so? Friendly service and we were observing some of the staff who were very prompt and on the ball all evening. My partner had the Saltimbocca di Pollo ($20 seared chicken breast topped with parma prosciutto and fontina cheese in a madeira mushroom wine sauce with sautéed garlic spinach) which he quite liked except for the spinach. He expected that it would've been in smaller pieces spread throughout the dish, versus just a spoonful on the plate. Our Caesar salads were very good and plentiful, so much that it could be a meal in of itself if you are not the type of person who can eat giant meals. The free bread was nice and soft but added to salad, I could barely look at my entree when it arrived, and I AM a big eater. lol I ordered the Ai Funghi pizza ($17 wild mushrooms, fresh homemade mozzarella, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh arugula) and it was bigger than your average personal size pizza, so I was only able to force down three small slices, 1/4 of the whole thing. It was loaded with lots of arugula which was different but nice. Unfortunately, our hotel room didn't have a fridge in it so I took this to go, and was still way too full a couple of hours later to finish it. Then after it sitting out at room temperature all night, I was hesitant to eat it the next day, since who knows if the cheese would still be okay. Lesson learned, ask how big the pizzas are in the future if going to order one for myself! And skip the free bread at minimum. I would come back here and try a pasta.
(3)Shell L.
We came in the late afternoon so it was a quiet time so we were seated right away. I ordered the meatballs over a salad and was shocked when I realized the meatballs tasted just like my Nanas ! Haven't had hers in over 5 years. Once my kids realized this we had to order more! We also had the mussels, the osso buco, and the Margherita pizza... yum, yum, yum. Loved sitting by the open window! We will def be back next time we're in Boston. The waiter was very nice and the food came out promptly! I did feel I had to ask for a few things a server might pick up on, napkins, bread, my son wanted a soda refill but basically gave up on getting one. And please when you're hosting, smile and show a little interest in people.
(5)Louie S.
Food OK, sorry to say. I want to say "Awesome" but just average. Not worth the wait.
(2)Liz V.
I was highly disappointed in the service. We waited 45 minutes when we made a reservation and we were not accommodated. We ended up having to go to another location in the north end. It was unacceptable.
(2)Gregorio V.
This place has gone down hill in terms of food quality. I was very surprised about that. The antipasto was probably the biggest disappointment....half of it came out of a can/jar. The arancini was good although the menu said it comes with meat sauce and we got Marinara. They were also not warm... The pizza was a disappointment... In a word, plain. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff was attentive. I feel like the food lost its soul... I hope it gets it back.
(2)Becca P.
Came here for restaurant week yesterday (lunch - 3 course $20). Really didn't need a reservation since it wasn't bustling. I ordered the Eggplant Pesto appetizer, Pork Shank/ Mushroom Risotto, and Tiramisu. Got the Montepulciano red wine too. Wine was good. On the sweeter side. The appetizer was bland. The entree was delicious thought he pork shank was a tad overcooked and the risotto was a hint salty. But it wasn't bad. The tiramisu was good. I probably wouldn't come back here though.
(3)Derek C.
I was really happy here. They have a great selection of pastas, pizzas and antipasti. The sauces are unique and some dishes I had never heard of before. I liked how they mixed cheeses into a lot of pasta dishes. Overall, a big hit.
(5)Doreen L.
Very good choice while visiting for a Yankee game!! Price fixed lunch menu and our food was delicious and waitress was very friendly!!
(5)Abdullah A.
Great food! Authentic. Loved the margarita pizza and roasted potato! Servers are nice and interesting neighborhood!
(5)Cameron H.
We just returned from our mediocre meal at Antico Forno. Upon reading several great reviews of this place, plus the close proximity to our hotel, we got same day Friday reservations and off we went. We were seated by our 8:00 reservation time after grabbing drinks at the bar, but then waited a good 10-15 minutes for our server to arrive. He took our order and we had our food with little wait time. My husband ordered the Pizza Carciofi and I had the famed Gnocchi. With much regret, I hate to report that my gnocchi was sub-par. The flavor was so mild, bland, and boring. And the pizza, too, was bland and overly soggy in the middle, as another Yelper stated in their review. Generally, I don't complain. We usually have fantastic food and don't need to complain, and when it comes to my Little Italy experiences, I've never been let down. I explained all of this to our server, and his response was, "Was there anything wrong with it?" Well damn! I said no, that it was just ok, missing flavor and greatness. He told me that perhaps it needed more salt or Parmesan. Well, no, it needed more than that, but was I supposed to argue with our waiter? Not my style. So, we got free tiramisu. This isn't what I was looking for, but at least it was something. I loved the atmosphere. They're a fast-paced establishment with a great vibe, but the food needs work. Based on so many other positive Yelper experiences, I would hate to steer people away from this place, but tonight, it is what it is. I wish they would have sent someone else over to talk to us before bringing out free dessert. I think offering to comp my entree would've been more appropriate, but in the end, they make more money with this solution. I'll leave it up to you all. You may have a decent experience. I'm left disappointed and dissatisfied.
(2)Stig B.
Been twice in last 2 months. Consistently good food, table service friendly, if not as prompt as expected. Overall, very good.
(4)Bob B.
Everyone from the Boston area has their go-to place in the North End, Antico Forno is mine. Great food, I especially love the pasta with clams, but its all outstanding. Kid friendly, my son always orders the quattro formaggi pizza. Start with an authentic antipasti which piles delicious meats and cheeses and olives and veggies to fill you up before your meal gets to the table. Love coming here, always have had a great experience.
(5)Jennifer S.
We were looking for a comfortable, casual Italian restaurant and we luckily found Antico Forno because it was all that and more. This place is clearly good because it is a steady stream of customers starting from 4pm on. Great atmosphere, great service and really delicious Italian food! I shared a caprese salad with a friend and really enjoyed it - fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. Our husbands enjoyed the meatballs and the caesar salad...again, everyone was happy. For our entrees, we tried the fusilli and both rigatoni dishes...oh my, we were all in heaven! Flavorful, fresh and filling...all 3 dishes! Nice, reasonably priced Italian wine selection as well. Trust me, you can't go wrong at this place!
(4)Leyani L.
my second time having dinner here and i love it. they deliver every single time and its always solid! Pure traditinal Italian food. i belive it doesnt get any more classic than this, but I'm not itialian so dont take my word for it. the downside it would be how loud it is. you can't really have a conversation without yelling at the other person and the people right next to you overhearing what you are saying. Its hard for the staff to walk around as well as the guests. Our waitress did her best to give her best costumer service, you can tell, but between the other staff trying to get by, and the people that was almost impossible. Either way i was there for the authentic home made pasta and some good old sangria, which it was GOOD!
(5)A H.
Avoid this restaurant! I travel between Boston, Dallas and NYC and regularly eat out for dinner. Every person we came in contact with at Antico Forno treated us exceptionally poorly. It was shocking to me how disrespectful their waitstaff was. Like I said, AVOID THIS RESTAURANT. They truly don't deserve your business. Also, don't ask for a refill on your Coke. My sister was literally chugging her 2nd coke before we left when we saw that they charged us $4 for her refill. We aren't penny pinchers, but no refills on a small Coke is just unheard of at ANY restaurant where you sit at a table! Strangest move I've seen to make money.
(2)Helen L.
I got the herb roasted chicken which was not bad but not worth the $20. The waitress was brisk and unhelpful. I asked her for recommendations from the menu and she just was very short with me and said "it's all good." When the food came I asked if they had hot sauce and she said no, which is surprising for a restaurant but okay. I was not impressed but it may be that the bad service overshadowed the food.
(3)Matthew A.
Cozy and friendly Italian food. The staff was prompt and helpful but didn't seem to be actually Italian, so if you're looking for the completely authentic experience, this may not be ideal. Food was delivered quickly even with a half full restaurant. I got Fusilli Al Tegamino and it was delicious! I would definitely come here again.
(4)Daphne S.
Too loud a place to eat. You better figure next to no conversation. I would say the food is OK but the pizza was fantastic.
(3)Sabeeta M.
I went here with a friend on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. We had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table. The complimentary bread served was terrible! It was stale and cold. We ordered calamari for appetiser and it was pretty good. I ordered the linguine Al frutti di mare, which is an oven-baked pasta dish with lots of seafood. The portion was generous and the food was good. The food at this place is good but you can't say the same about service. Our server was rude and short with us. He came to pick up the plates and without asking if we were done he would clear out the table. This happened both after the appetisers and the main course. Overall, good food but poor service.
(3)Kim B.
I came here for a birthday dinner. We had a reservation on a Friday night for 10 people. We called on our way to let them know the group would be a little late, and they said they didn't have our names down... even though someone from the group spoke with them prior that day to confirm. Once getting there, we sat at the bar... for well over an hour. It was packed and we were in the way, and we weren't seated still! they then sat us down at 2 separate tables.... and about 15 minutes later moved us finally to one big table. It was a big disaster and the hostesses were lying to us the whole time! They kept saying we didn't have a reservation. However, the manager did come and apologize and stated she was rather humiliated. Given the big group, we ordered about 9 appetizers( calamari, a bruschetta, salad, arancini), and then we ordered meals in which I got the meat sauce. We also got the dessert pizza, cannolis and a few other desserts. I will say the food was amazing. I was impressed with the presentation and taste of every dish. The decor was charming and similar to many of the other restaurants in the North End. The one major perk being that many of the dishes are wood fired. Given the amount of other North End restaurants, the food was okay but not worth it given the wait. I might give it a try in a smaller group.
(3)Pam P.
The food was good, nothing special. Service was also not up to par. The waitstaff was rude and did not accommodate to our large party. One check is allowed per every 4 people, which was not specified over the phone while we were placing our reservation. Small changes in entrées were also refused, such as taking mushrooms out of a pasta dish. They also refused to split meals on separate plates for those who were sharing meals. The waitress was constantly rolling her eyes at us. Overall, the food was not worth the waitstaff.
(2)David J.
Generous salad good price. Pizza- great crust, sweet sauce, fresh basil. Very tasty. Not my favorite pizza on the planet., but very tasty. Pizza is a very personal preference. So simple but every one's perfect pizza is different. The atmosphere on Saturday was very busy but the service was quick and efficient. Come give it a try.
(4)Ketan D.
Ok food. The server forced us to order all our food at once. We weren't sure if one pizza will be enough for us and she outrightly told us that she won't come back for second orders.
(2)Kate F.
I made a reservation for 13 people a month in advance. Called twice to confirm. When we arrived took them 40 minutes to seat us. When they did I asked the waitress if we could have separate checks for couples and she just said "no, no separate checks" very abruptly. The food came out very quickly which was good. Because they took so long to seat us they then turned on the lights and started folding napkins letting us clearly know they were looking to close. So our large party had no time to socialize or even order coffee. The worst was at my brother's chicken was undercooked and the server noticed and asked if you wanted to complain. My brother said no because he's too nice.
(2)Bren Y.
Love the short wait on a Friday night, we shared a caprese salad which was good and a lasagna but the lasagna was not warm in the middle but the outside was very hot! They needed to cook the lasagna about 5 minutes more to heat it throughly!
(4)Carolyn L.
Was able to get a table here on a Friday night without reservations! It was one of the only restaurants in the North End that was able to fit us in at that time. The hostess was really sweet! My friend and I decided to try this place out after seeing the banner in front of the restaurant, claiming to be one of the best Italian restaurants in the world. Not sure how legitimate the reviewer or award was, but it was freezing and we were hungry. This place is super cute, with a very romantic atmosphere and legit decor, but also the loudest restaurants I've ever been to. I couldn't hear what my friend was saying half the time. Towards the end, we just gave up on talking. The prices are decent. Comparable to the other Italian restaurants in the area. I ended up spending around $23 for my meal. I shared the Gnocchi and the Linguine con Vongole. Their Gnocchi was baked in a brick oven. The sauce consisted of plum tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese and basil finished in brick oven. For $16.50 it was pretty good! The portion doesn't look big, but it is so incredibly filling. The baked mozzarella was probably my favorite party of the dish. The gnocchi was pretty good too. I'm usually not a fan of gnocchi, but Antico Forno made it pretty well. It wasn't the best I've had, but it was better than average. The Linguine con Vongole was deeeeelicious! For $19, you get linguine with sautéed clams, fresh cherry tomatoes in a garlic white wine sauce baked in parchment paper and finished in the brick oven. The sauce is heavenlyyy. I was scooping up every last drop. I was also really surprised with how many clams they served. They were really fresh too! I would definitely recommend trying this dish if you're here! What a cool place this is to bake so many of their dishes...and with parchment paper! I really enjoyed the linguine, but would probably pass on the gnocchi. Overall verdict: Not Top 10 in the world...probably not Top 10 in the state either. But it's really good! If you're here you have to try their seafood pasta baked in the oven.
(4)Becca S.
I give Antico Forno an average rating of 3 stars. The food was a 5-star experience - I had the gnocchi and had a chance to try two different types of pizza that my family ordered. It was all amazing, and extremely filling! Each one of us definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The service was a 2-star experience. We waited a good 15 minutes after receiving the menus to place our order - the waitresses would walk right by us and chat with other tables like they were intentionally ignoring us. We finally got one's attention by deliberately flagging her down. It wasn't even that busy when we got there! Then she really wanted nothing to do with us for the rest of the night - no smile or anything. And we never got one of our appetizers. I'm not sure why were were overlooked and then given the cold shoulder - maybe it's because we were all wearing Bruins shirts? With all the great restaurants in the North End, I think we'll give some others a try before going back here.
(3)Jencen R.
Started off with the caprese salad. Then got the traditional pizza with ham instead of pepperoni. I will be dreaming of that crust until I can return!
(5)Josh D.
I went here on a Saturday night to catch up with friends visiting from out of town. The restaurant claimed authentic homestyle Italian dishes and had decent reviews, so we decided to check it out. For starters, we got the caprese, calamari, and antipasti. The caprese was awful - dry, over salted mozzarella on wilted and old salad tomatoes, served without balsamic and additional lousy tomatoes as garnish. The calamari was average at best, drizzled in a soggy mayonnaise based sauce that did nothing for the flavor. The antipasti was average at best as well, and with non authentic items such as Gouda included on the plate, I started to seriously doubt the legitimacy of this so called classic Italian eatery. I ordered the fusilli as an entree which wasn't terrible, however a friend ordered the veal parm and pasta which was essentially mush. Another friend ordered the bolognese, that was so watery it felt like the waiter dropped a bucket of ice on the dish as it came out from the kitchen. The service was horrible - our waitress egregiously added 20% tip to our bill when she was hardly visible the entire meal. No fresh Parmesan offered, no water refills, we had to flag her down to take our order after almost 30 minutes of waiting. Needless to say, I will not be returning to this restaurant anytime soon.
(1)Adam C.
This place was an absolute treat to find while in Boston. I was lucky to have stopped during the August Restaurant week and was offered a great deal of a meal for a very reasonable price. For starters they serve fresh baked bread with my appetizer which was a small salad of mixed greens and a reasonable piece mozzarella cheese and vinaigrette dressing. Very tasty. The main dish was fresh oven baked Chicken Parm and it tasted like nothing I've ever had. The tomatoe sauce was very delicious and the fact that the plate came out piping hot added to the experience of the dish. The dessert was a cannoli which I never had fresh so it was a great treat. The only thing was that I thought connoli's were larger in size. Regardless of the size it was delicious. Although I only at there once I was very happy that I decided to give it a try and if I ever find my self in Boston again I would love to eat here again.
(5)Michael L.
Outstanding service and superb food!! A hidden little gem in the North End of Boston!!
(5)Jen L.
The lobster ravioli and lasagna were awesome! The lobster ravioli was a special for the night. I would suggest getting it. When we got there we walked right in but when we left there was a large line! So get there early! The tables are a little close together. I would definitely go back!
(5)Jasmine T.
My last dinner in Boston, and I wanted to eat well. So thought maybe some carbs might do. I spent a lot on my previous dinner, so I had to pick somewhere that was more affordable, and this is one of the few budget-friendly places to eat in the North End. We waited pretty much 1.5 hour for our table, when we really hope to wait 35 minutes. But there was a party of 30 people, which made it hard to go through the customers faster I guess. I ordered the linguini with seafood (shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, octopus, oysters). It was what I expected, but the shrimps were kind of dry. Also, it was kind of unusual for the linguini to be wrapped around in a paper (probably to keep the warmth). The pizza was a bit disappointing, the center part was swimming in grease a little and it got kind of soggy when I took a few bites out of them.
(4)Joshua C.
As this being our first trip to Boston we were amazed at how many pizza joints were located in the north end . we arrived on a Friday afternoon and came upon this place and it did not disappoint. The staff was really welcoming, service was great never had an empty beer and food within a reasonable time 15-20 Min. Food: My girlfriend got a regular pizza with pepperoni and shes a hard critic when it comes to pizza as it is her favorite food. She thought the pizza was delicious straight from a brick oven. The calamari was amazing as it is dipped in some sort of tartar sauce. During our 3 nights in Boston we came here 2 of the nights and plan on going back sometime next year Affordable dinner
(4)K R.
I would classify this place as mediocre in comparison with some of its neighbors. Showed up on time for our reservation and still had to wait 40 mins. Food was okay. Nothing special. Red sauce didn't have a lot of flavor. The real killer is that the place was LOUD beyond belief. My ears are still ringing. If you have kids or you are in your early 20s this place is ideal. If not, steer clear.
(2)Tammy S.
We ate dinner her on a Saturday night and the food was so good! We were staying in a hotel and flying out the next morning or I would have found a way to keep the leftovers. The kids had a pepperoni pizza and spaghetti with meatballs and the adults had pasta. The food was amazing, the service was stellar and we would definitely come here again! Well done!
(5)David B.
Many of the Italian places in the North End are tourist traps. Others are precious neo-Italian. You want good old-fashioned food, come here. It's not on the main drag (Hanover St.) but it's only a block up from the parkway on the next street over so it's not at all hard to walk to. I had a seafood risotto special which was excellent, especially for the creamy rice. My companion had delicious gnocci in a marinara sauce, not a usual sauce for gnocci. We came early (5ish) on a weekday night (Tuesday) and it wasn't at all crowded.
(5)Peter V.
Ordered the misto salad , which was large and well done Then DJ and I split the margarita pizza. Larger than a personal pizza, but smaller than a take out pizza. Was very good.
(4)Jolene S.
Massive downgrade to my review of this place because of foul mussels. Stick to pizza and calamari and avoid shellfish--or anything where cleanliness of prep is critical. Still believe in their bread and magic with a red sauce but not in the cleanliness/attention-to-detail dishes like mussels require (which is a pity -- because Anchovies, which is arguably a dive, gets the mussels done right every time) Here I was eating dirt and disgusted by the bad job on the shellfish strewn around in the fantastically flavorful red sauce. Won't be going back for a long time now--very sad And yes I have to agree that it gets loud and service is slow and highly variable--slow, but nice server and surly front-of-staff re: seating small groups at a table with many tables open
(2)Giovanni O.
Antico Forno is the bomb. The oven roasted chicken is the best you will find. The flavor from the herb seasoning and olive oil is unreal and it is cooked to perfection. Their tomato sauce is pretty good too and the service is great.
(5)Scott H.
This place really hit the spot on a recent trip back to Boston. My sister suggested Antico Forno, having been here before during a North End pizza tour. It took the server a bit longer to approach us than I would have liked, but once he did the service was good. We started with to Sam Adams Summer Ale drafts and they were delicious. For pies we split two. One was pepperoni and sausage and the other was a margherita. Both were excellent and the topping so fresh. On tiny thing that bugged me about this place is when you first walk in there is a curtain separating the dinning area from the front desk that makes for some awkward moments because when you follow someone in, the curtain swings back and whack you in the face :/ I would definitely go here again.
(4)Kalliope K.
With places like Babbo and Pastoral serving excellent pizza at great prices Antico Forno needs to step up it's game. The pizzas are good and fairly large. Ordered the Fuessili and it was a lot of tomato sauce, didn't see the fennel sausage and even skimped on the pasta. Really?
(3)Jake G.
I'm not a Boston guy by any means, so I had no clue where to get pizza after a Celtics game. I randomly chose this place and was glad I did. No wait, we were seated immediately and greated with some delicious bread and olive oil. Shared an appetizer and pizza with my wife, and had a sam adams draft for $34.77, great price for being in boston. The arancini was great, rice balls with bolognese and marinara sauce. We kept it simple with a pepperoni margherita pizza, it tasted like a good papa ginos pizza: the perfect balance of a soft and crunchy crust and just the right amount of grease, cheese and sauce. Best busboy I ever had a restaurant, always topped off our waters, immediately picked up plates, and was friendly.
(4)Bianca H.
The service was great and the location and atmosphere are as well. but the food here is not the best in the North End neighborhood. Most dishes are based in cream sauces and heavier than an authentic italian pasta or fish dish. Someone in my party had pizza and loved it (the crust did look great). Overall this caters to the tourist looking for an Italian American meal but not the connoisseur looking for an authentic experience with the simple clean taste and quality ingredients of Italy's food.
(3)Kristin G.
Headed here after a Red Sox game while hanging out in the north end. Staff was friendly but the food was only ok. We ordered the Vesuvio Pizza the taste was a 7 but the crust was a 2. It was super thin which I don't mind if the crust can hold up but it was complete mush. The toppings weren't heavy at all and the crust should've held up. I expected more from pizza in the north end where "Great Italian Pizza" is advertised everywhere! My husband ordered a White Russian but despite having what looked like a full bar they had only flavored vodkas no regular vodka.
(2)Ethan H.
When you visit Boston's north end you are getting a taste of Italy. Antico forno is the closest thing to a real Italian restaurant in America you can get. From the freshly baked bread they give you off the bat to the friendly and perhaps a bit flirty service. Everything about this restaurant is exquisite. I encourage people to get the linguine frutti di mare. It is a parchment paper baked dish with multiple shellfish included. Prices were within range at antico forno. Definitely one of the north end's finest eateries.
(5)David C.
Honestly...there's a reason why Giacomo's has a line down the block and this place does not.
(2)Megan O.
Made a reservation on Open Table last Friday night. Restaurant was packed with patrons, but they were able to seat us fairly quickly. We were seated at a small table for 2, pretty much on top of 2 other parties- which was kind of a bummer. Glass of house cab was a good price. We got 2 entrees- an order of the oven roasted chicken and an order of fettucine alfredo. Food was pretty good, nothing amazing, but good. It seemed more of a pizza place than a real authentic north end italian restaurant. I would recommend it for a quick bite to eat (super loud and casual eating).
(3)Alex M.
Nice place, all 3 of us had pizza. Once we ordered they were done quite quickly. I was quite satisfied with my 4 cheese pizza!
(4)Bela S.
The high reviews and the crowded restaurant pulled us in. While our experience was far from terrible, there was still a lot left to be desired for a place that many call their favorite North End spot. To start, we were seated in the back near the kitchen at a raised table in front of the computer. Two problems with this. The raised chairs are too high to have your feet touch the ground (I am 6'1"), and oddly shaped so your legs tend to fall asleep. Seriously, unless you are Shaquille O'Neil, request they not give you a raised seat. The good news is that I only saw two tables like this (aside from the bar). Also, my wife was constantly being elbowed in the back by servers entering things and she constantly felt in the way. No, this isn;t the server's fault but rather the restaurants. GET RID OF THAT TABLE! The restaurant seamed understaffed and very busy while we visited. I am not sure if this is normal, or if it was just an off day, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. We sat at the table a good 10-15 minutes before they took our order. The wait to get in was maybe 25, which isn;t bad, but add to that another 10-15 of unexpected wait time and, well, I guess you be the judge. Once our orders were placed, the food came out within another ten minutes or so, so no complaint there. My wife had the vegetable lasagna. The flavors were spot on. Not a thing to complain about here. The issues was THE CENTER WAS COLD. I had a bite myself, and yes, it was cold. Frozen? No, But the center was definitely not warm enough to be served. Again, they were really busy, and seamed understaffed, but is that an excuse? You decide. I had the rolled eggplant and it was lovely. Another delightful thing I noticed is that the sauces were different in each. Still a tomato base, but a distinctly different taste. Would we be back? Maybe, but there are a TON of high-rated restaurants in the area, so we are going to be trying them in the near future.
(3)Courtney Z.
I went to Antico Forno with my parents. We arrived around 4 so the restaurant was empty since it is such an odd hour to eat. We were starving and looking forward to a great North End Italian meal. There were few other places open, but this one looked like it had good reviews. First the good. The server was really prompt and friendly. She wasn't too stiff at all and we were never in need of anything. The food was what really disappointed us. We ordered the Arrancini to start. They were pretty bland and average. We then had a margarita pizza which left much to be desired. The mozzarella is not fresh, and the crust was subpar. Also had chicken parmigiana. The chicken was chewy and the crust was not crunchy. It was drowned in marinara. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't awesome either. Finally my dad had the sausage rigatoni. Again, pretty average. Our bill with three glasses of house chianti came out to roughly $100. So that wasn't too bad. All in all with all the great options in the north end, we will choose something else in the future.
(3)Nicholas D.
Absolutely delicious food. My family is from the Bronx and the food here is not far from original Italian cuisine. I had the fried calamari and the pasta bolognese, which was very very good. I only gave this restaurant 3 stars because the waitress I had was very rude to my me and my friends. We are all college students and apparently she did not like that. Despite the fact that she did not introduce herself or take our drink orders, she ignored our signals for her to come to our table! She actually had another waiter clear our plates. To make matters even worse, once the bill came, she placed the check on the table, and while I was still working on who pays how much and the tip, she has the audacity to come back over to the table and ask if we were done with the check while it was still in my hands! After that I left her an 8% tip just to be nice. I highly recommend this place to eat, just try not to get my miserable blonde waitress...
(3)Alexa B.
I'm from Chicago, so I am no stranger to good food. This place was fantastic!! The food was fast and delicious. The waitress was busy but attentive. The cannoli was the best thing I have had in Boston. This place made the airfare worth it. Ask for marly was our waitress make sure to ask for her!
(5)Ali D.
I used to be a big fan of Antico Forno's and have fond memories of getting the shrimp and arugula pizza with my mom and sister. However, the quality just doesn't seem to be what I remember, and I had an incident with a very abrupt and rude woman on the phone when trying to make a reservation. In the past, I would have said it was worth the frequent long waits, but now I recommend checking out one of the multitude of other restaurants in the North End.
(2)Tom F.
A mixed bag... First the bad... Extremely slow service. Loud. And my Linguine with Clams - baked in parchment paper and foil - was a relatively small portion and the pasta was rendered into soggy noodles. Very disappointing. The Caprese salad contained tomatoes one could get at a hospital cafeteria. For the end of August, you would think they could do better. Prices were on the steep side, too, given the overall experience, portions and quality. Now the good... The Pork shank my father-in-law ordered was stellar - melted in your mouth, with wonderful flavor. I suspect this is the type of dish this place excels at versus pasta. Also, if you have kids, they can scream all they want and no one cares since its so loud already (and there are plenty of families there on weekends.) This place is living off past glory. Final analysis - there are plenty of better, neaby.
(2)Mary L.
Cozy atmosphere with a gas log fire in the middle. Great seating in the window! Wouldn't recommend crab ravioli-- served cold and not really spectacular. Loved the seafood risotto!! Had bits of asparagus in it. All the specialties were fantastic and served piping hot. You should come! Authentic
(4)Idy T.
With so many different Italian restaurants in the North End, it is hard to decide which one to try! But one day, a couple of friends and I decided to dine at Antico Forno for dinner. The restaurant feels really homey. I especially enjoyed sitting at a table where I can see the brick oven and the kitchen. I really enjoyed seeing the pizzas go in the oven and the food coming out. :) I ordered the linguine con vongole which is linguine pasta with sauteed clams, fresh cherry tomatoes in a garlic white wine sauce. This is one of their oven baked dishes. The pasta was served in a sizzling hot clay dish and it was wrapped with parchment paper and aluminum foil. When I was unraveling the foil, it was like opening a Christmas present with a big surprise. The dish was really delicious. The clams were really fresh. The wine sauce infused with garlic was a perfect touch to the accent the sweetness of the clams. The pasta was aldente, everything was perfect. They get busy during dinner hours and it took a while for the food to be served after I placed my order. But overall, I enjoyed the food, the restaurant, and the service. If you have trouble choosing a restaurant to try in North End, Antico Forno is worth trying!
(4)Molly C.
All I have to say is that this was a strange experience. From the hour long wait to the unhappy staff I can honestly say I regret eating here. Don't go. Take your money elsewhere!
(2)Erin L.
The hostesses do not have time conception down when to tell you how long the wait is, they told us 30 minutes & we ended up waiting over an hour! The food however was amazing, the lasagna was the best I've ever had, true Italian.
(3)Shan B.
Dinner was good, everyone was happy with their meals. The waiter was attentive and friendly. The rolled eggplant is excellent. The bottle of wine was good (organic), Peroni on tap. The bartenders weren't super friendly, very rude. It's a bit off-putting.
(3)Mary T.
I had an awesome time here. I came on a random night and I was craving some pizza. My friend and I were walking around the North End and finally decided to use my handy-dandy yelp app to search for a good pizza place. A lot of search results came up, but only this matched what I was looking for: good food with good ambiance. We went in, and we were seated right away. It wasn't too busy that night. I have to compliment on the server who assisted us. He is the nicest server I have encountered. We ordered our food and we asked him feedback on how to say it correctly in Italian and he taught us how to say our orders in Italian. I got the carciofi e porcini pizza. It comes with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, and truffle oil! They have an brick oven so the pizza taste different than the other pizza places around the North end. I was really happy with my experience and I definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone.
(5)CW W.
For my birthday I told my boyfriend that I wanted to go somewhere that had yummy arancini balls...he found this place. I understand that we're in the North End and space is scarce but the table we were sat at should not have been there. We were literally sat right next to the entrance way and if I hadn't pushed my chair back against the wall and moved our table about 4-5inches in people would have constantly knocked him. We quickly had our water glasses filled and then we waited, and waited and waited. Finally about 7mins later our waiter arrived. The restaurant was pretty full but we were still surprised it took so long. Our waiter approached, asked if we wanted anything else to drink, we said no and then there was this awkward silence for about 10 seconds until our waiter asked if we were ready to order. He never told us about any specials so we just ordered. Our arancini balls arrived promptly and the flavor was really good. Sadly there were only 2 in the order and for $12 it was not worth it. I ordered the rigatoni while my boyfriend got the gnocchi. My dinner had good flavor but again for the portion size not worth it. The gnocchi though was not good at all. My boyfriend loves gnocchi and tries it at ever new place we go and this one will definitely not make his top ten. There was something wrong with the texture as if he had been reheated over and over again. Also the sauce it came in was less than desired. When we were finished we pushed our plates forward, flipped our forks over and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. I actually counted that our waiter walked by 7 times without even glancing in our direction. 10 mins later he asked if we were all set. I had eaten half my rigatoni while my boyfriend ate a third. I asked to have mine wrapped up but my boyfriend said no. Waiter asked again as he was obviously surprised but didn't ask if anything was wrong with it. No dessert for us and due to the, bad seating, bad service and overpriced food despite some food being good we wont be returning. As always never take my word and try for yourself.
(2)John M.
My daughter and I stopped in the North End for an Italian dinner during a college visit trip. After checking out many places we picked this one because it was quite busy so we thought it must be good. It was a little noisy but we were seated right away near the bar at a tall table. Service was impeccable. And, the food was amazing...she had the gnocchi and I had fettuccine with shrimp and scallops. Both were homemade. We would definitely stop here again.
(5)Joe S.
I heard good things so I thought hey I'll give it a try. Very slow service, literally watched the servers run in circles to the same table over and over. Food came out quick, chicken was good, overpriced a bit but it's the north end so it's to be expected. The best part of this place is the decor, feels like your at home.
(3)Heather B.
This is so much more than a pizza restaurant and we had such a great experience from start to finish. The fresh baked bread was so good dipped in olive oil. We all had different pasta dishes with additions of shrimp or a veggie version with eggplant but each was so good! We ended off the meal with cannoli and tiramisu. Great people watching and everyone was so friendly and the service was great. We will definitely return and was a classic Italian meal in the north end
(5)Carol M.
I have come to Antico Forno on three occasions. The first time was for a friend's wedding brunch, I had the Lobster Ravioli special and it was like heaven. I became addicted to the sauce...it was sooooo goooood. Since it was during brunch time, it was not at all packed, nor loud. Waiter was very informative, and good about keeping the water filled up, and making sure we had a nice experince. Second visit, made reservations, and even at that, I had to wait about an hour. Because we were starving, we went to the little cafe next door and had a little something while our table was ready. We ended up getting the first table when you walk in, behind the hostess. She was wicked nice, service did take quite a while to arrive though. We ordered a pizza, pasta, and it was so delicious, that the wait was totally worth while! Again, the sauces they used...AMAZING. Third visit was during restaurant week. Made reservations, it was nice and quiet. Had Arincini for starters( and for the first time in my life).....Red sauce at this point is like crack...Linguine dish with meat sauce which was on the salty side so II could not finish, but friends were very happy and pleased with their dishes. Desert was tiramisu, and it was very delicious. Overall very good. I really enjoy this place, and I do plan on returning in the future. I feel the prices here are more reasonable compared to the places on Hanover St that are not at all as good. There is also a homey feeling to the place that makes it so good to be there.
(4)Caroline J.
My husband and I were visiting Boston, and this place was recommended to try so we decided to go for lunch one day. We ended up going during Restaurant week, and ordered from their special Restaurant week menu. My husband and I both had the Caprese salad which was nicely presented and delicious. I had the pasta with chicken and mushrooms with white cream sauce, and it was very yummy, and my husband had the chicken parmigiana, and he really enjoyed that (I also had a bite, and it was very good--really good tomato sauce.) For dessert, I had the bread pudding with caramel sauce, and the hubs had a cannoli. Both were great! They also served foccacia bread while we waited for our salads. and it was done well. Overall, a great dining and eating experience!
(4)Joe T.
Honestly the best food I have had in the North End. I usually never get chicken parm, but I got theirs and was thoroughly impressed. It certainly tasted as though the pasta was homemade or close to it. The service is ok. It is very, very loud in there though. They also had windows that open up all the way, but did not have them I open.
(4)Kyle L.
Came early to our reservation and sat at the bar. Hostess gave us a remote seat buzzer. We sat at the bar 20 for minutes past our reservation and I had to walk up to the hostess who was still on her iPad to ask about our reservation. We were finally sat and ordered. The food was excellent but the service was lacking. Everyone was on their phones in the kitchen and our server left halfway through the service. The bartender and the hostess was also experiencing some drama and checking their mobile phones. Overall, the service was lacking but the food was great.
(4)Alicia V.
Great service and the food was amazing. Meatball appetizer was wonderful and the sauce is amazing! Pasta was excellent and very fresh. My kids loved the Margherita pizza. Good house wines too :)
(5)Tim D.
Well when I first walked in, I was told I had to put my umbrella in a bin that looked like a garbage can. I asked the hostess, "this bin?" and she said yes. So i did and walked to my table. Next, we have to wait a while for waitress and who was the most rude and pushy waitress I've ever had. We wanted to order a small pizza and a dessert afterwards, yet she insisted we order something else as well. I kindly say, "Sorry we are not too hungry." Her response, "When you are not hungry, you don't come to a restaurant." As you can imagine, this rude woman just wanted a larger tip. Ironically, i still gave her a very good tip because I felt like being nice. The food was average Italian, nothing special, nothing too terrible either. When I am leaving going back to pick up my umbrella, the bin that looked like a garbage can that I was forced to put my umbrella in is filled with garbage. There is alot better service and food elsewhere in the North End, dont waste your time here.
(1)Luiz P.
One of my favorite italian restaurant in boston, fettuccini a la puttanesca the best ever, pizza margarita is my son's favorite,service always good, highly recommended!!!!
(5)Mitch K.
I was so overwhelmed by the number of restaurants in the North End I used the handy Yelp app to search for highly-rated places to eat, and Yelp led me and my dad/brother here. We thoroughly enjoyed our calamari and pizza lunch. The calamari was spot-on; it's been a while since I've had calamari as tender as what I had here, and the pizzas are cooked in a brick oven which imparted a nice flavor to the crust, plus the toppings were really delicious. They don't offer free refills on drinks (I didn't realize this until I noticed I was charged for both glasses of ice tea) which is a downer, but they did provide a carafe of water as soon as we sat down so that was a nice touch.
(4)Cindy M.
I have been here a few times to get pizza before and this last time was just as good as it has been before. I got the MARGHERITA pizza with some ham and green peppers. I ordered and waited for it so I could take it back to my hotel. The restaurant is a really inviting place and the service has always been really good. Just like every other time the pizza was perfectly delicious. I think the brick over always gives it a different flavor to the pizza and its great! I haven't had anything else to eat here but I did see a place of gnocchi that looked amazing so I will need to come back for that.
(5)Joann C.
Long wait for dinner without reservations but that's to be expected for the North End on a weekend night. Risotto was great! Expected more from the giant meatballs. So many choices in the North End - there are some definite wins and losses. This one is just right in the middle
(3)Hitomi K.
Ordered pizza margarita. Timing was fine. Size was fine. Sauce was mediocre at best. Light, like water. Crust was good though. Sat at the bar. Bartender could've been quicker at acknowledging us when we sat down. He was chatting with someone for a good 4minutes before he even made eye contact or said hello. ('Twas an empty bar, 2 other customers were already dining)
(3)Joel P.
Recently came here for dinner, and had made Open Table reservations for 630pm on a Saturday, which is high tide often. Like most North End places on OpenTable, we did have to wait for our table, but actually it only took a few minutes, which was a nice surprise. We shared the caprese (which had very fresh and juicy tomatoes, and large chunks of mozzarella) and the rolled, stuffed eggplant. The eggplant was thin, but overall, the dish was ridiculously good. The saltiness of the cheese added to the zestiness of the sauce covering the dish. Make sure you save some of the yummy bread they bring you to sop up all the extra sauce. We split a pizza, sausage, mushrooms, artichoke, which wasn't bad. Good, but not the most mind blowing pizza ever. My only other issue with the place was that it is just loud, very very loud. It was packed yes, but something about the acoustics in there just seems to turn the volume up to 11.
(4)John B.
My girlfriend recommended this place after she had gone with her family. The food did not disappoint! We got the arancini to start with, and it came out within five minutes of ordering. It was delicious. We both got the chicken parm for dinner, and I can honestly say it was one of the best pieces of chicken parm I have ever eaten! The waitress was also very friendly. However, what truly disappointed me was the hostess service. We knew it was most likely going to be very busy on a Saturday night so we made a reservation for 6:30 three nights before. Upon arriving at 6:30, we said that we had a reservation but the hostess said it would be a little bit of a wait, and gave us a buzzer. After waiting for almost an hour, we had still not gotten seated! Thankfully my girlfriend pointed out a high-top that was open, so we sat there instead. Who knows how much longer it would have been for our table! It is just disappointing that we made a reservation very early, yet the hostess wasn't able to abide by that reservation. You should not be seating people with no reservations ahead of people who were proactive and called in ahead of time! Very disappointing! The only reason I gave this restaurant 3 stars is for our fantastic meal and our friendly waitress.
(3)Roderick J.
First time to Boston this the first place we came.We had the brazed pork and gnocchi and it was perfect...a most have. Service was good and we got in before the rush so everything was on time.
(4)Mallory S.
I'll echo earlier reviews and confirm that it is quite loud, but it wasn't too bothersome. It's small but I wasn't constantly being bumped into by other patrons so these two flaws mentioned by other reviewers were not a big deal. Food was great! We had gnocchi, bolognese, arancini, and ribollita. YUM! Food came out pretty fast and we forgot to leave room for dessert. 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, and 2 entrees came to $77 (before tip). And we had two whole meals left over as the portions were pretty large. Not a bad deal for the North End. Next time I'm determined to save room for the tiramisu. Still have yet to try the pizza.
(4)Tanya Y.
The boyfriend and I have already become a huge fan of North End and Google Offers gave us another excuse to try something new. With $5 off any pizza [lunch or dinner], we couldnt refuse. We came on a Monday around 12:30pm: they have a separate lunch menu from what they have for dinner. Antico Forno became increasingly busy after we got our food. We settled with: LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE: Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in plum tomato sauce, baked in parchment paper and finished in the brick oven $14 LA CAPRICCIOSA PIZZA: Homemade Italian sausage, mushrooms, artichokes hearts and fresh homemade mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce $11.50 The Linguine di Mare was so great that it overpowered the simplicity and greatness of the pizza. The sauce on the pasta was fantastic; the complementary olive bread given to you at the start of the meal is great for sopping any of it up. The pizza crust was also fantastic. The portions of the two were so great that we ended up taking half of the pizza to go. The waitstaff were very attentive- they replaced a parmasean shaker when it appeared we were having difficulty with it, and waters remained full. Our journey around the North End continues, and we are happy we stumbled amongst Antico Forno along the way. Thank you!
(4)Julie R.
Overall - the food came out quickly and hot. Staff were attentive. Service was efficient but didn't make you feel special - which is fine if you are looking for a no frills dining experience. We were in a hurry to get to a show so we were fine with the staff obviously trying to flip tables quickly. For appetizers we ordered the calamari and had the bread and dipping sauce. The bread was cold, good because you are hungry, but nothing special. The dipping sauce came with olives in it and some spices, decent but nothing to rave about. The calamari was some of the best we had ever had - perfectly cooked, not too greasy, the sauce was delicious and not too heavy as to make the breading soggy, and the plate was seasoned with just the right amount of salt - yummy. For our entrees: The risotto special was a disappointment - overcooked and under-seasoned. Very creamy with few mushrooms which confused us as it was listed as a mushroom risotto on the menu. The gnocchi and red sauce were good, my dad finished the entire portion! The seafood dishes were delicious. The LINGUINE CON VONGOLE was a little small on the portion size but the wine sauce was delicious. It was served in the bowl the clams were steamed in which was a neat to open up at the table. The FETTUCCINI POSITANO was amazing - huge portion of delicious homemade pasta and good red sauce. The shrimp were either cooked from frozen or merely overcooked or both - nothing special, here. The scallops, however, were cooked to perfection and tasted fresh and delicious. No room for dessert, of course. I also tried the house chianti, not bad for 9 bucks a glass... I would definitely come back here again, especially if I had plans later in the evening and knew I needed a quick but delicious dinner in the North End.
(4)Pietro C.
My wife and I had been to Antico Forno many times before and have never been disappointed. Our most recent visit was going along smoothly and our 15 month old son was enjoying his rice ball. Then our pizza arrived and I had gobbled down two slices immediately. During the third slice, I bit down on what I thought was a whole pepper corn. Alas, I was wrong as I proceeded to spit out a small shard of glass. Unforgiveable. The waitress, at first, didn't know how to react, and responded "Wow, I don't remember anything breaking today." Then walked away to the back to get us another pizza...with a smile. No manager came to apologize, no one offered to take care of the bill. You would think something as serious as a shard of glass in a customer's mouth from the pizza you served him would require some attention from the owners or managers. Nothing for a while. The waitress came back with a more concerned look on her face and with the replacement pizza. I told her everything was OK, and that I was happy no one was hurt, especially that my son hadn't had that slice on his plate. This time, the waitress looked more distressed and appeared to better recognize the gravity of the moment and how much worse it could have been. She took care of our entire check and wished us well. The food was great, the service was good, the restaurant appeared clean and the prices were moderate. We love the restaurant, but handling that situation so poorly really hurt their repeat business factor for us. I don't think they want to keep customers if they choose to send a waitress over to handle a potentially disastrous (financially and physically) moment. One star....never going back, no matter how much we liked the pizza.
(1)LC P.
After reading many previous Yelper's glowing reviews, I tried out Antico Forno on my regular Sunday night date with the BF. If I could give it a 2.75 that's probably what I would do, as it is slightly below "A-OK." That said, the upside was we didn't reserve and got a table within about 15 minutes at 7p on Sunday evening. There was a coffee shop next door with tables outside, so we took up some space outside as the weather was cool and no one was sitting at any of the tables. Once inside, they seated us next to a 2-some by the wall, and shortly afterwards came and moved us across the aisle to another table-- I can only assume to make it easier on the waitstaff to access the table near the wall. Staff was friendly, and timing was good on everything except follow up at the end of the meal- we had asked for some food to be packaged, and it arrived and we sat for another 10 minutes at least while waiter walked past numerous times. Finally asked if we wanted some dessert at which point we declined and asked for the check. They DO take credit cards, BTW. We ordered the ribbollita soup and the misto verde followed by the fusilli al tegamino and a white pizza with spinach and mozzarella. The salad was superb: generous portion, nice mix of greens and few sliced grape tomatoes with a divine balsamic vinaigrette. I could have licked the bowl when I was done! Ribbollita soup was a disappointment; not bad, but just bland and not terribly flavorful-- the veggies all tasted the same and it felt thin. I was afraid that the soup would be too filling and be left unfinished so we didn't overdo before the main course. We did leave it unfinished, because it wasn't worth it. PIzza was about the same. I had only one bite, but wasn't thrilled. It tasted no better than pizza I had in Virginia at a brick oven place in a mall; not what I had expected from the North End. BF has a less adventuresome palate but even he was non-plussed, saying it was again, bland. He only ate 1/2 of it. Fusilli was very good- and very hot! Nice creamy goat cheese mixed perfectly with the piquant tomato sauce and the eggplant, zucchini, and peppers were plentiful. If I had eaten only the salad and fusilli, this would have been an easy 3.5, but it was brought down by the mediocrity of the soup and pizza. Also, just a bit too noisy for someone with middle-aged ears. I had to listen very carefully to hear BF and he had to lean in to hear me.
(3)Lily H.
Went here with two others and they sat us down at a table for 2 and just swung over another chair. It was awkward for my friend whose chair stuck out in the aisle with a nice view of the couple next to us enjoying their dinner. Like many other places nearby, the place is busy and cramped and the servers couldn't even get to the tables next to us near the wall to refill their drinks. The food is decent, I've had better in NorthEnd. I ordered the linguine al frutti di mare and it arrived hot and steamy (yes!) baked in parchment paper (uh....). Really, is that part necessary? Maybe it add some kind of special flavor during the baking process. I had to pick out pieces of burnt parchment paper out of my pasta. Also, it could have used a little more sauce. Basically the restaurant is a big room (or two?) with a bunch of tables and chairs. It's really loud during dinner time so don't expect to have a romantic dinner date. On the bright side, the sangria was not bad!
(2)Ann M.
We came here for my boyfriends 25th birthday. We met up with some of my boyfriend's friends from out of town and we were 25 minutes late and they were STILL able to hold the table for 6. It was so helpful to know that the wait staff were so ready to help out. The food is in a category all its own--its amazing. We ordered Sangria (3 pitchers...haha) Started with Calamari (which was crispy but not fried to death) and we got some salad. We had to do our best tho not to fill up. I got the Gnocchi which was amazing the first and second time I ate it because there was more than enough for two meals. Other highly rated favorites? Scallops, and eggplant with pasta. The wait staff was incredible, the food was amazing and the night was a huge success all because of a great restaurant choice. Perfect for a romantic night, a dinner with your parents, or a surprise birthday dinner for your boyfriend ;o)
(5)Karin T.
On a whim decided to walk down to the North End on a Saturday night due to a pasta craving. We were lucky to snag a table for 2 without reservations. The focus here is classic Italian dishes with a Rustic/homey atmosphere If you are a lover of gnocchi, as am I, definitely try it here! Baked with bubbling hot cheese and red sauce. I loved every bite. We shared the baked eggplant appetizer. I've never been a huge fan of eggplant, but after a dish like this it's certainly a food that's growing on me. Rolled with ricotta and baked with more cheese. So delicious! The bread they put on the table with a white bean/tomato/garlic dip was a great way to start the meal and both jump start our taste buds and further our craving for Italian food. This bread also served as a great accompaniment to soak up the sauces in the pasta dishes. We also had a bottle of wine and were pleasantly surprised with the low prices per bottle on the wine list. Excellent north end option!
(4)Kitty C.
I came with an unadventurous friend for an early dinner one night, and I really need to come back with someone who is willing to eat things like, oh I don't know, prosciutto, in order to really experience it. What I did experience was just ok. We got to the door at 5 sharp, and made it just before a huge rush of people. It gets crowded and there is not a lot of wiggle room between the tables. The decor was warm and lovely, otherwise. The gnocchi was absolutely delicious and I will have to get it the next time I visit. It was a home run. The margarita pizza was just ok, and the cheese congealed into an orange shell about halfway through the dinner. I didn't think it was anything special, and the thin crust left a lot to be desired. For something that seems like it would be a staple, it was not impressive. I'd be willing to come again and try something else off the menu.
(3)Jed H.
Ok, so here is the breakdown. The food was great, the ambiance is homey, but the service lacked. My dining partner ordered the artichoke, mushroom, and olive pizza with truffle oil. I had the fettucini bolognese. As I said, all very good! The service was slow and inattentive however. Bread service was less than prompt, they had to get the wine from some kind of storage room that may have been a couple of blocks down. When the wine arrived we realized we only had one glass between the two of us. The waiter, realizing he had bit a bit neglectful, bought us a piece of tiramisu. Which honestly did the trick, moving what by all accounts could have been three stars to an admirable four. I would go back, the pizza was pretty great!
(4)Kate S.
The first time I went: AWESOME Second time: Pretty good! I got one of the pasta dishes with cheese and eggplant that they bake. It's so clear that they make their own pasta. Prices are super reasonable too. Real italians working there. I'll give it 4.5 stars. YELP WHY DO YOU LIMIT ME WITH JUST INTEGERS!!!!!!
(4)Steve G.
I had the Bolognese special. Bolognese is one of my favorite dishes and I like to compare how each restaurant makes is. This was an AMAZING Bolognese. I loved it. Right up there with the best ever. I was here with a party of 4 and everyone loved their meals. We also had a nice bottle of a Sangiovese - Merlot blend which was very good too. We will be coming back again. We had reservations on a Saturday night for 6:30. They gave is a cute pizza slice pager and ended up calling us in for our reservation at 7:00. As others have said, this place is LOUD. I mean really loud. We were seated by the bar, and a large group came in, so that added to the noise, but after they left it was still loud. I saw in other reviews that it's also loud on other nights. I'd like to see for myself. The noise level would keep me from coming for a quiet dinner, but I'll be back, maybe a bit earlier to see if it's quieter.
(4)Julie B.
I've been wanting to come here for a while. I love Terramia, which is owned by the same people, and I wanted to see how Antico Forno compared. I most certainly was not disappointed! The menu is full of great pizzas, pastas and some meat dishes. There are nightly specials, including a new risotto dish, which I had. It was a huge portion and it was absolutely delicious. Pancetta, asparagus, porcini mushrooms and truffle oil. Heaven on earth. It's also a nice place for the whole family, whereas Terramia is a bit more intimate. I will most definitely be coming here again and again and I recommend you do the same. Unless of course, you hate food.
(5)L E.
The pizza was delicious and arrived quickly. The bread basket and the crust on the pizza were SO GOOD! I don't know what they put in it, but it was probably the best tasting crust I've had in a while. We had enough left overs for another meal, too. It was pretty loud there, but it's nice being able to look out onto the street and people-watch.
(4)Nisrine E.
Wow, this place has GREAT Italian food. I live in the North End and I have been so disappointed with the restaurants around here, but this one really hit it out of the park. I started off with a salad. The salad was fresh and the quality of their balsamic vinegar and olive oil was very evident. YUM YUM. I had their Rigatoni dish (it has ham, peas, mushrooms and onions in the sauce) You can tell by the taste of the pasta that it is homemade and the sauce was creamy and fantastic. I finished every last bite. :) There service was not great though... I had a rough around the edges very authentic older Italian woman. She was a little scary at first but then warmed up by the end of the meal. Also, I LOVE a place that puts olives on the table with the bread and oil... true Italians! And it's location on Salem street makes it a great spot to people watch all the lively characters of the North End. :))
(4)Jenny P.
I LOVE this place!!!! I actually come here whenever my parents are in town visiting and the waiters there now know us now as regulars and are so nice !!! (They always give us free tiramisu...and it is the best tiramisu I have ever had....and yes it's better than mike's....and no im not just saying that b/c its free) But really we have become regulars b/c the food is top-notch. The gnocchi is my personal favorite and I always get it with sausage add-in, which takes the dish to a whole other level of deliciousness. All the pizzas are delicious and, personally, i think they're just as good as PICCO's (which many people think makes the best pizzas in boston) This place has fresh, good food that is made well and i've never had a bad experience here. I recommend it 100%
(5)Veronica H.
This place was okay. I did not like the bread. It was cold and dry. The sangria and arancini were delicious but the service took way longer than it should have for a half empty restaurant. I ordered the gnocci which were cooked well but a little under seasoned.
(3)J.B. S.
Easy to get a seat for lunch. Had rigatoni w/ sausage & fettuccini at lunch. Some of the best Italian food in town. Very good value, friendly service.
(5)Lisa R.
Antico Forno was a small cozy italian style restaurant tucked away a block over from Hanover St. The menu was nice and small and the food was close to authentic for the North End. I had the pizza la capricciosa and asked them to add white truffle oil. It was delicious and the crust was the right thinness. My boy toy had the chicken saltimbocca which was incredibly flavorful and tasty. The chicken was tender and they gave you a decent sized portion. It was kind of lame that we were situated so closely to another couple, and we often got the feeling we were on a double date. They really pack the tables in there. Other than that, I loved the atmosphere and found the food to be flavorful and done well. The service wasn't incredible but it was pretty good and the wait staff were friendly. 4 stars all around!
(4)Bharat D.
Food was great. Service felt a bit rushed. When I go out to eat, I want to enjoy it. I don't like being rushed.
(3)Dalgiza B.
Charlotte the bartender makes a killer expresso martini. Food was delicious right down to the tiramisu! Definitely would return to this establishment. Mind u I always use Yelp when I'm in unfamiliar territory but have never written a review.
(5)Jessica B.
This is a neighborhood favorite that my husband and I frequent. The brick oven pizza is delectable. Service is always friendly and quick. The only reason I give this place 4 rather than 5 stars is because I feel the portions could be a little larger for the prices being charged. Otherwise, I have always been satisfied at this establishment and will continue to go back.
(4)Jean H.
Always get LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE and LINGUINE CON VONGOLE, and this is definitely the place I go every Saturday after eating raw clams at Haymarket! The service is great, and the brick-oven makes the atmosphere (and the taste of the dishes) unbeatable!
(5)Andrea C.
Antico Forno has great delicious solid italian food! We loved that it had a full bar (MMmmm Sangria) and the restaurant is quite spacious compared to other North End restaurants. You don't feel like you are rubbing elbows with strangers like some of the other restaurants. It is a kid friendly establishment and they are very accomodating with their menu and substitutions. That is a big plus! Now the reason why I didn't give them a 4.0 or 4.5. It is quite loud and difficult to have a conversation if you are in a group of 4 or more. And the biggest deduction in stars comes from the fact that we had to wait a Full Hour despite making reservations. Why offer reservations if you are just going to give us a pager and make us wait along with all the people who didn't make reservations. Not cool at all! Despite that, the food was DELICIOUS and I will be back to try it at least once more.
(3)Susan N.
Given the circumstances, I probably shouldn't review this place. We had spent all day on a plane (from Oakland to Logan Airport) and were a little dazed trying to manuever the tricky Boston streets, but managed to find our way to the North End. We were looking for a quiet restaurant for a nice relaxing dinner. This restaurant looked promising from the outside and the host said he could seat us right away if we didn't mind a "high table." Little did we know that the high table he was referring to was situated under a large TV and it also happened to be the day of the Kentucky Derby races, so the place was packed with cheering fans! We asked our waitress if there were other tables available ... we would have gladly waited awhile ... but to no avail. So much for a quiet dinner! We were surprised that the restaurant didn't serve garlic bread. They did provide some complimentary french bread, but it was a little on the dry side. We enjoyed the mixed salad greens (after subsisting on Southwest Airlines peanuts and pretzels), but it could have benefitted from some toasted pine nuts. The Margherita pizza sauce had sort of a creamy taste and texture, different, but not in a bad way. Unfortunately, this was our only meal in Boston ... since I'm sure there would have been many other restaurants that would have been a much better fit!
(2)Steven W.
Antico Forno was probably one of the best Italian restaurants I have patroned in a while. The Gnnochi is a grade A dish that you must try at least once. The Veal Bologonese is a fabulous dish. Definitely start off with the mussels appetizzer. The tomato sauce they use is to die for.
(5)Michael S.
Thoroughly enjoyed the good food and service - I ordered an artichoke, mushroom, cherry tomato, truffle oil & cheese pizza, which was fabulous. My only complaint, and it's significant, is that we were there on a Monday night and the noise level was DEAFENING. Louder than a sports bar on game night. I'm not normally bothered by the buzz of a lively place, but we had to shout back and forth to the server (who was gracious and lovely), and it was impossible to sustain a conversation with my wife. Again, I don't mind a busy noisy place - but this almost hurt my ears. I think the acoustics need some tuning in here. Maybe ceiling tiles or something.
(4)Marwan A.
tried the caprese, pizza and chicken parm... the pizza is great, the rest is average. i would diffidently go back for the pizza
(2)TruthSpeaker I.
Not terribly impressed. The bread they put on the table before our meals arrived was stale! Stale bread in an Italian restaurant??? This is sacrilege. The salads were good. The entrees were average (I had pasta with scallops and it was not memorable). It was fairly loud inside so it was difficult to have a conversation with all of the people in my party. Also, they don't have a coat check. That's a major pet peeve of mine. It's January in Boston. I wear a very warm, very puffy, long coat. It doesn't really work well to throw it over the back of my chair and still have room to sit on the chair. The staff members were professional... not particularly friendly, though.
(3)Ben P.
Love the food and atmosphere. The gnocchi was wonderfully light and fluffy. We also had some great caprese (they had really fresh greenhouse-grown tomatoes, which was a nice treat in the middle of winter). I docked one star because it took over an hour (after our reservation time) for us to be seated.
(4)Colette H.
DO NOT CHOOSE ANTICO FORNO FOR A LARGE PARTY. I will never patronize Antico Forno again. Especially when there are so many great choices in the North End. A real restaurant that has its stuff together does NOT treat a party the way we were treated. 10 of us, out for a celebration dinner, had a reservation at 7:30. After messing around with us, telling us "5 more minutes," making us all wait outside in the Boston cold, we were not seated until 8:45. Offering no excuses and no apologies, Antico Forno's terrible service was appalling. If you cannot accomodate a large party, do not make a reservation at the time requested. It is very simple. Had it not been a Saturday night and a large party, I would've left right away.
(1)Faye Z.
I wanted to give 3.5 stars since there is nothing I can complain about this place and I come here quiet often. Compare to the other Italian places in the North End, it is not super impressive but I always feel comfortable eating here. My come here for the brick oven pizzas and the oven baked clam linguine. The food is inexpensive and the quality is not bad.
(3)Anthony S.
My gf and I went here for dinner on a Saturday night at about 9. It seemed pretty busy, but even though we didn't have reservations, we were seated right away. It was noisy inside so don't come here expecting a romantic atmosphere. There weren't too many kids there, only one family that I could see. The hostess, our server, and the bussers were polite and fast. We had a caprese salad, which was pretty good, and a glass of sangria and a martini. I had the fusilli with zucchini, goat cheese, and basil (I don't remember the name), and it was excellent. Definitely 5/5 for that. My gf had the vegetable risotto which was also very good. We were both really happy with the restaurant. The bill at first seemed a little steep at $70 (before tip), but considering what all we got, it was reasonable.
(5)Jenny U.
Favorite place in the north end, hands down. Esp. now that they're double in size and you can get a table without as much worry. Then again once I declare someplace my favorite, I'm averse to trying anything else. And Antico Forno was one of the first places I went, so... But it's really good.
(5)Sara S.
Antico Forno is a nice Italian restaurant away from the craziness of Hanover Street. We arrived at 4:30PM and the place was packed by 5! It's one of the few restaurants in the North End I can think of that offers pizza in a sit-down atmosphere... which basically means lots of kids. Kids like pizza. So, if you're looking for a quiet, kid free, romantic evening, this isn't the place for you. But if you want delicious food at a reasonable price, this could be the place for you. I had Fettuccine Positano which I'd highly suggest- scallops and shrimp over homestyle fettuccine with a chunky and garlicky tomato sauce. For a little over $20, I thought it was quite reasonable, especially considering the sizable portion. Bread is always important at an Italian restaurant, and this didn't disappoint. It was served with a white bean puree which was similar to Middle Eastern hummus, but even better. Antico Forno has a wine list of about 20 bottles, as well as a full bar.
(4)Laura A.
I stopped in here for the first time last night, and I am really excited to come back. A few highlights: first, the fact that you could make a reservation on opentable (yay! very convenient); second, there were a lot of options for everyone in our group with different dietary needs, including a decent amount of veg options; third, the cost was super reasonable for such a delicious, filling meal. we had 4 pizzas and 2 pastas along with a bottle of wine, two beers, and two desserts, and it was $30 per person including tip, which was not bad at all. I had the margherita pizza, which I thought was fantastic. it was, as my husband called it, "real pizza" - not crappy drunk food pizza, not healthy whole wheat pizza, not fancy flatbread. Just really delicious, solid pizza. I'm from New Jersey (home of DeLorenzos) so I can be particular about my pizza, and this was the real deal. I thought the ambiance was also really nice. We had a first-time visitor to Boston in our group and I thought it was great that she got to experience a homey North End place like this! A few negatives: our waiter was kind of phoning it in since gratuity is included for a group of 6+ and it took forever for him to tend of us, which was kind of a bummer..also, the Peroni i ordered was really, really flat and gross :(
(4)Mrs. G.
I used to live on Salem St and this was by far the best Italian food in the north end. I was hooked on their pasta de mer. It was cooked in parchment paper and gave quite the presentation when you opened it up. Their sausage dish is also amazing. Cooking in parchment paper makes a huge difference in food because the dish is always more flavorful. I can't wait to get back there and go again. My only qualm is the waitstaff are a bit rough and they don't smile. But the food is great and that is what matters.
(5)Ryan B.
Food: Not the best in the North End. (see below) Atmosphere: High end Pizzeria. This is not a place to go on a romantic date. Wonderful for pizza and salad. Service: Slow, but friendly. Overall Experience: Would go back, but I would just order a pizza.. The chicken was dry and pasta was over cooked. The food was good enough not to send back, but it just did not blow us away..
(3)Jim O.
New to the area, I turn to Yelp for help dining out. A good number of Yelpers rate Antico Forno among the best in the North End. I'm not disputing this, but, based on our recent experience, that doesn't say much for the North End. Good first: we were early on a fall Tuesday, and had the place to ourselves at first. When we left a bit after 7, there was still plenty of open seating. The waitress was very pleasant and we welcomed her willingness to chat us up about her 10 month old child and curing the hiccups. A nice family touch. The place was comfortable and, seated by the window, we didn't feel at all crowded. As far as the food goes, the green salad and cappuccino were great. My pizza with artichokes, tomatoes, and porcini mushrooms had an outstanding wood oven crust, just like it should, but the toppings were only luke warm. The ribbolata soup was perfectly tasty, but really was not much more than minestrone with a piece of bread floating in it. The not so good: My daughter's roast chicken, probably also done in the wood oven was over cooked and pretty dry as a result. My wife's chicken parm was only so-so, nothing out of the ordinary, and for $22, we expected better. I couldn't find a bottle of wine under $30 that looked good, ended up spending $38 for a Nebbiolo d'Alba which was nice, but a bit pricey IMHO. Summary: Nothing wrong with the Antico Forno, but not a place I'd recommend with enthusiasm.
(3)Chris H.
Delicious! Everything from the starter bread to the intricate pizzas! Absolutely a must! I will definitely come back when I'm in Boston again!
(5)Katelyn M.
I could not have been more pumped up to eat at Antico Forno this weekend when my parents came to visit. They had gifted us an anniversary dinner, and I was determined to find a North End restaurant that would deliver quality food without a $$$ price tag. Our entrees were unanimously delicious. All of us finished our plates including two plates of seafood and linguine, an order of linguine with clams, and a special chicken parmigiana. The fried calamari appetizer was forgettable (...and I think they may have forgotten lemon or some other sauce or acid to flavor it), whereas the mozzarella in the caprese was thick, creamy, and delicious. Our waitress was perfectly helpful and attentive, without being overbearing. We arrived around 6pm (with reservations) and were quickly seated. By the time we left (7:30...) there was a line and the volume in the room was notably elevated. The ambiance was great; loved the brick exposed walls and the perfect not-too-low lighting. I'd definitely come back, though I'd have trouble deciding what to order next. Great place, that delivers quality food and doesn't have to depend on monster portions to get rave reviews.
(4)Brandon C.
I don't know if this is standard practice in the North End, but when you get refills for soft drinks, they charge you each time. Also, the Vesuvio Pizza was just simply uninspired. It didn't really stay together well nor was it that tasty. I was expecting something that had a lasagne flavor with the ricotta and I got something that tasted more like cottage cheese. My wife's Capricciosa pizza was far better, but still not quite worth the price. I've had better pizza at Z-Pizza in the DC area. So this place gets 2 stars as I believe it's a bit overpriced and overhyped for what it actually offers. Granted, I'm an out-of-towner reviewing this, but I just wasn't that impressed.
(2)G J J.
Miserably bad. Let me say that the pizza is without taste. It is bland, greasy, dry and tasteless. When I had it, I remarked to my fellow companions - "Why, it hath been such a long time since I have eaten such sullied pizza!" etc , etc. Stay away from the pizza.
(1)sharon b.
We discovered Antico Forno in 2007 when it was 1/2 the size and the owners were in attendance. Having been to Italy numerous times we thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance. Now that we were returning to Boston we eagerly reserved for Saturday night with a friend who we wanted to invite to a "better than average" North End spot. Things have changed. There are crowds beyond belief, and our reservation was not honored for 20-30 mins. Due to the crowds service is more of a slap down affair and although the food was good enough, it wasn't outstanding as we remembered it. The pizza was not really HOT as it should be and the famous Baked Rigatoni did not have the crustiness it used to. The Ricotta is dumped on top at the end and the sausage did not taste like it was baked w/the pasta. Still the tomato sauce is delicious. Not air conditioned and being hot out, it was hot inside. Near the brick oven its REALLY HOT. And its noisy. We did end up by the window so that helped both depts but the crowds outside were sitting on the open sills so basically at our backs on top of us. I am really sorry to report all this as we have fond memories of our visits there.
(2)Melissa K.
I am of the mind the 90% of the restaurants in the North End are pretty good. If there aren't they will close, because with so many other options people are not going to tolerate bad food. So I never really understand when people are so committed to one place, especially if that place involves waiting in a long line in the rain only then to be jammed up against your neighbor and rushed out. Not mentioning any names here. Well onto Antico Forno. It is an above average North End restaurant. There place is beautiful since the recent renovation, love the brick, and the high tech bathrooms. The bar area is quite spacious which is a plus in the North End. I hate waiting for my dining companions in the middle of the doorway when that is the only place to stand. And they have beer on tap! Unheard of in the North End. Enjoyed my Sam Adams while I waited for my dad. The bread they give you it large, I hate those tiny pieces of bread some places serve. We ordered the INVOLTINI DI MELANZANE, rolled eggplant with ricotta. Hard to make that not taste good, but the eggplant was especially well prepared. There was a ton of extra sauce which was perfect for dipping with the large bread. My husband and I shared the AMALFITANA pizza with smoked mozzarella, tomatoes and arugula and the baked fusilli with veggies and goat cheese. We liked both of them. The smoked mozzarella was a nice change from the norm, and tasted even better for lunch the next day.
(4)Joe D.
Chicken parm is awesome. Nuff said.
(5)Emily A.
Blarg- don't go here...its very disappointing and expensive. The gnocchi was definitely not homemade but tasted like the air-sealed stuff you get at the grocery store. The pizza was also tasteless. The waiter seemed offended when we didn't want to take leftovers-- and was semi-rude. This place is not worth the expense-- you're better off going somewhere else down the street.
(1)R T.
This is the place we go, every year, to celebrate my husband's birthday - in mid-January, when walking ANYWHERE in Boston makes you think twice. The food, the service, and the ambiance always make up for the hardship, though. Portions are good, ingredients are fresh, every wine we've sampled has been fabulous. We've never had a moment of meh with service, either, like some people reviewing them seem to have had. So for all these reasons, we choose A.F. over the touristy options nearby.
(4)Steve C.
Stopped here today for lunch. Place was busy but not packed (it was 98 degrees. In Boston) service was great and food was delicious. I had the veal Parmesan and my wife had the eggplant stuffed with ricotta. Both dishes came covered with some of the best tomato sauce (gravy) we have tasted.
(4)Apostolos K.
Great pizza! Should go back and try more things:)
(4)Lynn J.
Family friendly, neighborhood eatery atmosphere with prices that won't make Mom cry and portions that won't leave Dad hungry! The $6 side salads will SERVE 2 PEOPLE, as will the HUGE BOWLS OF PASTA. *smile*
(4)Elaine S.
Great remodeling, great prices for Boston, and delicious food sums it up. Initially just one room they have expanded to two connected rooms with a bar area and beautiful arches in the middle. The brick oven is in sight for nearly everyone and it is really fun to watch everything get cooked in there. The whole place has a very pleasant Italian feel and it is certainly family friendly. I have brought anyone visiting me to this restaurant because it is my favorite in Boston. I have heard rave reviews about the claim linguine, pizza, and gnocchi (which is actually my personal favorite- I'm not even a big fan of gnocchi but it is just perfection there). My only complaints? The staff isn't very friendly and can sometimes be rude. Also, perhaps it is just me, but the only thing that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed is the bread they serve before the meal.Despite these complaints, the restaurant maintains it's five stars without a doubt. Antico Forno a great place and you really can't beat the food.
(5)Clark Q.
We had a generally good dinner here. The rice balls were delightful, and oh, the sauce. Lass's fettuccine with prosciutto was tasty, and my margherita pizza w/ olives was great as was m'lady's traditionale pizza. Lad thought his 4 cheese pie, however, suffered from erratic distribution and cooking; some places missed some cheeses and the pie wasn't evenly cooked. So, sadly, one off note on an evening of otherwise superb food.
(4)Ty R.
Food is excellent. Arancini was the best I've had. They deserve five stars for the food. BUT: Atmosphere was terrible. Seats are way too crowded together. It was like we were eating with strangers. We had to get out of our seats a couple of times to let others through. One of the most noisy restaurants I've ever been to. Could not have a conversation with my wife. Service was on the slow side. It seemed slower than it probably was because I wanted to get out of there so bad. Will not return, even for the fantastic food.
(3)Gregg P.
Ate lunch here while on vacation. My wife and I ordered two dishes and split them. First was Fusilli Al Tegamino, this was a pasta dish and was good overall. The second item we ordered was a Tradizionale pizza, this brick oven cooked pizza was phenomenal. Thin crust cooked just right and the flavor of the sauce along with the sausage, pepperoni, onion, and mozzarella cheese was just perfect. I would highly recommend coming here for this item alone.
(5)Laurie W.
Lunch at Antico Forno after Italian class is a treat we give ourselves several times a year. The linguini with clams, risotto with asparagus and truffle oil, the lamb sandwich - all delicious. Service is excellent, prices are reasonable, desserts are fresh, everything you look for dining in the North End.
(4)M J.
Sadly, I just don't get into the N End enough. Gladly, my waistline is kept in check. Happily, I finally located a family friendly, sit down and be served resto - with good food and alcohol - in this neighborhood. Score. Really, is there anything better than wandering the Boston waterfront on a gorgeous summer night? I'd say no. Being on the water - It's obvious why the area is such a draw for locals and tourists. The activity on a recent Saturday night was a ma zing. Expect a wait here, and noise if you dine early. Our waiter was adorable and mostly attentive - no extra cheese, no fresh grind of pepper - but the place was pretty chaotic. Considering that, the staff seemed well equipped to deal with the masses. Also, the chaos is worth it if you are dining this early and have kids in tow. All the food was delicious and CHEAP. Entrees in the mid teens, including a great risotto, $6 for big yummy caesar salad. Only $7 for 1/2 plate of pasta bolognese?! My god, that's like stealing. I opted for more food courses, but desserts looked tempting as well. Wandering this neighborhood is as good as it gets, and with so many dessert and coffee options, and people waiting to eat here, be nice and choose a walk to the nearest cafe/bakery for your last course.
(4)Matt R.
This has been my go-to italian date restaurant for years. Being off Hanover it's not as slammed with tourists so you can usually walk in and get a table with no issues, especially during the week. The food is quite good though, piping hot out of the brick oven, and not unreasonably priced. I like 'em a lot.
(4)Gregg B.
The Ritz recommended this place for my family & they were right. It did take some time for us to e seated, but it was too bad. The food was great and very reasonable. The portions were very good, the service great. The best line was from my 13 yr old. He said "Sometimes your stomach just has to tell your mouth thank you!"
(5)Deborah P.
Would you like some salad with your salad? We ordered salads as our starters and then our entrees came with huge piles of salad on the plate. The meatballs with salad (after my salad), my husband got the swordfish (came with a pile of salad) and no pasta. So we ordered a side of pasta and were surprised that didn't come with salad. We didn't have the pizza but it looked good. The service was just ok. The food was mehhhhhh. Not bad but certainly not great. Next time we'll try La famiiglia something? looked packed, standing in line and also Neptune's looks very good as alternatives.
(3)Shuan L.
Antico Forno offer solid, tasty food at a reasonable price for those occasions when you don't feel like waiting an hour or two for better North End establishments. The staff isn't the speediest, most attentive, or friendliest but the atmosphere is generally pleasant, especially on nice days when they open up the big windows facing the street. (In the winter, Christmas lights are strung around the windows. Cozy!) But let's admit it, what matters the most is the food. There's nothing particularly unique on the menu, nor are the options extensive. But the pasta dishes are generally reliable - I personally like the baked fusilli with vegetables and goat cheese, or the gnocchi. I'm also a fan of the pizza because it's SO CHEESY, but it's also a little on the oily side. Nonetheless, I like getting it because it's huge and I have enough left over for a full meal the next day. The Amalfitana, which is smothered in smoked mozzarella and generously topped with arugula, is a great choice.
(3)Alana L.
This place is tiny and cozy, with a warm fireplace. Good for hearty meals on a cold winter night! We went here with a group of 20 (small birthday dinner that turned huge!) with only reservations for 18. The hostess and our waiter very quickly and efficiently set up extra chairs for us, despite the drama and the crowded space we were occupying. The smells of truffle pizza were intoxicating and I chose the special-risotto with porcini mushrooms, asparagus, pancetta, and truffle oil. It was rich and delicious. I was a little confused by the menu descriptions, for instance what is "homemade style" pasta? Is it homemade or not? Nevertheless, it was a cozy place with good food, service and atmosphere.
(3)larry m.
I have been here twice in the past couple of months and really like this place. The place is not the typical stuffy, trendy north end restaurant. I went there with my wife and 2 friends of ours. We started off w/a double order of arancini. It's served with a simple, yet delicious marinara sauce. This is one of the best rice balls outside of umbertos in the north end. For my main course I had the Rigatoni alla Boscicaila. I definitely butchered the pronunciation and spelling of this dish. It's Rigatoni (big surprise) that's sauteed with mushrooms, pancetta, peas and onion in a tomato/marscapone sauce. If it wasn't frowned upon in society I would have licked the plate clean. For dessert we shared a tiramisu. I was blown away by how good this was. It was enormous and had this cocoa/sugar mixture sprinkled on top. Needless to say, my wife and I destroyed this. With reasonable prices and great food, this is my new favorite spot in the north end. The only reason I didn't give it a five is that it's really loud and crowded. I guess some other people know about this place too. It's on opentable so I highly recommend you make reservations.
(4)Tory H.
this place is ok...its got the whole pretend to be authentic thing down, and in the end it looks cheesy. the foods not bad, I have had the ceaser salad- tastes like the dressing is from a jar, the pizza is pretty good though. i come here every once in a while when i'm lazy cause its right by my apartment. overall- many better places to go in the north end than this place.
(3)Carolyn J.
Authentic Italian Food doesn't get any better than Antico Forno! My mom and I came upon this restaurant while walking all around the neighborhoods of Boston (i.e. Salem St.) several months ago. The food's amazing, the service is friendly and the place is relatively clean. Just be sure to make reservations ahead of time, my mom and I got lucky with getting a table while we were there because we arrived just before the place got packed.
(5)Bradley L.
North End. Yawn. This place was crazy busy. They couldn't get us in for our reservation for 30 minutes because some people refused to leave their table. The bar was overcrowded and nothing nearby had room to hang out til our table was available either. When we finally did get a spot at the bar, the bartender actually yelled at us for not being able to pronounce the name of one of the cocktails. Weird? The service at the dinner table was so-so. Not incredibly attentive. Had to flag down a passing server (not ours) a few times for help with things. Food was standard Italian fare.
(2)Justin H.
First off this place gets a huge plus from me for having tables more than an inch apart from each other. Nothing like not having dinner with random people within arms length to make an evening. This place has been recently renovated and expanded. I wasn't here before this took place, so I have no recollection of the size before. In fact I was at the restaurant the friday night they took the plywood off the expanded space. They did a really nice job. The bar looks nice and the bathrooms are right up there with the best in town. The experience: Like I said tables spread out far enough so you have some room to eat, a rarity in the North End of Boston. The mussels I stole from Paul D.'s appetizer were really good. Mrs. Monster and I shared a pizza and the chicken parmigian. The pizza, a little oily, was tasty when I rolled it up and ate it like a calzone. The parm was baked in a little bowl with fresh pasta and was really good. The waitress was ok, not really friendly, but got the job done. Comparing service in MASS to say TN, your wait staff expectations have to be lowered. Learned that little nugget fairly quickly after the big move. Bottom Line: It's our go to restaurant in the North End these days and if my picky a** can enjoy myself there, anybody will like it.
(4)Stephanie F.
We made reservations for this restaurant over thanksgiving wkend, due to the rating it got in Boston Magazine for best neighborhood restaurant, north end. Had a drink at the bar before we were seated. Bought a bottle of wine - side note - the bartender wouldn't put that bottle on our table check and said we had to close out at the bar. With reservations (and we arrived a few minutes before our scheduled reservation) we waited 10 min. No biggie. The food was good. I would've say it's the best I've had. I ordered the INSALATA ALLA CESARE to start then the LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE. Both were yummy and I took some of the pasta home. The service was lacking. It took her a while to get to our table once we were seated. Once she finally came up, she just asked what we would like to order. I had a question about what the risotto of the day was, and she said meat or vegetable. She wasn't a server of many words. She took our order, and the next time we saw her was to deliver the check. I was pretty disappointed for a restaurant that was rated so highly on both yelp and in Boston Magazine. I most likely will not return.
(2)David T.
Even though others say that the tables have spacing, it was still incredibly tight for my table for 5. The specials were good. The appetizers were delish, and they were able to accomodate our party on relatively short notice. Service was on par, and this place is now on my short list.
(4)Emily C.
Antico Forno remains one of my absolute favorites in the North End. The food is very reasonably priced, very tasty, and as authentic as the North End gets. (After living in Italy, I am slightly biased.) You can make reservations, as well, which is always nice. I also have never had just a so-so bottle of wine there, loved them all. I bring out of town guests and my father here whenever possible. Its a definite hit in a part of town that truly could be hit or miss. I am surprised at some of the posting about table space...people who are so concerned about the spacing in between the tables might want to reconsider the choice to have a meal in the North End!!
(5)Danielle F.
This place gets a solid "just ok" from me. In the competitive restaurant space in the North End, the food was definitely average. I dined there for the first time last night in a group of about 12. I waited at the small bar in the back for the rest of the party to arrive. The bartender working was quite nice and responsive to new patrons. Once we were seated, our group split a few orders of calamari, the antipasti plate, and a caprese salad. The antipasti plate had a selection of cheeses along with cured meats, artichoke hearts, marinated peppers, and olives. Although the mozzarella was clearly appropriate, it seemed like pieces of gouda made it on the plate, which I found rather perplexing. For dinner, I had a side of the sauteed broccoli rabe and the foccaccia salad (requested without bread) which had goat cheese, tomatoes, and grilled zucchini. The broccoli rabe was a bit too salty (i didn't' add any salt), but there was a great garlic flavor imparted. The salad was fine - it's pretty hard in my eyes to screw up a rather simple salad. The female server was a bit prickly at best, and given that the gratuity was automatically added, she wasn't really going out of her way to create a friendly experience. Given all the restaurant options available, I am in no rush to go back.
(2)Lisa R.
Wonderful night! Incredible food! Great atmosphere & service. Plum sauce would taste good on ANYTHING! Loved the bread & olive oil. Risotto was perfect! Our only complaint was that we discovered Antico Forno on our last night in Boston. Highly recommend-decent prices, too!
(5)Gail V.
I've only sat at the bar here after work with friends to eat, but the food has been great and the atomosphere fun. The bartenders are really friendly and make some great suggestions. I like their salads (their Tomato & mozzarella appetizer is great) and the bean paste with their bread. I have lots of friends who are big fans of their brick oven pizzas and everyone who I've gone with who has some always comments how great they are. The tables look pretty tightly spaced and it can get loud, but teh atmosphere is fun and inviting. Its a good North End experience.
(4)Eric G.
Having heard everyone rave about Boston's North End, I had high expectations when looking for a place to dine. Antico Forno was the second restaurant my friends and I looked at and were sold immediately on the atmosphere and menu that rivaled that of Italy. I started out with the Ribbolitta soup. The portion was huge and was filled with fresh veggies. It was also a vegetable broth which was nice and light compared to the heavier tomato based minestrone that you find at the Olive Garden and Fazollis. For the entree I had the Rigatoni Salsiccia Ricotta. This was cooked in individual clay dish and was the prefect portion. The sausage and ricotta cheese were amazing and unlike anything I have ever had in the states. All and all, Antico Forno is one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in a long time and is one of the reasons the North End has an excellent reputation.
(4)Kristine A.
We happened to stumble on this place looking for a place to eat & there it was w/ its bar, tv, yummy tasty sangria & oh yeah, delicious Italian food. They have bread w/ this cannelini & tomato dip which is too die for. We split this eggplant rotini appetizer & then a pizza w/ broccoli rabe. It was very tasty & totally recommend to check it out.
(4)Marilyn T.
It's a very cute and intimate North End restaurant. Tables are close together, and everything is kind of hectic, but it all fits in with the North End feel. Baked pastas are super rich and satisfying, especially with the browned crispy cheese crust on top. Pastas are cooked al dante, and the pizza sizes are pretty large. Everything is comforting and filling, and it almost leaves you too full for dessert in North End. The food takes a while on a busy night, but that's North End. I'd recommend this on a cold winter night when you're starving for some good baked dishes.
(3)Debra L.
Went to Antico Forno for only the second time last night. It's steps from my home and I never seem to go there. The food is delicious. Their bread is some of the best in the North End (and it comes served with olives in olive oil). There were 3 of us & we split the antipasto platter which was good but I'm not a huge antipasto fan - my dining companions suggested it. It was enormous that's for sure. It came with olives, roasted red peppers, grape tomatoes, prosciutto, salami and some other cured Italian meat that I didn't try, fresh mozzarella and another unidentified cheese (that was a bit bland). We then had the arugula salad with grilled shrimp and it was delicious! It was really lightly dressed in just a little olive oil and the shrimp were delicious with tons of flavor. Next we shared the risotto of the day. it had mushrooms, asparagus & pancetta and it was rich & creamy. Three of us shared it and we still couldn't finish it! We also had a side of broccoli rabe and it was incredible! Some of the best I've ever had. We also had 2 bottles of wine which was excellent and very reasonably priced. The prices are great and the service was excellent. The only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars. It was too bright. It's a small place but it lacked a certain ambiance. If they would just turn the lights down a but it would be perfect. Also, I didn't get to try the pizza but I really wanted to. Next time.
(4)Fred B.
We had dinner here tonight - our family of 5, which includes 3 boys. Service was solid. The food was great. We had pizza to start (one size - 11 inches) and it was delicious; some of the best pizza we have had. One big key for our family is they have both gluten free pizza and gluten free pasta. For our main meal, we had pasta dishes, which were terrific. In particular, the chicken parmigiana was outstanding. The sauce was so fresh and the pieces of chicken were thick and moist. I would highly recommend this place. It is family-friendly and can also be romantic - a winner all the way around.
(5)Callan C.
Stopped in Antico Forno for some lunch recently. I had a delicious capriciossa pizza...just what I was looking for! They have a great dining area with enough room for some larger groups. The front areas open up to the street which makes for some nice al fresco-ish dining. A solid Italian option!
(4)Garrett F.
Went with 3 friends, one going off to Fort Dicks in NJ. Looked for the cheapest place and this was it. But the food was by far cheap. The waitress stated the situation about the table being reserved, but sat us there even though it was. She told us that was could stay there by 8:30. We ordered 3 pizzas and all 3 didn't disappoint. Flavoral and authentic. The waiting staff was superb, especially on a Thursday night being packed. Had water come to our table non-stop. Polite and well-mannered. I will admit that it was crowded and warm, but the atmosphere was far beyond what I've witnessed before. Our night was filled with fun from other guest (3 older ladies), food was fantastic, and the waiting service was pretty good. They deserved that tip we gave them.
(4)Melissa M.
I have been going Antico for so long that it really feels like home. I brought the family here for lunch on Monday (2 toddlers included) and was so excited to see the renovations completed. The bar looks beautiful and even though the restaurant is now twice the size it still has that cozy feeling that I always loved. Everything we ordered was delicious, best soup to have on a cold day and the pizza as usual was fantastic. Cant' forget the bathrooms.......Perfect.
(5)Phu M.
I had lunch here a few weeks back with one of the locals who I work with. Being new to the neighborhood, she was kind enough to take me around one weekend afternoon showing me where the best places to shop for groceries and food were. We came here for lunch and I was blown away by the quality of the food served. Bread and olive oil were fresh. I ordered the fettuccine alfredo with pancetta and it was one of the best alredo dishes I've ever had. Even though it was the lunch sized portion, it was plenty big for me to take home a doggie bag and at only $10, the price was right! Service was prompt and friendly. It was pretty dead when we were there but that's because it was 3PM so the lunch rush was already over. My friend told me that at night, this place gets crazy so there's a sure sign that it's good! I'm told their pizzas are good too. Ambiance is great, especially if you sit by the window to people watch (like we did). Overall, if you're in the North End and on Salem St. and looking for a good place to eat, I highly recommend Antico Forno. I will definitely be coming back here again.
(5)Paolo D.
There used to be a lot of love here, a real relationship....Now Antico Forno kinda blows. I was greeted by the maitred who had the face and personality of a bulldog. No biggie there, until we were seated and served by our waitress, Borat's wife. this woman was from waaaaay deep in the hills of Bulgaria, a place where electricity is considered a novelty and a luxury possessed by the elite few. I did appreciate her leather vest, though, a look I hadn;t seen in a while, but she pulled it off flawlessly. Kudos to you, Svetlana. Getting served anything took FOREVER. The apps were great, the main courses were blah....Lots and lots of choices in the North End, I don't think this will be one of them any time soon.
(3)Gabe M.
I really like this place since it wasn't on Hanover St, which seems to be tourist central, nothing wrong with that, buts it gets so hectic. This was my second visit to Salem St, and so far its 3 for 3. Neptune Oyster is there, which has the best lobster roll, and Antico Forno, was really busy, but with reservations, they seated us nearly right on time even though the place was packed. The space is intimate, but with more space than most North End restaurants, and very noisy, maybe if they put some sounds absorption material on the ceiling or something so you don't have to yell to someone 3 feet away from you. We had a small wait for the waitress, but once she came, she was very smiley, and nice, and the negative point I was going to give the service went away. She was quite attentive the rest of the time despite having several tables to tend to. The calamari appetizer was fantastic, light breading with a nice tomato paste. I had the riggatoni with italian sausage, and it was cooked to perfection al dente. Overall, I really liked the place, and the prices we less than normal overpriced places in North End.
(4)Francesca R.
Before I knew about Yelp, I found Antico Forno on boston.com , looking for a nice North End place that had good reviews, didn't cost a whole lot, and took reservations. Tah -dah! Antico Forno popped right up. The big brick oven pizza and rust-orange walls combined with the crowded together tables give the place a friendly, raucous vibe, which plays out in the noisy conversations and the inability to stop ordering bottles of wine. Complementing all this is the delicious, generously-portioned food. It's very easy to have a great night here.
(4)Chandra W.
I love this place. Yes, it can be on the louder side, you might have to wait a bit even with a reservation, but it's worth it. The food is delicious, authentic, served HOT, and there will be plenty for leftovers. The restaurant is cozy, warm, with a nice glow at night. I've enjoyed it on a date, and in a big group (with a reservation). I love to bring North End "first timers" here. I've brought three groups here and each left raving about the North End and the food. They even toted around their leftovers despite going to crowded bars after dinner. Service was great, nobody pushing you to speed up (might explain the wait). They get the job done without being overbearing.
(4)Christina G.
I've been wanting to try this place for a long time, and stopped in tonight since I was looking for casual laid back dinner. The place is nicely decorated and very cozy with its wood fired oven. Service for us was bare minimum, but the food was good. The rigatoni boscaiola was delicious and I definitely recommend trying one of their wood fired pizzas. One thing that really caught my attention was that two of their pasta dishes are baked in parchment paper and served in these fun bowls. I didn't notice this until I had already eaten my food, but I could not stop staring in wonderment!!! If I come back I'll surely be trying that. Still I would only give this place 3.5 stars if I could. To me it seems like more of a lunch place, but good for dinner if you want some pizza and appetizers.
(3)Lindsey S.
Best spot in the North End!! I've been coming to the North End since I was a kid and Antico Forno is my #1 go-to spot for both lunch and dinner. Pro's: 1. They have the best sauce in the North End 2. Usually easy to get a table/reservation 3. Everything is reasonably priced; it's a pretty low-key place 4. Everything there is delicious! I recommend the antipasti, PIZZA, rice balls, eggplant rollatini (which you can also have as a entree with spaghetti, if you ask), the spaghetti and clams, and any of the pasta dishes for that matter. The dessert is also amazing! Definitely a contender with their tiramisu and cannoli. The only downfalls: the seating isn't that comfortable, the bar is small and kind of crowded (beer and wine only), not a ton of seafood options... but this is only if I am being picky.
(4)Nadine N.
I ate at Antico Forno during restaurant week so, of course, it was jam packed. We had to wait for a table even though we had a reservation, but overall the service was really good. The baked rolled eggplant appetizer was delicious, as was the fettuccini positano. However, after two solid courses, I felt rather let down by the canolli. One thing that really stood out for me was how loud the restaurant was. My ears were actually ringing when I left! Needless to say, this is probably not the best place to bring a date.
(3)A M.
I LOVE the olive oil with the olives in it, and their bread is so much better than other places in the North End. The Antipasti is one of the best I have tried in the North End and the sausage pizza with arugula is amazing.
(5)Sandy K.
Pretty place. Good food and large portions.
(4)Allison B.
I was very pleased with my impromptu pick for a casual dinner with my Mom in Boston after a day of shopping. First we strolled around thinking we would have no problem finding a great little place to dash into for some great dishes we would have on the tip of our tongue all the way home. But proper options were hard to find and on second thoughts we walked out of the first place before the waitor came. As we walked by this quaint casual italian restaurant (before they doubled in size) we decided to try it. It was amazing what they were able to produce out of their brick oven. Between the wine, pizza and roasted chicken, I was impressed. We shared the SALSICCIA E BROCCOLETTI PIZZA and POLLO ARROSTO and they were both a great choice.
(4)Russell P.
Does good pizza exist in Boston? this was horrible flavourless pizza and i think dominos would have been better, the dough was dead, so no rise in the crust, sauce was flavourless and the sausage was flavourless. The service was great and the wine list not over priced but the Pizza sucked, ill give them 3 stars for service and no stars for food.
(3)Jason M.
Meh, I had high expectations for this place and honestly was really disappointed. From the reviews I read I thought the pizza would be marvelous. In reality it was below average. The service was also very slow and inattentive. In their defense it was really busy but never the less my experience there was not pleasant.
(2)Andrea P.
I grew up in the North End. I can tell you in all honesty that this restaurant is not a tourist trap. Go here. Spend. It's worth it. It just may be the only authentic italian restaurant outside of Italy.
(5)Lisa O.
Ya know how when you have out-of-town guests and they want to go to the North End and ask you what your favorite is but don't want to spend much money and you just don't know cause you've gone everywhere that's not expensive once and nothing stands out? Yeah, I don't have to do that anymore. Cause Antico Forno is awesome. Let's face it, sometimes when you want Italian, you want red-sauce, Italian-AMERICAN food that's yummy and swimming in sauce and cheese. And that is exactly what Antico Forno is good for. Everything's baked in the lovely wood-burning oven, visible from the cozy and LOUD dining room. It's a tiny restaurant, but you're in the North End, so what did you expect? There's been a gnocchi theme in my last few posts, so let's keep it going! This is the first place I tried gnocchi and I'm a convert. It's soooo good. The chicken parm is delish too. Service is a little brusque sometimes (but not always!), and you may have to wait outside for a table as there's not a foyer - just the dining room right inside the door. It's part of the charm; get used to it. Like I said, the dining room is loud; it seems to be a family spot and isn't conducive to that candlelit romantic dinner. The olive oil that comes with the bread is some of the best I've ever had - flavorful and fruity and complete with olives! What's better than that?!?!
(4)Shaggy S.
Got last minute reservations on a week night and had to wait about 30 mins for table. Place was crowded and loud which didn't really bother me. Waited at the bar and the beer was good and cold. The eggplant with ricotta and marina was incredible! The risotto special was good but a little bland. Service was a little slow, but very friendly. Overall, the experience was good and I would go back if I am back in Boston.
(4)Kirsten M.
After a 50 minute wait I was not impressed with the food, service, or loud atmosphere. In a group of five, all of our food was average and the service was nothing exceptional. The restaurant automatically includes a 20% tip on the bill and our group felt that was completely unnecessary based on the food and service. Also, we needed separate bills and the bill was printed before we were finished with our meal and the waitress said that it was not possible to receive separate bills after it had been printed. With many great experiences at restaurants in the North End my expectations were not met here.
(1)David I.
Great service, small salads, outstanding pizza
(4)Bridget L.
The red sauce was pretty good on the pastas, but other than that, this place is just okay. It's pretty small in there and we had a big group, which they accommodated but I felt the staff (and other patrons) resented. I mean, I get it that large groups suck, but if you hate them then don't take the reservation (and money,) ya know? Overall, I'm not sure I'd make a special trip here when I return to Boston. I'd probably check out another North End place.
(3)Jen H.
BOOOOO......Not my fav. A group of 6 of us went here last night for my friend's birthday dinner. Our waitress (I think the owner actually) came to take our drink orders. We got two bottles of wine (one red, one white). The wine was good (I had Riesling) but I've had better for the price. She tells us the specials (one is risotto, I forget the others), and then goes around the table taking orders. Person 1: I'll have the Swordfish Waitress: I'm sorry sir, no fish tonight Person 1: No fish at all? Waitress: *blank stare* Person 1: Ok, ok... then ah... I'll have the Chicken Parm. Person 2: I'll have that risotto special Waitress: Risotto. Person 3: Same thing. Waitress: Risotto. Person 4: Same, that sounds amazing. Waitress: Okay Person 5: Saltimbocca Di Pollo Waitress: *nods* Person 6 (Me): Gnocchi please Waitress: Okay She walks away, and comes back just a couple minutes later Waitress: No Risotto *table all groans and says AWWWWW* Why would she tell a special that they don't have? Apparently, she talked to the chef and said to make it a little more al dente, and he threw a hissy fit and decided "no more risotto tonight!" What a let down. We had apps (calamari and caprese)... and honestly these and the wine were the best part of the night. My gnocchi was ultra bland...hardly any flavor at all... and the price of everything just did not live up to what we had. If I'm throwing down $60 for dinner, it better damn well be good - and this just was not up to par. So many other places you can go to, drop the same amount of cash (or less) and have a fantastic meal. The others at the table weren't quite as disappointed as I was, but they've all got lots of $$ to burn. I think if they were in the same boat as me and a bit more $$ conscious, then we would have been on the same page.
(2)Beki S.
You failed me Yelp! During my trip to Boston, I wanted to show the bf a true authentic North End experience and was in search of the perfect pizza. After being yelled at to stand in line outside when attempting to try Regina's Pizza, we pulled out the Yelp app in hopes of finding a place with a little better customer service. Antico Forno was nearby and had outstanding reviews so we thought it could be promising. The biggest problem of the meal was that my coke refill arrived with large clumps of bread floating in it (I hope it was only bread). I realized this after I had already taken a sip, which grossed me out for the rest of the meal. The replacement coke also had bits of bread floating in it, which the waiter blamed on the ice. I wish someone could have explained how bread got into the ice maker. In addition to this mishap, the food just wasn't that good and pretty overpriced. The pizza was soaked in grease and overall flavorless. My salad consisted of lettuce and cherry tomatoes for $7 and the bf's soup was mediocre. To make up for the drink incident, they gave us a piece of watered down, obviously frozen, inedible tiramisu. Too bad this was our last meal in Boston.
(1)Diana P.
This is a great medium sized restaurant in the North End. The menu is decent, couple different things to choose from although I would have liked to see Bruschetta on the app list somewhere to start things off. I got the house Pinot Noir and it was sooo good and smooth. I got pasta with scallops and shrimp. The pasta and sauce was delicious and I really liked the shrimp. I normally love scallops but these didn't really do it for me. Our server was a super nice guy and seemed super busy so he wasn't overly attentive but got our check very quickly when asked. Overall I think it's a cute place with good food. Best suited though for families - lots of kids there.
(3)Jess K.
If I could give this place more stars I would. I live in the North End and my reviews are highly concentrated in this area. With that said, I would not review any place more highly than Antico Forno. I ordered the Fusilli Al Tegamino and it was scrumptious. But I must say that I tasted my friend's Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola and thought it was heaven on earth. Everyone I went with (seven people!) ordered different things and thought it was the best meal they had ever had. I am amazed. Awed. Go here now.
(5)Gabrielle C.
not vegetarian-friendly - at all. AMALFITANA - nothing about this pizza was fresh, we were seated right next to their brick oven, i wonder if our pizza came straight from a freezer via a very quick stop in the oven. FUSILLI AL TEGAMINO - meh. we make better fusilli at home.
(2)Anuj G.
Great food
(5)Steph O.
All right, I probably should have gone with the pizza, given that this is a brick-oven place, so my bad. It was Saturday night and the place was hopping. I think my friends and I waited at the bar for at least 45 minutes before a table was available. It was so busy the bartenders ignored us until we were finally able to capture their attention. The house Merlot smelled buttery (I don't know if that's a good thing or not), the chardonnay was acceptable, and the bellini was pretty darn good even if they use peach liqueur and not fresh peach puree. The food: my veal bolognese was okay. For $18, and in the North End, I was expecting a sauce with a little more depth and richness (the way I make it at home, following Marcella Hazan's recipe, which has you cook the meat in white wine, and then in milk, which gives it a really nice flavor and creaminess). This tasted like a step up from meat sauce in a jar, but a step down from Marcella's recipe, or from bolognese sauces I've had elsewhere. But I was so hungry I ate it all. And I will say that I thought the dish had the perfect proportion of meat sauce to pasta, which is to say that after I ate it all, it did not sit heavy on the stomach. I didn't feel like I'd overeaten. The pasta itself was so-so on taste, and slightly beyond al dente in terms of how long it had been cooked. A friend of mine had the linguine puttanesca and he loved it. Another friend had the rigatoni with sausage, and she said it was fine. The green salad that we shared as an appetizer had too much balsamic vinegar. Overall, a mixed experience, especially as the place was very, very, noisy, but I will go back to try the pizza, and the North End is a lot of fun!
(2)Jefferson L.
Good, but busy place. I enjoyed the apple martini and it is easier to wait back in the bar rather than out front at the hostess stand.
(4)Aaron L.
Good place. In any other location I would give it four stars, but located in the middle of the North End it feels like a safe pick (yummy brick oven pizza, kind of an Italian family restaurant). As an out of town visitor to the North End I would have preferred a riskier/more creative dining experience.
(3)Kristin S.
I've yet to have a good dining experience in the North End and Antico Forno was just like the others - underwhelming. It is everything a N End place is - small place (they made us wait outside in the cold when our table wasn't ready at our reservation time), sour waiter, bland food. We started with the mussels appetizer and caprese salad and they were actually pretty good. For dinner, my husband had the lobster ravioli which were potentially the worst lobster ravioli we've ever had - there was a generous helping of raviolis but each was barely stuffed. I had the linguini and seafood and the scallops were overcooked and chewey and the tomato sauce was totally generic. I don't know why I keep trying places in the N End expecting a good dining experience.
(2)Terry W.
I went there today, very excited to dine in the North End for the 1st time. I was recommended to this place by at least 5 different folks. Ok...Enough background..We show up and ask for a table for 3, the restaurant is empty and the host says it will be five minutes and to wait outside...no problem. Fast forward 10 minutes later, Host - Can I help you, my wife...yes you told us you were going to have a table for us 10 minutes ago and to wait outside..mind you it wasn't busy..but she totally forgot us. Ok, the waitstaff was there and present, but didn't really wait that much on you. I guess from reading reviews this is the case sometimes in the North End. The food was good. Our appetizer a goat cheese salad with kind of a foccacia (pizza crust) was really awesome. My daughter had the fettucine panne procuitto...it was great! Pasta was fresh, sauce was just cheesey enough. My Wife had the Gnochhi Plate, baked gnocchi..it was good. The gnocchi was kind of overcooked and somewhat mushy. I had the special Chicken Parm baked in the wood burning stove...sounds great, but was in the end ok. The pasta wasn't fresh, or at least it tasted like it came out of a Prince Pasta Box..Hey Anthony it's not Tuesday or Prince Pasta Day! I kept hearing Chef Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares saying.."I'm completely gobsmacked...it is an italian restaurant that isn't making pasta fresh! Alas..I will leave you with this, when my daughter fell out of her chair as it slid out from under her...not a movement was made towards her...even though I am sure there were staff that saw it happen. I would recommend this place, I wish I would have gotten a pizza after the Chicken Parm fiasco, but It wasn't overpriced, and the food was good or at least better than I can whip up in my house after watching an episode of Mario Batali's show...
(3)Tom G.
Great food and service was always on it. Nice surprise in the North End
(4)Garfunkalow T.
Where to begin.... we started out with the traditional antipasto, the cherry tomatoes were just right. Firm, then burst into your mouth. The entree I settled with was the fettuccine with shrimp and scallops in a cherry tomato garlic sauce. The noodles were absolutely perfect, firm, not crunchy, yet were soft. The scallops too, firm, yet soft and silky smooth.
(5)Yishai M.
OK first let me say I'm a Tri-State Pizza (Italian food) guy, nothing else really cuts it. Yes I am prejudiced, but I am also right. Now the reviewt- Cool Atmosphere: just as good for friends, a date, or a family. The service was good, but they really don't want you to stick around too long. I haven't felt so rushed at a restaurant in years. We were there at a busy time though, so I can't say it's always true. We had a variety of pizzas. They were fresh, dough light, a litle heavy on the Olive Oil. The appetizer olives were great though. But still, I'd go again because it's fun, but no where near the best, and I guess I should also go when their empty, so I can finish the slice on the plate. Yes! They took a half eaten slice away and boxed it. Got to eat fast here folks!
(3)Peter M.
What can I say, this place should be great. Really, it has everything going for it, attractive location, nice smelling food, a big new bar, all should be good right? Wrong. I have given this place two tries separated by a month or so. Both times I had the worst North End dining experience. Rude staff, missing food orders, and interminably long wait times. I'm not referring to waiting to be seated, I'm talking about waiting for food to arrive. The average wait time for entrees to arrive easily exceeded one hour. I love eating in the North End, but I would never ever choose to eat here again.
(1)Ricky B.
Officially one of my favorite North End spots. Went there recently for the second time and the food was perfection. Service is wonderful! It's a bit crowded but it's only because it's so good. I highly recommend Antico Forno we will definitely be back!
(5)Sarah K.
Good solid Italian fare, excellent for the price.
(3)Jason F.
Great restaurant and excellent service staff. I went during Restaurant Week with a friend and even then the server was amazing. The food was very delicious and plentiful (well, with the 3 course meal, you would expect that!). I looked over their "regular" menu and it looks solid as well. One of the best parts - this restaurant validates parking at the Parcel 7 Garage! Awesome!
(4)Rosie Z.
For starter, I love a place that serves good bread and olive oil with real olives in it. Antico has great fresh pasta dishes and delicious pizzas. Price is very reasonable and nice for a good family style Italian food.
(4)Shana K.
It's been a few months since we ended up here..in the middle of a rainy weekday. We had the place to ourselves, which was more romantic than awkward. The eggplant appetizer was divine as was my artichoke pizza. I'm still having tantalizing thoughts of the fresh gnocchi sticking to the roof of my mouth. Oh my sweet sweet potato dumplings, how you haunt me....
(4)Kerri B.
Was told the wait would be 25 min but we waited well over an hour and no one really cared. The food was good but by the time we sat down they were out of bolognese. Great pizza didn't save this rating.
(3)Sarah R.
Amid the veritable clusterf*ck of impossibly narrow streets that is the North End one can find hidden treasures. True story: on my way here last night I passed some cheeseball tourist who commented loudly: "You just can't drive a car down these here streets, doncha know!" Antico Forno is a solid choice when it comes to affordable Italian joints in an area renowned for being overrun with tourists. The decor is casual but inviting: warm brick, dark wood, tables seated claustrophobically close to one another. There's also a big-ass maroon velvet (?) curtain in front of the entrance that makes one feel like a) a bad high school production of "Guys And Dolls" is about to start, b) a burlesque dancer is about to begin her act, or c) a magician (or worse, a burlesque-dancing magician) is about to begin his/her act. The service is good, though we waited a while for our two simple little margherita pizzas. However, we had the Antipasto Plate, which I'm still debating whether or not it was worth the $18. I think for that amount of money you oughtta be swimming in prosciutto, but that's just me. Then again, I was with another carnivore, who attacked the various "Italian cured meats" with gusto. Our personal pizzas were yummy and super-thin. The portions are large; I had enough pizza AND antipasto left to take home for dinner tonight. Score! Maybe the antipasto WAS worthe the $18 after all. The crowd is loud and lively, or at least it was on the particular night I was there. There happened to be a couple of large parties, but once they left, I could see how Antico Forno could be a more intimate, romantic locale for a date. Which is what I was on. I don't have much occasion to go to the North End, but I could foresee taking out-of-town visitors here for a reasonably priced, filling meal.
(3)Christina C.
It pains me to give this place a bad rating since I really enjoyed the food the first (and last) time I ever went here. The menu is pretty limited, but I was able to create my own pizza and it was awesome. I was certain I'd be a repeat customer...until I saw my credit card statement. They charged my credit card over 3x as much as it should have been charged. It has been 6 weeks and they still haven't resolved the issue after telling me over and over again that they took care of it. They did absolutely nothing. I would have even been happy with a gift certificate in the amount of the difference since I genuinely did want to go back, but they didn't even have the sense to do that and keep a customer. I finally gave up on them actually trying to fix their mistake and was forced to take matters into my own hands. This situation still blows my mind and I refuse to give these owners another chance. Too bad too because Terramia was one of my favorites in the North End...
(1)John X.
I had high expectations of this restaurant when I went here for lunch on a Saturday, and that might be why I was a bit disappointed. The restaurant was nicely laid out, with a nice fireplace in the middle and tasteful decor. The waitresses and hostess were all helpful and knowledgeable, and the food came out fairly quick and well done. We started with a arugula/shrimp appetizer which was simple but good. I had their brick oven pizza which I thought was fairly good, nothing truly amazing, but I'd go again. My friend got the daily special Risotto which was alright, but definitely not worth the price paid. All in all, I'd probably come again for the pizza (half price at the bar monday nights) and maybe try the pasta again.
(4)Dave K.
So my family came into town, and suddenly all of the restaurants on my Yelp bookmarks list were in the price range. I went here for a birthday dinner, and it didn't disappoint. There was a slight mix-up with our Opentable.com reservation, but the man in the glasses with the clipboard cleared that up within minutes. The night's special of chicken parmesan was fantastic (with a tangy and sweet red sauce), and provided tasty leftovers. I tried the baked gnocchi, and it was also excellent. Only downside: we ordered a garden salad to start, and it never came. Beware, this place is LOUD during dinner!
(4)Eli B.
The food here is solid and exactly what you'd expect of a nice Italian restaurant. That being said, I wasn't blown away. The nitty gritty (literally): Several of the clams in the Frutti Di Mare and the Vongole pasta dishes hadn't opened after being cooked. Those that had opened were a little dirty. Nothing like a sandy surprise to ruin your apetito! The gnocchi were a little bit tough, which makes me think that, like the clams, they weren't the freshest. My only other complaint is that it was SO noisy. Four of us were shouting over the din to be heard. And this was at 11pm at night. On a positive note, they were closing the kitchen right as we called and they stayed open for us....and it's also really hard to have a bad night with Italian food and wine.
(3)Alyssa L.
I've been here twice, and both times I had a delicious meal of chicken parm with homemade fusili pasta. The service is not always super friendly, but you're in the North End- not exactly the place to be if you're looking for warm and fuzzy. The bottom line is that the food is delicious and the place is really cute. And the tiramisu? Best I've ever had.
(4)Gianna R.
Anytime I am in Boston I come here.. I love love love this place... Its small and quaint.. Yes it gets loud but most restaurants do and to me a lively restaurant is better then a boring quiet dead one.... The food is amazing I always get the baked ziti... They cook everything in a Wood Oven and that makes the food so hot and the cheese crispy on top.. This place serves the hottest food from your first bite down to the last will still be steaming... I have never been disappointed here the location the service the food all 5 Stars....
(5)Tim F.
Very good pizza, slightly different from Regina in their selection but the CARCIOFI E PORCINI is great especially if you ask for extra truffle oil. Wood fired oven makes for a great taste to all the pizza, and the wait staff where ok but given the small crowded space that this restaurant holds it is tough for them to be very attentive. Will review my rating when I have more than the pizza.
(3)Stephanie W.
Excellent rigatoni and pizza!! The wait was long...but the food and service were great!
(4)Jane K.
Delicious. Everyone needs to try the linguine fruitti del mare(?). It's to die for. Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari baked in parchment paper with linguine. the sauce and linguine just absorb all the delicious juices of the seafood. sooo good. I use the bread to soak up all the sauce. My mouth waters every time I think about it... mmmmm
(5)Brian B.
Among the ridiculous amount of solid restaurants in the N. End. You're not going to be overwhelmed - at the food or the price, but at least you'll leave satisfied. This really ranks among those restaurants that fall somewhere between the progressive Italian eateries and those solid, down-home, "go-to" Italian places. For an appetizer, we tried the prosciutto pizza - nice, but the prosciutto wasn't cooked very well, although all of the ingredients were very, very fresh and flavorful. For the entree, I had the veal, which was not the best cut of veal in the N. End, and it was a little overdone - particularly toward the ends - a sign that someone fell asleep at the wheel (I like veal a true medium). Other members of our party stuck with pasta, and found it very rewarding - perfectly cooked and smothered in a subtle "gravy." The wine list was nice, too. It had very good wines for "restaurant reasonable" prices. For consistency sake, the staff was just like the food - subtle, no spark, but delivered. So - unless, your N. End favorites have no reservations - check it out. Otherwise, stick to your favorites - or mine: Monica's, Maurizio's, or Pagliuca's (good, down home cooking like you wish your mom made...).
(3)Megan L.
This place was good. We were seated immediately and the calamari was the best i've ever had. Unreal. Two drawbacks--very small (not surprising in the north end, but we had a group of 6 and it was a tight squeeze), and it was roughly 1000 degrees between the heater and the brick oven. Food was great, service was pretty good. I would go back.
(4)Charlotte M.
I feel compelled to recommend this restaurant right after dining there several times this year. As a native Bostonian, the North End has usually been my favorite neighborhoods to go to for terrific Italian food. That is almost certainly true for people who live in or around Boston. The number of superior restaurants inside the North End may be overwhelming, but competition is fierce so they will not remain in enterprise as long as the food is sub-par. But Antico Forno stands out, the food is great along with the costs are reasonable (the service is excellent & efficient but not overly friendly). It's one of the few places where I can barely restrain myself from cleaning my plate. Maybe it's the brick oven or the freshly made pasta, but every meal has been the best I've had inside the North End (over the years, I've most likely eaten at 20-25 restaurants inside the neighborhood) I hesitated to write fearing that it will become too crowded, but hope that this review can help someone find a good meal!
(5)Betsy A.
So far so good. They keep it consistent with the flavor. I guess it's that trusty oven. ;-) I haven't tried the pastas here yet. I need to because so far it hasn't been mind blowing. Don't get me wrong, its been good but it hasn't been the best Italian meal I've had... will review again once I've tried the pastas and pizza. Advice, don't waste your money on the sangria. Have had better. As for the staff, they're rude and slow with requests (simple things like lemon for water or a straw!), but the food comes out fast so I don't care...
(3)Tina D.
Loved this place, wanna go back soon. The chicken in wine butter sauce was better than I would have ever expected. Another family member remarked that the chicken parmesan was the best he'd ever had.
(5)Drew G.
For the North End, this Italian restaurant knock-off is not worth the money. The calamari was bland and because of that needed a dipping sauce (which they didn't provide). My gnocchi was meh and seemed pre-made. My wife's pizza looked far from an italian pie and was WAY too rich. There were tons of kids and teenagers there without parents. A teen girl chorus broke out to sing happy birthday which did not contribute to the already poor ambiance. We had to initially ask 3 or 4 times for our waiter and aside from taking our order and delivering the bill, was a no-show. The host told us the wait would be 20 minutes, and after 40 minutes I asked how much longer it would be. He said, "you're 5 on the list" in a snippy manner. Great, I thought...but that means nothing to me. How long until we can sit? Long story short: There are SO many better places to eat in the North End.
(2)RK T.
Tourist trap. Service was rude. They tried to surreptitiously push extra glasses of wine on us to raise the bill. $18 and over for an overcooked, stodgy pasta dish is overpriced. Linguine con vongole was very salty. Caprese salad was uninspired. Tables crowded together and very loud.
(1)Cal L.
I was back in Boston and went to Antico Forno with a friend on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. The entire North End was packed. The dining area has doubled in size since I was last there. I used to appreciate it as a lesser-known, intimate but no-nonsense restaurant with traditional dishes prepared with a lot of care and great ingredients. This time was a very different experience. The place was full to the gills. The tile floor and hard ceiling plus huge crowd made it so loud, at times I could not hear my friend across the table. It felt like a mass dining experience. I had the sense that the restaurant wants to do more business, but it has lost what made it special, in my opinion. We ordered a Focaccina appetizer, which came without any focaccina! Oddly, the waitress did not acknowledge this and I had to point it out. It was instead a salad with grilled zucchini. She said we would get a discount. I think there were not enough staff to handle the turnout. We were told pizza was not being served, but I saw a couple eating pizza (maybe they had connections?). Maybe the no-pizza rule was meant to prevent a backup in the kitchen. I ordered linguine with clams, very good, and the "focaccina" (no focaccina, really a salad) was fresh and tasty. My friend's salad was on the oily side but the shrimp were good. Honestly I was disappointed at the changes. It's a different kind of place now. If we had gone on a less-busy night, it might have been three stars, but I think they were overwhelmed on this particular night. This is a rating of our experience that night.
(2)Barney B.
once upon a time, this was a small little restaurant that was somewhat difficiult to get a table at. now it's a double-sized equally spectacular restaurant that is nearly impossible to get in - but if you are lucky, you squeeze into two available spots at the bar and then you order a few Peroni's and rice balls and awesome entrees and you leave stuffed and satisfied.
(4)Jules K.
Moderately priced, yes but be careful, with our party of five they put a 20% tip on the bill without telling us. That being said the food was just where it should be. Not really a gourmet restaurant but delivered what it should; solid Italian cooking done with care. We focused on the wood fired items, baked pastas, gnocchi stuffed with wild mushrooms and roatsed chicken. Found the baked fusili a bit dull but everyone enjoyed the anitpasto and the grilled shrimp/arugala salad. Had a good solid simple Italian rose with the meal that served it well. If you have to feed a group, want to eat well and not break the bank this will hit the spot.
(4)Liz A.
The waitress was really nice and fun and was handling a lot at once. The salads and bread were tasty, as was the "limonsecco" I ordered (limoncello and presecco). I had delicious risotto, and others enjoyed roasted chicken (white meat slightly dry) and the seafood pasta cooked in parchment paper (no complaints). Nice bottle of chianti. No room for dessert. The restaurant was VERY noisy -- really hard to talk/hear. But everyone seemed to be having a good time. I liked this place, but it didn't blow my mind or anything.
(3)Emily R.
Overall, I thought the food was okay (not amazing... pretty good), but our service was incredibly slow and not attentive. Pros: -The huge open windows to the street. The breeze was nice on a late summer afternoon! -The bread (once it finally arrived!) was really good--fluffy, but thick. I love being given olive oil instead of butter. -The salad I ordered was huge. The pasta that my boyfriend ordered was also large. He really like his dish. Lots of sauce! Cons: Most of the cons center around service. It was pretty busy (though not every table was full), but as another reviewer pointed out, they seemed unable to handle the number of tables they had. Service was so slow! -It took more than 5 minutes after we were seated to be given water, and more than 15 minutes before we got a bread basket (which we only got after we asked, noticing other tables had bread). When our water glasses were emptied, it took a really long time to get our glasses refilled, and they were only filled because we called over to our server. -Our waitress was okay, not rude or anything, but seemed way too busy. I think she spoke with us for less than a minute the entire time we were there. -The tables were so close together. There was about a foot between our table and the table of the couple sitting next to us. It felt a little bit like we were eating together...but not. -No splitting of entrees is allowed. This is normally okay, but we couldn't take leftovers back with us because we weren't heading home for hours. I really hate wasting food when one dish would have been enough. Based on other Yelp reviews, maybe I'll give this place another shot, but it's hard with so many great restaurants nearby.
(2)Mike A.
Service wasn't particularly friendly or helpful. The thing I wanted the most on the menu (chicken saltimbocca) was "sold out", apparently, at 9:30 on a Saturday night? What the...? Tell me ahead of time before I look at the menu, before I start getting my mouth watered up for a particular dish on the regular entree list, Antico Forno! I settled for the Gnocchi instead, which was good but not what I really wanted. I also really didn't appreciate being put next to the drafty front door while it was snowing out, when they clearly had tables equally available in the back, that subsequently were seated with patrons *after* we arrived,
(2)Chris Q.
I absolutely loved my Red Pepper and Goat Cheese stuffed Gnocchi with Chicken. Every last bite was delicious and savory. The prices are also great (I went for lunch, not sure about dinner prices). It was easily the best dining experience I had on my recent trip to Boston. The place is cozy, and located on Salem St., parallel to the more popular Hanover St.
(5)Tom E.
lesson 1 of the North End - get off Hanover Street ASAP lesson 2 of the North End - weekday lunch is harder to find than you'd think lesson 3 of the North End - Antico Forno lesson 4 of the North End - lesson cancelled, teacher is having a post-food nap. Antico Forno lived up to expectations nicely. When you go looking for the relaxing Italian lunch of well-made red sauce pasta dishes and an excellent thin-crust pizza you naturally think of the North End, but really where pulls it off properly? Turns out Antico does. There's wines, white tablecloths and real fires but a hefty lunch for two will only set you back 20 dollars or so. It's affordable lunchtime luxury. My roast pot of eggplant, vegetables, romano cheese and linguine was like spooning a long-weekend in Verona directly into my mouth. Meanwhile my rodent-loving companion's thin crust pizza was wallpapered with parma ham between being cooked and placed for us to devour. A fantastic way to get serious amounts of meat onto a pizza without ruining how the cheese and sauce should cook. So lesson 3 taught me where to get reliable Italian food with minimal fuss and wallet-pain on a weekday lunch. I need to give an apple to teacher.
(4)Lauren R.
My mom, sister & I ate here by random selection. Biggest pro? The entrees! Biggest con? Uncomfortable chairs! We weren't too impressed with the bread they brought us at the beginning, but we all enjoyed our entrees: between the three of us we had spaghetti bolagnese (not sure of the name?), gnocchi (the best I've ever had), and chicken parmesan (really yummy sauce even though I don't like chunks in the sauce and had to put up with some of that - the taste was worth it though). Nice ambiance, but very dark inside. We got there late on a Friday night (9pm) and didn't have to wait very long at all for a table.
(4)Alexandra S.
Excellent!! The service was great from the moment we walked in the door! The food mangia bene!! My son wanted something simple not on the menu & they accomodated his request no problem. Very nice I thought.
(5)Lester H.
Yet another reason why Salem St. owns Hanover. Antico Forno is oh so very good. I took my parents while they were in town and everyone was very pleased. The calamari was quite good, if you like black pepper. Our wine choice was also, well, choice. I had the pork chop, which is something I wouldn't usually order, but it was incredible. My father had one of the night's specials, a baked chicken parmesan. I don't know what huge chicken the breast came from, but somewhere in Mass there must be a radioactive farm of giant chickens who are fed delicious spices from birth to slaughter. It was so good. The mothership had pizza and it was also really tasty. All in all, Antico Forno was a great experience as the service was excellent and friendly.
(5)Elizabeth F.
Whatever they quote you for a wait time, double to triple it. Room is loud. Pizza and chicken parm dinner were very good. Soda is not brand name in my opinion (I specifically asked if they had Coke or Pepsi products).
(3)Donna S.
Great pizza, the crust is really light & airy. I came here the 1st time on a Pizza Tour and just knew I'd be back.
(4)Steve S.
Really good service, and really good food. We split a pizza (sausage, artichoke, mushroom, and olives), and a bowl of soup. Both where really good, and the amount of food for the price was great (easily enough to split with 2 people). If you want some good Italian food in Boston, try Antico Forno Pizza Restaurant.
(5)Sara G.
I've lived in Boston for five years and this is one of my go-to North End (aka Italian) restaurants. It's a large restaurant for the North End so you can bring a big group (make a reservation especially if weekend!) although very loud so don't expect to hear people at the other end of a big table. Great baked pastas and appetizers (and I've heard they have great pizza but haven't tried it). One of my favorite entrees is baked rigatoni with sausage and ricotta cheese. It's also very reasonably priced for good North End food and I always get another meal out of the leftovers!
(3)Carlos D.
Meatballs are to die for! Pizza is ok, we gave 3 stars since we felt service was subpar, slow....our table was full of empty glasses, not proactive at suggesting more drinks.
(3)Kristen M.
Like other Yelpers have noted, the reservation system at Antico Forno means absolutely nothing. My party arrived promptly at 7:28 for a 7:30 reservation, were told that they were getting the tables set... and then waited for close to an hour to be seated. We checked in with them two different times (at 8pm and 8:15) and both times the annoyed hostess told us that there was nothing they could do, that parties had their bills on the table but weren't leaving. I understand that getting other patrons out is out of their control, but considering it seems like many, many other reviewers have had a similar experience, management really needs to take a look at their reservation system and restructure it to better reflect what their availability is. Our waitress was very nice and the food came promptly, but I personally thought it was nothing to write home about. The food, in my opinion, was a bit bland and didn't seem to be the homemade quality you would expect for a $20 main in the North End. (However, others at my table enjoyed their meals, so it might just have been my fettucine bolognase that didn't live up to my expectations). All in all, I would suggest going to one of the many other excellent restaurants in the North End that respect the time of their customers and set realistic expectations for dining reservations. I sincerely hope the management of Antico Forno is taking a look at these reviews and changing the fundamentals of their business. I know I will not be going back.
(2)Brian D.
I came here yesterday looking to get some dinner with a date. I've been here before, and had a pleasant experience many years ago, so I know its a decent joint. So we walked in and the hostess sat us in the corner, gave us a couple menus and then headed back to her post in the front. And then we waited.... and waited..... and waited.... and waited... Nobody came over. We probably sat there for 12 mins, having a bus boy come and give us some water. Nobody came over. I was shocked. I don't know if it was a confusion of which waitress was taking the table or what, but after those 12 mins, we were fairly annoyed so we just left. We told the hostess, but it seemed like she didn't care. I'm giving this place a 2 star because I have eaten here before and remember it being okay. Honestly, the sign on the front about this place being name as part of the Top 10 Italian restaurants in the world is full of crap. There is no way that's the case. It's not THAT good. Recommendation: If ALL the other spots down the street are busy or have long lines, then this place can do. Don't expect Top 10 cuisine however. Good for larger parties as well since Antico is generally MUCH larger than other spots in the general area.
(2)Leigh L.
Was in Boston for only 1 night. Asked the hotel concierge to recommend a good italian restaurant and this is where she sent us. Food was phenomenal...Pasta was perfectly cooked and the Bolognese sauce was delicious. Wife's spaghetti and meatballs was like Mama used to make! Only drawback was it was crowded and a bit noisy.
(4)Joe G.
I went here with a group of 4, we made reservations for 9pm, well in advance the night before. We showed up on time for our reservation and didn't get seated until 930. They put us in line with everyone else. Hard to believe there was a line in the first place. Place was extremely loud and crowded. Food was mediocre at best. My pizza was over cooked and so was our guests. Service was pretty good. Overall mediocre experience. If you're trying to eat in north end I wouldn't waste my time going to this place.
(2)Emily K.
This place is not good. The wait was twice as long as the host said it would be. There was nowhere to stand except up against the wall behind people sitting at the bar during the wait. They eventually crammed us into a table literally inches from three other parties. It was so loud you couldn't hear the person across from you screaming. The food was mediocre, at best. The antipasto plate was literally a jar of roasted red peppers emptied out onto a plate. The shrimp salad had no dressing. The mussels were not fresh. Horrendous, and not authentic. North End is a terrible terrible place.
(2)Kim N.
If i could give 0 stars, I would definitely give this place one. This was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. SERVICE: Service was the worst I have ever experienced. The waitress was very rude to us. While my husband and I were not hungry, she did not allow us to share a dish and made us order two dishes. We were only able to finish one dish and had nearly a whole pizza leftover. When we asked to split the bill, the waitress said she would try. She came back with the split check, but an added 20% gratuity on each bill! And we were a party of four! When we asked to talk to the manager to have the automatic tip removed, he first said they charge an automatic gratuity for parties of 5 and larger (which I think is quite a low start). But when we counted out our party of FOUR to him, he gave us an excuse that they cannot do it now that the bill has been split. And worst off, when we left the restaurant, the waitress ambushed us, berating us, saying we should have told her we wanted to split the bill when we first sat down to eat. ATMOSPHERE: For a restaurant in the North End, I was quite disappointed. It looked like a run-of-the-mill chain Italian restaurant -- similar to an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill. The seating arrangements are very crowded and the restaurant was extremely loud. FOOD: We ordered a fettucine Bolognese, margherita pizza, insalata pizza, la Quattro staggioni. The fettucine Bolognese was mediocre -- I have had better. The margherita did not look like a typical margherita and more like a plain cheese pizza. The Quattro staggioni was strange and had all the toppings separated into different sections instead of spread out evenly. The insalata pizza was okay, but the prosciutto was slightly salty. And there are no refills on fountain drinks. I am extremely unhappy with this restaurant and will never come back. Please do not go here. I never wish anyone to have the same experience as we had.
(1)E H.
Bad service is a no-no for us. Especially me! The hostess acted like everyone that was coming in was ruining her day. It bothers me that people who accept a job at a known-to-be hectic place have such an attitude. We are from NY, we have been to busy restaurants, so I know bad service when I see it. If you cannot handle your job-quit. Anyway, after we remained calm and took our buzzer we decided to sit at the bar since that was the only place with open seats. My husband went back to give her the buzzer (which i thought would be doing her a favor since she was so extremely flustered but instead she took the buzzer and tossed it down and she also threw the menus in her hand onto the counter where she was stationed. HONESTLY?!? i have zero tolerance for bad service. We still begrudgingly stayed but went to the bar-the stools are terrible! But the bartender was very polite and helpful. luckily bc if i got one more minute of horrendus service I was going to lose my cool. The appetizer we got was very fresh-caprice. We also got the traditional pizza-wasn't the best I've had honestly-it was good not great.
(2)David K.
Prior to my cousin's bachelor party, we were on the prowl for authentic North End Italian cuisine, and roamed Hanover Street aimlessly before settling on Antico Forno, which is actually on nearby Salem Street. There's a neat atmosphere here. I was seated facing the kitchen and the brick oven is right out in the open, which was cool. The chef prepared our pizzas in dramatic fashion - tossing the dough high in the air, speedily placing the toppings on and shoving them into the oven. We had calamari for an app and weren't disappointed - lightly battered, tender, with a nice vinaigrette-style dressing. The pizzas were tremendous - we had La Capricciosa (mozz, sausage, mushrooms, artichoke) and La Quattro Stagrani (mozz, ham, spinach, mushrooms). All were made with just the right amount of toppings, which provided a nice balance of flavors. Minor complaints - small unisex bathroom and underwhelming tap list. Though you should really order wine at a place like this. We really stuffed ourselves here. What's funny is we immediately went to Mike's Pastry afterwards for an encore of cannoli's.
(4)Aim M.
We came here for lunch last week. The place was crowded with locals, which is a good sign. Sarah had chicken. I had pizza. The service was friendly, and the food was excellent.
(4)Steven R.
The atmosphere is great. The staff is very attentive to your needs. The drinks were excellent. The food itself was also very good for what we got. They also have gluten free options which are a huge plus for a guy that avoids it. Very little wait to get our seats with a reservation. That said, I dock them a star for really rushing the food delivery. Apps, salads, and the main entree were all served within 10 minutes of each other. Way too fast. I understand they are trying to turn over the tables on a Saturday night, but the place isn't cheap. Even a few extra minutes between each course would have been appreciated.
(4)Amy H.
This is a nice local casual dining establishment that the locals know about and a tourist would find a good North End option. They are on the more casual side from the many other dressier, fancier options of restaurants in this area. You can get a solid pasta dish or a traditional pizza pie here. I have been here 12+ times and have never had a bad dinner. Good value for your money as well and that is important because I have left many a North End restaurants not feeling there was a good value for what I got. The portions are a good size and the seafood is always fresh and I feel like they have quality meats and seafood dishes.
(4)Eric F.
What do you do when you're on campus and still half-asleep? Yelp it up XD After lunch here yesterday, Antico's worthy of 4 very solid stars for a very filling and tasty meal. The line-up included their baked rigatoni, gnocchi, fettuccine panna e prosciutto and la capricciosa (italian sausage, mushrooms and artichoke hearts). Everything was exceptionally well done and our group especially liked the brick oven'd pizza. Plus, I always appreciate freshly baked bread to start things off and I was def a fan of the olives & oil dip. I could see what some other reviewers were getting at with the service - the staff was friendly and approachable, but they could've afforded to be more attentive (slow refills, infrequent check-ins, etc.). I should also note that with the Eversave discount I had, it all came out to only $8.50/person tax & tip included - an absolute steal for the quality and quantity!
(4)Debbie N.
Service here does not exist. Only one table with customers when I arrived. Took them a looooong time to get drinks order. Then Donna our waiter had the worst attitude ever. Paid drinks and left!s RUN AWAY FROM IT!!!!!!!
(1)Marge F.
My friend and I went for lunch on a saturday in september. It was bustling with customers which we found as a good sign. The food was good (but nothing mind-blowing or amazing) and we had a nice lunch with wine. The service was great. I ordered the Linguine Con Vongole and the clams and sauce were very nice. No sand or grit in the clams they were very clean and had a nice flavor. My friend ordered the LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE and he loved it. The seafood was tender and fresh tasting.
(3)Katie M.
Great food, but loud. And we had to wait a while. But we are so glad we did!! We will for sure be back!
(5)Eve C.
The food was delicious. The service was friendly and prompt. The lobster ravioli special was yummy as was the eggplant appetizer. It was our son's 12th birthday and they treated him to a Nutella pizza at the end. High praises for Cara our waitress! The price was good and we would recommend this place to our friends.
(4)Ermelinda C.
Amazing wood oven pizza. Generous vine pours and a friendly staff.
(4)Charlie T.
Not bad. Great drinks, but the portions were a little small.
(3)Jules E.
This place used to be a well-kept secret in the North End, and the crowd/popularity has made it less pleasant. While the food and wine is consistently delicious, the service has suffered. Recently, despite having made a 9:00PM reservation, my group had to wait 40 MINUTES to be seated. It seems the reservation was not honored at all, and we were just put on the standard wait list. If you're not hungry/willing to wait, this place is a fine choice.
(3)Maya T.
Definitely make reservations because this place was packed. Food was delicious and authentic. I had pasta alla bolgonese and we had pizza as well. The bread was yummy to. Staff was not super friendly or attentive, but the food was good. I'd go back.
(4)Bex M.
Haven't had quite a good dinner like this in a while! I'm so pleased with Antico Forno, from the quality of food to its great service. The place was lively and energetic. It was a cool night and they had their windows opened to the streets of the North End. It was a bit chilly, but I didn't mind until the breeze quickly made all that delicious food cold. We ordered la capricciosa and the linguine al frutti di mare with a side of broccoli rabe. I think pizza is my kryptonite and la capricciosa hit the spot. It's topped with Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella, and artichoke hearts. I've never had artichokes on a pizza before and this was splendid. All these years and I've been missing out! The frutti di mare was baked in parchment paper and it fully captured all the seafood flavors of the clams, mussles, calamari and shrimp. This dish was saliva-inducing. I even sopped up the rest of the tomato sauce with my bread and wanted to eat the parchment paper. (Am I kidding? You'll never know.) Oh, the waiter forgot our broccoli rabe order. It finally came out but the garlic was raw, so obviously it was rushed by the chef. We had no qualms about that since everything else made up for this one little mishap. As we went to pay, the waiter took it off our check. Awesome. Completely happy with dinner and looking forward to the next time.
(4)Ashley H.
Went here for dinner on a Friday with a friend from out of town. We had a 7 p.m. reservation, but ran a bit late. We sat at the bar and got a bottle of wine while waiting (about $38 for pinot grigio). The place was very noisy, probably good for children but not quite what I was looking for. We ordered two entrees, I don't remembers hers but I got the pork chop with potatoes and peppers. It was such a small serving for the $23 price tag and for what I've come to expect in the North End. The potato was literally HALF a small potato cut in two. It was overpriced for what it was. I am glad I had not stuffed myself because I would have been too full to drink the rest of the night (can't have that), but I wouldn't go back for the price and portion size. There are too many other good places to discover to ever come here again.
(3)Jen C.
Good authentic Italian food. Served with chewy white bread and olive oil for dipping. I liked it that they had a vegetarian lasagna- don't typically see that as an option. We were seated so close to the next table that I felt I was part of their awkward first date.
(3)Alicia B.
Delicious food and amazing atmosphere!
(5)Emily W.
Fantastic! A friend and I called early for reservations. They were booked up until 9:30pm, but the wait was well worth it! The place was packed and it literally felt like you were dining in Italy. I think this is because Antico Forno is tucked away in a small street on the North End resembling Italy. We arrived early so we got a seat at the bar before it was time to eat. Once we were called to sit, we ordered caprese and the mozzarella was outstanding! I ordered a seafood pasta dish with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, basil, and a tomato sauce. Very tasty. My friend ordered a sausage rigatoni dish; It was hard to decide which was better! I'd recommend any friend to dine here!
(4)Steve S.
Let me just start by saying I'm from Arkansas. My dining choices at home are severely limited; the word "authentic" is rarely warranted in describing restaurants. So it's entirely possible that I'm just very easy to impress. Having said that, this is just a remarkable establishment. The first thing you'll notice is it's slightly cramped, very loud and very comfortable; in other words, it's just like being home if you have a big family. Loved the atmosphere. My table for two didn't have a reservation, but we were seated in just minutes on a Thursday evening. The busboys offer you water immediately, and they don't let you ever see the bottom of your glass. Excellent attention. To start, you'll receive a traditional bread and olive oil setup. The bread is fine, soft and chewy, but not remarkable. But the oil has fresh olives in it, which was a great touch. Our appetizer was the Calamari, and it is not to be missed. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, then lightly tossed on EVOO and served with a salad. It is the best I've ever had, and that by a long way. Our entrees were also wonderful. My risotto was cooked perfectly, with peas, pancetta, mushrooms, green onions and, again, lightly tossed in EVOO. The flavor is awesome, and although risotto takes longer to cook than most other entrees, the flavor is worth it. My wife had the Fettucine Positano, and it was amazing. The star of the dish is the rich, flavorful cherry tomato sauce, with has to be tasted to be believed. Its paired with freshly made noodles and some delicious fresh scallops and shrimp. A wonderful meal. And it would have been wonderful even before dessert. But when our Tiramisu hit the table, everything else we ate just vanished in our mind. If you get this, do yourself a favor and deeply inhale the aroma before your first bite. The rich espresso and liqueur smell is intoxicating, and prepares your mouth for beautiful taste after taste. This dessert is amazing; I would return just for this. Our server was very good, and our bill was more than reasonable. Two adult beverages, appetizer, two entrees and dessert were less than 80 bucks altogether. Factor in the amazing flavors, great atmosphere and good service, and Antico Forno is a very good deal. Don't come here to be wined, dined and fussed over. Come here to feel like you're part of a huge family that is sharing in the same great times and great food that you are also enjoying. Antico Forno is a rare restaurant, and you should experience it before leaving the North End.
(5)Mike L.
Food was good. Went there on a Tuesday night and it was definitely kid-friendly.
(4)Cee Cee S.
There are a lot of great restaurants in the North End. There are just as many dull places with generic menus. Thankfully, Antico Forno leans more towards greatness. LOVE the brick oven. It lends an air of authenticity and coziness to the place. The tables are a little close together in my opinion, but it adds to the experience rather than takes away from it. There is a mix of young servers and folks left over from the old guard. They don't rush you, but then again, you'll probably have to wait to get your water refilled. The food....ah the food. I've had both a pasta dish and a pizza here. The pizza with artichokes, porchini mushrooms and truffle oil is my new favorite. I keep craving it. The crust is not too thick, nor is it too thin. It doesn't get soggy with the toppings and holds up well when you pick it up. And the truffle oil. It's my new favorite thing. Pure bliss. I wouldn't waste time having dessert here. You'll be too full.
(4)Mary B.
This is my old reliable in the North End. I've probably eaten here half a dozen times since living in Boston and it never fails to deliver a solid Italian dining experience. I came back a few nights ago after a long hiatus and discovered they had expanded the space so it's now two rooms and a bar instead of just the one room. Much less claustrophobic but it does create a different, admittedly less cozy vibe than before. I don't think I've had a bad meal here - the appetizers and salads are huge and wonderful (get fresh ground black pepper on your salad!) and the entrees are comfort food miracles that are very tasty without being overly complicated. They have created my perfect Italian dish in the brick oven (!) baked fusili with hearty tomato sauce, vegetables and goat cheese - all elements that I love separately and come together brilliantly. The pizza is heavenly as well. The crowd on a weekday night is healthy and it's clear people are enjoying themselves but it's not roaring loud and you don't have to sit on top of the next table. The service is good - they bring everything out right on schedule and make sure you have everything you want and need but leave you alone pretty much the rest of the time. Water is re-filled regularly, which is a major plus in my thirsty camel book. I don't feel cheated when I come here - in terms of money or food quality - and that's a good feeling to have when you walk out of a North End restaurant.
(4)Kate G.
This restaurant is delicious and very reasonable price-wise. Pizza, pasta, and salads were all dynamite... and fresh. I came with a group (and of course, a reservation!) and we were treated very well. We will be back.
(5)Tess G.
My friend who lives in the North End recommended it, so I took the advice of someone who lives in the midst of all the great restaurants and she was spot on. Our waitress was incredible. She was helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and was just such a friendly, lovely girl. I had the baked rigatoni with sausage. It was awesome! My Mom had a pizza which was equally great. The brick ovens make the crust so good! Definitely make a reservation though. We had one for 7:30 but our table wasn't ready until 7:45 because the place was so busy. Luckily there's a bar to grab a drink while waiting.
(5)Lala L.
Yum! I'm a fan of this place since I first had a bite of their superfreshoutoftheoven pizza! Yummmmmmmmm!!!!!! and I cannot forget their linguine with with white clam sauce...absolutely the best one I've had. It's made in their oven, wrapped in parchment and foil....so the clams are done perfectly.
(4)Lucy W.
Good linguini and clams with white wine sauce- cooked to a perfect al dente, large portions, decent value at under $20. Looking at my friends and their choices (Gnocchi, chicken parm, penne dishes), they also looked good, though like most other Italian places, overly doused in sauce and cheese. Appetizers were only ok- we got a few for the table to share: mussels fra diavolo, eggplant, antipasto. However, looooong wait, despite reservations (we were seated an hour later), and tightly spaced tables made the dinner a little uncomfortable. OK, but there are so many choices in the North End, that I probably would choose another option next time.
(3)Jeremy S.
Ok, so people really hype this place and it was for the most part underwhelming. I ordered the pizza and the lamb sandwich. The waiter tried to get me to change my order because he didn't think I would be able to finish both. I left two pieces of pizza on the table because it was mediocre at best. Now the lamb sandwich on the other hand, was awesome. It's served with a nice salad that compliments it very well. The sandwich has roasted lamb and peppers on some crunchy Italian bread. I took the bread off and ate it straight up. I would go back for this, otherwise the menu was pretty small and bland if you ask me. I will say we went for lunch and maybe they have a different menu for dinner.
(3)Kristen F.
One word... CRAMMED! Patrons are dining and drinking on top of one another here! If you don't like weaving and squeezing your way through an establishment to get to your table, the bar, the bathroom, or the the exit... then this is not the place for you. We were seated at the high top that abutted the bar area so we got the worst of this. Without fail every person trying to get to the bar bumped my chair. I'm not sure why they don't just do away with that table completely and create more standing room - I'm sure a lot of negative reviews were born from people seated here. Onto the food. We got the calamari and a pizza. The calamari was too lightly breaded and not a ton of flavor. The pizza was pretty good but given the atmosphere, not worth going back for. I'm sure the pasta entrees are decent and it might be a perfectly fine dining experience in the dining room or on a slow night. For me it was just OK.
(3)Kathleen C.
Came here today (over Moving Weekend) around 3pm. They were still offering the Restaurant Week prix-fixe menue, so I went for the prix-fixe lunch while the husband opted for pizza. Got a tomato-based seafood stew appetizer that was divine, not so tomato-ey that you couldn't taste the cod, clams, or mussels. The shredded pork in red sauce over flat noodles was absolutely delicious. Tiramisu was great- a little more soaked than I'd like, but maybe that was a result of refrigerating it after it had been out while wandering around the North End. Husband's margherita pizza was a little salty and "eh." But so is every other pizza, once you've had one with fresh mozzarella. So I won't go there for the pizza. Service was friendly but a little slow. They were packed for 3pm on one of their biggest days oh the year. This may be my go-to place in the North End. Will be back!
(5)Bill T.
They really pack it in here and did not honor our reservation until 40 minutes later. The wait at the bar was with a bartender in an awful mood who took 10 minutes to make a glass of wine, and seemed disgusted when we placed our order. When we finally sat down at our wobbly table, it took a while for our exhausted, sweating waiter to find us and asked if we wanted drinks. We just ordered food and apps not knowing when he would return. All of this could have possibly been overlooked if the food was exceptional but it wasn't. We ordered three different pasta dishes each with different sauces, and they all tasted about the same. Pretty generic stuff you can find in countless other tourist traps in the North End. The broccoli rabe was even overcooked. The food is not horrible, but it's not worth the atmosphere, price and poor service. Antico Forno: Please hire some help for your poor staff on Fridays. At least take pride in good service for your expensive mediocre food. I know you want to make good money on the weekends but take out a couple tables. We had get up from our meal every few minutes to allow people stuck behind us to escape to the bathroom.
(2)Megan P.
Loved it here! The inside is exactly what you would think of when you picture North End charm, and the big fireplace int he middle of the restaurant is perfectly cozy. I loved the wine (house Chianti, I have realized you can't go wrong with Chianti in the North End) and the food! The fresh bread to start is delicious and you can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes. I'm not a big gnocchi fan in general, but my boyfriend is, and he said this was the best he's had!
(4)Jillian R.
Yummy! I fell in LOVE with their atmosphere/decor! It's SOOO romantic. The waiters are eye candy, too! It makes it the perfect place for a hot date! Oh, yeah and the food was delicious too... But I was a little too busy to eat because their Pomegranate martini is the best I've ever had. A friend had their Lamb sandwich and loved it. Everything looked SO yummy. The placed was packed the entire time we were there with large and small groups alike as well as lots of kids! I was impressed because we were there between 1 and 2 pm.
(4)Keith M.
Stopped in for lunch with a few colleagues. I had the FUSILLI AL TEGAMINO [Brick oven baked fusilli pasta, sautéed eggplant, zucchini, roasted peppers in a plum tomato sauce topped with goat cheese and basil] Prepared well, but the vegetables were chopped up too small to really get the flavor. Not sure if that's the intended prep or not, but not for me. I've been before and it's always great, so I'll order something else next time.
(3)Derek K.
Went back for a second visit during our trip. Had the same waiter from Friday night and he remembered us...not sure how since it was so packed that night and they had a line out the door! WIfe loved the Linguine al frutti di mare so much she ordered it again. I really enjoyed my pizza (as usual), but as others have commented, not the best brick-oven pizza in the area - thus the 4 star rating.
(4)Carollynn W.
My Mom was in town for the weekend and this is the spot we chose for dinner. After soliciting numerous recommendations, we chose this place, which was recently named the Best Northend Restaurant by Boston Magazine. My overall impression is that the food was decent, but it is hard for me to believe that this restaurant would approach the "best" of the Northend. The atmosphere left much to be desired. The dining room as an absurd number of tables squeezed inside. The tables were awkwardly close together (maybe two inches in between). As a result, you could hear your neighbors entire conversation. Additionally, the tables were so close together that the bustling wait staff hit you every time they walked by. The restaurant also seemed unusually noisy, perhaps because you had to yell to drown out your neighbor. The service was good. The restaurant seemed to be amply staffed and there was little to no wait for bread, drink refills, etc. The bread at the restaurant seems like an afterthought. It did not seem fresh and was not warm. It was served with a tasty white bean puree but when we asked for olive oil they served us what looked like commercial cooking oil (certainly not bread quality oil). For appetizers we ordered an eggplant dish and Arancini. Both were very good. Both were served with an incredible red sauce which I would say was the highlight of our meal. Portions were large. For dinner we had chicken parm, risotto and gnocchi. The chicken parm was good because it was slathered with the aforementioned delicious red sauce but both the risotto and gnocchi left much to be desired. My impression is that this place does the classics and pizza well. Overall, I think better options can be had in the Northend. But at minimum, this place could improve its reception by improving the atmosphere and comfort of its guests.
(3)Charmie S.
Dare I say AF offers the best pizza in the city of Boston? I was most impressed with the size of the pizza for one. Definitely enough for two people. I had intended to take half of mine home, but it didn't make it. I remember it being just the right amount of cheesy with little to no grease. Service was a little slow at the lunch hour, but I guess that's to be expected.
(5)Shalin P.
A group of 5 of us recently dined here for my birthday. We knew the portions would be large so we moved straight to the entrees (after eating some crusty bread and olives). We split 5 dishes between the group: - Margherita pizza - Napoletana pizza - Fusilli - Gnocchi - Rigatoni All were excellent, and the entire group was impressed (even my mom, who doesn't like dining out). I would say the gnocchi was my favorite. Overall a nice meal and a good value for the North End.
(4)S P.
Entrees tasted very good but the portions were below average. This is in part due to the restaurant week lunch menu. I would have just ordered off the regular menu. Unfortunately, I left slightly hungry wanting for more!
(3)Chad H.
Stumbled across this gem. Had a really nice lunch with my partner. The rolitini was delicious!
(5)Diane H.
I'm not a fan of tomato sauce...and my friend totally did not know this and decided to take me here.. I got one of the pizzas instead that had ricotta cheese and the uncooked meat which i forgot the name of...I tried a bit of the pasta and the tomato sauce was actually pretty good, because it's fresh, so next time I come, def try! They make the pizza from scratch, pretty good. No reservations, sat us by the cash register in a high table. I sat my empty cup of water right at the middle of the table so the waiter can see that it needs filling. Completely ignored :( The other waiters didn't do anything either..until I grilled them down, then a nice waiter came and filled it, and again when it emptied. I would expect even if my waiter was busy to check on my table every now and then...he only really paid attention when I ordered my tiramisu, delish! And to give us our check. I wish I had the other waiter..so much more friendly. I would return, but maybe if I make reservations first and with more than 2 people so I get a nice table that isn't next to the register and phone and all the waiters hanging around. Dissapointed, but will return to try the fresh tomato sauce. Hopefully they will be more attentive. It's not like I was dressed like a kid either, I wore business casual clothes, so I expect good service for a 15 dollar pizza. OH btw..the bread was GROSS, it was like stale and NOT good like I usually have at other italian restaurants...
(3)Nikki I.
Stick with the pizza here, it is very good.
(3)Lynn K.
Three of us were there last night for dinner. Although it was restaurant week, only one of us ordered off the pris fix menu. The parpadelle with pork was dissapointing. The pasta was crunchy and stuck together...Al dente is one thing but this was clearly not cooked property. Two of us got the risotto of the day. Last night it was with vegetables. I think for $18 the portion should be bigger than a small grapefruit...especially when there was no expensive meat or fish in it. I left there hungry :( I think the prices are very expensive for the amount of food that is given
(2)Rob T.
Great food. Service was somewhat lacking- not particularly friendly.
(4)Heather G.
The good news is that I had this place on my "to try" list forever, because i'd heard the pizza here is great, and I finally got to cross it off the list. The bad news is that I regretted spending the money, and wish I'd chosen another place to visit instead. We arrived on a busy Friday night on a chilly April evening and waited about 10 minutes for a table. The room is large and filled with tables, yet they turn over quickly. However, the table we were given was the one closest to the door, ensuring an icy blast each time someone went in or out. We, instead, opted to wait for the next available table, as I am a tiny little woman who chills easily. Unfortunately, the next table we were given was a tiny little thang pushed up against a brick wall nearest the kitchen. My boyfriend, being a large man who runs hot, spent the entire night sweating bullets. Moral of the story? Temperature control here isn't the most consistent, so bring a heavy sweater AND wear a tank-top to be sure you have your bases covered! We ran into a coworker while waiting for our table who SWORE BY the mussels, so of course we had to sample that as well, as he and his fiancee are super-regulars at this place. Sadly, though the service was good (friendly, yet very slow waitstaff), the food just wasn't. To start: COZZE PICCANTI - Sautéed mussels in a spicy plum tomato sauce and roasted garlic for $11. The mussels alternated between chewy/rubbery, and slimy/undercooked, with very little cooking consistency. The roasted garlic flavor was nice, but the overall dish was unappealing. Sadly, coworker, I do not agree with your assessment of these mussels, though perhaps I just got them on a REALLY bad day. For pizza: CARCIOFI E PORCINI - Artichoke hearts, imported Italian porcini mushrooms, fresh homemade mozzarella, fresh cherry tomatoes, finished with white truffle oil for $16. The mushrooms overwhelmed the rest of the flavors and washed out the poor, sweet, fresh mozzarella. The dough on this pizza was thick and rubbery, and while it's mediocre when served right out of the oven, it's abysmal as next-day leftovers. We also tried a "special" pizza of the day that had long ribbons of prosciutto, for about $16. Because the prosciutto was cooked into the pizza (we assumed it'd be laid on top, as you'd normally treat the beautiful, cured meat), it resembled more like pancetta or bacon, and was shriveled and salty when it arrived at our table. Had we known the practice was to cook the prosciutto on the pizza, we would have reconsidered the order, but we had made an assumption that this place would add it at the end. Live and learn - always ask your server before making assumptions on meat-handling. This, too, was a disaster the next day, and I wouldn't recommend taking any of your meal to-go. Obviously this food was edible. There's nothing really wrong with it. However, after hearing so much about the wonderful, rustic, authentic, Italian pizza this place serves up, we left sorely disappointed and will likely not come back.
(2)Sejin J.
Food is four stars, service is 5. My sister and I came here and ordered the vongole linguine which was one of the best vongole pastas I've had, and the amalfitano pizza. The only problem with pasta was that the noodles were a bit overcooked. Other than that, super nice waiters and good quality food
(4)Barbara P.
Hmmmm - reservation at 7:00, 7:40 still not seated. Jury still out. Not so happy with the reservation process. Not recommended.
(1)Randy V.
This is a GOOD place for a WEEKEND LUNCH! The LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE is only $14! Not bad for a big bowl full of stuff.. and I mean BIG! It comes with Linguine pasta and clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sauteed in plum tomato sauce baked in parchment paper. They don't skimp out with the ingredients.
(4)Viraj A.
This was a great restaurant. The food was great, and the waiter was nice. I only have 1 complaint, which was that some of the food came in way too large portions. 1 other thing was noise level, but they really can't control that.
(4)Emma T.
I don't mean to sound like a food snob - I'm really not. But when I go out to dinner I expect a few things...the food should be good (worth going out for), ambience should be nice, good service, and I should leave full and not broke. This place just does not do it for me. Having been in the North End for awhile - I can tell you, it is nowhere near the top of any list. The service is OK - not bad, not great. The ambiance is nice, I will give them that...dimly lit which is nice - and not the overhead lighting where my nose looks like something out of a horror movie - it's nice. The food however is nothing great at all. I was dragged here the other night with my husband and I just don't get it. Yes they have a brick oven and that seems to be the draw, but so what? If the food sucks what will a brick oven do?? Seriously don't waste your time..if you're on Salem Street there are SO many other better places than this.
(1)Ron M.
Evellent food. Good service. Marked down because of the incredible high noise level. It was impossible to converse with the person sitting just across the table. The walls, ceiling and floor have nothing at all to dampen the sound.
(2)Jeremiah L.
The food is good, but not great for the North End. The one exception to that is the Tiramisu, which is the best that we have found in Boston.
(3)Kim K.
The renovations are stunning! Antico Forno is now larger and with a bar! The food is still delicious, if not better. The pork chop was perfectly cooked along with spinach, potatoes, and peppers. Yummy! The eggplant rolls were heaven, the red sauce they are in is some of the best I've ever had. I asked for extra bread just for sopping because that's how I roll.
(4)Mindy L.
Two thumbs up. - Caprese salad: generous helping of four slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatos with a big side of greens drizzled with olive oil/ vinegar, peppered and lightly salted. - Linguine al Frutti di Mare: this was amazing. Clams, mussels, calamari and (HUGE) shrimp sauteed in butter and red sauce and baked in parchment paper. This whole dish was so good. Everything had such wonderful flavor...the pasta was cooked perfectly, slightly al dente the way I like it. I don't think I would ever order anything else after this dish...I'd come back specifically to have it again.
(4)Anthony G.
My friends and I (party of 4) visited Antico Forno on a Saturday night in March. Although our experience was mixed, I'm giving it a low rating because we waited an hour despite having a reservation. We had reservations at 8:30pm, but didn't sit down until 9:30pm - and the host staff was pretty indiferrent about it. I find that completely unacceptable - the whole point of making a reservation is to be seated within a reasonable time frame; waiting more than 15 minutes (again, if you have a reservation) is simply poor management and waiting an hour is completely unreasonable. To make matters worse, the bar was predictably crowded and the bathrooms were next to the bar so we constantly had to move around as people squeezed passed us. This meant we couldn't comfortably get a drink while we waited - even if we waded through the sea of people to get to the bar tenders. After we were seated, things were better. The food was a little overpriced (which is not too bad because most restaurants in the North End are way overpriced), and the food itself was fair. I had a risotto special which had good flavors, but way too much salt. I'd recommend the antipasto, however! On a slower night (or after the restaurant's management gets its act together), I would recommend it. Just don't rely on your reservation if its busy!
(1)Cindy W.
When I am with a big group (11 ppl) the north end is not the first place I think of to go. However, after leaving the Purple Shamrock after drinks there isn't allot of places to have a good meal within walking distance except the North end. It was a toss between Neptune Oysters or here. There was a huge wait at NO so we headed down the street to here. We looked inside and the place was packed on a late Sunday night. We placed our name for a party of 11. Only 20 mins! We headed over to there bar and split 2 bottles of wine. We got seated very quickly. We ordered 2 calamaris to share. They were delicious!!! Lightly battered and a honey garlic dressing as a dipping sauce with a simple salad on the side. I totally will order that again! I got the rigatoni with sauage...it came out burning HOT and when I sunk my teeth into it it was absolutey delicious!!!! My boyfriend got their linguine al fruttie di mare. It was soooooo big. Lucky he was hungry or he would have not finished it at all. My friend got the gnochhi. It was perfectly cooked. Not too doughy or chewy. the sauce from my entree and the gnocchi sauce was the same. So depending on what you like in it or not, will be the deal breaker for these two options. Overall I had a great experience there. Many of our guests have been there too. They described this place to always have great food, service and always consistent!
(4)Heidi D.
This is my favorite restaurant in the North End. My favorite dish is the RIGATONI SALSICCIA E RICOTTA. They put it in the brick oven before serving which gives it a smokey, crispy topping. So delicious! Their pizza is really good too! Also, they now have gluten free pasta.
(5)Erin T.
During a recent East Coast trip we tried this place with a couple of friends who live in Boston. I got the Fusilli Al Tegamino and it was excellent. Fresh ingredients and al dente pasta. This place is right in the heart of little Italy, which is a great spot to walk around. Even better, the next street over has two of the best bakeries in town. You can't miss them because there is a line outside the door.
(4)Caralie C.
This restaurant wasn't my favorite... But it wasn't horrible. I just think it's definitely for the younger crowd. A good location in the North End to go with your kids! It was very noisy on a Friday night at 7pm. The service was good... The waitress was pleasant... The pizza was OK. For me I had a hard time choosing a pizza because many of them seemed similar. While I was looking at the menu I began to wish I was at Ernestos getting buffalo chicken pizza! We asked for bread and they brought it over.... But ugh. The orange chunky dipping stuff made me gag... Several times! I had to stop a worker to ask what it was. It's a puréed bean with some tomato and some other stuff. Yuck. Where's the olive oil and pepper?! I've now tried this restaurant once... And that's enough for me!
(3)Joe T.
Over-rated. Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. Walked into the North End to try Regina's... it was packed and I was starving. The idea of being herded like cattle into an outside line was unappealing and unappetizing. After consulting Mr. Yelp, the GF and I sulked to Antico Forno. It looked promising and relaxing and the reviews were good. I was ready to eat. Oh yeah I was about to start a diet so I was really hoping to get a great pizza fix before I started being no fun. I ordered the ribbolito soup. I'm not a soup guy so this was a questionable choice on my part. The soup took a while to arrive and it was bland. I didn't like it at all. My standards aren't very high when I'm super hungry so this soup really sucked and it was overpriced at $8. My gf's salad was pretty bare bones and not very good either. Should have stuck with free bread. We ordered a margherita pizza to share. It took forever to arrive. While waiting we noticed big chunks of floating bread in my GF's coke. GROSS. Totally turned me off. The waiter didn't apologize at first and didn't seem that surprised. He brought a coke in a new glass. WTF. Floating bread this time. He took it back and brought a third coke. Finally... no floaters. The za finally came. I love me some greasy za, but this pie was nothing but grease. It could barely stay together. The toppings were floating like the sea. Ughhhh. Not a good meal in any regard. The waiter apologized for all of the problems and brought us a free piece of tiramasu. It was not good. Tasted frozen and watery. We ate very little of it. Oh and they comped us the Coke, how nice. Highly recommend staying away. There are too many other choices to try this place. One of the rare times I felt like Yelp let me down. This place felt like a 2 star restaurant.
(1)Will F.
This is the best meal I've had in awhile. I had the lobster Ravioli with shrimp and was blown away! Incredible appetizers with ricotta cheese and delicious salad as well. The waiters were super friendly and seem to make pretty much anything you want.
(5)kelly m.
A friend and I had lunch here on a weekday recently. Very friendly waitstaff but we ordered the meatball sandwich and a margarita pizza, both of which were mediocre. I think I'd try another place next time.
(3)E. S.
My husband and I have eaten a lot of Italian food and even studied abroad in Italy, so we think we can say with confidence that Antico Forno has absolutely delicious pizza and the best gnocchi we've ever had. Yes, the best. We think that what makes it so special is the sauce and the way it's cooked in the oven, but whatever it is it's definitely working because we keep on going back. The restaurant was re-done rather recently and looks a lot more elegant, not to mention has a whole lot more space, while still maintaining its cozy charm. The staff has improved over the years, although occasionally the waiters are on the curt side. Nonetheless, the food more than makes up for this.
(5)K C.
Solid North End Italian. It veers heavily into the baked-redsauce-sausage type of Italian cooking, which is admittedly not my favorite. But it has a warm and lovely atmosphere, and the food is always very good. Also, as North End places go, their prices are great. Try the baked ricotta rigatoni. Yum.
(4)S S.
These people are THIEVES. If you leave a tip and they don't think it is good enough for their terrible service they will charge you more on your credit card without your approval. If you do go there, use cash!
(1)sandra h.
4/12/2012 It was pouring down rain in Boston when my husband and I got off the whale watching boat and walked to Antico Forno in the North End. We had 2:30 PM reservations we'd made on opentable.com . We had thought the whale watching tour would last longer, but we arrived at the restaurant over half an hour early. The hostess ushered us right in and asked if we'd like to sit back by the brick oven to get warm. We must have looked as cold as we felt. We were immediately served great bread and olives. We ordered the gnocchi and a Margherita pizza to split, accompanied by a Peroni beer on draft. The food was great, the service was prompt, and we liked our waitress. She and the cook were speaking in Italian. We felt like we'd walked into a little piece of Italy. It's a good memory, and we would definitely go back.
(5)Amanda C.
I'll start with what I wish every yelp review started with, the food. The first night I went to AF I had the Caesar salad and the gnocchi. The Caesar salad was very bland, the sauce limited and runny, and the croutons were smaller than dice. The gnocchi was tasty, but there was too much sauce and the dough was rough. My personal preference for delicious gnocchi is that it almost melts in your mouth, and you won't get that here. On my second night I had the margherita pizza, which was also rather bland. The redeeming quality of AF is the fact that you can make reservations online, and the bartender!!! On my first night she saw that our waiter was taking forever to come and take our order and she took it for us. The second night, we sat at the bar because we liked her so much and she was very sweet and considerate of our orders and not constantly asking how our food was. If you find yourself having to wait for a table, you'll thank me later if you just sit at the bar. The other guests tables are so close it's claustrophobic, but at the bar you have great service, a view of the tv, and of course...the bar.
(3)Sara S.
Antico forno is one of the best places we've ever eaten. The staff was unbelievable with their attentiveness. The food was amazing. You can tell it is family owned and operated; wonderful how everybody works together to take care of the diners. We can't wait to come back.
(5)Steve P.
Great food. Very good atmosphere. They give you some kind of sauce/cheese dip with your bread that is delicious. The white pizza was good, although after looking around, I wish we got something with sauce. But still very good!
(5)Rick M.
Went here on a Saturday night. The place was very busy and as other reviewers have said it was "very" loud. The best way to describe the tables/seating is cafeteria style. We were sitting at a small table which was right on top of the couple sitting next to us. I got the linguine al fruitti de marre. It was terrible! There is absolutely no way this meal was cooked fresh. After placing our order the food was delivered to the table in "under" five minutes. The meal was served in a bowl wrapped in aluminum foil. The linguine was extremely soggy and tasteless, and the shrimp was like rubber. Based on the food being so bad, and their being able to deliver a meal on a busy Saturday night in a couple of minutes, the only way they could do that is to heat up precooked meals in a microwave. This is why the linguine was so soggy. Who knows how long it was sitting in a frig waiting to be heated up? $22.00 for this meal was a big disappointment. Although the house merlot was good, it was overpriced at $9.00 a glass. Yea, it's the North End, but this is a cafeteria style restaurant and not at all fancy. The prices should reflect that. Had to wait forever to get the check.
(1)Ido W.
The bottom line: Nice atmosphere, good food and reasonable prices for the North end. I would give them 3.5 stars if given the opportunity, but leaning toward the 3. The pro's: The atmosphere was authentic (a bit course, a bit unprofessional, a bit loud, very Italian, in my opinion). The portions were big. The food was tasty. I had the lasagna and the wife had the porcine mushroom pizza. Our friends had a meat pizza, pork chops and calamari. The con's: It did not blow me away. Also, the dishes were not elegant. They were "in your face" with just enough salt and fat to make you take the next bite, but too much to make that bite guilt free.
(3)Paul S.
I wanted to like this place more, especially since we waited for an hour for our table. We had no reservations and a party of six on a beautiful spring Saturday night so it's not their fault they were busy, although they did tell us it would be 30 minutes, not 60. The food was lacking flavor. Even the bread was plain white bread, not even warm. I had a salad which was drowned in oil. Followed by the "pan seared" veal, which did not seam to be pan seared at all and was also drowned in a brown sauce. It tasted ok. My wife had the swordfish, which was a large, thin piece slightly over cooked. My wife's friend had the risotto which she loved and her husband also had the veal. My daughter had the brick oven pizza. She liked it, I had a piece because it looked so good, but it was also lacking flavor. The crust was good but the sauce had no taste and there was hardly any cheese on it. We also ordered the sangria, which guess what? Also lacked flavor and was served in a plastic pitcher. For $36 I was expecting something much better. The service was great, especially the bus boys. They were on top of everything. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive as well. The total bill for 4 adults and two kids was $260( beware they added the tip in and we almost double tipped) this seamed like a lot considering we had no apps, no desert or coffee. If it were half as expensive I would have thought it was decent, but considering the price and overall lack of flavor, it was disappointing.
(2)Jill G.
Amazing Italian food. I went on Valentines Day and it was a great date spot! Huge portins- I ordered the chicken and got an entire bird on my plate! Delicious and reasonable priced.
(4)Kate D.
We made reservations for 5:30 for Sat night - some of us got there early - they let us sit at the table and have drinks while we waited for the rest... our waitress for the night couldn't have been nicer (didn't catch her name but she has a 3 year old child)... the appetizers (antipasto, meatballs) were delicious, lots of great choices for wines and drinks and the entrees very good. We had mentioned that we were celebrating someones birthday so they put a candle in the tiramisu that we ordered (which was very good!) We weren't rushed at all so on a rainy chilly night it was a really fun time. A little loud in there but that added to the atmosphere..
(4)Lee H.
Had a coupon, decided to head down to Antico Forno for lunch. We started with an eggplant appetizer - quite good. The caesar salad was way under garlicked for my taste. My frutti di mari was very good, with lots of shell fish and calamari. My wife's gnocchi was also respectable. So overall, the food is good, although the bar is set very high in the North End. I'm giving a 4 more for value and less for the food quality. Parking is awful, of course. Service is good. I'd try a pizza or the fried calamari if I were to go back.
(4)Carmen N.
Great pizza and sangria. Staff was wonderful.
(4)Angela S.
Be sure to make reservations! We made one just a few hours before dinner and it was super busy when we ate dinner. I like the windows that open up all the way. We had the aranciata, which was surprisingly just one giant ball. There was a bit too much rice to meat and cheese ratio, but it was pretty great. The tomato + bean + olive oil dip is really really really good. I ate a whole basket of bread just to eat the dip. seriously. I had the linguine con vongole- the clams were great! The dish was a bit salty, but the dish as a whole was super good (probably because of the ocean of butter at the bottom).
(4)Mike M.
The food is worth the inconvenience of the occasional long wait for a table. The service is consistent; always polite, friendly, and attentive. I have eaten here numerous times when it was busy and, our server always found time to stop by periodically to see how things were going. Over the years I have been coming here, I don't recall ever having to send a single thing back. The portions are also huge, yet the quality of the food is still high. The one thing I don't like is having to wait sometimes up to half an hour for a table on a weekday.
(4)Lara C.
This was a nice setting with an open brick oven for the wonderful pizza. The restaurant had a wonderful wait staff. The food selection was alright (at the table, we had the aperitivo traditionale, pizza, seafood pasta, and chicken wrapped with proscuitto).
(3)Jennifer I.
Been here 2x for dinner and the food & service have been great each time. The food is better than my Italian grandmas and is priced perfectly. Cant wait to go back :)
(5)Cassie C.
I'm a big fan of Antico Forno, especially their prosciutto pizza! This is a MUST try! Their caprese salad was good too - just big chunks of mozzarella and tomatoes, with a bed of mixed greens. Yum. One star off for their unappetizing Antico Forno Martini. I could not force that down...no matter how hard I tried. It just did NOT taste good. $10 down the drain.
(4)Jim H.
The margarita pizza was just okay but the rolled eggplant was outstanding. The place was packed but the service okay. Our server needed a personality. He was efficient but could have been more informative about the menu.
(2)Michelle B.
Mmm, osso bucco. It was on the list of specials last night, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it. Delicious. The veal was tender and juicy, the polenta was the perfect complement to the sauce and thick shaving of parmesan, and the vegetables retained enough bite to them that they weren't mushy (something I hate). I also tried some of the calamari, which was done very well, and the cannoli, which was absurdly good. Service was brisk, but friendly. Seating was a little cramped; we were a party of 6 at a smallish circular table. There was a lot of shifting of drinks and plates to allow room for the appetizers we ordered. The bread served when we sat down was nothing to write home about, but I was in love with the fruity olive oil that was served with it.
(4)Kris N.
I've been here a couple of times, and had a good time. The food is good, and the seafood pasta dishes have been great. My younger daughter thinks it's cool that the chicken parm comes straight from the oven in a baking dish. Never tried the pizza. There are LOTS of options for North End Italian. You can put this on your list. I have not found better without a corresponding jump in price. Prices - fair to good deal. Service - spotty. If it's full inside, it will be loud. But you will still be able to converse.
(4)Matthew H.
Our fav. NorthEnd spot. The highlights: APPETIZERS: Involtini di Melanzane (eggplant, A MUST) & Mussels (Fresh and Delicious), PIZZA: the Vesuvio DESSERT: TIRAMISU (The reason I come here... to Boston)
(4)John S.
The recent renovations transformed Antico Forno from "quaint and inviting" to "grand yet inviting." The warm and rich decor is a perfect backdrop to what will assuredly be a wonderful meal. I've been to Antico Forno many times, and I've long since stopped punishing myself for visiting it over and over again at the expense of trying someplace new. During this most recent trip, I opted for the Restaurant Week menu because it offered what is, for me, the perfect Italian meal: arancini (cooked perfectly), veal bolognese (over a wonderful homemade pasta) and a cannoli (artfully presented and flavorful). In a neighborhood with literally one hundred options, you'd be hard pressed to find a better meal than here. And now you get to eat it in even more comfort!
(5)Rod S.
Enjoy the great atmosphere and wonderful Italian meal, especially the pizzas. Ah, and don't forget to order the Nutella Pizza ... buon appetito
(4)Melissa M.
We're hungry! We want food now! We don't wanna wait! Oh, what's this? Antico? Forno? NO WAIT! YES YES YES!! In we go, no, we don't want that table, it's too sunny and the people are right on top of you! YES YES YES!! We'll take that cozy table in the back! We are here for food! We are here for wine!! Foooood! Good Italian red! Wiiiine! Decent bread. Fiiiine! Pasta!! PASTA!!! Inhaled. Didn't really like the rigatoni with chicken and veggies in a cream sauce. Didn't taste that great. But, eating here was fine. Would we come back to dine? Probably not, probably not we say. We'll try another place in the great North End someday.
(3)Whitney J.
There are so many choices in the north end and this one is average, if you want a short wait and a clean bathroom this place is fine but will leaving you wishing for a bit more. The bread is store bought and the pizza was a little greasy, it was our friends birthday, but they still charged for dessert without telling us. It isn't great but it isn't awful.
(3)Dan C.
This place was a fuckin' sauna, I half expected to see Vigo Morensen's naked ass bust out of the kitchen fighting with a pair of Russian mobsters (a la Eastern Promises--you know, the scene where you see a little too much Vigo...terrifying). Let me explain--I came here with my girlfriend on a rather cold night. After waiting in the dark dungeon-like area that is entrance for 15 or so minutes we get a table...and while there are tons of open tables we get sat right next to the door. Of all the tables in this place we have to put next to the door; for me this is not a huge problem since I'm 57% walrus and I'm relatively unaffected by the fact that every time the door opens it is like superman is doing his ice-breath thing all over the place, but for any normal individual its unbearable so we request a move. Where do they move us--any of the many open tables in the middle of the room? No, of course not. They sit my ass right next to the brick pizza ovens. Now I know what Hell feels like. As for the food--people need to either learn that you don't cook the prosciutto on the pizza or as a society we need to stop putting it on pizza because it is a travesty. The prosciutto on the pizza was like bacon, really really expansive bacon, completely absent of the delicate taste and texture that give it its price tag. The pizza itself was kind of crap too, for a thinner crust it was much to thick and floppy with absolutely no taste. The same could be said for the carciofi e porcini--frankly Domino's could probably do it better. Maybe I could chalk this whole thing up to me not really loving pizza, but the mussels were dreadful. I don't have a huge problem with the fact that not all the mussels will be open when they come out (either dead or underdone), but when you have more inedible mussels than edible ones...yeah, then you start to have a problem. I'm not coming back.
(2)Liz K.
Great Italian restaurant in the North End, reasonably priced and delicious food. I have come here with the family and with friends. It is good for all occasions. I made a reservation both times, because I heard it gets packed on the weekends. The pizza was great and the calamari to start is a must! The decor is nice with brick walls throughout and the service was excellent both times I went. This is probably my favorite restaurant in the North End and I would definitely recommend others to go and try it out!
(4)Arianna F.
The food here was great, however I feel like the overall experience was something that I would not want to return to. Maybe if they offer take out? To start, we made a reservation day in advance and still had to wait about 45 minutes to get seated. I understand things happen at restaurants, but I was handed a buzzer when I when to the hostess stand and seemed to be waiting just like people who did not have a reservation. Once we sat down the tables were super tight and it was very dark in the place. I live in the North end so I understand tight coders but this was just super crowded. We were so close to the people next to us that when the lady went to eat her pasta the splatter his my husband! Then there was the noise.... I felt like I was at a concert for an hour and not having dinner. I could barely hear the people at my table talking... it was just super loud. Besides the atmosphere, the food was wonderful and very authentic. However, going out to eat I would just have learned expect more from the north end.
(2)Alexandra L.
I went to Antico Forno this past weekend with my brother and his girlfriend, and it was just as it had always been: good food, decent service (not overly attentive, but there when you need it), and good prices. It's not anything to write home about; but if nothing else, it's always consistent.
(3)Bonnie L.
Antico Forno is one of my favorites! The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the service is always perfect. I'm a big pizza fan and love their brick oven pizza but my boyfriend says their pasta is just as good. The prices are a little high but I guess that's expected in the north end!
(5)Sarah P.
My date and I went to Antico Forno because it's our favorite restaurant in the North End (well, I should caveat to say my favorite... he's partial to Neptune Oyster.) As always, we had a wonderful time there, complete with delicious Italian food and service that didn't disappoint. First of all, the ambiance fits both a romantic date as well as a family night out. Antico Forno is the epitome of an Italian night out... it can cater a romantic, intimate evening as well as a group celebration without a hitch. The food doesn't disappoint either. My favorite option is the meatball appetizer, which is on the specials list but always seems to be available (at least it has been the 3-4 times I've visited in the past year.) I'd also recommend a flatbread pizza and the gnocchi, both of which are delicious. Service is always surprisingly good here. I've gone during restaurant week, and they let us substitute a pizza for one of the main items on the limited restaurant week menu with no fuss and no additional charge (let's face it, pizza costs less.) They also went out of their way to store our belongings (I had my laptop bag with me right after work which they moved to a separate table within view that wasn't being used.) On a separate occasion, I went to Antico Forno with my mother, who ordered a seafood pasta dish with white wine sauce instead of the traditional red sauce. Even during a busy Saturday night, they were happy to make the revised dish without any problem. To this day, it's still probably the best thing I've eaten there. So overall, I'd say this is one of the best options in the North End. You can't go wrong with the food and wine, the service is always reliably good regardless of how busy they are, and the ambiance fits almost any occasion. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
(4)Colleen C.
I'm honestly shocked that this place has a four star review on yelp. I felt like it was SO overpriced for the quality of food. My husband and I went here on a busy Saturday night, but were seated right away (yay!). We were asked right away what kind of water we wanted, and another member of the waitstaff came by soon after to take our drink order. While she was there, we asked whether or not the pizzas were sharing sized (for 15-18, it could go either way). She said they weren't really, and we were cool with that. What was less cool was that I felt like our treatment after that went kind of down hill. It was clear that she was much more attentive to the table next to us (you're kind of close, so it's hard to miss). Even if we had split the entree, we tip really well when that's the case, so please don't assume that we're cheap a****. We ended up ordering two pizzas, neither of which were very good. My husband got one with sausage, mushroom, and artichoke. The sausage was gristly, and the artichokes tasted like they came straight from a can. I got a four-cheese pizza, which would have been fine, except they made it with smoked mozzarella. Many of the pizzas featured smoked mozzarella, and I avoided them, because I'm not a fan. The four-cheese wasn't labeled as such, so this was disappointing. The bread was pretty terrible, but the wine was good. I'd say for a similar quality (and about half the price), head to Bertucci's in Kenmore Square. There are better options in the North End.
(2)Ashley D.
Another north end hit. From pasts to piazza you cant go wrong
(5)Johanna D.
Was looking for a place for my boyfriend and I to have dinner before the Celtics game last Friday night and after rifling through many reviews settled on this place. Sad to say, I was pretty disappointed. nothing was particularly terrible but there wasn't anything that was particularly good either. First off, Yelp says they have a full bar which was untrue, they have a few drinks on a cocktail menu and that was all you could get! Had the meatball appetizer and my boyfriend said mine were way better. I got the vegetable lasagna which was ok but less impressive than the cafeteria at my work that serves it. My bf raved about his chicken parm dish but I've had wayyy better and for cheaper. Bottom line, they are super overrated. You totally steered me wrong this time, fellow Yelpers!
(2)DC R.
We arrived early for our reservation and were told we'd be in shortly after. That turned out to be 30 minutes after reservation time. The noise seemed scary loud, but it was ok once inside. It did vary from lawn mower at 20 feet loud to rock concert loud. Sitting in view of the brick oven though was calming. The server was friendly and helpful. The bread served with olive oil and spices was tasty. The Calamari was ok and served with a salad, but no lemons or sauce accompanied it. The pizza looked inviting. The server steered me to a fantastic, delicious Veal Bolinghese. We did not see a 20% tip added to the bill for a party of 5 as someone else mentioned, so we picked our own. I would come back.
(3)Karyn V.
I lived in the North End for 10 years (moving out in mid-2011). Needless to say, I have been to almost all the restaurants in the neighborhood. If you are looking for a place where you can sit down and eat a meal for 20 or so dollars a person, this is a great option. They have great pasta, a few entrees, and excellent pizza. Almost all of it is baked in their antique wood burning stove. Other options for this type of outing that I would recommend: Trattoria di Monica or Assaggio, but these are a little different as well.
(4)Dan T.
Anniversary dinner with my wife last night. The food was outstanding. The service was very good and the atmosphere was nice. Began with a bottle of wine and a basket of fresh bread. Instead of an infused olive oil the bread was served with some kind of bean/cheese dip(I think?). It wasn't very flavorful and I didn't like the consistency for bread dipping so I asked the waiter if he could bring olive oil instead and he brought it right out. Problem solved. Appetizer was fried calamari. Perfectly prepared. It was lightly breaded, not greasy at all and lightly drizzled with something magical. Cooked to perfection, not too chewy like calamari can be. Possibly the best calamari I've ever eaten. I chose the risotto for my main course. Once again, prepared perfectly. The asparagus was still a little crispy, just the right amount of pancetta to add savory flavor, tasty mushrooms, and it held together exactly as it should on the fork. Warm on the outside and hot on the inside. Absolutely top notch. My wife ordered the Fettuccini Positano. She loved it. I only had a bite but I can say that the sauce was tangy and delicious, the pasta was fresh and the seafood was delicious. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. There was a hovering busboy at one point which we weren't thrilled about but not a big deal. It's on the loud side and the tables are close, but that's what you should expect in a small North End restaurant on a Friday night. Dine here, you will be glad you did.
(5)Peter N.
Not bad. I was in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs and was in the North End. While it wasn't on the menu, the waitress said they could, and they did. It was tasty! The bread was okay - not great. The beer selection was a bit small, and the tea selection was worse, but the staff was friendly.
(3)Heather S.
This is my go-to, favorite place to head in the North End when I'm craving some seriously tasty pasta. Unpretentious and small, the dishes here pack a hearty punch of Old World goodness. No extra flourishes or foppiness, just real food. The prices here are reasonable, especially compared with the touristy places on Hanover Street, and you get a good amount of food for your money. Last night, I had one of the specials-- gnocchi stuffed with wild mushrooms, and it was the best gnocchi I've ever tasted, hands down. The hubs tried their rigatoni alla boscaiola, and our friend had the fusilli al tegamino (both were big hits). I've never had a bad meal here-- though I do try to avoid coming to the North End during the crazy weekend times, so take that with a grain of salt. Here's the short list of things that you need to know: there aren't a lot of tables (typical North End), so plan ahead and make a reservation. They are on OpenTable, but you could also just call ahead. Try the caprese, have some wine, enjoy some conversation, and watch the pretty fire in the brick oven. Check out the rooster sitting above the statue of the Virgin Mary, and enjoy your dinner. Also, the squirrel on the front awning is awesome. Love it.
(5)Bobby T.
Wonderful place off the beaten path Authentic, crowded and lively Delicious
(4)Scott S.
This is my "go to" place in the North End in a nice, off-the-beaten-Hanover-Street path. Partly because they validate parking for Parcel 7 (search for my review) and mostly because their food and service are great. The same wait staff is always there when I go -- and they are always friendly and accommodating. If you want to try an appetizer, for example, they'll make a smaller dish for you so that you don't have to order the full size. Many of their menu items are cooked in a brick oven, including the pizza -- they are fantastic. Try the baked gnocchi if you want to try something a bit different -- it's sort of like a baked ziti without meat, and with gnocchi instead of the ziti. Only drawback is that they can squeeze tables together sort of tightly on the weekends, so that you're a bit too close to the table next to you. But isn't that par for the course in the North End?
(5)Isabelle J.
It was a great evening! The service was prompt and friendly, wine was great (even let us order half glasses) and the calamari was DELICIOUS. The pizzas were great too. Make sure to get sauce on the broccoli and sausage pizza. That would have made it 5 stars for me! I'm definitely going back! Reasonable prices too! Make sure to get there early and/or make a reservation. We went at 6pm and it was pretty quiet, but was definitely packed by 7pm (on a Wednesday).
(4)Erika F.
Standard italian fare good for a quick meal in the North End. We went on the recommendation that their gnocchi was "amazing" but found that it was actually heavy, starchy, and overall not very good. The prices are reasonable compared to neighboring restaurants and they open up the front windows in the summer for a nice atmosphere. I probably won't go back, but it wasn't terrible.
(3)Jane B.
Perfect setting for a cozy dinner to enjoy good conversation over some darn good food. Our waiter, who never cracked a smile, was very attentive and let us eat at our own pace while we chatted. We ordered Focaccina con Caprino for starters, which was a focaccia bread with a mixed green salad, goat cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes and grilled zucchini. Sooooo good. Very fresh tasting, very light on the dressing, giving just enough moisture without oversaturating everything. We also ordered the La Capricciosa pizza with sausage, mushrooms, artichokes hearts and fresh imported buffalo mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce; Fettuccini Positano with homemade style fettuccini pasta with sauted sea scallops, shrimp and arugula in roasted garlic and fresh cherry tomatoes sauce; and Rigatoni Salsiccia e Ricotta made with homemade style rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage and sweet onions, in plum tomato sauce topped with ricotta cheese. It was a lot of food, and the portions were good sized (I just finished my leftover Rigatoni for lunch). Price-wise, it wasn't cheap eats (the Rigatoni was $16), but the quality of the food was great as was the service, which helps to make up for it. Definitely worth trying. Big thanks to the yelpers who recommended the place.
(5)M-K S.
As good as it gets...if you are not in Italy! The roast chicken and green beans are a to die for dish. Table service OK, but maitre d' makes up for it. Next time I am in Boston, I am going back to Antico Forno. Buono!
(5)Stephen Y.
This place is awesome ! My caprese salad was quite filling and delicious but the seafood pasta (cooked in parchment paper) was delectable ! It was accompanied by plump mussels, clams, and prawns in a garlicky tomato sauce. The house wine was pretty decent. Both my friends were quite satisfied with their meals. Portions were quite generous. No complaints there. I will definitely come back again. Did come back- 3X ! Still very awesome - One time had to get take out and they were nice enough to "lend" me two restaurant forks.... have yet to return them...
(5)Kristina L.
Amazing. Best Italian food in north end. We waited an hour but it was worth it. Head to the bar and enjoy their sangria.
(5)Jennifer B.
We had a fabulous time at Antico Forno. The food was great, the service was great, the wine was great! I will definitely go back again.
(4)Adam C.
Had a meal here on a visit to Boston. The food was delicious and the service was friendly.
(4)Janna N.
The only bad thing about this place was the wait on a nice summer Saturday night in August...but what place in the North End doesn't have a wait on such a night?? We were super hungry and I was craving pizza and my brother and sister in law highly recommended we try this North End eatery for pizza. The waitstaff was delightful, the mussels were super spicy but super delicious, the bread was TO DIE FOR, and the pizza was just perfect...light flaky crust, yummy cheese and sauce...yum yum yum! All this and a bottle of wine for 60 bucks in the North End is not bad at all! We were so full we had to bring half the pizza home...not that I minded...heats up great for left overs! Enjoy!
(4)Rachael L.
Had dinner at Antico on Saturday night. It was good. I will admit that I had pretty high expectations after walking around the North End all day on Saturday though. All things considered, dinner was good, the food was good, the drinks were good, and the service and the ambiance were okay. We had a pizza and the gnocchi. Both were good (hot and as the menu described, but maybe a little under seasoned for my taste). My cocktail was good, but the water refills were a little slow coming. The bread and the white bean compote that started us off were very good. Not too much garlic, but still lots of flavor. Where Antico lost me was the ambiance of the restaurant. We were jammed in there like sardines. I wasn't expecting to have a private conversation, but there were 4 inches between the table next to us on the left and 6 inches between us and the table on the right. Clearly, we all could hear what we all were saying. I would rather have waited a few minutes for a different table. What really confused me was that when the concierge called for an 8pm reservation, they told him that they were overbooked at 8, but that they would see us at 830. So we showed up at 830 and were put in-between 2 other couples on dates. My last comment will be about the service, it was a little lacking. No one checked back to see how things were after the food was dropped. We sat after we were done eating for about 10 minutes before someone offered to wrap up the rest of our meals. Someone other than our waitress dropped the check and we finally saw her again at the end as we were putting on our coats. The food was good, and to be fair, I didn't want to go to a place that was super spendy. But, I feel like for a few more bucks we could have gotten a place that would have been a little better, environment-wise.
(3)Rachel C.
This was a lovely little Italian restaurant. While the ambiance is slightly lacking, the food is delicious and the portions are sizeable. Our service during an early Sunday dinner was impeccably fast and friendly. I had the gnocchi which were delicious and came out piping hot.
(4)Ben K.
I loved the food here. It's one of the few places I can go in the North End where I don't feel like I'm experiencing economic defilement. Antipasti plate was great! I wish there were more artichokes on it. I tried the mussels, which had the PERFECT amount of spice, and great broth to be sopped up with all their good bread. I had the lamb sandwich, which had fabulous flavor, but could have used less grease on the bread. It dripped. The servers seemed nice, though a bit dismissive. Despite these little picky details, I will definitely be coming back here when I'm hungry in the North End.
(4)Coco P.
My husband and I met some out of town friends here for dinner, our first time. It was excellent! Great bread, crusty on the outside and dense and moist on the inside, served with olive oil and whole olives. Yum. Then we got the antipasto and caprese salads. Both delicious. We got the sausage and brocoli rabe pizza and it was excellent. And then we shared the gnocchi and the sausage and ricotta rigatoni. Both were great. Then we had the spicy mussels in tomato broth. I'm not a mussels fan but the 3 of them devoured them and enjoyed using the bread to soak up the broth. The waitress was attentive but not very friendly however the open windows, great breeze and great food made up for it. We will definitely go back
(5)Sonya J.
I could not have been more pleased with the food and service at Antico Forno. My fiance's birthday and Mother's Day fell on the same day, so I made reservations well in advance of our arrival, and also asked for as private a table as possible. To my pleasant surprise, despite how busy they were, they remembered my special request, and gave us the most perfect little table in the window for our meal. Once seated, the waiter appeared quickly with water, and ready to take our drink orders. Maybe I was blind, but I didn't see wines by the glass, but since it was a special occasion, we just ordered a bottle. The bread at the table was very good, and the garlic-infused olive oil (with whole olives) was delightful. We ordered 2 appetizers, not realizing just how large they would be: the focaccino con caprino--a mixed salad with the most delectable thin pizza slices and goat cheese--as well as the calamari. As I said, both were quite plentiful dishes, and could have been meals in and of themselves. Regardless, they were "appetizers" in every sense of the word, because we looked forward to the main course despite approaching "full"! My main dish was the fusilli pasta with goat cheese and vegtables, which was awesome, and my fiance had a special, chicken parm. Both were extremely good, and were very generously sized. What I loved about this place was its authenticity--there are no fancy little plates here with perfect little arrangements on the plate; the art is in the integrity of the food that you bite into, not how it looks on the plate. We were so pleased with our experience at Antico Forno--food was great, service was great, and it had a warm, inviting atmosphere, so I just have to give it all 5 stars. This place is a gem.
(5)Mark S.
Mediocre. Not bad, not great. Food was over-salted across the board. Probably safer to stay with pizza. Wine list needs help. Pricing fair for what it is. Staff friendly and helpful, which is good, since seating is tight when full.
(3)Yan L.
Fresh pasta was just okay. Bolognaise sauce was mediocre. So was the pizza, which came soggy. Portions were large, but far from being worth the rather steep prices. Sangria diluted, almost like fruit punch. Service was smile-less too.
(2)Steve K.
Great atmosphere on a Saturday night. Reservations a must. I'll go back.
(4)Heather O.
This is my hot sh*t restaurant in the North End. The newly renovated space has doubled its size and added a beautiful bar area. All three of our entrees (chicken parm, baked gnocchi, baked roasted chicken) were delicious and so reasonably priced. I think this is the best deal in the neighborhood - great service, great prices, great food, and a great value? That my friends, in Boston, is very rare to find. - I think I'm in love...
(5)Christian S.
Great Italian food.
(4)Caitlin C.
Had been meaning to come here for awhile. Unfortunately, I had just returned from the gastronomic binge-fest that my trips to Europe typically are, when my friends invited me to dine with them in the North End. I suggested Antico Forno, despite the fact that I wasn't in the mood for heavy baked pastas. I decided instead to have the Misto Verde salad to which I added goat cheese (meh, ok). I also had the arancini special. It was delicious! until I looked at the bill and it was $10 for one little ball of rice (you can get a huge arancini with sauce at Bova's for just $4). Oh well, whatev. The rest of my dining companions enjoyed their pastas quite a lot. Service, decor, etc was fine. I really like avoiding the crowds by dining on Salem Street. Next time I definitely plan on bringing my appetite!
(3)Laura O.
Great for groups. This place was super lively even when we rolled in at 9:30 for a late dinner on Friday.
(4)Lily H.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, we waited out front for a table, surrounded by empty strollers, hoping our chance would soon come to taste that delicious food. Our waiter was slammed but charismatic, at one time waxing poetic about the nature of the restaurant industry. He shared with us the specials of the day, two of which we indulged in: the giant meatballs and the arancini appetizers. Both were absolutely delicious, and my husband and I have talked about them since - especially those meatballs! I think the arancini are superior at Galleria Umberto, but since their hours, not to mention that line, can be difficult to navigate, Antico's arancini were a great substitute. I have to say that the "ribolitta" was disappointing, mostly because it was not ribolitta, rather a minestrone sans bread. Weird. In and of itself the soup was very good, but one could not in good conscience call it ribolitta. However, the bread served before the meal was superb, and the garlic and olive infused oil accompanying it was sublime, so it can be forgiven I suppose. Prices are a bit steep in my opinion - our meatball appetizer surprised us at $16, similarly with the arancini at $14. Still, delicious food and a North End experience all the same.
(4)O A.
I am not a huge fan of Italian food, but out of all the Italian restaurants I have been to, this is by far my fav. I started with the calamari for my appetizer, and it was a meal in itself. It came with a side salad, and I don't know what I enjoyed more...the calamari or the salad! For my entree I got the rigatoni with Italian sausage...YUM! I highly recommend this restaurant. It's cute enough for a nice date, but friendly enough for a meal with family. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Adam P.
Went in for lunch with a friend based on a rec from a long time shop owner in the North End. Bread was tasty but I did not care for the cheese spread. Garlic infused olive oil would be better. Had a glass of "house merlot" which ended up being Volpe Rosso which was excellent, especially for the price. Misto verde salad with fresh ground, course black pepper was a great start. I had the chicken Parm on special and it was delicious. Too full for dessert. Excellent, attentive service. Well worth a trip here. Looking forward to going back.
(5)Jonathan F.
Great atmosphere! Excellent and attentive service and possibly the best food I've ever had. Five stars are well deserved!
(5)Leann F.
Revved up from a recent Boston pizza feature in the Globe, I headed to Antico Forno on Friday night with friends for some highly regarded brick oven pizza and Italian fare. Initially, I was impressed; the hostess was warm and friendly, our table was ready when we arrived, and the first waiter that took our drink order and explained the specials was knowledgeable and prompt. And then things started to unravel. Shortly after drinks arrived a new waiter showed up and took our appetizer order, which he proceeded to communicate incorrectly to the kitchen. Instead of arancini we received an antipasto platter (thankfully, once we explained the situation, the dining room manager gave us the app for free and sent out our arancini). By the time that we had received our full and correct appetizer order we had been at the restaurant for the better part of an hour. Finally, our main courses arrived, minus the seafood dish that my boyfriend ordered. We ordered two pizzas (one with porcini mushrooms and plum tomatoes and another with ricotta, broccoli rabe and sausage), one risotto, and a seafood dish with linguini. Both pizzas were so smothered in one ingredient - mine was overwhelmed with mushrooms and my friend's had so much broccoli - that you could hardly see the pie. My boyfriend's seafood dish finally arrived, still served in the foil that was used to steam the seafood. I understand that this is not the finest restaurant in the North End, but serving a seafood dish in foil is hardly acceptable. Moving on from presentation, the seafood dish was meh, at best, with thin, tasteless sauce and barely average seafood quality. My friend's risotto was, perhaps, the most edible dish at the table, and she pushed it around her plate, eating less than half. Her review: "Um, it's OK...I guess" I really wanted to like this place, but the lack of organization and off-balance flavors left a lot to be desired. Next time I'll take my pizza craving elsewhere.
(2)kati p.
I went here last night with my boyfriend for a birthday dinner. We received a groupon for this restaurant, so we were a little nervous the food wouldn't be as great as some of the other North End restaurants. We were definitely proven wrong. We were served fresh, hot bread in the beginning and ordered the rolled eggplant with ricotta cheese for an appetizer which was delicious and filling! My boyfriend ordered the baked chicken parm, which was full flavor and a huge portion of meat and pasta. I ordered the carciofi e porcini pizza for my meal and was amazed by the size, flavor and texture of this pizza. The pizza was fresh out of the brick oven and the white truffle oil was delicious. We went home satisfied and with leftovers. While this restaurant may not be as upscale (in price) as many of the North End restaurants, it definitely gives you a great atmosphere and delicious Italian dishes for a decent price. My only complaint about this restaurant would be the friendliness of the staff. They were polite, but not as talkative and helpful as you will find in other restaurants in the area.
(4)billie c.
Had dinner here on New Years Eve and was afraid the reviews on this site had me prepared to be less than pleased with our restaurant choice....So not true, the staff could not have nicer or attentive. The food was amazing, my husband had the Rigatoni with sausage and riccotta, I had a plain cheese pizza and they both were great. The tiramisu was the best I have ever had.
(4)Vicki A.
Perfect place to hit in the North End for authentic Italian wood fired pizza. We went for an early dinner (6 pm) and lucked out - we were seated right away without a reservation. Very relaxed atmosphere, loud but cozy. Great selection of Italian wines - from table wines to pricier selections. Started with the caprese salad which was fabulous, served on arugula and large enough to share. The gnocchi was FABULOUS - so tender and tasty in a red sauce then baked with melted mozzarella on top, it was a huge serving too, definitely enough to share or to bring home some delicious leftovers. I was craving true italian pizza and this place didn't let me down - I had the Vesuvio (fresh mozzarella, peppers, prosciutto) and it was perfect. Service was friendly and fast - they were busy but we didn't feel rushed or ignored.
(4)Jenna H.
This is my favorite dinner place in the north end!! I have lived here for awhile and its my top pick and where I refer everyone to go. They have the best comfort food - eggplant rollatini and home made pastas. The sauce is a close to my grandmothers as it gets! Great waitstaff and great prices!
(5)Debbie L.
Hubby and I dined at Antico Forno last Sunday on the final night of our trip. It was definitely loud but we enjoyed the casual and fun environment. I wholeheartedly recommend the involtini to start, the ricotta in the dish is excellent. Pizza was ok, but way better can be found at Ernestos. Rigatoni with sausage was very good. A star was subtracted due to service. Although the food arrived timely, the attitude of the waiter was the only negative service we encountered in our one week visit. He literally would just throw dishes on the table. Other servers appeared to have a more pleasant demeanor.
(3)Michael C.
This is exactly the type of restaurant for which one can write a short, but meaningful review. There's nothing outrageously good or bad to report about Antico Forno. It's simply solidly executed fare at a reasonable price. I stopped in here for lunch a while ago and both my wallet and taste buds were satisfied.
(4)Gary P.
Chose Antico Forno on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. A big feature of the decor is the wood oven with its brick arch and vigorous combustion (the "cucina a legna" in an arch over the front door suggests this) - it adds a beautiful cozy feel on a cold evening. We were in a hurry and so ordered just one course. Our orders (for four) were pizza (Salsiccia e Brocoletti, $14.50), chicken parmigiana and 2 x risotto of the day (porcini mushrooms, asparagus, pancetta, truffle oil, $20). We ordered two glasses of pinot grigio and were rewarded with almost full glasses for $7. The meals were beautifully done (the chicken parmigiana was very hot so beware!). The aristocratically fresh porcini mushrooms in the risotto were almost oyster-like in their consistency. The staff were polite and helpful, even ordering a taxi for us to get to our next location.
(4)Lori L.
Before this weekend I would have given Antico Forno 5 stars but, I had an absolutely horrid experience there this past Saturday night. Now, I understand going into the North End on a Saturday night is risky business and you're going to wait no matter where you go. But, I've worked in the industry as a bartender, wait staff and hostess and I know that giving wait times is not a complicated matter, especially when you have a computer system in front of your face with your nightly report on it. Waiting a little extra is understandable, but, a 2 hour wait when you told us 30-40 minutes is not. Alas, this we were all willing to get over. However, when we sat down it was literally one thing after another! First we were greeted with used silverware...not dirty like, some spots on it. Dirty like, I just cut into my meatball marinara and set the knife back on the table. No biggie, we asked the busser to replace it and he went to take it away (not replacing the napkin it was on) and instead of setting it to the edge of the table he put it on the seat where one of my friends was about to sit...gross. We again shrugged this off, determined to have a good night, because I knew the food was great at this place (especially those rice balls, yum). After our very testy waitress gave us about 30 seconds for 6 people to look at one drink list we ordered our beer and wine and waited. We were happy for the bread and the drinks and needed to relax. It was at this time that three things happened one after another, My friend realized his beer glass had a giant crack in the side (like down half the glass), I pulled a giant piece of hair out of the bread that was in my mouth and my boyfriend found a huge piece of plastic in his draft beer. Now, we had been very patient up to this point, but, being an industry person I felt it important to notify someone of all that had gone wrong. I made my way to the hostess and very politely let her know our situation, explaining we were trying to be very patient but really felt whoever was in charge needed to know. She was very nice and said she would send the owner over. When the owner came over she said (and I quote) "What's the problem" I explained to her that we felt she needed to know all of these things that had just happened and we had only been seated for about 12 minutes. Instead of apologizing about the situation she rolled her eyes at me and said "So, What do you want a free meal? Is that what your after?" I said, "No, Absolutely not, but, as someone who works in the restaurant business and thinks things should be communicated with the manager I certainly wasn't looking for you to be rude to me." She again rolled her eyes and said "well, the list was getting pretty long" and I said "You're absolutely right, that is A LOT of things to go wrong with one table, I would hope you'd be concerned, not angry at us. Can my friend at least have a new beer glass and can we get some new bread" The waitress continued to be impatient with us and brought us the wrong number of Arancini (we wanted one for each person and she brought 4 for 6 people). When she took our drink orders I tried to be polite and say hey I'm not quite ready Ill order when you come back, and she just said no, you can't do that. Really...REALLY because I'm pretty sure you CAN??? We received 10% off our meals (which were not the best I've had there) but NEVER got an apology from the owner. As an owner or manager of an establishment you should ALWAYS greet a complaint with a smile and an apology if something (or several things) have gone wrong. This place went from one I'd recommend to one I was ticked enough to write my first Yelp review about in a heat beat !
(2)AB H.
Classic, solid Italian food. The entrees were huge. The prices were affordable. It's nothing special, but it's good.
(3)Sarah O.
One of my favorites in the North End.... casual, consistently good. Nice wine selection. It can get very crowded so make a reservation. Service is always good. The bread is freshly baked and served with a white bean and roasted red pepper dipping sauce that is addictive. Calamari is SO delicious. It's a very large portion and the vinaigrette gives it a nice flavor. Arancini is wonderful. Pizzas are good, the one with the shrimp is my favorite. Chicken parm was slightly disappointing. I have had the veal bolognase a couple of times and that is fantastic- noodles are homemade. If you park in the Pier 7 garage, they validate your parking. It is $3 for 3 hours or under.
(4)Ashley S.
I came with my coworkers for lunch and had the LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE (Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in plum) for $14. It was soooooo good! And even better because my boss picked up the tab!!
(5)v i.
I liked this Italian place, but I imagine there may be better ones in the North End. I tried the eggplant appetizer (v good!) and had linguini vongole (delicious! it was wrapped in parchment and I think baked in the end? anyway there were tons of clams in their shells and the taste really got through to the dish). I also tried some kind of pork & chicken main dishes, as well as pizza, but was not as impressed by these. I would probably check out other places in the neighborhood before going back here for a 2nd visit, but if I do go back, it would be for their appetizers, pasta & seafood.
(3)Carrie T.
My fiance and I went on our first date to Antico Forno a few years ago, so we (or maybe just I) have a soft spot for it. Our favorite dishes are the rolled eggplant appetizer and the gnocchi! I love the gnocchi! At our latest visit I also really enjoyed the pizza. Antico Forno is incredibly reasonable priced and makes for a great evening out in the North End! It is still affordable even when adding a bottle of wine and an appetizer. I will admit I was a little disappointed when it lost its cozy/intimate feel after they expanded the restaurant (almost doubled in size!), but I think this is a testament of how well they are doing! Even with the expanded location, the food continues to remain delicious. I would highly recommend Antico Forno!
(4)Lisa R.
This was an awesome experience for our family! Excellent food, service & wine. Highly recommended!
(5)Brian A.
We had a group of 6 people. Wine was amazing; we had Lady Bug Cabernet. Food was great all around; at the table we had: salad, fucilli, gnocchi & chicken parm. Overall, great food and a great time. I'll defintely be back!!
(4)Tara B.
Authentic, not like most of the North End these days. Waitresses with wardrobes straight from 1987 serve up the lightest, most perfect fried calamari I have ever had. Served with a mesclun salad with a lemon vinaigrette, it is crispy little seafood clouds from heaven!
(4)Deb K.
Ended up here during Restaurant Week and it was delicious. The best canoli I have ever had in the North End, which I was totally not expecting. Way better than all the big name bakeries in the area.
(4)Emily F.
Ate here last night with two friends for Valentine's Day. The food was AMAZING. We started out with the fried calamari--they weren't overdone which is a huge plus! The calamari had a nice, light breading, and came with a side of mixed greens/tomatoes seasoned with olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. An interesting, but workable combination, and a nice substitue for the traditional marinara sauce. I got the chicken parm special (I was very excited) for dinner, and it was perfect--the chicken was cooked nicely, and the accompanying red sauce had the right amount of seasoning. HUGE serving, however!! One friend got the gnocci, which I will be getting next time I go. A rich, hearty dish. Another friend got the fussili tossed with roasted vegetables, and topped with goat cheese. A simple, but nonetheless flavorful pasta dish. Service was a bit on the slow side, but it was Valentine's Day, so I won't hold it against Antico Forno. Overall, very impressed, and I'm looking forward to my return!
(5)L S.
Great Italian Food!!! Some of the best Italian I've eaten in the North End, and very well priced! Most north end places are expensive and always leaves me disappointed. The Gnocchi was the best I've ever had, the Octopus appetizer was amazing, and the Chicken Parmesan was tender and juicy! The service was not that great (we went on Restaurant week and they were clearly under-staffed) and the food took a long time to come out BUT it was worth the wait!!! If you go bring a sweater! The AC is cranked up to compensate for the flaming brick oven!
(4)R.G. W.
A great place for lunch; it's cheap and the food is good. I like the brick oven and the way they use it--not just as a gimmick. I wish the prices stayed reasonable for dinner. Gnocchi is good if just a bit too salty for my taste.
(4)Projectshave L.
I make Italian food better than this place. You are all welcome to come by to try my fresh pasta. Their ravioli looks and tastes exactly the frozen ravioli available in my grocery store. The salad was a pile of spinach with a tasteless vinaigrette, and the tiramisu was average. It is disturbing that this place is rated so high.
(2)Kate P.
The food here is delicious and the prices are just right! I have been three times with different groups of people and everyone leaves full and satisfied. I only have one con and that's the time my boyfriend and I went and his chicken parm came to the table directly from the oven. It was so hot he had to wait about 10 minutes before eating because the cheese was still boiling. I was almost done with my meal before he was able to start in on his.
(4)steph c.
I went here for new years eve dinner with three others. We had the calamari app which was good. I had the roast chicken which was one of the best dinners in the north end that I've had yet.
(4)Cath K.
I was so glad I read other reviews on Yelp and came to Antico Forno. We took two out-of-state family members (direct from a flight) here for dinner tonight. Both were hankering for some good Italian food--but they both said it was some of the best Italian food they've ever had. The atmosphere is friendly and rustic--and the servers were very nice. One of the women (maybe an owner?) was especially warm, offering to take a photo of us when she saw the camera on the table, coming by often to check and see how we were doing. The meal was superb--from the homemade bread served with a small plate of olive dipping oil, to the extremely fresh misto verde, to the entrees. My mouth is still watering thinking about the linguine con puttanesca di calamari. Another of us got the chicken parm special and said it was the best she's ever had. Another got the linguine con vongole. I figure we've made some major points with our family---for bringing them to this restaurant. We'll definitely be back--the sooner, the better.
(4)Stephen K.
Brought the family here for a "North End" experience when they were visiting in June. They seemed shocked that I didn't pick a place on Hanover Street (which I generally reserve for walking and cannolis). It was surprisingly not crowded for a nice night, so I guess most of the comments about the wait may be due to restaurant week. We started with a nice Chianti Classico that was recommended. The carciofi e porcini pizza was very well received, and we ended up getting two of them. I really liked the fusilli al tegamino. My brain doesn't let me remember much else, but I know my generally-quite-picky brother took the card so he must have enjoyed as well. The small-though-attentive staff gives the place a homey feel, and we were well taken care of. Add good Italian food, and there's not much more you can ask for in the North End.
(5)tom m.
I enjoyed a regular brick oven pizza with roasted garlic, thought it was awesome and also had a pasta dish with pancetta onions etc, was really good. Went for lunch on a Saturday, had no issue getting a table or with the service, both were good. I have eaten here before, usually for pizza, but the pasta dish I got, baioccalla or something like that, was just as good. After lunch go to Mike's for a cannoli, Modern blows, had both over the weekend Mikes killed it, lines move fast. Will eat at Antico again next time I'm in Boston. Two thumbs up!! By the way the only negative was the soda, it was somewhat flat..
(4)Doika P.
The food was very good. Had a pumpkin gnocchi special that was very tasty. Nice atmosphere. The rigatoni salsiccia e ricotta was delicious. Recommended place in the North End.
(4)Exa V.
Oh so delicious. Mike and I went here to celebrate our one year anniversary--because isn't one is supposed to go to a fancy Italian place in the North End to celebrate something so cheesy? I got the fusilli with vegetables and goat cheese and Mike got something or other with sausage that he loved. My pasta was delicious as well. We got a bottle of chianti that was great, although I don't remember the label. THEN, for dessert, we got tiramisu that was huge and out-of-this-world delicious. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert. I would fight people for it. I want it to be my wedding cake and I don't even want to get married. This tiramisu lived up to all my wildest expectations. The espresso we got as an accompaniment was also high-quality and the sambuca was a licorice punch in the face, as it should be. The whole thing was only about $100--not bad for a fancy dinner. The restaurant is very romantic and dimly lit. It is small, like everywhere else in the North End pretty much, but that doesn't bother me. We sat at a little table for two by the window, which was very nice, except for the fact that it was February and sometimes a gust of wind would hit us when someone entered the restaurant. Honestly, though, we were too tipsy and happy to be bothered. We would definitely come back for another fancy-shmancy time.
(5)TJ f.
if i was just reviewing the pizza, i'd say it was a 2. i was shocked- this place was supposed to be amazing, but i just didn't see it. we got a traditional margherita pizza, an artichoke and mushroom pizza and a sausage-based pizza. of the six people at the table, no one commented how good it was. it was just average; a little overcooked, small'ish, and a little bland. the visit gets three stars for good apps (rolled eggplant and calamari), reasonably priced wine (about $35 bottle for a good selection), and the fact that on a busy friday night they let five of us sit and wait for our sixth for almost a half hour. one other thing- don't expect a real cocktail on their "cocktail" list- it's basically sugar-water cordials, not real booze.
(3)Nathaniel H.
My fourth time dining in the North End in as many months. As someone who shies away from pasta dishes with tomato sauce (it is so hard to find restaurants serving quality pasta dishes with tomato based sauces), I was reluctant to try the Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola, but I was blown away. By far the best tomato based sauce I have had in a long time. The Rigatoni Salsiccia E Ricotta was almost as good. I wouldn't necessarily dine here for the ambiance, it resembles a college cafeteria, but the food is worth it, service was good, and there was no wait on a Sunday night.
(4)CB B.
Pizza was expenive and not very good. Service was terrible. Don't waste your time since there are so many better places in the North End.
(2)Melissa N.
We visited Antico Forno after a food tour of the North End. It was restaurant week so we both had the 3 course lunch special. My polpette, walnut and fig ravioli and tiramisu were all absolutely delicious. Lunch was quiet and relaxed and service was great. We would definitely go back when we visit Boston again.
(5)James S.
I guess I had higher expectations for this place than it was able to deliver after reading the reviews on Yelp. It seemed like Antico Forno has built a reputation as being a uniquely tasty location in a sea of indistinguishable North End Italian eateries, but I had trouble understanding what about it was so special. Pluses: - Sangria was very good and a good value if you get a pitcher (ask for without ice) - Full bar is a nice touch in a city where liquor licenses seem to be as difficult to acquire as a concealed weapons permit - Food came quickly and as requested (we did ask for a few alterations and they accommodated) - The open window seating in the summer was great, and being on Salem St. makes it a little less hectic than Hanover - The pizza was solid though nothing otherworldly Minuses: - I was pretty disappointed with both the baked fusilli and the risotto. When I think of baked pasta dishes, I crave the crusty, cheesy edges of a skillet dish; while the top was this way, there was too much sauce and thus the pasta did not crisp up on the bottom or edges as you'd like. The risotto was just too rich. The truffle oil was certainly not used sparingly and in combination with rich porcini mushrooms and pancetta, there was just too much heft to it. Could've really used an acid instead of one of those "umami" flavors to lighten it, particularly as a summer dish. - We put in a reservation for 6, got there on time, then promptly received a buzzer like we had been a walk in and waited 20-30 minutes. When we got in, we were then asked to move tables because that table "was reserved" - huh? What about OUR reservation? - On the final bill, they added a full entree dish we did not order or eat. Probably was a harmless mistake on a busy night but nonetheless it compounded our issues with service Overall, it seemed like a decent enough place. Food was solid, hot and affordable for the North End. But it's not worth it given the service issues they displayed - they seem incapable of handling the foot traffic coming in on a regular basis and could really use a host or maitre'd who can manage the front of the house.
(2)Allison A.
I had a great meal at Antico Forno. The arugala salad with shrimp was simple and delicious and the eggplant appetizer was tasty as well. The restaurant was a bit loud, but the atmosphere and service were great.
(3)steve s.
Very Nice! Locals are always a good sign. The eggplant appetizer was great as was the corkage fee.
(3)Gordon f.
Nothing like having a great meal at reasonable prices. Antico offers both, my absolute favorite restaurant of all time. Mussels with spicy tomato broth, a must try.
(5)Anonymous P.
Thought it was good. The flavors in my pizza weren't as sharp as those at Regina, but it was good quality. For people who don't like sharp and spicy flavors, Antico Forno might be a better bet for pizza. And of course it offers a nicer atmosphere and foods beyond pizza. The salad was excellent. Reasonably priced, casual.
(4)Billie M.
Italian dishes on one of the hottest day of the summer may sound like a bad idea, but as many bad ideas tend to, this ended up working out pretty darn well. We had ventured into the North End for the Feast of St. Anthony, and we were rolling 9 deep, 3 of which were hungry and perpetually bored teenage boys. We decided to avoid the stomach pangs that can result from street fair food on a 97 degree day, and popped into Antico Forno for a late lunch/early dinner. The air conditioning was thankfully pumping full blast, and the busboy quickly put together a table that could accommodate our party. Our drinks came out quickly, although strangely, the wine arrived far before the sodas. As I was drinking wine, I'm not going to complain! We ordered the antipasto to start, and the plate was overflowing with delicious goodies such as sundried tomatoes, crunchy artichokes, soft balls of mozzarella, and roasted red peppers surrounded by a ring of various cured meats. The bread basket was overflowing, and the oil that accompanied it had just a hint of flavor from the olives that rested on the bottom of the dish. Our waiter, although quiet, did point out that the chicken parm was a very large portion when the 15 year old, the 12 year old, and my dad all tried to order it in succession. He suggested that they order two to share, and it's a good thing he did because it arrived in massive dishes, bubbling hot, and sitting atop a mound of pasta. Between the three of them, they didn't manage to finish the two portions. The restaurant is known for cooking its food, both pizza and pasta, in a massive brick oven, so all dishes come out bubbling hot and with that top crunchy crust that's accomplished from being cooked at super high temps. Two of us ordered the linguine al frutti di mare, which was linguine topped with a ton of mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari, all tossed in a chunky tomato sauce that had just a hint of a fra diavlo-like kick. So good. The other two had rigatoni based dishes, which, while I did not try them, appeared to be good, as neither spoke much during the meal, and both had nearly empty plates at the end. We also got a side of broccoli rabe in garlic which I thought was one of the best parts of the meal. As the broccoli was also cooked in the brick oven, it had a smoky, roasted garlic undertone that had me hording the dish. A girl needs her greens. I found the prices very reasonable for the North End, and the portions were large, as is often expected in Italian dining. The waiter added 20% gratuity which worked out for us, as we thought he did a good job, but may be a bit presumptuous for some people.
(4)Matt L.
I got Fettuccine Positano, and it was everything I expected out of a red sauce, seafood pasta: spicy sauce, tons of scallops and shrimp (I ran out of pasta before I ran out of seafood - very rare for me), tender pasta, and garlic. I tried some of my sister's Calamari Fritti - lightly fried calamari, very tasty. The service was good, and the atmosphere was also good.
(5)Kurt H.
Our family was recently on a trip to Italy and were spoiled by the great pizza and no pizza we've had since then has come close... Until now I lost count how many times someone in our family said it feels like we're back in Italy. Great pizza. Great service. I Highly recommend going here.
(5)Sarah A.
I am not a huge fan of dining out at Italian places mainly because I am a bit perturbed by spending $20 on a bowl of pasta that I could make at home for a very tiny fraction of that price, but I will try to not let that bias my review. This place is pretty decent. Granted, I did get a bowl of pasta that I could have made at home for far less, but it was some pretty yummy pasta and it had goat cheese on it. Yum. My mother also got an awesome plate of chicken parm which gets major points just for its hugeness. The thing was massive. It literally could have served a family of 4. She ate half of it and I took the rest of it home and ate it for two other meals. Now paying $20 for that, that's all good. The service was quick and efficient and everything was served piping hot. They really do have a real old oven in the place. The atmosphere is casual and not at all pretentious. We were there rather early in the day and there were a lot of families, but I could see this place getting romantic later at night. I would go back if I was in the area and hankering for a whole lot of chicken parm. My only complaint was the sauce served with our mussles appetizer was a bit to spicy for my taste to be yummy. Otherwise, all good.
(4)Doris K.
Very disappointing. I was expecting this place to be outstanding but although good it was not that good. I had the chicken saltimbocca which was good. The calamari does not come with marinara sauce which is what I am used to and also comes with a spring mix salad. I was disappointed because I don't think this place will ever compare to Giacomo's.
(3)Claire Y.
Had great pizza here on my second night in Boston just this past weekend. Absolutely delicious. The 45 min wait was pretty tough to deal with considering how starved we were. Note quite 5 stars due to the spotty service. Seriously, the food was great, but if we hadn't called for the check, they may have never come back to us.
(4)Meg N.
This is one of my favorite casual restaurants in the north end. I highly recommend the mussel appetizer, house wine, and frutti di mare. Fantastic simple italian food for a good price!
(4)So S.
"OId oven" is the translation. (I think). My favorite Italian place in the North End which is known for great Italian cuisine. I just love how cozy it is and how great and traditional the food tastes (baked in parchment paper in a stone oven). The prices are moderate for the great food you get---not as expensive as their famous very expensive sister restaurant (Terramia) across the street . LOVE the caprese and the fruitti de mare linguini!! Amazing pizzas and everything else. Cute date place as well.
(5)J B.
This might just be my favorite restaurant in the North End. Certainly one of the more authentic spots, as close to Italy as you're gonna get. Absolutely delicious gnocchi served with bubbling mozzerella cheese in a terracotta bowl, fresh out of the wood-burning oven. Good pizza too, as well as many other interesting dishes. It's cozy and romantic and an all-around great choice for North End dining.
(5)Nick G.
Tough to beat this place in the north end. Pasta specials like fettuccine bolognese, are outstanding. Its fresh pasta, and its cooked al dente, the way pasta is supposed to be cooked! Good luck finding a pickier pasta person than me. KEEP THE WHEAT PASTA OUT OF A REAL PLACE LIKE THIS. The baked pastas are very good as well, really nice touch coming out of the brick oven, with tasty, real tomatoes in the sauce. Pizzas are authentic and their sauce is mild as opposed to the overpowering salt fest you find in most pizza sauces, so you will taste the fresh dough and cheeses. The only thing I'd suggest is leaving flask of extra virgin olive oil, so we can drizzle some on top just after it comes out of the brick oven, just like the old country. All of their salads, including appetizer salads, are super green and fresh, and they give you plenty. As far as an appetizer, I'd put their meatball against any other in the city. These won't bounce. You can't squeeze them and watch them revert back to its original shape, so its the right mix of more meat and less breadcrumbs. Comes with greens and red peppers that along with the bread and olive oil, could be a light meal. Last but not least, the pork chop is the champ of the entree meats. Super thick, which allows them not to overcook it, and its its properly seasoned, so you can add the fresh ground pepper when it comes around. If you're looking for authentic italian food(and you appreciate it), at a good price, you have to hit this place.
(5)Michael T.
This place is very good; Salem Street should never come second to Hanover...if anything, they should always be mentioned together, but don't tell the tourists that! I was here last week and grabbed an early dinner. I have to say that I've had better Caesar Salads, but my friend loved hers. My gnocchi was delicious...top three I've ever had. My friend had the roasted chicken with Tuscan style roasted garlic, potatoes and green beans, which they are known for and she raved about it. The atmosphere is dark and romantic and the hostess and waiter were very tentative. With it cold and rainy outside, it was nice to see the fireplace going strong. There was another young family with us that night with two small kids, which certainly added to the family feel of the restaurant. That's something you don't find on Hanover all that much any more.
(5)D L.
My first reaction when entering this restaurant was "great, another overpriced mediocre-food place", but I was quickly proven wrong. From the beginning, the wine was great, the bread was really good, the service was really good and the food was great. Very flavorful, savory, just a pleasure to dine there.
(4)Georgia Y.
Please note that Antico Forno has a picture of a SQUIRREL on it's awning. Which is awesome. I've only eaten here for lunch, but I've never been disappointed - they've got fine pizza and pasta at moderate lunchtime prices. And the staff are friendly and attentive.
(4)Teresa L.
I was visiting Boston, and was craving Italian as I had been reading a book that touched upon Italian cuisine. Perfect time to visit the North End! My friend found this place by searching for 'brick oven pizza", so we made reservations on a Friday night. Upon arriving here, the street was emptier, nothing like the crowded Hanover St, and for that I was grateful. Though we had to wait a bit past our reservations, the hostess was extremely friendly, and this gave us a chance to ask her for recommendations from the menu. As we were walking in, an older Italian woman was giving big kudos to the gnocchi, and basically said everything she had was fantastic. My friend and I decided on three items (we just couldn't settle for only two!), the gnocchi, fusili, and a pizza, the la capricciosa. The gnocchi was denser than I thought, but the texture definitely grew on me as I ate more. The fusili was a nice contrast, being lighter, and the goat cheese gave a nice punch to the flavor. My friend and I agreed that our choice in the pizza was a good one. Oh how I love the crust! Chewy, crispy on the outside, with a hint of smokiness from the oven. We had leftovers, and the pastas tasted even more flavorful the next day. My only regret was not trying the risotto. Next time for sure!
(4)Ellen S.
OMG! This was a wonderful suggestion from a friend. We went there for lunch and had a fabulous meal! Their gnocchi is out of this world. My husband had the risotto of the day which was also delicious! Great wine selection and service that was readily available yet not hovering over your shoulder. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Steve J.
I've lived in the north end for over 15 years. This place used to be one of my cheap stand-bys. But I went twice last week, and have changed my view. First, the wait staff is unfriendly. Second, many of the dishes we ordered were really not good. The calamari, both times, was super salty. The ribbolita tastes like it came out of a can, and the bread in the soup looked like the tiny croutons you buy at the supermarket. The risotto dish tasted metallic and was inedible. And to boot, the prices aren't so inexpensive anymore. The house wine is a mediocre $5 bottle of wine they sell for $27! They have a good location and a good look, and it is working for them. But don't judge the north end by this food.
(1)Erin G.
This place is charming for off Hanover Street location, the cozy brick and velvet atmosphere, dim lighting, friendly service. I'm a very very spoiled italian food connoisseur and this place serves italian-american cuisine. Not to say it isn't tasty, but let's separate the chaff from the wheat here. it's good. it borderlines on overpriced. Pretty standard fare for the north end.
(3)Hyunsoo M.
This is the place to go if you want quality food, but don't want to break your wallet in the North End. Small cozy, and off of Hanover Street. The staff is great and the food is consistently excellent. I had a swordfish here that melted in my mouth.
(4)Aaron H.
What can you add to what's already been said. The food is just wonderful from top to bottom. I had the best gnocchi here. The floorplan is a bit spread out but in a way that lends a sense of privacy while keeping a feeling of coziness. A North End treat.
(5)Erin H.
So we were following Alex R.'s one day guide to Boston and ended up in the North End. Even though we were exhausted and starving, I was hell bent on finding this place. We walked up and down Columbus street a million times and finally ended up in a graveyard cracking jokes about ketchup. But then we made a right turn, and there it was, Antico Forno. As we walked in we were greeted by a Junior Soprano look-a-like which immediately thrilled me. The place seemed to be filled with locals which was also a good sign. Contrary to previous reviews, the servers (who I think were the owners) were friendly and efficient. They weren't chatting us up or anything, but I did see one of the servers/owners surprise the table next to us with a complimentary dessert in celebration of a birthday. Also, the server spoke Italian which was awesome. The bread and the oil thingy was ooo so good, but I'm not a great judge because at that point I could've eaten my foot and given it 5 stars. I had the rigatoni and my friend had a Margaretta pizza. Both were very good, not great, but for the price they were superb.
(4)Lynda M.
Very good North End eatery, I think the owners also own Terramia. Reasonable prices, very nice atmosphere. Casual North End choice!
(4)Abby L.
So ridiculously freakin' good! We wandered in because it looked nice. The lunch menu was small. The decor was so so, but the food. YUM! I will be back. I think it may have supplanted Il Panino as my favorite North End eatery.
(5)Natalie H.
yum yum yum! italian just like grandma's! this hidden jem is tucked AWAY from touristy hanover street. try out the margarita pizza and eggplant fusilli. yum yum. one of the only things i miss about boston.
(4)j d.
The food was fantastic--a great price for great quality. However the service was a bit lacking in warmth and/or personality. Of the three waiters there, one actually smiled and acknowledged our existence (he, unfortunately, was not our server). The other two went about rather curtly with their jobs of taking customer orders, dishing out the food, and clearing off the tables. I don't think I saw them smile once to any of their other customers. There were no "hi, how are you?", "would you like wine, or coffee?", "is this your first time here?", or any other niceties that one comes to expect from any restaurant (and the place wasn't that busy to warrant such neglect). Also, I had a small child with me and it felt like they didn't want to "deal with us". I would highly recommend this restaurant to friends/family for the culinary strengths, but am apprehensive with respect to the lack of welcomeness from the waitstaff. I wish had the "friendly and attentive staff" that an earlier reviewer had!!
(3)Kelly O.
Always skeptical of the North End (too many overhyped, overpriced, bad places), I was wary when a friend chose Antico Forno for dinner, but ended up being pleasantly surprised. We had a reservation for 4 at 7:30 on a Friday night, but didn't end up sitting until just before 8 as the place was wicked packed. The hostess was surprisingly nice and patient, and directed us to the bar to wait while our table became ready, but the bar area was also totally packed so we decided to wait outside (we were given a buzzer thingie). The medium-sized interior of the place is really cozy and homey with brick walls and a tight (cramped) table setup. For the most part, it was nice and warm, except if you're sitting right next to the windows in which case it can get a bit chilly so bring a sweater (on the plus side, they have thick curtains right inside the door to help keep the door draft under control). Sound bounces, making the noise level extremely high when crowded, so I wouldn't recommend this as a date place on a weekend (especially when you're sitting near a large table of drunken fools singing at the top of their lungs during dinner... seriously?). Our waitress was older with a thick Italian/NY accent, and wasn't overly friendly but was efficient and attentive (the water person was also very attentive, which was much appreciated). We got a pitcher of the sangria ($35) to share between 3 of us, and it literally came in a pitcher (like of the beer or water variety) which was kind of awesome. It was really good too, with strong hints of cinnamon and full of juicy flavor, although it didn't have any actual pieces of fruit. I'd definitely get this again. The starter bread was warm and came with a bean dip that wasn't bad. For my meal, I got the Gnocchi alla Patate, which was a bubbling dish straight from the oven full of homemade gnocchi covered in red sauce, basil, and fresh moz. This is a perfect dish for a cold day, warming and oozing and comforting, just the thing to chase those winter blues away. The gnocchi tasted more potatoe-y than any other gnocchi I've ever had (not a bad thing, just interesting), and the sauce/basil/cheese were tasty, so I was pretty happy with my meal. I even had enough to save for lunch the next day (leftovers were still tasty). My dining companions all had oven-roasted pasta dishes as well and they were all pleased with their selections. The best part of the meal was the prices... my gnocchi was $16.50, and for the quality and portion size, I thought this was an excellent value (same for most of their menu it seems). I think Antico Forno is a solid choice for the area that's not too expensive but is good quality, and I wouldn't hesitate to return.
(4)Jeff M.
Not sure how Antico Forno got voted best Italian restaurant in the North End. I had a good rustic Italian-American meal but nothing really blew me away. The dimly light space with roaring fire place makes for a five star ambience.
(3)Ram K.
One friendly Italian eatery. This is my first time here and well impressed. We had the Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp in Pink sauce and the IL Marinaro thin crust pizza (replaced the lettuce with red peppers). Both the dishes were good. The pizza was light not overwhelming with cheese. Drink selection was good and I liked my Rumba (Rum with triple sec on rocks). The service was super friendly and they were quite helpful on the phone when I was struggling for parking. This place will validate the parking at "Pacel 7 Garage" across the street and it is #3$ for 3 hours. I made a reservation on yelp (w/OpenTable) and the confirmation email contained information on parking etc. I wish I had more appetite to try their home made Tiramasu. WILL GO AGAIN
(5)Ross G.
I frequent Antico quite often as it is a good place to get a sit down lunch, have a romantic night out, go with family, or have a function. The place gets packed very quickly so I highly recommend reservations, if you can get one! This past time I went I got my old standby meal. I start with an arugula pizza from their pipping hot brick oven. The crust is nice and crisp with sweet mozzarella and fresh arugula on top. The arugula softens just a little but still has a nice crisp to it, so delicious. I then moved on to the linguine con vongole. This dish is superb. It is served in a thick ceramic dish that has foil and parchment paper wrapped linguine, white wine sauce, clams, and cherry tomatoes. It is truly cooked old world style in the brick oven and comes out slightly open and perfectly cooked. I never really have desert there but I had the tiramisu this time. I heard through the grapevine that the owners of Antico are somehow related to Mike's Pastry so I think that is where the tiramisu was from. Solid offering. If you want a great meal for any occasion, be sure to go here, it never disappoints.
(5)Ahana M.
Was here while visiting Boston for work. The food is quite decent. I had the arugula shrimp salad and the mushroom artichoke pizza. I have a soft spot for thin crust pizza which is what they serve. The service was friendly and efficient. It may be a while before i am back since I dont live here but a good option.
(3)Carla G.
Dined at Antico Forno because it was just voted "Best Of Boston, for Neighborhood Eats 2012"! Best Brick oven pizza I have ever eaten in this country! Reminds me of the food I had eaten on my last vacation in to the countryside of Italy. Very rustic Italian! Try the mussels appetizer, the fruitti di mare, the roasted brick oven chicken and do not leave without having the dolci pizza! It was all delicious! Very busy restaurant that even with a reservation we had to wait 15 minutes. But realized it was worth every minute!
(5)Himanshu S.
Nice place and wine collection. Food was decent. But it has a lot of wait time on saturday evening. Plus little to no privacy to talk.
(4)Wesley H.
This restaurant is hidden in Boston's Little Italy section, near all those yummy bakeries on Hanford St ??? Great authentic brick oven, thin crust pizza. Ours had homemade sausage on it...very tasty. The pizza was relatively light, and reminded us of the great authentic Italian pizza in Italy. Salads were fresh and tasty with a simple balsamic dressing, and service was good for lunch. Our hostess could have been a little friendlier on the day we visited, but was more friendly on a second visit. Oh, their pizza (large combo) was a bargain at $11! Our total bill for lunch (2 salads and a large pizza was $26 before tax/tip. UPDATE: We were on a short land vacation prior to taking a cruise, which brought us back to Boston. We headed straight back to this restaurant again, and had another wonderfully delicious Pizza lunch when passing thru town. The meal was just as good if not better than the first one. You will love this place.
(4)Bob P.
Went here for dinner in the North End for some authentic Italian food and we weren't dissappointed. The atmosphere is a bit more relaxed then neighboring establishments so our not being dressed up beyond jeans and a t-shirt wasn't an issue. The lasagna primavera was wonderful. If I get back there I'd like to try the pizza from the stone oven.
(4)Zach W.
I think I've mentioned this before, but I'm a bit of a pizza snob. Traditional, coal (or wood) brick oven napoletana pizza is the way to my heart. So when we were craving pizza and walked by Antico Forno I knew I had to try it. I ordered the pizza napoletana (and had to add cheese).....wait what? It doesn't come with cheese? I had to do some research and figure out if this was traditional or not. Turns out traditional Napoletana can come with or without cheese, different strokes for different folks apparently. But, I prefer mine with cheese so I requested some. Unfortunately they simply added a shredded cheese mix to the top that was....meh. They did however brown the top of the crust nicely to give it a traditional napoletana taste. I can't complain...well actually I can...I can always complain about pizza. Antico Forno was tasty, somewhat legit, but not top notch amazingness.....luckily I didn't really expect that level of perfection from them.
(3)Dane D.
We really loved going to this place when it first opened. After going back a year or so later portions seemed to have gotten less and prices went up. This does have pretty good Italian food and the brick oven pizza is very good.
(4)Jesse M.
We had a group of 5 that the hostess sat quickly even though we were a little late. The server said they couldn't make a Fuzzy Navel for one of our party which seemed odd. But he did get our order in before a party of 12 that ordered just before. With 2 kids, we really appreciated that. The food was a little slow to come out but worth the wait. We tried the gnocchi, pizza, fusilli and fettucini with ham, all of which was delicious. We will definitely be enjoying the leftovers tomorrow.
(4)Melisa C.
My boyfriend and I went here after purchasing a deal from Gilt City. I made reservations beforehand on Open Table for 7 pm on a Wednesday night. Upon arriving at 6:50, the hostesses said that our reservation was for 7:30 in their computer, but they would try to accommodate us. They suggested we sit at the bar to wait. We waited for less than a few minutes, and I pulled up my reservation confirmation in my email and it did in fact say 7 pm, so I do not know how their computer got 7:30. The restaurant was incredibly crowded, and the tables are very tightly close together. Upon sitting down our waitress saw that we had a printed deal, so maybe that is why her service was the start was terrible. We waited a long time to place our order and she was just snooty. The food itself was decent, but not good enough for me to want to go back again. My boyfriend ordered the seafood pasta, and I had the pasta with some veggies such as peppers, eggplant, and goat cheese on top. Once we were done and clearly showing our waitress that we were ready and wanted to leave, she did not come by for another 20 minutes or so. When we got the check we just left a cash tip with the deal and left. Not a good experience whatsoever, and I will not go back to this restaurant!
(1)Cindy M.
Really no complaints - everything we had was excellent. We got the recommendation from a waitress at another restaurant nearby. She said we would really enjoy the pizza - which we did. Excellent sauce and crust. Waitress was very nice - always worries me when they don't write down the order - but she got everything right. Really loved the rolled eggplant appetizer with red sauce and ricotta cheese. Also, the tiramisu was delicious. Save room for some gelato down the street, though. Bread wasn't fantastic - but overall, the restaurant was airy and nice and smelled good and food was great.
(4)Justin M.
Great food. But took too long to get seated even though we had a reservation. Waited an hour past reservation time. Staff was willing to work something out.
(3)Yash B.
Food- Ordered the truffle oil pizza. I didn't know that you could cook a pizza, then drown it in truffle oil and serve it as a dish. Seriously, I couldn't even taste the mozarella or cherry tomatoes. The crust, however, was excellent, thus my despair. Use less truffle oil, sometimes less is truly more... The Caprese salad was...well, I have mixed feelings. The tomatoes were on drugs, I have never seen such huge tomatoes (no, don't try that line on women, it doesn't work). The homemade mozarella was AMAZING. Extremely tasty yet simple. The texture was firm and it melts in your mouth. Service- I am the nicest person in the world when it comes to service. I honestly don't even care usually as long as the food is good. But the service here was..awkward and bad. First of all, we had to wait about 10 minutes to even find someone to take our order. Then someone came by and asked us what we wanted. Didn't bother to define the specials, didn't really describe much. Fine, I'll live with it. But then, another waitress appearing completely clueless walked over and asked us for our order... we had just ordered. When we told her this she stared absentmindedly at us, and after what seemed an eternity walked away. This place has so much potential. If the service actually turns into service, and the food is not made in extremes, it really COULD be very good.
(1)Steph F.
This Italian restaurant in the North End holds a special place in my heart. My husband and I went here when in town interviewing for jobs last year. It was a random pick, but we loved the atmosphere, gnocchi (me), and seafood pasta (him). We came back a few months later, when we were in town again to look for housing (it was also our second anniversary). We have since moved to the area and were excited to see that Antico Forno was rated among the Best of Boston. We went back recently for a date night. We have never had to wait long for a table although we have always visited midweek. As new Boston residents, we are trying to commit to trying lots of new places... But it is wonderful to know we have a comfortable, delicious, reasonably priced, sentimental stand-by in the North End!
(4)Stephen M.
Heard place was exceptional, and although ambiance great, food was a solid "meh." One interesting strategy they had was to serve the food so hot it can't be tasted.
(2)Jessica S.
This is one of my favorite north end restaurants. Came here a few months ago. I love their Boscaiola pasta, my favorite. Caprese salad is still good as is the cannoli. Good cappucino. My bf also liked his food and dessert
(4)Hans H.
(Sorry Maggie.) I came here about 6 years ago before they had expanded and it was so good that I ate my whole pizza (the artichoke and porcini mushroom w/ truffle oil), half of my now-wife's pizza, and the remaining LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE that my friend had. Where does it all go, indeed. I'm pretty sure my stomach grows proportionally with the quality of the food in front of me. (I'm so sorry Maggie.) I happened to be passing through here on business on my way up to Nashua, and lo and behold, Antico Forno is on my way from Boston Logan to Nashua. So....why not! I have time.. (Maggie, I'm sorry. I really didn't eat here. You should stop reading.) Had the same pizza and my buddy had the same pasta, and it was every ounce just as good as I had remembered, except the pizza was a bit soggy in the middle this time because of the artichoke, but it appears that they've aged well and expansion didn't affect the food much. The pizza crust is just as crisp and delicious with their traditional oven, and their pastas and seafood are just as fresh and PACKED with stuff. Yeah, it's good. (Maggie, I went to a really crummy local place and just got beers and pretzels. It was terrible.)
(4)Heather M.
We went on a Saturday night, and the five of us got in in 30 minutes without a reservation. Not to bad! However, it was SO loud that you could not have a conversation. Also, it was packed. I'm not sure how they can put that many tables so close together and not be in violation of a fire code. I had to struggle to get into my chair so I wouldn't fall into the lady's lap behind our table. However, our two pizzas were very good but they are only 10" round and the pieces are small. The 5 of us ate 3 pizzas down to the last slice. That, and 1 beer, and tap water cost the 5 of us about $50 prior to the tip. The service was quick and efficient, the food was hot and very flavorful. I did see quite a few people with the mussel dish (in tin foil) so that must be good. I also heard the lady behind me say her dish was so hot, it was like getting a steam bath and the shrimp was very good. I know it has a good rating on Zagat, but I would give it 4 stars if the noise level was a bit reduced and the tables had room to actually move your chair back and not be in some stranger's lap.
(3)Kristina T.
I was visiting a friend who lives in the North End, and we swung in here for dinner one night. We had reservations and were seated at a small table that was essentially in the entryway, so my general impression of the atmosphere isn't as good as it could have been. The compimentary bread is decent, the crust tasted a tad bit burnt, but the texture was nice and dense. We ordered a margherita pizza and fusilli al tegamino to split. Both were brought out quicker than we had anticipated. We were then essentially ignored by the staff, which was more annoying than it could have been because our pizza had TWO pieces of basil on it and I had hoped to request some more. Lack of basil aside, the pizza was just ok and twice the price of my favorite neopolitan pizza place. The pasta was SO GOOD though, I will never go without goat cheese on my pasta ever again. We ended up topping the pizza with the pasta so that the pizza didn't go to waste. 4 stars for the pasta. Knock off a star for not having a water refill, having to stare/glare at the waiter to get his attention to finally get the bill after the table had been bussed for over 5 minutes, and silly table placement.
(4)Skye A.
I normally eat at Panza, and Giacomo, so I thought I would give this place a try. I specifically came here for the gnocchi, and a glass of malbec. The ambiance was nice, cheerful, and good staff, however, a little too much like a sports bar for my taste. Location is excellent, and bathroom, well, they need more than one toilet. As for the food, since this was oven brick style gnocchi, I was expecting the quality better. It was good, but nothing special, it was too bland, and a huge mistake, no bolognese sauce, which I thought I was getting since I called ahead before walking 20 blocks to visit you. The bread was good, not hard, which is nice, but a little garlic would have been nice, no just plain olive oil. Wine selection needs some work, perhaps adding wines from Argentina, and more Italian wines would be mist suitable, than the little selection that you currently have now. I'm not sure if I will return, perhaps if you add meat sauce to such a fine dish. 3 starts for location, nice staff, and not such a long wait.
(3)Jen L.
I've been here a couple times in the past six months. I highly recommend the arancini to start, and the linguine con vongole if you like shellfish. The staff was really helpful when making our selection. They also have gluten free options, which is difficult to find in the North End.
(4)Steve M.
Tonight I ordered a pizza. Asked for it to be crispy. The woman says, "Well done?" I say yes. When I pick it up, and get back to apt., not even close. It was limp and certainly not well done. That was the pizza I order from them. And will tell others. On the good side, their fine in is very good.
(1)Josephine L.
3.5 stars but our waiter was nice. Antico Forno offers a pretty solid range of Italian pizza and pasta fare. The quality isn't bad but it's not the best brick-oven out there. The space is quite cozy and intimate for being about 3 times bigger than the average cucina on Hanover St and the staff are pretty friendly. My friend and I split the Involtini di Melanzane (rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese and basil, baked in brick oven with plum tomato sauce and parmigiano cheese) and the Margherita pizza. The eggplant was amazing and had all the flavors, textures and tastes that you'd expect/want. The pizza was a little oily and the crust was a little burnt. Not terribly impressed with it. I was initially worried that that wouldn't be enough food for me as I typically have the appetite of a 15-year-old boy...who's captain of the basketball team...and just come home from the big game. But I needn't have fretted. The eggplant was big and rich and stuffed with ooey-gooey cheese and the pizza could have fed a village. Everything was so tasty and decadent that I somehow wound up taking 3 slices of the pizza home (and my friend took another 3). Bonus: splitting the bill and paying under $20 for everything. Drinks: Like Florentine, Antico Forno surprised me by having an actual cocktail list in addition to the usual wine/beer only that seems to be characteristic of most North End establishments. I tried the Antico Forno Martini, as it sounded the most unusual out of everything and it was...okay, stronger than I expected, but otherwise rather forgettable.
(4)Sue M.
This was my first attempt trying the yelp reservations and it was great. I could only get a 9:30 reservation, but I reached the restaurant a little before 9, and we got a table in 10 minutes! The atmosphere was good, very lively but just a tad too noisy. We had the fried calamari- fresh, hot and crisp, yum! I had the lobster ravioli which was the special of the day, my husband had a chicken dish, I forget which, both were absolutely fab! I've been trying to get my husband to enjoy Italian food for a long long time; Post Antico Forno, he has finally seen the light!
(5)Minh V.
awful place, don't visit. pros: 1. busboy was good 2. my fettuccini & bolognese was pretty good, great for sharing for 2 cons: 1. mean waitress who forced us to order an extra dish since we could not share a dish 2. forced 20% tip on our party of four 3. awful "manager" who refused to remove the tip since we split our check. the manager didn't look senior enough to be a manager 4. no refills on soda 5. very, very loud and crowded restaurant 6. mean waitress yelled at my friend while we were leaving. my friend had previously asked her to split our check, saying no one has ever asked her to do that before if i could do 0 stars, i would. don't eat at this place.
(1)James C.
The mussels were fresh and tender. The eggplant dish was superb. The risotto was flavorous yet not cheesy. Sorry I don't recall the name of the dishes but both my friend and I enjoyed it!
(5)E W.
The food was "okay" thus the 2 stars....service was "okay" until it got time to pay the bill and suddenly I encountered the most bizzarre and rude experience with anyone in the service industry ever.....zero stars for everything else! I went out to dinner with 6 other friends here last night. Service was okay....it's loud in this restaurant so having the specials yelled to you is kind of a strange start., but no biggie. We all ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees right from the get go cuz we were HUNGRY! Calamari came out, it honestly tasted like nothing. Literally. Even the batter had no flavor. There was this sauce that came with the bread and I just dunked it in that so I wasn't just eating flavorless fried circles. I kind of found it odd that we had to ask for olive oil for our bread. I've never been to an Italian restaurant that didn't already have it on the table, or brought it with the bread. But again, no biggie, it was brought quickly when we asked for it. Food came....and....meh....I could have made better at home. I ordered the Rigatoni with sausage. The sausage oddly enough, really didn't have any flavor either. I'm used to an adequate amount of fennel in Italian sausage and this seemed to have none. Sauce was okay, just basic. I was starving so I ate it all but it truly wasn't any better than Barilla. Everyone else seemed to like their food just fine, nothing to rave about, nothing memorable. Unfortunately the most memorable part of the evening was when the waitress literally flipped out over us splitting the bill. She brought the bill, we passed the bill around the table tallying up our different totals as some people were drinking alcohol and others were not. We wrote the different amounts down, etc handed it back. A few minutes later she came back and said we were short by three dollars. No biggie, someone handed her a $5 bill and she returned to finish running our cards. I get a text message from my bank every time I charge something. Suddenly my cell phone starts blowing up and it's showing me that she's charged me three times...twice for the amount I wrote and once for an amount no where close to what I wrote down. I went over to her just to make sure she was aware of the triple charge and to ask for a copy of the void receipt just in case my bank gave me problems. I smiled, walked up and asked if it was possible to get a copy of the voided transaction. {our waitress' name was Rose} She yelled her response, "This is F.......BS, this math S.... is stupid. How can you expect me to do this?!?!" Um.....what?!?!?! After putting miss thing her in place reminding her that I had come to her nicely without attitude and I expected the same in return, to stop swearing at me or we could call the manager over and have a three way discussion, and that THERE WAS NO MATH TO FIGURE OUT! We wrote the amounts she was to run. She responded by saying this is ridiculous, on a busy Friday night you expect me to do this? Again, what?!?!?! *insert are you kidding me look* I advised her that restaurants the world over have been running separate credit cards for eons and no one has ever had issue with reading a last name, finding said card, and charging said card amount written next to name. Some people were even couples so it wasn't even 7 different cards to run. Never in my life have I been spoken to like this....I'M IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY and I know that even when you're frustrated, you NEVER take it out on the customer. She quickly apologized when she realized she was being an ass and said that math has never been her strong suit and she just got flustered. I told her not to worry about it, went back to the table, and quickly got the hell out of there! As of this morning the three charges are still showing on my credit card....so instead of a $50 dinner I'm charged for one just shy of $200. Even if the service had been amazing I still wouldn't go back as I wasn't that impressed with the food. Thanks to Rose and her horribly unprofessional service, I will warn any and everyone I can to stay the hell away from this place!
(2)Mike R.
I had lunch her a few months ago and I was a bit disappointed. I got the Lasagna and it was a bit odd. I expected the traditional Lasagna which is layers of pasta, meat sauce and cheese but their version was essentially sauce and a lot of cheese on top of vegetables. If there was any pasta, there was very little. It felt like a pile of cheese on top of vegetables. It was just unexpected and not in a good way. My wife got pasta with clam sauce and she enjoyed it. For an appetizer, we got the mussels which were good. We didn't get the best table. It was a high top in the middle of a hallway. So people kept bumping into us. Not sure that table should be there. I think if we had a better table the experience would have been more pleasant. The service was okay. We had to wait a bit for a few things.
(3)Jeff F.
Ran in for lunch about a few weeks ago and was impressed with the Linguine al Frutti di Mare baked in parchment paper. I've had Frutti di Mare dozens of times but had never seen this parchment paper move Antico Forno pulled - excellent! Came in here with a group tonight and confirmed that Antico is on the short list if you're looking for a spot in the North End that isn't pricey and takes reservations. Great atmosphere - solid service. Here's the rundown the grub: - Caprese Salad (B) - Calamari (B) - both apps were average to above average - Bolognese (A) - was on the specials menu and is recommended - Fettuccini (A-) this is a great option if you've had the Fruitti di Mare and want to change it up. - Tiramisu (A++) - I know, Tiramisu is a played out dessert I tend to avoid too, but the waiter said it was homemade and the table was game. Easily one of the highlights of the meal.
(4)Andy M.
Located in the North End this place has some of the best Pizza I have ever had. The place was very crowded and loud - reminded me of my family's house on a Sunday afternoon sitting around the dinner table. Just a great Italian restaurant that is reasonably priced and has good service and the Pizza . . . . was just over the top. Have eaten Pizza all over the world and this place is one of my favorites. While in Boston we wanted to go back and get something other than Pizza but the line was out the door. Maybe next trip.
(5)Tyler N.
Absolutely wonderfull
(5)Sam G.
Excellent food here. The service was a tad bit slow, but that was most likely due to the number of soccer fans there for the Euro cup. Got the gnocchi with melted mozzarella - really spectacular. Cost was as pretty average to every other restaurant in the North End - not too expensive, but not cheap. Overall, would suggest at least trying the place. I know I would go back for seconds.
(4)Shannon M.
Everyone has their favorite North End restaurant. Antico Forno is mine. The pasta is divine and made in house, as it should be. I've been here several times with various friends/visiting relatives, and every time we've left raving about our respective pasta dishes. Service is on the slower side, but let's be honest-- you're not going to a cozy Italian restaurant to rush through dinner. Get some wine, nosh on the rolls, get a caprese salad to start out, and take your time. Mike's will still be open when you finish eating, I promise.
(5)Michael S.
We were seated right next to another two person table. And I mean like 6 inches away. The restaurant clearly had other tables open. Despite this, the 300lb slob at the table next to ours had his arm draped over the chair at our table. I would imagine the Hostess would have at least asked him to move it or sat us at another table. After that the service was terrible. Our waiter came by three times: drinks, app and then entree. I had to flag down the bus boy for a check About an our after we were seated the place seated a few large,parties and became so loud it was tough to hear conversation between the table half a foot away and the large seatings.. The food was decent, but I could have gotten the same meal at any other place in that area for,about the same price and a much nicer ambiance. I picked this place out to bring a date, gentleman take it from me, this is NOT the place to bring a girl. Its noisy, cramped and compared to so many of the other spots in the area, without character.
(2)Steve W.
Excellent food, fast service!
(4)Ray H.
Ever since Nicole's closed, the European went its separate way and Hanover Street became "Little Weston" we decided to look for restaurants in other neighborhoods. About a year ago, a friend recommended we try Antico Forno and since it was on Salem Street, we did. Our first time was on a Friday night and we got there just as the place started to fill. The receptionist sat us at a table that was somewhat in a busy area but she was very apologetic and by the way, if you want quiet and secluded tables (some of you other reviewers) you may want to try Newbury Street. Our waiter (Adrian) was excellent. He was polite, attentive and spent a lot of time catering to our 6 year old son. Rose was bartending at the time and she bent over backwards to fool around and laugh and joke with our son as well. She made him a very special drink and garnished it with several cherries which made his evening. We can not picture Rose using bad language or being rude. Our waiter Adrian recommended the rolled melanzani appetizer. It arrived hot and tasted even better. A great start. We had the Scalopini with mushrooms and artichoke as well as the Carciofi e Porcini pie. The crust at AF is arguably the best in the NE and recently a new pizza chef has joined and has improved on what was already perfect. I have had this pie at least 6 times and never once has there been too much truffle oil! We celebrated our sons 7th birthday at AF last night. I had the fusilli and clams served in parchment with cherry tomatoes, garlic etc. There had to be a pound of clams in this dish! The manager Dona spends a lot of time overseeing the floor and "yes", sometimes things may go wrong, but overall I would rate this restaurant the best in the North End.
(5)Kiley S.
Delicious Italian food! Not as cramped as some other places in the North End. Deifnitely make a reservation.
(4)Bill J.
Order the eggplant and rice ball appetizers and I thought they were great. For dinner I had pasta and seafood while my wife had past and shrimp. Neither were very good, they were not bad but just standard over cooked pasta and not real tasty seafood. We tried to slow the pace down with a bottle of wine but the second we finished the appetizers our dinners were serve....too fast for me. I will probably try again and stay away from the pasta dishes.
(3)Joanna F.
We came in on Saturday night with no reservations at 6:30 with a group of 6. I wasn't sure if we were going to get a table, so I was shocked when they told us it would be a mere 30 minute wait. We walked over to the almost empty bar and enjoyed some drinks while we waited. The service was spectacular. Our waitress was warm and funny, joking with us the whole meal and making great suggestions. A few of my co-diners opted for the restaurant week menu, while others decided to order from the regular menu. They accommodated both requests (no need for the whole table to do one or the other here). A few of my friends ordered salads before their meals and they were massive... just a warning. Our entrees themselves were a perfect portion - not huge, but satisfying. I got the Fettucine Positano (fettucine with scallops, shrimp, tomatoes and garlic). The sauce was amazing and the seafood and pasta were both cooked perfectly. I had a great experience here and I will definitely be back when I'm in the North End again.
(4)Rebecca N.
This place has really good pizza, also the arancini are really yummy! Mangia! I've gone there with my girlfriends and then with just my husband! It's very nice.
(5)Craig L.
Classic Italian with flair at a reasonable price. Make sure you call the day before, especially on weekends to get a reservation. Went on a Saturday evening and the wait was easily 45 minutes though the Arincini, spinach salad, bread with a unique tasty spread, and the multiple dishes were all very good.
(4)Ann M.
I used to live around the corner and I miss Antico Forno! Delicious! My favorite was the Margarita pizza, arancini (rice balls) and a glass of house chianti. So good, you must stop in when in the neighborhood.
(5)Amanda F.
Our waiter was rude and inattentive. We went for a late lunch and the restaurant was mostly empty but we had to wait for quite awhile to have our drink order taken. When I made a special request for my dish due to an allergy, I was told it was not possible to make any adjustments (less sauce) and made to feel poorly about myself for making a legitimate request that has always been accommodated at every other restaurant I have eaten at. When our food arrived, the chicken was soggy, drenched in what seemed like extra sauce and our waiter never came over to see how everything was or if we needed anything. I've been to several phenomenal restaurants in the North End. This was a huge disappointment.
(1)Jay M.
Some positives, but the negatives outweighed them! FOOD: Tried 3 different dishes. The gnochhi was definitely homemade, but they were very heavy and a bit gritty. The sauce had some high notes... a fresh tomato taste, but lacked depth with the dish. The mozzarella was melted in clumps and really made it difficult to savor a consistent bite. The Chicken Parm... a classic, was tough. It was almost like they prepared all of the dishes in the baking dishes in advance then slid them in the oven to cook. It did not taste fresh and the sauce was quite different from that of the gnochhi. The Veal Parm ... another classic... see above and it really lacked flavor. The only flavor it had was an overbreaded taste. Bread on the table... good choice if you got them all. I was shocked that we got only one load of bread! Then when we asked for a couple of more slices they brought out different ones. ATMOSPHERE: Great location, a bit noisy and tight. SERVICE: The staff was preoccupied with something and it was not paying attention to the customers. There was quite a few staff just chatting with each other. Several times we tried to get service, but it did not work. The bus boy was 4 stars, but can not carry the review. OVERALL: I am sure this place is a good place to eat. I gave it 1 star, because I would not return or recommend it. No offense, maybe it was an off-night, but after reading a few other reviews, I am not sure.
(1)Erika S.
The food was delicious. The service, however, left a bit to be desired. At several points during the meal, I was afraid our waitress was going to punch one of us in the face. Also, very very crowded. If you're looking for a quiet meal, this place is not for you. I realize this is review sounds sort of negative considering that I've given the resto 4 stars but the food is super delicious and that's what I base reviews on. I had pasta with Italian sausage and tomatoes. It was cooked perfectly and the sausage and pasta were clearly homemade (or at least very fresh). My boyfriend had Ossobuco and it was killer. Highly recommend the food, but I might try to visit during non-peak hours/seasons. FYI, unlike many spots in the North End, they take cards.
(4)Liz L.
Not impressed. The pizza was bland, the arancini were undercooked, and the service was sub par. The hostess had a teenage snark face and didn't smile or speak when we came in. The waitress was inattentive: handed menus and we ordered apps before opening the menu, someone else brought our appetizers and she didn't come back to take our drink order. We ended up ordering our meal and drinks at the same time. The only thing worth raving about is the tiramisu. See if you can order it over the phone and pick it up. Otherwise it will take you an hour and a half to get it.
(2)michelle m.
Came here on a recommendation. I got a pizza to split. It was soggy and sort of flavor less. Another person in our party got a gluten free one and it came out cold. Had to send it back to be re-warmed. They said the dough had absolutely no flavor and was under-seasoned. Definitely won't be back for their pizza.
(1)John F.
Had a 7pm reservation on Sat 11/15/2014. By 7:40 we were still not seated. We were then offered a table near the bar (practically on the bar--there was no way my wife and I could talk or not be disturbed by patrons going to and from the bar.) At that point we just had enough and left as did another couple. The staff seemed totally disorganized. The restaurant is small (seats approx 50-60 folks.) No way they should have had a party of 20 sitting right in the middle of the restaurant at prime time on a Sat night-taking up space and time. When I asked the manager the reason for the 40 minute delay; the answer I was given was no one is leaving their seats and they are taking pictures-nce try. Next time properly schedule your reservations with sufficient time between reservations, no parties over 8 on Fri thru Sun, etc. Unless that's fixed, you're wasting your time.
(1)Lily S.
Went here on a Monday night for dinner--still prettty busy, but the place is HUGE for somewhere in the north end, im sure due to the fact that they're not paying obnoxious rent on Hanover st, so we got seated right away. Our waiter was very friendly, just the right amount of attentive without being over-bearing and interrupting our conversation every 2 minutes. Although it was restaurant week, my friend and I opted for the regular menu. We split a caprese salad which was a huge delight given that the tomato was actually fresh and ripe. Frankly, im surprised by how hard it is to get a decent caprese in italian places (in boston at least)...all you really need is decent mozerella and a tomato thats, i dunno...not dead? The bread was another pleasant surprise--again, i dont understand why Bertuccis beats out half the places in the north end with the quality of dough... I ordered the rigatoni salsiccia e ricotta which was really good, i could have been happier with more sausage, but it was still great. My friend had the gnocchi--AMAZING. I only wish i had ordered it. We topped it off with a yummy pinot grigio. All in all, food was great, service was great..what more can you ask for? I'll be coming back.
(5)Vince V.
Wow ... Great food a little off the main Hanover Road in the North End ... Warm and cozy setting with a fire going on a cold winter day ... Service very attentive and willing to not just tolerate but cater to two active and initially grumpy kids ... They brought out the first part of the kids orders immediately, helping to solve a potentially problematic situation. The pasta selections were highly varied and while predominately red sauces, they were delicious. Many of the dishes are baked, loaded with cheeses, and filling. The pizzas were thin crust ... Probably brick oven and reasonable size ... Very delicious. During peak season or busy times in the day, the place would no doubt be loud and crowded ... But at lower-volume times, it was delightful. P.S. what is up with the curtain shrouding the front door!?!
(4)Matthew G.
I've been here twice. First time. The Antipasto was the best I've ever had anywhere, the rest of the food was simply ok. Second time. I ordered a Margherita pizza to go. What I got was a simple, overpriced, underwhelming cheese pizza with some basil on top. It was the worst Margherita pizza i've ever had, and trust me I'm a fat, Italian boy whose had pizza in New Jersey, New York, New Haven, CT, Mass, etc. I've eaten plenty of pizza in my day and I'll reiterate that this pizza was a far cry from good. I'm sorry but I'm pissed :(.
(1)Holly L.
I have been to Antico Forno several times and have always enjoyed the food and ambiance. I've brought visiting family and friends there and tried lots of dishes on the menu and have never had anyone say anything negative about their food. Every dish has always been delicious! This last visit truly solidified that this is a 5 star establishment based on their amazing customer service. When we were there last time a bus boy accidentally spilled red wine on me and my white and black striped Kate Spade. I could tell he was truly sorry and offered to pay me himself for my bag. However, the owner Carla, who is a true gem would never have allowed that. They told me to bring my bag to a cleaner and see what they could do. My cleaner said my bag was ruined and Carla responded right away, doing far more then I could have ever asked for. Not only did she send me 2 gift certificates (1 for Antico Forno and 1 for her restaurant across the street, Terramia), she also sent me a check for the cost of my bag!! She was such a pleasure to deal with and more then made up for the spilled wine. I cannot wait to go back to Antico Forno and try her other restaurant!!!!
(5)Becky S.
On vacation from buffalo. Italian bread served with olive oil and no herbs etc. so boring. White/white. Our son's pizza was tasty but so soggy and wet in the middle of the whole piE. I got the brick oven chicken and it was awful. So dried out and so lacking in any flavor. The roasted potatoes so lacking in flavor. Sad to say that the green beens had more flavor than anything else on my plate. I wish I had spent our 1 dinner in the North End somewhere else.
(2)Laurinda U.
I was here for lunch on Saturday and I had a great time. We didn't have reservations but were able to be seated immediately which is lovely considering the time of day! I ordered the LINGUINE CON VONGOLE ($11.50), my friend ordered the RIGATONI SALSICCIA E RICOTTA ($11) and a third friend ordered the FETTUCCINI PANNA E PROSCIUTTO ($10). All three dishes were excellent and portion size is perfect as well! Mine was perhaps the best. Normally linguine con vongole comes out with these itty bitty clams that perhaps came out of a can, but with Antico Forno, the fact that the dish came out with actual clams in shell made me feel more comfortable with the freshness. For my friends, they also had enough food to doggy bag a part of the dish which goes to how nicely portioned the pasta dish was. The pasta dishes really pop out and for a North End restaurant - very reasonably priced! I definitely recommend Antico and will certainly be back ^_^
(5)Jonelle K.
We were visiting family in Boston, they had never been there and we were looking for family friendly place to eat in the North End. It had a beautiful atmosphere. We had reservations and were seated right away waitress was a little hard to understand but she was nice. We got drinks right away, but not rushed. There was a little difficulty getting the meal for the kids but if worked out ok. The food was very tasty, well prepared, and beautifully presented. My son ate his WHOLE adult meal and the waitress was very nice to wait about the bill until after she was sure he had finished. It was a really nice place and I will definitely be back.
(4)Eric-Reese S.
My girlfriend and I came here for her birthday after having a bad experience at Tresca another restaurant in the north end.. We were looking for another place to eat since our experience at Trescas was so abominal. We literally walked in to this place because it was the first resuturant we saw with a crowd of people. I ordered a pasta dish with shrimp which I absolutly enjoyed and Gf ordered chicken parm .with penne pasta . The food tasted very good and the waiter was very friendly. I would recommend this pizza resturant to anyone looking for a family friendly resturant in The North End.
(4)Che R.
Antico Forno is consistently good, Italian food. I've been there a number of times for dinner, and the service and food are always good. The pizza is great, and there's a dish I just love that has pasta, eggplant, onions, and goat cheese. It comes in a small cast iron pan, and it's so great on a cold night!! The wines there are also very good. I recommend a good Chianti. Enjoy!!
(4)Juliet T.
Service was lacking and could use some improvements but the food and bread were to die for
(4)Levian L.
Came here on my birthday with my boyfriend. Surprisingly when we got here, there was a long line outside of the restaurant yet no line was formed outside of Neptune Oyster. We made a reservation so we only waited 15 minute before we were seated. I love Prosciutto so I decided to try VESUVIO pizza, and my boyfriend ordered RIGATONI SALSICCIA. The pizza was topped with so much prosciutto, I was happy and it was soooo good, the crust was awesome. My boyfriend loves RIGATONI SALSICCIA too, pasta was perfectly cooked. Definitely coming back
(4)James D.
Really good food here. Particularly the pizza. In fact, everything I have had has been really good. The place can get tight and loud as they pack a lot of people into the restaurant but it's not too bad. It's priced very well too. They have a ton of pizzas to choose from which is great. Overall, I recommend this place for a fun night out and great food at a fair price.
(4)Jacqueline P.
We had reservations at 7 on a Saturday night- but due to traffic and rain were a little late arriving. I called to let them know, they were very understanding and we were seated around 7:30... was told by host alot of later reservations came in early, which made no sense to me that they would seat people early if they had other resi's... but we got in relatively quickly... Very loud dining environment! Had trouble hearing my friends at the table! Food was delicious. Bread and tomato hummus like dip was delish!! Started with the arancini - which was amazing! Red sauce delicious as well, and I am picky with red sauce! Ordered the lobster ravioli's they had on special... and I was not disapointed! However, Panza has the best lobster Rav's in the north end in my opinion. Sorry Antico Forno yours were great tho!! Friends liked there meal too except one was disappointed with the Chicken Parm. I didn't try it... I am def a fan and I will definatley return to this restaurant!!
(4)Kristen S.
It is easy to get disenchanted by all the restaurants in the north end.. I mean how much Italian can one person eat. I have come up with this theory that each restaurant does one thing exceptionally well. Without question the Chicken Parm here is by far the best I have EVER had... EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR (in my Sandlot voice) even my nephew who NEVER agrees with me about much - commented it was the best he has ever had. The sauce - which is where chicken parm always goes wrong for me.. was not sour or bitter or over spiced it was this delightfully fresh tomato flavor with a hint of basil.. I could not stop eating it. I love that the chicken parm is served in this individualized ramekin type dish that is so hot your food is basically as hot as mmmmm the sun?!?!?! I have eaten the chicken parm 3 times and it has been consistently excellent!
(4)Gretchen G.
If I could give 0 stars, I would. Worst meal we had in Boston and one of the worst I have had anywhere in a while. Our service was worse than terrible. We were a party of 8 and the waiter knew his tip was guaranteed and could care less about us. Several of our meals were poor in quality. I would say only half of our group liked the dinner they ordered. Therefore, I would not give them great reviews for food quality either. One of the dishes we ordered was the fettuccine with prosciutto. The meat in the dish was definitely not prosciutto. The whole dish tasted like maple syrup, leading us to believe the meat was probably honey baked ham or something similar. When we mentioned it to the waiter, he told us "that is the way we do it, too bad". Don't expect drink refills or any sort of assistance. I can not imagine how this place has 4 stars. It is so not deserving of that ranking. If you like being ignored by the waiter, this is your restaurant.
(1)Sara R.
When we arrived we were told it would be a 35 minute wait. We got a seat at the bar and over an hour later we still weren't seated. It ended up being an hour and a half wait. We were in no hurry so it didn't bother us too much. The bar staff were nice but not overly friendly. The waitstaff and hostess staff are a bit unfriendly. The food itself was very good. I am gluten free and they were sensitive to my needs. We had a gluten free pizza as an app and it was quite good. For dinner I had gluten free pasta with the bolognese sauce. It was good tasting but nothing special. The atmosphere is definitely lively, fun and comforting. We had an enjoyable evening out.
(3)Jason L.
Wife is speechless after this. Random walk through the north end landed us here for lunch. Antipasto, Pizza & Calzone later, we're full, happy and commenting on how we just ate the best calzone both of us had ever eaten. Delicious. Go, eat, be happy.
(5)David B.
This is becoming my go-to place in the North End. Good pizza, away from the craziness of Hanover Street, decent prices, and good pizza. I've taken out of town guests here (finishing with something sweet from Modern Pastry) for their North End experience. Good time had by all. Oh, and the pizza is good, too.
(4)Jacqueline C.
Fair prices with good service. I had the linguine with clams and it's good!
(4)Kiley S.
Delicious Italian food! Not as cramped as some other places in the North End. Deifnitely make a reservation.
(4)Bill J.
Order the eggplant and rice ball appetizers and I thought they were great. For dinner I had pasta and seafood while my wife had past and shrimp. Neither were very good, they were not bad but just standard over cooked pasta and not real tasty seafood. We tried to slow the pace down with a bottle of wine but the second we finished the appetizers our dinners were serve....too fast for me. I will probably try again and stay away from the pasta dishes.
(3)Joanna F.
We came in on Saturday night with no reservations at 6:30 with a group of 6. I wasn't sure if we were going to get a table, so I was shocked when they told us it would be a mere 30 minute wait. We walked over to the almost empty bar and enjoyed some drinks while we waited. The service was spectacular. Our waitress was warm and funny, joking with us the whole meal and making great suggestions. A few of my co-diners opted for the restaurant week menu, while others decided to order from the regular menu. They accommodated both requests (no need for the whole table to do one or the other here). A few of my friends ordered salads before their meals and they were massive... just a warning. Our entrees themselves were a perfect portion - not huge, but satisfying. I got the Fettucine Positano (fettucine with scallops, shrimp, tomatoes and garlic). The sauce was amazing and the seafood and pasta were both cooked perfectly. I had a great experience here and I will definitely be back when I'm in the North End again.
(4)Rebecca N.
This place has really good pizza, also the arancini are really yummy! Mangia! I've gone there with my girlfriends and then with just my husband! It's very nice.
(5)Craig L.
Classic Italian with flair at a reasonable price. Make sure you call the day before, especially on weekends to get a reservation. Went on a Saturday evening and the wait was easily 45 minutes though the Arincini, spinach salad, bread with a unique tasty spread, and the multiple dishes were all very good.
(4)Ann M.
I used to live around the corner and I miss Antico Forno! Delicious! My favorite was the Margarita pizza, arancini (rice balls) and a glass of house chianti. So good, you must stop in when in the neighborhood.
(5)Amanda F.
Our waiter was rude and inattentive. We went for a late lunch and the restaurant was mostly empty but we had to wait for quite awhile to have our drink order taken. When I made a special request for my dish due to an allergy, I was told it was not possible to make any adjustments (less sauce) and made to feel poorly about myself for making a legitimate request that has always been accommodated at every other restaurant I have eaten at. When our food arrived, the chicken was soggy, drenched in what seemed like extra sauce and our waiter never came over to see how everything was or if we needed anything. I've been to several phenomenal restaurants in the North End. This was a huge disappointment.
(1)Eric-Reese S.
My girlfriend and I came here for her birthday after having a bad experience at Tresca another restaurant in the north end.. We were looking for another place to eat since our experience at Trescas was so abominal. We literally walked in to this place because it was the first resuturant we saw with a crowd of people. I ordered a pasta dish with shrimp which I absolutly enjoyed and Gf ordered chicken parm .with penne pasta . The food tasted very good and the waiter was very friendly. I would recommend this pizza resturant to anyone looking for a family friendly resturant in The North End.
(4)Che R.
Antico Forno is consistently good, Italian food. I've been there a number of times for dinner, and the service and food are always good. The pizza is great, and there's a dish I just love that has pasta, eggplant, onions, and goat cheese. It comes in a small cast iron pan, and it's so great on a cold night!! The wines there are also very good. I recommend a good Chianti. Enjoy!!
(4)Juliet T.
Service was lacking and could use some improvements but the food and bread were to die for
(4)Jay M.
Some positives, but the negatives outweighed them! FOOD: Tried 3 different dishes. The gnochhi was definitely homemade, but they were very heavy and a bit gritty. The sauce had some high notes... a fresh tomato taste, but lacked depth with the dish. The mozzarella was melted in clumps and really made it difficult to savor a consistent bite. The Chicken Parm... a classic, was tough. It was almost like they prepared all of the dishes in the baking dishes in advance then slid them in the oven to cook. It did not taste fresh and the sauce was quite different from that of the gnochhi. The Veal Parm ... another classic... see above and it really lacked flavor. The only flavor it had was an overbreaded taste. Bread on the table... good choice if you got them all. I was shocked that we got only one load of bread! Then when we asked for a couple of more slices they brought out different ones. ATMOSPHERE: Great location, a bit noisy and tight. SERVICE: The staff was preoccupied with something and it was not paying attention to the customers. There was quite a few staff just chatting with each other. Several times we tried to get service, but it did not work. The bus boy was 4 stars, but can not carry the review. OVERALL: I am sure this place is a good place to eat. I gave it 1 star, because I would not return or recommend it. No offense, maybe it was an off-night, but after reading a few other reviews, I am not sure.
(1)Erika S.
The food was delicious. The service, however, left a bit to be desired. At several points during the meal, I was afraid our waitress was going to punch one of us in the face. Also, very very crowded. If you're looking for a quiet meal, this place is not for you. I realize this is review sounds sort of negative considering that I've given the resto 4 stars but the food is super delicious and that's what I base reviews on. I had pasta with Italian sausage and tomatoes. It was cooked perfectly and the sausage and pasta were clearly homemade (or at least very fresh). My boyfriend had Ossobuco and it was killer. Highly recommend the food, but I might try to visit during non-peak hours/seasons. FYI, unlike many spots in the North End, they take cards.
(4)Liz L.
Not impressed. The pizza was bland, the arancini were undercooked, and the service was sub par. The hostess had a teenage snark face and didn't smile or speak when we came in. The waitress was inattentive: handed menus and we ordered apps before opening the menu, someone else brought our appetizers and she didn't come back to take our drink order. We ended up ordering our meal and drinks at the same time. The only thing worth raving about is the tiramisu. See if you can order it over the phone and pick it up. Otherwise it will take you an hour and a half to get it.
(2)Jason L.
Wife is speechless after this. Random walk through the north end landed us here for lunch. Antipasto, Pizza & Calzone later, we're full, happy and commenting on how we just ate the best calzone both of us had ever eaten. Delicious. Go, eat, be happy.
(5)David B.
This is becoming my go-to place in the North End. Good pizza, away from the craziness of Hanover Street, decent prices, and good pizza. I've taken out of town guests here (finishing with something sweet from Modern Pastry) for their North End experience. Good time had by all. Oh, and the pizza is good, too.
(4)John F.
Had a 7pm reservation on Sat 11/15/2014. By 7:40 we were still not seated. We were then offered a table near the bar (practically on the bar--there was no way my wife and I could talk or not be disturbed by patrons going to and from the bar.) At that point we just had enough and left as did another couple. The staff seemed totally disorganized. The restaurant is small (seats approx 50-60 folks.) No way they should have had a party of 20 sitting right in the middle of the restaurant at prime time on a Sat night-taking up space and time. When I asked the manager the reason for the 40 minute delay; the answer I was given was no one is leaving their seats and they are taking pictures-nce try. Next time properly schedule your reservations with sufficient time between reservations, no parties over 8 on Fri thru Sun, etc. Unless that's fixed, you're wasting your time.
(1)Lily S.
Went here on a Monday night for dinner--still prettty busy, but the place is HUGE for somewhere in the north end, im sure due to the fact that they're not paying obnoxious rent on Hanover st, so we got seated right away. Our waiter was very friendly, just the right amount of attentive without being over-bearing and interrupting our conversation every 2 minutes. Although it was restaurant week, my friend and I opted for the regular menu. We split a caprese salad which was a huge delight given that the tomato was actually fresh and ripe. Frankly, im surprised by how hard it is to get a decent caprese in italian places (in boston at least)...all you really need is decent mozerella and a tomato thats, i dunno...not dead? The bread was another pleasant surprise--again, i dont understand why Bertuccis beats out half the places in the north end with the quality of dough... I ordered the rigatoni salsiccia e ricotta which was really good, i could have been happier with more sausage, but it was still great. My friend had the gnocchi--AMAZING. I only wish i had ordered it. We topped it off with a yummy pinot grigio. All in all, food was great, service was great..what more can you ask for? I'll be coming back.
(5)Vince V.
Wow ... Great food a little off the main Hanover Road in the North End ... Warm and cozy setting with a fire going on a cold winter day ... Service very attentive and willing to not just tolerate but cater to two active and initially grumpy kids ... They brought out the first part of the kids orders immediately, helping to solve a potentially problematic situation. The pasta selections were highly varied and while predominately red sauces, they were delicious. Many of the dishes are baked, loaded with cheeses, and filling. The pizzas were thin crust ... Probably brick oven and reasonable size ... Very delicious. During peak season or busy times in the day, the place would no doubt be loud and crowded ... But at lower-volume times, it was delightful. P.S. what is up with the curtain shrouding the front door!?!
(4)Matthew G.
I've been here twice. First time. The Antipasto was the best I've ever had anywhere, the rest of the food was simply ok. Second time. I ordered a Margherita pizza to go. What I got was a simple, overpriced, underwhelming cheese pizza with some basil on top. It was the worst Margherita pizza i've ever had, and trust me I'm a fat, Italian boy whose had pizza in New Jersey, New York, New Haven, CT, Mass, etc. I've eaten plenty of pizza in my day and I'll reiterate that this pizza was a far cry from good. I'm sorry but I'm pissed :(.
(1)Holly L.
I have been to Antico Forno several times and have always enjoyed the food and ambiance. I've brought visiting family and friends there and tried lots of dishes on the menu and have never had anyone say anything negative about their food. Every dish has always been delicious! This last visit truly solidified that this is a 5 star establishment based on their amazing customer service. When we were there last time a bus boy accidentally spilled red wine on me and my white and black striped Kate Spade. I could tell he was truly sorry and offered to pay me himself for my bag. However, the owner Carla, who is a true gem would never have allowed that. They told me to bring my bag to a cleaner and see what they could do. My cleaner said my bag was ruined and Carla responded right away, doing far more then I could have ever asked for. Not only did she send me 2 gift certificates (1 for Antico Forno and 1 for her restaurant across the street, Terramia), she also sent me a check for the cost of my bag!! She was such a pleasure to deal with and more then made up for the spilled wine. I cannot wait to go back to Antico Forno and try her other restaurant!!!!
(5)Becky S.
On vacation from buffalo. Italian bread served with olive oil and no herbs etc. so boring. White/white. Our son's pizza was tasty but so soggy and wet in the middle of the whole piE. I got the brick oven chicken and it was awful. So dried out and so lacking in any flavor. The roasted potatoes so lacking in flavor. Sad to say that the green beens had more flavor than anything else on my plate. I wish I had spent our 1 dinner in the North End somewhere else.
(2)Laurinda U.
I was here for lunch on Saturday and I had a great time. We didn't have reservations but were able to be seated immediately which is lovely considering the time of day! I ordered the LINGUINE CON VONGOLE ($11.50), my friend ordered the RIGATONI SALSICCIA E RICOTTA ($11) and a third friend ordered the FETTUCCINI PANNA E PROSCIUTTO ($10). All three dishes were excellent and portion size is perfect as well! Mine was perhaps the best. Normally linguine con vongole comes out with these itty bitty clams that perhaps came out of a can, but with Antico Forno, the fact that the dish came out with actual clams in shell made me feel more comfortable with the freshness. For my friends, they also had enough food to doggy bag a part of the dish which goes to how nicely portioned the pasta dish was. The pasta dishes really pop out and for a North End restaurant - very reasonably priced! I definitely recommend Antico and will certainly be back ^_^
(5)Jonelle K.
We were visiting family in Boston, they had never been there and we were looking for family friendly place to eat in the North End. It had a beautiful atmosphere. We had reservations and were seated right away waitress was a little hard to understand but she was nice. We got drinks right away, but not rushed. There was a little difficulty getting the meal for the kids but if worked out ok. The food was very tasty, well prepared, and beautifully presented. My son ate his WHOLE adult meal and the waitress was very nice to wait about the bill until after she was sure he had finished. It was a really nice place and I will definitely be back.
(4)Jacqueline P.
We had reservations at 7 on a Saturday night- but due to traffic and rain were a little late arriving. I called to let them know, they were very understanding and we were seated around 7:30... was told by host alot of later reservations came in early, which made no sense to me that they would seat people early if they had other resi's... but we got in relatively quickly... Very loud dining environment! Had trouble hearing my friends at the table! Food was delicious. Bread and tomato hummus like dip was delish!! Started with the arancini - which was amazing! Red sauce delicious as well, and I am picky with red sauce! Ordered the lobster ravioli's they had on special... and I was not disapointed! However, Panza has the best lobster Rav's in the north end in my opinion. Sorry Antico Forno yours were great tho!! Friends liked there meal too except one was disappointed with the Chicken Parm. I didn't try it... I am def a fan and I will definatley return to this restaurant!!
(4)Kristen S.
It is easy to get disenchanted by all the restaurants in the north end.. I mean how much Italian can one person eat. I have come up with this theory that each restaurant does one thing exceptionally well. Without question the Chicken Parm here is by far the best I have EVER had... EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR (in my Sandlot voice) even my nephew who NEVER agrees with me about much - commented it was the best he has ever had. The sauce - which is where chicken parm always goes wrong for me.. was not sour or bitter or over spiced it was this delightfully fresh tomato flavor with a hint of basil.. I could not stop eating it. I love that the chicken parm is served in this individualized ramekin type dish that is so hot your food is basically as hot as mmmmm the sun?!?!?! I have eaten the chicken parm 3 times and it has been consistently excellent!
(4)Gretchen G.
If I could give 0 stars, I would. Worst meal we had in Boston and one of the worst I have had anywhere in a while. Our service was worse than terrible. We were a party of 8 and the waiter knew his tip was guaranteed and could care less about us. Several of our meals were poor in quality. I would say only half of our group liked the dinner they ordered. Therefore, I would not give them great reviews for food quality either. One of the dishes we ordered was the fettuccine with prosciutto. The meat in the dish was definitely not prosciutto. The whole dish tasted like maple syrup, leading us to believe the meat was probably honey baked ham or something similar. When we mentioned it to the waiter, he told us "that is the way we do it, too bad". Don't expect drink refills or any sort of assistance. I can not imagine how this place has 4 stars. It is so not deserving of that ranking. If you like being ignored by the waiter, this is your restaurant.
(1)Sara R.
When we arrived we were told it would be a 35 minute wait. We got a seat at the bar and over an hour later we still weren't seated. It ended up being an hour and a half wait. We were in no hurry so it didn't bother us too much. The bar staff were nice but not overly friendly. The waitstaff and hostess staff are a bit unfriendly. The food itself was very good. I am gluten free and they were sensitive to my needs. We had a gluten free pizza as an app and it was quite good. For dinner I had gluten free pasta with the bolognese sauce. It was good tasting but nothing special. The atmosphere is definitely lively, fun and comforting. We had an enjoyable evening out.
(3)Emma T.
I don't mean to sound like a food snob - I'm really not. But when I go out to dinner I expect a few things...the food should be good (worth going out for), ambience should be nice, good service, and I should leave full and not broke. This place just does not do it for me. Having been in the North End for awhile - I can tell you, it is nowhere near the top of any list. The service is OK - not bad, not great. The ambiance is nice, I will give them that...dimly lit which is nice - and not the overhead lighting where my nose looks like something out of a horror movie - it's nice. The food however is nothing great at all. I was dragged here the other night with my husband and I just don't get it. Yes they have a brick oven and that seems to be the draw, but so what? If the food sucks what will a brick oven do?? Seriously don't waste your time..if you're on Salem Street there are SO many other better places than this.
(1)Ron M.
Evellent food. Good service. Marked down because of the incredible high noise level. It was impossible to converse with the person sitting just across the table. The walls, ceiling and floor have nothing at all to dampen the sound.
(2)Ross G.
I frequent Antico quite often as it is a good place to get a sit down lunch, have a romantic night out, go with family, or have a function. The place gets packed very quickly so I highly recommend reservations, if you can get one! This past time I went I got my old standby meal. I start with an arugula pizza from their pipping hot brick oven. The crust is nice and crisp with sweet mozzarella and fresh arugula on top. The arugula softens just a little but still has a nice crisp to it, so delicious. I then moved on to the linguine con vongole. This dish is superb. It is served in a thick ceramic dish that has foil and parchment paper wrapped linguine, white wine sauce, clams, and cherry tomatoes. It is truly cooked old world style in the brick oven and comes out slightly open and perfectly cooked. I never really have desert there but I had the tiramisu this time. I heard through the grapevine that the owners of Antico are somehow related to Mike's Pastry so I think that is where the tiramisu was from. Solid offering. If you want a great meal for any occasion, be sure to go here, it never disappoints.
(5)Ahana M.
Was here while visiting Boston for work. The food is quite decent. I had the arugula shrimp salad and the mushroom artichoke pizza. I have a soft spot for thin crust pizza which is what they serve. The service was friendly and efficient. It may be a while before i am back since I dont live here but a good option.
(3)Carla G.
Dined at Antico Forno because it was just voted "Best Of Boston, for Neighborhood Eats 2012"! Best Brick oven pizza I have ever eaten in this country! Reminds me of the food I had eaten on my last vacation in to the countryside of Italy. Very rustic Italian! Try the mussels appetizer, the fruitti di mare, the roasted brick oven chicken and do not leave without having the dolci pizza! It was all delicious! Very busy restaurant that even with a reservation we had to wait 15 minutes. But realized it was worth every minute!
(5)Himanshu S.
Nice place and wine collection. Food was decent. But it has a lot of wait time on saturday evening. Plus little to no privacy to talk.
(4)Kelly O.
Always skeptical of the North End (too many overhyped, overpriced, bad places), I was wary when a friend chose Antico Forno for dinner, but ended up being pleasantly surprised. We had a reservation for 4 at 7:30 on a Friday night, but didn't end up sitting until just before 8 as the place was wicked packed. The hostess was surprisingly nice and patient, and directed us to the bar to wait while our table became ready, but the bar area was also totally packed so we decided to wait outside (we were given a buzzer thingie). The medium-sized interior of the place is really cozy and homey with brick walls and a tight (cramped) table setup. For the most part, it was nice and warm, except if you're sitting right next to the windows in which case it can get a bit chilly so bring a sweater (on the plus side, they have thick curtains right inside the door to help keep the door draft under control). Sound bounces, making the noise level extremely high when crowded, so I wouldn't recommend this as a date place on a weekend (especially when you're sitting near a large table of drunken fools singing at the top of their lungs during dinner... seriously?). Our waitress was older with a thick Italian/NY accent, and wasn't overly friendly but was efficient and attentive (the water person was also very attentive, which was much appreciated). We got a pitcher of the sangria ($35) to share between 3 of us, and it literally came in a pitcher (like of the beer or water variety) which was kind of awesome. It was really good too, with strong hints of cinnamon and full of juicy flavor, although it didn't have any actual pieces of fruit. I'd definitely get this again. The starter bread was warm and came with a bean dip that wasn't bad. For my meal, I got the Gnocchi alla Patate, which was a bubbling dish straight from the oven full of homemade gnocchi covered in red sauce, basil, and fresh moz. This is a perfect dish for a cold day, warming and oozing and comforting, just the thing to chase those winter blues away. The gnocchi tasted more potatoe-y than any other gnocchi I've ever had (not a bad thing, just interesting), and the sauce/basil/cheese were tasty, so I was pretty happy with my meal. I even had enough to save for lunch the next day (leftovers were still tasty). My dining companions all had oven-roasted pasta dishes as well and they were all pleased with their selections. The best part of the meal was the prices... my gnocchi was $16.50, and for the quality and portion size, I thought this was an excellent value (same for most of their menu it seems). I think Antico Forno is a solid choice for the area that's not too expensive but is good quality, and I wouldn't hesitate to return.
(4)Jeff M.
Not sure how Antico Forno got voted best Italian restaurant in the North End. I had a good rustic Italian-American meal but nothing really blew me away. The dimly light space with roaring fire place makes for a five star ambience.
(3)Ram K.
One friendly Italian eatery. This is my first time here and well impressed. We had the Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp in Pink sauce and the IL Marinaro thin crust pizza (replaced the lettuce with red peppers). Both the dishes were good. The pizza was light not overwhelming with cheese. Drink selection was good and I liked my Rumba (Rum with triple sec on rocks). The service was super friendly and they were quite helpful on the phone when I was struggling for parking. This place will validate the parking at "Pacel 7 Garage" across the street and it is #3$ for 3 hours. I made a reservation on yelp (w/OpenTable) and the confirmation email contained information on parking etc. I wish I had more appetite to try their home made Tiramasu. WILL GO AGAIN
(5)Wesley H.
This restaurant is hidden in Boston's Little Italy section, near all those yummy bakeries on Hanford St ??? Great authentic brick oven, thin crust pizza. Ours had homemade sausage on it...very tasty. The pizza was relatively light, and reminded us of the great authentic Italian pizza in Italy. Salads were fresh and tasty with a simple balsamic dressing, and service was good for lunch. Our hostess could have been a little friendlier on the day we visited, but was more friendly on a second visit. Oh, their pizza (large combo) was a bargain at $11! Our total bill for lunch (2 salads and a large pizza was $26 before tax/tip. UPDATE: We were on a short land vacation prior to taking a cruise, which brought us back to Boston. We headed straight back to this restaurant again, and had another wonderfully delicious Pizza lunch when passing thru town. The meal was just as good if not better than the first one. You will love this place.
(4)Kim K.
The renovations are stunning! Antico Forno is now larger and with a bar! The food is still delicious, if not better. The pork chop was perfectly cooked along with spinach, potatoes, and peppers. Yummy! The eggplant rolls were heaven, the red sauce they are in is some of the best I've ever had. I asked for extra bread just for sopping because that's how I roll.
(4)Minh V.
awful place, don't visit. pros: 1. busboy was good 2. my fettuccini & bolognese was pretty good, great for sharing for 2 cons: 1. mean waitress who forced us to order an extra dish since we could not share a dish 2. forced 20% tip on our party of four 3. awful "manager" who refused to remove the tip since we split our check. the manager didn't look senior enough to be a manager 4. no refills on soda 5. very, very loud and crowded restaurant 6. mean waitress yelled at my friend while we were leaving. my friend had previously asked her to split our check, saying no one has ever asked her to do that before if i could do 0 stars, i would. don't eat at this place.
(1)Bob P.
Went here for dinner in the North End for some authentic Italian food and we weren't dissappointed. The atmosphere is a bit more relaxed then neighboring establishments so our not being dressed up beyond jeans and a t-shirt wasn't an issue. The lasagna primavera was wonderful. If I get back there I'd like to try the pizza from the stone oven.
(4)Sue M.
This was my first attempt trying the yelp reservations and it was great. I could only get a 9:30 reservation, but I reached the restaurant a little before 9, and we got a table in 10 minutes! The atmosphere was good, very lively but just a tad too noisy. We had the fried calamari- fresh, hot and crisp, yum! I had the lobster ravioli which was the special of the day, my husband had a chicken dish, I forget which, both were absolutely fab! I've been trying to get my husband to enjoy Italian food for a long long time; Post Antico Forno, he has finally seen the light!
(5)Zach W.
I think I've mentioned this before, but I'm a bit of a pizza snob. Traditional, coal (or wood) brick oven napoletana pizza is the way to my heart. So when we were craving pizza and walked by Antico Forno I knew I had to try it. I ordered the pizza napoletana (and had to add cheese).....wait what? It doesn't come with cheese? I had to do some research and figure out if this was traditional or not. Turns out traditional Napoletana can come with or without cheese, different strokes for different folks apparently. But, I prefer mine with cheese so I requested some. Unfortunately they simply added a shredded cheese mix to the top that was....meh. They did however brown the top of the crust nicely to give it a traditional napoletana taste. I can't complain...well actually I can...I can always complain about pizza. Antico Forno was tasty, somewhat legit, but not top notch amazingness.....luckily I didn't really expect that level of perfection from them.
(3)Melisa C.
My boyfriend and I went here after purchasing a deal from Gilt City. I made reservations beforehand on Open Table for 7 pm on a Wednesday night. Upon arriving at 6:50, the hostesses said that our reservation was for 7:30 in their computer, but they would try to accommodate us. They suggested we sit at the bar to wait. We waited for less than a few minutes, and I pulled up my reservation confirmation in my email and it did in fact say 7 pm, so I do not know how their computer got 7:30. The restaurant was incredibly crowded, and the tables are very tightly close together. Upon sitting down our waitress saw that we had a printed deal, so maybe that is why her service was the start was terrible. We waited a long time to place our order and she was just snooty. The food itself was decent, but not good enough for me to want to go back again. My boyfriend ordered the seafood pasta, and I had the pasta with some veggies such as peppers, eggplant, and goat cheese on top. Once we were done and clearly showing our waitress that we were ready and wanted to leave, she did not come by for another 20 minutes or so. When we got the check we just left a cash tip with the deal and left. Not a good experience whatsoever, and I will not go back to this restaurant!
(1)Cindy M.
Really no complaints - everything we had was excellent. We got the recommendation from a waitress at another restaurant nearby. She said we would really enjoy the pizza - which we did. Excellent sauce and crust. Waitress was very nice - always worries me when they don't write down the order - but she got everything right. Really loved the rolled eggplant appetizer with red sauce and ricotta cheese. Also, the tiramisu was delicious. Save room for some gelato down the street, though. Bread wasn't fantastic - but overall, the restaurant was airy and nice and smelled good and food was great.
(4)Justin M.
Great food. But took too long to get seated even though we had a reservation. Waited an hour past reservation time. Staff was willing to work something out.
(3)Yash B.
Food- Ordered the truffle oil pizza. I didn't know that you could cook a pizza, then drown it in truffle oil and serve it as a dish. Seriously, I couldn't even taste the mozarella or cherry tomatoes. The crust, however, was excellent, thus my despair. Use less truffle oil, sometimes less is truly more... The Caprese salad was...well, I have mixed feelings. The tomatoes were on drugs, I have never seen such huge tomatoes (no, don't try that line on women, it doesn't work). The homemade mozarella was AMAZING. Extremely tasty yet simple. The texture was firm and it melts in your mouth. Service- I am the nicest person in the world when it comes to service. I honestly don't even care usually as long as the food is good. But the service here was..awkward and bad. First of all, we had to wait about 10 minutes to even find someone to take our order. Then someone came by and asked us what we wanted. Didn't bother to define the specials, didn't really describe much. Fine, I'll live with it. But then, another waitress appearing completely clueless walked over and asked us for our order... we had just ordered. When we told her this she stared absentmindedly at us, and after what seemed an eternity walked away. This place has so much potential. If the service actually turns into service, and the food is not made in extremes, it really COULD be very good.
(1)Dane D.
We really loved going to this place when it first opened. After going back a year or so later portions seemed to have gotten less and prices went up. This does have pretty good Italian food and the brick oven pizza is very good.
(4)Jesse M.
We had a group of 5 that the hostess sat quickly even though we were a little late. The server said they couldn't make a Fuzzy Navel for one of our party which seemed odd. But he did get our order in before a party of 12 that ordered just before. With 2 kids, we really appreciated that. The food was a little slow to come out but worth the wait. We tried the gnocchi, pizza, fusilli and fettucini with ham, all of which was delicious. We will definitely be enjoying the leftovers tomorrow.
(4)Steph F.
This Italian restaurant in the North End holds a special place in my heart. My husband and I went here when in town interviewing for jobs last year. It was a random pick, but we loved the atmosphere, gnocchi (me), and seafood pasta (him). We came back a few months later, when we were in town again to look for housing (it was also our second anniversary). We have since moved to the area and were excited to see that Antico Forno was rated among the Best of Boston. We went back recently for a date night. We have never had to wait long for a table although we have always visited midweek. As new Boston residents, we are trying to commit to trying lots of new places... But it is wonderful to know we have a comfortable, delicious, reasonably priced, sentimental stand-by in the North End!
(4)Stephen M.
Heard place was exceptional, and although ambiance great, food was a solid "meh." One interesting strategy they had was to serve the food so hot it can't be tasted.
(2)Jessica S.
This is one of my favorite north end restaurants. Came here a few months ago. I love their Boscaiola pasta, my favorite. Caprese salad is still good as is the cannoli. Good cappucino. My bf also liked his food and dessert
(4)Hans H.
(Sorry Maggie.) I came here about 6 years ago before they had expanded and it was so good that I ate my whole pizza (the artichoke and porcini mushroom w/ truffle oil), half of my now-wife's pizza, and the remaining LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE that my friend had. Where does it all go, indeed. I'm pretty sure my stomach grows proportionally with the quality of the food in front of me. (I'm so sorry Maggie.) I happened to be passing through here on business on my way up to Nashua, and lo and behold, Antico Forno is on my way from Boston Logan to Nashua. So....why not! I have time.. (Maggie, I'm sorry. I really didn't eat here. You should stop reading.) Had the same pizza and my buddy had the same pasta, and it was every ounce just as good as I had remembered, except the pizza was a bit soggy in the middle this time because of the artichoke, but it appears that they've aged well and expansion didn't affect the food much. The pizza crust is just as crisp and delicious with their traditional oven, and their pastas and seafood are just as fresh and PACKED with stuff. Yeah, it's good. (Maggie, I went to a really crummy local place and just got beers and pretzels. It was terrible.)
(4)Heather M.
We went on a Saturday night, and the five of us got in in 30 minutes without a reservation. Not to bad! However, it was SO loud that you could not have a conversation. Also, it was packed. I'm not sure how they can put that many tables so close together and not be in violation of a fire code. I had to struggle to get into my chair so I wouldn't fall into the lady's lap behind our table. However, our two pizzas were very good but they are only 10" round and the pieces are small. The 5 of us ate 3 pizzas down to the last slice. That, and 1 beer, and tap water cost the 5 of us about $50 prior to the tip. The service was quick and efficient, the food was hot and very flavorful. I did see quite a few people with the mussel dish (in tin foil) so that must be good. I also heard the lady behind me say her dish was so hot, it was like getting a steam bath and the shrimp was very good. I know it has a good rating on Zagat, but I would give it 4 stars if the noise level was a bit reduced and the tables had room to actually move your chair back and not be in some stranger's lap.
(3)Kristina T.
I was visiting a friend who lives in the North End, and we swung in here for dinner one night. We had reservations and were seated at a small table that was essentially in the entryway, so my general impression of the atmosphere isn't as good as it could have been. The compimentary bread is decent, the crust tasted a tad bit burnt, but the texture was nice and dense. We ordered a margherita pizza and fusilli al tegamino to split. Both were brought out quicker than we had anticipated. We were then essentially ignored by the staff, which was more annoying than it could have been because our pizza had TWO pieces of basil on it and I had hoped to request some more. Lack of basil aside, the pizza was just ok and twice the price of my favorite neopolitan pizza place. The pasta was SO GOOD though, I will never go without goat cheese on my pasta ever again. We ended up topping the pizza with the pasta so that the pizza didn't go to waste. 4 stars for the pasta. Knock off a star for not having a water refill, having to stare/glare at the waiter to get his attention to finally get the bill after the table had been bussed for over 5 minutes, and silly table placement.
(4)Skye A.
I normally eat at Panza, and Giacomo, so I thought I would give this place a try. I specifically came here for the gnocchi, and a glass of malbec. The ambiance was nice, cheerful, and good staff, however, a little too much like a sports bar for my taste. Location is excellent, and bathroom, well, they need more than one toilet. As for the food, since this was oven brick style gnocchi, I was expecting the quality better. It was good, but nothing special, it was too bland, and a huge mistake, no bolognese sauce, which I thought I was getting since I called ahead before walking 20 blocks to visit you. The bread was good, not hard, which is nice, but a little garlic would have been nice, no just plain olive oil. Wine selection needs some work, perhaps adding wines from Argentina, and more Italian wines would be mist suitable, than the little selection that you currently have now. I'm not sure if I will return, perhaps if you add meat sauce to such a fine dish. 3 starts for location, nice staff, and not such a long wait.
(3)Jen L.
I've been here a couple times in the past six months. I highly recommend the arancini to start, and the linguine con vongole if you like shellfish. The staff was really helpful when making our selection. They also have gluten free options, which is difficult to find in the North End.
(4)Steve M.
Tonight I ordered a pizza. Asked for it to be crispy. The woman says, "Well done?" I say yes. When I pick it up, and get back to apt., not even close. It was limp and certainly not well done. That was the pizza I order from them. And will tell others. On the good side, their fine in is very good.
(1)Josephine L.
3.5 stars but our waiter was nice. Antico Forno offers a pretty solid range of Italian pizza and pasta fare. The quality isn't bad but it's not the best brick-oven out there. The space is quite cozy and intimate for being about 3 times bigger than the average cucina on Hanover St and the staff are pretty friendly. My friend and I split the Involtini di Melanzane (rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese and basil, baked in brick oven with plum tomato sauce and parmigiano cheese) and the Margherita pizza. The eggplant was amazing and had all the flavors, textures and tastes that you'd expect/want. The pizza was a little oily and the crust was a little burnt. Not terribly impressed with it. I was initially worried that that wouldn't be enough food for me as I typically have the appetite of a 15-year-old boy...who's captain of the basketball team...and just come home from the big game. But I needn't have fretted. The eggplant was big and rich and stuffed with ooey-gooey cheese and the pizza could have fed a village. Everything was so tasty and decadent that I somehow wound up taking 3 slices of the pizza home (and my friend took another 3). Bonus: splitting the bill and paying under $20 for everything. Drinks: Like Florentine, Antico Forno surprised me by having an actual cocktail list in addition to the usual wine/beer only that seems to be characteristic of most North End establishments. I tried the Antico Forno Martini, as it sounded the most unusual out of everything and it was...okay, stronger than I expected, but otherwise rather forgettable.
(4)Mike R.
I had lunch her a few months ago and I was a bit disappointed. I got the Lasagna and it was a bit odd. I expected the traditional Lasagna which is layers of pasta, meat sauce and cheese but their version was essentially sauce and a lot of cheese on top of vegetables. If there was any pasta, there was very little. It felt like a pile of cheese on top of vegetables. It was just unexpected and not in a good way. My wife got pasta with clam sauce and she enjoyed it. For an appetizer, we got the mussels which were good. We didn't get the best table. It was a high top in the middle of a hallway. So people kept bumping into us. Not sure that table should be there. I think if we had a better table the experience would have been more pleasant. The service was okay. We had to wait a bit for a few things.
(3)Jeff F.
Ran in for lunch about a few weeks ago and was impressed with the Linguine al Frutti di Mare baked in parchment paper. I've had Frutti di Mare dozens of times but had never seen this parchment paper move Antico Forno pulled - excellent! Came in here with a group tonight and confirmed that Antico is on the short list if you're looking for a spot in the North End that isn't pricey and takes reservations. Great atmosphere - solid service. Here's the rundown the grub: - Caprese Salad (B) - Calamari (B) - both apps were average to above average - Bolognese (A) - was on the specials menu and is recommended - Fettuccini (A-) this is a great option if you've had the Fruitti di Mare and want to change it up. - Tiramisu (A++) - I know, Tiramisu is a played out dessert I tend to avoid too, but the waiter said it was homemade and the table was game. Easily one of the highlights of the meal.
(4)Andy M.
Located in the North End this place has some of the best Pizza I have ever had. The place was very crowded and loud - reminded me of my family's house on a Sunday afternoon sitting around the dinner table. Just a great Italian restaurant that is reasonably priced and has good service and the Pizza . . . . was just over the top. Have eaten Pizza all over the world and this place is one of my favorites. While in Boston we wanted to go back and get something other than Pizza but the line was out the door. Maybe next trip.
(5)Tyler N.
Absolutely wonderfull
(5)Sam G.
Excellent food here. The service was a tad bit slow, but that was most likely due to the number of soccer fans there for the Euro cup. Got the gnocchi with melted mozzarella - really spectacular. Cost was as pretty average to every other restaurant in the North End - not too expensive, but not cheap. Overall, would suggest at least trying the place. I know I would go back for seconds.
(4)Shannon M.
Everyone has their favorite North End restaurant. Antico Forno is mine. The pasta is divine and made in house, as it should be. I've been here several times with various friends/visiting relatives, and every time we've left raving about our respective pasta dishes. Service is on the slower side, but let's be honest-- you're not going to a cozy Italian restaurant to rush through dinner. Get some wine, nosh on the rolls, get a caprese salad to start out, and take your time. Mike's will still be open when you finish eating, I promise.
(5)Michael S.
We were seated right next to another two person table. And I mean like 6 inches away. The restaurant clearly had other tables open. Despite this, the 300lb slob at the table next to ours had his arm draped over the chair at our table. I would imagine the Hostess would have at least asked him to move it or sat us at another table. After that the service was terrible. Our waiter came by three times: drinks, app and then entree. I had to flag down the bus boy for a check About an our after we were seated the place seated a few large,parties and became so loud it was tough to hear conversation between the table half a foot away and the large seatings.. The food was decent, but I could have gotten the same meal at any other place in that area for,about the same price and a much nicer ambiance. I picked this place out to bring a date, gentleman take it from me, this is NOT the place to bring a girl. Its noisy, cramped and compared to so many of the other spots in the area, without character.
(2)Steve W.
Excellent food, fast service!
(4)Ray H.
Ever since Nicole's closed, the European went its separate way and Hanover Street became "Little Weston" we decided to look for restaurants in other neighborhoods. About a year ago, a friend recommended we try Antico Forno and since it was on Salem Street, we did. Our first time was on a Friday night and we got there just as the place started to fill. The receptionist sat us at a table that was somewhat in a busy area but she was very apologetic and by the way, if you want quiet and secluded tables (some of you other reviewers) you may want to try Newbury Street. Our waiter (Adrian) was excellent. He was polite, attentive and spent a lot of time catering to our 6 year old son. Rose was bartending at the time and she bent over backwards to fool around and laugh and joke with our son as well. She made him a very special drink and garnished it with several cherries which made his evening. We can not picture Rose using bad language or being rude. Our waiter Adrian recommended the rolled melanzani appetizer. It arrived hot and tasted even better. A great start. We had the Scalopini with mushrooms and artichoke as well as the Carciofi e Porcini pie. The crust at AF is arguably the best in the NE and recently a new pizza chef has joined and has improved on what was already perfect. I have had this pie at least 6 times and never once has there been too much truffle oil! We celebrated our sons 7th birthday at AF last night. I had the fusilli and clams served in parchment with cherry tomatoes, garlic etc. There had to be a pound of clams in this dish! The manager Dona spends a lot of time overseeing the floor and "yes", sometimes things may go wrong, but overall I would rate this restaurant the best in the North End.
(5)Mindy L.
Two thumbs up. - Caprese salad: generous helping of four slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatos with a big side of greens drizzled with olive oil/ vinegar, peppered and lightly salted. - Linguine al Frutti di Mare: this was amazing. Clams, mussels, calamari and (HUGE) shrimp sauteed in butter and red sauce and baked in parchment paper. This whole dish was so good. Everything had such wonderful flavor...the pasta was cooked perfectly, slightly al dente the way I like it. I don't think I would ever order anything else after this dish...I'd come back specifically to have it again.
(4)Anthony G.
My friends and I (party of 4) visited Antico Forno on a Saturday night in March. Although our experience was mixed, I'm giving it a low rating because we waited an hour despite having a reservation. We had reservations at 8:30pm, but didn't sit down until 9:30pm - and the host staff was pretty indiferrent about it. I find that completely unacceptable - the whole point of making a reservation is to be seated within a reasonable time frame; waiting more than 15 minutes (again, if you have a reservation) is simply poor management and waiting an hour is completely unreasonable. To make matters worse, the bar was predictably crowded and the bathrooms were next to the bar so we constantly had to move around as people squeezed passed us. This meant we couldn't comfortably get a drink while we waited - even if we waded through the sea of people to get to the bar tenders. After we were seated, things were better. The food was a little overpriced (which is not too bad because most restaurants in the North End are way overpriced), and the food itself was fair. I had a risotto special which had good flavors, but way too much salt. I'd recommend the antipasto, however! On a slower night (or after the restaurant's management gets its act together), I would recommend it. Just don't rely on your reservation if its busy!
(1)Cindy W.
When I am with a big group (11 ppl) the north end is not the first place I think of to go. However, after leaving the Purple Shamrock after drinks there isn't allot of places to have a good meal within walking distance except the North end. It was a toss between Neptune Oysters or here. There was a huge wait at NO so we headed down the street to here. We looked inside and the place was packed on a late Sunday night. We placed our name for a party of 11. Only 20 mins! We headed over to there bar and split 2 bottles of wine. We got seated very quickly. We ordered 2 calamaris to share. They were delicious!!! Lightly battered and a honey garlic dressing as a dipping sauce with a simple salad on the side. I totally will order that again! I got the rigatoni with sauage...it came out burning HOT and when I sunk my teeth into it it was absolutey delicious!!!! My boyfriend got their linguine al fruttie di mare. It was soooooo big. Lucky he was hungry or he would have not finished it at all. My friend got the gnochhi. It was perfectly cooked. Not too doughy or chewy. the sauce from my entree and the gnocchi sauce was the same. So depending on what you like in it or not, will be the deal breaker for these two options. Overall I had a great experience there. Many of our guests have been there too. They described this place to always have great food, service and always consistent!
(4)Heidi D.
This is my favorite restaurant in the North End. My favorite dish is the RIGATONI SALSICCIA E RICOTTA. They put it in the brick oven before serving which gives it a smokey, crispy topping. So delicious! Their pizza is really good too! Also, they now have gluten free pasta.
(5)Erin T.
During a recent East Coast trip we tried this place with a couple of friends who live in Boston. I got the Fusilli Al Tegamino and it was excellent. Fresh ingredients and al dente pasta. This place is right in the heart of little Italy, which is a great spot to walk around. Even better, the next street over has two of the best bakeries in town. You can't miss them because there is a line outside the door.
(4)Caralie C.
This restaurant wasn't my favorite... But it wasn't horrible. I just think it's definitely for the younger crowd. A good location in the North End to go with your kids! It was very noisy on a Friday night at 7pm. The service was good... The waitress was pleasant... The pizza was OK. For me I had a hard time choosing a pizza because many of them seemed similar. While I was looking at the menu I began to wish I was at Ernestos getting buffalo chicken pizza! We asked for bread and they brought it over.... But ugh. The orange chunky dipping stuff made me gag... Several times! I had to stop a worker to ask what it was. It's a puréed bean with some tomato and some other stuff. Yuck. Where's the olive oil and pepper?! I've now tried this restaurant once... And that's enough for me!
(3)Joe T.
Over-rated. Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. Walked into the North End to try Regina's... it was packed and I was starving. The idea of being herded like cattle into an outside line was unappealing and unappetizing. After consulting Mr. Yelp, the GF and I sulked to Antico Forno. It looked promising and relaxing and the reviews were good. I was ready to eat. Oh yeah I was about to start a diet so I was really hoping to get a great pizza fix before I started being no fun. I ordered the ribbolito soup. I'm not a soup guy so this was a questionable choice on my part. The soup took a while to arrive and it was bland. I didn't like it at all. My standards aren't very high when I'm super hungry so this soup really sucked and it was overpriced at $8. My gf's salad was pretty bare bones and not very good either. Should have stuck with free bread. We ordered a margherita pizza to share. It took forever to arrive. While waiting we noticed big chunks of floating bread in my GF's coke. GROSS. Totally turned me off. The waiter didn't apologize at first and didn't seem that surprised. He brought a coke in a new glass. WTF. Floating bread this time. He took it back and brought a third coke. Finally... no floaters. The za finally came. I love me some greasy za, but this pie was nothing but grease. It could barely stay together. The toppings were floating like the sea. Ughhhh. Not a good meal in any regard. The waiter apologized for all of the problems and brought us a free piece of tiramasu. It was not good. Tasted frozen and watery. We ate very little of it. Oh and they comped us the Coke, how nice. Highly recommend staying away. There are too many other choices to try this place. One of the rare times I felt like Yelp let me down. This place felt like a 2 star restaurant.
(1)Will F.
This is the best meal I've had in awhile. I had the lobster Ravioli with shrimp and was blown away! Incredible appetizers with ricotta cheese and delicious salad as well. The waiters were super friendly and seem to make pretty much anything you want.
(5)kelly m.
A friend and I had lunch here on a weekday recently. Very friendly waitstaff but we ordered the meatball sandwich and a margarita pizza, both of which were mediocre. I think I'd try another place next time.
(3)sandra h.
4/12/2012 It was pouring down rain in Boston when my husband and I got off the whale watching boat and walked to Antico Forno in the North End. We had 2:30 PM reservations we'd made on opentable.com . We had thought the whale watching tour would last longer, but we arrived at the restaurant over half an hour early. The hostess ushered us right in and asked if we'd like to sit back by the brick oven to get warm. We must have looked as cold as we felt. We were immediately served great bread and olives. We ordered the gnocchi and a Margherita pizza to split, accompanied by a Peroni beer on draft. The food was great, the service was prompt, and we liked our waitress. She and the cook were speaking in Italian. We felt like we'd walked into a little piece of Italy. It's a good memory, and we would definitely go back.
(5)Amanda C.
I'll start with what I wish every yelp review started with, the food. The first night I went to AF I had the Caesar salad and the gnocchi. The Caesar salad was very bland, the sauce limited and runny, and the croutons were smaller than dice. The gnocchi was tasty, but there was too much sauce and the dough was rough. My personal preference for delicious gnocchi is that it almost melts in your mouth, and you won't get that here. On my second night I had the margherita pizza, which was also rather bland. The redeeming quality of AF is the fact that you can make reservations online, and the bartender!!! On my first night she saw that our waiter was taking forever to come and take our order and she took it for us. The second night, we sat at the bar because we liked her so much and she was very sweet and considerate of our orders and not constantly asking how our food was. If you find yourself having to wait for a table, you'll thank me later if you just sit at the bar. The other guests tables are so close it's claustrophobic, but at the bar you have great service, a view of the tv, and of course...the bar.
(3)Sara S.
Antico forno is one of the best places we've ever eaten. The staff was unbelievable with their attentiveness. The food was amazing. You can tell it is family owned and operated; wonderful how everybody works together to take care of the diners. We can't wait to come back.
(5)Steve P.
Great food. Very good atmosphere. They give you some kind of sauce/cheese dip with your bread that is delicious. The white pizza was good, although after looking around, I wish we got something with sauce. But still very good!
(5)Lee H.
Had a coupon, decided to head down to Antico Forno for lunch. We started with an eggplant appetizer - quite good. The caesar salad was way under garlicked for my taste. My frutti di mari was very good, with lots of shell fish and calamari. My wife's gnocchi was also respectable. So overall, the food is good, although the bar is set very high in the North End. I'm giving a 4 more for value and less for the food quality. Parking is awful, of course. Service is good. I'd try a pizza or the fried calamari if I were to go back.
(4)Carmen N.
Great pizza and sangria. Staff was wonderful.
(4)Rick M.
Went here on a Saturday night. The place was very busy and as other reviewers have said it was "very" loud. The best way to describe the tables/seating is cafeteria style. We were sitting at a small table which was right on top of the couple sitting next to us. I got the linguine al fruitti de marre. It was terrible! There is absolutely no way this meal was cooked fresh. After placing our order the food was delivered to the table in "under" five minutes. The meal was served in a bowl wrapped in aluminum foil. The linguine was extremely soggy and tasteless, and the shrimp was like rubber. Based on the food being so bad, and their being able to deliver a meal on a busy Saturday night in a couple of minutes, the only way they could do that is to heat up precooked meals in a microwave. This is why the linguine was so soggy. Who knows how long it was sitting in a frig waiting to be heated up? $22.00 for this meal was a big disappointment. Although the house merlot was good, it was overpriced at $9.00 a glass. Yea, it's the North End, but this is a cafeteria style restaurant and not at all fancy. The prices should reflect that. Had to wait forever to get the check.
(1)Ido W.
The bottom line: Nice atmosphere, good food and reasonable prices for the North end. I would give them 3.5 stars if given the opportunity, but leaning toward the 3. The pro's: The atmosphere was authentic (a bit course, a bit unprofessional, a bit loud, very Italian, in my opinion). The portions were big. The food was tasty. I had the lasagna and the wife had the porcine mushroom pizza. Our friends had a meat pizza, pork chops and calamari. The con's: It did not blow me away. Also, the dishes were not elegant. They were "in your face" with just enough salt and fat to make you take the next bite, but too much to make that bite guilt free.
(3)Paul S.
I wanted to like this place more, especially since we waited for an hour for our table. We had no reservations and a party of six on a beautiful spring Saturday night so it's not their fault they were busy, although they did tell us it would be 30 minutes, not 60. The food was lacking flavor. Even the bread was plain white bread, not even warm. I had a salad which was drowned in oil. Followed by the "pan seared" veal, which did not seam to be pan seared at all and was also drowned in a brown sauce. It tasted ok. My wife had the swordfish, which was a large, thin piece slightly over cooked. My wife's friend had the risotto which she loved and her husband also had the veal. My daughter had the brick oven pizza. She liked it, I had a piece because it looked so good, but it was also lacking flavor. The crust was good but the sauce had no taste and there was hardly any cheese on it. We also ordered the sangria, which guess what? Also lacked flavor and was served in a plastic pitcher. For $36 I was expecting something much better. The service was great, especially the bus boys. They were on top of everything. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive as well. The total bill for 4 adults and two kids was $260( beware they added the tip in and we almost double tipped) this seamed like a lot considering we had no apps, no desert or coffee. If it were half as expensive I would have thought it was decent, but considering the price and overall lack of flavor, it was disappointing.
(2)Jill G.
Amazing Italian food. I went on Valentines Day and it was a great date spot! Huge portins- I ordered the chicken and got an entire bird on my plate! Delicious and reasonable priced.
(4)John S.
The recent renovations transformed Antico Forno from "quaint and inviting" to "grand yet inviting." The warm and rich decor is a perfect backdrop to what will assuredly be a wonderful meal. I've been to Antico Forno many times, and I've long since stopped punishing myself for visiting it over and over again at the expense of trying someplace new. During this most recent trip, I opted for the Restaurant Week menu because it offered what is, for me, the perfect Italian meal: arancini (cooked perfectly), veal bolognese (over a wonderful homemade pasta) and a cannoli (artfully presented and flavorful). In a neighborhood with literally one hundred options, you'd be hard pressed to find a better meal than here. And now you get to eat it in even more comfort!
(5)Rod S.
Enjoy the great atmosphere and wonderful Italian meal, especially the pizzas. Ah, and don't forget to order the Nutella Pizza ... buon appetito
(4)Melissa M.
We're hungry! We want food now! We don't wanna wait! Oh, what's this? Antico? Forno? NO WAIT! YES YES YES!! In we go, no, we don't want that table, it's too sunny and the people are right on top of you! YES YES YES!! We'll take that cozy table in the back! We are here for food! We are here for wine!! Foooood! Good Italian red! Wiiiine! Decent bread. Fiiiine! Pasta!! PASTA!!! Inhaled. Didn't really like the rigatoni with chicken and veggies in a cream sauce. Didn't taste that great. But, eating here was fine. Would we come back to dine? Probably not, probably not we say. We'll try another place in the great North End someday.
(3)Whitney J.
There are so many choices in the north end and this one is average, if you want a short wait and a clean bathroom this place is fine but will leaving you wishing for a bit more. The bread is store bought and the pizza was a little greasy, it was our friends birthday, but they still charged for dessert without telling us. It isn't great but it isn't awful.
(3)Michael C.
This is exactly the type of restaurant for which one can write a short, but meaningful review. There's nothing outrageously good or bad to report about Antico Forno. It's simply solidly executed fare at a reasonable price. I stopped in here for lunch a while ago and both my wallet and taste buds were satisfied.
(4)Dan C.
This place was a fuckin' sauna, I half expected to see Vigo Morensen's naked ass bust out of the kitchen fighting with a pair of Russian mobsters (a la Eastern Promises--you know, the scene where you see a little too much Vigo...terrifying). Let me explain--I came here with my girlfriend on a rather cold night. After waiting in the dark dungeon-like area that is entrance for 15 or so minutes we get a table...and while there are tons of open tables we get sat right next to the door. Of all the tables in this place we have to put next to the door; for me this is not a huge problem since I'm 57% walrus and I'm relatively unaffected by the fact that every time the door opens it is like superman is doing his ice-breath thing all over the place, but for any normal individual its unbearable so we request a move. Where do they move us--any of the many open tables in the middle of the room? No, of course not. They sit my ass right next to the brick pizza ovens. Now I know what Hell feels like. As for the food--people need to either learn that you don't cook the prosciutto on the pizza or as a society we need to stop putting it on pizza because it is a travesty. The prosciutto on the pizza was like bacon, really really expansive bacon, completely absent of the delicate taste and texture that give it its price tag. The pizza itself was kind of crap too, for a thinner crust it was much to thick and floppy with absolutely no taste. The same could be said for the carciofi e porcini--frankly Domino's could probably do it better. Maybe I could chalk this whole thing up to me not really loving pizza, but the mussels were dreadful. I don't have a huge problem with the fact that not all the mussels will be open when they come out (either dead or underdone), but when you have more inedible mussels than edible ones...yeah, then you start to have a problem. I'm not coming back.
(2)Arianna F.
The food here was great, however I feel like the overall experience was something that I would not want to return to. Maybe if they offer take out? To start, we made a reservation day in advance and still had to wait about 45 minutes to get seated. I understand things happen at restaurants, but I was handed a buzzer when I when to the hostess stand and seemed to be waiting just like people who did not have a reservation. Once we sat down the tables were super tight and it was very dark in the place. I live in the North end so I understand tight coders but this was just super crowded. We were so close to the people next to us that when the lady went to eat her pasta the splatter his my husband! Then there was the noise.... I felt like I was at a concert for an hour and not having dinner. I could barely hear the people at my table talking... it was just super loud. Besides the atmosphere, the food was wonderful and very authentic. However, going out to eat I would just have learned expect more from the north end.
(2)Alexandra L.
I went to Antico Forno this past weekend with my brother and his girlfriend, and it was just as it had always been: good food, decent service (not overly attentive, but there when you need it), and good prices. It's not anything to write home about; but if nothing else, it's always consistent.
(3)Bonnie L.
Antico Forno is one of my favorites! The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the service is always perfect. I'm a big pizza fan and love their brick oven pizza but my boyfriend says their pasta is just as good. The prices are a little high but I guess that's expected in the north end!
(5)Sarah P.
My date and I went to Antico Forno because it's our favorite restaurant in the North End (well, I should caveat to say my favorite... he's partial to Neptune Oyster.) As always, we had a wonderful time there, complete with delicious Italian food and service that didn't disappoint. First of all, the ambiance fits both a romantic date as well as a family night out. Antico Forno is the epitome of an Italian night out... it can cater a romantic, intimate evening as well as a group celebration without a hitch. The food doesn't disappoint either. My favorite option is the meatball appetizer, which is on the specials list but always seems to be available (at least it has been the 3-4 times I've visited in the past year.) I'd also recommend a flatbread pizza and the gnocchi, both of which are delicious. Service is always surprisingly good here. I've gone during restaurant week, and they let us substitute a pizza for one of the main items on the limited restaurant week menu with no fuss and no additional charge (let's face it, pizza costs less.) They also went out of their way to store our belongings (I had my laptop bag with me right after work which they moved to a separate table within view that wasn't being used.) On a separate occasion, I went to Antico Forno with my mother, who ordered a seafood pasta dish with white wine sauce instead of the traditional red sauce. Even during a busy Saturday night, they were happy to make the revised dish without any problem. To this day, it's still probably the best thing I've eaten there. So overall, I'd say this is one of the best options in the North End. You can't go wrong with the food and wine, the service is always reliably good regardless of how busy they are, and the ambiance fits almost any occasion. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
(4)Colleen C.
I'm honestly shocked that this place has a four star review on yelp. I felt like it was SO overpriced for the quality of food. My husband and I went here on a busy Saturday night, but were seated right away (yay!). We were asked right away what kind of water we wanted, and another member of the waitstaff came by soon after to take our drink order. While she was there, we asked whether or not the pizzas were sharing sized (for 15-18, it could go either way). She said they weren't really, and we were cool with that. What was less cool was that I felt like our treatment after that went kind of down hill. It was clear that she was much more attentive to the table next to us (you're kind of close, so it's hard to miss). Even if we had split the entree, we tip really well when that's the case, so please don't assume that we're cheap a****. We ended up ordering two pizzas, neither of which were very good. My husband got one with sausage, mushroom, and artichoke. The sausage was gristly, and the artichokes tasted like they came straight from a can. I got a four-cheese pizza, which would have been fine, except they made it with smoked mozzarella. Many of the pizzas featured smoked mozzarella, and I avoided them, because I'm not a fan. The four-cheese wasn't labeled as such, so this was disappointing. The bread was pretty terrible, but the wine was good. I'd say for a similar quality (and about half the price), head to Bertucci's in Kenmore Square. There are better options in the North End.
(2)Ashley D.
Another north end hit. From pasts to piazza you cant go wrong
(5)Johanna D.
Was looking for a place for my boyfriend and I to have dinner before the Celtics game last Friday night and after rifling through many reviews settled on this place. Sad to say, I was pretty disappointed. nothing was particularly terrible but there wasn't anything that was particularly good either. First off, Yelp says they have a full bar which was untrue, they have a few drinks on a cocktail menu and that was all you could get! Had the meatball appetizer and my boyfriend said mine were way better. I got the vegetable lasagna which was ok but less impressive than the cafeteria at my work that serves it. My bf raved about his chicken parm dish but I've had wayyy better and for cheaper. Bottom line, they are super overrated. You totally steered me wrong this time, fellow Yelpers!
(2)DC R.
We arrived early for our reservation and were told we'd be in shortly after. That turned out to be 30 minutes after reservation time. The noise seemed scary loud, but it was ok once inside. It did vary from lawn mower at 20 feet loud to rock concert loud. Sitting in view of the brick oven though was calming. The server was friendly and helpful. The bread served with olive oil and spices was tasty. The Calamari was ok and served with a salad, but no lemons or sauce accompanied it. The pizza looked inviting. The server steered me to a fantastic, delicious Veal Bolinghese. We did not see a 20% tip added to the bill for a party of 5 as someone else mentioned, so we picked our own. I would come back.
(3)Liz K.
Great Italian restaurant in the North End, reasonably priced and delicious food. I have come here with the family and with friends. It is good for all occasions. I made a reservation both times, because I heard it gets packed on the weekends. The pizza was great and the calamari to start is a must! The decor is nice with brick walls throughout and the service was excellent both times I went. This is probably my favorite restaurant in the North End and I would definitely recommend others to go and try it out!
(4)Karyn V.
I lived in the North End for 10 years (moving out in mid-2011). Needless to say, I have been to almost all the restaurants in the neighborhood. If you are looking for a place where you can sit down and eat a meal for 20 or so dollars a person, this is a great option. They have great pasta, a few entrees, and excellent pizza. Almost all of it is baked in their antique wood burning stove. Other options for this type of outing that I would recommend: Trattoria di Monica or Assaggio, but these are a little different as well.
(4)So S.
"OId oven" is the translation. (I think). My favorite Italian place in the North End which is known for great Italian cuisine. I just love how cozy it is and how great and traditional the food tastes (baked in parchment paper in a stone oven). The prices are moderate for the great food you get---not as expensive as their famous very expensive sister restaurant (Terramia) across the street . LOVE the caprese and the fruitti de mare linguini!! Amazing pizzas and everything else. Cute date place as well.
(5)Dan T.
Anniversary dinner with my wife last night. The food was outstanding. The service was very good and the atmosphere was nice. Began with a bottle of wine and a basket of fresh bread. Instead of an infused olive oil the bread was served with some kind of bean/cheese dip(I think?). It wasn't very flavorful and I didn't like the consistency for bread dipping so I asked the waiter if he could bring olive oil instead and he brought it right out. Problem solved. Appetizer was fried calamari. Perfectly prepared. It was lightly breaded, not greasy at all and lightly drizzled with something magical. Cooked to perfection, not too chewy like calamari can be. Possibly the best calamari I've ever eaten. I chose the risotto for my main course. Once again, prepared perfectly. The asparagus was still a little crispy, just the right amount of pancetta to add savory flavor, tasty mushrooms, and it held together exactly as it should on the fork. Warm on the outside and hot on the inside. Absolutely top notch. My wife ordered the Fettuccini Positano. She loved it. I only had a bite but I can say that the sauce was tangy and delicious, the pasta was fresh and the seafood was delicious. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. There was a hovering busboy at one point which we weren't thrilled about but not a big deal. It's on the loud side and the tables are close, but that's what you should expect in a small North End restaurant on a Friday night. Dine here, you will be glad you did.
(5)Peter N.
Not bad. I was in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs and was in the North End. While it wasn't on the menu, the waitress said they could, and they did. It was tasty! The bread was okay - not great. The beer selection was a bit small, and the tea selection was worse, but the staff was friendly.
(3)Heather S.
This is my go-to, favorite place to head in the North End when I'm craving some seriously tasty pasta. Unpretentious and small, the dishes here pack a hearty punch of Old World goodness. No extra flourishes or foppiness, just real food. The prices here are reasonable, especially compared with the touristy places on Hanover Street, and you get a good amount of food for your money. Last night, I had one of the specials-- gnocchi stuffed with wild mushrooms, and it was the best gnocchi I've ever tasted, hands down. The hubs tried their rigatoni alla boscaiola, and our friend had the fusilli al tegamino (both were big hits). I've never had a bad meal here-- though I do try to avoid coming to the North End during the crazy weekend times, so take that with a grain of salt. Here's the short list of things that you need to know: there aren't a lot of tables (typical North End), so plan ahead and make a reservation. They are on OpenTable, but you could also just call ahead. Try the caprese, have some wine, enjoy some conversation, and watch the pretty fire in the brick oven. Check out the rooster sitting above the statue of the Virgin Mary, and enjoy your dinner. Also, the squirrel on the front awning is awesome. Love it.
(5)Scott S.
This is my "go to" place in the North End in a nice, off-the-beaten-Hanover-Street path. Partly because they validate parking for Parcel 7 (search for my review) and mostly because their food and service are great. The same wait staff is always there when I go -- and they are always friendly and accommodating. If you want to try an appetizer, for example, they'll make a smaller dish for you so that you don't have to order the full size. Many of their menu items are cooked in a brick oven, including the pizza -- they are fantastic. Try the baked gnocchi if you want to try something a bit different -- it's sort of like a baked ziti without meat, and with gnocchi instead of the ziti. Only drawback is that they can squeeze tables together sort of tightly on the weekends, so that you're a bit too close to the table next to you. But isn't that par for the course in the North End?
(5)Isabelle J.
It was a great evening! The service was prompt and friendly, wine was great (even let us order half glasses) and the calamari was DELICIOUS. The pizzas were great too. Make sure to get sauce on the broccoli and sausage pizza. That would have made it 5 stars for me! I'm definitely going back! Reasonable prices too! Make sure to get there early and/or make a reservation. We went at 6pm and it was pretty quiet, but was definitely packed by 7pm (on a Wednesday).
(4)Jane B.
Perfect setting for a cozy dinner to enjoy good conversation over some darn good food. Our waiter, who never cracked a smile, was very attentive and let us eat at our own pace while we chatted. We ordered Focaccina con Caprino for starters, which was a focaccia bread with a mixed green salad, goat cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes and grilled zucchini. Sooooo good. Very fresh tasting, very light on the dressing, giving just enough moisture without oversaturating everything. We also ordered the La Capricciosa pizza with sausage, mushrooms, artichokes hearts and fresh imported buffalo mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce; Fettuccini Positano with homemade style fettuccini pasta with sauted sea scallops, shrimp and arugula in roasted garlic and fresh cherry tomatoes sauce; and Rigatoni Salsiccia e Ricotta made with homemade style rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage and sweet onions, in plum tomato sauce topped with ricotta cheese. It was a lot of food, and the portions were good sized (I just finished my leftover Rigatoni for lunch). Price-wise, it wasn't cheap eats (the Rigatoni was $16), but the quality of the food was great as was the service, which helps to make up for it. Definitely worth trying. Big thanks to the yelpers who recommended the place.
(5)M-K S.
As good as it gets...if you are not in Italy! The roast chicken and green beans are a to die for dish. Table service OK, but maitre d' makes up for it. Next time I am in Boston, I am going back to Antico Forno. Buono!
(5)Stephen Y.
This place is awesome ! My caprese salad was quite filling and delicious but the seafood pasta (cooked in parchment paper) was delectable ! It was accompanied by plump mussels, clams, and prawns in a garlicky tomato sauce. The house wine was pretty decent. Both my friends were quite satisfied with their meals. Portions were quite generous. No complaints there. I will definitely come back again. Did come back- 3X ! Still very awesome - One time had to get take out and they were nice enough to "lend" me two restaurant forks.... have yet to return them...
(5)Rachael L.
Had dinner at Antico on Saturday night. It was good. I will admit that I had pretty high expectations after walking around the North End all day on Saturday though. All things considered, dinner was good, the food was good, the drinks were good, and the service and the ambiance were okay. We had a pizza and the gnocchi. Both were good (hot and as the menu described, but maybe a little under seasoned for my taste). My cocktail was good, but the water refills were a little slow coming. The bread and the white bean compote that started us off were very good. Not too much garlic, but still lots of flavor. Where Antico lost me was the ambiance of the restaurant. We were jammed in there like sardines. I wasn't expecting to have a private conversation, but there were 4 inches between the table next to us on the left and 6 inches between us and the table on the right. Clearly, we all could hear what we all were saying. I would rather have waited a few minutes for a different table. What really confused me was that when the concierge called for an 8pm reservation, they told him that they were overbooked at 8, but that they would see us at 830. So we showed up at 830 and were put in-between 2 other couples on dates. My last comment will be about the service, it was a little lacking. No one checked back to see how things were after the food was dropped. We sat after we were done eating for about 10 minutes before someone offered to wrap up the rest of our meals. Someone other than our waitress dropped the check and we finally saw her again at the end as we were putting on our coats. The food was good, and to be fair, I didn't want to go to a place that was super spendy. But, I feel like for a few more bucks we could have gotten a place that would have been a little better, environment-wise.
(3)Rachel C.
This was a lovely little Italian restaurant. While the ambiance is slightly lacking, the food is delicious and the portions are sizeable. Our service during an early Sunday dinner was impeccably fast and friendly. I had the gnocchi which were delicious and came out piping hot.
(4)Sonya J.
I could not have been more pleased with the food and service at Antico Forno. My fiance's birthday and Mother's Day fell on the same day, so I made reservations well in advance of our arrival, and also asked for as private a table as possible. To my pleasant surprise, despite how busy they were, they remembered my special request, and gave us the most perfect little table in the window for our meal. Once seated, the waiter appeared quickly with water, and ready to take our drink orders. Maybe I was blind, but I didn't see wines by the glass, but since it was a special occasion, we just ordered a bottle. The bread at the table was very good, and the garlic-infused olive oil (with whole olives) was delightful. We ordered 2 appetizers, not realizing just how large they would be: the focaccino con caprino--a mixed salad with the most delectable thin pizza slices and goat cheese--as well as the calamari. As I said, both were quite plentiful dishes, and could have been meals in and of themselves. Regardless, they were "appetizers" in every sense of the word, because we looked forward to the main course despite approaching "full"! My main dish was the fusilli pasta with goat cheese and vegtables, which was awesome, and my fiance had a special, chicken parm. Both were extremely good, and were very generously sized. What I loved about this place was its authenticity--there are no fancy little plates here with perfect little arrangements on the plate; the art is in the integrity of the food that you bite into, not how it looks on the plate. We were so pleased with our experience at Antico Forno--food was great, service was great, and it had a warm, inviting atmosphere, so I just have to give it all 5 stars. This place is a gem.
(5)Mark S.
Mediocre. Not bad, not great. Food was over-salted across the board. Probably safer to stay with pizza. Wine list needs help. Pricing fair for what it is. Staff friendly and helpful, which is good, since seating is tight when full.
(3)Yan L.
Fresh pasta was just okay. Bolognaise sauce was mediocre. So was the pizza, which came soggy. Portions were large, but far from being worth the rather steep prices. Sangria diluted, almost like fruit punch. Service was smile-less too.
(2)Steve K.
Great atmosphere on a Saturday night. Reservations a must. I'll go back.
(4)Heather O.
This is my hot sh*t restaurant in the North End. The newly renovated space has doubled its size and added a beautiful bar area. All three of our entrees (chicken parm, baked gnocchi, baked roasted chicken) were delicious and so reasonably priced. I think this is the best deal in the neighborhood - great service, great prices, great food, and a great value? That my friends, in Boston, is very rare to find. - I think I'm in love...
(5)Christian S.
Great Italian food.
(4)Caitlin C.
Had been meaning to come here for awhile. Unfortunately, I had just returned from the gastronomic binge-fest that my trips to Europe typically are, when my friends invited me to dine with them in the North End. I suggested Antico Forno, despite the fact that I wasn't in the mood for heavy baked pastas. I decided instead to have the Misto Verde salad to which I added goat cheese (meh, ok). I also had the arancini special. It was delicious! until I looked at the bill and it was $10 for one little ball of rice (you can get a huge arancini with sauce at Bova's for just $4). Oh well, whatev. The rest of my dining companions enjoyed their pastas quite a lot. Service, decor, etc was fine. I really like avoiding the crowds by dining on Salem Street. Next time I definitely plan on bringing my appetite!
(3)Laura O.
Great for groups. This place was super lively even when we rolled in at 9:30 for a late dinner on Friday.
(4)Lily H.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, we waited out front for a table, surrounded by empty strollers, hoping our chance would soon come to taste that delicious food. Our waiter was slammed but charismatic, at one time waxing poetic about the nature of the restaurant industry. He shared with us the specials of the day, two of which we indulged in: the giant meatballs and the arancini appetizers. Both were absolutely delicious, and my husband and I have talked about them since - especially those meatballs! I think the arancini are superior at Galleria Umberto, but since their hours, not to mention that line, can be difficult to navigate, Antico's arancini were a great substitute. I have to say that the "ribolitta" was disappointing, mostly because it was not ribolitta, rather a minestrone sans bread. Weird. In and of itself the soup was very good, but one could not in good conscience call it ribolitta. However, the bread served before the meal was superb, and the garlic and olive infused oil accompanying it was sublime, so it can be forgiven I suppose. Prices are a bit steep in my opinion - our meatball appetizer surprised us at $16, similarly with the arancini at $14. Still, delicious food and a North End experience all the same.
(4)O A.
I am not a huge fan of Italian food, but out of all the Italian restaurants I have been to, this is by far my fav. I started with the calamari for my appetizer, and it was a meal in itself. It came with a side salad, and I don't know what I enjoyed more...the calamari or the salad! For my entree I got the rigatoni with Italian sausage...YUM! I highly recommend this restaurant. It's cute enough for a nice date, but friendly enough for a meal with family. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Ben K.
I loved the food here. It's one of the few places I can go in the North End where I don't feel like I'm experiencing economic defilement. Antipasti plate was great! I wish there were more artichokes on it. I tried the mussels, which had the PERFECT amount of spice, and great broth to be sopped up with all their good bread. I had the lamb sandwich, which had fabulous flavor, but could have used less grease on the bread. It dripped. The servers seemed nice, though a bit dismissive. Despite these little picky details, I will definitely be coming back here when I'm hungry in the North End.
(4)Leann F.
Revved up from a recent Boston pizza feature in the Globe, I headed to Antico Forno on Friday night with friends for some highly regarded brick oven pizza and Italian fare. Initially, I was impressed; the hostess was warm and friendly, our table was ready when we arrived, and the first waiter that took our drink order and explained the specials was knowledgeable and prompt. And then things started to unravel. Shortly after drinks arrived a new waiter showed up and took our appetizer order, which he proceeded to communicate incorrectly to the kitchen. Instead of arancini we received an antipasto platter (thankfully, once we explained the situation, the dining room manager gave us the app for free and sent out our arancini). By the time that we had received our full and correct appetizer order we had been at the restaurant for the better part of an hour. Finally, our main courses arrived, minus the seafood dish that my boyfriend ordered. We ordered two pizzas (one with porcini mushrooms and plum tomatoes and another with ricotta, broccoli rabe and sausage), one risotto, and a seafood dish with linguini. Both pizzas were so smothered in one ingredient - mine was overwhelmed with mushrooms and my friend's had so much broccoli - that you could hardly see the pie. My boyfriend's seafood dish finally arrived, still served in the foil that was used to steam the seafood. I understand that this is not the finest restaurant in the North End, but serving a seafood dish in foil is hardly acceptable. Moving on from presentation, the seafood dish was meh, at best, with thin, tasteless sauce and barely average seafood quality. My friend's risotto was, perhaps, the most edible dish at the table, and she pushed it around her plate, eating less than half. Her review: "Um, it's OK...I guess" I really wanted to like this place, but the lack of organization and off-balance flavors left a lot to be desired. Next time I'll take my pizza craving elsewhere.
(2)kati p.
I went here last night with my boyfriend for a birthday dinner. We received a groupon for this restaurant, so we were a little nervous the food wouldn't be as great as some of the other North End restaurants. We were definitely proven wrong. We were served fresh, hot bread in the beginning and ordered the rolled eggplant with ricotta cheese for an appetizer which was delicious and filling! My boyfriend ordered the baked chicken parm, which was full flavor and a huge portion of meat and pasta. I ordered the carciofi e porcini pizza for my meal and was amazed by the size, flavor and texture of this pizza. The pizza was fresh out of the brick oven and the white truffle oil was delicious. We went home satisfied and with leftovers. While this restaurant may not be as upscale (in price) as many of the North End restaurants, it definitely gives you a great atmosphere and delicious Italian dishes for a decent price. My only complaint about this restaurant would be the friendliness of the staff. They were polite, but not as talkative and helpful as you will find in other restaurants in the area.
(4)Russell P.
Does good pizza exist in Boston? this was horrible flavourless pizza and i think dominos would have been better, the dough was dead, so no rise in the crust, sauce was flavourless and the sausage was flavourless. The service was great and the wine list not over priced but the Pizza sucked, ill give them 3 stars for service and no stars for food.
(3)Jason M.
Meh, I had high expectations for this place and honestly was really disappointed. From the reviews I read I thought the pizza would be marvelous. In reality it was below average. The service was also very slow and inattentive. In their defense it was really busy but never the less my experience there was not pleasant.
(2)Kate S.
The first time I went: AWESOME Second time: Pretty good! I got one of the pasta dishes with cheese and eggplant that they bake. It's so clear that they make their own pasta. Prices are super reasonable too. Real italians working there. I'll give it 4.5 stars. YELP WHY DO YOU LIMIT ME WITH JUST INTEGERS!!!!!!
(4)Steve G.
I had the Bolognese special. Bolognese is one of my favorite dishes and I like to compare how each restaurant makes is. This was an AMAZING Bolognese. I loved it. Right up there with the best ever. I was here with a party of 4 and everyone loved their meals. We also had a nice bottle of a Sangiovese - Merlot blend which was very good too. We will be coming back again. We had reservations on a Saturday night for 6:30. They gave is a cute pizza slice pager and ended up calling us in for our reservation at 7:00. As others have said, this place is LOUD. I mean really loud. We were seated by the bar, and a large group came in, so that added to the noise, but after they left it was still loud. I saw in other reviews that it's also loud on other nights. I'd like to see for myself. The noise level would keep me from coming for a quiet dinner, but I'll be back, maybe a bit earlier to see if it's quieter.
(4)Jason F.
Great restaurant and excellent service staff. I went during Restaurant Week with a friend and even then the server was amazing. The food was very delicious and plentiful (well, with the 3 course meal, you would expect that!). I looked over their "regular" menu and it looks solid as well. One of the best parts - this restaurant validates parking at the Parcel 7 Garage! Awesome!
(4)Rosie Z.
For starter, I love a place that serves good bread and olive oil with real olives in it. Antico has great fresh pasta dishes and delicious pizzas. Price is very reasonable and nice for a good family style Italian food.
(4)Jules K.
Moderately priced, yes but be careful, with our party of five they put a 20% tip on the bill without telling us. That being said the food was just where it should be. Not really a gourmet restaurant but delivered what it should; solid Italian cooking done with care. We focused on the wood fired items, baked pastas, gnocchi stuffed with wild mushrooms and roatsed chicken. Found the baked fusili a bit dull but everyone enjoyed the anitpasto and the grilled shrimp/arugala salad. Had a good solid simple Italian rose with the meal that served it well. If you have to feed a group, want to eat well and not break the bank this will hit the spot.
(4)Liz A.
The waitress was really nice and fun and was handling a lot at once. The salads and bread were tasty, as was the "limonsecco" I ordered (limoncello and presecco). I had delicious risotto, and others enjoyed roasted chicken (white meat slightly dry) and the seafood pasta cooked in parchment paper (no complaints). Nice bottle of chianti. No room for dessert. The restaurant was VERY noisy -- really hard to talk/hear. But everyone seemed to be having a good time. I liked this place, but it didn't blow my mind or anything.
(3)Levian L.
Came here on my birthday with my boyfriend. Surprisingly when we got here, there was a long line outside of the restaurant yet no line was formed outside of Neptune Oyster. We made a reservation so we only waited 15 minute before we were seated. I love Prosciutto so I decided to try VESUVIO pizza, and my boyfriend ordered RIGATONI SALSICCIA. The pizza was topped with so much prosciutto, I was happy and it was soooo good, the crust was awesome. My boyfriend loves RIGATONI SALSICCIA too, pasta was perfectly cooked. Definitely coming back
(4)James D.
Really good food here. Particularly the pizza. In fact, everything I have had has been really good. The place can get tight and loud as they pack a lot of people into the restaurant but it's not too bad. It's priced very well too. They have a ton of pizzas to choose from which is great. Overall, I recommend this place for a fun night out and great food at a fair price.
(4)Sejin J.
Food is four stars, service is 5. My sister and I came here and ordered the vongole linguine which was one of the best vongole pastas I've had, and the amalfitano pizza. The only problem with pasta was that the noodles were a bit overcooked. Other than that, super nice waiters and good quality food
(4)Barbara P.
Hmmmm - reservation at 7:00, 7:40 still not seated. Jury still out. Not so happy with the reservation process. Not recommended.
(1)Randy V.
This is a GOOD place for a WEEKEND LUNCH! The LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE is only $14! Not bad for a big bowl full of stuff.. and I mean BIG! It comes with Linguine pasta and clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sauteed in plum tomato sauce baked in parchment paper. They don't skimp out with the ingredients.
(4)Viraj A.
This was a great restaurant. The food was great, and the waiter was nice. I only have 1 complaint, which was that some of the food came in way too large portions. 1 other thing was noise level, but they really can't control that.
(4)Kate P.
The food here is delicious and the prices are just right! I have been three times with different groups of people and everyone leaves full and satisfied. I only have one con and that's the time my boyfriend and I went and his chicken parm came to the table directly from the oven. It was so hot he had to wait about 10 minutes before eating because the cheese was still boiling. I was almost done with my meal before he was able to start in on his.
(4)steph c.
I went here for new years eve dinner with three others. We had the calamari app which was good. I had the roast chicken which was one of the best dinners in the north end that I've had yet.
(4)Mike M.
The food is worth the inconvenience of the occasional long wait for a table. The service is consistent; always polite, friendly, and attentive. I have eaten here numerous times when it was busy and, our server always found time to stop by periodically to see how things were going. Over the years I have been coming here, I don't recall ever having to send a single thing back. The portions are also huge, yet the quality of the food is still high. The one thing I don't like is having to wait sometimes up to half an hour for a table on a weekday.
(4)Lara C.
This was a nice setting with an open brick oven for the wonderful pizza. The restaurant had a wonderful wait staff. The food selection was alright (at the table, we had the aperitivo traditionale, pizza, seafood pasta, and chicken wrapped with proscuitto).
(3)Jennifer I.
Been here 2x for dinner and the food & service have been great each time. The food is better than my Italian grandmas and is priced perfectly. Cant wait to go back :)
(5)Cassie C.
I'm a big fan of Antico Forno, especially their prosciutto pizza! This is a MUST try! Their caprese salad was good too - just big chunks of mozzarella and tomatoes, with a bed of mixed greens. Yum. One star off for their unappetizing Antico Forno Martini. I could not force that down...no matter how hard I tried. It just did NOT taste good. $10 down the drain.
(4)Jim H.
The margarita pizza was just okay but the rolled eggplant was outstanding. The place was packed but the service okay. Our server needed a personality. He was efficient but could have been more informative about the menu.
(2)Michelle B.
Mmm, osso bucco. It was on the list of specials last night, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it. Delicious. The veal was tender and juicy, the polenta was the perfect complement to the sauce and thick shaving of parmesan, and the vegetables retained enough bite to them that they weren't mushy (something I hate). I also tried some of the calamari, which was done very well, and the cannoli, which was absurdly good. Service was brisk, but friendly. Seating was a little cramped; we were a party of 6 at a smallish circular table. There was a lot of shifting of drinks and plates to allow room for the appetizers we ordered. The bread served when we sat down was nothing to write home about, but I was in love with the fruity olive oil that was served with it.
(4)billie c.
Had dinner here on New Years Eve and was afraid the reviews on this site had me prepared to be less than pleased with our restaurant choice....So not true, the staff could not have nicer or attentive. The food was amazing, my husband had the Rigatoni with sausage and riccotta, I had a plain cheese pizza and they both were great. The tiramisu was the best I have ever had.
(4)Coco P.
My husband and I met some out of town friends here for dinner, our first time. It was excellent! Great bread, crusty on the outside and dense and moist on the inside, served with olive oil and whole olives. Yum. Then we got the antipasto and caprese salads. Both delicious. We got the sausage and brocoli rabe pizza and it was excellent. And then we shared the gnocchi and the sausage and ricotta rigatoni. Both were great. Then we had the spicy mussels in tomato broth. I'm not a mussels fan but the 3 of them devoured them and enjoyed using the bread to soak up the broth. The waitress was attentive but not very friendly however the open windows, great breeze and great food made up for it. We will definitely go back
(5)Kristina L.
Amazing. Best Italian food in north end. We waited an hour but it was worth it. Head to the bar and enjoy their sangria.
(5)Jennifer B.
We had a fabulous time at Antico Forno. The food was great, the service was great, the wine was great! I will definitely go back again.
(4)Adam C.
Had a meal here on a visit to Boston. The food was delicious and the service was friendly.
(4)Janna N.
The only bad thing about this place was the wait on a nice summer Saturday night in August...but what place in the North End doesn't have a wait on such a night?? We were super hungry and I was craving pizza and my brother and sister in law highly recommended we try this North End eatery for pizza. The waitstaff was delightful, the mussels were super spicy but super delicious, the bread was TO DIE FOR, and the pizza was just perfect...light flaky crust, yummy cheese and sauce...yum yum yum! All this and a bottle of wine for 60 bucks in the North End is not bad at all! We were so full we had to bring half the pizza home...not that I minded...heats up great for left overs! Enjoy!
(4)Erika F.
Standard italian fare good for a quick meal in the North End. We went on the recommendation that their gnocchi was "amazing" but found that it was actually heavy, starchy, and overall not very good. The prices are reasonable compared to neighboring restaurants and they open up the front windows in the summer for a nice atmosphere. I probably won't go back, but it wasn't terrible.
(3)Vicki A.
Perfect place to hit in the North End for authentic Italian wood fired pizza. We went for an early dinner (6 pm) and lucked out - we were seated right away without a reservation. Very relaxed atmosphere, loud but cozy. Great selection of Italian wines - from table wines to pricier selections. Started with the caprese salad which was fabulous, served on arugula and large enough to share. The gnocchi was FABULOUS - so tender and tasty in a red sauce then baked with melted mozzarella on top, it was a huge serving too, definitely enough to share or to bring home some delicious leftovers. I was craving true italian pizza and this place didn't let me down - I had the Vesuvio (fresh mozzarella, peppers, prosciutto) and it was perfect. Service was friendly and fast - they were busy but we didn't feel rushed or ignored.
(4)Lori L.
Before this weekend I would have given Antico Forno 5 stars but, I had an absolutely horrid experience there this past Saturday night. Now, I understand going into the North End on a Saturday night is risky business and you're going to wait no matter where you go. But, I've worked in the industry as a bartender, wait staff and hostess and I know that giving wait times is not a complicated matter, especially when you have a computer system in front of your face with your nightly report on it. Waiting a little extra is understandable, but, a 2 hour wait when you told us 30-40 minutes is not. Alas, this we were all willing to get over. However, when we sat down it was literally one thing after another! First we were greeted with used silverware...not dirty like, some spots on it. Dirty like, I just cut into my meatball marinara and set the knife back on the table. No biggie, we asked the busser to replace it and he went to take it away (not replacing the napkin it was on) and instead of setting it to the edge of the table he put it on the seat where one of my friends was about to sit...gross. We again shrugged this off, determined to have a good night, because I knew the food was great at this place (especially those rice balls, yum). After our very testy waitress gave us about 30 seconds for 6 people to look at one drink list we ordered our beer and wine and waited. We were happy for the bread and the drinks and needed to relax. It was at this time that three things happened one after another, My friend realized his beer glass had a giant crack in the side (like down half the glass), I pulled a giant piece of hair out of the bread that was in my mouth and my boyfriend found a huge piece of plastic in his draft beer. Now, we had been very patient up to this point, but, being an industry person I felt it important to notify someone of all that had gone wrong. I made my way to the hostess and very politely let her know our situation, explaining we were trying to be very patient but really felt whoever was in charge needed to know. She was very nice and said she would send the owner over. When the owner came over she said (and I quote) "What's the problem" I explained to her that we felt she needed to know all of these things that had just happened and we had only been seated for about 12 minutes. Instead of apologizing about the situation she rolled her eyes at me and said "So, What do you want a free meal? Is that what your after?" I said, "No, Absolutely not, but, as someone who works in the restaurant business and thinks things should be communicated with the manager I certainly wasn't looking for you to be rude to me." She again rolled her eyes and said "well, the list was getting pretty long" and I said "You're absolutely right, that is A LOT of things to go wrong with one table, I would hope you'd be concerned, not angry at us. Can my friend at least have a new beer glass and can we get some new bread" The waitress continued to be impatient with us and brought us the wrong number of Arancini (we wanted one for each person and she brought 4 for 6 people). When she took our drink orders I tried to be polite and say hey I'm not quite ready Ill order when you come back, and she just said no, you can't do that. Really...REALLY because I'm pretty sure you CAN??? We received 10% off our meals (which were not the best I've had there) but NEVER got an apology from the owner. As an owner or manager of an establishment you should ALWAYS greet a complaint with a smile and an apology if something (or several things) have gone wrong. This place went from one I'd recommend to one I was ticked enough to write my first Yelp review about in a heat beat !
(2)AB H.
Classic, solid Italian food. The entrees were huge. The prices were affordable. It's nothing special, but it's good.
(3)Gary P.
Chose Antico Forno on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. A big feature of the decor is the wood oven with its brick arch and vigorous combustion (the "cucina a legna" in an arch over the front door suggests this) - it adds a beautiful cozy feel on a cold evening. We were in a hurry and so ordered just one course. Our orders (for four) were pizza (Salsiccia e Brocoletti, $14.50), chicken parmigiana and 2 x risotto of the day (porcini mushrooms, asparagus, pancetta, truffle oil, $20). We ordered two glasses of pinot grigio and were rewarded with almost full glasses for $7. The meals were beautifully done (the chicken parmigiana was very hot so beware!). The aristocratically fresh porcini mushrooms in the risotto were almost oyster-like in their consistency. The staff were polite and helpful, even ordering a taxi for us to get to our next location.
(4)Adam P.
Went in for lunch with a friend based on a rec from a long time shop owner in the North End. Bread was tasty but I did not care for the cheese spread. Garlic infused olive oil would be better. Had a glass of "house merlot" which ended up being Volpe Rosso which was excellent, especially for the price. Misto verde salad with fresh ground, course black pepper was a great start. I had the chicken Parm on special and it was delicious. Too full for dessert. Excellent, attentive service. Well worth a trip here. Looking forward to going back.
(5)Jonathan F.
Great atmosphere! Excellent and attentive service and possibly the best food I've ever had. Five stars are well deserved!
(5)Sarah O.
One of my favorites in the North End.... casual, consistently good. Nice wine selection. It can get very crowded so make a reservation. Service is always good. The bread is freshly baked and served with a white bean and roasted red pepper dipping sauce that is addictive. Calamari is SO delicious. It's a very large portion and the vinaigrette gives it a nice flavor. Arancini is wonderful. Pizzas are good, the one with the shrimp is my favorite. Chicken parm was slightly disappointing. I have had the veal bolognase a couple of times and that is fantastic- noodles are homemade. If you park in the Pier 7 garage, they validate your parking. It is $3 for 3 hours or under.
(4)Ashley S.
I came with my coworkers for lunch and had the LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE (Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in plum) for $14. It was soooooo good! And even better because my boss picked up the tab!!
(5)v i.
I liked this Italian place, but I imagine there may be better ones in the North End. I tried the eggplant appetizer (v good!) and had linguini vongole (delicious! it was wrapped in parchment and I think baked in the end? anyway there were tons of clams in their shells and the taste really got through to the dish). I also tried some kind of pork & chicken main dishes, as well as pizza, but was not as impressed by these. I would probably check out other places in the neighborhood before going back here for a 2nd visit, but if I do go back, it would be for their appetizers, pasta & seafood.
(3)Carrie T.
My fiance and I went on our first date to Antico Forno a few years ago, so we (or maybe just I) have a soft spot for it. Our favorite dishes are the rolled eggplant appetizer and the gnocchi! I love the gnocchi! At our latest visit I also really enjoyed the pizza. Antico Forno is incredibly reasonable priced and makes for a great evening out in the North End! It is still affordable even when adding a bottle of wine and an appetizer. I will admit I was a little disappointed when it lost its cozy/intimate feel after they expanded the restaurant (almost doubled in size!), but I think this is a testament of how well they are doing! Even with the expanded location, the food continues to remain delicious. I would highly recommend Antico Forno!
(4)Lisa R.
This was an awesome experience for our family! Excellent food, service & wine. Highly recommended!
(5)Brian A.
We had a group of 6 people. Wine was amazing; we had Lady Bug Cabernet. Food was great all around; at the table we had: salad, fucilli, gnocchi & chicken parm. Overall, great food and a great time. I'll defintely be back!!
(4)Tara B.
Authentic, not like most of the North End these days. Waitresses with wardrobes straight from 1987 serve up the lightest, most perfect fried calamari I have ever had. Served with a mesclun salad with a lemon vinaigrette, it is crispy little seafood clouds from heaven!
(4)Deb K.
Ended up here during Restaurant Week and it was delicious. The best canoli I have ever had in the North End, which I was totally not expecting. Way better than all the big name bakeries in the area.
(4)Emily F.
Ate here last night with two friends for Valentine's Day. The food was AMAZING. We started out with the fried calamari--they weren't overdone which is a huge plus! The calamari had a nice, light breading, and came with a side of mixed greens/tomatoes seasoned with olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. An interesting, but workable combination, and a nice substitue for the traditional marinara sauce. I got the chicken parm special (I was very excited) for dinner, and it was perfect--the chicken was cooked nicely, and the accompanying red sauce had the right amount of seasoning. HUGE serving, however!! One friend got the gnocci, which I will be getting next time I go. A rich, hearty dish. Another friend got the fussili tossed with roasted vegetables, and topped with goat cheese. A simple, but nonetheless flavorful pasta dish. Service was a bit on the slow side, but it was Valentine's Day, so I won't hold it against Antico Forno. Overall, very impressed, and I'm looking forward to my return!
(5)L S.
Great Italian Food!!! Some of the best Italian I've eaten in the North End, and very well priced! Most north end places are expensive and always leaves me disappointed. The Gnocchi was the best I've ever had, the Octopus appetizer was amazing, and the Chicken Parmesan was tender and juicy! The service was not that great (we went on Restaurant week and they were clearly under-staffed) and the food took a long time to come out BUT it was worth the wait!!! If you go bring a sweater! The AC is cranked up to compensate for the flaming brick oven!
(4)Cath K.
I was so glad I read other reviews on Yelp and came to Antico Forno. We took two out-of-state family members (direct from a flight) here for dinner tonight. Both were hankering for some good Italian food--but they both said it was some of the best Italian food they've ever had. The atmosphere is friendly and rustic--and the servers were very nice. One of the women (maybe an owner?) was especially warm, offering to take a photo of us when she saw the camera on the table, coming by often to check and see how we were doing. The meal was superb--from the homemade bread served with a small plate of olive dipping oil, to the extremely fresh misto verde, to the entrees. My mouth is still watering thinking about the linguine con puttanesca di calamari. Another of us got the chicken parm special and said it was the best she's ever had. Another got the linguine con vongole. I figure we've made some major points with our family---for bringing them to this restaurant. We'll definitely be back--the sooner, the better.
(4)Stephen K.
Brought the family here for a "North End" experience when they were visiting in June. They seemed shocked that I didn't pick a place on Hanover Street (which I generally reserve for walking and cannolis). It was surprisingly not crowded for a nice night, so I guess most of the comments about the wait may be due to restaurant week. We started with a nice Chianti Classico that was recommended. The carciofi e porcini pizza was very well received, and we ended up getting two of them. I really liked the fusilli al tegamino. My brain doesn't let me remember much else, but I know my generally-quite-picky brother took the card so he must have enjoyed as well. The small-though-attentive staff gives the place a homey feel, and we were well taken care of. Add good Italian food, and there's not much more you can ask for in the North End.
(5)tom m.
I enjoyed a regular brick oven pizza with roasted garlic, thought it was awesome and also had a pasta dish with pancetta onions etc, was really good. Went for lunch on a Saturday, had no issue getting a table or with the service, both were good. I have eaten here before, usually for pizza, but the pasta dish I got, baioccalla or something like that, was just as good. After lunch go to Mike's for a cannoli, Modern blows, had both over the weekend Mikes killed it, lines move fast. Will eat at Antico again next time I'm in Boston. Two thumbs up!! By the way the only negative was the soda, it was somewhat flat..
(4)Doika P.
The food was very good. Had a pumpkin gnocchi special that was very tasty. Nice atmosphere. The rigatoni salsiccia e ricotta was delicious. Recommended place in the North End.
(4)Anonymous P.
Thought it was good. The flavors in my pizza weren't as sharp as those at Regina, but it was good quality. For people who don't like sharp and spicy flavors, Antico Forno might be a better bet for pizza. And of course it offers a nicer atmosphere and foods beyond pizza. The salad was excellent. Reasonably priced, casual.
(4)Exa V.
Oh so delicious. Mike and I went here to celebrate our one year anniversary--because isn't one is supposed to go to a fancy Italian place in the North End to celebrate something so cheesy? I got the fusilli with vegetables and goat cheese and Mike got something or other with sausage that he loved. My pasta was delicious as well. We got a bottle of chianti that was great, although I don't remember the label. THEN, for dessert, we got tiramisu that was huge and out-of-this-world delicious. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert. I would fight people for it. I want it to be my wedding cake and I don't even want to get married. This tiramisu lived up to all my wildest expectations. The espresso we got as an accompaniment was also high-quality and the sambuca was a licorice punch in the face, as it should be. The whole thing was only about $100--not bad for a fancy dinner. The restaurant is very romantic and dimly lit. It is small, like everywhere else in the North End pretty much, but that doesn't bother me. We sat at a little table for two by the window, which was very nice, except for the fact that it was February and sometimes a gust of wind would hit us when someone entered the restaurant. Honestly, though, we were too tipsy and happy to be bothered. We would definitely come back for another fancy-shmancy time.
(5)TJ f.
if i was just reviewing the pizza, i'd say it was a 2. i was shocked- this place was supposed to be amazing, but i just didn't see it. we got a traditional margherita pizza, an artichoke and mushroom pizza and a sausage-based pizza. of the six people at the table, no one commented how good it was. it was just average; a little overcooked, small'ish, and a little bland. the visit gets three stars for good apps (rolled eggplant and calamari), reasonably priced wine (about $35 bottle for a good selection), and the fact that on a busy friday night they let five of us sit and wait for our sixth for almost a half hour. one other thing- don't expect a real cocktail on their "cocktail" list- it's basically sugar-water cordials, not real booze.
(3)Nathaniel H.
My fourth time dining in the North End in as many months. As someone who shies away from pasta dishes with tomato sauce (it is so hard to find restaurants serving quality pasta dishes with tomato based sauces), I was reluctant to try the Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola, but I was blown away. By far the best tomato based sauce I have had in a long time. The Rigatoni Salsiccia E Ricotta was almost as good. I wouldn't necessarily dine here for the ambiance, it resembles a college cafeteria, but the food is worth it, service was good, and there was no wait on a Sunday night.
(4)CB B.
Pizza was expenive and not very good. Service was terrible. Don't waste your time since there are so many better places in the North End.
(2)Melissa N.
We visited Antico Forno after a food tour of the North End. It was restaurant week so we both had the 3 course lunch special. My polpette, walnut and fig ravioli and tiramisu were all absolutely delicious. Lunch was quiet and relaxed and service was great. We would definitely go back when we visit Boston again.
(5)James S.
I guess I had higher expectations for this place than it was able to deliver after reading the reviews on Yelp. It seemed like Antico Forno has built a reputation as being a uniquely tasty location in a sea of indistinguishable North End Italian eateries, but I had trouble understanding what about it was so special. Pluses: - Sangria was very good and a good value if you get a pitcher (ask for without ice) - Full bar is a nice touch in a city where liquor licenses seem to be as difficult to acquire as a concealed weapons permit - Food came quickly and as requested (we did ask for a few alterations and they accommodated) - The open window seating in the summer was great, and being on Salem St. makes it a little less hectic than Hanover - The pizza was solid though nothing otherworldly Minuses: - I was pretty disappointed with both the baked fusilli and the risotto. When I think of baked pasta dishes, I crave the crusty, cheesy edges of a skillet dish; while the top was this way, there was too much sauce and thus the pasta did not crisp up on the bottom or edges as you'd like. The risotto was just too rich. The truffle oil was certainly not used sparingly and in combination with rich porcini mushrooms and pancetta, there was just too much heft to it. Could've really used an acid instead of one of those "umami" flavors to lighten it, particularly as a summer dish. - We put in a reservation for 6, got there on time, then promptly received a buzzer like we had been a walk in and waited 20-30 minutes. When we got in, we were then asked to move tables because that table "was reserved" - huh? What about OUR reservation? - On the final bill, they added a full entree dish we did not order or eat. Probably was a harmless mistake on a busy night but nonetheless it compounded our issues with service Overall, it seemed like a decent enough place. Food was solid, hot and affordable for the North End. But it's not worth it given the service issues they displayed - they seem incapable of handling the foot traffic coming in on a regular basis and could really use a host or maitre'd who can manage the front of the house.
(2)Allison A.
I had a great meal at Antico Forno. The arugala salad with shrimp was simple and delicious and the eggplant appetizer was tasty as well. The restaurant was a bit loud, but the atmosphere and service were great.
(3)steve s.
Very Nice! Locals are always a good sign. The eggplant appetizer was great as was the corkage fee.
(3)Gordon f.
Nothing like having a great meal at reasonable prices. Antico offers both, my absolute favorite restaurant of all time. Mussels with spicy tomato broth, a must try.
(5)Billie M.
Italian dishes on one of the hottest day of the summer may sound like a bad idea, but as many bad ideas tend to, this ended up working out pretty darn well. We had ventured into the North End for the Feast of St. Anthony, and we were rolling 9 deep, 3 of which were hungry and perpetually bored teenage boys. We decided to avoid the stomach pangs that can result from street fair food on a 97 degree day, and popped into Antico Forno for a late lunch/early dinner. The air conditioning was thankfully pumping full blast, and the busboy quickly put together a table that could accommodate our party. Our drinks came out quickly, although strangely, the wine arrived far before the sodas. As I was drinking wine, I'm not going to complain! We ordered the antipasto to start, and the plate was overflowing with delicious goodies such as sundried tomatoes, crunchy artichokes, soft balls of mozzarella, and roasted red peppers surrounded by a ring of various cured meats. The bread basket was overflowing, and the oil that accompanied it had just a hint of flavor from the olives that rested on the bottom of the dish. Our waiter, although quiet, did point out that the chicken parm was a very large portion when the 15 year old, the 12 year old, and my dad all tried to order it in succession. He suggested that they order two to share, and it's a good thing he did because it arrived in massive dishes, bubbling hot, and sitting atop a mound of pasta. Between the three of them, they didn't manage to finish the two portions. The restaurant is known for cooking its food, both pizza and pasta, in a massive brick oven, so all dishes come out bubbling hot and with that top crunchy crust that's accomplished from being cooked at super high temps. Two of us ordered the linguine al frutti di mare, which was linguine topped with a ton of mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari, all tossed in a chunky tomato sauce that had just a hint of a fra diavlo-like kick. So good. The other two had rigatoni based dishes, which, while I did not try them, appeared to be good, as neither spoke much during the meal, and both had nearly empty plates at the end. We also got a side of broccoli rabe in garlic which I thought was one of the best parts of the meal. As the broccoli was also cooked in the brick oven, it had a smoky, roasted garlic undertone that had me hording the dish. A girl needs her greens. I found the prices very reasonable for the North End, and the portions were large, as is often expected in Italian dining. The waiter added 20% gratuity which worked out for us, as we thought he did a good job, but may be a bit presumptuous for some people.
(4)Matt L.
I got Fettuccine Positano, and it was everything I expected out of a red sauce, seafood pasta: spicy sauce, tons of scallops and shrimp (I ran out of pasta before I ran out of seafood - very rare for me), tender pasta, and garlic. I tried some of my sister's Calamari Fritti - lightly fried calamari, very tasty. The service was good, and the atmosphere was also good.
(5)Kurt H.
Our family was recently on a trip to Italy and were spoiled by the great pizza and no pizza we've had since then has come close... Until now I lost count how many times someone in our family said it feels like we're back in Italy. Great pizza. Great service. I Highly recommend going here.
(5)Sarah A.
I am not a huge fan of dining out at Italian places mainly because I am a bit perturbed by spending $20 on a bowl of pasta that I could make at home for a very tiny fraction of that price, but I will try to not let that bias my review. This place is pretty decent. Granted, I did get a bowl of pasta that I could have made at home for far less, but it was some pretty yummy pasta and it had goat cheese on it. Yum. My mother also got an awesome plate of chicken parm which gets major points just for its hugeness. The thing was massive. It literally could have served a family of 4. She ate half of it and I took the rest of it home and ate it for two other meals. Now paying $20 for that, that's all good. The service was quick and efficient and everything was served piping hot. They really do have a real old oven in the place. The atmosphere is casual and not at all pretentious. We were there rather early in the day and there were a lot of families, but I could see this place getting romantic later at night. I would go back if I was in the area and hankering for a whole lot of chicken parm. My only complaint was the sauce served with our mussles appetizer was a bit to spicy for my taste to be yummy. Otherwise, all good.
(4)Doris K.
Very disappointing. I was expecting this place to be outstanding but although good it was not that good. I had the chicken saltimbocca which was good. The calamari does not come with marinara sauce which is what I am used to and also comes with a spring mix salad. I was disappointed because I don't think this place will ever compare to Giacomo's.
(3)Claire Y.
Had great pizza here on my second night in Boston just this past weekend. Absolutely delicious. The 45 min wait was pretty tough to deal with considering how starved we were. Note quite 5 stars due to the spotty service. Seriously, the food was great, but if we hadn't called for the check, they may have never come back to us.
(4)Meg N.
This is one of my favorite casual restaurants in the north end. I highly recommend the mussel appetizer, house wine, and frutti di mare. Fantastic simple italian food for a good price!
(4)Nick G.
Tough to beat this place in the north end. Pasta specials like fettuccine bolognese, are outstanding. Its fresh pasta, and its cooked al dente, the way pasta is supposed to be cooked! Good luck finding a pickier pasta person than me. KEEP THE WHEAT PASTA OUT OF A REAL PLACE LIKE THIS. The baked pastas are very good as well, really nice touch coming out of the brick oven, with tasty, real tomatoes in the sauce. Pizzas are authentic and their sauce is mild as opposed to the overpowering salt fest you find in most pizza sauces, so you will taste the fresh dough and cheeses. The only thing I'd suggest is leaving flask of extra virgin olive oil, so we can drizzle some on top just after it comes out of the brick oven, just like the old country. All of their salads, including appetizer salads, are super green and fresh, and they give you plenty. As far as an appetizer, I'd put their meatball against any other in the city. These won't bounce. You can't squeeze them and watch them revert back to its original shape, so its the right mix of more meat and less breadcrumbs. Comes with greens and red peppers that along with the bread and olive oil, could be a light meal. Last but not least, the pork chop is the champ of the entree meats. Super thick, which allows them not to overcook it, and its its properly seasoned, so you can add the fresh ground pepper when it comes around. If you're looking for authentic italian food(and you appreciate it), at a good price, you have to hit this place.
(5)Michael T.
This place is very good; Salem Street should never come second to Hanover...if anything, they should always be mentioned together, but don't tell the tourists that! I was here last week and grabbed an early dinner. I have to say that I've had better Caesar Salads, but my friend loved hers. My gnocchi was delicious...top three I've ever had. My friend had the roasted chicken with Tuscan style roasted garlic, potatoes and green beans, which they are known for and she raved about it. The atmosphere is dark and romantic and the hostess and waiter were very tentative. With it cold and rainy outside, it was nice to see the fireplace going strong. There was another young family with us that night with two small kids, which certainly added to the family feel of the restaurant. That's something you don't find on Hanover all that much any more.
(5)D L.
My first reaction when entering this restaurant was "great, another overpriced mediocre-food place", but I was quickly proven wrong. From the beginning, the wine was great, the bread was really good, the service was really good and the food was great. Very flavorful, savory, just a pleasure to dine there.
(4)Georgia Y.
Please note that Antico Forno has a picture of a SQUIRREL on it's awning. Which is awesome. I've only eaten here for lunch, but I've never been disappointed - they've got fine pizza and pasta at moderate lunchtime prices. And the staff are friendly and attentive.
(4)Teresa L.
I was visiting Boston, and was craving Italian as I had been reading a book that touched upon Italian cuisine. Perfect time to visit the North End! My friend found this place by searching for 'brick oven pizza", so we made reservations on a Friday night. Upon arriving here, the street was emptier, nothing like the crowded Hanover St, and for that I was grateful. Though we had to wait a bit past our reservations, the hostess was extremely friendly, and this gave us a chance to ask her for recommendations from the menu. As we were walking in, an older Italian woman was giving big kudos to the gnocchi, and basically said everything she had was fantastic. My friend and I decided on three items (we just couldn't settle for only two!), the gnocchi, fusili, and a pizza, the la capricciosa. The gnocchi was denser than I thought, but the texture definitely grew on me as I ate more. The fusili was a nice contrast, being lighter, and the goat cheese gave a nice punch to the flavor. My friend and I agreed that our choice in the pizza was a good one. Oh how I love the crust! Chewy, crispy on the outside, with a hint of smokiness from the oven. We had leftovers, and the pastas tasted even more flavorful the next day. My only regret was not trying the risotto. Next time for sure!
(4)Ellen S.
OMG! This was a wonderful suggestion from a friend. We went there for lunch and had a fabulous meal! Their gnocchi is out of this world. My husband had the risotto of the day which was also delicious! Great wine selection and service that was readily available yet not hovering over your shoulder. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Steve J.
I've lived in the north end for over 15 years. This place used to be one of my cheap stand-bys. But I went twice last week, and have changed my view. First, the wait staff is unfriendly. Second, many of the dishes we ordered were really not good. The calamari, both times, was super salty. The ribbolita tastes like it came out of a can, and the bread in the soup looked like the tiny croutons you buy at the supermarket. The risotto dish tasted metallic and was inedible. And to boot, the prices aren't so inexpensive anymore. The house wine is a mediocre $5 bottle of wine they sell for $27! They have a good location and a good look, and it is working for them. But don't judge the north end by this food.
(1)Erin G.
This place is charming for off Hanover Street location, the cozy brick and velvet atmosphere, dim lighting, friendly service. I'm a very very spoiled italian food connoisseur and this place serves italian-american cuisine. Not to say it isn't tasty, but let's separate the chaff from the wheat here. it's good. it borderlines on overpriced. Pretty standard fare for the north end.
(3)Hyunsoo M.
This is the place to go if you want quality food, but don't want to break your wallet in the North End. Small cozy, and off of Hanover Street. The staff is great and the food is consistently excellent. I had a swordfish here that melted in my mouth.
(4)Aaron H.
What can you add to what's already been said. The food is just wonderful from top to bottom. I had the best gnocchi here. The floorplan is a bit spread out but in a way that lends a sense of privacy while keeping a feeling of coziness. A North End treat.
(5)Erin H.
So we were following Alex R.'s one day guide to Boston and ended up in the North End. Even though we were exhausted and starving, I was hell bent on finding this place. We walked up and down Columbus street a million times and finally ended up in a graveyard cracking jokes about ketchup. But then we made a right turn, and there it was, Antico Forno. As we walked in we were greeted by a Junior Soprano look-a-like which immediately thrilled me. The place seemed to be filled with locals which was also a good sign. Contrary to previous reviews, the servers (who I think were the owners) were friendly and efficient. They weren't chatting us up or anything, but I did see one of the servers/owners surprise the table next to us with a complimentary dessert in celebration of a birthday. Also, the server spoke Italian which was awesome. The bread and the oil thingy was ooo so good, but I'm not a great judge because at that point I could've eaten my foot and given it 5 stars. I had the rigatoni and my friend had a Margaretta pizza. Both were very good, not great, but for the price they were superb.
(4)Lynda M.
Very good North End eatery, I think the owners also own Terramia. Reasonable prices, very nice atmosphere. Casual North End choice!
(4)Abby L.
So ridiculously freakin' good! We wandered in because it looked nice. The lunch menu was small. The decor was so so, but the food. YUM! I will be back. I think it may have supplanted Il Panino as my favorite North End eatery.
(5)Natalie H.
yum yum yum! italian just like grandma's! this hidden jem is tucked AWAY from touristy hanover street. try out the margarita pizza and eggplant fusilli. yum yum. one of the only things i miss about boston.
(4)j d.
The food was fantastic--a great price for great quality. However the service was a bit lacking in warmth and/or personality. Of the three waiters there, one actually smiled and acknowledged our existence (he, unfortunately, was not our server). The other two went about rather curtly with their jobs of taking customer orders, dishing out the food, and clearing off the tables. I don't think I saw them smile once to any of their other customers. There were no "hi, how are you?", "would you like wine, or coffee?", "is this your first time here?", or any other niceties that one comes to expect from any restaurant (and the place wasn't that busy to warrant such neglect). Also, I had a small child with me and it felt like they didn't want to "deal with us". I would highly recommend this restaurant to friends/family for the culinary strengths, but am apprehensive with respect to the lack of welcomeness from the waitstaff. I wish had the "friendly and attentive staff" that an earlier reviewer had!!
(3)Carlos D.
Meatballs are to die for! Pizza is ok, we gave 3 stars since we felt service was subpar, slow....our table was full of empty glasses, not proactive at suggesting more drinks.
(3)Debbie N.
Service here does not exist. Only one table with customers when I arrived. Took them a looooong time to get drinks order. Then Donna our waiter had the worst attitude ever. Paid drinks and left!s RUN AWAY FROM IT!!!!!!!
(1)Kaili H.
My fiancé and I chose this restaurant based on ratings and the moderate price range last summer while visiting Boston. We went for a late lunch, and though it was busy, it wasn't crowded so we were able to be seated immediately. We ordered an appetizer, the charcuterie, and a bottle of prosecco. Both were very good, as was the gnocchi for lunch. It was a very calm atmosphere with good food and service.
(4)Helen K.
I may not be Italian, but I am very particular about my Margherita pizzas and the one they serve here is legit!! It could use a little more basil and it could be a *little* thinner, but the sauce tasted fresh, the cheese proportion and gooeyness level just right. The dough is really tasty, too. I'm surprised that the caprese salad had a lot of lettuce in it. Aren't caprese salads supposed to be: tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar?
(4)Jen S.
Great food and service. A beautiful and cozy restaurant! I had the Melanzane as an appetizer (roasted eggplant topped with mozzarella and tomato baked and topped with basil pesto.) A pasta with mushrooms and chicken as an entree (can't remember the name) and a cannoli for dessert! Everything was great! I'm a fan and stand behind my four star rating!
(4)Julie B.
I've been wanting to come here for a while. I love Terramia, which is owned by the same people, and I wanted to see how Antico Forno compared. I most certainly was not disappointed! The menu is full of great pizzas, pastas and some meat dishes. There are nightly specials, including a new risotto dish, which I had. It was a huge portion and it was absolutely delicious. Pancetta, asparagus, porcini mushrooms and truffle oil. Heaven on earth. It's also a nice place for the whole family, whereas Terramia is a bit more intimate. I will most definitely be coming here again and again and I recommend you do the same. Unless of course, you hate food.
(5)L E.
The pizza was delicious and arrived quickly. The bread basket and the crust on the pizza were SO GOOD! I don't know what they put in it, but it was probably the best tasting crust I've had in a while. We had enough left overs for another meal, too. It was pretty loud there, but it's nice being able to look out onto the street and people-watch.
(4)TruthSpeaker I.
Not terribly impressed. The bread they put on the table before our meals arrived was stale! Stale bread in an Italian restaurant??? This is sacrilege. The salads were good. The entrees were average (I had pasta with scallops and it was not memorable). It was fairly loud inside so it was difficult to have a conversation with all of the people in my party. Also, they don't have a coat check. That's a major pet peeve of mine. It's January in Boston. I wear a very warm, very puffy, long coat. It doesn't really work well to throw it over the back of my chair and still have room to sit on the chair. The staff members were professional... not particularly friendly, though.
(3)Ben P.
Love the food and atmosphere. The gnocchi was wonderfully light and fluffy. We also had some great caprese (they had really fresh greenhouse-grown tomatoes, which was a nice treat in the middle of winter). I docked one star because it took over an hour (after our reservation time) for us to be seated.
(4)G J J.
Miserably bad. Let me say that the pizza is without taste. It is bland, greasy, dry and tasteless. When I had it, I remarked to my fellow companions - "Why, it hath been such a long time since I have eaten such sullied pizza!" etc , etc. Stay away from the pizza.
(1)sharon b.
We discovered Antico Forno in 2007 when it was 1/2 the size and the owners were in attendance. Having been to Italy numerous times we thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance. Now that we were returning to Boston we eagerly reserved for Saturday night with a friend who we wanted to invite to a "better than average" North End spot. Things have changed. There are crowds beyond belief, and our reservation was not honored for 20-30 mins. Due to the crowds service is more of a slap down affair and although the food was good enough, it wasn't outstanding as we remembered it. The pizza was not really HOT as it should be and the famous Baked Rigatoni did not have the crustiness it used to. The Ricotta is dumped on top at the end and the sausage did not taste like it was baked w/the pasta. Still the tomato sauce is delicious. Not air conditioned and being hot out, it was hot inside. Near the brick oven its REALLY HOT. And its noisy. We did end up by the window so that helped both depts but the crowds outside were sitting on the open sills so basically at our backs on top of us. I am really sorry to report all this as we have fond memories of our visits there.
(2)Chandra W.
I love this place. Yes, it can be on the louder side, you might have to wait a bit even with a reservation, but it's worth it. The food is delicious, authentic, served HOT, and there will be plenty for leftovers. The restaurant is cozy, warm, with a nice glow at night. I've enjoyed it on a date, and in a big group (with a reservation). I love to bring North End "first timers" here. I've brought three groups here and each left raving about the North End and the food. They even toted around their leftovers despite going to crowded bars after dinner. Service was great, nobody pushing you to speed up (might explain the wait). They get the job done without being overbearing.
(4)Jess K.
If I could give this place more stars I would. I live in the North End and my reviews are highly concentrated in this area. With that said, I would not review any place more highly than Antico Forno. I ordered the Fusilli Al Tegamino and it was scrumptious. But I must say that I tasted my friend's Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola and thought it was heaven on earth. Everyone I went with (seven people!) ordered different things and thought it was the best meal they had ever had. I am amazed. Awed. Go here now.
(5)David C.
Honestly...there's a reason why Giacomo's has a line down the block and this place does not.
(2)Megan O.
Made a reservation on Open Table last Friday night. Restaurant was packed with patrons, but they were able to seat us fairly quickly. We were seated at a small table for 2, pretty much on top of 2 other parties- which was kind of a bummer. Glass of house cab was a good price. We got 2 entrees- an order of the oven roasted chicken and an order of fettucine alfredo. Food was pretty good, nothing amazing, but good. It seemed more of a pizza place than a real authentic north end italian restaurant. I would recommend it for a quick bite to eat (super loud and casual eating).
(3)Alex M.
Nice place, all 3 of us had pizza. Once we ordered they were done quite quickly. I was quite satisfied with my 4 cheese pizza!
(4)Gregorio V.
This place has gone down hill in terms of food quality. I was very surprised about that. The antipasto was probably the biggest disappointment....half of it came out of a can/jar. The arancini was good although the menu said it comes with meat sauce and we got Marinara. They were also not warm... The pizza was a disappointment... In a word, plain. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff was attentive. I feel like the food lost its soul... I hope it gets it back.
(2)Becca P.
Came here for restaurant week yesterday (lunch - 3 course $20). Really didn't need a reservation since it wasn't bustling. I ordered the Eggplant Pesto appetizer, Pork Shank/ Mushroom Risotto, and Tiramisu. Got the Montepulciano red wine too. Wine was good. On the sweeter side. The appetizer was bland. The entree was delicious thought he pork shank was a tad overcooked and the risotto was a hint salty. But it wasn't bad. The tiramisu was good. I probably wouldn't come back here though.
(3)Dalgiza B.
Charlotte the bartender makes a killer expresso martini. Food was delicious right down to the tiramisu! Definitely would return to this establishment. Mind u I always use Yelp when I'm in unfamiliar territory but have never written a review.
(5)Jessica B.
This is a neighborhood favorite that my husband and I frequent. The brick oven pizza is delectable. Service is always friendly and quick. The only reason I give this place 4 rather than 5 stars is because I feel the portions could be a little larger for the prices being charged. Otherwise, I have always been satisfied at this establishment and will continue to go back.
(4)Jean H.
Always get LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE and LINGUINE CON VONGOLE, and this is definitely the place I go every Saturday after eating raw clams at Haymarket! The service is great, and the brick-oven makes the atmosphere (and the taste of the dishes) unbeatable!
(5)James C.
The mussels were fresh and tender. The eggplant dish was superb. The risotto was flavorous yet not cheesy. Sorry I don't recall the name of the dishes but both my friend and I enjoyed it!
(5)E W.
The food was "okay" thus the 2 stars....service was "okay" until it got time to pay the bill and suddenly I encountered the most bizzarre and rude experience with anyone in the service industry ever.....zero stars for everything else! I went out to dinner with 6 other friends here last night. Service was okay....it's loud in this restaurant so having the specials yelled to you is kind of a strange start., but no biggie. We all ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees right from the get go cuz we were HUNGRY! Calamari came out, it honestly tasted like nothing. Literally. Even the batter had no flavor. There was this sauce that came with the bread and I just dunked it in that so I wasn't just eating flavorless fried circles. I kind of found it odd that we had to ask for olive oil for our bread. I've never been to an Italian restaurant that didn't already have it on the table, or brought it with the bread. But again, no biggie, it was brought quickly when we asked for it. Food came....and....meh....I could have made better at home. I ordered the Rigatoni with sausage. The sausage oddly enough, really didn't have any flavor either. I'm used to an adequate amount of fennel in Italian sausage and this seemed to have none. Sauce was okay, just basic. I was starving so I ate it all but it truly wasn't any better than Barilla. Everyone else seemed to like their food just fine, nothing to rave about, nothing memorable. Unfortunately the most memorable part of the evening was when the waitress literally flipped out over us splitting the bill. She brought the bill, we passed the bill around the table tallying up our different totals as some people were drinking alcohol and others were not. We wrote the different amounts down, etc handed it back. A few minutes later she came back and said we were short by three dollars. No biggie, someone handed her a $5 bill and she returned to finish running our cards. I get a text message from my bank every time I charge something. Suddenly my cell phone starts blowing up and it's showing me that she's charged me three times...twice for the amount I wrote and once for an amount no where close to what I wrote down. I went over to her just to make sure she was aware of the triple charge and to ask for a copy of the void receipt just in case my bank gave me problems. I smiled, walked up and asked if it was possible to get a copy of the voided transaction. {our waitress' name was Rose} She yelled her response, "This is F.......BS, this math S.... is stupid. How can you expect me to do this?!?!" Um.....what?!?!?! After putting miss thing her in place reminding her that I had come to her nicely without attitude and I expected the same in return, to stop swearing at me or we could call the manager over and have a three way discussion, and that THERE WAS NO MATH TO FIGURE OUT! We wrote the amounts she was to run. She responded by saying this is ridiculous, on a busy Friday night you expect me to do this? Again, what?!?!?! *insert are you kidding me look* I advised her that restaurants the world over have been running separate credit cards for eons and no one has ever had issue with reading a last name, finding said card, and charging said card amount written next to name. Some people were even couples so it wasn't even 7 different cards to run. Never in my life have I been spoken to like this....I'M IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY and I know that even when you're frustrated, you NEVER take it out on the customer. She quickly apologized when she realized she was being an ass and said that math has never been her strong suit and she just got flustered. I told her not to worry about it, went back to the table, and quickly got the hell out of there! As of this morning the three charges are still showing on my credit card....so instead of a $50 dinner I'm charged for one just shy of $200. Even if the service had been amazing I still wouldn't go back as I wasn't that impressed with the food. Thanks to Rose and her horribly unprofessional service, I will warn any and everyone I can to stay the hell away from this place!
(2)K C.
Solid North End Italian. It veers heavily into the baked-redsauce-sausage type of Italian cooking, which is admittedly not my favorite. But it has a warm and lovely atmosphere, and the food is always very good. Also, as North End places go, their prices are great. Try the baked ricotta rigatoni. Yum.
(4)S S.
These people are THIEVES. If you leave a tip and they don't think it is good enough for their terrible service they will charge you more on your credit card without your approval. If you do go there, use cash!
(1)Angela S.
Be sure to make reservations! We made one just a few hours before dinner and it was super busy when we ate dinner. I like the windows that open up all the way. We had the aranciata, which was surprisingly just one giant ball. There was a bit too much rice to meat and cheese ratio, but it was pretty great. The tomato + bean + olive oil dip is really really really good. I ate a whole basket of bread just to eat the dip. seriously. I had the linguine con vongole- the clams were great! The dish was a bit salty, but the dish as a whole was super good (probably because of the ocean of butter at the bottom).
(4)Kris N.
I've been here a couple of times, and had a good time. The food is good, and the seafood pasta dishes have been great. My younger daughter thinks it's cool that the chicken parm comes straight from the oven in a baking dish. Never tried the pizza. There are LOTS of options for North End Italian. You can put this on your list. I have not found better without a corresponding jump in price. Prices - fair to good deal. Service - spotty. If it's full inside, it will be loud. But you will still be able to converse.
(4)Matthew H.
Our fav. NorthEnd spot. The highlights: APPETIZERS: Involtini di Melanzane (eggplant, A MUST) & Mussels (Fresh and Delicious), PIZZA: the Vesuvio DESSERT: TIRAMISU (The reason I come here... to Boston)
(4)Jenna H.
This is my favorite dinner place in the north end!! I have lived here for awhile and its my top pick and where I refer everyone to go. They have the best comfort food - eggplant rollatini and home made pastas. The sauce is a close to my grandmothers as it gets! Great waitstaff and great prices!
(5)R.G. W.
A great place for lunch; it's cheap and the food is good. I like the brick oven and the way they use it--not just as a gimmick. I wish the prices stayed reasonable for dinner. Gnocchi is good if just a bit too salty for my taste.
(4)Projectshave L.
I make Italian food better than this place. You are all welcome to come by to try my fresh pasta. Their ravioli looks and tastes exactly the frozen ravioli available in my grocery store. The salad was a pile of spinach with a tasteless vinaigrette, and the tiramisu was average. It is disturbing that this place is rated so high.
(2)J B.
This might just be my favorite restaurant in the North End. Certainly one of the more authentic spots, as close to Italy as you're gonna get. Absolutely delicious gnocchi served with bubbling mozzerella cheese in a terracotta bowl, fresh out of the wood-burning oven. Good pizza too, as well as many other interesting dishes. It's cozy and romantic and an all-around great choice for North End dining.
(5)Ann M.
We came here for my boyfriends 25th birthday. We met up with some of my boyfriend's friends from out of town and we were 25 minutes late and they were STILL able to hold the table for 6. It was so helpful to know that the wait staff were so ready to help out. The food is in a category all its own--its amazing. We ordered Sangria (3 pitchers...haha) Started with Calamari (which was crispy but not fried to death) and we got some salad. We had to do our best tho not to fill up. I got the Gnocchi which was amazing the first and second time I ate it because there was more than enough for two meals. Other highly rated favorites? Scallops, and eggplant with pasta. The wait staff was incredible, the food was amazing and the night was a huge success all because of a great restaurant choice. Perfect for a romantic night, a dinner with your parents, or a surprise birthday dinner for your boyfriend ;o)
(5)Karin T.
On a whim decided to walk down to the North End on a Saturday night due to a pasta craving. We were lucky to snag a table for 2 without reservations. The focus here is classic Italian dishes with a Rustic/homey atmosphere If you are a lover of gnocchi, as am I, definitely try it here! Baked with bubbling hot cheese and red sauce. I loved every bite. We shared the baked eggplant appetizer. I've never been a huge fan of eggplant, but after a dish like this it's certainly a food that's growing on me. Rolled with ricotta and baked with more cheese. So delicious! The bread they put on the table with a white bean/tomato/garlic dip was a great way to start the meal and both jump start our taste buds and further our craving for Italian food. This bread also served as a great accompaniment to soak up the sauces in the pasta dishes. We also had a bottle of wine and were pleasantly surprised with the low prices per bottle on the wine list. Excellent north end option!
(4)Kitty C.
I came with an unadventurous friend for an early dinner one night, and I really need to come back with someone who is willing to eat things like, oh I don't know, prosciutto, in order to really experience it. What I did experience was just ok. We got to the door at 5 sharp, and made it just before a huge rush of people. It gets crowded and there is not a lot of wiggle room between the tables. The decor was warm and lovely, otherwise. The gnocchi was absolutely delicious and I will have to get it the next time I visit. It was a home run. The margarita pizza was just ok, and the cheese congealed into an orange shell about halfway through the dinner. I didn't think it was anything special, and the thin crust left a lot to be desired. For something that seems like it would be a staple, it was not impressive. I'd be willing to come again and try something else off the menu.
(3)Jed H.
Ok, so here is the breakdown. The food was great, the ambiance is homey, but the service lacked. My dining partner ordered the artichoke, mushroom, and olive pizza with truffle oil. I had the fettucini bolognese. As I said, all very good! The service was slow and inattentive however. Bread service was less than prompt, they had to get the wine from some kind of storage room that may have been a couple of blocks down. When the wine arrived we realized we only had one glass between the two of us. The waiter, realizing he had bit a bit neglectful, bought us a piece of tiramisu. Which honestly did the trick, moving what by all accounts could have been three stars to an admirable four. I would go back, the pizza was pretty great!
(4)Nisrine E.
Wow, this place has GREAT Italian food. I live in the North End and I have been so disappointed with the restaurants around here, but this one really hit it out of the park. I started off with a salad. The salad was fresh and the quality of their balsamic vinegar and olive oil was very evident. YUM YUM. I had their Rigatoni dish (it has ham, peas, mushrooms and onions in the sauce) You can tell by the taste of the pasta that it is homemade and the sauce was creamy and fantastic. I finished every last bite. :) There service was not great though... I had a rough around the edges very authentic older Italian woman. She was a little scary at first but then warmed up by the end of the meal. Also, I LOVE a place that puts olives on the table with the bread and oil... true Italians! And it's location on Salem street makes it a great spot to people watch all the lively characters of the North End. :))
(4)Jenny P.
I LOVE this place!!!! I actually come here whenever my parents are in town visiting and the waiters there now know us now as regulars and are so nice !!! (They always give us free tiramisu...and it is the best tiramisu I have ever had....and yes it's better than mike's....and no im not just saying that b/c its free) But really we have become regulars b/c the food is top-notch. The gnocchi is my personal favorite and I always get it with sausage add-in, which takes the dish to a whole other level of deliciousness. All the pizzas are delicious and, personally, i think they're just as good as PICCO's (which many people think makes the best pizzas in boston) This place has fresh, good food that is made well and i've never had a bad experience here. I recommend it 100%
(5)Veronica H.
This place was okay. I did not like the bread. It was cold and dry. The sangria and arancini were delicious but the service took way longer than it should have for a half empty restaurant. I ordered the gnocci which were cooked well but a little under seasoned.
(3)J.B. S.
Easy to get a seat for lunch. Had rigatoni w/ sausage & fettuccini at lunch. Some of the best Italian food in town. Very good value, friendly service.
(5)Lisa R.
Antico Forno was a small cozy italian style restaurant tucked away a block over from Hanover St. The menu was nice and small and the food was close to authentic for the North End. I had the pizza la capricciosa and asked them to add white truffle oil. It was delicious and the crust was the right thinness. My boy toy had the chicken saltimbocca which was incredibly flavorful and tasty. The chicken was tender and they gave you a decent sized portion. It was kind of lame that we were situated so closely to another couple, and we often got the feeling we were on a double date. They really pack the tables in there. Other than that, I loved the atmosphere and found the food to be flavorful and done well. The service wasn't incredible but it was pretty good and the wait staff were friendly. 4 stars all around!
(4)Bharat D.
Food was great. Service felt a bit rushed. When I go out to eat, I want to enjoy it. I don't like being rushed.
(3)Andrea C.
Antico Forno has great delicious solid italian food! We loved that it had a full bar (MMmmm Sangria) and the restaurant is quite spacious compared to other North End restaurants. You don't feel like you are rubbing elbows with strangers like some of the other restaurants. It is a kid friendly establishment and they are very accomodating with their menu and substitutions. That is a big plus! Now the reason why I didn't give them a 4.0 or 4.5. It is quite loud and difficult to have a conversation if you are in a group of 4 or more. And the biggest deduction in stars comes from the fact that we had to wait a Full Hour despite making reservations. Why offer reservations if you are just going to give us a pager and make us wait along with all the people who didn't make reservations. Not cool at all! Despite that, the food was DELICIOUS and I will be back to try it at least once more.
(3)Susan N.
Given the circumstances, I probably shouldn't review this place. We had spent all day on a plane (from Oakland to Logan Airport) and were a little dazed trying to manuever the tricky Boston streets, but managed to find our way to the North End. We were looking for a quiet restaurant for a nice relaxing dinner. This restaurant looked promising from the outside and the host said he could seat us right away if we didn't mind a "high table." Little did we know that the high table he was referring to was situated under a large TV and it also happened to be the day of the Kentucky Derby races, so the place was packed with cheering fans! We asked our waitress if there were other tables available ... we would have gladly waited awhile ... but to no avail. So much for a quiet dinner! We were surprised that the restaurant didn't serve garlic bread. They did provide some complimentary french bread, but it was a little on the dry side. We enjoyed the mixed salad greens (after subsisting on Southwest Airlines peanuts and pretzels), but it could have benefitted from some toasted pine nuts. The Margherita pizza sauce had sort of a creamy taste and texture, different, but not in a bad way. Unfortunately, this was our only meal in Boston ... since I'm sure there would have been many other restaurants that would have been a much better fit!
(2)Steven W.
Antico Forno was probably one of the best Italian restaurants I have patroned in a while. The Gnnochi is a grade A dish that you must try at least once. The Veal Bologonese is a fabulous dish. Definitely start off with the mussels appetizzer. The tomato sauce they use is to die for.
(5)Michael S.
Thoroughly enjoyed the good food and service - I ordered an artichoke, mushroom, cherry tomato, truffle oil & cheese pizza, which was fabulous. My only complaint, and it's significant, is that we were there on a Monday night and the noise level was DEAFENING. Louder than a sports bar on game night. I'm not normally bothered by the buzz of a lively place, but we had to shout back and forth to the server (who was gracious and lovely), and it was impossible to sustain a conversation with my wife. Again, I don't mind a busy noisy place - but this almost hurt my ears. I think the acoustics need some tuning in here. Maybe ceiling tiles or something.
(4)Marwan A.
tried the caprese, pizza and chicken parm... the pizza is great, the rest is average. i would diffidently go back for the pizza
(2)Kate D.
We made reservations for 5:30 for Sat night - some of us got there early - they let us sit at the table and have drinks while we waited for the rest... our waitress for the night couldn't have been nicer (didn't catch her name but she has a 3 year old child)... the appetizers (antipasto, meatballs) were delicious, lots of great choices for wines and drinks and the entrees very good. We had mentioned that we were celebrating someones birthday so they put a candle in the tiramisu that we ordered (which was very good!) We weren't rushed at all so on a rainy chilly night it was a really fun time. A little loud in there but that added to the atmosphere..
(4)michelle m.
Came here on a recommendation. I got a pizza to split. It was soggy and sort of flavor less. Another person in our party got a gluten free one and it came out cold. Had to send it back to be re-warmed. They said the dough had absolutely no flavor and was under-seasoned. Definitely won't be back for their pizza.
(1)Gabrielle C.
not vegetarian-friendly - at all. AMALFITANA - nothing about this pizza was fresh, we were seated right next to their brick oven, i wonder if our pizza came straight from a freezer via a very quick stop in the oven. FUSILLI AL TEGAMINO - meh. we make better fusilli at home.
(2)Anuj G.
Great food
(5)Peter M.
What can I say, this place should be great. Really, it has everything going for it, attractive location, nice smelling food, a big new bar, all should be good right? Wrong. I have given this place two tries separated by a month or so. Both times I had the worst North End dining experience. Rude staff, missing food orders, and interminably long wait times. I'm not referring to waiting to be seated, I'm talking about waiting for food to arrive. The average wait time for entrees to arrive easily exceeded one hour. I love eating in the North End, but I would never ever choose to eat here again.
(1)Ricky B.
Officially one of my favorite North End spots. Went there recently for the second time and the food was perfection. Service is wonderful! It's a bit crowded but it's only because it's so good. I highly recommend Antico Forno we will definitely be back!
(5)Sarah K.
Good solid Italian fare, excellent for the price.
(3)Shana K.
It's been a few months since we ended up here..in the middle of a rainy weekday. We had the place to ourselves, which was more romantic than awkward. The eggplant appetizer was divine as was my artichoke pizza. I'm still having tantalizing thoughts of the fresh gnocchi sticking to the roof of my mouth. Oh my sweet sweet potato dumplings, how you haunt me....
(4)Kerri B.
Was told the wait would be 25 min but we waited well over an hour and no one really cared. The food was good but by the time we sat down they were out of bolognese. Great pizza didn't save this rating.
(3)Dave K.
So my family came into town, and suddenly all of the restaurants on my Yelp bookmarks list were in the price range. I went here for a birthday dinner, and it didn't disappoint. There was a slight mix-up with our Opentable.com reservation, but the man in the glasses with the clipboard cleared that up within minutes. The night's special of chicken parmesan was fantastic (with a tangy and sweet red sauce), and provided tasty leftovers. I tried the baked gnocchi, and it was also excellent. Only downside: we ordered a garden salad to start, and it never came. Beware, this place is LOUD during dinner!
(4)Jacqueline C.
Fair prices with good service. I had the linguine with clams and it's good!
(4)Andrea P.
I grew up in the North End. I can tell you in all honesty that this restaurant is not a tourist trap. Go here. Spend. It's worth it. It just may be the only authentic italian restaurant outside of Italy.
(5)Marilyn T.
It's a very cute and intimate North End restaurant. Tables are close together, and everything is kind of hectic, but it all fits in with the North End feel. Baked pastas are super rich and satisfying, especially with the browned crispy cheese crust on top. Pastas are cooked al dante, and the pizza sizes are pretty large. Everything is comforting and filling, and it almost leaves you too full for dessert in North End. The food takes a while on a busy night, but that's North End. I'd recommend this on a cold winter night when you're starving for some good baked dishes.
(3)Cee Cee S.
There are a lot of great restaurants in the North End. There are just as many dull places with generic menus. Thankfully, Antico Forno leans more towards greatness. LOVE the brick oven. It lends an air of authenticity and coziness to the place. The tables are a little close together in my opinion, but it adds to the experience rather than takes away from it. There is a mix of young servers and folks left over from the old guard. They don't rush you, but then again, you'll probably have to wait to get your water refilled. The food....ah the food. I've had both a pasta dish and a pizza here. The pizza with artichokes, porchini mushrooms and truffle oil is my new favorite. I keep craving it. The crust is not too thick, nor is it too thin. It doesn't get soggy with the toppings and holds up well when you pick it up. And the truffle oil. It's my new favorite thing. Pure bliss. I wouldn't waste time having dessert here. You'll be too full.
(4)Mary B.
This is my old reliable in the North End. I've probably eaten here half a dozen times since living in Boston and it never fails to deliver a solid Italian dining experience. I came back a few nights ago after a long hiatus and discovered they had expanded the space so it's now two rooms and a bar instead of just the one room. Much less claustrophobic but it does create a different, admittedly less cozy vibe than before. I don't think I've had a bad meal here - the appetizers and salads are huge and wonderful (get fresh ground black pepper on your salad!) and the entrees are comfort food miracles that are very tasty without being overly complicated. They have created my perfect Italian dish in the brick oven (!) baked fusili with hearty tomato sauce, vegetables and goat cheese - all elements that I love separately and come together brilliantly. The pizza is heavenly as well. The crowd on a weekday night is healthy and it's clear people are enjoying themselves but it's not roaring loud and you don't have to sit on top of the next table. The service is good - they bring everything out right on schedule and make sure you have everything you want and need but leave you alone pretty much the rest of the time. Water is re-filled regularly, which is a major plus in my thirsty camel book. I don't feel cheated when I come here - in terms of money or food quality - and that's a good feeling to have when you walk out of a North End restaurant.
(4)Kate G.
This restaurant is delicious and very reasonable price-wise. Pizza, pasta, and salads were all dynamite... and fresh. I came with a group (and of course, a reservation!) and we were treated very well. We will be back.
(5)Tess G.
My friend who lives in the North End recommended it, so I took the advice of someone who lives in the midst of all the great restaurants and she was spot on. Our waitress was incredible. She was helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and was just such a friendly, lovely girl. I had the baked rigatoni with sausage. It was awesome! My Mom had a pizza which was equally great. The brick ovens make the crust so good! Definitely make a reservation though. We had one for 7:30 but our table wasn't ready until 7:45 because the place was so busy. Luckily there's a bar to grab a drink while waiting.
(5)Lala L.
Yum! I'm a fan of this place since I first had a bite of their superfreshoutoftheoven pizza! Yummmmmmmmm!!!!!! and I cannot forget their linguine with with white clam sauce...absolutely the best one I've had. It's made in their oven, wrapped in parchment and foil....so the clams are done perfectly.
(4)Lucy W.
Good linguini and clams with white wine sauce- cooked to a perfect al dente, large portions, decent value at under $20. Looking at my friends and their choices (Gnocchi, chicken parm, penne dishes), they also looked good, though like most other Italian places, overly doused in sauce and cheese. Appetizers were only ok- we got a few for the table to share: mussels fra diavolo, eggplant, antipasto. However, looooong wait, despite reservations (we were seated an hour later), and tightly spaced tables made the dinner a little uncomfortable. OK, but there are so many choices in the North End, that I probably would choose another option next time.
(3)Jeremy S.
Ok, so people really hype this place and it was for the most part underwhelming. I ordered the pizza and the lamb sandwich. The waiter tried to get me to change my order because he didn't think I would be able to finish both. I left two pieces of pizza on the table because it was mediocre at best. Now the lamb sandwich on the other hand, was awesome. It's served with a nice salad that compliments it very well. The sandwich has roasted lamb and peppers on some crunchy Italian bread. I took the bread off and ate it straight up. I would go back for this, otherwise the menu was pretty small and bland if you ask me. I will say we went for lunch and maybe they have a different menu for dinner.
(3)Kristen F.
One word... CRAMMED! Patrons are dining and drinking on top of one another here! If you don't like weaving and squeezing your way through an establishment to get to your table, the bar, the bathroom, or the the exit... then this is not the place for you. We were seated at the high top that abutted the bar area so we got the worst of this. Without fail every person trying to get to the bar bumped my chair. I'm not sure why they don't just do away with that table completely and create more standing room - I'm sure a lot of negative reviews were born from people seated here. Onto the food. We got the calamari and a pizza. The calamari was too lightly breaded and not a ton of flavor. The pizza was pretty good but given the atmosphere, not worth going back for. I'm sure the pasta entrees are decent and it might be a perfectly fine dining experience in the dining room or on a slow night. For me it was just OK.
(3)Kathleen C.
Came here today (over Moving Weekend) around 3pm. They were still offering the Restaurant Week prix-fixe menue, so I went for the prix-fixe lunch while the husband opted for pizza. Got a tomato-based seafood stew appetizer that was divine, not so tomato-ey that you couldn't taste the cod, clams, or mussels. The shredded pork in red sauce over flat noodles was absolutely delicious. Tiramisu was great- a little more soaked than I'd like, but maybe that was a result of refrigerating it after it had been out while wandering around the North End. Husband's margherita pizza was a little salty and "eh." But so is every other pizza, once you've had one with fresh mozzarella. So I won't go there for the pizza. Service was friendly but a little slow. They were packed for 3pm on one of their biggest days oh the year. This may be my go-to place in the North End. Will be back!
(5)Derek K.
Went back for a second visit during our trip. Had the same waiter from Friday night and he remembered us...not sure how since it was so packed that night and they had a line out the door! WIfe loved the Linguine al frutti di mare so much she ordered it again. I really enjoyed my pizza (as usual), but as others have commented, not the best brick-oven pizza in the area - thus the 4 star rating.
(4)Bill T.
They really pack it in here and did not honor our reservation until 40 minutes later. The wait at the bar was with a bartender in an awful mood who took 10 minutes to make a glass of wine, and seemed disgusted when we placed our order. When we finally sat down at our wobbly table, it took a while for our exhausted, sweating waiter to find us and asked if we wanted drinks. We just ordered food and apps not knowing when he would return. All of this could have possibly been overlooked if the food was exceptional but it wasn't. We ordered three different pasta dishes each with different sauces, and they all tasted about the same. Pretty generic stuff you can find in countless other tourist traps in the North End. The broccoli rabe was even overcooked. The food is not horrible, but it's not worth the atmosphere, price and poor service. Antico Forno: Please hire some help for your poor staff on Fridays. At least take pride in good service for your expensive mediocre food. I know you want to make good money on the weekends but take out a couple tables. We had get up from our meal every few minutes to allow people stuck behind us to escape to the bathroom.
(2)Megan P.
Loved it here! The inside is exactly what you would think of when you picture North End charm, and the big fireplace int he middle of the restaurant is perfectly cozy. I loved the wine (house Chianti, I have realized you can't go wrong with Chianti in the North End) and the food! The fresh bread to start is delicious and you can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes. I'm not a big gnocchi fan in general, but my boyfriend is, and he said this was the best he's had!
(4)Jillian R.
Yummy! I fell in LOVE with their atmosphere/decor! It's SOOO romantic. The waiters are eye candy, too! It makes it the perfect place for a hot date! Oh, yeah and the food was delicious too... But I was a little too busy to eat because their Pomegranate martini is the best I've ever had. A friend had their Lamb sandwich and loved it. Everything looked SO yummy. The placed was packed the entire time we were there with large and small groups alike as well as lots of kids! I was impressed because we were there between 1 and 2 pm.
(4)Keith M.
Stopped in for lunch with a few colleagues. I had the FUSILLI AL TEGAMINO [Brick oven baked fusilli pasta, sautéed eggplant, zucchini, roasted peppers in a plum tomato sauce topped with goat cheese and basil] Prepared well, but the vegetables were chopped up too small to really get the flavor. Not sure if that's the intended prep or not, but not for me. I've been before and it's always great, so I'll order something else next time.
(3)Carollynn W.
My Mom was in town for the weekend and this is the spot we chose for dinner. After soliciting numerous recommendations, we chose this place, which was recently named the Best Northend Restaurant by Boston Magazine. My overall impression is that the food was decent, but it is hard for me to believe that this restaurant would approach the "best" of the Northend. The atmosphere left much to be desired. The dining room as an absurd number of tables squeezed inside. The tables were awkwardly close together (maybe two inches in between). As a result, you could hear your neighbors entire conversation. Additionally, the tables were so close together that the bustling wait staff hit you every time they walked by. The restaurant also seemed unusually noisy, perhaps because you had to yell to drown out your neighbor. The service was good. The restaurant seemed to be amply staffed and there was little to no wait for bread, drink refills, etc. The bread at the restaurant seems like an afterthought. It did not seem fresh and was not warm. It was served with a tasty white bean puree but when we asked for olive oil they served us what looked like commercial cooking oil (certainly not bread quality oil). For appetizers we ordered an eggplant dish and Arancini. Both were very good. Both were served with an incredible red sauce which I would say was the highlight of our meal. Portions were large. For dinner we had chicken parm, risotto and gnocchi. The chicken parm was good because it was slathered with the aforementioned delicious red sauce but both the risotto and gnocchi left much to be desired. My impression is that this place does the classics and pizza well. Overall, I think better options can be had in the Northend. But at minimum, this place could improve its reception by improving the atmosphere and comfort of its guests.
(3)Charmie S.
Dare I say AF offers the best pizza in the city of Boston? I was most impressed with the size of the pizza for one. Definitely enough for two people. I had intended to take half of mine home, but it didn't make it. I remember it being just the right amount of cheesy with little to no grease. Service was a little slow at the lunch hour, but I guess that's to be expected.
(5)Shalin P.
A group of 5 of us recently dined here for my birthday. We knew the portions would be large so we moved straight to the entrees (after eating some crusty bread and olives). We split 5 dishes between the group: - Margherita pizza - Napoletana pizza - Fusilli - Gnocchi - Rigatoni All were excellent, and the entire group was impressed (even my mom, who doesn't like dining out). I would say the gnocchi was my favorite. Overall a nice meal and a good value for the North End.
(4)S P.
Entrees tasted very good but the portions were below average. This is in part due to the restaurant week lunch menu. I would have just ordered off the regular menu. Unfortunately, I left slightly hungry wanting for more!
(3)Chad H.
Stumbled across this gem. Had a really nice lunch with my partner. The rolitini was delicious!
(5)Diane H.
I'm not a fan of tomato sauce...and my friend totally did not know this and decided to take me here.. I got one of the pizzas instead that had ricotta cheese and the uncooked meat which i forgot the name of...I tried a bit of the pasta and the tomato sauce was actually pretty good, because it's fresh, so next time I come, def try! They make the pizza from scratch, pretty good. No reservations, sat us by the cash register in a high table. I sat my empty cup of water right at the middle of the table so the waiter can see that it needs filling. Completely ignored :( The other waiters didn't do anything either..until I grilled them down, then a nice waiter came and filled it, and again when it emptied. I would expect even if my waiter was busy to check on my table every now and then...he only really paid attention when I ordered my tiramisu, delish! And to give us our check. I wish I had the other waiter..so much more friendly. I would return, but maybe if I make reservations first and with more than 2 people so I get a nice table that isn't next to the register and phone and all the waiters hanging around. Dissapointed, but will return to try the fresh tomato sauce. Hopefully they will be more attentive. It's not like I was dressed like a kid either, I wore business casual clothes, so I expect good service for a 15 dollar pizza. OH btw..the bread was GROSS, it was like stale and NOT good like I usually have at other italian restaurants...
(3)Nikki I.
Stick with the pizza here, it is very good.
(3)Lynn K.
Three of us were there last night for dinner. Although it was restaurant week, only one of us ordered off the pris fix menu. The parpadelle with pork was dissapointing. The pasta was crunchy and stuck together...Al dente is one thing but this was clearly not cooked property. Two of us got the risotto of the day. Last night it was with vegetables. I think for $18 the portion should be bigger than a small grapefruit...especially when there was no expensive meat or fish in it. I left there hungry :( I think the prices are very expensive for the amount of food that is given
(2)Rob T.
Great food. Service was somewhat lacking- not particularly friendly.
(4)Heather G.
The good news is that I had this place on my "to try" list forever, because i'd heard the pizza here is great, and I finally got to cross it off the list. The bad news is that I regretted spending the money, and wish I'd chosen another place to visit instead. We arrived on a busy Friday night on a chilly April evening and waited about 10 minutes for a table. The room is large and filled with tables, yet they turn over quickly. However, the table we were given was the one closest to the door, ensuring an icy blast each time someone went in or out. We, instead, opted to wait for the next available table, as I am a tiny little woman who chills easily. Unfortunately, the next table we were given was a tiny little thang pushed up against a brick wall nearest the kitchen. My boyfriend, being a large man who runs hot, spent the entire night sweating bullets. Moral of the story? Temperature control here isn't the most consistent, so bring a heavy sweater AND wear a tank-top to be sure you have your bases covered! We ran into a coworker while waiting for our table who SWORE BY the mussels, so of course we had to sample that as well, as he and his fiancee are super-regulars at this place. Sadly, though the service was good (friendly, yet very slow waitstaff), the food just wasn't. To start: COZZE PICCANTI - Sautéed mussels in a spicy plum tomato sauce and roasted garlic for $11. The mussels alternated between chewy/rubbery, and slimy/undercooked, with very little cooking consistency. The roasted garlic flavor was nice, but the overall dish was unappealing. Sadly, coworker, I do not agree with your assessment of these mussels, though perhaps I just got them on a REALLY bad day. For pizza: CARCIOFI E PORCINI - Artichoke hearts, imported Italian porcini mushrooms, fresh homemade mozzarella, fresh cherry tomatoes, finished with white truffle oil for $16. The mushrooms overwhelmed the rest of the flavors and washed out the poor, sweet, fresh mozzarella. The dough on this pizza was thick and rubbery, and while it's mediocre when served right out of the oven, it's abysmal as next-day leftovers. We also tried a "special" pizza of the day that had long ribbons of prosciutto, for about $16. Because the prosciutto was cooked into the pizza (we assumed it'd be laid on top, as you'd normally treat the beautiful, cured meat), it resembled more like pancetta or bacon, and was shriveled and salty when it arrived at our table. Had we known the practice was to cook the prosciutto on the pizza, we would have reconsidered the order, but we had made an assumption that this place would add it at the end. Live and learn - always ask your server before making assumptions on meat-handling. This, too, was a disaster the next day, and I wouldn't recommend taking any of your meal to-go. Obviously this food was edible. There's nothing really wrong with it. However, after hearing so much about the wonderful, rustic, authentic, Italian pizza this place serves up, we left sorely disappointed and will likely not come back.
(2)Colette H.
DO NOT CHOOSE ANTICO FORNO FOR A LARGE PARTY. I will never patronize Antico Forno again. Especially when there are so many great choices in the North End. A real restaurant that has its stuff together does NOT treat a party the way we were treated. 10 of us, out for a celebration dinner, had a reservation at 7:30. After messing around with us, telling us "5 more minutes," making us all wait outside in the Boston cold, we were not seated until 8:45. Offering no excuses and no apologies, Antico Forno's terrible service was appalling. If you cannot accomodate a large party, do not make a reservation at the time requested. It is very simple. Had it not been a Saturday night and a large party, I would've left right away.
(1)Faye Z.
I wanted to give 3.5 stars since there is nothing I can complain about this place and I come here quiet often. Compare to the other Italian places in the North End, it is not super impressive but I always feel comfortable eating here. My come here for the brick oven pizzas and the oven baked clam linguine. The food is inexpensive and the quality is not bad.
(3)Anthony S.
My gf and I went here for dinner on a Saturday night at about 9. It seemed pretty busy, but even though we didn't have reservations, we were seated right away. It was noisy inside so don't come here expecting a romantic atmosphere. There weren't too many kids there, only one family that I could see. The hostess, our server, and the bussers were polite and fast. We had a caprese salad, which was pretty good, and a glass of sangria and a martini. I had the fusilli with zucchini, goat cheese, and basil (I don't remember the name), and it was excellent. Definitely 5/5 for that. My gf had the vegetable risotto which was also very good. We were both really happy with the restaurant. The bill at first seemed a little steep at $70 (before tip), but considering what all we got, it was reasonable.
(5)Jenny U.
Favorite place in the north end, hands down. Esp. now that they're double in size and you can get a table without as much worry. Then again once I declare someplace my favorite, I'm averse to trying anything else. And Antico Forno was one of the first places I went, so... But it's really good.
(5)Sara S.
Antico Forno is a nice Italian restaurant away from the craziness of Hanover Street. We arrived at 4:30PM and the place was packed by 5! It's one of the few restaurants in the North End I can think of that offers pizza in a sit-down atmosphere... which basically means lots of kids. Kids like pizza. So, if you're looking for a quiet, kid free, romantic evening, this isn't the place for you. But if you want delicious food at a reasonable price, this could be the place for you. I had Fettuccine Positano which I'd highly suggest- scallops and shrimp over homestyle fettuccine with a chunky and garlicky tomato sauce. For a little over $20, I thought it was quite reasonable, especially considering the sizable portion. Bread is always important at an Italian restaurant, and this didn't disappoint. It was served with a white bean puree which was similar to Middle Eastern hummus, but even better. Antico Forno has a wine list of about 20 bottles, as well as a full bar.
(4)Laura A.
I stopped in here for the first time last night, and I am really excited to come back. A few highlights: first, the fact that you could make a reservation on opentable (yay! very convenient); second, there were a lot of options for everyone in our group with different dietary needs, including a decent amount of veg options; third, the cost was super reasonable for such a delicious, filling meal. we had 4 pizzas and 2 pastas along with a bottle of wine, two beers, and two desserts, and it was $30 per person including tip, which was not bad at all. I had the margherita pizza, which I thought was fantastic. it was, as my husband called it, "real pizza" - not crappy drunk food pizza, not healthy whole wheat pizza, not fancy flatbread. Just really delicious, solid pizza. I'm from New Jersey (home of DeLorenzos) so I can be particular about my pizza, and this was the real deal. I thought the ambiance was also really nice. We had a first-time visitor to Boston in our group and I thought it was great that she got to experience a homey North End place like this! A few negatives: our waiter was kind of phoning it in since gratuity is included for a group of 6+ and it took forever for him to tend of us, which was kind of a bummer..also, the Peroni i ordered was really, really flat and gross :(
(4)Mrs. G.
I used to live on Salem St and this was by far the best Italian food in the north end. I was hooked on their pasta de mer. It was cooked in parchment paper and gave quite the presentation when you opened it up. Their sausage dish is also amazing. Cooking in parchment paper makes a huge difference in food because the dish is always more flavorful. I can't wait to get back there and go again. My only qualm is the waitstaff are a bit rough and they don't smile. But the food is great and that is what matters.
(5)Ryan B.
Food: Not the best in the North End. (see below) Atmosphere: High end Pizzeria. This is not a place to go on a romantic date. Wonderful for pizza and salad. Service: Slow, but friendly. Overall Experience: Would go back, but I would just order a pizza.. The chicken was dry and pasta was over cooked. The food was good enough not to send back, but it just did not blow us away..
(3)Jim O.
New to the area, I turn to Yelp for help dining out. A good number of Yelpers rate Antico Forno among the best in the North End. I'm not disputing this, but, based on our recent experience, that doesn't say much for the North End. Good first: we were early on a fall Tuesday, and had the place to ourselves at first. When we left a bit after 7, there was still plenty of open seating. The waitress was very pleasant and we welcomed her willingness to chat us up about her 10 month old child and curing the hiccups. A nice family touch. The place was comfortable and, seated by the window, we didn't feel at all crowded. As far as the food goes, the green salad and cappuccino were great. My pizza with artichokes, tomatoes, and porcini mushrooms had an outstanding wood oven crust, just like it should, but the toppings were only luke warm. The ribbolata soup was perfectly tasty, but really was not much more than minestrone with a piece of bread floating in it. The not so good: My daughter's roast chicken, probably also done in the wood oven was over cooked and pretty dry as a result. My wife's chicken parm was only so-so, nothing out of the ordinary, and for $22, we expected better. I couldn't find a bottle of wine under $30 that looked good, ended up spending $38 for a Nebbiolo d'Alba which was nice, but a bit pricey IMHO. Summary: Nothing wrong with the Antico Forno, but not a place I'd recommend with enthusiasm.
(3)Chris H.
Delicious! Everything from the starter bread to the intricate pizzas! Absolutely a must! I will definitely come back when I'm in Boston again!
(5)Katelyn M.
I could not have been more pumped up to eat at Antico Forno this weekend when my parents came to visit. They had gifted us an anniversary dinner, and I was determined to find a North End restaurant that would deliver quality food without a $$$ price tag. Our entrees were unanimously delicious. All of us finished our plates including two plates of seafood and linguine, an order of linguine with clams, and a special chicken parmigiana. The fried calamari appetizer was forgettable (...and I think they may have forgotten lemon or some other sauce or acid to flavor it), whereas the mozzarella in the caprese was thick, creamy, and delicious. Our waitress was perfectly helpful and attentive, without being overbearing. We arrived around 6pm (with reservations) and were quickly seated. By the time we left (7:30...) there was a line and the volume in the room was notably elevated. The ambiance was great; loved the brick exposed walls and the perfect not-too-low lighting. I'd definitely come back, though I'd have trouble deciding what to order next. Great place, that delivers quality food and doesn't have to depend on monster portions to get rave reviews.
(4)Brandon C.
I don't know if this is standard practice in the North End, but when you get refills for soft drinks, they charge you each time. Also, the Vesuvio Pizza was just simply uninspired. It didn't really stay together well nor was it that tasty. I was expecting something that had a lasagne flavor with the ricotta and I got something that tasted more like cottage cheese. My wife's Capricciosa pizza was far better, but still not quite worth the price. I've had better pizza at Z-Pizza in the DC area. So this place gets 2 stars as I believe it's a bit overpriced and overhyped for what it actually offers. Granted, I'm an out-of-towner reviewing this, but I just wasn't that impressed.
(2)Emily C.
Antico Forno remains one of my absolute favorites in the North End. The food is very reasonably priced, very tasty, and as authentic as the North End gets. (After living in Italy, I am slightly biased.) You can make reservations, as well, which is always nice. I also have never had just a so-so bottle of wine there, loved them all. I bring out of town guests and my father here whenever possible. Its a definite hit in a part of town that truly could be hit or miss. I am surprised at some of the posting about table space...people who are so concerned about the spacing in between the tables might want to reconsider the choice to have a meal in the North End!!
(5)Melissa K.
I am of the mind the 90% of the restaurants in the North End are pretty good. If there aren't they will close, because with so many other options people are not going to tolerate bad food. So I never really understand when people are so committed to one place, especially if that place involves waiting in a long line in the rain only then to be jammed up against your neighbor and rushed out. Not mentioning any names here. Well onto Antico Forno. It is an above average North End restaurant. There place is beautiful since the recent renovation, love the brick, and the high tech bathrooms. The bar area is quite spacious which is a plus in the North End. I hate waiting for my dining companions in the middle of the doorway when that is the only place to stand. And they have beer on tap! Unheard of in the North End. Enjoyed my Sam Adams while I waited for my dad. The bread they give you it large, I hate those tiny pieces of bread some places serve. We ordered the INVOLTINI DI MELANZANE, rolled eggplant with ricotta. Hard to make that not taste good, but the eggplant was especially well prepared. There was a ton of extra sauce which was perfect for dipping with the large bread. My husband and I shared the AMALFITANA pizza with smoked mozzarella, tomatoes and arugula and the baked fusilli with veggies and goat cheese. We liked both of them. The smoked mozzarella was a nice change from the norm, and tasted even better for lunch the next day.
(4)Joe D.
Chicken parm is awesome. Nuff said.
(5)Emily A.
Blarg- don't go here...its very disappointing and expensive. The gnocchi was definitely not homemade but tasted like the air-sealed stuff you get at the grocery store. The pizza was also tasteless. The waiter seemed offended when we didn't want to take leftovers-- and was semi-rude. This place is not worth the expense-- you're better off going somewhere else down the street.
(1)R T.
This is the place we go, every year, to celebrate my husband's birthday - in mid-January, when walking ANYWHERE in Boston makes you think twice. The food, the service, and the ambiance always make up for the hardship, though. Portions are good, ingredients are fresh, every wine we've sampled has been fabulous. We've never had a moment of meh with service, either, like some people reviewing them seem to have had. So for all these reasons, we choose A.F. over the touristy options nearby.
(4)Steve C.
Stopped here today for lunch. Place was busy but not packed (it was 98 degrees. In Boston) service was great and food was delicious. I had the veal Parmesan and my wife had the eggplant stuffed with ricotta. Both dishes came covered with some of the best tomato sauce (gravy) we have tasted.
(4)Apostolos K.
Great pizza! Should go back and try more things:)
(4)Lynn J.
Family friendly, neighborhood eatery atmosphere with prices that won't make Mom cry and portions that won't leave Dad hungry! The $6 side salads will SERVE 2 PEOPLE, as will the HUGE BOWLS OF PASTA. *smile*
(4)Elaine S.
Great remodeling, great prices for Boston, and delicious food sums it up. Initially just one room they have expanded to two connected rooms with a bar area and beautiful arches in the middle. The brick oven is in sight for nearly everyone and it is really fun to watch everything get cooked in there. The whole place has a very pleasant Italian feel and it is certainly family friendly. I have brought anyone visiting me to this restaurant because it is my favorite in Boston. I have heard rave reviews about the claim linguine, pizza, and gnocchi (which is actually my personal favorite- I'm not even a big fan of gnocchi but it is just perfection there). My only complaints? The staff isn't very friendly and can sometimes be rude. Also, perhaps it is just me, but the only thing that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed is the bread they serve before the meal.Despite these complaints, the restaurant maintains it's five stars without a doubt. Antico Forno a great place and you really can't beat the food.
(5)Clark Q.
We had a generally good dinner here. The rice balls were delightful, and oh, the sauce. Lass's fettuccine with prosciutto was tasty, and my margherita pizza w/ olives was great as was m'lady's traditionale pizza. Lad thought his 4 cheese pie, however, suffered from erratic distribution and cooking; some places missed some cheeses and the pie wasn't evenly cooked. So, sadly, one off note on an evening of otherwise superb food.
(4)Ty R.
Food is excellent. Arancini was the best I've had. They deserve five stars for the food. BUT: Atmosphere was terrible. Seats are way too crowded together. It was like we were eating with strangers. We had to get out of our seats a couple of times to let others through. One of the most noisy restaurants I've ever been to. Could not have a conversation with my wife. Service was on the slow side. It seemed slower than it probably was because I wanted to get out of there so bad. Will not return, even for the fantastic food.
(3)Gregg P.
Ate lunch here while on vacation. My wife and I ordered two dishes and split them. First was Fusilli Al Tegamino, this was a pasta dish and was good overall. The second item we ordered was a Tradizionale pizza, this brick oven cooked pizza was phenomenal. Thin crust cooked just right and the flavor of the sauce along with the sausage, pepperoni, onion, and mozzarella cheese was just perfect. I would highly recommend coming here for this item alone.
(5)Laurie W.
Lunch at Antico Forno after Italian class is a treat we give ourselves several times a year. The linguini with clams, risotto with asparagus and truffle oil, the lamb sandwich - all delicious. Service is excellent, prices are reasonable, desserts are fresh, everything you look for dining in the North End.
(4)M J.
Sadly, I just don't get into the N End enough. Gladly, my waistline is kept in check. Happily, I finally located a family friendly, sit down and be served resto - with good food and alcohol - in this neighborhood. Score. Really, is there anything better than wandering the Boston waterfront on a gorgeous summer night? I'd say no. Being on the water - It's obvious why the area is such a draw for locals and tourists. The activity on a recent Saturday night was a ma zing. Expect a wait here, and noise if you dine early. Our waiter was adorable and mostly attentive - no extra cheese, no fresh grind of pepper - but the place was pretty chaotic. Considering that, the staff seemed well equipped to deal with the masses. Also, the chaos is worth it if you are dining this early and have kids in tow. All the food was delicious and CHEAP. Entrees in the mid teens, including a great risotto, $6 for big yummy caesar salad. Only $7 for 1/2 plate of pasta bolognese?! My god, that's like stealing. I opted for more food courses, but desserts looked tempting as well. Wandering this neighborhood is as good as it gets, and with so many dessert and coffee options, and people waiting to eat here, be nice and choose a walk to the nearest cafe/bakery for your last course.
(4)Matt R.
This has been my go-to italian date restaurant for years. Being off Hanover it's not as slammed with tourists so you can usually walk in and get a table with no issues, especially during the week. The food is quite good though, piping hot out of the brick oven, and not unreasonably priced. I like 'em a lot.
(4)Gregg B.
The Ritz recommended this place for my family & they were right. It did take some time for us to e seated, but it was too bad. The food was great and very reasonable. The portions were very good, the service great. The best line was from my 13 yr old. He said "Sometimes your stomach just has to tell your mouth thank you!"
(5)Deborah P.
Would you like some salad with your salad? We ordered salads as our starters and then our entrees came with huge piles of salad on the plate. The meatballs with salad (after my salad), my husband got the swordfish (came with a pile of salad) and no pasta. So we ordered a side of pasta and were surprised that didn't come with salad. We didn't have the pizza but it looked good. The service was just ok. The food was mehhhhhh. Not bad but certainly not great. Next time we'll try La famiiglia something? looked packed, standing in line and also Neptune's looks very good as alternatives.
(3)Shuan L.
Antico Forno offer solid, tasty food at a reasonable price for those occasions when you don't feel like waiting an hour or two for better North End establishments. The staff isn't the speediest, most attentive, or friendliest but the atmosphere is generally pleasant, especially on nice days when they open up the big windows facing the street. (In the winter, Christmas lights are strung around the windows. Cozy!) But let's admit it, what matters the most is the food. There's nothing particularly unique on the menu, nor are the options extensive. But the pasta dishes are generally reliable - I personally like the baked fusilli with vegetables and goat cheese, or the gnocchi. I'm also a fan of the pizza because it's SO CHEESY, but it's also a little on the oily side. Nonetheless, I like getting it because it's huge and I have enough left over for a full meal the next day. The Amalfitana, which is smothered in smoked mozzarella and generously topped with arugula, is a great choice.
(3)Alana L.
This place is tiny and cozy, with a warm fireplace. Good for hearty meals on a cold winter night! We went here with a group of 20 (small birthday dinner that turned huge!) with only reservations for 18. The hostess and our waiter very quickly and efficiently set up extra chairs for us, despite the drama and the crowded space we were occupying. The smells of truffle pizza were intoxicating and I chose the special-risotto with porcini mushrooms, asparagus, pancetta, and truffle oil. It was rich and delicious. I was a little confused by the menu descriptions, for instance what is "homemade style" pasta? Is it homemade or not? Nevertheless, it was a cozy place with good food, service and atmosphere.
(3)larry m.
I have been here twice in the past couple of months and really like this place. The place is not the typical stuffy, trendy north end restaurant. I went there with my wife and 2 friends of ours. We started off w/a double order of arancini. It's served with a simple, yet delicious marinara sauce. This is one of the best rice balls outside of umbertos in the north end. For my main course I had the Rigatoni alla Boscicaila. I definitely butchered the pronunciation and spelling of this dish. It's Rigatoni (big surprise) that's sauteed with mushrooms, pancetta, peas and onion in a tomato/marscapone sauce. If it wasn't frowned upon in society I would have licked the plate clean. For dessert we shared a tiramisu. I was blown away by how good this was. It was enormous and had this cocoa/sugar mixture sprinkled on top. Needless to say, my wife and I destroyed this. With reasonable prices and great food, this is my new favorite spot in the north end. The only reason I didn't give it a five is that it's really loud and crowded. I guess some other people know about this place too. It's on opentable so I highly recommend you make reservations.
(4)Tory H.
this place is ok...its got the whole pretend to be authentic thing down, and in the end it looks cheesy. the foods not bad, I have had the ceaser salad- tastes like the dressing is from a jar, the pizza is pretty good though. i come here every once in a while when i'm lazy cause its right by my apartment. overall- many better places to go in the north end than this place.
(3)Carolyn J.
Authentic Italian Food doesn't get any better than Antico Forno! My mom and I came upon this restaurant while walking all around the neighborhoods of Boston (i.e. Salem St.) several months ago. The food's amazing, the service is friendly and the place is relatively clean. Just be sure to make reservations ahead of time, my mom and I got lucky with getting a table while we were there because we arrived just before the place got packed.
(5)Bradley L.
North End. Yawn. This place was crazy busy. They couldn't get us in for our reservation for 30 minutes because some people refused to leave their table. The bar was overcrowded and nothing nearby had room to hang out til our table was available either. When we finally did get a spot at the bar, the bartender actually yelled at us for not being able to pronounce the name of one of the cocktails. Weird? The service at the dinner table was so-so. Not incredibly attentive. Had to flag down a passing server (not ours) a few times for help with things. Food was standard Italian fare.
(2)Justin H.
First off this place gets a huge plus from me for having tables more than an inch apart from each other. Nothing like not having dinner with random people within arms length to make an evening. This place has been recently renovated and expanded. I wasn't here before this took place, so I have no recollection of the size before. In fact I was at the restaurant the friday night they took the plywood off the expanded space. They did a really nice job. The bar looks nice and the bathrooms are right up there with the best in town. The experience: Like I said tables spread out far enough so you have some room to eat, a rarity in the North End of Boston. The mussels I stole from Paul D.'s appetizer were really good. Mrs. Monster and I shared a pizza and the chicken parmigian. The pizza, a little oily, was tasty when I rolled it up and ate it like a calzone. The parm was baked in a little bowl with fresh pasta and was really good. The waitress was ok, not really friendly, but got the job done. Comparing service in MASS to say TN, your wait staff expectations have to be lowered. Learned that little nugget fairly quickly after the big move. Bottom Line: It's our go to restaurant in the North End these days and if my picky a** can enjoy myself there, anybody will like it.
(4)Stephanie F.
We made reservations for this restaurant over thanksgiving wkend, due to the rating it got in Boston Magazine for best neighborhood restaurant, north end. Had a drink at the bar before we were seated. Bought a bottle of wine - side note - the bartender wouldn't put that bottle on our table check and said we had to close out at the bar. With reservations (and we arrived a few minutes before our scheduled reservation) we waited 10 min. No biggie. The food was good. I would've say it's the best I've had. I ordered the INSALATA ALLA CESARE to start then the LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE. Both were yummy and I took some of the pasta home. The service was lacking. It took her a while to get to our table once we were seated. Once she finally came up, she just asked what we would like to order. I had a question about what the risotto of the day was, and she said meat or vegetable. She wasn't a server of many words. She took our order, and the next time we saw her was to deliver the check. I was pretty disappointed for a restaurant that was rated so highly on both yelp and in Boston Magazine. I most likely will not return.
(2)David T.
Even though others say that the tables have spacing, it was still incredibly tight for my table for 5. The specials were good. The appetizers were delish, and they were able to accomodate our party on relatively short notice. Service was on par, and this place is now on my short list.
(4)Melissa M.
I have been going Antico for so long that it really feels like home. I brought the family here for lunch on Monday (2 toddlers included) and was so excited to see the renovations completed. The bar looks beautiful and even though the restaurant is now twice the size it still has that cozy feeling that I always loved. Everything we ordered was delicious, best soup to have on a cold day and the pizza as usual was fantastic. Cant' forget the bathrooms.......Perfect.
(5)Danielle F.
This place gets a solid "just ok" from me. In the competitive restaurant space in the North End, the food was definitely average. I dined there for the first time last night in a group of about 12. I waited at the small bar in the back for the rest of the party to arrive. The bartender working was quite nice and responsive to new patrons. Once we were seated, our group split a few orders of calamari, the antipasti plate, and a caprese salad. The antipasti plate had a selection of cheeses along with cured meats, artichoke hearts, marinated peppers, and olives. Although the mozzarella was clearly appropriate, it seemed like pieces of gouda made it on the plate, which I found rather perplexing. For dinner, I had a side of the sauteed broccoli rabe and the foccaccia salad (requested without bread) which had goat cheese, tomatoes, and grilled zucchini. The broccoli rabe was a bit too salty (i didn't' add any salt), but there was a great garlic flavor imparted. The salad was fine - it's pretty hard in my eyes to screw up a rather simple salad. The female server was a bit prickly at best, and given that the gratuity was automatically added, she wasn't really going out of her way to create a friendly experience. Given all the restaurant options available, I am in no rush to go back.
(2)Lisa R.
Wonderful night! Incredible food! Great atmosphere & service. Plum sauce would taste good on ANYTHING! Loved the bread & olive oil. Risotto was perfect! Our only complaint was that we discovered Antico Forno on our last night in Boston. Highly recommend-decent prices, too!
(5)Gail V.
I've only sat at the bar here after work with friends to eat, but the food has been great and the atomosphere fun. The bartenders are really friendly and make some great suggestions. I like their salads (their Tomato & mozzarella appetizer is great) and the bean paste with their bread. I have lots of friends who are big fans of their brick oven pizzas and everyone who I've gone with who has some always comments how great they are. The tables look pretty tightly spaced and it can get loud, but teh atmosphere is fun and inviting. Its a good North End experience.
(4)Eric G.
Having heard everyone rave about Boston's North End, I had high expectations when looking for a place to dine. Antico Forno was the second restaurant my friends and I looked at and were sold immediately on the atmosphere and menu that rivaled that of Italy. I started out with the Ribbolitta soup. The portion was huge and was filled with fresh veggies. It was also a vegetable broth which was nice and light compared to the heavier tomato based minestrone that you find at the Olive Garden and Fazollis. For the entree I had the Rigatoni Salsiccia Ricotta. This was cooked in individual clay dish and was the prefect portion. The sausage and ricotta cheese were amazing and unlike anything I have ever had in the states. All and all, Antico Forno is one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in a long time and is one of the reasons the North End has an excellent reputation.
(4)Kristine A.
We happened to stumble on this place looking for a place to eat & there it was w/ its bar, tv, yummy tasty sangria & oh yeah, delicious Italian food. They have bread w/ this cannelini & tomato dip which is too die for. We split this eggplant rotini appetizer & then a pizza w/ broccoli rabe. It was very tasty & totally recommend to check it out.
(4)Debra L.
Went to Antico Forno for only the second time last night. It's steps from my home and I never seem to go there. The food is delicious. Their bread is some of the best in the North End (and it comes served with olives in olive oil). There were 3 of us & we split the antipasto platter which was good but I'm not a huge antipasto fan - my dining companions suggested it. It was enormous that's for sure. It came with olives, roasted red peppers, grape tomatoes, prosciutto, salami and some other cured Italian meat that I didn't try, fresh mozzarella and another unidentified cheese (that was a bit bland). We then had the arugula salad with grilled shrimp and it was delicious! It was really lightly dressed in just a little olive oil and the shrimp were delicious with tons of flavor. Next we shared the risotto of the day. it had mushrooms, asparagus & pancetta and it was rich & creamy. Three of us shared it and we still couldn't finish it! We also had a side of broccoli rabe and it was incredible! Some of the best I've ever had. We also had 2 bottles of wine which was excellent and very reasonably priced. The prices are great and the service was excellent. The only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars. It was too bright. It's a small place but it lacked a certain ambiance. If they would just turn the lights down a but it would be perfect. Also, I didn't get to try the pizza but I really wanted to. Next time.
(4)Fred B.
We had dinner here tonight - our family of 5, which includes 3 boys. Service was solid. The food was great. We had pizza to start (one size - 11 inches) and it was delicious; some of the best pizza we have had. One big key for our family is they have both gluten free pizza and gluten free pasta. For our main meal, we had pasta dishes, which were terrific. In particular, the chicken parmigiana was outstanding. The sauce was so fresh and the pieces of chicken were thick and moist. I would highly recommend this place. It is family-friendly and can also be romantic - a winner all the way around.
(5)Callan C.
Stopped in Antico Forno for some lunch recently. I had a delicious capriciossa pizza...just what I was looking for! They have a great dining area with enough room for some larger groups. The front areas open up to the street which makes for some nice al fresco-ish dining. A solid Italian option!
(4)Garrett F.
Went with 3 friends, one going off to Fort Dicks in NJ. Looked for the cheapest place and this was it. But the food was by far cheap. The waitress stated the situation about the table being reserved, but sat us there even though it was. She told us that was could stay there by 8:30. We ordered 3 pizzas and all 3 didn't disappoint. Flavoral and authentic. The waiting staff was superb, especially on a Thursday night being packed. Had water come to our table non-stop. Polite and well-mannered. I will admit that it was crowded and warm, but the atmosphere was far beyond what I've witnessed before. Our night was filled with fun from other guest (3 older ladies), food was fantastic, and the waiting service was pretty good. They deserved that tip we gave them.
(4)Phu M.
I had lunch here a few weeks back with one of the locals who I work with. Being new to the neighborhood, she was kind enough to take me around one weekend afternoon showing me where the best places to shop for groceries and food were. We came here for lunch and I was blown away by the quality of the food served. Bread and olive oil were fresh. I ordered the fettuccine alfredo with pancetta and it was one of the best alredo dishes I've ever had. Even though it was the lunch sized portion, it was plenty big for me to take home a doggie bag and at only $10, the price was right! Service was prompt and friendly. It was pretty dead when we were there but that's because it was 3PM so the lunch rush was already over. My friend told me that at night, this place gets crazy so there's a sure sign that it's good! I'm told their pizzas are good too. Ambiance is great, especially if you sit by the window to people watch (like we did). Overall, if you're in the North End and on Salem St. and looking for a good place to eat, I highly recommend Antico Forno. I will definitely be coming back here again.
(5)Paolo D.
There used to be a lot of love here, a real relationship....Now Antico Forno kinda blows. I was greeted by the maitred who had the face and personality of a bulldog. No biggie there, until we were seated and served by our waitress, Borat's wife. this woman was from waaaaay deep in the hills of Bulgaria, a place where electricity is considered a novelty and a luxury possessed by the elite few. I did appreciate her leather vest, though, a look I hadn;t seen in a while, but she pulled it off flawlessly. Kudos to you, Svetlana. Getting served anything took FOREVER. The apps were great, the main courses were blah....Lots and lots of choices in the North End, I don't think this will be one of them any time soon.
(3)Gabe M.
I really like this place since it wasn't on Hanover St, which seems to be tourist central, nothing wrong with that, buts it gets so hectic. This was my second visit to Salem St, and so far its 3 for 3. Neptune Oyster is there, which has the best lobster roll, and Antico Forno, was really busy, but with reservations, they seated us nearly right on time even though the place was packed. The space is intimate, but with more space than most North End restaurants, and very noisy, maybe if they put some sounds absorption material on the ceiling or something so you don't have to yell to someone 3 feet away from you. We had a small wait for the waitress, but once she came, she was very smiley, and nice, and the negative point I was going to give the service went away. She was quite attentive the rest of the time despite having several tables to tend to. The calamari appetizer was fantastic, light breading with a nice tomato paste. I had the riggatoni with italian sausage, and it was cooked to perfection al dente. Overall, I really liked the place, and the prices we less than normal overpriced places in North End.
(4)Francesca R.
Before I knew about Yelp, I found Antico Forno on boston.com , looking for a nice North End place that had good reviews, didn't cost a whole lot, and took reservations. Tah -dah! Antico Forno popped right up. The big brick oven pizza and rust-orange walls combined with the crowded together tables give the place a friendly, raucous vibe, which plays out in the noisy conversations and the inability to stop ordering bottles of wine. Complementing all this is the delicious, generously-portioned food. It's very easy to have a great night here.
(4)Christina G.
I've been wanting to try this place for a long time, and stopped in tonight since I was looking for casual laid back dinner. The place is nicely decorated and very cozy with its wood fired oven. Service for us was bare minimum, but the food was good. The rigatoni boscaiola was delicious and I definitely recommend trying one of their wood fired pizzas. One thing that really caught my attention was that two of their pasta dishes are baked in parchment paper and served in these fun bowls. I didn't notice this until I had already eaten my food, but I could not stop staring in wonderment!!! If I come back I'll surely be trying that. Still I would only give this place 3.5 stars if I could. To me it seems like more of a lunch place, but good for dinner if you want some pizza and appetizers.
(3)Lindsey S.
Best spot in the North End!! I've been coming to the North End since I was a kid and Antico Forno is my #1 go-to spot for both lunch and dinner. Pro's: 1. They have the best sauce in the North End 2. Usually easy to get a table/reservation 3. Everything is reasonably priced; it's a pretty low-key place 4. Everything there is delicious! I recommend the antipasti, PIZZA, rice balls, eggplant rollatini (which you can also have as a entree with spaghetti, if you ask), the spaghetti and clams, and any of the pasta dishes for that matter. The dessert is also amazing! Definitely a contender with their tiramisu and cannoli. The only downfalls: the seating isn't that comfortable, the bar is small and kind of crowded (beer and wine only), not a ton of seafood options... but this is only if I am being picky.
(4)Nadine N.
I ate at Antico Forno during restaurant week so, of course, it was jam packed. We had to wait for a table even though we had a reservation, but overall the service was really good. The baked rolled eggplant appetizer was delicious, as was the fettuccini positano. However, after two solid courses, I felt rather let down by the canolli. One thing that really stood out for me was how loud the restaurant was. My ears were actually ringing when I left! Needless to say, this is probably not the best place to bring a date.
(3)A M.
I LOVE the olive oil with the olives in it, and their bread is so much better than other places in the North End. The Antipasti is one of the best I have tried in the North End and the sausage pizza with arugula is amazing.
(5)Sandy K.
Pretty place. Good food and large portions.
(4)Allison B.
I was very pleased with my impromptu pick for a casual dinner with my Mom in Boston after a day of shopping. First we strolled around thinking we would have no problem finding a great little place to dash into for some great dishes we would have on the tip of our tongue all the way home. But proper options were hard to find and on second thoughts we walked out of the first place before the waitor came. As we walked by this quaint casual italian restaurant (before they doubled in size) we decided to try it. It was amazing what they were able to produce out of their brick oven. Between the wine, pizza and roasted chicken, I was impressed. We shared the SALSICCIA E BROCCOLETTI PIZZA and POLLO ARROSTO and they were both a great choice.
(4)Lisa O.
Ya know how when you have out-of-town guests and they want to go to the North End and ask you what your favorite is but don't want to spend much money and you just don't know cause you've gone everywhere that's not expensive once and nothing stands out? Yeah, I don't have to do that anymore. Cause Antico Forno is awesome. Let's face it, sometimes when you want Italian, you want red-sauce, Italian-AMERICAN food that's yummy and swimming in sauce and cheese. And that is exactly what Antico Forno is good for. Everything's baked in the lovely wood-burning oven, visible from the cozy and LOUD dining room. It's a tiny restaurant, but you're in the North End, so what did you expect? There's been a gnocchi theme in my last few posts, so let's keep it going! This is the first place I tried gnocchi and I'm a convert. It's soooo good. The chicken parm is delish too. Service is a little brusque sometimes (but not always!), and you may have to wait outside for a table as there's not a foyer - just the dining room right inside the door. It's part of the charm; get used to it. Like I said, the dining room is loud; it seems to be a family spot and isn't conducive to that candlelit romantic dinner. The olive oil that comes with the bread is some of the best I've ever had - flavorful and fruity and complete with olives! What's better than that?!?!
(4)Shaggy S.
Got last minute reservations on a week night and had to wait about 30 mins for table. Place was crowded and loud which didn't really bother me. Waited at the bar and the beer was good and cold. The eggplant with ricotta and marina was incredible! The risotto special was good but a little bland. Service was a little slow, but very friendly. Overall, the experience was good and I would go back if I am back in Boston.
(4)Kirsten M.
After a 50 minute wait I was not impressed with the food, service, or loud atmosphere. In a group of five, all of our food was average and the service was nothing exceptional. The restaurant automatically includes a 20% tip on the bill and our group felt that was completely unnecessary based on the food and service. Also, we needed separate bills and the bill was printed before we were finished with our meal and the waitress said that it was not possible to receive separate bills after it had been printed. With many great experiences at restaurants in the North End my expectations were not met here.
(1)David I.
Great service, small salads, outstanding pizza
(4)Bridget L.
The red sauce was pretty good on the pastas, but other than that, this place is just okay. It's pretty small in there and we had a big group, which they accommodated but I felt the staff (and other patrons) resented. I mean, I get it that large groups suck, but if you hate them then don't take the reservation (and money,) ya know? Overall, I'm not sure I'd make a special trip here when I return to Boston. I'd probably check out another North End place.
(3)Jen H.
BOOOOO......Not my fav. A group of 6 of us went here last night for my friend's birthday dinner. Our waitress (I think the owner actually) came to take our drink orders. We got two bottles of wine (one red, one white). The wine was good (I had Riesling) but I've had better for the price. She tells us the specials (one is risotto, I forget the others), and then goes around the table taking orders. Person 1: I'll have the Swordfish Waitress: I'm sorry sir, no fish tonight Person 1: No fish at all? Waitress: *blank stare* Person 1: Ok, ok... then ah... I'll have the Chicken Parm. Person 2: I'll have that risotto special Waitress: Risotto. Person 3: Same thing. Waitress: Risotto. Person 4: Same, that sounds amazing. Waitress: Okay Person 5: Saltimbocca Di Pollo Waitress: *nods* Person 6 (Me): Gnocchi please Waitress: Okay She walks away, and comes back just a couple minutes later Waitress: No Risotto *table all groans and says AWWWWW* Why would she tell a special that they don't have? Apparently, she talked to the chef and said to make it a little more al dente, and he threw a hissy fit and decided "no more risotto tonight!" What a let down. We had apps (calamari and caprese)... and honestly these and the wine were the best part of the night. My gnocchi was ultra bland...hardly any flavor at all... and the price of everything just did not live up to what we had. If I'm throwing down $60 for dinner, it better damn well be good - and this just was not up to par. So many other places you can go to, drop the same amount of cash (or less) and have a fantastic meal. The others at the table weren't quite as disappointed as I was, but they've all got lots of $$ to burn. I think if they were in the same boat as me and a bit more $$ conscious, then we would have been on the same page.
(2)Beki S.
You failed me Yelp! During my trip to Boston, I wanted to show the bf a true authentic North End experience and was in search of the perfect pizza. After being yelled at to stand in line outside when attempting to try Regina's Pizza, we pulled out the Yelp app in hopes of finding a place with a little better customer service. Antico Forno was nearby and had outstanding reviews so we thought it could be promising. The biggest problem of the meal was that my coke refill arrived with large clumps of bread floating in it (I hope it was only bread). I realized this after I had already taken a sip, which grossed me out for the rest of the meal. The replacement coke also had bits of bread floating in it, which the waiter blamed on the ice. I wish someone could have explained how bread got into the ice maker. In addition to this mishap, the food just wasn't that good and pretty overpriced. The pizza was soaked in grease and overall flavorless. My salad consisted of lettuce and cherry tomatoes for $7 and the bf's soup was mediocre. To make up for the drink incident, they gave us a piece of watered down, obviously frozen, inedible tiramisu. Too bad this was our last meal in Boston.
(1)Diana P.
This is a great medium sized restaurant in the North End. The menu is decent, couple different things to choose from although I would have liked to see Bruschetta on the app list somewhere to start things off. I got the house Pinot Noir and it was sooo good and smooth. I got pasta with scallops and shrimp. The pasta and sauce was delicious and I really liked the shrimp. I normally love scallops but these didn't really do it for me. Our server was a super nice guy and seemed super busy so he wasn't overly attentive but got our check very quickly when asked. Overall I think it's a cute place with good food. Best suited though for families - lots of kids there.
(3)Steph O.
All right, I probably should have gone with the pizza, given that this is a brick-oven place, so my bad. It was Saturday night and the place was hopping. I think my friends and I waited at the bar for at least 45 minutes before a table was available. It was so busy the bartenders ignored us until we were finally able to capture their attention. The house Merlot smelled buttery (I don't know if that's a good thing or not), the chardonnay was acceptable, and the bellini was pretty darn good even if they use peach liqueur and not fresh peach puree. The food: my veal bolognese was okay. For $18, and in the North End, I was expecting a sauce with a little more depth and richness (the way I make it at home, following Marcella Hazan's recipe, which has you cook the meat in white wine, and then in milk, which gives it a really nice flavor and creaminess). This tasted like a step up from meat sauce in a jar, but a step down from Marcella's recipe, or from bolognese sauces I've had elsewhere. But I was so hungry I ate it all. And I will say that I thought the dish had the perfect proportion of meat sauce to pasta, which is to say that after I ate it all, it did not sit heavy on the stomach. I didn't feel like I'd overeaten. The pasta itself was so-so on taste, and slightly beyond al dente in terms of how long it had been cooked. A friend of mine had the linguine puttanesca and he loved it. Another friend had the rigatoni with sausage, and she said it was fine. The green salad that we shared as an appetizer had too much balsamic vinegar. Overall, a mixed experience, especially as the place was very, very, noisy, but I will go back to try the pizza, and the North End is a lot of fun!
(2)Jefferson L.
Good, but busy place. I enjoyed the apple martini and it is easier to wait back in the bar rather than out front at the hostess stand.
(4)Aaron L.
Good place. In any other location I would give it four stars, but located in the middle of the North End it feels like a safe pick (yummy brick oven pizza, kind of an Italian family restaurant). As an out of town visitor to the North End I would have preferred a riskier/more creative dining experience.
(3)Kristin S.
I've yet to have a good dining experience in the North End and Antico Forno was just like the others - underwhelming. It is everything a N End place is - small place (they made us wait outside in the cold when our table wasn't ready at our reservation time), sour waiter, bland food. We started with the mussels appetizer and caprese salad and they were actually pretty good. For dinner, my husband had the lobster ravioli which were potentially the worst lobster ravioli we've ever had - there was a generous helping of raviolis but each was barely stuffed. I had the linguini and seafood and the scallops were overcooked and chewey and the tomato sauce was totally generic. I don't know why I keep trying places in the N End expecting a good dining experience.
(2)Terry W.
I went there today, very excited to dine in the North End for the 1st time. I was recommended to this place by at least 5 different folks. Ok...Enough background..We show up and ask for a table for 3, the restaurant is empty and the host says it will be five minutes and to wait outside...no problem. Fast forward 10 minutes later, Host - Can I help you, my wife...yes you told us you were going to have a table for us 10 minutes ago and to wait outside..mind you it wasn't busy..but she totally forgot us. Ok, the waitstaff was there and present, but didn't really wait that much on you. I guess from reading reviews this is the case sometimes in the North End. The food was good. Our appetizer a goat cheese salad with kind of a foccacia (pizza crust) was really awesome. My daughter had the fettucine panne procuitto...it was great! Pasta was fresh, sauce was just cheesey enough. My Wife had the Gnochhi Plate, baked gnocchi..it was good. The gnocchi was kind of overcooked and somewhat mushy. I had the special Chicken Parm baked in the wood burning stove...sounds great, but was in the end ok. The pasta wasn't fresh, or at least it tasted like it came out of a Prince Pasta Box..Hey Anthony it's not Tuesday or Prince Pasta Day! I kept hearing Chef Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares saying.."I'm completely gobsmacked...it is an italian restaurant that isn't making pasta fresh! Alas..I will leave you with this, when my daughter fell out of her chair as it slid out from under her...not a movement was made towards her...even though I am sure there were staff that saw it happen. I would recommend this place, I wish I would have gotten a pizza after the Chicken Parm fiasco, but It wasn't overpriced, and the food was good or at least better than I can whip up in my house after watching an episode of Mario Batali's show...
(3)Tom G.
Great food and service was always on it. Nice surprise in the North End
(4)Garfunkalow T.
Where to begin.... we started out with the traditional antipasto, the cherry tomatoes were just right. Firm, then burst into your mouth. The entree I settled with was the fettuccine with shrimp and scallops in a cherry tomato garlic sauce. The noodles were absolutely perfect, firm, not crunchy, yet were soft. The scallops too, firm, yet soft and silky smooth.
(5)Yishai M.
OK first let me say I'm a Tri-State Pizza (Italian food) guy, nothing else really cuts it. Yes I am prejudiced, but I am also right. Now the reviewt- Cool Atmosphere: just as good for friends, a date, or a family. The service was good, but they really don't want you to stick around too long. I haven't felt so rushed at a restaurant in years. We were there at a busy time though, so I can't say it's always true. We had a variety of pizzas. They were fresh, dough light, a litle heavy on the Olive Oil. The appetizer olives were great though. But still, I'd go again because it's fun, but no where near the best, and I guess I should also go when their empty, so I can finish the slice on the plate. Yes! They took a half eaten slice away and boxed it. Got to eat fast here folks!
(3)Sarah R.
Amid the veritable clusterf*ck of impossibly narrow streets that is the North End one can find hidden treasures. True story: on my way here last night I passed some cheeseball tourist who commented loudly: "You just can't drive a car down these here streets, doncha know!" Antico Forno is a solid choice when it comes to affordable Italian joints in an area renowned for being overrun with tourists. The decor is casual but inviting: warm brick, dark wood, tables seated claustrophobically close to one another. There's also a big-ass maroon velvet (?) curtain in front of the entrance that makes one feel like a) a bad high school production of "Guys And Dolls" is about to start, b) a burlesque dancer is about to begin her act, or c) a magician (or worse, a burlesque-dancing magician) is about to begin his/her act. The service is good, though we waited a while for our two simple little margherita pizzas. However, we had the Antipasto Plate, which I'm still debating whether or not it was worth the $18. I think for that amount of money you oughtta be swimming in prosciutto, but that's just me. Then again, I was with another carnivore, who attacked the various "Italian cured meats" with gusto. Our personal pizzas were yummy and super-thin. The portions are large; I had enough pizza AND antipasto left to take home for dinner tonight. Score! Maybe the antipasto WAS worthe the $18 after all. The crowd is loud and lively, or at least it was on the particular night I was there. There happened to be a couple of large parties, but once they left, I could see how Antico Forno could be a more intimate, romantic locale for a date. Which is what I was on. I don't have much occasion to go to the North End, but I could foresee taking out-of-town visitors here for a reasonably priced, filling meal.
(3)Christina C.
It pains me to give this place a bad rating since I really enjoyed the food the first (and last) time I ever went here. The menu is pretty limited, but I was able to create my own pizza and it was awesome. I was certain I'd be a repeat customer...until I saw my credit card statement. They charged my credit card over 3x as much as it should have been charged. It has been 6 weeks and they still haven't resolved the issue after telling me over and over again that they took care of it. They did absolutely nothing. I would have even been happy with a gift certificate in the amount of the difference since I genuinely did want to go back, but they didn't even have the sense to do that and keep a customer. I finally gave up on them actually trying to fix their mistake and was forced to take matters into my own hands. This situation still blows my mind and I refuse to give these owners another chance. Too bad too because Terramia was one of my favorites in the North End...
(1)John X.
I had high expectations of this restaurant when I went here for lunch on a Saturday, and that might be why I was a bit disappointed. The restaurant was nicely laid out, with a nice fireplace in the middle and tasteful decor. The waitresses and hostess were all helpful and knowledgeable, and the food came out fairly quick and well done. We started with a arugula/shrimp appetizer which was simple but good. I had their brick oven pizza which I thought was fairly good, nothing truly amazing, but I'd go again. My friend got the daily special Risotto which was alright, but definitely not worth the price paid. All in all, I'd probably come again for the pizza (half price at the bar monday nights) and maybe try the pasta again.
(4)Eli B.
The food here is solid and exactly what you'd expect of a nice Italian restaurant. That being said, I wasn't blown away. The nitty gritty (literally): Several of the clams in the Frutti Di Mare and the Vongole pasta dishes hadn't opened after being cooked. Those that had opened were a little dirty. Nothing like a sandy surprise to ruin your apetito! The gnocchi were a little bit tough, which makes me think that, like the clams, they weren't the freshest. My only other complaint is that it was SO noisy. Four of us were shouting over the din to be heard. And this was at 11pm at night. On a positive note, they were closing the kitchen right as we called and they stayed open for us....and it's also really hard to have a bad night with Italian food and wine.
(3)Alyssa L.
I've been here twice, and both times I had a delicious meal of chicken parm with homemade fusili pasta. The service is not always super friendly, but you're in the North End- not exactly the place to be if you're looking for warm and fuzzy. The bottom line is that the food is delicious and the place is really cute. And the tiramisu? Best I've ever had.
(4)Gianna R.
Anytime I am in Boston I come here.. I love love love this place... Its small and quaint.. Yes it gets loud but most restaurants do and to me a lively restaurant is better then a boring quiet dead one.... The food is amazing I always get the baked ziti... They cook everything in a Wood Oven and that makes the food so hot and the cheese crispy on top.. This place serves the hottest food from your first bite down to the last will still be steaming... I have never been disappointed here the location the service the food all 5 Stars....
(5)Brian B.
Among the ridiculous amount of solid restaurants in the N. End. You're not going to be overwhelmed - at the food or the price, but at least you'll leave satisfied. This really ranks among those restaurants that fall somewhere between the progressive Italian eateries and those solid, down-home, "go-to" Italian places. For an appetizer, we tried the prosciutto pizza - nice, but the prosciutto wasn't cooked very well, although all of the ingredients were very, very fresh and flavorful. For the entree, I had the veal, which was not the best cut of veal in the N. End, and it was a little overdone - particularly toward the ends - a sign that someone fell asleep at the wheel (I like veal a true medium). Other members of our party stuck with pasta, and found it very rewarding - perfectly cooked and smothered in a subtle "gravy." The wine list was nice, too. It had very good wines for "restaurant reasonable" prices. For consistency sake, the staff was just like the food - subtle, no spark, but delivered. So - unless, your N. End favorites have no reservations - check it out. Otherwise, stick to your favorites - or mine: Monica's, Maurizio's, or Pagliuca's (good, down home cooking like you wish your mom made...).
(3)Megan L.
This place was good. We were seated immediately and the calamari was the best i've ever had. Unreal. Two drawbacks--very small (not surprising in the north end, but we had a group of 6 and it was a tight squeeze), and it was roughly 1000 degrees between the heater and the brick oven. Food was great, service was pretty good. I would go back.
(4)Charlotte M.
I feel compelled to recommend this restaurant right after dining there several times this year. As a native Bostonian, the North End has usually been my favorite neighborhoods to go to for terrific Italian food. That is almost certainly true for people who live in or around Boston. The number of superior restaurants inside the North End may be overwhelming, but competition is fierce so they will not remain in enterprise as long as the food is sub-par. But Antico Forno stands out, the food is great along with the costs are reasonable (the service is excellent & efficient but not overly friendly). It's one of the few places where I can barely restrain myself from cleaning my plate. Maybe it's the brick oven or the freshly made pasta, but every meal has been the best I've had inside the North End (over the years, I've most likely eaten at 20-25 restaurants inside the neighborhood) I hesitated to write fearing that it will become too crowded, but hope that this review can help someone find a good meal!
(5)Betsy A.
So far so good. They keep it consistent with the flavor. I guess it's that trusty oven. ;-) I haven't tried the pastas here yet. I need to because so far it hasn't been mind blowing. Don't get me wrong, its been good but it hasn't been the best Italian meal I've had... will review again once I've tried the pastas and pizza. Advice, don't waste your money on the sangria. Have had better. As for the staff, they're rude and slow with requests (simple things like lemon for water or a straw!), but the food comes out fast so I don't care...
(3)Tim F.
Very good pizza, slightly different from Regina in their selection but the CARCIOFI E PORCINI is great especially if you ask for extra truffle oil. Wood fired oven makes for a great taste to all the pizza, and the wait staff where ok but given the small crowded space that this restaurant holds it is tough for them to be very attentive. Will review my rating when I have more than the pizza.
(3)Stephanie W.
Excellent rigatoni and pizza!! The wait was long...but the food and service were great!
(4)Jane K.
Delicious. Everyone needs to try the linguine fruitti del mare(?). It's to die for. Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari baked in parchment paper with linguine. the sauce and linguine just absorb all the delicious juices of the seafood. sooo good. I use the bread to soak up all the sauce. My mouth waters every time I think about it... mmmmm
(5)Tina D.
Loved this place, wanna go back soon. The chicken in wine butter sauce was better than I would have ever expected. Another family member remarked that the chicken parmesan was the best he'd ever had.
(5)Drew G.
For the North End, this Italian restaurant knock-off is not worth the money. The calamari was bland and because of that needed a dipping sauce (which they didn't provide). My gnocchi was meh and seemed pre-made. My wife's pizza looked far from an italian pie and was WAY too rich. There were tons of kids and teenagers there without parents. A teen girl chorus broke out to sing happy birthday which did not contribute to the already poor ambiance. We had to initially ask 3 or 4 times for our waiter and aside from taking our order and delivering the bill, was a no-show. The host told us the wait would be 20 minutes, and after 40 minutes I asked how much longer it would be. He said, "you're 5 on the list" in a snippy manner. Great, I thought...but that means nothing to me. How long until we can sit? Long story short: There are SO many better places to eat in the North End.
(2)RK T.
Tourist trap. Service was rude. They tried to surreptitiously push extra glasses of wine on us to raise the bill. $18 and over for an overcooked, stodgy pasta dish is overpriced. Linguine con vongole was very salty. Caprese salad was uninspired. Tables crowded together and very loud.
(1)Cal L.
I was back in Boston and went to Antico Forno with a friend on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. The entire North End was packed. The dining area has doubled in size since I was last there. I used to appreciate it as a lesser-known, intimate but no-nonsense restaurant with traditional dishes prepared with a lot of care and great ingredients. This time was a very different experience. The place was full to the gills. The tile floor and hard ceiling plus huge crowd made it so loud, at times I could not hear my friend across the table. It felt like a mass dining experience. I had the sense that the restaurant wants to do more business, but it has lost what made it special, in my opinion. We ordered a Focaccina appetizer, which came without any focaccina! Oddly, the waitress did not acknowledge this and I had to point it out. It was instead a salad with grilled zucchini. She said we would get a discount. I think there were not enough staff to handle the turnout. We were told pizza was not being served, but I saw a couple eating pizza (maybe they had connections?). Maybe the no-pizza rule was meant to prevent a backup in the kitchen. I ordered linguine with clams, very good, and the "focaccina" (no focaccina, really a salad) was fresh and tasty. My friend's salad was on the oily side but the shrimp were good. Honestly I was disappointed at the changes. It's a different kind of place now. If we had gone on a less-busy night, it might have been three stars, but I think they were overwhelmed on this particular night. This is a rating of our experience that night.
(2)Barney B.
once upon a time, this was a small little restaurant that was somewhat difficiult to get a table at. now it's a double-sized equally spectacular restaurant that is nearly impossible to get in - but if you are lucky, you squeeze into two available spots at the bar and then you order a few Peroni's and rice balls and awesome entrees and you leave stuffed and satisfied.
(4)Emily R.
Overall, I thought the food was okay (not amazing... pretty good), but our service was incredibly slow and not attentive. Pros: -The huge open windows to the street. The breeze was nice on a late summer afternoon! -The bread (once it finally arrived!) was really good--fluffy, but thick. I love being given olive oil instead of butter. -The salad I ordered was huge. The pasta that my boyfriend ordered was also large. He really like his dish. Lots of sauce! Cons: Most of the cons center around service. It was pretty busy (though not every table was full), but as another reviewer pointed out, they seemed unable to handle the number of tables they had. Service was so slow! -It took more than 5 minutes after we were seated to be given water, and more than 15 minutes before we got a bread basket (which we only got after we asked, noticing other tables had bread). When our water glasses were emptied, it took a really long time to get our glasses refilled, and they were only filled because we called over to our server. -Our waitress was okay, not rude or anything, but seemed way too busy. I think she spoke with us for less than a minute the entire time we were there. -The tables were so close together. There was about a foot between our table and the table of the couple sitting next to us. It felt a little bit like we were eating together...but not. -No splitting of entrees is allowed. This is normally okay, but we couldn't take leftovers back with us because we weren't heading home for hours. I really hate wasting food when one dish would have been enough. Based on other Yelp reviews, maybe I'll give this place another shot, but it's hard with so many great restaurants nearby.
(2)Mike A.
Service wasn't particularly friendly or helpful. The thing I wanted the most on the menu (chicken saltimbocca) was "sold out", apparently, at 9:30 on a Saturday night? What the...? Tell me ahead of time before I look at the menu, before I start getting my mouth watered up for a particular dish on the regular entree list, Antico Forno! I settled for the Gnocchi instead, which was good but not what I really wanted. I also really didn't appreciate being put next to the drafty front door while it was snowing out, when they clearly had tables equally available in the back, that subsequently were seated with patrons *after* we arrived,
(2)Chris Q.
I absolutely loved my Red Pepper and Goat Cheese stuffed Gnocchi with Chicken. Every last bite was delicious and savory. The prices are also great (I went for lunch, not sure about dinner prices). It was easily the best dining experience I had on my recent trip to Boston. The place is cozy, and located on Salem St., parallel to the more popular Hanover St.
(5)Tom E.
lesson 1 of the North End - get off Hanover Street ASAP lesson 2 of the North End - weekday lunch is harder to find than you'd think lesson 3 of the North End - Antico Forno lesson 4 of the North End - lesson cancelled, teacher is having a post-food nap. Antico Forno lived up to expectations nicely. When you go looking for the relaxing Italian lunch of well-made red sauce pasta dishes and an excellent thin-crust pizza you naturally think of the North End, but really where pulls it off properly? Turns out Antico does. There's wines, white tablecloths and real fires but a hefty lunch for two will only set you back 20 dollars or so. It's affordable lunchtime luxury. My roast pot of eggplant, vegetables, romano cheese and linguine was like spooning a long-weekend in Verona directly into my mouth. Meanwhile my rodent-loving companion's thin crust pizza was wallpapered with parma ham between being cooked and placed for us to devour. A fantastic way to get serious amounts of meat onto a pizza without ruining how the cheese and sauce should cook. So lesson 3 taught me where to get reliable Italian food with minimal fuss and wallet-pain on a weekday lunch. I need to give an apple to teacher.
(4)Lauren R.
My mom, sister & I ate here by random selection. Biggest pro? The entrees! Biggest con? Uncomfortable chairs! We weren't too impressed with the bread they brought us at the beginning, but we all enjoyed our entrees: between the three of us we had spaghetti bolagnese (not sure of the name?), gnocchi (the best I've ever had), and chicken parmesan (really yummy sauce even though I don't like chunks in the sauce and had to put up with some of that - the taste was worth it though). Nice ambiance, but very dark inside. We got there late on a Friday night (9pm) and didn't have to wait very long at all for a table.
(4)Alexandra S.
Excellent!! The service was great from the moment we walked in the door! The food mangia bene!! My son wanted something simple not on the menu & they accomodated his request no problem. Very nice I thought.
(5)Lester H.
Yet another reason why Salem St. owns Hanover. Antico Forno is oh so very good. I took my parents while they were in town and everyone was very pleased. The calamari was quite good, if you like black pepper. Our wine choice was also, well, choice. I had the pork chop, which is something I wouldn't usually order, but it was incredible. My father had one of the night's specials, a baked chicken parmesan. I don't know what huge chicken the breast came from, but somewhere in Mass there must be a radioactive farm of giant chickens who are fed delicious spices from birth to slaughter. It was so good. The mothership had pizza and it was also really tasty. All in all, Antico Forno was a great experience as the service was excellent and friendly.
(5)E. S.
My husband and I have eaten a lot of Italian food and even studied abroad in Italy, so we think we can say with confidence that Antico Forno has absolutely delicious pizza and the best gnocchi we've ever had. Yes, the best. We think that what makes it so special is the sauce and the way it's cooked in the oven, but whatever it is it's definitely working because we keep on going back. The restaurant was re-done rather recently and looks a lot more elegant, not to mention has a whole lot more space, while still maintaining its cozy charm. The staff has improved over the years, although occasionally the waiters are on the curt side. Nonetheless, the food more than makes up for this.
(5)Julie R.
Overall - the food came out quickly and hot. Staff were attentive. Service was efficient but didn't make you feel special - which is fine if you are looking for a no frills dining experience. We were in a hurry to get to a show so we were fine with the staff obviously trying to flip tables quickly. For appetizers we ordered the calamari and had the bread and dipping sauce. The bread was cold, good because you are hungry, but nothing special. The dipping sauce came with olives in it and some spices, decent but nothing to rave about. The calamari was some of the best we had ever had - perfectly cooked, not too greasy, the sauce was delicious and not too heavy as to make the breading soggy, and the plate was seasoned with just the right amount of salt - yummy. For our entrees: The risotto special was a disappointment - overcooked and under-seasoned. Very creamy with few mushrooms which confused us as it was listed as a mushroom risotto on the menu. The gnocchi and red sauce were good, my dad finished the entire portion! The seafood dishes were delicious. The LINGUINE CON VONGOLE was a little small on the portion size but the wine sauce was delicious. It was served in the bowl the clams were steamed in which was a neat to open up at the table. The FETTUCCINI POSITANO was amazing - huge portion of delicious homemade pasta and good red sauce. The shrimp were either cooked from frozen or merely overcooked or both - nothing special, here. The scallops, however, were cooked to perfection and tasted fresh and delicious. No room for dessert, of course. I also tried the house chianti, not bad for 9 bucks a glass... I would definitely come back here again, especially if I had plans later in the evening and knew I needed a quick but delicious dinner in the North End.
(4)Pietro C.
My wife and I had been to Antico Forno many times before and have never been disappointed. Our most recent visit was going along smoothly and our 15 month old son was enjoying his rice ball. Then our pizza arrived and I had gobbled down two slices immediately. During the third slice, I bit down on what I thought was a whole pepper corn. Alas, I was wrong as I proceeded to spit out a small shard of glass. Unforgiveable. The waitress, at first, didn't know how to react, and responded "Wow, I don't remember anything breaking today." Then walked away to the back to get us another pizza...with a smile. No manager came to apologize, no one offered to take care of the bill. You would think something as serious as a shard of glass in a customer's mouth from the pizza you served him would require some attention from the owners or managers. Nothing for a while. The waitress came back with a more concerned look on her face and with the replacement pizza. I told her everything was OK, and that I was happy no one was hurt, especially that my son hadn't had that slice on his plate. This time, the waitress looked more distressed and appeared to better recognize the gravity of the moment and how much worse it could have been. She took care of our entire check and wished us well. The food was great, the service was good, the restaurant appeared clean and the prices were moderate. We love the restaurant, but handling that situation so poorly really hurt their repeat business factor for us. I don't think they want to keep customers if they choose to send a waitress over to handle a potentially disastrous (financially and physically) moment. One star....never going back, no matter how much we liked the pizza.
(1)LC P.
After reading many previous Yelper's glowing reviews, I tried out Antico Forno on my regular Sunday night date with the BF. If I could give it a 2.75 that's probably what I would do, as it is slightly below "A-OK." That said, the upside was we didn't reserve and got a table within about 15 minutes at 7p on Sunday evening. There was a coffee shop next door with tables outside, so we took up some space outside as the weather was cool and no one was sitting at any of the tables. Once inside, they seated us next to a 2-some by the wall, and shortly afterwards came and moved us across the aisle to another table-- I can only assume to make it easier on the waitstaff to access the table near the wall. Staff was friendly, and timing was good on everything except follow up at the end of the meal- we had asked for some food to be packaged, and it arrived and we sat for another 10 minutes at least while waiter walked past numerous times. Finally asked if we wanted some dessert at which point we declined and asked for the check. They DO take credit cards, BTW. We ordered the ribbollita soup and the misto verde followed by the fusilli al tegamino and a white pizza with spinach and mozzarella. The salad was superb: generous portion, nice mix of greens and few sliced grape tomatoes with a divine balsamic vinaigrette. I could have licked the bowl when I was done! Ribbollita soup was a disappointment; not bad, but just bland and not terribly flavorful-- the veggies all tasted the same and it felt thin. I was afraid that the soup would be too filling and be left unfinished so we didn't overdo before the main course. We did leave it unfinished, because it wasn't worth it. PIzza was about the same. I had only one bite, but wasn't thrilled. It tasted no better than pizza I had in Virginia at a brick oven place in a mall; not what I had expected from the North End. BF has a less adventuresome palate but even he was non-plussed, saying it was again, bland. He only ate 1/2 of it. Fusilli was very good- and very hot! Nice creamy goat cheese mixed perfectly with the piquant tomato sauce and the eggplant, zucchini, and peppers were plentiful. If I had eaten only the salad and fusilli, this would have been an easy 3.5, but it was brought down by the mediocrity of the soup and pizza. Also, just a bit too noisy for someone with middle-aged ears. I had to listen very carefully to hear BF and he had to lean in to hear me.
(3)Lily H.
Went here with two others and they sat us down at a table for 2 and just swung over another chair. It was awkward for my friend whose chair stuck out in the aisle with a nice view of the couple next to us enjoying their dinner. Like many other places nearby, the place is busy and cramped and the servers couldn't even get to the tables next to us near the wall to refill their drinks. The food is decent, I've had better in NorthEnd. I ordered the linguine al frutti di mare and it arrived hot and steamy (yes!) baked in parchment paper (uh....). Really, is that part necessary? Maybe it add some kind of special flavor during the baking process. I had to pick out pieces of burnt parchment paper out of my pasta. Also, it could have used a little more sauce. Basically the restaurant is a big room (or two?) with a bunch of tables and chairs. It's really loud during dinner time so don't expect to have a romantic dinner date. On the bright side, the sangria was not bad!
(2)Derek C.
I was really happy here. They have a great selection of pastas, pizzas and antipasti. The sauces are unique and some dishes I had never heard of before. I liked how they mixed cheeses into a lot of pasta dishes. Overall, a big hit.
(5)Doreen L.
Very good choice while visiting for a Yankee game!! Price fixed lunch menu and our food was delicious and waitress was very friendly!!
(5)Abdullah A.
Great food! Authentic. Loved the margarita pizza and roasted potato! Servers are nice and interesting neighborhood!
(5)Karen Y.
a brick oven they cook almost everything in and house made smoked mozzarella pretty much sealed the deal when picking an italian restaurant in the north end. we started with the mussels and calamari. both cooked well and i couldn't get enough of the spicy red sauce the mussels were cooked in. hold off on the aioli with the bread, dip the bread in the mussel sauce instead. the calamari is was well prepared, but nothing special. the little one loved it though and ordering it with the sauce on the side left us with the ability to order what we wanted that he would likely not want to eat. my husband and i split the il marinero pizza. the sautéed shrimp and smoked mozzarella topped with fresh arugula and refreshing tomatoes was a great combo. i wouldn't say the service was all that attentive and the lady at the hostess stand seemed really annoyed that we were taking so long to walk through the door (my son is five and was at the beginning stage of becoming h-angry). otherwise, i wouldn't say it was bad service either. they are extremely busy, with every table filled by 5:30 on a friday night so it pays to know exactly what you want.
(4)Robyn T.
Although I enjoyed my experience at Antico Forno, I can't say it was mind blowing. And because of where it's located, the competition is fierce so I was hoping for something a little more memorable. Don't get me wrong, everything was good, from the wine, the bread, and the gnocchi I had, and I would definitely go again, but I didn't walk out of there saying "this is my new place". There are so many choices in the North End for old school italian that I'll probably make the rounds first. Perhaps there's a specialty item that I missed?
(3)Andrew H.
Being a suburbanite, I have wanted to hit Antico Forno for a few years now, after hearing great things about it (including one night when, if you've read my reviews, I really wished I had gone here instead of another North End establishment). I finally got my chance, the other day, and I have to say that I have mixed emotions about the experience. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, and we were seated quickly. Appetizers were delicious. The lemon aioli that came with the calamari was lick-off-the-plate good. The arancini were enormous. An order was comprised of 2 larger than baseball sized arancini, seasoned and stuffed perfectly, with almost perfect marinara. Entrees/pizzas were almost perfect. Everything came out right except for the four-cheese pizza "quattro formaggio", which was requested to have extra roasted garlic, and prosciutto added. Well, it came out sliced, with ice cold prosciutto layered on top. Firstly, we didn't expect to get cold prosciutto, and secondly, it was impossible to eat without cutting through the ham, since it wasn't sliced with the pizza - not very easy without sharp knives. When this was pointed out to the server, she proceeded to lecture us on the fact that it was prosciutto crudo, and shouldn't be heated. When I pointed out that it was cooked in many other dishes on their menu, I was ignored off-hand. She eventually took the pizza back and had it heated in the oven, but when it came back we realized that the garlic wasn't roasted (as specified on their menu and asked for), either. It was a huge pie with raw, still-crunchy garlic all over it. All in all, 6 out of 7 things ordered were great. Getting lectured-to about what I ordered was not pleasant, nor was the service after the one item (out of 7, once again) was sent back. Honestly, what was good was delicious, but I won't be going back. I don't need lectures from people that know less about the food on their menu than I do.
(3)Breanna B.
Came here for a post-graduation lunch. Great pizza, nice atmosphere with windows open and breeze flowing through when the weather's nice. We all ordered a bunch of pizzas to share. Loved the margharita and the quattro fromagio. Nice wood fired style crust with a bit of char and enough fluff in the crust, perfect for dipping in the olive oil. There's lots of space for groups and I liked that our table was round so we all got to chat together. A casual, but impressive experience fit for a celebratory time.
(4)Angie R.
We were so happy we were accommodated considering there were nine of us and especially during the St. Anthony fest. I absolutely loved it. I had the braised pork with polenta. My family had various pasta dishes and they all loved their meals as well. I can't wait to come back to Boston and to this awesome restaurant.
(5)Erica K.
Yum! Came in for a late lunch and I split the caprese salad and chicken saltimbocca with my boyfriend. The caprese salad was delicious, big chunks of mozzarella and tomato, over greens. The chicken dish was very similar to Marsala but it was also very yummy. I also ordered the sangria which wasn't the best I've ever had but fine. My boyfriend got a Bloody Mary and he liked it. I would come back!
(4)Choncho R.
Went their with a group of ten for the feast and they were very accommodating. Our waiter was great considering the crowd. Great job. My Son and I had the Puttanesca which was really good. Every one was satisfied with their meal and we'd definitely come back
(4)Rachelle B.
Visited Boston three times in the last year and now one of the highlights is going to the Italian neighborhood to walk along the streets and find somewhere that looks good. Found this place on a nice, Tuesday evening in May. Traditional, casual atmosphere inside with brick, low/warm lighting, basic wooden tables, a large bar and the whole place basically divided into two halves. We were put at a two-seater table in the middle of the right section, which was so close to another two-seater, that it actually felt like one big four-seater. Luckily, no one came and sat there so we were able to enjoy moderate privacy. Average to loud with all the conversations going on, couldn't hear if there was music, and the place at least half full out of maybe 30 tables in total or so? Friendly service and we were observing some of the staff who were very prompt and on the ball all evening. My partner had the Saltimbocca di Pollo ($20 seared chicken breast topped with parma prosciutto and fontina cheese in a madeira mushroom wine sauce with sautéed garlic spinach) which he quite liked except for the spinach. He expected that it would've been in smaller pieces spread throughout the dish, versus just a spoonful on the plate. Our Caesar salads were very good and plentiful, so much that it could be a meal in of itself if you are not the type of person who can eat giant meals. The free bread was nice and soft but added to salad, I could barely look at my entree when it arrived, and I AM a big eater. lol I ordered the Ai Funghi pizza ($17 wild mushrooms, fresh homemade mozzarella, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh arugula) and it was bigger than your average personal size pizza, so I was only able to force down three small slices, 1/4 of the whole thing. It was loaded with lots of arugula which was different but nice. Unfortunately, our hotel room didn't have a fridge in it so I took this to go, and was still way too full a couple of hours later to finish it. Then after it sitting out at room temperature all night, I was hesitant to eat it the next day, since who knows if the cheese would still be okay. Lesson learned, ask how big the pizzas are in the future if going to order one for myself! And skip the free bread at minimum. I would come back here and try a pasta.
(3)Shell L.
We came in the late afternoon so it was a quiet time so we were seated right away. I ordered the meatballs over a salad and was shocked when I realized the meatballs tasted just like my Nanas ! Haven't had hers in over 5 years. Once my kids realized this we had to order more! We also had the mussels, the osso buco, and the Margherita pizza... yum, yum, yum. Loved sitting by the open window! We will def be back next time we're in Boston. The waiter was very nice and the food came out promptly! I did feel I had to ask for a few things a server might pick up on, napkins, bread, my son wanted a soda refill but basically gave up on getting one. And please when you're hosting, smile and show a little interest in people.
(5)Louie S.
Food OK, sorry to say. I want to say "Awesome" but just average. Not worth the wait.
(2)Liz V.
I was highly disappointed in the service. We waited 45 minutes when we made a reservation and we were not accommodated. We ended up having to go to another location in the north end. It was unacceptable.
(2)Cameron H.
We just returned from our mediocre meal at Antico Forno. Upon reading several great reviews of this place, plus the close proximity to our hotel, we got same day Friday reservations and off we went. We were seated by our 8:00 reservation time after grabbing drinks at the bar, but then waited a good 10-15 minutes for our server to arrive. He took our order and we had our food with little wait time. My husband ordered the Pizza Carciofi and I had the famed Gnocchi. With much regret, I hate to report that my gnocchi was sub-par. The flavor was so mild, bland, and boring. And the pizza, too, was bland and overly soggy in the middle, as another Yelper stated in their review. Generally, I don't complain. We usually have fantastic food and don't need to complain, and when it comes to my Little Italy experiences, I've never been let down. I explained all of this to our server, and his response was, "Was there anything wrong with it?" Well damn! I said no, that it was just ok, missing flavor and greatness. He told me that perhaps it needed more salt or Parmesan. Well, no, it needed more than that, but was I supposed to argue with our waiter? Not my style. So, we got free tiramisu. This isn't what I was looking for, but at least it was something. I loved the atmosphere. They're a fast-paced establishment with a great vibe, but the food needs work. Based on so many other positive Yelper experiences, I would hate to steer people away from this place, but tonight, it is what it is. I wish they would have sent someone else over to talk to us before bringing out free dessert. I think offering to comp my entree would've been more appropriate, but in the end, they make more money with this solution. I'll leave it up to you all. You may have a decent experience. I'm left disappointed and dissatisfied.
(2)Stig B.
Been twice in last 2 months. Consistently good food, table service friendly, if not as prompt as expected. Overall, very good.
(4)Bob B.
Everyone from the Boston area has their go-to place in the North End, Antico Forno is mine. Great food, I especially love the pasta with clams, but its all outstanding. Kid friendly, my son always orders the quattro formaggi pizza. Start with an authentic antipasti which piles delicious meats and cheeses and olives and veggies to fill you up before your meal gets to the table. Love coming here, always have had a great experience.
(5)Jennifer S.
We were looking for a comfortable, casual Italian restaurant and we luckily found Antico Forno because it was all that and more. This place is clearly good because it is a steady stream of customers starting from 4pm on. Great atmosphere, great service and really delicious Italian food! I shared a caprese salad with a friend and really enjoyed it - fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. Our husbands enjoyed the meatballs and the caesar salad...again, everyone was happy. For our entrees, we tried the fusilli and both rigatoni dishes...oh my, we were all in heaven! Flavorful, fresh and filling...all 3 dishes! Nice, reasonably priced Italian wine selection as well. Trust me, you can't go wrong at this place!
(4)Leyani L.
my second time having dinner here and i love it. they deliver every single time and its always solid! Pure traditinal Italian food. i belive it doesnt get any more classic than this, but I'm not itialian so dont take my word for it. the downside it would be how loud it is. you can't really have a conversation without yelling at the other person and the people right next to you overhearing what you are saying. Its hard for the staff to walk around as well as the guests. Our waitress did her best to give her best costumer service, you can tell, but between the other staff trying to get by, and the people that was almost impossible. Either way i was there for the authentic home made pasta and some good old sangria, which it was GOOD!
(5)A H.
Avoid this restaurant! I travel between Boston, Dallas and NYC and regularly eat out for dinner. Every person we came in contact with at Antico Forno treated us exceptionally poorly. It was shocking to me how disrespectful their waitstaff was. Like I said, AVOID THIS RESTAURANT. They truly don't deserve your business. Also, don't ask for a refill on your Coke. My sister was literally chugging her 2nd coke before we left when we saw that they charged us $4 for her refill. We aren't penny pinchers, but no refills on a small Coke is just unheard of at ANY restaurant where you sit at a table! Strangest move I've seen to make money.
(2)Helen L.
I got the herb roasted chicken which was not bad but not worth the $20. The waitress was brisk and unhelpful. I asked her for recommendations from the menu and she just was very short with me and said "it's all good." When the food came I asked if they had hot sauce and she said no, which is surprising for a restaurant but okay. I was not impressed but it may be that the bad service overshadowed the food.
(3)Matthew A.
Cozy and friendly Italian food. The staff was prompt and helpful but didn't seem to be actually Italian, so if you're looking for the completely authentic experience, this may not be ideal. Food was delivered quickly even with a half full restaurant. I got Fusilli Al Tegamino and it was delicious! I would definitely come here again.
(4)Daphne S.
Too loud a place to eat. You better figure next to no conversation. I would say the food is OK but the pizza was fantastic.
(3)Kim B.
I came here for a birthday dinner. We had a reservation on a Friday night for 10 people. We called on our way to let them know the group would be a little late, and they said they didn't have our names down... even though someone from the group spoke with them prior that day to confirm. Once getting there, we sat at the bar... for well over an hour. It was packed and we were in the way, and we weren't seated still! they then sat us down at 2 separate tables.... and about 15 minutes later moved us finally to one big table. It was a big disaster and the hostesses were lying to us the whole time! They kept saying we didn't have a reservation. However, the manager did come and apologize and stated she was rather humiliated. Given the big group, we ordered about 9 appetizers( calamari, a bruschetta, salad, arancini), and then we ordered meals in which I got the meat sauce. We also got the dessert pizza, cannolis and a few other desserts. I will say the food was amazing. I was impressed with the presentation and taste of every dish. The decor was charming and similar to many of the other restaurants in the North End. The one major perk being that many of the dishes are wood fired. Given the amount of other North End restaurants, the food was okay but not worth it given the wait. I might give it a try in a smaller group.
(3)Pam P.
The food was good, nothing special. Service was also not up to par. The waitstaff was rude and did not accommodate to our large party. One check is allowed per every 4 people, which was not specified over the phone while we were placing our reservation. Small changes in entrées were also refused, such as taking mushrooms out of a pasta dish. They also refused to split meals on separate plates for those who were sharing meals. The waitress was constantly rolling her eyes at us. Overall, the food was not worth the waitstaff.
(2)David J.
Generous salad good price. Pizza- great crust, sweet sauce, fresh basil. Very tasty. Not my favorite pizza on the planet., but very tasty. Pizza is a very personal preference. So simple but every one's perfect pizza is different. The atmosphere on Saturday was very busy but the service was quick and efficient. Come give it a try.
(4)Ketan D.
Ok food. The server forced us to order all our food at once. We weren't sure if one pizza will be enough for us and she outrightly told us that she won't come back for second orders.
(2)Kate F.
I made a reservation for 13 people a month in advance. Called twice to confirm. When we arrived took them 40 minutes to seat us. When they did I asked the waitress if we could have separate checks for couples and she just said "no, no separate checks" very abruptly. The food came out very quickly which was good. Because they took so long to seat us they then turned on the lights and started folding napkins letting us clearly know they were looking to close. So our large party had no time to socialize or even order coffee. The worst was at my brother's chicken was undercooked and the server noticed and asked if you wanted to complain. My brother said no because he's too nice.
(2)Bren Y.
Love the short wait on a Friday night, we shared a caprese salad which was good and a lasagna but the lasagna was not warm in the middle but the outside was very hot! They needed to cook the lasagna about 5 minutes more to heat it throughly!
(4)Carolyn L.
Was able to get a table here on a Friday night without reservations! It was one of the only restaurants in the North End that was able to fit us in at that time. The hostess was really sweet! My friend and I decided to try this place out after seeing the banner in front of the restaurant, claiming to be one of the best Italian restaurants in the world. Not sure how legitimate the reviewer or award was, but it was freezing and we were hungry. This place is super cute, with a very romantic atmosphere and legit decor, but also the loudest restaurants I've ever been to. I couldn't hear what my friend was saying half the time. Towards the end, we just gave up on talking. The prices are decent. Comparable to the other Italian restaurants in the area. I ended up spending around $23 for my meal. I shared the Gnocchi and the Linguine con Vongole. Their Gnocchi was baked in a brick oven. The sauce consisted of plum tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese and basil finished in brick oven. For $16.50 it was pretty good! The portion doesn't look big, but it is so incredibly filling. The baked mozzarella was probably my favorite party of the dish. The gnocchi was pretty good too. I'm usually not a fan of gnocchi, but Antico Forno made it pretty well. It wasn't the best I've had, but it was better than average. The Linguine con Vongole was deeeeelicious! For $19, you get linguine with sautéed clams, fresh cherry tomatoes in a garlic white wine sauce baked in parchment paper and finished in the brick oven. The sauce is heavenlyyy. I was scooping up every last drop. I was also really surprised with how many clams they served. They were really fresh too! I would definitely recommend trying this dish if you're here! What a cool place this is to bake so many of their dishes...and with parchment paper! I really enjoyed the linguine, but would probably pass on the gnocchi. Overall verdict: Not Top 10 in the world...probably not Top 10 in the state either. But it's really good! If you're here you have to try their seafood pasta baked in the oven.
(4)Becca S.
I give Antico Forno an average rating of 3 stars. The food was a 5-star experience - I had the gnocchi and had a chance to try two different types of pizza that my family ordered. It was all amazing, and extremely filling! Each one of us definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The service was a 2-star experience. We waited a good 15 minutes after receiving the menus to place our order - the waitresses would walk right by us and chat with other tables like they were intentionally ignoring us. We finally got one's attention by deliberately flagging her down. It wasn't even that busy when we got there! Then she really wanted nothing to do with us for the rest of the night - no smile or anything. And we never got one of our appetizers. I'm not sure why were were overlooked and then given the cold shoulder - maybe it's because we were all wearing Bruins shirts? With all the great restaurants in the North End, I think we'll give some others a try before going back here.
(3)Joel P.
Recently came here for dinner, and had made Open Table reservations for 630pm on a Saturday, which is high tide often. Like most North End places on OpenTable, we did have to wait for our table, but actually it only took a few minutes, which was a nice surprise. We shared the caprese (which had very fresh and juicy tomatoes, and large chunks of mozzarella) and the rolled, stuffed eggplant. The eggplant was thin, but overall, the dish was ridiculously good. The saltiness of the cheese added to the zestiness of the sauce covering the dish. Make sure you save some of the yummy bread they bring you to sop up all the extra sauce. We split a pizza, sausage, mushrooms, artichoke, which wasn't bad. Good, but not the most mind blowing pizza ever. My only other issue with the place was that it is just loud, very very loud. It was packed yes, but something about the acoustics in there just seems to turn the volume up to 11.
(4)John B.
My girlfriend recommended this place after she had gone with her family. The food did not disappoint! We got the arancini to start with, and it came out within five minutes of ordering. It was delicious. We both got the chicken parm for dinner, and I can honestly say it was one of the best pieces of chicken parm I have ever eaten! The waitress was also very friendly. However, what truly disappointed me was the hostess service. We knew it was most likely going to be very busy on a Saturday night so we made a reservation for 6:30 three nights before. Upon arriving at 6:30, we said that we had a reservation but the hostess said it would be a little bit of a wait, and gave us a buzzer. After waiting for almost an hour, we had still not gotten seated! Thankfully my girlfriend pointed out a high-top that was open, so we sat there instead. Who knows how much longer it would have been for our table! It is just disappointing that we made a reservation very early, yet the hostess wasn't able to abide by that reservation. You should not be seating people with no reservations ahead of people who were proactive and called in ahead of time! Very disappointing! The only reason I gave this restaurant 3 stars is for our fantastic meal and our friendly waitress.
(3)Roderick J.
First time to Boston this the first place we came.We had the brazed pork and gnocchi and it was perfect...a most have. Service was good and we got in before the rush so everything was on time.
(4)Mallory S.
I'll echo earlier reviews and confirm that it is quite loud, but it wasn't too bothersome. It's small but I wasn't constantly being bumped into by other patrons so these two flaws mentioned by other reviewers were not a big deal. Food was great! We had gnocchi, bolognese, arancini, and ribollita. YUM! Food came out pretty fast and we forgot to leave room for dessert. 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, and 2 entrees came to $77 (before tip). And we had two whole meals left over as the portions were pretty large. Not a bad deal for the North End. Next time I'm determined to save room for the tiramisu. Still have yet to try the pizza.
(4)Tanya Y.
The boyfriend and I have already become a huge fan of North End and Google Offers gave us another excuse to try something new. With $5 off any pizza [lunch or dinner], we couldnt refuse. We came on a Monday around 12:30pm: they have a separate lunch menu from what they have for dinner. Antico Forno became increasingly busy after we got our food. We settled with: LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE: Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in plum tomato sauce, baked in parchment paper and finished in the brick oven $14 LA CAPRICCIOSA PIZZA: Homemade Italian sausage, mushrooms, artichokes hearts and fresh homemade mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce $11.50 The Linguine di Mare was so great that it overpowered the simplicity and greatness of the pizza. The sauce on the pasta was fantastic; the complementary olive bread given to you at the start of the meal is great for sopping any of it up. The pizza crust was also fantastic. The portions of the two were so great that we ended up taking half of the pizza to go. The waitstaff were very attentive- they replaced a parmasean shaker when it appeared we were having difficulty with it, and waters remained full. Our journey around the North End continues, and we are happy we stumbled amongst Antico Forno along the way. Thank you!
(4)Elizabeth S.
Worst meal we ever had. A rip off. No cheese and tasted like purée and a little basil. On margarita pizza. Chicken Parmesan was so tough and dry. Hard to cut through even. Very stingy on cheese. Would not return,
(1)Chelsea D.
I visited some friends in Boston for St. Patrick's Day, which coincided with the beginning of Boston's restaurant week. We're all about food, and wanted to have a decent dinner before I hopped on a bus back to New York. After a few hours of perusing restaurant week menus and reviews on Yelp, we decided Antico Forno would be the place to have that decent dinner. And for the most part, the food was good, but our experience was disgusting. We called a few hours ahead, made reservations, and were immediately seated upon arrival. The hostess was friendly and everything started on the right foot. The waiter was not the friendliest or most communicative while taking our orders, but he got everything down and was at least polite. They brought us a bread basket, with some olives in oil. We were starving, so we demolished the bread in a couple of minutes. It was delicious. Our appetizers came: arancini di riso (rice balls stuffed with bolognese sauce, green peas and fontina cheese, house tomato sauce) and melanzane (roasted eggplant topped with mozzarella and tomato then baked to perfection, topped with basil pesto). (Parenthetical descriptions from their menu.) I took a bite from the periphery of my giant rice ball and was very pleased with its taste, so I cut it in half to dig right in and it was frozen solid in the middle. Luckily, it seemed like my snowball arancini was an outlier. The other one at the table was perfectly fine, and the waitress who whisked it away for a fresh one was very apologetic. She said it was one of the most popular items that night. And for good reason. It was definitely a solid appetizer, even for something that was premade and defrosted. But before my replacement or our entrees had arrived, a terrible thing happened. As previously mentioned, we immediately downed the bread basket. But one of us investigated the basket for leftover morsels because we were that hungry. Instead of bread, we found small, dark, nut-shaped nuggets at the bottom. "What are these?" Closer inspection (taking them out of the basket) revealed that they were wet. And then we realized they were olive pits. Wet, spit-out olive pits. And all five of our olive pits were accounted for on our plate. You know what that means. THERE WERE WET, SPIT-OUT OLIVE PITS FROM A PREVIOUS CUSTOMER AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR BREAD BASKET. We called over our waiter and asked him what he thought the dark little things were. He remained uncommunicative, and shrugged off our question, and so we pointed out that they were olive pits from someone else. He mumbled "sorry", grabbed the basket away, and brought it to the back. We obviously asked to speak to a manager the next time someone came to the table. She immediately came over, and it was clear that she thought our complaint would be about the frozen appetizer. Which we did briefly mention. But she had no idea about the olive pits, and was absolutely stunned when my friend filled her in. She had no response but "that is absolutely disgusting. There is no excuse for that." And you could tell she was extremely angry that she heard about this from the customers, and not the wait staff who had been informed of the issue. After a few more visits to the table, and a lot of sincere apologies, she eventually told us that our entire meal would be on the house. (Though she initially tried to give us free drinks to make up for it -- we were all sick, tired of drinking after St. Patrick's, or in the middle of a study day, so no alcohol for us. Though even if I was drinking I'm not sure I would have taken a free glass of sangria to make up for the fact that someone's spitty olive pit touched the bread I ate). But back to the food (yes, I know, we continued eating here but we were hungry and she assured us over and over and over again that this was not something that happened frequently). Two of us had the Bistecca Pizzaiola (braised short rib topped with sautéed peppers and onions, smoked scamorza gratin, balsamic condimento) which was somewhat disappointing by their accounts. They thought the dish was a little too lukewarm and didn't have enough food. It was basically a pile of meat with very little else. It needed a starch or just something more. My Cannelloni con Pollo e Spinaci (cannelloni stuffed with chicken, spinach and ricotta cheese, baked with roast garlic cream sauce) was great. There was a somewhat uneven distribution of chicken and spinach (with one cannelloni being all chickened out and one being all chickened up), but the roast garlic cream sauce was delightful. It was on the thinner side but packed with flavor. I certainly enjoyed it. Dessert was take it or leave it: bread pudding and cannolis, I've had better and I've had worse. Having someone one else's spittle on the table should be one star, automatically. I'm giving two stars because the food was pretty good and the manager handled the situation well. Given the circumstances, however, I will not return.
(2)Yasi J.
Not a good pizza at all. We got the Amilfatana and it was basically crust(a very dry one), cheese, and a bowl of argula being dumped on after taking it out of the oven. A lot of argula were just dangling on the top and would fall all over the place. It was like havi ng bread with your salad dumped on top.
(2)Sarah F.
Food here was great. Much more of family place than a romantic place. There was a 90th birthday party being held there when I was there and there were kids everywhere! My husband and I really enjoyed the aranchini. They were quite tasty. We tried the traditional pizza and the gnocci. Both were good, but not amazing. The pizza's toppings were not applied evenly, so one half of the pizza had a lot of sausage and the other half had barely any. I drank the house "bianco" wine. It was good. All-in-all a nice casual spot for a nice family dinner. Don't go in expecting a romantic dinner.
(4)Marcia B.
The portions are not for those who are light eaters. Go hungry! Had the veal parm and it was excellent! Thicker pieces of veal than normal which is fine by me. We had planned to go to another spot but the line was long and asked a gentleman on the street getting into his car where he would recommend. Great recommendation! Only issue I had was that it's quite loud so hard to carry on a conversation.
(4)Amy S.
Went there last night for dinner. The Food was delicious. My friend had one of the seafood pastas and I wanted to try the daily special. Oh Boy! It was very special.. Thinking about it makes my mouth watery lol the lobster and shrimp ravioli in a homemade tomato sauce Yummmm! A must go place,
(5)Tom V.
Went to the Feast of St. Anthony yesterday Saturday evening. Broke away from the crowd and went to Antico Forno on Salem St.. Kathy and I sat at the bar and ate. We ordered a summer Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, the biggest tomato slices I've seen come out of a restaurant kitchen with basil. It was awesome. (see photos) We also ordered the Arancini with red sauce which was also double awesome. We shared one entree, the potato "Gnocchi" of coarse. It was special, the sauce was again, awesome. Sitting at the bar we sampled multiple Espresso Martini's made to perfection. What else can I say about this place...If your in the North End visit Hanover St. for Mike's Pastry but walk to Salem Street to try Antico Forno.
(5)Angela O.
I visited Boston April 2014, and a local recommended this restaurant. A year has past and I still remember this place and the amazing food! I would literally go back to Boston just to eat here again!
(5)Sarah F.
This place didn't quite live up to the hype (and the line out the door when we arrived). It's certainly VERY loud, but we didn't particularly mind. The wine server (or sommelier? The bartender called him "the wine guy"), when asked, made good suggestions and they have a solid and reasonably-priced wine list. The bartender didn't know much about wine, but she knew to ask him so all good. The plum tomato sauce was, as expected, sweet but nuanced-- likely house-made. I ordered the chicken Parmesan and it lacked flavor; I wound up adding a lot of Parmesan cheese. The linguine it came with was overcooked. Overall it was fine, but after spending about $40 on dinner and one drink I would have expected a bit more. This is the North End, after all, so I bet there's better fare to be had.
(3)Abbie K.
SO the food is generally excellent. The only reason I'm not at 5 stars is because the atmosphere can be overwhelming. The place is deceptively small (when it's busy you feel a bit smushed into other tables) and I've never been there when the place wasn't just too LOUD. I've never had a problem with service and when I was there for a birthday they brought out tiramisu and a candle! The desserts aren't brilliant but there are plenty of other places around that only do dessert type stuff. I also find they're a bit pricey but the food really is worth it. It's the ambiance I'm not as happy with.
(4)Joanne E.
Very disappointed in this place. Our server never told us about the dinner specials. But she did tell the next table over all about them. They also ordered right before us and they received their meals quickly. Ours came about 20 mins later. The chicken parm was soggy and mushy. The carbonara was dry. We had to ask another server for extra sauce. Ours never check on how our meals were. Go elsewhere, we won't be back.
(1)Jaclyn S.
This place is fantastic for larger groups. The North End is known for restaurants to have limited space but Antico Forno is definitely bigger in size than most places and for that reason makes it a good spot for larger parties. This restaurant has a casual atmosphere. I have ate here twice and am impressed with both the food and prices. For appetizers I have tried: Focaccina con caprino (excellent), mussels (great), calamari (great), and Arrancini (good). For the main entrée I have tried the Rigatoni Salsiccia (Rigatoni, Sausage, and onions in a tomato sauce with Ricotta on top). This was AMAZING and I'd highly recommend it. I have also tried the Fusilli Al Tegamino (fusilli pasta, eggplant and zucchini in a tomato sauce with goat cheese). I would also recommend this dish. They put a lot of their pasta dishes in a brick oven, which makes it extra tasty. They also have a ton of pizza selections and who doesn't love pizza cooked in a brick oven? The margherita pizza was quite tasty, but the next time I go I would love to try one of the specialty pizzas. Overall the quality and volume of food with the low prices make this place a must try if you have never been. I honestly loved the entire experience and can't wait to go back to try a new dish! Update: I've been here recently and tried the Vesuvio pizza (mozzarella, roasted peppers, ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes, & prosciutto). It is out of this world. You must order this! The sausage and broccoli rabe pizza was also great.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Make sure you have a reservation, and even then arrive early because the place is packed and you will still have to wait for your table. The pizza is hands down best I've had, the crust is crispy, chewy and light; comes to table piping hot. My daughter's spaghetti with meatball was good, nice tangy sauce. Hubby had osso bucco with side of polenta which was nicely done. My seafood postino was blah, the sauce was super sweet, the handmade cut pasta was al dente, but didn't have the chewiness I like. I would go back just for pizza if I can stand the crowd. It's just so crowded and I felt hurried. The hostess lifted my purse while I was getting my coat on to hurry me along so the boys can bus re table for the next patrons.
(3)Mark A.
Visiting Boston during restaurant week was a great idea... All kinds of awesome restaurants participate and have great prices on a Prix Fixe menu. Decided to try the north end and some authentic Italian. For $20 a person we got an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Delicious fettuccini carbonara. Clearly homemade pasta and fresh ingredients. And although it was little on the small side, the cannoli was outstanding. (I'm guessing it was for the Prix fixe, regular menu item may be bigger) I would go here again for sure, although being from LA I want to try many other places during my short stay here.
(4)Chris M.
We visited this pizza place last night after my wife completed the Boston marathon. It was recommended as a place that served good pizza and catered for people with gluten intolerance. The place was full which is always a good sign in my book and we weren't disappointed. The service was quick and the food was good. Two minor negatives. As the place was so full our table felt like it was in the middle of a highway with people going passed on both sides throughout the meal. The second negative was there was no choice of pizza base, thin, deep pan etc. I prefer a typical Italian pizza base and this was on offer. The thicker one I got was nice but not my favourite. I would return again, I'd just ask for a different table :-)
(4)L F.
Meh. My boyfriend and I came here the other night to grab dinner before an Improv Boston show. He is vegetarian and I prefer to eat vegan and my go-to meal at Italian places is usually a veggie pizza hold the cheese. Somehow, our waiter had a really hard time letting us order the veggie pizza without cheese. He made a big deal about it and made me feel like I was imposing on him for asking the chef to please leave off the cheese. I don't get it. I'm paying you so that I can enjoy my dinner at your establishment without having a tummy ache afterwards -- on top of that, you are saving money by *not* serving me the cheese! Extra points taken off for not being able to suggest an appetizer without meat and cheese. The waiter didn't recommend we have any appetizers (presumably because the flavor comes from the animal product?), but I saw a bunch of veggies in different menu items that could be combined into a tasty salad or an antipasto salad or platter. In the end we ordered a "side dish" for an appetizer: a roasted red pepper salad (delicious!) For a main meal, we finally convinced the waiter that we indeed wanted the pizza without cheese, and it was actually quite tasty. The good: - The food was good, the complimentary bread with olive oil was good too (but I'm easy to please, I like carbs) - The ambiance -- kinda cheesy but nice. The bad: - The service was just frustrating. I wish the waiter would have been a bit more knowledgeable about the menu (i.e. the side dish was a great appetizer). His lack of enthusiasm to find the best items for us on the menu left a sour aftertaste. - We had reservations and showed up on time but had to wait about 25 minutes before they seated us. Bottom line: The food wasn't bad but why would I want to pay for bad service? Next time, I'll order take out. PS: the Improv Boston show was definitely the highlight of this evening; very much recommended!
(1)Frank P.
Aranchini were really good. We were a larger party so we tried a variety of the pizzas. They all seemed a little off. They were ok nothing to brag about. The best was the traditional one and the worst was the four cheese one. Staff was super nice and tended to us very well.
(4)Nati E.
Food quality was ok not what I was expecting.
(2)Deb E.
We had a res here the night of the Boston manhunt on April 19 - they called us to let us know they were open and we were happy to venture out from our hotel. Deep in the North End Antico Forno is a nice homey Italian restaurant. With a fireplace and a wall of windows it was a nice cozy atmosphere. It was not a typical night to be visiting (I suspect it was much quieter than usual) but we enjoyed our meals and service was attentive and friendly. Our children each had a calzone which were MASSIVE at $13 - they could have shared one. My husband & I shared a spinach salad with pancetta (Not recommended - not special at all), a portion of fettucine bolognese (delicious and the noodles were obviously fresh) and an artichoke pizza with mushrooms & truffle oil. Delicious. We skipped dessert opting to head up to Mike's pastry for take home dessert. All in all: cocktails=expensive, food was moderate and overall good. We may return but there are so many other places in the north end to try. They were kid friendly.
(3)Patty M.
Food was delicious homemade and fresh. We had Bolognese dish. It was amazing. The pasta is fresh and home made. The potions are small and it was an expensive meal but worth it.
(4)Elizabeth B.
There's a reason for always having a line out the door. I come here all the time but my last experience here last week was exceptional! The pizza tasted better than ever (it's always been my favorite in the North End) and my boyfriends pork chop was perfectly cooked. I tasted the desert for the first time too, bread pudding YUM! There's a great bar that we choose to sit at sometimes (when there's seats available) and the sangria is to die for! It's hard to believe some of the comments on here after being here so many times - it's busy & loud on the weekends, so if you're looking for a quiet, romantic dinner maybe I could understand that part. All in all - my favorite spot in the North End for big portions and very reasonable prices.
(5)Meagan D.
Most importantly, Antico has a pizza slice buzzer to let you know when your table is ready. This softened the blow for our 40 minute wait time. Fear not, a crowded restaurant is typically a good thing (unless you are trying to hit up IHOP at 2 am). The overwhelming crowd inside was lively. They really pack the tables in and we jokingly invited the guests next to us to close the two inch gap between our tables and join us...they declined. Damn. I think they were more interested in the table headed by the guy yelling, "BRING THE KING HIS FOOD!" Touché. We ordered the arancini and scarfed them down quickly. They were crispy on the outside and oozing with a mild bolognese and pea concoction inside. The bread served before the meal was a little disappointing. We expected it to be more homemade tasting but it could be likened to a loaf of .99 cent Italian bread from stop and shop. The spread served with the bread was unique though. Our guess was that it was made of ricotta and plum tomato which was a wildcard for the premeal bread served at Italian places since all of us have only had been served olive oil. The entrees were sizable and very filling. The gnocchi was dense and the tomato sauce was savory. We also tried the popular baked sausage rigatoni served with ricotta - YUM. Barely ate half of it because it was so hearty. I should also mention that we ordered the pomegranate sparklers. Though delish, a tiny fluted champagne glass was not a satisfying portion for the price. I think I took a shot at Dick's Last Resort later in the evening that was larger than this drink. Overall - there's a reason this place has a line out the door. Either people are coming back for the reasonably priced authentic Italian fare or the pizza slice buzzers. Either way, we aren't judging.
(4)Suzanne Y.
Has the Arancini and the traditional pizza at the bar on a busy Sunday afternoon. Busy lively place. Loved the Arancini
(4)Jeremy B.
Excellent Italian - some of the best I've had in a few years. It can get crowded pretty easily, but they take reservations.
(5)K M.
Good food but service is incredibly slow and poor. There is usually one or two servers for the whole place. You will be seated and could wait 15 minutes for someone to even bring you a menu.
(4)Stephen V.
Absolutely my favorite Italian restaurant . A bit loud but worth it for the quality of food. if there is something you want that isn't on the menu , they will make it for you ! The Calamari is unbelievable. My fave is the seafood Fra diavolo ! You cant go wrong here ! Need to make reservations !
(5)Jon J.
Major disappointment in the Italian section of Boston. Service was slooooow. Wait staff was wooden, no words were spoken to us by the waitress. She just stood there. No smile. Nada. Pizza was thin crust, which usually indicates crispy texture but ours was limp and soggy. The pizza sauce and crust had no flavor at all. Pasta was floating in watery sauce. They must depend on tourists because no one would go back for more of their unfriendly treatment and bland food. I'm Italian and my homemade pizza is far better. And I smile at my guests, too.
(1)Elizabeth F.
Whatever they quote you for a wait time, double to triple it. Room is loud. Pizza and chicken parm dinner were very good. Soda is not brand name in my opinion (I specifically asked if they had Coke or Pepsi products).
(3)Donna S.
Great pizza, the crust is really light & airy. I came here the 1st time on a Pizza Tour and just knew I'd be back.
(4)Emily W.
Fantastic! A friend and I called early for reservations. They were booked up until 9:30pm, but the wait was well worth it! The place was packed and it literally felt like you were dining in Italy. I think this is because Antico Forno is tucked away in a small street on the North End resembling Italy. We arrived early so we got a seat at the bar before it was time to eat. Once we were called to sit, we ordered caprese and the mozzarella was outstanding! I ordered a seafood pasta dish with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, basil, and a tomato sauce. Very tasty. My friend ordered a sausage rigatoni dish; It was hard to decide which was better! I'd recommend any friend to dine here!
(4)Marge F.
My friend and I went for lunch on a saturday in september. It was bustling with customers which we found as a good sign. The food was good (but nothing mind-blowing or amazing) and we had a nice lunch with wine. The service was great. I ordered the Linguine Con Vongole and the clams and sauce were very nice. No sand or grit in the clams they were very clean and had a nice flavor. My friend ordered the LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE and he loved it. The seafood was tender and fresh tasting.
(3)Amy L.
This place is great! Pizza made from scratch so you can have it exactly as you want it. Cozy space and you can watch the pizza being cooked in the brick oven. Dough and tomato sauce are heavenly. Staff is friendly & speedy. We will be back for sure!!!
(4)Pallavi B.
What a disappointing TT in the Little Italy! Glad that we got tortured so as to prevent anybody else from the future tormenting experiences. We waited and waited and waited with that rattle like buzzer in our hands and it rang after almost 2 hours of wait time. The hostess and the girl at the check in kept apologizing for the delay and appreciating our patience, however it was only a little respite. We thought that the food might be able to lift our spirits, however it is a different story altogether. My husband was head bent on having pizza that night so we ordered their margarita pie to split. It was really nothing to write home about. Steer away if you are there for only a few days and want to spend your time on North End wisely. We are not going back again.
(2)Nick Z.
I came here with high hopes for the pizza and I was disappointed. I ordered the tradional pizza and thought it would be a good idea get prosciutto as an addition. It's as if the pizza was cooked and the chef forgot to put the prosciutto on and just threw slices of meat on after the fact. I however found out that's not true because my girlfriend got a pizza with prosciutto on the specific style and it came out the same way. I don't even know how to describe the prosciutto as a topping, besides it's put on the same way meat is put on a sandwich. The rice balls however were fantastic and the staff was great as well and that's the reason for the 2 stars.
(2)Joel S.
Nice space on Salem Street. Nice decor, brick walls and dim lighting. Our waiter was a very nice guy and we enjoyed his company. We were served a basket of very good bread with olive oil. We ordered a nice, reasonably priced bottle of Primitivo. The mixed green salad was good and nicely dressed. Our main courses were OK. My wife ordered the fusilli and didn't love it. The flavor combination was funny to her, but she should have figured it out from the menu. The thing that she really didn't like was that the pasta was overcooked. I had the linguine al frutti di mare. The sauce was good and the seafood was good. The linguine was flaccid. The menu refers to these two pastas being finished off in the oven. Neither tasted like a casserole. Both dishes just tasted as if the pasta was overcooked. If the linguine was al dente it would have been a lot better. We probably should have realized this from the menu. My wife was expecting something more the consistency of baked ziti. Overall a pleasant evening with a nice waiter. I would order differently if I went back.
(3)Amanda B.
Worth the hour-and-a-half wait? Maybe. Depends on what you're looking for. Luckily we weren't starving, and turned the wait into a game. We ate the rigatoni salsiccia and the linguine with steamed clams. Both were delightful! I recommend the linguine over the rigatoni, but to each her own. The service was good, attentive but not overwhelming, and the price was fairly reasonable. The good: great food. The bad: an exceptional wait time. Usually a good sign. The weird: the buzzers they give for folks waiting for a table are shaped like pizza slices.
(4)Michelle V.
Although the food was good, it was a bit pricey for Italian - I suppose the location has everything to do with that. The noise level is over the top, the need some help with the acoustics in the space.
(3)Lisa S.
I lived in the North End for several years and though I had never eaten at the restaurant before, I was familiar with it and had always heard good things. When a group of us decided to go in town for dinner and a show, I made a reservation at Antico Forno. We had to be at the show by 9:45 (it was around the corner at 10:00) so I decided to make a 7:30 reservation to make sure we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy our meal before heading out. Unfortunately (and ridiculously), we were not seated until 9:00 (every time we followed up we were told "20 minutes" - needless to say that was untrue). I would have gone elsewhere when 8:00 came around and we hadn't been seated for our reservation yet, but it was Saturday night and we had a large group, so there was no availability at the surrounding restaurants for us. And truthfully, I didn't think it would be anywhere near an hour and a half to be seated with a reservation. Once we were finally seated, we had to immediately order entrees to ensure that we would not be late for the show. The 1-star here is for our waitress - she was actually very nice and made sure that our order arrived very quickly. That was the only positive though because the food itself was mediocre at best - and that is being kind (the calamari was fishy, one person in our group ordered chicken parm and thought it was veal...and the parm dishes was so drowned in sauce I am not surprised she couldn't identify the meat, and the complaints go on...). What a disappointment -- I will never go to this restaurant again and will ensure that when others ask for recommendations I warn them not to go here.
(1)Jeanie M.
Dinner for 13 people was tough. They handled it very well, splitting the check for 4 people each check so it was easier to figure out. Food-wonderful. I tasted the pizza and it was superb. I had the clams & linguine-finished off in the oven it was so good! Service-patient Chairs- SO uncomfortable. It is very casual and fun but LOUD. Maybe something on the ceiling to muffle the sound? And change those chairs. I would go back it was really delicious and fairly priced.
(4)Emily K.
This place is not good. The wait was twice as long as the host said it would be. There was nowhere to stand except up against the wall behind people sitting at the bar during the wait. They eventually crammed us into a table literally inches from three other parties. It was so loud you couldn't hear the person across from you screaming. The food was mediocre, at best. The antipasto plate was literally a jar of roasted red peppers emptied out onto a plate. The shrimp salad had no dressing. The mussels were not fresh. Horrendous, and not authentic. North End is a terrible terrible place.
(2)Kelsey C.
The service here is the worst I've ever had. I would have preferred no service to the service I got. For starters, the server resetting the adjacent table slammed each plate and piece of silverware with an anger the source of which I can't begin to guess. He was so loud we had to shout to talk. Then we were ignored for ten minutes. Yes, I timed it. When a server finally came to take our order, I asked him what their specials were and he glared at me and pointed to the specials menu, which said "risotto of the day". Apparently, I should read the menu...and his mind. So it turns out, our server probably wasn't supposed to be our server because right after he went to put the order in, a lady walked up to our table with a notepad and hovered wordlessly for what felt like hours. Eventually, we informed her that our order was just taken and she moved on to glare at the next table. Without saying a word. We got the Caprese appetizer, which was crude with thick chunks of irregularly-shaped mozzarella, interspersed with giant slices of tomato on steroids. The mozzarella was tasty, so it's a pity a dish with such potential for beauty was so hideously portrayed. The Carciofi e Porcini Pizza had a crispy crust that most chefs spend a lifetime trying to perfect. What a pity it was doused in a liter of truffle oil, which was about as nauseating as morning sickness. I didn't eat a whole lot here, but I'll never find out what the other dishes are like. Antico forno may translate to "old oven", but the deadly combination of food and service conjure the very flames of hell. I barely escaped hell this time, and I certainly won't be going back.
(1)Vivian C.
Antico Forno makes for a long lunch. But just think about it, it is a restaurant that specializes in Brick Oven specialties! So if you are coming here, make sure you're not starving, that you plenty of time to sit and wait, and order an appetizer to start with. We ordered two appetizers, and entree, and a pizza, and our neighboring table that sat down shortly after we did didn't get their pizza till after we had the chance to dig into ours. In the meantime though, they were nursing their drinks and the bread basket of a nice focaccia and some french bread. INVOLTINI DI MELANZANE $8.00 Rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese and basil, baked in brick oven with plum tomato sauce and parmigiano cheese CAPRESE $8.00 Fresh mozzarella and tomato salad, mixed greens, toasted bread, dressed with extra virgin olive oil and basil LINGUINE AL FRUTTI DI MARE $14.00 Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in plum tomato sauce baked in parchment paper PIZZA CON SPINACI from a separate Additions to Menu sheet $10.50 Fresh mozzarella and baby spinach Judging from the two appetizers we tried, they seem to like to portion their appetizers for 3. There were three stuffed pieces of eggplant smothered in tomato sauce (and may I say, YUM!) as well as three layers of fat sliced tomatoes and mozzarella on the caprese plate. As for the pasta, the sauce was infused with flavors of the seafood. Too peppery for my dc. A bit too salty too. The pizza surprised us by arriving sauceless. The complete coating of cheese did not lend it enough flavor in my dc's opinion, but I found the gobs of pre-cooked spinach rather wet - but that sure did the job of keeping the spinach leaves from burning! But it also lent to a slight sogginess in the center. The crust was a bit crisp at the edge but rather soft in the center. The place was pretty full shortly before 1pm, so they must do pretty good lunch business.
(3)Steve C.
I have eaten here many times but never reviewed it for some reason, shame on me. Here goes, by far one of the best in the north end, i personally like what i call "peasant" Italian food, for example chicken parm, calzones, veal parm, saltimbocca, marsala you know, meatballs and sausage type, and Antico Forno delivers and then some. The wood fired pizza oven sits at the end of the main dining room and is always on the go, the pizza and calzones are awesome, they have great dough and delicious sauces and toppings. I've had many selections from the main menu, the lasagna, the bolognese, the chicken parm, veal chop, all incredible, homemade pasta and sauces, how can you go wrong. There's a small bar, great during the week as you may get a seat but forget it at the weekends, there's always a line so reservations are definitely recommended. Service is prompt and efficient, Maria was our server and was an absolute delight.
(5)Emily S.
Went with a "preplanned" menu with a group of kids - there were good and bad points to the experience. For a big group was basically $12/person plus tax and tip. This was ceasar salad (the portions were tiny and the dressing not fabulous, I think due to group they skimped), margherita pizza completed NOT authentic, and some type of pasta with a red sauce. So this probably (at most) cost them $1/person. It also had some kind of other sausage and artichoke pizza. (about 3 pieces of sausage and same w artichoke for whole pizza). Then for dessert the smallest canneloni I had ever seen (luckily I had had one early at Mikes which was to die for) Also I had our tab broken out (my daughter and I ) and didn't realize until later that they DOUBLE charged on our tip so I paid about $15 for tip - they didnt bring to my attention and think did on purpose. Also they whisked the food away like they were going to use for their dinner. One of the kids asked smartly for a to go box - WTF were they going to do with all that left over food? Scariest thought - WHAT were they doing with ALL the left over food (for a party of 22) - do they reheat and reserve? Just due to that would AVOID. As a native Californian whose favorite place is North Beach (aka REAL italian food) and having been to Italy with my daughter, this was a true disapointment. There are so many really CUTE places along this area, trust your fellow "yelpers" and choose one with better In closing to re-iterate, when you go to italy (and NOTE I was there ALSO with a group of high school kids) dinner is to savor - its anticipating the next course and savoring all the food AND they DO NOT take away the food. They let you savor and enjoy. too bad as many of the kids hadnt travelled to get a NON authentic experience, PS go to MIKES for Cannoli
(1)John C.
Very solid food. I've enjoyed many of the pizzas and pastas. They don't seem to mess anything up and some of the combinations are delicious and imaginative. The servers are very friendly and reasonably prompt and attentive. Nice boisterous ambience.
(4)Joelle K.
Great North End restaurant! The decor is really nice with exposed bricks. They have a nice bar that I have gone to both while waiting for a table or just to stop in for a couple glasses of wine. It's been a while since I last had a meal here, so I don't remember exactly what I had. I do know that me and the other two people that I went with all had pastas dishes that we were very happy with.
(4)Kristen M.
Like other Yelpers have noted, the reservation system at Antico Forno means absolutely nothing. My party arrived promptly at 7:28 for a 7:30 reservation, were told that they were getting the tables set... and then waited for close to an hour to be seated. We checked in with them two different times (at 8pm and 8:15) and both times the annoyed hostess told us that there was nothing they could do, that parties had their bills on the table but weren't leaving. I understand that getting other patrons out is out of their control, but considering it seems like many, many other reviewers have had a similar experience, management really needs to take a look at their reservation system and restructure it to better reflect what their availability is. Our waitress was very nice and the food came promptly, but I personally thought it was nothing to write home about. The food, in my opinion, was a bit bland and didn't seem to be the homemade quality you would expect for a $20 main in the North End. (However, others at my table enjoyed their meals, so it might just have been my fettucine bolognase that didn't live up to my expectations). All in all, I would suggest going to one of the many other excellent restaurants in the North End that respect the time of their customers and set realistic expectations for dining reservations. I sincerely hope the management of Antico Forno is taking a look at these reviews and changing the fundamentals of their business. I know I will not be going back.
(2)Brian D.
I came here yesterday looking to get some dinner with a date. I've been here before, and had a pleasant experience many years ago, so I know its a decent joint. So we walked in and the hostess sat us in the corner, gave us a couple menus and then headed back to her post in the front. And then we waited.... and waited..... and waited.... and waited... Nobody came over. We probably sat there for 12 mins, having a bus boy come and give us some water. Nobody came over. I was shocked. I don't know if it was a confusion of which waitress was taking the table or what, but after those 12 mins, we were fairly annoyed so we just left. We told the hostess, but it seemed like she didn't care. I'm giving this place a 2 star because I have eaten here before and remember it being okay. Honestly, the sign on the front about this place being name as part of the Top 10 Italian restaurants in the world is full of crap. There is no way that's the case. It's not THAT good. Recommendation: If ALL the other spots down the street are busy or have long lines, then this place can do. Don't expect Top 10 cuisine however. Good for larger parties as well since Antico is generally MUCH larger than other spots in the general area.
(2)Leigh L.
Was in Boston for only 1 night. Asked the hotel concierge to recommend a good italian restaurant and this is where she sent us. Food was phenomenal...Pasta was perfectly cooked and the Bolognese sauce was delicious. Wife's spaghetti and meatballs was like Mama used to make! Only drawback was it was crowded and a bit noisy.
(4)Joe G.
I went here with a group of 4, we made reservations for 9pm, well in advance the night before. We showed up on time for our reservation and didn't get seated until 930. They put us in line with everyone else. Hard to believe there was a line in the first place. Place was extremely loud and crowded. Food was mediocre at best. My pizza was over cooked and so was our guests. Service was pretty good. Overall mediocre experience. If you're trying to eat in north end I wouldn't waste my time going to this place.
(2)Kim N.
If i could give 0 stars, I would definitely give this place one. This was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. SERVICE: Service was the worst I have ever experienced. The waitress was very rude to us. While my husband and I were not hungry, she did not allow us to share a dish and made us order two dishes. We were only able to finish one dish and had nearly a whole pizza leftover. When we asked to split the bill, the waitress said she would try. She came back with the split check, but an added 20% gratuity on each bill! And we were a party of four! When we asked to talk to the manager to have the automatic tip removed, he first said they charge an automatic gratuity for parties of 5 and larger (which I think is quite a low start). But when we counted out our party of FOUR to him, he gave us an excuse that they cannot do it now that the bill has been split. And worst off, when we left the restaurant, the waitress ambushed us, berating us, saying we should have told her we wanted to split the bill when we first sat down to eat. ATMOSPHERE: For a restaurant in the North End, I was quite disappointed. It looked like a run-of-the-mill chain Italian restaurant -- similar to an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill. The seating arrangements are very crowded and the restaurant was extremely loud. FOOD: We ordered a fettucine Bolognese, margherita pizza, insalata pizza, la Quattro staggioni. The fettucine Bolognese was mediocre -- I have had better. The margherita did not look like a typical margherita and more like a plain cheese pizza. The Quattro staggioni was strange and had all the toppings separated into different sections instead of spread out evenly. The insalata pizza was okay, but the prosciutto was slightly salty. And there are no refills on fountain drinks. I am extremely unhappy with this restaurant and will never come back. Please do not go here. I never wish anyone to have the same experience as we had.
(1)E H.
Bad service is a no-no for us. Especially me! The hostess acted like everyone that was coming in was ruining her day. It bothers me that people who accept a job at a known-to-be hectic place have such an attitude. We are from NY, we have been to busy restaurants, so I know bad service when I see it. If you cannot handle your job-quit. Anyway, after we remained calm and took our buzzer we decided to sit at the bar since that was the only place with open seats. My husband went back to give her the buzzer (which i thought would be doing her a favor since she was so extremely flustered but instead she took the buzzer and tossed it down and she also threw the menus in her hand onto the counter where she was stationed. HONESTLY?!? i have zero tolerance for bad service. We still begrudgingly stayed but went to the bar-the stools are terrible! But the bartender was very polite and helpful. luckily bc if i got one more minute of horrendus service I was going to lose my cool. The appetizer we got was very fresh-caprice. We also got the traditional pizza-wasn't the best I've had honestly-it was good not great.
(2)David K.
Prior to my cousin's bachelor party, we were on the prowl for authentic North End Italian cuisine, and roamed Hanover Street aimlessly before settling on Antico Forno, which is actually on nearby Salem Street. There's a neat atmosphere here. I was seated facing the kitchen and the brick oven is right out in the open, which was cool. The chef prepared our pizzas in dramatic fashion - tossing the dough high in the air, speedily placing the toppings on and shoving them into the oven. We had calamari for an app and weren't disappointed - lightly battered, tender, with a nice vinaigrette-style dressing. The pizzas were tremendous - we had La Capricciosa (mozz, sausage, mushrooms, artichoke) and La Quattro Stagrani (mozz, ham, spinach, mushrooms). All were made with just the right amount of toppings, which provided a nice balance of flavors. Minor complaints - small unisex bathroom and underwhelming tap list. Though you should really order wine at a place like this. We really stuffed ourselves here. What's funny is we immediately went to Mike's Pastry afterwards for an encore of cannoli's.
(4)Aim M.
We came here for lunch last week. The place was crowded with locals, which is a good sign. Sarah had chicken. I had pizza. The service was friendly, and the food was excellent.
(4)Steven R.
The atmosphere is great. The staff is very attentive to your needs. The drinks were excellent. The food itself was also very good for what we got. They also have gluten free options which are a huge plus for a guy that avoids it. Very little wait to get our seats with a reservation. That said, I dock them a star for really rushing the food delivery. Apps, salads, and the main entree were all served within 10 minutes of each other. Way too fast. I understand they are trying to turn over the tables on a Saturday night, but the place isn't cheap. Even a few extra minutes between each course would have been appreciated.
(4)Amy H.
This is a nice local casual dining establishment that the locals know about and a tourist would find a good North End option. They are on the more casual side from the many other dressier, fancier options of restaurants in this area. You can get a solid pasta dish or a traditional pizza pie here. I have been here 12+ times and have never had a bad dinner. Good value for your money as well and that is important because I have left many a North End restaurants not feeling there was a good value for what I got. The portions are a good size and the seafood is always fresh and I feel like they have quality meats and seafood dishes.
(4)Eric F.
What do you do when you're on campus and still half-asleep? Yelp it up XD After lunch here yesterday, Antico's worthy of 4 very solid stars for a very filling and tasty meal. The line-up included their baked rigatoni, gnocchi, fettuccine panna e prosciutto and la capricciosa (italian sausage, mushrooms and artichoke hearts). Everything was exceptionally well done and our group especially liked the brick oven'd pizza. Plus, I always appreciate freshly baked bread to start things off and I was def a fan of the olives & oil dip. I could see what some other reviewers were getting at with the service - the staff was friendly and approachable, but they could've afforded to be more attentive (slow refills, infrequent check-ins, etc.). I should also note that with the Eversave discount I had, it all came out to only $8.50/person tax & tip included - an absolute steal for the quality and quantity!
(4)Jen C.
Good authentic Italian food. Served with chewy white bread and olive oil for dipping. I liked it that they had a vegetarian lasagna- don't typically see that as an option. We were seated so close to the next table that I felt I was part of their awkward first date.
(3)Alicia B.
Delicious food and amazing atmosphere!
(5)Charlie T.
Not bad. Great drinks, but the portions were a little small.
(3)Jules E.
This place used to be a well-kept secret in the North End, and the crowd/popularity has made it less pleasant. While the food and wine is consistently delicious, the service has suffered. Recently, despite having made a 9:00PM reservation, my group had to wait 40 MINUTES to be seated. It seems the reservation was not honored at all, and we were just put on the standard wait list. If you're not hungry/willing to wait, this place is a fine choice.
(3)Maya T.
Definitely make reservations because this place was packed. Food was delicious and authentic. I had pasta alla bolgonese and we had pizza as well. The bread was yummy to. Staff was not super friendly or attentive, but the food was good. I'd go back.
(4)Bex M.
Haven't had quite a good dinner like this in a while! I'm so pleased with Antico Forno, from the quality of food to its great service. The place was lively and energetic. It was a cool night and they had their windows opened to the streets of the North End. It was a bit chilly, but I didn't mind until the breeze quickly made all that delicious food cold. We ordered la capricciosa and the linguine al frutti di mare with a side of broccoli rabe. I think pizza is my kryptonite and la capricciosa hit the spot. It's topped with Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella, and artichoke hearts. I've never had artichokes on a pizza before and this was splendid. All these years and I've been missing out! The frutti di mare was baked in parchment paper and it fully captured all the seafood flavors of the clams, mussles, calamari and shrimp. This dish was saliva-inducing. I even sopped up the rest of the tomato sauce with my bread and wanted to eat the parchment paper. (Am I kidding? You'll never know.) Oh, the waiter forgot our broccoli rabe order. It finally came out but the garlic was raw, so obviously it was rushed by the chef. We had no qualms about that since everything else made up for this one little mishap. As we went to pay, the waiter took it off our check. Awesome. Completely happy with dinner and looking forward to the next time.
(4)Ashley H.
Went here for dinner on a Friday with a friend from out of town. We had a 7 p.m. reservation, but ran a bit late. We sat at the bar and got a bottle of wine while waiting (about $38 for pinot grigio). The place was very noisy, probably good for children but not quite what I was looking for. We ordered two entrees, I don't remembers hers but I got the pork chop with potatoes and peppers. It was such a small serving for the $23 price tag and for what I've come to expect in the North End. The potato was literally HALF a small potato cut in two. It was overpriced for what it was. I am glad I had not stuffed myself because I would have been too full to drink the rest of the night (can't have that), but I wouldn't go back for the price and portion size. There are too many other good places to discover to ever come here again.
(3)Steve S.
Let me just start by saying I'm from Arkansas. My dining choices at home are severely limited; the word "authentic" is rarely warranted in describing restaurants. So it's entirely possible that I'm just very easy to impress. Having said that, this is just a remarkable establishment. The first thing you'll notice is it's slightly cramped, very loud and very comfortable; in other words, it's just like being home if you have a big family. Loved the atmosphere. My table for two didn't have a reservation, but we were seated in just minutes on a Thursday evening. The busboys offer you water immediately, and they don't let you ever see the bottom of your glass. Excellent attention. To start, you'll receive a traditional bread and olive oil setup. The bread is fine, soft and chewy, but not remarkable. But the oil has fresh olives in it, which was a great touch. Our appetizer was the Calamari, and it is not to be missed. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, then lightly tossed on EVOO and served with a salad. It is the best I've ever had, and that by a long way. Our entrees were also wonderful. My risotto was cooked perfectly, with peas, pancetta, mushrooms, green onions and, again, lightly tossed in EVOO. The flavor is awesome, and although risotto takes longer to cook than most other entrees, the flavor is worth it. My wife had the Fettucine Positano, and it was amazing. The star of the dish is the rich, flavorful cherry tomato sauce, with has to be tasted to be believed. Its paired with freshly made noodles and some delicious fresh scallops and shrimp. A wonderful meal. And it would have been wonderful even before dessert. But when our Tiramisu hit the table, everything else we ate just vanished in our mind. If you get this, do yourself a favor and deeply inhale the aroma before your first bite. The rich espresso and liqueur smell is intoxicating, and prepares your mouth for beautiful taste after taste. This dessert is amazing; I would return just for this. Our server was very good, and our bill was more than reasonable. Two adult beverages, appetizer, two entrees and dessert were less than 80 bucks altogether. Factor in the amazing flavors, great atmosphere and good service, and Antico Forno is a very good deal. Don't come here to be wined, dined and fussed over. Come here to feel like you're part of a huge family that is sharing in the same great times and great food that you are also enjoying. Antico Forno is a rare restaurant, and you should experience it before leaving the North End.
(5)Mike L.
Food was good. Went there on a Tuesday night and it was definitely kid-friendly.
(4)Bobby T.
Wonderful place off the beaten path Authentic, crowded and lively Delicious
(4)June-Young C.
The beeper's are slices of pizza that light up when it's your turn to be seated!? The seafood pasta here is great. It is probably a good idea to share any of their entrees because the serving sizes are huge. I ordered their veal parm and it was pretty good. It might be hard to pronounce anything on the menu since it is all in Italian, but the waiters can figure it out. Pretty good service here.
(4)Sabeeta M.
I went here with a friend on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. We had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table. The complimentary bread served was terrible! It was stale and cold. We ordered calamari for appetiser and it was pretty good. I ordered the linguine Al frutti di mare, which is an oven-baked pasta dish with lots of seafood. The portion was generous and the food was good. The food at this place is good but you can't say the same about service. Our server was rude and short with us. He came to pick up the plates and without asking if we were done he would clear out the table. This happened both after the appetisers and the main course. Overall, good food but poor service.
(3)Mary L.
Cozy atmosphere with a gas log fire in the middle. Great seating in the window! Wouldn't recommend crab ravioli-- served cold and not really spectacular. Loved the seafood risotto!! Had bits of asparagus in it. All the specialties were fantastic and served piping hot. You should come! Authentic
(4)Ethan H.
When you visit Boston's north end you are getting a taste of Italy. Antico forno is the closest thing to a real Italian restaurant in America you can get. From the freshly baked bread they give you off the bat to the friendly and perhaps a bit flirty service. Everything about this restaurant is exquisite. I encourage people to get the linguine frutti di mare. It is a parchment paper baked dish with multiple shellfish included. Prices were within range at antico forno. Definitely one of the north end's finest eateries.
(5)Mitch K.
I was so overwhelmed by the number of restaurants in the North End I used the handy Yelp app to search for highly-rated places to eat, and Yelp led me and my dad/brother here. We thoroughly enjoyed our calamari and pizza lunch. The calamari was spot-on; it's been a while since I've had calamari as tender as what I had here, and the pizzas are cooked in a brick oven which imparted a nice flavor to the crust, plus the toppings were really delicious. They don't offer free refills on drinks (I didn't realize this until I noticed I was charged for both glasses of ice tea) which is a downer, but they did provide a carafe of water as soon as we sat down so that was a nice touch.
(4)Mal S.
WOW WOW WOW. Came here with a party of 12 and we all ate ourselves into a coma. The must haves: Polpette, The cheesy egglpant appetizer, Caprese, the quattro formaggio pizza (ask for a side of marinara to dip), and the pasta bolognese. Get it!
(5)Maria E.
really great Italian food. Visited yesterday and ordered lasagna, margherita, Linguine al frutti di mare, parmigiana di pollo. Everything was great, except that there was a bit too much tomato to my liking and the chairs are not particularly comfy.
(5)Steve S.
Really good service, and really good food. We split a pizza (sausage, artichoke, mushroom, and olives), and a bowl of soup. Both where really good, and the amount of food for the price was great (easily enough to split with 2 people). If you want some good Italian food in Boston, try Antico Forno Pizza Restaurant.
(5)Sara G.
I've lived in Boston for five years and this is one of my go-to North End (aka Italian) restaurants. It's a large restaurant for the North End so you can bring a big group (make a reservation especially if weekend!) although very loud so don't expect to hear people at the other end of a big table. Great baked pastas and appetizers (and I've heard they have great pizza but haven't tried it). One of my favorite entrees is baked rigatoni with sausage and ricotta cheese. It's also very reasonably priced for good North End food and I always get another meal out of the leftovers!
(3)Katie M.
Great food, but loud. And we had to wait a while. But we are so glad we did!! We will for sure be back!
(5)Eve C.
The food was delicious. The service was friendly and prompt. The lobster ravioli special was yummy as was the eggplant appetizer. It was our son's 12th birthday and they treated him to a Nutella pizza at the end. High praises for Cara our waitress! The price was good and we would recommend this place to our friends.
(4)Ermelinda C.
Amazing wood oven pizza. Generous vine pours and a friendly staff.
(4)Debbie L.
Hubby and I dined at Antico Forno last Sunday on the final night of our trip. It was definitely loud but we enjoyed the casual and fun environment. I wholeheartedly recommend the involtini to start, the ricotta in the dish is excellent. Pizza was ok, but way better can be found at Ernestos. Rigatoni with sausage was very good. A star was subtracted due to service. Although the food arrived timely, the attitude of the waiter was the only negative service we encountered in our one week visit. He literally would just throw dishes on the table. Other servers appeared to have a more pleasant demeanor.
(3)Jeremiah L.
The food is good, but not great for the North End. The one exception to that is the Tiramisu, which is the best that we have found in Boston.
(3)Jencen R.
Started off with the caprese salad. Then got the traditional pizza with ham instead of pepperoni. I will be dreaming of that crust until I can return!
(5)Josh D.
I went here on a Saturday night to catch up with friends visiting from out of town. The restaurant claimed authentic homestyle Italian dishes and had decent reviews, so we decided to check it out. For starters, we got the caprese, calamari, and antipasti. The caprese was awful - dry, over salted mozzarella on wilted and old salad tomatoes, served without balsamic and additional lousy tomatoes as garnish. The calamari was average at best, drizzled in a soggy mayonnaise based sauce that did nothing for the flavor. The antipasti was average at best as well, and with non authentic items such as Gouda included on the plate, I started to seriously doubt the legitimacy of this so called classic Italian eatery. I ordered the fusilli as an entree which wasn't terrible, however a friend ordered the veal parm and pasta which was essentially mush. Another friend ordered the bolognese, that was so watery it felt like the waiter dropped a bucket of ice on the dish as it came out from the kitchen. The service was horrible - our waitress egregiously added 20% tip to our bill when she was hardly visible the entire meal. No fresh Parmesan offered, no water refills, we had to flag her down to take our order after almost 30 minutes of waiting. Needless to say, I will not be returning to this restaurant anytime soon.
(1)Adam C.
This place was an absolute treat to find while in Boston. I was lucky to have stopped during the August Restaurant week and was offered a great deal of a meal for a very reasonable price. For starters they serve fresh baked bread with my appetizer which was a small salad of mixed greens and a reasonable piece mozzarella cheese and vinaigrette dressing. Very tasty. The main dish was fresh oven baked Chicken Parm and it tasted like nothing I've ever had. The tomatoe sauce was very delicious and the fact that the plate came out piping hot added to the experience of the dish. The dessert was a cannoli which I never had fresh so it was a great treat. The only thing was that I thought connoli's were larger in size. Regardless of the size it was delicious. Although I only at there once I was very happy that I decided to give it a try and if I ever find my self in Boston again I would love to eat here again.
(5)Michael L.
Outstanding service and superb food!! A hidden little gem in the North End of Boston!!
(5)Jen L.
The lobster ravioli and lasagna were awesome! The lobster ravioli was a special for the night. I would suggest getting it. When we got there we walked right in but when we left there was a large line! So get there early! The tables are a little close together. I would definitely go back!
(5)Kristin G.
Headed here after a Red Sox game while hanging out in the north end. Staff was friendly but the food was only ok. We ordered the Vesuvio Pizza the taste was a 7 but the crust was a 2. It was super thin which I don't mind if the crust can hold up but it was complete mush. The toppings weren't heavy at all and the crust should've held up. I expected more from pizza in the north end where "Great Italian Pizza" is advertised everywhere! My husband ordered a White Russian but despite having what looked like a full bar they had only flavored vodkas no regular vodka.
(2)Jasmine T.
My last dinner in Boston, and I wanted to eat well. So thought maybe some carbs might do. I spent a lot on my previous dinner, so I had to pick somewhere that was more affordable, and this is one of the few budget-friendly places to eat in the North End. We waited pretty much 1.5 hour for our table, when we really hope to wait 35 minutes. But there was a party of 30 people, which made it hard to go through the customers faster I guess. I ordered the linguini with seafood (shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, octopus, oysters). It was what I expected, but the shrimps were kind of dry. Also, it was kind of unusual for the linguini to be wrapped around in a paper (probably to keep the warmth). The pizza was a bit disappointing, the center part was swimming in grease a little and it got kind of soggy when I took a few bites out of them.
(4)Joshua C.
As this being our first trip to Boston we were amazed at how many pizza joints were located in the north end . we arrived on a Friday afternoon and came upon this place and it did not disappoint. The staff was really welcoming, service was great never had an empty beer and food within a reasonable time 15-20 Min. Food: My girlfriend got a regular pizza with pepperoni and shes a hard critic when it comes to pizza as it is her favorite food. She thought the pizza was delicious straight from a brick oven. The calamari was amazing as it is dipped in some sort of tartar sauce. During our 3 nights in Boston we came here 2 of the nights and plan on going back sometime next year Affordable dinner
(4)K R.
I would classify this place as mediocre in comparison with some of its neighbors. Showed up on time for our reservation and still had to wait 40 mins. Food was okay. Nothing special. Red sauce didn't have a lot of flavor. The real killer is that the place was LOUD beyond belief. My ears are still ringing. If you have kids or you are in your early 20s this place is ideal. If not, steer clear.
(2)Tammy S.
We ate dinner her on a Saturday night and the food was so good! We were staying in a hotel and flying out the next morning or I would have found a way to keep the leftovers. The kids had a pepperoni pizza and spaghetti with meatballs and the adults had pasta. The food was amazing, the service was stellar and we would definitely come here again! Well done!
(5)David B.
Many of the Italian places in the North End are tourist traps. Others are precious neo-Italian. You want good old-fashioned food, come here. It's not on the main drag (Hanover St.) but it's only a block up from the parkway on the next street over so it's not at all hard to walk to. I had a seafood risotto special which was excellent, especially for the creamy rice. My companion had delicious gnocci in a marinara sauce, not a usual sauce for gnocci. We came early (5ish) on a weekday night (Tuesday) and it wasn't at all crowded.
(5)Peter V.
Ordered the misto salad , which was large and well done Then DJ and I split the margarita pizza. Larger than a personal pizza, but smaller than a take out pizza. Was very good.
(4)Jolene S.
Massive downgrade to my review of this place because of foul mussels. Stick to pizza and calamari and avoid shellfish--or anything where cleanliness of prep is critical. Still believe in their bread and magic with a red sauce but not in the cleanliness/attention-to-detail dishes like mussels require (which is a pity -- because Anchovies, which is arguably a dive, gets the mussels done right every time) Here I was eating dirt and disgusted by the bad job on the shellfish strewn around in the fantastically flavorful red sauce. Won't be going back for a long time now--very sad And yes I have to agree that it gets loud and service is slow and highly variable--slow, but nice server and surly front-of-staff re: seating small groups at a table with many tables open
(2)Giovanni O.
Antico Forno is the bomb. The oven roasted chicken is the best you will find. The flavor from the herb seasoning and olive oil is unreal and it is cooked to perfection. Their tomato sauce is pretty good too and the service is great.
(5)Scott H.
This place really hit the spot on a recent trip back to Boston. My sister suggested Antico Forno, having been here before during a North End pizza tour. It took the server a bit longer to approach us than I would have liked, but once he did the service was good. We started with to Sam Adams Summer Ale drafts and they were delicious. For pies we split two. One was pepperoni and sausage and the other was a margherita. Both were excellent and the topping so fresh. On tiny thing that bugged me about this place is when you first walk in there is a curtain separating the dinning area from the front desk that makes for some awkward moments because when you follow someone in, the curtain swings back and whack you in the face :/ I would definitely go here again.
(4)Kalliope K.
With places like Babbo and Pastoral serving excellent pizza at great prices Antico Forno needs to step up it's game. The pizzas are good and fairly large. Ordered the Fuessili and it was a lot of tomato sauce, didn't see the fennel sausage and even skimped on the pasta. Really?
(3)Jake G.
I'm not a Boston guy by any means, so I had no clue where to get pizza after a Celtics game. I randomly chose this place and was glad I did. No wait, we were seated immediately and greated with some delicious bread and olive oil. Shared an appetizer and pizza with my wife, and had a sam adams draft for $34.77, great price for being in boston. The arancini was great, rice balls with bolognese and marinara sauce. We kept it simple with a pepperoni margherita pizza, it tasted like a good papa ginos pizza: the perfect balance of a soft and crunchy crust and just the right amount of grease, cheese and sauce. Best busboy I ever had a restaurant, always topped off our waters, immediately picked up plates, and was friendly.
(4)Bianca H.
The service was great and the location and atmosphere are as well. but the food here is not the best in the North End neighborhood. Most dishes are based in cream sauces and heavier than an authentic italian pasta or fish dish. Someone in my party had pizza and loved it (the crust did look great). Overall this caters to the tourist looking for an Italian American meal but not the connoisseur looking for an authentic experience with the simple clean taste and quality ingredients of Italy's food.
(3)Bela S.
The high reviews and the crowded restaurant pulled us in. While our experience was far from terrible, there was still a lot left to be desired for a place that many call their favorite North End spot. To start, we were seated in the back near the kitchen at a raised table in front of the computer. Two problems with this. The raised chairs are too high to have your feet touch the ground (I am 6'1"), and oddly shaped so your legs tend to fall asleep. Seriously, unless you are Shaquille O'Neil, request they not give you a raised seat. The good news is that I only saw two tables like this (aside from the bar). Also, my wife was constantly being elbowed in the back by servers entering things and she constantly felt in the way. No, this isn;t the server's fault but rather the restaurants. GET RID OF THAT TABLE! The restaurant seamed understaffed and very busy while we visited. I am not sure if this is normal, or if it was just an off day, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. We sat at the table a good 10-15 minutes before they took our order. The wait to get in was maybe 25, which isn;t bad, but add to that another 10-15 of unexpected wait time and, well, I guess you be the judge. Once our orders were placed, the food came out within another ten minutes or so, so no complaint there. My wife had the vegetable lasagna. The flavors were spot on. Not a thing to complain about here. The issues was THE CENTER WAS COLD. I had a bite myself, and yes, it was cold. Frozen? No, But the center was definitely not warm enough to be served. Again, they were really busy, and seamed understaffed, but is that an excuse? You decide. I had the rolled eggplant and it was lovely. Another delightful thing I noticed is that the sauces were different in each. Still a tomato base, but a distinctly different taste. Would we be back? Maybe, but there are a TON of high-rated restaurants in the area, so we are going to be trying them in the near future.
(3)Courtney Z.
I went to Antico Forno with my parents. We arrived around 4 so the restaurant was empty since it is such an odd hour to eat. We were starving and looking forward to a great North End Italian meal. There were few other places open, but this one looked like it had good reviews. First the good. The server was really prompt and friendly. She wasn't too stiff at all and we were never in need of anything. The food was what really disappointed us. We ordered the Arrancini to start. They were pretty bland and average. We then had a margarita pizza which left much to be desired. The mozzarella is not fresh, and the crust was subpar. Also had chicken parmigiana. The chicken was chewy and the crust was not crunchy. It was drowned in marinara. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't awesome either. Finally my dad had the sausage rigatoni. Again, pretty average. Our bill with three glasses of house chianti came out to roughly $100. So that wasn't too bad. All in all with all the great options in the north end, we will choose something else in the future.
(3)Nicholas D.
Absolutely delicious food. My family is from the Bronx and the food here is not far from original Italian cuisine. I had the fried calamari and the pasta bolognese, which was very very good. I only gave this restaurant 3 stars because the waitress I had was very rude to my me and my friends. We are all college students and apparently she did not like that. Despite the fact that she did not introduce herself or take our drink orders, she ignored our signals for her to come to our table! She actually had another waiter clear our plates. To make matters even worse, once the bill came, she placed the check on the table, and while I was still working on who pays how much and the tip, she has the audacity to come back over to the table and ask if we were done with the check while it was still in my hands! After that I left her an 8% tip just to be nice. I highly recommend this place to eat, just try not to get my miserable blonde waitress...
(3)Alexa B.
I'm from Chicago, so I am no stranger to good food. This place was fantastic!! The food was fast and delicious. The waitress was busy but attentive. The cannoli was the best thing I have had in Boston. This place made the airfare worth it. Ask for marly was our waitress make sure to ask for her!
(5)Ali D.
I used to be a big fan of Antico Forno's and have fond memories of getting the shrimp and arugula pizza with my mom and sister. However, the quality just doesn't seem to be what I remember, and I had an incident with a very abrupt and rude woman on the phone when trying to make a reservation. In the past, I would have said it was worth the frequent long waits, but now I recommend checking out one of the multitude of other restaurants in the North End.
(2)Tom F.
A mixed bag... First the bad... Extremely slow service. Loud. And my Linguine with Clams - baked in parchment paper and foil - was a relatively small portion and the pasta was rendered into soggy noodles. Very disappointing. The Caprese salad contained tomatoes one could get at a hospital cafeteria. For the end of August, you would think they could do better. Prices were on the steep side, too, given the overall experience, portions and quality. Now the good... The Pork shank my father-in-law ordered was stellar - melted in your mouth, with wonderful flavor. I suspect this is the type of dish this place excels at versus pasta. Also, if you have kids, they can scream all they want and no one cares since its so loud already (and there are plenty of families there on weekends.) This place is living off past glory. Final analysis - there are plenty of better, neaby.
(2)Idy T.
With so many different Italian restaurants in the North End, it is hard to decide which one to try! But one day, a couple of friends and I decided to dine at Antico Forno for dinner. The restaurant feels really homey. I especially enjoyed sitting at a table where I can see the brick oven and the kitchen. I really enjoyed seeing the pizzas go in the oven and the food coming out. :) I ordered the linguine con vongole which is linguine pasta with sauteed clams, fresh cherry tomatoes in a garlic white wine sauce. This is one of their oven baked dishes. The pasta was served in a sizzling hot clay dish and it was wrapped with parchment paper and aluminum foil. When I was unraveling the foil, it was like opening a Christmas present with a big surprise. The dish was really delicious. The clams were really fresh. The wine sauce infused with garlic was a perfect touch to the accent the sweetness of the clams. The pasta was aldente, everything was perfect. They get busy during dinner hours and it took a while for the food to be served after I placed my order. But overall, I enjoyed the food, the restaurant, and the service. If you have trouble choosing a restaurant to try in North End, Antico Forno is worth trying!
(4)Molly C.
All I have to say is that this was a strange experience. From the hour long wait to the unhappy staff I can honestly say I regret eating here. Don't go. Take your money elsewhere!
(2)Erin L.
The hostesses do not have time conception down when to tell you how long the wait is, they told us 30 minutes & we ended up waiting over an hour! The food however was amazing, the lasagna was the best I've ever had, true Italian.
(3)Shan B.
Dinner was good, everyone was happy with their meals. The waiter was attentive and friendly. The rolled eggplant is excellent. The bottle of wine was good (organic), Peroni on tap. The bartenders weren't super friendly, very rude. It's a bit off-putting.
(3)Mary T.
I had an awesome time here. I came on a random night and I was craving some pizza. My friend and I were walking around the North End and finally decided to use my handy-dandy yelp app to search for a good pizza place. A lot of search results came up, but only this matched what I was looking for: good food with good ambiance. We went in, and we were seated right away. It wasn't too busy that night. I have to compliment on the server who assisted us. He is the nicest server I have encountered. We ordered our food and we asked him feedback on how to say it correctly in Italian and he taught us how to say our orders in Italian. I got the carciofi e porcini pizza. It comes with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, and truffle oil! They have an brick oven so the pizza taste different than the other pizza places around the North end. I was really happy with my experience and I definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone.
(5)CW W.
For my birthday I told my boyfriend that I wanted to go somewhere that had yummy arancini balls...he found this place. I understand that we're in the North End and space is scarce but the table we were sat at should not have been there. We were literally sat right next to the entrance way and if I hadn't pushed my chair back against the wall and moved our table about 4-5inches in people would have constantly knocked him. We quickly had our water glasses filled and then we waited, and waited and waited. Finally about 7mins later our waiter arrived. The restaurant was pretty full but we were still surprised it took so long. Our waiter approached, asked if we wanted anything else to drink, we said no and then there was this awkward silence for about 10 seconds until our waiter asked if we were ready to order. He never told us about any specials so we just ordered. Our arancini balls arrived promptly and the flavor was really good. Sadly there were only 2 in the order and for $12 it was not worth it. I ordered the rigatoni while my boyfriend got the gnocchi. My dinner had good flavor but again for the portion size not worth it. The gnocchi though was not good at all. My boyfriend loves gnocchi and tries it at ever new place we go and this one will definitely not make his top ten. There was something wrong with the texture as if he had been reheated over and over again. Also the sauce it came in was less than desired. When we were finished we pushed our plates forward, flipped our forks over and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. I actually counted that our waiter walked by 7 times without even glancing in our direction. 10 mins later he asked if we were all set. I had eaten half my rigatoni while my boyfriend ate a third. I asked to have mine wrapped up but my boyfriend said no. Waiter asked again as he was obviously surprised but didn't ask if anything was wrong with it. No dessert for us and due to the, bad seating, bad service and overpriced food despite some food being good we wont be returning. As always never take my word and try for yourself.
(2)John M.
My daughter and I stopped in the North End for an Italian dinner during a college visit trip. After checking out many places we picked this one because it was quite busy so we thought it must be good. It was a little noisy but we were seated right away near the bar at a tall table. Service was impeccable. And, the food was amazing...she had the gnocchi and I had fettuccine with shrimp and scallops. Both were homemade. We would definitely stop here again.
(5)Joe S.
I heard good things so I thought hey I'll give it a try. Very slow service, literally watched the servers run in circles to the same table over and over. Food came out quick, chicken was good, overpriced a bit but it's the north end so it's to be expected. The best part of this place is the decor, feels like your at home.
(3)Heather B.
This is so much more than a pizza restaurant and we had such a great experience from start to finish. The fresh baked bread was so good dipped in olive oil. We all had different pasta dishes with additions of shrimp or a veggie version with eggplant but each was so good! We ended off the meal with cannoli and tiramisu. Great people watching and everyone was so friendly and the service was great. We will definitely return and was a classic Italian meal in the north end
(5)Carol M.
I have come to Antico Forno on three occasions. The first time was for a friend's wedding brunch, I had the Lobster Ravioli special and it was like heaven. I became addicted to the sauce...it was sooooo goooood. Since it was during brunch time, it was not at all packed, nor loud. Waiter was very informative, and good about keeping the water filled up, and making sure we had a nice experince. Second visit, made reservations, and even at that, I had to wait about an hour. Because we were starving, we went to the little cafe next door and had a little something while our table was ready. We ended up getting the first table when you walk in, behind the hostess. She was wicked nice, service did take quite a while to arrive though. We ordered a pizza, pasta, and it was so delicious, that the wait was totally worth while! Again, the sauces they used...AMAZING. Third visit was during restaurant week. Made reservations, it was nice and quiet. Had Arincini for starters( and for the first time in my life).....Red sauce at this point is like crack...Linguine dish with meat sauce which was on the salty side so II could not finish, but friends were very happy and pleased with their dishes. Desert was tiramisu, and it was very delicious. Overall very good. I really enjoy this place, and I do plan on returning in the future. I feel the prices here are more reasonable compared to the places on Hanover St that are not at all as good. There is also a homey feeling to the place that makes it so good to be there.
(4)Caroline J.
My husband and I were visiting Boston, and this place was recommended to try so we decided to go for lunch one day. We ended up going during Restaurant week, and ordered from their special Restaurant week menu. My husband and I both had the Caprese salad which was nicely presented and delicious. I had the pasta with chicken and mushrooms with white cream sauce, and it was very yummy, and my husband had the chicken parmigiana, and he really enjoyed that (I also had a bite, and it was very good--really good tomato sauce.) For dessert, I had the bread pudding with caramel sauce, and the hubs had a cannoli. Both were great! They also served foccacia bread while we waited for our salads. and it was done well. Overall, a great dining and eating experience!
(4)Joe T.
Honestly the best food I have had in the North End. I usually never get chicken parm, but I got theirs and was thoroughly impressed. It certainly tasted as though the pasta was homemade or close to it. The service is ok. It is very, very loud in there though. They also had windows that open up all the way, but did not have them I open.
(4)Kyle L.
Came early to our reservation and sat at the bar. Hostess gave us a remote seat buzzer. We sat at the bar 20 for minutes past our reservation and I had to walk up to the hostess who was still on her iPad to ask about our reservation. We were finally sat and ordered. The food was excellent but the service was lacking. Everyone was on their phones in the kitchen and our server left halfway through the service. The bartender and the hostess was also experiencing some drama and checking their mobile phones. Overall, the service was lacking but the food was great.
(4)Alicia V.
Great service and the food was amazing. Meatball appetizer was wonderful and the sauce is amazing! Pasta was excellent and very fresh. My kids loved the Margherita pizza. Good house wines too :)
(5)Tim D.
Well when I first walked in, I was told I had to put my umbrella in a bin that looked like a garbage can. I asked the hostess, "this bin?" and she said yes. So i did and walked to my table. Next, we have to wait a while for waitress and who was the most rude and pushy waitress I've ever had. We wanted to order a small pizza and a dessert afterwards, yet she insisted we order something else as well. I kindly say, "Sorry we are not too hungry." Her response, "When you are not hungry, you don't come to a restaurant." As you can imagine, this rude woman just wanted a larger tip. Ironically, i still gave her a very good tip because I felt like being nice. The food was average Italian, nothing special, nothing too terrible either. When I am leaving going back to pick up my umbrella, the bin that looked like a garbage can that I was forced to put my umbrella in is filled with garbage. There is alot better service and food elsewhere in the North End, dont waste your time here.
(1)Luiz P.
One of my favorite italian restaurant in boston, fettuccini a la puttanesca the best ever, pizza margarita is my son's favorite,service always good, highly recommended!!!!
(5)Hitomi K.
Ordered pizza margarita. Timing was fine. Size was fine. Sauce was mediocre at best. Light, like water. Crust was good though. Sat at the bar. Bartender could've been quicker at acknowledging us when we sat down. He was chatting with someone for a good 4minutes before he even made eye contact or said hello. ('Twas an empty bar, 2 other customers were already dining)
(3)Cindy M.
I have been here a few times to get pizza before and this last time was just as good as it has been before. I got the MARGHERITA pizza with some ham and green peppers. I ordered and waited for it so I could take it back to my hotel. The restaurant is a really inviting place and the service has always been really good. Just like every other time the pizza was perfectly delicious. I think the brick over always gives it a different flavor to the pizza and its great! I haven't had anything else to eat here but I did see a place of gnocchi that looked amazing so I will need to come back for that.
(5)Joann C.
Long wait for dinner without reservations but that's to be expected for the North End on a weekend night. Risotto was great! Expected more from the giant meatballs. So many choices in the North End - there are some definite wins and losses. This one is just right in the middle
(3)Cassandra H.
My husband and I love this place. The pasta is fresh and delicious. I would recommend having a reservation as the wait gets long especially on the weekend. It is a bit loud inside as well but the food is well worth it. The fusilli is a must try.
(4)App T.
Rude waitress. We ordered 4 dishes at lunch for 4 adults and 2 kids. She told us that that it's a table for 7 and we need to order more. Food was ok nothing that would let us go back
(1)