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Name: Giacomo’s Ristorante
Address: 355 Hanover St, Boston, MA, 02113
Telephone: (617) 523-9026
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.15

Giacomo’s Ristorante

355 Hanover St, Boston, MA, 02113

(617) 523-9026
Store is closed

Giacomo’s Ristorante Menu

Appetizers

Fried Calamari

Broccoli

Mozzarella Marinara

Mussels

Caprese Salad

Garlic Bread

House Salad

Caesar Salad

Antipasto
Marsalas And Parmigianas

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Parmigiana

Veal Marsala

Veal Parmigiana
House Special

Zuppa Di Pesce
Grilled

Swordfish Steak

Salmon Fillet

Tuna Steak
Entrees

Mussels Or Calamari

Mussels And Calamari

Clams

Mussels And Clams

Scallops

Shrimp

Shrimp And Scallops

Frutti Di Mare
Fettuccini

Fettuccini

Fettuccini

Fettuccini

Fettuccini
Ziti

Ziti

Ziti

Ziti
Ravioli

Lobster Ravioli

Butternut Squash Ravioli
Vegetarian

Eggplant Parmigiana

Fusilli Siciliana

Pumpkin Tortellini

Healthy Meal suggestions for Giacomo’s Ristorante

Appetizers

Fried Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Marinara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caprese Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipasto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Marsalas And Parmigianas

Chicken Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Special

Zuppa Di Pesce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Grilled

Swordfish Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Fillet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Mussels Or Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels And Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels And Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp And Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Frutti Di Mare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fettuccini

Fettuccini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ziti

Ziti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ziti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ziti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ravioli

Lobster Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butternut Squash Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetarian

Eggplant Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fusilli Siciliana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pumpkin Tortellini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Boston Common Coffee Co. ( 97 Salem St )

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Write An Anonymous Review

Madeleine Q.

I would highly recommend dining here only when there isn't a long line. Typically, the wait lasts between 45 min on average. One time we were in line for an hour and half to entertain our out of town guests! We always order the linguini with lobster seafood (frutti di mare), calamari, ravioli and chicken masala. This is not a place where you can take your time, enjoy your surrounding, and feel at peace. It is a fast-paced though friendly so be ready to order, eat, pay and take off!
(4)
Tanya Y.

Give me any of Giacomo's sauces and some bread for dipping, and I'd die happily in a carb loaded heaven. Yes, the lines are as long as all the others say; for a 5 person party, we waited nearly an hour. On a different occasion with just two, we were lucky enough to only wait about 20-30 minutes. This location is a hole in the wall. They take no reservations, and you're forced to wait outside until they can accommodate to your party size. Yes, the waitresses have a bit of pizzazz and attitude, though that's what adds flare to the atmosphere. The waitstaff consists of just about 4 people. They know how things work and they don't take any crap. I don't like crap. The menu is chalk written on the walls and is the same as the paper menu that the waitress gives you. The menu isn't huge, but their food quality is so good that they don't need much more. And the food. My goodness, the food. There are about 5 sauces to choose from, but the best is the Fracomo sauce : Combination of their fiery Fra Diablo and the house Giacomo blend. In our group of 5, we had the chance to order an abundance of food: a fatty's dream. Large Fried Calimari, $10. Simple. With a squeeze of lemon. Comes out piping hot. You can't go wrong. Garlic Bread, $4. slightly burnt, but still good. Lobster Ravioli, $16, with diced tomatoes in a garlic cream sauce. Delicious, too. Split amongst 5 people, it served as more of an appetizer rather than an entree. About 10-12 pieces of ravioli were in this plate. Fettucini with prosciutto and peas in a garlic cream sauce, $14. A quarter sized portion of this was all that was doggy bagged home. Good, but outshined by the Zuppa Di Pesce.... Zuppa Di Pesce, $55, "Serves 2 people" consists of shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams, mussels and lobster, served over lingiune with your choice of sauce. This plate is huge. Definitely capable of serving 3-4 people rather than the 2 they suggest. The amount of seafood included was like a fisherman's dream. Tons of clams and mussels, enough shrimp so everyone in our party got at least one, and one giant lobster sat ontop like it was king. Warning: ask for extra napkins because cracking the lobster can be quite messy. Delicious. We even asked for extra bread to soak up that sauce All of this food, with tax and tip included turned out to be just $25 per person (cash only)? Definitely worth the wait, and increases my need to come back for more.
(5)
Salman A.

Although it was a bit expensive, it's worth it. I ordered Penne with chicken broccoli and meatballs. Was delicious.
(5)
Kimmi D.

This place always has a line everytime that we passed by it. On our last night in Boston, we decided to test our luck and boy were we lucky. There was one person in line, and a staff there brought us in right away since it was just the two of us. This place is tiny and they really squeeze you in there. They take cash only. At first I was apprehensive about the place since they packed you in there like sardines, but we ordered a bottle of wine and started to enjoy the evening. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food you get. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was one of the best that I've ever had. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken Parmesan and he really enjoyed it. It was very flavorful and the chicken was crispy. I'm glad this was our last meal on our Boston trip! I will definitely come back the next time I'm in Boston.
(5)
Jiyea C.

Why don't they crank up the AC or at least TURN ON THE FANS here? That would probably be my only complaint. It was a ridiculously hot and humid fourth of July weekend and one person in our party was visiting Boston for the first time, so Giacomo's was pretty high on our list of must-visit places. (TBH, I suggested it because I wanted to try it myself! xP) We waited a little less than an hour for a table of 3 on the Friday after July 4th, which fell on a Thursday this year. (We had been told that we'd have to wait longer but there was a party of 9 in front of us, and the restaurant decided to seat us first.) Anyway, our party of 3 decided to get the mussels with linguine with the giacomo sauce and the house special for two with the Fra-something I think (forgot the name, but it's the one with a mix of giacomo sauce and one with a spicy edge). The special comes with a bottle of any of the $17 wine. We got the Savignon Blanc and it was refreshing but not the best white wine I've ever tried or anything. The mussel dish came out first (we were sharing everything, although we never told our server Donna that) and while it had great flavor, we thought the linguine was undercooked. I'm not talking al dente, I'm talking borderline crunchy/hard to chew. OK you're busy, but you're an Italian restaurant. you CANNOT mess up pasta. Why couldn't you spare another minute or two? The special arrived at our table about 10 minutes later, and WOW it was an impressive looking platter! (Not plate- it's a HUGE PLATTER of pasta.) It was topped with all kind of seafood (clams, mussels, TWO LOBSTERS, squid, etc) But like the first dish, this one tasted rushed also. The wine in the sauce had yet to evaporate, and the pasta here was also a little too al dente, though not as undercooked as the first dish. we all agreed that it tasted better about 15 minutes after it arrived at our table, when the pasta had cooked in the sauce and the alcohol had dissipated. Oh, the complimentary bread and olive oil is completely unremarkable. Kind of disappointing. For our party of 3, the bill came out to about $100 after tax and tip. Very delicious, but the wait and dining environment leaves much for improvement. I understand the reason to rush your patrons when there is a line of potential customers outside, but if we're sitting down and paying for the food we're hopefully enjoying, it wouldn't hurt to let us relax and enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, the food was amazing, but I just don't know if it's worth waiting forever on a scorching summer evening, sitting in a crowded/non-air conditioned dining room, being served hurriedly-prepared (though flavorful) food, and feeling rushed by the wait staff. CASH ONLY. I believe that there are ATMs for most major banks within a couple blocks on Hanover St, and you have plenty of time to withdraw some cash while you wait in line.
(3)
Michael A.

It's cheap pasta served for cheap. Everything is dredged in indistinguishable red sauce. Think Buca di Beppo. They sat us in a cramped dark little corner at the bar. I was flatly embarrassed to have suggested this place to my mother. This isn't exactly a 1 star restaurant, but optimal control theory says I have to do something about this ongoing Yelp disaster. The explosive popularity and five-star rating seems to be self-perpetuating, like a wart. Tourists who don't know anything about good food come here on recommendation from this reviews and, because they don't know anything about good food, they give the place 5 stars, even after suffering the indignity of waiting for an hour for the same product served at the cheap red sauce joint back home. Don't make the same mistake!!
(1)
Kelsey M.

Attended with a small group of friends. The staff were very accommodating at seating 6 of us with our reservation. Service is slow, but the waiter was nice (though not educated on wine parings). The food is good, but nowhere near as good as some people claim it is one here. Portion size is not in sync with the cost.
(4)
Paulina B.

I live in the neighborhood and always see this place packed. People are waiting in crowds out in front, so that's obviously a sign it has to be good. We had friends visiting from out of town so we made a reservation two weeks in advance. It shouldn't have bothered to waste my time because when we arrived at the restaurant, we still had to wait almost two hours for a table. The service was extremely rude, I've never experienced anything like it. They were disrespectful, and treated us very poorly. They were taking additional reservation on the phone, letting others cut in line, complete chaos. We made friends in line after waiting so long, and only got a table after agreeing to split a table for eight with our new friends (also a group of four). The food was decent, but the horrible experience definitely damped any reviews I might have of the meal we ate. We haven't been back since and don't plan on it.
(2)
Mike T.

I never thought a hour wait would be worth but it was. Went here on a Saturday with the girlfriend and waited about an hour. Staff is very friendly and food was really good. The lobster ravioli was delicious. Place didn't get 5 stars due to size. Like every restaurant in the north end its very small. Not very romantic date if your sitting inches from the table next to you. I recommend going early expecting a line. Overall would come back.
(4)
Geno K.

Seriously I've never done a Yelp on Giacomos? Gotta be a glitch. No trip back to Boston is complete until I've stood in line for an hour and had my chair nudged 20-30 times as I devour the best chicken parmesan in the world. No need to go over everything I'm sure all the other reviews have. It's just simply the best Italian anywhere. Anywhere.
(5)
Amanda P.

Wowza. I ordered the goat cheese gnocchi special with spinach and chicken it was amazing and creamy. The gnocchi was perfectly cooked and the order was enough for me to take some home. The calamari was also amazing,crunchy, and perfectly cooked. No rubber band squid here!!! Bottles of wine for $19!?!? Yes please! The reisling was great. Garlic bread was ok, a little too greasy for me but definitely garlicky! Overall great dinner. Very tight space to eat and no intimacy what so ever but that didn't matter to me. I did wish I had somewhere to put my bag though...
(4)
Meshari T.

Every thing is awesome except the service was really bad! I never come again to have food really rush like what they want.
(5)
Kristen D.

I wouldn't normally go out to a restaurant to order pasta...but in the North End, I break that rule, especially at Giacomo's. The North End location is a tiny one, usually with a long line of people waiting on the sidewalk, since there is literally no waiting room inside. The first night I went was with 5 other friends, so the wait was a little bit more for a table to accommodate all of us. Once we were seated we got a bottle of wine - not much to choose from (red or white), so that made it easy. Also, all bottles were just like $20 I think - cheapest bottles I've ever seen in a restaurant, especially in the North End. The meals were also very reasonably priced. I got the ziti in a garlic cream sauce with chicken and shrimp. The portion was pretty good and I couldn't stop eating it. I somehow managed to take a small bit home with me and actually ate it that same night after we got home. Whoops. A friend got a pasta dish with seafood on it and that was also a very generous portion, not skimping on the seafood. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Jean B.

I just walked out without finishing my order after the owner crapped on me for texting. I was eating alone and I wanted some human contact. Is that so wrong? I guess he doesn't need money from losers like me. Apologies to the waitress, who was so nice and asked him to apologize. He refused in front of me. The two stars are for the food, which I was very sad to leave behind me. It really sucked to go from bliss to this feeling so quickly. I hope he doesn't treat every woman who dares to eat alone this way.
(2)
Syyu C.

Amazing authentic Italian food in North End. Me and a group of 7 friends decided to try Giacomo's for dinner on a Saturday night after reading all the great reviews on yelp while we were in Boston for the weekend. The restaurant is fairly small, so when we got to the restaurant around 7pm, we already saw a long line that wrapped around the block. It was 20 degrees and snowing, but we all decided to brave the snow storm and wait outside for about 45 minutes. Suffice to say, it was absolutely worth it. The food is absolutely delicious and the prices are great (including the wine). For the appetizer, we ordered the fried calamari ($8). The calamari was very tender and fresh, with fried peppers mixed in, which gave the dish an extra kick to it! My friend and I shared the Zuppa di Pesce house special for two with Giacomo sauce ($55) and it turned out to be one of the biggest plate of pasta I've ever seen. I was blown away by the size of the dish and how much seafood there was! It was a giant plate of linguine topped with 1/2 lobster, mussels, scallops, shrimp, scallops, and calamari. The Giacomo's sauce was fantastic and all the seafood was just cooked perfectly. I can't even begin to describe how magical the dish was - I am still having dreams about the seafood linguine and will always remember it. I tried the other entrees the rest of our group ordered, including the chicken marsala, lobster ravioli, Fusilli Siciliana. All the dishes were phenomenal with wonderful flavors. All of the servers were very attentive as well. The meal was truly incredible. Everything we ordered was fresh and spot on for a reasonable price. It was one of the best meals we had in Boston and I would definitely go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Brandon D.

Came in with my girlfriend for her birthday dinner after a sunset cruise at a nearby wharf. What was a great night was turned sour. We were the last table of the night, and treated like we were a bother. Pushed out in less than a half hour for an $80 bill. We ordered the dinner special for 2. $60 for precooked pasta, precooked seafood, and a burly waitress named Lynn. The food came to us within 3 minutes of us putting our order in. All of the food was obviously prepared prior to us ordering it. The lobster was COLD. Very cold. But we never saw our waitress. She was sitting in the back of the restaurant discussing sales with a coworker. Obviously more important than us having a decent meal. She came to our table a total of 4 times. We were rushed out the door. The check was $80, and when collecting the money, that was the most Lynn talked, saying how thankful she was. Then when she realized I didn't tip to her liking, she burst out loudly "HA! They only left me so and so on an $80 check" ... first time here, and definitely our last. Will be trying for somewhere more hospitable.
(1)
Whitney M.

Giacomo's was absolutely worth the hour and a half wait in line. I had the pumpkin tortellini which was absolutely fantastic. The service was also amazing. I definitely recommend Giacomo's if you're visiting Boston and want delicious Italian food.
(5)
Kib L.

Judging by the line outside, you are convinced that you are going to eat the best meal of your life. 45 minutes later, a table! This establishment has been around for a long time. It's a very intimate space and extremely loud. The space is tight. Get ready to get close to your neighbors too. Ordered the caprese salad and calamari as appetizers. Both were delicious. Onto the pasta entrees. You chose what sauce you want on it, which I liked. Disappointment... Where was the seafood in the dish? I think there was a total of 7 small clams and a pound of pasta. In the end... It wasn't bad. It's more for tourists.
(3)
Carlos C.

Great place had the House special: Zuppe di pesce with their giacomo sauce it was awesome. But do be advise try to get there as early as possible because there is always a line and its loud and fast pace your also sitting very close to everyone around you but the food its worth it.
(5)
Vee V.

You're going to be in for a wait, plan on 45 minutes to an hour. The place is very small, maybe 10 tables, and it's cash only. Looking at the menu, our table was pretty excited, fresh pasta with lobster, clam, scallops, what more could you ask for! We started with calamari. It was perfectly cooked, fried golden brown, and tender on the inside. We had the Zuppa di Pesce, and homemade Fusilli with Lobster and shrimp. Amazing! The Zuppa served two, but could have easily feed the three of us. Everything came steaming hot, the accompanying linguine was al dente, as was the fusilli, and the sauces complimented the seafood on both dishes. My only minor gripe was our bread was cold, delicious, but if served fresh out of the oven it would have made a perfect meal. I would give this a 5 star review if I was only rating food. The service was not impressive. We were told by a woman at the door to go sit in the back corner, no friendly greeting, or attempt to walk us to our table. We get to our table and another server comes and tells us we need to move to another table. I had to ask for water 3 times. We ordered garlic bread and it never came. At the end of our meal the server came back and said they burnt it twice. We were rushed the entire time. I can understand this since there's a huge line waiting, but it took away from enjoying our meal. The overall experience was not the best.
(3)
John W.

My wife and my favorite North End restaurant. Very well-priced, and the food is great! Linguine+clams+mussels was excellent! Thank you!
(5)
Lori D.

Worth the wait, staff is friendly and the food is unbelievable. Keep in mind tables turn quickly so you feel a bit rushed out of there but still an excellent place. No desert menu but there is plenty of places for coffee and desert right on Hanover. Tony our waiter was amazing. This place is loud and chaotic and one of Boston's best kept secrets.
(5)
Claudia C.

Giacomo's used to be my favorite Italian restaurant in Boston, and I would proudly take all of my friends here assuring them that it was well worth the wait outside. This is not the case anymore for me. Perhaps I came on a bad day, but my server who was an elderly lady was extremely rude and unsanitary. As soon as we sat down, she asked "any apps???". I'm sorry, but we just sat down after waiting outside for an hour and she barely gave us time to breathe. Out of instinct, I quickly ordered the fried calamari without thinking because I've had it before and knew I'd like it (which I would recommend as an appetizer). I told her we needed some time to figure out which entrees we wanted and she just turned around and walked away. After literally two minutes she turns back to us (the place is small enough that she can just turn around to our table from the next) and asks us what we wanted to order. At this point, we made really quick decisions as she seemed to be growing more impatient. We had ordered a linguine with clams and mussels in Giacomos sauce, fettucine with panchetta and peas, and my go-to butternut squash ravioli. As the linguine came out, it only had mussels and one of the cooks / other servers quickly took it back and told us that they would add clams in it since that's what we ordered. As they put it back on the counter, to my HORROR, our primary server took her finger to taste the dish to check if it was ours. That is extremely unsanitary and if I were in a worse mood I would've told her that that was so and that they should cook an entire new dish for us based on that action alone. Then, as all the dishes came out, she transferred the rest of our unfinished calamari to a smaller dish to make room on the table in which she used her HANDS to transfer the fried calamari. Waiters, no matter how clean their hands might actually be should not be using their hands (especially in front of restaurant guests) to handle food, taste food, or transport food. I am actually disgusted with her behavior and left a lower than average tip (10-15% of the bill) in which she shook her head as she saw it... In retrospect, I shouldn't have given any tip at all. Also, as I went to the bathroom I was disappointed to see boxes of Barilla Fettucine downstairs, which means that they don't make the fettucine pasta fresh / in-house. There's nothing authentic about the bad service (good Italian restaurant service is the complete opposite of what you'll experience at Giacomo's) nor the boxed mass-produced pasta. Overall, even if the food was decent, the service left me extremely disappointed. Unless you want to inhale your food and pay all within 30 minutes, I would not recommend you come here. Personally, I don't think I will ever be coming back or recommending this place to any of my friends again.
(2)
Cari R.

We were there at 5:30 on a Thursday. Line was halfway down the block, but our party of two was seated within 5 min. Food was decent, not spectacular. I got the veal special and was underwhelmed. Our wine was reasonably priced, but served TOO warm, like it had been baking in the sun. The first of two disappointments in the North End (see:Mikes Pastry).
(2)
Alexandra O.

Walking through the north end with my family we saw the line. Heard the line was worth the wait. We waited for 45- 60 minutes for the table which we expected and we're fine with. Upon finally getting our table Donna introduces herself and immediately ask for drink orders. We purchased a bottle of Riesling. She left brought the bottle and came back. Donna asked the table for appetizers. We asked for the antipasto which she stood at our table and yelled to cooks for. When she came back around, my table of five ordered. When my father ordered his linguini with red sauce after Donna had walked away. I explained to him that the fusilli is the only homemade pasta which he obviously wanted homemade. So I quickly call Donna back and ask her to change his pasta. Literally yelled at my father "no no no changing". We all looked at her like are you crazy so she went back and changed it. I order eggplant Parmesan which comes with a side of pasta. I asked for Fussili. When the food came she handed me linguini. I immediately told her before she put it on the table that i had asked for Fussili. She yelled at me and said there are no sides of Fussili. Anyways the eggplant Parmesan tasted like refrigerator. The homemade Fussili was delightful. The red sauce was nothing spectacular. All in all I think this was a tourist trap.
(1)
Tiffany B.

I have mixed feelings about Giacomo's. I tell people who visit Boston to eat there because it's famous & hyped, but I'm not sure if it's deserving of it. Don't get me wrong, I gave it 4 stars because I liked what I ate, a lot "& I'm a fan," but it's not 5 stars "as good as it gets" good. Service: We had a really lovely, helpful, & accommodating waitress. I've been told others have had bad experiences with her, but I liked her just fine. She chose a nice wine for us to enjoy with your pastas & it paired well. Prices: Reasonable. Not too shabby! Food: I wanted to order the calamari, but decided against being a complete lard-o, so I stuck with a custom pasta of clams with far diavolo sauce. It was really good, but at the same time, I felt like it needed more salt. I really liked the pasta, but I felt as though it's not that much better than what I can make in my own home. I just didn't understand the hype. It was certainly delicious, but not "wait in the cold for 1-2 hours" worthy. The clams were really large & fresh too. Do Bostonians just hype up restaurants because they don't know better or ... what? I know y'all don't have a Michelin star rated restaurant yet, sooo......what's the deal here? So anyway, to break it down: the pasta was al dente (A+ for that), but it wasn't the best pasta I've ever had in my life. Yes, I've been to Italy & even the most Americanized mediocre pasta in Rome trumps this pasta. The sauce needed an extra kick of salt or fish sauce or something because it was a bit bland. Once I added a bit of extra pepper & salt (it's so rare that I ever add extra salt to my food in restaurants), it really shined. Lots of vegetarian options, so take your vege-friends without fear! Environment: Small restaurant with good amounts of tables, but just not enough because the line is so long. Great place for a date too or to bring your family, but again, have fun waiting for the place in the cold. Get there early! I want to come back, probably to the South End one because it's closer & less crowded, but I don't think this place is mind-blowing & orgasmic the way others have hyped it up. I love me some Italian food, but it's so rare to find a place that even comes close to the real deal in Italy. There was just something missing in my dish, an extra kick of umami or something, but I'll be back. I need to get my feelings for Giacomo sorted.
(4)
David B.

Try it all. Do yourself a favor and splurge, buy as many dishes as your budget will allow. Come here with friends so you can try their dishes. People were walking by talking about this restaurant so being a non-native Bostonian, I thought I was in for a treat. Came here on a busy Sat. night,showed up at 930, got in line, waited for 10 min. Ordered a mix of the lobstah/ seafood and a combo of sauces - almost enough for two people. My buddy got the ravioli - good but not as good as mine. Quick turn around for our main courses which came shortly after the garlic bread (good btw - but the house bread they provide has better value as it's free, rustic and plentiful - why spend more on bread?) Service was solid. Bald dude is on top of his game (forget his name with authentic Boston accent.) Friendly, quick, and efficient - provides great recommendations. I cannot recommend this place enough.
(5)
Mike S.

There is a reason why there is a line out the door. This place is good! Not traditional in my opinion, but really fantastic. And they don't try to empty you wallet just for a dish of pasta. Don't forget they have the place in the South End also ... sometimes with shorter lines!
(5)
Joseph L.

Going to little Italy to eat at Giacomo's is not just a trip... The whole thing is an experience! One that I enjoyed! You have to line up early otherwise you will end up waiting a while. We waited for at least an hour but the company made it all okay. Once we got up to the window where everyone was eating I had even more fun watching the foods come out to the tables! It was now our turn! The lady greeting us was nice only to me. The other two in my party she kind of was snippy with. So I did not enjoy that and that was part of why I couldn't rate this higher than a 3. The food is amazing. Hands down. I loved the special. Lobster, muscles, clams, calamari and scallops. Wow the scallops were so delicious. The service... Not so much. Rush in rush out. Very small restaurant and if you are a bigger person... A bit uncomfortable as well. The restroom scared me. It was worth the wait.
(3)
Clint R.

If you like being seriously rushed through dinner this is the place to go. We had our bread, wine, appetizer and dinner plates all within 5-10 minutes of sitting down. When I go for Italian part of the experience is enjoying each portion, talking and having fun. As I told the neighboring table, I haven't drank alcohol this fast since college! But what can you do when there is a line staring at you through the window and the entire service staff is determined to flip tables at warped speeds? Only a cold hearted guest would ask for more bread, sip wine or even think about dessert. Food was fine, I've had better Italian at many other places. It definitely didn't stand out. Bonus was a bottle of good wine was $18. Not worth waiting for, but if you're hungry and walking by go for it. Just don't make it a destination.
(3)
Lauren S.

HOLY CANNOLI IS THIS PLACE WHERE ITS AT! We got there at 3:55 for the 4:30 opening and we still didn't make the first seating! There is only 28 seats in the whole place so you better get there quick if you want the first seats! But even if you don't get the first seating, the turnover rate is pretty fast so you'll be enjoying delicious Giacomo's before you know it! So after waiting in line and being seated, we enjoyed their DELICIOUS garlic bread.. you have to get this!! It comes out hot and fresh! I got the pasta with prosciutto and peas and YUM! I really wished I could have finished it all but I was so full because the portions are huge! I walked out of there feeling like I'd never eat again (in the best way possible). If you're in the area, you MUST try Giacomos!! I promise it's worth the wait!
(5)
Leah F.

The long line out front reminded me immediately of a diner. And that's EXACTLY what this place is, an Italian diner. Which is great! As long as you know that you are going to get what you pay for, G's is a great place to eat. No frills Italian at an affordable price. Funny to me that so many rave about the food, it's like eating eggs and link sausages at a diner counter and reporting that you enjoyed the best brunch ever. At a price point like this there is no wizard-in-the-kitchen chef growing fresh vegetables and hand selecting seafood whilst rolling their own pasta dough to the tune of Mambo Italiano. Did you notice that the wonderful fresh pasta is hand made not house made? G's makes money by turning tables and making a lot of food. It doesn't mean the food is bad, it's delicious---like how that burger at your favorite greasy spoon is delicious---but by no means the best (or worst) Italian food in Boston.
(4)
Noreen A.

Melt-in-my-mouth good steak. I forget what else I had because the wine was also melting in my mouth. However, I can attest that it was all delicious, and the staff are excellent at wrangling people in and out, but in a good way.
(4)
Christy M.

Worth the wait. I have lived in Boston for 8 years and finally made it there. Got there at 3:30 on a Sunday and there was already a line for the 4pm opening. Their service is flawless and well executed to be extremely efficient and get you out as quickly as possible remaining friendly. Even larger parties were sat, ate and moved out within 45 minutes without feeling rushed somehow. Great bread given to start off and the food was delicious. Has the fettuccine with peas and prosciutto and I would order the same exact meal again. Big enough to make 2 meals out of. Will defiantly return.
(5)
C S.

OVERRATED. Obviously after hearing the rave reviews and countless recommendations, I had high hopes. Was prepared to wait and we did - for an hour. Fine if the food and experience makes up for it, but sadly both fell short. Bottom line: absolutely packed, shoebox sized place with no AC, waitstaff that only seems focused on ushering people in and out as fast as they can, average food and odd community seating. Don't go here expecting to have a pleasant and leisurely meal. I was also thoroughly annoyed that we were randomly sat at a table set for 4 with 2 strangers, who actually sent their meal back because there was a bug in it. Not an ideal scenario. Also, bathrooms and open kitchen area appeared filthy. If the food and atmosphere had made up for any of these things, I may actually think about returning, but unfortunately I just can't figure out what all the rage is about this place. There is simply no wow factor. Frankly, it makes me wonder if it was an off night or if the majority of these reviews and recommendations are from tourists or people that have never eaten anywhere else in the North End.
(3)
Stephanie Y.

ATTENTION: CASH ONLY. Bring CASH. Totally worth the wait. Order the special for two with wine. It's a huge portion and the seafood is fresh. This restaurant has an open-kitchen concept and seating at the bar, service is polite and relatively quick. The restaurant is small so don't be alarmed or too uncomfortable if the hostess seats you elbow-to-elbow with another party... that seems to be the norm here (as my boyfriend and I were seated at a table for 4 with another couple). The seafood was a tad bit over-cooked (scallops and mussels were chewy and on the tougher side but still relatively tender). The lobster was cooked to perfection, and the noodles were al dente. The special is HUGE so after waiting in line for 2 hours, just know that you'll probably be ravenous and you and your friend might just be able to finish the entire dish. We ended up eating the rest of the seafood and left the noodles in that wonderfully tomato-ey Giacomo's sauce. Since we put our names on the list the day of, we ended up waiting in line for 2 hours... A con about this restaurant is that you can't just leave your name and number and come back when a table is ready... so maybe they can fix that system. Overall, I think one time to wait in line for 2 hours is enough but if I'm ever in Boston again, I'll be sure to make a reservation (if they allow it), or arrive at the restaurant much earlier. For a tourist, this was an excellent meal. Highly recommend it for a special night out or celebration. Note: I took the "T" (metro) to this area and walked to Giacomo's even though I had a rental vehicle... the parking in this area just seems insane and Boston drivers enjoy honking too much; therefore, I'd highly recommend other tourists to do the same. Just take public transportation instead of dealing with the hassle of finding parking.
(4)
Julia K.

This place runs like a well oiled machine. The wait staff and kitchen are perfectly in sync, and the food comes out piping hot! When you finally get through the door, there is minimal wait time to receive your food. Tip - unless you come well in advance of opening to wait in line, don't bother coming 15-20 mins in advance b/c you'll end-up in the second wave of seating which equates to a wait of 1.5 hrs. Instead come a couple hours after service starts, I think that minimizes a little bit of the wait time. We had the garlic bread, lobster ravioli - substituted the butter sage sauce with fra diavolo, and frutti di mare (shrimp,scallops,calamari,clams and mussels) w/ giacomo sauce. Both dishes were delicious, but I thought the ravioli was a little skimpy with the lobster filling. In both dishes, I had a couple of bites where there was gritty sand from the shell fish which can be unpleasant. I still think Rino's in East Boston wins out, but this place is worth trying if you have the stamina to wait in line!
(4)
Ryan R.

Went here with my mother to check out some good quality Italian cooking in the North End. As with most to the other Yelpers, we had to wait outside in the cold on a Saturday night before being seated after 30 minutes (which wasn't too bad). Once we were seated, we were off to the races. We started with a small portion of calamari which was very tasty, though I had wished they had offered tartar sauce, along with their sweet tomato sauce. For our entrees we decided to split the lobster ravioli and the salmon and chicken linguine dish at the recommendation of our waiter. Both dishes were really good and had different overall flavor profiles. I was probably more into the lobster ravioli but I couldn't stop eating each dish. Overall, this wasn't the best Italian cooking I've ever experienced, but it is pretty high up there. Also the whole experience of waiting and being in a tight space to eat was just so quintessential Boston, it really adds to the ambiance. Definitely worth checking out for some tasty, reasonably priced Italian food with groups of 4 or less.
(4)
Hana A.

We'd ended one of our tours and decided to eat a late lunch here. Came around 3:45 and there was already a line. We waited for forty five minutes and were one of the first customers to get in! When seated, the waitress was very no nonsense, motherly, and quick. I loved her! We ordered quickly since we knew it'd take a while to get our food since everyone was trying to order at the same time. Got the fried calamari to start- get the small portion if there's only two people as it's plentiful portions. Best calamari I've had- very tender, batter so light and crispy, and came in their specialty fra diavolo sauce. This is absolute must. Butternut squash ravioli was another of their specialties! Creamy and buttery! Linguini with mussels over their fra diavolo sauce was absolutely delicious. Their mussels were so tender and the sauce gave a nice spicy kick. This is the best Italian restaurant I've been so far! Cash only
(5)
Elena T.

Overall, I wasn't impressed and certainly not after waiting in line for 45 minutes. I have no problem waiting when it's worth it but that wasn't the case here in my opinion. The service was fine but as others have mentioned FAST. Don't expect a leisurely dining experience. The food was just OK. The winning dish was our Caprese appetizer which was fresh, flavorful, and worthy of praise for sure. The rest of our meal wasn't quite as memorable. We shared the calamari which was middle-of-the-road, not bad, not great and each of us had a pasta dish. My lobster ravioli barely hinted at a lobster taste and the garlic cream sauce was soupy thin. The prices however are reasonable so that's a plus. I'll put this experience in the folder "why I don't eat at tourist destinations".
(2)
Matt B.

This place is absolutely worth the wait. It's the best Italian food in New England and can hold it's own among any other Italian restaurant, anywhere. I've been to this restaurant about three times over ten years and it always comes through. That being said, there are certain compromises that should be expected from a ten table restaurant with a two hour line out the door. For example the service is hurried. That's expected, do you not see the urchins just outside the window? It's common courtesy to have your full order ready early and don't ask for substitutions. You can't change your order once it goes in. Look around it's barely controlled chaos. Don't expect to linger at the table for three hours, it's not that sort of place. Giacomo's is all about volume, turning the tables. Game plan is bring cash, and get there a half hour before it opens if you want the shortest wait time. Once inside, you should order quickly, eat at your own pace but then ask for the check and move on. Go to Mike's Pastry's just up the street for a desert and let some one else have a seat. As others have noted they are known for their fresh pasta. Go with the specials, you usually can't go wrong. Their garlic bread is outstanding. PRO TIP: if you order the veal or eggplant parm it's literally still cooking when they deliver it to the table. Eating it right away could lead to a tasteless bite at best or a nasty burn at worst. Eat the pasta side first and let the flavors develop. Go there and enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer T.

Couldn't wait to try this restaurant on our trip to Boston. Had seen it on the Food Network and made a plan to go as we missed it our first time. There are a ton of Italian Restaurants in the North End so you have a lot to choose from. Get there early because there will be a line out the door. Its small inside so you do feel a bit cramped. Also, bring cash because they don't take credit cards. We ordered Calamari and it was very good and cooked well. Often places over cook it but not here. We went twice during our trip. The first time I tried the Butternut Squash Ravioli and the second time I had the Pumpkin Tortellini. I wanted something I can't find everywhere. They were both delicious. The Pumpkin Tortellini was definitely the sweeter of the two. Honestly, I can't remember what my husband ate though. Great place and made from scratch. You have to go and give it a try.
(4)
Allen T.

My dinner at Giacomo was one of the best Italian dinners I've ever had. We heard that people wait in line hours to eat there, so we showed up around 9pm and we only had to wait 10 minutes, which wasn't bad at all. We ordered the house special for two, which was a giant platter of linguine topped with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and a small lobster, with the delicious and surprisingly spicy fra diavolo sauce. I can't really explain how magical the platter was, but suffice to say, I will always remember it. I did have enough willpower to not lick all the sauce off the platter, but I really regret not doing it. The service was very entertaining, in a gruff Italian sort of way. Fantastic meal, and I can't wait to eat here again.
(5)
Crackle Resting M.

Had the fusilli with lobster/shrimp in fra d sauce. Very, very good. The fried calamari was awesome too.
(5)
Linda T.

Came here around 5:30 on a Thursday night and got seated right away. Lucky for me because shortly after, there was a line of people outside waiting! A little awkward when they stare into the restaurant and you're right by the window but oh well. Their pastas are so good. I love the different types of sauces, especially their speciality sauce. For what you get, the prices are decent. My waitress (sorry, I forgot your name) was attentive, sweet, and friendly. Beware though, you will be sitting extremely close to others once you finally get seated. Parking can be a hassle in the North end so park at the nearby garage or take public transportation! If I have to wait an hour to get seated, I would not mind because their food is that delicious! Another thing to keep in mind: bring cash. I don't recall if it's cash only but many cafÃ©s/restaurants in the area are cash only.
(5)
Wendy C.

Really bad service and attitude. Waiter RefuseD to answer my question about the menu. Not recommend.
(2)
Kelvin A.

After the first time I ate here, I had to return the next day because my friends insisted we have dinner there. I thought I would be sick of it because it's a lot of pasta and sauces but it turns out that I liked it. It's tasty and the portions are big. Definitely worth the price!
(4)
Lorena O.

Every time I've asked someone where to eat in Boston, I've heard Giacomo's as a heavy favorite. But every time I've been to Boston, I've skipped it because of the perennial line of people that exists outside their door. This time around, however, we were determined to try them out. So, my sister queued up while we huffed it over to Cross St. in time for some cannolis from our favorite spot. 15 minutes later my sister texted to tell us not to rush, the line hadn't moved a bit. And sure enough, ten minutes after that when we made it back to her, she was pretty much in the same spot. Mamma Mia, I was ah-starving! I kept peering inside the window at all the people chomping down on good food thinking, "Whas a' matter wichoo? Cantchoo see I'm stahving here?! Make it snappy!" They could not, nor were they reading my mind. A total of one hour and fifteen minutes in line, backs aching, dogs barking, we were finally being ushered inside. Our table of three was sat at a table for five with a nice couple rounding us out. Prepare to get cozy when you're eating atGiacomo's, the entire restaurant only holds about thirty patrons. The menu was rattled off to us by our server, we ordered and two minutes later our appetizer was being dolled out to us. No time for pictures, no time to settle on how much of that app you actually wanted, the decision was being made for you. Suffice it to say, the experience was a hectic one. All at the table agreed that we felt like we had to shovel food into our mouths hurriedly so as to turn the table for the sorry saps still waiting outside. Luckily, the food was good so I was able to kind of forgive that hectic part. But next time, I'll probably skip the line and hit up another Italin place in the North End. There's so many, with equally high praise on Yelp.
(3)
Sorina P.

On our visit to Boston's North End, we took notice of Giacomo's Ristorante because of the long line outside. Stopped by a few days later to check it out. We were fortunate to get the last table for four upon our arrival at 10 min. to 5pm. A line started forming right after we were seated. This restaurant is quite small inside and accommodates maybe 50 people max. The tables are very close to each other too. We had to move our table in order for two of us to get to the other side by the windows to sit down. You are nearly elbow to elbow with your fellow patrons. Anyway, we ordered the fried calamari and went for the large portion (just $3 more than the small). It was as other Yelpers described. Moist and tasty. The pieces of fried chili added a nice kick to the dish. We devoured this in minutes. We also ordered the Lobster/muscles/clams with Linguini. One order with Giacomo sauce and one with the Pesto. In retrospect, we should have made one order with shrimp and scallops as I think we would have gotten a better variety of seafood. Nevertheless, both were delicious, but the Giacomo sauce was the better of the two. Lobster was good. You can ask for more complimentary bread to sop up the pasta sauce. The 4th dish we ordered was the Chicken and broccoli Penne with creamy garlic sauce. Highly recommended for those who cannot eat seafood (like my daughter). She LOVED it! I think we had psyched ourselves out to enjoy and nice Italian meal our last night in Boston. Therefore, Giacomo's satisfied us. Our waitress was nice but a bit forgetful. She forgot to bring my glass of wine and was doing more PR than waitressing. Maybe she wears two hats? Overall, service was good. Our water glasses were always being refilled and of course they were prompt with the check. Understandably.
(4)
Brooke S.

I came into this place with really high expectations. The dishes seemed fresh, homemade, and vibrant and I was anxious to give it a try. Luckily, my family got here just in time 15 minutes before the dinner opening. The second we got in line, 10-15 people lined up behind us. This place is packed and small, not the best in terms of ambiance, but the most important thing is the food, right! My dad loved his mussel pasta. Me, on the other hand....I opted for the butternut squash ravioli. It was a let down. The pasta itself was great but I thought the filling was painfully sweet. Maybe it was an off day? I'm not sure, but there's no way they don't add sugar to those things. It felt like I was eating dessert for dinner. I have a feeling they really know what to do with seafood, though, so i'd recommend all the non-vegetarians to give their heartier pasta dishes a try. Maybe I'm just sensitive to sweetness but I didn't enjoy my meal as much as I though I would.
(2)
Jan G.

This was a belated anniversary dinner. The perfect place! Service was exceptional! The server recommended 2 fabulous dishes. Pasta with cream sauce shrimp and chicken. My husband had homemade fussili, lobster and pasta with extra spicy red sauce. Both dishes were so flavorful. Wine choices were red or white. We waited in line for about 20 minutes which was pretty quick. A must try!
(5)
Alice L.

Amazing. The line this place will be long, even if you go early, but the service here is pretty quick. Pricing is extremely fair considering you would probably be paying about the same or more at Olive Garden. We got the small calamari (which in my opinion was a very good portion). One of the best calamaris I've had! We also got linguine with scallops with giacomo sauce, lobster ravioli, and pumpkin tortellini. Everything was completely mouthgasmic. If I lived in Boston, I would seriously come here all the time. Tip: try not to come in a large party. The smaller, the better since the place is literally the size of my living room.
(5)
Jeetu P.

Went for my anniversary dinner, started with red wine. Ordered a small fried calamari. It was excellent, it disappeared in few minutes, then ordered the house special Zuppa di pesce which comes with Lobster, shrimp, calamari, mussels, scallops and clams, it was a seafood delight, the food was really good. We went with the most popular sauce, can't recollect the name but it was really tasty. Very good experience, the waitress was extremely friendly too. Has a very Italian feel to it.
(4)
Ganesh I.

We waited out in the cold for ~50 minutes, and boy was it worth it. This was (arguably) the best Italian food i have ever had. Given it was Saturday evening, the dining room was quite chirpy and busy. We were seated at the bar and kick-started the evening with some Fried calamari. It was fresh, crispy, and generous in quantity. For entree, i ordered the 'Frutti di mare', and absolutely loved the flavors in the dish. Overall, i will rate it a 4/5 - 1 point deduction for not having a better way to reserve/assign tables. That said, I highly recommend this place and will absolutely visit it again during my next trip to Boston.
(4)
Meli L.

Living in the North End, my boyfriend and I tended to leave the neighborhood on weekends, especially in the summer months when the streets are infested with tourists. That being said, we only would eat at a handful of places in the North End, one being Giacomo's. Don't let the long lines and cash only steer you away, it is definitely worth the wait and the prices can't be beat especially for the portion sizes. We order the burrata app every time we go -- a creamy ball of cheese dressed with balsamic, olive oil and salt. The wait staff is a bit rough around the edges, but it's all part of the charm.
(4)
Sarah K.

Went here the other night and the food was great! We waited out side in line for 2 hours - so it's possible that the food was so good because I would have eaten just about anything after that. Waiting in line is very typical as the restaurant itself is very small and only seats ~30 people. We also only spent about 30 minutes in the restaurant itself as you could tell they were trying to turn the table over really fast. I think next time we might try something else that allows us to sit and talk for longer.
(3)
Mike P.

Really good Italian seafood. I got the swordfish steak which was one of the best I have ever had. We also go the calamari as appetizer which tasted fresh. Just a short walk to Mike's Pastries which is also a plus (practically across the street.) The only downside is the small dining room. It only seats about 30 so there is quite a wait. Parties larger than 2 is quite a wait. They keep the restaurant moving so this isn't a place for long relaxing dinners. Good food. Reasonable portions. Decent prices. Fresh seafood dinner for 2 for $60 after tip, it's a winner. Also Donna was a terrific waitress.
(4)
Angela T.

Absolutely loved everything about Giacomo's. My husband and I were only in Boston for a limited time, but my boss (a former Bostonian) said that if there's one place he'd recommend--it would be Giacomo's. With a recommendation like that--how do you not go? Well, there were a few things working against us. For one, it was cold. Really cold. 15 degrees cold. And for a Socal born and raised girl--it was almost unbearable. It was also a 45 minute wait...and you have to wait outside. Yay. But we're foodies and I was determined. There you have it. We made it thru the doors and we were greeted by the wonderful but hasty waitress (I think she may be the owner--or she at least gave me that vibe). She gave us great recommendations and she was off. Vibe? Like eating at a your Italian friend's grandmother's house. So we ordered a bottle of wine, the steamed mussels in their scampi sauce (which she insisted was the best), the butternut squash ravioli, and the seafood fettuccine in the famous spicy giacomo sauce. Everything came out really quick...and man, you just can't beat what you get here for the price. The mussels were delicious! So very good and so fresh. So good we were tempted to order another bowl The butternut squash ravioli must be one of my favorite things! Heaven. Slightly sweet and very rich--I can't stress how good this is. The seafood pasta--LOADED with seafood! LOADED. We didn't even put a dent in this dish. How wonderfully priced! The red sauce was delicious and had a great kick to it. Overall, you can see I'm overjoyed with this find. Food was delicious. Everything is very well priced...and just a fun, lively environment. I'm so happy to have found this place...and would love to dine here again the next time I have the pleasure of being in Boston.
(5)
Celin W.

I suggest getting here right before it opens so that the line isn't too long (yet, there will be a line). Calamari was great - though I think daily catch is slightly better (very slight, it's still excellent calamari) Butternut squash ravioli was so good - I don't even normally like squash but the texture was excellent, portion just right, sauce was creamy and squash was sweet but not too sweet. Also has the fussili with mixed seafood and their spicy lobster sauce (fra diavolo).It's one of their specials and it was really unique - fussili more uniquely shaped so it looks like they made their own pasta, seafood portions were generous and fresh, and the sauce tasty, not too spicy. The dish was huge so we had left overs to go. Service was very efficient - they definitely aim to turn tables around fast so don't expect a leisurely meal. Still, excellent meal and food.
(5)
Tammy K.

So be prepared to wait. Its ok, be patient. You will be rewarded with happy waiters that make you laugh and give you great service. They will bring you some food that will make you need to walk around Boston some more (in a good way). Sigh it was so good. Ask their opinions, they have good ones!
(5)
Nancy K.

Waited 40 minutes before the restaurant opened. It was well worth the wait. :) Was quickly seated along with the menus brought right away. Ordered the Zuppa de Pisce with the giacomo sauce along with Chianti wine. Was amazing! The Zuppa de Pisce was enough for 3 people. They do not hold back on the seafood. Overall dish had so much fresh seafood that was perfectly cooked along with delicious noodles. Definitely recommend this place! Try to get there before the restaurant opens so that the line doesn't get too long.
(5)
P B.

Wow, is this place good, or is this place good! Their seafood is amazing. One of our fav italian places.
(5)
Eli B.

Giacomo's is one of my favorite spots in the North End. The line can get long if you come at standard dinner hours (6:30 - 8:30PM) but if you can get there early you won't have to wait much! Whenever I go I always get there around opening to avoid any lines. One of the dishes we enjoyed greatly was the mussels in the Giacomo sauce. The sauce is absolutely incredible! So good that I asked them to keep the plate around so that we could dip bread in it throughout our meal. The lobster ravioli and butternut squash ravioli are excellent dishes as well. Portions are great and don't leave you feeling overly stuffed / food coma once you're done. Highly recommended!
(5)
Philippe C.

This place has outstanding food for a reasonable price (although it has gone up in past few years) for being in the North End district. Pros: excellent lobster ravioli and all other lobster dishes. Fast service, reasonable wine prices, service is direct to the point. Lovely lady waitress but careful when they are stressed :) Cons: longggg lines...good luck if its cold or rainy. At least 40 min wait, no reservations. If party is 4+, even longer go elsewhere. Also, service is rushed sometimes. Only 10 tables they want to get u in and out. This place is for good food only and nice experience, dont go there if you want to hang out for 2hrs. Prices are increasing every year, hope they pay attention to it and keep it reasonable Philippe
(4)
Lils Y.

Weekend day, around 5:30, only had to wait about 15-20 minutes before my BF and I were seated. Inside, it does feel a little cramped, but definitely still spacious enough to enjoy your meal (ie. enough arm room). -The calamari was the BEST I ever had. SO soft/tender/juicy and it just melts in your mouth. -I had the shrimp with scallops linguine with giacomo sauce (a lil' sweet, lobster taste). It was very good, definitely up there in terms of "best pastas." I have had just as good/if not better at Bianca's in NYC though. -Also tried the frutti di mare in giacomo sauce. Practically the same thing as above, with more seafood. The mussels were tiny, but dalish.
(4)
Cherry C.

The place is great for Linguine! They have various seafoods and all finds of sauces of my choice. Usually the Italian restaurants do their linguine in red sauce, which I didn't like. But that restaurant had the best Scampi sauce. Just the white wine was perfect for me. We went there on a windy Saturday night, and we waited for 1 hour and a half. It was not really worth waiting, but the food is fairly good.
(4)
Angelina S.

There is always a huge line in front of the restaurant in North End. Yesterday on a Tuesday I had a chance to finally make it soon after they opened. I requested the fusilli of lobster and shrimps for $26. I have to say that I was disappointed. The seafood was overcooked and hard to chew. The sauce was ok. I did not care for my dish. My friend had the salmon fettuccine which was better I will mostly likely not return as there are other places in Boston with better food and atmosphere
(3)
Stefanie F.

I waited in line when my in laws came to visit and it was an experience but I wouldn't do it again. The waiters were nice, the food was ok and it really was a tight squeeze. I also didn't like the rushed feeling. I heard they were known for seafood but since I don't eat seafood I couldn't tell you how it is. For the price I'd rather eat at my own leisure and enjoy myself and not feel rushed.
(3)
Jake H.

I actually had one of the best Italian restaurant experiences I have ever had here. I actually am not in love with Italian food but my wife is, so I took her here. We waited in line to get in and it was a unique experience, we actually waited 45 minutes which we expected and didn't mind. But when we sat I loved the environment I loved the service and the prices were soo reasonable split a bottle of wine and ate some great food and it was far from expensive. Absolutely love this place.
(5)
Kate S.

Waited 50 minutes very patiently. Everyone who came out from this place told me it was worth waiting. Was it? YES. I had Frutti Di Mare w diavolo sauce. It was amazing! Right spiciness of the sauce n generous amount of seafood. I may come next time right after opening time so that I can avoid waiting but it was definitely worth waiting if u have to:)
(5)
Alex Homan K.

Absolutely fantastic food! Great service and world class Italien food. Try frutti di mare pasta
(5)
Hanzhou P.

My second time to have dinner in this amazing restaurant! Even though we got there at 4:30pm, we've still waited for about 1 hour to get a table. The environment was good, it was cozy and exotic. However, the waitresses were very rude and impatient. I guess that was because they were too busy and overwhelmed :/ The waitress added a 15% tip by herself when she brought the check, so we didn't really have a choice to give her a small tip. Despite all these service problems, the food was just super amazing! Better than any other Italian restaurants that I've tried. Will go back again!
(4)
Amy N.

Yep, waited an hour in line like everyone said. It didn't matter to me because I saw all of the reviews and still wanted to try it. I should have left. As soon as we got in, a very authentic Italian man gruffly told us about the menu. As we got our appetizers, I wanted butter for my bread and real dressing for my salad (it was barely covered in balsamic vinaigrette only). I asked the waiter twice for the butter and both times he ignored me. I never got my dressing. Then I asked if I could order baked ziti, and he rudely told me that they "don't do baked ziti." I'm not impressed with this place. It smells wonderful and looked very promising, but I'm not interested in being abused when I am paying for my meal. Screw that.
(2)
Ty W.

Great food! Had the broccoli appetizer and loved it! Caesar salad was very tasty with just the right amount of dressing! We got the at around 6:15 or so and only had to wait for about 15 minutes. Warning they only take cash but that ok because they are reasonably priced!
(5)
Rosalie J.

Delicious! You are not here for the service or experience. You are only here for one reason. Delicious food. The food is amazingly fresh and seasoned lightly - just enough to enhance the natural flavor of the seafood but not enough to overpower it. I was here with 3 other friends and we ordered one appetizer with 3 dishes. The calamari, lobster ravioli and scallops (with the spicy sauce) was out of the world! We didn't even talk throughout the meal. Just sat and moaned the entire meal. It was literally foodgasm with every bite. Hands down. The best Italian food in the area, especially for the price! As others have mentioned, the line is long. I would suggest getting here at 4 and have an early dinner or wait for an hour (plus!) during normal dinner hour. The restaurant is cramped, service isn't the best, and cash only! But if you lower your expectation for the services and experience, this will not disappoint you!
(5)
Sunny C.

I don't understand how people rave about this place. Quantity does not equate quality. Food is bland, but the portions are huge and the price is cheap. Not worth the wait. Nico, Lucca, Bricco, Taranta are all better options. Don't waste your money here. Invest in good food, good service, and good decor. Servers here are rude, not worth the wait.
(1)
Zach B.

Best Lobster/Shrimp pasta I've ever had. Worth the wait for sure!! I went about 5 or 6 years ago when I was in Boston and remembered how good it was. It lived up to expectations!! Great time and great food!
(5)
Ryan M.

Rushed service, long lines, not that great of food. We expected this restaurant to be amazing based on the long line that forms outside of it almost every weekend. When we finally got inside and were seated we found the restaurant to be cramped and the service poor. We felt as though they were just trying to rush us out as quickly as possible and were far from personable. I recommend you go to another restaurant since there are so many better then this in the North End.
(1)
Jose S.

4 years living in Boston and since year 1 I was mentioned to eat this restaurant... I never went. Then 7 years after that first year, I finally went. Why didn't I listen!?!?!! To give you my best review of this place, Just read any other 5 reviews from other yelpers. I'll basically say almost the same things. The Chicken Alfredo Pasta topped with Broccoli is the number 1 Chicken Alfredo Pasta topped with Broccoli plate I've ever had. Since I'm not a huge seafood eater and this place is known more for it's fresh seafood, I also loved their gnocchi my friend ordered. Also, a bottle of white Pinot Noir for $9 was the cherry on top of the Burj Khalifa (Tallest building in the world). Definitely coming back here when I visit Boston again. Tip: Arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour before your hunger kicks in. You'll most likely are going to wait outside for a table. This place takes no reservation and it get's packed fast.
(5)
Rob A.

First we got the last open table 14 min after they opened. This place has 13 tables and seats about 25 people total. Only open for dinner, but it's worth the wait. We had our three year old with us and asked for a meatball. They don't do meatballs. When Tony found out it was for the little one he went across the street to another restaurant and got her one. Calamari was excellent as was the ravioli. Sorry no pics, but will be back this summer and get some.
(5)
Fang's T.

Magnifico!! The food was amazing!!! I am a vegetarian and I can say this is top 2 places in the NORTH END. And the atmosphere, makes me feel like I am in Italy at someone house. Keep going guys. The comfort that you bring is just amazing. The Eggplant Parm, Garlic Bread and there pasta dishes is delizios.
(5)
Tian Q.

While the fried calamari were some of the most flavorful I've had, the much-raved-about lobster ravioli and the butternut squash ravioli were both very predictable and overall lackluster in taste. I'm puzzled by Giacomo's popularity and crazy high user-ratings. There must be tons of other noisy/claustrophobic mediocre italian dining spaces that you wouldn't have to freeze your ass off waiting in line for.
(3)
Brianna R.

This place is pretty amazing, I don't know that I would stand outside for an hour waiting for a table however since your in the north end any food is going to be amazing. I was lucky enough to have no line. The food is very affordable and so is their wine,They have good service as well! I had the butternut squash raviolis and it was delicious!
(4)
S K.

Delish! My husband and I came here as a recommendation from my little sister who once lived in Boston while studying at BU. Loved it! We waited online on a Friday night for about 20 mins. I had the lobster fusilli and he had the shrimp and scallop scampi. That and a bottle of wine left us pretty happy! Sauces were out of this world and wine bottles not too bad, they'll even cork it back up for you to take home if you don't finish. Oh and they took our visa! So I guess it's not cash only anymore.
(5)
Danielle E.

Delicious! I prefer the South End location so I can have a seated meal both great!
(5)
Tony D.

All I have to say is Rose Marie, Rose Marie, Rose Marie. Our table was lucky to have Rose Marie as our server. She was sweet, informative, motherly, has one heck of an arm, and always has a smile on her face. Aside from that, the food was delicious. All pasta dishes cooked al dente. The wait was long but it's worth it. The atmosphere was nice, a lil cramped, and it was cash only.
(4)
Justin H.

This place ruined Italian food for me. I'm not sure how I could ever eat Italian again after this. Seriously, the best I've ever tasted... Creative, fresh, delicious.
(5)
Brett M.

This place makes it onto my "top 5 Italian restaurant experiences of all time." The service was outstanding and homely. The servers have been here for years (was going to say decades, but didn't want to offend anyone) and function like a machine. This place functions like a 'turn and burn,' but it is not in the slightest bit. Our server Donna, checked up on us throughout our meal and did so with a genuine intent, not just because she should to get a better tip (and/or what I used to do when I was a server). She also never once made us feel rushed even though the line was 20 deep outside. Thank you for an amazing meal.
(5)
Nick D.

I have been here many times with my girlfriend and it never disappoints. It is certainly worth the wait, and the best chicken parm i've ever had. Every dish we've ever gotten has been beyond expectations.
(5)
Clementine C.

Coming from NYC, I am not insanely impressed with Giacomo's, but I WOULD recommend it - here's why: WAIT - typical hotspot wait between 1 hour and 3 depending on when you get yourself in line. I have to say that this is not an issue for a popular place in a big city. SERVICE - The host is TOP NOTCH. He is very good at getting people in as quickly as possible, and he even took our order and explained the dishes very thoroughly and efficiently. Despite the crowd outside, they in no way rush customers, which is very professional. FOOD - OK. Here is why I say only a 3-star rating. We had the special buffalo mozzarella caprese. It was extremely fresh and flavorful with roasted red peppers, large beefy tomatoes, and a gigantic ball of mozzarella and cream. This might have been the best caprese I've ever had. Bread - not feelin' the olive loaf... it was bland. The PASTA was most disappointing :( I ordered the linguine with pesto and calamari. The pesto had NO SALT or flavor! The Parmesan they must have used was clearly low in salt. The basil was fresh, but there was far too much oil. Way too much. It was not balanced with the other ingredients and made the plate hard to eat. The calamari was chewy, and I was counting on Boston's seafood! I ordered the Cabernet, and it was bitter and thick to drink :( I was very disappointed. To note, my friends were all entranced by their dishes... but they are not Italian, not raised on authentic Italian cooking, don't hail from NYC's italian neighborhood, and can't cook................... DISCLAIMER: I am extremely picky about my Italian... I think most people love this spot! TIP: On a weekend, get in line at 4pm or earlier to dine at 5 when they open! Cash only!
(3)
Diana E.

I read the reviews and decided to try Giacomo's. I was not disappointed. I had the butternut squash ravioli. So delicious!!! My husband had the chicken and shrimp pesto cream penne. Also delicious. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes. Definitely a must to try.
(5)
Mandi R.

I am sad I don't live in Boston so I can't come back to this place regularly! I came for dinner here after reading the yelp reviews, and I was not disappointed. It was a little chilly waiting outside, but it only took about 15 minutes for me to get a table. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli, and I wished it didn't have to end. Sometimes butternut squash ravioli can be a little too sweet or too creamy, but this one was perfection. Christian was my server, and he was friendly and fun. It's not very spacious, but definitely cozy. If I'm back in Boston, I'll be back at Giacomo's!
(5)
Nicky E.

Pasta in Boston = Giacomo's. So when my bestie requested pasta, I couldn't take her anywhere else. We waited in an intense line (ProTip #1: parties of 2 are the best. Any more than that and you'll wait till your stomach eats itself), and were seated by the "bar." Which was nice, it felt like we were at a chef's table. Our waiter pointed out his favorites - which we immediately decided on: Chicken and Shrimp Pesto Ziti and Salmon Lobster Sauce Linguine, and we ordered some calamari and a bottle of wine (such a reasonable price!). The calamari was fresh and the marinara had just the right amount of zing to it. The pasta, omigawd the pasta, it was filling and warm (the heat kept rising off of it - even after 10 minutes - they bring it out so fast!) and as satiating as your favorite dish by the Italian grandmother that you wish you had. The sauce on my linguine was creamy and tasty and it warmed me from head to toe. The salmon was perfected with sauce and fell apart in my mouth. Unlike many Italian restaurants, the pasta at Giacomo's doesn't feel heavy upon consumption. It leaves you feeling happily, yet not uncomfortably full. The staff was great. They're like the Italian family that you wish you married into, and your new in-laws are always trying to feed you traditional, amazing Italian dishes while bustling about endlessly (yo, any of you bus boys single? Kidding, obviously). Taking one star off because our waitress gave us death glares as we finished up our wine, and proceeded to ask us to hurry up so that she could seat the poor souls waiting in line. I can't be upset - they run a tight ship and they have to feed the people! ProTip #2: They only accept one credit card when paying the bill.
(4)
Food L.

Three things to know about the place before you go there: 1. Cash ONLY 2. Long wait (depending on when you go) 3. Amazing food So we arrived at the Restaurant around 8. There was a long line for the place but we didn't mind waiting since there were soo many good reviews about the place. We got seated around 9. The place is very small. The menu was displayed on the wall. For appetizer we got fried calamari and mussels over scampi sauce. Both were delicious. Then we moved on the entrees were I got ziti with chicken & shrimp with pesto cream sauce and it was on point. My family got shrimp scampi, grilled salmon and fettuccini with chicken peppers and onion. All the dishes were amazing except for the fettuccini with chicken peppers and onions. I would definitely recommend this place. If you are new to the area definitely checkout Mikes pasty that's nearby for dessert.
(4)
Paul Y.

As many complain about, this is not the location for a leisurely meal, where you sit languidly peoplewatching the masses of tourists runnning towards mike's pastry or looking desperately for Paul Revere's house. The line is long and understandably, dinner is hurried. That's why apprenticing the dining experience has to start when you begin lining up, and not when the food starts hitting the table. The line will be long. How long? Probably an hour; any longer than that and people stop lining up. Any shorter than that and people will come flocking. If you don't have patience, come in a group of 2 (which means you can skip parts of the line sometimes- if a table of 4 opens, and a group of 2 is first, they will take 2 groups of 2 giving groups of 2 a slight advantage). Enjoy the nice weather, chat casually with your friends, appreciate the sights and sounds, and what not. It is not that the line is not long- its just you have to be prepared and think of it as a feature, not a bug. What about the food? For starters, the free bread was excellent- really, there is nothing I appreciate more than delicious free bread. I had the butternut squash ravioli, and my friend had a chicken marsala. I only had a bite of the marsala (which heretofore had been consistently confused with chicken masala), but the flavors were good, and I had no real comparison to other chicken marsala (uni dining hall being the other source). The ravioli had a nice rich sauce and I mean there's not much that can go wrong with ravioli. In the end, both were great, and reasonably priced I felt- it wasn't cheap but it wasn't too expensive either. The portioning was also quite good; there wasn't an abundance of leftover starches, but there wasn't too little to leave me hungry either.
(5)
Mariani D.

Wow, we didn't have to wait! Last night as we came around the corner at exactly 5:45 on a Monday, we noticed there were only 2 people waiting in front of Giacomo's. We figured no time like the present! I think we waited for 1 minute before our waiter, Christian, sat us. There are only 2 chairs on the chef counter and we were okay with that. They're tucked against the wall and the only seats with a little privacy, as well as a nice cool breeze from the open kitchen's a/c. Why we love this place? It's completely no nonsense. Cash only (if you don't have enough cash, there's an ATM across the street), they don't take reservations, they don't offer desserts or coffee (too many cafes and sweets in the North End already), you pretty much don't have a choice of where they seat you (you don't like the table, try the restaurant next door then), and the average bottle of red wine is $19!! I mean seriously, where else can you get a bottle of Montepulciano or Malbec for $19 in a restaurant? I think the most expensive was a Barolo for $40. And that in itself is quite a steal because we've never seen a Barolo for less than $50 in a liquor store. My husband wanted the Barolo, but I told him I've never met a Montepulciano I didn't like. So we went with my Monte and we were not disappointed. Food, where should I begin? We started with the app special which was tomatoes and Buffalo Mozzarella. Interestingly enough, they've diced up the tomatoes for you. I think I would've like to have sliced my own tomatoes, but whateva. The mozzarella was simply melt in your mouth. Both of us then ordered the entree special, which was 1/2 lobster, mussels, and clams over linguine with your choice of sauce. My husband had his with spicy fra diavolo sauce and mine came with pesto and pine nuts. What was so special about this dish? It was $22!!!! That included a half lobster on each plate. And I don't mean a little itsy bitsy lobster, I mean a really nice size lobster with a huge claw! Amazing! Plentiful and delicious. We left around 7ish and the line was already around the corner. So come early and bring your cash! Oh, and the service was excellent. Thanks Christian!
(5)
Mary H.

2 hrs wait but worth every min I waited in line! ~ that was also the verdict of every single person who came out of the restaurant. Unpretentious with excellent food & service. The wait was long but once you've ordered, the food came quickly. The food was simply excellent! The best fried calamari I've ever eaten! ....portions are actually very big and did I mention $20 a bottle of wine?!?...where do you find that nowadays? The restaurant was packed but the waitress came to refill our wine constantly. Ordered: Large plate of fried calamari: $11 Daily pasta special with half lobster, claims & mussels: $22 butternut squash ravioli: $18 Bottle of white wine: $20 Verdict: Seems like the pricing hasn't changed since they opened as it was so affordable for the quality of food. I would have easily be willing to pay twice the price for the amazing food we had. Locals or tourists you need to go here. A lot better than any super rated fancy restaurant in town. Cash only!
(5)
Melissa T.

Outstanding food. No wonder there is always a line out the door. This was the first place I ever tried Butternut Squash Ravioli and now I'm addict, the only problem is no place compares to here. My only wish would be for a larger restaurant.
(5)
Don F.

We loved this place. Our dinner experience was fantastic. We arrived about when they opened, our hotel got us the reservation. We let the waiter guide our selections and he got us the fish with pasta and pasta was out of this world. We loved the wine he paired it with and the food. I got a more traditional pasta dish with twist. The butternut squash ravioli. We were too full for desert, so he suggested we get some at the shop down the road and take it home. Great food and experience.
(5)
Dan A.

Classic Italian right here. I feel like im back on Authur Avenue in the Bronx. I swear as soon as I walked in they yelled at me ehhh pizonnn. Like everyone else says its true get here before 5 if you don't want to wait. The turnover is quick but that also means you almost feel rushed when eating. They are trying to push as much product as possible. And to be honest, push away. All the seafood pasta dishes and seafood dishes in general are the go to's here. If you're going to order meat, think about that decision for a second and just change your mind because seafood was always the correct answer. Anyways, you can tell nothing is frozen here and that's rare these days. As for their sauces, I had the fra diavolo. Let's just say I wanted to take some home to bathe in but the chef wasn't having it, so I had to let that battle go and admit to myself I would be using the good old Irish spring bar that night. Besides that, the wine is priced pointed well and the staff unpretentious. And yes, they only take cash. But to be honest that only adds to the vibe of this place, and reiterates its simplicity.
(4)
Alex M.

This place is not worth it. I've lived in the North end and constantly see people that are not from Boston wait on that awful line. There are a ton of places better than here so stop wasting your time. Trust me.
(1)
Meg W.

I won't return, not worth waiting. I've been in the past but in the last 2 years something must have changed. My meal was horrible, couldn't eat it. Mushy pasta and eggplant. So disappointed. Have just read a few current reviews and difficult to believe it is the same restaurant. Out of 3 dinners, 2 were poor and one was just OK. I can cook better pasta out of a box...
(1)
Tim F.

Believe the hype. I stood in line in low 40 degree weather for an hour and a half and would do it again if I find myself in Boston. Let me give you a quick run down, cash only, long lines and lots of great Italian seafood selections. We started our meal with an order of garlic bread. OMG you better like fresh garlic and butter, the bread was dripping in goodness. My wide ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and it was breaded and cooked with loving hands to perfection. I just had a bite but I definitely order that myself. I ordered the Frutti Di Mare and it was off the hook good, shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels over a bed of pasta. It as soo good I damn near licked my plate. The only bummer is the wait but after that it's all very positive. Great service and awesome food for about $20.00 a plate. If I find myself in Boston again you'll see my ass waiting in that line again.
(5)
Shizhao S.

I have been there so many times and it's one of the best Italian restaurant in the city. Definitely should try butternut squash ravioli. The calamari is also the best in town. My favorite pasta is frutti di mare with fra diavolo. Don't get the house special!!! It's not worth it. It's just frutti di mare plus lobster, and the lobster is not that good. Service is OK. I have had a really nice waiter and a really mean waitress there. So it depends. However, the food is good enough so that you'll tolerate the service.
(4)
Devin H.

The perfect high end Classic Italian restaurant. Every dish, salad, appetizer, sea food, pasta and desert are perfect!
(5)
Justin K.

This place is HELLA overrated. I understand you have to wait no matter what, but I expect to have at least a decent meal and/or experience. Nope. We came here an hour and a half before a show at improv asylum. I thought this was enough time, but I guess it wasn't? We waited about an hour outside - it didn't help that it was cold and drizzling. Once we finally get a table I inform the waitress of our rush so she gets our order right away. I got the fettuccini with swordfish - not impressed. There wasn't anything wrong with it per se, but based on these reviews and the line outside, I'm expecting my socks to be blown off. Very underwhelmed. We finish our food in literally 10 mins, and as we're waiting for the check one of the bus boys starts clearing our table. He's holding dishes from another table and accidentally spills mussel juice all over my jacket. He and the waitress apologized but did nothing to try and make it right. I smelled like a seafood market the entire night and had to get my jacket dry cleaned. Maybe I should give this place another shot, but not inclined to at all based on my experience.
(2)
Thuy L.

Another hit in the North End. There was a line waiting for the doors to open. Be warned it gets very hot in here. Like any other restaurant in the area, the restaurant is cramped while the kitchen is opened so it gets pretty hot. I felt lucky to be the customer and not the kitchen staff. I'd like to see them install shades onto the windows because the sun hits those window seats pretty hard. We started out with a small calamari and marina mozzarella. My favorite was the calamari. Very crispy, seasoned well but not to the point it was too salty. The mozzarella was as stringy was could be when you pulled it apart. The appetizers definitely had me questioning if I could even begin to eat and entree. But of course I made space for some shrimp scampi. I thought the best shrimp scampi I would ever eat was as the Daily Catch but Giacomo makes some competitive scampi sauce. Not to mention the linguine was of course al dente, the shrimp were big and cooked perfectly. The servers were very friendly and made jokes with us from the start. I'm looking forward to coming back here to try their other dishes.
(4)
Tracey L.

The garlic bread - delicious. Probably the first time I've ever had garlic bread that actually impressed me. The burrata appetizer - delicious. The cheese was high quality; the tomatoes were sweet and firm, and the balsamic vinegar was nice and tart. Everything else - meh. Mom and I got the dinner special for two expecting to be blown away. It was certainly WAY too much food for two people - more like a dinner for four - but it wasn't anything special or spectacular. We got it with the fra diavlo sauce, and it was surprisingly one dimensional. I mean, it wasn't even spicy. In any event, the food was good but not good enough to warrant waiting an hour to get in.
(4)
Tiffany F.

The line is worth the wait! We waited about an hour, which on a Saturday night during prime time really isn't that bad. And once you're inside and seated, the service is on point and the waitresses are working hard for every dollar of their tip. We had the calamari and garlic bread to start - both came out within minutes of placing the order. Once the apps were cleared from the table, the main entrees followed within seconds - boom! I had the linguine a with 1/2 lobster, clams, and mussels with Giacamo's sauce (creamy red) and wow, the pasta was cooked to perfection, the sauce was absolutely delicious infusing the seafood flavors into the creamy red sauce, and the seafood was plentiful and fresh. I can't wait until I have an excuse to come back again.
(5)
John T.

This place is fantastic. We arrived at 4pm, they opened at 4:30pm and we were seated right away. The place is small, but the taste is HUGE! We had the chicken marsala (made with good wine and lots of mushrooms) and a homemade spaghetti, and the rest of us had the special of night which was a homemade pasta with lobster and shrimp in Giacomo's sauce---AMAZING! We had some type of stuffed mozzarella ball, fried calamari, and the awesome table bread. Everything was to die for! The portions are plentiful, the food is served quickly and hot, and even though its small and somewhat cramped, it kinda feels like you're in someone's kitchen. We saw someone take an order to go, so that's a great option as we stayed on Hanover Street nearby for a few weeks, and this place is almost always busy! Highly recommended.
(5)
Yvette S.

Very much worth the wait time in line! Delicious, economical and efficient! I would wait in line 10 times over! Calamari was crispy, pasta perfectly Al dente... Wine was economical!
(5)
Annie S.

I got there just after 9pm and there was only one couple waiting in line. I stood behind them and waited about 10-15 minutes for a table to open up. A man greeted me and was friendly when seating me. I ordered the burrata special appetizer and wavered when ordering the entrÃ©e. I was going to order the mussels and clams linguine but was considering the lobster, clams and mussels special. The waiter told me to get the fusilli special. I did. The burrata app was amazing: dressed perfectly with delicious balsamic, olive oil and salt. The fresh, creamy ball of cheese was served over a large bed of diced tomatoes. I don't actually like tomatoes, but no one would have known, as I ate almost all of them. The ginormous helping of homemade fusilli with lobster and shrimp in their Giacomo sauce arrived steaming and beautiful. He asked if I wanted some cheese on it and I asked, "do I?" He said yes, a little and spooned some on. It was so good I ate way too much. Sooooo much lobster!! The sauce is a lobster sauce that is unbelievable. The server was great. I am so glad I took his suggestions. I will dream of this place until I can return. PS: THEY DO TAKE VISA! :)
(5)
Adam K.

Going to try and keep this one short. Was strolling the north end on a Saturday night around 6pm and decided to draw out our hunger by waiting at giacomo's for an hour. The wait proved pleasant due to the bluebird New England night as well as friendly counterparts in line. We got seated in roughly an hour and was immediately put to choice over a beverage. I quickly asked for a beer while my gf cautiously chose a Cabernet without insight. My house salad with balsamic probably made for my favorite dish. However it was abruptly interrupted by my dinner entree. While I am a fanatic pesto eater, I expected much more than this dish provided. It was bland and lacked much fortitude. My gf's dish of tortellini with salmon and lobster sauce was a bit better but still lacked much robustness the title deserved. All in all, this place proved to be another tourist trap. One in which I wouldn't recommend investing your time.
(2)
Hope R.

Food was great! It was really busy but they get the food out fast. My only complaint is that my server was a bit rude. When she put the bread on the table, she basically threw it at me and hit me in the arm and didn't even say anything... It was kinda shocking..... But the chicken Parmesan was yummy.
(4)
Shireen K.

Definitely my FAVORITE place in the Northend. The only downside is a guaranteed minimum half hour of standing in a line that wraps around the corner. But if you have the time and are willing to wait - it's definitely worth it! For a party of 3 or 4, the House special is a deal and gives you have a wide variety of different types of seafood- perfect if you want to try out all that Boston has to offer. Definitely worth it to add on a bottle of wine for just $10! Entre's are decently sized- not too big or too small. Slightly larger than the others but my favorite individual entre is the Frutti Di Mare- quite large but delicious enough that you'll eat the whole plate without regret! Remember its CASH ONLY!!!
(5)
Elizabeth S.

I've been here twice now and both times I left thinking, why did I spend all that time waiting for poorly seasoned expensive Italian seafood? I honestly don't know why this place is so popular. The restaurant is so small they require people to wait outside and there always seems to be a wait. Even when it's freezing and snowing outside, people are willing to wait, sometimes up to 45min-1hr! Once you do get a seat, they bring out cold, tasteless bread for you to share. The first time I came here, I ordered the butternut squash ravioli. It was decent, but I had to add lots of salt and pepper for some more flavor. I was willing to try the place again with a different dish, but ended up with the same outcome. The prices are pretty normal for the area, ~$15+ for an entrÃ©e. The service/staff is okay, pretty normal. Instead of coming here, I highly recommend going to Panza, which is pretty much right across the street from Giacomo's. The wait is usually less and there's a little bit of room inside the door to fit a couple people waiting. Their food is a lot better.
(2)
Grace Y.

Arrived at 4:15pm on a Saturday amidst an impending snowstorm and there was still a line out the door. Luckily for my party of 2 we still made the first cut. Doors opened promptly at 4:30pm and we slowly filed into the small but cozy restaurant, assembly line style. The hostess would only let one party in at a time and demanded that the first door be closed first before the second inner door was unlocked and opened-- presumably to save heat. I think it was a little funny but also a little overkill... The food itself was pretty good value for the price. The mussels were great yet small because it's not in season I guess. The Giacomo sauce was alright, a little underwhelming for a place with over 1000 reviews. The pasta was just a little over, but still al dente. Overall this place is pretty good, just a little overhyped.
(4)
Amy T.

Background: My friend and I went on a One-Day-All-Out-Boston Excursion and she told me about this place and how it was a must if we're in town. They open at 4 and my friend suggested to go there at 345 and I thought it'd be too early so we arrived 415ish but we ended up waiting on the line as the restaurant had just filled up - I dun' goof'd . We were the third party on the line but soon the line wrapped around the corner as the sun grew hotter and hotter. Tip: Once you see the line, there is no point of going inside to scope because everyone who goes inside immediately comes back out to get on line. Once you're on the line, you'll have to wait until one o the ladies come out to ask how many are in your party. My friend and I could've gone in way earlier because they had two counter seats available that we eventually sat on but since they didn't come out to check, we had to wait awhile, about 15 minutes (more or less..er probably more with that hot sun burning our faces lol). When she finally asked us, we were told to go inside right away. Donna was our waitress. Seemed like a typical tough lady but nice enough for the most part. My friend's phone had died due to GPS'ing all day and she kindly asked if she was able to charge the phone somewhere but straight up got rejected, "NO..sorry honey." Busy establishment, I know, could've been a bit more kind about it though! She pointed to the menu board and quickly explained how there were different sauces to go with the entrees. I guess that is her go-t-suggestion for customers she felt were new? Heard her saying the same thing to some other people, Idk. Later on my friend noticed she gave another party menus (not that they were anything too fancy) but it didn't bother me too much. There was a waiter who kept filling our cups from the moment we came in and he even filled a drink cup that I was sipping as I sat down because he mustve saw how thirsty/hot I was. LOL :x #muchappreciated! For the food, we both decided to go with the Frutti Tutti..jk, Fruiti Di Mari (I can't for the life of me remember the name of this dish) because while we were on the line, the gentlemen behind us recommended this to a group of other people and we were thinking, "Well alright!" Lol. I picked the "Spicy" sauce (Runny consistency) and my friend picked the sauce with the word "Pink" in the name (thick consistency). My dish was not spicy at all but I still liked it and I was pleasantly surprised at the portion at the amount of seafood and pasta that was given to me. I guess that living in NYC, I haven't really experienced anything like this; full, fresh, quantity and quality seafood over my linguine. We also ordered a large fried calamari ($11) and I loved it! Given a second change, I would still order the large! Lol. Both dishes tasted so darn good to me.. so good. Total was .. 20+20+11=51+tax=55ish+tips=$65 .. well spent. I was not able to finish my FDM because I got full from the water but I was able to take it home. The take-out box was completely destroyed and spilled afterwards though because it was still hot and so saucy but I still was able to share and enjoy it with my sister the following day. If I ever come back again, I would definitely order the House Special, it looked so good when they were taking it out and serving it to others ($60). Overall, I'd give it a 4.5 stars but because I can't, I will give it a 5. Definitely worth the wait in my opinion.
(5)
Matthew Z.

Back in Boston for a conference and of course had to visit the North End for some good Italian. I've never been to Giacomo's before, but, after seeing the other Yelp reviews, I figured I should check it out. It also just so happened that the North End wasn't very crowded on a Friday night, so my girlfriend and I were able to get in and get a table within five to ten minutes (which was important given the cold weather!). Rosemary sat us at a small table in the back, right next to another couple, and we got right to ordering as we were both hungry. Tried the fried calamari, house salad, special of the day (1/2 lobster, clams, with scampi sauce over linguine), and the butternut ravioli with cheese sauce, accompanied by a bottle of red wine. THE GOOD 1) Food quality was excellent - Fried calamari was probably the best we had ever had - lightly breaded, not overcooked, lots of meat - and the pastas and meats were all cooked well. 2) Cost was low - wine was $18/bottle, and the total meal was around $75 before tip (and we left quite full). Contrary to other reviews, these guys DO take Visa (no AMEX though). 3) Service - the place is small, so there is always waitstaff right nearby. Rosemary (our server) was the sister of the owner and had been working there for 14 years. Very friendly and enjoyed her work. THE BAD 1) The place is SMALL - You are sitting essentially at the same table as other diners, and the waiters are always brushing by. Get comfortable, and enjoy it (sometimes other diners have good suggestions on food choices!). 2) Not romantic - would not take a first date here as it feels much more crowded and less romantic than some of the other dining options in the North End. Also, you have people lined up outside, so you feel a little bit like you are in a zoo. 3) No dessert and no coffee - plenty of other options in the North End though (highly recommend Bova's on Salem St. for cannoli). 4) Bread is cold and served with butter - just a personal pet peeve! Overall, would definitely come again, especially with a short queue (probably not worth it if queue is really long). Great option for tasty Italian in Boston's North End!
(4)
Carly P.

AMAZING! One of the best Italian meals I've ever eaten. The menu is traditional; pick your sauce and it comes with linguine. I had a homemade fuscilli pasta with seafood sauce. My husband had the fruitti di Marie which was mind blowing. The restaurant is small and the wait time is usually long. We got lucky on a Monday night and got in less that 30 min.
(5)
Kathryn H.

I just want to say I made an account here just to warn people about this place. I must admit the food was good but I have never had a worse dining experience. I had my appetizer taken away before I could finish eating it. I've never felt more rushed in my life. Also, our waitress was incredibly rude. Will never go back!!
(1)
Kenny K.

Maybe 3.4/5. After much debating, we decided to stand in the ridiculously long line wrapped around the corner at Giacomo's. If there's a long line, it must be good right? I'll just leave it at that. You might as well eat there, because great Yelp reviews apparently have no mapping to reality in Boston. Note: I had the fusilli special with the lobster meat and shrimp. 3/5. The service was great.
(3)
Hannah N.

I've been living in Boston for the summer and have been to the north end a few times- each has been a great experience. For my last week in Boston, I decided to give the much discussed Giacomo's a go. We waited in line for a little over an hour for a group of five. I expected this and didn't mind the wait because I figured it would be worth it. We finally got inside and were seated and hastily run through the menu after establishing we had never been there before. Less than two minutes later our waitress returned to ask if we were ready. We were not but we ordered a bottle of wine and some garlic bread. The wine was bad. $19 a bottle should be decent wine- this tasted like box wine. Not good at all. The pasta dishes were good, but nothing spectacular. I've had better across the street. Our entire dining experience lasted maybe 40 minutes. Our party could barely talk to each other because the restaurant was so loud and our waitress was rushing us through our meal. I couldn't even enjoy my food. I honestly don't understand the line for this place- the food was good (and the only reason this place is getting 2 stars instead of 1) but for a $25 per person meal, I should be able to enjoy myself and not feel like I am being chased out. I also didn't appreciate that gratuity was "included" for parties of 5. I've never heard of this practice and am pretty sure that was just because no one tips them for their terrible service. Don't waste your time or money here- go to la panza or al dente instead.
(2)
Sheila R.

Seriously AMAZING food!!! I've been many times so thought it was about time to write a review. There's always a line and it's small inside but the food is delicious and very authentic. I've never been disappointed with the service or the food so would highly recommend this fine restaurant - enjoy!
(5)
Eunice M.

Start the meal with fried calamari which comes with a side of warm tomato sauce. Pasta with shrimps + scallops and Giacomo sauce (their house specialty - tomato sauce). While you're waiting, the server will bring out a basket of olive bread which is just a delicious combination of salty and lightly sour with chewy texture to it. All in all: - Casual setting - Delicious Italian food - Simple menu (go for the house specialty sauce - Giacomo sauce) - Quick service - Fun, communal ambiance This place is a gem. The place is small (seats ~30 people?). You may have to wait outside for a bit, but wait. It's worth it. Buon appetit!
(5)
Terry H.

been here too many times and never disappoint. If you are looking for seafood pasta you are in the right place. great service, large portion, well cook/season seafood pasta in a very intimate, cozy dining environment. the only downside is that you better get here early (as early as half hour before they are open) otherwise be prepare to stand outside to wait for a table.
(4)
Steffi H.

Absolutely delicious!! All of their pastas seem to be fresh and hand-made, and they really know how to balance out the tastes in their meals. Between three people, we split the Lobster Ravioli and a special pasta of the day: Cavatelli. The lobster ravioli really surprised me! Usually, I don't like creamy pastas, nor am I a huge fan of ravioli. But something about the richness of this dish made it so wonderfully delicious, that I know I'm going to be dreaming about it later. The cavatelli was also amazing! It came with broccoli, chicken sausage (which was more like ground chicken than sausage), bell peppers, and tomatoes in a garlic olive oil sauce. It was a little heavier than I expected, but still quite light. It also had a little kick of spicy to it that I think really rounded out the dish nicely. Admittedly, I got hungry later that night after sharing two dishes between 3 people, but at the time, it felt like just the right amount of food. I will say that service was a bit weird. Even though it was completely empty when I went (only one other table was occupied), it took our waiter about 10 minutes to actually give us a menu. But other than that, I love love love the food here! Tip: Go when it's really cold and you will have 0 wait time. (It was about 19 degrees outside.)
(5)
Cyndi L.

Delayed review.. This place was recommended to us while we were in town. I got the Lobster Ravioli, which were so good!! My husband played it safe and wen my with the chicken parmigiana, which he said was just ok. We waited outside for about an hour or so, not too bad. The place is very fast paced and you do feel quite rushed... But my food was so worth it. And the server we had was great!
(4)
Kelly Z.

This place is so so good! Waited an hour and half in the cold for this but worth it. A must visit if you are visiting Boston! We got the house special for 2 and so baby food babies were born after that meal aka there was a lot of food for two people. Cozy place so be prepared to sit close to other people but you'll be enjoying your food too much to care.
(5)
Mike I.

The food is fantastic. There are no reservations or wait list. Just show up and wait in line. Show up early as the wait can be an hour or longer at times.
(5)
Ben S.

It's a bit pricy but I think it's worth it. My recommendations: Linguine, chicken parm, seafood special (seasonal).
(5)
Christine S.

Wow! Amazing food. Waited about 1/2 hour in the Boston heat and it was worth it. Had the calamari, lobster ravioli and husband had Frutti di Mare. It was all delicious.
(5)
Liz C.

Great place to go if you are prepared to wait and be social. Food was good and inexpensive. Wine decent. Service is part of the charm, no substitutions for anything and the staff has no problem denying you substitutions. What you see is what you get. Considering all the people waiting outside to come in I never felt rushed once inside.
(4)
Audrey T.

We waited 2.5 hours outside on a cold November might to try this popular restaurant! Do not come here if you are hungry, because you will get more hungry whole waiting. Was it worth the wait? It's hard to say any restaurant is worth a 2.5 hour wait in the cold, but as visitors hanging out with friends, it wasn't too bad. Once you do get a table, however, service is quick, personable and efficient. Their pastas are indeed glorious and worthy of it's popularity. For most dishes you can choose the particular sauce. I definitely enjoyed their signature sauce! Portions are large (I could not finish mine without the husband's help) and the price pretty decent. For $28 I got a huge lobster pasta dish. Other regular dishes ran between $18-$24 so it was definitely reasonable. If you're in the north end looking for some quality Italian food - this is the place to be. Be prepared to line up for it though!
(4)
Charlie B.

I go to South End location. VERY GOOD all around - solid home style food - nothing fancy. Reasonable prices, good service once seated - there is almost always a wait even with a reservation. But with the effort! The specials are always great. A little loud inside.
(4)
Nikita S.

Food deserves five stars. I gave four because the line is annoying and they don't take reservations. Also the place is small and super crowded. Great place if you are hungry and want just good. You'll have to eat it pretty quickly. Not the right place to relax and enjoy slow relaxing dinner with wine.
(4)
Joelle K.

I had dinner at Giacomo's with a couple of friends last Friday. I knew better than to go on a weekend night due to the line, but we decided to suck it up and had a great time in spite of the wait. There is a packy and 7-Eleven conveniently located across the street. We took it upon ourselves to grab some nips and mixers and have a cocktail while we waited. We had to wait for 1.5 hours. As several other Yelpers have mentioned, the dining experience moves very quickly. Our server, Ann Marie, was very nice and helpful, but no nonsense. We shared a calamari and mussel appetizer to start. Both were great, but not even close to the best that I have had. I enjoyed the butternut squash for dinner, and would definitely recommend. The value at Giacomo's is unbelievable. We spent $120 (including tip) for the 3 of us. The bottles of wine are only $18. I can't remember the last time I had a delicious dinner with a bottle of wine, 2 apps and 3 entrees for that price.
(4)
The Vegetarian Foodie N.

Get there early - there will be a line to get in (seats only 20). We were there at 4:15 pm on a Monday and were the last table seated for the 1st round of diners). People get there even earlier on holidays and weekends. The service is polite but brusque (they have to get as many people in and out as possible). Knowing what you want before being seated helps. The food come out fast. We had the 2 popular vegetarian options - the pumpkin tortellini and the eggplant marinara pasta. Solid - above average Italian American. Not the best we've had though. Not sure I would wait for more than an hour for this food but understand its popularity. .
(4)
Lauren C.

I'm not a the world's biggest fan of Italian food, there are more adventurous things I would rather try but having family in town that was staying in the North End made it an Italian dinner night. The line at Giacomos moves moderately quickly which is nice because your essentially waiting in dinner rotations. Unfortunately, the reason the line moves so quick is because the people eating are made to feel so rushed. We tried a number of things. I definitely recommend the fried calamari. Not usually an appetizer I order but this was really delicious. The house salad is sized for 2. We ordered the chicken parmigiana and the chicken Marsala. I've had better Marsala and the chicken parm was good although cooked a bit tough. I have a feeling their seafood dishes might be what's really great on their menu.
(3)
Rachael S.

Personally, I did not find that this place lived up to its hype. I was able to be seated with the first wave of people and once seated, I felt the waitstaff was very forceful and rushed you to make a decision on your food choice. If i am paying to eat at your restaurant, dont rush me while I am trying to have a nice night out. I felt the waitress was rude and only cared about getting us out of the door and having the next table seated. Food was alright. Nothing special. I ordered the fettucine with chicken, onions, and peppers in a tomato cream sauce. Lets just say the tomato CREAM sauce was far from creamy. It was very watery. Overall, not worth the long wait if you are trying to have a nice, relaxing dinner.
(3)
Stephanie T.

What a great time. I was walking through the North End. I was not even going to eat. But people were lining up at 4:30 at this tiny little place. So I felt compelled to get in line. You have to pay with cash which I did not know. There was much camaraderie. So my place in line was held while I went to the ATM across the street. Everyone in line was very friendly and we had a great time visiting waiting for the restaurant to open. We looked at the menu deciding what we would order. So I was ready to go when everyone as seated. I was by myself because I was in town on business. I got crammed in at the "bar." They don't really have a bar. But that was OK because I could watch the guys in the kitchen. The food came out very fast. Linguine with scallops and scampi sauce. So yummy. Very generous portion of scallops. One thing I will give Boston over restaurants in Texas, they are not skimpy on serving up the shellfish (of course you will get your shrimp and crawfish in Texas). Pasta perfectly cooked. Loved the sauce. The whole experience was great fun. I feel like I got a real Boston Italian food experience.
(5)
Carrie Y.

Love this place despite the lines. Seafood pasta mix in tomato sauce- 2nd favorite thing on the menu. The butternut squash ravioli- Must get! So good and so worth the wait in line. I also had a bite of my friends garlic bread which was full of a herb and buttery heaven. I really like this place due to the old school mom and pops pasta joint feel. Very authentic if you ask me. The prices are great and lines move pretty quick. It really does not disappoint.
(5)
Agustin K.

Even after waiting an hour and 10 min in 40F weather, I am still giving them ****. First of all to those of you visiting (I know you are since we heard a few people on line who were also visiting from out of town), there is no street parking after 6 in the North End area. They are all for residence parking only. The best parking spot is the post Office Square, $9 for evening or all day weekend parking. Once you are in, you will be guaranteed to be super hungry since you've been smelling their food while waiting. We ordered the calamari - best ones I've had for a long time, especially like the fact that they included fried pickled jalapeÃ±o as well. Good starter! If you tell them you've never been, they will give your their sauce cheat sheet. But believe everyone who've written here. The Giacomo sauce is a safe bet. We had the fruiti di mare with Giacomo sauce and it hit the spot. The butternut squash ravioli is a good complement to the Giacomo sauce or other tomato based sauce you order. Sweet and savory at the same time and the asparagus add nice texture to the dish. I couldn't stop wiping the sauce with the bread. Service is efficient but very swift, they need to turnover the tables for those waiting outside. We didn't feel rushed while eating but as soon as we cleaned our plate, expect them to offer a check very soon after. We were stuffed after the meal. With a glass of wine and beer, the damage is less than $60 including tips. Definitely beat Neptune (which we also went to) IMO.
(5)
Amanda H.

Perhaps others enjoy the dining experience at Giacomo's. I did not find the food worth the 45+ minute wait in 25 degree weather. Nor did I enjoy being crammed into a corner while I ate, without enough room to unbend my legs. To justify that experience the food would have had to be some of the best I've ever eaten, and it just wasn't. I'm not saying, "Don't ever go here." I'm just saying consider trying somewhere else and don't waste your time if it's freezing out. I ordered the gnocchi special, made with goat cheese. It came with a sauce with mascarpone cheese (or so they claim - I could barely taste it). The whole dish was a sort of muddle of flavors without ever wowing my taste buds. I also ordered a salad with a vinaigrette. The salad was covered in onions ("You should have told me no onions," says the waitress - uh, the menu said nothing about onions. You want me to be psychic?), which isn't a big deal as I know many people like onions. It was over-peppered, making it difficult to eat. The two people I was with loved their food. Unfortunately I just wasn't impressed.
(2)
Molly S.

If you're looking for a mixture of authentic Italian and fresh seafood... STOP LOOKING IT'S HERE!! Service is very direct and fast, and fellow foodies you will love the authenticity of the food... Cheers!
(5)
J A.

"Jock-a-mows" is a very interesting Boston phenomenon. No reservations, Cash only, No substations and packed in like sardines. This tiny restaurant has people lining up at 4pm for their 4:30pm opening. Just before 4:30 someone comes outside and asks how many in your party and writes it down. Next the line begins moving and at the door a table is pointed out to you and you twist and shuffle yourself into your seat. Bumping your neighbor is pretty much impossible. Your server comes out and servers two or three tables at the same time. Taking drink orders and telling you about the specials (also on the wall). They offer wine by the bottle at cheap prices. Water and bread arrives, and your server returns to take your order and the tables around you - all at the same time. Remember - no substitutions, don't even ask. Service is short, sharp and curt. We tried the garlic bread and the capreise salad. The garlic bread was more buttery than garlicy. The capreise salad was very good. Fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and sweat balsamic. Pastas were very good as well - and fast. We hardly finished the appetizers and the pasta was being served. There is no desert, so your check is presented soon after the entrees with another reminder "CASH ONLY". Now with Mike's and Modern no more than a block away offering great pastries I guess they decided they did not need to offer dessert.
(3)
Susan Z.

We stood in line for almost an hour outside in the cold but it was nice and toasty once we finally got inside. The space is small and your table might be nearly touching the next customers' table, unless you're at the counter. Appetizers: Fried calamari ($7 for the small) is the BEST I've ever had - just beware of the hot peppers that look like calamari. If you can have shellfish I highly recommend it. Fiance got a special-of-the-day appetizer of mozzarella and tomatoes - it was fresh, but the giant mozzarella ball had an interesting consistency and we didn't like that too much. Entrees: I got a special, fusili with shrimp and lobster ($26). Wow, I have never been to a restaurant that gives as much lobster and shrimp as Giacomo's! Very impressed! Fiance had the veal parmigiana ($15) - he said it was very good. If you like seafood and the weather outside isn't frightful, I think it's worth the wait. The food was all fairly priced considering how much lobster they really do put in the lobster entrees and the servers were all very nice. Bring cash!
(5)
Lesley H.

This place is freaking phenomenal!!! We went early on a Thursday to avoid a massive line around 5:30p. We must have been really lucky because when we got there, only one couple was in line ahead of us. Now granted it had been raining all day and was still semi sprinkling at the time. While we were waiting, we noticed that the lady who seemed to be the owner was not the friendliest... but hey i guess you don't need to be when your food is that good and people still line up for it. It did make me a little nervous about the kind of service we would get once we were seated. Luckily our waitress was incredibly friendly. To start off we got a small order of calamari. I was very pleasantly surprised by the size of their small. I'm not going to lie... my stomach would have been content after our appetizer. The calamari had just enough breading and was crispy on the outside and a good breading to calamari ratio. I loved the fried jalapenos that went with it. Then our main dishes came. My boyfriend got the fusilli with lobster and shrimp, and I got the seafood pasta that came with half a lobster, mussels, and clams. We both got it with the Giacomo sauce, which is basically their regular red sauce that they use to cook the lobsters in and then they add a touch of bechamel. OMG it is freaking amazing!!! Next time I want to try the Fracomo sauce which is the same thing but they add crushed red peppers to give it a little kick. These dishes were unreal. There was no shortage of seafood on our pastas, and the flavors were nothing less than spectacular. Probably one of the best meals I've eaten. The best part... everything is extremely fairly priced. Our meal which included a bottle of wine, an appetizer, and 2 pasta dishes came out to about $70 after tax.
(5)
Emily C.

Fantastic dinner! Totally worth waiting outside in the cold. :) My friend and I arrived around 5:20 PM today (Tuesday) and were seated within 30 minutes. Their butternut squash ravioli is AMAZING!! If you are visiting for the first time, get this! Since I'd already tried this dish at the South End branch, I ordered the lobster ravioli, as it was also popular amongst Yelp reviewers. The lobster ravioli was delicious, but nowhere near as good as the butternut squash ravioli. The lobster ravioli's flavor was a bit one-note, whereas the sweetness and freshness of the squash balanced all that cream sauce. For those that need cash, there is an ATM across the street and a Bank of America farther down the street.
(4)
Steve B.

waited outside, in the rain. Don't normally do that. But the reviews were really good. Got in, but some of our party wasn't there, so got kicked back to the curb. Finally got in. Had tony as a waiter-- he was awesome, top notch guy. Had a good time with us, poked fun at me being a Californian and such. Cash only --- important to note. and first come first served. Food was great. Started with a burrata appetizer and some garlic bread. Both really good. Everyone was really happy with their food--- lobster ravioli, chicken parmigiana, Salmon and linguini, and butternut squash raviolis. Highly recommend coming here, just plan on standing around for a bit. Groups of two got in really fast, so hang out even if the line is big, as you will get seated much faster than if you are a group of 3 or more.
(5)
Gregory F.

I REALLY hate to do this, but it is now time time to take Giacomo's off the list of restaurants that my wife and I have to go to while vacationing in Boston. This will be our third time eating here since 2011. We figured that the line was indicative of how great this place was; and the last couple of times that we were here, the food lived up to the Yelp hype and overall rating of 4 stars. Yes, there was a 30-60 minute wait depending on the arrival time, but once inside, it was a memorable experience. Their specials are fantastic. Each time that we are there, we comment on how good of a business this is: long lines, cash only, reasonable prices, and great food with huge portions. So why the 2 stars? It was a Thursday night, we arrived at 5:30 and had to wait about an hour to finally get inside. This is a small place. The 4 of us sat at a table that was crammed in a corner right in front of the entrance. Luckily, our wives don't take up too much space so it worked out ok. We ordered 2 apps, 2 specials, and one chicken parm. Within 10 minutes we had all of the food on our table and were finished with dinner within 25 minutes. There is no dessert at this place so, that's it, you are done. Sure, you can sit and talk with you dinner guests, but unless you are ok with the death stares from hungry customers waiting in line and wait staff that is eager to flip your table, then it is in your best interest to leave. The servers do not hide the fact that they want to rush you out. I even overheard a server annoyingly bark orders at customers coming in that sat inadvertently at the incorrect table: "We have to fit as many people in here as we can." You have to be on your "A" game when you get in here. Sounds like a relaxing time, right? ...Nah. This is not a place that you take friends and family to relax and socialize over dinner. You will be waiting in line probably twice as long as it will take you to have dinner. Sorry, but no food is that good to justify rushed, almost non-existent service. I'm sure they are not bothered by this because there are a ton of people waiting to come in. It's almost like a Seinfeld episode; wait in line, read the menu though the window, have your order ready when you squeeze into a table, shut up, eat as fast as you can, throw your cash down and get out. If you don't like it, NO PASTA FOR YOU! If you are looking for a place to sit and have a normal, relaxing dining experience with friends and family, look elsewhere. For us, we are taking Giacomo's off the list of places to eat while we are here. It's just not worth it. Our latest visit was just ridiculous. What a shame.
(2)
Shawn D.

Boston Seafood Italian. Superb! Such nice service and the meal was a 10! Can be very loud atmosphere - and they pack em in, but thats a good sign, right?
(5)
Brandon H.

If you thought it was amazing when Moses parted the Red Sea, you're going to love Giacomo's. The only difference between the two is Giacomo's isn't watered down with ancient folklore. However, our experience was nothing short of biblical. Specifically, Lynn. Let's be real... She completed the experience for us. She was amazing with her fast and efficient service and her sassy attitude made us laugh. Ask for Lynn when you go to this restaurant if you want a dining experience that lives up to all the hype. Now, onto the food. Like meek lambs, we humbly followed Lynn's recommendations for the calamari, homemade fusili with Giacomo's spicy sauce, and the seafood house special (with a bottle of wine... Ok, two), all split between our party of three. The plates barely fit on the table, but we made it work. Holy linguini batman! We could taste the passion of the cooks in every bite. The seafood was as fresh as it would have been coming off a Sicilian fishing boat. The sauces were rich and complimented the lobster, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, octopus, and pasta perfectly. Apparently we got lucky with a relatively short wait (20 minutes on a Monday evening), but I strongly believe in the correlation between wait time and quality food at these well known city staples (ie. Franklin BBQ, Voodoo donuts, etc.) and Giacomo's is no exception. I would have waited hours to savor this glorious meal. We spent $140 between three people, I would have paid double. We would have bought tickets for this place. Regardless it was an amazing night for our group.
(5)
Mark L.

Being Italian, I've been eating at Italian restaurants all my life. This was one of the best ever. Since we all shared entrees, we got a little taste of everything...Wow!
(5)
Shraddha V.

In quest for some authentic Italian food, my friends and I had dinner at Giacomo's. After waiting for about half an hour, we were led to a small table and were rushed to place our order. We had the Mozarella Marinara, Butternut Squash Ravioli and Eggplant Parmigiana. Food was great, but the Ravioli was the star! Definitely a must try for vegetarians. The only thing is you need to wait in a long queue as this is a very popular restaurant down there.
(4)
Rachel L.

Get there an hour before you plan to have your dinner. There will be a line and it will be a long one as well. However, the food was served pretty fast as soon as I placed my order and it was damn delicious. I ordered fried calamari, lobster & shrimp pasta (specials), and baked chicken breast (also specials) and it was really delicious. Trust me, it is worth the wait.
(5)
Jessica Y.

This place got all its hype on yelp. Be prepared to wait at least 1.5 hours on a weekend night. I must admit service was pretty efficient and the waitress was nice enough to us, despite a crazy Sat night. We started off with the antipasto for appetizer, then we got the swordfish and tuna fettucini in pesto cream sauce and salmon with sun-dried tomatoes fettucini with tomato cream sauce. The both of us probably ordered the less popular dishes because our experience overall was meh. The fish came in really tiny square pieces and the pasta was drowning in the cream sauce. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't so good that it was worth the 1.5 hour wait. I would't get the antipasto if I were to go back again. Maybe the calamari. Nonetheless, we were in and out in 20 min, and didn't get to have the whole dinner experience. CASH ONLY.
(4)
Alyse W.

The food is delicious- classic Italian options. The place is very tiny and they kinda rush you, but the food is worth it.
(4)
Christopher B.

The place was a bit crowded (a good sign) and the service a bit slow, but our waitress and the decor were absolutely authentic and made me smile. The food was traditional but solid and definitely worth the wait. Everything reminded me of my Italian grandmother's cooking. Of all the places to get Italian in the North End, this is an excellent choice. I hope the chef has a huge retention bonus. 8)
(4)
Stacie R.

Well worth the wait, authentic Italian food. The seafood was amazing and there wasnt cheese in a glass bottle on the table ;)
(5)
Julian G.

The Food was amazing ... they have great portions of seafood. I had the lobster ravioli which was just splendid. not too creamy and it was delicious. my sister had a lobster tail with pasta and that was also great. There was a long wait but trust me it's all worth it in the end!
(4)
Sylvain F.

A real italian restaurant in north end which is not the case for all !
(4)
Lauren J.

I returned to Giacomo's again this fall! With all the great restaurants in Boston, I'm still not tempted -- it's straight back to this place for me. I got the same dish as last time and loved it just as much (typically not one to re-order the same way each time, but why mess with a beautiful thing?). On my first trip, I came alone (was in Boston on business) and was tempted by the calamari, but my stomach wasn't big enough to order it and a pasta dish. Upon return I was with my boyfriend at the time and we went for it. Amazing. Amazing. I am usually really lukewarm on calamari, but damn -- it put all past calamari experiences to shame. I'm coming back to Boston on another business trip in May and I'm already excited just thinking about ordering it again. And I've said it before, but I'll say it again. All the Giacomo's haters should simmer down. You can see from the window that it's cramped up in there. And you can see from the line out the door that there are people waiting to eat. To the surprise of no one, dinner feels a little crowded and a little rushed. There are SO MANY other Italian options available (on the same street!) if you want more space, less noise, and less of a hurried feel while you eat. Please keep your annoyed faces to a minimum as the waiter squishes you into a table right next to a stranger. You can't say you weren't warned.
(5)
Christina M.

Amazing!! Love love love this place! We found it on Yelp with high reviews so on our Boston trip we stopped in. There was a crazy long line outside while none of the other restaurants had no wait. We stood in line approx 45 mins but worth every min! Highlights: The service was amazing! Our server was super friendly, attentive and fun. She was the newest employee with 9 years there! Food: we shared the calamari and garlic bread to start... Both were yummy! We also shared a bottle of wine for 2. The wine is VERY reasonable.. $18 for a bottle. I had the lobster raviolis which were fantastic and worth every calorie! My Bf had the swordfish and grilled veggies... Everything cooked to perfection. The best part... Apps, dinner and bottle of wine for 2 people.. All of which were delicious... Only cost $65! Def worth the wait in line!
(5)
Gigi L.

Let me start by saying that I don't even like pasta and I LOVEDDD the house special Zuppe di pesce w the Fra como sawwce! The special comes in a fat platter filled w tonssss of fresh seafood-- lobster, clams, mussels, scallops and shrimp! So much that you can't even see the pasta underneath!! The sauce was perfect flavor! Not sure if the dish would've been as food w the scampi or pesto... Definitely worth a try though! There was definitely enough to feed 3 people! Maybe even 4!! also got the Caprese salad... It was just average... Prolly wouldn't waste stomach room on that next time... The wait was an hour but so worth it!! Ps cash only!!
(5)
Lauren R.

You have to go here. You will stand in line. It will be worth it. My group of 3 went at 830 on a Friday and waited maybe 20 mins. Service is quick, so unfortunately this isn't the place to linger. In fact as my group finished our wine after we paid the bill, the busser took our water glasses away, subtly suggesting it was time for us to get the heck out. However, the food compensates for the rushed exit My group shared the fusilli with giacomo sauce ( a pink lobster sauce), the lobster ravioli, and the frutti de mare with fra diavolo ( spicy red). We went family style which I recommend to try everything. Fusilli was the best. Fresh tender pasta, giant chunks or lobster and shrimp. Delectable. Not too rich. Lobster ravioli was way rich and not lobstery enough. Very creamy. Good for the cheese fanatic. It was a nice offset to the red sauces on our table though. Fra diavolo sauce on the frutti de mare was very spicy. Tons of shellfish in this dish, they do not skimp. Pasta was cooked perfectly. Overall, I has food envy for the dishes I didn't try and I was in heaven with the ones I did I saw the burrata and the calamari and wished I would have tried those too. Next time!
(5)
Marti G.

Great/fast service, unbelievably fresh seafood, best homemade pasta, fairly priced, and its totally worth the 40-50 min wait but you should prepare yourself beforehand for it. I got the salmon in a lobster, sun-dried tomato cream sauce - huge portions, SO tasty, and I got to eat amazing leftovers for 2 nights after. Also the fried calamari was awesome!
(5)
Tammy G.

get in line and yes it is worth the wait I don't get to come here often enough because I live far away but everything has always been amazing
(5)
Helena Q.

Very tasty food! Three relatively hungry people got a calamari appetizer (8$), a scallop pasta with giacomo's house sauce (16$), a mussel and clam pasta with red sauce (17$), and a lobster ravioli (18$). All were tasty and a reasonable quantity (no leftovers, but we left full). Everything came very hot! However, everything was just a little on the salty side. In terms of wait, we got there just after 4 (opening time) on Sunday, and were second in line, so 20 minute wait. Although we weren't rushed, we did eat much quicker than usual because the atmosphere was very noisy and quick moving. The food came very quickly though. All in all, very pleased with the food.
(4)
Stephanie T.

I came her once, had to wait about 45 minutes outside, but the pasta was worth the wait. I couldn't even decide among all the options, so my friends and I shared a few different pastas. Just be aware its cash only, and not well advertised that thats the case. The line isn't worth it in rain/snow, but in nice weather its a great north end option.
(4)
Peter K.

Hmmm 4 stars or 5 stars... I debated for a while and went with 5 stars. Good: * Food is very good. * Very reasonably priced. Actually very good price. * Wine is very cheap. * I think Giacomo's is not just about food and price, but it's also about experience. You go there wait and eat delicious, good price Italian food, enjoy wine, in a loud setting. I'm not doing a good job describing but looking back I would say my experience here is memorable and relatively unique. Not so good, but understandable: * Wait is so long, but waitresses are usually nice about it. If they were not nice about it, I think I would've given 4 stars. * Usually very loud. But somedays perhaps too loud. This is an experience in itself, but just wanted you to be aware. * Dessert option is limited. But who cares, Mike's Pastry is across as well as other stores nearby.
(5)
Vaskar P.

Amazing Giacomo's sauce. Get the zuppa de pesce with linguine and the sauce if you can. Simply divine.
(5)
Louise S.

We loved this place! I wish I was there right now. Waiter was knowledgeable, and had a great Boston attitude (warm, but rough). He made me feel at home. We ordered the broccoli appetizer and caesar to start - both perfect. Shared a veal entrÃ©e that came with a small of bowl of spaghetti. I can't imagine any of the other little spots being more fun. I loved this place. One small warning - bathrooms are downstairs and tables are very close together, so it's not exactly ADA compliant.
(5)
Carol L.

You need to bring two things here: cash and a good dose of patience. Oh and also your appetite, but don't be starving because you'll probably spend some time in line. I got here about a half hour before opening and there was already a decent line. The space is ridiculously small and if you come with a large party expect to be split up or in my case to be seated with a complete stranger. There are no wasted seats. Soon after opening, a woman walked down the line to take stock of the parties waiting. When she got to me she asked if I wouldn't mind being seated with another party of one. The correct answer is yes. Just roll with it or you'll be waiting around forever. We missed out on being the first wave of patrons so we spent a good amount of time waiting regardless. You'll find yourself looking longingly through the window at folks eating, willing them to chew faster. Finally our party of "two" was called! And as luck would have it, we scored arguably the best seats, the two at the counter away from all the cramped tables. So my new friend and I didn't end up sharing a table, but she did let me have some of her CALAMARI. It's too much for one person anyhow. The menu's written on a board, plus there are specials handwritten on a card. I chose one of these, the HOMEMADE FUSILLI WITH LOBSTER MEAT AND SHRIMP. There are several sauces to choose from for any of their pasta dishes, but for this one they recommended a couple of them in particular, but you're always free to pick whichever one you'd like. I chose the fra diavolo, a spicy lobster based tomato sauce. From our seats we were able to watch everything happening in the tiny open kitchen. Before long our dishes came out, hot and fresh. I loved mine! The texture of the pasta was perfect and the sauce had a nice kick. What a great reward at the end of a long wait. Oh and this is not a place where you can chill and take your time because they will get impatient.
(5)
Tim S.

The other reviewers aren't lying: this place is great! I had the veal and the meat was tender and delicious. Our service was incredible. Christian is the man! I don't have much to say besides that the food is great, the atmosphere is great and the service is great! I also would put the number of dollar signs for this restaurant between 1 and 2. My meal ran me about $25 and included about 2 glasses of wine.
(5)
Anthony W.

Came here for some authentic, homemade Italian food in the heart of Boston's Little Italy section. We saw some raving reviews about this place and figured it was the place to go. We were also reassured by the long line they had out the door. We waited for about 30 minutes for a table. The place is very small and quaint so if you don't want to wait in line, get there early. We arrived about 6pm and the place was already packed. They have a decent amount of food on the menu and it is also written on the wall so you can read it while standing in line and staring at the tables by the window. Since they have so many mouths to feed, we felt rather rushed during our meal and really ate it in about 40 minutes. Now I am one who likes to take my time while eating and don't like to feel like I'm getting pushed out the door for the next table. I like good conversation over good food and drinks. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get that here. The food was good but I wouldn't say spectacular. I was kind of expecting more from such a highly rated Italian restaurant in the North End. The bread that came out with our burrata appetizer was cold and I think it should have been warm. Our garlic bread was warm but burnt on the bottom. The butternut squash ravioli was the best course of the evening and the sauce they used was delicious I had the homemade fusilli with shrimp and lobster in their Giacomo sauce. It wasn't bad but I was expecting large pieces of lobster and instead they were small pieces and overcooked. Almost as if they were already in the sauce versus cooked with the fusilli. The place is also cash only so be sure to stop by the ATM before coming here or else risk being short. I think there is an ATM across the street for those who forget to bring money. We noticed multiple places in the North End that required cash only so be warned.
(3)
Stephani I.

We stayed in the North End for our vacation, and every day my husband and I saw a line for this restaurant. I read the reviews, and I was intrigued, so we decided to suck it up and stand in line on a Thursday evening. I was prepared to wait a long time, but we actually waited about 50 minutes, and it was a pleasant evening with good weather. The food was INCREDIBLE. My husband is a cook, and we used to own a restaurant in Paris, so we are very picky. This was simple fish and pasta, and it was soooo worth it. We shared the burrata with tomatoes, the clams, mussels, and half lobster with linguini in pesto, and the shrimp and lobster with housemade fusilli in Giacomo sauce. Soooo good. The prices are very fair. The seafood was fresh, and the sauces were excellent.
(5)
Brecht S.

Hallmark definition of great Italian seafood & pasta dining. Did the line twice in 3 days...
(5)
Anna N.

Get the eggplant parmesan, it is delicious. Make a reservation though, because there is usually a line out the door. But if you want some good, hearty italian it's well worht the wait.
(5)
Jessica C.

Omg. Waited abt an hour and a half in line and it was worth every minute! Hubs and I split the special for two and got a suggested bottle of red wine. I was ooohing and ahhhhing over every bite! Now I know where to bring friends and family when they visit! Yummo!
(5)
Heidi R.

We had dinner with our kids - decided to go to the back bay restaurant because they took reservations. They were very accommodating as we were traveling and couldn't make our initial reservation. The portions were more than generous and the food was outstanding. They made fettuccine Alfredo to order for my son which was amazing! I had the frutte de mar scampi - loaded with seafood and tasted excellent. My husband loved the Giacamos sauce (lobster bechamel). We loved the chaotic loud environment and had a fun time with our waiter. Would definitely suggest this place for anyone looking for some local flavor in Boston.
(4)
Leslie M.

I was in Boston this weekend for a wedding. Our local friends recommended this place but warned us about the long wait. Thursday night, we decided to give this place a shot. Luckily, we didn't have to wait long (maybe half an hour wait). Dinner was delicious. This is definitely a place where you go eat and get out as soon as possible. It's small and noisy, not very suitable for a romantic dinner. There are no reservations. We ordered the butternut squash ravioli, the burrata and a Caesar salad and a side of garlic bread. The ravioli was creamy and delicious. The burrata was the best one I have ever tried. The service is great. We didn't have to wait for our food at all. This restaurant is definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Grace C.

Amazing amazing amazing! I don't think my tummy could be happier! Came here as a party of two for a nice Thursday dinner while exploring the North End. We got in line around 6 and waited about an hour in line, which honestly wasn't a big deal for us because what happened next blew our minds away. We ordered the lobster ravioli and the homemade fusilli and both were absolutely extraordinary. The tomatoes and basil paired perfectly with the rich creamy sauce that coated the lobster ravioli. The texture of the fusilli fused with the perfectly cooked lobster bits. Absolutely amazing - could barely get out of my seat afterwards. The servers are all very kind and have good suggestions if you don't know what to order. Yeah people complain about the wait, but honestly it was completely worth it! Tip: A party of three, 4 places in front of us got seated after us, so it's best to come in a party of two because there is very limited space and seating. And bring cash! (Cash only)
(5)
Sandra Chai D.

After reading so many great reviews on here about this place I decided to check it out. I got here at about 4:45, for an early dinner before a show and I'm glad I did because it was only 15 min after they had opened and I didn't have to wait for a table. (Read some other reviews, apparently it's always a really long wait!) I can see what the big fuss is about. The location, quality, intimacy of this North End restaurant is spectacular for the price. I had the lobster ravioli and was very satisfied. I forget what my friend had, some creamy fettuccine dish with peas. He said it was just average. The bread was average as well. I can imagine how people would like it so much, but I found it to be too oily and burnt. Our waitress was a bit rude, very pushy and snappy. She walked around like she either owns the restaurant or have been around for a while, either way no excuse to not put forth your best customer service. It's for this reason that I docked a star. Tips: 1. Go early, the restaurant is teeny tiny and fills up quick. I don't think they accept reservations. 2. Order the lobster ravioli 3. Go to Mikes Pastry or Modern Pastry (if Mikes is too busy) afterwards
(4)
Yasi J.

Very very disappointing! First of all, we went there for lunch on a saturday and they presented us with the dinner menu, explaining that lunch menu is not ofered on the weekends. We said Okay! We got the stuffed mushrooms as the starter. Only 4 mushrooms filled with a very simple filling, nothing outstanding, for about 11$! God some of these Italian restaurants just charge you for no good reason (and no good food) ! We got the vegetarian spinach and garlic pizza and it was HORRIBLE! I am a foodie and I don't say this easily, but this pizza was bad! It was greasy and most importantly it had PILES of garlic all over the place! When you say Spinach and garlic pizza, it doesn't mean you have to taste 2 cloves of garlic on top of every slice of your pizza, in the way that burns your throat!!! My breath smelled like garlic for 2 days! Maybe if we had ordered pasta we would have a better experience, but our order was highly disappointing!
(1)
Andrew F.

Not quite sure why everyone raves about this place. Yes, we knew we had to wait a long time for this, so the 1h40m wait was our own self-inflicted pain, but it just wasn't that good. If you have claustrophobia, you shouldn't come here. If you like warm servers that really make you feel welcome, probably not your place. If you want menus with pictures, keep walking. Okay, so this place isn't a dump and it isn't hostile to patrons, but from the moment I sat down to the moment I left, I felt rushed, cramped, uncomfortable that I was sharing elbow room with the table next to me. I ordered the eggplant parm, my fiancÃ© ordered the butternut squash ravioli, and our friend ordered the bolognese. None of us were wowed by the dishes. It felt like you could get this just about anywhere, including your local supermarket. With the 1400+ reviews and 4.5 stars rating, we felt that we went to the wrong restaurant. There are other restaurants with lower Yelp ratings down the same street that we went to and thought the food and service was much better. Read the other 1400 reviews for a more positive and constructive experience, as we simply weren't wowed with what we got after standing in the cold for so long.
(2)
Erik L.

I don't really see the hype. My theory is that people see Yelp and realize that it is the "it" place to go to, so they come to the north end some weekend night, wait in line for an hour and you sit in a cramped dinning room, are forced to pay in all cash and at the end of it, they think that this was a fun authentic experience and rate the restaurant higher than it is. I live around the corner so decided to pop in one cold winter night when there was no line and found the food average and affordable. Rating on the food alone, I would give 3 stars as I am neutral: I've had better Italian food but I've also had much worse. What bumps it down to 2 stars is a combination of all the other crap, which may some consider "part of the experience." Maybe they think they are getting a taste of the old north end and while Giacomo's is a nice break from the more upscale restaurants which have become the norm in the north end, I just don't understand the appeal of waiting in line and eating elbow to elbow with strangers. It would be one thing if their food was amazing but I feel you could go to The Daily Catch, Assagios, or La Familia Georgio's and get similar food for similar prices. If you *really* want delicious Italian food on the cheap, check out Rino's in East Boston.
(2)
Uyen N.

I went with two of my friends on Sunday. We arrived at the restaurant at around 4:15 pm, but there was already a line. Arrive early to ensure a quick seating or else you will be waiting for around 45 minutes. The food was good, but clearly overhyped. We had the fried calamari, lobster ravioli, a penne with chicken dish, and the seafood linguine with Giacomo's sauce. The fried calamari was great and the seafood linguine was easily the best dish. However, the other two dishes fell short of our expectations and were unmemorable. What really did this restaurant in though was the service. As you are waiting outside in the cold, a lady comes out barking at each person asking how many people are in your party. It's busy, time is of the essence, I understand, but that was no excuse for the way she asked us in line. Once inside the restaurant, which was cramped and noisy, the same lady was our waitress. She came by every five minutes, clearly getting aggravated as we were having a hard time deciding what to get. When we asked about the dishes, she rolled her eyes. Food was delivered quickly, which was nice. However, when the check was delivered, our friend went to the restroom and took around 5-10 minutes. The lady came by several times within this time period and snatched for the bill that wasn't there. All in all, it was a wholly unpleasant and stressful experience.
(2)
Liz N.

This is a really late review but I only got my Yelp account recently so I wanted to go back to talk about this awesome restaurant. First off, I'm from Texas and visited Giacomo's in September of 2013. My boss recommended the place with the warning that we'd probably have to wait but it's so worth it that even our VP will wait in line. He was absolutely right! Two of my friends and I got there around 7 and waited in a line of about 12 people. Dinner here was on the "to do" list for Boston so we weren't going to give up on waiting. We met a really nice couple that were standing in line in front of us. They are locals and regulars at Giacomo's. Talking to them made waiting in line much more bearable. We probably waited for a little over and hour before we were seated. So when you first see the menu, it looks a little plain. Don't let this deter you! We got the calamari first and it was perfectly fried. Not too oily and very lightly battered in a good way. I got the shrimp and scallop linguine with the Giacomo's sauce. The pasta was almost a little too al dente for me but over the course of the meal, I got over it and really ended up liking it. The plate was so big but I couldn't stop eating it and, before I knew it, I was done! You can really tell that the waitresses here are accustomed to the rush and know how to work in a very efficient manner. It makes it so that the service doesn't seem to be as much of an issue like at other places. SUPER TIP: Don't come here by yourself if you really want to be by yourself. A couple in front of my friends and I in line were very observant and noticed that two people that were previously standing in line were seated together but didn't seem to know each other when they were standing in line. The couple were regulars so they said would ask the lady that sat the people at the table about it. The most awesome part: the waitress, Rose, said that she does it often for single people that come to fill tables. She said she hopes that people she pairs up will one say get together. It worked because in this case, the table went to get coffee and dessert after dinner!!
(5)
Christine N.

We were lured in by the line which actually goes pretty quickly. They get you in and out of that place. We ordered the calamari, caprese salad, lobster and shrimp fusilli, and the chicken and broccoli ziti. All were really delicious and came out so quickly! Definitely will come here again. It seems like smaller groups work better since the place is pretty small.
(5)
Kevin L.

Giacomo's is a great little restaurant in the North End. It's quite popular and often has a line. I must say that the food is very good but not great/excellent. I've been spoiled by Little Italy in NYC and this was not on par with those experiences. I will say though, the pricing is far cheaper and well worth the money. My wife and I shared the Seafood Pasta for two with Lobster. I wasn't a fan of the lobster but I'm starting to think I'm just one of those weird foodies who is not a lobster fan. We had another couple directly beside our table who we hit it off with. They were great and the wine was flowing. Made for even more fun. Service is authentic and very kind.
(3)
Dina W.

Loved this place! Wonderful wait staff and amazing food. Waited 1 and a half hours for a table for 3 but its well worth it.
(5)
Brandon S.

I love italian food, but I'm probably the first one to roll my eyes and shout hype! and not worth it! to any place that thinks I'm going to sit in a line for the privilege of overpaying for a meal. That said, Giacomo's is great if you're the right sort of patron for their scene. The restaurant is definitely as much about the experience as it is about the food. The line generally looks like it is going to take longer than it will. While that is good for you waiting outside, there is a fast-paced feel inside, which can upset those looking to kill 3 hours in a restaurant, mulling delicate flavors and swirling your wine about in a glass. You know, the American interpretation of European dining. So, you stand outside for 20-45 minutes or so, longer on the weekend, and you're seated a little gruffly with instructions like "2? you're in the corner". Now you might think it's a little strange not to be instructed *which* corner they're talking about, but once inside you can basically survey the whole restaurant without needing to turn your head, locating this mysterious corner seat in only moments. The menu is primarily on a large chalkboard, with a wine list on the table. I've always done well with the seafood dishes, as its a personal preference. I would consider the food to be more home and comfort than foodie, with giant portions and not too much flair coming out of the kitchen. Service is *great*. In my visits I've always experienced an incredible efficiency topped off with a sense of humor that gives you a sense of being on the inside of some social circle. The fact that you're probably seated inches away from another table generally contributes to this, as you're almost certainly going to be interacting with the people around you, who I've always found to be in good spirits. Also, I've always paid cash anyway, but last night I noticed the table next to me paying with VISA. I'd always thought it was cash only, but perhaps they've updated the policy. In summary, if you don't mind bumping elbows with strangers and laughing about it, want huge portions and don't mind eating relatively quickly, you really can't go wrong with Giacomo's.
(5)
Lily W.

I almost wanted this place to be bad so I could be the black sheep among the herd, but I'm also not a liar, so I'm happy to say that Giacomo's, after around a 30-35 minute wait on a Thursday evening at 5:30, did not disappoint. Peering into the restaurant whilst watching patrons shovel steaming plates of pasta down from the outside, you form a nice camaraderie with your comrades in the freezing cold. My companion and I were ushered in and were immediately seated at extreme proximity to the next table (you cannot fear brushing elbows with strangers!). I ordered the famed butternut squash ravioli, while my fellow diner decided on the lobster ravioli. The bread that was brought to our table was crusty and warm with huge air pockets in the chewy center. There isn't really much more to say--the portions are reasonable and I did not leave wanting to roll myself home. The ravioli--perfectly seasoned and al dente--there is such a tendency to overcook any kind of pasta dough but this was flawless. I would come again on a weeknight--it seems that a half hour weight is about as lucky as one can get. I wouldn't wait more than 45 minutes for a table--the food is delicious, but in my opinion lacks some creativity and innovation--maybe I'm expecting too much from a down-home Italian-American eatery.
(4)
Lynda D.

I can't believe I never wrote a review for this place. I've been here so many times for birthdays, anniversaries, go away dinner etc. PROS: i love the ambiance of the restaurant (intimate, dim lighting, can be loud since the kitchen is right next to you); Semi-open kitchen so you'll see how your food is prepared; Menu is on chalk wall; Great variety of wines; They start you off with bread and virgin olive oil (add salt/pepper to you liking); My two favorite dishes are the Pumpkin tortellini and butternut squash ravioli; I also like the fried calamari served with tomato sauce; The lobster ravioli is alright too but not my favorite. Its a very crowded space since its a family own restaurant (which can be a pro/con depending whether you like the intimate space or not). CONS: difficult parking so opt for garage parking; No matter what time of day, rain or shine there's always a LINE forming outside; NO RESERVATION taken; i realize some waiter (especially the old lady) can make you feel rushed as to getting your order and pushing you out the door once you're done eating bc they want to have other ppl come in, so if you want to take your time then eat slow but once they see those dishes are almost done, they bring the check for you. OTHERS/RECOMMENDATION: make sure you check the time the restaurant opens...so call ahead; NOT A PLACE FOR LARGE GROUPS since space is very limited; Bathroom located downstairs; takes CASH ONLY;
(4)
Janice M.

3.5 stars. My party of 3 arrived here at 5:45 on a Monday and waited about 35 min to be seated. This establishment is really small and the tables are pretty close together. So if you are claustrophobic, this is not the place for you. Service was ok. Our waiter took our order and suddenly just walked away. We weren't sure if he got everything because he didn't return to our table until he brought us our appetizers, which arrived relatively quick. I was looking forward to the calamari, but it was just alright. It wasn't as crispy as I normally like it. However, the lobster ravioli was very good! The sauce was excellent to dip your bread in. We felt rush to pay and clear the table once we were done with our food. Overall, the food was good, but I probably won't be returning anytime soon.
(4)
Adriano A.

Just face it, you're probably going to get yelled at once or twice. I'm totally okay with it. Even when you're getting a stern look or annoyed crux of the jaw, you will feel like family. It's even easier to tolerate when the food is so good. The affordable wine does hurt, either. It's crammed. You will wait in line. There will be yelling, cheering and scarfing noises. Nevertheless, you will enjoy yourself - assuming you like your pasta with fish and don't mind sitting close to strangers.
(4)
Ashli A.

Take as given the following: you will wait in line and you will have to pay in cash. Don't like those things, don't go (orrrrrrr make a reservation at the other location AND still take cash because that's how they roll). My first time: I parked on the street at 4:30 pm (it becomes resident parking at 6 pm). I waited in the rain (without complaining) and finally got into the restaurant at 5:40 pm. Ordered and the food was on the table by 5:50 pm. Ate like a crazy person, boxed the leftovers, paid, and was back in my car by 6 pm. How does one accomplish this, you ask? By being a smart and respectful diner (which in my experience most were). If you are in line, be a smart human and google the menu. DECIDE OUTSIDE! Sit down and order everything immediately so that you can actually enjoy it when it gets there. Perhaps do not park on the street if you don't eat like a competitive eater like I do. Food = Perfect.Have had multiple items on the menu and loved it all especially their mussels and calamari. The veal was good. And plain linguine with red sauce is amazing. The Giacomo's sauce is also delicious- it's kind of a creamy lobster, red sauce. So, if you want to eat here and are aware of what your visit may entail (even if that includes unpleasant feelings like impatience), then go and enjoy! P.S. Giacomo's is NOT good only because you wait so long that you are ravenous and will eat anything. If you ate dog crap after 2 hours of waiting, it would still taste horrible. So that's flawed argumentation. Ignore those people!
(5)
April A.

Very long wait to get in here but let me tell you it was worth it! The antipasto appetizer is fantastic! I ordered the linguine and oysters and clams with their special sauce which is a combination of a cream tomato sauce and their spicy sauce. It was seriously the best pasta sauce I have ever had! Great service. Only negative is that the place is REALLY small. I am not from Boston so this may be normal here but being from the Midwest it was way too small for my comfort. It was like sharing your table with strangers but honestly the food was worth it!
(5)
Roy L.

There's a reason this place has an average of 4.5 stars on over 1500 reviews. The seafood is simply unreal. There aren't many items on the menu, but of the the items they do serve, they make it taste spectacular. Few pointers that might make your evening a little more bearable being amongst all of us, tourists. 1. CASH ONLY -- don't forget. 2. Be prepared to wait in line for a long time outside (45 mins - 1hr+) 3. Less than 10 tables in the entire restaurant Now that you are armed with the essentials and want to know more about the food, we move onto apps and entrees. The fried calamari tasted unbelievably fresh and there were bits of fried jalapeÃ±os in there that added nice heat to the dish. The frutti di mare is a dish that I would recommend to anyone that likes seafood; having shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and mussels in a ratio that's unheard of. It felt like it was a 1:1 ratio of pasta to seafood, which is great for us foodies, but can't be good for the bottom line for the restaurant. I love it! Pros: Food is unbelievable Cons: Expect to wait, cash only
(5)
Rudy K.

Great food. Questionable service. First off, the food was fantastic. The burrata tasted like it was filled with crack. It was extremely good. I had the lobster with home made pasta with house red sauce, with a touch of white sauce. My wife had the seafood linguini with the spicy red sauce. Both were amongst the best pasta we have had outside of Italy. Service definitely comes with an attitude. We took our time and enjoyed our meal and even had a bottle of wine. Unfortunately we felt rushed the entire time. The waitress definitely didn't deserve the 20% tip i gave her but i didn't feel like asking for change and she looked like she needed it more than I did. I'm extremely critical on the service because after waiting 45 minutes we didn't think we deserved to be treated as poorly as we were. I am extremely generous with the 4 star rating but i honestly do feel like the food was worth all the crappy treatment. I just wouldn't go back.
(4)
Andrew P.

I waited in line a little over an hour on a Tuesday evening in the summer to eat here. The calamari was delicious - crispy, salted perfectly and the warm marinara is equally delicious. You can also get bottles of wine for as little as $19 ... a steal! The portions are large and the food is good without breaking the bank. I'd definitely go back - just don't know if I'd want to wait an hour in line. Was it delicious? Yes. Have I had better Italian? Yes. Has the better Italian food I've had been more expensive than this place? Definitely. Good food at a great price. Can't beat that.
(4)
Jack J.

oh boy oh boy oh boy. Well we were here on a Saturday afternoon around 5:30pm and the line outside was the the block and turned onto another block. We waited a total of nearly 2 hours for a party of 3. The atmosphere inside was definitely more upbeat and crowded; we barely had any separation from the table adjacent to us. Not a place to take your significant other for a romantic date, gentlemen. The lady who took our order and served us was very motherly and kind, and succinctly replied to all our inquiries. We had to order the Zuppa Di Pesce, their house special, which was essentially a jambalaya of seafood (including squid, clams, mussels, scallops, shrimps, and an entire lobster) with a bottle of Pinot Grigio. The food was amazing! I gorge on seafood and this was the ideal plate for me; the seafood was very fresh and perfectly seasoned with the Giacomo sauce (very lobstery). Definitely left the restaurant feeling bloated Things to note: this place only accepts cash, which means everyone outside waiting to be seated is carrying a good amount of cash :o Interesting enough, out of the 15-20 or so tables in the restaurant, all but one table were asian diners. Hmm... best "Italian" restaurant in Boston haha. a must try
(5)
Paul K.

Come early in the middle of the week! Only waited about 25 minutes on a Monday at around 5:30pm i think it was. Had the Frutti di Mari with Fracomo sauce and it was great. Wife had the lobster ravioli and that was amazing as well. All the ingredients are super fresh and high quality. The linguini was perfect al dente and the sauce had a perfect amount of heat. The service was also excellent. If we hadn't filled up on Mike's cannolis before coming here I think we would have tried the House special. I'll have to get that next time I come here!
(5)
Ida A.

In a word: HYPE Service is great. Food is ...(shrugs shoulders)... I can make this with store bought spaghetti and canned sauce. Appetizer: Calimari- It was good. They didn't over cook it. good job guys. But the red sauce was a lame after thought. Main: I got the eggplant parm. It was... a lot of food for a fair price. But the eggplant wasn't really cooked well. It should bee silky smooth and melty- but It wasn't. It was typical eggplant parm with a slice of eggplant that had the constancy of of a sponge. Ok.. whatever. The red sauce is good. My friend got the butternut squash ravioli which I also tried. The ravioli itself was.. ok.. but I swear what you get from Trader Joe's is at least as good or better. The sauce was a mess. It was totally water and flavorless. It was basically just milk. I actually feel bad for people who think this is good Italian food. It pains me. They even stand in line for this. PS it is uber loud and crowded in this restaurant. The staff is yelling and running around frantically. It's actually kind of unpleasant and stressful rather than quaint and exciting.
(2)
Karen S.

Trying to dine at Giacomo's over Labor Day weekend is wishful thinking. Near impossible. The line starts forming hours before they open, and you have to stay in it the whole time. There's no "call me when my table's ready." But we found a way to game the system. We got our food to-go for a picnic. It took maybe 20 minutes to get our lobster and shrimp fusili and butternut squash ravioli. It's not life-changing pasta, but it's homey and authentic. Oh yea, while our food was being made, my friends left me alone to hit up the connah store for some watah. They missed out on a Bawston brawl that broke out right before my eyes. It involved a homeless guy, a teenage girl and a furious father. It was INSANE. SIX cop cars showed up just to arrest the homeless guy (Boston policemen roll deep). They didn't even let him take his plastic bags with him, which probably held all of his belongings! My friends missed the entire fiasco, but I got it on video. Don't worry, I'm not posting it on WorldStar. If I'd known there'd be entertainment, I might not have minded waiting in line.
(4)
Isaac S.

All was really delicious. Had the burrata, salmon linguine and the lobster ravioli. Really worth the hour long wait. Service was great. It was an experience since the moment we arrived.
(5)
Brittney V.

The red sauce mussels are to die for. Ordering them every time I come. AMAZING. Decided on the spicy red sauce. Atmosphere is great. Definitely the spot to visit when in Boston.
(5)
Juliana Y.

This is my absolutely favorite restaurant in the north end. It is small and you will have to wait in line outside the restaurant for quite a bit of time (if going for dinner). The line can go around the corner. BUT, it is definitely worth the wait. The butternut squash ravioli is a must try for all you vegetarians out there! Trust me, you will not regret coming here!
(5)
Norm C.

The best food in town, not romantic but just the best. Great calamari, chicken masala, and the sauce on the squash ravioli is just amazing !!!
(5)
Jenn Z.

As a long time resident of the North End, my advice on Giacamo's: go there only if your wait is less than 20 minutes, or go on a week day after 9pm (very little wait). Also, bring cash. Giacomo's is not bad; I enjoy their pasta especially when it comes with the homemade "Giacomo" sauce. But the reality is there are plenty of decent Italian restaurants (true, and also tourist traps..but aren't they all?) on Hanover Street. If you are hungry or simply craving Italian, chances are you are not going to be disappointed with another place (ex. Panza across the street). In other words, Giacomo's is good, but it's not worth the wait and I know people have gotten disappointed with their food there. Additionally, the fried calamari is very good but the wine is so-so.
(3)
Joey I.

Little Italy Throwdown: The Daily Catch vs Giacomo's Night one in Boston marked the start of the Boston Food Tour, or the real reason we came to Boston, with a trip to The Daily Catch. Night two marked our visit to Giacomo's, TDC's division rival and sworn blood enemy [citation needed]. Since these two bitter rivals are located just a block or two away and serve similar seafood-themed Italian food, it seemed only fair to compare them directly to help you out. Menu Availability: *The Daily Catch, as their name suggests, serves only what they caught that day. *Giacomo's has a more trustworthy menu that does not seem to rely on the whims of the local seafood or noodle-catching industry. WINNER: Giacomo's Wait time / Seating Arrangements *The Daily Catch has a seating occupancy of exactly 20 chairs. The place is hectic, small, and very Boston. There is a line out the door, and I can use present tense because I'm positive that there is a line RIGHT NOW as you read this. Inside, the place is cozy, so be prepared to make new friends and share a table for four with another couple. *Giacomo's, on the other hand, had an even longer line (about an hour and a half wait). Fortunately time flies when you're waiting in line drunk after a brewery tour, so it didn't seem that bad. The line gives you a great chance to people watch, catch up with your dining parter/group, and generally stand in one place for longer than one usually does so. Inside, we shared a table with two different couples. Neither had a Boston accent, so we considered this a huge victory. WINNER: The Daily Catch Population: *The Daily Catch will have over 50% Asians (so you know it's good), but you will be overwhelmed with Boston accents from everyone else, including (especially) the staff. There will be a lot of screaming, which is apparently how people talk up here. *Giacomo's is a fairly standard restaurant. WINNER: Tie Food Who cares about food, let's skip that part. Food Just kidding, here come the reviews. *The Daily Catch: luckily, they had caught some delicious fish that day. We got the appetizer portion of the black pasta aglio olio (apparently they use squid ink to make their pasta harder to find at night), which was one of the top 5 pasta dishes I've ever eaten, and I can cook a mean macaroni. Warning: if you don't like garlic, or are a vampire, or are afraid that squids are always watching you and will know you ate their ink, avoid this dish. If none of those apply, you NEED to eat this. Both the aglio olio and the puttanesca are out of this world. It's worth stopping here just to try them. We also got the Fra Diavolo (for two), which is one of the more overwhelming dishes I've ever seen, what with the ridiculous amount and variety of seafood. It was a very good dish but for $70+ I wouldn't get it again. But that squid ink pasta...spoiler, we came back again to get more of it *Giacomo's wants you to like them in spite of their flaws (the wait), and to do so they bribe you with delicious food and fantastic service. As far as bribes go, this makes sense as the choice for a restaurant. Anyway, we started with the fried calamari and the garlic bread, then moved on to our main dishes of pasta with salmon and sun dried tomato and fusilli with seafood and fra como sauce (a half and half mix of two sauces). The calamari was delicious but heavy, and the garlic bread was heavy but delicious - calamari won our appetizer mini battle. The pasta was unbelievable. Both dishes were so good that I could eat them every day for the rest of my life, assuming I won some sort of lottery and also lost some sort of bet where I had to only eat one food. Overall I left ridiculously full and ridiculously satisfied. That was some GREAT pasta. WINNER: Giacomo's Service *The Daily Catch wants you to hang out, eat slowly, and infuriate the people waiting outside in line who can see inside and watch you prevent them from eating. They will bring your food eventually, when they feel like it. You won't care because it's delicious. *Giacomo'swantsyoutoleaveassoonaspossiblesohurryupÂandeatandleave WINNER: Giacomo's - you wait for an hour and a half to eat for half an hour, but they get your food out quickly so you're not waiting around. Note: The Daily Catch is cash only. So is Giacomo's. WINNER: Tie Overall I liked Giacomo's better, but it depends on what you're looking for. You can't go wrong with either place. If you haven't eaten there yet, congratulations, you're in for a treat.
(5)
Hailey P.

Absolutely wonderful Butternut Squash Ravioli!! We were able to make a reservation at the Back Bay location, which I didn't even know was possible.
(5)
Brian A.

I used to go to the South End location regularly when I was a student at Northeastern and loved it. Now I live in the North End and while it's more convenient the lines usually deter me because there are so many other options around without having to wait an hour to get in. That being said, the food is worth the wait as I've never had a bad experience at Giacomo's. The Calamari is a favorite and I usually get the Chicken Marsala as my entree. You really can't go wrong with anything at Giacomo's.
(5)
Allison S.

Don't bother trying to go inside if there's a line. We just waited patiently outside at 5:40 (for the second seating) for around 20 minutes. When we were heading in, a girl followed us in and tried to make reservations. She was quickly met with a "WE DON'T TAKE RESERVATIONS" and the door in her face. Pretty funny to watch. They get down to business here. No clowning around! Our waitress recites a scripted explanation of the menu and comes by quickly after. The calamari was one of the best I had. So fresh, crisp, and juicy. I also liked the touch of jalapeÃ±os for a kick. Lobster ravioli was fantastic and so was the lobster seafood pasta special. The fra diavolo sauce was so good. Can't say enough about the entrees. Portion size was perfect, everything was piping hot and most importantly, the seafood was FRESH. A must try!
(5)
Val B.

Super tiny and popular so be prepared to wait. There was sand in my clams and some broken shells causing jarring crunch in my meal. Other than that, the sauce was delicious and the service was great.
(3)
Kelsey R.

Great Prices!! Good Food!! Not worth the giant line... I have lived in the North End for 5 years and never went here because of the ridiculous line. Since Boston is pretty much an arctic wasteland this winter there was finally no line!! Checked it out last night and it was good, not worth the around the corner line that is usually there but good. It's a cute little place. It's fun and authentic, they shove you in wherever you will fit. The prices are awesome!! Super cheap by North End standards, especially the wine, $5.50/glass and $18 for a bottle! They have a great selection of seafood and some more traditional Italian dishes. They make it easy to pick your dish and your sauce so everyone gets what they want. I can only speak to what we got but overall it was good. Shrimp Scampi- Great fresh shrimp, overall it was good but super oily... if you want an awesome Scampi head to The Daily Catch down the street. Scallops in Fra Diavlo Sauce- also great fresh scallops but the sauce was not spicy at all. Great place to try if there is a short or no line but definitely not worth waiting for than 10 minutes in line, especially since there are so many options without a wait in the north end. (They do take credit cards but no Amex)
(4)
Jessica J.

Eat Here. Yes, there's always a 60-90 minute way. Yes, you will be rushing through your meal because you feel guilty at the other hungry patrons eyeing your plate from the line outside. Yes, you have to pay cash. And it's STILL WORTH IT. Our favorites: - calamari - fettuccine with peas, prosciutto and garlic cream sauce - lobster ravioli - traditional lobster based red sauce
(5)
Shelly M.

Wow! This is the absolute best, most authentic Italian food I've had in a looooong time. It does remind me of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld when getting a seat which is hilarious but is also part of the experience. I'm from charlotte nc and went to Boston on vacation and am crazing them already! Amazing food!!
(5)
Kim W.

We waited an hour to get into this place. I figured if a place had this long of a wait, it must be worth it right? Well, after we were seated, the whole experience went down hill from there. Donna was our server and she came off pretty rude and curt. I asked for a suggestion and she just kind of looked at me. The inside of the restaurant was the size of shoebox. Our table was basically placed next to another table...so it felt kind of like we were dining in a cafeteria with strangers... The menu is on a chalkboard, perfect for people with 20/20 vision - I don't have that, yet. So on top of not really being able to see the menu and being rushed to order...I wasn't too happy. Probably the most stressful meal I've had in awhile. I kept drinking the wine more than my dish to relax...maybe I'm claustrophobic? Honestly, I keep hearing from everyone that there aren't any bad restaurants in North End..so if there's a wait, go somewhere else - you'll still be happy.
(3)
Samuel C.

It does live up to the hype. I kept hearing about this place from different tourist. I was like fine! The only thing that's annoying is the line... the rest of my dining experience was pretty awesome. For being a small busy place, the staff was actually pretty funny, friendly and engaging. I've been to popular places like this all over the country and justifiably had servers who've just had it up to their nose with tourist. heheheh... This place however was like... so welcoming. The staff was friendly, and they didn't hate us for being obnoxious tourist. The food is 5 stars. I had the Fettucine but ended up finishing my friend's chicken parm. The plates are huge.... and only about 15 buks!! nice!! I'm impressed. This place definitely represents Boston well and lives up to the hype. I shall be back! :)
(5)
April S.

I would come here every time I'm in Boston. Had a parking snafu so got in line by 4 pm. Was at the end of the block. Miraculously got in during the first seating. Cramped, yes. Super efficient employees, yes. You felt like you were dealing with the Soup Nazi - you'd better have your order ready when they come by. But our waitress was incredibly nice. The food was the best ever. I got the cavatelli and sausage special. My dinner mates got half a lobster and mussels over fettuccine. All amazing. I only ate half but enjoyed a snack later that night. The house chianti was delicious. It's a must go!
(5)
Ann K.

Many yelpers giving Giacomo's fewer than 5 stars seem to be complaining mostly because this place is "overhyped." If you hope it will meet an expectation that is well out of sight, then of course you are going to be disappointed. Yes, it is a small place with very few tables. Yes, the line is hella long. Yes, they keep the line moving in a gruff Italian/Bostonian manner that can come off as being rude (or efficient, depending on how you look at it). Yes, they only take cash. But honestly, I just don't think they have sacrificed "who they are" to meet any sort of hype. And that's what makes them great. Hey, so if you are that excited about this place or are coming from out of town, minimize your angst by coming at a time that isn't right at peak hours, and you won't wait in line for that long. Don't drive here; take the T and have a nice stroll through the Freedom Trail and mosey on over for dinner in the North End. Bring cash. Take deep breaths. All of my friends order the seafood here. I know it must be good. But Giacomo's has only ruined one dish for me for life, and that is butternut squash ravioli. As in, I now live in San Diego and will never order butternut squash ravioli off any other menu because I am 100% sure I will be disappointed that it doesn't beat Giacomo's. I can still remember the first time it changed my life several years ago. This year I thought there was NO WAY it could live up to the hype I myself had built up. I went back earlier this year (May 2014) and hesitantly ordered it. Each bite was like waking up repeatedly to realize my dreams were real. I love the small restaurant feel. My waitress was so much like a crazy efficient Italian mother. I can see how it could come off as being rude for some people, but I loved her. The next day I was eating at Panza across the street and saw her run into Panza and then run back out. After dinner I crossed the street and visited Giacomo's to say hello to her as she was closing out the cash register, and found out she is related to the owner of Panza (I forget if it was son or brother) and had gone over to get some change. I grinned and said I sort of liked Giacomo's better, but she just said hey, it's just different. They're two very different restaurants that serve a completely different style. It rings true. I also loved the whole family feel that the North End gave off for me that night, as if the owners of all these restaurants that people are viciously comparing to each other are actually one big happy family who just want to feed us good Italian food. So, come here to get hearty Italian food served in a small, intimate space that has been preserved despite their larger-than-life reputation. Be realistic, and you won't be disappointed. :) Or at the very least, say hello to the butternut squash for me, and tell it I hope to come visit soon.
(5)
Sagar J.

A great Italian place with a variety of vegetarian offerings. We got the mozzarella in marinara sauce for appetizers. It was delicious. Difficult to share it with 4 since it had 3 pieces. The taste was subtle and the marinara was just perfect. We got the gnocchi, butternut squash ravioli and the eggplant parmesan for the main course. The eggplant Parmesan was well cooked and my favorite. The ravioli was a close second. It lacked a cheesy base that ravioli usually have. But the taste of butternut squash blended well. I'm not a fan of the gnocchi. It was filling but not very tasteful. The quantity of the main course is plenty to suffice for one hungry or 2 light eaters. I'd definitely go back here.
(4)
Tina S.

Okay this place really doesn't need any more (5-star) reviews but I had SUCH AN AMAZING DINING EXPERIENCE HERE that I just can't resist. We came on a Wednesday evening at 9pm, and there was a 30 minute wait which was a little surprising - but we waited and jealously looked in at the happy diners in the tiny restaurant. When it was finally our turn, the waitress treated us like family and was incredibly nice, even though it was clear we were the last to be seated for the night before they closed. Awesome customer service. We started by ordering 2 glasses of wine - only $5 per glass?! I'm a newcomer to the North End restaurant scene but that seems incredible to me. Then we got the calamari with Giacomo sauce and the lobster ravioli. Simply amazing. Usually I'm not a huge fan of calamari but it was cooked to perfection and the pasta tasted incredibly fresh. Even after we finished the plate we were still eating the leftover sauce because it was so good! The lobster ravioli consisted of 9 plump raviolis with generous chunks of lobster. The best part was each entree was only $15! Seriously the best quality of meal to cost ratio that I've experienced in a while. This place is definitely somewhere I'll be taking anyone and everyone who hasn't yet been, especially people who are visiting Boston. Remember it's cash only!!
(5)
John C.

I was very disappointed with this place. I ordered pasta with lobster. There was no lobster in the dish. The place is tiny. Customers are packed in like sardines. Extremely noisy. The waitresses constantly yelling at everyone. Frantic rush to get you in and out as fast as possible. Not the place to go if you want a quiet relaxed dinner after a long day. The worst dining experience we had during our visit to Boston.
(1)
John M.

This place is amazing! but don't wait in line @ the North End location, head to the South End location on Columbus ave and put your name in for a table, then go to the bar next door at anchovies and grab a drink. The hostess from Giacamos will come over and get you when your table is ready. Might i also suggest if you have a long wait, get the Fried Mozzarella app. at the anchovies bar, Delicious!!
(5)
Holly K.

I had the Butternut squash Ravioli- I have to say this was the most delicious meal I have ever had. Their prices are very good and wine was delicious. All bottles of wine are $18. This place is so worth the wait!!!!!
(5)
Alice H.

Giacomo's Ristorante always seems to have a line going out-the-door. After only a few short minutes in line, many passers-by stopped, checked out the line, and asked "Is this place really that good?" An hour later, we were seated at a cozy two-top next to the "Specials" wall, amazingly close to the open kitchen with its wall of copper cookware. The service here is super fast-paced and rapid-fire. Works for us! The large order of fried calamari was among the best I've ever tasted and hands-down arrived to our table piping hot the FASTEST of any restaurant. The batter was perfectly seasoned and I loved the fried pickled peppers sprinkled throughout. We also picked up a side order of the garlic bread, which used olive oil instead of butter. The edges of the bread was so charred that it made the whole plate bitter. I'd pass on this next time. I selected a dish off the specials - homemade fusilli with lobster and shrimp in a fra diavolo sauce. The pasta was al dente, the sauce was piping hot in temperature and spice, and the chunks of lobster and shrimp were fresh and plentiful. For those who can't quite take the heat, they also offered this dish with the house Giacomo sauce (red, non-spicy marinara) or half-and-half with the fra diavolo to lessen the blow. M went with the lobster ravioli with diced tomatoes in a garlic cream sauce. The lobster meat was generous and ravioli thin enough to let the flavors of the lobster shine through. The cream sauce wasn't heavy and along with the tomatoes, made the dish very enjoyable. So long story short, Giacomo's was definitely worth the wait. Yup - it's that good. Fun fact: The seating arrangement is pure luck, but I have to say the tables next to the window would definitely be the worst spots simply because all the hungry, slightly irritated patrons would be staring you down, Jedi mind-tricking you to eat faster and leave.
(4)
Daniel N.

I'm not a huge butternut squash fan, but their butternut squash ravioli was AMAZING. Also, get anything with the Fra Diavolo sauce and you will not be disappointed. There's usually a line and a wait, but if you can survive that, you won't be disappointed in the food. CASH ONLY!! This always makes me suspicious of restaurants...but this review isn't for their ethics. The food is AMAZING.
(5)
Kristin S.

The best Italian food I have ever eaten outside of Italy (and definitely better than many restaurants in the motherland). The wait in the line is worth it. Not only is the food spectacular, but the prices are also reasonable. You will never regret eating here, so go!
(5)
Char Y.

we waited in line for 2 hours in the hot sun for this tiny restaurant, and it was a complete disappointment. we order the lobster diablo, and it was served immediate. the portion was huge, but the seafood wasn't that fresh. the waiter was hurrying us in and out of the meal, and barely refilled the waters. why the hype?
(1)
Allison B.

OKAY, I live in the North End. Here is what you need to know about Giacomo's: - You're going to wait in line -- that's 99.9999% guaranteed NOTE: Boston is cold. Freezing, probably below (right now) and snowy. So yes you're going to most likely wait when it's not very pleasant outside - They are going to rush you. Because, refer to above: there is always a line. This is not a place to sit and relax and get another drink after you eat. Go to one of the several bars nearby to drink after if you want to continue. - You need cash. - It is cheap. Expect to get a bottle of wine for 18 bucks (which is rare in Boston when out to eat). Date for 2? Bottle of wine, app, 2 entrees ~$68 more or less. - Worth the wait!!!! Amazing food - good sizes you'll likely have leftovers. Our server was very nice & friendly! If you're looking for something more relaxing & not into the whole waiting thing. Check out Panza -- they have the same owners and the food is just as good & relatively inexpensive. Panza takes reservations -- Giacomo's does not.
(5)
Mikaela R.

The wait is worth it! I ordered the Lobster Ravioli, and it was melt in your mouth delicious. Donna, our server, was great too. She even joined in on our jokes.
(5)
Raphael A.

Went there last night after years trying. The giant line outside always pushed me away. For my surprise, there was no line yesterday and we had the greatest time. Food was excellent followed by a bottle of nice wine. Price is awaken for the quality of the food you get. The seafood was excellent and the homemade pasta is unbeatable. Service is great as well. It exceed all of my expectations and I was glad that had the chance to eat here. Highly recommended.
(5)
Angela D.

This really is as good as it gets. My god. As others have mentioned, long wait, expect to wait. We got there at 4:30PM (when they opened) on a Friday night and had to wait for the first round of service to finish (~45 minutes) PRO TIP: One does not simply drive into North End. If you're coming here, come by taxi, Uber, Lyft, bike, or T, but please for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT DRIVE. Because of the huge line and small restaurant, it definitely feels rushed, but take a deep breath and enjoy your meal. Be courteous of the wait staff and pull your chair in. Once you sit down, the drink menu is on the table and the main menu is on the wall. You'll be handed a small menu containing the specials for the night. My boyfriend and I ordered the caprese salad to start (good, a staple of course). He ordered the "peas & prosciutto in garlic cream sauce" and I ordered the potato gnocchi with broccoli rabe, Italian sausage in an arrabbiata sauce (the night's special). They were both delicious. The garlic cream sauce was creamy but light and the pasta cooked perfectly al dente. The potato gnocchi were airy (but definitely on the flour-y side). I resisted ordering the butternut squash ravioli that everyone raves about, but maybe I'll save that for next time. Everything moves quick so just focus on enjoying an awesome meal, and Jesus, stop taking pictures of everything. There are over 1600 reviews for this place. We don't need anymore pictures. Your dining experience here will be short. Carpe diem.
(5)
Eric And Arisa C.

Atmosphere: 4.8-stars Food: 4-stars Service: 5-stars Atmosphere: Great, cozy (small) Italian space - the interior design consists of molded tin-plate ceiling, red accent walls, wood and warm lighting. The kitchen is out in the open. It takes up about a quarter of the space and you see your food being prepared while hearing garlic and olive oil sizzle and the clinking of pots and pans. The overall feel of the place is authentic Italian. Food: Decent. The shrimp and scallop scampi (amazing garlic, butter and olive oil sauce). The caprese comes with beautiful, thick beefy tomatoes, but the mozzarella is not super flavorful nor is the dish as a whole (but hey - it's still classic caprese which is fresh and light, a nice compliment to hearty and dense plate of pasta) The bread is lovely. Service: Flawless. It may have just been tonight, but the mothers run this place. TIP: YOUR WHOLE PARTY MUST BE PRESENT TO BE SEATED. We were seated quickly and efficiently, we received great recommendations and were served quickly.
(4)
Brian C.

If I'm going to get any pasta dish in Boston proper, it has to be at Giacamo's in the North End. I don't eat seafood, but the pasta here is the best around. I could eat the butternut squash ravioli with asparagus and prosciutto every day of the week if my metabolism could keep up. The pumpkin tortellini is also amazing, and both of these dishes are great during the fall when pumpkin and squash are so popular. This location is pretty small, and you can expect lines that wrap around the block. Takeout is a good option, and if you have a car the location on Tremont street is a bit larger and easier to get a seat at.
(5)
Cory S.

Maybe I have been spoiled from all the amazing pasta and Italian food I enjoyed in Italy because this place was not worth standing in line for. The pasta was cooked perfect but the sauce lacked flavour in every way. We had the seafood special and the ravioli. The seafood special visually looked amazing , the seafood was fresh and the star but the sauce was plain and lacked any additional flavour to the dish. The ravioli was average at best.
(3)
Jenn K.

There are some VERY important issues to take note of before you plan on heading to Giacomo's Ristorante for dinner... In terms of food, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. It is worth every penny you spend there, and it's not even that expensive. Some things that are extremely good are the Lobster Raviolis and the Butternut Squash Ravioli. These are two of their most popular dishes so I would HIGHLY recommend at least trying it out on your first time at the restaurant. But keep in mind, the raviolis are usually a smaller entree, but the cream sauces can get a little overwhelming so the smaller portion usually makes sense. This place is known for their homemade pasta, so make sure to get it no matter what! The calamari and caprese is always good as well. In terms of service, DO NOT EXPECT HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. This does not mean that Giacomo's has horrible waiters (at least not all the time). People give this place 4-5 stars because of the food, not because of the service, why? It's because the food is THAT good that the restaurant doesn't need to be as concerned with high quality service because people WILL be coming in no matter what. Here are some tips to help prepare you for the next time you come into Giacomo's - There WILL be a wait, unless your lucky. However, if you're a larger group, you might have to wait longer because they're trying to rush out the smaller tables. But in the end, the wait will be worth it. - Be prepared with what you're going to order. The menu is outside so have it figured out, the only thing that might surprise you walking in are the specials but try to decide asap. - DON'T GO HERE ON A FIRST DATE. Um, isn't it awkward having to wait online with your date for 2+ hours and then go inside to kinda actually start your date? Yeah, I would recommend coming back when you guys are a little more comfortable with one another. - Bring cash, there's pretty much no restaurant in the North End that takes cash so be prepared. If all fails, there's always a Bank of America down the street
(4)
Peter D.

Favorite Italian place in Boston. Just get the giacomos sauce and anything after that works. Yes, the line sucks depending on what time you go but it's worth the wait considering the price to quality ratio. I've also been to most other north end Italian restaurants and aside from Al Dente it's no comparison.
(4)
Alan H.

Great food, great value. Trying to figure out the queuing system outside in the freezing cold with other first-timers was memorable but probably not for everyone. I'd recommend the butternut squash ravioli!
(5)
April H.

Let me just warn you by saying they do not take reservations so yes you may have to wait and it is cash only. With that being said, it is well worth the wait. My husband and I went to Boston for a weekend getaway. We got there around 7:30 and did take to wait for about an hour. However we were promptly waited on. We ordered the calamari to start, it came out minutes later. The service was amazing, cute little Italian ladies! I ordered the ziti with chicken and shrimp in a creamy pesto sauce. and my husband got one of the specials. Everything is made in house and is absolutely amazing. Reminds you of your grandma's cooking. If you're in the North End, Giacomos is the place to go!
(5)
Danny T.

The line here can be pretty intimidating, but I was impressed with how streamlined the workers here were. I only had a day in Boston, so I didn't want to leave thinking I should have just waited in line. Here's some things I wish I had known while I was waiting in line. Hopefully it will ease you're mind while you wait: I got there at about 20:50 (8:50 PM), and the line was backed up about eight parties in front of us. - There are about ten tables that seat about four people as well as a couple seats at the bar. I think your best chance of getting a table quickly is with a party of four or less. - You don't need to put your name down. The waiters and waitresses will come out and see how many are in your party to assess how they will get you in - We were told that upon arrival, we had an hour to an hour and a half wait. We got in at about twenty to thirty minutes - We were also told that if we didn't get in by 21:30 (9:30 PM), we wouldn't get to eat today. However, we left at 22:07 (10:07 PM), and they were still letting people come in to eat. Still, this could be a nice day, so I do suggest getting there early. Inside: Like I said, there's only about ten tables, so you imagine that things are tight. Don't be surprised if you're sharing a table with another group. There's a lot of hustle and bustle, but it's all a part of the process. Service: I thought service was great. You order right when you get in, the food comes out hot and quickly, your drinks are always filled, and the waiters and waitresses are pretty entertaining. If you feel like you're being rushed, think about the poor souls that are outside waiting to be as happy as you are! I did my best to get in and out while still getting the full experience. Food: - Calamari. Best I've ever had. This is a must! Super tender. Not rubbery. The breading doesn't separate from the squid and isn't gritty. The especially liked that they fried some peppers and through it in with the squid. - Mussels in Giacomo sauce. First off, if you're like me, you always butcher Italian dish names. The restaurant and the sauce is pronounced gee-ack-ko-mo. Alright, the mussels combined with the Giacomo sauce combined with a little bread for dipping... Awesome! The sauce just melts in your mouth, and the mussels taste so fresh. - 1/2 Lobster, Clams, and Mussels over Linguini in Giacomo Sauce. Usually when I go Italian, I like to get the Frutti di Mare. Though this was an option, I couldn't say no to the 1/2 lobster option for a dollar more. The one thing that made me hesitant at first was that I wouldn't get scallops, but when I got my dish, there was a single scallop on my plate for me to get my fix. Hahaha. The plate is no joke. Nothing on the plate is lacking. You get enough of everything. The lobster was sweet and consisted of head, tail, and claw. The linguini was cooked very well, and the plate is piping hot. It didn't take me long to clean my plate. I did leave the claw at first because it's not usually my thing, but the waiter came out and told me that I need to finish, so I complied. Not going to lie, it was pretty good! I'm so glad my first real meal in Boston got to be here at Giacomo's!
(5)
Teresa S.

Got in line (the line was down the street!) at 4:36pm, I was amazed because they open at 4:30pm lol. But clearly a good sign of great food! The wait was a little over an hour but it wasn't a bad day to be outside. Service is excellent and very fast paced. My boyfriend and I had calamari and garlic bread for apps, delicious. And I had the lobster ravioli for an entree. Amazing fresh Italian food, and done extremely fast! Honestly we were probably in the restaurant for about 25 mins tops! Worth the wait! You have to keep in mind, on weekends, there will be a wait no matter where you eat! Even chain restaurants like cheesecake so who cares! Definitely will be returning!
(5)
Sofia A.

Best Italian food I've had outside of Italy. Pumpkin tortellini, butternut squash ravioli are must tries. Arrive early or during the week to avoid a crazy line. Service can sometimes feel rushed. Don't let them. Sit and enjoy. It's worth it.
(5)
Kylie H.

The black pepper pasta sheets were to die for. This place is amazing and worth the wait in the middle of December. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)
Lauren E.

So this place is highly overrated. I'm a waitress and I never post to yelp but this was ridiculous. They don't take reso's, its first come first served so we waited in line for over an hour, 15 degrees yadayada because the reviews were good. We get in, order and there they were, all three courses on top of each other. We weren't even close to finished with our app and salad when the entrees arrived. No acknowledgement from Donna about rushing us through our meal. She only seemed to care when I left her a 15% tip so she stared me down after taking my payment. Sweets, that was way generous on my part...we still had half a bottle of wine left when she dropped the check. Dudes, the food wasn't even that good! Come on, reviewers...
(1)
David L.

My favorite spot in Boston. The sauces (they have 4 types, I've had all except the scampi) are incredible. Fusili de Mare is by far my favorite dish. That being said, the linguini, calamari, and any of the duo meals they have are incredible tasting. Yes the line is long, but it is well worth the wait. Surprisingly, even after not being back for 2 years, a couple of the people staff still remembered me. Service there is always great. I strongly recommend.
(5)
Bruce B.

This is our favorite place in the North End. We actually ate here twice during one weekend. So you have to stand in line outside during all weather. What is the difference if you do it here for food made in front of you or eating at any major chain for a meal poured out of a bag. Always opt for the Giacomo's blended sauce, the Fra Diabo and seafood red sauce has not been beat in my opinion. My wife had regularly enjoyed anything that they have offered as a special. It had not been a ... well we should really get rid of this product special. Ann Marie the old stalwart of line management makes the experience here. She handles the door and manages the lines. While waiting tables and telling stories. I'll keep coming here and standing in line as long as the experience stays the same. Good food at reasonable prices, especially in the North End.
(5)
Marc D.

This place is an experience. Yes the wait can be long (we waited 30 min on a Sunday at 8PM) and the place is crowded, the owner is loud and rough, but the food is amazing and the price is right. The lobster al diabolo was cooked perfectly and with a nice sauce. The gnocchi was fluffy and flavorful, the pumpkin ravioli was great as well.
(4)
P P.

We waited about one hour. Ordered calamari on a recommendation. It was ok but not one hour wait phenomenal. We also had chicken parm and a seafood combo plate along with a lobster/shrimp fisuli special. Everything was good but not special enough to stand in an hour long line, pay cash and have an abrupt server rush us through our meal.
(3)
Ian S.

Of all the restaurants in the North End I've tried, this is the best, hands down. There is a reason why it's the only one with a line extending around the block every night. Everything on the menu is superb. Most of the dishes involve some combination of seafood, pasta, and either red or white sauce, though they also serve a couple of chicken dishes. And yes, the butternut squash ravioli is truly magnificent--a great option for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Prices are comparable to other North End restaurants (and slightly cheaper than some), but the food is vastly superior. Some tips/warnings/disclaimers for the uninitiated: Plan to wait in line outside for an hour. Take comfort in the fact that they do get people in and out quickly and the line does move. Assuming it's not the middle of an ice storm in January, the wait can be pleasant. Enjoy the fresh air, chat with your fellow dinner guests, get to know your neighbors in line, watch in amusement as unwitting tourists try to drive down/parallel park on Hanover St., and, if possible, use this time to browse the menu so that you'll be ready to order when you're seated. (This place does not take kindly to the idle and/or indecisive!) Once inside, don't mess with the staff. Decide what to order quickly, place your order firmly and politely, and don't press your luck with any special requests or substitutions. Side note: to the credit of the wait staff, I came here with a friend recently who has a gluten allergy (I know, an Italian restaurant is not the best place to go if you can't eat carbs, but whatever) and our server very politely helped her figure out what to order. The wait staff here will not fawn over you or coddle you, but nine times out of ten they will see that you're taken care of. Go in with a firm, decisive, yet friendly tone and you will receive the same treatment from them. Eat at a brisk pace. I have never been pressured to finish quickly here but it's best not to overstay your welcome here, if only because there are dozens of people waiting to take your table. Pay cash, leave a tip, thank your server, and you'll be wished well on your way out the door. Follow these simple rules and you'll be rewarded with some of the most delicious Italian food in the North End.
(5)
Lynn K.

While I see high marks all over the place for this hole in the wall I have to give an honest review - So yes- get there early - preferably when they unlock to door or your in for a wait - we went on a Tuesday night about 5:30 and waited about 40 minutes. Finally got a table and surprised to see the 2 folks behind us sitting at basically the same table (place is so small they combine 2 tops' for larger parties and depending on where the 2 top is your going to be stuck eating with people you don't know!) They don't serve Italian bread (unless you decide to order garlic bread for 4.50 - we didn't) Got the caprese salad - it was fresh and tasty - but I prefer the version at Sienna in RI The basic Side salad lacked inspiration and the salad dressing could have been better (could have been good seasons?) The chix Marsala was good, tasted as it should and the side pasta w/sauce: pasta way over cooked - red sauce was very tasty, would have expected the pasta to be al dente? my friends meal also good pasta with chix - but could be served at any Italian restaurant of even macaroni grill? Wine was cheap and drinkable - meal for 2 70.00 bucks - cash only So I can say I went and don't need to go back. no parking at all - we walked - * tid bit - funky wine shop down the street !
(3)
Jennifer L.

Giacomo's was towards the top of my list of Boston restaurants I wanted to try due to its good reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor and it did not disappoint. By some miracle, we didn't have to wait for a table on Saturday evening when we arrived around 7:30 PM. It's a small restaurant and they seat parties right next to each other, which is just a little awkward. We ordered the fried calamari, lobster fusilli special, ravioli special, and a bottle of Chianti for $72 and everything was delicious. My only complaint is that they don't have dessert, which is too bad because if they did, I'm sure it would be amazing. I can't wait to come back!
(4)
Richard C.

The best food ever with normal prices. Service is wonderful!!
(5)
Donna Y.

Expect a long wait. This restaurant does not take reservations. Don't expect good service here. The waitress was very curt and rude. At times, she almost spilled hot steaming food on my friends. The food on the other hand was very good. The calamari is ammmmazing. The breading is light and tasty and the calamari not chewy. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli with asparagus for my entree. I felt the asparagus was unnecessarily placed in the cream sauce and it didn't lend any help to the flavor of the sauce or dish so I would have preferred it on the side or nothing at all. The butternut squash ravioli however was deelicious!
(4)
Dave T.

Great food. I thought my seafood house special was slightly bland, but perhaps that was because of a more neutral red sauce that I ordered it with. Overall I was impressed with the quality of the food, but I don't know that I would wait more than 45 minutes for the food when there are other great options around.
(4)
Kiley S.

EXPECT TO WAIT IN LINE/CASH ONLY! We got here at 5:50 on a Saturday thinking we were beating the rush - boy we were wrong. The line wrapped around the side of the buildling. That said - we ended up waiting. It took 4 of us around an hour and a half to get seated. Once we were seated, we got drinks and ordered right away. The service was great and the food came out SO fast. If you are looking for a slow dining experience this might not be the best place. The chicken parm was AMAZING! For only $14 I got a massive piece of chicken and a side of pasta. My friend got the chicken broccolli ziti which was really good too! Wish it didn't take so long to get in...they need to buy the run down flower shop next door and expand!
(4)
Jin Z.

food is fine. but the space is extramly small with the most capacity of table. rush for dinner. just ok
(4)
G H.

I live in the north end. This place is fine but its not worth the wait. There are so many really good restaurants in the north end. I have never understood why people waited in line.
(2)
Sccott S.

Very very good food. Great atmosphere Sevice is great. Make sure you have time to wait. It is worth the wait.
(4)
Alexis O.

I waited in an hour long line before eating here. I don't love Italian food, but I must say I was pretty impressed. We really loved our server RoseMarie's no nonsense attitude. It made for a better dining experience. Honestly, the place is super crammed and they aim at flipping your table, so it's hurry hurry hurry vibe. We opted for the Calamari, which was very delicious. Peppers were actually fried along with the calamari. We also had a bottle of white wine, which is an excellent value at $18. My dad and I stated that we would never wait in a line that long again, so we opted for three dishes (to stuff ourselves) because we wanted to try as many of the greats as possible. I ordered Fusilli with Lobster and Shrimp in Fra Diavolo at the suggestion of the server. It has a nice piece of lobster on top when it came out. My one complaint on my own behalf is that I wish I dispersed that piece of lobster throughout the dish (but that is my fault). The pasta tasted homemade, which I believe is the true highlight of this restaurant. My dad ordered an excellent chicken dish that was breaded on the outside and stuffed with spinach and cheese. This was excellent as well, but like I said their homemade pasta is the way to go. As an order to go, we decided we must try the Butternut Squash Ravioli as everyone from Yelp reviewers to the people I spoke to in line said we must try. It was excellent. The combination of the fresh ravioli's combined with the butternut squash was perfect. And the delicious creamy sauce on top- FANTASTIC.
(4)
Sam P.

I suppose I could give it 4 stars, but...why? For not being "inventive"? For not having reservations? For lack of parking? For not taking AMEX or Discover? For not being a place that tourists don't know about and frequent? If you are expecting any of those things, don't come here. If you are looking for a quality meal at a reasonable price and a *great* North End experience, do. I'm allergic to shellfish, and even though that's probably the best stuff on the menu, I love going to Giacomo's (Note: despite being allergic to shellfish, I have never experienced a cross-contamination problem here).
(5)
Leona Y.

Probably one of the best pasta sauces I've ever had. If you're not into spicy but want to explore something other than a typical marinara, I highly recommend the giacomo sauce on your pasta. There was a special available with half a lobster, clams, and mussels in their linguini and it was only $20! What a great deal! The portions aren't necessarily huge but order the calamari appetizer and munch on the bread while you wait for your main dish and it's definitely plenty. The food comes out pretty quickly and the service is awesome. I can understand how many reviews say they feel rushed but I think its just the atmosphere and we didn't necessarily feel like they were trying to get us out the door. We arrived around 5:15 and there was already a line outside. We only waited about 20 minutes outside before we got seated. Definitely come in a group of 4 or smaller. Even better if you're a group of 2 since you might actually get seated before the larger parties waiting in front of you!
(4)
Jenn T.

HOLY ORGASMIC! This place is spectacular. Now I know the line looks intimidating and very painful, but I'd say that it is well worth the wait. This place doesn't take names or reservations so the only way to get a table is to stand in a long long line. However, it does give you plenty of time to plan out what you would like to eat, and trust me, you'll need plenty of time because literally everything on the menu looks SUPER yummy. I couldn't decide even after standing in line for 45minutes and even then I made a split second decision and decided to go with a special written on the board. The restaurant is very small and crowded, full of the hustle and bustle atmosphere, which makes you slightly hyper while eating. Everything looks good, but what they feature is a great pasta, with different types of sauces that all sound yummy. We got the calamari because everyone was raving about it on yelp and boy was it yummy. I tried some of the lobster ravioli, which was SO full of flavor and lobster. I also tried the squash ravioli, which to my shock, was BETTER than the lobster ravioli. I got the homemade fucili with lobster and shrimp with the friacomo sauce. SO AMAZING, full of flavor, basically a fricken explosion in your mouth with some spice and zest to it. LOVED IT and could not stop eating it even though I was stuffed because the flavor was so amazing. The other downside to this place is that it is cash only, which makes it some what a hassle, but well worth it. Everyone here was very helpful and polite despite the crazy atmosphere in side. It was definitely a fun fun find and a delicious meal!
(5)
Dawn S.

Giacomo's is one of our favorite go to restaurants in the North End of Boston. There's usually a bit of a wait but once you're seated the food comes out very quickly and piping hot! The seats are very close together but it's a fun experience. We start with a salad, garlic bread (smothered w/fresh garlic gloves) and calamari (which is the best around) lightly breaded and very tender. Their special seafood pasta dish with a bottle of wine is usually what we order. It's enough for 4 people to share... We've never had dessert but the ravioli and seafood dishes are the way to go! They finally accept credit cards-yay!
(5)
Sam Y.

Let me see... what makes Giacomo awesome? - Door opens at 4pm for dinner and we came at 5:17 and there was a line that extended down the street. I passed by the door and the food smelled absolutely heavenly so hell yes, I was willing to stick it out and wait 1 hour to try this place! - The line went a lot faster than I expected. Just a little under an hour we were seated. - I knew this was a legit Italian restaurant when the yelling came to. "TONY! You're blockin the guests! Move already." Tony - "I'm pouring the watuh! Can't I pour some watuh???" - Tony was our server and I hope he is your sever too, because he is hilarious! - It's a super small restaurant that fits around 10 tables, and throughout our meal there were people lined up that we could see at the window. It's THAT good. - There was a menu on a chalkboard up front but we already knew what we were getting (Thanks to yelp) - We got the fried calamari (must get!) for appetizers, house salad, and for entrees their house special (Zuppa di Pesce) with Giacomo sauce which is for two people! - Zuppa di Pesce is basically a gigantor plate with clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and lobster over linguine. IT WAS DELICIOUS. - Normally I hated anything with cheese (can't stand the smell), so when Tony dumped a whole plate of parmesian I froze. Of course I tried it anyway and it was heavenly!! Maybe the real reason I hated cheese was because I've never been to a place that made it well. - We finished the plate only because my boyfriend is a beast, I think it can feed up to 4 people. - One thing we didn't realize was that this was cash only, however there's an ATM across the street, literally like 10 steps ahead. - To some people it may come off that the staffs are trying to rush you, but what do you expect? They got a lot of customers waiting. I LOVE that this place has a high turnover rate. You get in, you eat, you get the F out! That's how you run a successful restaurant business. We, however, did not feel rushed at all. They were patient and courteous with us and I think we stayed longer than some tables. - It was an overall great experience and Tony was a ball of fiery charisma. Would definitely come back here again.
(5)
G R.

Like this place needs another review, probably not, but here it is anyhow. This place has been on my bucket list of restaurants to try, the last time I was in Boston there was a line, this time also a line, but not to bad and I'm glad I got in it when I did. I got there about an hour before they opened and managed to be seated with the first group in. Here's a tip it sort of goes in order so be friendly to the people close to you in line, odds are you'll be rubbing elbows with them. I was worried that as a solo diner I'd get the stink eye, but not at all. Did get a friendly welcome, along with quick efficient service, the place is like a well oiled machine. I had the house salad, and the butternut squash ravioli. The bread also was delicious, something about the bread on the east coast always worth the carbs. The meal was outstanding, I ate it all, every bite, I usually end up leaving half my entree when I go out for dinner. Even the server noticed that I ate it all and gave me a "good job" I was waiting for atta girl pat on the back. The place is small and busy, don't plan on picking out a special table, you sit when a space becomes available, if you're lucky to get a seat at the counter take it because you'll get a great view of all the busy kitchen activity. Bring cash!
(5)
Martina M.

I came here on a Friday night around 8PM - the line was still way out the door to the shop next door. My party of 3 waited for about 45-50 minutes and the temperature outside was about the same. Brrrrrrr. If you're in a really extremely hungry and impatient mood, don't go here. However, you're missing out on probably the best Italian food you've ever had. Not probably - definitely the best. We had the butternut squash ravioli with asparagus, prosciutto and mascarpone cream sauce, and a couple of specials (homemade fusilli with lobster and shrimps in the fra diavolo sauce, and clams with spaghetti in the Giacomo sauce). That butternut squash ravioli was amazing. I can't even describe it. Plus just thinking about it makes me hungry so i will leave it at that. The homemade fusilli was also really good. Perfectly al dente and the sauce was spicy and yummy. Too yummy. The shrimp and lobster was fresh and added texture to the whole dish. Agh - too hungry already. I will definitely come back here next time I'm in Boston. Kthxbye. Ps. bring cash and don't be afraid if you have to share table with another party.
(5)
Junhyung P.

We got the huge platter for 2 of a lobster with mussels clams calamari etc etc. I think their individual pasta dishes are great, but I advise you not to get this huge 'special' platter. The "spicy" tomato sauce was bland and under seasoned, and the seafood is generally overcooked, especially the scallops - definitely not worth the hour and a half wait. The fried calamari appetizer was not bad at all though.
(4)
Sonia M.

As a DC native, I found the food scene in Boston to be very disappointing. But this restaurant was phenomenal!!!! I ordered the eggplant Parmesan ... A huge dish and I finished it all! I usually get full so easily but there was no way I wasn't going to finish that meal. So, so, so good!!! Our waiter was awesome too. The service is fast! The reason why I gave it a 4 was because there was an hour wait... But so worth it. If you're in Boston, don't leave until you go to this no frills Italian wonder! Only a 10 minute walk from the Prudential tower.
(4)
Deanna I.

After yelping this place to death I bribed my husband into standing in line. Thankfully it seems easier to get in with a party of two. After 20 minutes we were whisked inside and the forks were raised! Started with broccoli. I love garlic and olive oil, it was pretty good but I eyed our table neighbors calamari and second guessed our decision. We both had the fusilli with lobster/shrimp in giacomo sauce. I could eat my weight in this. Overall a great experience, friendly service, good prices and great food! You know it's good when Locals also recommend it.
(5)
Dianne S.

Gosh this place was great! Caesar salad cold and crisp! Chicken parm was tender and sauce was sweet And the gnocchi special was the best meal. It had the gnocchi sweet smoked sausage broccoliini portabello mushrooms and diced tomatoes No wait due to the snow storm and then walked down to mikes pastry for a florentine cannoli
(5)
Angela S.

Had the special, which consisted of half a lobster, a few clams and mussels with linguine for $22. The giacomo sauce was superb. In addition, we also ordered the butternut squash ravioli. There was plenty of sauce. The ravioli was cooked perfectly with a generous amount of butternut squash inside. Simply delectable. As for our appetizer, we ordered a small calamari, which is a good portion for 2, even 3, to share. The calamari was the best I ever had. Fried and seasoned to perfection. In addition, the calamari was the most tender I've ever had and was definitely very fresh. I went at 4pm on a Tuesday evening, a half an hour before it opened for dinner. There was barely a line at that time.
(5)
Jim F.

This place was awesome. I got the lobster ravioli. It was very good. Only issue is that the place is small and you feel like you are rushed through your meal.
(4)
Hayden G.

Cash only, make a reservation at the back bay location. Amazing food, particularly the diablo sauce and seafood dishes. Great cheap house wine!
(5)
John S.

Outstanding in every way. Be warned, cash only but there is an ATM across the street. Service is fast and the food is about the best Italian I've ever had.
(5)
Andrew L.

Coming from CA, I'm not a huge fan of seafood pastas and am genuinely curious as to why so many Italian restaurants in North End seem to specialize in this stuff. That being said, this question was partially answered at Giacomo's. We ordered: 1) the lobster ravioli, which was very good, 2) a chicken parm with linguini, which was what you would expect (I probably should have gotten something less standard instead) and 3) the fusilli special. This review is specifically for the fusilli, which was SOOO good .. it really makes you appreciate how good high quality hand-made pasta can be. I have yet to experience this in the Bay Area, but will be searching :D In the meantime I will be missing Giacomo's!
(5)
Andy V.

The most overrated Italian restaurant in all of Boston. If you enjoy waiting on long lines with lots of out-of-towners, sit in tables that are literally on top of one another in a noisy atmosphere, and be rushed out so the next party can be seated, look no further: this is your place. The food is more than adequate but certainly you can do far better in the North End.
(1)
Aly C.

Worth the wait, I promise! Delicious affordable and quick! Best Chicken Broccoli Ziti I've ever had!
(5)
Becks L.

Waited in line for about an hour to get in (which apparently isn't as bad as others) and it went by okay with some friends to chat with. The food here is amazing and reasonably priced. I definitely recommend the shrimp scampi pasta, the sauce is worth every cent. Service is quick and I'm sure they work fast knowing that others are waiting outside. It did not come off as pushy at least. Definitely a must try in Boston if anyone has the time to go.
(5)
Kyle D.

This place has the best Italian food I have ever had, hands down. I recommend this place above all others. You should go here as long as you don't mind over an hour wait and idiots cutting in front you, but the food and service is well worth the wait. I suggest calling ahead for the hours and getting there 15 minutes before opening. True Italian food awaits you. As for my experience, when I was finally seated, I was so hungry that I ordered both the butternut squash ravioli and the lobster ravioli because I heard good things about both and did not want to choose. My order was taken almost immediately and I received both plates as requested in less than 10 minutes. While I waited, I received great fresh and soft bread from a very attentive waiter. The service was phenomenal. The food was pure sex. The flavor was excellent in both. I received good quantities of fresh ravioli in well crafted sauces. The asparagus in my butternut squash ravioli was good and the tomato in the lobster ravioli was good. I think their recipes are genius. And everything was piping hot. You know you received a good meal when your nose is watering as much as your mouth. I think all the flavors in each dish really complemented each other well and nothing clashed. I think I will try the prosciutto ravioli next time, because I am the Ravioli King. The price for all this food with a coke was 38 dollars and change, which I thought was more than fair given the quality and quantity of food, and also the area this establishment resides. I gave a tip well in excess of 15 percent since my experience was so good, and the staff worked so hard on a busy Friday night. This restaurant takes cash only so don't be a stranger to the ATM. This Giacomo's has received plenty of reviews and hardly needs mine, but credit should always go where it is truly deserved. I don't know which is better, the food or the service. But what I do know is I will definitely be back.
(5)
julesmary p.

Cliche to get the chicken parm? Maybe, but given it's the BEST CHICKEN PARM EVER you will be happy to be on the bandwagon with me. I'll be the one drinking Coors Light out of the bottle and motioning for another order of garlic bread. Even if you don't get the chicken parm, you'll be psyched. Also it's the north end so it makes for great people watching!
(5)
Rachel S.

Hands down, my favorite restaurant in Boston. The food never disappoints - worth the wait. On my recent visit, my friends each had the chicken parm, and I had the lobster ravoli - they raved about theirs, and the sauce in my dish was so good i wiped my plate clean with bread. Bring cash, and expect to wait - not a fancy place at all, but great price and value for fantastic Italian American food.
(4)
Oscar A.

Amazing food! There is a line that forms about 20 mins before opening. Make sure you get there. Avoid coming in large parties as the space is very limited. After finishing our meal, the line was still growing. I had their Zuppe di pesce. Great portions and tasted great. Would come again if I visit Boston again
(4)
Kristine J.

Best Italian restaurant I've been to thus far. Certainly recommend this homecooked, family-style restaurant to anyone craving Italian food when visiting Boston! There's definitely a line at this place, but I was able to beat the long, long wait fortunately. Just make sure to come before or around 5 pm if you come on a weekday, since the crowd starts by 5:30 or so. So I gotta say,this place is so darn small! It could literally only feed like 10 people at most inside! I went here with my family back in May, & found everyone to be so friendly here, INCLUDING the fellow patrons. It's 'cuz your're seated very closely by each other, which sorta forces you to chat people up. Which is definitely not a problem. Adds to the charm of the place.We ended up having a convo with an old cute couple from Colorado I think, alongside our table. I wanted to try their butternut squash ravioli, but since I have a nut allergy, decided not to risk it. THOUGH, now I'm regretting this decision because it seems to be a true to the hype dish hahha. I even had some Benadryl handy. But the waitress (who had the coolest Boston accent btw) checked with the cooks, saying they weren't even sure if there were cashews or not inside. :/ It's cool. I still had a DELICIOUS alternative. The lobster ravioli. It was pure heaven in my mouth. I finished my whole plate. The sauce, the lobster---- meshed together so well. Oh & the Calamari was very tasteful. Forgot what the rest of my fam had, but I'm pretty sure I had a taste test of all of their dishes too hahah. I remember they were also very good. Check out the pics below which only testify half the amazingness of their food!
(5)
E K.

I just can't get enough! Got the frutti di mare scampi again--changed my life AGAIN! How is that possible? I expect it to be good, but it goes and blows my mind again. Got the burrata app this time. So so so so good! I don't know, I might need to go to Giacomo's every night!
(5)
Ashley N.

My favorite restaurant to recommend to others and the one I take out of town-ers to. Best calamari I have ever had. I have been here 3 times and they have been consistent with their calamari. My friends have said it is the best they have had too (all on separate occasions). Good appetizer to share at the table or have all to yourself. It's lightly battered and fluffy too. The calamari is not chewy/tough and just done right. I ordered the butternut squash twice because it was just that good that I did not want to order anything else. My friends enjoyed this dish too. I would recommend this. The giacomo sauce was also very good. I'd prefer that one, but all of them are worth a try. Cash only and quick service. Always a good time here! Get a cannoli afterwards at Modern's for dessert!
(5)
Samantha M.

Delicious reasonable priced seafood. I got one of the specials that had 1/2 lobster clams and muscles over linguini w red sauce for 23 dollars. Space is limited so be prepared to wait for a seat.
(5)
Chris D.

The food was even better then the excellent reviews. Waited over an hour for table a table. Kinda creepy to have People stare as you eat. But understandable. It is so good
(5)
Raven V.

Let me start by saying that I NEVER write a one star review unless I feel the place really god damn earned it. This is one of those cases. I was on a business trip to Boston this weekend and saw that this place had a ton of positive ratings so decided to check it out with a friend. My family runs Italian restaurants, so I have a VERY keen eye for what should and should not be on the menu, type of service and etc. I was really excited to try Boston Italian as I have never had it, and really wanted an awesome experience.... I didn't get this here. Let's start with the menu choices: Most of the selection is very basic dishes, heavy Boston influence, and heavy on the seafood. After once glance at the menu, and looking at what people were eating at the tiny tables I didn't think I was going to be in for anything amazing. Customer Service: The sad part is after waiting for 2 hours to eat, we were talked to rudely... shoved out of the way when we were trying to come in to order and told to get out. We placed our order to go, as we needed to get to an important business meeting as waiting in line had taken too much time. We were informed the place was cash only ( would help to have this posted on the door for people not from Boston) and went to get cash. My friend and I decided to just to try another restaurant as this seemed like a massive hassle, and the food didn't look/smell worth it. SO GLAD we ended up trying another location as we had a MUCH better experience at La Famiglia Giorgio's which is around the corner. They were friendly, the veal was AMAZING as it was cooked perfectly and the selection of sauces, pastas and fresh food was just to die for. Sorry Boston Giacomo's seems to be all show and no go, not worth it.
(1)
Derek E.

There are plenty of informative reviews here so Ill be brief. Be prepared to wait outside in line for some time. Be prepared to get very cozy with your fellow dinners, as you will be in close proximity. Be prepared for authentic north end ambiance and passionate personalities. Be prepared for fantastic food. Be prepared to have a Cannoli at Mike's, to get your Parcel 7 parking validated, they don't do that here. Enjoy.
(5)
Maddy I.

This place is quirky but great. 1. If you're hungry, make sure you get here around 4pm to line up outside before the 4:30pm opening. We stumbled upon it at about 4:20 and there was already a huge line so we checked it out, and just barely got a table in the first batch of customers. If it's later, eat a snack, because you WILL be standing in line. 2. It only seats about 30-40 people, and the restaurant itself is about the size of a shoebox. It's all a bit cramped, but it adds to the experience. You can hear the chefs clanging around in the background. 3. The menu selection is small, but everything on it is interesting and delicious. Most dishes include some sort of seafood sauce or addition, which isn't great for picky kids. 4. The food comes quick. The portions are great, and it's not too much or too little, so it's okay, but expect it within 10-15 minutes after you order. There isn't much seating, so they want to get you out of there. 5. The food is DELICIOUS. It overrules all of the quirky things about the restaurant that usually would make it a lower rating. We had the special: a perfectly cooked tenderloin with asparagus (which was a bit woody - the only drawback). The pasta we ordered was perfectly cooled and the sauce complimented it without overpowering it. The garlic bread was made with real garlic and was wonderful. They only accept cash, so keep that in mind.
(4)
Julia M.

My visit to Giacomo's last night resulted in a complete 180 of my view toward the restaurant. Prior to last night, I held the restaurant in high regard & frequently recommended the place to others, but after my horrendous dining experience yesterday evening, I hold it in rather low regard & will cease recommending it as a place to eat in Boston. My unpleasant dining experience began almost immediately after my friends & I were seated at our table. We had waited in line for 40 minutes & were one of the first people to be seated at 4:30. We were seated in the back of the restaurant against the wall with the menu written on it, & I took the seat right next to the wall. As I was up against the wall with the menu, I could not easily read the menu from my seat, so I stood up to quickly look over it. I had been standing for a grand total of 2 seconds, if that, when one of the waitresses ordered me in an irritated tone to "sit down", because I was "blocking everyone's view." She said this while simultaneously pointing to my chair. After barking at me to sit down, she handed everyone at the table a menu, noting that everything that was on the wall menu was also on this paper menu. As I looked around the restaurant, I noticed that every other customer had also received a paper menu, which begs the question, if everyone had already received a paper menu, why would it have mattered if I was "blocking" the menu on the wall? Although thoroughly annoyed, I decided stay, as I had been looking forward to eating at Giacomo's all day. We ordered calamari for the table, which we enjoyed. For my entree, I ordered the scallops served over linguine in a scampi sauce, which was extremely disappointing. The scampi sauce was bland, & the scallops were chewy from having been overcooked. To add insult to injury, we were the last table from our seating to be served - by the time we received our dishes, everyone else from the 4:30 seating had already left or was in the process of paying. I left feeling very disappointed, but unbeknownst to me, that was not the end of my awful dining experience. Giacomo's had one more surprise in store for me: food poisoning. I am unsure whether the calamari or scallops caused the food poisoning, but I spent the remainder of the evening nauseous & feeling absolutely miserable. Needless to say, I do not plan on returning to Giacomo's any time soon.
(2)
Azizi k.

*clams, mussels, and 1/2 lobster with scampi sauce. Delectable * garlic bread (nothing to write home about) * Wine great portions * Grilled Salmon cooked under the temp I preferred but still was great *Service a bit spotty- waiter never suggested coffee/ dessert :( * BEWARE -- CASH ONLY !
(4)
Kushal M.

Absolutely HORRIBLE service - DO NOT go here.. I went with my family to the location in the South End with a reservation at 9pm. At 9:40pm we still did not have a table. The hostess kept promising us the next table and kept giving it to someone else. When confronted, she didn't even bother with an explanation. I've heard the food here is good, but there is no way I will go there again. What use is good food if you can't even get a table 40 MINUTES AFTER RESERVATION TIME?! There are plenty of great Italian restaurants in Boston - pick another place.
(1)
Mike T.

Great food. Great staff. Fun atmosphere. Authentic Italian. Broccoli, Burrata, and the Chicken special were all fantastic.
(4)
Marie L.

Pros: -15 min wait on a sunday (we got there at 3:50, opened 4ish) -speedy service -lobster ravioli and calamari was amazing -fruity and delicious extra virgin olive oil at tables for bread Cons: -loud -tight and cramped, you sit right next to kitchen Make sure to check out the specials; they looked delicious!
(4)
Ruslan K.

Oh I remember that one vividly. We`ve seen great reviews, and decided to go here. Parked for $20 somewhere close, and spent literally an hour waiting in long line outside on a very very cold November day. Is it cramped as people describe here - yes. But it adds to the experience so it`s OK. Is it awesome food? It was not bad but nothing extraordinary if you ask me. I think it deserves 4 stars, but honestly - I thought it`s one of those places that have great reviews online and creates a huge demand and bathes in attention. Is it overpriced - yes I would say so, and a cramped space, cash only policy and an hour long lines outside are included in the price - yes, definitely.
(3)
Amanda P.

I ordered the Fettucini Alfredo and was totally watery. EW! When my date and I went to get dessert, it was warm, and not like warm out of the oven, like it was left out warm. I mean please In know we came late in the evening, but I wish the staff was more...uh.....full of efforts?
(2)
Maria S.

Fabulous valentine's day dinner with bf! Snow is falling in Boston, and there was no line to wait in. Sat at the window seat watching the snow fall on Hanover St. Chris, our waiter was second to none! Food was amazing, we had calamari for appetizers (fresh and very crispy - delicious), garlic bread - crispy, and also dripping with deliciousness, caprese salad. For entrees, I had butternut squash Ravs (PERFECT), and bf had seafood fra diavolo (also delish!). We live in the north end, and have never waited in 'the line' - we took advantage of a snow storm to get right in. Glad we did - it was fantastic!! Highly recommend.
(5)
Hay W.

Went here on a weekday for dinner, and it was PACKED. The line continued throughout the next few hours (there still was one when I walked by at the end of the night). When it's that bumpin' outside of an establishment, you know it's gotta be good. And it was! I had the salmon linguini with a red lobster-based sauce and it was amazing. Loved the flavor, and the portion size was pretty perfect. Left me feeling full, but with enough room to go to Mike's for dessert after. I was also able to try the lobster ravioli which was decent, but the Butternut squash ravioli with marscapone was amazinggg. My only gripes: it's cash only, and I didn't feel like they advertised that too well. Usually I see it on the menu, but if it was there, it wasn't obvious. Also, they really pack the diners in there - we were practically crashing the date of the couple next to us. But hey, when food is good, I might even consider sitting on your lap.
(4)
Carolyn L.

Yup, I was one of thoooose people who waited in line for an hour outside. This restaurant is tiny but the line moves fast. You wait for an hour, you order, your food arrives in minutes, you eat, you pay, and you're out. Kudos to Giacomo's for their efficiency! With the amount of people in front of me in line, I was sure the wait would be at least two hours. The food was pretty good. It's as authentic as it gets. We started with the calamari. I tried ordering the large size after reading about its epicness on yelp, but our waitress insisted the small was enough. You don't see that often! Waiters usually try to make you order the most to get all yo moniez. So that was surprising. And the calamari definitely lives up to its expectations. Best. Calamari. Ever. There's an unexpected kick of jalapeno in the marinara sauce, which is to die for. Perfectly fried with fresh seafood. Yum! I ordered the Lobster Ravioli since it was so popular on yelp. It was pretty disappointing. There was nothing wrong with it, but after waiting outside for an hour I was expecting it to be incredible. There is a decent amount of lobster but nothing noteworthy. The sauce was pretty good but not amazing. I will say that the price of $16 is pretty sweet. My mom ordered the seafood pasta. Again, we were disappointed. It was really good but not worth an hour wait. I will say that it was really flavorful with fresh seafood! Also, I noticed a lot the reviews complained about the customer service here. My waitress (blond, short hair) was really nice! No complaints. Likely won't come back because I don't think it's worth the wait. But I would definitely go back if there was no line and get the calamari.
(4)
Eric N.

No Res. No Credit Cards. No Wait list. There is a wait "line." As mentioned by a fellow yelper, the ATM is right across the street, so make sure you have cash before you go in. Also, as "Kozue M." said, might not be the best place for a first date since it's a little loud. There was a couple that got seated next to us, and I could tell the girl was mortified. Not the place to take a shy date who is afraid to speak up. However...if you are a couple that loves food (especially Italian), this is for you! We got there at primetime, 730pm. Waited 30 minutes for a 2 top. So worth the wait! Did service feel a little rushed? Yeah...I mean, they have a line of people waiting out the door! You were that guy that was waiting before, but once you sit down, you will have a big smile cause it's time to relax and enjoy your meal...My friend and I split everything: Calamari - As everyone describes, crispy, not chewy, served with marinara. Great way to start your meal. (I would try the caprese salad to start next time. Caught myself drooling when one came out) Cesar Salad - cold, crisp leaves of romaine with a nice creamy dressing. Big enough to share if you both get entrees. Scallop and Shrimp Pasta - Made with bay scallops, but not overly chewy. We ordered them with the Giacomo's sauce that was kind of a red cream sauce made with a nice touch of lobster stock. Lobster Ravioli - Made with a heavy cream sauce and fresh basil. This rich and creamy dish, was the star of the night. We ordered a bottle of Pino Noir for $17, and we both walked away from the table only spending $40/person. Not bad for amazing food, with an "Old Italy" type atmosphere. Definitely recommend it to anyone staying in the area, as it is walking distance from the Seaport area hotels and convention center. Worth the wait for both the food and experience.
(4)
T. L.

This place was awesome! I'm here visiting from Ft. Lauderdale with friends from Toronto, St. Louis & Hawaii. We went here based on reviews from YELP-THANK YOU!!! Must visit
(4)
Sunny M.

I'm not usually one for tourist traps. So seeing the line at this place didn't have me excited. But with high recommendation I decided I should try it. The one hour wait (with friendly visitors also waiting) was worth every bite. I ordered the burrata mozzerella caprese salad (special) app and the butternut squash ravioli. AMAZING!! I was obsessed with every bite. The servers seem frantic...so have pity. But the food does everything for this place. Loved it!
(5)
Nellie Z.

It is a long-long-long-long-long line. But the food is very good.
(5)
Kay E.

After waiting about 45 minutes in the Boston cold I have to say that the food here was worth it! I ordered the lobster ravioli. .. I've never been to Italy, but I'm sure this is exactly what it tastes like. It was amazing! Not 5 stars because of the tight packed space (literally elbow to elbow) and fast pace get in/get out ambiance ...not a place to chitchat and reminisce after your plate has disappeared.
(4)
Reid N.

Best mussel and clam linguini garlic sauce I have had!!! I went alone but while I was waiting a party of three asked me to join so I did. At the last minute I told the hostess I was joining the other party behind me. Boy did that get her mad (jokingly). She said she was going to beat me. :) I was helping her out because she was going to give me a table of my own. We got real garlic bread as a thank you for sharing a table. Great service and great food. No need to try the other places. Well worth the hr wait!
(5)
Madeline H.

You have to get there early to wait in line, but it's worth it! Out of this world Italian in a small hole in the wall space, makes you feel like you're in the heart of Italy. I felt that the meal was rushed because they are trying to get customers in and out. You could tell that the waitress would not let us sit around after our meal (hence why they don't serve dessert.) Excellent calamari! Cash only Also, they are not thrilled when customers are on their phones, so be polite and enjoy the meal and the moment.
(4)
Sushama K.

Waited for 2 off hours but yeah totally worth it. Being vegetarian, dint have much options so I hope they can increase menu for veggie ppl but pumpkin tortellini was amazing :) Hoping they increase the length for veg menu :|
(4)
Youssof M.

By far one of the best Italian restaurants in the North End. Fresh Pasta, and excellent Dishes. we typically order the Zuppa Di Pesce, which is a house special. The item is meant for 2, depending on your appetite I would say it's more like 3-4. The Calamari is a must, in my opinion it used to be better a few years ago, wasn't as good during my last visit, but it's been a while. If you don't like seafood then go for the butternut squash ravioli, exquisite. A few words of advice. Come rain or come shine (or even Nor'easter) You WILL wait in line, the time depends greatly on day of the week, time of day, season and weather. Expect a no-nonsense attitude from Ann Marie, she'll ask of your party's size and seat you when the time comes. The place is TINY, you'll become awfully familiar with what your neighbors have ordered. This is not a place for large parties, or little babies. (even though we once had a table for 6 including a toddler, so it can be managed) Bring Cash! They do not except plastic. Parking is a hassle, and Giacomo's do not validate parking. (Interestingly the Back Bay branch has more space, excepts debit/credit cards and has free parking... then again, if you're visiting the North End, this is the place to dine!)
(5)
Larlar S.

The Italian food here knocks it out of the ball park. Best. Italian. Meal. Of. My. Life!!! Giacomo's opens at 4 pm. We get there at 3:30 and there is already a line of excited Bostonians huddled in the pouring rain. Definitely a good sign. Trusting my brother and taking the line of avid customers into consideration, I tolerated freezing my Hawai`i butt for half an hour to see what the hype was about. Clearly, it was worth the suffering. Entering that tiny restaurant was extremely delightful. The waitress was hospitable, the atmosphere was homely, and the smell of garlic was beyond words. I couldn't wait to devour my lobster ravioli. When our entrees came out, they were gorgeous. My meal consisted of cute pasta pillows sprinkled with dices of tomatoes and covered in thick garlic cream sauce. My sister and brother both ordered linguine, heaped of clams and mussels, and soaked in delicious scampi sauce and spicy marinara sauce, respectively. My brother's linguine also had a good-sized lobster. I don't understand how each dish was under $20. I have never eaten anything this extravagant for this price! When I took a bite of my lobster ravioli, it was perfect. I loved the rich combination of the cheese, the lobster, the sauce, and the sweet tomatoes. UGH...I felt deprived and privileged simultaneously...strange feeling. Yes, this deserves the cliche, "where have you been all my life??" Umm..in Boston...duh. More than 10 hours away by plane from where you live??? Gosh darn it!!! Bottom line: #amore
(5)
Ami P.

This was the second time I came, and I waited 45 mins with my two friends. I got the butternut squash ravioli and it was very good, and my other friend had the eggplant Parmesan while the other one had the salmon with pasta on the side. We also ordered a small Calamari which was nice, but not the best. The portions were big so we took home the eggplant Parmesan and the salmon and I'm prolly going to come back here next time to try other dishes, but it wasn't to die for!
(4)
Juliana M.

Really good place, but the lines at the door are ridiculous. People wait over two hours just to sit there, which I don't think it is worth. All the bottles of wine cost $18, which I think it is one of the reasons why there's always a line. The food is really good, the service was good too.
(4)
Tressa S.

This place is GREAT! Of course, the reviews about long lines and less-than-pleasant wait staff are true, but the food more than makes up for it! Anytime I'm in the North End, I do my best to venture over to Giacomo's. My personal favorite is the lobster ravioli - yummy! Every time I've gone, my dining companions have loved their dishes as well, so I don't think you can go wrong here. Word of warning - be prepared to wait. And don't get offended if your party has been there for quite a while and you are passed up for another group. The restaurant seats patrons based on the actual availability they have, and they don't have the typical restaurant waiting system. Some of the wait staff can be a bit curt, but diners shouldn't take it personally. You're there for the food, so be sure you enjoy it. Overall, Giacomo's is a great place that I go back to time and again for delicious dishes!
(5)
Jamie L.

A line was already forming by 4pm for the opening at 4:30pm. The restaurant is small but that is what makes it feel home-y. I love it.! Our server was amazing with a great sense of humor! We were immediately given sour dough bread and of course we asked for refills! I thik it is a by individual experience for the staff because all of them were very kind to us and the table next to us.s We ordered the must have calamari and house special with scampi sauce! It was amazing. However, I was not able to finish it all. It was definitely large! The sauce is a bit more on the watery side. I am used to it being more creamy but it was still amazing! I would def recommend this place and the calamari and house special. Again, they do not take credit cards so do not forget cash!
(5)
Karen L.

Saturday night, 7:30: the line extended all the way to Fleet St. This was daunting, but we were determined to just do it. We were a party of 4, and most appeared to be parties of 2. It was cold, but the line moved impressively, considering how small the place is. They pack an impressive number of tables into their tiny restaurant, which means depending on where you sit, your table will almost abut someone else's. However for such a small space, I was surprised at how well we could hear each other. The menu: full of selection, customizability, and reasonable prices. I had a linguini special with a 1/2 lobster, mussels and clams. Yum, and $20. Whaaa. We shared a bottle of shiraz for $18. ($18!!). The standards looked to be in the $14-15 range, including seafood options. I could see why the line moved pretty well: their staff are efficient. The starters and meals come out with little to no space between, and everything is delish. Actually that's probably why it isn't super loud in there, everyone is too busy eating their plates clean! Our server informed us that she made the salad dressing. She would not reveal her secrets but I will suggest you use the bread to soak up all that goodness. Despite the wait, we really enjoyed this experience. And yes. CASH ONLY.
(5)
Monica W.

Giacomo's is an institution in Boston. Come here if you are focused on getting good food for a great value. There's almost always a line, they're cash-only, it''s crowded inside, and waitstaff don't sugarcoat the experience for you. Portions aren't chain-restaurant-diabetes-inducing, but they will definitely fill you up. And obviously, get their popular butternut squash ravioli.
(4)
Tiff W.

The wait was only 20 mins for us. Given the background that me and my bf are food lovers and tried lots of authentic food; we also traveled to Italy and had amazing Italian food there, this restaurant is just soso. We ordered their 2 top restaurant speciality, pasta with lb lobster, mussle and clam and lobster fulisi, the pasta is really good, but I do not like their house special source. The calamari is impressive. It is Tender, not greasy, and the source is perfect to dip. Maybe we will order those with different source next time.
(3)
Ben G.

Get the diner for two. This is a must, regardless of the other tempting items on the menu.
(5)
Hannah C.

Summary: blah blah blah.. tourist trap... blah... FRIED CALAMARI AND FRACOMO SAUCE ARE DIVINE. Just try it once. No regrets. Likely, our best meal in Boston. CASH ONLY! Yes, there are only like 10-12 tables in this teeny tiny restaurant. Yes, it gets crowded early, and the line grows exponentially as the sun sets. And yes, it's just another homey Italian joint in the North End. But no, it's freaking tasty and really cheap for the quality of seafood and size of portions. No, it's not a waste to stand in line before the restaurant opens at 4:30 so you can be seated RIGHT AWAY. And no, husband had never tasted such tasty pasta before in his life... I've been to Italy, so I'll say that this is the best Italian-American food that's ever entered my mouth and stomach. First, the fried calamari: crisp and fresh, they also fry up some peppers that are the perfect complement to the rich butteriness of the calamari. Dip in the fantastic marinara (rich but not overpoweringly tomato-y) and pop into your mouth. Yum-o. Next, the bottle of wine: so tasty and so affordable. I think we got the tempranillo and I think it was like $17. Um, yes please! Finally: Fracomo Sauce. Get it on anything, and you're good. We got it on our shrimp and scallops with linguine. Fra diavolo = spicy marinara. Giacomo = creamy lobster. Fracomo = magic. Creamy, rich tomato sauce with a kick. So so SO very tasty. I tried replicating the sauce at home, but I couldn't capture the full flavor profile that made this meal so memorable. Not super heavy, considering the creamy and richness of it all. One of the most well-rounded and balanced pasta sauces I've had. We also ordered and enjoyed a veal parmigiana. Not too soggy or greasy and topped with the wonderful marinara sauce we so enjoyed. AND our server was so kind and sweet. I'm sure she's seen people from all over come through her tables, but she was still excited to hear where we were from and why we were visiting. Yay for delicious food, genuinely friendly service, and crossing an item off of our Boston food bucket list. We're definitely coming back the next time we're in Beantown. Husband wanted to go again on our short trip; he loved it so much.
(5)
Eva W.

After wandering around North End, we decided fit in a quick dinner before our Amtrak. Decided to come here, and lucky we got here early. We were here about half an hour before they opened on a Sunday and took the third to last table. Crazy to see such lines.. Menu is written on the wall. Cheap bottles of wine. Space is a bit cramped and you'll likely be rubbing elbows with your neighbors. But I guess that's all a part of the appeal? The service is fast, and the food is pretty darn fresh and good, but not so spectacular it's worth an hour wait. Great calamari, but I'd be sad if this really were the best in town.
(4)
Phil T.

What more can be said about this place that hasn't already been said by 1000+ other people. I've been here many times and the food is always good. The star of this establishment for me is the sauce,it is absolutely divine. It is also relatively inexpensive comparative to the other nearly restaurants. I've waited an hour here outside in freezing weather for a table and still thought to myself it was worth it. That goes to show you how good this place is. A few tips for first timers -place is small, there's a chance you'll be elbow to elbow with someone else not in your party - cash only -in cold temperatures, dress warm because there will be a wait. -open for dinner only -giacomo sauce is dish licking good You wont regret visiting here.
(5)
Irene C.

We came, we waited, we conquered. Well warned of the wait, we arrived at 5pm on a Saturday, prepared for our snowy wait. 35 minutes later, our party of two are escorted to a table inside the warm exterior, and we began our feast: small calamari and House Special for Two (Zuppa di Pesce) with red Giacomo sauce. There wasn't much talking once the enormous platter of linguine with lobster, clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, and scallops was placed down, and we went to work. PROS - The fried calamari was delicious: not too fried, seasoned well, and fresh (as far as you can tell from fried stuff) - In truth, the red Giacomo sauce really made the entire dish extraordinary: I'm not sure what they put in it, but I would buy bottles of it to transform my home cooking. Creamy, tomato-based, plenty of seasoning, great consistency. At the end of our dish, we asked for more bread just to mop up the remaining sauce - Zuppa di Pesce was as desired: lots of fresh seafood on top of linguine. The lobster is already split for you, so you just need to crack open the claws. Yum! The variety of seafood was quite astounding and a phenomenal deal. - The bread was simple but high-quality, allowing it to serve as a base on which you could add whatever you wanted (mostly sauce for us haha) - The staff was courteous, efficient, and professional. This is clearly a place where they try to get you in and out as quickly as possible while allowing you to enjoy your restaurant experience. CONS - I'm not a huge fan of long lines, and it was snowing the day we went. Bleh for the 35 minute wait. The line moves fast though, so if you have only one person waiting, make sure the rest of the party is close by. Larger groups will wait much longer than a 2-person group. - Along those lines, no reservations. :( - Other reviewers describe the Zuppa di Pesce as more than enough for 3-4 people. While it is a lot of food, my boyfriend and I had enough room afterwards to saunter down the street to Mike's Pastry for some dessert. I suspect they might have cut down on the amount of linguine given since our pasta portion was relatively small. I got 3-4 fork-spinfuls of linguine, and I think my boyfriend got 5-6 spinfuls, which is decent but not enough to feed a small nation the way others have described it. - Cash only. There's a Bank of America down the street, but it's still a pain. All in all, would definitely recommend, but given the hassle, it might be awhile before I return.
(5)
Alex E.

I was so excited to finally eat at Giacomo's, after hearing so many amazing things about it, but I am afraid that it doesn't live up to it's hype, in my opinion. The atmosphere was really nice and cozy, that I did like, and the prices were good. But I just was not so impressed by the quality of the food. Sure, the portions were HUGE and it was definitely tasty, but not mindblowing. We shared the burrata and sauteed broccoli as appetizers, and got the vegetarian fusilli and tortellini dishes for our entrees. I guess if you factor in the price it is definitely a great deal, but I was just a bit disappointed because I was expecting my mind to be blown by the meal, which it was not.
(3)
Jerry K.

Are you kidding me, this place has no business getting anything lower than five stars. Butternut squash ravioli was to die for. Who cares if you have to wait outside in a line wrapping around the block for 45 minutes in the rain, it's worth it. This is some GREAT Italian food. And you can't beat the atmosphere. Boston may be a town that shoves its Irish roots down your throat - Giacomo's could of fooled me.
(5)
Haley S.

Giacomo's serves up delicious Italian, and be prepared to wait for it. They don't take reservations, and the line forms outside. The line moves only as quickly as people eat their food, but the restaurant does a good job of getting the food out quickly so the diners are in and out pretty fast. It's a tight squeeze between the tables so be prepared to suck it in to get to your seat - especially if you have a corner table. I absolutely am head over heels in love with the pumpkin tortellini with mascarpone cream sauce. Just trust me and get it and you'll see it's divine. The calamari is a good starter, the mozzarella appetizer is just okay. My husband loves it but I've had much better elsewhere. All around, pretty delicious. Give it a try.
(4)
Sri H.

The restaurant is good. Bread they serves as complimentary is awesome. Go for the bread atleast. Food is good. Place is very small and don't take any cards.
(4)
Mary R.

Wonderful Boston -influenced Italian food. The lobster based Giacomo tomato sauce and fresh pastas are outstanding. Lobster and other fresh seafood pastas were out of this world. The fresh Burrata and garlic bread were the perfect way to start the meal. A rich but incredible choice was the butternut squash ravioli. Truly the best ravioli I have ever tasted. Worth the wait for this small place, even when you stand in line outside in the cold!
(5)
Jordan P.

My husband and I arrived around 8:15 pm on a Monday night. Only 2 couples in line in front of us so we maybe waited 20 . Well worth the wait. Worth the two hour wait some yelpers are describing. Growing up with Italian grandparents I very rarely find dining out for Italian worth the time and calories. Sorry gramps, I've found your match! Per the recommendation of our server, Christian, I had the butternut squash ravioli -O.M.G!!! AMAZING. I really appreciated that he asked my preferences before just spouting out his favorite or most expensive item. And my husband had clams with the Giacomo fra diavolo mix sauce (served over linguine). Equally out of this world. Service is quick but helpful. Prices are ridiculously reasonable. Food will change your life. :-)
(5)
Yuri L.

I went there with several friends. We ordered Chicken Parmigiana, Fried Calamari and the huge house special. They were very delicious. Admittedly, the place is small and a little bit crowded.
(4)
Christine J.

Maybe I didn't get the memo, didn't think this place was that great! the fra diavlo pasta wasn't that tasty in all honesty. the server/older lady there is not very nice either, rushing us in and out the whole time. You can't be that rude and expect people to keep coming back, but I guess they don't really have a problem as there's always a line outside the door. So, they can be whatever they want. I have many other fav italian places to go to before I come here again. Ciao Giacomo!
(3)
Zak T.

I have been three times here and I really like the food that they serve. The weiter was positive he took our order quickly and the food was ready pretty fast. I recommend the place for the people that like italian food
(4)
Michelle W.

The hype is real. No seriously, the hype is real, the food is great and you will not be disappointed. We were lucky enough to get in right before the restaurant closed and didn't have to wait more than 20 minutes. The place is small, you'll likely be sharing a table with someone, but everyone here is here for the delicious food. We started with the mozarella and that just set the tone for the meal. It was so fresh, so flavorful and stuffed with pure heaven. I knew the rest of dinner was going to be delicious. We then had the zuppa di pesce which was really for 3-4 people, but after a 4 hour ride from NYC, the boyfriend and I inhaled this dish and finished it! The giacomo's sauce is so flavorful, the seafood cooked to perfection and the pasta was coked al dente. Everything about this place was great, but you need to keep in mind that everyone comes because of the hype. The staff aren't exactly super friendly, but they're here to get people in and get them out. They know they have the goods that people want and they're just focused on feeding people and feeding the person after them. Worth the wait...even if it is a hour or two...you won't be let down.
(5)
Melinda M.

We came on a Friday night, very early, around 4:45 and on a cold day in winter, so there was no line. It started filling up very quickly though. I have to say, this was not my pick, and I was skeptical from the beginning. And my doubts increased when I saw boxes of Barilla pasta on my way to the bathroom downstairs. When I go out for Italian, I'm really looking to get homemade pasta. (Yes, I know, there are other things I could order, but I love homemade pasta.) FOOD: Eh, ok. The big special here seems to be the Zuppa de Pesce, so maybe that's what we should have had. Instead, I had one of the specials, fusilli with lobster and shrimp. Friends had chicken parm and lobster ravioli. Everything was fine, but the sauces especially were very basic, and not like a few fresh ingredients, more like sauces you would get from a jar at the grocery store. Fusilli w/ Lobster and Shrimp - Had with fra diavolo sauce. Fusilli was homemade, pretty good. Lobster was quite over-cooked, shrimp slightly over-cooked. Sauce, nothing special, basically a slightly spiced up marinara. Might have been good if using fresh tomatoes, but didn't taste fresh. The giacomo sauce looked better; maybe I would be giving a more positive review if I had gotten that. Lobster Ravioli - Ravioli was homemade and had nice chunks of lobster. Sauce was a very basic cream sauce with garlic. Fine, but pretty boring. Chicken Parm - I'm not really a fan of chicken parm to begin with, but same deal. Chicken was fine, served with a boring tomato paste sauce, and Barilla linguini. SERVICE: Pretty good, waitress was attentive. I don't really mind being squished up with other people, and it's kind of cool to see the kitchen while you eat. OVERALL: Giacomo's is cheaper than many of the fancy Italian places in the area, but I'd rather pay more and get a better dinner.
(3)
Allison C.

Another review for the masses, so let's keep it prompt and helpful. - Only open for dinner, but dinner starts at 4:30pm. - That said, there is a line starting at 4:00pm, if not earlier. - The entire restaurant (staff and guests) will sing happy birthday, if you request it. - Yum-o on the lobster fusilli, but it is $26. - Cash only (welcome to the North End!)
(4)
Michael H.

I have to give this restaurant 2 stars because of the inconvenience of having to leave the meal to walk to an ATM because they only take cash. I find restaurants who only take cash highly suspect. You're cooking more than pasta. I did say something about it and was told its how they keep their prices low. $15 for penne and broccoli is not "low". Having said that, the food was good. Nothing earth shaking. Average at best.
(2)
Nicole B.

This restaurant is problematic. With the glowing reviews on Yelp, I was honestly expecting a nice dining experience, yet we received the complete opposite. I took guests visiting from NYC here and was embarrassed that I picked this place out. My main gripe is the service and the cramped cave of a space they use as a dining room. First, we waited about 30-45min to get into the restaurant, which would have been fine if we were treated with some respect once we got inside. From the second we stepped foot in the restaurant the wait staff was screaming at us to move swiftly to our table. The issue was that a group was leaving and blocking our path, yet we continued to get barked at. Once seated we were squeezed between the other tables and we were repeatedly hit in the back by wait staff and other customers. The cramped condition made our experience uncomfortable and unbearably hot (it was cooler outside in the eighty-five degree weather). The speed at which our food was served and cleared made it obvious that this is a tourist mill. I know this isn't high class dining, but nevertheless, when I pay money at a restaurant I expect to be treated with some common courtesy and have some level of relaxation. I am sure the wait staff is pushed to their limits with the sheer volume of customers here, but the overall tone of the experience was to rush customers out. Although the food was decent, it's was not worth the aggravation. Some Yelp reviewers viewed the service as "charming" because of the "no nonsense" attitude, but that is NOT my idea of a nice dining experience. Politeness goes a long way in life. I am from NJ and not unfamiliar with gruffness, but I refuse to PAY for that kind of treatment. The "no nonsense" attitude isn't cute, it's unprofessional. I will not return.
(1)
Kevin H.

Bravo!!! Really excellent! Worth the line and the wait! the pumpkin tortellini was amazing. One of the best Italian's I have been too. Don't miss this one!
(5)
Keith H.

Best Italian food we visited in North End. Pumpkin tortellini and Lobster ravioli were amazing! Price point is very reasonable. Get there early as the line can get long.
(5)
Mike D.

Everyone knows a good Italian restaurant doesn't have to be directly on Hanover for it to be good, But Giacomo's is. If it weren't one of the best restaurants in the North End it wouldn't have a hour and a half (sometimes more) line out the door that people wanted to wait in. Just standing in line on the street and smelling the food when the door opens is a privilege in itself. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the prices are more than affordable. Fried Calamari followed by Veal parm is my go-to meal of choice.
(5)
Greg M.

My family of four (two children) shared an appetizer of calamari and two entrees. Portions were great. The food was outstanding. I did notice the calamari had some type of fried pepper mixed in. When I pay for calamari I don't expect peppers mixed in as a "filler." The wait was worth it. The waitress seemed a bit gruff. It was clear she was more concerned with serving and getting us out of there to get someone else at the table. I don't mind eating quickly, but after waiting an hour to step through the door I want to sit and enjoy my meal. We felt rushed. I'm not sure I'll go back. I'd rather find a quaint family owned restaurant to feel more welcomed.
(3)
Cassy H.

For my 300th review, I decided to save it for Giacomo's! I've wanted to try this place ever before I moved to Boston, but every time I walk by, there's a long, long line out the door. So, given its popularity, my friends and I decided to go early, around 4:30 pm (before it opens) and wait in line. Yes, waiting in line before the restaurant opens.. the crazy things we do for food. Anyway, we weren't seated immediately, because we were a party of four, but missing one person. Note taken, please have all members of your party present, so you can be seated.. otherwise, they won't seat you and will take in the next available and present party in line. This place is tiny, but homey inside. You will probably end up sharing a table or sitting very close to another group of people. You might even spill your glass of water, because everything is so cramped in that knocking things over is almost, always expected. We decided to share everything, so here's what we got. 1) calamari: delicious, large, perfectly battered pieces of calamari with spicy peppers, adds an extra kick 2) fresh mozzarella ball with tomatoes drizzled with evoo and balsamic vinegar: I absolutely love mozzarella, so this was a definite win for me. Great app to share with people. 3) Pesto pasta with mussels and clams: Very solid pesto pasta dish with perfectly cooked seafood 4) Fusilli with lobster with Giacomo sauce: Fresh tasting fusilli with special Giacomo sauce is a must-try for this joint.. I wish there were more lobster in the dish though. 5) Lobster ravioli: Another great tasting lobster dish, but again, I wish there were more lobster! By the end of the meal, we were super full, satisfied, and happy (very happy for me). The bill wasn't too bad either, but it's cash only (like many other places in the North End).
(5)
A-L B.

Yup, it's that good. Better than good, obviously based on the reviews. We were leaving Paul Revere's house and kind of ran into the line outside of Giacomo's. It was 30 minutes before it opened so we went for it. Luckily, we were part of the first group seated (February is f'ing freezing in Boston)! We loved every second of our entire experience! The bottle of wine was a steal and we made friends with our 'neighbors' who were regulars at the place. We started with the Burrata Mozzerella on the specials menu. I got the Butternut Squash Ravioli and spouse got the Veal Parmigiana. He asked the server about it and she gave the 'ok' sign and said it was WICKED TENDA, WICKED JUICY! That pretty much summed it up. Go. Eat. Enjoy!
(5)
Brian P.

This review is very well past due, but I've gotta write it for everyone heading out to Boston looking for an epic place to eat and enjoy life at. Well, maybe not due to the hundreds before me, but still. Get the Lobster frutti di mari plate (house special). It's quite possibly one of the most delicious seafood creations you'll ever experience. I'm not kidding...it's a huge-ass lobster that's uber-fresh with with clams, their crazy tasty marinara+pasta, and seven other ingredients that I completely left out; a total sin considering those ingredients would probably make another tasty dish elsewhere alone. The line outside is long if you don't arrive early. Expect an hour plus if you arrive after 6pm. I got there at 5:30 and waited half an hour....but that was on a weeknight. Just go and wait. It's worth it. If you're impatient, you're lame.
(5)
Dongying S.

THE best Italian place in Boston! I have had absolutely no complaint about this place. Food is great, and price is reasonable (given the quality). A MUST for someone who wants to explore the food scene in Boston. I will recommend the butternut squash ravioli as well as the seafood platter for 2 people.
(5)
Joey P.

Finally we didn't have to wait over 30 minutes. The fusilli is just crazy. My advice is to order a large calamari and Caesar for an app and just share the seafood fusilli. Prices are great and the bottles of wine are great and so affordable. Save room for a mikes or modern canoli
(5)
Rita B.

This place is overhyped. We stayed in line over an hour quietly developing high expectations. When we were finally given a table by a stressed (understandably), not-so-friendly (also kind of understandably given the number of hungry people in and outside the restaurant) hostess, we ordered a bottle of wine, the burrata special, lobster ravioli and the scallop pasta. The burrata special was my favorite dish as the lobster ravioli was delicious but very heavy. The scallops were good and the pile of pasta to go with it was OK. Overall, I've had better food with less effort to obtain it. The dishes arrived very quickly after we ordered. The plates were cleared and the bill was presented also in a very efficient manner. We were out of there in less than 40 minutes (compared to over than hour we waited in line). In conclusion, if we went to a restaurant in the area without the crazy line, we would have had same (if not better) quality food without the wait and a better dining experience (which we did the next morning when we just walked into a random place without a wait).
(3)
Matt B.

This place is awesome. Authentic as it gets. Really cozy, cool place. Awesome experience for a first time Boston visitor. Food and service were great. Worth the wait.
(5)
Betty W.

This place gets insanely busy. My family and I visited Boston in the Summer of 2013 and we came here on our first night in the city after visiting Harvard. We ordered the calamari, fruti di mare, and lobster ravioli. My brother still raves about the lobster ravioli to this day. My Chinese mother, who hates cheese, loved this place so much that we came back the next day after visiting Paul Revere's house on the Freedom Trail. We waited in line with a few others half an hour before the place opened. After lunch/dinner, we walked over the Mike's Pastry for some fresh cannolis and continued on to our next stop - Old North Church.
(5)
Jake W.

The food is delicious but in-line with other North End restaurants. It is not worth the 60 minute plus wait when you can get equally good food next store with out waiting. Additionally, the service is very rushed to the point where it is uncomfortable and borderline rude. I recommend other north end spots for great food without the long wait and rushed dining experience. Just FYI it's cash only which is an inconvenience for a full service restaurant in 2015.
(3)
I R.

We've been here several times-- the wait has varied from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours but has been one hundred percent worth it every single time. We've found the pumpkin tortellini and butternut squash ravioli to be a little on the sweet side, but great if you don't mind sweet vegetable dishes. We especially love the chicken broccoli ziti. We generally do an appetizer and entrees and find dessert elsewhere in North End. The service is really wonderful-- each time our server has been attentive and helpful.
(5)
Nicholas S.

Best Italian food in the city hands down. Small intimate dinning setting with good sized portions and the price cannot be beat. The only down side is waiting for a table but if you time it right you won't have to wait long. Definitely an experience that you'll want to try if you've never been.
(5)
Sal P.

Seriously some of the best food I've ever eaten (not just Italian food). I had one of the specials, home made fusilli with lobster and shrimp and a fra diavolo sauce. I died and went to heaven...so good. Lots of lobster chunks and 3 or 4 decent sized shrimp. A great sized portion too, I was stuffed. And very reasonably priced. We waited about 30 minutes to get in on a Tuesday evening and be warned that it is cramped and warm inside (hey, it's August in Boston!) And, don't forget to bring cash because they don't accept credit cards. Well worth the wait for a great culinary experience.
(4)
Ana A.

Giacomo's is amazing! Be aware, cash only! But it's so worthy it! Very reasonable too. Everything is freshly made to order! I highly recommend this place! We try to get into this place four times before finally be able to get inside the restaurant, and it was worth the wait! Try the chicken parmigiana and Zuppa Di Pesce! Fantastic!
(5)
Gary E.

The Best. What more can I say. Get the Giacomo Sauce. You will not be sorry. Turns over quickly. But if you are back to the corner it may be a 1 1/2 hour wait. But worth every minute. Make a friend in line. It's fun. Back again tonight loved it so much
(5)
Jill G.

Excellent shrimp linguine with Scampi sauce. Garlic bread was also deliciouso! A must try if you're ever in Boston!
(5)
Jim ..

I love this place but beware its very small so there could be a long wait and they only take one credit card and prefer cash
(5)
Jennifer N.

I really want to give this place a 3.5 stars, but because of the service it'll just have to be a 3 instead of a 4. I wanted to love this place based on the reviews and the authenticity of the italian food; however, it left me a bit disappointed. A little overrated if you ask me. We waited in line for about an hour. For new comers...you'll see a line forming outside the door - just go to the back of the line and wait. No need to put your name down or anything. Someone will come outside and ask how many is in your party and they base the table off of that. I ordered the frutti di mare with fra como sauce and it was a good pasta dish, but not worth the price or time. There were more clam and mussel shells in the dish than actual clam and mussels. My brother ordered the lobster ravioli, which he did enjoy a lot. My mom and sister both ordered a dish similar to mines and they were not that pleased. The service...well, our waitress was a little scary. Even the table next to us (which was literally right next to us - you can feel the person's breath on your neck - that's how close you are to others) mentioned that they were scared to ask our server for anything. Some of the other servers seemed a bit nicer, so I don't think everyone would receive bad service. I'd say...if the wait is longer than 30 minutes..it's not even worth it to try this plae out to be honest.
(3)
Carrie D.

CASH ONLY! This is a must know before you visit. As long as you don't expect the servers to be overly-friendly and you don't expect great things from the bread, there is no reason to give this place anything less than 5 stars. The food is some of the best you can find in the North End. The bread tastes really great if you soak it in the muscle broth or dip it in your pasta sauce. (Other than that, it doesn't really do much good.) The wine is fabulous. Where else can you find wine at dinner for this price in Boston?! It was pleasantly surprised that even though it was cheap, it didn't taste cheap. (Or maybe I just don't know good wine.) *Side note: The wine shop down the street has amazing wines that aren't too expensive. Go buy some on your way home. Parking - Really? I read reviews about parking. You're seriously reviewing parking for a restaurant in a major city? Absurd. Just know that you should probably walk, take a cab, or public transit to get here. You're in a populated city, not the suburbs. If you want to park somewhere and eat Italian food, try the Olive Garden.
(5)
Tammy N.

I waited 2 hours. Yes, I was one of those crazy people that waited in that line. Yes, the line that wrapped across the 1800Flowers store and around the corner. Yes, I am still rating this place 5 stars because it is that good. Mind you, I went on a Sunday of Memorial Weekend at 6pm. We were finally seated by 8pm. I had no choice. I'm visiting from the West Coast and I'm going to go to the best restaurant in Boston. Even though Mike's Pastry is just down the street, I wanted to save my stomach for this place. I am a sucker for hype and when I saw the amount of reviews PLUS the ridiculously high rating- I had to give it a try. Luckily, nowadays I have my smartphone to entertain me. Seriously, what did people do before this? Actually have conversations with the people around them?? Psh yeah right ;) Anyway, I went here with my best friend and we ordered the whole shabang. Literally after we ordered, the waitress said "I hope you girls didn't eat lunch" Just to give you a picture we're two small asian girls about 5'2'' and 5'4'' weighing around 115lbs. We ordered the House Special Zuppa Di Pesce for 2 (in Giacomo sauce), broccoli appetizer (because you know, vegetables are good for you), and a bottle of wine (because wine is good for your soul). It was enough to feed a party of 4. The broccoli should just be called mini trees drenched in butter sauce. The Zuppa Di Pesce was ridiculously huge. Like Shaq size. I think it was twice as big as my face. I will upload photos soon to show a comparison. And we finished it all. Every tree, ocean critters, and drop of alcohol. The waitress has been there for years and all she could say was "Wow!" and nodded her head as a sign of respect. YEAH! The seafood was ridiculously fresh. I got annoyed with the lobster because it was slowing me down but it was worth it and fresh. No frozen stuff here! I think it is definitely worth it for the price. Btw CASH ONLY!!!!!! My only advice - just do it. Don't hesitate. Don't think. Wait in that line. Order that ridiculous meal. Just do it. I'm glad I did!
(5)
Chris J.

Amazing worth the wait!! My favorite restaurant in Boston and possibly New York . Clam sauce is my favorite. When im inside eating I remember why I could wait outside so long. The staff is great
(5)
sheryl l.

They just don't care...My husband and I stood in line for an hour before the restaurant opened with the sun beating down us. When it finally opened up we finally made it to the front of the line to be told they are taking the party of 10 behind us and we would have to wait. They have little tables they push together to make a large table. There has to be right and wrong in the world...and that was just wrong. It might be the best Italian place in Boston but I don't care...because its not only about the food but the experience...and well that experience left me with a sunburn!
(1)
Jaeuni T.

We got to the restaurant 5 minutes before closing, because our cab driver got us lost. The lady said kitchen was closed. I had told her that I came from California and asked if I can do take out. She said , no and walked away. RUDE!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Karina S.

Some of the best Italian food in Boston. I wouldn't say it is the the best (i think Panza and some others give it a run of their money) but their sea food pastas and homemade sauces are a must try for both tourists and Boston residents.
(4)
Yeajin L.

Giacomo's in North End is better than the one in South End, possibly because it's the original one. Their pasta with salmon is very good. Very crowded, but I think that is the essence of this restaurant. All the good places are small like this. Waiters and waitresses are very nice. They only take cash, so make sure you have yo money before you sit down to eat :)
(4)
Bruce W.

23 years never a meal that disappointed!!! Rosemarie held my infant daughter when we are, now my daughter goes there from college every time she come home. Best fresh seafood in north end. A dinning experience. Must Go!
(5)
Allene T.

No wonder this place has so many good reviews! I'm usually a bit skeptic of "touristy" restaurant spots, but Yelp did not fail me this time! After braving windy, low 40's temperatures at the end of May for God's sake, I was beyond ready to eat. We waited outside for an hour and there was pretty much nobody behind us for the rest of the night. In hindsight, we should have showed up closer to 9:30/10pm for no wait at all on Saturday on Memorial day weekend. I hate to say it, but the food was just about worth the freezing hour. Compared to the rest of the seafood Italian restaurants in North End, Giacomo's (JAH-co-mo's) is by FAR the best bang for your buck. Most of the seafood dishes are under $20 and doesn't leave you hungry or way too stuffed - just perfectly satisfied. The other places we went over the weekend were severely overpriced and bland. We ordered a large calamari (5 people had a nice small plate each) which was fried to perfection and had a delicious spicy marinara sauce to accompany it. I personally had the special for the night - 1/2 lobster, clams, and mussels over a bed of linguine. I chose the scampi (white wine, garlic, butter, the usual) to go with it and oh my, it was AMAZING. All seafood was fresh and I was just about in food heaven at that point. My only gripe is my failure to crack open lobster claws, but that's my fault. Note - they have a variety of difference sauces to choose from. The only thing I wasn't so much a fan of but will forgive them for is the mediocre cold bread. But.... dare I say it? Best Italian/seafood I have EVER had. Yup, you heard it.
(5)
Kim M.

This place is so fun and worth the wait. Larger groups is probably a very long wait but for a table for two, you can sneak right in. Amazing fresh seafood and pasta! Love this place!
(5)
Jessica L.

This place definitely has a lot of character! I was here with a bunch of out of towners, and we all had a great time here! As is usual with the North End, the restaurant is bustling, even on a Monday! The line was out the door! The restaurant is pretty small, also characteristic of the North End, so you become really close to your dinner neighbors. It was a great, relaxed atmosphere. You occasionally heard the waiters yelling at each other, but for me, this was all part of the North End charm. If you're looking for a quiet place with established personal space, this place isn't quite for you. Though, you could also say that about most places in the North End. I found it to be a great experience, like theater. The food was fabulous. We got the calamari starter, and I would absolutely recommends this to everybody! It was comes to perfection: crunchy on the pressure and so tender in the inside. Next, I got the lobster ravioli. Whenever I'm in a restaurant in the North End,I normally get the lobster ravioli...it's my measuring stick for the restaurant, and I've been trying to make lobster ravioli myself, so I like to see how professionals cook it. I have to say: my lobster ravioli isn't even on the same planet as this ravioli (and I like to think that I'm a decent cook). I'm not sure I can say that it's the BEST lobster ravioli in the North End, but it definitely ranks up there! This was a great experience, and I would love to come back! I also loved that they didn't hand out menus, but instead, had us look on the walls for the menu. If you're looking at this review, you're probably considering eating at Giacomo and I would say: DO IT!!
(5)
Jen T.

Best Italian food I've ever had! Red snapper--so fresh. Lobster ravioli to die for. Light fluffy bread... So good! Food is incredible. This is definitely a must when visiting Boston. We got here at 4:10 and waited for 20 min before it opened and we didn't have a line! The price is very good too!
(5)
Hoa L.

Ordered the half lobster, clam, and mussel with linguine special in a giacomo/diavolo sauce. It was perfectly spicy and tasty and I enjoyed it immensely. The seafood is fresh and flavorful and the sauce is super delicious, light, and balanced in flavor. The sauce does not overpower the seafood and complements the meal well. It was worth the 2 hour wait, even though many times we thought about leaving the line. We went about 6pm on Sunday evening and the line wrapped around the other side. There's maybe about 10 tables in there, so you can imagine why the wait is so long. I recommend going early, like 4pm as some others suggested. Or, bring some of Mike's pastry or modern pastry to gobble down in the line.
(5)
Lexi D.

Outstanding Italian ! My sister DID line up for a long time just like people say typically happens.. but wow was it worth it! ... SHe probably lined up for an hour .... some of the items we had : Calamari ( large size was MORE than enough for 4 ppl to share) Lobstor Ravioli , A Pasta with pesto ( I forget which pasta! ) Seafood Pasta and Butternut squash ravioli garlic bread too and the price for the bottle of Malbec was a joke ! incredible We were four tourists dining here, service is speedy and typically Bostonian ...cheery, but a bit in your face and with a smile ! Food was fantastic , CARBO load central for sure, and the portions are of course HUGE -- great that we shared and we ate every morsel :)
(5)
Nguyet K.

Thank goodness for YELP!!! I was very happy to find this place. Yes there a wait (for us was about an hour) but it's worth it. The restaurant is small and the tables are place right next to each other. So yes it's very intimate, it reminds me of the restaurants in San Francisco. This restaurant can easily accommodate smaller groups. A lady served us, she seated us a table for two and handed us our menu. The menu was made of paper and a little dirty, it could have been from too many people looking at it and they just needed to get it reprinted. Our waitress asked if we wanted any wine, we didn't so was served water instead. The staff was super friendly, even with the crowded restaurant. They came around once to check on us to refill our water. The food is made to order and it made pretty fast. You can see the chefs cooking from the dining area too, which is pretty entertaining. The food is to die for, everything came out hot and streaming. We order a small calamari to start ($7), which was crispy, tasty and was NOT rubbery. For entrees, we order the chicken parmesan ($14) and it was served with a side of linguine that was cooked perfectly. The seafood special (frutti di mare) that have shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and mussels served over linguine with a choice of sauce, so I picked giacomo sauce ($15). Suppose to be very similar to the house special (zuppa di pesce) without the lobster. The portions are huge, the chicken parmesan was as big as your hand and the serve of pasta was a cereal bowl size. As for the seafood special, even though it was a dish for one. Two people can easily eat it. I haven't had Italian food that great for a very long time. There nothing like this. Remember to bring cash though, they don't accept credit cards.
(5)
Victoria W.

Amazing! Can't say a bad thing!! When we came in they greeted us instantly! We were dressed rather casual so I was hesitant to come in because it looked so nice... We went ahead and didn't feel like we were out of place!! I ordered the spaghetti carbonara and it was one of the best I've ever eaten (and I spent 3 years of my life living in Italy)! Highly recommend to anyone! Right next to Paul Revere's house in the north end! Yummy!!
(5)
George B.

There are many fine eating establishments in the North End, and this is defiitely one of them. I think what is the most pleasant surprise about dining here is that the associated affordable price for all that you get. Four people in our party each that thoroughly enjoyed their meal consisting of. Calamari fried to golden and tender perfection with some fried peppercinnis, two salads, Butternut Squash Ravioloi, Pumpkin Tortellini, Fusilli with Lobster & Shrimp, Chicken with Proscutto, Spinach & a glass of wine for slighlty more than $100. This would definitely be a five star experience but for the very limitied seating capacity and cramped quarters.
(4)
Patty C.

Came here recently and the food was just ok. I used to be a big fan of this place but the food quality has really gone downhill. Then to top things off the waitress made a rude comment when we left. The check was $47 and I left $58. As I walk out I hear the waitress say to another waiter, "they didnt tip very well." I heard it and said to her, it is 20%. (actually over 20% ). I wont be coming back, no reason to take that kind of crap, she should be fired! After more consideration I believe the following occurred: The waitress will verbally say this out loud so that the bus boy hears it and does not expect much tip. The waitress will then pocket more of the tip and document much less, stiffing the bus boy. The manager should be made aware of this malicious behavior.
(1)
P P.

Seriously, so ridiculous, don't bother. Waited in line to get in which is absolutely fine. Get seated, the waitress basically comes two seconds later and wants our order, its like, give me a second please. She points at a board, gives a four second explanation and trots off. Back two seconds later expecting our order, fine whatever we give it to her. The waitress kept leaning on my daughter to service the table next door, I mean leaning all over her. Food comes and its fine, nothing special, just fine. NEVER asked if I'd like another glass of wine, not that there was time. NEVER asked about dessert, coffee, nothing. It was quicker than a drive thru. SIT, EAT and GET OUT!!! Yes priced well, but so many better places nearby to enjoy good food and actually relax and taste whats in front of you. NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Ashby O.

Went to celebrate an anniversary with my boyfriend. We waited outside for 40 minutes in the cold, but i though hey, its part of the experience, itll be worth it. We finally go inside, get shoved onto the bar. The place is so small. Good food, good wine, decent prices. BUT. The service is AWFUL. The guy helping us (tony--maybe runs the place? Idk) was flirting with me, hugged me a few times, pinched my cheek and kept telling my boyfriend i was great. At first i was like ok, its fine. But he rushed us to order, was picking things for us, trying to shove the wine down our throats so we could leave. Kept asking if we were finished with the food and saying we can take the rest home. The whole staff was like that to other customers, and because were sitting at the bar we have to hear about it all. Finally another waiter asks if he can pack my food and i say sure go ahead. HE THREW IT AWAY. $15 bucks worth of lobster--over half of my dish. They wouldnt give me any more or adjust the bill. They were really rude about the situation. The food? Yea its good. The experience? Its terrible. I dont wana wait outside for 40 minutes to not even be able to spend that long in the restaurant and enjoy my meal. Rushed, rude service. Open a bigger place if all you care about is serving more people.
(2)
Babar A.

always fresh and amazing food for a price that makes you realize they're in it for the food and not just to fleece you. staff is super casual and friendly and great with recommendations too. Knocking one start for the crazy lines/wait times (pretty much at all hours of the day and night) and no reservations, but that's THE only bad thing about it.
(4)
Kiev R.

We visited Giacomo's on the recommendation of a co-worker. First off, bring cash because that's the only thing that they accept. Second, be very comfortable sitting and eating in close proximity to complete strangers because this place is crackerjack box tiny!! More than likely, you will be bumping elbows with the person sitting next to you. But the food is delicious! And the portions: huge!!! My recommendation would be to come with a completely empty stomach. Even then, you'll probably only be able to finish half your meal. Everything taste homemade and fresh and who doesn't love that! We were lucky enough to snag a seat without a wait but even if there was a line, I'd wait in it just to have this dining experience all over again.
(4)
Jennifer Y.

Honestly, what more could I add that someone else hasn't mentioned in the last 1000 reviews? This place is that hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant of the North End that people hear about from all over the country and wait in line for because "you just have to experience it." The calamari is unbelievable - that perfect crunch with a fried pepper surprise. You have not lived until you have the butternut squash ravioli - no, really. Make friends with the people in line. You'll have some great conversation and it'll make the time pass more quickly so you can enjoy all that delicious, exquisite grub.
(5)
Francis C.

I'm not even gonna say much -- yes, the wait is worth it and yes, it lives up to the hype. Only place I would voluntarily stand in line for 2 hours for.
(5)
Rebecca Y.

One of my favorite restaurants in Boston and the one I always take my visiting friends to. Family-style restaurant with extremely reasonable prices, considering the exceptional quality. The butternut squash ravioli is where it's at -- you have committed a sin if you don't order this dish! Lobster ravioli is also really good and rich. The calamari here is also FANTASTIC, the best I've ever had. It's fried with cherry peppers, which gives the whole dish this awesome tangy slightly spicy taste, LOVE IT! Come here around 4:30 or even earlier, bring your book/Kindle, and wait. IT'S WORTH IT.
(5)
Christina H.

the long reigning favorite restaurant of mine in beantown. go early or late to attempt to avoid standing in line for hours. be ready to order quick and eat pretty efficiently as the place is tiny and they do try to turn tables so everyone gets a chance. the tables are packed together so try to have a friendly attitude towards your neighbors. and bring cash bc that is all they take. if you can get down with all the above, you are going to love giacomos!! my go to order is ceasar salad, fried calamari, burratta (if on special), and chicken parm. plus wine of course. enjoy!!
(5)
Victoria P.

Long line? WORTH THE WAIT. My boyfriend and I waited for what seemed like ages to get a table, but it moves pretty quickly. The waitstaff even came out to offer us some garlic bread which, while delicious, made me hungrier - I felt like my stomach was going to eat itself. Once inside we ordered quickly...the calamari, butternut squash ravioli, and shrimp and scallop pasta dish with giacomo's sauce. Everything was soooooo good. The calamari has these deep fried spicy peppers hidden amongst the delicious little squid - absolute culinary genius. It changed my life. The butternut squash was a sweet and savory party in my mouth. My boyfriend loved his pasta dish and said it was the best scallop he ever had. We ate everything so fast that we hardly remember what happened - it was like everything was a beautiful dream. Ok, now my stomach is grumbling - time to head over to Giacomo's.
(4)
Fafane R.

This place is amazing! I went on a Monday night with a large group and the wait was 20-30 minutes. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food! Oh the food!!!! It's amazing!!! I had the lobster ravioli, it was so good that I bought a second order to go home with! This place is a must. If you haven't had food here, do yourself a favor and stop by this fantastically awesome spot.
(4)
Laurie P.

We were first to queue at 4pm and were promptly seated at 4:30. Had to start with the calamari, and we were rewarded with best we've ever had! No sooner had finished, our entrees were served. We went with the fusilli special. Lobster and shrimp with Giacomo's sauce. We paired it with the Malbec. Outstanding dinner! Service was great too. Looking forward to next time.
(5)
Ian G.

Food was great, waitstaff was irritated and impatient, and the place is very small. I got yelled at for attempting to move myself slightly away from the guy sitting directly to my left. Overall, it's about the food and it was awesome. And they accept charge cards, it is NOT cash only.
(3)
RONALD W.

Cash only, delicious food at affordable prices. It may not be the best Italian food I have had in general but definitely best at this price point ($20 for a seafood entree). Shared a large fried calamari appetizer. Excellent! Big and tasty. Had a half lobster, mussels, clam linguine from the daily specials menu with a house lobster tomato sauce. It was excellent. I only wish that it came with more linguine.
(5)
Nancy C.

We waited an hour to get into this restaurant. I'd been at the Giacomo's in the South End before and it was decent (also a wait there, but not as long as this), so I had pretty high expectations of this one. The server was nice enough, but after my cousin and I only ordered an app and an entree to split, he quickly backed off and ignored us for the rest of the night. We got the app with burrata cheese and tomatoes, and while it was pretty good, I think it wasn't really worth the price. It is, after all, just cheese and tomatoes. We also got the fusili with lobster, which was another special and one that I'd really wanted to try. It was really expensive though (hence the splitting of the entree). I have to say, Giacomo's disappointed me this time. The fusili wasn't as chewy as I thought it'd be, and the lobster was very very scant. Like, almost no lobster. Save yourself the wait and get Italian food somewhere else. Or try the Giacomo's in the South End- it's less authentic looking, but at least there aren't snooty waiters.
(3)
Farrah B.

My favorite place in the North End the Calamari and Ravioli are always amazing. The service is top notch and although you will probably end up waiting in line, it is well worth the wait.
(5)
Kimberly L.

I waited an hour and a half in the rain to get a seat at the North End location at 4pm (which I assumed would be an off time), but it was WELL worth the wait. Incredible wine and even more incredible food (I got a seafood fra diavalo). The staff is authentic and sassy and the atmosphere is cozy. I hate waiting, but would go back here any time.
(5)
Eric F.

Brought a few friends over for dinner. Waiting was about 1 hour. It definitely worth the waiting. Lobster source, yum!
(4)
Ali B.

Wow, never thought a place would go from Sugar to $hit as bad as this has. First off Service was TERRIBLE. Rude wait staff and had to ask multiple times to get anything. Food was ok but delivered so piping hot you couldn't even taste anything for at least 5 minutes for it to cool off. I guess this is their sanitizing process. Chicken parm was the dish I got and it was quite lackluster to say the least. Chicken had that old chicken taste and the breading was sopping wet with no crisp whatsoever. All in all I will not go here anymore, PLENTY of other great choices in Boston.
(1)
Meg K.

It's always a challenge to sort out the truly good restaurants from the tourist traps in the North End. Giacomo's falls firmly into the former. If you're getting any dish with pasta, substitute in the fusilli! It's the handmade pasta that this place is known for. They'll charge a $5ish substitution price, but it's worth it. I also really liked the butternut squash ravioli, though it was maybe a little sweeter than I'd prefer. Beware, no matter what day, what time, or what season you go, there will be a line. And the wait is outside. Try to minimize the amount of time you're freezing your buns off by going on a weeknight or at an off-time.
(4)
Hop S.

Hop Sing loves Giacomo's. I crossed many borders to eat here and it's well worth the wait. Favorite meal is shrimp & scallops over linguini with Fracomo sauce. Make a point to get a selfie with Donna!
(5)
lisa s.

Waited in line for about 45 min and was seated at the bar. Loved the opportunity to watch the food prep! The sauces are fantastic, and the seafood was extremely fresh. Loved this place!
(5)
Ramsay S.

Loved it completely- the great food, atmosphere, all of it. The striking contrast between the fine dining experience and the bustling homey-ness of the kitchen was really quite pleasing, and given the chance, I would love to return here.
(5)
Alexandra A.

I know I know I know...everyone loves it! I guess as someone who is on a gluten free diet it's not wonderful because you don't get that pasta. We got there at 9pm and waited about an hour to get in, which I assume as a wait time for most great restaurants. It was a weird experience because the waitress totally forgot my meal. My sister and cousin ordered pasta dishes that came out within 15 minutes. They got to snack on bread while they waited for their meal. Our waitress brought out their meals and I assumed she was going to come back with mine, but she didn't :( She actually forgot to put it through which is quite disappointing, I didn't think people could just forget about a meal...but their food was done, plates cleared and still had to wait while my food came out. I should note that the lobster ravioli was supposedly amazing and if it tasted as good as it smelled I wouldn't doubt that it was!! We asked for another glass of wine while we waited and were refused because it was too late, it was last call (is that a restaurant thing?) and I was still waiting for my food...We sat there (me) starving until 11pm when my salmon finally came. I am pretty sure salmon doesn't take that long, and it really wasn't that great. Mistakes happen I understand that, but usually when they do you do your best to help out the person while it's getting fixed (glass of wine, salad...) I am not a negative person, I really hate to put negativity out there, but this was just not a great experience...
(3)
Christina B.

Every other reviewer has said what i'm about to say. This place is pure perfection. BEST fried calamari i've ever had and that's coming from a girl who orders it everywhere in NYC! -The 30 minute wait is worth it, folks. -Very fast and helpful service -Your tummy will thank you for a great meal:) My favorite place in the North end, it lives up to the hype people!
(5)
Jennifer F.

Decided to try Giacomo's after reading the positive reviews on yelp and tripadvisor. I ordered the 1/2 portion of fried calamari to start. It was just ok. For the main course I ordered chicken Marsala. Again, just average. There was a line outside the restaurant, mainly because the location only fits about 10 tables. Over rated.
(3)
Frederick N.

Giacomo's Ristorante! Located in Boston's famous and historic North End! Lol. I love this place. I have yet to find better Italian cuisine outside of Italy. On the other hand, like most reviews state, it's almost unbearably busy. Depending on your mood that can be part of its charm. Definitely not a place to go for a romantic meal experience. Every thing is just divine here from the light crispy fried calamari to the chicken Marsala to the ravioli. Everything is just great. Service is all in all pretty good for a place as chaotic. The wait staff slap on a happy face and will answer any questions that you have. In my opinion if you are visiting our Great city of Boston, the Giacomo's experience is one that should not be passed by.
(5)
Jula B.

I will forever be scratching my head as to how this restaurant managed to get so many glowing Yelp reviews and a line out the door. I guess people really do love drinking the kool-aid. After waiting on said line for an hour, we were verbally abused by the waitress who yelled at us as we tried to make our way into the cramped restaurant. Then she gruffly took our orders as we sat in silence, still put off by the way we were handled. We contemplated leaving but were still curious as to what all the fuss was about. Unfortunately, we only had mediocre, Olive Garden quality food to look forward to. Not a place I'll ever step foot into again, that's for sure.
(1)
R K.

Giacomo's was wonderful! But unfortunately didn't live up to the hype :( I was excited to finally try the house special. I assumed that the pasta and seafood would be cooked perfectly (which they were) so I was waiting to see how the sauce would taste. The fra diavolo was yummy but nothing special. I'd still recommend Giacomo's and wojld love to go back and try more dishes!
(4)
Emma T.

Why are there always such long lines outside this place. Why?? I mean you have tons of restaurants in the north end to choose from and you've got people waiting in a long line to eat here. I don't get it. I've been once and will never go again. First of all I don't do lines - not because I'm too good for them but because there is no reason to when there are so many other great options, second- the food is good but nowhere near worth waiting in the line. It's just a bit overrated to be honest.
(2)
Cynthia E.

Seasonal menu changes, fast seating, culinary exquisite, and usually lines out the door near dinner time. This place is cash only and takes no reservations. Everything is fresh, made from scratch. I enjoyed the pumpkin gnocchi.
(5)
CJ J.

Great place twice visited! Cash only. No frills service with wonderful food. Definitely not the place to go if you are looking for a long multi course meal in the north end, but if you're looking for great pasta, seafood, chicken parm...this is the place.
(5)
Rachael H.

This review will basically reiterate what you should already assume by seeing that even after this restaurant has received over 1500 reviews, it it still at 4 1/2 stars; its amazing and worth whatever wait you have to endure. My boyfriend and I came 15 minutes before opening in the pouring rain and there was already a line. It kept growing to around the block even in the rain. You know this is going to be good. Let me break it down for you. Dont expect any frou frou stuff. Its delicious italian food, no dessert, a free plate of garlic bread. No credit cards. No reservations. You may have to split a table with people you don't know. Deal with it. The wait staff is like a pit crew when a table leaves. In 2 minutes, they've cleaned the table, set it up, and are already bringing the next group in. We had the mozzarella marinara (worth the heart burn), pumpkin tortellini (order this), and pasta with all the seafood possible. All of it was amazing and i'd most definitely wait in the rain again.
(5)
Ken V.

I loved the dinner and the experience of this place. Without a recommendation my "four" were thinking out loud about an early dinner on the North End. We walked past Giacommo's, and noticed people were lining up before the doors were opened. Stopped and asked "Good enough for this line?"...and everyone in the line said it was. It was good. They do things their way. Options are limited...but easily met all of our needs from seafood to meat to veggie sauce options over a well-prepared range of pastas. The service is brusque...but not unfriendly. Yes...this is a small setting...and you will be packed tightly. Lighten up, have another glass of their serviceable wine, enjoy a big meal...walk it off. The line outside never got shorter. Figure 30-40 minutes at the peak.
(4)
James C.

This has been the best Italian restaurant I have ever been too! I had the calamari and muscles pasta with marinara sauce. I also had a Caesar Salad which had more dressing than I would have preferred but was still pretty good. Service was fast and the environment was great!
(5)
Diane H.

The prices here are fine, not like the crazy amount i spent at XX also located in North End. I ordered the pasta with the garlic oil sauce i believe..with the half lobster, mussels and clams $20 which i enjoyed. the sauce was eh, but the seafood was very fresh!!! My friends got the veal marsala with procuitto and mushrooms $15 and also veal parmigiana $15. We also split the fried calamari large $10. It was YUMS. We skipped on drinks.....did not feel the need of it. Plus this place is CASH ONLY. :( It's very small..and very packed..we came at 5:15 on a tuesday night so not only are they packed on weekends..weekdays too! I don't think they take reservations at this location...so come early! We were lucky there was a table for us when we arrived..any later..you are waiting outside!! Kinda awkward people are just hovering next to window watching you eat..but what can you do. They have 2 seats at the bar...looks small though.
(4)
Kathy G.

No dining experience will ever live up to this place. I'm worried that I will not be able to eat anymore post this meal, because nothing will be as good as giacomo's shrimp and lobster fusilli with fra diavolo sauce. My date and I shared this dish with the small calamari appetizer. We arrived at 300pm to be the first in line and it was 100% worth the wait. We had the best table in the house, by the window. The service was phenomenal- the waiters were extremely efficient and friendly; our water was always topped off before it was needed. The service was so quick as well, but not rushed. The calamari was cooked perfectly and has fried peppers. The bread is served with the best Marinara sauce we have ever had- seriously, the best. And the fusilli was fantastic as well. A definite 5 star and we will both be going back
(5)
Jessica J.

I went on a cold Saturday night and waited the requisite 40 minutes outside for a table. I had been told that the wait can be up to an hour. Once I got inside, I saw why the wait was so long. The restaurant is tiny and holds maybe 40 customers. I felt very cramped once our party of 4 sat down. I was very hungry and hoped that Giacomo's lived up to its hype. We were given a hunk of bread that had not been cut, and it was so hard that our knives could not cut it, so we ended up ripping off chunks to stave off our hunger. The waitress was brusque in the typical Bostonian manner, which turned me off. We didn't wait outside for nearly an hour to have bad customer service. My boyfriend and I ordered shrimp linguine with pesto, and mussels and calamari linguine with giacomo sauce. I do not recommend the pesto; I've definitely had better. Also, the shrimp was a tad overcooked. The giacomo sauce was pretty good, and the mussels and calamari were cooked well. They only accept cash, so be prepared for that before you go. All in all, I had an okay experience. If I hadn't had to wait outside for so long, I probably would have given 3 stars, but the food wasn't good enough to warrant the wait. I wouldn't go back again, as I'm sure there are better Italian places in Boston.
(2)
Peter K.

Awesome Italian restaurant in the heart of the North End of Boston. Maybe the best Veal Marsala I ever had!
(5)
Christina D.

Average food and long lines. This place has a bunch of good reviews and people often wait over an hour in line just to get in, but honestly I can't see why. I am not a picky eater by any means, but I do enjoy good food. I have eaten all over the North End and I would have to say the food here is bland. They have to get people in and out so quickly they sacrifice good flavor. I tried the seasonal pumpkin ravioli and I was disappointed. The food doesn't taste bad, it's just boring. There are definitely better places in the North End where you don't have to wait in line.
(2)
Paola R.

Exquisite food, AWFUL service and you have to eat FAST as there is always a huge line waiting and no reservations.
(1)
Susan N.

I have to give Giacomo's five stars because they are a no frills, great food, decent prices, get in, enjoy your food, and get out kind of place. I first went to Giacomos as a tourist, visiting Boston last year. We braved the frigid March air [it was literally about 20 degrees out] and I complained the entire time that it wasn't going to be worth it. I was happily proven wrong. There are some staples that you can't go wrong with. Their calamari is hands down THE BEST in the area. It makes the $25-30 calamari appetizers at other North End restaurants look/taste like rubber bands in gravy. Order it. . .love it. . .order more if you want to. It comes out to you about 18.6 seconds after you order it so enjoy! I am boring and usually stick with that I think is their best dish. . .homemade fusilli pasta with lobster in the Giacomo sauce. This is a big old Grandma servinf size of pasta that is cooked to perfection. There is PLENTY of lobster in the dish and the flavors are great! My boyfriend has had everything from the salmon [delicious] to the rigatoni in cream sauce. He is never disappointed. Now that we are living in the North End, we patiently wait for the winter when we can once again enjoy Giacomos without a 2 hour wait in line. . . but if you are here for the weekend, grab a book, drink before you come, update your facebook status 20 times. . . do whatever it takes to get through waiting in that line because you will not be disappointed. Don't forget, CASH ONLY! Enjoy!!!!
(5)
Natasha K.

Good fresh food, nice date setting in quaint neighborhood. Too bad it's cash only, that was a pain.
(3)
Quynh Q.

Sooooooo gooooodddd. We both got fruitti de mare in pesto and fracomo sauce, plus a large calamari which were all so good. Plenty of pasta and seafood for 20 dollars a plate, much cheaper than many other places and probably more delicious. Line out the door every day. Opens at 4. Cash only.
(5)
Jessica O.

Arrived at 3:30 on a Sunday (they open at 4:00) and was first in line. But the line grew quickly shortly after - so if you want to minimize the wait, come early! Both times that I've gone, we ordered the BIG plate of seafood and pasta (the special? maybe? I forget what it's called). It's meant for two, but we paid another ten dollars and shared it amongst three people. With spicy sauce, lobster tails and claws, scallops, shrimp, and mussels galore, we were pretty happy campers. And $18 for a bottle of wine can't be beat. Love Giacomo's.
(5)
Cindy H.

Definitely worth the wait. My waiter was patient and attentive in the midst of this chaotic restaurant. The dining area is teeny, and the bathroom is a creepy, AC-less walk downstairs, but the food won me over. The fried calamari and garlic bread had me licking my fingers to no end. It was hard to stop eating these dishes so I had some room for my entree. My friend had the frutti di mare with fra diavolo sauce while I had the fettuccini with proscuitto and peas in a garlic cream sauce. Both dishes were delicious! The sauces were creamy and full of flavor. Had a female waitress the second time around and she was spunky. I didn't like her attitude throughout the night, but the food was just as good.
(4)
Nin R.

Line was long and the place is a bit cramped but the crazy food makes up for it. If you're standing in line for that long you better know what you wanna order by the time you're seated...or the lady of the house will tell you to get outta heah!!!! Seriously, they have a simple menu with large portioned dishes packed with flavor. Bring cash cause the plastic don't werk heah!!!
(4)
Maxie A.

Amazing butternut squash ravioli! The wait was out the door but well worth it. The ambiance feels like Italy, so expect to be sitting side by side with strangers. Very authentic & delicious!
(4)

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Address : 355 Hanover St
Boston, MA, 02113
Phone (617) 523-9026
Website https://giacomosblog-boston.blogspot.in
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:30 pm - 10:00pm
Mon : 4:30 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

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.

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Giacomo’s Ristorante

355 Hanover St, Boston, MA, 02113

Giacomo’s Ristorante Menu

Appetizers

Marsalas And Parmigianas

House Special

Grilled

Entrees

Fettuccini

Ziti

Ravioli

Vegetarian

Healthy Meal suggestions for Giacomo’s Ristorante

Appetizers

Marsalas And Parmigianas

House Special

Grilled

Entrees

Fettuccini

Ziti

Ravioli

Vegetarian

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