Trattoria Il Panino

If you have been to Boston, then you have probably heard of North End – the home of some of the best Italian food outside of Italy. This area is lined with Italian restaurants, pastry shops, and espresso bars for honestly the most authentic food you’ll find in the US. Trattoria Il Panino was actually the first proper trattoria in Boston and they have been around for decades. With their handmade pastas, classic Italian dishes, and fresh + quality ingredients this place is a fan favorite with locals and tourists and it is slightly difficult to snag a table. Definitely make a reservation if you can! We got lucky and somehow got the last table without a reservation. Their pasta menu has pasta from all regions of Italy so you’ll find – Cacio E Pepe, Classic Pomodoro, Stuffed Pasta, Gnocchi, Carbonara, and so many more! It was incredibly difficult to choose what to eat and while their classic dishes also looked wonderful, we went with the pasta since it is made in house and we couldn’t resist. I ordered the Mezzi Paccheri Al Ragu ($29.99) and my husband ordered the Mezzi Paccheri ai Frutti di Mare ($32.99). Both of our dishes had the same pasta shape but with very different flavors. Mezzi Paccheri is similar to a rigatoni in that it is a wide noodle, but it is shorter and wider than the rigatoni we all know and love. It also holds sauce really well because the tube will fill with sauce for the ultimate bite. (Fun Fact – every pasta shape has a rhyme and reason and every pasta should be paired with a specific sauce or dish). Mezzi Paccheri is best served with hearty meat sauces (like a Ragu) or seafood.

One cool thing that I really liked about Trattoria Il Panino is that all of their pasta dishes come served in the stainless steel pan that, presumably, they were cooked in. I thought this was super cute, and while it might not be authentic, I certainly enjoyed it! As for the flavor of these dishes – WOW! And to put it into perspective, our trip to Boston was after we had just come back from Italy so our expectations and comparison were pretty high. The Ragu is made from a mixture of lamb, beef, veal and pork for such a rich, deep flavor. I loved the mixture because it enhanced the flavor of the Ragu while keeping the meat so tender and moist. The sauce was also such deep in flavor with garlic and basil vibrantly shining through. SO much flavor in one pan with perfectly chewy, bouncy, Al dente pasta. As for my husbands seafood delight – the sauce was tomato and brothy, but light. I only got to try one of his shrimp, but it was cooked perfectly! His dish was loaded with scallops, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams – seriously so much fresh seafood packed in there!

If you haven’t been to North End, please check it out! And if you don’t go to this restaurant, pretty much any place you dine in this area is sure to be a delicious Italian meal. If you’re looking to grab a meal here though, I recommend making a reservation. Check out their menu and grab a reservation here.