Whether you’re running or cheering from the sidelines, energize with pizza, pasta and more on Marathon Monday Eve.
OAK Long Bar & Kitchen's short rib rigatoni
Arya Trattoria
Famous for their award-winning homemade pastas and Mamma Rosalie’s Meatballs topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, this North End gem is the ideal place to fill up on carbs. A bed of chef Massimo’s pasta—rigatoni, bolognese, gnocchi, spaghetti and ravioli, to name a few—smothered with these famous meatballs is sure to bring you to the finish line. 253 Hanover St., 617.742.1276, aryatrattoria.com
Bambara Kitchen & Bar
This Sunday, venture across the Longfellow Bridge to Bambara Kitchen & Bar where chef Adam Resnick is offering all-you-can-eat pasta. Between the house made fusilli with herb infused cream, roasted mushrooms peas and parmesan and the popular bucatini coated in a rich puttanesca, these dishes are the perfect pre-race carbo-load. 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., 617.868.4444, hotelmarlowe.com
Carmelina’s
Carmelina’s puts its own twist on traditional Sicilian comfort food, and you can never go wrong with one of chef Damien DiPaola’s carb-heavy dishes: Think ragu alla bolognese and mouth-watering carbonara. And, maybe it's just the name, but the Sunday Macaroni made with meatballs and sulmona sausage might be the perfect order for your Sunday night jitters. 307 Hanover St., 617.742.0020, carmelinasboston.com
CLINK at The Liberty Hotel
Marathoners: it’s time to feast at The Liberty Hotel for a Complex Carb Pasta Special. Running from Friday to Sunday, CLINK will be serving pasta dishes for the ages, including a hand-cut herb pasta made with heritage pork bolognese, local burrata, shaved grana padano and micro basil. Then, on marathon day, keep an eye out for the hotel’s “Fuel Up” table for water, energy bars, fruit and more. 215 Charles St., 617.224.4000, libertyhotel.com
Contessa Trattoria
This “garden in the sky” rooftop restaurant, perched above the luxurious Newbury Boston hotel, will have you sipping and savoring every ounce of its gourmet primi and pizza selections. What better way to carbo-load than feasting on the focaccine pizza, drizzled in black truffle, prosciutto and robiola? And don’t forget to order one of their heavenly pasta dishes like spicy lobster capellini and Italian tortellini en brodo. 3 Newbury St., 617.741.3404, contessatrattoria.com
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
With decades of fine Italian cooking under their belt, this Boston-born mainstay has mastered the art of pasta. For a lighter bite, order their spaghettini with fresh basil and San Marzano tomatoes, or, load up on protien with the tagliatelle bolognese, packed with braised veal, beef, pork and San Marzano tomatoes. Either way, you'll leave dinner ready to hit the pavement. 75 Arlington St., 617.357.4810, davios.com/bos
Mamma Maria
Located in Boston’s historic North Square, this historic restaurant has garnered national recognition for its commitment to authentic Italian-styled cooking. See for yourself and indulge in their delectable lobster agnolotti pasta, or add a few greens to your meal by ordering the asparagus ravioli, cooked with spinach and mushrooms for the perfect balance of carbs and veggies. 3 North Square, 617.523.0077, mammamaria.com
MIDA
Just like its name says, this Italian neighborhood restaurant is here to “gift” you with delectable pasta dishes that satisfy any pre-run craving. Try the spaccatelli al pesto, made with fresh basil, tomato pesto and calabrian chili or, for a bit of protein, MIDA’s tuna puttanesca served with poached yellowfin tuna. 782 Tremont St., .617.936.3490, midarestaurant.com
OAK Long Bar + Kitchen
Just a stone’s throw from the finish line, OAK Long Bar + Kitchen is the ideal destination for competitors and fans to fuel up this Sunday. In celebration of the race, executive chef Zaid Khan will be serving a specialty pasta, short rib rigatoni, all weekend, made with pecorino, pangrattato and chili flakes. While indulging, sip on the runner-friendly drink on tap: a light ale made with less alcohol and a dose of salt. 138 St. James Ave., 617.585.7222, oaklongbarkitchen.com
Sorellina
Did someone say ravioli? Sorellina’s perfected egg yolk raviolo is the answer to your pre-race prayers paired with their flavorful bloomsdale spinach pasta, taleggio cream, nutmeg and parmigiano cheese. Or, for a taste of New England, order the potato dumpling gnocchi made with Maine lobster. 1 Huntington Ave., 617.412.4600, sorellinaboston.com
SRV
As Boston’s first ever Venetian-style restaurant, SRV, or Serene Republic of Venice, is known for its pasta made from fresh-milled flour. The tortellini, prepared with potato and asiago, along with the crab risotto drizzled in Meyer lemon, are just two of head chef Michael Lombardi’s pasta dishes that will keep you feeling full and fueled all Marathon Monday. 569 Columbus Ave., 617.536.9500, srvboston.com
Strega Italiano
For your Sunday night prep, add one of Strega's scrumptious pasta dishes to your list. With nine heavy pasta dishes to choose from, like the parmigiano-reggiano infused fettuccine alla panna, pesto-based potato gnocchi and jumbo shrimp spaghetti gamberetti, carbo-loading is simple and tasty. For those craving a protein-heavy meal, order the slow braised beef and pork rigatoni bolognese. 1 Marina Park Dr., 617.345.3992, stregaitaliano.com
Toscano Restaurant
Keep yourself fueled for the miles ahead with Toscano’s menu of mouth-watering Italian dishes. The restaurant’s bruschetta made from fresh Tuscan bread may fill you up before the main course arrives, so be sure to save room for their renowned risotto dishes, each cooked with a variety of fresh vegetables, or the four cheese pizza topped with arugula and fresh tomatoes. Multiple locations, toscanoboston.com
Photography by: Courtesy of OAK Long Bar + Kitchen
