There’s nothing quite like a heaping bowl of pasta, and these local eateries are serving up some of the best in town. From velvety vodka sauces to plump juicy shrimp, these dishes are meant for indulgence. Here are 8 of the best Italian restaurants in Boston for fork twirling pastas.
Capalbo's Bucatini, Bambara Kitchen & Bar
Chef David Bazirgan’s Italian winter pop-up dish is served with house made bucatini and tossed with slow cooked tomato sugo. It is finally topped off with 3 beef and pork meatballs and pecorino romano. 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617.395.2509, bambara-cambridge.com/
Shrimp Scampi, Mooo
Served piping hot, the dish is filled with house made linguini swirled in a white wine, calabrian chili, lemon and parsley sauce and is topped with eight jumbo shrimp. 15 Beacon St., 617.670.2515, mooorestaurant.com/
Potato Gnocchi, Davio's
Fondly known as “Little Pillows of Heaven,” this hand-rolled pasta is served with potato gnocchi, organic mushrooms, sprinkled with basil and swirled in white truffle oil. 75 Arlington St., 617.357.4810, davios.com/bos
Rigatoni Emiliana Strega North End
Chef Nick Varano saturates plump rigatoni in a rich vodka sauce that’s flavored with sausage and oven-dried tomatoes. 379 Hanover St., 617.523.8481, stregabynickvarano.com/
Orecchiette Pugliesi, Quattro
This casual Italian restaurant and pizzeria houses a orecchiette, broccoli rabe and sausage meal worth your cheat day festivities. Served on a skillet, the meal is enough to feed you for up to two days and is made with Orecchiette Pugliesi, salsiccia, rapini, pecorino romano, homemade sausage, rabe and romano cheese. 264 Hanover St., 617. 720.0444, quattro-boston.com/
Ragu Bolognese, A Tavola
Owner and Chef Joe Carli’s ragu bolognese has been an enormous favorite of his guests since he put it on the menu. Slightly altered to his own taste, the always fresh and consistent ragu is topped with tender beef, pork and veal. 34 Church St., 781.729.1040, Winchester, atavolawinchester.com/
Lobster and Shrimp Mousseline Ravioli, Harvest
This Harvest special is made with housemade ravioli blanketed by a succulent tarragon lobster sauce. Finished off with braised greens and delectable shrimp and lobster, it’s sure to melt in your mouth. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617.868.2255, harvestcambridge.com/
Gnocchi, Grill 23 & Bar
Served with mushroom bolognese and baby kale, this soft dough dumpling pasta is topped off with hazelnut and ricotta cheese—adding a sweet note to the otherwise savory meal. 161 Berkeley St, 617.542.2255, grill23.com/
Photography by: From top, photo: by Peter Holmgren; courtesy of Mooo; by Brianna Moore; courtesy of Strega North End; courtesy of Quattro North End; courtesy of A Tavola; courtesy of Harvest; courtesy of Grill 23 & Bar
