151529 Thu Apr 14 10:02:58 -0700 2005 23 12 Boston Area 0 813335 I'm on the hunt for big-value pasta dinners and would appreciate suggestions. North End or otherwise, doesn't matter. When my wife and I lived in the South End, we used to enjoy Giacomo's and Anchovies -- that's the type of place I guess I'm looking for, where the food is reliably good and prices are around $15 and under. (I know there have been prior postings on this topic, but they didn't seem to focus on the bang-for-the-buck-factor.) Thanks in advance! Thu Apr 14 10:02:58 -0700 2005 0 J.B. 1 813346 I'm a big fan of carlo's cucina on Brighton Ave. near Harvard (in Allston) for bang for your buck. For example, sausage and broccoli rabe on ziti and Gnocchhi are good and priced around $11-12. Prices might topoff at $20 for lobster or veal dishes but almost everything is in your price range. Thu Apr 14 10:30:46 -0700 2005 813335 0 gourmaniac 2 813376 I'll second Carlo's. I have yet to be disappointed there, and I'm generally impressed. Thu Apr 14 13:04:48 -0700 2005 813346 0 Ezra 2 813395 Ssshhh! It's tough enough to get a table at Carlo's as it is, let's keep it a neighborhood secret! ;-) Thu Apr 14 15:45:49 -0700 2005 813346 0 BobB 1 813357 One place in the North end I've always loved (and recommended) is Mother Anna's (at the Boston end of Hanover st). I've always found the prices to be reasonable, the food to be very good, and the atmosphere to be nice--not too crowded or loud, attentive service... Thu Apr 14 11:23:04 -0700 2005 813335 0 Doug E Fresh 2 813709 My guy tells me that Mother Anna's and the Cantina are the best in the North End for home-style Italian cooking. I haven't been to either - his cooking is incredible, so I figure, as far eating Italian food out - why bother? Mon Apr 18 18:23:22 -0700 2005 813357 0 threedogs 1 813359 Tony's in West Roxbury. The place is kind of tired (been there a loooong time) but when you're craving a plate of solid red sauce italian you can't go wrong. Excellent parms, great basic italian bread, large booths, waitresses that call you "hon", all for insanely low prices -- what more could you ask? They have a more prominent pizza takout storefront, but the dining room is accessed from a side door around the corner. Thu Apr 14 11:28:20 -0700 2005 813335 0 Ruby 2 813389 I just drove by Tony's the other day (after getting some excellent Anna's Donuts) thinking I have to go there some time. Good to know. Thu Apr 14 14:34:23 -0700 2005 813359 0 Joanie 3 813434 Where in W.R. is Tony's located? Sounds good for us local folks. Thanks, Pat Thu Apr 14 23:42:52 -0700 2005 813389 0 Red Volvo 4 813443 It's just past the Walgreen's as you head toward Rt. 1, on the right. Non descript brick building with a big Tony's sign. Fri Apr 15 08:25:05 -0700 2005 813434 0 Joanie 1 813362 L'Osteria or Lo Conte's, both on Salem Street. Thu Apr 14 11:40:14 -0700 2005 813335 0 Sari 2 813374 Really? I'm suspicious of both. Why do you like those places? Thu Apr 14 12:47:28 -0700 2005 813362 0 italophile 3 813383 Why are you suspicious? I've been to L'Osteria (and maybe Lo Conte's, its been a while) and have enjoyed it. Thu Apr 14 13:36:06 -0700 2005 813374 0 Allison 4 813388 Both are good, classic red sauce joints. You won't have the most memorable meal of your life at either of these places, but if you're looking for simple fare at prices that won't break the bank, I think these are both good choices (and certainly comparable to the poster's previous favories, giacomo's and anchovies.) I also am an Antico Forno fan, though there aren't a ton of red sauce/pasta options on their menu. Gnocchi, served in a piping hot terracota bowl with chunks of tomato and mozzerella cheese is one of the best in Boston IMO. Thu Apr 14 14:19:08 -0700 2005 813383 0 twentyoystahs 3 813421 I think they both fit the bill for inexpensive, basic red sauce joints. Will you have an amazing meal here? No. Will you get tasty enough fried artichokes and veal saltimbocca, with entrees mostly under $18? Yes. Thu Apr 14 19:11:25 -0700 2005 813374 0 Sari 1 813373 My friends & I keep going back to Antico Forno on Salem St. Wide variety of apps, pasta, pizza & entrees to choose from - all in ample portions. Link: http://www.anticofornoboston.com/dinnermenu.htm Thu Apr 14 12:30:56 -0700 2005 813335 0 Taralli 1 813397 We like Pagliucca's in the North End, right around the corner from.....the "Connah Store"!! Small but good food and fun. Thu Apr 14 16:10:01 -0700 2005 813335 0 redhat207 1 813417 At the risk of making it even more crowded, I also recommend Carlo's in Alston/Brighton. Yummmmmmo...... Thu Apr 14 18:18:28 -0700 2005 813335 0 lotsapasta 1 813418 Probably my favorite is Vinny's Superette, aka Vinny's at Night, near Sullivan Square in Somerville. Nice antipasti, great plates of pasta with red sauce, very nice prices. The offshoot Lil Vinny's, not far away in Somerville, clones much of the menu, but not the bare-bones charm, and it's a little pricier. Close behind are the oft-cited Carlo's (plenty more than red sauce, but it is very good there), and Antico Forno (get a baked pasta). I haven't been since they moved to fancy digs on Hanover Street, but in my pauper days, I really liked Piccolo Venezia for red-sauce value, and the dirt-cheap, Grape Kool-Aid-like house red wine they served in plastic pitchers there. We called it the "romantic wine" (actully a rather ruder term): I don't know why, but it always seemed to get our motors running. Despite my vehement anti-chain bias, I actually think Maggiano's Little Italy in Park Square is pretty decent. Thu Apr 14 18:33:08 -0700 2005 813335 0 MC Slim JB 2 813503 I fondly recall the olden days of Piccolo Venezia on Salem St. Our favorite was the veal & eggplant parmesian - just humongous portion sizes. Fri Apr 15 15:18:38 -0700 2005 813418 0 Taralli 3 813518 Taralli- I remember Piccolo Venezia- the specials listed on the chalkboard. I also remember they served homemade wine. My BF and I ordered a carafe, and the waiter told us he thought we should start with ½ carafe, and then order another if we wanted to. Of course, we were young and stubborn, and insisted on ordereing the carafe. What a mistake. It was sooooo strong. We did drink it ( it was good!!), and thanked our lucky stars we were walking home. Fun times. Fri Apr 15 16:11:27 -0700 2005 813503 0 macca 3 813553 I used to love that place..and that dish. It's funny. I haven't ever been to the "new" Piccolo Venezia. Fri Apr 15 19:31:19 -0700 2005 813503 0 9lives 4 813554 Me neither...and the old one was a frequent feeder...Always got the shrimp in tomato sauce on pasta...And a plastic pitcher of red...Cold! ;) also the first place I ate scungilla salad, or broccoli rabe fried in garlic...The old one was really a chow-worthy site.... Fri Apr 15 19:39:04 -0700 2005 813553 0 galleygirl 4 813555 The tripe dish is very good there. Fri Apr 15 20:43:57 -0700 2005 813553 0 Limster