396749 Mon Apr 30 04:39:17 -0700 2007 9 12 Boston Area 0 2526798 This is kind of similar to the requests for an old school Italian place, but my friend's mother wants to eat in the north end while visiting from Pittsburgh. She's from an Italian family of 9 kids so looking for "classic" plus we have to be able to make reservations. AF will serve the purpose but I haven't been to Ricardo's and have no idea what it looks like inside. Do you think that's as nice and comfortable a place for dinner as AF? Any other suggestions? Mon Apr 30 04:39:17 -0700 2007 14253 Joanie 1 2526823 Can't go wrong with Antico Forno. I've never been to Ricardo's, but would like to throw out another suggestion, and that would be Massimino's on Endicot. I was there Saturday and had an amazing dish of lobster raviolis, topped with shrimp and fradiavolo sauce. The menu is huge and seems to cover all the classics. Mon Apr 30 05:20:45 -0700 2007 2526798 26213 Pegmeister 1 2528368 Hiddenboston: I thought you'd have an opinion on this with your recent visits to Ricardo's, no? Mon Apr 30 13:15:56 -0700 2007 2526798 14253 Joanie 2 2533941 What? Oh, sorry, I was reading the flame war about b. good. :-b Ricardo's is larger and more comfortable than many of the places on Salem and Hanover, and it seems to be less crowded for the most part. I've been there twice in the past month and had no problem getting in (and one time was on a Saturday evening). The food is mostly Southern Italian, and the prices are reasonable (though some of the wines are a bit expensive). The best dish I tried there was the lobster ravioli (which is technically an app, but they made it into a full meal for one of my fellow diners). The meat lasagna was also excellent, as were the mussels. I'd say that I like the food a little better at Antico Forno, but Ricardo's is more comfortable inside. Can't go wrong with either, though! Wed May 02 07:27:13 -0700 2007 2528368 14771 hiddenboston 1 2528394 I love Antico Forno, but I wouldn't classify it as "old school Italian.." They don't have many of the standards that folks might think of as "traditional" --chicken parm or marsala, veal piccata, even pasta w/red sauce...they do have that fabulous gnocchi and linguine with clam sauce, but if I were looking for "old school italian" i'd probably end up going to Il Panino. And I think Massimino's is a pretty good suggestion too. Mon Apr 30 13:22:39 -0700 2007 2526798 11805 twentyoystahs 2 2528672 Every once in a while AF will have a chicken parm special which is great and it always has more of a scene then Ricardos which is good but always empty. Mon Apr 30 14:34:17 -0700 2007 2528394 16672 phatchris 3 2529025 Forget Antico Forno because they take reservations but it's really first-come first serve. Otherwise, very good chow there. Mon Apr 30 16:29:49 -0700 2007 2528672 13798 ipsofatso 4 2535174 Sorry, my one and only Antico Forno experience was so terrible that I have to post, and I went there on the recommendation of several chowhounders. I got the gnocchi and the linguine with clam, and the gnocchi were terribly flavorless, dry, and overdone. The linguine with clams was way too salty, and I have made better at home. I've even had better at hospital cafeterias. My mom was in town visiting, and I had wanted to treat her to a special experience. Instead she wound up saying that the food would have been better, cheaper, and more plentiful at Maggiano's, and I ruefully agreed. It was a waste of money and time. Wed May 02 12:39:27 -0700 2007 2529025 41798 windycity 5 2535325 i'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but i have been there many times and have always had great food. i'm guessing you just had a bad night..doesn't make you feel any better i am sure, but i am very surprised.....much the opposite from all the times i have been there... Wed May 02 13:19:26 -0700 2007 2535174 11805 twentyoystahs 6 2535337 I am too :( On the other hand, I had a divine experience at Limoncello with their rosetta pasta. Almost transcendental, I'd say. I've decided not to order seafood pastas that I can make at home. My friend who ordered linguine with clams there was also underwhelmed, while I was in bliss. Wed May 02 13:22:41 -0700 2007 2535325 41798 windycity