North End Lunch

[joannecam]

One more question to finalize my Boston trip plans. Many of the restaurants in the North End seem to be closed for lunch. Where would you recommend for a nice Italian lunch in January, with or without pizza? Thanks.

[saltyair]

Hot Tomatoes is my favorite.

Volle Nolle is closed for the month of January.

[onefineleo]

I like Limoncello's. Family owned and run. Start with the stuffed artichokes. Move on to the rosette pasta in pink cream sauce. Many, many other inviting red sauce choices as well.

[MC Slim JB]

There are plenty of good North End lunch places, though a lot of options are more casual eat-in or takeout only. Did you want a proper meal with table service, or just good food?

Some places I like for lunch: Neptune Oyster (generally no lines, a blessing here), Mangia Mangia (counter service, great subs, homemade soups), Pizzeria Regina (pizza only, but one of Boston's better pies, and again less touristed by day), Volle Nolle (gourmet sandwiches, non-Italian).

Some red-sauce Italian-Americans that are good by neighborhood standards and open for weekday lunch: Massimino's, Pagliuca's, Rabia's, Mother Anna's, Emedio's.

[limster]

Volle Nolle's menu is quite eclectic. They do occasionally serve Italian or Italian-inspired items such as a chicken Milanesa sandwich, a pasta salad with pesto, potato and string beans (essentially a Ligurian flavour combination) or sandwiches with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil (typically in during heirloom tomato season).