Best Red Sauce Italian

[lmuller]

My boyfriend's birthday is coming up and I want to take him somewhere for dinner. He is not into "fancy" food and would much prefer southern italian to northern. Where is the best spot in the Boston area for some good, homestyle, red sauce italian food? We love Carlos in Allston but I was looking for a little more atmosphere then that..

[drinkwaj]

Cantina Italiana in the North End is a great spot for hearty and delicious Italian food. The Bombolotti all Buongustaia is my favorite. It is a bit pricey but well worth it. Il Panino (the original not express) is another restaurant I would strongly recommend, it is a rich history and the food is equally as impressive. The third place I would recommend would be Pagliuca's, it is across the street from Il Panino and is out of this world. If you end up going to Pagliuca's I strongly recommend asking for their specialty veal dish. It is roasted veal with potatoes, only by request it is not on the menu. If you were to get that with a side of pasta, and another pasta dish you will be in heaven. I hope this helps, good luck and happy birthday.

I DEFINITELY echo the restaurant choice of ARTU. Great food, great atmosphere, all around great place.

[MC Slim JB]

Vinny's at Night in Somerville fits that bill for me (I'm also a fan of Carlo's). For that style of food, I also like Carmen's Kitchen in Eastie. In the North End, I might choose Pagliuca's, Ricardo's, Rabia's, or Artu.

[phatchris]

I'll throw Antico Forno and Galleria 33 into the mix as well.

[Bob MacAdoo]

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/157023

This link from 2006 lists plenty of options.

My favotite for "old school" southern italian is Mother Anna's on Hanover Street in the North End. But the atmosphere is nothing to write home about.

[pasuga]

In the North End, I'm very fond of L'Osteria on Salem St. for consistently good traditional Italian comfort food.

http://www.losteria.com/

[Tay]

I second L'Osteria.

[bostonbroad]

Not sure if this qualifies in terms of atmosphere, but Greg's in Watertown, just over the Cambridge line, is great red sauce Italian. Again, more of a townie place and probably not for a birthday, but for future reference....