Dinner before the Sunday evening C's game - North End

[lmuller]

Hi,

I am taking my dad to the Celtic's game this weekend and it starts at 6:00 on Sunday evening. We want to grab something for dinner beforehand and I was thinking of the North End. It is sort of a strange early dinner time and we don't want something too fancy since we will be heading straight to the game. We do want a place with good food but it needs to be a little more casual. Thoughts?

[bgavin]

+1 for Antico Forno.
Last time I was there (this summer) they took a reservation.
Obviates the "x" factor of waiting!
I loved their baked pasta with ricotta and sausage.

[emannths]

And if you're there during lunch menu time, the lamb sandwich. Mmmmmmm lamb sandwich...

[lmuller]

Just realized that Antico Forno is closed for a private event this evening! Back to square one!

[Tedkaczmarski]

I live in the hood and like all of the places mentioned so this is my 2cents..
Neptune is good.. but you better like oysters.. it's not a "north end" experience.. wait is the x factor here.
I think if you want pizza Regina is great.. if you are into some more fancy pizza options try Ducalli.
If you want a good home style meal my wife and I enjoy artu on prince off Hanover and also bricco right on Hanover (tip sit at the bar and order half order of pasta)
Last is bars by the garden.. sure fours is fine for a beer
But I like the North Star on Friend great food cold beer homemade fries ect.. you will be able to get a seat (crowded but not crazy) to eat I have before a game...

[LeoLioness]

What do you mean by "you better like oysters"? Oysters make up a tiny percentage of Neptune's menu....

[Tedkaczmarski]

Leo... ok fair ... I should have said you better want seafood..
Oysters, Clams, Striped bass, bronzini, scallops, yes there is a rib eye and a burger (but it does have an oyster on it)... so I don't think my better like oysters comment was so far off base to elicit a what do you mean response.. must have hit a nerve.
You work there Leo? If so I have a few tips for you

[LeoLioness]

No, I don't work there. Just thought it was an odd comment to make considering the majority of the menu doesn't involve oysters. That's why I asked you to clarify.

[BrettLove]

I was making the big leap of faith that "Blahdiddy-Blah Oyster", coupled with the implication that it wasn't Italian, would be sufficient for the OP to realize that I was mentioning a seafood place. That's why I didn't follow it with a parenthetical expression like I did with the more "androgenous" NeBo. Perhaps a (seafood) was also in order.

[emannths]

Wait may be an x-factor at Regina too. A few years ago, I remember hopping in line around 4pm, and five minutes later the line was nearly to the end of the block because the Bruins game had just finished and half the Garden walked over for a pizza! So I'd recommend a backup plan for any of these places--Garden goers are quite familiar with the North End.

[BlueMagic]

In the North End...try Antico Forno, Cafe Pompeii is pretty casual and obviously Pizza Regina is very casual but pizza(good pizza) only.
If you don't want to go over to the North End then Fours would be great. Casual, great food and service. Might be crowded before the game though.

[BrettLove]

If you weren't dead set on Italian, I know Neptune Oyster gets a lot of mostly positive feedback here. They're still in the North End, but at the end of Salem St., thus minimizing "dinner to game" walking/transit. Maybe a brief wait? Others here might know better, but at the end of the day, that's where I'd try to go. Perhaps NeBo on N. Washington St. (pizza/pasta+)?