Deal-dictated North End Dining?

[amandabg365]

Have four co-workers coming in to town next week for an event, and would like to treat them to an authentic North End dinner experience.

The challenge: there is a pretty strict budget. Since I don't want to have to police drinks and apps, I'm thinking the easiest thing to do would be to buy one of the many North End deals out there at the moment via Groupon, LivingSocial, etc. Not surprisingly, the reviews for all are mixed, and I've never been to any myself.

Below are the options. What's the best bet?

- Cantina Italiana
- Piccola Venezia
- Nico
- Pasta e Pomodoro
- La Famiglia Giorgio

Full disclosure, I'm a North End resident.... who unfortunately tends to frequent all the same places (Il Panino, Antico Forno, L'Osteria, Al Dente). Will be fun to try something new!

Thanks for your help!

[amandabg365]

Wow - strong feelings on this one. Glad I asked. Going to pursue some of the suggestions below, and hopefully end up with a happy crew.

Thanks for all the feedback!

[hotoynoodle]

if you're wanting to treat them to an "authentic north end experience" of a bad red sauce joint that preys off tourists i suppose any of those would do. although that la famiglia may be the worst of the worst. why throw good money at what you know will be a mediocre to bad dinner?

am sorry, but what i would do is call a place you like and pre-order food for your group, OR arrange a limited menu that fits your budget. tell your colleagues it's a cash bar, or add in a little wine if budget permits.

or, yeah -- regina's.

[mkfisher]

Off your list, I don't hate Cantina Italiana.

[libertywharf]

LoConte on salem street is budget friendly.

[5thAndNowhere]

Second LoConte.

[Bob Dobalina]

There's a reason you frequent those places and the others are offering deals. Why not skip all the "deal" places and take them to Regina? Very authentic and good in a group setting.