Giacomo's Ristorante
A no-frills, cash-friendly North End Italian famous for big portions and a long sidewalk line.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling as a couple and you are traveling solo.
Why
- 01
Cramped, loud, and fast — they turn tables hard and the kitchen sends out heaping plates of red-sauce pasta and fra diavolo.
Our read - 02
The line down Hanover Street is part of the ritual.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Giacomo's Ristorante works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, Giacomo's Ristorante works.
Food is a reason to travel
For food & drink, Giacomo's Ristorante delivers.
You prefer local life to spectacle
For local authenticity, Giacomo's Ristorante delivers.
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Giacomo's Ristorante isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Giacomo's Ristorante is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, it depends on the day.
The plates that decide it
- Lobster fra diavolo — the spicy lobster red sauce regulars come back for
- Anything in the house Giacomo or Fracomo sauce — the lobster-and-béchamel red sauces are proprietary — you won't find them elsewhere
- Dessert here — save it for a cannoli at a North End bakery afterward
Plan it well
- Cost
- Moderate; generous portions for the money
- Timing
- Early evening on a weeknight to shorten the wait
- Booking
- No reservations; bring cash to be safe
- Allow
- About an hour plus the line
- Accessibility
- Very tight dining room