Boston’s Little Italy is known primarily as the North End, and it’s one of the city’s most visited areas. It’s also Boston’s historically oldest and most iconic immigrant neighborhood. Hugging the Boston harbor, the one-square-mile neighborhood is packed with a number of historic sites as well as nearly one hundred restaurants, bars, shops, old-school delis, coffee houses, pastry shops, bakeries, and pizzerias.
Ranging from historic establishments to family-run eateries to more contemporary restaurants, these five pizzerias are the best the neighborhood has to offer. These places sell Neapolitan, Sicilian, and wood-fired and brick-oven pizzas. Take a look at the five pizzerias you can’t miss on your next trip to Boston.
Regina’s Pizzeria
Regina Pizzeria is arguably the state of Massachusett's most famous pizza. Founded in 1926 on Thatcher Street, the old-school joint usually has lines out the door, especially on weekends. Regina, meaning “queen” in English, sells 10 and 16-inch pizzas. Their crusts are made using a century-old recipe, and they spice their pizza sauce with aged Romano cheese. Dollops of specialty-aged whole milk mozzarella are used as a topping.
The North End institution has a number of locations in other Massachusetts cities and areas including Fenway Park, the Cape Cod Mall, and the Burlington Mall. They just recently opened a new location at the Cummings Center in Beverly, MA. In 2018, Regina was voted the best pizzeria in the United States by TripAdvisor.
Galleria Umberto
Galleria Umberto is a no-frills, cash-only counter selling Sicilian-style pizza, arancini, subs, and calzones until they sell out. The pizza parlor, located on busy Hanover Street, opens at 10:45 a.m. and usually sells out by 2:30 p.m. Open since 1974, the pizzeria tends to have lines out the door, even when it first opens in the morning. Galleria Umberto is open every day except on Sundays and for the month of July.
Locale
(Photo Credit: Locale via Facebook)
Located on Hanover Street, Locale serves up Neapolitan-style pizza in a quaint and intimate setting. The restaurant also offers appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and a full Italian wine and craft beer list. Customer favorites include the “Tartufo” pizza, made with mushrooms, caramelized onions, Fontina cheese, and truffle oil; the “Cacio e Pepe,” made with mozzarella, ricotta, Fontina cheese, and coarse black pepper; and the “Pistacchio Pesto,” made with homemade pistachio pesto, sausage, and mozzarella.
Quattro
(Photo Credit: Quattro via Facebook)
This upscale yet relaxed spot features marble tables and large windows that overlook bustling Hanover Street. The small establishment not only serves brick oven pizza but also a wide variety of pastas, grilled and sautéed meats, and an extensive wine and cocktail menu. Quattro offers red and white Neapolitan-style pizzas. Classic pies include the Margherita and Napoletana, made with oregano and garlic, as well as revisited options like the fig, arugula, and goat cheese white pizza.
Ernesto’s Pizza
(Photo Credit: Ernesto's via Facebook)
Ernesto’s Pizza, a casual, quick-serve eatery, has been slinging extra-large pizza slices for over 30 years. Located on Salem Street, choose from classics or make your own by picking your own ingredients. Specialty pizzas include the “Saint Anthony,” topped with mushrooms and artichoke hearts; “Chicken Ranch,” a white pizza made with ranch dressing, chicken, mozzarella, bacon, onion, and tomatoes; or a “Chicken or Eggplant Parm” pie, with chicken or eggplant, sauce, Pecorino Romano and Mozzarella cheese.
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.