Tony & Elaine's

We had a lovely meal at Tony & Elaine’s. From outside you’d be forgiven for walking past, it’s not obvious that it has both a downstairs and ground level dining area which is SUPER cute. It has the perfect lighting and ambience, candles and fairy lights. I really enjoyed the setting. The food was also delicious, I had the vodka pasta, it was so tasty and the pasta was fresh and cooked to the right firmness.

Absolutely amazing. Wife and I had the lasagna and the casio de pepe. Both were great. As for the lasagna specifically, Ive never had such a good sauce before, and the short rib in the lasagna?!!!! Really takes it a step further, it's not every bite that you heavily taste the rib meat, but each bite that you do get some, it's very tender. Inside table was already ready and had waters since we had made a reservation. If you are looking for bougie, don't come here. If you want comfy casual but still with a bit of that Italian aesthetic, then come give them a try

We had a great time here! The vibes were on, the food was great, and our server was amazing. We sat in the basement part and ordered the rigatoni, spaghetti, and cannolis! Great Italian food for our first time in Boston 10/10 would recommend and we will be back.

I think it would be best if you set a reservation online so we can have a choice of outside or inside I chose sat outside and it was wonderful. You get a free little bread and oil to munch on for an appetizer I got arancini and it was so fresh and delicious. You can really taste the quality . And for the main course, I got a rigatoni in vodka sauce the best pasta I have ever eaten seriously everything taste so fresh ! You can taste the quality . It’s a small menu so you know everything is already perfected . It was amazing and most definitely will be back the waiter was really kind as well . 10/10

My wife and I were visiting from out of town and managed to snag a last-minute reservation. For anyone looking for a true “Boston experience,” this place absolutely delivers. Nestled in the beautiful North End, the restaurant has a warm, intimate atmosphere—it almost feels like you’re dining in someone’s home. The tables are quite close together, so it can feel like you’re sharing a meal with your neighbors, but it adds to the charm and energy of the space. The food was outstanding, with plenty of classic Italian dishes to choose from. I ordered the lasagna, and it was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had—rich, flavorful, and clearly made from a family recipe that’s been perfected over generations. The service was friendly and welcoming. There were a couple of small oversights, like forgetting our bread and not checking in often, but nothing that detracted from the overall experience. All in all, it was a spectacular meal and a highlight of our trip to Boston.

Really good Italian food! Especially the lobster ravioli, which is a must-get. The atmosphere is also really charming, and feels like a classic institution. Read my full review on my substack, De gustibus.

I recently came to Tony & Elaine’s for dinner with some friends after work. We started out the meal with a few appetizers - garlic bread, arancini, and the house salad. Normally I’m not one to order a house salad, but this salad is above all the rest. The dressing they use on this salad is out of this world and I now make it a point to order it every time I come here for a meal. For our mains, 2 of us ordered the penne a la vodka, 2 ordered the cacio e Pepe and the other ordered the chicken parm. The pasta servings are always the perfect size, where you leave just full enough but not so full that you have to unbutton your pants. Love this place so much & can’t recommend it enough.

Tony & Elaine’s did not disappoint! Our highlight was the lasagna, and my only regret is that I didn’t get some Sunday sauce to bring home. Their sauce was perfectly balanced.

Made a reservation for four on a Saturday evening and enjoyed a delicious meal away from the crowded main streets of the North End. We were sat at a booth, which was comfortable and allowed us to enjoy a little bit more privacy. The atmosphere is lively but not loud, and the service was friendly. We were started off with bread and olive oil. Not sure if refills were complimentary. Normally I would ask but I didn't want to fill up too much stomach space on bread. We ended up ordering two Shrimp Scampi and two Lasagnas. I really enjoyed the Shrimp Scampi. It had more of a sophisticated flavor than the Shrimp Scampi I've had in the past, I'm guessing due to the use of white wine. Overall a lovely meal in a cozy environment. I usually dread facing the crowds in the North End, but I'd definitely come back for some delicious pasta in a calmer environment.

Great spot in the north end, and best lasagna I’ve ever had! Maybe it’s cause I’m from Texas, I don’t know. I heard mixed reviews about this place, but many said that the lasagna was legit. They were right. The caprese salad was great too, refreshing and delicious. The cannolis were pretty good, not as good as Bova’s or anything, but for $8 it was a good end to the meal.

My boyfriend was on the hunt for the best spaghetti and meatballs in Boston and found this place on google and it did not disappoint, the meatballs were SO good! I got the lasagna which was also delicious, it had three or four different types of meat and the garlic bread was also good! We sat inside but there is a really cute outdoor patio as well. Service was great, will definitely return!

First off, this is the cutest restaurant I have been to. It’s dimly lit, with lights, and vintage themed artwork over the walls. Of course, it has the red checkered tablecloths for an Italian vibe. We went here before a concert, and I was SO afraid of missing it, because sometimes places have slow service. We were in and out in 35 min and weren’t even trying to rush! It was perfectly timed. I was amazed at how great the service was. We ordered the garlic bread, which is super cheesy and delicious, along with the gnocchi and pasta ala vodka. I wouldn’t change a thing. The complimentary bread is amazing, although I wish I had left some to dip into my extra sauce! This is the perfect spot for a date night. Can’t wait to come here again and try other items on the menu!

Wonderful outdoor seating. Not loud at all despite being outdoor near a relatively busy road. Wonderful service. Focaccia bread is amazing. Garlic bread with cheese and sauce is very good(4pcs). The mozzarella sticks were very big and also very good(5pcs). Lasagna blew me away from the first bite and was just as amazing all the way through the last bite. Gnocchi is also really good with nice melted cheese on top and marinara sauce. Shrimp scampi is very good with nice half tomatoes. Chicken parm/chicken parmesan was HUGE!!! The chicken piece is huge and is very good. Although pizza is not offered the pastas are definitely worth eating here for.

I can only speak for myself, but I loved dining at Tony & Elaine's, and would go back in a heartbeat. Had wanted to try it for years after seeing it on The Phantom Gourmet. It can be difficult to find a spot to eat in the North End, especially as a solo diner or before/after a game. Especially cause of space. But this is just on the outside, not far from TD Garden. I went for lunch, and was seated/served right away. The server did it all, checking in, conversating, and taking my order. I had the arancini to start, which were delicious and the Chicken Marsala which blew me away. The portion was huge and the Marsala wine sauce with garlic👌. I ate the whole thing. The bread was so-so, but it sopped up the sauce well. I also loved the interior of the place. A hole in the wall that is cozy and looks like one of your friend's houses, or out of an Italian movie. The red tablecloths and ceilings with Christmas lights are such a nice touch. Very down to Earth vibe. I'll definitely be back👍

This place has been on my North End list for a few months and we were blown away. Delicious food! Can't give enough compliments for how good the food was, the menu comes off as pretty simple but they nail every single dish. You will not be disappointed, it's a small space, definitely make a RSVP before coming and if you're hoping for a bar to chill at then go to Ward 8 across the road. Come here.

Rich sauce, smooth and taste. Lasagna had short ribs baked in with the cheese and sauce, one of my favorites now. We will come back for sure. We asked for an extra basket of bread to dip up the red sauce. Service was great, we had nice family time here with unique outdoor seating. Cannoli is the only desert… oh darn.

Everything was delicious. Garlic bread, bolognese and parmesan.

Had a phenomenal experience here visiting from out of town! Want to give a special shoutout to our waiter, Juan, who made the night memorable! He was adept with suggestions, patient when we couldn't decide from all the delicious options, and even helped me play a cheeky dessert prank. A great time!

Simple done excellent. You don’t need a ton of bells and whistles to have a hearty, enjoyable meal. Tony & Elaine’s is a place where the menu isn’t massive—but it doesn’t need to be because everything that is there tastes delicious. The portion sizes were excellent for the price (if on the small side). When we went, the weather was wonderful out on their patio section. It wasn’t overly busy on a Thursday night and even without a reservation we were seated promptly. Staff were attentive without being overbearing. Accessibility: When the patio is available for eating, this is an accessible environment. Flat, paved surface with ample enough room for mobility aids right off the North End sidewalk. However, in the cold months the inside portion of the restaurant is up (and down) several stairs with no immediately visible wheelchair access. The long short of it: you’re bound to have a good time here, but be mindful if you have anyone in your party requiring assistance moving.

Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Food is excellent. I enjoyed one of the best calamari appetizers I’ve ever had. The house red wine is wonderful. Our entrees were delicious and served hot. Service is excellent. We ate outside (only availability when I made the reservation) which was very nice - just had to deal with a little wind and a few tiny fruit flies. Overall, we enjoyed a lovely dining experience.

This was a nice experience. My boyfriend and I went the day after valentines and the food was lovely. We ordered an appetizer, the mozzarella sticks, and they tasted like they were made from fresh mozzarella. They were super good! They also brought out a basket of bread which had a garlic herb crust which was absolutely scrumptious. Our entrees (the chicken parm and vodka rigatoni where I added a chicken cutlet) were fresh and delicious. The portion sizes here are actually normal, not like other spots in the north end who give you a huge plate of mediocre food. The reason I chose 4/5 stars is because for one, they don’t offer many non alcoholic drinks. My boyfriend and I are just under 21, and the only non alcoholic drinks options they had were 4-5 different soda options. Some house made juices or lemonades would be a nice addition to the menu. Secondly, there’s only 5-6 tables in this restaurant. You HAVE to make a reservation, I saw a few groups get turned away at the door. But for being such a small restaurant, you’d think the service wouldn’t be so slow. Although the food came out quickly, we had a lot of trouble getting ahold of our server for drink refills or getting the check. Overall, the restaurant FOOD was amazing, the interior is cute, but the SERVICE although not rude is mediocre. Would come again for the food!

Lasagna and rigatoni alla vodka were delicious. Meatballs were good but not out of the world. Cute, small place but some of the furnitures were shaky. We made a reservation beforehand so didn’t have to wait. Would still go back and try their chicken parm.

Came here for lunch after seeing it on the Boston morning news, and ended up finding our new favorite Italian spot. We got the calamari, lasagna, rigatoni alla vodka (add chicken cutlet), and orecchiette sausage rabe. House red and white wine were $9 a glass and tasted great. The oil for dipping bread was light, fresh, and perfectly salted. Best dish was by far the lasagna. They put 3 different kinds of meat into it and the Sunday sauce is next level.🍝🔥

I quite enjoyed going to this place! It wasn’t wow wow but it was good and yummy! I enjoyed lobster ravioli - they were very fresh and really loved the taste of it. Fried calamari were good with a great addition of spicy pepper. Mozarella was perfect. I didnt quite like my lasagna - it was a bit too dense for me.

The outdoor dining is a cool concept, but unfortunately all the diners were surrounded by bees. A couple people left to go inside, because the bees were aggressively invading the food and tables. Light music playing outside would have been nice too. Helped with the ambiance. Our server was very nice. Unfortunately no kids menu or kids friendly options, aside from regular spaghetti. The mozzarella sticks were to salty, the shrimp scampi was underwhelming. The bolognese was probably the best thing we had. There was only 1 option for Wine by the glass, 1 red 1 white. Not much of an option really lol. Maybe it’s my fault for having my expectations high.

Eggplant parmigiana- tasty, served warm not hot, the presentation is bad with that pasta side thrown in there. Cannoli were good, shel was kind of hard.

The food was really good, chicken parm and shrimp scampi. The portions I thought were a bit skimpy considering we ordered out. No room inside to wait, they said I could wait at the restaurant across the street. Kinda odd they would recommend someone go somewhere else that serves food while they wait for food.

This was very disappointing to say the least. We waited 2.5 hours and the hostesses had terrible attitudes from the get-go. Once we finally got seated, our server checked on us one time to see if we were ready to go (even though we were still eating). The only person in the entire establishment that was friendly and helpful was named Connor. Other than that, the horrible service was enough alone for me to never come back. As far as the food goes, the red sauce was good, but the pasta was undercooked and the bread was hard as a rock. I couldn’t bite it with my teeth, but had to pull it apart (with force). It’s a shame, we heard great things about the food but had horrible service. Others waiting and leaving also were talking about the horrible attitude from the hostess. It was not worth the wait. Also while we were waiting, there were two rats running around outside. I know that’s not the restaurant’s fault, but ironic given the rest of our experience.

Classic Boston North End look but food disappointed. Staff was friendly, attentive and service was prompt. Dinner was presented well. Split the meatballs as they are labeled award winning and the sausage rabe. Meatballs were burnt on the bottom, struggled to see what was award winner. Sausage rabe had no real flavor. Other members enjoyed their meals of chic ziti broc and ghnoci. Sampled these and they were good. Would try again but wouldn't be my first choice.

I was so excited to eat at this restaurant and heard so many great things, but unfortunately I had an awful experience. I was put on a waitlist because I did not make reservations, which I was totally fine with. What the hostess didn’t tell me was that it was going to be an over 2 hour wait to sit and eat. Later, when I asked the hostess how long it would be, she said she couldn’t even guarantee us a table and that we might even have to sit outside (even thought we had waited over an hour at this point and it was 40 degrees outside). There was no apologies for the wait or anything. I ended up waiting because I had waited so long already, and finally we got seated after 2.5 hrs. When I was finally seated our waitress checked in on us maybe two time, to ask for our orders and if we were leaving and ready for the check. The food was very average, nothing I would wait over 2 hours for. The arancini was cold and gummy. I also got the pasta alla vodka, and the sauce was pretty good but the pasta seemed very uncooked. Overall, I am very disappointed in the service and won’t be coming back anytime soon.

I'm sure I would have given a higher rating because the place looks amazing. Gave our name and number to the host for outside seating. The person was less than helpful, and I guess didn't put our phone number down in the system. Told us it was a 35-45 min wait and that they would text us, which was totally fine. We said we are going for a walk to kill some time. Never got a text that our table was ready. Bummed we didn't get in, but piece of advice, don't leave until they text you first just to make sure they put your number in the system. Again really nice place and food looks awesome. Can't wait to try for it again.

The food was fine—basic, no-frills Italian as expected. Pasta was cooked properly, sauces were straightforward, and portions were fair. Where it fell apart was the service. Plates were delivered by staff in winter jackets, and busboys moved through in T-shirts and AirPods. It felt casual to the point of careless, as if folks were pulled in off the street to clear tables. Our waitress was super nice, but it seemed like she’d only been doing the job for a few weeks. If the owner wants this place to stay afloat, the front-of-house needs some uniforms, training, and a stronger sense of hospitality. Because similar food is available all over the North End—honestly, several spots on every block—I wouldn’t return. With a service overhaul, this could be an easy recommend. Until then, there are too many better-run options nearby.

Service was good however the food was very average. Couldn’t taste any of that good old Italian love in each bite. Come here for the interior not the food. - A

Do not bother. The food, the service and the overall ambiance and atmosphere I experienced in this place - unfortunately diverge greatly from high reviews this place has. The appetizers were served extremely quickly (somewhat undesired) and meatballs ("award winning") were missing taste. The bread was lacking texture and the dipping olive oil tasted weird. Finally, my main (chicken marsala) came with undercoocked pasta. It also was just not very tasty. Overall, I am surprised to receive such below area expectations food and service for the prices they ask.

We started our meal off with high hopes as the swaths of people entering and exiting, made this restaurant seem like a lovely choice for a succulent meal. Inside seating was filled but as the crisp fall weather was amongst us we had no reservations against eating outside. We started off with a bottle of table wine and calamari. As soon as we poured our glasses, a small bombardment of fruit flies assaulted our wine, and as the night went on it slowly turned into, full-on warfare on our wine glasses. After about 15 min our waiter brought over the bread, which in all honesty tasted worse than the church offerings. The calamari was a little overcooked not too crispy, but slightly chewy. The sauce that was paired with it was mediocre at best and was more like a vodka sauce than a calamari. We then sat in silence outside as they did not have any music or speakers to fill the time, but that was ok as I played music off my phone much to the delight and amusement of other patrons. Our Entrées then came out hot which is a positive. We ordered gnocchi, eggplant parm, and penne alla vodka. The gnocchi and eggplant were family style and ok they get a solid 6/10 stand alone and the penne was 5/10 nothing to write home about. I don't think I will find myself returning to this restaurant, but if you do. Just get an entrée

So my wife and I heard wonderful things about this restaurant for the past few weeks, we were so excited to finally sit down and enjoy it. Sadly when we left, we were quite disappointed. The service, 5 freakin stars! Omg, everyone was so sweet and accommodating. Even when an error was made with our order they fixed it right away without a second thought. Attentive and excellent is how I would describe the service! Now onto the food… $93.00 for an order of meatballs, 1 Pasta alla Vodka (chicken cutlet added), 1 Lasagna (shrimp added), and a Diet Coke. The price, not an issue, completely fair. The issue arose when it came to the taste. To me personally, the Lasagna was lacking completely in flavor, the sauce as well left me wanting. Everything was cooked well and presented well, but sadly I could only describe my main part of the meal as flavorless. My wife ordered the Pasta alla Vodka, unfortunately she stated the sauce was watery and lacking texture. The pasta itself wasn’t firm in anyway, possibly overcooked. And the chicken cutlet was thin, very thin, very little meat and much more breading. As stated before, the price was more than fair for the amount of food we received. But for the quality… we felt it was lacking substantially. Would I say don’t go here? Absolutely not! After all it may have just been what we ordered, or perhaps it was just an off night. The atmosphere was divine and the people working here, delightful and so so kind. But the food; the primary reason to visit, was a miss for us.

Not my type of tea. Bathroom is very small reminding me the one at airplane and tissue is far away from the toilet and on the floor. No one came adding water or asking about how good the dishes are. My chicken pasta was VERY salty and no flavor. The other dishes my family ordered were not bad.

The food was ok. Mediocre comparing with other North End restaurants. The meal was actually more expensive than some high-end restaurants at center of the North End. The service was not good. They really run the restaurant like a cheap takeout place. During the dinner, the waitress did not even come over to refill my water glass. Really feel I wasted money and time there.

We sat outside in the little alley area, which was cute and cozy at first, but I wish we’d been informed ahead of time that it would be outdoor seating.. I didn’t have a jacket, and it ended up being pretty cold, which made the experience uncomfortable. We waited over an hour for our food, and when it finally came out, it wasn’t great and got cold really fast. I expected more out of the chicken parm.. I’d give it a 6/10. The garlic bread was delicious and the marinara sauce was solid, but that’s about where it ended for me. I was also charged for two ginger ales without being told refills weren’t included, which was disappointing. Our server was friendly but not attentive. At one point, I saw him brush crumbs off another coworker’s hair directly over the water pitcher for our table, and later, he sprayed orange cleaner over a cheese shaker while cleaning a nearby table. 🤢 Both moments were honestly pretty concerning from a cleanliness standpoint. My wife enjoyed her lobster ravioli and said the pasta was al dente and the flavor was good, but she was also freezing. Overall, between the long wait, the cold seating, and the hygiene concerns, I wouldn’t recommend Tony & Elaine’s and won’t be returning on future visits to Boston.

best thing on the menu was the calamari. The Caesar salad was horrible, tasted very bitter as if the lettuce had not been washed. In addition we also ordered lasagna and vodka pasta very bland with no little to no flavor