Giacomo

We waited for 2 hours in the middle of summer for the restaurant to open, and another 45 minutes for the line to move. My family had been walking the entire day. We were tired, miserable, starving, and just wanted to eat. I kept telling my family, "We're waiting 2 hours for spaghetti, when we can get Pizza from a really nice spot down the block."I kid you not, I regretted every previous thought after trying the good. From the most pickiest eater on the planet, who has eaten Italian food once in their life before trying this restaurant, my family (including I) could not stop eating once we were served. I can't recall a sentence spoken at our table once we began eating. The food here was absolutely mind blowing. 2 other parties. Not 1, but 2 other parties stood up and clapped after finishing their meal. From an impatient and picky eater who never thought they would like Italian food, this restaurant left me absolutely reeling.

My all time favorite lobster linguine place. Came here while studying in this city 7 years ago. Finally back in this city 7 years later, this time with my wife to share with her this taste i never forgot. Definitely never disappoint. I'll be back again :)

So freaking good! Worth the wait if you have to wait! The food was so good and hot! So much flavor!The service was excellent and attentive. They know what they're doing!

This is one of my favorite Italian food restaurants in the Boston area. The food is outstanding, and the staff is excellent. Don't miss out on a chance to grab some great food when you are in the area.

Absolutely LOVED this restaurant. It's been a week since I've been and I'm still raving about it. Such an authentic and delicious experience. Just note that no reservations and cash only! But those kind of places are the best and definitely worth the wait outside! I cant get over how good

Impressive customer service. Their hospitality is very good, also the staffs are so professional. Not only the service, but their foods are also much delicious. Popular foods include Lobster Ravioli, Scallops, Frutti Di Mare, Fried Calamari, etc.

Very, very good. I don’t give 5 stars for food often but this was outstanding. It’s cash only and a bit cramped with small chairs and way too little space but maybe it all adds to the charm...

The best italian I have ever had, hands down. 100% worth the wait

Excellent service phenomenal food and a great atmosphere. Would definitely come again and will for sure

a CASH ONLY place (there's an ATM machine across the street)No reservations but definitely worth the wait. :)One of the best Italian restaurants I've been too! Will definitely come back when I am in Boston!

Good Italian food...but not GREAT by any stretch of the imagination. Very happy there wasn't a line. Not worth queuing up for as there is similar quality food elsewhere. Cash only, BTW.

Small restaurant with an authentic Italian feel!Giacomo's is one of the North End restaurants that conserves the traditional Italian look and feel of the original Italian settlers of the area. While the restaurant is very small, the ambiance is charming. Food is great, their red sauce is quite something. I have mixed feelings about the staff though (hence 1 star down) - an older guy there (possibly the owner/manager?) was quite rude to us, but the waitress was very nice. Wait time is insane, ~90 minutes.

Waited in line outside till they opened and got right in. Small place! I’d have to say I wasn’t very impressed. Wait staff wasn’t super friendly either. 2/3 dinners was highly under salted & nobody ate the appetizer. I understand this place doesn’t need our business but it’s nice to feel that your business is appreciated. I talked this place up to friends visiting from out of town and it was a major embarrassment. I have to mention there was one male employee(maybe Dominican) who filled our water and took our dishes when finished who was super nice and caring! He made our experience that much better! I won’t be returning.

Both my husband and I loved this place. Delicious food and amazing atmosphere. It gets very busy! A que outside at 5pm on a weekday kind of busy. SO SO worth it!

Great dinner with friends at Giacomo’s!Visiting Boston for just a couple days, Giacomo’s was highly recommended by a friend as a must try and it did not disappoint! Be prepared for a long wait since it is a small restaurant but the atmosphere feels like you’re at home with family and the food was great! My orders for the night:Burrata Calamari Lobster RavioliSpinach Fettucine

As a born and raised Bostonian I love this place. No, it's not known for it's atmosphere or wine and dine service. But it's your hole in the wall, nonna and nonno services working. If you're looking for a high tech, seperate check, zagat rating then I suggest somewhere else. This is an old school Italian place with old school Boston - Italian people working there. From Donna to Rose to Tony, I love them all!

First things first, the food is amazing. Probably the best Italian food one ever had. The pasta and sauces are to die for. The only downsides... Very cramped, only about a dozen tables, where only 8 should fit. Also cash only. But the amazing food more than makes it worth it. Get there early, small size means line can wrap around the block.

One of the most authentic Italian spots I've been to. *Cash Only* beware, the line could get long - we went at 4:30PM on Sunday thinking we could skip the wait, ended up in line for about 30 minutes. It's smaller than I imagined but adds to the homey, Italian family atmosphere. Chick parm to die for - specials are indeed special. Fish always good. Pasta fresh - red-sauce is legit.

My favorite restaurant in the North End. It has a great atmosphere and great food. It's on the smaller side but it's nice to talk to the people next to you. Cash only.

Calamari was awesome. Staff was super nice. I write this negative review because actual service was very poor quality. The highlight of the evening was returning home and discovering we were given someone else’s leftovers. They are to busy and not paying attention to their quality.

Fantastic little authentic Italian restaurant serving delicious Italian dishes. Staff very attentive and service was quick. Not offered any desert, just given the check immediately after my dinner, Obviously to free up my table asap for the queuing guests outside. Took away from the experience a little but food was delicious so makes up for it. Payment is Cash only.

Every dish we had was outstanding. Handmade pastas, fresh seafood. It is worth the wait. Cash only leave your credit cards at home.

Awesome experience! Our first visit. Staff was helpful. Small, intimate setting of tables just like you find in Italy. Loved the lobster ravioli!

Authentic and delicious. Family stopped in this summer with the intention of actually eating at a different restaurant in the area, but after our experience with Giacomo's we were more than happy we changed our minds! The food was excellent (my father still talks about the Pollo Parmigiana!). Staff were friendly and helpful. Hope to go back in the near future!

Good food, moderately priced. Line can get long becuase there isn't much seating but it goes by quick.

Pardon me if this is not the best picture I've shared but let me tell you about eating at Giacomo's: if you're in Boston, go to little italy and try this place. I had the lobster ravioli and the pasta was soft/ homemade as well as all other ingredients. This is a tiny restaurant and I'm closterphobic, yet this is an amazing place that I would not mind returning to.

We had a wonderful meal at Giacomo's. We had the shrimp, scallops and broccoli with a cream garlic sauce and the salmon and sun dried tomatoes. Both were excellent. The restaurant is a small authentic Italian restaurant The bread was good Italy bread the kind you need to put some muscle in when you tear off a slice. The kind I love. I look forward to visiting this wonderful restaurant when I come back to town.

The food here is outstanding. It’s definitely worth waiting in line. Every time I have a relative coming to Boston, I always tell them that if you don’t go to Giacomo’s, then you haven’t really been to Boston.

Friendly service, and superb food. A bit of a wait to get seated but worth it. Veal dishes were tender and flavorful. Fruit de me also wonderful. Linguine was a bit overcooked. Bring cash, no cards accepted.

Like being in Grandma's kitchen.. Food is just amazing and super affordable. Where else can you get a decent bottle of Chianti for $25!Bring your appetite!

This was an excellent place and worth the wait in line. Food was ready quick. The fried calamari was excellent. Absolutely will be back.

I have had the opportunity to dine at many Italian restaurants: my review for this one:The bread was served ice cold. Had to ask for Parmesan cheese. No butter served.The tables are so close to each other it is hard to relax. We were never offer a second glass of wine and there is no desert menus.The waitress said she liked to turn her tables over five An evening.Not hard to do when you eat at a factory with minimal service.We went early so the wait was minimal. The food was a three on a scale of 1-10.The service was a 2.I will not rush back as I believe there are other more desirable places to eat then this place. Do much for listening to reviews.

Incredible dining experience in a small cozy atmosphere. Popular place so get there early. Line formed before opening time. No reservations. Well worth it. Cash only. Service was good. Friendly staff was very responsive. Nice selection of wines at reasonable prices. The meal for 2 was easily enough for 4. Lots of clams, lobster, mussels ,shrimp, and calamari over linguine. Wow! So good. Menu had several interesting items. Great meal, nice wine, good value.

Don't confuse the service as being rude, it's just those old traditional italiano vibes! I went here with my girlfriend, and received EXCELLENT food, and while the service was pretty unconventional and may come off as crass to some, I assure you, they really do care about you being there. I told Tony the owner just how wonderful his place was, and he actually stuck around our table and talked to us both for quite a while, despite the busy service! Even recognized us the next day while on the street when we were walking through Italian district! Wonderful staff, despite the hard exterior. And our food couldn't have been any better. Tony, I hope you read these. Me and my girlfriend have never forgotten about your restaurant, and loved the experience. I've already recommended you to all of my family. Thank you again.

No words can describe this restaurant! We waited outside for about 45 minutes and it was worth the wait! The food was fresh and the service was top notch. A gem in Boston for sure!

Amazing place to eat!!!There was quite a long queue outside but worth the wait. Inside it's a very authentic small place but gives a good atmosphere for the meal. The staff are very friendly and always ready to help.Food was great, some of the best seafood I've ever eaten.Would definitely recommend

Finally got to eat here after two failed attempts! Here is the secret, get there 30 minutes before they open and you'll probably get in the first wave of seats. The place is very small and camped but the food is delicious. The staff are very nice and funny, reminded me of having a big family dinner. The lobster ravioli was my favorite.

Loved it! Tiny so be there early. Try the giacomo sauce it’s supper yummy. Totally worth it. CASH ONLY.

Great prices, food and wait staff

Food is decent fairly priced but definitely not what everyone rants and raves about for those that think this is authentic homemade Italian try taking a trip to Arthur Ave Bronx NY and try any Italian restaurant if you really want to know what authentic italian should taste like. For a cheap place to eat it's okay. Server made a mistake and brought me wrong order maybe they should slow down a bit. She was thrilled at the tip I left and very appreciative. Tells me they aren't used to getting good tips here so overall if your broke or cheap this is your place for a good dinner.

This is an absolute must eat in the North End. The service was fantastic. The energy and atmosphere was everything I would expect. I had the house special fusilli and my goodness it was divine. I highly recommend this. If you're coming on the weekend please be sure you arrive early and wait in line. It is also CASH ONLY so be sure to bring something other than a credit card.

Had a great experience having dinner here with my girlfriend. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side but the quality of the food and the prices make up for the lack of space on a busy night by far. Great food, great staff, and overall lovely experience

Well above the standard neighborhood Italian spot. You can tell their humble staff and kitchen make you feel like you're extended family visiting for the first time in years. The only complaint is that it's too popular for its own good. Lines were not justified for the food alone- but the service and experience made up for it.

Wow. Great food and worth the lineup in the freezing cold. Butternut squash ravioli.. damn good. Mussels insanely fresh tasting.

This may be the best Italian restaurant I have ever been to. The line to get in was ninety minutes and I was very aggravated, but my wife really wanted to go. When we finally got in we had the best service and the best food, all for a very reasonable price. Do not let the wait scare you off. It is well worth it

This place was a must try while we visited Boston, we heard it from several people during our trip so we got there 30 minutes before they opened. There was already a few people in line in front of us so we waited and it was worth the wait. This place is cash only so come prepared. My husband and I ordered the daily specials which included blue crab ravioli and seafood pasta. It was delightful and extremely filling. We also ordered the calamari which tasted extremely fresh and lightly breaded. My dad ordered the eggplant parmigiana and said it was one of the best he has ever tasted. This place is small but the service is quick and the food is awesome. The prices are also very decent. I highly recommend d this place to any Italian lover visiting Boston. Just make sure to bring cash and show up early or you will be sorry. We definitely will visit again when we are back in Boston.

Amazing food options. Love the garlic bread and burrata. Their chicken parmigiana is my favourite.

Probably the best Italian food I have ever had. They don't take reservations so we waited outside in the cold for 20 minutes but it was worth every minute of it. Everything here is excellent but the lobster ravioli was a personal favorite.

Great Italian prepared seafood with pasta and your choice of a variety of sauce. No credit cards accepted, no a/c, no reservations, crowded, and had to stand waiting for 1/2 hour outside on the sidewalk to be seated. Service was quick and friendly. We go there often when visiting Boston. Mike's pastry is our desert destination after dinner.

A really cool North End experience while visiting for business. A sassy waitress, the place seats like 30 people, and the food was amazing. The prices are good for the service, quality, and portions, but remember that they're cash only, as are several places in that area. Do yourself a favor and take out some bills before you have to hit up the convenience store ATM and pay an exorbitant amount.