They should really call it Italian Restaurant Row. The North End of Boston is full of Italian restaurants, specialty food shops, café’s and apartments. It is a section of town devoted to all things Italian and most of the residents, shop keepers and restaurateurs are also Italian keeping the authenticity alive. You rarely see something like this is America anymore. As I discussed here growing up, when I went to visit my grandparents in Western PA, it was a little like this, although most of the ethnic groups were kind of mixed together even though each had their cultural Mecca’s. But here in Boston’s Little Italy, it is all Italian all the time. You actually hear Italian being spoken in the streets and everywhere you go. The TVs in the cafés have Italian stations playing soccer matches, in Italian. You can really get the flavor of Italy here just walking through the streets, but when you go into the restaurants and sit at the table to eat, it gets even better.
As many of you who have kept up with this blog and my other blog The Leftover Queen,
you know that Roberto and I have been on a quest for the perfect Italian pizza. We have tried making it at home and have gotten close several times. We have also spent endless trips all over town trying each pizza joint, hoping to find a bit of pizza gold! But to no avail…yet. Until we found Pizza Regina in Boston’s Little Italy. We should have expected something good when we saw the line coming out the door and onto the sidewalk. When we got in, the place was packed and full of the hustle of a great pizza place: lots of yelling back and forth between servers and cooks, pizza dough flying in the air as a backdrop and smells of melting cheese and tomato sauce. Roberto and I shared a Napoletana - a huge pie with anchovies, capers and olives. Rachel and Gwen, Roberto’s daughters shared a half mushroom, half meatball.
As soon as Roberto picked up his slice and it held up, with no drooping he was feeling inspired, when he flipped the slice over to reveal the tell- tell sign of flour on the bottom of the crust, he got more excited, and when he took that first bite, enjoying all the flavors of a pizza cooked to perfection, he was in heaven and declared that his search for real Italian pizza in the US was over! Big accolades for Regina’s!
After eating we decided to go for a walk and check out some of the shops. We were on a search for some real Parmigiano-Reggiano and Italian Salami. We checked out the Salumeria Italiana a specialty food shop full of Italian cheeses, meats and non-perishables. There was also a table full of fresh baked bread. We picked up some Parmigiano and some assorted olives for snacking.
We then moved on to Café Graffiti where I enjoyed a deliciously bitter macchiato.
Roberto had a childhood favorite, Crodino – a bright red bitter (that matched his shirt that day!), which to Rachel, Gwen and I tasted like cough syrup (same color too)
and the girls each enjoyed a fruit nectar. Here is Racehl enjoying hers.
Refreshed we spent the next few hours walking around and enjoying the sights sounds and smells.
We stopped by the Old North Church, where on April 18, 1775 the church sexton, Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea and not by land. This fateful event ignited the American Revolution.
As well as St. Leonard’s Church, the first Roman Catholic church in new England built by Italian immigrants. All of these sights can be found in the North End.
Before leaving we had to make one more stop – we had to get Gelato, of course. I have been to The North End before and have always loved the nocciola gelato at Café Vittoria, a historical North End Café, and was dying to have it once more. Much to my dismay, they were out of Nocciola, so I settled for Coffee. Roberto had his obligatory Pistachio, Rachel went for Chocolate Chip,
and Gwen not knowing what to get opted for Spumoni after I told her my Grandfather used to get that for me when I was her age! We all enjoyed it AND our trip to little Italy!
*NOTE*: Some of these photographs were taken by Rachel Campus, Roberto’s daughter, who is a budding photographer. I guess she took after her dad on that one!
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Jenn - This is a lovely write-up of a fabulously vibrant part of Boston. My partner and I adore Boston and are thinking of moving there next year, all going well with the visa process, etc. The North End is a favorite place, so full of life and with so many food stores. I had my fill of great Italian pasta and dolci! I hope you and Roberto had a lovely time back in New England.
Boston is sure a place I would love to go…
Wow Jenn, looks like a great time! I like all the goodies at the Italian market! Whenever we go on trips, I wind up bringing home so many goodies from these types of stores. It is even better when we drive as I can then fill up the car. Flying is a pain in the butt nowadays! I am glad you had such a fun time:)
Jenn - thanks for that trip down memory lane. I was raised outside Boston and spent so much memorable time in all those places you were in. I always said that my favorite pizza in Boston was Regina - but I only ate it at their outlet that is/was in the Quincy Markets. (I assume it is the same one.) How great to see you eating that very pizza! Your espresso looks perfectly made, and isn’t it wonderful to hear people speaking Italian! Great article.
Jenn, I loved this post. Thank you so much
Little Italy ROCKS!
Hi Shaun! Thank you. I so enjoy this part of Boston. Boston on a whole is a great city, I know you will love it if you move there. The open markets they have there are wonderful!
Hi Cris, you have to stop in Boston the next time you are in the US , it is such a great place!!
Hi Deb! I know, half of our suitcase was filled with stuff from Trader Joes and Boston. I am always filling bags with goodies - edible souvenirs!
Wow Jeni, I didn’t know you grew up outside of Boston! That is amazing - such a small world, I love that!Yes the pizza, espressso and Italian in the streets were all perfect and wonderful. We really loved it there.
Thanks Maryann! It really was wonderful!
Hi Jenn, What a wonderful, historic and well-fed trip! I enjoyed reading your post as well as seeing the photos.
Hi Jenn!
Isn’t it great to be on vacation? Plus, if you go with the man you love, to a beautiful place (such as Boston) and to great restaurants in search for the perfect pizza… and you find it!!!
Could not imagine anything better! Enjoy and Salud!
Jenn,
I knew that we were spiritual sisters! My childhood fantasty was to live a Little Italy, instead of Eastern Washington. I just blogged about it. Went looking for a fun link and yours popped up.
Plus, when my husband and I lived in Boston, Pizza Regina was OUR pizza place. I’m so happy that it’s still there.
I’m glad we got to see your adorable family.
Keep up the good eating. I linked my story to yours.
Candace
Thanks Janet! Thanks for your comment!
Hi Nuria! I love vacation and after this trip realized I need to make it a more regular thing - it is such a great way to reconnect with loved ones when you are away from the grind.
Wow Candace! I can’t believe it! Great minds strike again! We really are telepathic I think! I love Pizza Regina, such a great place! Thanks!
I’ll have to go now ater I saw the wonderful pictures of the pizza and the food available. Was it imported from Italy food?
Hi J.Doe! Yep, the stuff in the shops were imported from Italy - except for some of the salami and olives - some were cured here, state side. Do you know where to get salami imported from Italy?
nice food.
Absolutely.