A North End gem for casual take out and dine in. Off the beaten track and tucked away from the craziness of Hanover and Salem Street, Hot Tomatoes is known to North Enders for giving good food fast.

3 floors of distinct dining rooms and the North End's ONLY seasonal patio and rooftop dining. You'd think that the rooftop might offer you a panoramic view of the North End, but that's not the case. While it is open air, there's a sort of garden wall that runs up high on all sides and pens in a friendly bunch of people who love to chat, drink and smoke. In the summertime the patio is a total meat market, which is perfect if you are loaded with enough cash and the desire to get your buns gooched (girls) and your egos bruised (guys). Don't go if you're the least bit prissy or fussy. This is more like an amusement park than a restaurant, and an experience that you should enjoy at least once in your life.

One of the most famous pizza places in the country, Pizzeria Regina has been packing them in and slinging pie since 1926. This North End institution has not changed much since it first opened it's doors 80 plus years ago. Its menu is still only pizza and beer served by fresh-talking local waitresses and it is still a cash only business. Pizzeria Regina remains an untouched piece of Boston history.

Cheap and delicious pizza, with a thin and crispy crust and a sauce that's slightly sweet. The slices are enormous (the equivalent of at least two average slices or 1/4 pie), so don't order a second one until you've finished the first (which had probably gotten cold by then anyway). Tons of different toppings, and unique choices such as Shrimp Scampi. People who don't like the tourist traps are drawn to 'mom and pop'-style places such as this. Most slices are under $3, so what's not to love? Bonus: beer and wine served. Every night: Get a 2.00 14 oz. Draft with Any Pizza Slice!

Stop in to do some eavesdropping on classic local Italian flavor from the neighborhood. This place is absolutely epic. Great lunches for cheap, and the place is usually packed. The Mangia Burger and fries is under $5.

A 'gruff but lovable hole in the wall' with greasy piping hot pizza served to you on a paper plate by a cranky old guy. Rough around the edges, this no frills place won't have a snob in sight. Classic Boston pie for just a buck a slice. You can't go wrong!

You will find this small 25 seat candlelit dining room with colorful walls and original artwork. Chefs and owners Patrick and Frank Mendoza serve up homemade pastas and gourmet pizzas with an imaginative twist. The trattoria is indeed quite small, and the tables are jam-packed in, but that just adds to the authentic North End experience. In the summer, it's nice to sit by the open window and watch the world of Prince Street laze by as you drink white wine and eat bruschetta and pasta. In the winter, it's nice to sit next to the brick walls, drink chianti and enjoy the warmth and ambiance of the space. The only thing that's no good is the bread- it's really, truly awful.

Free pizza slice on Mondays when you order a drink, even if it's a diet soda. Need I say more? The pizza menu has a few options as well as make your own. The calzones are $10.50 with the choice of 4 ingredients/toppings in each. Beer and wine are served in a casual atmosphere replete with a bar and small tables. The windows of the restaurant open onto busy Salem St. Enjoy the relaxed bar scene, appetizers, and try the espresso martini.

Adam's Pizza and Convenience Store is just that: a convenience store with a pizza shop inside. A little sketchy, and open late: Adam's draws a diverse crowd. However, he well serves the Faneuil Hall bar community at 2 am and serves slices at $2 a pop.

This is more like a pizza/pasta/sandwich restaurant, but with classy North End atmosphere. The waitress is the sweetest thing, with her fiery magenta hair. Customers think that she's new every time she changes her hairstyle. "No, only my hair is new." she tells them with a smile. Rustic style Antipasto, Mussels, and Calamari are the traditional starters, and you can follow one of these up with Pumpkin Tortellini in a creamy marscapone sauce for $13. They serve a Puttanesca Pizza, as well as the Vongall Pizza (choice of red or white clam sauce) if you're feeling more daring ($10 for a small). For the carnivores, try the Grilled Lamb tips ($13) or Classic sirloin burger ($10).