A cozy enoteca located off of North Square in the North End. It has been called intimate, romantic, and praised for delicious and authentic Italian dishes. Carmen is small at only 9 tables, but has a small bar for a quick drink or bite.

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.

A lively family-owned restaurant in the North End, L'Osteria serves Italian favorites cheaper than most of its neighbors, and indeed, the lower prices may be its only claim to fame. The unspectacular but varied fare features a wide selection of veal, chicken, and seafood. The juicy veal piemontese, stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella, is quite tasty, though the bowl of accompanying pasta bears close resemblance to dining hall options. Dessert ($6) options limited to tiramisu and amaretto cake. Entrees $13-$17. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Maurizio's, top rated in the Zagat Guide and three time winner of Boston Magazine's Best of Boston Award, has been part of the North End dining experience for over twelve years. Chef Maurizio Loddo hails from the Italian Island of Sardinia and brings a wealth of additional cooking experience from France, Germany and Spain. Wines from Maurizio's exciting list are selected to compliment the food. You will find exceptional and affordable picks from all over the globe.

The Daily Catch is exactly what you'd expect from a North End seafood restaurant—a tiny, low-key eatery with ultra-fresh fish. Seafood-lovers will go crazy indulging in delectable sicilian-style seafood and pasta, but non-fish-eaters beware: fish-free options are rare. For the adventurous, try one of the several black pasta entrees, dyed with squid ink which imparts a great taste (appetizer $8.75, dinner portion $15.75), or stick to a more basic, but equally delicious, mussels, fish, or calamari dish, among others (entrees $16-20). Other locations:Northern Avenue in Boston and Harvard Street in Brookline. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

They are experts at the cappuccino. Order one, and they'll have it on the table within a couple of minutes: hot, frothy, and decoratively doused with cocoa to create a veritable artistic masterpiece. You won't need sugar. As you drink this down, the cocoa runs down the inside of the cup in streaks. Can you resist the urge to forgo any sense of decorum, and lick the inner rim like a child? Heaven on earth for $3.15 per cup.

LoConte always aims to please. Whether you are there on a date and eating like a bird (with a full wine glass to boot) to loosening the old belt for the famous chicken parm or gnocchi and short ribs, you will always get a bang for your buck at this Salem Street staple. With a fresh bread basket awaiting you at the table, to decadent desserts as you leave, this Italian fare should not be missed.

Owner Frank DePasquale describes Bricco as a "boutique" Italian restaurant offering modern interpretations of regional Italian dishes. The menu features items such as zucchini flowers stuffed with truffled ricotta cheese, Big Night Timpano (drum-shaped stuffed pasta w/ meatballs & a slow, braised meat ragu), stuffed lobster, as well as a five-course chef tasting & wine flight. Bricco's chefs use locally grown fruits and vegetables, domestic & organic meats & specially selected seafood. Bricco has garnered many awards such as TV Diner's "Platinum Plate", one of Esquire Magazine's "Top Ten Restaurants in America", and "Best Guaranteed Great Meal in the North End," from The Improper Bostonian Magazine.

If you have friends or family visiting from out of town, this is the place to go if you want to show them what the North End is all about. It's also the kind of place to go on a first date, low lit and not pretentious. The Italian music adds to the ambience. When you walk in, there are a bunch of old fashioned photos, and the whole atmosphere is very mellow and welcoming - not trendy at all. They pamper you a bit, chat, and make you feel like part of the family the moment you enter. A popular dish that you might want to try: arancini.

This place has absolutely pristine oysters that you order individually off of something similar to a sushi menu. Kumamoto, Wellfleet, Bee's River...so many varieties of oyster to choose from, not to mention clams, crab claws and shrimp. Their lobster roll (the hot one, not the one with mayo which is served cold) is overflowing with the meat of 2 chick lobsters and drizzled with butter on brioche, served with Belgian twice-fried fries. Somewhat non-traditional but extremely delicious. The clam chowder is first rate, and every bowl is cooked to order. This North End hotspot has a great selection of champagnes and wines by the bottle and glass.