Piccolo Nido

Discriminated against for being Muslim. Incredibly unprofessional and frustrating. Sorry that our large group doesn’t drink and therefore was denied last minute. Background: Called a few days ago to make a large group reservation for Sunday, owner was said yeah sure we can open for large groups and sounded very accommodating. Called today (because they didnt call yesterday when they said they would) and started finalizing the menu. Everything was agreed upon until I asked that alcohol and pork not be used in the meals. The owner said oh you’re Muslim? Then backed out and said he can no longer do it due to everyone not drinking and not making a profit. EVEN though I offered that we pay more per person to make up the difference AND that we would be ordering other drinks (coffees, mocktails etc).
I understand that profit is the goal, but if you have a minimum $$ or DRINKING requirement it would be professional to disclose that upfront. When you make these decisions after finding out religious requirements then you are straight up discriminating. I and everyone I know will not be supporting this establishment in the future.

We entered the restaurant at 6 pm in May and were the only ones there. The place was extremely stuffy and all the windows and doors were closed. When Pino finally came up to greet us, we asked if he planned to start the air conditioning or do something about the stuffiness. He said, «If you want air conditioning, you have to go someplace else.» Now, I’m talking about a seriously overheated dining room with absolutely no circulation, and no sense from the proprietor that he would do anything about it. We left, walked a block over, and had a great dinner at a place with wide open windows. We have eaten at Nido three times before, and the food was fine. If you think it worth chancing an owner who is rude, arrogant, and inconsiderate of his customers for the food, go ahead. But my wife and I won’t return. Good luck.

A hidden gem. I found this restaurant through Unilocal.However the address was wrong on Unilocal.So if you are looking for this hidden gem, look up the restaurant on Google.
First it was a Friday evening, I was able to get a reservation for 6 people by calling 2 hrs ahead. Impressive for a restaurant in the North End.
Second, they were super nice and very accommodating. One of our friends in our party was a vegetarian and couldn’t eat anything made with eggs. They made an awesome dish for her! For me I asked for a shrimp scampi that wasn’t on the menu. Loved it! My 8 yr old daughter loved the mushroom bow tie pasta. She almost ate the whole serving, which was huge!
This gem is off the beaten path but loved that they were very personable, accommodating, food was amazing, and very quaint. Definitely my go to restaurant when I visit Boston!!! Thanks!

Ate dinner at this off the main thoroughfare spot last week. Loved the old fashioned atmosphere. The owner was attentive and very nice and flexible about our order. The food was good traditional Italian food. Started with an excellent mushroom crêpe and then the sole special which was delicious — just the right amount of sauce to let the fresh fish shine through. The place was not too busy when we arrived around 7:00, but then filled up. We got there at a good time. I think this is a great place at a reasonable price.

What an awesome restaurant. My son just moved to the north end today. We were looking for a place to eat and since we moved up two flights of narrow stairs we were exhausted. We found this restaurant 20 feet from him apartment. WOW!!! I am 100% Italian and this restaurant was authentic and so relaxed and inviting. Pino was our server and he could not have been more charming. We started with the grilled calamari. Amazing. I really don’t like when they fry this. Grilled is the way to go. Simply delicious. I had the fruit de mare with homemade linguini. It was perfect. I loved dipping my bread with the amazing crust in the sauce. The mushroom pasta was so good. Probably the best dish of the table. We felt at home when we were welcomed to the neighborhood with a tiramisu. You will not regret this hidden gem.

What a discovery! Authentic and simplistic Italian food perfected by an unmistakeable personalized service by Pino. We came as strangers and felt like we left as longtime friends. The bolognese was amazing and the antipasto plate was delicious. You must try the Tiramisu, it was climatic!!! A fun experience all around!

Every dish better than the one before. Terrific dressings, well prepared calamari, fresh pasta and flounder flavorful without too much sauce distraction. Tiramisu fantastic

You may come here for the food, but what you really get is Pino — the owner. He is the «crazy» owner and chef that turns a meal into an experience. He truly cares about the food and that you have a good time. He turns a meal into an event. (Ask him to tell you about his Red Sox ring.)
Now, do not let me distract you from the quality of the food. It is really fresh and tasty, The best item on the menu is the flounder. Oh, I could just sit there and eat his flounder all day long. What I love about it is that it is really fresh (as in the restaurant is a short walk from the docks) and there was not a lot of sauce or covering to distract you.
One tip, no free refills on the Coke. But, you should be drinking wine anyway.

My husband and two sons had dinner here tonight. My youngest insisted I writes review. He said that place was amazing. The food was great and the service could not have been more friendly.

One of the best restaurants in the North End by far!!! The food is always fresh and delicious, the atmosphere is wonderful, you never feel «rushed», if anything it is very welcoming! The owner is always present and along with the staff, very attentive and welcoming. You must try the grilled calamari — the best ever!!!

Best place in the North End by a landslide. The Farfalle Del Cardinale would be my top choice for final meal if I were on death row.

Really disappointed. I go to Italy every year and I can tell you there are much better Italian restaurants in the area.
First, it’s expensive for the quality: 25 $ for a plate of pasta that was not even better than a Barilla one? C’mon!
Honestly, for the price and service offered, you can get a much better restaurant in North end.

For the first time of my life, we were kicked out of a restaurant.
A fun dinner with office coworkers turned out to be an unpleasant experience when the owner started yelling at us an threatening us and telling us to go back where we come from (we are a group of international people).
Very sad, even though the food was good, I’d recommend everyone to stay away from there. Its too expensive too for the amount that you eat. Btw, espresso coffee is 4 $ does that create a 1000% profit margin? Maybe
If you dont believe me:

This place made me nostalgic of the time when I was a student and I didn’t have the time to cook, so I had cheap quick cooked pasta… If you add to that the noisy and unwelcoming owner of the place, you obtain probably the worst deal you can have in all Massachusetts. I would have say from America, but I don’t go out of state that often…

What a wonderful restaurant off of Hanover Street. Wonderful food and excellent service. Had the Bow tie mushroom pasta — a must for mushroom lovers.

Never in my life have I been treated so horribly by someone. We made a reservation to have dinner here, when we arrived the owner — yes, owner — told us it would just be a minute. 15 minutes later we were looking for an update on our table due to the 4 empty tables in the dining room. The man chased us out of his restaurant yelling and screaming at us that it was not a fast food joint. He verbally attacked all three women and pin pointed my boyfriend, calling him names. We were all literally forced and swept out the door onto the street with an overly mad Italian man yelling and waving his arms at us «good luck finding dinner somewhere else». I have been in some rude situations but this takes the cake. We did have dinner somewhere else, and it was lovely. And we were treated with kindness and respect. Not something you will find at Picollo Nido.

Very nice but average. It was pleasant enough for sure, the waiter was perfect… just attentive enough… and helpful. The place was quieter than most we walked by, and seemed appealing, but I felt some foods we ate were far from the tasty and flavorful Italian that my palate is used to. Clams were salty and seemingly flavorless, and other fish dishes were just okay.

A very nice and authentic Italian place. Feels like you are in a family restaurant. Crew speaking Italian between themselves.
Pastas and cheese based dishes are great with a lot of tomatoes. Fish is also cooked nicely.

Last night was my first visit to this restaurant. My longtime friend had recommended Piccolo Nido two years ago, so it was about time that my husband and I dined there. As we walked around the North End neighborhood dodging the crowds, peering into several small restaurants with no A/​C on a muggy July evening, we decided to find our way to this place. It was a winding stroll to a spot that we’d never seen before this night.
What a pleasant surprise! Michele greeted us at the door and he said that we could sit at any table, so we chose a spot by the window. Our chianti wine and our wild mushroom crepes appetizer were a good choice. As I was in the mood for mussels, I opted for the linguini with Frutti di Mare (shellfish & seaood) in a light tomato sauce, while my husband selected veal marsala. Our dinners were delicious and the presentation most appealing especially on my seafood entrée. Service by Michele was attentve, friendly — perfection. Even the owner, Pino, chatted with us. Relaxed dining without a crowd is priceless.
Next time you’re tired of waiting two hours for a table in the tourist spots along Hanover and Salem Streets, wind your way to this intimate place at 247 North Street. It’s close to Commercial Street, easier to find a parking lot and stroll to Piccolo Nido, the little nest of the North End. Buon appetito!

The North End seems like a great place to get an authentic Italian dinner, but nearly every restaurant has a 2 hour wait on a weekend night. I can’t afford to waste time like that when I’m vacationing in a new city, so we found this hidden gem just two blocks off Hanover Street.
We had the bresaola to start, which was cured beef with lemon, arugla, and olive oil. This really tasted like home. For my entrée, I ordered the farfalle with mushrooms and prosciutto. Sooo good and filling, and made my whole tummy warm.
The service was extremely professional. You know the place is authentic when everyone is screaming loudly in Italian around you.