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Casa Razdora
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza
115 Water St(between Batterymarch St & Broad St)
Boston, MA 02109
Neighbourhood: Financial District
(617) 338-6700
- Nearest Transit:
-
Pearl St @ Congress St (191, 192, 193, 4, 92, 93)
Congress St @ State St (191, 192, 193, 4, 92, 93)
Devonshire St @ State St (4, 92, 93)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 4 pm
Thu-Fri 11 am - 5 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
64 reviews for Casa Razdora
Review Highlights
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"So far I have only tried the pasta specials and they have..." In 4 reviews -
"...cheese, some black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil." In 3 reviews -
"Everything is fresh with high quality ingredients." In 3 reviews
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64 reviews in English
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Review from Jim L.
Waltham, MA
5/10/2012
All the great reviews are well-deserved for this true hidden gem (it isn't a place you just stumble upon, and the sign isn't very big). Great italian sandwiches and rotating specials (stuffed peppers, chicken saltimbocca, chicken parm). But the real highlight is the pasta, and especially the pumpkin tortelloni. Fantastic quality and flavor, and all for much less than you would spend in the North End.
Crowds fill in quickly, and the space is limited. So get there before noon in order to avoid getting crunched, and you'll be very very very happy you did so. -
Review from David A.
Boston, MA
5/7/2012
I cannot say enough good things about this place. Having lived in Italy for 15 years I can be very picky with Italian food, but this place leaves me no opportunity to complain. The food is delicious, you have many options (including 4 to 5 daily specials that change every day of the week) and the service is quick and friendly.
I have tried the bresaola sand which on their delicious focaccia and that has to be my favorite sand which downtown. It is a very lean beef cold cut with roasted red peppers, lemon and capers.
I tried two of their pasta- the butternut squash ravioli with Gorgonzola (blue cheese) and walnuts which was amazing as well as spaghetti puttsanesca. The pasta in all of the dishes is homemade and they have about 15 different choices of sauce. The price is incredibly fair (about $9) and would easily go for the twice the price in North End and be nowhere near as good.
All of the staff comes from Italy and Giancarlo, one of the owners is very friendly and willing to make many suggestions.
A true gem and a must try destination for lunch or takeout for dinner in downtown Boston. -
Review from Brian K.
3/31/2012
Hidden gem.
Definitely try the pasta.
Most of the dishes are homemade.
Hop on the T and check it out, it's worth a visit. -
Review from April M.
In the hunt for astounding, home-style Italian cuisine in the heart of Boston's financial district?
(I know, random..)
Well, look no further because Casa Razdora is where it's at. Bada bing! Bada boom! (Hehe. Pardon the cheesiness.)
Decided on the Pumpkin Tortelloni Pasta with Butter & Sage Sauce. At $8.99, this dish was a bargain. You can find a similar dish at a fancy Italian restaurant for double the price. The pasta had the perfect texture, neither too soft nor too tough: al dente! The rich and savory sauce was the ideal complement to the pasta. Being a butter lover (see headline), I could not get enough of this sauce, so guess what I did after eating all of the tortelloni? I consumed the remaining sauce by mopping it up with the provided bread. But wait - that's not all! I then proceeded to lick the bowl clean. What? I couldn't let that magically delicious sauce go to waste! :P
Quick Tip: They're only open on weekdays for lunch. I suggest getting there before noon, preferably when they open at 11am to beat the rush. This place is the size of a shoe box, but cute and quaint nonetheless.Listed in: We're in a recession!, Boston Shenanigans
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Review from Lisa J.
Melrose, MA
5/13/2012
Went here for the first time and had the most amazing food! Everything was fresh and tasted homemade.
We were lucky to get one of the two tables in the restaurant after the lunch rush around 1:30 on a Friday. The meal started with a complimentary basket of foccacia with rosemary that was absolutely delicious. It was warm, soft, and flavorful. My group shared a Giardino salad as an app to go with the bread, and was plenty for each of us four to have a small portion. Their lemon dressing was unique and fabulous.
I had the Gnocchi with Campagnola sauce. It was super savory with the sausage and mushrooms, and the gnocchi was the perfect texture. It was light and fluffly; just delicious. I also tried everyone else's food: Pumpkin Tortelloni with Nonna, Gnocchi with Pomodoro, and one of Friday's specials, Pasta Al Pesce. The scallops and shrimp in the seafood pasta were absolutely perfectly cooked. My favorite dish was the Pumpkin Tortelloni, which had the perfect balance of sweetness from the pumpkin and savory from the sauce. I will get that when I go back again!
The food at Casa Razdora deserves every one of the 5 stars I gave it. It is completely worth going out of your way to enjoy a meal there! -
Review from Eric F.
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh snap, crackle & pop, I think Casa Razdora's taken the top spot in my book when it comes to absolutely insane quality-to-cost ratio!
This place fully deserves every 5 star review it's earned thus far...which is basically all of them. I had a chance to try the Tagliatelle with Campagnola and Meat, spinach & ricotta ravioli with Nonna - mad delicious on both fronts. The porcini mushrooms had a lovely aroma and earthiness that integrated nicely with the sausage, leeks and white wine. The combination of tomato and cream in the Nonna provided a pleasantly mild sweetness to round out the savory notes. Although it's pretty much a given that the pastas were cooked perfectly al dente, I'll add that the ravioli was delicate and had a bit of "stretch" to it - right in between the thick, hearty variety at Rino's and the almost paper-thin skins at Picco. Might I also add that the homemade TIramisu here is seriously legit and on par with the likes of places like Davio's...at less than half the cost.
Now that ratio I mentioned earlier...I'm still in shock as to how Casa Razdora can charge so very little for such outstanding quality. One would pay literally triple the price at just about every place in the North End and, more often than not, will get typical "red sauce Italian." Honestly, the folks here could double their prices across the board (TOTALLY speaking hypothetically here!) and I'd still fork the money over in a heartbeat.
Man, those that work in the FiDi have it good with such an amazing and affordable lunch spot right around the corner. I'll rarely have the opportunity to come by since it's only open Mon-Fri afternoons, but hey...it just builds the anticipation up even further ;) -
Review from Dirk P.
Gaithersburg, MD
3/7/2012
I don't give 5s. 5s represent food as good as you can find. I have never tasted such a good selection of pastas as when we stopped by here. The sauces were cooked down to perfection. Between 5 of us we tried several dishes. Each home-made pasta was very well done. Each sauce was well done as well. I have not had such a good selection of legitimate Italian pastas anywhere else. That's where the 5 comes from. The best of the best was the penne in alfredo sauce. It was like eating butter - butter made in some Italian angel's kitchen in the best part of the after-life.
Definitely worth a walk from the aquarium. Also I recommend the sprinkle covered chocolate balls made from mascarpone, cookie crumbs and all round goodness. One each ended the meal well. -
Review from Thien N.
Boston, MA
3/15/2012
I bought a Groupon way back for Cafe Razdora not expecting much. This place turned out to be a hidden gem! Cheap food, huge quantities, and pretty amazing quality. Their noodles and sauces are homemade and you can definitely tell. Each portion can serve about 2 people easily. Their sandwiches are huge and very tasty - packed with a lot of meat and less of the fillers. The only bad thing is that they're only opened during lunch time and it can be tricky to find since it's tucked away in the Financial District. You should give this place a try - you won't regret it. =)
What to try:
Italiano Piadina
Linguine with Amatriciana sauce
Any of their daily specials
The homemade rosemary focaccia bread is amazingListed in: Boston Foods
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Review from Whytnee B.
Boston, MA
2/27/2012
Everything here seems to be extremely fresh and/or homemade. I had an antipasta salad there a while back that was pretty tasty, but the handmade pasta is the best thing in the menu.
I went last Friday and ordered the seafood special with shrimp and scallops (Pasta Al Pesce) .... unreal delicious. I split this with a friend, and truth be told I could have eaten the whole thing myself (trying to eat less - new year new me). It was just SO GOOD ! Along with the freshly baked, awesome bread it was a good sized meal to split.
The space is not ideal for eating or for ordering, which is annoying. I think the lines / ordering system could be reconfigured to make it more comfortable for those waiting for take out and dine-in patrons. Perhaps encouraging people to order + pay ahead via online or the phone? Adding another register? Offering to bring food to customers who wait outside? Regardless, this place is a new favorite! -
Review from Christopher B.
Medford, MA
2/13/2012
WOW! I just had the most amazing meal at this new hot-spot in the financial district "Casa Razdora!" For weeks my coworkers have been raving about this joint and now I can see why. When I arrived at 12:00pm on the dot the line was practically out the door. Within minutes I was belly up to the counter and ordering this soon to be delicious dish "Pasta Al Pesce". Now my mother is a good cook, my wife... a great cook, they're both Italian and I don't think they ever cooked a dish this delicious...EVER. Sorry Ma! The best part was it only cost me $8.50! The soda I shop lifted! LOL! Just kidding!
If you are looking for some fantastic, authentic, Italian food.... you have to try this place! Fuggedaboudit! -
Review from Mitch C.
Glendale, CA
Updated - 1/24/2012 44 photos
Since my last review, I have eaten here at least once per week (excluding vacations). It's just that good. I can safely tell you that all of their daily specials (ex. chicken parmigiana, chicken marsala, veal stew, lasagna, etc.) are as fresh and delicious as their pastas, and the best part is putting the two together. Sheer brilliance. It really doesn't get much better than this. And the service- every customer (or prospective customer) is their most important customer. They are, to put it simply, just great people.
Come right before, or at the beginning of, the weekday lunch rush to get first dibs on the fresh specials or a head start on ordering your pasta, and grab a seat at the window bar if you've got the time. Chances are you'll find one of those seats already happily occupied by me.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/4/2011
I just moved to Boston, attending Northeastern University as a freshman, so naturally I look up… Read more »
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Review from Stephen C.
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very affordable and good quality small italian eatery.
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Review from Andrea B.
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've never been to Italy, but I felt like I was transported there as I ate my lunch at Casa Razdora (well, if you overlook the fact that "On Air With Ryan Seacrest" was playing on the radio). And it's so cheap! They could triple their prices, and I'd still gladly pay for their homemade pasta.
I came here for the first time knowing I wanted to try a pasta dish (their delicious-sounding pizza and paninis will have to wait for a future visit). The tough part for indecisive folks like me was settling on a sauce. The menu features a lengthy list of them, each one sounding better than the last. Luckily, the staff was friendly and perfectly patient while I mulled it over. I'm a cream sauce kind of girl, but I really wanted to try a tomato sauce too. So to remedy that problem, I ended up getting the fettuccine carbonara for lunch and the ravioli nonna to go. Hey, it set me back by less than $20, so why not?
Each dish was worth way more than its price. The carbonara, with its pancetta, eggs, onion, black pepper, & cream, was rich and filling, like any cream sauce should be. The fresh focaccia that came with it was perfect for mopping up every last bit of this heavenly concoction. The ravioli nonna, a tasty sauce consisting of tomato, rosemary, garlic, crushed red pepper & cream, was smooth and went perfectly with the ravioli over which it was generously poured.
Now, if only Casa Razdora was open for dinner, I could say that I'd be back often. But even so, I plan to come back next time I have a day off. If I can get authentic Italian food for this cheap, I don't see a reason to go anywhere else. -
Review from Vivian H.
2/6/2012
Didn't blow my mind or anything but it's tasty and fast, with some pretty sweet people working behind the counter. Ordered a tagliatelle arrabbiata and a fusilli campagnola -- great pastas, great sauces, real simple. Came with some delicious focaccia. It's made to order, which is amaaaaazing. Just wish we could amp it up with more toppings or something. I feel a little weird having sauce and carbs for a meal.. girl needs some protein and veggies.
I wouldn't count on getting a table here since they only have 2, but if you work around here, definitely try this place to go. -
Review from Tom M.
Boston, MA
2/8/2012
For the price, this place is an amazing bargain. The housemade pasta and a huge list of sauces to mix and match are way better than anything else you could get for the same price elsewhere.
If you're heading there for the lunch rush, don't count on eating there. But if you work nearby, take your food back to your desk (doesn't everybody eat at their desk?).
The only reason I don't give the place 5 stars is that it's not the best pasta (for example, the gnocchi are a bit too dense), but you're unlikely to find anything this good for south of $15. It's certainly better than any food I've had in the North End. I like to reserve my 5 star reviews for places that are truly spectacular.
I haven't tried a sandwich yet (still working my way through the pastas and sauces), but they look awesome and gigantic to boot. Gotta love that they slice the meat and cheese fresh with each order. -
Review from Caroline M.
Boston, MA
4/13/2012
Delicious.
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Review from Jason L.
1/6/2012
Razdora feels like you're entering grandma's house in Italy. Their delicious pastas are the star of the show. Perfectly cooked, homemade taste, and with a plethora of rich sauces to choose from, Casa Razdora does what those overpriced North End places does even better, for a fraction of the price.
But as with any pasta dish, it must be accompanied by a great sauce. And that's where Casa Raz really shines. ( Must-try sauce: the amatriciana). Be sure to use their freshly baked foccacia to mop it all up.
If you're not in the mood for pasta, their sandwiches are decent. The chicken parm was hearty, although a tad dry. Never tried the pizza. Unfortunately, they're only open for the lunch crowd, although their hours stretch til 5pm on Thurs/Fri. But compared to all the other over-priced choices in the Financial District, Casa Razdora wins, and by a long shot. Definitely worth a trip.
Food (5/5)
Service (4/5)
Decor (3/5) -
Review from Kayla B.
Boston, MA
2/24/2012
I was really surprised by Casa Razdora. As a moderately price lunch place in the Financial District, I expected the food to be decent.
It was SO.YUMMY. I got the spinach and cheese ravioli with arrabiata sauce. For $8.50 I got a generous portion of food plus tasty bread on the side. I've had meals in the North End that were two or three times the price that were not as fresh and delicious as my lunch from Casa Razdora.
I'm so lucky it's literally five steps from my office. This is my new go-to lunch place.
Oh, and the staff was super friendly! -
Review from David C.
12/6/2011
How does this place get away with charging only $6.95 for a generous heaping of the most delicious homemade pasta? Seriously, set Casa Razdora anywhere in the North End and it'd charge at least double that price.
Casa Razdora offers a host of tantalizing sauce and pasta combinations (in addition to pizza, sandwiches, and a wide array of daily specials), making it somewhat difficult to decide what to get. That being said, you should come in with a solid game plan. If you don't, I'm sure the friendly Italian staff would be happy to help you decide. They take pride in their food, and it shows.
I went for lunch on my day off (oh how I envy the Financial District workers who can waltz in any day they like) and tried the fettuccine campagnola, which came with sausage, leeks, and porcini mushrooms all topped with a lovely white wine sauce. I'd definitely recommend this dish to anyone who doesn't care for marinara, but next time I go (and there will most certainly be a next time), I'll probably opt for one of their red sauces instead. I'm still kicking myself for not requesting a side of caprese to dip my foccacia in.
The bread came with the pasta, by the way, and the bill was STILL less than seven dollars pre-tax. It's probably a good thing I don't work close by, otherwise I'd be the size of a house.Listed in: The Real "Best of Boston"
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Review from Wendy L.
Boston, MA
1/27/2012 3 Check-ins Here
The pasta here taste like it's homemade and every single choice is under $10! I'm not sure if they make their sauces to order but it sure taste like it. A lot of to go pasta places make pasta in bulk and just scoop some from the pot when you order it but Casa Razdora sure isn't one of those places.
I had the Pesto Alfredo...delicious! I can taste bits and pieces of pin nuts in the pesto and the cream sauce is not too heavy. The only thing I might change about this is perhaps add chicken to it next time. The portion is perfect for lunch and definitely worth the price of $7! Plus all pasta dishes come with fresh baked rosemary focaccia bread.
My friends ordered the Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli with Nonna and Pumpkin Tortellini with Sage & Butter. They both enjoyed it very much and said the sauce was flavorful and delicious.
The place is extremely tiny...only 2 tables of 4 and a couple bar seats. I wouldn't recommend sitting down during lunch time because the line forms around the tables and it can get kind of claustrophobic. The line was long but the servers were friendly and efficient.
I'm coming back to try the paninis here for sure...they looked amazing behind the counter! What a great find for people working downtown! -
Review from Nancy Z.
Casa Razdora has made lunch breaks Italian heaven.
This is a place that could easily charge people $30 for one of their pasta dishes. The fact that it is $7 makes it dangerous for us people that are poor at dieting. If you ask for a "slice" of pizza, you will get a quarter of a pizza. If you ask for pesto sauce, you will get delicious fresh pesto alfredo sauce instead. If you want a simple tomato sauce, forget about it- because they also have Nonna. No, not an Italian grandmother, but even better. Her tomato sauce.
This divine sauce is comprised of chunky, fresh tomatoes, rosemary, garlic, crushed red pepper, all smoothly combined together with a splash of cream. All this great flavor can be poured over penne, fusilli, tubetti, spaghetti, tagliatelle, fettuccine or linguine. Isn't it refreshing to hear something other than "spaghetti or ziti?" Oh yes, and the pumpkin tortellini- must put that on the list to try...
You should definitely go to Casa Razdora, even if you don't work in the Financial District. The food is too good to pass and their Italian accents just make you trust their cooking even more.Listed in: Out of the cube and towards…
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Review from John J.
Scotch Plains, NJ
No problem giving Casa Razdora another 5 Star review here.
After reading the reviews on my train ride to Boston I decided I had to check it out as I had time before my meeting and it's located w/in walking distance of South Station.
Stepping inside, the first image that popped in my noggin was the 'Soup Nazi' due to the smaller surrounding and the arcing line of hungry regulars that stood before me.
The décor is inviting with a large antiqued armoire, two or three farmhouse-looking 4-tops and a counter bar w/ stools looking out on quiet Water Street. Orders are taken at what can be best most eloquently described as a deli counter.
The menu is full of Italian deli classics but what sets Casa Razdora apart from the rest in my mind is their impressive pasta offerings. My eyes locked in on the Prosciutto and Ricotta-stuffed Ravioli with the Nonna sauce (Tomato, Rosemary, Crush Red Pepper and Cream). While the majority of local patrons carry-out, I opted to take advantage of the counter bar by the window. When I said it would 'For here', I was handed a small basket with the silverware and a warm piece of fresh Rosemary Focaccia. (I'm not sure if 'to go' orders also receive this)
After a short wait the Ravioli came out of the back kitchen on a simple white plate.
The dish hit on all points...in part b/c I was very hungry...but more so b/c of the authenticity of the ingredients (pasta made in-house...sauce made in-house...etc).
The Ravioli were abundant and covered in a generous helping of the delicious Nonna sauce. The sauce had a great balance between the acid of the tomato and the velvety texture of the cream.
Ravioli & S. Pellagrino: $12.00
I'll definitely be heading back on my next trip to Boston. Bravo! -
Review from Cindy K.
Needham, MA
1/10/2012
From the outside, you'd never know that this little hole in the wall was such a hidden gem in the financial district. I have yet to give 5 stars to a lunch place but this great find really deserves it.
Let's talk food - everything here is delicious. But ultimately its their daily specials and their homemade pastas and sauces that really gives me something to rave about. Every day of the week they have daily specials - a few of my favorites:
- Parmigiana Di Melanzane (eggplant) melts in your mouth and is not the typical breaded & fried version.
- Any of their specials with rolled pasta sheets. Such delicate texture but so flavorful.
If you're looking for pasta, this is the place to go. All their pastas are homemade along with the sauce. None of that canned crap I know they are serving at some of these lunch places.
And probably my absolute favorite thing about eating here is the Italian-speaking staff. How refreshing to actually order from real Italian-Americans who speak the language! -
Review from Jenn D.
Boston, MA
3/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Trying to find delicious and affordable Italian food in Boston is not an easy feat. Fortunately for those of us who simply don't want to break the bank eating out there is Casa Razdora! Initially, I was lured in with the Groupon deal that they were offering a while back, but the quality of the food has had me coming back time and time again. Pastas are fresh and delicious and everything is made to order. Staff was friendly and patient while we mulled over the menu (and was definitely appreciative of the fact that my dining companion was able to order in Italian). Highly recommend the Pasta al Pesce (Friday special), fettuccine campagnola (mushroom heaven), & the rosemary focaccia that comes with is out of this world. Easily the best pasta I've had outside of Firenze. It is THAT good.
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Review from Kathleen F.
Somerville, MA
12/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So I never thought that a lunch place would come to the financial district worthy enough of 5 stars but, it has come!! Casa Razadora makes me think that I'm getting transported back to my days as a grad student in Europe when I used to jet off to Italy and hang in cafes and eat amazing authentic and in-expensive quality food. Kind of a nice feeling to have when in reality you are in the middle of the financial district in Boston.
Like everyone else has said their pasta is AMAZING and definitely homemade. I also love that they don't over-do it on the portions which is great. Another nice thing is since they are using authentic ingredients it doesn't sit too heavy in your stomach. I also recommend their sandwiches. They hand slice the meat right in front of you and it is melt in your mouth delicious. If you aren't in a rush sitting in to eat is nice, you get to hear the guys in the back speaking Italian to each other and if you close your eyes you can pretend you are in Europe! Boston definitely needs more places like this, bring on the authentic quality food! -
Review from Abbie M.
Boston, MA
12/30/2011
Got a Groupon and went to try it out - there really is a line out the door! It moves quickly though, and most people are getting their food to go. For those who want to eat in, there are maybe a dozen seats.
We had the Primavera and the Carbonara, the primavera was packed with veggies and the pancetta in the carbonara was lovely. I'm used to a carbonara made with egg and butter, not cream, so I thought it could use some more flavour but that's me just being picky. The foccacia they serve with the meal is SO good!
We saw huge sandwiches and huge pieces of pizza, I can't wait to go back and try more! Definitely SPLIT an entree unless you can eat a LOT. -
Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
Fantastic fast authentic Italian food. why is it authentic? Well the people here speak Italian so that is authentic enough for me. This place pretty much serves pasta, pizza, and subs.
Their pizza is excellent Italian style pizza, good size crust and just the right mix of sauce and cheese. The peperoni's on mine tasted very fresh. Did I mention this is one of the biggest slices I've ever had.
I've also tried the Manzo Marinato which is thinly sliced steak tips in a red marinade with american cheese, lettuce, tomato's, pickles, olive oil, and jalapenos. One of my new favorite subs in the financial district. -
Review from Jessica S.
Cumberland, RI
2/19/2012
Very cute little place, great food, and the staff is super nice. Had a capreses salad and the pumpkin tortellini with a bosciaolla sauce. Pasta was perfect and the price was better than in the north end. I don't usually care for foccacia but this was really good. Theres little seating but I went there at 3pm. I like the marble counter area. When I left I asked what the cake ball looking things were and the guy gave me one for free and they were very good. Not 5 stars only because iceberg lettuce does not belong in a caprese salad and for $8, I've had better in the north end for the same price. Would definitely go back.
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Review from Beverly G.
Quincy, MA
11/18/2011
As a rule, there aren't a lot of great places to eat in the Financial District. Restaurants there tend to be overpriced (especially when you consider that the food is mediocre to outright poor quality) because they have a captive audience of working people who can't take too much time waiting around for lunch or walking to further away places that might serve better food. When I started a job in the Financial District, I was dismayed at the thought that I'd have to consign myself to eating an endless parade of Boloco, Qdoba, or Cosi. Casa Razdora is the exception. Through the magical powers of Yelp, I discovered this place, and I'm happy to say that it lived up to the praise. (Yelpers, you have not failed me!)
This restaurant is awesome. It takes a supreme amount of self-control not to eat lunch here every day. Though I've so far only ordered pasta with sauce, every sauce I've tried here has been delicious. They're made fresh, and you can taste the difference over a lot of Italian (or Italian-ish) restaurants. The stuffed pastas are also made fresh. The pumpkin tortelloni with sage butter here is better than at a lot of places in the North End. The pasta is always cooked al dente, and the sauces are always piping hot. And you can't beat the price: $7 buys you pasta, sauce, and a side of delicious fresh-baked rosemary foccacia. Additionally, the staff is super nice and friendly; they treat their customers almost like family. I just wish they were open after 3pm, so I could actually go here for dinner. -
Review from Jonathan M.
Boston, MA
9/18/2011
Great new lunch spot in the Financial District.
Food is authentic Italian, not like the other local places who claim to be and fail like Viga, Pavia and the others in downtown area.
You will pay about $2 more and wait a few minutes more but it is worth it.
Get the Italiano on the homemade focacia, sandwich is enormous and delicious. They put the veggies on the slicer when preparing for each sandwich, its great.
Also Turkey tip sub on sub roll is dynamite ! -
Review from Vitaliy Z.
Boston, MA
7/9/2011
This place is just amazing. It rejuvenated my passion for lunch which was killed by the very mediocre food found in the Financial District. There are, of course, a few notable exceptions, but most of the days I dream that they'd invent some sort of energy pill that would spare me from leaving the office to try something that doesn't put my taste buds to sleep.
Casa Razdora is definitely like a breath of fresh air.
First of all, the chef there is actually Italian. And I mean the kind from Italy and not the kind you find in tanning salons in Revere.
Secondly he really does seem to care about food. Everything tastes very fresh and well thought out. Most dishes are prepared to order.
All the people who work there are extremely nice.
So far I have only tried the pasta specials and they have been top notch. The sauces are not overwhelming and the ingredients taste very fresh.
And the prices are very moderate as well. You get restaurant quality food for well under 10 bucks. Compare that to the more expensive assembly line quality food that you get from the typical financial district places like Cozi and Panera.
This place is definitely making my lunch hour a something to look forward to -
Review from Bryan B.
Revere, MA
9/6/2011
Just want to add praise to Casa Razdora. This is really a great example of why going a little out of your way for lunch can really pay off. Even though I work on Washington St. in Downtown I don't mind the 5 minute walk and 8 minute wait. When you realize what $7 can buy you here compared with other places I'm guessing you won't mind the wait either.
I got pizza my first time here, and it was excellent. The sauce on it tasted very fresh, and the dough was not over cooked. Perfect!
The next time I came here I went with the Diavolo. Simply amazing! One of the tastiest lunches I have had in my 12 years working in Downtown. Easily up there with the Rumanian Pastrami at Sam La Grassa's and less expensive even with chips and a drink. Do your self a favor and eat here now!
I, like many other reviewers on yelp, plan to eat here a lot more in the future and try much more of their menu. -
Review from Ambrose C.
Boston, MA
Are you looking for an Italian meal for less than $10 during the day? Is it also possible to actually hear Italian being spoken inside a small eatery in Boston? Yes, it is possible once you walk into this place and this place has your answer. Located deep in the heart of the somewhat decent city of Boston, this small place specializes in a variety of Italian style dishes that begin with the letter "P": Pastas, Pizzas, and Panini (Italian style sandwich).
The first time I came here, they were serving this Monday special called Panino alla Porchetta. This is a sandwich made with pork, lettuce, mayonnaise, and some spiced up peppers. After the first bite, I was fairly impressed. The bread was fairly fresh and chewy, the pork was tender, but the lettuce combined with the slight spice of the pepper and the coolness of the mayonnaise just made this sandwich tastier. One sandwich should be enough to keep your stomach full for the day.
Although I believe they do a good job with their Panini, they do an even better job when it comes to serving their Pasta dishes. For about $9.49 I was able to get a San Pelligrino Aranciata beverage, a piece of bread that was almost 20 cm in length, and 6 cm wide, and a plate filled with Fettuccine style pasta mixed with Carbonara style sauce. This is a cream sauce made from Italian style bacon called Pancetta, eggs and black pepper. The bread was really good, soft, chewy and has a nice soft fluffiness. The texture of the pasta was soft, possibly almost "al dente" style. The sauce was really good, there was a nice crisp texture from the bacon, and it was not overly creamy or watery. Mixing that sauce with the good quality pasta, and I was eating a really tasty pasta dish that's almost as good as a pasta dish served in a sophisticated Italian restaurant. Portions are really good, and one dish should get a really hungry man's stomach full.
The service is fairly effective, and the lady who works here not only speaks Italian fairly fluently but can also speak flawless plebeian Eastern New England style English. This is probably the first place I have been to in Boston that I actually heard Italian being spoken since I left Rome.
Overall, this is a really good choice for a Panino or a Pasta dish if you are really hungry and only have $10 to spend. You should also take a look at what specials they have for the day because they can be really tasty. It's also a great choice if you want to practice ordering food in Italian.Listed in: Boston Dining Recommendations…
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Review from Jack M.
Boston, MA
Updated - 1/30/2012 3 photos
I went back for lunch and it was much better. I didn't bother with the menu, which has a lot of unpronouncable stuff anyhow, and just straight up asked for some meat ravioli in alfredo sauce. I had to wait for a bit, because they make it all fresh. I could see the guy in the back making my sauce. $9 for the pasta and a nice chunk of bread. That's not including a drink. I sat at the counter, 1/2 of which was taken up by this rude couple just sitting there, after having long finished their food. They took up WAY too much space and I had to squeeze over by the door. After they left, finally, I was able to sit on the opposite end, away from the door and the freezing air outside.
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The food, while expensive, is really good. The alfredo sauce was nice and cheesy and piping hot! Very filling. Good stuff to dip the bread in, too. The bread has a nice light olive oil and rosemary topping on it. I think you can order it plain too, if I overheard them right. I think there could have been more meat in the meat ravioli, but it was definitely made in-house and nice and fresh. I liked it quite a bit.
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I'd go here again for sure, but not too often. It's expensive for lunch every day.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2012
The first thing you should know about this place, is that it's TINY. There's hardly any seating,… Read more »
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Review from Stefano S.
Wilmington, MA
2/8/2012
The best authentic Italian food I've had since coming back from living in Italy. The options and quality of the food are Second to none in Boston. A definite must try for anyone who enjoys great food.
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Review from Ellen T.
Quincy, MA
1/25/2012
If you are in the mood for some pasta in the financial district, this is the place to go! The portions and choices were good. Although it is on the pricier side, I paid about $10 for pasta and a drink, I would go here for a treat once in a while =) Pasta was oh so fresh, and everything is made to order. I looooved the rosemary foccacia bread that comes with it. There are some seats, but it's really tight in there so taking it to go would be ideal. Overall great experience and the workers were friendly.
Orangina + pasta + yummy bread = happy customer -
Review from Mike M.
Boston, MA
1/24/2012
I'm reluctant to add more hype to Casa Razdora and add to growing the lines there... but this is easily the best lunch spot in Downtown Boston right now. Unbelievable sandwiches and great pasta. The Pollo Alla Milanese is a great choice for a Thursday special.
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Review from Josh W.
Somerville, MA
12/14/2011
One of the top five best subs I've had in the area. The Tacchino. Trust me. Try it or GFY.
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Review from Howe L.
Cambridge, MA
12/20/2011
All the 5s from Yelpers have been enticing me to try this place for so long. Since I work so close, I really had no excuse, and now after trying the pasta, I reallyyy have no excuse to not try all the sauces on the menu. Amazing price point, amazing restaurant quality, amazing, quick n friendly italian service.
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Review from Jude G.
Roslindale, MA
1/22/2012
The food is top notch - better than what one could expect at many high-end, upscale Italian restaurants. My friend and I shared the prosciutto, tomato, fresh mozzarella appetizer, I had bolognese sauce, my friend had carbonara, we both had left overs for lunch the next day. The prices are very affordable, especially given the size of the portions and the quality of the food. There is quite a long line at lunch, but it moves quickly. It is counter service only (with just a few tables, most orders are to go) and the service is excellent, too. Fast, friendly, helpful - seems to be a family run place; in any event, the staff are professional and it is very clear that they care about their food and their customers.
