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Panza
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
326 Hanover St(between Lathrop Pl & Prince St)
Boston, MA 02113
Neighbourhood: North End
(617) 557-9248
- Nearest Transit:
-
Commercial St @ Fleet St (4)
Commercial St @ Battery St (4)
Commercial St. @ Hanover St. (4)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
182 reviews for Panza
Review Highlights
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"The wild mushroom and goat cheese spring rolls were yummeee." In 10 reviews -
"For dinner I had the Butternut Squash Tortelloni (YUM." In 7 reviews -
"I LOVE the linguine alla pescatore with the fra diavolo..." In 4 reviews
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182 reviews in English
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Review from Scott K.
Boston, MA
4/18/2012
Consistently above average food at a lower price than any of the pretenders nearby. As a resident in the North End, I've tried quite a few of the restaurants in the neighborhood and Panza is always the winner. I keep getting suckered into wanting to try to fancier more expensive places but always leave feeling underwhelmed. That is never the case at Panza and the many people I have taken to Panza always walk away satisfied and impressed.
I like the linguine pescatore and Stephanie B. says the butternut squash tortellini may be the best thing she has ever eaten.
I also highly recommend splitting the chopped salad for two. It is a terrific salad with light dressing and lots of little goodies like mozzarella cheese, salami, and crispy little pieces of pancetta throughout.
All of the portions are large but not at the expense of taste. You will leave Panza full, satisfied and (rare in the north end) not feeling ripped off. -
Review from Mindy R.
Boston, MA
4/16/2012
Every review about reservations and waiting at Panza is 100% correct. Reservation or not, you will wait for a table. Luckily I went here this weekend when it was beautiful weather, because there's no bar in the restaurant (weird, right?) and there's definitely no space to wait inside....
Anyway, we were seated promptly, at a really small table in the back of the restaurant (well - I mean, ALL the tables are small and the restaurant is about the size of my bathroom...) but it was perfect....and we didn't feel like we were in the way at all, like you sometimes to when you're right by the kitchen door.
Food was amazing, if this review was for food alone definitely 5 stars. Bruschetta was SO delicious...garlic toast with tomatoes and balsamic and goat cheese! I thought for sure my boyfriend would be disappointed by goat cheese instead of mozerella, but he LOVED it. We both had tortellini (I had the butternut squash & he had the veal) and they were amazing. We shared a bottle of wine & really enjoyed our night.
The service was great too, we couldn't believe that the waitress in front was also the hostess. Things might run a little more smoothly if those were 2 seperate positions....just a suggestion.
This is a place in the North End that is similar to places in Italy. The ambiance and atmosphere is not nearly as important as the delicious, delicious food. The tables are tight, the kitchen is heating up the whole place, and there's a drunk man, who seemed like a local regular, that wandered in from time to time (definitely not disturbing anyone....). If you have a little extra time to spend waiting for a table, and want a simple night out with fantastic food definitely go here. -
Review from Jolie W.
Ellicott City, MD
4/6/2012
Probably the best Italian food I have ever had! The pasta and seafood(scallops, calamari, shrimp and mussels) was very fresh and authentic. The sauce was the best. One person in our party got the butternut squash ravioli and it was amazing-the squash was sweet and cooked perfectly. The bread was great with the sauce.
I had a sangria that was flavorful and fruity!
After coming here, so many people who live in the area say its their favorite Italian restaurant on the North End-which says a lot!! I will return--loved the food!! -
Review from Liz E.
Boston, MA
5/24/2012
My favorite spot in the north end! Food is fantastic and reasonably priced.
It's tiny, so you better make a reservation or be prepared to wait. Also, it can get a little loud. Sure it's not as fancy as some other spots, but this place is well worth if for the food and price tag.
I'll be back here soon! -
Review from Sharon G.
Juneau, AK
5/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Always tough to pick the perfect restaurant (for a large group) -- especially in the North End. Found this one on YELP... almost perfection! The place is a little small, but our party of seven, for which we made reservations, was seated immediately. Loved our server, John, the solid menu, and the gluten free accommodations! The food was so good -- portions large (especially the chop-chop salad for "two" -- everyone had a taste!), service exceptional. SO happy we chose Panza -- and will do so again! (No dessert, but there's a whole neighborhood for that!)
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Review from Angela F.
Boston, MA
5/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I had a reservation for 4 people, and was seated almost immediately. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and our food was fantastic! I definitely recommend the butternut squash ravioli, and also the ribs (on the appetizer menu). The check was surprisingly inexpensive, and we left feeling really satisfied!
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Review from Pat E.
3/16/2012
One star for the service, three for the atmosphere, and five for the food/amount of fish in my pasta.
Luckily I found this place through Yelp, and they could fit my party of three in for an 815 reservation. We got seated about 820. We were handed menus by our waiter, who would become quite a stranger the next hour or so.
I wanted Italian food on St. Patrick's Day Eve (ha) and I wanted seafood, so I went with the Linguine alla FISH! Clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, and scallops fradiavolo. Wow, fantastic!
It is a good thing I didn't want a refil on water, or my two dining companions didn't want another Diet Coke, because we didn't get any! They both ordered the Baked Ziti and were more than happy with the food, but the service was awful.
The prices are reasonable for three student teachers, $54 before tip. I would tell you how much we tipped, but I paid my friend cash and he put it on his card.
I love Italian food, but MAMMA MIA check on ALL your tables. I was shocked because our waiter was "hamming" it up with the surrounding tables (not that big of a place). I would go back and request a female server. Any time I get a male server I get let down, and this was just par for the course!Listed in: Boston
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Review from Andrew R.
1/30/2012
Panza is the best Italian in the North End that I've had so far. Been to at least 6 or 7 different places (all highly rated on Yelp), and this is the winner. It's the place I take visitors and it's the place I treat myself to when I'm feeling a North End night is in the works. Cheaper than many places and average for the rest.
Food: get the Linguine Alla Pescatore. It's a couple bucks more than most of the entrees, but it's well worth it. There's almost three meals worth of food in there! Be cool and get it with the fra diavolo sauce.
The Chicken Panza is also a stand out. Excellent balsamic marsala wine sauce. Ultra flavorful. I mean good grief, charlie brown! -
Review from Doug L.
4/20/2012
My wife and I have been in Boston for 9 days now and have thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful City. We have been exploring various restaurants and have found our favorite to date in Little Italy. This restaurant is a gem. It is a small and somewhat cramped but don't let that fool you when comparing to other restaurants in the area. The food is outstanding. We started off dinner with green salad with a fantastic balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The bread that was served with dinner included olive oil for dipping. Very basic and tasty. My dinner was the lasagna special and my wife had the lobster risotto. The lasagna that I had was probably the best lasagna I have ever tasted. The sauce, cheese, noodle were all done perfectly. My wife absolutely loved the risotto. As well we ordered the sangria drink specials. They were priced at a ridiculously low price of $6 and were very good.
We did not have dessert as we were too full but Mikes Pastry is very close to tempt you. Our whole dinner came to $51 which included the sangrias but no coffee or dessert. Very inexpensive and he food was excellent.
The service was very good as well considering that one lady was serving the entire restaurant. I am not sure if she is the owner or a member of the family but she was extremely friendly.
I give this restaurant two thumbs up. Mission accomplished......we managed to find an excellent inexpensive Italian restaurant in little Italy -
Review from Robert B.
Overland Park, KS
4/10/2012 2 photos
Fabulous meatballs, bruschetta, chicken parm. The wild mushroom and goat cheese spring rolls very good, unique. A gem on Hanover! Did I mention the meatballs?
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Review from isa g.
Boston, MA
1/21/2012
Panza is an awesome addition to North End. I generally avoid eating in this neighborhood due to the hoards of tourists and expensive parking and congestion but friends talked me into it and I was not disappointed. If you haven't figured it out this restaurant is affiliated with Giacomo's so you will find some of the same items on the menu. However one thing you can't get at Giacomo's is the deconstructed lasagna. It has all the lasagna components but much much better. The descriptions on the menu do not do it justice so you just have to try it here. My favorite, calamari is also great especially the creamy sauce that is drizzled on top.
My friends and I came here on Monday night so we were seated right away when we came at our reserved time but I can see how there maybe be delays on weekends like many of great small restaurants. For those who complained about long wait, it is not the restaurants fault. Blame it on the rude diners who had the earlier seating that just won't leave after they have finished eating are oblivious to others waiting for their table and are ok sitting around for another hour nursing their half glass of wine. The waiters are too nice to kick them out and the diners are too obtuse or rude to care about others waiting in the cold.
So if you are in North End area craving freshly prepared Italian food stop by Panza. It's always best to call the restaurant directly for reservations. I have had issues with Open Table in the past so I don't use it any more. -
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
12/14/2011 4 photos
Got a seat an HOUR after our reservation time. This seems like a common complaint among yelpers. Management really should work on that (maybe take fewer reservations?). Makes the customers AND the waiters/waitresses frustrated..
Me and my fambam got:
Lobster ravioli (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I used to think that you can NEVER go wrong with lobster ravioli.. until I got it here. The sauce as overly salty, and they minced the filling so much to the point I thought i was eating straight mush. I COULDNT EVEN TELL IT WAS LOBSTER INSIDE... :(
Large fried Calamari (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): I wish the calamari werent covered in that sauce.. they should just put it on the side for dipping. Some pieces were DRENCHED (and therefore soggy, heavy, and gross) while others didnt have any at all. Calamari was served with fried peppers and onions too, so that was a welcome flavor change.
Seafood Fra Diavolo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): The only dish I could actually eat. The seafood was fresh and the sauce had a kick, but not too much spice. It was palatable, but I wouldn't come back for it.
Open faced lasagna with chicken (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): I've never had open faced lasagna before, so I thought I'd give this a shot. UNFORTUNATELY, the lasagna was a bit too undercooked so it was tough (i like my pasta al dente, but even this was too firm for me). So that kinda ruined the whole dish for me.
Overall, I'd say slightly below average food+terrible wait time= 1.5 stars. -
Review from angela n.
10/30/2011
Vegetarians: the grilled Italian greens appetizer is TO DIE FOR. On paper it sounds crazy: arugula and other greens, grilled with balsamic vinegar and gorgonzola. That is, it sounds like warmed up salad. But somehow it really works. The vinegar-gorgonzola sauce gets creamy, and makes for an addictive bread-dipping sauce when you run out of greens.
I also liked the butternut squash tortelloni. It was sort of oily-sweet, and the pasta was topped with tasty butternut squash cubes. -
Review from Anna M.
Stoneham, MA
5/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This restaurant is great! It's nice and cozy and the wait staff was wonderful! Not to mention, their food was amazing! I'm looking forward to coming back here :) Keep up the great work!
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Review from laura W.
12/8/2011
The North End totally underwhelms me. Every time I expect both my taste buds and mind to be BLOWN away with DELICIOUSNESS... and every time they remain firmly in tact.
They don't sit you unless your entire party is there. Even if you have a reservation. Even if there are 3 out of 4 of you there.
They give you bread. You can pour some olive oil or eat it dry.
Most main courses range about $14-16 which is a good value for North End. We got: egg parm (very average), potato gnocchi bolognese (gnocchi were awesome but the bolognese was bland and boring), and seafood fra diavolo (enjoyed).
Our server wasn't very personable. I tried calling to expand our reservation; someone answered, put me on hold and I remained there for 10 minutes until I just hung up.
Kind of a frustrating evening but not the worst. Honestly? Posto is much better. -
Review from Erica K.
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
...ahhh, Italian food in the North End. I think you'd have to go to Sicily for it to get better. My husband and I stopped in here before going to Stanza's. They were the only one's without a three hour wait so it was nice to go in and be seated right away--but boy oh boy was it tight as a virgin. Seriously, you have to take your jacket off before you get to your table or you might knock somebody's plate over. The girl at the table next to me fluffed her hair and it grazed my glass...not cool. I'm all for maximizing profit but damn, this place uses the diner motto (get in and get out).
As for the food, I have no compliments. I've found that most places in little Italy are solid and Panza's is no different. I'll tell you one thing though, our gossiping ass waitress wasn't the business. I think its really unprofessional to complain to the people you're waiting on about how little the last table tipped you. If this is a hustling technique, there are much better ways. Other than that, yeah, great place. Try to get there early though, otherwise, you'll likely be sitting so close to the person beside you that you'll look like you're in the same party. -
Review from Jenna K.
Manhattan, NY
11/10/2011
Such good Italian food! I came here for a late lunch with a friend on a weekday, and we were not disappointed (even though our original plan was to go to the place across the street, which happened to be closed at the time!).
I had the eggplant parmesan and it was amazing! Huge portion, and somehow I finished it! The side of pasta that came with it was pretty plain, but I was okay with that given how good the eggplant was. The place was surprisingly packed (it was 2:30 PM on a weekday), but our waitress was very attentive & everything came out very quickly. Definitely recommend during a visit to the North End! -
Review from Sarah L.
Portland, OR
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Soooo delicious. It was a lovely experience dining here. The waiter was attentive and funny. And the food was just flipping fantastic. I look forward to coming back to Boston and eating here again.
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Review from Gage R.
Chevy Chase, MD
1/4/2012
After walking around little italy menu shopping we decided that one restaurant would be just as good as the next.
we entered and the staff was absolutely fantastic, sat us down, recommended wine and a few highlights of the menu.
the wild mushroom and goat cheese eggrolls were absolutely divine!
the butternut squash ravioli with browned butter sauce was the only meal ive ever eaten in which i closed my eyes and savored every single bite.
We stayed 4 days in Boston and while this was our least expensive meal it was by far our favorite! -
Review from Jade R.
Boston, MA
3/5/2012
Great spot - good wine, good food and reasonable prices! Usually less hectic than the other Hanover Street restauarants, so also a relaxing atmosphere. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly. Always a delicious meal! Definitely get the calamari - very yummy. Butternut Squash tortelloni, lobster ravioli, seafood risotto are some of my favorites! Always a delicious meal there.
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Review from Jason F.
Billerica, MA
3/26/2012
Similar to another reviewer below, I give this place 4.5 stars for food, 3.5 stars for atmosphere, and about 1.5 stars for service.
First the good - the food here is really great. I had the rigitoni w/ sausage. The sauce was fantastic and the pasta was cooked very well. My friend ordered the chicken marsala and raved about it throughout the meal. The chianti I ordered with my meal was decent but not the best I have had.
The restaurant is tiny, as are many North End eateries. That adds to the charm and character, in my opinion. Seating was still comfortable. The place was clean and decorated nicely.
Now for the service. I made reservations for a Saturday night at 6 PM. I got there right at 6 and was told that they were too busy and we would have to wait for a table. It took almost 20-25 minutes to get a table. With reservations. I wasn't thrilled about that. Then, the service was rushed. Upon getting the menus from one server, about 2 minutes later we were already asked to order. The server looked quite flustered and was rushing back and forth. The food came promptly and hot, which was great. But as we were eating, the check came and was placed (I learned later they don't serve dessert? A letdown IMO). We finished our meal and were chatting when the server came back again and grabbed the check (which we hadn't even looked at). I told the server it wasn't ready yet. She rolled her eyes and walked away. Huh? I get the restaurant was busy (though at that time there were tables open), but that was uncalled for.
So, overall, the place was a good place but the service left something to be desired. I might considering returning for a second evaluation, but we shall see. -
Review from Amanda K.
ALLSTON, MA
2/18/2012
Service is amazing here. The server was courteous, answered all of my questions, and was attentive without being overbearing. She also went above and beyond her required duties. When my Aunt requested to get a side of red sauce so she could try it, she cheerily complied. She didn't have to do that. This stellar service is the norm at Panza-every time I've gone, it's been phenomenal. The food itself is amazing. The calamari, mussels, and my entree were all prepared perfectly. The only negative is that you may have to wait to get a table, and that the area is very cramped. But the food and service make this well worth the trip!
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Review from Melissa B.
Oak Lawn, IL
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best meal in Boston! We were lucky enough to have friends from Boston who recommended this place for a great meal. I am still dreaming of the meal here. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, I promise! Even the salad was the best I have ever had! Caleb took great care of us and treated us like family. I'm already planning my next trip back and panza is my first stop!
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Review from Jacqueline P.
Gloucester, MA
2/26/2012
This restaurant was recommended to me by a coworker who lived in the north end. Went for a friends birthday, 8:00ish on a Saturday night, it was small (not a ton of seating) and busy so I was glad I made reservations. As soon as we walked in, I informed a waitress we had reservations and she took us immediatley. Fried calamari- Delicious. My friend and I both ordered the lobster ravioli and it was to die for. I am craving it right now! I highly recommend this place for the food and the price.
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Review from Kate M.
Dracut, MA
11/21/2011
Pretty terrible experience. We were seated an hour and a half after the time I'd made reservations for- and there is no bar area so we were forced to stand outside in the cold. The hostess told us from the beginning they were only 15 minutes behind, and when we checked back with her on how long it would be after waiting half an hour- she told us 15 more minutes, after making it obvious how annoyed she was that we would even dare ask; if I'd known from the start we'd be waiting an hour and a half, we would've gone elsewhere.
When we finally sat, a waitress did not come to our table for 15 minutes until after we were seated, and we were never checked on while seated. To get a second drink, we had to literally reach out and flag the waitress. Just as good of food can be found elsewhere, without the wait in the cold and the lies about how long the wait will be. I will never go back. -
Review from Baking M.
Boston, MA
7/29/2011
For sometime, I lived in the North End and never tried Panza on Hanover Street. Panza is located across from Giacomo's and next to the St. Leonard's Church. Perhaps I neglected the restaurant because it is on Hanover Street, notorious for restaurants being over priced. My friend raved about the restaurant recently and invited me to meet her there and I was thrilled.
At 6pm the restaurant was open and spacious and by 7pm every seat in the house was filled and a few couples were waiting for a seat at the door.
I had the grilled Italian greens which consisted of escarole, radicchio, baby arugula, crispy polenta, gorgonzola sauce and a reduced balsamic sauce. This is a must have at the restaurant and I will be back again just for this starter.
The warm greens taste luscious with the cheese sauce. The polenta was perfectly made, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside and flavor was enhanced by the sweetness of the balsamic.
Grilled vegetables with olive oil
We will be back for many more high quality meals. I want to try the butternut squash and spinach and ricotta ravioli. Panza is fantastic and is not as overpriced as most of Hanover! -
Review from David K.
Pittsburgh, PA
7/16/2011
Oh my gawd yes.
It's not like there's a shortage of Italian restaurants in the North End, no. You can't throw a paper airplane there without it landing in a bowl of gnocchi. I've been going to Panza a few times a year for years now, though, and I really don't need to try any other places. Frustrated by the ever-present line at the door at Giacomo's? Cross the street to Panza and you'll be fine.
The ambiance is pretty much what you'd expect out of any of these places. Open window to the street, weather permitting, Italian garden-style décor, etc. The wait staff's okay... not your best friend, but definitely not offensive.
Panza always has three different specials going on: one appetizer and two entrées. It's worth your time to listen to what specials they offer before deciding what you'll order, because oftentimes they're especially good. If you're ordering from the menu, I recommend the Butternut Squash Tortelloni or the Lobster Ravioli. Both are just fantabulous.
If you're having trouble picking a place to eat in the North End, check Panza out. -
Review from Dana F.
Boston, MA
2/24/2012
Love this place. Simple, fresh ingredients. No over the top heavy Italian food. Great decor, reasonable prices. Has a great, cozy feel for a date night too.
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Review from Matt F.
Allston, MA
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great experience, I'll definitely come back!
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Review from Steve S.
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was very excited about going to Panza for dinner last week. Growing up with an Italian father, that word brought back many memories of my father grabbing my belly and talking about my "ponza" (paunch or beer belly in Italian) as a child.
Had a 8p reservation. Got there at 755p. I went inside and told the girl that we were here. She said go wait outside. (She was quite short about it, but they were busy, so ok). We go outside and the actual hostess comes out to get our name. She says 10 minutes. 810p comes and goes. Then 820p comes and goes. I send my gf across the street to start waiting in the Giacomo's line to see if we can get in their any faster. So, it really was a photo finish. At 835p, there is only one group ahead of her at Giacomo's and we finally get our table.
Ordered goat cheese spring rolls for app. They were ok, but somewhat dry and seemed like they were probably frozen. Should have gone with gut and gone with the mussels. She ordered Lasagna and I ordered the pescatore pasta. We also ordered a side of meatballs and a bottle of wine. Lasagna was decent. Pescotore was ok, but not great. One of the meatballs were burnt and overcooked. We asked for some bread for the sauce, and it never came. Server came by halfway through the meal and asked if we wanted parmesan. Yeah, we did. We wanted it when the food came out.
With all the options in North End, they were really not up to par. The only thing they stayed in line with was North End prices. They would be better off doing like many of the other places and not taking reservations at all. It is never good if you piss off the customer before they even get into your establishment. From the other reviews listed here, it looks like I am not the first to comment on this issue there. -
Review from Patrick M.
6/29/2011
Sole good news is my starter - the ribs - were good. That's where it ends.
Our side-salad (for our main) came first - before any stater. Then one of our starters came. Ok so maybe she didn't hear the other starter....we began. Then before we'd finished, our mains arrived. We said 'please can we finish our starter'....so it's mains in the oven for a bit...great... So we finished up and waited and waited and waited. Finally she came along and got us our mains. Oh and our other starter.
Timing/scheduling is a MAJOR problem here. All this while one of the staff was far too busy talking to her friend who had come in to be bothered about any of the rest of us. She sat chewing the cud with her mate and the +1 for a good 15 minutes while we calmly awaited the service. I'm not one for making a rumpus with people who serve me food....
To add insult to injury, the Montepulicano was disastrous. Chianti was acceptable, but didn't make up for the Monte.
An abysmal evening that thankfully, ended.
Seriously, there are many other Italian restaurants nearby - try them instead. Or go home and put ketchup on your pasta. It will be better. -
Review from JEWELe M.
7/16/2011
Since we were on a time crunch (got here via Tour Bus....we only had an hour to go around North End before the 5pm last pick-up), we decided to try this Italian restaurant.
So glad we did because I think I had one of the best ravioli in the North! My cousin ordered the bruschetta and mussels. The brushcetta was so crunchy and yummy to dip pieces in the mussels juice.
Overall, I enjoyed our rushed eating here! -
Review from Bill M.
Sewickley, PA
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can you really go wrong in this neighborhood? Wife and I stopped at this place in the following order:
1. by smell
2. by yelp
3. by number of tables
It was small and quaint and had an amazing aroma that wrapped around the block... Service was personal and friendly. The mushroom and goat cheese spring roll is as good as advertised. A great place for a romantic dinner date. -
Review from Janie W.
York, ME
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant is teeny and charming. The service is ruthlessly efficient but still polite. They sure get that food out fast! The menu doesn't hold many surprises aside from the wild mushroom and goat cheese spring roll, which I would recommend. The fried calamari is fresh and tasty. I had the veal piccata - with big fresh pieces of artichoke hearts (no skimping on artichokes!) and the bf had the veal panza. Both were tasty and hot, the veal was tender. It gets quite crowded in there and for us at least, it wasn't a place to linger and talk. Still thoroughly enjoyable.
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Review from Megan L.
3/19/2011
We went to dinner on a Friday night with some friends. Checked in 5 minutes before our 9pm reservation. We were told it would be 5 minutes and to wait outside.
After 20 minutes we checked again. Just a few minutes--Fridays are busy.
20 minutes later we were the only people waiting and there were empty tables galore. Went inside and checked again. It was clear they'd forgotten about us. 5 minutes later we were seated.
Yep--40 minutes past our reservation. And the food was not worth it.
Calamari was good, nice and crispy.
Bruschetta has a wood fired thing going on. Also it inexplicably comes with goat cheese on top. The whole thing was charred (not in a good way) and our friends thought it tasted like meat.
Gnocchi bolognese--Gnocchi tasted like premade from the supermarket, mushy and heavy. Too much bolognese sauce and it wasn't that tasty.
Also there was a random open bowl of cheese perched on the wall next to our table. Not covered, not fresh, it was there from the party before us. We were directed to use it if we wanted cheese. No thanks.
Service was quick and courteous but not at all friendly. Maybe smiling is frowned upon at Panza?
Overall, very disappointed with the whole experience. Won't be back. -
Review from Mike H.
Del Mar, CA
9/11/2011
Like all the other restaurants on Hanover Street it's small by charming. We made a reservation and waited only 5-10 minutes to be seated on a very crowded Saturday night - not bad.
We ordered the brushetta and bruchella, both were great. From there the meal was mediocre. The service was poor and our waitress was rude. If you want to feel like you need to be in an out in a hurry, this is your spot. Of the four entrees our table ordered only one was something I would recommend the other three were average at best. I was super excited for my deconstructed lasagna but it was extremely bland. The only thing I would recommend for an entree was the special that night which was a chicken ravioli dish with a pesto and red pepper sauce.
Skip this place and find somewhere else on Hanover. With 150 restaurants in the neighborhood there are much better I'm sure... -
Review from Marc C.
5/23/2011
Let just start by saying that the service was great and that the food was mediocre to good at best
how can you serve fried calamari drenched in sauce??? the calamari were soggy and you lose the crispyness (the idea of putting fried hot peppers is great)
my girlfriend's veal was also drenched in sauce... u start getting the idea why i gave the resto 3stars!! the taste, the cooking is very good, but too much sauce is not good!
on the plus side the linguini fra diavola were very good, just enough spicy for most people to enjoy.
they do not serve dessert and coffee??? the reason? we are in Little Italy and a lot of places offer them?? what? i've been to NYC, Philly, Montreal and this is the 1st time i hear that!!
BUT the main complaint of this resto is the BAD quality of the WINE, what a disaster. i've tasted four different kinds (Chardo, Pinot Grigio, Montepulciano & Cab) and they were all not good (i import wine for a living...) u can find great wines at a low price without compromising the quality!
so Panza loses 2 stars: 1- dishes with sauce
2- wine
+++: service, taste, price -
Review from Kathleen R.
Quincy, MA
6/28/2011
When trying to decide where to eat in the North End, the choices can be overwhelming. We decided we wanted to try something different than our usual choice, and based on the reviews on Yelp, decided to give Panza a try.
While the food was great, the restaurant is VERY tiny and therefore you end up basically sharing a table with your next door neighbors. Due to the small room and amount of people squished in it, background noise is EXTREMELY loud... don't plan on any intimate, private conversations here.
I was a little disappointed with the service. For a restaurant that serves at max 30 people at a time, it took quite a long time for the waitress to bring us water/take our order/bring drinks/ect.
That being said, the food was pretty good. My boyfriend ordered a seafood/pasta dish with a "spicy red sauce" (which he had asked to be extra spicy, but wasn't.) My butternut squash tortellini was great as well. And the prices were pretty reasonable for good portions.
I wasn't overly impressed, and we'll probably end up trying somewhere else next time, or going back to our tried & true place. -
Review from Jenny M.
Cambridge, MA
1/15/2012
YUM! We dined at Panza yesterday evening and are still reveling in the tastiness and indulgence of the meal. We made a reservation for 3 for 8pm and were seated just a few minutes after we arrived. Immediately we were drooling over the menu - with so many delectable-sounding options, it was nearly impossible to choose what dish to go with. Luckily we had a lovely $20 bottle of wine and the tasty wild mushroom and goat cheese spring rolls to nosh on while we decided - the spring rolls came with a honey thyme sauce, which added a nice sweetness to the appetizer (though the sauce could have been a little less thick to mirror spring roll sauce more closely - but I digress).
Finally we settled on the Pappardelle with braised wild boar ragu and asiago cheese (a special that night), penne with chicken and broccoli in roasted garlic cream sauce, and the tarragon fettuccini with grilled lobster tails in brandy cream sauce. As I had the lobster tails, I can say it was TO DIE FOR. One of the best pasta dishes I have had in a long time, with big chunks of lobster swimming in this delicious, creamy sauce. The peas were also a great touch in the dish. I could have used a little more pasta in the dish, but that's because I'm a carb addict. The pappardelle with wild boar was also fabulous - I hope this becomes a regular at the restaurant! The ragu was very yummy and rich. I didn't try the penne with chicken and broccoli, but my friend raved about it. All portions were big enough that we could eat to capacity and bring enough home for lunch the next day.
Our waiter was also wonderfully helpful and very nice - his recommendations were all spot on. The service was also super quick, which was nice as were quite hungry upon coming in. I wouldn't have minded just a bit more time between the appetizer and the entrees though, the turnaround was barely long enough to savor the spring rolls before our dishes were out! All in all, a fabulous dining experience, and I hope to return again soon! -
Review from Amy B.
Boston, MA
6/17/2011
Panza is a great little restaurant in the North End that I think is often overlooked. It's small inside, so I recommend it if you're going out to eat with one or two other people - I don't advise large groups trying to get in here! The service is great and the food is pretty darn good for the price.
I went here with a friend for her birthday and was hoping to surprise her with a dessert with a little candle in it, but when I asked the waitress about it before the meal, she told me that they didn't serve dessert so I was a little upset. But I guess the waitress could tell I really wanted to surprise my friend, so while we were eating, she ran over to White Hen and bought one of those little Hostess cupcakes and a candle and brought it out to my friend at the end of the meal! I was so thankful and appreciative - she really went above and beyond the call of duty there!!
