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Carlo's Cucina Italiana

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131 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134-2802
Allston, MA 02134

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(617) 254-9759
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Best

Half of the Italian restaurants in the North End could not compare to Carlo's. Don't let the simple decor and shabby exterior fool you - inside, you will taste some of the most de...

Worst

I took a date to this place the other night. I thought it would be a nice cozy place to bring my date. I was dead wrong, this place is awful. The second we walked through the d...

Authentic Italian 2/10/2010

Half of the Italian restaurants in the North End could not compare to Carlo's. Don't let the simple decor and shabby exterior fool you - inside, you will taste some of the most delicious Italian food in your life. Prices are reasonable, with pasta/chicken in the $14 to $17 range. The bruschetta was to die for! Toasted bread smothered in garlic and butter, topped with fresh diced tomatoes... mmm. The waitstaff is very friendly and VERY Italian. The atmosphere is a bit cramped, but the bar decor definitely gives customers something pleasant to look at! more
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the best italian outside the north end 4/9/2009

Carlo's is hands down the best italian food for a very reasonable price. they have a nice house chianti and the gnocchi is probably the best i have ever had. their red sauce is perfect! Pros: delicious food, nice wine list, varied selection of dishes Cons: tiny! (not necessarily a con, but it gets crowded.) more
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Amazing! 12/26/2008

Food is great. Place is small, but I like the intimate appeal. Wait staff is decent. I go for the food, not the service!!! Highly recommended!!!! Pros: Food is delicious! Cons: parking, small size. more
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Hidden Gem 2/28/2008

I walk in to Carlo's the hostess told me it would be 15 minutes wait . I waited 35 minutes , I was a little upset, But when I sat down and started to eat my whole atitude changed. I had the shrimp app. I t was to die for. For my main course I had the giancarlo it was chicken with sausage and potatoes in melted in my mouth. Then I just could not stop eating so I had the tiramisu the best I had in a long time. It is not a place to be romantic with all the small table pushed togther but I will go back . The food was outstanding. more
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Hidden Gem! 9/28/2007

I walked into Carlo's reluctantly, to be honest I wasn't expecting much. I was also turned off by the prices on the menu, I thought they were overpricing at such a tiny restaurant. But the food was great, it exceeded everyone's expectations. This place is a good find, I'll be going here a lot more often from now on more
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what is everyone talking about 7/20/2007

I took a date to this place the other night. I thought it would be a nice cozy place to bring my date. I was dead wrong, this place is awful. The second we walked through the door it smelled like a nasty kitchen. The food was average at best. For italian food this place should be ashamed of themselves, and the parking in this area is just as bad as the north end. At least the north end has great food to outweigh the parking hassle. I do not recommend this place at all, its nasty. Pros: there are a few other options in the area Cons: service, food, atmosphere, service, and the food more
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This is possibly the most underrated Italian restaurant i... 6/14/2007

This is possibly the most underrated Italian restaurant in all of Boston. This place is awesome -- tiny... more
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This is possibly the most underrated Italian restaurant i... 6/14/2007

Caroline Provided by Partner
This is possibly the most underrated Italian restaurant in all of Boston. This place is awesome -- tiny hole in the wall atmosphere, shoddy insula... more
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Exhuberant Italian outside the North End 3/5/2007

This is a no-frills, small, noisy, bustling place. Your elbows might be jostled as you eat because it is so small, but that won't distract you from the huge, delicious spectacle on your plate. There is only one reason to go here: the food itself. The portions are large and are on the heavy side (especially if you get pasta with meat or sausage), so you'll have enough to pack home for another meal. Try the homemade pasta of the day.\r APRIL 2007 UPDATE: Yup, still good. Went on a Sunday dinner and the place was much calmer and more enjoyable for me. Pros: Pasta, Salad Cons: Cramped, noisy more
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Carlo's so good! 2/28/2007

I love the food here, it all starts with that unbelievably good bread and olive oil infused with olive and with olives. Since I love olives, it can't be better than that. The food always tastes fresh and so flavorful. The appetizer I usually get it this eggplant cheese thing which is so good, the sauce has nice big chunks of tomato the cheese everything just always tastes so good. The gnocchi is excellent both dishes that are available and the involtini's wine sauce is brilliant. The tiramisu is the perfect ending to the meal I haven't had any of the other desserts but I can only imagine how good they are. My problem is when I'm at Carlo's I just crave that tiramisu. Overall, the best ever, literally ever! Pros: food oh my God the food Cons: always busy so sometime a wait more
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Mouth watering food! 9/9/2006

This place was down the street from us for months when I finally convinced my bf to go. Boy was he happy I made him. The anti-pasto platter with peppers, olives, cheese, and proscuitto was so good I thought I'd die. The penne with alfredo, chicken, and broccoli is to die for. I think I saw my bf's eyes roll back in his head when eating it. The fresh pasta with onions and veal was amazing! I wish we could eat there everyday! Its very small and they don't take reservations but the tables turn over quickly. Go on an off day, or early on a weekend. Trust me I moved here from New York City and have been looking for a well priced Italian place for a long time. This place is it!\r The only dissapointment is dessert which I would skip and head over to Herrells next dooe for ice cream and the best choc. brownies ever! Pros: Food Cons: little cramped more
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Good food 7/12/2006

This place has really great food at a reasonable price. However, it is pretty crowded and the waitstaff isn't particularly friendly. The room is small and the tables tiny, so you'll feel like you're eating with the people in the table next to you. I recommend the Fettuccini a la Marissa. Pros: good food Cons: crowded, small tables, very noisy more
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its all true, good food at a good price 2/14/2006

for over 10 years, this has been one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Boston. you definitely come here for the food. for charm and ambience or if you're trying to impress your date go to the north end or a bigger place. you'll pay extra for that of course. for good conversation with friends this place will do just fine. also true, lunch is a better time to go, not as crowded. Pros: inexpensive Cons: parking, long wait sometimes more
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Great american/italian 5/27/2005

The eggplant appetizer is as good as it gets and there is so much melted cheese on the veal you almost forget that it's even there. Carlo's dishes are sometimes American adaptations of Italian dishes, but who cares it makes them even better and bigger. more
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Go at off Hours 6/5/2004

The food is excellent. The ambience lacking. Very small, very cramped, as though you and your neighbor are eating together. Go at off hours if possible. One plus is that they take cell phone numbers so you can go across the street to the bar while you wait for your table. Pros: food more
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good food, avoid the specials 6/4/2003

This restaurant has great food at reasonable prices, but avoid the trap of ordering a special. The specials are almost twice as expensive as the entrees on the menu, and the wait staff is almost reluctant to tell you the price when they rattle off the specials. If you don't ask, you could be in for a surprise when you get your bill! more
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A Hole in the Wall with Great Food 5/2/2003

Carlo's is a great value and has some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten. Make sure you try the anti-pasto...Top Notch! Their selection of pastas and meat based dishes are numerous and delicious. However, be careful about the specials...They don't tell you the price up-front and they charge $24 per dish. (The highest price in the menu is around $16). This practice is very sneaky, so buyer beware. Also, the service and ambiance are less than to be desired. We were seated 6 inches away from another couple...makes having a pricate conversation difficult. All in all - check this place out. Great food! Pros: Food, Food, Food Cons: Ambiance, Service, Specials more
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Best Italian Food I Ever Had 1/14/2003

Although it's small, it is the BEST italian food I have ever had!! Very traditional with great portion sizes. Pros: Great Food Cons: Very Small more
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Fresh and fine! 11/4/2002

The food is excellent. Fresh, simple and diverse Italian fare. The veal is outstanding, as is the giant bruschetta with fresh vegetables. You'll be amazed at home much bang for the buck you get at this unpretentious Allston gem. Pros: Freshness, Food, Price Cons: Parking, Temp (cold in there) more
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Carlo's -An Italian Oasis in...Allston? 7/26/2002

This place could almost not be any better. The food is always excellent. They have a decent, very affordable wine list, the food prices are good too. Everything we have ever ordered here has been great. The specials are unique & beautifully presented. It is hard to imagine that so much great food can come out of such a tiny kitchen so quickly! The only down side is the lack of space, & the wait can get long, but no question Carlo's (in Allston on Cambridge St.) is always worth it! Pros: Food Quality, Inexpensive Cons: Crowded, Parking more
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Menu for Carlo's Cucina Italiana


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Long a favorite of Allston-Brighton's bargain-loving young professionals, this is the perfect choice for those craving comfortable Italian dishes without the hassle of a trek to...

  • 5/15/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun 2pm-9:30pm; Mon 11:30am-9:30pm; Tue 11:30am-9:30pm; Wed 11:30am-9:30pm; Thu 11:30am-9:30pm; Fri 11:30am-10:30pm; Sat 11:30am-10:30pm
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Allston, Allston-Brighton
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