Carmelina’s North End

Carmelina’s is a small North End restaurant serving Sicilian comfort food with a modern Mediterranean twist, built on equal parts fresh pasta and seafood. Executive Chef Damien DiPaola draws on old family recipes and reworks them into contemporary Italian dishes, served in hearty portions. The cooking has earned the restaurant a place in the Michelin Guide. It sits on Hanover Street in the heart of Boston’s Little Italy.

Since opening in 2012, the restaurant has kept an intimate feel. The dining room is built around an open kitchen designed to reflect a mother-approved cooking space, so guests can watch their dishes come together from start to finish, and family photos line the walls. In the summer months, retractable front walls allow for open-air dining. Michael Hollenkamp serves as chef di cucina alongside DiPaola.

What to Know

• Reservations are taken only online and often book weeks to months ahead; tables are held for 90 minutes.
• Parties are limited to six people, and highchairs are not available.
• Takeout orders are not offered.
• Carmelina’s was named to Yelp’s 7th annual Top 100 Places to Eat list.
• Gift cards are available.