IMHO currently the best Italian restaurant in Boston is La Morra in Brookline Village. Northern Italian, and the chef has an interest in historic preparations, so it is quite different from anything I’ve ever had. http://www.lamorra.com/

We’ve had a couple of very good meals at "Bacco":

http://www.bacconorthend.com/

We also enjoyed "Monica’s" the one time we were there:

http://www.monicasonline.com/

(just watch-out for the spaghetti w/ truffles if it is a daily special – $36!)

And we always enjoy Cantina Italiana:

http://www.cantinaitaliana.com/menu.html

John
http://www.northendboston.com/dining-restaurants.htm

"No Name" is still there, but it’s not in the North End. They are on the Boston Fish Pier which is on Northern Ave.

Is "No Name" seafood restaurant still there?

I have to agree with LB, Modern really does have the best cannoli in the city!

For an espresso and a Strega I prefer Cafe Vittorio over Cafe Dello Sport………but not the new renovated side of Vittorio, I like the crowded old side.

For lunch, I’d say Galleria Umberto on Hanover Street — try the arancini or the sausage, spinach and cheese calzone…or if you’re like me, both. For a slightly more upscale lunch, the Tuscan-style Antico Forno on Salem Street has a terrific lunch menu with traditional antipasto, salads, pastas and pizzas, but the stand-out is a roasted lamb sandwich: damn near a pound of perfectly cooked lamb with grilled peppers and onions on a ciabbata with a side salad for like $9. Can’t beat it. They’re also excellent for dinner.

Dinner, if not Antico Forno or the Daily Catch: just walk around, you’ll find what you want.

Dessert: three choices stand out, two of them brand new. The Gelateria, on Hanover, is just what it sounds like, all the gelato you could want. I’m particularly fond of the fruit flavors, but they do a great hazelnut, too. Lulu’s is a tiny little bake shop that does slices and eclairs and stuff but specializes in fantastic cupcakes. I particularly like the red velvet cupcake. As for the old standbys, it’s like the Beatles and the Stones: either you’re for Mike’s or you’re for Modern. Me, I’m Modern all the way, and they’ve only gotten better since they renovated, not least because now at least you can see what’s in the display case while you’re standing in line (and face it, you’re gonna be standing in line). My standbys are the ricotta pie, the pignoli cookies and the best cannoli in the city.

No, no, not the South End….geeze, the North End is the Italian District. Of course, this is only the 200th time I’ve posted this…….one of the best restaurants in the North End is The Daily Catch. Or just walk down Hanover or Salem Sts. and there are good eateries all the way.

The south end.
In north Boston
No, it’s not an oxymoron.