Pastalina's - Medford

Yeah, best kept secret. Service exceptional Caitlin, our waitress, was so great! We felt so welcome even though we had no reservations. Eat bellisimo! Billy Costa has to visit.

We have visited this place in the last 2 years a few times, each time with a groupon (like the other cartridges around us). It is a cozy place, but as we had to make reservations, there were always places when we arrived. The atmosphere of the place is romantic with naked brick walls and tea light candles. The serving sizes of the dishes are huge. It is quite much expected that it will wrap up the remains. We liked the care to arrange the ingredients of the antipasto. The main dishes were very good overall, even if they had eaten as leftovers the next day.

Reserved a table for 8:30, then had to wait about ten minutes after arrival because they said they were after. After waiting, they accompanied us to one of about five tables that were empty. Was asked what pasta do you want with your meal? then invoiced $3 for the pasta (which was not in any place price). Our waitress was dressed in movement clothes like all others, and did a lot back and forth between every order. We only ate our ducks an hour after our arrival. At the time we finished, the other three or so tables were left and we were treated to a screaming game between two waitresses, as she knows how to raise her child, while some creepy guys stared through the window. Wine was BYOB. Very cool.

Just a heads up for newcomers: Pastalina is not like Olive Garden; you won’t be in and out in half an hour with your plate of pasta. The owner prepares all the meals, so dining here is typically a leisurely evening experience (if you know what I mean). But with good wine, great company, and fantastic food, there's really no rush to move on to the next place. Highly recommend!

I live just around the corner, and this restaurant is unbeatable for classic Italian cuisine. The veal piccata is amazing, as is the chicken cordon bleu and the eggplant rollatini. I really can't understand what the negative reviewers are saying or where they dine that they believe is so much better. I often eat in the North End for work, but I always choose Pastalinas when I'm dining out for myself.