Terramia Ristorante

We have eaten at Terramia on several occasions, and each time it has been a pleasurable experience. They serve reliably good food and wine in a charming small space that is romantic and very old world. If you are looking for a North End place that has great character, Terramia should be a the top of your list.

Because it is small, it is always crowded, and reservations are a must. But because it is small, it doesn't usually have the large groups that characterize,say, Mamma Maria's.

Some will find it cramped. Even with only a dozen or so tables, Terramia can be pretty loud. They don't even have room for coffee or dessert. If you arrive too early, they may ask you to go have a drink across the street at the bar they also own. There is nowhere to wait.

The food is high quality, made from fresh ingredients, with great presentation. While the menu is not huge, it has lots of good choices, including some daily specials. Both the bolognese with pappardelle and gnocchi are great, and the steaks and chops get really high marks as well. The wine list is is extensive (and expensive). If you look hard enough, you can can find good values, if no bargains.

Service is very good - friendly, knowledgeable, attentive, and generally, considerate. But on weekends, it can feel a little rushed - again, with only a dozen or so tables, they have to rely on table turnover and they have little flexibility in such small space. Try a mid -week reservation for an optimal experience.

Terramia is expenisve, and thus qualifies as a special occasion place. But it has all of the right ingredients for a good time - nice food, small, old-fashioned, quaint and good service.

Dinner only.