Haute Spots Boston: Osteria Nino

Even though the North End is a traditional staple, you no longer have to travel all the way into Boston to find an authentic taste of Italy. Osteria Nino proves just that in Burlington located about 20 minutes north of the city with its scratch kitchen that dishes out salumi, antipasti and  flavorful dishes like cacio e pepe simply prepared with just two ingredients (pecorino romano and black pepper).

Culinary team Chris Boswell and Walace Benica have designed a locally sourced menu that focuses on all things fresh (think beet salad with goat cheese and hazelnuts; and an incredible salad pizza topped with prosciutto, arugula and red onion).

Photo Credit: Osteria Nino

Photo Credit: Osteria Nino

We love the six-hour meatballs made with pork and beef, but the real standout here is the cavatelli all’ amatriciana dish, a spiced up hearty dish of pillowy pasta tossed with crispy cured pork that goes best with a glass of wine from the all-Italian wine list. As for main events, we recommend the creamy rigatoni with mushroom, sausage, caramelized onions and tomato. For lighter fare, try the linguine al mare filled with fresh scallops, clams and mussels in a tasty saffron tomato broth. Other dishes include braised chicken risotto, gnocchi with lamb ragu, butternut squash ravioli, chicken piccata and grilled lamb chops. The main dining room here has a culinary bar that overlooks the open kitchen. In the warmer months, be sure to request a seat on the outdoor patio where you can dine al fresco near a beautiful mosaic tiled pizza oven.

Photo Credit: Osteria Nino

To finish off the night right, try the creamy tiramisu or warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Osteria Nino will be hosting a variety of wine dinners throughout the year showcasing some incredible Italian wines, so be sure to check out their website for more details.

Photo Credit: Osteria Nino

Osteria Nino is located at 19 3^rd Avenue in Burlington, Massachusetts.