Canestaro Restaurant & Pizzeria

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo don’t be closeddddddddddddddd me so saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

This is a great place to have right down the street. Quality Italian food that is reasonably priced on a quaint Fenway side street. It’s not fancy by any means but that’s not what you go here for. You go here for a meal that will be good (but won’t blow your socks off), inexpensive (but respectful enough to bring a date), and a wine list that won’t necessarily have you searching for the cheapest bottle available.
I went here with family back in September and it was really nice to sit outside. We made a reservation but it wasn’t too crowded (non Red Sox game night). Both my mother and girlfriend ordered this pasta dish that had avocado (might of been a special) that was the talk of the evening.

Wow. My first true Unilocal review disappointment. After reading the reviews on Unilocal I actually thought this must be a destination restaurant. I even made a reservation for a party of 3 on a Saturday night. Didn’t need it… and kind of ridiculous, really. I made a reservation to eat in a ½ empty pizzeria! Yet if you do a Unilocal search for Italian, Boston, and filter for highest rated and full bar, this comes up in the top five.
Oh and don’t get me started on the full bar. Unilocal — having bottles of pre-​made martinis is NOT a full bar. This should only be considered a beer and wine joint.
Food was very average-​to-​low-​average. Chicken parm was abysmal… I mean ridiculously bad. Food service chicken fingers with a deli slice of provolone. And, guess what? In this pizza parlor (am I dating myself by using that phrase??) anything with red sauce ultimately tasted like pizza.
Underwhelming… to say the least.
If you ever are in NYC, go visit Don Pepe’s by JFK airport — now there is an Italian restaurant, serving beer and wine only, that is memorable. Come to think of it… I should do a Unilocal search to see where that turns up!

my first stop in Boston this weekend & it did not disappoint.
the gorgonzola & onion pizza (garlic, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes, gorgonzola, and mozzarella cheese with homemade tomato sauce) was delicious & my friend & I devoured the large one (thanks to our server who made a nice comment about how we did so…)! also had a great martini & enjoyed the atmosphere.
a great hole in the wall pizza place that is convenient to the fenway area.

Wow best Italian mom and pops restaurant. Eggplant chicken Parmesan was so look Yummy!!! Salmon was perfectly grilled! Tiramisu to die for and great service. Andddd the clam chowder!!! Finally real creamy New England clam chowder. Not saturated in salt! Yay!!! Plus they have parking ! What more can you ask for. And unlike some Italian restaurants you get the bread warm and toasted.

Went here before a Red Sox game based on the great reviews here on Unilocal.The air conditioning was not working and it was 91 degrees in Boston that day. So, that may be why I was a little cranky. When we parked at the gas station around the corner, we asked the guy about this restaurant and he said «Meh, there’s better.» We should have listened to him, I think. I wasn’t very impressed. The martini that our server made me was good though.

Pretty good overall. Love the service!
Mussels are aromatic & delicious!
Must try at least ones!

I’ve always thought getting pasta at a restaurant is a waste of money. I mean, grab some noodles, meat and sauce, and just enjoy the luxuries of home, which include eating a piping hot meal. Its hard not to pass up an opportunity to eat at home because most restaurants in Boston think its appropriate to serve lukewarm food. Its upsetting, but when you find that place that will bring you hot, fresh, and delectable entrees to your table, you’ll be able to get that homie feeling away from home.
Canestaro’s pasta makes my heart melt, my tastebuds sweat, and my mind happy. Getting pasta at a restaurant is so foreign to me that $ 15 a dish seems unreasonable. But this is a $ 15 that I have no problem spending. Before you get that creamy, amazing, dish of pasta, they bring you a bowl of fresh breadsticks dusted with some zesty herbs. Its a perfect appetizer, or even a good complement to their heaping bowl of pasta. Needless to say, I was extremely satiated after this meal. Though it was $ 40 for two people, it was definitely well worth it.
At the time we went, there was a nice quiet atmosphere creating the perfect ambience for an intimate dinner. The service was great, and overall I’m very happy with the overall package.

Ordered for delivery came in about 50 mins
Shrimp scampi was terrible. I wasted $ 18 on it
It had basically no flavor, except drowned in oil and butter with a hint of lemon

To preface my review, Canestaro is definitely an Italian-​American restaurant and not authentic Italian at all.
It think it’s a solid spot in Fenway if you’re looking for a relaxing evening without a massive wait to get in or throngs of people. The outside seating is lovely and it’s a great restaurant for enjoying a casual dinner outside on a summer evening.
We selected the Caeser salad, which was good, and the Pasta with Haddock. The pasta was excellent– buttery, garlicky, and delicious. It was so satiating that the two of us couldn’t even finish the one bowl. Also, the bread they give to each table is almost like a garlic bread and it’s perfect if you arrive starving and need a bite before your courses are served.
The wine list had a pretty good selection for a neighborhood restaurant. The pizzas looked good, but again, this is an Italian-​American joint, so it had a thicker crust and a lot of cheese, versus an authentic thin-​crust Italian pizza, so it seemed a bit too heavy to order.
Great spot for a dinner with friends or a date, since it’s relatively quiet. The best menu items appeared to be the pastas and the pizza. Waiter service was fine but not dazzling

I like this place.
The food is good, sometimes great. It has a lot of seating, a casual atmosphere and the staff is friendly.
My only gripe is that either the price of items is either too high or the portion size is too small. One has to adjust to match the other, and then this is a five star review. It is in a pricey area, however, so it’s not altogether unexpected.

After years of looking for the perfect place to eat before a Red Sox game, we have finally found a neighborhood gem just five minutes walk from Fenway Park. We heard about Canestaro when our sister-​in-​law told us they had met the owner at a wedding in Michigan. So we parked at the restaurant and had a family dinner for 10 people before half of our party attended the game. The food is very good, and the ambiance is great for families. The service is just as fast as you need it to be, and we never felt rushed OR that we ran the risk of missing any part of the game. Steve Canestaro is a wonderful host and the waitstaff is excellent. The chicken picatta was the favorite dish at our table, along with an eggplant lasagne and cheese pizza for the kids. The wine list is varied and has a reasonable mark-​up (we choose a Mark West Pinot Noir).
We hope to return many times when we are in the Fenway neighborhood for a game. It’s amazing that yo can be so close to Fenway park and yet be in a sheltered and quiet neighborhood. The outdoor dining is also an attraction. After the game, we walked back to the car and headed home right away — no traffic.

We get lunch delivered from Canestaro’s twice a week and love their sandwiches (I actually think they added the Buffalo chicken Caesar rollup to the menu because my colleague kept ordering the chicken Caesar and asking for buffalo sauce!). I would buy their balsamic dressing (comes with the caprese rollup) by the quart if they sold it that way – SO good. I switch between the Buffalo Caesar, the caprese, the chicken parm, the BBQ chicken, and the prosciutto with mozzarella. And sometimes the grilled veggie…
I suppose I’d actually give it 4 ½ stars, docking a half star for the fact that it’s on the pricey side, but, seriously, twice a week, EVERY week.

Alrighty. Canestaro is a very legit, pleasant Italian joint. The food at Trattoria Toscana is better, but Canestaro has a completely different vibe and focus. The menu at Canestaro is huge — Stromboli? Check. Gnocchi? Check. Pizza? Check.
My fiancé and I went on a Friday night around 7:30PM and it was very calm and relaxing. There was no line and we quickly ordered our calamari, wine, beer, and entrees.
The calamari was… small. I was surprised at how small it was, actually. We finished it in about 2 minutes, despite the fact that there were only two of us. My spinach gnocchi was yummy, but a little beyond al dente and very saucy. When my gnocchi arrives swimming in sauce, I become suspicious about the quality of the pasta. With that said, it was still tasty and complemented the (free) garlic bread nicely. My fiancé got the lasagne. He wasn’t amazed, but he also wasn’t disappointed.
The beer pricing is a bit odd. It’s all bottled, and a Stella is the same price as a Miller Lite (and a Guinness). The wine is pretty average, so for $ 9/​glass I was a little underwhelmed.
The service was great, and there were plenty of leftovers to take home.
While I wouldn’t recommend taking someone to Canestaro for an incredibly fancy date, I think it’s perfect for good food in a relaxed atmosphere. I feel like the entrees are a little overpriced for their simplicity, so 3-​stars it is.

Canestaro was our go-​to Italian place when I was in college, so I was excited to see a Groupon for it recently. My fiancé and I came in with a couple friends on Friday night at 6:30 pm and were immediately seated (no reservation necessary).
The garlic bread served at the beginning is good, and we ordered a relatively inexpensive bottle of wine. We all got different entrees. I tried my fiancé’s chicken parm and it was delicious and my friend’s gnocchi was also fairly good. My fiancé also ordered a side of sweet potato fries (they should have been called wedges) and they were shockingly delicious. I was not expecting that. I got the Pesto Shrimp and it was good, but could have been more flavorful.
The interior was a little less classy than I remember. I think my standards were lower in college. Either way, the atmosphere is cheerful and the service was great. The food is good, inexpensive Italian. I’m glad I’m working in the Fenway area now, because I may be back more often!

This quaint place is off the beaten place & is a HIDDEN gem!
My lilttle cousin wanted to try this place, she a creeper on Unilocal (No reviews-​just reads everyone elses) wanted to try this place as it was close to her dorms @ BU. Nothing fancy, but super clean & really great service! The food was really good & the prices are even better.
They offer complimentry garlicy parmesean foccacia bread, really good
My table had ordered the Frutti di Mare, Steak tips & Sausage Delight!
All were very, very good!
I will def comingback here & will try their pizza whiched look so good.
They have parking in the back! Woo Hoo!

Who knew you could find an Italian restaurant this cute, this cozy and this yummy outside of the North End? I sure didn’t, but I’m glad I did!
A friend brought me here for dinner, and I never even knew it existed let alone where to find it. There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant, and the sidewalk patio under the awning strung with fairy lights would be heavenly in the summer. Upon entering, Canestrao resembles a pizza joint, but you are greeted with friendliness and asked if you’d like a table.
To the right of the entrance is a quaint dining room and bar. It’s nothing fancy, but it doesn’t have to be. Our server was a nice young man who was unintrusive but responsive. The menu is extensive and covers everything from pizza and sandwiches to pasta and other Italian entrees.
I had the spinach gnocchi, and while the presentation was not great, the meal was satisfying and delicious. The gnocchi was cooked perfectly, and the portion was generous — so much so that I almost didn’t finish, but c’mon, this girl can eat her pasta.
Fresh bread is served with your meal, and there is olive oil and other fixings on the table for your own dipping creation. Oh, and like a true Italian restaurant (in my opinion), they have cannoli for dessert.
Now that I know Canestaro exists, I’ll surely be back when I’m in the area.

This is a LONG overdue update and looking back at my initial review, either the food must’ve really improved from 2009 to now (not a far-​fetched idea), or I must’ve fallen on my head when I was writing it. Maybe it’s a bit of both. Either way, Canestaro has since made it’s way to the top of my go-​to places when I’m craving some good Italian pasta.
I’ve tried nearly all of their pasta dishes now and declare the Tortellini Bellisimo as my favorite but you can’t go wrong with any of their other dishes, which, while different, are all cooked with just the right consistency and made with authentic and flavorful sauces. I made the mistake of ordering a burger one time, which was poor judgment #2 at Canestaro. They do specialize in Italian and American, but seriously, I wouldn’t waste your time on anything else but the Italian.
And the dessert. Boston crème pie is still amazing. I was able to find out where they get it from but it’s a trek outside of Boston so I’ll just stick to the amazingness that Canestaro serves.

Hidden in Fenway area, this great small family Italian restaurant is just something you will never able to find in Boston.
Food wise, I loved it. Pasta absolutely NOT over cooked, (very close to what I had in Italy). Pizza is thin crust and not salty like others. Wine and cocktails, I have to give a thumbs up. Menu is simple and easy to read, but I won’t recommend their mix grill dishes. Just not their speciality.
This place can be quiet during the week but can be loud during the weekend. Price is reasonable and this place can be my daily dinning room.

I was part of the 21^st birthday celebration that Winnie T. wrote about in her review when I visited Canestaro. It was a quiet Wednesday night, they accommodated our party of 14 easily, and the servers were very patient and pleasant.
The food was enjoyable. The fried calamari was decent — nothing extraordinary. For entrees however, I ordered one of my favorite dishes — the eggplant parm and it was delicious! The marinara was flavorful and my eggplant was huge; it was soft in the middle and crispy around the edges. Everyone in the party seemed to be very satisfied with their food. However, one friend did make a comment that his dish, the frutti di mare, was too overdressed with tomato sauce for his liking (picture uploaded). The prices were extremely reasonable, especially considering Canestaro is in the Fenway area.
I second Winnie T. on the pitcher of sangria that we got — it really was a dressed up Hawaiian Punch. There also wasn’t any pieces of fruit as there usually in sangra, just lemon and lime slices on the rims of our glasses.
I would definitely recommend Canestaro for nice, quality, and reasonably priced Italian dinner. Plus they have outdoor seating — a big plus in the summer time!