One of the most famous pizza places in the country, Pizzeria Regina has been packing them in and slinging pie since 1926. This North End institution has not changed much since it first opened it's doors 80 plus years ago. Its menu is still only pizza and beer served by fresh-talking local waitresses and it is still a cash only business. Pizzeria Regina remains an untouched piece of Boston history.

A small and intimate restaurant that serves modern Italian dishes. Popular choices include the open-faced scallop and lobster ravioli and the pan-roasted filet mignon. It has a wonderful wine list, and you are likely to have the same server on each visit. Terramia is not your typical mom-and-pop restaurant in the North End and a great place for a romantic dinner. Decor is gorgeous. Comfortable, stylish and modern. I wish every room in my house looked this good. If there is a wait for a table (which there often is) they suggest you grab a drink at the bar in Bacco Ristorante, a restaurant just across the street. The hostess will come and get you in Bacco once your table is ready.

Looking for a blast from Boston’s Colonial past? The Blackstone Grill will not let you down. The building was built in 1822--the same year that Boston became a city. This Federal-style building was based on the designs of Charles Bulfinch (1763 - 1844), who is most famous for his design of the new State House (1798) and the Faneuil Hall Expansion (1806). Currently, The Blackstone Grill transports its patrons back to the early 1800s serving fresh seafood and beef, along with other local favorites like their excellent clam chowder ($4.95 a bowl) and their Maine lobster roll (lobster meat served on a hot-dog roll, price fluctuates based on the market).

It’s often said that, in order to move forward you have to look to the past. This can definitely be said about the inspiration for Durty Nelly's, based on a real-life woman, Nelly O’Sullivan, who was a stall holder in the Coal Quay Market in Cork City, Ireland. Overflowing with Irish charm and hospitality, this is just the place to take a break from a hectic day or spend the night with good friends passing away the hours in great conversation. On the second floor a surprise awaits in the form of a luxurious 18th Century dining room with some of the best views of the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The dinner Menu will not just include specials but will, in fact, change every evening.

You will find this small 25 seat candlelit dining room with colorful walls and original artwork. Chefs and owners Patrick and Frank Mendoza serve up homemade pastas and gourmet pizzas with an imaginative twist. The trattoria is indeed quite small, and the tables are jam-packed in, but that just adds to the authentic North End experience. In the summer, it's nice to sit by the open window and watch the world of Prince Street laze by as you drink white wine and eat bruschetta and pasta. In the winter, it's nice to sit next to the brick walls, drink chianti and enjoy the warmth and ambiance of the space. The only thing that's no good is the bread- it's really, truly awful.

Just across the way from Quincy Market, the Purple Shamrock attracts an older crowd of regulars relaxing after work, while a younger crowd drops by on weekends before a heavy night out. A wide selection of draft beers (about a dozen) and specialty drinks (chocolate cake martini $8) are available after 9:30pm. During the day, the menu ranges from fried calamari to buffalo wings (both $7), but if decisions aren't your strong point, you can always opt for the Shamrock Sampler ($12), a platter of menu favorites. Check the website for info on live music and events. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Purple Shamrock is the happening place for trivia night on Mondays at 8:00 pm. It is one of the best in the area with the great food, the twenty one and over crowd and the cheap, cheap drink specials!

Super place to go for breakfast/brunch in the North End. In an area that specializes in pasta, where the heck do you go for your American breakfast fix? You even have the choice to load on the calories by filling up on eggs and hash browns, or having something healthier like oatmeal and fruit. They also serve a great dinner, with a solid beer selection at the bar. The menu changes frequently enough while maintaining the staples, so that you're sure to find something new in case you haven't decided on a favorite. Bonus: their breakfast Bloody Marys are huge.

CLOSED It would be hard to find a bad bottle of wine here, because perhaps they simply don't even carry the bad stuff! A full wall of rare beers at better prices than you'll find anywhere else in Boston. Fully loaded wine section, liquor section, and the staff is always quick and attentive everyday.

The storefront sign says that the name of this place is actually "The Wild Duck", which is kind of odd, but it must have been a serious liquor store in a previous incarnation. To further prove this theory, there is a sign over the door reading "Beer Necessities." I don't know about you, but beer itself is always a necessity, athough I don't know what else you may need in order to drink it. Chips perhaps? A bottle opener? Don't think too long or hard about this, because tragically there is not much alcohol within. They have a couple of touristy items that you can see from the window, but the basic function of this place is that of a convenience store, and a rather sad little one at that.