Little Italy, Boston | Carmelina's pasta đ
đ Carmelinaâs: North Endâs Italian GemâFresh Pasta That Lives Up to the Hype After craving authentic Italian-made pasta for ages, I finally booked a spot at this North End stapleâand it delivered. Fresh pasta truly makes a difference, and while not every dish wowed, their signature Alfredo is a must-order. đ The Standouts Crazy Alfredo ($22): đ§ The star. Billed as a âspicyâ Alfredo, ours was mildâinstead, itâs all about the red bell peppers, which add a sweet, smoky depth to the rich cream sauce. Think: Alfredo meets pizza flavor (in the best way). Tossed with wide noodles and chunks of chicken, sausage, or ham (we mixed chicken and sausage), itâs indulgent but balancedâyou wonât want to stop eating. House Bread: đ Warm, crusty rolls with a soft interiorâserved with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. Proof that good carbs make any meal better. Carbonara ($20): đ„ A classic done right: crispy guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino, egg, and black pepper tossed with thin spaghetti. Creamy, salty, and richâtoo rich, honestly. A few bites are heavenly, but by the end, itâs cloying (Iâll need months before craving it again). Still, if you love carbonara, itâs worth trying for its simplicity. đ The âMehâ Garlic Shrimp ($18) : đŠ Five plump shrimp sautĂ©ed in garlic butterâtasty, but basic. The flavor is exactly what youâd expect (garlicky, buttery), but $18 for five shrimp feels steep. Skip it and save room for more pasta. Regular Alfredo ($22): đ„ Fine, but forgettable next to the âCrazyâ version. Without the bell peppers, itâs just a standard creamy sauceârich, but lacking that extra oomph. âš Why It Works Fresh Pasta: The texture is unbeatableâchewy, springy, and far more satisfying than dried noodles. You can taste the care in every strand. Vibe: Cozy, old-school Italian spot in Bostonâs Little Italyâcasual enough for a laid-back meal, but with that âspecial occasionâ feel. Carmelinaâs is worth the hype, especially for the Crazy Alfredo. Just pace yourself with the carbonara, and skip the shrimp to splurge on more pasta. đ Carmelinaâs 307 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 #BostonItalian #NorthEndEats #FreshPasta