Via Cannuccia — Restaurant in Boston

Via Cannuccia: True Italian cuisine Bringing Roman Warmth to Dorchester

Tucked away in the heart of Dorchester, Via Cannuccia is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon something truly special. From the moment you walk through the door, you’re enveloped in a sense of warmth—like visiting the Roman home of an old friend who just happens to be a phenomenal chef.

Chef-owner Stefano Quaresima has created something rare in Boston: a space that is both unpretentious and extraordinary. Inspired by his Roman roots, the menu celebrates simplicity, seasonality, and deep tradition, but with a clear personal touch. Everything at Via Cannuccia feels made with love, from the perfectly textured handmade pastas to the delicate pastries gracing the brunch counter each weekend.

Dinner is a true highlight. The cacio e pepe is a revelation—silky, peppery, and deeply satisfying. The amatriciana and carbonara are equally outstanding, balancing richness with an elegant restraint that speaks to expert technique. Pizzas, baked to golden perfection in the wood-fired oven, are thin, crisp, and generously topped without ever being heavy. There’s a rustic soul to the food here, but it’s executed with the precision of fine dining.

Via Cannuccia also shines at brunch, offering an array of fresh-baked cornetti, sfogliatelle, and other pastries that rival the best in Italy. The espresso is bold and smooth, and the atmosphere—breezy, welcoming, and filled with sunlight—makes it a perfect weekend spot to linger and relax.

Service is consistently warm and attentive, with staff who are genuinely passionate about the food they’re serving. There’s a strong sense of community at Via Cannuccia; it’s the kind of place where the chef might step out of the kitchen to chat with guests, and where locals return week after week.

The interior strikes the perfect balance between cozy and contemporary, with clean lines, soft lighting, and subtle nods to Rome in the decor. It’s stylish without being overdone, inviting without trying too hard.

In a city packed with Italian options, Via Cannuccia stands out by doing something simple and deeply difficult: it feels real. Real food, real hospitality, and real heart. Whether you're a Dorchester local or visiting from across town, this is one of Boston’s best-kept culinary secrets—and one well worth...

I went yesterday to Via Cannuccia twice, for brunch and for dinner and I will say both were a memorable experience for me. Starting with the brunch I had 2 cappuccinos and a 2 croissants (1 plain, 1 with ham and cheese) These pastries were fantastic, so light and fresh. I'm a fan of croissants and I can say these bakery products are best to none. Proof this is that when I arrived at 9.15am there was a queue of about 10 people in line to buy bakery products(and don't miss the breads!). The owner and chef Stefano is a master baker and you can see that he has a wonderful hand and uses first class ingredients. Now to dinner. During the week I watch a documentary serie on Netflix about pasta and I got this need to find a place were the pasta was homemade. Via Cannuccia was my choice and I'm so happy I went there. I told the manager, Alana, what I was looking for and she checked with the kitchen and came back suggesting spaghetti carbonara and mezzi-rigatoni Bolognese. I was like "OMG". Each of them were amazing. The pasta was cooked "al dente" as I like it and the sauces were so good. I asked about the guanciale they use and they said it comes from Rome (and I believe it). It tasted so different from other Carbonaras that are out there. This is not the end, three more details to share. The wine glases I had, Lambrusco (a full body ruby color sparkling wine was a wonderful start), then I had a Sangiovese from 2011 (can you believe it?) a real treasure. 2nd detail, the service was awesome. Alana, the manager explained to me each characteristic of the wines she suggested. You can trust her, just tell her your preferences. The rest of the team seem working in harmony, that translate to the service and details The last comment (sorry if this is too long). I normally never see a review that comments about the restrooms in restaurants, but this one called my attention. Normally I have dinner late and many times restaurants are almost empty when I leave. The restrooms show that people had been using them (you know what I mean), Via Cannuccia has one bathroom for all guests, at 9.30 pm it was as clean as if they would have just opened. I mention this as I think It reflex how this restaurant respect and treat their customers. Hope you will have a memorable...

We've spent a lot of time in Italy. We've had Pesto in Genoa, Tagliatelle Bolognese in Bologna, Suppli in Rome, and Pizza Margherita in Naples. The last thing we could ever imagine was to find an authentic Italian Trattoria 4 minutes from our home ... IN DORCHESTER !!!!

We went to Via Cannuccia with two well travelled friends on a Saturday evening. We decided to try as much of the menu as we could and coordinated our dishes.

Appetizers were Mussels with Parsley Pesto, Chef's Caesar Bowl , Eggplant parmesan, and Suppli Cacio e Pepe. The generous portion of large mussels in Parsley Pesto were cooked perfectly, the rendered broth just needed to be sopped up with bread, The Chef's Caesar Bowl a Chopped Salad, hearty, tasty and perfectly seasoned. Eggplant Parmesan is served uniquely crispy. The Cacio Pepe Suppli was as good as any Suppli from "The Pizzarium" in Rome.

Entrees were Pasta Aglio Olio Peperoncino, Fettucine all Bolognese, Spaghetti alla Chitarra and Fusilloni alla Gricia, All were amazing. The Fusilloni alla Gricia was my favorite, exquisite, creamy, cooked perfectly.

We shared a PIzza Margherita for the table to see what the buzz was about, it was a wonderful, adaptation for an American audience, Crispy in the bottom and edges, with some height in the middle, outstanding.

Wine list is reasonably priced, and well thought out. Our waiter recommended an Italian Chardonnay, which was luscious, and dry with a hint of minerality, but none of the viscous notes so prominent in American Chardonnays. It could easily hold its own with any French Chablis, or White Burgundy of the same price point.

Desserts were Tiramisu and Crostata Sbriciolare with ice cream. Tiramisu did not disappoint, but the Crostata Sbriciolare stole the show for us, it's a triumph for the chef.

We went back on Sunday morning to get pastry. to take home ... I can't make pastry on Sunday morning a regular thing, or I won't fit through the doors on my next visit..

No need to go to the North End for Italian food, there is no place in the North end or anywhere in Boston that can compete with Via Cannuccia,

This is the restaurant the city has been waiting for, this is the restaurant the city needs, this is the restaurant...