East-side grid of red-sauce houses, bocce courts and summer outdoor movies, plus Vaccaro's for cannoli and newer rooms like Costiera.
Costiera in Little Italy marks chef Brian Lavin's return, a coastal Mediterranean bistro plating swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.
Signature: Swordfish meatballs, House-milled polenta, Coastal Italian plates
Order: The swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.
Tip: It sits where Little Italy meets Harbor East; the patio is the seat to ask for in warm weather.
Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop has filled cannoli to order in Little Italy since 1956, a sit-down dessert counter for gelato, espresso and Italian cookies.
Signature: Cannoli, Gelato, Espresso
Order: A cannoli filled to order, with an espresso to follow.
Tip: The cannoli is filled to order so the shell stays crisp; expect a line after dinner hours.
Vaccaro's has filled cannoli to order in Little Italy since 1956, a sit-down dessert counter for gelato, espresso, tiramisu and trays of Italian cookies.
Tip: The cannoli is filled to order so the shell stays crisp; the lines run late after dinner.
Worth the queue: Cannoli filled to order