RESTAURANTS > RESTAURANT PROFILES > Ricardo’s

Ricardo’s
175 North St. (617) 720-3994


Ricardo’s is that rare establishment that instantly conjures the warmth and familiarity of family. Like heading home for the holidays, a visit to this North End enclave evokes the excitement of returning to one’s hometown to gather with friends and relatives for a celebratory feast. Anticipation mounts as thoughts of your grandmother’s tomato sauce and your great aunt’s special lasagna carry you back to a time when you were eye-level with the dining room table.

In fact, one is overcome with déjà vu upon both entering Ricardo’s charming North End environs and feasting on the captivating cuisine of chef Richard Travaglione Jr. There’s nothing quite like a home-cooked meal, and Travaglione’s skilled hand recreates the magic of that collaborative feast.

For more than five years, the father-son team of Richard Travaglione Sr. and Jr. have owned and operated this quaint restaurant, conveniently located on the Freedom Trail, only steps from the Paul Revere House and North Square.

The rose-colored walls, exposed brick and shimmering, wall-length mirrors add a touch of elegance to the cozy dining room. A staircase leads to an upstairs function space which serves private parties and family gatherings.

Choosing from an extensive wine list—a collection of oaky chardonnays, smooth pinot noirs and rich cabernets—my companion and I selected two glasses of Vina Porta cabernet sauvignon.

The eclectic Italian offerings feature such appetizers as antipasto, baked stuffed cherrystones, mussels marinara and eggplant rollatini. We opted for a plateful of fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers. The thin slices of radiant red peppers and soft, savory cheese blended harmoniously together and awakened our palates for the next course.

Entrees consist of pasta, seafood (frutti di mare), chicken, veal and meat dishes, including such classic favorites as fettuccini alfredo and chicken, ziti and broccoli, as well as innovative selections like veal scallopini marsala, stuffed calamari over linguini and shrimp butterfly alla marinara. My companion’s predilection for seafood borders, as she’ll readily acknowledge, on near obsession. Hence, when a steaming bowl of shrimp, littlenecks and mussels over linguini was directed to our table, she could barely contain herself. Steamed in its natural juices, the delectable shellfish, crustacean and pasta amalgam’s fresh aroma and intense flavors were equaled only by the seductive smell and enveloping tastes of my approaching entree, the veal and eggplant parmigiana.

Our affable and accommodating waiter, Nick, delivered the multi-tiered platter of golden brown veal cutlets, homemade tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese layered in between stratums of fresh, sautéed eggplant.

A heavenly slice of chocolate mousse cake capped off our sensational evening, reminding us of nights spent around the fireplace, catching up with loved ones, remembering old times and savoring an afternoon of gustatory indulgence.

Families may come in all shapes and sizes, yet our evening at Ricardo’s proves that a fondness for food and festivity holds a universal appeal.