Boston Chefs

It never pays to mess with a classic. Tony & Elaine’s brings you back to the Goodfella’s days of Italian-American red-sauce joints, with checkered tile and plenty of Parmigiano in the heart of Boston’s iconic North End. And while the decor might be kitschy, don’t expect the food to be—the restaurant brings a modern culinary sensibility to the tried-and-true dishes you expect to find along Hanover, so expect fresh ingredients in your hand-made pasta and a little more thought in your glass than just the house red.

Tony & Elaine’s is named for the owner’s parents, who were servers in North End restaurants back before “seasonal ingredients” were really a thing. The menu at T&E’s pays homage to those good old days, with a no-frills menu full of everything you want and no surprises. Pasta is made in house daily, the meatballs are grandma-approved, and they’re liberal with the red sauce and parm. 

The space gives a wink to the kind of restaurant that put the North End on the map. If you’re looking to Instagram a classic Little Italy experience, look no further than the red-checkered tablecloths and wood paneling in the restaurant’s upper dining room. Downstairs you’ll find studded red leather booths and exposed bricks with black and white tile on the floor. It’s homey, it’s kitschy, and it’s all in good fun.

When it’s time to wash down your chicken parm, you’ll find a simple selection of local and macro beer, reds and whites by the glass, and a few of the usual suspects in the cordials department if you need a little digestif to settle the stomach. 

Tony & Elaine’s is open for lunch and dinner seven days, and features a separate take-out counter where on-the-go diners can snag sandwiches and subs on the run.