Editors’ Choice (TIE)
Angelo’s
Stoneham
Angelo Caruso has been focused on his native Italian cuisine for more than 30 years, specifically dishes from Northern Italy like Lombatina Ripiena, a stuffed veal loin chop, and Tortelloni Piemontese, a ricotta-filled pasta served in a crème sauce. Caruso uses the best available ingredients and locally grown herbs and vegetables to craft a menu that changes seasonally and features generations of family recipes. It’s all presented by attentive servers in an inviting space, dressed in warm earth tones with tables topped with crisp white linens.
237 Main St., Stoneham, 781-279-9035, angeloristorante.com
Lucia Ristorante
Winchester
The Frattarolis have operated this Winchester gem for 35 years, and nearly every item on the menu has a family connection, from the restaurant’s custom wines, which source from vineyards that have been in the family for generations, to the Pasta alla Chitarra–handmade spaghetti, served with a fresh light tomato sauce or topped with a decadent combination of wild mushrooms and white truffle oil, which was a staple of owner Filippo Frattaroli’s youth. The dining room is old school posh, with banquette seating and a vaulted ceiling painted like the Sistine Chapel.
13 Mt. Vernon St., Winchester, 781-729-0515, luciawinchester.com
Readers’ Choice
Daniella’s Café & Market
Danvers
The Mammola family is a powerhouse on the North Shore dining scene—this intimate café is the more casual cousin to Pellana Steakhouse and Alto Forno, serving up homey favorites like Zuppa d’ Pesce, Veal Chop Parmesan, and whole Lobster Tagliatelli alongside a market full of handmade pasta and Italian pastries.
78 Holten St., Danvers, 978-774-0012, daniellascafe.com