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I brought a group of customers here mostly because of other reviews I read. It wasn't bad, average at best. The bread was cold Food OK service was not that great. Not what I was expecting.

just finished eating here. I rarely review restaurants but I thought this one deserved it. arrived at the restaurant on a Tuesday night to find a very taste full appeal to the entry of the building. when you first walk in to the restaurant the bar is immediately to the left and to your right is a wall of what appeared to be leather bound almost a suade squares on the wall lighting was dimmed but not beyond a comfortable level to read a menu. we were immediately asked if we would like to be seated but the bar tender and hostess was quick to seat us. dining area was not very large but certainly served its purpose and decorated with a great abstract painting that was about 6 feet long on the wall. we were seated at the front of the restaurant near the window. I prefer this seating because well quite frankly I am a people watcher lol. There was more then enough seating space to be comfortable and not hitting the chair of the person directly behind me. the waitress was quick to greet us probably about 1 min from the time we were seated. She greeted us kindly and offered us water with the choice of bottled water if that is what we preferred. menu was rather extensive in the entre portion with a variety of pasta dishes and various chicken seafood and veal as well. I was very please with the selection. I had a few questions about how some of the food was prepared as I am from a culinary background( I attended johnson and wales in RI). The waitress was fairly knowledgeable about the dishes that they served. This was pleasant to hear. I settled on the tortellini with Alfredo. when prepared fresh Alfredo sauce has the ability to rich of a buttery flavor or have an overbearing Parmesan cheese flavor. I actually have to say that it might be one of the best Alfredo sauces that I have had. waitress asked us as customary after a few bites if everything was to our liking and it definitely was. even the portion size was to my liking as it was just enough to feel satisfied without over eating. over all great experience and price value for the entire menu was definitely desirable. This is a place likely to become one of my favorites in the north end.

overall awesome experience, get the veal carrozella

I had the chicken parmesian here last week and it had very little cheese and sauce, did not come with pasta, the bread served before hand was stale. I wouldnt reoccomend this place. Ive had much better at the North End

We dined at Artu on November 16, 2007 after reading several glowing reviews. Unfortunately, our meal and dining experience did not live up to the hype. While the exterior entrance to the restaurant is promising with its dark wood paneling, the room we were sat in was a rather stark, uninteresting room with plain diner-style tables. We waited, unacknowledged, far too long before being seated for our reservation. Our waiter was pleasant enough but knew nothing about the wine selection and did not seem interested in asking anyone else for advice. The first bottle he brought us, on his recommendation, had turned to vinegar. We then opted for a California Cab that I was familiar with. Our biggest disappointment was in our food. We shared a mixed greens salad that was heavy with oil and light on vinegar (we should have kept that bottle of wine). I ordered a chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and spinach and my wife ordered the manicotti. My chicken was cooked far beyond doneness to the point of being chewy. I found almost no prosciutto and the spinach tasted as if it was fresh from a freezer pack of chopped spinach. My wife’s manicotti was comprised of thick, mushy pasta wrapped around a bland filling, topped with a decent red sauce. This meal would have been fine if I had gone to a luncheon diner in a mall, but it was not at all what I would expect from a restaurant that is so highly recommended in guide books and on various internet sites. Avoid this one, as there are far too many other restaurants in this city.

The antipasti were good but the overall dining experience was below average. The dishes were middle of the road -- not rustic or hearty and not creative. Execution was fine but the service was not great. Neither was the atmosphere which is a bit cold. The overall experience was generic. Maybe the Charles Street location is better.

This place is a neighborhood favorite, I assume, because everybody seems to be familiar from Mama Nona to the local priests. Another tiny gem that got so busy they had to knock a hole in the wall. Antipasto galore. Has a sister place on Charles St. (near the 7's) that does a lot of al forno. That one is good too.