Taranta Cucina Meridionale

Their food is really nice, I expected it to be more of a Peruvian-​Italian fusion as they’ve advertised, but the only thing that was mostly Peruvian than the rest was their Amazonian Fish. Their pasta and fish were great though, just keep in mind that if you are expecting some Peruvian dishes, then this place wouldn’t be the one since 98% of the menu is Italian food. Thanks!!!

Came here for a work dinner. The wine was excellent. We had a Cabernet recommended by the waiter, delicious!
The appartizers were hit or miss. Loved the mussles, shrimps and octopus. But the fish calzone was way too salty. The mushrooms on the sample platter was yummy, but the grilled vegetable were meh.
For main dish, I ordered the pork chop after resigning all the previous reviews. I have to say l was a bit disappointed. The portion was huge, and the corns and greens were delicious. But the thick pork chop only had sauce and flavor in the surface. Once you cut I tot he meat, it’s fairly bland, and the meat was a bit dry on the inside. I tried my friends pasta dish, and it was fine but not among the best I’ve had.
The restaurant had a nice ambiance, and the service was great! I would love to see some improvements on the food though

Excellent food quality! Had the chef’s special shrimp ravioli with lobster meat… so delish! Great staff and would highly recommend if you are looking for dine in options in North end.

My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday. The food was delicious and quite filling. We ordered the Calzoncini Fritti as an appetizer — AMAZING. I definitely recommend! My yucca gnocchi was delicious, and my boyfriend really enjoyed his double cut pork chop (recommended by the waiter).

I like Taranta because you can get Italian food in the North End without the hordes of tourists that clog up every inch of sidewalk, doorway, etc. further down Hanover. The espresso-​rubbed tenderloin is a solid choice. Not my first pick for a pasta place though; it’s pretty pricey for what you get. Also, they forgot to stir the pot after they dropped my pasta last time, so it was served to me all glued together. So this place is kind of hit or miss, but if you don’t like it, just be prepared to risk the bill.

Two stars for experience, 4 for food. Not the happiest of Mother’s days. My family made a reservation for 8:30 PM and upon arrival were told or table wasn’t ready. The place is so small we had to go walk around outside in the cold rain while we waited. We came back 15 minutes later, and the table still wasn’t ready. We walked around another 15 minutes-​now 9 pm-​and were finally seated. The first course came quickly, salad, which was really unimpressive. Spring mix with olive oil and little flavor. Portion size was fine. Then we waited nearly an hour for our entrees. At just after 10 PM as the kitchen was closing we were finally eating. The food really was delicious… I understand why it gets high marks. But we were ravenous by then and couldn’t enjoy it as much. My recommendation would be to try this place but make sure you order some anti pasti while you wait and don’t have an appointment you need to make after!

The menu is a fusion of Peruvian and Italian.
The Cholopolitan (Peruvian infused Pisco, cranberry, triple sec, and passion fruit)…a must and addictive (be sure to have a designated driver).
Salmone in crosta di macadamia– Macadamian nut crusted Atlantic salmonfillet over herbed risotto, asparagus topped with a blood orange sauce. Delizioso! Asked for rare salmon… raw and very fresh!
Best to have reservations… extremely busy on weekends!

The food here was amazing and the décor was really nice and intimate! Definitely a hidden gem because it was relatively empty with no wait.
Langostinos De La Patagonia — huge and delicious.
Ravioli rellendos de Langosta — good portion, again delicious.
Coccio De Pesce Legumi — tender and well prepared
Trout — was awesome. The trout was well cooked in a clay pot with potatoes and veggies. I would definitely get again.
Definitely try this place, highly recommended. Staff was very professional.

First time here. To start we had the mussels in a delicious savory sauce that you use your bread to soak up the juices with-​Yum! Second, my husband had the special of the night-​chicken raviolis in a light white cream sauce. I had the salmon fillet over a herbed risotto cake. To end our friends enjoyed the hazelnut choc cake and we had the lemon sorbet. Every morsel of our dinner was to-die-for…will be back again!
*Also to note, how conscious this restaurant is to sustainability-​very impressive! See their website.

It is a great place to dine great food! One of my favorite north end restaurants for sure.
Make sure to order the lamb shank it is marvelous! And the limencello is to die for

I was there last night and I would not recommend this place! It’s pricey and the food is good but not worthy the price!
Paid with cash and they had no change, so besides the 20% already included in the check, they got a bit more. Never heard about a restaurant that has no $ 10 to give as change!

Thanks to chef Jose duartes for allowing me to bring a cake for my finances birthday, the food was amazing, this is our new favorite spot, the pork chop was ssooo good i was at loss for words and my fiances salmon was cooked perfectly, we will be back again soon.

Huge kudos to Taranta for accommodating my vegan diet; for that I would give them five stars, as it made my work team dinner much less stressful. To give you an idea, they have a pasta dish made with san marzano tomatoes that can be made vegan by substituting the homemade noodles with noodles that are not homemade – hooray! But sadly my noodles were overcooked, by a lot, and it made my dish unenjoyable. Secondly, while two of my coworkers loved their entrees, the third one did not like his dish much. I would try this restaurant again if I return to the area, it was cute and was within walking distance of a landmark (Paul Revere’s house), which was cool to see when we were rushing around down there.

My first meal in Boston set the tone for a wonderful few days. The North End neighborhood is incredible and smells amazing on every block. We had an early reservation to beat the crowds, and it was a perfect time. The space is small, but very well decorated. The hostess seated us quickly and was extremely nice. Our server was also very knowledgeable and friendly. Every thing on the menu looked incredible and it was hard to decide. I ended up going with the daily special for my salad and my entrée. Both were incredible. Salad was a mix of roasted beets, goat cheese, and frisée salad with a citrus vinaigrette. The pasta special was SO good and surprisingly light. Homemade spinach and ricotta ravioli with pancetta, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, veggies, fresh Parmesan in a white wine garlic sauce with truffle oil. Amazing, right? It was the best meal I’ve had in quite a while. A quaint and wonderful spot — don’t pass it up!

Who knew Italian-​Peruvian cuisine would work so well together! Located in North End, prices are on par with other restaurants in the neighborhood!
Must gets:
1) Pan roasted mussels– Amazing! Bites of pancetta with caramelized shallots. Still dreaming about this dish
2) Lobster and crab filled ravioli– Creamy, decadent yumminess!
3) Sugar cane glazed pork chop– Massive chop that was too sweet for my liking but was well cooked. I probably wouldn’t get it again but if you like sweet, this is the dish for you!

Was here for a team outing cooking class, where we made the following:
— Caprese with homemade mozzarella (SO COOL!)
— Lobster ravioli: absolutely delectable — we all devoured this
— Brined pork chop
— Roasted chicken stuffed with mozzarella cheese and spinach,
— Tiramisu: a bit too heavy on the espresso liquor, turned out drenched
Really loved the staff — instructors were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Intimate, rustic ambiance makes for a perfect date spot. Charming ad cozy — what more could you ask for?

Taranta has an interesting Southern Italian and Peruvian fusion concept. The flavors are bold and the dishes are hearty. I wish I could have tried more things on the menu but the portion sizes were impossibly large so it was difficult to try a lot of things. I had two appetizers for my meal and was quite full at the end. The arugula salad with beets, pecans, and fried goat cheese was delicious albeit a tad overdressed. I also ordered the coccio di pesce e legumi which was basically octopus, cuttlefish, and chickpeas stewed in this rich spicy tomato broth. The flavor was really nice but the seafood unfortunately didn’t taste all that fresh. I did go with a large group and it seems like people generally enjoyed the dishes they ordered. Still, I’m not convinced that the quality of the food really justified the $ 30+ entrée cost.
The service was very pleasant and friendly. We ended up lingering for around 45 minutes after closing our tab just catching up on conversation and never felt rushed.

Completely mediocre. Travelled to the north end for a delicious meal and were disappointed. Nothing about the food we were served was impressive
* Caprese salad featured pale hard tomatoes, $ 14
* lamb special: meat was good but served with a bland potato mash, firm undercooked Brussel sprouts and no discernible sauce.

This has got to be one of the best restaurants in the North End. A Italian and Peruvian flare. I went with 3 other people who each had a separate dish. We all tried the different dishes and all of them were amazing. The pork chop is their signature dish and the fish and meat are fresh and delicious. The service was great. There was no feeling of being rushed and we went on a busy night. Highly recommend this neat little place.

Great food and great service ! We got the lamb shank and the gnoochi ! Both were very very good! However the highlight of the night is the tiramasu, I love tiramasu but this was one of the best I’ve ever had, which is very hard to say!
I’m very happy with my experience! Highly recommended !

Great food and nice atmosphere. For someone who was not drinking alcohol I had a freshly squeezed lemonade it was a nice alternative to a soda and so yummy. For dinner I had the lobster/​crab ravioli that were awesome. I was also surprised by the generous portion. Usually when you order raviolis you only get about 6. This was not the case here. My husband got the seared tuna special which was also great. We finished with the warm chocolate soufflé which was home made and soooooo good! I would definitely return!

Honestly, I still can’t believe this place isn’t more packed every time I go here. All their dishes are awesome, and given the number of ways one can imagine messing up a Peruvian-​Italian fusion menu, this place absolutely nails it. Also, update: they did have ceviche the last time I went.

Taranta is one of my favorite restaurants in the North End! As one of the first restaurants you pass on Hanover as you enter the North End, it could be missed with its simple yet elegant façade. But don’t walk by it! You’ll be sorry you missed out on its fantastic Italian-​Peruvian menu! The service here is THE BEST! And the food & wine are divine! I love the mushroom pasta dish called pappardelle con funghi porcini and also as good if you’re interested in a traditional pasta dish is the pasta pomodoro della Nonna. Try this place! You’ll be happy you did! Also, start the night off with one of their delicious Peruvian cocktails!

Stumbled upon this tiny gem after a ballgame.
I had one of the specials that night
The arugula salad with beats and goat cheese. Very tasty and satisfying. My husband had the lobster ravioli and said it was delicious.
Although Its three stories its very crowded & tiny inside but the old building gives it much character. I would recommend.

Disappointing. Nice staff. No beer on tap… kind of an oversight since Boston is a great beer city now. My wife and I agreed that the Latin /​Italian fusion is overhyped and not very apparent in the menu and preparation of the food. The appetizers were good but the entrée (mushroom, Pappardelle) was a huge let down. Bland, boring, tasteless, a joke and a total insult at $ 26.00.
I could blow this recipe away for Eight Bucks in my crappy kitchen.
Oh yeah, Dessert: The Tiramisu AND the «Mousse» were really cheap and bad.
I think overall they’re skimping on ingredients and just banking on the North End location.
It’s a day later and I feel dismayed. That’s not a good thing.
Further: Just want to let you know that I am a real person with a real opinion. Beware of fake reviews.

Yum! The Pomodoro pasta is definitely worth a shot if you are craving a simple pasta dish. Great customer service too!

My gf is Peruvian so she was really eager to try this place. We only had time to get a drink and appetizer so we ordered two Pisco Sours and the Causa. Both were really good. My gf actually said the Causa was the best she’s ever had in the states.
The only thing stopping me from giving them 5 starts are the prices. At $ 14 for each drink and $ 16 for the appetizer, it’s slightly over priced. I wouldn’t make it a must stop in the North End but the fusion of Peruvian and Italian is something to try at least once.

Read some Unilocal reviews and decided on Taranta. We were pleased with our choice. Unilocal delivers again.
We were greeted, seated and ordering in no time. Our waitress was pleasant and knowledgeable and quickly provided recommendations after a short chat.
We took her lead and ordered the Mussels and a Malbec. Excellent. Best mussels I’ve ever had and I’ve had many. Don’t skip this app and try the Colome Malbec.
The other star of the night was the Pork Chop. It is their signature dish for a reason. It’s big so you can share some bites. Tender, juicy and cooked perfectly.
Everything else was very good. One dish I saw and wish I tried was the Broccoli Rabe and Shrimp.
So many dishes, so little time.

Outstanding.
Went here the day off the marathon expecting everyone to be overwhelmed, but we were seated on the third floor and as parties finished we had the room to ourselves. service was fast! Mussels were absolutely delicious, we had lobster ravioli show up before we were done with the mussels and instead of leaving them, took them back and remade them when we were ready. the hostess even came up the three flights halfway through the meal to see how things were. without hesitation try this spot.

An incredible blend of Italian and Peruvian cuisine gives Taranta’s food a spicy kick! The Pisco Sours were the best and strongest I have had outside of Peru, and the Causa de Cangrejo made me nostalgic of my time in Latin America.
We ordered two pasta dishes — the fusili and the orecchiette. Both were very big portions that came with an exotic flavor not normally found in Italian cuisine! The wait staff was very knowledgeable about all of the food items, what levels of spiciness we wanted and which items to recommend for us!
Come here if you want a different taste of the North End — one that is certainly spicier and with a great view of the Financial District in front of the restaurant!

Large variety of food.
They start you off with olive oil and bread, continue with the drinks selection, and then our Anticucho de carne came out! Sooooo good! Excellent meat, a bit spicy, with the right amount of olive oil to dip our bread into.
Main course? They have everything! I’d suggest asking the waiter for recommendations to see what their specialty is/​what they have particularly fresh that day (regarding fish.)
Very pleasant atmosphere and excellent service.

During my last couple trips to Boston, I’ve stopped by this restaurant for dinner.
During my first visit, I ordered the Salmone in crosta di macadamia. Overall, the dish was pretty good. The risotto cake was a little too crusted for me and hard to chew at times, but the salmon was good and I liked the sauce.
During my 2^nd time at the restaurant, I ordered the Gnocchi di yocca con ragu verde stilo seco peruviano, and it was delicious! The gnocchi was soft and pillowy, and the lamb ragu was moist and pull-​apart tender. I’m usually not big on lamb, but I couldn’t stop eating this dish! The dish was supposed to be spicy, but I only tasted a hint of spice in a few bites of the dish.
I also tried the Pan Roasted Mussels, which was pretty good. The mussels were fairly fresh and the roasted shallots added a nice flavor to them.
Service is okay on average. The host and waiters/​waitresses are always friendly and helpful. Our waitress forgot our drink orders one time, but the wait for the food usually doesn’t take too long.
This restaurant has a good selection of dishes. If I get the chance to go back again, I would probably try the Lobster Ravioli!

Among the seemingly endless pizza and pasta-​promoting Italian eateries in the North End, Taranta offers something delectably different. Combining Italian and Peruvian flavors, this spot is a truly a unique dining experience in a pretty package.
Salud! The drinks are definitely South American in nature, as many contain fruity elements of passion fruit as well as the Peruvian liquor of choice, pisco. I opted for the Cholopolitan, a sweet, fruity mix of juices, citrus, and pisco which was delicious and deceptively strong (as our helpful waiter was sure to mention upon bringing them).
As for entrees, I opted for the Macadamia-​crusted salmon, which was served over a risotto cake along with a berry sauce, fusing the traditional Italian rice staple with tropical elements. The salmon had a unique crunch to it, and the sweet, slightly acidic sauce added an interesting twist to the fish.
The standout dish on our table was definitely the lamb gnocchi, however. The gnocchi was prepared with yucca instead of the usual potato, which led to a tender, somewhat chewy consistency. This was ideal for absorbing the absolutely phenomenal sauce and tender pieces of lamb in the ragu. The menu claimed it was a spicy dish, which I disagree with in terms of heat, but it definitely did not disappoint in terms of spices, as it boasted an outstanding flavor complexity. The texture of the entire dish was on point, and I found myself sneaking bites off my friend’s plate all night.
Let’s culminate this cultural culinary combo with something sweet! I wanted something warm so was eyeing the chocolate soufflé. However, our waiter steered us toward the Lucumisu (lacuma tiramisu) and the Guavannolis (guava and ricotta-​stuffed cannolis with pistachios). These desserts combined traditionally Italian pastries with Peruvian ingredients. Both had outstanding flavor, and I enjoyed that they were fruity but not overpoweringly so. Although neither dessert was warm, a decaf cappuccino with milk poured in right at the table warmed me up and was the ideal accompaniment.
Taranta isn’t the cheapest option, but considering the location, experience, and flavors, I’d feel much better about shelling out dough here (and not of the pizza variety). Luckily I came with work so didn’t need to pay myself, but I would definitely return for a special occasion or to impress someone who thinks they’ve tried it all. Spread the word… Italruvian/​Perulian cuisine should definitely be a thing!

After walking into Neptune Oyster Bar at 6pm on a Saturday night and learning that there was a three and a half hour wait, my party of three wandered over to Hanover Street to see what else we could find. Enter: Taranta.
I had heard great things about this Peruvian-​Italian hybrid, but I rarely visit the North End unless I’m going on a cannoli run. I have to admit that I was a little concerned that the restaurant could seat our party without a wait up until 7:30 pm, but as I have learned time and time again, popularity is not always synonymous with quality.
As it turned out, my dining companions and I had a delicious meal. We started with the mussels and the antipasti platter for two. The mussels, pan roasted in a fragrant marsala sauce with pancetta and shallots, were a wonderful departure from the usual preparation of the dish. I could have easily made a meal of them and the sourdough bread that was provided. Although it offered a wide array of tasty tidbits (mostly vegetables), the antipasti platter was overpriced at $ 22.
Be forewarned that Taranta is one of the most expensive restaurants in the North End (perhaps that’s why it wasn’t completely packed on a Saturday night). While good, I don’t think any of our entrees warranted a price tag of $ 30+. Between the three of us, we had salmon, chicken, and paiche, a Peruvian fish described by our waiter as a «river monster» (have you seen the show on Animal Planet?! I was sold right then and there). The salmon was probably the best of the three, as the chicken and paiche were a little plain (my river monster may have even been a touch overcooked). Whereas Taranta kind of struggled with the mains, they excelled with the sides. The herbed risotto cake that came with the salmon and the farro that accompanied the paiche were really the stars of the show.
The restaurant is truly gorgeous (try and sit upstairs if you can), and our service, both at the front of house and from our waiter, was warm and friendly. If you’re in the North End and faced with an obscene wait at any of the neighborhood’s stalwarts, consider a change of pace and treat yourself to Italian with a twist at Taranta.