Best of Boston

2004 Best North End Restaurant, Neighborhood

Carmen

Okay, so one of Carmen’s chefs, Merwin Casey, hails from Ireland. But he cooks Italian better than many of his North End neighbors. Casey tweaks standard dishes just enough to make them exciting again. Witness his porcini-stuffed crespelle topped with a proper Bolognese and the perfect seared halibut splashed with salsa verde. That means delicious green sauce in English—and Irish.

33 North Square, Boston, 617-742-6421, carmenboston.com/