Boston Spotlight: Antico Forno

Antico Forno, Italian for “Old Oven,” is a beloved and highly-regarded staple in Boston’s North End, renowned for its authentic Southern Italian cuisine and signature brick-oven cooking.¹

Here is a detailed overview of the restaurant, its unique aspects, history, customer feedback, and notable events.

What Makes Antico Forno Unique

The restaurant’s distinguishing feature is its authentic, wood-burning brick oven, which is central to its name and menu.²

• The “Old Oven”: The wood-fired brick oven was custom-built by a Neapolitan craftsman, and its base is lined with volcanic ash from Pompeii.³ This unique construction allows the oven to reach incredibly high temperatures (up to 900–1,000 degrees), resulting in a distinct, crispy, and caramelized crust on its pizzas and entrees.⁴ Most dishes, from pizzas to roasted meats and even some pastas, are finished in this oven.

   

• Authentic Southern Italian Cuisine: Antico Forno is billed as “The Most Authentic Italian Restaurant” in Boston, specializing in the distinctly fresh and savory flavors of Southern Italian food, particularly Neapolitan.⁵

   

• Atmosphere: The restaurant has a rustic, homey, “mom-and-pop” atmosphere, featuring sawdust-covered floors, terra-cotta walls, and a large mural of the Tuscan countryside.⁶ The beehive-shaped brick oven, complete with a statue of St. Rocco, adds to the charm and warmth of the space.⁷

   

History

Antico Forno was founded by North End native Carla Agrippino-Gomes.⁸

• 1993: Carla Agrippino-Gomes first entered the restaurant scene by opening Terramia Ristorante across the street, establishing a focus on authentic Italian cuisine that was different from the traditional American-Italian fare.⁹

   

• 1996: Three years later, in August 1996, Carla opened her second restaurant, Antico Forno, Cucina a Legna, to focus specifically on wood-burning, authentic Southern Italian cuisine and pizza.¹⁰ It was the first and only wood-burning brick oven pizza restaurant in the neighborhood at the time.

   

• 2008: The restaurant underwent an expansion, growing from 45 to 80 seats and adding a bar that serves beer, wine, and cordials, all while maintaining its original cozy atmosphere.¹¹

   

Highlight Menu Items

Antico Forno is famous for its brick-oven pizzas, but also offers a wide array of classic Southern Italian dishes.¹²

Customer-Recommended Favorites:

• Pizzas:
  • Salsiccia e Broccoletti Pizza: A marvel of fresh dough, bitter broccoli rabe, homemade sausage, and buffalo mozzarella.¹³

     

  • Vesuvio Pizza: Features fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, ricotta, cherry tomatoes, and prosciutto.¹⁴

     

  • Al Quattro Formaggi Pizza: Praised for its superior, superior gluten-free dough, which melts together unbelievably well.¹⁵

     

• Seafood & Pasta:
  • Linguine al Frutti Di Mare: Linguine pasta with clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp in San Marzano tomato sauce, famously baked in parchment paper and finished in the brick oven.¹⁶ Customers have called it “unforgettable” and the “best Frutti Di Mare on earth.”

     

  • Linguine Con Vongole: Linguine pasta with clams in a garlic white wine sauce, also baked in parchment paper.¹⁷ One reviewer declared it “HANDS DOWN THE BEST ITEM ON THE MENU!”

     

  • Cozze Picanti: Mussels appetizer in a sauce that customers have craved so much they’ve asked for the recipe.
• Entrees & Appetizers:
  • Ossobuco Di Maiale: Pork ossobuco that one diner called one of the finest Italian dishes they had ever eaten, praising its perfect cooking and seasoning.¹⁸

     

  • Saltimbocca Di Pollo: A chicken dish that customers find so delicious it’s hard to order anything else.¹⁹

     

  • Pollo Arrosto (Roasted Chicken): A perennial favorite, with succulent chicken and crispy skin, served with roasted potatoes and green beans.²⁰

     

  • Arancini: These rice balls with a Bolognese filling, peas, and cheese have been called “unreal.”²¹

     

• Dessert: The homemade Tiramisu and Bread Pudding have also received high praise.

Customer Feedback

The feedback for Antico Forno is overwhelmingly positive, focusing on the quality of the authentic food and the warm ambiance.

• On the Food: Customers consistently rave about the authenticity and quality, from the fresh bread to the wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta. One reviewer noted, “No gimmicks, no kitsch… just traditional Neapolitan pizzas from a wood-fired brick oven and other ‘spot-on’ Southern Italian fare.”²²

   

• On the Atmosphere and Service: Patrons describe the atmosphere as “very pleasant and comfortable,” “lively,” and a “charmer,” with the owner, Carla, treating guests “like family.”²³ The restaurant has a “cozy mom-and-pop atmosphere” with a welcoming feel.²⁴ The experience is often summed up as a “wonderful experience full circle.”

   

Significant Events

While not the site of famous historical events, Antico Forno and its owner are heavily involved in local charity and have been recognized in the culinary world.

• Diabetes Fundraising and Awareness: Owner Carla Agrippino-Gomes has been deeply committed to fundraising for the Joslin Diabetes Center and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) after her son, David, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on his first birthday.²⁵ She organizes the annual CityFeast: Dining Out To Conquer Diabetes event, which takes place on the last Sunday of January to benefit the High Hopes Fund at Joslin Diabetes Center.²⁶ She has been recognized as a “Community Events Champion” by the Joslin Diabetes Center.

   

• Culinary Recognition: The restaurant has been named the 2012 Best North End Restaurant, Neighborhood and has consistently been recognized for its authentic Southern Italian cuisine, including being featured on Yelp’s Top 100 Pizza Spots in Massachusetts list.²⁷

   

• Notable Patrons: Various celebrities and athletes have dined at the restaurant, including Dodgers Pitcher Orel Hershiser and former Yankees Player Tim McIntosh.²⁸

   

Contact & Location Information