Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Allston makes a strong case that some of Boston’s best Italian food lives outside the North End. This tiny, old-school neighborhood spot serves a chicken parm that means business. The portion is massive, loaded with melted cheese, plenty of pasta, and swimming in a rich red sauce. The chicken stays tender while the breading maintains some texture beneath all that sauce and cheese. But the marinara is the real star—bold, flavorful, and exactly what you want from a classic Southern Italian restaurant. Nothing fancy or reinvented, just comforting chicken parm done exceptionally well. Carlo’s is absolutely moe approved.
