Osteria Mamma

Osteria Mamma is the definition of a neighborhood standby. No one needs to be crossing town for their pasta, but if you live in the area (or are stuck in traffic on Melrose), this cozy, family-run trattoria always has a bowl of noodles and glass of wine ready for you. There are 15 pastas on the menu ranging from pappardelle with short rib to a very traditional all'amatriciana, but we suggest starting with the bigolotto nero. The squid ink pasta is tossed with shrimp and Calabrian chili and has a nice balance of heat and brininess. They also offer lunch, making it a good option if you work at a nearby studio and need to take a meeting.