Serving Since

Boston Area

Serving since

1965

61 years in Boston

Galleria Umberto

North End · Pizza

Go here for
Sicilian pizza · Arancini · Calzones
Why go
Square Sicilian slices and arancini from a North End family business that sells lunch until the food runs out.
Local character
Locals + visitors. On Hanover Street in the North End. Boston's Hidden Restaurants says the line is businesspeople and locals plus a handful of tourists.
Good to know
Seasonal: Closed in July..Cash only.Lunch only, and it closes for the day when the food runs out.Closed in July.
Directions

The Deuterio family started the business in 1965 around the corner on Parmenter Street and moved it to Hanover Street in 1974, the year several sources give as its founding.

Why it matters

The Deuterio family, who emigrated from Italy, started Galleria Umberto in 1965 on Parmenter Street and moved it around the corner to Hanover Street in 1974. The founder's sons later took it over, and the Boston Preservation Alliance says it has been in the family since it opened.

The menu is short: Sicilian-style square slices, arancini, calzones, panzarotti and panini, made fresh each day and sold until they run out, usually in the early afternoon. The line is part of the reputation. In 2018 the James Beard Foundation named it one of its America's Classics.

The story

  1. 1965The Deuterio family opens on Parmenter Street3
  2. 1974Moves around the corner to Hanover Street3
  3. 2018Named a James Beard Foundation America's Classic4
  4. TodayStill serving Boston

Going to Boston? Get all places offline, with walking routes: the Boston kit, $9.

Notes on the record

  • Some sources give 1974 as the founding year. The Globe says the business began in 1965 and moved to Hanover Street in 1974.

Details

Address
289 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
Neighborhood
North End
Ownership
Family-owned
Status
Open · verified Sep 2026

OldScore

A secondary, editorial measure. The founding year above is the fact that matters most. How it works.

Age17/ 35
Continuity15/ 20
Local significance10/ 20
Local food culture10/ 15
Independence—/ 10
OldScoreNot yet scored

"—" means unknown. We don't publish a total until every part is verified.

Local character: Locals + visitors. On Hanover Street in the North End. Boston's Hidden Restaurants says the line is businesspeople and locals plus a handful of tourists. This is separate from OldScore: a place can be popular with visitors and still belong here.

More like this

Sources

  1. City of Boston, Food Establishment Inspections and Active Food Establishment Licenses (data.boston.gov) Current status
  2. Boston Preservation Alliance, Boston's Legacy Businesses: Restaurants & Cafes Founding year, History, Ownership
  3. The Boston Globe, "At Galleria Umberto, last call can come by midafternoon" (Feb 11, 2020) Founding year, History, Ownership, What to order
  4. James Beard Foundation, "Introducing the 2018 America's Classics Winners" What to order, Ownership
  5. Boston.com, "A North End pizza joint just got a major national award" (Jan 19, 2018) History, What to order
  6. Yankee Magazine (newengland.com), "Galleria Umberto" (Feb 7, 2014) History, Ownership, What to order
  7. Boston's Hidden Restaurants, "Galleria Umberto" Address, What to order
  8. Wikipedia, "Galleria Umberto (restaurant)" Founding year, Address · cross-check only