Regina Pizzeria

Regina Pizzeria opened in the North End in 1926, founded by Luigi D'Auria, and calls itself Boston's original pizzeria. The Polcari family has run it since 1956, and the business has since grown into a group of branches under Boston Restaurant Associates, but the original on Thacher Street is the one with the history and the one most visitors want to see.

The menu centres on thin-crust pizza baked in a brick oven. The house describes its sauce as light and slightly spicy with a hint of aged romano, and the cheese as an aged whole-milk mozzarella, and the restaurant says it makes its sausage and dough daily. Seasonal specials appear from time to time, such as a Calabrian chilli sausage pizza with ricotta and caramelised onion, but a classic cheese or sausage pie is the best way to judge the place. Pizzas come in two sizes, so a large shared between two or three is the usual approach.

This is a casual, no-frills pizzeria rather than a sit-down Italian restaurant, which is a large part of its appeal. It suits families, groups of friends and anyone on a budget, and it is one of the cheaper ways to eat well in the North End. As a general tip, the original location is popular, so expect to queue at peak times, especially on summer weekends. Arriving early for lunch or later in the evening usually means a shorter wait.

Opening hours vary between the branches, and the website does not list them for the Thacher Street location, so check before you go. A free loyalty programme gives rewards after your first visit, although it does not apply at a few of the group's concession sites.

Decide on your order while you wait so that things move quickly once you are seated, and keep in mind that a large pizza goes a long way. If you are travelling with children, an early lunch is usually the calmest time, and takeaway is a practical alternative when the dining room is full.

Thacher Street is a side street in the North End, and a visit pairs naturally with a walk around its streets, a look at Old North Church on Salem Street and a cannoli from one of the pastry shops on Hanover Street. If the queue at the original is too long, the group has other branches around the city.