Pammy's

"Pammy’s is not quite Italian — the restaurant describes itself as “a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria” — but it pulls from Italian cuisine enough (and is good enough) that it’s worth including here. Negronis are served on draft, and the pasta is made from scratch, down to the flour being milled in-house. Don’t ignore the lumache, served with a Bolognese sauce that’s kicked up with spicy Korean gochujang." - Erika Adams, Nathan Tavares, Celina Colby, Eater Staff

"It’s not quite Central Square proper — Pammy’s is on the increasingly busy stretch of Mass. Ave. between Central and Harvard — but it’s worth the extra bit of effort, as there’s a reason for all the local and non-local accolades Pammy’s has received. The restaurant serves inventive, Italian-inspired cuisine in a beautiful space. The must-try dish is the lumache with Bolognese, which boasts a very fun kick via the addition of gochujang, the Korean chile paste." - Erika Adams, Karen Wilber, Terrence Doyle

"Beautiful space, hospitable staff, impeccable food — Pammy’s is a great fit for a wide variety of occasions, including date night. The gochujang-spiked lumache Bolognese is a must at this self-described new American trattoria." - Celina Colby, Valerie Li Stack, Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"The dining room at Pammy’s, a restaurant located between Harvard and Central Squares, is a little fancy. Maybe that's because of the wood-burning fireplace or the almost-lifesize statue of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, resting on the back of the bar. But thanks to the easygoing service and buzzing crowd, it’s relaxed enough to make that blind date your aunt set up (and has been talking about for months) a little less awkward. The three-course, $79 prix fixe is mostly Italian, but incorporates ingredients from all over the world—think a tripe mafaldine pasta drizzled with chili oil and a gochujang-laced lumache bolognese. " - tanya edwards, megan zhang, dan secatore

"For anyone who wants to throw a party to impress their guests, this charming Cambridge restaurant should be on their radar. It blends New American cuisine with an Italian neighborhood feel: charming and thoughtfully designed interior, inviting vibes, and an innovative menu that combines familiar ingredients with something new. For any mid-sized events, its airy and gorgeous dining area can seat as many as 65 guests. Intrigued? Send Pammy’s an inquiry via their website." - Valerie Li Stack, Eater Staff