-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

Villa Rosa

703 Adams Street, Quincy, MA 02169
(617) 773-0095 Find location!

Photo of Villa Rosa, Quincy, MA Villa Rosa, located near East Milton Square just south of the Boston line, is the type of restaurant that you remember as a child. You know the scene--parents pack the kids into a big old station wagon on a Saturday evening, maneuver the car onto the highway, and count the minutes until everyone is settled into the comfortable confines of a classic Italian restaurant. It's a memory that never quite disappears from the mind. And though there used to be places like Villa Rosa in nearly every nook and cranny of this country, there aren't quite as many around anymore, even in the Boston area, which used to have old-fashioned dining spots like these all over the place.

From the classic neon sign on the front of the building to the comfortable old chairs and tables in the dining area, Villa Rosa is a true throwback. This is not a place to go if you are looking for upscale northern Italian food or needlessly complex, overpriced dishes with long names. The name of the game at this Italian restaurant is red sauce, red sauce, and more red sauce. From the juicy lasagna to the decent ravioli to the tender veal, the meals at Villa Rosa are tasty, inexpensive, and unpretentious. Pizza lovers may want to skip the dinner menu; the pepperoni pizza here is particularly fine, and the pizzas with other toppings are pretty good, too.

Villa Rosa is easy to find, but unknown by many. It is only a few blocks from the Southeast Expressway, and is perhaps a 10-minute ride from downtown Boston (as long as you're not going there at 5:00 on a weekday). For those who wish to relive the simple memories of station wagons, rumbling stomachs, and tangy red sauce, stop by the Villa Rosa; you'll surely be stepping back into a bit of history.