Fasta Pasta

Let this takeout spot whip you up a speedy Italian feast.

rom the outside it may look like a rustic grocery or deli, but Bottega Fiorentina serves up a pasta that would put many North End eateries to shame—and it’s mainly for takeout. (There’s a bench and a couple of stools near the window of the Coolidge Corner shop and a table and chairs in the Newbury Street location.) But this little Florentine takeout spot can whip you up a home-cooked meal for less than it would cost to make it yourself. The hidden gems: penne fedora, the house specialty, or pumpkin tortellini, served only on Fridays. Enos

Shhhh! There’s also a wide selection of imported chocolates, cookies, and homemade desserts.

Shhhh! While penne fedora is always available,
other specials change daily.

Shhh who knew

Italians invented takeout food. Ancient Romans often bought their meals from production kitchens or "cook shops" that were precursors of the modern gourmet takeout shop.