The tagliatelle bolognese is highly recommended on a winter night, featuring traditional Modena techniques with wild boar and a slow-cooked sauce that coats each strand without being heavy. Reviews consistently call this one of the best pasta dishes in the city.
Tips from diners
Pairs beautifully with a medium-bodied red wine from the restaurant's deep list. Ask the server for recommendations.
This is peak season comfort food in Boston — order it when temperatures drop.
The perfect opening bite. Warm, airy gnocco fritto arrives at the table immediately after you sit, stuffed with silky mortadella and designed to kick off the meal with joy. This is how every meal at Fox & The Knife begins.
Tips from diners
This arrives as soon as you sit. Don't skip it — it sets the tone for the meal and is impossible to stop eating.
A cult favorite that appears on the menu regularly. The focaccia is warm and fluffy, the taleggio is at peak creaminess, and the contrast is immediately satisfying. Reviewers across multiple platforms call this a must-order.
Tips from diners
Ask if focaccia al taleggio is available that night — it's a rotating special and not always on the menu.
A showstopper dish that builds on the classic Roman carbonara formula. The guanciale is sourced specifically for balance, and the pasta is rolled by hand. Each raviolo breaks on the plate to release a warm, creamy interior.
Tips from diners
This is a signature dish — if you go to Fox & The Knife, try this one.
A lighter but deeply flavorful main that showcases the kitchen's attention to technique. The pork is pounded thin, fried to a golden crust, and topped with a delicate saffron aioli that adds brightness without weight.
Tips from diners
A lighter alternative if you want to skip pasta — still excellent and perfectly executed.
Opened in 2019, Fox & The Knife brought Karen Akunowicz's James Beard Award-winning style to South Boston. The restaurant is named after Modena's classic enoteca tradition and centers on handmade pastas, bright antipasti, and Boston's deepest amari list. Awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025.
Book in advance — this restaurant is popular and reservations are essential. Tables turn over around 2 hours, so plan accordingly.
Service is attentive but can move slowly — expect a leisurely meal of 2+ hours. This is intentional and part of the experience.
If you're celebrating a birthday, ask to sit at the chef's counter — they will print your name on the menu and the energy is incredible.
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