FLORINA Pizzeria & Paninoteca

Great local Sicilian pizza spot in Beacon Hill.

I’ve been making the occasional stop to Florina for lunch over the past two years, and let me tell you, it’s a slice above the rest—except maybe a few spots in the North End. During peak lunch hours, the lines can get quite long, so I usually just grab a slice or two for takeout. I’m loyal to their Sicilian slices, so I can’t comment on the regular ones, but the Sicilian has the perfect amount of crunch, and the bottom crust doesn’t flop— just the way I like it.

I also occasionally swing by for a late lunch when I’m in the mood for a sandwich or pasta, and most of what I’ve tried hits the spot with its straightforward goodness. One of my favorites is "That" sandwich, loaded with a satisfying hunk of breaded chicken, roasted red peppers, and a drizzle of white balsamic vinaigrette. The chicken cutlet itself is decent, but it’s the classic combo that really makes it cluck.

When it comes to pasta, I usually go for the Linguine Pesto—it’s always a winner. On the other hand, their tomato/ plum sauce-based pastas sometimes turn out a bit too watery. The sauce doesn’t cling to the rigatoni, which leaves the dish a bit bland. As for the arancini, I found it to be just meh. Since it’s premade and reheated, it lacks that crispy, golden crunch.

If you find yourself near Boston Common, I highly recommend carbing up with their sandwiches, pesto linguine, or a slice of Sicilian pizza.

The pizza here is actually 5 stars, but today I tried one their hot sandwiches. It was really just okay and left much to be desired especially for $14. The cheese wasn't even melted and the chicken was pretty dry.

Ironically, it looks really good in the photos.

Stopped in for a quick tourist lunch while we were out on the town and were not disappointed! I had three meatballs and my s/o had a quarter (giant) slice of roni. Both meals were incredible and were made even better by the knowledgeable and thoughtful service of the man running the counter! Much props to this place, will be back next time we’re in Boston.

I stopped by here one afternoon after reading on Reddit that it was the best pizza. I visited on a lunch break so there were lots of people in line but it moved fast. Honestly, I wasn’t the most impressed with the pizza. I don’t think Boston is known for their pizza necessarily but they have good overall Italian food. Slices were big and thin and there were tons of choices. They also have pastas and sandwiches etc so definitely a good amount to choose from.

Ordered a St Barth and it was one of the best pizzas of my life. Additionally, the vibes were immaculate and the staff were lovely.