Insider's Pick
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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
Sotto
★ 5.0(1 review)Restaurant
warmintimatebustling
About the Vibe
Sotto is the kind of Italian place Stockbridge has been waiting for — a two-level enoteca and trattoria where the pasta is genuinely Italian, the wine list runs 200+ bottles deep, and the staff actually know what they're pouring. Chef Francesco Ascrizzi's Calabrian roots shine through in every dish, and even Stanley Tucci stopped by for dinner. Grab a seat upstairs for a glass and a snack, or head to the candlelit basement for a proper lingering meal.
Why it's worth it
A two-level Italian gem in Stockbridge with 200+ wines, Calabrian-rooted cooking, and a candlelit basement trattoria that even Stanley Tucci stopped by for.
Highlights
200 Italian winesgnocco frittocandlelit basementMichelin Guide
Before you go
Book ahead for weekend dinners — the downstairs trattoria fills up fast with Stockbridge locals, and walk-ins often get stuck with just the enoteca upstairs.
Known For
- •gnocco fritto
- •rigatoni alla norma
- •200+ Italian wine list
- •two-level enoteca and trattoria
Best For
date nightwine-focused dinnerslong leisurely meals
1 review
City InsidersEditorialMarch 30, 2026
Stockbridge's most authentic Italian — and the wine list is serious
Sotto has quickly become one of those places that locals quietly love and visitors stumble upon and can't stop talking about. The two-level setup is the key to its charm: upstairs, the enoteca is bright and bustling, perfect for a glass of wine and a plate of gnocco fritto — crispy, puffy, and dangerously addictive. Downstairs, the trattoria is candlelit and intimate, the kind of basement room where you want to settle in for a couple of hours and let the evening unfold.
The menu isn't long, but everything is executed with real care. The rigatoni alla norma is rich and comforting, the pasta properly al dente, and the seasonal dishes rotate through with genuine Italian sensibility rather than Scottish-Italian compromise. Chef Francesco Ascrizzi brings Calabrian roots and experience from Edinburgh's best Italian kitchens, and it shows — this is food that tastes like someone's grandmother would approve, just plated with a bit more polish.
What really sets Sotto apart, though, is the wine. Over 200 Italian references, and the mostly-Italian staff guide you through them without a shred of pretension. You'll find something new every time you go. The service is warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic — these are people who love what they do. It's not cheap, but for the quality, it's excellent value. Book ahead, especially on weekends, because Stockbridge locals have made this their regular.
Lire en français
Sotto s'est imposé comme une adresse que les habitants du quartier adorent et que les visiteurs découvrent avec délice. Le concept sur deux niveaux fait tout son charme : à l'étage, l'enoteca est lumineuse et animée, idéale pour un verre et une assiette de gnocco fritto — croustillant, léger, irrésistible. En sous-sol, la trattoria est baignée de lumière tamisée, un de ces espaces où l'on s'installe pour deux heures et on laisse la soirée filer.
La carte n'est pas longue, mais tout est exécuté avec un soin réel. La rigatoni alla norma est riche et réconfortante, les pâtes parfaitement al dente, et les plats saisonniers tournent avec une vraie sensibilité italienne plutôt qu'un compromis italo-écossais. Le chef Francesco Ascrizzi, originaire de Calabre, apporte une authenticité qui se sent dans chaque assiette — une cuisine qui aurait l'approbation d'une grand-mère italienne, avec un peu plus de raffinement dans le dressage.
Ce qui distingue vraiment Sotto, c'est la cave. Plus de 200 références italiennes, et le personnel, majoritairement italien, vous guide sans la moindre prétention. On découvre à chaque visite. Le service est chaleureux, compétent et sincèrement enthousiaste. Ce n'est pas donné, mais le rapport qualité-prix est excellent. Réservez à l'avance, surtout le week-end — les habitués de Stockbridge en ont fait leur cantine.