Monica's Has Pasta-Filled Growth Plans for the North End

A North End group composed of Italian restaurants, a market, and a pizzeria will be growing again, bringing more fresh pastas and Italian specialties to the area. Monica's Boston plans to add a pasta shop to its repertoire and will also expand one of its full-service locations, the Trattoria di Monica, according to Jameson Visconte, who serves as marketing director for Monica's.

The Monica's name has been part of the North End since 1995, and the family behind it has made it a mission to bring Italian delicacies to the neighborhood. After 20 years, the Mendoza family is looking to the next decade and beyond, hence the upcoming additions.

With Monica's Mercato & Salumeria (and its recently opened pizzeria), Trattoria di Monica, and Vinoteca di Monica already well-established, the Mendozas will soon add a pasta shop to the mix and expand the existing space in the cozy Trattoria.

The pasta shop will be located next door to Vinoteca di Monica on Richmond Street, taking over a former hair salon space. While there will be no seating in the shop — as in Monica's Mercato — there will be fresh-made pastas, sauces, breads, prepared foods, and other Italian products, according to Visconte.

As for the Trattoria, the team is still waiting on approval for elements of the expansion but will eventually add another 20 seats, bringing the total capacity to 50. The menus at Trattoria di Monica and Vinoteca di Monica will see some changes, and Vinoteca will also launch a new cocktail menu soon.