Santarpio’s Pizza Boston has been feeding East Boston from the corner of Chelsea and Porter streets for well over a century, and on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, the family-run spot at 111 Chelsea St. remains one of the city’s most recognizable pizza stops: thin-crust whole pies, grilled lamb skewers, cold beer, and almost no frills, a few minutes from Logan Airport.
For travelers, Eastie residents, and anyone chasing a classic Boston pie, here is what to order, what the room is like, and the practical details to know before you go.
Santarpio’s Menu Highlights: Thin-Crust Pies and Grilled Skewers
The menu is short on purpose. Pizza is sold by the whole pie, not by the slice, and everything starts from the house “Italian Cheese” pie. The restaurant’s official menu lists a plain cheese pizza at $16, single-topping pies at roughly $18 to $18.50, and favorite combinations such as sausage and garlic or ground beef and onions at $20.50. Loaded combinations, including sausage, mushrooms and peppers, top out around $22.50, and the restaurant notes that prices are subject to change.
Beyond the familiar red pies, Santarpio’s offers white pies without sauce on request, a shrimp scampi pizza with shrimp and garlic, and a chicken, broccoli and garlic pie served white. Regulars tend to pair a pie with something from the barbecue side of the menu: single skewers of lamb, steak tips or chicken, plus Italian sausage and a spicier lamb sausage, each served with a hot cherry pepper and fresh-baked Italian bread. A simple garden salad with house vinaigrette is the main nod to greens.
Drinks follow the same no-nonsense formula: house red and white wine by the glass or carafe, a handful of bottled wines, and familiar domestic and imported beers.
History of Santarpio’s in East Boston
The business traces its roots to 1903, when Francisco Santarpio, an immigrant from the Naples area, opened a bread bakery in the building that still houses the restaurant, according to an interview with the family published by the East Boston Times-Free Press. His son Joseph took over in 1933 and turned the bakery into a café and bar after Prohibition, and pizza and grilled meats gradually became the draw. Joseph’s son Frank later took over and put up the Santarpio’s Pizza sign that still faces travelers heading to and from the airport.
The family profile in Pizza Hall of Fame notes that the original location stood alone for more than 100 years before a second, larger Santarpio’s opened on Route 1 in Peabody in 2010. The East Boston restaurant is still owned and run by the Santarpio family, a continuity that echoes other long-running Boston institutions such as the North End’s Neptune Oyster.
Atmosphere: An Old-School Neighborhood Pizza Bar
Do not expect a polished dining room. The East Boston original is known for its plain booths, a long bar, an open grill turning out skewers, and a crowd that can include airport workers, families, local politicians and travelers rolling suitcases. That mix is a big part of the appeal. Service is quick and direct, and many longtime customers order without looking at a menu.
Readers comparing Italian-leaning options across the city may want to contrast Santarpio’s bare-bones style with a modern wine-bar approach like Coppa in the South End, where pizza shares the menu with house-made pastas and charcuterie.
East Boston Location, Logan Airport Access, and Parking
Santarpio’s sits at 111 Chelsea Street in East Boston (ZIP 02128), close to the tunnel approaches and a short walk from the MBTA Blue Line’s Airport and Maverick stations. That proximity has made it a popular first or last meal for travelers. If you are planning around a flight, keep an eye on airport conditions; The Boston Report has covered disruptions such as the recent Logan Airport fuel crunch and nor’easter cancellations.
Street parking in the neighborhood can be tight at dinner, so transit, rideshare or a quick walk from the Blue Line is often easier.
Santarpio’s Pizza Hours, Prices, and Visitor Tips
- Address: 111 Chelsea St., East Boston, MA 02128
- Phone: 617-567-9871
- Hours: Open every day, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., per the restaurant’s website
- Price range: Whole pies about $16 to $22.50 on the posted menu; salad $6.75
- Second location: 71 Newbury St. (Route 1), Peabody
Tips: Order a pie to share and add a lamb skewer per person for the full experience. Go early on weekends, when tables fill quickly. If you want a pie without tomato sauce, ask for it white. Hours and prices can change, so check the official site or call ahead before a special trip.
The Boston Report’s restaurant coverage is independent. Menu items and prices cited here come from the restaurant’s published menu and may change.