Grotto

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (71 out of 100)

37 Bowdoin Street
Boston, MA 02114
View Map
Phone: 617-227-3434

Located in Beacon Hill, Grotto serves Italian cuisine in a casual, below-ground setting. Unfortunately, subpar cuisine detracted from a cozy dining scene.




Our History at Grotto
Our third visit to Grotto was on a Friday night at 8:30pm.

Appetizers
First courses include crab ravioli, garlic and black truffle soup, Fontina cheese fondue, pan griddled buffalo mozzarella carozza, an arugula salad, and a grilled seafood salad. Prices range from $9 to $13. We tried the grilled seafood salad as well as the arugula salad.

The seafood salad included shrimp, octopus, and calamari mixed with white beans, arugula, lemon, and salmoriglio sauce. As enticing as it sounded, this appetizer was a disappointment; the grilled seafood tasted bland and rubbery.

Grotto's arugula salad included Reggiano parmesan, prosciutto di parma, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon. Once again, the dish sounded better than it tasted. Chewy, mediocre prosciutto disappointed.

Rating: 6.7

Main Dishes
Second courses include grilled beef tenderloin, bacon-wrapped duck breast, spaghetti and meatballs, house-cut tagliatelle, crispy pan roasted chicken, pan seared tuna, potato gnocchi, and house-cut Venetian bigoli pasta. Prices range from $18.50 to $30. We tried the pan roasted chicken as well as the tuna.

We received a good cut of tuna, but it was not very flavorful, and it was served with soggy polenta. On the other hand, the pan roasted chicken was crispy, tender, and juicy. Unfortunately, accompanying wild mushroom risotto resembled sopping rice more than creamy risotto.

Rating: 7

Drinks
Grotto's wine list features over one hundred American and Italian wines. Half-bottles start at $21 and full bottles start at $30. Much of the wine list is priced stratospherically. Beer is available, but no liquor.

Rating: 7.2

Service
We were handed a menu with a missing page. In addition, the menu included typographical errors, indicative of carelessness we experienced all evening. The staff seemed bored, counting the minutes until it was time to leave.

Rating: 6.4

Ambiance
Grotto's subterranean setting - coupled with dark lighting, candlelit tables, and exposed brick walls lined with paintings and wine bottles - made for a decidedly romantic environment. Unfortunately, lifeless staff and subpar cuisine detracted from the overall experience.

Rating: 8.2

Et Cetera

Trivia: Grotto offers a three-course prix fixe menu for $35.

Menu: View the menu on Grotto's web site

Reservations: Grotto is on OpenTable

Transportation: Take the Green Line to Park Street or Government Center or park in a nearby parking garage. Valet parking is not available.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served every day from 5pm until 10pm.

Labels: Beacon-Hill, Grotto-Boston, Italian, Sick-Potential

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 10:43 PM 0 comments 

Rocca

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

500 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
View Map
Phone: 617-451-5151

Rocca brings Ligurian cuisine, the cuisine of the Italian Riviera, to Boston's South End. Great food, impeccable service, and an energetic vibe make Rocca one of the sickest meals in town. And there's lots of free parking, too!




Our History at Rocca
Rocca opened in April 2007. Our first visit was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Rocca offers "tastes" as well as larger appetizers. Tastes range from $3 to $7 and include marinated olives, fritti di pesce, a meatball slider, and prosciutto and fontina pizetta. Appetizers range from $7 to $12 and include marinated sardines, crispy veal medallions, hot & sweet scampi, antipasti, and white bean minestrone. We tried the fritti di pesce for $6 and the sardines for $9.

Served with salsa verde, the lightly-breaded fritti di pesce (fish sticks) provided a light, refreshing start to our meal. Thinly-sliced mint danced off the marinated sardines. Portions were modest yet satisfying.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Rocca's menu includes pastas many of which are available as appetizers or entrees. Prices range from $10 to $17. Homemade pastas include hand-rolled trofie, potato gnocchi, corzetti, and spring green panzotti. We ordered the trofie for $10. The melt-in-your-mouth trofie was served with delicious pesto sauce. We shared this dish and it quickly left us longing for more.

Entrees range from $19 to $24 and include roasted whole fish, chicken Genovese, grilled leg of lamb, and veal involtini. We chose the roasted whole fish and grilled leg of lamb, both for $24. Like the trofie, the main show did not disappoint. The roasted whole fish was a large, soft burrida infused with fresh herbs and served with a flavorful mix of olives, perfectly-roasted potatoes, tomatoes, and pine nuts. Tender and mouth-watering, the medium-rare leg of lamb was served with escarole, fava bean pesto, and white beans.

Rating: 9.6

Drinks
We explored Rocca's drink menu, ordering the scandalo al sole for $11 and a Monterosso martini for $10. The scandalo al sole consisted of Patron Silver tequila, Grand Marnier, and limoncello with lime and ginger beer. The Monterosso martini was mixed with Grey Goose Orange, fresh orange juice, and mint. These drinks were creative but they did not quite hit the mark.

On the other hand, Rocca's wine menu presented good variety and was neatly divided into light, medium, and bold whites and reds. Bottles started in the mid-$20s. A glass of the house wine was $6.

Rating: 8.1

Service
Rocca rendered "Wow!" service. Our waitress presented an informative overview of the menu along with her recommendations. Pacing was perfect; we were never rushed, making for a decidedly relaxed environment. The Queen of Sick Meals accidentally broke her half-full wine glass; Rocca staff rushed to our rescue and incredibly offered a free martini of her choice.

Rating: 9.8

Ambiance
Rocca spans two floors. The first floor is a sleek lounge and bar. The dining area is on the second floor. Both floors serve up a lively, aromatic scene.

Placid patio seating transports you to a world far from gritty Harrison Avenue.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: The Rocca Rundown is a blog that documents Rocca's creation.

Menu: View the menu on Rocca's web site

Reservations: Rocca is on OpenTable

Transportation: Rocca offers ample free parking in their own lot.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 10:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 11:00pm.

Labels: Italian, Rocca-Boston, South-End, The-Sickest

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 6:42 PM 0 comments 

Rustic Kitchen

Friday, August 17, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (71 out of 100)

210 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-423-5700

Located in Park Square, Rustic Kitchen is an Italian-Mediterranean bistro. Everything is made on premise, including breads, pastas, and desserts. The restaurant features an exposed pasta station and a wood-burning pizza oven.

Sounds great, doesn't it? The menu sounds even better. Unfortunately, the food and experience did not come close to living up to our expectations.



Our History at Rustic Kitchen
Our first visit to Rustic Kitchen was on a Saturday night at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $9 to $15 and include clam chowder, fried clams, arancini, oysters, veal meatballs, and prosciutto & homemade mozzarella. We tried the fried clams for $15 as well as the clam chowder for $9.

Rustic's clam chowder was watery and flavorless. The chowder included pancetta, garlic crostini, and hardly any clams. The crisp fried Ipswich clams with potato salad was a unique dish that yielded an interesting combination of tastes. However, $15 for fried clams felt insulting.

Four salads are also available starting at $8 for mixed greens.

Rating: 6.5

Main Dishes
Entrees include pizzas, hand crafted pastas, seafood, and butcher shop favorites. Pizza starts at $10.50. Pastas start at $16. Seafood ranges from $22 to $26. And the butcher shop favorites range from $19 to $33. We ordered veal & ricotta filled ravioli for $19 and pan seared wild striped bass for $22.

The pan seared wild striped bass sat in an overwhelming pool of oil. Included tomato-fennel jam and arugula were barely present. We had high expectations for the homemade ravioli in Parmesan broth with wild mushrooms. Unfortunately, we were again disappointed. The ravioli was very oily and the veal & ricotta filling was bland. It did not taste homemade.

Rating: 6

Drinks
We enjoyed an affordable bottle of Riesling for $24. Drinks were mixed well.

Rating: 8.4

Service
Service was OK, but pacing was poor. Entrees were served right on top of our appetizers. Our waiter was difficult to track down once the entrees arrived.

Rating: 7

Ambiance
A 250 seat bistro and bar spans two rooms. In addition, there are two private dining rooms, a garden lounge, and a live broadcast studio kitchen. We scored a prime seat in the middle of the action - a good-sized booth for two. However, with 250 seats, the place seems hard to fill. The bar was busy, but there were many open tables. The wood-burning pizza oven is impressive.

Rating: 7.6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Rustic Kitchen hosts Friday evening cooking shows. Learn more

Menu: View the menu on Rustic Kitchen's web site

Reservations: Rustic Kitchen is on OpenTable

Transportation: There is valet as well as two parking garages on site.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Wednesday from 4pm to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday from 4pm to 11pm.

Labels: Italian, Rustic-Kitchen-Boston, Sick-Potential, Theater-District

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 4:15 PM 0 comments 

Eclano

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (70 out of 100)

54 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-720-6001

A relative newcomer to the North End, Eclano focuses on modern interpretations of regional Italian cooking. Unfortunately, sick homemade pasta dishes did not make up for disastrous clams and a barren dining scene.



Our History at Eclano
Our first visit to Eclano was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Eclano's appetizers range from $7 to $14 and include sauteed calamari, seared scallops, baked littleneck clams, grilled sweetbreads, and crispy duck leg confit. We went with the littleneck clams as well as the scallops.

The baked littleneck clams were served with lemon, oregano, and crispy prosciutto. At first bite, we tasted mostly prosciutto, crisp just like bacon. A few moments later, we nearly spit out the sour-tasting clam. Throughout the years, we've eaten many clams served many ways at many temperatures. We'll give Eclano the benefit of the doubt; they insisted that the clams were fresh. Regardless, we would not have fed these clams to our worst enemy.

In terms of cuisine, the clams were an anomaly. We enjoyed the scallops with grilled radicchio, chive, and warm pancetta dressing. Homemade focaccia was served with delicious pureed eggplant and fresh basil with olive oil.

Rating: 6

Main Dishes
When it comes to entrees, Eclano shines. Six housemade pasta dishes, blended with fresh produce, seafood, and meat, range from $17 to $27. Five meat dishes range from $24 to $34. Pasta dishes include tagliatelli, pappardelle, risotto, and potato ravioli with braised veal brisket. Meat dishes include grilled hangar steak, grilled rack of lamb, pan roasted chicken breast, and a grilled veal chop. We opted for the tagliatelli and pappardelle dishes.

Wide, flowing pappardelle, king oyster mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and caramelized onion were served with tender, braised rabbit and juicy rabbit meatballs. Hand-cut saffron tagliatelli was served with shrimp, rabe, and oven roasted tomatoes in a spicy seafood broth. The homemade pastas and creative combinations made for a decidedly sick meal. Portions were ample.

Rating: 8.8

Drinks
Beer, wine, and cordials are available. A bottle of red starts at $38 and a bottle of white starts at $30. Wine is available by the glass, poured generously. There is a small bar near the entrance. Hard booze is not served.

Rating: 8.4

Service
Our waiter was jovial albeit annoying. He grew defensive about the clams, intimating that our palates were to blame. With few guests and little to do, he talked our ears off and re-filled our wine glasses at an alarming pace.

Rating: 6

Ambiance
Eclano was stunningly barren. There was only one other party. The restaurant seemed like a model room at Crate and Barrel - lots of new, dark wood, crystal clean, and no soul. Vacant walls underscored Eclano's emptiness.

Rating: 6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Eclano is owned by Caterina DiPrisco, former co-owner of Trattoria a Scalinatella. Eclano is named for DiPrisco's hometown outside of Naples.

Menu: Check out Eclano's web site for more information

Reservations: Eclano is on OpenTable

Transportation: Park in one of several nearby parking garages or take the Green Line or Orange Line to Haymarket.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served every day from 5pm until 11pm.

Labels: Eclano, Italian, North-End, Sick-Potential

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 3:44 PM 0 comments 

Taranta

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (84 out of 100)

210 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-720-0052

Located on Hanover Street in the North End, Taranta fuses Southern Italian cuisine with a Peruvian twist. Dining at Taranta proved to be a sick culinary adventure full of robust flavors and aromas.



Our History at Taranta
Our first visit to Taranta was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $9.95 for caprese to $13.95 for coccio di pesce e legumio, baby octopus, cuttlefish, clams, and chickpeas in a spicy tomato sauce. Our party sampled the antipasto as well as calzoncini fritti, a trio of mini calzones stuffed with leeks and mozzarella, beef tenderloin, and baccala.

Taranta's antipasto presents a delightful medley of capicolla, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, grilled zucchini, fresh mozzarella, marinated olives, and artichoke hearts. Although we would have liked a little bit more meat, the dish succeeds in priming your palate for more southern Italian sickness. The antipasto is $12.95 for one and $19.95 for two. We ordered the antipasto for one and equitably shared it among three people.

The mini calzones resemble hearty, stuffed pastries. Leeks and mozzarella, beef tenderloin, and baccala delivered an exciting mix of tastes and textures.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
Choose from pasta, chicken, fish, and meat dishes. Six pasta selections range from $18.95 to $24.95. Seven chicken, fish, and meat plates range from $21.95 to $33.95. Our party shared pan-seared tuna for $26.95, Macadamia crusted salmon for $26.95, and orecchiette with sausage for $22.95.

Cooked to perfection, the rare, pan seared tuna was served over braised leeks and crispy potatoes with a sauce of sweet roasted peppers and capers. A slightly-crunchy Macadamia crust infused the salmon filet with flavor; the salmon was served over a herbed risotto cake and Peruvian asparagus. Finally, tender orecchiette with sweet Abruzzese sausage provided a satisfying complement to our tuna and salmon dishes.

Other notables include espresso crusted fillet mignon and grilled lack of lamb.

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
A bottle of wine starts at $32; wine is also available by the glass. We sipped several tumba chola martinis, a sweet mix of Peruvian Pisco, limoncello, and white grape juice. Taranta also features a score of aperitivi and digestivi. Three after-dinner grappas sent us stumbling onto Hanover Street.

Rating: 8.5

Service
Our waiter rendered manic service. He was sometimes charming - mostly when speaking to my lovely female companions - but brusque and careless at other times. Upon sitting at our table, it took him over 15 minutes to acknowledge our presence. He forgot about my first drink order; when I reminded him, he proceeded to bring the wrong drink.

Rating: 6.9

Ambiance
Soft Italian guitar music wafts through the air, played by a friendly gentleman who strolls around the restaurant. In nice weather, the front windows unfold, opening up a ripe scene for prolific people-watching.

Taranta is a nice spot for a romantic dinner or a night out with close friends.

Rating: 8.6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Taranta offers several recipes on its web site.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Taranta is on OpenTable

Transportation: Taranta validates at the Parcel 7 Garage for $1.00 for up to two hours and $3.00 for three hours. Valet is available for $20. Via the T, take the Green Line or Orange Line to Haymarket.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served seven days per week from 5:30pm until 10:00pm.

Labels: Italian, North-End, Sick-Meals, Taranta

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:22 PM 0 comments 

Ivy Restaurant

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (86 out of 100)

49 Temple Place
Boston, MA 02111
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Phone: 617-451-1416

Located in the Ladder District, Ivy Restaurant serves up delicious, Italian-inspired plates, great wine, and reasonable prices - in an energetic, urban environment. Whether you're planning a night at the theater or just want a sick meal in the heart of Boston, Ivy presents an outstanding option.



Our History at Ivy Restaurant
Our first visit to Ivy was on a Friday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Ivy offers small plates and "Per la Tavola" selections, served communal and priced for two. For appetizers, we honed in on two of the communal offerings, choosing Caesar salad and the "Italian butcher block", each for $10.

We received an ample portion of Caesar salad - more than enough for two. The salad included delicious, toasty crostini that tasted soft like a sponge. The Italian butcher block consisted of thin sliced cured salami, prosciutto, soprasatta, and capicolla, served with fresh fig compote and marinated olives.

Another enticing option for the table is "Formaggio", a selection of Italian cheeses, fresh fruits, toasted walnuts, and Tupelo honey, for $14.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
Four large plates, including Steak Fiorentina and pan seared cod, range from $17 to $25. However, we explored Ivy's small plates, covering a wide variety of cuisine and ranging in price from $7 to $12. After careful consideration, we opted for arancini stuffed with prosciutto and fontina, pappardelle with creamy veal ragu, seared scallops and pancetta, and lamb rib chops.

To our surprise, the small plate portions were generous. We received four large arancini, an overflowing bowl of pappardelle, soft, substantial scallops, and three tender lamb rib chops with citrus bean ragu. At $44 for four dishes, we experienced a filling, tasty range of starch, seafood, and beef. We left Ivy ready to plan small plate selections for our next visit - perhaps macaroni and cheese, shrimp arrabbiata, sesame tuna, and petit steak tagliata?

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
Choose from over 60 bottles of wine for just $26 per bottle. Reserves are available for $44, $55, and $77. There are two full bars.

Rating: 9.3

Service
We never quite figured out who was waiting on us. Otherwise, service was average. Plates were cleared a bit too quickly - sometimes before we were finished. Our selection of small plates arrived on the heels of our appetizers.

Rating: 7

Ambiance
Exposed brick, dim lights, and a modern design give Ivy a hip, urban feel. Contemporary music beats in the background; you can feel the pulse of the city as you enjoy sick food and drink. Downstairs, the Cava cocktail lounge provides a cozy setting for a pre- or post-meal cocktail.

Rating: 8.7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Ivy hosts a weekly wine tasting that features four wines, three small plates, and an assortment of fine cheeses. Read more

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Ivy is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $15 or park in a nearby parking garage. The closest T stations are Park Street or Boylston on the Green Line and Chinatown and Downtown Crossing on the Orange Line.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Tuesday and Wednesday from 5pm until 11pm, Thursday and Friday from 5pm until midnight, Saturday from 4pm until midnight, and Sunday from 4pm to 11pm. Ivy is closed on Monday.

Labels: Downtown-Crossing, Italian, Ivy, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 2:35 PM 0 comments 

L'Osteria

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Overall Rating: Not So Sick (67 out of 100)

104 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-723-7847

L'Osteria is a family-owned restaurant tucked away on Salem Street in the North End. Growing up in an Italian-American household, The King of Sick Meals has experienced thousands of home-cooked Italian dinners. Dining at L'Osteria was like dining at home. But mom never charged us over 100 bucks.



Our L'Osteria History
Our first trip to L'Osteria was on a Friday night at 8:30pm.

Appetizers
L'Osteria's menu includes nine appetizers, seven salads, and five soups; the prices range from $5.50 for insalata mista (the house salad) to $14.95 for the caprese. We shared stuffed mushrooms and the insalata mista.

The insalata mista was just like mom used to make - after a long day at work and with no motivation to cook dinner. When mom served iceberg lettuce, sliced red onions, one olive, and two stale tomato slices, we were grateful for her effort after a long day. When L'Osteria tosses this mix together and drowns it in vinaigrette for $5.50, we're not so grateful.

The stuffed mushrooms consisted of undercooked mushrooms and dry breadcrumbs bathed in a butter-based sauce.

We should have tried a bowl of minestrone or pasta e fagioli.

Rating: 4.8

Main Dishes
The entree lineup includes 17 pasta, nine chicken, 12 veal, and 11 seafood dishes. For the pasta dishes, you can choose from linguine, ziti, and spaghetti; the pastas range from $9.95 to $17.95. The chicken, veal, and seafood dishes range from $15.95 to $23.95. House specialties include chicken merenga, chicken pescatore, bocconcini di vitello triestini, and veal valdostana.

We ordered shrimp francese as well as the veal and eggplant and we got exactly what we expected - something like mom would have made with a few hours of preparation on a Sunday evening. The veal and eggplant were baked with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. The shrimp francese was breaded perfectly and sauteed with an appropriate amount of lemon and wine. Both dishes were served with a bowl of pasta. Portions were substantial.

Rating: 8.4

Drinks
A carafe of the house white (Pinot Grigio) or house red (Merlot) is available for $18. The house white was mediocre, but the wine list included a fair variety of selections. A bottle of white starts at $26 and a bottle of red starts at $24. Beer is available for $5. Hard booze is not served.

Rating: 7.9

Service
The lifeless staff went through the motions. No one wanted to be there. Neither the menu nor our waitress explained the house specialties.

A busboy cleared my plate before The Queen of Sick Meals had finished her meal. He also scooped up my half-finished ziti without asking if I was finished.

Sometimes, mom went through the motions, too.

Rating: 5.4

Ambiance
Located on quiet Salem Street, I had always wanted to visit L'Osteria. A good crowd, dim lighting, candles, and paper "Italia" place mats added to the experience. "Grocery store" Italian bread and disinterested staff detracted.

Rating: 7.2

Et Cetera

Trivia: If you're with your significant other and would like to walk off an evening of sick meals in the North End, head to Battery Street - to Burroughs Wharf - and walk beyond the condominiums until you reach the water and see a park bench. This tranquil, romantic spot is one of the sickest in Boston.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu here

Reservations: L'Osteria is on OpenTable

Parking: L'Osteria validates for the Parcel 7 Garage located next to the Haymarket MBTA station at the corner of New Sudbury and Congress. With validation, parking is only $1 for up to two hours and $3 for up to three hours.

Dress: You can dress casually at L'Osteria.

Labels: Italian, LOsteria, North-End, Not-So-Sick

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 6:31 PM 0 comments 

Teatro

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (88 out of 100)

177 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
View Map
Phone: 617-778-6841

Nuzzled near Loews Boston Common in the Theater District, Teatro (Italian for "Theater") serves up a mouthwatering, modern approach to classic Italian dishes. Teatro is an ideal spot for sick meals before catching a show.



Our History at Teatro
We dined at Teatro on two previous occasions. This review is based on a recent visit on a Friday evening at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Teatro's appetizer menu includes several pizzas, salads, and carpaccios as well as calamari, mussels, and roasted squash soup. The main attraction for us, however, was the Teatro Antipasto for Two ($24). A hearty treat, the antipasto consists of ultra-fresh white bean puree, delicious rice balls, thinly sliced prosciutto and salami, marinated olives, roasted red peppers, beet salad, eggplant caponata, and a sampling of three fine cheeses.

Salads are $7 for one or $12 for two. In the past, we've tried the Caesar as well as the mixed greens, and they are OK, but not spectacular. The other appetizers are pricey, averaging over $13, but the quality is excellent.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
For entrees, you can choose from six pastas as well as grilled sirloin, crispy lemon sole, mustard-glazed Atlantic salmon, and braised Kuroboto pork shank. The pastas are available in two serving sizes - a small portion for an appetizer or first course and a larger portion for an entree. We shared the crispy lemon sole, served with asparagus and saffron aioli, and an entree portion of the rigatoni with classic ragu Bolognese. The portions were substantial and the food was fabulous. During a previous visit, we enjoyed the orecchiette ("little ear"-shaped pasta) with spicy sauce and broccoli rabe. On our next visit, we plan to try the angel hair pasta with gulf shrimp.

The pastas range from $10 to $16 for a small portion and $18 to $24 for an entree portion. Other entrees range from $23 to $30.

When dining at Teatro, to get the best of both worlds, we recommend that you share pastas and the other entrees within your party.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Teatro features a full bar, including a selection of after-dinner drinks. We enjoyed a bottle of Prosecco - Zefiro (Veneto, Italy) for $29, which is also available by the glass for $8. The majority of the wine list is available by the glass as well as in a carafe (half bottle). The house white and house red are available for $24 per bottle. A mixed drink menu offers a variety of libations at a whopping $11 per glass; many of these drinks integrate Prosecco.

Rating: 8.5

Service
We sat immediately upon arriving for our reservation. Our waitress was prompt, knowledgeable, and patient in answering a variety of questions.

The server who brought out the antipasto asked us if we had previously tried Teatro's antipasto. We hadn't, so he described the components of the dish - which was nice. However, he described the dish in about 10 seconds; we knew no more than before he began the description.

One other note: we made this reservation on OpenTable, but Teatro marked us a no-show. Mistakes happen. Nonetheless, it is a little annoying.

Rating: 8.6

Ambiance
The Teatro web site does a fair job in conveying the ambiance. Music fills the room. Dishes and silverware clatter. Lively conversation abounds. Indeed, the high-arched ceiling gives the room a theatrical presence.

Seating in the dining room felt a bit uneven. When seated in the center of the room, you have ample room to enjoy a relaxing meal. When seated on the sides of the room, many parties are packed in like sardines.

When you enter Teatro, a small bar area greets you. Teatro's full menu is available at the bar. The bar can get chilly during the winter.

Rating: 8.5

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef/owner Jamie Mammano is also the chef/owner of Mistral

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Teatro is on OpenTable

Parking: Valet parking is available for $15 starting at 7:00pm. Additional parking is available at the Boston Common parking garage, the Ritz Carlton garage, and the Washington Street parking lot located behind Teatro.

Dress: Teatro presents an elegant yet casual dining environment.

Labels: Italian, Sick-Meals, Teatro, Theater-District

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 5:01 PM 0 comments 

Giacomo's South End

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

431 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116-5958
View Map
Phone: 617-536-5723

In a city where it is sometimes difficult to enjoy great food at reasonable prices, Giacomo's is a sick exception. Great food, great prices... and a welcoming environment where you see familiar faces year after year. Giacomo's is The Sickest. Let's take a look at how Giacomo's stacks up.



Our Giacomo's History
We've been to Giacomo's many times and we've tried almost everything on the menu. This review is based on a recent visit on a Friday at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Choose from seven appetizers and five salads. On this evening, we shared a large Caesar salad for two, prepared in a traditional style, which is phenomenal. The appetizers include calamari, mussels, and garlic bread, which is highly recommended. Other than the Caesar, you can choose from house, caprese (tomato, mozzarella, basil), baby spinach, and antipasto. The antipasto is nothing special, but you can't go wrong with the other selections. The apps range in price from $3 to $10. The salads range from $3 to $13.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
You've got house seafood specialties, pastas, and entrees. The seafood specialties come with linguine and your choice of pesto, fra diavolo, red, scampi, or Giacomo's sauce. Giacomo's sauce is a lobster-based red with a touch of bechamel; it is rich, but fantastic. The pastas and entrees are offered with a variety of seafood and meats. We have not met a main dish or sauce that we haven't liked. And the nightly specials always offer a tasty treat.

Tonight, we went with one of the specials - fuscilli with a nice portion of lobster and shrimp, with scampi sauce. We also tried out the veal piccata, served with artichoke hearts and lemon caper. Not surprisingly, we give high marks to both entrees. Giacomo's portions are generous but not overwhelming.

Rating: 9.2

Drinks
Wine snobs beware, but Giacomo's is great if you want a nice unpretentious bottle of wine with dinner. The house white is $14. It's hard to beat that in Boston. There's no hard booze, just wine and beer. But modest, reasonably-priced wine is just right for this bustling haven for classic Italian fare.

Rating: 9

Service
Giacomo's is a neighborhood restaurant where you see the same friendly faces visit after visit. The staff is enthusiastic about the food and making sure that you are well on your way to having a sick evening. We sat immediately upon arriving for our 7:30pm reservation.

Rating: 9.3

Ambiance
It's loud. It's busy. It's crowded. But it's homey. When you dine at Giacomo's, you feel as though you're dining with friends. It's everything you could ask for from a neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Rating: 9.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: There is also a Giacomo's in the North End, famous for its long lines. Giacomo's South End is more spacious than the North End version; there is a small bar area and a semi-private nook for larger parties.

Reservations: Giacomo's does not accept reservations in the North End, but they do accept reservations in the South End. Don't plan to go to Giacomo's in the South End without a reservation.

Cash Only: Don't leave home without some cash or a check book, because credit cards are not accepted. If we had to ding Giacomo's for any matter, it would have to be the cash-only policy... but obviously, business is good enough that they have no reason to pay the juice.

Parking: There is valet parking and street parking. The price for valet is $10. Street parking can be difficult to find.

Dress: You can dress casually at Giacomo's.

Labels: Giacomos, Italian, South-End, The-Sickest

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 10:32 AM 2 comments