An Italian 'Speakeasy' is Coming to the North End with Craft Cocktails & 'Game of Thrones' Beer
Just when you thought the North End was limited to pasta and tourists, a slew of variety has finally entered Boston's "little Italy." In addition to Tenoch Taqueria and the upcoming Urban Cantina restaurant, the North End will soon be home to its own Italian "speakeasy," Parla. Last week, the NorthEndWaterfront.com reported that the new re...
New York Style Italian Eatery Opens in Downtown Pittsfield
Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Frank "Maurice" Savino loved the small Italian eateries, where the chef knew his name, what he liked, and always had something new on the menu. When he moved to the Berkshires a decade ago, that intimate setting is something he missed. So last month, he opened up his own shop on North Street serving lunch, din...
Five facts about Steve DiFillippo, CEO chef from Davio's Boston and Foxborough's Patriot Place
By Sarah Platanitis Meet Steve DiFillippo, restaurateur and owner of Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse in Boston and Patriot Place in Foxborough. He's been in the restaurant industry for 30 years, was inducted into the Massachusetts Restaurant Hall of Fame in 2008 and awarded Restaurateur of the Year in 2014. Want to know a more about hi...
Blue Plate Special: Christina’s in Erving serves up authentic Italian cuisine
Tony DiMaio has been in the restaurant business for 40 years — and he is only 54 years old. The chef and co-owner of Christina’s Restaurant and Tavern on the French King Highway in Erving began working in a relative’s restaurant as a teenager and hasn’t stopped cooking since. He worked as a chef in several local restaurants, including Mont...
Salvatore's on Boston Road to become Compari's, remain family oriented
Anabela Basile was looking for a new building to house her business, USA Mortgage Network, which had outgrown its offices in Indian Orchard. What she found, with the help of her daughter Tanya Vitale-Basile, a real estate professional, was business space for her whole family. She bought the former Salvatore's Restaurant at 1333 Boston...
In Stoughton, Amelia’s focus is on Northern Italian cuisine and seafood
IN THE KITCHEN Marios Michalakis started working in food service when he was a college student trying to earn a little extra money. Two electrical engineering degrees later (from MIT and Northeastern, no less), he's the co-owner of three restaurants, the newest of which is Amelia's in Stoughton, an upscale Northern Italian restaurant that is open f...
Taking a trip to Salem’s Bella Verona
"Botte piccola fa buon vino," or "big things come in small packages," is precisely the colloquialism one could use to describe Bella Verona, a quaint but highly regarded treasure in the vivacious, historic, downtown Salem. Slightly dwarfed by the large Hawthorne Hotel located across the street, Bella Verona certainly stands out, however, to patrons...
The Best Italian Food in Boston's North End
Boston's North End is known as its Little Italy and is reputed to have not only some of the city's best Italian restaurants, but also some of its best places to eat regardless of ethnic heritage. The North End's narrow winding streets ring with the sounds and smells of old Italy. You'll even hear people yelling "Ciao." and there is the ong...
Review: At Bricco in West Hartford, Seasonal Italian That Aims for Balance
Restaurants are notoriously short-lived, but Restaurant Bricco, a West Hartford mainstay since 1996, is not only alive, but thriving. How many dinners have crossed the counter from the open kitchen whose wood-burning stone ovens greet arriving guests? Assume an average of 275 covers per night, and Billy Grant, its chef and owner, is somewhere aroun...
Santarpio’s Pizza: Eastie’s Finest
From the rusted green overpass of Route 1A in Eastie, passersby catch a glimpse of perhaps the most iconic landmark in all the city — the unchanged and seemingly only remaining joint with an old school atmosphere that is so categorically "Boston." Santarpio's — referred to as "Santaaapio's" or "Tarps" by locals — is not only hailed as Bost...
Mario Batali’s Eataly may come to Boston
Boston could be getting its own version of Eataly, celebrity chef Mario Batali's wildly popular Manhattan food emporium that combines restaurants and a vast gourmet market to recreate the bustling experience of an Italian piazza. The Eataly concept was introduced in Turin six years ago by businessman Oscar Farinetti, who partnered with Bat...
For tasty northern Italian fare and old-school classics, Hugs
By John Golden Hugs Italian Restaurant, as its name might suggest, was an inviting and charming place to dine. Even though a few dishes were disappointing, the overall dining experience was enjoyable. The service was very attentive and gracious, and the décor, though fitted out in predictable Italianate kitsch, was bright and cheerful. Regarding...