The only one of its kind in the neighborhood, the hidden oasis sits tucked away in the back of the restaurant which is located at 250 Hanover Street. 
I drank a glass of Sangria ($10) to kick things off before friends and I ventured just a few doors down to Ristorante Damiano for dinner.
The sun was shining in on the the giant floor to ceiling, wall to wall window at 307 Hanover Street. After a long snowy winter and an even longer dull and rainy spring, open window fronts are a site to behold. We settled right in with a bottle of Planeta La Segreta Bianco. This Sicilian white is a versatile five way blend of 60% Grecanico, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Viognier, 5% Sauvignon and 5% Fiano. 
I don't know much about half those varieties, but let's just say, the wine was good! Damiano's has an extensive menu featuring Piattini which are Italian small plates meant to be shared amongst the table. Yes, it's "tapas-style" dining in our very own North End! However, these dishes look to offer more food than a traditional tapas plate and the prices certainly reflect that. The diverse menu offerings range from salad, to seafood, to pastas, meat and vegetables. We started with a Roasted Beet Salad ($10) Arugula, goat cheese, toasted pignoli, blood orange vinaigrette. 
Simple, well executed, delicious! The paper thin beets were hidden under the greens, their sweetness offering a nice contrast to the peppery arugula and creamy goat cheese.
Garlic Shrimp ($15) Sautéed Ebi Shrimp, garlic, thyme, lemon, over spinach were served next. 
When the shrimp came out we all commented / questioned its long slender look - not typical of the shrimp we are used to. I realized looking back, that would be because these are ebi shrimp! I associate ebi with Japanese cuisine, usually in the form of tempura (Ebi = shrimp in Japanese) but I love how they fused it into a flavorful Italian dish. 
I couldn't stop dipping my bread into the buttery garlicky lemony goodness that pooled in the corners of the plate. A traditional bowl of Carbonara ($11) pancetta, egg, parmigiano, cracked pepper, spaghetti was al dente deliciousness, the bold use of cracked pepper taking it up a notch. 
Necessary close up of those parmesan and egg coated noodles. 
The Lamb Lollipop ($14) dipped in pistachio crust, mint pesto, rubio glaze, fruit Macedonia was my favorite.
When the shrimp came out we all commented / questioned its long slender look - not typical of the shrimp we are used to. I realized looking back, that would be because these are ebi shrimp! I associate ebi with Japanese cuisine, usually in the form of tempura (Ebi = shrimp in Japanese) but I love how they fused it into a flavorful Italian dish. 
I couldn't stop dipping my bread into the buttery garlicky lemony goodness that pooled in the corners of the plate. A traditional bowl of Carbonara ($11) pancetta, egg, parmigiano, cracked pepper, spaghetti was al dente deliciousness, the bold use of cracked pepper taking it up a notch. 
Necessary close up of those parmesan and egg coated noodles. 
The Lamb Lollipop ($14) dipped in pistachio crust, mint pesto, rubio glaze, fruit Macedonia was my favorite.
I loved the presentation, the meat was juicy and tender and that pistachio crust was to die for! 
The Baby Eggplant ($12) ovals of fried Japanese eggplant with tomato sauce, Parmigiano, and basil was also a standout dish. And note that this is Japanese Eggplant! I found it interesting that the Japanese influence shows up in a couple of dishes on the menu. 
This plate offered a generous flavorful portion of the vegetable. Same goes for the Braised Wild Mushrooms ($15) Garlic, sage, trace of tomato, truffle oil, Parmigiano polenta. 
A bowl of Mussels Vapor ($10) steamed wild mussels, white wine, garlic, lemon broth rounded out the meal. 
The bustling space is small and cozy enough to know you're in the North End, but a polished modern interior and food the opposite of a classic heaping plate of pasta in red sauce makes you forget that you actually are! Piattini at Ristorante Damiano proves that Italian food can be diverse and eclectic. This was my second time dining here and the service remained consistent and the food as good as I remembered. I would happily return for a third visit!
But a proper evening in the North End can't end without dessert! Damiano's leaves that to the experts. Meaning, they don't serve it but rather they encourage business to their neighboring pastry shops and gelaterias. We debated - gelato because its finally warm enough, or cannolis because it's just what you do!?
Umm, does a Caipirinha ($10) count? ;) We decided more drinks were in order and I lead the group to one of my longstanding favorites, Bacco. 
We sat at a table on the first floor opposite the bar, the warm breeze blowing in through the large windows overlooking Parmenter street. 
I'm grabbing drinks fairly often at Bacco's bar, yet somehow it has escaped the blog in its entirety! I am a big fan of their versatile drink menu and the staff is always super nice to boot. Not a bad place to spend a night out around here, not bad at all.
Umm, does a Caipirinha ($10) count? ;) We decided more drinks were in order and I lead the group to one of my longstanding favorites, Bacco. 
We sat at a table on the first floor opposite the bar, the warm breeze blowing in through the large windows overlooking Parmenter street. 
I'm grabbing drinks fairly often at Bacco's bar, yet somehow it has escaped the blog in its entirety! I am a big fan of their versatile drink menu and the staff is always super nice to boot. Not a bad place to spend a night out around here, not bad at all.
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