I
warned you 2012 was going to kick off with a slew of North End restaurant posts! I'm finally getting all caught up over here. Thanks for all the great comments and feedback. Sounds like a lot of you are itching to pay a visit to the neighborhood. (Be sure and let me know when you do!)
I have walked by this home style Italian restaurant located at 263 Hanover on a regular basis for the past four years. A few weeks ago, the time finally came to check out
Piccola Venezia.
On a Thursday night we entered into a large-by-North End-standards dining room which was nearly empty. Considering the waitstaff's laid back and seemingly unenthusiastic approach, this scene did not seem out of the ordinary. No one greeted us when we entered.
After standing around for an awkward amount of time, we played the "should we stay or should we go" game; when finally the chef way back in the kitchen made eye contact and beckoned us to sit anywhere we like. I have no problem with seat yourself establishments, but it is something I never want to assume.
The atmosphere takes you back in time, within a rustic kitchen meets Nona's attic inspired space we felt comfortable. The vintage looking paper placemats in faded red and white only enhanced the old fashioned vibe. Shortly after choosing our table, a member of the front of the house appeared to greet us with menus.
With
kitschy Christmas decor in place (the meal occurred back in December) and large kitchen utensils hanging among antique framed photographs set to a weathered exposed brick backdrop, we settled in with a standard bread basket and a round of
Peroni($6) on draft.
The food came out in a timely manner, beginning with a surprisingly wonderful bowl of
Mussels Marinara ($11.95).
I say surprisingly because after the initial realization that only two other tables were in the restaurant and we didn't feel entirely welcome there to begin with, we were a bit skeptical of what to expect from the kitchen.
The red sauce was incredibly flavorful with chunky tomatoes, thick slices of onion and a generous dusting of fresh green herbs. It did the steamed mussels proud. Further enhancing the appetizer were four slices of just crispy enough and perfectly buttery toast.
On a low note, my
Spaghetti Carbonara ($16.95) came swimming in sauce and was rather bland. The classic egg and Parmesan cheese sauce in abundance was super thick, somewhat cloying and lacked finesse. It weighed me down and it weighed the spaghetti down, too. I did enjoyed the thick cubes of pancetta, they were tender and added a welcome saltiness.
Some fresh cracked black pepper might have helped its cause. (Their salt and pepper shakers looked like they hadn't been changed since 1992.)
Unfortunately, this was not a dish I could truly get excited about. This was further evidenced by the fact that I never felt compelled to eat the leftovers I took home.
If you're looking for a good carbonara in the neighborhood, I'm partial to the ones at
Artu and
Ristorante Daimiano. However, if you're looking for a good
Tiramisu ($7.95), look no further.
Homemade with espresso soaked ladyfingers, pillowy brandy infused mascarpone cheese, and cocoa, this large portion looked like way to much to take on, but ended up being the perfect amount. The tiramisu itself was supremely light and fluffy; this was exactly they type of dessert I needed after a heavy entree.
Traditional, comforting and not too sweet, with a whimsical presentation, what's not to love?
A frothy cup of
Cappuccino ($4) completed the meal.
With an abundance of restaurants to choose from in the North End, establishments definitely have the power to sway me even after one visit.
Piccola Venezia doesn't happen to make the cut of my personal favorites; all things considered. Taking into account the varied level of affection for the dishes I sampled, it was still a good meal at a very reasonable price point that left me satisfied but not necessarily eager to return.
After a waffle and pancake infused January, I awoke on the first Saturday morning in February craving poached eggs smothered in hollandaise like you wouldn't believe. A dirty martini happy hour at Bacco followed by drinks with a few friends downtown on Friday night prompted a visit to nearby Caffe Nuovo the next day. Their robust Italian coffee teeming with specialty brunch dishes are a splendid way to fend off any trace of the previous nights effects. With homemade lemony hollandaise and a pinch of cayenne over perfectly runny eggs and a lightly toasted English muffin, Nuovo's Benedict nails the essentials and then proceeds with a fanfare of fresh seafood (meaty chunks of crab for her, velvety pieces of lobster for him, succulent shrimp for the next guy) and stellar homefries. 
Read more about the refreshing establishment that is Caffe Nuovo here.
The uber casual, somewhat divey approach is all part of its charm - from the weathered tables and chairs, to the single chalkboard menu, the use of paper placemats, and especially the wine served in plastic cups. To start, the Fried Calamari ($9.75/small, $18.50/large) is an absolute must! Arguably some of the best in town, theirs achieves the ideal balance of crispy batter to toothsome tentacles, full of sweet ocean flavors with just a hint of olive oil. A dusting of fresh parsley, two juicy wedges of lemon and zesty marinara sauce for dipping finish off a perfect execution. 
