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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Bricco Ristorante & Enoteca

Last night I got together with Tricia and Corinne, my best gals and college roommates for a little North End Restaurant Week action and some much needed catching up. I chose Bricco because both these ladies had never been and the menu had a plethora of good looking options from which to choose.
Bricco gets a compilation of mixed reviews; word of mouth I've heard everything from absolute adoration to just acceptable to "it's overrated" / "I've had better down the street" and a whole lot of "it's too expensive-s". After having dined here for the first time in December I was content to express my enjoyment but wasn't proclaiming it a North End favorite. I definitely agree with the too high price points in some instances where dishes don't live up. 

However, I've always been content visiting the bar and I certainly liked it here enough to give the menu another try. There isn't much to complain about by way of prices when you are paying a prix fix of $33.11 for three courses. (Yes, I'd encourage a restaurant week visit!)
Their cocktail menu is so well done and while I realize this looks like a standard glass of white wine it is actually a Left Bank ($12) where Hendrick's gin and St. Germain meet dry white wine. Delightful and inventive, the sweet elderflower liqueur was balanced out by the dry white wine and potent gin. Tricia enjoyed a strong and sweet cocktail of a different nature, the Limoncello Martini ($15) with Pallini limoncello, Ketel One Citroen and Mionetto Prosecco.

For the Antipasti course Bricco offers six dishes yet we somehow all ordered the same thing; the Eggplant Bake layered with bufala mozzarella, tomato coulis and eggplant. After a few bites I was confident we had ordered the best appetizer on that menu. Obviously, I had not tasted all the others, I just had a feeling this was one of the good ones. This was a refined eggplant lasagna if you will, with layers of paper thin al dente pasta that had been baked tender. The spongy texture of the eggplant with its mild flavors benefited from a vibrant burnt orange pool of a flavorful tomato sauce. The golden brown surface layer, bubbly and crisp was topped with olive oil soaked basil leaves. The secondi course followed with Agnolotti al Plin. Beautiful pillows of pasta with curvy ribboned edges are stuffed with braised veal and beef that mingles with fresh ricotta cheese. This perfect portion sits in a rich velvety truffle cream sauce topped with spinach. It was certainly a pasta filled meal for me, which is just what I was craving. Bricco does pasta dishes well. Corinne enjoyed the Veal Saltimbocca - a thinly pounded cutlet, breaded and bathing in savory juices, highlighted with crispy salty prosciutto and pungent earthy sage. That potato cake was a playful element with a crisp exterior and flaky, buttery layers. A side of spinach also accompanied.
For the Dolci course there were only three choices. My thick piece of Bread Pudding was actually quite good, spiced with vanilla and drizzled in a gooey caramel sauce. But I noticed the bread pudding on the regular menu is served with banana gelato, and gelato would have perfectly complimented this dessert. The Molten Dark Chocolate Torte was a tasty bite of rich chocolate sauce contained in a warm cakey-torte, but that's all it was, a bite. We actually had a good laugh about it as it was placed in front of Corinne. (I almost feel bad saying that, the poor little dessert, but....yes, we laughed at it!) 

Despite some uninspiring dessert offerings on their Restaurant Week menu, I like Bricco! Good company never hurts to maintain the fondness associated with a meal and an evening in general; but it is also the bustling urban atmosphere of this modern enoteca with a large yet intimate dining room, a sleek wine bar pouring inventive cocktails and a gorgeous open kitchen putting out solid dishes that makes it a North End destination I have come to adore and frequent.

241 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113

25 comments:

  1. I've always wondered about this place (hearing mixed reviews also). Thanks for your insight!

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  2. Bricco is one of my favorite North End spots. I've never tried the bread pudding but it looks AWESOME!

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  3. I've never been to Bricco. The interior looks lovely and I'd definitely want to try out the menu.

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  4. I've never been here. It looks delicious and I could use a limoncello martini!

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  5. I have heard some mixed reviews, but will have to give this a try. Your food looked delicious!

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  6. What Melissa said! ;)

    There are so many restaurants in the North End that I still have yet to try!

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  7. you called it! you knew your bread pudding was supposed to come with something! i'd do it all over again in a heart beat. mini molten lava laughable cake and all. what a fabulously heartful recap :)

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  8. we have a Bricco here in CT, I wonder if its run by the same folks. I ate there once and thought it was overrated but I think its because I compare every Italian place to my favorite one in Little Italy in NY

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  9. yum I love bricco! i didn't realize the north end has their OWN rest. week! i need to do that. Marco was DELISH. there was so much on the menu i wanted to try too...def need to go back. I recommend!

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  10. Looks like a fantastic meal! Z and I have an Eversave coupon for a restaurant in the North End that I am dying to use. It's been way too long since I've ventured out there!

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  11. Ooh... I would have ordered that eggplant too! I really love layered eggplant dishes. I really need to get to the North End!

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  12. That egglant dish with the buffalo mozzarella? WHOA you had me at buffalo mozzarella! holy moly - i need to master that so we can eat it on the deck if i ever get it cleaned up. haha!

    xo,
    C

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  13. I've always wanted to try Bricco and now I want to even more!! The meals look delicious... Hopefully they improve on their desserts :)

    Sues

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  14. wow, i want to go there soon!! that eggplant appetizer has my mouth watering :)

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  15. Another one I've never been too...I feel like we always end up going to our favorite spots when it comes to the North End, but everything you had looks delicious, especially that appetizer. I also am a sucker for bread pudding. I'm not in love with rest. week but it makes a great excuse to go out with friends!

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  16. Oh! Everything looks yummie...thanks for the review Daisy, and have a great week!

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  17. I just ate dinner and now I'm hungry again looking at your photos!

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  18. oh, how i just LOVE your restaurant reviews Daisy! yum yum. this place looks really glad, and i imagine it's an opportunity for restaurants to step up their game, since restaurant weeks are a perfect opportunity to try a new place or re-visit an old favorite. the cocktails look good (but wow, $15 for a martini is steep!)

    ps - i don't know if you follow the BostonBloggers.com blog, but we're having a blogger networking dinner on tues the 12th at fire+ice at 7pm. would love to have you join us for drinks and/or dinner!

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  19. We really enjoyed Bricco on our last visit to Boston, it's an excellent place for sure!

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  20. Looks like a great place, and the food looks fabulous. There are definitely places in Pittsburgh that lots of people call overrated, but are really great. I just say they're missing out!

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  21. what a fabulous meal. cant wait til we have another North End girls night!

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  22. yay! i have been here! how delish!!

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  23. Any ideas on recreating the eggplant bake? We visited and ordered it a couple of months ago and have been salivating to make it, ever since!
    Your review just tells me we need a return trip to Boston!
    loritfrench@comcast.net

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