For us, going to the North End on Saturday night in August is a ritual. For those of you who have never been, Boston’s North End is all Italian, like being in a neighborhood in some Italian city with lots of tourists! In August, on weekends, the North End is all about feasts. There’s one every weekend. There’s lots of energy, people, lines outside restaurants, cafes, beach chairs set up in the street with people taking in the scene and always a carnival on some chosen street. It’s hard to pick a restaurant and to get into the good ones you need a reservation. We’ve made a couple of reservations and decide to try something new.
Tonight we’re four at a table instead of 2 at the bar! We’re with a couple of our pals, John and Malu and we’re going to Gennaro in North Square. We’re seated upstairs in a comfy banquette overlooking the square. It’s quiet so we can have a conversation. We haven’t seen our friends in a while. Malu just spent a month at Kripalu and is now a certified yoga instructor.
Our wine tonight is a blend – a Pinot Grigio/Sauvignon Blanc. Dinner is fantastic: the best veal chop Roy has ever had; John loves his lasagna, Malu has a killer risotto with chicken and mushrooms and my entrée is Fruita de Mare over linguine. For apps we have a calamari that’s done perfectly and served with two sauces and the boys share a caesar salad. Two bottles of wine later we wander out into the circus known as Hanover Street.
Hanover is the main drag that runs through the North End. It’s alive with wall to wall people. Lines outside Mike’s Pastry, every cafe full, the carnival going full blast and the Madonna on display with lots of dollar bills attached to her. I think Tony Soprano is guarding her tonight. A cappuicinno, 2 espressos and a couple of desserts and we’re ready to head home.
It’s a beautiful Saturday night in Boston with some good friends.
That’s all for now…time to get home to Romeo.
We’ll have to try Gennaro’s…sounds delicious 🙂 I hope you didn’t end up running into Tony S!