Alfresco

[buckturgidsen.livejournal.com]

Quick plug for Alfresco, the Italian restaurant in the former 'Out of the Blue' location on Highland Ave (Cutter St, near When Pigs Fly). I ate there for the first time this weekend, taking my wife and two kids, and was very pleasantly surprised. I say 'surprised' mainly because whenever I walk past it never looks like they're doing a ton of business. I hope more people give it a chance, it's a great little place!

Brief review: It's a small, low-key, no-nonsense, relatively cheap, family restaurant. The food is tasty, the staff is nice, they serve wine and beer, and it's a great value for the money. A lot of people (see www.yelp.com/biz/alfresco-somerville) have raved about the brunch -- I've never tried it but my wife tells me it's better than Sound Bites. It's definitely not gourmet food (try Craigie St Bistrot or Oleana) and -- like the old Out of the Blue -- it's a bit lacking in atmosphere/charm. But for people looking for a nice, straightforward neighborhood restaurant to add to the rotation, definitely give it a try.

Comments

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

I ate there this weekend but phoned in my order to go. The food was good and quick. Inside seemed nice. However I think their sign does them in a bit. The cheap looking plastic sign looks like its a pizza shop, no different from a place like Christo's 7 Star subs. However, inside is a nice restaurant. They have stiff competition from Sagra just down the street, so they need to do everything they can. I only learned it was a real "restaurant" because I read about it on here, despite driving past it almost every day. Plus the place before them was a pizza shop.

I also revisited Kick Ass Cupcakes, saw someone buy a dozen for 33$! That is just crazy. I tried a chocolate and a lucky, still small and dry. The frosting was good but that's about it. Still have to give it 2 thumbs down, however I do like what they've been doing marketing wise lately, going to events etc. Smart.

Agreed on both counts

[firepail.livejournal.com]

I expected the place to be a pizza joint from the sign and only through word-of-mouth discovered it was more of a nice sit-down place. The food is good, atmosphere is cozy, and the staff are super-friendly.

Kick-ass tends to be lame-ass in quality, flavor, and price [Lyndell's is the real kick-ass!], but their latest marketing attempts have been smart. Kick-ass cupcakes taste like the cupcake was made the day before and they were only frosted fresh.

Re: Agreed on both counts

[concrete.livejournal.com]

> Lyndell's is the real kick-ass!

Try Soleil's - it made me give up Lindell's.

Re: Agreed on both counts

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I hate their cupcakes...super dry and tasteless everytime I have tried them. I love the banana milk from Shaws Farm they sell though.

out of the blue

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

the place before them was not a pizza shop, it was Out of the Blue.

Re: Alex's Pizza

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it Alex's pizza for a while. I don't think it's been Out of the Blue for at least 3 years.

Re: Alex's Pizza

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I think Palin is an idiot.

Re: Alex's Pizza

[ron_newman]

was that intended for some other thread?

Re: Alex's Pizza

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I might have been wrong about Alex's pizza, but I'm not wrong about this.

Re: out of the blue

[ron_newman]

It went from Out of the Blue to Alex Pizza to Alfresco.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I don't see how it and Sagra are in the same price range--$12-15 for dinner is not $15-25 for dinner.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

I didn't say they are the same price, I said they have stiff competition. They are competitors.

Seconded

[spaz-i-mota.livejournal.com]

Alfresco is great! I agree. I took my parents there for lunch when they came to visit and we all loved it!

[lemononmylips.livejournal.com]

Alfresco is DELIGHTFUL. I've been there many a time for brunch (very reasonably priced!) and wonderful dinners. The seafood bruschetta is amazing.

I took my Italian fam there while they were visiting and my dad went nuts. He said it was his favorite meal he had while he was here.

The owner is also the sweetest ever. He waves as I walk by and was so kind to my family. It's an A+ establishment that really makes you feel at home.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I seldom have reason to be on Highland so I didn't even know about it. I'm now looking forward to trying the brunch.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Another (perhaps temporary?) benefit to the brunch is that, for some unknown reason, they don't seem to be as busy with a line out the door on weekends like Soundbites--from what I've heard, getting seated is relatively quick.

I've only heard good things about this place...

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Ooh, even more reason to try it soon. beowabbit and I go to The Burren when we don't want to wait. This gives us another no-line option, at least temporarily.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

I'm a firm believer that the greatest breakfast in all of somerville is the Breakfast sandwich at Magnificent Muffin in Teele Sq. It's not sit down, but DAMN!

[georgy.livejournal.com]

I got seated very quick the one time I went there for brunch, but it took FOREVER for the (very good) food to come out. And the servers weren't very attentive. I went there for dinner once when they had only recently opened and found it alright. I'd go back, though, definitely.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

I don't understand the appeal of Sound Bites, especially to locals. Sure the food is good, but getting treated like crap by the owner is not my idea of customer service. The "soup nazi" like charm doesn't do anything for me, and from my understanding his business practices have been described to me as unethical at best. Sorry Sound Bites, no money from me!

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

I haven't had the "soup nazi" treatment since they moved from the old location...

[lilly9999.livejournal.com]

I have brunch there every Sunday. Love it!

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I went there for brunch last weekend, and it was not better than soundbites--pancakes a little raw in the middle, and my bacon went missing. But there was no wait, and if you liked omelets they looked great. I really like their dinner a lot and will keep going back.