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

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.