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.