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davis_squareYummy
We found a new place to dine in Davis Square hidden behind Rosebud.
La Spina is now on my recommended list
The staff is charming. The place is clean, well lit and has a nice charm to it. Rita the chef was born in Naples and raised in Sicily. There is an interesting blend of both regions in the way she twists flavors. The menu prices are very reasonable as are the portions. This is not a place where they serve you a bowl of pasta that will feed you and a family of four for a week. The plate will instead fill you and provide enough flavor so you can taste the nuances of the dish without being overwhelmed with finishing it
Our meal began with a lively conversation about a pink sauce with mascarpone. Nice rustic bread was brought to the table served with a small dish of high quality olive oil and a couple of olives.
I had the Mezzo E Mezzo which is a small portion of Eggplant & Chicken Parmigianina served over pasta with a light sauce. This dish was beautifully done and conquered my usual distaste for all things eggplant. The chicken was delicate in texture and balanced in flavor. You can truly taste the freshness of the ingredients with every bite. . If I could have changed one thing it would have been for the sauce to be a bit spicier but that is a personal taste thing.
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jasra had the Chicken Picata with fresh veggies on the side instead of pasta. You will have to ask her for her review though.
We split a Cannoli for dessert. Let me tell you this is how a Cannoli is supposed to be. The mixture of Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese whipped to just the point of airy but holding to the density these two chesses should have. A hand made horn to hold this filling was a treat in texture and flavor.
I will try and post a scan of their take away menu later.
Phone 617-440-6284
We found a new place to dine in Davis Square hidden behind Rosebud.
La Spina is now on my recommended list
The staff is charming. The place is clean, well lit and has a nice charm to it. Rita the chef was born in Naples and raised in Sicily. There is an interesting blend of both regions in the way she twists flavors. The menu prices are very reasonable as are the portions. This is not a place where they serve you a bowl of pasta that will feed you and a family of four for a week. The plate will instead fill you and provide enough flavor so you can taste the nuances of the dish without being overwhelmed with finishing it
Our meal began with a lively conversation about a pink sauce with mascarpone. Nice rustic bread was brought to the table served with a small dish of high quality olive oil and a couple of olives.
I had the Mezzo E Mezzo which is a small portion of Eggplant & Chicken Parmigianina served over pasta with a light sauce. This dish was beautifully done and conquered my usual distaste for all things eggplant. The chicken was delicate in texture and balanced in flavor. You can truly taste the freshness of the ingredients with every bite. . If I could have changed one thing it would have been for the sauce to be a bit spicier but that is a personal taste thing.
jasra had the Chicken Picata with fresh veggies on the side instead of pasta. You will have to ask her for her review though.We split a Cannoli for dessert. Let me tell you this is how a Cannoli is supposed to be. The mixture of Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese whipped to just the point of airy but holding to the density these two chesses should have. A hand made horn to hold this filling was a treat in texture and flavor.
I will try and post a scan of their take away menu later.
Phone 617-440-6284
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Re: Actually, it's not that great.
Date: 2007-01-27 01:55 am (UTC)Most of the issues you reported seem to be that of an undertrained waitress and while that does stink, it can happen even in the best of places.
The prices were very nice most of the dishes were below $20.
What you are describing sounds more like what I went through at Orleans.
Re: Actually, it's not that great.
Date: 2007-01-27 04:21 am (UTC)Zagat's guides rate restaurants on food, service and decor. Although the service at La Spina's was bad, and the decor was blah, I don't personally value those things too much. For me, it's all about the food, and the food at La Spina's was just not that good. I can get mediocre Italian food at Mike's for a quarter the price.
Oh yeah, and the sign out front advertises "Neopolitan" cuisine. Before eating there, I wasn't sure if they had misspelled Neapolitan, or if they were making a subtle pun about avant-garde Italian fare. After eating there, I'm pretty sure they weren't making a pun.
OK, as I re-read this note, I think it's overly harsh. I don't mean to disparage the restaurant too much. The waitstaff and the chef were clearly trying very hard, and we ate there shortly after it opened. I've never worked in a restaurant, but I can imagine some growing pains with training the waitstaff, dealing with vendors and tweaking the recipes in the first month or two. I'm interested in hearing more opinions about La Spina, and if it has gotten any better.