Puritan & Co. - Review - Inman Square - Boston - The Infatuation

"Have you ever tasted a dinner roll that made you doubt atheism? The Parker House rolls at Puritan & Co. in Inman Square will do that, but so will the crab cavatelli, and the pork chop sitting on an earthy, nutty comté polenta. The wild mushroom risotto is so rich and flavorful you might start fantasizing about wandering the woods and foraging for fungi. Plenty of restaurants like to hang their hat on the quality of their produce, or brag about their close personal relationships with their hog farmers. Puritan is no exception, but in their case the owner and chef has a family farm in Groton, which is where much of their ingredients are sourced from. The theme extends to the sleepy dining room—which feels like the Clampett family home renovated by Martha Stewart—with professors, families, and dates diving into garlic shrimp while a couple of pheasants keep guard behind the bar. A bad order here is a near impossibility, making it a great spot for groups or indecisive friends because everyone at the table could throw a dart at the menu and have a great meal. If you’re still hungry after dinner, head next door to the restaurant’s sister spot, Puritan Oyster Bar, for an amaro nightcap and something off their rotating dessert menu. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Parker House Rolls These rolls were invented right here in Boston, and yes, you could get them at the actual Parker House restaurant, but you’d regret it. Puritan’s version is the best in town. The dough is made with a staggering amount of butter, and then the rolls are coated with more butter brushed on top and finished with a healthy pinch of crunchy Maldon salt. They’re served warm with, you guessed it, a cute swirl of cultured butter. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre Garlic Shrimp These five plump shrimp sit in a rich black garlic sauce with a charred, almost tangy flavor and come topped with crispy fried shallots. After you finish the shrimp, dip those Parker House rolls or some french fries in the umami-rich sauce which, thanks to the black garlic, tastes like molasses and balsamic vinegar. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre Crab Cavatelli All the pasta here is made in-house, which will be apparent when you bite into this soft, dumpling-like cavatelli. Ample amounts of crab are tossed with the pasta, along with a lemony broth that adds just the right amount of flavor without overwhelming the sweetness of the crab. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre Orecchiette Bolognese This little ear-shaped orecchiette is a perfect delivery system for Puritan’s outstanding bolognese sauce. A rich mix of high quality beef and pork, the sauce is thick and creamy, with just a touch of tomato for acidity. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre Pork Chop Always on the menu with seasonal sides and sauces, this pork chop is a reminder why, after a decade, Puritan is still great. The current version comes covered in a sweetly spicy apricot-fresno glaze with parsnips whipped to the gods." - Tanya Edwards