Beth H.
Yelp
On a balmy Sunday evening in August, my husband and I headed to the North End of Boston without a dinner reservation. The first three places we tried were packed. Then we saw a door with a sign inviting us to ask about the patio.
We asked, and the host led us down an alley to a surprisingly large patio behind the small restaurant. There, we enjoyed a lovely Italian meal. We started with some delicious bread served with fresh-tasting olive oil. This was followed by an amazing burrata salad, which featured two generous portions of the creamy mozzarella with a smear of pesto, a balsamic drizzle, and perfectly ripe tomatoes.
For the entree, I ordered the pan roasted salmon with asparagus. The moist fish was accompanied by a silky eggplant purée and caponata--little cubes of eggplant sautéed with onions and tomatoes. A sprinkling of pistachios added a slightly nutty flavor. The asparagus was cooked crisp-tender, exactly the way I like it. I ate every bite of those vegetables.
Husband enjoyed the rigatoni with meatballs. The pasta was light, flavorful, and authentic, which means it wasn't drowned in sauce and cheese. The meatballs were incredible, so moist and fluffy they almost melted in the mouth.
The servers were prompt and friendly. The patio was romantic and relatively quiet. As for atmosphere, the North End is thick with it. We emerged from the restaurant just in time to hear a street performer sing an Italian aria. Windows displayed Italian imports and servings of handmade pasta. Even the narrow streets and crazy traffic added to the Italian vibe.
As far as I can tell, Forcella has only two disadvantages. They don't serve coffee or dessert, and the stairs to the restrooms in the cellar are very steep. But the quality of that wonderful meal was worth the inconvenience.