The Red Fox
Italian restaurant · North End
326 Commercial St, Boston, MA 02113
Highlights
Handmade pasta, martini-heavy cocktail list, intimate ambiance
Handmade pasta, martini-heavy cocktail list, intimate ambiance
"We can’t believe we’re saying this about a restaurant in the North End, but The Red Fox is kind of sexy. The underground space (look for the handwritten “restaurant” sign and head down the stairs) hidden beneath a financial services office doesn’t feel like any other in the neighborhood. The dark, wood-paneled room is as sultry and louche as a Nick Cave song, so go with a date, slink into one of the clubby red booths, and order a drink from their martini- and Negroni-heavy cocktail menu, which is filled with genre-bending versions of the old standbys. The dinner menu is a murderer’s row of Italian classics with a few unexpected twists thrown in. Served with prosciutto and honey, the zeppole is closer to struffoli in texture than the globs of dough you get at the fair, and we could have eaten three orders. The mains don’t disappoint, either. Brisket stuffed into little pasta pillows in the cappelletti al ragu is near perfect, and the orecchiette manages to get more flavor out of pistachios than we thought possible." - tanya edwards, grace kelly
"If you’re looking for a fun, ready-to-party spot in the North End, the Red Fox is the place to go. It takes its hideaway location seriously — the only indication that there’s a restaurant at this address is a tiny sign marked “restaurant” with an arrow pointing down a set of stairs — but once you’re in, prepare to feast the night away. Must-orders include the savory-sweet zeppole with prosciutto plate and a luxurious dish of cheesy, saucy rolled lasagna for the table." - Erika Adams
"All Day Hospitality (Farmacia, Ciao Roma) has a knack for engineering great dining-out vibes in the North End, and their latest project is no exception. Awash in red hues and low lighting, the Red Fox is a sexy new date-night spot to twirl pasta, sip ice-cold martinis, and simply enjoy the evening. Heads up: It will actually take a minute to find the subterranean den behind an unmarked door on Commercial Street — but that’s part of the fun, right?" - Erika Adams
"A subterranean Italian restaurant known as one of the hottest reservations in town, also housing the Extra Dirty Cocktail Club." - Erika Adams
"The Red Fox opened this June and is a hot addition to Boston’s martini scene. The interior is plush and moody, designed to perfectly accompany its martini offerings. Traditional martinis include the Freezer Door and the Extra Dirty, but for those feeling daring, go for the Clarified Cosmo with citron, cranberry, orange, and lime, the Sour Apple with calvados and granny smith cordial, or the Aglio e Pepe with raw garlic, pepper, and parm. Note that reservations are required for the bar, with limited seating available for walk-ins." - Anna Darrow
