Spice and Romance in the South End

I bet you think you can't go out to dinner often because it's too expensive, right? Wrong! It just takes some searching to discover some great, cheap finds. Take Masa in the South End for example. Entrees in the dining room can go for as much as $30 a pop, but head over to the bar area and take a look at their tapas menu. At a a dollar a piece it's already a reasonable offer, but get this: every day from 5-7 (all night on Thursdays) they offer a deal for half off on their combo platter, that's 10 tapas for $5! Trust me, this will fill you up and leave you more than satisfied.

I've been to Masa three times in the past year and I've always really enjoyed their delicious, unique take on Southwestern tapas. Their menu changes seasonally, but they always present a variety of meat, seafood and cheese dishes. Thankfully, there is a range from mild to spicy to give your mouth a rest now and again. Some are familiar (empinadas, taquitos, battered shrimp) but with a twist, some are unexpected experiences (chorizo with cranberry chutney, tuna tartare, pulled pork spring roll), everything is tasty. And if you're in the mood for something sweet (and at $5 for a meal, why not have dessert?) they have some wonderful options. I've had their margarita key lime pie with a coconut crust and Chelsea tried their caramelized banana bread pudding, served with chocolate ice cream.

If you're looking for a romantic ambiance, look no further. Talk about mood lighting! The whole setting is very intimate, despite the fact that you're seated practically on top of your neighbors. Their mix of classic Spanish guitar and contemporary music makes for good background noise. And, if your daiquiri starts kicking in and it's after 9 on a Thursday, they also have free salsa lessons to a live band! It's an excellent place to relax with your friends while enjoying a great, cheap meal.

La Famiglia Giorgio

The boyfriend about to enjoy a large
plate of calamari over a bed of pasta.

Just a few blocks from the Haymarket T Station, La Famiglia Giorgino lies nestled in with all of the other tiny restaurants in the North End. But don't assume that because it's nearly hidden, it should be overlooked.

Personally, I've only been to La Famiglia Giorgino twice, but whenever I crave some hearty pasta, it's the first place that I think of. With a choice of twenty different sauce & veggie combinations to top your choice of pasta, you can't go wrong. They even have five specialty pastas that are all handmade: ravioli, white tortellini, gnocchi, fettuccini, & tri-colored tortellini.

And that's not the only thing to fall head over heels for. All of these pasta dishes are fifteen dollars or less, unless you choose a specialty pasta. If you opt for the homemade (you should) they'll tack on three dollars. But as you can see from the picture above, the portions are anything but lacking.

Besides the Misto di Pesce, their signature dish, no other dish on the menu is over twenty dollars. The aforementioned dish is forty dollars, but with good reason. The dish consists of clams, mussels, calamari, & shrimp sauteed in a fresh tomato, marinara, or garlic & oil sauce & served over two pounds of pasta. If you can finish it by yourself, they'll even give you a t-shirt.

Though I'm not a huge fan of calamari ($17) myself, I did try it, & it was wonderful. My orders were the pesto alfredo over fresh fettuccini ($18) & the saltimbocca over fresh ravioli ($18). Both of which I was forced to take half of home, and I still had to forgo dessert.

But La Famiglia Giorgino's menu doesn't stop at pasta. They have everything: pizzas, calzones, salads, soups, chicken, veal, fish, & traditional desserts, as well as eighteen vegetarian options. Be warned, however, that you will not make it to dessert unless you have four stomachs or a mind of steel.

Overall, both of my meals were absolutely delicious, romantic (there's even a fireplace in the cozy dining area), & the service was beyond perfect. I would highly recommend this tiny getaway to anyone who was looking for a lovely Italian meal. I doubt you'll find anything better.

And if you really feel like you can handle dessert (but that you need a teeny walk to digest first), La Famiglia Giorgino is just down the block from Bova's Bakery, which is open 24/7. Buon appetito!