Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 20 OCTOBER 2019 CONTACT theblueoxlynn.com as the fine-dining Italian restaurant Prezza in Boston, took over the reins in September from Matt O'Neil, who opened the restaurant in 2009. "Matt has got a really good thing there." says Caturano. The staff is really, really good, too. People love the service." It's no surprise Caturano has such deep ap- preciation for Blue Ox. His other restaurants share a common philosophy, some of which O'Neil picked up when he spent a few years working for Caturano before opening his own spot. "Anthony is definitely the chef I've looked up to the most as far as working for them," O'Neil says. "I didn't want to sell it to just anybody. My staff is number one for me and I wanted to make sure they were in good hands." Both chefs say the timing was perfect. O'Neil, who also owns Ledger Restaurant & Bar in Salem (which specializes in progressive New England cuisine), says he'd had offers before, but it was never the right situation. But the combination of Caturano's leadership and the idea of getting more time to coach his kid's football team was impossible to pass up. "It's been 10 years, and it's a great spot, but at the same time, I was looking to do something a little different," O'Neil says. "I've still got Ledger, so that occupies time, and the kids and coaching… I had an opportunity to move it to somebody that I think will do a great job with it. And I took it." For Caturano's part, The Blue Ox is a perfect addition to his restaurant empire— and something he can easily see growing. "I think this opens me up for more opportunity, because it's another brand," Caturano says. "If I want to put another restaurant somewhere, I can put something that would fit—either high-end dining like Prezza, something more middle-of-the-road like Tonno, or something fun and casual like the Blue Ox, and still be able to offer good quality." In addition this gives Caturano a foothold in Lynn, a city with a big labor pool whose time may finally have come. "Matt has been able to grow with the city, but I think I'm in there just as it's really starting to blow up," Caturano says. "People involved in the city are really looking to push it upward. It's going to be nice—it's a fun community." E AT + D R I N K Anthony Caturano is the new owner of the Blue Ox. Don't worry, North Shore burger lovers. The Blue Ox's aptly named Sin Burger, dripping with truffle aioli and topped with applewood smoked bacon, is not going to change. Nor is that Tabasco-spiked clam chowder or the tender, sweet lobster tacos, or really anything at all that we've loved for the past decade at the comfortable Lynn mainstay —except the chef/owner at the helm. "You can't go wrong with that burger," says chef Anthony Caturano. The owner of Tonno restaurants, featuring coastal Italian cuisine, in Gloucester and Wakefield, as well A respected North Shore chef passes Blue Ox on to his mentor. BY JEANNE O'BRIEN COFFEY BELOVED BURGERS E AT + D R I N K PHOTOGRAPH BY ELISE SINAGRA "I didn't want to sell it to just anybody. My staff is number one for me and I wanted to make sure they were in good hands."– Matt O'Neil