Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1479836
99 you every step of the way and to pour into really cool decanters, as befits a restaurant for high rollers. We couldn't pass up dessert. e State Fair Funnel Cake is every bit as fun as it sounds—rounds of crisp fried dough are served hanging from a bronze sculpture with a variety of sweet sauces. CHEESE, MEET WINE Bourbon and bacon salami? Yes, please! An adventurous selection of cheese and charcuterie—including a board made up of New England selections—is the main draw at this tiny spot channeling a European bistro vibe. It's a perfect match for the sophisticated wine list. Our deeply knowledgeable server was happy to offer suggestions from a by-the- glass list that spanned the world of vino from a tasty Jermann Pinot Grigio to cult favorites like Kistler Chardonnay and Pahlmeyer Merlot. Granted, the Pahlmeyer will set you back $51 for a glass, but you're worth it. e menu also encompasses raw bar offerings, a lobster roll, and a truffled grilled cheese that's on my bucket list for next time. FRATELLI I asked my server about his favorite dish at this North End–inspired Italian joint from legendary Boston restaurateurs Frank DePasquale and Nick Varano, and without hesitation he pointed me to the Cacio e Pepe. Prepared tableside, it starts with house-made bucatini pasta tossed inside a wheel of parmesan cheese. Yes, you read that right: e pasta and truffle cream sauce are mixed together inside a wheel of real Parmesan direct from Italy, cut out like a bowl. en, when the dish is plated, truffles are shaved over the top. is platonic ideal of mac and cheese for grown-ups isn't listed on the menu, though it's a special almost every night. I would have been perfectly happy with that, but in the interests of our readers, the Veal Milanese called to me. And I was glad I answered. e 14-ounce chop, butterflied and coated with homemade breadcrumbs, topped with an arugula salad, lemon, and shaved parmesan, was worth the calories. Don't miss the cocktails at Fratelli. e espresso martini, made with Absolut Vanilla, Bailey's, Kahlúa, Frangelico, and Disaronno, wins awards. Sipping on a mixed drink after dinner, with the soundtrack of 1950s crooners playing in the background, I expected to glance over and see the Rat Pack tossing back martinis at the bar. ROLL THE DICE ON COMFORT FOOD With a dozen options for dining, there is something for everyone. Here's a roundup of some of the more casual options at Encore. . . . It's always brunch at the Garden Café, a regal daytime restaurant overlooking the lobby with delightful views of that flowered ferris wheel. Watch the stuffed animals riding in the carts—they are always dressed for the season—or the playoffs, when a Boston sports team is in the mix over a mimosa. Get the Cinnamon Roll French Toast—dense and moist, it's exactly what you need the morning after a late-night dancing at Mystique or, really, any time. . . . Ever wondered what happens when you deep-fry a Twinkie? Something magical, as I discovered at the calories-be-damned sports bar On Deck. e inside cream mostly melts away, soaking into the sponge pseudo-cake and leaving a crispy, crusty exterior. You can pretend to be virtuous with the restaurant's decadent Cheeseburger Salad—two thin patties, enrobed in melted cheese, sit atop a bed of potato sticks and a nicely dressed chopped salad, dressed with ousand Island salad dressing—my favorite as a kid. If you're in a hurry, there's a Shake Shack on the casino floor that has a line well into the night. Or you can visit Frank & Nick's and grab an Italian sub to enjoy at tables near the casino floor, at the soon-to-be-open sports betting parlor, or on Encore's lawn. encorebostonharbor.com Fratelli's dining room Below, Rare Steakhouse Tomahawk Steak Rare Steakhouse Tomahawk Steak