As if a new Louis was not enough to get everyone to come to Fan Pier, celebrity restaurateur Nick Varano has brought a new edition of one of his unique local classics to the area with the recent opening of Strega- Waterfront.
With 5,700 square feet of indoor and outdoor space and views that are as delicious as the food, the new Strega takes everything you love about the North End flagship (including a floor-to-ceiling photo of it wrapped around one of the new Strega’s seductively curvy walls) and busts it wide open. And there’s one thing the new Strega has that the original does not- restaurant-side parking!
At the new Strega, summers can be passed dining and romancing on the patio while cooler days will give you an excuse to get amoroso by the fireplace. If you need room for more than just that special someone, the restaurant also features an intimate wine room, lively bar and lounge area (featuring some of the restaurant’s 20 flat screen televisions, many of which play your favorite Italian and Italian-themed films) and three private dining rooms (including a private “speakeasy” with a real password hole in the door!). Though the space may be broken up into these useful sections, the entire venue is held together by retro-elegant yet contemporarily upscale design that features rose-topped tables and comfy, cozy wood and leather banquettes, celebrity paintings by Giovanni and other elements imported from – where else? – Italy. More importantly, Strega- Waterfront is held together by the scents of authentic Italian food for which Varano is so well known (and loved).
From fresh fish and shellfish to steak, lamb, and chicken to Strega’s homemade sausage, their famous (and HUGE) meatballs, a wealth of pasta options (most of which are dressed in Strega’s signature sauce) and an entire menu of fresh risotti, the menu is packed with favorites from the flagship and a few new surprises, many of which are served for either lunch or dinner. The beautiful antipasti buffet is overflowing with aromatic cheeses, meats, and veggies and the lounge menu offers Strega burgers, pizzas, and other delicious bites until 2 AM. To wash it all down, Strega- Waterfront offers a wide selection of international wines and specialty drinks including what is commonly referred to as the best espresso martini in town. And when it is all over and you are sure you can’t fit in another scrumptious bite, be sure to allow your supportive and attentive server to recite the “verbal dessert menu” that includes made-to-order cannoli and other modernized Old Country treats.
So whether you want to make someone an offer, a proposal, or just a good time, Strega- Waterfront is your new regular spot.
Just tell ‘em Nick sent ya’!
Strega- Waterfront at Fan Pier
One Marina Drive, Boston, MA
617 345 3992.