Vinoteca di Monica - Boston, MA

This quaint trattoria and wine bar in Boston's North End offers regional Italian specialties, including rustic house-made pasta.

Gnocchi con Ragú di Salsiccia - Vinoteca di Monica - Boston, MA

Normally, at this time of year, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of an email notification alerting me that the Red Sox tickets I purchased for my birthday baseball game at Fenway Park are ready for printing. This year, however, Stephen and I won't be heading to Boston in May as we usually do. We decided to postpone our annual pilgrimage to my favorite city until later in the year since we'll likely still be adjusting to our life as new parents.

Thankfully, writing today's blog post not only helps me knock off one of the posts in my "to blog" queue, but it also helps me relive the trip that Stephen and I took last May. We originally intended to check into our hotel and go straight to Neptune Oyster for a round of lobster rolls, but the wait for a table was longer than we were willing to devote, so we explored the North End for another option.

And that's how we wound up at a table by the window at Vinoteca di Monica on Richmond Street. Keep reading to find out more about our meal!

Polpette di Ricotta - Vinoteca di Monica - Boston, MA

I was pretty hungry when we sat down and started looking over the menu, so I decided to treat myself to one of their antipasti offerings -- the Polpette di Ricotta ($7). Despite being fried, these cheese fritters were actually quite delicate thanks to the slightly spicy filling of ricotta cheese.

The fritters were served with a side of tomato sauce for dipping, and, the more of them I ate, the more I enjoyed them. The dish reminded me of fried mozzarella sticks but, of course, they were much, much lighter. A great starter for anyone who loves cheese.

Pizzette di Parma alla Arrucula - Vinoteca di Monica - Boston, MA

For my main dish, I zoned in on the pizza options and ordered the Pizzette di Parma alla Arrucula ($14). The crust was thin and crispy but still retained a satisfying chew. On top of the crust were layers of house-made tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, thin slices of fresh prosciutto di Parma, and a generous pile of arugula leaves.

The combination of prosciutto and arugula is a classic one, and I loved the pizzette's balance of flavors. Especially with the additional little drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil over the top!

If the idea of trying one of Vinoteca di Monica's pizzettes, then I highly recommend considering sharing, as the portion is extremely generous. Besides... if you share, then you can order at least one more pizzette to split with the rest of the members in your party. You know, to try as much of the menu as possible. ;-)



Vinoteca di Monica
143 Richmond Street
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 227-0311 | Map | Online Reservations

Looking for more Boston restaurants? Head to my full list of Restaurant Reviews.

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