On the first day of being 25, I had the best pasta in Boston so far
According to F, he started agonizing over where to eat for my birthday one or two months ago, going so far as to book six restaurants. A week ago, he narrowed it down to three finalists, and by this Monday, the competition was down to the last two. The final decision for Thursdayâs dinner wasnât made until Tuesday, and the winning choice â Contessa â wasnât revealed to me until Thursday morning. The restaurant is located on the top floor of The Newbury Hotel, with a glass-ceiling terrace offering views of the Back Bay skyline. At night, under the glow of the lights, itâs truly romantic (F admitted the final decision came down to the decor and ambiance). We ordered a glass of Sancerre and a white peach Bellini â both were smooth and enjoyable, though not exactly mind-blowing. The only service hiccup of the night was when the waiter came over to explain the complimentary bread dipping sauce⊠right as I was tearing up while opening a gift. Otherwise, service was great, and F appreciated how accurately they pronounced the Italian dish names. Appetizers: đ§ Burrata: Fresh and creamy, served with cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes for extra depth. The basil leaves were incredibly fragrant â probably homegrown? Overall, a standout. đ Pumpkin Carpaccio: Wow. Even as someone who doesnât usually like squash, I was won over. Strong nutty notes, crisp pumpkin paired with a well-balanced sauce, and a touch of sour cream to cut the sweetness. The burst of flavor in each bite was incredible. Iâve never finished a plate of arugula so quickly. Primi (Pasta): F skipped the signature lobster pasta so I could try more dishes. đ Fusilli Genovese (pesto version): One of the few pesto pastas Iâve had where the saltiness was perfectly balanced. The pasta was cooked al dente to absolute perfection â one bite left us both speechless. đ Macaroni al Cinghiale (wild boar ragĂč with wide pasta sheets): The sheets were thin, so the chew wasnât as impressive as the fusilli, but this dish won with its ragĂč. As F put it, âYou can taste the gamey flavor of the meat.â Seasoning was spot-on. Eating this alone might have been heavy, but sharing both pastas made for a perfect balance. Secondi (Main Course): đ„© Veal Milanese: The veal was pounded very thin, and the seasoning penetrated well beyond the surface. Topped with arugula and a light salad dressing. The meat alone felt a bit plain â like it needed a gravy or sauce (or maybe we were just spoiled by the amazing pasta). The parts touched by the dressing were more interesting to eat. Dessert: We ended up taking half of the pasta and main course home (we were too full), so we glanced at the dessert menu but didnât order. Surprisingly, the restaurantâs policy for birthday occasions is to offer a complimentary cup of hand-churned gelato if you donât order dessert. So we got vanilla â sweetness level, in my opinion, might be too much even for Americans. Total for two, including tip, came to around $300. At this price point, Contessa definitely holds its own in Boston. #BostonRestaurants #BostonFood #BostonFoodExploration #BostonLife #DateNightRestaurant #PastaRecommendation #BirthdayDinner
