The Red Fox — Restaurant in Boston

Speakeasy. Classic Italian. Underground bar. The perfect formula for popularity and success in North End restaurant/bar scene. Frattaroli surely knows how to get attention from Bostonians looking for something fresh and exciting in the North End.

My friend and I recently visited on a Wednesday evening, and the place was packed. The restaurant was divided into a "cool" bar area with booths and a dining section in the back for smaller groups (2-3). The speakeasy vibe was definitely stronger in the bar area, but if you're dining with a party of three or fewer, you'll likely be seated in the back, where the atmosphere feels no different from other underground dining spots in the North End.

Frattaroli’s All Day Hospitality restaurants aren’t exactly known for exceptional food, so my expectations weren’t high. The menu here featured the classic Italian dishes you'd typically find in North End restaurants—pasta, steak, and the like. For appetizers, we got the Strangolapreti and the Prosciutto & Zeppole. The Strangolapreti was just okay, but the Zeppole with Prosciutto and honey was fantastic. The buttery texture of the Zeppole paired beautifully with the sweet and savory combination of the toppings.

For our entrées, we chose the Malloreddus with mushroom ragu, Capeletti al Ragu, and the Bistecca Alla Fiorentina. The Malloreddus had a satisfying chewiness, and while the mushroom ragu was slightly salty, it delivered a pleasant umami kick with a touch of acidity. The porterhouse steak, resting on a bed of arugula, looked impressive under the dim lights. However, upon closer look, we noticed it lacked a proper crust, and much of the fat remained unrendered. The seasoning was also on the lighter side, and a side of dipping sauces would have been a nice addition. The steak was undeniably tender and of high quality, but the execution was a bit disappointing.

We opted to upgrade the Capeletti al Ragu with shaved truffles, but were later informed that it wouldn't be available due to a missed shipment. Instead, they offered it with truffle butter they had made the night before. The portion size for the Capeletti was comically small, and the dominant cheese flavor overshadowed the truffle scent. It was decent on its own, but ultimately, it served more as a "side" to complement the steak.

Throughout the night, we also tried three different cocktails, including the Negroni that had received some compliments. All of the drinks were well-crafted, with the Negroni standing out for its smoothness, though it didn't quite reach the level of the best I've had in the city. Overall, worth a visit if you can secure a reservation. Just be aware that unless you're looking for an early dinner on a weekday, reservations tend to sell out immediately as soon as they...

I had gone here with friends of mine for some dinner and drinks. I’m giving this place a three star because of the food and somewhat our experience with the staff. Otherwise it would’ve been a five star.

We enter the establishment and we were instantly in awe. It was so cool looking. Definitely felt like a 70s vibe with the decor and music playing. We’re greeted instantly and head over to our table by hostess. Our waitress came up fairly quickly and introduced herself. About two minutes later, another waitress came up and introduced herself. Both said they were taking care of us. We let that slide, but it was just odd that there were no communication with each other as to who had our table.

We place our drink order. Drinks came out fairly quickly. And they were pretty good! After we got our drinks we ordered some apps and our meals because we already knew what we were getting. Friends both ordered the carbonara and I ordered the pasta with pistachio pesto (I’d look up the name but I’m in the middle of writing this on my phone).

Time goes on and one friend’s carbonara comes out along with the apps. We sit there confused because we ordered two and why did only one come out with the apps? My friend ate the apps with us but let their dinner sit to wait for the rest of the meal. Yes, we told them to eat and not let their food go cold, but that’s not how they were raised. No one said anything to us about the rest of the dinner or as to why there was only one carbonara out on our table and not the other. By the time the rest of the dinner came out, their meal was cold. Whatever. Let that slide. We take a bite into our pastas and were so shocked with how hard the pasta actually is. It does say they cook all pasta “al dente”, but this was borderline raw. At this point we just wanted to eat something and leave.

My advice is if you want to eat pasta, specify that you want it cooked a little longer. And maybe order apps completely separately from dinner so that your dinner doesn’t come out...

Note: This was my second time dining here—my first visit was in August 2024, and I would’ve given it a solid 5 stars back then. Everything was that good.

Because of that amazing first experience, I chose this place for my birthday dinner with family. I was genuinely excited to share it with the people closest to me. Unfortunately, it ended up being a letdown—and I left feeling like I had steered everyone wrong.

I’m not sure if there’s been a change in the kitchen, but the quality of the food was night and day compared to last time. The lasagna, which I remembered being plated beautifully and served in a rich pool of sauce, came out cold and bland. It was mostly pasta sheets, tons of cheese, cheese sauce, with meat and almost no red sauce at all. My girlfriend, who made the reservation, leaned over and whispered, “This is ice cold.” And she was right.

We didn’t say anything to the server—partially because we’ve both worked in the industry and hate to be “that table,” and also because we were starving.

The penne alla vodka looked and tasted like it came from a school cafeteria tray—bland and uninspired.

On the positive side, the Red Fox chicken parm was delicious, piping hot, and one of the few bright spots on the table.

If I were rating this experience on food alone, sadly, I’d have to give it 1 star. Something major has changed since my last visit, and not for the better.

That said—vibes? Still immaculate. 5 stars. Service? Friendly, attentive, and thoughtful—5 stars. The birthday card left on the table was such a nice touch. And the drinks? Just as stunning and delicious as I remembered.

Please, Red Fox—fix the food. At this price point, it should be served hot, properly seasoned, and made with care. I really want to love this...