My Favorite North End Experiences

Even though there are still stubborn clumps of dark gray snow clinging to the gutters and sidewalks, spring is here! Spring is the perfect time to walk down the narrow crowded streets of the North End.

I have a friend from college & law school who is similarly adventurous with food and was very excited to try the raw bar at the Neptune Oyster. While enjoying our two tiered platter of Wellfleet oysters, shrimp, lobster tail, crab claws and littleneck clams, other patrons stared at their dainty plates in awe and cheered us on as we devoured the Neptune portion. (Honestly, it looked like more food than it actually was. We were satisfied and happy, but hardly full.)

We discussed more food that we would like to eat, and afterwards, I was inspired to recall other great restaurants and experiences in the North End.

1. Trattoria Il Panino:
First of all the atmosphere is perfect for intimate gatherings with a small group of people. I prefer to sit in the lower dining room where you feel enveloped. The waiters are friendly and attentive without being obtrusive.

Second, the food is perfect. I have never ordered something from the menu and regretted it. It is so difficult not to reach over and grab your friend's plate. I like to start with the Shrimp Scampi then have the Veal Saltimbocca.

Finally, my friends really appreciate the wine list. Another law school friend and former law firm colleague once kept looking into the empty wine bottle. I think that he was hoping for a replay of Jesus' first miracle. When the waiters surprised us with a shot of a dessert drink, he mournfully cried, "It is too small."

Once you eat at Il Panino, you are haunted by the delicious memories and feel compelled to return as soon as possible.

2. Ristorante Saraceno:
First, if a restaurant's bread makes you forget that you have a main course coming, then generally the food will be great. I kept asking for more and could not stop eating it.

Second, the restaurant gives patrons large portions of great food. When I was finished, I was forced to roll down the street while weakly moaning, "That was so goooooood." Don't wear a belt!

3. Mike's Pastry:
I'm not really into dessert. I prefer salty over sweet, but even I like visiting Mike's Pastry. When I mentioned that I liked Mike's Pastry at work, a place filled with native New Englanders who have lived here for many generations, my colleagues ridiculed the place as too touristy and not authentically Italian.

I could care less. Any place that offers pink leaves, tiramisu, Baci and Perugina products does not need to prove it's street cred to me.

Also I like the challenge. I think that being a New Yorker gives me an advantage because when the average customer enters the store, the customer tries to create a line or some fair way of insuring that he or she gets served as soon as possible while simultaneously not skipping someone else on line.

One precious and bewildered patron looked up a my friend and said, "I'm next.?." Not if the people who work here don't think so. It would be nice if some order was imposed by the establishment, but the only rule is dessert for the quickest and loudest.

Here's what you do: you get as close to the counter as possible, and when someone asks who is next, you get their attention and yell out what you want. If there is even a small space available, squeeze in there. If you want pie, don't be shy. If you are afraid of crowds and are reduced to rocking in a corner when faced with chaos, then you cannot handle it. There are lots of quiet and calm bakeries in the area. Mike's is not only about the food, but the experience.