Newberry Street Boasts the Perfect Italian Restaurant Settings

I can still remember in my youth more than a decade ago when the Back Bay stretching from the Commons to the Massachusetts Avenue was nothing more than a barren wasteland. Newberry Street in particular was only marked by the Urban Outfitters in the old warehouse and the long familiar La Familia Giorgia known for its family style dining with a more traditional Italian fare.

Those days are long past and in more recent times the Back Bay has become populated with establishments catering to a younger set making their entry into adulthood. The clientele varies from the urban up and comers forging their names in the corporate world to the aspiring socialites who seek to learn the fine art of being career wives. The feel and character of each venue varies from the more traditional pub with Irish influences where the dress is more casual and the speech more frank to the bistro/bar dressed in more decor and dimly lit in an attempt to add an air of sophistication. There is the tinkle of glass and the buzz of conversation as the would-be trendsetters dress to impress and mixing and mingling is the only item on the agenda. Each locale offers menus that just manage to be satisfying though occasionally I find myself pleasantly suprised. These are a few of the more frequented standards.

Would Be Socialites Welcome only
Vox Pouli

I agree with the consensus in Boston as to the general feel and clientele of Vox. Patrons tend to be a mix of the aspiring YITs (short for Yuppies in Training) and the Not Quite Fashionistas who are looking to commune among the younger set yet to make a splash on the social scene. The alchohol is abundant and the banter less than witty as the younger GEN Y seek out the perfect accessory companion to cultivate their trendy urban image.

While the venue is entertaining for the avid people watcher fascinated by my generations inability to learn art of flirting and foreplay, for diners like myself perpetuately in search of the perfect haven for the discerning palette Vox leaves everything to be desired as to its creations. The constantly changing menu rarely improves despites a quarterly attempt to see if the kitchen has changed. One item I do like is the lobster crepe if that has not yet disappeared from the rather sparce array of options as well.

If considering dessert, it’s best if a change of venue is made as there is no word to describe the poor quality of their desserts, at one time the menus only saving grace.

Vox is perhaps the most popular place to venture if one seeks those aspiring ton pseudo-sophistication though not the preference if you prefered a gentle entry into the singles scene.

All Ambiance, No Substance
Croma

I won’t argue that Croma is the perfect place for the twentysomething, maybe thirtysomething, professional set to be seen wining and dining. It has all the look and feel of the favored trendy spot for that type. The modern decor is tasteful but the appeal of Croma ends there.

To the frequent Italian diner, Croma offers nothing particularly special for your palette in its appetizers or entrees and the small portions tend to make it pricey in comparison to its competitors in the Back Bay. Occasionally there is a dessert worth having as the menu changes periodically but somehow favorites that are consensus among other reviews I read beyond this site typically disappear quickly.

Croma would appear to be the popular choice for surveying the opposite sex with glass in hand without inhibition or need for subtlety.

The complete dining experience for the Italian palette
Ciao Bella

Ciao Bella is my favorite Italian dining establishment on Newberry St in the Back Bay area. Comparable in price to Croma just down the block, Ciao Bella offers a more traditional Italian menu with all the basics, pasta, parmesan, salads seafood with several excellent choices for desserts. The raspberry peach cobbler in particular is worth the trip. The mussles in a mustard sauce is also delicious.

Ciao Bella also offers a quieter setting for dinner conversation than Croma which tends to be populated by a younger professional and trendy set. The sidewalk cafe in the summers usually require that patrons wait after 1 pm but is perfect for a leisurely lunch or dinner which people watching.

Ciao Bella includes two bars and perhaps a touch more class than the usual choices along Newberry but the average patron is seasoned and might frown upon the social neophyte.

A Change from the Usual on Newberry Street
Tapeo

Tapeo is one of the few options in Boston for Spanish cuisine, and tapas in particular. Be warned, Tapeo is far from being authentic tapas as to the choices offered on its menu and would fall into the category of “nouveau tapas” or “nouveau Spanish” if one has sampled tapas at other restaurants outside Boston. That being said, depending on what you select Tapeo is reasonably priced considered the flavor, size of portions and its Back Bay Location.

It offers tried and true favorites such as the queso con cabra as well as unique items like the duck with cranberry sauce. The sangria adds to the experience so it is probably an establishment to try for a change from the Italian and American fare that is typically offered along Newberry St. While a bar does exists and the Sangria is plentiful, it offers little to those seeking new faces and purely provides a setting for drinking among friends.