Prezza (Updated Post)

We went to Prezza again last week with the in-laws.  After noting that my previous review had no pictures (gasp!!! . .forgive me, it 2007 when I just started this blog after taking the bar exam!) I decided it was time for an updated review.

Just a little bit of background.  Prezza, named after the ancient Italian town where Chef Anthony Caturano’s grandmother was born, is a modern Italian restaurant that focuses on local, fresh seasonal ingredients prepared with an Old World style.

Prezza has an incredible wine list, boasting over 8000 bottles from over 900 labels.  Not being a wine connoisseur, I can’t really comment much about their wines except to say that the wine the waiter picked out for us was quite enjoyable.

Prezza is definitely one of the more expensive and classy restaurants in the North End.  Appetizers range between $15-$16, pastas are around $15 for an appetizer portion or around $30 for an entree portions.  The meat entrees range between $25 and $44.

During our most recent visit, the food was excellent, as was the service and the ambiance.  We purposely brought our in-laws here because they LOVE Italian, and we wanted them to experience the best in the North End (We also took them to Mamma Maria and Mike’s Pastry while they were visiting Boston).

Please enjoy some pictures from our meal. 🙂

Fried Egg over roasted wild mushroom crostini with grilled onions $15
I absolutely loved this appetizer.  The barely runny yolk, once broken, serves as a lovely, creamy binder that brings the entire dish together.  The wild mushrooms had a wonderful, woody flavor and were flavored just right with a little bit of salt.  The entire dish was fantastic.

Butternut Squash Arancini, lobster, mascarpone, brown butter and sage $15
An interesting, creative autumn twist on an old, traditional favorite. Well done.

Lobster Fra Diavlo- Saffron Tagliatelle with roasted tomato, fennel and lobster meat $18 ~ $36
The flavors in this sauce was incredible, although I was slightly disappointed with the texture of the fresh homemade pasta.  In my opinion, it was just slightly overcooked – not quite al dente the way fresh pasta should be other.  The dish was still very enjoyable because the sauce was so flavorful.

Potato Gnocchi “a la Bolognese”- Rustic meat ragout, tomato, porcini cream and pecorino cheese $15 ~ $28
This dish is classic and the meat sauce has great flavor.  The gnocchi also has a wonderful, fresh, chewy texture that is so fun to eat.  I always find that I can’t stop eating the gnocchi pieces even though I am full.  Bryan and I both liked this better than the rabbit pappardelle from Mamma Maria.

Paella – Lobster, fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, squid, chicken, chorizo and saffron rice $36
Bryan has ordered the paella several times here, and he attests to its quality.  The seafood is all very fresh, and the rice, which absorbs all the fragrant flavors from the shellfish, tastes delicious.

Wood Grilled Venison, pumpkin risotto, braised greens, red wine-bacon glaze $36
This dish was cooked perfectly rare, and not too game-y.  The sauce was gloriously deep in flavor.  The pumpkin risotto was nice, light, and creamy – a good complement to the rich wine sauce that accompanied the venison.

Rotisserie grilled Wagyu beef, Broccoli Rabe, extra virgin olive oil, and pecorino cheese, Polenta with tomato, basil and Parmigiano
This was the special of the day.  Wagyu is always delicious, even when cooked at home, and this was no exception.  The meat was tender and super flavorful. Well executed.
Although we typically skip desserts in the North End and opt for cannolis at a bakery instead, we decided this time to order some desserts from Prezza.

Limoncello Cheesecake with biscotti crust and blueberries
What a great way to end the meal!  This cheesecake was mild – not too sweet, not too tart.  I typically love tart pies, such as key lime pie.  However, the blueberries were rather tart, and actually ended up pairing perfectly with the sweet, mild, limoncello cheesecake.

The layered pumpkin cake and chocolate tort.  Both solid desserts that tasted great with a small espresso.  🙂

Again, in conclusion, Prezza is truly an excellent restaurant, and definitely one of the best in the North End.  If you want a taste of some of the best that the North End has to offer, definitely check out this place right off Hanover Street!

Prezza
24 Fleet St
Boston, MA 02113