Sam Soliman from "The Contender" in Terramia, November 1st 2007. Click here for : Sam, Carla and Jamie picture, Sam with Sonny Mirabella Picture, Sam and Robert. Fore more see our Photos Page

TableCritic.com review Terramia, August 7th, 2007

Atmosphere:

Salem Street is the first street I head for in Boston's North End. Less chaotic, but still lively, the street exudes a calm vibration. Walking up the street on a warm Tuesday evening, two gentlemen on a bench outside Terramia chat with the locals, pet the passing dogs, and welcome us to the restaurant. It is clear that these greeters and the restaurant are a familiar part of the North End community.

With burgundy awnings and small street corner storefront, Terramia looks intimate from the outside. As our names are checked off from the reservation list, we're escorted inside to a window seat to begin our meal. The ambiance inside is simple, classic - yet refined. Depending on the set up, there are about ten to fourteen tables on any night. Despite its intimacy, the space never feels cramped. Each table has a view into the kitchen with a server almost always within sight. The vibrantly colored walls with draped curtains and classic white table cloths greet us as we sit down to the menu.

Food:

Our meal began as any good Italian restaurant does, with a basket of good bread and an olive oil mixture for dipping. The robust bread is fresh and the accompanying olive oil mixture is tasty and a bit spicy with the crushed red pepper flakes. I quickly order a glass of Chianti wine. The prices per glass and per bottle are reasonable, and the wine menu has enough options to satisfy.
Terramia has been around for many years. Some of the dishes listed are North End classics. The menu clearly shows that Terramia is a modern high-end Italian eatery. The menu, heavy in seafood options, has an admirable range of other options. We quickly decide on our food and watch the crowds passing through Salem Street from our perch.

Let me begin by saying that each plate looks like artwork - so much so it is hard to dig in! Our appetizers arrived with amazing presentation. First we tried a smoked tomato, caramelized onion, and goat cheese torte. Plated with a combination of two sauces and topped with a mix of field greens, I liked the looks of this dish. The smoked tomatoes convinced me there was some bacon or pancetta in this dish - but there was not a trace. The tomatoes lend a great taste to the sweet, mild caramelized onions. Every bite was a treat. We continued with an order of lobster fritters. A huge serving of lobster claws, battered and cleanly fried sat atop a balsamic honey sauce. A hay-stack of shoe string fried vegetable sat on top. It was a mountain of loveliness. The sauce was delicate and delicious. The decadent amount of lobster was tasty - though a touch dry. The generous portions of both appetizers didn't dim our anticipation for our next course.

With a nice pause between courses, our main dishes arrived. I chose the daily special which was a Chilean sea bass served with mashed potatoes, a lobster sauce, and a smattering of peas and sautéed vegetables. The bass was crisp and golden - perfectly cooked and seasoned. The combination of sauce, starch, and bass melted in my mouth. My partner's entree was the house-made ravioli with artichokes and fontina cheese topped with exotic mushrooms. This dish is truly for a mushroom connoisseur as it was generously topped with a wide variety of fungi. The dish also contained a touch of truffle oil. The large raviolis were plated beautifully on a long, slim dish. We finished our meal, satisfied and sated. Terramia does not have a dessert menu - and given the portions we just enjoyed, I was relieved.

Assessment:

Terramia is a modern classic in the North End. It is not filled with passer-bys looking for a simple meal of gnocchi and red sauce. If you seek adventurous, high-end Italian, call and get yourself a reservation. Each item on the menu was an unexpected and delicious twist on Italian fare.

By Katie Wolf

for more visit: TableCritic.com

- Best of: Italian Food by Citysearch 2006/2007. "The food was wonderful, and so authentic - this is a little bit of Italy in Boston! Lobster Fritters never been better, Open Face Ravioli are amazing. The staff were delightful and the service just right."

- “Now that’s Italian!”  by POST-GAZETTE for more click here
- "Stepping Up to the Plate", Boston Mayor Tom Menino Dishes about Restaurant Week, Terramia is one of is favorites. For more click here