Terramia Ristorante

The Scene
With only about a dozen tables, this popular Salem Street restaurant guarantees an intimate atmosphere, especially on weekends, when the place is packed and harried waiters struggle to recite the nightly specials over the noisy crowd. Still, gourmands and well-informed tourists put up with the prohibitive noise levels and cramped seating arrangements in order to enjoy some of the North End's most adventurous dining. With its soft lighting, stucco walls and beamed ceilings, the dining room sports a slightly rustic vibe.

The Food
Chicken parm wishes and lasagna dreams are thwarted by Terramia's far-reaching, modern Italian menu--nowhere else in the neighborhood can diners enjoy an order of sweet lobster fritters with a tangy balsamic-honey glaze. The ever-changing menu incorporates seasonal vegetables and the catch of the day. Homemade pasta dishes feature unconventional preparation styles--ravioli is served open-faced, with scallops, shrimp and zucchini, in a lobster mascarpone sauce.