BocelliOnline

[Melodie]

From time to time, I've heard people say that they've gone to a restaurant that plays Andrea's music in the background. Well, I've never found one!! : However, I did learn of one recently which was mentioned in the Boston Globe, and I'd like to ask anyone who knows of other restaurants that play Bocelli music to let us know where they are:

Pastalina's Restaurant
454 Salem St. (Route 60)
Medford, MA
781-391-3780

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tue.-Sat., closed Sun. and Mon.
Bathroom not handicap accessible
No smoking
No reservations
Visa, MC, AE, Discover credit cards accepted

REVIEW:

When it opened in 1997, Pastalina's was a tiny takeout pasta shop that barely had standing room for waiting customers, let alone seating for eat-in dining. Then, three years ago, an adjacent retail space became available and chef-owner Rocco Ciccone seized the opportunity. Down came the connecting wall, in went tables and chairs. Suddenly, Pastalina's had what it had never had before: a dining room.

It's not big or elaborately decorated, but there's something quietly elegant in its minimalism. There are no designer furnishings, no trendy lighting -- just exposed brick, burnt orange walls, and a sky-blue ceiling swirled with white clouds. Add delicate cloth napkins and tablecloths, thin-stemmed wine glasses, dangling lights, and Sinatra and Bocelli crooning overhead, and the end result is a classy rusticity.

Like the dining room, the menu has a focused simplicity. Veal, chicken, and homemade pasta are the main choices, and the limited offerings allow Ciccone, who has worked at several restaurants in the North End, to execute all of them quite well. Ciccone -- who named the restaurant in tribute to his mother, Lina Ciccone -- is a devout believer in fresh cooking, making all his food daily, and his sauces twice daily. No leftovers, he vows, are used the following day; everything is made from scratch again in the morning.

We admire that philosophy, although it has a downfall, which we learned on a recent Friday evening when we tried to order the lasagna, meatballs, sausage, cheesecake, and tiramisu, all of which were gone. "I make everything in the morning, and when I run out, I run out," Ciccone explained.

The manicotti ($8.25) was a consolation prize, with an emphasis on prize: four tubes of pasta stuffed with an excellent light ricotta filling, ladled with marinara and heaped with romano. Chicken, ziti, and broccoli in garlic and olive oil ($10.50) was generously tossed with tender chicken and crisp broccoli. Chicken piccata ($10.75, $14 with veal) is dipped in a very good egg batter and tenderized in white wine, lemon, and capers.

Braciolettine alla marsala ($14, or $11.50 with chicken) is a veal cutlet rolled with prosciutto and provolone and served in mushroom-marsala sauce. The veal was a bit tough, but the sweet wine sauce has wonderful flavor. A combo plate of tender chicken and thin-sliced eggplant parmesan ($10) was marred by too much salt. But angel hair pasta in pesto sauce, redolent with basil and pine nuts, was perfect.

For dessert, we had cannoli ($2.75), the only dessert left. They're good plain, and even better topped with chocolate sauce and cocoa. For those who want to imbibe, know that, while Pastalina's doesn't have a liquor license, you can bring your own alcohol or have it ordered from a liquor store across the street.

SACHA PFEIFFER

© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.
http://www.boston.com/ae/food/restaurants/articles/2003/11/30/pastalinas_restaurant/

[Eva]

I know of one here in Virginia Beach.The resturant is called The name is Francesca's New York Pizzeria ---717 Independence Blvd. #213 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455 (757) 499-3700. It is not fancy either.But the food is great.I think that the owners are from New York City .They are also the chefs there...anyone who is in the Norfolk area should check it out.They also play other Italian music.But you will hear Andrea's music too. Eva

[si]

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[Sally]

Signora, "atmosphere" was surely spelt correctly, but did you mean it is the only Italian restaurant that your husband is "partial" to? Or is he just all wrapped up in Italian food (perhaps like calzone?) Only joking, Signora!!!! Seriously though, we have just lost our only little Italian restaurant here in Middleton - Marino's. It was so lovely and intimate, and such good food! His daughter always had Andrea on the CD player, at least when we were there. Unfortunately Marino had a brain tumour and has had to retire to Maggiori, from whence he came. We will really miss him. His barbequed spare ribs were just to die for!!!!! (You can't dine al fresco in Middleton at the moment though unless you want pneumonia! (How's that for spelling!)
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"Where are we REALLY going? Always home."

[si]

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[TuscanTenor]

Since my group of friends that went to the Providence concert this tour got into town a day early, our hostess Laura was gracious enough to make dinner reservations at this wonderful restaurant at the Cape in Provincetown, MA. It's called Ciro and Sal's.
http://www.ciroandsals.com The owner plays ONLY Bocelli!! Look at their great website! The food was fantastic and so was the ambience!! The little town where the restaurant is, is very quaint. It has little shops that could keep you busy all day long shopping or just browsing! Thanks Laura for the great find!
Karen/OH

[Willma]

I am going to follow up on this lead to Pastalina's. My husband and I NEVER find Italian/American cooking even approaching what is everywhere and at all prices in Italy. Lidia Bastianich - a great cook - her cookbook - Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen - rules! - has explained from time to time on her wonderful T.V show, the differences between American/Italian cooking and Italian cooking. Italian cooking is regional cooking so what you find in Tuscany or Umbrian or the Veneto is going to be very different than fare in Napoli or Roma! Most of the Italians in this country emigrated from the south so this is, by and far, what Italian/American means - the cooking of Southern Italy. Italian/American cooks have made adjustments concerning what can be found in terms of ingredients in this country. They no longer have to deal with poverty so the delicious Mediterraen diet which is based, in great measure, on poverty, now includes more meat, heavier, cheesier sauces and larger portions.

I love everything about eating in Italy but mostly the tremendous pride of the small family restaurant. These owners note the quality of everything that is placed before the diner - even listing the type of salt that is used. Eating is a sacred experience and the atmosphere in most of these places is one of reverence - though still warm and inviting. The table is yours for the evening. No one will bring a check without a request. You are personal guests. Somehow, once people go to Italy, they find their way back, again and again.
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Although, in his life, he was often called the imbecile from Illinois, history has proven otherwise.

[si]

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[MARIAV75]

Any NJ'ers here ?
Im new to this board and love it already..
well, Basilico's in Millburn NJ had him playing all the time.. i love it there.. one of my fav. restuarants..
Well, I'll be in Boston this weeekend.. and good North End suggestions?
I used to live there in college and love it there too!!!!!
Ciao! Maria :lol:

[Bocellifan4ever]

:D Hi Melodie.

I just read about a restaurant to go to that plays Bocelli's music.

I didn't get in this discussion on the forum,because,i haven,t been on here for awhile. i have been busy on the Bocelli.org forum.

I'm back now for awhile.

It is strange Melodie and everyone that wrote about knowing a restaurant that plays Bocelli music. :) I wish i knew of one

ther is a restaurant here where i live and,it is called Fratelli and.Sons,and you would think they should play Bocelli music because they are Italian Father and,sons,but i never heard it in there restaurant. Maby some day they will start playing it. I hope so. :D

We have a Pizza shop here to and,guess what! the name of it is Vocelli Pizza. put a B on that name it would be Bocelli and,they don't play his music either. At least i have never heard it in there place.

Maby i will find on some day. :D :D :D

So long everyone. Friend Claire. :)
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Claire B Berlendy

[Lucie]

I could not believe my eyes...here, in Ottawa, Canada, a small,but excellent restaurant called Bocelli's Ristorante :D :D !!!!!!!


My husband was the one who noticed it first. It is a very small place, only 12 tables, very nice and very expensive. We had a wonderful diner...just the two of us...no children (we have four...) beautiful music; a perfect evening... if anyone comes to Ottawa, I recommend this place!
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Salut à tous!

[belindamello]

and that person is me in my home, seems i turn out meals much better and with more flair when i listen to andrea's music.

andrea is good for the soul. every evening i cook with andrea playing.

every monday when my granddaughter comes over i put on the dvd "under the desert sky" she will dance, sing amapola, and sit through the whole dvd. olivia is just 15 months old. her father is a musician so she is very much use to being around music.

and i'm excited to say my blood pressure has gone down, and i owe it all to andrea and his beautiful voice. he calms me.