SASSO ANYTHING SPECIAL

[OLDCHEF]

GOING TO BE IN BOSTON ON SAT NIGHT JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF SASSO IS WORTH A SHOT OR STICK TO DOMANI

[MC Slim JB]

Dude, what are you shouting for? Hit that Caps-Lock button, please.

I had a pretty okay meal there, not super impressive, but it had only been open a few days. It is clearly much in the mode of parent Lucca: upscale, creative Italian with a focus on Northern dishes, not cheap.

I was a bit underwhelmed with our pasta dishes, which are generally a strength at Lucca. It's a nice looking space, though it could be ugly and still more attractive than its predecessor, Blackfin. Good bartending, a decent, not crazily overpriced wine list, very good service.

I'm not such a fan of Domani at night (mainly an issue of kitchen consistency and amateurish service), so I'd say give Sasso a shot.

[ponyboy]

SLIM--

IS IT THE SAME INTERIOR AS BLACKFIN?

[MC Slim JB]

Okay, now you're just messing with me, Mr. Shouty.

I always thought Blackfin was particularly hideous. The new room is done in a subdued palette of browns, pretty simple but good looking. The layout has not been changed at all. There's an attractive private dining room next to the kitchen, at the top of the big staircase, that overlooks the main dining room. The bar area seems a bit less cramped than in prior incarnations.

[yumyum]

Sasso was just featured in Daily Candy's weekend guide; I hadn't heard of it before.

[Joanie]

They were on the Chronicle show on Mon. too. And maybe TV Diner. I don't know, I've seen a lot about it lately and also saw the prices... yowzer.

[MC Slim JB]

You're right: mid-teens for most apps, mid-twenties for most pasta courses (though they will serve half-orders), mid-thirties for most entrees, with a $42 strip steak. Like I said, not cheap.

[lorpa]

as concierge at a nearby hotel, we send many of our hungry guests there. feedback at first was that the portions seemed small. sasso people said that this would be taken care of. and we've had no negative comments since. my meal there, the night before it opened to the public was delicious. good food and wine list.

[Bostonbob3]

Haven't been to Sasso yet, but like Lucca.

My fav story about the place is that woman who appears on the TV Diner show now and then, telling us about new restaurants. In her words:

"Lucca is opening a new restaurant in Back Bay, so naturally it will be more elegant and upscale than their North End location."

Bite me, ho.

[tatamagouche]

Wow, that's a comment that shows she hasn't been to the neighborhood in, what, 6 years?
I'm with Limster below about Domani, as I've taken the opportunity to bore everyone to say many times. Space is weird, but Rene Can Cook.
So, Oldchef, where did you end up?

[limster]

I'm a fan of the creative, balanced and not over the top cooking at Domani. It's serious, interesting food for what I consider moderate prices in Back Bay.

[wittlejosh]

I thought Sasso was good, but uneven. HEAVY hand with the salt, and I'm a person who panics when there's no giant salt shaker on the table. The house cocktails are killer, though.

I will give it a month to figure things out and try once again.