500511 Tue Mar 18 20:33:38 -0700 2008 43 12 Boston Area 0 3506129 I was walking along Salem Street today and came upon the gaudy new sign replacing La Brace. It looked horrible and reminded me of something that belonged in a strip mall. Has anyone heard what this place is really about? Tue Mar 18 20:33:38 -0700 2008 11173 birdy30 1 3506619 I saw that walking home last night (and thanks for the reminder- I was on the phone at the time, and couldn't for the life of me remember what used to be there. Which is a shame, because I actually liked La Brace a good bit). Besides using the pizza boxes to block the windows, there was some other reason why I thought it was going to be a pizzeria, but I can't recall now. That being said, yes it's one more steak through the heart of the North End. Wed Mar 19 06:02:21 -0700 2008 3506129 138764 Spelunker 2 3506643 "steak"? I thought you said it was going to be a pizza place! The name of that place scares me as much as everything else I've just read (shudder). Wed Mar 19 06:13:30 -0700 2008 3506619 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 3 3507322 There is a pizza chain with that name in NY. Do the boxes give any clue to a connection. http://www.paesanspizza.com/ Wed Mar 19 09:30:55 -0700 2008 3506643 21331 BostonZest 4 3508265 I wasn't referring to any other place by that name--just the rampant misuse of that word. I know...I have issues. I'm only wishing the best for the North End, y'understand. Wed Mar 19 13:14:25 -0700 2008 3507322 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 4 3508745 The boxes have a Winthrop address. http://www.paesans.com Wed Mar 19 15:19:03 -0700 2008 3507322 16672 phatchris 5 3508853 and the menu on the site says they have: "GOURMET ENTREESS" Wed Mar 19 15:50:43 -0700 2008 3508745 21331 BostonZest 6 3512329 Yeah doesn't look promising at all does it. Thu Mar 20 14:59:11 -0700 2008 3508853 16672 phatchris 6 3549338 as well as "Not Responsible for Well Done Orders." noted just under the burgers. ??? Tue Apr 01 10:10:07 -0700 2008 3508853 10532 LindaWhit 7 3549517 While the menu doesn't sound exciting, I don't mind the warning about well-done meats; that's fair and proper, in my book. Tue Apr 01 10:54:38 -0700 2008 3549338 10143 MC Slim JB 8 3551189 I guess my ??? was asking about if they're warning that they always cook well-done, or if they do accidentally, they're not responsible? Tue Apr 01 17:41:45 -0700 2008 3549517 10532 LindaWhit 9 3552335 someone (whether or not they are in the know) just informed me that they get their burgers prepackage and prepared which would explain the warning. Wed Apr 02 06:15:14 -0700 2008 3551189 11173 birdy30 10 3552502 AND prepared!??!! What's next, a warning that the center of the burger might still be cold because the microwave didn't heat properly? Wed Apr 02 07:13:33 -0700 2008 3552335 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 7 3553122 I didn't believe that it actually said that until I checked out the website for myself!!!!! This has to be a joke. Does this mean if you order a burger med and it comes well you can't send it back? Wed Apr 02 09:57:01 -0700 2008 3549338 170026 seedove17 8 3553139 Can't cook it anymore than that (except charred to a crisp) so I guess not! Wed Apr 02 10:00:40 -0700 2008 3553122 10532 LindaWhit 1 3514730 I heard that the owner of Paesan's in Winthrop, MA had taken it over. I have spoken to people who have eaten there before and they had nothing but good things to say with their great food and large portions. If they can replace the previous lackluster service, i dont see how it couldn't be a step up from before. I caught wind of it opening in the first week of April, deffinatly going to give it a try. Fri Mar 21 10:54:45 -0700 2008 3506129 176724 John900909 2 3516095 I am very wary of a place sporting a tacky bright red sign, with "steak tips in special Ah-So Sauce" on the menu. I kid you not. Alo "Turkey Tips with Italian dressing" and fajitas? Add Fettucine Alfredo described as "We do like Mama" This is a real dumbing down of the North End, and I for one am not feeling optimistic. Fri Mar 21 18:57:23 -0700 2008 3514730 163653 Pa amb Tomaquet 2 3516125 Large portions are the last thing many of us need or want. It really isn't what I look for in a place to dine. But, good luck to them. Different people look for different things in dining spots. Perhaps they will find a niche. Fri Mar 21 19:09:34 -0700 2008 3514730 21331 BostonZest 3 3519450 La Famiglia is still there and packing people in...... I was really hoping for a true brick oven pizza place in the neighborhood for when Regina is too much to deal with and a little more bar like than Antico Forno. Sun Mar 23 09:37:21 -0700 2008 3516125 16672 phatchris 2 3561963 I went to Paesan's in Winthrop today and picked up some brick oven pizzas. I got a cheese pizza and a pizza with sausage,ricotta, mozzarella and tomato sauce. I didn't care for both pizzas. The dough was very chewy, sort of rubbery. The sauce had plenty of herbs and was kind of bitter. I only went to Paesan's because I saw it featured on TV Diner. I didn't try any other items on their menu. I won't be returning to Paesan's. Fri Apr 04 12:22:42 -0700 2008 3514730 50594 buffet king 1 3546043 Has anyone been there yet? I walked by recently and they're open. It doesn't look too bad from the street, but I am still puzzled by the presence of Mexican items such as fajitas on the menu. And I could be wrong as it was only a quick glance, but I don't think I saw pizza on there. And I also heard two local passers by remark to each other "did you hear? they don't even have pizza".... "Whaaaaat?" as they walked by Mon Mar 31 11:09:06 -0700 2008 3506129 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 2 3546487 I refuse. I will be at Ernesto's Mon Mar 31 12:50:42 -0700 2008 3546043 146261 saltyair 3 3784735 See you there. Mon Jun 16 11:46:35 -0700 2008 3546487 197969 FreshRye 2 3673020 The Mexican/pub food items on the menu were enought for me to toss the takeout menu..:) did get a laugh out of it. awful signage Fri May 09 14:59:32 -0700 2008 3546043 10111 9lives 1 3546739 on my way to ernesto's today, i walked over to look at the menu. looks like crap bar food: potato skins, steak tips, fajitas, bbq ribs, etc. yuk. and the signage is horrible. isn't there a neighborhood association to prevent that kind of thing? i'm guessing they'll make some dough in the summer from tourists and then be done by winter. Mon Mar 31 13:45:48 -0700 2008 3506129 30273 hotoynoodle 2 3549167 The sign is almost as bad as Bacco's. Tue Apr 01 09:28:35 -0700 2008 3546739 16672 phatchris 3 3549311 Walked by it the other day...the menu has zero identity. However, I bet they are hoping to attract the masses of clueless tourists that flock to the NE because there are plenty of those!!! That red sign is horrible. Tue Apr 01 10:03:59 -0700 2008 3549167 179807 Sterndogg 4 3552535 they aren't going to catch many tourists at that corner, and next to scaffolding which is sure to be there through the summer. Also, I noticed that they covered nearly half of the front window with a big bin of bottled beers, and pushed alot of service stuff up into the front of the house, virtually making it look like a bar-back area. This place seems like a textbook for bad decisions, if they last two months it is by virtue of their capital alone Wed Apr 02 07:24:06 -0700 2008 3549311 108021 pierce 5 3552555 When I was there the other day a tourist was checking out the menu and said out loud to his friend "hey, this place looks really good." I'm sure that they'll get *some* foot traffic. Salem is one of the bigger streets in the area. Wed Apr 02 07:30:36 -0700 2008 3552535 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 6 3553256 This place looks like a train wreck. I too noticed the beer up front etc. I mean seriously, they have "wing dings" on the menu, thisis like a [Fill in Blank of your hometown] House of Pizza - although they don't serve pizza! The owner of La Brace is doing cartwheels he found some schmuck to take over his lease. Wed Apr 02 10:27:24 -0700 2008 3552555 169725 Hambone Willy 7 3554598 I wouldn't be so sure she is doing cartwheels I got a funny feeling she is involved in the project, see her around the space a lot still. Wed Apr 02 15:12:36 -0700 2008 3553256 16672 phatchris 1 3569807 Walked by there again today and noticed something peculiar in addition to the entire window area being occupied by beer bottles on ice. There are two elevated buckets of champagne, seemingly by themsleves, about six feet high, off to the side near the front. It looked like a P.A. system on an empty dance floor at a wedding.....only instead of a pair of speakers, it was a pair of champagne bottles in buckets. Huh? Mon Apr 07 10:40:22 -0700 2008 3506129 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 2 3570439 i also noticed the other night they have what appeared to be tv screens directly in front of your face at the bar, and at least one table with a tv screen in the middle of it. It looked like a seen out of the film "idiocracy" Mon Apr 07 12:52:01 -0700 2008 3569807 108021 pierce 1 3647828 So has anyone tried this place yet? Thu May 01 14:04:30 -0700 2008 3506129 14771 hiddenboston 1 3682770 However, this is your first post here on Chowhound, bridge1, so people who frequent the North End restaurants have no basis with which to judge what other places you go to and like, except this one post. So what else do you like? Where else do you go? And if you read further upthread, it seems some people *have* been to the Winthrop Paesan's, and found it lacking. And I'm sorry - any place that touts itself as a "brick oven pizzeria" should *not* be serving Mexican fajitas! Period. Tue May 13 10:10:55 -0700 2008 3672828 10532 LindaWhit 2 3683250 And I think perhaps someone at Paesan's must be reading this: they've moved the bar-back area away from the front window pretty shortly after I posted about the poor layout. They moved it all of 10 feet away, in front of the side windows. Tue May 13 12:01:06 -0700 2008 3682770 108021 pierce 2 3771274 There does seem to be a quick rush to damn places and assume "tourists" are ignorant neanderthals rooming the alleys looking for chicken fingers and corn dogs. Aren't we all tourists at some point ? I'll wait for a few actual reports before I condemn a new business. Wed Jun 11 13:28:01 -0700 2008 3771186 50082 TonyO 3 3771330 I also am eager for a few actual reports. I'd volunteer, if it weren't for the fact that there are already a couple dozen places on my gotta-try list for the North End!! If only I lived or worked in the area, I'd give it a shot. I just looked again at the menu online. They do have chicken fingers! And despite a bunch of interactive pizza boxes on the website, no pizza on the menu (whuh?). I actually did see a few things that I would order, if I finally get around to trying this place. None of them is in the 'barbecue' section of the menu. however. Wed Jun 11 13:41:56 -0700 2008 3771274 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 4 3771433 I have no idea how good it is, however I do live in the North End and I am sure that the curiosity will get to me eventually and I'll try it. The name does make me cringe. Wed Jun 11 14:06:57 -0700 2008 3771330 66043 kallis33 5 3771747 That was my first reaction too. I hope we don't see Cafe Baddabingfehgedaboudit opening up next door. Wed Jun 11 15:41:25 -0700 2008 3771433 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 6 3771894 Or the ever popular Youtakintome Bistro. I'm just glad to hear they have Chicken Fingas' and Moozarel Stix Wed Jun 11 16:35:25 -0700 2008 3771747 50082 TonyO 7 3789496 I had the eggplant parm today. It was really good. Don't knock it for how it looks - many have made the same mistake. It's not trying to be anything it's not. Read my yelp review. Tue Jun 17 20:03:10 -0700 2008 3771894 197292 Applejakx 1 4262207 I live in Winthrop where the original Paesan's is- it's notr a chain by the way. Their food is good, we order from there a lot. I'm not crazy about their tomato sauce, but I'm picky about that since I'm used to the homemade Scicilian style kind. Anyway, their steak tips are AWESOME and the turkey tips are very yummy too. Their white pizzas are good. At least give the place a try. Sat Dec 20 12:23:55 -0800 2008 3506129 250084 jaclyn1198 2 4262452 The North End branch was gone by last summer. Sat Dec 20 14:40:19 -0800 2008 4262207 21331 BostonZest