Con Sol replaces Atasca

[teezeetoo]

Four of us had an enjoyable dinner at this small place, still Portuguese though no longer Atasca. Don't know how Atasca morphed into Con Sol, but we like this new iteration. We had an excellent and generous octopus and potato tapas, very good clams marinara, excellent beef ribs in an apple glaze, lovely roast potatoes, and a fine Dao red wine to go with it all. Service was charming and attentive, the prices are reasonable, and we will be returning. Lots of lovely garlic in everything!

[miiki]

HI-

It was replaced quite some time ago.I found it very unfavorable- sadly, as it is around the corner. And the atmosphere is lovely. The service was lax but sweet- the owner's son.The octopus perfectly cooked.
The seasonings in everything- awful. Underseasoned. Just not adequate. I did speak to the son about it b/c I so want to have this neighborhood place to visit [Oleanna's is too pricey for regular visits] and maybe he inspired his papa to liven it up!
Nice to hear.
Still- my vote goes to Casa Portugal every time- their lunch menu rules!

[Joanie]

Have you been more than once? I thought it was fine, not mind boggling great but nothing close to awful for sure.

[y2000k]

I'm confused. Isn't Atasca at 50 Hampshire Street? We just ate there 3 nights ago, and that's been around for a while.
http://www.atasca.com/

[itaunas]

Atasca was originally located at the corner of Broadway and Columbia, where they served a varied menu in traditional Portuguese dishes. They had a very small bar, which did something traditionally Portuguese -- grilled sardines over a small charcoal grill (a setup a bit like how Santarpios does the lamb and sausage). It shared a lot more with Dali as far as ambiance, than the current Atasca, and had a different menu. The family kept the Broadway location open for a number of years after opening on Hampshire, but the menus were different. They later opened O'Cantinho which initially served only informal food, but after the Broadway Atasca closed the brought its menu over for evenings. So if you ate dinner at O'Cantinho, you essentially ate from the original Atasca.

The Broadway Atasca lay unused for several years, but has opened up as a pan-Iberian/Portuguese restaurant owned by descendants of the people who ran PA's Seafood in Somerville. Its one of a number of Portuguese restaurants which don't get as much attention from hounds, although it appears to have gotten a lot more busy since appearing recently in the Globe.

[y2000k]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, itaunas. We had eaten at O'Cantinho several times before and were really sad that it closed. Since then, we've been going to Atasca on Hampshire.

[robertlf]

Same here. O'Cantinho is much missed especially the sandos. I wonder if Atasca serves them for weekend lunch?

[Bob Dobalina]

I really miss O'Cantinho for the ambience (and of course the chow). I am trying to think of other cute, romantic neighborhood restaurants that are similar - sort of have that hidden gem quality - Kouzina in Waban *sort of* has that vibe...

But can anyone think of any other places that fit the bill?

[miiki]

Casa Portugal
Lunch
Cambridge and Tremont/Inman Sq

[itaunas]

Atasca does offer such a selection at lunch. Some of the sandwiches that O'Cantinho offered, though, are very common (steak/prego no pao, pork bifana, linguica, fish) at other Portuguese lunch spots or bakeries. Locally, Atasca is probably the only place which offers Portuguese-style presunto cru (although they have substituted proscuitto before). But don't ignore places like JJ's in Somerville (which is very intimate, although I wouldn't call it romantic), the Snack Bar (a sub-shop with homestyle portuguese food, plus the portuguese man-o-war sub). The Neighborhood restaurant does a decent job with febras which are the pork used for bifana. Casal has them pre-made (not my favorite). Portugalia I believe is offering the prego/bifana on their dinner menu now in addition to lunch, although its always available at the bar there and at Sunset. And that is only the Cambridge/Somerville Portuguese restaurants excluding the social clubs and they aren't that well hounded, not to mention Portuguese restaurants in Peabody, Lowell, Hudson, Leominster....

[BobB]

Dang - I read the title of this post and for a moment thought you were talking about Tasca, which I'd love to see replaced. Oh, well...