Toscano Beacon Hill RW

[bakerboyz]

Went for RW lunch yesterday. Had never been before so did not know what to expect. I thought that the atmosphere was really nice. I loved the way the restaurant was furnished, the separation of the restaurant into smaller rooms and it was such a warm day, the windows were opened to the outside. We were first served warm focaccia with extra virgin olive oil which was very good. My daughter started with the meatballs which I believe were a combination of pork and veal in a light tomato sauce...these were light and tasty. I unfortunately chose the minestrone, which as soon as it was set down I could tell from the color of the vegetables that it was old product and sure enough the vegetables were mushy and tasteless. For entrees, my daughter had a boneless chicken breast with porcini mushrooms in a tomato sauce. She proclaimed the dish to be good not great. Personally, I wouldn't combine the delicate, woodsy flavor of porcinis with a tomato based sauce. I ordered a 8 oz sirloin which was essentially, steak au poivre but with an Italian name. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and was nice if not earth shattering. Because of the lovely atmosphere, I so much wanted to love this place but I think the atmosphere was better than the food in the end.

[MC Slim JB]

Been a while since I've been back now, but I found it on a couple of visits to be expensive, middling, and not very reminiscent of traditional Tuscan cuisine. It's a handsome space, but give me Trattoria Toscana any day.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[BostonZest]

Underwhelmed is the perfect word Hamster. We have friends who love it and so we have tried it but now we have alternatives ready when they suggest meeting here. Artu, Grotto, Bistro du Midi, or a picnic in the park!

Of course RW is not the time to judge any restaurant. We were without power longer than most of the rest of the area and have not replaces our food yet. We have been eating at food trucks, places that are not taking part or have their regular menu at the bar.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[C. Hamster]

I've been seriously underwhelmed in the few times I've eaten there.

I agree with you that the setting is very nice but the food is consistently inconsistent.

[libertywharf]

C Hamster seems to keep going back to places he is underwhelmed with.
I used to go to Toscano all the time. It has been getting many positive reviews on twitter, so I decided to have dinner there a few weeks ago. The food was still great, and I found the prices to still be friendly along with the staff.

[Alcachofa]

You found the prices at Toscano to be friendly? Wow. Yes, I found the staff friendly, too, and the food OK and consistent. Not really anything special, though, certainly not for the prices they charge.

Gee, positive reviews on twitter... guess I'll ignore my own experience and the experiences of others I "know" and respect though CH, and go anyway....

Just saw Penny's post. In the same neighborhood, Grotto blows Toscano away, for like half the price. OK, maybe not half, but it's still way better.

[MC Slim JB]

One reason people go back to places they don't much like is obligation. Sometimes the person you're entertaining on business chooses the venue, sometimes it's a date, or an in-law, or friends, or a colleague. I'd never opt for Abe & Louie's on my own, but I'm pretty sure I'm dining there again in the not-too-distant future. It's a first-world problem, admittedly.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/