Boston Date Night Series: A Hidden Gem Near Bowdoin Station
Darren surprised me by making a reservation at this romantic, hidden gem near Bowdoin Station for our date night this week. Tucked away on the basement level of Bowdoin Street, Grotto offered “imaginative, contemporary Italian cuisine.” While rather inconspicuous on the outside, the inside is a warm, inviting space with exposed brick, chandelier lighting, and a wall lined with wine. The seating is intimate (only fifteen or so tables), so a reservation is a must. But the cozy ambiance and stellar service makes Grotto well worth the extra effort!
Once seated, we were served fresh-baked bread with olive oil (dressed with olives) for dipping. The menu offered a lot of enticing options, so it definitely took a while to decide. Darren decided to go with a Primi (starter), Secondi (meat – main dish), and Dolce (dessert), while I opted for just Pasta and Dolce. However, I snuck a few Brussels sprouts from Darren’s Gamba Dell’ Anatra to start – a gorgeous crispy confit duck leg and Brussels sprouts with mustard aioli!
The Pasta dish I ordered was spaghetti and meatballs, smothered in Grotto’s “insanely fabulous tomato sauce.” The sauce really was good and the meatballs deliciously tender. It was such a big portion that I was able to enjoy for lunch the next day too! Darren ordered Veal Saltimbocca, veal cutlet with prosciutto, sage, spinach, creamy polenta, marsala, and lemon. His marks were good and he cleaned his entire plate!
Last but not least, it was time for my favorite course – Dulce! In case you didn’t know, I have a very large sweet tooth, so I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Cioccolato, or melting chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. From the first bite, I was in love. The chocolate ganache on the outside was enough to make me swoon, but once I reached the gooey, melted middle, I was convinced that this was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had.
Darren had the Tiramisu (Mascarpone, ladyfingers, espresso, and cocoa), which was presented in a tall ice cream dish. He said it was very good, but was so stuffed from his main dish that he couldn’t get very far into the dessert. That’s why I always plan to leave room!
Our experience at Grotto was really wonderful. If you’re looking for a romantic, cozy date night, this little restaurant is the place to go. Let me know in the comments below or on Instagram is you stop by!
