Piattini Wine Cafe

Piattini Wine Cafe Restaurant Review:

As ground zero for both Gucci-clad locals and camera-toting tourists, Newbury Street has always created a quandary for restaurateurs seeking to establish an image for their eateries: exclusive or approachable? Experimental or familiar? But Piattini aims to strike a balance between fad and old-school Italian tradition, with modestly successful results. The emphasis is on tapas-style shared small plates: mixed olives, caprese and eggplant topped bruschetta, and several varieties of ravioli. Though the kitchen is partial to smoked cheeses, pestos and strong cream sauces, the flavors are bold without being bewildering. We like the Bolognese with meat ragù, spinach fettuccine with pesto sauce, and wild mushroom tortelloni. Other dishes that can suffer from overpowering sweetness, like chicken Marsala, are well done here: the chicken is topped with goat cheese and finished with a light Marsala glaze. Meanwhile, Piattini's user-friendly wine program encourages the mixing and matching of small plates and glasses and bottles (or even flights). For dessert, try the house-made tiramisu or the limoncello plate, composed of lemon gelato, limoncello liqueur and sprinkles of light meringue.