• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

BAB COMPANY: MARIO BATALI BREACHES BOSTON

Written by DAN MCCARTHY Posted May 8, 2015 Filed Under: Eats, LIFESTYLE

EA_Babbo(MichaelZaia)_728
Photos by Michael Zaia

One would think that a marquee, world-famous chef’s first foray into the Hub’s dining sphere would bring with it all manner of hype and hyperbole, and a place to drop an entire week’s pay in a single dinner. While the former was definitely true for Mario Batali and partner Joe Bastianich’s just-opened Seaport eatery, Babbo Pizzeria, the latter thankfully isn’t quite happening.

 

EA_Babbo1(MichaelZaia)_300Barely open a few weeks, the restaurant has already attracted both cheers and jeers from foodies and the media alike. (The negative reactions are less for the quality of the food and more because a 2012 tip-skimming lawsuit and eventual settlement has left some in the service industry with a sour taste in their mouths for Batali and Bastianich.)

 

But now that it has opened, after first announcing plans for a Boston locale back in 2012, the fact that you can head here on a date and eat and drink heartily—and still be able to afford dessert—should by itself be a reason to make the journey to the Seaport. And according to GM and BU grad Caroline Conrad, the price point was definitely intentional.

 

“We wanted to be a humble pizzeria that anyone—a college student to someone buying vintage [bottles of] Barolo—can afford,” says Conrad, who is quick to coach diners through the menu’s pizzas (“the margherita is perfect,” she says), cheeses hailing from Western Mass, cured meats from Batali’s salumeria in Seattle, and the rest of the streetfood à la Italy.

 

There’s an array of options from the ocean (try the salt-cod spread-y Bacala Mantecato, but ask for extra crostini) EA_Babbo2(MichaelZaia)_300and with Boston’s rich food culture “anchored in products from the sea and the bog,” as Batali puts it, it makes sense that the Seaport would be chosen as the venue’s home base for Boston. “We like being near the water, but we’re especially impressed by how quickly the seaport is being developed,” says Batali, adding, “The neighborhood is going to be big.”

 

“We’re confident that Bostonians are the sort that will appreciate our brand of hospitality and that we are able to love them back in a very good way for a very long time,” says Batali. “We hope [we’re] here to stay.”

 

BABBO PIZZERIA. 11 FAN PIER BLVD., BOSTON. 617.421.4466. BABBOPIZZERIA.COM

DAN MCCARTHY
+ posts

Dan is a freelance journalist and has written for publications including Vice, Esquire, the Daily Beast, Fast Company, Pacific Standard, MEL, Leafly, Thrillist, and DigBoston.

    This author does not have any more posts.

Filed Under: Eats, LIFESTYLE Tagged With: affordable, babbo, date, eataly, fan pier, italian street food, joe bastianich, margherita, mario batali, napolitanian, otto, pizza

WHAT’S NEW

So Much For Contracts: State Report Blasts MBTA Contractor

So Much For Contracts: State Report Blasts MBTA Contractor

State Wire: Bill To Expand Tax Credits Draws On Children's Health Data

State Wire: Bill To Expand Tax Credits Draws On Children’s Health Data

State Wire: Mass Legislation Aims To Improve Language Access For All

State Wire: Mass Legislation Aims To Improve Language Access For All

State Wire: Mass Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

State Wire: Mass Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

State Wire: Mass Bill Would Tighten Restrictions On Facial Recognition Technology

State Wire: Mass Bill Would Tighten Restrictions On Facial Recognition Technology

Mass Higher Ed Advocates Urge More Investment In Students 

Mass Higher Ed Advocates Urge More Investment In Students 

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • Think Massachusetts Cannabis Prices Are Low Now? Just Wait Six Months!
  • A New Beginning For Formerly Incarcerated Women
  • Why Are Cannabis Prices Really Crashing?
  • Dig This: Thousands Of Furries Flocking To Anthro New England 
  • Jerrod Carmichael Has First Show After Coming Out—At the Wilbur In Boston

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com