• 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

LOCAL UNDERGROUND: COME FOR THE CANNOLIS, STAY FOR THE STEAK TACOS

Written by DAN MCCARTHY Posted January 15, 2015 Filed Under: Eats

EA_ModernUnderground(DanMcCarthy)

 

For over 70 years, Modern Pastry’s charm was anchored to its reputation as a North End staple for landing killer lobster tails and Old-World pastries in a cozy, somewhat cramped space that harkened back to the good old days when family-owned Italian storefronts with limited real estate lined Hanover Street. But co-owner John Picariello saw that the perpetual packed house was more a mark of its needing to expand, than a reason to stay the same.

 

“My dad, an old Italian, would say ‘Oh, you’re fine the way you are,’ but I would respond, ‘Dad, we’re losing business because [customers] can’t get in,’” he says.

 

MODERN

 

So last year, he purchased the neighboring space, which previously housed the Piccola Venezia restaurant, for a full-scale expansion, which brought with it all the history the 1910-built structure possessed, including a pre-finished and unused public seating area in the basement. Enter Dave Ferrone, manager of the now-open Modern Underground restaurant located there.

 

“I come in here and I’m like, ‘We really gotta redo the bar [down] here if it’s going to be usable,’ so I came in and redid it myself,” says Ferrone. “So now I’m stuck here,” he says, and adds with a laugh, “I went from not working to this. I liked the not working part much better.”

 

The new space is minimalist save for an abundance of flat screen TVs. Along with draft beer and wine, the eclectic, simple menu includes items such as succulent Steak Tacos ($10.50), Barbecue Spring Rolls, ($10.50), and the Angus-beef Modern Burger ($10.50). Picariello says the meat is sourced from a North End butcher, in keeping with the spot’s status as a true neighborhood joint.

 

“I’ve been here my whole life, and my family has been here 85 years now,” says Picariello. “It’s getting harder and harder to know our neighbors. I [used to know] everyone on the street; I could go from building to building to building. This is a good way to get to know the people that still live here.” He adds, “It’s a spot to sit down, watch the game, have a beer and a burger in the neighborhood. Good, simple food made from scratch.”

 

As if to punctuate that idea, while I was visiting, Picariello’s octogenarian father strolled in. After several moments of chitchatting with diners, he broke out into a bellowing Italian song for a few measures before glancing at the TVs and saying: “Okay that’s enough … I gotta go watch the Bruins.”

 

MODERN UNDERGROUND. NOW OPEN THURS-SUN, 5PM-MIDNIGHT. 257 HANOVER ST., BOSTON. 617-523-3783.

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 Tagged With: basement, bruins, burgers, cannolis, flatscreens, hanover street, historic, italian, John Picariello, locals, modern pastry, neighborhood, North End, Piccola Venezia, steak tacos, underground

WHAT’S NEW

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 

Guest Opinion: Promoting Metal Detectors In BPS Perpetuates Dangerous Narrative

Guest Opinion: Promoting Metal Detectors In BPS Perpetuates Dangerous Narrative

State Wire: Mass Leads Nation In 'Green' Building Development

State Wire: Mass Leads Nation In ‘Green’ Building Development

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
  • Jerrod Carmichael Has First Show After Coming Out—At the Wilbur In Boston
  • Why Are Cannabis Prices Really Crashing?
  • Dig This: Thousands Of Furries Flocking To Anthro New England 

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