Pammy's

Cuisine Italian, American (New)
Price $$$ (31-50)
Rating 7/10
Last Visit Feb. 25, 2020
Location Boston: Central
General Notes

Pammy's is a gem in Boston's crowded field of Italian restaurants. Although technically, it has much more global and New American influences and isn't strictly Italian by any means. The dishes are innovative, feature interesting ingredient combinations, and are executed with precision. Apparently seasonality is also really important at Pammy's, so expect the menu to change frequently. The atmosphere is nice and cozy (albeit a bit loud). It's a bit pricey, but I would definitely recommend giving this place a try!

Positives

> I got a glass of 2016 Carignan (Sativa, LIOCO, California), which tasted really nice! It was relatively soft and really enjoyed the blueberry/blackberry flavor notes. Although I would have liked a touch more tannins, at times the wine felt slightly flat.

Dishes Tasted
  • ★★★☆ Octopus -- Lardo, squid ink aioli, pickled turnip. This combination works beautifully - I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the pickled turnip. The octopus was incredibly tender (I didn't even know it was possible to get octopus this tender), contrasted with a light crispiness on the exterior. I only wish the octopus were a little more crispy and with characteristic grilled flavors. (Oops, didn't realize how blurry the picture was)
  • ★★★☆ Lumache -- Bolognese sauce, gochujang. One of their flagship dishes. Certainly an unusual dish - this is my first time ever seeing this particular combination. It felt bizarre at first but I started to really enjoy it after a few bites. The beef stands up to the intense flavor of the gochujang, and the whole combination just works.
  • ★★★★ Venison -- Poached egg, black pearl lentils, bacon jus. My first time having venison, and I really enjoyed it! It's a lean cut but cooked perfectly - tender but meaty. Well seasoned, and I enjoyed the gamy flavor. The sauce added a nice acidity and rounded everything out well. More than the venison though, I absolutely loved the lentils. It was so flavorful and the poached egg added an amazing creaminess.
  • ★★★★ Mussels -- Squid ink arancini, lime leaf aioli. The broth is absolutely delicious. Clean and nicely acidic - fairly heavy-handed on the lemon zest just the way I like it. The mussels themselves are a bit small and I would have liked them a bit bigger and a bit more substance. The arancini pairs beautifully with the sauce. So does bread - make sure to ask the waiter for more bread to dip in the broth!
Venison
Mussels
Octopus