r/FoodBoston

FROM THE STORY: Via Cannuccia, a small Italian restaurant in Dorchester, has become one of Boston’s toughest tables, and a favorite among the city’s restaurant industry. Now its chef-owner is betting that there’s room for another Cannuccia, but this time in the form of a bakery, coffee shop, and evening wine bar.

Stefano Quaresima, whose 40-seat trattoria has become a destination for the Roman cooking he grew up with, plans to open Bottega Cannuccia in the former Homestead Cafe space in Fields Corner as soon as December. The 30-seat space will shift gears throughout the day: Italian coffee, pastries and sandwiches during the day, followed by apertivo, wine and small plates by night.

The expansion comes as Boston’s Italian restaurant scene is getting bigger and more corporate, while Quaresima is purposefully small and entirely self funded. The new restaurant is also the product of an unusually community-driven process, with the landlord asking neighbors to weigh in on what should fill a vacant storefront.

“I really want to create a space outside with some tables and chairs, like a small bistro you’d find in Paris. That’s the picture I’ve had in my mind,” said Quaresima in an exclusive interview with the Globe.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/17/business/via-cannuccia-dorchester/?p1=StaffPage

I’m so tired of leaving every restaurant in Boston underwhelmed and also so turned off by the value/food. Please correct me—I genuinely want to be proven wrong—I welcome any suggestions to redeem Boston’s food scene.

We go out a fair amount (birthdays, parents/in-laws visiting, special occasions, date night) and there has been only 1 place I would go back to (Myers + Chang). The service can be mid, food and plates are tiny, and most of the time the place is seriously overhyped.

For reference I’ve been to: Krasi, Pagu, SRV, Parla, Mahaniyom, the Eaves, Juliet, the Daily Catch, Little Sage, La Royal (I hope the hobbitses had better food than we did), Bosso Ramen Tavern, Temple Records, Bar Volpe (Dine out Boston, the tiramisu was INEDIBLE and covered in salt, I could not finish it and I love salt!), Bar Vlaha (best so far, but crazy loud club music and $12 for bread???).

The *only* place I would go back to is Gufo.

I’m sure that the shift of all restaurants to also serve “tapas style” with teeny tiny plates is also to blame.

The one place I’m holding out hope for is the Sarma/Oleana restaurant family but we haven’t been able to commit to a reservation a month out. I’m just so tired of spending $100-$150+ for 2 people for a mediocre meal and wishing we had stayed home and cooked instead.

I am so fond of this city and get offended if someone says it’s a bad food scene…but I’m starting to have to agree with them…

Edit: thanks reddit for being, as always, both helpful, funny, and also unnecessarily cruel. Lots of suggestions, so ty to those who were helpful and for continuing to leave me hopeful…

But TL;DR seems that late stage capitalism, enshittification and the stupid high cost of living in Boston have struck again! (+ liquor licensing woes).

Shall be avoiding these bad-bougie places in favor of the smaller joints and give up my quest of a delicious restaurant that feels special and fancy for anything under $200/pp. Either that or take the train to Portland where it’ll cost the same but be infinitely better (and including train ticket come out to be almost the same cost!)

Hi! I live in Canada and would like to order/send a cake to a friend who lives near downtown Boston. Her birthday is a month from now, and I’ve been looking at Paris Baguette and Tous les Jours, but I’d love to hear from anyone who has tried them!

Which one would you recommend, or is there another bakery in the downtown area that’s even better?
I’m looking for something delicious and preferably easy to order for delivery. Thank you!! 😊

Looking for the best deal on good seafood in the Boston area. Or a really good buffet maybe one that serves lobster even.