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Dining Reviews
>>> Santarpio's Pizza, East Boston, MA Santarpio's: a favorite Boston pizza joint for generations by Eric H. You can't get any more "Boston" than Santarpio's Pizza in East Boston, MA. Located adjacent to the underside of the Southeast Expressway in the heart of a great East Boston Italian neighborhood (close to Logan airport), getting there is half the fun. It's not uncommon to drive around the block 10 times before finding an illegal parking space. It is also not uncommon to be sworn at by passing motorists who know how to drive the block faster than you. Once you're there, prepare yourself for the best Italian-style pizza in Boston, and arguably, in New England. Frequented by television anchors, local politicians, personality driven tell-it-like-it-is neighbors, an army of platinum blondes, hungry families looking for a bargain and everyone else who grew up in Boston and the surrounding area, Santarpio's is indeed a beloved local dining landmark. Although not a pretty picture from an atmosphere perspective (some call it a dive), the most prominent attraction at Santarpio's is obviously the pizzas -- 12-inch circular Picassos from cooks dedcated to the art and science of great pizza-making. When I was young and could stay awake past 7:30 p.m., I used to hang out at Santarpio's almost every Monday night, savoring every bite of those right-out of-the-oven, crisp, soupy pizzas with a beyond-outstanding tasting tomato sauce that no one else could ever duplicate. In the back kitchen, I remember Rocco and crew transforming the fresh dough into instant masterpieces. Nick, one of the all time great waiters, used to dart out of the kitchen like a cartoon character with cigarette in mouth (legally this can't be done anymore, and we're not talking about the cartoon part) en route to enthusiastically delivering the pizzas to our table. Occasionally, we ordered the only other item on the menu -- lamb, which was very good and a great complementary dish to the pizzas. Our mouths savored the freshest ingredients -- who cared if there were a few pieces burned -- in sync with jukebox favorites like "Under the Sea" (Bobby Darin) and "My Way" (Frank Sinatra). Particularly great toppings are the "real" pepperoni and crushed garlic (very pungent and ultimately unforgettable). The dark, old dining rooms, as comfortable as an old shoe and with the pulse of Boston featuring thick Boston accents talking about sports, politics, women and ...women creates a loud, lively scene. This is the way it has been for generations, creating a tradition for many at this East Boston landmark. Santarpio's is a "must visit" when in Boston. It is one-of-a-kind, with pizza that no one else can match. Santarpio's Pizza 111 Chelsea St East Boston MA (617) 567-9871
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