New England dining >>> Santarpio's, East Boston, Mass.

Santarpio's: a favorite Boston pizza joint for generations

by Eric H.

You can't get any more "Boston" than Santarpio's. Located adjacent to the underside of theSoutheast Expressway in the heart of a great East Boston Italian neighborhood, 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 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 not a pretty picture from an atmosphere perspective (actually, the plain atmosphere has more charm than the current gourmet pizza restaurants with gourmet floors, ceilings, lighting, etc.) but the pizzas are indeed 12-inch circular Picassos.

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 and talk about sports, women and ...women, always makes for a classic night out. 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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