Ristorante Villa-Francesca Review: Brick Walls, Mozzarella, and A Break From Harvard

Harvard students who feel stuck in a constant loop of Jefe’s and Joe’s — a delicious loop, admittedly — should grab a T-pass and head to Ristorante Villa-Francesca in Boston’s historic North End (aka, Little Italy) for a non-Harvard dining experience that will please the taste buds and the soul.

From Feb. 23 to March 15, numerous Boston-area restaurants participate in “Dine Out Boston” — a twice-yearly event by Meet Boston that offers two or three-course meals at top restaurants for affordable prices. Ristorante Villa-Francesca is one of the participating restaurants this year; for Dine Out Boston, it offers a two-course lunch for only $27 — a price lower than most of their entrees, definitely a steal.

Upon first entrance to Ristorante Villa-Francesca, it is apparent that a great deal of care and attention has been put into the aesthetics and atmosphere of the place. Old, deep red bricks line the walls, and upon them hang beautiful pieces of artwork that immediately catch the eye. Brown tiles with alluring ornate detailing cover the ceiling, leaving customers staring in wonder. One feature that must be mentioned is the massive wooden canoe, filled to the brim with the restaurant’s famous one-dollar oysters. It is a joy to be in the restaurant and experience the culture, history, and art surrounding it.

The free bread comes with small butter packets and olive oil for dipping. This authentic, olive-oil dipped Italian bread is delicious — almost too delicious, especially for someone about to eat a two-course meal.

One phenomenal antipasti option is the mozzarella carozza, which is described on their menu as "Fried mozzarella cheese topped with a light Pomodoro sauce.” To someone unfamiliar with Italian cuisine, this dish might initially sound like a fancy name for a mozzarella stick, but, in reality, it is a bit different. To describe it simply, the dish is similar to a mozzarella stick stripped of its breading, ever so slightly fried so that the cheese has a bit of a chewy texture, and then doused entirely in tomato sauce. The presentation and texture may give diners pause at first, but the combination of pomodoro sauce and slightly fried mozzarella is exquisite. The mozzarella carozza exceeded expectations tremendously — one can’t help but eat the entire dish.

Next up is the piatto principale. The pollo alla parmigiana, or, if you don’t know Italian, chicken parmesan, is a dish with breaded chicken covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, and, here, is served with spaghetti on the side. This dish is extremely appetizing for the most part. The spaghetti with pomodoro sauce is a perfect blend of herbs, and each bite warrants another, which eventually leads to scarfing down the meal. On the other hand, the chicken is underwhelming. While not terrible, it is slightly soggy. The texture and taste of the chicken make it seem like it has been sitting in the pomodoro sauce for a bit too long.

Although the pollo alla parmigiana leaves some to be desired, Ristorante Villa-Francesca is not to be missed. The flavors, the ambiance, and the kind staff make it a worthwhile dining experience that diners won’t soon forget. For students hoping to escape the “Harvard bubble,” sometimes the best study break can be a plate of mozzarella and a view of the North End’s historic cobblestone streets.