I am always excited about new restaurants in Boston. Living in the city, we find ourselves eating out quite frequently! When, Pastoral opened this past Friday I had my reservation and was ready to go. The place was packed! They have family style seating at the front by the open kitchen, as well as a large dining area and finally a great bar with a few T. V’s to watch the March Madness games. This is a great place for everyone. The Rustic menu, Neapolitan-pizza (Gluten-free) and homemade desserts were delish! Nick and I left very full and here are a few things that we sampled! Along with a quick snap shot below of the front of the restaurant.

This Garlic Knot was filled with tons of Garlic, Fennel Sausage and Ricotta…Yum bring your breath mints!

This was a yummy Neapolitan pizza with fresh Mozzarella, tomatoes and chicken meatballs. We had to try the ricotta filled dumplings with pistachios, and mortadella butter. This pasta was amazing!

And of course we needed warm cookies with homemade ricotta and chocolate chip gelato!

Wood-fired knots
Roast garlic/extra virgin olive oil
Mixed olives/anchovy
Fennel sausage/ricotta

Snacks
Octopus/parsley/chickpeas/saffron/orange
Chicken meatballs/pepper conserve/goat cheese
Albacore crudo/grapefruit/white mushroom/bonito
Pork chicharone & chorizo kabob/wood-roasted apple
Calamari/dried chili/green olives
Stuffed fried olives/Italian crumbs
Oven-roasted chicken wing/roasted garlic/lemon

Small
Prosciutto/fresh mozzarella/walnut pesto/crostini
Mantis shrimp a la plancha/anchovy butter
Butter lettuce & escarole caesar/white anchovy
Pastoral salad/8 vegetables/garlic milk dressing
Arugula/frisse/fennel/egg/smoked pancetta/evoo

Large
Amargnac chicken/shallots/prunes/wild rice cake
Hanger steak/ash roasted leeks & potatoes/goat milk butter
Shellfish pot/mussels/clams/lobster
Roasted acadian redfish/parsley root/garlic & lemon
Kurobuta pork collar/kale & onion/salsa verda
Salmon/tomato-mussel sofrito/sausage/artichoke chips
Veal & pork pojarski/mushroom crema/brussels sprouts
Oxtail & toulouse sausage/puy lentils/onion “gravy”

Veggies
Wood-roasted potatoes/garlic/potato rosemary mayo
Cauliflower/anchovy/green olive crumbs
Roasted big beet/feta/black sambuca/mint
Wood-roasted kale/jalapeno/garlic
Mashed brussels sprout/grana/olive oil
Artichokes/”alla guidina”/mint/orange

Pizza
Pomodoro/tomato/garlic/oregano/chile & olive oil
Peperoni/fresh mozzarella/tomato
Cured anchovy/smoked mozzarella/roasted red pepper/tomato
Blanco/buffalo mozzarella/fromage blanc/fennel sausage
Mozzarella/jalapeno/arugula/lemon & bonito
Prosciutto/green olive/buffalo mozzarella
Caramelized onion/gruyere/fromage blanc/bacon puree
Calamari/sun-gold tomato/lily’s pepper confit/arugula
Forest & field mushrooms/garlic/ricotta/truffle
Lobster/shallot/mascarpone/hint of garlic
Spicy sausage/fontina/ricotta/rabe leaves

Pasta
Ricotta dumplings/pistachio/mortadella butter
Radiatore pasta/tomato & milk-braised veal breast/foir di latte
Mushroom & walnut plins/escarole/amaretto
Chitarra pasta carbonara/prosciutto/lobster
Mezz rigatoni/sauce bolognese/foir di latte

Pastoral, 345 Congress St., Boston