"Start us off with an overview.A breath of fresh air to the Ink Block, a once-forgotten neighborhood between Chinatown and South End that has become hot with development in recent years, Bar Mezzana has quickly become a favorite for neighborhood locals (and not just those who live in the condos upstairs). What's the crowd like?There's always a buzz of comings and goings in this dining room, because this part of town really favors a sophisticated menu that isn't pretentious. What should we be drinking?The cocktails are the place to start. They give an interesting bent on Italian spritzes, negronis and the like. The Hugo Spritz for example, is made with elderflower, mint, and sparkling wine. It’s straightforward and has that classic feeling, but is just inventive enough to pique even the most stalwart spritz enthusiast’s attention. . Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.Chef Colin Lynch’s coastal Italian cuisine is a natural fit for Boston, including lots of fresh seafood and classic Italian flavors. To start, order the mouthwatering house-made rosemary and onion focaccia, something off the crudo menu (like the tuna, which comes with pistachio, blood orange, basil, and castelvetrano olives), and the lobster arancini with tarragon aioli(out-of-this-world delicious). Handmade pasta is the main event, like the orecchiette with sausage and fennel, or the paccheri with lobster, green onion, and tomato. The menu focuses on the light, seasonal side of Italian cuisine, allowing the inherent flavors of high-quality ingredients to shine brightest. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?If you still aren't sold about the pairing drink and of coastal Italian food pairings here, just ask your server to make a suggestion. If you don't love what they come up with, they'll happily find you a new one." - Todd Plummer
