Latest Reviews
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Went went to Taranta with friends over New Year's Eve. What a great time. The service and the food were outstanding. Lovely restaurant, friendly staff…
Golfskinut
Taranta
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Among the seemingly endless pizza and pasta-promoting Italian eateries in the North End, Taranta offers something delectably different. Combining Ital…
Cristina Ruiz
Taranta
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EXCELLENT!. This restaurant is unparalleled in it's service. The waiter had the most passion in listing our options for dinner. He was extremely atten…
Elizabeth Ellyn Gregory
Taranta
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Taranta serves Italian, Pizza and Seafood. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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7 Reviews on “Taranta”
Went went to Taranta with friends over New Year’s Eve. What a great time. The service and the food were outstanding. Lovely restaurant, friendly staff and wonderful menu. Couldn’t have asked for a better night.
Among the seemingly endless pizza and pasta-promoting Italian eateries in the North End, Taranta offers something delectably different. Combining Italian and Peruvian flavors, this spot is a truly a unique dining experience in a pretty package.Salud! The drinks are definitely South American in nature, as many contain fruity elements of passion fruit as well as the Peruvian liquor of choice, pisco. I opted for the Cholopolitan, a sweet, fruity mix of juices, citrus, and pisco which was delicious and deceptively strong (as our helpful waiter was sure to mention upon bringing them).As for entrees, I opted for the Macadamia-crusted salmon, which was served over a risotto cake along with a berry sauce, fusing the traditional Italian rice staple with tropical elements. The salmon had a unique crunch to it, and the sweet, slightly acidic sauce added an interesting twist to the fish.The standout dish on our table was definitely the lamb gnocchi, however. The gnocchi was prepared with yucca instead of the usual potato, which led to a tender, somewhat chewy consistency. This was ideal for absorbing the absolutely phenomenal sauce and tender pieces of lamb in the ragu. The menu claimed it was a spicy dish, which I disagree with in terms of heat, but it definitely did not disappoint in terms of spices, as it boasted an outstanding flavor complexity. The texture of the entire dish was on point, and I found myself sneaking bites off my friend’s plate all night.Let’s culminate this cultural culinary combo with something sweet! I wanted something warm so was eyeing the chocolate souffle. However, our waiter steered us toward the Lucumisu (lacuma tiramisu) and the Guavannolis (guava and ricotta-stuffed cannolis with pistachios). These desserts combined traditionally Italian pastries with Peruvian ingredients. Both had outstanding flavor, and I enjoyed that they were fruity but not overpoweringly so. Although neither dessert was warm, a decaf cappuccino with milk poured in right at the table warmed me up and was the ideal accompaniment.Taranta isn’t the cheapest option, but considering the location, experience, and flavors, I’d feel much better about shelling out dough here (and not of the pizza variety). Luckily I came with work so didn’t need to pay myself, but I would definitely return for a special occasion or to impress someone who thinks they’ve tried it all. Spread the word… Italruvian/Perulian cuisine should definitely be a thing!
EXCELLENT!. This restaurant is unparalleled in it’s service. The waiter had the most passion in listing our options for dinner. He was extremely attentive to the entire table through out the course of the meal. The owner Jose Duarte is a truly gifted culinary talent. He came over to our table and personally explained the dishes, and helped the entire table make their selections. I can assure you we were delighted by the choices. If you happen to be in the North End of Boston this is a must.
Foodie Paradise. This Peruvian-Italian gem, with its stunning upstairs dining area looking out towards the Customs House Tower, has been on my list for a very long time. We finally got a chance to try it last night, and fortunately made last-minute reservations through OpenTable, so were seated immediately and not turned away like so many others. This is NOT an Olive Garden/Red Sauce kitsch place, nor is it a slavishly authentic cucina regionale like so many others in the North End. This is modern, hip, upscale Southern Italian fused with the ingredients of Peru. I started with a Pisco Sour to set the tone, and we opened with a shared appetizer of pappardelle with wild mushrooms, lightly drizzled with white truffle oil. All too often, this artificially created oil is over-used by chefs, and has a tendency to overpower with its earthy one-note flavor, but here was used with remarkable restraint. My main course was a knock-out. A double-cut brined pork chop, more than two inches thick, served on the bone and glazed with a sugar cane and rocoto pepper marinade, alongside a deliciously sweet fried yucca piatella and roasted Peruvian giant corn, each kernel plump and starchy with intense corn flavor. My partner got the equally intriguing filet mignon with an espresso crust on a bed of sweet potato puree and sauteed escarole. The menu is so diverse and unexpected that I imagine we’ll be returning soon to try other items, especially since the other pasta and seafood dishes looked amazing. Service was just a little scattered, but there were no missteps, and we were in no hurry (we never hurry), so a return visit is guaranteed.
Still the best!. Just had a wonderful late night meal at this gem! It’s been a while since I actually went to eat here and the food has remained the best in town. Again the steak with espresso is just remarkable! Service is just fine and is simple yet elegant. Please do yourself a favor and try this one of kind restaurant!12 Jan, 2012Classic!. Always a great choice for something a bit different in the North End. The menu is filled with odds and ends from both Italy and Peru to make nothing short of a unique dining experience. Enjoy the espresso covered steak or the pork chop!
Great fusion menu. Friendly service. A must try!
Now a horrid tourist trap. The experience was infuriating and borderline disgusting. Taranta exists these days only to rip off out of towners. We had been there several years ago, and it was at least acceptable. No more!The first hint was the menu, offering no way to eat for reasonable money. But we had a table on the street, offering a great view.We were there on a Saturday evening. Service was non-existent. After twenty minutes an unctuous, greasy-haired maitre-d appeared, stirring up the women’s food fantasies. Then, NOTHING happened for half an hour, despite our entreaties, except for a great deal of theatrical napkin-folding. Finally, an order of mussels, which turned out to be the only tasty thing delivered. Then, some undistinguished vegetables with fish as an appetizer. Next, orders of salmon appeared, so badly overcooked that they took them off the bill. Oh yes, there was the ugly, over-priced ($36) no big deal wine. Seeing how badly manipulated we had been, all were furious; even the women, who are usually loathe to express any feeling in such regard. We skipped dessert and fled.Bill for 4: $195 bottom line. Oh yes, let’s add the foul smell of the interior of the restaurant, including restrooms. This place should close. It is an embarrassment to the North End restaurant community.