Ostra (Boston)

One of Boston's top restaurant groups is the Columbus Hospitality Group, which runs a number of high end restaurants in town helmed by Executive Chef Jamie Mammano. Their latest is Ostra, a seafood-oriented Mediterranean restaurant in Back Bay.

Considering the restaurant's name, I obviously had to order some oysters. The fun part about moving to Boston is trying all the East Coast oysters we rarely get in LA. I've tried and loved Cotuit in LA, but this was my first time having Duxbury oysters.

There was a special appetizer of hamachi beautifully wrapped in avocado

I was dining with a regular of the restaurant group, so the chef sent out an intermezzo of fried squash blossom stuffed with ricotta, with a delicate batter and tomato sauce.

While I didn't manage to get a good photo, make sure to order the Ricotta gnocchetti with Maine lobster, beech mushrooms, and shaved black truffles ($22). A must try!

For my entree: Grilled Sea Bream in Trevisano Leaf, extra virgin olive oil, lemon, herbs ($42)

Trevisano is a special type of radicchio that turns tender and nutty when you char them. The sea bream is wrapped in them as it is grilled, combining the two sweet juices.

Paella "Valenciana Style": Spain's Bomba rice, saffron, lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, squid, drumette confit, chorizo ($44)

My friend ordered the paella, which was big enough for two and generously full of seafood.

The food at Ostra is expensive, for sure, but their food is excellent and the service was good (it's still new, so service is not as flawless as Sorellina, owned by the same restaurant group). On the other hand, I was surprised at their wine list which included some pretty affordable bottles! At least you can come here and choose a bottle of wine according to your own budget, be it an affordable one or a splurge. Either way, if you want to impress someone, consider taking them to Ostra.

Ostra
1 Charles St S
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 421-1200
http://ostraboston.com/