All the tourists and locals alike know that Boston's North End is the place to go for Italian food, yet most of the time I go there, I end up at Neptune Oyster for a lobster roll, instead - I can't help it! Sure, I've had my cannolis and I've been to a couple of the Italian places there, but for the most part, North End remained fairly unexplored to me. But thanks to a recent blogger dinner at Artu, I got the chance to experience another part of the North End.
![Artu](https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7504/29687950202_2ee0b60c07.jpg)
Our dinner started with a simple salad of Roasted beets, pistachio vinaigrette, gorgonzola
![Artu](https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8770/29687948132_5fbdd3cf3f.jpg)
Polpetti (homemade meatballs, parmigiano, $8)
![Artu](https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8823/29508220150_37c72a39f1.jpg)
I love meatballs when the texture is right, just like the ones here. Tender homemade meatballs with traditional Italian tomato sauce - why mess with something so simple and perfect!
Grilled country bread, smoked mozzarella, prosciutto, Backyard Farms tomato
![Artu](https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8839/29508217540_e89ff5cabc.jpg)
I loved the smoked mozzarella on these!
Artu also had some solid cocktails, and the bar is open until 2 AM every day. Every day! That's one of the latest places to grab in the drink in the area, especially on a weeknight. I stuck with the classics, which they do very well.