Il Molo Restaurant Brings Serious Seafood To The North End

IL MOLO RESTAURANT BRINGS SERIOUS SEAFOOD TO THE NORTH END

Father Son Team with Deep Ties To Community, Restaurant Scene, Open First Joint Venture

Il Molo, a new neighborhood focused seafood restaurant located in Boston’s North End, is expected to open at the beginning of next month, co-owner Donato Frattaroli announced today. Il Molo, which means ‘The Pier’ in Italian, will take over the space previously occupied by restaurant Davide, and will feature simply prepared, fresh seafood dishes. Father-son duo Donato Frattaroli and Donato Frattaroli Jr, are seasoned restaurateurs, with the senior having owned and operated restaurants in the North End for the last 40 years. Il Molo will be located at 326 Commercial Street in Boston’s North End neighborhood, and will fill a void for an updated version of a classic neighborhood seafood restaurant.

“I’ve worked alongside my dad for years, but this is the first time I’m opening a restaurant with him," says Donato Frattaroli Jr. "It’s been a great experience to do this together from the ground up, from renovating the space to introducing the whole project to our amazing neighbors. We can’t wait to bring our vision of a true updated neighborhood restaurant to this spot.”

Chef Pino Maffeo is taking on the role of Culinary Director of Il Molo, working alongside the Frattarolis to design a simple seafood-focused menu. With Il Molo, he returns to his roots, working on this project to fulfill a personal passion and bring excellent food to a new generation of North Enders. The simple yet inviting menu at Il Molo will include fresh local oysters; salads and appetizers; homemade pastas with seafood preparations; and entrees. Dishes are likely to include Hay Roasted Salmon, and Shrimp a la Plancha with Chilis and Garlic, as well as grilled meats and other options for those less seafood inclined. A full bar program will be developed around the cuisine.

The restaurant is located downstairs in a cozy lower level space at the corner of Commercial Street and Murphy Court. Comprised of three distinct areas, including the bar section at the entrance; the main dining room off to the side; and a back private room which can be partitioned off to create a secluded space for private parties, the comfortable space is finished with gorgeous white granite bar tops and marble tables, shimmering tiles in shades of the sea, and complementing plush booths. The space gives off a sophisticated, yet inherently relaxed vibe, where diners feel at home any night of the week unwinding after a long day of work, or meeting neighbors for a friendly catch up.

Il Molo can be found online at ilmoloboston.com.