South End’s new Italian steakhouse, Capri, is a warm night on the Amalfi Coast – draped in burgundy, dimly lit tables for two and a grand piano as soon as you step foot inside, diners are taken on a free trip to Italy for the evening.
I found myself committed to my month-long reservation at Capri after filing off of a four hour flight in the middle of a nor’easter. When the new Italian steakhouse has a month-long wait list and is owned by the same people as Charlestown’s Prima and Southie’s Capo, you’ve got to attend the reservation.
The ambience was the perfect mix of elegance, class and intimacy. We were greeted by two hostesses and taken downstairs where we were tucked at a quaint table by the window. A full bar sat at the opposite end of the dining room with tables exquisitely spaced, every one filled and covered in plates of scarlet sauces and half-drank wine glasses.
Shortly after being seated, we were greeted by our lovely waitress, Ella. The service was phenomenal throughout the experience, with drinks never touching the bottom of the glass and a dirty plate never lingering for long. I opted for an aperol spritz to start, while my roommate, Malvina Dimitri, chose the espresso martini. It’s pretty difficult to mess up an aperol spritz, but if there was a way to do it, it would be Capri’s way.
The appetizers were the star of the show. The menu features an array of meats, cheeses and breads for appetizers, with the occasional seafood and tree nut with a fruit pairing. We chose the honey buns, meatballs, garlic bread and bruschetta. A lot of bread, we know.
When the starters came out, my eyes immediately knew that the honey buns would be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. The honey buns are a soft, doughy bundle of rolls stuck together, drizzled in honey and sprinkled in ricotta and sea salt. The sweetness of the honey paired with the savory sea salt invited the ricotta into the perfect bite. Imagine Remi from “Ratatouille” when he bit the cheese and strawberry together. My precise reaction.
The meatballs fell apart at the light splice of a fork’s edge and melted in my mouth. Smothered in sauce and sinking into the plate, they were a delightful protein to the appetizer spread.
The garlic bread and the bruschetta were tasty, but not something I would be eager to return for. The garlic bread, though already having small, cooked cloves within the bread, was sprinkled in extra crumbled and hardened garlic on the top. I ended up scraping it off, with it being too much garlic in each bite. The bruschetta held a similar sentiment, with a tad too much fig on the dish, when I believe it could have served as solely a slight topping.
With our stomachs on the brink of explosion and our drinks refilled, then came the main course. We both opted for the rigatoni alla vodka, but I added a chicken cutlet to the top of my dish. At Capri, diners are urged to put in their entire food order at once so the kitchen can course and time the food’s preparation and delivery. While sometimes this process can feel rushed, Capri offered ample time to decide on food, as well as a nearly perfect delivery scheduling.
The rigatoni alla vodka was exactly what it needed to be. The chicken cutlet was beautifully breaded, crispier on the outer corners and dressed in a melted parmesan. The dish was similar to every other satisfactory chicken parmesan I’ve had, but nothing beats my great aunt’s recipe.
Nearing the end of our dining experience, Ella swung around to check if we would be interested in ordering dessert. It was an immediate no thank you. I have never been so full in my entire life. I probably went up an entire jean size throughout the courses.
We both cleaned the plates of the appetizers and our main courses, as well as a couple drinks. Capri is an enchantingly warm, intimate Italian spot with a dynamic ambience, whether diners are looking for their next date night spot or simply an evening out with their best friends for some drinks and snacks. The service, food and environment all bordered five stars. I suggest making your winter reservations now before they book up for the next month.
