Chef Karen Akunowicz, the two-time Top Chef cheftestant and James Beard Award-winning chef behind Fox & the Knife, has officially opened Bar Volpe, her second restaurant and pastificio (that’s pasta shop if your Italian is a little rusty) in South Boston.
Located just a little further down West Broadway from Fox & the Knife (where Backyard Betty’s used to be), the restaurant is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30-10:00pm serving a menu inspired by regional fare from Southern Italy (Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, Campania, etc.) which means you can expect dishes like pizzetta bianca, orecchiette with lamb sausage, wood-fired Sardinian paella, and mezzaluna with smoked eggplant.
In addition to the aforementioned deliciousness, Bar Volpe also has a whole mozzarella bar where you can order creamy plates of burrata with arugula, prosciutto and hazelnuts or Buffalo mozzarella with radicchio, raisins pine nuts and grissini. And there are sweets. Pastry chef Samantha McGonagle‘s dessert menu launched with treats like yogurt panna cotta with red wine, blackberries and gingerbread, and gianduja semifreddo with Nutella, toasted hazelnut meringue and dark chocolate.
When it comes to drinks, Bar Volpe boasts negroni service as well as a selection of classic Italian cocktails; the wine list, curated by WineDirector and Director of Operations Kristie Weiss, features an accessible collection of bottles from all over Italy alongside the inaugural vintage from Akunowicz’ own wine label. Available exclusively at Bar Volpe and Fox & the Knife ($40 by the bottle or $10 per glass), the 2019 “Forlì Sangiovese” was crafted by Giovanna Madonia in Bertinoro, Italy. The blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot is hand-harvested and matured in stainless steel for a “bright red wine with purple fruit and violet aromas, a slight hint of Tuscan herbs and a nice balance of tannins and acidity.”
At the pastificio, the restaurant’s centerpiece, guests can watch the Pastaiolo, Adreana Dalrymple, at work as they dine at the market bar or order fresh pasta (creste di gallo, bucatini, rigatoni and the like) and sauces (tomato basil, amatriciana, bolognese and more) to prepare at home.
You can book a table through Resy to sit down in the dining room – the main one with its comfy green banquets or the secondary dining room where expansive floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the goings-on outside – or just pop in to pick up some pasta on your way home. Bar Volpe is located at 170 West Broadway in South Boston. You can call 617.865.7100 for additional info or consult their website and/or Insta for updates and a glimpse at the menu.
