The highly anticipated Greek Meze and Wine Bar, Krasi, is now open at 48 Gloucester Street where Cafe Jaffa, a 28-year-old Middle Eastern restaurant closed last spring. Krasi is the latest from the local group behind Boston’s Committee and GreCo.
Photos taken by Sam Swan
We stopped into the bar to get a feel for the new spot. Live plants and an keen attention to detail gives an ancient touch to Krasi’s modern environment. Offering a fresh perspective on Mediterranean food and drinks, the menu is dedicated to meze: hot and cold bites created to be shared. Abundant with tasty choice, here’s a rundown of what we tried:
Food
Seasonal salata: radicchio, winter squash, blood orange, tangerine, hazelnuts, diktamo
This is a sweet salad, and while it is not the easiest to share it is quite tasty and definitely worth getting!
Pantzaria: sea-salt roasted beets, black garlic skordalia, red wine vinegar
Krasi serves these beets on a brown garlic paste. This dish is small and not easy to share as there are not that many beets to go around.
Patates: lemon potatoes, herbed panko crust, oregano béarnaise
These potatoes are served as deep fried dippers making them incredibly easy to share. The potatoes are dense and root-like as opposed to soft, but the sauce is fantastic and it makes for a great dish to get for a table.
Papoutsakia “little shoes”: eggplant, mushrooms, bechamel, mizithra
This is one of the staff’s favorite plates. The eggplant is stuffed with mushrooms and baked covered in a delectable cheese sauce. The presentation is delicious and comforting, almost reminiscent of a baked potato.
Sofrito: slow-cooked veal, vinegar, shallots, garlic, parsley.
Presentation like a stew, this dish also gives off a comforting vibe. Savory with a touch of vinegar, this hearty dish was definitely one of the best on the menu. The veal is served with carrots and potatoes as well making it sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Fricassee: baked chicken, spinach, avgolemono.
Our table’s favorite dish of the night! The chicken was cut in thirds making it easy to share. Juicy and savory, this was absolutely delicious.
Until lunch launches later this spring, Krasi will serve drinks daily from 3 to midnight, and dinner from 5-10. Plus, stay tuned for our first look at Krasi’s cocktail bar, Hecate, which will open later in 2020. This new basement-level bar will have its own, secret entrance off a side alleyway.