Last month, Boston’s Back Bay welcomed a new modern Mediterranean seafood restaurant. Porto comes to us from the team behind Trade, the popular Atlantic Avenue restaurant headed up by Executive Chef and co-owner Jody Adams.
Photo Credit: 451 Marketing
The concept at Porto is entirely different than Trade although there are a few similarities if you look closely. For example, when Trade does small plates of crispy polenta bites, zucchini and bacon flatbreads and striped bass dishes, Porto does a lobster roll with anchovy butter, preserved lemon aioli, crispy capers and shallots. As for the Mediterranean flair Porto will become the talk of the town for, you can see a hint of that inspiration in some of Trade’s dishes like falafel pancakes with tzatziki or the roasted cauliflower with beet hummus.
Porto is named after the Italian and Portuguese word for “port” focusing on dishes primarily drawn from New England waters. Inside the restaurant, Porto’s modern take on industrial chic is displayed with imported Greek marble and scalloped tiles with netted crystal light .
The team recently announced the launch of weekday lunch service here from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Try the Raw Scallop (chamomile, Nicoise olive, lemon balm); Raw Scup (charred leek, piri piri); or the Raw Black Bass (olive oil, lemon, grains of paradise) to start before moving onto a Fig and Arugula Salad (honey, Pecorino, mustard croutons);Watermelon Salad (feta, red onion, olives, dulse seaweed); or Tomato Salad (peach, yogurt, Marcona almond); Chilled Corn Soup (mussels, green garlic, cumin).
For main events, Porto debuted a Spicy Steak Sandwich (mustard bread, harissa, sweet pickles); Grilled Lamb Leg (mustard greens, eggplant, apricot); Lobster Roll (anchovy butter, preserved lemon aioli, crispy capers and shallots); Pressed Zucchini Sandwich (squash hummus, piquillo, basil); Hake (yellow eyed beans, pickled lemon, seabean); and Grilled Swordfish summer greens, sweet corn, tomato).
Be sure to save room for the dessert, especially the Chocolate Om Ali made with coriander and dark chocolate; or head to the lighter side with a sampling of Apricot Sorbet served with olive oil shortbread.
Porto is located on Ring Road in Boston.
