Just take a look at all the winners in the North End! From fine dining to pizza. From food to shopping.  For those of you who take heed of the votes of friends, neighbors and other folks who live in our city, below is the list of  the 2011 WINNERS from Boston City Voter.com and their “BEST OF” winners in multiple categories.

So, if you’re looking for yet another reason (or lots of reasons!) to visit the North End, here are all the North End places ranked “best of.”  Thanks boston.cityvote.com! for your 2011 Winners.  We look forward to seeing many of our neighborhood’s fine establishments in the 2012 listing as well.  We’ll keep you posted.

The Best in  … Arts & Entertainment, Beauty, Dining, Food, Shopping

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT –  A Place to Laugh Til You Cry
Improv Asylum ranked #1 at 216 Hanover

BEAUTY –  Barber  
Boston Barber Co ranked #5 at 113 Salem

BEAUTY -   Cosmetics  
A Matter of Face ranked #1 at 425 Hanover

DINING  - Al Fresco
Fiore ranked #3 at 250 Hanover

DINING  - Place to impress a client
Bricco ranked #5 at 241 Hanover

DINING  - Special Occasion
Tresca ranked #16 at 233 Hanover

DINING  -  ”Nouveau” Italian Cuisine
Lucca NorthEnd  ranked #5 at 226 Hanover

DINING  -  Traditional Italian Cuisine
Bricco ranked #1 at 241 Hanover
Terramia Ristorante ranked #2 at 98 Salem
Davide Ristorante ranked #4 at 326 Commercial
Strega Ristorante ranked #7 at 379 Hanover St
La Famiglia Giorgio ranked #9  at 112 Salem St
Artu ranked #11 at 6 Prince St
Pomodoro  ranked #12 at 319 Hanover
Dolce Vita Ristorante ranked #14 at 221 Hanover Street
Al Dente Ristorante ranked #15 at 109 Salem St

FOOD  - Bakery
Bova ranked #8 at 134 Salem

FOOD  -  Cupcakes
Lulus Sweet Shoppe ranked #6 at 57 Salem

FOOD -  Gelato
Gelateria ranked #1 at 272 Hanover.  Caffe Paradiso ranked #2 at 255 Hanover

FOOD   - Liquor Store
V.Cirace & Son ranked #9 at 173 North St

FOOD -  Pizza/Slice
Pizzaria Regina ranked #1 at 11-1/2 Thatcher.  Ernestos ranked #5 at 69 Salem

FOOD -  Pizza/Upscale
Ducali Pizzeria ranked #2 at 289 Causeway.  Antico Forno ranked #9 at 93 Salem

FOOD - Reason to Cheat on your Diet
Lulu’s Sweet Shoppe ranked #3 at 57 Salem.  Lucia ranked #8 at 415 Hanover

FOOD - Sandwich
Volle Nolle ranked #11 at 351 Hanover

SHOPPING  - Cigars
Stanza dei Sigari ranked #1 at 292 Hanover

SHOPPING –  Costume Jewelry
Filthy Rich ranked #1 at 236 Hanover.  High Gear ranked #6 at 204 Hanover

SHOPPING –  Designer Denim
in-jean-ius ranked #1 at 441 Hanover

SHOPPING  - Home Goods
Acquire ranked #7 at 61 Salem

SHOPPING –  Hostess Gifts
Shake the Tree ranked #7 at 95 Salem

SHOPPING - Menswear
Ball & Buck ranked #1 at 3 Lewis Street

SHOPPING  - Women’s Wear
Savas ranked #7 at 456 Hanover.  Twilight ranked #11 at 12 Fleet St.

SHOPPING –  Women’s Shoes
Nahas ranked #13 at 285 Hanover

When the temperature hits 50 degrees, head up stairs to the fresh air and vibrant scene at the North End’s only open, heated rooftop.  Voted “the hottest place to drink and dine,” it’s the place to rise above the hustle and bustle and experience a side of the North End that’s refreshingly different.

So, join the folks at Fiore for a “refreshingly different” place to dine.

Lucca’s Classic menu is made up of dishes their regulars have missed since the dishes were removed from their dinner and bar menus. The most requested  — the wild mushroom and potato lasagna with sauteed wild mushrooms and spinach and the double cut pork chop stuffed with gorgonzola, wrapped in prosciutto and served over Tuscan bean stew and mustard greens.

While all guests will be able to choose from Lucca’s full dinner menu or the Classic menu, many returning customers are quite excited about this turn of events and the Classic Menu and Lucca are getting a great response … so reservations are  strongly recommended.

** Looking for a place to park your car before enjoying a great meal? Click here for directions to over 7,500 parking spaces within a short walking distance of Hanover Street.

Here is Lucca’s Classic Menu

Lucca Classic Menu Dishes since 2000

Here they are! After consulting with our earliest regulars, these were the dishes they missed the most

PRIMI

Lasgana ai Funghi 12

Potato lasagna, layered with sautéed wild mushrooms and spinach, finished with a balsamic glaze

*Vitello Tonnato 14

A classic dish of thinly sliced veal with a tuna caper aioli

Torta d’anatra 14

It is still on the menu but has reached classic status. Rustic duck tart with caramelized onions, goat cheese and spinach

*Sliders 12

A bar menu favorite, a sampling of three mini burgers with wild boar and ricotta salata, braised beef short rib and a sirloin burger  with gorgonzola cherry peppers

PRINCIPALLI

Linguini Vongole 29

Homemade linguini pasta with cockle, countneck and manila clams, snow peas, pancetta and baby tomatoes tossed with white wine and garlic

Ravioli di Lepre 26

House-made wild rabbit and goat cheese ravioli with sautéed baby vegetables and a red wine demi glacé

*Salmone con Granchio 26

Coriander seared salmon fillet with olive oil whipped potatoes, Jonah crabmeat, pea tendrils, shaved red onion and an agro dolce sauce

*Halibut con Gremolata 38

Steamed East coast halibut topped with gremolata, served over lemon-herb risotto and English peas

Maiale 29

Double cut pork chop stuffed with gorgonzola and wrapped with prosciutto di Parma, served over Tuscan bean ragu and sautéed mustard greens

Bistecca 38

Grilled beef tenderloin with broccoli rabe and truffled parmesan risotto finished with a roasted shallot and pancetta demi glacé

DOLCI

Pera Brulée 10 Spiced mascarpone stuffed bosch pear,  bruléed to order and served with a red wine syrup

Zabaglione 9 Coffee zabaglione layered with milk chocolate discs

Executive Chef: Ed Hoffey

A special thank you to all of our past chefs,

Frank Santonastaso, Dave Ross and Pat Duffy

*These items may be served raw or under cooked.  Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, or eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness.

Please alert your server before ordering if you or anyone in your party has food allergies

From March 18 to 23 and March 25 to 30,2012.

Boston’s best restaurants will be offering tasty prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner for an incredible bargain:  2-course lunch for $15.12, 3-course lunch for $20.12, and 3-course dinner for $33.12. Some of the North End’s best restaurants are also once again participating.

Here’s your opportunity to be among the first to taste the best, freshest Raw Bar oysters, clams, crabs and shrimp on the East Coast. Check out the Mare Raw Bar Menu.  Can’t attend Friday’s Grand Opening?   Then, check their regular hours;  Sunday through Friday from 4 pm to 11 pm and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm .

To view Mare’s award-winning, expanded Dinner Menu, please click here.

If you wish more information please , click here

Whether it’s their fennel braised beef short rib with wild mushroom polenta and black truffle mascarpone as your “Primi,” or their signature appetizer of duck confit baked in a pastry shell with caramelized onions, goat cheese and spinach … you’ll know you’re off to the perfect start.

Want to know more? Then read their menu below.

Our friends at Lucca have two special events this month.  Both are a great opportunity to experience the excellence of their food, the quality of their service and the elegant atmosphere of their restaurant.

 January 29th —  The City Feast, Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes
January 31 — The Piedmont Wine Dinner 

Here is the delightful menu for January 29.  Not only do you enjoy the evening, your participation is a contribution toward the fight against Juvenile Diabetes.

Lucca North End Welcomes
CityFeast: Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

A five-course dinner, paired with wines from our award winning wine list.
Proceeds benefit the Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund.

Tickets: $150*.
*$100 of the ticket price
is tax-deductible.

Zuppa
Prosciutto cotto and potato soup, house-smoked mozzarella

Pasta
Homemade rigatoni pasta with wild boar ragu

Pesce
Pan roasted scallops, roasted fingerling potatoes, haricot verts, toasted pine nut vinaigrette

Carne
Braised beef short rib, butternut squash risotto, carrots, baby brussels sprouts

Dolce
Tiramisu, ladyfingers soaked in espresso with creamy mascarpone

Tickets are also available at www.joslin.org/cityfeast

And, for additional information and to enter to win a 2012 S50Vespa, Click Here: JDC_CityFeast_Invitation

* * * * * * * * *

Lucca’s next event on January 31 is the Piedmont Wine Dinner, and here are the details.

Piedmont Wine Dinner
In addition to their regular dinner menu, they are offering a Three Course Tasting Menu 

Primo
Anatra
Duck terrine, dried cherries, upland cress, pickled red onion, raspberry vinaigrette
2008 Fratelli Ravello Dolcetto D’Alba

 Secondo
Funghi
Wild mushroom and ricotta manicotti, black truffle vinaigrette, frisée, beets
2009 Michele Chiarlo Barbera D’Asti

 Terzo
 Manzo
Grilled New York strip steak, parsnip and gorgonzola gratin, broccoli rabe, roasted shallot demi-glacé
2006 Seghesio Barolo “La Villla”

 Vegetarian options available

***dessert course available with a glass of 2010 Boeri Moscato D’Asti***
(Ten dollars per person)

 Fifty-five dollars per person
(price does not include 7% tax or 20% gratuity)

 The owners and all the staff at Lucca hope you will join them for one, or both, of these special offerings during this chilly month of January.  A treat to warm the body and spirit.