SHAYNA: AT THE RECENTLY OPENED MORTADELLA HEAD IN SOMERVILLE, THE SANDWICHES MAKE A STATEMENT.
PILED HIGH WITH GOODNESS, THESE HEFTY HEROES ARE AS TASTY AS THEY ARE EYE-POPPING.
>> WHEN SOMEONE WALKS INTO THE MORTADELLA HEAD, WE WANT TO WOW SOMEONE AT THE CASE.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
REPORTER: THE OWNERS OF MORTADELLA HEAD KNOW HOW TO MAKE A SHOW WITH FOOD.
THEY HAVE DAZZLED DINERS FOR YEARS WITH OVER-THE-TOP BURGERS AND FROTHY MILKSHAKES.
NOW THEY ARE CONVINCED THAT THEY CAN WIN HEARTS WITH HANDCRAFTED JUMBO SANDWICHES.
>> GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE A SPIN ON A POOR BOY, BUT INSTEAD OF FRIED SHRIMP WE HAVE FRIED CALAMARI WITH VINEGAR, PEPPERS AND LEMON AIOLI..
SHAYNA: THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 CRITICS COMBOS JUST LIKE THAT.
THE CUBAN CRISIS BOASTS PORCHETTA, CHILI MAYO.
ROASTED RED PEPPERS, ONIONS AND FRIDAY.
THE 13 FRANCESCA IS A BOATLOAD OF MEATBALLS, SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE.
>> PEOPLE GET THEIR SANDWICH AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
ONCE YOU SEE THE PHONE COME OUT AND THEY TAKE PICTURES OF IT, YOU KNOW YOU DID SOMETHING GOOD.
SHAYNA: EVERYONE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE NAME MORTADELLA HEAD MEANS.
IT IS ITALIAN SCHOOLYARD FAME FOR AFFECTIONATELY CALLING SOMEONE A MORE ON.
>> IT IS A FUNNY NAME YOU WOULD CALL SOMEONE A DUMMY.
IT IS NOT MEAN.
MORTADELLA HEAD OVER THERE WILL BE BY.
IT IS A FUN NAME, PEOPLE REMEMBER IT.
SHAYNA: THEY ALSO MAKE OVER-THE-TOP ROMAN STYLE PIZZA.
JUST LIKE THE SANDWICHES, THE MASSIVE SLABS OF SURPRISINGLY LIGHT, AIRY PIZZA ARE LOADED WITH CREATIVE TOPPINGS.
>> WE GET A LOT OF REPEAT CUSTOMERS.
A GUY HAS BEEN HERE SIX TIMES SINCE WE OPENED, AND THAT IS HUGE.
REPORTER: ALSO LAUNCHED RECENTLY, ALCOVE IN BOSTON’S NORTH STATION AREA, A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RESTAURANT OF LATE 2018.
OWNED BY THE FORMER GM OF ISLAND CREEK OYSTER BAR,/INJURED BRINGS IN HIS A GAME WHEN IT COMES TO KNOWING HOSPITALITY, FOOD AND THE JOYS OF A GREAT COCKTAIL.
>> I FELT THIS WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEEDED A RESTAURANT TO NURSE PEOPLE ALL DAY.
WE ARE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY AND WE DO NOT CLOSE BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF RESTAURANTS ON THE WATERFRONT THAT ARE INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED.
REPORTER: THE SLEEKLY APPOINTED ALCOVE IS ON HISTORIC LOVEJOY WHARF, ONCE HOME TO A CANDY STORAGE FACILITY.
NOW THAT COMPLEX, JUST STEPS FROM TD GARDEN, SERVES AS HEADQUARTERS.
DAY OR NIGHT, ALCOVE TREATS DINERS TO A VIEW OF THE ZIKA BRIDGE.
-- ZIKAM BRIDGE.
>> THIS IS HOW YOU KICK IT OFF, WITH THE SHELLFISH TOWER.
REPORTER: FRESH SHELLFISH, SEAFOOD AND PRODUCE.
THERE IS A LOT MORE TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO WET ALCOVE.
THE CHEESEBURGER WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS CRUSHES IT.
THE ROASTED HAVE CHICKEN DUSTED WITH SPANISH CAPRICA, SCRUMPTIOUS -- PAPRIKA, SCRUMPTIOUS.
THEN THERE IS A PASTA DISH WITH A VARIATION OF PESTO.
>> WE TYPICALLY THINK OF PESTO AS A SPRING IN GREETING, BUT THE BROCCOLI RABE MAKES IT MORE FALL.
MEYER LEMON AS WELL.
REPORTER: YOU MIGHT END THE MEAL WITH AN OLIVE OIL SEMI FREDDO OR APPLE GALETTE WITH CINNAMON ICE CREAM.
ALCOA VOWS TO DELIVER WITH WARM, ATTENTIVE HOSPITALITY.
>> IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU HAD A CRAZY DAY AT WORK AND WANT TO HAVE A BEER AND BURGER AND SIT AT THE BAR AND TALK TO THE BARTENDER, OR YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE AN ANNIVERSARY.
WE HAVE ALL THE EXPERIENCES.
ANTHONY: AS THEY SAID, ALCOVE FEELS THEY’RE FILLING A VOID OF UPSCALE RESTAURANTS IN THE NORTH STATION AREA.
A NICE PLACE TO GO BEFORE YOU GO TO THE GARDEN.
SHAYNA: WE SHOULD MENTION THEY OFFER VALIDATED PARKING NEAR THE SUMMER -- DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
THEY HAVE OUTDOOR EATING AND YOU CAN TAKE A WATER TAXI TO GET THERE, WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN.
ANTHONY: COMING UP, GETTING EMPLOYEES TO STAY THROUGH DESSERT.
>> A LOT OF COOKS ARE BOUNCING AROUND A LOT MOR