Rose

I want to show you what happens when an old school restaurant gets completely transformed into something that’s current, and trendy, and really tasty. So let’s get a taste of Rose in East Boston.

Rose is an international tapas restaurant and craft cocktail lounge in Eastie’s Day Square. It opened up about a year ago, and from an atmosphere and design point of view, this place is impressive. The vibe is sexy and sophisticated. There are these amazing murals all over the walls, cool lighting, lots of live flowers and of course roses are everywhere. So it’s a popular spot for a date night or a girls night out.

And it’s really mind-blowing to me that this space used to be Javelli’s, which at one point was the oldest Italian restaurant in Greater Boston, having opened in 1924.  So to go from this… to this… is just an incredible transformation and it really demonstrates the evolution of the East Boston restaurant scene.

As for the menu, the focus is on a lot of sharable small plates with influences from all over the world, particularly with flavors from Spain, Latin America, and the islands. So let’s dig in.

First up, we got the Croquettes D’Pollo. Or the Chicken Croquettes.  This is one of the most famous and popular Spanish starters, and it pairs perfectly with a glass or wine or a cocktail.  Basically, it’s a little deep fried bite that’s stuffed with a combination of chicken, ham, white onion, and mozzarella cheese. They come three to an order, and the chipotle aioli dipping sauce really puts it over the top.

You also gotta get the Empanadas. It’s another dumpling kind of appetizer, but this one is inspired by Argentina. If you don’t know, Argentina is known for having some of the best beef in the world, so these crispy Empanadas are stuffed with seasoned ground beef, onions, and peppers. And with this one, I’d highly recommend adding some of their housemade chimichurri sauce, packed with fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil.

On the seafood side of the things, check out the Shrimp Ceviche.  This is very popular throughout Latin America, especially Peru and Mexico.  So you have fresh shrimp, that’s basically cooked in a citrus marinade, along with mango, cilantro, and jalapenos. They throw some crispy Plantain Chips in there as well, so it’s very light and refreshing and a great way to start your meal.

They also offer some tasty fish tacos.  The fish is lightly battered, it’s topped with a fruity pico de gallo made with apples for extra crunch, and it’s drizzled with an avocado cream sauce.

If you’re not much of an adventurous eater, you can always fall back on a burger.  And thankfully, Rose actually has a really good one. You get a nice, juicy patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato. All stacked on a brioche bun. Plus, they throw on some pineapple barbecue sauce for a little tropical twist.  It comes with a side of fries. But if you’re looking for potatoes, this is the dish I’d recommend: The Patatas Bravas.

Now, Patatas Bravas is a traditional Spanish dish, always one of the most ordered tapas selections.  They’re basically skin-on potatoes that have been cut into cubes, cooked until they’re nice and crunchy on the outside, which staying soft and fluffy in the inside. And they’re covered in a traditional spicy Brava sauce, which has some tomato and smoked paprika. Plus, they throw on drizzle of garlic aioli with a hint of cilantro.

If you’re looking for old school Italian, there’s a “Memory Lane” section of the menu that has some of the original dishes that were popular at Javelli’s, including the Chicken alla Vodka. This is a big old bowl full of rigatoni pasta, along with chicken, pancetta, and onions in a creamy tomato vodka sauce.  I honestly can’t tell you if this is anything like the original Javelli’s recipe, but I can tell you that it definitely hits the spot.

And if you’re not into the whole “sharing” and “small plates” thing, why not just order yourself the Filet Mignon?  The steak is tender, cooked to a perfect medium rare all the way through. And it’s served over some creamy risotto that’s slow-cooked with portobello mushrooms, garlic, and asiago cheese.

Now for dessert, we’re going to recommend the Choco Flan.  This is like getting two desserts in one.  On top, you have the traditional, creamy, smooth caramel flan.  And on the bottom, there’s a rich and dense chocolate cake.

And you don’t want to leave without trying one of their signature cocktails, or even an entire cocktail tree.  Recommended are the house hibiscus margarita, or the “Money Shot”, which is made with fresh kiwi, vodka, and sake.

So at the end of the day, if the question is “will you accept this Rose”. The answer is a definitive “yes”, at Rose Restaurant in East Boston.