Even when you are outside of Boston and just north of Providence, RI, you might be in the mood for a meal that is different than what you expected. Maybe you want a bit of Italian food. Or maybe it is Latin food, but not fully Mexican. Or maybe it is a touch of Greek. You can not tell, but you know you want something different. If that is the case, then you need to take a back road and look for something different.
When doing this with friends, we found a small place that looked like a hole in the wall. No cars outside. No one seemed to be inside it appeared. But when the clock hit 6 pm, the people started to arrive. And in large numbers. We were lucky to have a reservation and get a table when we stepped inside. Inside, it was different.
Papagallo is a truly family restaurant. Even the youngest of the family managed the front counter to check in. We then went to the table with our menus. This is where we started.
And it is some menu to consider. There is everything. You can find Italian, South American, with specialties from Colombia. There is fish, meat, and even vegan if desired. It is all there. It can be a way to combine meals from all regions that you can try. Nothing will stop you. It also helps that the waiter will tell you of the specialties of the day and answer any questions you might have. And he will go into detail on this. And he can take your order without writing it down.
Of course, the first thing to do is order a drink if you wish. They do have a bartender how can make anything. Naturally, a good way to start is with a dry martini. That was filled to the top of the glass. It was ideal. We also had some special Spritz cocktails that were good and strong, but sweet enough to start the meal.
FIRST COURSE IS DIFFERENT.
Starting with appetizers, we did have calamari, which was not traditional Italian style. It was more Colombian in nature. It is lightly breaded, fried, and tossed with garlic, wine, butter, sliced cherry peppers, and tomatoes. Finished with a dash of parmesan cheese. But, it does have a spicy twist to it. And they were perfect.
We also had an order of zucchini flowers that were covered and fried. These are rare to come by. Many restaurants do not even offer these or know how to make them. This was special as no one makes this except at home if you grow the zucchini. This was great.
NEXT UP, A VARIETY OF COURSES TO FOLLOW.
For the main entrees, we went all over the place. A bit of everything that we could share and enjoy together. It was that good to share and experience.
The special course was the Mofongo Relleno. It is a Puerto Rican favorite consisting of fried, mashed green plantains with garlic, olive oil, and Chicharrónes. It is then sautéed with peppers and onions, stuffed with chicken. It is a simple dish, but nothing you can ever have outside of a Puerto Rican restaurant. And here it is alongside Italian dishes and New England seafood.
Next up was Haddock Florentine. This was different. It is baked haddock topped with spinach, grape tomatoes, and crispy bacon in a lemon wine butter sauce. Served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The sauce is a mixture of Pinot Grigio. It is tasty and light with just enough flavoring.
From this, we went to Salmon Oscar. It is grilled Atlantic Salmon served over Lobster ravioli with mushrooms, grape tomatoes, and asparagus in a sherry cream sauce. It was truly fresh with fresh caught salmon. It was a good taste with a good portion to go with.
The meals were truly enjoyable and had a special taste. Cooked fresh, you could have more since the portions were ideal.
A FINAL STEP.
Naturally, after the meal, there is time for dessert. Starting with an express, what more could you want? There were Italian desserts and South American desserts. But this being a special time we went for the Tres Leches.
A tres leches cake is a sponge cake originating in North, Central, and South America, soaked in milk. It is a very light cake with many air bubbles. This distinct texture is why it does not have a soggy consistency despite being soaked in a mixture of three types of milk.
We also had the Pistachio Cake. This is a special cake that is truly light to the touch. Moist, fluffy pistachio cake made with a yogurt batter base and topped with a pistachio butter glaze is an elegant, but easy dessert. Toasting and grinding the pistachios yourself adds a little work, but results in a deep, rich, roasted pistachio flavor.
In the end, this was a special meal to have on a special gathering with friends. It was a place hidden down a street not far from where we were, butwe never knew of it.
The family is wonderful. They run this shop from the front door to the kitchen. It is their way of presenting a taste and style many of us will never even know of. The meals are good. The portions are excellent. The pricing is perfect for what you will receive. Our compliments to the Chef and the team for offering a special meal.
Papagallo. It is a mixture of cultures and tastes for everyone.
LOCATION:
Papagallo Restaurant & Bar
87 Pleasant Street
Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: 774-203-3532
You can follow them on Instagram!
“The Jaded Traveler”. Ron Rossi was born and raised in New York. A globalist at heart, Ron is a marketing director by trade, and has lived and worked around the world including Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Food is one of the best ways to learn about a country, a people and a culture. So, Ron is always looking for the best in mid-range to budget and street food. He is always on the hunt for a good meal anyone can afford. It is the food of the average citizen that excites him. And with having visited close to 100 countries on 6 continents so far, there have been some pretty good meals.
