Bar Enza

Tucked inside The Charles Hotel, this Italian eatery is a culinary homecoming for renowned New York chef Mark Ladner (of Del Posto and Pasta Flyer fame). The Bay State native, who’s originally from Belmont and started his food career right here in Boston, is going back to his roots as he brings this playful osteria to Harvard Square. Sit down at the dimly lit bar for the perfect aperitivo with friends—order off the negroni menu and pair your amaro-heavy libations with satisfying snacks, like crunchy, cheese-filled saffron suppli, for the full effect. Guests seeking sustenance beyond just cocktail hour nibbles can post up at a marble table and dig into some more substantial fare. Dinner is broken down into traditional Italian courses, starting with an assortment of antipasti, before going into the carb-heavy primi and meat-centric secondi, finally ending on a sweet note with dolci. Each stage of the meal is Italian in essence but also shows that the kitchen doesn’t take itself too seriously, with unconventional versions of familiar favorites, like a giant meatball smothered in Smoke Shop BBQ and tomato sauce, and tuna carpaccio with salsa verde and onion rings.