Best of Boston

2010 Best Dorchester Restaurant, Neighborhood

Tavolo

Owner Chris Douglass has a knack for opening restaurants that become local favorites: the now-closed Icarus in the South End, Ashmont Grill in an up-and-coming pocket of Dorchester. His most recent project, Tavolo, is also in Dorchester, but in the two years since it’s opened, the restaurant has developed a following all its own. Maybe it’s chef Maxwell Thompson’s famous meatballs, crisp pizzas, and handmade pastas. Or maybe it’s the funky décor and family-friendly atmosphere. Either way, Douglass’s Italian-inspired boite has earned its place on Dot denizens’ weekly dining rotation.

1918 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, 617-822-1918, tavolopizza.com