Il Molo Opens in the North End Next Week

Restaurateur Donato Frattaroli's latest is a family affair, with a simple menu centered on pasta and plenty of New England seafood.

Il Molo. / Photo via Facebook.

Il Molo. / Photo via Facebook.

Il Molo is set to open next week in the North End, serving up seafood-driven dishes with a dash of Italian influence. The restaurant is the latest from Donato Frattaroli, a 40-year restaurateur also behind neighborhood spots including Lucia Ristorante and Artu, and his son, Donato Frattaroli, Jr.

“I’ve worked alongside my dad for years, but this is the first time I’m opening a restaurant with him,” Frattaroli, Jr. says in a statement. “It’s been a great experience to do this together from the ground up, from renovating the space to introducing the whole project to our amazing neighbors. We can’t wait to bring our vision of a true updated neighborhood restaurant to this spot.”

Il Molo is taking over the space previously occupied by Davide, a restaurant best remembered for its appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares,” Eater Boston reported. The interior has three distinct space: a 12-seat bar area with high top tables, a dining room with a marble tables, a fireplace, and some lounge-style seating, and a private events space. It will seat about 90, the Improper Bostonian reported.

Chef Pino Maffeo, formerly of the Winchester location of Lucia, is on board as culinary director of Il Molo. Maffeo was a 2006 Food & Wine Best New Chef, Boston Chefs reported. Maffeo and the Frattarolis are keeping it simple: Il Molo—”the pier” in Italian—will have seafood platters with Maine lobster, East and West Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, and more; pasta, and large plates like New England cod loin with chorizo and white beans, and seafood stew. Dive into a number of salads, appetizers like old-school oysters Rockefeller, daily crudo preparations, and vegetables like broccoli rabe with beans.

Check out the full opening menu below.

Il Molo, 326 Commercial St., North End, 857-277-1895, ilmoloboston.com.