Where should we go to lunch? It’s a common question for EC Boston students every day, after their classes. Of course EC Boston is located in the heart of the city, with so many lunch places nearby: in Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall alone, there are hundreds of options! Then there’s Government Center, the North End, and the Financial District, all within walking distance from EC Boston. But, do you end up eating the same thing every day? Al’s subs, coffee from Starbucks, and snacks from 7-11! Don’t you get bored of these places?
Today I went to lunch at an authentic Italian lunch cafe called Casa Razdora, here’s their website’s link: http://casarazdora.com/. You know it’s an authentic place because EVERYone who works at the cafe speaks in Italian the whole time! It’s decorated with family photos of “Old Italy.” It’s a tiny little place, so it’s difficult to find seats, but you can order take out there just as easily. They have specials for every day of the week, and almost everything is less than $10. Their pastas are all homemade right there in the cafe, and if you order a pasta dish for lunch, they cook it there, to order, right in front of you. There are also slices of pizza, made-to-order Italian sandwiches, and lots of other options.
It almost seems like Casa Razdora wants to remain a special secret, because there is no sign on the door! It’s a bit difficult to find, but here are the directions. From EC Boston, turn right on State Street and then left on Kilby Street (where Au Bon Pain is). Walk past Boston Kebab on your left, and you will see Water Street (your first left after Boston Kebab). Cafe Razdora is a little shop on the right of Water Street, number 115. Look at the pictures below so you will recognize it.
The food is absolutely delicious! I had potato gnocchi pasta with tomato and vodka sauce (YUM!) and my friend ordered one of the specials of the day: Chicken rolled up around prosciutto, cheese, and herbs with a side of roasted potatoes and vegetables.
For this lunch place option, I give the food an A+, the location an A+ because it’s so close to EC Boston, but I give the atmosphere a B-. It’s a really small place, and there’s always a big line of people waiting for their food. The cooks are always shouting out clients’ orders in Italian and it’s a bit hectic. The food is totally worth it though- if you can order takeout and bring your food back to school to relax while you eat, I highly recommend it!
