In 2017, Ryan decided to try a new venture and, as luck would have it, was invited to join the opening team at Pammy's. Pammy's officially debuted in the former Indian Castle space at 928 Massachusetts Ave. Monday evening, under the purview of husband-and-wife team Chris and Pam Willis, according to Boston Magazine.Chris serves as the restaurant's chef, overseeing the Italian menu. Pammy's is a New American Trattoria cozily nestled between Cambridge's Central and Harvard Squares. Did not love. A little dimly lit downstairs, but we appreciated the kind service and good local beers. / Photo provided. Excellent service. Available in the dining room, for take-out and on the Pammy's patio Monday-Thursday from 5:00-9:30pm Friday & Saturday from 5:00-10:30pm Consult the Pammy's website for details about on-site dining and reservations. I'm all for seared scallops, but they should not be cold in the center. Lots of creative dishes and some draght cocktails. Lauren Hayes (Ten Tables) is sommelier, and Mareena McKenzie (Ribelle, Shepard) is pastry chef, and thats just the tip of the iceberg of the talented opening team this is a spot to watch. For husband and wife team Chris and Pam Willis (who live right up the street), Pammy's is an extension of their living room. It wasn't overly fruity where it clashed with dish but paired well with all of the dishes. The loveliest restaurant in Cambridge! PANNA COTTA. Mannnnnnnnnnn I wish it had that perfectly crisp skin. I started with the Belladonna cocktail which was made of Gin, Rhubarb, Gentian, and Aperol. But deep down, it was always their fate to open a restaurant. We will definitely be back!! SWORDFISH. June 21st, 2023. Vodka, Aperol, Crme de Cacao, Raspberry-Vanilla Rooibos Syrup, Lime, Excellent food in a fun relaxed environment. With the somewhat hidden 6% service fee, I can't rationalize going anymore. Mannnnnnnnnnn I wish it had that perfectly crisp skin. She spent hours with Matre Ds after school, folding napkins and steaming silverware. Details that add warmth to the former India Cuisine restaurant include a white ceramic, wood-burning fireplace, which opens both into the lounge area and dining room; a salvaged, oversized table for communal dining, and rich leather banquettes. Its got a ton of anchovy flavor, so if thats not your thing, stay away. Sometimes we like something without being able to say exactly what it is. The Best Dishes Eater Bostons Team Ate This Month, Find Tacos Coated With Fritos in Jamaica Plain And More Openings, Ex-Milk Bar Employees Question Whether the Shop Closed Due to Unionization Efforts. The food is always amazing and the service is great. The ambience is both cozy and sophisticated, and the food is creative and delicious. Strawberry Hailing from Greater Boston originally, and growing up in Pennsylvania, Joe's first foray into food was cooking dinner for his mom and his sister as a kid. Price is decent for quality food and on par with other restaurants around Cambridge. It's yet another example of the runaway pricing in nearly every aspect of greater Boston. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This is a real treat!! Fri, Sat 5:00 pm12:00 am. Best restaurant in the Boston area. Sorry Pammy's -- really wanted to love it! Limited but quite good wine list. Amazing food inventive and delicious. Its what makes the food way more interesting than what you see in a Barilla Pasta commercial, and its what makes it a restaurant thats appropriate for almost any situation and almost any kind of person. Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant? Pammy is always friendly and willing to talk. The quality and presentation of food was phenomenal, as were our drinks! A pasta-filled restaurant is now open in Cambridge, and some familiar faces are on the opening team. One of my favorite Boston area restaurants. Does Pammy's have outdoor seating? We found Pammy's to be wonderful. In other media, you can check out Katie's poetry at 86 Logic and Tinderbox Poetry Review, and her graphic design at Deadword Theatre. Sometimes I think less is more. Amanda & Andy's Engagement Session at Pammy's, Cambridge, MA. But, you're free to pick lighter or heavier items across those dishes (no traditional appetizer/main/dessert structure). With dishes that lean heavily on Italian flavors but are not restricted by any rules of the cuisine, the food is unpretentious and delicious. For husband and wife team Chris and Pam Willis (who live right up the street), Pammys is an extension of their living room. This reminded me of a homemade chef boyardee minus all the salt. DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Boston - Cambridge. By submitting your email, you agree to our, A Pasta Paradise Arrives With the Opening of Pammys inCambridge, Sign up for the They weren't bad, just not very good. Mom and Pop Ristorante Pre-fix reservations @opentable But considering how they jam the place out each night, I guess you can't blame them.More, A delicious meal, lovely ambiance, and conscientious service. Two years (and one pandemic) later, Ryan returned to Pammy's, his home away from home. Probably one of the best restaurants in Boston area! For that price, I want to be seriously impressed by the food, and I used to be. Very inventive and varied menu of which three of us had six different dishes and every one was delicious - fresh, well prepared, great balance and taste. * The restaurant serves dinner Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins welcome! You can tell they made the pasta but it felt a little chewy and thick. Next up was the Saffron pici- Marshall Cove Mussels, Coconut Crema, Dill. Interesting cocktails. Love the pick 3 option. I also had a few bites of my husband's pork chop and prime strip. HALIBUT CRUDO. I didn't get much of the lemon mascarpone flavor either. more, Italian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options. If your friend tells you theyre close-ish to the theater, be prepared to whisper-recap the first third of the movie. Great service. Portions we're good! It's a perfect winter restaurant thanks to a wood-burning fireplace, but it also works in the summer with giant windows and a dining room that looks . Entdecke graue Chelsea Crew Cap Zehenpartie flache Schuhe mit Kreuzschnalle, Damen Gr. Actually, it was so good I had two. Fixed price menu (for three courses) with good variety of choices. Bolognese and pork Milanese was delicious but the truffle tortellini is minuscule, the venison and short rib is served a bit too rare, and overall is not a particularly good value, could spend 350 much better elsewhere, Some tasty dishes and the ambiance was lovely but it mustve been a particularly slow night because we waited 45mins for any food, didnt get asked if we wanted more to drink and spent far longer there waiting than we ever do at a restaurant. One of the best meals I've ever had. newsletter, The Hottest New Restaurants in Boston, March 2023, New restaurants to try in and around Boston, including an inventive sushi bar and a vegan-friendly counter-serve spot for tacos and burritos, Sign up for the Together, Chris and Pams goal is to serve unfussy, great food and channel their natural knack for hospitality. . But Pammys is the exception to ish-wariness. Pammy's is a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria. Maybe a berry compote would have compliment the pork more. Outside of work, Joe is definitely a momma's boy. Hospitality is in Pams blood. Theyve brought together their love of great food, easy hospitality and chic vibe to create a lively space that is welcoming to all looking for a memorable meal. All the dishes were wonderful. A new restaurant debuts tonight near Central Square, but it may feel like familiar place. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. Theres no shame in not finishing, just please try to do better next time. Bolognese Sauce, Gochujang And there's so much more that makes Pammy's such an ambrosial date spot. What forms of payment are accepted? 12 New Fast-Casual Boston Restaurants We Loved in 2022. 354 reviews of Pammy's "This place is incredible! Pammys calls itself a New American trattoria. A menu isnt yet available online, but people who checked it out during friends and family services over the past couple weeks enjoyed dishes like octopus and polenta, foie gras torchon, heirloom tomato salad, fusilli with clams and shishito peppers, bolognese pasta, red snapper with cauliflower, and Wagyu bavette steak, according to Facebook reviews. So 2/3 of my dishes had major errors in their preparation (basic), and the pasta sauces were not well balanced and relied too heavily on coconut fat which gave the pasta an oddly tropical feel. Hes a fanatic for sharp knives, and is constantly trying to instill that same passion and importance for proper tools to his fellow cooks. And its a good spot to take a date, but, without a single flickering candle in the whole place, it isnt really a traditional date night spot. The pre fixe (three dishes of your choosing for $72) is also seems immensely reasonably for the quality. Our server was Eric and he was very attentive and informed. We made the trip back to . Reservations recommended. Too full to order more, but I vowed I'd return later in the week for more. The timing of the plates were spot on and we didn't feel rushed! Jimmy most recently delved into the bold world of spices and innovative flavors at Sarma in Cambridge. Achieving it can be very tricky but Cambridge newcomer Pammys comes pretty close. Mike Hodgkinson, Chriss beautifully restrained, Italian-influenced cookinglets top-quality ingredients and textbook technique shine. Jenna Pelletier, Best of the New by The Boston Globe MagazineDo we really need another Italian-inspired trattoria? The prime strip for example, had one candied fig cut in halves and fried squash blossom. Pammy is always friendly and willing to talk. I love Pammys. intrusive, but always there when needed (pouring water, clearing plates and providing fresh silverware, etc.) Others in the group were also very happy with beet salad snd lamb chops. LUMACHE. Also at Pammys: Andrew Foster (Fairsted Kitchen, The Frogmore) serves as the general manager, while Moe Isaza (The Baldwin Bar, Tiger Mama) is bar manager. * $69 PER PERSON // 3 DISHES EACH * HAMACHI CRUDO Saffron Citronette, Blood Orange, Garlic Aioli. Pammys officially debuted in the former Indian Castle space at 928 Massachusetts Ave. Monday evening, under the purview of husband-and-wife team Chris and Pam Willis, according to Boston Magazine. Tasty and creative food, conscientious service, and a beautiful space. I have eaten here multiple times and it never disappoints. Didn't have purpose on the plate with the fish. They've brought together their love of great . Every bite. Visit this place for great almond coffee, vanilla iced coffee or iced cappuccino. As always, the atmosphere was great, and the staff and service were fantastic. Unforgettable - food, cocktails, dessert in a fun and warm environment. The wine pairings were great and the pours were generous. Loved sitting by the fireplace. It's something your grandparents would eat cause it's safe. Paige & Tommy. Food was good but surprised after i got my bill. There is a 6% is a Kitchen Administration Fee that exclusively and directly benefits our Back of House staff (line cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers), who by Massachusetts law may not be included in the tip pool. The chicken and the octopus, in particular, stand out. . Fabulous as always!! That first evening behind the line was such a rush that Jimmy never looked back and his enthusiasm for cooking was born. please email us at info@pammyscambridge.com for more information. Katie started pouring beverages and never really stopped. The atmosphere is relaxed and very pleasant. Plantain, Fried Egg, Pickled Ramps The word is already out on this place, so expect it to be packed just about every night. Its all smoke upon smoke upon spice upon spice, every element building upon the last. Celebrate at Pammy's, if you can get a table. RASPBERRY DELUXE Last up was the Branzino- fregola, Delaware Strawberries, Roasted Beets, Bacon Dashi. than one ever expects. but varied. Delightful place, wide open space with very hip decor yet cozy and friendly, talkative atmosphere. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Joe walked into Pammys with a resume and a firm handshake and asked for a job. A place where you can blindly pick any food or drink and you will be amazed. We hold walk-in space daily in our Bar & Lounge for a la carte dining. Its darn near perfect, both in design and execution. Devra First, Under the Influence of Italy by The Boston Globe, The Hottest Restaurants in Boston, Right Now by Eater, The Very Best Restaurants in Boston Right Now by Thrillist, The Willises clearly want Pammys to feel like a modestly elevated, unpretentious neighborhood joint, but the polish and urbanity behind the facade are impossible to miss. MC Slim JB, Pam-tastic by Where BostonThere must be a golden ratio that governs the balance of menu and interior design in the ideal restaurant universe. As the kitchen pulls from Italian culture and American innovation, the wine list also juxtaposes New and Old World wines from small vineyards in both countries. The crudo was excellent and flavors nicely balanced. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The daughter of a hotelier and a restaurateur, Pam lived in New York City hotels when she was a young girl, finding herself often left with cooks and busboys as babysitters. Strawberry The food was overpriced for the taste. Willis, who, along with his brothers, Bully Boy founders David and Will, grew up on his familys fourth-generation farm in Sherborn, plans to make pastas and breads in-house from freshly milled grains, the Cambridge Day previously reported. Review. If you would prefer to order a la carte, please join us at the bar or lounge (walk-ins only). First up for entrees, I had the Dunderi- Chicken Merguez, Sweet and Sour Cherries and lemon Mascarpone. His passion for hospitality brought him back to the bar, where he loves interacting with guests and experimenting with obscure ingredients. Plantain, Fried Egg, Pickled Ramps (617) 945-1761. Locate some of the most interesting menus in town. Perfect, as always. A quintessential neighborhood restaurant that might make you want to move to this neighborhood. Kara Baskin, Devra First and Sheryl Julian, Bostons Best 2018 Winner: Bostons Best Pasta by The Improper Bostonian, This College Town Just Might Have New Englands Best Dining by Travel + LeisureThis welcoming spotfrom husband-and-wife team Pam and Chris Willis is quickly becoming a favorite haunt for locals and a standard-bearer for the citys revitalized restaurant scene. Hannah Walhout, Wine Pairing with a Pro: Lauren Hayes at Pammy's by The Food Lens, Endive, Hackleback Caviar, Warm Apple Butter, Cauliflower Porridge, Brown Butter Tomato Sauce, Kabocha Squash, Cherry Agrodolce, Chesnut Brown Butter, Japanese Eggplant, Tempura Chanterelles, Red Pepper Salsa, Intini Affiorato Olive Oil, Cookie Crumble, Gin, Grapefruit, Five Spice, Lemon, Bergamotto, Reposado Tequila, Charred Bell Pepper, Lemon, Manzanilla, Thai Chili, Aged Brandy, Rum, Tamarind, Coffee, Maple, Rye Whiskey, Smoked Pineapple, Bitters, Chartreuse, Scotch, Cognac, Vermouth di Torino, Amaro, Mole Bitters, Coconut Washed Mezcal & Tequila, Grapefruit, Hibiscus, Bourbon, Peach, Cinnamon, Ginger, Bubbles, 'Vignaioli Di S. Stefano' Ceretto, Piedmont, 'Love You Bunches', Stolpman Vineyards, California, Pammy's, 928 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. We were seated in the bar area (because we hadn't chosen the price fixe option). The pork had berry ju but again felt random and looked sloppy on the dish. Glamourous yet approachable, this elevated Italian-American spot is a reflection of the couple running the show. Perched between Cambridges Central and Harvard Squares, Pammys is a cozy yet sophisticated neighborhood destination. It may be hard to say exactly what Pammys is, but its not hard to like it. Its a perfect winter restaurant thanks to a wood-burning fireplace, but it also works in the summer with giant windows and a dining room that looks like a Restoration Hardware exploded inside a Mediterranean villa. Too many dishes try and get too cute or seem experimental. James (Jimmy) Dunne found himself unexpectedly behind the line one day when a cook called out sick at the restaurant where he was working front of house. Didn't have purpose on the plate with the fish. Theyve brought together their love of great food, easy hospitality and chic vibe to create a lively space that is welcoming to all looking for a memorable meal. I thought all of the flavors would sing but it actually fell flat. Cannot thank you enough for an amazing experience! Staff was friendly and ambience just perfect. I ended up emailing the Pammy's management and Alex replied immediately. Its not so much that theyre reinventing the wheel, its just that theyre saying Hey, wouldnt wheels be a little bit better if they came with in-season strawberries instead of axle grease?. Pammy's, Cambridge: See 96 unbiased reviews of Pammy's, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #43 of 551 restaurants in Cambridge. Solid 9 out of 10. But considering how they jam the place out each night, I guess you can't blame them. A trained printmaker and poet, during art school hospitality became a way of life, and wine became her favorite medium. We cannot accommodate parties larger than 6 under any circumstances. Cant wait to go back! So great. Its served with cream of (freshly ground) wheat, a salad of matchstick-cut radishes, and a pool of pancetta dashi, the traditional Japanese stock enriched with cured pork. Food is innovative and delicious. Pam y and Chris have created a super spot.More. Tasty and creative food, conscientious service, and a beautiful space. Everything was absolutely fantastic! This gem is pure delight. I'd definitely come back for the drinks! We will definitely be back! Recommended. A dual-opening fireplace wrapped in white ceramic, an oversized salvaged communal table designed for side-by-side dining and rich leather banquets are just some of the design elements that make up Pammys charm. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Definitely go. Creative food combining tastes in fun and new ways. A year later, Chef Chris asked him to be a Sous, and he couldnt have been more excited to accept. Highly recommended. Ingredients are as fresh as they come, and the way in which the chef puts it all together, combining exquisite and interesting tastes with gorgeous, artistic plating, is a cut above nearly every other restaurant in Boston and Cambridge. For all other inquiries, please complete the form below. The cocktails really good and I'd have to say it's some of the best cocktails in the Boston area. Something went wrong. We advise our guests to take public transit, Redline Central Square and Harvard Square, 1 bus, 63 bus, or to partake in a ridesharing app. MonThu 5:00 pm11:00 pm Chris brother of Bully Boy Distillers founders David and Will Willis has experience with Italian cuisine: He previously worked at Jody Adams now-defunct Harvard Square classic Rialto, as well as a few different restaurants in New York City and on Nantucket. Not bad, just a safe dish. We shared all six of our dishes and enjoyed each immensely. Physical Gift Cards are available for purchase in person at the restaurant. Pammy's offers you nicely cooked spaghetti marinara, branzino and pork chops. My paccheri were very toothy, or as my mother would say -- "that pasta's still walking" The wait staff are friendly, helpful and attentive. After learning the basics, he moved to Kendall Sq and started working at Cambridge Brewing Company, where he developed a love of beer and an obsession with dining at local haunts like Hungry Mother and Oleana. Every bite was great and so were the cocktails. Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant? Pammys is a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria. We are serving a $72 choose-your-own-adventure 3 course menu for all reservations. Reservations are for groups of 6 or smaller and can be made up to 30 days in advance. Good bread pudding, coffee ice cream and strawberry ice cream have a good taste. Restaurant is beautiful! You can tell they made the pasta but it felt a little chewy and thick. But, you're free to pick lighter or heavier items across those dishes (no traditional appetizer/main/dessert structure). 887 following. Both were good and seasoned well but again the garnish and sides felt random and didn't pair well with the protein. We loved the Peachy Keen cocktail and Na-groni mocktail - standouts from the dinner menu were the bay scallop crudo, pork milanese, and both pasta dishes we tried :). For husband and wife team Chris and Pam Willis, who live right up the street, Pammy's is an extension of their living room. A pasta-filled restaurant is now open in Cambridge, and some familiar faces are on the opening team. Always great, but special praise for the tuna, the grilled mushrooms, and the celeriac pasta. A real gem for the area. What was once a childhood chore soon became a passion! eateries, and as such it felt right to return to the scene for their engagement photos. a menu. HALIBUT CRUDO. Keeping his hands dirty is the only way he knows how to live! Youll want a plate to yourself! Rob got an early start in the restaurant industry, working as a dishwasher as a young teenager, bartending by 18, and trying out a stint in restaurant marketing after college. Yes., We specialize in Greek & American cuisine and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner 7. Pasta dishes were the favorites. 928 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge Vodka, Aperol, Crme de Cacao, Raspberry-Vanilla Rooibos Syrup, LimeMore, Highly recommend this place.