The long-stalled, oft-desired Downtown Crossing revival is nearly in full swing. First came the residences, with the Kensington and Millennium Place opening their doors, and the Millennium Tower project breaking ground. Now comes the latest in a spate of new restaurants: Mast’, an eatery serving up Southern Italian cuisine, is set to open in late July on the ground level of 45 Province’s residences.

“We’re behind Mayor Walsh with his commitment to the area. We want this to be a neighborhood. People are reluctant to call this a neighborhood, but it’s turning into one,” says Mast’ co-owner John DeSimone. “And what we’re focusing on is a neighborhood place. We want to give you an upscale visit, but we don’t want it to feel stuffy or unapproachable. We want you to visit three to four times a week. We’ve priced it accordingly for that.”

One of the ways that the team hopes to establish a neighborhood feel is through a bottle-keep service. A trend that’s popular overseas, it allows patrons to order their own bottle of wine or liquor and, if it goes unfinished, have it ticketed at no charge and put aside for their return; they can even pass the ticket on to a friend, who can then access the bottle.

“This is huge in Europe, but it’s a concept that does not exist anywhere in Boston,” says general manager Nicholas Garoufalis.

Despite that unique drink service, the guys behind Mast’—named after an Italian term for masters of their craft—have their focus set squarely on the food. Co-owner Marco Caputo worked as an executive chef in Italy and Spain, and he’s brought in Celio Pereira, who spent 17 years at Mamma Maria, to oversee the kitchen. Their aim is to put a fresh spin on simple dishes, and some highlights will include wagyu beef polpette, pappardelle with wild-boar ragu and Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven brought in from Naples, Italy. A selection of street food-inspired fare will allow customers to nosh on treats such as croquettes, pizza al taglio and zeppole. Those snacks will also be on the late-night menu, which will be served till 1:30 am on weekends.

With 70 seats downstairs, the laid-back lounge should handle the late-evening crowd. Copper-
colored dropped ceilings and black tiled columns will set the mood in the upstairs dining area, which will fit 50, with another 35 seats on the patio. While a business crowd will likely swarm in for lunch and post-work drinks, the Mast’ team really wants to cater to their neighbors.

“Ten years ago, you had the South End expanding and exploding. Five years ago, you had the Seaport. Now, this is the area everyone is putting their eyes on,” Garoufalis says. “You can see the transformation of the whole district. We are in the heart of Boston.”

 

Mast’, 145 Province St., Boston (617-936-3800) mastboston.com

Mast'


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