Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/641736
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MORGAN IONE YEAGER ABOVE: From Venice, with love: The bar at SRV specializes in cicchetti, snacks or side dishes like cheeses, bruschetta, and arancini (fried rice balls), typically served in bacari, or Venetian wine bars. There might not be a bronzed, tawny gondolier in sight, but the sleek décor, and haute cuisine, at the new SRV (for Serene Republic of Venice, naturally) gifts Boston a taste of the Veneto. The restaurant's rich adornments, like velvet banquettes, custom brass shelving, nautical accents, and marble- topped tables, are a nod to both Venice and Boston's South End. Tiles cut into the reclaimed wood flooring mimic waves, while a cut-glass decanter chandelier pours light over the dining room. "We were very excited to work with South End– based designers RODE Architects on this project," says Deirdre Auld, director of opera- tions for Coda Restaurant Group. "Our goal was to capture elements of Venetian design, materi- als, and lifestyle while paying respect to the South End." That's the front of the house—in the back, chefs Michael Lombardi and Kevin O'Donnell, both long- time Bostonians, orchestrate the fresh Venetian fare (think carne cruda, risotto, and buckwheat bigoli pasta). Inside and out, SRV delivers la dolce vita. . TWO RISING-STAR CHEFS BRING SERENISSIMA TO THE SOUTH END. BY JESSICA BOWNE SERENITY FOUND 118 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM SPACE NOW OPEN!