Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/259813
T he Pallotta sisters, who own NEBO Cucina & Enoteca, a North End hot spot that recently moved to the burgeoning waterfront neighbor- hood, vibrate with energy. And they (Christine and Carla, though it's hard to tell them apart) talk a mile a minute about a gazillion things. Their F-bomb-laced, ping-pong-match conversations zig from stories about their mother, Angelina (their true north and the backbone of Nebo's kitchen), then zag to "spuckies" (the sandwiches on their new lunch menu) to stories about Carmen (the cheese guy, who was put in shackles by the FBI in front of their old spot). It's reverential. It's nurturing. It can be hard to follow. NEBO, which originally stood for "North End Boston," now stands for "North End Brought Over," since the Italian restaurant moved and reopened in June 2013. NEBO is their world, and for these two sisters from Endicott Street in the North End, family is everything. Ergo, those who enter NEBO are family. The restaurant first opened in June 2005 on Washington Street, around the corner from the Boston Garden (brother Jim is part owner of the Celtics), so sports stars quickly became part of the "family." "We respect what they do, but we don't drool over them," says Christine. "We treat them like every- body else." Their first restaurant was trial and error, "especially in the beginning," says Carla. Christine chimes in: "If we had any idea how much work this would be, I'm not sure we'd be doing it." Then she laughs. Then Carla laughs. They know this is exactly what they are supposed to be doing. "The rent tripled at our first place," says Christine, "and we thought, This is it. Then Jim [the brother with a financial Midas touch] called about this space. We jumped back in." Hugging Atlantic Avenue with a long patch of the Sister Act YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRLS OUT OF THE NORTH END, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE NORTH END OUT OF THE GIRLS AT THEIR SEAPORT SMASH, NEBO. BY ANNIE B. COPPS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC PERRI continued on page 68 LEFT: High ceilings and a large antique mirror behind the bar reflect NEBO's warm, airy atmosphere. ABOVE: Owners Christine and Carla Pallotta. THIS ISSUE: DESIGNER DINING 66 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 066-068_BC_ST_SMD_Spring14.indd 66 2/6/14 5:22 PM