Boston - March 25, 2009

18 Again

Cafe 47 Restaurant Opens

You’ve gone from five-course to family-style, five-star to Hotel Mom. (And, yes, you’ve worn that shirt five times without dry-cleaning.)

Give Cafe 47 credit for going up the down staircase.

Owner Beth Gibeley-Panagos has classed up the former Despina’s Place pizzeria, turning it into a cozy American eatery complete with cranberry floors, exposed brick, and banquette seating. (Look closely and you’ll spot pieces of the old Despina sign scattered throughout the dining room.)

For lunch, patrons can dine on riesling-poached pear salad with homemade candied walnuts, seasonal veggie risotto, and pizza oven-baked garlic bread plus take-out options like Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. Wash down dinner with house-made sangria or wine specially selected by The Second Glass.

The extra twist? Everything on the menu is $18 and under.

Meaning everything’s escalating but the bill.

Cafe 47, 47 Massachusetts Avenue, Back Bay (617-536-1577 or cafe47.net).