Osteria Posto: Holiday Lunch Delights

After doing some Christmas shopping yesterday morning, we headed off to lunch, to Osteria Posto in Waltham, which has been one of my favorite restaurants since it opened in 2015. During the holiday season, Osteria Posto opens for lunch, with a full menu of Italian delights, from pizza to pasta, meatballs to burgers. I've raved about this restaurant multiple times in the past and once again highly recommend it to all my readers. Check it out for lunch during this holiday season, or dine there in the evening.

We began with celebratory cocktails, including the Red Sangria ($12), pictured on the left, which is made with Applejack Brandy, oranges, apples, cinnamon, and cider. It is almost like liquid apple pie, though with only a minor sweetness, and rich flavors of apple and cinnamon. Very refreshing and tasty. I opted for the Golden Age ($13), made from Old Overholt Rye, Cynar, Orange Bitters, and with Smoked Ice, a kind of variation on the Manhattan. It has a strong bitter and spicy taste with a hint of orange and touch of smoke. Both cocktails were balanced and delicious.

One of the staple appetizers I nearly always order is the Pane ($2.50), a fresh, hot and soft bread made with rosemary and sea salt. It's perfect for dipping in sauce or oil,

Another appetizer is the Arancini ($12), made with mozzarella, oregano, basil pasata, and pomodoro.  A nice, crunchy exterior with a firm but soft and cheesy interior, accented by the flavorful tomato sauce. Cooked perfectly, they are sure to please, and you can sop up the remaining sauce with the Pane.

The Bruschetta ($14), made with roasted tomato, goat cheese, basil, and vincotto, is another delicious standard. The creamy goat cheese, slightly sweet vincotto and acidic tomatoes balance each other nicely, along with the crusty slices of bread. Fresh, quality ingredients enhance this dish.

For entrees, there were tough decisions to be made. Do I opt for one of their delightful pasta dishes, or go more casual with a pizza? Or do I choose one of the larger entrees? One of our choices was the Duck ($28), in a red wine demi with a mushroom risotto. I've had multiple duck dishes here over the years and every one has been pure deliciousness. The duck was cooked perfectly, quite tender, and full of flavor, with crispy skin atop a thin layer of fat. In the U.S., duck is most commonly found on Chinese restaurant menus, but its popularity in other restaurants is growing, as it should. Duck is a fantastic protein and I hope more restaurants do put it on their menus.

Our other entree was the Pork Milanese ($26), made with mozzarella and tomatoes. Initially, you should be very careful with the juicy tomatoes as you bite into them, you can spray your mouth with hot tomato juices. The pork, pounded thin, was coated with a thin, crispy coating and the pork itself was very tender, covered with plenty of gooey cheese. Once again, a killer dish that more than pleased my palate.

To finish our lunch, we shared a Tiramisu, a dessert I've ordered frequently because it is so good. An excellent blend of flavors and textures, and everything you want from this dessert. And it is certainly large enough to share.

I might have to return for lunch again before the holiday season ends.