A decent but overpriced restaurant that doesn’t live up to its awards.

Erbaluce is tucked in the corner of a brick building just south of Boston Common, and you can identify the front door by the myriad of awards posted on the glass. The staff is friendly and welcomes you into the cozy interior. But there’s something off about the atmosphere, as if the white tablecloths are there to convince you the place is fancy.

The expensive, handwritten menu makes you feel like you’re in for a very fine meal. Except the food is only decent, not extraordinary. The dishes that ask for more than $30 should really only be $20. The lamb had an interesting bite to it. The sardines were just covered in oil and placed over sauce from a jar.

And after you’ve had the meal and paid the bill, you realize what was irking you the whole time: a truly great restaurant doesn’t need to put its awards on the front door.

Address:
69 Church St, Boston, MA 02116