Fall Tasting Menu Spotlight: Bistro 5 and Sportello

Sportello

By Naomi Kooker

Fall is bountiful with rich flavors and stocks, pastas and truffles. Two tasting menus worth exploring to get the most out of season include Bistro 5 in West Medford, and Barbra Lynch’s Sunday night special menu at Sportello in the Seaport.



Vittorio Ettore, executive chef/owner of Bistro 5 and A Tavola, offers a three- and five-course tasting menu at the West Medford Italian, now through October 27. Dishes include pumpkin “cappuccino” with foie gras macaroons; seared sea scallops with pomegranate glaze; chestnut raviolone; grilled venison; and apple crisp. Add Burgundy black fall truffles (add $18 per dish) for a real treat (three courses are $45, and $65 with wine pairings; five courses are $65, and $90 with wine pairings - tax and gratuity excluded; 781-395-7464).

Barbara Lynch’s Sportello is offering a fun family style "Spaghetti Sundays" three-course menu starting October 14. It’s a pasta extravaganza with an all-you-can-eat pasta dish (this Sunday it's bigoli, red gravy, sausage and meatballs), flanked by a starter (antipasti) and dessert (Sundays, 4:30-close; $45 per person; 617-737-1234).

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