THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Atasca

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Atasca Restaurant Review:

East Cambridge has a large Portuguese population and one fabulous Portuguese restaurant. Though the former isn't the only crowd at the very popular latter, Atasca is nevertheless always busy, and anyone who has sampled its intensely satisfying food at absurdly reasonable prices will gladly tell you why. From the outside, this could be a local bingo hall. On the inside, the butcher-block tables, displays of cured meats and cozy brick walls make it a welcome retreat. The menu mixes tapas with larger entrées usually made for sharing. The food is reliant on seafood, sausage, garlic, wine and other robust staples. Linguica, the national garlic sausage, is grilled and counter-pointed by pineapple. Littlenecks are piled haphazardly in a salty, garlicky broth that coats your palate like waves from the ocean. Fava beans are stewed with onions, garlic, and vinho verde. Speaking of vinho verde, it's available in several variations, each revealing a different layer of this crispy, subtly fruity, very drinkable green wine. We find the food here to be original, authentic and hearty.