My weekend was filled with delicious food, fruit cocktails, sweet treats and laughs among friends and family.

On Friday night my mother and I joined our friends for dinner at Artu in the North End.

Artu is known for its old-school style dishes, set in a modern and trendy atmosphere.

A large bar greats you at the main entrance, and an intimate dining room is located in back. Unlike other restaurants in the area, Artu’s dining room is spacious, leaving plenty of room for necessery mobility.

We began the evening with some dangerously delicious Pineapple Infused Vodka Martini’s.

Fresh pineapple juice added the perfect amount of flavor and sweetness to my favorite clear alcohol. These drinks went down very easy, so I made sure to snack on bread while we waited for our meals.

Another drink that caught my attention…

Love the name! It’s Fabulous.

Since I was feeling silly from one too many ‘tini’s, I promised to return at a later date to give my coconutz a try

What I loved most about this restaurant was the simplicity of the menu. Also, the sides could be easily substituted without ruining the outcome of the meal.

This is a huge plus in my book, since I am the queen of food substitution. 

I mean it. You name it, I’ve done it. Everything from salad instead of pasta, extra seasonal vegetables with no potato, grilled instead of fried, even tangy marinara in place of creamy alfredo.

Yes, I’m that girl. I’m sorry..kinda.

Most waitress’ and waiters role their eyes at my requests, however our waitress at Artu was more than happy to create a plate that each of us would enjoy.

Thanks Gabby!

I started my meal off with a mixed green salad, followed by fresh haddock that I paired with a grilled antipasto appetizer. Every bite was full of flavor and tasted even better than the bite before. The portion size was perfect, and I was left completley satisfied.

And buzzed.

Whether you are craving a drink with friends, a sandwich for lunch, or a romantic dinner with your significant other, I highly recommend Artu for a guaranteed good meal with spectacular service.

After dinner, we browsed in and out of the small boutiques filled with trendy jewelry,clothes and accessories. The North End has definitely made its mark in the fashion industry with stores like LIT, Case di Stile, In-Jean-ius and The Velvet Fly.

While trying on various styles of costume jewelry, the sweet tooth in all of us began to kick in. We headed over to Cafe Pompei for some coffee and dessert.

I opted for the strawberry shortcake, while my mother and our friends ordered strawberry,pistachio and chocolate gelato.

While Pompei’s dessert menu is extremely tasty, when it comes to gelato, I prefer to visit GiGi Gellatoria.

Along with cannoli’s and tiramisu, GiGi Gelateria offers an abundance of gelato flavors including coconut, lemon, amaretto and chocolate hazelnut.

This place is a must for Ice Cream lover’s everywhere.

Once our sugar and caffeine cravings were satisfied, we decided to take a walk through the Madonna Della Cava Italian Festival.

Beginning in July and continuing through to the end of August, a Feast is held each weekend to celebrate Italian immigrants, religious societies in the area and the Saints that represent each group.

During the celebreation, a Saint is honored and carried through the small streets of the North End by members of the sponsoring society. People pin money onto ribbons surrounding the Saint, which is then donated to the religious group in charge.

Along with honoring the Saint, vendors are set up throughout the streets serving everything from Fried Claims and Arancini, to sweatshirts and Henna tattoos, to purses and sunglasses.

A live band entertains the large crowd that comes from all over to enjoy an evening full of food, fun and celebration.

My parents grew up in the North end, so I have been attending the Feasts since childhood. I look forward to them ever year, and always see a familiar face around every corner. 

On Saturday night, Matt and I headed back in town to meet my parents for a late meal at Antico Forno.

This quaint and cozy restaurant is one of my personal favorites. I have yet to order a meal that left me anything less that satisfied.

To start, we all shared a savory risotto dish filled with asparagus tips, grape tomatoes and melted mozzarella cheese. My parents and Matt split a Margherita pizza and a Ricotta, prosciutto and roasted red pepper pizza. Both were cooked perfectly inside the large brick oven, and each bite was insanely fresh and flavorful; even during the late night hour.

I wanted something light, so I opted for the Fresh Arugula salad topped with grilled shrimp, shaved parmigiano cheese and a white balsamic vinaigrette.

I added roasted peppers, artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes for an extra dose of vegetables.

Living only 10 minutes away from Boston definitely has it’s perks when it comes dining and entertainment. When you are in search of an intimate night with the people you love most, the North End is definitely the place to be.

Salute!