La Tavernetta by Mida has landed at Clippership Wharf in East Boston, turning the waterfront into a breezy coastal-Italian hangout where spritzes, oysters and grilled spiedini meet skyline views. The new taverna from chef Douglass Williams and partner Seth Gerber layers seafood-forward small plates with a high-energy bar and a wraparound patio that invites long summer nights. Many snacks and starters sit at modest price points, making it easy to share several dishes.
Kara Baskin, writing in The Boston Globe, reports that the food matches the setting, highlighting both seafood standouts and surprisingly careful vegetarian options. Her review singles out celery-root carpaccio, a scallop and ciccioli ceviche, and a generous frutti di mare built on chewy spaghettone. Taken together, that lineup positions La Tavernetta as both a neighborhood bar and a destination for waterfront dining.
What to order
The menu leans right into the raw bar and small plates. There is a Frutti di Mare spaghettone with manila clams, rock shrimp, jumbo crab, uni butter and lobster brodo, plus a scallop and ciccioli ceviche with avocado and pork belly. Servers suggest a sauce sampler of chili crisp, salsa verde and gremolata aioli to move across pastas and spiedini, and there are several grilled and shared options suited to splitting with the table. The full lineup of pastas, spiedini and spritzes is available on the La Tavernetta menu.
Where it sits
The restaurant occupies a glossy corner of Clippership Wharf, with wraparound patios, teal banquettes and orange-and-blue striped umbrellas framing the harbor and skyline. Co-owner Seth Gerber calls it “a coastal tavern with an Italian kiss,” and chef Douglass Williams says the space lets the kitchen lean into brighter, seaside flavors, according to Boston Magazine. La Tavernetta sits across the water from one of MIDA's other locations, concentrating the group's presence on this stretch of the harbor.
Practical info
La Tavernetta is at Clippership Wharf, a short walk from the Maverick Blue Line. The team says the bar, patio and dining room primarily welcome walk-ins, with limited reservations for large parties. The restaurant's hours, phone and address are listed on the La Tavernetta website, which also includes details on private events and the late-night bar program. Expect a busy patio through the summer and a lively bar crowd most evenings.
With spritzes around $13 and many starters and snacks priced under $20, La Tavernetta offers a relatively easygoing way to enjoy the waterfront without a soaring bill, according to The Boston Globe. Given Williams's track record and the MIDA team's neighborhood know-how, the taverna is a natural contender for East Boston evenings and long patio nights.
