Faccia a Faccia is what happens when a coastal Italian kitchen meets the quiet confidence of a Back Bay dining room. It’s sharp without being showy—sunlit during the day, glowing with intention by night. The kind of place where the negronis are bitter and cold, the pasta is handmade, and the seafood actually tastes like it came from water.

The menu is rooted in Southern Italy but never feels locked in tradition. Crudo, fresh herbs, lemon, olive oil—everything clean and precise, but not afraid to get its hands dirty with flavor. Their signature mafaldine with Calabrian chili is the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite.

Service is attentive but unpretentious, and the room feels like it was designed for conversation. Whether you’re tucked in for a long dinner or sliding in for a martini at the bar, Faccia delivers that rare mix of elegance and ease.

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