A $50 gift certifcate to the Terramia Ristorante of the Boston North End. A true gem among all those rhinestones in the North End, this rustic but cozy trattoria with stucco walls and beamed ceilings specializes in creative interpretations of Italian classics. The bad news is that there's no coffee or dessert. The good news is that you can work off dinner with a stroll around the neighborhood before stopping someplace on Hanover Street for an espresso and a pastry.
Behind Terramia's pane-windowed storefront on Salem Street is a busy 39-seat trattoria decked out in linens, candlelight and paintings of the Italian countryside. Like the cuisine here, the atmosphere is elegant yet understated. Since opening in 1993, Terramia has aimed to convince North End diners that there was always more to Italian food than red sauce. Over the Years, the inventive and beloved restaurant has done a great deal of convincing. You'll find creative interpretations of seasonally-based classics here. But come early because you won't be alone.