Fox & the Knife had been on my list for a while, so my fiancée and I finally made our way to South Boston on the Sunday before Memorial Day to see what all the buzz was about.
Before we even checked in, it was clear this place is popular. The restaurant was packed, the bar was full, and people were gathered near the entrance waiting for tables. We did have to wait a few minutes beyond our reservation time, and the waiting area felt a little cramped, but once we were seated, those concerns disappeared quickly.
When I made the reservation, I included a request for one of the better tables in the restaurant. Whether it was intentional or not, the team absolutely delivered. We were seated at a table that somehow managed to feel both connected to the energy of the dining room and private enough for a date night. It ended up being one of my favorite seating experiences I’ve had in Boston.
The service was excellent throughout the evening. The staff did a great job explaining the menu for first-time visitors, checked in frequently without hovering, and never made us feel rushed despite how busy the restaurant was. Once we sat down, the meal found a rhythm that never really broke. Drinks arrived, dishes came out steadily, and we were able to settle into the experience and enjoy ourselves.
To drink, I ordered the FOX 75, a combination of gin, Sicilian blood orange, and prosecco. As someone who regularly orders French 75s, this was exactly what I wanted. Crisp, refreshing, and balanced, with the blood orange adding just enough personality without getting in the way of the classic cocktail.
Food-wise, the meal started strong with the Piatti di Emilia. The prosciutto and Parmigiano were excellent, but the apple butter was the component that really stood out. It added a sweetness that tied everything together and made the dish far more memorable than a typical charcuterie-style starter.
The Carne Cruda Crostini was my first experience with steak tartare. While I appreciated the quality of the beef and enjoyed trying something new, it ended up being my least memorable dish of the evening. Not bad by any means, just overshadowed by everything that followed.
The stars of the meal were the pasta courses. The Tagliatelle Bolognese with wild boar was exactly what a great bolognese should be: rich, comforting, and satisfying. The Tortelli di Pastinaca, however, was my favorite dish of the night. The combination of blue cheese and balsamic brown butter created a savory richness that felt indulgent without becoming heavy. It was the plate I found myself thinking about most afterward.
We finished with the Milanese di Maiale, a crispy pork dish served with saffron aioli, mustard greens, and Honeycrisp apples. The breading was exceptional, the pork itself was excellent, and the apples and greens provided enough freshness to balance the richness of the dish. It was a fitting final course and my second favorite item of the night.
By the end of the meal, we were perfectly full and completely satisfied. Fox & the Knife succeeds because it understands exactly what kind of restaurant it wants to be. The food is thoughtful, the atmosphere is lively, and the service never misses a beat. While there are a few restaurants in Boston that align more closely with my personal tastes, I completely understand why this place has developed such a loyal following. If you’ve never been, it’s absolutely worth a visit, and I’ll gladly be back to explore more of the menu.