On Wednesday evening October 24, 2012 the Italian American War Veterans ITAM Post 8 of Medford, whose membership is made up of mostly former and present North End men held a tribute to the former Blue Front Restaurant that was located at the lower end of Hanover street from 1933 to 1983. The restaurant was owned and operated by the Passacantilli family.
The Passacantill brothers were present at the ITAM event and told stories of their younger day’s working in the restaurant with their Grandmother, Father and Mother. Dinner was prepared and served by ITAM members using entrees from the original Blue Front Menu.
The menu is the original from the restaurant, the scale model of the restaurant was made by John (Shoes) Cammarata. The photos also show the cooks at ITAM and Victor Passacantilli giving a talk about his family and the restaurant. Photos by Arthur A. Lauretano.
I loved going to the Blue Front to eat lunch!!!!! It was soooo good! Wish it was still there! Johnny did a great job of how it used to look!!!!! Cindy Colafella(Gino the barbers wife!)
Thank you Matt for posting this trubute to the Passacantilli family and the Blue Front Restaurant. Never forget our good old North End and the many memories we built there.
Mariano and Amaranda Passacantilli worked long and hard hours establishing the Blue Front Restaurant in 1933 before passing it on to my father, Al and my uncle,Curly. During the week the Boston Sausage Co. would fill its booths for lunch. Then the midday crowd would show up to have a drink and play cards. Sundays brought the Boston Edison workers from all over the city to have their dinner break. Evenings brought our friends from the neighborhood to eat and hang out. Three generations of Passacantillis kept the business going until it closed in 1983.It was a cozy restaurant/bar/club that afforded many cherished memories for its owners, patrons and staff. I miss the Blue Front.
Victor Passacantilli
i wish i have known,,btw was my father on the phone in that model and who was eating from my plate??…..paul
I WAS AMONG THE FORTUNATE TO ATTEND THE “MEMORIES” DINNER RECENTLY TO CELEBRATE THE BLUE FRONT RESTAURANT. I HAVE MANY FOND MEMORIES AS A YOUNGSTER LIVING IN THE NORTHEND AND ENJOY LOOKING BACK TO OUR GATHERINGS AT THE BLUE FRONT.
JOHNNY “SHOES” DID A WONDERFUL PIECE REPLICATING THE RESTAURANT. (MY CLASSMATE OF YOUNGER DAYS / FRIEND / AND BARBER).
LONG LIVE THE NORTHEND.
DG
Blue Front was an awesome place and Maranda could always throw a mean bucket of water