Picco

Description:

• The cutesy name -- short for "Pizza and Ice Cream Company" -- may seem like a red flag. Ignore it. Picco serves traditional and yuppified pizza and phenomenal ice cream in an airy space up the street from the Boston Center for the Arts. The pizza menu ranges from traditional Margherita (tomato, basil, and cheese) to the "Alsatian variation," topped with a lip-smacking combo of caramelized onions, bacon, sour cream, roasted garlic, and Gruyère. The crust -- a little smoky from the wood-fired oven, blistered in spots, thin but not crackery -- is as good as the toppings. If you're not in a pizza mood, the menu includes a selection of calzones, soups, salads, and sandwiches. Somewhat unexpectedly, Picco also has a fantastic wine list. And what about the "IC" part of the name? The ice cream sandwich didn't do it for me because the cookies weren't nearly as good as the filling, but all of the other sweets -- including a huge brownie sundae, ice cream sodas, and even a dish of plain old vanilla -- were scrumptious.

• © Frommer's 2012