La Gallina brings the flavor of the Mediterranean to Lynnfield – 5 Stars
Europe evokes a certain mindset. Whether a tourist or a native you expect a certain ambience to your locales and certainly you expect flavor and distinction. La Gallina delivers the charm of the old world when you step inside this new restaurant at MarketStreet in Lynnfield. Immediately you sense a stately environment that almost leaps out of the days of yore. You are briefly transported to the old country.
Enter La Gallina and you are treated with a rustic yet new interior complete with a visible kitchen. The tables and chairs emote a nuevo antique elegance suited for fine dining. You feel like you are stepping into a storied European trattoria complete with brick walls and wine covered nooks. The lighting is reminiscent of candlelight, yet not so dim you need to strain your eyes. You can watch the cooks as they prepare the food right before in an open modern kitchen. For those that want to sit and drink, the bar has ample seating. There is even an outdoor patio perfect for the warm months should you desire a romantic date under the stars.
La Gallina is the project of owners Mathias Kiehm and James Wierzelewski who are no strangers to the world of fine dining. Recently they helped launch The Time Out Market in Boston’s Fenway where one can dine casually on fine fare. Also, they recently opened the Quin House, a private social and dining club where substance meets style right in Boston’s Back Bay. However, the inspiration for the cuisine for La Gallina might be a bit closer to home. Felicia, the wife of Mathias is a resident of Lynnfield and more importantly the child of a Greek mother who helped forge the many Greek recipes used by the chefs. Of course, the food is not limited to just one country rather there are dishes from around the globe. One can taste the influences of the Mediterranean, stretching from Portugal all the way to Lebanon and even Africa.
Should you dine at Gallina, you might meet Lia. She initially only wanted only to be a server after having worked at a nearby location. However, she couldn’t help but to see what the new restaurant could offer her. She was hired on as the manager. This is no small feat for a girl still in college where she is currently studying business. With her drive and experience, it is expected she will go far. 
We sampled some great charcuterie board fare including prosciutto, soppresseta, spicy chorizo, salami, and cheeses. All this can be combined with jams, almonds, and crackers. Pita chips accompany numerous sauces such as tahini, tabouli, hummus, and their own version of guacamole made from fresh avocados. Among the more unique toppings was a delicious pulled pork for those that have a taste for meat.
Speaking of meat, that is where the cuisine truly shines. For those of you on the keto or carnivore diet, this is a place to come for some great food. There was Spanish style shrimp in a seafood casserole for those that are pescatarians. The Greek style meatballs seem to scream move over Swedes, we got our own meatballs at this place. Finally, the shish kabob lamb and chicken were well seasoned, tender, and juicy. The meat melted in your mouth as the flavor danced on your tongue.
For the family there are great focaccia style flatbreads. They are made fresh with a sourdough crust using a one hundred twenty-seven-year-old starter. For those that are not savvy, this is the yeast used to create the dough which creates a probiotic bread that is great for gut health. Among the topping styles they had were the classic margherita, a meat lover and a veggie pizza. There is certain to be a favorite for one and all. And for the classic Middle Eastern treat – try the falafel.
No true trattoria is complete without well-crafted drinks. La Gallina allowed a sample of fine wines and cocktails. Among their reds was one that could stump even a well-versed wine connoisseur. Sweet, yet stout with a hint of bitterness the Barbera Del Monferrato by Villa Sparina tastes like your favorite red Italian wines all at once. There is a collection of reds, white and sparkling wines sure to please those with a discerning palate. Among the cocktails sampled were a sweet martini and the ever-popular Aperol spritzer. The European influence is strong among the drink choices.
And to top it all off are the selection of desserts. No true Greek restaurants is complete without Baklava and at La Gallina, you get your choice. There is of course the classic Baklava made with honey. But the unique choice is the pistachio baklava. Both were light and flaky with just enough sweetness to make it a dessert. And of course, no Italian restaurant is complete without tiramisu. This classic sweet had a twist as it was infused with rum remanence of other great Italian cakes.
Should you dine at Gallina, you might meet Lia. She initially only wanted only to be a server after having worked at a nearby location. However, she couldn’t help but to see what the new restaurant could offer her. She was hired on as the manager. This is no small feat for a girl still in college where she is currently studying business. With her drive and experience, it is expected she will go far.
La Gallina is Greek for The Hen. We can’t help but think that the hen they are mentioning might just be a mother hen, specifically, the Greek mother from who many of the recipes were taken from. A hen who still lives in the neighborhood and ensures quality and taste. So for a feel of the old country come to the brand new La Gallina.
La Gallina is located at the MarketStreet shopping district in Lynnfield Massachusetts. They open to the public Thursday September 22nd.
For more information visit https://lagallina-lynnfield.com
Please also see our video review https://youtu.be/pJt0uDH5TrE