by Whalehead King

Created on: June 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 08, 2009

Ka-Carlos at 33 Hancock Street in Upham's Corner is an ideal spot for a date for many reasons. The decor is sleek and sophisticated, the menu reflects the neighborhood's ethnicity, you won't be downtown where all the tourists are chowing down the Hard Rock Cafe, and you won't be running into students out on a bender before exams. In short, this is real Boston, where it is lived on the streets. This is a restauraunt that fits into its surroundings and caters to its clientele. You will be welcomed here. The staff is ready to feed you the best they can offer and share a bit of Cape Verdean culture.

Ka-Carlos is Cape Verdean. A band plays most nights, not overly loud, just loud enough to add ambiance and color to the already top-notch decor. People of all colors and incomes and professions walk in and out, trading pleasantries and gossip. It's a freindly place that is part upscale dinette and part local watering hole. If you bring a date here you will show him or her you have a finger pressed to Boston's street pulse. If you want to impress with your street smarts as well as enjoy what you put in your mouth Ka-Carlos is a remarkable destination that will add panache to your reputation.

The food is delicious. The grilled octopus doesn't have a tentacle in it. it is all white meat filleted to the size of half your hand and then grilled with appropriate spices that will make you sit back after every bite and smile contentedly. The same is true of the conch slices sauteed in olive oil and herbs. The chef is proficient in bringing the taste of fresh seaport food cooked an ocean away into one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Boston. You won't be in Fanieul Hall, you will be in a different world, the Boston few people visit besides the residents.

This part of Boston isn't known for its glamour. Really, it's known for its grime and its crime. You'll find both overstated in the newspaper if you decide to take the plunge to visit Ka-Carlos. If you do decide to take the plunge, however, you'll find yourself in Dorchester lived in the raw, the biggest and best part of Boston, and you won't regret the meal or the company.

After your meal, take a stroll to nearby Columbia Road, Uphan's Corner central. You will pass a bar, Cataloni's where a recent Hollywood movie shot a scene. If you go uphill from Cataloni's you will stroll Jones Hill, a neighborhood of beautiful homes and a Catholic Hospital converted into a women's health center. From Jones Hill you can see the sweep of Dorchester all the way to Boston's skyscrapers. There is plenty of ethnic food and history in this part of town. It is all very interesting and it provides plenty of fuel for conversation. Ka-Carlos is a good restaurant and it is ideally situated in an out of the way part of Boston to provide a good time for a date or any other occasion. The whole area provides food for thought.

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