Scampo

Lydia Shire’s restaurant, Scampo, is located in The Liberty Hotel, which was formerly the Charles Street Jail. Scampo means “escape” in Italian. It’s a colorful, beautiful space that’s still a great culinary attraction. Lydia Shire, an award-winning chef, is known for pushing the boundaries and delivering unique culinary experiences. Scampo, her Italian notion, follows suit. The restaurant combines basic, rustic cuisine with sophisticated Italian design and a stunning open kitchen. Lydia Shire is the Scampo Chef, along with Executive Chef Simon Restrepo and Alex Pineda, a James Beard Award-winning chef and a pioneer of Boston’s culinary scene. Chef Shire later took over the historic Locke-Ober, where women were originally not allowed to eat in the lower dining room, and Scampo, which debuted more than a decade ago in the Liberty Hotel, from the departed Biba, Pignoli, and Excelsior. Shire’s reputation for bucking convention is reflected in Scampo’s Italian-inspired food, which draws on ingredients from the Mediterranean and Middle East. Shiny copper lighting, a blazing orange bar, and seating facing a mozzarella bar with a tandoori oven characterize the contemporary atmosphere. The open kitchen is visible from a hidden 60-seat outdoor seasonal terrace and a 50-seat private dining room.