Pardon the oxymoron, but the ostentatiously touristy North End isn't exactly known for the secrets it keeps. So it's a rare treat for residents when a nifty newcomer flies in under the radar - equipped with a full bar, no less. The recent makeover of Vinoteca di Monica (143 Richmond Street, Boston, 617.227.0311) amounts to exactly that. Wedged between the dining room's larger, longer-standing main entrance and Mare's peek-a-boo kitchen, the narrow "vinoteca" is refreshingly easy to overlook - meaning that the congenial crush within consists mostly of locals, all downing Amores (delish cocktails starring Belle de Brillet, pear nectar, and prosecco) and nibbling antipasti, from happy hour onward.
