L'Espalier Alum Alex Crabb to Open Asta in Back Bay

Alex Crabb, who served as sous chef at L'espalier for over five years, tells Eater that he'll soon be opening his own place, called Asta. While he can't disclose the exact location yet, he says it will be in Back Bay and hopes to have Asta open by September or October. Asta will be intimate, clocking in at around forty-five seats, and will serve tasting menus in three, five and eight-course increments. "It's going to be more refined, but I don't want the atmosphere to be refined," says Crabb. He bristles at the term locavore ("you shouldn't have to promote it") but plans to source ingredients from Sparrow Arc Farm in Maine and from L'espalier owner Frank McClelland's own Apple Street Farm. Crabb will be opening Asta along with his girlfriend and business partner, Shish, who is part of the inspiration for the name: Alex and Shish Taste Adventure. It's also the name of the dog in The Thin Man films, a favorite of Shish's, and is "just a nice name." Crabb recently contributed to the farewell pop-up series at Sel de la Terre.