The Ultimate Fall Restaurant Openings Guide

Hate to break it to you, but autumn is coming. Fortunately, the season is bringing with it an immense number of hot new restaurants. Welcome to a living guide to the upcoming openings, large and small. Keep checking back — we'll update this guide throughout the next few months as new details emerge. And for the latest breaking news, keep an eye out for the Fall Tracking tag. Be sure to hit up the tipline or comment below with intel on any of these restaurants (or any that we've missed).

75 on Cambridge
Where: 290 Cambridge St. in Beacon Hill, in a five-story office building being built on the site of the gas station that used to house Villa Mexico Cafe
When: Fall
Who: Part of Thomas A. Kershaw's Hampshire House family, which also includes Cheers, 75 Chestnut, and 75 on Liberty Wharf
What: The 114-seat restaurant will likely be open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. The concept will be comparable to its similarly-named siblings, 75 Chestnut and 75 on Liberty Wharf.
[Photo: 75 on Liberty Wharf/Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

Alden & Harlow
Where: 40 Brattle St. in Harvard Square, in the former Casablanca space. Casablanca's extensive mural collection from the late artist David Omar White has been moved to the Brattle Theatre.
When: November
Who: Russell House Tavern alum Michael Scelfo is running the show. Brian Lesser (Storyville, Sweet Cheeks) is also onboard as co-owner, and Jen Fields (Toro, Myers + Chang) is GM.
What: The daily-changing American menu will feature dishes in the $9-$26 range, including "subtle tips of the hat" to the history of the space. Expect nearly 200 seats and late-night dining. Here's a sneak peek at some possible menu items.
[Photo: Alden & Harlow logo/Facebook]

Amanda Oakleaf Cakes
Where: 12 Westland Ave., near Symphony Hall
When: Mid-September
Who: Amanda Oakleaf started baking out of her Boston apartment five years ago and eventually opened Amanda Oakleaf Cakes in Winthrop. That location will become a different bakery under new ownership when Oakleaf opens in Boston this fall.
What: The bakery does lots of custom cake design and catering, but customers can also stop in to buy baked goods, cakes, and coffee.
[Photo: Amanda Oakleaf Cakes, under construction/Drew Starr]

Los Amigos
Where: 324 Walnut St. in Newtonville
When: Mid-September
Who: There's an existing location that has been open in West Roxbury for almost two years.
What: A fast-casual Mexican restaurant with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and the like.
[Photo: Los Amigos logo/Facebook]

Back Bay Harry's
Where:142 Berkeley St. in Back Bay. Geoffrey's Cafe used to occupy the space.
When: October 12th
Who: It was is-he-or-isn't-he for awhile, but the perpetually blue-haired Hell's Kitchen alum Jason Santos (Blue Inc., Abby Lane) is indeed involved in the project, as is HGTV designer Taniya Nayak, who also worked on Blue Inc. Harry's is owned by, well, a guy named Harry. Harry Collings, that is — a former Boston Redevelopment Authority exec.
What: The slogan is "fine food + good drink." Look for comfort food dishes like pastrami mac 'n' cheese, meatloaf wellington, vodka-battered fish and chips, and Jack and Coke baby back ribs.
[Photo: Back Bay Harry's owner Harry Collings/Bosguy]

Bastille Kitchen
Where: 49 Melcher St. in Fort Point
When: Late Fall
Who: Mistral co-owner Seth Greenberg is behind the project..
What: The 8500-square-foot "modern French brasserie" will have "moderate" prices and a 70-seat private dining space called "Chalet."
[Photo: Bastille Kitchen rendering/Facebook]

Blind Tiger
Where: 3 Appleton St. in the South End, the former Noche space
When: October or November
Who: It's part of the Boston Nightlife Ventures family, which includes Forum, Griddler's, and the shuttered Noche.
What: Very little has been revealed, but the logo mentions "good spirits," and the name is a synonym for a speakeasy.
[Photo: Blind Tiger logo/Twitter]

Bondir Concord
Where: 24 Walden St. in Concord, an old firehouse that previously held a 25-year-old restaurant called Walden Grille, which closed a year ago
When: Early November
Who: This is an expansion of Jason Bond's Cambridge restaurant, also called Bondir. Cambridge sous chef Rachel Miller will become Concord sous chef, while Kate Grogan will be GM. (Bond previously worked in Grogan at Burdick Chocolate in New Hampshire.) Bond's "sweetie," Monica Higgins, is also involved, coming off of nearly two decades as the Boston Athenaeum's events director.
What: A larger version of the Cambridge restaurant (100 seats and a patio as opposed to a cozy space with less than ten tables). Like at the original spot, the menu will change daily, featuring modern American cuisine made with seasonal and local ingredients, but the larger kitchen will allow for greater flexibility and possibly some more complicated dishes.
[Photo: Bondir, Cambridge/Cal Bingham]

Brew
Where: In South Boston's new event space, District Hall
When: October
Who: The Briar Group
What: A coffee shop with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and early dinner options
[Photo: A rendering of District Hall/Twitter]

BRIO Tuscan Grille
Where: 200 Boylston St. in Chestnut Hill
When: Mid-November
Who: Ohio-based chain with more than 50 locations around the US
What: Italian food
[Photo: BRIO Tuscan Grille logo/Official site]

El Centro Tres
Where: 66 Leonard St. in Belmont
When: Mid-November
Who: The original El Centro is in the South End, and El Centro Dos is in Brookline.
What: Authentic Mexican cuisine from chef/owner Allan Rodriguez, a native of the state of Sonora. A full liquor license has been tentatively approved.
[Photo: El Centro, South End/Facebook]

Commonwealth
Where: 11 Broad Canal Way in Kendall Square
When: November 1st
Who: Steve "Nookie" Postal, former executive chef of Fenway Park and finalist on Bravo's "Around the World in 80 Plates"
What: Commonwealth will be part restaurant, part market, and Nookie has been documenting the experience of opening it in a weekly series of posts on Eater Boston, where he shares everything from hunting for restaurant equipment at bargain prices to deciding on all the tiny details like table size and urinal divider colors. He ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise the last little bit of money needed for the project.
[Photo: Commonwealth exterior/Steve "Nookie" Postal]

Crush Pizza
Where: 107 State Street in the Financial District, a former Upper Crust location
When: Mid-September
Who: It's a Nashua-based Neapolitan-style pizzeria.
What: There's pizza. Including a deep-fried, stuffed one. Also, gelato and espresso.
[Photo: Crush Pizza in Nashua, NH/Facebook]

Del Frisco's Grille
Where: 55 Boylston St. at The Street Chestnut Hill
When: "Coming soon," says Craigslist job postings. "November," says Zagat.
Who: Part of the Del Frisco's Restaurant Group, which includes Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House (which has a Seaport location) and Sullivan's Steakhouse
What: The chain professes to "combine the social atmosphere of an American bar & grill with upscale entrees, an extensive wine list & hand-crafted cocktails." It's a more moderately priced version of the Double Eagle, and many of the dishes are meant to be shared.
[Photo: Del Frisco's Grille logo/Facebook]

Fairsted Kitchen
Where: 1704 Beacon St. in Brookline's Washington Square, in the former Umami space
When: This fall. The restaurant has declined to publicize a more definite estimate.
Who: The co-owners Steve Bowman and Andrew Foster met while working at Russell House Tavern. Bowman has also worked at Menton. Patrick Gaggiano (Trina's Starlite Lounge, Parlor Sports) is "Master of Ceremonies," Alex Homans (backbar) is involved, and Scott Osif (Galley Beach in Nantucket) is chef.
What: "Classic Americana with a few subtle influences of Eastern European and classic Israeli and North African spices."
[Photo: Part of the Fairsted Kitchen logo/Facebook]

Ichiban Yakitori Sushi House
Where: 14 Westland Ave. by Symphony, in the former Pan Thai space
When: August, says a sign out front
Who: Unknown
What: Little information is available at this time, but one can assume there will be yakitori and sushi.
[Photo: Ichiban Yakitori Sushi House exterior/Drew Starr]

Izakaya Ittoku
Where: 1414 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston, formerly Petit Robert Bistro
When: August
Who: Various people from Café Mami and Sapporo Ramen at Porter Exchange and a sushi chef from Ebi Sushi in Union Square
What: A sake bar that will serve ramen. Blogger Japanese-American in Boston provides some menu details.
[Photo: Izakaya Ittoku logo/Facebook]

Legal Crossing
Where: 580 Washington St. in Downtown Crossing, in the new luxury condo tower Millennium Place
When: November
Who: It's a new concept for the Legal Sea Foods group, which has a few other offshoots, like Legal C Bar and Legal Test Kitchen.
What: Just about anyone can wander into Legal Crossing, but only the fancy residents of Millennium Place will have access to "exclusive amenities," like entrance into "The Club," which has an owners' lounge and private dining room with a "special" menu.
[Photo: Millennium Place rendering/Curbed Boston]

Mei Mei
Where: Audubon Circle
When: Late September
Who: The Mei Mei Street Kitchen team
What: One of several upcoming brick and mortars from food truck teams, Mei Mei got some funding from a successful Kickstarter campaign, aimed especially at making the restaurant as environmentally friendly as possible. The restaurant will have a larger menu than the truck but will still feature seasonal, local, sustainable ingredients. Take a sneak peek into the construction site.
[Photo: Mei Mei, under construction/Chris Coe]

Moody's Delicatessen and Provisions
Where: 468 Moody St. in Waltham
When: Early September
Who: Joshua Smith (Tico, Battery Park, Sweet Caroline's)
What: A breakfast and lunch deli and gourmet shop; "Italian Carnegie Deli meets Dean and DeLuca"
[Photo: Moody's Delicatessen and Provisions, under construction/@chefjoshuasmith on Instagram]

Ostra
Where: 1 Charles St. South in the Theater District, in the former space of the recently shuttered Avila
When: October, according to late August Craigslist posts
Who: The Columbus Hospitality Group (Mooo?., Sorellina, Teatro, Mistral, L'Andana). Mistral's Mitchell Randall will be executive chef, and Jamie Mammano will be chef/owner.
What: Briefly called Columbus Fish & Oyster, Ostra will be an upscale seafood restaurant.
[Photo: Avila/Facebook]

Pastoral
Where: 345 Congress St. in Fort Point
When: Mid-December
Who: George Lewis Jr. (Foundation Lounge) and Todd Winer (Met Restaurant Group)
What: A 140-seat "ARTisan pizza kitchen + bar" featuring Neapolitan-style pizza, "country rural cuisine," and "accessible" prices. Winer recently became a certified Professional Pizzaiolo, which means he spent three days taking a course with VPN Americas, the US and Canadian branch of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the board that strictly governs true Neapolitan pizza-making. Expect about a dozen pizzas (including gluten-free options), small plates, and homemade pastas.
[Photo: Pastoral logo/Facebook]

Pennypacker's
Where: 514C Medford St. in Somerville's Magoun Square
When: Early to mid-September
Who: The Pennypacker's food truck team
What: Another brick and mortar from a successful food truck. The menu changes daily (except for some version of a porchetta sandwich, which is always available) and mostly consists of fancy sandwiches, soups, and salads.
[Photo: Pennypacker's truck/Her Campus]

Row 34
Where: 383 Congress St. in Fort Point
When: November
Who: This is a new project from the Island Creek Oyster Bar team. A rep confirms that Jillian Rocco is in as GM (formerly GM for The Salty Pig as well as an Eastern Standard alum), and ICOB sous chef Francisco Milan will be chef de cuisine.
What: The ICOB sibling will be "a workingman's expression of the oyster farm." Look for garlicky mussels and, well, oysters.
[Photo: Island Creek Oyster Bar/Facebook]

Sarma
Where: 249 Pearl St. in Somerville's Winter Hill, in the former The Paddock space
When: October
Who: Ana Sortun (chef/owner of Oleana and Sofra) is collaborating with Oleana chef de cuisine Cassie Piuma, who will be chef and co-owner of the new spot.
What: Sarma will be a "friendly neighborhood mezze bar" drawing inspiration from Turkey and beyond. Vik Hegde will be bar manager.
[Photo: Oleana/Cal Bingham]

Seta's Cafe
Where: 271 Belmont St. in Belmont
When: Mid-September
Who: Owner Seta Dakessian sells her wares at farmers' markets under the brand Seta's Mediterranean Foods; this will be a brick-and-mortar version.
What: "A Mediterranean eatery." Dishes include falafel, shawarma, rotisserie chicken, and fattoush, according to a sneak peek menu posted on Facebook.
[Photo: Seta's Cafe logo/Facebook]

Shake Shack
Where: 57 JFK St. in Harvard Square, the second Massachusetts Shake Shack. (A third is rumored to be headed for Faneuil Hall, and the first is out in Chestnut Hill.)
When: Late fall
Who: The NYC-based chain, part of Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, also has locations in Connecticut, Florida, DC, Pennsylvania, the Middle East, and the UK.
What: Burgers. Shakes. Long lines of cult-like fans. And now, finally, fresh-cut fries.
[Photo: Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill/Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

Sheherazad
Where: The streets of Boston
When: Early October
Who: Co-owner Burke Weston is a Hamersley's Bistro alum.
What: A Middle Eastern food truck that will focus on "traditional, ancient, and regional Middle Eastern street food" while avoiding falafel and shawarma.
[Photo: Burke Weston/Twitter]

Some 'Ting Nice Caribbean Restaurant
Where: 561 McGrath Highway in Somerville
When: Awaiting final inspections; possibly October
Who: Executive chef Mark Reid
What: A Caribbean restaurant that will "feed yo senses" with dishes like cassava pone, cow heel soup, and oxtail with rice and peas.
[Photo: Some 'Ting Nice Caribbean Restaurant exterior/Facebook]

State Park
Where: 1 Kendall Square, in the former Think Tank space
When: September
Who: The Hungry Mother team
What: The restaurant will have "no pretension whatsoever," serve dishes like pulled pork sandwiches and pickled eggs, and entertain diners with games like shuffleboard and pinball.
[Photo: Hungry Mother/Foursquare]

Sweet Tooth
Where: The Corner Mall in Downtown Crossing
When: Holiday season
Who: This is an expansion of the Sweet Tooth in South Boston
What: A new location for a popular seven-year-old bakery in Southie, this Sweet Tooth will be in the Corner Mall, which has a small food court (McDonald's, Sakura Japan, etc.) Sweet Tooth specializes in custom cakes and catering.
[Photo: Sweet Tooth, South Boston/i'll cook if you clean up]

BEYOND FALL/UNKNOWN
Some of these restaurants appear to be on track for a yet-to-be-announced fall opening while some are in various stages of conception or construction with unknown opening dates.
· 7 Pond Coffee Bar — A second project from Maks Milstein of Cafe Fixe (Brookline). The new shop will be located at 7 Pond St. in Jamaica Plain. Milstein is going before the board for a license to serve food in August.
· Boston Super Dog — A brick-and-mortar location for this truck, formerly known as Boston Speed Dog, could be on the way. Owner Gregg Gale tweeted a few months back that he had secured a location near Fenway and was seeking financing.
· The Chicken & Rice Guys — In June, the truck announced that they "are opening up a restaurant, and will open late night." No location had been secured at that point, but they seemed particularly interested in Allston.
· Common Ground — The Allston restaurant and bar is expanding to Arlington Center. A date hasn't been announced for the opening of the new location, but it has recently gained approval for a full liquor license. The space is 5,200 square feet and might eventually have a patio.
· Conductor's Restaurant — This Harvard Square restaurant, which will be located in the old Conductor's Building, could take a year or more to renovate, according to a discussion during a licensing hearing way back in January. So, winter's probably the earliest for this one.
· DAVIDsTEA — Construction will start soon for the next location of this Canadian tea chain, which will be at The Street Chestnut Hill. Downtown Crossing and South End outposts opened earlier this year.
· DooWee & Rice — This Somerville favorite has two things in the works: a collaboration with Wonder Bar in Allston and an expansion to London. Unknown timeline for both.
· Dumpling House — Patty Chen's won't be the only dumpling game in Central Square; a 96-seat restaurant called Dumpling House has applied for a beer and wine license at 950 Massachusetts Ave.
· Earls Kitchen + Bar — This Canadian chain is coming to Somerville's Assembly Row.
· Eddie Merlot's — Another Seaport steakhouse. This chain was apparently in final lease negotiations for a spot at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel earlier in the year, and the restaurant's website lists Boston as "coming soon." Not yet confirmed — whether it'll be at that address or another.
· Forever Yogurt — This Chicago-based froyo chain is looking to open several shops in the Boston area. A location at 305 Newbury St. (former home of Berryline) and a location at the Pru seem to be the first ones in line to open "soon."
· Garage Pizza Company — A Twitter profile popped up in late August with Boston and Chicago listed as locations, but no information is known at this time aside from the Twitter bio: "Featuring Wood-Fired Pizza with a Farm to Table Perspective with an Emphasis on Fresh, Local Sourced Ingredients & Serving Craft Beers!"
· Gather — A new restaurant from the Briar Group. It'll be located next to South Boston's new event venue, District Hall.
· H Mart — The Asian grocery chain is looking at winter for the opening of its upcoming store in Cambridge's Central Square. The food court will apparently have an outpost of Sapporo Ramen (most likely connected to the Porter Exchange one) as well as Go Go Curry and Paris Baguette.
· Insomnia Cookies — This late-night cookie delivery company is imminently opening a new location near BU (now hiring). There's already one near Harvard. It's a New York-based chain with over 20 locations.
· J.P. Licks — The next outpost for this local ice cream chain will be at Somerville's Assembly Row.
· Kindred — A "tea + tonic cafe" is coming to Davis Square, next to (and owned by) Johnny D's. There will be light vegetarian meals from Cuisine en Locale, a catering company that features local ingredients and is currently taking over the Anthony's function hall space on Highland Ave. in Somerville.
· Kinsai — Not much has been heard since news broke in January about this "ambitious upscale Chinese project" from Menton alum Jason Doo, but a website popped up recently with a promising "coming soon."
· Kung Fu Tea — This New York-based bubble tea chain opened earlier this year in Allston, and two more locations appear to be on the way: 32 Kneeland St. in Chinatown and a space near the Red Mango by Symphony Hall.
· Legal C Bar — This Legal Sea Foods concept will be opening at Somerville's Assembly Row.
· Liquid Art House — This 8,800-square-foot restaurant/art gallery will take up the ground floor of a luxury condo building being developed at 100 Arlington St. (construction begins in early 2014). Cuisine will draw influences from owner Ruta Laukien's native Lithuania, and at least as of April 2012, 51 Lincoln's Jeff Fournier was on board as a chef and partner. It's unclear whether he's still involved.
· Lola 41 — Popular Nantucket "global bistro and sushi bar" is coming to 50 Gloucester St. in Back Bay "later this year."
· MC Medici — Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier, who own a couple of popular restaurants in Ogunquit, Maine, are opening a restaurant at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. 606 Congress closed in the end of August in the same space, and chef Rich Garcia will stay at the hotel, overseeing all culinary operations.
· Life Alive — The "urban oasis & organic cafe," currently located in Cambridge's Central Square (as well as Lowell and Salem), is planning to open a fourth location somewhere else in Cambridge in summer 2014.
· Moyzilla — This dumpling-focused food truck could launch later in the fall, but mid-season spots are scarce, so the 2014 truck season is more likely. Learn more in this interview with owner Jonathan Moy.
· Orange Leaf — The froyo chain has plans to add many more Massachusetts locations. Leather District and Brighton outposts appear to be coming up next.
· Paint — This 20-seat beer, wine, and paint bar (yes, you can paint) had its alcohol license approved in May and will open in the near future at 31 Belmont St. in Cambridge. It appears to have a sibling in Martha's Vineyard as well.
· The Painted Burro — Somerville's Painted Burro is expanding to Downtown Crossing, taking over the old Windsor Button space, which is "much bigger" than its Davis Square location. As of early August, the restaurant was in the final stages of design.
· Papagayo — This Mexican restaurant has been taking over its sibling Max & Dylans restaurants, but a brand new one will also open at Somerville's Assembly Row.
· Parlor Pizza — Another former Upper Crust turns into a different pizza joint. This one will be in West Roxbury.
· Plaza Azteca — A casual Mexican chain with Massachusetts locations in Methuen and Worcester could be headed for Boston proper, but no location has been announced yet.
· Redbones — This Davis Square, Somerville barbecue spot is expanding to Malden. The new Commercial St. location will include a nano-brewery. They're hoping to open in early 2014.
· Roka — A "unique, Modern Asian dining concept" began hiring in the South End a couple months ago. Not much has been heard since then, but check out a snazzy rendering.
· Roxy's Grilled Cheese — Yep, it's another truck opening up a brick and mortar. It's slated for 485 Cambridge St. in Allston, near Deep Ellum.
· Scissors Pie — This upcoming pizza place declares that "pizza is undergoing a renovation in America." It's taking the Newbury St. space of Bostone Pizza.
· Sofá Café — A small Brazilian coffee shop chain is making the leap to Newbury St. It'll have ten seats, light food, and non-alcoholic drinks.
· Strada 45 — This wood-fired pizza restaurant could go into a luxury tower on Province St. downtown.
· Strega Pizzeria and Cafe — The Varano Group may expand the Strega brand even more to include a pizzeria and cafe on Hanover St., right next to Strega itself. Earlier this summer, the group applied to transfer the beverage license from their shuttered Nick Varano's Famous Deli.
· Tasting Counter — The 20-seat restaurant is still searching for a location, but it'll use a ticketing system and feature tasting menus. The project comes from Peter Ungár, who runs similar private events under the name The Dining Alternative.
· Tasty Burger — The next Tasty Burger will be at 74 Prospect St., until recently home to one outpost of Lyndell's Bakery. Recent Craiglist posts indicate that there are restaurants — plural — in the planning stages, so more might be on the way as well.
· Tavern in the Square — Currently located in Porter Square, Central Square, Allston, and beyond, the Tavern is reportedly adding locations to both North and South Stations in the near future.
· Wahlburgers — The Hingham burger restaurant from the Wahlberg brothers has been hoping to expand throughout the Boston area over the next few years, but now they're making the jump to Toronto first, with a location planned for early 2014.
· Ward 8 — This restaurant and cocktail bar is slated for the former Nebo space at 90 North Washington St., not far from the Garden. It was previously aiming for a summer opening but hasn't quite materialized yet.
· Yogurtland — "Coming soon" to 294 Newbury St. The froyo chain also has other local outlets in Harvard Square, Brookline, and Newton.
· Yoi — Previously called Spice & Noodle, Yoi is heading for Massachusetts Ave. between Porter and Harvard, next to West Side Lounge. There will be sushi and noodles. The owner also owns Spice Thai in Harvard Square.

RUMORED/UNCERTAIN
At this point, the following are mere rumors or very much up in the air.
· Ambrosia on Gloucester — This new restaurant could be coming to (surprise) Gloucester St. Brian Lesser of Storyville, Tavern Road, etc. might be behind the project. But Lola 41 is now apparently slated for the location originally reported for Ambrosia, so the fate of the project is unclear.
· Angel's Share — According to licensing hearing notes, the team behind Bergamot (chef/owner Keith Pooler and GM/owner Servio Garcia) appear to be in the process of opening a new restaurant at 1071 Cambridge St. in Inman Square.
· Burger Joint — This NYC burger chain is eyeing Cambridge, among other cities, for possible expansions.
· Checkers — The national burger chain is planning a massive expansion and, as of five months ago, was "looking at sites in the Back Bay, Somerville, Brookline, the Fenway, and the hot spots around Greater Boston."
· La Brasa — A rep says that the project is still alive as of early August ("still awaiting some construction updates"), but a lease was first signed in January 2012, and very little has happened since then.
· Luke's Lobster — With locations in New York, DC, and Philly, it's logical that this seafood sandwich shop would come here next. The company confirmed in June that a Boston expansion is in the works, but no details are available at this time.
· LYFE Kitchen — The small fast-casual chain currently has a few California locations, but it's planning a massive national expansion. In June, a rep told Eater that it is "targeting the Hub." Expect dishes like ancient grain buttermilk pancakes and quinoa crunchy wraps.
· M.F. Dulock — In May, the Somerville-based butcher tweeted that they were actively looking for a second shop and "hoping for something on the other side of the river." No new details have emerged.
· Olives — Todd English's beleaguered Charlestown restaurant closed for good earlier this year, but a press release sent out after the closure went public insists that it will reopen at "a new and shiny location" in the Greater Boston area.
· Pigalle's unnamed replacement — Marc Orfaly closed his French restaurant in the spring with plans to reopen it as an entirely new concept, perhaps involving "American inspired tavern fare." As of September, Orfaly is working at The Beehive. No word on what this means for his Pigalle revamp.
· Red Dragon & Sushi — A 200-seat Asian restaurant is coming to Porter Square, in the building that currently houses Walgreens, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Planet Fitness, and a few stores. Red Dragon appears to be connected to a Chinese takeout joint in Arizona.
· Somerville Beer Works — The Beer Works chain has been looking at the Social Security building on Elm St. in Davis Square (the previous target of rumors about a chain called World of Beer), but Somerville's Board of Alderman isn't thrilled with the idea.
· Stacked Donuts — Stephanie Cmar of No. 9 Park and Top Chef reported last October that she wanted to open a donut shop, possibly in the Innovation District or Back Bay/South End. Investors ultimately fell through, but in September 2013, Cmar told Eater that she "absolutely" still wants to open the donut shop, it'll be somewhere in Boston, and she's hoping to get closer to making it happen in 2014.
· The Taco Truck — The NJ-based taco truck and restaurant chain has made no secret of the fact that its first Boston truck is a gateway to a brick-and-mortar location. Nothing has been announced yet, although past rumors have pointed to Malden as a possible location.
· World of Beer — At this point it's unclear whether this project is still alive, but the bar chain had been eyeing Davis Square earlier in the year, particularly the Social Security building at 240 Elm St. More recently, it appears that Beer Works is looking at the same space.

OFF THE TABLE
Cancellation of these projects has been confirmed.
· Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca — Mario Batali's upcoming Fort Point project may have hit a road block. On August 24th, he tweeted, "Not looking good right now, I'll keep you posted" in response to a question about an opening date. UPDATE: On August 26th, Batali announced that the project "will not come to fruition" but that he "will continue to look for the perfect location to serve the exciting and vibrant Boston community." A dispute over a wood-burning oven is alleged to have caused a breakdown in negotiations. An anonymous commenter (so, grain of salt) on a Charlestown Patch story claims that Batali may be eyeing Olives' space.

NOW OPEN
Check out these new restaurants. All openings have been confirmed.

The Bacon Truck
Where: Mobile. Mostly SOWA for now, but the plan is to get into one of the Boston truck schedules in the spring.
When: NOW OPEN as of Sunday, September 15th
Who: A pair of childhood friends, "passionate bacon eaters," and cooks named Sam Williams and J.J. Frosk
What: A food truck that focuses on — surprise! — bacon
[Photo: ]

Bar Louie
Where: 121 Brookline Ave. in the new Marriott Residence Inn near Fenway. There's already a location at Patriot Place in Foxborough.
When: NOW OPEN as of Saturday, September 21st
Who: A national chain based in Texas
What: An "eclectic urban bar" serving "handcrafted signature martinis" and "uniquely presented American food traditionally and regionally inspired"
[Photo: Bar Louie logo/Facebook]

Beat Hotel
Where: 13 Brattle St. in Harvard Square, a basement-level space that was formerly The Tannery, a shoe store.
When: NOW OPEN as of Thursday, September 12th
Who: The team behind The Beehive in the South End: Jack Bardy, Jennifer Epstein, Bill Keravuori, and Bertil Jean-Chronberg
What: The concept is similar to The Beehive, with "nightly live music" and a "stunning atmosphere." Previously going under the name Liberal Servings, Beat Hotel will have 328 seats spread throughout a dining room, a private dining room, and two bars. Just as The Beehive is named for an old Parisian artist enclave, Beat Hotel most likely pays homage to a French hotel that notably housed members of the beat poetry movement.
[Photo: The Beehive/Official Site]

Cakeology
Where: 290 Washington St., downtown
When: NOW OPEN as of Wednesday, September 25th
Who: Victoria Donnelly is the owner.
What: Cakeology is a cupcake-focused bakery previously open at 45 Province St. The new, larger location is right around the corner.
[Photo: Cakeology's logo/Facebook]

Churn2
Where: 26 Oxford St. on the Harvard campus, by the Oxford and Kirkland intersection
When: NOW OPEN as of Saturday, September 14th
Who: The founder is someone who has "run a number of restaurants in the West Coast," saw a similar ice cream venture there, and decided to take it to the East Coast.
What: A 'pop-up ice cream shop' that is sort of like a truck without wheels — or maybe just a stand. Ice cream will be made to order using liquid nitrogen.
[Photo: Ice cream-making in progress at Churn2/Joel Edinberg]

Cook
Where: 825 Washington St. in Newton
When: NOW OPEN as of Saturday, September 14th
Who: Paul Turano, owner/executive chef of Tryst in Arlington
What: More "casual" and "open-ended" than Tryst; "an "approachable, fun and introspective look at the process of being a restaurant." Check out the menu.
[Photo: Rendering of Cook's awning/Facebook]

Frost Ice Bar
Where: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
When: NOW OPEN as of Friday, August 30th
Who: The team behind Boston Duck Tours
What: It's exactly what it sounds like. Don't worry — a cape and gloves will be provided. Sneak a peek at the icy interior here.
[Photo: Frost Ice Bar interior/Chris Coe]

Hopster's Brew & Boards
Where: 292 Center St. in Newton
When: NOW OPEN as of Sunday, September 15th
Who: Lee and Karen Cooper, a "beer-loving couple" from Wayland, are the owners. Joshua Smith (of the upcoming Moody's Delicatessen and Provisions) collaborated on the charcuterie and cheese selection.
What: It's a community brewery where you and up to 59 of your closest friends and colleagues can brew your own beer — up to 30 cases — with your own custom labels. Spend a couple of hours brewing (with the guidance of "brew masters") and nibbling on meat and cheese, go home, and get your completed beer delivered a couple weeks later. Look inside.
[Photo: Hopster's Brew & Boards rendering/Facebook]

The Kirkland Tap & Trotter
Where: 425 Washington St. in the "Dali corner" of Somerville, not far from Harvard, Inman, Union, and Porter Squares.
When: NOW OPEN as of Monday, September 16th
Who: Tony Maws of Craigie on Main
What: A more rustic "cousin" to Craigie, at a lower price point. There will be no tasting menus, but Maws' dedication to nose-to-tail cooking will continue. The famous Craigie burger won't make an appearance, but there will be other burgers — and possibly a signature hot dog. Look inside, and read about week one in this interview with Maws and chef de cuisine Dan Scampoli.
[Photo: The Kirkland Tap & Trotter, under construction/Meg Jones Wall]

Patty Chen's Dumpling Room
Where: 907 Main St. in Cambridge's Central Square, in the former Pu Pu Hot Pot space
When: NOW OPEN as of Sunday, September 15th
Who: Patty Chen and Marc Shulman, proprietors of the shuttered Pu Pu Hot Pot. They also run All Asia, which they are relocating and changing into Prospect Lounge.
What: The dumpling-centric restaurant even has dessert dumplings (hello Nutella and banana). Check out the menu and take a look inside.
[Photo: Patty Chen's Dumpling Room exterior/Stephen Martyak]

Pinkberry
Where: 263 Elm St. in Somerville's Davis Square, right in between two other existing froyo options on Elm St.
When: NOW OPEN as of Friday, September 6th
Who: A huge international froyo chain with a number of other Massachusetts locations
What: Tart froyo with a variety of toppings
[Photo: Pinkberry in Hingham, MA/Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

Pret A Manger
Where: 855 Boylston St. in Back Bay, across from the Pru
When: NOW OPEN as of Monday, September 30th
Who: A large British chain with two other Boston locations (Franklin St. and another on Boylston)
What: Casual grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, and the like
[Photo: The exterior of the new Pret A Manger/Drew Starr]

Stephi's in Southie
Where: 11 West Broadway in South Boston
When: NOW OPEN as of Wednesday, September 25th
Who: It's a sibling to Stephanie's on Newbury and Stephi's on Tremont.
What: The 180-seat restaurant will likely be similar to its siblings, serving "sophisticated comfort food," including Sunday brunch.
[Photo: Stephi's on Tremont/Official Site]

Warehouse Bar & Grille
Where: 40 Broad St. in the Financial District
When: NOW OPEN as of Tuesday, September 17th
Who: Stephanie's on Newbury alum Nathaniel Durost will be executive chef
What: The 104-seat restaurant will "bridge the gap between sports bars and upscale eateries by providing a warm, casual and stylish space to enjoy great food in good company." Early renderings hint at an industrial ambiance with lots of televisions.
[Photo: Rendering of Warehouse Bar & Grille/Facebook]· All coverage of Fall Tracking on Eater [~EBOS~]