The 2015 Ultimate Guide to Winter Restaurant Openings in Boston

With a dusting of snow on the ground and near-freezing temperatures, it's time to look ahead to the winter restaurant openings that will help Boston forget the cold over the next few months. Hit up the tipline with any updates.

First, the restaurants that have confirmed an intention to open this winter:

Amsterdam Falafelshop
Where: 642 Beacon Street, Boston (Kenmore Square)
What: A second local outpost for the DC-based, quick-service falafel chain. (The first Massachusetts location is in Somerville's Davis Square.)
When: February
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook

Photo: Facebook

Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca
Where: 11 Fan Pier Boulevard, Boston (Fan Pier)
What: Mario Batali's first Boston restaurant. It will feature wood-fired pizzas as well as pasta and gelato, and there will be three bars (one for drinking, one for antipasti, and one for pizza).
Who: General manager Caroline Conrad was previously at Eataly Chicago, and executive chef Mario LaPosta comes from Tarry Lodge, also in Batali's restaurant empire.
When: Early March
Follow: Twitter

Photo: Twitter

BISq
Where: 1071 Cambridge Street, Cambridge (Inman Square)
What: A sibling of Bergamot, which is located less than a mile away in Somerville. The 49-seat restaurant will serve "eclectic small plates" and "innovative charcuterie." Wine director Kai Gagnon previously told Eater: "We're shooting for the raucous yet inviting feeling of a Parisian bar à vin with the quality of food that Bergamot would lead you to expect."
Who: The Bergamot team — Gagnon, Keith Pooler, Servio Garcia, and Dan Bazzinotti.
When: Imminently.
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Official Site

Blackbird Doughnuts
Where: 492 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)
What: A doughnut shop, obviously. There will also be coffee. 
Who: The Gallows team.
When: Imminently. Social media channels promise "early winter" or "early 2015," and testing is already in full swing. UPDATE: Now open!
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Instagram

Bon Me
Where: 313 Congress Street, Boston (Fort Point)
What: A second brick-and-mortar location for the growing truck-and-restaurant group. Bon Me focuses on a Vietnamese-inspired selection of sandwiches, noodle salads, and rice bowls.
Who: The Bon Me team.
When: Imminently. A recent Facebook post indicated that it would be right after the new year. UPDATE: Now open!
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Rendering: Provided

Bred Gourmet
Where: 2255 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester (Lower Mills)
What: Burgers, smoothies, and salad in the former Mrs. Jones space.
Who: The owner is named Tambo Barrow.
When: Imminently. The website and Instagram account still indicate December 2014. UPDATE: Now open!
Follow: Web / Twitter / Instagram

Photo: Twitter

Brewer's Fork
Where: 7 Moulton Street, Charlestown (Hayes Square)
What: A casual restaurant focused on pizza and small plates, along with craft beers. There'll be a patio, too.
Who: Michael Cooney (Kingfish Hall, The Publick House) and John Paine (Les Zygomates, Moody's Delicatessen). They met working at Sorriso.
When: Maybe by February.
Follow: Web / Twitter

Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal (September 2014)

Committee
Where: 50 Northern Avenue, Boston (Fan Pier)
What: Mediterranean small plates and cocktails. "A laid-back, convivial speak-easy that feels like one great big cocktail party, with people coming together over sharable plates." The slogan? "Where predictable is prohibited." 
Who: Owner George Aboujaoude is also behind Cafeteria and Bijou.
When: Winter, according to the website.
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Cafeteria/Cal Bingham for Eater

Hops N Scotch
Where: 1248 Cambridge Street, Cambridge (Inman Square)
What: A sibling to the Coolidge Corner location of the same name, which opened in August 2012. The focus is on beer and whiskey, hence the name, plus comfort food. It's located in the former Haveli space.
Who: The Hops N Scotch team, who are also behind Coolidge Corner Wine and Spirits.
When: Imminently. In November, the Facebook page indicated that an opening was just "weeks away."
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Facebook (November 2014)

Kane's Handcrafted Donuts
Where: One International Place, Boston (Financial District)
What: A Saugus institution since 1955, Kane's is expanding to Boston proper. While the donuts for the new shop will be rolled, cut, and baked in Saugus, fillings and garnishes will be applied to order in Boston.
Who: The Delios family.
When: Recent Facebook posts mention February. A Chowhound user hears that it'll be the first week of February.
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Facebook

Lone Star Taco Bar
Where: 635 Cambridge Street, Cambridge (East Cambridge)
What: A sibling to Lone Star Taco Bar and Deep Ellum, both in Allston. The new restaurant will offer a menu similar to the Lone Star that you know and love, plus some new and seasonal items. While the drink program will still focus on mezcal and tequila, it'll have more "complexity" than its big sibling. 
Who: The Lone Star Taco Bar and Deep Ellum team (co-owners Aaron Sanders and Max Toste).
When: Hopefully before St. Patrick's Day, according to a recent Facebook post.
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Instagram

Moonshine 152
Where: 152 Dorchester Avenue, Boston (South Boston)
What: Replacing Franklin Southie, Moonshine 152 will serve up a street food-inspired menu with a focus on late-night dining. There will also be a Monday industry brunch.
Who: Owner Asia Mei is an alum of Franklin Southie, Sam's at Louis, and more.
When: February
Follow: Twitter / Facebook

Photo: Asia Mei/Facebook

Saltbox Kitchen
Where: 84 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord
What: The 15-seat restaurant and brewery is an offshoot of Saltbox Farm in Concord.
Who: Owner Ben Elliott is an alum of No. 9 Park, as is brewmaster/partner Ralph Fiegel. Chef de cuisine Aran Goldstein, a Clink alum, staged around Italy.
When: February
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook

Photo: Facebook

Santouka Ramen
Where: 1 Bow Street, Cambridge (Harvard Square)
What: Taking over a former Dunkin' Donuts space, this will be the first Massachusetts location for the large Japanese ramen chain. Its signature ramen has a shio-style (salt) broth.
Who: The CEO of the chain is named Shinichi Kikuta.
When: January
Follow: Web / Facebook

Rendering: Provided

SELECT Oyster Bar
Where: 50 Gloucester Street, Boston (Back Bay)
What: "A unique take on local seafood" for lunch and dinner, plus a "creative" wine list. Don't look for dessert, coffee, brunch, or a late-night menu here.
Who: Michael Serpa, formerly of Neptune Oyster.
When: Winter
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Facebook

Serafina
Where: 10 High Street, Boston (Financial District)
What: Located in the former Radius space, this is the first New England location for the New York-based casual Italian chain.
Who: Restaurateur Seth Greenberg (Mistral, Bastille Kitchen, etc.) is one of the names behind it.
When: Winter
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Facebook

Shepard
Where: 1 Shepard Street, Cambridge (Porter Square/Harvard Square)
What: Taking over the longtime Chez Henri space, this new restaurant will be "French in spirit."
Who: Rene Becker (Hi-Rise Bread Company) and Susan Regis (UpStairs on the Square).
When: Possibly February, according to a Facebook post from Chez Henri, but Shepard doesn't have its own web presence yet and hasn't announced anything.

Rendering: Austin Architects

Tasty Mo:Mo
Where: 503B Medford Street, Somerville (Magoun Square)
What: A small storefront focusing on momo (dumplings from Tibet and Nepal), plus other Nepalese foods. Frozen momo will also be available for purchase.
Who: The owner's name is Sophiya Thakali.
When: February, according to a recent Facebook post.
Follow: Facebook / Instagram

Photo: Facebook

Townsman
Where: 120 Kingston Street, Boston (Downtown/Greenway)
What: "New England farmhouse dining" with shellfish towers, charcuterie, and more.
Who: Owners Matt and Kate Jennings are Boston natives who have been in Providence for the last decade. They closed their restaurant there, Farmstead, Inc., to come back here and open Townsman. Post 390 alum Brian Young will also be in the kitchen. 
When: Early February, according to a rep.
Follow: Web / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Logo: Facebook

Beyond Winter

Plenty more restaurants are headed for openings soon after winter — or haven't announced an opening timeline yet but might be on the horizon. Here are a few to keep an eye on:

• Coppersmith: This giant South Boston restaurant will include two food trucks inside, a rooftop garden, and lots more. It's slated for a spring opening.
• Hojoko: The O Ya team is opening a "high-energy izakaya" in the new Verb Hotel near Fenway, most likely in early spring.
• Loyal Nine: Members of two pop-ups (Hand Taste Collective and Brasstacks) are involved in this East Cambridge restaurant, which will include handmade bowls and cups, shared plates, alcohol, and more. By day, it'll have more of a cafe feel.
• Meju: Korean food in a former McDonald's space in Davis Square. Sibling to the popular Bibim in Allston.
• Naco Taqueria: A taco project from Michael Scelfo, coming to Central Square. In late October, the estimate was "early 2015," but nothing has been announced since then.
• Somerville Brewing Company's Brewery and Taproom: On the heels of opening a beer garden at Assembly Row, Somerville Brewing Company is hard at work on their Boynton Yards brewery and taproom, which could open early this year. There'll be plenty of comfort food, some of which incorporates beer.
• Tasting Counter: Now headed for an April opening, this tasting menu-only restaurant will be located inside of Aeronaut Brewing Company's food hub in Somerville.
• Thunder Road: Construction has just begun at the former Radio space in Somerville's Union Square. Thunder Road will be a music venue and restaurant, and while no opening timeline has been announced, shows are already booked for May.
• Villa Mexico: The best little gas station burrito shop will rise again but in its very own space downtown. It should open this spring.