Roxy's and Area Four Team up to Open the Tastiest Arcade Ever

A dream collaboration is in the works, reports Boston Restaurant Talk: Roxy's Grilled Cheese and Area Four are opening a restaurant and arcade at 300 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge, right by MIT, as part of the University Park expansion project. The location is on the edge of Central Square and not far from Kendall Square.

While paperwork has been filed referring to the project as Roxy's A4cade, BRT notes that that is just a working name, and Roxy's owner James DiSabatino confirms that that is the case.

Neither side is sharing many details yet, but DiSabatino tells Eater: "We're collaborating on a new concept. There will be games. We just want to create a big, fun space that represents both of our brands, and this will be it."

Meanwhile, a rep for Area Four tells Boston Magazine that the project is still in its infancy and a menu hasn't been decided yet, but there will be "bar-friendly food."

According to the public notice filed in advance of a November 10 appearance in front of the licensing board, the team is seeking a full liquor license and the ability to operate between the hours of 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until 2 a.m. the rest of the week. The space will seat 108 inside and 40 on a seasonal patio, and the plan is to have a first-floor restaurant with a Roxy's dining area and an Area Four bar area, plus a private dining area.

As for the games, expect 20 assorted games that fall under "video game, pinball machine or other" in licensing language, as well as Skee-Ball, foosball, shuffleboard, and pool. (Roxy's existing brick-and-mortar location in Allston currently offers pinball.)

The two brands are juggling a number of projects at the moment. The Roxy's Grilled Cheese empire currently includes two trucks, the Allston brick-and-mortar, and — opening within the next few weeks — a kiosk at the Innovation and Design Building in the Seaport District. A Lynnfield location is also in the works.

Meanwhile, Area Four has its Kendall Square flagship and its still-temporarily-closed Union Square offshoot, A4 Pizza. (As of last week, the latest news on that location, per a rep, is that there's no new news. Neighboring restaurant Dosa N Curry, also closed because of the same issue, posted yesterday that "things are looking really good" and that they may have a better idea of when they can reopen at the end of next week.) Area Four is also working on opening a restaurant called A4 at Troy in the South End.