Restaurant Opening Guide, Spring 2016: Boston Proper

It was a busy spring in Boston proper, with openings especially concentrated in Back Bay, Jamaica Plain, and the South End. Many were fast-casual, and a lot of new coffee options sprung up. While we expected to see the arrival of a few out-of-town brands — Dig Inn, Lady M, By Chloe — those are now aiming for summer openings. But we did say hello to some new siblings of existing Boston-area restaurants, including Casa Verde (sibling to Tres Gatos and Centre Street Cafe), a new Clover, a third FoMu, and a second Grass Fed.Allston got two restaurants that serve Korean-Mexican fusion (think tacos with Korean-inspired fillings) — Coreanos and OliToki. A handful of new pubs opened around town, including The Ginger Man near Faneuil Hall and Lower Mills Tavern in Dorchester. And some temporarily closed restaurants reopened — JM Curley and Cafe Madeleine in their original locations, and Crispy Crepes Cafe in a new spot.

Did we miss a spring Boston proper restaurant opening? Do you know of an upcoming summer (or beyond) opening that should be on our radar? Let us know. Want to learn about what opened in Cambridge, Somerville, and other nearby areas? Head right this way.

Originally published on March 14, 2016. Date of most recent update can be found above.

Table Of Contents (all h2's added automatically)

Allston

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Coreanos

Korean-Mexican fusion from a Bibim alum, serving dishes like Korean tacos, kimchi quesadillas, bibimbap, and more.

Address: 172 Brighton Ave.
Opening Date: June 13, 2016
Online: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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The Hopewell Bar & Kitchen

After closing down Shanghai Social Club in late 2014, the Red Paint Hospitality Group has replaced it with a new neighborhood-focused casual concept with grilled pizza, a raw bar, sandwiches, and the like. There are 16 beers on draft with a focus on American craft brews. The Hopewell has seasonal sidewalk dining as well as pool, shuffleboard, and arcade games.

Featured Coverage

• Play Shuffleboard and Arcade Games at The Hopewell Bar & Kitchen [Gallery]

Address: 1277 Commonwealth Ave.
Opening Date: April 7, 2016
Online: Website/ Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

Grid View

• The Hopewell Bar & Kitchen in Allston. Photos by Katie Chudy for Eater.

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OliToki

Korean fusion with hints of Mexico and Hawaii — think tacos, burritos, and rice bowls with Korean-style fillings, as well as the Hawaiian staple spam musubi. Part of the menu is called the "YOLO corner," featuring "really weird concoctions" meant to satisfy the munchies. "We definitely want to bring some swagger and up the game for fast-casual food," co-owner John Kim previously told Eater. The 10-seat restaurant is takeout- and delivery-friendly.

Address: 76 Brighton Ave.
Opening Date: May 4, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Provided

Back Bay

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Clover

The long-awaited Newbury Street Clover — in the works for more than four years — finally opened at the start of spring. The truck plugs in to the back of the Hynes MBTA station for electrical power, making it a sort of hybrid between Clover's standard trucks and its brick-and-mortar locations. It holds long and consistent hours like a restaurant but drive away each night.

Address: 354 Newbury St.
Opening Date: March 21, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Official Site

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Cuppacoffee

This Australian-inspired coffee-and-meat-pie shop has just opened its third location this spring as a kiosk inside of a gym. The original location is by Haymarket, and there's also one in the South End within the Troy Boston building.

Address: 699 Boylston St.
Opening Date: April 18, 2016
Online: Website / Twitter

Image credit: The first location of Cuppacoffee/Flagship Photo

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Saltie Girl

This tiny new restaurant comes from Kathy Sidell of the MET Restaurant Group (and is located next to big sibling MET Back Bay). It's a seafood spot with a particular focus on tinned seafoods.

Address: 281 Dartmouth St.
Opening Date: June 1, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Provided

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Wen's Yunnan Noodle & Ramen

Located in a former Newbury Street Boloco space, Wen's serves a traditional Yunnan Province dish called "cross-the-bridge" noodles, along with a variety of Japanese ramen bowls and bubble tea.

Address: 247 Newbury St.
Opening Date: Mid-May 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

Brighton

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Article 24

Provided

The Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Local 149, Bilmore & Main, The Biltmore Bar & Grille) has opened Article 24 in the former space of The Boyne in Brighton. A job posting described the restaurant as a "rock-n-roll-vintage-garage-inspired new American style pub" with craft cocktails and local DJs.

Keep an eye out for music-themed brunches, including one featuring EDM. The space, decorated with vintage items, has two levels, with 130 seats upstairs and 39 down. On the food side, the menu has sections dedicated to items like toast, ramen, sandwiches, and tacos. Chef Mark Allen is formerly from the now-shuttered Le Soir Bistro in Newton Highlands.

Featured Coverage

• Article 24 Eyes an April Opening in Brighton [Interview]

Address: 458 Western Ave.
Opening Date: June 14, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Courtesy of The Neighborhood Restaurant Group

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Energize

This fast-casual Oak Square spot features a plant-based menu of juices, smoothies, and salads.

Address: 618 Washington St.
Opening Date: May 6, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

Charlestown

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Blackmoor Bar and Kitchen

Provided

This sibling to Gregory Coughlin's Olde Magoun's Saloon and Copper House Tavern seats 240 and features dishes like cod and potato cakes, lamb poutine, a Reuben with kimchi, and Boston cream pie. The space was formerly home to Papagayo.

Address: 1 Chelsea St.
Opening Date: Early May 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Image credit: Provided

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Sweet Rice

Thai food and sushi in the former Chow Thai Cafe space. The owner once owned Thai Moon in Arlington but sold it a few years ago.

Address: 187 Main St.
Opening Date: Mid-April 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

Chinatown

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The Best Little Restaurant

Shojo owners Brendan and Brian Moy, along with executive chef Mark O'Leary, revamped the Moy family's longstanding Best Little Restaurant to give it a bit of a facelift and modern spin. The new menu features dishes like soft-shell crab egg foo young, roasted bone marrow with scallion pancakes, and whole roasted trout. Old favorites will eventually make a comeback as well.

Address: 13 Hudson St.
Opening Date: June 1, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook/ Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Joy Luck Hot Pot

Hot pot and more in a former McDonald's space.

Address: 702 Washington St.
Opening Date: Late April 2016
Online: No web presence yet

Image credit: Yelp/Sandy Y.

Dorchester

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Lower Mills Tavern

The Lower Mills Pub, which was open for more than three decades, has been reborn as Lower Mills Tavern, now under the ownership of Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey and his business partner Brian O'Donnell. The menu is meant to be an affordable mix of flatbreads, burgers, and other comfort food. Well-known interior designer Taniya Nayak (who is married to O'Donnell) designed the space.

Address: 2269 Dorchester Ave.
Opening Date: Early June 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Molinari's

Old-world Italian comfort food from chef/owner Jeff Cincotta: pastas made in-house; wood-fired, brick-oven pizza; more. The 28-seat restaurant is applying to serve wine and beer, too.

Address: 789 Adams St.
Opening Date: Early June 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Google Maps

Downtown

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89 Broad

The Hilton Boston Downtown Hotel swiftly replaced Nix's Mate with 89 Broad, serving modern American food and open from 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Address: 89 Broad St.
Opening Date: Early June 2016
Online: Website

Image credit: Nix's Mate/Facebook

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Broadside

The team from the shuttered The Times Irish Pub, whose space was taken over by a luxury condo development, has opened a new Irish restaurant, Broadside, in the former Barney Fanning's space.

Address: 99 Broad St.
Opening Date: Mid-May 2016
Online: Website / Facebook

Image credit: The space before renovations/Facebook

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The Coffee Trike

The Coffee Trike closed in fall 2015 so that owner San Bellino could focus on working with the Gracenote Coffee team to open a brick-and-mortar cafe in Boston's Leather District, but now a new owner has resurrected the trike — Brad Pillen. Current peddling/pedaling locations include the corner of Park Street and Tremont Street at Boston Common and the South End Open Market.

Address: Varies (mobile)
Opening Date: April 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Brad Pillen/Instagram

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The Ginger Man

This 149-seat restaurant near Faneuil Hall specializes in craft beer and comfort food, just like its big sibling in New York City. "We’re very much a public house, so we’re trying to give our customers and guests an atmosphere in which they can enjoy really great drinks, great food, and conversation," director of operations Alex Silberstein previously told Eater.

Featured Coverage

• The Ginger Man Opens Soon Near Faneuil Hall [Interview]

Address: 148 State St.
Opening Date: March 16, 2016
Online: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: The Ginger Man in NYC/Facebook

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Render Coffee

The South End's Render Coffee has expanded to the Cambridge Innovation Center's downtown Boston location. It's open to the public with seats for 90 and an adjacent meeting and event space (managed by CIC). Render serves Tandem and Gracenote coffee, local pastries, and more. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and closed on the weekend.

Address: 121 Devonshire St.
Opening Date: April 7, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Render Coffee in the South End/Official Site

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Squeeze Juice Company

A juice bar located inside Equinox gyms around town is expanding into office buildings and other spaces with a variety of locations in the works. One office location opened this spring.

Address: 53 Exchange Pl.
Opening Date: Early April 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: 53 Exchange Pl. location/Facebook

Downtown Crossing

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Café Marliave

The Marliave team has opened a little espresso bar next to the restaurant, featuring light breakfast and lunch options, including quiche and beignets. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Address: 51 Province St.
Opening Date: June 1, 2016
Online: Instagram

Image credit: Provided

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George Howell Coffee

This Acton-based coffee roaster, which has a Newtonville cafe, opened a new location inside The Godfrey Hotel, adjacent to the lobby. The European-style espresso bar has quick-serve coffee for commuters as well as opportunities to sit down and really get into coffee, from tasting flights to classes. George Howell launched his eponymous coffee brand a decade after selling his 20-year-old company, The Coffee Connection, to Starbucks.

Address: 505 Washington St.
Opening Date: June 8, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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JM Curley

Cal Bingham/Eater

This popular Downtown Crossing spot for cocktails, burgers, and more shuttered in mid-February 2016 due to a pipe bursting in the space above and filling the restaurant with thousands of gallons of water. Two months of renovations included replacing the damaged ceiling and dry wall, but JM Curley's original aesthetic is largely unchanged.

Address: 21 Temple Pl.
Reopening Date: Mid-April 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Cal Bingham for Eater

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Sweetgreen

This DC-based grab-and-go salad chain keeps adding new Boston area locations. The first of two Downtown Crossing locations opened this spring. (The second, at 87 Summer St., should open this summer, as well as a Fenway location.)

Address: 13 School St.
Opening Date: May 6, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Sweetgreen in Chestnut Hill/Chris Coe for Eater

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Zermatt Gelateria and Cafe

This new addition to the food court at The Corner Mall serves gelato, milkshakes, salad, panini, coffee, and more.

Address: 417 Washington St.
Opening Date: Early April 2016
Online: No web presence yet

Image credit: @DtownBostonBID/Twitter

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Ziggy's Coffee Bar

Beantown Pub has expanded by 584 feet, busting into space that was previously sublet to a coin shop. The new area is a coffee bar by day (with a separate entrance from the pub), and at night, it serves as an extension of the pub, providing additional bar seating.

Address: 102 Tremont St.
Opening Date: May 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Beantown Pub/Facebook

Fenway

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Crispy Crepes Cafe

After closing its original Audubon Circle location in October 2015 and saddening many crepe-loving students, Crispy Crepes has reopened even closer to Boston University (in a former Sal's Pizza location). In addition to crepes, both savory and sweet, Crispy Crepes also serves panini, wraps, and more.

Address: 714 Commonwealth Ave.
Opening Date: April 3, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook

Image credit: 714 Commonwealth Ave./Google Maps

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Tapestry

Coppa alum Meghann Ward, her husband Kevin Walsh (a Clio alum), and her stepmother Marlena Ward have teamed up to bring a dual-concept restaurant to the former Church restaurant and music venue spaces. One side is a pop-up-inspired restaurant with casual pizzas, small bites, oysters, and the like, while the other side is a more intimate dining experience inspired by mid-century Havana, with a fireplace, a full dinner menu, and interesting cocktails.

Featured Coverage

• Tapestry Is Ready to Open in Fenway With Palm Trees and Pizzas [Galleries]
• Here's the Menu for Tapestry, Officially Opening Today in Fenway [Menu]

Address: 69 Kilmarnock St.
Opening Date: May 26, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: Tapestry's Club Room/Dana Hatic for Eater

Grid View

• Tapestry's Club Room in Fenway. Photos by Dana Hatic for Eater.

Grid View

• Tapestry's Expo Kitchen in Fenway. Photos by Dana Hatic for Eater.

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Tony C's

Jerry Remy's Fenway location closed abruptly in April 2016, and its owners, The Cronin Group, promptly replaced it with one of their other brands, Tony C's, which has locations in Burlington and Somerville.

Address: 1265 Boylston St.
Opening Date: April 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Jerry Remy's Fenway/Facebook

Fort Point

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Caffe Nero

This European coffee chain keeps expanding. This location is right down the street from the US headquarters.

Address: 368 Congress St.
Opening Date: May 19, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Dana Hatic for Eater

Hyde Park

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Antonio's Bacaro

A 50-seat Italian restaurant from Sonia and Joe Garufi of Sophia's Grotto. It has a "hidden wine garden patio."

Address: 5 Fairmount Ave.
Opening Date: Early June 2016
Online: Facebook

Image credit: Facebook

Jamaica Plain

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Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

Whisk chefs Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta purchased Fazenda Cafe over the summer and have been gradually transforming it into their dream restaurant, continuing to run it as a cafe since then (while also previewing Brassica dishes at a variety of pop-ups). Brassica debuted in its full form this spring. "It’s really the neighborhood spot we want to create now," Kruta told the Globe, noting that the duo has moved away from "fussy plating [and] edible sculptures." Daniel and Bouchon Bakery alum Arthur Haynes is onboard as pastry chef.

Address: 3710 Washington St.
Opening Date: June 1, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Casa Verde

The team behind Tres Gatos and Centre Street Cafe made it a trio — and kept it all on Centre Street. Casa Verde is a 58-seat "casual, family-friendly Mexican eatery" with a focus on tacos and ceviche. The restaurant has a license for beer, wine, and liqueurs.

Featured Coverage

• It's a Nightly Taco Party at Casa Verde, Now Open in Jamaica Plain [Gallery]

Address: 711 Centre St.
Opening Date: Late April 2016
Online: Website/ Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Katie Chudy for Eater

Grid View

• Casa Verde in Jamaica Plain. Photos by Katie Chudy for Eater.

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Grass Fed

This fast-casual burger joint, which also serves boozy milkshakes, has expanded within Jamaica Plain. The new location is the former Tonic space by the Forest Hills MBTA station. "My new location will have more space, a 20-seat full-service bar with an all-alcohol license and an outdoor patio," owner Krista Kranyak previously told Eater. The full-service section includes "fun cocktails" as well as eight beers on tap and two organic wines on tap. The liquor license goes until 1 a.m., so there's a late-night bar menu available from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Meanwhile, the other side of the restaurant is quick-service and features bench seats with chalkboard tables — doodle while you wait.

New Forest Hills specialty burgers:

• The Hawaiian with fried spam, seared pineapple, lettuce, Sriracha mayo
• The Bibimbap with burdock root, sesame bean sprouts, kimchi, fried egg, Korean barbecue sauce
• The Daddy with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, potato chips
• Forest Hills with Swiss, kraut, bacon, fried pickle, Thousand Island dressing
• O-Ring Me with cheddar, bacon, beer-battered fried onion ring, truffle ketchup
• Chick'n Stack with two deep fried chicken breasts, green leaf lettuce, pickles, cilantro-lime mayo

"I am looking forward to the vibrancy of this developing neighborhood," said Kranyak, who is also behind Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain. She recently shuttered Ten Tables' Cambridge location to focus on expanding Grass Fed. The new location features the same classic burgers as the original, plus the addition of some new specialty burgers.

Address: 3698A Washington St.
Opening Date: March 22, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Grass Fed (the original location)/Cal Bingham for Eater

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Tea Bar By EvyTea

Evy Chen has transformed a former garage near the Sam Adams brewery into her first storefront, featuring cold brew tea, cold brew coffee, and more. There's an herb garden, too. Keep an eye out for seasonal tea blends, like her popular white tea mojito, which has mint, honey, and lime. There isn't much food available — just a few small snacks. Tea is really the focus here.

Featured Coverage

• EvyTea to Open Tea Bar in Jamaica Plain [Interview]
• Drink Cold Brew Matcha at Tea Bar by EvyTea, Now Open in JP [Gallery]

Address: 253 Amory St.
Opening Date: May 31, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Thuy Pham Photography

Grid View

• Tea Bar by EvyTea in Jamaica Plain. Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater Boston.

Leather District

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La Colombe

Based in Philadelphia, La Colombe also has cafes in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. A large expansion is in the works, including this new Boston location, which serves the signature draft latte.

Featured Coverage

• La Colombe Opens Its First Boston Location This Week [Interview]

Address: 745 Atlantic Ave.
Opening Date: Late April 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: A La Colombe location/Official site

North End

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Scopa

Located in the former Pomodoro space, this Italian restaurant serves brick-oven pizza and more from chef Marisa Iocco (Gennaro's 5 North Square).

Address: 319 Hanover St.
Opening Date: May 2016
Online: Website

Image credit: Yelp/Katherine L.

Roslindale

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Green T Coffee Shop

The Mission Hill coffee shop expanded to Roslindale this spring, serving up coffee and tea, smoothies, sandwiches, and other breakfast and lunch fare. Opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends.

Address: 873 South St.
Opening Date: Mid-May 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Green T Coffee Shop in Mission Hill/Facebook

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P.S. Gourmet

Looking for "buckets" of iced coffee in 100 different crazy flavors? Look no further. This is the third location of P.S. Gourmet, which can also be found in Southie and Dorchester.

Address: 4252 Washington St.
Opening Date: May 5, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Image credit: The space before renovations/Facebook

Seaport District

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Sapóre Ristorante + Bar

The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel replaced two-year-old M.C. Spiedo with a more modern take on Italian cuisine. Sapóre features pasta, pizza, and more.

Address: 606 Congress St.
Opening Date: Early June 2016
Online: Website / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

South Boston

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Roza Lyons

Located in the former Urban Art Bar space, Roza Lyons comes from a team of alum from the nearby Playwright — Robert Fitzharris, Ian Neubecker, and Marcos Figueiredo. Roza Lyons serves sandwiches, salads, and shared plates, as well as wine, beer, and some cocktails. (The team secured the malt, wine, and liqueur license from Urban Art Bar.)

Address: 709 E. Broadway
Opening Date: May 25, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Image credit: Facebook

South End

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Bar Gogo at Estragon

Vivian C./Yelp

Estragon has converted its shuttered sibling/neighbor, Las Ventas, into an event space that will be open to the public on Sunday nights with cocktails and a special dinner menu.

Address: 700 Harrison Ave.
Opening Date: June 12, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Image credit: Yelp/Vivian C.

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Bar Mezzana

A group of Barbara Lynch Gruppo alum — married couple Colin Lynch (no relation to Barbara Lynch) and Heather Kennaway Lynch, along with Jefferson Macklin — opened a "coastal Italian" restaurant within the Sepia condo building at the Ink Block complex this spring. It seats around 125 inside and 34 on a patio.

Address: 360 Harrison Ave.
Opening Date: June 1, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Ink Block/Official Site

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Cafe Madeleine

This French bakery took a seasonal vacation throughout February 2016 but couldn't reopen in March due to unspecified damage. It returned on April 1.

Address: 517 Columbus Ave.
Reopening Date: April 1, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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FoMu Premium Alternative Ice Cream and Cafe

This is the third location for FoMu, which first opened in Allston in 2012, followed by Jamaica Plain. The cafe offers vegan ice cream, baked goods, and a variety of tea and coffee drinks.

Address: 655 Tremont St.
Opening Date: Late May 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Instagram/Olives and Grace

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Kava Neo-Taverna

The Greek restaurant serves small plates, seafood, baklava, imported Greek yogurt and honey, and more. Greek wines and liquors are available as well.

Address: 315 Shawmut Ave.
Opening Date: May 11, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Wine Riot

From Second Glass, the wine events company behind Wine Riot events, comes the Wine Riot retail experience — a wine, beer, and liquor shop with elaborate educational displays, an app, and other ways to improve your booze-buying.

Address: 519 Tremont St.
Opening Date: June 3, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Official Site

Main Image: Shutterstock/Marcio Jose Bastos Silva