Restaurant Opening Guide, Summer 2016: Cambridge

Cambridge had a blockbuster opening season, from Ken Oringer's and Jamie Bissonnette's first restaurant on this side of the river (Little Donkey) to the much-anticipated Smoke Shop from Andy Husbands, not to mention Mamaleh's from the State Park crew. Plus, Michael Scelfo's cooking up seafood, pizza, and more at his Alden & Harlow sequel, Waypoint. And all of the restaurants that were damaged in a fire at One Kendall Square a year ago have finally reopened; Flat Top Johnny's returned earlier this year, while Beantowne Coffee House, The Blue Room, and Belly returned this summer. And that's not all — read on for the details.To see what opened elsewhere in the Boston area in summer 2016, head this way. Want a preview of fall openings? That's right here.

Originally published on June 21, 2016. Date of most recent update appears above.

Table Of Contents (all h2's added automatically)

Central Square

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DooWee's @ Monroe

Facebook

This opened and closed within days. Duy Tran, chef/owner of the now-shuttered DooWee & Rice in Somerville, popped up at Wonder Bar in Allston for a while and then moved on to Monroe, a Central Square restaurant and nightclub, with a menu full of bao baos and lots more. But several days after Tran's debut, food service at the venue went on indefinite hiatus due to licensing problems. It seems Tran is already on his way to several new projects, including revamping the menu at Bao Nation, also in Central Square.

Address: 450 Massachusetts Ave.
Opening Date: Opened August 1, 2016 but closed a few days later due to problems at the venue. A reopening date has not been announced.
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Image credit: Facebook

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Little Donkey

Toro/Coppa duo Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette are expanding way outside of Boston these days with a new Toro location in Bangkok and one in the works for Dubai — but they've also just crossed the river with their first Cambridge restaurant, Little Donkey. You'll find "global-inspired small plates" and a raw bar, not to mention a "very comprehensive" late-night menu, as well as breakfast and lunch service. The debut menu includes dishes like manti ("Istanbul meat ravioli"); a dry-aged burger with onion soup mayo, jalapeno chips, and foie gras; and matzo ball ramen.

Featured Coverage

• There Are 10 Things You Need to Know About Little Donkey [Interview]
• Here Is Little Donkey, Where You'll Eat Matzo Ball Ramen, Monkfish Biryani, and Ceviche [Gallery]

Address: 505 Massachusetts Ave.
Opening Date: July 18, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Little Donkey logo/Facebook

Grid View

• Little Donkey in Cambridge. Photos by Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater.

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Mainely Burgers

Dana Hatic for Eater

This Maine-based food truck put down roots in the former Four Burgers space in Cambridge. The 40-seat restaurant serves burgers with a variety of toppings as well as some salads and sides.

Address: 704 Massachusetts Ave.
Opening Date: August 19, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Dana Hatic for Eater

East Cambridge

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Fava Bean Mediterranean

Located in the CambridgeSide Galleria food court, Fava Bean offers dishes like shawarma, kabobs, falafel, and hummus. The restaurant group behind it is based in Malaysia, and this is the first United States location.

Address: 100 CambridgeSide Pl.
Opening Date: June 22, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Kimchi Kitchen

After opening in November 2015 and building up a following for its homestyle Korean food, Kimchi Kitchen closed in June 2016 to repair unspecified damages to the 16-seat restaurant. It ended up being closed throughout almost the whole summer and announced new ownership (but the same menu) upon reopening.

Address: 847 Cambridge St.
Reopening Date: September 12, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Le's Sushi Bar & Restaurant

Located in the former Ciampa Apothecary space, Le's serves a large menu of sushi, pho, noodle dishes, and more.

Address: 425 Cambridge St.
Opening Date: Early July 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Image credit: Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater

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PizzaRev

Provided

This Chipotle-style, California-based pizza chain arrived at the CambridgeSide Galleria food court this summer, offering fast, customizable pizzas with a range of toppings. Gluten-free crust is available.

Address: 100 CambridgeSide Pl.
Opening Date: August 9, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: The toppings section at a PizzaRev location/Provided

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World of Beer

This Florida-based chain offers tavern-inspired food (German pretzels, mac and cheese, etc.) and a huge beer list. This is the first Massachusetts location. It's inside the CambridgeSide Galleria.

Address: 100 CambridgeSide Pl.
Opening Date: July 11, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Image credit: World of Beer in West Hartford/Facebook

Harvard Square

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Tom's BaoBao

From the founder of a Chinese bao chain with more than 200 locations comes a new concept for the US market. Tom's BaoBao serves bao, of course, and there could ultimately be locations throughout the Northeast, but this is the first in the Boston area. A Providence, RI location will also open in the not-too-distant future.

Address: 84 Winthrop St. (in the Crimson Galeria)
Opening Date: July 12, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Waypoint

Michael Scelfo's seafood-focused follow-up to Alden & Harlow arrived this summer on the outskirts of Harvard Square. While the logo and slogan ("swim good") support the seafood theme, there is also pizza and the largest absinthe selection you've probably ever seen.

Featured Coverage

• Say Hello to Waypoint, Your New Absinthe-Filled Seafood Destination in Cambridge [Gallery]

Address: 1030 Massachusetts Ave.
Opening Date: August 26, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

Grid View

• Waypoint in Cambridge. Photos by Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater.

Inman Square

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Beauty's Pizza

Originally located near Kendall Square, Beauty's Pizza was shuttered by fire in late 2014. Now, it has reopened in the former Pizza Pie-er space in Inman.

Address: 187 Hampshire St.
Opening Date: September 15, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Twitter

Kendall Square

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Barismo 295

Voltage Coffee & Art became part of the Barismo family and underwent a remodel along with the rebranding. It reopened this summer as Barismo, which also has locations in mid-Cambridge and East Arlington (as well as a wholesale roasting facility in Somerville).

Featured Coverage

• Voltage Coffee + Art Will Be Reborn as Barismo 295 This June [Interview]

Address: 295 Third St.
Opening Date: August 24, 2016
Online: Website / Twitter

Image credit: Voltage, before the transformation to Barismo/Facebook

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Beantowne Coffee House

Damaged in an August 2015 fire, the cafe underwent a massive rebuild and reopened a year later, better than ever.

Featured Coverage

• Beantowne Coffee House Reopens in Kendall Soon, With Bigger Plans Ahead [Interview]

Address: 1 Kendall Sq.
Reopening Date: August 11, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Rendering of the new cafe/Facebook

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Belly Wine Bar

Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Along with sister/neighbor restaurant The Blue Room, as well as Beantowne Coffee House, Belly shuttered in August 2015 because of damage sustained in the aforementioned fire, but it came back this summer.

Address: 1 Kendall Sq.
Reopening Date: September 9, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater

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The Blue Room

A year after a fire, The Blue Room has reopened with a refreshed look and a revamped menu.

Featured Coverage

• The Blue Room Is Reborn Today [Interview/Gallery]

Address: 1 Kendall Sq.
Reopening Date: September 1, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater

Grid View

• The Blue Room in Cambridge, September 2016. Photos by Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater.

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K2 Cafe

Facebook

This weekday cafe comes from The Briar Group (Gather, M.J. O'Connor's, etc.) and offers up a variety of coffee beverages, smoothies, and teas, as well as food ranging from avocado toast to sticky buns, not to mention three types of "spudboats," loaded baked potatoes.

Address: 500 Kendall St.
Opening Date: Mid-July 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

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Mamaleh's Delicatessen

The State Park and former Hungry Mother team (minus Barry Maiden, who parted ways with the group in spring 2015) will open a Jewish delicatessen in the former West Bridge space, adjacent to State Park. Mamaleh's will feature a market (hello, frozen blintzes) and gift shop in addition to a 114-seat dining room and a seasonal patio. The menu will include dishes like matzo ball soup, knishes, corned beef, pastrami, lox, pickles, and more.

Featured Coverage

• Look Inside Mamaleh's, Where You'll Nosh on Pastrami and Rye [Gallery]

Address: 1 Kendall Sq., Building 300
Opening Date: July 12, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Instagram

Grid View

• Mamaleh's Delicatessen in Cambridge. Photos by Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater.

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The Smoke Shop

Tremont 647's Andy Husbands has opened a barbecue restaurant in the former Tommy Doyle's space in Kendall Square, serving up "competition-style" platters of ribs, brisket, etc., as well as less traditional dishes like smoked and fried chicken banh mi. Don't expect a roadhouse-style place. There's plenty of whiskey, and there will be live music.

Featured Coverage

• The Smoke Shop Arrives This Weekend With Brisket, Hot Links, and More [Gallery, Menu]

Address: 1 Kendall Sq.
Opening Date: June 25, 2016
Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Image credit: Facebook

Grid View

• Andy Husbands prepares to slice up a half rack of ribs at The Smoke Shop. Photos by Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater.
• Ribs, rib rub, and The Smoke Shop's sauces.
• The open kitchen looks out into the dining room.
• Husbands pours sauce on the ribs.
• Brisket and slaw.
• Cocktails, including a rhubarb shrub julep (far left) and a frozen coffee-and-bourbon drink (second from left).

Grid View

• The Smoke Shop in Cambridge. Photos by Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater.

North Cambridge

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UpperWest

In the works for more than two years, originally at another location, UpperWest is now open near Alewife and Davis, serving up cheese and charcuterie tasting flights, drink pairings, and guest chef food specials on Thursday through Sunday each week. The rest of the week, the space plays host to a wide range of events, including chef demos, classes, pop-up dinners, networking events, and more.

Address: 1 Cedar St.
Opening Date: September 15, 2016
Online: Website / Twitter

Image credit: Provided

Main Image: Harvard Square/f11photo on Shutterstock