An Opening Date for Burro Bar, SRV Gets a Pastry Chef, and More Updates to Start the Week

Plywood Report

The Painted Burro’s forthcoming Brookline sibling, Burro Bar, will open on January 23, according to The Boston Globe. As previously reported, the Mexican restaurant will be located in the former Ribelle space (1665 Beacon St.) in Washington Square, and its menu and design will be similar to its big sibling in Somerville’s Davis Square. Both Burros are part of the restaurant group that includes Posto and Rosebud, also in Davis, as well as Osteria Posto in Waltham. (Update, 1/18: The opening has been delayed a bit, according to a rep. Stay tuned for a new opening date.)

Chef Shuffles

Eater Boston’s 2016 readers’ choice Restaurant of the Year, SRV, now has a dedicated head pastry chef, reports Boston Magazine: Meghan Thompson, an alum of Townsman and Steel & Rye. Per a press release, she’ll be making Italian-inspired desserts, rotating seasonal gelati, and plenty of bread. (SRV mills flour in-house.) She’ll also have a hand in parts of the brunch menu.

Roast Beef & Tax Violations

Forbes takes a look at the sad tale of Nick’s Roast Beef in Beverly, dubbing it a “Greek tragedy.” The owners of the decades-old business were charged with underreporting income in 2009-2013, in violation of federal tax law. Earlier this month, Eleni Kaudanis and her son Steven and husband Nicholas, along with co-owner Nicholas Markos, pled guilty in an interlocking plea agreement that would give each a reduced prison term. Sentencing is set for late April — after Greek Orthodox Easter, because the judge wanted to allow the family to celebrate one last holiday together before beginning their prison terms. Nick’s Roast Beef continues to operate and tweeted earlier this month that it is “absolutely NOT closing.”

Meanwhile, in Maine

In an opening Eater senior reports editor Hillary Dixler dubbed “the quintessential 2016 opening,” Purple House debuted in late December in North Yarmouth, Maine — in a purple house, of course. The tiny restaurant serves up espresso drinks; wood-fired, Montreal-style bagels, house-smoked fish, and various bagel spreads for breakfast; oven-baked Roman pizzas and more for lunch; and, eventually, occasional dinners for about a dozen diners. Maine food blogger John Golden takes an early look at the restaurant’s breakfast offerings, describing the ordering process and discussing Montreal-style bagel technique. His friend, who spent time living in Montreal, declared Purple House’s version to be “excellent.” Golden also took home a few bagels for the next day, and they fared well toasted and topped with butter, a fried egg, and strawberry jam. “That was bagel heaven,” wrote Golden.

And Beyond

Dixler gives a rundown on the 16 most anticipated restaurant openings of 2017 nationwide. The Boston area doesn’t make the cut; the nearest spots are in New York City: The Landmark (taking over the storied Four Seasons space) and a yet-unnamed project from the team behind Los Angeles’ popular Gjelina, which serves up wood-fired pizzas and more.

Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.