Forthcoming Brookline Tea House Claims Big Hires

Two familiar faces from Boston’s cocktail scene are joining the team behind a forthcoming tea house in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner. Joe Cammarata (formerly of Backbar and more recently of Hojoko) and Sam Treadway (co-owner of Backbar) will help manage Gen Sou En Tea House, a sprawling venue coming to 299 Harvard St. early in 2018. Cammarata (Eater Boston’s 2015 Bartender of the Year) will serve as general manager for the tea house, while Treadway will take on the role of assistant general manager.

The tea house, first announced a few months ago, will span 5,500 square feet and will seat 125 people, featuring a variety of teas, matcha, and coffee. Three tea blends will emphasize flavor: umami, which is a savory taste; kokumi, or full-bodied; and shibumi, a sharp taste. The restaurant will offer food pairings to complement each tea. In addition to the formal Japanese tea service, Gen Sou En will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, with a bar program featuring sake, wine, and beer — familiar territory for Cammarata and Treadway.

“We are thrilled to have such an accomplished management team in Joe and Sam,” Gen Sou En’s co-founder Haruo Abe said in a release. “They are the ideal managers to open and run our Brookline tea house, bringing an emphasis on hospitality and creating a warm, relaxing environment.”

Cammarata and Treadway join the restaurant’s team along with Yozo Masuyama, an alum of Brookline’s Clear Flour Bread, who will serve as head baker. Stay tuned for specifics on an opening date for Gen Sou En, and follow updates on Facebook.

• Gen Sou En Coverage on Eater [EBOS]