A Smorgasbord of Vegan Food Comes to Back Bay

New York City’s casual vegan chain By Chloe opens its third location in Boston on Tuesday, August 28 (399 Boylston St., Back Bay). The growing company — which styles its name as “by CHLOE.” — serves a broad menu of sandwiches, salads, pasta, and sides, all made without animal byproducts.

In advance of next week’s opening, By Chloe will host a pop-up in Copley Square starting Friday, August 24, through Monday, August 27, where it will serve dairy-free ice cream push pops ($5) from 12 to 8 p.m. in three flavors: red velvet, birthday cake, and matcha coconut. The so-called Chill cart will also be part of opening day festivities at the restaurant, and there will be a select number of discount cards distributed for use by September 30.

Spanning 3,000 square feet, Back Bay’s By Chloe seats 50 people inside, plus another 24 on an outdoor patio. Inside, the muted color accents bear resemblance to the other locations in the area, with yellow cushions and hanging swing chairs in the windows. There is also a designated area for people to pick up to-go orders and online pre-orders.

Hallmark items appearing on By Chloe’s menu in Back Bay include a guac burger (with a bean, quinoa, and sweet potato patty), quinoa taco salad, mac and “cheese” (with sweet potato cashew sauce), and a pesto “meatball” sub. On weekends, there’s a brunch menu that features cinnamon rolls, tofu scrambles, and pancakes.

New specials rolling out September 1 range from smashed avocado toast to roasted Brussels sprouts. By Chloe’s menus also highlight food sensitivity issues, designating which items contain gluten, soy, or assorted nuts.

The chain is named for its first chef and founder Chloe Coscarelli, who has since left the company following disputes with managing group ESquared Hospitality, its CEO Jimmy Haber, and Haber’s daughter Samantha Wasser, who co-founded By Chloe. Coscarelli filed a lawsuit in 2016 claiming she had been threatened for refusing to approve of the opening of non-vegan restaurants in her name. She eventually left the company in March 2017 but continues to battle with the hospitality group, which claimed Coscarelli had been “grossly negligent” with the business. Earlier this year, Coscarelli filed suit to attempt to reclaim her name from the group and its branding.

By Chloe first opened in Boston’s Seaport District in February 2017 and later added a Fenway location. There are now 12 locations in New York, Los Angeles, Providence, Boston, and London.

After the Back Bay restaurant makes its debut next week, it will operate Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

By Chloe [Official Photo]

• By Chloe Coverage on Eater [EBOS]
• The Rapid and Chaotic Rise of By Chloe [E]