Avocado Toast to Temporarily Descend Upon Allston

With Wink & Nod’s culinary incubator program now on its 11th iteration in the South End and other long-term pop-ups like Perillas and the (currently on hiatus) Rabottini’s Pizza finding success, it’s a golden age in Boston for culinary experiments that are more than a one-off event but less than a permanent restaurant.

The newest six-month pop-up to arrive on the scene will be the next resident of Rabottini’s previous space, 182 Western Ave. in Allston, part of Harvard’s Zone 3 Project. Enter Café Beatrice, from Puritan & Co. chef and owner Will Gilson.

Named for Gilson’s recently born daughter, Café Beatrice will open on May 7. In the morning, the cafe will serve coffee and espresso-based drinks, eggy breakfast sandwiches, open-faced toasts like the avocado toast pictured above, granola and yogurt parfaits, and the like.

Later in the day, diners will find grain bowls, noodle bowls, salads, and toasted sandwiches, such as grilled cheese or braised pork with provolone and broccoli rabe.

“I wanted to help create a place where residents could gather to enjoy a great cup of coffee and some tasty breakfast sandwiches, or log on and work on our patio while trying one of our healthy grain bowls with our house-made sodas for lunch,” Gilson said in an announcement today. “Creating a temporary pop-up is great way to test out some of the ideas and concepts that have been in my head for some time to see if they are embraced by the public.”

Gilson is no stranger to the pop-up life. Between leaving Cambridge’s Garden at the Cellar in 2011 and opening Puritan in late 2012, he teamed up with Aaron Cohen (now of Gracie’s Ice Cream in Somerville) for a series of pop-up events.

Nowadays, in addition to running Puritan (and its delivery arm, Puritan Trading Co.), Gilson and his team also handle operations at his family’s Groton farm, the Herb Lyceum, which hosts events and monthly dinners.

When Café Beatrice opens next month, it will operate Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., lasting into the fall. The space features large garage doors that open onto a patio, weather-permitting, and there’s a parking lot onsite. Dine-in, takeout, and delivery will all be available.

Keep an eye on Instagram for updates and photos of dishes like this egg-topped avocado toast.

Update, May 7, 2019: Café Beatrice opens today; to start, the hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the cafe will be closed this Sunday, with extended hours coming soon.

• Café Beatrice [IG]
• Puritan & Co. Coverage on Eater [EBOS]