Former Batali Restaurant Babbo Closes in Boston’s Seaport District

A four-year-old Italian restaurant formerly under the direction of celebrity chef Mario Batali will close: Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca (11 Fan Pier Blvd., Seaport District, Boston) is slated for permanent closure on or before September 15, 2019, resulting in 62 staff layoffs. (See update below.)

Open since April 2015, Babbo is a more casual counterpart to New York City’s fine-dining establishment by a similar name (just Babbo, without the “pizzeria e enoteca.”) Its debut in Boston came with much enthusiasm due to the high-profile status of Batali and his then-business partner, Joe Bastianich; it was their first foray into Boston’s restaurant scene, and Batali had been drumming up excitement for the expansion since 2012.

In 2017, Batali was hit with far-reaching sexual misconduct allegations, including inappropriate touching and abusive language alongside an NYPD investigation for two sexual assault accusations. Batali also faced criminal charges for an alleged incident in Boston in 2017. Batali has since divested from his restaurant interests, including Babbo and Eataly, which opened in Boston in 2016 and remains in operation.

Following Batali’s retreat from the public eye, Babbo continued on in both Boston and New York, but it’s approaching the end of the line here. This story will be updated should new information and an exact closing date become available. In the meantime, Babbo will continue to serve wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and more for the coming weeks in its sizable Seaport District space.

Update, August 9, 2019: Babbo closed on August 8.

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

• Batali’s Restaurant Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca to Close by September [BG]
• Mario Batali Faces Criminal Charges for Alleged Sexual Assault in Boston [EBOS]