The space at 120 Kingston St., Boston, formerly occupied by Townsman finally has a replacement: Stillwater is set to open Wednesday, August 28. The new restaurant is owned and operated by chef Sarah Wade, whom folks may know from her winning appearance on the popular Food Network cooking competition series Chopped in early 2018 or from her time spent as executive chef and general manager of Lulu’s Allston from its 2014 opening until earlier this year.
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Wade gained a following for her comfort food-heavy menus while cooking at Lulu’s Allston — elaborate burgers and decadent brunches were the norm — and diners can expect some of the same at Stillwater. The restaurant will serve “redefined comfort food,” Wade told Eater.
“Think house-smoked pork mac and cheese, chicken-fried ribeye, handmade cheese-its, and a peanut butter and jelly creme brulee,” Wade told Eater via email. “We will also have a brown bag lunch to-go option for our neighbors who want to walk in grab a great lunch and eat at the office, complete with encouraging sticky notes like mom used to send.”
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Stillwater’s bar program will feature a mix of beer, wine, and cocktails. The tap will feature 12 rotating draft lines, and drinkers will be able to choose from 12 wines by the glass. The cocktail menu will feature drinks based on the classics, but with Stillwater’s own twist.
Boston-based designer Maggie Wraight redesigned the ample Kingston Street space to give it a more modern and industrial feel. Though that aesthetic often verges toward the antiseptic and cold, Stillwater manages to feel cozy. Diners will be able to sit at comfortable banquettes; the bar area is spacious and includes communal seating and high tops. There’s also an attractive space in the back for private dining, and the patio will debut at some point after the restaurant’s opening.
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Wade is excited to be opening a restaurant downtown because the neighborhood’s drinking and dining scene is experiencing so much growth, she recently told Eater.
“The neighborhood we are in is very close-knit and has been so welcoming. There is so much flavor and vibrancy in the area, and I am so excited to be a part of it.”
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Wade has been working in kitchens for 15 years. When she won Chopped in January 2018, she told the world she’d be using her winnings to open her own restaurant. Now she’s doing just that.
“I am so proud to be at this point,” she said.
Update, 8/28/19: This story and headline have been updated to reflect that Stillwater opens Wednesday, August 28.
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• Comfort Food Expert to Open Downtown Boston Restaurant This Fall [EBOS]
• Stillwater [Official Site]
• Stillwater [IG]