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Boston Temporarily Shuts Down Salt Bae’s Brand New Steakhouse

Plus, Sarma is now serving weekend breakfast, and more news

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A man in sunglasses sprinkles salt on a steak.
Salt Bae Salt Bae-ing at Nusr-et Steakhouse in New York
Jean Schwarzwalder/Eater

Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.

Salt Bae’s New Steakhouse Is in Hot Water

Nusret Gökçe — the Turkish butcher, restaurateur, and internet meme better known as Salt Bae — opened a Boston branch of his steakhouse, Nusr-et, on September 18 (100 Arlington St., Back Bay). On Saturday, September 26, Boston shut down the restaurant in order to address a number of alleged violations. Both the Licensing Board and Inspectional Services Department are on the case, with allegations involving “the ongoing and repeated failure to adhere to COVID-19 public safety standards,” not to mention opening without a health permit and having two blocked fire exits. Nusr-et management will attend a virtual hearing with the Licensing Board on September 29. (The ISD issues have already been addressed.)

Footage of opening weekend posted to social media and a variety of complaints to the city’s 311 service paint an alleged picture of overcrowding, poor social distancing, and lax mask-wearing on the part of employees and customers.

It’s a shaky start for a restaurant group that has also run into trouble at several of its other United States locations: Gökçe has allegedly left a trail of labor violations in his wake, reportedly paying a $230,000 out-of-court settlement to several former New York staffers. (Gökçe did ultimately win a lawsuit brought by servers from the Miami location, alleging illegal tip pooling and other violations.)

Gökçe has also stirred up controversy for posting a photo of himself dressed as Fidel Castro and for posting about feeding Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.

When Nusr-et reopens, it will resume indoor dining as well as takeout and delivery, for those who want to drop $600 on a gold leaf-wrapped steak dinner in the privacy of their own home.

In Other News...

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Nusr-et Boston

100 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116 Visit Website

Sarma

249 Pearl Street, , MA 02145 (617) 764-4464 Visit Website

Blackbird Doughnuts

175 Cambridge Street, , MA 02114 Visit Website