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Over 70 Restaurants Have Opened Around Boston So Far in Fall 2021

Here’s a running list of fall 2021 restaurant openings in and around Boston, from a Parisian cafe in Back Bay to pho in Allston to ramen in the West End

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Battered soft shell crab legs stick out the sides of a soft bao bun. It’s garnished with sliced cucumbers and lettuce.
Soft shell bao from Momosan, which opened this fall in Boston’s West End.
Momosan

As fall marches on, the restaurant openings continue. This roundup is being updated on a regular basis throughout fall 2021, full of details on the newest restaurants that have opened in and around Boston. (Looking for last season’s openings? Here’s the rundown on summer 2021.)

The roundup was most recently updated on December 7, 2021, including notes on Tradesman in Charlestown, Guy Fieri’s Boston Kitchen & Bar in downtown Boston (opening December 9), EBO & Co. Grocery in East Boston, Top Mix Bar & Kitchen in Jamaica Plain, Cannonball Cafe in South Boston, the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge (reopening under new ownership on December 9), the Garrison House in Brookline, Pho Hoa in Malden, and the Friendly Toast in North Andover.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.


Boston

Allston

Six mochi doughnuts in six different flavors, each shaped like a ring of balls stuck together, are in a cardboard box.
Mochi doughnuts from Pon de Joy.
Pon de Joy

Boston’s first mochi doughnut shop, Pon de Joy (1 Brighton Ave., Boston), opened in early October within the Super 88 food court. The sibling to Allston’s Kimchipapi Kitchen is serving up chewy doughnuts in flavors like matcha, strawberry milk, chai latte, black sesame, and more. The exact flavor lineup changes by the day; watch for updates on Instagram. And shortly after Pon de Joy opened, its sibling and neighbor did as well — Kimchipapi Korndogs, featuring the corn dogs made popular by Kimchipapi Kitchen. [Read more.]

Also now open at the Super 88: Pho Express (1 Brighton Ave., Boston), promising “fresh broth every day.” Serving lunch and dinner daily, Pho Express offers pho — obviously — but also lemongrass short ribs or pork over rice, spring rolls, banh mi, and soft drinks. Order takeout online.

Turns out it’s the season for mochi doughnuts in Allston, because following right on the heels of the Pon de Joy opening is Mochinut (154 Harvard Ave., Boston), open inside Gong Cha as of October 14. It’s selling Korean rice flour hot dogs — wrapped in coatings like crispy ramen or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos — in addition to mochi doughnuts. It’s part of a chain with locations around the United States, Thailand, and South Korea; this is the first New England location.

In other Allston news, Bos’ Sichuan Taste (204 Harvard Ave., Boston) has replaced longstanding Chinese destination Shanghai Gate, although the chef is reportedly the same. Delivery for the new restaurant is available via Chowbus; the menu posted there includes dishes such as crispy pork intestines; Sichuan tea-smoked duck; Sichuan spicy rice noodles; dry roasted whole fish; chile and cumin dried lamb; and quite a lot more.

And another for Allston: Local cafe chain Fuel America (114 Western Ave., Boston) added an Allston location in November, joining locations in Brighton and Worcester. Four more locations are coming soon — Weymouth, another in Worcester, Waltham, and on the Boston University campus.

Back Bay

Thin slices of ham are sandwiched on a baguette, topped with mini pickles. It all sits on a black plate on a white counter.
Café Sauvage’s jambon-beurre, a French ham and butter sandwich.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Beer-filled national chain restaurant Yard House (110 Huntington Ave., 2nd floor, Boston) has expanded to Boston’s Back Bay, opening within the Marriott Copley Place. It’s the second Boston location (there’s one in Fenway) and the fifth in Massachusetts. In addition to a lengthy beer list, Yard House serves comfort food like onion ring towers, sweet and spicy tempura shrimp, burgers, pizza, steak, and more. Online ordering for takeout is available.

Also in Back Bay, Café Sauvage (25 Massachusetts Ave., Boston) opened on October 20 in the former Hsin Hsin Cafe space. From wife-and-husband duo Anaïs and Antoine Lambert — alums of several local French restaurants and both originally from France — the all-day cafe is meant to show diners that “there is more to Parisian food than just beef bourguignon and escargots,” as Anaïs Lambert previously told Eater. Café Sauvage showcases the multicultural culinary influences on Parisian cuisine, with inspiration from Vietnam, Portugal, Ethiopia, and beyond on the menu, as well as some French bistro classics. (To start, Café Sauvage is offering a pared-down menu and doesn’t yet have a liquor license or take reservations; watch Instagram for pertinent updates.) [Read more.]

And in other Back Bay news, local vegetarian fast-food chain Clover Food Lab (800 Boylston St., Boston) expanded to the Prudential Center on October 22, Clover’s 14th location. (Find it in the Hynes Court, across from the convention center.) The new location hosted a “pay what you want” grand opening event in early November, with proceeds going to the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance. This is the chain’s first location in a shopping mall, and it features a fully retractable storefront so passersby can easily see inside.

Beacon Hill

1928 Beacon Hill (97 Mt. Vernon St., Boston) opened in late November in the longtime Lala Rokh space, billing itself as a “smart casual dining establishment.” Serving classic American food, 1928 Beacon Hill is the first restaurant for owner Kristin Jenkins, who also owns an antique store. Chef Dante Funes is an alum of Southern Proper and Ghost Pepper; here, he’s serving dishes like Bolognese, a burger, and braised short ribs.

Charlestown

Tradesman (50 Hood Park Dr., Charlestown) opened quietly in early December, with a grand opening set for December 14, featuring coffee and pizza. It’s an offshoot of the downtown coffee shop and lounge by the same name, although the pizza focus is unique to the new location. Fans of the original spot rave about the over-the-top croissants, which come in a rotating array of flavors like birthday cake, cookies and cream, and fruity pebbles; cocktails like a chartreuse-infused hot chocolate are also popular.

Chinatown

Teazzi (31 Harrison Ave., Boston) — a mini but growing chain of Taiwanese tea shops with a couple locations in New York and several on the way to California and Indonesia — opened in Chinatown in November, taking over the Chatime/Beard Papa space. Customers can choose from a variety of teas and toppings, as well as amount of sugar and ice. Winter specials include brown sugar ginger latte and honey lemon pomelo tea. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.)

Dorchester

Fresh Food Generation (185 Talbot Ave., Boston), a catering and food truck business, has opened the doors to a permanent restaurant space, something that has been in the plans for founders Cassandria Campbell and Jackson Renshaw for years. The restaurant, located near Codman Square, serves Caribbean American fare and features collaborations with other local food businesses, especially those that work out of Dorchester-based food incubator and commercial kitchen CommonWealth Kitchen, where Fresh Food Generation was previously headquartered. [Read more.]

Downtown Boston

A pile of “trash can nachos” on a white plate on a wooden table in a restaurant
Trash can nachos at Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen & Bar.
Big Night

Because one Guy Fieri venue slinging trash can nachos in Boston isn’t enough, Guy Fieri’s Boston Kitchen & Bar (186 Tremont St., Boston) opens December 9 in the old Grand Masonic Lodge across from Boston Common, the space formerly home to Explorateur. Like Guy Fieri’s Tequila Cocina in Boston’s West End, the new restaurant is a collaboration with Boston-based hospitality group Big Night (Red Lantern, Scorpion Bar, Empire, etc.). Guy Fieri’s Boston Kitchen & Bar will be open for dinner to start, with lunch added soon after. On the menu: a bacon mac ‘n’ cheese burger, pastrami egg rolls, hot honey fried chicken, and yes, trash can nachos.

East Boston

EBO & Co. Grocery (110 Meridian St., Boston) — with the catchphrase “how convenient” — debuted in early December, courtesy of Alexis Cervasio, founder of the popular and mysterious East Boston Oysters pop-up. The convenience store stocks everything from pancake mix to tampons to oysters, not to mention records and booze. Sneak a peek at some of the offerings on social media. Open daily. [Read more.]

Fenway

Two beige paper cones filled with meat, cheese, and sprigs of fresh herbs.
Charcuterie cones at Kured.
Ngan Tran/Kured

Fast-casual charcuterie shop Kured (401 Park Dr., Boston) added a second storefront at Fenway’s Time Out Market Boston on September 27, serving custom charcuterie boxes and cones. The original location opened on Beacon Hill a few months back. [Read more.]

Also new to the Fenway neighborhood, Nagomi Izakaya (636 Beacon St., Boston) opened this fall. The Japanese restaurant is serving a large selection of sushi, kaisen don, and poke bowls, as well as snacks like grilled shishito peppers, pork gyoza, chicken karaage, and agedashi tofu. There’s an extensive lunch menu with combos featuring ramen, donburi, and more. Online ordering is available.

Fort Point

A chain of ping-pong venues that counts Susan Sarandon among its cofounders and investors has expanded to Boston. Spin (30 Melcher St., Boston) opened in late October and includes a full bar and kitchen. The menu has some Boston-y dishes on it, like fluffernutter wontons (did you know that fluffernutter was just added to the dictionary?) and a coffee-based cocktail called Killin the Dunks. [Read more.]

Jamaica Plain

Top Mix Bar & Kitchen (365 Centre St., Boston) opened in late November, serving a fusion of American and Caribbean cuisines and cocktails, like its older sibling by the same name in Roxbury. On the menu: plantain lasagna, a variety of pastelitos, street corn, barbecue steak tips, mofongo, and lots more, not to mention boba martinis and “big ass cocktails for two.”

Longwood Medical Area

The D.C.-founded fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen (360 Longwood Ave., Boston) has added a 20th location to its collection of Boston-area outposts, debuting in the Longwood Medical Area on October 12. The new location can fit about 30 diners inside and 20 outside.

South Boston

A South Shore-style bar pizza sits atop a wooden table, accompanied by a mug of beer
Bardo’s pizza inside Castle Island Brewing, now open in South Boston.
Reagan Byrne/Bardo’s

Norwood-based Castle Island Brewing (10 Old Colony Ave., Boston) expanded to South Boston on September 23 — an appropriate location, given that its name refers to South Boston’s Castle Island. The new brewery and taproom serves Castle Island’s core beer lineup, such as American pale ale Candlepin, plus special releases, collaborations, and more. There’s also South Shore-style bar pizza from Bardo’s Bar Pizza, sibling to Randolph event space Lombardo’s; the pizza’s dough includes Castle Island beer. [Read more.]

In other South Boston news, ever-growing local cafe and bakery chain Tatte (60 Old Colony Ave., Boston), which now has about two dozen locations, including several in the Washington, D.C., area, opened its big new location in South Boston on October 20, a location founder Tzurit Or described as “a bakery wonderland” when she announced it over two years ago. Within the Cole Hersee development alongside Castle Island Brewing (see above), this new Tatte also includes production, class, and office space. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with direct online ordering available for takeout and delivery available via the major third-party platforms. Tatte’s explosive expansion hasn’t all been smooth sailing: In June 2020, current and former employees released a petition making allegations of racist behavior by management, including Or, who responded by committing to diversifying Tatte’s executive board and donating funds and leftover food and beverages to Black Lives Matter-affiliated shelters and protestors, among other promises. Tatte continued to expand later in the fall: A Newton Centre location opened on October 27.

Overhead view of a paella pan on a floor painted with a white and blue pattern. The pan is full of mussels and other shellfish over a coucous-like pasta.
Bar Volpe’s Sardinian paella
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Another for South Boston: Chef Karen Akunowicz has followed up her Italian hit Fox & the Knife with Bar Volpe (170 W. Broadway, Boston) right down the street. The new spot leans into southern Italian cuisine — particularly wood-fired dishes and fresh pasta. (Fresh pasta’s also available to buy for use at home, along with a variety of other Italian accoutrements.) [Read more.]

And one more in the neighborhood: Cannonball Cafe (383 Dorchester Ave., Boston) opened in late fall, named for the Civil War cannonballs made in the foundry that used to occupy the site of the cafe. Cannonball features Gracenote coffee alongside breakfast sandwiches, pastries, smoothies, and more. Open weekdays to start, with weekend hours coming at a later date — watch social media for updates.

West End

Closeup shot of a bowl of ramen with ground pork, a thick yellow-orange broth, a runny egg, and other toppings.
Tan-tan ramen from Momosan.
Momosan

New West End food hall Hub Hall opened last month, minus a couple of its vendors. As of October 15, Momosan (80 Causeway St., Boston) is open there, too, the only table-service restaurant at the food hall. It’s the first Boston venue from Iron Chef’s Masaharu Morimoto. Several varieties of ramen are front and center on the menu, including the sesame-spiked tan-tan ramen pictured above, but there are also lots of other items, including small plates like soft shell bao and pan-fried pork gyoza and larger plates like a roasted half Peking duck. [Read more.]


Near Boston

Arlington

The Heights Pub (1314 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington) opened in November, sibling to the First House Pub in Winchester. Like its sibling, the Heights is serving classic pub fare. No reservations.

Belmont

Tea party catering business the Vintage Tea and Cake Company (129 Belmont St., Belmont) has been bringing tea service to events of all kinds for the past decade, featuring vintage china, traditional scones, and other treats. In 2018, owner Adel Donegan began the process of adding a sit-down tea room to her commercial kitchen space; as these things go, the pandemic delayed the plans. But as of fall 2021, the Vintage Tea and Cake Company can now welcome customers into the space for afternoon tea. Current hours are Thursday through Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; book online. The current service, which is $30/person for an hour and a half seating, includes finger sandwiches, pastries, scones, tea, and more.

Also in Belmont, Cafe Vanak (271 Belmont St., Belmont) opened this fall adjacent to its sibling spot, Persian market Super Vanak, serving a halal Middle Eastern menu with a focus on Persian cuisine.

Brookline

Ever have New Zealand-style ice cream? Far Out (419 Harvard St., Brookline) opened this fall, serving the fruity, creamy dessert as well as affogatos and cold brew floats that feature coffee from Night Shift Brewing’s coffee arm. Ice cream options include various berries, pineapple, mango, and more, frozen and blended with a vanilla or chocolate hard ice cream base (available dairy-free as well). The ice cream is sourced from Maple Valley Creamery in Hadley.

Also new to Brookline: The Garrison House (6 Harvard Sq., Brookline) opened in December in Brookline Village, sibling to Five Horses Tavern, Worden Hall, and Elm Street Taproom, serving comfort food and featuring a mug club. It took over the space most recently occupied by Magnolia Smokehouse and its downstairs lounge, the Ellis Room. (The downstairs space will eventually become home to Garrison House’s Village Social Club, with live music and other entertainment alongside cocktails and a streamlined beer list.) View the Garrison House’s menu here, which includes poutine, a fried chicken sandwich, chorizo pizza, nachos, and more.

Cambridge

Four crispy fried rice balls sit on a silver platter on a red bar stool.
Bar Enza’s saffron suppli.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

PlantPub (675 W. Kendall St., Cambridge) opened on September 24, bringing fast-casual pub fare and drinks — fully vegan — to Kendall Square. The team behind it includes Pat McAuley, who cofounded Quincy’s former vegan beer hall pop-up Rewild; chef Mary Dumont (Cultivar, Harvest); and investor Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, who focuses on vegan businesses. On the menu: Buffalo cauliflower wings; a kimchi burger that can be made with an Impossible patty or a house-made veggie patty; pizza; oat milk-based soft serve; craft beers and wines; and an interesting selection of nonalcoholic drinks, like a chamomile hopped tea, several booze-free IPAs, and CBD-infused seltzer, not to mention the most hilarious brand of canned water. PlantPub offers a bit of seating inside and out; diners can also order takeout online. [Read more.]

In Harvard Square, Sally’s Sandwiches (Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) opened at Harvard University on October 12; it’s the second location for the sandwich shop from the Blackbird Doughnuts team, and Blackbird also operates at the Smith Center. (The first Sally’s Sandwiches opened as part of the original Blackbird Doughnuts space in Boston’s South End in summer 2019.) Now students and the general public can grab fried chicken tacos, black bean burgers, Cuban sandwiches, a cashew-based vegan mac and cheese, and other sandwich and sandwich-adjacent items alongside everything bagel doughnuts, pumpkin spice latte bismarcks, and soft serve ice cream. Online ordering is available.

Also new at the Smith Campus Center is Dominican restaurant Las Palmas (1350 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge), which also has locations in Roslindale and at MIT. The Harvard campus counter is serving empanadas, rice bowls, juices, desserts like caramel flan, and more.

Also in Harvard Square in early October, “neo-trattoria” Bar Enza (1 Bennett St.) is easing itself open at the Charles Hotel, where it has taken over the former Benedetto and Rialto space. Belmont native Mark Ladner — acclaimed for his work as executive chef of Del Posto in New York — is at the helm, collaborating with Boston’s Lyons Group (Sonsie, Scampo, Rochambeau, and more). To start, the restaurant is focusing heavily on bar snacks, but watch for an extended menu with pasta and more in the coming weeks. [Read more.]

A breaded pork chop sits on a white plate, garnished with round spirals of leeks.
Geppetto’s pork chop Milanese.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

And in other new-Italian-restaurant-in-Cambridge news, East Cambridge is now home to Geppetto (100 N. 1st. St., Cambridge), the final piece of the new trio of Cambridge Crossing businesses from the Puritan & Co. team. Geppetto joins its siblings the Lexington and Cafe Beatrice at the East Cambridge development, located near the Lechmere MBTA station. The restaurant highlights pastas made in-house under the watch of Boston restaurant industry veteran Tony Susi (Olives, Sage, Capo), who is serving as Geppetto’s “pasta consigliere.” There’s also an amaro cart. Geppetto is open for dine-in service only. [Read more.]

Meanwhile in Central Square, the Mimi’s Chūka Diner pop-up (438 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) has put down roots until at least spring 2022, operating out of the Artifact Cider Project’s Cambridge taproom. From a couple of B&G Oysters alums, Mimi’s is inspired by chūka ryori cuisine — Chinese dishes made in a Japanese style. The pop-up, which has been making frequent appearances in and around Boston throughout the pandemic, is known in particular for its gyoza, but it has also been known to serve noodle dishes and more. The opening menu at Artifact includes mapo donburi, among other dishes. [Read more.]

Also in Central Square, the iconic Cantab Lounge (738 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) — known for bluegrass, poetry, and a loud, sticky basement performance space — reopens under new ownership on December 9, reportedly with new floors, bathrooms, and a few other changes. [Read more.]

Zoe Acai Bar & Juicery (1876 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) opened in the heart of Porter Square in October, serving acai bowls, juices, smoothies, and sandwiches; view the menu here.

Also in the Porter Square vicinity, Dear Annie (1741 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) debuted in November, a dream-team collaboration between the folks from Somerville venues Rebel Rebel and Field & Vine. Currently open Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to midnight (kitchen closes at 10 p.m., but there are snacks available later), Dear Annie is a casual natural wine bar with a pescatarian food menu (think Jonah crab toast), communal seating, and ordering at the counter. No reservations; just show up, and feel free to bring your own records. Note: Indoor seating requires proof of vaccination or negative PCR test; this is not required for seating on the heated patio. [Read more.]

In the Port, New England izakaya Judy’s Bay (279a Broadway, Cambridge) opened in the former Bondir space in November, with takeout and delivery only to start. Dine-in service is slated to begin in early December. Judy’s Bay emphasizes local seafood prepared in a Japanese-inspired way: Think Maine mussels with gochujang butter or a whole Rhode Island black sea bass, steamed, with miso soup, sesame salad, and edamame. [Read more.]

Dedham

Open as of early October, Liberty & Main (500 Legacy Pl., Dedham) is serving American bistro fare at the Legacy Place shopping center, which also has a number of other restaurants, including Genki Ya, Il Massimo, and Legal C Bar. Liberty & Main owner Michael Feighery is the former CEO and president of the group behind the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse chain. Feighery, executive chef Doug Brown, and the team — which also includes Feighery’s wife and daughters — are serving dishes like lobster escargot, a DIY tuna tartare, blackened cod tacos, and Statler chicken breast. On the drink list, there’s an exclusive lager created in partnership with Castle Island Brewery, headquartered nearby in Norwood. (The brewery also recently expanded to South Boston; see above.) Patio seating is available in addition to indoor dining, and there’s lunch and dinner daily, with brunch service beginning on October 24.

Everett

A hand holds up a fried chicken sandwich, with the patty extending far beyond the bun.
A fried chicken sandwich from Fuku, which recently returned to Boston in “ghost kitchen” form, with delivery hubs in South Boston and Everett.
Nick Solares/Eater

After David Chang’s fried chicken chain Fuku (114 Spring St., Everett) made its return to Boston in “ghost kitchen” form on September 21, it added an Everett outpost a few days later so that those in the Everett area can get fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, and more via the major delivery platforms. [Read more.]

Malden

Vietnamese chain Pho Hoa (655 Eastern Ave., Malden) expanded to Malden in December; the chain, which has locations throughout the United States and British Columbia, has a Dorchester outpost that has been open for nearly 30 years. As the name suggests, Pho Hoa offers quite a few versions of pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, but there’s also bun (vermicelli bowls), rice plates, and more on the menu.

Medford

Overhead view of takeout Egyptian food — a pita stuffed with ground meat sits in a pizza box, and there’s a container of grape leaves.
Hawawshi and grape leaves from Kushari and Grill.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

The Boston area’s tiny Egyptian food scene got a little bigger in October with the opening of Kushari and Grill (321 Boston Ave.) near Tufts. Mohamed Hassanein — who runs the restaurant with his wife, Irina — comes from Alexandria, Egypt, and previously ran a food truck in Boston called Mr. Kushari, which operated from March 2020 to March 2021. Kushari and Grill serves Egypt’s national dish, koshari, a vegan mix of lentils, pasta, rice, and more, typically topped with a tomato- and vinegar-based hot sauce. There’s also hawawshi, which Hassanein previously described to Eater as “like a calzone” — pizza dough stuffed with a spiced ground beef mixture. Everything is made from scratch, and everything is halal. [Read more.]

Milton

New Jersey-based açai bowl and smoothie chain Playa Bowls (532 Adams St., Milton) expanded to Milton on October 10; it’s the fourth Boston-area outpost, with others near Harvard, Northeastern, and Boston College. The Milton location is open all day, every day.

Newton

A tall, medium-brown loaf of bread is sliced near the end, with a stack of three slices piled up in the background. The loaf sits on an off-white cloth on a dark surface, with a metal whisk visible in the foreground.
A seven-grain loaf from Flourhouse Bakery, now open in Newton’s Nonantum Village.
Flourhouse Bakery

The team behind Thai restaurant Coconut Newton opened a Japanese restaurant next door, Coco Ramen (757 Beacon St., Newton Centre), on September 22. As of September 28, the restaurant is still offering its “soft opening” menu, which features several ramen options made with a creamy chicken paitan ramen base. There are also a few snacks, such as fried oysters and pork cha shu buns, as well as desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. In addition to indoor seating, there’s takeout and delivery available; order online.

In other Newton news, the team behind Boston and Somerville sandwich shop Mike & Patty’s and Somerville roast beef and pizza shop Hot Box opened Flourhouse Bakery (140R Adams St., Newton) in Nonantum Village on September 23. The new bakery is producing the English muffins and breads in use at Mike & Patty’s, as well as some other baked goods — such as lemon curd cruffins and everything bagel dinner rolls — for consumers as well as wholesale accounts. While delivery, pop-up menus, and a full retail space are in the works, customers can currently preorder online for pickup at the shop. [Read more.]

And another bit of Newton bakery news: Local cafe and bakery chain Tatte (1241 Centre St., Newton) has expanded again, opening in Newton Centre on October 27. Find more information on Tatte in the South Boston section above; it expanded there earlier in October.

Also new to Newton: Da LaPosta (825 Washington St., Newton), from chef and owner Mario LaPosta, a veteran pizzaiolo who formerly worked at the now-closed Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca in Boston’s Seaport. Da LaPosta, a wood-fired pizzeria and restaurant, has been in the works since late 2019 and was originally slated for a space in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood before LaPosta brought it to Newton instead. The extensive selection of pizzas is accompanied by some Italian starters (suppli, salt cod croquettes, meatballs, and such), as well as a few pastas and entrees. The wine list is almost exclusively Italian, while the beer list highlights a variety of New England brews. View the menu and make reservations online.

Somerville

A thick piece of toast is spread with a pinkish fruit butter and cinnamon sugar. It’s sitting on a light background.
Cinnamon toast with fruit butter from Shirley.
Kat Bayle

A farm-to-table pop-up called Shirley (1 Bow Market Way, Somerville) is settling in for a long-term residency at Bow Market in Somerville’s Union Square as of October 16. Founder Kat Bayle is passionate about naturally leavened breads, local and seasonal sourcing of ingredients, and all things fermentation, so Shirley serves a very local, from-scratch menu of items like cinnamon toast with a seasonal fruit jam topping; veggie soup with grilled cheese; and soda made from seasonal ingredients. Here’s a look at the menu (current as of October 18). [Read more.]

Meanwhile, the previous tenant of Shirley’s space, vegan Egyptian restaurant Koshari Mama (585 Somerville Ave., Somerville), opened in a permanent, full-service space down the street in November, expanding the menu to include new dishes, dessert, beer, and wine. Online ordering is available for takeout. [Read more.]

Watertown

Local barbecue caterer the Don’s BBQ (93 School St., Watertown) — the self-declared “godfather of brisket” — opened a restaurant in the former Strip-T’s space at the end of October. On the menu: brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, and pork ribs on their own; combo platters with meats and sides like mac and cheese, baked beans, and cornbread; barbecue burritos; brisket Reubens; and more. Online ordering is available.

Also in Watertown, Thai chicken rice shop What Da Chick (1A Crawford St., Watertown) opened this fall, focusing almost exclusively on variations on khao man gai (crispy, spicy, etc.) with a side of daikon soup. There are also a few sides and appetizers, like fried gyoza, seaweed salad, and popcorn chicken. Some dine-in seating is available, and customers can also order online for takeout.

Another Watertown addition: Condesa Restaurante Mexicano (80 Arsenal Yards Blvd., Watertown) opened at the Arsenal Yards development in November; it has two older siblings in Rhode Island. The restaurant features a full bar, with a variety of margaritas and more on the menu. For food, there are plenty of tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, as well as dishes like stuffed poblano peppers, carne asada, and chile lime salmon.

And one more: Nzuko (60 Howard St., Watertown), which has an older location in Framingham, has expanded to Watertown, serving a mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean fare in a casual setting. The restaurant features a lot of options for vegetarians, vegans, and those following gluten-free diets. The vegan selection, for example, includes jerk tofu with rice and plantains; Beyond burgers with sweet potato fries; and a hummus platter.


Farther Out

Attleboro

Burgundian (55 Park St.), a global street food pop-up and truck, has opened a cafe in Attleboro, serving items like liège waffles, Peruvian salchipapas, Korean jackfruit sandwiches, Sicilian arancini, and more. As of October 12, hours are limited and only takeout is available; stay tuned for updates. Online ordering is available.

Bedford

Indian restaurant and bar Tashan (213 Burlington Rd., Bedford) debuted on October 19, serving dishes such as pomegranate paneer pakora; bhuna gosht, marinated lamb with roasted bell peppers, onion-garlic masala, and cilantro; and chuninda bhagare baigan, baby eggplant with peanut-sesame curry and copra paste. The latter is one of numerous vegetarian options on the menu. The cocktail list highlights some of the common flavors of Indian food; for example, there’s a paloma made with tamarind soda and a vodka-based drink with mango chutney, lime, and chile powder. Owner Vishal Sood, a Bentley grad, has owned and operated his family’s fast-casual local chain and caterer, Gourmet India, since 2014; Tashan is the family’s first sit-down restaurant. Reserve a table online.

Beverly

Boston’s most well-known pizza chain has expanded again: Regina Pizzeria (800 Cummings Center, Suite 147-R, Beverly) opened on October 20, serving the decades-old pizzeria’s classic brick-oven pizza.

In other Beverly pizza news, Maine and Massachusetts pizzeria chain Otto (199 Rantoul St., Beverly) is open as of early November, serving its thin-crust pies like three-cheese tortellini and mashed potato, bacon, and scallion. Online ordering is available.

Braintree

There’s a new Vietnamese restaurant in South Braintree Square: Banh Mi Hem (904 Washington St.), serving nine varieties of banh mi, such as grilled pork, meatballs, or fried tofu. In addition to banh mi, there are egg rolls and spring rolls, caramel flan for dessert, and a few beverages, such as brown sugar boba tea, Vietnamese coffee, and smoothies in flavors such as avocado or red bean. Order online for takeout or delivery.

Burlington

A piece of rare steak is on a wooden cutting board, partially sliced, as a sharp knife held out of frame makes the next slice
Wagyu ribeye from Fogo de Chão.
Fogo de Chão

Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão (75 Middlesex Tpke., Burlington) expanded to the Burlington Mall on October 12; it’s the second Massachusetts location for the international chain, which opened an outpost in Boston’s Back Bay in 2012. The new Burlington location centers its dining room around a churrasco grill, and there’s a lot of patio space (including fire pits). Takeout, delivery, and catering are available, and diners can reserve a table online.

Also in Burlington, Japanese barbecue chain Gyu-Kaku (85 Middlesex Tpke., Burlington) is now open at the Village at Burlington Mall; it’s the fourth Massachusetts location, joining others in Dorchester, Brookline, and Cambridge.

Danvers

As of October 7, the North Shore has its fourth location of Flip the Bird (198 Endicott St., Danvers); another one is slated to open in Salem later this year. The local restaurants feature fried chicken sandwiches in a variety of styles, served on a potato roll, grilled biscuit, or bed of chopped iceberg lettuce. There are also ribs, frappes, and more, and on weekends, customers can get chicken and waffles.

Duxbury

A crudo, shrimp, and a few other seafood dishes sit on a dark wooden table on a paper placement. A bear figurine holds a caviar tin.
A selection of dishes at the Winsor House at Island Creek Oyster Farm.
Morgan Ione Yeager

The Island Creek Oyster Farm team opened the Winsor House at Island Creek Oyster Farm (390 Washington St., Duxbury) in November, a revamp of the over-a-century-old Winsor House, a restaurant adjacent to the farm. It’s all about seafood, of course: The Winsor House is serving dishes like fried oyster sliders; tuna and beef tartare; skate wing and tofu “cioppino”; and whole grilled striped bass. Chef Jeff Whitmore (the Hourly, Straight Wharf Nantucket) and consulting chef Cosmo Goss (of New York’s Gramercy Tavern and the Publican in Chicago) are onboard, and Boston beverage industry veteran Dave Cagle (the Automatic, B-Side Lounge) is beverage director. Reservations are available online.

Lowell

Sahel Restaurant & Lounge (135 Central St., Lowell) opened on September 23 in downtown Lowell, serving Afro-Caribbean cuisine (“with a touch of French and Cameroonian influence”) from a duo of owners from Cameroon, where their families owned restaurants. Emile Christian Kamadeu and Peter Tamajong are serving dishes like suya beef, oxtail stew, a Cameroonian nut stew called ndole, and more. The sizable restaurant fits 200 hundred in the dining room, and there’s also a large lounge. The restaurant reportedly works with a Merrimack Valley organization, UTEC, to hire at-risk youth.

North Andover

Eclectic, brunch-y New England chain the Friendly Toast (550 Turnpike St., North Andover) has opened its fourth Massachusetts location (and seventh overall) in a flurry of bloody mary flights and avocado toast, joining existing spots in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood as well as Danvers and Burlington. (The longtime Kendall Square, Cambridge, location closed at the start of the pandemic; it was deemed temporary at first but announced as permanent in summer 2020.) The North Andover location will add a patio next year. A Chestnut Hill location is also in the works.

Plymouth

Thick fries sit in a cast iron pan, topped with pieces of beef and melty cheese. There’s a green chair in the background.
Short rib poutine at G Pub.
G Pub

G Pub (101 Carver Rd., Plymouth) is an enormous venue (its capacity is around 600); it opened in mid-October and features gastropub food, a ton of televisions, an arcade, a cidery, and more. On the menu: short rib poutine, lobster mac and cheese, chicken parm “pizza,” fried fish sandwiches, grilled rack of lamb, and such. It’s from the same team as G Pub in Providence, Rhode Island, as well as several other Rhode Island and Massachusetts venues.

Randolph

A half dozen crispy chicken wings are arranged on a rectangular white plate on a thin brown sauce. An orchid garnishes the plate.
Honey pineapple wings at Gourmet Kitchen in Randolph, sibling to Medford’s Neighborhood Kitchen.
Gourmet Kitchen

Medford’s popular Neighborhood Kitchen, which draws inspiration from Haitian as well as Asian cuisines, now has a sibling out in Randolph: Gourmet Kitchen (1179 N. Main St., Randolph), which opened on September 22. The menu includes an oxtail sandwich with Caribbean flavors; jerk lamb lollipops with djon djon rice and plantains; honey pineapple wings; fried red snapper; and more. The casual space has some seating inside, and takeout is also available, as is delivery on all the major platforms.

Salem

Salem arcade bar and restaurant Bit Bar (278 Derby St., Salem) opened in its new space on Derby Street on September 22, a move from its old space in a former jail on St. Peter Street. Food service requires a table reservation through the end of October, with indoor and outdoor seating available; reserve online. Here’s a look at the current game selection, and here’s the food menu, with options like “loaded Tetris tots,” an elk burger, Buffalo mac and cheese, and more. Accompanied minors are allowed before 8 p.m., but Bit Bar is 21+ from 8 p.m. on.

In other Salem news, Ginger Cajun (118 Washington St., Salem) is now open, serving Cajun seafood and Asian fusion; it’s open daily for lunch and dinner, and there’s a full bar. Diners can choose among various seafood bags (king crab legs, whole shrimp, crawfish, clams, etc.) with different heat levels and seasonings; they come with potatoes and corn, along with other optional sides. There are also dishes like lobster mac and cheese, sesame chicken, ramen, raw oysters, and more. The restaurant is reportedly connected to Gourmet Garden, a local chain of modern Asian restaurants, as well as Chi Modern Asian Cuisine in Swampscott.

Stoughton

The southeastern suburb has a new Brazilian steakhouse: Feijó Steak House (713 Washington St., Stoughton) is open as of October, serving gaucho-style barbecue with a salad bar, as well as fruit juices and açai bowls.

Warwick, Rhode Island

Quite a bit outside of Boston — not even in the state — but of note to local vegans, vegan food hall Plant City has just expanded to Warwick, opening its second Plant City X (70 Centerville Rd., Warwick, RI) offshoot with a focus on drive-through fast food on October 25. The first Plant City X is in Middletown, Rhode Island. Providence’s Plant City opened in summer 2019 from chef and restaurateur Matthew Kenney, who also operates a vegan pizzeria and wine bar, Double Zero, in Boston and elsewhere. (In fact, he has numerous restaurants throughout the country — and the world. Originally, he’s from coastal Maine.) Plant City X focuses on burgers, salad bowls, “chik” sandwiches (made with fried tofu patties), shakes, and more.

Woburn

Plearn Park Eatery (383 Main St., Woburn) is now open in the former Cilantro Thai & Vietnamese space, primarily serving Thai food. The opening menu includes appetizers like larb gai and papaya salad; noodle soups like tom yum; stir-fried noodle dishes; various Thai curries; and more.

EBO & Co.

110 Meridian St., Boston, MA 02128 Visit Website

Cantab Lounge

738 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 354-2685 Visit Website

Bar Volpe

170 West Broadway, , MA 02127 (617) 865-7100 Visit Website

Kimchipapi Korndogs and Pon De Joy

1 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 02134

Sahel Restaurant & Lounge

135 Central St., Lowell, MA 01852 Visit Website

Kushari and Grill

321 Boston Ave., Medford, MA 02155 (781) 874-1536 Visit Website

Top Mix Bar & Kitchen

365 Centre Street, , MA 02130 (617) 477-3593 Visit Website

Koshari Mama

585 Somerville Avenue, , MA 02143 (617) 229-9230 Visit Website

Da LaPosta

825 Washington St., Newton, MA 02460

Momosan Ramen Boston

Hub Hall, 80 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114 Visit Website

Bar Enza

1 Bennett Street, , MA 02138 (617) 661-5050 Visit Website

Geppetto

100 North First Street, , MA 02141 (617) 945-1349 Visit Website

CAFÉ SAUVAGE

25 Massachusetts Avenue, , MA 02115 (857) 277-0075 Visit Website

Time Out Market Boston

401 Park Drive, , MA 02215 (978) 393-8088 Visit Website

Dear Annie

1741 Massachusetts Avenue, , MA 02140 Visit Website

Plantpub (Kendall Square)

675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 Visit Website

Judy's Bay

279a Broadway, , MA 02139 Visit Website

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