A Guide to Boston’s Summer 2021 Restaurant Openings

Massachusetts’s COVID state of emergency lifted on June 15, 2021, marking the top of a lot of the state’s pandemic-related mandates. For a month or so, it nearly felt like issues have been getting again to some form of regular. However instances are on the rise once more, due to the delta variant; too many eating places are not getting federal relief funds they have been promised; labor shortages proceed; and lots of eating places are rolling again to stricter masking and distancing (some are even requiring proof of vaccination.)

It’s not the carefree summer season for which everybody hoped. Regardless of the challenges and unsure months forward, although, new eating places maintain managing to open. Right here’s the rundown on new arrivals to the Boston space in summer season 2021, serving every little thing from Northern Italian delicacies to vegan pizza to lobster Rockefeller to fast-casual burgers to Flamin’ Scorching Cheeto mac and cheese. And don’t neglect seafood towers — so many seafood towers.

This roundup will likely be up to date because the season continues. Know of a brand new spot that ought to be on Eater Boston’s radar? E-mail boston@eater.com. (And don’t cease supporting your longstanding favorites — all eating places, new and outdated, may use all of the assist you may give proper now, and at all times.)

This roundup was most lately up to date on August 10, 2021, including notes on Buttermilk & Bourbon’s growth to Watertown, Mamaleh’s growth to Brookline, Tori Japan in Jamaica Plain, and Nu Do Society in Cambridge.

The most recent CDC steerage for vaccinated diners throughout the COVID-19 outbreak is here; eating out nonetheless carries dangers for unvaccinated diners and staff. Please concentrate on altering native guidelines, and examine particular person restaurant web sites for any further restrictions similar to masks necessities. Discover a native vaccination website here.

Boston

Again Bay

Andrew Scrivani

Giving off extraordinarily glamorous vibes, Contessa (1 Newbury St., Boston) opened in June on the rooftop of the Newbury Boston, courtesy of the New York-based Main Meals Group, which operates stylish eating places worldwide. Contessa leans northern Italian, with dishes similar to bistecca fiorentina and tortellini en brodo. [Read more.]

In different Newbury Road information, vegan pizzeria and wine bar Double Zero (163 Newbury St., Boston) opened in July. It’s from vegan chef and restaurateur Matthew Kenney, a Maine native who has eating places worldwide. That is one among a number of Double Zero areas. (Regionally-ish, there’s additionally one in Windfall, inside Kenney’s fully vegan meals corridor, Plant Metropolis.) [Read more.]

And another for Newbury Road: Taiwanese boba chain Yi Fang (215 Newbury St.) has arrived, specializing in fruit teas, tea lattes, and brown sugar lattes.

Additionally new to Again Bay is the Banks Fish House (406 Stuart St., Boston), taking on the previous two-level house of its sibling Post 390; it’s additionally associated to Grill 23, Harvest, and Bistro du Midi. Proprietor Chris Himmel and government chef and companion Robert Sisca are serving a seafood-heavy menu that tells the tales of their fishing adventures across the globe, which suggests every little thing from shellfish and caviar towers to fried seafood. [Read more.]

Brighton

The Charles River Speedway has begun to open up, beginning with its anchor tenant, Salem’s Notch Brewing (525 Western Ave., Boston). The Brighton location of the brewery incorporates a spacious taproom and year-round beer backyard, providing round a dozen session beers on faucet. Outdoors meals is allowed (the Speedway will finally have a number of choices), and youngsters are allowed throughout most hours. [Read more.]

East Boston

Tall Ship (1 E. Pier Dr., Boston)— from the group behind Pier 6 and Reelhouse — is open, effectively, on a tall ship. The group is describing it as a floating oyster bar (there are additionally a few other things to eat, like charcuterie boards), and it performs host to reside music and different occasions. A rotating forged of meals distributors promote further treats out of refurbished transport containers alongside the pier.

Monetary District

The Langham, Boston [Official Photo]

The Langham lodge (250 Franklin St., Boston) is newly revamped, and the renovations killed Cafe Fleuri and its long-running chocolate buffet. However there are new eating and consuming choices as an alternative, together with the Fed, a cocktail bar that opened in July with customizable seafood towers, a boozy frappe, a lobster BLT, and a corndog-inspired potato-crusted scorching canine with kimchi and spicy mayo. [Read more.]

Additionally within the Monetary District, informal Greek restaurant Greco (1 Milk St., Boston) has added a brand new location (it’s additionally in Again Bay and the Seaport District), serving its widespread gyros and loukoumades. [Read more.]

Jamaica Plain

Tori Japan (315 Centre St., Boston) opened recently in Jackson Square, serving fast-casual sushi and teriyaki dishes for takeout. Need a little bit little bit of loads of issues? Strive a bento field.

Roxbury

Flying Embers Brewery & Social Membership (152 Hampden St., Roxbury) is now open within the former Backlash Beer house. The California-based firm focuses on exhausting kombucha and exhausting seltzer, in addition to beer brewed with probiotics. The taproom additionally serves meals, a collaboration with Boston’s Bon Me meals truck/restaurant chain. [Read more.]

Seaport District

Madras Dosa Co. [Official Photo]

Followers of south Indian meals will discover dosas galore at Madras Dosa Co. (55 Boston Wharf Rd.), a fast-casual spot in Boston’s Seaport District from the group behind south Indian restaurant chain Godavari. The massive listing of dosa fillings contains loads of vegan or vegetarian and/or gluten-free choices. Additionally on the menu: idli, ghee grilled cheese, Indian delicate drinks, and extra. [Read more.]

Close to Boston

Brookline

Jewish-style delicatessen Mamaleh’s (1659 Beacon St., Brookline) expanded to Brookline’s Washington Sq. in August 2021; its authentic location opened in Cambridge’s Kendall Sq. again in 2016. At the moment open every day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the new location serves ready-to-eat bagels and schmears, smoked fish platters, varied Reubens (vegetarians can attempt the smoked mushroom model) and different sandwiches, and extra, and there are additionally a wide range of fridge, freezer, and pantry objects to seize (knishes, blintzes, matzoh ball soup, and many others.). There are additionally cans of Dr. Brown’s sodas, in fact.

Cambridge

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

From the house owners of Gâté Comme des Filles, a Somerville chocolate store, and Picnic & Pantry (previously referred to as In Season Food Shop), a Somerville grocery store, comes an Inman Sq. wine and dessert bar that doesn’t enable cellphones. Zuzu’s Petals (204 Hampshire St., Cambridge), at present working on a restricted schedule, is a darkish, intimate spot within the former Metropolis Woman Cafe house providing a small choice of wines by the glass, cheese and charcuterie boards, and desserts similar to tiramisu (pictured above), creme brulee, and chocolate mousse loaded with vanilla bean. [Read more.]

Additionally in Inman Sq., Drifter’s Story (1281 Cambridge St., Cambridge) is now open within the former Bukowski house, describing itself as a “world road meals gastrobar and tavern.” The menu contains moules frites, carnitas tacos, seafood paella for 2, flatbreads, and extra.

In Harvard Sq., the Boston space’s first location of ramen chain Menya Jiro (57 JFK St., Cambridge) has opened; it’ll quickly be joined by areas in Boston’s Seaport District and in Dedham. It options ramen within the model of Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture, with a pork and rooster broth, chashu pork, and fried garlic. Pork stomach buns, gyoza, takoyaki, and extra spherical out the menu. [Read more.]

In Porter Sq., the Halal Guys (15 White St., Cambridge) will open its second Massachusetts location on August 6; the New York-based chain — which began as a meals cart — additionally has a downtown Boston location that opened back in 2017 with the promise of extra areas to return. The Halal Guys focuses on rooster and rice plates and gyros.

And in Central Sq., early pandemic pop-up hit Nu Do Society (125 River St., Cambridge) has lastly opened its storefront within the outdated River Gods house. The restaurant — which focuses on noodle dishes that draw inspiration from several Asian cuisines — was imagined to open in early 2020, however everyone knows how that point of the yr turned out. Confronted with development delays, the Nu Do group spent a lot of 2020 working out of a short lived kitchen, providing a rotating menu for weekly supply. Its flavor-packed dishes have been an enormous hit. Now, it’s lastly working in its personal house, serving lunch and dinner every day. Order on-line for takeout. The present menu, which leans primarily however not completely within the Thai course, options dishes like khao soi, tom yum noodle soup, and garlic yaki udon.

Malden

Tous les Jours, a French-Asian bakery and cafe chain with over a thousand areas worldwide, expanded its Boston-area presence with a new Malden location in July (230 Nice St., Malden); there are additionally areas in Allston, Natick, and Burlington. The bakery serves objects similar to honey cheese mochi pancakes, pink bean doughnuts, raspberry turnovers, ham and cheese sandwiches, and extra.

Newton

Clover Food Lab — the vegetarian food-truck-turned-restaurant-empire with over a dozen fast-casual areas across the Boston space — expanded to Newtonville (835 Washington St., Newton) in July, opening contained in the Trio condominium constructing. This location incorporates a standalone espresso bar staffed by George Howell Espresso Firm, in addition to a devoted space for CSA pickup. Like different Clovers, the menu contains the chain’s widespread chickpea fritter sandwich, rosemary fries, and plenty extra.

Quincy

The Boston space’s banh mi choices have elevated once more with the opening of Banh Mi Boston (716 Hancock St., Quincy) in Quincy’s Wollaston neighborhood. The counter-service store additionally options quite a few variations of the Vietnamese dessert che, each cold and warm.

Revere

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Revere Seaside pizza mainstay Bianchi’s (381 Revere Seaside Blvd.) has reopened in a brand new(ish) house, the previous Renzo’s house the place it beforehand popped up quickly (sharing with Renzo’s). Now Renzo’s is gone and Bianchi’s is open completely within the house, with companion the Sandbar serving some non-pizza meals and a full bar onsite. [Read more.]

In different Revere information, Lower 21, sibling spot to close by eating places Dryft and Fine Line, is now open on the Ryder condominium complicated on Revere Seaside (21 Revere Seaside Blvd., Revere). Restaurateur Michael Aldi — with government chef Greg Reeves, who owns Viale in Cambridge — is serving seafood (together with seafood towers and lobster Rockefeller), steak, cocktails, and extra. Deliver a change of garments in your seashore day: “Informal dressy apparel” is encourage; swimwear is not allowed.

Somerville

Littleburg

In July, vegan pop-up Littleburg put down roots in a storage in Union Sq. (5 Sanborn Ct., Somerville), hidden away off that car parking zone the place you may as well discover Backbar and Discipline & Vine. The Littleburg storefront is at present providing takeout and meal supply, however a small eating room could be within the plans a yr or so down the street. Littleburg attracts inspiration from Mediterranean cuisines, particularly Greek, and goals to make vegan meals that stands by itself — not simply vegan variations of non-vegan dishes. [Read more.]

Elsewhere in Union Sq., Bow Market’s Nibble Kitchen (1 Bow Market Method, Somerville) — which options rotating residencies of native meals entrepreneurs, cooking meals from world wide — welcomed a new chef to the mix. Edwin Orellana’s Dos Manos Kitchen is serving Salvadoran pupusas on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to three p.m.

Additionally in Somerville, worldwide burger chain Shake Shack opened its ninth Massachusetts location in early July on the Meeting Row growth; it’s on the bottom ground of the residential constructing Miscela (355 Meeting Row, Somerville). This location incorporates a walk-up window the place prospects can choose up orders positioned on Shake Shack’s app. See Burlington under for one more new Shake Shack.

Meeting Row additionally received a location of fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen (345 Meeting Row, Somerville) in July, one among fairly a couple of within the Boston space. (Watertown’s Arsenal Yards and Boston’s Longwood Medical Middle are subsequent on the listing.)

And another for Somerville: Over in Magoun Sq., sizable Italian-American restaurant and music venue Premiere on Broadway (517 Broadway, Somerville) celebrated its grand opening in early August. Charcuterie fanatic Dan Bazzinotti — an alum of Bisq and Eataly — is main the kitchen, serving grilled oysters fra diavolo; mozzarella with burrata and lobster; rooster parm; and extra. [Read more.]

Watertown

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Buttermilk & Bourbon (100 Arsenal Yards Blvd., Watertown) opened in August, a sequel to chef and restaurateur Jason Santos’s Back Bay hit by the identical title. The ambiance and a few of the components and menu objects are a direct homage to New Orleans — this new location boasts roasted oysters, a nod to New Orleans icon Felix’s, for instance — whereas different facets of the menu are extra of a common ode to the South, and others are simply plain enjoyable. (Howdy, Flamin’ Scorching Cheeto mac and cheese.) [Read more.]

Taste Increase (222 Arsenal St., Watertown) describes itself as “a gourmet fast-food restaurant … specializing in slow-cooked Asian meals with a global twist,” with most of its dishes served over rice or in sandwich kind. There’s an “explosively spicy” Thai-inspired crab and scallop curry, for instance, served over rice, in addition to a beef rendang sandwich, to not point out sides like marbled tea eggs and “silly scorching” chopped chiles.

Farther Out

Bedford

Caterer and meal supply service Eva’s Little Kitchen (200 Nice Rd. 7A and 7B, Bedford) has opened a Bedford storefront filled with cafe fare and grab-and-go objects, from breakfast pastries like blueberry muffins with peach glaze to lemon pistachio bars, peach hand pies, and rotating flavors of chia seed pudding. There’s additionally espresso and tea.

Burlington

Following the opening of Somerville’s new Shake Shack location, Burlington additionally received one, bringing the entire variety of Massachusetts areas to 10. The burger chain opened on the Burlington Mall (75 Middlesex Tpke., Burlington) on August 2. This location has indoor and out of doors eating, and lunch and dinner can be found every day. Shake Shack first appeared in Massachusetts in 2013, when it debuted in Chestnut Hill.

Lynnfield

New American restaurant Alchemy (1100 Market St., Lynnfield), from the North Shore’s Serenitee Restaurant Group, is now open at MarketStreet Lynnfield, paying homage to the restaurant group’s earlier Alchemy restaurant in Gloucester, which operated from 2003 to 2016. The brand new spot seats nearly 300, and there’s loads of out of doors eating house. The menu hops across the globe with dishes similar to Japanese road corn with togarashi aioli and tonkatsu sauce; sticky St. Louis-style ribs; ramen fries; lamb rigatoni; and extra.