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A roundup of new restaurants opening in the Boston area this spring. Also, share your own recommendations.
Veteran chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette opened Faccia Brutta and Bar Pallino on Newbury Street in May. decency
Spring has brought some exciting new restaurant openings in the Boston area.
You can be in town for a drink at the nine-seat, full-service cocktail bar that opened in the North End last month, dine on fresh seafood and handmade pasta at a Somerville restaurant, or head to Waltham for a pandan coconut and enjoy an Ube macaron. Some of these new restaurants have been expected to open for some time, while others may have opened under the radar. That’s why we’ve put together a guide to eight of the most exciting new restaurants to open this spring.
If you’ve recently been to a new restaurant, we want to hear about it. Let us know your recommendations in the survey below or email us at [email protected].
Boxwood Ramen Tavern
Inspired by the ocean, this Japanese restaurant offers a new take on “izakaya,” a bar that serves snacks, appetizers and drinks. The Bosso Ramen Tavern on Harvard Square is known for their delicious noodle bowls, but they also have a few other items on the menu, like sushi and black sesame ice cream. The space is modern and slightly upscale, while the staff go out of their way to make the experience an immersive one.
24 Holyoke Street, Cambridge
Emma’s macarons
Emma’s Macarons in Waltham is an Asian-owned bakery named after the owner’s daughter. Colorful biscuits are on display here, and you’ll find that each dessert is delicate and handcrafted, inspired by French sweets. They offer unique twists with flavors like pandan coconut and ube, but they also carry classics like chocolate, lemon, and Earl Gray. The shop also has some other goods including cupcakes, caneles and more.
248 Moody Street, Waltham
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Faccia Brutta and Bar Pallino open on Newbury Street this week
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The cozy cocktail bar Farmacia opens in the North End
Eve
This modern American restaurant opened on Newbury Street in time for the Boston Marathon in April. With a large outdoor patio, Eva has a tropical vibe and is a welcoming spot to enjoy one of their signature dishes, from the spicy chicken piccata to the shrimp scampi. You’ll also find other quality options like the Hawaiian pizza and braised short-rib gnocchi. Order a cocktail, like the red sangria or rose negroni, to complement your meal.
279a Newbury Street, Boston
pharmacy
Farmacia, a North End cocktail den, is an intimate 512-foot space with nine-seater bar seating. The concept is unique — they’ve modeled it on a medical pharmacy, and the menu revolves around a changing locale, a spirit or an ingredient. The bar is essentially a one-man show headed by creator and bar director Phillip Rolfe, who “[crafts] Cocktails made from homemade ingredients right in front of his guests for a highly personalized experience.”
5 North Square, Boston
Ugly Face and Bar Pallino
Two concepts by veteran chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette opened on Newbury Street in May: Faccia Brutta and Bar Pallino. Faccia Brutta serves dishes inspired by the coastal regions of Italy, including bucatini with shrimp and pansotti stuffed with chard and ricotta. While you’re there, check out Bar Pallino on the ground floor, a wine bar that also offers light fare.
276-278 Newbury Street, Boston
misnon
The seaport now houses a restaurant serving Israeli street food. Miznon is part of Chef Eyal Shani’s growing international culinary empire, with three other eponymous locations in New York City. In Boston, you’ll find pitas stuffed with ingredients like wild mushrooms, chickpeas, or lamb kebabs. On a plate you can order ratatouille, masabaha lima beans or a sweet potato dish. The space is modern and inspired by the idea of a canteen.
107 Seaport Boulevard, Boston
PLNT burger
Top Chef graduate Spike Mendelsohn opened PLNT Burger’s first Boston location, a fast-casual eatery, within Whole Foods in the South End’s Ink Block development. At the restaurant, you can grab a delicious burger that just so happens to be vegan and plant-based. Order a Baja Burger with guacamole, fried jalapeños and pepper jack cheese, or try the crispy chik’n sandwich served on a potato bun. Top it off with crunchy herb fries or sweet potato crinkles.
348 Harrison Avenue, Boston
salt + stone
This Assembly Row restaurant is the first independent restaurant of Sean and Sue Olson of the MidiCi chain. You’ll find seafood platters and oysters, as well as flatbread pizzas and handmade pastas. You can choose to try a lobster roll, Cajun chicken sandwich, or seared seared salmon. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows and offers full-service al fresco dining on the covered patio.
463 Assembly Row, Somerville
Which new restaurant would you recommend?
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