Restaurant Preview: Upcoming Openings in Greater Boston
Photographs by Connor Sumner
COMMONWEALTH
11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge.
Opening › Late September/early October.
The Concept › Nookie Postal, formerly the executive chef at Fenway Park, is going big for his first solo project—quite literally, with a 6,500-square-foot restaurant-market hybrid. “This is the kind of place where you can bring anybody,” Postal says. “It’s really kid-friendly, it’s family-style.”
The Menu › Look for wood-oven-roasted chicken and fish, plus a raw bar featuring local shellfish. The market, meanwhile, will offer a selection of goods from local purveyors, and serve up sandwiches, coffee, and pastries.
ALDEN & HARLOW
40 Brattle St., Cambridge, aldenandharlow.com.
Opening › Early fall.
The Concept › “Really, it is just wanting to treat people the way I do when they come to my home for dinner,” says chef-owner Michael Scelfo, who previously ran the kitchen at Russell House Tavern. “A really relaxed atmosphere, simple, honest food, good drinks, and great service.”
The Menu › Expect seasonal, locally driven plates designed for sharing—crispy Brambly Farms pork belly with cold-smoked grits, for instance, and Moosabec mussels cooked in an in-house smoker.
BONDIR CONCORD
24 Walden St., Concord.
Opening › October.
The Concept › Chef Jason Bond takes his locally driven cuisine to the ’burbs with a new 2,800-square-foot spot in Concord that celebrates the area’s rich agricultural history.
The Menu › An ever-evolving parade of dishes—think North Shore cusk brandade with stewed littleneck clams, kohlrabi, and pickled spring onions—plus a classic cocktail menu with a twist (an Old Fashioned with a drop of sour-cherry vinegar, dried orange, and green almond essence, for instance).
SARMA
249 Pearl St., Somerville.
Opening › Late summer.
The Concept › Fans of the small plates at Oleana, take heed: Ana Sortun, Cassie Piuma (the chef de cuisine at Oleana), and team will soon be rolling out a meze bar in the old Paddock space, with Piuma running the kitchen.
The Menu › Here, it’s all about eastern Mediterranean small plates served family-style. Cocktails, craft beer, and a small wine list will also be offered.
THE KIRKLAND TAP & TROTTER
425 Washington St., Somerville.
Opening › August.
The Concept › Chef-owner Tony Maws (of Craigie on Main fame) took inspiration from some of his favorite casual spots—the old B Side Lounge, in Cambridge; Marlow & Sons, in Brooklyn—for his second restaurant. Here, it’s all about straightforward fare in a comfortable atmosphere. “There are no dots on the plate, no little swooshes,” Maws says. “This isn’t a white-tablecloth establishment—whatever that means, this ain’t it.”
The Menu › Meat and fish will be prepared simply on a wood grill.
STATE PARK
One Kendall Sq., Cambridge.
Opening › October.
The Concept › The team behind the upscale southern spot Hungry Mother brings more rib-sticking fare to Cambridge, this time in the form of a bar offering pinball, pool, shuffleboard, and a jukebox. “We want the place to have no pretension whatsoever,” says co-owner Alon Munzer.
The Menu › Booze-friendly dishes like pulled-pork sandwiches, fried chicken, and pickled eggs will mingle with cocktail pitchers, upscale takes on the “shot and a beer,” and an all-magnum wine list.
