We Can’t Wait for These Greater Boston Restaurant Openings in 2025

• • Restaurants: From locavore fare in Cambridge to omakase in the Back Bay, these restaurants are on our radar.
  • Bars, Breweries, and Beverages: The food’ll be good, too, but these spots emphasize the booze.
  • Cafés and Bakeries: Caffeine and sweet treats galore.
  • Local Expansions: You already know these Boston-area spots; find out where they’re opening next.
  • Out-of-Towner Expansions: Maybe you’ve come to love these restaurants and bars in your travels. Now they’re coming here.
  • Now Open: We were anticipating them, and now they’re here. Go eat! (Jump to New Restaurants, the total newbies we haven’t seen before, and Expansions, new locations of familiar places.)

Restaurants

The Block at Woods Hill

What: Woods Hill Pier 4 is getting a two-for-one sibling and neighbor (right in the same building)—the Block, a hyperlocal restaurant and market, with chef Charlie Foster overseeing the menu. At the restaurant—meant to be a “woodsy, darker, and more edgy” space than Woods Hill Pier 4, and more casual—meats and produce from owner Kristin Canty’s own farm will star, especially dry-aged, grass-fed beef and pork. A large bar, a chef’s table, communal seating, and cooking classes will be among the features. Continuing on the local theme, the market will highlight plenty of New England goods.

Where: Seaport District, Boston
When: Early June 2025

An example of a Fallow Kin seasonal crudo, shown here with Nantucket bay scallops, blood orange, pomegranate, cranberry, and Maine dulse (a red seaweed). / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Fallow Kin

What: Vegetable-forward farm-to-table fare from an experienced crew, including the husband-and-wife duo behind Cambridge restaurant Talulla (Conor Dennehy and Danielle Ayer) and their longtime industry friend Marcos Sanchez (an alum of Tasting Counter, Gray’s Hall, and more). Located in Central Square’s old Craigie on Main space, Fallow Kin has zero-waste aspirations and will offer tasting menus, à la carte dining, and creative late-night bar fare. Read more >>

Where: 853 Main St., Central Square, Cambridge, fallowkin.com
When: April 2025

FiDO Pizza

What: A “casual neighborhood spot” focused on New York-style pizza, both round pies and grandma squares, from Traveler Street Hospitality (Bar Mezzana, No Relation, Shore Leave, and Black Lamb). In a recent newsletter, the team cited inspiration from Sally’s Apizza, John’s of Bleecker, Mama’s Too, Lucali, and more. “The result? A style that’s all our own,” with classic toppings and seasonal twists. The sit-down restaurant—with a full liquor license—will serve lunch and dinner, and there’ll also be takeout and slices. Read more >>

Where: 250 Western Ave. (Allston Labworks), Allston, Boston, fidopizza.com
When: Summer 2025

Gourmet Kreyòl / Doune & Pepe

What: The Gourmet Kreyòl Haitian food truck and catering company has two restaurants in the works: a fast-casual Mattapan location and a full-service spot (dubbed Doune & Pepe) in Dorchester’s Codman Square. The former will serve a menu similar to the truck, while the latter will feature daily favorites from the truck (such as fried chicken, halal stew chicken, and vegan legume), plus always-available jerk and curry chicken and rotating specials such as red snapper and stew conch. The owners are also working to secure a full liquor license for the sit-down restaurant. A bonus for anyone with dietary restrictions: Most of Gourmet Kreyòl’s food is gluten-free; all side dishes are vegetarian or vegan; and the company uses four fryers to prevent cross-contamination among seafood, poultry, pork, and sides. “Our goal is for everyone to enjoy authentic Haitian and Caribbean food,” a rep for the business tells Boston.

Where: Fast-casual: 1210 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, Boston; sit-down: 657 Washington St., Dorchester, Boston; gourmetkreyol.com
When: Fast-casual: May 24, 2025; sit-down: late summer 2025

The Hollows

What: A “neighborhood haunt” from Charlie Redd (behind Dragon Pizza in Somerville and, previously, Redd’s in Rozzie), with partners Doug Sherman and Bridget Zerner, in the just-shuttered Rudy’s space.

Where: 248 Holland St., Teele Square, Somerville, thehollowssomerville.com
When: Late spring 2025

Koro

What: A takeout-focused sushi and ramen spot from the owner of East Boston’s Pazza on Porter and Next Door Speakeasy and Raw Bar. Sneak-peek social media posts also highlight crispy wings, gyoza, and more.

Where: 329 Sumner St., East Boston, instagram.com/eatkoro
When: April 2025

Little Steve’s Pizza

What: A decades-old pizzeria that closed a few years back is getting a bit of a revival under new ownership. Flying Lion Hospitality Group (Don’t Tell Aunty, Nowon, and more) is opening up a new restaurant in that space—and keeping the old name as an homage—and will serve Sicilian- and Detroit-style pizza. Also on the menu, a Whole Foods-style self-serve area for grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches, says owner Koushik “Babu” Koganti. He expects that section to vary each day, offering a rotating selection of cuisines that might be Indian one day, Caribbean the next, and more.

Where: 1114 Boylston St., Back Bay/Fenway, Boston
When: April 2025

A Mai handroll. / F33D Marketing

Mai

What: From the folks behind Matsunori Handroll Bar, Mai will offer a rotating seasonal menu of French-Japanese fusion. Think: miso bouillabaisse with plenty of fresh seafood; daily catch shabu-shabu with shiso ponzu jelly; “egg on egg on egg” toast—Kaluga hybrid caviar, Hokkaido uni, and Japanese scrambled egg on toasted Japanese milk bread; and eel sandwich with strawberry-yuzu jam and foie gras. In a nod to its Fenway sibling, there’ll also be some handrolls, such as a “luxe spicy tuna” with diced toro and akami, caviar spicy mayo, fried wagyu fat crisps, and fried sweet potato. The restaurant will have a cordials license and plans to serve “super cool, very flashy, yet still affordable” drinks inspired by Japan’s Bar Centifolia, says cofounder and CEO Kevin Liu.

Where: 31 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston, instagram.com/mai.izayaka
When: Summer/early fall 2025

Rendering of Mila’s. / Courtesy image

Mila’s

What: All-day dining and waterfront views in Revere. Restaurateur Michael Aldi (Dryft, Fine Line) will open Mila’s at the new Gibson Point apartment building, offering daytime grab-and-go fare, coffee, and more, plus a convenient workspace geared toward the building’s residents. At night, it’ll be a sit-down restaurant with pizzas, small plates, and more.

Where: 1 Gibson Way, Revere, livegibsonpoint.com
When: Spring 2025

Mr. Tamole at Boston Public Market

What: A Mexican restaurant run by a mother-and-son team who also sell mole paste, salsa, and tamales based on family recipes from Puebla. Their Boston Public Market stall will feature items like tacos, tortas, and the aforementioned tamales. As of late April, a menu is posted at the soon-to-open stall and highlights Mr. Tamole’s mole poblano (“a rich sauce with a deep smokey, spicy, and sweet flavor”) and green pipian (“a sauce with pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, chilis, and herbs … rich and nutty flavor with a slight tang.”)

Where: 100 Hanover St., Downtown Boston, mrtamole.com, bostonpublicmarket.org
When: Spring 2025

The Nightly

What: The co-owners of Savin Hill neighborhood grocery store the Daily Market are building a restaurant above the market. It’ll feature a menu by chef Jeffrey Fournier, a Beard semifinalist who most recently operated the now-closed Thompson House Eatery in New Hampshire. Going back a few more years, longtime Boston-area folks will no doubt remember his excellent 51 Lincoln in Newton, too. We’re glad to see him back in this neck of the woods!

Where: 110 Savin Hill Ave., Dorchester, Boston, thedaily-market.com.
When: Summer 2025

Nori Nori Test Kitchen. / Courtesy photo

Norinori Test Kitchen

What: Sibling to Mai (see above) and Matsunori Handroll Bar, this Japanese restaurant will offer handrolls, bento boxes (“but not your normal bentos,” says cofounder and CEO Kevin Liu—think a selection of wagyu cuts over rice brushed with wagyu bone marrow), limited-batch ramen (“I want to serve the best chicken ramen in the city, nothing held back,” says Liu), and more. It’ll have a full liquor license; expect “cheap but fancy drinks.”

Where: 399 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brookline, instagram.com/norinori.japanese
When: Second half of 2025

Rosa y Marigold

What: A Peruvian restaurant, sibling to local hot spots Celeste and La Royal (and their Vermont sibling Esmeralda), located in the Lyrik development in Back Bay. There’ll be live music, weekday lunch/weekend brunch, and—like at its siblings—an open kitchen. Read more >>

Where: 400 Newbury St. (Lyrik Back Bay), Back Bay, Boston
When: Fall 2025

The Salt Marsh Winery

What: A New England bistro from the team behind Pembroke’s Osteria Vivo, including chef-owner Douglas Rodrigues, an alum of Boston’s Clio, North Square Oyster, and more. Expect hyper-seasonal dishes that nod to what you’d see in a harborside or seaside town, says Rodrigues. “A bit of old meets new. The idea was basically if the restaurants that Scituate had come to know and love in the past—like Jamie’s Pub, the Barker Tavern, PJ’s Country House, Pier 44—had a baby and opened in 2025, what would that look like?” That means classics like fish and chips and lobster rolls alongside “more outside-of-the-box items for the modern palate,” he says. “We’ve been able to explore so much creativity at Osteria Vivo, outside the basic expectations of an Italian restaurant, that we want to approach the Salt Marsh Winery the same way, just really kick the door down of the old expectations of a coastal restaurant. I want to be able to cook anything I want.” Fun fact: The name is a reference to a book by Rodrigues’ grandfather, Mystery at the Salt Marsh Winery, which is set around the salt marshes of Scituate Harbor and surrounding areas. The restaurant is, well, a restaurant, not a winery—but it’ll have an array of great wines (and cocktails), notes Rodrigues.

Where: 17 New Driftway, Scituate, instagram.com/thesaltmarshwinery
When: Mid-spring 2025

Silk Lounge

Draft rendering of the bar area at SJ’s. / Baker Design Group

SJ’s

What: The third restaurant from chef, restaurateur, and Chopped champion Sarah Wade. She’s also behind Stillwater downtown and Sloane’s in Allston, both known for creative comfort food. SJ’s will serve more “elevated” fare in the Leather District, “good food done well.” Last year, she teased what’ll be on the menu, including lots of house-made pasta (although the restaurant is “not Italian by any stretch of the imagination”) and a chicken liver mousse macaron with onion jam. Also: big martinis, big pours of wine.

Where: 745 Atlantic Ave., Downtown Boston (Leather District), instagram.com/bostonsjs
When: 2025

Three unnamed downtown projects from COJE

What: COJE—the hospitality group behind Mr. H, Coquette, Caveau, and other gorgeously designed restaurants and clubs around Boston—has a Sicilian restaurant, a members-only dining club, and a rebranding of one of its nightclub spaces in the works next, all at 10 Post Office Sq., in the same building as COJE’s Cuban-inspired restaurant Mariel. Mariel’s subterranean nightclub, Mariel Underground, will close on May 31, set to reopen as a new concept in the fall; a rep for the group promises that it will have “the trifecta of ambience, F&B, and hospitality that delivers the memorable and immersive experiences for which COJE is widely known.” As for the Sicilian restaurant, cofounder Chris Jamison told Restaurant Hospitality that the team would be looking at the “foundational cuisines” of Sicily, with “deep dives” into the Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean cultures that have influenced the “many layers to the cuisine that has developed there.”

Where: 10 Post Office Sq., Downtown Boston
When: Unknown (fall 2025 for the reconcepting of Mariel Underground)

Yoshida

What: Iverson Guo, chef-owner of the flashy local sushi-and-more chain Karma Asian Fusion, is reportedly opening an omakase restaurant soon, with chef Tony Cao at the helm. The intimate space will seat only 24, and early reports stated that it’d serve fusion cuisine, while its fledgling website describes the sushi style as Edomae. Either way, the Karma restaurants are known for their swanky design and artful, creative dishes, so this is surely a spot to watch.

Where: 51 Massachusetts Ave., Back Bay, Boston, yoshidaomakase.com
When: 2025

Bars, Breweries, and Beverages

Acqua & Bocca. / Photo by Humar Miranda

Acqua & Bocca

What: Love Italy’s aperitivo culture of having a little pre-dinner drink and snack? Take that and add more food—but not quite full dinner—and you’ve got apericena. Brick & Mortar owners Avery Appleton and Gary Strack are revamping their acclaimed cocktail bar into an ode to apericena with low-ABV spirits, natural wine, “honest Italian cooking,” and some intriguing familial ties to Italian cocktail history. Read more >>

Where: 567 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge
When: May/June 2025

Arlington Brewing Company

What: After over a year of pop-ups, Arlington Brewing Company is putting down roots in, well, Arlington with a brewery, taproom, kitchen, and beer garden. (Here’s a peek inside the under-construction space, which will include a mezzanine level with its own bar and bathrooms.) The company’s beer lineup includes a variety of styles, from a Bohemian pilsner to a Mexican lager to a rosé sour. While waiting for the brewery to open, get familiar with the brews—they’re distributed to quite a few local stores.

Where: 15 Ryder St., Arlington, drinkarlingtonbeer.com
When: 2025

Bar Lunette

What: A French cocktail bar, sibling and Coolidge Corner neighbor to Paris Creperie. Sneak a peek at the under-construction space here.

Where: 278A Harvard St., Coolidge Corner, Brookline, barlunette.com
When: Early 2025

Darling

What: A neighborhood cocktail bar serving dim sum-inspired small plates, including—this is big news, folks—suan la chow show, an ode to the fan-favorite Sichuan wonton dish at this address’s previous occupant, longtime Chinese restaurant Mary Chung. “It will be spicy,” promises co-owner Brian Callahan. It will also be delicious, because there’s a talented executive chef onboard: Mark O’Leary, whom local food enthusiasts will remember from Shojo, JM Curley, and beyond. Callahan and co-owner Zimu Chen are no strangers to the industry, either; Callahan was beverage director for Big Heart Hospitality (Tiger Mama, Orfano, and more) and also spent time at Coquette and Row 34, and Chen is an alum of Sumiao Hunan Kitchen, Eastern Standard, Mariel, and Coquette (where they met).

Where: 464 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge, darlingcambridge.com
When: Spring 2025

Lou’s

What: A whopping 10,000 square feet of live music, drinks, and food in Harvard Square’s former Beat Brew Hall space. It’s a collaboration between John DiGiovanni (president of Trinity Property Management) and Thomas Keane and his team at investment management firm Churchill James, the group behind American Flatbread.

Where: 13 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge
When: 2025

Cafés and Bakeries

Brick Street Bagels. / Courtesy photo

Brick Street Bagels

What: The popular bagel pop-up, launched in late 2022, is getting a space of its own in South Boston, which’ll allow for an expanded menu—open-faced sandwiches, coffee, and more. Founder Jordan Renouf is currently crowdfunding to help with the buildout using the NuMarket platform, in which donors get back more than what they put in (in the form of store credits).

Where: 371 West Broadway, South Boston, instagram.com/brick.street.bagels
When: May 2025

Short Path Distillery COO Alycia Rovner and cofounder Zack Robinson. / Photo by Matt Darcy

The Café at Short Path Distillery

What: This is a good year for café-by-day, something-boozy-by-night spots (see also: Tilde, Jadu). Short Path is adding a café inside the Everett distillery (with no impact on the existing cocktail bar operation), offering a “classic coffee program and interesting rotating specials that incorporate our house syrups, plus light bites,” says COO Alycia Rovner. A local roaster (to be determined) will be featured. And perhaps most importantly, “there’s a good chance folks will get to meet Mash, our distillery/cafe café cat!”

Where: 71 Kelvin St., Everett, shortpathdistillery.com
When: Spring 2025

Will Isaza. / Photo by Ran Duan

Café Gloria

What: “A neighborhood coffee and espresso bar” with Colombian rice bowls and other snacks. Longtime Boston bartender and East Boston native Will Isaza (Blossom Bar, Birds of Paradise) is behind it. While he works to open the café, catch him behind the bar at Cunard Tavern, also in Eastie. Read more >>

Where: 287 Maverick St., East Boston, cafegloriaeastie.com
When: 2025

Chateau Blanc Cafe

What: Mohammed Seffo is replacing his restaurant Aleppo Palace—located in Central Square’s distinctive white castle-like building—with Chateau Blanc Cafe, which will feature coffee, ice cream, and late-night hours. Watch for a membership deal that’ll allow for unlimited coffee from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Where: 25 Central Sq., Central Square, Cambridge
When: April 2025

District 7 Café

What: Sibling and neighbor to District 7 Tavern, a Roxbury bar. It’ll serve coffee, breakfast pastries, and sandwiches to start, with a full kitchen and larger menu coming later in 2025. The space—which seats around 25—will also be available for private events.

Where: 376 Warren St., Roxbury, Boston
When: Spring 2025

Lêgacy Cà Phê

What: A Vietnamese coffee shop, roastery, and “cultural hub” in the former Dorchester Tire space, from restaurateur Tam Le (Lê Madeline and more) and partners Pop and Ash Chan. Supported in part by a SPACE grant, this’ll be an evolution of sorts of Le’s café Reign Drink Lab in South Boston (formerly in Dorchester), with more seating and more food.

Where: 1160 Dorchester Ave., Savin Hill, Dorchester, Boston, instagram.com/legacy_caphe
When: 2025

Korean garlic bread (milk buns with cream cheese, garlic, and scallion-shiso herb wash) from Nine Winters. / Photo by Mim on Roseway Photography

Nine Winters Bakery

What: Maybe you caught Marissa Ferola’s Korean-American bakery when it was a Bow Market pop-up (serving some of our favorite cookies, among other goodies); now it’s getting a permanent space in Cambridge. The beloved pastries are sticking around, plus an expanded menu with lunch and dinner options “for intimate and casual meals,” says Ferola. “We’re prioritizing operating as a third space to gather and explore identity and culture.” To drink: “Our coffee program will look more like mocktails, with coffee as the main vehicle. I’m excited to make riffs on classic cocktails that showcase the coffee we carry and Korean elements, whether it be flavor or method.” (Nine Winters won’t have an alcohol license; this is all spirit-free.) Know a professional chef who might be interested in “bring[ing] their culture to the table” for short-term weekend dinner series pop-ups? Have them connect with Ferola.

Where: 292 Concord Ave., Huron Village, Cambridge, ninewinters.com
When: Spring 2025

Park Bagelry

What: A bagel-focused bakery and café from the crew behind a trio of Somerville bakeries and cafés—Diesel, Bloc, and Forge. The bagels will reportedly be a mix of sourdough, New York, and Montreal styles—a potentially winning mix, to be sure. Park Bagelry will also serve ice cream and coffee, like its big siblings. It’s opening in the same Allston complex as FiDO Pizza (see above).

Where: Western Avenue (Allston Labworks), Allston, Boston, instagram.com/parkbagelry
When: Summer 2025

Sweet Teez Bakery

What: Dorchester native Teresa Thompson Maynard is bringing her nearly decade-old peanut- and nut-free baking business to the Dot Block apartment community, supported in part by a SPACE grant. It’ll be her first brick-and-mortar location after baking out of the CommonWealth Kitchen nonprofit food business incubator, and she’ll bring that small-business ethos to the new bakery by selling food from other local entrepreneurs in addition to her own cakes, brownies, pies, cupcakes, and more. The all-day bakery will seat around 25 inside, plus seasonal outdoor seating, and will offer free wifi. On the menu: long-time Sweet Teez favorites like sweet potato pie and tipsy cake, plus savory mini quiches, soups, coffee, and more.

Where: 1211 Dorchester Ave. (Dot Block), Dorchester, Boston, sweetteezbakery.com
When: Fall 2025

Third Time Ice Cream

What: After a short but sweet residency at Somerville’s Bow Market serving highly creative ice cream flavors, Third Time is putting down roots in East Somerville: The ice cream will continue, and there’ll also be coffee, breakfast, and lunch. While that’s in the works, Third Time is popping up at Tilde, a cafe and wine bar in Cambridge, during the spring with some sneak-peek items. Third Time founder Nick Ladin-Sienne is an alum of Oleana and Sofra, so don’t be surprised to find some Middle Eastern inspirations on the menu, such as “breakfast in the Levant”—a custardy egg with herby salad, labne, house jam, feta, pickles, and olives.

Where: East Somerville, thirdtimeicecream.co
When: 2025

Valientes Bakery

What: Adrienne and Nahuel Palomeque plan to open a “speakeasy-style bakery” inside Cambridge market Thistle & Shamrock, which has a commercial kitchen space in the back. Nahuel—a pastry chef who has worked at La Saison, Verveine, and other local spots—will highlight items from his home country, Argentina, such as alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies); ham and cheese sandwiches on medialunas (brioche meets croissant); and more. There’ll be coffee, too. The opening is taking a little longer than originally planned, but in the meantime, you can take Argentine cooking classes with Nahuel on the fourth Friday of each month at the Foundry in Cambridge.

Where: 62 Walden St., Cambridge, instagram.com/valientes_bakery
When: 2025

Local Expansions

The Daily Catch’s squid ink linguine aglio olio with scallops. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Bottega del Sud: Fedora sauce: IYKYK. Bottega Fiorentina, a longstanding Brookline Italian restaurant and market (which came under new ownership in 2019), is adding a roomy new location in South Boston soon, serving panini, gelato, espresso, and more. Take a peek. 645 E. 2nd St., South Boston, eatbottega.com.
• The Daily Catch: About 100 feet from its existing North End location, the Daily Catch—known for its giant pans of squid ink pasta—is opening a takeout and delivery outpost this spring. 331 Hanover St., North End, Boston, thedailycatch.com.
• Democracy Brewing: The downtown brewpub expands to Eastie early this year, adding winemaking to its repertoire and serving Latin American-inspired food (including the original location’s popular birria quesitacos). Read more. 154 Maverick St., East Boston, democracybrewing.com.
• Eva’s Little Kitchen: The Bedford bakery, café, and caterer expands to West Concord in spring 2025 with plenty of delightful pastries, sandwiches, prepared foods, and beverages (highlighting local businesses Broadsheet Coffee Roasters and MEM Tea). 110 Commonwealth Ave., Concord, evaslittlekitchen.com.

Kush by Saba’s spicy mac ‘n’ cheese with lamb merguez crumble. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Kush by Saba: The modern Mediterranean restaurant has been running as a takeout and delivery operation for a few months now, but we’re looking forward to the debut of a sit-down dining room this spring. As of late April, the space is temporarily closed for the necessary renovations. In the meantime, we’re dreaming of the spicy mac ‘n’ cheese with lamb merguez crumble. 5 Sanborn Ct., Union Square, Somerville, kushbysaba.com.
• Lulu Green: The Best of Boston-winning vegan restaurant expands from South Boston to Kendall Square in late spring, serving café beverages, baked goods, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, featuring local, seasonal sourcing. There’ll be organic wine and local craft beers, too, not to mention a sizable patio full of greenery and views of a pond. 675 W. Kendall St., Kendall Square, Cambridge, lulugreen.com.
• Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co.: This Waltham brewery expanded to the Fenway last year, and it’ll expand again this year—to Watertown’s Arsenal Yards development, with a taproom, full kitchen, and expansive patio. 130 Arsenal Yards Blvd., Watertown, mightysquirrel.com. 
• Moona: This romantic Inman Square destination for Eastern Mediterranean cuisine will open a larger all-day location in Central Square around June. Keep an eye out for breakfast, in particular: It’s going to be unique, promises a rep for the restaurant, with a serious coffee and tea program highlighting Arabic styles. 750 Main St., Central Square, Cambridge, moonarestaurant.com.
• Oasis Vegan Veggie Parlor: The original Dorchester location is closed, but this Best of Boston vegan restaurant and juice bar will reopen in 2025 in a big new space. A fundraising campaign is currently underway to help with the buildout, and the Oasis team is still offering catering services during the process. Dorchester, Boston, instagram.com/oasisvvp.

Bonbons from Petrova. / Courtesy photo

• Petrova Chocolates: This award-winning chocolatier expands from East Boston to the North End this spring, and the new chocolate shop will also carry Eastern European natural wines. Salem St., North End, Boston, petrovachocolates.com.
• Row 34: This decade-old seafood icon—known for its fantastic raw bar items and lobster rolls, a great beer list, and more—adds a fifth location in 2025. In a full-circle moment, its forthcoming address used to be home to one-time Row 34 sibling Island Creek Oyster Bar and, before that, Great Bay; Row 34 chef and co-owner Jeremy Sewall was involved in both. 498 Commonwealth Ave. (Hotel Commonwealth), Kenmore Square, Boston, row34.com.
• Stoked Pizza: Born out of a Best of Boston food truck, the popular pizzeria in Brookline, Cambridge, and (newly) Cohasset is expanding to Jamaica Plain, too, taking over the old Doyle’s space. The project was announced way back in late 2023 and just got approved for a liquor license in February, so stay tuned for more updates soon. 3484 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, stokedpizzaco.com.
• Tree House Brewing Company: While the brewery and Prudential Center representatives aren’t yet confirming these plans, it sure looks like Tree House’s Prudential Center retail operation is just the precursor for something bigger. According to paperwork filed with the city in late 2024, Tree House might have a multi-story brewery, distillery, and tasting room in the works for the Back Bay mall. 800 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, treehousebrew.com.

Out-of-Towner Expansions

PopUp Bagels Seaport. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumethal

• Avra Estiatorio: This seafood-focused, upscale Greek spot (with locations in NYC, Miami, and LA) will open at the Lyrik Back Bay development around spring 2025 and will have private balcony seating. Newbury Street at Massachusetts Ave., Back Bay, Boston, theavragroup.com.
• Ci Siamo and Daily Provisions: The Danny Meyer-founded, New York-based, mega-acclaimed Union Square Hospitality Group is opening two restaurants in Boston late this year: Ci Siamo (Italian) and Daily Provisions (a casual all-day café). Read more. 200 Seaport Blvd. (Commonwealth Pier), Seaport District, Boston, ushg.com.
• The Dead Rabbit: The acclaimed New York Irish pub (with a knack for excellent cocktails) is coming here this year, although the team isn’t ready to share an address or opening timeline, so stay tuned. Boston, thedeadrabbit.com.
• LPM Restaurant & Bar: The French Riviera-inspired international chain has announced a forthcoming Boston location (but no opening timeline or address yet). Boston, lpmrestaurants.com.
• PopUp Bagels: The growing New York-based chain that has its customers “grip, rip, and dip” its unsliced bagels into various schmears already touched down in Boston’s Seaport early this year. Next up: expansions to Assembly Row and Harvard Square, both slated for later in 2025. Assembly Row, Somerville; 1430 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge; popupbagels.com.
• Rocco’s Spots & Recreation: “A daily celebration of sporting culture,” or a kinda glam sports bar from New York, arrives here around late summer with rotating hot dog specials (never with ketchup); a made-to-share tower of tenders, dips, snacks, and sliders; Cubano bao buns; and more. Seaport District, Boston, gotoroccos.com.

Now Open

New Restaurants

Black Ruby

Thai food with a twist: Burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and more fuse with Thai inspiration here, resulting in tantalizing creations like a khao soi burger, chicken satay sandwich, pad thai spring rolls, and tom yum shrimp with linguine. Add a bottle of Singha (a classic Thai lager) or a fruity mocktail.

1790 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge, 617-945-3147, blackrubycambridge.com.

Cafe Reynard founder, roaster, and worker-owner Eddy Martinez at Idle Hands. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Cafe Reynard

Idle Hands Craft Ales, a Malden brewery that opens its taproom to countless food pop-ups and other fun stuff, is now home to a “trans-run, worker-owned queer cafe and coffee roaster,” Cafe Reynard. Eddy Martinez—founder, roaster, and co-owner of the cafe—was just looking for a small commercial space to roast coffee but found that and more when Idle Hands let them set up shop in a storage room. Now Martinez and Reynard co-owner Athena Jacobowitz Teatum serve ethically sourced coffee and light snacks five days a week at the taproom. Watch for collaborations with local food purveyors such as doughnut-maker Lionheart Confections. Read more >>

89 Commercial St., Malden, cafe-reynard.com, idlehandscraftales.com.

Onion soup at Café Saint Germain. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Café Saint-Germain

Pretty pastries, French onion soup with plenty of melty cheese, and cute all-day café vibes? Sold. The team behind Petit Robert Bistro, Batifol, and PRB Boulangerie revamped its Somerville PRB Boulangerie location into Café Saint-Germain in January, offering daytime café service and evening bistro fare. Of note: dollar oysters daily (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as of press time, but check with the restaurant directly for any updates) and unlimited “French tapas” for $38 per person on Monday and Tuesday nights (house chips with French onion dip, mushroom croquettes, beef tartare, truffle fries, and more).

118 Beacon St., Somerville, cafesaintgermain.com.

Salads from Dandelion at the Boston Harbor Hotel. / Courtesy photo

Dandelion

Don’t Tell Aunty

Billing itself as Boston’s first “Indian gastropub,” Don’t Tell Aunty debuted near Berklee in March. (Berklee is the landlord, in fact, so it’s no surprise there’ll be live music.) The cuisine is fun and fusion-y, from butter chicken croquettes to kothu Bolognese, not to mention cocktails like the “Chai Felicia” with vodka, espresso, chai syrup, and Frangelico. Featuring a tropical ambiance—complete with a big tree in the center and jungle-themed wallpaper on several walls—this is meant to be a high-energy spot that appeals to students, locals, and tourists alike. It’s open from lunch through late-night. Read more >>

1080 Boylston St., Back Bay/Fenway, Boston, 617-982-6152, donttellaunty.com.

Drifters

Open since mid-February in the former Idle Hour space, this Quincy restaurant and bar serves “elevated American classics” (steak frites, chicken Milanese, etc.) and a bar pizza several steps removed from classic South Shore-style, with a bigger size, thinner crust, and square slices.

1464 Hancock St., Quincy, 617-404-8921, driftersquincy.com.

Extra Dirty Cocktail Club. / Photo by Assembly Design Studio

Extra Dirty Cocktail Club

First, you’ve got to find the Red Fox, hidden inside an unassuming office building on the edge of the North End. In the back of the dimly lit bar, through a heavy curtain, is another bar: Extra Dirty Cocktail Club, a newcomer that specializes in multi-course, themed cocktail experiences (like its sibling elsewhere in the North End, Farmacia). You’ll book and prepay for your ticket ahead of time and just focus on the drinks and light bites once you’re there. Right now, the opening menu has an Italian theme, so you may sip, for example, a drink called Pomodoro e Funghi that combines mezcal with mushroom-infused sherry, roasted tomato syrup, red pepper, and lemon.

326B Commercial St., North End/Waterfront, Boston, extradirtynorthend.com.

Delivery from Fighting Fish, including crispy fish flake salad (yum pla duk fu) in the foreground and Northeastern sausage and panang curry in the background. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Fighting Fish

Fighting Fish debuted in late April, and we’re excited to see some dishes on this Thai restaurant’s menu that aren’t as common in the Greater Boston Thai food scene—yum pla duk fu, in particular, which features a cloud-like puff of fried fish (order some som tum—papaya salad—on the side as a great complement). Plenty of classics, too, if you’re looking for your usual pad thai or panang curry.

241 Beacham St., Everett, 617-294-0095, fightingfishthaicuisine.com.

Gary’s Pizza’s pepperoni pizza. / Courtesy photo

Little Sage. / Photo by Lane Caroline Photography

Little Sage

Blast from the past: Sage, a North End favorite from the 1990s and 2000s (with a brief move to the South End in 2008 before closing in 2009), has been revived in a new space by the original owner and the original executive-chef-turned-next-owner, Jen Matarazzo and Tony Susi. Little Sage, as the new spot is called, has taken over Matarazzo’s Locale space in the North End (although Little Sage is offering Locale’s popular Neapolitan-style pizzas for takeout). Read more >>

352 Hanover St., North End, Boston, littlesageboston.com.

A spread of vegan and vegetarian dishes that will be on the menu at McCarthy’s, photographed at the Burren prior to McCarthy’s opening: eggplant “pizza,” lentil stew, stuffed sweet potatoes, and a grain bowl. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

McCarthy’s (and Toad)

The musically inclined owners of the Burren and the Bebop took over the shuttered Christopher’s and Toad spaces in Porter Square—the former a restaurant, the latter a music venue. In April, the Irish pub McCarthy’s opened in the former two-story Christopher’s space, featuring classic dishes like shepherd’s pie and Guinness beef stew, plus a ton of vegetarian and vegan options. Catch live Irish music sessions nightly, plus open mics, trivia, and other events. Next door, Toad has reopened much the same as it was before: cozy, and with live music most nights in a mix of genres.Read more >>

1920 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge, mccarthystoad.com.

Fish and chips at Mrs. Murphy’s. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Mrs. Murphy’s

Located in the heart of Medford Square, this Irish pub from the team behind Medford’s Ford Tavern debuted in February, featuring dishes such as steak and ale pie, fish and chips, all-day Irish breakfast, and “Irish-ish” nachos with corned beef and sauerkraut.

25 Salem St., Medford, 781-874-0527, mrsmurphs.com.

Pappare Ristorante & Bar

Fresh pasta is the star at this North End newcomer, sibling to Casarecce Ristorante a few blocks down the street. (Each restaurant is named for a type of pasta, with “pappare” short for pappardelle. Try it here with Bolognese or alfredo.) Beyond pasta, Pappare serves entrees such as cod risotto, eggplant parm, and chicken cacciatore.

360 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-778-9733, pappareboston.com.

Phat Thaiger’s DIY temaki setup, including A5 wagyu nam tok, unagi foie gras, uni ikura, scallop tom kha, ika salted egg, and more. On the side, two of the restaurant’s nonalcoholic drinks: Momoiro Sparkle, with strawberry puree and soda water, and a matcha latte. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Phat Thaiger

A Thai and Japanese izakaya from the team behind last year’s upscale Thai debut Thaiger Den and its more casual big sibling Crying Thaiger, all in Malden, debuted in April. The owners describe the newest addition to the group as “an immersive journey through the bold, vibrant flavors of northeastern Thailand [Isan cuisine] and the refined elegance of Japanese cuisine.” Think: reimagined Thai dishes like pad thai and pad kee mow made with Japanese noodles—udon and yakisoba, respectively. Plus, Japanese dishes infused with Thai flavors, like yellowtail crudo with a Thai twist on ponzu sauce (lemongrass, makrut lime leaves, and Thai chili) and Hokkaido scallops baked into a Thai hor mok-inspired curry custard. And that’s not all: a blend of Japanese and Thai styles of hot pot (nabe and jeaw horn), yakitori-style skewers with Thai marinades and spices, and drinks like tom yum-infused sake and wasabi martinis. Did we mention the luxurious DIY Thai-flavored Japanese hand rolls? Read more >>

166 Eastern Ave., Malden, instagram.com/phat.thaiger.izankaya.

Rockport Brewing Company. / Photo by Gene Buonaccorsi

Rockport Brewing Company

Something feels extra refreshing about drinking a beer in a town with a dry history of nearly 150 years. Founded out of a shed five years ago, Rockport Brewing Company opened its first taproom in April—in Rockport, naturally, although there’s also a Gloucester location in the works. The relaxing space doesn’t stay open too late; this is a place to gather with community, not get rowdy. Occasional live music and a pizza-focused menu add some extra pizazz. Read more >>

17 Railroad Ave., Rockport, rockportbrewingcompany.com.

Vietnamese pink nem rice paper rolls from Saucy Saigon. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Saucy Saigon

This Vietnamese café with coffee, bubble tea, and night market-inspired snacks, located in Malden’s former Monkey King Tea space, opened in February. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates about, for instance, weekend specials like crispy egg rolls and “knock knock” noodles.

249 Highland Ave., Malden, saucysaigon.com.

Soul & Spice

Soul food and West African fare together under one roof—exciting. Better yet, the soul food is a revival of Poppa B’s, a Dorchester favorite from the early aughts (and a Best of Boston winner for its chicken in 2008). Here, in the former Soleil space, Poppa B’s—now called Poppa B’s BBQ Soul—is serving crispy chicken wings, saucy barbecue chicken plates, racks of ribs, and other hearty dishes. But that’s not all: West African restaurant RedRed Kitchen is here, too, offering its own menu packed with turkey wings, jollof rice, Ghanaian meat pies, okra stew, and more.

2306 Washington St., Nubian Square, Roxbury, Boston, snsboston.com.

Sweet & Comfy

What was previously a franchise of cereal bar Day & Night has gone independent. The rebranded shop still serves ice cream cereal shakes and bowls, but owner Louis “Bizzy Genius” Elveus is working on some additions, including sweet and savory sandwiches and coffee.

6 Tremont St., Brighton, Boston, instagram.com/sweetandcomfy_.

Tall Order’s martini and steak tartare with fresh horseradish and smoked carrot remoulade. / Courtesy photo

Tall Order

This “approachable and unassuming” neighborhood Somerville restaurant and cocktail bar opened in March in the old Thirsty Scholar space, courtesy of veteran bartenders Daren Swisher and Joe Cammarata, who also own Daiquiris & Daisies at the High Street Place food hall downtown.They’re serving up modern cocktails, “prep-intensive things” their other spot doesn’t “have the time or space to do,” they say, although they hope patrons will feel just as comfortable ordering one of those as, say, a light beer or vodka soda. Also, the drink list includes a lot of low- and no-alcohol drinks. There are some New England craft beers and classic, old-world wines available, too. Chef Juan Pedrosa (an alum of the COJE restaurants, such as Yvonne’s) is helping get the kitchen up and running with modern American cuisine—bar snacks, small plates, and full entrees. “There’s been a bar in this room for decades and we want this new iteration to feel familiar and lived in, a space that serves its neighbors what they need,” say Swisher and Cammarata.Read more >>

70 Beacon St., Somerville, instagram.com/tallorderbar.

Temper Confections

This isn’t a restaurant, but chocolate lovers need to know that Elaine Hsieh, cofounder of the now-defunct but much-beloved EHChocolatier, is back in the chocolate biz with “playful, small-batch sweetness, made for the moment.” The self-described “free-spirited cousin” to EHChocolatier is an online store for ephemeral batches of candy, caramels, cookies, and other sweets—buyers watch for a biweekly newsletter with the current offerings and place an order for pickup in Cambridge. (Shipping might eventually be available.)

1309 Cambridge St. (Albertine Press), Cambridge (preorders only; limited schedule), temperconfections.com.

Willow & Ivy’s “smoking oysters,” roasted with spring leeks, shallots, garlic, spinach, Irish rashers, and Parmesan, plus a spicy cilantro margarita. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Willow & Ivy

In April, the last of three reinventions of the restaurants in Back Bay’s Lenox Hotel opened, bringing all culinary operations under the hotel’s own management. Late last year, Sólás Irish Pub became Sweeney’s on Boylston, while City Bar became Irving at the Lenox. Willow & Ivy is in the former City Table space, serving globally inspired dishes highlighting New England ingredients. That means: Maine lobster “pie” with sweet corn and parmesan potatoes; orange blossom honey-glazed duck breast with grilled stone fruit, ginger carrots, peanut, and Chinese five-spice crumble; and harissa-rubbed lamb chop and loin. A live tree is the dining room centerpiece. Open for breakfast through late-night daily. Read more >>

61 Exeter St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-933-4800, willowivyboston.com.

Expansions

At Bakey, loaves of vanilla babka are glazed with a vanilla syrup. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Bakey: It’s Bakey No. 4 with babka galore—a Kendall Square outpost joined Downtown Boston, Brookline, and Newton in February, showcasing Danish-Israeli baker Uri Scheft’s beloved babka (in several irresistible flavors), breads, and more. 238 Main St., Cambridge, bakeybabka.com.
• Boston Burger Company: Known for over-the-top burgers, this local mini-chain opened an offshoot, Smashed Up, inside the Brookline location of Union Square Donuts in March. Look for smash-style burgers, crispy sandwiches, and more—and, if you dare, a fried-chicken-and-doughnut sandwich collab between the two brands. 409 Harvard St., Brookline, bostonburgercompany.com.
• Deep Cuts / Pop’s Pinball Parlor: Medford Square music venue, restaurant, and brewery Deep Cuts had a handful of pinball machines when it opened in 2023, but now it has teamed up with Pop’s Pinball Parlor (which has a flagship location at Somerville’s Bow Market) and expanded into an adjacent space for a whole room of pinball—over a dozen games. 21 Main St., Medford, deepcuts.rocks, instagram.com/pops_pinball.

Flour’s Embrace morning bun. / Photo by Leah Willis

• Flour Bakery & Café: You know it, you love it, and now you can find it smack dab in the middle of Boston Common in that building that used to house Earl of Sandwich—hello, sticky buns. Be sure to try this chai cinnamon morning bun inspired by the Embrace monument, with proceeds benefiting the Embrace Boston organization and The Boston Foundation. Read more. Downtown Boston, flourbakery.com.
• Iru: Restaurateur Hajime Yamazaki—who runs several Korean restaurants in Japan, including a couple recognized as Michelin Bib Gourmand establishments—opened a new spot in Brookline in April. The specialty: samgyetang, ginseng chicken soup. 238 Washington St., Brookline, instagram.com/iru_boston.

Coconut shrimp, beef ribs, and various sides at Jamaica Mi Hungry. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Jamaica Mi Hungry: The Best of Boston Jamaican restaurant (and Caribbean restaurant, and food truck) expanded downtown in April, serving jerk chicken, curry goat, coconut shrimp, and more. 289 Devonshire St., Downtown Boston, jamaicamihungry.com.

Marky’s Caviar Boston. / Photo by Adriana Dirany

• Marky’s Caviar: In April, the retail and restaurant chain expanded to Brookline with a retail shop as well as a caviar- and Champagne-filled café. Read more. 420 Harvard St., Brookline, markyscaviar.com.

General Lee’s chicken at Nowon, with the Evil Eye cocktail (hibiscus mezcal, Cocchi Rosa, passionfruit, and wasabi). / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Nowon: This New York City-based Korean-American pocha (gastropub) arrived in April, with a “legendary” cheeseburger, fried chicken buns, cast-iron kimchi rice, and more; try a tasting menu if you can’t decide. Read more. 117 Seaport Blvd., Seaport District, Boston, nowonusa.com.
• The Pearl: Shellfish towers and sangria pitchers—this Dorchester seafood spot has expanded to Brighton’s Boston Landing. 67 Guest St., Brighton, Boston, 617-208-8461, thepearlsouthbay.com.

Shy Bird’s fried chicken and egg sammy, pictured without the pepperjack. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Shy Bird: This all-day rotisserie in Kendall Square and South Boston opened its largest location yet in late February in the Fenway. A couple highlights: a cocktail list curated by Jackson Cannon (of Eastern Standard, etc., fame) and a remote-working deal. 201 Brookline Ave., Fenway, Boston, shybird.com.
• Singh’s Roti Shop: The Dorchester favorite for Trinidadian roti (and some killer house-made hot sauce) has expanded to Revere Beach. Eat doubles; stroll along the sand. 76 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere, 781-629-3049, singhsrotishop.net.
• Thai Place: Not an expansion, but a reopening—this excellent Thai restaurant in Allston was closed since a 2022 fire. It’s finally open again, complete with cheery renovations, and we’ve been looking forward to the kau-moo yarng (grilled, marinated pork with spicy lime sauce) for the past few years. 184 Brighton Ave., Allston, Boston, thaiplaceboston.com.
• Turkish Lazuri Cafe and more: At the end of 2024, this Turkish restaurant in Allston moved down a few doors—and since then, it has launched three siblings on the same block. Lazuri Chicken ‘n’ Pizza debuted in February, followed by Lazuri Taqueria and Lazuri Bakery in March, each serving halal cuisine. 1-3 North Beacon St., Allston, Boston, 774-678-7940, lazuricafe.com.

Viet Citron’s bánh hỏi with crispy pork belly and an egg roll. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

• Việt Citron: A casual favorite for Vietnamese in Burlington arrived in Somerville in March, opening a 10-seat spot in the former Tanám space at Bow Market; be sure to try the crispy pork belly. Read more. 1 Bow Market Way, Bow Market Union Square, Somerville, vietcitron.com.