Sunday, November 23, 2014

La Motta's Italian Specialties Is Opening in Former Union Bar and Grille Space in Boston's South End

[Ed Note: This article was updated on July 7, 2015 to reflect a name given to the new restaurant, along with more information on the place.]

A well-known restaurant and bar in the South End of Boston is closing its doors, though the restaurant group that operates it will be opening a new spot within its space.

According to a post from BosGuy, Union Bar & Grille on Washington Street shuts down as of January 1, 2015, with the Aquitaine Group looking to replace it with a new dining spot that has a different name. The article says that the restaurant group is planning to open the as-of-yet unnamed place in April, though the person we talked to at Union Bar & Grille today indicated that it could be May rather than April.

Union Bar & Grille, which opened 11 years ago, has been known as a casual upscale dining and drinking spot that mainly features New American fare. Other places that are run by the Aquitaine Group include Cinquecento, Aquitaine, Metropolis Cafe, and Gaslight--all of which are in Boston's South End--as well as Aquitaine at The Street in Chestnut Hill and Aquitaine at Legacy Place in Dedham.

The address for Union Bar & Grille (and the new La Motta's) is 1357 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

[July 7, 2015 update: Eater Boston mentions that the dining spot moving into the former Union Bar & Grille space will be called La Motta's Italian Specialties, and that it will be a casual Italian-American "Bronx-style" restaurant with a 12-seat bar and outdoor dining. (Expect a late summer opening.)]

[October 26, 2015 update: La Motta's has been in the middle of a soft opening over the past few days, with BosGuy stating that it plans to officially open tomorrow, though we are hearing that this is based on the outcome of a final inspection that may be taking place today.]

[October 27, 2015 update: Eater Boston confirms that La Motta's Italian Specialties opens its doors to the public today.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]