Roadhouse Restaurant in Brookline Closes, to be Replaced by American Craft

A Southern-style in Brookline has closed its doors, with the owner of the restaurant opening a new dining spot in its place, possibly as early as later this month. According to the Brookline TAB and Wicked Local, the Roadhouse Restaurant on Beacon Street near Washington Square shut down this past weekend after being in business for a little more than a year and a half. The restaurant, which is also run by the same person behind the nearby Publick House, will be turned into a new spot called American Craft, which looks like it will feature inventive American cuisine. The article mentions that American Craft may be open by next Monday (February 22). [February 23 update: A message sent to us by the restaurant states that American Craft will open tomorrow--Wednesday, February 24--at 5:00 PM.]

According to the Brookline TAB and Wicked Local, the Roadhouse Restaurant has offered diners traditional barbecue dishes since first opening in the fall of 2008, but took a major hit about a half year later when the dining spot decided to stop using its smokers after neighbors complained about the smells coming from it. The shutting down of the smoker forced the Roadhouse Restaurant to revamp its menu, moving away from traditional BBQ and moving toward Creole and Mexican cuisine.

A menu on the beeradvocate.com site indicates that the menu at American Craft will include a mix of upscale American and comfort food dishes such as fried cornmeal crusted oysters, pulled duck hash, chicken wings, tomato soup, burgers, an open-faced turkey sandwich, oven-roasted trout, cheese rigatoni, and braised short ribs. American Craft will also offer a number of artisan beers.

The address for the soon-to-open American Craft will be: American Craft, 1700 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

For more information on the closing of the Roadhouse Restaurant and the opening of American Craft, please go to the Brookline TAB/Wicked Local and beeradvocate.com links below.

[Brookline TAB/Wicked Local]
Owner: Brookline's Roadhouse 'had to go'

[beeradvocate.com]
American Craft - Artisanal Food & Drink - to Open in Brookline, MA