An email sent today indicates that "After nine wonderful years in Central Square, chef/owner Steve Johnson is moving on from Rendezvous and has agreed to sell the restaurant to the team of Greg Reeves and Mark Young." This announcement was made today via a joint statement from Steve and the buyers. Steve added that "Rendezvous will continue to be open for business as usual until late June when the two parties expect the transaction to be finalized. Steve and the Rendezvous staff would love to have an opportunity to say 'Thank you' to the restaurant's friends over the next few months." Following the sale, Steve plans to spend more time in Westport, MA, his second home for many years, and is pursuing a new restaurant project in Tiverton, RI.
The new owners, Greg Reeves, (formerly of Upstairs on the Square, B&G Oyster/Butcher Shop and Green Street), and Mark Young of Green Street and Spoke Wine Bar are "excited about the opportunity of taking over a great restaurant in the lively Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge. We respect the business that Steve and his team have built, and are enthused about the challenge of filling some very big shoes." Reeves and Young are planning on using the existing wood-fired grill for a Mediterranean themed menu focused on local ingredients and housemade pastas. Beverages will focus on Old & New World wines, artisanal beer, and an in-depth cocktail program. The restaurant will close temporarily for minor renovations after the sale is finalized, and reopen late summer/early fall.
[April 22 update: The Boston Globe mentions that the new restaurant replacing Rendezvous will be called Viale.]
[May 6 update: A bit more info on Viale, which will replace Rendezvous--according to a License Commission General Hearing page within the City of Cambridge website, the upcoming restaurant is expected to have a capacity of 84, with proposed hours being 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM Monday through Saturday and 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Sundays.]
[June 19 update: A post by Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions (see below) during a food chat today indicates that the last day for Rendezvous will be June 25.]
[October 14 update: According to notes from both Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions and Greg Reeves, Viale will be opening tomorrow (Wednesday, October 15).]
Greg Reeves can be found on Twitter at @wordreeves.
The address for Rendezvous (and the upcoming Viale) is 502 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at http://www.rendezvouscentralsquare.com/
Thanks to @PatrickMBoston of Maguire Promotions for bringing this to our attention.
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