Monday, August 25, 2014

River Bar and Kitchen Is Opening at Somerville's Assembly Row

A new restaurant and bar is coming to an open-air complex in Somerville, and one of the founders of a now-gone food truck is involved with the place.

Eater Boston is reporting that Patrick Gilmartin is one of the people behind River Bar & Kitchen, which will open at Assembly Row, a mixed-use development just off Route 93 near the Charlestown line. Gilmartin, who started up the Staff Meal food truck along with Adam Gendreau, will be offering "elevated street food" using seasonal ingredients at the upcoming spot, which will have both a bar and a "culinary bar" as well as a large outdoor patio complete with fire pits. Ken Kelly, who runs such places as Brass Union, Foundry on Elm, The Independent, and Saloon, is the restaurateur behind the upcoming River Bar & Kitchen.

Staff Meal debuted in the spring of 2011 and quickly became an industry favorite, offering an ever-changing menu of inventive meat-oriented dishes. The truck was taken off the streets at the end of the 2012 season and went up for sale in early 2013.

Expect an October opening for River Bar & Kitchen, according to EB.

[September 26 update: The Improper Bostonian mentions that River Bar is still on track to open next month, and that it will offer such items as shrimp chips with black garlic aioli, chorizo Scotch quail eggs, and absinthe frappes. (Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this update to our attention.)]

[November 11 update: Eater Boston states that River Bar is opening its doors tomorrow (November 12).]

The address for this new restaurant and bar in Somerville is: River Bar & Kitchen, 661 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website will be at http://www.river-bar.com

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