According to an article in The Boston Globe, city health officials have ordered Shepard to stop cooking with wood and charcoal, with the ruling taking effect immediately. The decision was made following neighbors complaining about smoke coming from its wood-fired oven, and while the city understands that owners Rene Becker and Susan Regis have tried to ease the smoke problem by taking such steps as installing a vent scrubber system, using wood that causes less smoke, and substituting charcoal for wood more frequently, the smoke issue is still serious enough in the eyes of health officials to rule against the restaurant.
Earlier, Becker had said that if the city decides to keep Shepard from using a wood-fired oven, they would likely close the place down; Becker declined to comment on today's decision, telling the Globe that he had not yet read it.
The address for Shepard is 1 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website is at http://www.shepardcooks.com/home
[June 20 update: According to a source, Shepard plans to remain in operation following the ruling against the place, with Eater Boston confirming this, saying that the place will now start cooking with gas.]
[June 22 update: CBS Boston mentions that the owners of Shepard are now thinking about whether to appeal the city's decision; once a decision has been made, we will post another update here.]
[Earlier Articles]
Peter McKenzie Leaves Shepard in Cambridge; Smoke Issue Could Decide Fate of Restaurant
Clash Over Shepard's Wood-Fired Oven Worries Dining Spot, Other Cambridge Restaurants
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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Comfort Food Items from Boston-Area Restaurants]
