[Ed note: This article was updated on January 2, 2020 to reflect new information, including a location given for the restaurant.]
It looks like one of the region's best-known mixologists is going to be opening a brand new spot.
The Tables section of The Boston Globe is reporting that Ran Duan of Sichuan Garden/Baldwin Bar in Woburn and Sichuan Garden/Blossom Bar in Brookline is planning to open Ivory Pearl, a seafood and cocktail place at an as-of-yet undisclosed location. Very little information has been given on the upcoming spot, with Duan simply telling the Globe that "The cocktail program will be nothing like our current programs--no tiki or tropical influence. All I can say is it's a style of cocktail that doesn't exist in Boston." It appears that construction on the new restaurant and bar will commence in the spring of 2020, and Duan promises to tell where it will be located soon.
Both the Baldwin Bar and the Blossom Bar are known for their award-winning cocktails, with Sichuan Garden/Baldwin Bar in Woburn featuring tiki drinks while Sichuan Garden/Blossom Bar focuses more on tropical drinks with Latin American-influences. (Both spots also offer a mix of Chinese and Chinese-American food.)
[January 2, 2020 update: A Patch article indicates that Ivory Pearl plans to open in the space currently occupied by Grassona's Italian on Beacon Street in the Washington Square section of Brookline. The post mentions that construction on the space is expected to start no later than the spring, though it is not known exactly when Grassona's might close. (Thanks to a source for initially bringing this to our attention.)]
[January 6, 2020 update: Boston Magazine states that the last full day of operation for Grassona's is January 13, though it may stay open a little while longer for snacks and drinks only.]
[January 14, 2020 update: A note on its website indicates that Grassona's has indeed closed, though they will be having a cocktail party on Tuesday, January 21 to say a final farewell to their customers.]
[February 20, 2020 update: A new article from Boston Magazine says that Ivory Pearl hopes to open late in the spring or early in the summer, and that it will offer a mix of raw and grilled seafood items along with a "house burger" and vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.]
by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)
[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
