Barbara Lynch to Close Her Two Remaining Restaurants -- No. 9 Park in Boston's Beacon Hill and B&G Oysters in the South End

Earlier today, it was reported that one of the best-known chefs/restaurateurs had closed another one of her dining spots, and now we have learned that her final two restaurants are shutting down as well.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, No. 9 Park in Boston's Beacon Hill and B&G Oysters in the South End are both closing their doors, with an Eater Boston article saying that the former will shutter at the end of the year while the latter does not yet have a specific closing date. The Eater article includes the following statement from Lynch:

I am very proud of what I have achieved over three decades, creating these much-loved entities where so many of you chose to celebrate your special occasions. The harsh realities of the global pandemic and the many difficulties faced calls for significant investment, which neither myself nor my fellow shareholders are positioned to do.

According to Eater, sales of both spaces are in the works, and in the case of No. 9 Park, renovations could begin in early January for whatever new restaurant comes into the space, assuming that all goes as planned with the sale.

As mentioned earlier, The Rudder in Gloucester announced that it has shut down, while The Butcher Shop, Stir, Drink, Menton, and Sportello all closed over the past year or so.

[Earlier Article]
The Rudder in Gloucester Has Closed

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Barbara Lynch Is Closing Drink, Menton, and Sportello in Fort Point "Immediately"

Three well-known dining and drinking spots near the Boston waterfront have abruptly closed.

An article in the Boston Business Journal states that Drink, Menton, and Sportello are shutting down "immediately," with owner Barbara Lynch's organization citing an "uncooperative landlord" as a reason. The article mentions that Lynch's other restaurants, including No. 9 Park in Beacon Hill, B&G Oysters in the South End, and Rudder in Gloucester will remain open, while two other spots from Lynch--The Butcher Shop and Stir--are being sold.

Drink (a cocktail lounge), Menton (a high-end French restaurant), and Sportello (an Italian dining spot) are all located on Congress Street.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

 

Barbara Lynch to Reopen The Rudder in Gloucester This Spring

Last March, it was reported that one of the region's best known chefs and restaurateurs was taking over a popular waterside restaurant on the North Shore, and now we have learned that it will soon be reborn.

According to a post within the jobs section of the bostonchefs.com site, The Rudder in Gloucester plans to reopen this spring, with the website for the spot confirming that Barbara Lynch (B&G Oysters, The Butcher Shop, Drink, Menton, No. 9 Park, Sportello) is behind it and that it is transitioning "from a blank canvas to a thoughtful masterpiece that combines Barbara's love of food and her passion for the arts." The Rudder was established in 1957, being known for its seafood dishes and views of the water from its location in the city's Rocky Neck neighborhood, which is also home to a number of art studios/galleries.

The address for The Rudder is 73 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930. Its website can be found at https://www.therudderrockyneck.com/

[Earlier Article]
Barbara Lynch Is Taking Over The Rudder Restaurant in Gloucester

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Barbara Lynch Is Taking Over The Rudder Restaurant in Gloucester

It looks like one of Boston's best-known chefs/restaurateurs will be opening a dining spot on the North Shore.

According to @diana_rdrgs, Barbara Lynch (B&G Oysters, The Butcher Shop, Drink, Menton, No. 9 Park, Sportello) is taking over The Rudder Restaurant on Rocky Neck in Gloucester, with a North Shore Magazine article linking to an Instagram post from Lynch that shows trash piled out front at the Rocky Neck Avenue space and Lynch saying "Stay tuned THE RUDDER." The article says that the media team for Lynch is not giving details at this point in time, including what the concept might be and whether the name will be kept, so stay tuned for details.

The Rudder has been known for its seafood dishes and its harborside deck over the years, and is a popular stop for art lovers who browse the studios and galleries found on Rocky Neck.

The address for The Rudder Restaurant is 73 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Gold Bar to Open within Menton in Boston's Fort Point

One of Boston's top rated--and most expensive--restaurants will soon be home to a new bar as well, and based on its name, it should be equally high-end.

Eater Boston is reporting that Barbara Lynch's Menton on Congress Street in the city's Fort Point neighborhood is currently closed for renovations, and when it reopens on July 13, it will include The Gold Bar, with Lynch, chef de cuisine Scott Jones, executive wine director Cat Silirie, and John Gertsen (who used to work at Drink--another Barbara Lynch spot) being behind it. A Facebook post from Menton says that The Gold Bar will be a "glam cocktail" spot with rare Italian marble used for the bar top, and that it is "the last remaining slab displaying...gold veining."

Menton first opened its doors in April of 2010; it is one of several spots run by Barbara Lynch Gruppo, including Drink, Sportello, The Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, and No. 9 Park.

The address for Menton (and the upcoming Gold Bar) is 354 Congress Street, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for Menton can be found at: http://www.mentonboston.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Sportello in Boston's Fort Point to Do Away with Bakery Area, Focus More on Italian Food and Wine

An eatery from one of Boston's best-known restaurateurs is going to be undergoing some changes.

Eater Boston is reporting that Sportello in the city's Fort Point neighborhood will be closing for renovations for a day and a half during the week of Thanksgiving (dates to come) and when it reopens, the bakery/to-go section will be gone (takeout sandwiches, baked goods, coffee, etc.), replaced with what appears to be more tables for lunch and dinner service with the focus being more on their Italian dishes and wine list. Barbara Lynch first opened Sportello five years ago, and these changes are part of a five-year anniversary celebration, according to the restaurant's website. (Lynch is also behind such places as Menton, Drink, The Butcher Shop, No. 9 Park, and B&G Oysters.)

[November 26 update: A new post from Eater Boston states (via a Facebook post from the restaurant) that Sportello is now closed for renovations and will remain so through Thanksgiving. As a reminder, this also means that the bakery area of Sportello is now officially gone.]

The address for Sportello is 348 Congress Street, Boston, MA, 02210. Its website can be found at http://sportelloboston.com/

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Barbara Lynch Inducted into James Beard's Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America

The 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards have been announced, and a well-known Boston-area chef and restaurateur has received recognition as one of the most accomplished food and beverage professionals in the United States.

The list of this year's winners shows that Barbara Lynch has been inducted into James Beard's "Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America," joining Eric Asimov, Dorothy Kalins, and Zarela Martinez of New York, Bill Yosses of Washington, DC, and Michael Mina of San Francisco as inductees this year. The Who's Who, which has been administered by JBF since 1990, includes a ballot of 20 candidates each year. (Cook's Magazine started the Who's Who in 1984, according to the JBF website.)

Barbara Lynch is known for such restaurants and bars as Menton, Drink, No. 9 Park, The Butcher Shop, and others in Boston, along with Stir (cooking classes) and 9 at Home (catering). Lynch is also the author of Stir: Mixing It Up in the Italian Tradition  Her website can be found at http://barbaralynch.com/

For a complete list of the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards, please go to the following PDF link:

http://www.jamesbeard.org/sites/default/files/static/pdf/2013-jbf-winners-site.pdf

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