Boston Restaurant Talk: Kenmore Square restaurants

Showing posts with label Kenmore Square restaurants. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Buitoni Spaghetti Bar to Open in Boston's Kenmore Square

A brand new Italian restaurant with an old name is going to be coming to Boston.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Buitoni Spaghetti Bar is planning to open in Kenmore Square, moving into the space on Commonwealth Avenue where Blue Ribbon Brasserie had been, and before that, Eastern Standard (which now resides within a nearby space at the Fenway Center development). The article states that Tuscan Brands (Tuscan Kitchen, Sorella) is behind the upcoming dining spot, which gets its name from a pasta restaurant in Manhattan's Times Square in the 1940s and 1950s, and that the new restaurant will get its inspiration from that long-gone place, being a retro spot that Max Faro (who is senior project manager of hospitality and development for Tuscan Brands) says will have a "time-gone-by Italian immigrant vibe....It's going to have one-pound meatballs, fresh spaghetti being made right in front of you all night long." If all goes as planned, Buitoni Spaghetti Bar will open in 2027.

The address for the upcoming Buitoni Spaghetti Bar in Kenmore Square is 528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

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

[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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Sunday, August 31, 2025

Blue Ribbon Brasserie in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed

Another dining spot from a NYC-based restaurant group has shut down.

According to a source, Blue Ribbon Brasserie in the Kenmore Square section of Boston is no longer in operation, with a sign out front saying "Blue Ribbon Brasserie is closed. We would like to thank all of our guests and staff that helped create memorable experiences here." This is the second place from Blue Ribbon Restaurants to close in Kenmore, as Pescador shut down last year and its space is now home to a location of Row 34; another spot from the restaurant group called Blue Ribbon Sushi remains open in Kenmore.

Blue Ribbon Brasserie first opened inside the Hotel Commonwealth in the latter part of 2023, taking over the space that had previously been home to Eastern Standard (that restaurant now resides in a nearby space at the Fenway Center development which sits above the Mass. Pike just outside of Kenmore Square).

Another location of Blue Ribbon Brasserie remains open in Manhattan near where West Village and SoHo meet.

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

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

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.)

Thursday, August 07, 2025

Row 34 Opens in the Kenmore Square Section of Boston

Last fall, it was reported that a local group of restaurants known for their seafood would be opening a second location within the city of Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to the website for the business, Row 34 is now open in Kenmore Square, and as mentioned in an earlier article here, it has moved into the former Island Creek Oyster Bar/Pescador space next to the Hotel Commonwealth. The new location joins another in Fort Point along with other outlets in Cambridge's Kendall Square, Burlington, and Portsmouth, NH.

The address for the new location of Row 34 in Kenmore Square is 498 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations is at https://www.row34.com/

[Earlier Article]
Row 34 Plans to Open in the Former Island Creek Oyster Bar/Pescador Space in Boston's Kenmore Square

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

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

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.)

Friday, July 11, 2025

Namastay Boston to Open in Kenmore Square

A brand new Indian restaurant is on its way to the Boston's Fenway area.

According to a source, Namastay Boston is planning to open in Kenmore Square, moving into a space next to Cornwall's on Beacon Street. The website for the upcoming eatery mentions that it will feature "bold, elegant Indian cuisine" including everything from "rich curries to vibrant street snacks" from various regions of India. No opening date has been given as of yet, with a sign out front simply saying "coming soon."

The address for Namastay Boston is 636 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://namastayboston.com/

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

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

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.)

Friday, March 07, 2025

TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed

The Boston location of a small group of Japanese noodle spots has shut down.

According to a source, TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie in Kenmore Square is no longer in business, with the Instagram page for the place confirming this, saying that "Unfortunately Tsurutontan [had] its last day on Sunday March 3 2025, we thank everyone that has showed love and support through the course of our journey." Tsurutontan, which was located within the Hotel Commonwealth, offered udon noodle dishes along with such options as sushi, tempura, rice bowls, and curry dishes; other locations can be found in New York City (two) and Hawaii.

The address for the now-closed Kenmore Square location of Tsurutontan Udon Noodle Brasserie was 512 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations is at http://www.tsurutontan.com/

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

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

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.)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Row 34 Plans to Open in the Former Island Creek Oyster Bar/Pescador Space in Boston's Kenmore Square

A local group of restaurants known for their seafood will be opening their fifth location--and their second within the city of Boston.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, Row 34 is planning to open in Kenmore Square, moving into a space next to the Hotel Commonwealth (Time Out confirms that it will be in the former Island Creek Oyster Bar/Pescador space) and being what co-owners Jeremy Sewall and Shore Gregory say will be the "next generation" of the dining spot. The post mentions that the 170-seat restaurant will offer such favorites as fish and chips and lobster rolls along with some new dishes, and it will have dinner service nightly along with weekend lunch service.

The new location of Row 34, which is hoping to open next summer, will join others in Boston's Fort Point, Cambridge's Kendall Square, Burlington, and Portsmouth, NH. (The website for all locations is at https://www.row34.com/)

[July 31, 2025 update: According to Patrick Maguire who posted within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a Boston Globe article), Row 34 is slated to open in Kenmore Square on August 7.]

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

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

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.)

Friday, March 08, 2024

Pescador in Boston's Kenmore Square Is Closing

One of a trio of Boston dining spots from a restaurant group based in New York City is shutting down.

According to a source, Pescador in Kenmore Square is closing its doors, with an article from Boston Magazine saying that the place--which resides in the Hotel Commonwealth--plans to shutter on March 11. Blue Ribbon Restaurants also runs Blue Ribbon Sushi and Blue Ribbon Brasserie, both of which are in the hotel, and those two spots will remain in operation, though it isn't yet known what might take over the Pescador space, if anything.

Pescador, which focused on seafood with global influences, first opened in the fall of 2022, taking over the space where a location of Island Creek Oyster Bar had been.

The address for Pescador is 498 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

[March 14 update: A note on its website confirms that Pescador is now closed.]

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

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.)

Tuesday, December 05, 2023

Blue Ribbon Brasserie Opens in Boston's Kenmore Square

A new dining spot from a NYC-based restaurant group has debuted in Boston.

According to its website, Blue Ribbon Brasserie opens today in Kenmore Square, moving into the space on Commonwealth Avenue within the Hotel Commonwealth that had been home to Eastern Standard (that restaurant is now in a new space in the nearby Bower development on Beacon Street). As indicated here earlier, Blue Ribbon Brasserie is a dining and drinking spot that includes an oyster bar, and it offers such options as wings, burgers, fondue, steak frites, shellfish platters, paella, sweetbreads, lamb chops, steamed lobster, and more.

In addition to Blue Ribbon Brasserie, the Hotel Commonwealth also includes Pescador, a seafood spot in the old Island Creek Oyster Bar space, and Blue Ribbon Sushi which is in the former Hawthorne space, and all three are part of Blue Ribbon Restaurants, a restaurant group that was established in the early 1990s.

The website for Blue Ribbon Brasserie in Boston is at https://www.blueribbonbrasserieboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
Blue Ribbon Brasserie to Open in Boston's Kenmore Square

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

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.)

Monday, May 08, 2023

Blue Ribbon Brasserie to Open in the Old Eastern Standard Space in Boston's Kenmore Square

A couple of years ago, it was reported that a NYC-based restaurant group would open three dining spots in Kenmore Square including a brasserie whose name was not given at the time, and now we know more about the upcoming third restaurant which will join the two others.

According to a post within the jobs section of the bostonchefs.com site, Blue Ribbon Brasserie is opening in the old Eastern Standard space within the Hotel Commonwealth (Eastern Standard has since moved to a new space nearby), with the post saying that it will be "part saloon, part oyster bar, part American eatery, and part international culinary tour" while also being "founded on the vision born 30 years ago at the original 49 seat Blue Ribbon." That location of the brasserie first opened in SoHo back in 1992, offering such options as hanger steak, roasted rack of lamb, burgers, shellfish platters, and more.

Once Blue Ribbon Brasserie opens in Kenmore, it will join Pescador, a seafood spot in the former Island Creek Oyster Bar space, and Blue Ribbon Sushi in the former Hawthorne space.

The address for the upcoming Blue Ribbon Brasserie is 528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the original location in SoHo is at https://www.blueribbonbrasserie.com/

[November 27 update: It looks like Blue Ribbon Brasserie is opening next week, as OpenTable shows that tables can be reserved starting on Tuesday, December 5.]

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]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Pescador Is Opening in Boston's Kenmore Square

A restaurant group that is based in New York City is getting ready to open its second dining spot in Boston.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Pescador is planning to open in Kenmore Square, and based on earlier articles here, it appears that it would take over the former Island Creek Oyster Bar space within the Hotel Commonwealth. The job post mentions that the upcoming restaurant will be a "'Coastal Grill' featuring fresh seafood caught in local, New England waters, and pulling inspiration from a variety of international coastal cuisines, from Andalusia to Argentina" while its space will include seating for 195 in its dining room as well as a ceviche bar and a cocktail bar. If all goes as planned, Pescador will open early this fall.

Blue Ribbon Restaurants opened Blue Ribbon Sushi in the former Hawthorne space within the hotel earlier this summer, and a brasserie from that restaurant group also appears to be in the works for the former Eastern Standard space there.

The website for Blue Ribbon Restaurants can be found at https://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/

[November 11 update: The Boston Globe mentions that Pescador is now open. (Thanks to Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting for also bringing this to our attention via a photo sent to us.)]

[Earlier Article]
Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group to Open Three Restaurants in Former Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Hawthorne Spaces in Boston's Kenmore Square

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]

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Blue Ribbon Sushi Opens in Boston's Kenmore Square

A group of sushi restaurants whose parent company is based in New York expands to Boston this week.

Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting tells us (via a Boston Globe article) that Blue Ribbon Sushi opens on Thursday, June 23, taking over the former Hawthorne space within the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square. As stated in an earlier article here, Blue Ribbon Restaurants is behind the new spot, and the restaurant group will also be opening two other places in the former Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar spaces within the hotel--and while it had been mentioned at the time that a brasserie would open in the former space and a seafood restaurant in the latter space, no further details have been given as of yet.

Early last year, it was announced that Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, and The Hawthorne would be saying farewell to their respective spaces in Kenmore Square.

The address for the new Blue Ribbon Sushi is 500a Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, while its website can be found at https://www.blueribbonsushikenmore.com/

[Earlier Article]
Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group to Open Three Restaurants in Former Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Hawthorne Spaces in Boston's Kenmore Square

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]

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Cornwall's Tavern in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Reopened

A British-style pub that temporarily closed last fall is open once again.

According to a tweet from @conorcaldwell along with a message from @BostonAttitude, Cornwall's Tavern in the Kenmore Square section of Boston has reopened, with both saying that the spot opened back up on Monday. The pub shuttered on November 19, saying at the time that "As the building and community undergo a phase of redevelopment, we are doing what we see necessary to ensure the future success of Kenmore Square. We are hopeful that this sacrifice will allow us to serve our community of staples such as BU and the Red Sox as well as our new neighbors."

Cornwall's Tavern first opened back in 1973, moving a couple of times, from Commonwealth Avenue to Beacon Street and then to its current home also on Beacon Street.

The address for Cornwall's is 644 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at http://www.cornwalls.com/

[Earlier Article]
Cornwall's Tavern in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Temporarily Closed

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]

Friday, June 03, 2022

Bab Al Yemen Opens in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A new dining spot that features a cuisine that is not easy to find in the Boston area has come to a neighborhood within the city.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Bab Al Yemen is now open in the Fenway, with the Commonwealth Avenue eatery offering Yemeni fare. The menu for the place includes such items as slow-roasted and spiced lamb, vegetable stew, a baked fish that is offered as a special on weekdays, shakshooka, and more.

The address for Bab Al Yemen is 468 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/babalyemenboston/

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]

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Garrett Harker to Open Four New Restaurants/Bars Near Kenmore Square in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

Early last year, it was reported that three popular dining and drinking spots from one of Boston's best-known restaurateurs were shutting down. Now we have learned that he will be opening several new restaurants/bars in a new development nearby.

According to a press release, Garrett Harker is planning to develop four "food and beverage concepts" at Bower, a luxury destination on Beacon Street between Kenmore Square and Audubon Circle, with Harker saying "From B&G Oysters to Eastern Standard to Row 34, I've loved harnessing the transformative power of hospitality to activate neighborhoods....While there have been dark clouds in our industry the past two years, I'm as excited as ever to roll up my sleeves and dig in. I'm grateful to the team at Bower for giving me the opportunity to once again be a part of creating an entirely new neighborhood just a short five-minute walk from my home of 15 years."

In February of 2021, we reported that Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar (which was a partnership between Harker and Island Creek Oysters in Duxbury), and The Hawthorne--which were all located within the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square--would not be reopening and that new dining/drinking spots under different ownership would be opening within the spaces.

Harker, who currently runs Branch Line in Watertown and Eastern Standard Provisions Co., will be announcing the exact concepts sometime this year, with the plan being for them to open in early 2023--and mixologist/Eastern Standard opening bar manager Jackson Cannon and Chef Nemo Bolin, (Cook & Brown Public House, No. 9 Park) will be involved.

Thanks to Adam Castiglioni (@ConciergeBoston) for initially bringing this to our attention.

[October 27 update: Eater Boston states that the first of four concepts has been announced, and it will be a cocktail bar called Equal Measure that plans to open sometime in 2023.]

[Earlier Articles]
Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Will Not Reopen; Transferring Their Licenses to UrbanMeritage
The Hawthorne in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed Permanently

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]

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.)

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Cornwall's Tavern in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Temporarily Closed

A British-style pub that has been around for nearly 50 years has closed for the time being.

An email sent to us indicates that Cornwall's Tavern in Boston's Kenmore Square is shuttered, with the email saying that it closed after business hours on November 19 and plans to open back up in late March of 2022. A note on its website gives a bit more information about the closing, saying that "As the building and community undergo a phase of redevelopment, we are doing what we see necessary to ensure the future success of Kenmore Square. We are hopeful that this sacrifice will allow us to serve our community of staples such as BU and the Red Sox as well as our new neighbors."

Cornwall's Tavern, which first opened in 1973, is a popular spot for college students, Red Sox fans, and locals alike, who come to the bar for its pool, darts, comfort food and British-style fare, and pints of beer.

The address for Cornwall's is 644 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at http://www.cornwalls.com/

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]

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.)

Friday, November 05, 2021

BBQ Chicken to Open New Locations in Kenmore Square, North Quincy

Earlier this year, it was reported that a Korean chicken chain was planning to open two new locations in Eastern Massachusetts. Now we have learned that two more outlets are on the way as well.

According to a source, BBQ Chicken is opening on Beacon Street in Boston's Kenmore Square area, while a check on the website for the chain indicates that a location is also coming to Billings Road in North Quincy. Once they open, they will join an existing location in Allston along with two outlets in the works in Lowell [Ed Note--now open] and Malden, and all will likely offer a variety of options for wings and boneless chicken along with whole chicken dishes.

The website for BBQ Chicken can be found at https://bbdotqchicken.com/

[February 14, 2022 update: Eater Boston mentions that BBQ Chicken in North Quincy is now open.]

[Earlier Articles]
BBQ Chicken Is Expanding to Lowell
BBQ Chicken Is Planning to Expand to Malden

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]

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.)

Monday, August 09, 2021

UBurger in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed

A local group of burger spots has closed its original location.

According to a source, UBurger in the Kenmore Square section of Boston is no longer in operation, with a Facebook post from the business confirming this, saying that the Beacon Street location is shuttered while referring customers to its Andover outlet. UBurger first opened in Kenmore Square in 2006, offering a variety of burgers along with hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, frappes, and more.

The address for the now-closed location of UBurger in Kenmore Square was 636 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the business can be found at https://uburger.com/

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]

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.)

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group to Open Three Restaurants in Former Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Hawthorne Spaces in Boston's Kenmore Square

A few months ago, it was reported that three of Boston's best-known dining and drinking spots that were all under one roof would not be reopening. Now we have learned that a New York-based restaurant group will be taking over the three spaces.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group plans to open a brasserie, seafood restaurant, and sushi spot in the former Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, and Hawthorne spaces, respectively. The three spaces, which are located within the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square, had been the site of a protracted lease dispute, as restaurateur Garrett Harker and his business partners had been at an impasse on negotiations with real estate group UrbanMeritage in 2020, and the pandemic further complicated the situation; in February of this year, it was announced that Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, and The Hawthorne would be saying farewell to their respective spaces.

Blue Ribbon Restaurant group, which is run by Eric and Bruce Bromberg, got its start in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood in 1992 with the opening of Blue Ribbon Brasserie. Currently, the restaurant group runs 20 restaurants in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

If all goes as planned, the sushi spot will open first (in the fall) while the seafood restaurant will open late next winter or early in the spring and the brasserie should open soon after the debut of the seafood place.

[May 23, 2022 update: Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting tells us that Blue Ribbon Sushi plans to open in a week or so, while the other two restaurants hope to open later this summer.]

[June 22, 2022 update: Patrick Maguire tells us (via a Boston Globe article) that Blue Ribbon Sushi opens tomorrow (Thursday, June 23).]

[Earlier Articles]
Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Will Not Reopen
The Hawthorne in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed Permanently

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]

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.)

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Update: The Kenmore in Boston's Kenmore Square Reopens After Being Closed for the Past Several Months

[Ed note: This article was updated on April 21, 2021 to reflect the fact that the place has reopened.]

Yet another Boston-area restaurant has decided to shut down for the foreseeable future as the colder weather approaches.

According to an Instagram post, The Kenmore on Commonwealth Avenue has gone into "hibernation" for the winter as of October 4, with a source telling us that the plan may be that the place could be a "little different" by springtime. We have also been given updates on restaurants and bars that are affiliated with The Kenmore, with the nearby Corner Tavern in the Back Bay in the midst of reopening this week while White Horse Tavern, Avenue Bar and Grille, and the Hopewell in Allston and Harry's Bar and Grill in Brighton are all open. (The Westland near Symphony Hall and The Last Drop in Brighton remain closed for now.)

The Kenmore, which replaced The Lower Depths last fall, joins at least two other restaurants that have gone into hibernation as the pandemic continues, with Grand Tour in the Back Bay and Commonwealth in Cambridge's Kendall Square also shutting down for now.

The address for The Kenmore is 476 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://www.thekenmorebar.com/

[April 21, 2021 update: A tweet from the place indicates that The Kenmore opens back up at 4:00 PM today.]

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]

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.)

Thursday, February 18, 2021

The Hawthorne in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed Permanently

A day after learning that two of Boston's best-known restaurants will not be reopening, it has now been reported that a beloved cocktail bar with a connection to both places has shut down permanently as well.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, The Hawthorne within the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square has closed for good, joining Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar which have also shuttered. The post does say what we mentioned yesterday, that the Burlington location of ICOB will remain in operation.

As mentioned yesterday, Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar are both planning to transfer their liquor licenses to UrbanMeritage, while a post from @HeyRatty showed a virtual meeting taking place in which Garrett Harker is listed as being the "former" owner of Eastern Standard; the notice states that he is also the "former" owner of The Hawthorne, but we could not confirm at the time that the bar was indeed closed for good.

The address for The Hawthorne was 500 A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Article]
Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Plan to Transfer Their Licenses to UrbanMeritage

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]

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.)