Boston Restaurant Talk: outdoor dining

Showing posts with label outdoor dining. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Island Creek Raw Bar Is Opening in Boston's Seaport District

A familiar name is returning to Boston, and it will be offering seafood within a seasonal space.

According to a press release, Island Creek Raw Bar is going to be opening in the city's Seaport District this summer, moving into an outdoor space on Autumn Lane near the eastern edge of Fort Point and just south of Seaport Boulevard. Once it opens (tentatively in the early summer), the new spot will join The Winsor House and Raw Bar in Duxbury and The Shop in Portland, ME, while Island Creek itself is an oyster farm in Duxbury that sells shellfish both locally and across the country.

Locations of Island Creek Oyster Bar used to be found in Boston's Fenway neighborhood along with Burlington.

The address for Island Creek Raw Bar is 99 Autumn Lane, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for Island Creek is at https://shop.islandcreekoysters.com/ while the Instagram page for the raw bar is at https://www.instagram.com/rawbar_seaport/

[June 5 update: According to the Island Creek website, Island Creek Raw Bar is now open.]

(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, May 18, 2023

The Barking Crab in Boston Is Looking to Add a Floating Barge to the Restaurant

One of Boston's best-known restaurants could be adding more outdoor dining to its space (and in a rather unique way).

According to a source, The Barking Crab on Sleeper Street is seeking approval to add a floating barge, with a Banker & Tradesman article saying it would be connected to the existing docks at the site of the dining spot. The article mentions that the restaurant would need to get the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to approve the amending of its existing waterways license in order to have the 1,900-square-foot barge set up at the site.

The Barking Crab, which is located along Fort Point Channel, first opened in 1994

The address for The Barking Crab is 88 Sleeper Street, Boston MA, 02210. Its website is at https://barkingcrab.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]

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!

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Temporary Outdoor Dining Gets Approved by the State for 2022

[Ed note: This article was updated on April 2 to reflect the fact that the state has approved the extension of the temporary outdoor dining program.]

The expanded outdoor patio season for Boston restaurants is right around the corner, though one issue needs to be resolved.

According to a restaurant owner who we talked with this evening, the state has apparently not yet approved of variances needed to allow Boston restaurants to have temporary patios, as the program that has been in place for it in 2020 and 2021 is about to expire. Because of this, restaurants and bars within the city cannot have temporary patios set up in place until state legislation approves the extension that would allow for one more year of temporary outdoor dining. A media source confirms this, saying that the state is in the process of finalizing the extension and that final approvals from the city of Boston will be issued upon state approval. A page within the city's website gives a bit more information on this, saying the following:

On April 1, 2022, the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Order No. 50 will be lifted. This order relaxed restrictions in the outdoor dining process during the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. For the 2022 temporary, the City is seeking variances from the state to extend the temporary program for another year.

As reported earlier, April 1 is the opening day for expanded restaurant patios in Boston except for the North End, which will begin on May 1.

[April 2 update: A tweet from Governor Charlie Baker indicates that the state has given its approval for temporary outdoor dining to continue through 2022.]

[Earlier Article]
Expanded Outdoor Dining to Resume in Boston (Except The North End) Starting April 1

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, March 18, 2022

Lord Hobo Opens Brewery and Restaurant in Boston's Seaport District

About a year and a half ago, we reported that one of the biggest names in the local beer scene had completed its first phase of the opening of its new waterfront location. Now the next phase of opening is here.

According to a Facebook post from the business, Lord Hobo opened its brewery and restaurant yesterday, while also saying that starting in April, its patio will stretch along the building and have a capacity of 380. In September of 2020, the patio of the facility opened with a reduced capacity of just under 250, while also offering to-go beers and dining options from a food truck.

Lord Hobo Brewing Company has a brewery and taproom in Woburn as well, while the original Lord Hobo beer bar resides on Hampshire Street between Kendall Square and Inman Square in Cambridge.

The address for Lord Hobo in the Seaport District is 2 Drydock Avenue, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for the business is at https://lordhobo.com/

[Earlier Article]
Lord Hobo in the Seaport District Debuts First Stage of Opening

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 24, 2022

Expanded Outdoor Dining to Resume in Boston (Except The North End) Starting April 1

It looks like there will be another season of expanded outdoor dining in the city of Boston, though one neighborhood isn't included just yet.

According to an article in Universal Hub, the Mayor's office has given approval for restaurants to set up temporary outdoor dining areas on public sidewalks and in parking lanes starting April 1, with dining spots needing to re-apply for temporary outdoor permits for the 2022 season. The post mentions that North End restaurants have not been given the green light as of yet because of "the density of the restaurants in the neighborhood," though dining spots in the North End can still apply for expanded outdoor dining while waiting for a decision to be made.

Universal Hub also says that there are new rules in place this year, including temporary patios being required to close by 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 PM Friday and Saturday, along with new requirements concerning barrier safety, insurance requirements, and evacuation plans.

More information on the 2022 temporary outdoor dining program can be found here.

[March 18 update: The Boston Herald states that expanded outdoor dining will start in the North End May 1, though restaurants will have to pay $7,500 to opt in, with that money being used for such neighborhood services as street cleaning and sidewalk cleaning. In addition, the temporary patios will end in the neighborhood on September 30, though the end date will be September 5 for "bad actors" who have received warnings or had suspensions for breaking the rules, and closing time will be a half hour earlier than the rest of the city which will also be able to keep their expanded patios open through December. (The article also says that the section of Hanover Street between Cross Street and Richmond Street will become one way during the expanded patio season.)]

[March 29 update: Universal Hub posts that Mayor Wu has made changes to the fees for expanded outdoor dining in the North End, including allowing monthly payments of $1,500 instead of a lump sum of $7,500, and there will also be hardship reductions for smaller dining spots, restaurants that aren't on Hanover Street or Salem Street, and eateries that don't have liquor licenses. (UH also tweets that Wu "Reiterates North End is different than other neighborhoods: More patios, more densely populated, have to balance needs of restaurants and residents."]

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 26, 2021

The City of Boston Extends Temporary Outdoor Dining Program Until December 31 (Except for the North End)

A couple of months ago, it was reported that restaurants in all but one section of Boston would see their expanded outdoor dining areas come to an end at the beginning of December. Now we have learned that dining spots will have a bit more time to keep them up and running if they wish.

According to NBC Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu said on Wednesday that the temporary outdoor dining program would be extended from a previous end date of December 1 to a new end date of December 31, though the North End's end date of October 31 remains in place. A statement from Wu says that "Activating public spaces to expand outdoor dining helps bolster our local businesses during pandemic recovery and creates connected communities spaces for residents, visitors, and families....I'm excited to extend this program through our holiday season and look forward to supporting our small businesses as anchors for our neighborhoods. Expanding to winter outdoor dining will help our communities stay safe, healthy, and vibrant."

NBC says that the early end date for North End restaurant was due to such reasons as "heavy traffic, parking issues and construction projects."

[Earlier Article]
End Dates Announced for Temporary Outdoor Dining Spaces in Boston

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, September 15, 2021

End Dates Announced for Temporary Outdoor Dining Spaces in Boston

It looks like expanded outdoor dining areas in Boston will be allowed to continue a little while longer, but there is now an end in sight, at least for now.

A tweet from @OnlyInBOS shows the end dates for temporary outdoor spaces for restaurants in the city, which is shown on the 2021 Outdoor Dining Pilot Program section within the city's website. The dates shown are as follows:

-- For public property (excluding the North End), on-street spaces will end on December 1, while sidewalk spaces will shut down on April 1, 2022.

-- For private property (excluding the North End), spaces on private ways and lots will shut down on December 1, and spaces on sidewalks along private ways will also end on December 1.

-- For both public and private property in the North End, all temporary spaces will shut down on November 1.

It is not known if temporary outdoor dining could resume sometime in the future, as it would likely be based on a number of factors, including the exact state of the pandemic. (Expanded outdoor dining started up in late March and early April of this year after temporarily ending late last year.)

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.)

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Bar Fresco Opens at Legacy Place in Dedham

A brand new outdoor wine garden has come to the southwest suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, Bar Fresco is now open at Legacy Place in Dedham, with the IL Massimo team being behind the spot. The 100-seat wine garden features the entire wine list from IL Massimo (which is located at the site) while also serving beer and cocktails, and all food items from IL Massimo's menu are offered as well. Hours for Bar Fresco are 4:00 PM to closing seven days a week, with the space including umbrellas for shade along with string lights, hedges, and flowers.

IL Massimo first opened in the old Met Bar & Grill space in early 2019; its website can be found at www.massimori.com

[Photo credit: Haley Abram]

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, June 10, 2021

The Sunset Club Is Opening on Plum Island in Newbury

A local restaurant group is opening a new spot in a particularly scenic location on the North Shore.

According to a press release, Starlite Management Company (Trina's Starlite Lounge, Parlor Sports, Audubon, Paddle Inn) is planning to open the Sunset Club on Plum Island, with the group teaming up with the owners of The Cottage Island Market to take over the old Angie's Service auto repair shop at the corner of Old Point Road and Plum Island Turnpike. The upcoming restaurant and bar will sit across from a salt marsh to the west and will include indoor seating with sunset views, an outdoor fire pit with additional seating, shaded picnic tables outside, and games for both adults and children.

If all goes as planned, the Sunset Club opens sometime in the middle of the summer.

The address for the Sunset Club is 2-8 Old Point Road, Newbury, MA, 01951. Its website can be found at https://sunsetclubpi.com/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/sunsetclub_pi/

[August 20 update: Boston Magazine reports that the Sunset Club opens today for dinner service, with lunch service coming at a later date.]

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, June 03, 2021

Baramor in Newton Centre Is Debuting a Pop-Up Beer Garden; Will Include Distillery Cocktail Takeovers

A neighborhood restaurant and bar in the western suburbs is setting up a temporary beer garden which should also be of interest to lovers of spirits and mixed drinks as well.

According to a press release, Baramor in Newton Centre is launching an outdoor beer garden starting Thursday, June 3, with the rotating pop-up taking place on Thursdays from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM throughout the summer. The first pop-up on June 3 features Roslindale's Distraction Brewing while Exhibit A in Framingham will be onsite on June 10 and True North in Ipswich will be there on June 17. In addition, distillery cocktail takeovers will take place as well, though no names have been mentioned as of yet.

Baramor first opened in the spring of 2019, taking over the space that had been home to Terry O'Reilly's Pub.

The address for Baramor is 45 Union Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459. Its website can be found at https://www.baramornewton.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.)

Monday, May 03, 2021

Moody Street in Waltham Is Closed to Traffic for a Second Season; Outdoor Patios Being Set Up Once Again

A "restaurant row" in the western suburbs has been shut down to vehicular traffic for another season in order to help dining spots out as the pandemic continues.

According to an article from NBC 10, Moody Street in Waltham is now closed to traffic from the Pine Street/Crescent Street intersection up to High Street as of Saturday, May 1, and it will remain shut down until October 31. As was the case last year, the closure of the road will allow restaurants to have expanded outdoor dining out front, while patrons will need to wear face masks except when seated and dining spots will need to supply customers with hand sanitizer and paper menus.

Last year the same stretch of Moody Street was shut down to vehicles from June 8 to November 1.

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, March 01, 2021

Update: Outdoor Dining on Public Sidewalks and in Parking Lanes to Resume in Boston Starting March 22

[Ed note: This article was updated on March 12 to reflect the fact that the starting date has now moved up.]

It looks like expanded outdoor dining areas will soon be returning to Boston.

According to an article from Universal Hub, the Mayor's office gave the green light today for restaurants to set up temporary outdoor dining areas on public sidewalks and in parking lanes by April 1, with the starting date being a bit earlier depending on weather conditions. The program had ended on December 1 after being in place for a number of months, though there had been rumblings that it might return in the spring in order to continue to help dining spots get through the pandemic.

The post states that restaurants will need to re-apply for temporary outdoor permits for the 2021 season, while dining spots that did not take part in the program last year will also be allowed to apply.

[March 12 update: Universal Hub reports that the starting date for temporary outdoor dining areas in Boston has been moved up to March 22, based on a relatively placid long-term weather forecast for the region.]

[March 13 update: A Twitter post from the city's licensing board mentions that North End restaurants will need to wait a little longer to commence with temporary outdoor dining, saying that "Due to the high density, North End restaurants will begin on April 1st. Set up may begin March 29th."]

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 18, 2020

Temporary Outdoor Dining on Public Sidewalks and Parking Lanes in Boston Slated to End December 1

A couple of months ago, it was reported that expanded outdoor dining areas in Boston would be allowed to continue until at least through December 1 as the pandemic continued. Now we have learned that this does appear to be the end date, at least for temporary patios in public spaces.

According to two sources, including Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting, restaurants in the city that have set up temporary outdoor dining areas on public sidewalks and parking lanes will only be able to continue to do so until the end of business hours on December 1, as starting December 2, only outdoor areas on private property will be allowed to remain in operation. In addition, it is possible that poor weather conditions between now and the beginning of December could result in an early end to the temporary outdoor dining program, so at this point, December 1 appears to be a best-case scenario. (We have also been told that detailed information on temporary outdoor dining in 2021 will be coming from the city at some point.)

A number of restaurants in Boston have been allowed to operate temporary outdoor dining areas on public property over the past several months as a way to help businesses out during the coronavirus crisis.

[Earlier Articles]
Governor Baker to Sign Order Extending Timeframe for Expanded Outdoor Dining in Massachusetts
City of Boston Extends Outdoor Dining at Restaurants Until at Least December 1

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, September 17, 2020

Boston Licensing Board to Hold Another Emergency Hearing for North End Restaurants

A few months ago, an emergency licensing board hearing took place regarding complaints about North End restaurants that were centered around such pandemic-related issues as social distancing, and now another hearing is going to be taking place for the neighborhood dining spots once again.

According to a source, the Boston Licensing Board is holding a virtual hearing today, with the city's website showing that--as was the case in June--the board will be looking into "numerous" complaints received by them as well as the Inspectional Services Department including social distancing and mandatory operational requirements, while mentioning the failure to adhere to the terms and conditions of approved temporary extensions onto outdoor space, failure to adhere to federal laws, codes, and ordinances regarding tobacco use and the presence of animals in food service establishments including outdoor patios. Once again, any North End licensee that fails to attend the emergency hearing could immediately lose any temporary extension of its outdoor dining area along with the potential of additional disciplinary action regarding its license.

Similar meetings took place last month that looked into complaints about beer gardens and large outdoor spaces in Boston along with restaurants in Allston/Brighton and the Seaport District.

This story was first mentioned on the NorthEndWasterfront.com site

[Earlier Articles] Boston Licensing Board to Hold Emergency Hearing for North End Restaurants to Address Numerous Complaints

Boston Licensing Board to Hold Emergency Hearings for Beer Gardens/Large Outdoor Spaces, Allston/Brighton and Seaport Restaurants

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, September 16, 2020

City of Boston Extends Outdoor Dining at Restaurants Until at Least December 1

Last week it was reported that Massachusetts restaurants would be able to keep expanded outdoor dining areas open beyond November 1, and now we have learned that the city of Boston will be allowing outdoor dining in general to remain in place until December 1 at the very least.

According to multiple sources, including Universal Hub which posted an article on it yesterday afternoon, the Boston Licensing Board has issued new regulations that will allow patios that have been created or extended due to the pandemic to remain in place until December 1, while restaurants with permanent patios will be able to keep their outdoor areas open for as long as they can. In addition, the board may extend the December 1 date for the temporary patios on a case-by-case basis, or possibly even issue a general extension for all expanded/new outdoor areas, while noting that the temporary patios could be affected by weather-related issues such as the need for plows to be able to maneuver through an area that could have a temporary patio.

On Thursday of last week, Governor Charlie Baker said that he plans to sign an executive order that would "extend the timeframe for municipal permitting for expanded outdoor dining" beyond the current November 1 date, though an exact new end date has not been given as of yet.

[Earlier Article]
Governor Baker to Sign Order Extending Timeframe for Expanded Outdoor Dining in Massachusetts

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, September 11, 2020

Governor Baker to Sign Order Extending Timeframe for Expanded Outdoor Dining in Massachusetts

It looks like at least some local restaurants may be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the weather starts to cool down.

According to an article from NBC Boston, Governor Charlie Baker said while on a visit to Bistro 5 in West Medford yesterday that he plans to sign an executive order which would "extend the timeframe for municipal permitting for expanded outdoor dining." Baker gave his reasoning for the order in the update, explaining that "That expansion will help restaurants like [Bistro 5] continue serving guests in their outdoor space on the same basic terms that have been permitted since June, and we hope this eases the burden on restaurants and extends their season for outdoor dining as well." The allowing of expanded outdoor dining, which was initially set up to help restaurants get through struggles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was scheduled to end on November 1; as of now, it isn't known exactly how long it will be extended, so stay tuned for any updates as they come in.

In the update, Baker also stated that he will sign another order allowing for the reopening of arcades next week, which had previously been included in Phase 4 of the reopening of the Massachusetts economy.

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, September 04, 2020

Lord Hobo in the Seaport District Debuts First Stage of Opening

One of the biggest names within the local beer scene has partially opened a long-awaited brewery and restaurant by the Boston waterfront.

A message sent from @HeyRatty indicates that Lord Hobo debuts today in the city's Seaport District, with a Facebook post from the place confirming that it opens its patio at 4:00 PM for the first phase of the opening of its brewery and restaurant facility on Dry Dock Avenue. The post indicates that the patio, which has a capacity of 241, will offer beer as well as food from Bon Me via their food truck.

An earlier article here had mentioned that the new 18,000-square-foot facility might include a gastropub, taproom, and lounge area along with the aforementioned outdoor patio and a "coffee concept" in the lobby of its building, though it is not known if all of these components will still be coming once it fully opens.

In addition to the new spot on the Boston waterfront, Lord Hobo Brewing Company also has a brewery and taproom in Woburn as well as the original Lord Hobo beer bar (which is temporarily closed) between Kendall Square and Inman Square in Cambridge. The website for the business is at https://lordhobobrewing.com/

[Earlier Article]
Lord Hobo Brewing Company Plans to Open Restaurant, Taproom in Boston's Seaport District

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, August 20, 2020

Sligo Pub, Dragon Pizza in Somerville's Davis Square Team Up with an Outdoor Patio

An old-school Somerville bar has found a way to stay open rather than having to wait for Phase 4 of the reopening of the Massachusetts economy, and a nearby pizzeria is involved.

According to Rich O'Rourke, Sligo Pub in Davis Square is collaborating with Dragon Pizza with the two businesses (which are a few storefronts apart from each other on Elm Street) having an outdoor patio set up out back. The Facebook page for the bar shows the setup of the collaboration while saying that the patio is open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 6:00 PM for now, though it is probably best to check with Sligo Pub and/or Dragon Pizza before going to see if the days/hours have changed.

Sligo Pub is a bar that does not have a kitchen, which presumably would have kept it from opening until Phase 4 if not for this collaboration; some other bars with no food in the region seem to be doing similar setups, while others that are not doing such collaborations or finding other ways to serve food remain closed for at least the time being--possibly until a therapeutic or vaccine for the coronavirus is found.

Sligo Pub is at 237 Elm Street and Dragon Pizza is at 233 Elm Street in Davis Square, while the patio is in the Grove Street lot (around the corner up Grove Street and behind the two businesses).

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, August 12, 2020

Update: Boston Licensing Board to Hold Emergency Hearings for Beer Gardens/Large Outdoor Spaces, Allston/Brighton and Seaport Restaurants

[Ed note: This article was updated on August 13 to reflect the addition of another hearing.]

It looks like at least three emergency licensing board hearings are taking place this week regarding dining and drinking spots in the city of Boston.

According to an article from Universal Hub, a virtual emergency hearing is slated to take place at noon on Thursday, August 13 on beer gardens along with dining spots with temporary extensions to outdoor spaces, with the notice mentioning that this deals with complaints regarding such things as social distancing issues, mandatory operational requirements, tobacco use, and the presence of animals as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Another virtual emergency hearing will take place at 3:00 PM that day concerning restaurants in Allston/Brighton that have liquor licenses, with that notice including a look at the same complaints, while a third that focuses on the Seaport District (and looking at similar complaints) will be held on Friday, August 14 at 10:00 AM. For all three meetings, it appears that any business that fails to attend the emergency hearings could immediately lose any temporary extension of its outdoor area along with the potential of additional disciplinary action regarding its license, though the Seaport notice doesn't mention this specifically while the others do. (A similar emergency hearing took place in June for restaurants in the North End.)

The emergency hearings come on the heels of a tightening of state guidelines from the Baker administration that includes making sure that bars cannot be "masquerading" as restaurants by simply offering pre-packaged food such as chips and pretzels.

[Earlier Articles]
Boston Licensing Board to Hold Emergency Hearing for North End Restaurants to Address Numerous Complaints
Updated Rules Have Been Set for Massachusetts Bars, Including What Constitutes "Food"

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.)

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

The Tree Top Restaurant Opens at Lake Pearl in Wrentham

An historic lakeside venue known in part for events such as weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries has now become a restaurant of sorts as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused it to reconcept for the time being.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Lake Pearl in Wrentham has opened the Tree Top Restaurant for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, using the Tree Top Room--which is often used for wedding receptions--along with its two-tiered outdoor dock, both of which have views of the lake below. The post mentions that the dining spot offers food with "classic European and contemporary" influences, with options including fried calamari, bruschetta, oysters Rockefeller, ravioli, shrimp scampi, chicken parmesan, pan-seared sea scallops, New York sirloin, chicken and waffles, burgers, grilled salmon, and more.

Juliana Lorusso, who is director of marketing and events at Lake Pearl, gives the reasoning behind opening the Tree Top Restaurant, saying that "Unfortunately, the pandemic really hit our industry harder than most. We knew we had to continue coming up with fresh ideas because we are unable to host our typical weddings and events....It's definitely been challenging, but luckily our ownership and management team has much experience with restaurant-style dining, so we are well prepared for this new venture." (In addition to being a function space, Lake Pearl has also been known for its Sunday brunches as well, which are open to the general public.)

The address for Lake Pearl and the Tree Top Restaurant is 299 Creek Street, Wrentham, MA, 02093. The website for the space can be found at https://www.lakepearl.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.)