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.]

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Puritan Oyster Bar Is Opening in Inman Square

A brand new seafood spot is coming to Cambridge, and a well-known local chef and restaurateur is behind it.

Eater Boston confirms what we had heard from Will Gilson awhile back, that Puritan Oyster Bar is planning to open next door to Puritan & Company in Inman Square, taking over the space that had briefly been home to Puritan Provisions while previously being used for private events as well. Gilson--who also is behind Geppetto, Cafe Beatrice, and The Lexington at Cambridge Crossing--plans to offer such options as oysters, tuna carpaccio, hot buttered lobster toast, smoked fish, crudo, oyster tartare, and more at the upcoming spot.

The address for Puritan Oyster Bar is 1166 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at https://www.puritancambridge.com/oysterbar

[February 7, 2023 update: According to a press release, Puritan Oyster Bar opens this evening for dinner service, and in addition to its seafood offerings, it will also offer beer, wine, and cocktails.]

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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Split Rock to Open in Cohasset

A new oyster bar and beer garden is on its way to the South Shore.

According to a source, Split Rock is planning to open in Cohasset, with the website for the business saying that it will be located in a converted container unit on Parking Way and that it will be a seasonal spot that is "family friendly and adult-centric." Our source tells us that the upcoming spot will offer beer and wine along with oysters and other seafood items, and that the outdoor space will include fire pits. If all goes as planned, Split Rock will open sometime this spring.

The address for Split Rock will be 12 Parking Way, Cohasset, MA, 02025. Its website can be found at https://www.splitrockcohasset.com/

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

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The Pearl Seafood Grill and Raw Bar Plans to Open at South Bay Town Center in Dorchester

It looks like a regional seafood restaurant may be on its way to a new development just off the Southeast Expressway.

According to an article in the Dorchester Reporter, The Pearl Seafood Grill and Raw Bar is planning to open at South Bay Town Center in Dorchester, with the place looking to offer "down-home New England comfort food" while also having an oyster bar along with an outdoor patio. The post indicates that the dining spot will focus on using locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, and that it hopes to acquire a liquor license. If all goes well, The Pearl Seafood Grill and Raw Bar could be opening in December.

South Bay Town Center, which is connected to the South Bay mall/shopping center, is home to such spots as Gyu-Kaku, Wahlburgers, J.P. Licks, and Chipotle.

The address for The Pearl Seafood Grill and Raw Bar at South Bay Town Center would be 20B District Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02125.

[February 3, 2020 update: It looks like The Pearl Seafood Grill and Raw Bar may be one step closer to opening, as a licensing board hearing page from the City of Boston website indicates that its request for a liquor license was being looked at over the past few days.]

[January 28, 2021 update: Universal Hub states that The Pearl Seafood Grill and Raw Bar plans to open on April 1.]

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

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The Oyster Club Is Opening in Park Square; Will Take Over Former Doretta Space

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a new seafood restaurant is on its way to Boston's Park Square area, and it will be taking over the space where an upscale Greek spot had been--and it looks like a familiar name within the local restaurant scene could be behind it.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, The Oyster Club is looking to open at at 79 Park Plaza, which is the same address as that of the now-closed Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar. The hearing notice mentions that the proposed spot would have a main dining section, a bar area, a raw bar, and an outdoor patio during the warmer months, and the manager listed is Christopher Parsons, who is presumably the same person who had been behind the now-closed Parsons Table and Catch in Winchester along with Steel & Rye in Milton (which he left in 2017) and who is now planning to open Lily P's, a new place for fried chicken, oysters, and more in Cambridge's Kendall Square. The hearing for The Oyster Club is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 30, so more information should be out by later next week.

Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar closed last spring after approximately three years in business, with Michael Schlow (Tico, Alta Strada) being behind it; previously, the space had been home to Via Matta, which Schlow also ran.

[February 21 update: Boston Magazine states that The Oyster Club will include a raw bar, classic New England seafood dishes, and a "lobster of the day" along with beer, wine, ciders, and cocktails.]

[July 12 update: A Facebook post from the place mentions that The Oyster Club plans to open later this month.]

[July 23 update: Eater Boston says that The Oyster Club opens this Saturday (July 27).]

[Earlier Articles]
Chris Parsons to Open Lily P's in Cambridge's Kendall Square Area
Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar in Boston's Park Square Has Closed

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Les Sablons in Cambridge's Harvard Square Closes Today

by Marc Hurwitz

An upscale Cambridge restaurant known for its French-influenced dishes and cocktails is saying farewell after a bit more than a year in business.

According to an article in The Boston Globe and a post from Eater Boston, Les Sablons in Harvard Square closes down today, with a note from the place saying the following:

"Partners Jeremy Sewall, Garrett Harker, Shore Gregory, and Skip Bennett will continue to move forward, focusing their efforts on what they do best: creating distinct moments of hospitality around the table and celebrating New England’s rich seafood traditions. They have profound gratitude for the entire Les Sablons team and the work they put into making every dining experience special. The team will continue to operate Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square and Burlington, in addition to Row 34 in Fort Point and Portsmouth, NH.

Les Sablons first opened in April of 2017 in the historic Conductor's Building between Mount Auburn Street and Bennett Street, with the space including a high-end dining area upstairs and a more casual oyster bar and cocktail lounge downstairs.

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Joshua Smith Opening Oyster/Ceviche Bar and Taco/BBQ Spot Next To Moody's Deli and The Backroom

The person behind an award-winning deli and dining room on Waltham's "Restaurant Row" is expanding, taking over the two empty spaces next door.

According to an email sent from The Daily Lunch blog, Joshua Smith of the Moody's Deli and The Backroom is taking over the now-closed Santa Banta on Moody Street, while a phone called placed to Smith indicates that he is planning to open an oyster/ceviche bar within the Santa Banta space that will be accessed by an archway leading from The Backroom, while a taco and BBQ spot will open in a separate space next to the oyster bar that is accessed from Moody Street--and one which had been home to a Haitian market. This jibes with earlier information we had that stated Smith was planning to open a spot featuring smoked meats and more in the former Haitian market space, while also indicating he was looking to open an oyster bar somewhere on Moody Street as well. (Smith is also behind New England Charcuterie, a meat-processing plant that is near the Waltham/Belmont line.)

Santa Banta first opened in the fall of 2014, taking over the space where Bombay Mahal had been since the late 1980s.

The oyster bar from Moody's will be at 458 Moody Street while the taco and BBQ spot will be at 454 Moody Street. (Smith indicates that both should be opening in the fall.)

[February 21, 2018 update: Boston Magazine states that Moody's Backroom has now officially expanded into the former Santa Banta space (which will add 70 seats to the place), and with it, the menu has expanded as well to include raw seafood, flatbreads, fresh pastas, and more. (The article also says that the separate taqueria could be opening in approximately five weeks.)]

[May 7, 2018 update: A new article from Boston Magazine indicates that the taqueria and BBQ spot will be called El Rincon de Moody's, and that it quietly had a one-day preview opening over the weekend, with its actual opening coming up sometime this month.]

[May 23, 2018 update: An update from Boston Magazine mentions that El Rincon de Moody's is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Joshua Smith of Moody's Deli in Waltham to Open Shop Featuring Smoked Meats, Baked Goods

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Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grille Opens within Hilton Hotel in Boston's Financial District

A brand new restaurant has come to a hotel in downtown Boston, and it takes over the space where a couple of other dining spots had been.

Eater Boston is reporting that Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grille is now open within the Hilton Hotel in the city's Financial District, replacing a restaurant called 89 Broad that had been there for a short time, and before that, Nix's Mate. The article says that the new eatery focuses on seafood items along with classic New England dishes, and it also offers beer, wine, and cocktails.

Nix's Mate first opened in the space in 2012 and was once part of a group of restaurants that included locations in Nantucket, Newburyport, Plymouth, Hartford, CT, and South Windsor, CT (the two Connecticut locations are the only ones that currently remain in operation).

The address for Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grille (and the Hilton) is 89 Broad Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website for Fin Point will be at https://www.finpointboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
Nix's Mate in Boston's Financial District Is Closing; Being Replaced by 89 Broad

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Eventide Oyster Co. Is Coming to Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

An award-winning restaurant in Portland, ME, that is considered by many to be one of the best dining spots in the Northeast is on its way to Boston.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Eventide Oyster Co. is planning to open a new location in the city's Fenway neighborhood, moving into a space in the Van Ness building on Boylston Street. The post says that the eatery will be a "casual, counter-service" spot that has a "concise and creative seafood menu," though plans are in their very early stages so exact details on the restaurant have not been given as of yet.

The original Portland location of Eventide Oyster Co. is owned by Arlin Smith, Michael Wiley, and Andrew Taylor, with the latter two being nominated twice for James Beard Awards for Best Chefs: Northeast. (Boston Magazine calls it "potentially the buzziest oyster bar in the country.) The dining spot offers such items as oysters on the half shell, tuna crudo, lobster chowder, cured salmon, crab rolls, lobster tail ceviche, and a variety of beer, wine, and cocktail options.

The website for Eventide Oyster Co. can be found at http://www.eventideoysterco.com/

[January 30, 2017 update: According to a source, Eventide Oyster Co. could be one step closer to opening by next week, as the city of Boston will look at their request for a liquor license on Wednesday, February 8. It appears that the restaurant is looking to offer only beer and wine, as a hearing notice supplied by the source shows that it is applying for a malt and wine license.]

[October 5, 2017 update: According to several sources (and confirmed via a Facebook post), Eventide Oyster Co. is currently going through a soft opening, though it is not yet known when its grand opening will take place.]

[October 6, 2017 update: Eater Boston states that Eventide officially opens to the public tomorrow (Saturday, October 7).]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

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Island Creek Oyster Bar Opens in Burlington Today

A highly-anticipated second location of a popular seafood restaurant has officially come to the suburbs of Boston.

As reported in an earlier article on the place, Island Creek Oyster Bar opens in The District (formerly known as New England Executive Park) today, bringing to the area a place to get oysters and a variety of other seafood items. The new dining spot joins the original in Boston's Kenmore Square, which first opened in the former Great Bay space in the fall of 2010.

Based on the Boston location, expect to find such items as oysters, mussels, crab cakes, littleneck clams, lobster bisque, clam chowder, fish and chips, and lobster rolls at the new spot, along with beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for the new location of Island Creek Oyster Bar is 300 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for both locations can be found at http://islandcreekoysterbar.com/

[Earlier Article]
Island Creek Oyster Bar to Open in Burlington

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

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News Elsewhere: NYC's Pearl Oyster Bar to Open in Kennebunk, ME

A popular "upscale lobster shack" in New York City is expanding to Southern Maine, and it is a homecoming of sorts for the restaurant's owner.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Rebecca Charles of Pearl Oyster Bar in the West Village of Manhattan is opening another location of the dining spot in Kennebunk, ME, which is where her family has summered for many decades and where she worked at the landmark White Barn Inn as executive chef in the 1980s, according to Pearl's website. It is not yet known where in Kennebunk the new location of Pearl will be, nor is it known when it might open; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Pearl Oyster Bar, which is known in part for its lobster rolls, has received much praise since opening in 1997, with the eatery being picked as a semifinalist for the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards for outstanding restaurant. Another page within the restaurant's site shows that the eatery has also gotten recognition from Gourmet Magazine, Bon Appetit, and the Washington Post, and celebrity chef and restaurateur Mario Batali is quoted as calling it "...my favorite lunch spot on the planet..."

The address for the original Pearl Oyster Bar in the West Village is 18 Cornelia Street, New York, NY, 10014.

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Broad Street Riot in Boston Is Apparently Reopening

It looks like a now-closed restaurant in Downtown Boston may be on its way back.

According to a Facebook post from Broad Street Riot general manager Emory Andrew Kilgore, the dining spot is apparently going to be reopening, with Kilgore checking into to the place on the post and simply saying "She's coming back, stay tuned..." The restaurant had suspended operations last summer and at the time it looked like it might reopen at some point, but no further information was given until now.

Broad Street Riot first opened in November of 2014, taking over the space where Chef Jason Santos's Blue Inc. had been; in its original incarnation, it was an oyster bar and "Atlantic Coast cookery," though it is not known if this will continue to be the restaurant's concept.

The address for Broad Street Riot is 131 Broad Street, Boston, MA, 02110.

[Earlier Article]
Broad Street Riot in Boston Suspends Operations

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Mare Oyster Crudo and Seafood Bar Is Opening in Boston's North End

A couple of months ago, we reported that a popular North End restaurant was moving to a new location and would have a slight change in concept. Now we have learned a bit more about the spot--and when it will be opening.

According to a press release, Mare Oyster Bar is moving from Richmond Street to Mechanic Street, taking over the space where Ida's had been and changing its name to Mare Oyster Crudo and Seafood Bar. The new dining spot, which plans to open on Wednesday, July 29, will have an indoor dining area and an indoor/outdoor bar section, with the outdoor patio having fire pits, lounge seating, and a retractable roof that was imported from Italy. The new location of Mare will feature oysters, ceviche, crudo (raw fish/meat) options, an octopus salad, whole fish plates, hot and cold lobster rolls, and more, with drink choices including an expanded beer list, organic wines, and cordials. The release says that the dining spot will be open seven days a week for dinner, with lunch also being offered Friday through Sunday.

As mentioned in an earlier article, the Richmond Street space that Mare is vacating will become a tapas place and wine bar called Sfizi. (It looks like that restaurant will open sometime in the early fall.) Frank DePasquale of DePasquale Ventures is behind both dining spots, along with such places as Bricco, Gelateria, Il Panino, and Quattro.

The address for the upcoming Mare Oyster Crudo and Seafood Bar is 3 Mechanic Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

[Earlier Articles]
Shake-Up Coming to North End Restaurant Scene; Pompei, Mare, Il Panino Involved
New Restaurant to Open in former Ida's Space in Boston's North End

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Island Creek Oyster Bar to Open in Burlington

A popular seafood restaurant in Boston's Kenmore Square neighborhood is expanding, with a second location coming to an upcoming development in Burlington.

Boston Magazine is reporting that a new Island Creek Oyster Bar is going to open at a complex called The District, a 13-building development that is going to be a "walkable, urban-style destination with amenities." (No specific information has been given on the exact location of The District.) The article says that Jeremy Sewall of ICOB is behind the new spot, along with partners Skip Bennett, Shore Gregory, and Garrett Harker, and Jackson Cannon will be heading up the cocktail/bar program.

[May 20 update: According to several sources--including food/drinks writer @RichardPF--The District is actually a rebranding of New England Executive Park, which is located between the Burlington Mall and the Lahey Clinic just north of Route 128. Richard sent a few pages and blueprints, including a letter showing that Island Creek Oyster Bar will be located at the site of 1 and 3 New England Executive Park and it will have 8,500 square feet of space, seating for 268, and an outdoor patio during the warmer months.]

If all goes as planned, the new Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington should be open sometime next year.

[July 13 update: According to an article in the Burlington Union, Island Creek Oyster Bar has received a special permit to open at The District. (The post also says that it plans to open next summer.)]

[November 2, 2016 update: A new article in the Burlington Union indicates that Island Creek Oyster Bar opens in Burlington tomorrow (Thursday, November 3).]

The address for the original ICOB is 500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the restaurant can be found at http://islandcreekoysterbar.com/

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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Sea Level Oyster Bar and Kitchen Is Opening in Salem

It looks like a new restaurant is coming to the North Shore, and the people behind it also happen to run an upscale seafood spot nearby.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Finz Seafood & Grill on Pickering Wharf in Salem is opening a brand new concept (also on Pickering Wharf) called Sea Level Oyster Bar & Kitchen, with the Salem Mass Dining site stating that the restaurant is moving into the space where Capt's Waterfront Grill & Pub had been until closing last November. The site says that the new eatery will have two floors of dining, a sit-down raw bar, and a bar area with an "extensive beer list and creative cocktails." If all goes as planned, expect to see Sea Level Oyster Bar & Kitchen open in mid-March.

[March 34 update: According to its website, Sea Level Oyster Bar is 15 days away from opening. (thanks to Cappy in Boston for bringing this to our attention.)]

[April 22 update: According to a Facebook post from the restaurant, Sea Level is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant at Pickering Wharf is: Sea Level Oyster Bar & Kitchen, 94 Wharf Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website will be at http://sealeveloysterbar.com/

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SELECT Oyster Bar Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A new restaurant is on its way to the Back Bay of Boston, and it appears that a chef at a well-known dining spot in the North End may be involved.

Eater Boston is reporting that SELECT Oyster Bar is planning to open, with a tipster for the site indicating that it will be coming to a space on Gloucester Street that two other proposed eateries--Ambrosia on Gloucester and Lola 41--had been looking at as well over the past year or so. According to EB, Michael Serpa of Neptune Oyster on Salem Street is one of the people behind the opening of SELECT Oyster Bar, along with Robert J. Weintraub.

Very little else is known about this restaurant at this point in time; as soon as we find out more information, we will post an update here.

[February 20, 2015 update: A new article from Eater Boston mentions that SELECT Oyster Bar is hoping to open sometime in the middle of March, and that it will be a seafood spot with a raw bar and "seafood-friendly wines" along with artisan spirits.]

[March 9, 2015 update: The Improper Bostonian mentions that SELECT Oyster Bar is still planning to open sometime this month.]

[April 1, 2015 update: According to an Instagram picture from the restaurant, SELECT Oyster Bar opens on Friday, April 3. (Thanks to one of our sources for bringing this to our attention.)]

The address for SELECT Oyster Bar will be 50 Gloucester Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its Twitter page can be found at https://twitter.com/SELECTboston

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GQ's Picks for 2014's Best New Restaurants in America Includes Row 34 in Boston

A well-known food writer for GQ magazine has come out with his picks for top new restaurants in the country, and a Boston dining spot has made the list.

Alan Richman's article on 2014's 25 best new restaurants in America includes Row 34, an oyster bar in the Fort Point section of the city that opened last November. In the post, Richman mentions that "I liked the warm lobster roll, the potted smoked trout, and especially the mashed potatoes with sour cream....But I kept going back for the same thing, the oysters," with a particular liking of "the sweet and nutty variety named Row 34." The article also gives a nod to the array of beers on tap and the farm-to-table, or "tap-to-table" feel of the Congress Street eatery.

One other New England restaurant made Richman's list of top new restaurants--Le Penguin, a French bistro in Greenwich, CT.

The GQ post on Row 34 can be found at the link below:

Row 34: The Bar Every Man Longs For

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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Cognac Bistro in Brookline Is Up for Sale

It looks like a French bistro in Brookline is going to be sold, though it may remain open for at least a little while, at least until a buyer is found for it.

The Brookline TAB is reporting that Cognac Bistro on Harvard Street could be shuttering by the end of the year, as owner Nelson Cognac is planning to move to the Jay Peak area of Vermont and open a new dining and drinking establishment up there. (Cognac has already purchased a lodge in Jay.) The Brookline eatery is already on the market, and the price (approximately $275,000) includes its liquor license, according to the article.

[September 12 update: A poster on the Chowhound site states that Cognac Bistro will close on September 22, with OpenTable: Boston Restaurants seeming to confirm this--it shows that no reservations are being taken for the restaurant after September 22.]

Cognac Bistro, which first opened in the fall of 2010, features dishes such as duck confit hash and poached eggs, mussels escargot, croque monsieur, pan-seared sole, pork sausage, and grilled hanger steak. It also has an oyster bar.

The address for Cognac Bistro is: Cognac Bistro, 455 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.


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Island Creek Oyster Bar Included Among TripAdvisor's Top 10 Restaurants in America

A popular travel website that features user reviews of hotels and restaurants around the world has included a Boston dining spot among its top 10 places to eat in America.

According to TripAdvisor's "Travelers' Choice 2012 Restaurants" page, Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square is ranked #8 among travelers' favorite restaurants in the United States. A couple of quotes shown with the listing of the Comm. Ave. spot state that diners "Can't say enough about our friendly, knowledgeable waitress. She knew her oysters and she knew her wines." and "Whether just meeting a friend for drinks or going for your anniversary, this is my first choice." No other New England restaurants made the list, and in fact only one other East Coast eatery was included--Le Bernardin in New York, which came in at #1.

Island Creek Oyster Bar is located at 500 Commonwealth Avenue within the Hotel Commonwealth. Its website can be found at http://islandcreekoysterbar.com/

For a complete list of the 10 restaurants that made Trip Advisor's list, please go to the link below:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Restaurants-cRestaurants-g191

Thanks to the Boston Globe for bringing this to our attention.



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Village Tavern to Open in Salem

A new restaurant is on its way to Salem, and it will be featuring a combination oyster/sushi bar.

The Salem News is reporting that the Village Tavern will be opening in the Essex Street pedestrian mall, moving into the space where Lakay Island used to be (and before that, Asahi). According to the article, the new eatery will have four sections--a dining room with booths, a long bar, a raw bar/sushi bar, and an outdoor patio. It looks like the main menu will focus on American fare, with such items as steaks, ribs, brisket, and burgers offered.

Expect a July opening for the Village Tavern.

[July 17 update: A note from the restaurant (see comments section) indicates that the Village Tavern is planning to open on August 14.]

[September 24 update: A Facebook post from North Shore Dish indicates that Village Tavern is looking to open this Thursday (September 27).]

The address for this upcoming dining spot will be: Village Tavern, 168 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

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