Little Whale Oyster Bar Is Replacing Grand Tour in Boston's Back Bay

A New England-style seafood restaurant is coming to the Back Bay of Boston, and it will be replacing a French bistro under the same ownership.

A source confirms chatter we have heard about Little Whale Oyster Bar opening in Newbury Street in the Grand Tour space, with Michael Serpa of Grand Tour being behind the upcoming spot. An article from boston.com gives more information on the changeover, with Serpa saying that "We already have two other seafood restaurants: Select Oyster Bar, which is kind of more Mediterranean, and Atlantico, which is Iberian Peninsula and Spanish, Portuguese leaning....We don't really do too many of the classic New England things at Select. We don't have a fryer; we can't make fried clams or oysters. … I wanted to showcase all that stuff that I also love in a different setting." If all goes as planned, Little Whale Oyster Bar will open on September 12 and it will include a raw bar while also possibly hosting reservation-only clambakes in the upstairs area.

Grand Tour, which first opened in early 2020, will shut its doors on September 4.

The address for Little Whale Oyster Bar is 314 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website is at https://www.littlewhaleboston.com/

[September 12 update: According to a press release, Little Whale Oyster Bar opens its doors today.]

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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The Pearl Opens at South Bay in Dorchester

A brand new seafood restaurant and raw bar that has been a long time in the making has come to a development just off the Southeast Expressway.

According to a source, The Pearl is now open at South Bay in Dorchester, with a Facebook post from the dining spot saying that it was indeed "open for business" as of yesterday. The restaurant, which includes an outdoor patio, serves such options as clam chowder, oysters, littlenecks, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, linguini in clam sauce, grilled Maine lobster, mussels, and clam rolls, while also offering beer, wine, and cocktails.

Plans for The Pearl were initially announced in the summer of 2019.

The address for The Pearl at South Bay is 20B District Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02125. Its website can be found at https://www.thepearlsouthbay.com/

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

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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Update: State Street Provisions on the Boston Waterfront Reopens After Being Closed for the Winter

[Ed note: This article was updated on March 30, 2021 to reflect the fact that the restaurant is now open once again.]

Another local restaurant has shut down for the time being, and this one is a casual upscale dining spot along the Boston waterfront.

According to a tweet from @ConciergeBoston, State Street Provisions near where the Rose Kennedy Greenway and the edge of Long Wharf meet has closed its doors for now, with a sign out front saying that "it is with sadness that we have made the difficult decision to go into hibernation for the rest of the winter." The dining spot, which first opened in 2015 in the old City Landing space, is known in part for its New American fare and its raw bar.

The address for State Street Provisions is 255 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109. Its website can be found at https://statestreetprovisions.com/

[March 30, 2021 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, State Street Provisions has reopened, though Thursday through Sunday only for now.]

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

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

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

Payment Options

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Waterfront and the Oyster Bar to Open at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett

A couple more dining options have been announced for the casino complex in Everett, and the chef at one of Boston's best-known restaurants will be involved with both.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Waterfront and the Oyster Bar are opening next to each other at Encore Boston Harbor resort and casino, with both places focusing on seafood. The former will be a restaurant with "shareable, dressed-up pub food" including lobster rolls, fried oysters, and spiced pork rinds as well as craft beers, local spirits, and cocktails, while the latter will be a small space with a counter, offering a variety of shellfish along with chowders, ceviches, crudos, mini-lobster rolls, and beer and wine. The person heading up the kitchen at each place will be John Ross of Neptune Oyster, a North End restaurant that is famous for its lobster rolls.

If all goes as planned, Waterfront and the Oyster Bar could be opening late next month, as Encore Boston Harbor hopes to open on June 23.

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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Chris Parsons Is Opening Lily P's in Cambridge's Kendall Square Area

by Marc Hurwitz

A new place for fried chicken, oysters, and more is on its way to Cambridge, and a familiar name is behind it.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Chris Parsons is planning to open Lily P's on the outer edge of Kendall Square, with the Binney Street restaurant being a casual spot that focuses on comfort food. The eatery, which is named after Parsons' daughter, will feature pressure-fried chicken, while also offering such items as biscuits, pickled snacks, East Coast and West Coast oysters, and a variety of craft beers and ciders, while the space will include a raw bar, an open kitchen, and a patio. If all goes as planned, Lily P's will open sometime in the winter or spring of 2019.

Chris Parsons is known for such places as the now-closed Parsons Table and Catch in Winchester and Steel & Rye in Milton, the latter of which he left last year.

The address for this new restaurant in Cambridge is: Lily P's, 50 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142.

[November 2 update: A license commission hearing agenda page within the City of Cambridge website gives a bit more information on the upcoming Lily P's, showing that it plans to have seating for 176 inside and another 54 on a seasonal outdoor patio, while it would include two dining rooms and two bars in a 5,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the Binney Street building.]

[October 22, 2019 update: A post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com indicates that Lily P's is now planning to have its grand opening in November.]

[December 1, 2019 update: An Instagram post from Chris Parsons indicates that Lily P's is now open.]

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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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John Moore (Navy Yard Bistro in Charlestown) Is Opening Seasons at Nahant Golf Club

The person behind a restaurant and wine bar in Charlestown is opening a new oceanside eatery in a town that has very few dining options.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, John Moore of Navy Yard Bistro is planning to open Seasons at the Nahant Golf Club, with the post saying that the place hoping to open in the next couple of weeks. Based on the post and the website for the golf club, Seasons will have a New American menu that is similar to that of Navy Yard Bistro, while also having gourmet pizza and a raw bar, and it will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

The Nahant Golf Club is located on the other side of Willow Road from Nahant Harbor, a short distance away from one of only two dining options in Nahant--Seaside Pizza--and a bit further away from The Tides restaurant, which sits at the southern edge of Nahant Beach.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in Nahant is: Seasons at the Nahant Golf Club, 1 Willow Road, Nahant, MA, 01908. The website for the golf club is at http://www.nahantgolfclub.com/

[May 8 update: Based on the website for the Nahant Golf Club and a note sent to us, it appears that Seasons is going through a soft opening with some food available at the bar mostly for tournaments and golf leagues, and it looks like it will be open for Mother's Day this coming Sunday, with the official opening possibly being around Memorial Day.]

[May 22 update: A new Facebook page from John Moore indicates that a pre-opening menu was offered at Seasons at Nahant Golf Club this past Friday and Saturday, so it appears to be on the verge of opening for real. (As mentioned earlier, Seasons has been looking at an official opening around Memorial Day.)]

[June 4 update: According to multiple posts on the Nahant Golf Club Facebook page, Seasons is now fully open.]

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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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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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Mario Batali May Be Looking to Open New Restaurant on Boston Waterfront

A celebrity chef and restaurateur is apparently not done yet with opening new spots in Boston.

According to an article in the Boston Herald, Mario Batali is reportedly looking at sites along the Boston waterfront and mentions that "I’ve always loved the idea of a ceviche and raw bar with a great beer program." This comes on the heels of this week's opening of Eataly, an Italian emporium in the Prudential Center that Batali is involved with, joining Babbo, a waterfront pizzeria and enoteca that Batali and his business partners opened last year.

As soon as we find out more about Batali's plans for a possible new restaurant coming to the waterfront, we will post an update here.

[Earlier Article]
Eataly Is Opening within the Prudential Center in Boston's Back Bay in November

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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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Eataly Boston in Collaboration with Barbara Lynch on Il Pesce

An Italian emporium that is on the verge of opening in Boston's Back Bay is teaming up with an award-winning local chef who will be involved with one of its restaurants.

According to a press release, Eataly Boston has announced that Barbara Lynch will be collaborating with them on Il Pesce, an elegant but casual seafood spot that will be located within Eataly, a huge marketplace that is slated to open at the Prudential Center on November 29. The release says that the restaurant will include a 64-seat dining room, a 12-seat bar, and 10 additional seats that face Il Crudo, a raw bar connected to the dining spot. In addition to being involved with Il Pesce, Lynch will also be teaching classes at La Scuola di Eataly by Valcucine, which will be a cooking school within the space.

One of the people involved with Eataly Boston is celebrity chef and restaurateur Mario Batali.

Barbara Lynch's restaurant group--Barbara Lynch Gruppo--includes such places as Menton, Drink, Sportello, The Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, and No. 9 Park, all of which are located in Boston.

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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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Trident Galley and Raw Bar to Open at the Hingham Shipyard

A new restaurant is on its way to the South Shore, and it will be opening at a waterside development that includes several other dining spots.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Trident Galley & Raw Bar plans to open in the former Union Fish space at the Hingham Shipyard, with Eater Boston stating (via the Hingham Patch) that owner John Brian Houlihan is also behind Bia Bistro in Cohasset and The Tinker's Son in Norwell and co-owns The Galley Kitchen & Bar in Scituate as well. It looks like the new place will be an upscale restaurant with small shareable plates, a raw bar, wine, and craft cocktails.

The Hingham Shipyard is also home to such restaurants and bars as Wahlburgers, Hingham Beer Works, and Alma Nove,

The address for this new dining spot in Hingham is 23 Shipyard Drive, Hingham, MA, 02043.

[January 15, 2017 update: Trident Galley and Raw Bar is now open.]

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Changes Come to the Barking Crab on Boston's Waterfront

A popular seafood spot along Fort Point Channel on the Boston waterfront is making some changes, and it could be due at least in part to the new general manager of the place.

The Restaurant Hub blog of the Boston Globe is reporting that the Barking Crab has added a raw bar to the restaurant and is also reducing its menu by half, with the focus now being on seafood found in the local area, including Cape Cod clams, Maine lobster, Rhode Island squid, and Atlantic scrod. The article mentions that $1 oysters will be offered at the raw bar, and local beers will be available as well, including those from the nearby Harpoon Brewery. The new general manager--Ben Korman--could be behind at least some of these changes, with Korman coming from Jasper White's Summer Shack, according to the blog.

The address for the Barking Crab is: Barking Crab, 88 Sleeper Street, Boston MA, 02210. Its website can be found at http://www.barkingcrab.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve More Sandwiches from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Elsewhere in New England]

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Laurie's 9:09 Steakhouse and Raw Bar Is Opening in Wakefield

A new fine-dining spot is coming to a northern suburb of Boston, and it will focus mainly on steak and seafood dishes.

The Wakefield Patch reports that Laurie's 9:09 Steakhouse and Raw Bar is going to be opening on Tuttle Street, moving into the space where Cafe Jag's used to be until closing this spring. The article mentions that the new eatery will offer such items as steak, lobsters, crab cakes, and oysters (with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients), and it will also have live music and trivia.

Hours for the restaurant, which is scheduled to open in September, will be 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM Monday through Saturday, and 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sundays, with a brunch offered that day.

[November 8 update: A new article in the Wakefield Patch states that Laurie's 9:09 Steakhouse and Raw Bar is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant in Wakefield is: Laurie's 9:09 Steakhouse and Raw Bar, 33 Tuttle Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880.


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Oyster Bar at Marina Bay Opening in Quincy

A new restaurant is coming to a section of Quincy known in part for its boardwalk and waterfront dining spots, and this eatery will feature a variety of seafood and more.

According to The Boston Herald, Oyster Bar at Marina Bay is planning to open around Memorial Day, bringing to this harborside neighborhood a place to get oysters, cherrystones, and fried seafood. The Herald mentions that the beer manager at Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale in Downtown Boston is involved with the project, which looks to be an outdoor bar along the water. Pictures on the restaurant's Facebook site indicate that the new dining spot may be behind the main section of Marina Bay (where the boardwalk and most of the restaurants are), heading east toward the end of Harbourside Road along the water.

Based on information from their Facebook page, the Oyster Bar at Marina Bay will be open for lunch and dinner daily, and it will have hot dogs and hamburgers (along with other sandwiches), in addition to seafood.

[May 29 update: According to their Facebook page, the Oyster Bar at Marina Bay is now open.]

The address for this new seafood restaurant at Marina Bay is: Oyster Bar at Marina Bay, 333 Victory Road, Quincy, MA, 02269. Their Facebook page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oyster-Bar-Marina-Bay/142554092479635

Thanks to Grub Street Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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Basho Opening at 1330 Boylston in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

It appears that a new Japanese restaurant will be opening next spring in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. According to a press release on the Fenway Triangle site, Basho will open at 1330 Boylston, a mixed-use building that includes luxury apartments as well as retail space on the ground floor. The press release mentions that the person behind this modern Japanese dining spot is also the owner of Douzo, an upscale Japanese restaurant and lounge on Dartmouth Street in the Back Bay.

Basho will most likely feature a sushi bar, a grill bar, and a raw bar, as well as a lounge, based on information given in the press release. The space in which Basho will reside looks to be fairly large (a little under 5,500 square feet).

1330 Boylston is also home to a location of the Upper Crust Pizzeria, and may also include a gastropub called The Citizen at some point in the future.

[April 21 update: Basho is now open for business.]

The address for this Japanese restaurant in the Fenway neighborhood is: Basho, 1330 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

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