Boston Chops had a crew outside today to place their sign out on the restaurant’s awning. Nothing says “ready to open” like hanging a sign out in front of your restaurant… right?
Restaurantaur, Brian Piccini, has an excellent track record with opening successful restaurants so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is a “sign” of an imminent opening. Boston Chops will be the third restaurant in the South End in as many months to open following BoMA, Estelle’s and Cinquecento.
The following review was written by Michael Constantinides.
Yakitori Zai promises a culinary experience off the beaten path on the South End’s most favorite intersection, says lifestyle contributor Michael C.
IT’S THE CORNER OF SHAWMUT AND UNION PARK or officially, 315 Shawmut Avenue. For almost two years, we walked past this address and it pained us to see the most incredible commercial spot in the South End sit vacant and unutilized – After Joe V’s closed, we thought of the many a wasted summer evening when, with what pleasure, we could have been sitting on the bumpy patio enjoying a civilized dinner and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or the many a January night when we could have been parked by the fish-bowl windows watching people walk by outside in the snow, Edward Hopper-style. If only there was a restaurant there. It was a crime.
Since last June, lo and behold, there is new hope for this beloved spot, courtesy of Yakitori Zai. It’s not like it didn’t take the owners forever to actually open and it’s not like they weren’t abysmally clueless when they decided to initially offer only “tasting reservations” at around $120 per head (I suppose they were very savvy in the art of shooting oneself in the foot).
Anyway, all that’s behind us now! The menu is extensive, interesting and reasonable and the whole concept of yakitori, fascinating – here’s how it works: the bite-sized pieces of meat, seafood and vegetables are simply grilled and flavored with sauces, glazes, crusts and other accoutrements that cause explosions of taste in the mouth – not a single part of that chicken going to waste (yes, of course you only order the parts you can handle).
I had dinner at Zai the other night with a friend – a rather sophisticated gentleman – and, granted I had just stepped off a plane, I don’t think it was mere hunger that caused us both to really enjoy the experience. The chicken breast, prepared in three different ways melts in your mouth like marshmallow, the duck is tender (not an easy feat), the chicken and egg rice bowls and noodle soup hearty, the okra not slimy and, above all, the portions are controlled (if you want all-you-can-eat, try the buffet at Yangtze River in Lexington, MA – no joke – it’s worth the drive).
However, a tip for the management: please get rid of the hideous yellow/brown walls, which, if I am not mistaken, may be a relic from Joe V’s – seriously?! Consider a sultry dark gray or a funky hand-painted wallpaper (think Devon’s in P-Town) to complement your fine fare with that subtle touch of ambiance that’s oh-so-important to a South End dining establishment – in other words, get with the program.
Admittedly, Zai is not the cheapest place you can get dinner on a Thursday night but, contrary to rumors, the place is not hideously expensive (anymore). Think of it as halfway between your authentic noisy Chinatown eatery and the nationally famous Oya in the Leather District – a good balance of culinary delight and affordability. And all this at the most beautiful, charming location in the South End, people! So give it a shot. Support this new culinary idea that’s landed smack in the middle of our beautiful neighborhood. Don’t let 315 Shawmut go empty again. Be a South End culinary vigilante.
Yakitori Zai, 315 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA – www.yakitorizai.com
About the author: A former banker, Michael C offsets the sobriety of his professional life with his passion for design, music, the arts and anything beautiful.
© Michael Constantinides 2012 – all rights reserved
Posted in Restaurant Review
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Restaurant Review, South End
Not feeling the Christmas spirit? Irritated by the incessant Christmas music and tacky displays in the mall? Then forget those boring big box retailers and national chains and head out with friends tonight to shop for the holidays in the South End.
More information here, www.SouthEnders.com.
A few restaurants in Boston’s South End neighborhood have closed over the past few years, creating vacancies in some prime locations. These spaces did not remain unclaimed for long and some of these restaurants have recently opened; most recently BoMA Restaurant. However, there remain four locations of particular interest that will open soon.
CINQUECENTO started training new staff last Friday in preparation for their opening later this month. This is the Aquitaine Group’s eighth property and first Italian restaurant. Located at 500 Harrison Avenue, this is likely to be one of the largest restaurants in the neighborhood too with 300+ seats as well as private dining space and a beautiful patio.
Location: 500 Harrison Avenue / Phone: 617-247-1102
Menu: Italian
Anticipated opening to public: mid November
ESTELLE’S will likely open just weeks after Cinquecento. Owned by chef Brian Poe (Poe’s Kitchen and The Rattlensake in Back Bay), Estelle will serve southern cuisine. Poe has opened up the space which was previously a pizzeria and has a nice looking bar that neighbors will undoubtably appreciate.
Location: 782 Tremont Street (Mass Ave & Tremont Street)
Menu: Southern cuisine
Anticipated opening to public: December
FIVE HORSES TAVERN was first reported by Eater Boston to open a second location in space formerly occupied by Columbus Cafe. Five Horses Tavern in Somerville serves food with a similar, affordable price point to Columbus Cafe. If they can pull this off, this could become the neighborhood’s best cheap eats and bar.
Location: 535 Columbus Avenue (Columbus & Claremont Park)
Menu: American comfort food with entrees from $9 – $18
Anticipated opening to public: Unknown
BOSTON CHOPS is opening in the space formerly occupied by Ginger Park and before that, banq. Speculation about what Chef Coombs has in mind when he refers to it as an “urban steakhouse” keeps me guessing. In an interview with Grub Street Boston he said, “The only thing we have in common with a typical steakhouse is that we’ll serve cow.“
Location: 1375 Washington Street (Washington & Union Park)
Menu: New concept steakhouse
Anticipated opening to public: Unknown
Last weekend I stumbled upon a relatively new storefront just off of Tremont Street in the South End called Olives & Grace. Sofi, the owner of this cute shop, seeks to “feature emerging artists, gift producers, and small batch food makers“. The store struck me as the perfect place for purchasing custom gift packages.
Olives & Grace is a unique shop you should check out
Sofi (shown above) is busy adding new treats and products so return visits provide you with something new to try / see on each visit. However, she did mention that she always has something bacon related (my brother would come in just for that) and unique temptations for those with a sweet tooth.
Olives & Grace is closed on Monday and open from 12-8pm Tuesday thru Sunday. Stop by this cute storefront just off Tremont Street.
Olives & Grace 81 Pembroke Street – South End
The wait is over. The doors to BoMA open at 6PM tonight. No reservations are being taken (at least for tonight). Good luck BoMA! You may read more about BoMA and my recent dinner held prior to tonight’s opening, here.
BoMA is located at at 1415 Washington Street in the South End.
This weekend, Ball and Buck will be hosting the inaugural “American Field” All American Menswear pop up market at the Power Station at 540 Harrison Avenue in the South End’s SoWa district.
More than 50 vendors will be showcasing, and selling, their Made in USA products. Food trucks will be serving great eats and it appears there will even be a beer garden featuring Local Micro Breweries.
540 Harrison Ave, Saturday & Sunday Oct 20 – 21
More information about the event here, www.americanfield.us
One of my favorite shops in my neighborhood is South End Formaggio. It is a tiny shop stuffed from floor to ceiling full of delicious food, wine and beer, but it is best known for its exceptional selection of cheese and meats. I love this shop, but with only two other locations (Cambridge and NYC – Lower East Side) it may be impractical for you to pay a visit.
Source: Just Add Cheese
However, if you are a cheese lovah (err I mean lover), you may want to check out the Formaggio Kitchen blog. They have tempting posts like recipes for Mac and Many Cheeses and Ricotta Toasts with Turkish Figs. Their blog also has interesting posts like How to Put Together a Cheese Platter. Lastly, you can follow their tempting Tweets on Twitter, here.
Earlier this week Eater Boston reported that the owner of Five Horses Tavern in Somerville will open a second location in the South End in the space formerly occupied by Columbus Cafe.
The Five Horses Tavern in Davis Square serves modern American comfort food with nothing on the menu over $20. This matches the affordable menu that helped Columbus Cafe remain so popular with locals and would be a welcome addition to a neighborhood already overcrowded with restaurants serving $30+ entrees.
I’m curious to see what owner and head chef Dylan Welsh does to the rather unique layout and interested to find out how he will purchase a liquor license since the owners of Columbus Cafe were rumored to have sold their license to the soon to open Boston Chops.
A few weeks ago I mentioned on my blog the city of Boston had approved a new hotel and residences to be built just a few blocks from my home. I am so happy to hear that space currently used as a parking lot near Interstate 93 will be redesigned and add space for residents and commercial purposes.
I have paired a photo from Google Maps with the image of the proposed development offered by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The $165 million dollar project will include 3-story parking garage, 19-story residential tower, and a 11-story hotel that has 325 “micro-rooms” (I have no idea what a micro room is but I don’t care since I live two blocks away and hopefully will never need to make use of the rooms).
This development happens to be next to the neighborhoods largest redevelopment plan that is currently underway called the Ink Block (shown above). The project revitalizes 6 acres of land previously owned and occupied by the Boston Herald Newspaper. The Ink Block plans propose multiple buildings of mixed use space with more than 470 rental residential units, retail space (including a 50,000 square foot Whole Foods) and 400+ below ground parking lot.
BoMA restaurant + barToday I sat down with the very personable head chef of BoMA Restaurant and Bar, Chris Bussell, to talk to him about his new restaurant, which is just days away from opening. Although he was quiet on the exact day he did say “for sure by next Friday”.
This eagerly awaited restaurant has transformed the former home of Pho Republique, enlarging and moving the bar to the left side of the restaurant and making the space feel much larger by installing floor to ceiling sliding windows that open on to Washington Street across from the beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
BoMA Restaurant features a bar area that can seat 24 comfortably overlooking Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Bussell was most excited when talking about the menu he’s pulled together which is divided into five categories: Tiny plates (think tapas but with a twist); Small plates (appetizers); Medium plates (mostly lighter fare ranging $14-18); Large plates (main course ranging $21-27) and Sweet plates (desserts).
The kitchen closes at Midnight but the bar will remain open serving drinks until 1AM. While BoMA will only be serving dinner initially, Bussell assured me that after a few weeks they will also start serving Sunday Brunch. Sounds delicious to me and I can hardly wait.
BoMA Restaurant includes cozy dining nooks where patrons can quietly dine
BoMA Restaurant and Bar is located at 1415 Washington Street.
FINALLY!!! a vacant commercial space on Tremont Street that won’t be a bank! DAVIDsTEA, a specialty retailer of loose leaf tea, tea related merchandise has signed a letter of intent to lease the storefront at 661 Tremont Street (formerly Aida’s Bridal Shop).
The Canadian retail shop with more than 40 locations would like to open its third American store here in the South End. Although the majority of their business is retail, sale of tea by the cup will be available. Sadly, no food is anticipated to be sold at this location.
Early next month, on October 3rd, representatives from DAVIDsTEA will make a presentation describing their plans for 661 Tremont Street. Let’s hope that they are given the green light and can open soon.
As I was walking down Harrison Avenue Saturday morning to check out the South End Open Studios, I could hear saws buzzing and all sorts of activity emanating from The Aquitaine Group’s newest restaurant, Cinquecento.
The restaurant had opened its Harrison Avenue door to let in fresh air, and I couldn’t help but look in to see what was happening. Rumors circulate the restaurant is looking to open before the end of the month but will likely not be ready until October.
The photos are from Saturday, September 15 2012 – click to enlarge.
Significant work remains but I’m very excited to see this space reopen. I wish the staff and The Aquitaine Group much luck.
The South End Open Studios was this past weekend. The two-day event which draws thousands to the neighborhood, allows art collectors and enthusiasts to talk to local artists and visit galleries; all told – more than 200 studios and galleries are open. In addition, artisans and specialty stores which comprise much of the retail space in the South End’s SoWa district (South of Washington) participated in the event this September.
Weather was perfect for this weekend’s art walk which included painters, sculptors, and designers who make jewelry, clothing, furnishings and more. Below are a few photos from a small number of the participating galleries and artists.
Bobby’s Vintage Clothing on Thayer Street
SoWa has more than 200 active studios and art galleries
The caliber and variety of artwork is amazing
Yesterday, Eater Boston wrote a post entitled, Upcoming South End Restaurant to Focus on “The Cow”. The post comments on a job posting on Craigslist looking for “Chef de cuisine, Executive Sous, Chef & Sous chef” who have “a strong understanding of the cow”.
Eater Boston’s article wonders out loud which of the new South End restaurants might be hiring for these positions, naming Estelle’s, BoMa , and Cinquecento. However, my money is on Brian Piccini’s latest endeavor, Boston Chops, which is targeting a late November opening (pending construction).
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