Category Archives: Dining

A South End restaurant favorite, Aquitaine, on Tremont Street will be closing for renovations starting Sunday, February 21st and will not reopen again until just before their 19th anniversary in May.

While I love Aquitaine and will miss visiting while they are closed, I look forward to the renovations.  While Seth Woods and others from the Aquitaine Group have been fairly tight lipped about the details regarding the renovations, one would assume that the kitchen will be updated and the tiny wine bar will likely expand to keep with restaurant design trends. Stay tuned as I’ll be sure to follow up on this project as I learn more.

I’ve been regularly talking to the owners of the soon to open Greek restaurant, Kava Neo Taverna, since construction first caught my eye last fall.

Although the owners remain unsure when they will formally open, the paper has come down from the over-sized windows and you can see what appears to be a casual dining restaurant. From the back of the restaurant you can see a painting of an old Greek man looking out over their rustic dining room. Dark wood floors contrast with the chairs, tables and white walls.  Lighting fixtures made of thick rope you might see on the docks of Boston harbor dangle overhead, and a small but comfortable looking bar is tucked in the back of the restaurant.

Kava is currently hiring for all positions so if you’d like to learn more send your resume to info@kavaneotaverna.com.

Prior to leaving for Brazil I exchanged emails on Facebook with the new Greek restaurant, Kava, opening in the South End, which I first wrote about in early November, New Greek restaurant Kava to open in the South End.

In November I mentioned the restaurant was targeting an early 2016 opening and in the email I exchanged earlier this month they confirmed that they are committed to a late January opening but a lot can happen in four weeks so I plan to touch base after I return to see if there were any setbacks over the holidays.

One of my readers, Dean, emailed me shortly after my first post to let me know that the owners behind Kava are the same as Trattoria Newbury in the Back Bay and the chef at that restaurant, will move to Kava when they open. However, I’ve not been able to confirm this.  I’ll try to circle back after the holidays. In the meantime, anyone with information about Kava can email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.

After a brief second attempt Merrill & Co. has closed (again), leaving the space probably best known as the home of 28 Degrees empty. But this space in the South End will not remain vacant for long, according to the blog, Boston Restaurant Talk, Boston Nightlife Ventures (BNV) will open a new restaurant there named Akinto.

BNV is better known for their bars than cuisine in my opinion so it will be interesting to see if they can create a successful restaurant in the South End. Akinto is currently the Southeast Asian-influenced pop-up operating within BNV’s restaurant and bar, Wink & Nod, located next door so you can check out the food to get a glimpse of what may come when it opens. According to the post, Akinto is hoping for an early summer 2016 opening.

Las Ventas, a Spanish deli located at 700 Harrison Avenue, and Stella Cafe, a breakfast and luncheon cafe located next to Stella Restaurant & Bar at 1525 Washington Street have both closed.  Las Ventas closed earlier this month and according to their website the space will be remodeled for private dining and function space for Estragon. Stella Cafe closed last week but there has been no word on what will become of the space.

Last week my post New Greek restaurant coming to South End caught a lot of readers by surprise.  The restaurant’s over sized windows overlooking Shawmut Avenue in the South End now proudly proclaim that the name of the restaurant, targeting an early 2016 opening will be called, Kava Neo-Taverna.

According to my friend Michael C who grew up in Greece, Kava means ‘wine cellar’, which sounds wonderful to my ear. The more I learn about this space the happier and more excited I am that this previously empty restaurant will be opening soon to serve the South End.