Category Archives: South End

Yakitori Zai has finally opened after much speculation and a lot of waiting. I had eagerly written about this tiny neighborhood restaurant with a lot of glee and thought it would be a great addition.

However, my opinion of the restaurant has soured without even stepping a foot in the door.  The restaurant’s website includes the following (very unwelcome message in my opinion), indicating that for the first two weeks it is open, walk-in service will not be permitted, there will be only two seatings Tuesdays through Fridays / three seatings on the weekends, and the cost per person will be $120 – less alcohol and gratuity.  It appears my hopes for a great neighborhood restaurant have been dashed yet again. 

The former home of Pho Republique and more recently The Bombay Club  will soon be opening as BoMa (presumably short for Boston, MA?) The owner, Shane Manfred, also owns and operates two Italian restaurants in Boston’s suburbs, Bellino’s in Wakefield and Bistro 20 in Sudbury. Look for a July opening.

Union Bar and Grille recently rolled out their spring menu, but rumor has it that the menu will change again over the next week.  Look for some lighter fare with a pleasing price point.

The space formerly home to Joe V’s has been under construction for so long Yakitori Zai is fast becoming known as the new restaurant that never opened. Recently I was able to speak to the owner and he acknowledged he was disappointed they missed their planned opening for earlier this month but said they will be opening “very soon”.

El Centro’s request for a seasonal patio that can accommodate up to 14 people was approved on May 10th.  Have you stopped by to enjoy dining al fresco on the new patio?

Brian Piccini (owner of Deuxave in Back Bay and dbar in Dorchester) is moving forward with plans to open a new steak house named Boston Chops in the space formerly occupied by banq and Ginger Park on Washington Street (shown above).  However, Piccini still lacks a liquor license and the project will remain sidelined until one can be secured.

El Centro, a Mexican restaurant that opened on Shawmut Ave. in the South End last year, will petition the city of Boston today requesting an outdoor patio that can accommodate 14 people.

One assumes that this tiny restaurant so popular with it’s neighbors will be approved.  The additional seating could be the difference between remaining profitable or not since the postage stamp-sized cantina has such limited seating.  Additionally, the neighborhood approved a similar license for Orinico directly across the street a few years ago so there is precedent.

The result of the licensing board’s vote will be available to the public tomorrow afternoon.  I’d like to wish El Centro best of luck today.