Around Town : Recent Openings

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! This past weekend was filled with the usual suspects: turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce (my favorite!). Needless to say, I had plenty of food in the house and didn't have the chance to go out and try anything new, but speaking of which - there are tons of new openings happening in Camberville that I wanted to share! (for those of you not local to the Boston area, Camberville is a mash-up of Cambridge and Somerville)

I don't have immediate plans to visit these establishments (some aren't even open yet), but they are definitely high on my to-try list. And because my brain groups restaurants by location, I've listed the items of interest below in a similar format, along with some of my thoughts.

Inman Square/Union Square:

• Momi Nonmi - A modern izakaya located in the old WuBurger storefront (RIP WuBurger! Their Sunday fried chicken dinners are sorely missed). An izakaya is a japanese 'pub' of sorts, made for casual drinking and delicious bites. The food here looks like it will not disappoint! 

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• Field &Vine - Found in the old Journeyman location, Field & Vine is a farm-to-table style restaurant with seasonal offerings and sustainability in mind. The food sounds - and looks - amazing.
• Wit’s End - Located where Hops & Scotch used to live, and a welcome change in my opinion! I visited Hops & Scotch twice and each time waited over an hour for food with terrible service to boot. The new restaurant is all about friendly debate and serves dishes in dueling styles (think truffle parmesan fries vs. bbq cheese fries and Notch Session Pils vs. Miller Lite). The soft opening was this weekend and I expect them to be open full-time very soon.
• Pita - In addition to the current location in the South End, a new shop will open in the old Olecito location (they just moved across the street to combine with their sister restaurant Olé, both of which now under new ownership). I am a regular at the South End location due to its proximity to my office, and I can't get enough! Their roll-ups are packed full of delicious falafel or shawarma, and their Mediterranean toppings are great.
• Bow Market (Buenas, Jaju Pierogi, Maca, Gate Comme Des Filles, Remnant Brewing) - Right in the heart of Union Square, Bow Market is going to be a new home to over 30 food, art, and retail shops. It is still under heavy construction and not scheduled to open until next year sometime, but I can't wait! This is going to be such a great boost for an already lovely part of Somerville. I've bought Jaju pierogis from the Union Square Market a few times and they are killer!

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• Chick Chick Boom (Central Square) - There is not a whole lot online about this new restaurant, aside from the fact that there will be a focus on chicken, and chicken wings in particular. My boyfriend could eat chicken wings for the rest of his life, so I foresee a trip here in our near future (once they open).

The next area of focus is the rapidly-developing Assembly Row. I'm a frequent visitor to the AMC movie theater and like to dine out at one of the many establishments when I have a chance. A favorite of mine is Southern Kin Cookhouse - I've been numerous times and the food is always outstanding (although unfortunately the service does NOT live up to the menu). As buildings are wrapping up construction, new restaurants are making their way into the ground floor spaces and adding even more diversity to the area (I'm always a fan of having more options!).

Assembly Row:

• American Fresh Brewhouse - Slumbrew has had an outdoor beer garden at Assembly Row for some time, but now they are upgrading to a full-blown restaurant and brewery. Its not open yet, but I'm sure it will be a big hit and I'm looking forward to a flight!
• Zo Greek - I have always been a fan of Greek food, and I am so excited to try this new fast-casual restaurant. I could eat a gyro every day and the photos of Zo's gyros are mouth-watering!

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• MidiCi - I have been craving Neopolitan style pizza for some time now, and it is so hard to find around here, but this looks to be the answer to my prayers.

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Finally, we have everyone's favorite - Harvard Square. This area is charming and picturesque with Harvard's historical buildings and beautiful campus, not to mention the great shops and restaurants that line the adjacent streets. 

Harvard Square:

• Blue Bottle Coffee - The San Francisco based cult favorite coffee is coming to Cambridge! I had the pleasure of visiting their location in the Ferry Building earlier this year and was blown away by their affogato. I'm sure this new location will feature the same delicious espresso and attention to detail that they are known for.

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• Longfellow Bar - I have high hopes for this new venture, given that the service and food at Alden & Harlow was so excellent. There is no scheduled opening date for Longfellow yet, but be sure to follow them on Instagram for any clues as to when we can get in there for a cocktail or two.
• &pizza X Milk Bar - The DC favorite &pizza and the New York favorite Milk Bar will be joining forces (and flavor profiles) at their new location in Harvard Square. No scheduled opening date here either, but I'm sure everyone will be talking about it once the shop is almost ready.  Who wouldn't want a Dirty Bird pizza with a Compost Cookie on the side? (sounds appetizing, right?!)

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If the holiday season wasn't already one to pack on the pounds, these new restaurants and bars surely add to that sentiment. I see stretchy pants in my future!