Hungry Mother restaurant closing this summer

Chef and co-owner Barry Maiden poses for a portrait outside of the Hungry Mother restaurant. Kayana Szymczak/Boston Globe

By Dialynn Dwyer @dia_dwyer

May 29, 2015

1 minute to read

Hungry Mother, the popular southern restaurant in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, will close its doors on July 3, according to a Friday statement on its website.

John Kessen, co-owner of the restaurant, as well as nearby State Park, told Boston.com he’s gotten countless responses from customers expressing a mixture of shock and sadness since the announcement was made.

The statement on the eatery’s website says its chef, Barry Maiden, is “leaving the team’’ for other projects. The posting says the remainder of the restaurant’s team will continue operating State Park and a new “concept’’ in the Hungry Mother space.

Maiden won the James Beard award for “Best Chef’’ in the Northeast earlier this year. Hungry Mother has also won numerous awards, including Boston magazine’s Best Restaurant, General Excellence in 2013.

Kessen would not comment further on the reasons behind the restaurant’s closure, but he said he hopes the new endeavor in the space will occur soon.

The restaurant’s statement acknowledged the past while looking to the future, stating, “As we all look back on the great times we have had, we are excited to celebrate Hungry Mother in this final month. We look forward to feeding you soon.’’