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5 restaurants we can’t wait to try in May
This month we're eyeing a Korean comfort food joint in Brookline, an Irish pub with daily live music in Cambridge, and tacos al fresco in Southie.
As spring feels like it’s officially in full swing, we’re eyeing the menus at a new Korean comfort food joint in Brookline helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, a new Irish pub with daily live music, and an urban oasis in the heart of Southie that will be serving up New England fare with craft cocktails.
Black Ruby
Categorized as a Thai craft burger and dining joint, Black Ruby is in the midst of their soft launch as they welcome diners to indulge in their creative style of piled-high burgers and sandwiches that reflect their mission of crafting authentic Thai flavor into western dishes. You might ask: What exactly constitutes a Thai-inspired burger? Their selections include a crispy basil beef burger ($17) where the beef is seasoned with Thai flavors then topped with a crispy fried egg, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, crispy basil and a Thai basil sauce; a Thai garlic beef burger ($16) with a garlic cream sauce and fried garlic as well as a spicy larb burger ($17) with a pork patty that’s marinated in Thai herbs and topped with grilled red onion, larb salad (mint, cilantro, dill and toasted rice), arugula, crispy shallot and spicy larb mayo. Sandwiches include a chicken satay sandwich ($16) with grilled coconut milk-marinated chicken, shredded carrot, grilled red onions and a Thai sweet pickle smothered in peanut sauce; there’s also a green curry sandwich which takes a Thai favorite and adapts it to finger food. All these options are served on a homemade sourdough brioche bun created daily by their neighbor and a Cambridge hotspot, Mahalab Bakery. It’s a casual sit down eatery where guests can also opt for small plates, Thai-inspired pasta and hot and cold beverages, like Thai sweetened teas, a variety of wine and beer (including Thailand’s favorite Singha lager) or mocktails.
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1790 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Now Open
Flour
The newest outpost from Boston’s beloved bakery caters to the change in season as the weather encourages outdoor experiences, especially in the city’s greenways. Flour Boston Common doesn’t offer indoor seating (its 600-square-feet does offer enough space for an onsite prep kitchen) but there are about four dozen al fresco seats where guests can enjoy exclusive new menu items inspired by its garden surroundings. In a dedication to serve items that reflect a sense of place, Flour Boston Common will offer a variety of rotating seasonal items as well as mainstays which appear on the opening menu. There’s an Embrace morning bun — named after, and designed to resemble, the Common’s famed monument representing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife, Coretta Scott King — created from braided babka seasoned with brown sugar, brown butter and chai tea sugar ($5 of which all proceeds are donated to The Boston Fund). Their pecan-topped sticky buns will only be served warm at this new locale, which will certainly entice passing by commuters in the morning ($5.25). For savory, the Flour dog ($9) is a hot dog served on freshly baked milk buns and topped with baked bean sauce, sweet and sour relish, chopped onion and celery salt; an elevated nod to the longtime vendors serving up street dogs in America’s oldest public park. The newest location will also serve a selection of signature pastries (scones, breads, muffins, donuts), salads and sandwiches (both breakfast and all day styles) as well as hot and cold beverages.
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1B Charles St., Boston Common
Now Open
Iru
It’s not every day that an international, Michelin-starred chef sets his sights on Boston to open up his newest concept, but at the end of last month, we welcomed Hajime Yamazaki and his restaurant, Iru, to town. The chef-owner landed in Boston by way of Japan, where he owns and operates sibling restaurants specializing in samgyetang (Korean chicken soup). This will also be the signature dish at their new Brookline location, serving up the original recipe which he inherited from his mother who gained fame for her 1968 version of this soup made by stuffing a whole young chicken with rice and simmering it with ginseng. “Our food is not trendy or modern — it’s traditional and lovingly prepared, just like the home-cooked meals you would enjoy at your grandmother’s house,” Yamazaki told Boston.com. “Everything at Iru is made from scratch with carefully selected ingredients… We want guests to eat to their heart’s content and feel warmly welcomed.” The vibe is also authentic, with a focus on family and heritage. “What we value most is history — the history of my mother, the history of Korea, and the history of Japan,” shared Yamazaki. He ensured that the design reflected this spirit by incorporating elements that evoke old Korea in terms of how they serve the food (hot pot style), combined with nods to Japanese culture like noren curtains and American culture with the addition of a bar counter. “It’s truly a fusion of three cultures,” he said.
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238 Washington St., Brookline
Now Open
McCarthy’s & Toad
A new Irish pub with plant-based options, McCarthy’s & Toad just opened up as a dual venue that’s ready to become the Porter Square area’s neighborhood bar. Both McCarthy’s and the next door, Toad, feature classic pub food like buffalo wings ($14), nachos ($13) and burgers ($15) as well as Irish fare like Guinness beef stew ($20), fish and chips ($20) and bangers and mash ($19). Most unexpectedly, the family-run McCarthy’s & Toad offers an entire plant-based menu that doesn’t just serve salads but rather impressive meatless takes on Shepherd’s Pie with lentils, carrots, parsnips, peas, celery and onion topped with mashed potatoes ($15) and a burger built with sweet potato and chickpea, topped with spicy yogurt sauce and sliced avocado pickled onions ($13). They write on their site: “whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just hungry, you’ll find something that hits the spot.” All this alongside live music options like nightly fiddles and flutes of traditional Irish music at McCarthy’s, starting at 7 p.m. or, over at Toad, live bands croon most nights covering an array of genres from gypsy jazz to dance floor hits.
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1920 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Now Open
Park City Southie
South Boston is about to get a shiny, new, al fresco entertainment venue thanks to industry veteran Mike Shaw and the Broadway Restaurant Group. The 30,000-square-foot, family-friendly space will offer live music, events and entertainment in an urban-style oasis housed under a custom, handcrafted wooden pavilion. The packed calendar of events will be highlighted by a regular food and beverage program, respectively spearheaded by Mike Sanchez (Loco and Fat Baby culinary director) and bar manager Mike Saillant. Think: New England classics like lobster rolls and fried clams; bar favorites like smash burgers and fish tacos and internationally-inspired dishes like Greek-style gyros with chicken sliced to order from the rotisserie broiler and Asian street noodle bowls. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t worry — Sanchez curated an ice cream cart and housemade cake cups to keep you satiated. To wash it all down, Saillant will present a menu of riffs on classic cocktails like a grapefruit spritz and watermelon mule as well as locale-inspired beverages like a spiked Raspberry Lime Rickey as an ode to South Boston’s James Beard Award Winning Sullivan’s where the beverage is a staple.
383 Dorchester Ave., Boston
Opens: mid-May
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