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5 restaurants we can’t wait to try in July
From a famed all-day cafe in Cambridge to a rooftop lounge in South Boston, these are the hot new spots to check out this month.
In the heat of summer, we’re hungrier than ever as we salivate at all the openings across town. This month, we’re eyeing a new dim sum and cocktail lounge from industry veterans in Cambridge, a long-awaited reopening of a Chinatown favorite and the addition of a waterfront tapas-style lounge in the Seaport. Not to mention: a vibe-y rooftop hang in South Boston and the debut of one of New York’s most famed all-day cafes.
Daily Provisions
First opened in 2017 as a sibling restaurant to Union Square Cafe—from the legendary New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer—Daily Provisions quickly evolved to become an adored institution throughout Manhattan, from the Upper East Side to the West Village. This month, the forthcoming opening in Cambridge marks the first time that Union Square Hospitality Group will expand Daily Provisions outside of the tri-state area. The casual, all-day eatery is renowned for its motto: “your neighborhood kitchen from morning, noon, to night,” with signature items including bacon-rich breakfast sandwiches, seasonal crullers and juicy roast chicken. Though many of these original dishes have a cult following, and are sure to be served in its new Cambridge location, Daily Provisions also promises Boston-specific additions to the forthcoming menu (stay tuned for more details as opening date approaches).
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1 Brattle Square Suite A1, Cambridge
Opens: Late July
China Pearl
Amidst the pandemic in 2020, China Pearl’s Chinatown outpost temporarily shuttered, only to remain closed for a series of renovations of which the team originally said was inspired by the forced downtime. While they were predicted to reopen in 2023, then 2024, the decades-old Chinatown banquet hall and dim sum house just reopened. Run by the Moy family and renowned as “the oldest active Chinese restaurant in Boston,” guests may not recognize its new exposed brick walls and open dining concept, but their taste buds will surely feel at home with nostalgic menu items like shu mai, pork buns, steamed dumplings, rice and noodle dishes as well as contemporary riffs on classic entrees.
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9 Tyler St., Chinatown
Now Open
Darling
Dim sum and daily rotating cocktails — say no more. We can’t wait to check out Darling, a 40-seat lounge and 16-seat walnut bar that’s debuting in Cambridge’s Central Square. Owned and operated by veteran bartenders Brian Callahan (previously of Tiger Mama and Orfano) and Zimu Chen (of Eastern Standard and Mariel), Darling is taking over the former (and beloved) Mary Chung’s space; paying tribute to the legendary spot with its Chinese-inspired cocktails and classic-yet-modern take on dim sum. Helmed by executive chef Mark O’Leary (Shojo, O Ya), other highlights on the culinary menu will include soy-braised duck feet, filet o fish bao, red braised pork ribs and egg custard tarts. Self-designed by Brian Callahan, guests can expect a cinematic atmosphere with exposed brick wall, brown leather banquettes and a hand-painted mural of Cantonese characters by Julia Purinton of Medusa Studios as an eclectic soundtrack furthers the effortlessly cool vibes with 90s hip-hop, soul and punk. As for its star beverage program, Darling is committed to evolution and creativity where local and Chinese ingredients will fuse together for intentional and entirely unique beverages. Take the HK French Toast, for example, a creamy, nutty flip-style cocktail inspired by Hong Kong-style french toast; traditionally served at local tea restaurants their version is filled with peanut butter and drizzled with sweet, condensed milk, so Darling plays with this flavor profile by combining Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac with a condensed milk compound made with coconut milk, peanut butter, falernum, brioche and shio koji. There’s also the Common Trope, built with milk washed-vodka, steeped with jasmine tea, acidified lychee, black rice sake and cucumber.
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464 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Opens: July 15
The Block at Woods Hill
Existing fans of restaurateur Kristin Canty’s Woods Hill Pier 4 know her menus are always farm fresh — a bounty of seasonal ingredients either sourced from her Bath, New Hampshire property or her network of trusted New England vendors. Now, she’s extended her Seaport footprint to allow foodies to have a more casual space to gather over hyper-local dishes of the same quality at The Block at Woods Hill. At just under 3,000-square-feet, the adjacent outpost was designed to redefine the meaning of community and craft as a hub for shared experiences with communal seating and a convivial bar. While there will be larger entrees available, Canty and chef Charlie Foster emphasize the shared experience with a menu of tapas-style plates meant to be enjoyed by the whole table. These include a rotating farmer’s choice of charcuterie where all pork is supplied from The Farm at Woods Hill (starting at $22.5), pig’s ear tots with souvlaki spice ($12), dry aged beef carpaccio with crispy onions ($16), and a selection of crudo and ceviche (starting from $20). For gourmets who want to create their own feast at home, The Block at Woods Hill will also include a specialized retail shop where a curated selection of its artisanal farm products, including pasture-raised meat, charcuterie and bone broth, will be available. Other local purveyors will include Ronnybrook Farm dairy, Vermont Farmstead cheese, Goodnow Farms Chocolate, Bread Obsessions, Fat Moon Mushrooms and American Ferments Vinegar.
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200 Pier 4 Blvd., Seaport
Now Open
The Essex and Essex Rooftop
Tucked off the lobby of Cambria Downtown Boston Hotel, Kristin Jenkins of 1928 Beacon Hill has just opened The Essex, a refined eatery led by chef Polit Castillo (formerly of The ‘Quin House). Then, atop the hotel, at the city’s largest rooftop venue, Jenkins presents the Essex Rooftop; though the dual-concept offers a cohesive, modern-European aesthetic in both venues, chef Castillo has designed two separate menus. “We’ve created two distinct experiences that honor Boston’s dining culture while bringing fresh, West Coast-inspired flavors to the heart of the city,” shares Jenkins, who further described The Essex for its “intimate elegance” and the rooftop for its “dynamic energy.” Popular bites at the former include hamachi with ponzu, crispy capers and fennel in meyer syrup ($19), ceviche mixto with crispy calamari and sea bass crudo ($19), Jidori Chicken with crispy quinoa ($28) and a selection of pastas (starting from $20). At the rooftop, guests can expect more cocktail-forward snacks and sandwiches to accompany a collection of signature dishes and spritzes, like hummus and labneh dips ($16 each), a lobster roll with miso butter, corn, kewpie, garlic, chili chive (market price) and prosciutto caprese panini ($16).
6 W Broadway, South Boston
Now Open
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