There’s a lot to look forward to this year: All-you-can-eat wagyu shabu-shabu; “listening bars”; love letters to Greece, Portugal, and Thailand; and more.
When we first published this guide, we were a month into 2024, and the Boston dining scene was already jam-packed with delicious new openings—Mexican in Somerville! Noodles times two in Cambridge! A café/plant shop on Mission Hill! A pepperoni Negroni-filled food hall downtown! Casual omakase in Charlestown!
Now, a few months later, even more spots have opened (Jody Adams’s La Padrona opens in Raffles Boston; Citrus & Salt 2.0 is here!) and even more chefs and restaurant groups have announced upcoming plans, so we’re adding some updates. As 2024 continues, we’re looking forward to plenty of openings, reopenings, and expansions—restaurants fancy and casual, bars, cafés—spanning a variety of cuisines and neighborhoods. Below, check out the details on 40-plus spots we’ve got an eye on, and stay tuned for more restaurant opening coverage throughout the year. Know of something that should be on our radar? Our inbox is open.
Coming Soon
Bluefin
Lobster rolls, clam chowder, raw bar items, and more: A seafood shop and takeout restaurant at Somerville’s Bow Market is expanding into bigger digs in Jamaica Plain. The second location will similarly operate as a fresh fish market and seafood-focused takeout joint, but with a bit more space for customers—and for executive chef Manya Lulek to have fun with seasonal plates to complement the core menu of New England classics. The expansion also allows the Bluefin team, founded by lifelong fisherman Jason Tucker, to improve its farmers market program, bringing fresh seafood to more communities, and the plan is to launch a fresh fish subscription service, too (think seafood CSA).
Anticipated opening: Early 2024. 660B Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, bluefinrawbar.com.
Café Gloria
Local industry vet Will Isaza is best-known for his bartending skills, most recently as director of bar operations for cocktail gems Blossom Bar, Ivory Pearl, and Birds of Paradise. But the East Boston native will soon be bringing a different drink to his old neighborhood with his first solo project: coffee. Café Gloria, which he’s describing as a neighborhood coffee and espresso bar, will highlight Colombian coffee beans, as well as a co-branded roast with Cambridge-based Broadsheet Coffee Roasters. There’ll be a variety of coffee-shop beverages and canned cold brew, not to mention a nonalcoholic version of Isaza’s award-winning coffee-and-passionfruit “Gloria” cocktail. Also on the menu: the Colombian rice bowls of his childhood, plus other snack-y recipes from his mother (Gloria!).
Anticipated opening: Late spring 2024. 287 Maverick St., East Boston, cafegloriaeastie.com.
Crush Pizza
Downtown Boston lost an excellent source for casual, Neapolitan-style pizzas—cooked fast and hot in wood-fired ovens—at the end of 2020, when Crush’s State Street location shut down after seven years. A Quincy location, open since 2019, has been going strong since then, but at the time of the downtown closure, chef and owner Tony Naser expressed hope to open another location somewhere in Boston at some point. It’s finally coming to pass: Crush will debut soon in East Boston. “It will have that same vibrant, industrial feel that our Quincy location has,” per a spokesperson, “but still a touch of old-school vibe that we love.” The Italian-imported ovens are different this time, conveyor-style gas/electric hybrids meant for consistency and perfect for Crush’s current Italian-meets-New-York style. Also on the menu: sandwiches, salads, wings, and other fun stuff, like loaded fries in various styles.
Anticipated opening: Mid-May 2024. 975 Saratoga St., East Boston, crushpizza.com.
Few & Far
Stan Hilbert, who owns Forage in Cambridge, is opening a farm-to-table restaurant in Dedham, Few & Far, next to his recently opened natural wine shop, Satellite Bottle Shop. Forage chef Eric Cooper will lead the culinary team here, too, “creat[ing] innovative dishes that showcase the flavors of the region while offering a contemporary twist.” The duo met 15 years ago working at Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain. (Forage is located in the former Ten Tables Cambridge space.) “We’re just super passionate about great produce and want to share our love with other people,” Hilbert told the Globe.
Anticipated opening: Late April 2024. 566 High St., Dedham, fewandfardedham.com.
Jacob Wirth
Steeped in history, German restaurant and beer hall Jacob Wirth (home to decades of piano singalongs!) operated from 1868 until its closure following a 2018 fire. It had actually been put up for sale earlier that year—and now, finally, new owners are working on reopening it. (Its interior is designated as a Landmark, which adds some challenges to renovations, but construction is ongoing, and the team’s been having a fun time stumbling on lots of old safes in the walls—disappointingly empty.) The revamp is a collaboration between City Realty and Royale Entertainment Group, and a lot will be the same, but with an accessible entrance, a roomier bathroom for women, televisions, and—the team and we say this lovingly—improved food.
“The guts, the history, the bones are still there,” says Jamison La Guardia, vice president of sales and operations for Royale Entertainment Group. “We’re just contemporizing it.” The piano, of course, will be back, and the team’s even considering adding a second piano for occasional dueling piano nights, but plans are still fluid. The menu, too, won’t be finalized for a while, but the team does plan to bring back some nostalgic dishes from the most recent incarnation as well as historical menus they’ve found from the 1950s-60s. “We’re definitely keeping the German elements,” says La Guardia.
Jahunger
Providence’s acclaimed Uyghur restaurant—fresh off a James Beard semifinalist nod for chef and co-owner Subat Dilmurat—is on the verge of opening in Cambridgeport. The full-service restaurant will have mostly the same menu as the original in Providence, plus some specialty regional dishes from Jahunger’s early days (back in 2017) and whole roast lamb. Look for spicy hand-pulled noodles, marinated lamb kebabs, and more, with beer and wine available. “We’re excited to introduce more people to Uyghur food and culture, and Boston felt like the perfect place to share our passion with a diverse and vibrant community,” says co-owner Nadira Parhat. “Brace yourselves, because we are about to take the world by storm!”
Anticipated opening: Early May 2024. Brookline Street, Cambridgeport, jahunger.com.
Kyuramen and more
Ramen, sushi, rice rolls, and more! Right down the block from H Mart, half a dozen new restaurants highlighting various Asian cuisines will open later this year on Beacon Street, jointly taking over a trio of spaces that used to house O’Leary’s, Sichuan Gourmet, and a Dunkin’. The new spots will reportedly share a heated pergola, complete with retractable roof, on the front sidewalk, with space for a few hundred seats. The roster includes ramen chain Kyuramen, which also serves omurice and burgers with buns made of rice; Sushi Jiro, serving sushi; Rice Roll HK Cafe, featuring cheung fun, or steamed rice noodle rolls; Mini Punjab, an Indian restaurant; and Baby Cafe, a “Hong Kong bistro” chain that also has an Allston location in the works. There’s also Kyo Matcha, a café and bakery chain that showcases matcha, which already made its debut in mid-April (look inside.)
Anticipated opening: Baby Cafe has announced a spring opening; the rest are also likely opening early this year. 1004 Beacon St., Brookline.
Matria and Bar Fellini
It’s the end of an era at the InterContinental: The hotel has closed the French restaurant Miel and cocktail lounge RumBa, both open since the hotel’s 2006 debut. They’ll soon be replaced by an Italian steakhouse, Matria, and a new bar, Bar Fellini. Matria looks toward northern Italy with a meaty menu and pasta dishes like agnolotti. Those who remember Miel’s spacious waterfront patio will be pleased to see it reborn (and renovated) as part of Matria.
Now Open
Althea
With lovable Italian restaurant Vialé going strong for nearly a decade now in Central Square, the husband-and-wife duo behind it, Greg Reeves and Shauna Reyburn, have opened a new restaurant right down the street. Althea, taking over the recently closed Dial space on Main Street, is aimed at “healing the soul with food, wine, and humans,” says Reyburn. She and Reeves describe the food as creative American with “thoughtfully sourced ingredients,” including local veggies that’ll get cooked up on an outdoor grill. “We know what the community wants and needs—and deserves,” says Reyburn. “Althea lets us do more of that with a new twist—but still growing from strong local roots.” Watch for live music and a raw bar on the spacious patio come warmer weather and take a look inside here.
Seamark Seafood & Cocktails and Old Wives’ Tale
While there’s no shortage of food and drinks at Encore Boston Harbor, we’re always up for a shiny new option. (Can’t have a fancy steak every day, we suppose.) A new seafood restaurant—complete with a speakeasy-style cocktail bar—is now open (look inside), from Vegas-based Carver Road Hospitality, which is owned by Boston native Sean Christie, and chef-partner Michael Schlow (Radius, Via Matta). You’ll find elevated New England seafood dishes (and some meat, including Schlow’s beloved burger) and nautical-inspired design, spanning a large main dining room and several other seating areas, including a seasonal terrace.
Old Wives’ Tale, an intimate cocktail bar, is hidden behind a wall of the restaurant, allowing spirits enthusiasts to “explore ports of call around the globe.” The team promises craft cocktails that “pay homage to the essence of the ocean”—and they’re certainly photogenic, if that’s your priority, thanks to “oceanic glassware” and sea creature-like garnishes.
Opened: Mid-April 2024. 1 Broadway (Encore Boston Harbor), Everett, seamarkencore.com.
Somaek, Temple Records, and Sushi @ Temple Records
Restaurateur Jamie Bissonnette’s 2023 departure from the restaurant group he built with Ken Oringer (Toro, Coppa, etc.) came as a surprise to longtime fans citywide. Now, he’s onto the next adventure—or, rather, three. With Andy Cartin and Babak Bina (JM Curley, Bogie’s Place, the Wig Shop), he has opened a Korean restaurant called Somaek (with homestyle cooking inspired by his Korean mother-in-law, Soon Han, who is the restaurant’s consulting chef); a listening bar (is 2024 the year of the listening bar?) called Temple Records (with Bissonnette’s “super-eclectic” collection of music); and a 20-seat sushi counter, Sushi @ Temple Records. These are all in Downtown Crossing, near Cartin and Bina’s existing spots. The trio is apparently planning more restaurants for 2024, too. Big year!
James Beard award-winning chef Michael Schlow was named chef-partner at Seamark Seafood & Cocktails and its intimate cocktail bar, Old Wives’ Tale, both opening inside the Encore Boston Harbor resort and casino in April. Schlow, previously operated well-regarded Boston restaurants Radius, Via Matta and Tico. Seamark will be parent company Carver Road Hospitality’s first opening in New England.
The James Beard award-winning chef Michael Schlow has return to Boston as the Chef Partner at Seamark Seafood & Cocktails at Encore Boston.
Carver Road Hospitality will open Seamark Seafood & Cocktails on April 12th, alongside an intimate speakeasy cocktail bar called Old Wives’ Tale and Michael Schlow is in charge of the food and spirits expert Francesco Lafranconi is in charge of the drinks.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chef Schlow to lead Seamark’s culinary program,” said Carver Road Hospitality CEO Sean Christie. “As a celebrated chef and an acclaimed restaurateur, he is perfectly suited to help Seamark make its mark as the area’s must-visit elevated seafood destination.”
Seamark will have a focus on seafood as the name suggests and we attended a press preview this week and got to sample some picks from the menu. We tried a beautiful raw tuna starter, lobster gnocchi, seared scallop dish and a short rib with lentils, all paired with some amazing wines and cocktails.
Known for lots of restaurants in Boston and across the country, Chef Schlow currently oversees Italian Kitchen at Time Out Market in Boston and Sauce Burgers at Hub Hall. “It is an honor to partner on another restaurant venture in my home city of Boston,” said Michael Schlow, Seamark Seafood & Cocktails Chef Partner. “With a focus on elevated New England seafood and a unique pier-to-plate concept, this one is particularly special as I have the privilege of working alongside my dear friend and Carver Road’s Sean Christie, a native to the area, who understands the nostalgia of this project as well.”
Seamark Seafood & Cocktails will be located in the lobby of Encore Boston, adjacent to the famous Garden Lobby and across from the Ferris wheel. The nautically inspired restaurant was designed by the award-winning architecture and design company, Rockwell Group, and will feature an 82-seat main dining room, a 30-seat alcove dining room, 41-seat showcase bar and lounge, 34-seat outdoor terrace, 21-seat corridor terrace, and 16-seat private dining room. But the best part is that there will be a “hidden” speakeasy in the back.
Old Wives’ Tale will have a concealed façade inside of Seamark. The cocktail program will be curated by spirits expert Francesco Lafranconi and will feature seasonal cocktails made with top tier ingredients and prepared for visual and sensory impact for guests. At the preview night last week, we sampled a number of cocktails that will be on the opening menu this spring. The Oyster Kiss, a take on a Vesper Martini, the Veggie Beach, a take on a Bloody Mary and the B-Town Old Fashioned are all must tries when you stop in!
Read all about our staycation at Encore Boston Harbor to learn more about this amazing hotel.
Navigating Boston’s labyrinthine streets can be daunting, looking for hidden gems waiting to be unearthed. But fear not—we know where to find these undercover spots. From cozy cocktail lounges nestled in secretive alleyways to a supply closet-turned immersive restaurant experience, we unveil the top-notch eateries and cocktail experiences just waiting to be discovered in Boston.
Want to make a weekend of it? Get a room at one of the best hotels in Boston and follow up with one of the best brunches in the morning.
The Best Hidden Restaurants and Bars
1. Old Wives’ Tale
At the back of the recently opened Michael Schlow seafood restaurant at the Encore casino sits a speakeasy so sleek you’ll forget you’re in Everett. Behind a wall-like door at the rear of Seamark, Old Wives’ Tale has nautical decor like bookshelves packed with compasses, antique anchors and tattered books. Behind the bar, bartenders mix up cocktails—such as the Yacht Club Italiano and the Waking Up in Osaka—that nod to New England’s seafaring history, but they’ll also make you a perfect martini if you ask.
2. Hecate
Concealed beneath Greek restaurant Krasi with a mystical vibe, Hecate is one of the coolest bars to open in Boston proper in the past few years. As you descend into this basement speakeasy, your eyes slowly adjust to the candle-lit darkness. Instead of bartenders, “spirit guides” are behind the bar, crafting stylish drinks like a briny pickle martini.
3. Next Door
This speakeasy style bar in Eastie is just a short walk from the Maverick stop on the Blue Line—but you wouldn’t necessarily know it. Next Door is hidden behind sister restaurant Pazza on Porter, located in what looks like an old locksmith shop at first glance. Check in at Pazza, and you’ll be led to a secret door where you’ll give the password to disappear into a 1920s-influenced bar serving elaborate cocktails and a short menu of bar bites (we’re partial to the charcuterie board).
4. The Eaves
This new Vietnamese restaurant at Bow Market is hardly a secret at this point (the New York Times recently named it one of Boston’s best restaurants), but it isn’t easy to find. Tucked into what used to be a storage closet at the small-business hub, you’ll feel transported to an outdoor cafe in a tropical locale. The ever-changing menu has featured a savory duck confit gyoza, a light but satisfying shrimp vermicelli, and banana flower salad. Reservations are highly recommended to check out this intimate eatery.
5. Rose Room
In the back of Charlestown’s new favorite swank spot, Prima Italian Steakhouse, sits a beautiful jewel box of a bar called Rose Room.With just eight seats at the bar and a few tufted booths to cozy into, you can make reservations for this space, and you absolutely should for your next date night. The Rose Room serves Prima’s full menu of pastas and Italian-inflected steakhouse fare, and the bartender will whip up whatever your thirst desires.
6. 1928 Beacon Hill
This recently opened hidden gem on Beacon Hill feels so germane to the neighborhood, it’s as if it has always been there. Just take a few steps down from the famous brick sidewalks of Charles Street onto Mt. Vernon. With prohibition-era influenced cocktails like Lionstail (bourbon, allspice dram, bitters and lime), and refined comforts like pan-seared scallops and lobster tortellini, the speakeasy-style space is just the place you will want to cozy up in every night for dinner.
7. Bogie’s Place
In the back of after-work favorite JM Curley, an “Adults Only” sign hangs beside a closed blackout curtain. If you don’t know it’s there, you won’t find it—but if you push back the curtain, you’ll enter an intimate, reservation-only steakhouse. A la carte cuts include the obligatory filet mignon, ribeye and New York strip (you may also catch the occasional giant tomahawk on special, if you’re lucky), while sides range from the traditional creamed spinach to the trendier rosemary truffle fries. Wash it all down with an old-fashioned libation, like a tableside absinthe fountain that’ll have your crew in good spirits for the rest of the evening.
8. Offsuit
Discreetly located within Boston’s Leather District, Offsuit is a tiny, 20-seat bar tucked inside sister bistro Troquet on South. Head to the backdoor entrance and call—don’t knock—to be let into this homey nook serving classic cocktails and spinning tunes from a solid library of vinyl. While the space is sprinkled with sophisticated furnishings like marble tables, antique lamps and bookcases, this place doesn’t take itself too seriously, so expect wacky touches like Mr. Potato Head glassware and boozy milk and cookies. With a motto of “no frills, no fuss,” Offsuit also abides by the rule of no reservations
9. Yvonne’s
Veer slightly off Winter Street in Downtown Crossing and head toward what looks like a salon—but you’re here for a meal , not a styling appointment. Once the beloved Locke-Ober, it’s now Yvonne’s, a posh, modish supper club that has preserved pieces of the past—like the refined 19th-century mahogany bar—while introducing creative cocktails and “social plates” meant for sharing. Soak in the dark, moody and sophisticated ambience of dim lighting and rich upholstered furniture. There’s even a second hidden door inside Yvonne’s book-laden library that leads to a secret underground club.
10. Lucky’s Lounge
This endearingly divey bar can easily be missed, hidden away in an old brick warehouse near Fort Point Channel. Lucky’s corner entryway is set back almost in the shadows behind a column. A discrete sign on the awning above is the only thing that could tip off otherwise unaware passersby on Congress Street. If you’re scouring the Seaport and still can’t find it, just look for the orange glow radiating from its basement windows—a preview of the casually retro vibe you’ll discover inside. A popular place for after-work drinks, Lucky’s also features live music on the weekends, when the line forming outside will certainly guide you to its exact location.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s “2024 State of the Restaurant Industry” report, industry sales, food service included, are forecast to top $1 trillion for the first time in history this year. The report also found that 90% of American adults enjoy dining out for “flavor and taste sensations they can’t easily replicate at home.”
These findings bode well for the continuing expansion of casino dining. Margins are historically thin in food and beverage operations. Restaurants and bars alone may not be the primary reason or deciding factor for planners when choosing a group-capable gaming destination. Combined with lodging and entertainment, F&B makes up only 16.9% of the yearly revenue at U.S. commercial and Indian casinos, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) October 2023 report on the national economic impact of the U.S. gaming industry. F&B revenue alone trends highest in Las Vegas.
Try to imagine a casino meeting or event without a great banqueting, cocktail or dining element, though. That’s when a well-conceived, positioned, marketed and executed F&B venue can be a deciding factor.
As in Vegas, operators in the hotly competitive East Coast gaming market must continually innovate to attract new business and keep repeat customers coming back. Exciting F&B concepts are one way to create that buzz, a trend that casino leaders are getting behind. According to the October 2023 “AGA Gaming CEO Outlook,” investing in F&B offerings is a priority for 67% of respondents in 2024, compared to only 39% targeting hotel investments.
Here are examples of how East Coast gaming destinations invest for F&B success—future talent included—to stay ahead.
The Many Appetizing Sides of Atlantic City
From old school to contemporary, the collective Atlantic City menu runs many pages deep. Illustrious off-Boardwalk guardians include Dock’s Oyster House (1897) and circa-1912 Knife and Fork Inn, relaunched in 1929 as a steak and seafood shrine and redolent with authentic Prohibition-era appeal. Independent event-capable hotspots include French-Afghan restaurant Setaara, Cardinal in the Orange Loop neighborhood and Little Water Distillery.
The openings last year of Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen and Nobu Atlantic City at sharply transformed Caesars Atlantic signified the strong celebrity chef culture in town, with the added pizzazz of Vegas import “Italian American-Psychedelic” Superfrico restaurant at the property.
Other star toques include Jose Garces, whose long-time presence in Atlantic City includes tapas-driven Amada at Ocean Casino Resort. Another familiar Philadelphian, Michael Schulson, is bringing two new fine-casual concepts to Ocean’s culinary summer 2024 roster: Pearl & Mary oyster bar and Samuel’s, an all-day diner featuring an American-Jewish menu inspired by Schulson’s emigree grandparents’ butcher shop in the Bronx.
Nationally acclaimed Il Mulino at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is top-class. Founded in NYC’s Greenwich Village in 1981, this local outpost has been a property anchor for years, offering relaxed service and classic Italian cuisine. Rentals include two 26-capacity private rooms and another for 50, plus buyouts of one of the two 80-person main dining rooms.
New Jersey wines are attracting national attention. Groups can experience the roots of Garden State viticulture at Renault Winery & Resort, some 20 miles northeast of Atlantic City. Established in 1864 by French immigrant Louis Nicolas Renault, this fetching escape is among the nation’s oldest continuously operating wineries.
Planner’s Perspective – Dana Lancellotti
MT: How did you learn of Renault Winery & Resort?
“Meredith Dickinson, Renault’s manager of business development, reached out to our organization and invited me out for a tour. Blending modern accommodations and historic elements, the property is amazingly beautiful and serene. The charm includes the vineyard and award-winning wines, golf course, waterscapes, activities and versatile indoor and outdoor venues.”
MT: Sounds like you were ready to book!
“With all that Renault offers, we had the perfect stage for accommodating our annual board retreat, a three-part day and nighttime event comprising three distinct guest groupings.”
MT: What were those programs?
“First was our private Board of Directors lunch and meeting, held in a beautiful second-floor banquet room overlooking the scenic landscape. We then moved downstairs to welcome our industry partners, the companies that support and sponsor our association. That afternoon, they enjoyed the “Historic Tour and Taste of Renault” experience, which features intriguing historic spaces including the original footprint of the Renault estate, the speakeasy and onsite Glass Museum with wine tastings. It was like stepping back in time into the Prohibition era.”
Connecticut’s Casinos Have Culinary Cachet
Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen also opened at Foxwoods Resort Casino last year, adding star power to the property’s roster.
Mohegan Sun’s prodigious F&B collection runs the gamut. Essential group coordinates include TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge in partnership with TAO Hospitality Group. The collaboration extends to the projected opening this fall of TAO’s energetic lifestyle-driven Beauty & Essex brand. Other evocative dining rooms include Tuscany-inspired Ballo Italian Kitchen and Michael Jordan’s Steak House.
This January, Mohegan Sun celebrated the 20th anniversary of its annual Sun Wine & Food Fest. One of the largest and most popular culinary festivals in the Northeast, the multi-day event features celebrity chef appearances, exceptional culinary showcases and luxury spirit tastings.
The event also serves as a stage for students from Mohegan Sun’s Culinary Internship Program to demonstrate their skills. Commenced in 1996, this unique apprenticeship opportunity is a bright example of owner-operator Mohegan Tribe’s commitment to people and industry leadership.
Getting Their Chops Down
Chef Lynn Mansel, with Mohegan Sun since it opened in 1996, is executive pastry chef and a director of culinary for the property. He is also closely involved with Mohegan Sun’s Culinary Internship Program, mentoring interns, organizing their schedules and working with them on projects like the Sun Wine & Food Fest. Mastering the culinary arts takes time and training; as Mansel explains here, Mohegan Sun gives young talent a head start
“This exceptional one-year program allows future chefs and pâtissiers alike to obtain invaluable, hands-on experience. All interns become fully immersed as Mohegan Sun team members, rotating through areas including banquets, casual and fine dining, room service and the ever-popular pastry shop. Unique opportunities include assisting with the yearly assembly of a 28-foot-tall, life-size gingerbread house that resides in The Shops at Mohegan Sun during the holiday season.
International culinary students can apply for a J-1 visa via our partnership with the International Cultural Exchange Organization (ICEO). Once accepted and cleared by the U.S. Embassy, they receive complimentary travel to the U.S. and assistance with finding temporary housing for the duration of their time with Mohegan Sun. Previous international students have hailed from countries including Thailand, Korea, Poland, Japan and various areas of South America.
In addition to culinary education, interns are also offered training and orientation in preparation for careers in tourism and hospitality. All interns within the program receive compensation comparable to what they would receive as official team members.
Upon completion of the program, interns can apply for permanent employment at Mohegan Sun, based on availability. Since the commencement of this program in 1996, Mohegan Sun’s culinary department has welcomed nearly 800 students and has a 97% success rate.”
U.S.-based interns are encouraged to submit applications for the Culinary Internship Program and International interns can contact ICEO to submit.
Pennsylvania Is the Land of Plenty
Completed last year, the multimillion-dollar expansion of Wind Creek Bethlehem added a second hotel tower with 276 luxurious rooms, doubling its key count to 550 and nearly tripling the property’s total meeting space to 60,000 square feet.
Backed by the 23,000-square-foot centerpiece Foundry Ballroom, the new tower’s stunning two-level lobby is home to chic new cocktail bar Mixx. Molten Lounge is for martinis and other crafted cocktails. The star of the dining portfolio is The Chop House. Formerly Emeril’s Chop House, this event-capable classic American steakhouse is a destination restaurant unto itself.
AAA Four Diamond-rated Mount Airy Casino Resort in the picturesque Pocono Mountains focuses on experiences for groups, and that includes peak dining at award-winning Bistecca by Il Mulino and modern Pan-Asian concept Lucky 8 Noodle + Sushi Bar. Planners can coordinate breakfast, multi-course dinners and custom menus with the resort’s executive chef.
Vegas Influences, Local Flavors
As the major casino-resorts bookending the region, MGM National Harbor in Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., and Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, within sight of downtown Boston, offer large-footprint dining for groups. The former’s portfolio includes Voltaggio Brothers Steak House from Maryland-born brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, who recently brought the concept to Mandalay Bay in Vegas.
Encore Boston Harbor looks and feels like its Vegas siblings, but there is no mistaking the local flavor within its glamorous trappings. Celebrating five years this June, the 671-room Wynn Resorts’ property, integrating 50,000 square feet of indoor space and 21,000 square feet of outdoor lawn space, has a decidedly Boston accent, dining included.
Dunkin’ Donuts, founded in 1950 in nearby Quincy, is as local as it gets. Restaurateurs Frank DePasquale and Nick Varano, veterans of Boston’s historic North End, or Little, brought Fratelli and more casual Frank and Nick’s to the resort. And it’s Boston meets Vegas meets Boston at the resort’s newest concept, Seamark Seafood & Cocktails.
Conceived by Vegas-based Carver Road Hospitality, which is owned by Boston native Sean Christie, the restaurant is helmed by James Beard Award-winning Boston native Michael Schlow, whose menu showcases New England’s fresh-caught coastal bounty. Venues at the highly anticipated nautically inspired restaurant include Old Wives’ Tale, a hideaway maritime-themed speakeasy-style bar that will serve as the 16-capacity private dining room. Large group buyouts are also available.
Whether you’re craving a burger and beer or breakfast and a Bloody Mary, Encore has it all.
Since its grand debut in 2019, Encore Boston Harbor has attracted a host of regional and national hospitality veterans to open within its coveted doors. Though some of the original concepts remain, there’s been some newcomers to the luxury hotel and casino that emphasize the shiny, golden beacon as a destination in itself for date night or a longer staycation.
There’s something for everyone here: One of the newest restaurants reflects Encore’s Wynn-backed Las Vegas roots as former Wynn executive turned co-founder and CEO of Carver Road Hospitality unveils Seamark Seafood & Cocktails off the main lobby. A more casual option is from Somerville-founded brewery Night Shift that features their Brewing Kitchen & Tap room alongside the casino floor. Meanwhile, the flagship Rare Steakhouse remains and is Massachusetts’ only restaurant registered to serve cuts verified by the Kobe Beef Federation (and one of less than 10 restaurants nationwide).
From fast casual to high end haute cuisine, Encore offers it all. Here’s your definitive guide of where to snack, eat and drink whether you’re craving a burger and beer or breakfast and a Bloody Mary.
Breakfast at Giardino
A brand new concept from Frank DePasquale and Nick Varano (both already familiar with the Encore customer base through their two other concepts here), Breakfast at Giardino is a breakfast and lunch spot that combines traditional Italian dishes from antipasti to homemade pasta. The second floor eatery is bright and airy, designed to evoke the atmosphere of an Italian terrace surrounded by lush gardens. Opening June 2024; Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Center Bar
The name says it all: smack in the middle of the casino floor and under two grand staircases, this bar offers a front seat to the action, whether you’re gambling over video poker games or simply taking a break from the tables. Hours: Daily 2 p.m.–2 a.m.
Cheese Meet Wine
This charcuterie-forward restaurant features bountiful boards full of cured meats, tinned fish imported directly from Spain, and its namesake, cheese, as well as an impressive selection of Champagne, wine and after-dinner cordials. With imported meats hanging from the ceiling, the decor is not for the faint of heart, but the carnivorous diner will appreciate the dedication to the Euro-inspired wine bar. Hours: Friday and Saturday 4–11 p.m., Sunrise Menu Grab & Go Breakfast 7 a.m.–12 p.m.
Dunkin’
As if New Englanders needed another reason to celebrate the beloved Massachusetts brand, Encore’s outpost of Dunkin’ is open 24 hours a day. Expect all of the brand’s staples, from bagels and breakfast sandwiches to doughnuts and oversized iced coffees. The only thing unusual about this chain is its age limit — as a result of being on the casino floor, customers must be over 21 years old to access it. Hours: 24 hours daily.
Frank & Nick’s
North End-famed restaurateurs Frank DePasquale and Nick Varano bring a taste of Little Italy to Encore in the form of a fast-casual Italian experience within the WynnBET Sportsbook. It’s all about convenience here; customers can order at the counter, online or grab-and-go. Menu highlights include artisanal hot paninis, classic chicken parm, roast beef and whole pies inspired by Varano’s Rina’s Pizzeria. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–3 a.m.
Fratelli
Another venture from DePasquale and Varano, Fratelli is more of an elevated dining room with a menu inspired by the Amalfi Coast. In addition to made-to-order pasta dishes, there’s fried and stuffed zucchini flowers, lobster fra diavolo, zuppa di pesce and risotto all Sorrentina. Wash it down with the duo’s Famous Espresso Martini built with Absolut Vanilla, Bailey’s, Kahlua, Frangelico, Disaronno, and espresso, with a raw sugar and cocoa rim; the utterly perfect drink for a casino. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 4 p.m.–12 a.m., Friday and Saturday 4 p.m.–2 a.m.
Mémoire
Spread over 8,000-square-feet, Encore’s signature nightclub accommodates up to 650 guests. There are plenty of bars for club-goers to order a la carte, but also room for 20 VIP tables, all under ornate chandeliers and regal accents. Mémoire’s Funktion One sound system was installed in order to host the best DJs with an ever-rotating guest list of world-renowned performers. Prospective guests should take note of the club’s dress code: resort elegant attire is required. Hours: Friday and Saturday 10 p.m.–2 a.m.
Mystique Asian Restaurant & Lounge
Designer Peter Niemitz transformed this 16,400-square-foot space into a multi-faceted dining area and lounge. The restaurant highlights traditional pan-Asian cuisine with appetizers like salt and pepper calamari, scallion pancakes and shareable plates like tik tok chicken, as well as Singapore street noodles. For a more casual outing, Mystique Lounge is a 94-seat salon that serves many of the same shareables in the presence of a live DJ every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Hours: Dining Room: Sunday through Thursday 5–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5–11 p.m. Bar & Lounge: Sunday through Thursday 5–11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m.–2 a.m.
Night Shift Brewing Kitchen & Tap
With more than 20 beers on tap, including one made especially for Encore Boston Harbor deemed Local Luck IPA, this Somerville-founded brewery is a must for a pint or two and comfort bar food. If you can’t decide on just one or two styles, Night Shift offers tasting flights which are an interactive way to learn more about the brand as well as try all they have to offer. There’s a full menu here, but the small bites like hot onion rings, truffle popcorn and jumbo pretzel are the best accompaniment for the hoppy pours. Hours: Friday and Saturday 5–11 p.m. Bar is open 5 p.m.–12 a.m.
Old Wives’ Tale
Tucked off Seamark Seafood & Cocktails, this cozy speakeasy is inspired by the majesty of the sea, featuring bespoke beverages from internationally renowned spirits expert Francesco Lafranconi of Carver Road Hospitality. Both the decor (globes, marine maps and anchors away) as well as (dried seaweed, oyster leaves) ingredients nod to New England’s seafaring history as well as various ports of call around the world. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 6–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6 p.m.–2 a.m.
On Deck
The leather barstools, mahogany wood and fireplace elevate the feel of this all-American sports bar, making it a place for fans and the fair-weathered, alike. No matter who you’re rooting for (or if you’re rooting at all) On Deck’s 33 TVs and a bounty of typical game day comfort foods may entice you to post up here until close. Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Brunch Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Rare Lounge
After an overwhelming response for Encore’s flagship Rare Steakhouse, the team expanded with Rare Lounge, a more casual concept adjacent to its older sibling’s white tablecloths. The lounge is meant to offer a pre- and post-dinner venue for approachable, yet still elevated, snacks (sliders and a locally sourced raw bar) and nightcaps. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 5–11 p.m. Bar is open 4–11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m.–12 a.m. Bar is open 4–12 a.m.
Rare Steakhouse
The name behind this steakhouse offers a nuanced peek into what’s available here — at first glance the title reflects the presentation of meat, but there’s so many awe-inspiring moments diners discover at Rare that contribute to its nomenclature. There’s Japanese Wagyu, including authentic Kobe beef from the Hyogo Prefecture, Sanuki olive beef from the Seto Inland Sea, and a 700-label wine list to impress even the fiercest epicurean. The gold-gilded dining room is definitely a swoon-worthy spot for date night, but also fit for friends’ celebrations or to close a business deal. Hours: Thursday through Sunday 5–10 p.m.
Red 8
Chef Kevin HanQing brings classic Chinese dishes to life at Encore with the likes of dim sum, wok tossed noodles and the delicacy of Peking duck that is served straight from the wood-fire oven. HanQing showcases quality both in his dishes and presentation – like the whole steamed fish or hand-pulled BBQ pork. Hours: Monday through Thursday 5–11 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–12 a.m.
Seamark Seafood & Cocktails
Embodying a pier-to-plate ethos, James Beard Award-Winning Chef Michael Schlow respects New England’s seafood favorites, while championing a contemporary presentation for them. In addition to the classic seafood towers and raw bar, there’s lobster tostadas, spicy seafood stew, and new style fish and chips. One of the most famous items on the menu comes in the form of Chef’s self-titled patty — The Schlowburger is served with cheddar, crispy onions and horseradish-black pepper. Hours: Monday through Thursday 5–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Sunday Brunch 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Shake Shack
Just like its doughnut counterpart at Dunkin’, this casino-floor burger joint is unique in its 21-plus regulation for ordering a patty. Other than that, expect the same roadside burgers made with 100 percent Angus beef that the chain is known for, complete with an order of crinkle fries. There’s also craft beer and wine available. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–3 a.m.
WynnBET Sportsbook
This is the first-ever sports betting venue to be licensed in the Bay State (in December 2022). There’s a sprawling, full-service bar surrounded by more than 70 televisions, including a 123-foot-long video wall. Betters can also choose to refuel by ordering from fast food outposts on the floor — Shake Shack and Frank & Nick’s. Hours: Venue 12 p.m.–2 a.m. Betting windows: Monday through Friday 3–11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Carver Road Hospitality, an investor, developer, operator, and marketer of top-tier hospitality concepts, is pleased to announce that Seamark Seafood & Cocktails opened Friday, April 12. A contemporary interpretation of New England’s timeless seafood dining experience, Seamark blends tradition with innovation, highlighted by Carver Road Hospitality’s signature service excellence and commitment to culinary mastery. The restaurant will be open Monday through Thursday from 5:00p until 11:00p and Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00p until 2:00a. Seamark will introduce Sunday Brunch on April 21 from 10:00a until 4:00p.
• THE CULINARY PROGRAM: With a focus on elevated New England seafood and local ingredients, Seamark’s culinary program is skillfully helmed by James Beard award-winning Chef Michael Schlow. Schlow continues to highlight Carver Road Hospitality’s commitment to elevated-yet-friendly hospitality while working with the culinary team to implement a menu that captivates and delights Seamark guests. The menu showcases seafood-centric recipes that highlights New England’s coastal bounty while appealing to the varied palates of Encore Boston Harbor guests from both near and far.
• THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM: Expertly curated by Carver Road Hospitality’s Vice President of Beverage & Hospitality Culture, Francesco Lafranconi, Seamark’s cocktail program draws from lore and legend intertwined with New England’s seafaring history. The beverage menu offers a wide variety of beer and wine, alongside a selection of classic and signature cocktails. Guests have the opportunity to explore ports of call around the globe, featuring spirits and flavors collected oceans away.
• THE DESIGN: Situated adjacent to the resort’s Garden Lobby and across from the stunning Ferris wheel, the welcoming and luxurious restaurant is designed by the award-winning architecture and design firm Rockwell Group. Their concept explores the riches of the oceans and the maritime history of the area. The chic and nautically-inspired space includes an 82-seat main dining room, a 30-seat alcove dining room, 41-seat showcase bar and lounge, 34-seat outdoor terrace, 21-seat corridor terrace, and 16-seat private dining room. Each room is infused with unexpected historic details and references that tell a different story from the oversized mast-inspired lights in the dining room to the stacked treasury cabinets at the bar to the custom vintage map mural in the speakeasy.
• THE SPEAKEASY: Hidden behind the rear wall of Seamark, Old Wives’ Tale is a concealed speakeasy featuring a specialty food and drink menu alongside intriguing antiques and gadgets that add a unique element of detail to this secret space. From the oceanic glassware to creative garnishes, every detail has been carefully curated to immerse guests in the mystique of the sea while mixologists craft a collection of cocktails that pay homage to the essence of the ocean. To complement the captivating flavors, Old Wives’ Tale offers a selection of small plates featuring fresh seafood delicacies.
“Seamark is not only an important expansion for Carver Road Hospitality but it’s also very personal for me,” says Carver Road Hospitality co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Sean Christie. “As a Boston native, I got my start and worked in the food and beverage industry in the area for years before moving to Las Vegas. And, during my time as a Wynn executive, I saw the Encore Boston Harbor site secured and watched the property develop and evolve, so it’s all come full circle,” says Christie.
Dining reservations are available at Seamark Seafood & Cocktails (seamarkencore.com). Additional details and updates can be viewed at seamarkencore.com and via the restaurant’s social media channels @SeamarkEncore. For more information about Seamark Seafood and Cocktails and Carver Road Hospitality concepts, visit linktr.ee/carverroadhospitality.
Seamark Seafood & Cocktails at Encore Boston Harbor
Now Open
Seamark Seafood & Cocktails at Encore Boston Harbor led by James Beard award-winning Chef Michael Schlow showcases a nautical-designed space offering a pier-to-plate concept with the freshest cold-water fish, lobster, and shellfish available.
Enjoy a variety of seafood dishes, including lobster frites, spicy seafood stew with shrimp, scallops, and clams, housemade spaghetti with lobster, Õra King salmon with French lentils and smoked bacon, and spicy crab fried rice. Don’t forget dessert! Share the ‘Seamark Sundae’ featuring vanilla bean, dark chocolate, and espresso ice creams, dark chocolate toffee, milk chocolate peanuts, Amarena cherries, dulce caramel, dark chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.
Seamark’s cocktail program is inspired by the lore and legend of New England’s seafaring history. Get into the maritime spirit and try the ‘Admiral’s Dram,’ Seamark’s interpretation of a Grog made with a secret blend of rums and spices with the addition of Rooibos tea. Grog was historically a drink made of rum and water with lime and sugar often added and rationed to British sailors on long journeys. If you’re an oyster lover, opt for the Seamark Martini’ concocted with Gray Whale Gin, Ostreida Vodka distilled with oysters, M&R Ambrato Vermouth, Manzanilla-style sherry, and saline. Cocktail lovers will also love discovering the speakeasy, Old Wives’ Tale tucked behind the rear wall of Seamark. This hidden gem pays homage to the mystique of the sea with a vintage map mural and maritime antiques and offers flavor-packed craft cocktails and fresh seafood bites.
For brunch offerings, enjoy crave-worthy shareables, including the ‘Bag-a-Donuts’ with warm, housemade cinnamon bomboloni and Nutella dipping sauce. Indulge in a ‘Brunch Tower’ with smoked salmon, whitefish salad, smoked trout roe, bagels, tomato, onion, cucumber, and cream cheese while you sip on brunch-style cocktails such as the ‘Hello Sunshine,’ an enhanced mimosa with Italicus Bergamot Liqueur, Mionetto Prosecco, fresh orange juice, and strawberry purée.
What else does Guy Fieri love about Boston?
He is also excited about a hot new restaurant, Seamark Seafood & Cocktails, which recently opened at Encore Boston Harbor with a menu by Michael Schlow.
We recently caught up with the Mayor of Flavortown, who was in New England to support his famous friends.
While at Foxwoods Resort Casino last week for the opening of Grace by Nia, Time Out had the pleasure of sitting down with Guy Fieri to chat about his time in Boston and more.
Over a spread of cocktails—made from the celeb chef’s own Santo Tequila, of course—plus burgers, fries and his famous trash can nachos at Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen and Bar, Fieri dished on his favorite Boston chefs these days, catching another Celtics game and how he measures his own success.
Wait… is Guy Fieri a Celtics fan?
Eagle-eyed Cs fans may have spotted Guy Fieri sitting courtside at the TD Garden during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and the Indiana Pacers.
“Going to a game at The Garden is one of the greatest,” Fieri told Time Out. “One, Boston fans, they’re great. They’re crazy, they’re tenacious, they’re everything.” But he isn’t necessarily among them: the Golden State Warriors superfan was just in town for a good time. “I was just there to see great basketball and oh my God, did I see it,” Fieri said.
What else does Guy Fieri love about Boston?
Of course, the Mayor of Flavortown wasn’t in town just to talk hoops. He also visited some of his favorite chefs in Boston, including fellow Food Network star Tiffani Faison. “I just went over to Sweet Cheeks for barbecue,” Fieri said, noting restaurateur Faison’s win in the third season of his competition show, Tournament of Champions.
He is also excited about a hot new restaurant, Seamark Seafood & Cocktails, which recently opened at Encore Boston Harbor with a menu by Michael Schlow. The Time Out Market chef and owner of acclaimed Alta Strada, which has locations in Wellesley and Foxwoods, Schlow is “another great friend of mine, amazing chef,” Fieri said. He also praised “all of Kenny Oringer’s restaurants,” which include Toro, Coppa, Little Donkey and Faccia a Faccia.
Fieri, whose wife, Laurie, is from Providence, said the Boston food landscape has changed over the years. “We’ve been coming to Boston together for 30 years, when it was all chowder and lobster rolls,” he said. But recent visits to shoot new episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives showed him a lot more to offer. (We coulda told him that!)
“We just shot six locations for Triple D,” Fieri shared. Though he wouldn’t specify exactly which restaurants, it’s “an eclectic mix” featuring a Vietnamese cuisine specialist, among other spots. These days, the food in Boston is “as diverse as the history of Boston,” Fieri said. The city is “a great destination to come to for food.”
What’s the deal with trash can nachos?
Fieri is involved as a Boston restaurant owner as well, with his popular Guy’s Bar and Kitchen on the edge of Boston Common. One of the most popular dishes there? The vegan trash can nachos, believe it or not. “It’s big at Guy’s Boston because we’re close to Emerson, and there’s all these college kids,” Fieri explains. “Vegan cheese, vegan beans, even vegan chorizo, they eat it up.”
The unique presentation—stacked in a can—is all about getting full flavor in every bite, according to Fieri. Would he ever apply his unique nacho presentation to other types of food? Fieri was shocked by our question, because in fact, there is something new on the horizon.
“Either you’re bugging my room, we might be related, or there’s some cosmic intervention in the universe,” Fieri exclaimed. “I have about 10 recipes of trash can nachos in other ethnicities that are getting ready to happen. I have Indian. I have Korean. You just wait. They’re coming. I even have a raw version.”
Was Guy Fieri at a Family Reach fundraiser in Boston, too?
Fieri’s own non-profit supports first responders and others in need. Recently, with help from Faison, Fox & the Knife chef Karen Akunowicz and other Food Network talent, the Guy Fieri Foundation raised more than $1.5 million for Hawaiian families and business owners after the devastating Maui wildfires. During his recent visit to Boston, Fieri supported another famous friend, Ming Tsai, at the local chef’s annual culinary fundraiser for Family Reach at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel.
The Boston based non-profit “is an amazing program,” Fieri said, which provides non-medical financial support to families facing cancer. He co-hosted Cooking Live by Family Reach, along with Tsai. To Fieri, it was a fun way to give back. “Taking the opportunities that I have and being able to divert them,” Fieri said, to reflect on positive things others are doing, “that’s the greatest sign of success.”