Boston-area restaurant openings & closings -- Oct/Nov/Dec 2015

Americas - USA East Boston & environs
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BRANCH LINE (321 Arsenal St., Watertown MA at the Arsenal, behind Casa de la Pedro) is opening for dinner next Monday October 19th.

An “urban rotisserie” with a wood-fired grill (not all fish, although they posted a video of a staff tasting of a whole grilled branzino on Facebook), the principal Garrett Harker also owns Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, and The Hawthorne.

Looked like they were having a Friends & Family tonight, so I stopped in and chatted with the manager. Attractive interior, extensive outdoor seating (apparently it will be year round), and what appears to be a bocce court but without any grass at the moment.

Their “coming soon” website just went live in the last few days, and they’ve been tweeting photos of staff training for the last week or so. Also, their OpenTable page is up, but not accepting reservations yet.

I think I’ll check it out Monday. Very excited, since I work nearby…

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Eater Boston’s summary of restaurants opening this fall:

Containers at IDB (shipping container food hall in Seaport)

Coppersmith (food trucks, rooftop raw bar, etc. in South Boston)–OPEN

Doretta Taverna (ex-Via Matta, Michael Schlow’s Greek in Back Bay)–OPEN

The Friendly Toast (all-day breakfast in Back Bay)

Gracenote Coffee (coffee shop in Leather District)

La Motta’s Italian Specialties (ex-Union Bar & Grille, Italian-American in South End)

Ocean Prime (high-end steak chain in Seaport)

Pink Samurai (dumplings in Jamaica Plain)

Saltie Girl (seafood in Back Bay)

Sfizi (tapas in North End)

SRV (Venetian small plates in South End)

State Street Provisions (Downtown)

Tiger Mama (Tiffani Faison’s Southeast Asia in Fenway)

Villa Mexico Cafe (reopening burritos in Financial District)

Wahlburgers (burgers in Fenway)

Wen’s Yunnan Noodle & Ramen (Yunnan noodles & ramen in Back Bay)

Whole Heart Provisions (vegan in Allston)–OPEN

Yvonne’s (ex-Locke Ober, supper club in Downtown Crossing)–OPEN

Bon Me (Vietnamese in Fresh Pond)–OPEN

Cinderella’s Bar & Restaurant (Italian in Central Square)–OPEN

Parsnip (ex-UpStairs on the Square in Harvard Square)

Playska (Eastern European sandwiches in Inman Square)

Smoke Shop (BBQ in One Kendall Square)

Anna’s Taqueria (burritos in Newton)

The Bagel Place (bagels & sandwiches in Newton Upper Falls)

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (legendary New Haven pizzeria in Chestnut Hill)

Little Big Diner (Southeast Asia in Newton Centre)

The Juice Union (juice & smoothies in Union Square, Somerville)

Juliet (cafe in Union Square, Somerville)

Opa Greek Yeeros (Greek in Davis Square)

Tenoch (Mexican in Davis Square)

Thurston Spa (reopening deli in Somerville)–OPEN

Branch Line (rotisserie in Watertown)

http://boston.eater.com/2015/8/26/9169575/boston-restaurants-new-openings-fall#4842158

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Eater Boston referenced Food Talk Central regarding the opening of Branch Line today.

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Had dinner at Branch Line tonight and thought it was excellent (especially if you like roasted fish/meat/veggies). Will post more later.

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I’m really looking forward to Little Big Diner opening. I had thought it would be opened by now, actually, and was wondering if they had given up!

1 Like
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MY REVIEW: http://foodtalkcentral.com/t/branch-line-watertown-ma/1410