Hello, fall; hello, exciting new restaurants—from an Italian sandwich chain with a huge following to a highly anticipated farm-to-table spot to two speakeasy-style cocktail hideaways. Here’s the latest installment of our monthly guide on exciting newcomers to check out and older spots that have recently expanded or changed. (Check out last month’s guide here.)
New Restaurants to Try This Month
Recent (and imminent) openings you’ve got to check out.
89 Charles. / Courtesy photo
89 Charles (Beacon Hill)
Another new entry in Boston’s modern “speakeasy” scene, this intimate, Art Deco-inspired Beacon Hill spot reimagines classic cocktails—the “umami-forward” Filthy Martini, for instance, with vodka or gin, marinated olive brine, and MSG saline. Plus: hard-to-find vintage Champagnes and wines, and drink-friendly small plates like caviar with schmaltz latkes, a shaved fennel Caesar, and hamachi crudo with spicy citrus broth.
89 Charles St., Beacon Hill, Boston, 617-326-2600, 89charles.com.
Capri (South End)
Make the best of the last outdoor dining days of the year on Boston’s most gorgeous new patio, dripping with Amalfi Coast vibes and stunning hand-rolled pastas from the Prima team. Bonus: free parking, except when the SoWa Open Market is running on Sundays.
500 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston, capriboston.com.
CocoMango Speakeasy (Cambridge)
Yep, it’s a good month for hidden cocktail bars (see: 89 Charles above). CocoMango debuts October 3—reservations (and secret entry code) required. This one comes from the TopMix restaurant group (locations in Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Cambridge) and continues its big siblings’ focus on Latin-Caribbean flavors. Lush with tropical vibes, the space—connected to the Cambridge TopMix—will play host to live music and DJs.
50 CambridgePark Dr., Cambridge, instagram.com/cocomangospeakeasy.
Fallow Kin’s smoked cabbage with crispy chicken skin and “New England dashi” (infused with a roasted blend of Maine seaweed, dried foraged mushrooms, and shallots). / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Fallow Kin (Cambridge)
Tasty and good for the environment? We can’t wait to see how Fallow Kin’s farm-to-table, zero-waste ambitions make it onto the plate when the restaurant opens in mid-October (reservations here) with dishes such as a burger that blends wagyu with mycelium, a mushroom byproduct.
853 Main St., Central Square, Cambridge, fallowkin.com.
Pizzas and more at Fido Pizza. / Photo by Reagan Byrne
Fido Pizza (Allston)
We’re thrilled that Bar Mezzana’s pasta experts have brought their dough expertise to pizza with this neighborhood-y newbie, which pairs fun pies (Buffalo chicken, anyone?) with pepperoni-pizza Negronis and tomato-vine-infused martinis. Pizza-power-lunch note: Personal 10-inch pies are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
250 Western Ave., Allston, Boston, 617-420-3436, fidopizza.com.
Louis Corner. / Photo by MAZÍ Food Group
Louis Corner (South End)
The classics are cool again at this recent South End arrival, sibling to neighborhood favorites Kava Neo-Taverna, Desnuda Cocina & Bar, and more. We’re loving the nostalgic trip through American regional mainstays, from deviled eggs to oysters Rockefeller to comforting shrimp and grits.
552 Tremont St., South End, Boston, louiscorner.com.
Mai (Seaport District)
This swanky little French-Japanese izakaya from the Matsunori Handroll Bar team has plenty of social-media-friendly moments—did you catch the Labubus in the rafters? But there’s plenty of substance to go with the style: tasty caviar-topped chicken nuggets, for example, and wagyu steak frites with shiso sauce and irresistible truffle ketchup.
31 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston, mai.boston.
The Nightly (Dorchester)
Boston’s lucky to welcome back chef Jeff Fournier (of the now-closed Newton locavore gem 51 Lincoln) with this Savin Hill spot atop the Daily Market. The test-kitchen-style menu is rotating—and playful!—from crab-filled “French-Canadian maki” to Cuban sandwiches.
Currently open for dinner Thursday through Sunday. 110 Savin Hill Ave. (third floor), Dorchester, Boston, thenightlyboston.com.
Park Bagelry (Allston)
The group behind Somerville cafés Bloc, Diesel, and Forge has recently expanded to Allston—the Labworks complex, right by Fido Pizza (see above)—with a bagel-focused shop serving up naturally leavened rounds made of local flours and a touch of sweetness from Vermont maple syrup. Flavors like jalapeño cheddar, sesame, and poppy are joined by rotating specials like chocolate chip. Get ’em on their own or in sandwich form, plus a handful of other pastries and Forge ice cream pints.
280 Western Ave., Allston, Boston, instagram.com/parkbagelry.
Chefs prepare a wagyu, truffle, and maitake appetizer at Yoshida. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Yoshida (Back Bay)
It takes a lot to stand out in Boston’s crowded high-end sushi scene, but this elegant new addition is off to a strong start. We particularly appreciate the creative, luxurious appetizers (caviar-and-lobster-topped toro tartare, for instance) and simple, pristine nigiri.
51 Massachusetts Ave., Back Bay, Boston, yoshidaomakase.com.
Older Restaurants Doing New Things
Expansions and other changes—time for a (re)visit.
All’Antico Vinaio. / Courtesy photo
All’Antico Vinaio (Back Bay)
A popular Florence, Italy-based sandwich chain that showcases the Tuscan flatbread schiacciata opens its first Boston location (and 49th in the world) at noon on October 3—the first 500 sandwiches are free! The fan-favorite sandwich is La Favolosa, loaded with Tuscan salami, Pecorino and artichoke creams, and spicy eggplant, but other options abound if you’re in the mood for different Italian meats or something more veggie-forward.
565 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, allanticovinaiousa.com.
Brassica co-owner Jeremy Kean testing out the pizza oven in the new space. / Courtesy photo
Brassica Kitchen + Café (Jamaica Plain)
From doughnuts to fried chicken to spectacular, eclectic tasting menus at dinner, this quirky JP destination has been delighting diners for nearly a decade. The team has outgrown the space and is moving next door, reopening around mid-October with much more room—and a pizza oven, too. (Stay tuned for both Roman- and Detroit-style pies.)
3712 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, brassicakitchen.com.
Elephantine Bakery in Boston. / Photo by Jessica Reyes
Elephantine Bakery (Fort Point)
This is the second location for a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based bakery rooted in French tradition with Mediterranean flair. Swing by the beautifully decorated space for breads (such as baguettes and pain au levain), pastries (such as pain au chocolat and pumpkin scones), and light breakfast or lunch (such as lox on simit, a round Turkish bread that resembles a bagel).
332 Congress St., Fort Point/Seaport District, Boston, 857-449-6059, elephantinebakery.com.
GrandTen Distilling (South Boston)
Haven’t been to GrandTen in a while? Revisit now: The distillery will close its longtime South Boston bar and tasting room after service on October 19, with the final cocktail menu highlighting some old favorites. This is “not a goodbye” but rather a “see you later,” the company posted on social media, promising an announcement regarding a new Boston location soon.
383 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, grandten.com.
Pixlcat Coffee’s black sesame dopo panna latte. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Pixlcat Coffee (Charlestown)
San Francisco-founded Pixlcat Coffee takes the current colorful latte obsession and kicks it up a notch with rich whipped cream joining a double shot of espresso and flavors like ube or black sesame (our favorite). Bonus: fresh butter mochi, chewy muffin-shaped Hawaiian treats made of glutinous rice flour. Pixlcat’s been making a splash around town lately, popping up at Boston’s Copley Square Farmers Market and the Fish & Farm Market in the Seaport. On October 5, it’ll debut a more permanent spot at Charlestown’s Foundation Kitchen.
32 Cambridge St. (Foundation Kitchen at the Graphic), Charlestown, Boston, pixlcatcoffee.com.
Row 34 (Kenmore)
The beloved seafood mini chain is celebrating 12 years of hospitality with a polished fifth location—and this one’s got a backstory: The Kenmore Square space once housed former sibling Island Creek Oyster Bar. We think that calls for a toast, preferably with lobster bao buns and oysters.
498 Commonwealth Ave. (Hotel Commonwealth), Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-213-7750, row34.com.
Various Sally’s Apizza pizzas at the Woburn location. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Sally’s Apizza (Dorchester)
Classic New Haven, Connecticut “apizza” joint Sally’s opened its second Massachusetts location at the end of September, at Dorchester’s South Bay Center, joining the nearly two-year-old Woburn outpost. (There are at least two more to come—Concord and Boston’s Seaport District.) The pleasantly charred, thin-crust pizza has a fiercely loyal fanbase. Swing by in October for National Pizza Month specials, including the debut of a new pizza (“spicy little meatball”) and an $18 large tomato sauce and mozzarella pie deal (available via online ordering, starting October 7).
9 District Ave. (South Bay Center), Dorchester, Boston, 857-557-7209, sallysapizza.com.
Hallowed Hall, a special cocktail by Jackson Cannon available at the Symphony Hall bar in October 2025. / Courtesy photo
Symphony Hall (Fenway)
Not a restaurant, but worth a visit nonetheless. If you’re heading to a concert at Symphony Hall this month, be sure to stop by the bar for a special cocktail in celebration of Symphony Hall’s 125th anniversary. Veteran drink expert Jackson Cannon, beverage director of ES Hospitality (Eastern Standard, Equal Measure, and Standard Italian), has partnered with the symphony to create three drinks for the occasion, including the Hallowed Hall, an “elegant, blush-red champagne cocktail [that] resonances with complex notes of apple, almond, and crushed red fruit.”
301 Massachusetts Ave. (Symphony Hall), Fenway, Boston, bso.org.
Trade. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Trade (Downtown)
When it comes to A Street Hospitality, the restaurant group helmed by Eric Papachristos, Jody Adams, and Jon Mendez, all eyes have been on its sparkling 2024 newcomer La Padrona lately. But don’t forget the group’s older outposts, including Mediterranean mainstay Trade, which has just debuted a hearty Greek lamb feast on Friday and Saturday nights for groups of up to four (half leg) or eight (full). Book under “Experiences” on OpenTable.
540 Atlantic Ave., Downtown Boston, trade-boston.com.
Looking Ahead
Intriguing spots set to open in the next couple months or so.
Gato Exotico (Cambridge)
Harvard Square’s extraordinarily eye-catching tiki palace Wusong Road gets a new sibling late this year at CambridgeSide, the East Cambridge mall formerly known as the CambridgeSide Galleria. The team is promising a modern reimagining of 1990s mall dining—think Rainforest Café vibes, minus the animatronics, owner Jason Doo told the Globe—with a menu of regional Mexican specialties, with mezcal- and tequila-based drinks highlighted.
100 Cambridgeside Pl. (CambridgeSide), East Cambridge, cambridgeside.com.
Pollo al limon at a Rosa y Marigold preview dinner at its Vermont sibling, Esmeralda. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Rosa y Marigold (Back Bay)
Back Bay gets an exciting taste of the Peruvian superstars Camberville folks have been raving about for years when Celeste and La Royal’s sibling opens early next year at the buzzy Lyrik development. Ceviche and live music, here we come.
400 Newbury St. (Lyrik Back Bay), Back Bay, Boston.
A version of this guide first appeared in the print edition of the October 2025 issue with the headline, “The Hot List.”
Dining and Cooking