Local coffee legend George Howell returns to his coffee shop roots.
 A peek inside George Howell Coffee Company in Newtonville, which was previously called Taste. (Photo courtesy of George Howell) When it comes to all things coffee, the local authority is none other than George Howell, whose chainlet of Coffee Connection shops helped shape Boston’s coffee culture in the 90s. Howell sold his shops then to Starbucks, and went into wholesaling—you may recognize his artisan Terrior beans from restaurants and bakeries all over town, which come from his coffee roasting and education center in Acton.
Last year, Howell decided to get back into the retail game and purchased Taste, a casual cafe in Newtonville. The spot has now gotten an entire coffee geek overhaul—complete with a new name, George Howell Coffee—and is currently in its soft opening. READ MORE
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Preview the menu of the reboot of the North End seafood restaurant.
 Try Mare 2.0 this Friday. (Photo courtesy of Mare.) Over the past few months, upscale North End seafood spot Mare has been closed for a renovation (sound familiar?) that will turn it into a more casual, oyster-bar concept. The revamped Mare opens to the public this Friday, and I got a hold of the the new menu, which you can find ahead. READ MORE
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Dig into the city's newest, and most unexpected, dining hot spot.
 Head to Kendall Square for gravy fries from Abigail's. (Photo by Scott M. Lacey/Boston magazine) Boston and Cambridge diners may not be accustomed to thinking of Kendall Square in the context of food. After all, for most of its existence, the neighborhood’s been better known as a tech haven. But with countless restaurant gems popping up right and left, that’s changed and Kendall’s officially the city’s new successful culinary underdog. Everything from gastropubs and sushi stops to Southern-themed restaurants serving comfort food done right are either alive and well there, or coming soon.
To prepare you for this unexpected foodie hotspot, we’ve collected our past coverage of the restaurants. Read through for some dinner ideas — and for you Foursquare enthusiasts, check out our new Kendall Square tips list. READ MORE
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Owner Michael Wang shares details his new New Year-inspired sandwich at Foumami and his favorite Chinese New Year eats.
 The new spicy La Long pork sandwich and Longan melon soda will be available at Foumami for the next 15 days. (Photo courtesy of Foumami.) Today marks the official start of the Chinese New Year, a 15-day celebration that’s the most important holiday of the year for those of Chinese descent. This year is the “Year of the Dragon,” and in honor of the occasion, Asian-inspired downtown sandwich shop Foumami will debut a Chinese New Year-themed sandwich today called the La Long, which is Chinese for “spicy dragon.”
I recently chatted with Michael Wang, Foumami’s owner, in order to get more details on the new spicy sandwich, and find out how he celebrates the New Year on his own time. READ MORE
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Get a look at the still-under-construction space.
The blueprint for Moksa, slated to open mid-next month. All photos by Leah Mennies.
Earlier this month, I showed you a preview of Patricia Yeo’s menu for Moksa, her highly anticipated izakaya in Central Square. Though the concept was originally slated to open in December, it’s now been pushed back to the middle of next month.
“This has been the longest gestation ever,” Yeo told me yesterday, when I visited her in the still-rough space for a preview of the massive 8,500 square ft (!!) space. So while you may not be able to sample Yeo’s small plates and skewers for a few more weeks, you can learn about Moksa’s separate night club, “restaurant within the restaurant,” and bristled walls ahead. READ MORE
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Photo by Katie Barszcz
Submerged in the depths of Packard’s Corner in Allston sits Roast Beast, a relative newcomer on the sandwich scene. At first glance, the concept appears to be a college-friendly schtick, complete with a silly name and an over-the-top logo of a cow holding a roast beef sandwich. But once inside the basement-level spot, you’ll find that the marginally awkward space is both cozy and welcoming, with a few chairs are lined up at the counter for dining in (the main focus here is takeout). The staff is friendly and engaging; they genuinely care about their product and it shows—and honestly, they’d better, since the menu is pretty limited to the featured roast beef as well as turkey.
Thankfully, the aforementioned beef is divine—it’s succulent, moderately beefy, impeccably fresh tasting, and carefully sliced to ensure that you don’t get a thick slab of chewy beef. READ MORE
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 Alexis Gelburd-Kimler, left, and Matthew Gaudet, right, will bring West Bridge to Kendall Square this spring. (Photos courtesy of All Heart PR) It’s no secret that as a dining destination, Kendall Square has been blowing up as of late. Today, I bring you news of another great addition to the scene: West Bridge, a collaboration between chef Matthew Gaudet and general manager Alexis Gelburd-Kimler, both formerly of Aquitaine Bistro in the South End. I recently spoke with Gaudet and Gelburd-Kimler to get the lowdown on the new concept, which will be setting up shop in 1 Kendall Square (the same area that houses The Blue Room, Think Tank, and The Friendly Toast). READ MORE
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Welcome to Man Food, where burger pro Richard Chudy steps away from his usual burger beat to explore food challenges, street eats, and other gut-busting delights. Ladies are welcome, of course.
Photo by Katie Barszcz
Before you even walk through the door at Santarpio’s, the smell of smoke, garlic and bubbling cheese will smack you in the face. Once you step inside of the Eastie pizza place, you know the drill: squeeze into a wooden booth with torn leather cushions, and make nice with the waiters who will greet you with more attitude than charm. It’s all part of the allure of the place.
Most know the spot for its trademark cornmeal-crusted pizza, but there’s another must-get here: the single skewer of lamb ($6.50). READ MORE
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Welcome to Man Food, where burger pro Richard Chudy steps away from his usual burger beat to explore food challenges, street eats, and other gut-busting delights. Ladies are welcome, of course.
Photo by Katie Barszcz
I’m usually a bit ashamed when an unexpected craving for fried chicken strikes; I generally find the stuff to be over-cooked, with the meat offset by a pasty, breaded exterior and accompanied by stodgy biscuits—all in all, not my idea of a delicious meal. Luckily, the chicken at Bon Chon in Allston is a far cry from any sort of Colonel Sanders foolishness. This Korean phenomenon is downright addictive. READ MORE
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 The pork taco at Union Bar & Grille. (Photo by Fiona Coxe) Union Bar & Grill has been a staple in the South End scene for years, offering modern and unique twists to classic American dishes while keeping their ingredients and fresh, local and sustainable as possible. Their relaxed fine dining atmosphere had made them a hot spot for diners, and now those looking for smaller bites at the bar (or at the table) have options thanks to a new—and cheap—snack menu.
Since prices on the menu range from a mere $2- $4, I tried a couple of dishes on a recent visit. READ MORE
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