By Emma Royse By Emma Royse | April 2, 2024 | Food & Drink, Feature, Guide, Guides,
Rain or shine, venture out and uncover the city’s newest eateries, from secretive speakeasies to a world of diverse flavors.Seamark Seafood & Cocktails’ interiors feature nautical influences.
ALTHEA
The dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind Central Square’s Viale is expanding their talents in Cambridge this month. After more than a decade of satisfying taste buds with Italian wine and plates, co-owners Shauna Reyburn and Greg Reeves are diving headfirst into serving American dishes in The Dial’s former Central Square location. Just in time for New England summer, Althea’s (altheacentralsq.com) year-long outdoor patio will invite Bostonians to lounge alfresco or cool off in the exposed brick interiors. Satiate your cravings with raw bar offerings, seafood plates and fresh, local vegetables that are grilled to perfection.
Merai’s spicy pork dumplings with Northern Thai spices and scallions.
MERAI
Every local foodie has spent a night or two at Brookline’s brick-lined cocktail bar, Mahaniyom. Thanks to co-owners Chompon Boong Boonnak and Smuch Saikamthorn, fans now have a new haunt. An eclectic blend of global-inspired Thai flavors awaits inside the casual yet elevated dive bar, Merai (meraibar.com). Pull up a chair at the 40-seat eatery and indulge in plates featuring Thai flavors with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Shareable bites like khao soi fettuccini, paired with a handcrafted cocktail or mocktail, are calling your name.
SEAMARK SEAFOOD AND COCKTAILS
Carver Road Hospitality is charting a fresh course toward New England with the opening of Seamark Seafood & Cocktails (seamarkencore.com) at Encore Boston Harbor. The nautical-inspired restaurant, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow, promises to revolutionize the traditional New England seafood dining experience, serving up a contemporary rendition of regional favorites—think a plethora of fresh pier-to-plate cold-water fish, lobster and shellfish. Designed by the award-winning Rockwell Group, the nautical-inspired style will echo the distinctive maritime heritage of the region across an outdoor patio, bar and lounge. As the evening winds down, make your way to The Old Wives’ Tale—a speakeasy cocktail bar discreetly hidden behind the back wall of Seamark. Maritime-themed decor adorns this 16-seat bar, where acclaimed mixologist Francesco Lafranconi welcomes guests to traverse the globe through an inspired cocktail menu from Plymouth, England, to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.
Photography by: COURTESY OF BRAND; TROY ALI