By Nathan Tavares
Send this article to your social connections.
Send this article to your social connections.
Stay up-to-date on the best new restaurants, recent openings, and the biggest dining updates across Greater Boston’s food scene. Want more on the latest food and drink news? Sign up for The Dish, Boston.com’s newsletter featuring the latest food and drink news.
After a teaser opening for Pride last weekend which saw the lovely patio bustling thanks to a Blackbird Doughnuts popup, this beloved Asian gastropub in the South End is finally gearing up for a comeback. Last June, a fire damaged Banyan ahead of its tenth anniversary. The restaurant shuttered for repairs, and while the Gallows Group—who also own Blackbird Doughnuts and Sally’s Sandwiches—hoped the closure would be brief, it has since stretched for nearly a year. Keep an eye out on Banyan’s Instagram for the official opening announcement—tentatively slated for this month—and your chance to breeze in for bao buns, Korean sticky chicken, and more.
Opening date: June
553 Tremont St., South End
A post shared by The Chester Tavern (@chestertavern)
It sounds counter-intuitive, but scarfing some spicy buffalo chicken rangoons by the huge open windows at The Chester Tavern in Dorchester is a surprising antidote for summer heat. And, sure, the pineapple sangria at the newcomer helps. Hawkeye Hospitality—the folks behind Five Horses Tavern in the South End and other spots—opened the sprawling 6,000-square-foot, 216-seat restaurant in mid-May within a new mixed-use building in Savin Hill. Chef Anne Moynihan’s menu mixes modern American fare (mac and cheese, burgers, bowls) with global flourishes like street corn nachos. Park yourself at the 47-seat wraparound bar to watch the game on one of nine TV screens, too.
Open Now (May)
1121 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
A new destination for plant-based meals just sprouted in Kendall Square, joining a previous casual spot in South Boston. Like branching roots of a tree, the inspiration for the plates at Lulu Green spreads far and wide—from the Lebanese heritage from founders and sisters Mary and Nada Lattouf, to Korean- and Vietnamese-leaning eats. Gochujang-glazed seitan, chickpea “egg,” and roasted tofu take starring turns in brunch and lunch dishes, alongside açai bowls and smoothies. Skip the animal-based products, yes, but not dessert. Check out the vegan chocolate cheesecake jar that sees a gluten-free chocolate cookie crust topped with chocolate cheesecake and dreamy chocolate ganache.
Open Now (June)
675 W Kendall St, Cambridge
A post shared by Sweet Teez Bakery (@sweetteezbakery)
Summer is getting a little sweeter thanks to the upcoming opening of this local-owned bakery within the Dot Block apartment complex in Dorchester. After a preview during last weekend’s Dot Day festivities, chef/owner Teresa Maynard is opening the doors of her new bakery on June 26. Pop in for baked goods like cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and specials like sweet potato pie, all made completely nut-free. For about ten years, Maynard has been slinging sweets out of the Commonwealth Kitchen shared cooking space, and the gleaming new spot with its cake-frosting-pink ceiling on Dorchester Avenue marks the first time she’s flying solo. Unlike her previous efforts that required pre-orders, now customers can wander in for a sweet treat and stay awhile in the shared café space.
Opening date: June 26
1211 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
Bonus: El Yaqui
Underworld-themed bar Hecate gets a little more heavenly thanks to hotdog popup, El Yaqui. A side-hustle launched by bartender Orlando Parra, the menu showcases a singular dish inspired by the street food vendors in the Mexican state of Sonora. El Yaqui’s Sonoran hotdog sees a bacon-wrapped hotdog topped by grilled onion, tomato, mustard, avocado mousse, with soy-marinated mushrooms and cucumber to cut through the indulgent flavors. Wash it all down with a canned margarita that combines Bacanora—a mezcal-like spirit made from agave native to the Sierra Madres—with yellow bell pepper soda and chiltepín, a fiery Sonoran pepper.
Event details: 5 p.m.-12 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday, dine-in and take-out.
Hecate, 48 Gloucester St., Back Bay
Stay up to date on the latest food and drink news from Boston.com.
SIGN UP
Be civil. Be kind.
©2026 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC
Stay up to date with everything Boston. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
Leave a Reply