4 Hot New Restaurants in South End

 

There are so many fun things to do in South End, from exploring Ringgold Park to checking out the SoWa Open Market. Not only that, but the dining scene is full of fantastic eateries that are sure to impress. The best restaurants in South End are independently owned and operated with fresh menus and friendly folks on staff. These new eateries check all of those boxes and more, adding up to a memorable dining experience for all. So, don’t miss these top-notch new dining spots.

705 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118

 

For those who work or live near the BU Medical Campus, Gifu Teriyaki and Sushi is a convenient two-minute walk away. This delightful new Japanese restaurant is on the ground level of an adorable corner building on the southeast side of the Northampton Community Garden. Gifu replaces a breakfast joint that previously occupied the space.

Portion sizes are large and in charge at Gifu, and the pricing makes it easy for everyone to join in on a group order. Bento boxes here at Gifu are a fan favorite, with meat and vegetarian ingredients accented by the delicious sauces on offer. The spicy poke bowls are also excellent, featuring a tantalizing blend of textures.

Gifu is a family-run establishment, and it’s easy to see the pride of ownership in each delicious meal. While the surroundings here are on the simpler side as compared to the other places on our list, everything here is clean, neat, and typically uncrowded. So come for dine-in, grab some take-out, or order online for quick delivery.  

1721 Washington St #B, Boston, MA 02118

 

This new Chinese restaurant is small, with only 49 seats for in-house dining, but the authentic Dian cuisine packs a major punch. The chef at Yunnan, Yisha Siu, has received a startling amount of accolades in the press. Chef Siu is a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for the “Best Chef: Northeast” category. Boston Magazine raves about her crowd-pleasing cuisine, highlighting the sticky rice pancakes and fried pea flour jelly, among others. It’s not just the big publications that love Yunnan, either; the “regulars” love it, too. Locals love the grandma’s mashed potatoes and authentic food selections here.

Yunnan Kitchen is new on the scene as of this year, but Chef Yisha has been operating another local restaurant — South of the Clouds — since 2017. South of the Clouds is a more casual establishment; it features a light (and delicious) menu of noodles, soups, and appetizers. Yunnan’s menu is more daring, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find dishes like the “Xishuangbanna Lemongrass Tilapia” anywhere else in the area.

The best food is born of memories, and that is certainly the case for Yunnan Kitchen. Chef Yisha originally conceived of the idea for her first restaurant to alleviate the homesickness of being without her favorite foods from the Dian region. She soon discovered that her treasured cuisine was also appreciated by an ever-growing fanbase in her new home. Yunnan provides takeout and delivery options so that you can enjoy a delicious meal in your home as well. 

3 Appleton St, Boston, MA 02116

 

No discussion of the best new restaurants in South End would be complete without mentioning Wink & Nod, a charming spot for libations on Appleton Street. Its ambiance is that of a posh, modern speakeasy. The interior features impressive dark wooden wainscoting, soft wraparound sofas, and a metallic ceiling reflecting the sophisticated chandeliers, making everything glow. Now, this alluring speakeasy space is hosting more than just deluxe cocktails; it’s offering a new “food incubator” program.

The current pop-up offering in the food incubator program is called “SubRosa,” and it’s run by Chef Louis DiBiccari. From a young age, Louis was exposed to his mother’s Italian cooking, and he eventually went across the country to enroll in culinary school in Arizona. He soon moved back to Boston and started a position at the Sel de la Terre. In 2008, he became an award-winner while working as the chef de cuisine at the Back Bay Restaurant. More recently, Chef Louis owned his own bar-food restaurant, Tavern Road, along with a street cart under the same name.

Now, with SubRosa, Chef Louis serves contemporary American food with influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The current menu features seafood, meat, and vegetarian options to please a variety of palates. Unique medleys of ingredients make for memorable twists on traditional standards. Consider the twice-baked potato, which includes lobster, miso butter, creme fraiche, and caviar, or the arancini, which features an unforgettable basil pesto and marcona almond romesco.

A special bonus of SubRosa is that it partners with some “micro-producers” in the Boston area. These micro-producers craft some of the ingredients and elements of the pop-up’s dishes. Depending on what you order when you indulge in SubRosa’s cuisine, you might be supporting other local ventures as well.  

560 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118

 

Coming soon to the South End is a restaurant inspired by the region of France bearing the same name. “Marseille” will be a part of the same restaurant family as Petit Robert Bistro, which is a charming eatery located on Columbus Avenue. However, while Petit Robert serves traditional Parisian fare such as Coq Au Vin and Escargots De Bourgogne, Marseille seems as though it will focus more on coastal fare from its namesake region.
 

While we don’t have access to a menu for this new restaurant yet, we can imagine what we might see on opening day. Our imaginations lead us to such traditional dishes as Bouillabaisse, the emblematic, delicately-seasoned fish stew of the Marseille region—or perhaps some aioli with vegetables and fish. In any case, this new restaurant concept seems to be timed to open at just the right time of year in Boston: the warmer season, when light fare inspired by coastal France sounds idyllic to us.

There’s so much to look forward to in the South End of Boston and so much to explore every day. If you’re looking for a place to call your own in the area, get in touch with the expert Realtors at Miller & Co. Team. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and exceptional service set them apart from all the rest. Reach out to the team to start your journey in South End real estate.