Italian place closed (porter-esque)

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Maybe old news - but I (finally!) got back to the gym at Ballys in Porter and noticed that the Italian restaurant there is closed/for sale - it's another Boston Restaurant Group production. They have a sign saying they are moving to.... I forget. Backbay? Didn't BRG do Sauce?

I never eat at the place in Porter so don't know if it sucked or not but for some reason it seems a tough location. That mall overall is pretty weird and lifeless considering how many food places are in there (some of them quite good).

It's like the ghost of Sears past lurks there... ;-)

Comments

Acutally.

[kyroraz.livejournal.com]

I kinda like some of the food places in that mall. You can't beat Cho-Chos ... or Blue Fin if you have the cash.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I also get a creeped out vibe from that 'mall'.

[sissychrissy1.livejournal.com]

Rustic Kitchen is the place that is relocating. It got good reviews on a regular basis, and I believe that it's relocating only so that it can expand its business.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Rustic Kitchen had wonderful food, though expensive. They would do better on Newbury Street or in Harvard Square.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I really liked Rustic Kitchen, though we never thought to go there a lot. It wasn't a great location for them.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

From their website:

"Rustic Kitchen is located in Hingham at the Derby Street Shoppes, and in Cambridge at Porter Square. Our newest restaurant location will open in Boston at Park Square in the Fall of 2006 and feature an enclosed Garden Lounge, 200 seat Bistro and Bar, a Tuscan Dining room, a private Wine Cellar Dining room and Live Broadcast Studio Kitchen."

It sounds like maybe they're closing down the Porter location as they get ready to open the Park Square one? I dunno...haven't seen the Park Square site yet.

[azores.livejournal.com]

Yes, I walked from Davis Sq to Rustic Kitchen a few weeks ago intent on enjoying some of the better martinis this side of the Charles (you know they're good when they have slivers of ice in 'em), and was crushed to find them shuttered, although their outdoor patio furniture was still outside, unsecured, oddly enough.

I always liked Rustic Kitchen and, albeit a bit expensive, they did things very well, particularly their homemade pasta dishes. This location is a bit of a black hole for eateries- I wasn't too sorry to see the French bistro, Metro, go (it was a little too pretentious for it's own good- I mean, not offering a single domestic beer on tap? Come on.), and haven't recollected a restaurant making a go of it for any extended run since Coyote Cafe was there 8 years ago or so.

As an aside, one thing I haven't been able to figure out is the core of pure-play Japanese businesses that are in the Porter Square Mall, primarily in the basement. It's strange because outside of that building, there is no concentrated Asian "neighborhood" that would seem to complement it. I think it's great, but am really interested in how that enclave developed, if anyone knows.