5 best new restaurant openings and dining updates in Boston (August 13, 2026)

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Ah, that first brush with love likely had you a little dizzy and woozy in the stomach, perhaps not unlike a guzzle of wine. For the past two years Gabrielle Malina has been uncorking similar excitement around the area with wine dinners, parties, tastings, and private events as part of her First Crush brand. Now, she’s gearing up to open a natural wine bar and event space in the former Juliet Social Club in Somerville’s Union Square. Expect more parties and a consistent schedule instead of just popups—all without the wine-world pretense.   

Opening Date: Mid-September 2026

259 Washington St., Somerville 

You had us at “tamarind tots”—golden-fried potatoes tossed in sweet-and-sour tamarind dust and loaded with banana ketchup, raw onion, and fried garlic. Fingers crossed that these beauties will be on the menu when chef/owner Jeff Almendras soon turns his Filipino-inspired sandwich popup into a permanent restaurant in Fort Point. Back in 2020, Almendras started his popup when he found himself distanced from his family and missing the Filipino dishes and flavors of his upbringing. With past events at the likes of Pagu and Tanám, his dishes blend comfort and nostalgia. His fried chicken adobo (super crispy chicken spiced with black pepper, bay leaf, garlic, and soy, then topped with pickled papaya and served on a fluffy bun) is among fan favorites. Other offerings have included scratch-made sweet and garlic-forward longganisa sausage sandwiches, and vegan options, too. Keep an eye out on Instagram for when more menu info drops.    

Opening Date: Fall 2026

300 Summer St., Seaport

This sushi newcomer, a team-up from chef/owner Chris Chung of Cambridge’s Momi Nonmi and Kenny Leung of Tori Jiro in Watertown, is a jewel box within Quincy Center. With just ten seats at the wraparound sushi counter and a handful of tables within the whimsical spot—check out the vivid artwork and knickknacks contrasting against the dark walls—dining here feels like snagging a spot at an exclusive restaurant. Though for those who feel like parking it on the couch in sweats with some takeout beats an exclusive restaurant any day, Jūni has you covered. The spot serves up omakase with a twist as a “sushi set,” or twelve chef-curated items like ramen eggs and scallops with watermelon in a decorative to-go box. Guests can also enjoy the same offerings if they dine in the restaurant (which does, unfortunately, mean putting on real clothes). 

Open Now (August)

1211 Hancock St., Quincy 

It’s time to clock in at Tiffani Faison’s newest concept, an office-themed bar at High Street Place, joining her other concepts Bubble Bath, Charming Gardener, Dive Bar, Tenderoni’s and Tigerbaby at the downtown foodhall. The bar—taking over the stall that housed the now-shuttered Daiquiris & Daisies—focuses on cheeky throwback “Mad Men” vibes. Think: ice-cold martini lunches and evening brainstorming rounds of bourbon on the company expense account. And there’s even a drink named the expense account, with vodka, strawberry pepper shrub, citrus, and soda. Sip your way through martinis, Manhattans, and carbonated beauties that work hard for the money. The section titled agency classics, meanwhile, focus on quintessential sips like a sazerac (rye, cognac, sugar, Peychaud bitters) and a paper plane with bourbon, Aperol, amaro, and citrus. It’s enough to have you feeling like a boss. 

Open Now (August)

100 High St., Downtown Boston

This fest takes culture—as in bacterial and microbial cultures—to a whole new level, with a marketplace, events, and guided tastings focused on fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, probiotics, and more. Vendors from near and far include Maine-based Red Kettle Kimchi, Hex Ferments dishing out Maryland-made kraut and kombucha, and Moromi bringing fermented condiments and small-batch soy sauce from Connecticut to Somerville. Check out the make-your-own sauerkraut “kraut mob” activity, and if you have any searing SCOBY questions or culture conundrums, swing by the fermentation help desk to ask an expert. 

Event details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday August 16. Free admission, $35 for early admission from 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville

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