Restaurants

5 restaurants we’re excited to try in August

Boston-area openings include a plant-based smashburger joint in Brookline, a coffee-cat lover’s dream cafe in Beacon Hill, and an all-you-can-eat wagyu hotspot in the Leather District.

By Jillian Dara

August 1, 2024

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This month we’re thrilled for the openings of beloved outposts like a popular plant-based smashburger joint that’s opening its first Boston-area brick-and-mortar in Brookline, and a premium all-you-can-eat wagyu hotspot debuting in the Leather District. There’s also a couple unique cafe concerts coming to town, including an all day spot that turns into a Euro-style tapas menu for dinner and a coffee-cat lover’s dream in Beacon Hill.

Here’s where you’ll find us in August.

A Sanctuary Cafe

Designed to create community among Beacon Hill coffee and cat lovers, A Sanctuary Cafe reminds us of the bygone era of Purr Cafe in Brighton. Tucked into one of the historic brownstones on Charles Street, A Sanctuary Cafe is now serving premium coffee and loose-leaf tea in their cafe and bookstore space, while they set to open the cat lounge once the rescued cats that now call it home have settled in completely. Their mocha is an addicting blend of rich chocolate, espresso and steamed milk that starts at $6 for a small, MEM tea selections include jade oolong, white peach and blue flower Earl Grey (among others) as well as spicy chai that’s perfect in a steamed chai latte ($5 for a small). They also do a variety of cold drinks, including cold brew with locally-sourced coffee, iced matcha and have a colorful pastry case displaying rotating sweets from local vendors. On any given day, there may be tiers of macarons, oversized muffins, gooey brownies, flaky croissants and danishes as well as desserts like tortes and weekend pie.

80 Charles St., Boston

Now Open

Big Chicken

We know this is a little outside of downtown Boston, but Shaquille O’Neal’s famous fried chicken franchise has finally arrived in Massachusetts. Big Chicken brings with it the “big flavor, big food and big fun” that it’s become celebrated for across the U.S. — and we’re ready to dive in. With a name like Big Chicken, you might think you know what to expect on the menu, but the untraditional toppings smothered on the crispy chicken sandwiches are a delightful surprise. On The Ultimate ($9.99), fried chicken is just the base to layers of mac and cheese, crispy fried onions and roasted garlic bbq. The Shaq Attack is stuffed with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, spicy chipotle bbq sauce, and premium fried chicken of course ($9.99). For traditionalists, there is an OG Big Chicken ($8.99) — fried chicken topped with Big Chicken Sauce and pickles — as well as a Nashville Hot version with hot oil and spices, lettuce, mayo and pickles, known as the Uncle Jerome. There’s also three and five-piece chicken tenders (starting at $8.99), fried chicken tender-topped Caesar salad ($10.99), buckets of popcorn chicken (hand-breaded diced chicken thighs) and ice cream shakes like salted caramel or double chocolate ($6.49) to wash it all down.  

210 Andover St., Peabody 

Now Open

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Esmai’s Cafe & Restaurant

A rebrand of the former whiskey-clad, brew-heavy Hops & Scotch, Esmai’s is an elevated all-day concept that now focuses on craft cocktails, afternoon tea, and Euro-Asian small plates come dinnertime. We’re intrigued by the “come and stay awhile” style that beckons diners to start a visit with a coffee and savory croissant at lunch yet stay as the menu transitions to beef Wellington ($25), curry chicken ($22), and loco moco ($18), a Japanese hamburger with spam, fried egg, mushroom gravy served with jasmine rice. On each menu, customers will find a fusion of the owners’ backgrounds — David and Mai — as Mai’s Vietnamese heritage is responsible for many of the Eastern spices, ingredients and flavors from dish to drinks and David’s passion for Scotch and American whiskey shines on the new cocktail list (like a Dee, All-of-the-Above with blended Scotch, apricot liqueur, freshly juiced ginger, toasted cardamom, lemon and a smoky Scotch float for $14).

1306 Beacon St., Brookline

Now Open

Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House 

This all-you-can-eat (AYCE) wagyu outpost has been one of the most anticipated openings of 2024. Originally created by the premium U.S.-based Chubby Group — with locations currently in the Los Angeles area — the new Boston restaurant will be led by Chef Leo Chen. The concept is an AYCE Japanese Shabu where indulgences like Japanese A5 wagyu (in the form of tartare, brisket, bone marrow, wagyu tarts and more) as well as foie gras are the pinnacle of the menu; seafood platters and other cuts of beef will be served, including unique dishes like sweet shrimp sashimi, Kurobuta pork (also from Japan) and signature ponzu sauces. Despite its wagyu standard, restaurateur Kevin Liu, of Mitsunori Handroll Bar says Mikiya will offer a vibe that’s “ideal for various occasions, from casual dining to family gatherings or celebratory dates.” Diners will be able to choose between an annual membership for discounted eats each time or a standard 90-minute seating that offers a tiered experience depending how much you want to shell out, and how much you want, or can, eat. The tiered pricing starts at $55 per person, per 90-minute time slot (or $48 for members). 

21 Hudson St., Unit 101, Boston

Opens: Mid-August

PLNT Burger

Smashburgers can be “radically inclusive,” or so says PLNT Burger, the chef-crafted, planet-friendly burger chain that has seen rapid growth across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast thanks to their 100 percent plant-based restaurants, which also offer gluten-free, certified kosher and halal menus. Co-founded by Wellesley native, Seth Goldman, he says, this first opening in the Boston area is significant for the urban community to relish “conscious capitalism.” He continues, “Our food choices represent our biggest daily environmental footprint and we can’t wait to empower Bostonians to ‘Eat the Change’ they wish to see in the world.” The menu tantalizes with their signature smash-style burgers (starting from $9) with popular builds like the PLNT cheeseburger and mushroom BBQ bacon burger, as well as layered sandwiches, namely the Crispy Chik’n or Save The Bay no-fish filet (starting from $11). Side items like crispy herbed fries or wavy sweet potato fries also have a cult following — served in pouches similar to a traditional fast food joint, they have a familiarity about them while serving as a reminder of PLNT Burger’s mission to redefine fast-casual dining for a more sustainable future.

297 Harvard St., Brookline

Opens: Mid-August