The Boston area’s swath of openings continues unabated, with a multi-concept restaurant in Kendall Square, an all-day cafe from a famous restaurateur, the return of one of the city’s busiest farmers’ markets, and a food festival showcasing delightful Asian treats. Here’s what should be on your culinary calendar this week.
Openings: Cambridge’s Alice & Monarch (238 Main St.) opens on Friday, May 8, from the team behind Harvard Square’s Source gastropub and pizzeria. It’s a Kendall Square two-fer: Alice, an Italian-Mediterranean restaurant, is upstairs, while Monarch, an 85-seat sweets-and-drinks lounge, is below.
Alice’s lunch menu is pleasantly varied: You could order tripe or octopus, or keep it simple with calzones and pizza. At dinner, there’s a swath of salumi and cheeses, plus a “small wonders” section that encompasses focaccia, jumbo prawns, zucchini flowers, and duck egg raviolo. Larger appetites can indulge in a ribeye or squid ink linguine. At Monarch, try a baked Alaska with English pea ice cream. Chef Brian Kevorkian has worked at New York City’s Eleven Madison Park. It’s steps from the neighborhood’s brand-new Eastern Edge Food Hall.
At the Seaport’s Commonwealth Pier, a new branch of Daily Provisions (200 Seaport Blvd.) heralds restaurateur Danny Meyer’s increasing expansion into the city. Our first area Daily Provisions opened in Harvard Square in July 2025. The all-day cafe serves a signature maple cruller, plus toasts, croissants, tuna melts, and roast chicken. The Seaport version debuts on Wednesday, May 13. Meyer’s New York-based Union Square Hospitality Group (Gramercy Tavern, The Modern) also plans to open Italian restaurant Ci Siamo at the same address later this year, as well as a Back Bay outpost of Daily Provisions.
And at the newly renovated Copley Square Park, it’s outdoor market season once more: The Copley Square Farmers Market resumes on Friday, May 15, with a vast assortment of vendors, from Che Empanadas to Indian food from Guru the Caterer to fresh mushrooms and medicinal tinctures from Sacred Mushrooms. Scope the full list at www.massfarmersmarkets.org/copley; visit Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m.
Festivals: Boston’s second-annual Panda Fest happens on Friday, May 15, and runs through the weekend. Visit Harvard University’s Ohiri Field (65 North Harvard St.) for 80-plus Asian food vendors, plus merch and entertainment. Try Lakon Paris, Mago Mago Bubble Tea, Mizu Matcha, XinJiang Street Lamb Skewers, and lots more. Browse the full lineup and hours at www.pandafests.com. Tickets start at $14.
Kara Baskin can be reached at kara.baskin@globe.com. Follow her @kcbaskin.