Arlington Offers Several New Dining Options

Your Arlington

Last Updated: 27 June 2021

Written by Susan Gilbert

Masks are off, and dining out is in again.

'A lot of neighbors are excited about [the pub] opening ....' -- John Hurd

Arlington’s Select Board unanimously approved a full liquor license for The Heights Pub; a common victualler license for a new eatery also located in the Heights, Prep Neighborhood Kitchen; and several additional parklets for outdoor eating.

• The Heights Pub, 1314 Mass. Ave.

This long-awaited dining establishment will offer a full menu and bar, and be “a place for the community to gather,” said owner James O’Rourke at the Monday, June 21, Select Board meeting.

“The construction is nearly complete and the pub will be ready to open by the end of July, as long as the license is approved by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and final inspections are completed,” wrote Michael Bettencourt, O’Rourke’s attorney, in an email June 23.

“A lot of neighbors are excited about it opening, and I look forward to getting in there once it opens,” said board member John Hurd.

• Prep Neighborhood Kitchen, 1367 Mass. Ave.

Primarily a take-out restaurant (16 seats), Prep Neighborhood Kitchen will offer American comfort food, including pizzas, sandwiches, farm-to-table-oriented salads, truffle popcorn, desserts and nonalcoholic beverages. “A fine-dining approach to casual eating, offering food that makes you feel good and fills a need,” said owner Daniel Loperfido.

The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

“This menu is amazingly appetizing,” said Hurd.

• Four new outdoor parklets

Three parklets will be for restaurants, and one for a nonrestaurant place, said Ali Carter, Arlington’s economic-development coordinator:

• Brattle Square, (Del’s Lemonade, Andrina’s Pizzeria) ― six sidewalk tables, no parking impact;
• 908 – 916 Mass. Ave. (Magic Bites, Blue Ribbon Barbecue) ― two tables, repurposes two parking spaces;
• 169 Mass. Ave. (Thrive Juice Café)―two tables, no parking impact; and
• 183 Mass. Ave. (Clay Dreams)―pottery painting, repurposes one parking space.

“We want to make sure that as many restaurants as possible without their own outdoor-dining resources have parklets,” said Carter.

Board member Eric Helmuth said, “It’s a great way for the town to support businesses, especially after a pandemic year.”

'Festival of Love' OK'd for Saturday

On Saturday, June 26, from 3 to 5:30 p.m., a "Festival of Love" is expected to take place at the Uncle Sam Plaza. (Rain date: Sunday, June 27, same time.)

The board conditionally approved this event. 4–1 (Mahon voted no). “It sets a precedent, at one of the most central locations in Arlington,” said Mahon.

The approval is conditional, pending the town manager’s office reaching out to the applicant and police department before granting approval. No one from the festival committee attended Monday’s Select Board meeting to discuss specifics or answer any questions. See agenda document >>

YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.