New Restaurant Open In Brookline's St. Mary's Neighborhood

BROOKLINE, MA — There's a new restaurant in Brookline's St. Mary's neighborhood. Bar 'Cino, pronounced "chee-no," opened last week, and owners are hoping it will be your go-to neighborhood bar and family dining spot.

The name comes from the Italian word for neighbor; vicino. And with that in mind, the group chose this Brookline neighborhood on purpose.

"We want people who live here in this neighborhood to come home to us," said Shawn Westhoven of Newport Restaurant Group, which is behind the restaurant. This is the Italian eatery's second location. The first opened in Rhode Island last year.

So far, the concept has gotten favorable feedback from folks in St. Mary's, he said.

As for the food?

"It's the green and white in the Italian flag. Our menu is very much focused on the green and the fresh," said

The one-page menu features fresh Italian seafood, pasta and vegetables. And while there is no special section on the menu specifically for vegetarians or vegans, Westhoven says there are plenty of options that are adjustable, without making someone feel like they're making too many special requests.

Bar 'Cino’s Signature Mains include its Farro Risotto with roasted Rhode Island mushrooms, charred radicchio, marinated white beans and broccolini in red pepper sauce.

You can also find Cacio y Pepe with Rhode Island clams, and Lobster Lumache with fennel cream, garlic and herbed breadcrumbs.

And everything from Share Plate options like Marinated Beets with whipped ricotta, fresh herbs and saba, to a dinner for two that includes either a 22 oz Bone-In Rib-Eye with garlic herb grilled roasted potatoes and roasted vegetables or Whole Roasted Lemon-Scented Chicken with evoo mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and garlic white wine sauce.

They also serve up Rhode Island-style grilled pizza that’s served and cut table side with scissors.

Then there's the bar offerings. A restaurant with the word "bar" in its name, doesn't skimp in this area. Look for plenty of beer and wine options and an array of light cocktails with Italian flavors that go beyond the spritz. Take for example their Chinato Sour, which is a mix of Capellano chinato, Contratto Americano, vermouth, elderflower and aquafaba.

The restaurant owners had originally hoped to open in the old Waxy O'Connor's space in late 2019, but experienced some delay with construction, and then the holidays, said Westhoven.

The Newport Restaurant Group is also behind Papa Razzi, with locations in Boston, Concord and Wellesley.

"We are excited to open Bar ‘Cino in Brookline,” said Casey Riley of Newport Restaurant Group. "In looking to introduce Bar ‘Cino to the Boston market, we wanted a location that would foster a community of passionate customers who share our love of delicious Italian food and drink."

After about two years in the space Waxy's closed in early 2018 and has sat empty, though a cannabis retailer had eyed the location. Before it was Waxy's, the space at 1032 Beacon was home to Mission Cantina for about a year and a half. Mission Cantina took over the space formerly known as the Beacon Street Tavern.

The addition to Brookline's Italian offerings comes after Grassona's Italian in Washington Square announced it was set to close its doors for good. Bar 'Cino's Italian menu joins the likes of La Morra, Bottega di Capri, and Pomodoro in Brookline Village, and Bottega Fiorentina and Pizzeria Dante in Coolidge Corner.

Bar 'Cino is open daily for dinner, served from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will open at 10:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday for brunch, served through 3 p.m. An outdoor patio will open in the spring.

Previously:

Bar 'Cino To Open In Former Waxy O'Connor's Space

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).