Scott Drago and Adam Patti, the partners behind Needham Heights spot Blue on Highland, are taking over the century-old Biltmore in Newton Upper Falls and preparing to relaunch it as The Biltmore Tavern. The plan is to keep the building's 1920s character while tightening up the bar and dining rooms for a cozier, neighborhood-first feel. If construction cooperates, they are aiming for a late-spring opening, ideally before Memorial Day, with hopes the place slips right back into everyday village life.
A century-old landmark gets new life
The Biltmore building on Chestnut Street has been a local anchor since it first opened in 1914 and still carries plenty of neighborhood lore. According to The Biltmore Bar & Grille, the restaurant closed for renovations on February 9, 2026, as the space is prepared for the new concept.
Local operators step in from next door
Drago and Patti, who operate Blue on Highland in Needham Heights, will run the new tavern and expand their footprint just over the town line. Drago has been growing Blue on Highland's operations locally, most recently opening an expanded private-dining area, as reported by Needham Observer, and the Blue on Highland site lists the restaurant and partners in its profile.
What The Biltmore Tavern will look and taste like
The Biltmore Tavern is set to lean into elevated comfort food, with classics like burgers and steak tips, and is expected to seat about 96 guests across indoor and outdoor areas. “We got the opportunity to move into the space and take it over, and it worked well with where we are,” Drago told What Now Boston. Design updates noted in that report include exposed original flooring, Edison bulbs, period woodwork and 1920s-style starburst wallpaper, plus a bar with high tops and a view into an open kitchen. The team also hopes to partially revive a four-lane bowling alley in the basement and to build a heated, covered patio with a retractable awning and TV.
Neighborhood fit and what comes next
For neighbors, the relaunch reads as careful stewardship rather than a full reinvention, with a concept described as somewhat like Blue on Highland but with a stronger tavern tilt. The Biltmore's site asks patrons to follow its channels for renovation updates and a firm opening date as work continues through the spring. Expect permit filings, menu previews and staffing announcements from the owners to mark the next public milestones before tables open in late spring.
