Kenmore Square’s most-watched restaurant address is lining up a fresh bowl of nostalgia. Buitoni Spaghetti Bar is set to take over the high-profile Hotel Commonwealth space long associated with Eastern Standard and, more recently, Blue Ribbon Brasserie, with an opening slated for spring 2027. The concept, from Joe Faro’s Tuscan Brands, is promising fresh-made pasta, theatrical tableside flourishes and enough TV screens to keep Sox fans from craning their necks toward the nearest bar.
According to The Boston Globe, Tuscan Brands has locked in the address and plans to revive the Buitoni name, once attached to a midcentury Times Square pasta spot, in a modern, locally run form. The Globe notes that the move brings the space back under New England ownership after a brief tenure by an out-of-town group.
What To Expect
This will not be a shy little trattoria. The company says Buitoni Spaghetti Bar will lean hard into showy, old-school pasta service, with “one-pound meatballs, fresh spaghetti being made right in front of you all night long” and room for big screens and game viewing, as Boston Magazine reports. Tuscan Brands executives told the magazine the menu will be a “spin on the classics,” built around dramatic presentations and a game-night buzz without turning the place into a straight-up sports bar.
Kenmore's Late-Night Turnover
The Kenmore corner has not exactly been a quiet address. Blue Ribbon Brasserie, the New York-based restaurant that took over after Eastern Standard’s departure, closed last fall under industry pressures, Boston.com reported. Eastern Standard itself has since reopened nearby, a shuffle that put the Commonwealth Avenue space back in play for a local group to claim, as Eastern Standard’s own site notes its continuing presence in the neighborhood.
Local Ownership And Manufacturing
Tuscan Brands, headquartered in New Hampshire, has been expanding its manufacturing footprint in Massachusetts and sees the Kenmore restaurant as a showcase for its pasta products, the company’s site explains. The acquisition of the historic Buitoni name and recent manufacturing investments in Lawrence are part of owner Joe Faro’s wider strategy, with profile pieces tracing his longstanding role in regional pasta production and brand building. Tuscan Brands and industry reporting outline those moves.
Design And Timeline
Designer Taniya Nayak is on board to give the dining room a retro, midcentury gloss, with the address listed as 528 Commonwealth Ave. in Kenmore Square and a target opening in spring 2027, according to Boston Magazine. Tuscan Brands says it wants the room buzzing before and after games but still polished enough for date nights and private events.
For Kenmore, the move underscores a familiar pattern: large, homegrown operators are increasingly stepping into marquee spaces that national groups sometimes struggle to hold. Observers say a locally run Buitoni could become a steady draw for both Sox crowds and neighborhood regulars, which is exactly the balance the company says it is aiming for as it heads toward next spring’s debut. The Boston Globe
