The team behind Somerville's Spoke Wine Bar has opened Liars in Teele Square, taking over the former True Bistro space at 1153 Broadway. Liars debuted in August with two bars, a 14-seat bar room and a 32-seat dining room, plus additional seating at the bars—a larger setting than Spoke's compact footprint.
A Bigger Baby Sister to a Beloved Wine Bar
Liars was opened by the Spoke Wine Bar team, according to The Boston Globe, which describes the new spot as a roomy restaurant in Teele Square. The connection runs deeper than shared ownership: local blog Aura Realty Advisors calls Liars the “bigger baby sister” to Spoke Wine Bar, noting that True Bistro's old space is simply bigger than Spoke's.
The Space Before Liars
True Bistro had a stop-and-start final chapter before Liars took over its former space. According to NBC Boston, the restaurant planned to close after business hours on August 27; it had shut down indefinitely in September 2020 and reopened the following spring. Liars later moved into the former restaurant's 1153 Broadway location.
Spoke opened in Davis Square in 2013 and has since been named a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Bar category, according to the Aura Realty Advisors post. Liars brings the team into a larger format while keeping it in Somerville.
Where the Name Liars Came From
The name has personal roots: The Globe reports that Mary Kurth traced it to a line in Blues Traveler's song “Run-Around.” Kurth and Jon Diamond reportedly used the name at home for two years while developing the restaurant, before it appeared on a sign.
The Globe describes a tin ceiling and cobalt-blue banquettes in the space, details that distinguish Liars' larger dining room from Spoke's more intimate setting.
Seasonal Plates and a Chef With a Beard Nod
Chef Paul Butler, described by the Globe as a James Beard nominee, leads the kitchen; Katie Weismann is spirits manager and general manager. Seasonal menu examples include salmon crudo and lamb stew with zucchini.
The Globe reports that Butler adds fermented red tofu to the lamb. Its account puts starters and somen at $8 to $20, with soups, stews and plates ranging from $15 to $50.
Cocktails Built Around a Wine List From Lebanon to Armenia
The Globe reports that Liars serves bespoke cocktails, including nonalcoholic versions, and offers wines from Lebanon, Armenia and parts of Europe.
One signature drink, the Humor Me cocktail, is made with calvados and arrives with an olive embedded in a glassy ice cube — a detail that captures the restaurant's playful, detail-oriented approach to its bar program. Liars is located at 1153 Broadway in Teele Square, Somerville, and can be reached at 617-718-0231 or through its website, restaurantliars.com.
