One of Central Square’s most beloved restaurants is being sold.
Today, Boston Restaurant Talk reported that after nine years with chef and owner Steve Johnson at the helm, Rendezvous restaurant is being sold to a new team – Greg Reeves and Mark Young.
However, the Central Square fixture will remain open – business as usual – up until late June. Then will close “temporarily for minor renovations,” according to Boston Restaurant Talk. The restaurant should reopen sometime in late summer or early fall.
The site is also reporting that the new owners plan to use the “existing wood-fired grill” for a “Mediterranean themed menu focused on local ingredients and housemade pasta.” This is a bit of a switch from Rendezvous’ current menu which focuses on American-style fare with seafood, charcuterie, cheese plates and more.
The current owner, Johnson, “plans to spend more time in Westport, MA, his second home for many years, and is pursuing a new restaurant project in Tiverton, RI” according to the statement.
For over 20 years, Chef Steve Johnson has been one of the most well regarded chefs in the Hub. From his time as chef and co-owner of The Blue Room to opening Rendezvous, one of the most praise-worthy restaurants in Boston, Johnson’s impact on the Boston restaurant scene will not be forgotten.
The Central Square restaurant has consistently been named one of the must-try restaurants in the city – not to mention Chef Johnson, himself, has even been nominated for the coveted James Beard Foundation award, Best Chef in the Northeast.
However, we’re hopeful that Rendezvous’ new team, Mark Young and Greg Reeves, will breathe some fresh air into the Central Square fixture. Young, manager of Green Street Grill, is already quite familiar with the Central Square neighborhood while Chef Greg Reeves, former Executive Chef at Green Street, will be making his return to Central Square. The chef, currently at Pier 6 in Charlestown, has worked at UpStairs on the Square, The Butcher Shop, and as Chef de Cuisine at B&G Oysters.
According to Boston Restaurant Talk, the duo are “excited about the opportunity of taking over a great restaurant in the lively Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge.” They stated that they “respect the business that Steve and his team have built, and are enthused about the challenge of filling some very big shoes.”
Big shoes, indeed – but it can be done. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more about the new ownership and offerings over at Rendezvous.
BostInno reached out to Young and Reeves for comment; we’ll update the story when we hear back.
Image via oneforthetable.com
