The May Hit List: Borrachito, Eventide Fenway, Shojo, and More

Is “Borrachito Taqueria & Spirits” a mouthful? Yes, but more importantly for our purposes, the NYC import is a Mexico City-style taqueria where you’ll encounter tacos to the tone of birria and bone marrow, Nashville hot cauliflower, and even cool-ranch tuna tartare. As tempting as those tortilla-wrapped delights sound, they’re only half the story: venture beyond what appears to be a freezer door to discover a glitzy cocktail lounge where drinks like the John Wayne (brown butter-washed Tequila, cardamom, clove, pineapple) and Credit Card Roulette at the Steakhouse (rye, soy, allspice, spiced pear) are served.

Sox season has returned, and with it, a new-and-improved version of Eventide Fenway. And by “improved,” we mean that the restaurant has changed over from counter-service to sit-down, freeing what had been the order counter to become a full-on cocktail bar where oyster-infused dirty martinis are served. Food-wise, the menu is still tailored to pre- or post-ballgame fare: think fried chicken katsu sandwiches or the famous brown butter lobster roll, though larger parties can divide a grilled branzino with vinegar eggplant or the tandoori skate wing with grilled flatbread and chutneys among themselves.

Greater Boston has seen a 100% increase in its amount of Shojos, now that the Chinatown favorite has opened a second outpost across the Charles. Shojo Cambridge brings the irreverent attitude of the original to Central Square, importing house favorites like smoked barbecue pig bao and salt-and-pepper calamari, while introducing new vegan dishes like sesame tofu bao and beef fried rice with yuzu kosho.

What was Giacomo’s and then briefly Casa Giacomo’s is now Gigi — with no further name changes expected. And despite the recent change of title, it’s the same refined red sauce concept of Casa Giacomo’s, complete with all the chitarra alla vongole and lobster-filled ravioli you may have remembered from last time.

Nantucket’s biggest party has returned to the Seaport for another summer, as Cisco Brewers is back for its sixth season. Aside from pours of the brewer’s Grey Lady wheat ale or Wandering Haze hazy IPA, the tented space will also host live music and food that runs the gamut from classic clam shack-style fare to sushi rolls and tacos.

Walk-ins only.

After sitting fallow for years, what was Minibar at the Copley Square Hotel has been reborn as Hue, a self-styled “supper club” that aims to recapture the swanky vibe of its predecessor while serving a menu of Asian and American-influenced dishes like crab Rangoon in passion fruit sauce, short rib bao or steak frites with roasted garlic butter. Meanwhile, its “speakeasy” portion sates thirsts with mezcal espresso martinis or the Nutcase, made with coconut rum, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, and pineapple.

Call 857-991-1710 for reservations.

Bar Enza made a recent splash in the news for hosting one Ben Affleck and one Jennifer Lopez for dinner, but you needn’t be an A-list actor to score a table (that just takes a Resy). Once seated, you may experience the sirloin carpaccio with truffle vinaigrette or spring pea agnolotti in a butter basil sauce that brought Bennifer to the table.

The Harborside Inn now holds Joia, a freshly opened Italian restaurant that takes its decorative cues from Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” and serves a menu of Italian American classics at their over-the-top best. What that means in more practical terms is fried broccolini balls, lobster fettucine, and cacio e pepe served tableside from an immense wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Call 857-277-0782 for reservations. Find more info here.

It’s not every day that a new distillery opens in the Boston Area — as evidenced by the fact that Charlestown’s Chattermark Distillers can claim to be the sole local distillery producing both bourbon and rye. The newcomer, which began distilling spirits from New England-grown grains in 2019, is now open to the public with a bar that incorporates Chattermark’s make into house creations like the The Perfect Storm (rye, nocino, ginger beer) and classics including a Bee’s Knees or a whiskey smash.

Walk-ins only.

As if any further signs of spring were required, SRV has rolled its menu over to the new season with fresh flavors that include chicories with grapefruit and bottarga, white risotto with balsamic vinegar, and the return of the house-favorite tajarin with black truffle, asparagus, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Drinks-wise, a Venetian with pisco, bergamot liqueur, and Cocchi Americano may put an extra spring in your step, as would the spirited Limoncello Milk Punch prepared with Cognac, rye, black tea, and lemon.