When the shopping mall is reborn, the food court will also change.
Renovating the food court and rebranding it to CanalSide Food + Drink, a food hall with a bar, is the latest in a series of redevelopment changes for Cambridgeside, an East Cambridge mall that opened in 1990. It is being rebuilt into a more mixed-use area and does not emphasize its retail roots.
Canalside, designed by Lord Architects, will feature dining options arranged around a central C-side bar and is scheduled to open in late October. A carefully selected selection of local eateries is the difference between a food hall and a food court, said Melissa LaVita, regional marketing director. Cambridge side. (Modern food malls are thought to be around just 17 years old, since the opening of the first Eataly.) As the New York Times once drew a distinction, “Many people confuse eccentricity with uniformity. Slate, on the other hand, offered a more cynical take on food halls (but at least acknowledged this kind of “absolute focus on food”).
“We have some new office and lab buildings, but as part of reimagining the destination, we wanted to do something a little different with the food court,” Lavita said.
The mall's food court was closed during the redevelopment and replaced by Huda's pop-up dining experience, which offers rotating lunch and dinner options from local restaurants. It has been open every day since February and will remain open until the CanalSide project is completed.
Eleven of the Canalside eateries were announced Thursday and range from bubble tea to Mexican street food. That includes several at another Boston food hall, Time Out Market. Asian fusion bowl spot “InChu”. and Lala's Neapolitan-ish Pizza, which makes naturally fermented pizza.
“We wanted it to be diverse, and we wanted our vendors to choose local eateries rather than the chains that have traditionally been here.” Lavita said.
Other dining options include drinks (Caffé Nero and Teazzi Tea Shop in Cambridge's Central Square and Porter Square), Mexican food (Chilacates, also in Central Square), pasta (DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go), and burgers (Nu Burger ) is covered. , Ramen (Sapporo Ramen, relocated from Lesley University's University Hall near Porter Square), and Deli (Fresh). Lavita said three more eateries are expected to be announced in the coming months.
The 50-seat C-side bar is a collaboration between a new hospitality group founded by Ran Duan of Baldwin Bar and Blossom Bar, Jon Rosse of Birds of Paradise, and Brahm Callahan of Grill 23 & Bar. C-Side's beer, wine and cocktail menu has not yet been finalized, LaVita said.
As part of the Canalside redevelopment, Cambridgeside is adding an entrance that will allow pedestrians to walk directly into the food hall from First Street. It's a “great addition and a great connection to the neighborhood,” LaVita said.