Local chef Regina Mehallick, who launched her award-winning farm-to-table restaurant R bistro at 888 Massachusetts Ave. 13 years ago, has decided to eliminate lunch service and focus on dinner only. The change in hours will take effect July 8.
“I just don’t have the business at lunch,” Mehallick said, noting that while traffic on Mass Ave. has definitely increased in recent years, so have the area’s dining options. “”There are lots of alternatives that weren’t there 13 years ago.”
Mehallick and sous chef Erin Kem, who create a new menu each week, will focus strictly on dinner service, and the restaurant will now also open on Tuesday nights. Hours will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
“I’ll actually have a life,” said Mehallick, a five-time James Beard Foundation semi-finalist who has also authored a cookbook. “At least in the morning.”
— Jolene Ketzenberger