There’s plenty going on in Watertown’s food and drink scene, with a new beer garden, a restaurant headed to a bigger space, and a newish restaurant getting the attention of regional media.
Beer Garden
Attendees of the Sheepshearing Festival had the chance to enjoy a beverage from Mighty Squirrel Brewing. Now the brewery has teamed up with Gore Place for an ongoing partnership.
The biergarten officially opened on Friday, May 8, and will be open Thursdays 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays-Sundays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. though October.
The brewery will serve a rotating selection of beers on tap, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic drinks and food will be available from a food truck.
The Biergarten is located at the Farm at Gore Place. General parking will be at the main lot at 52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA. Accessible parking will be located at 249 Waltham St, Watertown. Overflow parking will be located a short walk away at the Jewish Community Day School.
See more information at the Mighty Squirrel site for more FAQs and the most up-to-date information.
Restaurant on the Move
Halva Mediterranean Grill has developed a strong following for its Turkish food. The restaurant opened in the former New Yorker Diner in 2024, and now it is moving to a larger space, nearby.
Owner Joseph Dagdelen recently announced that the restaurant will be taking over the former Not Your Average Joe’s space on Main Street in Watertown Square.
Halva posted the following announcement:
We’re beyond excited to announce that we’re opening our new location doors soon! After months of planning, building, and dreaming, our new space is finally in progress.
📍 55 Main St Watertown MA 02472 – New Location
Our build-out is underway and will take some time, and we truly appreciate your patience during this process.
We’re also incredibly grateful for the strong demand and support we’ve already received. Thank you to our amazing guests, your trust and excitement mean everything to us.
This isn’t just a place, it’s an experience. A space built with passion, quality, and attention to every detail.
Stay tuned for updates, behind-the-scenes progress, and our official
Dagdelen added that they will keep the current space and has plans for an eatery with a different spin.
Eatery Reviewed by Globe
One of Watertown’s newer restaurants made the Boston Globe recently. Lalibela, which serves Ethiopian cuisine in the former Molana space on Spring Street, got a photo spread and a review in the piece entitled “This Watertown restaurant isn’t glossy or trendy. Instead, it’s got heart.”
The eatery is the creating of husband and wife team Haile Mekonnen and Emebet Arku.
The Globe highlighted the popular vegetarian combination platter, “a gloriously colorful tableau of beets, collard greens, yellow peas, cabbage, green beans, and carrots, enough to serve four people, piled high on tangy, gluten-free injera flatbread,” along with doro wot, “a slow-cooked, buttery chicken stew simmered in a fiery red garlic-ginger berbere sauce with hard-boiled eggs and caramelized onions.”
See the Globe’s piece by clicking here.
Lalibela is located at 5 Spring St.