Society on High: Ian Just Set to Open Late-Night Spot in Financial District

Ian Just, chef-owner of Sorriso and Les Zygomates; photo: Naomi Kooker

By Naomi Kooker

Ian Just, chef-owner of Les Zygomates and Sorriso in the Leather District, is embarking on number three - a farm-to-fork, New England-focused venture called Society on High in the Financial District. We recently caught up with Just at Sorriso, where he was playing host to the lunch crowd, to get more details.


Located at 99 High Street, the restaurant will seat 140 inside with about 60 seats in an outdoor plaza. The restaurant abuts The Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. The expansive 5,500-sq.-foot space is being designed by restaurant interior guru Peter Niemitz, and includes a color scheme of dark cream, red and black; the soaring-high ceilings were lowered to abate sound issues and make the space a tad less cavernous. The dining room is mostly windows. Guests can whet their whistles at the 21-seat bar, abetted by a 2AM full-liquor license.

The menu of locally sourced (when possible) New England ingredients will also include late-night eats. Live music is on tap.

The special amenity Bostonians will love: Free parking in the high-rise building. Downtown. Unheard of. “If there’s a foot of snow, you get in your car and you’re never exposed to the elements,” says Just. “Pumps and open-toe shoes recommended.”

Just says he was relieved that he faced no neighborhood association hurdles during the process. He was not looking to do a third store, but was approached by the building’s owner, TIAA-CREF. According to Just, Les Zygomates, which opened in 1994, and Sorriso, which opened in 2004, combined, do about $4 million in annual sales.

Society on High is slated to open sometime this November or December.