Fournier's Waban Kitchen Opens in Newton

Waban Kitchen dining room; photo by Heath Robbins

By Naomi Kooker

Informal, charming American restaurant Waban Kitchen by chef/owner Jeffrey Fournier (of 51 Lincoln) quietly opened on Halloween in the Waban section of Newton (hence the name), joining a handful of restaurants that have opened in Newton over the past year.

This is Fournier's second restaurant and, in the spirit of high-end European chefs who open brasseries, this is his informal playground. “We’ll take everything we do [at 51 Lincoln] and go the opposite way with it, so Waban will have its own personality and feel,” Fournier told Zagat recently.

The dining room has a rustic charm with exposed brick, burnt-yellow accents, red chairs and artwork by Fournier, who’s a visual artist as well as a chef. There’s an eight-seat chef’s table near the open kitchen. The restaurant accepts reservations for the dining room, but reserves the 14-seat full-liquor bar for walk-ins.

The modest menu includes housemade charcuterie ($6), a signature five-spice roasted half chicken ($24) and the chef’s famous Bolognese ($15/$25) - the only dish from 51 Lincoln.

Waban Kitchen is open Tuesday through Saturday, 5-10:30 PM.

1649 Beacon St., Waban; 617-558-7677