As we revealed over the weekend, Wellesley is on the cusp of getting a second restaurant from the owners of The Cottage, and it’s going to be a “chef-driven” eatery called Door No. 7. The name comes from the fact that this would be Laura and John Wolfe’s 7th business, and like the newly renovated Cottage, it will be in Linden Square, though on the south side of the street.
The team behind Door No. 7 cruised through the food and alcohol sales license approval process at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. If all goes according to plan, Door No. 7 will welcome patrons in August to the space formerly occupied by a slightly less upscale indoor minigolf business.
Alas, the restaurant isn’t quite targeting me as a patron: It’s aiming for an adult audience.
Wellesley native and third-generation Wellesley business owner Laura Wolfe told the Board of Selectmen that “this concept is going to feel a little more adult. It’s going to be a little more sophisticated for a palate for food. It’s probably going to be more for a date night… It’s probably not going to be as family friendly as The Cottage.”
Door No. 7 will feature small plates, with menus changing along with the seasons. It will also have an oyster bar and “an exhibition kitchen” so that those cooking the food can strut their stuff.
The owners are looking to build a restaurant with 155 dining seats, plus 15 bar seats in a horseshoe formation (yes, you’ll still need to order food if you want to drink per Wellesley bylaws). The space is just over 4,400 sq. ft, and the team building it will plunge $1.8 million into startup and construction costs.
Laura Wolfe says the restaurant will have an urban, minimalistic atmosphere that will bring a downtown Boston experience to those who don’t want to trek into the city. It will be open 7 days a week, including for lunch.
So, for those of you hoping for a good old sports bar or a place where “price point” doesn’t keep getting mentioned, you’ll need to travel beyond Wellesley. But for those of you with Blue Ginger withdrawal and looking for variety beyond the likes of Juniper and Bocado, Door No. 7 should be a welcome addition.
