Chef and restaurateur Douglass Williams, a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Chef and Best Chef: Northeast, and his business partner, Seth Gerber, will bring a fourth location of beloved Italian restaurant MIDA to the Fenway neighborhood this fall.
MIDA, which has locations in the South End, Newton and East Boston, is known for an Italian-leaning menu, with Williams prioritizing three things: ingredients, wine and hospitality. Dishes are ideal for sharing—from the North Shore fritto misto and glazed duck wings, to the handmade ricotta gnocchi cacio e pepe and short rib lasagna.
The new MIDA location will be at 1391 Boylston Street, which is currently the home of Williams’ DW French. (The chic space previously housed Orfano, a glam Italian American eatery by chef Tiffani Faison.) DW French will host guests for the last time on Sunday, Aug. 18, the team shared on Instagram Friday morning. "We have some bittersweet news to share with you all," the post reads, in part. "Thank you for your support and warm welcome to the neighborhood. We can’t wait to return soon, with a new iteration of the space, bringing our beloved Italian dishes from MIDA to you all."
Williams elaborated to Time Out Boston, "Fenway holds a special place in Boston’s heart, and it’s been incredible to watch its transformation in recent years. We’re proud to be part of this neighborhood and contribute to its exciting future."
"The enthusiastic response to MIDA’s handcrafted Italian cuisine made it clear that this is the ideal fit for The Fenway." Gerber added in a press releases. "We’re excited to bring MIDA to such a vibrant and rapidly evolving community."
When DW French opened 10 months ago, the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood was seeing an influx of new restaurants. Williams' was part of a wave of French brasseries, including Blue Ribbon Brasserie and the return of Eastern Standard. But it isn’t the only eatery to struggle in the neighborhood in recent years. Relative newcomers Pescador, from the group behind Blue Ribbon Brasserie; and All That Fish + Oyster, a seafood concept from the group behind Eastern Standard, both also closed this year.
Time will tell if the popular MIDA will thrive, but we’re all in for Williams’ pasta dishes in more neighborhoods. The team says MIDA is on track for an October opening in Fenway.