As Boston has grappled with a public health emergency coupled with myriad restrictions, local restaurants and bars of all stripes have tried to combat the challenges of 2020. But some of the city’s most notable eating and drinking establishments won’t be open to welcome Bostonians back. While many businesses hope to take a wait-and-see approach before they can safely reopen, there are just as many others eager to say they’re back in business. Still, most of us locals didn’t have a chance to give a final farewell to the following establishments:
Legal Oysteria: Charlestown's premier spot for slurping fresh bivalves, courtesy of the Legal Sea Foods empire, has closed up its raw bar for good.
Max Brenner: One of the city's most popular destinations for sinful, over-the-top chocolate treats has served its last mega sundae.
Gaslight: The South End has lost one of its Gallic mainstays, a bistro once graced by Tom Cruise, among others.
ONCE Ballroom: This indie-focused music venue and lounge in Somerville has hosted its last show.
Ceia: One of Newburyport's go-to destinations for fine bistro fare has shuttered its doors.
Bison County: Waltham's go-to spot for fine barbecue has smoked its last rack of ribs.
Cafeteria Boston: One of the city's most popular see-and-be-seen spots has permanently closed after 13 years on Newbury Street.
Stoddard's: Tucked away in the Leather District, this retro drinking and dining haunt—a favorite of Downtown Crossing's after-work crowds—has shuttered its doors.
Wonder Bar: One of Allston's most popular and notorious nightlife spots has hosted its last rager.
Legal Test Kitchen: A favorite of concertgoers at the nearby pavillion, Legal's Test Kitchen concept has hit the end of the road.
Pour House: This down-and-dirty Boylston Street haunt delighted everyone from Rihanna to penny-pinching local students.
Post 390: One of the Back Bay's most popular spots for expense account dining and corporate gatherings has turned off its fireplace for good.
Taranta: Jose Duarte's Peruvian-accented eatery was one of the most beloved in the North End.
Cheers Faneuil Hall: The Faneuil Hall location's bar was a replica of the one that appeared on the set of the TV show.
McGreevey's: The Dropkick Murphys-affiliated sports bar has shipped out of Boston for good.
The Frogmore: Jamaica Plain residents will have to find a new place for fried chicken and Low Country faves.
Dick's Last Resort: One of Quincy Market's most notorious party spots has hosted its last raucous birthday party.
Somerville Brewing: One of Somerville's most beloved spots for creative beers and snacks has served its last pint.
Whiskey's: Long a favorite among eager students and Back Bay twenty-somethings, this down-and-dirty party spot and sports bar has closed after an epic run on Boylston Street.
Kamakura: After a short run as one of the city's few spots serving Japanese kaiseki menus, Kamakura has closed up shop in the Financial District.
The Field Pub: As perhaps Cambridge's most popular Irish pub, The Field hosted countless first dates, break-ups, and late-night gatherings.
Les Zygomates: A longtime staple of the Leather District, this Gallic wine bar and jazz hangout was a favorite of after-work crowds near South Station.
Parsnip: This upscale Harvard Square restaurant, housed in the multi-level space that formerly held Upstairs on the Square, opened in late 2015.
Bergamot: One of Somerville's most popular dining rooms could not survive 2020. Ownership plans to turn the space, just steps from the Cambridge border, into an art gallery and a more casual eating space.
Tango: The area's lone Argentinian restaurant finished up an 18-year run in the heart of Arlington Center.
Backyard Betty's: One of Southie's liveliest drinking and dining spots has served its final boozy shake and order of table-side wings. Fans of Betty’s comfort fare can head down the street to sibling South Boston restaurant Publico, which remains open.
Deep Ellum: This popular Allston hangout, renowned for its beer list and welcoming patio, has given way to its sibling and neighbor, Lone Star Taco Bar, which will expand into the Deep Ellum space.
Bar Boulud: Daniel Boulud — perhaps the most internationally-decorated chef to dabble in the Boston food scene in recent years — has closed his French-accented restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental.
Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square: Located in the shadow of the Charles Hotel, the lone Harvard Square outpost of this local seafood emporium has shuttered.
Bella Luna Restaurant & The Milky Way Lounge: A true Jamaica Plain institution, this famously inclusive meeting spot welcomed all comers since the 1990s.
Cuchi Cuchi: For 19 years, Cantabrigians flocked to this Central Square hideaway to enjoy globally-inspired small plates and creative cocktails.
Dante: The Royal Sonesta's Restaurant Dante has closed after 15 years. Diners can still enjoy Dante de Magistris' fresh pastas and hearty Italian plates at Il Casale Lexington and Il Casale Belmont.
The Automatic: This popular Kendall Square hangout, famous for its burgers and after-work scene, opened in late 2016 as a collaboration between Chris Schlesinger (of the now-closed East Coast Grill) and Dave Cagle (of the now-closed B-Side Lounge).
Fenmore Grill: Situated a long foul ball from Fenway Park, the Hotel Buckminster and its in-house Fenmore Grill have both shuttered.
Great Scott: One of the area's most beloved music clubs has hosted its last concert.The 240-capacity Allston bar was an unofficial feeder for larger clubs like the Middle East and the Paradise.
Explorateur: This all-purpose, all-day hangout was popular with Emerson students and area workers.
Top of the Hub: Among special occasion spots, Top of the Hub towered over the competition from its perch atop the Prudential Tower since its inception in 1965.
Keep an eye on Time Out Boston for all the latest dining news.