Café Beatrice, First Retail Establishment at CX, Opens Its Doors

10.16.20

On the heels of his acclaimed summer outdoor dining pop-up at Cambridge Crossing, The Lexington at the Picnic Grove, noted local chef Will Gilson is opening the doors to Café Beatrice — the first of three concepts Gilson is bringing to The Shed over the next several months. “This has been our passion project for about two years now…” said Chef/Owner Will Gilson. “We are opening each venue in phases, starting with Café Beatrice and followed by The Lexington with Geppetto at a later date.”

While Gilson is new to CX, he is no stranger to the Cambridge community. His beloved Inman Square restaurant, Puritan & Co., named one of Bon Appetit’s “50 Best Restaurants” soon after opening, has been a neighborhood hangout for the greater part of a decade. Indeed, his connection to the city was one of the things that made him an ideal choice for kicking off retail operations at Cambridge Crossing. “Our vision at Cambridge Crossing has been to partner with local and independent retailers to create a place authentically woven into the vibrant East Cambridge neighborhood,” said Mark Roopenian of DivcoWest, the developer of Cambridge Crossing (CX). “Will Gilson and his team could not be more perfect and we proudly welcome him to CX.”

 

About Café Beatrice

Named after Gilson’s daughter, Café Beatrice began as a pop-up in Harvard’s Zone 3 project in 2019. However, guests shouldn’t expect a repeat of last year’s pop-up in this new, permanent rendition. Since joining Gilson nearly 14 months ago, award-winning Pastry Chef Brian Mercury has been experimenting with an inventive, seasonally inspired array of sweet and savory baked goods that will lead the menu from breakfast, to lunch, and beyond. Inside you’ll find a grab and go area, a counter for takeout and ordering, and some café seating, all washed in sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the space. RODE Architects designed the interior with elegant stone and brass elements, hues of teal and pops of pink and white.

For those who prefer to take their orders and enjoy them al fresco, patio seating is also available.

 

On the menu

Enjoy everything from homemade pastries, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and donuts for breakfast. For lunch, the menu will transition into sandwiches like an Italian Grinder on a sub roll; a miso roasted broccoli melt; a BLT with Miso Mayo on homemade sourdough; a Niçoise Salad on Ciabatta with Spanish tuna, olive artichoke tapenade, egg, beans, peppers and greens; and roast turkey with an apple onion chutney and cheddar. There will also be a selection of salads and bowls. For sweet treats, Chef Mercury will offer cookies, fruit bars and his popular “everything but the kitchen sink” Rice Krispy Treats. For beverages, there will be coffee, cold brew, iced tea, lemonade, bottled drinks, and a selection of hot tea.

Plan your visit

Café Beatrice is located at 100 North First Street, Cambridge, MA and is open Tuesday – Sunday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Seating is available both inside and outside of the café. For those who prefer takeout, an order for pickup or delivery can be placed at TheLexingtonCX.com.

Driving? There’s free 2-hour street parking available on Jacobs Street.

Taking public transit? Café Beatrice is a 2-minute walk from Lechmere Station on the Green Line (69, 80, 87, 88 buses stop here) or a 6-minute walk from Community College Station on the Orange Line.

Riding Bluebikes? Find nearby docks here.

Follow along

For the most up-to-date information, follow Café Beatrice on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @cafebeatricecx. Be sure to also follow accounts for Gilson’s other two concepts coming to The Shed at Cambridge Crossing — The Lexington, a cocktail bar and restaurant with rooftop terrace overlooking The Common at CX slated to open November 2020 (@thelexingtoncx) and Geppetto, a full-service Italian restaurant planned for 2021 (@geppettocx).