New Restaurant To Bring European Flair to Cabot Street

BEVERLY, MA – UPDATE: Tartine announced that it would officially open on Friday, April 14, with a limited menu.

The inside of 192 Cabot St. is nearly unrecognizable. The restaurant – which was recently Ariston Pizza – is bright and welcoming. The new owners took out the drop ceiling, redid the bar in an Italian stone, and the floors in oak boards.

Tartine Kitchen & Eatery, a European fare cafe, is hoping to open in February, and the new owners are looking forward to sharing their vision with the North Shore.

Monika and Alexandre Simon of Belgium have been talking about opening their own restaurant for years. They moved to the North Shore three and a half years ago, and got to work planning a cafe to reflect their tastes and sensibilities.

"We rush to get to work, we rush to get home," said Monika, who graduated from Endicott College. She said they wanted to create a place where people don't feel rushed. The husband and wife duo created several different seating areas so all would feel welcome: Groups of friends socializing, families having lunch, or solo customers stopping in to try one of several Belgian beers. The redesigned space features bar seating at the front windows, where patrons can look out onto Beverly City Hall.

"This is a dream," said Alexandre, looking around Tartine's pristine white walls and high ceiling. "Before being a business, it's most of all a place I would love to come to work every morning."

The Simons chose the name "Tartine," the French name for an open-faced sandwich, because it rolled off the tongue, and because the dish will be served in the restaurant. Monika said they are looking to serve breakfast (traditional Belgian waffles included), lunch, and everything sweet and savory in between, with a focus on farm-to-table dishes.

Hopeful customers can look forward to salad, seasonal soups, and charcuterie and cheese plates, to name a few items Tartine plans to serve. They will also have a coffee bar, Belgian beers, and wine.

Alexandre Simon comes from a well-known family of restauranteurs and has managed several restaurants, but this is the couple's first venture in the U.S. They looked at several Salem restaurant spaces before they drove by the empty storefront on Cabot Street and noticed a "for lease" sign in the window.

"We love the coast here," said Monika of Beverly. She said the city feels like a combination of a small town and urban setting, and they're looking forward to being a part of Cabot Street.

The prospect of opening a restaurant and redesigning the inside was daunting, but Monika said the community excitement has made it worth it. People who work close to Tartine have stopped in to welcome them to the neighborhood, and the restaurant's Facebook page is abuzz with North Shore residents excited to try something new.

To follow updates on Tartine's opening date, follow them on Facebook.

Images via Monika Simon