Ward 4 Restaurant To Open In Newton's Auburndale

NEWTON, MA — A new restaurant and bar is planning to open on June 19 in Auburndale.

That Ward 4 will open within two weeks has been long in coming said Doug Peel general manager for the restaurant.

"We are excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "Relief is a good word for it."

In 2015, the group created a Facebook page. And then in 2017, announced they'd begun construction work in the space on Auburn Street. Peel said the restaurant owners wanted to build the entire restaurant by hand, and that's what originally took so long.

"Everything in here, we cut everything ourselves, there's nothing prefabricated," he said. "They poured their blood sweat and tears into it."

They were planning to make a final push before getting permits from the city last March, and then — all together now— the pandemic hit.

So the owners —Christopher Noble and Walter Devine— decided to take their time.

"The idea of the restaurant is that it's a neighborhood spot where you can come sit down with your family and share, and bring back that family style dining that so many people have moved away from," Peel said. "This is where you have your dinner party."

Peel estimated that 75 percent of the menu is small plates to push that idea, for those who don't feel like sharing there are also great entrees, like the mac n cheese.

The food itself is American-style comfort food, taken up a notch, he said.

"We're big fans of the idea that just because its American food, doesn't mean it can't be elevated in some way, he said. "We want to be the good quality neighborhood spot where people can just come and enjoy being here."

Ward 4 joins The Knotty Pine, Bocca Bella Cafe & Bistro and Tom's Pizza & Sandwich Shop.

Ward 4's menu, overseen by chef Mark Filteau, includes a $10 appetizer of crisped brussels sprouts with sunflower crumble, pickled apple, fried pork belly and chili soy glaze, four versions of pub fries ranging from the $8 loaded to the $10.50 poutine with stout gravy, shredded beef, cheddar curds and scallions. The menu showcases five versions of wings. They also have four versions of tacos, including fish or smoked tofu tacos, a bevy of soups and salads burgers and mains. They have a mac n cheese that offers a vegan variant, pan seared salmon, fish and ships, steak tips, short ribs and brick chicken.

Peel said there is no frozen food being reheated here, and even the french fries are hand cut. Another stand out, he said, is that most of the menu is gluten-free and there are even some vegan options.