The Rosebud, an iconic presence in Davis Square since the 1940s, reopens tonight after closing in late May, now leaning heavily toward barbecue.
The revamped menu is actually broken up into categories such as “Share or Don’t” (wings, dip, soups, flatbreads and less easily identifiable snacks made with kale and jalapeño – basically a popper), “Between the Sheets” (sandwiches such as a griddled cheeseburger, falafel sub, BLT&A with avocado being the “A”), “Tasty Fried Goodness” (chicken and Anchor Steam chips) and “Smoke ’n Fire,” for the Rosebud’s new emphasis on barbecue (in addition to Steak & Tomatoes and a grilled swordfish dish). There’s also plenty of pie.
Chef and partner John Delpha leads the kitchen at Rosebud – so far for dinner and dessert, but daily lunch and weekend brunch are planned, and Delpha and Joe Cassinelli, the new owner of Rosebud, have installed a handsome patio behind the restaurant’s front diner that looks ready for warm-weather seating.
The menu is described as Pan-American, with “whole roasted hog heads with gochujang barbecue sauce, kimchi, ginger scallion relish and biscuits” being one item highlighted in a Boston magazine preview.
“Rosebud’s eclectic menu features dishes hailing from all four corners of the country, carefully integrated with flavors from across the globe,” a Rosebud press release said.
Oh, and the booze: The bar has 18 beers on draft, throwback canned beers and a variety of barrel-aged cocktails. There’s a privately selected barrel of 10-year Four Roses bourbon and other brown spirits, as well as a large-format Belgian-style pale ale brewed locally by Night Shift Brewing and aged in the same Four Roses barrel.
So, as all diner menus should be, a mix.
“We’re looking to bring a casual restaurant to Davis Square where guests can be just as comfortable taking the kids in sweats after a soccer game as they are toasting the weekend with friends on a Saturday night,” Cassinelli said. “Keeping the former Rosebud Diner’s storied past in mind, we’ve lovingly refreshed the dining car façade while bringing an entirely different concept, menu and scene to the square.”
Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar, 381 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville, is open for dinner Monday through Sunday. The vestigial website is here, or call (617) 629-9500.
This post took significant amounts of material from a press release.
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