Semolina Kitchen & Bar is a contemporary Mediterranean and Italian restaurant located at 572 Boston Avenue in the Hillside neighborhood of Medford, Massachusetts, immediately adjacent to the Tufts University campus. Founded by the culinary team behind nearby Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Somerville, the restaurant occupies the ground floor of an industrial-style building along the Somerville-Medford border. Guests visit for scratch-made fresh pastas, artisan wood-fired pizzas, Mediterranean small plates, and an approachable beverage program featuring craft cocktails, Old and New World wines, and rotating New England draft beers.
What to Expect at Semolina Kitchen & Bar
Stepping inside Semolina Kitchen & Bar reveals a warm, timber-clad dining room designed with exposed ductwork, reclaimed wood accents, wide storefront windows, and an open kitchen anchored by a glowing wood-fired hearth. A long, convivial bar runs along one side of the room, offering high-top seating for solo diners and couples looking to pair a quick bowl of pasta or a flatbread with a glass of Italian red or a local IPA. During warmer months, outdoor patio seating along Boston Avenue provides an airy setting popular with local residents, university faculty, and visiting families.
The culinary program draws directly on its sister shop’s pasta-making heritage while expanding into broader Mediterranean flavors from Italy, Greece, Spain, and the Levant. Lunch service features pressed sandwiches, grain bowls, salads, and individual pizzas, while the dinner menu transitions to hand-extruded and sheeted pastas, hearth-roasted meats and seafood, and shareable mezze. The kitchen accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners with dedicated menu markings, gluten-free pasta substitutions, and vegetable-forward small plates.
- House-Made Fresh Pastas: Daily extruded and hand-cut shapes such as rigatoni bolognese, ricotta gnocchi, squid ink linguine with seafood, and seasonal ravioli crafted using traditional bronze dies and local dairy.
- Wood-Fired Hearth Pizzas: Blistered, thin-crust pies baked at high heat in the open kitchen’s wood-burning oven, topped with combinations like San Marzano tomato, fresh mozzarella, soppressata, wild mushrooms, and house-made sausage.
- Mediterranean Mezze & Small Plates: Shareable starters including house-whipped hummus and tzatziki with warm wood-fired pita, crispy calamari, roasted cauliflower, and artisan cheese and charcuterie boards.
- Rotating Craft Beer & Wine Program: A curated tap list highlighting Massachusetts and New England microbreweries alongside a Mediterranean-focused wine list spanning crisp Greek Assyrtiko, Italian Sangiovese, and Spanish Tempranillo.
- Cooking Classes & Private Events: Interactive culinary workshops and private dining gatherings hosted by the kitchen team, alongside full-service catering trays for neighborhood celebrations.
Semolina Kitchen & Bar at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 572 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Medford Hillside / Tufts University Border |
| Operating Hours | Tue–Wed: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Thu–Sat: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Sun–Mon: Closed |
| Admission / Price Range | $$ (Moderate; starters & pizzas $14–$22, fresh pastas & mains $20–$34) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1 to 2 hours |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Medford/Tufts Station (MBTA Green Line E Branch, 3-minute walk); MBTA Bus 80 & 94; metered and short-term street parking on Boston Ave |
| Official Website & Phone | semolinakitchen.com | +1 781-219-3871 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Because Semolina Kitchen & Bar sits steps from Tufts University and densely populated residential streets in West Somerville and Medford, Thursday through Saturday evenings between 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM fill up quickly. Diners planning an evening meal should book a table several days ahead through Resy or via the official Semolina Kitchen & Bar website. For walk-in guests, arriving for a weekday lunch between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM or taking a seat at the full-service bar before 5:30 PM offers the easiest access without a wait. Note that the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Getting to the restaurant via public transit is straightforward thanks to the MBTA Green Line Extension: exit at the Medford/Tufts terminus station at Boston Avenue and College Avenue, which is less than a three-minute walk southeast of the front door. Drivers can find limited on-street parking along Boston Avenue and adjacent side streets, though spaces tighten during university events and dinner rush. The street-level entrance is step-free, and the single-floor dining room and accessible restrooms accommodate wheelchairs and strollers comfortably. Before or after your meal, take a 10-minute walk uphill onto the historic Tufts University campus green and the Tufts University Art Galleries at Aidekman Arts Center, stroll southwest along Holland Street toward Davis Square in Somerville, or walk 12 minutes east to Ball Square for local bakeries and neighborhood shops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening hours at Semolina Kitchen & Bar, and when is the best time to dine?
Semolina Kitchen & Bar is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and Thursday through Saturday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM; it is closed on Sundays and Mondays. For a relaxed meal without peak dinner noise, visit for weekday lunch between 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM or book an early dinner table between 4:30 PM and 5:45 PM.
Do I need a reservation, and how much does a meal cost?
Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner service, especially from Thursday through Saturday and during Tufts University academic milestones, and can be booked online via Resy. Menu prices fall in the moderate ($$) tier, with wood-fired pizzas and Mediterranean starters typically ranging from $14 to $22 and fresh pasta dishes and entrees ranging from $20 to $34.
How much time should I budget for a meal at Semolina Kitchen & Bar?
Plan to spend about 45 to 60 minutes for a casual midday lunch of wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, or pasta. For a multi-course dinner featuring shared Mediterranean mezze, fresh pasta, and dessert with wine or cocktails, budget 1.5 to 2 hours.
Is Semolina Kitchen & Bar wheelchair accessible and suitable for families?
Yes, the restaurant features a flat, step-free entrance directly off the Boston Avenue sidewalk, single-level table seating, and ADA-compliant restrooms. The casual dress code, wood-fired pizzas, and fresh pasta dishes make it welcoming for families with children as well as couples and university groups.
When planning your Medford travel guide or browsing verified restaurants in Medford, pair this stop with standout local spots including Rogue Regency Inn & Suites, Ashland Springs Hotel, Medford Railroad Park, and Bistro 5 (2.4 km away).
