Bondir is Here ... Official Opening is Nov. 21

Bondir Concord, the suburban expansion of chef Jason Bond’s acclaimed Cambridge eatery, opened quietly last week, with plans for an “official” opening this Thursday, Nov. 21.

The official opening of Bond’s metrowestern outpost comes on the three-year anniversary of the opening of his original 9-tabletop spot in the city.

However, locals have already been finding their way into the Walden Street restaurant, reserving tables online and by phone. Even without a working website or sign on the building, Bondir Concord was pretty well booked through its first few days of service, according to Monica Higgins, the restaurant’s director of events.

While Bond and the team expect to have different menus for Cambridge and Concord, both will be  farm-house style restaurants with a focus on preparing and serving the freshest, best ingredients in thoughtful ways using impeccable technique.

“It’s a fine dining restaurant, but I don’t want the guests to know that,” Bond told Patch earlier this fall. “A big part of the product we offer is trust. People know the food we offer is healthful and that the producers we use are responsible.”

At the outset, Bondir Concord will only be open for dinner. But the team expects to be open for lunch and private events in the New Year.

A Look Inside

It’s Friday afternoon and, with still nearly a week to go before its official opening night, Bondir Concord is abuzz.

The phone is ringing. Not off the hook, but never with more than a few minutes between calls about reservations – both looking to make them and looking to make sure those made still stand. See, Bondir Concord won’t officially open until this Thursday night, but it opened softly last week, accepting reservations on Open Table and by phone.

What’s interesting about the flurry of phone calls is that the number has never been published—it’s 978-610-6554, by the way—people just seemed to find it … mostly by calling the Cambridge restaurant or chatting with one of the neighboring local merchants who have been “ambassadors” of Bondir Concord.

“Things have been going very well,” Higgins says between phone calls and quick convos with an HVAC guy. “It’s incredible. We can’t believe how lucky we are.”

Meanwhile, a painter is working on the front entrance and through the kitchen comes Pete Lowy, from Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds. Higgins says they’ve known and worked with Pete and Jen Hashley for years and calls to him, but he doesn’t hear her over the kitchen noise.

It’s just as well; the phone’s ringing again and passersby are looking in through the windows.

Bondir Concord is located in the former home of the Walden Grille, but it’s been a complete transformation at 24 Walden St.

Exposed brick and earthtones surround reclaimed, repurposed and reinvigorated furniture and décor throughout the bar and front dining area. In the back is a more formal-looking dining room that someday soon will afford the opportunity for more private dining events. Many seats offer guests a view of the fireplace and open kitchen.

When Bond says it’s a formal dining experience but he doesn’t want it to feel that way, he means it, according to staffers, who describe the Bondir experience as dining at Grandma’s house, if Grandma was out in her garden picking the zucchini and herbs fresh the morning of the meal.

The refrain from Bond, Higgins and restaurant staff who spoke with Patch is that the vision is for Bondir Concord to be a place where locals can come and spend time on any occasion and on many occasions – be it for a burger and beer or an anniversary dinner.

“The goal is to have a place where we take care of people, and the food will be good but that’s not the most important thing,” Bond said in an earlier interview. “To me, it needs to be a place where they can feel comfortable, and can come and relax.”