Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

October 3, 2023

Upscale tapas restaurant, Boqueria, to open in Blue Back Square

Contributed Boqueria, a high-end tapas restaurant and bar, is set to open its 10th location in the country at 46 South Main St., in West Hartford's Blue Back Square, on Oct. 16.
Contributed Boqueria, a high-end tapas restaurant and bar, is set to open its 10th location in the country at 46 South Main St., in West Hartford's Blue Back Square, on Oct. 16.

A Spanish restaurant with locations in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Chicago is opening a location in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square.

Boqueria, a high-end tapas restaurant and bar, is set to open at 46 South Main St. on Oct. 16, according to an announcement.

The space was previously home to Balos, an upscale Greek restaurant, which closed during the pandemic.

Boqueria is known for its signature paella de mariscos, made with saffron-laced bomba rice topped with fresh seafood. The menu incorporates seasonal ingredients and is updated quarterly.

Boqueria bills itself as “a stylish interpretation of Barcelona's tapas bars serving Spanish-style shared plates.”

Among the menu offerings are pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus with fennel, smoked pimentón and Picual olive oil mashed potatoes), and gambas al ajillo (plump shrimp cooked in chili-laced olive oil with garlic and brandy).

Chef Jonathan Navarro will lead the kitchen, and the restaurant’s general manager will be Julian Garcia. 

Boqueria will be open daily at 5 p.m. for dinner, weekend brunch (starting Oct. 21), weekday lunch (starting Oct. 23) and offers a bar menu. Reservations will be available on Resy and OpenTable.

The restaurant has 5,600 square feet of interior space, designed to create an intimate atmosphere, and a 1,400-square-foot exterior patio. It also has a 24-seat private dining room and a 38-seat event area.

“We have been planning a location in Connecticut for years and found a great spot in Blue Back Square,” Boqueria’s founder and CEO Yann de Rochefort said. “We've been visiting West Hartford for the last year and have been impressed with the local culinary scene. It's exciting to be a part of. We're grateful to all our neighbors who have already made us feel like part of the local community.”

Rochefort opened the first Boqueria in New York City in 2006. There are now 10 locations, with four in New York City, two in Washington, D.C., one in Nashville, one in Chicago and one in Boston, which opened in September. 

Boqueria also plans to open restaurants in Philadelphia and Atlanta in 2024. 

Sign up for Enews

0 Comments

Order a PDF