Needham, MA

On a commuter railroad line in a stone ticket office originally designed by the 19th c. architect, H. H. Richardson, a tired and shabby restaurant was taken over by Steve and Karen Waller. With extremely limited means and a ton of prohibitive restrictions given the building’s provenance, the interior was transformed into a warm, comfortable dining environment where, when the Celtics or Patriots aren’t playing, the fine cooking of executive chef Vanessa Cortesi, is the star attraction.

Photos by William Taylor