Restaurants Savvor and SAVR in legal fight over trademark infringement

Savvor first filed the suit against SAVR, claiming its similar name has caused confusion among patrons.

Two Boston restaurants are in the middle of a legal dispute over a trademark infringement claim due to their business names — both different spellings of the word “savor.”

The plaintiff is Savvor, a Southern and Caribbean restaurant and club in the Leather District that filed a suit against a bistro that opened last year in the Seaport called SAVR.

In the U.S. District filing in May, the plaintiff claims that the opening of a similarly named restaurant has caused “confusion, mistake, and deception” among customers and therefore hurt their business.

The complaint from Savvor described SAVR’s actions as “willful and intentional,” and the plaintiff requested that SAVR be made to change their name on all materials and to pay damages, according to court documents. It also requested for the destruction “of any and all displays, signs, circulars, promotional materials, advertisements, directories, pamphlets, and other materials” using the SAVR mark.

In a counterclaim filed a month later, SAVR argued that the plaintiff has provided no evidence that customers have confused the two restaurants over their names. SAVR also noted that their name is followed by “Spirited American Bistro,” while Savvor’s continues with “Restaurant & Lounge.” They’re also two different concepts, the defendant said.

SAVR claims that Savvor was rejected when filing for a federal trademark under bar and restaurant services. As of Thursday, Savvor’s trademark application was pending to use their name for “sauces.”

Both businesses registered trademarks with the state this year. But the counterclaim argues that Savvor’s state paperwork was “intentionally” incorrect, answering no to a question that asked if the business had ever applied for a federal trademark — the business had done so before they applied for a state trademark.

One of SAVR’s requests was that the state cancel Savvor’s registration over the alleged error. SAVR said their business “has and will suffer” due to Savvor’s suit, therefore the defendant should receive damages.

In an email, SAVR’s attorney said that the Seaport business “denies any allegation of infringement and has full confidence the court will resolve this matter in our favor.” Savvor’s attorney did not respond in time for publication.

Savvor, which serves Southern food with Caribbean influences on Lincoln Street, also hosts events and DJs. It’s also part of the very small number of Black-owned restaurants in Boston that hold a liquor license, according to Boston Magazine.

SAVR opened just last year inside the St. Regis Residences, calling itself a bistro, from managing partner David Doyle, formerly of steakhouse Smith & Wollensky.