New Dim Sum Restaurant and Cocktail Bar to Open in Cambridge’s Former Mary Chung Space

A new dim sum spot with a cocktail focus is coming to Cambridge .

Darling is set to open at 464 Massachusetts Ave , occupying the former site of the beloved Mary Chung Restaurant. Plans for the new establishment were approved at a Cambridge License Commission meeting on July 9, 2024.

After four decades of serving up dumplings and Sichuan fare to the local community, Mary Chung closed its doors in 2022. In a post on the Fans of Mary Chung Facebook page, Brian Callahan , who will oversee Darling with his partner Zimu Chen , acknowledged the significance of the space, stating:

Over the past year and a half I have read just how much this space means to you all. I know that it will be impossible for us to recreate that feeling within many of you, and I understand how difficult it can be to watch something you are so deeply nostalgic for change into something entirely different, but I assure you that we have and will continue to do our best to move this space forward into its next chapter with preserving aspects of its past in mind.

Although specific details about the new eatery remain limited, Darling will focus on dim sum- and Cantonese-influenced small plates and cocktails. Callahan said that the goal is to offer exceptional food and drink, along with warm hospitality, to the Central Square, Cambridge, and Greater Boston communities.

Both Callahan and Chen bring a wealth of experience from the local restaurant scene. Callahan has worked at popular spots like Row 34, Orfano, Tiger Mama, Coquette, and Grafton Street, while Chen has been involved with Eastern Standard, Mariel, Coquette, and Sumiao Hunan Kitchen.

Darling attorney Adam Barnosky told commissioners that the 2,375-square-foot restaurant will require at least $1.1 million in renovations. Once open, it will seat up to 59 patrons and operate from 5 p.m. to midnight on weeknights, and from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends.

Chen told What Now Boston that the eatery is expected to debut at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. For the latest updates, be sure to follow Darling on Instagram .