The Woods Restaurant

The Applicant seeks a variance from the off-street parking requirements established by the  Bylaw, § VIII(A). More specifically, the Applicant requests that the Board authorize the Restaurant to use the ample, existing, underutilized on-street parking spaces along Boston Post  Road and the Weston Town Green to satisfy the Bylaw’s parking requirements. As set forth below, it is our strongly held opinion that all legal requirements for the requested variance are fully  satisfied, and that granting relief is consistent with the Town’s significant efforts and expenditure  of resources over the past decade to renovate the Tavern for re-use to benefit Weston residents.

-Letter to Zoning Board of Appeals by Luke H. Legere Law, in support of Boston Urban Hospitality’s request for parking variance, August 26, 2026

As most Westonians know, Brian Piccini and Boston Urban Hospitality (BUH) was selected by the Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern, to operate a full-service restaurant within the Tavern, with a licensed occupancy of 175 people.  BUH has expended significant resources to advance the restaurant through numerous review and approval processes; to date, the Applicant has spent over $455,000, and countless hours, pursuing approvals and permits for the restaurant.

Along the way, BUH has received guidance, input and approvals from Historic New England and numerous Weston boards in a process totally new to the town. There have been surprises and challenges along the way, and parking is one of the final remaining issues.

Boston Urban Hospitality had originally understood that the Tavern’s parking capacity had been approved based on correspondence with Town officials and prior permits issued for the Tavern. Why is a variance from the bylaw needed? Based on a legal memorandum provided by Town counsel dated May 13, 2026, existing on-street parking spaces do not technically constitute “parking areas” under the strict definition of the Zoning Bylaw and “[i]f the [A]pplicant cannot provide the required parking either on-site or through an off-site parking area, a variance from the parking requirements would be required.”

On August 26, 2026, BUH filed an application for a hearing by the Zoning Board of Appeals in response to Town counsel’s opinion. The Bylaw requires that the building provide a total of 77 parking spaces. Currently, the Tavern provides 43 on-site parking spaces, and the plans approved in 2019 and subsequently permitted by the Building Inspector incorporated 12 on-street spaces into the overall parking capacity (for a total of 55 parking spaces), meaning that an additional 22 on-street parking spaces are needed to satisfy the Bylaw’s parking requirements.

Existing parking spaces within 200 feet of the restaurant are abundant on Boston Post Road and around the Weston Town Green – those parking spaces largely sit unused, particularly during the weekend and evening hours when the restaurant would be busiest. The Friends believe allowing a portion of this existing parking to contribute toward the restaurant’s parking requirement is a practical solution that recognizes the physical constraints of the historic Tavern property without creating additional parking.

This approach also has meaningful community support. Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern have received strong, unequivocal letters of support from Rev. Jeffrey Barz-Snell of First Parish Church, Rev. Scott A. Euvrard of St. Julia’s Parish among many others. The Select Board and Town Manager have also expressed their support.

The Friends respectfully request that the Zoning Board of Appeals approve the requested variance. With the project otherwise approaching the final stages of approval, resolving the parking issue would remove one of the last significant hurdles to construction and ultimately opening The Woods at the Josiah Smith Tavern.

Would you like to know how The Woods will actually look and feel? The process of creating its identity is well in motion. Restauranteur Brian Piccini, the creator of The Woods, has been in this business for over two decades, and knows how to create experiences, not only places to eat. While he puts his efforts into building The Woods, he and his restaurant group continue to operate two Boston area restaurants— Deuxave in Back Bay, and dbar in Dorchester. Each of these places  is unique, and lives its own objective of creating an unparalleled experience. Deuxave has been awarded four stars for multiple years by Forbes Travel Guide, has been honored consistently since 2015 with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its extensive and exceptional wine program, and in 2025 was named Best French Restaurant by Boston Magazine.

While researching this post, the Friends of Josiah Smith Board decided we wanted to experience Deuxave (please note that we paid for our own meals).  Its special summer tasting menu on weekdays proved irresistible to our dinner group. The name Deuxave is French for the crossing of the two avenues it’s sitting on- Commonwealth and Mass Ave. But once you step through the glass doors, you would never know you were at a busy crossroads, yet you feel like you are part of the Back Bay background with views of old brownstone and brick buildings.  The ambience – bookshelves, wine racks, and soft muted grey tones – encourages you to come in and stay a while. Comfortable seating made it feel homey and relaxed for our group of six seated in armchairs near the window. While the restaurant filled as the night went on, somehow the acoustics made it seem that we were the only customers – we could not hear conversations from other tables, yet were able to talk among ourselves at normal voice levels and be heard.

Service, as you might well expect from a multi-starred restaurant, is impeccable, personal and attentive.  The welcoming words at our entrance, answering questions about the menu, wine suggestions, all made us feel at home.

The food was remarkable, both in design and in the flavor.  Do we eat it or just admire it?  We did both. By the time dessert came, we were out of superlatives.

As The Woods moves forward, we know that its restaurant theme reflects Weston. Even the name “The Woods” is part of its core identity – Brian was inspired by the nature of Weston, and the idea of bringing the woods indoors. Its historic barn interior will be honored with a cozy and casual BARn space that will blend with a more traditional restaurant dining space that is airy and bright. There will also be private dining and outdoor spaces.

In terms of the food concepts, the menu is a work in progress. We do know it will be a place where the menu may read “accompanied by Land’s Sake vegetables” or other local delights. While the food will not be French-inspired like the Deuxave (or maybe it will on certain days), it will be farm-and-sea-to-table and promises to be every bit as superlative as Deuxave.  A wood-fired grill will bring on the magic of seasonal offerings. And the wine list! We’re looking forward to seeing what comes next – since this will be the first time the tavern has served alcohol to the public in two hundred years.

The Woods team is proceeding through the Weston’s approvals process and, if all goes according to schedule, the Tavern doors will open in spring 2027. There is a lot of work between here and there, but everyone is looking forward to the day when the Josiah Smith Tavern and Barn once again opens its doors for all to enjoy food, drink, and friends.