Rosa y Marigold, the latest project from the team behind celebrated Boston restaurants Celeste, La Royal, and Esmeralda, is slated to open in Fall 2025 at the Lyrik development in Back Bay. Situated at the crossroads of Newbury Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and the Pike, the restaurant will bring a lively mix of Peruvian flavors, fun cocktails, and live music to the heart of Boston.
With their new venture, Maria Rondeau and JuanMa Calderón, who have successfully built their restaurant empire from humble beginnings, are bringing along a select group of partners to ensure the success of Rosa y Marigold. This “dream team” of investors includes family, friends, and long-time collaborators, all sharing in the vision of creating something special in Boston’s vibrant culinary scene.
A Star-studded Team Behind Rosa y Marigold
The restaurant’s executive chef, JuanMa Calderón, will continue to showcase his expertise in Peruvian cuisine, combining traditional favorites like ceviche and lomo saltado with modern takes on the flavors of his home country. Maria Rondeau, an architect by profession, will design the space while managing day-to-day operations. Their successful partnership has already garnered attention in the Boston dining scene, and they are excited to expand their culinary empire further.
The pair is joined by partners such as Jose Saravia, Celeste’s very first employee, who has grown from dishwasher to manager. Additionally, Lauren Harder, the landlord and general contractor of La Royal, has been involved in the new project. Rondeau’s brother, Rafael, and his wife Dana Hale—both veterans of the hospitality industry—will also contribute their expertise, ensuring that Rosa y Marigold is not only a culinary success but also a great place to work and invest in.
A Menu Celebrating Peruvian Classics and Innovations
Rosa y Marigold’s menu will offer a rich selection of classic Peruvian dishes, from ceviche and tiradito to anticuchos (street food-style skewered meats). Calderón’s unique approach will incorporate new dishes inspired by modern interpretations of Peruvian flavors, along with influences from his extensive research into global Peruvian cuisine.
Calderón is keen to showcase Boston’s incredible seafood offerings. You can expect tiradito—a raw fish dish traditional to Peru—alongside other fish-focused dishes. The menu will also feature hearty Peruvian-Chinese fusion (chifa), including steak frites with yuca fries and unique sandwiches known as “sánguches.”
One exciting addition to the menu will be Ceviche de Pollo, a Peruvian chicken stew made with traditional ceviche ingredients, such as lime and red onion. Although the dish’s name sometimes scares off customers unfamiliar with Peruvian cuisine, Calderón is determined to introduce this family recipe to the restaurant’s patrons, perhaps under a new name.
Expanding Dining Options and Atmosphere
Rosa y Marigold will serve a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, as well as brunch on weekends. This new restaurant, located in the bustling Back Bay area, will cater to both tourists and locals with a focus on offering fast-casual Peruvian fare during lunch hours. Unlike their other locations, which are more destination-oriented, Rosa y Marigold is expected to be a convenient stop for weekday diners.
The dining experience will center around an open kitchen concept that invites guests to watch chefs at work. The space will feature a large, airy dining room to accommodate about 100 seats, with a “moody, more mysterious” bar area taking up the other third of the space. This design choice is in keeping with Rondeau and Calderón’s signature dinner-party feel. They want guests to feel connected to the food, the space, and each other.
With its proximity to Berklee College of Music, Rosa y Marigold will also embrace the intersection of food and music. Expect live performances ranging from jazz and bossa nova to salsa, and even traditional Peruvian music, which has a growing following at Berklee.
Honoring Louise Glück: The Inspiration Behind the Name
The name Rosa y Marigold holds special significance, paying tribute to the late Nobel laureate poet and essayist Louise Glück. Glück, who passed away in 2023, was a frequent guest at Celeste, where she gathered with friends and dined weekly. She even helped inspire the name of La Royal, after encouraging Calderón and Rondeau to break from their tradition of naming restaurants after women’s names and colors.
For Rondeau and Calderón, Rosa y Marigold’s duality reflects both the essence of their latest project and Glück’s final work, Marigold and Rose, a story about twin sisters. The name symbolizes the connection and complementary nature of opposites, just as their restaurant aims to bring together different cultural elements and community members under one roof.
The new restaurant is designed to be a meeting place for everyone—students, professionals, families, and visitors. By serving exceptional food and celebrating diverse cultures, Rosa y Marigold seeks to continue the tradition of bringing people together, just as Glück’s poetry once did.
A New Chapter for the Lyrik Development
Rosa y Marigold will be part of the Lyrik development, a mixed-use space that aims to create a sense of community in Back Bay. The development will feature a variety of dining and retail options, including casual spots like George Howell Coffee and Pink Carrot, alongside the upscale Greek restaurant Avra Estiatorio.
Lyrik’s design emphasizes creating a welcoming atmosphere where visitors and residents alike can experience a rich variety of food, music, and art. With its focus on connection, Rosa y Marigold is perfectly aligned with the spirit of the development, and Rondeau sees it as a perfect fit for their vision of bringing people together through food.
The team behind Rosa y Marigold is excited to bring their vision to Back Bay, and they look forward to opening their doors in Fall 2025. With their combination of Peruvian flavors, unique dining experiences, and commitment to community, Rosa y Marigold is sure to become another beloved spot in the Boston dining scene.
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