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Just a few minutes down the road in Lexington Center, tucked around an unassuming corner, is a dining option you may have driven past without even realizing it.

A Family Business, Built from the Ground Up

The Lexington location of Post 1917 celebrates its first anniversary this month, and owners Lori Haverty and Jason Carron are inviting you in for a visit. And with a scratch kitchen, a gluten-free menu, and an atmosphere as dynamic as the duo behind it, there's plenty to get to know.

Carron, Post's head chef and co-founder, has spent his entire career in the restaurant industry, working as an executive chef and a restaurant consultant before making the leap to ownership. The first location of Post 1917, inside Reading's former post office building (whose architectural plans were approved in 1917), opened in April 2024 and quickly became a dinner and drink destination. Now, a year into the restaurant's Lexington residency, Haverty and Carron are working to build that same high-end hospitality experience in a location more accessible to guests inside the 128 loop.

Walk in the front door (or the accessible entrance from the parking lot – metered until 5:00 PM; free after) and you'll be greeted by modern decor, statement lighting fixtures, and fresh flowers at each table, designed in partnership with a local florist. That attention to detail flows through into the interactions between staff and guests, said General Manager Felix Albano.

"I want to make it so it's comfortable to come down the street," said Albano, who says he strives to make a connection with everyone who comes in the door, an important effort in today's world where face-to-face connections are increasingly hard to nurture. "You deal with real emotions, holidays, family, first dates...It's not a transaction."

That warm family culture extends beyond the dining room, too, said Carron, adding that the restaurant is literally family run, with even his and Haverty's adult children supporting the business. "If you have a messed up house, it doesn't matter how many people come in, it's never going to be right."

Lori Haverty and Jason Carron (center) with children Peyton Carron (left) and Lily Haverty (right).

Everything Made In-House — Gluten-Free, Without Compromise

Atmosphere is one thing, but food is another. And Carron says Post 1917's food sets it apart from other establishments in the area.

Everything from the frying batter to the whipped cream is made in-house, and even the meat is cut on-site. The entire menu is gluten-free – a nod to Carron's son, who has celiac disease. He says even skeptics find gluten-free dishes delicious and in fact can't tell the difference between the same dish cooked with and without gluten-containing ingredients. And the elimination of the allergen opens doors for many diners. "People can have crab cakes here, Because I use Aleia's gluten-free bread out of Connecticut for the breadcrumbs," he said. "It's just being mindful of the ingredients and bringing in the best you can."

In addition to the crab cakes, Carron says guests love the lamb lollipops and Wagyu dumplings. On the lighter side, the 1917 salad with fried goat cheese is a popular option. "It's a chopped salad that tastes like a deconstructed Italian sub," he says.

And then there's the seafood. Seabass, lobster pasta, and scallops are all on the menu, and the portions are enough to leave leftovers. Accompany one of the entrees with a glass of wine or a cocktail, or pull up a seat to the bar and order from the new bar menu, which features burgers, lobster rolls, and other quicker, more affordable dishes.

A Hidden Gem Within the Hidden Gem

Below the dining room sits a function room big enough to fit nearly 60 guests. Guests have held events here from baby showers to corporate trainings, and even the reveal of the winner of this year's MasterChef TV show, local mom and entrepreneur Aishu Challa.

Choose food service only or add a bartender; order from the full menu or create a smaller menu for your event; display a presentation or media on the retractable screens. This flexible space features the same modern design as the dining room and bar but immediately feels more intimate and secluded, like the restaurant set aside this space just for you.

Whether you're hosting an event or just looking for a new place for your next celebration, consider Post 1917 as an option. Post 1917 is located at 27 Waltham St. in Lexington Center and is open for dinner Tuesday through Friday and lunch & dinner on the weekends.

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