Craigie on Main's Tony Maws to Open in Old Kirkland Space in Somerville

Tony Maws, chef at Cambridge's Craigie on Main, is planning to open a restaurant in Somerville in the Washington Street space formerly occupied by Kirkland Cafe.

Maws attended a Somerville Licensing Commission meeting Wednesday night to secure an alcohol, victualer and entertainment license, which he received.

Maws said his new restaurant doesn't have a name yet, but it would feature the "same ingredients that we cook at Craigie on Main."

However, the new venture will be more "rustic" and "casual" than the popular Cambridge eatery, and it will have lower price points, Maws said, adding it would be priced to allow people to eat there more than once a week. It will feature a "straight up a la carte" menu, he said.

It will also have cocktails.

Maws said he was drawn to the space, at 425 Washington St., because "those four corners are fantastic."

The address, at the corner of Washington and Beacon streets, is near other popular restaurants and food stores, including Bergamot, Dalí, Savenor's Market (in Cambridge), Wine & Cheese Cask, The Biscuit and The Kebab Factory. It's a short walk from Porter, Union, Inman and Harvard squares, Maws said, describing one reason why he chose the location.

Kirkland Cafe was a bar and music venue that closed in 2007.

The Somerville Licensing Commission approved the transfer of a seven-day all-forms restaurant alcohol license to Maws from Deco Restaurant, which never seems to have opened. Deco Restaurant had planned to open as a Mediterranean restaurant in the space, according to Boston Eater.