Time Out Market Boston will have a new spot for Italian cuisine; POE-Lenta, Italian cafe by chefs Brian Poe and Guillermo Guzman Tip Tap Room Opening in Beacon Hill in early November Fenway food hall and cultural marketThe menu features the chefs’ signature playfulness.

From seasonal “POE-Lenta” to roasted tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons and wild game bolognese, the dishes are deceptively simple and full of flavor and fresh ingredients, Poe says.

Poe’s career in Boston spans more than 20 years and is associated with international cuisines and unusual proteins; Foods like wild boar meatballs and antelope tacos graced their menus. He was a long-time key figure at the Bostonian Hotel before starting a partnership that he oversaw. Poe’s Kitchen in Rattlesnake on Boylston Street (closed in 2018), Bukowski Tavern And Parish Cafe.

Poe opened Tip Tap Room in 2012 and became its sole owner in 2021 after ending his partnership with Wilcox Group. Poe has since opened the Crane River Cheese Club, a sandwich shop and grocery store next door, with partner Nicolas Giannotti. General manager of Tip Tap Room. Today, in addition to his two venues on Beacon Hill, Poe owns a microplant farm and a coffee roasting company, both located on the North Shore.

The Tip Tap menu is built around a variety of “tips,” from steak to turkey to swordfish to elk and more, and dozens of craft beers. The format allows a lot of room to mix things up with different sauces, sets, and toppings. Poe says that Guzman, who joined the team in 2021, brings new energy to the team. “With Chef Guzman’s style and techniques, we can make a great system even more fun because we’ve both traveled a lot,” says Poe.

Originally from Pueblo, Mexico, Guzman had been executive chef at Pellana Prime Steakhouse in Peabody for a decade (coincidentally, chef Poe’s favorite restaurant!). He says he wants a change of pace and is looking for a cooking job at Tip Tap Room. After several months of creative work in the kitchen with Poe, Guzman rose to prominence as chef de cuisine at the Crane River Cheese Club, which offers catering services along with the restaurant’s made-to-order sandwiches and fare.

POE-Lenta at Time Out Market, a partnership between Poe and Guzman, combines ideas from both Beacon Hill spots. Menu staples will include a new riff on Tip Tap’s beloved wild game ragu, served here with hand-cut pappardelle pasta; and Crane River sandwiches like Prosciutto No. 1, topped with olive spread, Aunt Em’s mustard, gherkins, herbs, and flowery cheese on toasted ciabatta.​

Other highlights include the aforementioned roasted tomato soup poured around a crispy-fried, bite-sized grilled cheese sandwich; burrata is served with seasonal ingredients (citrus-roasted beets, mushrooms, arugula, toast points, and truffle herb dressing) and hearty salads, including one inspired by Crane River’s Italian sub.

Guzman’s brother Sergio works alongside the chef at Tip Tap and will also be at Time Out Market along with other team members and a new hire. Guzman’s stepdaughter Suri, a high school senior, is an aspiring pastry chef who helps with the desserts; Guzman says that they expect Italian-inspired flavors such as cannoli or tiramisu to be added to POE-Lenta’s menu in the coming months.

They say the chefs are excited to debut their new, collaborative concept at Time Out Market. Shortly after Guzman started working at Tip Tap, the duo began dreaming about what they could do together. “It can be tough in this industry, and Time Out covers anything that creates a nuisance, like middle-of-the-night phone calls about the dishwasher,” says Poe. “We are surrounded by great chefs here and great concepts to be inspired by, and you are given the opportunity to test your ideas.”

And chefs have a lot. “The two of us have been cooking together for the last few years, which has been really cool,” says Poe. “We know each other. “We know we have the skill set and that leaves us playing field.”

POE-Lenta at Time Out Market will open in the first week of November. To follow @timeoutmarketboston for the official launch.