Boston Restaurant Talk

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Bakey to Open in Newton Centre

A pair of bakeries with a well-known Israeli baker behind them will soon be joined by a third location.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a post from All Over Newton), Bakey is going to be opening in Newton Centre, with an earlier Fig City News article indicating that the business had been having popups within the Beacon Street space late last summer and fall, Once it opens, the new shop will join others in Boston and Brookline, and expect to see fresh breads, burekas, babkas, croissants, bagels, sandwiches, coffee, and more.

Bakey co-founder Uri Scheft is behind Lehamim Bakery in Israel, and he also co-founded Breads Bakery in New York City.

The address for Bakey in Newton Centre is 749 Beacon Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459. The website for the business is at https://bakeybabka.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Mamaleh's Kibitz Corner Is Opening in the Former Vincent's Space in Cambridge's Kendall Square

A couple of months ago, it was reported that a restaurant and wine bar in Cambridge was closing, and now we have learned that the group behind it is debuting a new spot with a familiar name.

According to a press release, Mamaleh's Kibitz Corner is opening in Kendall Square, taking over the space on Cardinal Medeiros Avenue that had been home to Vincent's. The release mentions that the new spot will offer its space for private events while also hosting public events such as book readings, comedy nights, and special popup dinners--and being a test kitchen where it tries out new recipes. The grand opening for Mamaleh's Kibitz Corner takes place on April 26 and April 27 with a prix-fixe Passover dinner.

Big Dipper Hospitality Group (which runs State Park in Kendall Square and Mamaleh's in Kendall Square and Brookline) first opened Vincent's in 2020 as Vincent's Grocery, reconcepting the place into Vincent's restaurant the following year.

The address for Mamaleh's Kibitz Corner is 233 Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02141. The website for Mamaleh's can be found at https://mamalehs.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Owners of Giacomo's and Riccardo's in Boston's North End Plan to Open New Restaurant in the Neighborhood

The operators of a couple of North End restaurants are hoping to open a new dining spot.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, a restaurant tentatively named North End Lobster Co. is looking to open on Hanover Street, with Adriana Travaglione being the manager listed. A post within the northend.page website mentions that Richard and Adriana Travaglione (who both run the North End location of Giacomo's as well as the nearby Riccardo's) are indeed behind the proposed spot, though the website says "The restaurant will be called 'North End Lobster Company'.... except probably not. Turns out that was just a placeholder and the real name on the BDA is TBD."

A hearing on the plans is slated to be held on April 24, so there should be more information by later next week.

The address for the proposed new dining spot is 204 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Rox Diner to Open in the Former Dining Car Space in Newton Highlands

It looks like a diner is returning to Newton, though its exact ownership is unknown at this point in time.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page along with a Newton Real Estate Forum post, the Rox Diner is planning to open in Newton Highlands, moving into the space on Hartford Street that had been home to The Dining Car. There had been a Rox Diner in Newtonville which closed in 2020, while another spot called the Rox Cafe had once been in Newton Highlands, with that place closing back in 2014. A location of the Rox Diner can currently be found in West Roxbury, though it isn't yet known if there is an ownership connection with the upcoming one in Newton Highlands. (The Newtonville outlet originally had a connection to the West Roxbury location, though the two restaurants split and went under different ownership.)

The Dining Car first opened in the Hartford Street space in 2022, with the space previously being home to Bread and Chocolate.

The address for the new location of the Rox Diner in Newton Highlands is 4 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands, MA, 02461.

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

bb.q Chicken to Open in the Former Cafe Beirut Space in Jamaica Plain

A Korean chicken chain that has a handful of locations in the Greater Boston area is opening a new outlet, taking over the space where a Lebanese restaurant had been.

According to an article from the Jamaica Plain News, bb.q Chicken is planning to open in Jamaica Plain, moving into the former Cafe Beirut space on Centre Street. Once it opens, the new outlet will join others locally in downtown Boston, Allston, Kenmore Square, Cambridge's Central Square, Lowell, and Quincy.

Cafe Beirut closed in January after being in business for 12 years.

The address for the upcoming bb.q Chicken in Jamaica Plain is 654 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. The website for the chain can be found at https://bbqchicken.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Eat Greek Gyros to Open in the Former Out of the Blue Space in Somerville's Davis Square

A new Greek eatery is on its way to Somerville, and it will take over the space where an Italian seafood restaurant had been.

According to a source, Eat Greek Gyros is planning to open in Davis Square, moving into the former Out of the Blue space on Elm Street. A menu seen for the upcoming spot shows such options as gyros, souvlaki, octopus, halloumi, rice bowls, fries, and a variety of salads, along with beer, wine, and cocktails. No opening date has been given as of yet, so stay tuned for updates as they come in.

Out of the Blue closed down earlier this year after being in business for nearly 25 years.

The address for the upcoming Eat Greek Gyros is 215 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[Earlier Article]
Out Of The Blue in Somerville's Davis Square Is Closing

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)