Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, March 16, 2026

Restaurant News for the Week Ending March 15, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between March 9, 2026, and March 15, 2026.

Sunny Girl in the North End Is Expanding, Opening a New Location in South Boston
A sandwich shop is going to be opening a second location in another part of Boston.
Full Story

Roger's Fish & Chips Opens at Logan Airport; Roger Berkowitz Behind the Place
A new seafood spot has opened, and a familiar name is behind it.
Full Story

Novo Marketplace to Open in Allston
A new food court/food hall is on its way to a Boston neighborhood.
Full Story

Uno Pizzeria and Grill in Revere Has Reopened
A Boston-based group of deep-dish pizza spots that had shuttered all three of its remaining Boston-area locations has seen one return.
Full Story

7th Street Burger to Open Locations in Boston's Back Bay and South Boston
A growing group of burger spots with roots in New York City will be opening a couple of locations in Boston.
Full Story

[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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Friday, March 13, 2026

Gemma Kitchen & Bar to Open in the Former Olde Colonial Cafe Space in Norwood

A few months ago, it was reported that a decades-old restaurant in the southwest suburbs of Boston had closed, and now we have learned that a new dining spot is moving into the space.

According to its Instagram page, Gemma Kitchen & Bar is planning to open in Norwood, taking over the former Olde Colonial Cafe space on Nahatan Street. Based on the Instagram page and multiple job posts online, it looks like the upcoming restaurant will feature modern American fare with Italian influences, and while a menu has not been seen as of yet, it appears that pizza will be one of the items offered. (The space in which it will reside is an old firehouse.)

The Olde Colonial Cafe shut down around the end of December after being in business since 1969.

The address for the upcoming Gemma Kitchen & Bar is 171 Nahatan Street, Norwood, MA, 02062. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/gemmakandb/

[Earlier Article]
The Olde Colonial Cafe in Norwood Is Closing

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)

Petit Play Café to Open in Woburn

A new cafe with a rather unique concept is coming to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, Petit Play Café is going to be opening in Woburn, moving into a Cummings Property space on Washington Street a short distance south of Route 128/95. The upcoming spot is going to be a French-inspired cafe that includes an indoor play zone for children and which will have staff monitoring the play space to help foster a safe environment. Petit Play Café will offer pastries, light bites, and child-friendly snacks and drinks, and drop-in play sessions, flexible memberships, play passes, and private event bookings will all be offered (fees/prices for all are given on the cafe's website).

Petit Play Café is slated to have its grand opening on March 28.

The address for Petit Play Café is 299-N Washington Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. Its website can be found at https://petitplaycafe.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Sunny Girl in Boston's North End Is Expanding, Opening a New Location in South Boston

A sandwich shop in the North End of Boston is going to be opening a second location in another part of the city.

According to an article from Caught in Southie, Sunny Girl is planning to open on W Broadway in South Boston, moving into the space by the Dorchester Street intersection where McGoo's Pizza had been. The article mentions that unlike the Commercial Street location which only offers breakfast and lunch, the new outlet in Southie will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The North End location of Sunny Girl first opened in the spring of 2023, taking over the space where Anthony's Cafe had been.

The address for the upcoming Sunny Girl in South Boston is 479 W Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127. The website for the business is at https://www.sunnygirlboston.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)

O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar in Worcester Has Closed Permanently

One of the most popular Irish pubs in the region has shut down for good.

According to a Facebook post from the business, O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar in Worcester has officially closed, with the post saying the following:

It is with great regret that we must share that after our recent pipe burst and with rising business costs, O'Connor's will not be reopening its doors. Through many difficult times we've given it our very best to carry on this beloved landmark, but the latest challenges have led us to the end of our journey....From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We are truly saddened that is has come to this but we wish you all thevery best as we say farewell.

O'Connor's first opened on W Boylston Street in 1989, going through an ownership change in 2022; the restaurant was known for such food items as Irish potato pizza, clam chowder, corned beef hash pastry sticks, fish and chips, baked haddock, shepherd's pie, chicken pot pie, a fish sandwich, and beef and mushroom pie.

The address for the now-closed O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar was 1160 W Boylston Street, Worcester, MA, 01606.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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, March 11, 2026

Roger's Fish & Chips Opens at Logan Airport; Roger Berkowitz Behind the Place

Last summer, it was reported that a familiar name would be opening a new seafood place, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a press release, Roger's Fish & Chips is now open at Logan Airport in East Boston, moving into a 700-square-foot space at Terminal A. As mentioned in an earlier article here, Roger Berkowitz--who was president and CEO of Legal Sea Foods before selling the business in 2020--is behind the dining spot, with Berkowitz also running Roger's Fish Co., an online seafood company that sells and ships flash-frozen seafood. Roger's Fish & Chips is a fast-casual counter service place that offers such items as clam chowder, fish and chips, a lobster BLT, crab cakes, and beer, cider, and frozen cocktails.

[Earlier Article]
Roger's Fish & Chips Plans to Open at Logan Airport in East Boston

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)