Friday, October 31, 2008

Best Boston Restaurants of 2008: Coming Soon

The annual "Best Hidden Restaurants of Boston" is coming to Boston's Hidden Restaurants within the next few weeks. We have most of the results ready, and upon first glance, it looks as though there will be several first-timers included, as well as at least a couple of repeat winners.

Stay tuned, as this upcoming restaurant feature should be up sometime later in November!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Max and Dylans to Open Soon In Charlestown

A second Max and Dylans will be coming to Charlestown in the coming weeks. Accroding to Craigslist, an open house for job seekers is going to be held in this weekend at the City Square location in Charlestown where the new Max and Dylans will be (it is at the former site of Copia, and before that, Meze Estiatorio).

The original Max and Dylans is on West Street in the Downtown Crossing section of Boston, near Boston Common.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Village Smokehouse Opens in Lowell

The Village Smokehouse, a BBQ joint and Southern-style dining spot in Brookline Village, now has a sister restaurant in Lowell.

A new Village Smokehouse has opened on Middle Street in Lowell, with about three times as much room as the original in Brookline (it has a capacity of about 200). The restaurant features an open kitchen with a barbecue pit and exposed brick walls in both the dining area and the bar.

The address for the Village Smokehouse in Lowell is: Village Smokehouse, 98 Middle Street, Lowell, MA 01852. The phone number is (978) 441-2278.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Terra Luna Cafe to Open in Lawrence

A new dining spot called Terra Luna Cafe will soon be opening in Lawrence. It will be located at the corner of Essex Street and Appleton Way (the pedestrian walkway in the downtown area where the Lawrence Farmer's Market is held). Not much is know about Terra Luna at this time; we will add more information about the new restaurant as it comes out.

The address for Terra Luna will be: Terra Luna Cafe, 225 Essex Street, Lawrence, MA 01840.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Latest Review: Putney Diner, Putney, VT

photo of Putney Diner, Putney, VTThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a diner in Putney, Vermont, called the Putney Diner. Located on Route 5 in the center of the quaint village of Putney in Southern Vermont, the Putney Diner feels more like a family restaurant or neighborhood dining spot than a diner, but the menu offers classic diner fare. The diner is open for breakfast lunch, and dinner, and has a relatively spacious, comfortable dining room. To read more about the Putney Diner in Putney, VT, please click on the link above.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Battery -- A New Fish and Chips Place -- Opens in Brighton

A new fish and chips place called The Battery has opened in Brighton. The dining spot looks to be mostly a takeout place, but there are a few tables for folks who want to dine in.

The Battery is located on Washington Street, just west of the Market Street intersection, in Brighton Center.

(Thanks to Yelpers and Chowhounders for bringing this new restaurant to our attention.)

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Barbara Lynch's Sportello to Open in November

A second Barbara Lynch spot will soon be opening in the Fort Point Channel district. Sportello will be located at 348 Congress Street (in the same building as the new lounge called Drink). It looks to be a casual Italian restaurant and should be opening within the next few weeks.

Barbara Lynch will also be opening a third restaurant in the same area in early 2008. It appears that this restaurant will be more of a fine-dining spot.

Once we find out more about Sportello, we'll pass the information along...in the meantime, the Boston Globe has a bit more information on Sportello. Please go to the link below:

Ciao, Sportello

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Rudi's Resto Cafe to Open in the South End of Boston

Rudi's Resto Cafe and Catering will soon be opening a second restaurant in the South End of Boston. The new spot will be located at the Hampton Inn and Suites near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard by Newmarket Square.

The original Rudi's, which is located at Rowes Wharf by the waterfront, is a popular spot that features mostly lighter fare, including soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.

The new Rudi's will have more than 200 seats as well as a full bar.

The address for the soon-to-open Rudi's will be:
Rudi's Resto Cafe
811 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02118

Monday, October 20, 2008

Latest Review: El Paisa, East Boston

photo of El Paisa, East Boston, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for El Paisa Restaurante, a Colombian dining spot located in the Orient Heights section of East Boston. Roomy, warm, and comfortable, El Paisa has a nicer atmosphere than most other Central or South American restaurants in East Boston. The menu has a mix of dishes specific to Colombia as well as entrees that can also be found in other South American dining spots. To read more about El Paisa Restaurante in East Boston, please click on the link above.

Friday, October 17, 2008

C.F. Donovan's Is (Finally) Opening in Hyde Park

After about a two year delay, it appears that the opening of C.F. Donovan's in the Cleary Square section of Hyde Park is imminent. According to Craigslist, a job fair for the new restaurant and pub will be happening early next week.

The original C.F. Donovan's is in the Savin Hill section of Dorchester and remains a popular spot with neighborhood folks and foodies alike, with a variety of comfort food items and pub grub, as well as a decent beer list.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

High Street Grill Opens in North Andover

After much anticipation, the High Street Grill has opened its doors inside the historic East Mill in North Andover.

The people behind this Southern-influenced upscale restaurant are well-known in the Boston-area restaurant scene. Kristi Morris used to be the general manager of the East Coast Grill in the Inman Square section of Cambridge, and Chris Schlesinger is the owner of the same establishment. The executive chef is also a familiar name in culinary circles--John Porreca, who used to work at Sasso on Huntington Avenue in Boston.

Items on the menu at the High Street Grill include BBQ spit-roasted chicken, grilled mahi mahi, cherrystone clam linguini, Kansas City pork spareribs, and Texas-Style beef brisket.

The address for the High Street Grill is: High Street Grill, 25 High Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. Phone: (978) 682-6363

[UPDATE: According to a note on the restaurant's website from November, 2009, the High Street Grill has closed.]

Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival Coming to Newport, October 18-19, 2008

The 19th annual Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival will be held in Newport, RI, this coming Saturday and Sunday (October 18 and 19). Music and seafood will be featured at Bowen's Wharf, with a number of restaurants participating in the event. Some of the foods served will include clams, lobsters, shrimp, oysters, chowder, quahogs, and shrimp. Desserts will also be offered.

Admission is free, with the festival taking place rain or shine from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day. For more information on the Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival, please go to the link below:

http://www.bowenswharf.com/Pages/Wharf/Festivals.html

Nightmare on Beacon Street Coming to The Fireplace in Brookline, October 28, 2008

The annual Nightmare on Beacon Street Halloween party will be held once again at the Fireplace Restaurant in Brookline on Tuesday, October 28 at 8:00 PM. There will be a costume contest with prizes for the most creative makeup, most original costume, and more. Food and cocktails will be offered during the event.

Nightmare on Beacon Street is free of charge and reservations are not needed.

The Fireplace is located at 1634 Beacon Street in the Washington Square section of Brookline. The phone number is (617) 975-1900.

Bina Osteria and Bina Alimentari to Open in Early November

A new Italian restaurant and gourmet food shop will be opening in Downtown Crossing within two to three weeks. Bina Osteria and Bina Alimentari are coming to the corner of Washington Street and Avery Street just east of Boston Common, with both the restaurant (Bina Osteria) and the shop (Bina Alimentari) due to open sometime during the first week of November.

Bina Osteria looks to be an Italian restaurant and bar that will be open for lunch and dinner as well as brunch on weekends, while Bina Alimentari will be a European-style gourmet food shop with wine, cheese, coffees, teas, and a variety of food items. Both the restaurant and food shop will be open 7 days a week.

Bina Osteria will be at 581 Washington Street while Bina Alimentari will be next door at 571 Washington Street.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wellfleet OysterFest Coming October 18-19, 2008

The 2008 Wellfleet OysterFest is returning to Cape Cod this weekend. Starting on Saturday, October 18 and running through Sunday, October 19, the two-day festival in the center of Wellfleet is free of charge and will feature a variety of events, including music, an arts and crafts fair, cooking demonstrations, and oyster shucking contests. Food will be offered by a number of dining spots, including the Flying Fish Cafe, Moby Dick's Restaurant, Terra Luna, Mac's Seafood, Mustard Seed Kitchen, and many more.

For complete information on the 2008 Wellfleet OysterFest including hours, events, and directions, please go to the Wellfleet OysterFest Web site below:

http://www.wellfleetoysterfest.org/

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Salem Harvest Fest Coming Saturday, October 18, 2008

A fall festival is coming to Salem this coming weekend. The Salem Harvest Fest will be held on Saturday, October 18 at 217 Essex Street in the pedestrian mall in the center of Salem.

Wine, beer, and mead will be served at the festival, with more than 20 wines as well as a number of beers and mead from several areas around the world offered.

Food will be supplied by The Upper Crust and Rockafellas.

For more information on the Salem Harvest Fest, including hours and ticket prices, please go to the link below:

http://salemharvestfest.com/

Latest Review: Finnegan's Wake, Walpole

photo of Finnegan's Wake, Walpole, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for an Irish pub in Walpole Center called Finnegan's Wake. Located in the basement of an old foundry on a side street just off Route 1A, Finnegan's Wake has lots of character and charm, and is one of several good Irish pubs in the immediate area. The menu at Finnegan's Wake is mostly standard pub food, but with a few twists. To read more about Finnegan's Wake in Walpole, please click on the link above.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Atlantic Beer Garden on the Boston Waterfront Is Now Open

A new restaurant and bar called the Atlantic Beer Garden has opened its doors in the Seaport District of Boston. The third beer garden owned by Cronin Development, the Atlantic Beer Garden should become a popular spot, as it has an outdoor deck along the waterfront and is one of only a handful of watering holes in the area (though the list is slowly growing).

The Atlantic Beer Garden is located on Northern Avenue in the same building as the Seaport Bar and Grille, in the spot where Eastern Pier II used to be.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Super 88 Closes Three Stores

Super 88, a Boston-area Chinese supermarket chain, has closed three of its stores, but vows to remain in business. According to the Boston Globe, the Quincy, Chinatown, and South End markets have been shut down. The Super 88 stores in Allston, Malden, and South Bay remain open for now.

Super 88 has been in business since 1978 and expanded in recent years, becoming the largest Asian supermarket chain in the Boston area.

To read more about the closings of three of the Super 88 Markets, please read the Boston Globe article below:

Asian grocery chain to close stores

The 402: A New Restaurant Coming Soon to Easton

The 402, a barbecue joint and pub, will be opening soon in Easton. This new dining spot will be taking the place of Brennan's, an Irish pub that closed a few months ago. No specific opening date has been given, but when we hear of one, we will post it here.

The address for the 402 will be:
The 402
402 Turnpike Street (Route 138)
Easton, MA 02333

Thursday, October 09, 2008

The Winery on 53 Opens in Pembroke

Yet another new restaurant has opened in the Boston area. The Winery on 53 has moved into the spot where Bobby Hackett's Restaurant had been for several decades. It looks to be a restaurant with a widely varied menu, including chicken panko, lobster ravioli, meat loaf, lamb kabobs, grilled swordfish, lobster rolls, and pizza. The Winery on 53 also has an extensive wine list, and features a number of interesting desserts.

The address for The Winery is:
The Winery on 53
615 Washington Street (Route 53)
Pembroke, MA 02132
Phone: (781) 826-2532

Ten Tables Opening a Second Restaurant in the Old Craigie Street Bistrot Location

Ten Tables, a Jamaica Plain restaurant that is a popular neighborhood spot, will be opening a second restaurant (also called Ten Tables) in the Old Craigie Street Bistrot location just outside of Harvard Square on the edge of Huron Village in Cambridge.

The Boston Globe reported on Wednesday that the new Ten Tables be larger than the current Jamaica Plain location, with room for nearly 50 diners. The Globe also mentioned that the new restaurant may open its doors just before Christmas.

The Craigie Street Bistrot will soon be moving to the spot formerly occupied by La Groceria on Main Street between Central Square and Kendall Square.

For a full report on the opening of the new Ten Tables, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

Ten Tables, take two

Tamarind Bay Opens Second Location, This One in Brookline

Tamarind Bay, a top-rated Indian restaurant in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge, has opened a second location. The new Tamarind Bay is located on Beacon Street in the Washington Square section of Brookline. The restaurant moves into the spot formerly occupied by the Indian Cafe.

Awarded "Restaurant of the Year" by the Boston Phoenix in 2004 (the same year that they opened in Harvard Square), Tamarind Bay features authentic Indian cuisine in an attractive, modern setting.

The address for the new Tamarind Bay in Brookline is: Tamarind Bay, 1665 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445. Phone: (617) 277-1752

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Latest Review: Casa Portugal, Cambridge

photo of Casa Portugal, Cambridge, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Casa Portugal, a Portuguese restaurant on Cambridge Street just outside of Inman Square in Cambridge. Tiny and plain-looking from the outside but cozy and slightly romantic inside, Casa Portugal is one of a handful of Portuguese dining spots in Cambridge, which is in fact home to most of the Portuguese restaurants that reside in the Boston area (some can also be found in Peabody, Lowell, and a few other places). The menu at Casa Portugal includes a variety of dishes including a number of seafood entrees. To read more about Casa Portugal in Cambridge, please click on the link above.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Drink Opens in the Fort Point Channel District of Boston

A new lounge called Drink has opened on Congress Street in the Fort Point Channel section of Boston. Drink, as the name implies, is more of a place to get an alcoholic beverage than a bite to eat, though there is a food menu here, mostly featuring smaller dishes.

Barbara Lynch and John Gertsen (both of No. 9 Park fame) are behind this new spot, which is in the basement of one of many warehouses that dots the Fort Point landscape.

The address for Drink is:
Drink
348 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 695-1806

Olivadi Restaurant in Norwood Opens

A number of new restaurants have opened in the Boston area over the past few days, including an Italian restaurant in the center of Norwood called Olivadi Restaurant. Olivadi is an upscale yet casual restaurant that features a number of pasta dishes on its menu (among other items), and has homemade breads and a variety of desserts. The restaurant includes both a dining area and a bar.

The address for Olivadi is:
Olivadi Restaurant
32 Guild Street
Norwood, MA 02092
Phone: (781) 762-9090

Asana Opens at the Mandarin Oriental Boston

The Mandarin Oriental Boston, a luxury hotel on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, is now open, and with it, a new restaurant called Asana.

Upscale and elegant with a mix of Asian and New American cuisine, Asana includes dishes that use locally grown and organic ingredients. Included will be a variety of cheeses from around New England.

Asana will be open breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The address for Asana (and the Mandarin Oriental Boston) is: Asana, 776 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199. The phone number is (617) 535-8888.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Erbaluce Opens in Bay Village, Boston

A new restaurant has opened in the Bay Village neighborhood of Boston. Erbaluce will be making its home on Church Street, which is where the little-known but highly regarded Dedo used to be. Erbaluce's menu will feature mostly Italian cuisine, with an emphasis on creative Northern Italian dishes. According to the Boston Herald, the chef and co-owner of the restaurant is Charles Draghi, who used to work at Marcuccio’s in the North End of Boston about 10 years ago.

The address for Erbaluce is:
Erbaluce
69 Church Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (857) 362-7358

Friday, October 03, 2008

House of Siam Tremont Street to Open in Late October

A second House of Siam is coming to the South End of Boston.

House of Siam Tremont Street will be located in the spot where Thai Village used to reside. It will be a smaller space than the original House of Siam, which is located several blocks away on Columbus Avenue. According to the Boston Herald, the House of Siam Tremont Street will have about 35 seats, a bit more than half the capacity of the original House of Siam, and the menu at the new House of Siam will be smaller.

The Herald reports that the House of Siam Tremont Street should be open in a few weeks.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

UPDATE: King Fung Garden in Chinatown is Open Again

Contrary to earlier reports (including one in the Boston Herald and one here on this site) King Fung Garden in Chinatown remains open. A phone call to the restaurant confirmed that they are now open under new management, and will continue to be called King Fung Garden, with a menu that is more or less the same.

In short, it appears that there will be two King Fung Gardens in the Boston area--one in chinatown and one in Brookline--but with two different owners.

A strange turn of events, indeed...if anyone tries the new "old" King Fung Garden in Chinatown, please let us know what you think.

Verrill Farm Fundraisers (October 4-5), Concert (October 4)

Verrill Farm in Concord is in the process of rebuilding after a devastating fire on September 20 and will be having a busy weekend coming up, as there are two fundraisers being held, as well as a concert to benefit the Verrill Farmstand Fund.

To find out more about these events, please go to the following links within the Verrill Farm blog site:

Fundraisers this weekend

Family concert Saturday

In addition, the folks at Verrill Farm are looking for input from their customers (see link below):

We're looking for your opinions and suggestions

It is good to see that Verrill Farm will be rebuilding their farmstand, as it has been such an important part of the community over the years. We wish them the best of luck as they move ahead...

Burger King to Stop Using Trans Fats

Burger King, the number two hamburger chain in the United States, said on Thursday that it is switching to trans fat free oils at all of its restaurants in this country.

According to the Associated Press, all of the foods at Burger King will have zero grams of trans fat by the beginning of November this year.

Trans fats, or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, are considered to be "bad" fats that can cause bad cholesterol to increase and good cholesterol to decrease, and also cause heart problems.

Burger King Corp. currently operates more than 11,000 restaurants worldwide, including a number of locations in the Boston area.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

2008 Harpoon Octoberfest, October 3-4

The 19th annual Harpoon Octoberfest is just around the corner. This popular German-style festival will be held at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston on Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4 this year, with a door charge of $15.00 (tickets will not be sold in advance). The Harpoon Octoberfest will feature German food and music, as well as plenty of Harpoon Octoberfest beer.

Hours for the event will be 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM on Friday, and 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Saturday.

For directions on how to get to the Harpoon Octoberfest as well as general information on the event, please go to the Harpoon link below:

http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/

Latest Review: Centre Street Cafe, Jamaica Plain

photo of Centre Street Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a quirky, eclectic restaurant in Jamaica Plain called the Centre Street Cafe. Located in the heart of one of Boston's most funky neighborhoods, the Centre Street Cafe is an offbeat, friendly spot that is mostly popular with locals. The menu includes a few healthy, organic dishes (with many ingredients that are locally grown), and interesting specials are offered daily. To read more about The Centre Street Cafe in Jamaica Plain, please click on the link above.