Upcoming Openings: Famous Deli, Il Casale, Tupelo, Friendly Toast, Trina's Starlight Lounge
With the economy in tatters, it would seem that about the only changes within the Boston restaurant scene would be closings of dining spots, but this is not quite the case. Indeed, a number of highly-anticipated restaurant openings are on the horizon, including several that we mention below. (Thanks to Zagat Buzz, Wicked Local, the Boston Herald, and Chowhound for helping us learn more about a few of these.)
Famous Deli, North End.
This looks to be a sandwich spot on Cross Street near Hanover and Salem Streets at the beginning of the North End (where the Central Artery used to be). The owner of Strega, a popular Italian eatery in the North End, will also be heading up this spot, which should be open in May.
Il Casale, Belmont.
The owner of Dante in Cambridge will be opening another Italian restaurant, this one on Leonard Street in Belmont. Il Casale will likely lean toward upscale Italian cuisine, and it will reside in a renovated firehouse in the center of town. The exact opening date is unknown, but it looks as if it will definitely be open sometime this spring.
Tupelo, Cambridge.
Described on their Twitter page as "comfort food with a Southern flair," Tupelo will be opening on Cambridge Street in Inman Square, perhaps as early as April, in the spot where Magnolia's Southern Cuisine used to be.
Friendly Toast, Cambridge.
A restaurant in Portsmouth, NH, that features unique homemade breakfasts, Friendly Toast will be opening a new location in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge. The last we heard, they are hoping to open sometime in April at 1 Kendall Square.
Trina's Starlight Lounge, Cambridge.
Yet another new restaurant coming to Cambridge, Trina's Starlight Lounge promises to also be another Southern-style dining spot in the Inman Square section of the city. It will be housed in the old Abbey Lounge Spot on Beacon Street near the Somerville border. Trina's probably won't be open until sometime in the summer.
Labels: restaurant openings
The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for 
The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for an Italian restaurant and bar in South Norwood called
A new dining spot called Capri Restaurant and Wine Bar opened last Thursday (March 12) on Union Street in Braintree. Capri is located in the spot where Bickford's used to be (near the rotary where Union Street intersects with Route 3) and features a mix of Northern Italian and Southern Italian cuisine, including chicken parm sliders, stuffed Italian sausage, glazed skirt steak, veal marsala, tortellini macaroni and cheese, and pizza. Capri also has a children's menu.
Over the past couple of weeks, there have been some posts on various Web sites about Maria Bonita in North Cambridge apparently closing. After taking a drive over there today, we can say that this is indeed the case. As the photo shows here, the inside of this family-owned Mexican restaurant has been gutted, with no sign of what might be happening with the spot.
The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for
The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Thai, Japanese, and Korean restaurant in Winchester called 






