Update: Singh's Cafe Replaces Vela in Wellesley

An Indian restaurant is opening in Wellesley, moving into a spot where an Italian restaurant used to be until recently. According to the Wellesley Townsman Blog, which is part of the Wicked Local site, Singh's Cafe will be opening on Route 16 in Wellesley Hills (just southwest of the Route 9 intersection). The new restaurant will replace Vela, a contemporary Italian restaurant that closed this past summer. According to the Townsman, the owners of the Kebab Factory on Kirkland Street in Somerville will also be involved with Singh's Cafe. [November 5 Update: Singh's Cafe is now open.]

Hours for Singh's Cafe are 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM seven days a week. The restaurant also has a buffet from 11:30 to 3:00 daily.

The address for this Indian restaurant in Wellesley Hills is: Singh's Cafe, 312 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley, MA, 02481. The phone number is (781) 235-1666. And the website is at: http://www.singhscafe.com/

Thanks to emilief, a poster on the Chowhound site, for reminding us of the closing of Vela and for also pointing out that a new place was going into this spot.

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Two New Restaurants Coming to Watertown: Lazziz, Red Lentil

It appears that Watertown will soon be home to a couple of new restaurants. One will be a vegetarian/vegan place in East Watertown, while the other will be an Indian dining spot in Watertown Square.

Red Lentil, a dining spot featuring organic vegetarian and vegan food, is coming to Mt. Auburn Street in the heart of East Watertown. The restaurant is moving into the spot that was formerly home to an Asian restaurant called Sushiya. Red Lentil will be one of at least a couple of vegan places opening in the Boston area over the coming weeks (Peace o' Pie in Allston will also be opening soon). The address for this upcoming vegetarian/vegan spot will be: Red Lentil, 600 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

Lazziz will be moving into the spot on Main Street in Watertown Square that had been home to the Venezuelan restaurant La Casa de Pedro before it moved to Arsenal Street about a mile east of the square. Lazziz looks to feature Indian cuisine, which Watertown seems to lack at this point. The address for this soon-to-open Indian restaurant will be: Lazziz, 51 Main Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

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Paula Deen Coming to Boston, Saturday, August 29, 2009

*** NOTE: This event has been canceled and may be held sometime in October instead - stay tuned.

An event called "Smithfield Cooks with Paula Deen!" is being held at the Bank of America Pavilion tomorrow (August 29, 2009) on the waterfront of Boston. Celebrity cook Paula Deen will be cooking various dishes at the event, and she is also encouraging folks to bring food to donate to The Food Bank (a portion of the proceeds of the event is also going to The Food Bank). Admission starts at $31, and the event begins at 6:30 PM.

A native of Georgia, Paul Deen is famous for her Southern cooking, which she features in a number of cookbooks as well as on the Food Network. She also owns a restaurant in Savannah called The Lady and Sons.

For more information on this event with Paula Deen, including detailed ticket prices, please visit the Greater Boston Food Bank link below.

http://www.gbfb.org/newsevents/events.cfm

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Lawton's Update: Reopening Will Now Be Late November

A renowned hot dog stand in Lawrence that had been in danger of falling into an adjacent canal is still slated to reopen, but the opening date has been pushed back. According to the Eagle-Tribune, Lawton's will not be able to open until sometime around Thanksgiving because work around the dining spot is taking longer than previously expected. The hot dog stand had originally been hoping to reopen around the end of July. [December 18 update: According to several sources, Lawton's is now open.]

Lawton's, which is known for its deep-fried hot dogs, closed a few months ago because the ground that the structure was on became unstable, putting the hot dog stand in danger of falling into the canal below.

For more details on the delayed reopening of Lawton's, please go to the Eagle-Tribune link below:

Lawton's slated for Thanksgiving grand reopening

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this update on Lawton's to our attention.

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Zon's in Jamaica Plain Has Closed

An eclectic Jamaica Plain eatery featuring upscale comfort food has decided to close its doors. According to an article in the Boston Globe, Zon's on Perkins Street in this quirky Boston neighborhood is no longer open, making it the second restaurant in recent months to close within the block of businesses at Perkins and Centre. (Bella Luna and the Milky Way Lounge have since moved to the Brewery complex on nearby Amory Street.)

Zon's was known in part for its excellent burgers, macaroni and cheese, and turkey meatloaf. The menu also featured lamp tips, pan-fried soft shell crabs, and arugula crepes.

The Boston Globe mentions that the chef at Zon's has taken a job as executive chef at the Exchange Street Bistro, an upscale restaurant and martini bar in downtown Malden that features mostly New American cuisine.

For more on the closing of Zon's in Jamaica Plain, as well as other news about the JP restaurant scene, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

It's official: Zon's is closed

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Latest Review: Barefoot Bob's, Hull

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Barefoot Bob's Beach Grill, a restaurant and bar in Hull. Located along the main strip at Nantasket Beach, Barefoot Bob's is a popular place with beachgoers, boaters, and bikers, and it also attracts suburbanites who live nearby. The restaurant has a good amount of both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a tiki bar outside. The food at Barefoot Bob's is a mix of pub grub, classic American fare, and seafood, with some of the dishes being a bit more interesting than what diners might ordinarily get at a beachside watering hole. To read more about Barefoot Bob's Beach Grill at Nantasket Beach in Hull, please click on the link above.

Pomodoro Opens in Needham

An Italian restaurant has just opened up in Needham, replacing an upscale European and New American dining spot that closed earlier this year. The restaurant, which opened last week, is called Pomodoro, but it is apparently not related to the restaurants with the same name in the North End and Brookline, according to a Chowhound poster.

Pomodoro opened last week in Needham Center, just east of the railroad tracks where Chapel Street and Chestnut Street meet Great Plain Avenue. Figure on a variety of Italian dishes being offered at this dining spot, including pasta and pizza.

The address for this new restaurant in Needham Center is: Pomodoro, 1019 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492. The phone number is (781) 444-9200.

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Sonic Drive-In Opens in Peabody This Week

A national chain of drive-ins opens its first branch in New England this week. Sonic, a restaurant that specializes in such items as chili cheese tots, burgers, Coney Island hot dogs, shakes, and limeade, should be open for business on Route 1 at the Route 128/95 intersection on Wednesday, August 26, according to the Wicked Local blog and several other sources. This will be the first Sonic to open in the region, with the closest one to Boston presently being in Kingston, NY.

The address for the new branch of Sonic will be: Sonic Drive-In, 55 Newbury Street (Route 1), Peabody, MA, 01960.

Sonic, which has been in existence since 1953, is the largest chain of drive-in restaurants in the United States with about 3,000 locations of its quick-service dining spots.

For more information on the opening of Sonic in Peabody, please go to the Wicked Local blog link below:

Bay State's first Sonic is ready for its debut in Peabody

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Tu Y Yo Opens in Needham

A popular Mexican restaurant in Somerville has just opened a second location in Needham. Tu Y Yo, a dining spot featuring authentic cuisine based on family recipes from Mexico, is now open on Chestnut Street in the heart of Needham Center. The menu at the new Tu Y Yo will likely reflect the existing menu at the original spot in Somerville, which includes such dishes as sauteed calamari, chile relleno, shredded sirloin cooked with ancho, chipotle, and guajillo peppers, chicken mole Colorado, pork cakes in a cactus fruit sauce, and spinach and potatoes in a garlic butter sauce.

The address for this new Mexican restaurant in Needham is: Tu Y Yo, 66 Chestnut Street, Needham, MA, 02492. The phone number is (781) 453-1000. The original Tu Y Yo is at 858 Broadway in Somerville (at Powder House Square, just north of Davis Square).

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Chipotle Opens a New Location in Cambridge Today

A quick-service restaurant featuring burritos and tacos has just opened at the Fresh Pond Rotary in Cambridge. Chipotle Mexican Grill, which is part of a national chain of Mexican dining spots, is now open for business on the Alewife Brook Parkway at the Concord Avenue intersection. According to the Chipotle Web site, hours for the new location will be 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

This is one of a handful of Chipotle restaurants to have opened over the past several months in the Boston area, with a couple of the latest branches being in Woburn and Norwood.

The address for this new dining spot at the Fresh Pond Rotary is: Chipotle Mexican Grill, 227 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The phone number is (617) 500-9373.

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The New Mount Vernon Restaurant in Lynnfield Is Open

The third location of the Mount Vernon Restaurant opens today in Lynnfield.

Located on Route 1 southbound (just north of the Saugus line) within a landmark known as The Ship, the Mount Vernon Restaurant in Lynnfield joins its original restaurant in Somerville and its other branch in Revere starting around lunchtime today. The new Mount Vernon will likely be featuring traditional American food at reasonable prices (much like its other two locations), with steaks, lobster, roast beef, much more.

The address for the new Mount Vernon is: The Mount Vernon Restaurant, 24 Broadway (Route 1), Lynnfield, MA, 01940. The phone number is (781) 595-2001.

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Restaurant News: Prana Cafe, La Puerta Del Sol, Zon's

Several bits of news concerning the Boston-area restaurant scene....

A restaurant featuring raw foods and vegan plates will soon be open in Newton Corner. The Prana Cafe, which will be located on Centre Street just north of the Mass. Pike and a short distance south of the Watertown border, will serve dishes featuring organic, locally-grown ingredients. Their eclectic menu will include salads, burritos, pizza, tostadas, lasagna, granola, and porridge. According to their Web site, the grand opening for the Prana Cafe is on Wednesday, August 26.

A new restaurant called La Puerta Del Sol is going to be opening in Revere in the spot on Squire Road (Route 60) where Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs used to be. According to http://www.revere.org/, the restaurant will likely have outdoor seating and is looking to have live entertainment as well as Karaoke. It is unsure whether the cuisine will be Mexican, Central American, or South American; as soon as we have more details, we will post an update. [December 11 update: La Puerta Del Sol is now open. It appears that the restaurant features a mix of Central American and South American cuisine.]

Zon's, a funky Jamaica Plain restaurant featuring comfort food and upscale pub grub, has been closed for several days now and there are rumors going around that it may be closed for good. The phone is still in service at Zon's, and their Web site is still working, but an email sent to the restaurant earlier in the week has received no response. We will wait and see on this one, but it doesn't look good for Zon's at this point.

Thanks once again to sites such as Craigslist, Chowhound, and Universal Hub for various bits of information on the restaurants mentioned here.

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Kings Coming to Dedham September 16

A bowling, food, and entertainment complex in the Back Bay of Boston is opening a second location in Dedham in mid-September. According to various Web sites including Craigslist, Kings will be featuring bowling, video games, roller ball, food, and drinks in a location within Dedham's new Legacy Place that will have more than 25,000 square feet of space. Kings in Dedham will also have plenty of TVs for watching sports, and parking will be free. Based on the food served at the Kings location in the Back Bay, the menu at Kings in Dedham will likely feature traditional American fare, including comfort food. [UPDATE, 9/14: According to their Facebook page, Kings in Dedham will be opening this Wednesday (September 16) at 5:00 PM.]

The address for the soon-to-open entertainment complex in Dedham will be: Kings, 600 Legacy Place, Dedham, MA, 02026. The original Kings is located at 50 Dalton Street in Boston (just south of Boylston Street across from the Hynes Convention Center).

For updates on Kings in Dedham, please go to either their Twitter page at http://twitter.com/KingsDedham or their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/KingsDedham.

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UPDATE: Peace o' Pie to Open in Allston October 1

The old Tj's Vegan House of Pizza in Allston may be gone, but vegan pizza is indeed returning to this Boston neighborhood, albeit under a new name (and new ownership). The new place, which is called Peace o' Pie, will be opening October 1 at the corner of Cambridge Street and Beacon Street, a few blocks west of the center of Allston. According to their Facebook page, the pizza spot will feature gourmet vegan pizza with a gluten-free option. [SEPTEMBER 28 UPDATE: Peace o' Pie had originally been hoping to be open by September 20, but now the opening date is October 1.]

The address for this vegan pizza spot will be: Peace o' Pie, 487 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA, 02134 (near the Allston/Brighton border). Their Web site is at: http://www.peaceopie.com/

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Olecito Opens Near Kenmore Square

A second location of a Mexican quick-food restaurant has come to the Boston area, with one more coming later in August. According to an email from Bayleaf Communications, Inc., Olecito has opened a new location just outside of Kenmore Square, joining the original on Springfield Street in the Inman Square section of Cambridge. The inexpensive Mexican takeout place, which is located on Commonwealth Avenue a short distance west of the square, will likely be featuring tacos, quesadillas, tortas, and burritos, which is what the original offers. Prices for all dishes should be well under $10.

A third Olecito will be opening soon on Cypress Street near Brookline Village where T-Rex Taqueria used to be.

The address for this new Mexican dining spot near Kenmore Square is: Olecito, 700 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

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Update: Bobby's Grille to Open in Wellesley in Mid-November

A casual American restaurant will soon be opening along Route 16 in Wellesley, just west of the Newton Border in the Lower Falls neighborhood. According to the restaurant's Web site, Bobby's Grille will open its doors this fall and will be featuring classic, contemporary American fare, such as shrimp cocktail, macaroni and cheese, lobster bisque, rack of lamb, BBQ pork tenderloin, chicken pot pie, and filet mignon. The restaurant will serve both lunch and dinner, opening at 11:30 AM daily and closing at 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.

The address for this soon-to-open restaurant in Wellesley will be: Bobby's Grille, 11 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02481. The Web site is at: http://www.bobbysgrille.com/

[November 10 Update: According to a job posting on the Craigslist site, Bobby's Grille will be opening its doors on Monday, November 16.]

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Market by Jean-Georges Opening in Boston This Fall

A new restaurant is coming to the Theater District of Boston this fall, and a three-star Michelin chef will be behind it. According to the Boston Herald, Market by Jean-Georges will be opening within the upcoming W Boston Hotel in October, and famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will be in charge of the elegant but casual restaurant. Vongerichten heads up a number of award-winning dining spots, including the well-known Jean Georges Restaurant on Central Park West at Columbus Circle in Manhattan.

According to the W Hotels Web site, the new W Boston Hotel will be open on October 22, so Market by Jean-Georges will likely be open on or near that date. [October 29 update: The W Boston Hotel opens today, as does Market by Jean-Georges. Both Market by Jean-Georges and the W Boston Hotel are located at 100 Stuart Street in Boston (at the Tremont Street intersection).]

For more information on the opening of Market by Jean-Georges, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

Hotel W nets French import

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Stadium Sports Bar and Grill to Open in Quincy

A sports bar with locations in South Boston and the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut is opening a third location, with this one being in Quincy. According to job postings on several sites including Craigslist, Stadium Sports Bar and Grill will be opening at 1495 Hancock Street where Cela's used to be, in the heart of Quincy Center.

Based on the menu at the South Boston and Foxwoods locations, the new Stadium Sports Bar and Grill will likely feature pub grub and American cuisine such as nachos, chili, steak and cheese subs, burgers, spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf, and fish and chips.

No set date has been given for the opening of this new restaurant in Quincy. When it does open, the address will be: Stadium Sports Bar and Grill, 1495 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA, 02169.

The addresses for the other two Stadium Sports Bars are 39 Norwich Westerly Road (Foxwoods), Mashantucket, CT, 06338, and 232 Old Colony Avenue, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[September 3 update: According to the Patriot Ledger, the new Stadium Sports Bar and Grill in Quincy will be opening on Thursday, September 10.]

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The Ledge Opens in Lower Mills, Dorchester

The Lower Mills section of Dorchester is now home to a new restaurant featuring upscale pub grub and a variety of beers on tap. The Ledge, a gastropub that will have its grand opening on Friday, August 14, has already been open to private parties this week, as it has had a "soft" opening over the past couple of days. The restaurant has taken over the spot where Donovan's Village Tavern used to be, in the heart of this quiet Dorchester neighborhood on the Milton line.

The Ledge has a full bar along the right side of the restaurant, a dining area partitioned off from the bar along the left side, and additional seating around the bar area. The restaurant will also have an outdoor dining area out back.

The menu at The Ledge features mostly traditional American cuisine and pub grub, including French onion soup, flash-fried calamari, a peach salad, crab cakes, burgers, lobster ravioli, pork chops, steak frites, macaroni and cheese, and a variety of flatbread pizzas. The restaurant's bar includes between 15 and 20 different brews on tap. Prices for entrees are mostly in the teens, with dishes topping out at around $25.

The address for this new restaurant and bar in the Lower Mills section of Dorchester is: The Ledge, 2261 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02124.

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Latest Review: The Blue Ox, Lynn

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a casual upscale restaurant in Lynn called The Blue Ox. Located on a side street in the downtown area of this North Shore city, The Blue Ox is an attractive place both inside and out, with a good amount of seating in its two separate dining areas as well as a bar in the main room. The menu at The Blue Ox features an inventive mix of mostly American cuisine, and prices are generally reasonable for both the appetizers and the main dishes. To read more about The Blue Ox in Lynn, please click on the link above.

Gavens in Middleton Has Closed

A restaurant on Route 114 in Middleton appears to have closed its doors after being in business for 10 years.

Gavens Restaurant, an upscale dining spot with a focus on steaks and seafood, was recently mentioned on the Chowhound site as possibly being out of business, and a call put in to the restaurant did not go through because the phone has been disconnected. The restaurant, which has been in business since 1999, featured such items as sea bass filet, seared scallops, rack of lamb, and New York strip, and they also had an impressive wine list with more than 3,000 bottles available, according to their Web site.

Gavens Restaurant was located at 119 S Main Street (Route 114) in Middleton, a short distance south of the town center and a few minutes north of both Routes 95 and 128 on the North Shore.

[March 12, 2010 update: Rock's Tavern has moved into the space where Gavens used to be. The new restaurant looks to be a family-friendly dining spot with a mix of Italian and American cuisine, including BBQ dishes.]

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The Grill Next Door Is Opening in Haverhill

A new restaurant featuring breakfast and comfort food is coming to Haverhill very soon. The Grill Next Door will be opening in the spot where Cafe 97 used to be, a few minutes west of downtown Haverhill on Route 97 (and a short distance west of the Route 495 intersection).

The Grill Next Door will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and will have a capacity of a little under 100. The restaurant will also have a bar with more than 35 beers on tap, including some local beers.

The address for this soon-to-open restaurant north of Boston is: The Grill Next Door, 653 Broadway (Route 97), Haverhill, MA, 01832. And the Web site is at: http://www.thegrillnextdoor.net/

[November 19 update: The Grill Next Door is open.]

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The Stork Club Opens in the South End

A new jazz lounge and restaurant opens in Boston today. The Stork Club is looking to open its doors at 3:30 this afternoon on Columbus Avenue in the South End of the city, in the spot where Bob's Southern Bistro and Bob the Chef used to be. According to their Web site, The Stork Club will feature comfort food as well as live jazz and blues nightly, and will be open seven days a week from 3:30 PM to 2:00 AM (the kitchen will be open from 5:30 PM to 1:00 AM).

The menu at The Stork Club will features such items as sweet potato crab cakes, blackened catfish sliders, smoked chicken tacos, roasted turkey sandwiches, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, steak frites, and herbed truffle fries.

The address for this new jazz lounge and restaurant in the South End is: The Stork Club, 604 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. The phone number is (617) 391-0256. And the Web site is at: http://www.storkclubboston.com/

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Mifune in Arlington Closes; Fusion Taste on the Way

An Arlington restaurant specializing in Asian cuisine has closed its doors, but another Asian restaurant will soon be taking over its spot. Mifune, a Chinese and Japanese restaurant that was located in Broadway Plaza on the eastern edge of Arlington Center, shut down after being in business for a little more than two years. A sign hanging in front of the entrance says that a new restaurant called Fusion Taste will be moving into the spot vacated by Mifune, and that the owner of Sato 2, a restaurant located on Main Street in Stoneham, will also be running this restaurant. The opening date for Fusion Taste is not known at this time; as soon as we get more information on this new restaurant that is coming to Arlington, we will post an update.

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Farm to Fork Wine Dinner at the Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton, Monday, August 17, 2009

The third annual Farm to Fork Wine Dinner is coming to the Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton on Monday, August 17, 2009. The four-course meal will include wines from family-owned wineries from across the globe, and the dinner itself will feature ingredients from local farms, including the restaurant's own kitchen garden.

The event costs $95 (including tax and gratuity), with some of the proceeds benefiting The Chef's Collaborative. Reservations are required. While dinner begins at 6:30 PM with hors d'oeuvres followed by the four-course meal, diners can show up at 5:30 PM if they would like to tour the farm at the Gibbet Hill Grill.

Some of the dishes included in the four-course meal are grilled apricot, assiette of summer vegetables, striped bass, and Long Island duck.

The address for the Gibbet Hill Grill is: Gibbet Hill Grill, 61 Lowell Road (Route 40), Groton, MA, 01450. The phone number is (978) 448-2900. And the Web site is at: http://www.gibbethill.com/

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Basta Pasta Is Getting Ready to Open in North Quincy

A second location of the Italian trattoria Basta Pasta is set to open soon on Hancock Street in North Quincy. The restaurant, which is replacing another Italian restaurant (Tullio's) that closed about a year ago, has its sign up in the parking lot and work looks mostly done inside the place.

The menu at the new Basta Pasta in North Quincy will likely be similar to the menu at the original restaurant, which is located on Western Avenue in Cambridge (between Central Square and the Charles River). Expect to see salads, thin-crust pizzas, pasta dishes, paninis, and more at the new spot.

The address for this soon-to-open Italian restaurant in North Quincy will be: Basta Pasta Enoteca, 150 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02171.

[September 3 Update: According to the Basta Pasta Web site, the new location in North Quincy should be open on October 1. Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.]

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Latest Review: Angela's Coal Fired Pizza, Saugus

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Angela's Coal Fired Pizza, a restaurant in Saugus that features pizza and chicken wings. Located on the northbound side of Route 1 in this northern suburb of Boston, Angela's Coal Fired Pizza is a sleek, modern place that borders on the upscale. The spacious restaurant has two coal ovens; one for cooking pizzas and the other for cooking wings. The restaurant also has an attractive bar in the middle of the main dining area, and a second dining area a few steps up from the main part of the restaurant. To read more about Angela's Coal Fired Pizza in Saugus, please click on the link above.

The Ginger Exchange Opening in Inman Square, Cambridge

A new Asian dining spot is coming to the Inman Square neighborhood of Cambridge, replacing a Thai restaurant that closed earlier this summer. The Ginger Exchange will be opening in the spot on Cambridge Street where Montien used to be (the Montien in Boston remains open), and it looks to be a place that features Japanese and some Korean cuisine. Their Web site mentions that they will be featuring sushi, bento boxes, and noodle dishes.

No set date has been given on the opening of The Ginger Exchange as of yet. Once this information comes to us, we will post an update. [October 20 UPDATE: The Ginger Exchange is now open.]

The address for this restaurant in Inman Square will be: The Ginger Exchange, 1287 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 01239. The Web site for this dining spot will be: http://www.thegingerexchange.com/

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The Oregon Club in Ashland is Open Once Again

A classic old-school restaurant west of Boston has opened its doors once again. The Oregon Club, which closed this past winter after being in business since the 1930s, is now back in business, opening on Monday of this week, according to the MetroWest Daily News. The newspaper mentions that a former waitress of the restaurant as well as a former chef are now running the restaurant, which used to be a speakeasy.

The new menu at the Oregon Club includes such items as spicy mushroom soup, duck confit, baked brie, chicken livers, crab cakes, spinach salad, steaks, lemon-roasted chicken, pan-roasted cod, and pork chops. Prices for entrees are mostly between $15 and $25.

The address for this recently reopened dining spot is: The Oregon Club, 117 Oregon Road, Ashland, MA, 01721. The phone number is (508) 875-9030.

For more information on the reopening of the Oregon Club, please go to the MetroWest Daily News link below:

Landmark Ashland restaurant reopens

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UPDATE: Littlenecks Bar and Grill to Open in Weymouth in October

A casual, contemporary seafood restaurant will soon be opening in South Weymouth, replacing a branch of a Mexican restaurant chain that recently closed. According to southcoasttoday.com, Littlenecks Bar and Grill will be moving into the spot on Main Street (Route 18) where Acapulcos restaurant used to be. The South Coast Today article mentions that Littlenecks Bar and Grill will feature a mix of local seafood as well as seafood imported from other parts of the world.

The address for this soon-to-open seafood restaurant in South Weymouth will be: Littlenecks Bar and Grill, 1073 Main Street, Weymouth, MA, 02190. For those unfamiliar with the area, it will be located just south of the South Shore Hospital and just north of the site of the old South Weymouth Naval Air Station.

The owner of Littlenecks Bar and Grill is also the owner and executive chef of Waterfront Grille, a casual seafood restaurant at 36 Homers Wharf in New Bedford.

AUGUST 21 UPDATE: An email press release from the Regan Communications Group gives a bit more information on Littlenecks Bar and Grill. According to the email, the restaurant will feature modern American dishes, including "Progressive Ocean cuisine." A sushi bar will also be located within the restaurant, which will have a capacity of 150 in its dining room. There will also be seating in and around a bar, with the lounge area having a number of high-definition plasma screen TVs.

SEPTEMBER 18 UPDATE: According to an email press release that we received, Littlenecks Bar and Grill will be opening on October 1. The release goes on to mention that some of the dishes that Littlenecks will be featuring include tuna mignon, a peanut shrimp bowl, Thai barbecue salmon, chicken stir fry, and a variety of sushi choices, such as spicy tuna, grilled fresh water eel, and, Kanikama crab stick.

OCTOBER 23 UPDATE: Littlenecks is now open.

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Chipotle to Open at Fresh Pond Rotary in Cambridge

Chipotle Mexican Grill, a rapidly-growing chain of restaurants that feature burritos and tacos, continues to expand in the Boston area. One of their next restaurants to open near Boston will be along the Alewife Brook Parkway at the Fresh Pond Rotary. According to several job postings on various sites as well as a sign out in front of the spot, the new Chipotle will likely be open on August 21.

Chipotle has recently opened a number of locations in the Boston area, including restaurants in Norwood and Woburn.

The address for the soon-to-be-open Chipotle in Cambridge will be: Chipotle Mexican Grill, 227 Alewife Brook Parkway (at the Concord Street intersection), Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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Aquitaine Hopes to Open in Dedham This Month

Dedham is about to get a new restaurant, as the opening of a casual upscale French bistro with a familiar name may be happening later this month.

According to The Daily News Transcript, Aquitaine will open in the new Legacy Place development near the intersection of Routes 1 and 128, with the opening date apparently being somewhere around August 22. The newspaper mentions that Aquitaine will have both indoor and outdoor dining, with a capacity of 185. [ED NOTE: As of August 27, Aquitaine still wasn't open, but it does look to be very close to opening its doors - see comment below from one of the Aquitaine partners.]

This will be the third restaurant of its kind, with other Aquitaine locations in the Chestnut Hill section of Newton and the South End neighborhood of Boston (the Aquitaine Group also owns Gaslight, Metropolis, and the Union Bar and Grille, all in the South End).

Legacy Place is a brand new shopping center in Dedham that is due to open later in August. In addition to Aquitaine, diners will also have the option of going to such places as Kings, Legal Sea Foods, and P.F. Chang's.

For more information on the opening of Aquitaine in Dedham, please go to The Daily News Transcript link below:

Legacy getting more licenses

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Friendly's Express Coming to Mansfield

A new chain of fast casual restaurants from Friendly's debuts in Mansfield this week, with an emphasis on takeout food and fast service.

According to the Boston Globe, Wilbraham-based Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is opening Friendly's Express in Mansfield tomorrow (Wednesday, August 5), with the new spot featuring counter service and a smaller space than the original Friendly's restaurants. The Globe mentions that Friendly's Express will have a more limited menu, with items such as salads, sandwiches, and, of course, ice cream. All items on the menu at Friendly's Express will be under $10. The Boston Globe also reports that another Express will open sometime this year in either Boston or Providence, with five more on the way to the region in 2010.

The new Friendly's Express will be located in the Mansfield Marketplace on School Street, which is south of Mansfield Center and just west of Route 140 (near the intersection of Routes 140 and 495).

To read more about the opening of Friendly's Express in Mansfield, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

Friendly’s debuts smaller restaurant with limited menu

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2009 Winthrop Restaurant Week Coming August 9-14 and August 16-21

Yet another "restaurant week" is coming to Massachusetts, this one taking place just north of Boston. The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Winthrop Restaurant Week starting on Sunday, August 9. It will go through Friday, August 14, then it will start up again on Sunday, August 16 and end on Friday, August 21. Three-course prix fixe dinners at participating restaurants will be $20.09 and will include an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert (drinks are not included in the price).

Restaurants participating in Winthrop Restaurant Week include Alia Ristorante, Cafe Rossetti's, D'Parma, Gary's Restaurant, Kasbah, La Siesta, Paesan's, and the Winthrop Arms.

For more information on the 2009 Winthrop Restaurant Week, please go to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce link below:

http://www.winthropchamber.com/

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Mount Vernon Restaurant to Open a Third Location at The Ship in Lynnfield

An old-school restaurant and pub with locations in Somerville and Revere is opening a third spot in a landmark structure along Route 1 in Lynnfield. The Mount Vernon Restaurant stated in an email to us last week that they will be opening a new location in The Ship, which is on the southbound side of Route 1 just north of the Saugus line. The new Mount Vernon should be open in August or early September, according to the email.

The original Mount Vernon Restaurant has been serving reasonably-priced food to customers on Broadway in East Somerville since 1935, featuring roast beef sandwiches, lobster, steak tips, fried clams, and much more. There is also a second Mount Vernon along Route 1A in Revere, a short distance south of the Lynn border.

Thanks to the Mount Vernon Restaurant for sending us information on the new Lynnfield location, and thanks as also to Dan, a poster on our Facebook fan page, for initially letting us know about this upcoming restaurant.

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Achilles-Persephone (The Achilles Project) Has Closed

After a number of conflicting reports over the past few days, it has been confirmed that Achilles-Persephone (which is also known as The Achilles Project) has indeed closed down. An email sent by the restaurant/boutique in the Fort Point Channel area of Boston confirmed that they have gone out of business after being open for about a year and a half. According to the note, The Achilles Project closed at the end of the day on Saturday, August 1.

The Achilles Project had been located at 283 Summer Street in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston.

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