Edgewater Cafe in Salem to Close This Weekend

A Mexican restaurant and entertainment spot in Salem will be closing this weekend. According to the Salem News, the Edgewater Cafe will close its doors on October 31 after being in business for eight years. The article states that the Washington Street restaurant is closing due to financial reasons.

The Edgewater Cafe, which also had a location in the Magnolia section of Gloucester, has featured a variety of live music over the years. The menu at the Edgewater Cafe has included all kinds of traditional Mexican and Mexican-American dishes, including chili Colorado, carne asada, pulled pork burritos, and chicken chimichangas.

For those who would like to get to the Edgewater Cafe before they close, their address is: Edgewater Cafe, 155 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The phone number is (978) 740-4669.

To read more about the closing of the Edgewater Cafe in Salem, please go to the Salem News link below:

http://www.salemnews.com/pulife/local_story_302001117.html

Thanks also to North Shore Dish for bringing this to our attention.

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Latest Review: Wang's Fast Food, Somerville

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Chinese restaurant in Somerville called Wang's Fast Food. Located in a strip of stores along Broadway in the Magoun Square neighborhood of the city, Wang's is a small dining spot that is known mostly for its outstanding dumplings, which come with a variety of fillings. In addition to their dumplings, Wang's also features several other pasta-based items common to Northern China as well as a mix of authentic Chinese and Chinese-American dishes. To read more about Wang's Fast Food in the Magoun Square section of Somerville, please click on the link above.

Cafe 57 and Grille Opens in Brighton

The Brighton neighborhood of Boston is now home to a European-style cafe. Cafe 57 and Grille recently opened on Henshaw Street near Brighton Center (and across the street from St. Elizabeth's Medical Center), bringing to the neighborhood a dining spot that focuses on fresh dishes made with local ingredients. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner six days a week (closed Sundays) and features a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches (including breakfast sandwiches), paninis, char-grilled entrees, desserts, and coffees. The cuisine at Cafe 57 and Grille leans toward Greek and Mediterranean fare, with such dishes as Greek yogurt and honey, chicken lemon soup, and souvlaki bites included on the menu.

Hours for Cafe 57 and Grille are 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday.

The address for this new restaurant in Brighton is: Cafe 57 and Grille, 5-7 Henshaw Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. The phone number is (617) 783-5757. And the website is at: http://www.cafe57andgrille.com/

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Pho Republique in the South End to Close

A trendy Vietnamese restaurant in the South End of Boston will be closing its doors at the end of this month, making way for an Indian restaurant that is moving from Cambridge. According to many sources, including Boston Tweet and MC Slim JB, Pho Republique will serve its last meal on Saturday, October 31. And as reported earlier on this site, Harvard Square's Bombay Club will be moving into the spot soon after.

Pho Republique, which has been serving food and drink since the late 1990s, has been known in part for its eclectic Southeast Asian menu as well as its wide variety of cocktails and sultry atmosphere. According to a few sources, the Washington Street restaurant may or may not re-open in another location; as we receive updates we will post them here.

The address for the soon-to-close Pho Republique (and the soon-to-open Bombay Club) is 1415 Washington Street (between Monsignor Reynolds Way and Union Park Street) in the South End of Boston.

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Pavement Coffee House to Open in the Back Bay

An offshoot of a small chain of Boston cafes will be opening soon near where the Back Bay and Fenway neighborhoods meet. The Pavement Coffee House, which is part of the Espresso Royale Caffe family, looks to be moving into the spot on Boylston Street where Jack's Drum Shop used to be. Based on the menus at the Espresso Royale shops, the Pavement Coffee House will probably feature sandwiches and bagels (from Bagel Rising, which is based in Allston) as well as a variety of coffees.

Espresso Royale Caffe currently has three locations in Boston, including one on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, another on Gainsborough Street near Northeastern University, and a third on Commonwealth Avenue at Boston University. All three feature bagels from Bagel Rising.

[April 13, 2010 update: Based on a note from Pavement Coffee House on their Facebook page today, they are going to be opening on Monday, April 19.]

The address for this soon-to-open cafe in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston will be: Pavement Coffee House, 1096 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. A blog for both the Pavement Coffee House and Espresso Royale Caffe can be found at: http://ercpavement.blogspot.com/

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Super 88 Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A Boston-area chain of Asian supermarkets that closed three of its stores last year has filed for bankruptcy. According to the Boston Business Journal, Super 88 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday after a deal to sell the supermarkets hit a roadblock.

Super 88, which started out in 1978 and had six stores at one point, shut down locations in Chinatown, the South End, and Quincy in 2008 but kept its three remaining locations in Malden, Allston, and South Bay in Dorchester. The Allston location has a food court with several Asian restaurants, including places that feature Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, and Korean cuisine.

To read more about Super 88's bankruptcy filing, please go to the Boston Business Journal link below:

Super 88 market chain files for bankruptcy

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Legal C Bar Opening at Legacy Place in Dedham

An offshoot of Legal Sea Foods is opening at a new shopping and entertainment complex in Dedham. According to a job posting on the Craigslist site and a board of selectmen meeting page within the town of Dedham website, Legal C Bar is looking to open at Legacy Place in this southwestern suburb of Boston, joining several other dining spots that have either recently opened, or will soon open, in this massive lifestyle center just north of Route 128.

Based on the location currently open at Terminal B of Logan Airport in East Boston, Legal C Bar in Dedham should be a casual cafe and seafood bar with a chic, modern feel to it. The menu will likely feature such items as raw oysters, steamers, clam chowder, lobster bisque, swordfish, steamed lobsters, Portuguese stew, crabmeat clubs, and gumbo. A variety of wines, beers, and cocktails will most likely be on the menu as well.

It appears that no specific opening date for the new Legal C Bar in Dedham has been given as of yet, but based on the job posting on the Craigslist site, it probably won't be too long before the place opens. [December 22 UPDATE: According to the Legacy Place website, Legal C Bar is now open. Hours for the restaurant are 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.]

The address for this seafood restaurant and bar in Dedham is: Legal C Bar, 230 Legacy Place, Dedham, MA, 02026. The phone number is (781) 234-6500. And the website for the current Legal C Bar at Logan Airport is at: http://www.legalcbar.com/

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The Fat Cactus Opening in Lynnfield

It looks like a Mexican restaurant will soon be opening on Route 1 in Lynnfield. According to one of our readers (and confirmed by a check on superpages.com), The Fat Cactus Mexicali Cantina will be opening in the spot near the Saugus line where Lucille's Fine Chicken used to be (and before that, The Naked Fish). Over the past several weeks, various online job listings have directed applicants to the 325 Broadway address in Lynnfield, which is home to the Bostonville Grille, and several of our readers have told us that a Bostonville Grille vehicle has been seen in the parking lot of The Fat Cactus, so it seems likely that the Bostonville Grille is indeed behind this new spot.

[November 6 update: According to the Lynnfield News, the Lynnfield Board of Selectmen approved several licenses for the Fat Cactus, and the opening of the place should be fairly soon. The restaurant will have a bar area as well as a couple of back rooms with video games and pool tables, and entertainment may include live mariachi music. The article also mentions that the Fat Cactus is planning on having a Sunday Mexican buffet brunch.]

[February 22 update: According to the restaurant's Facebook page, the Fat Cactus will be opening on Friday, February 26.]

The address for this Mexican restaurant north of Boston is: The Fat Cactus, 215 Broadway (Route 1), Lynnfield, MA, 01940.

Thanks to our readers for helping us put together this information.

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Update: Five Guys Burgers Opens in Walpole

Five Guys Burgers is continuing its expansion into the Boston area by opening yet another location south of Boston. According to The Walpole Times and Wicked Local, the quickly-growing chain of hamburger places is opening a restaurant in the Walpole Mall on the Providence Highway (Route 1) in Walpole, possibly as early as the end of this month. [November 3 Update: According to the Twitter page of Five Guys Burgers, the Walpole location is now open.] This is the third location of Five Guys burgers to open on this road of late, as two others are currently open in Dedham and Foxborough. Other locations in the Boston area can be found in Randolph, Swampscott, Marlborough, and Gloucester.

The address for this burger joint is: Five Guys Burgers, 90 Providence Highway, Walpole, MA, 02032.

For more information on the opening of Five Guys Burgers in Walpole, please go to either of the Walpole Times/Wicked Local links below:

Changes in store for Tee-T's

Five Guys Burgers and Fries headed to Walpole

Thanks to the Visiting New England.com site for bringing the first link above to our attention--the link was actually mentioned to us for its information on Tee-T’s (another Walpole restaurant) coming under new ownership. More on that story can be found within the first link.

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Latest Review: Back Bay Bagel Company, Brockton

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Back Bay Bagel Company, a bagel place and cafe in Brockton, MA. Located in a small strip mall near the Easton Border on Route 123 (just west of the Route 24 intersection), Back Bay Bagel Company is a small but comfortable spot that does a brisk takeout business but also has a number of tables for dining in. In addition to bagels, Back Bay Bagel Company also features a few baked goods as well as some lunch items (including sandwiches) To read more about Back Bay Bagel Company in Brockton, please click on the link above.

Cheng Du in Stoughton Apparently Destroyed by Fire

A Chinese restaurant in Stoughton Center has apparently been destroyed in a fire. According to the Stoughton Journal, Cheng Du was hit by a fire yesterday afternoon, with the blaze going up to three, or possibly four, alarms. The Journal mentions that the fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant, and by the time it was put out, the restaurant was destroyed and a vacant storefront next door sustained major damage. Firefighters from five nearby communities were called in to help put out the blaze.

Cheng Du has been a popular restaurant with locals in and around Stoughton since the late 1970s. The dining spot, which is located at 762 Washington Street in the heart of Stoughton Center, has been known for its Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine, and was featured on our sister site, Boston's Hidden Restaurants.

To read more about the fire at Cheng Du in Stoughton, please go to the Stoughton Journal/Wicked Local link below:

Fire destroys Cheng-Du Chinese restaurant

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Sasso Is Now Lucca Back Bay

An upscale Italian restaurant in the Back Bay of Boston has morphed into a dining spot with a new (but familiar) name and some changes to its menu. According to the restaurant's website, Sasso on Huntington Street is now called Lucca Back Bay, taking the name from its parent restaurant on Hanover Street in the North End.

Sasso had been run by the Lucca family, so ownership remains the same, but the menu at the new dining spot is a bit different, with classic regional Italian dishes at mostly moderate prices. Menu items include such dishes as ravioli, tagliatelle with chicken, rigatoni with braised boar, mint-marinated salmon, and fennel-glazed pork tenderloin.

Lucca Back Bay is open nightly from 5:00 PM to 1:30 AM, with drinks served until 2:00 AM. The address is: Lucca Back Bay Restaurant and Bar, 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA. The phone number is (617) 247-2400. And for now, the website is at the old Sasso site: http://www.sassoboston.com/

Thanks to one of our followers on the Twitter site for bringing this to our attention.

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A Restaurant Is Coming to the John Hancock Tower

Boston's highest building will soon be home to a restaurant. According to the Boston Globe, a casual dining spot that will probably be a cafe-style place is in the works for the ground floor and mezzanine levels of the John Hancock Tower in the Back Bay. The Globe states that work on the restaurant, which will be 8,000 square feet in size, will probably start sometime early in 2010. A second restaurant may eventually come to the 60-story, 790-foot-high building, but it may not happen for quite some time, according to the newspaper.

For more information on this new restaurant coming to the John Hancock Tower, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

Cafe OK'd as 1st step of Hancock Tower plan

[August 9, 12, 2010 updats: A post on the EveryBlock Boston site has indicated that the Blue Glass Cafe was issued a business license for a restaurant at the John Hancock Tower a few days ago. It appears that this is indeed the upcoming cafe-style restaurant mentioned in this article. Also, a poster on the Hiddenboston Twitter page has mentioned that the Blue Glass Cafe is looking to open on August 30 for breakfast, lunch, catering, and coffee.]

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Locke-Ober in Boston Will Soon Be Open for Lunch Once Again

Locke-Ober, a popular old-school Boston restaurant that has been serving food to folks for more than 100 years, is going to be serving lunch once again, according to an article in the Boston Herald. This past winter, the Downtown Crossing dining spot stopped serving lunch due to economic conditions, but had said that lunch would return at some point. The Herald mentions that lunch will return to Locke-Ober on Monday, November 2.

Locke-Ober, which first opened in 1875, features mostly American fare, including chicken, steak, lamb, pork, and seafood entrees. The restaurant also has a raw bar.

The address for this restaurant in downtown Boston is: Locke-Ober, 3 Winter Place, Boston, MA, 02108. The phone number is: (617) 542-1340.

For more information on Locke-Ober's decision to start serving lunch again, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

Locke-Ober to serve lunch again

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Franky 'N the Boys in Brookline Is Closing

A burger place in the heart of Brookline Village is closing, and a new dining spot looks to take its place later this year. According to both the Brookline TAB and Grub Street Boston, Franky 'N the Boys will be replaced by Cutty's, a restaurant that will feature "handcrafted food" and should be opening sometime in December. [December 2 update: According to a Boston Globe article, Cutty's looks like it will now be opening in January.]

Franky 'N the Boys was a casual retro-style dining spot that featured griddled burgers with a variety of toppings, as well as fries, onion rings, and shakes. The restaurant first opened for business in the summer of 2008.

For those interested in where Franky 'N the Boys was, and where Cutty's will be, the address is 284 Washington Street in Brookline, near the Harvard Street intersection.

More information on the closing of Franky 'N the Boys and the opening of Cutty's can be found by going to the Brookline TAB and Grub Street Boston links below:

Food truck coming to Brookline?

Goodbye Franky's, Hello Cutty's

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Become a Facebook Fan Of Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants

As we mentioned a little while ago, both Boston Restaurant Talk and its parent site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) have pages on Twitter and Facebook. Lately, we have been concentrating more on our Facebook Fan Page, however, as it has a lot more flexibility than our Twitter page. We use our Facebook page to post questions for fans, give reminders on updated reviews, post "mystery" restaurant photos for people to try to guess, and much more. As of today (October 20, 2009), we have just under 2,300 Facebook fans who are involved with our page. With all those folks on board, we are getting many, many responses and suggestions about restaurants in the Boston area and beyond. We'd love to hear from you as well, so if you wish to become a Facebook fan of ours, please go to the link below:

Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Fan Page

Thanks!

Bombay Club to Move from Harvard Square to the South End

An Indian restaurant that has been serving food to diners in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge since the early 1990s will soon be moving across the river. According to the Harvard Crimson and several other sources, the Bombay Club on JFK Street will move into the South End of Boston sometime in November, taking over the Washington Street spot where Pho Republique presently is. The Crimson mentions that the move is taking place due to dwindling sales as well as a conflict with the landlord, and it also says that the rent in the new space is significantly lower than that of the Harvard Square space.

While the Harvard Crimson article says that the new Bombay Club will open in the South End in early November, the Bombay Club's website says that the move will be in the middle of the month. The restaurant's site also says that the Cambridge location will close on Sunday, October 25. [December 22 update: According to UrbanDaddy and Grub Street Boston, the Bombay Club is now open in the South End of Boston.]

The address of the current Bombay Club is 57 JFK Street in Cambridge. The address for the new Bombay Club will be 1415 Washington Street in Boston.

For more information on the Bombay Club's move from Cambridge to the South End, please go to the Harvard Crimson link below:

Bombay Club Leaves Square

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Park Plaza's Bonfire to Become Pairings

A high-end steakhouse that had made its home in the Park Plaza Hotel (and was run by a well-known chef) for most of this decade until closing this summer will soon be home to another dining spot, this one featuring more affordable cuisine. According to the Boston Herald, Todd English's Bonfire has given way to a contemporary American restaurant called Pairings. The Herald mentions that the new dining spot will focus on $3 to $12 "snacks" that diners can share and sample, and it will also offer soup, salads, and a handful of entrees.

Pairings, which looks to open next Thursday, will have a fresh new interior that includes an outdoor patio. [October 22 Update: According to Pairings' Twitter page, the restaurant will be opening on Monday, October 26.]

The address for this soon-to-open restaurant will be: Pairings, 50 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116.

For more information on the opening of Pairings in the Park Plaza Hotel, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

Pairings lightens up Park Square fare

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Latest Review: Thaitation, Boston

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Thai restaurant in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston called Thaitation. Located on a quiet side street just south of Fenway Park in a mostly residential part of the neighborhood, Thaitation is a small but attractive restaurant that features a mix of traditional and more familiar Thai dishes. Included on the menu are a variety of noodle dishes as well as seafood, chicken, and beef entrees. Prices, while just a touch on the high side for Thai cuisine, are still fairly reasonable overall. To read more about Thaitation in the Fenway section of Boston, please click on the link above.

Boston Rising Stars Revue Coming November 3, 2009

An event that recognizes up-and-coming chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists from around the country is coming to Boston in early November. The StarChefs Rising Stars Revue, which was last held in Boston in 2009, will he held at The State Room at Sixty State Street in the Financial District on Tuesday, November 3. The event will include many familiar names from the Boston restaurant scene among its 2009 class of rising stars, including Jamie Bissonnette, Joanne Chang, Richard Garcia, Rachel Klein, Chris Parsons, Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli, and several others. The Starchefs Tasting Gala and Awards Ceremony, which will be held from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, will honor these winners and will also allow guests to sample a signature dish from each of the chefs.

Tickets to the event are $85 per person ($125 for VIP admission, which includes a private pre-event reception plus early entrance). Proceeds from the event will benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank.

For more information on the Boston Rising Stars Revue, including the Tasting Gala and Awards Ceremony, please go to the StarChefs link below.

http://www.starchefs.com/chefs/rising_stars/2009/boston/index.shtml

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Pizzeria Posto Opening in Somerville

A restaurant featuring wood-fired pizza, small plates, and craft cocktails looks to be opening on the outer edge of Davis Square in Somerville in the winter of 2010.

Based on a licensing commission post on the City of Somerville website, Pizzeria Posto will be moving into the Elm Street location where Green Tomato II used to be before closing this past spring (the spot was also home to Carberry's and Steve's Ice Cream in the past). According to the notes from the meeting, Pizzeria Posto will likely be open seven days a week and will be serving alcohol (the restaurant's Facebook page mentions wine and cocktails).

The address for this new restaurant just east of Davis Square is: Pizzeria Posto, 187 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The phone number is (617) 625-0600. And the website is at: http://www.pizzeriaposto.com/

[April 8 Update: According to their Facebook page, Pizzeria Posto is open for business, starting tonight at 5:00.]

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Buffalo Wild Wings Is Coming to Danvers

A national chain of casual restaurants and sports bars that feature Buffalo wings will soon be opening its first location in the greater Boston area. According to a job posting on the Craigslist site, Buffalo Wild Wings is looking to open north of Boston in the town of Danvers. Currently, the only other Buffalo Wild Wings location in Massachusetts is in Hadley, which is in the Pioneer Valley of the state. There are also several locations in Connecticut, including restaurants in Hartford, Milford, New Haven, and Stamford.

Buffalo Wild Wings was started in 1982 in Ohio, and has grown to include more than 600 locations in 41 states across the country. In addition to featuring both traditional chicken wings and boneless wings, the restaurant also has such items as pulled pork slammers, nachos, mini corn dogs, flatbreads, sandwiches and wraps, ribs, burgers, and cheesecake. Buffalo Wild Wings also offers a number of beers on tap.

As more information on the new Buffalo Wild Wings in Danvers comes up (including street address, estimated opening date, etc.), we will be sure to post updates on the site. [October 22 Update: According to the Salem News, the new Buffalo Wild Wings is looking to open at 35 Independence Way where Boater's World used to be. This is across from where the recently closed Uno Chicago Grill was (there had been speculation that Buffalo Wild Wings was going to move into the actual Uno's spot).]

[April 22, 2010 update: The Danvers location of Buffalo Wild Wings may be on the shelf, at least for now. But it now looks like the chain may open a location in Saugus.]

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Montreal French Fries in West Bridgewater Closes

A roadside restaurant south of Boston that was known for its Quebec-style poutine has apparently closed its doors. According to posters on both Yelp and Chowhound, Montreal French Fries in West Bridgewater is no longer in business. A check on the restaurant's website shows that it is no longer running, and its phone is no longer in service.

Montreal French Fries was a snack shack located on Route 106 (just west of the Route 24 intersection) that featured hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as poutine, which is a plate of French fries covered in dark gravy and cheese curds. Corn dogs were also served at the dining spot, and the burgers could be ordered with Montreal spice.

There is no information at the present time about what, if anything, might move into the spot where Montreal French Fries used to be. [November 29 update: It does look like a new restaurant is going into the old Montreal French Fries spot. Also, an earlier note on the restaurant's website (which is now down) indicated that the owner of Montreal French Fries may be behind the new place. We will continue to post updates as we get them, so keep checking back.]

If you would like to read an old review on the restaurant, please go to the Boston's Hidden Restaurants link below:

Early Summer Food Trip South of Boston

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Lee's Burger Place Moves into Flippin' Burgers Spot in Newton

A new burger spot has opened in Newton Centre, replacing another burger place that featured gourmet burgers before closing this summer. Lee's Burger Place has just opened on Sumner Street (just north of Beacon Street) in the location where Flippin' Burgers used to be and looks to feature burgers with a variety of toppings as well as a number of other items. Their menu includes burgers, subs, sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken wings, chicken fingers, salads, fries, and onion rings, with prices for all items being well under $10. Lee's is a cash-only place at the present time, but according to their Facebook page, they should be getting their credit card machine working soon.

Hours for Lee's Burger Place are 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week.

The address for this new burger place in Newton Centre is: Lee's Burger Place, 216 Sumner Street, Newton, MA, 02459. The phone number is: (617) 795-2022. And their Facebook page is at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newton-MA/Lees-Burger-Place/165610074840

Lee's also has a Twitter page at:
http://twitter.com/leesburgerplace

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2009 Phantom Gourmet Beer and Food Phest to be Held October 24 and 25

The second annual Phantom Gourmet Beer and Food Phest will be coming to Suffolk Downs in East Boston later this month. The event will be held on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, and will be mostly an indoor event with a variety of vendors offering food and drink to guests. Included among the festivities are a mechanical bull, sumo wrestling, a dance party, and more.

Hours for the Phantom Gourmet Beer and Food Phest are 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Saturday and 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday. Tickets to get in are 2 for $5 in advance, or $5 each at the gate, with food and beverage being extra.

Vendors at the festival will include Firefly's, Fuddruckers, Harrows Chicken Pies, Wicked Whoopies, and several others. Drinks offered will include Bass, Beck's, Hoegaarden, Landshark, and more.

For more information on the 2009 Phantom Gourmet Beer and Food Phest, please go to the Phantom Gourmet link below:

http://www.phantomgourmetbeer.com/

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Floating Rock Restaurant Moving from Revere to Cambridge

A highly rated Cambodian restaurant in Revere is going to be moving a bit closer to Boston. According to the restaurant's Facebook page, Floating Rock will make the move from 144 Shirley Avenue near Revere Beach to 485 Mass. Ave. in the Central Square section of Cambridge. Based on the floor plan posted on Facebook, the new Floating Rock restaurant should be larger than the Revere location, and the opening of the restaurant will probably happen soon, as they are accepting applications for a variety of jobs.

[March 25, 2011 update: According to the Thrillist site, the new Floating Rock Restaurant in Cambridge had been planning to have a soft opening today (thanks to Boston-area food/drinks writer MC Slim JB for bringing this to our attention), but based on a note from the restaurant that was forwarded to us via email, there is a delay in their opening due to a final inspection that still needs to be passed. As a result, it looks like the soft opening will be pushed back at least a couple more days; as soon as they get the ok to open, we will post an update here.]

[April 18, 2011 update: According to their Facebook page, Floating Rock is in the middle of a soft opening right now.]

Floating Rock, a casual, inexpensive place that features authentic Cambodian cuisine, has been favored by locals and foodies alike since its opening in the early part of the last decade.

The address for this new restaurant in Cambridge is: Floating Rock, 485 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The phone number is (617) 455-4009. And the website can be found at: http://floatingrockrestaurant.com/

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River Rock Grill Opens in Maynard

A casual upscale restaurant recently opened in Maynard, moving into the space where a well-known restaurant and music club used to be. The River Rock Grill, which looks to feature New American fare with Latin and Mediterranean touches, replaces the old Sit n'Bull Restaurant on Main Street just west of the center of town. The River Rock has a bar and lounge in addition to its dining area, and like its predecessor, the restaurant will also feature live entertainment at some point. Items on the menu include calamari, fish stew, and steak frites.

Hours for the River Rock Grill are 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Sundays. A tapas menu is also offered from 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

The address for this new restaurant west of Boston is: River Rock Grill, 163 Main Street, Maynard, MA, 01754. The phone number is (978) 897-5500. And the website is at: http://www.theriverrockgrill.com/

Thanks to one of our Facebook fans (Steve) for letting us know about the opening of the River Rock Grill.

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Fire Hits Pho Hoa in Chinatown; Building Closed, May Be Condemned

A Vietnamese restaurant in the Chinatown section of Boston was damaged in a fire yesterday, and now the building in which it is housed may be in jeopardy. According to the Boston Herald, a blaze began within Pho Hoa on Beach Street, causing about $100,000 in damage. The newspaper goes on to report that the entire eight-story building was then closed down after it was discovered that there was poor electrical wiring, cracked ceiling beams, illegal bedrooms, and possibly a gambling operation inside, among other violations. A condemnation hearing for the building will take place this Thursday, according to the Herald.

Pho Hoa is a chain of Vietnamese restaurants that includes locations in the United States, Canada, and Asia. Three locations are in the Boston area, including the one on Beach Street as well as another in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester and a third in North Quincy.

To read more about the fire at Pho Hoa and the resulting closing of the building that houses it, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

Eatery fire opens can of worms

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Fire Damages Bricco in the North End

A fire early this morning caused extensive damage to Bricco, an Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston. According to WBZ 1030, several people who lived in the Hanover Street building were left temporarily homeless in the two-alarm fire, which began on the roof of the restaurant. WBZ also mentioned that no one was injured in the fire.

Bricco, which is located at 241 Hanover Street (about a block in from the entrance to the North End), is an upscale Italian dining spot that features wood-oven pizza, regional Italian dishes (including agnollotti with a veal and beef stuffing, lamb shank, and veal ossobuco), martinis, Italian wines, and an optional five-course chef tasting.

For more information on the fire at Bricco, please go to the WBZ link below:

Fire damages North End restaurant

Thanks to MC Slim JB, a local food writer and restaurant critic, for bringing this story to our attention.

[October 13 Update: According to a posting on the Chowhound site by MC Slim JB, it appears that Bricco may be open for business once again.]

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