Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Operation Frontline Dinner to Be Held on April 12, 2010

A dinner event to benefit an organization working to end childhood hunger is coming to Boston in mid-April.

The 13th annual Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline benefit, which will be held on Monday, April 12 at Tremont 647 in the South End, will feature food from some of the best chefs in the Boston area and beyond, complete with hors d'oeuvres, a five-course meal, two desserts, and a special take-away dessert from the restaurant. Some of the chefs participating include Andy Husbands, Izzy Sarto, and Kat Craddock of Tremont 647, Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's Bistro, Joanne Chang of Myers + Chang, Jay Silva of Bambara, Josh Ziskin of La Morra, and guests from New York City and Chicago.

Tickets to the event, which begins at 6:00 PM, are $125 and will directly benefit Operation Frontline, which helps connects families with food by teaching them how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget.

Thanks to CBH Communications for the above information.

For more info on Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline benefit in Boston, please go to the link below:

http://www.tremont647.com/events.php

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Port 305 Opening at Marina Bay in Quincy

A new waterfront restaurant is coming to Quincy, opening in the space where another dining spot closed late last year. According to both Yelp and an earlier article in the Patriot Ledger/Wicked Local, Port 305 is going to open at the site of the former Skyline restaurant on the boardwalk at Marina Bay. Both sites indicate that the new family-friendly spot, which will also have a function room on the second floor, is looking at opening sometime this spring. The people behind Port 305 also own Siros, an upscale Italian restaurant that is around the corner on the Marina Bay boardwalk.

Skyline, a restaurant that featured seafood and American fare, closed in November of 2009 after being in business under that name for about five years. It had gone through several ownership changes as well as a name change over the years (it was originally called Amelia's).

[June 14 update: According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Port 305 is now open.]

The address for this restaurant in the Marina Bay section of Quincy is: Port 305, 305 Victory Road (Marina Bay), North Quincy, MA, 02171.

For more information on Port 305, please go to the links below.

Patriot Ledger/Wicked Local article:
Quincy restaurateur to open 2nd restaurant at Marina Bay

Yelp page:
Port 305 Marina Bay

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Taste of BUA Coming to Boston April 23, 2010

A culinary event to benefit Boston University Academy's financial aid program is being held next month.

A Taste of BUA is coming to the art gallery at 808 Commonwealth Avenue within the BU campus on Friday, April 23, and will feature food samples from a number of Boston-area dining spots. A few of the participating restaurants include Chiara Bistro, Eastern Standard, and the South End Buttery. In addition to food sampling, A Taste of BUA will also feature live and silent auctions with various prizes offered. The event will be hosted by TV Diner's Billy Costa.

The event, which begins at 6:30 PM, costs $75, with beer and wine included in the price. Free parking is also available.

Boston University Academy is a day school for Gr. 9-12 students that was first established in 1993. The academy is located at 1 University Road within the Boston University campus.

For more information on A Taste of BUA, please go to the BU Academy link below:

http://www.bu.edu/academy/

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A Taste of Spring Coming to Woburn April 28, 2010

A tasting event to benefit an organization that helps people with developmental disabilities is coming to Woburn in late April.

An email sent by NuPath, Inc., mentions that A Taste of Spring will be held on Wednesday, April 28, at the Holiday Inn Select, which is just south of the Route 128/38 intersection in this northern suburb of Boston. The fundraiser will include 25 food purveyors, including restaurants such as the Beacon Grille, Focaccia, The Great Mandarin, Lester's, Montebello, and On The Border.

This is the 13th year of the Taste of Spring event, which in addition to tastings, will also have an auction as well as raffle items. The donation price for tickets to A Taste of Spring is $25, with the event being held from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

NuPath, Inc. is a Woburn-based, not-for-profit organization that helps individuals with developmental disabilities by providing such services as transportation, day habilitation, vocational training, job placement and residential services.

For more information on the 13th annual Taste of Spring in Woburn, please go to the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/TasteOfSpring-April2010

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Monday, March 29, 2010

Dionysos Returns to Cambridge

A Greek restaurant in Cambridge that closed approximately three years ago is reopening in the same spot, though within a different hotel this time. A call placed to Courtyard by Marriott on Memorial Drive has indicated that Dionysos is opening once again within the space, which also houses a Japanese restaurant called Bisuteki. Both Dionysos and Bisuteki were forced to close in 2007 when the Radisson Hotel in which they were housed shut their doors (Bisuteki reopened late last year).

The original incarnation of Dionysos was that of a slightly upscale but casual Greek dining spot with views of the Charles River from its spacious, comfortable dining room. Dishes at the old restaurant included moussaka, swordfish, lamb souvlaki, spanakopita, and pork kabobs.

The exact opening of Dionysos is up for debate right now, as the hotel states that the restaurant will open next Saturday, but a post on the GreekBoston.com Facebook page indicates that it actually may not open next Saturday because of Holy Week. As soon as we find out more on the exact opening date of Dionysos, we will post an update here.

[May 20 update: An email from one of our readers mentioned that Dionysos is no longer a restaurant--it is basically a nightclub that is open only on Saturday nights. A check on Dionysos' website confirmed this, though it is not known whether they will start serving dinner once again at some point in the future.]

The address for this restaurant in Cambridge is: Dionysos, 777 Memorial Drive (Courtyard by Marriott), Cambridge, MA 02139. The main phone number for the hotel is (617) 492-7777. And the website for the restaurant is at: http://www.dionysosbar.com/

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Poppy's Diner and Pizza in Peabody Is Closing Its Doors

A restaurant that opened in Peabody late last year is going to be closing this week, but the owner is hoping to open a smaller restaurant at some point in the future.

A note sent to us by the owner of Poppy's Diner and Pizza on Route 1 indicates that the Peabody eatery will be closing at the end of March. Poppy's has been serving American fare and comfort food since opening last fall on the stretch of highway between Route 128 and Lowell Street. Some of the dishes they have offered customers include pancakes, pizza, burgers, chicken and dumplings, macaroni and cheese, shepherd's pie, and chicken wings.

According to the owner, they are looking to open a restaurant in a smaller space, and will likely keep the Poppy's name if/when they do open.

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Hot Tomatoes Closes Its North End Location

A dining spot known mostly for its pizza and sandwiches has closed one of its two Boston locations. A phone call placed to Hot Tomatoes has confirmed that their North Street location in the North End of the city has indeed closed. (The place had been closed since the beginning of 2010, but according to posters on various Boston-area sites, it was not known whether it was closed for renovations or permanently closed.)

The other location of Hot Tomatoes on Bedford Street in downtown Boston remains open.

Both the existing Hot Tomatoes and the now-closed North End location have offered pizza (including individual slices) with a variety of toppings, sandwiches such as sloppy joes, monte cristos, and Cubanos, daily pasta specials, and soups, salads, and sides.

The address for the remaining location of Hot Tomatoes is: Hot Tomatoes, 92 Bedford Street, Boston MA, 02111. The phone number is (617) 292-0233. The closed North End location was at 261 North Street in the North End of Boston.

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Nud Pob Reopens in a New Location

A Thai restaurant popular with Boston University students that closed about a year ago is opening once again, but in a new location. According to several sources (including Chowhound), Nud Pob is due to open today on Commonwealth Avenue around the central BU campus. The restaurant, which was located at 708 Commonwealth Avenue until closing in the winter of 2009, is opening a block west of the old space on Comm. Ave., next to Espresso Royale.

The original Nud Pob, which was located in a basement space a few blocks west of Kenmore Square, was known mostly for its reasonably priced Thai-American food, large portions, fast service, and relatively late hours. It appears that the new location of the restaurant will also be open late, and will be serving both lunch and dinner.

The address for this reopened Thai restaurant is: Nud Pob, 738 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02446.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Finz Closes in Dedham; Sagra to Take Its Place

A seafood restaurant with two locations in the Boston area has closed one of its dining spots, and an Italian restaurant with an existing presence in the Boston area will be taking over the space.

According to the Dedham Transcript and Wicked Local, Finz Seafood and Grill has closed their Dedham location after being in business for approximately three years on Washington Street. The space will be taken over by a second location of Sagra, which currently resides on Highland Avenue in the Davis Square section of Somerville. It looks like Sagra will have a soft opening in late April, according to the article.

[May 23 update: The new Dedham location of Sagra is now open.]

The other location of Finz, which is at Pickering Wharf in Salem, remains open.

The address for the new location of Sagra is: Sagra, 910 Washington Street, Dedham, MA 02026.

For more information on the closing of Finz (and the upcoming opening of Sagra) in Dedham, please go to the Dedham Transcript/Wicked Local link below:

Dedham Finz closes, Sagra Restaurant to open

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Latest Review: The Thirsty Scholar Pub, Somerville

photo of the Thirsty Scholar Pub, Somerville, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for an Irish pub and restaurant in Somerville called The Thirsty Scholar. Located just outside of Cambridge's Inman Square (heading toward Porter Square), the Thirsty Scholar Pub is just enough off the beaten path to be a lesser-known alternative to some of the other nearby pubs. The interior of the place is attractive and has an historic feel to it, and has a good amount of seating throughout (including a snug off to the side). The menu features burgers, beef stew, fish and chips, and a number of other Irish and American dishes. To read more about the Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somerville, please click on the link above.

Results of Our Twitter Lobster Roll Poll

Over the past couple of months, we have taken informal food polls on the Twitter site, with Santarpio's in East Boston winning the pizza poll and Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Cambridge winning the burger poll. Our latest Twitter poll focused on restaurants in the Boston area with the best lobster rolls, and we have the results (with one of the top picks being a bit outside of the Boston area):

1) Neptune Oyster, Boston (24%)
2) James Hook and Company, Boston (18%)
3) Raw Bar, Mashpee (12%)

Some other restaurants were picked in the Twitter lobster roll poll, including B&G Oysters (Boston), Cap't Cass Rock Harbor Seafood (Orleans), Legal Sea Foods (various locations), The Local (West Newton), The Riverbend Restaurant (Newton), Stephanie's On Newbury (Boston), Turner Fisheries (Boston), and Yankee Lobster (Boston).

Thanks to everyone who voted in the Twitter lobster roll poll. There will be more polls coming up, so keep checking back on our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/hiddenboston.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Taste of the Nation Coming to Boston April 8, 2010

A culinary event dedicated to fighting hunger among children is coming to the Back Bay of Boston early next month. Share our Strength's 22nd annual Taste of the Nation Boston is being held at The Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street on Thursday, April 8 from from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM (5:30 PM for VIP guests), and will be featuring more than 65 Boston-area restaurants, bars, breweries, and wineries. Restaurants participating include Eastern Standard, La Morra, Mare, Rialto, Sel de la Terre, Silvertone, Upstairs on the Square, Blue Ribbon BBQ, and many others.

Ticket prices for the event are $85 in advance ($95 at the door) for general admission and $135 in advance ($145 at the door) for VIP admission. 100% of ticket sales go to Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger.

For more information on Share our Strength's 22nd annual Taste of the Nation Boston, please go to the link below:

http://strength.org/boston/

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Barbara Lynch's Menton to Open in Boston's Fort Point Neighborhood

Award-winning chef Barbara Lynch is getting ready to open her latest restaurant, with this one being a high-end spot in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston. The restaurant, which will be called Menton, will be located on Congress Street in the same building that houses two of her other dining and drinking establishments--Sportello and Drink. According to the restaurant's website, Menton is looking to open on Saturday, April 3.

Menton will feature what looks to be a mix of French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine, with a four-course prix fixe meal costing $95 and a seven-course chef's tasting being $145. According to an article in the Boston Globe, the menu at Menton will probably change each week.

The address for this soon-to-open restaurant in the Fort Point district is: Menton, 354 Congress Street, Boston, MA, 02210. The phone number is (617) 737-0099. And the website can be found at: http://www.mentonboston.com/

For more information on Menton, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

Menton open for reservations

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Bull (Korean Steakhouse) Coming to Cambridge

Earlier today we wrote that a new Indian dining spot called Maharaja was coming to the Galeria in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge. And as mentioned in that article, a Korean restaurant is also on the way to this complex on JFK Street.

According to the Harvard Crimson, Bull will be opening in the basement of the Galeria, moving into the space where the Japanese and Korean restaurant Shilla resided for more than two decades until closing in the spring of 2009. The article states that Bull will be a steakhouse, and that diners at Bull will have their food cooked at their tables, as each table will have a grill built in.

[October 14 update: According to The Harvard Crimson, Bull is planning to open in late October or early November.]

[March 15, 2012 update: Nearly two years after we first wrote about it, Bull may finally be close to opening, as an upcoming City of Cambridge License Commission General Hearing meeting will consider a liquor license for the restaurant. The page also mentions that Bull is planning to be open for lunch and dinner with hours being 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily, and that it will have a seating capacity of 95.]

[June 7, 2012 update: It appears that Bull is actually going to be called Bon Chon. (See new article here: Bon Chon Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square]

The address for this upcoming Korean restaurant in Harvard Square will be: Bull, 57 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

For more information on the opening of Bull, please go to the Harvard Crimson link below:

Galeria To Open Two New Eateries


Noche Opening in the South End

An upscale restaurant and lounge is coming to the South End, moving into the space where a popular dining spot had been for more than 30 years. According to a job posting on the Craigslist site, Noche is looking at a May opening on Appleton Street, and is aiming to be a "fine dining restaurant and bar, [catering] to the affluent late night crowd." Noche will reside in the spot where the New American restaurant Icarus resided from 1978 until last year, when it closed.

[June 22 update: According to the Thrillist Boston site, Noche is planning on opening today.]

Boston Nightlife Ventures, the group behind Noche, mentions on their website that the new restaurant will focus on eclectic American fare, with their full menu being offered until midnight. The group is also behind The Tap on Union Street near Faneuil Hall and The Federal on Cambridge Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

The address for this restaurant and lounge in the South End is: Noche, 3 Appleton Street, Boston, MA 02116.

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A Taste of the South Shore Coming March 25, 2010

A culinary event being held to benefit the South Shore YMCA is coming to Randolph later this week. According to boston.com, The 14th annual Taste of the South Shore will be held at Lombardo's on Billings Street (at the intersection of Route 28 and 128/93/1) Thursday, March 25, with 26 area restaurants, chefs, bakers, and caterers participating. Restaurants that will be at the event include Atlantica in Cohasset, BonCaldo in Norwood, Fuji 1546 in Quincy, Malai Thai in Randolph, the Scarlet Oak Tavern in Hingham, and a number of others.

Tickets to the event, which goes from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, cost $100. Proceeds help more than 5,500 area children, individuals, and families through the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign.

For more information on A Taste of the South Shore, please go to the boston.com link below:

Foodies throw bash for a good cause

And for more information on the South Shore YMCA, go to this link:

http://www.ssymca.org

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Maharaja Opening in Harvard Square, Cambridge

A new Indian restaurant is coming to the Harvard Square section of Cambridge, moving into a spot recently vacated by another Indian eatery.

According to The Harvard Crimson, Maharaja will open late this spring or early in the summer in the Galeria on JFK Street, taking over the space where Bombay Club had been since the early 1990s. Bombay Club recently moved to the old Pho Republique spot on Washington Street in the South End.) The Crimson article indicates that Maharaja, which will be located on the 2nd floor of the Galeria, will be more of an upscale dining spot than Bombay Club.

The Crimson also mentions that a new Korean steakhouse called Bull will be coming to the Galeria as well, opening by the late spring or early summer.

[March 16, 2011 update: According to Grub Street Boston, Maharaja is now open.]

The address for this new Indian restaurant in Harvard Square is: Maharaja, 57 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

For more information on the opening of Maharaja, please go to the Harvard Crimson link below:

Galeria To Open Two New Eateries

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Temptations Cafe Opening in Coolidge Corner, Brookline

A cafe that specializes in salads and sandwiches is going to be opening a third location in the Boston area, this one being in the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline. According to a job posting on the Craigslist site, Temptations Cafe is looking at an April opening for their latest location, which will be in the old Ritz Camera storefront on Beacon Street, about a block west of the Harvard Street intersection. [April 22 update. A phone call placed to Temptations Cafe has confirmed that the new Coolidge Corner location is now open.]

Temptations Cafe, which has other locations on Huntington Avenue in Boston (near Northeastern University and the Museum of Fine Arts) and Beacon Street in Brookline (east of the new spot, near the Boston line), features several types of salads and a variety of sandwiches, including panini, wraps, and melts. They also serve smoothies and frozen yogurt.

The address for this cafe in Coolidge Corner is: Temptations Cafe, 1350 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The phone number is (617) 739-4400. If you want to follow them on Facebook, they can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boston-MA/Temptations-Cafe/69593988303

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Friday, March 19, 2010

Green Land Cafe Opening in Salem

A cafe-style restaurant that focuses on dishes made using local ingredients is coming to Salem. According to the restaurant's website, Green Land Cafe is opening this spring on Washington Street in the downtown area of this North Shore city, bringing to the area a breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot that will have a bar as well as an outdoor patio area for the warmer months.

The menu at Green Land Cafe will offer such items as croissants and muffins (breakfast); soups, salads, and sandwiches (lunch); and burgers, seafood, and tapas (dinner). The restaurant will also feature wine, local beers, and cocktails. New England cheeses, artisan breads, and flatbread pizza will be offered as well.

Hours for Green Land Cafe are 7:00 AM to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Sundays.

[May 12 update: Green Land Cafe is now open.]

The address for this restaurant in Salem is: Green Land Cafe, 87 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The phone number is (978) 744-7766. And the website can be found at: http://www.thegreenlandcafe.com/

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Latest Review: The People's Pint, Greenfield, MA

photo of The People's Pint, Greenfield, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for the People's Pint, a restaurant and bar in Greenfield, MA. Located on the northern edge of the downtown area of this Pioneer Valley community, The People's Pint is an offbeat, quirky dining spot with lots of character. The menu features a variety of American and regional dishes, as well as inventive pub grub. Highlights include a burger made with ground beef and ground bacon combined, a sausage plate, and red beans and rice. To read more about The People's Pint in Greenfield, please click on the link above.

Crazy Dough's Pizza Opening in Brighton

It appears that El Pelon Taqueria is not the only new restaurant opening on Commonwealth Avenue across from Boston College in Brighton. According to a poster on Chowhound, Crazy Dough's Pizza is looking to open next door to the Mexican restaurant (which opens today, by the way).

Crazy Dough, which presently has locations in Harvard Square, Park Plaza, and the Back Bay, features three types of pizza--Sicilian, brick oven, and fire grilled. Some of their options for pizza include balsamic glaze, potato bacon cheddar, BBQ chicken, rueben, and roasted portobello and goat cheese.

An email from Crazy Dough has indicated that they are hoping to be open in Brighton by the end of May.

[August 19 update: A Twitpic photo from BostonTweet indicates that Crazy Dough in Brighton is now open for business.]

The location for the new Crazy Dough is 2201 Commonwealth Avenue (by Lake Street), which was formerly home to French Press, a coffee shop that closed in the summer of 2009.

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

Little Q Hot Pot Is Moving to East Arlington

It appears that the mystery of where Little Q Hot Pot is moving to may be over.

According to the Arlington Advocate, the Asian hot pot place, which had to leave its Quincy location in January, has gotten approval to open in East Arlington. Earlier it had been reported by several media sources that Little Q was looking at Chinatown in Boston for its new location.

The Advocate reports that the address Little Q is looking at moving into is 196 Mass. Ave., which is just east of the Lake Street intersection, and it appears that the name of the new spot will be Little Q Hot Pot and Szechuan House.

Little Q Hot Pot's original home was in the now-closed Quincy Fair Mall on Hancock Street in Quincy Center.

Thanks to a poster on Chowhound as well as the owner of the Saucy & Bossy blog for letting us know about Little Q Hot Pot's planned move to East Arlington.

[May 7 update: According to posters on both Chowhound and Yelp, Little Q Hot Pot is now open in Arlington.]

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Five Boston Restaurants with Outdoor Dining on the Water

While there are countless restaurants in Boston that have outdoor dining available during the warmer weather, relatively few of these spots are on the water. Indeed, much of the Boston waterfront is taken up by residential, industrial, and office space, as well as an abundance of parkland and recreation areas. So where can folks go in the city for outdoor dining with views of the water? We have compiled a list of five such spots below:

Barking Crab: A seafood shack on the east side of Fort Point Channel just south of where it empties into Boston Harbor, The Barking Crab is a popular "in the rough" eatery complete with live music, noisy crowds, and picnic tables for seating. Views of both the channel and the harbor can be found here, as well as that of the Boston skyline. Address: Barking Crab, 88 Sleeper Street, Boston MA, 02210. The phone number is (617)426-2722.

Miel: Located in the InterContinental Boston, which is on the west side of Fort Point Channel between Rowes Wharf and South Station, Miel is a French brasserie that has a rustic dining room and an outdoor patio that looks out over the channel. Address: Miel, 510 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA, 02210. The phone number is (617) 217-5151.

Rowes Wharf Sea Grille: A casual, upscale restaurant within the Boston Harbor Hotel that focuses on seafood dishes, the Rowes Wharf Sea Grille has views of Boston Harbor from both its comfortable indoor dining room and its outdoor patio, which abuts the Harborwalk. Address: Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110. The phone number is (617) 856-7744.

Sensing: Located within the North End's Fairmont Battery Wharf, Sensing is a contemporary French restaurant with a three-star Michelin chef behind it (Guy Martin). The restaurant has both a quiet and elegant indoor dining area as well as seasonal outdoor dining with views of Boston Harbor. Address: Sensing, 3 Battery Wharf, Boston, MA, 02109. The phone number is (617) 994-9001.

Tavern on the Water: A sometimes boisterous and noisy two-story spot in the Charlestown Navy Yard, Tavern on the Water has some of the best views of any restaurant in the entire Boston area, as the Boston skyline can been seen directly across the water from this spot. The food at Tavern on the Water is a mix of American cuisine and pub grub, with a number of sandwiches available. Address: Tavern on the Water, One 8th Street (Pier 6), Charlestown, MA, 02129. The phone number is (617) 242-8040.

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Cooking for a Cause to Be Held in Boston on March 25, 2010

A culinary event to benefit a Cambridge community center and social service agency is coming to Boston later this month. According to a press release sent to us by Clearly Creative Marketing, the seventh annual Cooking for a Cause will be held at the Harborview Ballroom in the Seaport World Trade Center on Thursday, March 25 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The charity event will benefit the East End House Community Center, a not-for-profit, multi-service social service center that dates back to 1875.

A number of well-known chefs from the Boston area, including culinary chair Rachel Klein of Aura in Boston's Seaport District and wine chair and sommelier Geoffrey Fallon of Ginger Park in the South End, will be participating in Cooking for a Cause. Boston-area mixologists will also be on hand for guests who are looking for cocktails, while specialty vendors will offer desserts and coffee. A silent and live auction will take place as well.

For more information on the 2010 Cooking for a Cause charity event, please go to the following link:

http://www.eastendhouse.org

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Carmen's Kitchen in East Boston Has Apparently Closed

An Italian restaurant in the Orient Heights section of East Boston has apparently shut its doors. According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Carmen's Kitchen on Bennington Street is no longer open, and a sign in the window says that El Paisa Butchery is coming soon (El Paisa is a Colombian restaurant that is located next door to the now-closed Carmen's Kitchen).

Carmen's Kitchen, which first opened about four years ago, featured such items as pizza, pasta, calzones, and subs in an old-fashioned neighborhood environment. It is the second Italian restaurant in Orient Heights to close over the past few years, as the more upscale Zafferano (which was located at the corner of Bennington Street and Saratoga Street) closed in late 2007.

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Istanbul'lu Is Opening in Somerville

It looks like a new restaurant will soon be opening in the Teele Square section of Somerville. Based on the signs in the window of the storefront, the new restaurant - called Istanbul'lu - is going to open on Holland Street, just south of Broadway in the heart of the square, and it will be focusing on Turkish cuisine. The space it will be moving into used to be home to the Holland Street Cafe.

Once it opens, Istanbul'lu will join several other Turkish restaurants that call the Boston area their home, including Sultan's Kitchen in the Financial District, Saray in Allston, Family Restaurant in Brookline, Pasha in Arlington, and Cafe Mangal in Wellesley. [May 17 update: Istanbul'lu is now open. A phone called placed to the restaurant indicates that it is currently open for breakfast and lunch, but will start opening for dinner at some point in the future.]

The address for this upcoming Turkish restaurant in Teele Square is: Istanbul'lu, 237 Holland Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The phone number is (617) 440-7387.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Garlic N Lemons Opening in Allston

A new restaurant focusing on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is coming to the Allston neighborhood of Boston. Garlic N Lemons will be opening on Harvard Street (between Brighton Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue) in the heart of the Allston Village, and according to one of our Facebook fans, it may be open as early as later this month. [April 6 update: According to the Thrillist site, Garlic N Lemons is looking to open on Thursday, April 8.]

We do not know exactly what will be on the menu at Garlic N Lemons yet, but according to the person who sent us a note on Facebook, there may be some shawarma dishes offered, and the restaurant's Facebook page mentions that they will be serving Mediterranean-inspired Lebanese fare. (As soon as we find out more information on this restaurant, we will post an update here.)

Once they open, the hours for Garlic N Lemons look like they will be 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday, and 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.

The address for this dining spot in Allston is: Garlic N Lemons, 133 Harvard Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134.

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Joe's American Bar and Grill Opens in the Back Bay

A local chain of family-friendly restaurants has a new home in the Back Bay of Boston. Joe's American Bar & Grill is opening tomorrow (Wednesday, March 17) at the corner of Newbury Street and Exeter Street, in the space formerly occupied by TGI Friday's, which closed in early 2006. Joe's is moving one block west from its old location at the corner of Dartmouth and Newbury Streets.

According to the restaurant's website, the new location for Joe's American Bar & Grill will feature a retractable roof in the cafe and upper bar area as well as two full bars.

Joe's, which first started out in 1984 in the Back Bay, focuses on classic American fare such as ribs, meatloaf, burgers, chicken, and prime rib. The chain currently has locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Florida.

The address for the new Joe's is: Joe's American Bar & Grill, 181 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The phone number is (617) 536-4200. And the website for the chain is at: http://www.joesamerican.com/

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The Wholy Grain Opening in the South End

It looks like a new eatery is coming to the South End of Boston this summer. According to the Boston Herald, a deli and bakery called The Wholy Grain is planning to open on Shawmut Avenue, a mostly residential road between Tremont and Washington Streets which does have several other restaurants, including Coppa, Joe V's, the South End Buttery, and the Franklin Cafe (which is across the street from where The Wholy Grain will be). The Herald mentions that The Wholy Grain will feature healthy food items, and that artisan breads and house roasted meats will be offered. The eatery will focus on takeout food, including prepared meals to go, but it will also have an outdoor patio with seating, according to the article.

It is unsure what the hours for The Wholy Grain will initially be when they open this summer, but the owners are hoping to have it open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some point, with the planned hours of business being 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

[September 13 update: The Wholy Grain is not yet open, but according to the EveryBlock Boston site, a license was issued for the deli and bakery last week, so it may be opening soon.]

[February 21, 2011 update: According to their website, The Wholy Grain is now open for business.]

The address for this new deli and bakery in the South End is: The Wholy Grain, 275A Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. Their website can be found at http://wholygrain.com/

For more information on the opening of The Wholy Grain, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

South End pair to open healthy deli

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Monday, March 15, 2010

Blue Ginger Noodle Bar to Open in Wellesley Later This Month

Ming Tsai, the chef and owner of acclaimed Asian fusion restaurant Blue Ginger in Wellesley and host of the television cooking show "Simply Ming," is getting ready to open a brand new noodle bar. According to a press release sent to us by Ming East-West, Blue Ginger Noodle Bar will be opening on March 30 within the lounge at Blue Ginger on Washington Street in Wellesley Center.

The menu at the Blue Ginger Noodle Bar will feature ramen noodle soups as well as stir-fry dishes such as garlic miso ramen, spicy pork miso ramen, and pad Thai. Prices for lunch entrees will be $12, and will include a house pickled salad.

The noodle bar, which will have a capacity of 50 (and a 10-stool bar), will be open for lunch on weekdays from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The main dining room will continue to serve the regular Blue Ginger lunch menu.

Blue Ginger is located at 583 Washington Street (Route 16) in Wellesley.

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Burton's Grill Opening in Peabody

An small local chain of upscale restaurants is going to be opening its sixth location later in the spring or early this summer in Peabody. According to the Pat Whitley Restaurant Show, Burton's Grill will open near Nordstrom in the Northshore Mall, with a possible opening date sometime in June. [June 29 update: According to the restaurant's website, the new Burton's Grill in Peabody is now open.]

Burton's Grill, which opened their first location within the Derby Street shoppes in Hingham in 2005, features contemporary American fare such as burgers, sandwiches, steak, and seafood. In addition to their restaurant in Hingham, they currently have four other locations in North Andover, Boston (near Fenway Park), South Windsor, CT, and Virginia Beach, VA.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in Peabody will be: Burton's Grill, Northshore Mall (near intersection of Route 114 and Route 128), Peabody, MA, 01960.

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