Friday, October 31, 2014

Cafe Vanille in Chestnut Hill Has Closed

It looks like a location of a French bakery and pastry shop west of Boston has closed its doors.

An email sent earlier this week indicated that Cafe Vanille at The Mall at Chestnut Hill has shut its doors, with this being confirmed by a reliable source within the restaurant industry. This is the second location of the shop to be leaving the area, as earlier reports say the Beacon Hill store on Charles Street is being replaced by a location of Tatte Bakery and Cafe. (The exact status of French Memories--a shop in Duxbury that is connected to Cafe Vanille--is not known at this point in time.)

Cafe Vanille first opened on Beacon Hill in 1999, with the Chestnut Hill location opening a couple of years later.

The address for this now-closed bakery and pastry shop at The Mall at Chestnut Hill was: Cafe Vanille, 199 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467.

[Earlier Article]
Cafe Vanille in Boston's Beacon Hill to Close; Tatte to Move into Its Space


Temple Bar in Cambridge Reopens After Fire

An upscale restaurant and bar in Cambridge has opened its doors once again after a fire temporarily shut the place down over the summer.

A note sent from Rich O's Ravings indicates that Temple Bar on Mass. Ave. (between Porter Square and Harvard Square) is now open, with the Cambridge Chronicle and TAB mentioning that its reopening also comes with menu changes as well as renovations and upgrades to the space. A few of the menu additions include a roasted bone marrow dish, foie gras mousse stuffed dates, and chicken two ways.

Temple Bar was hit by a kitchen fire back in July that started in the walls of the place.

The address for this reopened restaurant and bar in Cambridge is: Temple Bar, 1688 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website can be found at http://templebarcambridge.com/


[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]



Thursday, October 30, 2014

Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham to Introduce New Concept Called The Dessert Workshop

A cupcake shop in Needham is taking over the space next door and will debut a new interactive concept for dessert lovers.

Eater Boston is reporting that Treat Cupcake Bar on Highland Avenue is expanding into the former Swizzles space with the plan being to open The Dessert Workshop there. The Facebook page for the upcoming spot says that customers will be able to create an array of dessert items, including cupcakes, pies, parfaits, and sundaes using equipment supplied by the place, with another option being to choose from pre-made treats from them. It looks like The Dessert Workshop will open sometime this fall, though no specific date has been given as of yet.

Treat Cupcake Bar also has a location at The Street Chestnut Hill, with that shop opening in April of 2013.

The address for the upcoming Dessert Workshop is 1450 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dessert-Workshop/345218965630579


[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]



Crumbs Bake Shop Reopening in Boston's Financial District

A chain of cupcake shops that closed down over the summer is getting back on its feet again--and at least one of its stores in Massachusetts is getting ready to open back up.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that the Crumbs Bake Shop location on Federal Street in Boston's Financial District is reopening tomorrow (Friday, October 31) and as stated previously, it will be offering more than just cupcakes this time around. The article mentions that included among its offerings are hybrid treats such as crozels (a combination of a croissant and a pretzel) and baissants (a combination of a bagel and a croissant), along with cupcake pushpops that consist of a cupcake in a cylinder with a plunger used to push the cupcake out.

Based on its website, it does not appear that the Crumbs locations at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, and the Natick Mall in Natick are slated to reopen, at least at this point in time.

The address for Crumbs in the Financial District is 176 Federal Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.crumbs.com/

Thanks for Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Articles]
Crumbs Bake Shop Getting Financing from Group of Investors, Will Reopen Stores
Crumbs Bake Shop Closes All Of Its Locations


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Wings Over Arlington Has Closed

A small chain of wing places based in Massachusetts has gotten just a bit smaller, as one of its Boston-area locations has closed.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Wings Over Arlington is no longer in business, with a sign at the Mass. Ave. shop referring customers to the Somerville location. (A phone call confirms this, with the message saying that it has indeed closed down.) It appears that the other locations of Wings Over in the Boston area and elsewhere in the region--including in Boston, Somerville, Brookline, Framingham, Lowell, Worcester, and Providence, RI--remain open for business.

Wings Over first started out in Amherst in 1999 and now has a handful of locations on the East Coast and in the Great Lakes area. The shops feature regular and boneless wings with a variety of sauce options, including teriyaki, honey mustard, Jamaican jerk, and sweet chili.

The address for the now-closed Wings Over Arlington was 217 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474. The website for the chain can be found at http://wingsover.com/


[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Rox Cafe in Newton Highlands Has Closed

It looks like a cafe in Newton has closed its doors after being in business for a bit more than a year.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Rox Cafe in the Newton Highlands section of the city is no longer in business, with a sign out front thanking customers for their past support. Phone calls placed to the eatery did not go through, and a check on the Village 14 site indicates that the Lincoln Street spot may actually have closed sometime last month.

Rox Cafe, which first opened in the summer of 2013, was run by the same people who are behind Rox Diner in West Roxbury and Newtonville (both of those restaurants remain in operation).

The address for this now-closed dining spot in Newton Highlands was: Rox Cafe, 27 Lincoln Street, Newton, MA, 02461.


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Owners of James Hook & Co. Plan to Build Residential Tower, Restaurant at Waterfront Site

Over the summer we mentioned that a landmark seafood vendor on the Boston waterfront was possibly looking to develop the site on which it resides. Now we have learned more of their plans.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the owners of James Hook & Co. on Atlantic Avenue are considering the construction of a 22-story residential tower at the site, with the structure including a 9,000-square-foot James Hook seafood restaurant on the ground floor. A rendering of the plan shows that the dining spot would have a large outdoor patio on the water, and that the building would feature a lot of glass and a pedestrian walkway along Fort Point Channel. The Globe article mentions that zoning changes would need to take place in order for this project to happen, as regulations currently have a building height cap of 55 feet along Boston Harbor.

James Hook & Co. first opened its seafood store back in 1925.

The address for James Hook & Co. is 440 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA, 02210. Its website can be found at http://www.jameshooklobster.com/

[Earlier Article]
James Hook & Co. Site in Boston May Be Redeveloped; Store Plans to Stay Put


Daisy Buchanan's in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

This spring, we reported that an iconic bar in Boston's Back Bay was going to be closing sometime this fall, Now we have learned when it will be closing (and we've also heard that someone has stolen their beloved sign).

The Boston Herald is reporting that Daisy Buchanan's on Newbury Street is planning to close possibly on either November 6 or November 7, as the building in which it resides has been sold and will be redeveloped into high-end retail space. The article also mentions that the Daisy's sign was stolen sometime over the weekend and that the bar is offering a $500 reward for its return (bar spokesperson George Regan says there will be "no questions asked" as far as the retrieval of the sign is concerned).

An earlier article from the Herald says that co-owner Joe Cimino is looking for another home for Daisy Buchanan's, which first opened in 1970.

[November 6 update: A phone call placed to Daisy Buchanan's indicates that it is still open today, contradicting a lot of the social media chatter last night and today saying that it had closed for good last night.]

[November 12 update: A new post on its Facebook page indicates that Daisy Buchanan's will be closing at the end of business hours today.]

[November 13 update: ConciergeBoston confirms that last night was definitely the "last night" for Daisy Buchanan's, though The Boston Globe says that the owners of the bar are hoping to reopen Daisy's in another spot "within a year."]

The address for the soon-to-close Daisy's is 240 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[Earlier Article]
Daisy Buchanan's in the Back Bay of Boston to Close This Fall

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


Mi Pueblito in East Boston Is Opening a Second Location

It looks like a Mexican and Central American restaurant in East Boston is going to be expanding.

The East Boston Times-Free Press is reporting that the owners of Mi Pueblito on Border Street are opening a second location of their restaurant on Saratoga Street in Orient Heights, taking over the space where several other dining spots had been, including Las Vegas, Tequilas, and King Dragon. The article says that the new eatery plans to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will include renovations that help create a "more upscale family dining experience."

[September 11, 2015 update: Eater Boston states (via an article in the East Boston Times-Free Press) that the new location of Mi Pueblito on Saratoga Street is now open.]

The original location of Mi Pueblito has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as an under-the-radar place to go for both Mexican and Salvadoran fare. The review can be found at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/MiPueblito.html

The address for this new restaurant in East Boston is: Mi Pueblito, 964 Saratoga Street, East Boston, MA, 02128. The website for Mi Pueblito is at http://www.mipueblitorestaurantboston.com/


[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]



Monday, October 27, 2014

Highlights for the Week Ending October 24, 2014

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including two pizza spots making Food and Wine Magazine's "best of" list, an oceanfront seafood restaurant on the North Shore being sold, and a dining and drinking spot in the Fenway shutting down. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of a pub in Somerville, a photo of a sandwich from a Vietnamese restaurant in Allston, and an updated review of a beer bar in Greenfield.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Shanghai Social Club in Allston Has Apparently Closed; New Concept May Be On the Way

Santarpio's and A4 Make Food and Wine's List of Top Pizza Places in the United States

Fugu Asian Food Truck Is Saying Goodbye

The Lobster Pool Restaurant in Rockport Has Been Sold

Sweet Caroline's in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Has Closed; Exact Status Unknown

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Updated Review: RF O'Sullivan's in Somerville, MA

Photo: Banh Mi from Pho Viet's in Allston, MA

Updated Review: People's Pint in Greenfield, MA

Photo: Margarita from Mexico Lindo in Melrose, MA

Photo: Bolognese from Via Lago in Lexington, MA


Update: White Mountain Creamery in Wellesley Has Closed; Yogurtology to Move In

[Ed note: This article was updated on February 24, 2015 to reflect new information given on what will be moving into the space.]

A pair of ice cream shops west of Boston is now down to just one, as one of the stores has closed its doors after nearly 30 years in business.

According to an article in The Swellesley Report, White Mountain Creamery in Wellesley is shuttered, with an "out of business" displayed out front. The post mentions that the past few weeks has brought questions about the status of the shop, as the article says there were "rumblings of financial troubles, with kids looking to get paid for their work. Then a sign on the locked door said a family emergency was keeping the shop closed. The next sign claimed renovations were to blame." The location of White Mountain Creamery on Commonwealth Avenue in Chestnut Hill remains in operation, and their ice cream continues to be available in restaurants, shops, and markets around the area.

The Wellesley location of White Mountain Creamery first opened in 1985.

The address for this now-closed ice cream shop was: White Mountain Creamery, 552 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA, 02482. The website for the remaining shop in Chestnut Hill can be found at http://www.whitemtncreamery.com/

[February 24, 2015 update: A new post in The Swellesley Report indicates that the Arizona-based Yogurtology froyo chain is opening a shop in the former White Mountain Creamery space this spring.]


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Sunday, October 26, 2014

Wegmans Opens in Burlington

A supermarket that recently opened a location just west of Boston has now opened another much bigger one north of the city.

According to its social media pages, Wegmans opens today at 3rd Ave Burlington, which is a new development just north of the Burlington Mall. As mentioned previously, the store is a bit under 150,000 square feet in size and has a large food court area within it. This is the second location to come to the Boston area, with another one being found in Chestnut Hill; others are being planned for the region, including in Boston's Fenway neighborhood and in Westwood. (The first Wegmans to come to Massachusetts can be found in Northborough.)

Wegmans started out as a fruit and vegetable company in Rochester, NY during World War I and now has a number of locations in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states. Its website is at http://www.wegmans.com/


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Mike and Patty's in Boston's Bay Village Remains Closed, Turns to Kickstarter for Help

A breakfast place and sandwich shop in the Bay Village section of Boston that has had a series of closures and reopenings since starting out several years back is going through another stretch of being shuttered, and now it is asking for help.

According to its Facebook page, Mike & Patty's on Church Street has been closed since early September and is now seeking funding through Kickstarter to help pay for a number of upgrades to the space. The Kickstarter page for the breakfast and lunch spot mentions that "We found out we were going to be required to install a fire suppression system and adhere with the strict building codes of the city for restaurants. Those building codes were not designed to apply for 175 square foot eateries but we had no option but to shutdown, comply and make the necessary changes." A few of the other upgrades needed include new refrigerators, a new slicer, and an updated cooking area, with the owners saying that "All these changes in addition to carrying our basic expenses such as rent and utilities, getting the necessary permits, hiring an architect for drawings, a general contractor, and all the new electrical work necessary place the project at well over $35,000 and we cannot afford to foot the bill ourselves." According to the Kickstarter page, the project for Mike & Patty's will only be funded if at least $20,000 is pledged by November 20.

Mike & Patty's, which first opened in 2008, went through a rough stretch in 2012 where it ultimately ended up closing until the place went through an ownership change.

The address for this eatery in Bay Village is 12 Church Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at http://www.mikeandpattys.com/


Saigon Alley Food Truck to Debut in Boston

Yet another food truck is on its way to Boston, and this one will be offering up Vietnamese street food.

Eater Boston is reporting (via Hub Food Trucks) that Saigon Alley is going to be hitting the streets of Boston, with the focus being on freshly-made inexpensive foods found in Southeast Asia, including banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches). It is not yet known when the truck will debut, but Hub Food Trucks says it passed Inspectional Services last week, so it could be opening relatively soon.

The Twitter page for Saigon Alley can be found at https://twitter.com/Saigon_Alley


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Shanghai Social Club in Allston Has Closed; New Concept May Be On the Way

It looks like an eclectic restaurant and bar in Allston has closed its doors, though a new concept could be coming to the space.

An email sent this morning mentions what others on social media have been saying today, that Shanghai Social Club is no longer in business and that a sign is out front says a new spot will apparently be moving in next spring (likely under the same ownership). Phone calls placed to the Commonwealth Avenue restaurant have not been answered, and the reservations system is no longer going through.

Shanghai Social Club first opened in August of 2013, taking over the space where Jalapenos had been, and before that, Our House West.

The address for the now-closed Shanghai Social Club (and upcoming new concept) is 1277 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134.


Santarpio's and A4 Make Food and Wine's List of Top Pizza Places in the United States

A popular magazine and website has come out once again with its picks for best pizza in the United States, and two Boston-area spots have made the list.

According to their website, Food & Wine Magazine has included Santarpio's in East Boston and A4 in Somerville in its list/slideshow of best pizza places in the U.S., mentioning the "wood paneled walls covered with pictures of famous athletes" and the "signature homemade sausage pie" for the former and the "stellar wood-fired pies" with "addictively charred, blistered sourdough crusts made with a 12-year-old starter" for the latter. Santarpio's and A4 are also joined by two other New England spots--Al Forno in Providence and Pepe's in New Haven.

Santarpio's has made F&W's best pizza list in the past, as have Al Forno and Pepe's.

For a complete listing of the best pizza places from Food & Wine Magazine, please go to the following link:

http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-pizza-places-in-the-us


Naco Taco Is Opening in Cambridge

It looks like a new restaurant may be opening by the MIT campus in Cambridge, and based on its name, it could be focusing on Mexican fare--though this has not been confirmed as of yet.

A License Commission General Hearing page within the City of Cambridge website indicates that Naco Taco is looking to open on Mass. Ave., with the address being that of the now-closed Lotte Market a couple of blocks east of the Main Street intersection. The dining spot is applying for a beer and wine license and plans to have seating for 74 inside with another 64 on an outdoor patio, and it could be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if its proposed hours of 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday and 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM Thursday through Saturday remain in place. As of now, there doesn't appear to be much more information about Naco Taco other than its manager being Alex Tannenbaum, who has been involved in the Speakeasy Group (Storyville, Minibar, Tunnel, Sweet Cheeks, Tavern Road, Bread + Butter, Vine Brook Tavern).

[October 30 update: Boston Magazine gives a bit more information on Naco Taco--in addition to Alex Tannenbaum being involved, Michael Scelfo of Alden & Harlow in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Brian Lesser of the Speakeasy Group will also be partners, and the dining spot--which could be opening in early 2015--will be a taqueria.]

[May 11, 2015 update: Eater Boston confirms what a poster on the Chowhound site said over the weekend, that Naco Taco opens its doors today (apparently at 11:00 AM). EB also says that the new restaurant offers tacos with a variety of fillings--including fish, beef, lamb, pork, and veggie--and that beer, wine, and sangria are all available.]

The address for this new restaurant by MIT is: Naco Taco, 297 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.


Monday, October 20, 2014

Highlights for the Week Ending October 17, 2014

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a restaurant south of Boston with well-known people behind it being replaced by another spot, a seafood place in the Back Bay announcing it will shut down, and a chain of sandwich shops expanding into the Back Bay. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of a Vietnamese restaurant in Allston, a photo of a dessert from an Italian spot in Lexington, and an updated review of a Mexican eatery in Melrose.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Chatime Is Opening a Second Location in Boston's Chinatown

Amorino to Open in Boston's Back Bay

Turner's Yard in Pembroke Is Being Replaced by 615 Raw Bar and Grille

Skipjack's in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

Cosi to Open in Boston's Back Bay

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Pho Viet's in Allston, MA

Photo: Cookies and Cream from Via Lago in Lexington, MA

Boston-Area Restaurant Closings and Openings for October (So Far)

Updated Review: Mexico Lindo in Melrose, MA

Photo: Tiramisu from Pescatore in Somerville, MA


Fred's Franks Is Back in Wakefield

A hot dog cart north of Boston that was forced to leave its home a few months ago is back in the area, and at least for now, it is apparently located very near its former home.

According to a Facebook post, Fred's Franks has returned to Wakefield, with the note saying "Starting Monday [today], we will be re-opening in Wakefield, hopefully on the corner from where we used to set up, from 11:30 - 1:30. Then, we may re-locate and open from 4:30 - 6:30. I will 'pin point' our location on google maps and send a tweet with our location." Fred's was kicked off the property at the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt back in June and has been looking for a home ever since. Recently, the hot dog stand was set up in Medford, but that appears to be over for the time being, though the owner hints that Medford could become a possibility once again at some point.

The website for Fred's Franks can be found at http://fredsfranks.com/

[Earlier Article]
Fred's Franks in Wakefield Kicked Off Property; Owner Seeks New Location


Fugu Asian Food Truck Is Saying Goodbye

It looks like an Asian food truck is saying farewell after being on the streets of Boston for a couple of seasons.

According to a post on the Hub Food Trucks site, Fugu has decided to sell their truck, though no other details have been given at this point in time. The truck, which debuted in the spring of 2013, had a tasting menu as well as small bites and tapas, with such items as poached prawns, pot stickers, pork belly buns, stuffed eggplant, beef bulgogi tacos, kimchee pancakes, and crispy spring rolls offered.

As soon as we hear more about why Fugu is shutting down (and/or who might be buying the truck), we will post an update here.

Thanks to Drew Starr for initially bringing this to our attention.


Jimmy John's Is Opening Near North Station in Boston

An Illinois-based chain of gourmet sandwich shops continues its expansion plans through Boston, with another new location now planned for a busy part of the city.

The Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog is reporting (via a Licensing Board page) that Jimmy John's is planning to open near North Station, possibly at The Victor, which is a luxury residential building on Beverly Street across the street. Currently, two other locations of the chain are also in the works--one on Park Drive in the Audubon Circle neighborhood along with another on Western Avenue in Allston-Brighton, with all three eventually joining the first shop to open in the area--at the Flats on D apartment complex on D Street in South Boston.

[March 3, 2015 update: Eater Boston states that Jimmy John's has opened its new location near North Station, though the address for it is 60 Valenti Way, not Beverly Street.]

Jimmy John's opened its first shop in Charleston, IL back in 1983 and now has nearly 2,000 locations in the United States. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.jimmyjohns.com/


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



The Lobster Pool Restaurant in Rockport Is Being Sold

A classic seafood shack with some of the best water views on the Massachusetts coast has been sold, though it looks like the new owner will keep the place open come next spring.

According to a series of posts on its Facebook page, the owner of the Lobster Pool Restaurant in Rockport has decided to sell the place, though she will "assist the [new] owner in any way I can and facilitate a smooth transition for the future of the restaurant," which will close for the season this weekend and reopen again sometime in the spring of 2015. The name of the new owner has not yet been given, nor is it known whether any changes will be made to the restaurant, which is located on Route 127 by the Gloucester border.

[March 20, 2015 update: It appears that the sale mentioned above may have fallen through, as a real estate listing within the property.com site shows The Lobster Pool currently on the market for $850,000. (In addition, a check on the website shows that it is gone.)]

The Lobster Pool Restaurant has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as a place to go for both seafood and outstanding views of Ipswich bay. The review can be found at this link:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/LobsterPool.html

The address for this seafood spot in Rockport is: The Lobster Pool Restaurant, 329 Granite Street (Route 127), Rockport, MA, 01966.


Sweet Caroline's in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Has Closed; Exact Status Unknown

A restaurant in the Fenway section of Boston has closed its doors--at least for the time being--after being in business for a bit more than three years.

According to a Twitter post, Sweet Caroline's on Boylston Street is shuttered with its windows being papered over, and a call placed to the dining spot indicates that it has closed for renovations. There has been some chatter over social media that the restaurant may be reopening under a new name, though this has not yet been confirmed (as soon as we get more information on its exact status, we will post an update here).

Sweet Caroline's first opened in September of 2011, taking over the space where Fenway Cantina had been; the people behind Battery Park Bar & Lounge on Batterymarch Street in downtown Boston were behind its opening.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in the Fenway is: Sweet Caroline's, 1260 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215.


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Saturday, October 18, 2014

Shake Shack to Open at Legacy Place in Dedham

A New York-based group of burger and shake places continues its expansion plans into the Boston area, with a new one now planned for an open-air retail center a short distance southwest of the city.

According to one of our readers, Shake Shack is going to be opening a new location at Legacy Place in Dedham, with a check on its Twitter page confirming this. Once it opens, this will either be the third or the fourth shop to come to the Boston area, depending on when its location on Newbury Street in the Back Bay opens (it looks like that one could open next spring, while the Dedham shop is planning to open in the middle of 2015).

[February 26, 2015 update: According to a press release, the Dedham location of Shake Shack opens on Sunday, March 1.]

Currently, two locations of Shake Shack can be found at The Street at Chestnut Hill and in Cambridge's Harvard Square.

The website for all of the locations of Shake Shack can be found at http://www.shakeshack.com/


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Thursday, October 16, 2014

Chatime Is Opening a Second Location in Boston's Chinatown

A Taiwan-based chain of bubble tea shops is opening a new location in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood--which happens to be where its other Boston shop is located.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Chatime is getting ready to open a brand new shop on Hudson Street, which is very close to its Harrison Street location. The new store, which is opening this weekend, will feature items such as milk tea, fruit tea, pop tea, smoothies, mousse, juices, and coffee.

As reported here earlier, another location of Chatime may be coming to the city as well, with this one being on Newbury Street in the Back Bay; there has been little chatter about this shop of late, though, so it is not known whether this is still happening.

The address for this new bubble tea shop in Chinatown is: Chatime, 18 Hudson Street, Boston, MA, 02111. The Facebook page for Chatime in Boston can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ChatimeBoston


Update: Chef Tim Caldwell from Grapevine Purchases The Old Spot in Salem, Is Opening Olde Main Street Pub

[Ed note: This article was updated on February 22 to reflect the fact that the new place is open.]

The Salem space where an English pub had been until recently has been bought by a chef from a nearby restaurant.

According to a source, Tim Caldwell of Grapevine on Congress Street has purchased the site on Essex Street where The Old Spot had been until closing at the end of July. A check on Caldwell's Facebook page has confirmed this, though it does not appear that a name has been given to the place, nor is it known exactly what kind of spot it will be. Caldwell says that if all goes as planned, the new restaurant could be open in December.

The address for the now-closed Old Spot (and the new restaurant from Tim Caldwell) is 121 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

[February 22, 2015 update: According to several sources--including its Facebook page--the new restaurant taking over The Old Spot's space is now open, and it is called Olde Main Street Pub (as mentioned earlier in the comments section here by one of our readers). The place does not have a website yet, but it sounds like the menu includes a mix of pub grub, comfort food, and both classic American and New American items.]


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Amorino Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A Paris-based chain of artisan gelato shops is on its way to Boston.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Amorino is going to be opening a "flagship" location on Newbury Street in the Back Bay section of the city. The post says that the store, which joins two others in New York, will feature a variety of gelato options in a cup, cone, scone, or on a waffle or crepe, along with such items as milkshakes, macarons, gelato cakes, coffee, and more.

An opening date for Amorino has apparently not been set as of yet; as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.

[March 23, 2015 update: BostInno states that Amorino opens in the Back Bay on Thursday, with one of our sources also saying that it will have a pre-opening for friends and family on Wednesday.]

The address for this new gelato shop in the Back Bay is: Amorino, 249 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.amorino.com/us/


Turner's Yard in Pembroke Is Being Replaced by 615 Raw Bar and Grille

A restaurant south of Boston that had several well-known people behind it has closed--and a new dining spot is apparently opening in its space today.

According to a source, Turner's Yard in Pembroke is no longer in operation, with a picture sent indicating that is being replaced by a "family dining" spot called 615 Raw Bar and Grille (which opens tonight, based on the picture). Calls to the restaurant went unanswered this morning, but a check on singer Beau Paris's site seems to confirm what our source said, as it shows that he will be playing at a party at 615 Raw Bar and Grille this evening.

Turner's Yard first opened in the fall of 2012, with partners including Tim Wakefield (who was a pitcher for the Red Sox), Shawn Thornton (who used to play for the Bruins), Ken Casey of the Irish punk band the Dropkick Murphys, and HGTV host Taniya Nayak. It is not yet known whether any of them are involved with the new restaurant.

The address for the now-closed Turner's Yard (and new 615 Raw Bar and Grille) is 615 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359.


Skipjack's in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

A pair of local seafood restaurants is going to be down to just one, as its Boston location is closing.

The Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog is reporting that Skipjack's in the Back Bay is shutting its doors, with a source close to the restaurant saying that the Clarendon Street spot could be closing within a month. The post says that their location at Patriot Place in Foxboro will remain in operation.

Skipjack's first opened in Boston in 1988, offering an array of seafood options such as oysters, mahi mahi, shrimp, clams, scallops, salmon, and lobster. A couple of other locations have closed over the past few years--one on Worcester Road (Route 9) in Natick and another on Needham Street in Newton.

The address for Skipjack's in the Back Bay is 199 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at http://www.skipjacks.com/

[November 6 update: According to a poster on the Chowhound site (and confirmed by the restaurant's Facebook page), Skipjack's in Boston's Back Bay is now closed.]

[August 6, 2015 update: It appears that a new restaurant will not be moving into the former Skipjack's space in the Back Bay, as a tweet from @ConciergeBoston shows an alteration permit on the premises, saying that it will apparently become a Soul Cycle Studio.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Kane's Donuts in Saugus (and Soon, Boston) Introduces Donut-Scented Candles

A landmark donut shop north of Boston--and soon in downtown Boston as well--is now offering a way to have the smell of their donuts permeate through people's homes even when they run out of donuts.

A Facebook post from the store indicates that Kane's Donuts in Saugus is now selling donut-scented candles, with a jelly donut candle (as well as a coffee roll candle) shown in the picture. The candles, which go for $18 apiece, can either be purchased at the Lincoln Avenue shop or shipped to people's homes.

As we reported earlier, Kane's is also getting ready to open a shop at International Place in Boston sometime this fall, with the place being called Kane's Handcrafted Donuts.

Thanks to Eater Boston for initially bringing this to our attention.


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Cosi to Open in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like an Illinois-based chain of sandwich places is going to be opening a new shop in the Back Bay of Boston.

According to a Twitter post from @DGoodison (via a Licensing Hearing page within the City of Boston website), Cosi is planning to open on Boylston Street, confirming what the Boston Business Journal had mentioned in an article earlier this year. Once it opens, the new location of Cosi will join other shops on Federal Street, High Street, Milk Street, and State Street in downtown Boston along with others at South Station, on Seaport Lane in the Seaport District, at Logan Airport, and at MIT in Cambridge.

Boston-based Cosi first started out in the mid-1990s and currently has approximately 150 locations across the country. The chain focuses mainly on soups, salads, and sandwiches.

The address for this upcoming eatery in the Back Bay is: Cosi, 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at https://getcosi.com/


Monday, October 13, 2014

Highlights for the Week Ending October 10, 2014

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a cheap eats spot in the Back Bay closing, a British sandwich chain shutting one of its Boston locations, and a now-closed Harvard Square eatery possibly reopening in another location. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of an Italian restaurant in Lexington, a new slideshow on comfort food items in the Boston area, and a photo of a lamb dish from a Brookline dining spot.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Men-Tei in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

Is Peet's Coffee Taking Over Goody Glover's in Boston's North End?

Pret a Manger Is Closing One Of Its Locations in Boston's Back Bay

Veggie Planet May Reopen in New Location

Noodles and Company to Open Locations in Medford, Westwood, and Woburn

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Updated Review: Via Lago in Lexington, MA

Photo: Cheeseburger from City Streets in Waltham, MA

New Slideshow: Twelve More Comfort Food Items from Boston-Area Restaurants

Photo: Crab Cakes from Tony's Clam Shop in Quincy, MA

Photo: Lamb Chops from Orinoco in Brookline, MA


Friday, October 10, 2014

Men-Tei in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

An Asian restaurant in the Back Bay of Boston that was known as one of the few good options for inexpensive food in the neighborhood has closed its doors.

According to a post from BostonZest on the Chowhound site, Men-Tei on Hereford Street is no longer in business, with a note out front thanking customers for their support over the years. A phone call placed to the restaurant seems to confirm its closure, with the number no longer being in service.

Men-Tei was a casual dining spot that focused mainly on reasonably-priced Japanese fare, including ramen dishes, teriyaki, curry rice, and fried oysters. The eatery had been in business for a bit less than 20 years.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in the Back Bay was: Men-Tei, 66 Hereford Street, Boston, MA, 02115.


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Thursday, October 09, 2014

Peet's Coffee Is Moving into the Goody Glover's Space in Boston's North End

It looks like a California-based coffee roaster and retailer is taking over a space in Boston's North End where an Irish pub and restaurant currently resides.

According to a Twitter post from @NorthEndBoston, Peet's Coffee is "looking to replace Goody Glover's" on Salem Street, with the note saying that an abutters meeting will be taking place on October 20 at the site of the restaurant to look into the proposal. No other information has been given at this point in time; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Currently, Peet's Coffee has locations in Brookline, Cambridge, Lexington, Newton Centre, and Wellesley (with new locations planned for several sites in Boston and Brookline), along with cafe/bank collaborations called Capital One 360 Cafe in Boston and Brookline. The website for the Peet's chain is at http://www.peets.com/

The address for Goody Glover's (and the new location of Peet's Coffee) is 50 Salem Street, Boston, MA, 02113. Its website can be found at http://goodyglovers.com/

[October 10 update: It has now been confirmed that Goody Glover's is shutting down, as a Facebook post from the place says that "The rumors are true. Goody Glover's will be closing at the end of October 2014....Thanks for 11 wonderful years!!"]

[October 29 update: The Boston Globe reports that Goody Glover's will close on Friday (October 31) and that the owner of the pub says Peet's is indeed taking over the space.]

[January 8, 2016 update: The northendwaterfront.com site states that Peet's is now open in the former Goody Glover's space.]


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Zoup! Fresh Soup Company to Open in Natick

Last year, we reported that a small quick-casual restaurant chain featuring soup was closing its only Massachusetts location in downtown Boston. Now we have learned that another location of the eatery will be coming to the area.

According to a press release, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is planning on opening at the Sherwood Plaza in Natick, with franchisees Mark and Lori Fox hoping to open the dining spot later this year. Once it opens, expect the restaurant to feature 12 rotating options of freshly-made soups that could include split pea, lobster bisque, beef barley, broccoli cheddar, and more, along with salads and sandwiches.

[January 16, 2015 update: A press release sent this week says that Zoup! Fresh Soup Company will open in Natick on January 29, with a pre-opening fundraiser also taking place on January 28 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM that will benefit the Natick Visiting Nurse Association. (Diners receive a bowl of soup, bread and a fountain drink in return for a $5.00 donation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the organization.)]

A location of the Michigan-based Zoup! chain opened at Center Plaza in Boston's Government Center in late 2010 but it closed in the spring of 2013, citing that "the owner had health issues."

The address for this new soup spot in Natick is: Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, 1300 Worcester Street (Route 9), Natick, MA, 01760. The website for the chain can be found at: http://www.zoup.com/


Pret a Manger Is Closing One Of Its Locations in Boston's Back Bay

A London-based chain of sandwich shops that is in the middle of an expansion in the Boston area has decided to close one of its stores within the city.

According to a Twitter post sent yesterday, a rumor was going around that the Pret a Manger location at 855 Boylston Street in the Back Bay was getting ready to close. A phone call placed to the shop this morning has confirmed this, with the person taking the call saying that today is indeed the last day of business for that location. It appears that other locations of Pret a Manger--including one in the Back Bay (in the old Borders space on Boylston Street) and others in Boston's Financial District (Arch Street, Federal Street, and Franklin Street)--will remain open.

As reported earlier here, it is possible that at least a dozen new outlets could be coming to Boston and Cambridge eventually, with the next one coming to State Street in the Financial District.

The website for Pret a Manger can be found at http://www.pret.com/us/


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]



Update: Ariel's Ice Cream in Quincy's Marina Bay Reopens After Being Closed Due to Contract Issues

[Ed note: This article was updated on October 14 to reflect the fact that the place has reopened.]

An ice cream shop that is located by the water just south of Boston has closed for the time being due to contract issues.

According to a Facebook post, Ariel's Ice Cream in the Marina Bay section of Quincy is shuttered, saying that "Due to unresolved contract issues, we remain closed indefinitely." It appears that the shop has been closed for approximately a week, with another note from October 3 mentioning that "Due to unfortunate circumstances, Ariel's will be closed until further notice" while this past Monday, they stated that they were hoping for a "Tentative reopening on Thursday [today], provided we can come to a new agreement with our contract holder." As soon as we get more information on the exact status of Ariel's, we will post an update here.

[October 14 update: A new Facebook post from Ariel's indicates that it is open once again.]

Ariel's Ice Cream first opened in April of this year within the Marina Bay Marketplace, which is behind the boardwalk where most of the restaurants and shops at Marina Bay reside. The shop offers ice cream from the Boston Ice Cream Factory as well as soft serve, smoothies, and frappes.

The address for Ariel's is 333 Victory Road, Quincy, MA, 02171.


[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]