Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Sonia's to Move into T.T. the Bear's Space in Cambridge

Last month we reported that music may be returning to a landmark space in Cambridge, and this has now been confirmed, with a name being given to the spot along with other information.

Cambridge Day states that Sonia's is going to be taking over the former T.T. the Bear's space on Brookline Street, with Joseph and Nabil Sater of the adjacent Middle East being behind it. The article says the site is going to have renovations over the coming months that will include increasing the capacity from 300 to 350, cutting the existing bar in half, and removing the pool tables, and that the same food as next door will be offered within the club. (Sonia's will not actually have a pass-through connecting it to The Middle East, according to Cambridge Day.)

Alcohol will not be offered initially at Sonia's because T.T. the Bear's owner Bonney Bouley holds the liquor license for that space, so she will either need to use it at a new space or transfer it to the club (or another spot in Cambridge) before alcohol can be made available at Sonia's. Because it will not have alcohol at the start, Sonia's will be an all-ages/18-plus club for the time being.

If all goes as planned, Sonia's could be making its debut in the early part of 2016.

The address for the upcoming Sonia's is 10 Brookline Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

[Earlier Articles]
Live Music May Return to Former T.T. the Bear's Space in Cambridge
T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge to Close for Good July 25

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[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, September 29, 2015

Highlights for the Week Ending September 25, 2015

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a well-known executive chef opening her very first dining spot, a restaurant group opening a new place in Harvard Square, and a nationally-recognized chef and restaurateur opening a new spot in Quincy. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of a beach bar in Hull, a photo of a breakfast sandwich from a cafe in Dorchester, and an updated review of a Greek restaurant at a local airport.

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

Boston Restaurant Talk

Nicki: Greek Kitchen Planning to Open in Boston's Fenway

Rachel Klein to Open RFK Kitchen in Needham

New Restaurant from The Grafton Group Plans to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

Barbara Lynch and Kerri Lynch-Delaney to Open Italian Restaurant in Quincy

Kendall Food Court in Cambridge to Reopen

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Updated Review: Barefoot Bob's Beach Grill in Hull, MA

New Photo: Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Wrap from McKenna's Cafe in Dorchester, MA

New Photo: Arancini from the Inn at Bay Pointe in Quincy, MA

Updated Review: Taso's Euro-Cafe in Norwood, MA

New Photo: Pepperoni Pizza from Picco in Boston, MA

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


Church in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Closes Its Restaurant

Earlier this month, we reported that another Boston-area music club had shut down, though its restaurant remained open. Now we have learned that that part of the business is closed as well.

A message from the owner of Church in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston confirms that its restaurant is now closed, joining the music club section which shut down during the first week of September. Over the past several days, a number of people on social media had said that the dining area had indeed been shuttered, but there had been no proof that it was a permanent closure until now.

As mentioned in the previous article, the restaurant group behind Nix's Mate in Boston's Financial District (Bostonian Hospitality) is looking to take over the Church space, with the entire space possibly becoming a restaurant.

In addition to Church, T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge also closed over the past couple of months, with the Beachcomber in Quincy shutting down for good this week as well. Johnny D's in Somerville is also closing early next year, and Copperfield's in the Fenway is reportedly shuttering to make way for a location of the Tilted Kilt.

The address for the now-closed Church in the Fenway was 69 Kilmarnock Sreet, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Article]
Church Rock Club in Boston's Fenway Closes, Restaurant Remains Open; Nix's Mate Eyes Space

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]



Monday, September 28, 2015

South End Open Market at SoWa Is Moving to Ink Block

A popular open market in the South End of Boston is going to be moving to a new location.

According to a Facebook post from New England Open Markets, the South End Open Market at SoWa will be heading over to Ink Block in the spring of 2016, with the note saying that it "will provide a bigger and more enjoyable space for vendors and visitors in one central location." It appears that the food trucks, farmers market, and arts market will all be part of the move, though no other specific details have been give as of yet. (The New England Open Markets site says "Stay tuned for updates."

The Boston Globe gives more information on this story, stating that New England Open Markets owner Chris Masci will be moving the market to a temporary location between Harrison Avenue and Washington Street by the western edge of the Ink Block in 2016, with its permanent location being set up under the Route 93 deck by the complex's eastern edge in 2017. The article also says that Mario Nicosia, who owns the Harrison Avenue property where market is currently located, is looking to set up a "rival" market, and that Masci and Nicosia are in the middle of a conflict that includes lawsuits and trademark issues--and they have not talked to each other since last spring.]

Ink Block is located between Harrison Avenue and Albany Street in the South End, a few blocks north of the present location of the South End Open Market at SoWa. The web page for the market can be found at http://sowaboston.com/sowa-news/south-end-open-market-in-sowa/

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[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.]




Narragansett Allie’s Double Chocolate Porter Is Now Available

A Rhode Island brewery has done it again, teaming up with a local landmark to make a new seasonal beer.

Boston Magazine is reporting that the Narragansett Brewing Company has released Allie’s Double Chocolate Porter, which is a collaboration between the Providence-based beer company and Allie's Donuts in North Kingstown. The article says that the beer, which comes in six-packs of 16-ounce cans and will be available throughout the winter across New England, is made with chocolate malt, dark crystal malt, and cocoa nibs. This is the third mashup from Narragansett, with the first two being Narragansett Del's Shandy Beer and Narragansett Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout.

Allie's Donuts first started out in 1968.

The website for Narragansett can be found at http://narragansettbeer.com/ while the Facebook page for Allie's is at https://www.facebook.com/AlliesDonuts

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]



La Colombe Coffee Roasters to Expand to Boston

It looks like a Philadelphia-based chain of coffee roasters/cafes is going to expand into the local area.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that La Colombe is looking at a major expansion that would include shops in Massachusetts, and that a lease is in the works on a location somewhere in Boston that could open by the end of the year. The article says that additional outlets are also being planned for New York and Washington, D.C., along with its first shops in California and Florida. (The chain currently has locations in its hometown of Philly along with shops in Chicago in addition to New York and Washington, D.C.)

[February 2, 2016 update: According to a licensing board page within the city of Boston website, it looks like the location of Colombe mentioned above will be at 745 Atlantic Avenue, which is across the street from the South Station bus terminal and parking garage.]

[April 27, 2016 update: According to an updated article from Eater Boston, La Colombe opens its Atlantic Avenue shop tomorrow (Thursday, April 28).]

The Eater site states that La Colombe co-founder Todd Carmichael hosts the show "Dangerous Grounds" on the Travel Channel.

The website for La Colombe Coffee Roasters can be found at http://www.lacolombe.com/

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]



License for Patrick's Harborview Restaurant in Marshfield Revoked

A waterside restaurant on the South Shore has had its license revoked by town selectmen a few weeks after the owner of the place--which was facing several violations--shut down the dining spot.

Wicked Local Marshfield is reporting that selectmen voted unanimously earlier this month to take away the liquor license of Patrick's Harborview Restaurant by the town pier, with the article saying owner Patrick Flaherty had been warned in early August that he was in violation of the sanitary code because he did not have a food protection manager at the restaurant and he had also given the town misleading information. The town told Flaherty at the time that a hearing would be held on August 21 where selectmen would look into the possibility of revoking or suspending the permit for the dining spot to operate and it also said that the hours would immediately be changed on the liquor license to reflect the actual hours of operation. Flaherty did not pick up the new license and he "left the building" on August 24 and the restaurant never reopened, according to landlord John Taylor. Patrick's Harborview Restaurant is now permanently closed, according to Taylor, and he is already in the process of finding a new tenant.

Patrick's Harborview Restaurant first opened approximately two years ago.

The address for this now-closed dining spot in Marshfield was: Patrick's Harborview Restaurant, 93 Central Street, Marshfield, MA, 02050.

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]



Friday, September 25, 2015

Saloniki Is Opening in Boston's Fenway

[Ed note: This article was updated on December 30 to reflect new information given, including a name change for the place and confirmation as to the people being behind it.]

It looks like a Greek restaurant is coming to the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, and the people behind a popular waterfront restaurant appear to be behind the place.

A licensing board hearing notice for October 7 that was sent by a source indicates that a restaurant tentatively named Nicki: Greek Kitchen is looking to open on Brookline Avenue, with the address indicating it would be moving into the building in which a soon-to-open location of Wahlburgers will be--along with the space where a location of Sal's Pizza had once been. The notice show the manager as being Iraklis Papachristos, which appears to be Eric Papachristos of Trade on Atlantic Avenue. (Papachristos, James Beard Award winner Jody Adams, and Sean Griffing are all co-owners of that restaurant.) Little else is known about the proposed restaurant other than the fact that it is seeking a transfer of a beer and wine license from Bangkok Blue on Boylston Street.

Papachristos, Adams, and Griffing are also planning to open a restaurant within Avalon at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay.

The address for this proposed dining spot in the Fenway is 132 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

[December 30 update: Zagat confirms that Jody Adams (and presumably at least part of the Trade team) is behind the opening of this new restaurant in the Fenway, with the name of the place being Saloniki; the post mentions that the eatery will be a "fine-casual" concept that features build-your-own customizable meals, including adding such items as lamb meatballs, pork shoulder, whipped feta, and charred eggplant and tomatoes to salads, rice bowls, or pita bread. (Expect the new restaurant to open in March of 2016.)]

[March 3, 2016 update: According to a Facebook post from Sunday, Saloniki apparently had a soft opening over the weekend for friends and family, and the poster--who is also a local restaurateur--says that the place is planning to open sometime this week. (We have reached out to someone involved with the place and are waiting to hear back.)]

[March 9, 2016 update: An Instagram post states that Saloniki officially opens on Monday (March 14).]

[Earlier Article]
Jody Adams, Trade Team Planning to Open New Restaurant in Boston's Back Bay

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]



Brickstone Cafe Is Opening in Arlington Center

It looks like a new dining spot is on its way to the northwest suburbs of Boston.

The Arlington Advocate is reporting that Brickstone Cafe is going to be opening on Broadway in the center of town, taking over the space where Ripples hair salon had been. The article says that the new eatery--which will have seating for nearly 20--will be open for lunch and dinner daily and it will offer Italian items (including pizza) as well as Mediterranean fare. No opening date for Brickstone Cafe has been given at this point in time.

[October 1 update: Eater Boston states that Brickstone Cafe could be opening around October 10 (depending on how final inspections go), and that it will have a wood-fired oven for its pizza and other items.]

[November 6 update: A brief post in this week's Arlington Advocate mentions that Brickstone Cafe planned to open its doors yesterday.]

The address for this new dining spot in Arlington Center is: Brickstone Cafe, 309 Broadway, Arlington, MA, 02474.

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]



Rachel Klein to Open RFK Kitchen in Needham

A well-known Boston-area chef who has worked at several popular spots in the region is going to be opening her own restaurant west of the city.

Eater Boston is reporting that executive chef Rachel Klein of Liquid Art House in Boston is opening RFK Kitchen in Needham, with the Great Plain Avenue spot having a "fun, urban feel" that includes a 20-seat counter, a traditional dining area, and a bar. The article says that the restaurant will offer a chef's tasting menu and will also have a regular menu, and that it will be family friendly while also appealing to the "foodie."

In addition to Liquid Art House, Rachel Klein has also been executive chef at Asana, Aura, Tamo, and OM.

[February 24, 2016 update: A press release states that the chef de cuisine at RFK Kitchen will be Stacy Cogswell, who also worked at Liquid Art House (and most recently at Barcelona in Brookline) and was a contestant on Season 12 of  Bravo's "Top Chef" which took place in Boston.]

[October 13, 2016 update: A new post from Eater Boston indicates that RFK Kitchen opens tomorrow (Friday. October 14).]

The address for this upcoming restaurant in Needham is: RFK Kitchen, 948 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492.

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]




Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Hourly Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square

It looks like a new restaurant is coming to Cambridge's Harvard Square, moving into the space where a few other spots have been over the years.

A License Commission General Hearing page within the City of Cambridge website indicates that a spot tentatively called Dunster Restaurant plans to open in the space where Kennedy's on the Square had been before closing in March, and before that, First Printer and Herrell’s Ice Cream. The name of the manager listed--Peter Lee--implies that this could be another dining spot from The Grafton Group, which also runs Park, Grafton Street, Russell House Tavern, and Temple Bar, all of which are in Cambridge, as well as the upcoming State Street Provisions on the Boston waterfront. [Ed note--now open.]

The seating capacity for the new restaurant would be 90, with proposed hours being 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday and 8:00 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.

The address for the space that the new dining spot wants to move into is 15 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

[September 25 update: Eater Boston confirms that The Grafton Group is indeed behind the proposed restaurant, though "Dunster Restaurant" appears to be a working name only. EB also says that the place will be an oyster bar.]

[April 20, 2016 update: Cambridge Day reports that the new restaurant from The Grafton Group will have a seasonal patio added to the space, and that it reiterates the name "Dunster" is a working name only.]

[August 18, 2016 update: According to a job post within the bostonchefs.com site, the new restaurant from The Grafton Group will be called "The Hourly," and The Grafton Group is now hiring for its upcoming spot.]

[September 22 update: A new article from Eater Boston states that The Hourly opens its doors this evening.]

[Earlier Article]
Kennedy's on the Square in Harvard Square Has Closed

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]




Auction of Benjamin's Restaurant in Taunton Unsuccessful

A now-closed landmark restaurant and function facility went up for auction this week without success, and now the bank that owns it needs to find a way to sell the property.

According to an article in Wicked Local Middleborough, an auction was held for Benjamin's restaurant in Taunton yesterday, but none of the bids met the minimum amount set by Mechanics Cooperative Bank; the post says that the auction lasted a total of five minutes with the highest bid on the Bay Street space being $750,000, and the auctioneer was overheard saying to the President and CEO of the bank, "Sorry it didn’t work out" as the auction ended. Now it appears that Mechanics Cooperative Bank will likely work with prospective buyers or they could possibly put it on the retail market in order to sell the 25,000-square-foot property that way, according to the article.

Benjamin's, which first opened in 1968, was a formal dining destination that offered a variety of classic American items. The restaurant shut down in May and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The address for Benjamin's property is 698 Bay Street, Taunton, MA, 02780.

[Earlier Article]
Benjamin's Restaurant in Taunton Has Closed

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]



Idle Hands Craft Ales Brewery Finds New Home in Malden

The first nanobrewery to open in the Boston area has landed a new space after being kicked out of its previous home a few months ago.

Boston.com is reporting that Idle Hands Craft Ales has signed a lease to operate in Malden, with the Commercial Street space being more than three times larger than their original facility on Charlton Street in Everett. The article says that the new space will include a full tasting room and it might also have a setup where food trucks can be stationed outside the facility. If all goes as planned, Idle Hands could be up and running in its new home by the spring of 2016, according to boston.com.

Idle Hands was forced to leave its space in Everett in June in order to make room for a construction access road for the Wynn casino project.

The address for the new Idle Hands facility is 89 Commercial Street, Malden, MA, 02148. Its website can be found at http://www.idlehandscraftales.com/

[June 30, 2016 update: According to a Twitter post from the place, Idle Hands Craft Ales opens its new brewery in Malden on Thursday, July 7.]

[July 5 update: A new tweet from the brewery indicates that Idle Hands will have a soft opening tomorrow (Wednesday, July 6).]

[Earlier Article]
Idle Hands Craft Ales in Everett Being Forced Out of Its Home

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]



Sfizi Is Opening in Boston's North End in October

[Ed note: This article was updated on September 25 to reflect confirmation of its name.]

A few months ago, we reported that a popular North End restaurant was vacating its space to move to a new spot in the neighborhood, and its old space would become a tapas bar. The restaurant has since opened in its new home, and now we have learned that the tapas spot will be opening next month.

According to a job post on the Craigslist site, the eatery--which is tentatively called Sfizi--will be opening on Richmond Street in mid-October, taking over the space where Mare had been before moving to the corner of Hanover Street and Mechanic Street over the summer.  It appears that the new dining and drinking spot will be an Italian/Mediterranean-style tapas bar with an array of small plates and wine options, though no specific details have come out as of yet.

Frank DePasquale of DePasquale Ventures, who is behind Sfizi, also runs such places as Bricco, Gelateria, Il Panino, Mare, and Quattro.

[September 25 update: A Facebook post from Frank DePasquale confirms that the name of the place is indeed Sfizi.]

[October 7 update: A press release indicates that Sfizi opens on October 16.]

The address for this upcoming tapas bar in the North End is 135 Richmond Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

[Earlier Articles]
Mare Oyster Crudo and Seafood Bar Is Opening in Boston's North End
Shake-Up Coming to North End Restaurant Scene; Pompei, Mare, Il Panino Involved

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, September 23, 2015

Owner of Village Smokehouse in Brookline Village Arrested on Arson Charges

The owner of a BBQ spot in Brookline is facing arson charges connected to a fire that destroyed a home.

The Brookline TAB is reporting that Alan F. Kaplan, who owns the Village Smokehouse in Brookline Village, was arrested on Monday for charges related to a fire in 2013 that burned down a mansion on Spooner Road that he had developed. The article says that four indictments were handed down to Kaplan by a Norfolk County Grand Jury, with the most serious being arson of a dwelling which could result in 20 years of jail time if he is found guilty. Kaplan, who is the second person to be brought up on charges related to the fire, pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday, according to the TAB.

The house, which was built in 2005, had been the subject of a zoning battle between the Zoning Board of Appeals and Kaplan for a number of years.

A pre-trial conference will take place on December 17.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[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.]



Kitchen in Boston's South End Morphs into a New England Seafood Restaurant

A South End restaurant that has been known for its "historically-inspired" American fare has changed its concept.

According to an email sent today, Kitchen on Tremont Street is now a "New England seafood restaurant," with items on the menu including Portuguese fisherman stew, fried oysters, crab cakes, a fried haddock sandwich, mustard-crusted bluefish, lobster casserole, pan-seared scallops, and horseradish-crusted cod, with a few non-seafood items as well (burgers, short ribs, roasted chicken). The restaurant first opened in June of 2012, featuring dishes that were based on recipes from a huge collection of old cookbooks.

The people behind Kitchen also run Grotto in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood and Marliave near Downtown Crossing.

The address for Kitchen is 560 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118. Its website can be found at http://www.kitchenbostonmass.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]



Opa Greek Yeeros Is Opening in Former Kickass Cupcakes Space in Somerville's Davis Square

A Greek dining spot is coming to Somerville, and it will be taking over the space where a now-closed cupcake bakery had once been.

Eater Boston is reporting (via Davis Square Live Journal) that Opa Greek Yeeros is planning to open on Highland Avenue at the site where the original location of Kickass Cupcakes had been. According to EB, the people behind the shop--which could open sometime this fall--are Christos Poutahidis and Kyriakos Kouzoukas, who are also looking to open a doughnut shop that would be in Davis Square as well (at 377 Summer Street).

[October 6 update: A new article from Eater Boston states that Opa Greek Yeeros will feature traditional Greek gyros (chicken, beef, and pork) along with souvlaki, spanakopita, kebabs, and baklava.]

[April 18, 2016 update: Eater Boston mentions that Opa Greek Yeeros plans to open on Wednesday (April 20).]

[April 20, 2016 update: A tweet from Eat Boston confirms that Opa Greek Yeeros is now open.]

Kickass Cupcakes moved from its original location on Highland Avenue to a new space further east on the same street in early 2014, only to close for good that summer.

The address for this new Greek eatery in Davis Square is: Opa Greek Yeeros, 378 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[Earlier Articles]
Gourmet Doughnut Shop May Be Coming to Somerville's Davis Square
Kickass Cupcakes in Somerville Is Closed, Cleared Out

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Sandwiches from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Elsewhere in New England]



Fuji Is Opening at the Ink Block in Boston's South End

The group behind a number of Asian restaurants in the Boston area is planning to open yet another dining spot--and this one may have the same name as several of their other eateries.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Jimmy Liang and Peter Tse of JP Fuji Group have signed a lease to open a new restaurant at the Ink Block complex in the South End of Boston, with a page on the Bizapedia site indicating that the company name is "Fuji at Ink Block." Currently, JP Fuji Group operates nine dining and drinking spots, including locations of Fuji in Quincy, at Somerville's Assembly Row, and in Cambridge's Kendall Square, along with B Cafe, Shabu Restaurant, Bistro Chi, Kama Lounge, and YoCha (all in Quincy) and Shabu & Mein in Cambridge. The website for the restaurant group can be found at http://www.jpfujigroup.com/

The Ink Block is located between Harrison Avenue and Albany Street, just south of the Mass. Pike.

[August 3, 2016 update: Eater Boston states that the new Fuji at the Ink Block opens today.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]



Barbara Lynch Working with Niece Kerri Lynch-Delaney to Open 16C in Quincy

[Ed note: This article was updated on October 21 to reflect new information given, including a name and address for the place.]

One of the best-known restaurateurs in the Boston area is helping her niece open a new dining spot just south of the city--and this one will feature pizza, steak tips, and more.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Barbara Lynch and Kerri Lynch-Delaney are planning to open an "upscale-casual Italian-themed" restaurant in Quincy Center, with the Cottage Avenue eatery specializing in seasonal sheet-pan pizza that is baked in a Rational combi oven. The article also says that the legendary steak tips once served at the now-closed Quiet Man in South Boston will be brought back, as Lynch-Delaney's father owned the iconic West Broadway bar, which closed back in 2008.

No name has been given for the new restaurant as of yet, nor is there an exact address or an estimated opening date at this point in time.

[October 21 update: According to a Twitter post from @TheJeffSullivan, the new restaurant from Barbara Lynch and Kerri Lynch-Delaney will be called 16C, and it will open at 16 Cottage Street, which is where the Granite Rail Tavern had been until recently. Some information given in a related Facebook post also indicates that Barbara Lynch is helping Kerri Lynch-Delaney opening the dining spot (including working on developing the menu), though it looks like this will ultimately be Kerri's restaurant. If all goes as planned, 16C could be opening sometime in January of 2016.]

[November 12 update: Eater Boston states that Kerri Lynch-Delaney is still aiming to open 16C in early 2016, and that she is also selling her bakery Babycakes, which is located in the Wollaston section of the city. The article mentions that the new restaurant will focus on American items (earlier, it had been reported that the place would be Italian-themed) and that in addition to pizza and steak tips, house-made ice cream may also be offered.]

[April 21, 2016 update: According to a poster on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook page, 16C is now open. (It is not yet known whether this is a soft opening or an official opening; as soon as we find out more, we will post another update here.)]

Barbara Lynch's restaurant group--Barbara Lynch Gruppo--runs Menton, Drink, Sportello, The Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, and No. 9 Park, all of which are in Boston.

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]



License Held by Now-Closed Sparta Restaurant in Bedford Revoked

A Greek restaurant northwest of Boston that had been in business for nearly 40 years before closing a few months ago has had its license revoked.

The Bedford Minuteman is reporting that town selectmen voted this week to take away the liquor license that was held by the owners of Sparta Restaurant, which shut down in late May. The article says that the board revoked the license based on town rules that say "The closing of the licensed premises for any reason for a period of seven consecutive days or more, or for any 10 days during the calendar year without prior approval of the selectmen shall be deemed to be an abandonment of the license and sufficient grounds of revocation." A new tenant has not yet been found for the former Sparta space, though selectman Michael Rosenberg mentions that the shopping center where the eatery was located has been in negotiations with a couple of restaurants.

Sparta, which first opened in 1976, featured a mix of Greek and American fare.

The address for the former Sparta space is 321 Great Road, Bedford, MA, 01730.

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]



Plans for a Restaurant in Dodakin's Auto Sales Space in Somerville Have Apparently Fallen Through

Nearly three years after reporting about a proposal for a new restaurant in Somerville, it now appears that the plans have fallen through.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, plans for a restaurant to open in the Dodakin's Auto Sales space at the corner of Park Street and Beacon Street are now "dead in the water," as an email sent to the poster mentions a conflict with an abutter that was unable to be resolved. The dining spot--which was tentatively to be called Cobble Hill--had a connection to Highland Kitchen, with an earlier Eater Boston article saying that Marco Hunter-Melo of the Highland Avenue restaurant was behind it.

News of this dining spot first came out in October of 2012, with the plans including a focus on affordable comfort food and possibly a rooftop garden being built.

The address for this proposed restaurant was 81 Park Street, Somerville, MA, 02143.

[Earlier Article]
Cobble Hill Restaurant Looks to Open in Somerville

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[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, September 22, 2015

Highlights for the Week Ending September 18, 2015

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including new development slated for the South Boston space where a bar and a diner currently reside, a Boston Globe writer leaving the paper to work at a bakery, and an iconic restaurant space being leveled. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of a Chinese restaurant in Lexington, a photo of a cocktail at an eclectic Cambridge spot, and an updated review of a pizza and ice cream place in Boston's South End.

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

Boston Restaurant Talk

Forge Baking Company in Somerville Plans to Open Ice Cream Shop

Williams Tavern and My Diner in South Boston Face Uncertain Future Due to Development

Steven Syre Departs Boston Globe; Will Join Wife Laura Raposa at The Foodsmith in Duxbury

Weylu's Building on Route 1 in Saugus Being Demolished Today

The Bagel Place to Open in Newton

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Beijing Chinese Dining in Lexington, MA

New Photo: Cheeseburger from Tony's Clam Shop in Quincy, MA

New Photo: Catch-22 Rum Drink from The Friendly Toast in Cambridge, MA

Updated Review: Picco Restaurant in Boston, MA

New Photo: Mocha Chip Ice Cream from Kimball Farm in Carlisle, MA

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Downeast Cider to Expand to Boston Harbor Shipyard in East Boston

A few months ago, we reported that a local company that makes hard cider had outgrown its home and needed to find a new space. Now we have learned where its new home will be.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Downeast Cider in Charlestown will be expanding to the Boston Harbor Shipyard on Marginal Street in East Boston, with the 16,000-square-foot space tripling its production space and allowing them the potential to produce ten times the amount of cider that they make now. (Currently, they produce 20,000 barrels per year out of their Terminal Street space.) The article says that the East Boston space will need major renovations, but if all goes well, Downeast Cider could be up and running in their new home in the middle of 2016--and they hope to extend the lease in Charlestown while the new facility is being brought up to speed.

Downeast Cider first started out in Maine back in 2011.

[August 17, 2016 update: A message from the place indicates that Downeast Cider is getting ready to expand into its new facility in East Boston, possibly being up and running (and starting public tours) sometime in September.]

[August 19, 2016 update: A new message from Downeast Cider states that tours officially begin September 30, with more information given on a booking/calendar page.]

[Earlier Article]
Downeast Cider in Charlestown Looking for Larger Space

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Kendall Food Court in Cambridge Is Reopening

A food court in Cambridge that shut down a couple of years ago is getting ready to reopen.

According to a Twitter post from @TransitMark, Kendall Food Court is returning sometime this fall, with a Craigslist job post confirming this, simply saying "New Food Court Opening in Kendall Square!" The sign shown in the Twitter post indicates that Einstein Bros Bagels, Bytes at the Coop, and Panda Express will be opening there, though it is not known if other eateries will be joining them at this point in time.

[October 26 update: Cambridge Day states that Kendall Food Court hopes to reopen November 9, and that it will have a total of three dining spots (the ones mentioned above).]

[November 9 update: The MIT Coop Bookstore tells us that the food court is not opening today after all, but final touches and employee training are in the works for this week, so it should be opening very soon.]

[December 9 update: According to several social media posts (including a tweet from @kendallcntr), Kendall Food Court is now open.]

Kendall Food Court--which is also known as Cambridge Center Food Court and MIT Coop Food Court--shut down in 2013, with a renovation of the space and a reopening promised since its closure. The old food court included Au Bon Pain, Beijing Tokyo, Damon's, Sbarro, and Teriyaki Cafe.

The food court is located at 3 Cambridge Center, which is next to the Marriott along Main Street in Kendall Square.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Dishes for College Students in the Boston Area]




Monday, September 21, 2015

J. Pace and Son Property in Boston's North End to Be Torn Down, Replaced by Parking Lot

The building housing a North End institution that closed last fall is going to be demolished.

The NorthEndWaterfront.com site is reporting that the now-shuttered Italian market J. Pace & Son on Cross Street is going to be torn down by property owner Joseph Pace, with the plan being to replace it with a parking lot that has 12 spaces. The article says that a "temporary" sandwich shop could set up along with the parking lot, and that a building could be constructed at the site at some point in time. The North End location of J. Pace & Son had been in business for more than 40 years.

Locations of J. Pace & Son remain in operation in Boston's West End, Park Lane in the Seaport District, and Main Street in Saugus; the website for Pace can be found at http://jpaceandson.com/

[Earlier Article]
J. Pace and Son Closing Location in Boston's North End

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]



Phinix Grill Is Opening in Former Sweet Peach/Andros Space in Belmont

A new restaurant is coming to the western suburbs of Boston, and it will be moving into the space where a couple of diners had been--including one that had been around for a long time.

The Belmont Citizen-Herald is reporting that Phinix Grill is going to be opening in Belmont, taking over the spot on Trapelo Road where Sweet Peach Diner had been until closing in May, and before that, Andros Diner, which had been in business for more than 30 years. The article says that the new dining spot will offer dishes from "different Mediterranean cultures," including such items as Greek salads, falafel, shawarma, hummus, and more, with the two owners having roots in Armenia and Russia. (Co-owner David Aleksanyan is behind Flame Cafe in downtown Boston, while Sam Pogosov has an MBA from Yale University and has been involved with various consulting firms.)

The article--which was posted last month--says that Phinix Grill could be opening by the end of this month, though it is not known if this is still the case. (A poster on the Chowhound site says that a lot of work is currently going on within the space.)

[November 16 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, Phinix Grill is now open.]

The address for this new Mediterranean restaurant in Belmont is: Phinix Grill, 628 Trapelo Road (Route 60), Belmont, MA, 02478.

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



Friday, September 18, 2015

Pancho's Taqueria Is Opening in Dedham

It looks like a brand new Mexican restaurant is on the verge of opening southwest of Boston.

The Westwood Press is reporting that Pancho's Taqueria is opening in Dedham, moving into the space on High Street where the Dedham Flower Shoppe used to be. The article says that owners Nohely Chavira Williams and Carlos Chavira plan to offer an array of traditional Mexican items, including those found in their native Sonora; items such as pozole (a traditional soup), hot dogs with bacon, tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, and more will be offered.

If all goes as planned, Pancho's Taqueria could be open by later this month.

[March 14, 2016 update: Pancho's Taqueria did not end up opening in September after all, but a note on its Facebook page indicates that it officially opens its doors tomorrow (and a source tells us that the place had a soft opening over the weekend).]

The address for this new Mexican restaurant in Dedham is: Pancho's Taqueria, 551 High St Dedham, MA 02026. Its website will be at http://www.panchostaqueria.com/

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




Jimmy John's to Open in Salem

An Illinois-based chain of gourmet sandwich shops is further expanding into the Boston area, this time opening its first location on the North Shore.

According to a source, Jimmy John's is planning to open in Salem, with a Craigslist job post indicating that it will be opening on Lafayette Street on the southern edge of the downtown area. Once it opens (possibly this month), the new shop will join others in Boston (D Street in South Boston, Park Drive by Audubon Circle, Valenti Way near North Station, and Western Avenue in Allston-Brighton) and South Braintree, with another location possibly coming to Waltham at some point.

John's first started out in Charleston, IL in 1983.

The address for this upcoming sandwich shop in Salem is: Jimmy John's, 135 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.jimmyjohns.com/

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



Thursday, September 17, 2015

Forge Baking Company in Somerville Is Opening an Ice Cream Shop

Yet another new ice cream shop appears to be coming to Somerville, and the people who run three cafes within the city--including one next door to the space--are behind it.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a planning staff support page within the City of Somerville site) that Forge Baking Company on Somerville Avenue may be joined by an ice cream place that would take over the space between the cafe and Chow N Joy. The proposed shop would have seating for as many as 30 and all of the ice cream made onsite, with most of the space being used for production, training, and offices, as only 550 square feet of the 4,205-square-foot site would be used for the retail shop itself.

The people behind Forge Baking Company also operate Bloc 11 in Union Square and Diesel in Davis Square.

A few new ice cream places have either recently opened or are planning to open in Somerville, including Gracie's in Union Square, Frozen Hoagies by Powder House Circle, J.P. Licks at Assembly Row, and Tipping Cow in the Winter Hill/Magoun Square section of the city.

The address for this new ice cream shop from the people behind Forge Baking Company is 626 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143.

[March 3, 2016 update: Boston Magazine mentions (via a Twitter post from the business) that Forge Baking Company is indeed opening an ice cream shop next door called Forge Ice Cream Bar. The article says that the upcoming shop--which plans to open this spring--will have a "vintage" feel to it, with a soda fountain and an antique dipping cabinet, and it will have seating for approximately 20.]

[July 7, 2016 update: A new article from Boston Magazine states that Forge Ice Cream Bar is now open.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]