Friday, September 30, 2016

News Elsewhere: The Carnegie Deli in Manhattan Is Closing

One of the best-known delis in America is shutting down for good, a year after a temporarily closure of the place brought about much speculation about its future.

The New York Post is reporting that the Carnegie Deli in Manhattan's Theater District will close at the end of the year, with owner Marian Harper Levine giving the news to the restaurant's workers this morning. The article mentions that Levine is looking to "take a step back" from running a restaurant, saying that "At this stage of my life, the early mornings to late nights have taken a toll, along with my sleepless nights and grueling hours that come with operating a restaurant business."

The Carnegie Deli was shut down by the city in April of 2015, after an illegal gas hookup was discovered, with the dining spot ultimately reopening over the past winter. The restaurant has been in business since 1937.

The address for the Carnegie Deli is 854 7th Avenue, New York, NY, 10019. Its website is at http://carnegiedeli.com/

[December 30 update: Grub Street states that the Carnegie Deli closes its doors for good tonight.]

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 29, 2016

Papa Razzi Metro in Burlington Is Closing

A local group of Italian restaurants is closing one of its locations--and this one went through a reconcepting not too long ago.

According to a poster on Twitter, Papa Razzi Metro in Burlington is closing, with a phone call placed to the Wall Street dining spot confirming that this is indeed the case. While the Twitter post indicates that the restaurant is shutting down at the end of the month, the person we talked to said that it will actually be closing on October 16. No reason has been given for the closure at this point in time.

Papa Razzi in Burlington changed over to Papa Razzi Metro last year, with the new concept focusing on scratch-made New England dishes along with Italian items, including small shareable plates and larger entrees. Other locations of the original Papa Razzi can be found in Boston, Concord, Framingham, and Wellesley.

The address for the soon-to-close Papa Razzi Metro in Burlington is 2 Wall Street, Burlington, MA, 01803.

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]





Curio Spice to Open Shop in North Cambridge

A Somerville-based company that sells spices out of farmers markets and shops is going to be opening a shop of its own.

Eater Boston is reporting (via Scout Cambridge) that Curio Spice plans to open a brick-and-mortar store in North Cambridge, moving into a space on Mass. Ave. by the Dover Street/Hollis Street traffic light a couple of blocks northwest of Rindge Avenue. Up until now, Curio founder Claire Cheney has been working out of a kitchen at Taza Chocolate that she has shared with EHChocolatier, but she has outgrown that space, according to Scout Cambridge.

If all goes as planned, Curio Spice could be opening in its new shop by the end of October.

The address for this upcoming spice store in North Cambridge is: Curio Spice, 2265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140. The website for the company can be found at http://www.curiospice.com/

[November 23 update: A new article from Eater Boston indicates that Curio Spice is now open.]

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]





Sorelle Bar & Grill in Abington to Open in Former Vin & Eddie's Space

Earlier this year, we reported that an iconic Italian restaurant south of Boston was closing and would be replaced by a new Italian eatery. Now we have learned that the upcoming dining spot may be getting close to opening.

According to an article in Wicked Local Abington, Sorelle Bar & Grill is hoping to open in the old Vin & Eddie's space sometime in November and that renovations are currently underway. The post indicates that chef/owner Andrea Schnell plans to make the new restaurant more of a modern Italian spot than the old-school Vin & Eddie's had been, though the place will retain some of the touches of the previous restaurant, as parts of the space are being re-purposed. Schnell and Sorelle general manager Mark Doherty were co-workers at the Square Cafe in Hingham before deciding to open their own restaurant.

Vin & Eddie's, had been in business since 1955.

The address for the upcoming Sorelle Bar & Grill is 1400 Bedford Street, Abington, MA, 02351.

[November 24 update: A new article in Wicked Local Abington indicates that Sorelle Bar & Grill will likely not be opening in November, as Andrea Schnell says "Originally the plan was to do a remodel, but when the contractors opened the place up it became apparent that we had to do an extensive structural remodel to make it work for our plan....It is going to delay us, but we are really excited because now it’s going to be even newer, better and bigger."]

[March 26, 2017 update: Wicked Local is now saying that Sorelle Bar & Grill will open on April 4.]

[Earlier Article]
Vin & Eddie's in Abington Is Closing; Sorelle Bar & Grill Plans to Replace It

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]





All Star Pizza Bar in Cambridge's Inman Square to Expand to Boston's Beacon Hill

The people behind a sandwich place and a pizza spot in Cambridge will be opening a second location of their pizzeria in Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting that Kosta and Johnny Diamantopoulos of All Star Sandwich Bar and All Star Pizza Bar in Inman Square plan to open a new location of All Star Pizza Bar on Cambridge Street in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood, with the eatery moving into the space where a location of Griddler's Burgers and Dogs had been until closing in June. (Another location of Griddler's on Boylston Street across from Boston Common remains in operation.) In the spring of 2014, we mentioned that the Diamantopoulos brothers were looking to open a restaurant somewhere in Boston, though at the time it was not known exactly when or where.

If all goes as planned, the new location of All Star Pizza Bar could open within the next few months, according to EB.

The address for the upcoming location of All Star Pizza Bar is 204 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114. Its website can be found at http://www.allstarpizzabar.com/

[November 15 update: All Star Pizza Bar could be one step closer to opening in Boston by later this week, as a licensing board page within the city's website indicates that it is applying for a common victualler license to operate on Cambridge Street. (The hearing on the license takes place on Thursday, November 17.]

[December 1 update: Boston Magazine states that the new All Star Pizza Bar opens in Boston's Beacon Hill on Friday. December 9, though it will also be handing out free pizza to customers on Thursday, December 8.]

[Earlier Articles]
Owners of All Star Sandwich Bar and All Star Pizza Bar in Cambridge May Open Restaurant in Boston
Griddler's Burgers and Dogs Has Closed Its Beacon Hill Location

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Building Housing Lir Irish Pub & Restaurant in Boston's Back Bay Has Been Sold

An Irish pub in the Back Bay of Boston has been sold, and it is not known what the future might hold for the place at this point in time.

According to a post within the bldup.com site, the building housing Lir Irish Pub & Restaurant on Boylston Street was purchased by Talanian Realty Company for $8.8 million, a company that also owns 907 Boylston Street, with the site saying the purchase of the adjacent Lir's presents "a significant development opportunity." It appears that Lir may be safe for the time being, as it has a lease on the building until the end of 2018, though the 903 Boylston Street site adds that Lir has a "below-market lease" and that it will have one five-year option to renew at "fair market value."

Lir is affiliated with three other Boston spots--Crossroads and Globe Bar and Cafe in the Back Bay, and McGann's near North Station.

The website for Lir Irish Pub & Restaurant can be found at http://www.lironboylston.com/

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]





Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Cosi Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Earlier this week, we reported that a Boston-based chain of dining spots had closed one of its shops within the city. Now we have learned that the chain has declared bankruptcy.

According to a press release from the company, Cosi announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with the chain closing 29 of its 74 company-owned locations prior to the filing. (The 31 franchised locations remain in operation, as they are unaffected by the bankruptcy.) The chain is now looking at a "fast-track process" in which it will emerge from bankruptcy under new ownership while reducing its debt and stabilizing the company. News of Cosi's bankruptcy has hit the stock hard, with a recent check showing that it is trading between five and six cents, which is a drop of more than 65% from yesterday. (Cosi was already facing a possible delisting from the Nasdaq Stock Market because its common stock has been below $1.00 for a number of months.)

On Monday, we had mentioned that the Boylston Street location of Cosi in Boston's Back Bay had shut down, though it is unknown at this time if any other locations in Boston or Cambridge have also closed; as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.

The website for Cosi can be found at https://getcosi.com/

[Earlier Articles]
Cosi in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed
Cosi Faces Possible Stock Delisting

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]





Sully C's in Saugus Sells Its Liquor License

It looks like the end has finally come for a restaurant and bar on Route 1 that was hit by a fire last year.

The Saugus Advertiser is reporting that the liquor license for Sully C's in Saugus has been sold and will be used for an upcoming brick-oven pizzeria called Sebastiana's, which will be located at an as-of-yet undisclosed location within the community. In the spring of 2015, the building in which Sully C's was housed was hit by a fire, and a disagreement subsequently developed over whom should cover the repairs for the dining and drinking spot. Town officials eventually gave owner Elaine Byrne an ultimatum--either find a new location for Sully C's or sell the liquor license, or face the possibility of the license being canceled.

It appears that the town of Saugus could still revoke the license for Sully C's because the purchase and sale agreement did not have the "proper application materials," according to the Advertiser. The abeyance that prevents the license from being taken away will be extended until the selectmen meeting on October 5, though a completed application needs to be given to the town before that date.

Sully C's opened its doors in June of 2012, taking over the space where Jalapenos and Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub had once been.

The address for the now-closed Sully C's Sports Bar and Grill was 168 Broadway, Saugus, MA, 01906.

[Earlier Articles]
Sully C's Sports Bar and Grill in Saugus Hit by Fire
Sully C's in Saugus in Dispute with Landlord Over Repairs; License Now at Stake

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]





Opa Greek Yeeros in Somerville's Davis Square Has Reopened

A Greek restaurant in Somerville that mysteriously shut down a few weeks ago is open once again.

A check on the place over the weekend indicated that Opa Greek Yeeros in Davis Square planned to reopen on September 26, with a post on the Davis Square LiveJournal page confirming that it has indeed opened back up again. In early September, we had reported that the Highland Avenue spot had quietly closed its doors and that its chef (who was also a partner in the business) apparently left to open a bagel spot in Nashua, NH.

Opa first opened its doors in April in the space where Kickass Cupcakes had been.

The address for Opa Greek Yeeros is 378 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[Earlier Article]
Opa Greek Yeeros in Somerville's Davis Square Has Closed; Future of the Place Unknown

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]





Tuesday, September 27, 2016

La Colombe Coffee Roasters May Be Coming to Boston's Back Bay

It looks like a Philadelphia-based group of coffee roasters/cafes could be opening a second location in Boston.

A Licensing Board page within the City of Boston website indicates that La Colombe Coffee Roasters has applied for a common victualler license to operate on W Newton Street in the Back Bay. If approved, the new shop would join another on Atlantic Avenue (across from the South Station bus terminal and parking garage), which opened in April of this year.

Last fall, we reported that La Colombe was looking at a major expansion that would include multiple shops in Massachusetts; currently, locations can be found in the Philadelphia area as well as New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

The address for the proposed location of La Colombe in the Back Bay is 250 W Newton Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.lacolombe.com/

[Earlier Article]
La Colombe Coffee Roasters to Expand to Boston

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Samosa Shack Food Trucks Coming to the Boston Area

The group behind several Indian restaurants in the Boston area will soon have food trucks up and running, and they will focus on street food.

According to a post on the India New England News website, One World Cuisine will be debuting an as-of-yet unknown number of trucks called Samosa Shack next month, which will be set up at several locations around the Greater Boston area. The site says that the food trucks will be equipped with full kitchens and that they will offer such street food items as samosa, dosas, and pakoras,

One World Cuisine is behind such restaurants as Bao Nation in Cambridge's Central Square, Bukhara Bistro in Jamaica Plain, Diva in Somerville's Davis Square, Dosa Factory in Central Square and Boston's Back Bay, and Mela in Boston's South End.

Thanks to @EatBoston for bringing this to our attention, along with @ekplate2014.

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]





Update: Caffe Nero Opens in Arlington Center

(Updated on May 5, 2017)

A chain of coffee shops based in Europe continues to expand through the local area, this time  coming to a suburb northwest of Boston.

The Your Arlington site is reporting (via Support Arlington Center) that Caffe Nero is opening in the old CVS space at Broadway Plaza, with a public hearing on the proposal expected on Monday, October 17. If approved, the new location of Caffe Nero would join other shops in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Fort Point, the South End, Longwood, Jamaica Plain, Andover, and Wellesley, along with upcoming stores in Brookline's Washington Square, Cambridge's Central Square, and a second location in Downtown Crossing.

The address for the proposed location of Caffe Nero in Arlington Center is 319 Broadway, Arlington, MA, 02474. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.caffenero.com/

[November 21 update: According to a new post from Your Arlington, Caffe Nero is one step closer to opening in Arlington, as the Redevelopment Board has approved of a special permit for the place. If all goes as planned, the new store could be opening toward the end of February.]

[May 5, 2017 update: The Arlington Advocate states that the new Caffe Nero in Arlington soft-opens today.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





The Ellis Room to Open Below Magnolia Smokehouse in Brookline Village

A new bar is on its way to Brookline, and it will be located under a barbecue spot that opened earlier this month.

According to a source, a spot called The Ellis Room will be opening soon underneath Magnolia Smokehouse in Brookline Village, with the place featuring craft cocktails along with some shared plates. The space will include a brand new bar as well as booths and some couches, and our source says that it gets its name from John Ellis, who--according to a page on archive.org--owned a place in Brookline called the Punch Bowl Tavern in the 1700s.

Magnolia Smokehouse, which took over the Village Smokehouse space on Harvard Street, is owned by East Coast Tavern Group, the group behind Carrie Nation, Emmet's, and Scholars. (They will also be running The Ellis Room.)

The address for The Ellis Room (and Magnolia Smokehouse) is 6 Harvard Square, Brookline, MA, 02445.

[Earlier Article]
Village Smokehouse in Brookline Village Is Becoming Magnolia Smokehouse

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]





Captain Fishbones in Quincy's Marina Bay Is Being Sold

A family-friendly steak and seafood restaurant that is known in part for its spectacular views of Boston Harbor is getting a new owner.

According to posters on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page, Captain Fishbones at Marina Bay in Quincy has been purchased, while a veteran source of ours tells us that the purchaser has a connection to Boston's North End. Captain Fishbones is a casual spot with a dining area and both an indoor and outdoor bar, the latter of which is situated along the boardwalk at Marina Bay. The restaurant has been in business for more than 15 years.

The address for Captain Fishbones is 332 Victory Road, Quincy, MA, 02171. Its website can be found at http://captainfishbones.com/

[October 13 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, Captain Fishbones is being sold to Donato Frattaroli, who is behind such North End spots as Artu, Il Molo, and Lucia Ristorante, and who is also Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.]

[October 20 update: A source from the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page tells us that Captain Fishbones will be keeping its name under the new owner, while its menu will change as the concept will be that of a higher-end seafood restaurant.]

[December 19 update: A thread posted on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page mentions that Captain Fishbones is now under new management and that the menu will be changing "significantly."]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Outdoor Dining Areas In the Greater Boston Area and Beyond]





Monday, September 26, 2016

Cosi in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

A local chain of dining spots known in part for its flatbreads and sandwiches has closed one of its shops in Boston.

According to a Twitter post from @BostonHurricane, Cosi on Boylston Street in the Back Bay is no longer in operation, with a sign out front saying "Our restaurant is closed. We truly appreciate your patronage and we apologize for any inconovenience." It appears that the chain's other locations on Federal Street, High Street, Milk Street, and State Street in downtown Boston--along with South Station, the Seaport District, Logan Airport (2), and Cambridge's Kendall Square--remain open, though we are still trying to confirm.

Last December, we reported that the Cosi chain received a warning from the Nasdaq Stock Market that it faced a delisting because its common stock closed below $1.00 for 30 consecutive business days, though Globenewswire mentioned this past May that it now has until November to reach the $1.00 threshold for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during this grace period. (Cosi's stock closed at $0.17 today.)

Cosi, which started out in the mid-1990s and is currently headquartered in Boston's Downtown Crossing, has approximately 100 locations across the country.

The address for this now-closed eatery in the Back Bay was: Cosi, 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain is at https://getcosi.com/

[Earlier Article]
Cosi Faces Possible Stock Delisting

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]





Flatbread Company Opens in Salem

A group of flatbread pizza spots with four locations in Eastern Massachusetts has just opened its fifth, and this one is near the water on the North Shore.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Flatbread Company is now up and running in Salem, opening in a space on Derby Street by the Salem Harbor Walk where Goodyear Tire had been. The new restaurant joins locations in Amesbury, Bedford, Georgetown, and Somerville, along with a handful of others in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and New Hampshire.

Flatbread Company, which was established in 1998, makes their pizzas using locally-sourced ingredients and is known for their close ties to the communities in which they are located.

The address for the new Flatbread Company in Salem is 311 Derby Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The website for all of the locations can be found at http://www.flatbreadcompany.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Magnolia Bakery Still Looking to Expand to Boston

A group of bakeries based in New York City that gained notoriety thanks to a TV series--and which also helped bring about the cupcake craze of the 1990s and 2000s--has reiterated its plans to come to Boston.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that Magnolia Bakery is once again saying it hopes to expand to Boston, along with Greenwich, CT, and Washington D.C., with new locations expected by the latter part of 2017 or 2018, though it is not known if the Boston shops will be opening then. (The BBJ says that no leases have been signed as of yet.) Back in 2010, we mentioned that the bakery was eyeing Boston, and while the bakery--which started out in Greenwich Village in the 1990s--now has additional shops in New York as well as Long Island, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Honolulu, no stores ever did open up in the Boston area.

Magnolia became famous thanks in part to its being featured on "Sex and the City," and it has also been mentioned on a number of other TV shows and movies over the years.

The website for Magnolia Bakery can be found at http://www.magnoliabakery.com/

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

[Earlier Article]
Magnolia Bakery May Be Coming to Boston

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Friday, September 23, 2016

Troquet in Boston to Take Over Bel Ari Space

A couple of years ago, we reported that a high-end French restaurant in Boston was looking to open a second location, and now we have learned that it has secured a new location, though it looks like it is a move rather than a second space.

A job post within the BostonChefs.com site indicates that Troquet on Boylston Street (by Boston Common) is taking over the space on South Street in the Leather District where Bel Ari had been until closing at the end of March. The post says that the new location of the restaurant will be bigger than its present location, and it will  feature an expanded menu along with a new bar menu, and the space will include a dining room, a large bar section, and a private room. If all goes as planned, the new location of Troquet hopes to be open this winter. (The original location remains open for now.)

One of our sources tells us that this is indeed a move, which is a change from what was reported in March of 2014--that Troquet was looking for a second location.

Troquet, which first opened in 2001, is known in part for its award-winning wine list, along with its French and New England fare.

The address for the original Troquet is 140 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116, while the address for the upcoming location is 107 South Street, Boston, MA, 02111. Its website is at http://troquetboston.com/

[November 7 update: A source tells us that Troquet hopes to complete its move to the Leather District in early January, and that it plans to be called "Troquet on South." It looks like the restaurant will be open just for dinner initially, with lunch service beginning approximately four to six months after its opening.]

[January 16, 2017 update: According to an email, Troquet will be leaving its current space on Boylston Street on Saturday, January 28, and after a "brief closure," it will reopen on South Street.]

[February 23, 2017 update: Boston Magazine states that Troquet remains open in its original space, and will continue to do so through this coming Saturday (February 25). The new Troquet on South is planning to open on March 1 and will be "like a whole new restaurant," according to general manager Jake Tringali, with almost triple the space, longer dinner hours, lunch service down the road, and more.]

[March 2, 2017 update: Eater Boston mentions that Troquet on South is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Troquet in Boston Is Planning to Open a Second Location
Bel Ari in Boston's Leather District Is Closing

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]





America's Test Kitchen to Move from Brookline Village to Boston's Seaport District

A company in Brookline that is known for its TV show and magazines is moving to a new--and bigger--location on the Boston waterfront.

The Boston Globe is reporting that America's Test Kitchen will be saying goodbye to its headquarters on Station Street in Brookline Village and will head to a 55,000-square-foot space within the Innovation and Design Building near the Black Falcon cruise ship terminal in the summer of 2017. The article says that the new space will include at least four kitchens, with three being used for production of "America's Test Kitchen," "Cook's Country," and a new show called "Cook's Science," while a fourth kitchen will be used for tastings and testings of food.

America's Test Kitchen started out in 1992 with the magazine Cook's Illustrated, which was followed by the show by the same name and the magazine Cook's Country along with a radio show and books. Founder Christopher Kimball left the company in the fall of 2015 and subsequently started a new food-based media outlet called Milk Street Kitchen in downtown Boston.

The website for America's Test Kitchen is at https://www.americastestkitchen.com/

[May 12, 2017 update: Boston Magazine states that America's Test Kitchen will move into its new home on the waterfront in September, and that it will have a food festival there on October 27 and 28.]

[October 13, 2017 update: According to a tweet from @liuliuliu, America's Test Kitchen has moved into its new home in the Seaport District.]

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.]





OGinger Opens in Somerville's Davis Square

A new Japanese restaurant has come to a busy part of Somerville, and it features a food item that another dining spot next door will be offering as well.

Eater Boston is reporting that OGinger is now open in Davis Square, taking over the space on Elm Street where Yumi had been until closing in May. As indicated earlier, the new eatery offers sushi burritos as well as regular sushi, noodle and rice dishes, and more, and it looks like the confusion over the space has been cleared up, as a small Hawaiian chain featuring sushi burritos--Pokeworks--is planning to open next to OGinger. (Earlier, it was not known whether a single restaurant featuring sushi burritos might be taking over both spaces.)

The address for OGinger is 263 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[Earlier Article]
Yumi in Somerville's Davis Square Has Closed; New Restaurant Apparently Coming

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]





NYC's Dos Toros Taqueria May Be Expanding to Boston

A small group of burrito spots based in New York City is looking to expand, and its plans might include the local area.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Dos Toros Taqueria is hoping to open new shops in Boston as well as Philadelphia, Houston and Washington, D.C., over the coming years, with the plan being to open four to six new shops each year. Currently, 11 locations of Dos Toros are in operation in New York, with one more coming to the city next month and another on its way to Chicago sometime next year.

Dos Toros Taqueria, which started out in 2009 in the Union Square section of Manhattan, is known for its California-style Mexican fare, including burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. The restaurants were founded by Oliver and Leo Kremer, the latter of whom was a bass guitarist for the rock group Third Eye Blind.

The website for Dos Toros can be found at https://www.dostoros.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]





News Elsewhere: Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza to Replace Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza in Providence

Last month, we reported that a trio of nationally-recognized pizzerias shut down, and it was not known if they might open again. Now we have learned that one of the original owners will be reopening one of its locations under a slightly different name.

According to an article in The Providence Journal, Tim "Timmy" Doyle is going to be opening Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza in the space on Spruce Street in Federal Hill where Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza had been until closing this summer. The post says that Doyle and his business partner, Kyle Klewin are currently renovating the space and that while the menu will remain the same, they are planning to give the pizza and other food items "a good upgrade overall." It looks like the other locations of Bob and Timmy's in North Smithfield, RI, and North Attleboro, MA, are not included in the plans, though Doyle does say that he hopes to hire some of the workers from those two spots along with the Providence location.

Bob and Timmy's, which first opened on Federal Hill about 30 years ago, has gotten quite a bit of recognition over the years, including being featured on NBC's "Today" show while GQ Magazine once considered it among the top 10 pizza spots in America and USA Today awarded it best pizza in Rhode Island. (It was also featured on "The Rhode Show" and "Man vs. Food.")

The address for the former Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza (and upcoming Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza) is 32 Spruce Street, Providence, RI, 02903.

Thanks to @RaymondMcGinnis for bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
News Elsewhere: Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza Closes All Locations; Exact Status Unknown

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Shine's to Replace Asai in Belmont Center

A Japanese restaurant in the western suburbs of Boston that has been around for nearly two decades has shut its doors, and a dining spot far, far away from the area is moving into its space.

According to a message sent by The Daily Lunch, Asai in Belmont is no longer in business, with a sign out front saying that the owner of the Leonard Street eatery has decided to retire. The sign also says that the people behind a restaurant in Eagle River, Alaska called Shine's have moved to the Boston area and will be reopening the dining spot in Asai's space, and based on the offerings at the original restaurant--which closed in 2014 and now appears to be open again under new ownership--it looks like the new location of Shine's will be an Asian fusion spot that includes dishes with Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese influences.

Asai first opened 18 years ago, with the place offering sushi, stir-fried dishes, Korean fare, and more.

The address for the now-closed Asai (and upcoming Shine's) is 30 Leonard Street, Belmont, MA, 02478.

[September 29 update: Eater Boston states that Shine's plans to soft-open in Belmont on October 10.]

[October 27 update: A check on the place indicates that Shine's is now open, and that the menu includes a wide variety of sushi options along with curry dishes, rice bowls, noodle dishes and noodle soups, and more.]

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]





Thursday, September 22, 2016

Conde Nast Traveler Includes Alden & Harlow, Oleana Among Its Picks for World's Greatest Restaurants

A travel magazine has come out with its picks for the world's greatest restaurants, and a couple of dining spots in Cambridge have made the list.

A recent article on 207 of the greatest restaurants in the world shows that Conde Nast Traveler has included Oleana and Alden & Harlow among the best, with travel and food writer Peter Jon Lindberg saying of the former, "Long before Zahav in Philly, chef Ana Sortun was introducing North African, Middle Eastern, and Turkish spices, herbs, and techniques to American fine dining," and travel writer Sarah Khan saying of the latter, "The quickly sold-out burger is the thing to get." Three other New England restaurants made the list, including Proprietors in Nantucket, Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, ME, and Hen of the Wood in Waterbury, VT.

For a complete list of the restaurants picked by Conde Nast Traveler, please go to the following link:

Where in the World to Eat

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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.]





Pinkberry in Boston's North End Has Closed

An Arizona-based chain of frozen yogurt shops has closed one of its Boston locations.

The North End Waterfront.com site is reporting that Pinkberry on Hanover Street is no longer in operation, having shut its doors after approximately three years in business. It appears that existing shops in Boston's Back Bay (two), South Station, Logan Airport, Boston University, Braintree, Cambridge's Harvard Square, Chestnut Hill, Hingham, and Wellesley remain in business.

Pinkberry, which was established about a decade ago and whose headquarters are in Scottsdale, opened its North End shop in August of 2013, taking over the space where Nahas Shoes had been. It is one of a few local stores to close over the past couple of years, including ones in Beverly, Lynnfield, and Somerville.

The address for the now-closed Pinkberry in the North End was 285 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.pinkberry.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]





Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Palmers Restaurant in Marblehead Has Closed; Wick's to Replace It

A pair of upscale American restaurants north of Boston is back down to just one, and it looks like a new dining spot will be moving into the space that it has vacated.

According to one of our readers, Palmers Restaurant in Marblehead is no long in business, with another source saying that a new family-friendly eatery called Wick's is taking over the space at Warwick Place on Pleasant Street. One of our sources says that Wick's will be featuring brick-oven pizza, though this has not been confirmed as of yet, while the Warwick Place website simply says that the new restaurant is "coming soon."

A check on Palmers Restaurant & Tavern in Andover--which had originally been located in Swampscott before moving to its current home in 1995--indicates that it remains in operation. (The Marblehead location of Palmers opened its doors in 2013.)

The address for the now-closed Palmers Restaurant in Marblehead (and the upcoming Wick's) is 123 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945.

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]





Saladworks in Downtown Boston Has Closed

A Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain that features salads, soups, and sandwiches has closed its downtown Boston location, leaving only one remaining in Massachusetts.

According to a Twitter post from @ConciergeBoston, Saladworks on Tremont Street by Government Center is no longer in operation, with a sign out front thanking customers for their business. A check on the Saladworks website shows that the sole remaining shop in the state is at the CambridgeSide Galleria in East Cambridge, with no others found in New England.

In February of 2015, we had reported that the Saladworks chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, though in November of 2015, it was reported that Saladworks was planning an expansion that would include a number of shops in the Boston area over the next three or four years.

The address for this now-closed dining spot in downtown Boston was: Saladworks, 22 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for the chain can be found at http://saladworks.com/

[Earlier Articles]
Saladworks to Expand; Multiple Locations Coming to the Boston Area
Saladworks Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

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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]





Quincy Broker Involved in Plans for Beachcomber Site Missing; Worries Raised About Money for Project

A real estate broker who was involved in the purchase of a landmark bar and music club in Quincy has apparently disappeared, and now there are concerns about the money raised for the project.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Eugene Grathwohl, who worked out of a Century 21 office in the city, was a no-show for a property deal closing of the Beachcomber last week, and he is nowhere to be found at the time of this writing. The article says that investors are now worried that Grathwohl may have left with the money raised for the Quincy Shore Drive project--which totals at least $1.3 million--and it has been learned that he has been cited in the past for allegedly defrauding investors in New York City and Orlando as well. Quincy police are now searching for Grathwohl, who has the title of director of Beachcomber Sands Inc. and was the person who was to have purchased the club from the previous owners (the McGettrick family), according to the Globe.

The Beachcomber was established in 1959 and had featured countless local and national acts over the years. The Wollaston Beach club closed down in early October of 2015 and the initial plan was to demolish the building and replace it with a high-end restaurant, though no progress seemed to be made over the past several months, prompting the city of Quincy to look into the situation in August.

[Earlier Articles]
City of Quincy to Look into Status of the Beachcomber Site
The Beachcomber in Quincy Is Closing

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]





My Diner in South Boston Planning to Reopen in New Space

It looks like a beloved diner that was forced to close a few months ago to make way for new development may be reopening in a new location.

According to a message sent from chef Kenny Jervis, My Diner, which had been located on A Street in South Boston, is planning to open in a new space on E 8th Street (between Dorchester Heights and City Point on the other side of Southie), with a Facebook post from the eatery confirming this, saying that an abutters meeting will take place on Monday, September 26 to discuss the plans. Both My Diner and Williams Tavern had to shut down in June in order to make way for a new condo development at the A Street site; at the time of its closure, the people behind My Diner mentioned that they had hoped to reopen in a new space in the spring of 2017, but an exact address had not been given at that point--and the planned retail space slated for the development appeared to be much too small for a diner.

The address for the proposed new location of My Diner is 545 E 8th Street, Boston, MA, 02127.

[Earlier Articles]
My Diner in South Boston Closes This Weekend; Will Be Replaced by Condo Development
Williams Tavern and My Diner in South Boston Face Uncertain Future Due to Development

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]





Shed's BBQ Is Opening in Boston's Downtown Crossing

It looks like a new barbecue spot may be on its way to the heart of downtown Boston.

According to a message from @CappyinBoston, Shed's BBQ is planning to open on Bromfield Street in the Downtown Crossing section of the city, with a Facebook page confirming this. Very little information on the restaurant has been released as of yet, though the phone number given on the Facebook page indicates that the dining spot has a connection to Viga (an Italian eatery with three locations in Boston), and the address given indicates that it will move into the space where Pizzeria Rico had been.

The address for this new  barbecue place in Downtown Crossing is: Shed's BBQ, 32 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website will be at http://shedsbbq.com/

[February 10, 2017 update: It looks like Shed's is now on track to open, as a page on the Craigslist site indicates that it is hiring for all positions. Little additional information has been given for the place other than the fact that it says it will be a "new smoked BBQ concept."]

[March 27, 2017 update: According to a new tweet from @CappyinBoston, Shed's plans to open on Wednesday (March 29).]

[March 29 update: Eater Boston states that Shed's--which opens today--will offer such items as pulled chicken, pork wings, brisket, and more, with serving options being sandwiches, plates, and bowls. (It looks like Shed's will only be open for lunch for the time being.)]

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]