Monday, October 31, 2016

Tory Row in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

It looks like a restaurant in Cambridge that was known in part for its beer selection has called it a day.

According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Tory Row in Harvard Square is now closed, with a note out front saying "Thank you for the memories." It appears that the Brattle Street spot shut down sometime over the weekend, as the poster says it was open as of Friday; phone calls placed to the eatery this afternoon go over to voicemail, while the website gives no indication as to its closure.

Tory Row first opened in April of 2009, taking over the space where the Greenhouse Cafe had once been. The restaurant featured mostly Euro-American fare, with the focus being on soups, salads, and sandwiches, while it also offered a variety of wines and beers, including a number of local brews.

The address for Tory Row was 3 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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]





Anna's Cafe May Be Coming to New Residential Development in Charlestown

A dining spot appears to be on its way to a little pocket of Boston that has very few options for food.

According to a Boston Licensing Board page, Anna's Cafe is planning to open in Charlestown, with the address indicating that it may be opening within 275 Medford Street, a five-story residential community that is located near the start of a small peninsula formed by Little Mystic Channel and the Mystic River. Very little is known about the proposed eatery other than the possibility that it would be on the first floor of the development, with hours being 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The section of Charlestown where Anna's Cafe would be is in an old port area that is almost completely industrial and residential, with the only dining option in the immediate area being Prescott, a Latin American eatery on Terminal Street.

The address for the proposed Anna's Cafe is 267-281 Medford Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129.

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, October 28, 2016

Morrell's BBQ to Open Restaurant and Jazz Club in Former LaStoria Space in Stoughton

The person behind a food truck that focuses on BBQ could be opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant and music spot in the space where an Italian eatery had been.

According to a source, Morrell Presley of Morrell's BBQ currently has his truck set up in the parking lot of the now-closed LaStoria Italian Bar & Grill in Stoughton, with the source telling us that a barbecue spot could be opening in the restaurant space there. A Facebook post on the Stoughton News page seems to confirm this, saying that "If you love BBQ & Jazz, you'll love that Morrell Presley's Barbecue, which has most recently been located in a truck outside the Sons of Italy Hall, has found a new home. The family plans to renovate the former Lastoria site, and make it into a barbecue restaurant and jazz club!" The Morrell's food truck offers such items as ribs, brisket, pulled pork, burgers, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and more; it is not known if the brick-and-mortar would have a similar menu or if more options might be added..

LaStoria was a regional Italian restaurant that opened approximately 20 years ago; the place closed its doors for good this summer.

The address for the upcoming barbecue restaurant and jazz club from Morrell's is 577 Washington Street (Route 138), Stoughton, MA, 02072.

[December 13 update: An article in Wicked Local Stoughton indicates that the new restaurant from Morrell Presley plans to open in January or early February.]

[Earlier Article]
LaStoria Italian Bar & Grill in Stoughton 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]





Down the Road Beer Co. to Open Taproom in Everett

A contract brewery is taking over a facility just north of Boston, and the space will include a tasting room.

Boston Magazine is reporting that Down the Road Beer Co. is moving into a space in Everett, with the 12,000-square foot facility including room for brewing and canning, along with a dedicated taproom and retail area. Last year, the company brewed out of the Ipswich Ale Brewery facility and then moved to BrewMaster's Tavern in Williamsburg (a short distance west of Northampton in the foothills of the Berkshires), and while Down the Road will indeed be brewing out of its upcoming Everett space, it will continue to do contract brewing as well, moving only a part of its production to the new building.

If all goes as planned, Down the Road could be opening its tasting room in the spring of 2017, according to Boston Magazine.

The website for Down the Road Beer Co. can be found at http://downtheroadbrewery.com/

[March 10, 2017 update: Eater Boston mentions (via the Everettt Independent) that Down the Road hopes to open its taproom sometime in April and that it will have seating for 200.]

[October 20 update: A new article from Boston Magazine states that the Down the Road taproom debuts on Friday, November 3, and it will include a "full-blown pinball arcade" along with a couple of snack options, while the plans is for food trucks to be set up outside in their parking lot.]

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]





Pressed Cafe Is Opening in Burlington

A Nashua eatery that focuses on healthy, freshly-made options is getting ready to open a new location in the northern suburbs of Boston, and its name is very similar to a pair of spots in Boston itself.

According to a Craigslist job post, Pressed Cafe is opening in Burlington and is now hiring baristas for the place, which will be located in The District (the former New England Executive Park next to the Burlington Mall). Based on the original location on Spit Brook Road in Nashua, the new store will likely offer salads, panini, raw juices, coffee, smoothies, and more.

Pressed Cafe does not appear to have any connection to Pressed, a health-focused quick-service spot in Beacon Hill and the South End that offers a variety of food options along with superfood shakes, juices, and paletas, which are basically popsicles, or ice pops. Pressed Cafe opened in Nashua in mid-2014, which is around the same time that Pressed announced that it would open its first shop in Beacon Hill (it ended up opening in early 2015).

An earlier article in the Lowell Sun mentioned that Pressed Cafe would indeed be coming to Burlington.

The website for Pressed Cafe can be found at http://www.pressedcafe.com/

[November 23 update: Eater Boston states that Pressed Cafe is now open in Burlington.]

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]

Boston Common Coffee Co. to Close Its North End Location

A local group of independent coffee roasters and retailers is closing one of its shops.

According to a post from the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog, the North End location of Boston Common Coffee Co. will be closing on Monday, October 31, with free coffee offered at the Salem Street store that day. This jibes with an earlier tweet from @TayC_Roy, though it is not known exactly why the shop will be shutting its doors (as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here).

Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry says that the locations of  Boston Common Coffee on Canal Street, High Street, and Washington Street will remain in operation.

The address for this soon-to-close coffee shop in the North End is: Boston Common Coffee Co., 97 Salem Street, Boston, MA, 02113. The website for the company can be found at http://bostoncommoncoffee.com/

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 Patriot Tavern in Walpole Has Reopened

A former dive bar in an historic building is open once again, and it now features more than just beer and liquor.

The Walpole Times is reporting that the Patriot Tavern on Route 1A is back in operation under new ownership, and that the upgraded place now has a kitchen. A few items offered at the watering hole include pizza, turkey dinner, meatloaf, steak tips, reubens, pulled pork sliders, and more.

The Patriot Tavern, which was purchased last December, resides in a structure that is approximately a century old, according to an older Patch article.

The address for the reopened Patriot Tavern is 100 Main Street (Route 1A), Walpole, MA, 02081. Its website can be found at http://www.patriottavern.net/

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]





Wildflower Pantry Opens in Former Castlebar Space in Brighton

A food shop that focuses on local items has opened in Brighton, taking over the space where a dive bar had once been.

The Tables section of The Boston Globe mentions that Wildflower Pantry is now open in Oak Square in the former Castlebar space, with the website for the Washington Street store saying that it is a "local-focused grocery" that sells breads, cheeses, honey, bagels, meat, seafood, coffee, soda, and much more. The Globe says that the shop is "aimed at providing those who live farther from the Boston Public Market" and other similar places an option for locally-sourced items all year long.

The Castlebar, which closed its doors in the summer of 2014, was mostly a neighborhood hangout that had a full bar (no food), darts, a jukebox, and TVs.

The address for the new Wildflower Pantry in Oak Square is 575 Washington Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. Its website can be found at http://www.wildflowerboston.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]





Thursday, October 27, 2016

Walloon's Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Peabody Has Reopened

A few months ago, we reported that the people behind a food truck known for its fried chicken sandwiches had closed their brick-and-mortar restaurant; now we have learned that the restaurant is open once again.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Walloon's has reopened on Route 1 in Peabody, and based on the sign shown, it is possible that the space is being shared with HTC Catering and Delicatessen, which took over the space after Walloon's closed in the early part of the summer. (We have reached out to Walloon's for more information and are awaiting a response.) The Facebook page indicates that the restaurant is now under new ownership, while its website does seem to indicate a Walloon's/HTC collaboration--and fried chicken sandwiches and fries are still being offered, based on the website's menu.

Walloon's started out as a food truck in August of 2014, with the truck being found in various locations, including in Boston's Financial District and Chinatown.

The address for the reopened Walloon's brick-and-mortar restaurant is 108 Newbury Street (Route 1) Peabody, MA, 01960. Its website can be found at http://www.eatwalloons.com/

Thanks to @TheDrewStarr for initially bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Walloon's Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Peabody Has Closed; Food Trucks Remain in Operation

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse Is Opening in Braintree

It looks like a local group of upscale Italian steakhouses will be expanding once again, this time coming to a spot in the southern suburbs of Boston.

According to an article in the Braintree Forum, the town has approved of liquor and restaurant licenses for Davio's, which may open in the space within the South Shore Plaza where Rodizio Grill had been. The post says that construction on the eatery is expected to begin sometime next year, though no specific opening date has been given as of yet. Once it opens, the new location of Davio's will join others in Boston's Park Square, Chestnut Hill, Foxboro, and Lynnfield, along with Manhattan, Philadelphia, King of Prussia, PA, and Atlanta.

Davio's traces its roots back to 1985, when Steve DiFillippo purchased a restaurant with that name on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay. Today, the group of dining spots is known for its steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, and more.

The website for Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse can be found at  http://davios.com/

[March 29, 2017 update: The Boston Globe mentions that Davio's will actually be opening in the former Joe's American Bar & Grill space in the South Shore Plaza.]

[October 4, 2017 update: A new article from the Braintree Forum indicates that Davio's plans to open in Braintree on Monday, October 9.]

[October 6, 2017 update: The Braintree Forum now says that construction delays have pushed back the opening of Davio's to October 16.]

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]





A&B Burgers in Beverly May Open Second Location in Amesbury

A North Shore restaurant that offers burgers and more may be expanding to another location north of Boston.

According to a source within the restaurant industry, A&B Burgers in Beverly is making plans to open in Amesbury, taking over the space on Main Street where No. 8 Kitchen & Spirits had been. Our source says that the deal has not been finalized as of yet, but it appears to be close to being completed.

 A&B Burgers first opened in Salem in December of 2013, moving from a 200-year-old jail complex on St. Peter Street to its present home on Cabot Street in Beverly early this year. The restaurant offers burgers, small plates, salads, sandwiches, larger meals, adult milkshakes, and more.

The address for the proposed location of A&B Burgers is 37 Main Street, Amesbury, MA, 01913. The website for the original location can be found at http://anbburgers.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Burgers from Restaurants in the Boston Area]





Tasty Burger Files Notice of Opposition Against Chipotle's Tasty Made Brand

This summer, we reported that a local group of burger restaurants was headed for a trademark battle with a national chain, with the group sending a cease and desist letter to the company. Now we have learned that the dispute has moved forward.

According to a press release, Tasty Burger filed a consolidated notice of opposition today to all of Chipotle's Tasty Made marks that have been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In the release, Tasty Burger CEO David DuBois says that "Chipotle's Tasty Made brand has audaciously ignored Tasty Burger's efforts to protect its marks and goodwill amongst consumers....As long as Chipotle continues to flout the concepts of fairness and decency on their path to minimize and confuse our customer base, we will continue to fight them through all avenues available to us." An article in August from CNN quoted Tasty Made spokesperson Chris Arnold as saying "We fully intend to move forward with the name Tasty Made for our burger restaurant and strongly believe that we are on solid footing in doing so....We believe there is sufficient difference between the names and logo marks so as not to cause consumer confusion."

An article from Eater states that Tasty Made opens its first location in Lancaster, OH, today.

[Earlier Article]
Tasty Burger Issues Cease and Desist Request to Chipotle Over Its Tasty Made Logo, Mark, and Name

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.]





Sonny's Pub and Restaurant in Dorchester Abruptly Closes; Status Unknown

A restaurant and bar in Dorchester that has been in business for nearly 50 years has abruptly shut down.

According to several sources, including two people in the restaurant industry, Sonny's Pub & Restaurant in the Adams Village neighborhood closed suddenly yesterday afternoon, with a couple of sources saying it caught even its workers by surprise. It is not known what will be happening to the space, though last year we had reported that a new dining and drinking spot had been looking to take over the Adams Street space.

As soon as we find out more information about the closing of Sonny's Pub & Restaurant, we will post an update here.

The address for Sonny's Pub & Restaurant is 750 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA, 02122.

Thanks to @kczdot89 for initially bringing the closing of Sonny's to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Sonny's Pub and Restaurant in Dorchester's Adams Village May Be Replaced by Industry

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 26, 2016

Zagat Is Changing Its Scoring System

A popular restaurant guide is replacing its well-known scoring system with a different one more than 37 years after the original system was put in place.

The New York Times is reporting that the Zagat 2017 New York City Restaurants Guidebook is being published today with a rating system that goes from 1.0 to 5.0 (using decimals in increments of tenths), which is a major change from its old system that went from 1 to 30. The article says that the change was made because Zagat readers "preferred a simpler system" and gives an example showing Le Bernardin having a food rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 rather than 29 out of 30.

It is presumed that Zagat--which is owned by Google--is changing the scoring system universally, including in Boston.

The website for Zagat can be found at https://www.zagat.com/

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.]





Yo! Sushi Opens at the Watermark Seaport Tower in Boston's Seaport District

A London-based group of sushi spots has opened its first standalone location in the United States, and it happens to be on the Boston waterfront.

According to a post from the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog, Yo! Sushi opens today at the Watermark Seaport tower within Seaport Square in the Seaport District, with Eater Boston saying that this is the only U.S. location not found in a mall. (The mall locations of the eatery are in Florida, New Jersey, and New York.) As mentioned earlier, the new restaurant is a conveyor-belt place that delivers sushi to diners, while the menu also offers such items as gyoza, katsu, tempura, and rice and noodle dishes.

The address for this new sushi spot in the Seaport District is: Yo! Sushi, 79 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.yosushiusa.com/

[Earlier Article]
YO! Sushi to Open Its First Boston Location

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]





Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Garifuna Cafe Plans to Open in Dorchester

It looks like a dining spot that offers a cuisine not often found in the region is coming to Boston.

According to a licensing board page, Garifuna Cafe is planning to open in Dorchester, moving into the space on Washington Street where Reggae on the Grill used to be. Based on the hearing notice, it appears that the eatery will focus on Honduran fare, which is very difficult to find in and around Boston other than a few places that in East Boston and Chelsea.

Very little is currently known about Garifuna Cafe, including when it might open and what its menu might include; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

The address for this upcoming Honduran restaurant in Dorchester is: Garifuna Cafe, 143 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA, 02121.

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]





Shaking Crab in Newton Is Opening New location in Quincy

A Cajun seafood place that opened west of Boston around the beginning of the year is going to be opening another location south of the city.

According to a post on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page from @footballfacts, Shaking Crab in Newton is planning to open in Quincy Center, moving into a space on Cottage Street that @footballfacts calls the downtown area's "pending restaurant row." (Quincy Center is in the midst of major renovations/upgrades.) Once it opens, expect such items as fried oysters, crab legs, mussels, lobster, macaroni and cheese, sweet tea, and more at the new spot.

Shaking Crab, which took over the old Francesca's space on Adams Street in Newton's Nonantum neighborhood, is one of a few Cajun seafood restaurants to open in the Boston area of late, including such places as Loui Loui in Stoneham and Holly Crab in Allston.

The website for the Newton location of Shaking Crab can be found at http://shakingcrabnewton.com/

[February 10, 2017 update: Wicked Local states that Shaking Crab in Quincy has received its common victualler and liquor licenses and it should be opening within the next two months, once the buildout is complete.]

[March 22, 2017 update: Both the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page and @footballfacts say that Shaking Crab is hoping to open in Quincy this weekend if all goes well.]

[April 13, 2017 update: Eater Boston mentions that Shaking Crab has softly opened in Quincy, with a grand opening coming at a later date.]

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]





Sunday, October 23, 2016

Cafe Algiers in Cambridge's Harvard Square Is Closing

A Cambridge landmark is getting ready to shut its doors for good after many years in business.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Cafe Algiers in Harvard Square is closing today, with the note saying "Please keep all our cooks, waitresses, and managers in your thoughts--and think of us when you next drink mint tea!" No specific reason was given for the closure, nor is it known what might be going into the Brattle Street space.

Cafe Algiers, which opened nearly 50 years ago, has been known as a place to go for lighter fare, coffee, and tea, with its menu including such Mediterranean items as hummus, baba ganoosh, falafel, tabbouli, couscous, lamb sausage, and more. (The place also offers beer and wine.)

The address for Cafe Algiers is 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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, October 21, 2016

Lulu's Sweet Shoppe Moves to New Space in Boston's North End; Lulu's Kitchen Coming to Haymarket.

A North End bakeshop that features cupcakes and more has moved to a new location, and the person behind it is also getting ready to open a cafe nearby.

The NorthEndWaterfront.com site is reporting that Lulu's Sweet Shoppe has taken over the space on Parmenter Street where Cocoanuts had been, leaving its Salem Street space that will soon be home to Polka Dog Bakery. The article also says that owner Sandy Russo will soon be opening Lulu's Kitchen on Hanover Street in the Haymarket area, though no specific details have been given for that place as of yet.

Lulu's Sweet Shoppe is known in part for its scratch-made gourmet cupcakes along with its candy and house-made ice cream.

The address for the new location of Lulu's Sweet Shoppe is 28 Parmenter Street, Boston, MA, 02113. Its website can be found at http://lulussweetshoppeboston.com/ (The exact address for Lulu's Kitchen has not been given as of yet.)

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]





Oye's Still Not Open in Former Donatello's Space in Saugus, Prompting Selectmen into Action

Last summer, an Asian fusion eatery announced plans to open where a landmark restaurant on Route 1 had been. More than a year later, it has still not opened, and the town appears to be losing patience.

The Saugus Advertiser is reporting that town selectmen are concerned about the lack of progress being made in the opening of Oye's Restaurant &amp Bar in the space where Donatello's was for nearly 30 years, with the attorney for the upcoming dining spot saying that issues with sewer piping and the fire system along with upgrades to the space's interior and an expansion of the parking lot have caused delays, and the restaurant is now looking at a possible early December opening. Originally, it had looked like Oye's could open in late 2015, but by June of this year it had still not opened and was looking at a possible fall opening at that point in time.

Town selectman Jeff Cicolini expressed frustration at the delays in the opening of Oye's, saying "I don't want to get to the point where you're not open in early December or it will get ugly." The board ended up voting unanimously in support of having the restaurant give a written project status update by November 20, while having town departments monitor progress as well.

[December 19 update: The Saugus Advertiser states that Oye's has still not opened in Saugus, with the restaurant's attorney telling town selectmen that late January now seems to be a realistic timeframe for all the work to be done on the place. The selectmen, however, want the place to open earlier than that and voted unanimously to get correspondence from the attorney for a status update on the place for a January 4 meeting, and is requesting that Oye's be open by mid-January.]

[Earlier Article]
Oye's Restaurant and Bar to Move into Donatello's Space on Route 1 in Saugus

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, October 20, 2016

Bruno's Bar and Burger in Lynn Has Reopened

A North Shore burger spot that closed its doors over the summer is open once again.

A check on the place indicates that Bruno's Bar and Burger in Lynn has reopened, with one Facebook post from a person who seems to be involved with the Western Avenue restaurant saying it is under new ownership, while a post from earlier this month from the dining and drinking spot mentions that it now has a new Facebook page--while also referring to the "9 wing sauces made from scratch and our specialty burgers."

In late August, Bruno's quietly shut down with no reason given for its closure and phone calls going unanswered with no voicemail message. The restaurant and bar, which first opened in January of 2015, has been known for its array of burgers with house-made sauces along with its selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for Bruno's is 858 Western Avenue, Lynn, MA, 01905. Its website is at http://www.brunosbarandburger.com/

[Earlier Article]
Bruno's Bar and Burger in Lynn Is Closed; Exact Status Unknown

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Burgers from Restaurants in the Boston Area]





Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Al's Cafe Is Opening at Cambridge's Technology Square

It looks like a sandwich shop with two locations in Boston and another in a northern suburb may be returning to Cambridge.

According to a Twitter post by @dbelson, Al's Cafe & Catering is apparently coming to Technology Square in the MIT/Kendall Square section of the city, with the sign in the picture saying that it will be "coming soon." (@dbelson tells us that it is taking over the former Quiznos space.) Earlier this year, a location of Al's closed at the Smith Campus Center (formerly the Holyoke Center) in Harvard Square, along with several other businesses that had to leave because of extensive renovations being made to the building.

Currently, locations of Al's Cafe can be found on State Street in Boston's Financial District, South Street in the Leather District, and TradeCenter in Woburn. The website for Al's can be found at http://www.alscafes.com/

The address for the upcoming location of Al's Cafe in Cambridge is 600 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

[February 24, 2017 update: Al's Cafe could be one step closer to opening at Cambridge's Technology Square by next week, as a license commission hearing agenda page mentions that its request for a common victualler license will be looked at next week.]

[March 16, 2017 update: A tweet posted yesterday indicates that the new Al's Cafe is now open at Technology Square while the restaurant's website shows that this is a soft opening (the grand opening will take place on April 3).]

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]





Alfredo's Restaurant in Quincy Closing; May Be Replaced by Fusion Kitchen

It looks like an Italian restaurant that has been around for more than half a century could be making way for a new Asian eatery.

According to a licensing page within the city of Quincy website, a license transfer from E&M Restaurant, Inc. to Fusion Kitchen is being requested, with the address given--and a check on an earlier license renewal page--indicating that this is the Franklin Street space currently occupied by Alfredo's Restaurant. The manager listed for the proposed Fusion Kitchen is Jason Zhen Ye, and a search for the name shows (via bizapedia.com) that this may be the same person who is behind Fusion Taste in Arlington.

Alfredo's, which first opened in 1960, has been known as a casual spot to go to for Italian-American fare over the years.

The address for Alfredo's (and the proposed Fusion Kitchen) is 75 Franklin Street, Quincy, MA, 02169.

[October 19 update: The Quincy Sun has confirmed that Fusion Kitchen is planning to take over Alfredo's (which will be closing), and the person behind it is indeed behind Fusion Taste in Arlington, though he will apparently be leaving his post at that restaurant along with another Fusion Taste in Stoneham.]

[October 25 update: A Facebook post from the restaurant indicates that Alfredo's will close "toward the end of the year," with no exact date decided upon as of yet. The note also mentions that gift cards will be honored until the place closes--and that they will also be accepted at its sister restaurants (Sofia Italian Steakhouse in West Roxbury and Amelia's in Stoughton) once Alfredo's shuts down.]

[December 18 update: A new Facebook post from the place indicates that Alfredo's closes for good at the end of business hours on Friday, December 23.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Five Guys Is Opening in Quincy Center

A chain of burger spots that has opened a number of locations in the Boston area over the past several years is expanding once again, this time opening an outlet in a downtown area that is currently being redeveloped.

A post on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page from @footballfacts indicates that Five Guys is coming to Presidents Place in Quincy Center, with the shop apparently opening next door to The Townshend, Once it opens, the new burger place will join a number of other locations in and around Boston, including a few others south of the city--in Braintree, Brockton, Canton, Dedham, Foxboro, Hanover, Randolph. and Walpole.

If all goes as planned, the new location of Five Guys in Quincy could be opening in December.

A post from the Patriot Ledger gives the address of the upcoming Five Guys as being 1250 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169.

[March 26, 2017 update: A new post on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page mentions that the new Five Guys in Quincy Center opens on Wednesday, March 29.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Burgers from Restaurants in the Boston Area]





Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Pokeworks Is Opening in Somerville's Davis Square

Several months ago, we reported that a Hawaiian poke spot was planning to come to Somerville, taking over the space where a hot pot and sushi restaurant had been. Now it appears that the place is getting close to opening.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, a new restaurant at 261 Elm Street is currently hiring; the address given indicates that this will be Pokeworks, with this being confirmed on the restaurant's website. (The space used to be home to Yumi.) As mentioned before, Pokeworks will likely offer a Hawaiian raw fish salad known as "poke" along with "pokirritos" which are a type of sushi burrito. Once it opens, the new shop will join two others in California as well as one each in New York City and Seattle.

Last month, a dining spot called OGinger opened next door at 263 Elm Street, and it serves sushi burritos as well.

The website for Pokeworks can be found at http://www.pokeworks.com/

[November 29 update: Eater Boston mentions that Pokeworks opens in Davis Square on Thursday, December 1.]

[December 1 update: A Facebook post from the restaurant indicates that today's opening of the Somerville location of Pokeworks is actually a soft opening.]

[December 9 update: Based on its Facebook posts, it appears that Pokeworks is now fully open in Somerville.]

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

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: Sweetgreen in Boston's Downtown Crossing Reopens After Being Closed Due to Health Violations

[Ed note: This article was updated on October 19 to reflect the fact that the dining spot is open once again.]

A growing chain of healthy fast-casual dining spots has shut down one of its Boston shops because of health violations--and this is the second location to be closed for violations in the past couple of months.

WCVB Boston is reporting that Sweetgreen on School Street in Downtown Crossing has closed "due to the nature and extent of the inspectional violations found," according to the city's Inspectional Services Department. This comes on the heels of its Boylston Street shop in the Back Bay being closed for a short time in August after 20 health violations were found at that shop.  The article says that workers could be seen cleaning the kitchen section of the Downtown Crossing store and that inspectors plan to be back on the scene tomorrow, presumably to give the shop the ok to reopen if the health issues have been rectified.

The closing of the School Street location of Sweetgreen comes on the same day that another outlet opened nearby--on Summer Street in the Financial District. Other locations of the chain can be found at the Ink Block in the South End, Fort Point, the Back Bay (2), the Fenway, Chestnut Hill Square on the Newton/Brookline border, and MarketStreet Lynnfield.

[October 19 update: The Boston Globe states that the closing of Sweetgreen on School Street was voluntary, with the shop wanting to inspect the kitchen equipment and ingredients used while also conducting staff training. The article says that five violations had been discovered at the eatery, including four critical violations that included a major fruit fly infestation in the basement and heavily-soiled cutting boards. (The inspection apparently took place because a diner developed a fever that included vomiting and appetite loss after having food from the place on Friday.)]

[October 19 update #2: Eater Boston states that Sweetgreen on School Street has reopened after getting approval by the city.]

[Earlier Articles]
Sweetgreen Opens on Summer Street in Boston's Financial District
Sweetgreen in Boston's Back Bay Reopens after Being Forced to Close Due to Health Violations

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]





Confirmed: Flank Is Coming to Quincy's Marina Bay

[Ed note: This article was updated on February 8 to reflect confirmation of this article.]

Earlier this year, a local radio person opened a new restaurant in Waltham that celebrated the tradition of beefsteak banquets, and now we are hearing that he may be opening a second location of the eatery along the water in Quincy, though we are still trying to get exact details on the place.

Earlier today, Greg Hill of WAAF was spotted with Jeff Sullivan of Urposse reward network, while a post on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page indeed shows the morning host visiting the city, with Sullivan responding to the question "Where and when is he opening his restaurant?" with "Announcement coming soon." This seems to jibe with rumors we have been hearing from a source that Hill may be opening a second location of Flank at Marina Bay, possibly going into the new luxury apartment complex being built where The Ocean Club had been, and before that, WaterWorks and The Tent. More details should be coming, so keep checking back for updates.

In addition to Flank, Greg Hill is also behind No. 29 Sudbury, an upscale Italian restaurant in Sudbury Town Square, and the upcoming Battle Road Brewery and Pub in Maynard. [Ed note: Now open.]

The website for the original Flank in Waltham can be found at http://www.flankwaltham.com/

[February 8, 2017 update: Kerry Byrne has confirmed on the Quincy Is Everything Facebook page that Flank is indeed coming to the new complex at Marina Bay, with the lease possibly being finalized as early as April and the restaurant possibly opening in September.]

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]





Goodnight Fatty (Late-Night Cookie Pop-Up) Debuts in Salem

It looks like night owls on the North Shore who are also cookie lovers have a new place to check out.

According to a Facebook post from OctoCog, Goodnight Fatty is now up and running as a late-night cookie pop-up within Derby Joe's coffee shop in Salem, offering cookies to customers on Friday and Saturday nights from the Derby Street storefront. Eater Boston mentions that a few of the options for cookies from this past weekend included cinnamon with dark chocolate, pecans, and coconut, coconut with almonds and Ghirardelli dark chocolate, and double Ghirardelli dark chocolate with pecans and heath toffee bits.

Hours for Goodnight Fatty are 7:00 PM to midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

The address for Goodnight Fatty (and Derby Joe) is 142 Derby Street, Salem, MA, 01970. The Facebook page for Goodnight Fatty can be found at https://www.facebook.com/goodnightfatty/

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]





Sweetgreen Opens on Summer Street in Boston's Financial District

A growing chain of farm-to-table dining spots has just opened a brand new shop, and it is located in the heart of downtown Boston.

According to an article in Eater Boston, Sweetgreen opens today on Summer Street in the city's Financial District, though it appears that the eatery may have had a soft-opening yesterday, based on various social media posts. The new store joins a number of other Sweetgreen locations that have opened in the Boston area over the past few years, including shops in Downtown Crossing, the Ink Block in the South End, Fort Point, the Back Bay (2), the Fenway, Chestnut Hill Square on the Newton/Brookline border, and MarketStreet Lynnfield.

Sweetgreen, which is based in Washington, DC, is known mainly for their salads and grain bowls.

The address for this new dining spot in the Financial District is: Sweetgreen, 87 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.sweetgreen.com/

[Earlier Article]
Sweetgreen to Open Five More Boston-Area Locations

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, October 17, 2016

Update: Beantown Hoagie in Downtown Boston Has Closed; Curry House Moving In

[Ed note: This article was updated on October 18 and October 19 to reflect confirmation of the closing of the spot--and new information on what will take over the space.]

It looks like a sandwich place in downtown Boston has shut its doors.

According to posters on a TripAdvisor thread, Beantown Hoagie on Water Street is closed down with paper covering the windows and no note out front. A tweet from last week also says that the windows are papered over, while phone calls go directly to voicemail, and its website is down as well. Beantown Hoagie has been a particularly popular lunch spot for workers in the Financial District, offering a variety of hoagies, panini, and wraps, along with salads.

The address for the now-closed Beantown Hoagie is 102 Water Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

[October 18 update: According to a source within the restaurant industry, Beantown Hoagie is indeed closed for good, and a new Indian eatery called Curry House is apparently taking over the space. (It is not yet known if the upcoming spot is connected to the Curry House in Brookline or the Curry House in Franklin.)]

[October 19 update: A Twitter post from Curry House in Brookline confirms that the Water Street spot will be a second location of the place.]

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]





b.good Taking Over Locations of Boloco in Boston (Northeastern), Natick, Wellesley, Burlington, VT, and Concord, NH

A local group of dining spots is buying five locations of another local group of eateries.

According to a Twitter post from @BostonTweet, b.good is taking over the Boloco shop by Northeastern University in Boston as well as locations in Natick, Wellesley, Burlington, VT, and Concord, NH, [ed note--correction to locations of the latter two] with a YouTube video showing that this appears to be a friendly transition from one group of restaurants to the other. The video also hints that this will apparently be part of a major expansion for b.good that could see as many as 1,000 locations opening at some point, according to founder Anthony Ackil. Boloco co-founder John Pepper says that the selling of the five restaurants is necessary for the survival of the company, saying that if the sale didn't take place, "I don't know if we would actually make it through the winter."

The Swellesley Report mentions that the Wellesley location of Boloco plans to close Wednesday, October 19, though it is not yet known when the other four shops will close.

The website for b.good can be found at http://www.bgood.com/ while the website for Boloco is at http://boloco.com/

[October 18 update: The three Boston-area locations of Boloco mentioned above (Boston/NU, Natick, Wellesley) close on Wednesday, October 19, according to a letter from the company and a post from the Framingham Source, while an article in the Burlington Free Press and a tweet from John Pepper indicate that the Burlington, VT, and Concord, NH locations closed this past Sunday.]

[January 18, 2017 update: Eater Boston states that b.good is now open in the former Boloco space by Northeastern University in Boston; a check on the locations page for the b.good website also indicates that the Natick, Burlington, VT, and Concord, NH locations are now open as well, though it does not appear that the Wellesley shop is open yet.]

[February 2, 2017 update: A new post from Eater Boston says (via the Swellesley Report) that b.good plans to open in the former Boloco space in Wellesley on Tuesday, February 7.]

[February 12, 2017 update: According to a new post from the Swellesley Report, b.good is now open in the former Boloco space in Wellesley.]

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]