Friday, September 29, 2017

Kaju Tofu House in Harvard Square Closes; Moving to Kenmore Square

Earlier this week, we reported that a pair of Korean restaurants in Allston and Cambridge would apparently be joined by a third spot in Boston. Now we have learned that this appears to be more of a move, as its Harvard Square location has shut down.

According to an article from The Harvard Crimson, Kaju Tofu House at the Crimson Galeria​​ on JFK Street is no longer in business, with a sign on the door saying that September 27 was its final day while referring people to its upcoming outlet on Beacon Street in Kenmore Square. It appears that the original location on Harvard Avenue in Allston remains in operation.

Kaju Tofu House first opened in Harvard Square in the fall of 2013, moving into the space where Shabu-Ya had once been.

The address for the now-closed Kaju Tofu House at the Crimson Galeria in Harvard Square was 57 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138 while its new address will be 636 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Article]
Kaju Is Opening in Boston's Kenmore Square

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





Thursday, September 28, 2017

Zia Gianna Caffe and Bakery Opening in Former Dot 2 Dot Cafe Space in Dorchester

It appears that an Italian bakery-cafe will be opening where a dining spot that was a former "best of" for breakfast had been.

According to an article from the Dorchester Reporter, Zia Gianna Caffe and Bakery is looking to open in Dorchester, taking over the space on Dorchester Avenue where Dot 2 Dot Cafe was until closing in August. The post says that owner Nino Barbalace is planning to open the eatery for breakfast and lunch at first, with dinner/evening events possibly coming at a later date (Sicilian lasagna could be offered at dinnertime). Expect to see breakfast and lunch sandwiches and espresso at the upcoming Zia Gianna Caffe and Bakery, along with pastries, pies, and tiramisu--and beer and wine could be available at some point, as Barbalace will be applying for a liquor license. If all goes as planned, Zia Gianna Caffe and Bakery could be opening in November

Dot 2 Dot Cafe in Dorchester, which had been in business for nearly ten years, was a breakfast and lunch spot that hosted a variety of events; the eatery was once awarded best breakfast in the Boston area by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants).

The address for the new Zia Gianna Caffe and Bakery is 1739 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02124.

[November 22 update: Eater Boston states that Zia Gianna opens this Saturday (November 25).]

[Earlier Article]
Dot 2 Dot Cafe in Dorchester Is Closing

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]





Mogogo Ethiopian Cuisine Opens in Malden

A new Ethiopian restaurant has come to the Boston area.

Eater Boston is reporting that Mogogo Ethiopian Cuisine is now open in Malden, with the Highland Avenue dining spot offering various meats such as steak tips, chicken stew, prime beef, and boiled lamb over injera (a spongy flatbread) along with vegan options such as lentil stew, chickpea dumplings, and ground flax. Mogogo joins another Ethiopian restaurant on the other side of Malden (Habesha) along with a handful of others in the Boston area, with Addis Red Sea in Boston's South End and Lucy Ethiopian Cafe near Symphony Hall being a couple of the more popular Ethiopian dining spots.

The address for this new restaurant in Malden is: Mogogo Ethiopian Cuisine, 1 Highland Avenue, Malden, MA, 02148. Its website can be found at http://mogogo.co/

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]





Falafel Inc. to Open in Cambridge's Kendall Square

A few months ago, we reported that a cheap eats spot in Washington, DC, was looking to expand to the Boston area. Now we have learned a bit more about where it will be opening.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Falafel Inc. is planning to open an outlet somewhere in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge, with owner Ahmad Ashkar mentioning that the neighborhood is a good fit for the place because of the college students and millennials there, saying that "It's cheap, it's affordable....You can get a sandwich for $3 or a bowl for $4." As stated earlier, Falafel Inc., which focuses on Palestinian-style falafel sandwiches and bowls, is committed to helping refugees around the world, as $10 spent at the eatery feeds a refugee for a day via donations to the World Food Programme. (EB also says that Falafel Inc. hires refugees as well.)

As soon as we find out where exactly Falafel Inc. will be located in Kendall Square--and when it might open--we will post an update here.

The website for Falafel Inc. can be found at http://www.falafelinc.org/

[Earlier Article]
Falafel Inc. May Be Expanding to 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]





CLC Cafe Opens in Former Kitchen on Common Space in Belmont

An award-winning caterer has opened a new restaurant in the western suburbs of Boston, and it will take over the space where an upscale dining spot had been.

According to an article in the Belmont Citizen-Herald, Rob Pelletier has soft-opened CLC Cafe in Belmont's Cushing Square, with the eatery moving into the former Kitchen on Common space on Common Street. The post says that Pelletier's roommate Michael Gattis will be overseeing the cafe itself (which has a seasonal patio in addition to indoor seating) while Pelletier will continue to manage CLC Catered Events, which was established more than 25 years ago and mentions on its website that Pelletier is a "multiple award-winning caterer." It looks like CLC Cafe will offer an eclectic and always-changing mix of menu items, including takeout options for people on the go. While soft-opened for now, expect a grand opening for the place sometime this fall.

Kitchen on Common closed approximately a year ago after being in business for just under 10 years; the restaurant was a casual, family-friendly spot that featured mostly New American fare.

The address for this new restaurant in Belmont is: CLC Cafe, 442 Common St, Belmont, MA, 02478. The website for CLC Catered Events can be found at http://www.clccateredevents.com/ while the Facebook page for the cafe is at https://www.facebook.com/clccafe/

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 27, 2017

Swissbakers Opening in Smith Center in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A trio of Boston-area bakery-cafes may be opening a fourth, with this one coming to a building in Cambridge that is currently undergoing a large-scale transformation.

According to a Harvard Square Advisory Committee page, Swissbakers is looking to open within Harvard University's Smith Campus Center on Mass. Ave., with the proposed outlet being open to the general public and having both indoor and outdoor seating. Based on the other locations of Swissbakers in Reading, Allston, and the Boston Public Market, the new location could have such items as soups, salads, sandwiches, and baked goods with Swiss influences. The Smith Center isn't expected to open until the fall of 2018, so the new location of Swissbakers likely won't be able to open for at least a year.

The website for Swissbakers--which also can be found at various farmers markets in the region--is at https://www.swissbakers.com/

Thanks to a source for initially bringing this to our attention.

[September 5, 2018 update: Boston Magazine states that Swissbakers is now open at the Smith Center.]

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]





All Massachusetts Locations of Noodles and Company Have Closed

A Colorado-based restaurant chain that once had big plans for the region has disappeared from the local landscape.

Based on a tip from musician and radio host/consultant Michael Scott Stewart, Noodles & Company has closed its outlet in Medford, and a further check on the chain's website shows that all of its locations in Massachusetts--including in Burlington, Westwood, Woburn, Franklin, and Shrewsbury--are no longer in operation. Back in 2014, Noodles & Company mentioned in a job post for its upcoming restaurants in Medford, Westwood, and Woburn that it had planned to open "46 more" locations in the local area, though at the time it did not specify whether they would all be in the Greater Boston area.

Noodles & Company, which opened its first restaurant in 1995, is known for its noodle-based dishes with influences coming from American, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Its website is at http://www.noodles.com/

[September 28 update: According to a source, the closure of all the Noodles & Company locations in Massachusetts (and, apparently, elsewhere in New England) was a franchise partner decision, with a Facebook post from the chain confirming this, saying that "Our longstanding franchise partners, Hamra, have made the difficult decision to close their New England Noodles & Company restaurants." (WCVB 5 does say that four Connecticut outlets still appear on the restaurant's website.)]

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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]





Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Kaju Is Opening in Boston's Kenmore Square

It looks like a pair of Korean restaurants in Allston and Cambridge may be joined by a third location.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kaju is planning to open in the former Thai Dish space under Fin's Sushi & Grill in Kenmore Square. A picture posted within the group page confirms that Kaju is indeed getting ready to open in the space, with the signs out front showing that the place is called "Kaju Gourmet Korean Food," which is a bit different from the name Kaju Tofu House, whose locations are on Harvard Avenue in Allston and JFK Street in Harvard Square.

The two Kaju Tofu House locations in Allston and Cambridge offer a variety of tofu soups along with Korean BBQ, udon and soba noodle dishes, sushi, and more.

The address for this new Korean restaurant in Kenmore Square is: Kaju, 636 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

[December 18 update: Eater Boston mentions that Kaju is now open in Kenmore Square.]

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]





Volturno Pizza in Worcester Opens New Location in Framingham

A popular Worcester restaurant that specializes in wood-fired pizza has expanded eastward.

Eater Boston is reporting that Volturno Pizza now has a second location on Edgell Road in Framingham, joining its original spot on Shrewsbury Street just east of downtown Worcester. It appears that the new location has similar offerings to the original location, which has traditional Neapolitan thin-crust pizza along with bruschetta, arancini, pasta dishes, brick chicken, braised short ribs, and more.

A few of the pizza options Volturno is known for include margherita, sausage with pistachio pesto, clam, and lemone (sliced lemon is one of the toppings on this pie).

The address for this new restaurant in Framingham is: Volturno Pizza, 1 Edgell Road, Framingham, MA, 01701. Its website can be found at http://volturnopizza.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]





Volo Craft Pizza Opens in Swampscott; Offers Detroit-Style Pizza

A new pizzeria has come to the North Shore, and it offers a type of pizza that apparently cannot be found at any other independent dining spot in the Greater Boston area.

According to its website, Volo Craft Pizza opened in Swampscott last month, with the Humphrey Street eatery offering salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and craft pizza (including white pizza)--and it is now offering Detroit-style pizza as well, with the two options being classic cheese and pepperoni. Detroit-style pizza is a bit similar to Sicilian/bakery pizza while also having some similarities to Chicago-style deep dish, though the slices are square like the former while the crust tends to be crispier than Sicilian/bakery pizza and tends not to be as greasy.

It looks like the only other place in the Boston area that has Detroit-style pizza is from a chain (Little Caesars, which has locations in Roslindale, Everett, and Lynn).

The address for this new pizza shop in Swampscott is: Volo Craft Pizza, 152 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA, 01907. Its website can be found at http://volopizzeria.com

Thanks to a Facebook poster for initially bringing this to our attention.

[September 27 update: A source tells us that there is at least one other spot in the region that has Detroit-style pizza--Tapestry in Boston, which does not have it on the menu but it is considered a special available nightly. (Boston Magazine had mentioned back in March that the place was starting to offer the pizza there.)]

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]





Monday, September 25, 2017

Fort Hill Bar & Grill Opens in Roxbury

A new restaurant and bar has come to a section of Boston that currently has few dining and drinking options.

According to its Facebook page, Fort Hill Bar & Grill is now open in Roxbury, taking over the space on Washington Street where Norvia's Place had been. The new spot, which is located about midway between Dudley Square and Egleston Square in a mainly residential neighborhood, is a two-level bistro that offers a mix of comfort food and Latin American fare, with a menu posted from last month showing such items as oysters, steamed mussels, empanadas, wings, cielito lindo dip, seafood soup, burgers, a fish sandwich, quesadillas, tacos, and fajitas. Another Facebook post indicates that the restaurant also has a weekend brunch, which started up on Sunday, September 17.

One of the people behind Fort Hill Bar & Grill appears to be Norvia Pena, who was also behind Norvia's Place; the space has also been the site of a bar since the 1930s, according to an earlier article from Universal Hub.

The address for this new restaurant and bar in Roxbury is: Fort Hill Bar & Grill, 2805 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA, 02119.

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]





Lobstah On a Roll/478 Mass. Ave. Plans to Open in Former Elton's Roast Beef & Pizza Space in Arlington Center

A new dining spot is planning to open in Arlington, taking over the space where a sandwich shop and pizzeria had been.

According to a Facebook post within the Support Arlington Center group, a restaurant tentatively called "478 Mass. Ave." is looking to open in the former Elton's Roast Beef & Pizza space in Arlington Center, with the poster calling it "the biggest little restaurant in America" and stating that it will have breakfast sandwiches on weekdays, "crazy breakfasts" on weekend mornings, and lunch/dinner options such as soups, chowders, burgers, steak dishes, lobster rolls, and baked stuffed lobsters. A common victualler license page that links to reference material for the proposed eatery also shows that its menu includes sandwiches and subs along with some Korean options such as shabu shabu, bulgogi, japchae, and kimchi.

The Facebook post indicates that if all goes as planned, the new spot taking over the Elton's space could be opening by the end of October.

[October 13 update: The Arlington Advocate states that the name of the restaurant moving into the former Elton's space will actually be Lobstah On a Roll, and it will offer breakfast dishes along with such items as mussels, clam chowder, and steamed and baked lobster.]

[January 23, 2018 update: A new Facebook post within the Support Arlington Center group indicates that Lobstah On a Roll will actually be called 478 Mass. Ave. after all, and that it plans to open in Arlington in February--and as stated in an earlier article here, it will join a location of Lobstah On a Roll that opened in Boston's South End this past fall. (The post also says that the restaurant will take over the space next door, which will add extra seating.)]

[June 26, 2018 update: 478 Mass. Ave. (or Lobstah On a Roll, depending on what its final name will be) has still not opened, and Your Arlington states that the owner has not responded to their requests on when it might open. (The post does say that the Arlington Redevelopment Board did approve of signs for the restaurant last month.)]

[November 30, 2018 update: A check on the space indicates that a "for rent" sign  is now up at the Lobstah On a Roll/478 Mass. Ave. site, though Bob Sprague from YourArlington posts on The Arlington List Facebook group page that this may be the landlord pressuring the restaurant owner, as a dispute is apparently happening between the two parties.]

[Earlier Article]
Elton's Roast Beef & Pizza in Arlington Center 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]





Blasi's Cafe and Fat Belly Deli in Dorchester Closed After Fire

A restaurant, bar, and deli in Dorchester is shut down for the time being after being hit by a fire.

According to a post from NBC Boston, a two-alarm blaze hit a block of businesses in Adams Village early Saturday morning, with the Adams Street block including Blasi's Cafe and Fat Belly Deli. The article says that the fire was self-contained, but it caused approximately $700,000 in damages and the businesses--including Blasi's Cafe and Fat Belly Deli--are closed for now. A Facebook post from the restaurant, bar, and deli mentions that they hope to be back in business as soon as they can, while thanking the Boston Fire Department and the Boston Police Department for their help as well as friends and neighbors for their support.

The address for Blasi's Cafe and Fat Belly Deli is 762 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA, 02122. The website for the place can be found at http://blasiscafe.com/

[January 12, 2018 update: A Facebook video from Blasi's shows that they now have lights in the basement but a lot of work needs to be done before Blasi's Cafe and Fat Belly Deli can reopen, including water that has to be pumped out of the basement and burnt-out electrical panels that need to be replaced. (No reopening date has been given as of yet.) Thanks to a source for bringing this to our attention.]

[June 8, 2018 update: A new Facebook video indicates that things continue to move forward for Blasi's Cafe and Fat Belly Deli and that while they don't have a specific reopening date, they hope to be open for the holidays this year if all goes well.]

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 22, 2017

Update: Zef Cicchetti & Raw Bar, Alba in Quincy to Build 5,000-Square-Foot Roof Deck

A couple of restaurants in Quincy Center are in the process of building what will be one of the largest roof decks in the entire Boston area.

According to City of Quincy consultant and publicist Kerry J. Byrne, Leo Keka of Zef Cicchetti & Raw Bar and Alba is having what could be a 6,000-square-foot roof deck constructed above the two restaurants, with the deck consisting of a covered island bar along with seating in the sun, a vegetable and herb garden, a kitchen from the dining spots downstairs, and more. (The existing roof deck, which will be replaced, is much smaller and sits above only Alba.) Specifics on what kind of food and drink will be offered on the roof deck--which hopes to open in the spring of 2018--have not yet been given, so keep checking back for updates.

Zef is known in part for its Venetian-style shareable small plates, while Alba is an upscale restaurant and steakhouse that focuses mainly on Mediterranean fare.

The address for Zef Cicchetti & Raw Bar is 1472 Hancock Street while the address for Alba is 1486 Hancock Street.

[April 10, 2019 update: A new press release from Kerry J. Byrne indicates that the new roof deck at Zef and Alba is slated to debut by mid- to late May and that it will have a total of 5,000 square feet of space, including a herb and produce garden, apple and pear trees. an outdoor kitchen, a sushi bar, and a louvered roof, along with live entertainment and menu items specifically for the deck.]

[June 14, 2019 update: Kerry Byrne tells us that the new roof deck officially debuts this weekend.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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




Some 'Ting Nice Caribbean Restaurant in Somerville Has Closed

A restaurant in Somerville that featured a variety of Caribbean dishes has closed down.

Eater Boston is reporting that Some 'Ting Nice Caribbean Restaurant on the McGrath Highway is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the place indicating that it appears to have shuttered around the end of August. The dining spot, which first opened in the fall of 2013, offered such items as jerk chicken, mango salsa pork, goat roti, macaroni pie, fried plantains, curry potatoes and chickpeas, and curried mussels.

The Facebook post from Some 'Ting Nice does say that they will give updates in the near future; if it looks like they might reopen, we will post an update here.

The address for this now-closed Caribbean restaurant in Somerville was: Some 'Ting Nice, 561 McGrath Highway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

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]





Bawarchi Biryanis Opens in South Weymouth, Plans to Open Another Location in Framingham

A chain of Indian restaurants has replaced another dining spot on the South Shore, and it may also open another outlet west of Boston, taking over the space where an Irish pub had been until it was seized earlier this year.

Framingham Source is reporting that Bawarchi Biryanis has opened in South Weymouth, with a check on the place indicating that it has moved into the Pond Street space where Fishtail Kitchen (an Indian and Nepalese dining spot) had been. The article also says that the chain is looking to open on Route 9 in Framingham where O'Connell's Pub was, though no opening date has been given as of yet. Bawarchi Biryanis, which has more than 30 locations across the country, features a variety of North and South Indian options, Indian street food, Indo-Chinese fare, and more.

An earlier article from Framingham Source mentions that O'Connell's Pub was seized by the state in March for nonpayment of taxes; a number of dining and drinking spots have been in this space as well, including Asia Buffet, Rainbow Buffet, Blue Danube, East Coast Oyster Bar and Restaurant, Tony Roma's, and Scioletti's Italian Eatery.

The website for Bawarchi Biryanis can be found at http://www.bawarchibiryanipoint.com/

Thanks to a source for initially bringing this to our attention.

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 21, 2017

Gen Sou En Tea House to Open in Brookline's Coolidge Corner

It looks like a tea house is on its way to Brookline, and it will be moving into the space where a chain of bakery-cafes used to be.

According to an article in the Brookline TAB, Gen Sou En Tea House is planning to open in Coolidge Corner, taking over the old Panera spot on Harvard Street. A sign in the window states that the place will be a "modern Japanese tea house" with Japanese green tea and black tea along with coffee, beer, wine, and sake, and it will also serve savory foods and bakery items while being open for breakfast, lunch, and (a light) dinner. If all goes as planned, Gen Sou En Tea House could be opening in January of 2018.

Panera closed its Coolidge Corner location in June after approximately 10 years in business.

The address for this upcoming tea house in Coolidge Corner is: Gen Sou En Tea House, 299 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Its website will be at http://www.gensouenteahouse.com/

Thanks to BostonTweet for initially bringing this to our attention.

[October 17 update: A press release mentions that Gen Sou En--which loosely translates as"farm-to-cup"--will have seating for 125 and food offerings such as matcha croissants, matcha tiramisu, tempura, temaki (cone-shaped sushi handrolls), and onigiri (triangular Japanese rice balls).]

[December 12 update: According to a press release, Joe Cammarata (Hojoko and Backbar) is being brought on as general manager of Gen Sou En Tea House and Sam Treadway (Eastern Standard, Drink, Backbar) will be assistant general manager. (The email also says that Yozo Masuyama--who recently served as technical director of Clear Flour Bread--will be head baker.)]

[February 16, 2018 update: A press release says that Gen Sou En Tea House plans to open its doors on Wednesday, February 21.]

[February 20, 2018 update: A Facebook post from the place confirms that Gen Sou En Tea House opens tomorrow, with a ribbon-cutting beginning at 9:15 AM and its doors opening to the public at 10:00 AM.]

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]





The Center Cafe in Needham Has Closed

An upscale suburban restaurant known in part for its regional fare has closed its doors.

According to an article in the Needham Times, The Center Cafe in Needham shut down for good this week after being sold this past Monday, with owner Steve Waller saying that one reason for the closure of the Great Plain Avenue spot is his stepson and chef Jonathan Taufman being hurt in a car accident in March, though there were other factors as well. The post says that a new restaurant is planning to move into the space, so stay tuned as more information on that spot gets released

The Center Cafe first opened in early 2010, taking over the space where Fava had been. The restaurant featured New England fare along with wine and cocktails.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Needham was: The Center Cafe, 1027 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]





Cheng Du in Stoughton Is Closing; New Owners to Open Ming Du in Space

A suburban restaurant that has been featured on our sister site as an under-the-radar place to go to for Chinese and Asian fusion fare is closing, and a new dining spot is moving into the space.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Cheng Du in Stoughton is shutting down for good today, with the note thanking customers and referring people to their other two restaurants in Mansfield and Westborough. The post says that Ming Du, a new restaurant under different ownership, will open in the Washington Street space tomorrow.

Cheng Du, which has been in Stoughton for more than 20 years, has been reviewed on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site, with a link to the review being below:

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

The address for Cheng Du (and the upcoming Ming Du) is 657 Washington Street, Stoughton, MA, 02072.

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]





Muscarella's Market Is Opening in Former Five Seventy Market Space in Boston's South End

Last year, we reported that a neighborhood grocery store in Boston's South End of Boston had closed down and that the family of the owner--who had passed away--was looking to lease the space to someone who would open another market. Now we have learned that the space is indeed going to be home to a new grocery store.

According to its website, Muscarella's Market is opening in the former Five Seventy Market space on Tremont Street, with an earlier Boston Sun article indicating that the store had planned to soft-open over the summer and possibly have a grand opening this month. A licensing board hearing page actually shows that a petition to transfer the license of the business from Five Seventy Market to Muscarella's Market is expected to take place on September 27, so it appears that the soft opening has not happened as of yet. The Sun article indicates that owner Scott Jackiewicz is looking to keep a similar concept to that of the old market, including offering salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and prepared meals, but with his own "twist" on things.

Five Seventy Market shut down in February of 2016, with owner Allen Seletsky passing away the following month; the shop had been in business for a bit under 10 years.

The address for the upcoming Muscarella's Market is 570 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118. Its website can be found at http://muscarellasmarket.com/

[Earlier Article]
Five Seventy Market in Boston's South End Closed; Status Uncertain

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]





Sweetgreen to Open Locations in Post Office Square, Seaport District, Coolidge Corner, Wellesley

A rapidly-growing chain of farm-to-table dining spots is expanding even further into the Boston area, with four more locations being announced.

According to a job post within the bostonchefs.com site, Sweetgreen is planning to open new shops in Post Office Square and the Seaport District in Boston along with Brookline's Coolidge Corner and Wellesley, while also announcing previously-mentioned locations on the way to State Street in Boston's Financial District and Legacy Place in Dedham. No opening dates for these outlets have been given as of yet, with the post simply saying that they will debut over the coming months.

Sweetgreen, which is based in Washington, DC, is known in part for its salads and grain bowls; the Boston area currently has a number of Sweetgreen shops currently open, including in Boston's Downtown Crossing, the Financial District, the Ink Block in the South End, Fort Point, the Back Bay (2), the Fenway, Cambridge's Harvard Square, Chestnut Hill Square on the Newton/Brookline border, and MarketStreet Lynnfield. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.sweetgreen.com/

[October 6 update: A licensing board hearing page within the city of Boston website indicates that the Post Office Square location of Sweetgreen will be at 225 Franklin Street, while the Seaport District location will be at 47 Northern Avenue.]

[November 7 update: Eater Boston reports that the Seaport District location of Sweetgreen opens today.]

[December 13 update: Boston Magazine says that the Post Office Square location of Sweetgreen opens on Friday, December 15.]

[February 28, 2018 update: The Wellesley Townsman states that the Wellesley location of Sweetgreen is now open.]

[March 1, 2018 update: According to a source, Sweetgreen will not be coming to Coolidge Corner after all, and an earlier Patch article confirms this, saying that the space may become home to a bank instead (although this may not happen either, as an update in the article says that as of January, the space was still for rent).]

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 20, 2017

I-CE-NY Is Opening a Shop in Boston's Back Bay

A shop featuring an Asian ice cream treat that is found in more and more Boston-area spots could be on its way to one of the busiest streets in the city.

According to an article from Universal Hub, I-CE-NY is planning to open a new outlet on Newbury Street, with the proposed shop offering Thai rolled ice cream with various flavors, mix-ins, and toppings, based on the menu of its store in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. UH says that the shop needs approval of a food-serving license from the Boston Licensing Board, so it is not known when the place might open--and it is also not yet known what its exact name will be.

Currently, Thai rolled ice cream can be found at such spots as Hi B3ar and NextDoor Cafe in Allston, Juicy Spot Cafe in Chinatown, and Frollz at the Square One Mall in Saugus.

The address for this new ice cream shop in the Back Bay is 217 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for I-CE-NY in Greenwich Village can be found at http://icenyicecream.com/

[September 21 update: Eater Boston mentions that in addition to the upcoming Newbury Street location, I-CE-NY may also be opening a shop at 1110 Commonwealth Avenue at Packards Corner on the eastern edge of Allston.]

[August 2, 2018 update: A new post from Eater Boston states that I-CE-NY is now open on Newbury Street.]

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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]





Buenas to Open at Bow Market in Somerville's Union Square

A local business that features South American food products is on its way to an upcoming development in Somerville.

According to Vanessa Yip, the E-Som Market manager who has featured the company at the market and other La Brasa events, Buenas is coming to Bow Market in Union Square, with the food stall offering empanadas (both heated and frozen to cook at home), sandwiches de miga, chivitos, spicy Chilean table sauces, and more. Currently, the food items at Buenas can be purchased online and they can also be found at such places as Taza at Boston Public Market and Formaggio in the South End and Cambridge.

Bow Market, which will reside between Somerville Avenue and Bow Street, is expected to have more than 30 stalls along with a brewery and a comedy club.

The website for Buenas is at https://www.buenas.co/

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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]





Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, Ground-Level Restaurant Coming to South Boston

It looks like a red-hot part of Southie is going to be home to a new complex that includes a rooftop restaurant and bar along with a ground-level dining, drinking, and entertainment spot.

Eater Boston is reporting (via bldup.com) that 6 West Broadway Hotel is on its way to the lower end of South Boston, with the development including what bldup says is a "seasonal roof deck restaurant & lounge" along with a "live entertainment restaurant" at ground level. The hotel itself will be 14 stories high with 159 rooms, and it plans to open around the end of 2018.

The hotel and dining/drinking spots will be located across the street from the Broadway T stop by the W Broadway/Dorchester Avenue intersection.

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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]





Crazy Good Kitchen Opens in Malden

A brand new dining spot has opened in Malden, and it looks like it focuses mainly on comfort food.

According to its Facebook page, Crazy Good Kitchen is now open on Eastern Avenue (Route 60), taking over the space a few blocks west of Route 99 where the Lunch Box Diner had been. The page mentions that the eatery offers, breakfast dishes, burgers, chicken, and more, with ice cream also apparently being offered. The restaurant's website page is not yet up, but once it is, we will post an update with more information.

The address for Crazy Good Kitchen is 906 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA, 02148; it looks like its website will be at http://crazygoodkitchen.com/ while its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/crazygoodkitchen/

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 19, 2017

Chick Chick Boom Is Opening in Cambridgeport

A new dining spot is on its way to Cambridge, and it looks like the person behind a nearby restaurant is behind this place as well.

According to a license commission agenda page within the city's website, Chick Chick Boom is planning to open in Cambridgeport, with the address indicating that it will be moving into the Frozen Yogi space on River Street just outside of Central Square. The license application notice mentions that Jamme Chantler is the proposed manager of the 18-seat eatery, which is apparently the same Jamme Chantler who operates Thelonious Monkfish, an Asian restaurant on Mass. Ave. in Central Square. Little else is known about the proposed dining spot, so stay tuned for more details.

The address for this new restaurant in Cambridgeport is: Chick Chick Boom, 80 River Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

September 20 update: Eater Boston mentions that Jamme Chantler of Thelonious Monkfish is indeed behind Chick Chick Boom (along with chef Ginger Phomjun) and that the dining spot will focus on chicken, with influences coming from Southeast Asia, Japan, and the United States. A few items expected to be offered include chicken wings, fried rice, and a steamed chicken dish with coconut jasmine rice.]

[December 14 update: A new post from Eater Boston says that Chick Chick Boom is now open.]

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]





Monday, September 18, 2017

Plans to Open Third Rail in Former Roslindale Substation Have Fallen Through

It looks like a long-awaited dining spot from a well-known Boston chef and restaurateur is not going to be happening after all.

Universal Hub is reporting (via Roslindale Village Main Street) that plans for Chris Douglass to open Third Rail in the former trolley substation in Roslindale Square have fallen through, and that Roslindale Village Main Street, Historic Boston Inc., and Peregrine Group, LLC, are now looking for a new tenant to move into the space. According to UH, Douglass, who is behind Ashmont Grill and Tavolo in Dorchester, has had to deal with a delay in having a new power cable brought into the space along with other issues that were connected to the "historical nature" of the old substation building, which was built in 1911.

A location of Craft Beer Cellar can currently be found in the former substation, and 43 new housing units have been built around the structure as well. (Plans for a restaurant to open in the substation were first mentioned nearly five years ago.)

[Earlier Articles]
Third Rail to Open in Former Roslindale Substation
Restaurant, Cafe, Produce Market Planned for Former Roslindale Substation

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, September 17, 2017

Maca Macaronerie to Open at Bow Market in Somerville's Union Square

A food vendor featuring a popular French confection is on the way to an upcoming development in Somerville.

Eater Boston is reporting (via Scout Somerville) that Maca macaronerie will be coming to Bow Market in Union Square, with owner Tamy Chung planning to offer a variety of flavors, colors, and characters (including animal shapes) at the stall. It appears that the macarons will continue to be made out of Creative Chef Kitchens in Derry, NH--at least for now--and Chung will also continue to take custom orders for such events as birthday parties, baby showers, and weddings.

Bow Market, which will be located between Somerville Avenue and Bow Street, plans to have more than 30 stalls as well as a brewery and a comedy club.

The website for Maca can be found at https://macaboston.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]





Kor Tor Mor Is Opening in Somerville's Davis Square

It looks like an Asian street food spot is getting ready to open in one of the busiest sections of Somerville.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Kor Tor Mor is opening "any day now" in Davis Square, taking over the space on College Avenus where Golden Light used to be. The post indicates that the new eatery will offer Bangkok street food, with its signature item being a chicken, gravy, and rice dish called khao na kai. EB also says that the person behind Kor Tor Mor--Jakkarin Daranuwat--apparently runs Pandan Leaf in East Cambridge and Tom Yum Koong in Medford as well.

The address for this new Thai restaurant in Davis Square is: Kor Tor Mor, 24 College Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[December 18 update: Eater Boston states that Kor Tor Mor debuts tomorrow (Tuesday, December 18) and that it will be open for lunch and dinner.]

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]





Friday, September 15, 2017

Feng Shui Is Opening in Brighton's Cleveland Circle

A group of Chinese and Japanese restaurants with four locations in the local area is looking to open a fifth--and its first within the Boston city limits.

Universal Hub is reporting that Feng Shui is planning to open in the Cleveland Circle section of Brighton, with the dining spot moving into the space on Beacon Street where a branch of Citibank had been. Based on its other locations in Chelmsford, Cohasset, Tyngsboro, and Waltham, the new eatery may be offering sushi, dumplings, and Chinese and Japanese entrees, and it looks like it will also be serving beer and wine if a liquor license is approved.

Another location of Feng Shui had been in Natick, but it closed down in 2012.

The address for this new restaurant in Cleveland Circle is: Feng Shui, 1924 Beacon Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. The website for all locations can be found at: http://www.gofengshui.com/

[January 11, 2018 update: According to a licensing board page within the city's website, Feng Shui could be one step closer to opening in Brighton by next week, as a hearing will be held on January 17 to look into a liquor license transfer for the place--and the license may be coming from the Phillips Old Colony House, a landmark restaurant and function hall in Dorchester that shut down in January of 2016.]

[September 17, 2018 update: Eater Boston states that the new location of Feng Shui in Brighton is now open.]

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]