A suburban restaurant that focused on French fare has closed, and a new dining spot is moving into its space.
According to a Facebook post from last month, Petit Robert Bistro in Needham is no longer in business, while another Facebook post from Tonno in Gloucester mentions that Rob Picardi--who comes from Prezza in Boston's North End--is opening Cappella in the Chapel Street space, with the address being confirmed by a Needham Board of Selectmen agenda page. Very little is currently known about Cappella, so stay tuned for updates.
Petit Robert Bistro has a sister spot in Needham called French Press Bakery and Cafe that remains in operation, while another location of Petit Robert Bistro remains open in the South End of Boston. (Another South End restaurant called Frenchie is connected to that location of Petit Robert Bistro.)
The address for the now-closed Petit Robert Bistro in Needham (and upcoming Cappella) is 45 Chapel Street, Needham, MA, 02492. Its website is at https://cappellarestaurant.com/
Thanks to Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting for initially bringing this to our attention.
[August 7 update: According to its website, Cappella plans to officially open tomorrow (Wednesday, August 8) and that it will focus on authentic Italian fare, including Northern Italian-style grilled meats cooked in a wood-grilled oven along with handmade pasta, seafood items, and more.]
[August 8 update: A source tells us that Cappella did not soft-open last night due to kitchen equipment issues, and a message from the restaurant tells us that it will not be opening to the public today after all; as soon as we hear of a new opening date, we will post an update here.]
[August 11 update: According to our source (and confirmed by the restaurant), Cappella has soft-opened.]
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]
