Boston Restaurant Talk

Thursday, April 03, 2025

Anna's Taqueria to Open at Legacy Place in Dedham

A local group of Mexican restaurants continues to be in expansion mode, with a new one now on the way to a mixed-use development southwest of Boston.

According to a source, Anna's Taqueria is planning to open at Legacy Place in Dedham, with an article from boston25news.com mentioning that the new outlet hopes to debut sometime this fall. Once it opens, the new location of Anna will join a number of locations in the Greater Boston area, and another new one is currently in the works for Natick while a possible South Boston location could be coming as well (an outlet in Woburn also recently opened).

The website for Anna's Taqueria is at https://annas.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

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McCarthy's and Toad to Open in Cambridge's Porter Square on April 5

A long-awaited Irish pub in Cambridge that has two sections--including a music club that had previously presided within the space--is on the verge of opening.

According to a couple of sources, @CheeksMcGee9 who posted on Threads, McCarthy's and Toad are planning to open in Porter Square on Saturday, April 5, with a note from the business saying the following on its website:

From the proud owners of The Burren in Somerville and The Bebop in Back Bay, we we bring you McCarthy's and Toad -- your new Irish pub in Porter Square, Cambridge. With perfect pints, live music, and the greatest craic in town, we can't wait to welcome you in.

Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello are behind McCarthy's, which replaces Christopher's at 1920 Massachusetts Avenue, and Toad, which will remain in its old home next door at 1912 Massachusetts Avenue. The website for McCarthy's and Toad is at https://www.mccarthystoad.com/

[Earlier Article]
Owners of The Burren Buying Toad and Christopher's in Cambridge's Porter Square; Christopher's to Become McCarthy’s

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Bottega del Sud to Open in South Boston

An Italian restaurant is on its way to South Boston, and it has an ownership connection to a Brookline dining spot.

According to an X/Twitter post from @chipsy231, Bottega del Sud is going to be opening at the corner of E 2nd Street and K Street, taking over the space that had previously been home to Thirst. The upcoming eatery is affiliated with Bottega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner, with Instagram posts from that restaurant mentioning that the space is currently under construction and that an opening date is expected to be announced soon.

The address for the upcoming Bottega del Sud is 645 E 2nd Street, South Boston, MA, 02127. The Instagram page for Bottega Fiorentina is at https://www.instagram.com/eatbottega

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, April 02, 2025

Taco Party in Somerville's Ball Square Is Closed; Exact Status Unknown

A vegan Mexican restaurant in Somerville has shuttered, and it isn't known what the future holds for the place.

According to a source (Jesse Nicole), Taco Party in Ball Square is locked up and dark, with an Instagram post from owner Sarah Ramirez from last week saying the following:

I have reached a point in my personal life where I can no longer be the boss that I aspire to be. Now I need to take my own advice. So, this will be the last week that I will be at Taco Party, and the restaurant will be temporarily closed after Sunday, March 30th, until further notice. I don't know where things are going to go lead with Taco Party, but as soon as there's any news, there will be posts about it.

The post also gives a link to a fundraiser for the restaurant's staff.

Taco Party first opened in 2015, with Ramirez starting there in 2019 and taking ownership of the place last year; in addition to meatless tacos, the dining spot has also offered such items as chips and salsa, rice and peas, and frappes.

The address for Taco Party is 711 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://taco-party.square.site/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Hardcover Restaurant in Danvers Is Closing

Yet another old-school restaurant on Route 1 on the North Shore is shutting down.

According to its Facebook page, The Hardcover Restaurant in Danvers is closing its doors, with the note saying that "It is with a heavy heart and bittersweet emotion that we announce the upcoming closing of The Hardcover Restaurant....We are deeply grateful for the incredible support we have been shown over the years." The post says that its last day in operation will be May 1 and it refers customers to its two other restaurants (The Beverly Depot in Beverly and the Barnsider in Albany, NY).

The Hardcover dates back to 1974, with an expansion taking place in 1980; the restaurant is known in part for its steak and seafood dishes.

The address for The Hardcover Restaurant is 15 Newbury Street (Route 1), Danvers, MA, 01923. Its website can be found at https://www.thehardcover.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Halal Guys in Boston's Fenway Has Soft-Opened; Official Opening to Come Soon

Last summer, it was reported that a couple of growing chains were both planning to open locations within an apartment development in Boston's Fenway, and now we have learned that the second of the two spots is in the process of opening.

According to a press release, The Halal Guys has soft-opened, with its official opening taking place at some point soon--and the new spot joins a location of Dave's Hot Chicken which recently opened its doors as well. This is the fourth location of The Halal Guys to open locally, with others being in the Theatre District, South Bay in Dorchester, and Porter Square in Cambridge (another can be found in Shrewsbury).

The address for the new location of The Halal Guys in the Fenway is 1260 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain is at https://thehalalguys.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Halal Guys, Dave's Hot Chicken Plan to Open at the Bon Apartment Complex in Boston's Fenway

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)